Party of Five (1994–2000): Season 1, Episode 11 - Private Lives - full transcript

[thud]

[cat caterwauls]

[door rattling]

[dog barking]

[suspenseful music playing]

[stairs creak]

[siren wailing]

[wailing stops]

[door rattles]

[clattering]

[breathing heavily]



-Don't move!
-Aah!

[both scream]

-Gee!
-Charlie!

What the hell are you doing?

What the hell
am I doing?

What the hell are you doing
sneaking around the house?

I forgot my keys, okay? Put down the knife,
you idiot.

It's three o'clock
in the morning.

What the hell's going on?

Nothing.

Well, where
have you been?

-Out.
-Out where?

Come on, Charlie.

For the last,
like, two weeks,



I've been hearing you
come home every night

at God knows what hour.

You know, that's funny,
'cause the last time
I checked,

I didn't have a curfew. Well, what...
What are you doing?

You hanging out
with a group of guys
after work?

Are you seeing
some new girl?

You know what?

I'm a whole lot older
than you are, Bay.

I don't have to
answer to you.

You want to check
on bedtimes,
check on Claudia's.

Now go to bed.

Something going on
with you, Charlie?

Go to bed.

[theme song playing]

♪ Everybody wants to live ♪

♪ Like they wanna live ♪

♪ And everybody wants to love ♪

♪ Like they wanna love ♪

♪ Everybody wants to be ♪

♪ Closer to ♪

♪ Everybody wants to live ♪

♪ Like they wanna live ♪

♪ Everybody wants to love ♪

♪ Like they wanna love ♪

♪ Everybody wants to be ♪

♪ Closer to free ♪

[Bailey] Claud,
get off the phone.

You're really
screwing me up here.

[Claudia]
There's a pay phone
on the corner.

Hi, Artie.
Guess who this is.

Listen, that new
diaper rash ointment

you got, it doesn't
work great,

so just stick
with the old stuff.

Okay.

So, uh, how long
do you think
this is gonna take?

Well, they say
the chances of actually
getting on a jury

are really small.

I hear if you
don't get picked
in the first few days,

they just dismiss you.

Look, I'll be in touch.

[Claudia giggling]

What's going on?

Claudia's in the middle
of some fourth grade
gang initiation.

Fifth grade.

So, Artie-chokes,
three for a dollar...

-Sorry, Donna.
-Dana.

Aren't you supposed to be
at a lesson right now?

Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Homework?

Two days off
for a teacher conference.

Don't you listen
to anything?

Really--

Claudia will have
to call you
right back, Marty.

[both]
Artie.

Come on.

Kate is waiting
for my call.

There's a pay phone
on the corner.

The guy was there
all night. Left me $2.

-You're kidding.
-Loren.

Owner alert,
nine o'clock.

[upbeat music playing]

He got a haircut.

That's a new jacket.

You keeping tabs
on him or what?

[Julia] No.

-Maybe.
-Yes.

Julia...

Forget it.
He doesn't know I'm alive.

I bet he doesn't
even know my name.

Hey, Julia,

can I get a glass
of Perrier, please?

[people chattering]

Pay up.

On the house.

I don't know
if the house can afford it.

Really?

We're not exactly
packing them in
these days, are we?

You want my advice? Okay.

Well, the same 15 local bands
go from club to club, right?

Right.

Well, maybe if you
paid travel expenses,

rented an apartment
for out-of-town acts,

you could get a reputation
for introducing new groups
to the area.

See, the thing is,
I need a consistent draw.

I need a reason for people
to come here every week,
no matter who's playing.

Something in the order
of a, I don't know...

wet t-shirt contest.

-You're kidding, right?
-No, no, I'm not.

I got every penny I ever made
tied up into this place.

I'm up to my eyes in debt.

You gotta to have a cash
register for a heart.

Well, uh, in that case,
I guess you want me
back on the job, right?

You know, Loren tells me
that you're good.

You've asked?

Well, he just says
that you may be
the best we have.

[Morgan] Wait a second.

How come nobody here
has got your phone number?

How come you looked?

[rock music playing]

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

[doorbell chiming]

♪ I alone love you ♪

♪ I alone tempt you ♪

[knocking]

Pizza?

[woman] No. Mrs. Gideon.

Who?

From the Department
of Social Services.

[music continues]

[music stops]

Uh, I'm coming.

I'll be there in a second. Mrs. Gideon. Hi.

Bailey.

-[exhales]
-May I come in?

Don't think too long.
It's a rhetorical question.

I, uh, I forgot we had
an appointment.

You know how we work.
No appointments.

I'm sorry for
the late hour, though,

but I figured with
your brother working

and you kids in school...

well, the evening seemed
like the best time

to catch you all together.

Oh, well,
we're never out of
each other's sight...

[gulps]

except for tonight.

Any guess?

My bet is
it ain't a raise.

[laughing]

[Morgan] Oh.

Jeez, I didn't mean
to keep everybody
in suspense.

I got stuck in the bathroom.

[all laugh]

Loren, you want to
do something
about that door, please?

Oh, yeah, I'm working
on that, boss.

[Morgan] Thank you.
Thank you.

Uh, listen, uh...

I know we haven't
been exactly

packing them in here
the past few weeks,

so this is what
I was thinking.

We'll let
the customers know

that, uh, the music's
not the only draw.

You guys are.

So, starting tomorrow,
there's going to be
a new dress code.

What, wet t-shirts?

Let's just say
that it, uh...

it's a figure-flattering
uniform.

I think we show a little
more skin around here,

we'll show a little
more profit. Uh-huh. You know, like I say,

when in doubt,
capitalize on your asses.

Is that what you're doing?

Anyway, I've got
a whole crate
coming in later,

so, uh, you know,
pick out your sizes,
try them on,

and, uh, that's it.

End of announcement.

Wasn't so bad, was it?

How's Mrs. Kelleher doing?

The, uh...
The nanny.

She... She had to leave.

She left.

Oh, right. I'm sorry.

I have that noted
right here.

You hired...

Kirsten Bennett
is her name?

[door opens]

Julia!

You, uh,
you remember...

Mrs. Gideon,
what are you
doing here?

It's all right.
It's our regular visit.

That's great.
Nice to see you.

Same here.
Look, I'd like to--

I got to go
to the bathroom.

-Julia!
-I'm going to explode.

She got her mom's bladder.

You know,
why don't I call Charlie
at the restaurant

and see what time
he'll be home from work?

Oh, God!

Joe. Hey. Hey.
Can I, uh...

Can I talk to Charlie
for a second?

What?

No, no, no.
I thought he said...

Okay, well, all right.
Well, thanks, Joe. Just...

Just, uh, let him know
I called.

All right, thanks.

He, uh, just stepped out
on a break.

It happens.

It is such a weird night.

Usually, we're all gathered
around the living room
together,

you know,
studying and talking.

Why don't I see
how Julia's doing?

Julia!

Just a minute!

For God's sakes. Julia...

Hi.

Hi, there... again. Um...

I was just changing.

We were doing a production
of Marat/Sade at the school.

Church.

Church school.

It's a benefit, actually,
for hunger...

Disease. And diseases.

Hunger and diseases.
It's very optimistic.

Let me get a sweater.

[door shuts]

You know what?

I bet you'd like
to see Claudia.

I would, yes.

You know, she, uh...
She recently performed

with the Bay Area
Chamber Ensemble.

-It was in the paper.
-I saw that.

Yeah, she's, she's
a credit to us all
and to your department.

[whispering] She, uh,
she might be sleeping.

You know,
all that practicing
and studying.

Claudia?

Claudia? Claudia?

Claudia?

It's 10 o'clock at night.

You know what?
She's out with Charlie.

I'm sorry.
I completely forgot.

The two of them
are spending
some time together.

So is there anything else
you want to see?

I think I've seen enough.

She's got to be
with friends.

At 10:30 at night?

What are you guys doing?

And what are you wearing
underneath that
sweater, Jule?

-Claudia's missing.
-What?

She's gone.
We can't find her.

Where have you been?

-I was at work.
-Oh, really?

There must be
a note somewhere. Well, we can't find one

and no one has seen her
since this afternoon.

Yeah, it was, like,
eight hours ago.

Did she tell you
she was going out?

No. I don't know.
I don't think so.

Well, she's got to be
with friends, right?

I mean, she's got to be.
It's the only thing
that makes sense.

We have no idea, do we? She comes up to about here.

What's this,
like four feet?

Her weight?

What do
11-year-olds weigh?

She's pretty average.

-What was she wearing
the last time you saw her?
-A dress.

-Jeans.
-Overalls.

You're not exactly sure
what she was wearing?

I guess not.

You wouldn't happen to have
a recent picture of her,
would you?

Um...

This is
from last year...

or maybe
the year before. Her bangs are longer.

I'm going to put out
a missing juvenile broadcast.

[Charlie]
What should we do?
Drive around looking for her?

No, really,
the best thing for you to do

is to rack your brains
as to where she might be and wait
by the phone.

Just need a signature here.

What's this?
Why would you need to know
the name of her dentist?

It's for purposes
of identification.

Hopefully,
we'll never have
to deal with that.

Anything?

Sheet music,

art project
of sea shells,

list of what she wants
for her birthday.

Doesn't she have,
like, a little phone book
or something?

Phone number! Phone number.

It's my handwriting.

What did you take
$400 out of the bank for?

What?

It's an ATM slip from,
from three days ago.

Yeah, great.

I just don't remember it
in the checkbook.

For God's sake, Bay,
do we have to deal
with this right now?

I don't know, Bay.

Maybe he's got a girlfriend
he doesn't want us
to know about.

"Dear Diary."

Kind of a trust issue
here, huh?

It could have friends'
phone numbers in it.

Use a bobby pin or something.
She'll never know.

The thing is, Jule,
he's tired all the time.

His eyes are always red.

What are you saying? Charlie's got a drug problem
or something?

Give me a break.

Got it.

"I kind of like
our new nanny.

"Owen almost took a step today
without even holding on."

Wow. Did you know that?

No.

"Julia's weird.
Today I saw her..."
Never mind. Um...

"Bart likes Jamie.
Karen likes Jimmy S.

Question mark likes Claudia."

And that's it.

Great. We've got nothing.

Maybe one of us needs some rest.

Wait a second.
What about this whole thing
with Charlie?

Bailey, come on.

No, I'm telling you,

it's like he's got
this secret life.

-Leave it alone, Bay.
-What?

People are allowed
their privacy, you know.

That's a great answer, Jule.
That's great.

You know... You know, I think
we've gone a little overboard

with the privacy
thing here.

I mean, one of us
is missing,

and none of us has any idea

what anyone else in this family
is doing.

[telephone ringing]

Claudia.

Claudia.

[Julia screams]

[Charlie]
What? What? Claudia!

[ringing continues]

Something going on
with you guys?

-Are you okay?
-Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Where have you
been all night?

I was at a sleep-over
at Dana's...

and I met this boy.

You what?

I know. Isn't it great?

You were at a sleep-over
and you didn't call?

What? Why should I call?

Because we all
nearly had heart attacks

when you didn't come home,
that's why.

We were up all night.
We thought you were
missing or dead.

We called the police.

Well, that was pretty stupid.

Stupid?

Don't you ever
do that to us again.

Hey, I told you
where I was going.

You told who?

I yelled through
the bathroom door
when you wouldn't open it.

You said okay.

I know you didn't hear me,
because you had those
stupid headphones on,

so I went to you while you were
in the living room.

You nodded.

I was asleep.

If you were all
so worried about me,

why didn't you just look up
Dana's parents' number?

It's in the phone book...

unless it's because you have
no idea what Dana's name is,

which wouldn't surprise me
at all,

because none of you care
about any of my friends or have the slightest clue
what's going on in my life.

You want to blame
someone for this?
Blame yourselves.

I'm growing up,
and I'm becoming a woman,

and you're all missing it.

So what do you think?
Should we hug her or kill her?

Kind of a toss-up.

[applause]

[man]
We'll be back in 20,
so stick around.

-I feel like a hooker.
-I feel like a sausage casing.

It took me 45 minutes
to get dressed.

Put that on your time card.

Here we go again.

What are you having?

A fantasy.

What can I get you?

How about your phone number?

What would you like
beverage-wise?

Why don't you use
your imagination?

Because mine's working overtime.

This is bull.

All right, Julia.
Go, girl.

Okay, so what have we got here?
Four pinched butts--

Five.

Five. Sorry, Molly.

Three lewd comments
and two sexual propositions?

And a partridge
in a pear tree.

[Morgan] We didn't
get shut down
by the fire marshal, did we?

What the hell's going on?

Look, we're not trying
to be difficult,

but, uh,
these uniforms...

we kind of don't want
to wear them.

-No?
-No.

I know you're trying to find
a way to reel in customers,

and we all
understand that,

but I don't think we're
comfortable being the bait.

Ah. So to speak.

So, maybe we can come up
with a different solution,

because this one
isn't gonna work.

I see, I see,
and you're all agreed on this?

-Absolutely.
-Yeah.

It's unanimous.

Okay, okay, well, then, uh,
you're all fired.

What?

Are you kidding me?
I can't believe this.

Bailey...

I don't believe this.
You followed me.

What are you doing
in Berkeley?

You have
lost your mind.

Look, I want to know what
is going on with you, Charlie.

I want to know
where you go at night.

It's none of your damn business.

Yes, it is
my business.

It's my business
when you lie about being at work

and you come home
at three o'clock in the morning and you can't explain
what you did with 400 bucks.

Now, what is
going on with you, Charlie?

Are you in
some kind of trouble?

It's drugs, isn't it?

-What?
-I know they sell the stuff
around campus.

Yeah, that's it, Bailey.
You caught me.

When I'm not at home
changing diapers,

I'm out on Telegraph Avenue
dealing dope.

All right, well, if it's
not that, then what?

Get the hell out of here,
Bailey!

Charlie...

[telephone ringing]

[Bailey]
Hey, you've
reached the Salingers.

We're not around.
You know what to do.

Yes, this is Jane Gideon.

I've scheduled
a follow-up visit with you

for tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.

Unless I hear to the contrary,

I'll expect to see
all of you there.

All of you. Thank you.

[answering machine beeps]

There was a message
on the machine.

She's coming back.
Mrs. Gideon.

And she wants
to see us.

All of us.

Probably because she thinks
things are falling apart
around here,

and she's right.

What, now you've got
her involved?

Look, I didn't want to,
but with a social worker
breathing down our necks,

you're just gonna have
to level with us here, Charlie.

I'm going to school, okay?

I'm taking
an architecture class
at Berkeley.

I've been at the library
every night.

Right. Tell me another one.

Architecture 134,

Professor Eric Dwight,
Seaton Hall, Room 306.

You're serious.

Yeah.

So the 400 bucks--

Tuition, course fees, textbooks.

God, Charlie,
that's great.

I mean, it's great
that you're
trying this again.

Well, it's not for a grade
or anything.

It's just pass/fail.

So what?

It's a start, right?
It's great.

So why was this
such a big secret?

I just didn't want
anyone to know.

Why?

I just didn't, okay?

You don't need
to know everything.

Best friend?

Dana Shepherd.

That's E-R-D.

Used to be Jill Thorton

until she cheated off me
during a spelling test.

Favorite teacher?

I can't believe Mrs. Gideon's
gonna want to know this stuff.

It's not just for her.
We want to know.

Favorite teacher?

Mrs. Carver.

Wears Reeboks,

cries when she reads us
Johnny Tremain,

puts on too much blush.

Favorite scotch?

Main squeeze?

Come on, Claud.
Who's the kid you were
on the phone with

the other day,
acting like
a total idiot? Yeah. Arnie someone.

Artie.

[both] Artie.

Spill the beans, Claudia.
We want to know everything.

Everything.

Well, he's...

He's very tall.

Six feet?

Taller than me.

Hobbies? Special skills?

He plays the cymbals...

[both] Cymbals.

And he can wiggle his ears
one at a time.

I don't know anybody else
who can do that.

One at a time.

[both] Hmm.

You can see for yourself.

Today.

We have a date.

Date?

Okay,

so our ever eloquent Mr. Ponti

thinks that the architect's
use of materials...

How did you phrase that?

"Blows"?

[laughing]

[exhales]
Well, is there anything else
we can say about this?

Huh? Anyone?

Yes.

The proportions are totally off.

I mean, the scale
totally overpowers
the site.

It's like the architect
designed a building

without giving thought to where
the building was going to go.

Can everyone see that?
Excellent.

A good architect

must live, sleep,
eat, breathe his site

before he ever
puts drafting pencil
to paper,

which is why we're going to have
an all-day site visit

this Friday.

Now, I'm gonna be giving
instruction there,

so attendance
is required,

and, at the conclusion
of our field trip,

I'm gonna be
assigning you

a 48-hour sketch problem,

so clear your calendars
for the weekend.

You're going to need
every single second. No extensions on that.

I want to see
how you folks work
with deadlines, okay?

So let's move on
to the next one.

Think she'll look in the fridge?

She might.
Good thinking.

Yuck!

Better make a shopping list.

Lots of, uh... fresh fruit.

Maybe a chicken or something,

and we've got to lose
all the sugar cereals.

Oh, man, Bill,
you're back.

Ah, thank God. We're kind of in
social service hell right now.

We're short one nanny.

-[exhales]
-Boy, we really
need your help.

Actually, uh, guys...

I got picked.

You know, to serve.

You've been drafted?

On a jury.

-Oh.
-You're kidding.
What's the case?

Like, burglary or assault
or something?

Uh, it's, uh, murder...

one.

So I don't suppose
it's very likely

that you'll be back
in the next day or two, then.

I think when they
sequester you,
it's a pretty bad sign.

So, you know, the point is, I...

[Bailey groans]

I kind of won't be
keeping in touch.

Bill...

Oh, Bill...

Kirsten!

Bailey?

-Hey.
-Hi.

What are you doing here?

I was just, uh,
kind of in the neighborhood,

so...

Is everyone okay? Owen?

Yeah, he's great. Owen's great.

-Oh!
-He's going to walk
any day now.

You should see him.

Yeah, we're all...
we're all okay.

Charlie too.

That's great. That's great.

I've got to get to a seminar,
or I'm gonna be late.

Wait. Kirsten.
Hold on a second. Look...

Look, I know
you don't owe us anything.

I mean,
you were great,

and Charlie
kind of blew it,

and I can understand

if you just want to forget
the whole thing ever happened,

just pretend
like you never knew our names.

No. It's not like that at all.

It isn't?

Good. Good...

because the thing is,
we really, really
need your help.

Well, surprise,
surprise.

I'm here
for my last check.

Right.

Of course.

You know, a bunch
of the other girls

are coming back to work.

Uniforms and all.

Good for them.

I don't need your money
that bad.

Well, can't you give me
another chance?

To do what?

Come up
with some other great ideas?

Mud wrestling?
I don't think so.

Like you said,
"Cash register for a heart."

I don't know where you come off
being so judgmental.

I mean, you really don't know
a damn thing about me.

I know you fired a room full
of women who stood up to you.

That's because I had no choice.

-[scoffs]
-Listen, this is
a business, okay?

I am two weeks away

from being on the street
with nothing.

No, excuse me, not nothing.

A $10,000 loan
and a bankruptcy,

so yeah, I may be
looking at the bottom line,

and I'm sorry
if somehow I disappointed you.

Disappointed me?
What do I care?

Like you said,
I don't know you at all.

So run your business
however you want.
It's got nothing to do with me.

Ah, Jesus.

Okay.

Okay.

You win.

What?

No more uniforms,

no more mud wrestling,

no more Topless Tuesdays.

Was that an option?

I guess I'll just have
to find another way
to keep us in the black.

Why?

Because I don't want you to go.

Kirsten? Really? Just like that
she said she'd help us out?

I mean, did you have
to talk her into it,
or did she just...

you know, when you told her
about what was going on with us,
did she kind of volunteer?

What?

Why don't you ask
what you really want to know?

And what's that?

Is she still pissed?

Well?

Is she?

I don't know. It's hard to say.

She played it kind of cool,

although she did seem interested

when I told her you were
going back to school.

Wait a sec.
You told her?

Yeah. What's the big deal?

I told you
I didn't want anyone to know.

Oh, for God's sake, Charlie,

you're not working
for the KGB here.

I mean, this is a great
thing you're doing.

-You should be proud--
-I'm dropping out.

What? [exhales]

You are? Why?

[softly]
Just forget it.

No, I don't want to forget it.
I want you to tell me why.

Because I've got other things
I've got to take care of, okay?

Because I don't have
an entire afternoon

to walk around
a construction site
in Union Square.

Because I don't have
48 consecutive hours

to devote to a sketch problem.

Because I've got
other responsibilities.

Well, have you talked to Joe
about this? Because I'm sure--

Forget it.

So that's it, huh?

It's too much work.

It's too hard--

I don't need to hear this
from you, Bay, okay?

See, if you hadn't gone

and stuck your nose
in my business,

if you hadn't opened
your big, damn mouth,

no one would've known.

I could've just quit
without it being one more thing

on the list of things
that I have never finished.

I could've just bagged it.

I wouldn't have owed anyone
any explanation.

[doorbell dinging]

Hi, Artie.

Hey, Claudia.

So you ready to go?

Well...

Nice to meet you, Arthur.

We thought we'd
take a few minutes
to get introduced

before you kids
head out.

[exhales]

I'm sorry.

[man in movie]
None of this would have
happened badly for me.

The first 10 minutes
of this movie
are no big deal.

You didn't miss much.

Whopper?

Don't mind if I do.

So you're sure
we'll be back

in time
for Mrs. Gideon?

I checked
the schedule.

We just can't stay
for the double feature.

Soda?

Fun, huh?

Excuse me.

Bathroom.

Me too.

Soda?

Sorry about this.

It's just kind of annoying.

I mean, why all the questions
about my parents?

And long-term goals?

What does that
have to do
with anything?

And political
affiliations?

Come on. Give me a break.

You know what else?

The first 10 minutes
of this movie
is the best part.

Maybe I can convince them
to leave.

It's okay.

I kind of think
I'm going to go home anyway.

This is no fun. See you in school.

[Owen cooing]

You look great.

Hi.

[gasps]
He must've gained
five pounds.

Oh, yes. Hi.

I missed you.

I missed you.

It's just a favor, Charlie.

Okay?

I am really sorry
about the other evening. Things were
a little hectic.

What with my play rehearsal.

[Charlie] And with me
having to leave the restaurant
to make this delivery.

And with me forgetting
that Claudia was

spending time
with Charlie

as a special treat.

I told him. Twice.

[Bailey]
She did. She told me.

We're just happy
you could come back.

He just wanted
to say good night to everybody.

[all laughing]

-Good night, Owen.
-Night, Owen.

Boy, something
sure smells good.

Well, then it's not Owen.

[all laughing]

I think my muffins are done.

Hold on a second. Just wait.

I came here to talk about
what's going on
with this family,

and what I'm getting
is a very bad piece of theater.

After the fiasco
of the other night,

I spent some time
with your files

because I was
worried about you,

worried particularly
about Owen and Claudia.

What I found
was a little unsettling.

I don't know
what that could be.

[Gideon]
Really?

Well, first of all,
you've had four nannies
in the past nine months.

That's not
a lot of stability
for a baby.

What's more, your latest nanny
doesn't seem to be here,

but your second one is here.

I can explain.

We can explain. Julia...

your file says

that you have a job,

that you work
at Backstreet Burger

two nights a week,

but I checked,

and you don't.

You never have.

Claudia...

a police report
was filed

less than 48 hours ago

that listed you
as a missing person.

I was at a friend's house.

We kind of overreacted.

No, you didn't.
You thought she was missing.

Look, Mrs. Gideon,

I can explain
all of this stuff.

I can explain what's
going on with Claudia

and the nanny situation.

I promise you
that everything

is under control
around here.

I'm on top
of things.

Are you really? Yes, I am.

[Gideon]
I'm not so sure
about that, Bailey.

Your records show
that you're nearly
failing out of school.

Two courses.
Math and Chemistry.

You're close
to academic probation.

That doesn't
sound to me

like someone
who's on top of things.

I think we need
to take a serious look

at how well
this family works.

Where do you work, huh?

Where does your money come from?
What is it, that club?

Right...

And you?

You think you were gonna
fail out of school

and no one was gonna notice?

You think they weren't
gonna come back to me

and say, "What the hell's
going on in this family?"

Things do not work around here!

They don't work!

No one
tells the truth.

No one trusts
anybody else.

Like you're one to talk.

I know I'm guilty too.

[Bailey]
You're damn right,
you are.

Would you all just stop?

What does this mean?

Does this mean we shouldn't
stay together like this?

-No.
-No.

Of course not.

What can they do to us?

Watch us all the time.

Watch everything we do.

They can just show up
any time they want?

They can just
knock on the door

and say, "That's it, it's over"?

No.

I don't know, Claud.

[Charlie] I don't know.

Oh.

Now you show up.

Your shift started
at eight o'clock.

Where were you?

Morgan, I can't come back
to work here.

Come on.

Why not?

Because...

Well, it's complicated.

No, it's not.

What, you, uh...

You won't forgive me?

No, that's not it. I can't explain, really.

Working here,
it just wouldn't be

the right thing
for me to do right now.

It'd cause problems.

One slightly offensive
judgment call...

and you're gonna write me off?

No.

All I'm saying is, uh...

That I can't be your employee.

Oh.

That's all?

I think I can live with that.

Good.

So I didn't blow it? Not entirely.

Not yet.

There you are.

I was looking
for you.

Look, I don't need you
to give me a hard time, okay?

Not after tonight.

[exhales]
Just tell me, Bay.

How bad is this school stuff?

I don't know.

Pretty bad, I guess.

Mr. Coveny keeps letting me
do extra credit work,

but I'm still hovering
around a D.

[exhales]
I have Miss Traugott
for Science.

[exhales]
Miss Traugott.

Yeah.

She never cuts
anyone any slack.

[exhales]
I'm trying.

You know, it's not like
I'm just blowing it off.

I'm trying.

Why didn't you say
anything before?

I mean, why did you
keep this a secret?

That's kind of a funny question
coming from you,
don't you think?

[scoffs]

[chuckles]

Where did we get this idea
that we've got to fail
in private?

[laughing] I mean,
where did that come from?

I don't know, man.

You know,

we could probably
spring for a tutor
a couple hours a week.

I mean, cut back
on the takeout,

eat in more.

That's got to save
some money, right?

You've got to
keep up in school.

[exhales] I know you've got
a lot of responsibilities
around here.

I mean, I know there's a lot
you take care of,

but...

it's just not an excuse.

[laughs dryly]

What?

Same goes for you, Charlie.

Same goes for you.

What are you
doing here, Claudia?

It's eight o'clock
in the morning.

Where are your
brothers and sisters?

Are you thinking
of splitting us up?

What?

No.

Listen, all I'm thinking about

is making sure
you kids are taken care of.

Maybe by splitting us up?

I am not the enemy, Claudia.

Yes, you are.

You may not want to be,
but you are.

No, sweetie.

To me you are.

I mean, I don't get it.

You make it sound
like you're doing this
all for me.

I am.

Then why don't you just
ask me what I want?

Please, just ask me.

Claudia, I have to make sure

that you and your brother
are taken care of.

We are taken care of.

Two days ago,

your brothers and sister
had to go to the police

because they had no idea
where you were, Claudia.

That worries me.

That's because you only look
at the stuff we do wrong.

I don't think so, sweetheart. What about
all the stuff we do right?

Come on. Like...

Like the fact that Bailey gets
up in the middle of the night

every night for Owen.

I mean, he's 16,
and on Friday nights,
he babysits.

-Claudia...
-Julia trims my bangs

and she doesn't let me
watch movies on cable,

and Charlie has this rule

about eating vegetables
for dinner,

and Bailey went with my class
to the planetarium

with, like, three other mothers,

and they make me
get my teeth get cleaned
twice a year, and...

and we all take turns
reading to Owen,

and I'm trying to think
of everything else--

Claudia, you--

What else do you
want from us?

Tell me.

What more are we supposed to do?

Are we supposed to be perfect?

Of course not.

Are there that many families
who do that much better?

We made it
through the last nine months.

I don't think it can get
much harder than that.

Do you?

The only thing that's going
to ruin this for us,

and that's going to stop us
from being a family,

is you.

Okay, Claud. Breakfast.

What do you think would
impress Mrs. Gideon more...

Come and get it!

Scooping ice cream
at the Udder Delight

or working
at Polk Street Library?

Do you get to bring home
free ice cream?

Probably not.

Library.

Library.

I could probably give you
a lift in a couple of days
a week on my way into Berkeley.

[exhales]

Thanks. [music playing on radio]

Claudia!

Where the hell is she?

Claudia!

-I don't believe this.
-Not again.

-I'm gonna kill her.
-[Claudia clears throat]

God, Claud, what happened
to you leaving a note, huh?

After what we've
been through,

can't you show us
a little consideration?

You want to tell us
where you were?

I went to see Mrs. Gideon...

to talk to her about us.

What did you say?

Wait a second.

-[Julia] Claudia...
-[Bailey] What did she say?

She said

she expects to see you
pulling in at least a C average,

and she wants a letter
from any future employer
of yours,

verifying your employment,

and she strongly recommends

we get a message board
to keep by the phone.

And?

And she'll see us in six months.

-[Julia] You're kidding.
-[Bailey] What?

Claud, what'd you say to her?

How'd you convince her
to change her mind?

Claudia.

Look.

Oh, my God.

[Bailey] He's standing!

He's walking!

Oh, look at him!

[cheering]

He's definitely walking!

[Charlie] Strutted right
across the room.

Yay, Owen!

You see him walk?

Do it again, Owen.
Come on.

Come on.
Try it again.

Come on, Owen.

[all cheering]