Empathy No. 107
12/08/02, Levitt living rm. 11:00 AM (approx)
ELEANOR: Waiting for them to bring the tree upstairs?
RODERICK: I would have helped, but they said they didn't need me.
ELEANOR: It's not an accusation, I swear.
RODERICK: I know.
ELEANOR: So, do you have shopping left to do?
RODERICK: Do I need to buy presents for everyone?
ELEANOR: I'm just kidding you. No one expects anything like that. But I thought...I don't know, maybe you wanted to get something for your girlfriend.
RODERICK: Or something for you?
ELEANOR: I don't expect you to get a gift for me.
RODERICK: Maybe I want to.
ELEANOR: Well, I'm just letting you know that if you do want to buy something for...anyone at all, I can take you shopping. I can give you some help - I don't know Carlie very well, but I think I remember what girls that age like.
RODERICK: You're giving me a hint.
ELEANOR: I know, not very subtle. I'd ask you what you want, but I know what you'll say. So I guess I'll have to surprise you, huh?
LLOYD: ...Watch the door, don't drop it.
JASON: I got it, Dad.
LLOYD: Clear the way, everyone. Tree's coming up.
ELEANOR: Look at the size of this thing!
LLOYD: Hope you're not too disappointed that we don't have a real one. We tried that one year, remember?
ALLISON: Yeah, it took like two months to clean the sap off of everything. All right, got the ornaments here, and Brooke's got the lights.
BROOKE: Yeah, I'm not untangling these.
LLOYD: No bickering, all right?
ALLISON: I can keep the children in line. So who's decorating this year? Jason did it last time.
JASON: ...Mom always came after me.
ALLISON: Okay, so...Dad? Is, um...is Ellie gonna do it?
LLOYD: Actually, I give this some thought already, and it seems to me that Roderick can handle this.
RODERICK: Me? I don't think I can do it by myself.
LLOYD: Well, you can get help if you want, but...you always took care of the tree in your old place, right?
RODERICK: That was just a little one.
LLOYD: You want an extra hand?
ALLISON: ...I can help out, if you want.
RODERICK: Okay, that's...that's good. Thanks.
LLOYD: Okay. There's a couple more boxes in the basement, why don't we get those up while Roderick and Allison work on this?
ALLISON: We've got a little, like, stepladder if you want it.
RODERICK: ...Um, yeah, that would help.
ALLISON: You okay?
RODERICK: Sorry, just lost there for a second.