The Wonder Years

Adult Dean: We were getting ready to celebrate

Granddaddy Clisby's 75th birthday.

The man had seen it all.

He lived through two world wars,

the Great Depression,

and the invention of airplanes and television.

But all that really meant was that Granddaddy

had 75 years of things to complain about.

He's gonna hate it all.

W-- Bill, it's gonna be fine.

He won't...hate it.

What I do know is that he's gonna love his gift.

Can't go wrong with new fishing poles.

My dad was determined to give Granddaddy Clisby

a great birthday,

and I was determined to show him

that he could count on me to help.

He's here. Th-They're here.

Uh, places, everyone.

Y'all waiting on Jesus?

Kim, we rehearsed this.

The surprise is coming from over here.

If you want to surprise me, comb your hair.

Mother Williams: Quit with all that grumbling.

They just wanted to show you

how much they appreciate you, honey.

Well, they can save it for my funeral.

Who is that? We didn't rehearse this.

Man: Surprise!

My Uncle Melvin.

He was Dad's older and very successful brother

who didn't come around much.

But when he did, Dad was...different.

Happy birthday, Dad. Melvin!

Hey. Get on over here!

Oh. It's been years, honey.

So good to lay my eyes on you. Hey, Mama.

Granddaddy Clisby hadn't hugged my dad since his wedding.

My sister-cousin!

I thought you were just gonna call,

like you always do.

Are you kidding me?

There is no way I was gonna miss

my dad's 75th birthday.

We were on a father-daughter college tour for Cassie,

and I made sure we were able to work it

around the celebration of the century.

Oh.

Lord knows I'm used to siblings

that push you out of your element,

but I wasn't used to seeing my dad

have his own Kryptonite in the family.

Now, that's how you surprise somebody.

Now we got ourselves a party.

Where's that cake?

Williams Insurance, "Where you can be sure."

That's a good look for the family name.

Yes, yes, yes.

Oh, man. Well, enough about me.

Finally.

Let's talk about my brilliant daughter.

Do you all know that she got into five colleges already?

Go ahead. Tell 'em, muffin. Tell 'em.

I got into five colleges.

Tell them about all the scholarships.

Dad.

Cass, let's go hang out in my room.

Mm.

It's time for gifts.

Lillian: Yes, that's a great idea.

Now, it's hard picking the right thing

for someone like you, Dad, but

Oh, wow.

Hey.

Hey!

Ee!

I can't wait to take this down to Old Man Johnson's lake...

Wow. ...and try this out.

Thank you.

Oh. Sounds like my present got here just in time.

Now, I hope you like it, Dad.

I-I wasn't quite sure about the color.

Ah, come on. Oh, hey, that's t--

-Oh, my. -Whoa. -A car?

For me?

Let's try it out, Dad.

I told you Dad's not allowed to drive anymore.

What's all these buttons?

Hey, Dad, let me drive you around

so I can show you how it all works.

See? I got it all under control.

This is the greatest gift of my life.

Thank you.

The fishing poles were nice, too.

Uh, that was the whole gift, right?

I was just checking

in case a boat came with it or something.

No?

Wait, how are things with Jason?

In your last letter,

it sounded like it was getting pretty serious.

It's complicated.

Anyway, I want to hear about Kwame.

How is your militant squeeze?

Ugh. Don't even get me started.

Thank the Lord I finally got over him. Ooh.

But let me tell you, he was so good at --

Girls, look what I found.

Ah!

This picture

from when the two of you were little

and Cassie stayed with us.

Aww.

That's when you started calling each other

"sister-cousins."

Mm-hmm, yeah, we were cute.

But now look at the two of you --

going off to college so soon.

I guess you don't want me doing your hair anymore.

Eh? No, Mom. We're good.

But I was gonna ask Cassie

if she wanted to go to a pool party

at Alice's house later.

You two have fun.

Well, I-I don't have a bathing suit.

Oh, you can borrow one of mine.

I'm sure we're still the same size.

Actually, I think I'd like to stay here

and catch up with Aunt Lillian.

Really? Yeah.

I'd love to talk to you about pledging Tau Omega Epsilon.

I'm thinking about pledging myself next year.

Really? Mm-hmm.

Kim has made it very clear that she has no interest

in following in my footsteps.

Well, y'all have fun with that.

Before you go,

I want to see the swimsuit you're gonna be wearing.

Oh.

Now show me the one in your purse

you're gonna change into when you get there.

Mm-hmm.

Good to hear that... Melvin: Mm, mm, mm.

Ooh. You can look, but do not touch.

Where you going dressed like that?

Well, I figured Dad might get a kick

out of driving his new wheels

to his favorite juke joint down by the river.

I stopped Clisby from going there

ever since a fight broke out over a card game,

and he came home smelling like Birmingham.

I'll look after him, Mama.

No, I'll look after him, 'cause that's how it works

the 364 days you're not here for his birthday.

He's not going down there drinking.

See? See? That's what I've been trying to tell you.

He been treating me like I was some child.

You literally lost your lunch money down there last time,

but I'm treating you like a child?

Come on, Bill. Let the man have some fun.

He can be like you when he gets older.

If he wants to go out,

we can go to the jazz club on Cherry Street instead.

I know a few fellas playing tonight,

so I can get us a good table near the front.

You know, sitting closer to something boring

doesn't make it less boring.

Okay. Fine.

But I am not wasting my good shirt on jazz.

You haven't been here in a while, so you wouldn't know this,

but Dad's grown to appreciate good music.

If you start clapping in the middle,

they'll stop playing.

Yeah.

See?

Hey, Bill, gentlemen.

I know the band would love to have you

sit in with them for a number.

Well, I guess I could do one song.

Being ditched made my dad feel bad...

but not half as bad when he realized

they hadn't paid the tab.

Oh! I was the tail dog,

which means I got to bring up the end of the line.

You are looking at the best stepper to cross that spring.

Oh. Mm.

What? What? Am I doing it wrong?

Yes. And that is not for you.

That is only for the young ladies

who cross the burning sands.

Oh! It'll be so nice to have someone

to pass all this down to.

Mm.

Kim, I didn't see you there.

I was just showing Cassie

some steps from my probate show.

Join us.

Oh, no, no.

I'd hate to ruin all the fun you're having.

I'll just go to my room.