Step by Step

Mom. Yes?

Could you help me get ready for my date?

Sure, what do you want me to do?

Go away.

Dana, you've been dating this boy for three weeks.

Why don't you want me to meet him?

Because, mom, every time you meet a guy that I'm dating

you embarrass me. I do not.

Mother. Showing naked baby pictures,

and revealing my old bath-time nickname is embarrassing.

You mean "Princess Bubble Buns?"

I think it's cute.

Mother, I'm begging you. Do not embarrass me.

Hi. Hi. That's my mom. Let's go.

Hi, I'm Daniel.

It's a pleasure to meet you. Well, same here.

Dana tells me you're directing a play

at the Port Washington Playhouse.

Yeah. We start auditions tomorrow.

And I talked Dana into trying out for a part.

Well, she will be great.

I mean, I don't wanna brag or anything, but...

the theater does run in her blood.

God.

In fact, I,

"trod the boards" myself in Bye Bye Birdie.

Really? In summer stock or regional?

In camp.

Hey...

did this mayonnaise go bad or is there just chives in it?

Hey, Cody.

Daniel, dude!

What're you doing here?

You two know each other? Yeah, of course.

Cody is donating his time to build our sets for us.

Well, that's so nice of you, Cody.

Well, you know, after all my years in demolition,

I kind of look at it as my way

of giving something back.

Cody, can I see you in the kitchen for a second?

Sure. So, dude, what are you--

Dude, this is so weird.

Cody. I mean, it doesn't say

a thing about chives on the label.

Cody!

Look, I'm only gonna say this once.

So, pay attention.

Through yet another, cruel twist of fate,

you and I will be working at the same theater.

Now, I really like Daniel.

So, I'm telling you, don't do anything to embarrass me.

You got it.

I will not do a thing to embarrass you. Okay?

You know, you might wanna have a similar conversation

with your mother.

And no one would be better

Mother?

Why did you have to lend

Frank your car when you know there's a sale at the mall?

People are out there buying things that should

rightfully be mine.

Karen, number one,

you are a very sick child.

And second, Frank's truck is in the shop and somehow

I didn't feel it was fair to make him walk eight miles

to work.

You know, mother, you baby him.

Hi, honey. Hi, Karen-- Gimme those keys!

There's a sale somewhere, isn't there?

Yes, and she's late.

Denim world already called, wondering where she was.

Bye.

Karen?

Hey, dad. My friend Doug called.

Said he saw you at the golf course.

What? I don't want Carol to know

I played golf this morning.

Why?

Because the doctor said I shouldn't play golf

for a month because of my bad back.

And I promised Carol I wouldn't.

Well, did you hurt your back?

No.

So, then, why can't you just tell her you played

and you're fine?

You're not married, are you?

You see, son, Carol has this thing

about keeping promises.

To her, it's the same as telling the truth.

She thinks, that if you don't tell the truth,

you're, like... a liar.

Well, you are kind of a liar.

You're missing the point here, son.

Women have a way of blowing these things

all out of proportion.

You see, it won't be about golf,

it will be about respect, and love, and trust and my back

will be fine but, my head will be killing me.

Dad, how come you're not wearing your wedding ring?

'cause I always take it off when I play golf

and put it in my pocket.

It's not in my pocket.

I must have dropped it in the golf cart.

I gotta get it before Carol sees it's missing.

Dad! Dad, your truck is in the shop.

Yeah, right.

I'm sorry, pal.

It's an emergency. I need the wheels.

Hey!

Hey, where are you going with my bike?

The secret to acting

is tapping into your raw feelings

and letting them out.

Right. Feelings like anger, joy and pain.

I'd like to try an exercise.

Scream like you are truly in excruciating pain.

All right?

Dana, you go first.

More.

You're too controlled.

Right. You have to let go.

Fill this room with pain!

Now, that's pain!

Study this man.

Notice the color draining from his face.

The way his eyes are rolling back into his head.

I mean, this man is obviously in excruciating pain.

Yeah, buddy!

You know, Cody,

while you were writhing in agony,

I couldn't help but notice the power of your voice.

Dude, you should have heard me that time I put that jackhammer

through my boot.

It's not just your voice,

it's your presence, and the ease with which you move.

Have you ever thought about acting?

No! He hasn't.

Ever.

Yeah, Dana is right.

I mean, acting is for the creme de la crop.

Yeah, me... I'm just a simple craftsman

who likes to work with his hands.

Which, might not be possible till this nail falls off.

Well, I think you're a natural.

How can I get you to give acting a try?

Well, you could start by paying for a tetanus shot.

Dad, did you find your wedding ring?

No.

But, Brendan's bike gave me a major wedgie.

It's a banana seat, daddy.

You'll get used to it.

Hey, dad! Wife alert. Carol just pulled in the driveway.

Okay, this is not a problem.

I'll just...

put my hands in my pockets.

She'll never suspect a thing.

Yeah, right.

No, really this is gonna work.

Sure, it will.

Can I have your truck when Carol kills you?

Now, go! Go! Scoot, go! I work better alone.

Come on, go. Go, go!

Hi, Frank. Carol. Hi, honey.

Karen, how was the mall?

I was five minutes late, Frank.

How do you think it was?

Frank, could you help me with these bags?

I think Karen has been through enough.

Sure, honey.

Frank, is there something wrong with your hand?

Just a little something down on the construction site.

Well, hey, it's no big deal.

Well, let me see. Did you hurt yourself--

No. No, it's fine. Well, let me see it.

Well, it looks fine, but...

where is your wedding ring?

Frank Lambert, did you play golf?

With my back? Do I look like an idiot?

Well, then, where is the ring?

The only time you ever take it off

is when you play golf.

Well...

Well, yeah. Honey,

normally. But, today...

I took it off

and loaned it to a guy at work,

named Scott. You know Scott.

Why would you loan your wedding ring to Scott?

He didn't have one.

But he's not married.

True.

But he's thinking of getting married

and you know, wanted to know what it felt like to wear a ring

before he proposed.

Can I have the keys to your car, honey?

I think I dropped something. Work related...

I'd like to find it.

Sure. Thanks.

Mother, I don't get it.

Why didn't you just tell Frank you found his ring in the car?