Sister, Sister (1994–1999): Season 6, Episode 10 - For the People - full transcript
Ray calls in a veteran campaign consultant, Clifton McNair, to kick his candidacy into gear; but the unscrupulous campaign manager soon teaches the family that the way to the state senate is an arduous road with no rest stops on the way.
Are you still stalled
on your poly-sci paper?
What makes you say that?
Well, if you make
one more animal
- you're going to have
- to build a paper ark.
No problem.
I got nothing but blank pages.
See, Tia, I'm just not feeling
these ancient Greeks.
You're not feeling
Aristotle's politics?
Girl, I love this book!
Same womb... different planet.
- Especially Aristotle's theory
- about the differences
- Between good citizens
- and good people.
Tia,
that's what I wasn't feeling.
- I mean, that "good citizen,
- good people" stuff
- Has nothing to do with the way
- politics works today.
Tamera, it has everything
to do with politics today.
Look at Ray's election.
You know, you're right.
I should write
on my dad's election.
- And you might start
- with a quote
- From book one,
- chapter two.
- Tamera:
- Oh, here it comes.
She gives me one good idea
and I'm going to have
to listen to her babble
all night.
"Man is by nature
a political animal."
Are you getting all this?
If I close my eyes,
maybe she'll disappear.
Girl, you better
open up your eyes.
We've got work to do.
Stop napping
and start tapping.
This just in:
- Twin throws sister
- from garage apartment window.
Story at 11:00.
♪ I do my own style
in my own time ♪
♪ how different
we have come to be ♪
♪ even though I'm glad
to be with you ♪
- ♪ I got to feel
- what's real for me ♪
♪ Like you got to do
what's right for you ♪
- In his ancient bestseller,
- politics
Aristotle writes
that there's a difference
between being a good person
and being a good citizen.
- I didn't fully
- understand that difference
Until I witnessed it firsthand
in my father's campaign
for State Senate.
Being new to politics
dad chose Clifton mcnair,
an experienced strategist
as his campaign manager.
- It didn't take long
- to realize
How much we had to learn.
Ladies and gentlemen,
our next state senator
my father...
Can I say, "my dad"?
"May" I say,
and no, you may not.
"Father" says senator.
"Dad" says homer Simpson.
- And mom says,
- let's get on with this.
My butt is getting numb.
Ladies and gentlemen,
our next state senator
my father, ray Campbell.
- And we stand,
- and then...
I have a question.
- Which you'll hold
- for later.
- And applause,
- applause...
Thank you very much.
You know, I stand
before you...
Hold it
right there.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Exactly.
You're supposed
to be admiring.
- All eyes are
- on the senator, ladies.
And don't just look.
Adore him.
Adore him?
Well, that's just ray
not the baby Jesus.
That's better.
Speech begins.
Um, thank you.
I stand before you,
a man with a vision...
Speech over and
applause, applause, applause.
- But Clifton, I wanted
- you to hear the speech.
I put in some facts
about health care
for the elderly.
Facts? Ray, facts
just confuse people.
Especially the elderly.
But, Clifton, the lack
of health care for the
elderly is shocking.
People need
to hear this.
Senator, I've won
17 straight campaigns
and if you want
to make it 18
you have to do it my way.
And we're waving, we're waving
we're waving...
Girls, put some
more wrist into it.
- Are you with us,
- senator?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
Clifton's desire to win
was contagious.
No detail of the campaign
escaped his watchful eye
even the volunteers.
Alert the media!
The election's over and
Ray's the new senator.
- Man, you're working
- too hard.
- The election's
- not for two weeks.
Oh, my bad.
- I just saw three slackers
- sitting here
Stuffing themselves
instead of envelopes.
- I figured
- we were done.
Wait a minute, Clifton.
Now, we have been very busy.
- We spent the whole morning
- rigging my car with loudspeakers
- So we can drive around
- screaming, "vote for Campbell."
You only do that
on election day.
You mean I got to keep
that P.A. system
tied to my roof
for two whole weeks?
Cool.
- We put up posters,
- passed out flyers
- And dropped off
- five sacks of mail.
Five!
- Did you knock on doors,
- man the phones
- And coordinate rides
- to the polls?
Well, uh...
Clifton!
- Do we have
- to wear this?
Yes.
You look adorable.
- We look like
- we just blew in
From the little house
on the prairie.
Uh, guys...
Martha Stewart called.
- She wants her
- tablecloths back.
That's it.
- These dresses
- are going back.
Hold up, ladies,
hold up.
Tia and tamera are making
the kind of personal sacrifice
it's going to take
to get ray elected.
I know that's right.
- Now, what are you
- willing to do?
- Yeah, what are you
- going to do?
Well, whatever we do
- we're going to look good
- doing it.
All right, now,
that is the attitude
I am talking about.
- Look, this campaign
- has got to be a team effort.
- And if we're going
- to win the championship
We need a strong bench
and that's you.
Now, are we the clippers...
Or are we the bulls?
- All:
- The bulls!
Let's do this!
- All:
- Hoo-ah!
Whoo!
Are we ready to hit
the campaign trail, senator?
Everyone except...
Lisa!
Lisa!
Oh, Clifton, look, now
I am not leaving this house
looking like I'm about
to fly the friendly skies.
Am I right, girls?
Oh, you look worse
than I do.
- I, for one, think
- all of you look beautiful.
Hmm. Lying already.
Let's send the man
to the capitol.
I'm trying to.
- Let's get this campaign
- on the road.
Ooh, I hope
it's a back road.
That's right.
So, we batted our eyes
and wiggled our elbows
and made dad look like
"the senator."
- I'd hoped things
- might get interesting
Once we started meeting people.
But there wasn't much time
to talk between camera
flashes.
The funny thing is
Clifton knew what he was doing.
It was as if dad's numbers
in the polls increased
with every hand he shook
and baby he kissed.
Oh, Campbell's
got my vote.
Clifton taught us
that in campaigning,
"less is more," which meant
we met more and more people
but we spoke to them
less and less.
Thank you so much.
We really couldn't get by
without this extra help.
You're very welcome.
Oh, yes, and
if I'm elected
I promise to keep
programs like this
going and growing.
Okay, that's a wrap.
Let's move.
- You know,
- if you dig deep
- I hid some skittles
- in there.
That's awfully
nice of you.
Oh, it's my pleasure.
- I grew up not too far
- from here myself.
I remember when a TV dinner
- used to mean watching
- other people
Eat their dinner on TV.
- I thought I was - the only one
- Who did that.
No.
Too much information,
not enough time.
- Another thing
- I'm working on...
It's time to go,
senator.
Hold on there, Clifton.
I want to talk to that family.
Hold it. Those are votes
you already have.
- There are 50 you still need
- on the curb.
I'm talking about people.
- How can I help them
- if I don't know what they need?
They need you in office.
Trust me.
Yeah, well, I suppose
you're right.
Can't help them
if I don't get elected.
After a week
of non-stop campaigning
the polls showed that dad
was within two points
of the front-runner
councilwoman Hicks.
Of course, to Clifton
"within two points"
was still missing the bus...
And he wasn't going
to let us stop
until we were two points ahead.
- Trade places with me
- before somebody gets hurt.
Ooh, geez.
- Lisa:
- Oh, lord.
- Ooh-ooh,
- my dogs are barking.
- I'm ready to sue
- Dr. Scholl for malpractice.
Hey, guys, how did
the campaigning go?
Well, ray wowed
the auto plant.
Too bad Clifton
wouldn't let us talk
to any of them.
- Well, Clifton says, "it's not
- how many people you see
- But how many
- people see you."
- You know, ray, have you noticed
- that everything you say lately
Starts with what Clifton says.
What is it that you say?
Well, Clifton's
just doing his job.
After all, he's won...
- 17 campaigns.
- 17 campaigns.
I don't always agree
with his methods
but this is how
the process works.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- What are you people
- still doing up?
- You got a huge
- day tomorrow.
Everyone to bed.
- You ain't got
- to tell me twice.
- You ain't got
- to tell me at all.
I'm already snoring.
Not so fast, boys.
- I want to tell you
- a little story.
- I'm driving over here
- this evening
And I pull up to a stop sign.
- Like the good driver
- that I am
- I look to my left,
- I look to my right.
What do you think I see?
Oncoming traffic?
Campaign posters.
- On every fence,
- every storefront, every lawn.
Well, you know, me and my crew...
We got out there
- and handled our business,
- that's all.
- They were posters
- for councilwoman Hicks.
Well, you know...
That's not good.
It's worse than not good.
- The election's
- a week away
- And ray is still
- behind in the polls.
It's time to bring in the bench.
Well, okay.
- I'm going to go
- get the bench.
We are the bench.
Oh.
Team, it's crunch time.
Now, here's
the challenge.
Every Hicks poster
is a vote against ray.
What do you want
us to do?
The question is,
what are you willing to do?
- Tamera:
- As the election got closer
Clifton made us believe
we should stop at nothing
to win.
The problem with that,
as Aristotle might say
was we were so focused
- on putting a good citizen
- in office
That we forgot about
being good people.
- Finally,
- a morning off.
Yeah.
Now I can go over the tapes
- from the classes
- I missed all week.
You got tapes?
Of course.
What was I supposed to do?
Get a copy of somebody else's
notes and just wing it?
Girl, please.
Right.
Copy somebody
else's notes.
How silly.
- Hey, morning,
- baby.
Hi.
Were my notes helpful?
Oh, yeah.
Hey, where's Clifton?
Oh, he took dad and Lisa
to the big brothers breakfast.
Hey, I was a big brother once,
but it didn't work out.
Really?
Yeah, the kid thought
I was a little too needy.
Guys...
Look what I found
in our trash can.
- How did those
- get in there?
Chud, "in the trash"
- doesn't mean
- in Ray's trash.
Couldn't you drop them
by the side of the road?
Come on, that's littering.
This is still america.
Are you guys crazy?
It's illegal to take down
your opponent's signs.
You guys, this could cost
dad the election.
What were you thinking?
We were thinking that every
sign was a vote against ray.
Yeah, and right now there's
over 150 votes in your garbage.
Clifton said that...
Clifton?
- Now this is
- making sense.
Okay, whatever we do
we just better get
this stuff out of here
- before my dad
- comes home.
- I cannot
- believe this.
I don't even know
where I'm going
to put it.
I know a place.
- I can't believe
- you guys did this.
Somebody better
start talking
and it better be good.
What's going on here?
- Where'd you get
- this sign?
- And that big pile
- out there in our garbage?
Tell me this isn't
what it looks like.
What possessed you
to do this?
- Yeah, what possessed you
- to do this?
- I don't
- believe you.
- Yeah, I thought
- we were a team...
- The bulls,
- remember?
- I think we just
- got traded.
Well... from what
I can tell, dad
Clifton told the guys
to put down Hicks signs
and put up yours.
- I didn't tell them
- to do anything.
- Then what are
- they talking about?
- Senator, we're in
- a war here.
We have to use every
available strategy
in order for us to...
So, you were behind this?
Well, technically, yes
- but if you'll
- just let me finish...
You are finished, Clifton.
From here on out,
you're no longer
my campaign manager.
Oh, really?
- Who's going to run
- your campaign, ray?
- The ex-con
- or the half-wit?
Hey, Jordan is
no half-wit.
- Or maybe the doublemint twins
- can run the campaign.
Maybe you better leave
while you can still
chew doublemint.
- Get out of my house,
- Clifton.
Okay. I'll go.
But any chance you have
of winning this election
- is walking out
- that door with me.
Dad...
I can't believe your campaign
is ending like this.
Yeah, I am really
sorry, ray.
There's nothing
to be sorry for, Tia.
This campaign is
just getting started.
Oh, that's right, ray.
Keep hope alive.
No, I mean it, Lisa.
This time we're going to run
this campaign the right way.
- No more of those
- short trips
- And quick
- sound bites.
- We're going back
- to the community
- And we're going
- to make a difference.
Now, are you with me, team?
- All:
- Yeah!
- Down to the last
- vote, ray.
All right.
- Tamera:
- I was so proud of my dad.
For the first time
in the campaign
people were going to see
the real ray Campbell.
With Clifton gone
the cameras didn't flash
nearly as much.
But dad said the further away
we got from the press
the closer we got to the people
in the community.
- You know, Jim,
- if we turned
- Some of these
- closed-down factories
Into computer training centers
- we could teach some older
- citizens the new technology...
- Get them ready for
- the millennium.
- If you don't start
- flipping some burgers
- We won't be eating
- till the new millennium.
- Tamera:
- Dad wanted to show that
Giving back to the community
was in his veins.
On behalf of the community
blood bank
I want to thank all of you
for coming out.
Your donation today
will help someone
survive tomorrow.
- And I hope that
- on election day
You'll vote for me
because I'm a candidate
who's not afraid
- to stand up
- for the people.
Lisa! Lisa!
The political pundits
were amazed
that without a campaign machine
dad had not slipped
in the polls.
In fact, he had even moved up.
By election day
dad and councilwoman Hicks
were in a dead heat.
So, every vote counted.
Well, here we are.
Ready to vote.
Voting. Wow.
Do you know how
important this is?
Do you know how many people
fought for this?
Yes, tamera.
You know...
Women couldn't
always vote.
Black people
couldn't always vote.
Won't you look at us...
Black women voting.
It's her first time.
Sign in here.
Hey, who'd you pick
for state treasurer?
- Chud, get out
- of my booth.
This is a secret ballot.
- I just wanted
- to make sure
You know the rules.
Hey, who'd you pick
for state treasurer?
- Didn't I kick you out
- at Attorney General?
Leave me alone.
Hey, Tia.
- Don't forget
- let me know when
You get to
state treasurer, okay?
Here I am.
Alone with my vote.
This is it.
I'm about to make a difference.
About to make the world
a better place for you and me.
- All:
- Shut up!
I did it.
Now I know how
miss Jane pittman
must have felt.
- Just drop it
- in the box.
Did I mention that
my father's running
for State Senate?
Then why did you vote
for councilwoman Hicks?
Can I have a do-over?
Thanks.
- This is my second
- time to vote.
- Do you guys know
- how important this is?
- Do you know how many people
- fought for this?
You know...
Women couldn't always vote.
- Tamera:
- Now, the most nerve-wracking
Part of any campaign
is election night.
After all those months
of hard work
our fate was in the hands
of the people.
- We were all dressed up
- for a party
- That we might never
- get to go to.
Man:
We are down to the wire
and it is still
much too close to call.
At last report
Campbell was still just
hanging on to a narrow lead.
All right, dad!
- Well, while they are still
- tabulating the votes
I would like to propose a toast
to our man, ray Campbell.
To the next...
What is it you're
running for again?
No, we're just
joking, ray.
But win or lose,
I'm proud to be
part of your team.
But you better win,
because I paid
way too much
- for this dress to be going
- to some loser's ball.
And I'm proud to call
the next state senator my dad.
I mean, my father.
- Speech! - Speech!
- Speech!
Well, I want to thank
all of you
- from the bottom
- of my heart...
- Hush up.
- The final returns are in.
Well, bill, in this
hotly, hotly contested
fifth State Senate district race
- now with 98% of the precincts
- reporting
Channel five is now projecting
the winner to be...
Yes!
Councilwoman Martha Hicks.
No.
It was so close.
I can't believe we lost.
And we are live here
at the campaign party
- for state senator elect
- Martha Hicks.
Congratulations, senator.
- Tell me, what are
- your first priorities
- Now that
- you're in office?
- I have a wealth
- of new ideas
That I'm taking
to the capital with me.
Project food 4 families
guaranteed health insurance
for the elderly
and reeducating our work force
for the new millennium.
Dag, ray
- those are all
- your ideas.
- Yeah, she jacked
- your platform.
- I say we go
- key her car.
- Wait a minute.
- Wait a minute, guys.
Look, I can't say
that I'm not disappointed
that I lost.
Disappointed?
This stinks!
But don't you see, Lisa?
Everyone in this room
has made a difference
especially my family.
Before this campaign,
all Hicks talked about
- was tax breaks
- for the rich.
But because of us
she has now made a promise
to the people
that I intend to make sure
she keeps.
So, in a way
we won after all.
Exactly.
- Now, look, I'm going
- to go outside and meet the press
- And congratulate
- councilwoman Hicks.
Oh, I'll go with you, ray.
This new dress deserves
some kind of TV time.
- Mr. Campbell,
- over here.
Here, sir.
- There
- he is.
Tamera:
That night, I understood
what Aristotle meant
by the difference between
a good citizen
and a good person.
Participating
in the political process
makes you a good citizen.
- Standing by your convictions
- makes you both.
- Do we have
- to wear this?
- Yes. You look
- adorable.
- We look like
- we just blew in
- From the house
- of the prairie...
Guys...
Too bad Clifton
didn't let us talk
to any of them.
- You know, Clifton says it's not
- how many people see you
But how many people...
You. How many
people you see.
Can we all just kind
of, like, take a nap?
We need a nap.
on your poly-sci paper?
What makes you say that?
Well, if you make
one more animal
- you're going to have
- to build a paper ark.
No problem.
I got nothing but blank pages.
See, Tia, I'm just not feeling
these ancient Greeks.
You're not feeling
Aristotle's politics?
Girl, I love this book!
Same womb... different planet.
- Especially Aristotle's theory
- about the differences
- Between good citizens
- and good people.
Tia,
that's what I wasn't feeling.
- I mean, that "good citizen,
- good people" stuff
- Has nothing to do with the way
- politics works today.
Tamera, it has everything
to do with politics today.
Look at Ray's election.
You know, you're right.
I should write
on my dad's election.
- And you might start
- with a quote
- From book one,
- chapter two.
- Tamera:
- Oh, here it comes.
She gives me one good idea
and I'm going to have
to listen to her babble
all night.
"Man is by nature
a political animal."
Are you getting all this?
If I close my eyes,
maybe she'll disappear.
Girl, you better
open up your eyes.
We've got work to do.
Stop napping
and start tapping.
This just in:
- Twin throws sister
- from garage apartment window.
Story at 11:00.
♪ I do my own style
in my own time ♪
♪ how different
we have come to be ♪
♪ even though I'm glad
to be with you ♪
- ♪ I got to feel
- what's real for me ♪
♪ Like you got to do
what's right for you ♪
- In his ancient bestseller,
- politics
Aristotle writes
that there's a difference
between being a good person
and being a good citizen.
- I didn't fully
- understand that difference
Until I witnessed it firsthand
in my father's campaign
for State Senate.
Being new to politics
dad chose Clifton mcnair,
an experienced strategist
as his campaign manager.
- It didn't take long
- to realize
How much we had to learn.
Ladies and gentlemen,
our next state senator
my father...
Can I say, "my dad"?
"May" I say,
and no, you may not.
"Father" says senator.
"Dad" says homer Simpson.
- And mom says,
- let's get on with this.
My butt is getting numb.
Ladies and gentlemen,
our next state senator
my father, ray Campbell.
- And we stand,
- and then...
I have a question.
- Which you'll hold
- for later.
- And applause,
- applause...
Thank you very much.
You know, I stand
before you...
Hold it
right there.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
Exactly.
You're supposed
to be admiring.
- All eyes are
- on the senator, ladies.
And don't just look.
Adore him.
Adore him?
Well, that's just ray
not the baby Jesus.
That's better.
Speech begins.
Um, thank you.
I stand before you,
a man with a vision...
Speech over and
applause, applause, applause.
- But Clifton, I wanted
- you to hear the speech.
I put in some facts
about health care
for the elderly.
Facts? Ray, facts
just confuse people.
Especially the elderly.
But, Clifton, the lack
of health care for the
elderly is shocking.
People need
to hear this.
Senator, I've won
17 straight campaigns
and if you want
to make it 18
you have to do it my way.
And we're waving, we're waving
we're waving...
Girls, put some
more wrist into it.
- Are you with us,
- senator?
Uh, yeah, yeah.
Clifton's desire to win
was contagious.
No detail of the campaign
escaped his watchful eye
even the volunteers.
Alert the media!
The election's over and
Ray's the new senator.
- Man, you're working
- too hard.
- The election's
- not for two weeks.
Oh, my bad.
- I just saw three slackers
- sitting here
Stuffing themselves
instead of envelopes.
- I figured
- we were done.
Wait a minute, Clifton.
Now, we have been very busy.
- We spent the whole morning
- rigging my car with loudspeakers
- So we can drive around
- screaming, "vote for Campbell."
You only do that
on election day.
You mean I got to keep
that P.A. system
tied to my roof
for two whole weeks?
Cool.
- We put up posters,
- passed out flyers
- And dropped off
- five sacks of mail.
Five!
- Did you knock on doors,
- man the phones
- And coordinate rides
- to the polls?
Well, uh...
Clifton!
- Do we have
- to wear this?
Yes.
You look adorable.
- We look like
- we just blew in
From the little house
on the prairie.
Uh, guys...
Martha Stewart called.
- She wants her
- tablecloths back.
That's it.
- These dresses
- are going back.
Hold up, ladies,
hold up.
Tia and tamera are making
the kind of personal sacrifice
it's going to take
to get ray elected.
I know that's right.
- Now, what are you
- willing to do?
- Yeah, what are you
- going to do?
Well, whatever we do
- we're going to look good
- doing it.
All right, now,
that is the attitude
I am talking about.
- Look, this campaign
- has got to be a team effort.
- And if we're going
- to win the championship
We need a strong bench
and that's you.
Now, are we the clippers...
Or are we the bulls?
- All:
- The bulls!
Let's do this!
- All:
- Hoo-ah!
Whoo!
Are we ready to hit
the campaign trail, senator?
Everyone except...
Lisa!
Lisa!
Oh, Clifton, look, now
I am not leaving this house
looking like I'm about
to fly the friendly skies.
Am I right, girls?
Oh, you look worse
than I do.
- I, for one, think
- all of you look beautiful.
Hmm. Lying already.
Let's send the man
to the capitol.
I'm trying to.
- Let's get this campaign
- on the road.
Ooh, I hope
it's a back road.
That's right.
So, we batted our eyes
and wiggled our elbows
and made dad look like
"the senator."
- I'd hoped things
- might get interesting
Once we started meeting people.
But there wasn't much time
to talk between camera
flashes.
The funny thing is
Clifton knew what he was doing.
It was as if dad's numbers
in the polls increased
with every hand he shook
and baby he kissed.
Oh, Campbell's
got my vote.
Clifton taught us
that in campaigning,
"less is more," which meant
we met more and more people
but we spoke to them
less and less.
Thank you so much.
We really couldn't get by
without this extra help.
You're very welcome.
Oh, yes, and
if I'm elected
I promise to keep
programs like this
going and growing.
Okay, that's a wrap.
Let's move.
- You know,
- if you dig deep
- I hid some skittles
- in there.
That's awfully
nice of you.
Oh, it's my pleasure.
- I grew up not too far
- from here myself.
I remember when a TV dinner
- used to mean watching
- other people
Eat their dinner on TV.
- I thought I was - the only one
- Who did that.
No.
Too much information,
not enough time.
- Another thing
- I'm working on...
It's time to go,
senator.
Hold on there, Clifton.
I want to talk to that family.
Hold it. Those are votes
you already have.
- There are 50 you still need
- on the curb.
I'm talking about people.
- How can I help them
- if I don't know what they need?
They need you in office.
Trust me.
Yeah, well, I suppose
you're right.
Can't help them
if I don't get elected.
After a week
of non-stop campaigning
the polls showed that dad
was within two points
of the front-runner
councilwoman Hicks.
Of course, to Clifton
"within two points"
was still missing the bus...
And he wasn't going
to let us stop
until we were two points ahead.
- Trade places with me
- before somebody gets hurt.
Ooh, geez.
- Lisa:
- Oh, lord.
- Ooh-ooh,
- my dogs are barking.
- I'm ready to sue
- Dr. Scholl for malpractice.
Hey, guys, how did
the campaigning go?
Well, ray wowed
the auto plant.
Too bad Clifton
wouldn't let us talk
to any of them.
- Well, Clifton says, "it's not
- how many people you see
- But how many
- people see you."
- You know, ray, have you noticed
- that everything you say lately
Starts with what Clifton says.
What is it that you say?
Well, Clifton's
just doing his job.
After all, he's won...
- 17 campaigns.
- 17 campaigns.
I don't always agree
with his methods
but this is how
the process works.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- What are you people
- still doing up?
- You got a huge
- day tomorrow.
Everyone to bed.
- You ain't got
- to tell me twice.
- You ain't got
- to tell me at all.
I'm already snoring.
Not so fast, boys.
- I want to tell you
- a little story.
- I'm driving over here
- this evening
And I pull up to a stop sign.
- Like the good driver
- that I am
- I look to my left,
- I look to my right.
What do you think I see?
Oncoming traffic?
Campaign posters.
- On every fence,
- every storefront, every lawn.
Well, you know, me and my crew...
We got out there
- and handled our business,
- that's all.
- They were posters
- for councilwoman Hicks.
Well, you know...
That's not good.
It's worse than not good.
- The election's
- a week away
- And ray is still
- behind in the polls.
It's time to bring in the bench.
Well, okay.
- I'm going to go
- get the bench.
We are the bench.
Oh.
Team, it's crunch time.
Now, here's
the challenge.
Every Hicks poster
is a vote against ray.
What do you want
us to do?
The question is,
what are you willing to do?
- Tamera:
- As the election got closer
Clifton made us believe
we should stop at nothing
to win.
The problem with that,
as Aristotle might say
was we were so focused
- on putting a good citizen
- in office
That we forgot about
being good people.
- Finally,
- a morning off.
Yeah.
Now I can go over the tapes
- from the classes
- I missed all week.
You got tapes?
Of course.
What was I supposed to do?
Get a copy of somebody else's
notes and just wing it?
Girl, please.
Right.
Copy somebody
else's notes.
How silly.
- Hey, morning,
- baby.
Hi.
Were my notes helpful?
Oh, yeah.
Hey, where's Clifton?
Oh, he took dad and Lisa
to the big brothers breakfast.
Hey, I was a big brother once,
but it didn't work out.
Really?
Yeah, the kid thought
I was a little too needy.
Guys...
Look what I found
in our trash can.
- How did those
- get in there?
Chud, "in the trash"
- doesn't mean
- in Ray's trash.
Couldn't you drop them
by the side of the road?
Come on, that's littering.
This is still america.
Are you guys crazy?
It's illegal to take down
your opponent's signs.
You guys, this could cost
dad the election.
What were you thinking?
We were thinking that every
sign was a vote against ray.
Yeah, and right now there's
over 150 votes in your garbage.
Clifton said that...
Clifton?
- Now this is
- making sense.
Okay, whatever we do
we just better get
this stuff out of here
- before my dad
- comes home.
- I cannot
- believe this.
I don't even know
where I'm going
to put it.
I know a place.
- I can't believe
- you guys did this.
Somebody better
start talking
and it better be good.
What's going on here?
- Where'd you get
- this sign?
- And that big pile
- out there in our garbage?
Tell me this isn't
what it looks like.
What possessed you
to do this?
- Yeah, what possessed you
- to do this?
- I don't
- believe you.
- Yeah, I thought
- we were a team...
- The bulls,
- remember?
- I think we just
- got traded.
Well... from what
I can tell, dad
Clifton told the guys
to put down Hicks signs
and put up yours.
- I didn't tell them
- to do anything.
- Then what are
- they talking about?
- Senator, we're in
- a war here.
We have to use every
available strategy
in order for us to...
So, you were behind this?
Well, technically, yes
- but if you'll
- just let me finish...
You are finished, Clifton.
From here on out,
you're no longer
my campaign manager.
Oh, really?
- Who's going to run
- your campaign, ray?
- The ex-con
- or the half-wit?
Hey, Jordan is
no half-wit.
- Or maybe the doublemint twins
- can run the campaign.
Maybe you better leave
while you can still
chew doublemint.
- Get out of my house,
- Clifton.
Okay. I'll go.
But any chance you have
of winning this election
- is walking out
- that door with me.
Dad...
I can't believe your campaign
is ending like this.
Yeah, I am really
sorry, ray.
There's nothing
to be sorry for, Tia.
This campaign is
just getting started.
Oh, that's right, ray.
Keep hope alive.
No, I mean it, Lisa.
This time we're going to run
this campaign the right way.
- No more of those
- short trips
- And quick
- sound bites.
- We're going back
- to the community
- And we're going
- to make a difference.
Now, are you with me, team?
- All:
- Yeah!
- Down to the last
- vote, ray.
All right.
- Tamera:
- I was so proud of my dad.
For the first time
in the campaign
people were going to see
the real ray Campbell.
With Clifton gone
the cameras didn't flash
nearly as much.
But dad said the further away
we got from the press
the closer we got to the people
in the community.
- You know, Jim,
- if we turned
- Some of these
- closed-down factories
Into computer training centers
- we could teach some older
- citizens the new technology...
- Get them ready for
- the millennium.
- If you don't start
- flipping some burgers
- We won't be eating
- till the new millennium.
- Tamera:
- Dad wanted to show that
Giving back to the community
was in his veins.
On behalf of the community
blood bank
I want to thank all of you
for coming out.
Your donation today
will help someone
survive tomorrow.
- And I hope that
- on election day
You'll vote for me
because I'm a candidate
who's not afraid
- to stand up
- for the people.
Lisa! Lisa!
The political pundits
were amazed
that without a campaign machine
dad had not slipped
in the polls.
In fact, he had even moved up.
By election day
dad and councilwoman Hicks
were in a dead heat.
So, every vote counted.
Well, here we are.
Ready to vote.
Voting. Wow.
Do you know how
important this is?
Do you know how many people
fought for this?
Yes, tamera.
You know...
Women couldn't
always vote.
Black people
couldn't always vote.
Won't you look at us...
Black women voting.
It's her first time.
Sign in here.
Hey, who'd you pick
for state treasurer?
- Chud, get out
- of my booth.
This is a secret ballot.
- I just wanted
- to make sure
You know the rules.
Hey, who'd you pick
for state treasurer?
- Didn't I kick you out
- at Attorney General?
Leave me alone.
Hey, Tia.
- Don't forget
- let me know when
You get to
state treasurer, okay?
Here I am.
Alone with my vote.
This is it.
I'm about to make a difference.
About to make the world
a better place for you and me.
- All:
- Shut up!
I did it.
Now I know how
miss Jane pittman
must have felt.
- Just drop it
- in the box.
Did I mention that
my father's running
for State Senate?
Then why did you vote
for councilwoman Hicks?
Can I have a do-over?
Thanks.
- This is my second
- time to vote.
- Do you guys know
- how important this is?
- Do you know how many people
- fought for this?
You know...
Women couldn't always vote.
- Tamera:
- Now, the most nerve-wracking
Part of any campaign
is election night.
After all those months
of hard work
our fate was in the hands
of the people.
- We were all dressed up
- for a party
- That we might never
- get to go to.
Man:
We are down to the wire
and it is still
much too close to call.
At last report
Campbell was still just
hanging on to a narrow lead.
All right, dad!
- Well, while they are still
- tabulating the votes
I would like to propose a toast
to our man, ray Campbell.
To the next...
What is it you're
running for again?
No, we're just
joking, ray.
But win or lose,
I'm proud to be
part of your team.
But you better win,
because I paid
way too much
- for this dress to be going
- to some loser's ball.
And I'm proud to call
the next state senator my dad.
I mean, my father.
- Speech! - Speech!
- Speech!
Well, I want to thank
all of you
- from the bottom
- of my heart...
- Hush up.
- The final returns are in.
Well, bill, in this
hotly, hotly contested
fifth State Senate district race
- now with 98% of the precincts
- reporting
Channel five is now projecting
the winner to be...
Yes!
Councilwoman Martha Hicks.
No.
It was so close.
I can't believe we lost.
And we are live here
at the campaign party
- for state senator elect
- Martha Hicks.
Congratulations, senator.
- Tell me, what are
- your first priorities
- Now that
- you're in office?
- I have a wealth
- of new ideas
That I'm taking
to the capital with me.
Project food 4 families
guaranteed health insurance
for the elderly
and reeducating our work force
for the new millennium.
Dag, ray
- those are all
- your ideas.
- Yeah, she jacked
- your platform.
- I say we go
- key her car.
- Wait a minute.
- Wait a minute, guys.
Look, I can't say
that I'm not disappointed
that I lost.
Disappointed?
This stinks!
But don't you see, Lisa?
Everyone in this room
has made a difference
especially my family.
Before this campaign,
all Hicks talked about
- was tax breaks
- for the rich.
But because of us
she has now made a promise
to the people
that I intend to make sure
she keeps.
So, in a way
we won after all.
Exactly.
- Now, look, I'm going
- to go outside and meet the press
- And congratulate
- councilwoman Hicks.
Oh, I'll go with you, ray.
This new dress deserves
some kind of TV time.
- Mr. Campbell,
- over here.
Here, sir.
- There
- he is.
Tamera:
That night, I understood
what Aristotle meant
by the difference between
a good citizen
and a good person.
Participating
in the political process
makes you a good citizen.
- Standing by your convictions
- makes you both.
- Do we have
- to wear this?
- Yes. You look
- adorable.
- We look like
- we just blew in
- From the house
- of the prairie...
Guys...
Too bad Clifton
didn't let us talk
to any of them.
- You know, Clifton says it's not
- how many people see you
But how many people...
You. How many
people you see.
Can we all just kind
of, like, take a nap?
We need a nap.