Step by Step (1991–1998): Season 2, Episode 7 - Model Daughter - full transcript

Karen realizes a dream when she takes a modeling job in Chicago, but she has to deal with her overbearing mother. Carol tags along and interferes with the photo shoot, angering Karen. However, one of the other models takes Karen aside and shares her dream ... just to be a kid. Meanwhile, Dana - and then the others, one by one - come down with the flu. They all quickly make Frank their butler, which (along with Mark sharing how often he has to vomit) drives family patriarch crazy.

[instrumental music]

Look, I know
this is important to you

but the answer is still no.

Mother, this is totally unfair.

What's the matter, Karen?

Mom won't let you
get that boob job

you've been yakking about?

Very funny, Al,
but this is serious.

I was modeling at Peterson's

and the photographer
recommended me

for a major job in Chicago.



But mom won't let me go.

Look, all I'm saying
is doing some

local department-store ads
is one thing

but big-time modeling
is grown-up work

and you are only 15 years old.

Uh, mom,
you know modeling is my dream.

Ah, you're being
completely unreasonable.

No, I'm not. Al, do you think
I'm being unreasonable?

Yes, but since you're ruining
Karen's life

I'm okay with it.

Look, I am not trying
to ruin your life.

I'm only doing
what any good parent would do.

[sighs]
Hello, everybody.

Hi, honey. Look, I'll prove it.



Frank, we need your opinion
as a parent.

- Well, sure.
- Go ahead, Karen.

Okay, today I was offered

a big modeling job in Chicago--

Whoa! That's terrific!

Hah! What a break!

You know, some people
wait their whole lives

for something like that.

So you think
I should take the job?

- Absolutely! It's a no-brainer.
- O-o-okay..

Thanks, Frank, you're the best!

[chuckles]

Karen, wait a minute.

Well, isn't that somethin',
honey?

Uh, wh-wha-what did I do? What?

Nothing, Frank.

Only, the next time
I want your opinion

I will tell you what it is.

[theme song]

[all screaming]

♪ The dream got broken ♪

♪ Seemed like all was lost ♪

♪ What would be the future? ♪

♪ Could you pay the cost? ♪

♪ You wonder ♪

♪ Will there ever be ♪

♪ A second time around? ♪

♪ Whoa-a whoa-a ♪

♪ When the tears are over ♪

♪ And the moment has come ♪

♪ Say my Lord
I think I found someone ♪

♪ You know it will be better ♪

♪ 'Cause
you're putting it together ♪

♪ For the second time around ♪

♪ Step by step ♪

♪ Day by day ♪♪ Day by day ♪

♪ A fresh start over ♪

♪ A different hand to play ♪

♪ The deeper we fall ♪

♪ The stronger we stay ♪

♪ And we'll be better ♪

♪ The second time around ♪

♪ Step by step ♪

♪ Day by day ♪

♪ We'll make it better ♪

♪ The second time around ♪♪

[instrumental music]

Frank, have you got my luggage?

[sighs]
Carol, they climb Mount Everest

with less gear than this!

Yes, but they don't care
how they look.

[chuckles]

Bye, Frank.

Yeah, thanks. My arm
was starting to cramp up.

Hey, Uncle Frank. Ha-ha.
I got Carol's stuff right here.

[laughs]

Boy, wouldn't you love
to go to Chicago

and see the Sears Tower?

A 110 stories. Man!

It must have some humongous
tool department, huh?

[laughs]

Uh, Cody,
there's no actual Sears store

in the Sears Tower.

Wow, somebody
should've told 'em that

before they named
the building. Tch.

They're not all
as smart as you, Codeman.

I hear you, Uncle Frank.

I'mma load up the car. Hah.

♪ Day-o ♪

♪ Day-o ♪

♪ Daylight come
and me wanna go home ♪

♪ Day me say day
me say day me say day-o ♪

♪ Daylight come
and me wanna go home ♪♪

My brother's son.

What the hell
happened to my brother?

- Frank? Frank, great news.
- What?

Dana's upstairs.
She's sick as a dog.

Yeah, whoopie! You want me
to break out some party hats?

No, no, no. I don't mean
I'm glad that she's sick.

It's just that since I'll have
to stay home and take care

of her, I'll have to cancel
Karen's trip to Chicago.

Oh, no, no, no, no. Honey.

Karen has her heart set
on this modeling job.

You have to go to Chicago
with her.

But what about Dana?

I know how to take care

of sick children.

Now, you have to take Karen

to Chicago.

Okay, fine.

But if Karen ends up moving
to Paris, becomes a supermodel

and we end up with Mick Jagger
as a son-in-law

it'll be all your fault.

Well, I'll miss you, too, dear.

[clearing throat]

[coughs]

[clearing throat]

[blows nose]

[sighs]
Hi, Frank.

You look like death on toast.

I know. I've got
a stuffy nose and flu.

What's your excuse?

Oh! Oh-ho, I get it.

You're one of those people who
gets cranky when they're sick.

[chuckles]
What a surprise.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Wow, this is the big time.

I read that this studio
has been used to shoot

over a 100 magazine covers,
20 album covers

and six Playboy Playmates. Ah.

Everyone, gather around, please.

Welcome, ladies, we have
a lot of work to do today.

But before we begin,
let's introduce ourselves.

I'm Geoffrey Howell.

I'm Geoffrey's assistant, Marie.

- I'm Zoska.
- I'm Cindy.

- I'm Karen.
- I'm Carol.

Uh, Carol darling, I think
you're in the wrong studio.

They're doing the full-figure
bra shoot next door.

Oh, uh, I'm not, I'm not here
for that, but, uh, thank you.

[laughs]

Oh. Uh, no, I-I'm here
as a-a mother.

- I'm.. Ka-Karen's my daughter.
- Oh, a mother.

Marie, will you please
show Carol

to the special mother's section?

Way over on the other side
of the studio.

- This way.
- Uh, uh, wait, wait.

I don't know if you realize

that Karen is only 15 years old.

- Mother!
- Well..

I just think it's best

that I stay nearby.

Of course, you do.
You're a mother.

You want to hover about and make
my life completely miserable.

[sighs]
No, no, no.
No, I won't, I won't say a word.

- I promise.
- They all do.

Alright, first off, we'll be
shooting these evening dresses.

Uh, excuse me.

Oh! Four seconds! A new record.

- What is it, Karen's mother?
- Well..

[chuckles]
Excuse me.

Uh, seeing as how
Karen is only 15 years old

I- I thought maybe
she could wear a little shawl

or-or a wrap with-with these.

How about a polka
with a great, big furry hood?

- I'm sorry. Am-am I in the way?
- Yes, mom.

Uh, okay, okay. He won't hear
another word out of me.

Well, we can dream, can't we?

Right. Let's get
to the business at hand.

Now, girls, lunch will be at one
o'clock, but don't eat too much

because afterwards,
we're shooting for swimsuits.

Oh, uh, ex-excuse me,
Mr. Geoffrey.

What is it this time?
She's too young to eat lunch?

Oh!

[both laughing]

Uh, uh, no, it's just that, uh

I was reading a-a fashion
magazine last weekend.

They did this whole spread

on those
big, uh, striped T-shirts

that, uh, people
used to wear in the '20s

and I thought
that maybe it'd be nice

if Karen wore
one of those instead.

Why don't I just go
sit over there

in the special mother's section?

Karen darling, please
don't take this the wrong way

but your mother is killing me.

[instrumental music]

[bell ringing]

Did you hear
a- a ringing out here?

Ah. That's me.

My throat's a little scratchy

so I thought,
instead of calling you

and wearing out my voice

I could just ring this bell.

[bell ringing]

That's a great idea.

Here, uh,
I made you some, uh, uh..

[blows]

...some toast.

- Oh. White toast?
- 'Yeah.'

Gee, I'd rather have
whole wheat.

Whole wheat? Okey-doke!

[chuckles]

- Oh, Frank.
- Yeah?

Take the crust off my toast.

Mom always does that for me
when I'm sick.

No crust. Got it.

[bell ringing]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Put just a smidge
of Marmalade on it.

Smidge.

Fine.

[bell ringing]

Could I see that bell?

- Sure.
- Yeah.

Oh, gee.

Broke.

Smidge. Yeah,
I'll give her a smidge.

Hi, Frank.

Hi, Doogie.

- What's with the mask?
- Dana's germs are everywhere.

And when I get the flu,
I'm puking every 20 minutes.

You can set your watch by it.

- Thanks for sharing.
- No problem.

Hey-hey.
Dining by the kitchen.

[chuckles]
Hey, what's happenin',
Uncle Frank?

Ah. Dana's temperature is down.

And the ringing has stopped
in my ears.

Oh, you're lucky. Yeah.

Man, mine started ringing
at a Metallica concert.

Didn't stop
till I got my head stuck

in the ball return
at the bowling alley.

[laughs]
Yeah.

Of course, that's when
my double vision started.

Yeah, well,
that'll do it, alright.

- Hey, dad.
- Hi, boys.

Hey, Cody, we're ready
to go down to the park

and shag some flies as soon
as Brendan can find his mitt.

It's on the floor
in the living room.

Oh, yuck!
I don't wanna go in there.

I'll get Dana's germs.

Yeah, well, don't worry, little
cuz. Dude, the Codeman's here.

I'll get your mitt.
Come on. Yeah.

Okay.

[inhales deeply]

Um, so, Dana.

Have you seen Brendan's mitt
anywhere about?

It's over there.

Oh.

A buck says
he doesn't find the mitt.

Five bucks says he forgets

why he went in there
in the first place.

- Ooh-ah..
- Whoa! Oh.

Get the chair! Get the chair!
Sit down.

[breathing heavily]

Ah! Wow.

You know, I always forget
how important breathing is

until I stop doin' it.

[breathing heavily]

Cody, are you okay?

Yeah.

In fact, it's a miracle!

My double vision's gone.

[chuckles]
This is gonna make it a lot
easier to get through doorways.

[laughs]

- Alright, let's go.
- Okay.

See you later, boys.

[telephone ringing]

Oh, no, the ringing's
back in my head.

[telephone ringing]

Hey, would you guys mind
stoppin' at the bowling alley

on the way to the park?

Hello? Oh. Hi, honey.
How are you?

- Oh, fine. How's Dana doing?
- 'Oh, fine.'

[Frank on phone]
'She'll probably be back
to normal in another 24 hours.'

Oh, that's good.
How are you doing?

Is she driving you crazy?

Not at all.
It's a piece of cake.

[Dana]
'Frank!'

Shut up! I'm on the phone!

How are things in Chicago?

Uh, well, it's just
so glamorous and exciting.

You know, I'm just afraid
Karen is gonna get

all caught up in it.

Oh, come on, honey, relax.

Listen, it's almost lunch time.

You take her out
for a burger and some fries

and you're gonna find out
she's the same hometown girl

she's always been.

Yeah, I suppose you're right.

- Mother.
- Uh, just a minute, Frank.

Mother, guess what!

The girls invited me
to have lunch with them.

Do you know that by the time
Zoska was my age

she was living
in her own apartment in Paris?

Ah! Oh, I love being a model.
Ciao.

[chuckles]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

- Hi, mom.
- Hm.

Hi, honey.

How was lunch
with your new friends?

Oh, it was so cool.

The waiter thought I was older

and so he asked
if I wanted wine with my lunch.

Ah, that is cool.

[chuckles]
What'd you say?

I said, "I don't drink wine.

Just bring me
a couple of vodka stingers."

[laughing]

You're making a joke, right?
Right? Right?

[scoffs]

Mother, lighten up.
I had a diet soda.

Geoffrey, which suit
do you wanna see on Karen?

- You know, let's see.
- 'You know..'

I would definitely go
with the one-piece.

Oh, you would, would you?

And why might that be,
Mother Carol?

Well, uh, uh,
seeing as how Karen is only 15

I- I-I think the one-piece
is-is so much more

and-and-and the, and the
two-piece is-is so much less.

Mother, you're starting again.

Well, he asked my opinion.

Yes, I did. And tomorrow
I'm having my head examined.

Nevertheless, we'll go
with the one-piece. Now, Marie.

I want to try something
different with Karen's hair.

Can you sit in the chair for me,
darling?

Great. Thank you.

What I'd like to do
is pull it full out to one side

and give her a really sexy look.

Oh, I like it.

I feel a tapping.

I wonder who might that be.

[gasps]
It's Mother Carol!

What is it, madame?

Well, um, I don't know
if Karen told you

but, um, I am a hairdresser.

[chuckles]
Hair is my life.

Mom.

Anyway, I was thinking

seeing as how
Karen is only 15 years old

uh, perhaps, you know,
I could put her hair

in a sweet-little French braid

you know, for that
innocent school-girl look.

Would you like that, honey?

Mother, stop it!

This is the most important day
of my life

and you're embarrassing me! Ah.

[instrumental music]

May-maybe I'll, uh, just go

sit over there in
that special mother's section.

[instrumental music]

Hey, Mark. Thanks
for holding down the fort.

- How's it goin'?
- Not good.

J.T.'s sick
and now my white-cell count

is way up,
and when I get the flu, I'm..

- Puking every 20 minutes.
- Puking every 20 minutes.

Yeah, I know.

You hang in there, J.T. Ha-ha.

I'll get you some kneepads,
okay, bud?

[chuckles]
Boy.

Oh, Cody, have you seen J.T.?

Yeah. He's in there
tossin' his cookies.

[chuckles]
He's doin' the Technicolor yawn.

[chuckles]
Driving the porcelain bus.

[chuckles]
He's callin' Ralph
on the big white phone. Ha-ha.

- He's--
- Yeah, I get the picture, Cody.

[laughs]
Yeah.

Oh, boy.
I tell you, Uncle Frank.

It's a regular hurl fest
around here.

[chuckles]

[groans]

J.T., you don't look so good.

You should see the bathroom.

Dad! Dad!

'Ow..'

What? Uh, well,
Al, are you sick, too?

Of course.
I share a room with her.

The family that bunks together
blows chunks together.

She's really turning in
to quite a little lady.

Isn't she, Frank?

[Al coughs]

- Oh, I'm so sick.
- Oh, Mark.

Hey, listen, you don't feel like
you have to throw up, do ya?

Not for another
18 minutes and 43 seconds.

- Daddy, I don't feel so good.
- 'What?'

- Oh! My stomach.
- Uh, okay, here. Come, sit do--

Eighteen minutes
and thirty seconds.

- Yeah, okay.
- Twenty-nine.

- Twenty-eight--
- Okay!

Now, I know everyone is sick

but I have the situation
under control.

Now, just sit tight,
I'll be right back.

[kids groaning]

[coughing]

[clears throat]
Hello, mom?

[instrumental music]

[Geoffrey]
That's the way.

'Oh! Love it!'

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ You've got to ♪

♪ Let your body
move to the music ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ You've got to do it ♪

♪ Let your body
go with the flow ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ You've got to just ♪

♪ Vogue vogue vogue ♪♪

That's great, great.

Cindy, look at Karen.

Now, Karen, look at Cindy.
Great!

Great! I love it!
Okay, let's take five.

You are so lucky.

You get to do this all the time.

It's okay.

[scoffs]
Okay?

This is my dream to be a model

where you get to travel
and be on your own

meet interesting people.

Isn't this your dream job?

Karen, how old are you?

[all]
She's 15!

You know, when I was 15,
modeling was my dream, too

but now I'm getting
a little tired of traveling.

And being on my own, just,
it just feels kinda lonely.

But isn't it exciting, going
to Paris and London and Rome?

Not when you do it in three days
and you don't even know

what city you're in
when you wake up.

If modeling isn't your dream
anymore, then what is?

To be your age again, to go
to high school with my friends

have my boyfriend
wanna take me to the movies

instead of back
to his hotel room

and have my biggest problem be

an overprotective mother.

Karen, I know it doesn't
seem like it when you're 15

but when you have a mother
who bugs you

it means
you have a mother who cares.

And that's
a pretty terrific thing.

- Cindy, would you excuse me?
- Sure.

- Hi.
- I haven't said a word!

I'm just sitting here quietly

in the mother's section.

I know, mom.
I just wanted to talk to you.

Oh. Okay.

Um, I'm sorry I yelled at you.

Oh, I'm sorry, too.
And I really..

I- I just, I didn't mean
to embarrass you.

Don't worry about it.

I know you're just being a mom.

Well, that's me.

Look, I don't like it
when you bug me

but I love
that you care about me.

- Oh. I always care about you.
- I know you do.

I know you try really hard
to watch out for me

and make sure I'm okay.

And I guess
what I'm trying to say is

thanks for being
a humongous pain in the butt.

Alright. I try.

[chuckles]

[blowing nose]

Hurry up, girls! The movie
starts in half an hour!

Okay, we're ready to go.

Gee, honey, I'm so sorry
you have the flu.

You're sure
you'll be okay alone?

Oye. Yeah.
You go ahead, I'll be fine.

You go and have a good time.
Heh.

I mean, sure,
I devoted my entire weekend

nursing everyone back to health

but that's no reason for you
to stay here

and take care of me.

[chuckles]

- Okay, see ya. Bye.
- Bye!

[indistinct chatter]

[door closes]

Bye.