IT'S A LIVING Season 1 Episode 13 You're Not Old, You're Fired
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00:00Life's not the French Riviera, believe me, Life's not a charity ball,
00:10It isn't all a great big bed of roses, It's not like showbiz,
00:18But the main thing I'm proud to be, I'm not the people I'm trying to be,
00:25We know we're doing okay, We may be less than we'll be,
00:33But we're not dead, we're young and healthy, And anyone who's young and healthy
00:42Knows that that's a way, That traffic flows,
00:51It's a living.
01:12Mario, I need those sirloins! Do you know which one he is?
01:24No, nobody does. So you might as well just relax, Jan.
01:27Relax? Who can relax under all this pressure? The restaurant changes hands,
01:30so they send in some clown who's sitting somewhere out there spying on us
01:33to see whether or not we're good enough to keep our job, and you're telling me to relax?
01:36Well, you better find a way, Jan, because this kind of behavior isn't good for you.
01:39And it isn't good for me. Am I getting crazy?
01:42Yes. Okay, I'll calm down. Tomorrow.
01:46Mario, I'm gonna get fired if I don't have those steaks.
01:49Jan, they have to cook. Right now the only thing they're good for is a black eye.
01:54Okay, Mario, I need two orders of duck. We're out of duck.
01:57Oh, well, can't you get some more? Oh, sure, I'll just call Duck Delight.
02:02What am I gonna do? I recommended the duck. I should have known we'd be out of duck.
02:06This is gonna look like my fault. Why wasn't I counting duck?
02:10Did you guys see that sunset tonight?
02:15Wasn't it beautiful? I could have just stood and watched it forever.
02:20Oh, Mario, by the way, I need two lobster tail and one rare prime rib when you get the chance.
02:25Vicki, are you aware of what's going on here tonight?
02:27Of course I am, but that shouldn't make any difference.
02:30I try to live each and every day on Earth as if it were a spot check.
02:34Why don't we all punch her out?
02:37Girls, we must keep things flowing. We're trying our best, Nancy.
02:40I know, that's what makes it so tragic.
02:42Okay, whose are these? Mine. I ordered it first.
02:45I've been working here longer. I have seniority.
02:47Wait, Mario, can't we make this trot a tad more attractive?
02:51Oh, sure, I'll put a wig on it.
02:53Remember, Lois, attitude, posture, friendly service.
02:57Mario, can you mash up a steak? Absolutely not.
03:00I guess the guy's going to have to go home and find his teeth.
03:03Cassie, Cassie, what can I do to get you to smile out there?
03:06Stay in here.
03:14Boy, am I wiped out.
03:16I smiled so much, I sprayed my face.
03:19If they fire me, they're going to have to wake me up to do it.
03:22If they fire me, they're going to have to find me. I've got a date.
03:27Yo, damsels.
03:29Well, was I great?
03:32Was I fine?
03:34Was I okay?
03:36Sonny, you were okay.
03:37Just okay?
03:39Hello, ladies. And Sonny.
03:41Why'd you single me out?
03:44Well, I'm sure you'll all be interested to know that I've just had a little chat with Mr. Steadman,
03:47who did this evening's spot check.
03:49Which one was he?
03:50Swordfish on seven.
03:52That was me. I waited on him.
03:54Oh, he's a mean man.
03:56He hates sunsets.
03:58If I may continue.
04:00Generally, Mr. Steadman was quite pleased, but he did have a few notes.
04:03He'd prefer our napkins in the scroll fold rather than the traditional fan.
04:07And there will be one personnel change.
04:14Oh, give a guy a chance.
04:16Sonny.
04:17Oh, Nancy, show business is my life.
04:18Sonny, you still have your job.
04:20Oh, thank you, thank you.
04:22Nancy, who got fired?
04:24I did.
04:28Oh, look, I...
04:30I got a split.
04:32Nancy, what can I say?
04:36Remember.
04:37Although our paths may never cross again,
04:40keep a smile on your lips,
04:42a song in your heart,
04:44and drive carefully.
04:48Nancy, did he tell you why they fired you?
04:51Yes.
04:52They don't want me anymore.
04:54They weren't satisfied with my work.
04:56I don't believe it.
04:57You were so wonderful with the customers.
04:59I thought so, too.
05:00Oh, I, for one, am shocked.
05:03Well, what is life but a series of cruel surprises?
05:06Well, I guess I'd better go gather up my things.
05:09I wish I could think of something to say.
05:12I think we should all tell Nancy how we really feel about her.
05:16I mean, all the good times we've had.
05:22Oh.
05:26That was touching.
05:28Nancy, Nancy, wait.
05:30I just want you to know it won't be the same here without you.
05:34Look, I know we haven't always gotten along,
05:37but none of us wanted this to happen.
05:40Thank you, Jan.
05:41By the way, Lois,
05:42Mr. Stedman would like you to take over as hostess
05:45until they can find a suitable replacement.
05:47You start tomorrow.
05:48Tomorrow?
05:49Didn't they even give you some notice?
05:51Oh, yes.
05:52The corporation was generous enough to give me two weeks,
05:54but I've decided to leave immediately.
05:56I may be lacking in some areas,
05:58but I do still have my pride.
06:00Nancy, we really are going to miss you.
06:04I'm going to miss you, too.
06:06And Dot, your neckband is twisted.
06:14Fine.
06:20All right, who's next?
06:23Isn't that your job?
06:25No, you're right. It is.
06:27Let's see.
06:28Newman. Is there a Newman here?
06:31No, they left to get something to eat.
06:33Ah, okay.
06:35Now, you two must be next.
06:38Yes, we are.
06:39And my mother's not getting any younger.
06:41I'm just terribly sorry.
06:42Just hold this for me.
06:44Please.
06:47Okay.
06:48Here we are.
06:49Oh, wait a minute.
06:50I can't seat you here.
06:51I have people coming in ten minutes.
06:52How about right over...
06:54No, people are sitting there.
06:55Uh, excuse me.
06:57Would you two like some company?
06:58No, you wouldn't.
06:59Okay.
07:00Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to do.
07:01Why don't you sit here,
07:03and then if these other people come in,
07:04uh, I'll move you.
07:06Excuse me.
07:07Lois?
07:08Yeah?
07:09See this?
07:10This is a dollar.
07:11This is my tip on a $60 check.
07:13And you know why?
07:14They were cranky, Lois.
07:15And you know why they were cranky?
07:16They had to wait 45 minutes to get their seats,
07:18and you want to get it together
07:19because you make life a lot tougher for the rest of us.
07:26Mario, where's Jan?
07:27She's in the lounge.
07:28Oh, I didn't tell her she could take a break.
07:30I can't do this job.
07:32I can't get anybody to listen to me.
07:34Lois, don't be so hard on yourself.
07:35You're doing a good job.
07:37Oh, Mario, I want to do a great job.
07:39That's too bad.
07:40That's too bad.
07:44Jan.
07:45Uh, Jan, dear, could you please take care of table 5?
07:47It's Ellen.
07:48Oh, okay.
07:49He did?
07:51He did?
07:53You did?
07:55This is so cute.
07:56Yeah.
07:57Jan, you have customers.
07:58This is so cute.
08:00I don't care how cute it is.
08:01You still have customers.
08:02Hold on.
08:03Lois, can I take my break now?
08:05Yeah, fine.
08:06Of course, if it isn't a good time to take my break,
08:07I could take it later.
08:08Vicki, take your break.
08:09Take two breaks.
08:10Just leave me alone, please.
08:11Why?
08:12You're trying to help someone.
08:14Sweetheart, I'm going to have to call you back later.
08:16The hostess is here.
08:18Bye-bye.
08:19Jan, you cannot be back here during business hours
08:21making personal calls.
08:22Lois, I took five minutes out to talk to my daughter.
08:25Well, Nancy would have fired you for that.
08:27Nancy would have fired who?
08:28Jan.
08:30Nancy was always firing Jan.
08:34Nancy would have had things running so smoothly
08:36that I could afford to take five minutes out
08:38to talk to my daughter.
08:39So I'm not Nancy.
08:40You're telling me.
08:42Jan.
08:43Lois, there sure are a lot of people out there
08:45waiting for tables.
08:46Can't you seat them?
08:47I don't know what tables you have reserved.
08:48Yeah, I don't know what tables I have reserved either.
08:50How did Nancy ever do this job?
08:52Well.
08:54I know.
08:56She didn't deserve to be fired.
08:57She deserved a medal.
08:58I almost wish you were here now.
09:00Yeah, I can see her coming in the door.
09:02She'll find billowing around,
09:03her menus clutched to her bosom,
09:04yelling, there's no one out on the floor.
09:08She'd be right.
09:09There is no one out on the floor.
09:18I don't believe Lois.
09:19She calls everybody in early.
09:20She hasn't even gotten here yet.
09:22Maybe it was a trick to get me here on time.
09:25I'm sure she had a very good reason for doing it.
09:27Yeah?
09:28Like what?
09:30I said I was sure she had a good reason.
09:32I didn't say I knew what it was.
09:35Hi, everybody.
09:36Hello.
09:37Hi.
09:38Thanks for coming in early.
09:39This better be good.
09:40It is.
09:41I know why Nancy was fired.
09:43And with what I found out last night,
09:44she can have her job back in a flash.
09:46She can get a job back?
09:47With what I know, absolutely.
09:49Do me a favor.
09:50Take that information with you to your grave.
10:02That's why you called us in early?
10:04To tell us why Nancy got fired?
10:05Yeah.
10:06Gee, and I thought it was important.
10:08I can hear what it is.
10:09Last night after you guys left,
10:11I'm sitting here trying to make some sense
10:12out of my reservations book.
10:13Any luck?
10:15When in walks Stedman, the hatchet man,
10:17and he says hi, and I say hi,
10:19and he says how are things going,
10:20and I say don't ask.
10:21Anyway, to make a long story short...
10:23You haven't yet.
10:25I am getting to it.
10:27Well, one thing leads to another,
10:28and suddenly he asks me
10:29if I want to take the job as permanent hostess.
10:32You're kidding.
10:33That's what I said.
10:34Because after all, I am pretty inexperienced.
10:36You're horrible.
10:39But he says that that's no problem.
10:41So then I tell him how I have trouble
10:42cracking the whip with you guys,
10:43and he says that's no problem.
10:45And then I tell him, you know,
10:46I lose my temper with the customers,
10:47and he says even that is no problem.
10:49What is the problem?
10:51The problem is when I say to him,
10:54how do I know that you won't fire me
10:55for the same reason that you fired Nancy?
10:58He chuckles and says to me,
11:00that is a problem that you won't have to worry about
11:02for years and years.
11:04Get it?
11:09They fired Nancy
11:10because they think she's too old for the job.
11:13After that story, I'm too old.
11:16That's age discrimination.
11:17Isn't that against the law?
11:19Yeah, and it's also not fair.
11:21Yeah, whoever said life was fair?
11:23A man gets gray hair and wrinkles,
11:24he gets character.
11:25A woman gets gray hair and wrinkles,
11:26she gets old.
11:27Why is that?
11:28Who knows?
11:29Someone somewhere once decided
11:31that lines on a man's face
11:32show he has experience.
11:33Women are not supposed to have experience.
11:35Then where are all these men
11:36getting all this experience?
11:39Guys, I think we owe it to Nancy
11:40to go and tell her
11:41in case she wants her job back.
11:43No, I don't want her back.
11:45Would you rather have Lois?
11:46No.
11:48Hey, I don't want this job,
11:49but believe me,
11:50they could hire somebody
11:51a lot worse than Nancy.
11:52There is nobody worse than Nancy.
11:54I say we don't tell her.
11:56Yeah, I mean, what good would it do?
11:57It's not going to make her any younger.
11:59We'll hate ourselves
12:00if we don't tell her the truth.
12:01And we'll hate ourselves
12:02if we get her to come back.
12:04What about hating each other
12:05if we make the wrong choice?
12:07Okay.
12:08Let's have a secret ballot.
12:09That way, no one will know
12:10how anyone votes
12:11and we can't blame anybody.
12:12Okay.
12:13What exactly are we voting on?
12:15We are voting on
12:16whether to think of
12:17what's best for Nancy
12:18and tell her why she got fired
12:20or to think of ourselves
12:21and say nothing.
12:22So, yes, we tell her,
12:23no, we don't.
12:25Okay.
12:26One, two, three,
12:30four, and five.
12:32Okay.
12:33I got a yes.
12:34Yes.
12:35Yes.
12:36A yes.
12:37Hell, no.
12:40So much for the secret ballot.
12:43All right, we tell Nancy
12:44and if she wants to fight,
12:45then it's her fight.
12:46Okay, great.
12:48Let's go tell Nancy she's old.
13:00Lois, are you sure
13:01this is the right place?
13:02Yeah, Mario said Nancy's working
13:03in someplace called
13:04Marv's in Santa Monica.
13:05This is the only Marv's
13:06in the phone book.
13:07Nancy wouldn't work here.
13:09She wouldn't even eat here.
13:11Five for dinner?
13:12Uh, just coffee, I think.
13:14Here.
13:15That's in case you decide
13:16you want to spend some money.
13:18Uh, actually,
13:19we were looking for the hostess.
13:20I'm the hostess.
13:22And you're doing
13:23a wonderful job.
13:25Gee, thanks.
13:28Well, obviously,
13:29we've got the wrong place.
13:30You're right, let's go.
13:31Good evening, may I?
13:32Nancy.
13:33Take your order.
13:37Nancy, what are you doing here?
13:39Something that's obviously
13:40foreign to you five,
13:41waiting on tables.
13:43You're a waitress?
13:45Watch this.
13:46What'll it be?
13:48Coffee.
13:49Coffee.
13:50Coffee.
13:51Coffee.
13:52Herb tea.
13:54Five coffees.
13:56Five coffees.
13:58Gee, Nancy,
13:59we thought you'd be
14:00hostessing away
14:01at another place like ours.
14:03Well, I haven't been able
14:04to find quite the right
14:05position as yet.
14:06In the meantime,
14:07I like to indulge
14:08in certain luxuries
14:09such as food and shelter.
14:11Why don't you just
14:12collect unemployment?
14:13It's your money.
14:14Cassie, if I'm able to work,
14:15I will work.
14:16Any job,
14:17if it's done correctly,
14:18has dignity.
14:19Come on, honey, hold the load.
14:21Lomox.
14:23Well,
14:24it's been very nice
14:25chatting with you.
14:26Nancy, wait.
14:27We have something
14:28we wanted to say to you.
14:29Lois, I'm busy.
14:30Please hurry up.
14:31We know why you got fired.
14:32Good.
14:33Keep it to yourself.
14:34Wait.
14:35Uh, um,
14:36I think that I would like
14:37something to eat after all.
14:38All right.
14:39What'll it be?
14:40A cheese omelet.
14:42Tomatoes or potatoes?
14:43I'm not sure.
14:45Nancy, aren't you even curious?
14:47I don't care whether
14:48she has tomatoes or potatoes.
14:50Nancy,
14:51you were fired
14:52because you're too old.
14:53Thank you, Jan.
14:54I can't tell you how much better
14:55that makes me feel.
14:56Now will it be
14:57potatoes or tomatoes?
14:58That's age discrimination.
15:00And it's illegal.
15:02I saw it on 60 Minutes.
15:04Will there be anything else?
15:06As for tuna,
15:07pink or white?
15:08Gray.
15:09Give me egg salad.
15:11So?
15:12What are you gonna do?
15:13Nothing.
15:14Nothing?
15:15But you have the right
15:16to demand your job back.
15:17Ladies, I appreciate
15:18your coming down here,
15:19but if you'll excuse me,
15:20I have to go
15:21scrape the grill.
15:22I don't understand
15:23why you are avoiding this.
15:24Oh, Lois, give me credit.
15:26Don't you think I at least
15:27suspected that they wanted
15:28someone younger?
15:29What else could it have been?
15:31I'm perfect in every other way.
15:33Evidently, they feel
15:34that a 45-year-old woman
15:35is no longer a drawing card.
15:37Hey, I thought you said
15:38you were 42.
15:39I lied.
15:41Nancy, listen.
15:43You are the most qualified
15:44person for this job.
15:45Now, Stedman is coming down
15:46at 9 o'clock tonight
15:47to ask me if I want
15:48to keep it permanently.
15:49Why don't you just show up
15:50and tell him that you're
15:51not going to stand for this?
15:52Oh, but I am.
15:54If indeed I have reached
15:55the autumn of my hostess years,
15:57I certainly don't want
15:58to make a public issue of it.
16:00Now, I really must
16:01get back to work.
16:06I got to get back to work, too.
16:07Come on.
16:08Wait a minute.
16:09We're not going to leave already.
16:10We haven't even
16:11gotten our food yet.
16:12Cassie, you don't really
16:13want that food, do you?
16:15No, but I sure did want
16:16Nancy to wait on me.
16:19Oh, we better take care
16:20of the food.
16:21No, no, that's okay.
16:22I'll take care of it.
16:28Oh, leave a tip.
16:46No, no, please.
16:47No applause.
16:49Your continued patronage
16:50is my reward.
16:52Now, I'd like to dedicate
16:53this next number
16:54to the head honcho around here,
16:55the big cheese,
16:56the guy who makes it all happen,
16:57a fellow I like to call boss.
17:01Ringside at table 12,
17:03our Mr. Steadman.
17:06A, you're adorable.
17:07B, you're so beautiful.
17:09C, you're a cutie full of charms.
17:12Sammy.
17:13Read it.
17:14D, you're a darling.
17:15And E, you're exciting.
17:16And F, you're a feather in my arm.
17:19Mr. Steadman wants you
17:20to take a break.
17:21G, gonna take a break.
17:26I don't believe it.
17:27Lois has been over there
17:28talking to Steadman forever.
17:29How long does it take
17:30to tell a guy no?
17:32Don't look at me.
17:34I can't take this any longer.
17:35I'm gonna go over
17:36and find out what's happening.
17:39So, is everything all right
17:40at this table?
17:41If it wasn't,
17:42you'd hear about it.
17:43Thank you very much.
17:46Okay, Lois,
17:47I'm tired of trying
17:48to talk you into it.
17:49It's just that I'm so much happier
17:50being a waitress.
17:51Now, if you want to host us,
17:52Nancy Beebe's a great...
17:53Right.
17:54Look,
17:55you want to be a waitress,
17:56you be a waitress.
17:58I'll just find
17:59another pretty face.
18:01Look, why don't you get back
18:02to your job
18:03and I'll get back to mine,
18:04all right?
18:05Hello, Steadman.
18:06Miss Beebe,
18:07what are you doing here?
18:08Nancy, I'm glad you came.
18:09I hope you don't think
18:10you're gonna eat here
18:11dressed like that.
18:12I know what I look like.
18:13That animal I was employed by
18:14for the time you left
18:15until just now.
18:16I am tired and cranky
18:17and feeling every bit
18:18of my 45 years.
18:20Keep your voice down.
18:21No, I think not.
18:22I have a few things
18:23I'd like to discuss with you
18:24concerning my forced retirement.
18:26I really don't have the time.
18:27Make time, baby face.
18:30Miss Beebe,
18:31you are creating a scene.
18:32Would you rather I made a scene
18:33in here or in the kitchen?
18:36In the kitchen.
18:37Fine.
18:39All right,
18:40I'll give you five minutes.
18:41Oh, well,
18:43you will give me five minutes,
18:44will you?
18:45I have given this place
18:4615 years.
18:4715 years of juggling reservations,
18:49coaxing temperamental chefs,
18:51sobering up conventioneers,
18:53and prodding sometimes slow
18:54but good waitresses.
18:56And in that time,
18:57I've grown older,
18:58but I've also grown better
18:59like a,
19:00like a tall tree
19:01or a fine wine.
19:03I am 45 years old,
19:04do you know that?
19:05I am 45 years old.
19:07I am 45 years old,
19:08do you hear me?
19:09I am 45 years old.
19:11Good for you.
19:12Yes, yes,
19:13and good for my work
19:14because now I can bring to it
19:15charm, style,
19:16dignity, and experience.
19:18You know,
19:19you may not believe
19:20that those are the qualities
19:21that bring people
19:22into this restaurant,
19:23but they're the ones
19:24that keep them coming back.
19:25Thank you, Miss Beebe.
19:26I'll make sure we write down
19:27those gifts on your
19:28letter of recommendation.
19:33I am staying right here
19:34because there happens to be
19:35a small, bald gentleman
19:36who's been dining
19:37at this restaurant
19:38for, oh, about eight years,
19:39and in that time,
19:40we've gotten to be
19:41real good friends.
19:42Miss Beebe,
19:43I am not interested in you,
19:44and I am even less interested
19:45in your small, bald friend.
19:46Oh, yeah,
19:47but this small, bald gentleman
19:48is one of the finest
19:49attorneys in this town
19:51who's well aware
19:52that age discrimination
19:53is illegal.
19:54He's also aware
19:55that if I don't get my job back,
19:56he can sue your butt
19:57from here to Fresno.
19:59That sounds like a threat.
20:01Good,
20:02then it came out right.
20:03Will you actually
20:04take me to court?
20:05I'd carry your piggy back
20:06if I had to.
20:08How are you going to prove it?
20:09Oh, I think
20:10she'd find a witness.
20:11Or five.
20:16Well,
20:17I'd say there's nothing
20:18left to say,
20:20except welcome back
20:21to Above the Top,
20:22Miss Beebe.
20:25May I go now?
20:26Please do.
20:30I'll leave a tip.
20:35I want to say
20:36that you are all
20:37fine people,
20:38and I am
20:39I'm very grateful
20:40for your support.
20:41I'd like to thank
20:42each and every one of you
20:43individually,
20:44but as I look
20:45at you all
20:46gathered around me here,
20:47I realize
20:48there's no one
20:49out on the floor.
20:59What do you mean
21:00temperamental chefs?
21:06We're not
21:07supposed to be
21:08fun-loving.
21:10Believe me,
21:11we know
21:12we're doing
21:13okay.
21:14And I say
21:15anyone
21:16who's young
21:17and healthy
21:19knows
21:20that that's the way
21:24that traffic flows
21:27in
21:29our
21:31living.
21:36Above the Top
21:37is a production
21:38of WGBH.
21:39No part of this
21:40production
21:41was made
21:42with the support
21:43of
21:44the following
21:45sponsors.