Summertree (1971) - full transcript
Jerry, not a member of the 'protest generation' but simply a decent 'All American boy,' is drafted into the Army just as things start to go well for him. His decision to flee to Canada sparks conflict with his parents, and the film concluded in Vietnam.
Jerry, take it easy.
Okay, thanks a lot.
Okay, take it easy now.
See you later.
KID 1: Hi, Jerry.
KID 2: Hi, Jerry.
Throw it to me.
Throw it to me.
(SINGING ON TV)
MAN ON TV: For real
finger-lickin' chicken,
it's Duck's Chicken Center
Take-out Restaurant.
Open now seven days and
nights a week, at the corner
of Main and Fairview.
So for the best quick-made
meets and greets in town,
come to Duck's Chicken.
(BEEPING ON TV)
Hey, anybody home?
MAN ON TV: A boy growing up
without a father desperately
needs a Big Brother.
But many boys will just
have to wait until
more men volunteer.
Maybe you could be
a Big Brother for
somebody like me.
MAN ON TV: Call your local
Big Brother office...
Hey, Mom!
...or write to Big Brothers
of America, Philadelphia.
Soon.
MAN ON RADIO: This is WIST.
Your Dairyland
local network.
(HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
PLAYING)
♪ Back in the days
when I was a lad
♪ How I loved to play
with Mother and Dad
♪ Dad was my pal
and Mom understood
♪ And oh, I'm telling you
the feeling was good
♪ Because we were
having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time
of our lives
♪ A house in the tree
all of us three
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Boy we had fun
when I was a child
♪ In all of our photo albums
everyone smiled
♪ Dad taught me how
and Mom told me why
♪ And she could kiss a hurt
so I wouldn't cry
♪ And we were having
the time of our lives
♪ Having the time
of our lives
♪ Living for fun,
thinking as one
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Now that it's now
I think about then
♪ And wonder
if I want to be there again
♪ When Dad was so smart
and Mom was so strong
♪ And there was nothing
in the world that was wrong
♪ Cause we were
having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time
of our lives
♪ Everything right
sweetness and light
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Just the right blend
never could end
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Perfectly cast,
certain to last
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Loving it so
how could we know
♪ This was
the time of our lives
♪ Everything right,
sweetness and light
♪ Having the time
of our lives ♪
(GUITAR PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENING)
Hey, kiddo!
(LAUGHING)
What the hell
are you doing home?
Just fooling around.
Now cut the crap.
It's the middle of the week.
Are you in
some kind of trouble?
Oh, no trouble.
I'm trouble-free
in my big ole tree.
(LAUGHING)
Come on down,
let me take a look at you.
Hey, watch those flowers.
I didn't get them.
Your mother's been
on her knees all week.
So, now what happened?
That roommate of yours
finally make a pass at you?
What are you talking about?
You mean Bennie?
Uh, Bennie.
Yeah, Bennie.
The faggoty one,
you know.
(CHUCKLES) Bennie's all right.
All right?
Yeah.
With those frilly cuffs
on his shirt,
his hair down
to his navel...
Dad, you got Bennie
180 degrees wrong.
I have, huh?
Hey, it's good
to see you.
Yeah, it's good
to see you.
Yeah, I bet it is,
huh?
JERRY: Hey,
I'm glad to see you
get a lot of work done.
Oh, you mean this.
This is the week
I was supposed to be
in Hawaii.
Hawaii?
Yeah, a trip I won
at the office.
But those leis and crap,
though, I took the money
instead. And the time.
Hey, where's Mom?
Well, she's...
Now don't tell me
you came home
to see us?
Why not?
Come on. Come on,
now, what's up?
Nothing.
Let's have a beer.
You wanna cigarette?
No, thanks.
(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)
You smoking
anything stronger?
Sometimes.
Nothing special.
You got a girl?
I'm getting it, Dad,
if that's what you mean.
Yeah. Yeah,
I bet you are.
Twenty.
What an age, huh?
Look, Son, I don't know
what's bothering you.
And I can't give you
any fancy answers.
All I can say is, don't...
Don't do anything rash, huh?
(DOOR OPENING)
Well, I wish I could find
something rash to do.
Such as?
Well, if I knew
I'd be doing it.
RUTH: Herb? Who's here?
What I mean is, I...
Well, I guess I just
don't like to see
your mother upset.
RUTH: Herb.
Jerry!
Is anything wrong?
No.
Can't a guy come home
and see his folks
when he gets the urge?
Oh, baby.
Everything's okay, Mom.
Um, what have
you got here?
Oh, just some bulbs.
I'm planting for spring,
before the ground gets hard.
Can you stay
for the weekend?
He's got classes...
I haven't decided yet.
Oh, Herb, I told you
not to put those things
in the sink.
Now, Ruthie, I got
to dress them before
I can freeze them. All right?
I asked you
to keep them outside.
(SIGHING)
You hear that?
You'd better be good.
(LAUGHS)
I knew
it was a mistake.
Majoring in sociology.
I didn't say
it was a mistake, Dad.
You're doing better
in physics.
May not have anything to do
with his major, Herb.
Mom, I don't even know
if it has anything to do
with school.
May just be me,
I don't know.
You studying too hard?
(LAUGHS)
I hardly study at all.
HERB: I'd like to see
how you'd do
if you really study.
Yeah, I bet you would.
Why not? I like to
see people function.
I like to see you
use yourself. Be what
you're cut out to be.
And not for me.
Now don't get that idea.
I don't need you
to make me a big man.
JERRY: What am I
cut out to be?
HERB: Well, that's what
you're in school,
to find out.
JERRY: Well, I haven't.
Well, you will.
Boy, I sure wish I had
your optimism.
Well, now, isn't that
why you came home?
I don't know.
I...
I guess because, yeah,
everything always seems
so simple here.
Life among
the simpleminded, huh?
Hey, fast, huh?
Jer, there's nothing wrong
with not knowing yet.
Mom, but it's not
"not knowing,"
it's like not feeling.
I can't get excited
about anything.
Look, like Dad,
he gets excited
when he...
When he does
his insurance tables or when
he watches the Packers game.
Well, he doesn't expect you
to be like him.
He... He just doesn't like
to see you unhappy.
You know that, don't you?
JERRY: Yeah.
We miss you, Jerry.
I don't like
to see your father
worried about you.
MAN ON TV: ...casualty count
is relatively low
with four Americans killed
and six wounded.
In what is termed
by the Pentagon
as greatly increased
enemy offensive actions,
the Viet Cong
attacked a platoon
of American Infantrymen...
WOMAN ON PA:
All the "A's" to "L's"
stay in one line.
"M's" to "S's" in their line
and "T's" to "Z's" remain
in their line, please.
MAN ON PA: Can I have
your attention, please?
License number THA-976,
would you please
remove your car...
(CHATTERING)
WOMAN ON PA: Chemistry 1-A,
section 7 is closed.
An additional section
and lab will be opened
to accommodate the overflow.
(BELL RINGING)
JERRY: Hey. Hi, I'm looking
for a Marvis Johnson.
There is no Marvis Johnson.
Marvis.
Marvis Johnson
here, please?
Who are you,
the Man?
Are you Marvis?
No.
Marvis Johnson here?
Are you Marvis Johnson?
No, I ain't Marvis.
He's Marvis.
BOY: He's Marvis.
Are you Marvis?
CHILDREN: (SHOUTING)
He's Marvis.
Come on, guys.
Just cool it, please.
(WHISTLE BLOWING)
Cool it, cool it.
Come on, fellas,
come on.
Marvis Johnson!
Hey, wait a minute.
I want to talk to you.
Hang on.
Aw, shit!
Hey, wait a minute!
Hey!
Hi. Uh, I'm
his Big Brother.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(DOOR SHUTS)
Hi. Hi.
What's your sweat, man?
Um, I'm supposed to be
your Big Brother.
I got one.
He could take you.
Oh,
I'd like to see that.
He ain't around.
Right. Well, that's, uh,
that's why I'm here.
Got a quarter?
JERRY: A what?
Got a quarter?
What do you want
a quarter for?
Got to make
a phone call.
It'll only
cost a dime.
Got to make
a long-distance call.
Your mother works
for the phone company.
Get off my back.
Hey, peckerhead,
come and get it.
Hey, peckerhead.
BENNIE: Hey, man,
did you go to
that economics lecture?
Yeah.
BENNIE: Will you do me
a favor, man?
JERRY: Sure.
Uh, explain to me
the New Deal Keynesian theory.
Well, anything
for true love, Bennie.
(GIRL LAUGHING)
Oh, boy,
does it stink in here.
BENNIE: Shut that door, man!
JERRY: I'm getting
out of here.
It stinks.
See you later, Don.
Don, I want you to meet
a truly wonderful girl.
(GIRL GIGGLING)
Oh, my! I'm not going to get
any work done here.
BENNIE: Don't worry
about it, man.
Just don't tell your mother.
Hey, where's my quarter?
What quarter?
Where'd your brother go?
Vietnam.
Got any sisters?
In February.
What do you mean,
"In February"?
Ma's knocked up.
Hey,
where's your Dad?
He cut out.
All you guys do
is ask questions.
Hey! I got a ball.
No, shit.
Fifty-four, thirty, hup.
Johnson's going out.
McAdams fades back.
He sees him.
Oh, no, the rush is on.
He's going back.
He's being rushed.
He sees him.
It's a long one.
It's up. It's up.
Johnson's under it.
He's close to it. He's got it.
Oh, yes, he's got it.
He's got it. He...
(HUMMING)
(MARVIS WHISTLING)
MARVIS: Mister.
Come and get it.
Keep the ball, man.
MARVIS: You chickie?
No, it's
just not worth it.
Hey, man, you're splitting
early today.
Just forget it.
I'll see you later.
You little bastard!
MAN: Hey, hey,
what are you up to?
MAN: Leave the lad
and get out of here!
Oh, shit!
You peckerhead.
Look at my leg!
You broke my leg!
I'm sorry. Shit.
How's your knee?
Okay.
Name, please.
Uh, you want his
or mine?
I don't
see you suffering.
Well, you're not looking
hard enough.
May I have your name, please?
Johnson, Marvis G.
McAdams, Jerry A.
Hey, what's the "V"
stand for?
Vanish.
Marvis, would you
like to follow me?
Right in here.
Now if you'll just sit
right up here, we'll
take a look at this. Okay?
Can you scoot back
a little bit for me?
Thank you.
Let's see. Oh,
that's not so bad.
How did you get that?
He's my Big Brother.
You do-gooders
do more harm than good,
obviously.
Why don't you just
do your job?
Do you know
you could sue him
for this?
Yes, ma'am.
Hmm-mmm.
Uh...
Okay, let's start there.
Vituperative.
Oh, my! What?
Vitriolic?
Nope.
No?
JERRY: Voracious?
These college men.
They are a big bag
of big shot words.
Aren't they?
Hmm?
He can sure
throw a football.
VANETTA: (LAUGHING)
He can? Well, I guess
that's all that's important.
Venal?
VANETTA: No.
Vinegar?
Oh.
Vivacious? Ah!
My goodness.
WOMAN ON PA: Doctor Ross...
One more
and then we're done.
There we go.
What are you doing?
Writing a term paper
on urban problems
or something?
JERRY: Ooh!
Must be "volatile."
(PHONE RINGING)
Or did you just skin his knee
so you could get in here
and make a pest
out of yourself?
You're really getting it on,
aren't you?
You're a smartass.
(MARVIS LAUGHS)
Man, you're burning
her bad.
You want to take
this jacket off?
Here,
I'll help you.
This'll be just
to prevent infection.
Okay, Marvis?
I'd rather have
the infection.
(LAUGHING) You would?
Don't worry,
it's not going to hurt.
It's gonna hurt like hell.
(MARVIS GRUNTS)
There we go.
Okay?
It's all over,
soldier.
Here you go.
Uh, look, I really
didn't mean anything.
I'm sorry.
Oh, it's all right.
What's the "V" stand for?
(LAUGHS)
Vanetta.
Jerry.
Uh-huh.
WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Schaeffer,
to heart care, please.
Bye.
Bye.
What did you think
of that nurse?
She's okay
for a white chick.
Yeah.
Sorry about that.
(SIGHS)
Does it feel okay?
Yeah.
Here, you can keep it.
Bye.
Jerry.
(SIRENS WAILING)
See you tomorrow.
Vivacious.
Oh, my God!
Voracious.
You scared me.
What are you doing here?
It's Vanetta!
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, you're crazy.
Wouldst thou deign
to walk with me?
What? Huh.
Nothing, huh?
I'd be deign to
walk with thee?
Boy, you've got
some terrific routine.
Uh, the weary old world's
grown cold to romance.
Would you mind keeping
your voice down, please?
We're in my neighborhood.
I don't want to
wake anybody up.
Then I'm gonna sing to you.
You are not.
I'm gonna sing to you
right now.
You are not.
♪ Vivacious
Oh, my God!
(DOG BARKING)
Can you stop it?
♪ Voracious Vanetta
(WHISPERING)
Shh. Please stop.
♪ Vivacious... ♪
I'm gonna sing
a whole bunch of songs.
Yeah. A song like
Good-Night, Ladies,
'cause here's where
this lady gets off.
Okay?
You really did something
to me.
That's nice.
Here.
Good night.
Vivacious.
Voracious.
(CAT MEWS)
JERRY: Vanetta!
(GUITAR PLAYING)
You're very good.
Thank you.
I know.
Hey, look, why don't you
come on down?
Oh.
Come on down.
Shh. Will you keep
your voice down?
(SOFTLY)
Then come on down.
Oh, this is ridiculous.
Why?
Well, where are we
going to go at this hour?
I know a great place.
Well, you're not
coming up here.
I didn't say that.
I want you to
come on down here.
Come on down.
MAN: Hey, Romeo!
Take a hike.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(WHISPERING) I'll meet you
in front, by the hotel.
The only reason
I'm coming down
is so that you don't wake
all of Putney Street.
(LOUDLY)
Hello, Putney Street!
(BOTH LAUGHING)
VANETTA: I can't.
(JERRY FRIGHTENING HER)
VANETTA: Oh! Oh!
Oh, Jerry,
what is going on here?
(LAUGHING)
A whole bunch
of dead people.
What do you do,
bring all your Alices
down here?
No. Just my nurses.
Just your nurses.
Hey, you ever seen
a dead person?
Yeah.
Sure, I bet you have.
Tell me something.
What happens
when someone dies?
You know, physically?
You want
a chocolate turtle?
This is the weirdest date
I ever had.
Yeah, okay.
A chocolate turtle.
Yeah.
Hey, man,
you're good at that.
What are you messing around
in college for?
Well, I guess, I'm trying to
find out things I like
I didn't know I'd find.
You ought to
make an album.
Your teacher says that
you ought to be doing
seventh-grade algebra
if you didn't screw around
so much in school.
You are a sneaky bastard.
You're right.
How much
they paying you?
Who's they?
The ones who
sicked you on me.
Nothing.
You mean
they made you?
No, I wanted to.
You crazy, man.
Ray says
don't volunteer
for nothing.
Was Ray your brother?
Yeah.
He's in the Army.
Here.
(LAUGHS)
You don't have to be
good in school
to get in the Army.
Is that what you want?
Yeah.
You in school
so the Army won't
come and get you?
I told you why.
School's a lot of shit.
(PROFESSOR SPEAKING ON TV)
Introjected into
this theory vent.
Really, in a sense
we are, uh,
waste baskets into which
the ideas that are
mirrored to us
in our early life
were deposited.
And with consequences
that again by the time...
Hi, Bennie.
...you're the age of anyone
listening to my voice, uh,
this theory then
is stocked full of
all kinds of theories.
There's one way to kind of
dramatize this is to ask you
how many of these stripes
are red and how many of them
are white?
Now normally in, uh,
in an audience people will say
that six or seven are red.
How many are you thinking
are red?
You want to know
what I was thinking?
Yep.
Do you really want to know
what I was thinking?
I really want to know
what you were thinking.
Okay.
I was thinking
of small bodies.
What? Small bodies?
Yes. I was thinking of
the small bodies present
in micro-organisms
producing diphtheria,
whether they're sulfur or
metachromatic granules.
Right.
I got an exam Monday.
I thought you'd
finished with school.
Well, one school.
But, uh, that's just enough
to change bandages
and boil needles.
But I figure if I go
two more years I can go
for my State License.
Then you can
deliver babies.
You know
I did that once.
Oh.
Oh, I did.
What are you
grinning at?
You.
Your head, it's so beautiful
it really scares me.
You're pretty
creepy yourself.
No, no, I mean... I mean,
well, you're doing things,
you know.
Doesn't everybody
do something?
I don't know.
You want to know what
I'm doing right now?
Yeah.
I'm sitting here uptight,
you know,
hoping you'll like me, right?
And you're thinking
about microorganisms.
Oh, Jerry, I'm sorry.
Oh, no, no, no.
It's not like that.
It's just, uh,
well,
you deliver babies.
One.
Yeah, but... And here
I'm afraid to say,
uh, yes or no,
four-letter words,
something.
Well, they're the best kind.
Oh, I know.
Sure.
(MOUTHING WORDS)
I think I'm losing
my train of thought.
That's okay.
I'm not going anywhere.
Say that again.
Very slowly.
I said, I'm not
going anywhere.
Wow!
Am I crazy or
are people staring at us?
Hey, I know
a good place we can go.
Oh, never mind,
another graveyard?
No, no.
No, no, it's my turn.
It's my turn.
I know a great place.
Okay?
Okay.
You live pretty good
for a nurse.
Thank you.
Oops. That's not too good.
Nope. Nope.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Oh.
(MOANS)
Aha!
What?
(HUMMING)
(VANETTA LAUGHS)
VANETTA: Jerry.
JERRY: Yeah?
Jerry, what are you doing?
JERRY: Trying to get
your buttons undone.
(VANETTA GIGGLING)
What's the story
with your buttons?
Jerry.
Yeah?
The zipper is in the back,
dum-dum.
You mean
they're all phony buttons
in the front?
(MOANING)
You know something?
What?
Your best routine
is yourself.
Hey, when do
I get my song?
What song?
Don't I get a song?
What, you mean
something that rhymes?
Yeah.
You want your name in it?
Yes.
Aha!
Kind of hard to do a song
in the dorsal recumbent
position.
The dorsal position
becometh to me.
Oh.
(GUITAR PLAYING)
♪ You asked me
for a love song
♪ I'll write you one
that no one can top
VANETTA: You'd better.
Okay.
♪ I'll sing it to an angel
Oh, that's nice.
♪ It's just too bad
that you're a wop ♪
Jerry! That's the worst song
I ever heard.
I liked it.
It's supposed to
have my name in it.
Oh, Jerry,
no, don't, please!
Enough is enough.
Oh, I love you.
VANETTA:
I'm leaving for Pittsburgh.
JERRY: Christmas vacation?
(VANETTA LAUGHS)
VANETTA: I've got parents,
too, you know.
JERRY:
I never thought of that.
Ho, ho, ho!
Merry Christmas.
(DOOR OPENS)
Hey, kiddo!
Dad, how are you?
Oh, Jerry! Merry Christmas.
HERB: Merry Christmas.
Hey, you look
like Santa Claus.
I feel like him.
Come on inside.
RUTH: Oh, yes, come on.
(HERB LAUGHING HEARTILY)
(CHATTERING ON TV)
RUTH: The Torgesons
might come over later.
I can do without Tim.
He quit paying
on his policy.
Herb,
he's an old friend.
Just when he needs it
more than ever, refinancing
the house, Ginny in college.
RUTH: She came home
the day before
yesterday.
Oh, yeah, where's
she going to school?
RUTH: Northwestern.
She's a freshman.
He thinks the market's
a better place
for his money.
The way the war and
interest rates are knocking
the hell out of the market,
he'll be lucky if he gets...
Goddamn, son of a bitch!
I did it again.
Dad, you don't have to
pitch us.
Do you remember
her 16th birthday?
Yeah, geez,
wasn't that a bash
with that whole orchestra
there and everything?
RUTH: No, I meant the crush
she had on you.
Yeah. Nothing worse,
you're 16 and a fat girl with
pimples got a crush on you.
Jerry!
She's a beautiful girl.
Well, it's true.
Hey, I saw her at Hefferman's
the other day, a new Cougar,
dark glasses.
No more pimples
either, buddy.
What're you trying
to do, set me up?
Set you up?
Set you up for what?
Ginny Torgeson.
Can't you see
he's not interested, Herb?
He'd be lucky to get
five minutes with her.
He's got a girl.
Hey, what's this?
You holding out on me?
I found some pictures
when I was
putting your things away.
And you weren't
going to tell us?
Well, I guess
I'm telling you.
(LAUGHS)
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
HERB: Vanetta.
Vanetta what?
Spezia.
Very exotic.
HERB: Where's she from?
JERRY: Pittsburg.
She looks, uh...
She looks older.
JERRY: Older than what?
Older than you, dummy.
JERRY: Yeah, well,
could be she's 43.
She's got seven kids.
HERB: What class is she in?
She's a nurse, Dad.
She went to nursing school.
Uh, I like her face.
It's a generous face.
A nurse?
Don't worry, Dad.
I haven't done
anything rash.
Who said I got anything
against nurses?
(SINGING CAROLS)
I thought just a stew would be
all right, with everybody in
tomorrow for dinner mid-day.
Well, it's good.
Excellent, excellent.
(SIGHS)
Well, I hope your
extra-curricular activities
have renewed
your interest
in school.
Well, what was bothering me
last month was I didn't have
anything I could get into.
Well, you were bombed.
We know that, Jerry.
I guess I didn't make
much sense.
Listen, I know there's a
generation gap, and everyone's
having an identity crisis,
and everything is groovy,
but we're not as square
as you think, you know.
I just hope that
your girlfriend
and your social work
have helped you
in other ways.
You mean, as an indicator
of my state of mind?
Yeah. Yeah, if that's...
If you want to
put it that way.
Well, there is something
I am cut out for.
What is it?
My guitar.
Now I know this sounds
mundane as all hell, but,
uh, I had college in mind.
I know you did, Dad,
and I'm sorry,
I'm really sorry.
Oh, you're sorry?
Look, please, look.
I know what they're
talking about at school,
right?
I mean, I understand
the concepts
and all that stuff.
I know all about
those things.
But that's all they are,
they're things,
they're theories.
They've got no
personal relevance
to me at all.
Now maybe they will next week,
next month, next year.
I don't know, but
what the hell's that got to do
with what's making me happy
right now?
You know, I wish
I could take you half
as seriously as you sound.
(CAROLS PLAYING ON STEREO)
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
(FOOTSTEPS)
I knew
I'd find you
out here.
I didn't mean to
run out on everybody.
They're just going.
You must be
freezing to death.
Just wanted to get
some fresh air.
You mean nobody
can get to you
up there.
I like eggnogs
and all that stuff.
But listening to Dad pitching
his friends term policies
on Christmas Eve...
Jerry, I...
(PEOPLE LAUGHING)
I want you to know
he's doing
a lot of thinking.
It's like
talking to a wall.
He wants to hear you
play your guitar.
(BELLS RINGING)
Merry Christmas, Jerry.
Merry Christmas.
(GUNSHOTS FIRING)
(SQUAWKING)
I'd like to see the look
on your mother's face
when she sees
that one in the sink, huh?
All right, Cyrus,
go get him, boy.
HERB: Okay, so I heard
you play and you're good.
But how's that going to
keep you out of the Army?
I transfer to
the conservatory.
The what?
It's a music school,
it's right on campus.
Oh, the draft board's
going to love that.
As long as I carry
15 hours a semester
there's no sweat.
(GUN LOADS)
(GUN FIRING)
Uh, let them too much.
(LAUGHS)
Did you tell that
to your mother?
(EXHALES)
Yeah.
What'd she say?
She said,
"What'd your father say?"
Goddamn war.
Whoo-hoo.
Three years ago you were
hawking it up, Dad.
What are you talking about?
You've still got part
of that, uh, bumper sticker
left on your car.
Well, things change.
Well, like now I'm 20
and my birthday falls
on the wrong day, right?
Right.
Sorry about that.
(BLOWS SHRILLY)
Hey, it works.
(QUACKING SOUNDS)
Dad.
Spring semester's
in four weeks.
I made the check out
to you this time.
Thank you.
Not a Christmas present,
you know.
For your education.
So I damn well
better get one, right?
Boy, you don't give
an inch, do you?
You're as stubborn as a...
As you think I am.
The difference is
you think that life consists
of absolutes.
You can only do this,
you can only do that.
Now why can't you go to school
and play that guitar
at the same time?
Because it's a copout, Dad.
It's a little bit of this
and a little bit of that.
I know what I want.
Want? That's bullshit.
You know, you didn't
hit a shot all day.
Guess I lost my eye.
A couple of years ago
you would have had me out here
before the birds woke up.
Couldn't wait
to get out here.
Look, if you
don't like to hunt anymore,
all you have to do is say so.
A simple
declarative sentence.
Make me feel
like a horse's ass.
Hey, Dad, would you mind
if I went back to school
early?
And break
your mother's heart?
That's funny.
That's exactly what
she said about you.
VANETTA: I'll try
to get back early.
In case you get
back before I do...
(SPEAKING IN ITALIAN)
JERRY: I don't understand
a word but it sounds sexy
as all hell.
VANETTA: It means
"open all hours."
(MARVIS STRUMMING GUITAR)
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
(NOISEMAKER BLOWING)
(TV CLICKS OFF)
MAN ON TV: ...a merciful
or an all-powerful God
would permit
these mass murders.
(WOMAN SHRIEKING)
MAN: A clambake, friends and
a good cigarette would do it.
(SOFTLY) Jerry?
Oh, yeah.
JERRY: Hi.
Hey, who is this
bum in my bed?
Um,
I'm the milkman.
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, a horny milkman.
Oh, Jesus!
(WHISPERS) Hey,
what is this?
Some sort of commune?
Jerry, he looks so cute.
Hey, uh...
Hey, where were
you at midnight?
On a bus,
somewhere in, uh,
Indiana,
on my way back here.
Happy New Year.
Who's Tony?
Well,
are those his shoes
and stuff in the closet?
What are you doing,
going through my closet?
No, I went and left
my boots there and
I found them.
He's my husband.
He was my husband.
We've been separated
for two years.
(SIGHS)
Then he's, uh...
He's still your husband.
Yes, legally.
What's the matter?
Have you got some sort
of a moral hang-up?
Why didn't you tell me?
Well,
(SIGHS)
I'm telling you now.
We've been separated
for two years.
I can't even
stand the stupid
son-of-a-bitch.
Oh, Jerry.
It's okay.
You don't... You don't
have to say any more.
Oh, I want to.
It's okay, Vanetta.
I want to.
It's all right, baby.
I married him
out of high school,
I didn't even think.
Hey, hey, hey.
It's all right.
It's okay.
I just want to
tell you that
you got yourself
a new roommate.
(WHISPERS) Does that
include Marvis?
(WHISPERS) No,
it's just you and me.
Oh.
(WHISPERS) Terrific.
(GIRL AUDITIONING)
(PERFORMING OPERA)
Thank you.
MAN: Gerald McAdams.
Uh, the first piece
that I'm going to do
is something I wrote.
Give you an idea
of the music that
I'm doing right now.
Doesn't have
a title yet.
(GUITAR PLAYS SOFTLY)
(GROANING)
Thank you.
You played very nicely.
With whom did
you study?
Um...
Well, I sort of
taught myself.
To read as well?
Yes, sort of.
Any other instruments?
Um, well, yeah,
I play the piano
pretty well.
You know, by ear.
I see. Thank you.
We'll be contacting you
in about a week's time.
MAN: Nancy Rifkind?
You really got that thing
under your fingers,
haven't you?
Oh, thanks.
Pretty tight
in there, though.
Oh, yeah.
Do you ever
play electric?
Uh-huh, sure.
Do you play folk music,
rock, all that kind
of stuff?
Yeah.
Are, uh... Are you
with the conservatory?
Oh, no. My name's
Irv Ginsburg.
Hi, Jerry McAdams.
Well, I own a coffee
shop on Lexington
called the Grass Roots.
Now, I'm looking
for somebody to
play intermissions
and maybe sit in
with my regular band.
Now they lost their
bass player to the draft.
Now, all these kids who
work for me come from
the conservatory here
because I can't afford
to pay union scale.
Are you offering
me a job?
Shh.
Are you... Are you
offering me a job?
Sixty a week, five nights,
meals, and no weed.
I don't want to get busted.
Oh, man!
Miss Spezia?
Yes.
Herb McAdams.
Oh, hello.
Oh, well, won't you
come in, please?
Thank you.
Uh, Jerry.
Hey, Dad, Jesus,
what a surprise.
How are you?
All right.
Well, greetings.
And it was nice of you
to let me know you moved.
I've been hiking
all over the campus
looking for you.
That ex-roommate
of yours, Bennie,
he kindly informed me
I was looking in the
wrong place.
Dad, did you
meet Vanetta?
Yeah.
I hope you don't mind,
I opened that.
You've been
reclassified 1-A.
Your physical's
next week.
Excuse me.
No, I think maybe you
ought to stay and hear
this, young lady.
On account of how much
you mean to him.
Why don't you sit down?
So...
So you went and
dropped out, huh?
This is a hell of a way
for me to find out, isn't it?
I gave you $1,500.
What's the matter?
You can't afford
a 70-cent phone call?
Dad.
Excuse me.
It's all there,
except for 50 bucks.
I was going to tell
you that along with
some good news.
HERB: Good news?
Mmm-hmm.
I'm transferring to that
conservatory full-time.
I auditioned last week.
Excuse me.
So, you see, when I get in,
I'll get my deferment back.
When you get in?
You mean you
haven't gotten in yet?
Oh, I'll hear...
I'll hear this week.
Well, supposing you don't?
Have you considered that?
Well, I never played
better in my whole life.
That not answering
my question!
I'll answer it this week.
So that's what
this was for, huh?
Music lesson.
It was, yeah.
But, uh...
I'm going to do
it on my own now.
I got myself a job.
What's wrong
with my money?
Uh, you mean the, uh,
blank check
I bribed you into?
Now, don't get
noble with me.
Don't you pay
for goods you don't want.
That was my bag, remember?
Your, bag. Yeah, a bag
of bullshit is what it is.
Excuse me.
Coffee?
Thanks, V.
You're gonna
crapshoot, huh?
Boy, you are
a horse's ass.
Maybe.
But it's my ass, Dad.
No matter what happens,
I'm not going in.
Well, that may not
be your decision.
That's exactly
what it is.
Sure. You decide
between the Army or jail.
Now, I don't think
it's that serious,
Mr. McAdams.
I'm sure he'll be going
to the conservatory.
Well, I hope you're
right, young lady.
I sure hope you're right.
Thank you
for the coffee.
Oh, you're welcome.
Uh, here.
Go puncture your
eardrum or something.
Hey, Dad.
Dad.
Hey, Dad, please,
will you wait
a minute, please?
Dad,
there's something
I want to tell you.
Oh, don't worry,
Mr. McAdams,
I'm not pregnant.
You see, I've never been
happier in my whole life.
I'm doing what I want
and I'm good at it,
and I'm helping this
kid discover himself,
(JERRY SIGHS)
and I'm getting
into my guitar,
and I found Vanetta.
I this, I that.
I, I, I.
We didn't say that, McAdams.
We think you're a very
talented young man.
What more do you want?
The conservatory simply cannot
admit you as a sophomore
without some formal training.
Without some knowledge
of the musical literature.
Oh, okay, you start me
as a freshman, right?
On an accelerated program,
I can finish the whole thing
in two and a half years.
Twenty-four credit
hours a semester.
I'll do it. I promise.
I can really do it.
We can't give your
draft board any assurance
you can carry such a load.
No one ever has.
There aren't enough
hours in the day.
So you're doing the old
numbers game, aren't you?
128 units in four years
or that's it, boot camp, man,
sorry about that.
That game, son,
was not our invention.
I only wish you'd started
with the conservatory.
Guess I'm kind of what
you call a late bloomer.
McAdams.
Please, let me urge you.
Whatever you decide,
don't abandon music.
You have an obligation
to such a talent.
(SOBBING) That...
That's groovy.
(GUITAR STRUMMING)
It's very hot.
Enjoy.
VANETTA: Thank you.
BENNIE: What do you want?
Coke.
DON: What do you want?
VANETTA: White wine.
White wine?
White wine she'll have
and I'll have a beer.
I'll have a Coke,
please.
Hey, man!
Hi.
Hi.
We figured out
some new angles.
Yes. First of all, have you
checked to see how far down
you are on your local list?
You may not
get picked...
Fifth out of 365.
How about get married,
have a baby?
Hey, man, I told you about
that. Remember, they passed
that law?
Oh yeah, I remember,
no longer can you
do that.
Anyway, I'm not
even divorced.
Zap.
Why don't you flunk
your physical, huh?
That's it.
You have anything wrong
with you? A bad back or
a trick knee, uh, flat feet?
Asthma, syphilis.
Terrible headaches?
Syphilis?
There's nothing
wrong with him.
I gave him a
complete examination.
He's in goddamn
perfect health.
What about a shrink?
Did you ever go to a shrink?
No.
You get a letter,
you get right out.
What?
Yeah.
Pre-psychotic,
suicidal tendencies.
Then you go to the draft
board, you act crazy.
You jump around a lot.
Come on.
I'm not kidding.
I know a guy who's
puked on a psychiatrist.
I'm not kidding,
I'm serious.
Hey, man, play gay,
you know, tell them
you're a queer.
Right.
Yeah.
You know, when they
tell you to cough down,
get all excited.
Right.
Tell them, "Just let me
at those juicy recruits."
That's no good.
That's no good, you know why?
They got a new
thing now, in Texas.
A platoon just for faggots.
I'm serious, I swear.
(ALL LAUGHING)
No, they bring
the faggots,
they put them in trenches,
they grab the V...
They don't kill them,
they just grab them
into the trenches
and do strange things,
I don't know.
Seriously, go C.O.
JERRY: Well, you got to
have a whole long history,
a record...
BENNIE: Do you
want to kill?
Right.
I think I'll
go to Canada.
Hey, let's get back
to this, uh, C.O.
thing then, huh?
Uh, how do you
feel about the war?
Well, it sucks.
Yes, but they're not
interested in moral reasons.
You see, they're only
interested in old time
religion.
That's all they care about.
(WHISPERS) Right.
You know something, man,
I think you want to go
and you don't even know it.
Look, I'm not going.
I mean, that's all
there is to it.
I'm not going.
Right.
REPORTER ON TV:
Communist troops continued
maneuvers that threaten
to cut off a large Cambodian
taskforce north of Phnom Penh.
An official said bands of
guerrillas have placed
themselves behind
government units and have
blown up two bridges
between the units
and Skua, the
district headquarters.
The U.S. command announced
the loss of the first
American fighter bomber
in missions over Cambodia
in more than two months.
Hey, leave it on.
Vice President Ky
of South Vietnam...
For Christ's sakes, Jerry.
You're getting morbid.
Why do you have to see
yourself to do that?
You got to see yourself
brush your teeth.
Why can't you just
use a tooth brush
like everybody else?
You got any more
complaints?
Yeah.
What?
You know when you get up
in the middle of the night
to use the john?
Yeah, I know.
Could you put
the seat back down?
Just like that.
Anything else?
(ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH WHIRRING)
Yes.
You've got lousy aim.
Oh, Jerry, stop it.
You're getting me all wet.
That's one of the
reasons I want you
to use a tooth brush.
Vanetta Spezia.
Yeah?
I am scared.
(SIGHS)
I am, too, Jerry.
I feel like I've got
one thing on my head.
That guy Simpson,
you know, he's all
I've got left.
Would you come
to Canada with me?
What?
Well, what are we
going to do up there?
We'll be together.
Yeah?
And, uh...
Well, you could get
a job in a hospital
(CLEARS THROAT)
I could get a job,
you know, or enter one
of the music schools in
Montreal or Toronto.
You're serious,
aren't you?
Yeah.
Do you think we've
had enough time?
I guess not,
otherwise you wouldn't
have to ask that question.
(WOMAN SOBBING)
Hey, Louis,
what happened?
She just lost her oldest
boy Ray in Vietnam.
Ray?
Yes.
Where's Marvis?
He ran out.
Thanks, Louis.
(BELL RINGS)
MARVIS: Get in there,
you mother!
Get in!
Get in there, you!
Hi.
What do you want
with me, Whitey?
Well, screw you,
Big Brother!
It's all right, Marvis.
It's okay. It's all right.
Hey, Marvis.
Marvis.
Marvis!
Bennie gave me
your name.
And, I just got my notice,
and is there anything you
can do to help me?
Sure, we can keep most guys
off, if they come to see us
before they get their notices.
But once you've
gotten the notice...
Well, is there
anything we can do?
Not unless you're
in school or you have
some medical problem.
How's your health?
Perfect. I just
had a physical.
We could file a C.O. claim.
Keep you out for a couple
of weeks.
The draft board isn't going
to listen to you after you've
gotten that induction notice.
Well, what'd happen
if I fought it?
If I took it to court?
Judges in this town
are appointed by
the same men
that got us into
that mess in Vietnam.
You'd get five years in
the Federal Penitentiary.
Okay, well, thank you.
You could file a C.O.
claim from inside.
Well, how do you
mean, "inside"?
Inside a uniform.
(DOOR LEVER RATTLING)
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Yeah?
MAN: I'm looking for
Vanetta Spezia.
I'm her husband.
Come on in.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot.
Where is she?
She's at work.
Looks like I got
here just in time.
Not that I blame her.
We broke up
once before.
That's what she said.
Oh, she did, huh?
Yep.
Did she also tell you
that she promised to
wait till I got back?
Wait for what?
Till I got back.
No, she didn't
tell me that.
Do you go to
college here?
I used to.
I just dropped out.
You dropped out.
You'd better drop back
in if you know what's
good for you.
It's bad enough
over there, the shit.
Wait till you get back.
That's the best part.
Jerry.
Oh!
(CHUCKLES)
Hi, baby.
Hello, Tony.
Jerry...
Hey, it's...
It's cool, okay.
Nice to meet you.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
Anybody home?
Yes.
(JERRY SIGHS)
Hi.
He gone?
Oh, yes, he's gone.
He wants me back.
I want you to
come with me.
I know.
I want to, but...
Is it him?
Partly.
I want you.
I really,
really want you.
What do you want?
Time.
I just want
some more time.
I'm so confused,
Jerry.
(SIGHS LOUDLY)
What am I kidding
myself for, you know?
I mean, uh...
Why would you
want to come,
come walking around the Yukon,
you know, with some crazy
minstrel guy,
and playing his
guitar all the time.
(SNIFFLES)
I don't blame you.
What are you
going to do now?
I'm going to
get a divorce,
and then I'm going
to wait for you.
Like you did for Tony?
(WHISPERS) Oh, Jerry,
please believe me.
Please.
Please believe me,
honey.
You have to
believe me.
Believe me.
(DOG BARKING)
HERB: Who's out there?
It's me, Dad, hi.
RUTH: Jerry?
Yeah, yeah.
(CHUCKLES) Jesus!
Nice of you to come by
at 5:30 in the morning.
Yeah, well, I wasn't really
planning on stopping by.
Got kind of late.
Well, I guess we have
to take you when we can
get you these days, huh?
JERRY: I almost didn't...
Didn't what?
RUTH: Herb, listen.
I'm on my way to Canada.
Oh, Jesus Christ.
RUTH: Is she with you?
Come inside.
Both of you.
What happened?
I didn't get into
the School of Music.
Got caught in the draft.
When are you
supposed to report?
JERRY: Today.
Well, you had plenty of rope,
now don't say that we...
Oh, Dad, come on, please.
You know, I'm not blaming you.
All I want to come
to say was goodbye.
I'm sorry.
I'm going to put
on some coffee.
You'd actually give
up your citizenship?
If I have to, yeah.
Jesus Christ!
Herb,
my father came to this
country 50 years ago to
avoid the draft in Poland.
That's not
the same thing.
It's exactly
the same thing!
Well, you'd better get
that thing checked out.
(WHISPERS) It's okay.
(WHISPERS) It's all right.
HERB: I don't know what else
it needs, but it could sure
use some tires.
What do you get for that
set of 740s?
MAN: Well, it'd run you
about, uh, $128
plus tax, Herb.
Hey, Dad, the rear
tires are okay.
I'm getting you
the whole set.
Plus a spare.
That's more than the goddamn
thing is worth.
Hey, Joe, put a set of
740s and a spare
on that bomb.
Hey, you know,
these damn pigs are worn
right down to the casings.
You're lucky
you made it this far.
Hey, you got
any maps here?
Yeah, I think there's
some in that little office
right behind you there.
Oh, thank you.
HERB: Look, I know this sounds
strange, but I haven't got
time to explain.
I want that car laid up
for a couple of days.
Look, crack the block,
put something in the
fuel line, anything.
You know more about
that than I do. Here.
Well, Herb, why...
Look, don't question me,
will you?
Just don't question me.
I'll explain to you later.
Believe me,
it has to be done.
MAN: Herb, don't...
Just do as I ask,
will you?
(SOBBING)
Hey, wait a minute,
I still got a couple
of bolts...
Hey, wait a minute!
Where you going?
HERB: Jerry, stop!
(SOBBING)
Oh, Jesus Christ, Jerry!
RUTH: Herb!
Any mail today?
He'll write again
as soon as he can.
You know how they are.
Ah, it's too close
to the house.
One good storm and...
I bet it's been
there 80 years.
It hasn't fallen yet.
Well, you know
what I mean.
Ever since I built
that damn tree house,
he'd scamper up there
like a squirrel
whenever he...
To be by himself.
Boy's entitled to that.
Oh, kids.
Boy, you think they're yours
and they're not, not really.
The worst part
of it is
they keep reminding
you of it.
Well, we weren't
any different.
Come on,
let's go in, huh?
(HERB SIGHS)
I should have torn
it down years ago.
MAN OVER RADIO:
...station now
presents the news.
Local, national
and around the world.
With John Mitchm
reporting from Washington,
David Allen in New York,
Robert Andrews from Saigon,
Mark Robin reporting from
Paris, Harold Joseph...
(LOWERS VOLUME)
You know
something, Ruth?
Mmm?
I bet I know what
he's going to say
when he comes home.
"You overstated your case,
Dad, you always do.
"Get so excited making a deal
or watching a ball game.
"Goddamn, what a mistake
I almost made, huh?"
(RUTH MOANS SOFTLY)
(GUNSHOTS)
Okay, thanks a lot.
Okay, take it easy now.
See you later.
KID 1: Hi, Jerry.
KID 2: Hi, Jerry.
Throw it to me.
Throw it to me.
(SINGING ON TV)
MAN ON TV: For real
finger-lickin' chicken,
it's Duck's Chicken Center
Take-out Restaurant.
Open now seven days and
nights a week, at the corner
of Main and Fairview.
So for the best quick-made
meets and greets in town,
come to Duck's Chicken.
(BEEPING ON TV)
Hey, anybody home?
MAN ON TV: A boy growing up
without a father desperately
needs a Big Brother.
But many boys will just
have to wait until
more men volunteer.
Maybe you could be
a Big Brother for
somebody like me.
MAN ON TV: Call your local
Big Brother office...
Hey, Mom!
...or write to Big Brothers
of America, Philadelphia.
Soon.
MAN ON RADIO: This is WIST.
Your Dairyland
local network.
(HAVING THE TIME OF OUR LIVES
PLAYING)
♪ Back in the days
when I was a lad
♪ How I loved to play
with Mother and Dad
♪ Dad was my pal
and Mom understood
♪ And oh, I'm telling you
the feeling was good
♪ Because we were
having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time
of our lives
♪ A house in the tree
all of us three
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Boy we had fun
when I was a child
♪ In all of our photo albums
everyone smiled
♪ Dad taught me how
and Mom told me why
♪ And she could kiss a hurt
so I wouldn't cry
♪ And we were having
the time of our lives
♪ Having the time
of our lives
♪ Living for fun,
thinking as one
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Now that it's now
I think about then
♪ And wonder
if I want to be there again
♪ When Dad was so smart
and Mom was so strong
♪ And there was nothing
in the world that was wrong
♪ Cause we were
having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time
of our lives
♪ Everything right
sweetness and light
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Just the right blend
never could end
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Perfectly cast,
certain to last
♪ Having the time of our lives
♪ Loving it so
how could we know
♪ This was
the time of our lives
♪ Everything right,
sweetness and light
♪ Having the time
of our lives ♪
(GUITAR PLAYING)
(DOOR OPENING)
Hey, kiddo!
(LAUGHING)
What the hell
are you doing home?
Just fooling around.
Now cut the crap.
It's the middle of the week.
Are you in
some kind of trouble?
Oh, no trouble.
I'm trouble-free
in my big ole tree.
(LAUGHING)
Come on down,
let me take a look at you.
Hey, watch those flowers.
I didn't get them.
Your mother's been
on her knees all week.
So, now what happened?
That roommate of yours
finally make a pass at you?
What are you talking about?
You mean Bennie?
Uh, Bennie.
Yeah, Bennie.
The faggoty one,
you know.
(CHUCKLES) Bennie's all right.
All right?
Yeah.
With those frilly cuffs
on his shirt,
his hair down
to his navel...
Dad, you got Bennie
180 degrees wrong.
I have, huh?
Hey, it's good
to see you.
Yeah, it's good
to see you.
Yeah, I bet it is,
huh?
JERRY: Hey,
I'm glad to see you
get a lot of work done.
Oh, you mean this.
This is the week
I was supposed to be
in Hawaii.
Hawaii?
Yeah, a trip I won
at the office.
But those leis and crap,
though, I took the money
instead. And the time.
Hey, where's Mom?
Well, she's...
Now don't tell me
you came home
to see us?
Why not?
Come on. Come on,
now, what's up?
Nothing.
Let's have a beer.
You wanna cigarette?
No, thanks.
(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)
You smoking
anything stronger?
Sometimes.
Nothing special.
You got a girl?
I'm getting it, Dad,
if that's what you mean.
Yeah. Yeah,
I bet you are.
Twenty.
What an age, huh?
Look, Son, I don't know
what's bothering you.
And I can't give you
any fancy answers.
All I can say is, don't...
Don't do anything rash, huh?
(DOOR OPENING)
Well, I wish I could find
something rash to do.
Such as?
Well, if I knew
I'd be doing it.
RUTH: Herb? Who's here?
What I mean is, I...
Well, I guess I just
don't like to see
your mother upset.
RUTH: Herb.
Jerry!
Is anything wrong?
No.
Can't a guy come home
and see his folks
when he gets the urge?
Oh, baby.
Everything's okay, Mom.
Um, what have
you got here?
Oh, just some bulbs.
I'm planting for spring,
before the ground gets hard.
Can you stay
for the weekend?
He's got classes...
I haven't decided yet.
Oh, Herb, I told you
not to put those things
in the sink.
Now, Ruthie, I got
to dress them before
I can freeze them. All right?
I asked you
to keep them outside.
(SIGHING)
You hear that?
You'd better be good.
(LAUGHS)
I knew
it was a mistake.
Majoring in sociology.
I didn't say
it was a mistake, Dad.
You're doing better
in physics.
May not have anything to do
with his major, Herb.
Mom, I don't even know
if it has anything to do
with school.
May just be me,
I don't know.
You studying too hard?
(LAUGHS)
I hardly study at all.
HERB: I'd like to see
how you'd do
if you really study.
Yeah, I bet you would.
Why not? I like to
see people function.
I like to see you
use yourself. Be what
you're cut out to be.
And not for me.
Now don't get that idea.
I don't need you
to make me a big man.
JERRY: What am I
cut out to be?
HERB: Well, that's what
you're in school,
to find out.
JERRY: Well, I haven't.
Well, you will.
Boy, I sure wish I had
your optimism.
Well, now, isn't that
why you came home?
I don't know.
I...
I guess because, yeah,
everything always seems
so simple here.
Life among
the simpleminded, huh?
Hey, fast, huh?
Jer, there's nothing wrong
with not knowing yet.
Mom, but it's not
"not knowing,"
it's like not feeling.
I can't get excited
about anything.
Look, like Dad,
he gets excited
when he...
When he does
his insurance tables or when
he watches the Packers game.
Well, he doesn't expect you
to be like him.
He... He just doesn't like
to see you unhappy.
You know that, don't you?
JERRY: Yeah.
We miss you, Jerry.
I don't like
to see your father
worried about you.
MAN ON TV: ...casualty count
is relatively low
with four Americans killed
and six wounded.
In what is termed
by the Pentagon
as greatly increased
enemy offensive actions,
the Viet Cong
attacked a platoon
of American Infantrymen...
WOMAN ON PA:
All the "A's" to "L's"
stay in one line.
"M's" to "S's" in their line
and "T's" to "Z's" remain
in their line, please.
MAN ON PA: Can I have
your attention, please?
License number THA-976,
would you please
remove your car...
(CHATTERING)
WOMAN ON PA: Chemistry 1-A,
section 7 is closed.
An additional section
and lab will be opened
to accommodate the overflow.
(BELL RINGING)
JERRY: Hey. Hi, I'm looking
for a Marvis Johnson.
There is no Marvis Johnson.
Marvis.
Marvis Johnson
here, please?
Who are you,
the Man?
Are you Marvis?
No.
Marvis Johnson here?
Are you Marvis Johnson?
No, I ain't Marvis.
He's Marvis.
BOY: He's Marvis.
Are you Marvis?
CHILDREN: (SHOUTING)
He's Marvis.
Come on, guys.
Just cool it, please.
(WHISTLE BLOWING)
Cool it, cool it.
Come on, fellas,
come on.
Marvis Johnson!
Hey, wait a minute.
I want to talk to you.
Hang on.
Aw, shit!
Hey, wait a minute!
Hey!
Hi. Uh, I'm
his Big Brother.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(DOOR SHUTS)
Hi. Hi.
What's your sweat, man?
Um, I'm supposed to be
your Big Brother.
I got one.
He could take you.
Oh,
I'd like to see that.
He ain't around.
Right. Well, that's, uh,
that's why I'm here.
Got a quarter?
JERRY: A what?
Got a quarter?
What do you want
a quarter for?
Got to make
a phone call.
It'll only
cost a dime.
Got to make
a long-distance call.
Your mother works
for the phone company.
Get off my back.
Hey, peckerhead,
come and get it.
Hey, peckerhead.
BENNIE: Hey, man,
did you go to
that economics lecture?
Yeah.
BENNIE: Will you do me
a favor, man?
JERRY: Sure.
Uh, explain to me
the New Deal Keynesian theory.
Well, anything
for true love, Bennie.
(GIRL LAUGHING)
Oh, boy,
does it stink in here.
BENNIE: Shut that door, man!
JERRY: I'm getting
out of here.
It stinks.
See you later, Don.
Don, I want you to meet
a truly wonderful girl.
(GIRL GIGGLING)
Oh, my! I'm not going to get
any work done here.
BENNIE: Don't worry
about it, man.
Just don't tell your mother.
Hey, where's my quarter?
What quarter?
Where'd your brother go?
Vietnam.
Got any sisters?
In February.
What do you mean,
"In February"?
Ma's knocked up.
Hey,
where's your Dad?
He cut out.
All you guys do
is ask questions.
Hey! I got a ball.
No, shit.
Fifty-four, thirty, hup.
Johnson's going out.
McAdams fades back.
He sees him.
Oh, no, the rush is on.
He's going back.
He's being rushed.
He sees him.
It's a long one.
It's up. It's up.
Johnson's under it.
He's close to it. He's got it.
Oh, yes, he's got it.
He's got it. He...
(HUMMING)
(MARVIS WHISTLING)
MARVIS: Mister.
Come and get it.
Keep the ball, man.
MARVIS: You chickie?
No, it's
just not worth it.
Hey, man, you're splitting
early today.
Just forget it.
I'll see you later.
You little bastard!
MAN: Hey, hey,
what are you up to?
MAN: Leave the lad
and get out of here!
Oh, shit!
You peckerhead.
Look at my leg!
You broke my leg!
I'm sorry. Shit.
How's your knee?
Okay.
Name, please.
Uh, you want his
or mine?
I don't
see you suffering.
Well, you're not looking
hard enough.
May I have your name, please?
Johnson, Marvis G.
McAdams, Jerry A.
Hey, what's the "V"
stand for?
Vanish.
Marvis, would you
like to follow me?
Right in here.
Now if you'll just sit
right up here, we'll
take a look at this. Okay?
Can you scoot back
a little bit for me?
Thank you.
Let's see. Oh,
that's not so bad.
How did you get that?
He's my Big Brother.
You do-gooders
do more harm than good,
obviously.
Why don't you just
do your job?
Do you know
you could sue him
for this?
Yes, ma'am.
Hmm-mmm.
Uh...
Okay, let's start there.
Vituperative.
Oh, my! What?
Vitriolic?
Nope.
No?
JERRY: Voracious?
These college men.
They are a big bag
of big shot words.
Aren't they?
Hmm?
He can sure
throw a football.
VANETTA: (LAUGHING)
He can? Well, I guess
that's all that's important.
Venal?
VANETTA: No.
Vinegar?
Oh.
Vivacious? Ah!
My goodness.
WOMAN ON PA: Doctor Ross...
One more
and then we're done.
There we go.
What are you doing?
Writing a term paper
on urban problems
or something?
JERRY: Ooh!
Must be "volatile."
(PHONE RINGING)
Or did you just skin his knee
so you could get in here
and make a pest
out of yourself?
You're really getting it on,
aren't you?
You're a smartass.
(MARVIS LAUGHS)
Man, you're burning
her bad.
You want to take
this jacket off?
Here,
I'll help you.
This'll be just
to prevent infection.
Okay, Marvis?
I'd rather have
the infection.
(LAUGHING) You would?
Don't worry,
it's not going to hurt.
It's gonna hurt like hell.
(MARVIS GRUNTS)
There we go.
Okay?
It's all over,
soldier.
Here you go.
Uh, look, I really
didn't mean anything.
I'm sorry.
Oh, it's all right.
What's the "V" stand for?
(LAUGHS)
Vanetta.
Jerry.
Uh-huh.
WOMAN ON PA: Dr. Schaeffer,
to heart care, please.
Bye.
Bye.
What did you think
of that nurse?
She's okay
for a white chick.
Yeah.
Sorry about that.
(SIGHS)
Does it feel okay?
Yeah.
Here, you can keep it.
Bye.
Jerry.
(SIRENS WAILING)
See you tomorrow.
Vivacious.
Oh, my God!
Voracious.
You scared me.
What are you doing here?
It's Vanetta!
(CHUCKLES)
Oh, you're crazy.
Wouldst thou deign
to walk with me?
What? Huh.
Nothing, huh?
I'd be deign to
walk with thee?
Boy, you've got
some terrific routine.
Uh, the weary old world's
grown cold to romance.
Would you mind keeping
your voice down, please?
We're in my neighborhood.
I don't want to
wake anybody up.
Then I'm gonna sing to you.
You are not.
I'm gonna sing to you
right now.
You are not.
♪ Vivacious
Oh, my God!
(DOG BARKING)
Can you stop it?
♪ Voracious Vanetta
(WHISPERING)
Shh. Please stop.
♪ Vivacious... ♪
I'm gonna sing
a whole bunch of songs.
Yeah. A song like
Good-Night, Ladies,
'cause here's where
this lady gets off.
Okay?
You really did something
to me.
That's nice.
Here.
Good night.
Vivacious.
Voracious.
(CAT MEWS)
JERRY: Vanetta!
(GUITAR PLAYING)
You're very good.
Thank you.
I know.
Hey, look, why don't you
come on down?
Oh.
Come on down.
Shh. Will you keep
your voice down?
(SOFTLY)
Then come on down.
Oh, this is ridiculous.
Why?
Well, where are we
going to go at this hour?
I know a great place.
Well, you're not
coming up here.
I didn't say that.
I want you to
come on down here.
Come on down.
MAN: Hey, Romeo!
Take a hike.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(WHISPERING) I'll meet you
in front, by the hotel.
The only reason
I'm coming down
is so that you don't wake
all of Putney Street.
(LOUDLY)
Hello, Putney Street!
(BOTH LAUGHING)
VANETTA: I can't.
(JERRY FRIGHTENING HER)
VANETTA: Oh! Oh!
Oh, Jerry,
what is going on here?
(LAUGHING)
A whole bunch
of dead people.
What do you do,
bring all your Alices
down here?
No. Just my nurses.
Just your nurses.
Hey, you ever seen
a dead person?
Yeah.
Sure, I bet you have.
Tell me something.
What happens
when someone dies?
You know, physically?
You want
a chocolate turtle?
This is the weirdest date
I ever had.
Yeah, okay.
A chocolate turtle.
Yeah.
Hey, man,
you're good at that.
What are you messing around
in college for?
Well, I guess, I'm trying to
find out things I like
I didn't know I'd find.
You ought to
make an album.
Your teacher says that
you ought to be doing
seventh-grade algebra
if you didn't screw around
so much in school.
You are a sneaky bastard.
You're right.
How much
they paying you?
Who's they?
The ones who
sicked you on me.
Nothing.
You mean
they made you?
No, I wanted to.
You crazy, man.
Ray says
don't volunteer
for nothing.
Was Ray your brother?
Yeah.
He's in the Army.
Here.
(LAUGHS)
You don't have to be
good in school
to get in the Army.
Is that what you want?
Yeah.
You in school
so the Army won't
come and get you?
I told you why.
School's a lot of shit.
(PROFESSOR SPEAKING ON TV)
Introjected into
this theory vent.
Really, in a sense
we are, uh,
waste baskets into which
the ideas that are
mirrored to us
in our early life
were deposited.
And with consequences
that again by the time...
Hi, Bennie.
...you're the age of anyone
listening to my voice, uh,
this theory then
is stocked full of
all kinds of theories.
There's one way to kind of
dramatize this is to ask you
how many of these stripes
are red and how many of them
are white?
Now normally in, uh,
in an audience people will say
that six or seven are red.
How many are you thinking
are red?
You want to know
what I was thinking?
Yep.
Do you really want to know
what I was thinking?
I really want to know
what you were thinking.
Okay.
I was thinking
of small bodies.
What? Small bodies?
Yes. I was thinking of
the small bodies present
in micro-organisms
producing diphtheria,
whether they're sulfur or
metachromatic granules.
Right.
I got an exam Monday.
I thought you'd
finished with school.
Well, one school.
But, uh, that's just enough
to change bandages
and boil needles.
But I figure if I go
two more years I can go
for my State License.
Then you can
deliver babies.
You know
I did that once.
Oh.
Oh, I did.
What are you
grinning at?
You.
Your head, it's so beautiful
it really scares me.
You're pretty
creepy yourself.
No, no, I mean... I mean,
well, you're doing things,
you know.
Doesn't everybody
do something?
I don't know.
You want to know what
I'm doing right now?
Yeah.
I'm sitting here uptight,
you know,
hoping you'll like me, right?
And you're thinking
about microorganisms.
Oh, Jerry, I'm sorry.
Oh, no, no, no.
It's not like that.
It's just, uh,
well,
you deliver babies.
One.
Yeah, but... And here
I'm afraid to say,
uh, yes or no,
four-letter words,
something.
Well, they're the best kind.
Oh, I know.
Sure.
(MOUTHING WORDS)
I think I'm losing
my train of thought.
That's okay.
I'm not going anywhere.
Say that again.
Very slowly.
I said, I'm not
going anywhere.
Wow!
Am I crazy or
are people staring at us?
Hey, I know
a good place we can go.
Oh, never mind,
another graveyard?
No, no.
No, no, it's my turn.
It's my turn.
I know a great place.
Okay?
Okay.
You live pretty good
for a nurse.
Thank you.
Oops. That's not too good.
Nope. Nope.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Oh.
(MOANS)
Aha!
What?
(HUMMING)
(VANETTA LAUGHS)
VANETTA: Jerry.
JERRY: Yeah?
Jerry, what are you doing?
JERRY: Trying to get
your buttons undone.
(VANETTA GIGGLING)
What's the story
with your buttons?
Jerry.
Yeah?
The zipper is in the back,
dum-dum.
You mean
they're all phony buttons
in the front?
(MOANING)
You know something?
What?
Your best routine
is yourself.
Hey, when do
I get my song?
What song?
Don't I get a song?
What, you mean
something that rhymes?
Yeah.
You want your name in it?
Yes.
Aha!
Kind of hard to do a song
in the dorsal recumbent
position.
The dorsal position
becometh to me.
Oh.
(GUITAR PLAYING)
♪ You asked me
for a love song
♪ I'll write you one
that no one can top
VANETTA: You'd better.
Okay.
♪ I'll sing it to an angel
Oh, that's nice.
♪ It's just too bad
that you're a wop ♪
Jerry! That's the worst song
I ever heard.
I liked it.
It's supposed to
have my name in it.
Oh, Jerry,
no, don't, please!
Enough is enough.
Oh, I love you.
VANETTA:
I'm leaving for Pittsburgh.
JERRY: Christmas vacation?
(VANETTA LAUGHS)
VANETTA: I've got parents,
too, you know.
JERRY:
I never thought of that.
Ho, ho, ho!
Merry Christmas.
(DOOR OPENS)
Hey, kiddo!
Dad, how are you?
Oh, Jerry! Merry Christmas.
HERB: Merry Christmas.
Hey, you look
like Santa Claus.
I feel like him.
Come on inside.
RUTH: Oh, yes, come on.
(HERB LAUGHING HEARTILY)
(CHATTERING ON TV)
RUTH: The Torgesons
might come over later.
I can do without Tim.
He quit paying
on his policy.
Herb,
he's an old friend.
Just when he needs it
more than ever, refinancing
the house, Ginny in college.
RUTH: She came home
the day before
yesterday.
Oh, yeah, where's
she going to school?
RUTH: Northwestern.
She's a freshman.
He thinks the market's
a better place
for his money.
The way the war and
interest rates are knocking
the hell out of the market,
he'll be lucky if he gets...
Goddamn, son of a bitch!
I did it again.
Dad, you don't have to
pitch us.
Do you remember
her 16th birthday?
Yeah, geez,
wasn't that a bash
with that whole orchestra
there and everything?
RUTH: No, I meant the crush
she had on you.
Yeah. Nothing worse,
you're 16 and a fat girl with
pimples got a crush on you.
Jerry!
She's a beautiful girl.
Well, it's true.
Hey, I saw her at Hefferman's
the other day, a new Cougar,
dark glasses.
No more pimples
either, buddy.
What're you trying
to do, set me up?
Set you up?
Set you up for what?
Ginny Torgeson.
Can't you see
he's not interested, Herb?
He'd be lucky to get
five minutes with her.
He's got a girl.
Hey, what's this?
You holding out on me?
I found some pictures
when I was
putting your things away.
And you weren't
going to tell us?
Well, I guess
I'm telling you.
(LAUGHS)
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
HERB: Vanetta.
Vanetta what?
Spezia.
Very exotic.
HERB: Where's she from?
JERRY: Pittsburg.
She looks, uh...
She looks older.
JERRY: Older than what?
Older than you, dummy.
JERRY: Yeah, well,
could be she's 43.
She's got seven kids.
HERB: What class is she in?
She's a nurse, Dad.
She went to nursing school.
Uh, I like her face.
It's a generous face.
A nurse?
Don't worry, Dad.
I haven't done
anything rash.
Who said I got anything
against nurses?
(SINGING CAROLS)
I thought just a stew would be
all right, with everybody in
tomorrow for dinner mid-day.
Well, it's good.
Excellent, excellent.
(SIGHS)
Well, I hope your
extra-curricular activities
have renewed
your interest
in school.
Well, what was bothering me
last month was I didn't have
anything I could get into.
Well, you were bombed.
We know that, Jerry.
I guess I didn't make
much sense.
Listen, I know there's a
generation gap, and everyone's
having an identity crisis,
and everything is groovy,
but we're not as square
as you think, you know.
I just hope that
your girlfriend
and your social work
have helped you
in other ways.
You mean, as an indicator
of my state of mind?
Yeah. Yeah, if that's...
If you want to
put it that way.
Well, there is something
I am cut out for.
What is it?
My guitar.
Now I know this sounds
mundane as all hell, but,
uh, I had college in mind.
I know you did, Dad,
and I'm sorry,
I'm really sorry.
Oh, you're sorry?
Look, please, look.
I know what they're
talking about at school,
right?
I mean, I understand
the concepts
and all that stuff.
I know all about
those things.
But that's all they are,
they're things,
they're theories.
They've got no
personal relevance
to me at all.
Now maybe they will next week,
next month, next year.
I don't know, but
what the hell's that got to do
with what's making me happy
right now?
You know, I wish
I could take you half
as seriously as you sound.
(CAROLS PLAYING ON STEREO)
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
(FOOTSTEPS)
I knew
I'd find you
out here.
I didn't mean to
run out on everybody.
They're just going.
You must be
freezing to death.
Just wanted to get
some fresh air.
You mean nobody
can get to you
up there.
I like eggnogs
and all that stuff.
But listening to Dad pitching
his friends term policies
on Christmas Eve...
Jerry, I...
(PEOPLE LAUGHING)
I want you to know
he's doing
a lot of thinking.
It's like
talking to a wall.
He wants to hear you
play your guitar.
(BELLS RINGING)
Merry Christmas, Jerry.
Merry Christmas.
(GUNSHOTS FIRING)
(SQUAWKING)
I'd like to see the look
on your mother's face
when she sees
that one in the sink, huh?
All right, Cyrus,
go get him, boy.
HERB: Okay, so I heard
you play and you're good.
But how's that going to
keep you out of the Army?
I transfer to
the conservatory.
The what?
It's a music school,
it's right on campus.
Oh, the draft board's
going to love that.
As long as I carry
15 hours a semester
there's no sweat.
(GUN LOADS)
(GUN FIRING)
Uh, let them too much.
(LAUGHS)
Did you tell that
to your mother?
(EXHALES)
Yeah.
What'd she say?
She said,
"What'd your father say?"
Goddamn war.
Whoo-hoo.
Three years ago you were
hawking it up, Dad.
What are you talking about?
You've still got part
of that, uh, bumper sticker
left on your car.
Well, things change.
Well, like now I'm 20
and my birthday falls
on the wrong day, right?
Right.
Sorry about that.
(BLOWS SHRILLY)
Hey, it works.
(QUACKING SOUNDS)
Dad.
Spring semester's
in four weeks.
I made the check out
to you this time.
Thank you.
Not a Christmas present,
you know.
For your education.
So I damn well
better get one, right?
Boy, you don't give
an inch, do you?
You're as stubborn as a...
As you think I am.
The difference is
you think that life consists
of absolutes.
You can only do this,
you can only do that.
Now why can't you go to school
and play that guitar
at the same time?
Because it's a copout, Dad.
It's a little bit of this
and a little bit of that.
I know what I want.
Want? That's bullshit.
You know, you didn't
hit a shot all day.
Guess I lost my eye.
A couple of years ago
you would have had me out here
before the birds woke up.
Couldn't wait
to get out here.
Look, if you
don't like to hunt anymore,
all you have to do is say so.
A simple
declarative sentence.
Make me feel
like a horse's ass.
Hey, Dad, would you mind
if I went back to school
early?
And break
your mother's heart?
That's funny.
That's exactly what
she said about you.
VANETTA: I'll try
to get back early.
In case you get
back before I do...
(SPEAKING IN ITALIAN)
JERRY: I don't understand
a word but it sounds sexy
as all hell.
VANETTA: It means
"open all hours."
(MARVIS STRUMMING GUITAR)
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
(NOISEMAKER BLOWING)
(TV CLICKS OFF)
MAN ON TV: ...a merciful
or an all-powerful God
would permit
these mass murders.
(WOMAN SHRIEKING)
MAN: A clambake, friends and
a good cigarette would do it.
(SOFTLY) Jerry?
Oh, yeah.
JERRY: Hi.
Hey, who is this
bum in my bed?
Um,
I'm the milkman.
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah, a horny milkman.
Oh, Jesus!
(WHISPERS) Hey,
what is this?
Some sort of commune?
Jerry, he looks so cute.
Hey, uh...
Hey, where were
you at midnight?
On a bus,
somewhere in, uh,
Indiana,
on my way back here.
Happy New Year.
Who's Tony?
Well,
are those his shoes
and stuff in the closet?
What are you doing,
going through my closet?
No, I went and left
my boots there and
I found them.
He's my husband.
He was my husband.
We've been separated
for two years.
(SIGHS)
Then he's, uh...
He's still your husband.
Yes, legally.
What's the matter?
Have you got some sort
of a moral hang-up?
Why didn't you tell me?
Well,
(SIGHS)
I'm telling you now.
We've been separated
for two years.
I can't even
stand the stupid
son-of-a-bitch.
Oh, Jerry.
It's okay.
You don't... You don't
have to say any more.
Oh, I want to.
It's okay, Vanetta.
I want to.
It's all right, baby.
I married him
out of high school,
I didn't even think.
Hey, hey, hey.
It's all right.
It's okay.
I just want to
tell you that
you got yourself
a new roommate.
(WHISPERS) Does that
include Marvis?
(WHISPERS) No,
it's just you and me.
Oh.
(WHISPERS) Terrific.
(GIRL AUDITIONING)
(PERFORMING OPERA)
Thank you.
MAN: Gerald McAdams.
Uh, the first piece
that I'm going to do
is something I wrote.
Give you an idea
of the music that
I'm doing right now.
Doesn't have
a title yet.
(GUITAR PLAYS SOFTLY)
(GROANING)
Thank you.
You played very nicely.
With whom did
you study?
Um...
Well, I sort of
taught myself.
To read as well?
Yes, sort of.
Any other instruments?
Um, well, yeah,
I play the piano
pretty well.
You know, by ear.
I see. Thank you.
We'll be contacting you
in about a week's time.
MAN: Nancy Rifkind?
You really got that thing
under your fingers,
haven't you?
Oh, thanks.
Pretty tight
in there, though.
Oh, yeah.
Do you ever
play electric?
Uh-huh, sure.
Do you play folk music,
rock, all that kind
of stuff?
Yeah.
Are, uh... Are you
with the conservatory?
Oh, no. My name's
Irv Ginsburg.
Hi, Jerry McAdams.
Well, I own a coffee
shop on Lexington
called the Grass Roots.
Now, I'm looking
for somebody to
play intermissions
and maybe sit in
with my regular band.
Now they lost their
bass player to the draft.
Now, all these kids who
work for me come from
the conservatory here
because I can't afford
to pay union scale.
Are you offering
me a job?
Shh.
Are you... Are you
offering me a job?
Sixty a week, five nights,
meals, and no weed.
I don't want to get busted.
Oh, man!
Miss Spezia?
Yes.
Herb McAdams.
Oh, hello.
Oh, well, won't you
come in, please?
Thank you.
Uh, Jerry.
Hey, Dad, Jesus,
what a surprise.
How are you?
All right.
Well, greetings.
And it was nice of you
to let me know you moved.
I've been hiking
all over the campus
looking for you.
That ex-roommate
of yours, Bennie,
he kindly informed me
I was looking in the
wrong place.
Dad, did you
meet Vanetta?
Yeah.
I hope you don't mind,
I opened that.
You've been
reclassified 1-A.
Your physical's
next week.
Excuse me.
No, I think maybe you
ought to stay and hear
this, young lady.
On account of how much
you mean to him.
Why don't you sit down?
So...
So you went and
dropped out, huh?
This is a hell of a way
for me to find out, isn't it?
I gave you $1,500.
What's the matter?
You can't afford
a 70-cent phone call?
Dad.
Excuse me.
It's all there,
except for 50 bucks.
I was going to tell
you that along with
some good news.
HERB: Good news?
Mmm-hmm.
I'm transferring to that
conservatory full-time.
I auditioned last week.
Excuse me.
So, you see, when I get in,
I'll get my deferment back.
When you get in?
You mean you
haven't gotten in yet?
Oh, I'll hear...
I'll hear this week.
Well, supposing you don't?
Have you considered that?
Well, I never played
better in my whole life.
That not answering
my question!
I'll answer it this week.
So that's what
this was for, huh?
Music lesson.
It was, yeah.
But, uh...
I'm going to do
it on my own now.
I got myself a job.
What's wrong
with my money?
Uh, you mean the, uh,
blank check
I bribed you into?
Now, don't get
noble with me.
Don't you pay
for goods you don't want.
That was my bag, remember?
Your, bag. Yeah, a bag
of bullshit is what it is.
Excuse me.
Coffee?
Thanks, V.
You're gonna
crapshoot, huh?
Boy, you are
a horse's ass.
Maybe.
But it's my ass, Dad.
No matter what happens,
I'm not going in.
Well, that may not
be your decision.
That's exactly
what it is.
Sure. You decide
between the Army or jail.
Now, I don't think
it's that serious,
Mr. McAdams.
I'm sure he'll be going
to the conservatory.
Well, I hope you're
right, young lady.
I sure hope you're right.
Thank you
for the coffee.
Oh, you're welcome.
Uh, here.
Go puncture your
eardrum or something.
Hey, Dad.
Dad.
Hey, Dad, please,
will you wait
a minute, please?
Dad,
there's something
I want to tell you.
Oh, don't worry,
Mr. McAdams,
I'm not pregnant.
You see, I've never been
happier in my whole life.
I'm doing what I want
and I'm good at it,
and I'm helping this
kid discover himself,
(JERRY SIGHS)
and I'm getting
into my guitar,
and I found Vanetta.
I this, I that.
I, I, I.
We didn't say that, McAdams.
We think you're a very
talented young man.
What more do you want?
The conservatory simply cannot
admit you as a sophomore
without some formal training.
Without some knowledge
of the musical literature.
Oh, okay, you start me
as a freshman, right?
On an accelerated program,
I can finish the whole thing
in two and a half years.
Twenty-four credit
hours a semester.
I'll do it. I promise.
I can really do it.
We can't give your
draft board any assurance
you can carry such a load.
No one ever has.
There aren't enough
hours in the day.
So you're doing the old
numbers game, aren't you?
128 units in four years
or that's it, boot camp, man,
sorry about that.
That game, son,
was not our invention.
I only wish you'd started
with the conservatory.
Guess I'm kind of what
you call a late bloomer.
McAdams.
Please, let me urge you.
Whatever you decide,
don't abandon music.
You have an obligation
to such a talent.
(SOBBING) That...
That's groovy.
(GUITAR STRUMMING)
It's very hot.
Enjoy.
VANETTA: Thank you.
BENNIE: What do you want?
Coke.
DON: What do you want?
VANETTA: White wine.
White wine?
White wine she'll have
and I'll have a beer.
I'll have a Coke,
please.
Hey, man!
Hi.
Hi.
We figured out
some new angles.
Yes. First of all, have you
checked to see how far down
you are on your local list?
You may not
get picked...
Fifth out of 365.
How about get married,
have a baby?
Hey, man, I told you about
that. Remember, they passed
that law?
Oh yeah, I remember,
no longer can you
do that.
Anyway, I'm not
even divorced.
Zap.
Why don't you flunk
your physical, huh?
That's it.
You have anything wrong
with you? A bad back or
a trick knee, uh, flat feet?
Asthma, syphilis.
Terrible headaches?
Syphilis?
There's nothing
wrong with him.
I gave him a
complete examination.
He's in goddamn
perfect health.
What about a shrink?
Did you ever go to a shrink?
No.
You get a letter,
you get right out.
What?
Yeah.
Pre-psychotic,
suicidal tendencies.
Then you go to the draft
board, you act crazy.
You jump around a lot.
Come on.
I'm not kidding.
I know a guy who's
puked on a psychiatrist.
I'm not kidding,
I'm serious.
Hey, man, play gay,
you know, tell them
you're a queer.
Right.
Yeah.
You know, when they
tell you to cough down,
get all excited.
Right.
Tell them, "Just let me
at those juicy recruits."
That's no good.
That's no good, you know why?
They got a new
thing now, in Texas.
A platoon just for faggots.
I'm serious, I swear.
(ALL LAUGHING)
No, they bring
the faggots,
they put them in trenches,
they grab the V...
They don't kill them,
they just grab them
into the trenches
and do strange things,
I don't know.
Seriously, go C.O.
JERRY: Well, you got to
have a whole long history,
a record...
BENNIE: Do you
want to kill?
Right.
I think I'll
go to Canada.
Hey, let's get back
to this, uh, C.O.
thing then, huh?
Uh, how do you
feel about the war?
Well, it sucks.
Yes, but they're not
interested in moral reasons.
You see, they're only
interested in old time
religion.
That's all they care about.
(WHISPERS) Right.
You know something, man,
I think you want to go
and you don't even know it.
Look, I'm not going.
I mean, that's all
there is to it.
I'm not going.
Right.
REPORTER ON TV:
Communist troops continued
maneuvers that threaten
to cut off a large Cambodian
taskforce north of Phnom Penh.
An official said bands of
guerrillas have placed
themselves behind
government units and have
blown up two bridges
between the units
and Skua, the
district headquarters.
The U.S. command announced
the loss of the first
American fighter bomber
in missions over Cambodia
in more than two months.
Hey, leave it on.
Vice President Ky
of South Vietnam...
For Christ's sakes, Jerry.
You're getting morbid.
Why do you have to see
yourself to do that?
You got to see yourself
brush your teeth.
Why can't you just
use a tooth brush
like everybody else?
You got any more
complaints?
Yeah.
What?
You know when you get up
in the middle of the night
to use the john?
Yeah, I know.
Could you put
the seat back down?
Just like that.
Anything else?
(ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH WHIRRING)
Yes.
You've got lousy aim.
Oh, Jerry, stop it.
You're getting me all wet.
That's one of the
reasons I want you
to use a tooth brush.
Vanetta Spezia.
Yeah?
I am scared.
(SIGHS)
I am, too, Jerry.
I feel like I've got
one thing on my head.
That guy Simpson,
you know, he's all
I've got left.
Would you come
to Canada with me?
What?
Well, what are we
going to do up there?
We'll be together.
Yeah?
And, uh...
Well, you could get
a job in a hospital
(CLEARS THROAT)
I could get a job,
you know, or enter one
of the music schools in
Montreal or Toronto.
You're serious,
aren't you?
Yeah.
Do you think we've
had enough time?
I guess not,
otherwise you wouldn't
have to ask that question.
(WOMAN SOBBING)
Hey, Louis,
what happened?
She just lost her oldest
boy Ray in Vietnam.
Ray?
Yes.
Where's Marvis?
He ran out.
Thanks, Louis.
(BELL RINGS)
MARVIS: Get in there,
you mother!
Get in!
Get in there, you!
Hi.
What do you want
with me, Whitey?
Well, screw you,
Big Brother!
It's all right, Marvis.
It's okay. It's all right.
Hey, Marvis.
Marvis.
Marvis!
Bennie gave me
your name.
And, I just got my notice,
and is there anything you
can do to help me?
Sure, we can keep most guys
off, if they come to see us
before they get their notices.
But once you've
gotten the notice...
Well, is there
anything we can do?
Not unless you're
in school or you have
some medical problem.
How's your health?
Perfect. I just
had a physical.
We could file a C.O. claim.
Keep you out for a couple
of weeks.
The draft board isn't going
to listen to you after you've
gotten that induction notice.
Well, what'd happen
if I fought it?
If I took it to court?
Judges in this town
are appointed by
the same men
that got us into
that mess in Vietnam.
You'd get five years in
the Federal Penitentiary.
Okay, well, thank you.
You could file a C.O.
claim from inside.
Well, how do you
mean, "inside"?
Inside a uniform.
(DOOR LEVER RATTLING)
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Yeah?
MAN: I'm looking for
Vanetta Spezia.
I'm her husband.
Come on in.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot.
Where is she?
She's at work.
Looks like I got
here just in time.
Not that I blame her.
We broke up
once before.
That's what she said.
Oh, she did, huh?
Yep.
Did she also tell you
that she promised to
wait till I got back?
Wait for what?
Till I got back.
No, she didn't
tell me that.
Do you go to
college here?
I used to.
I just dropped out.
You dropped out.
You'd better drop back
in if you know what's
good for you.
It's bad enough
over there, the shit.
Wait till you get back.
That's the best part.
Jerry.
Oh!
(CHUCKLES)
Hi, baby.
Hello, Tony.
Jerry...
Hey, it's...
It's cool, okay.
Nice to meet you.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
Anybody home?
Yes.
(JERRY SIGHS)
Hi.
He gone?
Oh, yes, he's gone.
He wants me back.
I want you to
come with me.
I know.
I want to, but...
Is it him?
Partly.
I want you.
I really,
really want you.
What do you want?
Time.
I just want
some more time.
I'm so confused,
Jerry.
(SIGHS LOUDLY)
What am I kidding
myself for, you know?
I mean, uh...
Why would you
want to come,
come walking around the Yukon,
you know, with some crazy
minstrel guy,
and playing his
guitar all the time.
(SNIFFLES)
I don't blame you.
What are you
going to do now?
I'm going to
get a divorce,
and then I'm going
to wait for you.
Like you did for Tony?
(WHISPERS) Oh, Jerry,
please believe me.
Please.
Please believe me,
honey.
You have to
believe me.
Believe me.
(DOG BARKING)
HERB: Who's out there?
It's me, Dad, hi.
RUTH: Jerry?
Yeah, yeah.
(CHUCKLES) Jesus!
Nice of you to come by
at 5:30 in the morning.
Yeah, well, I wasn't really
planning on stopping by.
Got kind of late.
Well, I guess we have
to take you when we can
get you these days, huh?
JERRY: I almost didn't...
Didn't what?
RUTH: Herb, listen.
I'm on my way to Canada.
Oh, Jesus Christ.
RUTH: Is she with you?
Come inside.
Both of you.
What happened?
I didn't get into
the School of Music.
Got caught in the draft.
When are you
supposed to report?
JERRY: Today.
Well, you had plenty of rope,
now don't say that we...
Oh, Dad, come on, please.
You know, I'm not blaming you.
All I want to come
to say was goodbye.
I'm sorry.
I'm going to put
on some coffee.
You'd actually give
up your citizenship?
If I have to, yeah.
Jesus Christ!
Herb,
my father came to this
country 50 years ago to
avoid the draft in Poland.
That's not
the same thing.
It's exactly
the same thing!
Well, you'd better get
that thing checked out.
(WHISPERS) It's okay.
(WHISPERS) It's all right.
HERB: I don't know what else
it needs, but it could sure
use some tires.
What do you get for that
set of 740s?
MAN: Well, it'd run you
about, uh, $128
plus tax, Herb.
Hey, Dad, the rear
tires are okay.
I'm getting you
the whole set.
Plus a spare.
That's more than the goddamn
thing is worth.
Hey, Joe, put a set of
740s and a spare
on that bomb.
Hey, you know,
these damn pigs are worn
right down to the casings.
You're lucky
you made it this far.
Hey, you got
any maps here?
Yeah, I think there's
some in that little office
right behind you there.
Oh, thank you.
HERB: Look, I know this sounds
strange, but I haven't got
time to explain.
I want that car laid up
for a couple of days.
Look, crack the block,
put something in the
fuel line, anything.
You know more about
that than I do. Here.
Well, Herb, why...
Look, don't question me,
will you?
Just don't question me.
I'll explain to you later.
Believe me,
it has to be done.
MAN: Herb, don't...
Just do as I ask,
will you?
(SOBBING)
Hey, wait a minute,
I still got a couple
of bolts...
Hey, wait a minute!
Where you going?
HERB: Jerry, stop!
(SOBBING)
Oh, Jesus Christ, Jerry!
RUTH: Herb!
Any mail today?
He'll write again
as soon as he can.
You know how they are.
Ah, it's too close
to the house.
One good storm and...
I bet it's been
there 80 years.
It hasn't fallen yet.
Well, you know
what I mean.
Ever since I built
that damn tree house,
he'd scamper up there
like a squirrel
whenever he...
To be by himself.
Boy's entitled to that.
Oh, kids.
Boy, you think they're yours
and they're not, not really.
The worst part
of it is
they keep reminding
you of it.
Well, we weren't
any different.
Come on,
let's go in, huh?
(HERB SIGHS)
I should have torn
it down years ago.
MAN OVER RADIO:
...station now
presents the news.
Local, national
and around the world.
With John Mitchm
reporting from Washington,
David Allen in New York,
Robert Andrews from Saigon,
Mark Robin reporting from
Paris, Harold Joseph...
(LOWERS VOLUME)
You know
something, Ruth?
Mmm?
I bet I know what
he's going to say
when he comes home.
"You overstated your case,
Dad, you always do.
"Get so excited making a deal
or watching a ball game.
"Goddamn, what a mistake
I almost made, huh?"
(RUTH MOANS SOFTLY)
(GUNSHOTS)