A Different World (1987–1993): Season 1, Episode 1 - Reconcilable Differences - full transcript

£ I KNOW MY PARENTS LOVE ME £

£ STAND BEHIND ME
COME WHAT MAY £

£ I FOUND OUT THAT I'M READY £

£ BECAUSE I FINALLY
HEARD THEM SAY £

£ IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD £

£ FROM WHERE YOU COME FROM £

£ HERE'S A CHANCE TO MAKE IT £

£ IF WE FOCUS ON OUR GOAL £

£ IF YOU DISH IT,
WE CAN TAKE IT £

£ JUST REMEMBER
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD £

£ IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD £



£ FROM WHERE YOU COME FROM £

£ IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD £

£ FROM WHERE YOU COME FROM £

HEY, HOW YOU DOING?

IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO

TO MAKE YOUR STAY AT HILLMAN
MORE ENJOYABLE.

ANYTHING AT ALL!

YOU MAY NEED
SOMEONE TO TALK TO

OR SOMEONE
TO HOLD YOUR HAND.

OR SOMEONE TO HOLD
YOUR OTHER HAND.

ANY PART OF YOU
THAT NEEDS HOLDING.

HOW YOU DOING?

MY NAME'S DWAYNE WAYNE.

I'M THE OFFICIAL GREETER



OF THE DORM
ORIENTATION COMMITTEE.

WHY DO YOU
WASTE YOUR TIME HERE

WHEN THERE ARE MAGAZINE COVERS
BEGGING FOR YOUR COUNTENANCE.

COUNTENANCE,
THAT'S LIKE A FACE.

THAT WAS A COMPLIMENT.

HOW YOU DOING?

THE NAME'S
DWAYNE WAYNE.

OFFICIAL GREETER OF THE DORM
ORIENTATION COMMITTEE.

DORM ORIENTATION
COMMITTEE?

I DIDN'T KNOW
WE HAD ONE.

IN FACT, WE'RE HAVING
OUR FIRST MEETING TONIGHT--

7:30, MY PLACE.

I CAN'T MAKE IT
TONIGHT.

THE SODA MACHINE IS
BEING FIXED.

WHY DO YOU
HAVE TO BE THERE?

THEY WANT THE DORM DIRECTOR
TO BE THERE.

YOU'RE THE DORM
DIRECTOR!

I'M SORRY.

ANYTHING I SAID TO YOU
WAS SAID WITH COMPLETE RESPECT.

AND WITH COMPLETE RESPECT
I'M TELLING YOU, "LEAVE."

I'M GOING.

GOOD-BYE, MA'AM.

DON'T TELL THE DEAN.

THERE IS A GOD.

( stammering )
HI, MY NAME...

MY NAME...

MY NAME IS...

EARL.

NO, THAT'S NOT IT!

IT SOMETHING WITH A "D".

MY NAME IS... DWAYNE!

DWAYNE'S
MY NAME!
DWAYNE.

HI, I'M DENISE,
AND THIS IS MY LUGGAGE.

LET ME HELP YOU.

I WISH I'D
THOUGHT OF THIS EARLIER.

THIS TIME
WITH NO RESPECT.

GET OUT,
OUT, OUT!

I'M GOING.

IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

I'LL SEE YOU.

WHAT WAS THAT?

ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT MAKES MY JOB
MORE DIFFICULT.

HI, I'M STEVIE RALLEN,
DORM DIRECTOR.
OH, HI.

WELCOME
TO GILBERT.
THANKS.

IT'S NICE TO BE HERE.

COMPARED TO FRESHMAN DORMS,
THIS PLACE IS PARADISE.

I'M DENISE HUXTABLE.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

DON'T LOSE THAT ENTHUSIASM.

YOU'LL NEED IT.

MY MOM USED TO
LIVE IN THIS DORM.

AND MY DAD
LIVED ON THOSE STEPS.

TIMES HAVEN'T CHANGED.

LET'S SEE, HUXTABLE...

YOU'RE IN 20Y WITH...

JALEESA VINSON.

AND SHE'S
HERE ALREADY.

GREAT!

THANKS, MRS. RALLEN.

THE NAME IS STEVIE.

THANKS, STEVIE.

DENISE!

WHITLEY.

WELCOME BACK.

HOW'S YOUR SUMMER?

I WORKED MY TAIL OFF
INTERNING IN DADDY'S CHAMBERS.

DURING THE SUMMER
IN RICHMOND

YOU CAN FRY AN EGG
ON A JAGUAR.

WOULDN'T THAT RUIN
THE PAINT JOB?

I DIDN'T MEAN THAT
LITERALLY.

WE HAVE TO CATCH UP.

CAN WE DO THAT LATER?

I WANT TO MEET
MY NEW ROOMMATE.

YOU HAVEN'T MET HER YET.

YOU'RE IN FOR A SURPRISE.

SURPRISE?

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

OH, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M SURE SHE'S
A VERY NICE GIRL.

THOUGH YOU REALLY
CAN'T CALL HER A GIRL.

SHE'S NOT
A TEENAGER.

HOW OLD IS SHE?

THEY SAY 26.

BUT I SUSPECT THAT'S
ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE

WHEN YOU CONSIDER
SHE'S BEEN MARRIED.

AND DIVORCED.

SO?

THAT ALONE DOESN'T
MAKE HER A BAD PERSON.

BUT I'VE ALSO HEARD

SHE'S HAD A BRUSH
WITH THE LAW.

WHAT BRUSH
WITH THE LAW?

I DON'T THINK A PRESTIGIOUS
INSTITUTION LIKE HILLMAN

WOULD ADMIT CRIMINALS,
DO YOU?

ERICA, WELCOME BACK!

HI.

HI.

I'M DENISE.

YOU MUST BE 26.

I DIDN'T
MEAN THAT.

YOU DON'T LOOK 26.

YOU DON'T EVEN LOOK...

WHY DON'T WE JUST START OVER.

OKAY, GREAT, I'D LIKE THAT.

HI, I'M JALEESA.

HI, I'M SINGLE.

SO, WHAT ELSE
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT ME?

THAT YOU'RE NO TEENAGER.

LOOK, LET'S BE STRAIGHT

AND JUST GET THIS OUT
IN THE OPEN.

YES, I WAS MARRIED.

IT LASTED FOR TWO YEARS.

I HAD NO CHILDREN
WHILE WE WERE MARRIED

BUT MY HUSBAND DID.

THAT'S WHY
WE'RE DIVORCED.

ANYTHING ELSE?

NO, JUST LET ME DEAL WITH
WHAT YOU JUST TOLD ME.

YOU'VE GOT
A LOT OF BOOKS.

I HEAR THEY'RE BIG ON THAT

IN COLLEGE.

YOU'RE THE FIRST 26-YEAR-OLD
DIVORCED PERSON I'VE LIVED WITH.

I SHOULD PROBABLY ASK.

HAVE YOU PICKED A BED?

YEAH, THAT ONE.

I'M SORRY.

ARE ALL THOSE CLOTHES YOURS

OR DID YOU MUG JOAN COLLINS
ON THE WAY OVER HERE?

FUNNY,
REALLY FUNNY.

OH.

ARE YOU ALWAYS
THAT ORGANIZED?

BASICALLY.

I JUST CAN'T LIVE
AROUND...

CLUTTER.

OH, ME,
NEITHER.

I CAN'T LIVE
AROUND THAT, EITHER.

MY SISTER VANESSA
MADE THIS FOR ME.

THEY'RE DENTAL RETAINERS.

IT WAS A GOING-AWAY PRESENT.

COULDN'T SHE JUST
GIVE YOU A WATCH?

YOU'RE FUNNY.

REALLY FUNNY.

( knocking )

COME IN?

I'D LOVE TO.

DENISE, UM...

I ALWAYS KNEW THAT WE
WERE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.

OH.

AND WHEN YOU READ THIS,
YOU'LL KNOW, TOO.

I THINK THAT
SAYS IT ALL.

"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN"?

THAT'S YOU.

IT CONCERNS YOU.

"IF YOUR IDEA OF HEAVEN

"IS DRIVING DOWN A WINDING
COUNTRY ROAD IN FRANCE

"IN AN ELEGANT RACING MACHINE
WITH SOFT MUSIC ON THE STEREO

"AND A COUPLE OF
PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS

IN THE GLOVE
COMPARTMENT..?"

OKAY, JUST TAKE IT
AND READ IT AT YOUR LEISURE

AND CALL ME.

IF I'M NOT IN, I'LL BE
PICKING UP THE CHEESESTEAKS.

OH, HI, DENISE.

COME ON IN.

THANKS.

SO WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

TROUBLE IN PARADISE?

STEVIE, I NEED TO
TALK TO YOU ABOUT...

WHY ARE YOU WEARING THOSE?

I FORGOT TO TELL YOU,
I'M A MARTIAN.

OH, YOU ARE?

OH,
HELLO.

MOMMY

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO
COLLECT THE SOIL SAMPLES?

IN A MINUTE, J.T.

I WANT YOU TO
MEET SOMEONE.

DENISE, THIS IS
MY SON, J.T.

I'M NOT J.T.

I'M CAPTAIN J.T.

IT'S AN HONOR
TO MEET YOU, CAPTAIN.

I'M DOING VERY
IMPORTANT WORK.

COULD YOU DO IT
OVER THERE?

WE'RE BEING INVADED

AND I'VE GOT TO
TALK TO DENISE.

OKAY.

OKAY.

NOW, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

I WANT TO CHANGE ROOMMATES.

UH-HUH.

WELL, I GUESS THIS IS
NO TIME TO BE A MARTIAN.

I KNOW THIS
PROBABLY SOUNDS LIKE

I'M OVERREACTING

BUT MY DAD ALWAYS SAYS

IF YOU FEEL STRONGLY
ABOUT SOMETHING

THEN JUST FOLLOW
YOUR INSTINCT.

AFTER ONE DAY?

HE ALSO SAYS
NOT TO PROCRASTINATE.

YOUR FATHER IS VERY TALKATIVE.

STEVIE, I COME FROM
A VERY BIG FAMILY

AND I GET ALONG WITH
ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE.

I REALLY DO.

BUT JALEESA'S DIFFERENT.

EVERYTHING I SAY
RUBS HER THE WRONG WAY.

SHE DOESN'T LIKE ME.

OH, IT'S JUST
BEEN ONE DAY.

UNLESS THE WOMAN

IS A CRIMINAL

YOU SHOULD FIND A WAY
TO LIVE TOGETHER.

IS THERE SOMETHING
ABOUT JALEESA

THAT NO ONE IS TELLING ME?

THIS IS COLLEGE.

THIS IS NOT COMPUTER DATING.

I KNOW, BUT THIS
IS A REALLY BAD MATCH.

WE JUST DON'T BELONG TOGETHER.

OKAY.

I DO HAVE
A SOLUTION FOR YOU.

GREAT, WHAT?

WHITLEY.

( Southern accent )
WHITLEY GILBERT?

I DIDN'T SAY
IT WAS A GOOD SOLUTION.

SHE'S THE ONLY GIRL HERE
WITHOUT A ROOMMATE.

I THINK THERE COULD BE
GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU TRY

APPLYING SOME POSITIVE
ENERGY IN THIS SITUATION?

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED AT
WHAT YOU GET BACK FROM JALEESA.

OKAY.

I'LL TRY IT AGAIN.

I KNOW YOU TWO
CAN WORK THIS OUT.

REMEMBER, GETTING ALONG
WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE

IS A SIGN OF
GROWING UP.

HMM.

( music on the radio )

YOU ONLY GET OUT OF
A RELATIONSHIP

WHAT YOU PUT
INTO IT.

I'VE DECIDED TO PUT A LOT OF
POSITIVE ENERGY INTO THIS ONE.

WHO HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING TO?

NO ONE.

BUT STEVIE'S RIGHT, I...

YOU TALKED TO STEVIE ABOUT ME.

ALL STEVIE SAID WAS

HOW IMPORTANT SHE THOUGHT
IT WAS THAT WE GOT ALONG.

YOU WANT A NEW ROOMMATE.

NO.

OKAY, YEAH, BUT
I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

I AM PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH YOU.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.

YOU TALKED TO STEVIE
ABOUT CHANGING ROOMMATES

BEHIND MY BACK

WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME.

I ADMIT THAT I WAS WRONG

BUT I WAS JUST FOLLOWING
MY FATHER'S ADVICE.

YOUR FATHER TOLD YOU TO BE
SELFISH, RUDE AND SNEAKY.

NO, NOT EXACTLY IN THOSE WORDS.

HUXTABLE, YOU'RE
WORSE THAN I THOUGHT.

I'M WORSE THAN YOU THOUGHT?

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

THAT YOU'RE A SPOILED RICH KID
WITH MORE CLOTHES THAN BRAINS

WHO'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO GET ALONG WITH.

OH, IS THAT RIGHT?

WELL, DON'T WORRY
ABOUT THAT ANYMORE

BECAUSE IT SO HAPPENS
I DO HAVE A CHOICE OF ROOMMATES.

OH, REALLY?

YEAH, REALLY.

WELL, AREN'T YOU
THE LUCKY ONE?

WHITLEY.

£ BABY, BABY,
WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO? £

( pounding at door )

HI.
NEED SOME HELP?

JUST PUT THEM
BY MY BED.

I WISH YOU COULD
HAVE BEEN WITH ME.

I HATE SHOPPING ALONE.

I CAN NEVER DECIDE WHAT I WANT,
SO I BUY EVERYTHING.

OH...

ME, TOO.

I'M SORRY I COULDN'T
FIND A WHEELCHAIR.

A WHEELCHAIR?

PUT ONE IN
THE BACK SEAT OF YOUR CAR

AND YOU'LL FIND A PLACE TO PARK
THAT'S NOT IN THE BOONIES.

WHITLEY, THAT'S TERRIBLE.

SHOULD I BE PUNISHED
BECAUSE I CAN WALK?

NO, WHITLEY,
LIFE HAS PUNISHED YOU ENOUGH.

I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW THRILLED I AM

THAT WE'RE
ROOMING TOGETHER.

YOU AND I WILL
HAVE A BALL.

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO
GIVE FOOT MASSAGES?

NO, I'M TERRIBLE.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT ONE
FROM ME.

OH... WHAT A SHAME.

YOU KNOW, DENISE,
WHEN STEVIE FIRST APPROACHED ME

ABOUT EXTENDING MY
HOSPITALITY TO YOU

I WAS SOMEWHAT TAKEN ABACK.

THEN I FOUND OUT

THAT YOU COME FROM
A FINE FAMILY.

I MEAN,
MY DADDY'S A JUDGE

AND YOUR DADDY'S
A DENTIST?

CLOSE.

HE'S AN OBSTETRICIAN
AND GYNECOLOGIST.

MY, HOW INTERESTING.

THIS YEAR IS GOING
TO BE SO MUCH FUN.

WHAT IS THAT?

MY SISTER VANESSA
MADE THIS FOR ME.

IT'S MADE OUT OF
OLD DENTAL RETAINERS.

THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN
IN PEOPLE'S MOUTHS!

JUST MY MOUTH, WHITLEY.

WELL...

I'M GOING TO TAKE A SHOWER.

I FEEL LIKE
MISS GRITTY CITY.

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

THANKS. I WILL.

SILLY ME, I ALMOST FORGOT.

WHAT'S THAT?

IT'S A LOCK FOR THE PHONE.

BYE-BYE, ROOMIE.

BYE...

ROOMIE.

( soul music )

( mingled conversations )

HI, ROOMIE.

WHITLEY... WHITLEY!

HI.

I THINK WE NEED TO TALK.

I'VE BEEN THINKING

AND THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO
GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER

IS IF WE ARE COMPLETELY
HONEST WITH EACH OTHER.

I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE.

Denise:
WELL, GOOD...

BECAUSE I FEEL THAT
IF WE'RE TO GET ALONG

WE'VE GOT TO RESPECT
EACH OTHER'S RIGHTS.

DENISE, LOOK AT THAT TABLE
OVER THERE.

I'M TRYING TO TALK TO YOU.

THE ONE IN
THE BAGGY CHINOS

CAN'T TAKE HIS
EYES OFF OF ME.

I THINK HE'S
LOOKING AT ME.

NEVER MIND.

HE'S COMING
OVER.

OH, MY HAIR IS A MESS,
AND I JUST FEEL STICKY.

HI.

I'M CHIP...

CHIP ST. CHARLES.

HI, CHIP,
I'M WHITLEY...

WHITLEY GILBERT.

AND, UM...
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

DENISE.

A LOVELY NAME.
THANK YOU.

ST. CHARLES,
ST. CHARLES.

ARE YOU ONE OF THE
ATLANTA ST. CHARLESES?

MY SISTER WENT
TO A COTILLION

WITH A JULIAN
ST. CHARLES.

WOULD THAT BE
YOUR BROTHER?

I'M FROM SEATTLE.

RAINS A LOT THERE, RIGHT?

DENISE, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO DANCE?

OH, WOW.

THANKS, CHIP, I'D LOVE TO.

I'M ONE OF THOSE
BROOKLYN HUXTABLES.

HEY, THERE.

MY NAME'S DWAYNE WAYNE.

FOR YOU TO BE
SITTING ALL ALONE--

IT PAINS ME.

SHUT UP
AND LET'S DANCE!

ALL RIGHT.

A WOMAN WHO
THINKS FOR HERSELF.

IT SCARES ME,
BUT I LIKE IT.

HI AGAIN.

HI, WHITLEY.

DON'T YOU JUST
LOVE THIS SONG?

WE CAN PLAY IT WHEN
WE'RE DOING OUR EXERCISES.

WE'LL SOON GET RID OF
THAT ICE CREAM INCH

YOU PUT ON
OVER THE SUMMER.

HA HA HA.

I HATE TO BE
A PARTY POOP

BUT I CAN'T GET THE TOP
OF MY CONVERTIBLE CLOSED.

NO PROBLEM.

DWAYNE, YOU'LL HAVE
MANY MORE CHANCES
TO BE NICE TO ME

BUT I NEED A MAN HERE.

I GUESS
I COULD DO IT.

COULD YOU,
CHIP?

I'M AFRAID I MIGHT
CATCH A CHILL .

I WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE
ANYTHING TO MY ROOMIE.

YOU'RE GIVING IT TO ME
PRETTY GOOD.

IT'S JUST AROUND
THE CORNER.

( gasp )

YOUR ARM IS JUST
ONE BIG MUSCLE.

"YOUR ARM IS
ONE BIG MUSCLE"?

THE WOMAN LEFT ME STANDING
ON THE DANCE FLOOR ALONE.

WHATEVER HAPPENED
TO CHIVALRY?

( crickets chirping loudly )

( chirping stops )

DENISE...

( crickets chirping )

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?

FROM THE WAY YOU WERE
ROLLING BACK AND FORTH

I'D SAY AN IMPRESSION
OF STEVIE WONDER.

I'M TRYING TO GET
SOME SLEEP, JALEESA.

THEY HAVE BEDS FOR THAT NOW.

I HAVE A GOOD REASON
FOR BEING DOWN HERE.

LET ME GUESS.

WHITLEY?

NO.

WHITLEY AND I
ARE DOING JUST FINE.

IN FACT, WHITLEY AND I WENT
DANCING TONIGHT AT "THE PIT."

I MET A REALLY NICE GUY.

HE'S FIXING WHITLEY'S
CAR RIGHT NOW...

BUT WE'RE DOING JUST FINE.

REALLY?

SO SHE ONLY USES
A BAR OF SOAP ONCE...

AND DOESN'T EAT CHEESE...

OR ALLOW ANYONE ELSE
TO EAT CHEESE IN THE ROOM.

SO WHAT IF THIS GIRL
HAS GOT TO FALL ASLEEP

TO THE SOUND OF CRICKETS?

SHE'S ENTITLED, RIGHT?

SHE DOESN'T LET YOU EAT CHEESE?

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES
ON THIS CAMPUS

WHERE I CAN EAT CHEESE.

FINE.
GOOD.

I'M GOING
TO BED.

FINE.

CAN YOU DO ME
ONE FAVOR FIRST?

WHAT?

TAKE ME WITH YOU!

THE GIRL'S NUTS!

SHE'S DRIVING ME NUTS!

SHE LOCKS THE PHONE,
SHE STEALS MEN...

DENISE, PLEASE!

RIGHT NOW, SHE'S LISTENING
TO A RECORDING OF BUGS.

SHE DOESN'T EAT CHEESE.

SHE WON'T LET ME
EAT PIZZA IN BED--

IT'S UN-AMERICAN.

PLEASE, LET ME GO.

JALEESA, I WANT TO MOVE BACK.

WELL, ISN'T THAT SPECIAL?

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO
MAKE THIS EASY, ARE YOU?

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

IT WASN'T
ALL MY FAULT.

YOU'VE GOT A BIG CHIP
ON YOUR SHOULDER.

I DIDN'T SOCIALIZE MUCH
LAST YEAR

BECAUSE I FELT STRANGE
ABOUT BEING OLDER.

BUT I THOUGHT, "IT'S A NEW YEAR.
GO LIVE IN THE DORM.

COLLEGE IS
MORE THAN JUST BOOKS."

YOU THOUGHT THAT?

YES, I THOUGHT THAT.

BUT WHEN I GOT HERE,
ALL I HEARD WAS:

"DID YOU HEAR?
JALEESA DID SO AND SO."

"JALEESA ONCE PUNCHED OUT
A TEACHER."

I HEARD IT WAS A DEAN.

I FELT LIKE YOU HAD YOUR MINDS
MADE UP ABOUT ME

SO I GOT MY BACK UP.

MAYBE I'M NOT
THE EASIEST PERSON TO LIVE WITH.

I WAS WRONG
TO JUDGE YOU SO QUICKLY.

I WAS PRETTY
UNFRIENDLY.

I HAVE TO LEARN
TO GIVE THINGS
MORE TIME.

NO, I NEED TO BE
LESS DEFENSIVE.

WE WERE BOTH PRETTY
STUPID, WEREN'T WE?

HOW DID WE EVER
GET INTO COLLEGE?

I DON'T KNOW.

MMM...

THIS IS
GREAT PIZZA.

YOU ARE
NOT KIDDING.

SUCH A SIMPLE IDEA.

A LITTLE DOUGH,
A LITTLE SAUCE...

A LITTLE CHEESE...

EAT IT IN A BED.

ELEGANT IN ITS SIMPLICITY.

I'M SURPRISED
YOU'RE EATING IN BED.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE SO NEAT.

PIZZA BRINGS OUT
THE CONTRADICTIONS IN ME.

MY ONLY REGRET

IS THAT WHITLEY IS NOT HERE
TO BE REPULSED BY THIS.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED

IF SHE EATS IT UNDER THE COVERS
WITH A FLASHLIGHT.

JALEESA, COULD I ASK YOU
A LITTLE QUESTION?

SHOOT.

WERE YOU EVER IN JAIL?

WOULD IT BOTHER YOU
IF I WAS?

OF COURSE NOT.

GOOD.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT... ROOMIE.

Captioning made possible by

WRIGLEY'S SPEARMINT CHEWING GUM
and NBC

Captioned by
The Caption Center
WGBH Educational Foundation