The Facts of Life (1979–1988): Season 3, Episode 11 - Legacy - full transcript

Blair learns that her late grandfather, whom she idealized, was a supporter and benefactor of the Ku Klux Klan.

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♪ You take the good,
you take the bad ♪


♪ You take them both
and there you have ♪


♪ The facts of life,
the facts of life ♪


♪ There's a time you got to
go and show you're growing ♪


♪ And now you know
about the facts of life ♪


♪ The facts of life ♪

♪ When the world never seems ♪

♪ To be living up
to your dreams ♪


♪ And suddenly
you're finding out ♪


♪ The facts of life
are all about you ♪




♪ You ♪

♪ It takes a lot
to get them right ♪


♪ When you're
learning the facts of life ♪


♪ Learning the facts of life ♪

♪ Learning the facts of life ♪

♪ Learning the facts of life ♪

♪ Learning the facts of life ♪

Roy, I will not go
out with you tonight.

Absolutely not. No
way. Negative. No!

I got you. You want
to think about it.

Hi, Jo, Roy.

What's goin' on?

Oh, we're just trying to
come up with a surefire way

to raise money
for the new library.



Why don't you
try selling kisses?

I'll be your first customer.

Name your price.

You'd need a federal loan.

You know, if you really
wanna raise some money,

you gotta provide a
service that people need.

You know, like a... a car wash.

A car wash?

Sure! Everybody drives cars.

And, like my Uncle
Frank used to say,

"The one thing you can really
count on in this world is dirt."

I'd be happy to
volunteer my services

for such a worthy cause.

We'll work side by side.

I'll help you with the whitewalls
if you help me with the back seat.

Only kidding.

Hey, I was makin' a joke.

I'm a funny guy!

I'm being thrown out!

Why do we need to raise
money for the library, anyway?

I thought the money was coming
from Blair's grandfather's estate.

Well, his $500,000 is
paying for the building.

He's not paying for the books.

Cheapskate. Jo!

Come on, Mrs. G, that's all
Blair's talked about for weeks,

"the generous and noble
Judge Carlton Blair."

Hello, all!

Mr. Parker and I were just
over at the construction site

and I am thrilled to report that the
Blair library is coming along beautifully.

Grandfather would be so pleased.

Blair was kind enough to help me
make some decorating decisions.

Luckily, I had my
swatch book with me.

The school board was
leaning toward a rust carpet.

Rust carpet against mauve
walls, can you imagine?

Oh, my Lord, no!

When Grandfather left
Mother and me his estate,

I just knew he'd want
us to build a library.

He was dedicated
to learning and truth.

That runs in some families.

So does insanity.

Oh, uh, Mrs. Garrett,
before I order new books,

I would like to poll the faculty
and, uh, get their suggestions.

Oh, that's a marvelous idea.

Why don't you poll
the students, too,

find out what they're
interested in reading?

Good idea.

You know, there's not one
book on automotive engineering

in the old library.

You'd be surprised how
many girls have no idea

how to drain a crankcase.

No girl should be in
the dark about that.

Of course, I'd have to have someone
to take charge of the actual polling,

someone concerned,
responsible, dedicated.

Ah, Blair!

Well, of course, it'll mean a lot of
footwork, and a lot of paperwork,

but I know you can handle it.

Mrs. Garrett, who do I
have to know around here

to get a piece of
your apple pie?

Mmm, me! Oh!

Be my guest. Ah, thank you.

When you got it, flaunt it.

Did he say "footwork"?

And paperwork.

Wow!

Taking this poll is
gonna be so exciting!

It just seems like too
much fun for one person.

All right, Tootie, if you
insist, you can help.

Thanks, Blair.

Isn't this wonderful?

All of us involved
in the Blair library.

I mean, the
Carlton Blair library.

Tootie doing the polling.

Natalie writing a glowing
testimonial about my grandfather

for the school paper.

Jo cleaning her nails.

I can't believe you're
actually gonna make us

read about the old coot
in the school newspaper.

The "old coot" was a giant.

You're just jealous because I
have someone to pattern my life after

besides Andy Granatelli.

Hey, Nat.

Natalie!

Just the person I wanted to see.

Can we talk later? I really
have to wash up for dinner.

It's 11:00 a.m., Natalie.

I wanna beat the
rush, do you mind?

Have you finished that
story on my grandfather?

Actually, I'm still
doing research.

And research is the most important
tool of a newsperson's trade.

I have to read tons of
material, check, recheck...

Natalie, you're babbling.

I respect your
thoroughness and dedication.

I want you to know that.

Then I want you
to get off the stick.

Come on, my little worker bee.

Some of us have polling to do.

Hey, Nat. You're
not lookin' too good.

I know.

I'm gonna take two chocolate
chip cookies and go to bed.

Well, that Mr. Parker
practically inhaled

my apple pie.

Well, I know I'm
a good cook, but...

Mrs. Garrett, can't you
see I'm in distress here?

Why, Natalie, what is it?

I finished my story
on Blair's grandfather.

Well, that's good.

It's not good?

Why is it not good?

Because things aren't the
way Blair thinks they are.

In fact, when she finds
out how things really are,

she'll want to hang
herself from her family tree.

Here's Grandfather and
me with my first tricycle.

I was such an adorable child!

Here he is in his judicial
robes outside the courthouse.

Here we are in his Mercedes.

What? No Rolls-Royce?

Hey, we had hard times, too.

Hey, Tootie, you wanna
toss a ball around?

I can't. I've got too much work
to do on this poll for the library.

Need any help?

No, thanks. Blair's helping me.

How?

I'm supervising.

Besides, I need some
time to reminisce.

Don't you ever get a yearning

to look back and relive those
carefree days of your childhood?

Guess not.

I remember when this was taken.

It was the last day
of summer vacation.

My grandfather and I went
horseback riding all afternoon.

My dad took me riding once.

He put me on one of those
mechanical horses in front of Kmart

and handed me a roll of dimes.

You know, when I think back,

Grandfather was the
one constant in my life.

My fathers would come and go,

but Grandfather
was always there.

Hi, everyone. JO: Hey, Nat.

Hey, Natalie, come look at
these pictures of my grandfather.

You might want to use
some of them with your article.

I need to talk to
you about that, Blair.

In private.

If it is about my grandfather,

I want you to tell
all of us about it.

It might be educational.

It'll be educational all right.

I can't wait to hear.

Wait, wait.

Natalie, I insist.

Well, I found out a few things
about him you might not know.

How exciting!

Carlton Blair was a
really hardworking judge.

He never missed a day
on the bench in 30 years.

The splinters
must've been murder.

He was decorated for
bravery in World War I.

A war hero.

Naturally.

What else?

Come on, Natalie!

In the '60s, your grandfather
was involved in civil rights.

Civil rights.

Is there no end to
the man's dedication?

Well, yes.

Actually, he was more
involved in denying civil rights.

What?

He closed down the
schools in his county

to keep them from
being integrated.

That's impossible.

You must have him mixed
up with someone else.

Blair, there was a picture of
him standing in front of a school.

Well, did he look
anything like this?

I couldn't tell.

The axe handle
was blockin' his face.

Natalie, I will not let you attack
my grandfather's reputation.

Let me see that.

"Judge Carlton Blair died today
at his home at the age of 78."

This is just my
grandfather's obituary.

Not the one most
newspapers carried.

"Judge Blair was a staunch
defender of States' rights

"and an opponent of..."

Blair!

"an opponent of desegregation.

"It was discovered
after his death

"that he was a longtime
financial supporter and member

"of the Ku Klux Klan."

Anything else we
need for the car wash?

Uh, yeah, you better pick up
some more sponges for Blair.

Would you believe that
she made me promise

that she could
scrub the tire rims?

Girls, finding out about her
grandfather's connection with the Klan

was quite a shock.

Yeah, but she's
been acting weird.

She begged me to let
her clean the ashtrays.

And the grills, where all
the dead bugs hang out.

What do you think?

You couldn't get it in blue?

Who gave you that? Bigfoot?

It's Blair's.

Not again.

Again.

So far, she's given me
five sweaters, a wool skirt,

and I keep finding credit
cards under my pillow.

Maybe they're
from the tooth fairy.

I don't think the tooth
fairy has this kind of bread.

Well, remember, girls,

what Blair needs now is
patience and understanding.

I tried to tell Blair
that I don't blame her

for what her grandfather did.

What'd she say?

That she understood.

Then she laid
another sweater on me.

Hi.

Can I come in?

Of course you can come
in. You live here, don't ya?

Hi, Tootie.

Hi, Blair.

I see you got the
sweater I left you.

Yeah.

Listen, everybody.
I've made a decision.

How does the
Carlton Blair Library

of Black Studies sound to you?

"Black Studies"?

Your grandfather'd
get a big kick out of that.

The library will be entirely
devoted to black history,

black heroes, black music.

A section on black
studies is a good idea.

But I haven't finished polling the rest
of the students to see what they want.

Oh, Tootie, I had no right

dumping all that work on you.

But it's fun!

Remember me,
your little worker bee?

Did I call you that?
Oh, forgive me.

Stop it, Blair.

Stop what?

You're driving me crazy.

You're trying
too hard. You're...

Overcompensating.

Yeah, overcompensating.

I am not.

Blair, this is overcompensating.

And what do you call circling
Abraham Lincoln's birthday

on my calendar?

And waking me up every morning
by singing We Shall Overcome?

I was just trying
to be nice, Tootie.

Just be my friend, okay?

Okay.

You'll need a scarf
for that sweater.

Come on, Nat. Let's
go get set up for lunch.

That is, if Blair didn't
change the menu.

Just for the record,
I hate ham hocks.

Well?

Well, what?

I don't understand it.

Ever since the truth came
out about Carlton Blair,

you haven't said a word.

This is the perfect opportunity
to be mean and rotten.

I know. Maybe I'm coming
down with somethin'.

Or maybe I'm just
beneath contempt.

I'm just not worth insulting.

Yes, you are.

Well, then talk to me, Jo!

I'm so confused.

Can't you say something
to make me feel better?

Blair, you're a jerk.

Bless you.

Look, your grandfather
was a creep. So what?

You don't have to
take the rap for him.

I'm his flesh and blood, Jo.

If he was prejudiced, then...

Well, then I may be prejudiced.

Blair, you're not prejudiced.
You're just a snob.

That's right. I'm a snob.

I've lost touch with
the little people.

I'm caviar and cashmere.

Teach me about
pretzels and polyester.

Teach me to be common,
Jo. Bring me down to your level.

There you are, my little vixen.

All right, Roy...

Now, don't say a
word, just listen.

I hold in my hand two
tickets to tonight's Bowlarama.

I know, it sounds
too good to be true.

Nonstop bowling
and free shoe rental.

And afterwards, we'll
sit at the snack bar

where we can gaze
longingly at each other

over a bag of pork rinds.

Sounds perfect.

Roy, take me bowling!

Who, me?

Blair, what are you doing?

Penance, penance!

You haven't sinned that much.

Nobody has.

Girls, girls, don't
fight over me.

Tough break, Blair.
I'm a one-woman guy.

Jo, please, make
him take me out.

Blair, I couldn't do
that to my worst enemy.

I couldn't even do that to you.

I'm begging you.

Roy, I would consider this

a personal favor,

and I would be grateful.

Very grateful.

Pick you up at 7:00.

Catch you tomorrow.

Can't wait to see
how grateful you are.

All right, so you got
a date with a nerd.

Does that make you feel better?

A little.

But I've got to do more.

So cancel your
subscription to Vogue.

That's a good idea.

But it's just not enough.

So cancel your
fur-of-the-month club.

That's just not enough.

Well, what do you wanna
do? Cancel the library?

Well, what do you think?

Oh, it's really starting to
look like a library! Yeah.

Oh, maybe be shouldn't
be talking so loudly.

Huh? Oh!

Ah, Blair, glad you're here.

I talked to the
trustees this morning.

We can't figure out where to
put your grandfather's portrait.

Mr. Parker, I don't want anything
of my grandfather in this library.

Not his portrait, not his name.

And I'm calling my mother to make
sure his money won't be here, either.

Why?

Because Carlton Blair
was a terrible man.

I don't understand.
The check cleared.

Mr. Parker,

Blair just found out some disturbing
news about her grandfather.

Oh, I see.

Blair, uh, listen to me.

In my position, I've been
privy to a lot of family secrets.

Believe me, nothing is that bad.

Carlton Blair was a
member of the Ku Klux Klan.

There, you see? That's not so...

Really?

The K-Ku Klux Klan?

You wouldn't want his filthy
money to be used for this...

This beautiful library.

Yes, I would.

How could you want a man
like that to be part of this school?

Blair, I know this is difficult
for you, but we need this library.

It'll mean a great deal
to a great many students.

If... If I questioned the
backgrounds of every contributor,

we might not have the gymnasium
or the science laboratory...

Mr. Parker, we are talking
about a man that I hate.

No, no, Blair,
listen to me, please.

Perhaps if you left us alone...

Please, talk to her.

Even as we speak,
the cement is hardening.

Don't try to talk me
out of this, Mrs. Garrett.

Carlton Blair stood
for everything I despise.

I know that, Blair.

I'm ashamed to
even have his name.

I feel like I'm a part
of something horrible

a-and there's nothing
I can do about it.

Blair, the things your
grandfather did, he did.

You can't take the
blame for his mistakes

any more than you can take
credit for the good things he did.

Good things?

Your grandfather
was good to you.

He read you bedtime
stories, took you fishing,

always had time for you.

Yeah, and it couldn't
have been easy for him,

squeezing me in
between sheet fittings!

Is that the only way you
want to remember him?

I don't want to
remember him at all.

I do remember him.

I can still see him sitting
on the edge of my bed,

holding my hand all night long
when I had the chicken pox.

Then hang on to that.

Blair, even though
somebody disappoints you,

deeply disappoints you,

well, that doesn't mean
you have to stop loving them.

Even a man like that?

Mmm-hmm.

Blair, you can't
change the way he was.

But you can give him a chance
now to do something good.

You know,

from a man who spent a
lifetime promoting ignorance,

maybe a library
is a fitting gift.

Maybe.

But I don't want
the Blair name on it.

It'll be the Eastland Library.

Okay.

Funny.

I remember being so proud

thinking my name was
gonna be a part of all this.

Cement feels just about right.

B.W.

You know, I'm beginning
to feel a little better.

I think tomorrow at the car wash

I'll get somebody else to
do the grills and the ashtrays.

Oh, Blair, I think I see the color
coming back into your cheeks.

Do you?

I'm beginning to feel
like my old self again.

I think I can go
anywhere, face anything

with my head held high.

There you are, Blair!

It's Bowlarama time!

Come along, my little ninepin!

♪ You'll avoid a lot of damage ♪

♪ And enjoy the fun of
managing the facts of life ♪


♪ They shed a lot of light ♪

♪ If you hear them
from your brother ♪


♪ Better clear them
with your mother ♪


♪ Better get them right,
call her late at night ♪


♪ You got the future in
the palm of your hand ♪


♪ All you got to do to get
you through is understand ♪


♪ You think you'd
rather do without ♪


♪ You'll never make it
through without the truth ♪


♪ The facts of life
are all about you ♪


♪ Learning the facts of life ♪

♪ Learning the facts of life ♪

♪ Learning the facts of life ♪