Becker (1998–2004): Season 4, Episode 18 - Talking Points - full transcript

Thanks.

Anything else, jake?

No, thanks.

Still working on my eggs.

Right.

No problem.

Hi, there.

Would you mind if I
handed out some flyers?

Well, as long as they're not for
the diner down the street.

Although their free breakfast
was really great.

No, this is for
the fresh earth project.



We're sponsoring a rally
about global warming.

Do you think you could help us
get more heat in the men's room?

I'll bring that up at the rally.

It's Thursday night.

Well, out with the old,
in with the new.

More coffee, reg.

The "fresh earth project"?

Aren't those the idiots
trying to save wales?

What the hell are they
saving wales from? Ireland?

Well, thanks a lot.

Hope to see you at the rally.

Oh... My... God.

Just came
for a cigarette.

Pretend I'm not here.



I can do that.

Hi, there.

I'm from
the fresh earth project

And we're sponsoring a rally...

Fresh earth?

What the hell are you
doing in the bronx?

Well, sir, we feel...
I know. I know.

You're trying to
save the plant.

Trust me, there's nothing
left worth saving.

Maybe you...

Don't tell me that I'm
polluting the environment.

This is just tobacco
and chemicals

Straight from
god's green earth.

That okay with you,
birkenstock?

Reggie:
I'm sorry about him.

He just woke up on the
wrong side of his ashtray.

About 30 years ago.

Well, it takes all kinds...

Unfortunately.

Hope to see you
at the rally.

Excuse me.

Hi.

I'm bob.

Nice to meet you.
I'm connie.

You know, the environment
really is in a lot of trouble.

We all need
to conserve energy.

Hey, bob's all about
conserving energy.

It's true.

Once he sits down,
he barely moves.

Well, nice meeting you.

Wow.

She takes my breath away.

If only.

I'm surprised you're interested

In a woman like that, bob.

Why? Because she's
smart, interesting

And dedicated to a cause?

No, because she could
pick you up over her head

And spike you like a football.

Yeah, she could, couldn't she?

Margaret, I looked

And I can't find my
bracelet anywhere.

Where did you
have it last?

If I knew where I had it last,
I'd go there and get it.

That bracelet

Had a lot of sentimental value.

Gil stole it for me
on our second anniversary.

I'm sure it'll turn up
eventually.

Not if someone took it.

What kind of person

Would steal something
from someone

Who got it from someone
who loved them enough

To steal it for them
in the first place?

You know what scares me?

I understood exactly
what you just said.

Excuse me. I'm
helen willakie.

I called earlier about
getting my father in
to see dr. Becker.

Oh, right. Dr. Lassandro
faxed over his records.

Hi, I'm linda.

My father isn't
able to speak.

He has als.

You know, lou
gehrig's disease.

What happened? Did they share
a can of soda or something?

No, you see...

Could you just
tell the doctor
we're here?

Sure. Mr. Willakie,
you can go on back to room one.

It's down the hall
and to the left.

If you need anything, holler.

Oh, right.

And I'll need you
to fill out his paperwork.

You know, margaret,
I had a thought.

Prove it.

I think that one of the
patients stole my bracelet.

Oh, linda, I
don't think that...

Like her.

Hey, you've been here
all morning.

My gold bracelet was stolen.

Now, I'm not accusing you,

But if it should
happen to appear

On this desk, I promise

There'll be
no questions asked.

You done?

Yes.
Good.

Sister teresa,

If you'd follow me back.

We can take those
x-rays now.

Smooth.

Yeah, like my bracelet

Wouldn't go great
with that big gold cross.

I see you were diagnosed
eight months ago.

The other doctor tell you

Exactly how serious
this disease is?

Yeah, the trouble
with als is,

You never can tell
exactly how fast

It's going to progress.

Let me ask
you something.

How long ago did you start
to lose the ability to speak?

One...

One month?

Lon...

Uh, one year?

Two...

Two years?

Tw... Uh, I'm sorry.

I'm not very good
at this. Uh...

Uh, one... Less
than two years.

Less than
two years.
But more...

A little... A little
more than a year?

A little more
than a year.

I don't know about you,
but I'm exhausted.

And you, you got to
go through this what?

A hundred times a day?

Now, d-don't start.

Hey, you...

Do you know how to type?

Yeah.

I had a patient
that had a stroke

And he had this machine
that talked for him.

Whatever he typed into it,
it would say.

No, you're right.

It's very expensive, but
the insurance should cover that.

(laughing):
Yeah... Right...

I know, they are cheap bastards

But you know what?

Let me... Let me
handle this for you.

I have a way with people.

Linda!

Uh... I'm much better
on the phone.

Reg, coffee to go, please.

Wow, nice big cell phone.

Having a conversation
with the '80s?

Yeah, I've been on hold
for the last 45 minutes

With that damn
insurance company.

They think I'm going to hang up,
but I will never hang up.

Are you still trying to get
that guy, that talking
computer thing?

Oh, yeah, right.

That is how this started.

You know what, uh, let me
have your telephone,
will you, please?

Watch this.

I'm about
to beat the system.

Oh, no.
Oh, god.

Not the system again.

Yeah, yeah,
yeah, uh...

Yeah, this is dr. John becker
for mr. Saunders.

Yes, I know I'm holding
on the other line.

And I know you think
I'm going to hang up,

But I will never hang up.

I will stay on hold until I die!

What'd they say?

They said that
that was their plan.

Well, it's not going to work.

They don't know

How little I have to live for.

Oh, my god.

Bob put on a tie.

What's going on, bob?

Nothing. Can't a guy get
dressed up for no reason?

Hey, bob, thanks
for offering

To hand out
these fliers.

Oh...
Oh...

Hi, connie.

You look nice.

Thanks.

And you smell great.

Real natural.

And by that, I don't mean
french woman armpit natural.

Thank you.

That was bob
making his move.

I sure hope
he's got more than one.

So, I'll see you
tonight at the rally?

Hey, anytime bob gets
to learn about the environment

And charge his electric car,
he's there.

You don't have
an electric car.

Well, not a big one
that you drive around.

(automated voice):
You're tall, smart,

Good-looking,
yet nobody gets you.

That's so true.

That's so sad.

Linda, this is called
a lightwriter.

It's a very sophisticated piece
of medical equipment.

Look what I can make it do.

(machine whistles)

Wow, that looks fancy.

Yeah.

And expensive.

Expensive enough that maybe

You paid for it by,
oh, I don't know,

Pawning a gold bracelet?

My fault--
I started the conversation.

What do you want?

Oh, right.
Mr. Willakie is
here to see you.

Oh, hey.

How are you?
Come on in.

Have a seat there.

Yeah, anywhere is good.

Well, here it is. Huh?

Yeah.

Now you can have a conversation.

You can go to the store
by yourself.

You even get to talk
on the phone. Look.

This button right here
is like a doorbell.

You use it to get
people's attention.

(rings like a doorbell)

Go ahead, try it out,
mr. Willakie.

(automated voice):
Call me joe.

Great. Joe it is.

It's all yours.

Yeah, you're welcome.
You're welcome.

(automated voice):
You're tall, smart,

Good-looking,
yet nobody gets you.

My assistant must have been
playing around with it.

Oh, john, I have
mr. Willakie's paperwork.

Oh, great.

Uh, sign right here,

And I'll have
you on your way.

Shoot, I thought I...

Margaret, is
that my gold pen?

Oh, right.

You left it in the exam room.

I must have
picked it up by accident.

"by accident."

Interesting.

Good luck with it, joe.

See you.

I tell you, margaret,

Sometimes I just love my job.

I mean,
it'd be gratifying enough

To give a man
his voice back,

But a sweet man like that.

(automated voice):
Hey, lady, move your big,
fat butt.

Good afternoon,
everyone.

Bob, where did you get dressed
this morning? India?

For your information,

It's a hemp
and wild cotton weave.

Completely natural.

As opposed to the
petroleum-based garments
you usually wear?

Exactly. Reg...

Let me get a tofu burger
on whole grain, unbleached bread

With a, uh,
glass of guava nectar.

Yu-hum.

What is with you, bob?

Hey, connie's opened my eyes
to a whole new world.

I no longer eat meat,
wear leather or shave my legs.

What? I swim competitively.

So, have you
asked her out yet?

Hey, I'm gonna ask her out.

I'm just waiting
for the right time.

Come on, bob, be a man.

You know, get yourself
a step stool

And ask the woman out.

(both laughing)

Here you go--

Two rare bacon
cheeseburgers.

Ha, ha...
Ah...

(chuckling)

You going
to eat that?

Connie says there's more
bacteria in a burger

Than there is
in a subway turnstile.

Connie said that sometimes
the beef industry neglect cattle

Till they get terrible weeping
infections of the eye sockets.

Connie said that
the infection

Could eat away at the flesh

Until there's nothing left
but a giant crater

In the side of the cow's head.

That's it. I'm done.

What? I went to med school.

After what I've seen,

I could eat soup
out of that cow's head.

Linda? Linda?

Yes?

I have some good news.

You're finally going
to change your hair?

No.

Good, 'cause it's perfect
the way it is.

Mm-hmm.

I found your bracelet.

Wow. Thank you, margaret.

It really means a lot to me
that you... Found it.

Excuse me.

Is dr. Becker in?
Oh, yes.

He's in his office.

You could go on back.

Thank you.

Dr. Becker?
Yeah?

I'm joe willakie's
daughter, helen.

Could I talk to you

About that machine
you got for my father?

Sure, sure. Come on in.

But if you're here
to thank me,

There's no need.

I didn't do anything
that any other

Dedicated medical professional
wouldn't have done.

Well, maybe a little more.

I hate that thing.

My pleasure,
my pleasure.

Wait.

Uh, go back.

I thought it would be so great
if my father could finally talk.

But since he's
had that machine,

He's been rude,
he's insulting,

And he uses it to curse
at everybody, including me.

Well, I-I...
And he tortures

Our poor dog
with that damn doorbell button.

Every time biscuit hears it,

He goes crazy
and runs for the door,

And my father does it
all... Day... Long.

You know, if you're asking me
to take the, uh, machine away,

I can't do that.

I'm embarrassed to admit this,

But I liked him better
when he couldn't talk.

Is all this anger
part of the disease?

Wouldn't you be angry?

You're right,
I know.

It's just that
I know we don't have

That much time left together,

And I don't want it
to be like this.

I don't know. Uh...

I suppose I could talk to him.

That would be great.

But I'm warning you,
he can be very abrasive.

Oh, don't worry.

I deal with people like that
all day long.

Mrs. Sanchez, you
can go on back now.

Oh, don't forget
your purse.

You definitely don't want
to leave anything

Lying around this office.

Linda, if you are accusing me
of stealing your bracelet,

Then just come on out
and say it.

Okay. I accuse you...

I did not
steal your bracelet!

Mm-hmm!

Don't you do that to me.

Come on, margaret,
what am I supposed to think?

That my bracelet just magically
flew off my wrist like a...

Man:
Ow!

I'm willing to forget about this
if you are.

Is connie here yet?

I haven't seen her.

Hey, come on! Don't kid around.

I asked her to meet me here
because today is the day

Bob asks out
his potential soul mate.

Soul mate?

Bob, have you been
smoking your sandals?

Hey, bob.

Hey, connie.

Hey, I had fun
at the rally last night.

Thanks for letting me get up
on your shoulders.

I finally got to see
suzanne vega.

That was great.

So, is that all you
wanted to tell me?

I'm kind of on my
way to a meeting.
No, uh,

There's something
I wanted to ask you. Sit down.

Would you like to go to dinner
with me tonight?

I found this great new
health food restaurant.

You know, the type of place
frequented by your earthy types.

There were so many
gray ponytails,

I thought I was in the holding
pen at the glue factory.

Tonight? Uh, gee,
I'm sorry, I can't.

Right. Too last-minute.

How about next weekend?

Sorry, my mom's
coming into town.

Oh, that's sweet.

Because without family,
we have nothing.

How about the week after?

Sorry, bob,
I can't then, either.

Oh... Wait a minute.

I see what's going on here.

You have a boyfriend,

And you have to break up
with him

Before you can go out with me.

Okay, bob, I don't
have a boyfriend.

I was trying to
let you down easy.

You're a nice guy,
but the truth is,

I just really don't want
to go out with you.

I'm sorry.

Bye, bob.

Well, bob can't spin that.

Gee, bob,
when you went to the rally

And got your new clothes
and stopped eating meat,

Well, I didn't believe you
at first,

But it really sounds like
you liked this girl.

I got to admit... I did.

Is there anything
we can do

To make you
feel better?

Yeah.

You can give me a big, bloody,
double-bacon cheeseburger.

But, bob, what about the cow's
decaying eye socket?

Sure, fry one up.
I'll have it for dessert.

(automated voice):
I said bourbon, not cat pee.

Hey, joe.

Your daughter told me
I might find you here.

Now, if you have
a problem

With that one,
you can kiss my...
Hey, hey, hey...

Whoa... This is a...

Well, it's a bar,
but still, you know...

You want anything?

Yes, I'd like
a scotch rocks, please.

You know, with als,

You're not supposed
to be drinking.

(sighs)

(automated voice):
Because it's bad for my health?

Yeah, look, uh...

Joe, helen wants me
to talk to you.

I-I know...
I know it's bad.

I know you-you didn't plan
your life this way.

I mean, you have
a horribly unfair disease.

(automated voice):
Are you trying to cheer me up?

I'm ju... I'm just
saying that, you know,

Maybe you need to be
a little nicer to people than...

Hey, what do I have
to do, you know,

Go back there
and make the drink myself?

Where was I?

(automated voice):
Being nice.

Look... You know,
if you keep doing this, joe,

You're going
to push people away,

And you can't afford
to do that.

Choke on it.

Thank you.

You know, m-maybe, maybe
you should just be

A little more careful

What you say to people,
you know?

Think about how it's going
to make them feel.

You know, like your daughter,
for instance.

She might be
a little oversensitive.

She might be driving you nuts.

I don't know, but you know...

(automated voice):
My daughter is nice to me.

Oh, you... Well, you mean,
like overly nice?

Because th-th-that can
drive you nuts, too.

I mean, I-I have people
like that in my life.

(automated voice):
No, she is just nice.

So...

Why are you so mean to her?

(automated voice):
I don't know.

Maybe you're just angry
at everybody,

And she happens to be
in the line of fire?

(automated voice):
I don't know.

Well... What is it?

I mean... You think
if you're not nice to people,

They're not going to miss you
when you're gone?

I mean, come on.

This is your daughter
we're talking about, joe.

(automated voice):
I don't want to leave her.

I love my daughter.

Well, then don't leave her
before you have to.

You're welcome.

Hey, you know, I understand
you being pissed off at people,

But what do you have
against her dog?

I mean, come on,
it's just a dog.

(automated voice):
It's a poodle.

Oh, geez...!

It wears a sweater.

(laughs)

Ha! I got it.

(chuckles)