A Different World (1987–1993): Season 4, Episode 3 - Blues for Nobody's Child - full transcript

£ I know my parents loved me £

£ stand behind me
come what may £

£ I know now that I'm ready £

£ for I finally heard them say £

£ it's a different world £

£ than where you come from £

£ yes, it is now, yeah £

£ here's our chance to make it £

£ and if we focus on our goal £

£ you can dish it,
we can take it £

£ hey, just remember
that you've been told £



£ it's a different world £

£ it's a different world £

£ it's a different world £

£ than where you come from £

£ ooh £

£ than where you come from. £

53 africans chained in the belly

of the slave ship amistad,
sailing from Cuba to Haiti.

Food is scarce

and when the slaves
dare ask for more

the cook laughs.

"Ha!

You'll soon be eating
your own flesh."

All:
Eww!



And he stirs a huge,
boiling cauldron...

Finally, the good part.

Hush your mouth, boy,
before I throw you in this pot.

Led by Joseph cinque,
the great mende warrior,

the men make a pact
to fight their captors.

Then what happened?

Joseph finds a nail on the deck,

and he picks the lock
that holds them captive,

and soon they are free.

They rush the deck,
take command of the ship,

and set sail for Africa.

Did they make it?

You'll find out next time.

Aw.

Man, well I think
cinque was stupid.

He should have
hijacked the plane.

They didn't have planes
in slavery days.
Right colonel?

Very astute, Alex.

What's a "stoot"?

All right, let's give a hand
to professor Randolph

for that wonderful story.

All right, come and get it.

Grab a bag. Hot roast
beef sandwiches to go.

I can't stay closed all
day, I've got hungry
students to feed.

They get stupid
when they don't eat.

Are you feeding anybody over 12?

See what I mean?
Stupid!

Can't you read the sign?

It says come back
in ten minutes.

Ok, thank you Mr. Gaines.
Alex, can I get
half your sandwich?

I'm starving.

You shouldn't be.

I think we have one

little sandwich left.

I wonder what it could be?

Oh, it's roast beef,

with cheese and fresh tomato.

Mmm.

You are so evil.

Mm-hmm.

Ten-hut.

All right.

Outreach children marching home.

Marching home.
Marching home.

Outreach children marching home.

How about a movie
tomorrow night?

Not tomorrow.

I already have a date.
I'm going to the fair.

To the fair? I haven't been
on a Ferris wheel in ages.

Can I go?

Not that kind of fair...

It's an adoption fair.

An adoption fair?

Yeah.

Where foster kids
like me go to
find parents.

Are you making this up?

No.

People take lots of kids home.

I'm wearing a tie.

Do you like it?

Well, yeah,
this is a beautiful tie.

But you don't need
this tie, you know.

You just be yourself,

because you're cute,
you're adorable.

You know it!
But every little bit helps.

Somebody is taking me home
this year.

Walter:
All right, Alex, my man.

Let's go, dude.

Good luck, Alex.

Thanks, Freddie.

I have all the luck I need.

Come on, little rusty butt.

Can I borrow this tie?

Maybe.

Slow down.

You're not at
the Kentucky derby.

I don't know why
I bother to cook.

Might as well throw
you all sugar cubes.

Oh, this doesn't look so bad.

It's a party.

A party?!

Look at that.

It's a couple holding a baby.

They're picking over them
like cattle.

Freddie, don't you think
you're overreacting?

No. This idea
of an adoption fair

is appalling.

Alex:
Hi, Freddie.

Don't I look sharp?

Woo, super fly.

Alex, this is my friend, Kim.

Hi.

Hi, my name is Alex, I'm eight.

I like to fish and skate.

Alex, she can't adopt you.

I was just being polite.

I really like
those people there.

Ok, you've seen
what you came to see.
We have to go to class.

Wait a minute.

Hi, I'm Alex.
I'm eight.

I like to skate.

Modest.

He's an excellent swimmer...
Form, poise.

What else do you like?

I like to read books.

What books?

He reads voraciously.

I caught him reading

Shakespeare.

Freddie, Freddie.

I like to play video games.

He's a computer genius,

and everything you want
in a boy.

He's bright, inquisitive,
he's charming.

Look at this little face.

Alex is not a used car.

I am just trying to help.

I know.

Who's running this circus?

Excuse me.

Are you in charge?

Yes, I'm Ernie miles.

What can I do for you?

How could you do this to Alex?

Who are you?

My name is Freddie Brooks.

I work with Alex
at operation outreach.

This is an outrage.

I know you mean well, but I've
got a caseload of 50 kids

who desperately need homes.

It's my job to find them.

There's got to be a better way.

You're not getting the picture.

Children and parents
find each other here.

It was w.E.B. Dubois
who said,

"the price of Liberty

is less than
the cost of oppression."

£ and I second that emotion. £

w.e.b. Dubois with a dash
of smokey Robinson.

Know what he meant?

Dubois or smokey?

Just kidding.

Brother Dubois was talking about

how blacks could
achieve equality

at a time our rights
were being eroded.

Very well put, Mr. Johnson.

You've been doing your reading.

What happened?

Did your date stand you up?

Rain check.

The "talented tenth."

What does that mean?

As brother Dubois put it

was the intellectual leader
of the black community...

Not unlike some people
in this class.

I think this philosophy
of the "talented tenth"

is divisive.

I agree more
with booker t. Washington,

who supported education
for the masses.

Have anything to add to that,
miss Brooks?

Huh?

Winnifred, where are you?

I've been asking myself that
for years.

Today Kim and I
went to an adoption fair.

There were all these children
with no place to go and no
one to love them..

People only wanted
the little ones.

So what happens to the rest?

Unfortunately, they get stuck
in the system until they're 18.

There are half a million
children in foster care.

A significant number
are African-American.

What can we do about
these children?

Nothing.

Now, getting back
to w.E.B. Dubois...

We're out of time now,
Mr. Johnson.

No, no, wait!
Sit back down.

Mr. Johnson, you have
a semester's worth of reading
with which to amaze us.

But I may not get
stood up again.

Ooh, well we can always hope.

Ooh, the more they fight,
the sweeter the catch.

I appreciate
your compassion, winnifred.

I'm so angry I could scream.

Well, go ahead on and scream.

We need strong voices

to call attention
to the problem.

It's not enough just to talk.

We need to...

Are you married?

Yes.

Do you have any children?

No, not yet.

This is perfect.

Then you can adopt.

I know this cute, cute,
really sweet, eight-year-old,

who would love to call you papa.

Actually, my wife and I
have discussed adoption.

But we think
we would prefer a newborn.

A newborn?

It would be easier
for the child to adjust.

Easier for the child
or easier for you?

Winnifred, this really is
a personal matter.

Alex has been waiting
since he was four.

He's supposed to sit there

while you wait for some kid

who hasn't even been born?

Winnifred, that is enough.

There are some things
you don't understand.

Oh, I understand, professor.

You're too busy
writing about our problems

to do anything about them.

Ron:
Some would consider
w.E.B.Dubois as an elitist

but in actuality

his concerns were designed
to elevate the entire race

to a level
of intellectual advancement...

Ron, you're boring the building.

I'm trying to uplift the race.

You can open up the door.

This is a safe neighborhood.

The door's unlocked.

No, I don't want any of your
nasty little cookies.

Now scram.

I'm looking for Freddie.

Well, she's not in my apartment.

Try across the hall.

Al, what's up?

I was just helping
this little lamb find Freddie.

Uh-uh, you told me to scram.

I was just playing with you,
you silly Willy.

My name's Alex.

You don't do
much baby-sitting, do you?

No. I prefer boys
closer to my own age.

Well, you might get one

if you learn how
to treat them right.

Alex, Freddie's at my place.

Would you ask her to come out?

Just go in.

We'd love to.

Freddie!

Alex.

What are you doing here?

I followed you.

Guys, I think Alex would like
to talk to me alone.

Take his hookhead
out in the hall.

Okay, Alex, you followed me
all the way here

so it's something important.

You can tell me whatever it is.

I'm your friend.

Good-bye, Freddie.

Where are you going?

Far away.

Why?

I hate those stupid fairs!

But you can't run away.

Okay, I'll stay with you.

I wish you could,
but that's not possible.

Why not?

Because I'm still in school.

I don't even have a job.

You don't want me, either.

Of course I do.

What's wrong with me?

Nobody wants me.

That's not true.

Nobody even looked at me today.

Don't make me go back.

Let me stay with you.

I made it!

I made it over the moat.

You cheated.

Shhh.

Well, game over.

Time to go.

Ron...

Freddie, we got to do something.

He's been here over an hour,

the authorities are
probably looking for him.

That's all we need,

a SWAT team to arrest us for
aiding and abetting a runaway.

Have a heart.

He has a point.

Look, I like the kid, and i'd
be happy to play games with
him all night

in your dorm room.

I can't because
if Walter finds him

he'll take him
to the adoption center.

I need more time.

For what?

I don't know.

That's why I need more time.

Keep your voices down.

The c-h-i-l-d
is h-e-a-r-i-n-g you.

Whitley, the boy is eight.

He can spell.

S-o?

Whitley's going
to get you some cookies.

Walter..!

Jaleesa, have you seen Freddie?

No. Why?

Alex ran away today.

Him and Freddie are tight

so I thought
they might be together.

He's not in any trouble is he?

No, he disappeared from
the adoption center today.

I'm starting to get worried.

I'll tell Freddie if I see her.

I'll see if Ron
and Dwayne can help.

It's the police!

Walter!

Have you seen Alex?

No.

Not at all.

I want you guys
to come help me find him.

Yeah.
Sure.

Hi, jaleesa.

Who is this?

Who's who?

Is this the boy
Walter's looking for?

Noooo...

This is a different little boy.

My name is Alex.

I'm eight.

I can fish, swim and skate.

This is the little boy
Walter's looking for!

Walter, we found him!

Nice try, everybody.

Come on, Alex, it's time to go.

Please, Walter,
don't make him go.

Hiding him won't help.

Taking him is?

Hey, I care about Alex
as much as you.

I have no other choice.

I'll try to figure
something out.

Time to go.

Ah, piece of pie, piece of pie.

Throw this trump in your eye.

You still got to make
your books.

All four of them.

Before I'm done,
I'll have a library full.

If I had a partner...

You still couldn't beat me...

King of clubs!

Give me my book.

Walter, come teach
this man some humility.

Might as well be waiting
for snow in the Sahara.

Why is your lip on the floor?

I ain't whupped you yet.

What's wrong?

I dropped Alex off
at the agency.

Oh, boy.

It was rough.

I asked if he could
stay with me,

but they said, "if we bend
the rules for you,

we'll have to bend them
for everyone else."

Who's dealing?

You are, and I have the pleasure
of being your partner.

Feel sorry for you, professor.

He who talks trash will be on
that midnight train to Boston.

Oooh, all aboard.

All aboard.

So does it look like Alex
will find a home soon?

Some possibilities,
but nothing permanent.

What happened to his parents?

His father died.

His mother abandoned him
when he was four.

He's been moved
from one foster home to another.

His last family gave him up.

He's in the child
welfare system again.

It's a shame.

There was a time

when folks took care
of their own.

It's a different time now.
The system makes it difficult

for parents
to take care of their own.

Don't talk to me
about no system.

I'm talking about
responsibility.

My mama raised 14 children...

Ten of her own
and four of my cousins.

We wore the same clothes.

Sometimes at the same time.

I hope you had boy cousins.

The point is, Brad,
we were family.

We had a will
and we found a way.

When I was taking him
to the center,

I wanted to bring him
home with me.

He didn't even cry.

Aw shoot, velma and I
should go and get that boy.

Nobody gonna give you Alex.

You ain't got no hair.

Velma does.

That's noble, vern

but they're looking
for people my age.

Or mine.

Do you have any children,
professor?

No. None yet.

Don't be in no hurry.

Wait till you're ready.

Children are a blessing

but they're yours
for a lifetime.

It's not that bad, vern.

Your son is only 18 years old.

Wait till he turns 35

and moves back home.

You know you wouldn't have it
no other way.

I know I'm the light
of my parents' life.

Ooouch...

That queen of diamonds
died a miserable death.

Doc, what are you playing...
Old maid?

I'm sorry, Walter.

I just lost my concentration.

And five of my
hard-earned dollars.

Well, are we
going to play?
Time is running out.

Professor, play or sway?

Let's play.

All right.

Mr... Gaines.

Oh, yes.

I come to see about
adopting Alex webb.

My wife, velma, would have come

but she threw her back out.

But I got a picture of her.

That's all right.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Okay.

Vern, is that you?

No.

It's little Richard.

What you doing here?

Same thing you are,
only without the rug.

Shhh.

It makes me look younger.

Oh yeah, absolutely!

Mr. Gaines:
Great minds think alike.

You've been going through
velma's dresser drawers again.

Mr. Gaines,
I'll see you now.

Okay. Okay.

I get it.

I can't have Alex because
you think I'm too old.

We just want you to take time
to think about it.

Take time.

All you got is time...

Colonel Taylor.

Oh, I know...

It's because
I don't have a wife.

I had one for 15 years.

Just take some time
to think about it.

Aw, I got your time...

Mr. Oakes.

I have thought about it...

All last night.

Brother get a suit,
start tripping...

I can't believe
they turned me down.

A colonel in
the United States army.

I've raised two children.

They didn't turn any of us down.

They just want us
to think about it.

What's to think about?!

With my credentials...

I should be able to adopt Alex
just like that.

Alex would be lucky
to have either of you.

That's why I'm going
to keep on trying.

It hurts my heart to think that
that boy could have been eating

this food free.

Well, what's done is done.

Good, then maybe you could
take that mangy rug back.

Oh, my goodness!

I've got an overdue rental
on my head.

Now they're going to charge me
for two extra days.

Maybe they got a drop-in slot.

Freddie! Freddie!

Alex, hey.

Guess what?

Mr. Miles said
someone wanted me today.

Of course someone wanted
you. Who wouldn't?

That means
I might have a family.

Freddie:
That's great.

Yes, I could not agree more.

Professor Randolph, you...

Yeah!

Well, my wife and I put in
an application for adoption.

Well, congratulations,
professor.

This calls for a celebration.

How would you like

a super duper chocolate fudge,
double fudge, banana split

with sprinkles on the top?

Great.

Who are you?

James brown.

Professor Randolph,
you won't regret this.

I'm going to baby-sit for free.

I'll take him
to the zoo, for walks...

Winnifred, slow down.

Alex is not coming home with us
right away.

We have lots of paperwork
and the screening to go through,

and hopefully,
if everything works out

then I'll have a son.

You did the right thing, man.

Yes, you did,
and I owe you an apology.

I was way out of line yesterday.

Yes, you do.

You were rude,
intrusive, hysterical...

And you made your point.

Hey, Alex, Alex!

Come back here,
you little hellion!

I'll lose my deposit.

Get that boy..!

That's my boy.