Right on. Good location.
What else?
That's the sink.
Uh-huh.
If you put your thumb over the hole,
you can squirt water all the way
over to the other side of the room.
Cool.
I'm not allowed to use the sink anymore.
Got it.
So, what's the deal with your teacher?
Miss Tuttle?
She's very strict.
That could work.
Did you see this drawing our son made?
It's a cry for his parents to get back together.
Alan, it's Davy Crockett at the Alamo.
I know.
Breaks your heart, doesn't it?
I see you got your brother here.
He wasn't thrilled about it, but he can't say no to Jake.
And I kind of implied
that Miss Tuttle was a bit of a freak.
Excuse me?
Hey, you wanted me to get him here.
He's here. The rest is up to you.
So, come on. You gonna introduce me?
What for?
Well, she's your teacher,
you're my nephew-- I feel like I...
Oh, come on, just do it.
Don't you want to see my model of a California mission?
It's made of sugar cubes.
Okay, first your mission, then mine.
JUDITH: May I have everyone's attention?
Hello.
I'm Judith Harper, the class mom.
I just want to thank you all for coming.
This is a great turnout.
Give yourselves a hand.
I understand you teachers are sadly underpaid.
That's very true.
Well, I'd like to do my part.
Can I buy you dinner?
So please feel free to put your name on the sign-up sheets
if you're available for carpools, coaching, field trips.
Charlie Harper.
Jake's uncle, mentor, pal.
Shh.
JUDITH: ...help however we can.
And finally, and this is a biggie, folks,
it looks as if we're going to have to cancel
our annual music show for our fourth graders.
( parents groan )
Unless someone with music experience
volunteers to help us out.
Anyone?
Anyone at all?
Charlie?
Yeah?
Thank you.
Charlie Harper, everyone.
What?
* Men... *
Go ahead, say it.
You traitorous rat bastard.
Good, good. Feel better?
You set me up.
You lured me into that classroom
with promises of doughnuts and loose women.
I'm sorry.
I honestly thought there'd be doughnuts.
And what about Miss Tuttle, "the freak"?
She's a married, Christian missionary!
Okay, that I just lied about.
But it was for a good cause.
The kids really need you.
Yeah, but see, here's the problem.
I don't like kids.
You like Jake.
Jake's different.
He's cool, he's our kid.
The rest of them... Yech.
What other kids do you know?
I see them.
Having tantrums in supermarkets,
screaming in movie theaters, making everything sticky.
And the whole world gives them a free ride
just because they're cute.
Look, forget about the kids.
Do this for me and Judith.
Not really a big Judith fan, either.
Come on. You'll write the music and lyrics.
Judith and I will produce and direct-- together.
Hold on, hold on.
So you roped me into this
because you think that the three of us
collaborating on a fourth grade tribute
to the Industrial Revolution
will somehow lead to you getting back together
with your allegedly gay ex-wife?
It's easy to make anything sound stupid, Charlie.
Look, we're still legally married,
and frankly I don't buy the whole gay thing.
A gay woman would not fake orgasms for 12 years
just to protect my feelings.
Okay. Take off your seat belt.
Why?
Because when I slam on the brakes,
I want to watch you go through the windshield.
Don't be silly.
Do you know how fast you'd have to be going...?
Hey, slow down.
* Manpower, horsepower, coal and steam *
* Moving forward the American dream *
* Electric, atomic
* Solar, too
* All this energy for me and you. *
Oh, gosh, I want to like it.
Yeah, I want to like it.
Um...
But?
But I just don't think it's your best work.
It's not. Fire me, please.
Remember that show that you and I did in college?
"Dormy Weather"? Sure.
Those songs had a point of view.
Yeah, yeah, and you couldn't get them out of your head.
* Coed bathrooms...
BOTH: * Coed bathrooms
* Wear your flip flops in the coed bathrooms *
* Stuff grows on the floor there *
* And whoops, there's another pubic hair there. *
ALAN: See, you know, maybe the easiest way
to do this is for us to write the actual songs.
Yeah, and Charlie could just toss
in the specific notes and stuff.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Charlie, what do you think?
Okay, then, uh, then, I guess it's just
the two of us.
Like the old days. Yeah.
Except this time, I'm not a virgin.
How come you're not helping
Mom and Dad with the show?
Well, how can I put this?
Your Uncle Charlie is a professional musician,
and your mom and dad...
Suck?
Good a word as any.
Well, I think they're going to get back together.
You do, huh?
Yep. Except if my dad moves back to Mom's house,
I probably wouldn't see you anymore.
Of course, you'd see me.
You'd still have your room here, and I'd come visit.
You never visited before.
That's 'cause I didn't know you before.
That's 'cause you never visited.
Gin.
To tell you the truth, Jake,
I don't think this is going to be an issue.
You don't think they're going to get back together?
I didn't say that.
Well, do you?
Hey, what do I know?
Well, I think they are.
ALAN AND JUDITH: * Robert Fulton
* Eli Whitney, Robert Fulton
* Eli Whitney
* All aboard for Henry Ford.
* Henry Ford...
Careful what you wish for, pal.
Charlie?
We're going to be late for rehearsal.
( blender whirring )
What are you doing?
Making margaritas.
But we've got a rehearsal at Jake's school.
Don't worry, I have a plan.
Oh, Charlie, you're taking liquor to Jake's school?
You betcha.
I'm not going to face all those pre-pubers
without a snoot-ful.
They'll have limes in the teachers' lounge, right?
No, there's no limes,
there's no swizzle sticks, there's...
Oh, God.
What?
It's from Judith's lawyers.
Really? Good news?
No, it's not good news.
Judith filed for divorce.
Whoa, man.
I'm sorry.
What am I going to do?
Well, there's a lot of ways to respond
to something like this--
anger, grief, denial.
What would you do?
I'd probably blow off rehearsal
and start chugging from the blender.
I wouldn't recommend that for an amateur.
I can't believe she blind-sided me like this.
Being so nice and friendly to my face,
meanwhile, her lawyers were working
behind my face.
Let me tell you something, Charlie.
A woman who would do such a thing cannot be trusted.
Yeah, well, maybe you can use this divorce
as a chance to take a little break from each other.
Oh, no, that would be playing right into her hands.
Alan, your kid's confused enough about you and his mother.
Don't make it worse.
How could I possibly make it any worse?
Let's find out.
Okay, everybody, what we're going to do
is put the girls on one side, and the boys on the other.
Sure, start splitting them up early.
That's your answer for everything, isn't it?
Excuse me?
Uh, would Mrs. Plaintiff
please see Mr. Respondent in the hallway?
Watch the kids.
We'll be right back.
Wait!
Jake?
Where's Jake?
Okay, uh, everybody take five.
That means sit down.
Huh.
Stand up.
Hop up and down.
Right on.
But why file for divorce?
We were getting along so well.
We've been getting along because I don't feel trapped,
suffocated and depressed anymore.
Oh, sure.
Kick me out and then work on improving yourself.
Okay,
everybody flap your arms like a chicken.
( all clucking )
Alan, check it out.
I got this amazing power.
Stop.
Huh?
It's like having my own robot army.
No, wait, where are you going?
( door slams )
Are we going to do our songs?
Hey, I'm just the piano player.
Lerner and Lowe are out in the hallway working things out.
Who?
Lerner and Lowe?
"My Fair Lady"?
"Camelot"?
( quietly ): Aren't there any gay kids here?
They're fighting again, aren't they?
Yeah, what can I tell you, Jake?
Your mom lawyered up, and your dad's freaking out.
Stay cool. I'll try to get 'em back in here.
Hey, everybody, Jake's in charge so... whatever he says.
Okay.
It's been fun, but I'm officially resigning
as the mayor of Booger Town.
Not now, Charlie.
You know, I have tried. ( kids screaming )
I have tried everything I can to make you happy.
Uh, I don't want to rush you or anything,
but have you ever read Lord of the Flies?
But you know what?
You know what? I'm through.
Maybe your lawyers can make you happy!
Your brother is a horse's ass.
Hey, let's not lose sight
of who the real victim of this divorce is--
me!
( yelling and laughing )
Okay, uh, I think we should all calm down just a little.
You're not our teacher.
Why should we listen to you?
( kids screaming )
Okay, let me put it another way.
( yelling ): Shut up and sit down!
Thanks.
Uh, listen, rehearsal's over.
You can all go home.
What about our play?
Well, you know how they say the show must go on?
Well, they weren't talking about this show.
Your uncle's so lame.
Is not. He's cool.
Yeah, right.
He is! He's almost famous.
He wrote the Maple Loops song.
Did not.
JAKE: Did, too. Did, too.
Prove it.
You see that Jaguar in the parking lot?
Maple Loops.
That doesn't prove anything.
Fine.
( plays opening chord )
* It's got...
KIDS: * Oats and corn and wheat
* It's the sweetest breakfast treat *
* It's maple-maple- maple-licious. *
( final chord )
Whoa.
Everybody knows that?
Of course.
It's the Maple Loops song.
Uncle Charlie, do Fudge Nuggets.
KIDS: Yeah!
( playing lively intro )
* From...
* From the magic chocolate mountain *
* In a secret chocolate mine
* Come Grannie's big fudge nuggets *
* With a taste that's oh, so fine. *
( applause and cheering )
Yay!
What do you know-- maybe I don't hate kids.
KIDS: * Smell like a man
* Stick, pump or can...
CHARLIE: Hold it.
CHARLIE: * Can...
KIDS: * Can... Hi. Hi.
I'm sorry I didn't give you
a heads up about the divorce papers.
I'm sorry if I overreacted.
CHARLIE: Just the girls.
GIRLS: * Smell like a man...
What's going on in there?
I don't know.
CHARLIE: * Man...
ALL: * Smell like a man
* Stick, pump or can
* With Dry Guy Deodorant
* Only the girls get sweaty.
We're getting there. We're getting there!
Okay, uh, thank you, Charlie.
Yeah, we'll take it from here, okay?
Too late. You're out.
What about the songs we wrote?
Hey, kids, what do you think
about the songs they wrote?
Boo! Sucks! Stinks!
( shouting continues )
These are my people.
Wh-What do your jingles have to do
with the Industrial Revolution?
Look, you wanted a show, I'm giving you a show.
Now step back and let us work.
"Plumber in a Jar."
And let's really sell it this time.
( playing soft intro )
ALL: * When your
( tempo picks up ): * Sink backs up
* There's just one star
* It's the one you trust, it's Plumber In a Jar *
* Plumber In a Jar, Plumber In a Jar *
* Plumber In a Jar
( softly ): * Plumber In a Jar
* Plumber In a Jar.
Hey. Whatcha doing?
Trying to find some
plausible connection between my jingles
and the Industrial Revolution.
( sighs )
What's up?
I just talked to my dad.
He said that he and Mom aren't getting back together again.
Yeah.
How are you doing with that?
I'm not sure.
I like that I get to stay here on weekends.
That's cool. I like that, too.
But you got to be sad about your folks, though, right?
No, I'm okay.
Jake, it's okay to feel sad... I've been told.
And this is a sad thing.
My dad's not sad.
Of course he is. He's just trying to protect you.
From what?
From being sad.
Yeah, I know, it's a vicious circle,
but the liquor industry is built on it.
What?
Hey, it's not important.
All you need to know is that we all feel sad sometimes,
and it's okay.
Understand?
Yeah.
Hey, buddy.
It's okay, Dad.
Before the Industrial Revolution,
we lived in an agrarian society.
Most people grew their own food
and ate what they grew.
Breakfast involved...
Slaughtering animals.
And milking cows.
It would be hundreds of years
before people could enjoy a pre-packaged
and nutritious breakfast.
And what's in that breakfast?
( playing opening chord )
* It's got...
* Oats and corn and wheat
* It's the sweetest breakfast treat *
* It's maple-maple- maple-licious. *
( final chord )
As urbanization led to stress and loneliness,
industrial society looked to an ancient agrarian product
for a delicious and refreshing solution.
* The girls look prettier with Hammerstein Beer *
* You like what you see, and you like what you hear *
* Have a cold frosty mug and pull her near *
* The girls look prettier, the girls look prettier *
* The girls look prettier with Hammerstein Beer. *
We're not letting him anywhere near
the Christmas pageant.
Agreed.
Even with the advent of indoor plumbing,
the Industrial Revolution still had some bugs in the system.
What was man to do?
Three, four...
* If your home is bug infested
* Filled with spiders, flies and gnats *
* All our sprays are safely tested *
* We kill vermin, not your cats. *