Family Album USA: Episode 16 - Full of Surprises
Act I
In the first act, a letter arrives for Grandpa. Pete Waters is an old friend of Grandpa's. In the letter, Peter invites Grandpa to a reunion, a time to see their old friends again. Will Grandpa go to the reunion?
| Robbie | The mailman just dropped some mail in our box Grandpa. |
| Grandpa | Probably a lot of advertising and bills. Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail? |
| Robbie | You were right, Grandpa. Advertising, bills, bills, advertising. |
| Grandpa | Yes. It's just like I said, Robbie. Nothing interesting. |
| Robbie | You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr.Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter. |
| Grandpa | Oh, it must be a bill. |
| Robbie | I don't think so. The return name and address is Pete Waers, RFD Number 1, Chesterton. |
| Grandpa | You're joking.Pete Waters? |
| Robbie | Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton. You know him? |
| Grandpa | Do I know Pete Waters? You bet I do! He was my roommae in college. He visited with Grandma and me in Florida about five years ago. |
| Robbie | What does he say? Is he OK? |
| Grandpa | Yeah, he's fine. Just fine. He's writing to invite me to spend a weekend with him at his farm. He's planning a get-together with two or three other college friends. The dindof a fifty-year anniversary reunion. |
| Robbie | Sounds like fun. Fifty Years?Wow! |
| Grandpa | It sounds like fun to me, too, Robbie. |
| Robbie | What kind of farm does he have? |
| Grandpa | I've never been three, Robbie, but he has chickens and cows and all. That means fresh eggs and fresh milk. |
| Robbie | Does he have a family? |
| Grandpa | No, he doesn't fobbie. He never married. He's not as lucky as I am to have a family and grandchildren . I'm a lucky man. |
| Robbie | How come he never got married? |
| Grandpa | That's a good question, Robbie. A very good question. He never married because the girl he was in love with in college married someon else. As simple as that. He never got over it. |
| Robbie | He must have loved her very much. |
| Grandpa | Yes. Very much. Lillian Winters. She was in our class. |
| Robbie | And what happened? |
| Grandpa | She was in love with Donald McGrath, the quarterback on our football team. |
| Robbie | Football players are always plpular with the ladies. |
| Grandpa | She liked Pete, and they went to dances together. But her heart was with Donald. |
| Robbie | Did he ever get over it? |
| Grandpa | No, he never did. |
| Robbie | Where is she today? |
| Grandpa | I don't know. Maybe Lillian will be at the reunion. |
| Robbie | You think so? |
| Grandpa | Pete's full of surprises. |
| Robbie | I wish I could go there with you, Grandpa. What do you think the surprise will be? |
| Grandpa | With Pete, you never know, Robbie. |
| Robbie | Won't it be exciting to see all your college friends there again? |
| Grandpa | It is already. I'm kind of excited about going now. Next weekend...sleep over Friday and Saturday night and come back Sunday. I can't wait! |
| Robbie | Don't you think you ought to call Pete and tell him you're coming? |
| Grandpa | You're reading my mind, Robbie. |
Act II
In the second act, Grandpa is traveling to Pete Waters' farm. When he stops for gasoline, the man of the gas station gives him directions for a shortcut — a shorter road to Pete's farm. Later, a farm worker gives Grandpa more directions. Will Grandpa ever find the farm?
| Attendant | Hello. What can I do for you? |
| Grandpa | Hi. Fill'er up. I need a full tank. |
| Attendant | Check the hood? |
| Grandpa | No, thanks. |
| Attendant | Whereabouts are you headed? |
| Grandpa | Pete Waters's farm, near Chesterton. |
| Attendant | I know it well. Pete Waters' lived around here almost as long as I have. |
| Grandpa | How long is it going to take for me to get there? |
| Attendant | About fifteen minutes. There's a shortcut-is you know it. |
| Grandpa | No, I don't. Could you tell me how to use the shortcut? |
| Attendant | Sure. You take the next left turn. You'll see a stop sign. Make a right at the stop sign. Stay on that road, and you'll cross a blue bridge. Then you'll see a big old red bam. That's the back of Pete Waters's place. |
| Grandpa | That's quite a difference from the directions that Pete sent me. |
| Attendant | Now, if you take that route, it's probably a lot simpler, but it'll take you ten minutes longer. |
| Grandpa | OK. Let me repeat it. I take the next left turn to the stop sign. Then a right across a blue bridge, and then a big red barn. |
| Attendant | Can't miss it. |
| Grandpa | How much do I owe you? |
| Attendant | Well, that'll be eighteen dollars and seventy cent. No charge for the cleanup. It's on the house. |
| Grandpa | Well, here's a twenty. |
| Attendant | Ah. OK. That's a dollar and thirty cents change. Thee we go... will mae twenty. Thanks. |
| Grandpa | Thank you. And thanks for the directions. |
| Grandpa | This must be Peteps barn.Turn right to the house. Hi. |
| Worker | Hi. What can I do for you? |
| Grandpa | Is this the Pete Waters farm? |
| Worker | It is. |
| Grandpa | I'm a friend of Pete's . I'm looking for the house. |
| Worker | It's just over yonder. Keep along this road till you get to the end of the fence. You'll see the chicken. His house is on the left. |
| Grandpa | Well, thanks. |
| Grandpa | "have gone to the railraod station. Back soon with a surpris. Make yourself at home. Have a look around.Pete."Same old Pete Waters. Always full of surprises. |
Act III
In the third act, Grandpa sees two of his old friends, Peggy Peddleton and Arnold Franklin. A little later, Pete arrives. What's the surprise?
| Amold | Don't tell me. Please don't tell me. I recognize you... |
| Peggy | Oh, don't be silly, Arnie. Of cours you recognize him.Except for the beard, he hasn't changed in fifty years. It's Malcolm Stewart! |
| Amold | I know it's Malcolm Stewart. You haven't changed much in fifty years. |
| Grandpa | Peggy-Peggy Pendleton! You're Peggy Pendleton! |
| Amold | Who am I, you old rascal? You don't recogrize me, do you? |
| Grandpa | I know who you are. You're Amold Frandlin! I know who you are! |
| Peggy | You look wondrful, Malcolm! |
| Grandpa | Sit down.Pete isn't home. |
| Amold | Really? |
| Grandpa | No.He left a note on the door saying he was going to the railroad station to pick up a surprise. |
| Peggy | He's so funny. Always full of surprises, even fifty years later. |
| Grandpa | The two of you look unbelievable! |
| Amnold | How's your family? Oh, I was sorry to hear about your wife having passed away. |
| Grandpa | Yes. About four years ago. |
| Peggy | And you're living with your children now? In New York? Pete wrote us and told us. |
| Grandpa | Yup. Retired and moved to New York to live with my son and his family. |
| Peggy | By the way, what do you think this big surprise is? |
| Amold | It could be most anything, knowing Pete. |
| Grandpa | Hey, that must be Pete! Now we'll find out about the surprise. |
| Pete | So good to see you all! |
| Peggy | Oh, pete, Pete! Oh, It's so good to see you! |
| Pete | Remember Lillian? |
| Lillian | I remember all of you. You haven't changed a bit. |
| Peggy | Lillian! Oh, my gosh! |
| Amold | Lillian Winters. We were together in the Tursday night drama society. |
| Lillian | Remember me, Malcolm? |
| Grandpa | Oh, beautiful as ever, Lillian. How's Donald? |
| Lillian | That's OK, Malcoml. Donald Passed away a couple of years ago. |
| Amold | Sorry to hear that, Lillian. |
| Peggy | Oh, I'm so sorry. |
| Amold | I would not have missed this get-toegther for the world! |
| Grandpa | And your little surprise, Pete? You really surprised me by having us all come together. |
| Pete | You don't know what the surprise is yet? Come on! We'll tell you the big surprise. |
| Pete | I've invited you here for the weekend to help celebrate. |
| Peggy | Celebrate? |
| Grandpa | Our fiftieth reunion? |
| Amold | No. |
| Lillian | No. Pete wants to tell you... |
| Pete | Now, let me have the honor, Lillian. |
| Grandpa | For goodness sake, Pete, tell us! I can't wait much longer. |
| Pete | Well, I am pouring this iced tea so that we can toast Lillian-and me. |
| Peggy | You don't mean to tell me that you and... |
| Pete | Yes, I do. I have loved Lilian all these years, so I asked her to be Mrs.Pete.Waters. |
| Lillian | And I said yes. |
| Grandpa | I knew it! Congratulations! |
| Peggy | Oh, Linlian, I am so happy for you both. |
| Amold | It's wonderful! |
| Pete | It's wonderful for me. Lillian will make me a happy manfinally. |
| Grandpa | You are full of surprises, Pete. |
| Pete | We are going to spend the entire weekend having a good time together here on the farm. We are going to celebrate all weekend. |
| Peggy | When is the wedding? |
| Pete | That's another surprise. Lillian and I were married two weeks ago in Detroit. She's come here to stay. |
| Grandpa | Wait till I tell my family about this! |
| Peggy | Why, that's wonderful! |
More information about Family Album USA video series at Family Album USA.
