The Stepfather

Mother!

Gotcha!

All right,

... you're asking for it! - One more step and...

... you're gonna get it!

Parental abuse!

- I'll quit if you quit. - Truce?

Truce.

Help your old mother up.

I had my fingers crossed!

You're gonna be very sorry... Don't do that!

Not as sorry as you!

Jerry's home!

Come on.

Come on, honey...

"Jerry's home"

Yeah!

Excuse me, lady,

is this the Blake residence? - It is.

Stephanie home?

She's in the backyard.

- I've got a surprise for her. - What?

- Something no family should be without. - What is it?

Stephanie!

There's somebody I'd like you to meet.

I can't tell you what his name is, because he doesn't have one yet.

Names don't seem to matter much.

I had a dog when I was a kid.

He was just a mutt, but to me, he was Rin Tin Tin.

Rin Tin Tin?

Well, that was a little before your time, I guess.

So, what do you think? Can we give this little guy a home?

- Sure. - That's my girl...

I'll go inside and call Karen to tell her about the puppy.

- Honey... What do you say? - Thanks, Jerry!

I gotta fix that screendoor one of these days...

I hope she doesn't think I was trying to buy her love.

- Maybe the puppy was a mistake. - The puppy was perfect.

You're perfect!

Give her some time. It'll be fine.

I know... All takes time!

And time is one thing I got plenty of.

I feel like I'm watching a tennis match.

Stephanie, why don't you ease in for a landing?

I'll stop pacing if you stop doodling.

All right, you pace, I'll doodle, and we'll both be happy.

We were... talking about your father.

My father died a year ago.

Sorry, I meant your stepfather.

If my father hadn't died,

there wouldn't be a stepfather.

You're mad at him for dying.

I'm mad at somebody!

Being unable to accept your father's death...

... is part of the reason you've been getting into trouble.

I'm not in that much trouble.

Suspended three times last year...

Twice this year, and school's barely been in session two months.

I know what my problem is.

Him.

If he wasn't here,

my Mom and I would be alright.

Steph,

you're going to have to face the fact...

... that your mother loves the guy.

She doesn't see!

Doesn't see what, Stephanie?

I think my time is up.

Isn't it?

So, how was your session?

OK.

Sweetheart, it seems like you and I are always budding heads.

How about we try to get along a little better?

Sure.

One more thing and then I'll shut up.

It's very important to your mother and to me...

... that you try to get along better in school this year.

What do you say?

Stephanie, knock it off!

Girls, come on, stop it!

Enough!

It's the last time you cause an outburst in my classroom.

Mr. Conroy! Stephie didn't start it!

When I want your opinion, Baker, I'll ask for it.

You couldn't have got yourself in deeper trouble if you tried.

Well, Norah, what do you think?

- I love it! - I knew you would.

And this is the south. You'll have sun all day long.

- What do you think, pumpkin? - I don't know...

Oh! One thing I forgot to mention.

It comes with a swing set.

I have a daughter, too.

She's a few years older than you. Her name is Stephanie.

She goes to Oakridge High,

which is where you'll be going one of these days...

... after your parents buy the house.

- What grade are you in, Cindy? - Third.

Third grade... !

I remember when Jill was in third grade.

I used to walk her home from school every day.

- Who's Jill? - That's my daughter.

You said her name was Stephanie.

Right, Stephanie.

She goes to Oakridge High.

She's on the student council.

She's a straight A's student.

I'm very proud of her.

- Suspended again? - Expelled.

No! What're you gonna do?

Maybe boarding school.

- Really? - I'm sure gonna try for it.

What's your stepfather gonna do when he finds out?

He's gonna kill me.

Expelled? You're kidding.

Principal said it wasn't working out.

I'm sorry, Mom.

Girls don't get expelled.

All right, it's over... The damage is done...

Now...

What are we gonna do about the future?

I wanna go to a boarding school.

You wanna leave home?

It's not a family without children.

I think it'd be best for everybody.

Best for everybody?

Running away would be best for everybody?

It's not running away!

Well,

Jerry, what do you think?

I don't think we have to break up the family, do we, pumpkin?

Father knows best.

Karen, it's freaky, the way he looks at me...

... like he wanted to erase me off the face of the earth.

I'm sure.

Ok, don't believe me.

Ok, so, what's the verdict?

Is Scary Jerry gonna let you go to a boarding school?

I don't know. He has his own fantasy we should be like families on TV.

Grin and laugh, and have fewer cavities all the time...

It's like having Ward Cleaver for a Dad.

I gotta hang. Firing squad has arrived. Bye.

Come in.

So, where's my blindfold?

What blindfold?

I thought the condemned person always got a blindfold.

You don't really wanna leave home... do you, honey?

Yes, I do.

It isn't our house anymore...

... it's his!

Of course it's our house.

It's always been our house.

I loved your father,

and when he died I thought:

"Well, maybe that's it.

Maybe you only get one chance to be happy. "

I never thought I'd love anybody that much again.

I know, Mom.

I miss him so bad...

I know you do, honey.

We have a second chance with Jerry.

He's a wonderful man. And he wants to care for us.

Can't you just...

... give him a chance?

I'm trying.

I'm really trying hard!

There's just something about him.

- Well, what is it? - I don't know! I just...

I hope you're not still upset...

... over this school business.

We were just talking about that.

Everything will look clearer in the morning, uh?

We'll work it out.

Good night, sweetheart.

Good night, Mom.

Sweet dreams, Steph.

G' night, Jerry.

Wilbur, will you turn the page for me?

Turn it yourself. You've got a tongue.

No, I'd better not.

I tried it yesterday and swallow the comic section.

OK, I'll be quiet as a church mouse.

I used to love this show when I was a kid.

It wasn't till I got in high school I realized horses couldn't talk.

- I bet you were cute back then. - Yeah...

I'd like to see a picture of you.

You would, wouldn't you?

You never talk about your past.

I didn't even exist until I met you.

Past is important.

Don't try to touch the past.

It isn't real.

It's just a dream.

The only reality is...

... this moment.

You and me.

Here and now.

What are we doing here?

This is the house where Henry Morrison murdered his family.

Do you think I don't remember that?

I was here that night.