7th Heaven s07e11 Episode Script
Sunday
So, let's play the game again.
Now what do you do when Daddy pulls his ear? And when Daddy scratches his nose? Achoo.
I thought you guys went to church on Sunday.
Then why are you here? My dad was supposed to take me out today, but he called and said he had to work.
Hey, guys, how about some TV? Okay.
But just a second.
What? I didn't think you'd be here, but now that you are, I can stay, can't I? My mom's out avoiding my dad all day.
Well, the boys have colds.
Achoo.
Good trick.
So why are you home? I'm watching Sam and David.
Mrs.
Camden really thinks they're sick? Yeah.
I doubt it.
I thought you were a minister.
Why aren't you at church? - Why aren't you at church? - We don't go to church.
- Well, maybe you should.
- Well, maybe you should.
Ugh.
What is she doing here? - Worshipping.
- I doubt it.
Oh, welcome.
Roxanne, come on.
This is gonna be a long service, even if it's a short sermon.
Hi.
Good morning.
I made a New Year's resolution to start going back to church.
And I bet I know why.
It's Chandler.
She's not interested in anything spiritual, believe me.
Praise God From whom all blessings flow Praise him All creatures here below Praise him above Ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son And Holy Ghost Amen I was very moved by your sermon and if you have some time I would love to talk more with you about it.
- Uh, sure.
- Not here.
How about we go some place where we can talk privately? - I loved your sermon.
- Ah, thank you.
- I know I say that every week.
- It's always nice to hear.
Are you waiting on him? She is.
She had some questions about the sermon.
Oh, so do I.
Church is not a pickup joint.
This is a place of worship, and it's Sunday.
And Sunday is not the new Saturday night.
It's supposed to be a day of rest.
Yet, you're not gonna give Roxanne and Chandler a rest, are you? What is with those two? He's a new minister.
People expect certain things from a man of God.
And they do not expect him to do what he's doing.
It's so very Thorn Birds.
So would you like to talk over lunch? Lunch would be perfect.
Did you know Roxanne was coming to church today? I knew it was her New Year's resolution.
I didn't know it was this church.
Oh, and by the way, I thought it was your New Year's resolution to focus on the two of us and our relationship? I've been focused on it and where did it get me? So you're still angry you didn't get a ring for Christmas? No.
No.
You should take your time and give it to me whenever you're ready.
- I left something in my dad's office.
- Your pride? Heh, leave them alone.
It's none of your business.
It's none of my business.
She's been dancing around this guy since he got here.
Let her see if she's even interested in him.
She probably won't even like him.
And if she does? Then she does.
All I can tell you is, they better not get married before we do.
- What's that I smell? - Lunch.
Well, it doesn't smell like chicken.
I left you a chicken to cook.
- I decided Beanee Weenees.
- Why? Well, Beanee Weenees are good football food.
We're gonna watch a game, a football game, on TV.
Well, I thought you were gonna cook a nice Sunday meal for everyone.
Instead you open a couple of cans of Beanee Weenees? - There's plenty.
- For everyone.
- Delicious.
Hi, Mrs.
Camden.
- Hi.
Game's on.
You stayed home from church to watch TV with your little friend? No, I stayed home because Sam and David have colds.
Achoo.
Achoo.
You did not stay home to take care of sick twins, because the twins aren't sick.
Now, I'm not kidding.
I want you back to work sooner rather than later.
Yeah, I'm thinking about it.
You've been thinking about it for a month.
What's your excuse now? Well, I wanna see if my novel gets published.
- What novel? - I I wrote a novel.
I don't care.
I want you back to church next week.
Here.
Here we go.
So where would you like to go for lunch? Whenever I work the Promenade I'm so envious of all the couples I see there.
Could we just go to the Promenade and pretend to be a couple? You know, walk around, holding hands, look in shop windows, maybe see a movie? Just Just an ordinary day, like ordinary people.
Sure.
Although, I'd never be so forward as to think you'd hold my hand on the first date.
And it's a little difficult to consider you just ordinary.
You don't sound like a minister.
Yet, I am.
Well, do you have any dietary restrictions? Ah, no.
Heh, no, I don't.
When you said it was your resolution to go back to church you Actually, I've never been to church.
Not never, just not as an adult.
Well, what church did you attend when you weren't an adult? Okay, you got me.
It was never.
- Not even as a child.
- I see.
So, then you actually do have questions about my sermon? Not really.
But I'll try and come up with some if it'll make you more comfortable.
Hmm, okay.
I wanna change and then we can go for a walk.
I wanna watch football with your dad and Peter.
Then we can go for a walk.
Who are you? A friend of Ruthie's, neighbour, sinner.
I don't go to church either.
You know, Sunday has gone to heck in a handbasket.
Once upon a time it was a day of rest and reflection.
Now it's a day of picking up guys at church and watching sports.
Don't forget worshipping at the mall.
That's also a favourite.
Hey, Kevin, you want something to drink? Soda? Sure.
Lucy just wants to spy on Roxanne and Chandler.
Roxanne came to the church this morning.
- She and Chandler left together.
- I'm surprised it didn't happen before.
I'd love to see Roxanne settle down with a nice guy, but I don't see Roxanne with a minister.
You know I'm married to a minister, or I was.
You're settling down with a minister.
So if you can settle down with a minister, why can't Roxanne? Why can't Roxanne marry a minister? Might I read your novel? - I didn't think you were interested.
- I changed my mind.
Oh, yeah, it's in, uh, my desk drawer in my office.
Hmm.
Ah, Annie is not in a good mood.
I didn't mean to upset her.
I have nothing against Roxanne and Chandler getting married.
I just don't see her with him.
Would you marry those two? Uh, I'm not in the marrying business anymore.
And they're on their first date.
They're not gonna get married on their first date.
They better not.
My life will become a living You're not having a good day, are you? If the women of the house are not having a good day, no one is having a good day.
It's a fact of life.
The key is not to hook into the bad mood, and just wait it out.
moods.
A series of moods.
"Lover, Can You Hear Me?" You're gonna like it.
It's not what you think.
You know, if you've been hanging out in your office writing smut, instead of your comeback sermon like I thought, I'm gonna be really, really upset with you.
Okay.
- Do you think she'll like it? - Maybe.
- Did you like it? - Yeah.
But I think maybe you should tone it down.
- Just a little.
- And why is that? I just think that when you do go back to church, you might The church might Some people might think it's kind of what Annie said.
Huh.
I was using the physical relationship between the hero and heroine as a parallel to the spiritual relationship between man and God.
I missed that.
Well, it can be read on many different levels, but the subtext of the title, Lover, Can You Hear Me? is, can God hear us? - You know, as in prayer.
- I guess I read it the other way.
Oh.
Oh, they're back.
Are you sure we should do this today? It was our New Year's resolution.
How much longer should we wait? Well, uh Well, it's risky.
Not if we approach it like we planned.
I mean, we are ready to consider having sex and possibly in the near future.
And hopefully when we do have sex it will be with their permission or at least their understanding.
And just run this past me again.
Why do we think they're gonna understand? Our grades are very good.
We both work and have savings.
We've both seen the school counsellor.
And remember, it was the school counsellor who told us to go to our parents.
We've read the pamphlets.
We watched the movie.
We've talked to each other for hours about the pros and cons.
I think we both agree that there are more pros than cons.
Yup.
I know we should be prepared for resistance, but I also feel that we're old enough to make the right decision.
And that if we're honest, our parents will respect our decision.
- Right? - Right.
And ultimately, the decision is up to us.
We don't wanna sneak around or anything childish like that.
We don't wanna wait for prom or something ridiculous like that.
We're mature adults.
Mature adults who are in love with each other.
So, what's next? Would you like to take a Sunday afternoon walk? I don't have time to spy on Roxanne and Chandler.
I have eight hours of homework.
Eight hours, at least.
Then why is that friend of yours in the living room? - What friend? - Peter.
I don't know.
When did he move into the neighbourhood? I don't have time for an interrogation.
I have homework.
It's Sunday.
Why didn't you do it on Saturday? Because then Saturday wouldn't be Saturday.
I went to the barn and mucked the stables and fed Sarah's horse and exercised him.
And then on the way home, Mom and I stopped at the hardware store to get stuff I needed to make a volcano, because everyone has to make one.
And then we had to get some pens so I could finish my art project.
And then we had to pick up a book for my book report.
And then I came home and ate and took a bath.
And then it was Sunday.
I can't take a walk.
I can't.
Sorry.
Go away or help.
Do you have any kinds of salad? Okay, I'll have the chocolate shake, double cheeseburger and fries instead.
I'll have the same.
I have to confess.
I knew they didn't have the salad.
I was just trying to impress you, ha, ha.
Yeah, well, I like a woman with a healthy appetite.
And you don't have to impress me.
I'm already impressed.
- Really? - Yeah.
Just relax.
Be who you are.
And what if I'm a very bad woman who is having evil thoughts that I probably shouldn't have? Hmm, well, nobody's perfect.
A penny for your thoughts.
I was just thinking the same thing I was thinking all during church.
Oh, right, that you want to hold hands.
You have beautiful eyes.
Hold the onions.
Do you feel like you're living in a fishbowl? Ahem.
A bit.
But truthfully, the Reverend is really the only one that's made a big deal about me being here.
The church members don't really take me seriously.
They're just politely waiting for Eric Camden to come back to work.
I'm probably not held under the same scrutiny as Eric.
If someone from the church saw us together, would it be okay? I would hope so.
But I don't live my life based on the approval of others.
Right.
You answer to a higher authority.
So, what else do you wanna know? Was there anything in the Ten Commandments about not having sex before marriage? Uh Not in the Ten Commandments.
But, uh, throughout history there have been laws or customs regarding women not having sex before marriage.
Which were, and possibly still are, for the protection and empowerment of women.
Maybe we should talk about this when we get to know each other a little better.
I I don't get nervous talking about sex with people during, uh, counselling but I'm having a tough time expressing myself.
I'm not sure where that last question was going.
Maybe I wasn't specific enough.
Do you believe in sex before marriage? Uh, do I believe in sex before marriage? Uh I believe it happens.
Yes? Come on, that's not what I'm asking.
Uh, you know, I really am just like any other man.
You are not like any other man I've ever met.
They can all feed themselves.
Why don't we just go out and take a walk? It's Sunday.
Remember when Sundays used to be about taking walks and spending time with loved ones? The boys need a bath.
Happy needs a bath.
I need a bath.
What does that have to do with Sunday? Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Godliness is next to Godliness.
And doesn't anyone take time to reflect on spiritual matters anymore? Well, I'd love to, but I haven't called my dad all week and I haven't talked to Ms.
Bink in months.
I make my calls to people I care about on Sundays, while I fold the laundry and iron.
Why can't all that wait till Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday? Well, unfortunately, it carries over from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
So if you're just trying to get me to go out for a walk with you so we can see if Chandler and Roxanne are together, I'm busy.
Fine.
I'll take a Sunday afternoon walk by myself.
Great.
And maybe while you're alone and reflecting, you can go back to your New Year's resolution to focus on yourself and Kevin rather than obsessing about Chandler and Roxanne.
How can you be finished with all of the homework? I did it yesterday because I thought I had to go out with my dad today.
I didn't have a Saturday.
You don't have a Sunday.
We're even.
Maybe you could help me with my homework.
- Then we can both have a Sunday.
- What do you have left to do? - All of it.
- All of it? Yes.
And if you wanna know why I didn't do it earlier, I was busy earlier with earlier assignments.
I sympathise.
But it just wouldn't be fair if I helped you.
Who wouldn't it be fair to? It wouldn't be fair to all of us who do the work ourselves.
There aren't any kids who do all the work all by themselves.
Tell the truth.
Honey, you need to learn how to stay up later at night.
That's when I get most of my work done, midnight to 1.
Maybe, I could just supervise building the volcano.
Just to make sure you don't hurt yourself.
I'm not going to hurt myself.
Forget it.
Come on.
The sooner we get started the sooner we get on to the art project.
- Is the game over yet? - It's half-time.
Please, not in front of everyone.
No, no, it's perfectly okay.
I'm glad you're so in love.
Physical attraction is an important part of relationships.
What? It's from his book.
- What book? - The book he wrote.
Fiction or nonfiction? Well, it's a novel.
More of a novella, really.
- I'd like to read it.
- You're not old enough.
- What does that mean? - You really think it's that racy? - Yes.
- Hmm, I had no idea.
Would you like to take a half-time walk? Do you mean a walk around the block or a walk around the Promenade? The Promenade sounds interesting.
It might be unless Roxanne and Chandler went somewhere else.
You wanna go to the Promenade or not? Or not.
It's only half-time.
Fine.
Uh, remember, it's okay for her to be in whatever mood she's in.
After this one will surely come another and another one, and another one after that.
I've been married a long, long time.
I know these things.
We could go in together.
No.
I don't think it's a good idea to advertise.
I'll just go in.
You know, it's not a big deal.
Okay.
Well, I'll be right here.
Simon Camden, how are you? I haven't seen anyone in your family in ages.
Twins doing okay? Uh, yeah, they're fine.
Thanks for asking.
- Your father's okay? - He's fine.
So his not being back at church isn't anything heart related? Well, it's kind of heart related, actually.
His heart's just not in the right place right now.
That's what he says, anyway.
Ah, everybody goes through changes.
Especially men your father's age.
It's probably a phase.
We all know he's not gonna leave the ministry to start writing books, ha, ha.
- Writing books? - Yeah, he says he's writing a book.
- My dad is writing a book? - Yes, fiction.
- It's a love story.
- That should be interesting.
From what he tells me, yes.
Now, is there something I can help you with? Oh, um, yeah, I was just looking Ah, the window display.
Drew you in, didn't it? - You know it's really nice.
- Ha, ha.
I did it myself.
I used to pay people to do that, then I tried it.
Discovered my artistic talents.
Now it's become a passion.
Window designs.
See that? Wait till you see what I do for Presidents' Day.
Gonna be fabulous, with all the kids home from school.
Nice day.
Indeed.
Thank you.
You know, I'm just gonna get some Juicy Fruit.
Juicy Fruit it is.
- He knew me.
- I figured.
- Who do you wanna go to first? - My parents.
They're definitely more likely to understand than your parents.
Six months ago I would have said so, but now, I don't know.
Is this more what you had in mind? Pretty much.
Pretty much? I never really thought I could get you to hold my hand.
Yes, you did.
I never thought I'd get you to do that.
Yes, you did.
I really wish I had started going to church earlier.
Where do you live? You don't need to take me home.
I left my car at the church, remember? I I remember.
I was just curious.
Why? I don't think kissing you twice in public would be a very good idea.
They go to my church.
I remember.
You look good up there.
I feel good up here.
- Are you ready to go home? - I'm just gonna hang out for a bit.
It's nice here.
Peaceful.
What happened to your football game? Buffalo is not having a good day.
How'd you know I was here? I'm a police officer, I put it together.
I drove by and saw your car.
Did you try the Promenade first? I thought about going to the Promenade.
But you weren't sure they were at the Promenade and you saw Roxanne's car was outside, so you knew - they'd be coming back here.
- Maybe.
Tell me why you don't want them going out.
I would think that you'd be happy if Roxanne and Chandler did hook up.
Unless, of course, you're interested in Chandler yourself.
You don't believe that, do you? No.
Talk to me.
I don't think I've liked myself much since I met Roxanne.
It doesn't feel good to be jealous and envious and out of control.
I don't like who I am because I feel this way.
It's just so not Christian of me.
So feel some other way, Luce.
You can choose how you feel.
I'd like to think I can, but I can't.
And evidentially, I'm getting worse.
Now I don't like Chandler.
At first I was sympathetic, but now Now I'm jealous and envious of him too.
He's up there where I always thought I would be.
I always thought I would be speaking at that pulpit in this church.
My dad's church.
I've been going here all my life.
But you know who's up there where I should be? Chandler.
Or Dr.
Chandler Hampton.
I don't like that.
I don't like him.
Ahem, sorry to interrupt.
I would have knocked if I had have thought that, you were Well, we should have knocked.
How long have you been standing there? Oh, we weren't standing.
We just walked in somewhere midway through your speech.
I I left my keys in that, um, thing.
The thing that holds the books.
Uh The boys are taking a nap.
Peter's helping Ruthie with her homework and Kevin is out hunting for Lucy, so, uh, if you need me for anything? Run.
Run.
Run.
What was that? Who is it? Cecilia's father.
I'm Cecilia's father and I'm looking for Simon! Cecilia's father? Okay.
Eric Camden.
Do you know that your son is planning on having sex with my daughter at some point in the near future? What? What? Well, it sounded better when it was just me and Cecilia talking about it.
I never really believed in love at first sight, but - You aren't in love.
- Luce.
This is all your fault.
You brought home that Uh You don't really believe Roxanne is whatever it is you were going to say.
- Yes, I do.
- No, she doesn't.
You think you should be up there preaching? I can do just as good a job as you're doing, Hot Pants.
Ah, well, be my guest.
- Tonight's service is at 7.
- What service? Your father asked that we resume Sunday-evening services.
See you tonight, uh, behind the pulpit.
Seven? Service at 7? I'm an idiot.
But we knew that.
You should've gone with me to the Promenade and none of this would've happened.
They wouldn't be in love, I wouldn't be delivering a sermon that I've gotta come up with between now and 7:00, in front of my father's congregation! No, but you'd still be crazy.
- At least they asked.
- Yes, at least they asked.
We weren't exactly asking.
But you were coming to us to discuss it.
Yes, we were doing that.
- Did I mention you're fired? - I just assumed.
May I say that we like your daughter.
Well, I don't like your son, and I don't ever want him out with my daughter again.
Dad, this isn't all his fault.
- This is my fault too.
- You're fired too.
Look, Simon, Cecilia, I think maybe the best way to, uh, have handled this would have been for each of you to go to your respective parents alone, and discuss this.
Because I really don't know Cecilia well enough to know if she's ready for that kind of relationship.
But I do know my son well enough to know that he isn't ready for that kind of relationship.
And what if I disagreed with the two of you? What if Cecilia disagreed with the two of them? Then I still would have come over here intending to clobber you, and you still could not continue seeing my daughter.
We should have waited for your mother.
What I was going to say is that even though this might not have been the ideal way to handle this, now that we've all gotten together maybe we can just discuss it, openly and honestly? If you think that we're gonna sit here and discuss my daughter's sex life, which she isn't gonna have until she's married, you're crazy.
I want you to keep your son away from her.
Oh-ho, preacher's son.
I should have known.
- Hey, pal.
- You just had a double bypass.
Anyone got any ideas for a sermon? You're telling me that you're not going to hear Lucy speak for the first time in your church? I know.
I'm afraid I might be coming down with the boys' cold.
Achoo.
You can't do this.
You can't.
I know you.
Your daughter means more than your ego.
- I'm just not ready.
- Does that mean when you are ready - you'll go back? - Didn't you like my book? I loved your book.
I did.
It was a good story.
I particularly liked the parallel between man and woman and God and mankind.
- You got that? I got that.
And a whole lot more.
My point is that you need to quit playing around and go back to work.
Can't you just ease your way back into it by going to the Sunday-night service? I'm surprised there's enough interest in the service to continue them.
It was your idea.
You told Lou way back in September that you wanted to start the Sunday-night service the first of the year.
- It's the first of the year.
- I did that? Are you coming? We wanna go.
I wanna see Lucy be the preacher.
I'll help you when we get back from church.
I think you've helped me enough.
Look, I'm really sorry, but I think we both learned a lesson here.
- What lesson? - That Sundays are for church.
- Hear from Cecilia? - Who are you? Peter.
He lives down the street.
Well, you two, just stay out of my business.
- I don't even wanna know.
- Me neither.
Well, that's good.
You're not gonna know.
Just the same, I don't think an extra church service will hurt you.
I miss my dad speaking from this pulpit, as I'm sure all of you do.
Not that we aren't thrilled to have Dr.
Hampton here with us.
- Please, call me Chandler.
- Chandler.
Anyway, it was my dad's wish that we return to the Sunday-night services after the first of the year.
And it was Chandler's wish that I take the first service, being my dad's daughter and a Divinity student myself.
So the text of the sermon is quite short.
Genesis 2, second and third verse: "And he rested on the seventh day from all of his work he had made.
And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.
" It wasn't that long ago that Sunday was the day we all rested.
We treated Sunday as a special day, when we came to Sunday school and church.
And we rested when we went home.
We talked.
We read.
We spent time to ourselves, meditating or praying or just reflecting on our lives, our purpose, our behaviour.
Or even just the events of the week that just passed.
It wasn't that long ago that businesses weren't open on Sunday.
If you got in your car it was to visit your friends and family.
Just to let them know that you care, or maybe check out their situation, or just help out.
At the end of the day on what used to be Sunday, people were rested and looked forward to the following week.
Sometimes with determination to be kinder, to do better, to work harder.
What happened to Sunday? Our parents grew up with Sundays off.
That means they had And those were the years when there was a summer, a real summer.
Three months off from school for children to play.
A break from the nine-month-long school year when the routine was different.
The energy was different.
The air was sweeter, the nights longer.
And children stayed up late because they could sleep in the next morning.
It was when children wore themselves out with the fun of summer and longed for school again.
We don't really have those summers anymore.
We don't have those Sundays anymore either.
Children and parents and families and adults have 52 more days a year to do stuff.
Sunday is the day we catch up on our work and our homework because there's so much work and so much homework, there's no time to do it.
We work seven days a week, or at least are on the go seven days a week, And yet we wonder why children grow up so fast.
Why people need drugs to relax.
Why they need human contact, even if it's in the form of inappropriate unfulfilling sex? Could it be because we've lost and reflect and/or visit our friends and loved ones? That's 520 days in ten years.
That's 1,040 days in 20 years.
I've lost 1,040-plus days in my life because Sunday is no longer Sunday.
And I'm stressed and tired and irritable and I feel as if I have no time to do the things I need to do.
I never have the time to do the things I want to do.
And I'm just turning 21.
How am I gonna feel when I'm my dad's age? How are all of us gonna feel when I'm my dad's age? Yet, I fear we've lost our Sundays forever unless we make an effort to reclaim them.
And in losing our Sundays we're losing a lot more.
We're losing ourselves.
It's just something I was thinking about.
God bless you for hearing my thoughts and being with me.
It's a beautiful message.
Nice job.
I'm sorry about everything and thank you.
And now, may the Lord watch over me and thee while we are absent from one another.
Okay.
You got me on my knees.
I need help.
Lucy is a good preacher.
I want my Sundays.
- What? - Nothing.
I'm going over to Cecilia's after this and talk to her dad, even if he kills me.
- I don't know what I was thinking.
- I do.
I'd give it another day or two, maybe even a week or two.
Maybe I should.
- You were really good.
- Thank you.
Thanks for putting up with me.
I love you.
Well, I was quite impressed with Lucy.
You were impressed but you weren't surprised.
No.
The only surprise of the day was you.
Now what do you do when Daddy pulls his ear? And when Daddy scratches his nose? Achoo.
I thought you guys went to church on Sunday.
Then why are you here? My dad was supposed to take me out today, but he called and said he had to work.
Hey, guys, how about some TV? Okay.
But just a second.
What? I didn't think you'd be here, but now that you are, I can stay, can't I? My mom's out avoiding my dad all day.
Well, the boys have colds.
Achoo.
Good trick.
So why are you home? I'm watching Sam and David.
Mrs.
Camden really thinks they're sick? Yeah.
I doubt it.
I thought you were a minister.
Why aren't you at church? - Why aren't you at church? - We don't go to church.
- Well, maybe you should.
- Well, maybe you should.
Ugh.
What is she doing here? - Worshipping.
- I doubt it.
Oh, welcome.
Roxanne, come on.
This is gonna be a long service, even if it's a short sermon.
Hi.
Good morning.
I made a New Year's resolution to start going back to church.
And I bet I know why.
It's Chandler.
She's not interested in anything spiritual, believe me.
Praise God From whom all blessings flow Praise him All creatures here below Praise him above Ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son And Holy Ghost Amen I was very moved by your sermon and if you have some time I would love to talk more with you about it.
- Uh, sure.
- Not here.
How about we go some place where we can talk privately? - I loved your sermon.
- Ah, thank you.
- I know I say that every week.
- It's always nice to hear.
Are you waiting on him? She is.
She had some questions about the sermon.
Oh, so do I.
Church is not a pickup joint.
This is a place of worship, and it's Sunday.
And Sunday is not the new Saturday night.
It's supposed to be a day of rest.
Yet, you're not gonna give Roxanne and Chandler a rest, are you? What is with those two? He's a new minister.
People expect certain things from a man of God.
And they do not expect him to do what he's doing.
It's so very Thorn Birds.
So would you like to talk over lunch? Lunch would be perfect.
Did you know Roxanne was coming to church today? I knew it was her New Year's resolution.
I didn't know it was this church.
Oh, and by the way, I thought it was your New Year's resolution to focus on the two of us and our relationship? I've been focused on it and where did it get me? So you're still angry you didn't get a ring for Christmas? No.
No.
You should take your time and give it to me whenever you're ready.
- I left something in my dad's office.
- Your pride? Heh, leave them alone.
It's none of your business.
It's none of my business.
She's been dancing around this guy since he got here.
Let her see if she's even interested in him.
She probably won't even like him.
And if she does? Then she does.
All I can tell you is, they better not get married before we do.
- What's that I smell? - Lunch.
Well, it doesn't smell like chicken.
I left you a chicken to cook.
- I decided Beanee Weenees.
- Why? Well, Beanee Weenees are good football food.
We're gonna watch a game, a football game, on TV.
Well, I thought you were gonna cook a nice Sunday meal for everyone.
Instead you open a couple of cans of Beanee Weenees? - There's plenty.
- For everyone.
- Delicious.
Hi, Mrs.
Camden.
- Hi.
Game's on.
You stayed home from church to watch TV with your little friend? No, I stayed home because Sam and David have colds.
Achoo.
Achoo.
You did not stay home to take care of sick twins, because the twins aren't sick.
Now, I'm not kidding.
I want you back to work sooner rather than later.
Yeah, I'm thinking about it.
You've been thinking about it for a month.
What's your excuse now? Well, I wanna see if my novel gets published.
- What novel? - I I wrote a novel.
I don't care.
I want you back to church next week.
Here.
Here we go.
So where would you like to go for lunch? Whenever I work the Promenade I'm so envious of all the couples I see there.
Could we just go to the Promenade and pretend to be a couple? You know, walk around, holding hands, look in shop windows, maybe see a movie? Just Just an ordinary day, like ordinary people.
Sure.
Although, I'd never be so forward as to think you'd hold my hand on the first date.
And it's a little difficult to consider you just ordinary.
You don't sound like a minister.
Yet, I am.
Well, do you have any dietary restrictions? Ah, no.
Heh, no, I don't.
When you said it was your resolution to go back to church you Actually, I've never been to church.
Not never, just not as an adult.
Well, what church did you attend when you weren't an adult? Okay, you got me.
It was never.
- Not even as a child.
- I see.
So, then you actually do have questions about my sermon? Not really.
But I'll try and come up with some if it'll make you more comfortable.
Hmm, okay.
I wanna change and then we can go for a walk.
I wanna watch football with your dad and Peter.
Then we can go for a walk.
Who are you? A friend of Ruthie's, neighbour, sinner.
I don't go to church either.
You know, Sunday has gone to heck in a handbasket.
Once upon a time it was a day of rest and reflection.
Now it's a day of picking up guys at church and watching sports.
Don't forget worshipping at the mall.
That's also a favourite.
Hey, Kevin, you want something to drink? Soda? Sure.
Lucy just wants to spy on Roxanne and Chandler.
Roxanne came to the church this morning.
- She and Chandler left together.
- I'm surprised it didn't happen before.
I'd love to see Roxanne settle down with a nice guy, but I don't see Roxanne with a minister.
You know I'm married to a minister, or I was.
You're settling down with a minister.
So if you can settle down with a minister, why can't Roxanne? Why can't Roxanne marry a minister? Might I read your novel? - I didn't think you were interested.
- I changed my mind.
Oh, yeah, it's in, uh, my desk drawer in my office.
Hmm.
Ah, Annie is not in a good mood.
I didn't mean to upset her.
I have nothing against Roxanne and Chandler getting married.
I just don't see her with him.
Would you marry those two? Uh, I'm not in the marrying business anymore.
And they're on their first date.
They're not gonna get married on their first date.
They better not.
My life will become a living You're not having a good day, are you? If the women of the house are not having a good day, no one is having a good day.
It's a fact of life.
The key is not to hook into the bad mood, and just wait it out.
moods.
A series of moods.
"Lover, Can You Hear Me?" You're gonna like it.
It's not what you think.
You know, if you've been hanging out in your office writing smut, instead of your comeback sermon like I thought, I'm gonna be really, really upset with you.
Okay.
- Do you think she'll like it? - Maybe.
- Did you like it? - Yeah.
But I think maybe you should tone it down.
- Just a little.
- And why is that? I just think that when you do go back to church, you might The church might Some people might think it's kind of what Annie said.
Huh.
I was using the physical relationship between the hero and heroine as a parallel to the spiritual relationship between man and God.
I missed that.
Well, it can be read on many different levels, but the subtext of the title, Lover, Can You Hear Me? is, can God hear us? - You know, as in prayer.
- I guess I read it the other way.
Oh.
Oh, they're back.
Are you sure we should do this today? It was our New Year's resolution.
How much longer should we wait? Well, uh Well, it's risky.
Not if we approach it like we planned.
I mean, we are ready to consider having sex and possibly in the near future.
And hopefully when we do have sex it will be with their permission or at least their understanding.
And just run this past me again.
Why do we think they're gonna understand? Our grades are very good.
We both work and have savings.
We've both seen the school counsellor.
And remember, it was the school counsellor who told us to go to our parents.
We've read the pamphlets.
We watched the movie.
We've talked to each other for hours about the pros and cons.
I think we both agree that there are more pros than cons.
Yup.
I know we should be prepared for resistance, but I also feel that we're old enough to make the right decision.
And that if we're honest, our parents will respect our decision.
- Right? - Right.
And ultimately, the decision is up to us.
We don't wanna sneak around or anything childish like that.
We don't wanna wait for prom or something ridiculous like that.
We're mature adults.
Mature adults who are in love with each other.
So, what's next? Would you like to take a Sunday afternoon walk? I don't have time to spy on Roxanne and Chandler.
I have eight hours of homework.
Eight hours, at least.
Then why is that friend of yours in the living room? - What friend? - Peter.
I don't know.
When did he move into the neighbourhood? I don't have time for an interrogation.
I have homework.
It's Sunday.
Why didn't you do it on Saturday? Because then Saturday wouldn't be Saturday.
I went to the barn and mucked the stables and fed Sarah's horse and exercised him.
And then on the way home, Mom and I stopped at the hardware store to get stuff I needed to make a volcano, because everyone has to make one.
And then we had to get some pens so I could finish my art project.
And then we had to pick up a book for my book report.
And then I came home and ate and took a bath.
And then it was Sunday.
I can't take a walk.
I can't.
Sorry.
Go away or help.
Do you have any kinds of salad? Okay, I'll have the chocolate shake, double cheeseburger and fries instead.
I'll have the same.
I have to confess.
I knew they didn't have the salad.
I was just trying to impress you, ha, ha.
Yeah, well, I like a woman with a healthy appetite.
And you don't have to impress me.
I'm already impressed.
- Really? - Yeah.
Just relax.
Be who you are.
And what if I'm a very bad woman who is having evil thoughts that I probably shouldn't have? Hmm, well, nobody's perfect.
A penny for your thoughts.
I was just thinking the same thing I was thinking all during church.
Oh, right, that you want to hold hands.
You have beautiful eyes.
Hold the onions.
Do you feel like you're living in a fishbowl? Ahem.
A bit.
But truthfully, the Reverend is really the only one that's made a big deal about me being here.
The church members don't really take me seriously.
They're just politely waiting for Eric Camden to come back to work.
I'm probably not held under the same scrutiny as Eric.
If someone from the church saw us together, would it be okay? I would hope so.
But I don't live my life based on the approval of others.
Right.
You answer to a higher authority.
So, what else do you wanna know? Was there anything in the Ten Commandments about not having sex before marriage? Uh Not in the Ten Commandments.
But, uh, throughout history there have been laws or customs regarding women not having sex before marriage.
Which were, and possibly still are, for the protection and empowerment of women.
Maybe we should talk about this when we get to know each other a little better.
I I don't get nervous talking about sex with people during, uh, counselling but I'm having a tough time expressing myself.
I'm not sure where that last question was going.
Maybe I wasn't specific enough.
Do you believe in sex before marriage? Uh, do I believe in sex before marriage? Uh I believe it happens.
Yes? Come on, that's not what I'm asking.
Uh, you know, I really am just like any other man.
You are not like any other man I've ever met.
They can all feed themselves.
Why don't we just go out and take a walk? It's Sunday.
Remember when Sundays used to be about taking walks and spending time with loved ones? The boys need a bath.
Happy needs a bath.
I need a bath.
What does that have to do with Sunday? Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Godliness is next to Godliness.
And doesn't anyone take time to reflect on spiritual matters anymore? Well, I'd love to, but I haven't called my dad all week and I haven't talked to Ms.
Bink in months.
I make my calls to people I care about on Sundays, while I fold the laundry and iron.
Why can't all that wait till Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday? Well, unfortunately, it carries over from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
So if you're just trying to get me to go out for a walk with you so we can see if Chandler and Roxanne are together, I'm busy.
Fine.
I'll take a Sunday afternoon walk by myself.
Great.
And maybe while you're alone and reflecting, you can go back to your New Year's resolution to focus on yourself and Kevin rather than obsessing about Chandler and Roxanne.
How can you be finished with all of the homework? I did it yesterday because I thought I had to go out with my dad today.
I didn't have a Saturday.
You don't have a Sunday.
We're even.
Maybe you could help me with my homework.
- Then we can both have a Sunday.
- What do you have left to do? - All of it.
- All of it? Yes.
And if you wanna know why I didn't do it earlier, I was busy earlier with earlier assignments.
I sympathise.
But it just wouldn't be fair if I helped you.
Who wouldn't it be fair to? It wouldn't be fair to all of us who do the work ourselves.
There aren't any kids who do all the work all by themselves.
Tell the truth.
Honey, you need to learn how to stay up later at night.
That's when I get most of my work done, midnight to 1.
Maybe, I could just supervise building the volcano.
Just to make sure you don't hurt yourself.
I'm not going to hurt myself.
Forget it.
Come on.
The sooner we get started the sooner we get on to the art project.
- Is the game over yet? - It's half-time.
Please, not in front of everyone.
No, no, it's perfectly okay.
I'm glad you're so in love.
Physical attraction is an important part of relationships.
What? It's from his book.
- What book? - The book he wrote.
Fiction or nonfiction? Well, it's a novel.
More of a novella, really.
- I'd like to read it.
- You're not old enough.
- What does that mean? - You really think it's that racy? - Yes.
- Hmm, I had no idea.
Would you like to take a half-time walk? Do you mean a walk around the block or a walk around the Promenade? The Promenade sounds interesting.
It might be unless Roxanne and Chandler went somewhere else.
You wanna go to the Promenade or not? Or not.
It's only half-time.
Fine.
Uh, remember, it's okay for her to be in whatever mood she's in.
After this one will surely come another and another one, and another one after that.
I've been married a long, long time.
I know these things.
We could go in together.
No.
I don't think it's a good idea to advertise.
I'll just go in.
You know, it's not a big deal.
Okay.
Well, I'll be right here.
Simon Camden, how are you? I haven't seen anyone in your family in ages.
Twins doing okay? Uh, yeah, they're fine.
Thanks for asking.
- Your father's okay? - He's fine.
So his not being back at church isn't anything heart related? Well, it's kind of heart related, actually.
His heart's just not in the right place right now.
That's what he says, anyway.
Ah, everybody goes through changes.
Especially men your father's age.
It's probably a phase.
We all know he's not gonna leave the ministry to start writing books, ha, ha.
- Writing books? - Yeah, he says he's writing a book.
- My dad is writing a book? - Yes, fiction.
- It's a love story.
- That should be interesting.
From what he tells me, yes.
Now, is there something I can help you with? Oh, um, yeah, I was just looking Ah, the window display.
Drew you in, didn't it? - You know it's really nice.
- Ha, ha.
I did it myself.
I used to pay people to do that, then I tried it.
Discovered my artistic talents.
Now it's become a passion.
Window designs.
See that? Wait till you see what I do for Presidents' Day.
Gonna be fabulous, with all the kids home from school.
Nice day.
Indeed.
Thank you.
You know, I'm just gonna get some Juicy Fruit.
Juicy Fruit it is.
- He knew me.
- I figured.
- Who do you wanna go to first? - My parents.
They're definitely more likely to understand than your parents.
Six months ago I would have said so, but now, I don't know.
Is this more what you had in mind? Pretty much.
Pretty much? I never really thought I could get you to hold my hand.
Yes, you did.
I never thought I'd get you to do that.
Yes, you did.
I really wish I had started going to church earlier.
Where do you live? You don't need to take me home.
I left my car at the church, remember? I I remember.
I was just curious.
Why? I don't think kissing you twice in public would be a very good idea.
They go to my church.
I remember.
You look good up there.
I feel good up here.
- Are you ready to go home? - I'm just gonna hang out for a bit.
It's nice here.
Peaceful.
What happened to your football game? Buffalo is not having a good day.
How'd you know I was here? I'm a police officer, I put it together.
I drove by and saw your car.
Did you try the Promenade first? I thought about going to the Promenade.
But you weren't sure they were at the Promenade and you saw Roxanne's car was outside, so you knew - they'd be coming back here.
- Maybe.
Tell me why you don't want them going out.
I would think that you'd be happy if Roxanne and Chandler did hook up.
Unless, of course, you're interested in Chandler yourself.
You don't believe that, do you? No.
Talk to me.
I don't think I've liked myself much since I met Roxanne.
It doesn't feel good to be jealous and envious and out of control.
I don't like who I am because I feel this way.
It's just so not Christian of me.
So feel some other way, Luce.
You can choose how you feel.
I'd like to think I can, but I can't.
And evidentially, I'm getting worse.
Now I don't like Chandler.
At first I was sympathetic, but now Now I'm jealous and envious of him too.
He's up there where I always thought I would be.
I always thought I would be speaking at that pulpit in this church.
My dad's church.
I've been going here all my life.
But you know who's up there where I should be? Chandler.
Or Dr.
Chandler Hampton.
I don't like that.
I don't like him.
Ahem, sorry to interrupt.
I would have knocked if I had have thought that, you were Well, we should have knocked.
How long have you been standing there? Oh, we weren't standing.
We just walked in somewhere midway through your speech.
I I left my keys in that, um, thing.
The thing that holds the books.
Uh The boys are taking a nap.
Peter's helping Ruthie with her homework and Kevin is out hunting for Lucy, so, uh, if you need me for anything? Run.
Run.
Run.
What was that? Who is it? Cecilia's father.
I'm Cecilia's father and I'm looking for Simon! Cecilia's father? Okay.
Eric Camden.
Do you know that your son is planning on having sex with my daughter at some point in the near future? What? What? Well, it sounded better when it was just me and Cecilia talking about it.
I never really believed in love at first sight, but - You aren't in love.
- Luce.
This is all your fault.
You brought home that Uh You don't really believe Roxanne is whatever it is you were going to say.
- Yes, I do.
- No, she doesn't.
You think you should be up there preaching? I can do just as good a job as you're doing, Hot Pants.
Ah, well, be my guest.
- Tonight's service is at 7.
- What service? Your father asked that we resume Sunday-evening services.
See you tonight, uh, behind the pulpit.
Seven? Service at 7? I'm an idiot.
But we knew that.
You should've gone with me to the Promenade and none of this would've happened.
They wouldn't be in love, I wouldn't be delivering a sermon that I've gotta come up with between now and 7:00, in front of my father's congregation! No, but you'd still be crazy.
- At least they asked.
- Yes, at least they asked.
We weren't exactly asking.
But you were coming to us to discuss it.
Yes, we were doing that.
- Did I mention you're fired? - I just assumed.
May I say that we like your daughter.
Well, I don't like your son, and I don't ever want him out with my daughter again.
Dad, this isn't all his fault.
- This is my fault too.
- You're fired too.
Look, Simon, Cecilia, I think maybe the best way to, uh, have handled this would have been for each of you to go to your respective parents alone, and discuss this.
Because I really don't know Cecilia well enough to know if she's ready for that kind of relationship.
But I do know my son well enough to know that he isn't ready for that kind of relationship.
And what if I disagreed with the two of you? What if Cecilia disagreed with the two of them? Then I still would have come over here intending to clobber you, and you still could not continue seeing my daughter.
We should have waited for your mother.
What I was going to say is that even though this might not have been the ideal way to handle this, now that we've all gotten together maybe we can just discuss it, openly and honestly? If you think that we're gonna sit here and discuss my daughter's sex life, which she isn't gonna have until she's married, you're crazy.
I want you to keep your son away from her.
Oh-ho, preacher's son.
I should have known.
- Hey, pal.
- You just had a double bypass.
Anyone got any ideas for a sermon? You're telling me that you're not going to hear Lucy speak for the first time in your church? I know.
I'm afraid I might be coming down with the boys' cold.
Achoo.
You can't do this.
You can't.
I know you.
Your daughter means more than your ego.
- I'm just not ready.
- Does that mean when you are ready - you'll go back? - Didn't you like my book? I loved your book.
I did.
It was a good story.
I particularly liked the parallel between man and woman and God and mankind.
- You got that? I got that.
And a whole lot more.
My point is that you need to quit playing around and go back to work.
Can't you just ease your way back into it by going to the Sunday-night service? I'm surprised there's enough interest in the service to continue them.
It was your idea.
You told Lou way back in September that you wanted to start the Sunday-night service the first of the year.
- It's the first of the year.
- I did that? Are you coming? We wanna go.
I wanna see Lucy be the preacher.
I'll help you when we get back from church.
I think you've helped me enough.
Look, I'm really sorry, but I think we both learned a lesson here.
- What lesson? - That Sundays are for church.
- Hear from Cecilia? - Who are you? Peter.
He lives down the street.
Well, you two, just stay out of my business.
- I don't even wanna know.
- Me neither.
Well, that's good.
You're not gonna know.
Just the same, I don't think an extra church service will hurt you.
I miss my dad speaking from this pulpit, as I'm sure all of you do.
Not that we aren't thrilled to have Dr.
Hampton here with us.
- Please, call me Chandler.
- Chandler.
Anyway, it was my dad's wish that we return to the Sunday-night services after the first of the year.
And it was Chandler's wish that I take the first service, being my dad's daughter and a Divinity student myself.
So the text of the sermon is quite short.
Genesis 2, second and third verse: "And he rested on the seventh day from all of his work he had made.
And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.
" It wasn't that long ago that Sunday was the day we all rested.
We treated Sunday as a special day, when we came to Sunday school and church.
And we rested when we went home.
We talked.
We read.
We spent time to ourselves, meditating or praying or just reflecting on our lives, our purpose, our behaviour.
Or even just the events of the week that just passed.
It wasn't that long ago that businesses weren't open on Sunday.
If you got in your car it was to visit your friends and family.
Just to let them know that you care, or maybe check out their situation, or just help out.
At the end of the day on what used to be Sunday, people were rested and looked forward to the following week.
Sometimes with determination to be kinder, to do better, to work harder.
What happened to Sunday? Our parents grew up with Sundays off.
That means they had And those were the years when there was a summer, a real summer.
Three months off from school for children to play.
A break from the nine-month-long school year when the routine was different.
The energy was different.
The air was sweeter, the nights longer.
And children stayed up late because they could sleep in the next morning.
It was when children wore themselves out with the fun of summer and longed for school again.
We don't really have those summers anymore.
We don't have those Sundays anymore either.
Children and parents and families and adults have 52 more days a year to do stuff.
Sunday is the day we catch up on our work and our homework because there's so much work and so much homework, there's no time to do it.
We work seven days a week, or at least are on the go seven days a week, And yet we wonder why children grow up so fast.
Why people need drugs to relax.
Why they need human contact, even if it's in the form of inappropriate unfulfilling sex? Could it be because we've lost and reflect and/or visit our friends and loved ones? That's 520 days in ten years.
That's 1,040 days in 20 years.
I've lost 1,040-plus days in my life because Sunday is no longer Sunday.
And I'm stressed and tired and irritable and I feel as if I have no time to do the things I need to do.
I never have the time to do the things I want to do.
And I'm just turning 21.
How am I gonna feel when I'm my dad's age? How are all of us gonna feel when I'm my dad's age? Yet, I fear we've lost our Sundays forever unless we make an effort to reclaim them.
And in losing our Sundays we're losing a lot more.
We're losing ourselves.
It's just something I was thinking about.
God bless you for hearing my thoughts and being with me.
It's a beautiful message.
Nice job.
I'm sorry about everything and thank you.
And now, may the Lord watch over me and thee while we are absent from one another.
Okay.
You got me on my knees.
I need help.
Lucy is a good preacher.
I want my Sundays.
- What? - Nothing.
I'm going over to Cecilia's after this and talk to her dad, even if he kills me.
- I don't know what I was thinking.
- I do.
I'd give it another day or two, maybe even a week or two.
Maybe I should.
- You were really good.
- Thank you.
Thanks for putting up with me.
I love you.
Well, I was quite impressed with Lucy.
You were impressed but you weren't surprised.
No.
The only surprise of the day was you.