Sister, Sister (1994–1999): Season 5, Episode 2 - A Separate Peace - full transcript

You know, being a twin

is about the greatest thing
in the world.

You see, most sisters
who share a room...

Especially one
this tiny and cramped...

Would fight and argue
all the time.

But not tamera and me.

We've mastered
the art of compromise.

Hi, Tia.

Hey, tamera.

Still hard at work?

No, I'm waiting for a bus.



Why? Um, did you need
to use the computer?

No. I just like asking
the same question

every ten minutes!

No, not really.

Then quit bugging me
every ten minutes!

You sure?

Yeah. I got a short
story to read.

I could've finished
war and peace by now.

Dang! What's with her?

We used to be able

to hang in this room

24-seven.

Lately, every time
she comes in...

I can't even hear myself
think in here!



Look, um, tell you what, tamera.

How about I take a break

and you can use the computer?

You sure you don't mind?

Oh, no. Why should I mind?

I mean, this report

only counts for half my grade!

Okay. As long as
it's not important.

I wonder how much it would cost
for a twin-ectomy.

See you.

Bye.

See how easy that was?

Like I said...

Being a twin means
learning the art of compromise.

It's either that or...
We kill each other.

Oh, morning, ray.

You're just in time

for grandma etta's
fabulous French toast.

Uh, no thanks.

I'm still hopping
from the last batch.

It's safe.

This time I left off
the prune sauce.

Ooh, grandma etta was tight

but lord, could she cook.

Well, in that case,
pass me over a plate.

Ooh, grandma etta's

French toast!

Roger, what makes you think

you were invited to breakfast?

Same thing that made you think

that tie is coming back.

Don't you make me put you out.

Sorry, Mr. Campbell.

I just need to fortify myself

so I can carry
all the twins' books.

Well, mostly Tia's.

Tamera's I can fit
in my back pocket.

Wait a minute...
Are you telling me

you take the girls' books
to school every day?

Of course not.

Just Monday through Friday.

Come here, son.

We need to talk.

Roger... you are a man.

Almost.

You can't let women
walk all over you like this.

What if I want them to?

We need to talk longer.

Ah, here you go, tamera.

Grandma etta's
fabulous French toast.

- Thanks, Lisa, but I am not
- going to school

With prune breath.

One time I use prune sauce

and I'm still living it down.

Tia! Will you hurry up!

I can't be late!

We're not leaving

until I find my green sweater

in that rat mess
we call a bedroom.

- Did you check the sweater pile
- under my bed?

No, because my sweater
doesn't belong in a pile.

It belongs in my closet
where you found it.

What is this?

Grandma etta's
fabulous French toast.

Prune-free.

The toast, not etta.

Well, sorry, mom, no time.

I have to plow
through tamera's piles.

Don't mess anything up.

And make it snappy.

I don't want to be late, either.

Maybe if I could find
my own personal property

once in a while,
we wouldn't have this problem.

Besides, it's my day to drive

- and we're not leaving
- until I find my green sweater.

Lisa, I love Tia

but lately she has been
working my last nerve.

You're too young to have nerves.

I'm serious.

Sharing a room with Tia
is like being in the army.

Up at 6:00,
lights out at 9:00.

She even bounced
a quarter off my bed.

Have you talked to her about it?

What am I supposed to say?

"It was my room first?"

I don't think
you should use
those exact words

but I do think you
should talk to her.

Well, I can't.

She's avoiding me.

Every time I come in the room,
she leaves.

She slept in her studio
the past three nights.

I said she could study in there.

You know what a nut she is
about being quiet.

When I used to read her
bedtime stories

she'd make me whisper.

I think it's more than that.

She has been putting in
a lot of hours

on that history report.

- But she turned in
- the history report two days ago.

Then maybe she is avoiding you.

Why don't you ask her?

Ask me what?

Um... where'd you find

the green sweater?

In my closet. Bye, mom.

Thanks, Lisa.

Sorry we didn't have time
for the French toast.

That's okay.

You're having it for lunch.

Hey, mom.

Hi.

Are you busy?

No, I'm never too busy for you.

Make it fast. I'm working.

On what?

On gowns for miss Patti LaBelle.

Oh! Can you believe it?

She saw my designs
at a charity fashion show.

This is my third order
this week.

Mom, you're
an overnight sensation.

Yeah...

Only took me 15 years.

So what brings you up here?

Tamera's radio.

Mom, she's blasting it so loud

the neighbors are
calling in for requests.

Oh, well, baby,
you are always welcome here.

Thanks.

Uh, but not here.

Over there somewhere.

Oh...

So... what's going on
between you and tamera?

I don't know, mom.

Lately, living with tamera
has been driving me nuts.

I swear, her piles of junk

multiply during the night.

I even think this morning
one grabbed my foot.

Have you talked to her about it?

Well, no,
because it's really her room.

You know, just like
this is your studio

and ray has his den.

There's not a single place
in this house I can call my own.

Uh, baby, I'm sensing
that you have some issues.

Yeah, well, if I do

it's the only thing I have
in this house.

You have been living here
together for four years.

- That room is just as much yours
- as it is hers.

But I don't feel that way.

Well... she knows

something's bothering you.

How do you know?

She talked to me about it.

Oh, so she's complained to you

about me?

Yeah. Just like
you're complaining
to me about her.

You need to leave
out the middleman

and talk to each other.

Mom, I can't.

If I do, it'll sound like
I don't want to be with her.

Spending the night in my studio
doesn't send the same message?

I haven't been here that much.

Three nights in a row.

Keep it up, I'll need
a credit card imprint.

Okay, okay, fine,
I'll talk to her.

Later.

Fine.

I'll get back to sketching

and you get to studying.

Maybe I'll go talk to her now.

Tamera, guess what?

Roger just pulled
his first fuel pump.

I'm saving the old one
for my scrapbook.

Impressive.

Now, if you wash your hands

I'll let you help me
fold the sheets.

I'm there.

Could you give up
a little water,
Mr. Campbell?

Um... Roger, let me
ask you a question.

Why did we just
pull that fuel pump?

Because it was broken?

More importantly, because it
was the manly-man thing to do.

And now the manly-man
thing to do

is to go back out there
and change the oil.

But then I can't help tamera.

Exactly.

Son, once you start
folding sheets for a woman

it's a short trip to holding
her purse at the mall.

Bet.

Hey, Roger.

Whatever it is, forget it.

I'm helping Mr. Campbell
with the car.

Hey.

Hey.

Out in your mom's studio again?

Yup. Studying.

So do you need any help?

Sure.

Here, let me do that.

Tia... I think I know
how to fold the sheets.

Well, then...

What do you call that?

Extreme folding.

Well, it's jacked.

Well, it doesn't bother me.

Well, that's the problem.

Nothing bothers you.

Not junk piles, not loud music

not toothpaste tubes
with the caps left off...

Oh, gee, I've got stuff
that bothers me.

Stuff like alphabetized cds

folding your dirty clothes...

Oh, and dusting the vacuum.

So you're saying
you got a problem with me?

Isn't that what you're
saying about me?

Well, that's exactly what
I'm saying.

Well, let me tell you what
I'm saying.

Since you can't stand
being around me

why don't you just
let me have my space!

You know what?
Nothing would make me happier.

Good! 'Cause I never want
to see your ugly face again!

Then don't look in the mirror.

Got milk?

Good morning, ladies.

- Morning.
- Morning.

How's my two favorite girls?

Fine.
Fine.

Okay.

Honey, would you like

some milk with that?

No. I like it dry.

And I like my milk wet!

I guess I like my coffee black!

Isn't this great?

Nothing like
a nice family dinner

to settle your differences.

I'll get it.

Hello.

No, this is Tia.

Yeah, tamera's here.

That's it.

Come back here, young lady.

And you sit right down.

But, dad, she...

Sit down.

And you stay.

Nobody is leaving this table

until you talk about
what's on your mind.

Tamera?

I have nothing to say to her.

Tia?

And neither do I.

- Except a person with a problem
- with another person

Should tell her to her face

instead of complaining
to that person's mother.

That person wouldn't have
to talk

to another person's mother

if that person hung around
the room long enough to have

a person-to-person
conversation
with that person.

Now we're talking.

Am I that person's mother?

Well, if this person
would talk to this person

and speak from their hearts

maybe we could talk
this thing through.

Look, tamera, you're my sister

and I love you more
than anyone in the world.

Tia, you mean everything to me.

Now that wasn't hard, was it?

But my real problem is...

Even though I know you love me

- I've been afraid
- you don't like me anymore.

Of course I like you, tamera.

I was afraid
of getting on your nerves.

You see how wrong you were?

Well, actually,
you were getting
on my nerves.

Oh, my bad.

- The truth is, you were getting
- on mine, too.

Both:
Why didn't you say something?

You know maybe it's just

that you girls love
each other so much

that you're afraid to hurt
the other's feelings.

It's only natural as you grow up

you become different people.

Ray's right.

We are different people.

And if we respect
those differences

we should be able to get along.

If we get on each other's nerves

I'll just crash out
in Ray's den.

Hold it. No.
Wait a minute.

I have a better idea.

I think it's time

for Tia to have
a room of her own.

You want us to split up?

But the only reason
we're living here

is so tamera and I
can be together.

That's how it started.

After four years,
we've become a family.

A weird one,
but a family
nonetheless.

And separate rooms
won't change that.

There's such a thing
as too much togetherness.

- Really?
- Really?

There is?

There is?

Think about it.

You wake up together,
go to school together

you come home together

then you go
in the same room together.

I'm feeling crowded

just hearing you talk about it.

You need breathing room.

It would be nice
to have my own space.

Yeah, it would.

I mean...

For the both of us.

Then it's settled.

We'll clear out the basement

so that Tia can have
her own room.

Now if you ladies will excuse me

Roger and I are going
to watch the game in my den.

Oh, girls

- I am so happy
- that all of this worked out.

Now what?

Lisa, the basement is
so cold and icky.

Yeah, mom. It's too far away.

Why can't I move into Ray's den?

That is not going to happen.

My dad wouldn't leave that room

if the house was on fire.

If I'm not next to you

then I don't want to do this.

Me neither.

Ladies, ladies.

Cleopatra got a man

to give her a whole country.

All we need to do

is catch one little old den.

Well, Mr. Campbell, this place
is really hooked up.

You bet it is.

I earmarked this room
from the very beginning

as my sanctuary.

It's a little small,
but it has everything.

Man-sized TV, comfortable chairs

and a fully stocked fridge.

You know, if you defrost
this thing

you can get a lot more
than two bottles in here.

You're overlooking

the most important feature
of this room.

No women allowed.

Lisa:
Oh, ray, may we come in?

Tia:
We've got fresh baked cookies.

Put your guard up, Roger.

They want something.

Come in.

Your favorite tollhouse cookies.

With nuts.

Thank you.

Is there something else?

As a matter of fact, there is.

Go ahead.

It's about the new bedroom.

The girls are having
a difference of opinion.

We need a logical, objective
point of view.

I see.

Go ahead.

Dad, we can't decide
which one of us

gets the spare room
in the basement.

I think it should be me.

Well, wait a minute.

Why do you get to create
your own dream room?

Oh, well, you just want it

because it's closer
to the kitchen.

Uh-uh.
I want it

because it's got
a private entrance.

Tamera:
But I need it.

It's soundproof.

I can make all the noise I want.

I don't like that.

Private entrance, soundproof.

You'd be having
a party down there

and nobody would have any idea.

I've heard enough.

The solution is obvious.

Now, neither of you young ladies

are mature enough to handle

what amounts
to a private apartment.

If anyone deserves

the private entrance

the next to the kitchen
and the soundproof room

it should be
the man of the house.

And that is me.

End of discussion.

Cookie?

Now, if you ladies
would please excuse us

so that we can finish
watching the game.

- Sure, dad.
- Whatever you say.

Ray Campbell,

you're a regular judge Judy.

Well, Roger, I hope
you understand

what just happened here.

I sure do.

You let the women in here

and they took away
your sanctuary.

But you have forgotten
what I have gained.

Yeah, a cinderblock room

with no windows

that floods in the winter.

Cookie?

Tia:
Well, it was two weeks
of hard work

but I love my new room, tamera.

It is slammin'.

It's the second best room
in the house.

Well, then what's the first?

Let me show you.

Come on.

Come on quick.

Ta-da!

Oh, my gosh, tamera.

You know what?

I have to give you
your props, girl.

This room has a nice vibe.

Thank you.

Your room has a nice vibe, too.

Thanks.

Well, uh...

I guess I'll go back
to my room now.

Night.

Night.

I just had a thought.

What if you have
another grasshopper dream?

I won't.

How do you know?

You have the grasshopper dream.

Oh, right.

Well...

Night, tamera.

Night.

What are you still doing up?

I couldn't sleep

so I thought
I'd get some
laundry done.

What are you doing up?

Getting some tea.

Oh, lord!

What is wrong with me tonight?

I'm doing this worse
than tamera.

It's hard thinking about
the girls growing up.

Yeah. Seems like
just yesterday

they were babies.

Now they got their own rooms.

Pretty soon they'll be
going off to college

getting married

and before you know it,
we'll be grandparents.

Speak for yourself, paw-paw.

Now, Lisa, there's
nothing wrong with change.

It's part of life.

Yeah, you're right, ray.

Funny thing is, that people

don't even realize
that they've changed.

Nighty-night.

Nighty-night.

Oh, by the way, ray.

When we go to the mall tomorrow

could you carry my purse?

Hello.

It's me.

Hi, tamera.

What's up?

Nothing.
What are you doing?

I was about to go to sleep.

Hey, me, too.

I guess the twin thing
still works

even though we're
in separate rooms.

Ow!
Ow!

Hey, you're right.

Cool.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Are you sure?

Because I can't see you.

Yeah, Tia.

Hey, I got an idea.

Get your pillow.

What?

Well, if we sleep with our heads

at the end of the bed

we can see each other.

You know, tamera

I like the way you think.

This separate bedroom thing

is going to be a piece of cake.

Night.

Night.

Don't let the grasshopper bite.

Have to talk
to another person's mother

if that person hung around
the room long enough...

Don't look at them.

They don't know either.

End of discussion.

Cookie?