ADULT ADAM: Back in the '80s,
my mom was at school as much as I was.
She berated our principal, terrified our teachers,
and embarrassed us with endless pop-ins.
But I was finally a senior,
which meant our time at William Penn was winding down,
or so I thought.
Welp, this is my stop. A fine day to you, madame.
Not so fast, mister.
You have to pay the full fare.
[NAILS CLICKING] Beep boopity boop.
Okay, that'll be three butterfly kisses and a head sniff.
You know what? Have at it.
What?
You never let me just have my way with your neck meat.
There's only 68 more drop-offs till I'm out of this place,
so I figure, why fight it anymore?
Well, a win's a win.
Now, bring that luscious noggin over to Mama.
[SNIFFS, GASPS] What the hell?
[HORN HONKS]Excuse me. What am I looking at here?
Everybody knows that Iam always in charge
of the annual bake sale.
I'm sorry, who are you?
Who am I? Who are you?
I'm Tim Johanssen's mom, Trish.
I don't need to know your name, trash.
Trish.I said what I said.
Mom, you left the car running and the door open.
I'm not going anywhere until these ugly-ass snickerdoodles
are out of my face.
Whoa! Mrs. Goldberg, these are the new freshman moms.
It's time to pass the torch.
Or I take that torch and I burn this school to the ground.
Beverly, Adam is a senior now,
and with no other offspring at William Penn,
that means, hallelujah, your time is up.
Fine, these frumpy cows can handle the bake sale.
I'll just, uh, organize the blood drive again.
Well, we're going with licensed nurses this year.
I never want to have to write the words "missing blood"
on an insurance form again.
Then I'll grab a yellow vest and be the crossing guard.
I fear that the parents and faculty
would be too tempted to run you over.
And don't forget all the kids who can drive.
Then what about librarian?Nope.
Security guard?Nuh-unh.
Lunch lady?We have Doris.
Brunch lady?Not a thing.
Janitor?Also Doris.
Oh, I know, I'll be a substitute teacher again.
I'm sorry, but all of our teaching positions
have been filled! Ha-ha!
Boom shakalaka-laka!
Boom shaka...MRS. FERGUSON: Principal Ball?
It's happening. I'm having my baby.No. No!
No, no! This is terrible timing, Mrs. Ferguson!
No!When do I start?
Damn it, I prematurely boom shakalaka'd.
[LAUGHING] Yay!
You want me! You really want me!
No! Don't let her in the building, man!
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
♪♪ I'm twisted up inside
♪♪ But nonetheless I feel the need to say
♪♪ I don't know the future
♪♪ But the past keeps getting clearer every day ♪♪
ADULT ADAM: It was February 10th, 1980-something,
and my dad was still in business
with his furniture enemy.
And as the Formica King warned him...
I'm a difficult partner.
There's my guy.
All right, question.
Who's better-looking, me or me?
I prefer the one that doesn't talk.
Oh, come on, everybody loves the Formica King.
We don't own a medieval theme restaurant.
We sell credenzas.
[CHUCKLING] Check it out, Mur.
I'm Sir Vic, the knight of this round table.
[CHUCKLES] It's an entertainment console, but you get it.
Sadly, I do.
Uh, just set it over there, guys.
What the hell is this?Only the greatest thing ever,
a giant lip couch.
Mur, lip furniture is au courant right now.
Maybe, but we're not selling it in my store.
Ah-ah-ah! Ourstore.
It was the Ottoman Empire first.
Yeah, but then I bought half the empire,
and I turned it into more of a kingdom.
And kingdoms are better than empires.
What are you talking about?
Empires are better than kingdoms.
Empires are sovereign states
controlled by a single supreme authority.
Yeah, but everybody wants to be a king.
That's true. King me, baby.
Empires control vast territories.
Point for Murray. The original Ottoman Empire
controlled Europe, Asia, and Africa for centuries.
Ha!It was, uh, ultimately defeated
by the United Kingdom.
Ha back at ya!
Why don't you know this much about end tables?
And there you have it. The lips stay.
Long live the king!
ADULT ADAM: While our dad was being conquered,
my senior year was about to be invaded
by another hostile force.[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
Good morning, class. My name is Mrs. Goldberg.
And while Mrs. Ferguson is at home nursing her new baby,
and I saw a picture, he's a chunker,
you all will be nursing at my bosom of knowledge.
You have Corbett's attention!Great.
So, where did Mrs. Ferguson leave off?
We were watching the last 20 minutes of Splash.
Why would she show you a mermaid movie?
Mom, it's senior year.
Nothing we do affects getting into college anymore.
It's classic senioritis.
Senioritis?
I want to infect you with a new disease called learn-a-rhea.
Learn-a-rhea? My brother got that on spring break.
It was no bueno.
And senioritis is a high school tradition,
just like Senior Skip Day this Tuesday.
Senior Skip Day?
Oh, hell, no!
No way, Jose. This lounge is for teachers only.
I ama teacher, but the time for lounging is no more.
Mrs. Ferguson has been showing Splash!
That is unacceptable.I know!
Iwas gonna show Splash.What's that, now?
I guess I could go with Road House.
Unh-unh, I called Road House.
I teach Spanish,
and there's nothing more caliente
than a shirtless Patrick Swayze.
Well, I teach chemistry,
and what Swayze and Kelly Lynch have
can't be found in any textbook.
So you've all just been showing movies in class?
That's right, blondie.
The seniors take their foot off the gas, and so do we.
So you know about Senior Skip Day?
You mean Teacher Ditch Day?
I'm hitting Jo-Ann Fabrics.
They have wine glasses there that say, "I'm on Cloud Wine."
I, of course, will be at the golf range
foraging for lost balls.
I can get up to 5 cents for some of those babies.
The hell you are!
My child's mind will not sit idle
while you two waste your pathetic lives
on wine and balls!
ADULT ADAM: As our mom wouldn't let anyone take it easy,
our dad was reeling
after another hard day with Formica Mike.
[DOOR CLOSES]Hey, Mur! Dolores sent me to borrow your blender.
She's making melon soup.
'Cause who don't want cold fruit stew?
Ugh. Whoa.
What's wrong with your dad?
[SIGHS]I know. Look at him.
I've never seen him not sit in his chair before.
And he didn't take his pants off.
I don't like this one bit.
Hey, Mur-man, wanna pop on the game?
The kids can watch what they want.
Did aliens snatch his body?
I mean, there's so many other bodies to choose from,
it makes no sense.
Hey, buddy. Little worried about ya.
For old time's sake, why don't you kick back in your old chair
and pop off those pants?Ungh.
I can't talk to you with your pants on, Mur!
Open up to me! Let's get those things around your ankles!
Get your hands off me!
I hate Formica Mike.
He's supposed to be a 50-50 partner,
and he never listens to anything I say.
I could tell by your sad, hollow gaze
that this was about a relationship.
I'm not in a relationship with Formica Mike, moron.
It's a business relationship,
and just like any new relationship,
there's always a lot of kinks to work out.
Geoff's right. It took us a long time
to establish our dynamic of me being me
and Geoff being the bucket I dump all my emotions into.
And what works great for us might not work for you.
The key is communication.
Kid's right. I tell Dolores everything.
Except that I hate her melon soup
and Debra Winger wasn't my high school girlfriend,
though I think she knows.
Guys, don't bother. For all his angry bluster,
he's terrible at confrontation. It's hopeless.
Or hope-stuffed.
Barry, no! Don't just appear sucking on something
and give your terrible advice.
Is that a foot Popsicle, son?
Also has a gumball inside of it.
Point is, there's only one way to destroy a Formica kingdom.
You gotta kill the Formica King.
Don't listen to Barry. Tell the King how you're feeling.
Conquer him with emotional intimacy.
Pick something, Mur!
I can't stand that your pants are still on!
Let me just pop off that...Leave my pants alone!
I'm gonna go and do what Erica's beau says.
He's doing my thing! Although he's yet to learn my name,
so it's kind of a mixed bag for the win.
ADULT ADAM: And so, our dad tried his best
to open up to his business partner.
Hey, Mike, I have some feelings that...
Feelings? What are you, my kids after my first heart attack?
Well, I'd appreciate...
Here's something you'll appreciate!
I got another set of these babies.
Pucker up!
ADULT ADAM: The only thing my dad was ready to kiss
was the Formica King goodbye.
You're gonna help me, uh,
kill the King.Yes!
ADULT ADAM: As my dad and Barry dealt with a problematic partner,
I wasn't the only one who had a problem with my mom.
Principal Ball, you wanted to see me?
In fact, I did.
Dale, press play. Show the boy.
DALE: Okay.ADAM: No Way Out?
Yes way in!
Gene Siskel called it an epic thriller
with a plot twist for the ages.
And you're in for a bit of a plot twist of your own.
Greetings, class.
Kevin Costner turns out to be a Russian spy. The end.
Now, Mr. Woodburn, start teaching your students.
You know, your mother has crossed many lines,
but making us do our jobs is a bridge too far!
Guys, fire her.
Oh, no, you can't just fire Beverly Goldberg.
Yeah, it takes a lot to fire a teacher. Trust me.
She's a blonde whack-a-mole.
She'll just pop right back up somewhere else.
Just find her a job outside the classroom
with no real authority.
There's nothing.
Unless...
Unless what? I'm desperate here, man.
I got the endothermic process coming up on the syllabus.
I don't know what the [BLEEP] that is!
I could make her Quaker Warden!
Quaker what?It's an archaic position
in charge of enforcing Quaker values.
It hasn't been filled in this school for 87 years.
Here is the last one.[BOOK THUMPS LIGHTLY]
The late, great Eunice D. Eunice.
Is that a scar on her face?It's a smile.
But Quaker Warden sounds pretty lofty.
Are you sure you want to give my mom any power?
Here's the genius of it all.
It can take forever to get your certification.
She'll be gummed up in Quaker red tape for so long,
all of us will be long dead before she gets in.
Death! The final victory!
I don't know. I think she'll see right through this one.
Whoo-hoo! I'm the Quaker Warden!
Not quite yet. Uh, first, you have to be ordained
by the Fellowship of Friends in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Oh, that's a bit of a hike.
And then there's the reading of the parchments
from the three volumes of the Books of Discipline.
And I would find those...
Library of Congress, by appointment only.
Wow. Well, that's a difficult set of hoops to jump through,
so I better get started. [LAUGHS]
Look out, everybody!
Quaker Warden-elect coming through!
Game. Set. Ball!
ADULT ADAM: At least, that's what we thought,
but Beverly Goldberg always finds a way to get things done.
Good morrow, William Penn.
Newly certified Quaker Warden at your service.
But it's only been one day.
The Quaker Fellowship of Friends was happy to certify me
to get me out of their flat, dull hair.
So what happens now?
First order of business,
no gum, chewing wax, or taffy.
[SPITS]
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
I think I might have screwed up.
You think?
That was a fresh piece of Hubba Bubba.
Aaah.
ADULT ADAM: Principal Ball had tried to reduce my mom's role at school.
Instead, he gave her unlimited power.
Hands were intended for prayer, not pockets.
Short pantaloons must be one egg above the knee. Go change.
Friend Dave Kim, might I suggest
an activity better for your body and character,
such as a game of Toad in the Middle,
Buttons, Buttons, Buttons, or Please, Mr. Crocodile?
Those all seem really dated.
[SCOFFS] Well, look who thinks
he's better than a boy who lived in 1675.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]
Get thee to class!
ADULT ADAM: Yep, my mom was drunk with Quaker Warden power.
Meanwhile, my brother was showing my dad
how to overpower the King.
Welcome to Revenge 101,
a master class in destroying your enemies.
This is already the greatest regret of my life.
All comments will be taken after the presentation.
Just get to it.
Lesson One. Get BUFF.
But that would take a lifetime of diet and exercise
and a zest for life that your father clearly doesn't have.[CHALK SCRAPING]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, what he said.
No, the "B" is for "Bother."
Sure, teach what you know.
The "U" is for "Undermine."
You need to spread gossip, gossip, gossip, gossip.
Is he a genius or a halfwit? I can't tell.
"F" is for "Fibbing." A gentle lie can work wonders.
Get to the last "F" so I can go back up to my chair.
And the final "F," of course, is for "F.L.O.R.F."
Sakes alive! Is that an acronym within an acronym?
Please, I don't even know what an acronym is.
All right, I'm pulling the plug on this.
My anger for Formica Mike clouded my judgment.
So, you'll try talking to him again?
Nah, but I do have a plan to get rid of those couches for good.
Come on, Bill, let's go.
Clear a hole!
Yeah, Bar, we're out, too,
you know, because this just made us stupider.
ADULT ADAM: While my dad was through listening to Barry,
we had no choice but to listen to my mom.
BEVERLY: [ON SPEAKERS] Good morrow, William Penn. [ CHUCKLES]
'Tis I, Friend Beverly, your Quaker Warden,
with a few quick announcements.
You may have noticed I've instructed lunch lady Doris
to replace all rice pudding with a nutrient-rich muesli.
Yummy!
Also, Senior Skip Day is canceled.
What?No Skip Day?
Dude, you have to do something about your mom.
This Quaker stuff is out of control.
I know, Dave Kim.
She said if I got one more demerit,
I have to do something called a "public butter churn."
I know, JC Spink. And I know, Corbett.
I didn't say anything.I know!
Instead, we'll be reinstating the hallowed tradition
of the Quaker morning meeting. [CHUCKLES]
A time to reflect individually and as a community.
Self-examination? I don't want to know
what's going on below my surface.
You're a dead man.
He's been my lifelong friend, but I'll hold his arms.
Guys, nobody has more issues with my mom than me.
But also no one's better equipped to handle her.
Fine. You have 33 hours.
Seems like an arbitrary time frame, but let's do it.
ADULT ADAM: As the clock was ticking,
it was time for my dad's plan to use Bill as a fake customer.
Hello, strange furniture men.
I'm interested in purchasing a couch,
and I don't know anyone that works in this store.
I got this, Mur.
Sir, you're gonna buy this beauty.
But that couch is dumb, and I hate it.
Who'd want to sit on a mouth?
Are you familiar with television bad boy Richard Grieco?
Grieco's got a mouth couch?He does.
I'm suddenly intrigued.
Are you sure? I'd think about that.
Scratch that. I have no interest
in how 21 Jump Street's Officer Booker
spends his lazy afternoons.
Well, I have something more traditional,
something that a lot of people like.
Unh-unh, not so fast.
Sir, follow me, and park your keister on this kisser.
I don't think... Wow.
That's a lot more comfort than I expected.
It's so fun and red.
Well, uh, if you like Mr. Red,
then you'll like his best friend, Mr. Brown.
Come on over here and check out this corduroy beauty.
You seem to me like you have a beautiful woman in your life.
One with gorgeous lips.
Dolores does have a sensational smoocher.
Wouldn't this piece be a testament
to your beautiful Dolores and her magnificent lips?
Man, I just came in here
looking for a place to park in front of the tube,
but you've made this red lip couch come to life with meaning.
I feel like you came in here with one couch in mind,
and you should probably stick to that.
Here's what I'm gonna do,
and this is only because I like you. Half-off.
Wow, that's a hell of a bargain!
You want a bargain?
I'll give you anything in the store for free
if you just leave now.
Hey, Billy Boy, what are you doing here?
You come to visit Mur?
What? I don't know anybody that works here.
I'm just a man off the street
who's wildly opposed to anatomical couches.
Good day.
All right, what's going on here?
[SNAPS FINGERS] I think I got it.
Mur used his buddy to make you look dumb,
but Bill crumbled under the pressure,
and now Murray feels like the dumb one.
[LAUGHS] Good for you.
I used an elaborate plan
to tell you how much I hate these couches,
and suddenly it's good for me?
Please, we're salesmen.
If we ain't lyin', we ain't livin'.
Fine. Well, then here's something that's not a lie.
I hate these couches, and I'm not gonna sell them anymore.
Fine. As soon as we sell the 20 I just ordered, then we'll see.
No, no, no, no, we're supposed to be partners.
Exactly. Even split.
Everything decided together. But I'm not budging an inch.
Then I will. I quit.
Quit? What are you talking about?
You know what? You never hear anything that I say,
so now you can have this whole kingdom to yourself.
ADULT ADAM: Finally, my dad came clean to the King.
As for me, I was ready to tell my mom she was ruining my life.
Good morrow, Schmoopie.
I've fixed you a hale and hearty breakfast of salt pork,
hardtack biscuits, and buttermilk.
Yeah, as much as I love things I can't swallow,
can you please stop with this Quaker nonsense?
Because of you, we lost Senior Skip Day.
Well, you know what's better than blowing off school?
Blowing off steam by expressing your feelings
during a Quaker morning meeting. [CHUCKLES]
You and your friends are gonna love it.
What friends? Everyone hates me now because of you.
But friendship is the cornerstone of Quakering.
I'm gonna fix this.
ADULT ADAM: Or she'd make it much, much worse.
Welcome to our first Quaker morning meeting,
where we will share our thoughts
with openness and honesty. I'll start.
Adam, please stand up.
Show off your perfect face
and well-proportioned frame.
Okay, hey. Unfortunately, I'm Adam.
Now tell the rest of the school
what pieces of [BLEEP] they are.
Unacceptable.
Okay, you want honesty? Here's some.
I hate your stupid Quaker rules!
I know change is hard, but soon you'll all come to love
these time-honored, highly restrictive traditions.
No, we won't. If I can't make out in the hallway,
in the classroom, or in the gym, where would I make out?
My car? [SCOFFS] Oh, yeah.
And if God didn't want me wearing skirts,
he wouldn't have given me a smokin'-hot bod.
And how can a turtleneck be too risque?
I haven't seen my own neck in years!
And we need lacrosse back!
There's no scholarships for the game of apple catch.
Although I'm sick at it.
But giving up all that stuff
focuses the mind on what's really important,
friendship, community, family, charity.
Charity?
Here's something for free.
Nobody wants you here!
Okay, that's quite enough.
Quite enough of you!
Principal Ball gave you this job so you'd get lost,
not come back and ruin all our lives!
Please, he made me the Quaker Warden
as a reward for my commitment to this school over the years.
Right, Friend Ball?
Uh, the boy nailed it. It was the "get lost" thing.
♪♪♪♪
BEVERLY: I see.
I'll save you the trouble.
[SLOW HAND CLAPPING]
Really?
No one?
Well, I'm not gonna stop.
ADULT ADAM: Thanks to me, my mother's reign as Quaker Warden was over,
but the pain of that rejection was just settling in.
Hey.
I just wanted to say...
No.
You don't have to say anything.
I get it. Once again, Beverly Goldberg has screwed up your life.
I mean, you did lean into the Quaker stuff pretty hard.
I know.
This school hasn't just been a part of your life,
it's been a huge part of mine.
I was so excited about having a permanent place here
that I kinda went overboard.
Kinda?
I just can't believe our time here is ending.
It is.
But that's okay.
I mean, everyone graduates, even parents.
But what's not okay is you taking away my senior year.
It's supposed to be the best time of my life.
You gotta let me have it.
Guess the Quakers weren't wrong about honesty.
You have no idea.
Come with me.
[VOICE BREAKING] Mr. Woodburn, you taught me a lot about chemistry,
but even more about being a man.
I love ya, fella.
[SOBS]
[CRYING] Y-You have no idea how much that means to me.
You... You kids are my life.
What the hell is this?
Pure, unadulterated honesty.
And it's beautiful.
Here goes nothing.
Sydney, since second grade, I've been in love with you.
Say you'll give us a chance.
In that same spirit of honesty, I have no idea who you are.
It's been incredible.
Except for Dave Kim. I mean, that was really brutal.
[SIGHING] Oh.But for the rest us,
uh, there's just so much catharsis and relief.
Maybe we've been missing some of the traditions
that make our school special.
Are you telling me you want me to stay on as Quaker Warden?
Oh, well... Well, I don't think anyone want...
I accept. I un-resign.I... I don't...
Oh, no. Mom...
Don't worry, Schmoo, I got this.
Attention! Your Quaker Warden has an important announcement!
Senior Skip Day is back on![38 SPECIAL'S HOLD ON LOOSELY PLAYING]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
ADULT ADAM: That day, thanks to my mom,
we learned honesty could bring us all closer together.
Sometimes you just have to be brave enough
to take the first step.
It's me! Formica Mike!
MURRAY: I already hate whatever this is.
Thanks for stopping by.W-w-w-w-wait.
I, uh...
I got something to say. ♪♪ You see it all around you ♪♪
Then say it!Well, it's difficult.
How is it difficult? You're always jabbering on and on,
talking over me, never listening to a word I say.
It's because I'm insecure.
You're insecure? You wear a crown all day.
Years ago, I created this persona, okay,
Formica Mike, the King, okay? And it worked.
W-What are you trying to say?
I'm trying to say that I'm just a schmuck with a plastic crown!
Please.Why do you think I wanted to partner with you?
With your business acumen and my pizzazz,
w-we're unstoppable.
Except you don't listen to...To a word you say?
You... There I go again.
See, that's my problem.
But starting now, I'm gonna be better.
I guess I could do, uh, better, too,
you know, telling you how I feel.
Yeah, it wasn't the best.
But I'll tell you what could be.
♪♪ But don't let go ♪♪You come in tomorrow,
we work this thing out together, okay? What do you say?
I say I'll see you tomorrow.
There you go! Come on!
Skin on skin, huh? [LAUGHS]
That's how you solve stuff!
ADULT ADAM: Sometimes, we take even our most cherished relationships
for granted.
Still, it's important to remember
that no matter how close you are, things change.
And those bonds get tested again and again.
But with a little heavy lifting and good communication,
there's no reason
you can't succeed beyond your wildest dreams.
♪♪ But don't let go ♪♪
♪♪♪♪
[DING]
Isn't this fun?
It's certainly red.
Oh, hell, yes!
Wait, you got one, too?
Great minds.
What the hell are you gonna do with two pairs of lips?
BOTH: Make-out sesh!
[EXHALES SHARPLY]Ooh, your lips are so pillowy.
I'm never gonna vacuum under you.
I wanna lay on you all day and read.
I'm never gonna be okay again.BARRY: Mwah! Mwah!
Mwah!Why?