A Different World (1987–1993): Season 6, Episode 25 - When One Door Closes...: Part 2 - full transcript
Dwayne accepts the job in Tokyo; Kimberly gets engaged; friends reconcile. Series finale.
I am never setting foot
in that classroom again.
I know, baby. You quit
teaching about once a week.
This time I mean it.
They will look back
and remember how they laughed
at their overworked,
underpaid teacher...
I, who have tried to be
their tree of knowledge.
Looks like you're losing
some leaves, tree.
You don't know what this is?
You've got a branch,
a glass of water...
What is this
elephant droppings?
It's a rock, Dwayne...
Maya angelou's inaugural poem.
"A rock, a river, a tree
hosts to species
long since departed..."
Don't mind me.
Speaking of species
that should have
long since departed.
Oh, thank you.
That's the river of life
you just drank.
Tastes like regular tap water.
I can't go back
and try to teach those hoodlums
about their culture and history.
I don't relate to children.
I never have. I quit.
You can't change my mind.
Hey, you guys.
Listen. Listen.
Lena horne is coming to hillman.
Lena horne?
Wait till I tell my kiddies.
£ ooh £
£ I know my parents loved me £
£ stand behind me
come what may £
£ come what may £
£ I realize that I'm ready £
£ I'm ready £
£ 'cause I finally
heard them say £
£ I heard them say £
£ it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from £
£ it's a different world £
£ oh, now,
here's our chance to make it £
£ here's our chance £
£ if we focus on our goal £
£ focus on our goal £
£ if you dish it,
we can take it £
£ we can take it £
£ just remember
that you've been told £
£ that it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ oh, it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from £
£ it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from,
yeah. £
she came to Hollywood
where she broke stereotypes
of black women
always playing prostitutes
and maids.
Lena horne started her
career at age 16.
Lena horne was
our first black sex symbol.
All right, all right.
She was a pin-up girl
during world war ii.
World war ii?
She probably like a prune now.
Yeah, like my Nana.
All she ever does
is take out her teeth.
We are not talking
about your Nana's teeth.
We are talking about Lena horne,
a force of nature.
So Lena is a rock?
No, man, she's a river.
You're both wrong.
She's a tree.
She is all three
and unlike me,
she loves children.
That is why
you will be taking part
in a dancing and singing tribute
in honor of miss horne
at hillman college.
Singing and dancing
for some old lady?
What we going to learn?
What you're going to learn
is that by not knowing
your history
you're parading your ignorance.
Are we going
to have a parade too?
Okay.
You listen to me.
You listen to me good.
You will be in that tribute.
You'll like it.
You'll dance pretty
and you'll sing pretty.
You'll learn all of the facts
about Lena horne
and it will inspire you
and it will
change your lives forever.
Any questions?
All those in favor
of an informal reception,
raise your hands.
One, two.
All those in favor
of a formal reception
raise your hands.
Tie again.
Please. I told you
that wannabe divas
and democracy do not mix.
My vote counts for more
because I know more
about Lena horne than you do.
And too many cooks
spoil the broth.
Speaking of broth
Charmaine, I hate to be
a fussbudget
but there is something
dreadfully wrong
with this pea soup.
Did Mr. Gaines use sugar
instead of salt again?
Too many old cooks
spoil the broth.
Don't talk about him like that.
Hello. Hello, ladies.
How goes it with the Lena horne
welcoming committee?
Maybe you can break our tie.
What tie?
There is no tie.
Well, I like to think of myself
as combining the wisdom
of Solomon
and the beauty of sheba.
Let me put this
in the fairest way possible.
I say we throw a reception
befitting the elegance
of the great lady
that Lena horne is.
They want to throw a hoedown.
Kim and Freddie,
I'm surprised at you.
We must treat royalty
like royalty.
See?
The only way I survived
my childhood
in chitlin' switch, Alabama,
was by watching Lena's movies.
She gave me the courage
to become the strong black woman
I am today.
Yeah.
£ can't go on £
remember?
£ everything I had is gone £
£ stormy weather £
£ can't keep... £
£ my poor self together £
£ it's raining all the time... £
what's all this howling?
Sounds like two cats
on a hot tin roof.
Tell it.
Lena horne is coming to hillman.
Not if she hears you.
Lena horne made
the good old days
the good old days.
There he goes again.
He can't help it
if the groove on his record
is stuck.
I met Lena when she sang
for the troops in Korea.
Wrong. She never sang
for the troops in Korea.
Well, it was world war ii.
I served in both of them.
When they wouldn't let her sing
in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Roosevelt...
The president's wife...
Invited her to sing
at the Lincoln memorial.
Wrong again, Mr. Gaines.
That was Marian Anderson.
Well, it was one of them.
But I would be honored
to provide the vittles
for this reception.
Oh, no. There will be
no hogmaws and cornbread
in this reception.
The only Greens will be
in watercress sandwiches.
But miss horne
loves southern cooking.
I'm sure you're a tad confused
on that tip, too,
Mr. Gaines... as usual.
I'm confused?
I'm confused?
You know something?
You don't know
when to quit, man.
How can you treat him like that?
Mr. Gaines, listen, I...
Kimberly Reese
I might have been born in 1928
but I still know a thing or two.
We know you know a lot of stuff.
Kimberly, don't even start it.
Old folks don't mind
being corrected
by these young people
but it's just the way
some of them do it.
Listen, we love you very much,
Mr. Gaines, but sometimes...
Mm-hmm. I made a mistake.
I put a little sugar
in the pea soup.
Well, yeah.
Why do you think
it was half price?
Mm-hmm.
Attenzione.
After the reception
we'll have a rehearsal.
In the meantime
you go over
these Lena horne facts.
Look at you...
Looking like little gentlemen
and ladies.
Keep up the good impersonation.
She'll be here
any moment, whitley.
What is wrong with you?
I've got butterflies
in my tummy.
You'd better take
Lena horne's example
as a strong black woman
and pull yourself together.
Lena is in the building!
Lena is in the building!
Hello.
Hello.
Hello, miss horne...
It's...
Likewise.
I'm whitley Gilbert-Wayne
the head of the student
welcoming committee, miss horne.
Honey, get up.
I'm not the queen of england.
Miss horne, I have seen
your Broadway show 27 times.
When you sang
"copper-colored gal"
you looked straight at me.
I got little goose bumps
down my neck
just like I have now.
Can I get you a drink?
I think you've had enough
for both of us.
I have a little secret
to share with you.
You know that foundation
they invented for you
that light Egyptian?
I wear that
and i-i-i
I feel you, you know?
I feel like we have
so much in common.
You know what I mean?
No.
What whitley means is that
as a member
of the black bourgeoisie
she relates to you
on a skin-deep level
but I know how you fought
for non-discrimination
clauses in your contracts.
Don't badger her.
Freddie Brooks.
As a politically conscious
student
I want to say one thing...
And I mean this
with great respect...
Right on, soul mama.
Thank you, Freddie.
Don't encourage her.
I want you to meet my pupils.
They know more about you
than you know yourself.
I hope you didn't put
all my business
into the street.
I love that down-home
sense of humor.
Dwayne! Dwayne!
Shh, baby, baby, it's okay.
I'm Dwayne Wayne,
whitley's husband.
I'm from bed-stuy, like you.
I'm glad to know
Brooklyn is producing
those fine, patient brothers.
Miss horne, I admire your style
as a songstress.
I'm a musician,
a drummer by trade.
If I could ever deck
a little diddle for you...
What kind of language
is that to use
in front of her?
My name is Lena
and I'm so proud to be named
after you.
You're still as beautiful
as my father said.
Uh, yo, yo, Ms. Horne.
Meaning no disrespect
but as good as you look today
I'd drink your daddy's
bath water.
You little pig.
Why are we treating miss horne
like a playboy bunny?
Oh, darling, at my age,
I'm thrilled.
I used to wear those short,
cute outfits like that.
If I did that today,
they'd put me in jail.
Thank you, miss horne.
She likes my outfit.
She likes my outfit.
Hi. I'm Lena.
I thought you was going
to look different.
Like a dried-up old raisin?
What are you doing
with them books?
We have to learn
this stuff about you.
I want to learn
everything about you.
I was about your age
when I went
into the cotton club.
I used to hate
to get all dressed up
in silk and satin.
I hate it too.
I bet you'd rather be listening
to Mary j. Blige
and Whitney Houston.
You heard of them?
I learn a lot from listening
to young singers.
My name is olufemi, sister.
What do you think of rap?
It's all right.
They didn't have rap back then.
But we had scat and bebop...
All the things
that are the granddaddies
of what you all are doing today.
Everything good comes
from something that came before.
Miss Gilbert-Wayne says that.
Well, she's right.
You played glinda in the wiz.
Damn! What's Michael Jackson
really like?
He's a gentleman.
Kimberly, this is so exciting.
Everybody is here.
Everybody
except Mr. Gaines.
Imagine the 'bama beverage
he'd be serving.
Kid:
Stop it.
Stop pulling on his big ears.
You're the only person here
I haven't met.
I'm Kim Reese, miss horne.
Can I get you something?
I'm not the champagne-bubble,
finger-sandwich type.
If this is a southern college
where is the cornbread
and the okra?
Miss horne, I can get you
the best down-home meal
you've ever had
and get you back in time
for the ceremony.
Lead the way.
Miss horne, I know
you get this an awful lot
but Mr. Gaines thinks
he remembers meeting you.
If he's as good a cook
as you say he is
I'll go along with anything.
Oh, good.
Mr. Gaines,
you have a customer.
The pit is closed.
Someone who is very hungry,
Mr. Gaines.
Kimberly Reese, the
pit is closed.
Oh, my goodness.
Where is she?
I've looked everywhere.
I'll go look upstairs for you.
Okay. Lena?
Miss horne?
Whitley!
I can only tell the
president of the university
that miss horne is
in the ladies' room
for so long.
Now where is she whitley?
I don't... I don't know
how to tell you this, but...
I've think I've lost Lena horne.
You've lost
one of the seven wonders
of the world?
Hey..!
You don't understand, Dean.
She was right there,
and then she was gone.
I know the ceremony
starts in an hour.
Worst of all, it's beginning
to rain outside.
£ I can't go on £
£ everything I had is gone £
I know, "stormy weather."
£ stormy weather... £
where is she?
Miss horne?
£ can't keep
my poor heart together £
£ it's raining all the time. £
well, here we go.
Baking powder biscuits,
chicken fricassee
with dumplings and Greens.
How do you like that okra, Lena?
It's just like I love it
with lots of butter
and salt and pepper.
Mr. Gaines? Are you married?
Yes, but you
can make me an offer.
You're the kind of man
could really stick to my ribs.
Kimberly, did I tell you
about the first and only time
that I met Lena horne...
Back in Korea...
No, that was world war ii.
I had a picture
of Lena horne in my footlocker.
I never will forget the time
that you came to sing
for the soldiers at fort Riley.
Do you remember that, Lena?
I always loved singing
for the troops.
Not this time.
She came on stage, Kimberly,
to find the negro soldiers
were stuck way behind
the German prisoners of war.
You got so mad you refused
to perform for that reception.
I was the one that gave you
that chicken noodle soup
in the mess hall.
It had stars in it.
I think you had a little more
hair then didn't you, baby?
Yes, I did.
See, I told you she'd remember.
Yes, oh, my goodness.
Miss horne, I don't know
how to thank you.
But I really do remember that
and the way
they treated our troops
it teed me off.
Mr. Gaines knows Lena...
Kimberly Reese,
where have you been?
It's raining
cats and dogs out there.
Meet my boyfriend Spencer.
This is Lena horne.
What a feast.
Come on, join us.
No, I meant a feast of beauty.
Oh, I love a man with dreds.
Lena, you know what I miss most
about the good old days?
The Saturday night dances
and I still can do a mean Lindy.
Oh, listen, there's
nothing more boring
than two old codgers
limping down memory Lane.
See? That's it.
Mr. Gaines, you can take
a couple of lessons
from miss horne.
Miss horne...
You're okay.
Come on down here
and try the okra.
No, that's okay.
I just wanted to make sure
you're all right.
You all keep on having fun.
Listen, I'm really sorry.
I knew you were worried
but it was raining outside.
How could you
do this to me, Kimberly?
And more importantly, how
could you do this to miss horne?
Whitley, look, she's having fun.
And look at Mr. Gaines,
look at that.
As if heartburn isn't enough
you have to subject her
to Mr. Gaines.
Whitley, how can you admire
Lena for being a survivor
and not honor Mr. Gaines
for the same thing?
How could you compare
this great lady
with some sweet old man
that's losing his mind?
It's too bad you don't
know the answer to that.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the students
of Joseph e. Johnston
elementary school
proudly present
Lena horne, this is your life.
I was a black, southern belle
and an activist.
My name is Cora Calhoun horne
and I was your grandmother.
You and I started out
at the cotton club together.
My name is cab Calloway
and you were fine.
Raymond:
I told Hollywood
I can pay someone
to be my daughter's maid.
So she doesn't need
to be playing one
on that big screen.
I was your daddy.
There was one part you wanted
to play most
a black woman
passing for white in showboat
but I got the part instead
because I was white.
I figured if Ava gardner
got your part then
then I could play her now.
All right.
When you wanted
to quit Hollywood, I told you...
"you gots to stay."
And I said, "baby,
you must not be selfish.
"Let the whole world
benefit from your radiance."
My name is Duke Ellington.
And mine is count basie.
We made
beautiful music together.
My name is Paul robeson.
I gave you courage,
and you passed it along.
Lena! Lena! Lena! Lena!
Lena! Lena! Lena! Lena!
I'm glad to be here
to dedicate this scholarship
in honor of my grandmother,
Cora horne
and I want to thank all of you
especially the young people.
I'm going to try
to tell a tiny little story
but every time I tell a story
I need a little music under it
and I may need some help.
Now, I have an old friend here
and between the two of us,
we're 30 years older than god
but that's all right
because the best thing
about living
is getting a chance
to keep on doing it.
Mr. Gaines...
Would you come up here
and help me, please?
Okay, then.
Okay, then.
Come on.
Come on.
Now here goes my story.
£ believe you can go home £
£ believe you can float on air £
£ click your heels £
£ oh, yeah £
£ three times £
£ child £
£ if you believe £
£ you believe £
£ well, then £
£ you know you're going
to be there £
£ so £
£ go ahead,
believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
I mean believe.
£ just as I believe in you. £
in that classroom again.
I know, baby. You quit
teaching about once a week.
This time I mean it.
They will look back
and remember how they laughed
at their overworked,
underpaid teacher...
I, who have tried to be
their tree of knowledge.
Looks like you're losing
some leaves, tree.
You don't know what this is?
You've got a branch,
a glass of water...
What is this
elephant droppings?
It's a rock, Dwayne...
Maya angelou's inaugural poem.
"A rock, a river, a tree
hosts to species
long since departed..."
Don't mind me.
Speaking of species
that should have
long since departed.
Oh, thank you.
That's the river of life
you just drank.
Tastes like regular tap water.
I can't go back
and try to teach those hoodlums
about their culture and history.
I don't relate to children.
I never have. I quit.
You can't change my mind.
Hey, you guys.
Listen. Listen.
Lena horne is coming to hillman.
Lena horne?
Wait till I tell my kiddies.
£ ooh £
£ I know my parents loved me £
£ stand behind me
come what may £
£ come what may £
£ I realize that I'm ready £
£ I'm ready £
£ 'cause I finally
heard them say £
£ I heard them say £
£ it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from £
£ it's a different world £
£ oh, now,
here's our chance to make it £
£ here's our chance £
£ if we focus on our goal £
£ focus on our goal £
£ if you dish it,
we can take it £
£ we can take it £
£ just remember
that you've been told £
£ that it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ oh, it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from £
£ it's a different world £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from £
£ it's a different world £
£ from where you come from,
yeah. £
she came to Hollywood
where she broke stereotypes
of black women
always playing prostitutes
and maids.
Lena horne started her
career at age 16.
Lena horne was
our first black sex symbol.
All right, all right.
She was a pin-up girl
during world war ii.
World war ii?
She probably like a prune now.
Yeah, like my Nana.
All she ever does
is take out her teeth.
We are not talking
about your Nana's teeth.
We are talking about Lena horne,
a force of nature.
So Lena is a rock?
No, man, she's a river.
You're both wrong.
She's a tree.
She is all three
and unlike me,
she loves children.
That is why
you will be taking part
in a dancing and singing tribute
in honor of miss horne
at hillman college.
Singing and dancing
for some old lady?
What we going to learn?
What you're going to learn
is that by not knowing
your history
you're parading your ignorance.
Are we going
to have a parade too?
Okay.
You listen to me.
You listen to me good.
You will be in that tribute.
You'll like it.
You'll dance pretty
and you'll sing pretty.
You'll learn all of the facts
about Lena horne
and it will inspire you
and it will
change your lives forever.
Any questions?
All those in favor
of an informal reception,
raise your hands.
One, two.
All those in favor
of a formal reception
raise your hands.
Tie again.
Please. I told you
that wannabe divas
and democracy do not mix.
My vote counts for more
because I know more
about Lena horne than you do.
And too many cooks
spoil the broth.
Speaking of broth
Charmaine, I hate to be
a fussbudget
but there is something
dreadfully wrong
with this pea soup.
Did Mr. Gaines use sugar
instead of salt again?
Too many old cooks
spoil the broth.
Don't talk about him like that.
Hello. Hello, ladies.
How goes it with the Lena horne
welcoming committee?
Maybe you can break our tie.
What tie?
There is no tie.
Well, I like to think of myself
as combining the wisdom
of Solomon
and the beauty of sheba.
Let me put this
in the fairest way possible.
I say we throw a reception
befitting the elegance
of the great lady
that Lena horne is.
They want to throw a hoedown.
Kim and Freddie,
I'm surprised at you.
We must treat royalty
like royalty.
See?
The only way I survived
my childhood
in chitlin' switch, Alabama,
was by watching Lena's movies.
She gave me the courage
to become the strong black woman
I am today.
Yeah.
£ can't go on £
remember?
£ everything I had is gone £
£ stormy weather £
£ can't keep... £
£ my poor self together £
£ it's raining all the time... £
what's all this howling?
Sounds like two cats
on a hot tin roof.
Tell it.
Lena horne is coming to hillman.
Not if she hears you.
Lena horne made
the good old days
the good old days.
There he goes again.
He can't help it
if the groove on his record
is stuck.
I met Lena when she sang
for the troops in Korea.
Wrong. She never sang
for the troops in Korea.
Well, it was world war ii.
I served in both of them.
When they wouldn't let her sing
in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Roosevelt...
The president's wife...
Invited her to sing
at the Lincoln memorial.
Wrong again, Mr. Gaines.
That was Marian Anderson.
Well, it was one of them.
But I would be honored
to provide the vittles
for this reception.
Oh, no. There will be
no hogmaws and cornbread
in this reception.
The only Greens will be
in watercress sandwiches.
But miss horne
loves southern cooking.
I'm sure you're a tad confused
on that tip, too,
Mr. Gaines... as usual.
I'm confused?
I'm confused?
You know something?
You don't know
when to quit, man.
How can you treat him like that?
Mr. Gaines, listen, I...
Kimberly Reese
I might have been born in 1928
but I still know a thing or two.
We know you know a lot of stuff.
Kimberly, don't even start it.
Old folks don't mind
being corrected
by these young people
but it's just the way
some of them do it.
Listen, we love you very much,
Mr. Gaines, but sometimes...
Mm-hmm. I made a mistake.
I put a little sugar
in the pea soup.
Well, yeah.
Why do you think
it was half price?
Mm-hmm.
Attenzione.
After the reception
we'll have a rehearsal.
In the meantime
you go over
these Lena horne facts.
Look at you...
Looking like little gentlemen
and ladies.
Keep up the good impersonation.
She'll be here
any moment, whitley.
What is wrong with you?
I've got butterflies
in my tummy.
You'd better take
Lena horne's example
as a strong black woman
and pull yourself together.
Lena is in the building!
Lena is in the building!
Hello.
Hello.
Hello, miss horne...
It's...
Likewise.
I'm whitley Gilbert-Wayne
the head of the student
welcoming committee, miss horne.
Honey, get up.
I'm not the queen of england.
Miss horne, I have seen
your Broadway show 27 times.
When you sang
"copper-colored gal"
you looked straight at me.
I got little goose bumps
down my neck
just like I have now.
Can I get you a drink?
I think you've had enough
for both of us.
I have a little secret
to share with you.
You know that foundation
they invented for you
that light Egyptian?
I wear that
and i-i-i
I feel you, you know?
I feel like we have
so much in common.
You know what I mean?
No.
What whitley means is that
as a member
of the black bourgeoisie
she relates to you
on a skin-deep level
but I know how you fought
for non-discrimination
clauses in your contracts.
Don't badger her.
Freddie Brooks.
As a politically conscious
student
I want to say one thing...
And I mean this
with great respect...
Right on, soul mama.
Thank you, Freddie.
Don't encourage her.
I want you to meet my pupils.
They know more about you
than you know yourself.
I hope you didn't put
all my business
into the street.
I love that down-home
sense of humor.
Dwayne! Dwayne!
Shh, baby, baby, it's okay.
I'm Dwayne Wayne,
whitley's husband.
I'm from bed-stuy, like you.
I'm glad to know
Brooklyn is producing
those fine, patient brothers.
Miss horne, I admire your style
as a songstress.
I'm a musician,
a drummer by trade.
If I could ever deck
a little diddle for you...
What kind of language
is that to use
in front of her?
My name is Lena
and I'm so proud to be named
after you.
You're still as beautiful
as my father said.
Uh, yo, yo, Ms. Horne.
Meaning no disrespect
but as good as you look today
I'd drink your daddy's
bath water.
You little pig.
Why are we treating miss horne
like a playboy bunny?
Oh, darling, at my age,
I'm thrilled.
I used to wear those short,
cute outfits like that.
If I did that today,
they'd put me in jail.
Thank you, miss horne.
She likes my outfit.
She likes my outfit.
Hi. I'm Lena.
I thought you was going
to look different.
Like a dried-up old raisin?
What are you doing
with them books?
We have to learn
this stuff about you.
I want to learn
everything about you.
I was about your age
when I went
into the cotton club.
I used to hate
to get all dressed up
in silk and satin.
I hate it too.
I bet you'd rather be listening
to Mary j. Blige
and Whitney Houston.
You heard of them?
I learn a lot from listening
to young singers.
My name is olufemi, sister.
What do you think of rap?
It's all right.
They didn't have rap back then.
But we had scat and bebop...
All the things
that are the granddaddies
of what you all are doing today.
Everything good comes
from something that came before.
Miss Gilbert-Wayne says that.
Well, she's right.
You played glinda in the wiz.
Damn! What's Michael Jackson
really like?
He's a gentleman.
Kimberly, this is so exciting.
Everybody is here.
Everybody
except Mr. Gaines.
Imagine the 'bama beverage
he'd be serving.
Kid:
Stop it.
Stop pulling on his big ears.
You're the only person here
I haven't met.
I'm Kim Reese, miss horne.
Can I get you something?
I'm not the champagne-bubble,
finger-sandwich type.
If this is a southern college
where is the cornbread
and the okra?
Miss horne, I can get you
the best down-home meal
you've ever had
and get you back in time
for the ceremony.
Lead the way.
Miss horne, I know
you get this an awful lot
but Mr. Gaines thinks
he remembers meeting you.
If he's as good a cook
as you say he is
I'll go along with anything.
Oh, good.
Mr. Gaines,
you have a customer.
The pit is closed.
Someone who is very hungry,
Mr. Gaines.
Kimberly Reese, the
pit is closed.
Oh, my goodness.
Where is she?
I've looked everywhere.
I'll go look upstairs for you.
Okay. Lena?
Miss horne?
Whitley!
I can only tell the
president of the university
that miss horne is
in the ladies' room
for so long.
Now where is she whitley?
I don't... I don't know
how to tell you this, but...
I've think I've lost Lena horne.
You've lost
one of the seven wonders
of the world?
Hey..!
You don't understand, Dean.
She was right there,
and then she was gone.
I know the ceremony
starts in an hour.
Worst of all, it's beginning
to rain outside.
£ I can't go on £
£ everything I had is gone £
I know, "stormy weather."
£ stormy weather... £
where is she?
Miss horne?
£ can't keep
my poor heart together £
£ it's raining all the time. £
well, here we go.
Baking powder biscuits,
chicken fricassee
with dumplings and Greens.
How do you like that okra, Lena?
It's just like I love it
with lots of butter
and salt and pepper.
Mr. Gaines? Are you married?
Yes, but you
can make me an offer.
You're the kind of man
could really stick to my ribs.
Kimberly, did I tell you
about the first and only time
that I met Lena horne...
Back in Korea...
No, that was world war ii.
I had a picture
of Lena horne in my footlocker.
I never will forget the time
that you came to sing
for the soldiers at fort Riley.
Do you remember that, Lena?
I always loved singing
for the troops.
Not this time.
She came on stage, Kimberly,
to find the negro soldiers
were stuck way behind
the German prisoners of war.
You got so mad you refused
to perform for that reception.
I was the one that gave you
that chicken noodle soup
in the mess hall.
It had stars in it.
I think you had a little more
hair then didn't you, baby?
Yes, I did.
See, I told you she'd remember.
Yes, oh, my goodness.
Miss horne, I don't know
how to thank you.
But I really do remember that
and the way
they treated our troops
it teed me off.
Mr. Gaines knows Lena...
Kimberly Reese,
where have you been?
It's raining
cats and dogs out there.
Meet my boyfriend Spencer.
This is Lena horne.
What a feast.
Come on, join us.
No, I meant a feast of beauty.
Oh, I love a man with dreds.
Lena, you know what I miss most
about the good old days?
The Saturday night dances
and I still can do a mean Lindy.
Oh, listen, there's
nothing more boring
than two old codgers
limping down memory Lane.
See? That's it.
Mr. Gaines, you can take
a couple of lessons
from miss horne.
Miss horne...
You're okay.
Come on down here
and try the okra.
No, that's okay.
I just wanted to make sure
you're all right.
You all keep on having fun.
Listen, I'm really sorry.
I knew you were worried
but it was raining outside.
How could you
do this to me, Kimberly?
And more importantly, how
could you do this to miss horne?
Whitley, look, she's having fun.
And look at Mr. Gaines,
look at that.
As if heartburn isn't enough
you have to subject her
to Mr. Gaines.
Whitley, how can you admire
Lena for being a survivor
and not honor Mr. Gaines
for the same thing?
How could you compare
this great lady
with some sweet old man
that's losing his mind?
It's too bad you don't
know the answer to that.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the students
of Joseph e. Johnston
elementary school
proudly present
Lena horne, this is your life.
I was a black, southern belle
and an activist.
My name is Cora Calhoun horne
and I was your grandmother.
You and I started out
at the cotton club together.
My name is cab Calloway
and you were fine.
Raymond:
I told Hollywood
I can pay someone
to be my daughter's maid.
So she doesn't need
to be playing one
on that big screen.
I was your daddy.
There was one part you wanted
to play most
a black woman
passing for white in showboat
but I got the part instead
because I was white.
I figured if Ava gardner
got your part then
then I could play her now.
All right.
When you wanted
to quit Hollywood, I told you...
"you gots to stay."
And I said, "baby,
you must not be selfish.
"Let the whole world
benefit from your radiance."
My name is Duke Ellington.
And mine is count basie.
We made
beautiful music together.
My name is Paul robeson.
I gave you courage,
and you passed it along.
Lena! Lena! Lena! Lena!
Lena! Lena! Lena! Lena!
I'm glad to be here
to dedicate this scholarship
in honor of my grandmother,
Cora horne
and I want to thank all of you
especially the young people.
I'm going to try
to tell a tiny little story
but every time I tell a story
I need a little music under it
and I may need some help.
Now, I have an old friend here
and between the two of us,
we're 30 years older than god
but that's all right
because the best thing
about living
is getting a chance
to keep on doing it.
Mr. Gaines...
Would you come up here
and help me, please?
Okay, then.
Okay, then.
Come on.
Come on.
Now here goes my story.
£ believe you can go home £
£ believe you can float on air £
£ click your heels £
£ oh, yeah £
£ three times £
£ child £
£ if you believe £
£ you believe £
£ well, then £
£ you know you're going
to be there £
£ so £
£ go ahead,
believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
£ believe in yourself £
I mean believe.
£ just as I believe in you. £