Measure of a Man (2018) Movie Script

1
I hated summer vacation.
For me, it wasn't
about anticipation,
it was about preparation.
While everyone else
prepared to bare all,
I had to look for ways to hide.
There you go, Champ.
My dad told us he lived
the full year for our
vacation at Rumson Lake.
A summer of "rest
and relaxation."
- Don't do that.
- It's my turn.
Do we have any
snacks in the car?
- No!
- You want to be adults,
then act like adults,
but you act like...
I'm acting like an adult.
Firstly, you don't even
act like teenagers.
- Excuse me...
- Oh, my God, shut up!
Like I said: I hated summer.
Everybody grab something.
Oh, my gosh...
That took forever!
Oh man, they should
put wheels on these.
Bobby Marks to Joanie Williams.
Come in, Joanie Williams.
Joanie, you there?
Damn it.
Bobby Marks?
You're there.
We had dinner at the Campbells.
It was so dull.
And this is the
spoon Napoleon used
to feed caviar to his cat.
Exactly.
I wanted to grab her poetry
and throw it on the fire.
Oh, God, not the poetry.
- Yeah.
- Well, don't worry.
Your summer's about
to get a lot better.
Cool.
See you tomorrow night.
In this scenario,
you're the mother.
I'll arrange my classes
around Bobby's schedule.
- It's gonna be fine.
- And what if you can't?
What if Bobby gets sick? Are
you just gonna skip class?
- What's your plan, Lenore?
- If Bobby gets sick,
I will stay home
and nurse him...
My parents didn't
used to argue much.
Until my mom got involved
with the Women's Movement
and decided to go to law school.
Because they're just visiting.
Why do we have to...
Oh, hi, baby.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
- Are you hungry?
- Oh, yeah.
Is that mine?
- The shirt...
- Oh, I bought him that.
Are you sure? It's
too big for him.
- Yes, I am sure.
- Yeah?
It just kinda makes
him look bigger.
Well, he'll grow into it.
That's what I'm
afraid of, right.
It's comfortable.
I'm sure it is comfortable,
but you know...
it's like a tent.
- You look lost in it.
- Morning.
- Morning, beautiful.
- Hi, honey.
- How you doing?
- I'm good.
Happy first day of summer!
Do you want some breakfast?
I made everything
I can think of.
I'm so excited for this morning.
I have to go to orientation
and they'll probably have
food there or something.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Oh, honey...
- Yeah, I have to go.
I'm saying good
morning and goodbye.
Love you guys. Bye.
- You need to eat more.
- Love you too.
I'll eat.
Just make sure you
get something.
What's your plan? Are
you gonna go to Mohawk
and join your sister
or are you gonna go
to one of the others?
What are you thinking?
These are your favorite.
Actually, I wasn't planning on
going to any camps this year.
Excuse me?
Didn't I mention it?
I thought I did.
Uh, no, you didn't mention it.
You didn't mention it because...
it's actually not up to you
to make those decisions, chief.
I mean, you can't hang out here
all summer bothering
your mother.
She's got more important things
to do than look after you.
- Marty...
- You're going to camp, mister.
And if you don't
choose one, I will.
Okay?
I'm going to go
eat on the porch.
Let's have a good summer.
- Eat some fruit.
- Huge test.
Fresh air! It's why we're here.
Hey, we'll talk about
it later, okay.
Okay.
Let's just enjoy our
breakfast, you and me.
Like a date.
- Kind of. It's weird.
- Uh, no.
- Okay, sorry.
- That's weird, yeah.
Definitely.
Been here long, Joanie Williams?
Heh. Since they
opened, Bobby Marks.
Oh. Here. Help me
finish my lemonade.
Let me make one thing clear:
Joanie Williams was
not my girlfriend.
What?
Nothing.
Yeah. Right.
Well, I know you better
than you know yourself
and something's up with you.
But we talked about
everything together.
Come on. Let's go have some fun.
I think the only thing
we didn't talk about
was the size of her nose
and the size of my waist.
So, what do you
want to do first?
Um, why don't we try that one?
Really? Mr. Conceited
is running it.
Bobby Marks, are you jealous?
Heh.
We got some
last-minute gamblers?
- Yeah.
- Step on up.
There's plenty of room
at the wheel of fortune.
Feeling lucky tonight?
Yeah. Yeah.
Go ahead and make your bets.
Everyone loved Pete Marino.
Especially Pete Marino.
That's a very good bet.
Okay.
Round and round the wheel goes.
Where it stops, nobody knows.
- Fourteen...
- Oh, my God!
- We have a winner!
- Oh, my God. Okay.
You're the first big
winner of the night.
- Really? Okay.
- Yeah.
Uh, take your pick.
Heh. Um... that one.
That one it is.
Here you go, lucky lady.
Thank you. It's beautiful.
Are we going to have to lug
that around all night?
Well, I don't mind
watching him back here,
but, um, it might be
better for business
if you carried him
around for a bit.
Yeah. We're happy to help you
in any way we can, so...
Wonderful.
Isn't he just adorable? Heh.
Did he have something caught
in his eye or something?
Maybe we should
send over a doctor.
Also, wasn't there some sort
of dress code or something?
I mean, if not, there should be.
Do you think he owns any
clothes that actually fit him?
Hey, let's go this way.
Bobby Marks?
Joanie Williams?
We're going back to
the city tomorrow.
What?
We just got here. Why?
I, I don't know.
- For how long?
- A few weeks.
Maybe a month.
- Maybe.
- A month?
Maybe. We don't know yet.
Um...
Look, wait. You
don't have to go.
You can stay with us.
You can have my room and
I'll sleep on the couch.
No, I have to go too.
- Why?
- Just because.
That's not an answer.
Just tell me why.
Don't be so pushy. Jeez.
You're going to
miss the fireworks.
They're gonna be huge this year.
Are you trying to make it worse?
No.
Sorry, it's... Well, you know...
I know. But you know what,
you're gonna find
something to do.
And it's gonna be fine.
- Like what?
- Like, why don't you get a job?
What?
There's always postings
on the bulletin board.
Yeah. For baby-sitting.
Or gardening.
You could do
something like that.
- Uh, okay.
- C'mon.
I don't know.
I mean, it's pretty hard work.
And besides, who would hire me
when there's, you know,
older kids around?
You look older. Hold this.
Hmm...
You're not gonna find anything.
"Boy needed for maintaining
large estate on Rumson Lake.
Two dollars per hour."
You could totally do that.
I. No.
Heh. Yeah. We're gonna call.
Come on.
Uh, hold on, wait, no.
No, we're not calling.
- Call.
- No, I don't want to call.
Why?
'Cause I don't want
to do the job, okay?
Watch your fingers.
He probably thinks it's food.
There was a time when
Willie Rumson's family
owned the whole lake.
For nearly killing
some guy in a fight.
That's a very nice bear you
got there, little girl.
- Let's go.
- Call.
No. Come on.
The wicked witch gave you
an order, little dough boy.
You'd better obey or she'll get you...
and your little dog too.
Don't you point that nose at me.
Thing might be fricking loaded!
Hey, Rummy.
Time to get going.
It's a free country, Wop.
Yeah, well, the club
is members only.
No townie trash, so, uh...
That's not nice. Heh.
This place sucks anyway, Willie.
Your shirt's really small, man.
Put the cigarettes out.
I'm pretty sure they sell
men's sizes in town...
Listen, man, don't worry about
those losers, all right?
Promise me you'll call.
Okay. Fine. I'll call.
Thank you.
I wish you lots of
luck, Bobby Marks.
And I'll be back in
a few weeks, so...
I promise.
Muah. Heh.
Bye.
Bye.
You are the boy who
telephoned about the job?
Uh, yes, sir.
Robert Marks.
You walked here.
I like a boy with enterprise.
How old are you?
Uh...
Speak up, boy.
- Seventeen.
- Seventeen?
Have you done this
sort of work before?
Uh... no, sir.
Not yet.
Well then, I don't think
you're right for the job.
It's not easy work and this
is not a small property.
Oh. Uh, okay...
That is it?
Sir?
You're not going to fight
for it, for the job?
Uh... I don't understand.
You want the job, yes?
Then you should not acquiesce
and accept my no
as the final no.
You should try to
convince me otherwise.
Convince you?
Indeed.
Uh. Well, I'm sure I
can do this job, sir,
if you just give me a chance...
I don't have time to train
a boy with no skills.
Oh. Um...
Well, uh, I learn really quick.
- Quickly.
- And all my teachers say
I'm bright and a good worker.
No. "Quickly" is the adverb
modifying the verb "to learn".
"I learn quickly." Begin again.
Uh, all my teachers say that
I'm bright and a good worker.
You won't regret for
a moment hiring me.
Excellent.
Much better.
A local?
Uh, no, we summer here.
My experience with the locals
has been less than satisfactory.
Very well.
You will work Monday to Friday,
nine to three, with
half an hour for lunch,
which you will provide
for yourself.
Under no conditions are
you to go into the house.
The job pays two
dollars per hour.
I pay well and expect you
to earn every penny of it.
Seventeen, you say?
Monday.
Nine o'clock.
Sharp.
Robert, is it?
Here we go.
Yes...
Whoa.
Let me check my inventory.
I'm not sure I have enough.
Why? Did you eat
it all yourself?
Just give me a cone, will ya?
Dipped.
So, is your brother
putting on another show?
When isn't he?
Yeah, yeah, Pete.
You've got muscles.
How original.
You wouldn't catch
me strutting around
with my shirt off like that.
Heh.
Heh, I hope not.
Oh. No... I mean,
if I were like him.
If I had muscles.
Well, that's obviously nothing
you need to worry about.
Hey, Bobby.
That was the best part.
Sorry.
Hey, jeez. I didn't
do it on purpose.
I'll just buy you another one.
You don't have to
be a baby about it.
- I'm not being a baby.
- You are being a baby.
- Oh, no.
- Can I have a lemonade, please?
Hey, big guy.
How's that bear
working out for you?
Uh, it's not mine.
It's Joanie's.
Joanie your girlfriend?
No.
I was hoping you weren't
his girlfriend.
Uh. Ew.
She's my sister.
Michelle. Hi.
Pete. Pete Marino.
And I didn't mean that
in the "Bond, James
Bond" sort of way.
Well you would have had to
say, "Marino, Pete Marino"
to do that, but.
Wait, as in the Marinos
that run this place?
The same.
- Oh.
- You knew that.
So, am I going to be seeing you
around the club this summer?
Yeah. Weekends. I'm
working at Mohawk Hill.
I'm a camp counselor.
Very nice.
Heh. Oh, come on.
Don't you have someplace to be?
Um... no, I don't.
Why don't you go
play with Joanie?
Play? I don't play anymore.
And besides, she left.
Those two are literally
joined at the hip.
I think growing up they even
shared the same diapers.
Yeah, well, at least
I wasn't still wearing
them when I was six.
She was a bed wetter.
Hey! Get out of here, Booby.
Gladly, Mush-Hell.
Ignore him. I'm pretty sure
he was dropped on
his head at birth.
Ha-ha. Very funny, Michelle.
Anyway, um,
I have much better
muscle control now.
Why is it special? This
is 200th birthday.
And I'm so proud to
be a part of it.
Everybody's together.
We got to thinking about
someplace for the bicentennial
and this seemed like the
only place to come.
We came out here to see
all the different exhibits.
And I've been trying all
the different food.
Getting a little nauseous.
And everybody's so friendly.
Feet off the couch, please.
Ahem.
Lenore, should I go ahead
and get the BBQ started?
Sure. Yeah.
So I need the lighter fluid,
matches and the charcoal.
- Fantastic fireworks.
- Bobby, here,
take this outside
and help your dad.
- We're eating outside?
- Yeah.
I thought we would. It's
such a pretty night.
Now, have you picked a camp yet?
I. I actually got a job.
- Really?
- A job?
Doing what?
Just cutting some
grass and stuff.
You know, nothing special.
Where?
Dr. Kahn's, up at the
north end of the lake.
Sure. Go ahead.
Can't seem to get you to
cut the grass around here.
But go ahead,
cut somebody else's.
- Marty.
- Right?
Hello?
Okay.
I thought Dad would be
happy that I got a job.
Me too.
Well, I want to
meet this doctor.
I want to see where my little
boy is spending his days.
Mom, believe me, I'm not
your little boy anymore.
Honey, it's just a phase.
You'll grow out of it.
I, uh... Don't set
a place for me.
I gotta get back to the city.
- I've got a work emergency.
- What?!
- We just got here.
- I know.
Believe... I'm very sorry.
If I leave right now I can
just catch the last train.
Bobby, I'll see you when
I get back, okay, chief?
- Be a good boy.
- Do you want to come with us?
I'm... I'm good.
Okay. Well, there's,
uh, potato salad
in the fridge if you want
to tide me over. Okay?
What about the meat?
Put it in the fridge, honey.
Okay.
The car's gone. Where
are the folks?
Um...
Mom took Dad to the
train station.
Um, something about
something at work.
Cool.
You did not see me.
I called from camp
and I said that
I was having dinner with
all the other counselors.
Okay?
You know I don't lie, Michelle.
This whole "I'm not gonna
lie anymore" thing,
it's getting a little old.
It's about time you grew up.
Hey, I'm grown up.
Mm-hmm. Bye!
Bye.
It is 9:02.
You are late, Robert.
You will work until 3:02.
Understood?
Before you begin, you must
check the gas and the oil.
There's more supplies in there.
And confirm that the blades are
in satisfactory condition.
Now, if you hit a
stone and chip them,
then they need to
be re-sharpened.
And the cost of that will
come out of your pay.
Understood?
Words, Robert.
Speak.
Yes, sir.
Very well. Begin.
No, no, no! Stop, stop.
I've found that,
with this machine,
it works better
if you counterbalance the pull.
There you go.
Uh, Dr. Kahn?
Dr. Kahn?
How... How should I cut it?
I beg your pardon?
Side to side or up and down?
That is entirely up to you.
Oh...
Everything under
control, Robert?
Just getting gas.
What do you call this?
I call it unacceptable.
You will re-do this tomorrow.
Nine o'clock.
Sharp.
Hey.
Dinner's going to
be late tonight,
but you can fix yourself a snack
to tide you over if you want.
Bobby?
Okay...
I think that was the first time
I'd ever missed a meal.
I was late the next morning.
But this time I went prepared.
Robert.
I'm sorry I'm late, Dr. Kahn.
There was a slight technical
malfunction with my alarm.
Uh, I know that's
not an excuse...
Not a good one.
But I'm willing to
make it up to you
and I promise it
won't happen again.
Well, it's too late.
The job is mine.
I did not say that.
You can't let him do it.
It's my job, Doc.
I mean, look at this kid.
I-I'll fix it. On my dime.
I-I'll do better. I promise.
Oh, listen to him beg, Doc.
What I'm hearing is someone
who is willing to
take responsibility.
Your lack of which is why I had
to hire your replacement
here in the first place.
At least I know what I'm doing.
Good day, William.
This is your second
chance, Robert.
Unlike baseball batters,
you do not get a third.
That afternoon I cut the grass
like it was every thin
person I'd ever met.
- What am I going to do with you?
- Oh, jeez.
Sir?
How can I justify
paying you top dollar
when you work so slowly?
You do want this job, don't you?
Words, Robert.
Yes, sir, I do.
Given your limited abilities,
I can allow you to continue...
Strictly on a trial
basis, of course...
But I can only pay you
one dollar per hour.
I think that's very
reasonable, don't you?
Yes, sir.
Tomorrow morning.
9:00 a.m.
Sharp.
By the end of the week,
Dr. Kahn had rehired
some extra help.
I didn't know if it was
some sort of test,
but this time I didn't feel like
running away from a challenge.
This time I had
something to prove.
Looks like you're
still doing my job.
And I want it back.
I got you.
The waste goes in the compost.
See ya.
You're still here?
Uh...
Just finishing up.
Uh, what would you
like me to do next?
Sweep the porch,
wash the trash cans,
clean the gutters.
Look around you.
A man who's worth what he's paid
uses some initiative.
Yes, sir.
Hey!
Hey, what are you doing?!
I'm up here!
Come on...
Bye-bye...
What are you doing in here?
I, uh...
Did I not instruct you
to never come into this house?
Uh, the ladder fell out.
I was stuck on the roof
and I couldn't get down.
Ladders don't fall
of their own accord.
What have you got there?
Uh, I cleaned out the
gutters and I...
I didn't want to drop
'em on your flowers.
Well, you're definitely slow,
but you are conscientious
and that is something
I can appreciate.
It's the end of your week. Come.
There you are.
Thirteen dollars and fifty
cents for the week.
Go ahead. Count it.
It's all there.
But...
Oh, the accounting?
Uh, well, Monday, you worked
five and a half hours at
two dollars per hour.
That's $11.
But you chipped the blades
and the re-sharpening cost $14.
So that means at
the end of Monday
you owed me three dollars.
Tuesday, according
to our agreement,
you did not get paid
because you had to
re-do Monday's work.
I'm pretty sure that
some minimum wage
or child labor laws are
being broken here.
At the new rate of
one dollar per hour.
But it was the first
money I'd ever made.
Ah, did you quit my job yet?
Look at me.
You and your kind come up
here for two months a year
and you act like it's
yours, but it ain't.
It's got your name
on it, Willie.
That's right, Dougie.
My great-grandpa...
He owned all this.
So, I get to decide
what's what around here.
What you got there?
Nothing.
Heh. Well, it doesn't
look like nothing.
Come on, hey. No...
That's it?
That old kike is
ripping you off, boy.
Hey. Didn't I say it was my job?
Well, that would make it my money.
Right?
Well, do you have a
problem with that?
Hold up, hold up.
Uncle Hank.
What you got here, Willie?
This delinquent was
trying to throw a rock
- through my windshield.
- No! No, I wasn't!
Didn't your folks ever tell you
not to throw stones?
What's your name?
Robert Marks.
Summer people?
Seems like all my problems
are caused by summer people.
Well, that's exactly what
I was saying to the guys.
Yeah. Coming up here with
your big city attitudes
and bothering all the locals
who don't cause me any
problems all year.
- No, I...
- That's right.
It's all about I,
I, I, me, me, me
with you people, isn't it?
Well, the next time
I catch you harassing
the locals,
I'm going to have
to call your folks
so they can come bail
you out of jail.
You understand?
All I hear is your
brains rattling around
in that fat head of yours.
I asked you if you understand.
- Yes, sir.
- Good.
Now get out of here.
Hey, sleepyhead.
You slept through
another dinner.
I'm starting to really
worry about you.
I got up and ate
something last night.
Besides, you don't have
to worry about me.
I'm not a kid anymore.
I'm always gonna
worry about you.
It doesn't matter
how old you are.
When I close my eyes
and I think about you,
I still see you as this tiny,
pink, pudgy baby
who's struggling to get
his fat little fingers
to work the way he wants 'em to.
And then I open my eyes
and I see this big kid
where my little pink baby was.
And I think...
what have I done wrong?
Can I put him back?
No. That's not how
it works, Mom.
You sure everything's
okay with you?
Yeah, I'm sure.
You'd tell me if it
wasn't, wouldn't you?
What about Dad?
Who?
I'm kidding.
He's staying in the city.
He has a big project at work.
Apparently...
What about you, Mom?
Are you sure everything's
okay with you?
You'd tell me if it
wasn't, wouldn't you?
Well then, I don't have
anything else to say...
Hey.
Hey.
What's up?
What's going on
with Mom and Dad?
What do you mean?
Are they getting a
divorce or something?
They've been arguing a lot more.
Parents argue. Don't
worry about it.
Why do people think
saying, "Don't worry"
is going to keep
anyone from worrying?
What do you want me to say?
That it's gonna to be okay.
It's gonna to be okay.
Now, why don't I believe you?
Do you think Dad's
having an affair?
Don't say that.
It's possible.
Where do you get
this stuff, huh?
Mark Taylor's dad started
getting "busy" at work
and it turned out
he was, you know,
getting "busy" with a secretary.
Come on! Come on! Come on!
Come on!
Dad's not like that.
Well, something's up
or else Mom wouldn't
have left for the city.
Really?
Wait, for how long?
Monday.
Do you have any plans tonight?
Some TV, I guess.
Probably just sacking out early.
Why?
Listen, if Mom calls
and I'm not back yet,
just tell her I'm asleep, okay?
We're here again?
You did it before.
Soul Train,
the hippest trip in America.
Sixty non-stop minutes across
the tracks of your mind,
into the exciting world of soul!
With guest stars:
The Emotions...
Maze, featuring
Frankie Beverly...
And the "Soul Train" dancers.
Is it okay if we don't?
I-I-I'm sorry, but it matters.
Come on, you want this.
Bobby!
- Ah, jeez.
- What are you doing here?
Oh, uh. Me?!
- Let me help you.
- No. Don't touch me.
No. Don't touch me.
- Whoa. Come on...
- Don't touch my sister!
Bobby! Bobby!
Everything is just so easy
for you, huh?
You don't know what it's
like for the rest of us.
You, and your... your "this"...
And your great abs.
You got great muscles, huh.
No one cares, okay.
And your stupid, "Oh,
spin the wheel" blah.
Cool!
- Um... Hey, let's go home.
- No.
- We should go home.
- No, I got it.
I wanna tell you
some more crap...
- All right, all right.
- No. No.
- Don't touch me.
- Bobby, stop. Bobby.
We're gonna go home, okay.
What's wrong with you?
Let's go, come on.
- We can hang out at home.
- Oh yeah, and your bears!
- You and your goddamn bears!
- Let's go home.
And for the record,
the hip thing is
mandatory, okay!
- Shut up!
- We can... We can...
- I hate that bear!
- What bear?
Fricking bear he gave to Joanie.
I can't believe you
embarrassed me like that.
Heh. Embarrassed you?
I saved you.
- You saved me?
- Yeah. You were struggling.
Oh, what do you know about it?
I know he's all David
Cassidy and stuff,
but there's something about
that guy I don't like.
Oh, okay.
Oh God, I'm sorry.
It's fine.
It's cool.
Uh, that's, that's...
That's really gross.
That's really gross.
- It's the rum and Coke.
- Mm-hmm.
Jeez.
We are gathered here today
to honor the life of...
this bird.
Yay, tho it flew through
the Valley of the Shadow of
Death, it feared no evil.
It feared no window either,
which proved to be its undoing.
If anyone knows of
anything of why this bird
cannot lawfully be buried at sea...
I mean lake...
Speak now or forever
hold your peace.
By the power vested in me
by the State of New York,
I now pronounce you deceased.
Amen.
Hello?
Joanie Williams?
Bobby Marks?
You, you sound different.
I fell asleep reading
and just woke up.
Why are you calling?
Are you okay?
Uh, right. Uh, yeah there was
just this cool thing
with this bird.
A dove, I think. And...
Well, it died, but I guess
it didn't really die.
Because, well...
Bobby? Is that you?
Mrs. Williams?
I thought I heard
the phone ring.
I got it, Mom.
Does your mother know
you're calling long
distance, Bobby?
Uh, no. I didn't really think...
Don't be long, dear, okay.
I need to make a call.
Mothers.
What were you saying?
Right.
Um...
I just... I wanted
to say that I, um...
I mean, I mean, have you...
What I'm trying to say is, um...
She's back.
Huh?
My mom.
She's signaling
me off the phone.
But, um, I'll be back soon.
Okay?
Um, okay.
Bye.
Hey, well, look who it is.
Take a hike, Rummy.
What'd you say to me?
Willie, don't. Leave it, man.
He's a kid. Come on.
No. He can't talk
to me like that.
You went to Vietnam
over a bar fight.
You hit a kid, you're
going to prison.
No, I went to Vietnam because
I bit that asshole's ear off.
No, this one is too fatty.
Willie...
Look at him when
he's talking to you.
Hey, hey, hey...
Whoo!
Fuck's sake, man.
Come on, boy!
- Put him in the boat!
- Put him in the boat!
Put him in the boat!
Come on, now.
Throw you in that boat!
- Get him in the boat!
- This is gonna be fun.
Come on! Get him
in there, Dougie!
Come on!
- We're almost there.
- No, no, no, come on.
Get in the boat! Get in!
Come on, you guys.
Let's go!
Come on. Come on.
Bring him out here, Jim.
Come on, give me him.
There he is.
Strip.
What?
You heard what I said.
Strip.
Uh-uh. No way.
Ah, you heard him!
- Come on!
- Come on, boy!
- No, no!
- Get his shirt.
- No...
- Whoo!
- Oh, stop.
- Stay still!
Get your shoes off.
Stop fightin'!
Ehh, come on!
Whoo! Look at that!
Take it all off.
- No...
- Ever see titties like that?!
Come on, boy!
- Come on. Come on!
- Stop!
Okay, last part!
Whoo!
Holy shit! They're
Granny's panties!
Where you going, boy? Huh?
I wanna hear you
oink like a pig.
What?
I want you to oink like a pig!
- No...
- I can't hear you!
Oink like a pig!
That's it!
Now I want to hear it again.
Oink like a pig, boy!
I love it!
Grab his clothes.
Stay down!
You have a good night, okay.
Get it all?
Leave him.
- Cover yourself up, lard ass!
- Whoo!
You good?
Look at that ass right there!
I'll see you later, fatty.
Hey.
Get away from me.
You okay?
Look, I'm gonna take you back,
you have to promise
not to tell anybody
about what happened last night.
Look at you.
You won't make it back.
And I can't have that
on my conscience.
And Willie, he's
just, you know...
He doesn't have a conscience.
He hasn't had it so easy.
Ah, jeez!
Hi.
Mom, what are you
doing back already?
Hello.
What happened to your face?
- What did you do?
- Oh. Oh...
Um, a branch. At work.
I walked into it.
It's fine.
Did you put some ice on it?
No. Hold on.
How was the city?
Uh, you know, it's... hot.
Empty, which is nice.
So, Dad's okay?
He's fine.
What's he doing?
Some project at work.
I didn't get the details.
Where's Michelle?
Still sleeping, I guess.
Really? She's not in her bed.
Oh, right. Um, ahem.
Well, I... Uh, she...
Oh yeah, I forgot, she had to go
to some early counselor
thing today.
- Speak of the devil.
- Hey, you're back...
from that early
counselors meeting.
That was quick.
Yeah. Yeah, it was. Heh.
- Michelle...
- Mm-hmm...
- How was your meeting?
- It was great!
- What time did it start?
- 7:30.
Wow...
That's such a lie,
and you know it.
- No, it's not, Mom.
- Yes. Michelle...
If it isn't Ali himself.
Yeah, sorry about that.
That from your wrestling
match with the chair?
Uh. No.
Um...
Yeah, look, you might
want to get out of here.
Damn.
Too bad.
Uh...
Say, can I...
Can I bum a ride?
I'll be late for work otherwise.
That Willie Rumson ever
give you any more trouble?
Willie? Rumson?
Yeah, that skid
from the carnival
who was picking on you
and your girlfriend.
Joanie's not my girlfriend.
Anyway, that guy.
No. Why?
He used to beat me up
when I was your age.
I was still pretty
new around here.
And this place doesn't like new.
His gang jumped me one night
and laid into me pretty good.
But you're not
afraid of him now.
My older brother Vinnie...
You meet him?
He brought some friends
home from college
and we cleaned out the
Rummies but good.
They haven't messed
with a Marino since.
Can I ask you a question, sir?
Have you ever been bullied?
Why do you ask?
There's this guy who doesn't
seem to like me very much.
I don't know why. I
haven't done anything.
Not really anyway.
But, but then there's Pete...
You know, from the beach club...
And he said that that
guy bullied him too.
So, he got his brother
to beat up the guy
and now the guy leaves
him alone, so...
I got to wondering,
what if Pete's right?
What if the only way
to deal with a bully
is to get someone
bigger and stronger
to deal with them for you.
But, then I wondered,
if that's right,
what if there isn't someone
bigger and stronger?
What if...
What if the bully is
the biggest and the strongest?
Does he always get to win?
That is quite a lot to wonder.
The advice one proffers
in these situations
invariably says more about
the person giving the advice
than what is actually
the right thing to do.
Turn the other cheek.
Avoidance.
Get allies.
Fight back.
The difficulty lies
in knowing what is
the best strategy in
any given situation.
So, how do you know?
You don't.
Okay...
Yes.
I'm sorry?
Yes, I have been bullied.
By some of the best.
Some of the worst.
The only thing I can tell you
with any certainty, Robert,
is that you will spend the
rest of your life wondering
what the right approach
would have been,
if you now suspect that
you've chose the wrong one.
One second.
Alright...
Wow. Heh.
Okay, who do you think is
going to get the drunkest...
And don't say me.
Hi! Oh, thank you
for bringing this.
Listen, I'm having a mini
crisis in the kitchen.
- Can you give me a hand?
- Sure.
Six weeks away, and I throw
a party on our first day back?
I don't know what
I was thinking.
Well, I'm glad you did.
It's a lovely tradition.
Hello, Bobby Marks.
Hey, Joanie Williams?
So, what do you think? Heh.
You, you don't like it.
No. No, no, no, I...
It's just different,
is all, I mean...
It's... fine.
I mean, my mom told me that
some people would be like this.
But, um, you don't
have to like it,
because I do and that's
all that matters.
Oh, no, I do like it.
It looks good.
Honestly?
Cross my heart, bra.
So, um, when did you
decide to do it?
My mother looked
into it actually,
but didn't tell me
until recently.
But apparently you can't
get your nose done
until it stops growing,
and I don't think mine
could have gotten
any bigger, so...
You never told me.
What was there to say?
I mean, it's a pretty big thing.
It was a big thing.
But now it's not.
Okay, look, I wanted
to surprise you.
Surprise. Heh.
So, why did you do it?
You mean surprise you?
No, get the nose job.
Heh. Because I was ugly.
Joanie!
- Joanie, come here.
- Yeah...
I have to show you my
beautiful daughter.
- I love it.
- You do?
Joanie and I had grown up being
the ones on the
edge of everything.
It never mattered so much
being Pluto and Neptune
in the universe of popularity,
because we were out
there together.
Suddenly, she was shining
from the center,
and it looked pretty
far from where I sat.
She did great.
She was a real trooper
through it all.
Joanie Williams to Bobby Marks.
You forgot to say goodbye
before you left.
Probably because I was so busy.
It was like a coming out
party, or a sweet sixteen.
I couldn't get a
moment to myself.
Or with you.
Are you there, Bobby?
Good night, Bobby Marks.
Good night, Joanie Williams.
Robert.
Would you like some iced tea?
- Yes, please.
- It's mint.
From the garden.
Mmm.
So, are you having a party?
Yes. Tomorrow.
Twelve. Sharp.
It has consistently
marked the end of summer.
And then it's back to the city
Sunday at 11, sharp.
Well, maybe you should go
a little later this year.
Or earlier, you know,
just to see what happens.
No. In these matters,
Robert, consistency
is the foundation of tradition.
Sit down for a minute.
So, tell me, have you
had any more problems
this summer with that
bully of whom you spoke?
No.
Not, not really.
Those are two different answers.
Uh, I survived.
Surviving in spite
of a bully's efforts
is indeed one form of reward.
I just wish there was a way
I could get back at him
somehow, you know.
So, you seek revenge
over justice.
Well, what's the difference?
Well, there's quite a
gulf between the two.
The measure of a
man is his ability
to navigate to a "proper" shore
during the worst of the storm.
Heh. Hey, that's pretty good.
I should write that one down.
Heh.
Thank you.
For your assistance this summer.
I must attend to
the preparations.
Get up. Get up. Get up. get up.
Fuck...
Get your clothes on!
Fuck! Shit!
My dad finally came up
on that last Friday
of the season,
but it still didn't seem like
Rumson Lake was relaxing him.
Knock, knock.
Ask who's there.
Who's there?
King Tut.
King Tut who?
King Tut-key fried chicken.
Uh, tough crowd. Ahem.
Last weekend.
I don't want you guys to
leave your tidying up
for the last minute, okay.
I already started.
Well, there are benefits to
being grounded, aren't there?
What? Aren't I always
ready in time?
No.
I, uh...
I want you to know that
I did everything I could
to make this right.
- I tried. I really tried.
- I don't understand.
You remember Estelle
Brown in accounting?
Kind of bubbly redhead?
You met her at the
Christmas party,
you said you talked to
her for a long time...
This is not her fault, but...
I'm just gonna tell
you what happened.
She had this brother.
Real dynamic kind of guy.
And he had this company
that makes robotics,
real cutting edge stuff.
And he told me all
the investors...
You know, they just
make a fortune
once they listed it
on the stock market.
I'm sorry. I'm not following.
Well, you know, we had all of
these big expenses coming up...
Michelle going to college;
Bobby not far behind;
and you maybe going
to law school.
And I...
You know, I took some
of our savings...
How much?
Most of it.
It might as well
have been all of it.
How could you do this
without talking to me?
- I didn't feel like...
- How could you do this!
- This was our future!
- I thought I was doing right.
- Our savings!
- I was doing it for the family.
And you just gambled it away
without even talking
to me about it?!
I was doing it for
the family, Lenore!
- Are you kidding me right now?!
- You don't know how hard...
You don't know how
hard it is, Lenore.
- I'm all on my own...
- I do know how hard it is!
How could you take our money
without even talking to me?!
I didn't know what it felt like
to hear your parents
were getting divorced...
What are we gonna do?!
But I was pretty sure
it felt something like
hearing that they were broke.
You're not listening to me.
Please keep your voice down.
I'm gonna find a way
to get through it.
I need to be alone right now.
I can't look at you.
Lenore, let...
Bobby Marks to Joanie Williams.
Come in, Joanie Williams.
Joanie, are you there?
Bobby Marks?
You're there.
I was just outside
watching the stars
when I heard you in my room.
Have you seen them tonight?
You should. They're beautiful.
Look at all that.
It's so huge.
You know, sometimes I just
feel so insignificant.
Don't you?
I think that there's
a star up there
for everyone down here.
So, whenever I feel lost, I
just look up and find yours.
That makes me feel better. Heh.
Hey, Joanie Williams?
Yeah, Bobby Marks?
Can I see you tomorrow?
I think I knew then
that would be our last
summer up at the lake.
I can't believe I had to spend
most of the summer holed
up in my apartment.
Yeah. It wasn't really
the summer I expected either.
Yeah...
Last ones.
Oh, I guess we should
probably go soon too.
Yeah. Probably.
Ew, what is that?
Oh. Oh, it's a snakeskin.
- Whoa...
- Oh, my God, gross!
What do you mean "gross"?
Come on, this is so cool.
- Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
- Look, it's a full snakeskin.
- No, no.
- That's so cool.
I mean, you can see
the head right there.
- Oh, man.
- And I think that's the tail.
Ew. Okay. Okay.
I mean, it's not like
it has a choice.
I mean, it has to
shed it to grow.
Mmm, yeah, but...
Can you imagine leaving behind
a whole part of yourself?
I like it.
You do?
You've got working man's hands.
At least, that's what
my dad calls them.
Oh, great.
Do you want to go?
No.
It's as much our lake as his.
Grab this, will ya?
No sense of humor,
of you city types.
I didn't think you were
supposed to be here.
I live here.
So do we.
For the summer, anyway.
The curse of the summer people.
Mmm. They buy up everything
so it's too expensive
for the locals,
and then they dangle
their money around
to make us do
whatever they want.
And they know they can too,
oh, because now we
need it so much more.
Isn't that the same everywhere?
It didn't used to be
like that around here.
You come up here thinking
how great this place
is for the summer,
and we just wait it
out and think about
how great the rest
of the year will be
when you locusts head
south for the winter.
Actually, locusts
aren't migratory.
Yeah.
Yeah, that was my
point, brainiac.
Okay. Maybe we should go.
Hey. Look at you.
I didn't even recognize you
without that giant beak you
used to wave around here.
Heh. No, no, show it off.
No, be proud of what Daddy
bought his little princess.
Okay, leave her alone.
I'm serious.
You look good.
Not too good for this
one, am I right?
I tell ya, he's lucky
you're leaving,
or he'd have some competition.
Heh. As if.
You think you know me?
What do you think
you know about me?
Leave me alone.
Or what?
Now, what, fat boy?
What's a fat kid
like you gonna do?
Bobby, let's just
get out of here.
Tell me.
Whoo!
I want you to oink like a pig!
I can't hear you!
Oink like a pig!
Jeez. I'm okay.
Yeah?
Hey!
Come on...
What the hell, are you crazy?
Dr. Kahn? Ahem.
Robert.
Dr. Kahn, I wanted to talk
to you about my work.
You did a fine job...
No, no, no. I mean
about the pay.
I don't think a dollar
an hour is fair.
It is what we agreed.
Only because I
wasn't so good at it
in the beginning.
Okay, I was really bad. I know.
But I improved. A lot.
And this place looks
great, doesn't it?
Are you reneging on our deal?
It's what you advertised.
You know, you should pay
me for this summer.
I watched you mature
from a miserable fat boy
into a presentable young man.
On my time.
On my lawn.
No, Dr. Kahn.
You didn't do it.
I did it.
With my time. With my work.
You knew I'd come?
I hoped.
Thank you.
Thank you for everything.
Thank you.
I hated summer vacation.
Until that one fat
summer at Rumson Lake.
Because while I spent
my days hiding,
I wasn't only hiding
from other people.
Hello, Joanie Williams.
Hello, Bobby Marks.
Hey, guys.
Actually, Pete, do you
mind if I have a turn?
Thank you.
Whoo! Bobby, yeah!
- Well, that's not...
- He's gotta jump. Walk.