- Buddy Lawrence: [notices Doug coming into the house] Hi, Dad!
- [grabs her workbook from Willie's hand, as Doug sifts through a stack of mail]
- Buddy Lawrence: Maybe you can help me, since Dumbo doesn't know what's he doing. I have a big test tomorrow and I'd really like to pass it.
- Doug Lawrence: [agitated] Buddy, if it's not too much trouble, would you give me a minute to catch my breath?
- [a hurt Buddy runs upstairs]
- Doug Lawrence: [apologetic] Oh, Buddy!
- [Willie walks over to Doug]
- Willie Lawrence: [awkward] Hello.
- Doug Lawrence: Hello. Guess you heard I'm a little grouchy.
- Willie Lawrence: Should I keep my distance?
- Doug Lawrence: No, I wish you'd make me a drink instead.
- Doug Lawrence: Good evening, Kate.
- [notices her setting the table for dinner]
- Doug Lawrence: And what are you doing?
- Kate Lawrence: Stealing the silver. You caught me. Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.
- Doug Lawrence: I told you, this morning, I was going to take you OUT to dinner.
- Kate Lawrence: So you did. When I didn't hear from you all day, I figured it was off.
- Doug Lawrence: Sorry. I forgot to call. I didn't have five minutes.
- Kate Lawrence: Of course, playing hockey can really keep a person on the move.
- Doug Lawrence: [confused] Playing hockey?
- Kate Lawrence: I stopped at your office. Your temporary secretary told me you were playing hockey. I presumed she met hooky.
- Doug Lawrence: [shocked] That isn't like you, Kate.
- Kate Lawrence: That's what I thought about you. And lying.
- [Doug follows Kate into the kitchen, where she gathers dishes and Doug takes a couple aspirin]
- Doug Lawrence: All right. All right, let's start over. I'm sorry if I was a little edgy.
- Kate Lawrence: A little?
- Doug Lawrence: The materials for the merger hadn't arrived, so rather than sit around the office, all day, staring at each other, Annie and I...
- Kate Lawrence: Played hooky.
- Doug Lawrence: What's so terrible about that?
- Kate Lawrence: Nothing. Therefore, I don't know why you didn't just say so in the first place.
- Doug Lawrence: I'm a human being! I made a mistake! I'm not perfect!
- Kate Lawrence: You're telling me. And everybody else around here tonight.
- Doug Lawrence: [frustrated] What's bothering you, Kate?
- Kate Lawrence: Bothering me? You took out after Buddy, the minute you came in. It was mean. You hurt her feelings. Willie managed to hold his own.
- Doug Lawrence: Well, he usually does.
- Kate Lawrence: If you're feeling guilty about having a good time today, I wish you'd knock it off.
- Doug Lawrence: Why should I feel guilty? I had a terrific time! For the first time in years, I left the office, in the middle of the day, and I enjoyed myself. I took a walk in the park, I ate a hot dog.
- Kate Lawrence: I think you mean you and Annie Laurie took a walk in the park and you, and Annie Laurie had hot dogs.
- Doug Lawrence: All right, we did. What about it?
- Kate Lawrence: Exactly. What about it?
- Doug Lawrence: Nothing.
- Kate Lawrence: I think there's something.
- Doug Lawrence: Stop it, Kate.
- Kate Lawrence: I didn't start it. I don't know what there is, but I do know there is something.
- Doug Lawrence: There isn't.
- Kate Lawrence: Then, why did you come the way you did? Snapping at everybody, trying to put as much distance between us, as you possibly could?
- Doug Lawrence: Distance?
- Kate Lawrence: I think that's what's been happening. I wish you'd cut it out, before the distance gets any greater.
- [Doug sarcastically nods his head and exits through the back door]