The Facts of Life (1979–1988): Season 3, Episode 13 - The Americanization of Miko - full transcript
A Japanese student's father objects to her daughter's adoption of Western cultural values.
♪
♪ You take the good,
you take the bad ♪
♪ You take them both
and there you have ♪
♪ The facts of life,
the facts of life ♪
♪ There's a time you got to
go and show you're growing ♪
♪ And now you know
about the facts of life ♪
♪ The facts of life ♪
♪ When the world never seems ♪
♪ To be living up
to your dreams ♪
♪ And suddenly
you're finding out ♪
♪ The facts of life
are all about you ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ It takes a lot
to get them right ♪
♪ When you're
learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
Natalie, slow down.
There's no Guinness World
Record for clearing dishes.
The sooner I finish, the
sooner I can do my homework
and get ready for
the concert tonight.
Hello.
Perfectly good cookie.
You know, just thinking about
rock music gets me going.
I was born boogying.
It must've been
a difficult birth.
Hi, guys. TOOTIE: Hi.
Hey, you two, what's up?
Well, Miko and I have just
been through sheer torture,
but it was worth it.
Voila!
You got your ears pierced!
Pain is now an old friend.
I did it, too. I'm no chicken.
Wow, you got stabbed four times.
She took it to the max.
Weren't you scared?
Only when Blair fainted.
Nat, let's do it, too. I'm
tired of having virgin ears.
Forget it. My sister
pierced her ears
and her earlobe got all infected
and swelled up like a zucchini.
Maybe I'll wait.
I gotta study.
Hey, you did some more shopping.
What'd you get?
Just the basic necessities
for every American beauty.
Miko bought $38
worth of cosmetics.
I wanted the natural look.
And look what else I bought.
Wow! You are something, Miko.
You've only been here six weeks
and you're already
Miss Teenage America.
I've come a long way, baby.
Hey, Jo.
Hey, Miko, how you doin'?
Hey, New York, that's my town!
Why do you think she bought it?
I want to be just like you.
Why she wants to be
like you is a mystery.
Especially with me right here.
Sorry, Blair, but to me,
Jo represents the
true American beauty.
Did you hear that?
I heard it, but I
don't believe it.
Our Jo, the true
American beauty.
That's an interesting concept.
Well, Jo's got that fierce
spirit of independence.
Bombing down the
road on her bike,
the wind bouncing off her hair.
The bugs bouncing off her teeth.
Ah, I had a feeling
we'd find her with Jo.
Miko.
Uh, Father! What a surprise!
Miko.
I thought you were in Tokyo.
I flew back to New
York for a sales meeting.
Is this helmet part
of your uniform?
Some of the teachers
are pretty tough.
It belongs to my
best friend, Jo.
Jo, this is my father,
Mr. Wakamatsu.
Hi, how you doin'?
So this is the famous Jo.
Ah, come on.
And this is Blair.
Oh, very good.
You've been to Japan?
I've been everywhere.
And Tootie.
Welcome to the good old US of A.
Tootie, Mr. Wakamatsu has been
in the United States many times.
He's president of
the Kujira Corporation.
American division.
Oh! My family's
industrial royalty, too.
We're "old money,"
you're "old yen."
Uh, look, Miko, I brought
you a new Kujira-Sound
and the Beethoven tape.
Oh, thank you, Father.
We can all share It.
You put on the
earphones this way.
Miko, what have you
done to your ears?
I had them pierced,
Father. It's very American.
Not once, but twice. Did
they miss the first time?
Well, you know the saying.
"If one is good, two is better."
Not a real well-known saying.
Where is your uniform?
It's Saturday, Mr. Wakamatsu.
On the weekends
we're all a little laid-back.
Well, I got some studying to do.
Glad to meet you, sir.
Goodbye.
Remember, we gotta
be ready by 6:00.
We're all takin' the
bus into Tarrytown.
Miko's going to her
first American concert.
A concert? At
least that's cultural.
But blue jeans are
not proper dress.
The conductor will be offended.
Not this conductor.
He has green hair.
Green hair?
It's a rock concert.
Yeah. It's this really hot new
wave group called The Stray Cats.
They're the greatest.
If you like watching a
musician eat his guitar.
He doesn't eat his guitar.
He just chews on it a little.
Miko, a bus trip to a rock
concert is not a good idea.
But my friends invited me.
All right.
Where are my manners?
Mr. Wakamatsu, how about
a cup of real American coffee,
grown in the
mountains of Colombia?
Thank you.
Miko, after you change into your
uniform, you can show me the school.
Would you care to
join me in my kitchen?
Oh, we have a Kujira
trash compactor, you know.
It's wonderful. It works
almost all the time.
Father's furious.
That's furious?
When my pop's mad
it's a little more obvious.
He punches a parking meter.
I'd better take
out these earrings.
And wash off the make-up.
He didn't say anything
about the make-up.
Yes, he did. You just
have to know how to listen.
Your pop's a real tough
cookie, isn't he, kid?
Let's just say he's old
country, and very strict.
He thinks American kids
are spoiled and pampered.
Wherever would he
get an idea like that?
So, this is your nerve center?
And my nervous breakdown center.
I suppose this must seem
like a jumbled up mess to you.
Yes.
But sometimes, out of
disarray comes order.
Often, a most
disorganized suggestion
will develop into an
efficient work method.
That's why, at Kujira Corporation,
we listen to our workers.
Yes.
Isn't that what Japanese manufacturers
call the Quality Control Circle?
Yes, it is. Did you study
business management?
No.
60 Minutes.
Of course, we use other
management techniques, too,
like dropping in without
warning on my workers.
And your daughter.
This is your first visit
since Miko enrolled.
Isn't she fitting
in beautifully?
Yes. But that does
not surprise me.
Everything American
has always fascinated her.
Does that bother you?
I have great respect
for Americans.
They make wonderful hamburgers
and they play the second-best
baseball in the world.
However, there are certain
things we handle differently.
Oh, like factories?
Yes. And children.
What do you mean?
In Japan we place a high premium
on discipline and achievement.
Well, so do we, Mr. Wakamatsu.
But we don't raise our
children like you build Toyotas,
and have them come off the
assembly line saying, "We are driven."
My daughter's school
work is more important than
rock concerts or ear gougings.
I'm not disagreeing
with you there.
Good. There is one more
thing I would like to clear up.
"We are driven" is Datsun.
Toyota is, "Oh, what a feeling!"
Sorry you can't go to
the concert with us, Miko.
I'll bring you back a souvenir.
Yeah. A guitar splinter
with a tooth in it.
I am going to the concert.
Miko, you promised your
father you wouldn't go.
I promised Father I
wouldn't go on the bus.
I didn't say anything about not
riding on the back of Jo's bike.
What a concert. All
that wonderful noise.
You think last night was fun, wait till
you come home with me at Easter break.
There's nothin' like
springtime in the Bronx.
You sit on the fire escape
and listen to police sirens
and smell the garbage.
And then you'll let
me drive your bike?
Yeah, I guess so. After I
give you a bunch of lessons.
See, that bike's almost human.
♪
Miko. Downstairs.
Telephone. Your dad.
♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪
Okay. Thanks.
♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪
Hello, Father? How are you?
Yes.
What?
What?
But why?
But I love it here.
I'm making friends...
But I don't want to leave.
Please!
Yes, Father.
Here you go, girls. Fold away.
Natalie, would you
go to the kitchen and...
♪ Hey, momma, momma, momma! ♪
Natalie, would you
go to the kitchen
and dance the chicken
parts out of the freezer?
♪ Momma, momma, momma ♪
Jo, how come you're
letting Miko ride your bike?
You wouldn't let me.
I'm not lettin'
anybody ride my bike.
That's my bike!
How do you know?
A mother knows.
Miko can't control that bike.
I know. There go your marigolds.
Again?
Are you nuts? Stop! Miko!
Sayonara.
How could Miko do this to me?
I bet It had something to do with
that phone call from her father.
I don't care about
the phone call.
She's supposed to be my buddy.
Jo, you don't know what her
father might have said to upset her.
I've seen you tear out of here
on your bike when you were upset.
Yeah, but it's my bike.
Hi.
Don't "hi" me! Where's my bike?
What did you do
to it? Is it all right?
Just a minute, Jo.
Are you all right?
Oh, Miko. We were
terribly worried.
Yeah, about the
bike. Where is it?
Wait a minute.
I didn't hear it
before you came in.
That's because I walked back.
Tell me you walked
my bike back, too.
To save gas.
I walked your bike
back, too, to save gas.
Really? No.
What did happen to Jo's bike?
It just stopped moving.
Stopped moving?
Why did it stop moving?
It probably had something
to do with the smoke.
Smoke? Where did
the smoke come from?
Well, I guess it came
from the fire in the engine.
Fire in the engine!
I don't want to hear
any more of this.
Then what happened?
They said, "That
sucker's a basket case."
I can't stand this.
Who are "they"?
The mechanics at the garage.
Jo, you're gonna
need some new parts.
So are you.
You're Japanese. How could
you do that to a Kawasaki?
And here's the estimate.
It's only $462.
Please don't worry.
I'm sure Father will
pay for all the repairs,
right before he kills me.
He's gonna have
to take a number.
Well, he'll be here any minute.
He's taking me out of school.
That's why you ran away.
Rode away.
I was so upset. And I thought it
would help if I went off by myself,
like you do, Jo.
I never meant to ruin your bike.
I'd better pack.
Miko, you're not
going to do anything
until you rest for a minute
and have a bite to eat.
Blair, please, take Miko
upstairs so she can freshen up.
Sure.
I better call this
garage about my bike.
Or should I say, "The deceased."
Jo,
I'm sorry. Really.
Maybe I don't belong here, if I
could hurt a friend as good as you.
This is gonna be
Miko's last meal here.
I'm glad it's a
Dagwood sandwich.
You know, I... I... I... I just
can't believe that Miko's father
would just yank her
out of school like that.
I can. He's really
an uptight guy.
No, no, he's just quiet.
Oh, I'm sure he's an
open-minded, reasonable man.
Oh, it's just a matter of
communicating, you know, one-to-one,
sitting down,
talking things out.
Start talking.
Mr. Wakamatsu.
Mrs. Garrett. Miko was not
in her dormitory. Is she here?
Yes. Tootie, would you please
tell Miko her father's here?
Sure.
Mr. Wakamatsu, can we talk?
Yes.
I understand you're
taking Miko out of school.
Yes.
Yes, uh... Well, can we discuss
why you feel this is necessary?
I feel it is necessary.
I can see that.
Ah, ah, can you explain
why it's necessary?
I prefer the supervision
of the Tokyo school.
We're too permissive here, hmm?
In Japan, a father
can relax in confidence,
knowing his daughter is
only thinking of three things:
hard work, high
value, and volleyball.
Yeah, well, that
covers life pretty well.
My mind is firmly set.
Like concrete.
That Miko really racked me up.
The mechanic said my
bike might need a bypass.
What has Miko done?
Uh...
Uh...
What has she done?
Well, she kind of checked my
bike out without a library card
and turned it into
a "Blazing Saddle."
Here's the bad news.
$462.
Father.
I will pay for this.
I'm sure Miko is ashamed for
taking your bike without permission.
Of course I'm ashamed.
But when you said you were
taking me back to Tokyo, I was upset.
So I did the wrong
thing. It was a mistake.
Mr. Wakamatsu,
try to understand,
this school believes in
allowing girls to make mistakes.
That's obvious.
It just so happens that
this school turns out women
of great accomplishment.
Doctors, lawyers,
homemakers, businesswomen.
Jane Fonda graduated
from a school just like this
and she's made
plenty of mistakes.
Gloria Vanderbilt's
made mistakes.
Even Eleanor Roosevelt
made mistakes.
Not necessarily.
If you'd only...
Please, I am all too aware
that women make mistakes.
Women?
Father, I want to stay here.
No, Miko. It is for
your own good.
Well, how do you know
what is for my own good?
You never ask me what I think.
You want me to respect
you, but you don't respect me.
I have a mind.
And I have to make
some decisions for myself.
That's why I went to the
rock concert last night.
What?
I know you went.
You know? How did you know?
I didn't know.
I called your
dormitory last night.
A young girl said you were
out "shaking your booty."
Say your goodbyes.
I'll be waiting in
the dining room.
Oh!
That man!
Oh, I'm sorry, I know that
he's your father, but... That man!
Oh, oh, I... I
can't talk to him!
I have to talk to him. I
have to reason with him!
I'm going in there!
Whoa, Mrs. G.
Let me see what I can do.
You're a little hotheaded right now.
Okay. Okay, you talk to him.
But tell him about
communication.
Tell him about talking
out your feelings. Tell him!
I'll tell him. I'll tell him.
Uh, Mr. Wakamatsu?
Excuse me, but, uh, would it be
out of line if I talk to you for a minute?
Go ahead.
Thank you.
You don't like this
place very much, do you?
On the contrary, it's a lovely
setting. The trees, the lake...
No, no, I mean you think
it's a bad influence on Miko,
that I'm a bad influence on her.
I never said that.
Well, I have to take some
of the heat for what Miko did.
It's kind of you
to be concerned.
Well, I feel
responsible for her.
I mean, face it,
she idolizes me.
And when I saw
her goin' overboard,
I should have said somethin'
helpful and supportive, like,
"Don't be a stupid jerk."
What is done is done. I apologize
to you for what happened.
Yeah, well, I'm sorry for
what happened in there, too.
I mean, that stuff between you
and your daughter, that's private.
I know that.
Don't take Miko back to Tokyo.
Tokyo is our home.
I want Miko to be
proud of her heritage.
There are things
we must not lose.
Look, I know what you mean.
I'm from the Bronx, and around
here, that's more foreign than Tokyo.
But I'm always gonna
hold on to who I am.
And Miko?
I'll look out for
Miko on this end
and you look out
for Miko on your end.
What do you say,
Mr. W? Let Miko stay.
Can't we at least
give it a shot?
My daughter has made
many mistakes, Jo,
but choosing you as a
friend was not one of them.
I can't hold my
tongue any longer!
You know, there's a difference
between being strong and silent,
and just plain stubborn!
If you would only listen!
I'm sure you'd agree
that your daughter
deserves to at least
finish out the semester.
Mrs. Garrett,
we'll give it a shot.
We will?
Of course we will.
I knew there'd be no problem
once you and I communicated.
I'll go tell Miko the good news.
Oh, why don't you stay
and I'll fix you a bite to eat.
Ah, thank you. I couldn't help
notice the sandwich you were making.
Oh, it's an American specialty.
It's called the
"Dagwood sandwich."
No, it's a Japanese specialty.
It's called a
"Godzilla sandwich."
I will show you how we
used to build them at Tokyo U.
First, a layer of
green olives...
Olives? Yes, olives.
Then the baloney.
Oh, I put cheese
before the baloney.
No cheese, never cheese. Oh...
What's wrong with cheese?
No cheese. Sardines.
Sardines.
Unless you have octopus.
I'll find sardines.
♪ You'll avoid a lot of damage ♪
♪ And enjoy the fun of
managing the facts of life ♪
♪ They shed a lot of light ♪
♪ If you hear them
from your brother ♪
♪ Better clear them
with your mother ♪
♪ Better get them right,
call her late at night ♪
♪ You got the future in
the palm of your hand ♪
♪ All you got to do to get
you through is understand ♪
♪ You think you'd
rather do without ♪
♪ You'll never make it
through without the truth ♪
♪ The facts of life
are all about you ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ You take the good,
you take the bad ♪
♪ You take them both
and there you have ♪
♪ The facts of life,
the facts of life ♪
♪ There's a time you got to
go and show you're growing ♪
♪ And now you know
about the facts of life ♪
♪ The facts of life ♪
♪ When the world never seems ♪
♪ To be living up
to your dreams ♪
♪ And suddenly
you're finding out ♪
♪ The facts of life
are all about you ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ It takes a lot
to get them right ♪
♪ When you're
learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪
Natalie, slow down.
There's no Guinness World
Record for clearing dishes.
The sooner I finish, the
sooner I can do my homework
and get ready for
the concert tonight.
Hello.
Perfectly good cookie.
You know, just thinking about
rock music gets me going.
I was born boogying.
It must've been
a difficult birth.
Hi, guys. TOOTIE: Hi.
Hey, you two, what's up?
Well, Miko and I have just
been through sheer torture,
but it was worth it.
Voila!
You got your ears pierced!
Pain is now an old friend.
I did it, too. I'm no chicken.
Wow, you got stabbed four times.
She took it to the max.
Weren't you scared?
Only when Blair fainted.
Nat, let's do it, too. I'm
tired of having virgin ears.
Forget it. My sister
pierced her ears
and her earlobe got all infected
and swelled up like a zucchini.
Maybe I'll wait.
I gotta study.
Hey, you did some more shopping.
What'd you get?
Just the basic necessities
for every American beauty.
Miko bought $38
worth of cosmetics.
I wanted the natural look.
And look what else I bought.
Wow! You are something, Miko.
You've only been here six weeks
and you're already
Miss Teenage America.
I've come a long way, baby.
Hey, Jo.
Hey, Miko, how you doin'?
Hey, New York, that's my town!
Why do you think she bought it?
I want to be just like you.
Why she wants to be
like you is a mystery.
Especially with me right here.
Sorry, Blair, but to me,
Jo represents the
true American beauty.
Did you hear that?
I heard it, but I
don't believe it.
Our Jo, the true
American beauty.
That's an interesting concept.
Well, Jo's got that fierce
spirit of independence.
Bombing down the
road on her bike,
the wind bouncing off her hair.
The bugs bouncing off her teeth.
Ah, I had a feeling
we'd find her with Jo.
Miko.
Uh, Father! What a surprise!
Miko.
I thought you were in Tokyo.
I flew back to New
York for a sales meeting.
Is this helmet part
of your uniform?
Some of the teachers
are pretty tough.
It belongs to my
best friend, Jo.
Jo, this is my father,
Mr. Wakamatsu.
Hi, how you doin'?
So this is the famous Jo.
Ah, come on.
And this is Blair.
Oh, very good.
You've been to Japan?
I've been everywhere.
And Tootie.
Welcome to the good old US of A.
Tootie, Mr. Wakamatsu has been
in the United States many times.
He's president of
the Kujira Corporation.
American division.
Oh! My family's
industrial royalty, too.
We're "old money,"
you're "old yen."
Uh, look, Miko, I brought
you a new Kujira-Sound
and the Beethoven tape.
Oh, thank you, Father.
We can all share It.
You put on the
earphones this way.
Miko, what have you
done to your ears?
I had them pierced,
Father. It's very American.
Not once, but twice. Did
they miss the first time?
Well, you know the saying.
"If one is good, two is better."
Not a real well-known saying.
Where is your uniform?
It's Saturday, Mr. Wakamatsu.
On the weekends
we're all a little laid-back.
Well, I got some studying to do.
Glad to meet you, sir.
Goodbye.
Remember, we gotta
be ready by 6:00.
We're all takin' the
bus into Tarrytown.
Miko's going to her
first American concert.
A concert? At
least that's cultural.
But blue jeans are
not proper dress.
The conductor will be offended.
Not this conductor.
He has green hair.
Green hair?
It's a rock concert.
Yeah. It's this really hot new
wave group called The Stray Cats.
They're the greatest.
If you like watching a
musician eat his guitar.
He doesn't eat his guitar.
He just chews on it a little.
Miko, a bus trip to a rock
concert is not a good idea.
But my friends invited me.
All right.
Where are my manners?
Mr. Wakamatsu, how about
a cup of real American coffee,
grown in the
mountains of Colombia?
Thank you.
Miko, after you change into your
uniform, you can show me the school.
Would you care to
join me in my kitchen?
Oh, we have a Kujira
trash compactor, you know.
It's wonderful. It works
almost all the time.
Father's furious.
That's furious?
When my pop's mad
it's a little more obvious.
He punches a parking meter.
I'd better take
out these earrings.
And wash off the make-up.
He didn't say anything
about the make-up.
Yes, he did. You just
have to know how to listen.
Your pop's a real tough
cookie, isn't he, kid?
Let's just say he's old
country, and very strict.
He thinks American kids
are spoiled and pampered.
Wherever would he
get an idea like that?
So, this is your nerve center?
And my nervous breakdown center.
I suppose this must seem
like a jumbled up mess to you.
Yes.
But sometimes, out of
disarray comes order.
Often, a most
disorganized suggestion
will develop into an
efficient work method.
That's why, at Kujira Corporation,
we listen to our workers.
Yes.
Isn't that what Japanese manufacturers
call the Quality Control Circle?
Yes, it is. Did you study
business management?
No.
60 Minutes.
Of course, we use other
management techniques, too,
like dropping in without
warning on my workers.
And your daughter.
This is your first visit
since Miko enrolled.
Isn't she fitting
in beautifully?
Yes. But that does
not surprise me.
Everything American
has always fascinated her.
Does that bother you?
I have great respect
for Americans.
They make wonderful hamburgers
and they play the second-best
baseball in the world.
However, there are certain
things we handle differently.
Oh, like factories?
Yes. And children.
What do you mean?
In Japan we place a high premium
on discipline and achievement.
Well, so do we, Mr. Wakamatsu.
But we don't raise our
children like you build Toyotas,
and have them come off the
assembly line saying, "We are driven."
My daughter's school
work is more important than
rock concerts or ear gougings.
I'm not disagreeing
with you there.
Good. There is one more
thing I would like to clear up.
"We are driven" is Datsun.
Toyota is, "Oh, what a feeling!"
Sorry you can't go to
the concert with us, Miko.
I'll bring you back a souvenir.
Yeah. A guitar splinter
with a tooth in it.
I am going to the concert.
Miko, you promised your
father you wouldn't go.
I promised Father I
wouldn't go on the bus.
I didn't say anything about not
riding on the back of Jo's bike.
What a concert. All
that wonderful noise.
You think last night was fun, wait till
you come home with me at Easter break.
There's nothin' like
springtime in the Bronx.
You sit on the fire escape
and listen to police sirens
and smell the garbage.
And then you'll let
me drive your bike?
Yeah, I guess so. After I
give you a bunch of lessons.
See, that bike's almost human.
♪
Miko. Downstairs.
Telephone. Your dad.
♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪
Okay. Thanks.
♪ Baby, baby, baby ♪
Hello, Father? How are you?
Yes.
What?
What?
But why?
But I love it here.
I'm making friends...
But I don't want to leave.
Please!
Yes, Father.
Here you go, girls. Fold away.
Natalie, would you
go to the kitchen and...
♪ Hey, momma, momma, momma! ♪
Natalie, would you
go to the kitchen
and dance the chicken
parts out of the freezer?
♪ Momma, momma, momma ♪
Jo, how come you're
letting Miko ride your bike?
You wouldn't let me.
I'm not lettin'
anybody ride my bike.
That's my bike!
How do you know?
A mother knows.
Miko can't control that bike.
I know. There go your marigolds.
Again?
Are you nuts? Stop! Miko!
Sayonara.
How could Miko do this to me?
I bet It had something to do with
that phone call from her father.
I don't care about
the phone call.
She's supposed to be my buddy.
Jo, you don't know what her
father might have said to upset her.
I've seen you tear out of here
on your bike when you were upset.
Yeah, but it's my bike.
Hi.
Don't "hi" me! Where's my bike?
What did you do
to it? Is it all right?
Just a minute, Jo.
Are you all right?
Oh, Miko. We were
terribly worried.
Yeah, about the
bike. Where is it?
Wait a minute.
I didn't hear it
before you came in.
That's because I walked back.
Tell me you walked
my bike back, too.
To save gas.
I walked your bike
back, too, to save gas.
Really? No.
What did happen to Jo's bike?
It just stopped moving.
Stopped moving?
Why did it stop moving?
It probably had something
to do with the smoke.
Smoke? Where did
the smoke come from?
Well, I guess it came
from the fire in the engine.
Fire in the engine!
I don't want to hear
any more of this.
Then what happened?
They said, "That
sucker's a basket case."
I can't stand this.
Who are "they"?
The mechanics at the garage.
Jo, you're gonna
need some new parts.
So are you.
You're Japanese. How could
you do that to a Kawasaki?
And here's the estimate.
It's only $462.
Please don't worry.
I'm sure Father will
pay for all the repairs,
right before he kills me.
He's gonna have
to take a number.
Well, he'll be here any minute.
He's taking me out of school.
That's why you ran away.
Rode away.
I was so upset. And I thought it
would help if I went off by myself,
like you do, Jo.
I never meant to ruin your bike.
I'd better pack.
Miko, you're not
going to do anything
until you rest for a minute
and have a bite to eat.
Blair, please, take Miko
upstairs so she can freshen up.
Sure.
I better call this
garage about my bike.
Or should I say, "The deceased."
Jo,
I'm sorry. Really.
Maybe I don't belong here, if I
could hurt a friend as good as you.
This is gonna be
Miko's last meal here.
I'm glad it's a
Dagwood sandwich.
You know, I... I... I... I just
can't believe that Miko's father
would just yank her
out of school like that.
I can. He's really
an uptight guy.
No, no, he's just quiet.
Oh, I'm sure he's an
open-minded, reasonable man.
Oh, it's just a matter of
communicating, you know, one-to-one,
sitting down,
talking things out.
Start talking.
Mr. Wakamatsu.
Mrs. Garrett. Miko was not
in her dormitory. Is she here?
Yes. Tootie, would you please
tell Miko her father's here?
Sure.
Mr. Wakamatsu, can we talk?
Yes.
I understand you're
taking Miko out of school.
Yes.
Yes, uh... Well, can we discuss
why you feel this is necessary?
I feel it is necessary.
I can see that.
Ah, ah, can you explain
why it's necessary?
I prefer the supervision
of the Tokyo school.
We're too permissive here, hmm?
In Japan, a father
can relax in confidence,
knowing his daughter is
only thinking of three things:
hard work, high
value, and volleyball.
Yeah, well, that
covers life pretty well.
My mind is firmly set.
Like concrete.
That Miko really racked me up.
The mechanic said my
bike might need a bypass.
What has Miko done?
Uh...
Uh...
What has she done?
Well, she kind of checked my
bike out without a library card
and turned it into
a "Blazing Saddle."
Here's the bad news.
$462.
Father.
I will pay for this.
I'm sure Miko is ashamed for
taking your bike without permission.
Of course I'm ashamed.
But when you said you were
taking me back to Tokyo, I was upset.
So I did the wrong
thing. It was a mistake.
Mr. Wakamatsu,
try to understand,
this school believes in
allowing girls to make mistakes.
That's obvious.
It just so happens that
this school turns out women
of great accomplishment.
Doctors, lawyers,
homemakers, businesswomen.
Jane Fonda graduated
from a school just like this
and she's made
plenty of mistakes.
Gloria Vanderbilt's
made mistakes.
Even Eleanor Roosevelt
made mistakes.
Not necessarily.
If you'd only...
Please, I am all too aware
that women make mistakes.
Women?
Father, I want to stay here.
No, Miko. It is for
your own good.
Well, how do you know
what is for my own good?
You never ask me what I think.
You want me to respect
you, but you don't respect me.
I have a mind.
And I have to make
some decisions for myself.
That's why I went to the
rock concert last night.
What?
I know you went.
You know? How did you know?
I didn't know.
I called your
dormitory last night.
A young girl said you were
out "shaking your booty."
Say your goodbyes.
I'll be waiting in
the dining room.
Oh!
That man!
Oh, I'm sorry, I know that
he's your father, but... That man!
Oh, oh, I... I
can't talk to him!
I have to talk to him. I
have to reason with him!
I'm going in there!
Whoa, Mrs. G.
Let me see what I can do.
You're a little hotheaded right now.
Okay. Okay, you talk to him.
But tell him about
communication.
Tell him about talking
out your feelings. Tell him!
I'll tell him. I'll tell him.
Uh, Mr. Wakamatsu?
Excuse me, but, uh, would it be
out of line if I talk to you for a minute?
Go ahead.
Thank you.
You don't like this
place very much, do you?
On the contrary, it's a lovely
setting. The trees, the lake...
No, no, I mean you think
it's a bad influence on Miko,
that I'm a bad influence on her.
I never said that.
Well, I have to take some
of the heat for what Miko did.
It's kind of you
to be concerned.
Well, I feel
responsible for her.
I mean, face it,
she idolizes me.
And when I saw
her goin' overboard,
I should have said somethin'
helpful and supportive, like,
"Don't be a stupid jerk."
What is done is done. I apologize
to you for what happened.
Yeah, well, I'm sorry for
what happened in there, too.
I mean, that stuff between you
and your daughter, that's private.
I know that.
Don't take Miko back to Tokyo.
Tokyo is our home.
I want Miko to be
proud of her heritage.
There are things
we must not lose.
Look, I know what you mean.
I'm from the Bronx, and around
here, that's more foreign than Tokyo.
But I'm always gonna
hold on to who I am.
And Miko?
I'll look out for
Miko on this end
and you look out
for Miko on your end.
What do you say,
Mr. W? Let Miko stay.
Can't we at least
give it a shot?
My daughter has made
many mistakes, Jo,
but choosing you as a
friend was not one of them.
I can't hold my
tongue any longer!
You know, there's a difference
between being strong and silent,
and just plain stubborn!
If you would only listen!
I'm sure you'd agree
that your daughter
deserves to at least
finish out the semester.
Mrs. Garrett,
we'll give it a shot.
We will?
Of course we will.
I knew there'd be no problem
once you and I communicated.
I'll go tell Miko the good news.
Oh, why don't you stay
and I'll fix you a bite to eat.
Ah, thank you. I couldn't help
notice the sandwich you were making.
Oh, it's an American specialty.
It's called the
"Dagwood sandwich."
No, it's a Japanese specialty.
It's called a
"Godzilla sandwich."
I will show you how we
used to build them at Tokyo U.
First, a layer of
green olives...
Olives? Yes, olives.
Then the baloney.
Oh, I put cheese
before the baloney.
No cheese, never cheese. Oh...
What's wrong with cheese?
No cheese. Sardines.
Sardines.
Unless you have octopus.
I'll find sardines.
♪ You'll avoid a lot of damage ♪
♪ And enjoy the fun of
managing the facts of life ♪
♪ They shed a lot of light ♪
♪ If you hear them
from your brother ♪
♪ Better clear them
with your mother ♪
♪ Better get them right,
call her late at night ♪
♪ You got the future in
the palm of your hand ♪
♪ All you got to do to get
you through is understand ♪
♪ You think you'd
rather do without ♪
♪ You'll never make it
through without the truth ♪
♪ The facts of life
are all about you ♪
♪ Learning the facts of life ♪