Married with Children (1986–1997): Season 1, Episode 8 - The Poker Game - full transcript

Al takes Steve one evening to watch a poker game with his poker playing friends. Steve gets the feel of the game and sits in for one of the men, but he ends up losing his paycheck to Al. From then on, Steve tries to avoid Marcy to avoid telling her the truth about losing their mortgage payment money while Al plans to use his $300 winnings to buy a new fishing rod.

Al, I'm doing the lottery.
I need a number.

-Twenty-three.
-I don't like 23.

Why? It was your waist size.

Once.

Come on, Al.
Give me a real number.

Twenty-three is real.
What do you got against 23?

Well, you were born on the 23rd,
and we married on the 23rd.

-Seventeen.
-No, Kelly already picked 17.

-I need something closer to 20.
-Yeah, so do I.

Okay, fine. I'll pick it myself.

But I'm telling you something, Al,
when we win the $38 million...



-...I am keeping every penny.
-Yeah, you'd live a long time, Peg.

-What are you reading?
-I'm not gonna tell you.

Every time I read a magazine,
and I see something you might like...

...and I say, "Peg, look,"
you know what you do?

You take the magazine,
you look at what I showed you...

...then you sit down, you read
the magazine, I never get it back.

Not this time.

Peg, look at this.

Oh, another fishing catalog.

What am I looking at, Al?
The apron that says:

"He catches them, I cook them.
He eats them, I love him"?

You'd wear it,
but you wouldn't mean it.

I was talking about the 5-and-a-half foot
linear graphite bait casting rod...

...with the high-speed
star drag level wind reel.



Yippy skip.

And a mere $275.
Oh, Al, let's buy it.

We can do without food
and heat for a year.

You wouldn't mind?

Al, you want everything. When was the
last time you bought me something?

Oh, I suppose these pots
and pans are mine.

I'm sorry, Al. It's been so long
since I wore them dancing...

...I forgot they were even here.

I'll get it.

They have clothes in here.

-Morning.
-Hi, Steve.

Hi, Al. Glad I caught you
before you left for work.

-I need a ride home tonight.
-Why can't Marcy take you?

Saddle in the shop?

Marcy needs it
for a women's meeting.

What do they do, all pile in
and look for men to run over?

Room for one more?

-What do you say, Al?
-Sure, why not. Meet me at the store.

Oh, wait a second, Steve. I can't.
No, I'm coming home late.

-I'm playing poker tonight.
-Oh, gee, Al, that's great.

Another night I don't get to go out and
do anything. Thank you, honey.

You don't wanna go out
on Friday night.

Everyone and his wife
is out on Friday.

Well, if it's okay with you,
I don't mind tagging along.

Since we moved in, I haven't met
a lot of guys here, besides you.

And it might be nice to meet
somebody.

Besides you.

Fine. And you might pick up a few
pointers watching the old master play.

Oh, yeah. Why don't you ask
the old master about the time...

...they picked him so clean,
he had to push the old car home.

Peg, now, I was off my game that night.
I was nervous.

I couldn't concentrate with you being
in the hospital, having Bud and all.

This time will be different.
I have a goal.

All the money I make is gonna
go towards that fishing rod and reel.

You ought to see it.
Peg, give me the catalog.

I'm reading it, Al.

You ought to see it.
It's great, Steve, and it's only $275.

Al.

This is none of my business
or anything...

...but if you really want something...

...I've found the best way
to get it is through saving.

At the bank we have a little saying:

"If you want to save money...

...save money."

Thank you, Steve. You're so much
wiser than all the other tellers I've met.

All except the automated ones.

I'm not gonna be a teller for long.

-You may laugh at me--
-And I do.

But I have a way with money.

I know how to save,
I know how to invest...

...and I know how
to make money grow.

Give me $5,
and I can find opportunities...

...other people miss with hundreds.

Yeah, give Al $5
and you've just cashed his paycheck.

Yeah. Anybody been
to Gus' Diner lately?

The new waitress.

-Yeah, like, what is she, man, like 25?
-Yeah, it's a great age.

Just before their butts start to sag
and they start wearing Reeboks.

-Bet a dollar.
-She's perfect.

Well, she's great, but not perfect.
Her eyes are a little too close together.

They're vacant enough,
but they're not perfect.

Pair of queens bets.

If you want a perfect woman,
gotta build her in your head.

It gives you something to do
when you're making love to your wife.

I like that Connie Chung.

I like Connie Mack too, but neither one
have any place in this conversation.

Now, for the perfect woman...

...let's start out with the legs.

-Catherine Bach.
-I'd say Tina Turner.

A little too muscular for me.

Jamie Lee Curtis.

Okay, now let's talk tush.

Sigourney Weaver.

Nope, nope.
Monster touched it.

Jamie Lee Curtis.

Okay, it's hooter time.

-My favorite.
-My time, baby.

-Jacqueline Big-set.
-A young Brigitte Bardot.

Now, that's our perfect woman.

Nope. Got to have a brain.

-Why?
-A brain?

Vanna White!

I fold.

-Five dollars.
-I'm out.

You're bluffing, Barney.

Al, he's got two pair showing.

E.J.'s got his 10
and both queens are gone.

No way he's got that third 10.

I call.

Say hi to the third 10, Al.

I'm getting another beer.
Who wants one?

You've given me enough already, Al.

Russ here.

Gee, Al, you stink.

Thanks a lot, pal.

Come on. I can't believe
you are losing to these guys.

I've been watching an hour,
I got the rhythm of the game.

-What rhythm?
-Well, it's pretty obvious.

Look, take Russ.
Whenever he's got a bad hand...

...he shuffles his hole card as if
he thinks it's gonna change.

Whenever Barney bluffs,
he taps his chips.

Dead giveaway.
Norris? He never bluffs.

He won't stay in the game unless
he's got three of a kind. And you, Al.

You stink.

Steve, you're a real
Cincinnati kid.

I think he walked home
after a game too.

If we're such suckers,
why don't you sit in?

Oh, no. I just cashed my paycheck
and I give that money to Marcy.

The mortgage is due Monday.
Besides, I don't gamble.

Steve, we're married men.
We all gamble.

-Yeah, I got to run, guys.
-What?

-Wife is real sick.
-Bull! Listen to this!

-Where are you going?
-Come on, come on. What is it?

I promised my wife
I'd take her to the ballet.

The ballet?
Better take Norris along.

Show them what you do when they're
up in the air doing those splits.

All right, it's up to you, Steve.

-Excuse me.
-Oh, look, I'm not playing.

I don't believe in gambling.

I'm in.

-Sure you wouldn't like some cake?
-No, thanks.

After our meeting,
we stopped at Gus' Diner for a bite.

They have the dumbest
waitress I've ever seen.

Wiggling around in this short skirt...

...as if anyone was looking.

She got our orders wrong,
she got our change wrong.

Thank God our club president had the
nerve to complain and get her fired.

What are you doing?

Al was admiring
this fishing rod this morning.

So when he comes in broke from poker,
I like to leave it out.

You know, just to remind him of yet
another thing he'll never get.

I hope they get home soon. Steve and
I usually go over our budget tonight.

It's getting late.
Maybe we should call.

We can't.
Al says there's no phone there.

Well, I'm glad Steve's out
having a good time.

I know he doesn't
gamble or anything...

...but it's good that he's out
there trying to meet new people.

Maybe he'll invite some of the guys
over to our house.

Oh, yeah. That would make
for quite a stimulating evening.

I wonder which one he'll bring home.
Let's see.

There's Norris, who can make
obscene sounds with his armpit.

He is naturally a welcomed guest
at any occasion.

Oh, and then there's Barney,
the man no deodorant could tame.

And if you're really lucky,
you'll get Russ the Invincible.

He hasn't met a toilet yet
he couldn't overflow.

Poor Steve.

Yeah. These guys are
a real bunch of losers.

Then Steve will just have to find
some friends elsewhere.

Because if there's one thing
my Steve is, it's a winner.

How you doing,
Steve?

Are you okay?

Come on, Steve. You had a good time,
you met some good people.

And you lost $300
to a good friend.

I can't believe I lost
my mortgage payment.

-What am I gonna tell Marcy?
-Steve, you're a man.

Lie like a dog.

Tell her you got mugged.
We got jumped by four guys.

I fought off three, but the little guy
beat you silly and took your money.

You're enjoying this,
aren't you, Al?

Well, you're the one had
the rhythm of the game.

Wasn't my fault you couldn't
stop mouthing your hole card.

-I gotta tell her. I got no choice.
-Well, I wouldn't.

-I have to. She's gonna ask.
-Here's what I do.

I walk in the door, before Peg can say
a word, which means I gotta be quick...

...I tell her how great she looks.

Then if it's real rough, I grit my teeth
and throw her a quick one.

She's so grateful, she forgets
what she's gonna ask me...

...and even if she says something
later on, I'm asleep.

Can't do it. Our relationship
is based on honesty.

And the buns of Mel Gibson.

That is our perfect man.

-Wait, we need a brain.
-Why? It's a man.

Hi, honey.

Steve. I was worried about you.

-Did you have a good time?
-Well, you know....

Kind of. You know....

Considering....

Well, I'm sure it was hard
on you being the only one there...

...with the strength not to gamble.

Marcy.

I have to tell you something.

You look beautiful.

More beautiful than
I've ever seen you.

Oh, Steve.

Your lips are like wine,
and I want to get drunk tonight.

Badly.

But, Steve,
we need to finish our budget.

Damn the budget! A man has needs.

Oh, Steve!

Has all this talk done
something for you, Al?

Yeah.

I'm thirsty. Get me a beer.

Oh, Al.

So how did you do tonight?
Lose as usual?

Yeah.

Oh, darn.

Now you won't be able to buy
that beautiful fishing pole you wanted.

When will I ever learn?

No.

Look, you don't seem
to understand me.

I want something
that goes with this dress.

A bubbling caldron?

You've got a lot of nerve.

I need it to get
this close to your feet.

-Hi, Al.
-Hi, Steve. How's it going?

Hey, did Marcy ever
bring up the budget again?

Yes, Al, she did.

And every time she did,
I told her how beautiful she looked.

And showed her.

I showed her until
8:00 this morning, Al.

She's out cold,
and I don't remember how I got here.

-Then it worked.
-But I'm afraid it'll never work again.

I don't know how to ask you this,
but I need a big favor.

Whoa, Steve, I can't.

She's your wife.

I don't like touching mine.

Al, I know this is something
that isn't normally done...

...but I was wondering if you could
kind of give me my money back.

Wait a second. This is over the line.

Okay. How about this?
Just loan it to me.

You'll take it back to the game next
week and lose it because you stink.

I stink? I tell you what we'll do, Steve.

You're real good with money. You know
how to invest it and make it grow.

How much was it you said you needed
to find those opportunities...

...other people miss?

-Three hundred dollars, Al.
-No, it was $5, Steve.

Make it grow, buddy.

This is how you treat me? A neighbor,
a man who calls you friend?

-Yes, it is, Steve.
-Give me the 5.

Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay.
I need a plan.

Let's see. I work in a bank. If I took
a quarter out of every quarter roll....

Why don't you do this, Steve?

Why don't you go home,
wake up Marcy, say:

"Hey, I lost all my money.
I screwed up.

I'm sorry. What's for dinner?"

That's what being
a man's all about, Steve.

Making mistakes and not caring.

Well, I do care, Al.

Excuse me. Could you spare
some change for a decent meal?

-Thank you.
-Hey, wait a minute.

Thanks.

-Thanks a lot.
-Sure.

Well, Steve, you're
a real decent guy.

You're about as sharp as a bag
of wet hair, but you're a decent guy.

You know, Al, that $5
wasn't gonna do anything for me...

...but it'll do a lot of good for him.

You see...

...I believe something, Al. I believe
that if you do something good...

...something good will always
happen to you in return.

You'll see, Al.

You'll see.

Steve, it's been real nice
having you here all day.

So as the hostess here,
I guess it's up to me to ask...

...what are you doing here?

Waiting for something good to happen.
And it will too.

I walked around most of the morning.
Nothing good happened.

But I know that when Al gets home,
something good is gonna happen.

Well, that will be a first.

You know, I haven't seen
Marcy all day. Is she okay?

Sure. I did all the work.

-Are you okay?
-Oh, yeah. Everything's fine.

Marcy decided to sleep in today,
and me?

I'm happy as a duck
in orange sauce.

Oh, Marcy's light just came on.
She must be up.

Peg, listen very carefully to me.

I lost my paycheck
to Al in the poker game.

He won't give it back.

Marcy's gonna kill me...

...if she hasn't already.

-How much did he win?
-Three hundred dollars.

I haven't had a new bra
for two years...

...and that baboon
is sitting on 300 bucks?

I'm gonna have to tell Marcy.
It's the right thing to do.

Yeah, you go tell Marcy,
and then bring her over here.

Al will be home soon, and believe me,
you'll get your money back.

I'll see to that.

Really? Oh, thank you, Peggy.
Thank you.

See? I knew something good
was gonna happen.

So you lost again at poker, Al?

So I can buy a new bra
when we can afford it, Al?

Enjoy Daddy's dinner.

Hi.

-What's for supper?
-Filthy pig!

We had that last night.

Al, Steve told me that you won
his money in the poker game.

You cannot keep the money.

Where did this rule come from?

When I lose, I lose.

You don't play cards, then sit down
when it's finished, say:

"Hey, hey, hey. give me
my money back." That's no fun.

If that's the way it worked,
I may as well stay home with you.

It's bad enough that you lied to me
about winning the money...

...but, Al, these
are the only friends I've got.

I like having people to talk to.

You know, people that will come over
to the house even though you're here.

That makes them special, Al.

Now, I want you to give him
back his money, for me.

-I can't. I spent it.
-Oh, Al, you are the lowest!

Now, what did you waste
that money on?

I got you this.

Oh, Al!

It's beautiful.

I love it.
Oh, honey, I don't deserve this.

I felt kind of bad about
not ever getting you anything.

You are the sweetest man...

...in the whole world.

Now, honey, I'm just gonna go
upstairs and try this on...

...and then I'll come make you a nice
juicy steak, just like the dog had.

Oh, it's priceless, Al.

No. It was 15 bucks.

But you, my love, were 275.

Peg, I'll be down in the basement!

Okay, honey!

-You better get that money back!
-It's all taken care of.

Al? Peggy?

Guys?

It's me!

Where's our money, Steven?

Marcy.

You look beautiful.