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 hit.

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 nothing. We can't love each other through.

What would we do, baby, without us?

Oh,

hey,

Jennifer. What are you doing?

I have to do an oral report for social studies class.

What about?

How a bill becomes a law.

Oh, all right.

Why don't you read me what you have so far?

How a bill becomes a law.

I like it a lot. It's peppy, yet interesting.

It's zippy, yet informative.

Let me hear it again.

Oh, hey, Skippy. How's the report going, Jen? Oh, she's good, Mr. Keaton.

Go ahead. Read him what you just read me.

Dad, I need some help. Do you have a minute? I can't now, Jen. Your mom and I

have to take Andrew to his playgroup. Maybe later.

Oh, Elise, the Boswells are here.

Oh, Dad.

Oh, Stephen.

Try not to get into an argument with these people again, okay?

Look, I don't start these arguments. They do. They're so competitive about

son's accomplishments.

Our Timmy can stand up.

Our Timmy can talk. Our Timmy can read.

I can do most of those things.

You guys ready? We're waiting. Oh, hi, Ralph. Yeah, we're all set.

You see Timmy there in the car?

Oh, yeah. Isn't he cute?

He drove us here.

Goodbye, honey. Back in a couple of hours.

Bye, Skip.

Hi, Jen. Hi.

Oh.

Mallory, Alex isn't home right now. Can you help me with my social studies

project? Oh, I can't, Jen. I'm late as it is for work. I gotta go upstairs and

change my clothes.

Uh, Mallory?

You need any help?

Okay. Yes, Skippy.

I'd like you to come upstairs and help me change my clothes.

He'll be back.

Alex, you're home!

Thanks, Jen.

For a second there, I didn't know where I was.

Alex, I have to do an oral report for social studies class on Wednesday. I

really, really need your help.

I appeal to you as my brother to act out of compassion and love to reach out to

your younger sister and help her in her hour of need.

What's in it for me?

Alex, please, I'm desperate.

Jennifer, I don't get it. I mean, you get good grades, you're good in school.

How can you be so desperate for my help all of a sudden?

I saw some projects the other kids were working on. They were really good.

I want mine to be just as good.

I want mine to be better.

I want mine to be the best.

Well, Jennifer...

Respect your goals of conquest and domination.

I like to think I inspired them.

But if I help you with this, we're going to do it my way.

Start to finish every step my way. You got it?

Got it.

All right, what's your topic?

How a bill becomes a law. And what are you using for your resource material?

This.

What is this, a seventh grade textbook?

Yes. I'm in seventh grade, and that's my textbook.

Well, if you want me to be involved with this, you're going to have to abandon

this childish, simplistic approach to the subject.

But that's the book we use.

That's the book they use.

And they'll do their little oral reports, and they'll get their little

and they'll live their little lives.

You want to know something, Keaton?

You're better than they are. And we're going to the library.

We're going to prove it. You want to prove it, don't you?

I do. I can't hear you.

I do.

Alex, how much more of the stuff do I have to read?

Let's see.

You still have Martin Carruthers inside the U .S. legislature.

Beatrice P.

Duval's Lawmaking in Western Society.

Budson and Shites, jurisprudence and the common law.

Tonight? You want to know something, Jim?

I like the way this is shaping up.

You play your cards right. I think you got a shot at the Thomas Dewey Award

year. Are you crazy, Alex? I don't have a chance to win that. The Dewey Award

goes out to the best academic presentation of the year.

They always give it to some pesky, dorky genius type.

I won it three years in a row.

Jan, are you still up? Honey, it's after 10.

You're working awfully hard, honey.

Hey, Jan, I got some time now. If you want, I can help you with that thing of

yours.

How will Bill grow up?

Mallory, I'm helping her. For Jennifer to go from my help to your help would

require a decompression chamber.

Jennifer, it's great that you're motivated to work this hard.

Oh, well, you know me, Dad. I can't get enough of this stuff.

You know, Elise, I'm beginning to wonder if we've been too easy on Andrew.

What do you mean? Well, you know, little Kimmy Boswell is the same age as

Andrew, and he does seem more advanced.

Did you see him at that playgroup today?

Yeah, I did. If you want my opinion, I think his parents are pushing him too

hard. He should have been playing with Andy and the other one -year -olds at

blocks. Well, what was little Timmy doing? Playing backhand.

He wasn't really playing, Stephen. He beat me two out of three games.

Good night, sweetheart. Try not to stay up too late, okay? No, no, don't worry,

Mom. I'll make sure she gets to bed nice and early. All right.

Okay. Good night. Good night.

And so the Electoral College meets in December and casts

its 538 votes.

And that's how our president is elected.

Thank you, Brenda. Very nice.

We have time for one more report this morning.

Jennifer, you ready?

Yes, ma 'am.

But it'll take me a couple minutes to set up. Very well. We'll take a short

break. Class, you may talk quietly among yourselves.

It's about time that Brenda finished.

I thought she babbled forever.

She's a good friend of mine, Alex.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll blow her out of the water.

This is for Joseph. I'd like you to meet my brother, Alex.

He gave me a ride today. Oh, how nice.

Alex, did you help Jennifer with her presentation?

Uh, me?

Uh... Uh, no, no.

Uh, no, I don't, I don't know nothing about this government mumbo -jumbo.

I just, uh, you know, I just carry the stuff Jennifer tells me to.

Alex, I'm nervous.

Listen, you'll be all right. Just be clearly and don't rush your

These simpletons are lucky to be here for it.

Right.

Can you stay and watch, Alex?

Oh, gee, I guess so. I don't have to be back at the quarry for an hour.

Class, we're ready to begin again.

Jennifer will enlighten us on how a bill becomes a law.

Jennifer?

Uh, friends, classmates, citizens, lend me your ears.

bill is approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the enrolling

clerk to be printed on parchment.

It is this enrolled bill that is signed by the Speaker of the House and the

President of the Senate.

Then the document is transported up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House,

home of the President of the United States.

The President has ten days. not counting Sundays, to sign or veto the bill.

If he signs it, the bill becomes the law. If he vetoes it, it takes a two

-thirds vote of both houses of Congress to override his veto.

Let me assure you, this rarely happens.

We have reached the end of our long journey.

Once the president signs our bill,

a shining example of democracy, a beacon to freedom -loving people everywhere.

Thank you.

And the music built to a crescendo, and there she was, draped in the stars and

stripes, radiant in the spotlight. I'm telling you, it was spectacular.

Kids were crying in their lunchboxes.

Alex is exaggerating a little.

Ah, Jen, you're just a chip off the old block.

You know, you're right. When I was about 12, I had to do this cookie bake

demonstration for the Girl Scouts Jamboree, and there were about 20 people

there, and I had to make up.

Dear, when I said she was a chip off the old block, that's not exactly what I

was referring to.

Actually, I was thinking the time when I was 12, and I gave a speech at the

annual potluck dinner of the Young Bowlers of America.

Oh, please, go on.

Allow me to say I bowled them over.

That's a wonderful story, dear.

I'll get it.

Jen, that is great that you impressed Mrs.

Pedroza.

She's tough. I had her in seventh grade. She didn't like my history presentation

at all.

What was it?

It was a revolutionary war.

They wore red coats.

We dressed casually.

See what happens when people don't come to me for help.

Well, I knew you could pull it off, kiddo. You were fabulous.

I'm glad it's over.

I was really scared.

I was up there. saying a bunch of words i had no idea what they meant no

mallory does that every day of her life

someone here to see you jen mrs pedroza

hello jennifer hi uh you remember my brother alex of course how are things at

the quarry

We're having a sale.

You want to buy a couple tons of granite?

Miss Pedroza has something very exciting to tell you.

Jennifer, I was so impressed with your presentation that I would like for you

be one of the contestants for the Thomas Dewey Award this Friday.

Me? And you deserve it. Will you be there?

Well, my parents don't like me to stay up late.

We'd be happy to make an exception in this case.

Twelve. Well, that's wonderful.

It should be quite a night.

Well, please sit down, Mrs. Peterson. No, no, I've got to run. I just wanted

come by and congratulate Jennifer in person, give her the news.

Oh, it was nice of you to come.

Did you understand?

and you're up for the Dewey.

It's about time another Keaton's name was engraved in gold.

We had a long dry spell there during the Mallory year.

I don't think I can go through with it, Alex. I'm going to go tell Mrs. Pedroza

that you helped me and I don't deserve to get this Dewey award.

Hey, hey, hey, that's not a Keaton talking, Jennifer.

A Keaton never backs down from a challenge.

Now, I know you're afraid, but don't worry. I'm going to be by your side

step of the way. That's what I'm afraid of, Alex.

In 1982, a group of British scientists fabricated a piece of genetic material

that was 514 paired nucleotides in length.

Can you believe that guy, Alex? I can't do that.

Hey, you're never going to win with that attitude, Jennifer. Alex, you've loaded

me down with so much information, I don't even know what I'm thinking

All right, look, just relax, okay?

When you get up there, it'll all come back to you.

Now, immune or gamma interferon completes this list.

That was excellent, Walter.

Thank you. Our next contestant for this year's Thomas Dewey Award is Jennifer

Keaton, who will discuss how a bill becomes a law.

Smile,

honey. Here come the Boswell.

Oh, Ralph?

Ready?

So glad you could make it. Sorry we're late.

Do you have trouble getting a sitter?

No.

Truth is, sitters flock to our door. They all love taking care of Timmy.

Who wouldn't?

Tonight.

Timmy sang for the first time.

Aida.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Citizens, lend me your ears.

My subject tonight, how a bill grows up.

I mean, how a bill becomes a law.

I guess I'm just a little nervous right now.

Anyway, it's a very interesting process.

And I wish I could tell you about it, but I can't. I've got to go right now.

Thank you. You've been a great audience. Bye.

Hey, what are you doing?

What are you doing? Get back there. I can't, Alex. I don't know what I'm

Show them the Capitol building. I worked for 18 hours painting that thing.

Excuse me. Ladies and gentlemen, before I go, I thought you'd like to see the

Capitol building.

Pass it around.

But please, no smoking inside of it.

Jennifer, that's not what we planned for you today.

I don't know what I'm supposed to say.

Have him ask you some questions. You can handle that.

Questions. Are there any questions on how a bill becomes a law? Any questions

all? Miss Keaton. Yes, sir.

Ralph Boswell, attorney at law.

to ask a two -part question concerning the Supreme Court ruling in Marbury v.

Madison in 1803.

Objection. Overruled. Did you agree with Chief Justice Marshall's assertion of

judicial review over acts of Congress?

And secondly, do you think this ruling had a chilling effect on the legislative

process during the Jeffersonian era?

Uh... I, um... I don't... I'd like to feel that question.

if I might.

I think at that point in U .S. history, it was important for the high court to

assert its parity with the other branches of government, vis -a -vis the

of judicial review.

Or at least, I think that's what I thought. I heard Jennifer saying around

house the other day.

Excuse me, but you didn't really answer my husband's question about Marbury

versus Madison.

Will you sit down?

Jennifer, are you okay?

No, I'm not okay. I don't know what I'm doing here.

I'm sorry, Alex. I let you down.

What were you thinking about, Alex? How did you expect Jennifer to learn all

this? I just wanted a presentation to be the best that it could be. What could

possibly be wrong with that?

Alex, this... isn't material for a 13 -year -old. It's something only an adult

could understand.

What does this mean?

Naturally, I'm assuming a working knowledge of Latin.

Jennifer, why did you let him do so much? I mean, you're awfully good in

studies.

You guys are always helping Jennifer with her homework.

I thought this was the same thing.

It's not the same thing. We're not that much help.

Look, Jennifer, next time you need help, just come to me.

I won't make you read any books.

We'll just go to a movie.

Look, Jen.

Alex, I don't want to talk to you ever again.

Can I talk to Jennifer alone for a second? I mean, yeah.

I just need ten minutes, and I think we can straighten this thing out.

No, Matt, that sounds reasonable.

Okay. Ten minutes to work it all out, but no...

Hitting.

I'd never do that, Mom.

I was talking to Jennifer.

Look, I'm sorry, Jen. I didn't mean to push you as hard as I did.

But you knew what you were getting into when you came to me for help.

You know that I can only do things one way.

Out of control.

I just don't understand why you didn't try and stop me. I mean, if you were so

uncomfortable, why did you let me do it?

Because it was just so easy to let you point the way, Alex.

You had so much energy, it was like you were glowing.

I was.

I get really fired up when it comes to you, Jennifer.

You're my sister. I want you to do well. I want you to excel. I want you to be

all you can be, to go the extra mile.

Alex, you're starting to glow again. Get away from me.

I have to admit, there is part of me that liked it.

The attention, the applause, being the best.

You and I had a lot alike.

You know that, Jennifer.

Alex, please, I'm depressed enough.

What you have is special.

What I have is special.

What Mallory has is scary.

Alex, I'm not like you.

Yeah, you are. I mean, don't try and deny it.

I'll never forget the first time that I noticed it.

You know, you were about four years old.

And you were playing in the sandbox with little Brucey Dugan.

And you were trying to see who could build the biggest sandcastle.

And Brucey built one that was six feet high and five feet wide. And yours

like a servant's quarters to his castle.

You knew you were beat.

And you got this look in your face.

And you walked up to Brucey.

And you said, hey, Brucey, look, the ice cream man.

Brucey turned around and you crushed his castle into the dust.

And I remember thinking to myself,

she's good.

She is real good.

Alex, I apologize to Brucey later.

All right, so you weren't perfect.

Look, Jennifer, we are different than other people.

You know,

it's not easy for us living with Mom and Dad.

You know, there's this blanket of niceness and decency that

hangs over this house like a black cloud.

And it's up to us to stick together and rise above it.

Alex, I'm really not like that. And you want to know something? You're not like

that either.

What do you mean?

I saw you go back later and buy Brucey some ice cream.

Small cone.

Don't try to kid me, Alex.

Underneath that huffing and puffing, you've got a big heart and you know it.

Jennifer. Will you keep quiet? I don't want that stuff getting out.

Look, all I'm asking...

You never sell yourself short.

You have the potential to be anything you want to be.

Promise me you'll try.

I promise.

Come on.

I'll buy you an ice cream.

Sit, Ubu, sit.

Good dog.