Party of Five (1994–2000): Season 3, Episode 6 - Going Home - full transcript

[passengers chattering]

-[plane rattles]
-What was that?

Nothing.
Just a little turbulence,
perfectly normal.

[rattles]

Talk to me.

Talk to me. Yeah.
Distract me.

-Distract you?
-Yeah. You know. Uh...

You know, tell me
what you're planning
to say when we're, like, at, uh,

Dartmouth and the
admissions officer says,

"So, Miss Salinger,
what do you think
our college has to offer you?"

The best damn male-female ratio
on the eastern seaboard.



[laughs]

[gasps]

Sarah, come on,
we're going to have fun.

We're going to meet
a lot of cool people, and we're going to see
great campuses

and we're going to ace
our interviews.

Look, I'm sorry.
This isn't working.

Do you think by any chance the
in-flight movie stars Brad Pitt?

[passenger coughing]

God.

God, we have
to fly across all that?

Wow. Three thousand miles.
That's, that's a long way
from home, huh?

-[laughing]
-I know.

Isn't it great?

[laughing]



[door opening]

[horn honking]

-Hey.
-Hey.

Julia get off okay?

I guess.
Um, Charlie--

Is Bay back
from the airport with Owen?

No, not yet.
Charlie, there's something--

Listen, there's a few more bags
in the truck. Would you
get them for me?

Yeah, in a sec.
But, first, Charlie, I really--

No Claud, I did not get you
that French shampoo.

That stuff costs like
a jillion dollars a bottle.

-Look, there's something--
-[Gene] Anybody thought to open
a window in there?

The room is like a morgue.

Gene, what are you--
What's he--

-Look, I was trying
to tell you that--
-It's slim pickings in there.

[Ellie] But I found enough
for a fruit salad.

Ellie...

Charlie, hello.

Uh, you're out of milk.

Wait a second. What's going
on here? What are you two--

Oh, you think you're the one
owed an explanation? Is that it?

Our daughter's ill. Our
daughter's been ill for weeks.

We don't hear
squat from you, Mr.

Charlie, You couldn't have
picked up the phone
and called us?

Ellie, why are we surprised?

Just thank God she had the good
sense to know you were in
over your head and call us.

Kirsten called you?

No, no. Your sister.

Julia?

[Claudia] Uh-uh. Me.

I did.

I called them.

[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 free ♪

♪ Closer to free ♪

No one does laundry
around here anymore.

She wasn't getting
any better, Charlie.

I mean, you couldn't
make her better.

Are you kidding me?

It's just like you said
with Jody.

I mean, just what you said.

Can't play around with stuff
that's over your head, Charlie.

Are you-- [sighs]

Did you do this just
to get back at me?

Did you do this to hurt me?

I did this to help Kirsten.

They had a right to know.

Why didn't you talk to me first?

Why didn't you tell me
before you called them?

What the hell
did you do that for?

I did the right thing.

You can't--

Do you have any idea what
a mess of this you've made?

Do you?

Get out of here.

Go to your room. Close the door.
I don't care. I just don't want
to look at you.

I want you out of my sight.

[Ellie]
Honey, you barely nibbled.

When was the last time you ate?

[Ellie] Have you
eaten anything today?

I don't remember.

-Honey, how can you
not remember?
-Stop grilling her, Ellie.

I'm not.
I'm not grilling her. I'm--

I'm just trying to help.

Honey, are you, uh,
on some kind of medication?
You know, some kind of pills?

No.

Are you seeing somebody?

You know, a specialist?
You have to take
care of yourself.

I have a doctor, Mom.

Why didn't you say something?

Why didn't you let us know?

We could have taken care of you.

[Charlie]
God, I mean--
I mean, talk about stupid.

Like those two people
ever made a situation better
in their entire lives.

She just--

She shouldn't
have called them.

You're right.
She shouldn't have.

You should have.

As soon as Kirsten got sick.

They're her parents.

Look, Kirsten asked me
not to tell them. Okay?

Like she's thinking
real clearly these days?

What do you want, huh? You want to give me
a hard time? Is that it?

Yeah. Yeah, I do. Yeah, well, you know what,
Bailey? You're not here.

You're not around. You drift
in a few times a month
to steal toilet paper

and do your laundry,
and you think
you have a right--

You know what? I don't need
to live here to see
that keeping Kirsten's parents

in the dark
was not the smartest--

I'm telling you Bailey,
you don't know
what's going on here.

You don't know what I'm dealing
with and you don't know
how I'm dealing with it.

Instead of just waltzing in
with an opinion
about everything,

why don't you just do us all
a favor, man, and just butt out.

[Slow rock music
playing on stereo]

[siren wailing]

[sighs]

Those are my beers.

So I'll replace them.

-Nice to see you too.
-[grunts]

I am in such a crappy mood.

Yeah? Well, join the club.

A Thousand and One Quips,
Epithets, Zingers,
and Bon Motts.

What's a bon mott?

Bon mot.

I hope it's French
for something mildly insulting

to say to your father
on the occasion
of his 60th birthday.

You have got to make a toast?

Yeah. It's okay.
It'll actually be the first time
we've spoken in about two years.

You want to help?

Why not?

I'm in a bash-your-family
kind of mood right now.

Too bad it's
not Charlie's birthday.

To Charlie, up yours.

That's clever.

We need to be much more drunk
for this to work.

Here. Come on, catch up.

[sighs]

Okay. To your dad.

To my Dad,

who put the "F" back in father.

What does that mean?

I have no idea.

Dad,

what can I say about you
that hasn't already

been said a thousand times
about Richard Nixon?

I'm moved.

Thank you.

Let's all raise our glasses
to the man I always hoped
would be the father I never had.

[woman]
And there's
a Master's tea tomorrow.

Oh, the-- The porcupine
labyrinth, that's Thursday.

Very big deal around here.

I'm sorry? The what?

Here, it's all in
your campus-events bulletin
in your admissions package.

So, uh, what happened
to your friend?

Sarah, was it?

Oh, she's using
the hall phone.

She wanted
to let her family know
that she got in okay.

I was going to use it next.

So-- So you know a lot
about this place.

Any advice for my interview?

Just dare to be different.

I deliberately used the words
"varmint" and "grand pappy"
in my interview.

And I only moved to Texas
in the 10th grade.

But I swear,
that's what got me in.

Ah, Texas, huh?
Well, California.

-San Francisco, actually.
-Cool.

Be prepared to get homesick.

Oh, not me.

Actually, distance
is part of the appeal
of an eastern school.

[Sarah sighs]

Hey. Hey, are you all right?

Yeah.

Yeah. My mom was showing
a house in Pacific Heights,

tripped on a doggy toy,
and fell down some stairs.

She broke her hip.
She's in the hospital.

[woman] What?

Is she okay?

Well, I gave my dad
the payphone number.

He's going to call me
after he talks to the doctor.

You know, Julia, if you have
to use the phone,
could you do it now, please?

You know what?

It's okay.
I'm 3000 miles away.

I don't need to know what's
going on with them, right?

I want to know
why she's not on medication.

Well, she--
She was on medication.

Sh-- We're having a little
trouble with the dosage.

She was feeling--
Look, I'm talking to the doctor.

I'm going to talk to the doctor.

I said I'm taking care of it.

We have a right to be involved
in Kirsten's care, Charlie.

I'm not saying you don't. Okay?

I think you've made
enough mess as it is.

What the hell
is that supposed to mean?

That means that my daughter
wouldn't be upstairs,
refusing to eat,

not caring whether
she ever gets out of bed,
if it hadn't been for you.

This is a medical condition.
This is not something
that I did to her.

You can add up all
the mistakes that I've made,

and all the problems
that we've had,
and it doesn't add up to this.

This is something
inside of her.

I'm telling you,
I've talked to the doctor.

There is some depression
in your family, Gene.

Really?

Your mother and her sister,
well, they both had a problem.

Do you mind?

How about that?

Man, you don't think
you could have mentioned
the family history?

My family's got nothing
to do with this!

That's not what it
sounds like to me, Gene.

-If you want to start
pointing fingers--
-You know something--

Enough! Both of you!
What good is this doing her?

Tell me,
is it making her any better?

I don't want to hear anymore.

Hey.

You're up.

And you're dressed.

I forgot I had these shoes.

What you doing
just sitting there?

-You want me to make you some--
-Gene, I am not having any luck.

We'll have to ask directions
from somebody on the street.

Oh, Charlie, O'Farrell
and Fillmore, where's that?

Uh, one block east
and about 10 blocks south.

Right near Mt. Zion Hospital.

Why? Where are you--

-Is he affiliated, Gene?
-[Charlie] Is who affiliated?

He's the head of Psychiatry.
We were lucky he could
squeeze us in.

Fred Sullivan says
that Dr. Thornstrom
is the top man

on the West Coast, Kirs.

I told you she already
has a doctor, Dr. Leto.

We just thought that a second
opinion would be in order.

Charlie keeps the maps
in the glove compartment.

It's okay, sweetheart.
We know where we're going.

We don't want to be late, baby.
Come on.

Look, just give me five minutes
to jump in the shower--

They're expecting
only the three of us.

Isn't that right, Ellie?

Yes. Uh, we, uh--

We thought it would be best
if it was just family.

Where they going with her?

What? No laundry?

Promised Owen I'd take him
to the Exploratorium today.

Hey.

Listen, I thought about

some of the stuff I said
to you yesterday and--

Whatever. I don't care.

[chattering]

Sorry, these things
are so stuffy,

but you get bonus points
for spilling anything

on any girl wearing knee socks
or a headband.

Are you kidding? This is--
This is great.

I mean,
finger sandwiches and--

And chamber music,
and all this amazing
intellectual conversation.

Do you know that my dad said
that it might be weeks

before my mom can even go to
the bathroom by herself again?

What?

Oh, God, I'm sorry.

I, I'm really
a total basket case.
I'm really sorry.

Don't be. You've got
a lot on your mind.

Yeah. Sarah, if you're
not feeling up to this--

No. No. I mean,
I-- You know, I-I-I'm here.

I might as well make
the best of it, right?

And you said the point
was to mingle, so...

Hey, isn't that
Gerald Hoskin?

The English professor, yeah.
Why? You know him?

Professor Hoskin? Hi.

I-I'm Julia Salinger.

I'm applying
for admission next year.

So, Sarah,

why don't you
go dazzle Garvin over there?

You know, rumor has it
she's in line for a Nobel.

Or how about Hill d'Ville?

He's not tenured, poor guy,
but cute as hell.

Well?

Do you think they'd
let me call San Francisco
if I put it on my credit card?

So I go over there
to make peace, right?

Even though he's the one
that owes me an apology.

But I figure, okay, why not just
be big about the whole thing.

And it's like,
he doesn't even want to hear it.

He could care less.

Well, screw it.

I'm through.

Interesting head-wear
you've got working there.

Took my kid brother
to the Exploratorium.

Oh.

What came express mail?

You want a laugh?

You have got to read this.

My dad, right,
in addition to sending me--

Three hundred dollars?

Yeah. For my ticket home.

Like he just assumes
that I wouldn't go

to his birthday thing
unless he pays for it.

And as if that's not enough,

sends me an outline
of suggested material

for me to include
in his birthday toast. -Can you believe that?
-Wow.

-The nerve, huh?
-He actually Heimliched someone

on the floor
of the New York Stock Exchange?

You know, the thing is
I was actually working

on a toast
when the mail came today.

You know, I mean,
it wasn't anything hilarious

or eloquent, but--

I don't know.
I mean, it was pretty heartfelt.

You know,
it's like he never expected me

to come up with anything nice
to say about him on my own.

Like whatever I do,
I'm going to disappoint him.

[sighs]

You know what?
What's the point?

You know, I mean, why even
bother making the effort, huh?

Hey, it beats me.

[scoffs]

Hi.

How did it go?

He had a really big fish tank
in his office.

-Well?
-It, uh, was productive.

What did he say?

-Well, he said that--
-Ellie.

We have it under control,
Charlie.

You've got what under control?

I'm just-- I'm going to--

Sweetheart,
I'm going to come with you.

Did he-- Did he talk
about her medication?

Did he recommend
a different kind of therapy?

What did he say?

Gene, Gene,
don't do this to me, please.
I'm begging you.

I love her.

Like you loved her
on her wedding day?

Or like you loved her
all those months her mom and I

took care of her,
the first time this happened,
and you were nowhere?

You love her? Fine.

Look what good that's done her.

That was
the stupidest, boringest,
worst movie I've ever seen.

[laughs]

No kidding. You know,
I just figure any world

in which someone
can get paid $10 million

to be in that piece of crap

is a world
in which good things

can actually happen to me too,
you know?

I'm starving.
What do you say?

Uh, I can't.
It's not in the budget.

Oh, come on, please?

I'm paying. Okay?

I've got $300 burning
a hole in my pocket.

Hey, why buy
a plane ticket home

when you can get
a really great snack

for the same money, huh?

A $300 snack?

Look, if you disapprove,
I don't want to hear it. Okay?

Because I'm not going home.

-So just don't--
-No, I'm not--

I'm not going to make
you feel guilty.

This is what college
is about, right?

We move out.
And we finally have the right

to look back and say, "Hey, you
know what? That's your life.

That's your birthday.

That's your problem, not mine."

I mean, I can't worry about the
same four people my whole life.

I mean, enough is enough.

It's not like
it makes me feel good.

So...

...like Charlie says,

I'm butting out.

How'd it go?

Lots of questions, I bet, huh?

Yeah, a lot of questions.

Did he say he wants
to change anything?

Does he want to change
how you're being treated?

I don't know.

What about the medication?

I don't know.

Kirsten--

I don't know. Okay?
I don't-- I don't remember.

Okay. Okay.

I just...

I know you don't want to talk
right now. But I just need...

Did he say that I wasn't taking
care of you in the right way?

-Did he ever say that?
-Charlie--

Kirsten, please,
I am trying here.

I know. I know you're trying.
And everyone's trying.

[crying]
Everyone wants me to be okay.
I just--

Stop pulling on me!
I want everyone

-to stop pulling on me!
-Okay. Shh.

Okay.

This is bad. I know.
This is making it worse.

I'm going to take care of it.

I'm going to take care of you.

[inhaling sharply]

Please. I promise.

I promise.

[phone dialing]

Hoskin said I should bring
my best stuff
to the interview tomorrow.

-That's a good idea.
-Yeah, I know.

I'm sure my brother will--

Claudia, hey, listen,
there's some stuff
I need you guys to do for me.

I need Charlie
to fax some of my short stories.

Yeah. Wait, listen, Jule.

No, no. I can't
get Charlie right now.

[Gene] Hell we are--

-Something's going on here.
-[Charlie] You are a guest!

-Something pretty bad.
-[Charlie] Do what I say!

[Gene]
I'm going to do what I think
is best for my daughter!

Claudia, who is that yelling?

Claud?

What's-- What's going on?

I don't give a damn.
You're not running around this
house keeping secrets from me.

Sneaking Kirsten out,
making private
doctor's appointments?

We're taking care
of her finally!

No! You're making it worse!

This is making it worse.
All this yelling and plotting,

this is the problem.

I agree.

Good.

So I want you out now.

Fine. No problem. We'll find
a hotel, will be out of here
within the hour.

Fine.

Then we'll make arrangements
to take Kirsten back
to Chicago with us.

Like hell you will.

You're not married to her.
She's still our daughter.

-You've got no right
to keep her here.
-What?

Ellie?

We're taking her home.

I'll start packing.

It's mostly bad news.

Yeah, well,
it's the story of my life.

Can I see her?
W-Would you let me in?

Gene's probably right down the
block with the engine running,

waiting to make a quick getaway
as soon as you grab her, right?

No. He doesn't even know
that I'm here. Uh...

He's had a meeting
this morning with--

With a lawyer. A lawyer?

[sighs] God.

So this is where we're at,
huh, Ellie?

Lawyers? Legal maneuvers?

I'm sorry
this has turned so ugly.

It's just that Gene feels
so strongly that--

What about you, Ellie? Huh?

Where are you on all of this?

Because I thought after
your last visit that-- That--
That you and I...

I thought we understood
each other.

I mean, didn't we?

Yes.

Then help me.

Please, tell him to back off.

Tell him that leaving her here
with me in this house

will get her better
a hell of a lot faster.

I can't do that, Charlie.

Why not?

Because I have rocked
the boat enough lately.

He took me back.

After what I did,
he took me back.

So now I have to be on his side,

on my husband's side.

In other words, you're willing
to sell out your daughter
to hold on to your marriage?

That was a terrible thing
to say, Charlie.

Just let me look in on her, huh?
I just want to see her. Then
I'll leave. It's all I want.

Can you just give me that?

[Julia] He said that?
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

And what did her parents say?

Are you serious?

[phone clicks]

Claudia? Claud? Claud?

Can I borrow another quarter?

No way. You've been
on for half an hour.

I'll give you a dollar
for a quarter.

Two dollars?

Three?

[Sarah] What does that mean?

Mom?

Mom?

[sighs]

Put Dad on, okay?

I love you.

I said I love you.

-I said--
-She knows. Okay?

Dad? Dad, hi. Hi. No, no.

Our interviews aren't
for 10 more minutes.

What is mom talking about her--
Her Jell-O has freckles?

No, Dad.
She's not making any sense.

Really?

Well, what kind of painkillers?

Look, is Bay around?

Well, maybe
you should call him, Claud.

Because it sounds bad,
that's why.

I just wish I could
be there with her. I don't know, just to be there.

Maybe if he were there,

maybe if
one of us was there...

We need some--
Some kind of order or something.

A restraining order,
whatever you call it. Something that says they can't
come to my house--

It's not so simple, Charlie.

No. It is simple.
It's simple.

Okay. Look, maybe, maybe
a restraining order's too much,

but my point
is obviously they can't just
take Kirsten away, right?

That's--
That's kidnapping, right?

Charlie, the problem
is you're not married,

and you're not engaged,

and they are her parents.

This is nuts. I mean,
she wants to be with me.
There is absolutely no question.

That's your word, Charlie.

Come on, this can't be right.
It can't be just, "Hey,
that's just the way it goes."

That's--

[sighs]

What can I do?

Well, you can take
her parents to court,

start legal proceedings.

What? Like
cross-examination with--

With judges and doctors and--
And a million questions?

You have to see her now.
She's not--

She can't--

I'd really have
to put her through all that?

Maybe.

Claudia, slow--
Slow down. Okay?

And stop yelling.
I've got a monster headache.

What is Charlie doing
at the lawyer's?

I don't know.
But they said that they were
going to take her away.

They were going to
take Kirsten away?

-Yeah. Back home,
to Chicago and--
-[doorbell rings]

Someone's here.
Someone's at the door.

Look, you have got to come home,
Bay. You have got to
come home right now.

-Oh, no.
-[Bailey] Claudia? What's going on, Claudia?

Claudia?

[dial tone]

You can't come in.

Charlie isn't here,
and no one else is here.

So I can't let you in.

Come on, Claudia.

No. Because you might
try to take her away,
and I couldn't stop you, so...

That's not why I'm here.

I don't believe you.

Just--
Just give
Charlie this letter. Okay?

It's from a lawyer.
It explains what's
going to happen.

Please, don't do this.

-Claudia--
-Please.

He loves her and--
And he takes care of her.
And I shouldn't have called you.

Yes, you should have.
You were worried about Kirsten.

You did exactly the right thing.

No, uh-uh. I--
I was just angry at him.
That's why.

You really shouldn't
take her away.

I mean, this is where
she belongs.

And if you saw Kirsten and
Charlie together, you would know
that. And I just--

You can still change your mind.

Please.

Please.

Just give
your brother this letter.

[Cheering]

[band playing marching music]

[Sarah]
Whitmore? Padgett?

Rival dorms.

And they do this every year?

It's like this big
hundred-year-old tradition,

supposedly meant to promote
all this rah-rah stuff,

like good sportsmanship.

[announcer]
Ladies and Gentlemen,

behold the dueling porcupines!

[cheering]

[announcer]
On your marks.

You looking for a payphone?

No, actually. Julia.
We were going to meet up
after our interviews.

Julia! Julia, over here.

[announcer]
And they're off!

Go! Go! Go!

Hey, hey, hey,
so how'd yours go?

What? Oh, that. Fine.
Look, I called--

What? You called who?

The airline.
I called the airline.
They said it's fine.

We could change our flight
no problem.

Change our flight?

Yeah. There's one
first thing tomorrow.

I know it means missing
the rest of our interviews.

But look at us, can you focus
on anything except
what's going on back home?

-Hey.
-Hey.

You haven't seen
my other blue sock
in the last few days, have you?

No. What are you doing?

I have got to head home.
Overnight, probably.

That much laundry, huh?

No.

It's this thing
with Charlie and Kirsten.

It's getting kind of bad.

So you're going home?

What happened
to "I moved out and moved on"?
What happened to that, huh?

What? Are you mad or something?

No. No, I--
I don't know, you know.

I just-- You know,
I think it's kind
of interesting that--

That you, like,
sat there yesterday

and you give me this whole thing
about cutting the cord and--

And not looking back
and all that crap.

Well, what are you
so pissed off about?

It's not like
I'm making you do anything.

Yeah, I know.
I know that.

[exhaling]

I just--

I-- I thought
that we were like these, um--

These kindred spirits here,
you know, you and me.

I mean, I thought that
we agreed at some point

you just have got to move on.
I mean, isn't that what we said?

Yes.

Yes, so then
why are you going home?

God, what a hypocrite.

Yeah.

I guess so.

So listen--

[sighs]

Go home.

[sighs]

It's your dad's 60th birthday.

And, yeah, he's a jerk.

And, yeah, the letter
he sent you was stupid.

And Charlie can be a jerk.

And you want to tell them to go
to hell sometimes, but...

I don't know. When you get
that call that says,
"I need you,"

you walk away from that,

and you're really alone.

[sighs]

Charlie?

[sniffling]

What is it?

Nothing.

Shh. Just go back to sleep.

Go back to sleep. Okay?

[sniffling]

[sniffling]

[sighs]

What are you doing here?

Claudia called me.

I've got more than I can handle
right now, Bay.

So if you're here
with some free advice
or handy criticism--

-Charlie--
-I don't need it
and I don't want it.

And to be honest with you,
I really can't handle it.

It's nothing like that.

[sighs]

I'm just here.

Okay.

[knock on door]

[door opens]

Are you up?

I heard you moving around.

Check it out.

You know those flowers
you planted in the backyard?

What do you call these again?

Well, anyway, they--
They bloomed, like a lot.

You want to come see?

Well, maybe in the morning.

You look really nice.

Really nice.

Anyway,

I was thinking about how it felt
when you left before,

when the wedding didn't happen.

We never stopped feeling like
any second you were just going
to walk through the front door.

It never got to feeling right,
you not being here.

And Charlie.

Charlie was never right
without you.

And the thing is...

The thing is...

[sighs]

The thing is I don't think
he can lose you again.

Now, I know you shouldn't
have to worry about that,
but I do.

I worry about what's going to
happen to him if you go away.

Because, you see,
you changed him, Kirsten.

All of a sudden
he's like this...

This man.

A-And I think, I really think
that he needs to show you
that he's going to be there.

That whatever happens,
he can handle it.

And no one knows that
except maybe him and me...

...and you.

I think you know that,
don't you, Kirsten?

Deep down, don't you?

Yeah.

Hey, can your dad meet us
at the airport?

I'm not going home.

I'm staying.
I changed my ticket back.

-So your mom--
-She sounded pretty okay.

Yeah. I mean, there's not really
anything I can for her anyway.

Not really.
Going home would sort of be
more for me than for them.

You know, I think
you should stay too.

Sarah.

No. I mean, I'm sure if you
called Charlie, he'd say
the same thing.

Oh, I'm-- I'm sure he would.

No one's telling me
to come home.

Well, then stay.

You know what my mom said?

She said that I should
think of this as my
first day away from home.

You know, what are you
going to do? Run back to us,
any time anything happens?

You'll spend more on plane fare
than you will on tuition."

This is-- This is what it means
to go away to school, Julia.

So maybe I shouldn't
go so far away.

Really?

When your dad says
grow up, move away,

move on, whatever, I mean,
that's-- That's fine.

That's the way it should be.

But...

Charlie's not my dad,

and he's not even
just my brother. He's...

[chuckles]

I can't explain it.

Ask Bailey.

It's like something
you just feel or we feel.

We don't move on
from each other.

We-- We don't have
the freedom to do that.

And that's not a bad thing.
It's just the way it is,

and that'll probably
never change.

So...

...I'll see you.

You threaten me
with your lawyers
and your court orders.

Charlie, it could
all be avoided.

Oh, give me a break.

Mom.

Dad.

We're right here, sweetheart.

[TV playing]

[Gene] Kirsten,

can I turn this off?

I'm watching too much TV, right?

Um, I should stop watching
so much. I'm sorry.

It's okay.

[sighs]

Kirsten,

we want to take you
back to Chicago with us.

We want to take you home.

You do?

Kirsten,

you have to tell them
what you want.

Do you want me
to take care of you?

Take care of me?

Yes.

Do you want to stay
here with me?

Okay.

Is that enough for you?

What more do you want to hear?

Sweetheart,

do you want your mother and me
to take care of you?

Of course.

-Aren't you?
-That's not--

You want us to do that?

Yes.

Then we'll
take care of you.

That's not fair. Of course
she's going to say that.

Explain to her that
it's either-or.

Explain to her
that can't have both.

Charlie, what are you doing?

Kirsten, listen.

Kirsten, do you want
your mom and me

to go home today without you?

What?

No.

She doesn't understand--

Charlie, stop shouting.

Kirsten, listen, do you want to
stay here with me,

or do you want to go back to
Chicago with them?

-What?
-You won't be with me if they
take care of you.

We won't be together anymore.

They want to take you away.
Listen to me.
You have to choose. Kirsten--

I don't-- I don't--

[crying] Stop.

[sobbing]

Stop.

Okay. Okay.

Shh. Hey, shh.

[sighs]

Our flight leaves at eight.

Oh, now, this--
This is pretty, Kirsten.

I've not seen this before.

Is this new?

Why don't we put this on?

We don't want you catching cold
on the airplane.

[Gene] I found it.

[Ellie] Oh, good.

I was just telling Kirsten
how pretty this sweater is.

That's the exact same color
as my baby's baby blues.

All of this?

Yes, all of it.

[door closes]

They still packing?

Yeah.

-Charlie--
-Claudia, leave me alone.

I can't talk to you right now.

I know.

I mean...

I understand.

And I know that you're going to
be mad at me for a long time.

Maybe forever even.

And I want you
to know it's okay.

Claudia--

And if there's something

you want to take away
from me, like...

My violin or something or...

[crying] Whatever you want.

However you want to
punish me because...

[sobs]

I'm so sorry, Charlie.

Claud, okay.

Why is there a cab
in the driveway?

I thought you were
coming home next week.

What happened?

I talked to Claudia.
She told me what was going on.
Is Kirsten...

That's their cab, isn't it?
They're taking her away?

Yeah, pretty much.

God.

Look, there's nothing
you can do, Jule. It's over.

So...

...you kind of came all the way
home for nothing.

Not for nothing.

[Gene] Ellie, you've
got the tickets, right?

[Ellie]
Let me just double-check.

[sighs]

Charlie.

There you are, baby.

All set.
Do you have enough cash
for the cab driver?

I think.

Charlie.

I hope you don't think we don't
intend to keep you informed.

We will.

I'd like a minute with her,
please.

Well, the cab is outside.
We'd be cutting it--

Give him a minute, Gene.

We'll be right outside.

[chuckles]

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

It's okay, really.

Actually, it's probably
for the best.

I mean, this way you'll--

All you'll have to concentrate
on is getting better.

You won't have the five of us
stomping up and down
these stairs all day long

and Owen screaming
and the dog barking.

And Bailey and I yelling at each
other all the time.

Hey, don't cry.

Please don't cry.

You're crying.

However long it takes,
I'm not going to go anywhere.

I love you.

You know that, don't you?

Don't you?

Could you just say it so that
I know you really know?

You love me.

[door closes]

[footsteps approaching]

Hey, we can't just sit here.
Maybe we should--

[sighs]

She's gone.

I'm sorry, man.

Me too, Charlie.

Yeah, well...

[chuckles]

You're back.

Yeah. I came back.

For this?

For you.

Oh.

Look, uh,

I'm just going to
go on upstairs.

[Julia] No.

Don't do that. You're just going
to feel alone upstairs,
and you're not alone.

I mean, you are in a way,
but you're also not.

Why don't you come sit with us
for a while?

We won't even talk
if you don't want.

Just come sit.