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. [joking] 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. And 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.]