Benson (1979–1986): Season 2, Episode 9 - Old School Ties - full transcript

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(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(CLEARS THROAT)

Up-up-up-up-up.
One moment, Benson.
(CHUCKLES)

What exactly is this?

It's the living room.

Ah. I would be
fascinated to know

why this living room
is in such a shambles.

The rug cleaners were here.

And now they are gone.

Do you intend to leave
the furniture this way?

It depends.
Do you like it?



Don't be ridiculous.

Then call maintenance.

That isn't my job.

It isn't mine either
until I finish lunch.

Benson, you know,
this may come
as a surprise to you,

but, basically,
I like you,

with the possible
exception

of one or two
minor little things.

Your patent disregard
for authority,

your lackadaisical
approach to life,

and a host of irritating
personal habits too
numerous to mention.

But still,
I want to be
your friend.

Benson, I respect you.

You say that now,
but will you respect
me in the morning?



Benson, wait till you see
what Aunt Libby and I got.

Hi, Clayton.
Hello, Libby.

Oh, what
a wonderful day.

Any day you visit
is a wonderful day.

Why, Clayton,
I do believe

you're trying to
sweep me off my feet.

I'm afraid
I'm guilty
as charged.

Good, then
let's hang him.

Look at this, Benson.
Do you know what it is?

Well, it looks like
a jacket.
It's a blazer

and I got a skirt
to go with it and a blouse

and some things
I don't want to show you.

Unmentionables, eh?

No, Clayton, underwear.

Katie, why don't you
put your outfit on
and go show your father?

Okay, and thanks a million,
Aunt Libby.

You have such
good taste.
(CHUCKLING)

You made quite a hit
with Katie.

She's a delightful child.

Well, she's having
a good time with you.

Well, who wouldn't?

She had me laughing
all through lunch.

Oh, and what a delightful
laugh you have.

Well, if you'll excuse me,

I, I'd like to be with
Gene when he sees
Katie's new outfit.

Of course you would.

You know the way.
We wouldn't want to lose you.

(LAUGHS)

Most people would
have had the decency
to leave us alone.

Why would I want to be
alone with you?

I mean Libby.

Why would I want to be
alone with Libby?

No, no, Libby and I alone.

Why would Libby
want to be alone with you?

Benson, are you blind?

Haven't you noticed
the little looks,

the winks,
the puppy-dog sighs?

Yes, I have,
and I think you're making
a fool of yourself.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

I had forgotten that.

I must have been
the rottenest big brother
who ever lived.

I always thought so.

I bet it took you weeks
to get the ink
out of your hair.

That's not as bad
as the time

you stapled my raincoat
to my galoshes.

It sure made you
walk funny.

Well, it's a good thing
I went off to boarding school

or today I'd be
a blue-haired dwarf.

Thank God for Breckenridge.

I'd almost forgotten
about Breckenridge.
How old were you then?

Just about Katie's age.

You know, Breckenridge might
not be a bad idea for her.

For Katie?

Well, not that you haven't
done a wonderful job with her,

considering
the circumstances.

Oh, I guess it's never easy
raising children.
I just do the best I can.

You were about
Katie's age, huh?

Mmm-hmm.

Did you just
eat my sandwich?

Well, I just ate
a sandwich.

A sandwich?

Did you get it
off my desk?

It was just sitting there.

Just sitting there?
Did you expect me
to nail it down?

All right, I confess.
I ate your sandwich.

Oh, Miss Kraus
will fix you
something else.

The kitchen is closed
until six o'clock.

They'll be glad to hear that
at the poison control center.

Gretchen, do you have
that pot of tea
for the Governor and Libby.

Ja, it's all ready.

And I have some pastries
I think he will like.

Oh, can I have one?
I'm still hungry.

Oh, that's my fault.
I should have made
a bigger sandwich.

They are for Libby.

Why are you
treating her
so special?

She once pulled a thorn
out of Kraus's palm.

Libby happens to be
a very charming woman

and she's good for Katie.

Well, I got to
get back to work.

Oh, you, you, finished
with this apple?

Oh, don't forget
to call me for dinner.

And to think
we wasted a 133 bucks
on a garbage disposal.

Oh, Marcy,
here you are.

Perhaps, you'd like it
if we moved your typewriter
in here.

I was doing a favor
for the Governor.
He wanted a pot of tea.

You should learn
to delegate these things,
Marcy.

Fine, you bring the tea.

It's all right, Clayton.
I will do it.

Thank you, Miss Kraus.

Hey, Benson,
I'm going to have to
postpone our meeting.

What meeting?
To review the guest list
for the arts council dinner.

I already took care of it.

Fine, then we'll
meet tomorrow,
and I'll check your work.

This afternoon
I'm taking Libby
to the museum.

By force?

(LAUGHING SARCASTICALLY)

Despite your insinuations,
Benson,

Libby and I do have
a great deal in common,

an appreciation
of French cuisine,

an evening of Mozart.

Why don't you just
take the woman bowling?

Bowling? (LAUGHS)

I don't know
why I'm discussing
this with you, Benson.

You couldn't possibly
understand people like us.

You mean white people?

No, Benson, I mean people
with culture and social grace.

Oh, you mean
stuck-up white people.

I guess what I'm missing
is what could she get
at a boarding school

that she couldn't
get here?

Breckenridge Academy
is more than
a boarding school.

It's an advantage.
They're rated very high
scholastically.

Oh, I guess I'm hesitating
'cause of my experience
at school.

But Katie isn't you.

And Breckenridge
is not a military school.

I never fitted in there.

I just couldn't understand
why it was important

to know where my left foot
was at all times.

I know, Gene.
I've danced with you.

You should have
shouted in my ear,
"Your left, your left.

Governor...
"You had a good home,
but you left."

What?

Never mind.
I was just dancing.

What is it, Marcy?

Well, there's someone
here to see you.

Well, what do you think?

Oh, Katie.
(LAUGHS)

It's very attractive.

I bet
I look at least 13.

I'm gonna go show Benson.
See you later.

She could be quite
a young lady, Gene.

With the help
of Breckenridge?
Mmm-hmm.

There's your lunch,
Liebchen.

How's your oatmeal?

(SARCASTICALLY) Terrific.

Morning, everybody.
I overslept.

Dan and I took his kids
to the ice show last night.

My nose is still cold.

Does that mean
you're healthy?

Only if you're
a cocker spaniel.

You know what,
I think his kids
are beginning to like me.

The little one fell asleep
in my lap on the way home.

I bet that made you
feel good.

(SIGHS) Oh.

Benson, there you are.
Can I have my milk money?

Milk money coming up.

Do you have two forms
of identification?

Come on, Benson.

There you go.
50 cents.

I really could use $2.

I have some unexpected
expenses at school.

Such as?

A yo-yo.
Everyone has one.

No wonder
Johnny can't read.

Thanks, Benson.

Thanks, Miss Kraus.
Thanks, Marcy.

For what, honey?
For eating my oatmeal.

Good morning,
everyone.

ALL: Morning.
Have you seen Gene?

Here he is.
Uh, uh, here I am.

Oh, you've been jogging?

Oh, well, I got dressed
to go jogging,

but David Hartman
was interviewing
Barbara Walters

on television...

Or maybe it was
the other way around.

Anyhow, by the time
they got through
with each other,

it was too late
to go jogging.
(LAUGHING)

Oh, Gene,
won't you ever change?

Well, sure,
right after breakfast.

I couldn't speak
to the legislature
dressed like this.

Oh, I don't know.
I think it makes you look
kind of racy.

(LAUGHS) Uh,
has Katie left yet?

You just missed her, sir.

Oh, darn.
Well, I'll talk to her
after school.

Libby, I've made up
my mind.

I definitely want Katie
to go to boarding school.

Can you help me
with the arrangements?
Oh, that's wonderful, Gene.

She can go back with me
on Thursday.
I'll call from your office.

Boarding school?
That sounds far away.

Oh, no, not really.
It's just on the other side
of the state.

That's 300 miles, sir.

Might as well be
three million.

Now, listen, if anybody
sees Katie before I do,

don't spoil the surprise.

Some surprise.

(BANGING)

Kraus, I don't mind
that you're not
speaking to me,

but could you
do it quietly?

Benson, you are
the only one the
Governor listens to.

Please stop him.

Kraus, we've been
through this.
I can't interfere.

I hope you're satisfied,
Benson.

The Governor's in there
with Katie right now

giving her
her walking papers.

You had all day
to stop this.

Marcy, this is between
a father and a daughter.

It's not my business,
and it's not yours, either.

So what do you say we just
stay out of this, okay?

See?

Now Marcy's not talking to you
und I'm not talking to you.

So no one will be
talking to you.

It's a good thing
all the people
who aren't talking to me

have a spokesman.
(DOOR SLAMS)

Hi, Benson.
Got a minute?

Oh, sure, sugar.

I guess you heard about me
going away to school, huh?

Yeah, I heard.

So you'll straighten it out,
right?

Oh, Katie, I can't.

Benson, I don't want to
go away to some dumb school.

Did you tell your father that?

Of course.
He said I'd thank him later.

Katie, it wouldn't do any good
for me to talk to him.

He'd listen to you,
Benson.

This is a decision
your father has to make,
Katie.

I can't say anything.
It's a family matter.

Well, you took me
to the mother-daughter
picnic at the church.

Well, I took you
to the circus, too,

but that doesn't
make me a clown.

Benson, legally
you've set a precedent.

Legally?

Precedent?

When did you
become a lawyer?

It's just that you've
always helped me

with my math homework,
the school play,

and all kinds of stuff.

Why can't you help me now?

'Cause, sweetheart,
it's none of my business.

Okay, Benson.
I understand.

Just one more thing.
What's that?

I just thought that a friend
would help a friend

so that that friend
wouldn't have
to be sent away

where she could never see
any of her friends again.

I mean,
what are friends for?

Katie, I really...

Benson, a friend
wouldn't make me beg.

All right, all right,
all right, all right.

I'll talk to your father.

Well?
Now?

The sooner the better.

Okay, Katie, but I'm not
making any guarantees.

Just give it
your best shot, Benson.

(MOCKING) "Give it
your best shot."

"A friend." "A friend."
"A friend."
"What are friends for?"

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Yes?

Uh, sir, could I see you
for a moment?

Come on in, Benson.

Uh, sir, I hesitate
to bring this up.

You think it's wrong
to send Katie away, too,
huh?

Well, I thought
we might talk about it.

There's nothing
to talk about.

I see, uh...

Well, sorry
to disturb you, sir.

It's not as though
I haven't thought this out,
you know.

I'm sure you have.

She's miserable,
of course.
I know that.

She doesn't
want to go away.

Kids never want to go away
until after they're gone.

Then they never want
to come back.

Katie needs this school
right now.

You're probably right, sir.

I mean, you have a job.
Marcy has a job.

Miss Kraus has a job.
You don't have
time for Katie.

And as Governor,
I have the least
time to give her.

At Breckenridge,
she'd get 24-hour
attention.

I understand, sir,
but the time you do have to
give her is quality time.

If she goes away to school,
she won't get that.

Well, that's something
to think about.

Your point about
quality time is
very well taken.

Listen, I appreciate
the time that you
spend with Katie.

I know it's not your job,
but I'm grateful to you.

She is, too.

Ah.
No...

It shows that you
understand that
special relationship

between a father
and a daughter.

You've underscored the fact
that she is my daughter,

and she's my
responsibility.

So butt out.

Well?
What'd he say?

Well, Katie,
I gave it my best shot.

Morning, Benson.
Nice to see you cheered up.

Well, there's no point
in going to pieces
in front of Katie.

She's gonna have
a hard enough time as it is.

So I decided to put on
my happy face.

Thank you, Marcy.

(SOBBING)
Oh, no, her suitcase.

Here, Marcy,
take my handkerchief.

Katie will be down
any minute. Here.

Oh, there you are.

I'm sending this
fruitcake with Katie.

Why? Katie doesn't
like fruitcake.

Nobody likes fruitcake.

I'm sure there is room
in one of her suitcases.

Suitcases.

Oh, knock it off, Marcy.
We are supposed
to be cheerful.

Yeah, like Kraus.

Well, I am trying
to be pleasant.

What do you
want me to do,
jump for joy?

If you could cut down
on the snarling,
it would help.

Easy for you to say,
but I am losing
my little girl.

(SOBBING)

Here, give me
that handkerchief, Marcy.

Here.

Well, we're all
ready to go.

Uh, you know, Libby,
I've been thinking

I would love to see
the campus at Breckenridge.

Perhaps I'll fly
back with you.

We could have
dinner together.

Clayton, dear,
I'm sure you must have
better things to do.

No, not at all.

Well, frankly I do.

We'd better hurry
if we want to get
to the airport on time.

All right, Daddy.
Get your suitcase, honey.

(SOBS)

Come along, Libby.
Let's get going.

Goodbye, everyone.
Goodbye, Libby.

I'll see you
to the car.

Good. You can help
with the luggage.

Well, this is it.

Now, don't worry, honey.
I'm sure you're gonna have
a wonderful time there.

Oh, I'm sure
it'll be great.

Yeah. Great.

I baked you
a fruitcake.

Thanks, Miss Kraus.

One good thing...
You won't have to cook
any more oatmeal.

Ja. That's wonderful.

Don't worry, Miss Kraus.

We'll see each other
on the holidays.

Bye, everybody.
Bye, honey.

KRAUS: Bye.

It's pretty weird, huh?

Yeah.

Will you write to me?

Of course.

Bye, Benson.

Oh.

Katie, your lunch is...

(SIGHS)
What am I doing?

BENSON: Kraus?
Uh, ja?

Governor's on his way down
for breakfast.

Would you like some juice
or something?

You talking to me?

Sit down.
I'll get it for you.

Here, sit, sit.

Who are you, really?

What does that mean?

It means
the real Gretchen Kraus

is never this nice
to anybody,
especially me.

Come on, Benson.
I don't want to
fight today.

It's bad enough around here
without Katie to cheer me up
once in a while.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah,
I know, Kraus. I'm sorry.

Well, you should be.
It's your fault.

I take back my apology.

Have anything to eat?
I'm starving.

Oatmeal.
Oh, you made oatme...

I can't eat oatmeal
without Katie here.

What's this here?

(GASPS)
You packed her lunch.

All right, I admit it.

When I got up this morning,
I forgot she was gone.

Force of habit,
I guess.

Don't worry, Kraus.
First thing this morning,
I got out her milk money.

I miss her so much.

Well, now,
if we're talking
about Katie,

don't forget she's off
at Breckenridge
having a wonderful time.

Ja, sure.

Well, we all miss her.

I don't.

Well, considering
the last thing
she said to me,

"Get the luggage."

Well, Clayton,
there was too much
for her to carry.

Sir, she wouldn't even
have dinner with me,

as if I'm some sort
of peasant.

Who are you
talking about?
Libby.

We're talking
about Katie.

Oh, my mistake.

We were all saying
how much we miss her.

Yeah, she was a nice kid.

You know,
this confusion

reminds me
of Katie's favorite story.

When I was a little boy,
I had two dogs named Max...

Max and Max.

And Max was always
tearing up dad's shoes,

but he couldn't
tell them apart.

Anyway, one day,
Max was, uh...

And this is the part
that Katie really liked.

Uh...

I'm sorry.
I just don't feel like
telling a story.

That's all right, sir.

We really didn't feel
like hearing one.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Yeah?

Care for a visitor, sir?

Not really, Benson.
Come on in.

I hate to disturb you, sir,
but it's almost nine o'clock,

and Miss Kraus was upset
that you missed dinner.

You know what
I've been doing?

I've been watching
the minute hand on that clock
counting off the hours.

Do you have any idea
how many hours
there are in 11 days?

Well, sir, if you
miss Katie that much,

why don't you take a day off
and go down and visit her?

Whatever possessed us
to send her away?

Us?

What can she get
at that school
that she can't get here?

As I recall, she was
gonna get 24-hour attention.

But from strangers.
What about
the personal touch?

Well, you were concerned
how much time
we could give her.

The amount of time
isn't important, Benson.
It's the quality of time.

Why do I get the impression
I've heard that before?

Like when it comes
from people who are close,

like you and Miss Kraus
and Marcy... And me.

After all,
I'm her father.

Well, sir, didn't I point
these things out to you?

Well, if you did,
you weren't very persuasive.

Persuasive?

As I remember,
you told me to butt out.

I did? Well, you should
have ignored me.

I'll remember that
in the future.

She is obviously
downhearted.

You should
read her letters.

Benson, there's no question
that Breckenridge
has its advantages,

but the one thing
she doesn't have there is us.

Listen, tomorrow morning,
I'm gonna call up that school

and I'm gonna
make arrangements
to bring her back.

I don't agree, sir.

You don't?

I think we should
get in the car,

drive over there
and get her tonight.

Don't you think
that's a little impulsive?
Yes, sir.

It's 300 miles.
That it is, sir.

Should we go in my car?
Fine, sir.

Oh, where are they?
They should have been here
three hours ago.

Maybe we should call
the highway patrol.

Oh, do you think so?

Guess who's back!

Oh!
Katie, we are so happy
you're back!

Not as happy as I am.

Where have you been?

Breckenridge,
don't you remember?

She means today.

Now come and sit down here
and tell us all about it.

Well, Daddy and Benson
showed up at the dormitory

at three o'clock
this morning to bring me back.

Security thought
they were burglars.

(LAUGHS) You ever have
a 60-year-old man

hit you in the shoulder
with a flashlight?

It turned out okay.
I vouched for them.

Is that what took you
so long?
No, the return trip.

What's the matter, Benson?
Did you get lost?

Well, if you must know,
the Governor insisted
on driving back.

I fell asleep.
And he missed the turnoff?

He missed the whole state.

We stopped at this
really neat restaurant.

It was all inside
this big concrete dinosaur.

And judging
from the brontoburger,

the cook hadn't
discovered fire.

Where's the Governor?

Paying the tow truck.
Tow truck?

Daddy backed
into the dinosaur.

He broke its tail off.

Luckily, there was no one
in the ladies' restroom.

I just realized
you had lunch
four hours ago.

Can I fix you
something?

You know what
I'd really like,
Miss Kraus?

What?

A big bowl
of your oatmeal.

Benson, what are you doing,
just standing here?

The Governor gets upset
when I dance.

Well, just as long
as you're not mad.

I know I should have
called you

before I took her
out of school.

It was a
spur-of the-moment
thing.

Oh, you heard about
the security guard? (LAUGHING)

Who is he talking to?
Libby.

Ah.

Sir, would you
please tell Libby that
I'd like to talk to her?

I'll, I'll see you
at the family reunion

and my best to Mavis.

Yeah.
Yeah.

Oh, and, uh,
by the way,

Clayton's here
if you'd like to
talk to him.

Okay.

Goodbye, then.