LAST WEEK ON "FAMILY TIES"... YOU'RE NOT TRICIA ARMSTRONG,ARE YA? NO, I'M ELLEN REED. THE CRAZY THING ISSHE'S GOT THIS ROOMMATE, AN ART MAJOR,FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WHO I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHINGIN COMMON WITH. AND FOR SOMEUNKNOWN REASON, I THINK ABOUT HERCONSTANTLY. * WHAT DID YOU THINK * I WOULD DO AT THIS MOMENT -ELLEN.-ALEX, PLEASE, LET ME GO. ELLEN, I'M SORRY.I-I SLIPPED! SHE DECIDEDTO GET MARRIED! [ THEME SONG PLAYS ] * I BET WE'VE BEEN TOGETHERFOR A MILLION YEARS * * AND I'LL BET WE'LL BE TOGETHERFOR A MILLION MORE * * OH, IT'S LIKEI STARTED BREATHING * * ON THE NIGHT WE KISSED * AND I CAN'T REMEMBERWHAT I EVER DID BEFORE * * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * AND THEREAIN'T NO NOTHIN' * * WE CAN'T LOVEEACH OTHER THROUGH * * OOH-HOO * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * SHA-LA-LA-LA GOOD MORNING, MRS. K. OH, HI, SKIPPY. YOU KNOW, I WAS JUSTSITTING AROUND MY HOUSE, AND I STARTEDGETTING HUNGRY, NOTICED IT WAS 11:00,SO I FIGURED, WHY NOT STOP OVER AND ENJOYA BIG HEARTY SUNDAY BRUNCH WITH THE WHOLEKEATON CLAN? ARE WETHE FIRST ONES HERE? I'M SORRY, SKIPPY.THERE'S NO BRUNCH TODAY. SEE, MR. KEATON'SOUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS, ALEX IS STILL ASLEEP,JENNIFER ATE TWO HOURS AGO, AND MALLORY'S LEAVINGIN FIVE MINUTES. DON'T YOU EAT AT HOME? MY MOTHER ONLY SERVESA CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST ON SUNDAYS. HI. HELLO, THERE, GIRLS! WHERE ARE YOUOFF TO TODAY? WE'RE GOING FISHING. [ SIGHS ] ALEX, I THOUGHT YOUWERE STILL SLEEPING. I WAS OUT WALKING,THINKING ABOUT THIS GREAT IRONY, THIS TRAGIC COMEDYWE CALL LIFE. HOW WAS THE DANCE, ALEX? PUT IT THIS WAY, MAL. LAST NIGHT THE ENTIRE FABRICOF MY EXISTENCE UNRAVELED BEFORE MY EYES. HOW WERE THE DECORATIONS? THEY WERE NICE. OH, I ALMOST FORGOT -- SOMEBODY CALLED FOR YOUABOUT AN HOUR AGO. -WHO?-TRICIA. OH, MY LIFEIS A TRAVESTY. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT TO HER. WHOA, IT'S 11:00!I GOT TO GO! HEY, WAIT, MALLORY,I'M COMING. -SEE YOU LATER, MOM!-BYE. BYE, GIRLS. WHAT'S TROUBLING YOU,ALEX? I-I'D LIKE TO TALKTO YOU ABOUT IT, MOM, I REALLY WOULD, BUT IT'S -- IT'S KIND OFA GUY-TYPE PROBLEM. WHERE'S DAD? YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS. HE LEFT LAST NIGHTON A BUSINESS TRIP. RIGHT. WHERE'S ANDREW? YOU KNOW, ALEX, I'M REALLYWORRIED ABOUT THIS TEST. WHAT IF IT'S REALLY HARD? OH, TRISH,HOW HARD CAN IT BE? 10,000-WORD ESSAYON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE MING DYNASTYIN 14th-CENTURY CHINA. IT'S ALL COMMON SENSE. YOU KNOW, ALEX,I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BIG ECONOMICSDEPARTMENT DINNER TONIGHT. HAVE YOU PICKED UPYOUR TUXEDO YET? HUH? OH, YEAH, YEAH. UH, EXCUSE ME, TRISH. HI. HELLO. YOU READY FOR THE TEST? UH, YEAH. YEAH. I THINKI'M IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FANOF THE MING DYNASTY. WELL...EXCUSE ME. [ EXHALES SHARPLY ]UH, WAIT A MINUTE. I-I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU AROUNDIN ALMOST A WEEK. I KNOW, I KNOW.I'VE JUST BEEN REAL BUSY. RIGHT. A-ANYWAY,I -- I JUST WANTED TO -- WELL, I-I HEARD -- TRISH SAID SOMETHINGABOUT YOU DECIDING TO, UH, GET MARRIED. YES, I AM.I DID DECIDE. YEAH. OH, I-I WASN'T REALLY SURE. YOU KNOW,BECAUSE LAST WEEK AT THE KISS -- AT THE DANCE, UH, WE, UH, WE DANCED. AND -- AND KISSED. I REMEMBER THAT, YEAH.YEAH. UH, LISTEN, I WAS JUST --I WAS JUST WONDERING -- WHEN IS THIS, UH,WEDDING THING HAPPENING? SUNDAY. SUNDAY. H-HOW DO YOU MEAN, SUNDAY?YOU MEAN, LIKE, ON A SUNDAY? ON THIS SUNDAY. ELLEN, THAT'S SO SOON. I-I MEAN, WEDDINGS -- WEDDINGS TAKE A LOT OF PREPARATION. I MEAN, YOU KNOW,YOU GOT TO ORDER MATCHBOOKS AND NAPKINS AND... AND AN ICE SCULPTURE. IT'S GONNA BE REAL SMALL,JUST THE TWO OF US. I'M GONNA TAKE THE TRAIN UP TOFRANKLIN AND MARSHALL TONIGHT. WELL, I GUESS I'LL SEE YOUWHEN I GET BACK. LISTEN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE TRAIN STATIONIS RIGHT ON MY WAY HOME, I COULD DROP YOU OFF. WHY WOULD YOUWANT TO DO THAT? UH, WELL, IT'S NO TROUBLE. A-AND -- AND ANYWAY, I MEAN, WHAT OTHER WAYDO YOU HAVE TO GET THERE? MY CAR. AND -- AND LEAVE ITAT THE STATION ALL WEEKEND? I-IT COULD CATCH COLD. IT WAS JUST A THOUGHT. WELL, OKAY.IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT, I GUESS. [ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ] OKAY, PEOPLE, SETTLE IN. YOU'LL HAVE 90 MINUTESTO ANSWER THE ESSAY QUESTION. OKAY... PLEASE START. [ EXHALES SHARPLY ] [ BILLY VERA AND THE BEATERS'"AT THIS MOMENT" PLAYS ] * WHAT DID YOU THINK * I WOULD DO AT THIS MOMENT * WHEN YOU'RE STANDINGBEFORE ME * * WITH TEARS IN YOUR EYES * TRYING TO TELL ME THAT YOU * HAVE FOUND YOU ANOTHER * AND YOU JUST DON'T LOVE MENO MORE? * * WHAT DID YOU THINK * I WOULD SAY AT THIS MOMENT? * WHEN I'M FACEDWITH THE KNOWLEDGE * * THAT YOU JUST DON'T LOVE ME? * DID YOU THINKI WOULD CURSE YOU * * OR SAY THINGS TO HURT YOU * 'CAUSE YOU JUST DON'TLOVE ME NO MORE? * * DID YOU THINKI COULD HATE YOU * * OR RAISE MY HANDS TO YOU? * NOW, COME ON,YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL * [ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ] [ INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF"AT THIS MOMENT" PLAYING ] ONE ROUND TRIP TO LANCASTER,PENNSYLVANIA, PLEASE. UH, YOU KNOW, ELLEN, THATTRAIN DOESN'T GET INTO LANCASTER TILL ABOUT 3:00IN THE MORNING. IS HE -- UH, ARE YOU,UH, BEING MET? WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? WELL, I-I BROUGHTYOU HERE, ELLEN, AND I FEELI SHOULD BE KEPT APPRISED OF THE RESTOF YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS. IF YOU MUST KNOW, DENNISIS IN THE MIDDLE OF WORKING ON HIS SENIOR THESIS,AND I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO MISS A NIGHT'S SLEEPBY COMING TO PICK ME UP, SO I JUST TOLD HIM I WASCOMING IN TOMORROW AFTERNOON. DOES THAT ANSWERYOUR QUESTION? PRETTY MUCH. [ SIGHS ] ALEX, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUDRIVING ME DOWN HERE, BUT YOU DON'THAVE TO WAIT AROUND. I KNOW YOU HAVETO GET BACK. OH, NO, NO, I'M IN NO HURRY.NO, NO, I LIKE IT HERE. I COME HERE A LOT. UH, KIND OF A REGULAR. UH, EXCUSE ME.CAN I HAVE A SHINE, PLEASE? THE USUAL. ALEX, I DON'T THINK YOU CAMEHERE TO GET YOUR SHOES SHINED. ELLEN... I CAME DOWN HERE WITH YOU BECAUSE I WAS HOPINGTO TALK YOU OUT OF THIS. TALK ME OUTOF GETTING MARRIED? -YEAH.-WHY? ELLEN... UH, THIS IS, UM -- THIS ISKIND OF HARD FOR ME TO SAY. AS AN OBJECTIVE,UNINVOLVED, NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY, I FEEL THATIN MARRIAGE-RELATED MATTERS, IT'S BESTTO EXERCISE CAUTION. WOW, ALEX. THAT WAS QUITEAN OUTPOURING OF EMOTION. ELLEN -- PLEASE, PLEASE, YOU'VE ALREADYBARED YOUR SOUL ENOUGH. LOOK,I'M ONLY SAYING THIS -- I'M ONLY SAYING THISFOR YOUR OWN GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU.YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO GET ADVICE ON MY PERSONAL LIFE FROM SOMEONE WHO PICKED HIS GIRLFRIEND OUTOF THE FRESHMAN DIRECTORY. OH. OH, OH,I GET IT NOW. NOW WE'RE BACKTO DAY ONE. I'M SHALLOW.I'M INSECURE. COME ON, LET'S HEARTHE WHOLE SPEECH AGAIN, ELLEN. JUST FORGET IT,ALL RIGHT?! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. YOU BROUGHT IT UP. YOU THINK I'M INSECURE,RIGHT? WELL,IF I'M INSECURE -- IF I'M INSECURE,THEN I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU DESCRIBE SOMEBODY WHOGETS MARRIED WHEN THEY'RE 18 JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE AWAYFROM HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY NEED SOMETHINGTO CLING TO. I'M SPEAKING HYPOTHETICALLY,OF COURSE. ATTENTION, PLEASE. TRAIN TO PHILADELPHIA AND ALL STOPS BETWEEN NOW ARRIVING AT THE STATION. ALL ABOARD, PLEASE. YOU DON'T KNOWWHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I AM NOT MARRYING DENNIS BECAUSE I NEED SOMETHINGTO CLING TO. I'M MARRYING HIMBECAUSE -- WHY DO I HAVE TO JUSTIFYTHIS TO YOU?! DENNIS AND I HAVEA VERY WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP, ALL RIGHT? OH. OH, I'LL BETIT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. YOU GET --YOU GET ENGAGED OVER THE PHONE, AND THEN AN HOUR LATER, YOU'RE KISSING ME ON THE DANCE FLOOR. FIRST OF ALL, YOU KISSED ME. SECOND OF ALL,THE WORST MISTAKE I EVER MADE WAS HUMORING YOUINSTEAD OF WALKING AWAY! OH, HUMORING ME?HUMORING ME? WELL, LET METELL YOU SOMETHING. YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST GIRLTO HUMOR THIS GUY! WHO'S ELLEN REED? NOBODY. THEN WHY IS HER PICTUREIN THAT BOOK? BECAUSE IT'S A BOOKOF PEOPLE WHO DON'T EXIST, OKAY? WHY AM I HAVING TROUBLEBELIEVING THAT? LOOK, WILL YOU PLEASELEAVE ME ALONE? ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.GOSH. I THOUGHT I TOLD YOUTO LEAVE ME ALONE. NO, YOU DIDN'T. OH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I'M KNITTING -- WHAT DOESIT LOOK LIKE I'M DOING? WELL, DO YOU HAVE TOWATCH TV IN HERE? IT'S THE ONLY TVIN THE HOUSE, ALEX. OH, YOU'VE GOT AN ANSWERFOR EVERYTHING, DON'T YOU? WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? I'M SORRY. I'M A LITTLE --A LITTLE TENSE. GIRL PROBLEMS. WELL, WATCH TV.IT'LL GET YOUR MIND OFF OF IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, HELENE. LAST WEEK YOU KISSED ME AS IF WE WERE IN LOVE, AND NOW, YOU'RE LEAVING TO MARRY SOMEONE ELSE! -AAH!-HEY! I WANT TO BE ALONERIGHT NOW, OKAY?! JUST, PLEASE,LEAVE ME ALONE! YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW,YOU'VE BEEN MOPING AROUNDTHE HOUSE ALL WEEK. I DON'T KNOWWHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS, BUT YOU OUGHT TO STOPPITYING YOURSELF AND ACT LIKEA HUMAN BEING. SHE'S RIGHT. MALLORY IS RIGHT? I'M WRONG, AND MALLORY'S RIGHT. THE WORLD IS ENDING. MOM. I WANT YOU TO KNOWTHAT I AM THROUGH FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF,AND THIS LITTLE EPISODE IS OVER. IT'S ABOUT TIME. WHAT LITTLE EPISODE? IT DOESN'T MATTER.I MEAN, AFTER ALL, MOM, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGESTNIGHTS OF MY LIFE. AND NOTHING IS GONNA PREVENTME FROM ENJOYING IT. I'M GONNA BE IN MY TUXEDO, HOBNOBBING WITHTHE ECONOMICS FACULTY. BEST GIRL BY MY SIDE. EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE PERFECT. JUST... PERFECT. IF I COULD JUST TIE... THIS DAMN TIE! WHO AM I KIDDING? WELL, I'M SURE YOUR DAD HASA CLIP-ON YOU COULD BORROW. IT'S NOT THE TIE, MOM. WELL,IF YOU WANT TO TALK, I'M STILL HERE. [ EXHALES SHARPLY ] I GUESS SO.I GOT NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN. MOM, YOU REMEMBER THAT GIRLI TOLD YOU ABOUT A FEW WEEKS AGO? ELLEN REED. I'M NOT SURE. OH, OH, TRICIA'S ROOMMATE.THE ONE YOU DIDN'T LIKE. RIGHT. THE ONE I DIDN'T LIKE.THE ONE I STILL DON'T LIKE. -WHAT ABOUT HER?-I'M IN LOVE WITH HER. REALLY? OH.ALEX, THAT'S WONDERFUL! NO, IT'S NOTWONDERFUL, MOM. RIGHT NOW,SHE'S ON A TRAIN TRAVELING 350 MILESTO LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, TO MARRY ANOTHER GUY. THAT'S A TOUGH THINGTO OVERLOOK. I DON'T KNOW, MOM.I MEAN, "LOVE." IT'S MY FIRST TIME. I MEAN, SURE, I --I LOVED THAT DOG WE -- WE HAD WHEN I WAS A KID. BUT IN MANY WAYS,THIS IS DIFFERENT. I HOPE SO. IT'S NOT FAIR, MOM.IT'S JUST NOT FAIR. I MEAN, WHAT DID I EVER DOTO DESERVE THIS? I MEAN, I WAS MINDINGMY OWN BUSINESS. ALL OF A SUDDEN,I FIND MYSELF IN LOVEWITH A WONDERFUL GIRL... I CAN NEVER BE WITH. OH, SWEETHEART.[ CHUCKLES ] YOU'RE SMILING, MOM. MY LIFE IS FALLING APART,AND YOU'RE SMILING. I'M SORRY, HONEY.IT'S JUST... IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL TO HEAR YOUEXPRESS THOSE FEELINGS. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE REALLY SEENYOUR DAD IN YOU. YEAH? YEAH. CAN I ASK YOUSOMETHING? WHAT? DOES ELLENKNOW ABOUT THIS? I MEAN,DOES SHE KNOW HOW YOU FEEL? I DON'T THINK SO. I WANTED TO TELL HERBEFORE SHE LEFT, BUT I...DIDN'T. WELL, IT'S A SHAME. WHY, YOU THINKIT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IF I TOLD HER? DAMN [BANGS]I SHOULD'VE TOLD HER. [ INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF"AT THIS MOMENT" PLAYING ] [ SNORING ] EXCUSE ME!EXCUSE ME. UH, SORRY TO BOTHER YOU. [ CLEARS THROAT ]IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY. ALMOST TIMEFOR MY BREAK ANYWAY. LISTEN, IS THE TRAIN IN YET?THE ONE FROM LELAND, FROM OHIO. IS IT IN YET? YEAH. YEAH.GOT IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AGO. [ BELL CLANGING ] THAT'S ITON ITS WAY OUT. THANKS. [ CLEARS THROAT ] ALEX? HEY. ELLEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I, UH... UH...YOU FORGOT YOUR NEWSWEEK. I-I FIGUREDYOU MIGHT WANT THAT, SO I SWUNG BY HERE. IT WAS NO BIG DEAL, REALLY.IT WAS SEVEN HOURS. THERE'S A GOOD ARTICLEON THE OMELET CRAZE. I READ SOMEONE ELSE'S COPYON THE TRAIN. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SORRYI AM TO HEAR THAT. UH... ELLEN, LISTEN. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. THE MAGAZINE IS NOTTHE ONLY REASON I CAME. WHY ELSE? I DON'T KNOW. I, UH...I JUST HAD TO COME. I MEAN, I WAS IN --IN THE CAR ON MY WAY TO THE BIGGEST NIGHTOF MY LIFE, AND SOMETHING MADE METURN THE CAR AROUND. I MEAN,I KNEW I'D MISS THE DINNER, AND -- AND I'D BE BLOWINGANY SHOT I HAD OF RETURNING THIS TUX ON TIME, BUT SOMETHING MADE METURN THE CAR AROUND. ELLEN, UH, YOU AND I ARECOMPLETELY DIFFERENT. YOU'RE AN ARTIST. YOU WRITE POETRY. YOU ATTEND ANTI-NUCLEARDEMONSTRATIONS. ME -- I'M AN ECONOMICS MAJOR. I, UH, VOTED FOR REAGAN. I'M IN THE YOUNGEXECUTIVES CLUB. I WEAR A JACKET AND TIEEVERYWHERE I GO... EXCEPT TRAIN STATIONSAT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, IN WHICH CASEI WEAR A TUXEDO. ANYWAY, THE POINT IS,ELLEN, THAT I CANNOT FOR THE LIFEOF ME, FIGURE OUT WHY... I LOVE YOU. YOU LOVE ME? YEAH. I LOVE YOU. OKAY? I-I SAID IT.I MEAN, AFTER ALL, ELLEN, IF I'M GONNA GO THIS FARI MIGHT AS WELL GO ALL THE WAY. I LOVE YOU.ALL RIGHT? I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.I LOVE YOU. I'M CRAZY ABOUT YOU. I'D GIVEANYTHING TO BE WITH YOU. I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU.OKAY? GOTTA GO. SEE YA. I LOVE YOU, TOO, ALEX! I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE A WAYOF SEEING RIGHT THROUGH ME. OF SEEING A PART OF METHAT I DON'T EVEN -- I DON'T EVENLIKE TO ADMIT EXISTS, AND THAT SCARES ME, BECAUSE IF YOU SEE IT,THAT FORCES ME -- WHAT DID YOU SAY? I LOVE YOU, TOO. [ EXHALES ] YOU DO? ALEX, I'VE NEVER METANYBODY LIKE YOU. YOU -- YOU COME ONLIKE SOME POMPOUS, ARROGANT, OBNOXIOUS GUY. AND UNDERNEATH THAT, THERE'S THIS...WIDE-EYED CHILD, COMPLETELY INNOCENTAND NAIVE. OH.[ CHUCKLES ] IS THAT, UH,SORT OF A COMPLIMENT? [ CHUCKLES ] YEAH. WELL... WE LOVE EACH OTHER. I MEAN, WE -- WE SAID IT.WE KNOW IT. I MEAN, THAT'S ALLTHAT'S IMPORTANT. ELLEN, IT DOESN'T MATTERWHAT HAPPENS NOW. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? ALEX,I HAVE TO SEE DENNIS. I WAS AFRAIDTHAT'S WHAT HAPPENS NOW. ALL THE WAY UP HERE, I WAS THINKINGABOUT WHAT YOU SAID, ABOUT MY BEING SCARED AND NEEDING SOMETHINGTO CLING TO. AND YOU WERE RIGHT. I SAID TO MYSELF, "IF ALEXIS IN THE TRAIN STATION WHEN I GET OFF,I'M NOT GONNA MARRY DENNIS." [ CHUCKLES ]AND HERE YOU ARE. SO... I GUESS I HAVETO STICK TO IT. UH, WELL...IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING MARRIED, AND YOU DO...LOVE ME, DO YOU THINK MAYBEWHEN WE GET BACK TO LELAND, WE COULD... UH, GO TO A MOVIEOR SOMETHIN'? [ INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF"AT THIS MOMENT" PLAYING ]