duke

Let's go, guys. Look alive out there!

Here, batter, batter, batter!

Look at that dog!

Where is he going?

All right, young man, let's go.

Let's go.

Okay, so, open your notebooks.

I want you to write down your homework.

I want you to finish your multiplication...

Jane? What's going on?

Looks like we have a transfer student.

Okay! You guys, give him some space.

Hi, little guy.

Hi... hey.

What's his name?

He's gotta have a name!

I don't know.

What about... "Lucky?"

How about "pepper?"

"Barny's" way better.

"Elvis" or...

"Daisy?"

What about "Duke?"

Yeah!

Okay! "Duke" it is.

Well, Duke, welcome to Mrs. Pulaski's homeroom.

Yay!

Well, your master's going to miss you

like nobody's business.

Buddy, don't look at me like that.

I can't take you home.

Duke?

Come on, marine. Watch your form.

Just one more. You can do it.

One more!

Come on. Dig.

Excellent.

Beyond the call of duty.

It's pathetic.

I'm as weak as a baby.

I know it's slow,

but you're making progress.

How's the numbness?

It's better after the surgery, but...

It still tingles on the right side,

especially if I'm on my feet a lot.

I'll mention that in my report.

Now, take a break, you deserve it.

Yeah.

Get some water.

Yeah.

Not so fast, sergeant.

You take this everywhere you go.

I hate that thing.

It's your best friend unless you're sleeping.

Understand?

Yes, sir.

Dad!

Hey, pumpkin.

Hey.

Daddy, wait till you see what mom brought home!

A new car? No?

A million dollars?

Your mother brought home a dog?

Your mother brought home a dog.

Look at him.

Where'd you find this guy?

Mom found him at the school.

The school?

What're you doin'? Look at you!

You're handsome! What's his name?

Duke.

Duke?

Hey!

Alright. Look at him!

Hey!

Pleased to meet you!

Don't get any ideas, you two.

We can't keep him.

I just got home. I didn't say anything.

I saw your face.

But, mom!

Sweetie, he belongs to somebody.

Maybe he has a microchip.

We'll call the pound, we'll put up some fliers,

and we'll find his owner.

But what if we don't?

You said when I turned 12, we'd get a pet,

and I've been 12 for three months.

Honey, dogs are expensive.

I mean, has he had his shots?

We don't know the first thing about this dog.

Alright, you know, maybe I can fix this.

I'm thinking about doing some moonlighting

over at the appliance store on berkley, so.

That's just what you need, Terry...

More time on your feet.

Don't make promises you can't keep.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Alice...

Go get Duke some water,

and see that he's got something to eat. Okay?

Go ahead.

I don't want to fight about this.

Why is it that I'm the one who always has to say no?

Do these people really need to come over

this weekend?

It's the fourth of July. Everybody's celebrating.

I could use some down time.

These people are our friends and neighbors, Terry.

They put yellow ribbons up and down the street

in honor of you.

They'd like to welcome you home.

I don't even know half of them.

Look, I put a lot of work into this.

A movie night...

With you, Alice...

And a bag of microwave popcorn

would've suited me just fine.

Let me guess.

Leaning tower of pisa?

Daddy, this is not funny.

It's supposed to be the Santa Barbara mission.

Can't you tell?

Well, you can't build anything without a good foundation.

No wonder it's falling down.

This is the dumbest assignment ever!

Well, remember what I taught you.

"Best foot forward."

That's right.

But, dad, who cares about a stupid sugar-cube church?

You know, when I used to work as a contractor,

not a single piece of framing went up

until we made sure our foundation was right.

Do me a favor, pumpkin.

Will you hand me that piece of oak

right there?

Thanks. Alright, stand back.

You only get one chance to do this right!

Yeah.

Now, what we'll do is,

we'll anchor the sugar cubes with some wood glue,

and, she should last forever.

I remember

when you made cabinets for the kitchen

and I had sawdust in my cereal every morning.

I thought your mother was going to kill me.

Get s...

Hey...

Why don't you take this inside and get started, okay?

This is gonna be so cool.

Yeah.

Thanks, dad.

God.

Can I put in an order

for some bookshelves in the living room?

I'm afraid sugar-cube missions

are the extent of my skills.

Come on. Don't say that.

You can build anything.

You used to spend hours out here.

Honey...

I can't even stand up five damn minutes

to help my kid with her school project!

I tried making an appointment

with a social worker at the v. A.,

but the wait is forever.

They're completely overloaded.

It's tough when they first come home.

They worry that they'll never fit in again.

One minute, he's... He's like his old self,

and, the next, he's yelling at someone...

Or I'm getting the silent treatment.

I'm sorry, honey.

If there's anything I can do...

Duke!

Come on, come on, come on, come on.

The only good thing in his life right now is that dog.

They're inseparable.

Good dog! Good boy, Duke. Attaboy.

Come on, come on!

Any word on his owner?

No. We put flyers up around the school,

but not a single phone call.

It's incredible.

A dog like that,

and nobody seems to want him back?

He chose you.

He chose Terry.

Just stop asking questions and be grateful.

Somebody answered your prayers with that dog.

I know.

I think you were probably a marine

in a previous lifetime, buddy.

Alright, pal. Here we go. Up.

There you go. Out you get. Come on.

You know, they sure don't think about

updating these magazines, man.

This still has Phil Jackson coaching the bulls,

for crying out loud.