04x14 - Words

[bunniefuu]

I need to talk to you after church.

Talk to me now.

No, after.

I need your help with something.

Help with what?

Nothing.

♪& He's got you and me, brother... ♪&

Can I hang out in the church nursery with the twins?

And miss Daddy's sermon?

Yes. No.

No fair. You let Simon go.

Simon's in the nursery helping Mrs. Kramer out because she's short a volunteer today, not because he wanted to miss Daddy's sermon.

Why do you think he volunteered to help out?

♪& He's got the whole world in his hands ♪&

♪& He's got everybody here... ♪&

Okay, so, Simon wants me to ask you why you're mad at him.

I'm not mad at him.

Really?

I'm just never going to talk to him.

Ever. For the rest of his life.

Because unlike some people, I would never knowingly hurt anyone.

"Some" people, like Simon?

Hmm, what do you think?

Ah, the old answer, a question with a question.

He's in big trouble.

Hmm.

Few things make me as happy as when my congregation grows larger by adding new parishioners.

So, I would like to start our service today by welcoming the Carvers.

Uh, Bill, Sheila, Bobby, would you please stand up?

Let's give them a hearty Glenoak Church welcome.

Having new parishioners makes me think of beginnings, which in turn makes me think about the ultimate beginning, our beginning, Genesis, when the Earth was cloaked in darkness until God said...

God said, God said, God said...

God said, God said...

While I appreciate the help...

The help, the help, the help, the help, the help... It's okay.

Calm down. the help, the help, the help...

Maybe we should...

We should, we should, we should, we should, we should, we should, we should, we should... Come on, let's go.

Excuse us.

Hey. Thank you.

I enjoyed it a lot. Good.

Thank you. Thanks a lot.

Great service.

Hey, seeing better with those glasses? Much better.

Hey.

Hey, how are you?

Hi, how you doing?

Good. How's the new job?

Going very well. Great.

Oh, thank the Lord.

Hi, how are you?

Hi. Hello.

I'm Annie Camden, Reverend Camden's wife.

We met before church, and it's Eric.

I just came back for my purse.

We left so quickly, I forgot it.

Is Bobby, okay?

Bobby's got ADD.

Oh.

Attention Deficit Disorder.

His outbursts are worse when he's stressed, even when he's on medication.

I think he just got nervous when he had to stand up in front of everyone.

I had no idea.

I do that with all new members.

Oh, don't worry. Bobby's fine.

My husband and I are fine.

Everyone's fine.

Thank you for your kind words.

I'd better get back home.

What?

I don't think everything's fine.

Come on.

Okay, you're mad at me.

I know how this works.

I figure I have two options.

Either wait for you to stop being mad at me and try to get you to tell me what I supposedly did, or ignore you all together.

That's three, not two.

Learn to count, Mr. Insensitive.

How's John?

Fine.

School?

Good.

Yeah, work at the hospital?

Greasy.

And how's Shana?

Boy, it's hard to be humble, when you're as good as I am.

What are you talking about?

Yeah, I'm good at guessing what's wrong with my kids.

Shana and I are very happy.

Was it me or Frederick Nietzsche who said, uh, "Liar, liar, pants on fire?"

Hello.

Shana...

Hi. Is Matt there?

I just tried him at his place, but John said he was at your house doing laundry.

Sure, I'm...

Can you hold on a second please?

What is wrong with you?

Say I'm not here.

I'm not gonna lie for you.

Okay, fine, don't lie.

Shana, you just missed him.

Are you sure you heard your teacher correctly?

I heard her, my friend Sara heard her, the whole class heard her.

In all the time I've been in school, I've never had a teacher call me...

Stupid?

Well, maybe Ms. Riddle won't ever call you that again.

Maybe she'll...

Every time I get something wrong, she calls me stupid.

Every time.

Wow.

I want my old teacher back, she liked me.

She didn't think I was stupid.

You have to tell Mom.

No way.

If Mom found out, she'd go to the school and yell at my teacher.

Then Ms. Riddle would hate me even more.

Promise you won't say anything.

Okay, I promise.

What?

Don't just sit there, do something.

What am I suppose to do?

Teach me how to not let words hurt me.

You wanted to see me?

Yeah, I wanted to ask you about Bobby Carver.

Lucy told me that he was shouting stuff in church today.

Yeah. Do you know him?

I know of him.

He's new at school.

He's not very popular. Why's that?

Everyone thinks he's weird.

Because of his outburst, like the one in church today?

The jocks really make fun of him, especially Brian, the captain of the football team.

He calls him "The Spazman."

Well, I don't call him that.

Do you remember when I told you, "All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"?

Yes.

Let me guess.

I'm the good man doing nothing.

Good, and smart, too.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't spy on me.

I wasn't spying.

I was entering, Entering my room.

Now, since we actually do share a room, I think I'm going to have to know why you were checking out your own butt in the mirror.

This has something to do with Simon, doesn't it?

When we were playing basketball last night, Simon tried to block me, and I fell on him and he called me "big butt."

Come on, what's the big deal?

Well, apparently, my butt.

Why do you even care about something Simon said?

You think I have a big butt, don't you?

Oh, no...

What?

Do you think that's why Robbie hasn't called me-- my butt?

I'm not getting sucked into this.

Then leave, because me and my big butt would like to be alone.

I can't.

I need advice.

Ruthie told me her teacher called her "stupid" in front of the whole class.

Whoa!

You have to tell Mom.

Ruthie made me promise not to.

From one older sister to another, when you're in over your head, you need to call for help.

You're in over your head.

You know, Ruthie's thing is practically the same thing as Simon telling you, you have a big butt.

If I have to tell Mom about Ruthie, why don't you tell Mom about Simon?

Because, one, being told you have a big butt is not as bad as being told you're stupid.

And two?

Oh... because what a teacher says can be more important than what a brother says.

Hey, this is Matt and John, leave us a message at the beep.

Matt, pick up.

I know it was you who just called.

We have call return.

Come on, I don't have all night.

Let's talk about why you won't talk to me.

And why you're mad at me. I know you are.

You haven't returned a call in three days.

Come on, talk to me.

Fine, but I'm not guaranteeing when you're ready to talk, I'll be ready to listen.

Do you have a second? Sure.

What's wrong?

Well... it's about Ruthie.

Her teacher...

I think you better tell me what's going on.

Ruthie's new teacher has been calling her stupid.

She asked me not to say anything, but...

She called her what?

Stupid.

Louis, uh, please come in.

I'm sorry to come by unannounced.

I, uh, I just had to find out if that boy in church today was okay.

You mean Bobby Carver?

Mm-hmm, the boy with Tourette's.

Tourette's?

As in Tourette's Syndrome?

Right.

His mother says he has ADD.

The boy who spoke out in church?

Yeah.

Well, he may have ADD, but he's also got Tourette's.

I'd bet my life on it.

What makes you so sure?

Because I have Tourette's.

Will you come to school with me for Show and Tell?

Really?

We're studying the Revolutionary w*r and we're starting with the rats.

"Rats?"

Yeah, like Benedict Arnold.

I think I can get extra credit points if I bring a real live rat to school.

Am I the rat?

If the tail fits...

Telling Mom was the right thing to do, the only thing to do.

And when you're a big sister, you'll understand.

I am a big sister, and if Sam and David ever told me a secret, I would never sell them out.

That's easy for you to say.

Sam and David can't tell you anything, they can't even talk.

Rat.

I'm meeting with Bobby's parents today at the church.

Do you think Louis Shea is right about Bobby having Tourette's?

Well, you know, I did a little research last night, and Tourette's is often misdiagnosed as ADD.

From what I read, Bobby's verbal tick-- repeating words like he did in church-- that's Tourette's not ADD.

And you can have ADD and Tourette's, but they're two totally different medical problems, and Bobby may be misdiagnosed and incorrectly medicated, which is making his already hard life even harder.

So, did you, uh, manage to set up a meeting with Ruthie's teacher?

This afternoon.

Mrs. Poole's going to watch the twins.

I just, I can't believe that a teacher would call a child stupid.

I think there must be some misunderstanding.

Yeah.

Okay, that ensemble doesn't work on any level.

I don't know what's bigger, her head or her...

What's wrong with you?

Nothing.

She's probably just wearing that big ugly farmer shirt to cover up all the weight she didn't lose last summer... or the summer before that or the summer before that...

Run away farmer girl, run away.

Hey, look, it's Spazman.

Hey, Spazman.

All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Hey, Spazman.

b*at it, Camden.

This ain't none of your business.

I believe it's "this isn't any" of my business.

And I'm making it my business-- leave him alone.

Is everything okay here?

You should all get to class... now.

No one's ever stood up for me before.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

Just sorry I didn't do it sooner.

Hey, this is a surprise.

Just stopped by to say hello.

Okay, I came by to talk about Shana.

Well, your Mom told me you've been avoiding Shana's phone calls.

Last week Shana said something that hurt my feelings.

She apologized, but the comment made me look at our relationship, really look at it.

I'm just not happy with the long-distance thing.

I'm sick of feeling lonely and upset and bored and depressed.

I think I'm starting to resent her for leaving.

This does sound pretty serious.

Are you telling me that you want to...?

Maybe I just needed to talk to somebody who wasn't 3,000 miles away. Thanks Dad.

Well, if you need to talk some more...

Right.

Annie Camden?

Sorry, the sitter was late.

Where are the kids?

Recess.

Oh, I see, um...

On the phone you said it was important, and the children will be back soon.

I think there's probably been a misunderstanding with Ruthie.

Uh, she told her sister that you asked her to name the first President of the United States and when she said "Thomas Jefferson," that you said she was stupid.

That's not what I said.

I told Ruthie that her answer was "stupid."

There's a difference.

She's eight.

She doesn't know the difference.

I think I know where this is coming from.

Everyone wants to believe their child is perfect, but the truth is, the apple usually doesn't fall far from the tree.

Did you just call me stupid?

No, that's not what I said.

Look, nothing justifies calling a child stupid, nothing.

You have you're opinion and I have mine.

Yes, but your opinion is wrong.

I think I'm gonna have to ask you to leave now.

I'm not going anywhere.

Please, don't make me call the principal.

Go ahead. Make my day.

Call the principal.

Go ahead!

Reverend Camden?

Oh, Bill, Sheila, please, uh, come in.

Sit down.

Look, if this is about Bobby's outburst in church, you should know that we're not going to bring him with us on Sunday anymore.

Oh, no, Bobby's welcome in church. You all are.

Then, uh, why are we here?

Well, I wanted to talk about Bobby's ADD.

Who said Bobby had ADD?

Well, Sheila mentioned it.

I know this might sound a little funny coming from me, because I, I just met you and I'm not a doctor, but Louis Shea, who is a parishioners of mine, was in church on Sunday and he thinks that Bobby might have Tourette's.

So, you've been talking to other people about us?

About my son?

Well, actually, Louis approached me.

And the reason he thinks Bobby might have Tourette's is because he has it, has had it for years.

Do you know what Tourette's Syndrome is?

Have you ever considered that Bobby might have Tourette's, too?

I think I've heard enough.

Let's go.

Bill.

Look, no disrespect, but if the doctors haven't been able to help my son in the last nine years, what makes you think you can do anything?

Excuse me!

Hey, do you want to ride home with me?

Uh, you know, if you start hanging out with me, people are gonna start making fun of you, too.

I don't care what other people say.

Cool.

Hey, Camden, you didn't think I was going to let you off that easy, did you?

Tomorrow, before school, when there are no teachers around to save you, I'm going to wipe the grin right off your face, permanently.

You, too, Spaz.

Hi.

I think we have Biology together.

What are you doing?

I'm talking to you.

Right. What are you supposed to do, distract me so your friends can do something behind my back, and then you can all laugh at me some more?

I don't laugh at you.

You hang around with Laurel and those velociraptor's she calls friends, don't you?

Sometimes.

Look, I am just trying to...

Do you have any idea how much you and your friends hurt my feelings?

Do you think I'm deaf?

Sometimes I wish I was because then I wouldn't hear every little whisper and nasty comment that comes my way.

It's not fair to lump me with Laurel.

I have never said anything bad about you.

Yeah. You just stand by and let it happen. which, for your information, is worse, Knowing something is wrong and doing nothing to stop it is worse than just doing the something that's wrong.

Wow.

You do know that's the highest level you can get to on Spyro?

Do you have a PlayStation?

My parents don't believe in video games, but I know all about them from my friends.

Man, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have video games.

It's the only thing I'm really good at.

Well, you do sound like...

Sound like, sound like, sound like, sound like.

I'm sorry, I just...

I just, I just, I just, I just.

I didn't mean to...

Mean to, mean to, mean to, mean to.

It's okay you looked away.

I'm sorry.

No, really, if no one stares at me, it goes away faster.

Go ahead, I know you want to ask me.

What makes you do what you just did?

The doctors told my parents I have, uh...

Attention Deficit something.

What's that?

I'm not sure.

My parents... actually, my dad, doesn't really like to talk about it.

I shouldn't have asked.

No, my dad doesn't like to talk about it.

I don't mind.

Look, um, don't take this the wrong way, but, uh, why are you being so nice to me?

I'm not being that nice.

Trust me, you're the nicest person I've ever met.

Hey, how did your meeting with Ruthie's teacher go?

That bad, huh?

There was no misunderstanding.

Ruthie's teacher did call her stupid.

What?

And I had no luck convincing Ms. Riddle, that what she did was wrong.

Unbelievable. I know!

She called me stupid, too.

How was your day?

Well, nobody called me stupid.

Sheila, come on in.

Bill and I had a fight.

He doesn't know I'm here.

I got your home address from the church.

Please, help me.

Help me, help my son and my family.

I just can't stand to see Bobby suffer anymore.

When Bobby was younger, he had all the classic symptoms of ADD, but no ticks.

As Bobby got older, his ADD symptoms have subsided, but he's developed verbal and motor ticks.

Speaking out like he did in church, uh, shoulder shrugging, eye blinking, that's not ADD.

Have you told your doctor about Bobby's verbal ticks?

Every time I bring Bobby in to see the doctor, he never has the ticks.

Uh, yeah.

From what I've read about Tourette's it's, it's quite common for kids not to exhibit any symptoms when they go to the doctor's.

Unfortunately, they can't... call up their tics on demand.

It's quite frustrating, when you know something is wrong with your child and no one believes you.

We believe you.

Do you know, I overheard a woman at a party ask a friend of mine if I did dr*gs while I was pregnant with Bobby.

My parents are no better, all they say is, "Bobby certainly didn't get his problems from our side of the family."

All people want to do is blame and judge.

And my husband's way of dealing with Bobby has always been to deny that anything is wrong with him.

If I try to talk to him, he shuts me out.

I have to say, our marriage isn't exactly rolling along.

Well, what can we do?

There must be something.

Yeah.

I forced our HMO and Bobby's pediatrician to make an appointment for him with a pediatric neurologist.

The appointment is tomorrow.

I want Bill to be there for Bobby.

For me, for us-- but I don't think I can get him to go.

Not without a little help.

Hey, this is Matt... and John, leave us a message at the beep.

Hi, it's just me.

Hey.

You've been hard to get a hold of this week.

It's because I've been dodging your calls.

I know.

What's going on?

Matt, talk to me.

I know you're mad, I know I did something, just tell me what it is, and then we can move on.

It's just that, uh...

Yes.

I think, maybe we need a break.

From what?

Each other.

Just so you know, I'm not like "Lucy."

If you ever need to tell me a secret, my lips are sealed.

Once you learn to talk, mum's the word.

Have you done your homework?

What's the use?

Haven't you heard, I'm stupid.

We need to talk. Come on.

Oh, you're almost getting too heavy to sit on mommy's lap.

Mmm.

Do you know why I got so mad at your teacher?

Because she was mean to me.

Yes.

But also because when Ms. Riddle hurt your feelings and made you feel like you weren't smart, then school and learning became a bad thing.

And if that happens often enough, it won't be long before you don't like school at all.

And that would be wrong.

Because learning should always be enjoyable, and school should always be like, this safe zone, where kids are loved and protected and able not only to study the stars, but to reach for them as well.

I'm glad you yelled at my teacher.

She is mean.

You know, you might consider making up with Lucy.

She loves you so much, and she was only trying to help you the only she knew how.

I'll think about it.

Maybe if the other kids' moms get mad at Ms. Riddle like you did, she'll stop calling everyone names.

Other kids' moms?

I'm not the only one she calls stupid.

Really.

Hey, do you know Denise Semple?

The girl who wears all the flannel?

Yeah, what's her story.

I don't know. Why do you want to know?

No reason.

Oh, come on, tell me what I did.

What did I do? I know you know.

I can't tell you.

Oh, please.

No way. I already squealed on one sibling and look what that got me.

Okay, I'm gonna give you a clue but you have to figure it out on your own.

Mary's mad at you because of something you said a couple of nights ago while you guys were playing basketball.

Oh.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

What do you want, cash? Because I'll pay you.

Mm-mm.

May I help you?

You wanna tell me anything?

Shana called you, didn't she?

I hear you're breaking up.

Maybe. I don't know.

No offense, but why is this any of your business?

Shana is very upset.

So am I.

Why does it always have to be about Shana? What about me?

Okay, I'll get right to the point.

What point?

The one I want to make.

A lot of things in your life will be difficult and challenging, as a matter of fact, some of the most wonderful things in your life will be difficult and challenging.

All I'm saying is... break up with Shana if you don't love or care for her any more, but don't break up with her just because long distance relationships are hard.

You're tougher than that.

All I came over for was a sandwich.

Every sandwich served in my kitchen comes with a free lecture on the side.

What's going on?

Hi, you must be Bill.

I'm Louis Shea.

This is a support group.

The couples here tonight all have children with varying degrees of Tourette's.

My son doesn't have Tourette's Syndrome.

Please, don't run away.

We have to face this.

It's the only way to help Bobby and help ourselves.

Bill, dealing with Tourette's is not an easy thing to do.

And I should know, I've had it since I was a kid.

You have Tourette's?

Mm-hmm.

Well, you... look so...

So normal?

That's okay.

As I got older my symptoms and tics lessened.

I still have Tourette's and I still get tics every now and then, but it's nothing compared to what it was like when I was a kid.

The severity and the frequency of tics do lessen with age.

The majority of kids with Tourette's grow up to lead healthy, happy lives.

They uh, they go to school, they go to college, they have friends, families, careers.

Okay, look, uh, I don't know you, but I do know that as hard as it was for me to be a kid growing up with Tourette's, I think it was harder still on my parents.

Especially my dad, who just wanted a son that could play football, not one that had uncontrollable sniffing and blinking.

Because of what my parents and I went through, I studied medicine when I grew up and eventually I became a neuropsychiatrist, so I could help families and children that suffer from Tourette's.

Your wife didn't think you would come to a support group meeting so, we brought the support group to you.

Well, I'm sorry you went to all the trouble, but I don't want your support.

Bill!

Look, you don't understand, okay?

Nobody can understand.

I'm trying to under... Please!

Just leave me alone. Please.

I want to understand.

Your wife wants to understand.

Hey, I'm here to help you.

You have to open up to somebody.

You've got a lot of pain and anger.

You can't keep it all inside you, if you do you'll explode.

When I was growing up, I had a cousin who had Tourette's.

We didn't know it at the time, but later on we realized that's what he had.

He had these horrible facial tics.

I teased him all the time.

I was really just... mean.

I tortured him, relentlessly.

I'm not quite sure I follow.

I just can't stand to think that there's some kid out there teasing Bobby like that.

Torturing him, making his life a nightmare, the way I did to my cousin.

And every time I look at him, it... it just reminds me just how badly I've acted in the past.

Look, look I did the research.

Tourette's is hereditary.

So basically, it's all my fault that Bobby is the way that he is.

You know, ADD, I could deal with, but this, you know...

I just don't think I can bear it.

You know what I think?

I think you need to forgive yourself for the past, so you can concentrate on the present and help your son, and you wife and yourself.

I just... I don't think I can.

I really don't.

Look, I'm really sorry.

I did a bad thing and I'll never do it again.

Never do what again?

What I did isn't important.

What is important is that I'm...

You have no idea what you did.

Exactly.

You called me "big butt."

The other night, when we were playing basketball, I fell on you and you called me "big butt."

But, I was just kidding.

I mean, I say stuff like that all the time.

I know.

But you're not a kid anymore, so I take what you say a little more seriously now.

I'm not a kid?

I mean...

I'll watch what I say from now on, okay?

Well, you better, because words can really hurt a person.

I'm not mad at you anymore.

You're not?

You're still a rat, but a good rat.

What made you change your mind?

I figured some day, I'd have to squeal on Sam and David and I'd want them to forgive me, so you're off the hook.

What?

Mom's been on the phone all morning.

Doing what?

Calling other parents.

Your teacher is in big trouble, isn't she?

Oh, yeah!

Hello.

I was going to get on a plane and fly back to Glenoak today.

What? Let me finish.

Okay.

I was going to get on a plane, and fly to Glenoak today, but then I realized that I couldn't afford the ticket, then I thought I would take the train, but that would take too long.

Then I thought I would take the bus, but that would take forever.

So I said to myself, "Just drive your car," but then I remembered that I sold my car when I moved to New York.

And what are you coming back to Glenoak for?

To apologize to you in person.

Apologize?

Yeah.

For taking you and our relationship for granted.

I've been so busy with school and work and making friends, that I forgot, you're stuck in Glenoak, alone, missing me.

It's not fair, and I haven't been either.

Apology accepted?

Yes.

Uh, I have to go.

Call me later?

Sure.

I love you.

I'll talk to you later.

Hey, you.

Talking to Shana?

Did you tell her hello and thanks?

Thanks for what?

For letting me hang out with you.

Oh, that.

Um, I'll tell her next time.

We should get going.

Okay, Camden, the principal's not going to save you today.

I just saw her inside yelling at a bunch of kids.

What, are you chickening out?

No, I was just thinking maybe there's a better way to settle this.

What's better than fighting?

How about a duel?

A video game duel.

Bobby brought his GameBoy.

Maybe you two can play each other.

If you win, you still get to b*at me up, but if Bobby wins, you have to leave him alone for good.

Of course, if you're not very good at video games, we can still just pummel each other.

No, let's play for it.

You first, Spazman.

Oh, and after Bobby whips your butt on the GameBoy, you have to stop calling him "Spazman," too.

Remember, you're gonna be quizzed on these tomorrow.

Pass them back.

Take one...

Mrs. Camden, what's going on?

I found a few other people who agree with me and aren't wild about having their sons and daughters called "stupid."

That's my mom.

Denise, hey, look.

I can't make up for all the pain that my friends have caused you, and you may not think an apology from me means anything, but I am sorry.

And I'm sorry for what they've said and I'm sorry for not doing anything about it.

Thanks.

So do you want to go to the Miller's party with me this weekend?

It's supposed to be a huge blowout.

Me? You want to go with me?

Yeah, I was supposed to go with my boyfriend, but I haven't heard from him and I do not want to miss this party.

I wasn't invited.

I just invited you.

Why should I trust you that this isn't a trick?

Because I would never do anything like that.

I'm not Laurel.

No, you're not.

Denise does not have to leave.

Are you sure about that?

Yes, I am.

Fine.

If you want to hang out with farmers, go ahead.

You know, Denise isn't a farmer, and you are...

Well, you know what you are.

Oh, and what makes you think that she doesn't bad mouth you when you're not around?

What's Mary talking about?

Do you say stuff behind our backs?

I can't believe you came.

Well, I can't believe it either.

I had a real good day in school, Dad.

That's terrific.

After we see the doctor we'll all go out to dinner and you can tell me about it.

Awesome.

Thanks for being here.

It means a lot to me and to Bobby.

I know I haven't been there for you in the past.

Later, I'd like to tell you why.

Okay.

Let's make today a fresh start for all of us.

I think we all deserve that.

All right.

Did you drive here?

Uh, no.

A friend gave me a lift.

A friend?