RARadio Announcer
With the heavily Negro population of the District of Columbia and the rocksteady Democrat stronghold of Massachusetts, Senator McGovern has an early start by carrying those states.
NarratorMaybe I was jaded to think Winnie was idealistic. That newscast spurred me on to go to party headquarters where I could see the thrill of victory.
[Kevin arrives at party headquarters to see a glum scene]
Narrator
Or the agony of defeat.
SScoreboard
McGov = 2 checks. Nixon = 49 checks.
How could this be? How could this have happened?
MMike
Winnie, we have to face reality. McGovern never stood a chance. Now is the time to focus our efforts on the 1974 Congressional elections.
Narrator
I guess many hearts were broken across America that night. But only one I really cared about. But somehow, it didn't seem important, anymore - who was right, who was wrong. All that really seemed to matter was... After all, maybe in his own way, Mike was right. In politics, you live to fight another day. Sure, the 'sixties were gone, but sooner or later...there'd be other battles to fight. The thing is, that election forever changed the way my generation looked at politics. We discovered, no matter how painfully, that we could be part of the process. That we could believe. And even now, twenty years later, despite all the evidence to the contrary... I can remember that night. And still believe.
Narrator
At some point in your teenage years, if you're lucky, you make a discovery. You find out you're actually good at something. It's that critical juncture, where talent becomes...expertise - kinda. It's your chance to start or, end up flat on your face.
CCoach
Why'd you let him pin you like that?
Narrator
Course, looking back, I probably just should have promised to do better. But instead -
Yeah, well...you know, these shorts are really hard to wrestle in.
Narrator
...I made excuses.
By the way, congratulations on your SAT scores.
Narrator
I mean, no sense being pigheaded. The way I saw it - the world was big enough for all of us. And besides, so what if women could influence government, take over big business, alter domestic policy, dominate education, make the world a better place. In one important respect, we had still a lot to teach them. Yep, when it came to being jerks, they still had a lot to learn.
Perfect. This is perfect.
Narrator
And that just about did it.
Me? What's wrong with me?
Narrator
It was time to tell him exactly how I felt. About him, about Mom, about the stupid gin games and the dumb boyfriends and the idiotic dog.
Narrator
Yeah, that was it. In a nutshell.
(Jack chuckles)
You're starting to sound just like your mother.
Yeah, but Mom loves this place!
Yeah, for a day or two maybe. Trust me, 21 years ago she couldn't wait to get out.
Nah. Your mother wanted a lot more from life than a small town like this had to offer.
So why didn't she tell Grandma and Grandpa about it? She never says a word.
She used to. They couldn't hear her. Parents are like that sometimes.
Narrator
And I guess right about then, a few things started to fall into place.
(returns from the dance) Hi!
It was… fine. But when the invitation comes for my 30th reunion…
Narrator
Maybe a lot of things.
Roger… Roger's the same old jerk he always was.
[regarding Kevin's road trip] Look, there's no sense discussing this any further. You're not going and that's final.
Narrator
Jeez, what was this? A family or a firing squad?
Okay. [pause] See, I don't know why I asked you anyway. This is my life and it's my decision. Okay? And I'm gonna do what I have to do.
Narrator
And so, three days later, I got up at dawn...
FFriend
Hey, thanks for letting us use your sleeping bag.
Narrator
...to say goodbye to my friends.
(Final lines)
Narrator
Once upon a time, there was a girl I knew, who lived across the street. Brown hair, brown eyes. When she smiled, I smiled. When she cried, I cried. Every single thing that ever happened to me that mattered, in some way had to do with her. That day, Winnie and I promised each other that no matter what, that we'd always be together. It was a promise full of passion and truth and wisdom. It was the kind of promise that can only come from the hearts of the very young.
(Scene shifts to 4th of July parade, as Kevin and Winnie arrive)
Narrator
The next day, Winnie and I came home, back to where we'd started. It was the 4th of July in that little suburban town. Somehow though, things were different. Our past was here, but our future was somewhere else. And we both knew, sooner or later, we had to go. It was the last July I ever spent in that town. The next year, after graduation, I was on my way.
(Kevin and Winnie walk over to Paul)
Narrator
So was Paul. He went to Harvard, of course. Studied law. (Paul sneezes) He's still allergic to everything.
(buys a flag from a salesman) Thanks a lot.
Listen, I'll be right back. Hang on for one second. (walks over to Jack)
Narrator
As for my father...well.
Narrator
We patched things up.
Norma! (Norma, Wayne and a pregnant Karen walk over to Jack and Kevin)
Narrator
Hey, we were family. For better or worse.
Narrator
One for all...and all for one.
(Touches Karen's stomach) Gosh.
WWayne
(points at Karen's stomach) Little Kevin.
Narrator
Karen's son was born in that September. I gotta say, I think he looks like me. Poor kid. Mom, she did well: Business woman, board chairman, grandmother...cooker of mashed potatoes. Wayne stayed on in furniture. Wood seemed to suit him. In fact, he took over the factory two years later, when Dad passed away. Winnie left the next summer to study art history in Paris. Still, we never forgot our promise. We wrote to each other once a week for the next eight years. I was there to meet her, when she came home, with my wife and my first son, eight months old. Like I said, things never turn out exactly the way you planned.
(Scene shifts to Kevin and Jack sitting at the table, drinking)
It was good. It was a good Fourth.
Yeah. So you're gonna be a grandpa huh?
Grey hair and everything.
Narrator
Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day, you're in diapers; next day, you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul.
(Scene shifts outside, to the street)
Narrator
I remember a place...a town...a house...like a lot of other houses; a yard like a lot of other yards; on a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is...after all these years, I still look back...with wonder.
(Fireworks in the background, fade to credits)
KSKevin's son
Hey Dad, wanna play catch?
Narrator
I'll be right there.
The Wonder Years · 239 quotes
