Annie Camden quotes from 7th Heaven

Mary

Okay, I just came down to say I'm sorry.

Annie

For skipping class, or getting caught, or causing me to come and get you in the principal's office so that your teacher can tell me that for some reason my 16-year-old daughter can't seem to find her way to class?

Mary

Yes. Mom, Mrs. McKee just reads aloud every day and it's boring. Besides, I can read the book by myself.

Annie

So have you?

Mary

What?

Annie

Read the book?

Mary

Well, some of it, but I can't get into it. And besides, like I said, Mrs. McKee reads the thing aloud in class every day.

Annie

Yes, but you'd have to actually be in class to hear it and benefit from it. You see where I'm going with this?

Mary

Yes.

Annie

See, if my kid can't "get" anything, not even the tiniest little morsel, from a classic novel about societal mores, shame, scorn and ostracism, then I look to my kid. Not the teacher, not Nathaniel Hawthorne, but my kid. Of course, now that I know my kid has read and/or heard very few of those actual words, I feel better. Or a different kind of worse, I'm not sure.

Annie

Hey, how was school today?

Ruthie

Fine until Bobby Tripp saw my underwear while I was on the swings and now he won't shut up about it.

Annie

Why weren't you wearing the shorts that I made to match that outfit?

Ruthie

Because I was in a hurry this morning. And besides, why should I have to wear shorts because boys can't shut up about underwear? Why should all the girls at school have to suffer because the boys are losers? What's wrong with this world?

Annie

Can I get back to you on that?

Ruthie

Take your time. I'm not going anywhere.

Ruthie

I'm just playing.

Annie

And what exactly were you playing?

Ruthie

That I got shot, just like in the video game called "Bah Boom." Ricky had it at school, and it's really cool. You hold it in your hand, and a soldier walks around in the :jungle and tries not to step on any land mines or get shot by the bad guys.

Annie

Honey, do you know that there are real children who step on real land mines and lose arms and legs, and some even die?

Ruthie

No, but this isn't for real. It's just a game, a video game. Can I have one?

Annie

No, you cannot have one. I don't like those games. We'll find something else for you to play with, okay?

Annie

Lucy, wait. I got the phone bill today.

Lucy

Congratulations.

Annie

Your phone usage is completely out of control.

Lucy

Define "out of control."

Annie

[when Ruthie is chewing gum] Spit it out.

Ruthie

How did you know?

Annie

I have eyes in the back of my head.

Ruthie

If that were really true, I'd bring you in to Show 'n' Tell.

Ruthie

I'm not drinking coffee, I just stole it for him.

Simon

[to Ruthie] Thanks a lot.

Annie

Simon! [grabs the phone from Lucy] Goodbye, Jordan.

Lucy

I had to call him to tell him I couldn't call him.

Annie

[to Ruthie about her gum] Come on, spit it out. [to Simon] You, no coffee. [to Ruthie] You, no gum. [to Lucy] And you, no phone. Got it? Good.

Lucy

How did you learn to be so cruel?

Annie

It's in the "Mommy Manual" between crafts and cuddling.

Eric

You know, I don't want to sound judgmental, but there really is nothing good to be said about teenage pregnancy. They're just not old enough.

Annie

We are so lucky with Mary, Lucy and Matt.

Lucy

I have to get Jordan something for Christmas. He got me something. He probably spent a hundred dollars. That's how much couples spend on each other these days.

Annie

Your father and I have never spent a hundred dollars on each other at Christmas, and yet whenever we've drawn each other's name we've always managed to give each other something special. You just have to be creative.

Lucy

First of all, it's not whenever it's every year because we all know that you guys cheat. And secondly, I don't have time to be creative. All my time is being spent trying to talk people into taking part in the live nativity scene.

Eric

Our kids are bad liars.

Annie

Really bad liars, every last one of them.

Eric

Does whatever is going on with Julie have something to do with your not wanting me anywhere near you today?

Annie

No. Don't be ridiculous.

Eric

I'm sorry I just couldn't help but notice that you're a little less…friendly than you were yesterday.

Annie

There's no reason. Just like there's no reason that Ruthie keeps getting in trouble with the phone, there's no reason Lucy cries well and Mary doesn't, there's no reason that one child is sick and the other isn't, there's no reason that your sister is an alcoholic and you're not. It's just what is. I was quoting from one of your sermons.

I know you're angry with me and frankly, I don't blame you.

Annie

Well, I do blame you. And why all the politeness? We didn't come here to enjoy afternoon tea. This is not something I wanted to do, but now that I am here, I want some answers. Answers to questions that I have had for 20 years!

Ask me anything.

Annie

Why didn't you listen to me that night? I knew something was wrong. The nurse knew that something was wrong. You saw that my blood pressure was...

Was dangerously high. And you were exhibiting all the classic signs of eclampsia, but I hadn't seen eclampsia happen during labor. But I was nervous and scared and too inexperienced to be dealing with your labor. I should've called in another doctor, but unfortunately, my ego was more developed than my medical training. There is no pretty to say this, I... screwed... up.

Annie

Then why didn't you at least apologize for endangering my life and almost killing my son. He was in an incubator for a month!

I didn't apologize because I didn't have the guts to face either of you, so I ran away.

Annie

You shouldn't be practicing medicine.

You're absolutely right. When I was 28, I had no business being a doctor. I didn't believe in God before that night, but I knew someone saved you and it wasn't me. Someone was definitely watching out for me, for all of us. I knew I wanted to practice medicine, but I knew I didn't have the training. So I went back to medical school for another three-year residency. After I finished that, because of you and your son, I decided to dedicate my professional life to working with high-risk babies. Three months ago, I got a call from Glenoak Hospital, they wanted me to head up their new Neonatal unit. At first, I didn't want to do it because I was afraid I might run into you and I want to cause any more pain.

Eric

So the baby shower was fun?

Annie

Well, it didn't require police involvement but that is as much as I'm going to commit to.

Eric

I'm excited... but I'm also a little worried about these babies. I'm worried that... we don't make enough, we don't have the space enough, time enough...

Annie

I know. We have this conversation before every trip to the hospital.

Eric

We do?

Annie

Yeah. And afterwards, we share an inseparable bond that only this kind of anxiety can produce. It's our routine. Things are going to be really different but I'm always going to love you. That'll never change.

Eric

And you will always be everything I love and want to be when I grow up. But after a day like today, I..I..I worry about bringing new souls into this world at this time.

Annie

I'm not worried. Their brothers and sisters will make a difference. They'll make it better, and so will they.

Annie

See my tummy? That's you.

Ruthie

Maybe I never should have come out.

Annie

But...look what you would've missed...riding on Daddy's shoulders...and Simon rocking you on the front porch...and Mary...giving you a bath in the kitchen sink.

Ruthie

My butt was a lot smaller then.

Annie

All of our...bottoms were a lot smaller then.

Annie

Why isn't Simon watching Ruthie?

Ruthie

Is Simon my new mommy?