The Jeffersons (1975–1985): Season 6, Episode 22 - Louise Takes a Stand - full transcript

♪ Well, we're movin' on up
♪ Movin' on up

♪ To the East Side
♪ Movin' on up

♪ To a deluxe apartment
in the sky

♪ 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

♪ We're movin' on up
♪ Movin' on up

♪ To the East Side
♪ Movin' on up

♪ To a deluxe apartment
in the sky

♪ Movin' on up
♪ Movin' on up

♪ To the East Side
♪ Movin' on up

♪ We finally got
a piece of the pie ♪

Florence.

Florence!

Will you shut that thing off?

Usually, you're yelling
for me to turn it on.

Well, now I want you
to shut if off,
and put it away.



Mr. Miller's
comin' over.

Who's Mr. Miller?

He works for Mr. Whittendale.
He's comin' here
to talk business,

and I can't have you workin'
while he's here.

I wish he'd drop by more often.

You know somethin'?
You sure work for
a smart boss.

I know.
Miss Jefferson's got a lot
on the ball.

I'm talkin' about me.

Do you know that I've doubled
my business in the last year?

Ain't that great news?

Do I get a raise?
No.

Then so far it ain't great news.

It is to me.
And I've got even
some more great news.

You know
Dave's Discount Records
downstairs next to my store?

Well, it's goin'
out of business,

and Whittendale
is throwin' him out
on his ear. Ha!

You call that great news?

Sure. You would, too,
if you had to dry-clean
to disco all day.

Well, what's wrong with that?
I love working to music.

Why didn't you tell me?
I would've put a radio
on your mop.

How come Mr. Whittendale
is giving Dave's place to you?

Simple. I told Whittendale
if I didn't get
a bigger place,

I'd move my store
out of this building.

Did you mean it?
Of course not!

Then you lied.

I didn't lie!
In business,
it's called bluffin'.

Gee, then I guess
I really am working
for a smart boss.

You really think so?
No. I was just bluffing.

Hey, Mr. Miller,
come on in.

Thank you,
Mr. Jefferson.

You know, it sure was
nice of Mr. Whittendale
to give me a bigger place.

That man's got a heart of gold.

Well, you must admit,
he certainly can afford it.

Oh. Right.

You know, Mr. Jefferson,
Mr. Whittendale considers you
an excellent tenant.

See, that's what I like
about him. He's a good
judge of character.

That's why
he really went out of his way
to find you larger quarters.

Oh, yeah. Larger quarters
brings in larger dollars.

Uh, yes.

So, when do I move into
Dave's Discount Records?

Oh, you don't.
Say what?

Oh, Mr. Whittendale has
already promised to rent that
to a friend of the family

who wants to open a flower shop.

Yeah, but I thought...

However, the premises on
the other side of your store
will be available soon.

Charley's Bar?
That's smaller
than the store I got.

But it won't be
when you tear down
the wall in between.

You see, Charley's lease
has expired,

and Mr. Whittendale
has arranged
to turn it over to you.

What do you say?

Well, I ain't sure.

You seemed pretty sure
when you asked Mr. Whittendale
for more room.

Yeah, I know,
but what happens
to Charley?

Oh, I wouldn't worry
about Charley, Mr. Jefferson.

Wherever he opens a new bar,
he'll be all right.

How can you be sure?
This is America.

There are drunks
all over the place.

Yeah,
but I feel kind of funny.
I mean, I like Charley.

You like Mr. Whittendale,
don't you?

Yeah, but...

After all the time and trouble
he's taken to arrange this,

you wouldn't want
to disappoint him
by backing out.

No, but...

Remember, Mr. Whittendale
is your landlord
and your banker.

Yeah, but...
Without his bank behind you,
you might not have a business.

When do I move in?

Then it's all set.

I have a couple
of errands to run,
and then I'll inform Charley.

Great! Hey, look,
I want you
to do me a favor.

Promise you won't tell Charley
that it's me takin' over.

Oh, I understand.
Good.

All right.
Oh.

Oh, hi.

Oh, Weezy,
you remember Mr. Miller,
don't you?

Of course.
Nice to see you again,
Mrs. Jefferson.

Yes.

Your husband
and I were just...
See you later, Miller.

What was Mr. Miller
doing here?

Oh, we were talking business.

Oh, which reminds me.

I want you to sign
these new cleaning contracts.

Oh, you know, George,
in all the years I've been
signing contracts,

I've never bothered
to read them.

But you don't have to read them.

Well, I am a partner
in the business.

I know that.
You're supposed to learn
to trust your partner.

I'm not gonna try
to hide anything from you.

Okay. But what is it
that I'm signing?

Uh, those are contracts
for three new accounts
I just landed today.

Three new accounts!
George, that's great news.

Right, and I've got
even greater news.

Whittendale's givin' me
a bigger store,
right in this building.

Really? Where?

Charley's Bar.

Charley's Bar? Why?

Because they're not gonna
renew his lease.

You mean
they're throwing him out?

Charley's probably glad
to get out.

Have you seen the riffraff
that hangs around his place?

Uh, George,
you drink at Charley's.

I know, but I just go there
to add some class
to the joint.

Maybe we had better
go down and tell Charley
what's happening.

Why?

Well, I'm a partner
in the business,
and I'd feel better

knowing that Charley knows
we were honest with him.

But I just don't want you
to go on down there.

Why not?
Because I want you
to read the contracts!

But you said
I didn't have to read them.

Look, Weezy,
I want my partner to know
everything she's signing.

But what about Charley?

I'll talk to Charley.

Why don't we both do it?

No. See,
that's the good thing
about being partners.

While one is doing one thing,
the other one can be doing
something else.

Oh, good. I'll feel better
knowing everything's okay
down there.

Yeah, me, too, Weez.
Me, too.

Hey, Charley!

Hey, hey, Mr. Jefferson.
What'll it be? The usual?

Well, uh, how about
making it a double usual.

Comin' right up, sir.

Oh, you know, on second thought,

you know that brandy
that you gave me
on New Year's Eve?

Uh, I think it was
up on the top shelf.
I'd like some of that.

Oh, sure.
Never too much trouble
for a pal.

Yeah. Here it is.
The good stuff.

Oh. Hey.

Why don't you climb
back up there and get me
one of them special glasses?

Uh, sure. One of those
special little glasses,
comin' right up.

Hey, Mr. Jefferson,
what are you doing?

Huh? Oh.
I was just giving myself
a sobriety test.

Maybe I better not
have one of those drinks.

Sure, sure.
Whatever you say,
Mr. Jefferson.

So, how's business?

Oh, great.
Getting better every day.

Oh, yeah, well,
you can't depend on that,
Charley.

I've known businesses
that seemed solid,
and weren't really solid.

And before you know it,
the walls cave right on in.

Yeah.

Well, I don't have
to worry about that.

One thing I know,
I'll always have a roof
over my head.

Right. Built-in
sprinkler system, too.

Yeah. Gee, you know,
these old walls hold
a lot of memories for me.

Oh, really?
Yeah.

Oh.

Well, now, right off
the top of your head,

about how many square feet
of memories do you think
these walls hold?

Huh?
Well, you know,
there are a lot of places

that could hold more memories.

Oh, yeah, like where?

Well, like,
say you had a place
in Rockefeller Center.

Nah. Too busy.
I'd go nuts.

Okay, how about on top
of the World Trade Center?

Mmm-mmm.
I'm afraid of heights.

I got it. Tahiti.

I can see it now.
Charley's Tropical Paradise.

Tropical paradise?

Sure, right there on the beach.

The breeze. The ocean.

And you could serve
those fancy drinks with
the little umbrellas in 'em.

Ahh...

Yeah. I could see
those beautiful native girls
with their grass skirts

and them skimpy little bikinis.

Yeah, and that's
their winter clothes.

Now see, you can't tell me
you wouldn't be happier there!

Well, of course
I'd be happier there.

That... That's all
I wanted to hear.

Yeah, but let's be realistic.
I'll never get out of here.

Huh. Don't be too sure.
Miracles can happen.
See you later.

All right.

Hello, Charley's Bar.
Hey, Mr. Miller.

Uh-huh.

Hey, Weez.
Hi, George.

Did you sign
those contracts yet?

No, not yet.
I'm still reading them.

Oh.
What did Charley say?

Oh, he said, um,
there are two or three
places he'd rather be.

So, he has
a new location in mind?

Oh, yeah. He's talkin'
about opening up a bar

and servin'
those fancy drinks,
you know,

with the little
umbrellas in 'em.

Oh, good.

It sounds like Charley
will be a lot happier there.

Believe it or not,
those were his exact words.

Hello, Mr. Jefferson, sir.

You left your notebook
downstairs in the bar.

Oh, thanks, Ralph.

I'll bet there's a lot
of important things
in this book.

Oh, you're right, Ralph.

Addresses, phone numbers,
appointments, tax receipts.

Losing this could have
cost you a lot of money.

I think it already has.
Thank you, Ralph.

Thank you very much, sir.
You didn't have to.

Oh, well, in that...
But since you went
to all that trouble...

Say, have you heard
the news about Charley?

He's moving.
Yeah, I know.

I hear he's really
happy about it.

Happy? No, ma'am,
he's crushed.

See you later, Ralph.
Oh, why?

I understand he's got
a wonderful new place.

It must be new.
He didn't have it
five minutes ago.

Bye, Ralph.

Uh, wait a minute, Ralph.
Are you sure about that?

Yes, ma'am.
That's why Charley
was so upset.

Mr. Miller just up
and gave his lease
to somebody else.

You don't say.

Uh, does Charley know
who this somebody else is?

No. But I'm sure it must
be somebody pretty big.

Or someone pretty small.

Well, see you later, Ralph.

You lied to me, George.

You said Charley was happy
about moving out.

I said happy, not thrilled.

George, Charley's your friend.

How can you throw him
out in the cold?

Come on, Weezy,
it ain't cold in Tahiti!

I can't believe
you're the same man
I married 30 years ago.

I'm not. I'm much richer.
And I don't let friendship
influence my business.

Hey, Lionel,
what brings you
here today?

Oh, America's national pastime.

Uh-oh, don't tell me
you're fighting
with your wife, too?

Oh, no, Pop.
Baseball.

See, we started a team at work
and I need my old mitt
for the game this afternoon.

Ah.
Hi, Lionel.

Hi, Mom.
Look. Forget about the mitt.
I need your opinion.

Okay, but can you hurry up,
Pop? I gotta get to the game.

Sure.
George, leave Lionel
out of this.

This is a personal matter
between you and me.

So? If it wasn't for
a personal matter
between you and me,

there wouldn't be no Lionel.

Oh, go ahead and talk to him.
But you're wasting your time.

He's his mother's son.

He's his father's son.

He's his mother's son.
His father's son.

His mother's.
Father's.

It's times like this
I wish I was adopted.

Sorry.
Okay,
now what's going on?

Okay, Lionel,
look, we're having
a business disagreement,

and I want your opinion.
I want your opinion, too.

That way
we'll find out who's right
and why your father is wrong.

Hey, Weezy, that ain't fair.

Maybe I could
just borrow a mitt...

No, no, wait. Lionel...
This is important.

George, would you be willing
to let Lionel settle this
thing one way or the other?

Sure. Like I said,
he is his father's son.

Oh, ho, don't start that again.

All right, don't tell him
who thinks what.

Just let the issue
speak for itself.

Okay.

Now, Lionel,
I want you to know
whatever you decide is fine.

You may not agree with me,
but I'll understand.

My heart will break
in 1000 pieces,

but I'll understand.

After all, I'm only your mother.

Okay, Weez,
you wanna play dirty, huh?

Come here, Lionel.

If you agree with me,
I will match
your weekly salary.

You actually expect to bribe
your own son with cash?

Okay. I'll throw in
a Volkswagen.

Please. Please,
just give me the facts.

Okay, Lionel.
These are the facts,
pure and simple. Okay.

There's this hard-working
businessman who's just trying
to make an honest living...

Honest? Ha!
That's a laugh!

Will you let me finish?
You cut me off right in
the middle of my story.

Please, George,
Lionel's a little old
for fairy tales.

This ain't no fairy tale.
It's business!

Well, if you call it business,
I'm sorry I ever got involved
with Jefferson Cleaners.

Ha! You ain't half
as sorry as I am.

I should have my head examined.

Save yourself the trouble.
I can tell you what
they'll find. Nothing!

That's right! Because
I know what I'm doing!

I know what you're doing,
too, George.

And I think
it's completely unethical.

Look, ethics ain't got
nothin' to do with it.
This is business.

You call it business,
I call it the shaft.

I don't care what you call it.

I call it making money.
And that's the bottom line.
Money!

Ain't that right, Lionel?
L-Lionel?

Now you see what you've done.
You drove your own son
out of the house.

I drove him out?

That's right because you knew
he was about to agree with me.

Oh, really, George.
Do you honestly believe
Lionel would go along

with you throwing Charley
out of business?

I'm not throwing no Charley
out of no business.

Look, I'm doing
the whole neighborhood
a favor.

What does
a neighborhood need most,
booze or clean clothes?

George...
Okay,

how many people
have you heard
of having a wreck

driving home from the cleaners?

The point is Charley's a friend.

Charley ain't no friend.
He's a bartender.

Well, if Charley's not a friend,

why are you afraid to tell him
that you're the one
who's throwing him out?

I ain't afraid
to tell him nothin'.

Well, then, tell him.

Okay, I will. Huh.

What are you doing?
I'm writing Charley
a letter.

George, I want you
to go down there,
look Charley in the eye,

and tell him exactly
what you're doing.

Okay, I will,

if you promise to let me
handle all of my business
decisions from now on.

Okay.

Good. While I'm gone,
you can sign these contracts.

Okay, I'll do it
as soon as we get back.

We?

That's right.
You already lied
about telling Charley once.

How can I be sure
you won't do it again?

You can't. See,
that's what's great
about our marriage.

There's still
some mystery in it.

Look, Weezy, maybe
we should come back later.
Charley's busy.

What are you talking about?
The bar is empty.

That's what I'm talking about.
He's busy wonderin'
how to fill up the place.

George.
Okay, okay.

Hello, Charley.

Oh, hello,
Mrs. Jefferson,
Mr. Jefferson.

Have you, uh, heard the news?

Uh, yes, Charley.
That's why we're here.

And George has something to say.

Well...

Well, uh, Charley,
I don't know exactly
how to tell you this, but...

Give me a Scotch on the rocks.

Sure, Mr. Jefferson.
In fact, uh,
I think I'll join you.

Oh, come on, Charley,
you shouldn't feel bad.

I mean,
you're a great bartender.

You gonna be successful
wherever you go.

You think so, huh?

Sure, I mean,
you got what it takes.
Hmm.

Booze is in your blood.

Get to the point, George.

Weez, would you
let the man finish
his drink?

There you go, Charley.

Charley.

Oh, Mr. Bentley.

Oh, Charley.

Oh, Mr. Bentley.

Charley. Charley, Charley,
I don't know what to say.

How about something
besides "Charley"?

Hello, Mr. J, Mrs. J.
Isn't it awful
about the bar?

Come on, Weez, you can see
they wanna be alone.
Let's get out of here.

George, sit!

Well, uh,
I... I guess you heard, huh?

Oh, yes, and I feel terrible.

Charley, do you have any idea
who's taking over?

Oh, nah. Probably one
of them big corporations.
Nameless, faceless...

Brainless.

Well, it's not a new story,
Charley.

The small,
independent shopkeeper
squeezed into submission

by the ruthless tentacles
of capitalistic avarice.

Yeah. And not only that,
they're gonna throw me
out of here.

You know, I once had an uncle,

used to run
a small petrol station
in Essex

until a big conglomerate
drove him out.

But in the end,
Uncle Artemus had
the last laugh.

See that, Weezy?
What happened
to your uncle, Bentley?

He shot himself.

And the big conglomerate
had to pay for the funeral.

Oh.

Well, I wanna thank you folks
for, uh, coming down here
and trying to cheer me up.

But, uh, let's face it,
I got a problem.

Looks like I may be
out of work for a while.

Come on, Charley,
will you look
on the bright side?

I hear daytime TV
is better than ever.

George, why don't you just say
what you came here to say?

Okay, okay.
Look, Charley,

what happened to you
was a cheap shot, right?

And, uh, well, speaking
of cheap shots, I think
I'll have another drink.

Oh, allow me, Charley.

Oh, thank you,
Mr. Bentley.

Oh, Charley, we came
as soon as we found out.

Thank you,
Mr. Willis.

Oh, Tom and I are really
gonna miss you, Charley.

Thank you, Mrs. Willis.

Hey, look,
we're all gonna miss you.

But you'll come
and visit us sometime, right?

Sure.

Oh, I'll always remember
our 20th wedding anniversary.

We were going to Vermont
for a second honeymoon.

Why, did you ruin the first one?

But it was snowing
so hard, we couldn't
cross Fifth Avenue.

So we wound up here
at Charley's.

Oh, what a shame.

Oh, no, not at all.

Thanks to Charley,

that night turned out to be
one of the most romantic
nights Helen and I ever spent.

You remember,
don't you, Charley?

No.

First you brought us
a bottle of our favorite
champagne. Remember?

Uh, champagne... Yes!

Oh, Louise, it was so romantic.

We were sitting, um, right here.

And then Charley gave us
a special treat.

Oh, that's right.

Hey, Charley,
for old times' sake,
what do you think?

Oh, oh, no, no,
no, Mr. Willis,

I... I don't think so.
N-Not in front of everybody.

Oh, Charley.
They're like family.

Please.

Well, for you, I guess so.

♪ You must remember this

♪ A kiss is still a kiss

♪ A sigh is just a sigh

♪ The fundamental things apply

♪ As time goes by ♪

Oh!

Oh, that's so beautiful.

Play it again, Charley.

This place holds such memories.

You know, it was
at this very table that I
fell in love with Kathleen.

And Susan.
And Wanda.

And my very favorite of all,
Sam.

Sam?

Uh, yes.
Short for Samantha.

I'll never forget you, Charley.

Oh, me neither,
Mr. Bentley.

I mean, I'll probably never
have another customer

who can order
a Harvey Wallbanger
in seven different languages.

Oh, come on, look,
what is everybody
worried about?

Look, Charley,
you're gonna open
a new bar someplace

and you'll make more money
than you ever made here.

Money? It's not money.
I'm gonna miss all of you.

I mean,
you're... you're my friends.

Hey, Mr. Jefferson, uh,
you and I have had some great
times together, haven't we?

Some good times.
I don't remember
no great times.

Well, I can.

You... You remember the time
we were flipping for drinks,

and you were using
that two-headed coin?

Oh, yeah.
I remember that.
Yeah, boy.

I mean,
I really fell for that one.

Yeah, you never even noticed

it had George Washington
on one side and
Sammy Davis, Jr. on the other.

That wasn't no fun.

Well, how about the time
when those two guys were
trying to stick me up

and you snuck in the john
and called the police.

It wasn't no big deal.
I had to go
to the bathroom anyway.

Come on, Mr. Jefferson,
you're just being modest.

I mean,
if you're not a friend,
I don't know what to call you.

I do.

Ah, there you are,
Mr. Jefferson.

Oh, yeah, I was just
talking with Charley.

I see.
Then you've told him?
Yeah.

Told me?
T-Told me, what?

Uh, how great it is
to have you in
the store next to me.

Oh, well,
all good things
have to end.

No, they don't.

Uh, I'm not sure I know
what you mean.

What I mean is I want you
to hustle your butt
up to Whittendale

and tell him that
if Charley leaves,
Jefferson Cleaners goes, too.

But I thought
you were interested in...

All I'm interested in
is keeping Charley's Bar
exactly where it is.

Yes, but...
George Jefferson don't let
nobody move in on his friend.

But, but...
So, go up
and tell Whittendale.

But, my butt.

Wow!

Hey, Mr. Jefferson, I mean,
you mean to tell me

that you'd really
put your business
on the line for me?

Hey, Charley,
what are friends for?

Put her there.

Hey, everybody, come on,
drinks on the house!

Hey, Charley.

George, you were wonderful.
Oh.

The way you stood up
to Mr. Miller
and Mr. Whittendale.

Yeah. Oh, Whittendale!
What's he gonna say?

Oh, what can he say, George?
Once he hears your side of
the story, he'll understand.

Oh yeah, that's right.
Once he hears
my side of the story.

Come on. We gotta
go up and talk to him.
We?

Sure, remember
what I was telling you
about partners before,

when one is doing something
the other one
is doing something else.

So, you can be talking
to Whittendale.

Oh, well,
while I'm doing that,
what will you be doing?

Sweating, sweetheart.

♪ A kiss is still a kiss

♪ A sigh is just a sigh

♪ The fundamental things apply

♪ As time goes by ♪

♪ Movin', movin' on up ♪

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
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