03x07 - Good Grief

[bunniefuu]

♪ Set in our ways, losing track of the days ♪

♪ Never gettin' caught up ♪

♪ Love was never brought up ♪

♪ It's not the thing to do ♪

♪ Oo, oo, it was you, then came you ♪

♪ You made me leap without taking a look ♪

♪ I never thought forever was the best I could do ♪

♪ Then came you ♪

♪ It was you then me and you ♪

♪ Then came you ♪ ♪ It was you and me and ♪

♪ Then came you ♪

[bright upbeat music]


- All the boys and girls are dressing up,

and you have to wear something really special

'cause I want you to look really cute.


- I promise that I will not embarrass you at your party.


- What party?


- Oh, it's a party at Webster's school.

It's Thursday.


- Oh, what time?


- Sorry, George, mothers only.

Mrs. Toski is calling it "The Night of a Thousand Moms."

[audience laughs] [George laughs]


- Isn't that a cute idea?

Now the children are preparing the food,

they're providing the music.

[phone rings]

And they're printing the invitations.

It's like a lesson in the social graces.


- Hello?


- You know, my friend, you better get a move on

or you're gonna be late, and I am gonna miss my first class.

Goodbye.


- Bye, Ma'am. Goodbye, George.


- Goodbye, honey. I'll see you later.


- Darling, that was your Aunt Charlotte.


- Aunt Charlotte?

Oh, we haven't heard from that ditsy old bat in ages.

Hey, you know what she gave me for my th birthday?

A package of pork chops.

[audience laughs]


- Your mother had a stroke last night and d*ed.


- My mother?

Well, I'll have to start making the funeral arrangements.

I should call
-
- No, no,

there's not gonna be any funeral.

She said she didn't want any service.


- Oh, [giggles].

How like mother to leave everything so neat and tidy.


- I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'll call the station and I'll,

I'll see if they can get a substitute for me today.


- No, George, don't do that.

I, I'm not gonna miss my classes.

You go to work. I'm, I'll, uh, see you tonight.

[somber music]


- Is there anything I can do for you, darling?


- You know I'm a little tired.

Think, I think maybe I'll just skip class today

and go up and lie down.


- It's : and she hasn't gotten out of bed yet.


- Well, she's probably tired.

Death takes a lot out of a person.

[audience laughs]


- Hi, guys.


- Hi, Webb.


- Hello, Webster.


- Come here, Webb.


- Uh
-oh. What did I do now?

[audience laughs]


- I've got some bad news for you.


- What?


- Grandma d*ed last night.


- Nana d*ed?

Did it hurt?


- No, she d*ed in her sleep. She didn't feel a thing.


- Ma'am must feel terrible.

Where is she now?


- She's up in her room.

[somber music]


- Come on, sweetie. You have to eat something.


- I'm, I'm not trying to be difficult, Cassie.

I'm not hungry, really.


- You feel like talking about it?


- Well, there's nothing to talk about really.


- Ma'am.


- Hi, honey.


- George, told me about Nana. I'm really sorry.


- Thanks.


- Can I get you something?

You want me to read you a story?

I got a great book from the library today.

Maybe that'll cheer you up.


- Oh, I don't need cheering up.

I just need to go to sleep.


- You need a hug?

[somber music]


- I really need to go to sleep 'cause I'm so tired.


- Yeah, me too.

[gentle music]


- And for two whole years after Uncle Buzz d*ed

every time you mentioned his name Aunt Deedee would shiver.


- She took it hard, huh?


- No. Uncle Buzz had himself preserved Cryogenically.

[audience laughs]


- Wait a minute. Let me get this straight.

He's not only dead, he's frozen?


- Stiff.

[audience laughs]


- How is she?


- She's fine. She's not even crying.


- Well, at least she ate something, huh?

Let me take that.


- I got a great idea.

Why don't you come and spend the night downstairs

with Bill and me?


- Yeah, we've been wanting to go camping.

I'll pitch a tent in the living room

and we'll toast some marshmallows on the stove.


- This is great. It'll be just like camping out, only in.


- I'll race ya.


- You know, I haven't paid my respects

to Uncle Buzz in years.

I think I'll do that tomorrow.


- Maybe you could take him a bouquet of popsicles.

[audience laughs]


- That man has the sensitivity of a perch.

[audience laughs]

[bright music]


- Darling, those are five days of messages.

You want me to, want me to handle that?


- No, it's okay. I'll do it.

I talked to my brother and my sisters last night.

Huh. Well, those will have to wait.

[Webster knocking]


- [Webster] Can I come in?


- Yeah.


- Good morning.
- Hi.


- How are you doing?


- I'm just doing fine. Thank you.

How are you doing?


- Fine. This is for you.

I made it in school.


- Oh!

Aw, a corsage. That's sweet.


- My teacher said mine was the best one.


- Yeah?


- See I pined the doily your favorite color

'cause I wanted you to have the prettiest corsage

for the party tonight.


- Webster, I can't go to that party with you tonight.


- Why not? You said you felt fine.


- Well, I do, it's just...

I haven't... [sighs]

Well, I've, I've missed almost a whole week of classes.

I, I haven't been to the clinic to work.

There's so much to catch up on. And I...

The thought of a party.


- But, Ma'am.


- [Jerry] Yo! Anybody home?


- We're in here, Jerry.


- The back door was open.

You know, I had to park three blocks away from here.

I mean, there's a school bus

stopped right in front of a house.


- Uh
-oh. [audience laughs]


- Guess where we're going?


- Nowhere.


- Wrong. We are going to an art show.

There's a brilliant new artist on display

at the Museum of Fine Arts.


- No, Jerry, thank you very much. But I can't.


- Oh, sure you can.

Now I'll go downstairs while you throw on a frock.


- No, Jerry,

please listen to me.
- And if you are very lucky

I may even buy you lunch at the Walnut Room

just to cheer you up.


- I don't need cheering up dammit!


- Okay. I'm sorry.


- And I don't want your apologies.

I, I, I don't want an art show.

I don't want company, will you, I just...


- Look, I only meant...


- And I don't need a party.

[somber music]

Oh, no.

[somber music continues]

[bright music]


- Well, I don't know what else to do.

Katherine has turned down my Fettuccine AlGeorgio.


- Well, you're not gonna throw that away.

[Jerry knocking] [audience laughing]


- That's Jerry.


- Come in, Jerry.


- Hello.


- We're just trying to figure out

what to do about Katherine.


- You know, what she needs is a good party to cheer up.


- She's in no mood to go to your party tonight.


- Oh, she's not in a mood to go anywhere.

I tried to take her to an art show this morning

and she nearly bit my head off.


- Maybe it was the way you asked.


- No, that's not it.

You know, I talked to

Katherine's psychology professor today

and she told me that this anger is, is quite normal.

And she's going through this, this whole grief process.


- That means it's all part of being sad.


- You know, maybe we shouldn't try to cheer her up.

Maybe we should try to make her cry.


- No, but I don't think we should overreact

to her moods either.


- I really miss Katherine.


- We all do.


- I think maybe I'll sleep in my own room tonight

so I can be close to Ma'am.


- You got it. Your wish is granted.


- Well, you went to visit your Uncle Buzz.


- As a matter of fact, I did.


- How was he?


- Not much different from when he was alive.

I mean, Uncle Buzz was always a very cold man. [laughs]

[audience laughs] [upbeat music]

Good grief! I was only trying to lighten things up.

[audience laughs]

[bright music]


- Can I help you find something?


- No. Thank you, I can find it myself.


- What are you looking for?


- I don't even know.


- Yeah, well, don't worry, Katherine.

This anger is normal.

It's a healthy way of expressing your grief.


- Oh, yeah? Since when did you become a psychologist?


- Well, darling, I'm not a psychologist.

I just talked to your psychology professor.


- How dare you call my professor!

Do I call your boss every time you have a bad day?


- No, but I just wanted to try to understand exactly what
-


- George, if you wanna try and understand

just get out and leave me alone, please.

Just leave me alone.

Go on. Just leave me alone.


- Oh, well, we're gonna have to talk though, darling.


- Will you get out!
- We may not,

we may not have to talk today
-
- Just leave me alone!

Just get out!
- Or right now,

but later on we should talk.

Don't you think we should do that?

[audience laughs]


- George, I straightened up the kitchen.


- Oh, that's, that's great.

Well, you get dressed and I'll take you to the party.


- Okay, and thanks for making those peanut butter cookies

for the party.


- Anytime.


- How's Ma'am?


- Fine. She's fine.

[gentle somber music]


- Ma'am?


- Yes.


- Did you change your mind about going to the party tonight?


- No.


- Oh.

I guess going to the party with all those mothers

will remind you of Nana.

What was Nana like when you were growing up?


- Well...

She was, uh, she was strong and generous,

and sometimes funny.

She was, she was a very special person.

I remember how she was when I moved into my first apartment.

How she tried to be sweet and, and helpful.

Da
-dum!


- Oh, why couldn't you have found a place with an elevator?


- Oh, Mother, it's only three floors.

Besides it's good exercise.

Now I want you to see the best thing of all

about this apartment, you ready?

Voila! Look at that fabulous view of Boston.


- Is that a factory across the way?


- Uh...

Oh, yes, uh, but it, it's converted into artist studios.

Oh, Mother, they're two of these sweetest artists.

Their names are Brian and Rainbow, and they make candles.

And look, look what they gave me

for a housewarming present.

Rainbow even put his signature on it.

Look, a little unicorn.

[audience laughs]


- Oh, wait a minute.

Jordan Marsh sent the wrong furniture.

I ordered you a lovely modular grouping

and they've sent this cheap little couch.

Oh.
- Oh, no, no.


- Did I do that? I'm sorry.
- No.


- Uh, they didn't make a mistake, Mother.

I exchanged it.


- Why?


- Well, I needed a sofa that made into a bed.


- Well, darling, why would you want a bed out here?


- Because out here is the only here I have here.

[audience laughs]


- There's no bedroom?


- No.


- Well! [scoffs]

You might as well still be sharing a flat

with Babs Kavanaugh.


- [laughs] Mother,

I don't think her new husband would like that.


- Speaking of which.


- Oh, no, Mother, no.

No, no. I don't,

I don't wanna get married yet.

I don't, really. You know, I mean I...

I have my career to think of.


- Career?

Are you referring to that job at the Boston Museum?


- Mm
-hmm. I am the assistant to the assistant curator.


- Katherine, you fetch coffee and answer phones.

That is not a career.

Being married to an ambassador is a career.

[audience laughs]

Darling, that style is not flattering

to a wide
-shouldered figure.

What is that thing?


- Oh, this is, uh...

Nothing. Must have been left here by a former tenant.

[Katherine clears throat]

I have, uh, I have finger sandwiches

and some nice fresh iced tea.


- Oh, darling, I've cut out bread.

But come on, I'll treat you to a salad.


- You know, I thought this was such a nice place.


- Well, you shouldn't have taken it

until you got a second opinion. [chuckleS]

Are you coming?


- Yes, Mother.


- Ma'am, are you okay?

[gentle music]


- Oh, I think I, mind drifted off.

I'm very tired, honey.

I'm gonna go to sleep now. You run along.

What?


- No.


- Oh, Webster, please. I'm asking you very nicely to go.


- No, I'm going to stay.

When my mother d*ed, you wouldn't let me push you away.

So I'm not gonna let you push me away.

Now sit up and listen.

Come on.

"When you're hurting, it's okay to be angry,

but don't hurt yourself,

and don't turn away from the people who love you."

[gentle music]


- That was lovely. Where did you get that?


- From you.

Remember when I was so mad at my parents for getting k*lled

and I wouldn't come outta my room?

That's the letter you put under my door.

[gentle music continues]


- [cries] You saved it.

Oh, Webster.


- If it's true for me, isn't it true for you?


- Yes.

Thank you.


- Why don't you keep it, Ma'am.

I've read it so many times I know it in my heart.

[Katherine cries] [gentle music continues]

George, I'm all ready!


- Boy, you look great.

You're gonna be the hit of the party.

Well, let's get rolling.


- Ma'am!


- No, George, he's my date.


- Really?

[gentle music]


- Thank you, honey.

Do you think we could stop for a hamburger?

I'm absolutely starving.


- Sure. And it's my treat.

George, can I borrow some dough?

[audience laughs]

[bright upbeat music] [audience claps]

[bright upbeat music]


- Hi, we're home.


- Oh, hi you two. How did it go?


- Oh, it was great.


- Ma'am and I had the best time of our life.


- Yes, we ate peanut butter cookies.


- And chocolate cake.


- And double fudge brownies.


- And popcorn balls.


- So when are they gonna have a daddy party?


- Don't worry, George, I brought you home a daddy bag.


- Oh, thanks.


- And guess what?
- What?


- Ma'am's throwing a party for Nana.


- Well, Mother didn't want a funeral,

but she always loved to party.

So I thought those of us who loved her could have one here.

Kind of a chance for us to laugh, and complain,

and grieve and share our memories.


- Your mother would've wanted it this way.


- Oh, she would've wanted a much nicer house.

These drapes make her cringe.

This sofa, in the Goodwill.

And the rugs, ha, chuck them out.

The lamps, get rid of them.

And let's put in some track lighting.

You know, she was always keen Swedish, ah!

[audience laughs] [bright upbeat music]

[theme music]