The Cosby Show (1984–1992): Season 8, Episode 1 - With This Ring? - full transcript
Vanessa brings home a boyfriend she has kept secret from her family.
♪♪ [theme]
Ah, the annual family defrost!
The refrigerator,
taking its vacation.
And what have you got there?
Ah, something I've
been thinking about,
but nothing for you
to get involved in.
Then I won't.
But you could help me.
You could help me defrost.
Oh, okay. Just one second.
What is this?
My hand. I made it myself.
Do you need an extra?
Yes.
What for?
You never know.
Well, we'll just save this
for Martin and Denise.
No. I'll have it. It's my
memory of being five.
Oh. Well, in that case,
then we'll freeze your feet.
[laughing]
No.
Hello. Hi, Grandpa!
Hey! Here's Roy and Dale!
Get up here on the horses.
Grandpa? Uh-huh?
Put something in my canvas bag.
Okay. Uh...
Give me that frozen hand, there.
That's my hand!
But you can hold it if you want.
Yeah, bring the hand upstairs!
Hmm.
It said it wants to go upstairs.
Come on! Okay!
What's this?
That's, um... That's
ice cream, Mom.
And why was it hiding
all the way in the back,
Heath Clifford?
What?
Why was this hiding
in the back of the freezer?
Well, dear, I have
nothing to do with that.
If it was all the
way in the back,
obviously, it's old.
Look at it. It's got
freezer fur all over it.
No, it doesn't.
And it expires in three weeks.
See? That's what you know.
That is not...
[stammers] that's
the price of it.
So this container of ice cream
cost 10-91 dollars.
Dear, I don't regulate
the dairy product prices.
It's all right, Cliff.
You can have as
much as you like.
Eat till your belly's full
and the freezer's empty.
It's Fat Saturday.
Hey! Hey!
I got the bread for
the sandwiches. Good.
We've got multi-grain,
semi-wheat,
buttered tops, thinny-thin,
hot dogs rolls... Have
you got the dogs?
We got the dogs.
Here's your change, Dad.
Thank you. A daughter
giving me change.
Bless you. You're
the best. [chuckles]
Oh, and, uh... Mom and Dad?
I'm engaged.
That's very nice, Vanessa.
But you forgot the tomatoes.
No, Mom. Here
they are, right here.
I'm serious. I am.
I'm engaged.
To do what?
To be married.
[All] Whoa.
Vanessa?
We sent you to
the store for bread.
What happened? Did the guy at
the checkout counter propose to you?
No, Dad. I got
engaged at school.
[huffs] Okay, everybody out.
Out!
Guess I didn't know
quite how to tell you guys.
[laughing]
So, uh, when did this happen?
A while ago.
A while ago? How
long a while ago?
Six months.
You hear that, Cliff? The
girl has been engaged
for six months.
Six months.
But I've known him a lot longer.
How long?
[nervous chuckle] Well, a year.
If... if you're gonna count.
We're gonna count.
Mom, Dad, I didn't tell you
because I didn't think
you would approve.
Besides, I'm an adult now.
I'm 18.
Did you hear that,
Cliff? She's 18.
Who is he?
His name is Dabnis Brickey.
You... met him at school?
Yes.
What is he, a sophomore?
No.
What year is he?
He's not a student.
He's a professor? No!
He's the maintenance man.
And I'd like you to meet him.
And we'd like to meet him.
Well, great!
Uh, he's in the area, so...
I'll just get him
and bring him over.
Yeah, you bring him.
Bring him over.
Bring him over.
Bring him over here.
Bring everything over.
Because it's gonna be
over, when they come here.
See, I-I-I just feel that
if... if Vanessa...
No, no, no, no.
Don't say the name.
Please. She... She was the one
who wasn't gonna
give us any trouble.
Absolutely. All those
years of straight A's.
And community service...
We were set up by
that goody-goody.
Now there you go.
We don't know anything, though.
You know, what
do we know about...
Does he have his own apartment?
I-I don't know.
Does he live alone?
I don't know. Cliff,
what do you know?
I got the same amount
of news that you got.
In the kitchen.
I do know one thing.
They are not going to live here.
No mas! No...
Hello!
Mom? Dad?
This is Dabnis Brickey.
Isn't that funny?
He was just in the
neighborhood. [giggles]
Heh-heh-heh...
Well, Mr. Brickney?
Brickey, sir. Sir?
Brickey. Brickey. Brickey.
Mr. Brickey.
Mrs. Huxtable. Dr. Huxtable.
[sighs, chuckles]
I really been lookin'
forward to meetin' you.
And we've been looking
forward to meeting you.
For the past half-hour.
Uh... what a beautiful
home you have!
It's just like I imagined it.
[chuckles] We've tried
to raise five children here.
What exactly are
you trying to do?
Miss Huxtable, Dr. Huxtable,
I know our news is a surprise.
[chuckles] Believe me, my parents
were surprised when we told them.
[grim chuckle] So is
that what you two do?
Just rent a car,
and drive around...
Surprising people? [laughing]
Absolutely not!
We told my parents
six months ago.
Six months? That's right!
The day we got engaged.
They were so... they
were so happy for us.
They love 'Nessa.
Uh... let me get this straight.
You're telling me that
you had the courtesy
and the respect
to tell your parents
the day that it happened?
Oh, I had to! At my age,
they were beginning to think
I'd never get married!
What... what age is that, son?
Oh, I'm knockin' on 30.
[knocks on table]
[laughing]
Uh, Mr. Brickey.
Aren't your parents the
least bit curious about us?
Oh, 'Nessa told
'em all about you.
And what exactly
did you tell them,
'Nessa?
Oh, just that you had
been through a lot of
emotional ups and downs
with your other children.
And we didn't want to
complicate your lives,
until we felt that
you were stable.
How can you tell if we're... no.
Don't touch me,
please. We... we're not...
I'm saying... I wanna
ask... Excuse me...
Excuse me. I wanna ask...
I just wanna ask a question.
Dr. Huxtable. Mrs. Huxtable.
I would have liked
to have shared
this milestone in our lives
with you when it happened.
But Vanessa felt
it prudent to wait.
And I trust her judgment.
She's the wisest woman I know.
Hey, hey, hey!
What's up, everybody?
I got the ice. I did my part.
I'm ready for the smorgasbord.
So let's eat. [chuckling]
You guys look like we just
got robbed or something.
Did we just get robbed?
Theo?
This is Dabnis Brickey.
Hey. How you doin'?
Nice to meet you, man.
Nice to meet you, too. Cool.
And we're engaged.
Whoa.
[cracking up]
Hey. Congratulations, Sis.
Well, Dad?
Ooh.
Things are kinda chilly in here.
So I think I'll just put
this ice in the kitchen.
[cracking up]
[cracking up harder]
Mr. Brickey, we were
planning a family dinner.
We've, uh, emptied the freezer
for this family dinner.
We weren't expecting you.
For this meal.
But since you are here,
you are welcome to stay.
For this meal.
I'd like to stay.
For this meal.
Think we could use some
more chairs in this house.
But we're flexible.
Boy. [clears throat]
Things sure are busy
down at the center.
How so, Theo?
Well, Vanessa...
we just instituted
a new program.
And what new
program is that, Theo?
You see, w-we just
created a hot line,
for dysfunctional families.
So how did you two meet?
It was a beautiful
day, about a year ago.
I was out mowing the
quad lawn at Lincoln.
And that's tricky, because, see,
there are these begonias.
This begonia bed...
Oh, yeah. Begonias. Ah.
They can be tricky.
Well, anyway,
Vanessa was sittin'
under this oak tree,
reading this collection
of Gwendolyn Brooks poetry. Hmm.
She was so
engrossed in her book,
she didn't even notice me.
So I mowed around her.
And around her. And around her.
She wouldn't move,
so I mowed off.
Then one day, the elevator
in my dorm broke down.
My roommate and I were in it?
And Dabnis came and fixed it.
He saved our lives.
Vanessa, you live
on the second floor.
We could have run
out of air, Sondra.
There are a lot of ways to die.
You got that right.
Daddy? The phone
book is sticking to me.
Well, why don't you put
your napkin under you?
Now I don't have a napkin!
Well, here. Take mine.
What do you say, Nelson?
What do you say?
About what?
Well, this nice man
just gave you his napkin.
So what do you say?
May I eat my peas now?
Thank you.
You're welcome.
So, Dabnis.
What did you do
before you got into
the, uh... maintenance game?
Well, actually, Theo, he's
the head of maintenance.
Okay, well...
Before you became
head of maintenance?
I was in the Army.
I enlisted right after I
graduated high school.
Served six years,
mostly in Germany.
Hmm. Life overseas,
on an Army base.
Oh, I didn't live
on an Army base.
I had an apartment.
Oh, is that when you
were living with Barbara?
No, baby. That's when
I was living with Phyllis.
I lived with Barbara when
I came back to the States.
Uh-huh. Vanessa, may I
speak with you in the kitchen?
Is, uh... everything all right?
I don't think so.
Okay, Vanessa. I know
what you're gonna say.
Vanessa. Mom, I know
what is right for me.
I am in love with
Dabnis. Vanessa.
And this has been the happiest
year of my life. Vanessa.
And I know all about
Barbara and Phyllis,
and the rest of
Dabnis... Vanessa?
But you've got to... Vanessa.
I don't give a flying
fig about Barbara,
and Phyllis, and Winkie,
Twinkie, and Dinkie,
or anybody else he's done
light housekeeping with, okay?
What I care about is you,
and what is going on with you.
His parents knew? Yes.
His aunts and uncles knew? Yes.
His cousins know? Yes.
His friends? Yes.
Any pets?
Now what about your
friends? Did your friends know?
Yes, they did.
Vanessa, for an entire year,
you have kept
this part of your life
a secret from us.
We, your parents, did not know.
I know that, Mother.
And I'm sorry.
But isn't it obvious why I
couldn't tell you and Dad?
No.
Because he's not a
doctor like Elvin, Mother.
He didn't graduate from
Annapolis, like Martin.
He's a maintenance man.
Vanessa.
Please.
I am not that lame.
Don't try to use a profession
as a smokescreen here, darling.
That is not the problem that
you and I are having today.
What? Vanessa? You know.
And you know that I know
that you know that I know.
You gonna make me say it?
All right. Vanessa?
You're not ready.
[sighs] Mother, I
am in love with him.
Socially, dear, you
are worlds apart.
Honey, this man has lived.
With a few, I might add.
You have lived one
year away from home.
Have met somebody at school.
Have fallen in love.
Have become engaged.
And are talking about
getting married. Vanessa.
You're not ready!
Mother, I may just
be 18 years old.
But I have made good
decisions, all my life.
I've lived by the book.
And I feel that this is
a good decision for me.
It's so good that you
had to keep it a secret
from your parents
for six months.
[whispering] You're not ready.
So you can, um, prepare
your own sundaes.
We have brownies
and some rhubarb pie.
Uh, uh, Dabnis.
This is Dad's favorite.
Here. Take the pie.
Oh, no, sir. You take it.
I want you to have it.
Take the pie, Dabnis.
Ice cream, Cliff? Please.
I want brownies!
In the kitchen.
Come on, let's go.
Oh, Vanessa. Is that your ring?
[sighs] Yes, it is.
The stone's missing.
No. It's not, Sondra.
It's right there.
Oh. [all murmuring]
There it is. That's nice.
It's understated.
[Theo] Tasteful. Delicate.
So. Have you two,
uh... Set a date?
Oh. Yeah. Umm...
We were thinking about getting
married... a year from now.
But I am going to graduate.
I will graduate.
You can trust me.
May I say something?
Yes.
I believe in family.
I respect mine, and I'd like
to become a part of yours.
Now I realize that
it's going to take time.
But I plan to be around.
Mr. Brickney.
I want to, uh, tell
you a little story.
Oh, boy. [Sondra] Uh, Elvin?
Let's go check on the children.
Oh, could I help? Yeah.
You... umm...
Probably come
from a very fine...
Fine family.
Great models and whatnot. And...
Our daughter, regardless of...
You know, what
she has... Done, uh...
Comes from what we feel is...
Is a great family, also.
And you'll just
have to forgive us,
because we just don't like you.
And... I'm sorry.
Uh, what... no, no, no, no.
It's not for you to be sorry,
because, you see,
that you... you
are not to blame.
See, if you want
to blame anybody,
then you blame Vanessa.
What I'm trying to say is,
I don't want you
to leave this house,
saying that we don't
like you because
you are a maintenance man,
or, or in charge of maintenance,
or, or, or whatever.
I mean, you could, right now,
sitting there, be a banker,
and we would
not like you at all.
It's the way... that...
You, you have a favorite food?
Uh, yes, sir. What
you had here was fine.
I especially enjoyed
the, uh, fish sticks.
No, no. Forget the fish sticks.
I mean, do you
have a favorite food?
Something that
you... You really...
You know... love?
Oh, yeah. On occasion,
I enjoy a nice juicy steak.
Steak! Steak! There you go!
You got the steak.
Now just imagine.
We got the porterhouse.
The porterhouse,
and no white lines
in it at all. Yeah.
Now what would you like
to go along with it?
Oh, some crispy potatoes.
No problem! Now
you got mushrooms.
Mushrooms. You like
your mushrooms. Yes, sir.
You can smell it,
can't you? Yeah!
Can't you smell the
potatoes? Yes, sir.
Smell the mushrooms. Yes, sir.
Sautéed. Mmm-boy. Smell good.
Yes, sir. Huh? All right!
Now. I'm going to
present it to you, right?
I go over. I don't
get a plate. Uh-huh.
I take the garbage can lid.
And I turn it upside-down,
after taking it off
of the garbage can.
I take your steak,
your potatoes,
and your sautéed mushrooms,
and I give it to you.
Not too appetizing, is it?
It's in the presentation.
That's the way she
brought you here.
On a garbage can lid.
Dabnis.
Dr. Huxtable and I
will always be fair.
I appreciate that.
If this house has anything,
it's... it's a lot
of... Fairness.
Uh, what we don't have a lot of
is, uh, space.
We would never
dream of living here.
Well, well, we would never dream
of asking you to live here.
I want you to
consider this house
uh, to be like the begonia bush.
You know, you can mow
all you want around it.
Well, sir. Actually,
I have my own
begonias in my own yard.
You have a yard? Yes, sir.
I have a little farm
house I'm renovating.
Now, now... [clears throat]
would you clarify for me
the meaning of the word "have"?
I own it.
You own... your own house.
Yes, sir.
Get the gentleman some coffee.
♪♪ [theme]
Closed-Captioning By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA
Ah, the annual family defrost!
The refrigerator,
taking its vacation.
And what have you got there?
Ah, something I've
been thinking about,
but nothing for you
to get involved in.
Then I won't.
But you could help me.
You could help me defrost.
Oh, okay. Just one second.
What is this?
My hand. I made it myself.
Do you need an extra?
Yes.
What for?
You never know.
Well, we'll just save this
for Martin and Denise.
No. I'll have it. It's my
memory of being five.
Oh. Well, in that case,
then we'll freeze your feet.
[laughing]
No.
Hello. Hi, Grandpa!
Hey! Here's Roy and Dale!
Get up here on the horses.
Grandpa? Uh-huh?
Put something in my canvas bag.
Okay. Uh...
Give me that frozen hand, there.
That's my hand!
But you can hold it if you want.
Yeah, bring the hand upstairs!
Hmm.
It said it wants to go upstairs.
Come on! Okay!
What's this?
That's, um... That's
ice cream, Mom.
And why was it hiding
all the way in the back,
Heath Clifford?
What?
Why was this hiding
in the back of the freezer?
Well, dear, I have
nothing to do with that.
If it was all the
way in the back,
obviously, it's old.
Look at it. It's got
freezer fur all over it.
No, it doesn't.
And it expires in three weeks.
See? That's what you know.
That is not...
[stammers] that's
the price of it.
So this container of ice cream
cost 10-91 dollars.
Dear, I don't regulate
the dairy product prices.
It's all right, Cliff.
You can have as
much as you like.
Eat till your belly's full
and the freezer's empty.
It's Fat Saturday.
Hey! Hey!
I got the bread for
the sandwiches. Good.
We've got multi-grain,
semi-wheat,
buttered tops, thinny-thin,
hot dogs rolls... Have
you got the dogs?
We got the dogs.
Here's your change, Dad.
Thank you. A daughter
giving me change.
Bless you. You're
the best. [chuckles]
Oh, and, uh... Mom and Dad?
I'm engaged.
That's very nice, Vanessa.
But you forgot the tomatoes.
No, Mom. Here
they are, right here.
I'm serious. I am.
I'm engaged.
To do what?
To be married.
[All] Whoa.
Vanessa?
We sent you to
the store for bread.
What happened? Did the guy at
the checkout counter propose to you?
No, Dad. I got
engaged at school.
[huffs] Okay, everybody out.
Out!
Guess I didn't know
quite how to tell you guys.
[laughing]
So, uh, when did this happen?
A while ago.
A while ago? How
long a while ago?
Six months.
You hear that, Cliff? The
girl has been engaged
for six months.
Six months.
But I've known him a lot longer.
How long?
[nervous chuckle] Well, a year.
If... if you're gonna count.
We're gonna count.
Mom, Dad, I didn't tell you
because I didn't think
you would approve.
Besides, I'm an adult now.
I'm 18.
Did you hear that,
Cliff? She's 18.
Who is he?
His name is Dabnis Brickey.
You... met him at school?
Yes.
What is he, a sophomore?
No.
What year is he?
He's not a student.
He's a professor? No!
He's the maintenance man.
And I'd like you to meet him.
And we'd like to meet him.
Well, great!
Uh, he's in the area, so...
I'll just get him
and bring him over.
Yeah, you bring him.
Bring him over.
Bring him over.
Bring him over here.
Bring everything over.
Because it's gonna be
over, when they come here.
See, I-I-I just feel that
if... if Vanessa...
No, no, no, no.
Don't say the name.
Please. She... She was the one
who wasn't gonna
give us any trouble.
Absolutely. All those
years of straight A's.
And community service...
We were set up by
that goody-goody.
Now there you go.
We don't know anything, though.
You know, what
do we know about...
Does he have his own apartment?
I-I don't know.
Does he live alone?
I don't know. Cliff,
what do you know?
I got the same amount
of news that you got.
In the kitchen.
I do know one thing.
They are not going to live here.
No mas! No...
Hello!
Mom? Dad?
This is Dabnis Brickey.
Isn't that funny?
He was just in the
neighborhood. [giggles]
Heh-heh-heh...
Well, Mr. Brickney?
Brickey, sir. Sir?
Brickey. Brickey. Brickey.
Mr. Brickey.
Mrs. Huxtable. Dr. Huxtable.
[sighs, chuckles]
I really been lookin'
forward to meetin' you.
And we've been looking
forward to meeting you.
For the past half-hour.
Uh... what a beautiful
home you have!
It's just like I imagined it.
[chuckles] We've tried
to raise five children here.
What exactly are
you trying to do?
Miss Huxtable, Dr. Huxtable,
I know our news is a surprise.
[chuckles] Believe me, my parents
were surprised when we told them.
[grim chuckle] So is
that what you two do?
Just rent a car,
and drive around...
Surprising people? [laughing]
Absolutely not!
We told my parents
six months ago.
Six months? That's right!
The day we got engaged.
They were so... they
were so happy for us.
They love 'Nessa.
Uh... let me get this straight.
You're telling me that
you had the courtesy
and the respect
to tell your parents
the day that it happened?
Oh, I had to! At my age,
they were beginning to think
I'd never get married!
What... what age is that, son?
Oh, I'm knockin' on 30.
[knocks on table]
[laughing]
Uh, Mr. Brickey.
Aren't your parents the
least bit curious about us?
Oh, 'Nessa told
'em all about you.
And what exactly
did you tell them,
'Nessa?
Oh, just that you had
been through a lot of
emotional ups and downs
with your other children.
And we didn't want to
complicate your lives,
until we felt that
you were stable.
How can you tell if we're... no.
Don't touch me,
please. We... we're not...
I'm saying... I wanna
ask... Excuse me...
Excuse me. I wanna ask...
I just wanna ask a question.
Dr. Huxtable. Mrs. Huxtable.
I would have liked
to have shared
this milestone in our lives
with you when it happened.
But Vanessa felt
it prudent to wait.
And I trust her judgment.
She's the wisest woman I know.
Hey, hey, hey!
What's up, everybody?
I got the ice. I did my part.
I'm ready for the smorgasbord.
So let's eat. [chuckling]
You guys look like we just
got robbed or something.
Did we just get robbed?
Theo?
This is Dabnis Brickey.
Hey. How you doin'?
Nice to meet you, man.
Nice to meet you, too. Cool.
And we're engaged.
Whoa.
[cracking up]
Hey. Congratulations, Sis.
Well, Dad?
Ooh.
Things are kinda chilly in here.
So I think I'll just put
this ice in the kitchen.
[cracking up]
[cracking up harder]
Mr. Brickey, we were
planning a family dinner.
We've, uh, emptied the freezer
for this family dinner.
We weren't expecting you.
For this meal.
But since you are here,
you are welcome to stay.
For this meal.
I'd like to stay.
For this meal.
Think we could use some
more chairs in this house.
But we're flexible.
Boy. [clears throat]
Things sure are busy
down at the center.
How so, Theo?
Well, Vanessa...
we just instituted
a new program.
And what new
program is that, Theo?
You see, w-we just
created a hot line,
for dysfunctional families.
So how did you two meet?
It was a beautiful
day, about a year ago.
I was out mowing the
quad lawn at Lincoln.
And that's tricky, because, see,
there are these begonias.
This begonia bed...
Oh, yeah. Begonias. Ah.
They can be tricky.
Well, anyway,
Vanessa was sittin'
under this oak tree,
reading this collection
of Gwendolyn Brooks poetry. Hmm.
She was so
engrossed in her book,
she didn't even notice me.
So I mowed around her.
And around her. And around her.
She wouldn't move,
so I mowed off.
Then one day, the elevator
in my dorm broke down.
My roommate and I were in it?
And Dabnis came and fixed it.
He saved our lives.
Vanessa, you live
on the second floor.
We could have run
out of air, Sondra.
There are a lot of ways to die.
You got that right.
Daddy? The phone
book is sticking to me.
Well, why don't you put
your napkin under you?
Now I don't have a napkin!
Well, here. Take mine.
What do you say, Nelson?
What do you say?
About what?
Well, this nice man
just gave you his napkin.
So what do you say?
May I eat my peas now?
Thank you.
You're welcome.
So, Dabnis.
What did you do
before you got into
the, uh... maintenance game?
Well, actually, Theo, he's
the head of maintenance.
Okay, well...
Before you became
head of maintenance?
I was in the Army.
I enlisted right after I
graduated high school.
Served six years,
mostly in Germany.
Hmm. Life overseas,
on an Army base.
Oh, I didn't live
on an Army base.
I had an apartment.
Oh, is that when you
were living with Barbara?
No, baby. That's when
I was living with Phyllis.
I lived with Barbara when
I came back to the States.
Uh-huh. Vanessa, may I
speak with you in the kitchen?
Is, uh... everything all right?
I don't think so.
Okay, Vanessa. I know
what you're gonna say.
Vanessa. Mom, I know
what is right for me.
I am in love with
Dabnis. Vanessa.
And this has been the happiest
year of my life. Vanessa.
And I know all about
Barbara and Phyllis,
and the rest of
Dabnis... Vanessa?
But you've got to... Vanessa.
I don't give a flying
fig about Barbara,
and Phyllis, and Winkie,
Twinkie, and Dinkie,
or anybody else he's done
light housekeeping with, okay?
What I care about is you,
and what is going on with you.
His parents knew? Yes.
His aunts and uncles knew? Yes.
His cousins know? Yes.
His friends? Yes.
Any pets?
Now what about your
friends? Did your friends know?
Yes, they did.
Vanessa, for an entire year,
you have kept
this part of your life
a secret from us.
We, your parents, did not know.
I know that, Mother.
And I'm sorry.
But isn't it obvious why I
couldn't tell you and Dad?
No.
Because he's not a
doctor like Elvin, Mother.
He didn't graduate from
Annapolis, like Martin.
He's a maintenance man.
Vanessa.
Please.
I am not that lame.
Don't try to use a profession
as a smokescreen here, darling.
That is not the problem that
you and I are having today.
What? Vanessa? You know.
And you know that I know
that you know that I know.
You gonna make me say it?
All right. Vanessa?
You're not ready.
[sighs] Mother, I
am in love with him.
Socially, dear, you
are worlds apart.
Honey, this man has lived.
With a few, I might add.
You have lived one
year away from home.
Have met somebody at school.
Have fallen in love.
Have become engaged.
And are talking about
getting married. Vanessa.
You're not ready!
Mother, I may just
be 18 years old.
But I have made good
decisions, all my life.
I've lived by the book.
And I feel that this is
a good decision for me.
It's so good that you
had to keep it a secret
from your parents
for six months.
[whispering] You're not ready.
So you can, um, prepare
your own sundaes.
We have brownies
and some rhubarb pie.
Uh, uh, Dabnis.
This is Dad's favorite.
Here. Take the pie.
Oh, no, sir. You take it.
I want you to have it.
Take the pie, Dabnis.
Ice cream, Cliff? Please.
I want brownies!
In the kitchen.
Come on, let's go.
Oh, Vanessa. Is that your ring?
[sighs] Yes, it is.
The stone's missing.
No. It's not, Sondra.
It's right there.
Oh. [all murmuring]
There it is. That's nice.
It's understated.
[Theo] Tasteful. Delicate.
So. Have you two,
uh... Set a date?
Oh. Yeah. Umm...
We were thinking about getting
married... a year from now.
But I am going to graduate.
I will graduate.
You can trust me.
May I say something?
Yes.
I believe in family.
I respect mine, and I'd like
to become a part of yours.
Now I realize that
it's going to take time.
But I plan to be around.
Mr. Brickney.
I want to, uh, tell
you a little story.
Oh, boy. [Sondra] Uh, Elvin?
Let's go check on the children.
Oh, could I help? Yeah.
You... umm...
Probably come
from a very fine...
Fine family.
Great models and whatnot. And...
Our daughter, regardless of...
You know, what
she has... Done, uh...
Comes from what we feel is...
Is a great family, also.
And you'll just
have to forgive us,
because we just don't like you.
And... I'm sorry.
Uh, what... no, no, no, no.
It's not for you to be sorry,
because, you see,
that you... you
are not to blame.
See, if you want
to blame anybody,
then you blame Vanessa.
What I'm trying to say is,
I don't want you
to leave this house,
saying that we don't
like you because
you are a maintenance man,
or, or in charge of maintenance,
or, or, or whatever.
I mean, you could, right now,
sitting there, be a banker,
and we would
not like you at all.
It's the way... that...
You, you have a favorite food?
Uh, yes, sir. What
you had here was fine.
I especially enjoyed
the, uh, fish sticks.
No, no. Forget the fish sticks.
I mean, do you
have a favorite food?
Something that
you... You really...
You know... love?
Oh, yeah. On occasion,
I enjoy a nice juicy steak.
Steak! Steak! There you go!
You got the steak.
Now just imagine.
We got the porterhouse.
The porterhouse,
and no white lines
in it at all. Yeah.
Now what would you like
to go along with it?
Oh, some crispy potatoes.
No problem! Now
you got mushrooms.
Mushrooms. You like
your mushrooms. Yes, sir.
You can smell it,
can't you? Yeah!
Can't you smell the
potatoes? Yes, sir.
Smell the mushrooms. Yes, sir.
Sautéed. Mmm-boy. Smell good.
Yes, sir. Huh? All right!
Now. I'm going to
present it to you, right?
I go over. I don't
get a plate. Uh-huh.
I take the garbage can lid.
And I turn it upside-down,
after taking it off
of the garbage can.
I take your steak,
your potatoes,
and your sautéed mushrooms,
and I give it to you.
Not too appetizing, is it?
It's in the presentation.
That's the way she
brought you here.
On a garbage can lid.
Dabnis.
Dr. Huxtable and I
will always be fair.
I appreciate that.
If this house has anything,
it's... it's a lot
of... Fairness.
Uh, what we don't have a lot of
is, uh, space.
We would never
dream of living here.
Well, well, we would never dream
of asking you to live here.
I want you to
consider this house
uh, to be like the begonia bush.
You know, you can mow
all you want around it.
Well, sir. Actually,
I have my own
begonias in my own yard.
You have a yard? Yes, sir.
I have a little farm
house I'm renovating.
Now, now... [clears throat]
would you clarify for me
the meaning of the word "have"?
I own it.
You own... your own house.
Yes, sir.
Get the gentleman some coffee.
♪♪ [theme]
Closed-Captioning By J.R.
Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA