7th Heaven (1996–2007): Season 3, Episode 18 - We the People - full transcript

Simon risk loosing his paper-round unless he manages to collect in time from scrooge Malone, but crone Hinckle suggests how to trap him. Matt's married college president Jack Brenner's reputation is tarnished by at times even violent public controversy over a formally allowed affair with a grad student. Matt, friends and parents get involved. Mary bumped into Miles Olsen's car on the school parking, but he digs a date with Lucy.

You know what the worst part is?

It's not alleged.

- What?
- It's true.

I've never done anything
like this before, but I did have a...

A relationship with a grad student.

It's been over for a while.

Don't know how the school paper
got wind of it.

I never meant for anyone...

...to get hurt.

Brenner has to be fired.

We don't need to learn anything a man
with his character could teach us.



Hey, I hear those guys are organising
a campus walkout later

to express their moral outrage
on the whole Brenner thing.

You guys gonna attend?

I mean, we can get
some moral outrage to go.

Well, I might check it out
in a car-wreck kind of way.

I mean, not that I like
what Brenner did.

But I don't think the man's private life
is our business.

Oh, I'm not thrilled with him either,
but I'm not married to him.

And the girl he had the affair with
isn't any kind of victim.

She's, what, a third-year grad student
who knew he was married?

Women like that
make the rest of us look bad.

On the other hand, I work two jobs,
and I'm in debt up to my ears,

and some girl sleeps with
the university president.

And he has the financial-aid office
go over her aid application



with a fine-tooth comb?
Give me a break.

Come on, the financial-aid office
said her aid package

was determined over the summer,

before her classes
or the affair even started.

I mean, we don't know for sure
she got special consideration.

And even if she did,
it didn't cost us anything.

Oh, yes, it did.
We just don't know how much yet.

--but none of them
will begin to excuse this.

I mean, come on, not cheating
on your wife with a student?

- Should be an easy one, shouldn't it?
- Yeah.

Look, I like you, Camden.

You're a hustler, and you got pluck,
but I can't extend you any more credit.

A newspaper route is a tough job.

And collecting from each
and every subscriber on your beat

is a tough but necessary
part of the job.

So if you can't do it,

I'm gonna have to find
somebody else who can.

I understand. But don't worry,
it won't come to that.

Glad to hear it.

Mr. Daniels said I have to get
Mr. Malone to pay up or I'm fired.

As your assistant,
that means me too, right?

Great. Just great.

- Oh, thank you.
- You're welcome.

Thanks.

Have a nice day.

I can't believe you hit a car
in the school parking lot.

I mean, you weren't even
parallel parking

or playing fire drill in traffic.
You were just vertically backing out.

For your information,
I didn't hit anything.

I dinged a back bumper. Barely.

You'd need a magnifying glass
to see it anyway.

Maybe we should've stayed
until the car's owner showed up.

We couldn't. We had to pick up
the captains of industry

so they could get home
to their precious paper route.

Besides, I put a note
under the car's windshield wiper

with my name, my number,
and a very clear message: "call me."

- What are you gonna do?
- I don't know.

The most important thing
is making sure

that Mom and Dad
do not find out about it.

I killed the station wagon, and that
put us in the Meals on Wheels van,

so any car thing,
no matter how small or accidental,

is gonna set them off bigtime.

Maybe I can pay off the damage by
myself and they'll never even know it.

And how are you gonna pull that off?

I am going to pray
that the car I barely touched

belonged to a guy,
and then, well, I'm me.

Mr. Malone, hi.
Can you hold up a second?

We have to collect today.

No, it's very important.

It's not fair. We were fast this time.

I know. We cut 12 seconds off
our sidewalk-to-porch time.

That's it, then.
We're fired, canned, down the gutter.

No, we're not.

- Well, not yet, anyway.
- I'm listening.

Well, I could make up what I owe
the newspaper out of pocket.

That way it'll buy us some time
to get Malone to pay up.

Won't that cut into our profits?

Let's get Mom to squeeze the money
out of Mr. Malone.

She can do it, too.

I know, but we can't ask her.

Because then she'll think we can't
handle the job and she'll make us quit.

Besides, we can never be
captains of industry

if our mom has to
strong-arm people for us.

We need Jean-Claude Van Damme.

He could do it.

- Do we know him?
- Nope.

Not yet.

Rats.

- Hello.
- Papa's home.

Daddy's home, yay.

What's the word?

I don't know.

Since Jack hasn't offered
to resign yet,

the board of trustees is scheduled
to vote on his tenure situation

in a couple of days.

They have no legal argument
against him, though.

The student was consenting
and of legal age.

There's no clause in Jack's contract
or the school charter

prohibiting student-employee
fraternization.

There's no morals clause?

The involvement
was not legally immoral.

Just realistically.

Do you think Jack Brenner's fit
to lead the university?

I don't know.

You know, admissions are up,

the number of grants approved
has increased,

minority recruiting's strong.

I know that
Jack's done an incredible job.

That's not what I'm asking.

I'm asking if you think
he's fit to lead the university.

The university our son attends.

I don't know. I mean...

He's not the man I thought he was,

or I guess the man I want him to be,

but should he be fired for that?

Thank you.

Thought you might need
to top off your tanks.

Thank you.

- How's everything on the route?
- Okay.

Except we can't collect
from Mr. Malone.

Yep, and no collecting
means we're fired.

We'll really miss you.

But maybe we can still get together
for juice boxes.

- Or a hoagie.
- Don't you worry.

I haven't liked Dan Malone
since I politely asked him

if he could use a little less aftershave,
because it was killing my begonias.

And he, with his big, smart mouth,
said, "Move upwind."

Hello.

Hi. This is Miles Olsen.

Mary Camden left a note on my car
saying I should call her.

Yeah. Hi, this is Mary.

- How are you?
- Really good, thanks.

So, about that note on your car.

I thought we should get together
and talk.

Listen, Mary, I'm really flattered.

But you're not my type.

If you still wanna get together,

knowing that we'll never be
anything more than friends, great.

Otherwise, I'm sorry.

That's it? That's why you called?

Well, there is
the one other little thing.

I was wondering if Lucy
would go out with me.

I think she's a goddess.

Yeah. How about, say, a burger,
tomorrow, 4:30, pool hall?

Great.

I have your address, and I'll pick up
Miss Lucy Camden then.

Great.

Hey, Luce. Guess what?

Miles Olsen
wants to go out with you.

- Who?
- Miles Olsen.

He was just on the phone.
He's a junior. We've seen him around.

Why can't I picture him?

I don't know,
but he called you a goddess.

You're kidding.

Cool.

Why didn't he ask me out himself?

Oh, he's shy, you know,
afraid of rejection, blah, blah, blah.

I haven't been out with anybody
since I broke up with Jordan.

This could be a dream come true.

Yeah. For all of us.

This is supposed to be
an institution of higher learning,

a path to principles and ideals.

Do we want a man who cheats on his
wife and family determining that path?

No.

Then we need to make sure
the board of trustees

knows how we feel before they vote.

- How you doing?
- You can't tell?

I'm brimming with moral indignation
and damnation.

Brenner is a cancer
on the backbone of this institution.

An institution that he has preyed upon
in every possible way.

Then I've obviously
come to the right place.

I think he's about to tell us
what time the stoning starts tonight.

You don't like what I'm saying?

Because you don't speak for me.

You don't speak for most of
the people on this campus,

and I wanna make sure
the board knows that.

Just because you have
the loudest voice

doesn't mean you're the only one
that should be heard.

Hey, you guys.

How did your paper route go today?

- Good.
- Real good.

It just-- It takes so long
to do everything.

Of course, we're not operating
at peak efficiency yet.

We're still honing our routine.

So I'm trying to keep
my expectations at bay.

Not to be too self-critical.

- Oh, that's probably a good idea.
- Well, it all starts with self-love.

Yes, I've heard that.

Hello, Camden residence.

Yeah, hey, Mrs. Hinkle.
Hold on a sec.

Oh, take a message.
Your father will be home shortly.

She doesn't want Dad.

No, she doesn't want you either.
She wants to speak to Simon.

I'm there for my subscribers
24 hours a day.

Yep, that's how we do it.

We're there,
except for when we're sleeping.

Or at school. Or in the bathtub.
We're there.

Hi, Mrs. Hinkle.

Excuse me one second. Mom.

Oh, sorry.

Yeah?

Okay, goodbye.

Our Malone collection problems
are over.

Mrs. Hinkle has a plan.

Hey.

- Thanks.
- You're welcome.

- So?
- So, does it matter?

I don't know. It might.

I've known you for a long time,

and I'd like to understand.

You're a friend, and...

Well, as unfair as it may be,

I expect certain things from you.

Well...

...I'm sorry if I've fallen short
of your expectations.

But I have to say,
in defence of the indefensible...

...until recently,
I'd met everyone else's.

Including my own.

When Gillian and I got married,
we had our eyes set on an outcome,

and we made every choice necessary
to keep us on track.

And after all the sacrifices
and the hard work, there I was.

Not only in a place in my life
that I'd expected,

but a place in my life that I'd wanted.

You're lucky.

You got to satisfy your dreams.

No, just my expectations.

For some reason,
in spite of everything,

I kept wanting.

Jack.

We all have things we wish we had,

things we regret not doing.

Yeah, well, this one time,
I decided to regret something I did do.

And I do.

That is disgusting.

I told you.

Hello. Am I interrupting?

- Nothing.
- Nothing. No.

Nothing.

We were just touching the soft spots
on the babies' heads.

- Why?
- Because they're there.

And Ruthie didn't believe it.

They're called the fontanel. Do you
wanna know why babies have them?

Not really. I just ate.

Did you ever fish?

- Years ago.
- Do you still have your stuff?

Try the garage.
But stay away from the hooks.

Okay.

Dinner was great tonight.

Dinner was great? Well, thank you.

So who wants to do what, when,
and with whom?

Miles Olsen, a junior who goes
to our school and who we both know,

asked me out for a burger at the
pool hall tomorrow afternoon at 4:30.

He'll pick me up here.
I'll be home by 7.

And we'll stay here before we leave.

Whom we both know.

But otherwise, nicely done.

Solid preparation, beautifully executed.
Bravo.

If it's okay with your father,
it's okay with me.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.

And you, what's your story?

Just here for moral support.

- Oh, aren't you sweet?
- I have my moments.

Yes, you do, but this is probably
not one of them.

- This is gonna be great.
- I'm glad everything's gonna work out.

I wonder where my yearbook is.

I wanna see
what Mr. Miles Olsen's all about.

Sorry I took so long. I ran into
Jack Brenner in the parking lot.

Why are there black fingerprints
on Sam's head?

Same reason that they're on David's.
It's newsprint.

- Okay.
- How'd it go with Jack?

Well, you know,
I don't excuse his behaviour,

but I understand it a little better.

Really? Because I understand that
he hurt his entire family

and the university
with one irrevocable selfish act.

- He's got a problem.
- No. No argument there.

He's got nothing but problems.

If there's a price to pay
for this kind of thing, Jack's paying it.

- Maybe, but is it enough?
- For whom?

It's okay. Put him down.

Your brother's here.

What happened to you?

Some people at school
wanted to stage a walkout

to let the board of trustees know
they want president Brenner fired.

I wonder if all this devotion
to morality

started before or after
this particular incident.

We disagreed with the whole
vilify and run-him-out-of-town tone,

but the moral minority
didn't seem interested in our opinion.

I see.

So people started pushing
and shoving, typical crowd stuff.

I caught an elbow.

- I mean, it looks worse than it is.
- Oh, good.

Campus security
broke the whole thing up pretty quickly,

but we got ticketed $200
for disturbing the peace.

- Yes, you did.
- I'm sorry about that. I'll pay for it.

But I couldn't just stand there
and listen without saying something.

I mean, it's not about morality
or politics, it's about privacy.

I don't like what Brenner did.
I don't respect him for it.

But I know what it's like
to live in a fish bowl.

I'm a minister's kid,
and people judge the things I do

as if they have a right to,
and harshly.

Like somehow I'm supposed to be
better than everyone else.

- I don't know how you do it.
- Trying to lead by example is...

Well, It's how I always wanted
to live my life, not just my job.

Even if I didn't have a parish
full of people watching over me,

I guess I believe somebody else
always would be.

- I get it, Dad, I really do.
- So do I.

We'll help you out with this.

And that, I'm gonna get an ice pack.

Is the kitchen still open?

Yeah, and what you don't eat,
put on your face.

I don't mean
to jump on your turf, Dad,

but nothing freaks me out more
than other people's moral certainty.

I understand that too.

I'm sorry, Ruthie.

I didn't know the route would be so
exhausting you'd sleep through Xena.

I thought it'd be fun.

We'd make some money for college
and get great jobs.

Live in the lap of luxury.

But all I'm doing
is wiping you guys out.

I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt.

I'll watch Xena for you.

Tell you what happens in the morning.

You were right.
I have seen Miles Olsen around.

I just never knew his name
until now.

Until you told him, the king
of jerk-wads, that I'd go out with him.

I hit his car in the parking lot.

What?

Miles' car was the object
of my unfortunate microscopic dinging.

He thought I left him the note
because I wanted to go out with him.

He called to let me down easily,

because he wanted me
to put in a good word for him with you.

- Flattered, but no.
- You have to go out with him.

He didn't even mention the ding
when he called.

And when and if he does ever notice
that amoeba of a ding on his bumper,

he'll be a lot more inclined
to let it slide,

because it was accidentally made
by the beloved sister of his goddess.

- I'm gonna puke on you.
- You don't even know him.

You might like him
once you got to know him.

You don't wanna be shallow,
do you?

I might. I could be worse things.

He called you a goddess, Luce.

How long has it been
since somebody called you that?

Somebody not related to you.

Somebody not Dad.

That's something.

And, of course, the fact that you owe
me for the rest of time as you know it...

That's something too.

If you have to go, Dad, I'm sure
that Mom could embarrass me

in front of Miles
enough for the both of you.

I know. That's one of the many
delicious reasons I married her.

But don't you worry,
when it comes to your dating life,

I got nothing but time.

If you don't want me to go,
just say so.

Miles, this is my wife, Annie.

- How do you do, Mrs. Camden?
- Nice to meet you, Miles.

And you know Mary and Lucy,
of course.

- So, Miles, tell us about yourself.
- Yeah.

Okay. I'm a Gemini
with a 2.9 grade-point average.

My hands were one letter over
to the right in the typing final,

so I failed that. But I'll make up for it
in summer school.

My dad's retired.
He had a heart attack early.

And my mom's a golf pro
at the Glen Oak country club.

Here's my home number,

the make, model,
and licence plate number for my car,

the number for the pool hall,
and a copy of my valid driver's licence.

I plan to go to college, although
I'm still exploring career goals.

And if you want Lucy home at 7,
I'll have her here at 6:45.

That-- That'd be great.

- Have a good time.
- Shall we go?

Doesn't seem like Lucy's type,
does he?

Well, Jordan was
kind of a face man,

so maybe this time
Lucy's looking a little deeper.

Maybe she's like a pig with truffles,

only she's rooting around
for substance and depth.

Plus, Miles thinks she's a goddess.

What does Lucy think
of Miles, though?

I think she thinks it's nice
being called a goddess.

You're gonna have some fun
with our daughters

while I'm working, aren't you?

- I did carry twins for nine months.
- Enjoy.

I have a few things to do
at the church,

and then I'm gonna
go over to the Brenners'.

- Good luck.
- Thanks.

Oh, hi. Can I get you guys
something for the road?

No thanks. We'll get a wee morsel
of something over at Mrs. Hinkle's.

Don't make her go to any extra work.

We won't. We just like to check in on
her every day to make sure she's okay.

Yeah, and sometimes
use her bathroom.

But mostly we need her.
She's our Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Did you get that light bulb?

Mrs. Hinkle's lamppost light is out,

so I thought I'd replace it
when we delivered her paper.

Is this paper route
everything you wanted it to be?

Sometimes yes and sometimes no.

We have a responsibility
to our subscribers.

What if someone doesn't get a job
because they didn't get the want ads?

Or what if someone doesn't know
who to vote for?

Or they don't have enough to eat
because they didn't get their coupons?

Mrs. Hinkle says
we're her favourite newspaper people.

Mine, too. Of all time.

So Xena got the Amazon god
to fight Callisto

and then they got frozen in lava?

- Yep.
- What a good one.

Mary?

Oh, hey, Doug.

Look, I wanna apologise
for yesterday.

Things got out of control,
and I'm sorry.

Yeah, they did. Thank you.

I don't have a handle
on this whole situation,

but why do people care so much?

It's weird, because I don't understand
why people seem to care so little.

Hi.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

- Mom, we're on the job here.
- I know, and I'm sorry.

I'm not checking up on you.
I was just in the neighbourhood.

Mom, the neighbourhood
is pretty much our office.

Why don't you go inside
and get your mom a snack?

And find some zesty condiments.

Okay.

They can always use a wee morsel
of something at this point in the route.

It's very nice of you to feed them,

but I don't want you going to any
extra time or trouble because of them.

You know, I never really got the hang
of cooking for one instead of four.

And if you multiply that
by a few years,

that leaves an awful lot of extra
leftovers and time on my hands.

And frankly, I could use
a little trouble now and then,

just to keep things from getting dull.

I understand you're helping Simon
and Ruthie out with a little something.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Thanks for helping my kids.

Thanks for sharing your kids.

We know you're busy, so we figured
you'd like your snack to go.

Yep, and your condiments.

Now that I know what they are.

And the juice? Delicious.

Well, I left the twins fed and changed,
sound asleep with Mary,

who's only been baby-sitting,
what, six or seven years?

So I should run.

Okay, then.

Well, I'll see you later.

- Clear.
- It's time.

We ride.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

No, no. Really.

I'm sorry. Here. Here.

- I'm sorry.
- It's fine. Fine.

Sorry.

Why don't we sit down and talk,
get to know each other a little?

Sure, let's rap.

That'll be $18.50, please.

Stuck, huh?

No-pest strip.

I found them in the attic
when I was packing to move upwind.

You know, you could have gotten
those kids fired by your selfishness.

And we would've been stuck
with some newspaper-delivering ninny.

Your actions
have consequences for others.

Consequences bigger
than a few dead begonias.

For the last time, my aftershave
did not kill your begonias.

Oh, you're right, I'm sorry.

Your aftershave just made them
kill themselves.

- Eighteen.
- Fifty.

Fifty.

Hey, isn't that your sister over there?

Yes. Don't look,
and don't let her know we're here.

Because?

It's embarrassing to have
your big brother and his girlfriend

and his friend
watch you have a date.

- Aren't you done early?
- Sort of.

My last-period class is debating the
Brenner affair for the millionth time.

And frankly, I've heard enough.

I'm paying tuition to learn something.

My money and time are wasted
while everyone yammers on

about stuff we already know.

I mean, let's get on with it already.

No kidding.

Besides, where was all the outrage
when those two frat guys

drugged and raped that sophomore girl
at their kegger last year?

There were no walkouts
or demonstrations.

Nobody talked as if the frat house
should be burned to the ground.

The whole thing just disappeared.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Come on, Doug.

Don't let this whole thing spiral
into madness, man. It's pizza.

Hey, how'd your parents
take your ticket news?

Oh, man, not great.

And I'll bet you didn't think
we had anything in common.

I'm sorry to just drop by.

I'm surprised that we didn't
pass each other at the university.

Don't worry about it.
I left the office a little early.

I've been the object of enough
supportive looks for one day.

I just wanted to see for myself
how you were doing.

I'll keep the supportive look
to myself.

Thank you.

And I really can't tell you how
I'm doing, because I'm not sure yet.

You know, everyone knows
that Jack has worked hard

on behalf of this university
for 15 years,

but everyone seems to have forgotten
that I have too.

However, now that I'm the pitiful
wronged wife, the victim, as it were,

my campus popularity
and acknowledgement

have jumped to all-time highs.

I've never been more liked
and appreciated.

What are people thinking?

That I'm jealous?

Or, God forbid, envious of this girl?

For what? I have worked hard
for the things I've achieved.

And this girl wanted
to achieve something--

I don't know what.
--by sleeping with a married man.

Gee, that's never been done before.

And if that's her best career plan,
she's in for a rude awakening.

I don't understand where, in 1999,

girls are getting the message
that that's the way to go.

What are we teaching
our daughters?

What have I taught my own?

You've taught them
that if something has value

and it's worth working
and fighting to get,

then it's worth working
and fighting to keep.

It still hurts, though, doesn't it?

Oh, yeah.

So I just demanded
that Coach Tremaine

let me do the shuttle run again,

and that's how I got my eighth-grade
Presidential Fitness Award.

Fascinating.

Hey, sorry to interrupt
your great date and everything,

but Mom needs your help
with the twins.

Lucy's the only one
that can get them to sleep.

Sorry. Duty calls.

- Well, tomorrow, my queen?
- Yeah. That would be great.

- Call us with the details.
- I'll see you tomorrow.

Oh, no. I gave him a chance,
and I went out with him once,

mostly to help you out,
but never, never, never again.

You have to. One date isn't enough

to forge
a forgiveness-inclined relationship.

To do that, you need time.

More time means more dates.

No.

Please. Mom and Dad will kill me.
They will never let me drive again.

They don't have the money
to fix the proton-sized ding

on his bumper, and neither do I.

I helped you out
because you're my sister,

and I love you, and you asked me to.

- Well, I love you, too.
- Okay, fine. You love me,

but you love driving and not
getting killed by Mom and Dad more.

Annie came by and spoke
to Gillian this afternoon.

So you and I have talked,
and Annie and Gillian have talked...

...but have you and Gillian
talked to each other?

Not really.

Of course,
after the board votes tomorrow,

I'll probably have nothing
but time to talk.

Just don't know if Gillian will be there
for me to talk to.

Maybe I should just resign.

Save them the trouble of a vote,
give everyone what they want.

Well, think about it.

Ask yourself
what's best for the family.

The university
is kind of like your family.

So, what's best for it?

You know, research has proven

that unless there's
some kind of abuse or addiction,

that the parties involved should
get counselling and stay together.

Look, I don't know.

That's a long road.

And I can't do it without Gillian.

And I don't even know
how she feels about it.

Or me.

I don't think you should resign.

I think you should fight.
I think we both should.

So where's Lucy?
We don't wanna be late.

I'm sorry.
She's just not up for another date.

I know our first date
was a little rocky,

but this time I brought baby pictures

and my journal
from Big Red's Cowboy Camp.

- Two summers' worth.
- That's great.

I just don't think it's gonna work out
between you two.

So why didn't she tell me herself?

She's shy, doesn't wanna hurt
your feelings, blah, blah, blah.

Well, what about you?

I got two monster truck tickets
burning a hole in my pocket.

I don't think so, but thanks anyway.

I don't get it.

If no Camden women
wanna go out with me,

why'd you leave that note on my car?

Because I dinged your car
in the school parking lot

and I thought we should talk about it.

And you figured I wouldn't
get in your face about it

if I was going out with your sister.

Are you talking about this?

Yeah. I am-- I am really sorry.
I'll pay for it, I promise.

I'll have to make payments,
but I'll pay for it.

You didn't do that, I did it.
Last year.

You didn't notice that your ding
had already rusted?

Oh, cool. That's great.

I'm glad you think so.

Look, Miles,
I am really sorry about everything.

Yeah, you said that,

but for some reason,
I don't feel any better.

Of course, on the bright side,

it keeps my zero-point-zero average
with women intact.

Well, maybe you'd have better luck
if you didn't refer to us as a statistic.

Just a thought.

But you are a really great guy.

Because a creep would've blamed me
for the ding, taken the money and ran.

Especially after what I did.

But you didn't.

Creep? No.

Schnook, probably.

No, it makes you
an honest guy with character.

And that's kind of refreshing.

But you might wanna get
a few dates under your belt

before you pull out the whole
Big Red's Cowboy Camp thing.

But otherwise...

Who knew the whole thing
would be so hard?

It's hard for everybody, not just you.

But if you ever want to talk...

- I mean, you have the number.
- Thanks.

- I might take you up on that.
- Good.

Why does Sam have
black fingerprints on his head?

Newsprint.

What happened to Miles?

Change of plans.

Lucy decided
he wasn't her type after all.

- She asked you to tell him that?
- No, I offered.

- I knew it'd be hard for her.
- How nice.

I'm just a little surprised Lucy waited
until her date was in the driveway

before she had her sister
go cancel on him.

She's usually
more considerate than that.

Yes, I am.

Okay, so I sort of tweaked Miles' car
in the school parking lot,

but I left a note for him to call me.

And when he did,
all he could talk about

was how much he wanted
to go out with Lucy.

I mentioned it, and they went out.

And as it turns out,
I didn't even touch his car.

So no damage, no date, no nothing.

So you just coerced your sister
into going out on a date

so you could avoid taking responsibility
for your own actions?

It's not like
she didn't wanna go out with him.

- Totally.
- I don't care. You're older.

You're supposed to be more mature
and experienced.

Even if your younger sister
were willing,

I expect you to make the right decision
for everyone involved.

But instead, you decided to lie
too many times to count

and use your sister
and an innocent guy.

And now you're trying
to defend that decision?

Interesting choice.

I didn't mean for anybody to get hurt.

A family's a lot like a pond.

If something happens to one of us,
it's like dropping a stone in that pond.

It makes ripples.

And no matter what you did
or didn't mean to do,

those ripples inevitably extend
outwards and touch other people.

Now, Lucy learned that lesson
from you at Miles' expense.

Now it's your turn.

Go help your brother and sister
with their route.

Why?
They wanted the paper route, not me.

Because I'm asking you to.

And because 20 minutes of your time
will save them one hour.

Maybe if you watch them,
you might learn something

about commitment to someone
other than yourself,

diligence and compassion.

I'm really sorry.

I know that it's not enough, but I am.

No, it's not enough.
But at least you know that.

Why does Sam
have fingerprints on his head?

Never mind. Are you really
that desperate for a date

that you'd go out with someone
you have no real interest in?

Yes?

Goddess.
Mom, he called me a goddess.

Plus, I was trying to help Mary.

And mostly I was...

...just being pathetic.

Well, it sounds like you could
use something to do

besides thinking about
your dateless self.

I thought you guys were going
to the board of trustees vote.

Well, I figured Dad
would give us the blow-by-blow later.

- I need a favour.
- Name it.

- Oh, thanks.
- You're welcome.

Thanks, Simon.

- Yeah.
- All right.

Thank you, son.

Vampire.

Harpy.

Is there anything else
to take into consideration

before adjourning to vote?

Yes?

I'm Eric Camden. I'm the minister
at Glen Oak Community Church.

With all due respect,

I think we can all guess
what the minister's gonna say.

I was gonna say
that Jack Brenner's a friend of mine.

A convenient time
to have you for a friend.

And I don't like what he did. So.

- Should he be punished?
- Yes.

- Yes.
- He should.

How?

How much? By whom?
And who gets to decide?

And when will it be enough?
But then, wait a minute.

Isn't this a private matter?

Shouldn't he and his family
have the right

to deal with this privately?

Well, then again, it involves
his position at the university

and a student in attendance here,

so the whole thing gets
a little grey and very public.

And the only things
that these questions seem to get us

are more questions.

And I have to tell you, I've thought
of nothing but these questions

since the whole thing came out.

And I don't have the answers.
I have opinions.

And opinions aren't enough.

And then it occurred to me that...

...maybe we as human beings
were never meant

to try to answer
these kinds of questions.

Maybe we're supposed to look
to something higher,

like the law, because...

Because the law protects us
from our most human self,

from the self that falls short
of expectations,

from the self that makes mistakes,

and from the self that says,
"an eye for an eye,

and while you're at it, get two."

I've heard a lot
of Bible-thumping lately,

and quoting and misquoting.

Because, conveniently for some,

the Bible can be punishing
when we can't. When we're...

...out of compassion or weakness,

tempted to vary our ethics
depending on the situation.

Ironically, the law can be merciful
when we're tempted to be vengeful.

And right now, who isn't tempted?

In one selfish, unthinking act,

Jack Brenner's behaviour forced us

to try to answer questions
that never should've been asked.

When all's said and done,
we're no better off.

No smarter, no safer,

no happier for having debated
and name-called

and beat each other up
with the Bible and the law

and our interpretations of both.

But...

Like ripples in a pond,
that's the way it is with families.

It doesn't matter that Jack Brenner
never meant to hurt anyone.

The inherent connection
between all human beings

guarantees that someone
will get hurt.

Because we are,
whether we like it or not, one family--

The human family.

--and what happens to one of us,

one way or another,
happens to us all.

I expect someone as smart
as Jack Brenner to remember that.

I...

I hope this board does.