florida, illinois... and new york. and by the united states department of education... and the united states immigration and naturalization service.

here you are, mr. brashov. one rosa's special: trout amandine with potatoes and some fresh vegetables. but i asked for a hamburger and some french fries. this is much better for you. rosa, you are a very kind and thoughtful person. but next time, i want you to be a mean and insensitive person... and give me a hamburger and fries ! that trout is one big fish. but not as big as the fish he'll catch on his vacation. no, the fish i am going to catch will be much larger-- at least this big. what's this vacation you're all talking about ? - i thought the whole world had heard about it. - and heard it and heard it. it will not be a very long vacation

but it will be a perfect one. first, i will rent a car and drive to niagara falls. one of the most beautiful waterfalls in all the world. the next morning i will camp and fish and-- enjoy the mountain scenery. victor, it sounds like you've already taken this vacation. i have taken it many times but only in my dreams. jamal ! what happened ? i was working on the plumbing. one of the valves was so corroded it could no longer hold in the pressure of the water. can you say that in english, please ? leaky pipe. but don't worry. i think i can fix it. you see ? there is so much work to do in the cafe how can i take a vacation ? you want my advice ? do i have a choice ? there's always something to fix. go on this vacation now, or it'll always be just a dream. when the time is right i will go.

you know, victor, this would be a great trip for you to take with your daughter. - that would be difficult. - you said she lives only a few hours from here. the distance between my daughter and me is more than just miles. i'm sorry to hear that. i better go see what jamal is up to. that's three cases ketchup one case of tomato sauce. where is the rice ? - what rice ? - the rice that is supposed to be here. let me take a look at that. well, what do you know ? it does say rice. - so you can bring it tomorrow ? - yeah, of course. i'm sorry about that. no problem. see you tomorrow. you see, jess ? how can i possibly take a vacation ? how would crossroads cafe get along without me ? mr. brashov doesn't think we can manage the cafe

even for a few days. no, no, no that is not what i think. that's what it sounds like to me, mr. brashov. unfortunately, you all have other jobs to do, and this restaurant would not stay on if you did nodo those other jobs. like my cooking, for example. how can you have a restaurant without a chef ? hocan you have a restaurant without a waitress ? katherine, rosa, stop. everyone is important here. - everyone is equal at crossroads cafe. - i'm afraid not, my friend. - no ? - no. there is one person here who is much more important than all the others. without that person, there would be no cafe - who's that ? - me. the customer. now, can i get some more coffee ?

hi, jess. where you been working late again ? actually... i went shopping. i thought you did that yesterday. yesterday was for food. today was for something else. what's this ? it's the something else i went shopping for. did we have a fight that i don't know about ? why ? you feeling guilty ? well, go ahead and open it. it won't bite you. my birthday was six months ago. it can't be that. i bought you a gift just because i love you-- nothing more nothing less. carol, we don't have the money for things like this. it must have cost a fortune. - you don't like it. - i didn't say that. i said we can't afford it. jess, the watch wasn't that expensive.

and besides, with my new job, we can afford some extras now and then. maybe we should start dinner. what do you think ? the watch was meant to be a gift, not a punishment. if you don't like it just say so. no, it's fine. what are you doing ? i'm taking this back. - right now ? - i'd like to, but the store is closed. i don't know about you but i'm getting hungry. i think i just lost my appetite. [ narrator ] throughout their careers actors and actresses play many different roles. so do husbands and wives, during the course of their marriage. one. some couples follow patterns...

that were established by their parents. my dad was more of a traditional-- from mexico and, you know, "the man is the man of the house and you do what i say." my mom generally did everything inside-- you know, cooking, cleaning, ironing, that type of thing. my dad would be more of a supervisor. especially like on saturdays we'd get up and he'd say, "make sure you do this and this." and then he'd come back and check. [ narrator ] in the united states there are no specific rules... about the roles husbands and wives play. it is a matter for each couple to determine for themselves. if i'm tired and can't do the dishes... or the floors need to be mopped or something like that he'll just do it. so we just-- but not very often. often enough. so we just sort of help each other out. traditionally, he goes to work and earns the money, and i take care of the kids in the home.

[ narrator ] traditional patterns do not work for some couples. in taiwan, you know, usually wives who cook... and take care of the kids. but here like in my family, i'm a very bad cook, so, you know, we just do it reverse. [ narrator ] in addition to caring for their three children both work outside the home. i think only one person to work... is not enough to support the family here. i want a wife that's very capable. i feel that, you know, she should have a career... or, you know excel in her field of expertise. and i found one like that. exactly what i ordered. [ narrator ] the roles uples ay may change over time. until recently glen estelle worked for a large company... and jonnie estelle cared for their home and two daughters. i don't see how i could have worked when the kids were younger... and kept the family together. they do not have grandparents or other extended family members, so i became everything.

[ narrator ] now that their children are grown, jonnie has gone back to her first career-- teaching young children. i think it's been mutually beneficial. you know, she grows. our nversations are not just about what i was doing or whatever, but it's kind of an even exchange now. [ narrator ] there is no right or wrong way... for couples to share family responsibilities. each must choose roles that work for them. last night i was thinking about who was most important here, and i decided that everyone-- not just the customers but everyone here-- is important to the cafe. and i decided, also, that this was not such a good idea. what do you mean ? why ? if one of us is sick or comes to work late, the cafe cannot work well. but what can we do about it ? katherine, i have a very exciting idea. today, we will all observe each other at work.

and tomorrow, we will all trade jobs for one day. what ? what ? i have thought about this very carefully. rosa will manage the cafe. in other words tomorrow, the world will end. katherine, you will get a chance to show rosa what a great cook you are. we'll all die from food poisoning. that's enough, you two. henry, you will be the waiter. you will do katherine's job. and, jamal, you will take over from henry. you will bus the tables and also make the deliveries. mr. brashov, who will take my place ? who will fix things around here ? i know how to fix things. i will be the handyman. let's hope nothing breaks ! so, what does everyone think ? i think all of this makes a lot of sense but i do have one suggestion. - hmm, i can hardly wait. - what is it, rosa ? maybe you should open your front door and let the customers in.

oh, thank you, rosa. see ? you're sounding like a manager already. - hi. - hi. how's work ? - crazy. - crazy good or crazy bad ? - crazy busy. how was your day ? - okay, i guess. - i hope you didn't start dinner. - why ? one of the girls at work told me about a great new restaurant. i thought we could try it tonight. she gave me this sample menu. the chicken in wine sauce is supposed to be great. and some of the desserts sound fabulous. so you want to g? - carol, this isn't saturday. - so ? we can't afford to eat out more than once a week. you know that. now that i'm working we can afford a few extras like going out to dinner a little more often. and i'm telling you we can't. look at all those bills, carol.

utility bills, car insurance, house payments. i know. i paid some of them last night. you what ? i saw the bills on the desk last night so i paid some of them. why did you do that ? jess, it's no big deal. i can add and subtract just like you can. that's not the point. it's just that it's a lot less... confusing if one person pays all the bills, okay ? - and that person has to be you. - it doesn't have to be, but it always has been. - why change now ? - jess-- i'm too tired to argue with you. so you definitely don't want to try this restaurant ? maybe on saturday. i could just fix us some spaghetti tonight. in other words let's just do it your way. you never used to talk like that. now that you're working, all we do is argue. my working has nothing to do with it. we argue because you have to control everything. - if it's not jess's way it's not

the right way. - i never said that. you don't have to. everything you do sends that message. that's enough, carol. this conversation is over. where are you going ? out. are you just going to run away from all our problems ? what do you want from me, carol ? i want you to stop moping around all day feeling sorry for yourself. you need to get on with your life-- do something. do something ? like what ? clean the house ? have dinner on the table when you get home ? all of a sudden, you're the chairman of the board, and i'm mr. nothing. just because i'm not working, i don't count anymore ? well, i do count ! jess. yes ? who's there ? victor, it's me-- jess. jess ! what are you doing here ? is everything all right ?

come in ! come in ! everything's fine. i was just in the neighborhood. i saw your lights on. - it's a cold night for a walk. - you can say that again. i would offer you some coffee, but the machine is turned off. don't worry about it, victor. i can't stay long. i might not have any coffee, but i still have rosa's coffee cake left. well, there's always time for that. good. i've never seen crossroads cafe like this before. it's kind of nice, all peaceful and quiet. what are you doing here this latat night anyway ? - paperwork. - victor, you need to get yourself a life. follow me. - i don't even have to ask whthis is. - my eva. - how long were you two married, victor ? - thirty-seven years. i bet you two never even had a fight. that's one bet you would lose.

especially when we first came to this country-- oh, those were hard times. please, sit down. try some of rosa's cake. carol and i had a big fight tonight. so ? why are you here with me now instead of home with her ? i just had to get out of the house. i couldn't stay there. but, uh, staying away... only adds to the distance between you. you mean like the distance between you and your daughter. yes. like me and my daughter. sorry, victor. i shouldn't have said that. you are right. i love my daughter and you love carol. and we are both very stupid not to remember... that is what really matters.

in this episode, we are learning how to describe abilities. if carol can add and jess can cook, then what can you do ?

the words "know how to"... are also used to describe abilities. "can" and "know how to" are important words to remember. i can see you want to get back to the story and i know how to get you there. hello. table for two ? hi. yes. this way, please. there you go. thanks a lot.

- nice move, jess. - i feel lucky today. so how did things go with carol when you got home last night ? she was asleep. so you didn't talk to her until this morning ? she was already gone by the time i woke up. i'll talk to her tonight. good. there you go, henry. one katherine special. but the customer ordered a turkey sandwich. yes, and today that's my special. a turkey sandwich doesn't sound very special to me. hey, it's my first day as cook. i'm trying to keep things simple, okay ? hello. crossroads cafe. wasn't i supposed to get a discount because of how much i'm buying ? hmm. thank you. appreciate it. see you tomorrow.

jamal, what are you so happy about ? i'm smiling because i just took a really nice bike ride on a beautiful sunny day. fresh air. good exercise. nothing broken, hmm ? well, victor it looks like your experiment is really working out. - oh, we will know soon, my friend. - what do you mean ? in 15 seconds, the lunch crowd will be here and then my employees will see just how tough these jobs really are. maybe they won't all come. oh, they will. they always do. in five, four, three, two, one. okay, you want the grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, mayonnaise on the side an extra pickle and a slice of lemon with your water. right. oh, and can you make the bacon extra crisp ?

- sure. why not ? - you know, i just changed my mind. okay. what do you need ? i'll have what joe just ordered, only i don't want any bacon, but i do want extra mayonnaise and i would also like two extra pickles, please. excuse me ! where's our food ? we ordered ages ago ! i'll check on your order right now. here's the order for table five. good luck figuring it out. - where's the food for table seven ? - i'm moving as fast as i can ! okay, mrs. johnson. your lunch is probably late because our delivery person is new today. yes, and he's probably lost. i'm sure he'll be there soon. okay, here's your $2.50. here's your $7.03. thank you. that wasn't even close. you're probably going to lose some business because of all this. perhaps. but these are regular customers. i will apologize tthem later and explain what we were doing. finally. here comes our food.

and there goes our food. i'm really sorry. that's all right henry. no harm done. my apologies. can we get you something else while you're waiting for your meal ? no, no it's all right. why don't you go back to katherine place the order again... and tell her to make it her number one priority. - what about this mess ? - don't worry. i will take care of it. excuse me. hi, jess. why aren't you at work ? i'm on my lunch break. why don't you sit down ? i didn't get any sleep at all last night. to tell you the truth, i didn't either.

something's different about this place. it's all part of victor's grand experiment. he wanted everyone to switch jobs for a day so they could fill in for each other... if someone's not here. well, that makes sense. except trading places is a lot more difficult than they imagined. sounds a little like us. - what do you mean ? - jess, i think we're having a real tough time... because our roles aren't the same as they used to be. because i'm not working and you are. it's more than that. all these years, you were the one making money and buying me nice things. you mean i can't buy you nice things anymore ? jess, this isn't about buying things. it's about change, and it's not easy. no kidding. doesn't mean it's got to be bad. i know that.

okay, fine. fine ! yes, i understand, mrs. johnson. yeah-- one moment, please. rosa, i'm sorry. i tried very hard to find mrs. johnson's house, but i was not able to. no, don't tell me. tell her. hello ? there is no-- there is no need to yell mrs. johnson. just give me directions and i will take care of everything. it's very handsome. i'm glad you didn't return it. believe me, i came close. hello, mrs. washington. well, hello, mr. brashov. so, victor, is crossroads cafe going to survive your experiment ? well, i managed to clean up the mess. maybe you cleaned up the food henry spilled, but i don't know about the rest of this mess. - so, where's my food ? - i need a refill. - can i get my check ? - how about some more water ? - can i order some dessert ? victor, i think this would be a real good time for your trip to niagara falls. you know, myriend, i think you are right.

mr. brashov ! katherine, call 911. henry, go get a blanket from the back. this is an emergency. someone's having a heart attack. 2950 west 53rd street. - 285, code six. 105 north-- - okay, we're on our way. rosa, go with them. i'll take care of things here. is mr. brashov gog to be all right ? i don't know, henry. someone should tell his family. he has children, right ? a daughter, but i don't think he sees her very often. what a time to be alone.

i love you, jess. i love you too. closed-captioned by captions, inc. los angeles

crossroads cafe is a series that teaches english... to speakers of other languages. for more information call toll-free:

okay, gang, let's begin. if i take this ball and i throw it to the air, almost a nice clean, smooth path, doesn't it? a smooth path. what's the name of that path? a parabola, that's right. let's suppose i take something like this l shaped and i throw this to the air. nice clean, smooth path? and no, n-o, right? but there's one part of