Episode 9 It's Up to You ACT III

[ On the patio of the Stewarts' home later that day. Robbie is watering the flowers. He is speaking with his friend Mike about their interviews for college ]

Mike: I had an interview today, too. I had a great interview with Admissions at Columbia University.

Robbie: Really? What did they say? Will you get into the school?

Mike: Well, they didn't say anything for sure. But I figure that with my grades and with my personality, I'll have no problem.

Robbie: Columbia's a terrific school. What are you going to do?

Mike: Do? I don't know. I also applied to NYU.

Robbie: You sound excited about Columbia. What's your problem, Mike?

Mike: Indecision. Indecision.  It's not easy, and this is an important decision we have to make. What about you? How was your interview with Michigan?

Robbie: The interview was fine.

Mike: It's a great college.

Robbie: It is.  My father would like me to go there.  He and my Grandpa both went there.

Mike: Great medical school, too.

Robbie: I know.

Mike: You can follow in your father's footsteps.

Robbie: Ah! I'd like to follow in my own footsteps, Mike.

Mike: What do you want to study?

Robbie: I've been thinking. I think I want to study journalism to be a reporter--a newspaperman.

Mike: You do a pretty good job on the Riverdale High School paper.

Robbie: And I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

Mike: Have you discussed it with your parents?

Robbie: No. But I have to.

Mike: OK. Let's talk.

[ They leave. ]

[ That night. Robbie is sitting in the living room of his home. Philip enters. ]

Philip: Hi, Son. Is everything all right?

Robbie: Hi, Dad. Everything's fine.  I was just waiting for you to get home so we could talk.

Philip: Anything special you want to talk about?

Robbie: There is, Dad.

Philip: I'm listening.

Robbie: Well, I know you and Mom have given up a lot to save money for my college tuition.

Philip: We want you to go to college, Robbie.

Robbie: I know. I do.

Philip: But?

Robbie: Well, I've thought a lot about which college, and one of them is Columbia.

Philip: Columbia? Why Columbia?

Robbie: First, they have an excellent School of Journalism.

Philip: They do. And your friends are planning to go to Columbia?

Robbie: That's only part of it. It's complicated. I'll try to explain.  Mike and I had a hamburger this afternoon, and we talked.

Philip: Yes?

Robbie: Well, we talked about a lot of things. He applied to Columbia, and his interview was very successful. He thinks he'll be accepted, and he really wants to go there.

Philip: Dean Rafer called me today. He told me he was very impressed with you.

Robbie: He's a nice man. He was very kind.

Philip: He told me you had some doubts about wanting to go to Michigan.

Robbie: Yes. I do.  I'm just not sure about what I want to do.

Philip: That's OK.

Robbie: You understand?

Philip: Let me tell you something, Robbie. Something that might be surprising to you.

Robbie: What? Tell me.

Philip: Well, Grandpa wanted me to study engineering, like him. Well, I wasn't clear about my future, but I knew engineering was not for me.

Robbie: What did you tell Grandpa?

Philip: The truth.

Robbie: Then you're not upset about my not wanting to go into medicine.

Philip: I'm not upset at all.  I'm just happy that we're able to talk about it.

Robbie: I am too, Dad.

Philip: I suppose you want to apply to Columbia.

Robbie: Yes, but I also want to apply to several other colleges.

Philip: I thought you wanted to go to Columbia.

Robbie: Well, I might want to go to Columbia. But I might not.  I just want to be able to make my own decision.

Philip: You're a real Stewart!

Robbie: And if I think about it long enough, you never know ...

Philip: Never know what?

Robbie: If I make my own decision, I might choose Michigan.

Philip: Robbie, you're something! You know, when I was your age, I said exactly the same thing to Grandpa. [ They smile. ]