View source for Rent A Family (Part 3)

{{Infobox
|name = Infobox/doc
|bodystyle = width:30em;
|headerstyle = background:#ccf;
|labelstyle = background:#ddf;
|header1 = Series
|header3 = Original Broadcast Date
|header5 = Cast
|header7 = Format
|label10  = Preceded by: 
|label11 = Followed by: 
|data8 = [[:Category:Scripted Actors|Scripted Actors]], [[:Category:Improv Actors|Improv Actors]], [[:Category:Panel Discussion|Panel Discussion]], 58 minutes
|data4  = [[:Category:1987|1987]]
|title = [https://www.joefrank.com/shop/rent-a-family-3 Rent A Family (Part 3)][https://www.joefrank.com/streaming/shows/?jfsearch=Rent%20A%20Family%20(Part%203)]
|data6  = [[Barbara Sohmers]], [[Mark Hammer]], [[Arthur Miller]], [[Tim Jerome]], [[Nick Ullett]], [[Carolyn Swift]], [[Larry Block]], Lynn, Sarah, Carmen, Thomas, Timo, Sharon, Christa
|data10 = [[Rent A Family (Part 2)]]
|data11 = [[In The Middle Of Nowhere (Part 1)]]
|data2  = [[Work In Progress]]
|
}}
''"I had a terrible dream last night. I had this baby."''

'''Rent A Family (Part 3)''' is a program Joe Frank produced as part of the series [[Work In Progress]]. It was originally broadcast in [[:Category:1987|1987]].

== Synopsis ==

Eleanor ([[Barbara Sohmers]]) tells a psychiatrist about a dream in
which she has a baby which has a problem she can't do anything about.
She recalls her younger sister, Pearl, how she rocked her cradle when
she cried; their mother called her a 'good little mommy.'  Pearl died,
after which her father was cold to her; Eleanor felt guilty.  She
complains to the psychiatrist, who coughs a lot, about the sound of
the children playing next to his office.  She complains about his
coughing and cigars, that her therapy makes her feel worse.

10: Panelist #2 ([[Arthur Miller]]) tells of annual psycho-anthropology
convention; at the dinner a woman seated across from him played
footsie with him.  He fell asleep; when he woke up, she was gone.

13:40: Eleanor calls Arthur ([[Mark Hammer]]), when she brings up Wendy
and Diane, Arthur says they don't exist, hangs up.

16: Eleanor calls for Arthur, Kathy ([[Carolyn Swift]])
answers; she tells him this has to stop; she insists on speaking to
Arthur.  She wants to live with him and Kathy.

19:50: Eleanor calls Arthur, says she's very sick, throwing up
blood.  Kathy thinks she's making it up, wants Arthur to hang up;
Arthur takes it seriously.  Arthur and Kathy fight.

23:30: Joe visits his Rent-A-Family again, Sharon and her
daughters, Christa and Sarah.  This sounds like a repeat from part 2,
though more audible.

25: While their conversation continues, Joe recites a list of
things, 'throw pillows, dental floss...' perhaps the same list as
before.

26:30: Eleanor tells psychiatrist that she used to stand in
front of a mirror and repeat 'father' until the word meant nothing
when she was a girl.  She tells psychiatrist how easy his job is, how
little work he does, wonders why she's paying him.  She likes rain.

28:30: Panelist #3 ([[Nick Ullett]]) tells of affair with
businesswoman.  Later, when he was 'out on the coast',<ref>Pacific
coast, I assume</ref> her daughter, June, called him up because she
was in town.  They end up having sex.  His son shows up for a bit,
which increased her attractiveness to him.  They have sex.<ref>notice
a pattern in his stories?</ref>  Later, his son has sex with June.
He finds it fascinating.

33: Eleanor calls Arthur.  They get along for the first time,
possibly because Kathy divorced him.  They make small talk.  Arthur
humors her reminiscences of Wendy and Diane.

39:30: The sound of children playing, the same sound Eleanor
heard at the psychiatrist's office.  Arthur can't hear it, but it
drowns out Arthur for Eleanor, so she hangs up.

41: Arthur tells Panelist #2 that he never really loved Kathy;
apparently she's in a coma.<ref>How did Arthur get on the panel?</ref>

42:50: Panelist #2 says there's a strong odor of tahini about her,
which attracts him.  Panelist #3 says he can't get near a woman who
smells of patchouli.  Proprietor ([[Larry Block]]) says he can't be near a woman who
smells of chocolate.  Panelist #2 says patchouli causes impotence.
Proprietor tells panel how much he has enjoyed the evening.  
Panelist #1 ([[Tim Jerome]]) thinks Rent-A-Family is a fad.  
Proprietor disagrees.  They discuss how paying for something makes
it more valuable.  Proprietor pays for the drinks.

47:40: Arthur delivers a rant about his rage, how he wants to
destroy others, everybody at the university struck blind.


<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:95%; overflow:auto;">
<div style="font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;">Legacy Synopsis</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">

Eleanor talks to her psychiatrist - Eleanor has a dream about a screaming baby in a flood, hears children through the window, complains about her doctor's coughing. A man meets a woman at a banquet and falls asleep during a game of footsie. Eleanor calls Arthur and apologizes, offers to move in as a maid, claims she's sick.  Joe chats with the woman he's rented.  Chimes and list of nouns.  Therapy session continues: Eleanor talks about repeating the word "father," A man seduces a woman and her daughter, and her daughter seduces his son.  Eleanor and Arthur talk later after she's recovered. Eleanor hears voices on the line. Panel discussion: changing one's feeling for someone who's sick; smell and dating; Rent a Friend; value associated with paying for things. A man is full of rage, yearns to watch the university where he teaches crumble.
</div></div>

== Music == 
{{A Fine Line (Tim Story)}} [Intro]
{{Gypsy Violin (Harold Budd)}} [13:45]

== Additional credits ==
The original broadcast credits state: "Performers included [[Barbara Sohmers]], [[Mark Hammer]], [[Arthur Miller]], [[Tim Jerome]], [[Nick Ullett]], [[Carolyn Swift]], and [[Larry Block]], and Lynn, Sarah, Carmen, Thomas, Timo, Sharon, and Christa. This program was recorded by Phil Capp at M&I Studios in New York City, and by Tom Strother at KCRW. Technical production by Tom Strother."

== Commentary ==

A message Joe wrote to the mailing list on 2006 August 9:

<blockquote>'No, the ex-husband who delivers the final tirade is the actor Mark Hammer, who was working at Arena Stage in Washington DC at the time and performed all the scenes over the phone with his wife (DC to LA).  Larry played the president of the company called, "Rent-a-Family," who attempted to rationalize his vision.  Barbara Sohmers played the unhinged ex-wife--a wonderfully talented person who also appears in a short film available on the web site called "Memories."  I've been out of touch with her for years.  She could be the writer of mystery novels (I think she spoke of that ambition).  When last I communicated with her she had been ill with a disease that affected her ability to speak and therefore could no longer perform as an actress.  I am shocked to hear that she died--if she's the same person.'</blockquote>

== Footnotes ==

[[Category:Scripted_Actors]]
[[Category:Improv_Actors]]
[[Category:Panel_Discussion]]
[[Category:Barbara Sohmers]]
[[Category:Mark Hammer]]
[[Category:Arthur Miller]]
[[Category:Tim Jerome]]
[[Category:Nick Ullett]]
[[Category:Carolyn Swift]]
[[Category:Larry Block]]
[[Category:1987]]
[[Category:Work In Progress]]
{{Series|series=Work In Progress}}{{Cast|cast=[[Barbara Sohmers]], [[Mark Hammer]], [[Arthur Miller]], [[Tim Jerome]], [[Nick Ullett]], [[Carolyn Swift]], [[Larry Block]], Lynn, Sarah, Carmen, Thomas, Timo, Sharon, Christa}}
[[Category:Unknown_air_date]]
[[Category:Show]]
[[Category:Show_by_date|19870003]]	{{Airdate|airdate=1987}}