Original subtitles

I bet we've been together for a million years.

And I bet we'll be together for a million more.

Oh, it's like I started breathing on the night we did.

And I can't remember what I ever did before.

What would we do, baby, without a...

What would we do, baby, without us?

And there ain't no nothing we can't love each other through.

What would we do, baby, without us?

Sha -la -la -la.

I don't know, Gus. Maybe we should have started the Giants of the White House

series with more colorful persons.

I told you that before we started, Steve.

I know, but I've always liked Calvin Coolidge. But the way you've cut it

together here, you make him seem so unexciting.

God did that, Steve.

Who do you think's going to watch a show like this anyway?

I don't know.

Relatives? Shut -ins?

People who are heavily sedated?

Program notes are on your desk, Stephen.

Oh, thanks, Stacey. Listen, I just thought it might be interesting to learn

about Coolidge the man.

It's the 50th anniversary of his death this year. I wanted to do something

special, that's all.

Send a card.

I think your idea is great, Stephen. And ideally, it could be the best of all

possible worlds, entertaining, educational, controversial, and a winner

ratings.

Remind me to give you a raise. We'll take it out of Gus's salary.

You know me. I think all your ideas are brilliant.

Hey, take it easy, Stacy. I have a wife and kids to support. Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to get carried away.

It's just, well, I think Stephen is great.

That's all.

Kid's got a head on his shoulders.

What she's got is a big crush on you.

Well, don't be ridiculous.

She was in here a minute and a half, and she touched you seven times.

I counted.

That's the way young people are today, Gus. They're demonstrative. They touch.

That's a touch every 13 seconds.

That's tough even for an octopus.

It was nothing more than a show of respect.

No, no, no, no, Stephen. This is respect.

Good job, Steve.

Way to go on that Coolidge idea.

Hang in there, pal.

Now, this is what she did.

Gus, please.

business. I'm telling you, Steve, I recognize that look in her eye.

Enough, okay?

Okay.

One.

Am I interrupting anything?

No, no, not at all. Don't be silly. No, no, we were just talking about men,

women, sex.

Wait a minute, let me pull up a chair.

Three, four and a half.

What? Nothing, nothing, just a...

Practicing counting.

Oh.

So, what'd I miss?

Well, we were discussing the kind of men that women find attractive.

Oh, good subject.

Um, I don't think a man can be really, really attractive until he's, oh, about,

uh, 40.

How old are you, Steve?

I'll be, uh, 40 this year. Well, there's a perfect example.

Steven is probably the most appealing guy I know.

Guy?

Thick touches. One minute flat.

Could be a new world record.

Uh -huh, uh -huh.

Well, what was she wearing before she changed into that outfit?

Mallory, I need the phone.

I can't believe it. Where does she shop?

Who cares where she shops?

Maybe I should read this note to you guys again.

Please get dinner ready, Mom.

See, there's an S on the end of kids.

Hey, you guys, help!

Uh -huh. Well, I'll be wearing shorts and leg warmers.

Uh -huh. How about you?

Yeah. Beige and blue.

Don't bother getting off the phone, Mallory. The fire probably won't spread

the rest of the house.

You want to talk about it?

Well, it's just a matter of getting used to things, I guess. Being back in an

office situation, there's bound to be some pressure, some adjustments.

How does that make you feel?

A little depressed.

Go on, go on, go with that thought.

You know, when I was a teenager, about 14, 15 years old, why am I telling you

this?

demands fillings and help us clean up here.

Jennifer? Jennifer, I'm her eldest child.

I'm her firstborn.

I'm her son.

There is a bond between us that the two of you could never break.

Alex, help your sisters clean up or you're grounded for a week.

See, the bond stretches, but it never breaks.

Take it easy. Save a little something for Father's Day.

How was work?

What do you mean, how was work?

I mean, how was work?

Why do you ask?

I always ask. I like to know how your day went.

It went fine.

Fine.

Nothing exciting?

No, not at all. Not even close.

I didn't flirt with anyone, if that's what you're getting at.

It was implied.

No, it wasn't. Look, first I come home, you don't even notice me. Then you give

me the third degree about how I spent my day.

I think I've had enough, thanks.

Want to talk about it?

thought to your Calvin Coolidge project.

I think I've come up with a way to make this turkey seem alive, vibrant,

exciting. Well, great. What is it?

We do the whole thing as a cartoon.

Thanks a lot, Gus.

Somebody spill a case of beer in here?

I don't smell anything.

It's you.

That's macho mist, isn't it?

I may have dabbed on a drop or two of cologne.

There's something different about you, Steve.

Aha, you're dressed.

I dress every day, Gus. An old habit I picked up as a kid.

Now, you know what I mean.

You have on things that match.

That is an ensemble.

Mary's different, too.

Oh, boy, Steve, you look great.

Hey, can I buy you a drink after work?

Ah, it's Stacy, right?

This is all for her, isn't it?

Well, it's just because a man's sweater and slacks and socks happen to match.

Doesn't mean he's about to leave his wife and three children.

Whatever you say, Steve.

Oh, hi, Faith.

Good morning.

Say, don't you look terrific? What a great ensemble.

What, this old thing?

Oh, no, it's a great color for you. Well, I just grabbed the first thing in

closet, really.

Well, if you don't make it any easier for someone to keep their mind on their

work, I can tell you.

Yeah, it's a burden we all have to bear, Faith.

What have you got there?

Last night, I, a poor single girl with no social life to speak of, stayed here

and put together this little film about Calvin Coolidge.

And I hope you like it, Stephen.

Stacy, that's wonderful.

Oh, thank you. That's terrific. You're welcome.

Where'd you dig up the footage, Stacy?

Files, newsreels. The last crowd was actually cheering for Frank Sinatra.

I think it's just great.

Why don't you take over this project?

Oh, no, Gus, don't be silly.

It's really not for me.

I mean, basically, I'm a monarchist.

If you really don't want to do it, Gus... No, I don't.

I'll go get the files, okay?

That's great!

I mean, that's great.

Well, congratulations.

You're a filmmaker.

Yeah.

I can't help it. I'm in love with you.

No, no, you're not.

You can't be. You just think you are. No.

Yes.

It's very common.

My position, my age, my socks.

You're really funny.

You know, that's one of the things I love most about you.

Stacy?

This is all wrong. I'm a married man. I have three children. I know.

You're a very sensitive, caring father and husband.

Makes me want you even more.

I think.

Don't you think? I don't want to think.

I just want you.

I'll be working here alone tonight, Stephen.

It can be any way you want it.

No strings.

No guilt.

No preservatives.

Hey,

hey, don't let my neck get in the way.

Orange and red? No one in their right mind would put those two colors

Uh -oh, Mom, better call the police. I think someone's outfit clashed.

Alex, stop bothering your sister.

Mallory, the telephone is an instrument of communication.

On behalf of Alexander Graham Bell and the entire Bell family, I am personally

offended by the level of your conversation.

Did you hear that?

Oh, honey, I was thinking, instead of my going back to the station, why don't we

go out to dinner and a movie?

Uh, no.

Why not?

Well, for one thing, we've already had dinner.

Okay. Just a movie, then.

This isn't really a good night for me, honey. I've got to get to bed early

tonight, so I'll be in top form for that meeting tomorrow morning.

Alex, can I interest you in a movie?

Oh, I don't know, Dad. Maybe.

Let's see what's planned.

Ah, double bill at the North Town.

Love with the proper stranger and betrayal.

I don't think so, Dad.

Anyway, I thought you were going back down to the station tonight.

Well, I don't have to. I might if there's nothing else to do.

Hey, Jen.

Want to do something tonight?

The Reds are playing the Expos on TV, Dad.

Want to go to the game?

They're playing in Montreal.

I can't tonight, Dad. I've got a lot of important

phone calls to make.

You don't even know what I was going to ask you.

Well, you've got that let's do father -daughter stuff look.

I apologize for being such a burden on everybody.

Ah, don't worry about it, Dad.

Sorry, Stephen didn't realize it was so important for you to go out tonight.

It's not, it's not. In fact, I really should go back down to the station.

Oh, well, what's going on down there?

We're working on that documentary, Silent Cal Opens Up.

I thought Gus was doing that. He was, but we turned it over to that production

assistant, Stacy... Hughes.

You've met her, haven't you?

She seemed very bright.

She is.

Yeah, she is.

Anyway, she's working on this on her own, so I thought the least I could do

go down there.

Sounds like you should.

Yeah, yeah. So I'll go down there now and help her.

I'm on my way.

Here I go.

I'll miss you.

Yeah, me too.

Bye, Mallory.

Take care of your little sister.

Jennifer, Jennifer, don't let sports interfere with your schoolwork.

Alex?

You're the man of the house while I'm gone.

Was Dad just drafted?

Hi.

Hi.

It's getting late.

I didn't know if you were coming.

I wasn't sure either, but I figured, you know, documentary and everything, so I

got in my car, drove around the neighborhood for two hours, and here I

Well, Stephen, we could go through the charade of working on the film, or we

could just stand around here awkwardly some more, or we could go right back to

my place and make love.

Could you run down those options one more time?

Are you attracted to me?

Very much.

Well, then come home with me.

We'll forget about everything and everybody else in the world just for a

hours. You and I will be the only two people nobody ever has to know. Come

with me, Stephen.

I have a home, Stacy. It means a lot to me. I don't want to risk losing it. I

promise you we won't get caught.

I'm not worried. I'm not worried about getting caught. I'm worried about

violating the core of love and trust I've built my life around.

Getting caught's not good either.

I want to do is share a moment with you.

A beautiful moment. One that we can both file away and keep forever.

It's got a nice ring to it.

Just think of it this way. We work together, laugh together, share a lot.

If we share a bed, too, why is that so different?

For one thing, we'll be lying down.

Well, not necessarily.

Is it getting hot in here?

You could open a window or knock down a wall.

Stacy, I'll be honest with you. The idea of going back to your apartment with

you right now is very, very thought -provoking, to say the least. You're a

wonderful person. I'm very attracted to you.

Stephen, I understand your feelings, and I respect them. But if your feelings

for your wife and your family are as strong as you say they are, then how can

anything we do threaten them?

Because... I can't view my life as a series of unrelated episodes. Everything

do affects every part of me. We would be so good together, Stephen.

I know.

It can't happen, Stacy.

Well, the apartment's a mess anyway.

I'm sorry.

It's all right. The maid comes tomorrow.

Not what I meant.

Well, what

do we do now?

How about a hug?

The irony

is beautiful, isn't it?

The thing that I love most about you is the thing that's keeping us apart.

You are so damn honorable.

I'll walk you to your car.

You're not going to try anything, are you? Hey.

Come.

Okay, now, it's very simple.

So each of us has a 60 -minute period in which he or she can use the telephone.

That way no one can monopolize it for the whole evening.

All right, now this chart maps out everyone's time period.

I just have one small problem with this.

What is it?

My phone time is an hour past my bedtime.

This chart is business, Jennifer. Your bedtime is a personal matter.

I'm tired of your charts. I'm tired of you bossing me around. I'm tired of you

telling me when I can and can't use the phone. And I'm tired of you, Alex.

Just what are you trying to say, Mallory?

Oh, hi, kids.

Where's your mother?

Oh, she went to bed early.

Speaking of bed, Jennifer, shouldn't you be in one at 10 o 'clock?

Didn't want to go to bed without saying goodnight to you, Dad.

Goodnight.

I'm glad you're home.

So am I.

Maybe you can settle a little dispute for us, Dad.

I will not have my communication governed by one of your silly charts.

A 45 -minute discussion about somebody's leg warmers.

You call that communication?

Who asked you to listen to my phone conversations anyway?

Mallory, the human eardrum is designed to pick up any sound within a certain

radius, no matter how we name that sound.

Mallory, Alex.

Yeah, Dad?

I love you both very much.

You feeling okay, Dad?

I feel great. Just great.

Well, good night.

Yeah. Night. Sleep well.

I'm telling you, Mallory. I love this house.

What a great kitchen.

Love these plates.

You really can see your face in here.

So this is what you do after I go to sleep at night? Oh, please.

I thought I heard voices. I didn't realize it was just you and a plate.

I'm glad you're awake. I want to talk to you.

What about?

You know what I was doing while I drove home from the station?

Watching the road, I hope.

Counting all the times you and I have stayed up all night nursing one of the

kids' fevers. Guess how many.

I couldn't begin to.

Try.

Seventeen.

That's right.

How'd you know?

I don't know. I guess after all our years together, I can read your mind.

Guess you can.

What am I thinking now?

Thinking there's no place like home?

You're very good at this, you know.

Set up a booth on the boardwalk.

And you're thinking about our life together and everything we've been

and how hard it would be to turn your back on that, however tempting

it might be.

Has it been that obvious?

The words open book mean anything to you?

Sorry, Lisa, I've been acting like a real child.

No, no, you haven't. You've been acting like a grown man facing midlife.

I'll probably act the same way when I get to be your age.

Why didn't you stop me, Lisa?

What would I have gained by that?

I mean, our entire... relationship is based on trust.

If we don't give each other that, what are we holding on to?

There's something I want you to know.

What?

I love you more every day.

I want us to do more things together. Just the two of us. I like that idea.

Do you have anything particular in mind?

Let's go camping.

The tents at the cleaners.

Any other ideas?

Sit, Ubu, sit.

Good dog.