Axl: Dude, blackout.
Mike: Okay, everybody relax. Axl, get the flashlights. Well, the neighbors' lights are on. Frankie, we paid the electric bill, didn't we?
Frankie: ... This is an outrage. If you're gonna shut off the power, do it at the top of the hour before I'm already hooked on Conveyor Belt of Love.

Man: [on the phone] [Indian accent] Orson Electric, Charlie speaking.
Frankie: Oh, hi. Shh, I got them.
Man: How may I assist you with excellent customer service?
Frankie: Uh, yes. Hi, Charlie. Uh, this is Frankie Heck from 427 Birchwood. You shut off our power?
Man: That is correct. You are three months behind on payment.
Frankie: Well, that must be a mistake because I talked to Peggy in the Orson office last week about a payment next Tuesday?
Mike: [mouths] Really? [Frankie shakes her head]
Frankie: And she was very nice. And she promised me that the power would stay on till then. Promised.
Man: I do not see that note in my system. Please hold for our automated customer satisfaction survey.
Frankie: Oh, well. I'll go down there tomorrow and take care of it in person.

[Mike opens the refrigerator]
Frankie: Mike, cold air, cold air.
Mike: Beer. I know the shape well.
Frankie: How'd this happen? I figured if we kept plugging holes till the quarry reopened, we'd be okay.
Mike: Well, we figured wrong.
Frankie: Mm.
Mike: You knoiw, when they laid me off, they gave me the name of that financial planner who will give a free consultation. We were too proud back then... but when I look at it in the, uh, harsh glow of candlelight, tsk, maybe we should call.

Frankie: [v.o.] After a healthy breakfast of olives and butter, Brick was dealt another bad hand. See, Brick and a few kids who were in his social-skills group liked to spend recess in the peace and quiet of the library, until...
Mr. Seifried: All right, boys, I need you to come with me. We're instituting a new school policy. One you'll actually find lots of fun.
Brick: Wait. This leads to the... [children shouting indistinctly] playground.
Mr. Seifried: That's right. From now on, the library will be closed at recess and all students must play outside.
Have fun.
Brick: We can't stay here. Okay, if we can make it to that slide over there, I think we'll be safe. Hoodies up. Follow me.
Henry: Help! [whimpers]
Brick: We'll send help when we reach safety. [whispers] Safety.

Mike: Hey, we gotta make tough choices here. I'm not saying it's gonna be easy. Like, I know that we love it, ut it's really expensive and we really don't need it... so we're getting rid of cable.
Axl: No!
Brick: Mom's cooking and no TV?
Sue: That's child abuse.
Sue: Oh, my God. Oh, my God!
Brick: What if there's an emergency and we don't have TV to tell us what to do?
Axl: Yeah. It's a safety issue.

Frankie: What is wrong with my children? You're acting like this is the end of the world.
Axl: How is it not? Tell me how it's not.
Mike: Sorry, guys, but cable's gotta go.
Frankie: And you know what? This just might be a good thing. Because maybe you'll start developing interests beyond vegging on the couch. [the lights come on] Yay! The check cleared.
Kids: TV! [cheer]

Brick: I miss the library.
Zack: [MEOWS]
Eric: There's a bell here. It's gonna ring. It's gonna be too loud. I gotta talk to Mr. Seifried.
Brick: You'll never make it.
Eric: I gotta try.
Brick: He's been hit.
Mr. Seifried: It's okay. He's fine. Nothing to see. Come on, let's get you back into the library.
Eric: I'm going home?
Brick: Wait, Mr. Seifried. We're not cut out for the playground. Zack's an indoor cat, and Corey really needs to keep his socks white or he'll freak.
Mr. Seifried: Come on, recess is good for you. Next week, we're introducing dodge ball.

Frankie: [v.o.] So we didn't have cable. Not the end of the world. We just went old school and broke out the rabbit ears. Yeah, that whole digital-revolution thing screwed us pretty good. But funny thing, the kids were handling no TV better than expected. Sue was babysitting to raise money for her future modeling career. Brick? Well, Brick read. Big surprise. Axl finally had time to start a band.

Frankie: We're pathetic. How come our kids can think of things to do besides TV and we can't?
Mike: They're young. They still find life interesting.
Frankie: Come on, we can do this. All right, the category is hobbies. [sighs] Bowling?
Mike: Costs money.
Frankie: Scrapbooking.
Mike: I'm a man.

Brick: Dad, would you write me a note to get me out of recess?
Mike: Recess? Why would I want you out of recess? I love recess. Recess is the best part of the day.
Brick: For the strong. Why do I even bother?