Us (1991 TV Movie)

Barney Martin: Jack Hayes

Quotes 

• Jack Hayes : [answers the door to see Jeff standing there]  What? Did you forget something?

  Jeff Hayes : No, I wanted to talk to you. Can I come in?

  Jack Hayes : Suit yourself.

  [Jeff enters] 

  Jack Hayes : You picked a bad time. I'm kind of busy.

  [He notices Jack vacuuming the floor] 

  Jeff Hayes : Dad, it's 12:30 at night. Now, that's a bad time to talk, but a great time to vacuum the rug, huh?

  Jack Hayes : We said everything we had to say to each other, tonight. You made it pretty clear. You don't want to be around me, that's fine.

  Jeff Hayes : Look, will you stop for a minute and listen?

  Jack Hayes : No, you listen. This is my place and if I want to clean it in the middle of the night, that is my business.

  Jeff Hayes : You're always cleaning this place. You could eat off the floor in here.

  Jack Hayes : Oh, and I suppose that's another thing you want to argue about. I guess there's something wrong, in your opinion, about wanting to keep a place neat.

  Jeff Hayes : You clean it all the time because you got nothing else to do.

  Jack Hayes : What? What the hell are you talking about?

  Jeff Hayes : Who are your friends, then?

  Jack Hayes : I got lots of friends.

  Jeff Hayes : Well, who are they? Give me the list!

  Jack Hayes : That's my business!

  [walks away] 

  Jack Hayes : Look, I don't want to argue, anymore!

  Jeff Hayes : No, of course you don't! You're not used to it! You don't have anyone to argue with!

• Jack Hayes : [notices Ellen called Jeff in Jack's apartment]  What's she calling here for?

  Jeff Hayes : [washing his hands]  Huh?

  Jack Hayes : What's she calling here for? It's over. It's been over. You gotta get on your life.

  Jeff Hayes : [drying his hands]  What are you talking about? She's having a problem with our boy.

  Jack Hayes : He's not your kid.

  Jeff Hayes : What do you mean, he's not my kid? She had to tell him the truth, now. He knows he's got a father. He's my kid.

  Jack Hayes : SHE raised him. If she's got a problem, it's HER fault. Look, you're just getting started again, Jeff. Why do you need her problems...

  Jeff Hayes : Just drop it, Dad. I don't want to talk about it.

  Jack Hayes : Oh, sure, don't listen to your father. What the hell does he know? If you'd listen to me in the first place, you wouldn't have screwed up your life.

  Jeff Hayes : All right, that's it, I'm out of here.

  [leaves the kitchen] 

  Jack Hayes : Oh, sure. Run away! Just like when you were a kid.

  Jeff Hayes : [starts packing his suitcase]  I didn't run away when I was a kid, Dad, you drove me away. There's a difference, you know?

  Jack Hayes : I drove you away?

  [chuckles] 

  Jack Hayes : I tried to give you good advice. Is that driving you away? You could've gone to college, Jeff. You had the grades, but no, not you. You get a girl pregnant, you gotta marry her.

  Jeff Hayes : I married Ellen cause I loved her. I'd marry her if she couldn't have a kid. What the hell am I doing this for? We had the same stupid argument nineteen years ago. Nineteen years and nothing changes with you.

  Jack Hayes : Oh, and with you, something changes, huh? She's gonna dump that kid's problems all over you. You'll see!

  Jeff Hayes : Don't put that kid on me, huh? You know what books I used to read when I was in prison, Dad? Books about raising kids. And from year one about how you hold them, and look at them, and how quick they get to know you. From their terrible twos, and the potty training, and the first days in school, about their joys and their fears. And I used to lie on my bunk, at night, and try to get myself to dream I was doing those things with my kid. Teaching him how to swim and throw a ball. And you know what, Dad? In my dreams, my kid loved me. Just the same I love him and his mom.