#202 PAR FOR THE COURSE            (Original air date:    10/09/97)
 

Written by:	Willliam Schwartz
Directed by:	Vincent McEveety
Produced by:	Martha Williamson, Jon Andersen, E.F. Wallengren & R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

Fred Argyle	Steven Tobolowsky
Coop Lemley	Bill Mondy
Ethel Argyle	Janice Knickrehm

Designated keeper of the map, Nathaniel mistakenly leaves behind Hattie's handmade quilt of the family's travels during a family outing at a railroad museum. As a consolation to Josh's idea to visit an amusement park, Russell takes the family to a miniature golf course. Russell and Claire get tangled up in one disagreement after another, but there's more troubling Claire than her golf score. Sensing that Claire and Russell need some time to themselves (whether they like it or not), Hattie takes off in the Suburban with the kids in search of the missing map, leaving Claire and Russell to themselves for the remainder of the weekend. Hattie and the kids return to the railroad museum to discover that Fred Argyle, the manager of the souvenir shop, has appropriated Hattie's map as his own, claiming that if they want it back they have to purchase it like anyone else. Hattie challenges Fred to a golf match to win the map back, putting up a cherished locket should he win. Meanwhile, Claire and Russell work out the kinks and make good use of their time alone. Amidst sudden outbursts of tears and laughter, Claire reveals that she's pregnant. Russell is excited, thrilled and flat-out terrified at the prospect of being a father all over again. In a private moment, Russell talks to God, thanking Him for this blessing. Hattie discovers the reason Fred's so bitter is that he blames his mother for his not having traveled more. Fred wins the golf match - but Hattie teaches him that he may have won the match but he's losing the game by using his mother as an excuse for his own attitude. As for her loss, Hattie is not disheartened, realizing she can start over and that they'll have plenty of memories to choose from as they continue their travels. Finally, Russell and Claire break the news to the family that Claire is pregnant. As the Greenes cross the county line, they stop to help a motorist to discover it's Fred Argyle hitting golf balls on the side of the road - with his mother, coaching from the sidelines, sitting in a lawn chair. Fred thanks Hattie for convincing him to stop hiding behind excuses. Fred returns Hattie's map and Fred's mother, Ethel, beams that Fred's taking her to the lake (a nine hour drive) as she gratefully returns Hattie's locket.