The Cosby Show (1984–1992): Season 3, Episode 6 - The March - full transcript

♪♪ [theme]

♪♪ [singing in Spanish]

♪♪ [ends]

♪♪ [humming]

Ahh.

Are you enjoying your breakfast?

Yes. Are you enjoying yours?

Looks like you're not going
to drink that orange juice.

Yes, I am.

I'm saving it for last.

I don't have any orange
juice. You took it all.



I know. That used to happen
to me a lot when I was small.

But now I wake up very early.

How would you like to trade

a delicious thirst quenching

slice of cantaloupe melon

for that little shot
glass of orange juice?

Two pieces.

But then I won't have any.

That's the deal.

You used to be
such a warm person.

You've changed.

Take it or leave it.

Okay, on the count of three.

One, two, three.



There you go. [chuckling]

No fair.

Yes, well I'll tell you now, all
is fair in love and breakfast.

I'm telling Mom.

Tattle tale, tattle tale,
sitting on an ice cream rail.

Hello.

Hey.

It's such a beautiful day today.

It's a beautiful day.

Why? You're not
going to go to school?

Yeah, I'm going. Why?

I just never seen you in such a
mood like this before going to school.

Dad, today is Friday.

This weekend I have no homework,

no test to study for
and no papers to write.

This is going to be
the perfect weekend.

You know what will
make it a great weekend?

Tomorrow you and
I get the ladder out,

we go up on the roof and
clean out those gutters.

Dad, come on. I need
to relax this weekend.

I'm under a lot of pressure.

Pressure?

Yes, Dad.

My life is not like yours.

You're a doctor.

When you finish work, you
have nothing to think about.

But I'm in high school, Dad.

I have to think about what
I'm doing day and night.

If I'm not studying for a
subject, I got to think about it.

How do you do it?

I don't know.

But it's weekends like
this that get me through.

Well, then I guess you'd
better make the most of it.

Oh, Dad, I will.

Tonight's the big pep rally.

Tomorrow's the game
and the party at Maxine's.

Ooh.

You know, your grandparents, all of
them are coming over for dinner tonight.

Well, I'll be there.

I was just hoping I could
be excused right after dinner.

Is it okay?

Yeah, sure that's okay.

I'm just happy you could fit
us into your perfect weekend.

Thanks, Dad.

Who took my orange juice?

Who took my orange juice?

All is fair in love
and breakfast.

Do you know who I am?

I am the man who loves you,

who works to buy the
orange juice for you.

Did you really want it?

I faked you out.

Hi, Dad.

Hey, Shug. How's school?

Great. Is Mom around?

Yes, she's in the kitchen.

Good. I need to talk to
somebody about something.

- Uh, Vanessa?
- Yeah?

What am I, a bag of oats?

No, Dad, but I think I
should talk to Mom about this.

- Okay.
- Okay, you might know about this, too.

Well, how are you going to know

that I know if you don't ask me?

- You see, it's boys.
- Boys?

Well, boys and girls.

Boys and girls.

Okay, well you've come to the right
person, because I used to be a boy.

And your mother was a girl.

And I have four
girls and one boy.

So what's your problem?

See, Dad, there's this
thing coming up next

week at school called
the turnaround dance.

Turnaround dance? I know
about a turnaround dance.

They used to
have that in my day.

In the old time.

Yeah, that's where the girls
have to ask the boys to the dance.

- Right.
- Hello.

And there are two
guys I want to ask.

Mm-hmm.

Now one of them I really
don't like, but he'll say yes.

And the one I do like
will probably say no.

One of them Robert?

No, Dad. Robert and I
broke up a long time ago.

See, first he went steady
with Stephanie Johnson

and then he went
steady with Beth Peterson

and now it's Amy Gordon.

Sounds like Roberto is
wandering around the world

for the rest of his
life searching for you.

Dad.

The guy I want to go
out with is David Butler.

Ah, I see.

Now why do you like him?

He's cute.

Oh, and he's probably got
a great personality, I hope.

Well, you see, I never
really talked to him.

But I heard him say
something in class, Dad.

And he has the best voice.

It cracks.

What did he say?

He stood up in class to
answer a question and he said,

[cracked voice]
"The Suez Canal."

[screams]

Dad, this was so adorable.

And it was the right answer.

Cute and smart.

And all of my friends say we
would look so good together.

If your friends say that the two of
you look cute together, call this boy.

But, Dad, if he says no,
I'm going to feel awful.

Suppose he says yes?

Let me put it to you this way.

A long, long time ago, and
I'm not naming any names,

there was this cute young girl
and she wanted to ask this fella,

but she was like you.

She was just kind of
afraid and she was nervous.

And then she got up enough courage, and
she called the boy and the boy said yes.

And they went to the dance,
and they are married today.

Dad, is this a story
about you and Mom?

Yes, but don't tell
your mother that I said.

Don't tell her.

But, Dad, you know, I'm not Mom.

I don't think I could do this.

Well, you have a third choice.

You can take me to the dance.

I'll call David.

[sighs]

- Hey.
- Hello.

How's everything?

Just fine.

Need any help?

Nope, I'm just about finished.

You know, it's so funny
how life repeats itself.

- What?
- Well, I was in there talking to Vanessa,

and she is nervous
about a turnaround dance.

Oh.

So I told her the story about

how you called me

and asked me to go
to the Halloween dance.

I what?

I told her how you called me up
and asked me to go to the dance

and how you were nervous
and everything, you know.

Cliff, why did you
lie to our daughter?

I didn't lie. No, I didn't.

Let the record show.

Oh, here we go with
the "let the record show."

We're going to get
this story straight.

You see the truth
of the matter is

you called my house while I
was at cheerleading practice

because you knew I wasn't there.

And then you had the audacity to ask my
mother to tell me to take you to the dance.

And said I had to
be quick about it

because there were a lot of
girls in line waiting to ask you.

Get out of here!

You know it's true.

Then you promised
my mother, if I said yes,

you would have me home by 9:30

and mow her lawn and
wash all the windows.

And I think you better put the
top back on that silver polish.

Okay, Mr. Smarty-pants. Okay.

My mother will be here this
evening to verify the facts.

Okay, good. Good. Good.

And then after she does that,
then you better be ready to do

some heavy apologizing
and begging for forgiveness.

We shall see.

No, we shall see what we shall
see, but humiliation from thee.

[both laughing]

- Hi.
- Hey, how you doing?

Now wait a minute, this
is not the face of someone

who's about to start
a perfect weekend.

It's not a perfect weekend, Dad.

I got a history
paper back today.

A "C." I couldn't believe it.

I thought I would
at least get a "B."

Mr. Pierce said I can do the paper
over again and try for a higher grade.

Well, at least you
get another chance.

Yeah, but it's got
to be in on Monday.

If I rewrite the paper, I'm
going to miss everything:

the pep rally, the game,
the party at Maxine's.

It's going to be the
greatest party of the year.

Wait one second.

You go upstairs, you do a couple
of hours work on your paper,

come down, you
have dinner with us,

and then you go back up and
you work on your paper some more.

So tomorrow you go

to the football game
and Maxine's party.

Okay?

- Makes sense to me.
- It's worth a try.

- All right.
- I'll get started.

And then you and I get the
ladder, we'll go up on the roof.

We'll clean the outside.

Just kidding, just kidding.

Just kidding.

So the pirate said, "Not
in my hat, you don't."

[laughing]

Cliff, where did you hear that?

I made that up.

Yeah, I thought that.

- Oh, Clair, the dinner was delicious.
- Well, thank you.

Everything was delightful
except for my son's jokes.

Hey, listen, you know, you
can go home now if you want to.

I'm pouring tea. Who wants some?

Me.

Oh, I'll have some
and some for Granddad.

Dad, can I leave now?

Yeah. Oh, yeah, sure go ahead.

Where you going, Theo?

Well, I have to go upstairs and redo
a history paper that's due on Monday.

I got a "C" on it, and I
should have gotten an "A."

Well, what did you write about?

The march on Washington.

Theo, you didn't tell me
you were writing about that.

You know, your
father and I were there.

You should have come to us.

I thought I had it all covered.

I did research and
everything on it.

Oh, you could have
done research with us.

There are a few people in
this room who were there.

- Now, that's right.
- I was there.

- All of us were.
- But I went to the library.

Theo, go up and get that
paper, I want to hear it.

- Now?
- Right now, I want to hear it.

So do I.

My pleasure. I want you
to hear how good it really is.

Uh, Mom, can I be excused now?

I want to go make
that phone call.

- Of course.
- Can I come?

Uh, Rudy, I think Vanessa
needs a little privacy for this call.

Oh, that's okay, Mom.
I could use the support.

Just don't make any kissing
noises while I'm talking.

[laughing]

I won't.

What's that about?

Oh, there's a turnaround dance
and Vanessa has to ask a boy.

Um, since we are on the subject
of turnaround dances, Mother, dear,

I would like you to settle a little dispute
between your daughter and myself.

- What's that?
- Do you recall the first time

we went out together?

- Oh, of course, the Halloween dance.
- Yes.

That was the time you called
me up and tried to bribe me.

You asked me to talk Clair into
asking you to go to the dance.

Thank you, Mother.

[laughing]

He promised to wash my windows
and mow my lawn if I'd do it.

Son, you always were desperate.

By the way, Heathcliff,
you never did mow my lawn.

Well, I guess we'll
see you on Sunday.

And bring a rake.

You know, I fed you tonight
and you turn on me like this?

Okay, here it is.

Are you ready?

Mm-hmm.

"The March," by
Theodore Huxtable.

"On August 28th, 1963, there was a
civil rights march in Washington D.C.

"250,000 people were there.

"Many people gave speeches.

"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"gave a famous
speech 'I Have a Dream'.

It was an important
date for America."

What do you think?

That's it?

- No, that's just the first paragraph.
- Oh, okay.

What do you think so far?

Well, you have
your facts straight.

I know. Can you believe
Mr. Pierce gave me a "C"?

Does this sound like
a "C" to you, Grandpa?

- Maybe we should hear the rest of it.
- Okay.

"There were many
celebrities at the march:

"Sidney Poitier, Charlton Heston,
Paul Newman, Lena Horne,

"Joan Baez, Jackie Robinson,

Harry Belafonte,
Burt Lancaster..."

Why did you hang up?

I'm not ready yet.

You want me to call him?

No, no. No, I'll do it.

I just have to figure out
what I'm going to say.

- I know what to say.
- What?

"David, you're going
to this dance with me."

Rudy, that is not
how you do this.

That's how I'd do it.

But that's not the
grown-up way to do it.

You're not a grown-up.

Well, I'm more of a
grown-up than you are.

No, you're not. You
have to go to bed at 10.

So? You have to go to bed at 8.

So? You can't drive a car.

So? You can't ride
your bicycle in the street.

So? I don't want to.

[sighs]

Look, Rudy, I
don't want to fight.

I have enough
problems right now.

I have to call Dave
before it gets too late.

- Then do it.
- I will.

Don't be afraid.

If he says no, you can
stay here and play with me.

Thanks.

Hello, is David there?

Oh, hi, David.

His voice cracked!

- Ask him!
- I will. Shh, shh.

Uh, this is Vanessa Huxtable.

No, you don't know me very
well but I'm in your science class.

Yeah, that's where I sit.

Um, I was wondering
about something.

You know about the turnaround
dance at school next week?

Yeah. Um...

Would you like to go with me?

He said yes! He
wants to go with me!

- Yay!
- Shh!

Uh, yes, I think it will
be fun, too. I'm delighted.

[kissing sounds] Shh!

"And at the conclusion of the
day, the ten leaders of the march

"met with President John
F. Kennedy for 75 minutes,

"and thus ended an important
date we should all remember.

The end."

Well, interesting.

Yes, it was.

Very.

You didn't like it.

- Well, son, you had the facts.
- I know.

Where did you
get the information?

At the library.

How many books did you read?

One.

It's called the Pocket
Guide to American History.

How many pages did it
have about the march?

One, but there was a little
bit on the top of the next page.

So this is a condensed
version of historical events?

Right.

And not one mention
about A. Philip Randolph.

Right.

I can just imagine what they
wrote about the Boston Tea Party.

Some men jumped up on the boat.

And there was some celebrities,
and they threw the tea in the water.

And Sam Jones and John
Havlicek and Bill Russell

have been winning the
championship ever since.

Theo, maybe your teacher
wanted something else.

Like what?

Well, honey you could have written
more about the people, you know.

Why they got involved
and what they felt.

I could tell you what they felt.

Hot.

Yes, it was rather
warm that day.

And we were lucky. We
were on an air-conditioned bus,

and all of them didn't have it.

Many buses. Just hundreds
and hundreds of them.

And the singing.
Yes, the singing.

You could hear the singing
coming from every bus.

- We sang all the way down there.
- Right.

Not everyone was singing.

Please don't start on me.

We had to tell your
father to keep quiet.

He had a tendency to drag
out the words and sing off key.

What really happened besides
the heat and the singing?

Theo, I'll tell you what you
should put in that paper.

The mood of that day,
oh, Theo, it was so friendly.

Yes, it was.

People we didn't know at all waving
to each other like they were old friends.

We were old friends by the time we walked
from the parking lot to the great lawn.

[laughing]

It was a couple
of miles at least.

We had to march to the march.

You saw all kinds
of people, all colors,

from every part of America.

They carried signs and they wore buttons
to let you know where they'd come from.

I traded buttons with a
man from Portland, Oregon.

Walked around all day long with
that button on, "Kiss me, I'm Irish."

[laughing]

He didn't stop there.

Your father went around
collecting buttons all day long.

Every time I looked up
he had on a new button.

"Kiss me, I'm Jewish."

"Kiss me, I'm Polish."

"Kiss me, I'm..."

[both] "Japanese."

And I still have those
buttons upstairs.

Oh, we have a whole drawer
full of reminders from that day.

It must have been great knowing you
guys were going to be part of history.

Oh, no, that wasn't
what it was about.

We were just expressing
the way we felt then.

When we stood in the church
parking lot waiting to get on the bus,

there was only
about 50 of us there.

I looked around and I thought,

"Well, what if we're the
only ones who show up?"

We were a very
small group of people.

Yes, until we got down there.

There were just so many people.

To stand in front of the
Washington Monument

surrounded by 250,000 people.

To be heard.

Mm-hmm.

Theo, your granddad
and I met this one woman.

Nadine. She was 71
years old and she...

Russell, I was talking.

I was just telling the
boy about Nadine.

But I was telling
him about Nadine.

I'm sorry.

You go ahead.

No, you go ahead.

- No, you.
- No, no.

Will somebody
please tell the boy?

I'll tell it.

Nadine was 71 years
old and she drove

all the way from North Dakota.

Grand Forks.

She drove down with
her granddaughter.

Lovely child.

During the march, Nadine was
with us every step of the way.

Every step.

She stood through all the
speeches and never sat down once.

We were amazed a person
her age could do all of that.

Russell. Hmm?

She was the same age
then that you are now.

Oh, you're right.

No wonder she could do all that.

See, Theo, that's the one thing
that you can't get in the history books.

That's the one thing you
can't capture: the people.

I guess so.

And you should have seen what it
was like when we went back to the buses.

Right. People held
hands and smiled.

There was a feeling
of joy and pride.

The newspapers said there was
going to be trouble, but there wasn't any.

It was a lovely, peaceful day.

It was peaceful.

I still carry a little
of that day with me.

Dr. King said... [chuckles]

I don't think I'll ever forget.

"In a sense we have
come to our nation’s capital

to cash a check."

[all affirming]

"When the architects of our
republic wrote the magnificent words

"of the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence,

"they were signing
a promissory note

to which every
American was to fall heir."

[chuckling] I
mean... [all affirming]

This is great.

I didn't have to go

to the library after all.

All I had to do was have
dinner with my family.

Thanks.

Wait, wait, wait one second.

Up in... Up in the bottom drawer

of your mother's
dresser? Uh-huh.

Pictures, old
newspaper clippings.

Your father's "kiss me"
buttons are in there, too.

Thanks.

I'm glad Theo had
that paper to write.

It brought back
a lot of memories.

It certainly did.

And, Russell, do you
remember someone

sitting way in the back
of the bus starting to sing

♪ Mine eyes have
seen the glory ♪

♪ Of the coming of the Lord ♪

♪ He is trampling
out the vintage ♪

♪ Where the grapes
of wrath are stored ♪

♪ He hath loosed
the faithful lightning ♪

♪ Of his terrible swift sword ♪

♪ His truth is marching ♪

♪ On ♪

♪ Glory ♪

♪ Glory, Hallelujah ♪

[singing continues]
[typewriter clacking]

[Theo] August 28th, 1963,

was a day that
changed my family.

It was a day of joy and pride

and most of all... hope.

♪ His truth is marching on ♪

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