The Wonder Years (1988–1993): Season 4, Episode 1 - Growing Up - full transcript
With the end of the summer approaching, the Arnolds decide to attend Jack's Labor Day work picnic. When it is learned that Jack was passed over for a promotion that goes to one of his rivals, tensions grow high between him and Kevin, who wants to prove that he is no longer a little kid.
-♪ 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 ♪
-THAT SUMMER OF 1970, MY
BROTHER BOUGHT A CAR...
MY SISTER WAS
ACCEPTED AT COLLEGE...
AND I FRENCH-KISSED
WINNIE COOPER
UNDER THE BLEACHERS AT
THE 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS.
THINGS WERE CHANGING.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMED
LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD
WAS EXPLODING WITH NEW IDEAS...
REACHING OUT FOR
NEW EXPERIENCES...
SEEING THROUGH NEW EYES.
-WOW.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
- OH.
- OH.
-ADOLESCENCE... IT'S
NEVER A PRETTY SIGHT.
-SHE WANTS US. SHE
DEFINITELY WANTS US.
- DEFINITELY.
- US?
WHY US?
- "WHY US?"...
THE BATTLE CRY
OF THE 14-YEAR-OLD.
-OKAY, HERE'S THE PLAN.
WE WALK PAST HER, CASUALLY...
AND DROP THIS ON HER BACK.
-THEN WHAT?
-THEN WE STRIKE
UP A CONVERSATION.
-THINGS WERE
CONFUSING, ALL RIGHT...
-FORGET IT, WALTER.
IT'LL NEVER WORK.
-WHAT'LL NEVER WORK?
- UH...
- UH...
- SOMETIMES EVEN CRAZY.
-UH, NOTHING.
-STILL, I WASN'T CRAZY.
JUST... IN LOVE.
-CAN I WALK YOU HOME?
-SURE.
[ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING]
-WINNIE AND I HAD SURVIVED
A SUMMER OF
LONG-DISTANCE ROMANCE.
IN FACT, HER MOVE ACROSS TOWN
HAD BROUGHT A NEW
DEPTH TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
-WANT A PIECE OF GUM?
-WE SHARED EVERYTHING
NOW THAT SHE WAS
WEARING MY RING...
HOPES, DREAMS, BIG PLANS.
-WANT TO GO TO A
MOVIE TOMORROW NIGHT?
-SURE.
-AND THEN AFTER THAT...
-UH-HUH.
-YEP, THESE WERE
GOLDEN MOMENTS...
IN A GOLDEN SUMMER... WHEN
EVERY DAY WAS PERFECT,
AND YOU KNEW IT
WOULD GO ON FOREVER.
[ENGINE BACKFIRES, RATTLING]
[ENGINE BACKFIRES]
EXCEPT OF COURSE
AT MY END OF TOWN.
[TIRES SCREECH]
[GEARS GRIND]
-DAMN IT, WAYNE. THE HELL
YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?
[ENGINE BACKFIRES]
-DRIVING?
-DRIVING WHERE?!
TO THE GRAVEYARD?!
-AT THE ARNOLD HOUSE, THE
DOG DAYS HAD SET IN EARLY.
-ONLY THING YOU'RE
DRIVING IS ME NUTS!
-HONEY?
-DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
- HEY, DAD...
- I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
-WHAT HAPPENED?
-BEATS ME.
[DOOR CLOSES]
-THIS MUCH WAS CLEAR... MY
FAMILY WASN'T GETTING ALONG.
-EXCUSE ME. WATCH IT!
- YOU WATCH IT!
- MOM!
- SHE'S HOGGING THE CHIPS.
- I'M NOT HOGGING...
-EVEN FOR US.
MAYBE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH WAYNE'S NEW
GIRLFRIEND, ANGELA.
-MORE POTATOES, DEAR?
-OH. THANK YOU, MRS. ARNOLD.
-FOR SOME REASON, MY
DAD SEEMED TO RESENT
SEEING HIS PAYCHECK
DISAPPEAR DOWN THE
MOUTH OF A TOTAL STRANGER.
THE REST OF US JUST
RESENTED HER IN GENERAL.
-SO, I HEARD YOU AND YOUR
PALS WERE OUT DROOLING
OVER MARSHA MILLANY
AT THE POOL TODAY.
-OR MAYBE IT HAD TO
DO WITH MY BROTHER.
- SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD!
- NO!
-YES! GET AWAY FROM ME!
-THEN AGAIN, IT COULD
HAVE BEEN KAREN.
-WELL, I'VE FINISHED
CHOOSING MY COURSES
FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.
-OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL,
HONEY. WHAT ARE YOU TAKING?
-AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY,
HINDU PHILOSOPHY,
NAVAJO ARTS, SEXUAL
POLITICS, AND ENGLISH 101.
- HUH?
- JACK.
-I'M NOT PAYING FOR THAT.
-YOU ALREADY DID, DAD.
-ARE YOU GONNA EAT THAT?
-WHATEVER IT WAS, SUDDENLY
EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY
SEEMED TO BE IN
EVERYONE ELSE'S WAY...
AND VICE VERSA.
-[SCOFFS] DO WE
HAVE TO WATCH THIS?
-WHY? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
- I HATE IT.
- I LIKE IT.
-OKAY. FINE.
- WE'RE LEAVING.
- WAIT.
-OF COURSE, WE SHOULD
HAVE SEEN THIS COMING.
MOM HAD BEEN FOLDING LAUNDRY
EVERY NIGHT FOR
THREE WEEKS STRAIGHT.
EVEN MY SOCKS HAD CREASES.
-I'VE BEEN THINKING.
WE SHOULD GET AWAY.
- HUH?
- WHAT?
-ALL OF US.
WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.
-THE MIND SHRANK
AT THE POSSIBILITIES.
-MONDAY'S LABOR DAY.
WE SHOULD GO TO
YOUR OFFICE PICNIC.
-HUH?
-WE HAVEN'T BEEN
IN SUCH A LONG TIME.
WE USED TO HAVE SUCH
A GOOD TIME THERE.
REMEMBER?
- MOM.
I'M LEAVING FOR
COLLEGE ON TUESDAY.
-UH, Y-YEAH, I'VE GOT A DATE.
-UH, ME TOO.
-THERE. 4-1.
CLEARLY A LANDSLIDE DECISION.
-I THINK WE'LL GO.
[HORN HONKS]
-SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY.
[TIRES SCREECHING, HORN HONKING]
-WHAT'S THAT IDIOT DOING NOW?
[ENGINE BACKFIRES]
[TIRES SCREECH]
[SIGHS]
-YOU KNOW, HONEY, I AM REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.
IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE
I'VE SEEN THE OLD GANG.
-LIKE WHO?
-WELL, LIKE...
CHARLIE WILSON, FROM ACCOUNTING.
YOU THINK HE'S GONNA BE THERE?
-HE RETIRED.
-OH. WELL, WHAT
ABOUT AL FINELLA?
HE HAD THAT LOVELY WIFE, NANCY.
-SACKED.
-ED BERWITZ?
-DEAD.
-AND THAT ABOUT COVERED
THE FULL RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES.
-DETWEILER WILL
BE THERE, THOUGH.
-HARRY DETWEILER?
-HARRY DETWEILER,
THE OFFICE CLOWN.
BIG ON PALM-BUZZERS
AND WHOOPEE CUSHIONS.
THE ONE DAD ALWAYS
REFERRED TO AS...
- "MR. DEADWOOD," HUH, DAD?
-[Chuckling] KEVIN!
THAT'S NOT VERY NICE.
-[CHUCKLES]
-[LAUGHS]
DOES HE STILL HAVE
THAT STUPID LAUGH?
-KIND OF.
-AND SUDDENLY, FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS,
DAD WAS SMILING!
-YOU REMEMBER
THAT CHRISTMAS PARTY
WHEN HE CAME
DRESSED AS A REINDEER?
-OH.
HIS NOSE LIT UP.
-YEAH, AND HIS TAIL
CAUGHT ON FIRE.
[LAUGHTER]
-AND WE WERE ALL LAUGHING.
[HORN HONKS]
[ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING]
[LAUGHTER CONTINUES]
AND BY THE TIME WE
ARRIVED AT THE PICNIC,
THINGS HAD CHANGED.
AND IF AN OFFICE
PICNIC WAS A WAY
OF BRINGING US TOGETHER, WELL...
[TIRES SCREECH, CRASH]
[GLASS SHATTERS]
[RATTLING]
- ARE YOU CRAZY?!
- IT WAS THE VERY
LEAST WE COULD DO.
-LOOK WHAT YOU DID!
COME HERE! LOOK WHAT
YOU DID TO THE CAR!
- GET BACK!
- GET DOWN FROM THERE!
-THERE'S NOTHING
QUITE AS AMERICAN
AS AN OFFICE PICNIC.
MOUNTAINS OF HOT DOGS,
BUCKETS OF SOFT DRINKS,
A CHANCE FOR KIDS TO
HANG OUT WITH THE BIG GUYS.
["WHEN I'M SIXTY-FOUR" PLAYS]
IT MAKES YOU PROUD
TO HAVE A FAMILY...
PROUD TO HAVE A DAD.
IT MAKES YOU NEVER
WANT TO LEAVE.
[INSECT BUZZING]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[BUZZING CONTINUES]
-[SIGHS]
-CAN WE GO HOME NOW?
-HONEY. YOU HAVEN'T
REALLY GIVEN IT A CHANCE.
-WELL, IT'S CROWDED, IT'S NOISY.
I HATE IT.
-WELL... SEE YOU LATER, SUCKERS.
-WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
-FOR A DRIVE.
-[GROANS]
-UH... FOR A WALK?
-COME ON.
-UH-HUH.
-COME ON.
-SOMEHOW MOM'S PLAN TO
REUNITE THE ARNOLD CLAN
WASN'T EXACTLY COMING OFF
IN A BLAZE OF FAMILY HARMONY.
-HEY, ARNOLD!
YOU GONNA PLAY IN THE
SOFTBALL GAME THIS AFTERNOON?
-OH, YEAH. COME
ON, DAD. LET'S PLAY.
-OKAY.
-THIS'LL BE GREAT!
MAYBE WE'LL EVEN
BE ON THE SAME TEAM.
-I COULD SEE US NOW, SIDE
BY SIDE ON THE INFIELD...
TINKER TO ARNOLD TO...
-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU'D GET KILLED OUT THERE.
- Y-YEAH, BUT, DAD...
- MAYBE NEXT TIME, HUH?
-PICNICS ARE FOR FASCISTS.
[CHILDREN PLAYING]
-[HUMMING TUNE]
-YOU KNOW YOU'RE HAVING REAL FUN
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF
ROOTING FOR WHICH HOT DOG
IS GONNA SPLIT OPEN FIRST.
-KEVIN? KEVIN ARNOLD?
IS THAT YOU, SON?
UH-OH. HARRY DETWEILER HIMSELF.
IN THE FLESH.
-HI, MR. DETWEILER. HOW ARE YOU?
-UH! UH-OH!
[LAUGHS] HARDLY RECOGNIZED YOU!
BEEN PUTTING HAIR
ON THAT CHEST, HUH?
-Y... KIND OF.
-PRETTY FUNNY.
MAYBE HE'D LIKE
SOME HAIR UP HIS NOSE.
-SAY, YOU REMEMBER
MY DAUGHTER, DON'T YOU?
MIMI! OVER HERE!
[Singsong voice]
IT'S KEVIN ARNOLD!
-GREAT.
THE ONLY THING WORSE
THAN DETWEILER WAS HIS KID,
MIMI THE TOMBOY...
THE ONE WE CALLED "THE STICK."
[STRINGS CRESCENDO]
-KEVIN? HI.
MIMI?
-DO YOU LIKE BOATING?
-DID I LIKE BOATING?
[HORN BLOWS]
"ADMIRAL ARNOLD" TO MY
CLOSE NAVAL ASSOCIATES.
-THIS IS NICE, ISN'T IT?
-UH, YEAH. NICE.
-ONCE I FIGURED OUT WHAT THESE
BIG WOODEN STICKS WERE FOR.
-I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M
ACTUALLY SITTING HERE
WITH KEVIN ARNOLD.
-HUH?
-WELL, YOU WERE
ALWAYS KIND OF...
MY HERO.
[DUCKS QUACKING]
REMEMBER HOW I USED
TO TAG ALONG AFTER YOU?
YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT
I WAS A REAL PEST.
- NAH!
- NAH!
-AND TO THINK, MY DAD SAID
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE.
-REALLY?
-WELL, AFTER THE PROMOTION
AND ALL. YOU KNOW.
-OH. THAT. SURE.
-STILL, JUST TO
CLARIFY THE POSITION...
-W-WHAT PROMOTION?
-THE ONE MY DAD GOT.
HE'S VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE WHOLE COMPANY NOW.
-HOLD ON HERE.
DETWEILER? MR. DEADWOOD?
-I GUESS YOUR FATHER
TOOK IT PRETTY HARD.
-AND SUDDENLY I DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE BOATING ANYMORE.
-UH...
I THINK IT'S TIME WE
STARTED HEADING BACK.
- ALREADY?
- UH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I-IT'S GETTING
KIND OF WARM AND...
[DUCKS QUACKING]
-WE COULD GO SWIMMING.
-UH, H-HERE?
-WHY NOT?
-WELL, WE... WE... WE DON'T HAVE
OUR BATHING SUITS OR ANYTHING.
A-AND, BESIDES...
-KEVIN...
WHO NEEDS A BATHING SUIT?
-AND RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT
I LEARNED SOMETHING.
WHEN IT CAME TO
MARITIME OPERATIONS...
-UH...
WHOA!
- I WAS DEFINITELY
OUT OF MY DEPTH.
-KEVIN?
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
-THERE ARE TIMES IN A MAN'S LIFE
WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE CURE
FOR PAIN AND HUMILIATION...
DROWN YOUR
SORROWS IN A COLD ONE.
-THANKS, KID.
-THIS, HOWEVER, WAS
NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
-OUT OF MY WAY, BUTTHEAD.
- [GIGGLING]
- EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME.
-I FELT RATTLED, CONFUSED.
SUDDENLY I WAS SEEING
THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT.
A LOT OF THINGS.
HERE HE CAME. MAYBE
HE WANTED TO TALK.
ABOUT DETWEILER, THE PROMOTION.
I KNOW I DID.
- DAD?
- THE HELL YOU DOING WITH THAT?
HEY. GUYS. MY KID,
THE BEER DRINKER.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU STICK TO GINGER ALE, OKAY?
-OH, YEAH? OH, YEAH?!
WELL, TAKE THIS!
- HEY!
I'M PLAYING IN THAT
SOFTBALL GAME,
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA STOP ME!
[ WHOOSH!]
- STEE-RIKE!
OKAY, SO I WAS A LITTLE
OVERMATCHED HERE.
I DIDN'T CARE.
-YOU ALL RIGHT, SONNY?
-YEAH. SURE. FINE.
-SO THAT PITCHER
WAS THE SIZE OF UTAH...
I WAS READY FOR ANYTHING.
-TIME!
TIME!
WELL, ALMOST ANYTHING.
-LET ME PITCH TO HIM, HUH?
THANKS.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[ WHOOSHING]
-STEE-RIKE TWO!
-I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE
HE HAD HIS REASONS.
MAYBE HE THOUGHT HE
WAS DOING ME A FAVOR.
-ONE MORE, JACKAROO! ONE MORE!
-[LAUGHS]
-OR MAYBE HE WAS JUST TRYING
TO LOOK GOOD FOR HIS CRONIES.
-YOU CALL THIS A GAME?! COME ON!
-IT WAS HUMILIATING.
AND SUDDENLY, I'D HAD ENOUGH...
OF PICNICS, OF GUYS
WHO CALLED YOU SONNY.
-HEY!
WHAT'S THE MATTER? YOU
CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT?
- OH!
- OH!
- OH!
-WHAT'S THE MATTER? CAN'T
YOU THROW A DECENT FASTBALL?!
- WHOA!
- WHOA!
- WHOA!
-WHAT'S THE MATTER? AFRAID
I'LL KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK?
-YEP, I WAS ON A ROLL.
-HEY, JACK! THE KID'S RIGHT!
THEN I ROLLED A TAD TOO FAR.
-COME ON, DAD, THROW
ME SOMETHING BESIDES...
DEAD WOOD!
[ STEAM WHISTLE BLOWS]
-[GROWLS]
-UH-OH.
-WHAT?
-I DIDN'T EVEN
LOOK WHERE I HIT IT.
JUST PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND RAN.
ROUNDED FIRST...
FLEW BY SECOND...
AND KEPT GOING.
-[BREATHING HEAVILY]
UGH!
-BY THE TIME I'D
REACHED THIRD, THOUGH,
I WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER...
WHO WAS MINDING THE STORE HERE?
- JACK?
- DAD?
-I DON'T THINK SO.
COME ON, MOVE, JACK.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
-THERE WAS ONLY ONE THING TO DO.
I CROSSED HOME PLATE.
AND KEPT GOING.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
I DIDN'T DO MUCH THE
REST OF THAT AFTERNOON.
TOOK A LONG WALK,
GOT STUNG BY A HORNET.
DID SOME THINKING.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS HAPPENING...
TO ME...
TO MY FAMILY.
[WATER SPLASHES]
[WATER SPLASHES]
-WAYNE?
WHERE'S ANGELA?
-SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD.
-WHICH I GUESS WAS WAYNE'S
WAY OF SAYING HE'D BEEN DUMPED.
-[SIGHS]
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
-I'M SORRY.
-EAT IT.
I DON'T GET IT.
WHAT DID I DO?
-WELL, YOU...
-Y-YOU SHUT UP, OKAY?
-OKAY.
-NOBODY LIKED HER, ANYWAY.
-THE AWFUL THING IS IT WAS TRUE.
-[SIGHS]
WHY DO THESE THINGS
ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?
[OWL HOOTING]
-MAYBE IT WAS THE CRY
OF EVERY KID WHO'D
EVER PUT ON LONG PANTS,
WHO'D EVER HAD HIS HEART BROKEN,
WHO'D EVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED.
IN ANY EVENT...
-I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
- FOR THAT ONE MOMENT,
I ACTUALLY FELT...
CLOSE TO MY BROTHER.
[THUNDER CRASHES]
-I'M OUT OF HERE!
-IT'S FUNNY, THE THOUGHTS
THAT GO THROUGH YOUR HEAD
IN THOSE MOMENTS BEFORE DEATH.
I REMEMBERED WINNIE.
I WONDERED, WHO WAS
GONNA FEED MY FISH?
-HI, DAD!
-AS IT TURNED OUT, THOUGH,
DAD HADN'T COME TO KILL ME.
-GUESS YOU HEARD
ABOUT DETWEILER.
-UH...
-SORRY.
-AND THEN I REALIZED...
I GUESS DAD WORE
LONG PANTS, TOO.
-IT'S OKAY, DAD.
-LUCKY SHOT BACK THERE.
-SHOULD HAVE DUCKED.
-YEAH.
[SIGHS]
DON'T EVER GET OLD, KEV.
-I WASN'T SURE WHETHER
HE MEANT ME OR HIM.
I GUESS WE BOTH KNEW
IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE.
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
-GROWING UP IS NEVER EASY.
YOU HOLD ON TO THINGS THAT WERE.
YOU WONDER WHAT'S TO COME.
- ♪ GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ GOOD NIGHT ♪
-BUT THAT NIGHT, I THINK WE KNEW
IT WAS TIME TO LET
GO OF WHAT HAD BEEN
AND LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT WOULD BE.
- ♪ I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS ♪
- ♪ I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
-OTHER DAYS... NEW DAYS...
DAYS TO COME.
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
-THE THING IS,
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HATE EACH
OTHER FOR GETTING OLDER.
WE JUST HAD TO FORGIVE OURSELVES
FOR GROWING UP.
[JOAN BAEZ'S "FOREVER
YOUNG" PLAYS]
-♪ MAY GOD'S BLESSING
KEEP YOU ALWAYS ♪
♪ MAY YOUR WISHES
ALL COME TRUE ♪
♪ MAY YOU ALWAYS DO FOR OTHERS ♪
♪ AND LET OTHERS DO FOR YOU ♪
♪ MAY YOU BUILD A
LADDER TO THE STARS ♪
♪ AND CLIMB ON EVERY RUNG ♪
- READY?
-I THINK SO.
-♪ MAY YOU STAY ♪
-BYE, KAREN.
-♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
-BYE, KID.
I'LL MISS YOU.
-♪ MAY YOU GROW
UP TO BE RIGHTEOUS ♪
-KAREN?
-♪ MAY YOU GROW UP TO BE TRUE ♪
-HONEY.
-♪ MAY YOU ALWAYS
KNOW THE TRUTH ♪
-THANKS.
-♪ AND SEE THE LIGHTS
SURROUNDING YOU ♪
♪ MAY YOU ALWAYS... ♪
-I LOVE YOU, MOM.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
- ♪ STAND UPRIGHT AND BE STRONG ♪
♪ AND MAY YOU STAY ♪
-OKAY, COME ON.
-♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
♪ FOREVER YOUNG, OH ♪
♪ MAY YOU STAY ♪
♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
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 ♪
-THAT SUMMER OF 1970, MY
BROTHER BOUGHT A CAR...
MY SISTER WAS
ACCEPTED AT COLLEGE...
AND I FRENCH-KISSED
WINNIE COOPER
UNDER THE BLEACHERS AT
THE 4th OF JULY FIREWORKS.
THINGS WERE CHANGING.
SOMETIMES IT SEEMED
LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD
WAS EXPLODING WITH NEW IDEAS...
REACHING OUT FOR
NEW EXPERIENCES...
SEEING THROUGH NEW EYES.
-WOW.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
- OH.
- OH.
-ADOLESCENCE... IT'S
NEVER A PRETTY SIGHT.
-SHE WANTS US. SHE
DEFINITELY WANTS US.
- DEFINITELY.
- US?
WHY US?
- "WHY US?"...
THE BATTLE CRY
OF THE 14-YEAR-OLD.
-OKAY, HERE'S THE PLAN.
WE WALK PAST HER, CASUALLY...
AND DROP THIS ON HER BACK.
-THEN WHAT?
-THEN WE STRIKE
UP A CONVERSATION.
-THINGS WERE
CONFUSING, ALL RIGHT...
-FORGET IT, WALTER.
IT'LL NEVER WORK.
-WHAT'LL NEVER WORK?
- UH...
- UH...
- SOMETIMES EVEN CRAZY.
-UH, NOTHING.
-STILL, I WASN'T CRAZY.
JUST... IN LOVE.
-CAN I WALK YOU HOME?
-SURE.
[ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING]
-WINNIE AND I HAD SURVIVED
A SUMMER OF
LONG-DISTANCE ROMANCE.
IN FACT, HER MOVE ACROSS TOWN
HAD BROUGHT A NEW
DEPTH TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
-WANT A PIECE OF GUM?
-WE SHARED EVERYTHING
NOW THAT SHE WAS
WEARING MY RING...
HOPES, DREAMS, BIG PLANS.
-WANT TO GO TO A
MOVIE TOMORROW NIGHT?
-SURE.
-AND THEN AFTER THAT...
-UH-HUH.
-YEP, THESE WERE
GOLDEN MOMENTS...
IN A GOLDEN SUMMER... WHEN
EVERY DAY WAS PERFECT,
AND YOU KNEW IT
WOULD GO ON FOREVER.
[ENGINE BACKFIRES, RATTLING]
[ENGINE BACKFIRES]
EXCEPT OF COURSE
AT MY END OF TOWN.
[TIRES SCREECH]
[GEARS GRIND]
-DAMN IT, WAYNE. THE HELL
YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?
[ENGINE BACKFIRES]
-DRIVING?
-DRIVING WHERE?!
TO THE GRAVEYARD?!
-AT THE ARNOLD HOUSE, THE
DOG DAYS HAD SET IN EARLY.
-ONLY THING YOU'RE
DRIVING IS ME NUTS!
-HONEY?
-DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
- HEY, DAD...
- I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
-WHAT HAPPENED?
-BEATS ME.
[DOOR CLOSES]
-THIS MUCH WAS CLEAR... MY
FAMILY WASN'T GETTING ALONG.
-EXCUSE ME. WATCH IT!
- YOU WATCH IT!
- MOM!
- SHE'S HOGGING THE CHIPS.
- I'M NOT HOGGING...
-EVEN FOR US.
MAYBE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO
WITH WAYNE'S NEW
GIRLFRIEND, ANGELA.
-MORE POTATOES, DEAR?
-OH. THANK YOU, MRS. ARNOLD.
-FOR SOME REASON, MY
DAD SEEMED TO RESENT
SEEING HIS PAYCHECK
DISAPPEAR DOWN THE
MOUTH OF A TOTAL STRANGER.
THE REST OF US JUST
RESENTED HER IN GENERAL.
-SO, I HEARD YOU AND YOUR
PALS WERE OUT DROOLING
OVER MARSHA MILLANY
AT THE POOL TODAY.
-OR MAYBE IT HAD TO
DO WITH MY BROTHER.
- SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD!
- NO!
-YES! GET AWAY FROM ME!
-THEN AGAIN, IT COULD
HAVE BEEN KAREN.
-WELL, I'VE FINISHED
CHOOSING MY COURSES
FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.
-OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL,
HONEY. WHAT ARE YOU TAKING?
-AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY,
HINDU PHILOSOPHY,
NAVAJO ARTS, SEXUAL
POLITICS, AND ENGLISH 101.
- HUH?
- JACK.
-I'M NOT PAYING FOR THAT.
-YOU ALREADY DID, DAD.
-ARE YOU GONNA EAT THAT?
-WHATEVER IT WAS, SUDDENLY
EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY
SEEMED TO BE IN
EVERYONE ELSE'S WAY...
AND VICE VERSA.
-[SCOFFS] DO WE
HAVE TO WATCH THIS?
-WHY? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS?
- I HATE IT.
- I LIKE IT.
-OKAY. FINE.
- WE'RE LEAVING.
- WAIT.
-OF COURSE, WE SHOULD
HAVE SEEN THIS COMING.
MOM HAD BEEN FOLDING LAUNDRY
EVERY NIGHT FOR
THREE WEEKS STRAIGHT.
EVEN MY SOCKS HAD CREASES.
-I'VE BEEN THINKING.
WE SHOULD GET AWAY.
- HUH?
- WHAT?
-ALL OF US.
WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.
-THE MIND SHRANK
AT THE POSSIBILITIES.
-MONDAY'S LABOR DAY.
WE SHOULD GO TO
YOUR OFFICE PICNIC.
-HUH?
-WE HAVEN'T BEEN
IN SUCH A LONG TIME.
WE USED TO HAVE SUCH
A GOOD TIME THERE.
REMEMBER?
- MOM.
I'M LEAVING FOR
COLLEGE ON TUESDAY.
-UH, Y-YEAH, I'VE GOT A DATE.
-UH, ME TOO.
-THERE. 4-1.
CLEARLY A LANDSLIDE DECISION.
-I THINK WE'LL GO.
[HORN HONKS]
-SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY.
[TIRES SCREECHING, HORN HONKING]
-WHAT'S THAT IDIOT DOING NOW?
[ENGINE BACKFIRES]
[TIRES SCREECH]
[SIGHS]
-YOU KNOW, HONEY, I AM REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.
IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE
I'VE SEEN THE OLD GANG.
-LIKE WHO?
-WELL, LIKE...
CHARLIE WILSON, FROM ACCOUNTING.
YOU THINK HE'S GONNA BE THERE?
-HE RETIRED.
-OH. WELL, WHAT
ABOUT AL FINELLA?
HE HAD THAT LOVELY WIFE, NANCY.
-SACKED.
-ED BERWITZ?
-DEAD.
-AND THAT ABOUT COVERED
THE FULL RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES.
-DETWEILER WILL
BE THERE, THOUGH.
-HARRY DETWEILER?
-HARRY DETWEILER,
THE OFFICE CLOWN.
BIG ON PALM-BUZZERS
AND WHOOPEE CUSHIONS.
THE ONE DAD ALWAYS
REFERRED TO AS...
- "MR. DEADWOOD," HUH, DAD?
-[Chuckling] KEVIN!
THAT'S NOT VERY NICE.
-[CHUCKLES]
-[LAUGHS]
DOES HE STILL HAVE
THAT STUPID LAUGH?
-KIND OF.
-AND SUDDENLY, FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS,
DAD WAS SMILING!
-YOU REMEMBER
THAT CHRISTMAS PARTY
WHEN HE CAME
DRESSED AS A REINDEER?
-OH.
HIS NOSE LIT UP.
-YEAH, AND HIS TAIL
CAUGHT ON FIRE.
[LAUGHTER]
-AND WE WERE ALL LAUGHING.
[HORN HONKS]
[ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYING]
[LAUGHTER CONTINUES]
AND BY THE TIME WE
ARRIVED AT THE PICNIC,
THINGS HAD CHANGED.
AND IF AN OFFICE
PICNIC WAS A WAY
OF BRINGING US TOGETHER, WELL...
[TIRES SCREECH, CRASH]
[GLASS SHATTERS]
[RATTLING]
- ARE YOU CRAZY?!
- IT WAS THE VERY
LEAST WE COULD DO.
-LOOK WHAT YOU DID!
COME HERE! LOOK WHAT
YOU DID TO THE CAR!
- GET BACK!
- GET DOWN FROM THERE!
-THERE'S NOTHING
QUITE AS AMERICAN
AS AN OFFICE PICNIC.
MOUNTAINS OF HOT DOGS,
BUCKETS OF SOFT DRINKS,
A CHANCE FOR KIDS TO
HANG OUT WITH THE BIG GUYS.
["WHEN I'M SIXTY-FOUR" PLAYS]
IT MAKES YOU PROUD
TO HAVE A FAMILY...
PROUD TO HAVE A DAD.
IT MAKES YOU NEVER
WANT TO LEAVE.
[INSECT BUZZING]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[BUZZING CONTINUES]
-[SIGHS]
-CAN WE GO HOME NOW?
-HONEY. YOU HAVEN'T
REALLY GIVEN IT A CHANCE.
-WELL, IT'S CROWDED, IT'S NOISY.
I HATE IT.
-WELL... SEE YOU LATER, SUCKERS.
-WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
-FOR A DRIVE.
-[GROANS]
-UH... FOR A WALK?
-COME ON.
-UH-HUH.
-COME ON.
-SOMEHOW MOM'S PLAN TO
REUNITE THE ARNOLD CLAN
WASN'T EXACTLY COMING OFF
IN A BLAZE OF FAMILY HARMONY.
-HEY, ARNOLD!
YOU GONNA PLAY IN THE
SOFTBALL GAME THIS AFTERNOON?
-OH, YEAH. COME
ON, DAD. LET'S PLAY.
-OKAY.
-THIS'LL BE GREAT!
MAYBE WE'LL EVEN
BE ON THE SAME TEAM.
-I COULD SEE US NOW, SIDE
BY SIDE ON THE INFIELD...
TINKER TO ARNOLD TO...
-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU'D GET KILLED OUT THERE.
- Y-YEAH, BUT, DAD...
- MAYBE NEXT TIME, HUH?
-PICNICS ARE FOR FASCISTS.
[CHILDREN PLAYING]
-[HUMMING TUNE]
-YOU KNOW YOU'RE HAVING REAL FUN
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF
ROOTING FOR WHICH HOT DOG
IS GONNA SPLIT OPEN FIRST.
-KEVIN? KEVIN ARNOLD?
IS THAT YOU, SON?
UH-OH. HARRY DETWEILER HIMSELF.
IN THE FLESH.
-HI, MR. DETWEILER. HOW ARE YOU?
-UH! UH-OH!
[LAUGHS] HARDLY RECOGNIZED YOU!
BEEN PUTTING HAIR
ON THAT CHEST, HUH?
-Y... KIND OF.
-PRETTY FUNNY.
MAYBE HE'D LIKE
SOME HAIR UP HIS NOSE.
-SAY, YOU REMEMBER
MY DAUGHTER, DON'T YOU?
MIMI! OVER HERE!
[Singsong voice]
IT'S KEVIN ARNOLD!
-GREAT.
THE ONLY THING WORSE
THAN DETWEILER WAS HIS KID,
MIMI THE TOMBOY...
THE ONE WE CALLED "THE STICK."
[STRINGS CRESCENDO]
-KEVIN? HI.
MIMI?
-DO YOU LIKE BOATING?
-DID I LIKE BOATING?
[HORN BLOWS]
"ADMIRAL ARNOLD" TO MY
CLOSE NAVAL ASSOCIATES.
-THIS IS NICE, ISN'T IT?
-UH, YEAH. NICE.
-ONCE I FIGURED OUT WHAT THESE
BIG WOODEN STICKS WERE FOR.
-I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M
ACTUALLY SITTING HERE
WITH KEVIN ARNOLD.
-HUH?
-WELL, YOU WERE
ALWAYS KIND OF...
MY HERO.
[DUCKS QUACKING]
REMEMBER HOW I USED
TO TAG ALONG AFTER YOU?
YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT
I WAS A REAL PEST.
- NAH!
- NAH!
-AND TO THINK, MY DAD SAID
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE.
-REALLY?
-WELL, AFTER THE PROMOTION
AND ALL. YOU KNOW.
-OH. THAT. SURE.
-STILL, JUST TO
CLARIFY THE POSITION...
-W-WHAT PROMOTION?
-THE ONE MY DAD GOT.
HE'S VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE WHOLE COMPANY NOW.
-HOLD ON HERE.
DETWEILER? MR. DEADWOOD?
-I GUESS YOUR FATHER
TOOK IT PRETTY HARD.
-AND SUDDENLY I DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE BOATING ANYMORE.
-UH...
I THINK IT'S TIME WE
STARTED HEADING BACK.
- ALREADY?
- UH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I-IT'S GETTING
KIND OF WARM AND...
[DUCKS QUACKING]
-WE COULD GO SWIMMING.
-UH, H-HERE?
-WHY NOT?
-WELL, WE... WE... WE DON'T HAVE
OUR BATHING SUITS OR ANYTHING.
A-AND, BESIDES...
-KEVIN...
WHO NEEDS A BATHING SUIT?
-AND RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT
I LEARNED SOMETHING.
WHEN IT CAME TO
MARITIME OPERATIONS...
-UH...
WHOA!
- I WAS DEFINITELY
OUT OF MY DEPTH.
-KEVIN?
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
-THERE ARE TIMES IN A MAN'S LIFE
WHEN THERE'S ONLY ONE CURE
FOR PAIN AND HUMILIATION...
DROWN YOUR
SORROWS IN A COLD ONE.
-THANKS, KID.
-THIS, HOWEVER, WAS
NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
-OUT OF MY WAY, BUTTHEAD.
- [GIGGLING]
- EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME.
-I FELT RATTLED, CONFUSED.
SUDDENLY I WAS SEEING
THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT.
A LOT OF THINGS.
HERE HE CAME. MAYBE
HE WANTED TO TALK.
ABOUT DETWEILER, THE PROMOTION.
I KNOW I DID.
- DAD?
- THE HELL YOU DOING WITH THAT?
HEY. GUYS. MY KID,
THE BEER DRINKER.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU STICK TO GINGER ALE, OKAY?
-OH, YEAH? OH, YEAH?!
WELL, TAKE THIS!
- HEY!
I'M PLAYING IN THAT
SOFTBALL GAME,
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA STOP ME!
[ WHOOSH!]
- STEE-RIKE!
OKAY, SO I WAS A LITTLE
OVERMATCHED HERE.
I DIDN'T CARE.
-YOU ALL RIGHT, SONNY?
-YEAH. SURE. FINE.
-SO THAT PITCHER
WAS THE SIZE OF UTAH...
I WAS READY FOR ANYTHING.
-TIME!
TIME!
WELL, ALMOST ANYTHING.
-LET ME PITCH TO HIM, HUH?
THANKS.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]
[ WHOOSHING]
-STEE-RIKE TWO!
-I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE
HE HAD HIS REASONS.
MAYBE HE THOUGHT HE
WAS DOING ME A FAVOR.
-ONE MORE, JACKAROO! ONE MORE!
-[LAUGHS]
-OR MAYBE HE WAS JUST TRYING
TO LOOK GOOD FOR HIS CRONIES.
-YOU CALL THIS A GAME?! COME ON!
-IT WAS HUMILIATING.
AND SUDDENLY, I'D HAD ENOUGH...
OF PICNICS, OF GUYS
WHO CALLED YOU SONNY.
-HEY!
WHAT'S THE MATTER? YOU
CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT?
- OH!
- OH!
- OH!
-WHAT'S THE MATTER? CAN'T
YOU THROW A DECENT FASTBALL?!
- WHOA!
- WHOA!
- WHOA!
-WHAT'S THE MATTER? AFRAID
I'LL KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK?
-YEP, I WAS ON A ROLL.
-HEY, JACK! THE KID'S RIGHT!
THEN I ROLLED A TAD TOO FAR.
-COME ON, DAD, THROW
ME SOMETHING BESIDES...
DEAD WOOD!
[ STEAM WHISTLE BLOWS]
-[GROWLS]
-UH-OH.
-WHAT?
-I DIDN'T EVEN
LOOK WHERE I HIT IT.
JUST PUT MY HEAD DOWN AND RAN.
ROUNDED FIRST...
FLEW BY SECOND...
AND KEPT GOING.
-[BREATHING HEAVILY]
UGH!
-BY THE TIME I'D
REACHED THIRD, THOUGH,
I WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER...
WHO WAS MINDING THE STORE HERE?
- JACK?
- DAD?
-I DON'T THINK SO.
COME ON, MOVE, JACK.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
-THERE WAS ONLY ONE THING TO DO.
I CROSSED HOME PLATE.
AND KEPT GOING.
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
I DIDN'T DO MUCH THE
REST OF THAT AFTERNOON.
TOOK A LONG WALK,
GOT STUNG BY A HORNET.
DID SOME THINKING.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS HAPPENING...
TO ME...
TO MY FAMILY.
[WATER SPLASHES]
[WATER SPLASHES]
-WAYNE?
WHERE'S ANGELA?
-SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD.
-WHICH I GUESS WAS WAYNE'S
WAY OF SAYING HE'D BEEN DUMPED.
-[SIGHS]
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
-I'M SORRY.
-EAT IT.
I DON'T GET IT.
WHAT DID I DO?
-WELL, YOU...
-Y-YOU SHUT UP, OKAY?
-OKAY.
-NOBODY LIKED HER, ANYWAY.
-THE AWFUL THING IS IT WAS TRUE.
-[SIGHS]
WHY DO THESE THINGS
ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME?
[OWL HOOTING]
-MAYBE IT WAS THE CRY
OF EVERY KID WHO'D
EVER PUT ON LONG PANTS,
WHO'D EVER HAD HIS HEART BROKEN,
WHO'D EVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED.
IN ANY EVENT...
-I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
- FOR THAT ONE MOMENT,
I ACTUALLY FELT...
CLOSE TO MY BROTHER.
[THUNDER CRASHES]
-I'M OUT OF HERE!
-IT'S FUNNY, THE THOUGHTS
THAT GO THROUGH YOUR HEAD
IN THOSE MOMENTS BEFORE DEATH.
I REMEMBERED WINNIE.
I WONDERED, WHO WAS
GONNA FEED MY FISH?
-HI, DAD!
-AS IT TURNED OUT, THOUGH,
DAD HADN'T COME TO KILL ME.
-GUESS YOU HEARD
ABOUT DETWEILER.
-UH...
-SORRY.
-AND THEN I REALIZED...
I GUESS DAD WORE
LONG PANTS, TOO.
-IT'S OKAY, DAD.
-LUCKY SHOT BACK THERE.
-SHOULD HAVE DUCKED.
-YEAH.
[SIGHS]
DON'T EVER GET OLD, KEV.
-I WASN'T SURE WHETHER
HE MEANT ME OR HIM.
I GUESS WE BOTH KNEW
IT DIDN'T REALLY MATTER.
WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE.
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
-GROWING UP IS NEVER EASY.
YOU HOLD ON TO THINGS THAT WERE.
YOU WONDER WHAT'S TO COME.
- ♪ GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ GOOD NIGHT ♪
-BUT THAT NIGHT, I THINK WE KNEW
IT WAS TIME TO LET
GO OF WHAT HAD BEEN
AND LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT WOULD BE.
- ♪ I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS ♪
- ♪ I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
-OTHER DAYS... NEW DAYS...
DAYS TO COME.
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
- ♪ IRENE, GOOD NIGHT ♪
-THE THING IS,
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HATE EACH
OTHER FOR GETTING OLDER.
WE JUST HAD TO FORGIVE OURSELVES
FOR GROWING UP.
[JOAN BAEZ'S "FOREVER
YOUNG" PLAYS]
-♪ MAY GOD'S BLESSING
KEEP YOU ALWAYS ♪
♪ MAY YOUR WISHES
ALL COME TRUE ♪
♪ MAY YOU ALWAYS DO FOR OTHERS ♪
♪ AND LET OTHERS DO FOR YOU ♪
♪ MAY YOU BUILD A
LADDER TO THE STARS ♪
♪ AND CLIMB ON EVERY RUNG ♪
- READY?
-I THINK SO.
-♪ MAY YOU STAY ♪
-BYE, KAREN.
-♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
-BYE, KID.
I'LL MISS YOU.
-♪ MAY YOU GROW
UP TO BE RIGHTEOUS ♪
-KAREN?
-♪ MAY YOU GROW UP TO BE TRUE ♪
-HONEY.
-♪ MAY YOU ALWAYS
KNOW THE TRUTH ♪
-THANKS.
-♪ AND SEE THE LIGHTS
SURROUNDING YOU ♪
♪ MAY YOU ALWAYS... ♪
-I LOVE YOU, MOM.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
- ♪ STAND UPRIGHT AND BE STRONG ♪
♪ AND MAY YOU STAY ♪
-OKAY, COME ON.
-♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪
♪ FOREVER YOUNG, OH ♪
♪ MAY YOU STAY ♪
♪ FOREVER YOUNG ♪