Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986): Season 8, Episode 12 - Bulimia - full transcript

♪ Now, the world don't move ♪

♪ To the beat of just one drum ♪

♪ What might be right for you ♪

♪ May not be right for some ♪

♪ A man is born ♪

♪ He's a man of means ♪

♪ Then along come two ♪

♪ They got nothing
but their jeans ♪

♪ But they got,
Diff'rent Strokes ♪

♪ It takes Diff'rent Strokes ♪

♪ It takes Diff'rent
Strokes to move the world ♪



♪ Everybody's got a
special kind of story ♪

♪ Everybody finds
a way to shine ♪

♪ It don't matter that
you got not a lot ♪

♪ So what ♪

♪ They'll have theirs, you'll
have yours, and I'll have mine ♪

♪ And together we'll be fine ♪

♪ 'Cuz it takes Diff'rent
Strokes to move the world ♪

♪ Yes it does ♪

♪ It takes Diff'rent
Strokes to move the world ♪

(audience laughs)

- The Champ's home.

- Phillip, the response to
the charity fashion show

has been great.

But I've got a problem.



I don't have an MC yet.

- Oh, don't worry,
you'll find one.

- Oh, honey, it just
can't be someone.

We need a person who's
charming, gracious, witty.

- That leaves out Billy Martin.

(audience laughs)

- And since it's a fashion show,

this person should be
contemporary, stylish,

and very sexy.

- I'm getting the idea.

- Oh, will you do it, Philip?

- Oh, you need a real celebrity.

Somebody like Joan Collins.

- Well, I'll match those legs
of yours with hers any day.

- I do have great gams.

(audience laughs)

- I'll say, big fella.

- We want to make
it a family affair,

and since Kimberly and
I are going to be models

we need you to be the MC, right?

- Hey, guys.

Surfs up!

- Very pretty.
- Wow.

- Go on, dear, give it a try.

- Well, why not?

I'm the MC of the fashion show.

- Oh, okay.

- To start our show,
ladies and gentlemen,

we have the lovely
Kimberly Drummond,

in a fashionable beach ensemble.

(applauding)

And when it's time
to frolic in the ocean

Kimberly can drop her cover.

(audience whistles)

You put on some clothes
this instant, young lady.

(audience laughs)

- Daddy.

- Oh, Philip, it
is the latest style.

Honey, it's worn
all over the world.

- I wish it was worn
all over my daughter.

(audience laughs)

- I must say, Kimberly,

you really do something
for that bathing suit.

- I wish I had your waist.

- I have her waist.

Unfortunately it's under
my other two waists.

(audience laughs)

- Oh, Kimberly, all of that
dieting and working out

really paid off.

I mean, that size
4 fits your perfectly.

- It's a size 3.

- Hey, everybody.

- Hi.
- Hey, guys.

- Looking good, Kimberly.

Looking good.

(audience laughs)

- Kimberly, someone stole
the sides of your bathing suit!

(audience laughs)

- Oh, thanks,
Sam, I'll go report it.

- How was school, Sam?

- Terrible.

We had vegetarian
tacos for lunch.

I sold the vegetarian
part to a Hindu kid.

(audience laughs)

In other words, I'm starving.

Pearl, what do we have to eat?

- Well, thanks to you two,
I've got a pile of crumbs.

Remember that platter

of fudge nut brownies
I made yesterday?

It's all gone.

- Well, don't blame me.

It must've been Sam.

- It wasn't me.

I just picked the
nuts off the top.

(audience laughs)

- Don't try to con me, I
know how you boys operate.

Mr. Drummond, I made three
extra shopping trips this week,

it's embarrassing.

The box boys think
I eat all that food.

(audience laughs)

- Now look, boys, you can't
just go on eating everything

like, like...

- Like growing boys?

(audience laughs)

But, boys, I do want
you to limit your snacking.

All of that garbage
isn't good for you.

- I agree with you
completely, Mrs. Drummond.

But my fudge nut
brownies are not garbage.

(audience laughs)

- Oh, Pearl!

Pearl, I didn't mean garbage
in the negative sense.

- Look, dad, if
food's disappearing

it's disappearing down
that redheaded throat.

(audience laughs)

- I'm innocent, Mr. D.

You can check my
tongue for brownie prints.

(audience laughs)

It's gotta be the bottomless
stomach right there.

- Oh yeah?

- Boys, I don't...

I don't want to hear one
more word about this.

But the next time
food disappears

so will your
television privileges.

- Oh, but, dad!

- Cool it, Arnold.

Remember last time
we lost TV privileges?

We had to talk to each other.

(audience laughs)

Boy, was that boring.

(audience laughs)

- Gotcha! (Sam screams)

You freckle-faced,
snack-snitcher.

- I am not.

I brought my
detective kit down here

so I could dust the
food for your fingerprints.

What are you doing down here?

- I brought that
cake to trap you.

- Well, if that's for
me, how come it says,

Happy Silver Anniversary
Sid and Beverly?

(audience laughs)

- I got it cheap.

Beverly ran off
with a breakdancer.

(audience laughs)

- I'll never
understand New York.

(audience laughs)

- Do you hear something?

- It's that vegetarian
taco I had.

(audience laughs)

- Come on, let's hide before
we get in trouble again.

(audience laughing)

- Kimberly?

- Nah.

I mean, she's just
eating a piece of cake.

(audience laughs)

Man, that was some piece!

(audience laughs)

She ate the whole thing.

- I can not believe Kimberly
could eat that much food.

- I can't believe Wisconsin
could eat that much food.

(audience laughs)

It can't be Kimberly
that's snitching all the food,

she's too skinny.

- All I know is I'm not
getting blamed for it this time.

- Me neither, let's go bust her.

- 10-4.

(audience laughs)

(Kimberly retching)

Is that Kimberly?

- Either that,

or Willis just asked one
of his girlfriends for a kiss.

(audience laughs)

- After that pig out she's
lucky she didn't explode.

(toilet flushes)

- Oh, hi, Arnold, Sam.

- Kimberly, are you all right?

- Sure, sure, Arnold, I'm fine.

I went out to dinner,
I had some fish.

I think it didn't agree with me.

- I bet Mr. Fish was surprised
when he got 80 pounds

of junk food
dumped on his gills.

(audience laughs)

- What?

- Kimberly, we
were in the kitchen.

- Oh, well, guys, I don't
know what happened.

I just got ravenous.

- Uh, Kimberly...

Are you?

(audience laughs)

- No, Arnold, I'm not.

(audience laughs)

- That's a relief.

(audience laughs)

- Look, Kimberly,

are you the one that's
been snitching food

and getting us in trouble
these last few weeks?

- Don't be silly, Arnold.

I've never done this before.

Look, tomorrow's
Pearl's day off,

I'll replace the
food, and that cake.

Good night, guys.

I'm gonna clean up the kitchen.

- Look, Sam, you go
upstairs and go to bed.

I'm going to go help Kimberly.

- Okay, Arnold.

And if there's any food
left wrestle her for it.

(audience laughs)

- Look, Kimberly, we gotta talk.

- Sure, Arnold, what's up?

- For one thing, your dinner.

- Oh, you're not going to
start harping on that again,

are you?

- Look, sis, I think you
might have a problem.

It's that eating disorder.

- Oh, so all of a sudden
the big high school freshman

knows everything?

- Look, Kimberly, I saw you
eat enough to fill Dom DeLuise.

(audience laughs)

- You know something, Arnold?

You're nothing
but a little snoop

who doesn't know
what he's talking about.

I don't have an eating disorder.

You just mind your own business.

- I thought that went well.

(audience laughs)

- (laughs) That's funny,
I'm going to use that.

(audience laughs)

- Mr. D.

Mr. D.

- What is it, Sam?

- Ladies and gentlemen,

and Mr. D.

(audience laughs)

Appearing direct
from our second floor,

it's Mama and Kimberly.

(audience applauds)

- Oh my.

You ladies are stunning.

- Thank you.

(audience laughs)

- Sweetheart, I don't
know how you keep

that marvelous figure.

- Oh, honey, it's a constant
battle I fight everyday.

- I fight too.

But I lose a lot.

(audience laughs)

In fact, I think I'll go
lose one right now.

(audience laughs)

- Well, listen, if I'm going to
be MC of this fashion show,

I have to know whether
I've got good material.

Can I show you?

Will you tell me what you think?

- Oh sure.

- Sure, daddy, that'd be great.

- Good evening,
ladies and germs.

(audience laughs)

A funny thing happened to
me on the way down here.

A bum came up to me and said
he wanted a thousand dollars

for a cup of coffee.

I told him a cup of
coffee only cost 50 cents.

And he said, "I'm
drinking it in Columbia."

(audience laughs)

- Daddy, it was very...

- Very, very good delivery.

Good.

But your material
isn't worthy of you.

- You two have the sweetest
way of telling me I stink.

(audience laughs)

I'm gonna watch
Johnny Carson tonight

and pick up a few pointers.

- Oh, good idea.

- Come on, Maggie,
let's go change.

- You're gorgeous.

Come on, you tell
me, Sam, honestly,

what did you think of my jokes?

- After Carson you better stay
up through David Letterman.

(audience laughs)

- Hi.

- [Philip] Oh hi, Arnold.

- Hi, dad.
- Hi, Arnold.

- Sam, could I talk to dad
alone for a minute, please?

- How come the older I get

the more I get sent
out of the room?

- Go.

- What's wrong, Arnold?

What's on your mind?

- Well, dad, I know I'm going
to sound like a snitch but...

I'm only doing it 'cause
I'm worried about Kimberly.

I think she's the one that's
been eating all the food.

- Arnold, that's ridiculous.

Kimberly thinks she gets fat

just by looking
at the refrigerator.

- Dad, I saw her eat
everything out of the refrigerator

that was remotely
related to a food group.

(audience laughs)

And then she went in the
bathroom and threw up.

- Well, if she ate as
much as you say she did

I can understand why.

- But, dad, she wasn't sick.

I think she made
herself throw up.

You've seen all those
television commercials

and read all those things
about eating disorders.

- Oh, I see.

It's impossible, Arnold.

I would know it if Kimberly
had an eating disorder.

You can't live under the
same roof as someone

and not know a thing like that.

- Okay, dad, okay.

I hope you're right.

I just know what
I saw and heard.

- Arnold, you got it all wrong.

Kimberly's fine.

Just fine.

Boys?

Boys?

(Kimberly retching)

(toilet flushes)

- Oh, hi, daddy.

- Kimberly, are you all right?

- Sure, sure, daddy, I'm fine.

- That mess in the kitchen...

Is that all yours?

- Kimberly, how long
have you been doing this?

- Maybe two months.

- Well, how often do you.

- Barf, chow?

(audience laughs)

- I guess that says it.

How often?

- A couple of times
a week at the most.

- A couple of times a week?

Why?

- Well, daddy, you know
how I'm always on a diet?

Every now and then
my mouth demands

something more
exciting than celery.

I still wanna fit in my
clothes the next day.

It's no big deal.

A lot of girls at
school are doing it.

- You know, I
really didn't believe

that this sort of thing
actually went on.

- It does, Philip.

It's called bulimia.

- I don't care what it's
called, it's absolutely absurd.

- Maybe you should
talk to somebody.

There are people who
specialize in this problem.

- It's not necessary.

I can stop any time I want.

- Good, because I want
you to stop right now.

- Okay.

It's done.

I've barfed my last chow.

- That's my girl.

- I love you, daddy.

I'm going to go
clean the kitchen.

- She's terrific.

- Philip, I see a lot of women
who get caught up in this

and it's a very
hard habit to kick.

Very hard.

I think we should
get her some help.

- Maggie, I trust my daughter.

She has never yet
gone back on a promise.

Don't worry.

(refrigerator door slams)

Here you are.

I'll call the boys.

Arnold, Sam!

Boys, come in here, please.

- Coming.
- What is it, dad?

Hi Maggie.

- Hi, sweetheart.

Boys, we have something very
important to discuss with you.

- I'm sorry, Mama,

when I flushed the
shampoo down the toilet,

I didn't know it'd
make so many bubbles.

(audience laughs)

- No, it's not that, Sam.

We've just had a
talk with a therapist.

Kimberly does have
a serious problem.

Arnold, you were quite right
to try and tell me about it.

- Huh, what's wrong?

- Have you ever
heard of bulimia?

- Sure, it's a small
country in South America.

(audience laughs)

- No, Sam.

Bulimia is an eating disorder.

- What does that mean?

- Well, remember when
Kimberly ate all that food,

and then she went in the
bathroom and threw up?

- Yeah.

- She forced
herself to throw up.

And she's been doing that, it
seems, for a number of months.

- Dumb girls.

- Honey, it's got
nothing to do with girls.

And it's got nothing
to do with being dumb.

It's a disease that causes
severe digestive problems.

- And I read that it can
mess up your system so bad

it can kill you.

- Why would
anybody want to do it?

- According to Dr. Franklin
there are many reasons.

But it seems that most
people that have bulimia

are perfectionists,

and they're down on themselves
pretty much all the time.

- What a bummer.

- Yeah.

Of course, we're going
to talk to Kimberly,

but we wanted to discuss
it with you boys first

so that you could help.

- She's going to need all of
your support and encouragement.

- We have to be concerned
about her feelings.

- Okay, dad, no
problem, you got it.

- Count me in.

- Thanks, guys.

- And, Sam,

we will discuss the shampoo
in the toilet bowl later.

(audience laughs)

- Okay, Mama.

But one thing I learned is
why they call it Mr. Bubblehead.

(audience laughs)

- Dad, Maggie.

- There she is.

Kimberly, sweetheart, we
wanna have a little talk with you.

- Sure, daddy, what's up?

- Well, we know that last
night you slipped a little.

You ate some stuff,
then you got rid of it.

- Oh, daddy.

- Kimberly, we're
concerned that you may have

a serious problem and
we wanna help you with it.

- Daddy, I don't have a problem.

I told you, I can stop
anytime I want, honest.

- I don't think so, darling.

Bulimia's something
that gets worse and worse

until it takes over
your whole life.

- Oh, Maggie.

I think you've been
watching too much Donahue.

(audience laughs)

- Kimberly, maybe you
don't have a serious problem.

But we thought it
wouldn't hurt anyway

to go and talk to Dr. Franklin.

- Who's Dr. Franklin?

- Well, we wanted to find out

something about this ourselves,

so we've had a meeting
with a therapist...

- What?

What are you talking about?

What therapist?

- Kimberly, we're
worried about you

and we think you need help.

- How could you do that?

How could you go to
somebody behind my back?

Well, that's horrible.

I wish I'd never come
home from Europe.

I hate this family.

- Hey, Kimberly.
- Hi, Kimberly.

- Guys.

- You know we're
just getting ready

to start up a great
game of Monopoly.

How'd you like to
sit down and join us?

- Yeah, Kimberly, we
could gang up on Arnold.

- Gee, guys, I'd love to
but isn't it getting kinda late?

When are we eating dinner?

- Dinner?

Eat?

I don't know.

- Me either.

We may not be even
eating dinner tonight.

Right, Arnold?

- Right, Sam.

Look, Kimberly, if
you're really hungry

I'm sure dad and Maggie
will fix you something.

- Yeah, but whatever
you eat is fine...

- Stop it!

They told you, didn't they?

Well, they're wrong.

There's nothing wrong with me.

I'm not sick!

And I want you all
to leave me alone.

Understand?

- But, Kimberly...

- Leave me alone!

- Kimberly, Kimberly,
what's the matter?

- You don't understand.

Nobody understands.

I have to be thin.

You didn't see those girls
I got friendly with in Paris.

Models and stuff.

They did it, so did I.

Daddy, it's easy!

I don't wanna be
one ounce overweight.

I want a perfect body.

Daddy, I'll do anything I
have to, to stay like this.

Anything. (sobs)

- Sweetheart, sweetheart.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Now look, Kimberly,

you don't have to
go through all of this

just to stay thin.

Your value's not
wrapped up in your looks.

- Your father's right.

- Maggie, look at you.

You stay in great shape.

You own an exercise studio,
looks are your whole business.

- But, honey, I don't
hurt myself to do it.

I have to exercise, I
have to eat properly.

Oh, Kimberly, no one
understands the desire to be thin

more than me.

But looks are something
you can not use

to make the whole
world love you.

- Don't you know

we love you no matter what?

You are terrific just
the way you are.

You don't need to reach
for some imagined perfection.

There is no
perfection in this world.

- I know that.

I don't know why,

but something inside
me wants to be so perfect.

- But you can't let it
control your whole life.

- So you're gonna stop
now, aren't you, Kimberly?

- Of course she is, Sam.

- I don't know if I can.

I tried before and I
went right back. (sobs)

- But this time is different.

Now you've admitted
you have a problem.

- Kimberly,

it's going to take time.

But with professional help,

and all of us
solidly behind you,

I'm sure you can do it.

- I'll try, daddy.

I'll try.

(audience applauds)

(upbeat music)