Party of Five (TV Series)

Desperate Measures (1996)

Matthew Fox: Charlie Salinger

Photos 

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  Charlie Salinger : [Charlie enters the house]  Hello. Anybody home? Anybody?

  [he reaches the stairs, sits and starts sobbing] 

• [Charlie and Kirsten arrive to her parent's house and door opens, while they look at each other without saying anything] 

  Ellie Bennett : Kirsten? Kirsten, honey, are you all right?

  Kirsten Bennett : [leaving the car]  I'm fine, Mom.

  Ellie Bennett : Are you sure? Are you? I'm glad you came back.

  [to Charlie] 

  Ellie Bennett : Charlie, I can't believe that

  Kirsten Bennett : [saddened]  Mom, don't. Okay? Not now.

  [to Charlie] 

  Kirsten Bennett : You wanna come inside?

  Charlie Salinger : [saddened]  No. I don't think... Could you just maybe get my bag for me? I'm just gonna...

  Kirsten Bennett : Sure. I'll be right back.

  Charlie Salinger : Kirsten?

  Kirsten Bennett : [she turns around to look at him]  Yeah?

  Charlie Salinger : [he stares at her]  Nothing. Just, uh, my shaving kit's in the bathroom.

  Kirsten Bennett : I'll get it.

  [she enters the house] 

  Ellie Bennett : [angered at him]  Charlie, how dare you. How dare you come here and put her through this. What were you thinking? What were you possibly thinking?

  Charlie Salinger : You know what, Ellie, I'm not... Could you just send my bag to me? I'll pay for it.

  Ellie Bennett : What? Look, Kirsten just

  Charlie Salinger : Just send it to me, okay? I can't... I can't do this again, and she shouldn't have to either.

  [he enters the car and leaves] 

• [first lines] 

  Charlie Salinger : All right. Here's Owen's schedule.

  [Claudia is trying to open a jar] 

  Claudia Salinger : Could somebody open this, please?

  Charlie Salinger : He's got the pediatrician and gymboree tomorrow and... Jule, are you listening?

  Julia Salinger : Pediatrician, gymboree. I got it.

  Charlie Salinger : Try a towel on that.

  [he passes the jar back to Claudia] 

  Charlie Salinger : And when you pick him up at daycare, you can't pull up to the curb anymore.

  Julia Salinger : You gotta go inside. Yeah. You told me. Owen, you got syrup on Vonda Shepard.

  Claudia Salinger : [to Julia]  "Up on the Roof"? Who could that be for?

  Julia Salinger : Shut up.

  Claudia Salinger , Owen Salinger : [at the same time]  You shut up.

  Charlie Salinger : Everybody shut up. Now, this is my flight information with Gene and Ellie's number. So if you need to reach me...

  Julia Salinger : You really think they're gonna let you stay with them? They haven't returned your call. I kind of doubt Ellie's baking you a cake.

  Charlie Salinger : Well, I'll let you know where I'm staying, and I'll call you as soon as I know when I'm coming back. Owen, give me a hug.

  [Charlie reaches Owen and hugs him] 

  Julia Salinger : Wait a minute. As soon as you know? I thought you said

  Charlie Salinger : I said a few days. It all depends on how well it goes.

  Julia Salinger : Well, yeah. But you can't just disappear for God knows how long and expect me to take care of everything. I mean, Bay is, like, gone, and I've got stuff to do

  Charlie Salinger : Hey, is it too much to ask for this one thing, Jule? I mean, you might start to appreciate my life around here a little bit.

  Claudia Salinger : Wait, Charlie, um...

  [she takes a letter and gives it to Charlie] 

  Claudia Salinger : This is for Kirsten. It's got some pictures of my recital.

  Charlie Salinger : I'll give it to her. Now, I gotta go.

  Julia Salinger : Have a nice trip. Well, you know what I mean.

• [Charlie and Kirsten, with their arms crossed together, are walking down the street in Chicago] 

  Kirsten Bennett : So, anyway, "Chic-ago" was the Indian word for stinking onion, 'cause of all the onion fields. But the French settlers pronounced it "Shi-cago." See?

  Charlie Salinger : And we're walking. We're walking.

  Kirsten Bennett : [giggles]  Well, you asked. So come on, I want details. Tell me everything that's going on.

  Charlie Salinger : Well, not much. Everybody misses ya. Owen asks about you a lot.

  Kirsten Bennett : He does?

  Charlie Salinger : Especially when I put him to bed. He told me he likes your bedtime stories better than mine.

  [she laughs] 

  Charlie Salinger : God, I miss that.

  Kirsten Bennett : What?

  Charlie Salinger : It's just been such a long time since I've seen you smile. It's nice to see.

  Kirsten Bennett : So do you wanna go see the view from the top of the Sears Tower, or there's this great architectural tour. You'd like that.

  Charlie Salinger : How about if we just keep walking for a little bit?

  Kirsten Bennett : How about if we do.

  [they kiss and keep walking] 

• [Charlie and Kirsten are in the car on their way home] 

  Charlie Salinger : Is this my exit?

  Kirsten Bennett : [distracted]  Mm? No. The toll clause is probably backed up. Just stay in this lane.

  [breathes deeply] 

  Kirsten Bennett : Charlie. I think I'm ready to go home.

  Charlie Salinger : That's where we're headed.

  Kirsten Bennett : I meant... I meant San Francisco. I can't stop thinking about it. And I miss it. And I don't know, it just... It just feels right. Like it's been long enough.

  Charlie Salinger : Wow. You think?

  Kirsten Bennett : I should think about getting on with my life. Figure out what that's gonna be. And I can't do that with Mom and Dad telling me what to wear and what to eat. And maybe if I go... If I go back home with you, I can... I can get everything back on track.

  Charlie Salinger : Okay. Wow. That's, uh... We'll make plans. You can finish up what you have to do here and then

  Kirsten Bennett : That's the thing, you know, there's nothing here.

  Charlie Salinger : Then we can fly back tomorrow or... or whenever. Whenever you're ready.

  Kirsten Bennett : I'm ready now. Let's go. Let's just keep driving and go.

  Charlie Salinger : Right. That's, like, 2,000 miles. How about we go back and get my bag and your stuff, and then we'll fly back as soon as

  Kirsten Bennett : No, I mean it. If we go back to my house, my Mom... Well, she... You know what she'd do. So let's just do it, Charlie. Let's just drive back to San Francisco.

  [he sighs and thinks] 

  Kirsten Bennett : Take me home, please.

  Charlie Salinger : Okay.

  [both chuckle] 

• [Charlie and Kirsten are pulling out a mattress in the guest's room] 

  Kirsten Bennett : Are you sure this is okay?

  Charlie Salinger : Better than upsetting your Mom. Yeah. Guest room's fine.

  [Ellie enters the room with blankets and towels for Charlie] 

  Ellie Bennett : [to Charlie]  These are for you. Please don't use the ones hanging in the bathroom. There's a plastic squeegee in the shower stall. Use it to wipe off the door if you don't mind. It mildews.

  Charlie Salinger : No problem.

  Ellie Bennett : I called Gene. He's gonna try and get back here as soon as possible.

  Kirsten Bennett : You didn't have do that, Mom.

  Ellie Bennett : Of course I did. Good night.

  [to Kirsten] 

  Ellie Bennett : You should get some sleep.

  [Ellie leaves, and both chuckle] 

  Kirsten Bennett : [grunts playfully]  She's making me crazy.

  [he sits on the bed with her] 

  Charlie Salinger : So... you look great. Like you're better.

  Kirsten Bennett : Well, the last four weeks have actually been pretty good since I went on this new medication. I mean, I'm not fetal anymore. So that's a start.

  Charlie Salinger : So you've been doing pretty good for... For what, like, the last month?

  Kirsten Bennett : Well, yeah, pretty good.

  Charlie Salinger : So, I mean, why didn't you... you write me and tell me or... or call me or something?

  Kirsten Bennett : I don't know.

  Charlie Salinger : 'Cause I've been really worried, Kirsten. I wanted to know.

  Kirsten Bennett : It's just... maybe I didn't really trust it, you know? Like, as soon as I wrote you or told you, it wouldn't be true any more.

  Charlie Salinger : But it is true.

  Kirsten Bennett : [smiling]  It is now.