All language subtitles for Family Ties S01E16 Margin of Error.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en.CBS.EN

♪ I'll bet We've been together ♪

♪ For a million years ♪

♪ And I'll bet
We'll be together ♪

♪ For a million more ♪

♪ Ooh, it's like I
started breathin' ♪

♪ On the night we kissed ♪

♪ And I can't remember
What I ever did before ♪

♪ What would we do, baby ♪

♪ Without us? ♪

♪ What would we do, baby ♪

♪ Without us? ♪

♪ And there ain't No nothin' ♪

♪ We can't love
Each other through ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ What would we do, baby ♪

♪ Without us? ♪

♪ Sha-la-la-lahhh ♪

Do you know we beat
Windsor Elementary today

in field hockey.

That's terrific,
Jennifer. How'd you do?

Hey, Dad, have
you been following

what's been happening
in the stock market lately?

I mean, they say that a thousand

is gonna be the
base for the future.

Now, can you picture it?

A market with a Dow
base of a thousand?

I grow light-headed
at the very thought.

I was talking,
Alex. Do you mind?

Oh, sorry, Jennifer.

Windsor hasn't lost
a game since 1911

and they still have
the same coach.

Look, Dad, I've been making
a killing on paper everyday.

I mean, I have a knack for
picking what's gonna go up

and when to get
out at a good profit.

Alex, charting those stocks
is just a school project.

They're thinking of
firing the coach now.

I know it's just
a school project.

That's what's killing me.

Mr. Matthews down
at the brokerage house,

he keeps recommending
my tips to his clients.

Could we talk about
something else?

Alex has monopolized
the conversation all night.

All right. What do you
wanna talk about, Mallory?

You have some keen
insight for us about lipstick?

Alex, your sister has a point.
Enough with the stock market.

Let's hear about
some other things

that are going on in the world.

Mal?

Well, they have come
up with this new lipstick

you can just pencil on.

Wanna go back
to the stocks, Dad?

Alex, I'm not
investing one cent.

It's out of the question.

Dad, you're missing a
golden opportunity here.

It's like taking
candy from a baby.

Brings back memories.

Elyse, are you finished?

I'm... I'm sorry, sweetheart.
This project isn't working

and it's making me crazy.

I think I have the
first recorded case

of architect's block.

What's the problem, Mom?

Well, I'm designing a
chapel for the university

and the problem is

that people from many different
religions are gonna use it.

Why is that a problem?

Well, I'm not sure
how to allot the space.

I mean, like, if I have
four separate altar areas,

then... Then half of the time,
only a fourth of the people

will be facing the
minister of their choice.

What about revolving pews?

I'll work on it some more.

I've been following this one
stock here, Sykundo Tin?

Uh-huh. It's gonna
triple, at least.

But we have to get in on it now.

I told the broker
we'd call him at home.

No way. Alex, you've
gotta understand.

The stock market is a... A very
complex, unpredictable thing.

My own experience with
it has been rather, uh...

We lost a bundle.

It'll be different this time.

All you have to do is
reopen the account.

I'll handle it from there.

All the account consists of
are the 50 shares of AT&T

my father gave us
for a wedding present.

And we're not gonna risk that.

The phone company.
Where is the challenge?

Mallory alone keeps the
phone company in business.

Alex, Alex, no.

Mom, it's now or never.

Sykundo Tin is gonna
be the next McDonald's.

I'm with your dad on this.

I'm sorry if you think
we're being unreasonable.

But...

Hi. I'd like to speak to
Mr. Matthews, please.

Hi, Mr. Matthews?

Yes, this is Steven Keaton.

Yes, Alex Keaton's father.

Yeah, I'd like to
reopen my account

and purchase 100
shares of Sykundo Tin

at the opening bell.

Uh, pardon me for a moment.

Alex. You're not
Dad. That's plagiarism.

Just be quiet for
a minute, Jennifer.

I-I can explain all this.

I don't think I
could be quiet, Alex.

Chew on this, then.

Uh, sorry to keep
you waiting, sir.

Just some, uh, prowlers
at the back door.

Yeah, that's right.

Reopen my account,
and purchase 100 shares

of Sykundo Tin.

Just use that AT&T
stock as collateral.

All right, thank
you. Good night.

Mmm.

Jennifer, this isn't
as bad as it seems.

I'll be the judge of that.

What you've just witnessed

was done for Mom
and Dad's own good.

I mean, their
anniversary is coming up.

Don't you think
they'll be surprised

when I give them a nice,

big, sentimental check?

I mean, everybody's gonna
come out of this a winner.

I know I will.

Right. Turn over those 500
shares of Overdyne we bought.

Right, and all of
the genetic stock.

Put everything
we have into V.I.P.

Well, thank you. Actually,
it was the wife's idea.

Uh,

that'll be it for today. Bye.

I suppose you're wondering
what that phone call was all about.

Not at all. How's
the little woman?

Um, Mom, I was just
working on my school project.

I was pretending to buy
and sell some stocks there.

Pretending to be grown
up, with a family and a dog

will lend some authenticity
to the project. That's all.

Humor me.

I've been doing that
for 17 years, Alex.

Did you have a nice run?

Oh, it was okay.

Thought I'd clear my mind,

but I still haven't come up
with any ideas for the chapel.

Oh, well, don't
let it get to you.

Well, it's hard not to.

I mean, I know I'm
a good architect.

But, suddenly, I cannot come up

with a simple solution
to an easy problem.

It just shakes my confidence.

Makes me feel like I
don't know what I'm doing.

You ever felt like that?

No.

Mom,

we're really gonna
have to talk about

this exercise kick
you've been on lately.

It's killing me.

It's good for you.

Mallory. Look at
you, back already.

You made good time.

Yeah, sort of took a short cut.

You mean, you didn't
go around the park?

She didn't even go all
the way around the house.

Hey, everybody. Oh, how's
the market doing, Alex?

Well, starting with a hundred
shares of Sykundo Tin,

I parlayed $500 into $3000.

Then I opened a margin account

and I made 20 percent
return in three days.

Then I bought options on
a South American oil well,

made more than triple
value in three weeks

and put everything I have,

$10,800 into V.I.P.

I'm heavily margined but there's
double the chance for profit.

That's very nice. I
forgot what I asked you.

What is V.I.P.?

Video Industries
of the Philippines.

Maybe you should go there
and check out your investment.

Go with it, Alex. I've gotta
say I admire your spirit.

It's great to see you so
excited about a school project.

I'm excited about
his project too.

Well, I've got an early meeting

down at the station.
I'll grab a bite there.

Okay. Have a good day, baby.

Mm.

Oh, boy, here they go.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mallory.
We'll say goodbye at the car.

I'm in no hurry. Heh-heh.

You guys make breakfast?

Now that my workout's
over, I think I'll go change.

Hope I don't stiffen up.

Sounds like we're
doing okay, partner.

Jennifer,

I've turned $500 into $10,000.

I can't believe how hot I am.

How much is my cut so far?

A thousand dollars
for your college fund

and $50 for a new bike.

Not bad, just for keeping quiet.

Mom and Dad will
see things differently

when I give them that
check for their anniversary.

I'll take them to the brokerage
house and surprise them.

Alex, Mom and Dad
can't be bought off.

They're not like you and me.

We're talking about thousands
of dollars here, Jennifer.

Of course, a little cash always
puts a new perspective on life.

Hi. How are you?
Hi, Mr. Matthews.

Oh, hi, Alex. I'll be with
you in just a second.

I'm having some trouble
with the computer here.

Keeps jamming.

Circuits must be down.

I don't know.

Oh, have you tried this?

See, sometimes you have
to clear it during this phase

or it's a real pain.

I knew that.

Look at that, Trans
Alloid up a point.

And Petramco up two
and a half. That's terrific.

Yeah. That's terrific.

Well, you're as
hot as a pistol, Alex.

You got the Midas
touch, buddy boy.

Well, I'm glad I talked
my dad into investing.

Oh, and that setback with V.I.P.

While regrettable, it's
certainly understandable.

Excuse me.

What setback with V.I.P.?

Uh,

Mr. Matthews, what was
that you just said about V.I.P.?

There was a typhoon
in Manila last night.

Millions in damage. The
stock dropped 28 points.

Excuse me, Alex.

Uh, are you sure?

About what?

About the typhoon. The
stocks. Are you sure?

Of course I am. I'm surprised
you didn't know about it.

What am I, a weather man?

I've been in school
all day. I'm a kid.

That's right. I
forget sometimes.

Alex, take it easy.

So it's dropped 28 points.

He bought it at 29. Look,

well, all he has to do
is meet the margin call

by closing tomorrow.

How much... How much...

How much is the margin call?

$2700. That's no big deal.

Uh, excuse me, Alex. I've got
some customers to take care of.

That's not good
for business, Alex.

Look, Mr. Matthews,

those, uh, people out
there are my parents.

M-my dad doesn't
know about the typhoon

or the margin call.

Look, Alex, the way
your dad plays the market,

he understands that
a $2700 margin call

isn't the end of the world.

Yeah, well, uh, let me just
tell them in my own way, okay?

You don't understand, he
takes these things very hard.

When he was a boy,

a typhoon wiped out his village.

Okay, Alex. If he's gonna
take the news anywhere close

to the way you're taking
it, maybe you're right.

You found it. Great.

Come on in.

Alex. What's going on here?

Uh, here? Here, this...
This is a brokerage house.

They buy. They sell.

Alex, you just
slammed the door on us.

Yeah, well, I didn't
want you to come in

until everything was just right.

Clean up that desk, will you?

Why did you want us
to come down here?

What was all this talk about
an anniversary present?

Yeah, well, I just thought
this would be the best place

to give it to you.

Happy Anniversary, Mom, Dad.

I love you.

I don't know why you're making
such a big deal about this.

Alex, this was not
an ordinary afternoon.

You tell us to meet you
at a brokerage house

to give us an
anniversary present.

When we get there, you
slam the door in our faces,

give us some guy's Rolodex,
and send us on our way.

I admit, we're not the
busiest people in the world,

but, um, there are better
ways to spend a day.

Look, I might as
well tell you the truth.

You've tried
everything else, Alex.

Yeah, well, I'm... I'm sorry to
have gotten you down there

under false pretenses,

but, uh I've been trying to, uh,

get you to invest for a
couple of weeks now.

And I figured once
you got down there,

you know, the
excitement of the place,

the... The roar
of the ticker tape,

the smell of the crowd,
you'd catch the fever.

I mean, obviously,
it didn't work.

I didn't want it
to be a total loss,

so I gave you the Rolodex.

We don't wanna hear anything
else about investing, okay?

We're not interested.

And, uh, that's final.

Well, you, uh, can't
blame me for trying.

Hey, Alex. How did Mom
and Dad like their present?

There was no present, Jennifer.

There was a typhoon in Manila.

Millions in damage. The
stock went way down.

If I don't come up with
$2700 by tomorrow,

they're gonna sell
Mom and Dad's stock.

Wow.

So much for my life.

So much for my bike.

Jennifer, I need
help. I'm desperate.

And please, don't
say "I told you so."

I won't.

I knew it.

I knew it.

Hi, Red Cross?

Yeah, um, what would I get
if I donated a pint of blood?

No, in addition to the lollipop.

Oh. How about a gallon?

Alex. I can let you have $18.11.

Thanks, Jennifer.

Now all I need is another $2600.

Do you think Dad
would be suspicious

if I asked for a $2600 advance

on my allowance?

Jennifer, let's try to
be discreet about this.

We're trying to keep this
from Mom and Dad, remember?

Right. I mean,

this is just between
you and me, right?

Right.

So Alex, what are you gonna do?

Sell your soul to the devil

or your body to someone
who's nearsighted?

Jennifer.

Sometimes when you
keep a secret all to yourself

you get a real bad headache.

Yeah, well, I'm the one
who's got the headache.

Look, Alex, as
painful as it may seem,

I think the only thing to
do here is tell the truth.

To Mom and Dad?

What, are you crazy?
I meant, to the broker.

Maybe the two of you
could work something out.

I still don't see why I
have to be here, Alex.

For sympathy, Jennifer.

It's hard to say no to someone
when they're holding hands

with their 10-year-old sister.

Want me to limp?

No, just, uh, look
cute and be bubbly.

Hi, Mr. Matthews.

Hey, Alex. How are you?

Fine. Uh, Mr. Matthews,
this is my little sister, Jennifer.

Isn't she sweet?

Yeah, I guess so.

I'm not really
good with little kids.

Nice call, Alex.

But look what's going on, Alex.

Hey, Digifax up a point.

Brickhouser up two
and a half. That's terrific.

Everything you've recommended.
Incredible as always.

My clients have
been making a killing.

So I guess you
owe a lot to Alex.

You could look at it that way.

We are.

Listen, uh,

did you bring the
check from your dad?

Uh, Mr. Matthews,
I need a favor.

Well, I'll be glad
to help if I can.

Well, you know, I never should
have bought that V.I.P. stock.

Oh, I get it,

you're feeling guilty because
you advised your father

to buy a stock and it went down.

Well... Well, that's part of it.

You can't feel that way, Alex.

Sometimes even I
recommend stocks that go down.

Sometimes people get burned.

But I can't allow myself to
become emotionally involved.

And neither can you.

We're kind of old-fashioned.

We are emotionally
involved with our father.

Uh, Mr. Matthews, let's say,

just for fun,

that, uh, my dad ran
a little short of cash.

Let's even go so far

as to say that, uh...

That he can't come up with
the money to cover the stock.

Now, you know me.

We have a relationship, right?

Very good relationship.

Since we have such
a good relationship,

and you know my dad and
I wouldn't let you get stuck,

I-I mean, uh...

We'd come up with that money
just as soon as I... As we could.

Uh, now, considering
our friendship,

and all that I've
done for you...

This isn't very
good news, is it?

No, it's not.

But we invested
everything we had with you.

Our... Our life savings.

We knew there would be risks
going in. We discussed that.

But we're retired people.

There's no way that we
can re-earn what we've lost.

We'll lose our house, our car.

Isn't there anything you can do?

Sorry.

Say hi to Dad.

Now, then,

Alex,

what was it you wanted?

I did it. I never thought
I'd finish this chapel.

You've got to have faith, Elyse.

See, all the different
religions have been satisfied.

I just have that one little
blank space down there.

That could be the
agnostic's lounge.

Mom, this drawing
is so complicated.

Why are there three levels?

W... Conceptually, it's similar

to the Citadel of
David in Jerusalem.

That doesn't help me, Mom.

Okay, let me tell you about
this in terms you'd understand.

Uh, have you ever seen
Hollywood Squares?

Okay, see, now,

the basic design of the chapel

is going to be multilayered.

Now, each faith will have its
own room on one of three levels,

much like the celebrities
on Hollywood Squares.

Okay. Okay, now, uh...

Now, down here where
Charley Weaver usually sat,

we'll have the Unitarians,

and, uh, over here in,
uh, Jan Murray's spot,

the Jews.

Right up here in the
center, the Catholics.

Where Rose Marie used to sit.

This is wonderful, Elyse.

Why do all the rooms have
these connecting doors?

In case anyone wants to convert.

Ah...

Hey, kids.

Uh, listen,

I have gotta talk to you guys.

I did it, Alex. I
finished the chapel.

All my problems are over.

Not so fast, Mom.

Uh, Mal, why don't
we go upstairs?

Now would be a good time to...

Um, yeah, you don't have
to convince me. I'm with you.

Well, Alex,

what's wrong?

Uh, remember that Philippine
video stock I was so high on?

I'm not so high on it anymore.

A typhoon wiped out the company.

Well, it looks like it
wiped you out too.

Yeah, well, that's true.

I had all my money
on that stock.

Well, it can't affect
your grade that much.

It was such a little stock.

So now you'll get a
B plus instead of an A.

I sense that there's
more to this story, Elyse.

Yeah, well, there is.

Go on. I, uh...

I kind of called the broker.

And I kind of told him

that I was you.

And I kind of bought
some stock with my money.

I was going great, so I
bought some more stock

and some more,

and I was heavily margined.

Well, there's a margin call

and if I don't have
$2700 by 4:00,

they're gonna sell
your AT&T stock.

Alex, let me get this straight.

You lied to us. You
went behind our backs?

You pretended you were me

and you spent money
that wasn't yours.

You make it sound so bad.

Alex, I can't even believe
you had the nerve to do this.

Well, I guess I just
got carried away.

You know the
buying, and the selling

and the action, I...

The excitement.

We've heard enough about
your thirst for excitement.

You're a high
school student, Alex,

not a Flying Wallenda.

What a jerk I was.

There I was, acting
like I had all the answers,

like I was perfect,
like I was infallible.

Well, I'm not and
I know that now.

I guess that realization is
punishment enough, huh?

Not even close.

I don't blame you.

I'm sorry. I really am.

Steven, what are we gonna do?

I mean, are we gonna
let them sell the stock,

or are we gonna come up
with the money to cover it?

As someone who knows
the market, it's my opinion...

Alex.

We're gonna give the broker the
money and hold on to the stock.

That's just what I
was gonna suggest.

Elyse, uh, why don't you
get a check over to the broker.

I'll go down to the bank
and cover it with savings.

Do you want me to go with you?

I want you to stay
right where you are.

And you might as well
get real comfortable

because you are
not leaving that spot

for the next six months.

And this is just the beginning.
No movies, no dates.

Sounds fair. And no TV.

Not even Wall $treet Week?

Especially not Wall $treet Week.

Come on, Dad,
I didn't kill a guy.

Alex, I'm out $2700.

I am the major investor

in an underwater video
company in the Philippines.

They probably have a picture
of me in one of their huts

with the caption, "Our founder."

You're lucky to be
getting off this easy.

Uh, listen, just...
Just in case,

I mean, if the stock does go up,

we're in this 50-50, right?