Sam’s self-satisfied tone irritated Marty. “Well,” he said, “it’ll be outlawed someday. That’s how silly it is.”
The rest of the family, except those too young to comprehend, stared at Marty incredulously. To say that one day American television would be without cigarette commercials was like saying one day Christmas would be devoid of Santa Claus. Only Lorraine looked as if Marty’s statement had any possible merit.
“Well,” she said cautiously, “it may not happen, but I think it’s a good idea. Too many young people see those ads on TV and think it’s the smart thing to do.”
Sam couldn’t really argue with that so he decided to turn the topic in another direction. “Why would anybody want to go to the movies when you can see this in your own home—free?” he rhapsodized.
“Do you have a television set?” Lorraine asked, looking at Marty warmly.
“Yes,” he replied. “Two.”
“Wow! You must be rich!” Milton gushed.
“They’re in color, too,” Marty added, before realizing that was not too smart a thing to say to a 1955 family.
Milton’s eyes widened. “Bull,” Sam Baines scoffed.
Stella smiled condescendingly. “He’s teasing you, Milton,” she said. “Nobody has two television sets…in color, yet.”
She looked to Marty for confirmation.
“Yeah, that’s right,” he nodded. “I was just pulling your leg, Miltie.”
The commercial break was over and The Honeymooners began. Marty recognized the segment immediately as the classic “Man from Space” episode. Almost without realizing he was doing it, he began saying the show’s lines a spl
it second before the actors said them. Everyone at the table regarded him with varying degrees of amazement. Lorraine laughed every time he did it; her father scowled.
“How come you know the lines?” Milton asked.
“Because I’ve seen this one before,” he replied.
“What do you mean, you’ve seen it?” Milton asked. “It’s brand new.”
“I saw it on a rerun.”
“What’s a rerun?”
“You’ll find out.”
“O.K., smarty,” Milton persisted. “Tell me what happens next.”
“Sure,” Marty said. “This is a good one. Ralph dresses up as a ‘man from space.’”
“Quiet!” Sam ordered. “I want to see this!”
The family was silent for perhaps a minute. Then Stella looked at Marty closely. “You know, there’s something very familiar about you,” she said. “Do I know your mother?” Marty couldn’t help smiling. “Yeah, I think maybe you do, he replied, glancing sideways at Lorraine and smiling weakly.
“I’d like to give her a call,” Stella said. “You know, to let her know that you’re all right.”
“Well, you can’t,” Marty blurted.
“Why not?”
“Uh…She’s not home yet. Nobody’s home.”
“She works?”
“Not exactly,” Marty hedged. “Uh, both my folks are sort of away.”