The Jeffersons (1975–1985): Season 4, Episode 26 - Jenny's Thesis - full transcript
Jenny goes to the ghetto to write a thesis about gang violence. There, she meets a 12 year old boy who is already a veteran gang member.
♪ WELL, WE'RE MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO A DELUXE
APARTMENT IN THE SKY ♪
♪ M-MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ WE FINALLY GOT
A PIECE OF THE PIE ♪
♪ FISH DON'T FRY
IN THE KITCHEN ♪
♪ BEANS DON'T
BURN ON THE GRILL ♪
♪ TOOK A WHOLE LOT OF TRYIN'
JUST TO GET UP THAT HILL ♪
♪ NOW WE'RE UP IN
THE BIG LEAGUES ♪
♪ GETTIN' OUR TURN AT BAT ♪
♪ AS LONG AS WE LIVE
IT'S YOU AND ME, BABY ♪
♪ THERE AIN'T NOTHIN'
WRONG WITH THAT ♪
♪ WELL, WE'RE MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO A DELUXE
APARTMENT IN THE SKY ♪
♪ M-MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ WE FINALLY GOT A PIECE ♪
♪ OF THE PIE ♪♪
OH, HI, FLORENCE.
WE NEED SOME HELP.
WHEW! SO DO I.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD
I'VE BEEN WORKIN' TODAY.
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE
SALE WORTH GOING OUT IN THE COLD FOR.
YEAH. I DIDN'T EVEN MIND ALL
THOSE PEOPLE STEPPIN' ON MY TOES.
FLORENCE, YOU
SHOULD'VE GONE WITH US.
UH-UH. IF I WANT SOMEBODY STEPPIN' ON
MY TOES, I'LL GO DANCIN' WITH CLARENCE.
FLORENCE, WAIT TILL YOU
SEE WHAT I GOT FOR LIONEL.
HE'LL NEVER WEAR IT.
IT'S FOR ME.
CHILD, IF LIONEL COMES HOME FROM A
BUSINESS TRIP AND SEES YOU WEARIN' THAT,
YOU WON'T BE WEARIN' IT LONG.
I KNOW.
WELL, LADIES, IF YOU
DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE,
I SHOULD GET BACK TO
THAT COLD PAVEMENT.
WHY DON'T YOU STAY A MINUTE AND WARM
UP? FLORENCE CAN GET YOU SOME COFFEE.
GOOD IDEA. I'LL
HELP YOU, FLORENCE.
THANKS FOR THE OFFER,
MRS. JEFFERSON, BUT, UH,
MY JOB IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO TAKE A COFFEE BREAK.
WELL, OKAY, RALPH, BUT... HOWEVER,
SOME BRANDY MIGHT BE NICE.
HELP YOURSELF. YES,
MA'AM. THANK YOU.
WELL, WHEN IS
LIONEL COMING HOME?
NOT FOR TWO MORE
DAYS. OH, I REALLY MISS HIM.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. WHEN
GEORGE FIRST WENT INTO BUSINESS,
THERE WERE MANY, MANY NIGHTS I'D SIT
TWIDDLING MY THUMBS WITH NOTHING TO DO.
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN AWFUL. YEAH.
NOW I DO IT WHEN HE'S HOME.
WELL, I'VE BEEN KEEPING BUSY TRYING
TO FIND A TOPIC FOR MY SOCIOLOGY THESIS.
I SPENT THE LAST THREE
NIGHTS SITTING IN THE LIBRARY.
HAVE YOU COME UP WITH ANYTHING?
JUST A SORE REAR END.
HI, MR. BENTLEY. HOW ARE
YOU? HI, MRS. J. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M FINE. I'M FINE.
I'LL LET YOU... I'LL LET YOU...
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WANTED, MR. BENTLEY?
WELL, WHAT IS IT?
- OH. I'M LOOKING FOR RALPH.
- RIGHT HERE, MR. BENTLEY, SIR.
OH, UH, RALPH, YOU'RE NEEDED
AT YOUR POST IMMEDIATELY.
I'M ON MY BREAK.
WHOEVER IT IS CAN WAIT.
I DON'T THINK
MR. WHITTENDALE LIKES TO BE...
WHITTENDALE? YES,
SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.
HI, JENNY. OH, HI, MR. BENTLEY.
FLORENCE? AM I OKAY?
NO. I THINK YOU GOT
A CAVITY BACK THERE.
OH, BY THE WAY, JENNY, IF YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR A TOPIC FOR YOUR THESIS,
THE LIFE OF A NEW YORK
DOORMAN MIGHT BE GOOD.
NO ONE REALIZES THE
CONTRIBUTIONS HE MAKES TO MANKIND.
THANK YOU, MRS. JEFFERSON.
OR THE CONTRIBUTIONS
MANKIND MAKES TO HIM?
"TOUCHE," MRS. WILLIS. "TOUCHE."
YOU'RE DOING A THESIS, JENNY?
YEAH, IF I CAN FIND A TOPIC.
YES, I KNOW THAT PROBLEM.
WHEN I WAS AT OXFORD,
ONCE I SPENT SIX WEEKS IN THE LIBRARY
TRYING TO FIND THE PERFECT SUBJECT.
- DID YOU FIND ONE?
- YES. THE LIBRARIAN.
I SPENT THE NEXT SIX
WEEKS STUDYING HER. WOOF.
I'D BETTER GET GOING. GOOD
LUCK WITH YOUR THESIS, JENNY.
THANK YOU, MR. BENTLEY.
HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.
- YES?
- WHAT DID YOU FINALLY DO
FOR YOUR THESIS?
OH, I EXPLORED A
FASCINATING SUBJECT...
THE MEMORY CAPACITY
OF THE HUMAN MIND.
THAT DOES SOUND INTERESTING.
DID YOU GET A GOOD GRADE?
UH, I DON'T REMEMBER.
HI, MARCUS.
MRS. JEFFERSON, IS
MR. JEFFERSON HERE?
- GOOD-BYE, MARCUS.
- OH, SORRY, MR. BENTLEY.
HE'S AT A MEETING
DOWNTOWN. OH, MAN.
WELL, IS THERE SOMETHING
I CAN DO FOR YOU?
NO.
YEAH.
NO. MARCUS, WHAT IS IT?
WELL, I WAS WONDERIN' IF HE COULD
GIVE ME A LITTLE ADVANCE ON MY PAY.
OH, SURE. HOW MUCH
DO YOU NEED? $200.
200?
MARCUS, ARE YOU IN
SOME KIND OF TROUBLE?
HE IS IF HE THINKS MR. JEFFERSON'S
GONNA GIVE HIM $200.
THE MONEY'S NOT FOR ME.
IT'S FOR LAMAR. WHO'S LAMAR?
HE'S A DUDE IN THE OLD
GANG I USED TO RUN WITH.
- HE GOT IN A LITTLE ACCIDENT
AND WOUND UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
HE WAS WALKIN' DOWN THE STREET WHEN
THESE TWO DUDES FROM ANOTHER GANG...
BEAT HIS HEAD IN WITH A PIPE.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE AN ACCIDENT TO ME.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT
THEY DIDN'T KILL HIM.
I THOUGHT YOU BROKE
AWAY FROM THAT GANG.
I DID, BUT THEY STILL MY
FRIENDS, AND THEY NEED MY HELP.
L.C. IS GONNA MEET ME AT THE STORE
IN 10 MINUTES TO PICK UP THE MONEY.
- WHO IS L.C.?
- HE'S ANOTHER DUDE IN
THE BLACK WIDOWS, MY OLD GANG.
WELL, IF YOU REALLY NEED IT,
MARCUS, I'LL LEND YOU THE MONEY.
- WELL, ALL RIGHT.
- UH, MARCUS?
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
INTRODUCE ME TO L.C.? WHAT FOR?
I THINK I JUST FOUND THE
PERFECT TOPIC FOR MY THESIS:
"INSIDE A HARLEM STREET GANG."
UH-UH. FORGET IT, JENNY.
THAT'S TOO DANGEROUS.
OH, MAMA, YOU JUST... IF YOU WANNA
WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING "INSIDE,"
WRITE ABOUT INSIDE A
BUTTERFLY COLLECTION.
YOUR MOTHER'S RIGHT, JENNY. I MEAN, YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN THAT GANG.
THAT'S WHY I WANNA TALK TO L.C.
BUT IT AIN'T GONNA
DO YOU NO GOOD.
THE ONLY THING YOU GONNA
GET OUT OF HIM IS "I DIDN'T DO IT,"
"I WASN'T THERE" AND "I DON'T
KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT NOTHIN'."
HERE, MARCUS. THANKS, MRS.
JEFFERSON. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SEE YOU ALL LATER.
UH, MARCUS.
MARCUS, WAIT A MINUTE. OH. DAMN.
DON'T WORRY, JENNY.
YOU'LL FIND ANOTHER TOPIC.
UH, YEAH. IF I'M GONNA FIND A
TOPIC, I'D BETTER DO SOME RESEARCH.
- YOU'RE GOING TO THE LIBRARY?
- UH, YEAH, THE LIBRARY.
DON'T FORGET WE'RE
HAVING DINNER HERE TONIGHT.
DON'T WORRY. I'LL BE HERE. BYE.
160, 180, 200.
THANKS, MAN. I OWE YOU ONE.
WRONG. YOU OWE ME 200.
I KNEW YOU'D COME THROUGH.
IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
YEAH. YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME...
I EVER THOUGHT OF LAMAR'S
HEAD AS A GOOD CAUSE.
HEY, HOW ARE THE
REST OF THE DUDES?
THEY'RE WAITIN'.
WAITIN'? FOR WHAT?
TO HIT THE PALLBEARERS
FOR WHAT THEY DID TO LAMAR.
MAN, AIN'T YOU
TIRED OF THAT MESS?
MAN, IT'S THE ONLY SCENE I KNOW.
BUT YOU AIN'T NO DUMMY.
YOU GOT IT UP HERE.
AND YOU WASTIN' IT OUT THERE.
HEY! MARCUS!
OH, LORD.
OH, YOU MUST BE L.C. I MUST
BE DREAMIN'. WHO ARE YOU?
UH, JENNY'S A FRIEND,
MAN. SHE'S COOL.
AH, SHE'S MORE THAN COOL.
SHE'S JUST ABOUT THE
FINEST FOX I'VE EVER SEEN.
UH, SHE'S ALSO MARRIED. SO WHAT?
- TO MY BOSS'S SON.
- UH-OH.
I'M, UH, JENNY JEFFERSON,
AND I'M DOING A THESIS.
I WAS WONDERING...
WHAT'S A THESIS?
IT'S, UH, A PAPER FOR
SCHOOL, LIKE A BOOK. A BOOK?
I'D LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT STREET
GANGS AND HOW THEY OPERATE.
JENNY. MAY I HELP YOU?
COOL. MARCUS, COULD YOU
GET THIS FOR ME, PLEASE?
OH, SURE.
DO YOU MIND IF I ASK
YOU A FEW QUESTIONS,
YOU KNOW, ABOUT YOUR
GANG, WHAT THEY DO?
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY
DO! THEY MUG OLD PEOPLE!
THAT AIN'T TRUE, GRANDMA.
WE MUG YOUNG PEOPLE TOO.
BOO.
HEY, I GOTTA RUN. LAMAR'S
WAITIN' FOR THIS MONEY.
OH. HEY, UH, WAIT UP.
UM, CAN'T WE GO AND HAVE
SOME COFFEE AND... TALK?
OH, MAMA.
YOU GOT THE DIME,
I GOT THE TIME.
UM, HOW MANY
MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE?
FLORENCE, WHERE'S THE SHRIMP?
WEEZY! SOUNDS LIKE
HE'S IN THE BEDROOM.
OH, I WONDER WHAT'S
KEEPING JENNY.
MAYBE SHE GOT HUNG
UP AT THE LIBRARY.
WEEZY, WHERE'D
YOU GET THIS THING?
AT MACY'S. THEY
HAD A GIANT SALE.
OH, YEAH? THAT'S WHERE THIS
THING BELONGS... ON A GIANT.
I'LL GET IT.
THIS SWEATER LOOKS TERRIBLE.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
WEARING IT RIGHT. SAY WHAT?
THERE. NOW THAT
LOOKS A LOT BETTER.
IT SURE IT DOES. NOW I
DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU.
HA, HA, HA!
- THAT WAS JENNY ON THE PHONE.
- IS SHE RUNNING LATE?
BEFORE THE NIGHT'S OVER, SHE
MAY BE RUNNING FOR HER LIFE.
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- SHE SAID SHE CAN'T
MAKE IT FOR DINNER.
SHE'S UP IN HARLEM
WITH THE BLACK WIDOWS.
WHAT? WHO ARE THE BLACK
WIDOWS, A SENIOR CITIZENS GROUP?
NO. IT'S A STREET GANG.
OUR DAUGHTER HAS
JOINED A STREET GANG?
NO. SHE SAID TO TELL YOU THAT SHE'S
DOING SOME RESEARCH ON HER THESIS.
- SHE ALSO SAID
TO TELL YOU NOT TO WORRY.
- OH.
BUT IF I WAS YOU, I'D
BE WORRIED TO DEATH.
OH, TOM. NOW DON'T WORRY,
HELEN. I'LL CALL HER BACK.
FLORENCE, WHERE WAS JENNY CALLING
FROM? PROBABLY SOME PHONE BOOTH.
WHERE DO THE BLACK
WIDOWS HANG OUT?
ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO.
THAT'S MARCUS'S OLD
GANG. HE SHOULD KNOW.
GOOD IDEA. I'LL CALL HIM. FORGET IT,
WEEZY. MARCUS AIN'T GOT NO PHONE.
WELL, I'LL JUST GO UP TO
HARLEM AND GET JENNY.
HUH! WILLIS, ARE YOU CRAZY?
- YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.
- WHERE THERE'S A WILL,
THERE'S A WAY.
AND WHERE THERE'S A
WILLIS, THERE'S A DUMB IDEA.
I'LL GO WITH YOU, TOM. ME TOO.
HOLD IT, WEEZY. YOU
AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE.
IF YOU WANNA GO THROUGH
WITH THIS DUMB IDEA, GO AHEAD,
BUT TAKE SOMEBODY WITH
YOU WHO KNOWS THE STREETS.
OH, THANK YOU, GEORGE.
NOT ME. FLORENCE.
UH-UH. THE ONLY THING I
KNOW ABOUT THEM STREETS...
IS TO STAY OFF OF 'EM.
- OKAY, WILLIS. I'LL GO WITH YOU.
- THANK YOU, GEORGE.
I'M JUST DOIN' THIS FOR LIONEL.
CALL US IN A HALF HOUR AND
LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
I DON'T THINK THEY CAN DO
THAT, MRS. JEFFERSON. WHY NOT?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE
PHONE CALLS FROM THE MORGUE.
COME ON, WILLIS. COME ON.
NO ONE'S HERE. I CAN SEE THAT.
WOULD YOU PUT THAT
DAMN STICK DOWN!
GEORGE, WHAT IF WE
NEED SOME PROTECTION?
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, WE GOT
ALL THE PROTECTION WE NEED.
WE DO? YEAH. ME.
SHOOT, MAN.
ARE YOU SURE THIS
IS THE RIGHT PLACE?
THE WINO SAID THIS IS WHERE THE BLACK
WIDOWS HANG OUT. BUT HE WAS DRUNK.
THAT'S RIGHT. HE WAS TOO
DRUNK TO MAKE UP A LIE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
GEORGE, COME OVER HERE AND SEE IF
YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THIS KEYHOLE.
WHY CAN'T YOU LOOK AT IT? BECAUSE
YOU'RE CLOSER TO THE GROUND.
WILLIS... COME ON, GEORGE.
MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE
MAY DEPEND ON THIS.
CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING? NO.
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING,
OR THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE?
IF SOMETHING'S IN THERE, I CAN'T SEE
IT. IF NOTHIN'S IN THERE, I CAN'T SEE IT.
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF I AIN'T
SEEIN' SOMETHIN' OR I AIN'T SEEIN' NOTHIN'?
JENNY AIN'T HERE, SO LET'S GO.
SHOULDN'T WE TRY SOMEPLACE
ELSE? YEAH... MY DINING ROOM.
SHE'S PROBABLY HAVIN' DINNER,
INCLUDING MY SHARE. SO COME ON.
SHH.
COME ON. WHAT? OH!
I'M TELLING YOU, ROLLO. THAT CHICK
YOU WAS WITH LAST NIGHT WAS UGLY.
UGLY? UG... WH-WH-WHAT
YOU KNOW ABOUT UGLY?
PLEN-TAY. I BEEN HANGIN'
OUT WITH YOU FOR YEARS.
IT LOOK LIKE WE EARLY. YEAH.
AIN'T NOBODY SHOWED UP YET.
IT'S COLD.
I DON'T SEE NOBODY HERE. DO YOU?
SAY...
HEY, SLICK.
LE-LE-LET'S GO OUT AND GET SOMETHIN'
TO EAT BEFORE THE MEET STARTS.
RIGHT ON. RIGHT ON.
BOY, THAT SURE WAS A CLOSE ONE.
IT WASN'T NOTHIN'. I COULD'VE
HANDLED THEM KIDS IF I HAD TO.
- YOU MIGHT HAVE TO.
- HEY.
I WAS JUST KIDDIN'.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
BETTER THAN YOU, BLOOD. WHAT
YOU TWO DUDES DOIN' HERE, MAN?
WHO, US? WE'RE FROM THE GAS
COMPANY. WE CAME TO CHECK YOUR METER.
YEAH.
WE AIN'T GOT NO METER.
IN THAT CASE, AIN'T NOTHIN' TO
CHECK. COME ON, WILLIS. LET'S GO.
NO, WILLIS. LET'S STAY, HUH?
NOW-NOW TAKE IT EASY.
I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH. WE'RE HERE
BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR MY DAUGHTER.
YOUR DAUGHTER? THIS AIN'T NO DAY
CARE CENTER FOR NO HO-HO-HONKIES.
BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. SHE SAID
THAT SHE WAS WITH THE BLACK WIDOWS.
I GET THE FEELIN' THESE
TURKEYS ARE COPS, MAN.
- COPS? DO I LOOK
LIKE A COP?
- HE RIGHT, SLICK.
THEY DON'T A-L-L-LOW NO
MIDGETS ON THE POLICE FORCE.
LISTEN, TU-TU-TURKEY!
NOW YOU LISTEN. WE DONE
HEARD ENOUGH OF YOUR JIVE.
NOW TURN AROUND, HUH?
WHY? 'CAUSE W-W-WE TOLD YOU TO!
LOOK, I DON'T TAKE ORDERS
FROM NOBODY. OH, YOU DON'T?
OH, I DO. I DO.
LOOK, SHORTY. NOW YOU
TALKIN' TO A BLACK WIDOW. DIG?
NOW, WHEN WE SAY JUMP,
MAN, PEOPLE DON'T ASK, "WHY?"
THEY ASK, "HOW HIGH?"
YOU JUST LUCKY
YOU CARRY THAT GUN.
YOU JUST LUCKY I
AIN'T USED IT YET.
PUT-PUT YOUR HANDS
OVER YOUR HEAD.
YOU'VE BEEN SO HELPFUL.
OH! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
L.C., THAT'S MY FATHER. LEAVE
HIM ALONE, SLICK. HE'S COOL.
OKAY, SHORTY. YOU FREE.
I AIN'T HER FATHER. HE IS. OH?
BUT I'M HER FATHER-IN-LAW.
YOU-YOU-YOU'RE HER FATHER?
I KNOW. I LOOK
TOO YOUNG, DON'T I?
OH! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOIN' HERE?
THAT'S WHAT I
KEEP ASKIN' MYSELF.
DARLING, WE WERE
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY
ABOUT. I'VE BEEN WITH L.C.
HE'S BEEN SHOWING ME AROUND
THE BLACK WIDOWS' TERRITOR-AY.
TERRITOR-AY.
L.C., WHEN'D YOU BECOME
A TOUR GUIDE, MAN?
IT'S COOL, SLICK. SHE'S WRITIN'
A BOOK ON STREET GANGS.
NO, SHE ISN'T. COME ON,
JENNY. OH, DADDY, RELAX.
THERE IS NOTHING
TO BE AFRAID OF.
THAT'S WHAT I KEEP TELLIN' HIM.
LET'S GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE.
NO, NO. NOT YET.
I WANT TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT THE GANG.
YOU WRITIN' A BOOK ON GANGS,
HUH? IT'S NOT REALLY A BOOK.
IT'S A PAPER FOR SCHOOL. I-I-IS
ANYBODY GONNA GET TO READ IT?
YES. WELL, MY NAME'S
ROLLO. THAT'S WITH T-T-TWO L's.
YEAH, DOLL. I'M
SLICK. THAT'S ONE "L."
WHO CARES? THAT'S NO L's.
HEY, EVERYBODY. WHAT'S
SHAKIN'? HEY, HUEY!
- HUH. WHO'S THIS?
- THIS IS HUEY. HE'S IN THE GANG.
OH, YEAH? WHO
CHANGES HIS DIAPERS?
IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP, I'M
GONNA CHANGE YOUR FACE.
HEY, LADY. YOU'RE PRETTY.
OH. THANK YOU, HUEY.
WANT A PIECE OF
GUM? UH-OH. MM-HMM.
I'D LOVE SOME. HUEY.
GO FOR THE LADIES, HUH?
HEY, COOL IT. SHE'S
TOO OLD FOR ME.
OH? HOW OLD ARE YOU, HUEY?
- TWELVE AND A HALF.
- YOU'RE JUST A BOY.
WHO YOU CALLIN' "BOY"?
I MEAN, "YOUNG MAN."
I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU...
YOU LET HIM IN YOUR
GANG, AND HE'S ONLY 12?
WE HAVE TO GROW
UP FAST AROUND HERE.
BESIDES, WE NEED HUEY.
HE CAN RIP SOMETHING
OFF AND DISAPPEAR...
BEFORE ANYBODY MISSES IT.
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
'CAUSE, NEXT TO ME,
HE THE FASTEST
RU-RU-RUNNER WE GOT.
YOU JIVIN', ROLLO.
I CAN BEAT YOU... RUNNIN'
BACKWARDS. NO WAY, HUEY.
YEAH? YEAH.
YOU RUN BACKWARDS,
AND I BET I CAN BEAT YOU.
WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK
ABOUT YOUR BELONGING TO A GANG?
THE GANG IS MY FAMILY.
SHOOT. DOMINO IS
LIKE A FATHER TO ME.
UM, WHO IS DOMINO?
HE'S OUR LEADER, LADY.
WHY IS DOMINO THE LEADER?
UH, WELL, FOR ONE THING,
HE'S GOT THE MOST MEDALS.
MEDALS? YEAH. BATTLE SCARS.
SEE?
I GOT THIS ONE IN A KNIFE
FIGHT. THAT AIN'T NOTHIN'.
I GOT THIS ONE COMPLIMENTS
OF A PALLBEARER'S BULLET.
- OOH, YOU GOT SHOT.
- OH, NO.
THEY THREW THE BULLET AT ME.
I AIN'T GOT NO MEDALS YET, BUT DOMINO
SAYS I'LL GET SOME SOONER OR LATER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS. YOU'RE GETTING STABBED
AND SHOT, AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO CARE.
OH, WE CARE. THAT'S WHY
WE FIGHT BACK. ALL RIGHT.
WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO?
IT DOES A LOT OF GOOD.
IT TEACHES PEOPLE THEY CAN'T
PUSH US AROUND. THAT'S RIGHT.
HEY! DOMINO!
HEY! WHA-WHA-WHAT'S UP?
WELL, I'LL TELL
YOU WHAT'S DOWN...
ONE UGLY PALLBEARER.
ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT!
YOU SHOT HIM?
RIGHT ON. ALL RIGHT.
THIS ONE WAS FOR
LAMAR. FOR LAMAR.
RIGHT ON. FOR LAMAR.
HEY, HUEY. PUT THIS AWAY
FOR ME. SURE, DOMINO.
YOU ACTUALLY SHOT SOMEONE?
- WHO'S SHE?
- SHE'S COOL. SHE'S A FRIEND OF MINE.
WELL, SHE AIN'T
A FRIEND OF MINE.
WHAT'S SHE DOIN' HERE? SHE
WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK ON OUR GANG.
WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY, L.C.?
GET HER OUTTA HERE.
WHO ARE THESE TURKEYS?
I'M TOM WILLIS.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THIS IS MARCUS'S BOSS. HE
PUT UP THE BREAD FOR LAMAR.
- BREAD FOR LAMAR?
- MRS. JEFFERSON GAVE MARCUS
$200 FOR LAMAR'S DOCTOR BILL.
$200! SURPRISED?
OH, UH, YEAH. I'M JUST SURPRISED SHE
DIDN'T GIVE HIM $300 LIKE I TOLD HER TO.
THAT'S WEEZY'S TROUBLE.
SHE'S TOO STINGY.
THANKS FOR HELPIN' OUT.
NOW, WHY DON'T YOU HELP YOURSELF
AND YOUR FRIENDS OUTTA HERE.
OH, NO. I HAVEN'T FINISHED
TALKING TO YOUR GANG.
YES, YOU HAVE. COME ON, JENNY.
HOLD IT! JUST HOLD IT!
GIVE ME THIS. NO, WAIT!
THOSE ARE MY NOTES.
I DON'T WANT YOU TALKIN' TO ANYONE
IN MY GANG ANYMORE? YOU DIG?
SHE DIGS. I MEAN, RIGHT ON!
I MEAN, SHE HEARS YOU.
COME ON, WILLIS. QUIT
WHILE YOU'RE ALIVE.
COME ON, COME ON.
B-B-BYE. Y'ALL COME
BACK NOW. YA HEAR?
BEAT ME RUNNIN', HUH?
GEORGE, THAT'S YOUR
THIRD PIECE OF PIE.
NO, IT AIN'T. IT'S
MY FOURTH PIECE.
FIGHTIN' MAKES ME HUNGRY.
- GEORGE, YOU DIDN'T DO
ANY FIGHTING.
- OH, YES, I DID TOO.
I WAS FIGHTING TO KEEP FROM GOIN'
UPSIDE ONE OF THEM BLACK WIDOW'S HEADS.
IF YOU HAD DONE THAT, THERE'D
BE ONE MORE BLACK WIDOW... ME.
- ANYBODY WANT ANYTHING ELSE?
- YEAH, A TOPIC FOR MY THESIS.
I'VE GOT AN IDEA, JENNY. WHY DON'T
YOU DO YOUR THESIS ON MIXED MARRIAGES?
HEY, YEAH! THEN YOU COULD CALL IT, "EVERYTHING
YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ZEBRAS."
I JUST WISH I HAD BEEN ABLE TO SPEND
MORE TIME WITH THOSE GANG MEMBERS,
FIND OUT WHAT
REALLY MAKES 'EM TICK.
THE ONLY THING YOU COULD LEARN FROM
THEM IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GO TO JAIL.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT THERE OUGHTA BE
SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY COULD DO TO HELP.
IT'S REALLY SAD TO THINK OF A 12-YEAR-OLD
LIKE HUEY GETTIN' INVOLVED IN THAT STUFF.
HE KNOWS HOW TO
TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.
DOORBELL, MR. JEFFERSON. GET!
WHY DON'T YOU WRITE ABOUT
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK AS A MAID?
AND IF YOU FIND
OUT, TELL FLORENCE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT? I'M
LOOKIN' FOR JENNY. IS SHE HERE?
OH, HEY. COME ON. HEY,
YOU BROUGHT MY PURSE.
COME ON IN. UH, MAMA,
MRS. JEFFERSON, FLORENCE.
- THIS IS L.C.
- HI.
- HELLO.
NOW THAT YOU SAID HELLO,
YOU CAN SAY GOOD-BYE.
IF YOU STILL WANNA FIND OUT ABOUT OUR
GANG, I'M-A TELL YOU ALL YOU WANNA KNOW.
BUT DOMINO SAID HE DIDN'T WANT
ME... I KNOW WHAT DOMINO SAID.
YOU WANNA FIND OUT
ABOUT THE GANG OR NOT?
WELL, YEAH. WH-WHAT
CHANGED YOUR MIND?
HUEY. HUEY? THAT LITTLE PUNK?
YEAH. THE PALLBEARERS
HIT US JUST AFTER YOU LEFT.
HUEY FINALLY GOT
THEM MEDALS HE WANTED.
OH, NO. WAS HE HURT BAD?
HE'S DEAD.
WEEZY, ARE YOU COMIN' TO
BED? OH, I CAN'T SLEEP, GEORGE.
NO WONDER YOU CAN'T SLEEP.
YOU'RE SITTIN' THERE DRINKIN' COFFEE.
PUT THE COFFEE
DOWN AND COME TO BED.
I WAS JUST THINKIN' ABOUT
THOSE KIDS AND THEIR GANGS.
WEEZY, THERE'S NOTHIN'
YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
THEY HAD GANGS WHEN I WAS
A KID. THEY GOT GANGS NOW.
SURE, BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE LIKE YOU.
THEY DON'T WANNA SPEAK OUT...
THEY DON'T WANNA GET INVOLVED...
BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF
WHAT THE GANGS MIGHT DO TO THEM.
AFRAID? WHO, ME? I
AIN'T AFRAID OF NO GANG.
SHOOT.
- WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?
- WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE
A COUPLE HOURS AGO.
HELLO, OPERATOR.
GIVE ME THE POLICE.
POLICE?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
SAY TO THEM? JUST LISTEN.
HELLO? UH, YEAH, LOOK, I GOT
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION...
ON A COUPLE OF GANGS THAT HAVE
BEEN GIVIN' YOU TROUBLE UP IN HARLEM.
SURE. I'LL HOLD ON.
YOU WERE RIGHT, WEEZY. PEOPLE
ARE TOO AFRAID TO GET INVOLVED.
BUT NOT GEORGE JEFFERSON.
WHAT? OH, MY NAME?
YEAH. JOHN SMITH.
♪♪
THE JEFFERSONS WAS VIDEOTAPED
IN FRONT OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE.
♪♪
♪ MOVIN', MOVIN' ON UP ♪♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO A DELUXE
APARTMENT IN THE SKY ♪
♪ M-MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ WE FINALLY GOT
A PIECE OF THE PIE ♪
♪ FISH DON'T FRY
IN THE KITCHEN ♪
♪ BEANS DON'T
BURN ON THE GRILL ♪
♪ TOOK A WHOLE LOT OF TRYIN'
JUST TO GET UP THAT HILL ♪
♪ NOW WE'RE UP IN
THE BIG LEAGUES ♪
♪ GETTIN' OUR TURN AT BAT ♪
♪ AS LONG AS WE LIVE
IT'S YOU AND ME, BABY ♪
♪ THERE AIN'T NOTHIN'
WRONG WITH THAT ♪
♪ WELL, WE'RE MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO A DELUXE
APARTMENT IN THE SKY ♪
♪ M-MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪
♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪
♪ WE FINALLY GOT A PIECE ♪
♪ OF THE PIE ♪♪
OH, HI, FLORENCE.
WE NEED SOME HELP.
WHEW! SO DO I.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD
I'VE BEEN WORKIN' TODAY.
YOU GOTTA BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE
SALE WORTH GOING OUT IN THE COLD FOR.
YEAH. I DIDN'T EVEN MIND ALL
THOSE PEOPLE STEPPIN' ON MY TOES.
FLORENCE, YOU
SHOULD'VE GONE WITH US.
UH-UH. IF I WANT SOMEBODY STEPPIN' ON
MY TOES, I'LL GO DANCIN' WITH CLARENCE.
FLORENCE, WAIT TILL YOU
SEE WHAT I GOT FOR LIONEL.
HE'LL NEVER WEAR IT.
IT'S FOR ME.
CHILD, IF LIONEL COMES HOME FROM A
BUSINESS TRIP AND SEES YOU WEARIN' THAT,
YOU WON'T BE WEARIN' IT LONG.
I KNOW.
WELL, LADIES, IF YOU
DON'T NEED ME ANYMORE,
I SHOULD GET BACK TO
THAT COLD PAVEMENT.
WHY DON'T YOU STAY A MINUTE AND WARM
UP? FLORENCE CAN GET YOU SOME COFFEE.
GOOD IDEA. I'LL
HELP YOU, FLORENCE.
THANKS FOR THE OFFER,
MRS. JEFFERSON, BUT, UH,
MY JOB IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO TAKE A COFFEE BREAK.
WELL, OKAY, RALPH, BUT... HOWEVER,
SOME BRANDY MIGHT BE NICE.
HELP YOURSELF. YES,
MA'AM. THANK YOU.
WELL, WHEN IS
LIONEL COMING HOME?
NOT FOR TWO MORE
DAYS. OH, I REALLY MISS HIM.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. WHEN
GEORGE FIRST WENT INTO BUSINESS,
THERE WERE MANY, MANY NIGHTS I'D SIT
TWIDDLING MY THUMBS WITH NOTHING TO DO.
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN AWFUL. YEAH.
NOW I DO IT WHEN HE'S HOME.
WELL, I'VE BEEN KEEPING BUSY TRYING
TO FIND A TOPIC FOR MY SOCIOLOGY THESIS.
I SPENT THE LAST THREE
NIGHTS SITTING IN THE LIBRARY.
HAVE YOU COME UP WITH ANYTHING?
JUST A SORE REAR END.
HI, MR. BENTLEY. HOW ARE
YOU? HI, MRS. J. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M FINE. I'M FINE.
I'LL LET YOU... I'LL LET YOU...
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WANTED, MR. BENTLEY?
WELL, WHAT IS IT?
- OH. I'M LOOKING FOR RALPH.
- RIGHT HERE, MR. BENTLEY, SIR.
OH, UH, RALPH, YOU'RE NEEDED
AT YOUR POST IMMEDIATELY.
I'M ON MY BREAK.
WHOEVER IT IS CAN WAIT.
I DON'T THINK
MR. WHITTENDALE LIKES TO BE...
WHITTENDALE? YES,
SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.
HI, JENNY. OH, HI, MR. BENTLEY.
FLORENCE? AM I OKAY?
NO. I THINK YOU GOT
A CAVITY BACK THERE.
OH, BY THE WAY, JENNY, IF YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR A TOPIC FOR YOUR THESIS,
THE LIFE OF A NEW YORK
DOORMAN MIGHT BE GOOD.
NO ONE REALIZES THE
CONTRIBUTIONS HE MAKES TO MANKIND.
THANK YOU, MRS. JEFFERSON.
OR THE CONTRIBUTIONS
MANKIND MAKES TO HIM?
"TOUCHE," MRS. WILLIS. "TOUCHE."
YOU'RE DOING A THESIS, JENNY?
YEAH, IF I CAN FIND A TOPIC.
YES, I KNOW THAT PROBLEM.
WHEN I WAS AT OXFORD,
ONCE I SPENT SIX WEEKS IN THE LIBRARY
TRYING TO FIND THE PERFECT SUBJECT.
- DID YOU FIND ONE?
- YES. THE LIBRARIAN.
I SPENT THE NEXT SIX
WEEKS STUDYING HER. WOOF.
I'D BETTER GET GOING. GOOD
LUCK WITH YOUR THESIS, JENNY.
THANK YOU, MR. BENTLEY.
HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.
- YES?
- WHAT DID YOU FINALLY DO
FOR YOUR THESIS?
OH, I EXPLORED A
FASCINATING SUBJECT...
THE MEMORY CAPACITY
OF THE HUMAN MIND.
THAT DOES SOUND INTERESTING.
DID YOU GET A GOOD GRADE?
UH, I DON'T REMEMBER.
HI, MARCUS.
MRS. JEFFERSON, IS
MR. JEFFERSON HERE?
- GOOD-BYE, MARCUS.
- OH, SORRY, MR. BENTLEY.
HE'S AT A MEETING
DOWNTOWN. OH, MAN.
WELL, IS THERE SOMETHING
I CAN DO FOR YOU?
NO.
YEAH.
NO. MARCUS, WHAT IS IT?
WELL, I WAS WONDERIN' IF HE COULD
GIVE ME A LITTLE ADVANCE ON MY PAY.
OH, SURE. HOW MUCH
DO YOU NEED? $200.
200?
MARCUS, ARE YOU IN
SOME KIND OF TROUBLE?
HE IS IF HE THINKS MR. JEFFERSON'S
GONNA GIVE HIM $200.
THE MONEY'S NOT FOR ME.
IT'S FOR LAMAR. WHO'S LAMAR?
HE'S A DUDE IN THE OLD
GANG I USED TO RUN WITH.
- HE GOT IN A LITTLE ACCIDENT
AND WOUND UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
HE WAS WALKIN' DOWN THE STREET WHEN
THESE TWO DUDES FROM ANOTHER GANG...
BEAT HIS HEAD IN WITH A PIPE.
THAT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE AN ACCIDENT TO ME.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT
THEY DIDN'T KILL HIM.
I THOUGHT YOU BROKE
AWAY FROM THAT GANG.
I DID, BUT THEY STILL MY
FRIENDS, AND THEY NEED MY HELP.
L.C. IS GONNA MEET ME AT THE STORE
IN 10 MINUTES TO PICK UP THE MONEY.
- WHO IS L.C.?
- HE'S ANOTHER DUDE IN
THE BLACK WIDOWS, MY OLD GANG.
WELL, IF YOU REALLY NEED IT,
MARCUS, I'LL LEND YOU THE MONEY.
- WELL, ALL RIGHT.
- UH, MARCUS?
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
INTRODUCE ME TO L.C.? WHAT FOR?
I THINK I JUST FOUND THE
PERFECT TOPIC FOR MY THESIS:
"INSIDE A HARLEM STREET GANG."
UH-UH. FORGET IT, JENNY.
THAT'S TOO DANGEROUS.
OH, MAMA, YOU JUST... IF YOU WANNA
WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING "INSIDE,"
WRITE ABOUT INSIDE A
BUTTERFLY COLLECTION.
YOUR MOTHER'S RIGHT, JENNY. I MEAN, YOU
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON IN THAT GANG.
THAT'S WHY I WANNA TALK TO L.C.
BUT IT AIN'T GONNA
DO YOU NO GOOD.
THE ONLY THING YOU GONNA
GET OUT OF HIM IS "I DIDN'T DO IT,"
"I WASN'T THERE" AND "I DON'T
KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT NOTHIN'."
HERE, MARCUS. THANKS, MRS.
JEFFERSON. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SEE YOU ALL LATER.
UH, MARCUS.
MARCUS, WAIT A MINUTE. OH. DAMN.
DON'T WORRY, JENNY.
YOU'LL FIND ANOTHER TOPIC.
UH, YEAH. IF I'M GONNA FIND A
TOPIC, I'D BETTER DO SOME RESEARCH.
- YOU'RE GOING TO THE LIBRARY?
- UH, YEAH, THE LIBRARY.
DON'T FORGET WE'RE
HAVING DINNER HERE TONIGHT.
DON'T WORRY. I'LL BE HERE. BYE.
160, 180, 200.
THANKS, MAN. I OWE YOU ONE.
WRONG. YOU OWE ME 200.
I KNEW YOU'D COME THROUGH.
IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
YEAH. YOU KNOW,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME...
I EVER THOUGHT OF LAMAR'S
HEAD AS A GOOD CAUSE.
HEY, HOW ARE THE
REST OF THE DUDES?
THEY'RE WAITIN'.
WAITIN'? FOR WHAT?
TO HIT THE PALLBEARERS
FOR WHAT THEY DID TO LAMAR.
MAN, AIN'T YOU
TIRED OF THAT MESS?
MAN, IT'S THE ONLY SCENE I KNOW.
BUT YOU AIN'T NO DUMMY.
YOU GOT IT UP HERE.
AND YOU WASTIN' IT OUT THERE.
HEY! MARCUS!
OH, LORD.
OH, YOU MUST BE L.C. I MUST
BE DREAMIN'. WHO ARE YOU?
UH, JENNY'S A FRIEND,
MAN. SHE'S COOL.
AH, SHE'S MORE THAN COOL.
SHE'S JUST ABOUT THE
FINEST FOX I'VE EVER SEEN.
UH, SHE'S ALSO MARRIED. SO WHAT?
- TO MY BOSS'S SON.
- UH-OH.
I'M, UH, JENNY JEFFERSON,
AND I'M DOING A THESIS.
I WAS WONDERING...
WHAT'S A THESIS?
IT'S, UH, A PAPER FOR
SCHOOL, LIKE A BOOK. A BOOK?
I'D LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT STREET
GANGS AND HOW THEY OPERATE.
JENNY. MAY I HELP YOU?
COOL. MARCUS, COULD YOU
GET THIS FOR ME, PLEASE?
OH, SURE.
DO YOU MIND IF I ASK
YOU A FEW QUESTIONS,
YOU KNOW, ABOUT YOUR
GANG, WHAT THEY DO?
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY
DO! THEY MUG OLD PEOPLE!
THAT AIN'T TRUE, GRANDMA.
WE MUG YOUNG PEOPLE TOO.
BOO.
HEY, I GOTTA RUN. LAMAR'S
WAITIN' FOR THIS MONEY.
OH. HEY, UH, WAIT UP.
UM, CAN'T WE GO AND HAVE
SOME COFFEE AND... TALK?
OH, MAMA.
YOU GOT THE DIME,
I GOT THE TIME.
UM, HOW MANY
MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE?
FLORENCE, WHERE'S THE SHRIMP?
WEEZY! SOUNDS LIKE
HE'S IN THE BEDROOM.
OH, I WONDER WHAT'S
KEEPING JENNY.
MAYBE SHE GOT HUNG
UP AT THE LIBRARY.
WEEZY, WHERE'D
YOU GET THIS THING?
AT MACY'S. THEY
HAD A GIANT SALE.
OH, YEAH? THAT'S WHERE THIS
THING BELONGS... ON A GIANT.
I'LL GET IT.
THIS SWEATER LOOKS TERRIBLE.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
WEARING IT RIGHT. SAY WHAT?
THERE. NOW THAT
LOOKS A LOT BETTER.
IT SURE IT DOES. NOW I
DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT YOU.
HA, HA, HA!
- THAT WAS JENNY ON THE PHONE.
- IS SHE RUNNING LATE?
BEFORE THE NIGHT'S OVER, SHE
MAY BE RUNNING FOR HER LIFE.
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- SHE SAID SHE CAN'T
MAKE IT FOR DINNER.
SHE'S UP IN HARLEM
WITH THE BLACK WIDOWS.
WHAT? WHO ARE THE BLACK
WIDOWS, A SENIOR CITIZENS GROUP?
NO. IT'S A STREET GANG.
OUR DAUGHTER HAS
JOINED A STREET GANG?
NO. SHE SAID TO TELL YOU THAT SHE'S
DOING SOME RESEARCH ON HER THESIS.
- SHE ALSO SAID
TO TELL YOU NOT TO WORRY.
- OH.
BUT IF I WAS YOU, I'D
BE WORRIED TO DEATH.
OH, TOM. NOW DON'T WORRY,
HELEN. I'LL CALL HER BACK.
FLORENCE, WHERE WAS JENNY CALLING
FROM? PROBABLY SOME PHONE BOOTH.
WHERE DO THE BLACK
WIDOWS HANG OUT?
ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO.
THAT'S MARCUS'S OLD
GANG. HE SHOULD KNOW.
GOOD IDEA. I'LL CALL HIM. FORGET IT,
WEEZY. MARCUS AIN'T GOT NO PHONE.
WELL, I'LL JUST GO UP TO
HARLEM AND GET JENNY.
HUH! WILLIS, ARE YOU CRAZY?
- YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.
- WHERE THERE'S A WILL,
THERE'S A WAY.
AND WHERE THERE'S A
WILLIS, THERE'S A DUMB IDEA.
I'LL GO WITH YOU, TOM. ME TOO.
HOLD IT, WEEZY. YOU
AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE.
IF YOU WANNA GO THROUGH
WITH THIS DUMB IDEA, GO AHEAD,
BUT TAKE SOMEBODY WITH
YOU WHO KNOWS THE STREETS.
OH, THANK YOU, GEORGE.
NOT ME. FLORENCE.
UH-UH. THE ONLY THING I
KNOW ABOUT THEM STREETS...
IS TO STAY OFF OF 'EM.
- OKAY, WILLIS. I'LL GO WITH YOU.
- THANK YOU, GEORGE.
I'M JUST DOIN' THIS FOR LIONEL.
CALL US IN A HALF HOUR AND
LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
I DON'T THINK THEY CAN DO
THAT, MRS. JEFFERSON. WHY NOT?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE
PHONE CALLS FROM THE MORGUE.
COME ON, WILLIS. COME ON.
NO ONE'S HERE. I CAN SEE THAT.
WOULD YOU PUT THAT
DAMN STICK DOWN!
GEORGE, WHAT IF WE
NEED SOME PROTECTION?
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS, WE GOT
ALL THE PROTECTION WE NEED.
WE DO? YEAH. ME.
SHOOT, MAN.
ARE YOU SURE THIS
IS THE RIGHT PLACE?
THE WINO SAID THIS IS WHERE THE BLACK
WIDOWS HANG OUT. BUT HE WAS DRUNK.
THAT'S RIGHT. HE WAS TOO
DRUNK TO MAKE UP A LIE.
WAIT A MINUTE.
GEORGE, COME OVER HERE AND SEE IF
YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THIS KEYHOLE.
WHY CAN'T YOU LOOK AT IT? BECAUSE
YOU'RE CLOSER TO THE GROUND.
WILLIS... COME ON, GEORGE.
MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE
MAY DEPEND ON THIS.
CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING? NO.
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING,
OR THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE?
IF SOMETHING'S IN THERE, I CAN'T SEE
IT. IF NOTHIN'S IN THERE, I CAN'T SEE IT.
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF I AIN'T
SEEIN' SOMETHIN' OR I AIN'T SEEIN' NOTHIN'?
JENNY AIN'T HERE, SO LET'S GO.
SHOULDN'T WE TRY SOMEPLACE
ELSE? YEAH... MY DINING ROOM.
SHE'S PROBABLY HAVIN' DINNER,
INCLUDING MY SHARE. SO COME ON.
SHH.
COME ON. WHAT? OH!
I'M TELLING YOU, ROLLO. THAT CHICK
YOU WAS WITH LAST NIGHT WAS UGLY.
UGLY? UG... WH-WH-WHAT
YOU KNOW ABOUT UGLY?
PLEN-TAY. I BEEN HANGIN'
OUT WITH YOU FOR YEARS.
IT LOOK LIKE WE EARLY. YEAH.
AIN'T NOBODY SHOWED UP YET.
IT'S COLD.
I DON'T SEE NOBODY HERE. DO YOU?
SAY...
HEY, SLICK.
LE-LE-LET'S GO OUT AND GET SOMETHIN'
TO EAT BEFORE THE MEET STARTS.
RIGHT ON. RIGHT ON.
BOY, THAT SURE WAS A CLOSE ONE.
IT WASN'T NOTHIN'. I COULD'VE
HANDLED THEM KIDS IF I HAD TO.
- YOU MIGHT HAVE TO.
- HEY.
I WAS JUST KIDDIN'.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
BETTER THAN YOU, BLOOD. WHAT
YOU TWO DUDES DOIN' HERE, MAN?
WHO, US? WE'RE FROM THE GAS
COMPANY. WE CAME TO CHECK YOUR METER.
YEAH.
WE AIN'T GOT NO METER.
IN THAT CASE, AIN'T NOTHIN' TO
CHECK. COME ON, WILLIS. LET'S GO.
NO, WILLIS. LET'S STAY, HUH?
NOW-NOW TAKE IT EASY.
I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH. WE'RE HERE
BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR MY DAUGHTER.
YOUR DAUGHTER? THIS AIN'T NO DAY
CARE CENTER FOR NO HO-HO-HONKIES.
BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. SHE SAID
THAT SHE WAS WITH THE BLACK WIDOWS.
I GET THE FEELIN' THESE
TURKEYS ARE COPS, MAN.
- COPS? DO I LOOK
LIKE A COP?
- HE RIGHT, SLICK.
THEY DON'T A-L-L-LOW NO
MIDGETS ON THE POLICE FORCE.
LISTEN, TU-TU-TURKEY!
NOW YOU LISTEN. WE DONE
HEARD ENOUGH OF YOUR JIVE.
NOW TURN AROUND, HUH?
WHY? 'CAUSE W-W-WE TOLD YOU TO!
LOOK, I DON'T TAKE ORDERS
FROM NOBODY. OH, YOU DON'T?
OH, I DO. I DO.
LOOK, SHORTY. NOW YOU
TALKIN' TO A BLACK WIDOW. DIG?
NOW, WHEN WE SAY JUMP,
MAN, PEOPLE DON'T ASK, "WHY?"
THEY ASK, "HOW HIGH?"
YOU JUST LUCKY
YOU CARRY THAT GUN.
YOU JUST LUCKY I
AIN'T USED IT YET.
PUT-PUT YOUR HANDS
OVER YOUR HEAD.
YOU'VE BEEN SO HELPFUL.
OH! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
L.C., THAT'S MY FATHER. LEAVE
HIM ALONE, SLICK. HE'S COOL.
OKAY, SHORTY. YOU FREE.
I AIN'T HER FATHER. HE IS. OH?
BUT I'M HER FATHER-IN-LAW.
YOU-YOU-YOU'RE HER FATHER?
I KNOW. I LOOK
TOO YOUNG, DON'T I?
OH! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOIN' HERE?
THAT'S WHAT I
KEEP ASKIN' MYSELF.
DARLING, WE WERE
WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY
ABOUT. I'VE BEEN WITH L.C.
HE'S BEEN SHOWING ME AROUND
THE BLACK WIDOWS' TERRITOR-AY.
TERRITOR-AY.
L.C., WHEN'D YOU BECOME
A TOUR GUIDE, MAN?
IT'S COOL, SLICK. SHE'S WRITIN'
A BOOK ON STREET GANGS.
NO, SHE ISN'T. COME ON,
JENNY. OH, DADDY, RELAX.
THERE IS NOTHING
TO BE AFRAID OF.
THAT'S WHAT I KEEP TELLIN' HIM.
LET'S GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE.
NO, NO. NOT YET.
I WANT TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT THE GANG.
YOU WRITIN' A BOOK ON GANGS,
HUH? IT'S NOT REALLY A BOOK.
IT'S A PAPER FOR SCHOOL. I-I-IS
ANYBODY GONNA GET TO READ IT?
YES. WELL, MY NAME'S
ROLLO. THAT'S WITH T-T-TWO L's.
YEAH, DOLL. I'M
SLICK. THAT'S ONE "L."
WHO CARES? THAT'S NO L's.
HEY, EVERYBODY. WHAT'S
SHAKIN'? HEY, HUEY!
- HUH. WHO'S THIS?
- THIS IS HUEY. HE'S IN THE GANG.
OH, YEAH? WHO
CHANGES HIS DIAPERS?
IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP, I'M
GONNA CHANGE YOUR FACE.
HEY, LADY. YOU'RE PRETTY.
OH. THANK YOU, HUEY.
WANT A PIECE OF
GUM? UH-OH. MM-HMM.
I'D LOVE SOME. HUEY.
GO FOR THE LADIES, HUH?
HEY, COOL IT. SHE'S
TOO OLD FOR ME.
OH? HOW OLD ARE YOU, HUEY?
- TWELVE AND A HALF.
- YOU'RE JUST A BOY.
WHO YOU CALLIN' "BOY"?
I MEAN, "YOUNG MAN."
I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU...
YOU LET HIM IN YOUR
GANG, AND HE'S ONLY 12?
WE HAVE TO GROW
UP FAST AROUND HERE.
BESIDES, WE NEED HUEY.
HE CAN RIP SOMETHING
OFF AND DISAPPEAR...
BEFORE ANYBODY MISSES IT.
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
'CAUSE, NEXT TO ME,
HE THE FASTEST
RU-RU-RUNNER WE GOT.
YOU JIVIN', ROLLO.
I CAN BEAT YOU... RUNNIN'
BACKWARDS. NO WAY, HUEY.
YEAH? YEAH.
YOU RUN BACKWARDS,
AND I BET I CAN BEAT YOU.
WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK
ABOUT YOUR BELONGING TO A GANG?
THE GANG IS MY FAMILY.
SHOOT. DOMINO IS
LIKE A FATHER TO ME.
UM, WHO IS DOMINO?
HE'S OUR LEADER, LADY.
WHY IS DOMINO THE LEADER?
UH, WELL, FOR ONE THING,
HE'S GOT THE MOST MEDALS.
MEDALS? YEAH. BATTLE SCARS.
SEE?
I GOT THIS ONE IN A KNIFE
FIGHT. THAT AIN'T NOTHIN'.
I GOT THIS ONE COMPLIMENTS
OF A PALLBEARER'S BULLET.
- OOH, YOU GOT SHOT.
- OH, NO.
THEY THREW THE BULLET AT ME.
I AIN'T GOT NO MEDALS YET, BUT DOMINO
SAYS I'LL GET SOME SOONER OR LATER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS. YOU'RE GETTING STABBED
AND SHOT, AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO CARE.
OH, WE CARE. THAT'S WHY
WE FIGHT BACK. ALL RIGHT.
WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO?
IT DOES A LOT OF GOOD.
IT TEACHES PEOPLE THEY CAN'T
PUSH US AROUND. THAT'S RIGHT.
HEY! DOMINO!
HEY! WHA-WHA-WHAT'S UP?
WELL, I'LL TELL
YOU WHAT'S DOWN...
ONE UGLY PALLBEARER.
ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT!
YOU SHOT HIM?
RIGHT ON. ALL RIGHT.
THIS ONE WAS FOR
LAMAR. FOR LAMAR.
RIGHT ON. FOR LAMAR.
HEY, HUEY. PUT THIS AWAY
FOR ME. SURE, DOMINO.
YOU ACTUALLY SHOT SOMEONE?
- WHO'S SHE?
- SHE'S COOL. SHE'S A FRIEND OF MINE.
WELL, SHE AIN'T
A FRIEND OF MINE.
WHAT'S SHE DOIN' HERE? SHE
WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK ON OUR GANG.
WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY, L.C.?
GET HER OUTTA HERE.
WHO ARE THESE TURKEYS?
I'M TOM WILLIS.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THIS IS MARCUS'S BOSS. HE
PUT UP THE BREAD FOR LAMAR.
- BREAD FOR LAMAR?
- MRS. JEFFERSON GAVE MARCUS
$200 FOR LAMAR'S DOCTOR BILL.
$200! SURPRISED?
OH, UH, YEAH. I'M JUST SURPRISED SHE
DIDN'T GIVE HIM $300 LIKE I TOLD HER TO.
THAT'S WEEZY'S TROUBLE.
SHE'S TOO STINGY.
THANKS FOR HELPIN' OUT.
NOW, WHY DON'T YOU HELP YOURSELF
AND YOUR FRIENDS OUTTA HERE.
OH, NO. I HAVEN'T FINISHED
TALKING TO YOUR GANG.
YES, YOU HAVE. COME ON, JENNY.
HOLD IT! JUST HOLD IT!
GIVE ME THIS. NO, WAIT!
THOSE ARE MY NOTES.
I DON'T WANT YOU TALKIN' TO ANYONE
IN MY GANG ANYMORE? YOU DIG?
SHE DIGS. I MEAN, RIGHT ON!
I MEAN, SHE HEARS YOU.
COME ON, WILLIS. QUIT
WHILE YOU'RE ALIVE.
COME ON, COME ON.
B-B-BYE. Y'ALL COME
BACK NOW. YA HEAR?
BEAT ME RUNNIN', HUH?
GEORGE, THAT'S YOUR
THIRD PIECE OF PIE.
NO, IT AIN'T. IT'S
MY FOURTH PIECE.
FIGHTIN' MAKES ME HUNGRY.
- GEORGE, YOU DIDN'T DO
ANY FIGHTING.
- OH, YES, I DID TOO.
I WAS FIGHTING TO KEEP FROM GOIN'
UPSIDE ONE OF THEM BLACK WIDOW'S HEADS.
IF YOU HAD DONE THAT, THERE'D
BE ONE MORE BLACK WIDOW... ME.
- ANYBODY WANT ANYTHING ELSE?
- YEAH, A TOPIC FOR MY THESIS.
I'VE GOT AN IDEA, JENNY. WHY DON'T
YOU DO YOUR THESIS ON MIXED MARRIAGES?
HEY, YEAH! THEN YOU COULD CALL IT, "EVERYTHING
YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ZEBRAS."
I JUST WISH I HAD BEEN ABLE TO SPEND
MORE TIME WITH THOSE GANG MEMBERS,
FIND OUT WHAT
REALLY MAKES 'EM TICK.
THE ONLY THING YOU COULD LEARN FROM
THEM IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO GO TO JAIL.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT THERE OUGHTA BE
SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY COULD DO TO HELP.
IT'S REALLY SAD TO THINK OF A 12-YEAR-OLD
LIKE HUEY GETTIN' INVOLVED IN THAT STUFF.
HE KNOWS HOW TO
TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.
DOORBELL, MR. JEFFERSON. GET!
WHY DON'T YOU WRITE ABOUT
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK AS A MAID?
AND IF YOU FIND
OUT, TELL FLORENCE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT? I'M
LOOKIN' FOR JENNY. IS SHE HERE?
OH, HEY. COME ON. HEY,
YOU BROUGHT MY PURSE.
COME ON IN. UH, MAMA,
MRS. JEFFERSON, FLORENCE.
- THIS IS L.C.
- HI.
- HELLO.
NOW THAT YOU SAID HELLO,
YOU CAN SAY GOOD-BYE.
IF YOU STILL WANNA FIND OUT ABOUT OUR
GANG, I'M-A TELL YOU ALL YOU WANNA KNOW.
BUT DOMINO SAID HE DIDN'T WANT
ME... I KNOW WHAT DOMINO SAID.
YOU WANNA FIND OUT
ABOUT THE GANG OR NOT?
WELL, YEAH. WH-WHAT
CHANGED YOUR MIND?
HUEY. HUEY? THAT LITTLE PUNK?
YEAH. THE PALLBEARERS
HIT US JUST AFTER YOU LEFT.
HUEY FINALLY GOT
THEM MEDALS HE WANTED.
OH, NO. WAS HE HURT BAD?
HE'S DEAD.
WEEZY, ARE YOU COMIN' TO
BED? OH, I CAN'T SLEEP, GEORGE.
NO WONDER YOU CAN'T SLEEP.
YOU'RE SITTIN' THERE DRINKIN' COFFEE.
PUT THE COFFEE
DOWN AND COME TO BED.
I WAS JUST THINKIN' ABOUT
THOSE KIDS AND THEIR GANGS.
WEEZY, THERE'S NOTHIN'
YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
THEY HAD GANGS WHEN I WAS
A KID. THEY GOT GANGS NOW.
SURE, BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE LIKE YOU.
THEY DON'T WANNA SPEAK OUT...
THEY DON'T WANNA GET INVOLVED...
BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF
WHAT THE GANGS MIGHT DO TO THEM.
AFRAID? WHO, ME? I
AIN'T AFRAID OF NO GANG.
SHOOT.
- WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?
- WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE
A COUPLE HOURS AGO.
HELLO, OPERATOR.
GIVE ME THE POLICE.
POLICE?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
SAY TO THEM? JUST LISTEN.
HELLO? UH, YEAH, LOOK, I GOT
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION...
ON A COUPLE OF GANGS THAT HAVE
BEEN GIVIN' YOU TROUBLE UP IN HARLEM.
SURE. I'LL HOLD ON.
YOU WERE RIGHT, WEEZY. PEOPLE
ARE TOO AFRAID TO GET INVOLVED.
BUT NOT GEORGE JEFFERSON.
WHAT? OH, MY NAME?
YEAH. JOHN SMITH.
♪♪
THE JEFFERSONS WAS VIDEOTAPED
IN FRONT OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE.
♪♪
♪ MOVIN', MOVIN' ON UP ♪♪