NormaOne of the boys on our block was killed in Vietnam several weeks ago.
LLouis
Oh, I-I know. I mean, uh, Karen told me. Another meaningless death.
LLouis
I-I just meant that... it's just a shame, uh... a kid has to die for basically no reason.
Norma
More broccoli, anyone?
I don't think it's meaningless... when a young man dies for freedom and for his country.
LLouis
I just have a little trouble... justifying dying for a government that systematically represses its citizens.
Norma
Oh, honey. Try the potatoes - I put grated cheese on them.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
KKaren
It means the United States government is responsible... for the oppression of blacks, women, free speech...
Well perhaps, little lady, you'd like to go live in Russia for a little while... huh?
LLouis
Oh, uh... I think what Karen is saying is that...
Look, buster! I happen to believe that freedom and democracy... have certain advantages that Communist dictatorships don't, and that is what Vietnam is all about!
LLouis
No, man, that's what they brainwash you to believe it's all about. They... [sighs] ...they turn people into brainwashed morons.
My hunch was that my father would not let being called a brainwashed moron at his dinner table... go unremarked.
So... you think I've been brainwashed, do you, Louis?
LLouis
No. No. Look... I think anyone... who supports the American war effort in Vietnam...... is having the wool pulled over his eyes.
LLouis
Just like they did with Korea.
What the hell do you know about Korea? I was in Korea. I lost a lot of good friends there.
KKaren
Daddy, that doesn't have anything to do with what we're saying.
And they weren't brainwashed! They were brave men who weren't afraid to fight for what they believed in. Now if you're afraid to fight - why don't you just say so? Why don't you just admit you're chicken?
LLouis
You're damned right! I am chicken. I don't want to die like your friends! What do you think that you achieved over there? Hmm? Do you think that those people are free? They're not free, man. Except to buy Coca-Cola, and... uh... [smirks] ...Nestle's Quik... get loans from Chase-Manhattan National Bank...
LLouis
You were used, man, and your friends were used.
KKaren
Daddy, you never listen to what we say! Some of what we say is true!
LLouis
Don't accept all this death and then justify it. It is wrong! Your friends should be alive...they should be enjoying dinner, and arguing with their kids, just like you are.
What do you know about it? Who the hell are you to say that?!
LLouis
[pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket] You see this, man? This is my draft notice. In two weeks, I can go to jail, I can go to Canada or, I can go get shot, full of holes, like your friend Brian Cooper. You keep thinking the way you do, Mr. Arnold, and these two [points to Kevin and Wayne] will be next. And I just hope that's what they want.
When I look back on it now, I feel sorry for Gary. When all was said and done, he was just a little kid, and I guess he needed friends. But all Paul and I knew that night was - that we wanted to go home.
Norma
Kevin! What are you doing here? Did something happen? Are you OK?
Yeah, we're fine. We just felt like coming home.
It was the truth. But not the whole truth. And looking at my mom and my dad - standing there in their bathrobes, worried about me - I felt a little sick about that. I don't know why, but that night - for the first time in a long time - I didn't have a single nightmare.
In all the years I spent growing up at my parents' house, I don't think I ever heard them use the word "relationship". Not once. "Indigestion"... "taxes"... "damn" - these were words you heard a lot. I guess my mom just expected my dad to be a good man - honest, loyal, a good provider... hopefully possessed of good table manners. And my dad expected my mom to be a good woman - honest, loyal, a good mother. And hopefully a good cook. And that was about it. But if my parents didn't know much about relationships, they knew a lot about marriage. Like how to make a joint-decision. Mom would choose what she liked... Dad would choose what he liked...then they'd settle on something no one of our species could like. They could completely disagree about something, without directly contradicting each other. One thing my parents would never, ever do... is yell at each other in front of the kids.
Kevin! Wayne! I told you to knock it off!
Norma
Boys! That's enough!
Course, they had no problem yelling at the kids in front of each other. I guess I never really thought of my parents as being in love. But maybe that's the best thing for a kid - to never have to think about it. It's just always there. Like the ground you walk on.
Don't bother. I'll get it.
Norma
No, that's okay, Jack! I'll get it.
Norma
[she touches her pottery vase] Don't break it!
I'm not gonna break it, Norma!
Norma
Well, just because you hate my pottery, there's no reason to smash it into pieces!
I don't hate your pottery!
Noticed he didn't say "He liked it".
Norma
Well, you certainly act like you hate it!
Now, what's that supposed to mean?!
Norma
It means that from the moment I started doing this, you haven't had one nice thing to say!
Well, maybe I not big on pottery! So, sue me!
Norma
Well, you certainly seem fond of your stupid little fish cup! I've never seen anyone so attached to anything since Kevin had to give up his blankie!
I don't wanna talk about this!
Norma
Well, maybe I do, Jack! It's not fair! You're making me feel like I'm doing something wrong!
You're crazy! I'm not making you feel anything!
Norma
[sarcastically] Oh, sure! You've been a regular Mr. Sunshine! [Karen, Wayne & Kevin get annoyed by this argument] You know, Jack, the kids all say: "That's nice, mom!", my friends say: "The nice, Norma!", my teacher says "Very good, Mrs. Arnold!", and you say "Where's the Pepsi?!"
I really don't have time for this!
Norma
[grabs Jack's arm] I spent my time trying to make something nice for the family! And you don't even have the common courtesy to say you like it!
Don't give me that, Norma! This family doesn't need an ashtray for 200 people! This family needs Pepsi!
Norma
That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life, Jack! You should listen to yourself! "I want my Pepsi! I want my cup!" You sound like an infant!
Don't you ever, EVER speak to me in that tone of voice!
Norma
I'll speak the way I want to.
Fine! Don't expect me to listen to it!
The silence that filled our house that night - was like ice. My dad didn't come home till after midnight.
[Next morning, Norma burns her hand on the iron and starts to cry. Jack gently puts his hands on her shoulders. She turns around and they hug]
Did you just burn yourself?
I know it sounds strange - but that was the first time... I'd ever seen my parents alone together. I guess sometimes the ground can shift beneath your feet. Sometimes your footing slips - you stumble. And sometimes, you grab what's closest to you, and hold on... as tight as you can.
By the spring of nineteen-seventy-three the women's liberation movement was in full force. Across America, a revolution was in progress, shedding old stereotypes... building new roles. It was a time of raised-consciousnesses and high expectations... a fight for equality and freedom. Women everywhere were facing difficult and complex choices. Take my mother for example. She was a woman of her time. A woman of accomplishments. A woman who was appreciated. Yep, you might say in everything she did, Mom commanded our utmost respect. And whether it was pouring our coffee, buttering our toast, or simply washing our socks... we Arnold men supported her, encouraged her... right up until that day, when...
Norma
I've decided to get a job.
Perfect. This is perfect.
And that just about did it.
Me? What's wrong with me?
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.
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.
And I guess right about then, a few things started to fall into place.
Norma
(returns from the dance) Hi!
Norma
Yeah, I know.
Norma
It was… fine. But when the invitation comes for my 30th reunion…
Norma
Let's tear it up.
Norma
Roger… Roger's the same old jerk he always was.
The Wonder Years · 239 quotes
