The Cosby Show (1984–1992): Season 3, Episode 9 - Denise Gets a 'D' - full transcript

Pardon me.

There.

Oatmeal, cantaloupe,
toast and butter

and Peppermint tea...

Your mother's favorites.

Anything we forgot?

I like ice cream when I'm sick.

Mom's not sick, Rudy.
She has a pinched nerve.

Your mother will Appreciate

just seeing your lovely faces

with her tray of her
favorite breakfast.



Let me carry it.

It's very heavy.

I won't drop it.

Take that.

Thank you.

Tell mom I'll be
up before school.

Son?

Yeah?

What you doing?

Clearing the table.

Did I ask you to?

No.

Why are you clearing it?

With mom laid up



we all need to pitch in
and do a little bit extra.

Are you still doing
your regular chores?

Yeah, I'll still take
out the garbage

and sweep the front walk.

I'll also take Rudy
to dance class.

Son?

Yeah?

What?

Sometimes when
people are feverish

they say things they don't mean.

Dad, I'm fine.

Sometimes if you're feverish

you hear things
you'd like to hear

but you really don't hear them.

Dad, you're fine, too.

(ring) I am?

Well, I hope so.

Hello?

Yes, operator, I'll
accept the charges.

Hi, daddy.

Hi, Denise. You need money?

No.

You're sure?

Yes.

Denise!

Hey, it's great
to hear from you.

Are you still coming
home for the weekend?

Yes. I wouldn't miss it.

Good.

I'm picking up my English paper

then I'll catch a train.

All right.

How's everything going?

I'm getting an
"a" On this paper.

How's biology?

I'm pulling a strong "B."

All right! Huxtable brains.

Sounds like
you're burning it up.

I am. We'll talk about it later.

You're coming home for money?

Dad! No.

I've got to go meet
with my professor.

Okay. I'm looking
forward to seeing you.

Give my love to everyone.

Bye.

My son's doing chores
Nobody asked him to do.

My daughter's got a strong "B."

I must have malaria.

(knocking)

Come in.

Hi. Dr. Hughes?

Hello, Denise.

You wanted to see me?

Yes. Come in.

I finished reading
your last essay.

Great. I worked
hard on this one.

You're getting the same
grade you got on the others.

Those were "Ds."

I know.

I don't understand.

I worked hard on this.

How much time did you
spend writing that paper?

Two weeks... I started
working right away.

How much time did
you spend writing?

It's hard to say.

I have this system
that works really well.

Oh, you do, huh?

When I have a paper to write

I think about it
for a few days...

Mull it over while
I'm doing other things.

Other things?

Yeah, like taking a
shower, or brushing my teeth

or going for a walk.

See, I get inspired
and then I stop...

I stop whatever I'm
doing and I just write.

It's like this burst
of creative energy.

I would rather you
organize your bursts.

This is how I wrote
papers in high school.

I always got "As."

But you're in college now.

The difference between
high school and college

is the grade on that paper.

Now, I suggest you reread
the comments I made.

I'll do that on my next paper.

This is your next paper.

I want you to write it over.

It's due a week from today.

All right.

I appreciate the second chance.

Apply the comments this time

or I won't be as
generous with your grade.

I understand.

Good.

Sorry I'm rushing

but I've got to get out of town.

How was dance class?

No good!

Something wrong
with the ballerina?

Her teacher handed
out dance recital parts.

Rudy wanted the sun,
but they made her the wind.

What's the matter with the wind?

I don't know

but all the way home,
Rudy kept saying

"I am the sun."

Well, maybe I'd
better talk to her.

I tried to cheer her up.

I said, "Rudy, it's only
ballet, it's not important.

Nobody cares about it."

She didn't come around
after you said that?

No.

I cannot believe she's so upset.

You can't?

I remember you at that age.

You played baseball.

You made the team

you went out with your
glove, bat and uniform.

The man didn't put you in.

You came back, threw
your bat and glove down

and said, "I won't
play ball anymore."

I'll go talk to her, dad.

No, you've done enough.

I'll say something to her.

Hi.

Hi.

Your coat's still on.

I know.

You'll get hot.

I don't care.

Now, come on.

Take your coat off.

Hang it up.

Theo tells me

you had some
disappointment in dance class.

Daddy, I am the sun.

I don't want to be the wind.

What's so good
about being the sun?

The sun gets to set and rise
and shine on the flowers...

You know, photothimissism?

Photo what?

Make the flowers grow?

Photothimissism.

No, no, honey,
it's photosynthesis.

Oh.

Where did you learn
about photosynthesis?

Vanessa told me.

She said the sun's
the most important thing

in the universe.

You thinks the sun's
more important than wind?

You got it.

Would you do me a favor

and show me what the sun does?

Sure.

Photothimissism.

No, photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis.

Now, show me what the wind does.

(whooshing noise)

Well, pardon me but
as far as I'm concerned

the wind is far more
exciting than the sun.

Rudy: But the wind only dances

at the very end.

You're saying the sun
stays on stage longer!

The whole play.

Well, let me tell you this.

I think that when the
people see this play

they will say, "Well, the
sun was out there for a while

"But wow the wind

bring her back,
man, bring her back!"

dad, I can't come back.

That's the end of the show.

But if you're the best
wind you can be...

Even though you don't
want to be the wind...

If you're the best
wind you can be

I'll bet that at the
end of the play

when the people are
clapping, They would SAY:

"the sun burned, But
the wind blew me away."

You understand that?

Yes.

All right, then.

Good, good.

But I am the sun.

(knocking)

Yes?

How come you didn't
get up and open the door?

Very funny.

Oh, be careful, be careful.

How did you do this?

It's my own fault.

I was teaching Rudy
some ballet moves.

I picked her up and
discovered that she is heavy.

Look at the good side,
you're getting some rest.

I'm getting plenty of rest.

I've had such fun
these past two days.

I've watched a squirrel
climb up and down a tree.

I've listened to myself breathe.

And I've discovered that
I blink 37 times a minute.

Are you telling us you're bored?

Out of my mind.

But I'm really glad
to see you two.

What have you been doing?

Everything... don't
leave anything out.

College is great.

I'm getting all
"As" This semester.

That's wonderful.

Isn't it, Denise?

Yeah.

I just finished a psych project.

The professor loved it so much

she wants to do research
with me next semester.

All right, Sondra, all right.

How's everything
with you, Denise?

Good.

Yeah? How's school?

It's getting really
cold in Virginia now.

We even had a Frost last week.

Princeton had great weather.

I'm not surprised.

Tell me about your classes.

Oh, I will

but I want to find some
sweaters for the cold.

I'll be back.

Don't you go away.

I want to hear about you, mom.

You.

I'll be here.

(whooshing noise)

Good. When I watch
you, I see the wind.

I'm only on the
stage for a minute.

That doesn't matter.

That's not what the
audience will remember.

It's not?

I've done a few dance recitals.

The performance
isn't that important.

What the audience remembers
is your bow at the end.

Now let me see you bow.

That's okay, But the
audience won't remember it.

They won't?

No. You need
something with flair.

Now here's what I recommend.

The first thing you
do when you come out

is you act really humble

like you're surprised
they're even applauding.

And then you point to
yourself, and you say...

"For me?"

they love that!

Then you walk toward
the center of the stage

shaking your head

like you really don't
deserve their love.

"No, no. Please, Stop."

Then you put one
foot behind the other

and you bow deeply
at the waist, exhausted.

(sigh)

Show them you've given
them everything you have.

I'll be in the front row

and I'll yell, "Bravo! Bravo!"

and that will start
a standing ovation.

I like that!

We're back. Movie time.

What movies?

For Rudy Mr. Mouse
joins the circus.

Yay!

And for everyone else

attack of the two-headed dog.

All right!

Where's Denise?

She's in the kitchen.

Set up the tape machine.

And I'll make the popcorn.

Denise, we've got the movies.

I don't feel like it.

You wanted a movie.

Changed my mind.

Are you all right?

Yeah. Why?

You're acting strange.

Yeah, I agree.

You hardly ate any dinner.

I wasn't hungry.

Having problems with some guy?

No.

Having troubles at school?

Did I mention school?

Why bring school into this?

Hmm. Strong defensive reaction.

Oh, yeah.

Fine! I will watch
the stupid movie

with you guys!

Ah. Avoidance response.

Without a doubt.

Cut it out!

Definite hostility.

Theo!

Tell us.

Sooner or later
we'll get it out of you.

Maybe we could help.

It goes no further
than this kitchen, okay?

We promise.

I bet this is good!

What is it?

The last three papers

that I wrote for
freshman composition...

I got "Ds."

Whoa!

You must have been
doing some serious partying.

I didn't party at all.

I worked really hard
on those papers.

You didn't party
and you got "Ds"?

What a waste!

When I started college, I
had trouble with a subject

but I turned it around.

I'm not just having trouble
in freshman composition.

Right now I have
a low "C" in biology

and a high "D" in calculus.

Oh, Denise.

Denise!

I'm doing really well
in my cinema class.

We have to see one movie a week

and I haven't missed one yet.

Are you going to flunk out?

No, unless I really mess up.

Do mom and dad know?

No.

Tell them.

I'd rather flunk out.

Cliff: ♪ De de DE DOOM DOOM ♪

♪ DE DE BOOM DE Dee Dee ♪

you're going to entertain me.

It's the Hillman
college marching band!

Ladies and gentlemen

for your half-time entertainment

we're proud to present

the Hillman
college flying Falcon

marching band.

(♪imitating marching band ♪)

Whoo!

Pow! Pow!

(knocking)

How you doing?

We need to talk.

Sure.

Be careful now. Be careful...

I know. I know.

(groan)

(sigh)

So... ♪je je Jin Jin ♪

I wanted to tell you that
I'm really enjoying Hillman.

Good. Good.

And I'm glad you
influenced me to go there.

We're glad that you're glad.

♪ De de DE DEE de Dee ♪

I'm doing really well in
my modern cinema class.

♪ De de DOO ♪

modern cinema class?

I got into it late after I
dropped early American history.

♪ De de doo... ♪

you dropped your history class?

It started at 8:00
in the morning.

I had trouble
getting there on time.

And what time is the
modern cinema class?

Noon.

♪ De de dum ♪

actually, I'm having trouble

in a few other of
my classes, too.

Which ones?

English, biology and calculus.

Yeah, I haven't gotten off
to a real good start in those.

What kind of start
have we gotten off to?

Ahem. Two "Ds" And a "C-."

Aw... CLIFF: (Mock crying)

Now what happened to
the strong "B" in biology?

I'll get a "B"

If I get "as" On my next
tests and an "a" On lab work.

What happened to
the "a-" in calculus?

The final exam's
70% of our grade.

I have to ace it.

What is your problem, child?

I think it's the teachers.

When they give an assignment

they don't seem to
care if you do it or not.

In high school, Mr. Shepard
always checked our work.

At Hillman, they
give an assignment

and say, "do it."

and then you never
hear about it again

until it has to be in.

They're treating
you like an adult.

They expect you to take
care of things yourself.

I have so much to do.

I have to do laundry.

Laundry? Isn't that that stuff
you brought in a big bag here?

I have to buy supplies

I have to clean my
room and eat and sleep...

and all the girls in the dorm

come to me with their problems.

I hardly have time
for my club meetings.

What club?

"Students for social
peace through poetry."

I can't just study.

Dad, I want to be a
well-rounded person.

It sounds like you're blaming
everybody but yourself.

If you'd organize yourself

you'd have time for all
these things you want to do

and Study, too.

You're in college.

It's a different world.

I'll tell you what.

Tomorrow you and
I will get together

and I'll help you
organize your schedule.

You will?

Yes.

Great. I guess I can use it.

Your mother and I want you
to get a wonderful education

because... our money is
a terrible thing to waste.

I see why you got a "D."

you do?

Mm-hmm. Listen to this.

"Zora Hurston was
an important author

"because of what she meant

to future generations
of women authors."

What's wrong?

"She meant a lot

to those future generations."

This is incomplete.

You haven't said why
she was important to them.

Because she influenced them.

How?

Her literary style.

Which was..

Unique.

Explain that.

Different.

Why?

You're asking things the
teacher already knows.

She read the book.

You have to write this paper

like your teacher
hasn't read the book.

When you make a
statement like this

you have to back this up.

Now tell me why you
like Hurston’s writings.

Because the women she wrote
about had an inner strength.

Would you please write that?

Our teacher won't
be interested in that.

If you support it, she will.

Well, I can.

Then do it.

Remember, when you're in trouble

I'm not the only
person you can come to.

Go to your professors.

I will.

Excuse me. How would
you like a study break?

We're in the
middle of something.

This will be worth it.

What is it?

Ladies and gentlemen

it is my pleasure to present
miss Rudy Lillian Huxtable

as "The wind."

DENISE: Hey!

(clapping)

(whoosh!)

Yay!

Bravo!

VANESSA: Bravo!

Bravo!

DENISE: Bravo!

For me?

Vanessa: Yay!

Oh, no, no. Not
for me. Not for me.

Yay!

Captioning made possible by
the U.S. Department of education