[instrumental music]
Aren't you finished yet?
Don't be in such a rush.
[exhales deeply]
Okay.
[sighing]
That's one ten over fifty.
Is that okay for a ten year old?
It's perfect.
Is that it?
Well, your blood pressure,
your pulse rate
your reflexes all check out.
Why don't we do
the step test one more time
so I can double check
your heartbeat?
But I already did that
five times.
Nicholas, this was your idea.
[sighing]
- Ready?
- Hm, I'm ready.
[inhales deeply]
Can I get dressed now?
Just a minute.
Yup.
You can get dressed now, knowing
you got a clean bill health.
Thanks a lot.
[instrumental music]
Hello, Betsy?
Yeah, it's Nicholas.
Yeah, why don't we forget
about playing doctor
because I just
played it with my sister
and it's really boring.
[music continues]
[theme music]
♪ There's a magic
in the early morning ♪
♪ We've found ♪
♪ When the sunrise smiles ♪
♪ On everything around ♪
♪ It's a portrait
of the happiness ♪
♪ That we feel ♪
♪ And always will ♪
♪ Eight is enough ♪
♪ To fill our lives with love ♪
♪ Oh we spend our days
like bright and shiny ♪
♪ New dimes ♪
♪ If we're ever puzzled ♪
♪ By the changing times ♪
♪ There's a plate
of homemade wishes ♪
♪ On the kitchen windowsill ♪
♪ And eight is enough to ♪
♪ Fill our lives ♪
♪ With love ♪♪
[telephone rings]
Hello.
Yeah, I guess so.
Who's calling?
Hang on.
Nancy! Telephone!
(Nancy)
'Who is it?'
It's your boss.
My boss.
Excuse me.
Hi, Mr. Foyer.
'Uh, what can I do for you?'
No, as a matter of fact,
I'm not doin' anything tomorrow.
Well, I don't know.
Oh, I'm sure he is.
But have you tried one
of the girls in the typing pool?
Oh, I see.
He's just visiting.
From China?
Oh, it does sound
very interesting.
And I do know Sacramento.
Uh, yes, Mr. Foyer.
I'm sure it would
be a very rewardin' experience.
And I've never gone out
with a communist before.
[laughs]
'No, no, no, that's okay,
Mr. Foyer.'
You can count on me.
After all,
I'm a company girl, all the way.
Okay.
Bye.
Oh.
Nicholas, what's the matter?
I gotta send out copies
of this letter right away.
Let me see that.
Oh, Nicholas, this is just
a stupid chain letter.
Yeah, well, huh,
read what it says at the bottom.
It says..
"Failure to continue this chain
"will result
in irreversible bad luck
and inevitable doom."
Tch.
I don't want bad luck.
And who needs doom?
Nicholas, this is just a bunch
of superstitious nonsense.
Now, don't let it bother you.
[instrumental music]
- Looks good.
- Good.
Hm.
- I don't taste any difference.
- Elizabeth.
This recipe won the blue ribbon
at the Sacramento
chili cook-off.
Well, all I taste are,
beans and peppers.
Peasant.
Mary, give me
your educated opinion now.
Tell me if you can discern
to my mole sauce.
Now, I know it's subtle, but--
Joannie, I'm having
a hard enough time
trying to discern my notes.
(Elizabeth)
'I thought med school got
easier the second year.'
Yeah, I thought
you were gonna rediscover
the world outside
the lymph glands, remember?
Yeah, well, that was before
I almost failed
my first neurology exam.
I don't know,
somehow I feel a good doctor
should be right
more than % of the time.
That's just one exam, right?
I mean, you didn't flunk out.
No, nor do I plan to.
- Excuse me.
- Mary..
Dad, you should have seen it.
Okay, first,
I go up for this pass
and then,
this guy lays into me.
But he misses my flag, so I run
yards for a touchdown.
- Well, congratulations, Tommy.
- On what?
On winning the Intermural Flag
Football championship.
What smells so good?
- Joannie's blue ribbon chili.
- Oh, excellent.
I'm starved.
Oh. Oh, no, Tommy,
wait, take it easy.
There's a whole crowd
comin' to dinner.
- We're having company?
- Uh, yeah, David and Janet.
Yeah, and uh, Marvin Harris
you know
Nicholas' little friend.
- Mm, boy, that's good.
- Yeah, but take it easy.
Okay, Tommy,
there's a lot of people coming.
- I'm takin' it easy.
- I know, but..
- What about Merle and Suzie?
- Uh, they've got other plans.
[instrumental music]
Mm-mm. That's your minimum
daily requirement.
But I'm still a growin' boy.
And I'm a very busy girl.
One more kiss, like that,
and you'll never
get this paper done.
Yeah. You've got the whole
weekend to write the paper.
Wrong, I got the whole
weekend to write a paper
study for a test
and plan a filter
for the day care center.
Hey, what about the me?
Oh, Merle, we agreed I get
my degree and keep my job.
- Remember?
- I remember.
It's just that
when baseball season ended
I thought we'd live
a normal married life.
Well, I'm sorry,
but my season just started.
And what so abnormal
about our married life, anyway?
Nothing.
Let's table this schedule
till we get back.
Well, get back from where?
From my weekly softball game
this Friday.
Did you forget?
Oh, Merle, I really shouldn't
go, not with all this work.
[music continues]
Hey, look, I know I always go
and I'd really like to go.
'It's just, well,
it's just you'
'and your buddies
playing softball for fun'
And there's, there's no real
reason why I should go.
And not when I have
so much of work to do.
But all the guys bring
their wives and girlfriends.
Well, that's because all
their wives and girlfriends
have nothing better to do.
Look, Merle, I didn't mean
that the way it sounded.
I just meant that..
Better get ready to go.
(Nicholas)
My sister, Nancy
says it was stupid.
But you'll be cursed
with bad luck and doom
if you break the chain.
'Isn't that
what the letter said?'
Yeah.
You know, your-your bad luck
can rub off on anybody.
- It could?
- Uh-huh.
You know, my mom broke
a chain letter once.
You know what happened to me?
I got a baby sister.
If I were you,
I'd be very careful.
You never know when
you're gonna get the whammy.
His name is Lu Chao Chang
and he's from Shanghai.
Well, it sounds like
a great opportunity
to learn about Chinese culture.
Well, that's what
I thought at first
but now I'm not so sure.
Why? What's the problem?
Well, for one thing
where do you take
a junior member
of a Chinese trade mission,
in Sacramento?
Oh, Nancy, the Chinese
are trying to modernize.
They wanna learn
all about America.
He's probably got
a list of places to go.
- Does he speak English?
- 'He better.'
I went to a bookstore
to find a Chinese dictionary
and all they had in stock
was famous quotations
from Chairman Mao Tse Tung.
[all laughing]
Did David and Janet call
to say they'd be late?
No, I don't know
what happened to them.
Oh, she probably
got hung up at the office.
They don't know
what they're missing.
Joannie, you outdid yourself.
(Joannie)
'Thanks.'
- Hey, Marvin, you want seconds?
- Oh, no, thank you.
But it's very good.
Good.
Hey, Tommy,
you're not eatin' very much.
'Thought you liked my chili.'
I kinda OD'd
on this stuff this afternoon.
- Hi. Sorry, we're late.
- Oh, hello.
- How're you doing?
- David, what happened to you?
- A busted water pipe.
- On your new car?
Unfortunately, yes,
it's gonna cost me a bundle.
Isn't it still into warranty?
No, it expired last week.
[chuckles]
Boy, talk about bad luck.
[instrumental music]
(male #)
'You guys are gonna
pick up the check'
'because of the great catch
I made, huh?'
(male #)
'I could've made that
with my eyes closed.'
What, what are you kidding?
I had my back to the play,
I'm running
full tilt
and I nab it right here.
As I recall, it was nothing
but a little pop up.
- No!
- What?
Which means you own .,
not includin' the tip.
Will you guys quit goofin'
around and pay the check.
- No.
- Go pay the check. Come on.
[indistinct chatter]
[sighing]
So, Susan, what have
you been up to these days?
Oh, the usual, school and work.
Oh, I don't know
how you manage.
You know, I have my hands full
just looking after
the house and Chuck.
Boy, tell me about it.
If I don't have Barry's meal
on the table when he gets home
'he throws a fit.'
You know, you're lucky, Merle's
such an understanding husband.
Yeah.
Ladies, we're ready to move out.
Where to?
McNully's for
a couple of beers.
- Okay.
- Good!
- Come on, baby.
- Uh, Merle, I'm kinda tired.
Uh, yeah, I guess
all that sulking and moping
can be pretty exhausting.
Don't knock the only pleasure
I've had all night.
Maybe if you tried to have fun..
Look, Merle, it's pretty tough
to be bored stiff
and yuck it up at the same time.
Look, I just don't relate
to your baseball buddies
and their wives, okay?
Well, they are my friends.
Well, what am I supposed to do,
change my life all of a sudden?
Well, isn't that
what you expect me to do?
[crickets creaking]
This letter's no joke, Nicholas.
Believe me, your brother's car
is just the beginning.
Marvin, I had nothing
to do with that.
'Yeah, that's what you think.'
You better do something
before you start spreading
bad luck all over the place.
- Like what?
- By sending out these letters.
You know,
this could jinx you for life
and you're family, too.
What are you doing in bed?
[sighs]
I feel pretty bad.
- Are you sick?
- Yes, Nicholas, I'm sick.
Now, just cut the dumb questions
and let me
suffer in peace, okay?
[dramatic music]
[instrumental music]
- Good morning!
- Good Morning.
Morning. Are you off to your
challenge match with Max?
That's right,
and today I feel so great
I've decided
to raise the stakes.
Oh, you're not gonna
lose your shirt again.
Well, in this case
it wouldn't be a total loss.
Now, listen, I'll have you know
that the last time
I wore this shirt,
I sh*t two on the par.
Yeah, wasn't that
miniature golf, dad?
The point is, it gives me
a psychological edge.
Not to mention
the fashion edge.
[car honking]
Oh, that's Max!
Oh, dad, can you give me
a ride to the theater?
I thought
Tommy was gonna take you.
Yeah, but I haven't seen him
all morning.
Well, he's still in bed.
At this hour?
I don't think
he was feeling so hot.
[car honking]
Are you ready?
- Yeah, let's go.
- Wish me luck!
- Good luck!
- 'Bye.'
[door shuts]
[sighs]
Uh, you ready
to jog down to the river?
I've got things to take care of.
Uh, come on,
we do it every Saturday.
It'll only take an hour
and be a good workout.
Merle, I said I can't.
You're not still mad
about last night, are you?
No, I'm not mad.
[sighs]
It's just that we had to spend
every weekend with the g*ng.
It's so much more fun
just the two of us.
Well, do you want me to call 'em
and cancel for tonight?
No.
Then you'll be home
in time to cook dinner?
Aren't I always?
Well..
See you later, huh?
Yeah, bye.
You're feeling any better?
You want me to bring you up
something to eat?
Oh, Nicholas, please, no food.
Just get out of here.
You're gonna be alright?
- Yeah, I'm gonna be fine.
- When?
[groans]
As soon as you quit bugging me.
[knocking on door]
Come in.
- Yes, Nicholas?
- You busy?
I'm studying.
Uh, how do you like
to study on a real body?
Just my luck
to have a doctor in the house.
Tommy, will you be quiet
for a second?
Well, your pulse is pretty fast
but other than that
nothing seems to be
out of the ordinary.
Hey, maybe it's his appendix.
How could it be? He had
it removed when he was .
Hm, how severe is the pain?
It's nothing compared
to the pain you're giving me.
Why don't you just
leave me alone?
I've got a stomach ache,
that's all.
You know, he did shovel in
quite a bit of that chili
yesterday after the game.
Tommy, why don't you
just stay in bed?
Where else am I supposed to go?
And I'll fix you something
to settle your stomach.
Is this
your secret hiding place?
Oh, yeah.
[birds chirping]
Come in.
Quite a stack.
Oh, yes,
i-it's my required reading
for methods
and education seminar.
Hm.
Do you wanna
talk about something?
Oh, no.
Okay.
Well, yes.
It's just, like, I don't know
quite how to ask you this.
Well, usually,
the direct approach is the best.
How's this for direct approach?
Abby, how do I handle a husband
who expects a dutiful wife
to fulfill his needs,
do the cooking and the cleaning
'and play hostess
to his friends?'
I mean, how do I handle? I'm not
prepared to give up my life!
And I shouldn't have to, right?
Listen, I don't know
if Hegel's dialectic
has ever been applied
to married life
but it seems certainly that
it could be applicable here.
- Yeah, here it is.
- Hegel's dialectic?
Yes, see, Hegel was
a, a th century philosopher
who reasoned that all
understanding comes about
uh, by providing a thesis
which is,
that's right here, see.
He'd provide a thesis which is
then att*cked by an antithesis.
'And from the two,
you derive a synthesis'
which is a combination
of both points of view, see?
No, uh, you lost me
back in the th century.
Oh.
Well, see,
w-what you have to do is
'you, you have to talk'
'argue, fight'
until you and, until you and
Merle arrive at an understanding
of one another's needs.
It's simple, Susan.
Then why did you make it
sound so complicated?
Because I'm studying
to be a college professor.
[doorbell rings]
I'm comin'.
N-Nancy?
No, I'm Elizabeth,
but I'll get her for you.
'Come on in.'
Nancy.
Oh, um, come in.
[chuckles]
Uh..
Nancy?
Uh, no. Hold on.
Uh, Nancy, your date's here!
[clears throat]
- Nancy?
- Oh, Chang.
Nice to meet you.
- Where are you going?
- Uh, upstairs.
See, I don't speak Chinese,
he doesn't speak English.
Have fun.
You don't speak English?
- Nancy.
- Uh-oh.
[clears throat]
"All hope lies with the masses."
I have a feeling this is
not gonna work out too well.
[chuckles]
Uh, Chang
can you tell me
what you want to do?
Oh, Chang
where do you want to go
to, to go?
[speaking in foreign language]
[speaking in foreign language]
Clothes?
Clothes?
You wanna buy some clothes?
- Do you wanna buy some clothes?
- Y-yeah, yeah.
Oh, good, good!
Um, well, I can see why.
Um, let's go. Let's go!
Come on.
[chuckles]
Thank you.
[speaking in foreign language]
'That's good.'
(Maxwell)
'Today you spent so much time'
'in the sand trap today, uh'
maybe, you should get yourself
a camel instead of a golf cart.
Oh, very funny.
[whistling]
- Hi, Dr. Max.
- Hi, Mary.
- Hi, dad.
- Oh, hi.
Why you're bringing food
into the kitchen?
Oh, well,
I brought it up to Tommy.
- He's s-still not feeling well.
- Huh?
Last night
he hardly ate any of his dinner
this morning he was still in bed
and now he won't eat
coffee or toast?
Hm, I think he's got
some kind of a bug
probably a -hour virus.
Uh, what are the symptoms?
Rapid pulse, abdominal pains.
Uh, is he running a temperature?
- No.
- Is the pain localized?
Yeah, i-it's mostly
on the left side.
Max, maybe you should
take a look at him.
[breathing heavily]
- Hurts when you do that?
- Like crazy.
[groaning]
Well, it's not much better.
When did you first start
experiencing this pain?
Last night around dinner time
but it wasn't as bad
as this is now.
(Maxwell)
'Tommy, did you do
anything yesterday'
'that involved
physical contact?'
(Tommy)
'Well, I played football
after school.'
(Maxwell)
'Were you tackled?'
Just a few sh*ts in the ribs,
but nothing too intense.
Well, I'm not
too sure about that.
Uh, Nicholas,
would you get down to my car
and get my black bag? Uh..
- It's in the trunk.
- What do you think, Dr. Max?
Uh, I just wanna check
his blood pressure.
- Is Tommy gonna be okay?
- Nicholas, go get the bag!
- Max, i-is this serious?
- Possibly.
(Maxwell)
'I think he may have suffered
internal damage.'
Oh, no!
My guess is
the spleen has been ruptured.
Well, what does that mean?
It means
you better call an ambulance.
'We've gotta get him
to a hospital.'
[dramatic music]
(Maxwell)
'Right, and the patient's name
is Tommy Bradford.'
'Now, I'll need
a-a liver-spleen scan'
and you better reserve an OR,
just in case. Right.
Well, we're leaving now,
so we should be there
in a few minutes. Well, thanks.
Don't worry, Tommy.
Alright, now we're gonna
take him to Sacramento General.
I'm gonna ride along
in the ambulance.
'Why don't you follow on
in my car?'
I'll be right behind you.
Oh, don't forget
the insurance papers, okay?
Oh.
Mary, Mary,
is Tommy gonna be okay?
You're asking the wrong person.
- Dad?
- Well..
These must be the forms.
I guess, I don't know, though.
- Dad, I'm really sorry,
- 'I know, we're all sorry.'
But right now
the important thing
is to get Tommy the proper care.
I just don't understand
how I misread the symptoms!
Mary, I can't talk about that
right now.
I have to get to the hospital.
Please, hurry, dad,
we're all waiting for you.
I'm coming, I'm coming.
- Dad.
- Oh, Mary.
Will you stay here
and look after Nicholas?
Okay, but will you call?
I will, as soon
as I get a report.
[speaking in foreign language]
Now, that's what I call
all American.
[speaking in foreign language]
You don't like it?
[speaking in foreign language]
Oh, oh, I get it.
Is the sleeve too tight?
[speaking in foreign language]
[speaking in foreign language]
[speaking in foreign language]
Oh, Chang!
I wish I knew
what you were saying!
[speaking in foreign language]
Oh, you wanna go dancing?
Is that it? You wanna dance?
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Alright,
now, we're getting some place.
Okay, I'll tell you
what we're gonna do.
We'll, uh, pay for this
and then we'll go disco.
Why do I get the feeling
I'm talking to myself?
Marvin, you gotta help me.
Here, you address
these envelopes
while I write the letters.
- Uh-uh, I can't do that.
- Why not?
Because maybe if I help you,
I might get bad luck, too!
I don't want anybody in
my family going to the hospital
'especially me.'
I have to send these letters.
Tommy is sick because I didn't
send these letters before.
Well, I told you to send 'em out
before, didn't I?
Alright, well,
then help me send them now!
No way.
I don't wanna get involved.
Marvin, I gotta stop
the bad luck!
[dramatic music]
(woman on PA)
'Dr. Coverman, report to X-ray.'
'Dr. Coverman, report to X-ray.'
Tom, he's in good hands.
Oh, I know, I know.
Dad, can I get you
some coffee or something?
No, thanks.
Max, how is he?
Well, the liver-spleen scan
confirmed my diagnosis.
- It's a rupture?
- Yeah.
Well, what happens next?
Well, they put him
in intensive care
so they can monitor
the hemorrhaging.
- If it stops, he's okay.
- Suppose it doesn't stop?
We'll stop it for him.
I-I'll keep you informed.
Well, uh..
Just..
Honey?
Susan?
Hm. I don't get it.
She knew you were coming.
Well, maybe
she's just running late.
Yeah, probably just
lost track of time.
Yeah.
Yeah, you're probably right.
I'm sure she'll be home
any second now.
[door shuts]
Hey! Anybody home?
Hello?
Hello?
Joannie, where have you been?
Uh, at the theatre.
What's wrong?
Tommy's in the hospital.
What?
I blew it, Joannie.
I misdiagnosed Tommy's illness.
I thought he had a virus
but he really had
a ruptured spleen.
A ruptured spleen?
Well, how is he now? I mean,
I mean, what-what's going on?
I don't know.
I'm waiting for dad's call.
Oh, boy.
Joannie, it was my fault.
'My mistake
could have k*lled him.'
Oh, come on, Mare.
I'm sure
you did the best you could.
Doctors can't afford
to make mistakes like that.
'They cost lives.'
Oh, Mare, no.
Hey, come on,
don't be so hard on yourself.
You're not a doctor yet,
you know?
You're just learning.
Guess I haven't learned
very much, have I?
[instrumental music]
Come on, Chang, feel the rhythm!
Come on.
It's all in the hips, the hips.
[giggles]
Well, Chang?
Chang, where are you going?
Where are you going?
W-what's the matter, Chang?
Don't you like it here?
Well, I wish
you could just tell me
what it is you wanna do. Huh?
[speaking in foreign language]
What? What?
[speaking in foreign language]
Chang!
So that's what you wanna do?
Yeah! Yeah!
Look, I don't know
what they told you
about American girls in China
but it's not true.
Nancy!
[speaking in foreign language]
- Nancy!
- Stay away from me.
[speaking in foreign language]
Dad? We just found out.
How is he?
Well, he's still
in intensive care.
You didn't all have
to come over here.
It's gonna be a while
maybe before
we find out anything.
- We wanted to be here.
- Thanks.
(woman on PA)
'Dr. Coverman, report to X-ray.'
'Dr. Coverman, report to X-ray.'
Dad, Mary's pretty upset.
Oh, well, we all are.
No, I mean..
I think she feels responsible
for what happened.
Oh, it wasn't her fault.
I know, I tried to tell her that
but she won't listen to me.
Really, I think
you better give her a call.
Yeah, I-I will, as soon as I get
an update on Tommy's condition.
How's Nicholas?
- Nicholas?
- Yeah.
I didn't even see Nicholas.
[dramatic music]
Five, six
seven, eight, nine
ten, eleven, twelve.
Only twelve, eight more to go.
[music continues]
[speaking in foreign language]
I don't wanna talk about it.
[speaking in foreign language]
What is it now, Chang?
[speaking in foreign language]
I-I don't wanna
see your little book!
We can't communicate!
[speaking in foreign language]
Oh, well, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
This little man is him?
[speaking in foreign language]
[laughing]
You mean to tell me
all this time you wanted to see
"Saturday Night Fever?"
"Saturday Night Fever?"
[speaking in foreign language]
I don't believe this!
Oh, I'm sorry!
I'm sorry, Chang.
I didn't understand you!
Oh, no!
Oh, come on,
come on, let's go in.
I'm sorry.
You know, I have a feeling
they're not gonna have
Chinese subtitles.
[giggles]
Susan, where is Merle?
- Merle?
- Hm.
Merle? I forgot to call him!
(woman on PA)
'Doctor Rogers, ---.'
[beeping]
I guess it'll just be for four.
Yes, I'll hold.
I-I, I just don't believe this.
Should have been home hours ago.
You do? Oh, great! Yeah,
we'll be there in minutes.
[sighs]
Hey, I finally
got us a reservation.
Oh, great! I'm starving!
I-I-I'm really sorry
this evening
had to turn out like this.
Don't worry about it.
These things happen, huh?
- Yeah, yeah.
- You'll work it out.
- Don't worry.
- Huh.
[scoffs]
The line's busy.
I'll have to call back later.
Well, he's probably
worried about you.
He knows
I can take care of myself.
Besides, I can't leave
till we find out about Tommy.
- Dr. Max!
- Well, how is Tommy?
Oh, his red-cell count
is way down.
We're gonna have
to perform emergency surgery.
[dramatic music]
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
Now, it's
a very delicate operation
but one these surgeons
have performed
hundreds of times.
Well, he's gonna be okay,
isn't he, Max?
What can I say, Tom?
There are
no absolute guarantees.
'Tommy's young and strong
and he should pull through.'
Should pull through?
Well, I guess it's just a matter
of more waiting, right?
Yeah, well, fortunately
you don't have to wait alone.
If it's of any comfort at all
I'll be in the operating room
the entire time.
- Oh. Yeah, well, thanks, Max.
- Alright.
[sniffles]
Um, maybe you should just, uh
go and call Mary and tell her
about the surgery, huh?
- Yeah, I'll do that right now.
- Okay.
Abby, you think so
we should go with him?
No, I think he's gonna be okay
given the circumstances.
Emergency surgery?
(Tom on phone)
'I'm afraid
it's worse than we thought.'
Oh, no.
A-are you alright?
Yeah, yeah. I'm fine.
Well, J-Joannie said
that you were upset.
Um, well, that-that was before.
I-it's over now.
I'm fine, really.
Oh, well, that's good.
- How's Nicholas?
- Um, he's keeping himself busy.
Oh. Good.
Well..
Mary, I-I better
get back to the others.
'And-and don't worry now.
I'll keep you posted.'
Please do, ok-okay?
- Y-you sure you're alright?
- Yeah, daddy, I'm fine.
I'll talk to you later, bye-bye.
(Tom)
'Bye.'
[sobbing]
[knocking on door]
(Mary)
'Nicholas, I-I have to talk.'
'Nicholas, I have
to talk to somebody.'
- Go away, I'm busy!
- I don't care!
'Nicholas, dad called
and Tommy has to have surgery.'
Didn't you hear what I said?
I said,
Tommy has to be operated on!
Nicholas, please,
I know you're only years old
but you've got to understand!
I need to talk to somebody!
Nicholas, I could have
k*lled Tommy today!
Nicholas, listen to me!
What is the matter with you?
Tommy is sick because I didn't
send out these letters
and now, if I don't finish them
well, he's gonna die!
[panting]
Thanks, Elizabeth.
- Excuse me.
- Mm-hmm.
[indistinct chatter]
- Hi.
- Mary?
Dad, I've gotta talk to you.
- Where's Nicholas?
- He's downstairs in the lobby.
Look, they won't let him up
because he's too young.
You've got to get him up here.
[instrumental music]
- Hi, son.
- Hi, dad.
- Mind if I sit down?
- Go ahead.
I understand that you feel
that you're to blame
for what's happened to Tommy.
Me and that chain letter.
Well, chain letters
can't cause bad luck..
...only fear.
That's what everybody said,
except Mary.
(Tom)
'Why, what did Mary say?'
Well, she didn't say anything.
She just helped me
finish up the letters
and then she put
the stamps on the envelopes
and then she brought them down
to the mailbox for me.
She did? Why?
To make me feel better
and to make Tommy okay.
He is okay now, isn't he?
Well, we-we don't know yet.
I mean, we-we'll..
We have to wait
until he get's out of surgery.
Oh.
Come on, I'll..
I'll take you upstairs.
Boy, it sure is quiet
around here.
Are you hungry?
[speaking in foreign language]
Oh, my gosh.
[groans]
God!
Boy, was that dumb!
[groans]
Come on.
[telephone ringing]
- Hello?
- Nancy.
- H-have you seen Susan?
- She's at Sacramento General.
- I just got the note.
- T-the hospital?
Look, Merle,
I can't talk right now.
- I'm on my way over there.
- 'N-Nancy!'
- I got to go.
- 'But..'
N-Nancy! Nancy!
Hey, hello! Uh..
[indistinct chattering]
[sighs]
How are you holding up?
Oh, alright.
[exhales sharply]
You forget you're looking
at an experienced
waiting-room sitter.
Then again, it's a lot easier
'when all
you're waiting to hear is'
'it's a boy or it's a girl.'
- Where is Susan Stockwell?
- Shh!
- 'My wife, Susan Stockwell!'
- Merle?
- This is a hospital.
- I-I, I'm sorry.
I'm just so worried
about my wife.
Susan Stockwell.
(Susan)
'Merle? Merle!'
- Susan!
- Hi.
Oh, thank goodness
you're alright!
Well, w-why wouldn't I be?
W-w-well, when you
didn't come home for dinner
I called your folks and Nancy
said you're at the hospital..
Heck, I thought
you had an accident.
Oh, Merle, I'm sorry.
It's just
I was so worried about Tommy
'I forgot all about dinner.'
Tommy?
He has a ruptured spleen.
Oh, no!
Poor Tommy.
I feel really bad..
...and dumb.
I've been thinking you
didn't come home on purpose to..
...to get back at me.
Merle, I love you.
I'd never do that.
I-it's just that
where I come from
a, a wife is a wife
'you know, like it used to be
in the old days.'
Y-you're just gonna
have to give me time
to adjust to a modern woman.
As long as you give me time
to adjust to a husband
who loves
and wants to take care of me.
- Oh!
- Oh!
Susan? How's Tommy?
Oh, he's still in surgery
as far as we know.
No.
Well, why don't you come in
with the rest of us?
- Hi, everybody.
- Nancy!
- Nancy!
- Oh, Merle.
- Hi.
- Merle, come here.
Oh, Nancy, uh,
who's your friend?
Oh, um, this is Chang.
- Chang, I'm David.
- Hi.
Chang, this is my family.
Mary, uh, my wife, Janet, uh..
Hey, uh, I think we could use
another round of chairs.
I'll give you a hand.
(Joannie)
'I'm Joannie, sister.'
[indistinct chatter]
How you doing, Nicholas?
I'd be doing a lot better
if I knew Tommy was okay.
Yeah. Me, too.
[sighs]
[instrumental music]
[music continues]
Thank you.
[music continues]
- Mary.
- Dr. Max, how's Tommy?
I got good news for you.
He's in the recovery room.
The anesthesia's
beginning to wear off
and all his vital signs
are returning to normal.
Oh, Dr. Max!
It looks like
he's out of danger.
That's wonderful!
You know, it's times like this
that make me glad
I finished medical school.
- Me, too.
- Come on.
I'm sorry I didn't get a chance
to talk to you this afternoon
I mean, about what happened.
- That's okay.
- Okay.
Uh, it didn't make you lose, uh
confidence in your ability,
did it?
- Well--
- Now, look, you shouldn't.
If anything,
you should've gotten
a very important lesson
out of this..
Doctors should never treat
members of their own family.
You see,
we get so used to listening
to their little aches and pains
that we just
take them for granted.
And then when
a real symptom begins to occur
the last thing you want to find
is something seriously wrong.
You know something, Dr. Max?
You're right, but I-I couldn't
help but question
my ability to practice medicine.
Mary, look, in all my years
in this profession
I have never seen anyone
with more natural ability
to be a good doctor, than you.
'Well, I mean that.'
I love you, Dr. Max.
Come on, help me
spread the good news.
[chuckles]
Okay.
[sniffles]
Tommy's gonna be just fine!
[all cheering]
Tommy's gonna be okay!
Yes, he's gonna be fine,
Nicholas.
Max, can we go to see him?
Well, you can all go down
and, uh, take a glimpse of him
through the door
but they'll only let
one or two into the room.
Well, I think
that it's very important
that there be three.
[instrumental music]
When you get a stomach ache,
you don't mess around.
Tommy, Nicholas thinks
it's his fault.
Maybe you oughta talk to him.
[exhales sharply]
Come here, slugger.
What's the matter?
Sorry about your bad luck.
How can I have bad luck
when I got you for a brother?
[music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
Sure I'm glad
we mailed those letters.
Um, Nicholas.
- I never mailed them.
- What?
Look, Tommy got well
without sending
those letters out.
They're dumb, Nicholas.
'They only do harm to the people
who worry about them.'
Now, you can still
mail them out..
'...but all they're gonna do is
bring the same needless worry'
to other people.
[instrumental music]
(Merle)
Atta boy, slugger.
- Oh, yay!
- Yay!
[indistinct chatter]
- That's for sure.
- Oh, goodnight.
I don't know about you guys,
but I'm starving.
- Well..
- Guess I better put him to bed.
Yeah, he's out cold.
Yeah, a severe case
of writer's cramp.
- Poor little guy.
- No, no more, thanks to you.
You handled his problem
very skillfully.
You didn't question his beliefs
or his fears when he was upset.
'You just gave him comfort'
and you gave him
a very valuable lesson.
One that will spare him
a lot of pain in the future.
I'm very impressed.
I guess I did learn something
in medical school.
Oh, no, that takes more
than medical school.
That takes understanding
'and sensitivity.'
Thanks.
- Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
[chuckles]
Uh..
- Goodnight, Mary.
- Goodnight, Abby.
Is Nancy back from taking Chang?
Oh, no, and I don't expect her
for quite a while.
Chang is drawing her a picture
of where he lives.
[laughing]
What a night!
You want some of this?
No. Oh, you know what?
I forgot it.
With everything that's going on,
I forgot to go through the mail.
- Oh, no!
- What is it?
- A chain letter.
- No, no. Another one?
- Tom, throw it away.
- Well, I don't know.
Tom! It's just
a silly superstition.
But wait a minute, I-I-I'm
playing poker tomorrow night.
- Mm-hmm.
- I..
[theme music]
[music continues]
04x10 - Letter to One Bradford
Watch/Buy Amazon
The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book by the same title.
The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who wrote a book by the same title.