06x25 - For Better, For Worse

[bunniefuu]

[soft music playing]

That's right, Dr. Ackerman. He is. He is?

Mack, wake up. I found him.

He's in Las Vegas in a bridge tournament.

I'm going there tomorrow. I'll catch an early plane.

You're asking me to be a spy?

That's not a very precise term.

The whole idea is ridiculous.

What's the problem?

You don't want to get married anymore?

I don't know what I want.

Gary Ewing has become our landlord.

That arrangement is unacceptable.

It's time we dealt with it.

[opening theme song]

[birds chirping]

He what? This is a joke, right?

I was there when the estate attorney called.

Galveston has left all of Empire Valley

to your buddy, Gary.

I can't believe he did this to me!

So what are you going to do now?

[sighs]

I'm going to toast the old man's sense of humor.

Maybe he got the last laugh on me after all.

[instrumental music playing]

[Gary] To Paul Galveston. The king is dead.

Long live the king.

[instrumental music playing]

What does that mean?

That's what you say when an old king dies

and a new king is crowned to take his place.

And you're the new king?

Yeah, something like that.

Well, honey, aren't you going to eat anything?

I think Mom was expecting Lobster Newberg.

The fries are great here, Mom.

You could have told me we were coming to a place like this.

Well, I wanted it to be a surprise.

I can see that it was.

[laughing] You think this was a great idea, don't you?

Greater than great!

See that?

You know, the run on our finances was

really a blessing in disguise.

Because our investors ran scared

and because we bought up all their notes.

We're now in Empire Valley, free and clear.

Let's go to some wickedly expensive restaurant,

order champagne and caviar and toast them.

Wild extravagance. Is that what you want?

Yes, please.

You got it.

Don't eat anymore. No, no.

Don't eat anymore. Wipe your hands.

Listen up, everybody.

There's a gentleman over there

that would like to treat all of you

to a double cheeseburger, fries and a large drink.

So whenever you're ready,

come on over for another round.

[applauding]

Thank you. Thank you.

[laughing]

And that's what I call extravagance.

[instrumental music playing]

[gasps] Oh, gosh!

What are you doing here?

I was worried about you.

We were all worried about you.

Well, I'm... I'm sorry

I didn't show up for the rehearsal

at Reverend Kathrun's. I'm fine.

It's all right.

I just want to make sure you're okay.

[sighs] Yeah.

Look, I'm... I'm really tired.

What's the problem? You don't want...

wanna get married anymore?

I don't know what I want.

Don't you walk away like that.

Josh, I'm really tired and I don't want to talk about it,

okay?

[intense music playing]

Mmm. The thing about fruitcakes is

they stay nice and moist till Sunday.

[oven tings]

Valene, will you hand me the potholders?

Sweet pea. whoo-hoo Anybody home?

-What? -Potholders.

-Oh, here to you. -Thank you.

Uh-huh.

-Ooh! Hello! -[exhales]

Now, don't you taste.

Those are for the reception.

Well, in that case, you might as well give them away

because there's not going to be any reception.

-Oh! -What?

What did you say, Joshua?

The wedding is off.

Nonsense. It's just butterflies.

I never met a man who didn't have them before the big day.

It's not me, it's Cathy. She just got finished telling me

that she's not going to go through with it.

Well, then it's just brides' butterflies.

I'll talk to her.

Mom, if Cathy wants to talk to you about it,

she'll come to you.

I am the closest thing to a mother that girl's got.

[Valene] I know it's none of my business.

That never stopped you before, Val.

I think you better stay out of it, Mama.

It'll be all right.

[knock on door]

-You're at it again, Mom? -You got it.

Hello. Yes.

Could you put me through to the office that handles

the tournament in your hotel?

The bridge tournament?

Look, miss, this is long distance

and I don't have the... Thank you.

[sighs]

Yes, hello. I'm trying to reach someone

who... who may have entered your bridge tournament.

It's very, very important I reach him.

Well, don't you have the list of... of people who entered?

Dr. Mitch Ackerman.

That's right.

Oh. He's not.

Thank you.

He's not. He's not.

[keyboard clatters]

[telephone ringing]

-Joshua. Hi. -Hi.

Is that the script?

Yes, I... I like it.

Seeing as it's about marriage.

[chuckles] It's appropriate, isn't it?

I think so.

Joshua, it's soft.

Why don't we let the audience decide that?

I think they already have.

As a matter of fact, your viewership is

leveling off over the past few weeks.

It's down in several cities. Don't get me wrong.

The ratings are still good, but they're not climbing anymore.

I think you've peaked, Joshua.

[Mack] What are you going to call it?

Galveston.

The man, the industry, the empire.

Lincoln, the man.

The monument, the car.

Hearst, Howard Hughes,

Galveston was hanging out with those big guys.

Oh, you got it. I wish he were still alive.

It'll seem as though I waited

till he couldn't defend himself.

Oh, it's still a good story. What does Abby say?

-She said, go ahead. -Yeah?

With Gary's inheritance,

puts them right in the middle of everything.

I thought she'd try to shut you down.

You know, the only thing that worries me

is your investigation. I don't want to do anything

that's going to mess you guys up.

No, you won't. Galveston's dead.

Jameson's awaiting trial for the murders.

There's nothing else for me to do.

When are you going to air this masterpiece?

[sighs]

I'm kind of waiting on the people of Westfall, you know?

I'm getting to know them.

They're getting to know me, to trust me.

I don't think it's going to be too much longer

before they start telling me everything.

Cathy, what went on

between you and Joshua last night?

Well, it's not just last night, Lilimae.

Well, what then?

I mean, why did you wait until the last minute

to call off the wedding?

I didn't call off the wedding.

Well, Joshua says you did.

Oh, that's Joshua's version.

Oh!

He loves you.

I know he does, but that's not the problem.

Oh! Well, I'm not blind.

I know that at times, Joshua may seem overbearing.

And self-righteous and inflexible

and... and selfish.

He's not really like that.

Well, he didn't used to be.

What he used to be

was a shy country boy who just left home,

not knowing much about the world outside.

But look at him today.

I mean in next to no time a big success.

And more than a success

I mean he is a man that people listen to

and respect and are drawn to and seek out.

Well, sure, it's gone to his head a little.

I mean, sure, he's full of himself right now,

but that'll change.

Now, deep down,

you and I both know he's the same sweet boy.

Oh, I want so much to see you two together.

Me too.

Well, then...

I just... I just need more time.

But the wedding is Sunday.

See, because none of

the Westfall stuff has aired yet,

I figured I'd start with that

and then go to Galveston in the early years.

I think it's a good idea. It's something I'd watch.

Hey, what do you know? The blushing groom.

Hi. How are you?

I think the wedding's been temporarily postponed.

No.

[Joshua] No, not at all. It's right on schedule.

As a matter of fact, I was going to ask

you to be my best man.

-What? -Will you do it?

Come on, you guys don't even like each other.

Despite what Ben and I think of each other professionally,

I consider you to be family, Ben.

In other words, there's nobody else to ask

and he knows I can't turn him down because of Val.

-Mm-hmm. It's settled then.

You know, maybe this marriage will bring out his confidence

a little more, you know?

Bring out... make him

a little more sure of himself.

[laughs]

Look, I know it's something we have to deal with,

but there's no reason to overreact here.

You're jumping to conclusions.

His inheritance doesn't change anything.

Look, we've handled Gary in the past.

There's no reason to think that

we can't continue to handle him into the future.

I'll keep in touch with you.

[telephone ringing]

How come you're not laughing now?

Ha, ha, ha.

[telephone ringing]

[thuds]

I especially admire your coolness under pressure.

Look, I can handle Gary Ewing.

The way you handled that phone.

If I am frustrated, if I am a bit edgy...

A bit?

It's because of the nervous wrecks

I am forced to do business with around here.

They're the problem, not Gary.

Maybe.

Maybe. What do you mean, maybe?

Maybe you should worry about Gary.

Yeah?

You know, he has a way of sticking to his principles.

While you're not worrying about Gary,

he might just be turning

Empire Valley into one of those wildernesses

he's just so crazy about.

[dramatic music playing]

[crickets chirping]

[Joshua] You're not sure you love me?

Yes, I love you.

I just don't love being pressured.

You feel pressured?

I feel like...

I feel like I'm in the backseat of a car

and I'm stuck there and you're driving

and I don't have anything to say

about where we're going

or how fast we're going to get there.

You have to be in control of everything.

I'm not trying to control you.

Yes, you are.

You most definitely are.

So you don't want to get married?

I didn't say that. Can't we just postpone it?

Do you think you'll feel differently in a month?

No, I don't know. I don't know.

What's the difference if you get married now

or a month from now?

Because then at least I'll feel

like I've made a choice here.

Oh, come on, Cathy,

you're being childish.

You say you love me. You say you want to marry me.

You know how much I love you.

You say it makes no difference whether we get married now

or a month from now, so why wait?

Either we do it or we don't.

Well, I'm waiting.

You're waiting.

You're waiting. I'm waiting.

I'm tired of waiting for us to start

working things out together.

We have to do this as a team.

If we're going to be husband and wife,

we have to decide on things together,

make decisions together.

We have to do things that we both want to do,

not the things that you want to do.

I don't want to hear about it after you've already decided.

[sighs]

I love you and you love me.

We know that, but there's more to it than that.

If you could just get that through your thick head, then...

then we could get married.

[sighs] Okay?

Okay.

[grunts]

[crickets chirping]

-That was a terrific meal. -Thank you.

Yeah, we should certainly do this again.

Absolutely. Absolutely.

Of course, it's always good business to be nice

to your landlord, isn't it?

What can I fix you, Abby? A little arsenic on the rocks?

[sighs]

Whatever you're having.

-Soda with a twist, right? -Yeah.

Hey, I was impressed with the way

you handled that run on your finances, Gary.

Well, thanks for your offer to help.

No problem.

What's important is that you have it all behind you now.

And... I don't think that

Empire Valley could have been left in better hands.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you meant that.

Now that Gary's on sound financial footing again,

I thought, it might be time

to get the project back on track again.

Sure. In time. I've always had problems with the project.

Now might be a good time to pull back and re-evaluate

just where it is Empire Valley is going.

[sighs] Maybe that's what Galveston had in mind

when he wrote his will, huh?

Your ecological bent, so to speak?

I don't think we're ever going to know what Galveston had

in mind, do you?

Oh, I think it's obvious.

My father figured that a little healthy conflict would be good

for his legacy in the long run.

What about the short run?

Well, in the short run,

he knew that my friend Gary here would drive me nuts.

All right. Let's focus. Let's see.

One foot six inches.

One six?

Yeah, one foot six.

All right. I don't get all this.

Look, it's about the relationship between

the F-stop and the depth of field.

Yeah, I know.

The F-stop, see, the F-stop for the camera

is what the iris is for the eye.

-Yeah, right. -See?

-What's the next one? -Two feet.

That's right. Ackerman.

A-C-K-E-R-M-A-N.

-All right. I'll wait. -Let's focus.

[sighs] It's bad enough they put you on hold,

but making you listen to elevator music

is adding insult to injury.

Okay, three feet. No, wait. Two foot six there.

I don't know why your brother couldn't help you

with this photography course.

I know, I know. He's with his girlfriend.

Hey, what do you think? Yeah.

Is he ashamed of us or what?

I don't blame him, mind you, but I remember

when I was ashamed of my parents at his age.

Is he gonna bring her to the wedding?

I don't know. I'm not going to the wedding.

-I got a game. Wedding?

I thought the wedding was off.

No, it's on.

Joshua asked Ben a couple of hours ago,

"Will you be my best man?" The wedding's on.

Okay, we got one more card. Last one. It's three feet.

-Three feet. -No, no, I wanted to know

if he was registered in this week's tournament.

Okay, huh?

You finished with the f-stops and depths of field.

I'm gonna show you a camera. Come here.

-Wait. We got some... -No, no, no. Come here.

I want to show you something.

That's right. Ackerman.

Oh. Thank you.

[Mack] Here.

-Here. You got it? -Oh!

[sighs] Never knew there were so many bridge tournaments.

Now, this is a camera.

All you do is load it, you aim it, you sh**t it.

No f-stop, no iris, no nothing.

Here, here, here.

Watch this. Little left.

-Okay. -Mom, no! What are you doing?

-[camera shutter clicks] -[Mack] Ha! See?

Just point it. [laughs]

Every day and every night the news blares out at us

unthinkable tragedies.

The whole sad list of evils

that people inflict on each other.

And we ask ourselves, what does it all mean?

And how can we make sense of this?

Has our species gone mad?

And if so, is there any hope left at all for this planet?

Once we begin to believe that

the world is what the news tells us,

it's easy to fall into despair

become cynical, to start to believe,

as many news stories imply,

[on TV] that certain political and social events

are part of a vast conspiracy against us.

But is the world a nest of conspiracies,

or are these conspiracies

the inventions of our news people,

who know that all of us from time to time enjoy

something a little sensational?

Most of you have probably never heard of Westfall,

but it's a town you'll be hearing a lot about

in the future.

Westfall had the misfortune of being located near one

of the most visionary projects of our time, Empire Valley.

Galveston Industries, which was behind the funding

for this vast community project,

is on the cutting edge of progress.

What the hell is going on?

What do you mean?

-That! -Shhh!

I'm going to hear this.

[on TV] ...for our children and our grandchildren,

but our news people don't tell us about that.

They only focus on the sensationalism.

They try to tell us that there is a conspiracy.

Westfall's tragedy was real, but so is the progress that was

represented by Empire Valley, a possible utopia in the desert.

I don't believe this!

What will you do? Stop the taping!

Yes!

[sighs] Fair broadcasting means presenting all points of view,

-doesn't it? -You can't let that run!

The world is not a vast conspiracy against us.

Our industrialists and our empire builders

are human beings like you and me

doing the best that they can.

And certainly, they're going to make mistakes.

But that should not prevent us from supporting their

efforts to improve our lives.

[soft music playing]

-Hello, Gregory. -John!

Greg, I... I understand that

Gary Ewing has become our landlord.

Correct.

That arrangement is unacceptable.

It's time we dealt with it.

[soft music playing]

That's right, Dr. Ackerman.

He is. He is?

You're absolutely sure?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

[soft music playing]

Mack, Mack, wake up. I found him.

He's in Las Vegas in a bridge tournament.

I'm going there tomorrow. I'll catch an early play.

Wait a minute, Karen.

No, don't try to talk me out of it. I made up my mind.

I'm not going to talk you out of it.

I was... I'm just thinking,

-maybe I'll go with you. -No, I'm okay, really.

Don't worry about me. [sighs]

Let's say the babies are alive. All right.

And let's say that Ackerman is responsible.

What are you going to do? Squeeze a confession out of him?

You know if you confront him, he's going to deny it.

That's okay, I'll know.

You'll know, right? I forgot.

Yeah.

I forgot that you were the human lie detector.

I'll be able to tell.

[scoffs] Good luck.

Thanks.

What about the wedding?

It's more important than the wedding.

It's more important than anything.

Besides, the wedding doesn't start until two.

I'll be back long before that.

I wouldn't want Val to become suspicious.

[sighs]

[birds chirping]

Pete, how you doing? Mack. Yeah. MacKenzie, you turkey.

How you doing? Yeah, good, good.

No, I'm here in Knots Landing. But Karen's on her way to Vegas.

So I want you to do me a favor.

She's trying to track somebody down at a bridge tournament.

Yeah, bridge. Look, do me a favor.

I just want you to look after her a little bit.

Yeah, find out where the tournament is

and just, you know, look after her.

Yeah, thanks a lot. I owe you one.

Terrific. Great.

[bell rings]

[indistinct chatter]

Ben Mark from Atlanta.

Oh, table 29. You better hurry.

Much obliged.

Jill Delacorte, Sacramento.

-Table 14. -Thanks.

-Excuse me. -Yes.

-Oh, I'm not here to register. -Oh.

But I'm looking for someone who is.

Dr. Mitch Ackerman.

Dr. Ackerman.

Oh, he isn't in this round.

His first round begins at noon.

Noon? But...

Thank you.

Is this the right church?

I know it's the right church. Of course, it is.

-Well, where's everybody else? -[bell dings]

I don't know. They're gonna be here.

I hope.

I think they will. Let me see this.

-What time is it? -I just love weddings.

Wha...

This is the strangest one I've ever been to. Or in.

-It's all right. -No, it's perfect now.

It's perfect. I can't believe that

you agreed to be the best man.

[laughs]

Well, I didn't do it for Joshua.

-Hey! Oh, mommy, you look beautiful.

-You look wonderful. -Well, I feel wonderful.

[laughs]

Ben, do you have the ring?

And the money for Reverend Kathrun.

Well... we'd better be getting on inside.

-There's still plenty to do. -Yeah.

-I just love weddings. -I know.

Come on.

Your gown, it's just gorgeous.

Thanks.

So this is new. What do you have that's old?

-My earrings. -Oh, where are those?

They're right there in that little box.

They're not very old.

Listen, anything that's older than three days is

old these days.

Oh, three earrings. Now, this is very hip.

[laughs] Oh, you know me.

Okay, what do you have that's borrowed?

Oh, Lilimae gave me a little hanky.

It's right there. A little hanky.

Oh, that's nice.

And, uh, what's blue? You?

No, I'm just nervous.

It's not too late to back out, you know.

Oh, I don't want to back out. I love him.

I like the way he acts sometimes.

And I wish we weren't rushing

into this like we are, but...

I love him. You know, I knew I was gonna fall in love

with him the first time I met him.

He's a little full of himself right now, but that'll pass.

You sure?

Yeah, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure.

[soft music playing]

Where are the house phones?

Around to the left.

[soft music playing]

Hello. Could you ring Dr. Ackerman's room, please?

Dr. Mitch Ackerman.

Thank you.

[sighs] Yes.

What?

He's not.

[soft music playing]

He's not registered at the hotel.

Well, a lot of our players aren't.

This hotel is a little steep for many of our players.

They prefer the more, you know, economical places.

But he's a doctor.

They are the worst.

I had a doctor register this morning,

rode all night on a bus,

just so he wouldn't have to stay at any hotel.

Gary.

I need you.

[sighs] You go ahead. I'll be in in a few minutes.

[soft music playing]

What's this all about?

Education, Gary. Education.

Look around us, Gary, and what do you see?

A former diplomat.

The former president of

an international investment firm.

The man who single-handedly put the French automobile industry

back on its feet after World w*r II.

The president of the world's largest contracting firm.

A firm that specializes in creating entire cities.

These men represent some of the interests in Empire Valley.

You own the land,

but these men dreamed its future,

laid out the plans and dared to make it a reality.

The stature of these men and the fact that I left

the United States Senate to join this group

should tell you something.

What's involved in Empire Valley

is vast and far-reaching.

Unfortunately, that's all that we can tell you right now.

Is that why you brought me here to tell me that

you can't tell me what this is about?

[sighs] We live in a complicated world, Gary.

The goals of our country

and its allies simply cannot be met

working within today's political climate.

The bureaucracy of it all is just impossible.

That's where we come in.

We?

I know it's complicated, but you have a choice.

We can end this discussion right here.

Forget that this meeting ever took place.

But if that's your decision, we'd have to ask you

to divorce yourself from the project entirely,

which would mean selling us your land.

Name your price. Don't be conservative.

What makes you think I'd sell?

Well, you're either in or you're out.

There's no in-between.

I'm late for a wedding.

Listen, believe me, Gary,

if there were any other way

I would be the first to tell you.

And if I do join?

You won't be bored.

Go to hell.

Gentlemen, I think we have given Mr. Ewing

a great deal to think about.

Why don't we give him a day or two to make his decision?

Hey, Mack.

-Hi. How you doing? -Hi. Fine.

-Where's Karen? -You look great.

She'll be along. Just waiting.

She didn't come with you?

No. She had an appointment.

I guess she's running a few minutes late.

Well, I guess she'll be here. Boy, you look spiffy, too.

Beautiful day.

Wow.

-Whitney. Hi, Whitney. -And this is Mack.

How nice to meet you, finally.

Same here. Thank you.

Oh.

I'm sorry. This is Val Ewing.

Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Nice meeting you, too.

Thank you.

Lovely corsage.

Thank you.

-You're gonna lose it. -No.

Oh, I'll just...

Wait a minute, Mack. Yeah. Come here, Whitney.

I'll take care of it.

Beautiful.

So, what do you think?

-About what? -Whitney.

I'm shocked.

What does she see in you?

Thank you. Perfect.

All set.

[church bell tolls]

Some day, huh?

What the hell did you think you were doing yesterday?

I don't tell you what to include in your program, Ben.

Don't tell me what to include in mine.

Yours? It was my story, and you blew it wide open.

I was getting close to those people.

I was merely presenting

a different way of looking at the same facts.

Oh, no, no, no.

What you did was you told everybody

what happened in Westfall

when I was getting ready to expose it.

You exploited the tragedy of other people and probably blew

any chance we'll ever have of getting to the truth.

I was speaking in much broader terms than that, Ben.

You were abusing the privileges of your position, pal.

And what about you?

Mack couldn't make a case out of the evidence.

Who appointed you to pick up where he left off?

I'm a reporter.

I report them like I see them.

-So do I. -Okay, fellas, we're ready.

[camera shutter clicks]

Are you sure you haven't seen Dr. Ackerman?

I haven't seen him. I don't know where he is.

Well, I've got to catch a plane, and it's getting...

Dr. Ackerman's been playing since noon.

What?

How could he enter without registering?

I don't know, but he was playing

at the table next to mine.

Thank you.

[paper rustling]

So he is inside.

Either he's in trouble or I am. Oh, he did register.

You told me you didn't see him.

I'm sorry. I goofed. I do that sometimes.

Would you do me a favor, please?

Sure.

Would you page him?

-Now? -Yes, now.

No, that's not allowed.

Not until the first round is over.

See, you don't know how much cheating goes on inside.

Why do you think we have guards accompany the players?

-I'm going in there. -Oh, no, wait, you can't...

Lady, where do you think you're going?

I have to... I have to get inside.

Just hold your horses, please.

Now, as soon as the round's over,

they'll open the doors.

Look, there's someone in there that I have to see.

This is an emergency, so.

I'm sorry.

Would you like a ride?

No. Thank you.

I'll get you to the wedding in plenty of time.

We need to talk, Gary.

It's very important. Please.

Ahh! I love a wedding.

[laughs]

Represents the triumph of hope over reason.

Is it awkward for you, this wedding?

Why should it be awkward for me?

Your affair with the bride.

Who, of course, resembles the late Ciji Dunne.

Such a sad and violent death.

Was it difficult for you,

having been accused of a m*rder

you had no idea whether or not you had committed?

What's on your mind?

You.

Your history.

Your alcoholism.

Your estrangement from your family in Texas.

Your likes, dislikes, hopes, fears, aspirations.

[chuckles] The usual.

Who are you?

Not one of them.

Those men are not what they appear to be.

Nor are they what they say they are.

And you?

If they were simply imposters,

then they would pose no threat.

They are powerful men, just as Gregory said,

and very ambitious.

Gary, Empire Valley

will have the ability to process

and manipulate electronic information

on a global scale.

What he did not tell you is that

they are working without government sanction,

outside of institutional channels.

Maybe even outside the law.

Why are you telling me all this?

We need you.

To do what?

We want you to join them.

Huh! You're already in that group.

What do you need me in there for?

No, no, I'm in Washington most of the time.

You will be involved here on a daily basis.

Now, what we are asking you to do is very simple.

We want you to report to us

on how the project is progressing.

Report?

I will be in touch with you regularly.

Above all, we must know exactly

when the project comes online.

Then what?

We will take care of the rest.

Ross, we can pull away now.

[car engine starting]

[organ music playing]

["Wedding March" plays]

[music continues]

[soft music fades]

Dearly beloved, we are assembled here today

in the presence of God

and these witnesses to perform one of the highest

and holiest duties in human life.

That of weaving into one the strands of

two precious human lives.

We invoke God's benediction upon the home

which is here established.

The home in which love shall reign supreme.

For as much as these two persons

have come here to be made one

in this holy estate if there be anyone present

who knows of any just cause

why they may not be lawfully joined in marriage

I require him now to make it known

or ever after hold his peace.

[Gary] I don't believe this.

[John] Oh, believe it.

I mean, you're asking me to be a spy,

a spy for God's sake.

That's not a very precise term.

Okay, agent, operative, whatever you want to call it.

They're all the same to me

and the whole idea is ridiculous.

Not so ridiculous when you understand

what these men are trying to accomplish

and what they will accomplish unless we are watchful.

Why should I trust you?

I mean, for all I know, you're the guy trying to

take over the world and they're the patriots.

Had you heard of me before?

Yes, of course.

What? International figure?

Diplomat? Negotiator? Global troubleshooter?

Confidante of more than a few heads of state?

Think of it this way.

If I am corrupt, then there's no hope anyway.

You might as well take my word for it.

Ha! This is incredible.

[chuckles] I don't disagree.

What happens if I say no?

To me or to them?

Either one.

[sighs]

I don't really have a choice, do I?

No, one always has a choice.

[instrumental music playing]

We'll be in touch.

Almighty God, bless these two

as they walk together through this journey of life.

Abide with them in the home and on the way.

May each added year be rich with new delight

in their companionship.

Help them to be true to each other and to thee.

Where were you?

I took a walk.

Trust, and faith. Rise.

Face each other.

Joshua, do you take Cathy

to be your lawfully wedded wife?

Do you promise to love her and comfort her?

Support her and cherish her in sickness and in health?

And forsaking all others, remain faithful to her

for as long as you both shall live?

I do.

Cathy, do you take Joshua to be your lawfully wedded husband?

Do you promise to love him and comfort him?

To honor and cherish him through sickness and in health?

Through sunshine and storm?

And forsaking all others, remain faithful to him

for as long as you both shall live?

I do.

You may face me now.

May this ring, which has no beginning and no ending,

be a symbol of your eternal love.

Joshua, repeat after me.

With this ring I thee wed.

With this ring I thee wed.

And pledge thee my love and loyalty.

And pledge thee my love and loyalty.

By the authority committed unto me as

minister of the church of Jesus Christ,

I declare that Joshua and Cathy

are now husband and wife.

Congratulations.

You may... you may kiss the bride.

Hello, could you page Dr. Ackerman, please?

It's urgent.

Yes, Dr. Ackerman.

[soft music playing]

[applauding]

Okay, ready.

[woman] She got it.

[applauding]

Bye, bye, bye, bye.

[man on PA] Dr. Ackerman, well,

Dr. Ackerman, please pick up the courtesy phone.

[telephone ringing]

[suspenseful music playing]

This is Dr. Ackerman.

[theme music playing]