At Last - Nat "King" Cole
Before my parents were "Mom" and "Dad"...
they were Norma and Jack.
Or, so the story goes.
Back then, they didn't have much.
So they got by on what they had. Each other.
Somewhere along the way, though...
Hearts and flowers gave way to other things.
Guess it kinda took 'em by surprise.
So, like any couple of their generation...
They did what they had to do.
They became...parents.
Providers.
Damn!
What is it, Jack?
I thought we paid this bill last month.
That was the orthodontist. This is the dentist.
Property tax?
Already?
Corn or carrots, honey?
Whatever.
By nineteen-seventy...
My parents had elevated "providing" into something close to an art-form.
Guess we dip into the Christmas club again.
Dad was the maestro of payment plans.
Mom was a virtuoso with vegetables.
Broccoli.
You had to hand it to 'em... They were good at what they did.
Of course, it was all for a good reason.
Hey!
Their three beautiful children.
Are we going to eat here, or what?
With all the rights and privileges therof.
Not that we took the folks for granted.
It's just...With Thanksgiving coming... we had certain...needs.
Daddy?
When I go back from break...
I-I'm gonna need money for a few things. OK?
Like what?
Some books...some art supplies... A yoga mat.
A yoga...mat?
And no matter how ridiculous... Those needs were...
we knew somehow... They'd come through for us.
We'll work it out, honey!
Thanks!
I need a new stereo. / I need a new baseball glove.
Back of the line, butthead.
Hey, I asked him first. / I need a new stereo.
I need a new baseball glove. I've had the same one For two years...
For the things that were really important, anyway.
Oh, my goodness...
The stove's out again.
Eh, she's dead alright.
Deader'n a doornail.
But, you can fix it?
Well, yeah...
Oh...good!
I can fix it...
If I can find the parts.
I'll tell ya, Norma...
I probably shouldn't be sayin' this...
What with you bein' such a good customer an' all, but...
Well, let me put it this way...
She's old, she's tired... It's time to buy a new one.
What do ya mean, "buy a new one"?
Uh...hi, Jack.
Why can't ya just fix the old one?
Well, your thermostat's shot,
your top burner's not juicin' out like she oughtta, and...
Ya got one mean short-circuit in your wirin'.
There it was.The considered opinion of a professional.
Dad had no choice... But to take action.
I'll get my toolbox.
Honey? I don't think your toolbox is gonna help this time.
I think we need to buy a new stove.
She's right, Jack.
As much as I hate to say it.
Poor Mom. All she really wanted was a working stove
so that she could take care... Of her family.
And poor Dad. All he wanted was...To provide Mom
with a working stove so that... She could take care of her family.
Olive loaf?
And poor us.
All we wanted was something besides cold-cuts for dinner.
Seemed like it was time to explore the alternatives.
Jack... I was checking the paper today,
and...Montgomery Wards is having a sale on appliances.
How much would a new stove set us back?
Only about two-hundred and fity dollars.
Don't say "only"... And "two-hundred and fifty dollars" in the same breath,
Maybe I should talk to management tomorrow. Ask for a raise.
It was a bold... And unexpected decision.
The company owes me, Norma.
It's been too long.
Good idea, Dad.
You certainly deserve one, honey.
After all, Dad was the great provider.
Whoa!
Check it out!
Fully supported by his providees.
Wow. Dad, you look great!
What happened?
Somebody kick the bucket, heh-heh?
Jack?
Oh, Jack, are you sure you want to wear that tie?
What's wrong with this tie?
Jack...
It worked for me once. Maybe it'll do it again.
Wish me luck?
It was nice seeing my parents like this.
Good luck, honey.
Doin' what they had to do. For the family.
Bye, bye!
I guess we were all kinda caught up in the moment.
Hands off, scrote.
OK, so you'll just have to take my word for it.
That afternoon, I got home a little faster than usual.
And so did Dad.
Which could only mean the news wasn't good.
So, Dad - how'd it go?
Rough.
Well...maybe next time.
Maybe.
And maybe not.
You got the raise!
Not just a raise.
You're looking at the new regional manager of product support services.
Not that we had a clue as to what that meant.
Right on... Dad!
But it had an impressive ring to it.
Pretty good, huh?
Regional manager? / Uh-huh, regional manager.
Course, um... That means some new responsibilities.
Well, you can handle it.
I'll, uh... Have to go on the road, some.
Move around from plant to plant.. trouble-shoot in the field...
You know, that sort of thing.
Does that mean you have to travel, a lot?
Well, some... maybe just at first.
I...Gotta fly to Pittsburgh, tonight.
So soon?
Well, they said we need somebody out there right away.
But, it'll...just be until next Wednesday.
And suddenly we were getting a pretty fair idea of
what a regional manager did.
But hey, it's for the best, right?
Of course, honey.
And maybe it was.
Mom looked happy.
Hefty raise, Dad?
Not too shabby...
And Dad finally had... The recognition he deserved.
Protect you father... / Oh, get out of the way.
Oh, right...
That night we watched as Mom and Dad shared...
A tender moment of farewell.
Where the hell's that damn cab?
Calm down, honey - it'll be here.
You didn't pack my handkerchiefs?
Oh, they're in the carry-on.
Ah...it's about time.
OK - that's it, huh?
It was strange. Everything was happening so fast.
For all of us.
Where's my tickets?
Oh, they're in your breast pocket.
So, uh...That's it, then, huh?
OK, you kids...You better take care of your mother now, huh?
Goodbye, Dad. / Go get 'em, Dad.
Oh, yeah...
Why don't you go ahead and buy that new stove.
Take care huh? / Bye, Dad.
Bye, Dad. / Bye.
It was a romantic as some old movie... On the late show.
Well, as romantic... As my parents got, anyway.
But then... I guess he was in a hurry.
Jack? It is absolutely beautiful!
Well, I splurged a little, and got the easy-clean model.
And I went with the white.
But the Monday before Thanksgiving, things were looking up again.
No, no - we're all fine!
And, uh, we'll see you Wednesday night!
OK, goodbye.
How's Dad, Mom?
Fine. Just fine!
Really nice, Mom.
And it was.
As far as stoves go.
Look!
It has "meal minder"!
"Automatically regulates..." "The oven tempurature..."
"So you are free to entertain your guests".
Well, that'll sure help... With the turkey this year.
Pretty exciting!
Well - I gotta go to school.
OK, sweetheart.
You have a good day.
Maybe I should have been caught up in the spirit of things a little more.
But for some reason...
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
So. When's your dad gettin' back?
Uh...W-Wednesday.
Wednesday night.
He must be having a blast!
Huh?
You know...catching planes... staying in hotels. That's gotta be fun.
Well...
He probably wants to get home.
Oh, sure. No question.
Besides, we're doing pretty much OK without him. It's kinda...different.
Kind of an adventure.
And it was. As adventures go.
pot pies!
These took no time at all in the new stove.
And let's not forget... To mention that new stove!
Uh, Mom?
Don't ya think these are a little underdone.. In the middle?
Yeah. Mine's still frozen, too.
Must be that new timer.
I'll have...Your father take a look at it when he gets back.
Hello? Oh, hi, honey!
No, everything's fine here - just fine.
Tell 'em "hi".
Oh?
Well, did he say that was definite?
Well, can't ya fly in Thursday night?
Oh, I know it's expensive.
I know, honey - of course - I understand.
Well, when do you think you could come home?
Saturday...
Saturday?! But that's two days...After -
Jack - don't be silly! We'll be fine.
Really.
OK. Bye, bye.
"OK - bye, bye"?
Seemed to me this called for a little further discussion.
Dad's not coming home for Thanksgiving?
Oh, no...he's got to be in Denver first thing Friday morning.
Can't he just... fly in for a day?
No, honey, it's... It's just too expensive.
What's he gonna do for Thanksgiving?
Kevin!
And I guess that was about as much discussing as we were gonna do.
Oh! I know what's wrong.
I forgot to pre-heat the oven before I set the timer.
Well, one thing was clear.
Between Dad's new job and Mom's new stove...
This holiday was going to the dogs.
That night, I thought a little family reconnaisance...Might be in order.
Wayne?
What?
Can I ask you something?
The answer's "no".
No, really.
Have you noticed anything...funny, about the way Mom's been acting?
It's kinda like...Things are weird around here. You know?
And for a moment... I knew I wasn't alone.
Wayne actually understood.
You know...
You've got a big glob of toothpaste right there...On your nose.
Still, maybe I was over-reacting.
Or maybe not.
And so, the time had arrived... To give thanks for our many blessings.
To consume the fruits of our bountiful harvest.
From the depths of Mom's stove came... A tidal wave of holiday fare.
A symphony of corn and carrots.
A blitzkrieg of potatoes... And yams.
And to top it all off...
A turkey the size of a Buick.
Well...that's everything.
It was enough to feed a small army.
Turkey looks great, Mom!
It does, doesn't it?
I followed the directions with the cookbook that came with the new stove.
And there was nothin' left to do...But...Sit down and dig in.
Ahh! Oh, my goodness!
I forgot the napkin rings.
Only for some reason...
Oh, here they are. /Mom wouldn't sit down.
One for you...
And one for you...
You know...This year I've tried Granny apples in the stuffing
instead of golden delicious.
Oh, and...instead of putting the marshmallows on top of the yams...
I melted them down, and added a little brown sugar.
For flavoring.
Then I put everything together.. in the blender, and whipped it up...
But it still wasn't right. So, then...
We sat there... While Mom kept talking...
And folding her napkin.
Threw in just a little bit of cocoanut just before I baked it.
It was horrible.
Then it got even worse.
Her silence was like a cry for help.
She was out there on a limb.
So I figured... I'd come to the rescue.
Mom?
Who's gonna carve?
I don't know...
Nice goin', butthead!
Oh, he hasn't?
Oh, no, no. That's alright.
Could you just leave a message for him when he gets in?
Tell him that Norma called him.
Yes. Thank you.
When you're fourteen, you know a lot of things.
How to throw a spiral...
How to fix a bike.
But standing there...I knew I couldn't fix what was wrong.
Come in.
Mom?
I'm sorry.
Hello?
Jack!
Well, where are you?
Really?
Of course, honey. Jack!........
Bye, bye.
Put on your coat. We're going to the airport.
He's coming home?
No, he's flying in, just for an hour.
But I though he said it was too expensive.
Yeah.
It is...isn't it?
Thanksgiving night of nineteen-seventy...
My father came home to his family.
The family he cared for. / Hi!
The family he provided for.
But...He came home to someone else, too.
He came home to the girl he loved. / I missed you.
I missed you, too.
Maybe sometimes the simple things in life get forgotten.
The things parents need.
The things children need, too.
But that night, Mom and Dad - Jack and Norma...
promised to remember.
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