Empty Nest (1988–1995): Season 1, Episode 12 - Full Nest - full transcript
I got it. I got it.
Okay, you got it.
We almost got it.
Dreyfuss, come on.
Out of the way.
Come on, Dreyfuss, move.
Dreyfuss, time for dinner.
There.
- All right.
- Sure.
Here you go, and then there.
There you go. That's great.
Isn't this wonderful?
I mean, I love just the idea
of it, a study.
I've always wanted a room
all for myself
where I could be alone,
you know, to sit and think
and read.
Something wrong
with your bathroom?
Thank you for your help,
Charles.
What?
What do I get?
Nothing.
- Nothing?
- Nothing.
Charley, look, now,
you borrow my clothes.
You drink my beer.
You eat my food.
Isn't that enough?
It was before you started
with this moving business.
Good-bye, Charles.
Daddy, where are you?
Up here, Carol,
in your old room.
Don't help him move.
You don't get anything.
Hi, daddy.
I'm late for work, so...
My god.
My room.
What have you done to my room?
Ha, I've turned it into a study.
I wanted to have it all done
before I showed it to you.
Wait...
Something wrong?
Wrong? No.
What could be wrong?
I grew up in this house,
and now I have no room here.
There is no memory of me
left in this house.
Why should that be a problem?
- Daddy?
- I'm up here, baby.
I had no idea
this would upset you so much.
This is great.
What a wonderful idea.
Sure, big talk from the one
who still has a room.
It's my new study,
though your sister seems to
be a little upset about that.
She's upset?
Look what I got
in the mail yesterday.
My apartment building
is going condo.
You know, Barbara,
this is a good building
you're in.
Maybe you should get a loan
and buy in.
I don't think so.
My credit rating
is a little off.
How off?
I now get letters
from the collection agency
that start out, "Dear Barb."
How does this happen?
I don't know.
I started out
with a very good system.
Every time I'd get in too deep
with one credit card,
I'd get a cash advance
from the other to bail me out.
Everything was fine
until the Visa people got greedy
and demanded more
than the Mastercard people
were willing to give.
So you paid them.
No, I applied
for American Express.
I mean, I don't believe this.
Wait till you hear this.
American Express expects
full payment every 30 days.
What do they think?
I'm made of money?
Barbara, this is crazy.
You can't use one credit card
to pay off another.
That's just accumulating debt.
I mean,
what if everybody did that?
What if nations did that?
They do that.
Barbara, you've got
to clear this up.
I don't have to do anything
except go to work.
They put a lien on my salary
until I pay off
the full $15,000.
My god.
Yeah, that interest really
sneaks up on you, doesn't it?
Barbara, this is very serious.
Forget it. It's handled.
I don't want
to talk about it anymore.
Where are you going to live?
Well, she'll live here.
How humiliating.
The minute something goes
a little wrong,
moving back
to your parents house,
living in
your childhood bedroom,
which, in case you were
concerned, Barbara,
has been preserved as a shrine
right down the hall.
I'm not living here.
I'm moving in with Frank.
Frank? Frank?
I don't think I've heard
this Frank name before.
Daddy, I can't live with you.
I'm an adult.
And I know you.
There would be rules
and curfews,
and you would listen in
on my telephone conversations.
I never did that.
Really?
So when Jolie Moss
was explaining
the facts of life to me,
who was that
on the other line screaming,
"it's a lie! It's a lie!"
Frank... isn't he the one
who could touch his nose
with his tongue?
Don't help me, Carol.
And this is mine.
Besides, daddy, if I lived here,
I'd be constantly worried
about invading your privacy.
That has nothing to do
with this.
I'm putting my foot down.
There's no living with Frank.
Listen to yourself.
I don't even live here,
and you're already telling me
what to do.
Come on, sweetheart.
No, it wouldn't be like that
if you lived here.
I mean, I promise.
There... no rules.
No, daddy.
And don't worry,
Frank is just a buddy.
We've been on the force together
for years.
He's a cop,
and he's a gentleman,
friend of mine. Engaged
to a friend of mine.
It'll be like living
with a brother.
Frank,
that better be your nightstick!
I don't believe it.
I mean, I just can't believe
that Frank would try something
like that.
Yeah, well, the doctor said
he'll be fine.
He just can't touch his nose
with his tongue anymore.
Well, moving back
must be very strange for you.
Yeah,
I just keep telling myself,
"it's only temporary.
It's only temporary."
Well, I certainly
couldn't move back.
I mean, it would be tough
to get on with the normal steps
in your life...
Finding someone you love,
learning to care for each other.
Begging him to come back.
All right, Barbara baby,
I put all your towels
in the linen closet.
Ha ha, this is great.
You're home.
Yay.
What is it with you girls
and this independence stuff?
Come on, you don't really want
to be alone.
You need some closeness.
You need some companionship.
Daddy, I like living alone.
What's wrong with a little
company at the breakfast table?
Pancakes on Sunday,
someone to talk to,
someone to share your day with?
Pancakes...
Come on, it's gonna be
like old times.
We'll have long conversations
and Saturday night card games.
I have plans Saturday nights.
Conversation...
Chatting with something
you don't have to water.
No, remember?
Remember how much fun
we used to have?
We'd start off
with some crazy eights,
go into old maid.
Daddy,
those are children's games.
I think I'm a little beyond
playing old maid.
Well, I seem to have
embraced it as a lifestyle.
Come on, come on.
I'm not gonna interfere
with your plans.
While you're living here
with me, dear,
you will be treated
as a responsible adult.
Thank you.
In fact, look what I found
in your closet,
your old blackboard.
"Carol is a..." What?
Carol is a what?
Carol is a... is a...
Is a big sister.
Isn't that right?
Okay, fine.
Now that you're moving in here,
we shall have no...
...rules!
- Okay, daddy.
Thank you. I love you.
Okay, I'm gonna hang this
in the kitchen.
Okay, I'm gonna go.
I'm meeting Chuck.
Okay... Chuck, wait.
Who's Chuck?
See you tomorrow, daddy.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
"See you tomorrow."
What does that mean?
What does that mean?
I mean, like,
I shouldn't wait up?
Or she's not coming home
until tomorrow?
I mean,
and what about this mess?
When is she gonna clean it up?
Daddy, what's your problem?
According to you,
you're living
with a responsible adult.
Ha, ha-ha, ha-ha.
Barbara, please.
Now, you got to stop leaving
these kind of messages.
Every time you break something,
he's mad at me
for the rest of the day.
You broke a VCR,
wrecked the day.
Blew up the microwave,
wrecked the day.
All right.
If it's that important,
what is it?
"Let the toaster dry
before you plug it in."
I'll tell him. Bye-bye.
Well, dear, his colic is fine.
I know thumb-sucking really,
really is okay.
And the twins...
Dr. Freedman tells me the twins
look great on the ultrasound.
And you... how's that headache?
Any better?
She thinks
she's got trouble now.
Wait till those kids grow up
and leave home
and then move back home.
Have we heard anything
from Barbara today?
No, not a word.
Good.
But I wouldn't eat
any toast tonight.
You know, you seem a mite tired
of this livin' arrangement
already.
It's only been four days.
Well, her mother
did not raise her
to live like this, Laverne.
I mean, really,
hamburger wrappers,
piles of clothes.
I'll tell you what did it.
It's her being a cop.
All her priorities have changed.
She spends her afternoons
drawing chalk marks
around dead people.
Who has time to dust?
Did you forget something,
Mrs. Sprague?
Morning, Barbara dear.
What's in the news?
Barbara's still in bed.
I'm Chuck.
You must be Harry.
Nice mug.
Barbara!
Barbara!
No.
You said you'd be gone by 7:00.
Gosh, how time flies when...
When you have no idea
what time it is.
I left it up by the bed.
Chuck, I'll mail it to you.
Good-bye.
Daddy...
Now, Barbara, I like to think
of myself as a modern man.
I mean, I believe in the E.R.A.
I have no prejudices.
I own a digital watch.
Did I mention the E.R.A.?
Daddy, I'm sorry.
He wasn't supposed to be here
when you got up.
Actually, we were gonna go
to his place,
but his mother's visiting.
Hey, if it's any consolation,
I was home by 11:00.
Barbara dear, I think
you may be missing the point.
See, I cannot have...
I mean, the idea of...
Like that... in this house...
Like what?
Daddy, you said
I could live here
the same way
I lived in my apartment.
I mean, really, in my apartment,
do you think I was celibate?
Yes.
Daddy, you're not the only one
who's embarrassed here.
Now, I know this is something
we should have discussed
and then eased into.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
There's no... there’s no
discussion necessary.
- What does that mean?
- What does that mean?
That means, rule one:
No Chuck.
Wait a minute.
What happened to "no rules"?
Why are you acting like this
all the sudden?
Barbara, this is not
all of a sudden.
This has been
five very long days in coming.
Daddy, I said I was sorry
about Chuck.
This is not only about Chuck.
This is about
the whole living arrangement.
This is about nights
with the television
blaring from your room,
going in your room and finding
not only the TV
but the stereo and every light
in the universe on.
Barbara, Hoover dam called.
They're a little tired
and was hoping that perhaps
we could turn a few things off.
That's what this is all about.
Utilities?
Yes, utilities.
Number two:
We turn things off,
starting with Chuck.
We can't have rules like this
if I'm supposed to be able
to live my life
the way I want to.
Rule three:
Change lifestyle.
Daddy, you're acting
like I'm 12 years old.
This has got to stop.
No, this does not have to stop.
As long as you're living
under this roof,
you will go by my rules.
Fair enough.
Rule four:
Good...
Bye.
That's not a rule.
Did you tell him
you were leaving?
I would have,
but I think he has a rule
against it.
So where are you going to stay?
God.
Carol, it's only temporary.
Everything in your entire life
is temporary.
Yeah, but only
for a little while.
Everything... your finances,
your living arrangements,
your boyfriends.
How do you stand it?
Well I guess
when things are temporary,
I don't expect much.
When I expect things,
I get disappointed.
Maybe that's it.
I expect things all the time,
and I'm disappointed.
I'm disappointed
that I haven't had a child yet.
I'm disappointed that I haven't
gone further in my career.
And I just can't believe
what is happening
to my upper arms.
So can I stay here?
Just until I make
other arrangements?
Would you be disappointed
if I said no?
Yes, but only temporarily.
Anybody home?
No.
That sounded like one of those
"Boy, I could use
some company now" nos.
Why so glum, chum?
Barbara moved out.
Well, I'm not surprised.
I saw rule 12.
I feel terrible.
Gee, I'm sorry.
That's rough.
I know the loss
you must be feeling right now.
What's for dinner?
Come on, Charley.
Hey, you really are upset.
Well, if you want
to talk about it, I'm here.
Let me be your sounding board.
Charley, I really blew it.
I don't know
what I was expecting, but...
I mean, Barbara's exactly
the same person
she's always been.
I'm the one who changed.
I mean, I just can't stand
the clutter anymore,
the late nights, the noise,
the worrying.
You know, you like to think
that you keep up,
and then something like this
comes along
and you find out that you're
really very set in your ways.
You know what that makes me,
don't you?
Old.
And young people cannot bear
being with old people.
So...
She's gone.
Charley?
Charley?
Hi.
It's 9:00.
So?
We were having dinner together
at 7:00.
Well, let's have it now.
We can't.
It's outside in the trash.
Cats are eating it.
Okay, then.
Though god knows
they should still be full
from the casserole
you missed last night.
I'll be in my room.
I thought we could go
to the movies.
I can't. I have work to do.
Again?
Carol...
What is is?
We never go out anymore.
Anymore?
The closest you and I
ever came to going out
was the night I cut my hand
and you had to take me
to emergency.
So, what, you're saying
you didn't have a good time?
I don't know which is worse,
you or daddy.
I mean, maybe daddy treats me
like a child,
but Carol, you're trying to turn
me into your whole life.
Well, that is just ridiculous.
For your information,
I happen to have a very
fulfilling and exciting life.
The last thing I need is you
to build my world around.
I have done things
and seen people
that you have only dreamed of.
Okay, I'm sorry.
You want to hear
about some of them?
Good.
Now, go change
into your nightie.
I'll make us some nachos.
Hi, daddy.
Hi. You're talking to me.
Yeah, if it's okay.
That is very okay.
So...
How is Carol?
Let me just ask you this.
When mom was pregnant
with Carol,
you guys didn't, like,
make any kind of deal
with the devil, did you?
Come on.
It's not that bad.
She calls me all day at work
to see when I'm coming home.
And she expects me to spend
all my free time with her.
And she insists on blaming me
for the 8,000 cats
that have surrounded
her building.
Sweetheart,
your sister is lonely.
Daddy, I need to tell you
a couple of things.
First of all, I'm sorry.
This has all been very hard
on me,
owing all this money
and losing my independence,
and I realize
that I took it out on you.
I'm a selfish, horrible,
miserable girl, and...
And you don't want
to live with Carol anymore.
I'll do anything.
All right, sweetheart.
And I promise you
I will not make the same mistake
again.
I will try to be much more
flexible with the rules.
And I'll try
to break fewer of them.
But daddy, please,
can we dump
that stupid blackboard?
Go on, stop following me.
Okay, now, go on.
Shoo, shoo, shoo!
I knew you'd be here.
Of course you did.
I left you a note
saying I was moving back in
with daddy.
If you said yes, I mean.
So I guess you guys are planning
on having
a pretty good time here?
Well, we're gonna work on it.
Good.
I'm just a little concerned
that the two of you
will be at each other again.
There really should be
a third party
who could intervene,
kind of like a live-in
tie-breaker.
Please, god.
Please don't let this be
what I think it is.
Daddy...
I'm so tired of being alone.
I've been wanting
to move back here for two years.
I need conversation.
I need rules.
I need pancakes.
Sweetheart, you've always been
welcome to move back in here.
I didn't know that.
You never said that.
It goes without saying.
You know you're welcome.
Goes without saying?
I've been talking to plants
for two years
and it goes without saying?
Well, I would be thrilled
to have you move back here.
The both of you at home?
Listen,
not only can you move back,
I insist on it.
Tonight?
Well, it doesn't have
to be tonight.
Well, you know, it really does.
The men are over at my place
packing.
All right, this is even better.
This is great, dear.
You can move back
into your old room.
Wait a minute.
Your old room is my new study.
Oops, okay, I don't need it.
I can read in the bathroom.
Don't worry.
You know, you don't have
to do that, daddy.
I can stay in Emily's room.
She's in college.
She doesn't need it.
I see. The good room.
Since when is that
the good room?
Carol, you know darn well.
It's right next to the bathroom.
It has the bay window.
Is this heaven?
I mean, look at this.
I mean, I love this.
Where's my camera?
I'll just wait here
while you figure out
what you want.
Come on, everybody! It's ready!
Our first family breakfast
together.
We've got orange juice,
fresh fruit,
and pancakes!
Barbara.
Sorry, I got to go. I'm late.
- Daddy.
- Bye, daddy.
Thank you, dear.
I'll drink it in the car.
Bye.
All right! Pancakes.
I love this.
Boy, we're just one great big
happy family again.
Okay, you got it.
We almost got it.
Dreyfuss, come on.
Out of the way.
Come on, Dreyfuss, move.
Dreyfuss, time for dinner.
There.
- All right.
- Sure.
Here you go, and then there.
There you go. That's great.
Isn't this wonderful?
I mean, I love just the idea
of it, a study.
I've always wanted a room
all for myself
where I could be alone,
you know, to sit and think
and read.
Something wrong
with your bathroom?
Thank you for your help,
Charles.
What?
What do I get?
Nothing.
- Nothing?
- Nothing.
Charley, look, now,
you borrow my clothes.
You drink my beer.
You eat my food.
Isn't that enough?
It was before you started
with this moving business.
Good-bye, Charles.
Daddy, where are you?
Up here, Carol,
in your old room.
Don't help him move.
You don't get anything.
Hi, daddy.
I'm late for work, so...
My god.
My room.
What have you done to my room?
Ha, I've turned it into a study.
I wanted to have it all done
before I showed it to you.
Wait...
Something wrong?
Wrong? No.
What could be wrong?
I grew up in this house,
and now I have no room here.
There is no memory of me
left in this house.
Why should that be a problem?
- Daddy?
- I'm up here, baby.
I had no idea
this would upset you so much.
This is great.
What a wonderful idea.
Sure, big talk from the one
who still has a room.
It's my new study,
though your sister seems to
be a little upset about that.
She's upset?
Look what I got
in the mail yesterday.
My apartment building
is going condo.
You know, Barbara,
this is a good building
you're in.
Maybe you should get a loan
and buy in.
I don't think so.
My credit rating
is a little off.
How off?
I now get letters
from the collection agency
that start out, "Dear Barb."
How does this happen?
I don't know.
I started out
with a very good system.
Every time I'd get in too deep
with one credit card,
I'd get a cash advance
from the other to bail me out.
Everything was fine
until the Visa people got greedy
and demanded more
than the Mastercard people
were willing to give.
So you paid them.
No, I applied
for American Express.
I mean, I don't believe this.
Wait till you hear this.
American Express expects
full payment every 30 days.
What do they think?
I'm made of money?
Barbara, this is crazy.
You can't use one credit card
to pay off another.
That's just accumulating debt.
I mean,
what if everybody did that?
What if nations did that?
They do that.
Barbara, you've got
to clear this up.
I don't have to do anything
except go to work.
They put a lien on my salary
until I pay off
the full $15,000.
My god.
Yeah, that interest really
sneaks up on you, doesn't it?
Barbara, this is very serious.
Forget it. It's handled.
I don't want
to talk about it anymore.
Where are you going to live?
Well, she'll live here.
How humiliating.
The minute something goes
a little wrong,
moving back
to your parents house,
living in
your childhood bedroom,
which, in case you were
concerned, Barbara,
has been preserved as a shrine
right down the hall.
I'm not living here.
I'm moving in with Frank.
Frank? Frank?
I don't think I've heard
this Frank name before.
Daddy, I can't live with you.
I'm an adult.
And I know you.
There would be rules
and curfews,
and you would listen in
on my telephone conversations.
I never did that.
Really?
So when Jolie Moss
was explaining
the facts of life to me,
who was that
on the other line screaming,
"it's a lie! It's a lie!"
Frank... isn't he the one
who could touch his nose
with his tongue?
Don't help me, Carol.
And this is mine.
Besides, daddy, if I lived here,
I'd be constantly worried
about invading your privacy.
That has nothing to do
with this.
I'm putting my foot down.
There's no living with Frank.
Listen to yourself.
I don't even live here,
and you're already telling me
what to do.
Come on, sweetheart.
No, it wouldn't be like that
if you lived here.
I mean, I promise.
There... no rules.
No, daddy.
And don't worry,
Frank is just a buddy.
We've been on the force together
for years.
He's a cop,
and he's a gentleman,
friend of mine. Engaged
to a friend of mine.
It'll be like living
with a brother.
Frank,
that better be your nightstick!
I don't believe it.
I mean, I just can't believe
that Frank would try something
like that.
Yeah, well, the doctor said
he'll be fine.
He just can't touch his nose
with his tongue anymore.
Well, moving back
must be very strange for you.
Yeah,
I just keep telling myself,
"it's only temporary.
It's only temporary."
Well, I certainly
couldn't move back.
I mean, it would be tough
to get on with the normal steps
in your life...
Finding someone you love,
learning to care for each other.
Begging him to come back.
All right, Barbara baby,
I put all your towels
in the linen closet.
Ha ha, this is great.
You're home.
Yay.
What is it with you girls
and this independence stuff?
Come on, you don't really want
to be alone.
You need some closeness.
You need some companionship.
Daddy, I like living alone.
What's wrong with a little
company at the breakfast table?
Pancakes on Sunday,
someone to talk to,
someone to share your day with?
Pancakes...
Come on, it's gonna be
like old times.
We'll have long conversations
and Saturday night card games.
I have plans Saturday nights.
Conversation...
Chatting with something
you don't have to water.
No, remember?
Remember how much fun
we used to have?
We'd start off
with some crazy eights,
go into old maid.
Daddy,
those are children's games.
I think I'm a little beyond
playing old maid.
Well, I seem to have
embraced it as a lifestyle.
Come on, come on.
I'm not gonna interfere
with your plans.
While you're living here
with me, dear,
you will be treated
as a responsible adult.
Thank you.
In fact, look what I found
in your closet,
your old blackboard.
"Carol is a..." What?
Carol is a what?
Carol is a... is a...
Is a big sister.
Isn't that right?
Okay, fine.
Now that you're moving in here,
we shall have no...
...rules!
- Okay, daddy.
Thank you. I love you.
Okay, I'm gonna hang this
in the kitchen.
Okay, I'm gonna go.
I'm meeting Chuck.
Okay... Chuck, wait.
Who's Chuck?
See you tomorrow, daddy.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
"See you tomorrow."
What does that mean?
What does that mean?
I mean, like,
I shouldn't wait up?
Or she's not coming home
until tomorrow?
I mean,
and what about this mess?
When is she gonna clean it up?
Daddy, what's your problem?
According to you,
you're living
with a responsible adult.
Ha, ha-ha, ha-ha.
Barbara, please.
Now, you got to stop leaving
these kind of messages.
Every time you break something,
he's mad at me
for the rest of the day.
You broke a VCR,
wrecked the day.
Blew up the microwave,
wrecked the day.
All right.
If it's that important,
what is it?
"Let the toaster dry
before you plug it in."
I'll tell him. Bye-bye.
Well, dear, his colic is fine.
I know thumb-sucking really,
really is okay.
And the twins...
Dr. Freedman tells me the twins
look great on the ultrasound.
And you... how's that headache?
Any better?
She thinks
she's got trouble now.
Wait till those kids grow up
and leave home
and then move back home.
Have we heard anything
from Barbara today?
No, not a word.
Good.
But I wouldn't eat
any toast tonight.
You know, you seem a mite tired
of this livin' arrangement
already.
It's only been four days.
Well, her mother
did not raise her
to live like this, Laverne.
I mean, really,
hamburger wrappers,
piles of clothes.
I'll tell you what did it.
It's her being a cop.
All her priorities have changed.
She spends her afternoons
drawing chalk marks
around dead people.
Who has time to dust?
Did you forget something,
Mrs. Sprague?
Morning, Barbara dear.
What's in the news?
Barbara's still in bed.
I'm Chuck.
You must be Harry.
Nice mug.
Barbara!
Barbara!
No.
You said you'd be gone by 7:00.
Gosh, how time flies when...
When you have no idea
what time it is.
I left it up by the bed.
Chuck, I'll mail it to you.
Good-bye.
Daddy...
Now, Barbara, I like to think
of myself as a modern man.
I mean, I believe in the E.R.A.
I have no prejudices.
I own a digital watch.
Did I mention the E.R.A.?
Daddy, I'm sorry.
He wasn't supposed to be here
when you got up.
Actually, we were gonna go
to his place,
but his mother's visiting.
Hey, if it's any consolation,
I was home by 11:00.
Barbara dear, I think
you may be missing the point.
See, I cannot have...
I mean, the idea of...
Like that... in this house...
Like what?
Daddy, you said
I could live here
the same way
I lived in my apartment.
I mean, really, in my apartment,
do you think I was celibate?
Yes.
Daddy, you're not the only one
who's embarrassed here.
Now, I know this is something
we should have discussed
and then eased into.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
There's no... there’s no
discussion necessary.
- What does that mean?
- What does that mean?
That means, rule one:
No Chuck.
Wait a minute.
What happened to "no rules"?
Why are you acting like this
all the sudden?
Barbara, this is not
all of a sudden.
This has been
five very long days in coming.
Daddy, I said I was sorry
about Chuck.
This is not only about Chuck.
This is about
the whole living arrangement.
This is about nights
with the television
blaring from your room,
going in your room and finding
not only the TV
but the stereo and every light
in the universe on.
Barbara, Hoover dam called.
They're a little tired
and was hoping that perhaps
we could turn a few things off.
That's what this is all about.
Utilities?
Yes, utilities.
Number two:
We turn things off,
starting with Chuck.
We can't have rules like this
if I'm supposed to be able
to live my life
the way I want to.
Rule three:
Change lifestyle.
Daddy, you're acting
like I'm 12 years old.
This has got to stop.
No, this does not have to stop.
As long as you're living
under this roof,
you will go by my rules.
Fair enough.
Rule four:
Good...
Bye.
That's not a rule.
Did you tell him
you were leaving?
I would have,
but I think he has a rule
against it.
So where are you going to stay?
God.
Carol, it's only temporary.
Everything in your entire life
is temporary.
Yeah, but only
for a little while.
Everything... your finances,
your living arrangements,
your boyfriends.
How do you stand it?
Well I guess
when things are temporary,
I don't expect much.
When I expect things,
I get disappointed.
Maybe that's it.
I expect things all the time,
and I'm disappointed.
I'm disappointed
that I haven't had a child yet.
I'm disappointed that I haven't
gone further in my career.
And I just can't believe
what is happening
to my upper arms.
So can I stay here?
Just until I make
other arrangements?
Would you be disappointed
if I said no?
Yes, but only temporarily.
Anybody home?
No.
That sounded like one of those
"Boy, I could use
some company now" nos.
Why so glum, chum?
Barbara moved out.
Well, I'm not surprised.
I saw rule 12.
I feel terrible.
Gee, I'm sorry.
That's rough.
I know the loss
you must be feeling right now.
What's for dinner?
Come on, Charley.
Hey, you really are upset.
Well, if you want
to talk about it, I'm here.
Let me be your sounding board.
Charley, I really blew it.
I don't know
what I was expecting, but...
I mean, Barbara's exactly
the same person
she's always been.
I'm the one who changed.
I mean, I just can't stand
the clutter anymore,
the late nights, the noise,
the worrying.
You know, you like to think
that you keep up,
and then something like this
comes along
and you find out that you're
really very set in your ways.
You know what that makes me,
don't you?
Old.
And young people cannot bear
being with old people.
So...
She's gone.
Charley?
Charley?
Hi.
It's 9:00.
So?
We were having dinner together
at 7:00.
Well, let's have it now.
We can't.
It's outside in the trash.
Cats are eating it.
Okay, then.
Though god knows
they should still be full
from the casserole
you missed last night.
I'll be in my room.
I thought we could go
to the movies.
I can't. I have work to do.
Again?
Carol...
What is is?
We never go out anymore.
Anymore?
The closest you and I
ever came to going out
was the night I cut my hand
and you had to take me
to emergency.
So, what, you're saying
you didn't have a good time?
I don't know which is worse,
you or daddy.
I mean, maybe daddy treats me
like a child,
but Carol, you're trying to turn
me into your whole life.
Well, that is just ridiculous.
For your information,
I happen to have a very
fulfilling and exciting life.
The last thing I need is you
to build my world around.
I have done things
and seen people
that you have only dreamed of.
Okay, I'm sorry.
You want to hear
about some of them?
Good.
Now, go change
into your nightie.
I'll make us some nachos.
Hi, daddy.
Hi. You're talking to me.
Yeah, if it's okay.
That is very okay.
So...
How is Carol?
Let me just ask you this.
When mom was pregnant
with Carol,
you guys didn't, like,
make any kind of deal
with the devil, did you?
Come on.
It's not that bad.
She calls me all day at work
to see when I'm coming home.
And she expects me to spend
all my free time with her.
And she insists on blaming me
for the 8,000 cats
that have surrounded
her building.
Sweetheart,
your sister is lonely.
Daddy, I need to tell you
a couple of things.
First of all, I'm sorry.
This has all been very hard
on me,
owing all this money
and losing my independence,
and I realize
that I took it out on you.
I'm a selfish, horrible,
miserable girl, and...
And you don't want
to live with Carol anymore.
I'll do anything.
All right, sweetheart.
And I promise you
I will not make the same mistake
again.
I will try to be much more
flexible with the rules.
And I'll try
to break fewer of them.
But daddy, please,
can we dump
that stupid blackboard?
Go on, stop following me.
Okay, now, go on.
Shoo, shoo, shoo!
I knew you'd be here.
Of course you did.
I left you a note
saying I was moving back in
with daddy.
If you said yes, I mean.
So I guess you guys are planning
on having
a pretty good time here?
Well, we're gonna work on it.
Good.
I'm just a little concerned
that the two of you
will be at each other again.
There really should be
a third party
who could intervene,
kind of like a live-in
tie-breaker.
Please, god.
Please don't let this be
what I think it is.
Daddy...
I'm so tired of being alone.
I've been wanting
to move back here for two years.
I need conversation.
I need rules.
I need pancakes.
Sweetheart, you've always been
welcome to move back in here.
I didn't know that.
You never said that.
It goes without saying.
You know you're welcome.
Goes without saying?
I've been talking to plants
for two years
and it goes without saying?
Well, I would be thrilled
to have you move back here.
The both of you at home?
Listen,
not only can you move back,
I insist on it.
Tonight?
Well, it doesn't have
to be tonight.
Well, you know, it really does.
The men are over at my place
packing.
All right, this is even better.
This is great, dear.
You can move back
into your old room.
Wait a minute.
Your old room is my new study.
Oops, okay, I don't need it.
I can read in the bathroom.
Don't worry.
You know, you don't have
to do that, daddy.
I can stay in Emily's room.
She's in college.
She doesn't need it.
I see. The good room.
Since when is that
the good room?
Carol, you know darn well.
It's right next to the bathroom.
It has the bay window.
Is this heaven?
I mean, look at this.
I mean, I love this.
Where's my camera?
I'll just wait here
while you figure out
what you want.
Come on, everybody! It's ready!
Our first family breakfast
together.
We've got orange juice,
fresh fruit,
and pancakes!
Barbara.
Sorry, I got to go. I'm late.
- Daddy.
- Bye, daddy.
Thank you, dear.
I'll drink it in the car.
Bye.
All right! Pancakes.
I love this.
Boy, we're just one great big
happy family again.