01x17 - Choices

[bunniefuu]

This is detention, folks, not kindergarten.

Take your seats and at least pretend you're being punished.

Don't worry, they're not going to bite.

Well, except for that guy maybe.

I'm Camille.

Oh, yeah, I think I've heard of you.

I'm Mary Camden.

Yeah, I've heard of you, too.

You're the minister's daughter, right?

Guilty.

So what are you in for?

Tardiness.

What about you?

Smoking.

Oh.

In the boys' locker room.

Wow!

What are you doing tonight?

Do you want to go to the mall?

Oh, I've got to ask my parents first.

To go to the mall?

Yeah, they keep a pretty tight rein.

Well, we'll just have to get them to loosen up, won't we?

How about a hamster?

No, I don't like hamsters.

So I can have something else?

I don't think so, honey.

Happy's enough pet for one family.

But Happy's Simon's pet.

I want my own.

How about a little, bitty goldfish?

That won't be no trouble.

Any.

Any what?

A goldfish won't be any trouble.

I know, so can I have one?

No, honey.

Can I walk Happy?

Not by yourself.

Wait for Simon, okay?

Oh.

Hi, guys-- where's Mary?

Uh, basketball practice.

In the off-season?

You know how those chicks are.

They're fanatics.

Wow.

Oh, Lucy, your dad wants to talk to you.

He's in the study.

Am I in trouble?

Why do you guys always think you're in trouble if one of us wants to talk to you?

Experience.

Annie?

Tom!

What a great surprise!

Come on in.

How are you?

Good.

So, Tom, are you a full-fledged minister now?

No, not yet.

Still second to the throne.

Boy, we've missed you.

I think you were the best associate pastor that Eric's ever had.

I take it you're still in Denver?

For the time being.

What does that mean?

I have to admit, I'm getting a little tired of it.

I thought I might take a little vacation.

Come on, you couldn't find a vacation spot better than Glenoak?

In the back of my mind, I thought you might have an opening for an associate pastor.

I really wish you'd called first.

There's no room in the budget for anything like that right now.

That's okay.

The trip was just a lark.

Spur of the moment.

You know, I really had no expectations.

So, if one of you could be kind enough to call me a cab, I'd like to find a room in a cheap hotel and chill out for a while.

Well, you know, I can get you a good rate at the Holiday Inn.

I know the manager there.

Great.

Holiday Inn?

I would be personally insulted if you didn't stay with us.

We have so much to catch up on.

Well, if you insist.

I do!

Yeah, why not?

Great, thanks.

If you don't mind, I'd like to wash up.

Oh, it's upstairs to the left.

Oh, isn't this great?

Well, it's not great.

I've never been that crazy about Tom.

I thought you were.

Well, I'm not.

He always seems to be hiding something.

Whatever I did, I'm sorry.

What are you talking about?

Mom said you wanted to talk to me.

Oh, yeah.

No, I just wanted to remind you that confirmation classes start this Sunday.

You're 13, so you can join the church as an adult now.

That's it?

Yeah.

Oh, I thought it was something important.

Sign me up.

I want to hold the leash.

I let you hold the leash for most of the walk.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Look!

Hey, it's mine.

Now it's mine.

I picked it up first.

I'm telling Mom.

Wow...

I wonder who lost it.

Obviously no one in our family-- this is $50.

Maybe we should give it back.

To who, the sidewalk?

We don't know who it belongs to.

Should we give it to Daddy?

Well, we could give it to Dad, or... first we can sit down and discuss this like adults.

Okay, discuss what?

How we can spend it.

Oh, hi.

How was practice?

Good.

You know, I really admire you and the other girls trying to keep up your game during the off-season.

Thanks.

Um, hey, Mom, can I go to the mall with Camille tonight?

No way.

I just thought, you know, with practice and all, you'd be too tired to go to the mall.

Well, I'm not too tired and I want to hang out at the mall with Camille.

Wait a minute. Who's Camille?

I've never heard you mention her before.

She just transferred in last fall, so she doesn't have that many friends.

Well, I guess it's okay.

But not too late, and after dinner.

We have a guest-- Tom Harrison.

Oh, you mean the really good-looking guy who trained to be a minister with Dad?

Mm-hmm.

So grab some napkins and help me with the table.

Okay.

Hey, you know, Camille isn't somebody you should be hanging out with.

She's nice. What's your problem?

She's not nice.

She has a reputation for being wild-- really wild.

Yeah?

Well, so do you.

Okay, the right thing to do would be to return the money.

On the other hand, since we don't know who to return it to, then we can do something good with it, and that would be right, too, wouldn't it?

Yeah, but maybe it would be righter to tell Mom and Dad.

Yeah, but if we do and they let us keep the money, they wouldn't let us spend it.

We'd have to save it.

That's no good.

Ruthie, this is a big decision, and we have to handle it right.

Let's flip a coin.

Heads, we keep the money.

And tails... we'll do two out of three.

Okay.

It's heads.

Yes!

$50 is a lot of money.

How much is it?

$50 is 5,000 pennies.

We're rich.

Hi, Tom.

Lucy?

I can't believe that's you.

How old are you now?

Thirteen.

Wow!

I know.

I'm starting confirmation classes this Sunday, and Mom thought maybe you could help me study.

I guess I could do that.

But, you know, choosing your religion is one of the most important choices you'll ever make in your life.

And before I was confirmed, I investigated every possible choice.

I never really thought about having a choice in the matter.

I just assumed I'd join Dad's church.

Oh, no, no, you always have a choice.

It's a lifetime decision you're being asked to make, and it shouldn't be entered into lightly.

Would you like some salad dressing?

No, I'll wait till dinner.

I don't know what it is, but I'm telling you, there's something going on with Tom that we don't know about.

All I know is that he's charming, good-looking and a very charismatic speaker.

You think he's good-looking?

Tom?

Yes, he's good-looking, but not as good-looking as you are.

So, can I help with dinner?

I want to earn my keep.

Oh, sure.

Hey, vegetarian lasagna!

I can't believe you remembered I'm a vegetarian.

Of course I remembered.

So how did you make the béchamel sauce?

Well, you know, I still haven't figured out a way to make a good vegetarian cream sauce without dairy.

It's so simple.

All you need is vegetable stock and cornstarch.

Oh, of course.

Oh, that reminds me-- while you're here, will you get the recipe from your grandmother for that chocolate pound cake?

Hey, Dad, can you take us to the mall?

Yeah, we need to go real bad.

What for?

To look at some stuff.

Sorry, but we're going to be eating soon and I'm not really a mall guy.

Oh, hey, Mary's going to the mall with her friend Camille.

Maybe Simon and Ruthie could go with them.

Great idea, Matt.

Thanks, Mary.

Dinner's in five minutes.

All right, we'll be there.

You know, Annie, uh... there's been something I've been wanting to tell you, but I can't decide whether or not I should.

Well, I'm a good listener.

I have references.

Um, are you having problems being a minister?

Because I have a lot of experience listening in that area.

Yeah, kind of.

It's just that...

No, never mind.

I don't want to dump my problems off on you.

Let's just have a good time.

You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

If you change your mind, you know where to find me.

Hi.

Oh, thanks.

I hope you don't mind entertaining Tom.

I just... I got so much paperwork to catch up on, it's...

Really? What kind of paperwork?

Oh, you know, just the usual old church stuff.

Yeah, well, you know, maybe when you're finished, you could find some of that usual old church stuff to include Tom in.

Aw, Mom, do I have to?

Just let me hide out for 20 minutes, okay?

Okay.

Do you want to hide out with me?

Mmm... uh-uh.

Oops, I'm sorry.

I'll come back later.

Good, good, you do that.

Oh, Lucy, no, come back, come back.

He's all yours.

So, how can I help you?

Actually, I just wanted to look at a book on Buddhism.

Are you doing a paper for school?

Not exactly.

Um, I was talking to Tom about my confirmation classes and he encouraged me to look at all my religious options.

Like Buddhism.

For starters.

Why Buddhism?

I don't know.

Richard Gere likes it.

Well, yeah.

Okay, okay... ah, yeah, here you go.

Anything else I can offer you?

We got Judaism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Sufi...

The Sufis are interesting.

No, I'll just look into the Buddhists for now, thanks.

Okay.

This is all right with you, isn't it?

Yeah, it's fine.

Y-y-you should know something about other religions.

What?

We're bored.

Can we please go to the pet store?

It's right next door.

We promise we won't get lost or talk to strangers or anything.

Oh, let them go.

You're acting like their mother instead of their fun older sister.

I agree.

Well, maybe I should go with them.

No. I need your opinion on this dress.

Well, I can tell you right now you'd look great in it.

Look, just let me try this on, and we'll go straight to the pet store and catch up with them, I promise.

Oh, yeah, try that on.

No, I don't need anything.

Oh, yeah?

Do you have something to wear to a fraternity party?

What fraternity party?

Tonight.

You have to come.

There'll be tons of older guys there.

I mean mature guys, not like the nerds we go to high school with.

It'll be so cool.

Camille, I'm lucky I got to come to the mall.

My parents aren't going to let me go to a party at 9:30, especially not a fraternity party.

Right, so that's why you're not going to ask them.

I can't believe I'm b*ating you.

I've never beaten you at gin.

I am the gin king.

One day they're going to write songs about me.

Yes!

Gin.

Let's see what you got.

Uh-oh, ooh...

45, plus 20 for me going out first.

65 points for me.

I am gin queen, admit it.

You can't, you can't.

I'm sorry, I hate to interrupt your fun.

I just got off the phone with Judy Calloway and she's not doing so well.

Is that the same Judy who was living with the artist, the one who used to dress like a rock star when he came to church?

Yeah, Judy married him and then they got divorced shortly after that and then about six months ago he committed su1c1de.

Judy's having a real hard time dealing with it all.

Hey, Tom, maybe you could come with me.

I think Judy's getting a little bored with my company.

No, I can't.

I'm not good in those situations.

Oh...

I'm sorry.

I'm just tired from my trip.

I'm going to go to bed.

What about our game?

I've got a headache. Sorry.

Something's not right.

I know.

Let's just give him a little time.

All right, I got to get over to Judy's.

I'd be happy to go with you if you'd like.

That's a great idea.

Oh, Matt, do you mind watching Lucy?

Your Dad and I are going out just for a bit.

Sure.

I have no life. Why not?

$530.

Now, that ought to cover the next two deliveries, plus today's.

I got almost no overhead and hamsters breed like crazy.

This is like money in the bank.

Well, we sell the little devils just as fast as you deliver them.

It's funny, though-- kids want puppies, parents want hamsters.

Nice doing business with you.

Did you hear that?

That guy's making money raising hamsters.

A lot of money.

If we could raise puppies, we could raise hamsters.

Yeah.

Of course we'd have to hide them until we made enough to go to college.

Daddy would like that.

Hey, how about a couple of ferrets?

Look, I told you to stay away from here.

Ferrets are illegal.

a boy and a girl, please.

If you have two that are married, we'll take them.

And where's your mom and dad?

Well, they're at home.

See, we're going to surprise them.

Sorry, kid, we don't sell pets to minors.

Psst.

Come here.

What are those?

They're ferrets, the Rolls Royce of small rodents.

Cute.

Cute? These little beauties are the fastest money-making animals on the market and the easiest to take care of.

All you need is a shoebox with some holes, a little exercise, some bread crumbs.

Wait a minute.

How much are they?

We only have $50.

That's 5,000 pennies.

No kidding.

Well, normally they're 50 bucks apiece.

But you two look like nice kids, so I'm going to let you have them for half price.

Deal.

What?

Did you know Buddhists believe that suffering is inherent in life?

Well, then I must be a Buddhist.

Not funny.

You can spend all day and night studying to be a Buddhist, but come Sunday morning you're going to be in confirmation classes.

Not necessarily.

Dad seems really open-minded about me investigating other religious options.

It's a trick.

I don't know what he's got up his sleeve, but believe me, it's one of his sneaky ways of getting you to do exactly what he wants you to do.

I'm so glad you could come over.

I know you haven't wanted to go back to church, but when you're ready, I'd be so happy to pick you up and sit with you.

I miss it.

But I don't miss all the pointed questions and the pity faces people make at me.

It seems Bill wasn't satisfied to be the talk of the town while he was alive.

His su1c1de has practically made him Glenoak folklore.

Stopping people from gossiping is a power I wish I had, but...

I don't know why people bother trying to come up with an answer.

Obviously Bill felt he had no other way out of his sorry, mixed-up life than to end it.

You remember Tom Harrison, the associate minister we had a couple of years ago?

The good-looking one.

You think he's good-looking?

Yes. Is he back?

Yeah, he's staying with us a couple of days.

You should have brought him with you.

We have something in common, you know.

Neither one of us got along with Bill.

I'm sorry if I seem a little flip, but even with a good therapist, I'm still a little angry.

I'm still a lot angry.

Would you two stop?

You've been squirming around the whole way home.

Hey, what are you two so happy about?

Um, nothing.

Where's Mom and Dad?

They're out visiting someone.

Oh, okay.

I'm going to go to bed now.

Good night.

Me, too.

Well, I guess I might as well go, too.

It's 9:00.

Yeah, I'm tired.

No, really, what's up?

Nothing's up.

I'm tired and I want to go to bed, all right?

Luce, I need you to do me a big favor.

I'm listening.

I'm going to a fraternity party.

Oh, right.

And I'm going to a rave with Johnny Depp.

Mom and Dad are letting you go to a fraternity party?

No, they're not back yet.

So I'm going to sneak out and I need you to distract Matt in the kitchen.

And if anybody comes up here, just tell them I'm asleep.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Yes.

Go!

Good luck.

I owe you big.

Do you ever-- try for the next ten years.

I'll take one of those, bartender.

I really enjoyed hanging out with you tonight, but we didn't get to talk much.

Well, what do you want to talk about?

Well... this whole Buddhist thing, it's a lot more complicated than I thought it would be.

Well, then don't be a Buddhist.

No, I really need your advice on this; it's important.

Please?

I knew you'd come.

Here.

What's this?

The dress you tried on at the mall.

It still has the security tag on it.

Well, you didn't think I was going to buy it for you, did you?

Here.

There.

Now it has a slit up the leg, which is perfect because you have great legs.

Put it on, you'll look hot.

So you see, the big question isn't whether I want to be a Buddhist, but whether I'm informed enough to choose any religion at this point in time.

I mean, I'm not even the same person I was even a year ago.

By next year, who knows who I'll become?

Still, I feel it's important to have some sort of foundation.

Finally.

Sorry.

How were the kids?

Hungry-- they've been down here three times for snacks.

I hope you didn't give them sweets.

They were hungry.

They didn't wake up Tom coming in and out, did they?

No, I doubt it; Tom's not here.

He went out for a walk.

It's getting kind of late.

Did he say where he went?

Nope.

So where's Mary?

She came home from the mall and went straight to bed.

She was exhausted.

She's feeling okay, isn't she?

I'll check on her.

I'm a little hungry myself.

Well, what can I get you?

I think I'll go with bachelor steak.

What's that?

A bowl of cereal.

Look at this!

We've got mice-- big mice!

I hope we've got some traps.

You're going to eat that after mice?

Can I get you another one, Tom?

Uh, no.

Five's my limit, especially when I'm the designated walker.

Well, I think since you're drinking Slice, technically you can have another one.

No, thanks.

It's time I hit the road.

Well, hey, it was good to see you again, Tom.

Yeah, I've really been good company, haven't I?

Being good company is my job.

What do I owe you?

Seven-fifty.

Okay.

That's odd.

I thought I had a $50 bill in here.

Here, keep the change.

Thanks.

Are you sure you're okay?

Never said I was.

Hey...

Hey, I'm Jason.

Hi, I'm Mary.

Max, I'd like you to meet your date, Mary.

Nice.

Want a brewski?

No, thanks.

Get her a beer, and I'll take one, too.

Date? Where's the party?

This is the party.

Me and Jason and you and Max.

Isn't Max cute?

You cannot leave me alone here.

Promise.

You're kidding, right?

No, I'm not kidding.

Stop being a baby about this, okay?

Just relax.

A beer for you.

And for you.

Come on, babe, I think these two want to be alone.

Can I take your jacket?

Sure.

Want to sit down on the couch?

Sure.

They're gone.

And so is our five million pennies.

Five thousand pennies.

Well, they're gone just the same.

Uh, listen, you two should be in bed.

We are.

You know what I mean.

I'm going to go get Happy and then I'll come back and tuck you in.

Um, you want me to get Happy for you, Mom?

She's been a little crazy all night.

Who knows what's wrong with her?

I do-- I'm afraid we've got mice.

Mice?

Don't worry.

I'm going to get some traps tomorrow.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, Mary, good night.

Mom, I've got to talk to you, but I don't want to wake Mary up.

Oh, okay, what is it, honey?

It's just that I'm not so sure about this whole confirmation thing.

Oh, well, do you want to talk about it?

Well, maybe I should talk about it with Dad.

Not that I don't value your opinion, it's just that this is probably more of a Dad thing.

You know, since he started it.

Fine, no problem.

I just wanted to return your Buddha book.

Oh, thanks.

By any chance, do you have anything on Quakers?

So you've crossed all the Eastern-based religions off your list?

Yeah, I'm not very good at meditating.

Well, meditation is a little like prayer only less talking, more listening.

You know me; I'd rather talk.

So why do you want to be a Friend?

A Friend?

Quakers are generally called "Friends."

Whatever they're called, they're a peaceful, nonviolent group and very socially conscious, you know.

That's true-- did you also know that as far back as the days of Reconstruction, Quakers were involved in rebuilding churches that had been b*rned?

No, I didn't know.

Thanks, Dad.

Are you sure you don't mind about this?

No, it doesn't bother me.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, honey.

You know, um, if Lucy's exploration is bothering you, you should say something.

I don't want her to choose my church just because it's my church.

If you mean that, it's very liberal of you.

I'm getting worried about Tom.

I think maybe he's hiding something.

He certainly didn't hide his feelings about going over to Judy's.

He was great with people when he worked with you.

You know, it's not like he hasn't dealt with grief before.

Are you okay?

No, I'm not.

I mean, what's up with this guy?

Maybe the job's getting to him.

Maybe he's depressed.

What do you think?

I don't know what to think.

I'm going to go look for him.

You can beep me if he comes back.

Okay.

You sure you don't want a beer?

Yeah, I'm sure.

All right.

Camille, can I talk to you for a second?

Yeah.

Hey, man.

Hey.

She seems really uptight.

Are you sure she's 18?

Did she say she was 18?

Camille said she was 18.

Then she's 18.

Are you having fun?

No, I'm not having fun.

I want to go home.

Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to leave.

Maybe your date can take you.

He's been drinking all night.

Well, you know, you're going to have to make a choice, then: either wait for me or let him drive you home.

The mice!

I've got the mice!

I've got the mice! I got them!

No, no, wait! They're not mice!

They're ferrets, they're our ferrets.

What do you mean "our ferrets"?

Well, our ferrets are cuddly handfuls of fun that breed well in captivity.

They'd better not be breeding well in Camden captivity.

Not so far.

Look, it's a long story.

Well, I've got time.

And you're not going anywhere probably ever again.

No, Dad left about a half hour ago, and Mom just saw a mouse so everybody went running down to her room.

Like a mouse is something you'd run to see.

Get Matt, now!

And by the time I'm ready to go to college, it'll cost $25,000 a year, or approximately 500 ferrets.

And that's if the going price for ferrets holds, and just if it holds.

If the price goes up, then someday you might be hearing, "Dr. Camden, paging Dr. Simon Camden."

Sorry to interrupt, but Matt, you have a phone call.

No. I mean... it's a girl.

And you might want to talk to this girl in the other room.

I have a feeling that she's very special.

Those mice are majorly mutated.

They're not mice, they're ferrets.

And they're not mutated, they're cute.

Want to buy a couple and help us go to college?

Mom, a friend of mine's at a party and things kind of got out of hand, so I'm going to give her a lift home.

Matt... Yeah?

Straight there and back, okay? It's late.

All right.

And... med school dreams aside, those ferrets are going back to wherever they came from.

That might be a problem.

Tom?

I'm sorry, I was just...

Oh, no, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to interrupt, I...

It's okay.

He had me on hold anyway.

What's going on, Tom?

We worked together for two years.

I don't feel like I ever knew you.

What are you really doing in Glenoak?

Forget it.

I'm thinking of leaving the church... before I'm asked to leave.

Why would you be asked to leave?

I frightened the congregation and completely humiliated myself last Sunday during the sermon.

By...?

I had a seizure.

I have epilepsy.

Epilepsy?

That's what you've been hiding?

Yeah.

And it's... not the kind where you just... stare blankly into space and make some little repetitive gesture that seems a little curious.

I lose consciousness and convulsively jerk and shake around on the floor.

Grand mal seizures, that kind of epilepsy?

That's the one.

I'm sorry, I had no idea.

Are you on medication?

You under a doctor's care?

Yeah, yeah.

I take my medication and I see a doctor.

But every couple of years, it just happens, and it happened last Sunday.

I can feel it coming on.

My hands started tingling, you know, and I had a headache, and my mouth tasted like it had a... a penny in it.

I thought I could sleep it off, but I was supposed to give the sermon.

And you couldn't talk to your minister there?

What, you didn't...

You didn't think he'd understand?

Well, up until a week ago, nobody knew.

Now they all know.

You should've seen the look in their eyes when I came to.

They were terrified.

I never want to see those people again.

I never want them to see me again.

I never want anyone to see me like that again.

I think you may be the strongest man I've ever met.

What?

I don't know how you've kept all this to yourself for so long... at the same time, trying to... help everybody else.

No... no.

I'm not a strong man.

I feel the same way Judy must have felt.

I don't want to answer the questions or explain what happened.

And like her husband...

I don't want to deal with my life anymore.

Doesn't sound that way to me.

Sounds as though you're dealing with it for the first time.

I don't think God put you on hold.

I think God brought you here.

I cannot believe you.

I know, you're right.

I shouldn't have done this.

But I don't want to hear about it right now, okay?

I just want to go home.

Okay.

Are you bailing?

What's wrong?

That's right!

She's leaving and so are you.

Oh, thanks for the "Stern Dad" impersonation, but I have a car and I think I can make it home on my own.

You can pick up your car tomorrow.

I'm not leaving a 16-year-old at a fraternity house.

Relax, Mr. Cleaver, it's not the first time.

Look, if you're not in the car on the count of three, I'm putting you in.

One...

two...

You have nothing to worry about.

We're going to find you good homes, just not this home, okay?

Oh, hi.

I'm b*at.

I think I'm going to hit the sack.

For real this time.

Can I assume you have the mice in custody?

Mice?

You have mice in this house?

No, we had ferrets in this house.

What?

Simon and Ruthie bought them at the mall for $50.

How did those two get their paws on $50?

They found a $50 bill in the driveway.

Oh, that 50 was... lucky.

Are you guys going to let them keep those things?

No.

Simon and Ruthie are lucky that I'm keeping them.

Can I have them?

The ferrets, I mean.

They're illegal.

Yeah, I know.

That's why they're so hard to get.

Besides, I think they'd make good company for me.

So?

Our friend Tom has an incredible story.

He wants to tell you himself before he goes back to Denver tomorrow.

Did you just say "our friend"?

Oh, yeah.

Since I found out what he was hiding, I got a whole new perspective.

Wait.

This is the friend who was at the party?

Mary has something she'd like to tell you.

I snuck out of the house and went to a fraternity party with Camille.

How many ways could you go wrong in one sentence?

And who's Camille?

She's a girl I met in detention.

Oh, that's a great place to mingle and form long-lasting friendships.

Dad, I know.

I'm sorry.

Oh, yeah, that covers it.

Talk to me when they're done.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Good, that's good.

What were you thinking?

I mean, what were the processes that went through your head that led you to the conclusion that this would be a good idea?

I need to know-- it'll comfort me when I'm in the home.

Well, at first I thought it'd be kind of adventurous.

You want adventure, you clean out your closet.

And you know what, unlike your father, I don't care why you thought it was a good idea, because I'm here to tell you that it wasn't.

And I'm also here to tell you that I hope you enjoyed the outdoors, because you're probably never going to be there again.

School, church and back for the next 30 days.

No TV, no phone, no nothing.

And you will be a model prisoner or you'll get another 30 days.

Do you understand me?!

Was your sister covering for you?

She didn't really have a choice.

She had a choice, and so did you.

And you both blew it.

We'll talk about this more in the morning.

Okay.

We're glad you're back home safe and sound, okay?

You know we love you.

Yeah.

As far as I'm concerned, Lucy can keep Mary company for the next two weeks.

I am not going to have those two conspiring against us or we'll never make it through the next few years.

I don't disagree, but don't rush up to Lucy just yet, because I have a plan that's going to put her in confirmation class first thing Sunday morning.

I thought you were going to give her some time to search.

She can search all she wants, but she's going to do it from the front row of confirmation class.

Oh, I'm a little surprised to hear you say that, Mr. Liberal.

I'm a little surprised myself; but then, it's been that kind of day.

Yeah.

Guys don't think like girls.

So when it comes to this kind of stuff, you got to trust me, okay?

I know.

Where did you get that dress?

Camille shoplifted it for me.

What?!

I didn't know she did it.

She had it in the car when she picked me up.

And you put it on and went to a fraternity party?

You know, some choices can change your life.

You're lucky this one didn't.

I know, I know-- it was stupid.

I'm sorry for everything.

Look, it's okay, it's okay.

But a word of warning:

From now on, I'm going to be watching you like a hawk.

I was just...

Eavesdropping? I see.

That's not very nice.

I'll be right there.

I'm just going to say good night to Lucy.

She's probably already asleep.

I'll bet she's not.

Good night, Luce.

Night, Dad.

Good night, Mary.

Night.

Good night, Dad.

Good night, Mary.

Uh, Dad?

Yes, sweetheart?

I'll see you at confirmation class Sunday.

Okay, honey-- I'll look forward to that.

We are constantly caught in the process of having to make decisions, some easier than others.

Should I go to a party even if my parents wouldn't want me to?

Should I rat on my brother or sister when I know what they're doing could put them in danger?

Should I spend found money?

And then there are tougher decisions with greater consequences.

To what extent do I let my child make his or her own choices?

Do I face my problems or turn away?

Do I keep holding on to the past or do I grasp onto the future?

How do we decide what choices to make?

A friend of mind told me, "Ask yourself if the choice serves you.

"Does it serve anyone else?

"Does it serve life itself?

"Because if it doesn't, it could be the wrong choice."

Do you mind if I quote you on that?

No.

But we've got about three minutes before we have to leave for the airport.

You're right.

Thanks for the dress rehearsal, folks.

No... thank you.

Can we give you a lift?

No, I think I'll stay awhile.

It feels good just to be here.

Uh, Dad, since we came to church today, do we still have to come back tomorrow?

Actually I was thinking of bringing you all here every Saturday.

Would that be good for everyone?

No!