Tina is concerned about her finances. (The cost of her false eyelashes has gone up.) Norman talks her into asking Tom for a raise. Tom reasons her claim of too small a salary with her perhaps having too many expenses. He further states that he gave her a raise last year and business has been bad at the magazine. Remembering Norman's encouragement, she gives an ultimatum of a raise or she'll quit. Learning of the news, Norman says he, too, will quit if Tina doesn't get a raise. Tom recaps things for Eddie while telling him, "being the boss doesn't mean you always do what you want to do. I do what I have to do." He also adds that business shouldn't affect their friendship. However, the next morning Tina and Norman have packed their things and quit, a tense scene between the three. Eddie is afraid they'll never see Norman and Tina again, and that everyone mad at one another seems wrong. While driving around, Eddie and Tom meet Norman and Tina at an intersection where they make awkward idle chat before symbolically going their own ways. It leaves Eddie and Tom morose. Tom tells Eddie, "sometimes people say things that they really don't mean, but don't know how to get out of it." Eddie sagely surmises they must have the same perspective about Tom and relates how they settle arguments in school- "shoe on the other foot". Eddie's teacher makes both sides switch roles to the other's point of view. Perhaps it is Eddie who will impart a valuable lesson.
Moral theme: Working out differences
Moral theme: Working out differences