Michael, Archie, neighbor Irene, and Edith, discussing social theft, All in the Family, 1975 February 8
"The Stivics show Archie the error of his ways after he "borrows" nails and an electric drill from work."
Michael: I guess I'm a victim of the system, too.
Archie: Oh, oh-oh, listen to this guy. When he takes something, he's a poor victim. And when I take something, I'm a crook. . . . Let me remind you of something there, Meathead. Like the Good Book says, "Let him who is without sin be the rollin' stone." . . .
Michael: Hey, at least I admitted I was wrong. That's more than I can say for you! That's the problem with the world. Nobody even knows when they've done the wrong thing.
Archie: Well, maybe what the world needs is a whole new set of commandments. Why don't you climb a mountain and write some? . . . .
Archie: Let's have an end to this whole thing now. I say case closed.
Michael: But Arch, you don't understand what we're trying to talk about.
Archie: Will you shush up? . . . . Wait a minute there, Irene. There's something there I don't understand.
Irene: What don't you understand?
Archie: I don't understand what you are doing with a company pen!
Irene: What?
Archie: Here, here! (Taking the pen) It says there, "Pendergast Tool and Dye Company"! How long have you been stealing pens, Irene?
Irene (grabbing the pen from Archie): I didn't steal that!
Archie: Woah-woah-woah! Then how come you got that?
Edith: I gave it to her! You've got a whole drawer full of them!
Michael: Ma, when Archie goes into all that double-talk, do you ever buy that?
Edith: I don't have to buy it -- it's free.
"The Stivics show Archie the error of his ways after he "borrows" nails and an electric drill from work."
Michael: I guess I'm a victim of the system, too.
Archie: Oh, oh-oh, listen to this guy. When he takes something, he's a poor victim. And when I take something, I'm a crook. . . . Let me remind you of something there, Meathead. Like the Good Book says, "Let him who is without sin be the rollin' stone." . . .
Michael: Hey, at least I admitted I was wrong. That's more than I can say for you! That's the problem with the world. Nobody even knows when they've done the wrong thing.
Archie: Well, maybe what the world needs is a whole new set of commandments. Why don't you climb a mountain and write some? . . . .
Archie: Let's have an end to this whole thing now. I say case closed.
Michael: But Arch, you don't understand what we're trying to talk about.
Archie: Will you shush up? . . . . Wait a minute there, Irene. There's something there I don't understand.
Irene: What don't you understand?
Archie: I don't understand what you are doing with a company pen!
Irene: What?
Archie: Here, here! (Taking the pen) It says there, "Pendergast Tool and Dye Company"! How long have you been stealing pens, Irene?
Irene (grabbing the pen from Archie): I didn't steal that!
Archie: Woah-woah-woah! Then how come you got that?
Edith: I gave it to her! You've got a whole drawer full of them!
Michael: Ma, when Archie goes into all that double-talk, do you ever buy that?
Edith: I don't have to buy it -- it's free.