The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996): Season 1, Episode 7 - Def Poet's Society - full transcript

[instrumental music on stereo]

♪ Michael Jordan Al Capone ♪

♪ Woody Woodpecker
Fred Flintstone ♪

Hey, come on.
Vogue with me, baby.

Look, Geoffrey.
We're voguing.

Hmm.

And what is
the precise nature

of this
nervous disorder?

It's for people that
wanna look cool

but ain't really
got no rhythm.

You should be pretty good at it.
Now, come on, strike the pose!



Unhand me,
you ruffian!

Will, please. Don't you have
anything better to do

than to annoy Geoffrey?

Well, yeah, but Carlton
ain't home yet.

That's right. Do you have any
idea what he does after school?

Window shop at
Randy's Short and Small?

Carlton belongs to three
different after school clubs.

I belong to
the home shopping club.

Hi, Will.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi, love.

- How was your day?
- Fine.

Until I ran into
the man of leisure here.

Will doesn't
seem to think he needs

any after school activities.



Will, if you just sit around
the house whole afternoon

and never develop
any outside interests

you'll become a very,
very shallow person.

And you won't get into
any of the good night clubs.

I'll never meet
Lisa Bonet.

That's right.

But Will, you have
so many talents.

Why not join an
after school club?

Aunt Viv, I ain't really down
with staying

at an all-boys school
after dark.

Alright, then. I think you
should get an after school job.

Yo! Bring on the clubs!

♪ Now this is a story ♪

♪ All about how my life
got flipped ♪

♪ Turned upside-down ♪

♪ And I'd like to take a minute
just sit right there ♪

♪ I'll tell you
how I became the prince ♪

♪ Of a town called Bel-Air ♪

♪ In West Philadelphia,
born and raised ♪

♪ On the playground is where
I spent most of my days ♪

♪ Chillin' out, maxin'
relaxing all cool ♪

♪ And all shootin' some b-ball
outside of the school ♪

♪ When a couple of guys
who were up to no good ♪

♪ Started makin' trouble
in my neighborhood ♪

♪ I got in one little fight
and my mom got scared ♪

♪ And said you're moving
with your auntie ♪

♪ And uncle in Bel-Air ♪

♪ I whistled for a cab
and when it came near ♪

♪ The license plate said fresh
and it had dice in the mirror ♪

♪ If anything I can say
that this cab was rare ♪

♪ But I thought
nah forget it ♪

♪ Yo homes to Bel-Air ♪

♪ I pulled up to a house
about seven or eight ♪

♪ And I yelled
to the cabbie ♪

♪ Yo homes smell you later ♪

♪ I looked at my kingdom
I was finally there ♪

♪ To sit on my throne
as the prince of Bel-Air ♪♪

Well, Will, it's officially
after school.

Go find the club
of your choice.

Carlton, if I had
the club of my choice

you'd be lying on the floor
unconscious, right now.

A girl?
Where did that come from?

Didn't you know?

We share our
extracurricular activities

with the girls from
our sister school.

Well, yo!
Lead me to the sisters.

I'm ready to get
extracurricular.

Yo, Will!
Slap me 10!

You know, I finally rented
the movie "Glory" last night.

Denzel was incredible.

The south, man.
I don't know.

We got to do
something about it.

Hey, yo.
What's up, Mr. Fellows?

Hey, call me Ned.

Hey, man, you need another
member to this poetry club?

Hey, Will, solid!

You know, we could really use
a representative

of the black male
urban experience.

More specifically, the handsome
black male urban experience.

Everyone, the meeting's
about to begin.

So, will you please
take your seats?

Mm-mm-mmm.

I'd like to open
this meeting with a reading

from the poem "Daddy"
by Sylvia Plath.

[clears throat]

Daddy.

"Panzer-man,
panzer-man, o you.

"Every woman
adores a fascist.

"The boot in the face

the brute, brute hard
of a brute like you."

Sylvia Plath killed herself
shortly after writing this poem.

Yo, if she didn't,
her daddy would have.

Who are you?

Oh, everybody.
This is my main man, Will Smith

the newest member
of our poetry club.

Will, Christina Johnson.

And we're so glad
to have you.

It's such a thrill to see a man
from Bel-Air Academy

not afraid to share
our love of poetry.

Hey, thanks, Christina.

Yo, on with
the love sharin'.

Well, you can start
by reading a poem for us.

Uh, uh, I didn't bring one.

Oh, what a shame.

There's nothing
that moves me more

than hearing
a poem recited

in a deep, sensual,
masculine voice.

[deep voice]
I got a poem.

Who's it by?

Uh, he's a street poet.

He's a friend of mine.

His name is, uh,

uh, Raphael De La Ghetto.

Raphael Delageteau. I don't
think I've ever heard of him.

I have.

You have?

I stay pretty current, bro.

Isn't he one of those street
poets from south central L.A.?

Yeah, yeah.
Same guy.

Will, the floor is yours.

Hey, "Floor's yours." You're
a poet, and you don't know it.

I am a poet,
and I do know it.

Will, why don't you
recite your poem?

Alright, uh, ladies, my poem
is called, uh..

...Tick-tock Clock

by Raphael Delageteau.

Tick tock clock

the clock is
ticking for you.

'Cause the love
you said you'd give

came up way past due.

- Ooh!
- Ooh!

So dance to the clock rock.

Stay on the floor.

'Cause when the ticks
turn to tocks

I'll be knockin'
at your door.

That was incredible.

And very typical
of Delageteau's work.

Listen, everybody,
let's take a break

while I go fire up
the cappuccino maker.

That poem was brilliant.

Delageteau uses
a lot of metaphor.

Oh, no, baby. He used to.
He went to the clinic.

He's straight now.

I'd love to hear more
of Delageteau's poems.

As a woman, I find his work
so passionate

so raw, so exciting.

When I hear those words
my body just quivers

crying out for more.

[deep voice]
Poetry's good.

Love, by Raphael Delageteau.

Burnin' love,
by Raphael Delageteau.

Master William, Mr. Jazz
is here to see you.

- What up, Jazz?
- What's up, man?

Man, I got this new Ice Cube
tape. It's dope--

Hey, J, J, I ain't got enough
time for that.

I got to finish
writing this poem.

Poem? Then what
you going to do

bake some cookies?

Hem a dress?

Shut up.

I'm doing it
to get this girl.

Alright, look.
Listen to what I got so far.

I just need one last line.

"My love for you
is like a river.

"Like a summer breeze

"that makes my soul shiver.

One look from you is
more precious than gold."

Let's go get some barbecue
and get busy.

What kind of line is that?

It always works for me.

I hear someone in this room
likes poetry.

Try this one
on for size.

Roses are red,
violets are blue

pansies are poets.
Will, tell me it isn't true.

That's funny. I got a poem
for you, Carl.

Try this one on for size.

Roses are red,
violets are blue

Jazz and I are black,
but Carlton, what are you?

Master William

I applaud your
new interest.

Poetry is one of
my great loves.

I won first prize at the old

Devonshire poetry recital
of 1963.

Master William, you should have
been there.

The crowd rose to its feet

shouting, "Encore! Encore!"

That's very
interesting--

Cannon to the right of them.

Cannon to the left of them.

Cannon in front of them.

Volleyed and thundered!

You need a last line
for that?

- Good evening.
- Good evening, sir.

So, young man, how'd it go
at school today?

- I joined the poetry club.
- Excellent.

I remember when I first got
interested in poetry.

So who's the girl?

Man, I'm starving.
When do we eat here?

We eat here later.

You eat here never.

Looks like you eat here often.

Aah!

Hi, Will.

Where's your uncle?

Uh, he's throwing Jazz
out the house again?

Oh, okay.

Here are those
poetry books you wanted.

I used them in the freshman
lit class I taught last year.

If you have any questions
about poetry, just ask me.

Well, yeah,
I have a question.

Well, I understand why guys
get into poetry

to get girls.

But why do girls
like poetry?

Because girls think
with their brains.

Miss Christina Johnson.

Hey, Christina.

Uh, this is my Aunt Viv

and this is my Cousin Ashley.

- Nice to meet you, Christina.
- You, too.

You'll have to excuse us.

Oh! Hey, Will,
I've got a poem.

Will and Christina
sitting in a tree--

Hey, hey, hey.
Beat it.

They seem really nice.

Yeah. They mean well

but the only people

I'm really comfortable with are

my friends..

...the dead poets.

Care to sit?

Thanks.

You know, I can't get
Delageteau's poem off my mind.

Yeah, he is a genius,
isn't he?

Do you really,
really know him?

Yeah.
We're like brothers.

Tell me, Will.
What's he like?

He's a kind of
a strange guy.

His girl left him
back in the sixties

and he never changed
his clothes.

Wears the same old dashiki,
monster afro.

That's such
a sad story.

I know.

When I think
about poor Raphael

it makes me wonder
if a woman

could ever really
care about a man.

Ohh..

Will.

I'm glad
you know him so well

because I have
a favor to ask you.

Anything.

Could you bring Raphael
to poetry night?

Excuse me?

We have it at school
once a month.

See, usually club members
get up and recite their poetry.

But I'm in charge of it
this month

and I thought wouldn't it be
great if we had a real poet?

Well, I don't know, Christina.

Raphael really really does not
like to leave the house.

You wouldn't either if you had
the same dashiki

on for 20 years.

Could you just
ask him, Will?

I'd be so grateful.

I could ask him, baby,
but I'm sure he'll say no.

Well, please try, Will.

It would mean
so much to me.

Yo, he'll be there.

Jazz.
Man, I'm glad you're here.

What's up? You sounded
klutzy on the phone.

Man, I'm in big trouble.

I promised Christina I'd have

a famous poet at school tonight.

I'm connected, but I don't
know any famous poets.

Jazz, I need somebody to pretend
to be a famous poet.

(Phil)
'I'll be home about six,
Geoffrey.'

Is that your uncle?

Man, I'm tired
of those grass burns.

- Good morning, Will.
- Good morning.

You better get ready for school.

Okay.

We are really looking forward

to poetry night tonight.

How did you hear about it?

Your teacher,
Mr. Fellows, called.

He's calling all the parents
at Bel-Air academy.

Oh, no, no, Aunt Viv,
um..

You guys can't go.

But I love poetry.

Wait a minute now, Vivian.

Let's be a little
sensitive here.

Will only joined the poetry club

because he had a crush
on Christina.

If we show up,
we'll cramp his style.

Okay, you're right.

Will, good luck tonight.

Thanks for understanding,
Uncle Phil.

Are you kidding?
I just didn't want to get stuck

at some boring poetry night.

Is he gone yet?

Jazz, did you hear
any of that?

Man, this thing's getting
out of control.

Look, I need a phony
poet tonight.

What does he have to do?

He just has to
have a big afro

a dashiki, and stand
in front of a crowd

and just read some
stuff I write for him.

He has to be
able to read?

Yes, Jazz.

That'll cost you
two extra Jacksons

but I know a guy.

He's a sidewalk
jewelry salesman

so he has free nights.

But he need about
60 bucks, cash..

...in advance.

60?

Man, what are you trippin'?
All I got is 20.

He'll take it.

Here's an extra 10.
Get me a Rolex.

I just can't believe it,
Mr. Fellows.

Raphael Delageteau
at Bel-Air Academy.

Yes. I'm really looking forward
to seeing him again.

Will, is Raphael here yet?

Uh, no.
He'll probably be a little late.

You know, he likes his audience
to be a little hostile.

Oh, it's okay if he's running
a little late.

I just wrote a new poem,
and I'm anxious to share it.

Will, this is our night.

Bringing Raphael Delageteau
here tonight

is the most
exciting thing

that's ever happened to me.

I'm feeling really
close to you right now.

I don't know
how to thank you.

Well, you don't have to
thank me, Christina.

Oh, but, Will,
I want to.

After the reading.

♪ Will's gonna get thanked ♪

What are you guys
doing here?

It's after dark,
Master William.

I thought it wise to
drive the young ladies

to ensure that they
arrived safely.

Are there any women
my age here?

- But why did you two come?
- Are you kidding?

We heard the buzz about
this event on Melrose.

I cannot believe
your dinky little school

got Raphael Delageteau
to come.

Why didn't you tell me
it was poetry night?

You know what a great lover
of literature I am.

Hilary, I've never seen
you read nothing.

Oh, that's right. And I suppose
I just get my horoscope

out of the air.

Jazz, where is the poet?

Locked up in the steel hotel.

Cops caught him with
a fistful of toy Rolexes.

Yo, let's get outta here.

Hey, Jazz, I can't go.

After this, I'm getting thanked.

"Ode to Judy."

"Unfinished Sunday Times puzzle

"lying limp
on the hardwood floor.

"The society page spread open.

"My coffee is cold.

"It seems you are engaged

"to a prominent
investment banker.

"Prominent for what?

I'd very much
like to know."

Man, we better go.

This crowd's gonna get ugly
if they got to

listen to much more of that.

Master William.

The audience is
growing restless.

Where is this
Delageteau fellow?

G, I really stepped
in it this time, man.

I don't know what
I'm gonna do.

What's wrong?

There is no Raphael Delageteau.

I made him up.

I just wanted to
impress Christina.

I even had Jazz hire a phony
poet to come tonight

but the dude
didn't show up.

There was extenuating
circumstances.

I don't know
what I'm gonna do, G.

Christina's a very,
very nice girl.

If she finds out
I lied to her

she may never even
speak to me again.

Everyone, I'm sorry
for the delay

but the big moment
has finally come.

I'd like to present the man
responsible

for this evening's event.

Mr. Will Smith.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr. Raphael Delageteau.

Ahem.

"Listen

"to the street beat.

"Hear the sound pound.

"Plug your ears

"mask your fears

"something weird's going down.

"So listen
to the street beat.

"Listen to the box shock.

Listen, or I'll kill you."

That was heavy, man.
Let's have another one.

Encore!

- Encore!
- Encore!

Encore!

Encore!

Cannon to the right of them.

Cannon to the left of them.

Cannon in front of them.

Volleyed and thundered!

Hilary, isn't that
your butler?

Yeah. Wow.

It's a good look for him.

Come through
the jaws of death.

[indistinct chatter]

Silence, you
ungrateful children.

When you're ready to be quiet
and listen, I shall return.

That was your butler.

Hey, hey, look, baby,
let me explain.

You don't even
know Delageteau.

I can't believe anything
you've said to me.

You're nothing but a liar.

My man will ain't no liar.

Who are you?

I am Raphael Delageteau.

Well, where's your afro?

And where's your dashiki?

I worked all that
out in therapy.

I don't know who
to believe anymore.

How do I know you're
the real Raphael Delageteau?

Listen..

My love for you
is like a river.

Like a summer breeze
that makes my soul shiver.

One look from you is
more precious than gold.

Let's go get some barbecue
and get busy.

Oh, Raphael.

Tell me more.

Works every time.

[all laughing]

Cannon to the left of them!

Cannon to the right of them!

Oh, I'm sorry
I missed that.

So Jazz went out
with Christina, huh?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's cool, though, baby.

Hey, I'm a poet, and there's a
lot more ink in this pen.

I think you have
a talent for poetry, Will.

Come on, Aunt Viv. I was just
playing around with this stuff.

But the poem that you wrote
got a standing ovation.

That's right,
and it got me a date.

And the other one you wrote
got Jazz a date.

And the one I got out of your
wastebasket got me a date.

Mommy, I'd like
to hear a poem.

- Could you read us one?
- Okay.

This is a poem that your father
and I especially love.

It's by Amiri Baraka.

It's called "Three Modes of
History and Culture."

"I think about a time

"when I will be relaxed.

"When flames
and nonspecific passion

"wear themselves away.

"And my eyes and hands
and mind can turn

"and soften

"and the songs
will be softer

and weight the air."

If you'd like to learn
more about poetry

you can reach us at--

Psych. We just kidding.
Goodnight, y'all.

[theme music]

[music continues]