Twenty Good Years (2006) s01e01 Episode Script

Pilot

Ha! Hit the floor! No! -Uh-huh! I heard it! That was your jockstrap.
You do me a favor? Stop shouting "kapow" every time you serve.
It's my war cry.
I've been doing it for 30 years.
I've let it go until now.
Just serve.
Ow! You did that on purpose! -Oh, did I? We'll never know.
Just serve it.
Ah! Foul! Not bad, huh? And such a tiny target.
That's it, John.
That's it.
We're done.
Fine.
Go home, sissy boy.
I'm a sissy boy? I'm a sissy boy? Why don't I just -Hey, hey, hey, hey! Back off, Rocky.
I give.
Hah! My neck, you jackass! Let go! The time is 5 minutes to 8:00.
Already? -Oh, where does the time go? It's about to get good.
Get good.
Yeah, it's about to get good.
You'll have the time of your life for the rest of your life.
It's about to get goo-ooo-oood.
Hey, hey! We're done! Annette, time? 5 hours, 12 minutes.
-Mm, I'm slowing down.
Of course, some things are better done slower.
Sorry, Dr.
Mason.
I don't do married men.
Oh, well, what would you say if I told you that wife number 3 left me a month ago Thursday? I'll pass.
You're already paying enough alimony to finance a small country.
Ah, yes, the republic of women I mistakenly married.
But I have no regrets.
You see, my loyal underlings, there are men in this world who agonize over every fork in the road, and then, there are men with the courage to act! Thus, I say to you, pity the thinkers.
They sit paralyzed while their lives ebb away.
I'm going to weigh this in my chambers.
All rise.
That's that's very nice.
Thank you.
Jeffrey.
-Oh, Gina, honey, welcome back.
How was your cruise? Uh, did you see penguins? Because I have read that they are as smart as dogs.
I saw penguins.
I also met someone.
His name is Roberto, and he's fallen an love with me.
Well, that's a little awkward.
How so? -Because, uh, you and I are in a committed relationship.
We have been dating for 3 years.
Oh, sweetie, you see, marriage is like Well, it's like building a house.
First you pour a foundation of trust.
Aaaand, of course, that takes time to dry.
Jeffrey! You know, Roberto wasn't the only one.
Men noticed me on this cruise, Jeffrey Rugged, passionate men.
What were you, on a pirate ship? I have tried not to pressure you.
-Really? When? And I have respected the memory of your deceased wife, but she passed on nearly 20 years ago, and Sissy would want you to go on living.
Her name was Cindy.
-You see? You still can't move on.
Come.
- Your honor? -Oh, yes.
Oh, yes.
Uh, so, we're good.
No, no, Jeffrey, we're not good.
I will see you tonight at John's party.
You will propose to me.
Our friends will applaud.
It will be beautiful and spontaneous.
Is there anything special you'd like me to wear? Are you mocking me? -No, no, no, not at all.
Your blue blazer.
And did you notice I stitched him with my left hand? I do that sometimes to make it harder.
Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Oh, my goodness! I did not expect this! Who has plates? Let's set gifts on the credenza.
Congratulations, John.
Well, look who pried himself away from his desk.
What's wrong, Marty? Have I been profligate with the cotton swabs? Give him the gift.
-Ah, a putter.
Read the engraving.
"To a real operator.
" My joke.
-Mmm.
Anyway, you should get out there and play.
Now that you have time.
-Weel, why would I have time? This is a retirement gift? Come on, John.
Don't play dumb.
You're 60.
-So?! So, you go to half-time for 2 years, and then you retire.
What? -Don't act surprised.
I've sent you memo after memo And I've made them Into airplane after airplane! What? This is absurd! I'm not some insurance salesman you just push out the door! I'm Dr.
John Mason! I'm at the height of my powers! What kind of lame-ass birthday party is this?! Happy birthday to you.
Oh, shut up! Hello, everybody.
Uh, first of all, just a big thank you to Jeffrey for hosting my father's birthday party.
And second, I'm sorry my dad's late.
We're not sure where he is.
But it's probably just his way of reminding everyone he's more important than you are.
That's actually not a joke.
Dad dad! I'm in a full-page ad.
Page 74.
I'm so psyched.
Oh, and I am psyched for you.
I mean, my s my son is a-a male model.
But, you know, I really wish you'd you'd go back to college.
I-I mean Oh, my god! Are those young women licking you? Yeah.
The concept is: My jeans are driving them crazy.
I don't even see your jeans.
Oh, they're around my ankles.
Yeah.
Oh.
Aw, Hugh, I'mI'm I'm so proud of you And and and your work.
Um, but, uh, son? What happens when the ride ends? What do you mean? Son, I used to look like you.
Really? Stella, um, people have been asking me who the father is, And I just I don't know what to say.
Tell them the truth.
I want a kid, I got tired of looking for Mr.
Right, so I went to a sperm bank.
Oh, ok, but then in the awkward silence that follows Line up, ladies! The doctor is in! Dad, where have you been? Are you drunk? -Hello, sweetie! You look ferocious and round.
Promise me you'll name him John.
What if it's a girl? It'll be a boy.
You won't let me down.
John! John! -Birthday boy wants cake! It's not cake cutting time.
Oh, we have forks.
Don't talk to me about forks.
Today Chelsea General pushed me into semi-retirement.
What? -Dad, I had no idea.
At first, I was angry.
I felt like smashing furniture, but then I walked for hours, uptown, downtown, and I realized something.
I've been wasting my life.
John, no! I've been living to work, working to live, and it all amounts to nothing! Dad, you have healed hundreds of people.
Hundreds? Thousands.
No man could have done more.
There's my father.
-But at what cost? We-we make choices.
Things fall by the wayside.
Look at me.
I used to play the saxophone.
And you were terrible.
Well, it's an unforgiving instrument.
When I was young, I made a list of all the things I would do before i died.
Number one: Become a surgeon.
All the rest, down the drain! You-you had me.
Of course i did, baby.
And the day you were born was the greatest day of my life.
Oh, dad.
Yeah, but that was one day! And it was a long time ago! John! But tonight, I had an epiphany.
Starting tonight, we live life to the brim.
Who's we? -Jeffrey, how many good years do you figure we have left on this planet? Good years uh.
Well, I don't know.
With global warming and urban sprawl No, no.
I mean our years? Ooh, I-I don't -20, at best.
So, by God, let's live them like we're on fire! Dad, and I am all for fire, but you just got hit with this retirement thing.
You must be hurting.
You need to work through those feelings.
No offense, Stella, but I'm not one of your sixth graders.
I teach fifth grade.
-Well, you'll bounce back.
Oh! Jeffrey, do you remember when we were teenagers? Yes.
-When life was about wonder and adventure.
We need to recapture that.
We need to do something every day that scares us.
For example? Anything, everything.
I want to hang-glide over a live volcano.
I want to track gorillas in the Congo.
When I think of all the time I've wasted! What about me? I've accrued 212 vacation days.
Exactly.
And I-I-I've been keeping a beautiful woman at arm's length for too long.
And why? -Because I I'm afraid.
Are we tigers, or are we titmice? We are not titmice.
-20 good years, Jeffrey.
The clock is ticking.
We can live, or we can just mark time.
What's it gonna be? We're going to live! What was in that? -Alcohol.
Wow! Oh, Jeffrey, there you are.
Happy birthday, John.
-Oh, Gina, you shouldn't have.
It's nothing much.
-Just like last year.
Gina, eh, I-I need to speak to you.
Praise the lord.
Let's go.
Everybodyyyyyy! Jeffrey needs to speak to me! Um, I-I really don't I don't want to do it like like this.
Well, I do.
And by the way, that's not the blazer i meant.
Well, go ahead, Jeffrey, before you lose your nerve.
Ok.
Um Well, uh, we've been dating a long time, and you're very you're a very patient woman.
Oh, well But, uh, tonight, John has, uh spoken some sense to me.
John? Well, I'm sorry.
I misjudged you.
Forgiven.
Jeffrey, just say it.
I'm breaking up with you.
What? My God, this is riveting! I am really so sorry.
And I know to marry you would be safe, and I know to marry you would be prudent, but I really owe it to To both of us really to reach out and reach out for for more.
And who knows? Maybe maybe someday we'll settle down into a warm, deep friendship.
May I speak? -Oh, of course.
She struck me.
-We're living on the edge now, Jeffrey.
Women will often strike us.
Well, that was just rude.
Aah! Morning, Jeffrey.
Go away.
Why so glum, sugarplum? Why so glum? I cared about Gina.
And-and-and you, you goaded me into into dumping her like an old piece of cheese.
Come on! Gina was dead weight.
Tell me you don't feel lighter.
I invested 3 years in that woman.
If only she hadn't rushed me.
And I'm gonna call her.
-And then what? What, apologize? Get married? For God's sake, the woman hums during sex.
I regret ever telling you that.
Jeffrey, don't doubt yourself.
This is the first spontaneous thing you've done since Well, my God.
-No, just say it.
Just say it, please.
Since Cindy died.
Look, your wife was a treasure, a beautiful rose.
But there are other flowers in the garden: Hydrangeas, water lilies.
I'm not like you, John.
I don't think with my watering can.
Well, look, maybe you should start.
Take a lesson from your son.
He's 19 years old, and he has women licking his pants.
Jeffrey, we are getting these pants.
Did we, or did we not agree to live life to the brim? I don't know.
I just want some oat bran.
Oh, your obsession with regularity.
Go away.
Go away and leave me alone.
First, read this.
"swimmers set for sub-zero splash.
" The Coney Island Polar Bears.
Today, they are going to frolic in the freezing Atlantic surf, and you and I, Jeffrey, are going to join them.
No.
-Yes.
We made a pact.
And a plunge Into the Atlantic is the perfect kick-start.
Join me, old friend! I am reborn! Oh, my God! Tremble, ye elements, for Neptune is risen! John! John, put it away.
I can see your business.
Oh, well enjoy it now.
You know what cold water does.
- All right.
Go home.
Go home.
-Fine.
You need some sleep and maybe a cat scan.
Well, fine.
Have it your way, you frightened little ferret.
Me? If anyone is frightened, it is you.
Oh, nonsense.
-Oh, hang-gliding and ice-swimming.
That's not about seeking adventure.
That is about you running from your smelly mess of a life.
In what way exactly does my life smell? Wake up! Wake up! Why do you think Stella went to a sperm bank? She looked at daddy's track record and said, "marriage? No, thanks.
" At least i have a track record! You tiptoe through life like it's a field of cow pies! Yes, and i have avoided all the pies.
I hope they write that on your tombstone.
You are such an arrogant snob.
You think you're so superior.
Oh, what about you?! You act like some sort of log cabin man of the people, but you grew up a block away from me.
That's right, and yet, you have a British accent.
Well, at least i'm not breaking our pact, titmouse! Philanderer! -Coward! Suitcases! -Touche! No, I mean, what are the suitcases doing by the door? -Nothing.
You came here to move in with me.
You're single now.
I thought you'd be lonely.
Me? You're the one who's terrified to be alone.
That's why you keep getting married.
-Hey! Johnny likes the ladies.
Well, newsflash, Johnny I wouldn't have you live here if you begged me! Fine! I'll go.
-All right, no, come on, John.
Now what are you doing? It's yours.
I borrowed it in 1979.
It is 40 degrees outside.
A man of action is his own sun! And he told me to tell you he's very sorry.
I don't believe that.
-Ok, you got me.
The way he condescended to move in with me.
Well, he's now a half-time surgeon with 3 alimonies.
And the truth is he can't afford his rent.
Why didn't, why didn't he tell me that? Why do you think? Aw, Stella, he doesn't deserve you.
Huh? That felt weird.
-Well, it's an emotional moment.
No no, I-I I think my water just broke.
What? Uh, Ok.
Uh, um can we, uh can we put it back? Ok.
I-I-I can I can do this.
Harvey? Now, you, uh You just relax in your in your puddle.
Could you, uh, please, call an ambulance? I'll be right with you.
All right, listen to me.
I want you to stay calm, all right? And I want you to breathe slowly, and I promise you, everything's going to be Ok.
Harvey, when you're through with that, we're gonna need a really good rug guy.
All right, fine.
I'll take the high road.
John, maybe I I overreacted before.
No, you didn't.
I was arrogant and presumptuous.
No, you're right, I liveĀ… Ijust I tiptoe through life.
Well, you didn't tiptoe today.
You were a hero.
You think so? -Absolutely.
You know, with Gina gone, maybe it's not a bad idea if you were to crash at my apartment for a while.
Might be fun.
-Fun? Of course, it'll be fun! It's me! I mean, thank you, Jeffrey.
You'd do the same for me.
-Of course, I would.
Dr.
Valentino to the O.
R.
I wish you were a woman.
Pardon? Well, think about it.
You're my only successful marriage.
Why can't you be the woman? I was just speaking whimsically.
But you do have more feminine traits.
Why? Because i can't drive a stick shift? You fret, you're emotional.
Oh, please.
You wouldn't know a true emotion if it peed on your leg.
Hey! I have feelings! -John, i've known you for 40 years.
All i've seen are anger, lust, and denial.
Why don't those count? Gentlemen? You might want to take a look through the window.
Maybe later.
I need a drink.
John, it's the baby.
Oh, my God, the baby! Oh, my God, look at her.
She is beautiful.
It's a girl? It's a baby girl? You're a grandfather.
Are you crying? She's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen in my life.
Right, John, there may be hope for you yet.
20 good years.
-Keep saying it, Jeffrey.
20 good years.
It's not working.
-Remember our pact.
You kick my ass, I kick yours, and together, we live.
I'm going home.
Give me the keys! -Come and get them.
You know, it's cold! -Just do it, Jeffrey! It's perfect! It's marvelous! Do it! -No! Aah! I hate you! I'm doing it! Aah!
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