The Facts of Life (1979–1988): Season 4, Episode 2 - The Source - full transcript

♪ YOU TAKE THE GOOD,
YOU TAKE THE BAD ♪

♪ YOU TAKE 'EM BOTH
AND THERE YOU HAVE ♪

♪ THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ THERE'S A TIME YOU
GOTTA GO AND SHOW ♪

♪ YOU'RE GROWIN'
NOW YOU KNOW ABOUT ♪

♪ THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ WHEN THE WORLD NEVER SEEMS ♪

♪ TO BE LIVIN' UP
TO YOUR DREAMS ♪

♪ AND SUDDENLY
YOU'RE FINDIN' OUT ♪



♪ THE FACTS OF
LIFE ARE ALL ABOUT ♪

♪ YOU ♪

♪ YOU ♪

♪ IT TAKES A LOT
TO GET 'EM RIGHT ♪

♪ WHEN YOU'RE LEARNIN'
THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ LEARNIN' THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ LEARNIN' THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ LEARNIN' THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

♪ LEARNIN' THE FACTS OF LIFE ♪

MAIL CALL.

MAIL CALL, GIRLS.

HERE ARE YOUR FAN
MAGAZINES, TOOTIE.

HOW CAN YOU READ THOSE?

THEY'RE JUST FULL OF RUMOR



AND GOSSIP AND INNUENDO.

FOR YOU BLAIR, PEOPLE,
CELEBRITY, AND US.

THANKS.

I GET THEM FOR THE RECIPES.

YOU WORK, YOU SLAVE,
AND WHAT'S IT GET YOU?

A STANDBY TICKET
ON THE 747 OF LIFE.

WHAT IS IT, NATALIE?

I WANTED TO WRITE

THIS IMPORTANT STORY
FOR THE SCHOOL PAPER

FOR A CHANGE.

I LOVED YOUR UP CLOSE
AND PERSONAL LOOK

AT THE BOWLING TEAM.

OR THAT STORY ON HOW
PEEKSKILL WAS NAMED.

THOSE STORIES ARE WHY
NOBODY READS THE EASTLANDER.

MY BIOLOGY CLASS
CATCHES EVERY ISSUE.

THEY'RE GREAT FOR
THE HAMSTER CAGES.

THIS STORY WAS
GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

YOU NEVER MENTIONED IT.

I WAS GOING TO TACKLE
THIS REALLY BIG ISSUE.

LIKE CHEATING?

TOO OLD-FASHIONED.

DRUGS?

TOO CLICHE.

V.D.?

BLAIR!

VALENTINE'S DAY.

MM-HMM.

ABORTION.

NATALIE, THAT'S A TOUGH SUBJECT

FOR A HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER.

ISN'T THAT A LITTLE TOUCHY?

YES, BUT ABORTION
IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE

AND IT DESERVES ATTENTION.

IT'S CONTROVERSIAL, EMOTIONAL.

EXPLOITABLE.

I HATE TO THINK
YOU'RE DOING THIS

TO BOOST CIRCULATION.

IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

I WANTED TO STIR THINGS UP.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF
YOUR BOWLING ARTICLES.

THEY'RE INFORMATIVE AND SNAPPY.

THEY REALLY BOWL ME OVER.

SORRY.

DON'T WORRY.

I CAN'T DO THE ABORTION STORY.

WHY NOT?

NOBODY WOULD TALK.

I COULDN'T GET ONE SOLID LEAD.

I KNOW YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED,

BUT YOU'LL COME UP
WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

HOW ABOUT A STORY

ABOUT A GALLANT NUTRITIONIST

AND HER DEDICATED WORKERS

WHO HELPED HER UNLOAD A
TRUCK FULL OF GROCERIES?

HOW BIG A TRUCK?

COME AND SEE.

CHEER UP. EVEN LOIS LANE

HAS DAYS LIKE THIS
ONCE IN A WHILE.

BUT LOOK WHO SHE COMES HOME TO.

THERE'S NO HOPE FOR YOUR STORY?

I'VE CALLED EVERY CLINIC,
DOCTOR, AND HOSPITAL

WITHIN 30 MILES.

YOU GOT NO HELP?

JUST DRY STATISTICS
AND A CAULIFLOWER EAR.

STATISTICS ARE A START.

YOU CAN'T WRITE ON JUST NUMBERS.

YOU NEED A PERSONAL P.O.V.

POINT OF VIEW.

REPORTER TALK.

RIGHT. SO WHAT YOU
REALLY NEED IS A P.I.A.

PERSON IT'S ABOUT.

TOOTIE TALK.

YEAH.

A LOUISE.

DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING

ABOUT SOME GIRL NAMED LOUISE?

CALM DOWN.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT
THIS IMAGINARY FRIEND

I HAD AS A CHILD.

IMAGINARY?

I CALLED HER LOUISE.

SHE PLAYED MY FAVORITE GAMES.

SHE TOOK THE BLAME FOR ME.

SHE WAS ANYTHING
I WANTED HER TO BE.

LOUISE.

YEAH. I WONDER WHAT
EVER HAPPENED TO HER.

I'M GOING TO DO MY
ABORTION STORY ABOUT LOUISE.

YOU'RE WHAT?

I'LL COMBINE ALL THE
CASES I'VE READ ABOUT.

RESEARCH WILL CREATE
THE PERFECT LOUISE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT!

SURE I CAN. IT'S
DONE ALL THE TIME.

IT IS?

SOMETIMES.

IF YOU SAY YOU
MADE THE PERSON UP...

WELL... NO, WE WON'T
WANT TO DO THAT.

TAKE AWAY FROM
THE STORY'S IMPACT.

BUT THAT'S DISHONEST.

I WON'T MAKE ANY
IMPORTANT STUFF UP.

I'VE GOT MY FACTS.

EVEN IF I USED A REAL PERSON,

I'D HAVE TO CHANGE HER NAME.

TOOTIE, THIS IS IMPORTANT.

WHAT IS?

THE STORY OR THE NUMBER
OF PAPERS YOU SELL?

WHY NOT SOME OF BOTH?

TRUST ME. I'M A JOURNALIST.

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

I'VE NEVER READ
ANYTHING SO MOVING.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS
TOUCHED SINCE BAMBI.

NAT, THIS IS POWERFUL STUFF.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE STYLE.

IT WAS STRONG, YET SENSITIVE,

WARM, YET OBJECTIVE,
PENETRATING, YET...

SHE LIKED IT, TOO.

DO YOU THINK THERE
WILL BE A MOVIE MADE?

I'VE DONE SOME ACTING.

I'LL HAVE MY PEOPLE
CALL YOUR PEOPLE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT
HAPPENED TO ONE OF US.

YOU GOT HER TO OPEN UP.

WE EXPERIENCED JOURNALISTS
HAVE OUR LITTLE TRICKS.

I'M GETTING A TENSION HEADACHE.

DID YOU LIKE NAT'S ARTICLE?

UM... I THOUGHT IT
WAS VERY... AUTHENTIC.

ESPECIALLY THE STATISTICS PART.

THE PERSONAL SLANT
MADE IT POWERFUL.

IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT ABORTION.

I FELT AS THOUGH
I KNEW THIS GIRL.

DO I?

I CAN'T SAY.

NAT, YOU CAN TELL US.

NO, NO, SHE CAN'T.

IT WOULD BE A VIOLATION
OF JOURNALISTIC ETHICS.

THAT'S RIGHT. REPORTERS
GET BIG STORIES

BY PROTECTING THEIR SOURCES,

EVEN IF IT MEANS GOING TO JAIL.

NO ONE'S ASKING HER TO DO TIME.

I JUST WANT A
HINT... LIKE HER NAME.

I REALLY CAN'T.

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.

THIS PIECE IS GOOD ENOUGH

TO ENTER INTO THAT HIGH
SCHOOL JOURNALISM CONTEST

HELD EACH YEAR.

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

OH, YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY. THIS COULD WIN.

WELL...

WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF THAT, NATALIE?

I HADN'T CONSIDERED IT,

BUT SINCE JO'S MENTIONED IT...

JOURNALISM'S A TOUCH RACKET.

IT TAKES A KILLER.

YOU THINK BARBARA
WALTERS LIKES BEING PUSHY?

COME ON NAT, ENTER THE CONTEST.

YOU CAN WIN AN
ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER,

A DICTIONARY WITH
THUMB TABS ON IT,

A SUMMER JOB AS A CUB REPORTER.

OH... I'LL DO IT.

OHH!

IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN.

DID YOU READ NATALIE'S ARTICLE?

WHAT A BOMBSHELL.

YOU'RE TELLING ME.

NATALIE.

MR. PARKER'S COMING OVER HERE.

TO CONGRATULATE
HER ON THE PIECE?

NOT EXACTLY. HE SAID...

WHY DOES HE
ALWAYS DO THIS TO ME?

HIS EXACT WORDS WERE,

"TELL NATALIE WE
HAVE A PROBLEM."

WE DO?

YES. HE SAID...

HE ALWAYS PUTS ME IN THE MIDDLE!

GOOD NEWS, HE HANDLES.

BUT BAD NEWS...

DEPENDABLE EDNA
GARRETT PAVES THE WAY.

"GOOD OLD EDNA.
SHE'LL SOFTEN THE BLOW."

YO, GOOD OLD EDNA?

YES, NATALIE?

YOU HAVEN'T TOLD
ME WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

HE DEMANDS, IN NO
UNCERTAIN TERMS,

THAT YOU NAME THAT
GIRL IN YOUR ARTICLE.

HE SAID YOU HAVE
24 HOURS TO DO IT...

OR YOU'LL HAVE TO LEAVE SCHOOL.

I CAN'T TELL YOU.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION.

TRY UNDERSTANDING MINE.

IT'S A JOURNALIST'S RIGHT
TO PROTECT HER SOURCES.

I'M SURE MR. PARKER RESPECTS
THE RIGHTS OF A FREE PRESS.

DON'T YOU?

OF COURSE I DO,
BUT NOT IN THIS CASE.

PRINCIPLES ARE GREAT

IF THEY DON'T INCONVENIENCE YOU.

PARENTS ARE CALLING

WANTING TO KNOW IF THEIR
DAUGHTER HAD THE ABORTION.

THEY DESERVE A
BETTER ANSWER THAN

"YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE."

I KNOW YOU'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS GIRL...

YES, I AM.

SHE'S HAD A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

SHE'S COME THROUGH IT FINE.

SHE'S A BRICK.

I CAN'T LET YOU JUDGE
WHAT'S BEST FOR HER.

THAT'S MY JOB.

I CAN'T SAY WHO SHE IS.

THEN YOU'LL HAVE
TO LEAVE SCHOOL.

I'LL BE EXPELLED?

SUSPENDED.

COME BACK WHEN YOU'RE
WILLING TO TELL US HER NAME.

I'LL BE EXPELLED.

I'LL TRY TO TALK TO HIM.

WE HEARD EVERYTHING.

THIS IS AN INFRINGEMENT

OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

WE'LL CALL THE WASHINGTON POST,

THE NEW YORK TIMES,

EVEN GERALDO RIVERA HIMSELF.

TO BE TICKLED BY THAT MOUSTACHE.

CASES LIKE THIS GO
TO THE SUPREME COURT,

DON'T THEY, TOOTIE?

OR TELL HIM WHAT
HE WANTS TO KNOW.

IT'S NOT QUITE THAT SIMPLE.

YOU BET IT ISN'T.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
YOUR SUSPENSION.

KIDS WILL ADMIRE YOU FOR
BEING KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL.

YOU'LL BE A CELEBRITY.

GREAT. YOU'LL BE
FAMOUS AND STUPID.

MY MOTHER USED TO DATE A JUDGE.

I'LL HAVE HER CALL HIM.

OK. AND I'LL TRY GERALDO.

THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU CAN'T BE SUSPENDED.

YOU HAVE TO TALK TO MR. PARKER.

AND TELL HIM AND
EVERYONE THAT I LIED?

I'D RATHER LEAVE SCHOOL.

LIKE A HERO?

YOU'RE NOT A HERO.

STOP TRYING TO TAKE
THE EASY WAY OUT.

THERE'S NOTHING EASY
ABOUT SUSPENSION.

IT'S A COLD WORLD
OUT THERE, TOOTIE.

I'LL PROBABLY HAVE
TO LEARN A TRADE.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

YOU ONLY HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH.

AM I TOO YOUNG TO
JOIN THE MARINES?

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE
LETTING THINGS GO THIS FAR

TO SAVE YOURSELF A
LITTLE EMBARRASSMENT.

I CAN HANDLE EMBARRASSMENT.

IT'S HUMILIATION I
HAVE TROUBLE WITH.

BUT IF YOU LEAVE,
EVERYTHING WILL...

WILL CHANGE.

THIS IS YOURS.

IT CLAIMS SEAN
CASSIDY IS AN ALIEN.

NATALIE, IF YOU WOULD...

HI, TOOTIE. NATALIE.

HI. HI, ANNIE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTICLE.

THANKS.

THAT'S ALL ANYBODY'S
TALKING ABOUT.

IT WAS SO... WELL-WRITTEN.

YOU THINK SO?

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I GUESS IT'S TRUE ABOUT
YOU BEING SUSPENDED.

I GUESS IT IS.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING
IS NOBLE, NATALIE...

TAKING A STAND FOR A PRINCIPLE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE

THE ONLY LIFE
THEY'VE EVER KNOWN,

JUST WALK AWAY FROM THEIR
SCHOOL, FRIENDS, AND FUTURE?

DID YOU EVER THINK IT
WOULD COST THIS MUCH?

NOT TILL YOU SPELLED IT OUT.

IMAGINE MY LIFE AT HOME.

MY PARENTS WILL HAND
ME A SAMURAI SWORD

AND SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO."

NATALIE, DON'T CRUMBLE.

I'M COUNTING ON YOU.

FOR WHAT?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO
PRETEND ANYMORE.

IT'S JUST US.

PRETEND ABOUT WHAT?

I WAS AFRAID THAT
YOU'D TELL IT WAS ME.

ANNIE!

LOUISE.

HOW'D YOU FIND OUT?

I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY KNEW.

WHO TOLD YOU?

DON'T WORRY. NO
ONE AT SCHOOL KNOWS.

IF YOU TELL,

MR. PARKER WILL TELL MY PARENTS.

MAYBE THEY'LL UNDERSTAND.

YOU DON'T KNOW MY PARENTS.

ONCE, WHEN I WAS
LEARNING TO DRIVE,

I SCRATCHED MY
FATHER'S STATION WAGON.

JUST A TEENY LITTLE SCRATCH.

TO THIS DAY,

HE FLINCHES EVERY
TIME HE SEES IT.

ANNIE.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE
TROUBLE FOR YOU.

WHEN I FIRST READ YOUR ARTICLE,

IT REALLY UPSET ME.

IT WAS LIKE GOING
THROUGH IT AGAIN.

BUT IT WAS COMFORTING, TOO.

I FELT SOMEONE UNDERSTOOD
WHAT I WAS FEELING.

THAT REALLY HELPED.

PLEASE, DON'T MAKE
ME INTO A HERO.

NATALIE, LOOK.

I HAVE NO RIGHT TO
ASK YOU NOT TO TELL,

BUT I'M ASKING.

I'VE GOT TO GO.

WHEN WILL MR. RIVERA
RETURN FROM LUNCH

WITH THE MAFIA HIT MAN?

ALL RIGHT. I'LL KEEP TRYING.

HAVING TROUBLE
TRACKING DOWN GERALDO?

I'LL GET HIM.

HAVE YOU SEEN MRS. GARRETT?

NATALIE, YOUR TROUBLES ARE OVER.

I JUST HAD ANOTHER
BRILLIANT IDEA.

I'M NOT UP TO IT, BLAIR.

JUST TELL ME WHO THE GIRL IS,

AND I'LL LEAK IT TO MR. PARKER.

YOU REALLY HATE NOT KNOWING.

I HAVE ONLY NATALIE'S
BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

RIGHT.

YOU HAVEN'T SUGGESTED
ANYTHING BETTER.

WOULD YOU MEET
MR. PARKER IN THE ALLEY

AND SLIP IT TO HIM SECRETLY?

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!

MY CAR NEEDED FIXING.

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME.

IT WAS A MADCAP,
SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT LUBE JOB.

I HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE,

BUT IT'S NOT QUITE THE DECISION

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE EASTLAND.

OH, NATALIE... I
SPOKE TO MR. PARKER,

AND HE JUST WON'T BUDGE.

HE INSISTS ON THE NAME OF
THAT GIRL IN YOUR ARTICLE.

THERE WAS NO GIRL IN MY ARTICLE.

I MADE HER UP.

WHAT?

NOBODY WOULD TALK,

AND I DIDN'T WANT MY
STATISTICS TO BE WASTED.

I THOUGHT I WAS BEING
A GOOD REPORTER.

NATALIE, THAT'S NOT
REPORTING, THAT'S FICTION!

DO YOU REALIZE

ALL THE WORRY AND
CONCERN YOU'VE CAUSED?

I'M REALLY SORRY.

WELL...

YOU'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN
IT TO MR. PARKER,

AND HOPE THAT HE UNDERSTANDS.

YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL HIM
THAT THERE WAS NO LOUISE.

I WOULD, EXCEPT
THERE IS A LOUISE.

WAIT A MINUTE.

I'M GETTING CONFUSED.

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT
SOMEONE HERE AT EASTLAND

WENT THROUGH ALMOST
EXACTLY WHAT I WROTE.

OH, MY.

MR. PARKER'S BEEN
HOUNDING ME FOR A NAME.

ONE NAME, AND I'M OFF THE HOOK.

ARE YOU, NATALIE?

YOU LIED, NATALIE.

YOU WROTE SOMETHING
YOU KNEW WASN'T TRUE.

THE FACT THAT A
LOUISE HAPPENS TO EXIST

DOESN'T CHANGE THAT.

I DIDN'T THINK I
WAS REALLY LYING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?

I WAS REALLY LYING.

YOU'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

I THINK WE SHOULD TALK.

OF COURSE.

I'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE.

UH... AS SOON AS I
GATHER MY THINGS.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OUR
CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON.

LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR.

I HAVE 24 HOURS.

24 HOURS. SHE'S
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

YOU SAID 24 HOURS.

THIS ISN'T DODGE CITY.

I'M NOT ORDERING
HER OUT OF TOWN.

I'M NOT EVEN SUSPENDING HER.

YOU'RE NOT?

WHY NOT?

MRS. GARRETT, YOU
DONE WITH THAT?

ALMOST.

I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD
COOPERATE WITH ME,

BUT I CAN SEE IT'S A
MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.

AND AS MY WIFE SAID,

WHAT KIND OF A PERSON
WOULDN'T RESPECT THAT?

THANK YOU, MR. PARKER.

DON'T MENTION IT.

I'LL HAVE TO FIND
OUT WHO LOUISE IS

WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

HOW CAN YOU DO THAT?

I'LL HAVE TO
INTERVIEW STUDENTS...

CHECK ABSENTEE RECORDS.

IT WON'T BE EASY,

BUT EVENTUALLY I'LL FIND HER.

NO, YOU WON'T.

THERE IS NO LOUISE.

WHAT?

I WANTED A STORY THAT
WOULD REALLY SELL PAPERS,

SO I INVENTED HER.

THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

I READ YOUR ARTICLE.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

I'M A DYNAMITE WRITER.

EDNA?

SHE'S A DYNAMITE WRITER.

I PLAN TO PRINT A
FULL RETRACTION.

WOULD I HUMILIATE
MYSELF IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO?

YOU MADE UP EVERYTHING?

I MUST ASK YOU TO
RESIGN AS EDITOR.

RIGHT.

NATALIE, I'M VERY
DISAPPOINTED IN YOU.

JOIN THE CLUB.

I'M ALSO RELIEVED

I CAN PUT OUR
PARENTS' MINDS AT EASE.

UH... YOU KNOW, IN
THE BACK OF MY MIND,

I SUSPECTED THIS.

CALL IT A SIXTH SENSE,

BUT I KNOW THIS SCHOOL.

I KNOW THESE GIRLS.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS
COULD NEVER HAPPEN HERE.