7th Heaven (1996–2007): Season 1, Episode 17 - Choices - full transcript

This is detention, folks,

not
kindergarten.

Take your seats

and at least pretend
you're being punished.

Don't worry, they're
not going to bite.

Well, except
for that guy maybe.

I'm Camille.

Oh, yeah, I think
I've heard of you.

I'm Mary Camden.

Yeah, I've heard
of you, too.

You're the minister's
daughter, right?



Guilty.

So what are you in for?

Tardiness.

What about you?

Smoking.

Oh.

In the boys'
locker room.

Wow!

What are you
doing tonight?

Do you want to go
to the mall?

Oh, I've got to ask
my parents first.

To go to the mall?

Yeah, they keep
a pretty tight rein.

Well, we'll just
have to get them to
loosen up, won't we?



How about a hamster?

No, I don't
like hamsters.

So I can have
something else?

I don't think
so, honey.

Happy's enough pet
for one family.

But Happy's Simon's pet.

I want my own.

How about a little,
bitty goldfish?

That won't be no trouble.

Any.

Any what?

A goldfish won't be any trouble.

I know, so can I have one?

No, honey.

Can I walk Happy?

Not by yourself.

Wait for Simon, okay?

Oh.

Hi, guys-- where's Mary?

Uh, basketball practice.

In the off-season?

You know how those chicks are.

They're fanatics.

Wow.

Oh, Lucy,
your dad wants
to talk to you.

He's in
the study.

Am I in trouble?

Why do you guys always think
you're in trouble

if one of us wants
to talk to you?

Experience.

Annie?

Tom!

What a great surprise!

Come on in.

How are you?

Good.

So, Tom, are you
a full-fledged minister now?

No, not yet.

Still second to the throne.

Boy, we've missed you.

I think you were
the best associate pastor

that Eric's
ever had.

I take it you're
still in Denver?

For the time being.

What does that mean?

I have to admit, I'm getting
a little tired of it.

I thought I might
take a little
vacation.

Come on, you couldn't
find a vacation spot
better than Glenoak?

In the back of my mind,

I thought you might have
an opening

for an
associate pastor.

I really wish
you'd called first.

There's no room
in the budget

for anything like
that right now.

That's okay.

The trip was just a lark.

Spur of the moment.

You know, I really
had no expectations.

So, if one of you

could be kind enough
to call me a cab,

I'd like to find a room
in a cheap hotel

and chill out
for a while.

Well, you know, I can get you
a good rate at the Holiday Inn.

I know the manager there.

Great.

Holiday Inn?

I would be
personally insulted

if you didn't
stay with us.

We have so much
to catch up on.

Well, if you insist.

I do!

Yeah, why not?

Great, thanks.

If you don't mind,

I'd like to wash up.

Oh, it's upstairs
to the left.

Oh, isn't
this great?

Well, it's not great.

I've never been
that crazy about Tom.

I thought you were.

Well, I'm not.

He always seems
to be hiding something.

Whatever I did,
I'm sorry.

What are you talking about?

Mom said you wanted
to talk to me.

Oh, yeah.

No, I just wanted to remind you

that confirmation classes
start this Sunday.

You're 13,

so you can
join the church
as an adult now.

That's it?

Yeah.

Oh, I thought it was
something important.

Sign me up.

I want to hold the leash.

I let you
hold the leash

for most
of the walk.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Look!

Hey, it's mine.

Now it's mine.

I picked it up first.

I'm telling Mom.

Wow...

I wonder who lost it.

Obviously no one in our family--
this is $50.

Maybe we should give it back.

To who, the sidewalk?

We don't know who it belongs to.

Should we give it to Daddy?

Well, we could give it to Dad,

or...

first we can sit down

and discuss this like adults.

Okay, discuss what?

How we can spend it.

Oh, hi.

How was practice?

Good.

You know, I really admire
you and the other girls

trying to keep up your game
during the off-season.

Thanks.

Um, hey, Mom,
can I go to the mall

with Camille tonight?

No way.

I just thought,
you know,

with practice and all, you'd be
too tired to go to the mall.

Well, I'm not too tired

and I want to hang out
at the mall with Camille.

Wait a minute. Who's Camille?

I've never heard you
mention her before.

She just transferred in
last fall,

so she doesn't have
that many friends.

Well, I guess it's okay.

But not too late,
and after dinner.

We have a guest--
Tom Harrison.

Oh, you mean the really
good-looking guy

who trained to be a minister
with Dad?

Mm-hmm.

So grab some napkins
and help me with the table.

Okay.

Hey, you know,
Camille isn't somebody

you should be
hanging out with.

She's nice.
What's your problem?

She's not nice.

She has a reputation for
being wild-- really wild.

Yeah?

Well, so do you.

Okay, the right
thing to do

would be to return
the money.

On the other hand, since we
don't know who to return it to,

then we can do something good
with it,

and that would be right, too,
wouldn't it?

Yeah, but maybe it would be
righter to tell Mom and Dad.

Yeah, but if we do and
they let us keep the money,

they wouldn't
let us spend it.

We'd have to save it.

That's no good.

Ruthie, this is a big decision,
and we have to handle it right.

Let's flip a coin.

Heads, we keep the money.

And tails... we'll do
two out of three.

Okay.

It's heads.

Yes!

$50 is a lot of money.

How much is it?

$50 is 5,000 pennies.

We're rich.

Hi, Tom.

Lucy?

I can't believe that's you.

How old are you now?

Thirteen.

Wow!

I know.

I'm starting confirmation
classes this Sunday,

and Mom thought maybe you could
help me study.

I guess I could do that.

But, you know,
choosing your religion

is one of the most
important choices

you'll ever make
in your life.

And before
I was confirmed,

I investigated
every possible choice.

I never really thought about
having a choice in the matter.

I just assumed
I'd join Dad's church.

Oh, no, no, you always have
a choice.

It's a lifetime decision
you're being asked to make,

and it shouldn't be
entered into lightly.

Would you like
some salad dressing?

No, I'll wait
till dinner.

I don't know what it is,
but I'm telling you,

there's something
going on with Tom

that we don't know about.

All I know is that he's
charming, good-looking

and a very
charismatic speaker.

You think
he's good-looking?

Tom?

Yes, he's
good-looking,

but not as
good-looking
as you are.

So, can I help
with dinner?

I want to earn my keep.

Oh, sure.

Hey, vegetarian lasagna!

I can't believe you remembered
I'm a vegetarian.

Of course
I remembered.

So how did you make
the béchamel sauce?

Well, you know,
I still haven't
figured out a way

to make a good
vegetarian cream sauce
without dairy.

It's so simple.

All you need
is vegetable stock
and cornstarch.

Oh, of course.

Oh, that reminds me--
while you're here,

will you get the recipe
from your grandmother

for that chocolate
pound cake?

Hey, Dad,
can you take us
to the mall?

Yeah, we need
to go real bad.

What for?

To look at some stuff.

Sorry, but we're going
to be eating soon

and I'm not really
a mall guy.

Oh, hey, Mary's
going to the mall
with her friend Camille.

Maybe Simon and Ruthie

could go
with them.

Great idea, Matt.

Thanks, Mary.

Dinner's in five minutes.

All right, we'll be there.

You know, Annie, uh...

there's been something
I've been wanting to tell you,

but I can't decide
whether or not I should.

Well, I'm a good listener.

I have references.

Um, are you having problems
being a minister?

Because I have a lot
of experience listening

in that area.

Yeah, kind of.

It's just that...

No, never mind.

I don't want to dump
my problems off on you.

Let's just have a good time.

You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

If you change your mind,
you know where to find me.

Hi.

Oh, thanks.

I hope you don't mind
entertaining Tom.

I just... I got so much
paperwork to catch up on,
it's...

Really? What kind
of paperwork?

Oh, you know, just
the usual old church stuff.

Yeah, well, you know,
maybe when you're
finished,

you could find some
of that usual old
church stuff

to include Tom in.

Aw, Mom, do I have to?

Just let me hide out
for 20 minutes, okay?

Okay.

Do you want to hide out
with me?

Mmm... uh-uh.

Oops, I'm sorry.

I'll come back later.

Good, good, you do that.

Oh, Lucy, no,

come back, come back.

He's all yours.

So, how can I help you?

Actually, I just wanted
to look at a book on Buddhism.

Are you doing a paper
for school?

Not exactly.

Um, I was talking to Tom
about my confirmation classes

and he encouraged me
to look

at all my religious options.

Like Buddhism.

For starters.

Why Buddhism?

I don't know.

Richard Gere likes it.

Well, yeah.

Okay, okay...
ah, yeah, here you go.

Anything else
I can offer you?

We got Judaism,
Catholicism,

Hinduism, Sufi...

The Sufis are interesting.

No, I'll just look into
the Buddhists for now, thanks.

Okay.

This is all right with you,
isn't it?

Yeah, it's fine.

Y-y-you should know something
about other religions.

What?

We're bored.

Can we please go
to the pet store?

It's right next door.

We promise
we won't get lost

or talk to strangers
or anything.

Oh, let them go.

You're acting
like their mother

instead of their
fun older sister.

I agree.

Well, maybe I should go
with them.

No. I need your opinion
on this dress.

Well, I can tell you
right now you'd look
great in it.

Look, just let me
try this on,

and we'll go straight
to the pet store

and catch up with them,
I promise.

Oh, yeah, try that on.

No, I don't need anything.

Oh, yeah?

Do you have
something to wear
to a fraternity party?

What fraternity party?

Tonight.

You have to come.

There'll be tons
of older guys there.

I mean mature guys,

not like the nerds we go
to high school with.

It'll be so cool.

Camille, I'm lucky
I got to come to the mall.

My parents aren't going to let
me go to a party at 9:30,

especially not
a fraternity party.

Right, so that's why you're
not going to ask them.

I can't believe I'm beating you.

I've never beaten you at gin.

I am the gin king.

One day they're going
to write songs about me.

Yes!

Gin.

Let's see
what you got.

Uh-oh, ooh...

45, plus 20 for me
going out first.

65 points for me.

I am gin queen,
admit it.

You can't, you can't.

I'm sorry, I hate to interrupt
your fun.

I just got off the phone
with Judy Calloway

and she's not
doing so well.

Is that the same Judy who was
living with the artist,

the one who used to dress
like a rock star

when he came to church?

Yeah, Judy married him
and then they got divorced

shortly after that

and then about six months ago
he committed suicide.

Judy's having
a real hard time
dealing with it all.

Hey, Tom, maybe you could come
with me.

I think Judy's getting

a little bored
with my company.

No, I can't.

I'm not good
in those situations.

Oh...

I'm sorry.

I'm just tired from my trip.

I'm going to go to bed.

What about our game?

I've got a headache. Sorry.

Something's not right.

I know.

Let's just give him
a little time.

All right, I got to get over
to Judy's.

I'd be happy to go with you
if you'd like.

That's a great idea.

Oh, Matt, do you mind
watching Lucy?

Your Dad and I are going out
just for a bit.

Sure.

I have no life. Why not?

$530.

Now, that ought to cover
the next two deliveries,
plus today's.

I got almost no overhead
and hamsters breed like crazy.

This is like money
in the bank.

Well, we sell the little devils
just as fast

as you deliver them.

It's funny, though--

kids want puppies,
parents want hamsters.

Nice doing business with you.

Did you hear that?

That guy's making money
raising hamsters.

A lot of money.

If we could raise puppies,
we could raise hamsters.

Yeah.

Of course we'd have
to hide them

until we made enough
to go to college.

Daddy would like that.

Hey, how about a couple
of ferrets?

Look, I told you
to stay away from here.

Ferrets are illegal.

a boy and a girl, please.

If you have two that are
married, we'll take them.

And where's your mom and dad?

Well, they're at home.

See, we're going
to surprise them.

Sorry, kid, we don't sell pets

to minors.

Psst.

Come here.

What are those?

They're ferrets,

the Rolls Royce
of small rodents.

Cute.

Cute? These little beauties are

the fastest money-making animals
on the market

and the easiest
to take care of.

All you need is a shoebox
with some holes,

a little exercise,
some bread crumbs.

Wait a minute.

How much are they?

We only have $50.

That's 5,000 pennies.

No kidding.

Well, normally they're
50 bucks apiece.

But you two look like nice kids,

so I'm going
to let you have
them for half price.

Deal.

What?

Did you know
Buddhists believe

that suffering is
inherent in life?

Well, then I must be a Buddhist.

Not funny.

You can spend all day and night
studying to be a Buddhist,

but come Sunday morning

you're going to be
in confirmation classes.

Not necessarily.

Dad seems really open-minded

about me investigating
other religious options.

It's a trick.

I don't know what he's got up
his sleeve, but believe me,

it's one of his sneaky ways
of getting you to do

exactly what he
wants you to do.

I'm so glad
you could come over.

I know you haven't wanted
to go back to church,

but when you're ready,

I'd be so happy to pick you up
and sit with you.

I miss it.

But I don't miss
all the pointed questions

and the pity faces
people make at me.

It seems Bill
wasn't satisfied

to be the talk of the town
while he was alive.

His suicide
has practically made him

Glenoak folklore.

Stopping people
from gossiping

is a power
I wish I had, but...

I don't know
why people bother

trying to come up
with an answer.

Obviously Bill felt he had
no other way

out of his sorry, mixed-up life
than to end it.

You remember
Tom Harrison,

the associate minister
we had a couple
of years ago?

The good-looking one.

You think he's
good-looking?

Yes. Is he back?

Yeah, he's staying with us
a couple of days.

You should have brought him
with you.

We have something
in common, you know.

Neither one of us got along
with Bill.

I'm sorry if I seem
a little flip,

but even with a good therapist,

I'm still
a little angry.

I'm still a lot angry.

Would you two stop?

You've been squirming around

the whole way home.

Hey, what are you two
so happy about?

Um, nothing.

Where's Mom and Dad?

They're out
visiting someone.

Oh, okay.

I'm going to go
to bed now.

Good night.

Me, too.

Well, I guess
I might as well go, too.

It's 9:00.

Yeah, I'm tired.

No, really, what's up?

Nothing's up.

I'm tired and I want
to go to bed, all right?

Luce, I need you to do me
a big favor.

I'm listening.

I'm going
to a fraternity party.

Oh, right.

And I'm going to a rave
with Johnny Depp.

Mom and Dad are letting you go
to a fraternity party?

No, they're not back yet.

So I'm going to sneak out

and I need you
to distract Matt
in the kitchen.

And if anybody comes up here,

just tell them
I'm asleep.

Are you sure
you want to do this?

Yes.

Go!

Good luck.

I owe you big.

Do you ever--
try for the next ten years.

I'll take one of those,
bartender.

I really enjoyed hanging out
with you tonight,

but we didn't get
to talk much.

Well, what do you want
to talk about?

Well...

this whole
Buddhist thing,

it's a lot more complicated
than I thought it would be.

Well, then don't be a Buddhist.

No, I really need
your advice on this;
it's important.

Please?

I knew you'd come.

Here.

What's this?

The dress you tried on
at the mall.

It still has
the security tag on it.

Well, you didn't think
I was going to buy it for you,

did you?

Here.

There.

Now it has a slit up the leg,

which is perfect
because you have great legs.

Put it on, you'll look hot.

So you see,
the big question

isn't whether I want
to be a Buddhist,

but whether
I'm informed enough

to choose any religion
at this point in time.

I mean, I'm not even
the same person I was

even a year ago.

By next year, who knows
who I'll become?

Still, I feel it's important
to have some sort of foundation.

Finally.

Sorry.

How were the kids?

Hungry-- they've been
down here three times
for snacks.

I hope you didn't
give them sweets.

They were
hungry.

They didn't wake up Tom
coming in and out, did they?

No, I doubt it;
Tom's not here.

He went out
for a walk.

It's getting
kind of late.

Did he say
where he went?

Nope.

So where's Mary?

She came home from the mall
and went straight to bed.

She was exhausted.

She's feeling okay, isn't she?

I'll check on her.

I'm a little
hungry myself.

Well, what
can I get you?

I think I'll go
with bachelor steak.

What's that?

A bowl of cereal.

Look at this!

We've got mice--
big mice!

I hope we've got
some traps.

You're going to eat that
after mice?

Can I get you
another one, Tom?

Uh, no.

Five's my limit,

especially when I'm
the designated walker.

Well, I think since
you're drinking Slice,

technically you can have
another one.

No, thanks.

It's time I hit the road.

Well, hey, it was good
to see you again, Tom.

Yeah, I've really been
good company, haven't I?

Being good company is my job.

What do I owe you?

Seven-fifty.

Okay.

That's odd.

I thought I had a $50 bill
in here.

Here, keep the change.

Thanks.

Are you sure you're okay?

Never said I was.

Hey...

Hey, I'm Jason.

Hi, I'm Mary.

Max, I'd like you
to meet your date, Mary.

Nice.

Want a brewski?

No, thanks.

Get her a beer, and
I'll take one, too.

Date? Where's the party?

This is the party.

Me and Jason and you and Max.

Isn't Max cute?

You cannot leave me alone here.

Promise.

You're kidding, right?

No, I'm not kidding.

Stop being a baby
about this, okay?

Just relax.

A beer for you.

And for you.

Come on, babe,
I think these two
want to be alone.

Can I take
your jacket?

Sure.

Want to sit down
on the couch?

Sure.

They're gone.

And so is our
five million pennies.

Five thousand pennies.

Well, they're gone
just the same.

Uh, listen, you two
should be in bed.

We are.

You know what I mean.

I'm going to go
get Happy and then

I'll come back and tuck you in.

Um, you want me to get Happy
for you, Mom?

She's been
a little crazy

all night.

Who knows what's wrong with her?

I do-- I'm afraid
we've got mice.

Mice?

Don't worry.

I'm going to get some traps
tomorrow.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, Mary, good night.

Mom, I've got
to talk to you,

but I don't want
to wake Mary up.

Oh, okay,
what is it, honey?

It's just that
I'm not so sure

about this whole
confirmation thing.

Oh, well, do you want
to talk about it?

Well, maybe I should
talk about it with Dad.

Not that I don't
value your opinion,

it's just that this
is probably more
of a Dad thing.

You know, since
he started it.

Fine, no problem.

I just wanted to return
your Buddha book.

Oh, thanks.

By any chance, do
you have anything
on Quakers?

So you've crossed all
the Eastern-based religions

off your list?

Yeah, I'm not very good
at meditating.

Well, meditation is
a little like prayer

only less talking,
more listening.

You know me; I'd rather talk.

So why do you want
to be a Friend?

A Friend?

Quakers are generally
called "Friends."

Whatever they're called, they're
a peaceful, nonviolent group

and very socially
conscious, you know.

That's true--
did you also know

that as far back as the days
of Reconstruction,

Quakers were involved
in rebuilding churches

that had
been burned?

No, I didn't know.

Thanks, Dad.

Are you sure
you don't mind
about this?

No, it doesn't
bother me.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, honey.

You know, um, if Lucy's
exploration is bothering you,

you should
say something.

I don't want her
to choose my church

just because it's my church.

If you mean that,
it's very liberal of you.

I'm getting
worried about Tom.

I think maybe
he's hiding something.

He certainly didn't hide
his feelings

about going over to Judy's.

He was great with people
when he worked with you.

You know, it's not like

he hasn't dealt
with grief before.

Are you okay?

No, I'm not.

I mean,

what's up
with this guy?

Maybe the job's
getting to him.

Maybe he's depressed.

What do
you think?

I don't know what to think.

I'm going to go look for him.

You can beep me

if he comes back.

Okay.

You sure you don't
want a beer?

Yeah, I'm sure.

All right.

Camille, can I talk
to you for a second?

Yeah.

Hey, man.

Hey.

She seems
really uptight.

Are you sure
she's 18?

Did she say
she was 18?

Camille said
she was 18.

Then she's 18.

Are you having fun?

No, I'm not having fun.

I want to go home.

Well, I'm sorry,
but I'm not ready to leave.

Maybe your date can take you.

He's been drinking all night.

Well, you know, you're going
to have to make a choice, then:

either wait
for me

or let him drive you home.

The mice!

I've got the mice!

I've got the mice!
I got them!

No, no, wait!
They're not mice!

They're ferrets,
they're our ferrets.

What do you mean
"our ferrets"?

Well, our ferrets are
cuddly handfuls of fun

that breed well in captivity.

They'd better not
be breeding well

in Camden captivity.

Not so far.

Look, it's
a long story.

Well, I've got time.

And you're not going anywhere

probably
ever again.

No, Dad left about a half hour
ago, and Mom just saw a mouse

so everybody went running down
to her room.

Like a mouse is something
you'd run to see.

Get Matt, now!

And by the time
I'm ready

to go
to college,

it'll cost $25,000 a year,

or approximately
500 ferrets.

And that's if
the going price
for ferrets holds,

and just
if it holds.

If the price goes up, then
someday you might be hearing,

"Dr. Camden,
paging Dr. Simon Camden."

Sorry to interrupt,
but Matt, you have
a phone call.

No. I mean...
it's a girl.

And you might want
to talk to this girl
in the other room.

I have a feeling that
she's very special.

Those mice are
majorly mutated.

They're not mice,
they're ferrets.

And they're not mutated,
they're cute.

Want to buy a couple
and help us go to college?

Mom, a friend of mine's
at a party

and things kind
of got out of hand,

so I'm going to give her
a lift home.

Matt...
Yeah?

Straight there and back, okay?
It's late.

All right.

And...

med school dreams aside,

those ferrets are going back
to wherever they came from.

That might be a problem.

Tom?

I'm sorry,
I was just...

Oh, no,
I'm sorry.

I didn't mean
to interrupt, I...

It's okay.

He had me on hold anyway.

What's going on, Tom?

We worked together
for two years.

I don't feel like
I ever knew you.

What are you really doing
in Glenoak?

Forget it.

I'm thinking
of leaving
the church...

before I'm asked
to leave.

Why would you be
asked to leave?

I frightened the congregation

and completely humiliated myself
last Sunday during the sermon.

By...?

I had a seizure.

I have epilepsy.

Epilepsy?

That's what

you've been hiding?

Yeah.

And it's... not the kind
where you just...

stare blankly into space

and make some
little repetitive gesture

that seems
a little curious.

I lose consciousness

and convulsively jerk and shake
around on the floor.

Grand mal seizures,
that kind of epilepsy?

That's the one.

I'm sorry, I had no idea.

Are you on medication?

You under
a doctor's care?

Yeah, yeah.

I take my medication

and I see a doctor.

But every couple of years,
it just happens,

and it happened last Sunday.

I can feel
it coming on.

My hands started tingling,
you know,

and I had a headache,

and my mouth tasted like
it had a... a penny in it.

I thought I could sleep it off,

but I was supposed
to give the sermon.

And you couldn't

talk to your minister there?

What, you didn't...

You didn't think
he'd understand?

Well, up until a week ago,
nobody knew.

Now they all know.

You should've seen
the look in their eyes

when I came to.

They were terrified.

I never want to see
those people again.

I never want them
to see me again.

I never want anyone
to see me like that again.

I think you may be the strongest
man I've ever met.

What?

I don't know how you've kept all
this to yourself for so long...

at the same time,

trying to...
help everybody else.

No... no.

I'm not a strong man.

I feel the same way
Judy must have felt.

I don't want

to answer the questions
or explain what happened.

And like her husband...

I don't want to deal
with my life anymore.

Doesn't sound that way to me.

Sounds as though you're dealing
with it for the first time.

I don't think

God put you on hold.

I think God brought you here.

I cannot believe you.

I know, you're right.

I shouldn't have done this.

But I don't want
to hear about it

right now, okay?

I just want to go home.

Okay.

Are you bailing?

What's wrong?

That's right!

She's leaving
and so are you.

Oh, thanks

for the "Stern Dad"
impersonation,

but I have a car and I think
I can make it home on my own.

You can pick up
your car tomorrow.

I'm not leaving a 16-year-old

at a fraternity house.

Relax, Mr. Cleaver,
it's not the first time.

Look, if you're not in the car
on the count of three,

I'm putting you in.

One...

two...

You have nothing to worry about.

We're going to find you
good homes,

just not this home, okay?

Oh, hi.

I'm beat.

I think I'm going
to hit the sack.

For real this time.

Can I assume you have
the mice in custody?

Mice?

You have mice in this house?

No, we had ferrets
in this house.

What?

Simon and Ruthie

bought them at the mall for $50.

How did those two

get their paws
on $50?

They found a $50 bill
in the driveway.

Oh, that 50 was...

lucky.

Are you guys going

to let them keep
those things?

No.

Simon and
Ruthie are lucky

that I'm
keeping them.

Can I have them?

The ferrets, I mean.

They're illegal.

Yeah, I know.

That's why they're
so hard to get.

Besides, I think they'd make
good company for me.

So?

Our friend Tom has
an incredible story.

He wants
to tell you himself

before he goes back
to Denver tomorrow.

Did you just say
"our friend"?

Oh, yeah.

Since I found out
what he was hiding,

I got a whole new perspective.

Wait.

This is the friend
who was at the party?

Mary has something
she'd like to tell you.

I snuck out of the house

and went to
a fraternity party
with Camille.

How many ways
could you go wrong
in one sentence?

And who's Camille?

She's a girl I met in detention.

Oh, that's a great place
to mingle

and form long-lasting
friendships.

Dad, I know.

I'm sorry.

Oh, yeah,
that covers it.

Talk to me
when they're done.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Good, that's good.

What were you thinking?

I mean, what
were the processes

that went through your head
that led you

to the conclusion that this
would be a good idea?

I need to know--

it'll comfort me
when I'm in the home.

Well, at first I thought
it'd be kind of adventurous.

You want adventure,
you clean out your closet.

And you know what,
unlike your father,

I don't care why
you thought it
was a good idea,

because I'm here
to tell you that it wasn't.

And I'm also here
to tell you

that I hope you
enjoyed the outdoors,

because you're probably
never going to be
there again.

School, church and back
for the next 30 days.

No TV, no phone,
no nothing.

And you will be
a model prisoner

or you'll get
another 30 days.

Do you understand me?!

Was your sister
covering for you?

She didn't really have a choice.

She had a choice,
and so did you.

And you both blew it.

We'll talk about this
more in the morning.

Okay.

We're glad

you're back home
safe and sound, okay?

You know we love you.

Yeah.

As far as I'm concerned,

Lucy can keep Mary company
for the next two weeks.

I am not going to have
those two conspiring
against us

or we'll never make it through
the next few years.

I don't disagree, but don't rush
up to Lucy just yet,

because I have a plan
that's going

to put her in confirmation class
first thing Sunday morning.

I thought you were going to give
her some time to search.

She can search all she wants,
but she's going to do it

from the front row
of confirmation class.

Oh, I'm a little surprised to
hear you say that, Mr. Liberal.

I'm a little
surprised myself;

but then, it's been
that kind of day.

Yeah.

Guys don't think
like girls.

So when it comes
to this kind of stuff,

you got to trust me, okay?

I know.

Where did you get that dress?

Camille shoplifted it for me.

What?!

I didn't know she did it.

She had it in the car
when she picked me up.

And you put it on
and went to a fraternity party?

You know, some choices
can change your life.

You're lucky this one didn't.

I know, I know--
it was stupid.

I'm sorry
for everything.

Look, it's okay, it's okay.

But a word of warning:

From now on, I'm going to be
watching you like a hawk.

I was just...

Eavesdropping?
I see.

That's not very nice.

I'll be right there.

I'm just going to say
good night to Lucy.

She's probably already asleep.

I'll bet she's not.

Good night, Luce.

Night, Dad.

Good night, Mary.

Night.

Good night, Dad.

Good night, Mary.

Uh, Dad?

Yes, sweetheart?

I'll see you
at confirmation class Sunday.

Okay, honey--
I'll look forward to that.

We are constantly caught
in the process

of having to make decisions,
some easier than others.

Should I go to a party even if
my parents wouldn't want me to?

Should I rat
on my brother or sister

when I know what they're doing
could put them in danger?

Should I spend
found money?

And then there
are tougher decisions

with greater consequences.

To what extent do I let my child
make his or her own choices?

Do I face my problems
or turn away?

Do I keep holding on to the past
or do I grasp onto the future?

How do we decide
what choices to make?

A friend of mind told me,

"Ask yourself
if the choice serves you.

"Does it serve anyone else?

"Does it serve life itself?

"Because if it doesn't,

it could be the wrong choice."

Do you mind if I
quote you on that?

No.

But we've got
about three minutes

before we have to leave
for the airport.

You're right.

Thanks for
the dress rehearsal, folks.

No... thank you.

Can we give you a lift?

No, I think I'll stay awhile.

It feels good just to be here.

Uh, Dad, since we
came to church today,

do we still have
to come back tomorrow?

Actually I was thinking

of bringing you all here
every Saturday.

Would that be good for everyone?

No!