The Wonder Years (1988–1993): Season 6, Episode 4 - Sex and Economics - full transcript
Kevin is in need of extra cash when his allowance doesn't seem to go far enough. When Miss Farmer puts up an ad for someone to paint her house, Kevin jumps at the chance, thinking the job ...
-♪ BABY ♪
-♪ BY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪
-♪ SAID I'M GONNA MAKE
IT WITH MY FRIENDS ♪
-♪ TRY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪
-♪ OH, I'M GONNA
KEEP ON TRYING ♪
-♪ HIGH WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪
♪ I'M GONNA KEEP ON
TRYING NOW, BABY ♪
-♪ OOH, OOH, OOH ♪
-FOR MOST GUYS I WENT
TO SCHOOL WITH IN 1972,
JUNIOR YEAR WAS A
TIME OF... EXPLORATION,
A TIME FOR EXPANDING HORIZONS,
BROADENING PERSPECTIVES,
SEEKING ANSWERS TO
LITTLE-KNOWN QUESTIONS.
IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRAPPLE
WITH THE GREAT
ISSUES OF OUR DAY,
WHICH, AS IT HAPPENED,
BOILED DOWN TO ONLY TWO.
-Oh, man.
-THERE WERE ONLY FOUR
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICS,
AS COMPARED TO NOW.
BY THE END OF 1972,
THERE'S GONNA BE 41.
-ONE OF THEM WAS SEX.
-SO... NOW, IS EVERYBODY
PAYING ATTENTION?
-MISS FARMER, OUR
SOCIAL-STUDIES TEACHER.
-WHO CAN TELL ME THE NAMES
OF THREE AFRICAN REPUBLICS?
NO ONE?
LET'S LOOK AT A MAP.
-IN ONE OF THE GREAT
COSMIC IRONIES OF OUR TIME,
THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION HAD HIRED HER
TO MOLD AND DEVELOP OUR
FORMATIVE YOUNG MINDS.
-DOMINICK? CAN YOU POINT
OUT LIBERIA ON THE MAP?
-IT'S, UH...
THAT YELLOW ONE.
RIGHT THERE.
PERHAPS YOU COULD
COME UP AND SHOW US.
-UH...
CAN'T.
M-MY FOOT'S ASLEEP.
-NOT AN UNCOMMON AILMENT
IN SOCIAL STUDIES THAT YEAR.
ALL RIGHT.
WHY DOESN'T EVERYBODY JUST
PASS UP THEIR ASSIGNMENTS?
-ALL IN ALL, IF YOU WERE
16 AND MALE, IT WAS AGONY.
AND NO ONE WAS IMMUNE.
WHICH BRINGS ME
BACK TO THE POINT.
FOR TEENAGE BOYS, THERE WERE
ONLY TWO GREAT ISSUES... SEX...
-THAT'LL BE $3.69.
- AND, OF COURSE, ECONOMICS.
-UH... SURE.
-AND LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
BY "ECONOMICS," I
MEAN COLD, HARD CASH.
NOT THAT I HAD ANY.
-YOU'RE 49 CENTS SHORT.
-UH... ONE SECOND.
ANY OF YOU GUYS GOT 50 CENTS?
-NOT ME.
-SORRY, MAN. I'M TAPPED.
-WAIT A MINUTE... YOU MEAN,
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU,
YOU CAN'T COME UP
WITH A LOUSY HALF-BUCK?
-HEY, I PAID LAST WEEK.
-AMAZING.
EVEN WITH MY JOB
DELIVERING CHINESE
FOOD TWO NIGHTS A WEEK...
-BE RIGHT WITH YOU.
- THE BEST I COULD DO WHEN
IT CAME TO CASH FLOW WAS...
-THERE.
-IT'S A POTATO CHIP.
-OH, YEAH.
GUESS IT IS.
-GET OUT OF HERE!
-RIGHT.
-FACE IT... POVERTY WAS RUINING
MY GOOD NAME, MY REPUTATION...
NOT TO MENTION MY CREDIT RATING.
WHAT'S THAT SOUND?
-NOT TO MENTION MY LOVE LIFE.
-WHAT SOUND?
THAT ONE.
THERE IT IS AGAIN.
-IT'S MY STOMACH.
IT'S GROWLING.
-OH.
-NOT TO MENTION MY
GIRLFRIEND'S DIGESTIVE TRACT.
-I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE
TAKING ME OUT TO DINNER TONIGHT.
-OH. YEAH.
-KEVIN, I'M REALLY HUNGRY.
CAN'T WE JUST GET SOMETHING?
-WELL, UH...
YEAH, I THINK EATING
OUT IS OVERRATED.
YOU KNOW, THE... THE
SERVICE IS ALWAYS SLOW.
PLUS, THE FOOD IS
NEVER THAT GOOD.
YOU KNOW, I READ SOMEWHERE
THAT ANYTHING YOU EAT AFTER 9:00
GOES RIGHT TO YOUR HIPS.
DIDN'T YOU READ THAT?
-I THINK I'D LIKE
TO GO HOME NOW.
-RIGHT.
-FACT... THIS CASH-FLOW THING
WAS BEGINNING TO
CLOUD MY JUDGMENT.
AND SO DESPERATION LED ME
TO CONSIDER
ONCE-UNTHINKABLE OPTIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, I
NEEDED A SECOND JOB.
PREFERABLY SOMETHING
THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE A
NAME TAG AND A SHOVEL.
OR A BAGGIE AND A SCOOP.
BROTHER.
-AND THEN, JUST AS LUCK AND
MONEY WERE RUNNING OUT...
-OH. HI, KEVIN.
-HI.
- LUST AND FORTUNE STEPPED IN.
AND OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED.
-KEVIN. HI.
-HI.
I, UH, CAME ABOUT THE JOB.
WELL, GEE, YOU
CERTAINLY GOT HERE FAST.
-YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW,
IT'S RIGHT ON THE WAY.
-OH.
-BESIDES, YOU KNOW
WHAT THEY SAY...
"THE EARLY WORM GETS THE BIRD."
ANYWAY, UH...
HERE I AM.
- WELL, GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON IN?
I'M MAKING SOME LEMONADE.
-AND, THE FORMALITIES
OUT OF THE WAY,
NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN.
-SUGAR?
-HMM?
-FOR YOUR LEMONADE?
-OH. YEAH.
-SO... DON'T YOU EVEN WANT
TO KNOW WHAT THE JOB IS?
-WELL, IT'S, UH,
PAINTING, RIGHT?
I MEAN, I'VE DONE LOTS OF
PAINTING... ALL OVER THE PLACE.
-TWO STORM WINDOWS FOR DAD
AND WAYNE'S
FOREHEAD WHEN I WAS 6.
BUT WHO WAS COUNTING?
OH, I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE
IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY.
-BUT AT THAT MOMENT,
I'D HAVE KILLED TO KEEP
PROFESSIONALS FROM HER HOUSE.
-HEY, WHY HIRE THEM
WHEN YOU GOT ME?
- BABE.
-WELL, IF YOU REALLY
THINK YOU CAN...
-'COURSE I CAN.
SO...
WHAT WOULD I BE PAINTING?
-THE HOUSE.
-THE HOUSE?
THE WHOLE HOUSE?
- NO. JUST THE OUTSIDE.
THE THING IS...
I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY.
-AND, OF COURSE, RIGHT THEN,
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
I WAS IN OVER MY HEAD.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, BUT...
-HOW DOES...$500 SOUND?
-AND THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED.
RIGHT THEN, RIGHT THERE,
TWO GREAT FORCES
OF NATURE CONVERGED...
BEAUTY AND CASH.
-COURSE, YOU WOULD
TAKE CARE OF THE SUPPLIES.
CAN YOU START THIS WEEKEND?
-WELL...
-PAINTING?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PAINTING?
-DAD, WHAT'S TO KNOW?
I MEAN, THERE'S A
HOUSE, AND... YOU PAINT IT.
-SEEMED SIMPLE ENOUGH TO ME.
WHAT KIND OF PAINT YOU
USING... LATEX OR ENAMEL?
-UH... BLUE.
-YOU KNOW WHAT SUPPLIES TO BUY?
-WELL...
-YOU HAVE A CREW TO WORK WITH?
-GEEZ, WHAT WAS
THIS... TRADE SCHOOL?
-YEAH, I GOT A COUPLE
OF GUYS... IN MIND.
WELL, JUST MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
PAINTING'S HARD ENOUGH
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE GOOD AT IT.
- THROUGH A NATIONAL
HEALTH-INSURANCE...
-AND THERE YOU HAD IT...
THE UNFLAGGING SUPPORT
OF HEARTH AND HOME.
-BETTER HOPE IT'S ONE OF
THOSE PAINT-BY-NUMBER HOUSES.
-SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD!
-AFTER ALL, IF THERE WAS
ONE THING I DIDN'T NEED,
IT WAS MY FAMILY
BRINGING ME DOWN.
-ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
-I HAD MY FRIENDS TO DO THAT.
-PAINT A HOUSE? A WHOLE HOUSE?
-THAT SOUNDS LIKE WORK.
-HEY, I THOUGHT YOU
GUYS NEEDED THE MONEY.
-HOW MUCH YOU PAYIN'?
-LET'S SEE HERE. $500
DIVIDED BY 3 COMES TO...
-20 BUCKS A MAN?
-OKAY. IF THAT'S THE
WAY THEY WANTED IT, FINE.
AFTER ALL, I DIDN'T NEED THEM.
WHAT I NEEDED WERE MEN...
MEN WHO TOOK JOY IN THEIR
WORK, SOLID BLUE-COLLAR MEN.
MEN LIKE...
JIMMY DONNELLY...
EDDIE HORVATH...
AND JOEY SPINOZA.
I DON'T KNOW.
CALL IT INSTINCT, BUT SOMEHOW,
I KNEW I'D FOUND MY CREW.
SO, GUYS...
WANT TO MAKE A FEW DOLLARS?
-BINGO.
-DOLLARS?
-AND SO, WITH THAT,
MY TEAM WAS COMPLETE.
SURE, MAYBE THEY WEREN'T
MUCH ON EXPERIENCE,
BUT THEY HAD THEIR GOOD POINTS.
THEY WORKED HARD.
THEY WORKED FAST.
MOST OF ALL, THEY WORKED CHEAP.
-SO, ARNOLD... WHEN
YOU SAID "A FEW DOLLARS,"
EXACTLY HOW FEW
WERE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
-I'M NOT SURE.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO BUY SUPPLIES,
AND THERE'S OVERHEAD AND...
-BALLPARK FIGURE?
-$20.
4...
95.
-$30.
-$30?
-SO THIS GUY WANTED
TO PLAY HARDBALL, HUH?
-SORRY. $26 IS MY LIMIT.
-$28.
THAT'S AS LOW AS I GO.
-$27.
-I'LL GO TALK TO MY BOYS.
GAME, SET, MATCH... ARNOLD.
AT 80-SOME BUCKS FOR
LABOR, PLUS MATERIALS,
I'D HAVE ENOUGH
LEFT FROM THE $500
TO QUALIFY AS A SMALL FORTUNE.
-OKAY, $142 FOR THE PAINT,
THAT'S $28 FOR THE BRUSHES,
$35 FOR THE ROLLERS,
AND 16 BUCKS FOR THE TARP.
-A VERY SMALL FORTUNE.
-$142 FOR THE PAINT?
HOW'D YOU GET THAT?
-I ADDED IT.
YOU GOT A GRAND
TOTAL OF $258.88.
-OKAY. WE'RE IN.
-IT WAS KIND OF LIKE WATCHING
MY WALLET BLEED TO DEATH.
STILL, AT LEAST NOW MAYBE
THE HEMORRHAGE WAS COMPLETE.
-PLUS TAX.
-STILL, THE NEXT
MORNING, WE ARRIVED...
ON TIME, READY TO TACKLE
THE TASK BEFORE US.
-WAIT A MINUTE.
-JUST ONE LITTLE HITCH.
-YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING
ABOUT IT BEING TWO STORIES.
-IT'S NOT TWO STORIES.
-THERE'S A WINDOW RIGHT THERE.
MAN, THIS IS... THIS
IS GONNA COST MORE.
I'D SAY AT LEAST...$50.
-$50?!
BUT WE AGREED ON...
-$50. UP FRONT AND IN CASH.
-IT WAS A HOLD-UP
WORTHY OF JESSE JAMES.
AND I WASN'T BUYING.
-OH, NO. NO WAY. FORGET IT.
-BUT, ARNOLD...
-DONNELLY, WE HAD A DEAL.
AND A DEAL'S A DEAL, PERIOD.
-HEY, I WAS NO PATSY.
AFTER ALL, I HAD AN
INVESTMENT HERE.
KEVIN!
-UNFORTUNATELY, AT THAT MOMENT,
THE STOCK MARKET CRASHED.
-I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
ARE YOU JUST ABOUT
READY TO GET STARTED?
-UH, SURE. YEAH, JUST ABOUT.
-GOOD.
-OKAY, ARNOLD.
SO, WE HAVE A DEAL?
-FINE.
-WHAT ELSE COULD
I DO? I WAS STYMIED.
GREED AND TEMPTATION
HAD CONSPIRED AGAINST ME.
-LET'S JUST GET TO
WORK NOW, OKAY?
-YOU GOT IT.
AND THERE WAS REALLY
NOTHING LEFT TO SAY, BUT...
-BOYS...
BREAK TIME.
-RIGHT.
SO, THAT WEEKEND,
WE GOT TO WORK.
WE BANDED TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
IT WAS TIME TO PUT ECONOMIC
DIFFERENCES BEHIND US.
-♪ AND I BEEN TAKIN'
CARE OF BUSINESS... ♪
-IT WAS TIME TO PAINT.
♪ ...OF BUSINESS EVERY WAY... ♪
-SURE, MAYBE WE HAD NO
IDEA WHAT WE WERE DOING.
SO WHAT?
WHAT WE LACKED IN EXPERIENCE,
WE MADE UP FOR WITH...
LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
AND AFTER TWO DAYS OF WORK,
ONE THING WAS CRYSTAL-CLEAR.
THIS WAS A DISASTER.
-CAN'T YOU GUYS GO ANY FASTER?
-WE'RE GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN.
-DONNELLY, WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE THAT TOP WINDOW UP THERE?
-I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.
-BUT I PAID YOU FOR
A SECOND FLOOR.
-I KNOW. I APPRECIATE IT.
-♪ ...JUST LYIN' IN THE SUN... ♪
-HEY, ARNOLD, UH, WE'RE
GONNA NEED SOME MORE PAINT.
-TIME WAS MONEY.
PAINT WAS MONEY.
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS
WHAT I HAD TO DO.
-♪ ...AND WE BE
TAKIN' CARE OF... ♪
-I HAD TO ASK MISS FARMER
FOR AN EXTRA HUNDRED DOLLARS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE DIFFICULT.
THIS WAS BUSINESS...
SIMPLE ECONOMICS.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH ANYTHING ELSE.
NOTHING TO DO WITH
LONG LEGS, WITH SOFT SKIN,
WITH THE WAY A WOMAN
SMELLED IN THE MORNING.
-MISS FARMER? YOU GOT A SECOND?
-HI, KEVIN.
-UH...
HI.
-I GUESS IT MUST
LOOK KIND OF SILLY...
ME SUNBATHING
HERE WITHOUT A POOL.
-BUT SOMEHOW,
"SILLY" WASN'T EXACTLY THE
WORD THAT CAME TO MIND.
-SO? HOW'S IT GOING?
-OH, FINE. IT'S JUST...
ACTUALLY, UH...
WHAT I CAME TO TELL YOU
IS I THINK IT'S GONNA COST
MORE THAN I THOUGHT.
-REALLY?
WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME.
YOU CAN ALWAYS COME TO
ME WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
-HOLY COW! THIS WAS GONNA
BE EASIER THAN I THOUGHT.
I WAS FUNDED! I WAS FLUSH!
I WAS BACK IN THE CHIPS.
-HERE. HERE'S AN EXTRA $10.
-I WAS... WORKING FOR PEANUTS.
-THANKS.
-I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.
-THERE'S PAINT, PAINT REMOVER,
PANS, BRUSHES...
ANYTHING ELSE?
-THE LADDER.
-OH, YEAH.
YOU STARTING A NEW HOUSE?
-YEAH, I'M PAINTING
THE WHOLE BLOCK.
-OOH.
OKAY, LET'S ADD HER UP.
THAT'S $41.
-IT WAS AMAZING...
$41 ON THE NOSE.
MY ONCE-MAGNIFICENT FORTUNE
WAS NOW COMPLETELY GONE.
-PLUS THERE'S TAX.
THANKS.
-I WAS FLAT BROKE... BUSTED.
MY ONLY HOPE WAS
TO CUT MY LOSSES
AND FINISH THE JOB
BEFORE IT FINISHED ME.
-HEY, DONNELLY, OVER HERE.
LOOK.
-WHOA!
-HEY, GUYS!
YOU THINK WE CAN GET A
LITTLE PAINTING DONE HERE?
-LIGHTEN UP, ARNOLD.
WE'RE ON A BREAK.
-ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT.
-I'D HAD ENOUGH. I WAS
FED UP WITH THESE JOKERS.
I'D BEEN PUSHED TO MY LIMIT.
-HEY, YOU GUYS TOOK A
BREAK 20 MINUTES AGO.
IT'S TIME TO GET
SOME WORK DONE NOW.
-YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
-AND MAYBE THAT'S WHEN IT
HIT ME... THE HORRIBLE TRUTH.
-WHOA.
-I WAS LETTING THIS POOR
SCHOOLTEACHER'S HOUSE
BE PAINTED BY... A
BUNCH OF PERVERTS.
-YOU KNOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU.
I AM REALLY, REALLY SURPRISED.
DONNELLY, SPINOZA,
HORVATH, I HIRED YOU.
AND FROM THE FIRST DAY,
ALL YOU'VE BEEN DOING
IS GOLDBRICKING AND DAYDREAMING.
AND FROM NOW ON,
THERE'S GONNA BE NO MORE
BREAKS AND NO DAYDREAMING.
DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?
AND YOU'RE GONNA
TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR WORK.
AND YOU'RE GONNA PAINT!
AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA STOP PAINTING
UNTIL THIS JOB IS FINISHED!
-THERE... IT WAS A
SUMMONS TO ARMS,
AN APPEAL TO OLD-FASHIONED
RED-BLOODED ETHICS
THAT CALLED FOR ONLY ONE REPLY.
-WE QUIT.
-SEE YA.
-WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU QUIT?
YOU CAN'T JUST QUIT!
I ALREADY PAID YOU!
I PAID FOR THOSE OVERALLS!
AND THOSE GLOVES!
-BUT SUDDENLY I WAS ON MY OWN.
-KEVIN? HONEY,
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
-YEAH. I'M FINE.
-HEY, THERE... THERE'S
PAINT IN MY POTATOES!
-SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD.
-THAT NIGHT, I WAS IN NO
MOOD FOR JOKES... OR POTATOES.
-YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT
WORKING TOO HARD?
-YEAH. MOM, I
TOLD YOU, I'M FINE.
REALLY.
BESIDES... IT'S MY JOB.
-I KNOW. BUT YOU LOOK EXHAUSTED.
HONEY, NO ONE WOULD
BLAME YOU IF YOU QUIT.
-THEY WOULDN'T?
-AND THERE IT WAS...
PEACE WITH HONOR.
JUST IN MY GRASP.
-QUIT?
HE'S NOT GONNA QUIT.
-WHOOPS.
-YOU KNOW, KEVIN, AT
FIRST I HAD MY DOUBTS.
BUT SEEING HOW HARD
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING...
I GOT TO SAY...
I'M IMPRESSED, SON.
-AND I GUESS THAT'S
WHEN I REALIZED,
LOOKING INTO MY FATHER'S EYES,
SEEING HIS
ADMIRATION, HIS TRUST,
HIS TOTAL MISREADING
OF THE SITUATION...
I KNEW THERE WAS
ONLY ONE THING TO DO.
I WAS GONNA TURN A PROFIT
FROM THIS THING OR DIE TRYING.
SURE, I'D GOTTEN CONFUSED
BY BEAUTY, BY LUST, BY GREED.
BUT NO MORE. NOPE.
FROM NOW ON, BUSINESS
WAS BUSINESS WAS...
-I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
-NEVER MIND.
-YOU HAVE?
-KEVIN!
-OH. HI.
-I'M GLAD YOU STOPPED
BY. WON'T YOU COME IN?
I JUST MADE SOME LEMONADE.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME?
NO, THANKS. I JUST CAME
OVER TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
-OH? WHAT?
-AT THAT MOMENT, I NOTICED
SOMETHING ABOUT MISS FARMER
THAT I'D NEVER BEFORE SEEN.
SHE HAD A LARGE
MAN IN HER KITCHEN.
-OH, KEVIN... THIS
IS MR. KAPLAN.
HE JUST BOUGHT MY HOUSE.
-WHAT?
-PLEASE, LISA.
"DAVE."
-WE JUST SIGNED THE
PAPERS THIS MORNING.
-I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SHE'D REALLY DONE THIS? TO ME?
-YOU'RE MOVING?
-NOT FAR... JUST AN
APARTMENT ACROSS TOWN.
I LOVE THIS HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I
FIRST MOVED IN HERE,
I GUESS I THOUGHT THAT
SOMEDAY I'D GET MARRIED
AND RAISE MY FAMILY HERE.
BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT IS ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE MAILMAN, MY NEXT-DOOR
NEIGHBOR WITH HIS LAWNMOWER...
SEEMS THESE GUYS
SEE A SINGLE GIRL
AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO
IS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER.
-OH.
-OH.
-AND SOMEHOW, RIGHT THEN,
I BEGAN TO GET AN INKLING OF
WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON HERE.
-WELL, UH... I GUESS
YOU WON'T WANT ME
TO FINISH PAINTING
THE HOUSE, THEN, RIGHT?
-WHY, KEVIN... OF COURSE I DO.
AFTER ALL, WE MADE
A DEAL, DIDN'T WE?
-GUESS I ALREADY
KNEW WHAT CAME NEXT.
-AND A DEAL'S A DEAL.
-YEAH, THAT WAS IT...
THE BOTTOM LINE,
IN ANYONE'S LEDGER.
-MR. KAPLAN...
YOU KNOW, THIS PAINTING IS
GETTING PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
I'M GONNA NEED SOME
EXTRA MONEY TO FINISH IT.
-DON'T LOOK AT ME, KID.
I JUST PAID 55 GRAND
FOR A $40,000 HOUSE.
-IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE
WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF EVERYBODY ELSE,
SEX AND ECONOMICS
WERE FACTS OF LIFE...
FOR ALL OF US.
-THE TEENAGERS IN AFRICA
HAVE A LIFE THAT'S VERY
MUCH DIFFERENT FROM YOURS...
-I CONTINUED TO SEE
MISS FARMER EVERY DAY,
BUT SOMEHOW IT WASN'T
THE SAME AFTER THAT.
-THEY USUALLY
SPEND THEIR TIME...
-AFTER ALL, IN A WAY,
SHE'D DONE ME A FAVOR...
TAUGHT ME A LESSON IN LIFE.
TO WIT... WHEN IT CAME TO
BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND MONEY,
IT WOULD ALWAYS END LIKE THIS...
SOME GUY WOULD GET STUCK
ON A LADDER IN NOVEMBER...
-HEY!
YOU MISSED A SPOT!
- AND SOME GUY
WOULD END UP ALONE.
-♪ ...BE SURE THAT THIS IS
LOVE BEYOND COMPARE... ♪
-ALL I KNOW FOR SURE IS
IT TOOK ME SIX WEEKS TO
FINISH PAINTING THAT HOUSE.
IT COST ME $214 OF MY
OWN HARD-EARNED MONEY.
-♪ ...WOULD ALL THIS BE TRUE ♪
♪ IF I DIDN'T CARE... ♪
-AND THE NEXT SPRING,
MR. KAPLAN PUT UP
ALUMINUM SIDING.
-♪ BY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪
-♪ SAID I'M GONNA MAKE
IT WITH MY FRIENDS ♪
-♪ TRY WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪
-♪ OH, I'M GONNA
KEEP ON TRYING ♪
-♪ HIGH WITH A LITTLE
HELP FROM MY FRIENDS ♪
♪ I'M GONNA KEEP ON
TRYING NOW, BABY ♪
-♪ OOH, OOH, OOH ♪
-FOR MOST GUYS I WENT
TO SCHOOL WITH IN 1972,
JUNIOR YEAR WAS A
TIME OF... EXPLORATION,
A TIME FOR EXPANDING HORIZONS,
BROADENING PERSPECTIVES,
SEEKING ANSWERS TO
LITTLE-KNOWN QUESTIONS.
IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GRAPPLE
WITH THE GREAT
ISSUES OF OUR DAY,
WHICH, AS IT HAPPENED,
BOILED DOWN TO ONLY TWO.
-Oh, man.
-THERE WERE ONLY FOUR
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICS,
AS COMPARED TO NOW.
BY THE END OF 1972,
THERE'S GONNA BE 41.
-ONE OF THEM WAS SEX.
-SO... NOW, IS EVERYBODY
PAYING ATTENTION?
-MISS FARMER, OUR
SOCIAL-STUDIES TEACHER.
-WHO CAN TELL ME THE NAMES
OF THREE AFRICAN REPUBLICS?
NO ONE?
LET'S LOOK AT A MAP.
-IN ONE OF THE GREAT
COSMIC IRONIES OF OUR TIME,
THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION HAD HIRED HER
TO MOLD AND DEVELOP OUR
FORMATIVE YOUNG MINDS.
-DOMINICK? CAN YOU POINT
OUT LIBERIA ON THE MAP?
-IT'S, UH...
THAT YELLOW ONE.
RIGHT THERE.
PERHAPS YOU COULD
COME UP AND SHOW US.
-UH...
CAN'T.
M-MY FOOT'S ASLEEP.
-NOT AN UNCOMMON AILMENT
IN SOCIAL STUDIES THAT YEAR.
ALL RIGHT.
WHY DOESN'T EVERYBODY JUST
PASS UP THEIR ASSIGNMENTS?
-ALL IN ALL, IF YOU WERE
16 AND MALE, IT WAS AGONY.
AND NO ONE WAS IMMUNE.
WHICH BRINGS ME
BACK TO THE POINT.
FOR TEENAGE BOYS, THERE WERE
ONLY TWO GREAT ISSUES... SEX...
-THAT'LL BE $3.69.
- AND, OF COURSE, ECONOMICS.
-UH... SURE.
-AND LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
BY "ECONOMICS," I
MEAN COLD, HARD CASH.
NOT THAT I HAD ANY.
-YOU'RE 49 CENTS SHORT.
-UH... ONE SECOND.
ANY OF YOU GUYS GOT 50 CENTS?
-NOT ME.
-SORRY, MAN. I'M TAPPED.
-WAIT A MINUTE... YOU MEAN,
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU,
YOU CAN'T COME UP
WITH A LOUSY HALF-BUCK?
-HEY, I PAID LAST WEEK.
-AMAZING.
EVEN WITH MY JOB
DELIVERING CHINESE
FOOD TWO NIGHTS A WEEK...
-BE RIGHT WITH YOU.
- THE BEST I COULD DO WHEN
IT CAME TO CASH FLOW WAS...
-THERE.
-IT'S A POTATO CHIP.
-OH, YEAH.
GUESS IT IS.
-GET OUT OF HERE!
-RIGHT.
-FACE IT... POVERTY WAS RUINING
MY GOOD NAME, MY REPUTATION...
NOT TO MENTION MY CREDIT RATING.
WHAT'S THAT SOUND?
-NOT TO MENTION MY LOVE LIFE.
-WHAT SOUND?
THAT ONE.
THERE IT IS AGAIN.
-IT'S MY STOMACH.
IT'S GROWLING.
-OH.
-NOT TO MENTION MY
GIRLFRIEND'S DIGESTIVE TRACT.
-I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE
TAKING ME OUT TO DINNER TONIGHT.
-OH. YEAH.
-KEVIN, I'M REALLY HUNGRY.
CAN'T WE JUST GET SOMETHING?
-WELL, UH...
YEAH, I THINK EATING
OUT IS OVERRATED.
YOU KNOW, THE... THE
SERVICE IS ALWAYS SLOW.
PLUS, THE FOOD IS
NEVER THAT GOOD.
YOU KNOW, I READ SOMEWHERE
THAT ANYTHING YOU EAT AFTER 9:00
GOES RIGHT TO YOUR HIPS.
DIDN'T YOU READ THAT?
-I THINK I'D LIKE
TO GO HOME NOW.
-RIGHT.
-FACT... THIS CASH-FLOW THING
WAS BEGINNING TO
CLOUD MY JUDGMENT.
AND SO DESPERATION LED ME
TO CONSIDER
ONCE-UNTHINKABLE OPTIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, I
NEEDED A SECOND JOB.
PREFERABLY SOMETHING
THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE A
NAME TAG AND A SHOVEL.
OR A BAGGIE AND A SCOOP.
BROTHER.
-AND THEN, JUST AS LUCK AND
MONEY WERE RUNNING OUT...
-OH. HI, KEVIN.
-HI.
- LUST AND FORTUNE STEPPED IN.
AND OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED.
-KEVIN. HI.
-HI.
I, UH, CAME ABOUT THE JOB.
WELL, GEE, YOU
CERTAINLY GOT HERE FAST.
-YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW,
IT'S RIGHT ON THE WAY.
-OH.
-BESIDES, YOU KNOW
WHAT THEY SAY...
"THE EARLY WORM GETS THE BIRD."
ANYWAY, UH...
HERE I AM.
- WELL, GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON IN?
I'M MAKING SOME LEMONADE.
-AND, THE FORMALITIES
OUT OF THE WAY,
NEGOTIATIONS BEGAN.
-SUGAR?
-HMM?
-FOR YOUR LEMONADE?
-OH. YEAH.
-SO... DON'T YOU EVEN WANT
TO KNOW WHAT THE JOB IS?
-WELL, IT'S, UH,
PAINTING, RIGHT?
I MEAN, I'VE DONE LOTS OF
PAINTING... ALL OVER THE PLACE.
-TWO STORM WINDOWS FOR DAD
AND WAYNE'S
FOREHEAD WHEN I WAS 6.
BUT WHO WAS COUNTING?
OH, I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE
IT DONE PROFESSIONALLY.
-BUT AT THAT MOMENT,
I'D HAVE KILLED TO KEEP
PROFESSIONALS FROM HER HOUSE.
-HEY, WHY HIRE THEM
WHEN YOU GOT ME?
- BABE.
-WELL, IF YOU REALLY
THINK YOU CAN...
-'COURSE I CAN.
SO...
WHAT WOULD I BE PAINTING?
-THE HOUSE.
-THE HOUSE?
THE WHOLE HOUSE?
- NO. JUST THE OUTSIDE.
THE THING IS...
I DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY.
-AND, OF COURSE, RIGHT THEN,
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
I WAS IN OVER MY HEAD.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN, BUT...
-HOW DOES...$500 SOUND?
-AND THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED.
RIGHT THEN, RIGHT THERE,
TWO GREAT FORCES
OF NATURE CONVERGED...
BEAUTY AND CASH.
-COURSE, YOU WOULD
TAKE CARE OF THE SUPPLIES.
CAN YOU START THIS WEEKEND?
-WELL...
-PAINTING?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PAINTING?
-DAD, WHAT'S TO KNOW?
I MEAN, THERE'S A
HOUSE, AND... YOU PAINT IT.
-SEEMED SIMPLE ENOUGH TO ME.
WHAT KIND OF PAINT YOU
USING... LATEX OR ENAMEL?
-UH... BLUE.
-YOU KNOW WHAT SUPPLIES TO BUY?
-WELL...
-YOU HAVE A CREW TO WORK WITH?
-GEEZ, WHAT WAS
THIS... TRADE SCHOOL?
-YEAH, I GOT A COUPLE
OF GUYS... IN MIND.
WELL, JUST MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
PAINTING'S HARD ENOUGH
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE GOOD AT IT.
- THROUGH A NATIONAL
HEALTH-INSURANCE...
-AND THERE YOU HAD IT...
THE UNFLAGGING SUPPORT
OF HEARTH AND HOME.
-BETTER HOPE IT'S ONE OF
THOSE PAINT-BY-NUMBER HOUSES.
-SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD!
-AFTER ALL, IF THERE WAS
ONE THING I DIDN'T NEED,
IT WAS MY FAMILY
BRINGING ME DOWN.
-ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
-I HAD MY FRIENDS TO DO THAT.
-PAINT A HOUSE? A WHOLE HOUSE?
-THAT SOUNDS LIKE WORK.
-HEY, I THOUGHT YOU
GUYS NEEDED THE MONEY.
-HOW MUCH YOU PAYIN'?
-LET'S SEE HERE. $500
DIVIDED BY 3 COMES TO...
-20 BUCKS A MAN?
-OKAY. IF THAT'S THE
WAY THEY WANTED IT, FINE.
AFTER ALL, I DIDN'T NEED THEM.
WHAT I NEEDED WERE MEN...
MEN WHO TOOK JOY IN THEIR
WORK, SOLID BLUE-COLLAR MEN.
MEN LIKE...
JIMMY DONNELLY...
EDDIE HORVATH...
AND JOEY SPINOZA.
I DON'T KNOW.
CALL IT INSTINCT, BUT SOMEHOW,
I KNEW I'D FOUND MY CREW.
SO, GUYS...
WANT TO MAKE A FEW DOLLARS?
-BINGO.
-DOLLARS?
-AND SO, WITH THAT,
MY TEAM WAS COMPLETE.
SURE, MAYBE THEY WEREN'T
MUCH ON EXPERIENCE,
BUT THEY HAD THEIR GOOD POINTS.
THEY WORKED HARD.
THEY WORKED FAST.
MOST OF ALL, THEY WORKED CHEAP.
-SO, ARNOLD... WHEN
YOU SAID "A FEW DOLLARS,"
EXACTLY HOW FEW
WERE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
-I'M NOT SURE.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO BUY SUPPLIES,
AND THERE'S OVERHEAD AND...
-BALLPARK FIGURE?
-$20.
4...
95.
-$30.
-$30?
-SO THIS GUY WANTED
TO PLAY HARDBALL, HUH?
-SORRY. $26 IS MY LIMIT.
-$28.
THAT'S AS LOW AS I GO.
-$27.
-I'LL GO TALK TO MY BOYS.
GAME, SET, MATCH... ARNOLD.
AT 80-SOME BUCKS FOR
LABOR, PLUS MATERIALS,
I'D HAVE ENOUGH
LEFT FROM THE $500
TO QUALIFY AS A SMALL FORTUNE.
-OKAY, $142 FOR THE PAINT,
THAT'S $28 FOR THE BRUSHES,
$35 FOR THE ROLLERS,
AND 16 BUCKS FOR THE TARP.
-A VERY SMALL FORTUNE.
-$142 FOR THE PAINT?
HOW'D YOU GET THAT?
-I ADDED IT.
YOU GOT A GRAND
TOTAL OF $258.88.
-OKAY. WE'RE IN.
-IT WAS KIND OF LIKE WATCHING
MY WALLET BLEED TO DEATH.
STILL, AT LEAST NOW MAYBE
THE HEMORRHAGE WAS COMPLETE.
-PLUS TAX.
-STILL, THE NEXT
MORNING, WE ARRIVED...
ON TIME, READY TO TACKLE
THE TASK BEFORE US.
-WAIT A MINUTE.
-JUST ONE LITTLE HITCH.
-YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING
ABOUT IT BEING TWO STORIES.
-IT'S NOT TWO STORIES.
-THERE'S A WINDOW RIGHT THERE.
MAN, THIS IS... THIS
IS GONNA COST MORE.
I'D SAY AT LEAST...$50.
-$50?!
BUT WE AGREED ON...
-$50. UP FRONT AND IN CASH.
-IT WAS A HOLD-UP
WORTHY OF JESSE JAMES.
AND I WASN'T BUYING.
-OH, NO. NO WAY. FORGET IT.
-BUT, ARNOLD...
-DONNELLY, WE HAD A DEAL.
AND A DEAL'S A DEAL, PERIOD.
-HEY, I WAS NO PATSY.
AFTER ALL, I HAD AN
INVESTMENT HERE.
KEVIN!
-UNFORTUNATELY, AT THAT MOMENT,
THE STOCK MARKET CRASHED.
-I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
ARE YOU JUST ABOUT
READY TO GET STARTED?
-UH, SURE. YEAH, JUST ABOUT.
-GOOD.
-OKAY, ARNOLD.
SO, WE HAVE A DEAL?
-FINE.
-WHAT ELSE COULD
I DO? I WAS STYMIED.
GREED AND TEMPTATION
HAD CONSPIRED AGAINST ME.
-LET'S JUST GET TO
WORK NOW, OKAY?
-YOU GOT IT.
AND THERE WAS REALLY
NOTHING LEFT TO SAY, BUT...
-BOYS...
BREAK TIME.
-RIGHT.
SO, THAT WEEKEND,
WE GOT TO WORK.
WE BANDED TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
IT WAS TIME TO PUT ECONOMIC
DIFFERENCES BEHIND US.
-♪ AND I BEEN TAKIN'
CARE OF BUSINESS... ♪
-IT WAS TIME TO PAINT.
♪ ...OF BUSINESS EVERY WAY... ♪
-SURE, MAYBE WE HAD NO
IDEA WHAT WE WERE DOING.
SO WHAT?
WHAT WE LACKED IN EXPERIENCE,
WE MADE UP FOR WITH...
LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
AND AFTER TWO DAYS OF WORK,
ONE THING WAS CRYSTAL-CLEAR.
THIS WAS A DISASTER.
-CAN'T YOU GUYS GO ANY FASTER?
-WE'RE GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN.
-DONNELLY, WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE THAT TOP WINDOW UP THERE?
-I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.
-BUT I PAID YOU FOR
A SECOND FLOOR.
-I KNOW. I APPRECIATE IT.
-♪ ...JUST LYIN' IN THE SUN... ♪
-HEY, ARNOLD, UH, WE'RE
GONNA NEED SOME MORE PAINT.
-TIME WAS MONEY.
PAINT WAS MONEY.
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS
WHAT I HAD TO DO.
-♪ ...AND WE BE
TAKIN' CARE OF... ♪
-I HAD TO ASK MISS FARMER
FOR AN EXTRA HUNDRED DOLLARS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE DIFFICULT.
THIS WAS BUSINESS...
SIMPLE ECONOMICS.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH ANYTHING ELSE.
NOTHING TO DO WITH
LONG LEGS, WITH SOFT SKIN,
WITH THE WAY A WOMAN
SMELLED IN THE MORNING.
-MISS FARMER? YOU GOT A SECOND?
-HI, KEVIN.
-UH...
HI.
-I GUESS IT MUST
LOOK KIND OF SILLY...
ME SUNBATHING
HERE WITHOUT A POOL.
-BUT SOMEHOW,
"SILLY" WASN'T EXACTLY THE
WORD THAT CAME TO MIND.
-SO? HOW'S IT GOING?
-OH, FINE. IT'S JUST...
ACTUALLY, UH...
WHAT I CAME TO TELL YOU
IS I THINK IT'S GONNA COST
MORE THAN I THOUGHT.
-REALLY?
WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME.
YOU CAN ALWAYS COME TO
ME WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
-HOLY COW! THIS WAS GONNA
BE EASIER THAN I THOUGHT.
I WAS FUNDED! I WAS FLUSH!
I WAS BACK IN THE CHIPS.
-HERE. HERE'S AN EXTRA $10.
-I WAS... WORKING FOR PEANUTS.
-THANKS.
-I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.
-THERE'S PAINT, PAINT REMOVER,
PANS, BRUSHES...
ANYTHING ELSE?
-THE LADDER.
-OH, YEAH.
YOU STARTING A NEW HOUSE?
-YEAH, I'M PAINTING
THE WHOLE BLOCK.
-OOH.
OKAY, LET'S ADD HER UP.
THAT'S $41.
-IT WAS AMAZING...
$41 ON THE NOSE.
MY ONCE-MAGNIFICENT FORTUNE
WAS NOW COMPLETELY GONE.
-PLUS THERE'S TAX.
THANKS.
-I WAS FLAT BROKE... BUSTED.
MY ONLY HOPE WAS
TO CUT MY LOSSES
AND FINISH THE JOB
BEFORE IT FINISHED ME.
-HEY, DONNELLY, OVER HERE.
LOOK.
-WHOA!
-HEY, GUYS!
YOU THINK WE CAN GET A
LITTLE PAINTING DONE HERE?
-LIGHTEN UP, ARNOLD.
WE'RE ON A BREAK.
-ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT.
-I'D HAD ENOUGH. I WAS
FED UP WITH THESE JOKERS.
I'D BEEN PUSHED TO MY LIMIT.
-HEY, YOU GUYS TOOK A
BREAK 20 MINUTES AGO.
IT'S TIME TO GET
SOME WORK DONE NOW.
-YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
-AND MAYBE THAT'S WHEN IT
HIT ME... THE HORRIBLE TRUTH.
-WHOA.
-I WAS LETTING THIS POOR
SCHOOLTEACHER'S HOUSE
BE PAINTED BY... A
BUNCH OF PERVERTS.
-YOU KNOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU.
I AM REALLY, REALLY SURPRISED.
DONNELLY, SPINOZA,
HORVATH, I HIRED YOU.
AND FROM THE FIRST DAY,
ALL YOU'VE BEEN DOING
IS GOLDBRICKING AND DAYDREAMING.
AND FROM NOW ON,
THERE'S GONNA BE NO MORE
BREAKS AND NO DAYDREAMING.
DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?
AND YOU'RE GONNA
TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR WORK.
AND YOU'RE GONNA PAINT!
AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA STOP PAINTING
UNTIL THIS JOB IS FINISHED!
-THERE... IT WAS A
SUMMONS TO ARMS,
AN APPEAL TO OLD-FASHIONED
RED-BLOODED ETHICS
THAT CALLED FOR ONLY ONE REPLY.
-WE QUIT.
-SEE YA.
-WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU QUIT?
YOU CAN'T JUST QUIT!
I ALREADY PAID YOU!
I PAID FOR THOSE OVERALLS!
AND THOSE GLOVES!
-BUT SUDDENLY I WAS ON MY OWN.
-KEVIN? HONEY,
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
-YEAH. I'M FINE.
-HEY, THERE... THERE'S
PAINT IN MY POTATOES!
-SHUT UP, BUTTHEAD.
-THAT NIGHT, I WAS IN NO
MOOD FOR JOKES... OR POTATOES.
-YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT
WORKING TOO HARD?
-YEAH. MOM, I
TOLD YOU, I'M FINE.
REALLY.
BESIDES... IT'S MY JOB.
-I KNOW. BUT YOU LOOK EXHAUSTED.
HONEY, NO ONE WOULD
BLAME YOU IF YOU QUIT.
-THEY WOULDN'T?
-AND THERE IT WAS...
PEACE WITH HONOR.
JUST IN MY GRASP.
-QUIT?
HE'S NOT GONNA QUIT.
-WHOOPS.
-YOU KNOW, KEVIN, AT
FIRST I HAD MY DOUBTS.
BUT SEEING HOW HARD
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING...
I GOT TO SAY...
I'M IMPRESSED, SON.
-AND I GUESS THAT'S
WHEN I REALIZED,
LOOKING INTO MY FATHER'S EYES,
SEEING HIS
ADMIRATION, HIS TRUST,
HIS TOTAL MISREADING
OF THE SITUATION...
I KNEW THERE WAS
ONLY ONE THING TO DO.
I WAS GONNA TURN A PROFIT
FROM THIS THING OR DIE TRYING.
SURE, I'D GOTTEN CONFUSED
BY BEAUTY, BY LUST, BY GREED.
BUT NO MORE. NOPE.
FROM NOW ON, BUSINESS
WAS BUSINESS WAS...
-I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
-NEVER MIND.
-YOU HAVE?
-KEVIN!
-OH. HI.
-I'M GLAD YOU STOPPED
BY. WON'T YOU COME IN?
I JUST MADE SOME LEMONADE.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME?
NO, THANKS. I JUST CAME
OVER TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
-OH? WHAT?
-AT THAT MOMENT, I NOTICED
SOMETHING ABOUT MISS FARMER
THAT I'D NEVER BEFORE SEEN.
SHE HAD A LARGE
MAN IN HER KITCHEN.
-OH, KEVIN... THIS
IS MR. KAPLAN.
HE JUST BOUGHT MY HOUSE.
-WHAT?
-PLEASE, LISA.
"DAVE."
-WE JUST SIGNED THE
PAPERS THIS MORNING.
-I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SHE'D REALLY DONE THIS? TO ME?
-YOU'RE MOVING?
-NOT FAR... JUST AN
APARTMENT ACROSS TOWN.
I LOVE THIS HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I
FIRST MOVED IN HERE,
I GUESS I THOUGHT THAT
SOMEDAY I'D GET MARRIED
AND RAISE MY FAMILY HERE.
BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT
IT IS ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE MAILMAN, MY NEXT-DOOR
NEIGHBOR WITH HIS LAWNMOWER...
SEEMS THESE GUYS
SEE A SINGLE GIRL
AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO
IS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER.
-OH.
-OH.
-AND SOMEHOW, RIGHT THEN,
I BEGAN TO GET AN INKLING OF
WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON HERE.
-WELL, UH... I GUESS
YOU WON'T WANT ME
TO FINISH PAINTING
THE HOUSE, THEN, RIGHT?
-WHY, KEVIN... OF COURSE I DO.
AFTER ALL, WE MADE
A DEAL, DIDN'T WE?
-GUESS I ALREADY
KNEW WHAT CAME NEXT.
-AND A DEAL'S A DEAL.
-YEAH, THAT WAS IT...
THE BOTTOM LINE,
IN ANYONE'S LEDGER.
-MR. KAPLAN...
YOU KNOW, THIS PAINTING IS
GETTING PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
I'M GONNA NEED SOME
EXTRA MONEY TO FINISH IT.
-DON'T LOOK AT ME, KID.
I JUST PAID 55 GRAND
FOR A $40,000 HOUSE.
-IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE
WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF EVERYBODY ELSE,
SEX AND ECONOMICS
WERE FACTS OF LIFE...
FOR ALL OF US.
-THE TEENAGERS IN AFRICA
HAVE A LIFE THAT'S VERY
MUCH DIFFERENT FROM YOURS...
-I CONTINUED TO SEE
MISS FARMER EVERY DAY,
BUT SOMEHOW IT WASN'T
THE SAME AFTER THAT.
-THEY USUALLY
SPEND THEIR TIME...
-AFTER ALL, IN A WAY,
SHE'D DONE ME A FAVOR...
TAUGHT ME A LESSON IN LIFE.
TO WIT... WHEN IT CAME TO
BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND MONEY,
IT WOULD ALWAYS END LIKE THIS...
SOME GUY WOULD GET STUCK
ON A LADDER IN NOVEMBER...
-HEY!
YOU MISSED A SPOT!
- AND SOME GUY
WOULD END UP ALONE.
-♪ ...BE SURE THAT THIS IS
LOVE BEYOND COMPARE... ♪
-ALL I KNOW FOR SURE IS
IT TOOK ME SIX WEEKS TO
FINISH PAINTING THAT HOUSE.
IT COST ME $214 OF MY
OWN HARD-EARNED MONEY.
-♪ ...WOULD ALL THIS BE TRUE ♪
♪ IF I DIDN'T CARE... ♪
-AND THE NEXT SPRING,
MR. KAPLAN PUT UP
ALUMINUM SIDING.