"Get your bag off the table." "People eat there." "They eat on plates." "Don't give me crap, Maizy." "I'm telling." "You said "crap."" " There's nothing wrong with "crap."" " Really?" "I thought that was a swear." " You're thinking of "shit."" " Right." "Do you mind?" "A sixth-grader chased me with his bike and I was running." "When I got exhausted and fell down, he waled me with his shoe." " Thankyour parents for that." " How come?" "It was their brilliant idea to move here." "They weren't making enough cash in Indianapolis." "Forget that we were perfectly happy." "So thank them for getting treated like shit every day." " I'm telling on that one." " Shut your face." " Your book bag doesn't go on the floor." " Always have a cow." " Your nails are digging into my arm!" " Pick it up!" "You'rejust supposed to open the door for us." "You're not supposed to kick us around." "I'm an American." "I have rights!" "Maizy, did I kickyou around?" "No, but you said "shit" twice." "But only once for real." "I've got better things to do than baby-sit you, you little stain." "Like what, hang out with friends you don't have?" "Why don't you just shut up?" "Want to make me?" "When our mother fii gure isn't here, I'm in charge." " I'm sick ofyou calling her that." " Too bad." "You moron!" " Why do we need boys?" "They're so loud." " Shut up!" " Shut up yourself!" " We need boys... so they can grow up, get married and turn into shadows." "Let the dog out." "Percy!" "This is such a wonderful dinner, Mother." "How do you fii nd the time?" "Miles." "Maizy, put that down." " Did you win at hockey yesterday?" " Hockey's been over for two weeks." "I guess you don't want a hockey stick foryour birthday." "You know what?" "When Dad goes to New York, I'm going to take a week off work." "So you can interview new housekeepers?" " I've had enough ofyour ugliness." " Really?" "We're all a little tired ofthe act." " This is really a good idea." " Thankyou." " How's the pie?" " Not bad." "Will you be at work in the morning?" "I can't avoid it." "You don't seem happy about it." "Ifyou've got to know, I'm not excited about working for my girlfriend." "There, I said it." "Buck, I love you." "I can't help myself." "I want to get married and have a family with you." "The clock is ticking away." "I would like to hear the pitter-patter oftiny feet before I die." "I'll get you a mouse and a piece ofsheet metal." " Lighten up, will you?" " Don't push my buttons." "I'm not pushing your buttons." "I know me." "I know what I like." "I like my friends, my freedom." "I like knowing I can go golfii ng anytime I want." "I don't hurt anybody." "I don't see what the problem is." "That is the best formula for loneliness I ever heard." " Why are we arguing?" " We're talking." "I said I'd be at work in the morning." "I'll be there." "Okay." "I've got to get this out." "I know I'm harping, but let me say it." "I'm working on history, on the past." "You're gonna show up?" "Swear to God?" "In the a.m.?" "Promise?" "Chanice, I'll be honest with you." "If I could think ofan excuse that you would buy, I'd use it." "Hello." " Oh, God!" " What?" "Just a second." "It's your aunt." "What happened?" "Your dad had a heart attack." "Who's gonna watch the kids?" "Marcie." "She's right across the street." "She's the last person I'd ask for a favor." "What about the Nevilles?" "Would you call them?" "I want to leave as soon as we can." "I am so helpless here." "Don't start getting down on why we moved." "It has nothing to do with what happened." "Sorry." "This isjust a thought." "What about Buck?" "I'm sure he'd be glad to help out." "This is not the time to discuss your brother." " I don't want him here." " It'sjust a suggestion." "He doesn't have kids." "He isn't married." "He doesn't even work!" "He's a little out there, but he's responsible and he's family." "Buck is not the kind of guy I feel comfortable leaving my kids with." "The trashy people he hangs out with." "That woman who sells tires." "The horse racing, the gambling." "Can you see him in this house?" "Okay." "Call the Nevilles." "Are we going to Indianapolis?" "Daddy and I are." "And we're not?" "No, that's not a good idea." "Thanks." "I loved my father very much." "So why did you move away from him?" "If my family moved away from me, I'd have a heart attack too." "I see." " Who will take care of us?" " Mr. and Mrs. Neville." " Is that a joke?" " You don't like the Nevilles?" " The dog's a ball sniffer." " Don't talk like that." "Mr. Neville yelled at Michael because their dog was sniffii ng Michael's balls." " Don't use that word." " I don't know another word." "We can talk to Mr. Neville about the dog." "Sorry, honey." "They're in Florida." "You get in bed." "You have to get up for school." " Who's in Florida?" " Get back in bed." " What's the other word for balls?" " Get in bed." "Nuts." "What do we do?" "I don't think we have much choice." "Can we trust him?" "Yeah?" "Buck, this is Bob." "Bob?" "Bob who?" "It's your brother." "Bobby!" "Hang on a minute." "Just used your Christmas present." "The Clapper." "You little pissant, how you doing?" "Geez!" "Are you drunk?" "You knowsomething?" "We gotta get together." "I haven't been overyour house since you moved in." "I'm sorry about those bushes too." "Ihadno idea... that they would catch on fii re like that." "You were right." "I should never have put the barbecue that close." "Cindy's father had a heart attack tonight." "We'dIike toget to indianapolis assoon aspossible." "But we have a problem with the kids." "We're stuck for somebody to watch them." "Ifyou're not doing anything" "Is this okay with Cindy?" "It's got Cindy's approval?" "Oh, yeah." "That'd be great." "I'd be honored." "I've still got the one bedroom." "I'm going to get a bigger place." "But they can bring their sleeping bags." "We'll have fun." "We'll make tents." "Get some toys and peanut butter." " We'IIhave a blast." " I thought you could come here." "The kids have school." "What am Ithinking?" "Sure." "Tonight or in the morning?" "Tonight would be best ifyou could do it." "Tonight will be fil ne." "Don't worry." "I'll pack a few things and I'm on my way." "Thanks." "See you soon." "He can do it." "He was asleep and I woke him up." "At this hour, that's a good sign." "We're all set." "Okay, this, this and this." "Bag, bag, bag." "This will do." "Hello." "Chanice, honey?" "I have bad news." "Let me guess." "You are not coming in to work in the morning." "Just let" "No, but" " You don't" "Would you just-- Give me" "Let me get" "You're not" " Give me a" "Good-bye." "Boy, I haven't seen those kids in a while." "Tia's got to be nine." "Nine, maybe ten." "Oh, boy." "And the two new ones." "They're" "Larry and" "Larry and..." "Betsy." "Betsy" "Jennifer." "Larry and Jennifer." "Nice kids." "Honey, he's 40 years old." "He knows his way around." "Why don't you fii nish packing?" "I'll watch out for Buck." "What the hell?" "Where is everybody?" "Bob?" "This isn't funny." "Come on." "Wake up!" " I'm freezing my ass off out here." " Oh, shit!" "I'm getting mad, Bob." "Buck?" "Over here!" "Do you know how many big white houses there are on this street?" "What?" " Keep it down." " What?" " What should I do with my car?" " For crying out loud!" "Sorry, Mr. Hatfiield." "It's 2:00 a.m.!" "How you doing?" "Sorry I'm late." " No." "Thanks for coming." " What happened to the mustache?" " Had to shave it off." " How's Cindy?" " Not well." " Her dad?" " Hard to say." " Those medical terms." "An infarction?" "I stopped smoking cigarettes." "Isn't that something?" "I'm on to cigars." "I'm on a fiive-year plan." "I eliminated cigarettes, then I go to cigars, then to pipes... then to chewing tobacco, then the nicotine gum." "Good." "Money." " I'll leave you blank checks." " No, I've got lots of money." "No, please." "I've got the money." "I'd like to do this." "All right?" "Come on, please." "I'll pay you back when we get home." "I won't have any problem cashing... a second-party out-of-state paycheck, will I?" "I've been so busy, I haven't been able to do my banking." " I don't think there'll be a problem." " Let me leave you the checks." " Only if it's comfortable foryou." " That'll be easier." "I guess." "Do you have a plunger?" "While I'm thinking ofthese things." "For the morning." "My plumbing is bad." "Ofcourse, yours is good." "I would imagine." "Don't worry about it." "Everything will be fil ne." "I've been bound up lately." "It's driving me crazy." "I've been eating a lot ofcheese for some reason." "I got a craving for the stuff." "Do you think maybe that's an allergy?" "Yeah." "I don't know, I can't get enough cheese." "I feel like a big mouse." " I don't know." " Oh, well." "Let's see." "Oh, Miles' birthday." "We'll be back by that time." "Okay, then." "This should do." "I probably won't use them." "Just in case." " Right." " Great." "Okay." "I know I've forgotten something." "What else?" "All right?" "That looks nice." "Give me your arm." "It should only be a few days." "I promise I'll call you tomorrow." " You've got all the phone numbers?" " Yeah." " We're off." "Thanks, Buck." " Take care ofyourself." " We appreciate this." " Thanks." "Thankyou." " Say hi to your dad." "Drive safely." " You can do it." "That's for sure." "Unbreakable." "Shit!" "It's 7.:02 in the a.m." "You're listening to W-I-Don't-Have-To-Go-To-Work-Today... brought to you by Kobolowski Tires." "For the best in tires, see Chanice Kobolowski." "Tia!" "You remember me?" "Uncle Buck." "The Uncle Buck." "Coffee drinker, huh?" " Hungry?" " No." "Sure you are." "Everybody loves breakfast." "You gotta have a good breakfast." "Start the day off right." " So where are the other ones?" " Other ones what?" "The other kids." "They have names." "Miles and Maizy." "Are Miles and Maizy up yet?" "I woke them, thankyou." "There you go." "Are you deaf?" "I said I wasn't hungry." "That's one of my specialties." "I'd rather starve." "Does your mom know you drink coffee?" "I'm not doing it to impress you." "I appreciate that." "Is there a reason why you're giving me a hard time?" "Am I giving you a hard time?" "Well, I don't know." " How you doin'?" " Who are you?" "I'm your Uncle Buck." " Do I have an uncle?" " Unfortunately." "Holy smokes!" "He's cooking our garbage." "Where's your sister" "Her name is Maizy, for the second time." "Sorry." "You must be hungry." "Just foryou." "Oh, my God!" "He put onions in the eggs." "I'm gonna check on Maizy." "I'll flix you cereal when I get back." " Can I askyou something?" " What?" "Is she always this pleasant?" "No, she's usually in a bad mood in the morning." "Do you want knots in your hair?" "Cut it out." " I want Mom to do it." " Mom's not here." " She is too." " No, she's not." " She and Dad went to Indianapolis." " They did not." " Okay, they didn't." " They did?" "Yes." "And I'm taking care ofyou." "But you can't drive." " Where do you live?" " In the city." " Do you own a house?" " Apartment." "Rent." " What do you do for a living?" " Lots ofthings." " Where's your offiice?" " I don't have one." "I don't need one." " Where's your wife?" " Don't have one." "It's a long story." " Do you have kids?" " I don't." "It's an even longer story." "Are you my dad's brother?" "What's your record for questions asked?" " Thirty-eight." " I'm your dad's brother." "You have more nose hair than my dad." " Nice ofyou to notice." " I'm a kid." "That's myjob." "That is my car." "Tying your shoe?" " What time should I pickyou up?" " Don't bother." "I'll get a ride." "No, I've got orders." "What time?" "Are you really this stupid?" "I said I would get a ride." "I always get a ride." "I'll call the school, fii nd out what time and meet you here." "Go ahead, call the school." "I won't be here." "Stand me up today, and tomorrow..." "I'll drive you to school in my pajamas and walkyou to your fil rst class." " 4:00 okay?" " I'm stunned I'm related to you." "You get the pole out ofyour keister, we'll get along fii ne." "Did you ever have anyone embarrass you like this?" "No." " You think she hates me?" " With a passion." " Is it the hat?" " No." "A lot of people hate this hat." "The sight of it angers people." "I'll tell you a story about that on the way to school." "Right." "Listen, Buck." "For eight years you have been making plans and breaking plans." "What are you talking about?" "Didn't we talk last night about this?" "What did we talk about?" "Me playing the father!" "I'm glad you can do it foryour brother." "You sure can't do it for me." "How could I do it foryou?" "We don't have kids." "What areyou talking about?" "Buck, I know you think thejob is pointless... and in some way I'm trying to manipulate you and control you... andruinyourIife." "I have to fii ll the position." "It's important to the company and me." "Unless you tell me different, I'll offer thejob to somebody else." "Give me a week to think about it." "I don't know how long I'll be here." "If, during that week... you see somebody who will fii ll the bill... hire him on a part-time basis or whatever." "That way I'll make up my mind and we'll see where we are at that point." "Okay, I have to go now." "Bye-bye, hon." "Eight more." "Come on." "Work it." "Get the circuIationgoing." "Step it up." "Isn 'tpeace wonderful?" "MikhaiI Gorbachev, the most improbable evil emperorin captivity... captivates Manhattan... wows the U.N. by announcing a unilateral cut in theSoviet military... smiles and waves with erstwhile cold warriors RonaIdReagan" "Andthestockmarket has its best weeksinceJuIy." "Take that, KarIMax." "Would you like to talk about a possible lunch trade?" "Coveryour ears." "Just do it." "Do you know how whipped an engine has to be to blow that loud?" "Call me." "You ever hear ofa tune-up?" "You ever hear ofa ritual killing?" "I don't get it." "Gnaw on her face in public like that again and you'll be one." " Are you crazy?" " I can be." " You could've taken his head off." " But would he notice?" "Can we get something straight?" "The guy's a predator and you're his prey." " Really?" " You bet." " How do you know?" " When I was his age, I was the guy... zooming the girls like you." "Pretty face, big chip on your shoulder." "I recommend you stay out of my personal life." "Do your parents stay out ofyour personal lie?" "They don't know my personal life." " Have they met Twiddle Dink?" " His name is Bug." " First or last?" " First." "What's his last name, Spray?" "You should talk, Buck." "No." "No." "N-O." "Don't look at me like that." "Don't!" "That's not fair." "Don't you have a favorite doll or something?" "Why don't we get your doll and put your dad's pajamas on him?" "Your brother!" "What about your brother?" "How about the dog?" "You know the dog." "You can't." "You just can't." "It's a new law." "That's it." "It's in the books." "You don't want to sleep with me." "Can somebody get that, please?" "Do I have to do everything around here?" " Yo." " Hi, sweetie." "Howareyou?" "Fine." "I'm earning my keep." "Uncle Buck's got me bustin' my hump." "Hesays hard work wiIIput hair on my chest." "At least I'm learning a trade." "That's good." "Grandpa's feeling better." "Hesendsyou big hugs andkisses." "Tell him to hang in there." " Can you get Uncle Buck?" " Will do, chickie." "Mom?" " Hi." " Next timeyou take off... why don't you hire a murderer to watch the house?" "Thisguy's ajoke." "Why don't you go your way and let him go his?" "While he systematically dismantles my life?" "Another drawback is that I'm a big drooler." "You could wake up thinking you were asleep in a swamp." " Mom's on the phone." " Good." "I'll be right there." "The guy took off and left Miles and Maizy alone." "Plus he drinks." " Did you brush your teeth?" " Yeah." "Feel my toothbrush." "I have a friend who works at the crime lab at the police station." "I could give him your toothbrush and he could run a test on it to see... ifyou actually brushed your teeth or ran your toothbrush under the faucet." "Ifthat's true, we're going to really have to start brushing our teeth." "How are you?" " I'm okay." "How's everything?" " Good, good." " Yousure?" " Everything is fine here." " Everything's fine." " Kids are okay?" "The kids are great!" "We're having a great time together." "How'syourdad?" "He's okay." "He's getting better." "Thanks." "That'sgoodnews." "That's encouraging." "I've got agoodfeeIing about this." "He'sgonna be fine." "I got a few questions foryou." "Yougot an interesting set ofpIates in the living room." "Are they old?" " Yeah." "They are." "Where would you fii nd something like that?" "In an antique shop downtown?" "In England." "How many times a day do you feed a dog like that?" "How many times a day do you think he eats?" "Four or fiive." "He eats once a day." "Just once." "What does he like to drink?" "Water?" "Yes, he drinks water." "I would keep water out." "I've been leaving the toilet seats up." "Yeah." "The blue water's not good for him?" "That might account for something." "Nothing." "Just an odd coloration out on the grass." "Buck..." "I want you to know it makes me feel secure to know you're there." "Thankyou very much." "Okay, bye-bye." "Bob?" "Cindy?" "Open up." "Hello?" "I'm getting mad." "All right." "Get ready." "Here I come." "Come on!" "Do I have to talk dirty to you?" "Open up for daddy." "There we go." "Nice and easy." "Come on, here we go." "Take that!" "You don't want the crowbar, do you?" "Come on!" "Open up!" "Come on!" "I'm gonna shove my load into you whetheryou like it or not." "Come on!" "Come on, you son ofa bitch, open up." " Freeze!" " Who are you?" " Cindy!" " She's in Indianapolis." " What's she doing in Indianapolis?" " Her father had a heart attack." "Who are you, and how do you know her father had a heart attack?" "I'm her brother-in-law." "Yeah?" "Who you talking dirty to?" "The washing machine." "I don't know how to work it, so I was kicking it and swearing at it... which is not an uncommon thing to do." "And you thought" " I apologize." " Okay." "Boy, that's funny." "I live across the street." " My name is Marcie." " Buck Russell." "Marcie Dahlgren-Frost." "Dahlgren is my maiden name." "Frost is my married name." "I'm single again, but I never bothered to lose the Frost." " I get compliments on the hyphen." " I'm sure you would." "I came to invite Cindy to lunch... but since she's not here, do you have plans?" "I've got a lot ofthings to do around here." "Rain check?" "I'm only gonna be here a couple days." "Cindy said it would only be a couple ofdays?" "She didn't specify." "I just assumed." "My father's heart attack, I was out oftown three weeks." "No wonder Cindy didn't call me." "You need a relative for an imposition ofthis size." "Waiting foryour sex?" "Shut up!" "Tia?" "Why'd you blow all that makeup?" "We'rejust going bowling." "I'm not going bowling." "It's a great sport, and it's impossible to get pregnant while doing it... ifyou catch my drift." "You're disgusting." "I'll die before I go anywhere with you." " It's going to be fun." " They have rent-a-shoes." "And rent-a-foot-disease." "We've done the battle ofthe wills." "The deck's stacked in my favor." "You'll lose again." "Try me." "How'd you like to spend the next few nights wondering... ifyour crazy, out-of-work bum uncle... will shave your head while you sleep?" "See you in the car." "Come on up." "There you go." "This is a bowling ball." "How you doing?" "Never seen you here before." "I know about everybody." "That's why they call me "Pal."" "Buy you a beer?" "You must be a college student." "Cheerleader probably." "You look fii rm." "Give it a push." "That's it." "You like all-terrain vehicles?" "I've got a brand-new Bronco right out in the parking lot." "Red." "Want to go for a ride?" "Ifthe object ofthe game were to get the ball as close to the pins... without knocking any ofthem over... you would be champion ofthe world." " Really?" " Really." "My throat hurts." "I can't talk." "I've got a cure for that." "You got a game going?" "You're not going to get any strikes sitting there, are you?" "Move it!" "Get out!" "Shithead, where the hell you been?" "Sit down." "I want you to meet my niece." "Tia, this is Rog." "Rog, Tia." "How are you?" "E. Roger Coswell." "Come on, it ain't gonna bite." "Okay." "You've got to let somebody know where you are." "I've been checking car trunks foryour corpse." "I'm sorry." "I've been in the suburbs watching my brother's kids a few days." "They're cuties." "Art Linkletter was right." "Kids do say the goddamnedest things." "Is Chanice here?" "I'm flying solo tonight." "I want to let her have it for not marrying you." "Ifshe'd marry your worthless butt, I would be able to fii nd you." "I gotta talk business." "I can't fii nd you." "Why don't we step into my offiice then?" "Excuse us." "Come on, big mouth." " It was nice meeting you." " I'll remember it always." "Cute kid." "Jimmy Bean called." " Yeah?" "He's coming in for the Winter Million at Burlington Park on Friday." "He says it's a boat race, very easy money." "He owes you and me." "He says to show up an hour before post time and he'll give us the tip." "Consider this, Buck." "With this score, your whole year's covered." "Maybe I can make it work." "I'll see you Friday night." "Thanks, Rog." "Watch the Sterno, will you?" "Watch your fil ngers." "What's a "Chanice"?" "That's someone who's sometimes seen around a Buck." "Your girlfriend?" "A friend." "And, yes, she is a girl." "Are you supposed to marry her?" "The subject has come up, but nothing serious." "Maybe ifyou got married, you'd stop being such an asshole." " Cigar?" " No, thanks." " Let me know ifyou change your mind." " I will." "I'll get it nice and juicy foryou." "This is where you separate the men from the boys." "Easy." "Easy." "There you go." "Yeah, I got you now." "Happy birthday!" "I hope you're hungry." "You should see the toast." "I couldn't get it through the door." "Announcement here." "There's going to be a delay on the clown." " What clown?" " Miles' mom hired a clown." "You don't like clowns?" "Yeah, about fiive years ago." "Now they're so boring... they make me puke." "The vest, the flower." "Screw them." "That's all they get." "I'm Pooter the Clown." "Put it there." "Kids will love that." "I didn't orderyou." "My sister-in-law did." "She's not here." "I'm the uncle." " Buck Russell's the name." " I'm sorry I'm late." "I was at this all-night bachelorette party." "Need any dildojokes?" "I'm the guy!" "Did you have a few drinks this morning?" "I thinkyou did, didn't you?" "Are you Mother Cabrini?" "You never touch the stuff?" "No, but I wouldn't be drinking if I was gonna entertain some kids." "I don't have to take any shit from you." "You know who I am?" "In the fileid of local, live home entertainment, I'm a god!" "Get in your mouse and get out of here." "Let me tell you something, you lowlife... lying, four-flushing sack ofshit." "Let's go out to the car." "Why?" "What do you mean "why"?" "Not now." "It's fii ne." "It's not fii ne." "Why not?" "I don't feel right yet." "You ever going to feel right?" "I don't get where we're going." "I told you 25 times." "We're going to pick up Tia." " She's eating at a cheerleader's house." " So she says." "Since when do cheerleaders live in the woods?" "I'll take you home." "I don't want to go home." "I'm okay." "Sure?" "Trust me." "Shit!" "Well, well, well." "They are scraping the bottom of the barrel for cheerleaders these days." "What are you doing here?" "We were going out for ice cream." "Thought you might like tojoin us." "I said I'd be home at 1 0:00." "It's not even 9:00." "Who said anything about that?" "I thought you'd like tojoin us for ice cream." "Maybe your "Bug" here can join us." "We can talk about burying the hatchet." " Do you know what a hatchet is, Bug?" " It's an ax?" "Sort of, yeah." "I got one in the car ifyou'd like to see it." " I'll pass." " Fair enough." "I like to carry it." "You never know when you're going to need it." "A situation may come up." "For example, someone's been drinking... and about to drive a loved one home." "Then I like to know I have it." "Not to kill, no." "Just to maim." "Take a little off the shoulder." "The elbow." "Shave a little meat... off the old kneecap." "You got both kneecaps?" "I like to keep mine razor-sharp." "Sharp enough to shave with them." "I've been known to circumcise a gnat." "You're not a gnat, are you, Bug?" "Wait a minute." "Bug." "Gnat." "Is there a similarity there?" "Whoa, I think there is." "You understand what I'm talking about?" "I don't thinkyou do." "I'll be right back." "I'm sorry." "I thinkyou'd better split." "I don't want him going berserk with an ax on me." "He's all talk." "Here it is!" "Come on over!" "I want to show it to you." "Maybe later." "He's gone in a few days." "Just relax." "I'll get him back." "That's a stupid thing to do during flu season." "I bet she's getting the tongue." "Just looking." "Next." "Let me go in fii rst." "I'll cover foryou." "Give you more time to relax." "All right?" "Morning." "I'm Anita Hoargarth." "Buck Melanoma, Moley Russell's wart." "Not her wart." "I'm the wart." "She's my tumor, my growth, my pimple." "I'm "Uncle Wart."" "Just old Buck "Wart" Russell, they call me." "Or Melanoma Head." "They'll call me that." ""Melanoma Head's" coming." "I'm sor" " Uncle, Maizy Russell's uncle." "I'm her uncle." "Her mother set up this conference with you." "I'm assistant principal here... as you've probably noticed from the indications on the door." " This door?" " The outer door!" "The outer door." "'Cause there's nothing on this one." "That's about enough ofthat." "Sorry." "I've been an educator for 31 .3 years... and in that time, I've seen a lot of bad eggs." "I say "eggs" because at the elementary level... we are not dealing with fully-developed individuals." "I see a bad egg when I look at your niece." "She is a twiddler, a dreamer... a silly heart and she is a jabberbox." "And, frankly..." "I don't think she takes a thing... in her life or her career as a student seriously." "She's only six." "That is not a valid excuse!" "I hear that every day and I dismiss it." "I don't want to know a six-year-old who isn't a dreamer or a silly heart." "I sure don't want to know one who takes their student career seriously." "I don't have a college degree." "I don't even have a job." "Does anyone have a special story to tell about something that happened?" "My uncle was microwaving my socks... and the dog threw up on the couch for about an hour." "Honest?" "Why was your uncle microwaving your socks?" "He can't get the goddamn washing machine to work." "Blasphemer!" "Iknowagoodkid when Isee one." "Because they're aIIgoodkids... untiIdried-out, brain-deadskags Iikeyou... drag them down andconvince them they're nogood." "You so much as scowl at my niece or any other kid in this school... and I hear about it, I'm coming looking foryou." "Take this quarter." "Go downtown... and have a rat gnaw that thing offyour face." "Good day to you, madam." "Next." "Ah, yeah!" "Hi, Chanice." "This is Terry." "wait Bern" "Would you get with the program?" "Bernstein is his name." "Iforgot togiveyou the number." "Don't get mad." "I hope somebody knows what they're doing down there." "Chanice?" "Buck." "Ihate these machines." "I'mjust calling to say Imissyou." "IknowyouprobabIy don't believe it, but it's true." "No, Ihaven't been drinking." "I've been thinking a Iot aboutyou... and what we've taIkedabout thepast weeks." "Ithinkaboutyou all the time... andabout those two dimples onyourbuns." "Dimples." "What did we call them?" "The right wasLyndon andthe left wasJohnson." "No, that wasyourboobs." "No, yourboobs were Minnie andMickey." "Irememberthat because ofDisney world." "AndFeIix is what we caIIedyour" "Goddamn kids!" "Okay, come on, you, get in the house." "What are you doing out here making all this noise?" "Get in the house where you belong." "Come on!" " Who let the cat out?" " We don't have a cat." "Come on, get out." "Go on, shoo!" "Shoo!" "Open up." "Hello?" "Hi." "May I speak to Buck Russell?" "This is a friend of his." "Chanice KoboIowski." "I'm sorry, Chanice." "He's not here right now." " Can you tell me when he'll be back?" " He went out with Marcie." "The lady who lives across the street." "They usually stay out pretty late." "Do you want to leave a message?" "No, there's no message." "No message." "Hot!" " Is there a big sexy guy in here?" " Please don't let it be true." "Oh, my God!" "What are you doing?" "The laundry." "What's it look like?" "Washing machine's still broken so I thought I'd use the microwave." "Nuke them up." "Heats them up pretty good." "It kills the germs and odors that they cause." "You don't know what you're doing." "You're bored out ofyour mind." "You need adult supervision." "Excuse me?" " Come on." " I don't want to dance." "I don't feel like it." "I'm not a dancer." "This is ridiculous." "I'm not gonna leave unless you do." "Okay." "One dance." "That's it." "I really have to take a nap and" "One dance." "That's it." "What's this?" "Come on." "The dog is watching." "What are you doing?" "Is that dirty dancing?" "Isn't that where you get the girl by the neck and dip her?" "Remember that?" "Dips." "Dips." "Am I bleeding?" "Will you get off?" "My back!" "Hello!" "I mean it." "This is fun, isn't it?" "I guess." "My aerobic workout today." "Heart's beating like a rabbit here." "Hi, Chanice." "Surprise!" " This is" " Marcie." "Yeah, Marcie." "And she lives across the road." " She came over to" " Shut up, Buck." "That's a good idea." "Is this who you were out with last night?" "What?" "I didn't go out last night." "Honest!" "Honest!" "I'm telling you the truth." " You son ofa bitch!" " Don't say that." "Don't walk away." "Chanice!" "Come here!" "Come here, hon." "Wait!" "Wait." "Let me explain." "Chanice, I'm warning you." "You're wrecking the driveway." "Come on!" "I love you!" "What flew up her nose?" "You better go home." "Okay, Marcie?" "Pick up your records." "The party's over." "So, I'll just go home and wait for the Federal Express man." "Good night, Uncle Buck." "Good night, sweetheart." " Uncle Buck?" " Yeah?" " Got a minute?" " I got lots of minutes." "Now everything's okay with my grandpa, I want to go out tomorrow night." "You can go crazy after I leave." "Until then, I'm not letting you out." " You can't fii nd any way to be cool?" " You mean easy?" "No." " I mean decent!" " You mean blind." "Who are you trying to score points with?" "My parents?" "How many times have they had you here since we moved?" "Try none, until they went up shit creek and got stuck." "Get used on your parents' time." "Yeah?" "Have a bad day today?" "It hurts when someone screws with your life, doesn't it?" "Last call." "There you go." "A little foryou, a little for me." "Boy!" "People used to say to me, "Buck, you are one lucky son ofa bitch." "You got it made, Buck."" "And I did." "They'd say, "Man, look at you." "You don't have any kids, any wife." "You don't have a desk, an offiice." "You don't have a boss to worry about."" "They were right." "I had it made." "Only thing now is, Perce... nobody says that anymore." "Oh, boy." "But... it'll all be better tomorrow." "It always is." "Because tomorrow, we go to the track... win some dough, some serious dough." "Make a lot of money tomorrow, kiddo." "Want a little pretzel with your beer?" "U.B. went to school to pickyou up." "Tell U.B. when he gets home that he lost." "Okay?" "Lost what?" "Just tell him." "He'll know what it means." "I'll see you guys Sunday." " What day is today?" " Friday." " You know what that means." "Jumbo party." "You can put that on a platter and serve it up hot." "U.B.'s home." "Tia?" "Tia!" "You guys seen Tia?" "She took a breeze." "And she promised me she was going to look afteryou guys this evening." "She promised me!" "So much for promises." "Does anyone in this house know how to keep a promise?" "I know you two do." "I had somewhere important to go tonight." "This is how I make my living." "This was very important to me." "My whole year was based on tonight." "It may be peanuts to your dad, but it's my living." "I have no choice." "I don't care what your parents will say." " I have to take you with me tonight." " Where?" "To a racetrack." "Here we go." "Do you have to go to the bathroom?" " You sure?" " Yep." "This is going to be fun." "Beautiful horses, interesting people." " And we'll win some serious coin?" " Sometimes." "That's not the real reason people go there." "People go... because ofthe beautiful horses... and colorful jockeys, and" "Bug picked up Tia?" "She said she was going to a party." "She said she'd be back Sunday." "Must be a slumber party." "Hop in the back." "Get your belts on." "Let her go to a party all weekend!" "She's old enough to know better." "She doesn't listen to anybody anyway." "Damn kids." "Yeah?" "Kobolowski Tires." "Hi." "It's me." "Can't you ever take a hint?" "It's not about me." "I got a problem at the house." "Ineedsomebody to watch the kids." "No, I'll tell you what you need." "Your horse fiixer's in town and you need to get to the track." "I ran into Rog." "He told me all about it." "The idiot hadthe nerve to ask me fora Ioan." "What, you can't take children when you're going to cheat on a horse race?" "You got some religion out there in the 'burbs?" "I came close." "I had them in the car." "Can we put our personal problems aside?" "Tia took off on me." "I was supposed to pick her up after school." " She wasn 't there." " She ran away?" "I guess." "I don't know." "She's 1 5." "She's angry." "She's confused." "AndIneedto findher." "Can you help me?" "I'm reaIIystuck." "All right." "I will help you because there's kids involved." "But as far as you and I are concerned... it is over." "However it has to be." " I'll be there." " Thankyou." "For what it's worth, I'm sorry." "Your car's on fii re." "No." "It'sjust a little oil." "I'm looking for a party somewhere around here." "That's on Totowa Lane." "My niece is there." " Our son is there." " Kids!" "I don't thinkyou ought to go in there with that hat on." "They'll kill you." "Really?" "Thanks for the tip." "I'm supposed to come over and watch you." "Hi." "I'm Chanice Kobolowski." "I'm Uncle Buck's friend." "May I see your driver's license?" "Yeah." "Sure." "Good idea." "Wait." "I got it." "See." "Look." " Please take it out." " Take it out?" "You okay?" "What's the matter?" "Coming through." "How you doing?" "Having a good time?" "Have you seen a guy named Bug?" "I'm Tia Russell's uncle." "You know Tia?" "No?" "She's kind of new." "I'm her uncle." "You haven't seen the Bug around here, have you?" "Nice guy." "Hey, come back here with that!" "How you doing?" "Anybody seen Bug around here?" "Hey, nice music." "Who is that, the Grass Roots?" "I'm kidding." "I know my music." "Stop it, please." "What the hell is that?" "Hey, party time!" "Let's get down here!" "You seen Bug around here?" "You seen Bug?" "That's good stuff." "Keep it up." "Nice work." "How you doing?" "Excuse me." "Crowded, huh?" "I don't want to do this." "Just relax." "Hello, young fellow." "I'm Tia Russell's uncle, Buck Russell." "Have you seen the Bug around?" "No?" "I'm looking for him." "You're Tia Russell's uncle?" "Really?" "Hey, give me that!" "Take my hat, you punk!" " Don't mention it." " All right, Pop." "You haven't seen a guy named Bug, have you?" "Everybody knows Bug." "Hip guy." "Let me through, will you?" "Your mother know you do that?" "This room's taken." " I want to go." " No, you don't." "That door opens, I'm going to kick somebody's ass!" "Did you hear me?" "You were right." "Everything you said would happen happened." "I don't want to talk about it." "I just want to get you home." "Is this a trick?" "No." "You know what happened?" "Yeah." "Are you going to tell my parents about everything that's been going on?" "No." "Thanks." "I've been riding your butt all week about how you live your life." "I realized maybe somebody should have been riding mine." "I'm probably the last guy in the world you'd want to help... but I really could use your advice vis-a-vis Chanice." "I've been... stringing her along for about eight years now." "Maybe you could fii gure out what the hell is wrong with me." "I did such a greatjob earning your trust and admiration..." "I'm confused why I can't do the same with Chanice." "You know, there's... one family charity case... that loves you very much." "I'm sorry." "Come on." "Nothing to be sorry about." "I'm just kind of glad I got a chance to know you again." "Did you do anything to Bug?" "Oh, my God!" "What did you do?" "You shithead!" "I could have suffocated!" "Do you know what I'd like you to do?" "You could be doing both of us a favor." "I'd like you to apologize to the lady." "I'm sorry!" "Okay, asshole?" "I'm sorry!" "I don't know if I've told you this, but I'm an amateur dentist." "Oh, yes, he is." "I'm sorry." "Get him out." "Yeah?" "It was halfhearted." "We'll let him." " I'm really sorry." " I'm sure you are." " I am." " Let me get you." "There you go." "I didn't mean to hurt anybody." "There you go." "I'm sorry." " Shall we?" " Yeah." "Yeah?" "Come on back and I'll kickyour ass, man!" "Chicken shit!" "You're dead!" "Shit." "I'm going to sue your balls off, man!" "Why don't you come and get me, man?" "Come on!" "Come on, man." "I'm going to sue you and your whole family!" "Okay, pal, time for a golf lesson." "My dad's a lawyer!" "You're history!" "A little fiive wood." "What?" "What?" "What are you doing, man?" "You're history." "You're wasted." "I'm going to sue you for everything you've got!" "You're going to be broke so come and get me!" "You fat sucker!" "Yes, sir!" "You son ofa bitch!" "That hurt!" "Hey!" "I'm not sorry, all right?" "I ain't sorry for shit!" "What do you see in that guy anyway?" "I can't for the life of me fii gure that one out." "Don't answer." "You don't have to." "I appreciate the confession." "Thanks a lot." "But my problems with Buck go deeper... than a misunderstanding with a neighbor lady." "Don't you think he loves you?" "If he does, he'd never say it." "What if he did?" "Then I would suspect he needed a new set oftires." "Seriously." "Seriously, you're very sweet to talk about this." "But you don't understand the bigger picture." "Buck's a charming man who wants to remain a boy forever." "At my age, that doesn't make for a lasting relationship." "I think he'd make a wonderful husband and father." " You do?" " Oh, yeah." "My sister and brother adore him." "He really has changed since he's been here this week." "He really has changed." "He's responsible, caring... loving... and enthusiastic." " Energetic." " And energetic and decent." "Kind and" "And humble... and honest and forthright." "Sense of humor." "And he's really got a great sense of humor." "Did he put you up to this?" "No!" "No." "I'vejust gathered this from my own observations." " It'sjust the way he is." " Really?" " Really?" " Oh, yeah!" "So unlike him." "Check this out." "Hi, honey." "Is the coffee ready?" "A little thirsty." "By the way, I have told you I loved you... and it wasn't for tires, sweetheart." "It was for shocks, remember?" "Are they sweethearts or what?" "This one's smart as a whip." "I'm going to miss them like crazy." "They're beautiful children." "What happened to you?" "Recessive gene, skips every nine generations." "I got it this time." "Tragic." "It isn't so bad, is it?" "What?" "The house, the family, the kids." "Oh, yeah." "It was great." "This is great." "We should have done this a long time ago, you and I." "They're here." "What are we doing?" "Your mother... and your sister have to... sort some things out." "So we're going to be very quiet for them." "So why don't we put a button on it... and a zipper like that... and a lock." "I can't talk at all." "I throw the key away." "It's going to be real different." "I promise." "I love you." "Shit!" " Bye." " Bye, Uncle Buck." "Could I get out the door, please?" " I'm going!" " This is heavy." "Bye, Chanice." "Thanks again, Buck." "Next time you're downtown, maybe we can go out for a coffee." "We really had a good time." "I know it's ridiculous." "We did leave the house a little messy." "We tried." "We're not so good at clean." " What?" " We're going home." "We're not dying." "I'm saying good-bye." "Is that all right?" "Nice guy!" "Tell the neighbors we're sorry about having that parked in the driveway." " He's getting a new company car Monday." " The hell I am!" " It's good for another 1 00,000 miles." " Too bad you're not." "That's funny, Chanice." "See what I put up with?" "And don't drive fast." "I'm not fiixing any more tickets foryou."