- Matt Camden: I'm gonna study. I just couldn't this afternoon because every time I looked up from my book, I noticed how dirty the kitchen was.
- John Hamilton: Well, an unclean kitchen never bothered you before.
- Matt Camden: Well, it did today, and you know, I hate to mention it, but if you had cleaned your breakfast dishes from this morning, I wouldn't have wasted my entire afternoon taking care of that little chore for you.
- John Hamilton: [stunned] Are you trying to blame me for you not studying? So you failed your organic chemistry pre-test because of Heather, and you didn't study this afternoon because I didn't do the dishes, and you're not studying now because your mom didn't do your laundry?
- [Matt nods]
- John Hamilton: I'm just curious. Now, if you don't pass your chemistry midterm and get kicked out of pre-med, who are you gonna blame? Me? Heather? Your mom? The Colonel? The man on the moon? Problems in the Middle East? Global warming? What?
- Matt Camden: I don't know what you're so upset about. I'm gonna do fine on my midterm.
- John Hamilton: But if you don't, it won't be your fault, right?
- Matt Camden: Look, you don't understand.
- John Hamilton: No, I think that you don't understand organic chemistry, among other things, and you're too pigheaded to admit it, and instead of just asking for help or saying "I need help", you're blaming everyone and everything, as long as it doesn't allow you to blame yourself.
- Matt Camden: You are totally out of line.
- John Hamilton: I don't think I am.
- Matt Camden: Do you get good grades?
- John Hamilton: [smiles proudly] Yes, I do.
- Matt Camden: And?
- [pauses, doesn't know what to say]
- Matt Camden: That's because I do everything around here, and you do nothing!
- [storms out]
- Rev. Eric Camden: [to Ruthie] Actually, your principal called this morning, and you're not in any trouble. He thinks he may have found a way to get you out of Miss Riddle's class.
- Ruthie Camden: Thank God!
- Rev. Eric Camden: What did you say?
- Ruthie Camden: Thank God. You should thank God. I talked to God and told him how unhappy I was at school, and asked Him to help.
- Rev. Eric Camden: You prayed to get out of Miss Riddle's class?
- Ruthie Camden: If you don't ask, you don't get. I just thought you and Mom could use some help.
- Mary Camden: [on the phone with insurance people] I am begging you, please don't cancel my policy... I know, but I got fired, and you have to give me more than a couple of days to come up with the money... I can't drive my car without insurance! Don't you get it? No car equals no job. I have to have insurance!... look, you can tell whomever you want that you're cancelling my insurance, but you can't stop me from driving my own car... oh yeah? Watch me!
- [slams phone down]
- Ruthie Camden: [to her parents as they are visiting Eleanor Roosevelt School] They have horses! Horses!
- Mrs. Carmen Mackoul: [to Eric and Annie] The school offers both English and western style instruction.2
- Ruthie Camden: And there's no homework!
- Mrs. Carmen Mackoul: We feel the children work hard during the day. At night, they should be free to relax and be kids. After all, we do have them seven hours a day. Of course, if Ruthie would like to spend time at home studying any subject beyond the core curriculum, we'll set up an individual program for her.
- Ruthie Camden: I may want to do that, considering I don't have to be at school until ten!
- Mrs. Carmen Mackoul: [laughs] We have a flexible schedule. Students can start as late as ten, but then they go until five. Not every student does his or her best work early in the morning. Plus, we have a 14 to 1 student ratio and a whole list of after-school trips and projects. Last year, we took a group of students to the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. and met the President. I think that Ruthie would make a wonderful addition to our school. If you have any questions, please call.
- Rev. Eric Camden, Annie Camden: Thank you.
- [shakes her hand]
- Mrs. Carmen Mackoul: Bye, Ruthie.
- [leaves]
- Ruthie Camden: Boy, when God answers a prayer, he answers a prayer!
- Rev. Eric Camden: Does that mean you want to go to school here?
- Annie Camden: Oh, yeah!
- Rev. Eric Camden: [to Annie] You know, at first I wasn't thrilled with you going back to college, but you going to school isn't about for me, its about you. You do so much for me and the kids and the church. It's your turn to do something for yourself.
- Annie Camden: Boy, what a difference a week makes!
- Rev. Eric Camden: Well, what kind of husband would I be if I didn't support you 100% by helping out with the house and kids?
- Annie Camden: A jerk.
- Rev. Eric Camden: Exactly, so keep studying.
- Ruthie Camden: [to Eric] So did you get me transferred out of Miss Riddle's class?
- Rev. Eric Camden: Yeah. I think I did.
- Ruthie Camden: You and God make a great team!
- Lucy Camden: [to Ruthie] If you got into that school, you should be honored. You should go.
- Ruthie Camden: No, I will not go! You cannot make me! I'm just going to run away.
- Lucy Camden: If you run away, you'll still have to make all new friends.
- Ruthie Camden: No, I won't. My friend Sarah will come with me and we'll join the circus, and when we're old enough we'll marry clowns!
- Lucy Camden: You have put way too much thought into this whole thing.
- Ruthie Camden: Why has God forsaken me? Why?
- Rev. Eric Camden: [about Mary to the Colonel] Look, Annie and I aren't happy that she's not going to college, but she's working. She's earning a living, paying her bills.
- John 'The Colonel' Camden: Who let her buy the car?
- Rev. Eric Camden: No one let her. She just went out and bought it. And as much as I think she shouldn't have, that car is a responsibility that she can't run away from. She has to work hard and and keep her job because she has to pay for that car.
- John 'The Colonel' Camden: Son, to win a war you've got to fight. You got to get in there and get your hands dirty and make something happen, and you have to have a battle plan. What's your battle plan?
- Rev. Eric Camden: This isn't a war.
- John 'The Colonel' Camden: Oh, it's a war all right, and a stake is Mary's future.
- Rev. Eric Camden: As much as we would like to force Mary into doing what we know is best for her, we can't. She's an adult. She has to do this on her own.
- John 'The Colonel' Camden: And what if she doesn't?
- Rev. Eric Camden: She will.
- Professor Townsend: [to Matt's college class] Here's the good news. This was just a practice test to help you prepare for the midterm. It doesn't count. Here's the bad news. Half of you didn't pass. The other half barely passed. Oh, here's some more bad news. The midterm is in two weeks, so if you don't know the material by now, when are you going to learn it? What does this all mean? For those of you who are taking organic chemistry as a requirement for pre-med, you may want to double major in pre-law, because if you don't understand chemistry, you're going to be a doctor who's gonna need a lawyer. Just wanting to be a doctor isn't good enough. You have to study hard, you have to work hard, and you have to get through this class. Class is dismissed... for some of you, I think permanently!