The Wonder Years (1988–1993): Season 3, Episode 5 - On the Spot - full transcript

-♪ WHAT WOULD YOU DO
IF I SANG OUT OF TUNE? ♪

♪ WOULD YOU STAND UP
AND WALK OUT ON ME? ♪

♪ LEND ME YOUR EARS,
AND I'LL SING YOU A SONG ♪

♪ I WILL TRY NOT TO
SING OUT OF KEY, YEAH ♪

♪ OH, BABY, I GET BY ♪
- ♪ BY WITH A LITTLE HELP
FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ ALL I NEED IS MY BUDDIES ♪

-♪ HIGH WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

-♪ I'M SAYIN' I'M GONNA GET HIGHER ♪ - ♪
TRY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪

- ♪ WHOA-OA-OA-OA, YEAH ♪
- ♪ OOH, OOH, OOH ♪

["THERE'S NO BUSINESS
LIKE SHOW BUSINESS" PLAYS]

-ROBERT F. KENNEDY JUNIOR HIGH



HAD A LONG, PROUD
THEATRICAL TRADITION.

WHO COULD FORGET
SCOTTY GRUENWALD'S

TORTURED JOHN
PROCTOR IN "THE CRUCIBLE"

OR TONY FARANUCCI'S
TOWERING TEVYE

IN "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF"?

SURE, IT WASN'T BROADWAY.

BUT FOR MANY OF US, THE
EXCITEMENT OF AN OPENING NIGHT

BROUGHT OUT ONE
UNDENIABLE FEELING.

[MUSIC SLOWS,
STOPS] TOTAL APATHY.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

-STUDENTS, IF I MAY, A
MOMENT OF YOUR TIME.

[TALKING CONTINUES]

STUDENTS!

- WHO'S THAT?
- SHH.



IT'S MR. WEBER, THE
NEW DRAMATICS TEACHER.

-GEEK.

-DEFINITE GEEK.

-HE'S NOT A GEEK.

HE'S JUST... DRAMATIC.

[HANDS CLAP, TALKING STOPS]

-THE FALL PLAY THIS YEAR

WILL BE THORNTON
WILDER'S "OUR TOWN."

AUDITIONS WILL TAKE
PLACE THIS AFTERNOON.

I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME.

BE A PART OF THIS HAUNTING
TAPESTRY OF MEMORY AND DREAMS.

[FOOTSTEPS DEPART,
TALKING RESUMES]

-AT THE BUZZER. HE SHOOTS.

-DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO IT?

-DO WHAT?

-TRY OUT FOR THE PLAY.

-YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?

-I'D HAD SOME EXPERIENCE
IN THIS FIELD MYSELF...

LAST YEAR IN MISS
WHITE'S CLASS...

SO I KNEW WHEREOF I SPOKE.

-NO. THAT'D BE A
BAD IDEA, WINNIE.

-WHY? I THINK IT COULD BE FUN.

-FUN?

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY
SPEECHES YOU HAVE TO MEMORIZE?

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE TAKING
18 BIOLOGY TESTS.

-I'M A PRETTY GOOD MEMORIZER.

-[SCOFFS] NOT TO
MENTION IT'S HORRIBLE.

I MEAN, YOU'RE STANDING
OUT THERE ALL ALONE,

AND YOUR... YOUR
EARS START TO SWEAT.

NO. NO. I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.

-I PROBABLY WOULDN'T
BE GOOD ANYWAY.

-OKAY, SO I'D RAINED
ON HER PARADE.

I HAD TO SET HER STRAIGHT.

NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND
VOLUNTEERS TO BE IN A PLAY.

-I'M GONNA TRY OUT FOR
THAT PLAY. HOW ABOUT YOU?

-SAYS HERE YOU GET OUT OF
SEVENTH PERIOD FOR REHEARSALS.

-SEVENTH PERIOD?

GYM?!

-COUNT ME IN.

-WELCOME. THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING.

-MAYBE THIS GUY
WEBER WAS A GEEK,

BUT HE WAS A SMART GEEK.

-THEATER OFFERS YOU A
CHANCE TO SURPRISE YOURSELF,

TO FIND A PART OF YOU
YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAVE.

CHOOSE A ROLE THAT
SPEAKS TO YOU IN SOME WAY.

-I THINK I'LL TRY OUT
FOR THE STAGE MANAGER.

-ARE YOU CRAZY?

THAT'S THE BIGGEST
PART IN THE PLAY.

-YEAH. I NOTICED.

-THAT WAS PAUL FOR YOU...
PART HAM, MOSTLY BALONEY.

ME, I WAS LOOKING FOR
SOMETHING WITH LESS VISIBILITY,

PREFERABLY WITH
NO LINES TO LEARN,

SOMETHING SIMPLE, LIKE...

-BINGO.

- SPOTLIGHT OPERATOR.

EAT YOUR HEART
OUT, SEVENTH PERIOD.

- PAUL PFEIFFER.
- [CLEARS THROAT]

"THE NAME OF OUR TOWN IS
GROVER'S CORNERS, NEW HAMPSHIRE,

JUST ACROSS THE
MASSACHUSETTS LINE."

-YEP. NOT FOR ME, THE
PRESSURES OF AUDITIONING.

HECK, THIS THING WOULDN'T
EVEN BE TURNED ON

TILL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE PLAY.

-"THE FIRST ACT SHOWS
A DAY IN OUR TOWN.

"THE DATE IS MAY 7, 1901.

THE TIME IS JUST BEFORE DAWN."

-THANK YOU, MR. PFEIFFER.

THAT WAS, UH...

[INHALES DEEPLY] UNIQUE.

-THANKS!

-AH.

GWENDOLYN COOPER
READING FOR THE PART OF EMILY.

-BUT WAIT A MINUTE.

-WINNIE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

-"AS FOR ME, I'D RATHER
HAVE MY CHILDREN HEALTHY

THAN BRIGHT."

-"I'M BOTH, MAMA. YOU KNOW I AM.

"I'M THE BRIGHTEST GIRL
IN SCHOOL FOR MY AGE.

I HAVE A WONDERFUL MEMORY."

-WELL, SHE COULDN'T
SAY I DIDN'T WARN HER.

-"EMILY, WALK SIMPLY.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TODAY?"

-"PAPA, YOU'RE TERRIBLE.

"ONE MINUTE YOU'RE TELLING
ME TO STAND UP STRAIGHT,

AND THE NEXT MINUTE,
YOU CALL ME NAMES."

-STILL, SHE WASN'T AWFUL.

-"I JUST CAN'T SLEEP YET, PAPA.

"THE MOONLIGHT'S SO WONDERFUL.

AND THE SMELL OF MRS. GIBBS'..."

-HELIOTROPE.

- "...HELIOTROPE."

[SNIFFS]

"CAN YOU SMELL IT?"

-YOU HAD TO ADMIRE HER GUTS.

-THANK YOU, GWENDOLYN.

-I JUST HOPED SHE
WOULDN'T BE TOO CRUSHED

WHEN SHE DIDN'T GET THE PART.

-I GOT THE PART!

-YEAH. WELL, UH... I
FIGURED YOU WOULD.

-ISN'T IT AMAZING?!

-YEAH.

UH, I MEAN NO.

-I HAVE TO GO.

I HAVE TO CALL MY MOM AT
HOME AND MY DAD IN CHICAGO.

WHAT TIME IS IT IN CHICAGO?

-WELL, IT WAS GOOD
TO SEE HER SMILING.

BUT THERE'S A BROKEN HEART
FOR EVERY LIGHT ON BROADWAY.

-[SIGHS] STRUCK OUT.

-YOU DIDN'T GET A PART?

-NOT EVEN THE BELLIGERENT MAN
IN THE BACK OF THE AUDITORIUM.

"IS THERE NO ONE IN TOWN
AWARE OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE

AND INDUSTRIAL INEQUALITY?"

-HUH?

-THAT'S THE
BELLIGERENT MAN'S LINE.

I COULDN'T GET IT. [SIGHS]

NOW WE'LL NEVER KNOW

IF THERE IS A PART OF
ME I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD.

[SIGHS]

-I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

WHY DON'T YOU WORK
THE SPOTLIGHT WITH ME?

-THE SPOTLIGHT?

-YEAH. WHY NOT?

YOU KNOW, MR. WEBER
SAYS THAT LIGHTING

IS LIKE ANOTHER
CHARACTER IN THE PLAY.

-HE SAID THAT?

-AND BESIDES, WE GET OUT
OF SEVENTH PERIOD AND...

-A MAJOR CHARACTER?

-UH-OH. I KNEW THAT LOOK...

THE LOOK OF A MAN POSSESSED.

-I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

I USED TO LOVE SCHOOL PLAYS.

-WHAT ARE YOU
PLAYING, A BUTTERCUP?

HEH.

- "OUR TOWN."

THAT'S THE ONE ABOUT
THE GIRL WHO FALLS IN LOVE

AND THEN SHE DIES,

BUT SHE COMES BACK FOR ONE
LAST VISIT TO SEE HER FAMILY?

-MOM, "OUR TOWN"
IS AN INDICTMENT

OF THE MEANINGLESSNESS

OF BOURGEOIS
MIDDLE-CLASS EXISTENCE.

-OH.

-HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST ME?

-DAD, AS ALWAYS, HAD HIS
OWN PERSPECTIVE ON THE ARTS.

-JACK.

-JUST ASKING.

-WHO ELSE IS IN IT?

-UH, NO ONE...

EXCEPT WINNIE.

-WELL, THEN WE HAVE TO GO.

-HUH?

-NICE GOING, BUTTHEAD.

-LOOK, MOM, IT'S REALLY NOT...

-KEVIN, GET TICKETS
FOR ALL OF US.

-I ALWAYS EXPECT A
MAN TO BE PERFECT,

AND I THINK HE SHOULD BE.

-OH, I-I DON'T THINK IT'S
POSSIBLE TO BE PERFECT, EMILY.

-MY OWN OPINION WAS MY
DAD HAD THE RIGHT IDEA.

WHAT WAS THE BIG
DEAL ABOUT ALL THIS?

-CANDLEPOWER.

-HUH?

-DID YOU KNOW THIS
BABY PUMPS OUT

750,000 CANDLES OF LIGHT?

-PAUL, IT'S NOT
EVEN TURNED ON YET.

-YEAH, BUT WHEN
SHE DOES, POW-WEE.

-I SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING.

PAUL HAD FOUND HIS CALLING.

-YOU KNOW, KEV, IT ONLY TAKES
ONE GUY TO RUN THIS THING,

AND I WAS JUST
WONDERING IF, YOU KNOW...

-PAUL.

YOU WANT TO RUN THE
SPOTLIGHT? FINE WITH ME.

-REALLY? YOU DON'T MIND?

THANKS, KEV. I
WON'T LET YOU DOWN.

I'M GONNA RUN THE BEST
SPOTLIGHT THIS SCHOOL EVER SAW.

AND YOU CAN STILL
BE MY ASSISTANT.

-ASSISTANT?

-DARN IT!

I FORGOT MY LINE AGAIN.

-I GUESS WINNIE WAS HAVING
PROBLEMS OF HER OWN.

-I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO
REMEMBER ANYTHING.

-JUST RELAX, GWENDOLYN.

LET'S TAKE IT FROM, UH,
"GIVING AWAY MY DAUGHTER."

-I'M GIVING AWAY MY
DAUGHTER, GEORGE.

DO YOU THINK YOU
CAN TAKE CARE OF HER?

-MR. WEBB, I WANT
TO. I WANT TO TRY.

EMILY, I'M GONNA DO MY BEST.

I LOVE YOU, EMILY. I NEED YOU.

-WELL, IF YOU LOVE
ME, THEN HELP ME.

ALL I WANT IS
SOMEONE TO LOVE ME.

-I WILL, EMILY. EMILY, I'LL TRY.

- "AND I MEAN..."

-AND I MEAN...

- "...FOREVER..."

-[SIGHS] FOREVER.

-"DON'T YOU HEAR?
FOREVER AND EVER."

-[SIGHS]

-LET'S TAKE FIVE, PEOPLE.

-OH, HEY, KEV. MAKE A NOTE.

WE'RE GONNA NEED
ANOTHER CHAMOIS.

-WHAT?

-WELL, SINCE YOU'RE
MY ASSISTANT,

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT KEEP A LIST.

-PAUL, I'M NOT
GONNA KEEP A LIST.

-OKAY. FINE. I'LL DO IT MYSELF.

BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
TALK ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE.

-PAUL WAS TAKING THIS WHOLE
THING A LITTLE TOO SERIOUSLY.

[DOOR SLAMS]

-KEVIN, DID YOU SEE
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?

-COME TO THINK OF IT,

EVERYONE WAS TAKING
THIS PLAY TOO SERIOUSLY.

-I FORGOT ALL MY LINES.

-YEAH. WELL, IT'S...

-I NEVER FORGET THINGS.
I'M A GOOD MEMORIZER.

-WINNIE, I WOULDN'T
WORRY ABOUT IT.

I'M SURE YOU'LL BE FINE.

-BUT WHAT IF I'M NOT?

WHAT IF IT GETS WORSE?

WHAT IF I WRECK THE WHOLE PLAY?

-WELL, WINNIE, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO DO IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A PLAY.

AND IT'S ALL JUST TO GET OUT
OF SEVENTH PERIOD, ANYWAY.

-THAT'S THE MOST
INSENSITIVE THING

I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
ANYTHING, KEVIN.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
ANYTHING AT ALL.

-ACTORS.

OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,

I LEARNED A VALUABLE
LESSON ABOUT SHOW FOLK.

-CAN'T TALK NOW, KEVIN.

-THEY MAKE LOUSY
LUNCH COMPANIONS.

MEANWHILE, I HAD
PROBLEMS OF MY OWN.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH
PAUL HAD DETERIORATED

INTO A CLASSIC
LABOR-MANAGEMENT CONFRONTATION.

-KEVIN, I NEED YOU TO
DO SOMETHING FOR ME.

-NO. I'M ON BREAK.

-LOOK, KEV, I KNOW
YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLES

TAKING ORDERS FROM
ME 'CAUSE I'M YOUR FRIEND.

-PAUL, I'M HAVING TROUBLES
TAKING ORDERS FROM YOU

'CAUSE YOU'VE COMPLETELY
LOST YOUR MIND.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T EVEN TURN
THAT THING ON TILL NEXT MONDAY.

SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST SIT
BACK, RELAX, AND ENJOY IT?

-I'M RELAXED.

I-IT'S JUST THAT WHAT IF THE
BULB BURNS OUT DURING THE SHOW?

-PAUL, IT'S A BRAND-NEW BULB
THAT'S NEVER BEEN USED ONCE.

-YOU CAN'T GUARANTEE
THAT, CAN YOU?

I THINK WE SHOULD
TIME HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE

TO GET TO THE UTILITY ROOM
AND BACK WITH A NEW BULB.

-GOOD IDEA.

YOU DO IT.

-FINE.

YOU THINK YOU CAN TIME ME,
OR IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

-GO.

-THERE. AT LAST. A
LITTLE PEACE AND QUIET.

-NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

YOU CAN'T PLAY
MRS. SOAMES SILLY.

SHE HA... [BANGING]

SHE HAS DIGNITY.

CAN WE HOLD THE WORK, PLEASE?!

-EVEN MR. WEBER WAS
SHOWING THE PRESSURE.

-SHE HAS DIGNITY.

"DON'T KNOW WHEN I'VE
SEEN SUCH A LOVELY WEDDING.

"BUT I ALWAYS CRY.

"DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS...

"BUT I ALWAYS CRY.

"I JUST LIKE TO SEE YOUNG
PEOPLE HAPPY, DON'T YOU?

OH, I THINK IT'S LOVELY."

[APPLAUSE]

[CLEARS THROAT] NONE OF THAT.

WE HAVE BARELY A
WEEK TO GO. GWENDOLYN?

-THE FACT WAS, WITH
JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT,

WINNIE SEEMED
MORE LOST THAN EVER.

-[SIGHS] WHY CAN'T I STAY
FOR A WHILE, JUST AS I AM?

LET'S GO AWAY.

-NO, NO, EMILY. NOW,
STOP AND THINK A MINUTE.

-DON'T YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU USED TO SAY?

-HECK, EVEN I KNEW
THE LINES BY NOW.

-"ALL THE TIME,
YOU USED TO SAY..."

-ALL THE TIME,
YOU USED TO SAY...

I CAN'T DO THIS! I'LL
NEVER BE ABLE TO DO IT!

-THIS WASN'T JUST STAGE FRIGHT.

THIS GIRL WAS IN TROUBLE.

- KEVIN, WHAT WAS MY TIME?
- I GOT TO GO.

-ONE THING I ASKED
OF YOU... ONE THING!

-WINNIE!

WINNIE, WAIT UP!

-WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE NOW?

QUIT SCHOOL, LOCK MYSELF
IN MY ROOM, CHANGE MY NAME?

-OKAY. FORGET IT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP.

-MR. WEBER SAYS
IT'S QUITE NATURAL.

ALL ACTORS GO THROUGH
THIS, EVEN LAURENCE OLIVIER.

-OH. WELL, THAT'S GOOD, I GUESS.

-[SIGHS]

YOU WERE RIGHT. I
SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS.

I SHOULD JUST QUIT. I
HAVE AN UNDERSTUDY.

I'M SURE SHE'D BE
BETTER THAN ME.

LET'S FACE IT. SHE
COULDN'T BE ANY WORSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK I SHOULD DO?

-I THINK YOU SHOULD...

DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

-I WANT TO QUIT.

-THEN I THINK YOU SHOULD QUIT.

- I CAN'T QUIT.
- WHY NOT?

-MY FATHER'S COMING TO SEE ME.

HE'S FLYING IN FROM
CHICAGO JUST TO SEE THE PLAY.

MOM AND DAD HAVEN'T SEEN
EACH OTHER FOR TWO MONTHS.

-OH.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?

-YOU COULD TELL
ME TO BREAK A LEG.

-BUT THE PLAY'S NOT FOR A WEEK.

-NO, I MEAN REALLY BREAK A LEG.

THAT WAY, I WON'T HAVE TO DO IT.

-THEN... BREAK A LEG.

-BUT JUST WINNIE'S LUCK, THE
NIGHT OF THE PERFORMANCE,

SHE WAS STILL IN PERFECT HEALTH.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[CLATTERING]

I GUESS EVERYONE WAS
FEELING A LITTLE TENSE...

ESPECIALLY WINNIE'S PARENTS.

BUT AT LEAST I COULD RELAX.

I HAD COMPLETE
CONFIDENCE IN PAUL.

-PAUL? PAUL?

[DOOR OPENS]

-AH. KEVIN.

PAUL IS ILL.

- ILL?!
- JUST A LITTLE CASE OF NERVES

BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO
RUN THE SPOTLIGHT.

-BUT PAUL KNOWS
THE CUES! I CAN'T...

-THERE'S NO TIME. YOU'LL JUST,
UH, HAVE DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

-WAIT. MR. WEBER!

[DOOR CLOSES]

-GREAT.

PAUL HAD BEEN STRICKEN

WITH THE WORLD'S
FIRST DOCUMENTED CASE

OF BACKSTAGE FRIGHT,

AND I HAD TO PICK
UP THE PIECES...

IN THE DARK.

-THIS PLAY IS CALLED "OUR TOWN."

[APPLAUSE]

WELL, I'D BETTER SHOW
YOU HOW OUR TOWN LIES.

-I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
HOW THIS THING WORKED.

[SQUEAKING]

-UP THERE IS MAIN STREET.

UH, THAT... THAT IS, UP THERE.

-IT WAS HORRIBLE.

I COULD FEEL MY EARS
STARTING TO SWEAT.

-WAY BACK THERE IS
THE RAILWAY STATION.

TRACKS GO THAT WAY.

[LAUGHTER]

-IT WAS HUMILIATING. I
WANTED TO JUST WALK AWAY.

-THERE ARE THE CHILDREN COMING
HOME FROM SCHOOL ALREADY.

-BUT THEN...

-I CAN'T, LOIS. I'VE GOT TO GO
HOME AND HELP MY MOTHER.

I PROMISED.

-THEN I REALIZED I
COULDN'T WALK AWAY.

-EMILY. WALK SIMPLY. WHO
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TODAY?

-PAPA, YOU'RE TERRIBLE.

ONE MINUTE YOU TELL
ME TO STAND UP STRAIGHT,

AND THE NEXT MINUTE,
YOU CALL ME NAMES.

I JUST DON'T LISTEN TO YOU.

-GOLLY.

I NEVER GOT A KISS FROM
SUCH A GREAT LADY BEFORE.

-SHE LOOKED BEAUTIFUL...

AND TERRIFIED.

AND I KNEW SHE NEEDED ME.

THOSE NEXT FEW MINUTES

SEEMED TO LAST A THOUSAND YEARS.

EVERY MOMENT WAS
POTENTIAL DISASTER.

-WHY CAN'T I STAY FOR
A WHILE, JUST AS I AM?

-WE WERE BOTH STRUGGLING.

-DON'T YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU USED TO SAY?

ALL THE TIME, YOU USED TO SAY...

-AND THEN A WEIRD
THING HAPPENED.

I WAS HOLDING THE
LIGHT ON WINNIE

WHEN EVERYTHING GOT VERY QUIET.

AND I FELT SOMETHING. I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

I FELT LIKE I WAS HOLDING
HER UP WITH THAT LIGHT...

THAT WE WERE
CONNECTED BY THE LIGHT.

AND I WOULDN'T LET HER FALL.

-COME ON.

JUST KEEP GOING.

- THAT I WAS YOUR GIRL.

THERE MUST BE LOTS
OF PLACES WE CAN GO.

I'LL WORK FOR YOU. I
CAN KEEP THE HOUSE.

-NO MATTER WHAT, I
WOULDN'T LET HER FALL.

-OH, MAMA, JUST LOOK
AT ME FOR A MOMENT

AS THOUGH YOU REALLY SAW ME.

-THAT NIGHT, I LEARNED SOMETHING

ABOUT COURAGE...
AND MAYBE ABOUT LOVE.

-MAMA, 14 YEARS HAVE GONE BY.

I'M DEAD.

YOU'RE A GRANDMOTHER, MAMA.

BUT JUST FOR A MOMENT
NOW, WE'RE ALL TOGETHER...

MAMA, JUST FOR A
MOMENT, LET'S BE HAPPY.

LET'S LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER.

I CAN'T. I CAN'T GO ON!

IT GOES SO FAST.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO
LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER.

TAKE ME BACK... UP
THE HILL TO MY GRAVE.

BUT FIRST...

WAIT.

ONE MORE LOOK.

[SIGHS]

GOODBYE.

GOODBYE, WORLD.

GOODBYE, GROVER'S CORNERS...

MAMA AND PAPA.

GOODBYE TO CLOCKS TICKING...

AND MAMA'S SUNFLOWERS...

AND FOOD AND COFFEE...

AND NEW, IRONED DRESSES...

AND HOT BATHS AND
SLEEPING AND WAKING UP.

OH, EARTH, YOU'RE TOO WONDERFUL
FOR ANYBODY TO REALIZE YOU.

DO ANY HUMAN BEINGS EVER
REALIZE LIFE WHILE THEY LIVE IT,

EVERY, EVERY MINUTE?

-NO.

THE SAINTS AND POETS, MAYBE.

THEY DO, SOME.

-I'M READY TO GO BACK.

-HMM. 11:00 IN GROVER'S CORNERS.

YOU GET A GOOD
REST, TOO. GOOD NIGHT.

-I COULDN'T EXACTLY SAY
WE MADE THEATER HISTORY

THAT AUTUMN EVENING.

MAYBE WE WEREN'T EVEN VERY GOOD.

THE THING IS, IT DIDN'T MATTER.

WE MADE IT THROUGH.

AND THE CRITICS WERE KIND.

AND A WEEK LATER,

MR. COOPER MOVED
BACK IN WITH HIS FAMILY.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]