A Different World (1987–1993): Season 4, Episode 8 - Love Thy Neighbor - full transcript

Hi.

Hello.

Uh... you need
some help?

No. I can handle it.

Are you sure?

Dwayne, I can handle
two of these things.

Oh, well, run mine
down there too.

£ 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. £

jaleesa, I finished
my share of the chores.



No, you didn't.

Closing the shower curtain

is not a substitute
for scrubbing the tub.

And I mean scrub the tub

not just stroke it
with a sponge.

Where are you going?

You were going to help me
with my marketing project.

It's due tomorrow.

I said I would help you Monday
when you finished your chores.

Today is Thursday.

All promises are off.

I am sorry.

Good luck.

Jaleesa:
And don't roll your eyes
at me, either.

What am I going to do?

Bust a move on that tub.

I'm talking about
for my marketing project.

I can't do it all by myself.

That's why god created "f" s.

Dwayne

you took professor mcclarin's
marketing class

didn't you?

Yes.

Then surely
you must know somebody

who knows something
about marketing.

Yeah.

Professor mcclarin.

Would it be that much
of an imposition..?

Yes, whitley.

I'm desperate.

Won't you help me?

You know I will.

For $6.50 an hour.

Now, with the precepts
of the new deal in mind,

taking into account

the historical
and political reality,

what do you think
is the natural progression

for social reform in america?

Miss Reese.

The government simply needs
to follow through

on current reform measures.

We can't rely solely
on the government.

I feel the most effective reform

is going to have to come
from individuals.

So, come on, people.

Show me some brotherhood.

I'm "brotherhooded" out.

I sympathize with the women
and the children

sleeping in the street

but I'm tired of them winos
coming up to me

"brotherman, brotherman,
spare some change

for a brotherman."

That little bit of change
you spare

may save someone from starving.

This is america.

Anyone can go to social services

and get food stamps,
a place to stay.

You can't get federal aid
without an address.

Herman's hamburgers
is always hiring.

If they work at Herman's,
they eat for free.

Thank you for the Herman's
hamburgers solution

to homelessness.

With all those options available

folks don't have to live
in the streets.

Do you really believe

four million Americans
choose to be homeless?

I'm just speaking
from my personal observations.

So you've polled the homeless?

No.

Have you ever spoken to
a homeless person, Mr. Johnson?

Yeah. I told him to get a job.

And then professor Randolph
implied that I...

I, Ron "Mr. Sensitivity"
Johnson,

had no compassion.

He fails to realize
there's a difference

between being compassionate
and being stupid.

Ron, there's nothing stupid
about wanting to help somebody.

Uh-oh, trouble

12:00, whitley.

Dwayne, I got an "a"
on my assignment.

And to show my appreciation

I'd like to take you to dinner.

It wouldn't be anything fancy.

Funds are limited,
but it is dinner.

No thanks, whitley.

I had a big lunch today.

Maybe some other time.

Okay.

Just let me know when.

You got it.

And thank you for the help.

All right.

Brother, she is wearing me out.

Well, then let her wear you out.

Ron, no way.

Not the kid.

When are you going to face
the inevitableness

of this inevitability?

What about the games she played?

That was to get your attention.

Purely for your benefit.

What about when she kissed you?

That was purely for my benefit.

Dwayne, put the past behind you.

No can do.

That woman is conniving,
manipulative, carnivorous,

omnivorous, ubiquitous...

Enough of this.

You're telling the wrong person.

I don't feel like
dealing with her.

Dwayne, not withstanding
her evilness

whitley digs you.
And you dig her.

But if she keeps coming up empty

she's sure to find another well

and that's going
to leave you high and dry

and ready to cry.

Bye.

Hold on.

Windows cleaned today?

No, man.

Get away from my car.

I said, "no, man!"

Hey, you need new blades.

And you need to get a job.

That's why i'm
wiping your windows.

Look, old man,
I got things to do.

Only costs a dollar, short rib.

Did you call me "short rib"?

Yeah.

Ray?

Of ray nay's ribs?

Barbecue slabs
and fixings to go.

Now it's windows to go.

Don't you remember me?

I used to come in
two, three times a week.

I was the "pork-ribs-
till-you-pop"

chow-down champion.

Yeah!

You were
the pac-man champion too.

Yeah, that was me!

I thought you went to Florida

to hang out with your mom.

Yeah, well, I ain't there now.

My mama passed away a while ago.

Oh, i'm... i'm
sorry to hear that.

You're cleaning windshields?

For one dollar.

Not too many people want to hire

a 70-year-old cook.

But you're ray nay.

Nobody is anybody
without an address, son.

You don't have a home?

Sure, I do.

Yo!

Welcome to my abode.

£ lord, lord, lord £

£ lord, lord, lord, lord, lord £

£ ohh... £

Nothing says loving

like whitley cleaning the oven.

Leave me alone, jaleesa.

This makes me feel better.

All right.

You are looking
particularly lovely today.

What happened to you?

I happened.

Dwayne hates me.

Since when?

I've never alienated anybody
like this before.

Really?

He's been distant lately.

He helped you
with your assignment.

That's my point.

He helped me with my studies

because that's
the kind of person he is

but when I asked him to dinner

he turned me down cold.

Well, there you have it.

Whitley, give the guy a break.

I'm sure a opportunity
will knock at your door again.

Maybe by that time

you will learn
how to treat people.

Although, somehow, I doubt it.

I will be out late.

Don't wait up.

Hadn't planned on it.

Can't you use your key?!

I don't have a key,
but I've got dinner.

Whitley, open the door.

I'm too ugly to let you in.

All right. Cool.

I'm leaving.

I won't be back.

No!

I knew you'd see it my way.

Do come in.

Don't mind if I do.

Give me a minute to change
out of this frump wear.

You're not going anywhere.

I'm ready to eat.

I didn't expect you
this evening.

I was passing by
the gourmet parfait.

It made me think of you.

Ooh!

What are you gawking at?

Those green splotches
on your face.

Miss perfect has on
pimple cream.

And a jheri curl cap to boot!

This is not a jheri cap.

It's a polytechnic
moisture control cap.

A who? A who?

I suppose you think
this is very funny.

Mm-hmm.

But I didn't come here
for a laugh.

I came here
to get the record straight.

Time to put the birdie
in the oven.

That's something you're good at.

Cooking?

No. Avoiding.

Would you like
something to drink?

Pop or juice?

Whitley, there you go.

Okay, Dwayne.

What am I avoiding?

Why didn't you answer
any of my letters this summer?

This summer?

Yes, the three months
of the year when it's hot.

I wrote you five letters,
five long letters.

I read them all, Dwayne,
carefully and lovingly.

So lovingly that
you couldn't write me

a two-line postcard back?

You want to know the truth?

There's a fresh approach, yeah.

I did write you

but I didn't mail the letters

'cause I wanted you
to miss me more.

You're sick.

I was sick

and I was playing games

but all that's changed.

Not since I last checked.

What are you talking about?

Kissing my best friend
in my face.

Oh, that.

Yes, that.

Playing me and Ron
off each other...

That's deep, whitley.

I thought I had
to play games to get you.

I swore I would never
play them once I had you.

You don't have me yet.

I found some nice, dry wood.

I'll be nice and toasty.

You actually sleep out here
every night?

I stay at the mission when I can

but once their beds are full,
the pavement's my pillow.

Ray, how did this happen?

Doctor bills for mama.

A string of hard luck.

Here I am.

Isn't there..?

Whoa!

Don't sit on my guitar.

Isn't there some family
you can go to for help?

I got a daughter
with her own family.

I don't want to be a burden.

A burden?!

That's what families are for.

You don't know anything
about my family.

You need a place to stay
while you get back on your feet.

Call your daughter.

I don't want her to think
that her father's a bum.

A bum?!

You're the man that put
the b-b-q in barbecue.

You're the gastronomic genius
who created

Ray's rib-tacular sauce.

You're the man that deserves
a nobel prize for cooking.

Boy, you talk too much.

If I had a home

I'd lock you out.

I got you!

That's a good one.

Sensitive!

You got me that time.

A-a-a-hem!

I feel much better now.

Now that you are properly
groomed, may we eat?

I can't believe we're actually
sitting here together.

Friends.

Neither can I.

We've overcome
so many obstacles.

My silly reservations about you.

Your silly relationships...

Stop.

What silly reservations?

You know.

No, I don't.

Explain.

The difference
in our backgrounds.

I'm from New York
and you're from Virginia?

When I met you

you were a geeky little
lecherous freshman

with no culture,
no class and no car.

And you were a snotty,
wannabe diva

working on everybody's
last nerve...

But I got over that.

I saw past that.

You had less of
a journey to take.

Ooh, honey,
don't flatter yourself.

You just weren't
my prince charming.

Then what am I doing here?

I've lowered my standards.

Dwayne, you really have changed.

I think the big change
in me was kinu.

That is not true.

Then tell me what is.

I realized I didn't need
a bourgie prince.

I need a man
who wants me for me.

I won't be that man
if I can't count on you

and trust you.

You can.

You can't just say it,
you have to mean it.

I do mean it.

You're always there for me.

I want to be there for you.

Just like the song says:

£ got to be there £

£ be there
in the morning... £

whoa, easy.

I should just
come out and say it.

Say what?

I love you.

Yo!

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Ray:
£ ding dang dang,
a little salt. £

yo, ray.

Yo.

£ spicy for the ricey. £

say, ray.

Hey!

£ oh, dang do, oregano. £

£ it's dinner time. £

I'm the cook.

I say when it's dinner time.

Okay.

£ it's dinner time. £

I don't want to eat.

Whitley, he cooked
all this food.

Have a seat.

Be nice already.

Say, Dwayne.

Tomorrow operation save ray nay
is in effect.

What are you going to do?

Tonight he'll stay at our place.

Tomorrow we'll call his daughter

and help him find a job.

Sounds like a plan.

You guys better sit down before
the little lady eats it all.

Ron and Dwayne:
Don't have to call me twice.

Reminds me of the old ray nay's.

Ooh, mashed potatoes!

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute.

Let's say grace.

Oh, good idea.

Thank you for the food
and friend.

Amen.

Amen.

Eat, eat.

Enough food for the multitude.

Thanks for everything.

Tonight was like
being with family.

Glad we could do it.

Good night, ray nay.

Good night and thanks again.

Later on.

Alone at last.

I like the sound of that.

Now what were you saying?

Whoa!

Uh, maybe we should go on over
to your house tonight.

Nuh-uh! I live with my mama.

Ooh-whee!

Your cooking was
too good tonight.

I still haven't lost the touch.

Yeah. And I thought
you should have this.

I snagged it from your old place

before they bulldozed it.

I won't sleep

until it hangs
in the new ray nay's.

This sign reminds me
of when I first started out.

Oh, yeah?

I was young, full of energy.

I had some nerve

to think I could start
that business up on my own.

I won't do that again.

Is this the same man

who sold his one thousandth rib

in his second week of business?

Ray, your place was a landmark.

Kings ate there...

Martin Luther, b.B., Don.

True, true, true

but I'm too old and tired
to start again.

I'll leave that to y'all.

Come on, ray.

You got to reopen ray nay's.

You have to.

I'll help you out.

You're not a bad fella,
short rib

but it's not that simple.

Thanks for letting me
impose this evening.

Ray, hold on.

Chill for a minute.

Spend the night.
Sleep on it.

We'll talk in the morning.

I'll get you a pillow.

You know, my band should provide
the entertainment

at the new ray nay's.

Oh, yeah?

That will be fresh.

Ray, the only extra pillow
I have is Dwayne's.

Is that right?

And he's a heavy drooler.

Oh?

I'll change the pillowcase.

Ray...

Ray?

Gotcha!

Ray?

Ray?

Ray!

Yo, ray!

I'm just waiting for a pigeon
to descend upon us

and interrupt us this time.

There aren't going to be
any more interruptions.

One more thing.

These are for you,
addressed to Japan.

Probably took you all semester
to write these.

I told you I wrote them
this summer.

I know.

I can't wait to read them.

You'll have to.

Oh, one more thing.

What?

I love you too.