The Wonder Years (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 22 - Love, Dean - full transcript

"Hot Fun in the Summertime"
plays

The start of summer
in the South

is always a time
of new beginnings.

♪ End of spring ♪

For some,
that means less clothes.

♪ And here she comes back ♪

For others,
that means more work.

But this summer, it means
less mama for everybody.

She had just gotten
a big promotion

that meant she'd be away for
a few weeks over the summer.

She was actually excited she
was going to be working more.



Well, did you want me
to put them in order

chronologically
or based on food type?

I want to be able to eat

without having to brush up
on algebra.

This way, you'll have everything
you need while I'm gone.

I mean, Bruce can
take care of himself,

and only thing Kim needs
is a purse and a phone,

- but Dean...
- When I was his age,

my parents forgot they had me
for two months, and I was fine.

The toaster's stuck.

Should I use a knife?

No.

Okay,
I will look after him.

I'm more concerned about you out
on those roads to Birmingham.



How many miles
on the station wagon now?

Getting close to 100,000.

We may need to look into
a new car that can handle

- all those miles.
- Really?

To be clear,
when I said "new car,"

I meant "new used car."

You know, new for you.

Mama wasn't the only one

enjoying a new beginning.

Keisa had a new boyfriend that
turned out to be pretty nice.

So I wasn't losing
the potential love of my life

as much as I was
gaining a new friend.

Yeah, that's... that...
That's an even trade.

Dean, it's your turn.

Broderick,
for his part, got to have

a gorgeous girlfriend
that solidified his coolness

while also getting a new friend
he could be his geeky self with

in a way he couldn't
with his cool friends.

Yep, symbiosis at its finest.

You're saying you actually like
being the third wheel?

Well, we all benefit
something from it.

Here, let me explain.

- It...
- Don't say "symbiosis."

That's weird, too.

Well, call it weird
if you want,

but all I know is,
it's kind of a relief

not to be worrying
about Keisa

and what she thinks of me
all the time now.

Summer's gonna be great.

I saw that!

Of course, to get to summer,

you had to get through
the last week of school.

But everyone knew that was just
a formality.

There were no tests,
no homework,

no attempts at discipline.

Even the bullies
were phoning it in.

The high point of the last week

was getting and signing
our yearbooks.

Guys, there's one
of all of us.

We were the first
Black kids in the school.

Clearly the photographer
hadn't figured out

how to light Black skin yet.

And guess what...
He never did.

Hey, Dean.

You haven't signed
my yearbook yet.

So I saved you a spot
right next to Broderick.

Oh, cool.

There you go.

See you, guys.

What?

Not only did you just write
the longest note in history,

you signed it
"Love you, Dean."

- No, I didn't.
- Uh, yeah, you did.

- Did I?
- I was so caught up

in my poetic genius,
I didn't even realize

I had accidentally confessed
my love to Keisa.

She probably didn't even
notice, anyway.

I saw a whole bunch of people
write that.

Yeah. Girls do that
to other girls.

You only say "love"
to your mom or wife.

And your dad
when he's about to die.

So, oh, wise Dean,

what do you think Keisa's
gonna think of that?

Or your new best friend
Broderick?

If Broderick or Keisa
still thinks I like her,

then it could ruin
our delicate symbio...

- Ah!
- Balance.

Our balanced,
three-way relationship.

Quick, Norman,
give me your yearbook.

- What are you doing?
- If I write "love you"

in everyone's yearbooks,
then it's just Dean being Dean.

Then I can say
it's my "thing."

Hey, Stephanie, love ya.

Tyler, love ya, too.

Hey, Coach, love ya.

I'll see you in detention.

♪ All I know ♪

♪ Ohhh, through
the highs and the lows ♪

♪ I'mma find ♪
*THE WONDER YEARS *

♪ My way home ♪
Season 01 Episode 22

Episode Title: "Love, Dean"
Aired on: May 18, 2022.

I'm a genius.

You haven't said that
in three days.

I was starting to worry.

I got Broderick's
yearbook first,

so now I'm just gonna sign
"Love, Dean" in it.

Then it'll feel the same
as how I wrote in Keisa's.

Problem solved.

You know what?

In that ridiculous little
third-wheel relationship

you got going on,
that actually makes sense.

Not only was I
solving my problem,

I also found myself
putting in words

how much my friendship
with Broderick

actually meant to me.

I mean, it wasn't
at "Me and Cory" level,

but he'd definitely
jumped to the top

of my "If Anything Happens
to Cory" list.

"Love, Dean."

My best work yet.

Thanks for signing
my yearbook.

Here's yours.

See ya, Dean.

Uh-oh, something ain't right.

Just "Broderick"?

Is that good?

Is it bad?

What the hell, man?

Well, I gotta say...
This is good news, real good.

I can't believe it.

Hey, Mama, can you sign up
for snacks for the class party

instead of Daddy?
He always buys

- the cheap stuff...
- Well, all right. Uh-huh.

...and
I can't be that kid.

Shhhh! Your father is
on the phone

- with Marvin Gaye's manager.
- Yeah.

Thanks, yes.

Well, I look forward
to meeting you, too.

Did I just hear you say
Marvin Gaye?

Is that Marvin Gaye with an "e"
or without the "e"?

- With the "e."
- Oh!

His manager heard
one of my songs and loved it.

He wants me to slide me

- into his songwriting stable.
- Oh!

Could possibly help Marvin
create his next hit.

Oh, my God, Bill,
that is just...

- Oh!
- What's happening?

Guess who Daddy's
working with.

Ain't no mountain high enough
to keep me from finding out.

- Oh!
- Girl!

So when do I
get to meet

- Marvin Gaye?
- Be cool.

And first, they want me to head
to New York for the summer,

make some connections.

Wait, New York?

In fact, he said
he wants me up there next week.

Perfect timing.

Um, are you forgetting

about something?

Birmingham.

I'm supposed to be there
all next week

as a part of my promotion.

And a bunch of weeks
over the summer.

Who's gonna take care
of things around here?

Lil, we're talking
about Marvin Gaye.

You know I've been waiting on
this kind of break since we met.

And this promotion isn't
something I've been waiting for?

Look, I I understand,
and I'm sorry.

I wish there was a way to make
both of our opportunities work.

But writing for Marvin Gaye

is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.

You'll get another promotion.

I'll figure out
the snacks later.

Mm, mm-mm-mm.

Good morning, sweetie.

Don't worry about the bus.

I'll take you
once I finish these brownies

for your class party.

Girl, I was hotter
than fish grease.

We didn't speak the whole night,
and here he come this morning

with his ol'
"You okay, baby?"

Who's that? Daddy?

Ooh!

But maybe he's right.

Maybe I need to turn down
this promotion

and support
my husband and family.

Lillian, if Cliff would've got
this opportunity,

he wouldn't even included me
in the discussion.

He just would've told me
he made the final decision

and then tell me how much money
I could spend.

Oh, Viv.

Oh, no, I'm not complaining.
It's the system we have.

I like it. I agreed to it.

But what I'm saying is when I do
feel some type of way about it,

I like to look at you.

- Really?
- Oh, girl, please.

Now, don't be acting like
you ain't the Miss Boss Lady

clacking and clacking around
here with your work outfits

and your lunch breaks
and your typewriter,

using your white girl voice.
"Alabama State

Treasury Department."

I've heard her use
that voice before.

Now, listen,
you deserve to go

as far as the Good Lord
will let you.

And I'm-a keep watching.

Oh, no, Lil, you know you're
wrong to send him to school

all hopped up
on that sugar like that.

That's his teacher's problem,
not mine.

Just in time.

And grab a hose
and get to rinsing.

Mnh-mnh. Don't.

Did you just get
my hair wet?!

Dean, get on your bike
and ride away!

Kim, put the shoe back on!
Now, Dean!

Yeah.

Wilson Pickett's
"Mustang Sally" plays...

♪ Mustang Sally ♪

- ♪ Unh ♪
- Excuse me.

♪ Ha ♪

♪ Guess you better slow
your Mustang down ♪

Whose car is that?

It's mine.

I went and traded
my old car in

and got this one
fresh off the lot.

You did what?

You know we don't
make purchases like that

without discussing it first.

Oh. I didn't think
we discussed things anymore

before making final decisions.

Like you did about going
to New York.

Dean, you get my hair wet
with that hose,

and you gonna wish
you didn't.

Get out,
I'm using the bathroom.

You're not using the bathroom,
you're brushing your teeth.

This isn't about the car
and you know it!

Bill,
I'm not getting into this.

Well, we gotta
figure something out.

Why don't you
figure it out this time?

Like I figured out what to do
when I got into Michigan

for my master's
but chose to go to A&M

because you wanted to stay
in Alabama.

Why are you bringing
that stuff up now?

Why aren't you
bringing it up?

- Hey!
- Sorry, but you kinda

- had it coming.
- Ugh.

They're mad at me.
I know it.

I guess your new friend
over there knows

that you still got
a Jones for his girl.

Man, he was right.

Maybe it was crazy to think
I could be friends

with both Broderick and Keisa
in the first place.

Hey, uh, who wants cake?

- Me!
- Me!

Things were weird
between Mama and Daddy at home

and still weird between me,
Keisa, and Broderick at school.

And I felt like both situations
were because of me.

We need to talk.

Uh, well, uh, uh...

Dean?

It's fixing to storm
something awful.

Will you run to the utility room
and get a table?

We're gonna bring all
these refreshments inside.

- Yes, ma'am.
- Uh, you'll need some help.

I'll go with you.

Ah, th-there's a table
right there.

Uh, I'll grab one end,
y-you grab the other.

Here, let's go.

That's
the tornado warning.

'Kay, uh...

We should just stay here.

Uh, 'kay.

One Mississippi,
two Mississippi, three...

It's really close.

Can I talk to you
about the yearbooks?

On second thought,
uh, I got my running shoes on.

I think I'm-a just run
to the main building.

Dean, don't be stupid.

I'm sorry I haven't signed
your yearbook yet.

It's just...
I don't know how to tell you...

My parents are sending me
to Oklahoma for the summer.

Wait. What?

Broderick is really upset.

I mean, I know he's gonna
get a new girlfriend

while I'm gone.

After all, he's
in high school next year.

I thought you guys
were mad at me.

Why would we be mad
at you?

'Cause of what I wrote
in your yearbook.

You know, the "Love you."

All my friends said
that it's weird

that I'm friends
with you and Broderick,

and I thought it would
be weirder

if I put "Love you"
in it.

They're right.

It would be weird
if they did it.

But not you.

Why's that?

'Cause most boys aren't
as sweet as you, Dean.

Unless "Love you"
meant "I love you."

Like "Love" love.

Ah, yeah.
Love "love."

I mean, yuck.

You know, this is gonna
be the first summer

we're not together.

Wow.

You're right.

I was spending so much time
worrying about Broderick...

I can't imagine not seeing you
for that long either.

One Mississippi,
two Mississippi.

We had every reason
to be scared.

But something
about that moment,

in spite of all the storms
outside that room,

made me feel oddly safe.

What if it was
"Love" love?

Attention,
teachers and students,

the tornado warning has passed.

Please return
to your classrooms.

As we returned
to our friends and classmates,

everyone was relieved
the storm was over.

But me and Keisa knew that kiss
turned things upside down

more than a tornado ever could.

There you are!

I was wondering
where you were.

W-W-Why were you wondering that?

W-We weren't
doing anything.

Relax.

We had to take shelter
in the utility room.

Oh, okay.

I'm glad you two
are all right.

We still
didn't do anything.

Always with the jokes.

I finally got the chance to read
what you wrote in my yearbook.

Oh, uh,
y-you can forget that.

Can I see yours again?
I-I want to add something.

In my guilty state,
I imagined him writing

how much he truly
appreciated me

and how he was glad
we became friends.

I didn't think
there was anything

that could have made me feel
any lower.

Huh, I was wrong.

Want to get ice cream sodas
after school?

- Okay.
- See you later, Dean.

After you've been through

a few tornado seasons
in the South,

you learn that no matter
how big the storm,

life still goes on.

That meant me and Daddy
still had to get

our "start of summer" haircuts

after the last day of school.

Now, now, now,
this one wasn't nothing.

Y'all remember the twister
that came through in '37?

That bad boy
was a mile wide.

Pulled my daddy's mulberry tree
straight out the ground.

Please, my friend Cooper
came home... house gone.

But Daddy and I
weren't in the mood for jokes.

Uh, what's the matter?

Cat got your tongue?

Well, now, maybe he's upset
because his mama went

behind his daddy's back
and bought her own vehicle.

- Dad...
- What?

...I told you that
in confidence.

You're like
a bad refrigerator.

- Can't keep nothing.
- Now, if you ask me,

first mistake was
letting her learn to drive.

So she bought a car
with your money?

Seems like that should
be illegal.

- Our money.
- What was that? Please, please,

s-s-say it again
a little louder.

Our money!

Ah, now, s-see, that's
the mistake, right there.

Next thing you know,
the man will be staying at home

with the kids,
and the wife will be working.

Maybe
we should just surrender

to the commies
if that happens.

Better learn how to say
"collard greens"

and "sweet potatoes"
in Russian.

There shol' is a lot of talk
about "man's work" from cats

who got three hours to sit
in a barbershop

in the middle of the day.

And he lets her
write checks.

- Hey!
- What! No!

Oh, no...

Mama, it'll be okay.

At least you weren't hurt
in the storm.

You're right.

Count our blessings.

It'll never be the same.

We need to talk.

If this is about my work,
then I've said my piece.

- It's your turn to handle it.
- I did.

I came up with a solution
that'll make us both happy.

Okay. Let's hear it.

You'll spend the summer going
back and forth to Birmingham,

like you planned.

I'll spend the summer
in New York, and...

- Dean's coming with me.
- Wait, what?

Why does Dean
get to go to New York?

I'm the one
who looks like this.

Y'all hush.

We just spent
20 minutes in the car together,

and he couldn't give me
a heads up?

Bill, are you sure
about this?

Absolutely.

I don't want to be
the kind of husband

that doesn't support
his wife's dreams.

So I thought about
what my father would do...

and decided to do
the opposite.

Mama was overwhelmed

by what Daddy had done.

He bucked society's norms
for the woman he loved.

Then she turned on a dime.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Where's Dean gonna live?

What's he gonna do
while you're working?

What's he gonna eat?

I think they have food
in New York, Lillian.

Dean Williams,
you listen to me.

Don't you go anywhere
without your father.

There's a lot of traffic
in New York City,

so make sure
you look both ways

before you cross the street.

You know what?
Just don't even cross the street.

Just stay on whatever street
you're on and make all lefts.

Oh, my baby.

Hey.

Hey.

Um... just wanted to
tell you that

I'll be going to New York
with my dad, so...

I'll also be gone
all summer.

That's cool.

Sounds more fun
than Oklahoma.

Um, I also wanted to...

talk to you
about yesterday.

Um...

You know,
in the utility room.

Keisa, get in the car!

We gotta hurry up
before traffic gets bad.

Yes, sir.

Guess I gotta go.

Guess I'll see you
in September.

Boy, get out of the way!

Almost forgot to give you
this back.

All right.

Aren't you gonna miss me?

Miss sharing a bathroom?

Not a chance.

But I will miss watching
Andy Griffith with you.

He's gonna be okay, Lillian.

I'll bring him back
in one piece.

These aren't for Dean.

You just focus
on your promotion.

Okay.

We'll call when
we stop overnight.

Be careful.

Don't worry.

I promised my dad
I'd bring it.

I think
he wrote half of it.

Love you, baby.

I love you.

I love you.

Will you put some clothes on?

Sly and the Family Stone's "Hot
Fun in the Summertime" plays...

Be cool now.

In just one week,
my perfect summer

had turned into
a series of question marks.

What's going on
with me and Keisa?

Will I ever be able to look
Broderick in the eye again?

Maybe I would figure it all out
in New York.

I'd have plenty of time,

since I'm not allowed
to cross the street.

I-I gotta use
the bathroom.

Too late.
We already left.

B-But the house
is right there.

- Nope.
- But...

But you could've
stopped by now.

We're gonna make good time
to New York.

- Don't worry.
- ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Hot fun in the summertime ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey, ooh ♪

♪ Hot fun in the summertime ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Hot fun in... ♪

Captioned by VITAC...