Party of Five (TV Series)

Happily Ever After (1996)

Lacey Chabert: Claudia Salinger

Quotes 

• Bailey Salinger : Look, I know that you guys probaly don't want to hear this... but I think we should be open to the posibility that maybe this is it for us. You know, maybe he just... split.

  Claudia Salinger : No way.

  Charlie Salinger : What do you mean split?

  Bailey Salinger : I mean, he's had enough. And he's gone. Possibly... forever. He's never coming back. He's done it before. He walked out on Mom and Grandmom without a note or reason why, and they both never saw him again. Think about it. We don't have a telephone number where we can call him in Arizona... assuming that's where he is. When he goes away, he never leaves a phone number, right? And he said that he was going to be back two days ago, and he's still not back. So...

  Julia Salinger : You really think we may not see him ever again? That's a weird feeling. What if you're right?

  Charlie Salinger : You guys, all his stuff is still here.

  Bailey Salinger : So what? Do you think he... when he walked out on Mom and Grandmom that he packed? No, he didn't. Don't you remember the story Mom once told us? He left in the middle of the night with no note or explanation, leaving behind a wife and daughter to fend for themselves... never to return. All he took was maybe one suitcase with whatever clothes and stuff he had with him, he got in his car, drove away and that was that. He never came back for the rest of his clothes or belongings.

  Claudia Salinger : No! No, you're wrong. Something horrible happened. He like... forgot his blood pressure medication or something. He could be lying in a hospital in a coma somewhere

  [Claudia goes to a phone and begins dialing a number] 

  Charlie Salinger : Hey, what are you doing?

  Claudia Salinger : [into the phone]  Operator? Can you give me the phone numbers to all the hospitals in Arizona?

  [to the Salingers] 

  Claudia Salinger : He wouldn't just leave! I know he wouldn't!

• [Claudia is in the backyard watering plants and Bailey approaches her] 

  Bailey Salinger : Hey. You thirsty?

  Claudia Salinger : No.

  Bailey Salinger : Can I help?

  [sees she is upset and doesn't answer] 

  Bailey Salinger : I did it for you. And I know you don't get that, but it's true. And I know what the deal is, I know that you wanted some wonderful grandfather. Like... Like Heidi. Or those Waltons' reruns. We all did. But that's not Jake. Claudia.

  Claudia Salinger : [turns around]  I'm only gonna say this once. I'm not talking to you anymore.

  Bailey Salinger : Yeah. Yes... You will. I don't know when, but you will. Because you're gonna want... A ride somewhere. Or... Or you'll need to say, "Pass the butter." Or... Or you'll hear some stupid joke that you'll wanna tell me and you know what? Claudia. Claudia, listen to me! You know what? When you decide that you wanna talk to me again, I'll be here. I'll be here, and... And he never would have stayed.

  Claudia Salinger : Oh, you know everything now? You're God? What if you're wrong?

  [saddened] 

  Claudia Salinger : Look how much I lose. And you're the one who's taking it away from me, not him. You.

  [she leaves]