The Jeffersons (1975–1985): Season 6, Episode 23 - The First Store - full transcript
The Jeffersons relive 1968: George wants to break out of his impoverished life by opening his own dry-cleaning establishment in spite of the tremendous obstacles thrown at him by society and the times. Lionel is acting militant and his parents encourage Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s nonviolence. Then, early April delivers the cruelest horror.
♪ 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 ♪
Hey, Weezy, how much longer
are we gonna be looking
through this old stuff?
Why? Is there something
else you'd rather do?
Well, Florence
isn't here tonight,
and, uh, I figured
we could turn in early
and, well, you know.
Really, George?
Oh, we could do that later.
Oh, come on, Weezy.
Let's go now.
Look, George, I'm flattered.
After all these years,
you still can't wait.
No, it's not that.
It's that if I wait too long,
I'll miss Johnny Carson.
Johnny Carson, huh?
Then I'll have two men
in the bedroom
to make me laugh.
You know,
we've sure come a long way
since this was taken.
You got that right. Huh!
Who would have thought
when we were living in Harlem
that we'd have everything
we have now?
I'll tell you who. Me.
Yeah, you were pretty
sure of yourself, all right.
Remember the day
you came home and told me
you wanted to open
your own cleaning store?
Yep, that was in, um, 1968.
Good afternoon.
This is Ed Cummings
with the 5:00 news
for Thursday, April 4th.
And now, the day's top stories.
In Washington to...
President Johnson
further stated
that his decision
not to seek reelection was...
fresh from a resounding victory
over President Johnson
in the Wisconsin
Democratic primary...
the McCarthy campaign
is gearing up for
next month's Indiana primary,
where Senator Robert Kennedy
is expected to offer...
Hey, Weez, I'm home.
Well, you're home early.
Boy, I'm so excited.
I can hardly wait.
Well, you might have to.
I've got a headache.
I'm not that kind of excited.
I'm getting ready to meet
with a banker.
A banker?
And if everything works out
right, you can take off
that maid uniform for good.
Why? So we'll both
be standing around
in our underwear?
Look, Weezy,
put something nice on.
He'll be here in a minute.
George, why in the world
is a banker coming here?
Okay, Weez,
what would you say
if I was to tell you
that I was gonna go
into my own business?
Oh, well, I'd say,
"Take two aspirins,
and call me in the morning."
Okay, you laugh,
but one day we're gonna be
so rich, you're gonna have
your own maid.
You can sit back
and watch her
do all the work.
Well, that sounds great, George,
but do you really
think you could run
your own business?
Of course I can. Look, Weezy,
I've been working for Stevens
for five years now, right?
I run the pressing machines.
I tag all the clothes.
I wait on the customers.
I make deliveries.
What does Stevens have
that I ain't got?
Cuter knees?
Yeah, Weezy,
I'm tired of bustin' my butt
making everybody else rich.
It's time I got a piece
of the pie for me. Huh!
Uh, but, George,
how can you be so sure a bank
is going to lend you money?
You ever hear of a bank
lending salami?
George!
Look, Weez, they got
this new thing that's called
the Minority Lending Program,
and I hear
all you need to qualify is
to be colored, ambitious
and have a great personality.
Well, two out of three
ain't bad.
Look, Weezy,
I know how to talk
to these people.
I deal with people all the time.
All I gotta do
is humor him, right?
And then, you know,
make him think
I'm on his side.
How are you gonna do that?
That's easy.
I'll just wait for him
to say something stupid
and agree with him.
But what makes you think
he's gonna say
something stupid?
Come on, Weezy,
given enough time, everybody
says something stupid.
Oh, I don't know. I think
you should just be honest
with the man.
See that? It only
took you four seconds.
Oh, shoot!
I need a tie.
I got a tie
around here somewhere?
Uh, look in the wardrobe,
on the top shelf.
Man, I ain't wore this tie
since the day we got married.
I wonder if it still fits.
Oh, shoot! I forgot
I have trouble
tying these things.
How did you tie your tie
for our wedding?
I didn't. Mama did it.
Hey, maybe I ought
to call her and ask her
how to tie a tie.
Good idea.
And while you're at it,
ask her how to untie
the apron strings.
Oh, apron strings.
George Jefferson?
That's me.
I'm William Drew from
the Mercantile National Bank.
Oh, yes, sir!
Mr. Drew, come on in.
Oh, thank you.
Uh, are you all right?
Oh, yeah,
I was just taking
this tie off.
Gets uncomfortable
from wearing it all day,
you know?
Hope you don't mind.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, have a seat.
Thank you.
Uh, can I get you
some coffee or something?
Oh, no, no, no.
Uh, well, I really
can't stay long.
My car is parked out front,
and I don't want to leave it
out there too long
in a neighborhood like this.
You know what I mean.
Oh, yeah.
I know what you mean.
Your home is very...
Very comfortable.
Thank you, but it ain't
nearly as comfortable
as the place I'm gonna have
once my new cleaning business
makes me rich.
Oh, now,
that's a healthy attitude,
Mr. Jefferson,
but I should caution you
that the majority
of businesses
in the first five years
don't even show a profit.
But I'm not a majority.
I'm a minority, remember?
Now, let me see.
You gave me most
of the financial information
over the phone.
What I need now
is some personal data.
Mmm-hmm.
Uh, "data" means information.
Right.
I didn't mean
to imply that you...
Oh, no, no, no,
everybody makes errors.
Exactly.
"Errors" means mistakes.
Right. Now,
let me see.
Are you married?
Uh, yep.
Greatest woman in the world.
Mmm-hmm.
And how many children
do you have?
Just one, a son.
Really? Well, now,
that's surprising.
It is?
Yeah, don't most
colored people
have large families?
Well, I guess not,
or we wouldn't be called
a minority.
Hey, here she is now.
Uh, Louise, I'd like you
to meet Mr. Drew,
a white guy...
I mean, a nice guy
from the Mercantile Bank.
Hello, Mrs. Jefferson.
Nice to meet you.
Your husband
was just giving me
some personal information.
"Personal information"
means data.
Oh, no.
Lionel?
What happened?
Oh, I was in a demonstration.
The pigs showed up,
started bustin' heads.
A demonstration?
What were people
demonstrating about?
Police brutality.
Are you okay?
Yeah, but they
really messed up
a couple of brothers.
Uh, brothers?
But you told me
you had only one boy.
"Boy"? Who is he?
Uh, Lionel,
this is Mr. Drew
from the bank.
Oh, is that your new Buick
parked out front?
Yes. Is it all right?
Oh, it's fine, except
for that bumper sticker
that says,
"America, love it
or leave it."
Well, if people
don't like it
in this country,
they're perfectly free
to go someplace else.
Oh, yeah?
Lionel, look,
I'm talking to Mr. Drew
about giving me a loan
to open my new cleaning store.
Oh, so that's why
you're wearing a suit.
What he means is,
that's why I'm wearing
a suit now.
See, usually I take it off
as soon as I get home
from work.
You do?
Of course I do.
Weezy, why don't you
take Lionel in the kitchen
and make sure he's okay?
Excuse me, Mr. Drew.
Come on, Lionel, I'll put
some ice on your head.
Yeah, and while you're at it,
put some tape on his mouth.
Kids.
Mr. Jefferson, I... I hope
your son isn't anti-police.
I mean, where would
the people of this country
be without law and order?
In jail.
Right. You know, it seems
like every time I turn on
the television these days,
people are protesting
against this
or marching against that.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Yeah, and this country
would be better off
if people spent
less time marching
and more time working.
Right. Working
to open cleaning stores.
We gotta clean this country up.
And him, he's the one
who's causing most of it.
That's ri...
What? Martin Luther King?
Yeah, you know,
I've heard that
he's a communist.
A communist?
Mmm-hmm.
What do you think?
What do I think?
Oh, well, I think we should
talk about me and my chances
of getting a loan.
Loan?
Oh, yes, yes.
Right, yeah.
You know, Mr. Jefferson, I'm...
I'm very impressed with you.
Oh, you are?
Mmm-hmm.
And I'm going
to recommend that
your loan be approved.
Oh, that's great.
Well, we
at the Mercantile Bank
like to help people
who want to help themselves.
That's me.
So I'll just bring
the loan papers around
tomorrow morning
for your signature,
if that's all right with you?
Oh, sure, it's all right.
That's fantastic.
Thanks a lot, Mr. Drew.
You're welcome.
You know, Jefferson, I wish
all Negroes were like you.
Uh-huh.
Hey, Weezy, Lionel,
come on out here, quick.
Oh, what happened, George?
I did it.
I got the loan.
Oh, that's wonderful.
Oh, you deserve a big kiss.
I sure do, but first,
I gotta show you something.
Come on over here.
This is the best surprise
I could ever give you.
Blip! Aha!
Hey, what a surprise. A key.
No, no, no, I'm gonna show you
the store I rented
for the brand new cleaners.
But you still
don't have the loan yet.
Where did you get
the money to rent a store?
I sold our car
for the down payment.
Sold our car?
George, how could you?
It wasn't easy, Weez.
Getting 300 bucks
for a '55 Chrysler
with bald tires took
a lot of talking. Oh, boy!
Well, here it is.
The future site
of Handy-Dandy Cleaners.
Handy-Dandy Cleaners?
Right. Can you think
of a better name?
Well, how about
Jefferson Cleaners?
Come on, Weezy.
Be serious.
That would never work.
Pop, I'm not sure
this whole thing
is gonna work.
Why not?
Lionel, you should be proud
of what your father is doing.
Well, sure, I'm proud
of what he's trying to do,
but do you know
what the odds are
of a black man making it
in this system?
You know something, Lionel?
You're starting
to sound just like
them black militants,
always yelling about everything.
"Down with the country!
Down with the system!
Down with everything!"
Yeah, well,
those brothers are doing
a lot more than yelling.
They are taking action.
Okay, you call it action.
I call it violence.
Well, call it
whatever you want,
but what they're saying is
the only way
to fight white power
is with black power.
They are wrong, Lionel.
That's not the only way.
That's right.
Martin Luther King
is fighting back,
but he's doing it
the right way,
nonviolent.
Oh, yeah, well,
what King is doing is fine,
but just maybe
the days of sit-ins
are over, right?
I mean, just maybe
that it's time
to stand up and fight.
Oh, what's the sense
in talking to you?
Come on, Weez, now.
Here is where I'll stack
all the clean laundry,
and this is
where I'll have
all my cleaning equipment,
and right here
is where you will wait
on the customers.
That's great, George.
Me?
Oh, yeah, congratulations.
You are the first employee
of Handy-Dandy Cleaners.
Really? What's
my weekly salary?
Well, I'll give you a hint.
It ends with a zero.
Yeah?
And it starts with a zero,
but you got one
big fringe benefit.
You get to fool around
with the boss.
Mom! Pop!
Get back!
What was that?
Somebody threw a brick
through the window!
Hey, this is private property!
Hey, what's going on out here?
Haven't you
heard, man?
Heard what?
Brother Martin,
he's dead.
What?
Martin Luther King?
That's right.
They shot him,
and now they're gonna pay.
But...
Damn.
I can't believe it.
They killed him.
They really killed him.
You bastards!
Rioting broke out in some
40 U.S. cities last night
in response
to the assassination
of Martin Luther King.
In the nation's capital,
armed troops stood guard
at the White...
What?
Morning, George.
Good morning.
I'm afraid
that television's
on its last legs.
Yeah, just like
everything else
in this country.
How long have you been up?
All night.
I couldn't stop
thinking about it.
Me, neither.
Boy, I even took
sleeping pills.
That didn't even help. Huh.
Sleeping pills?
Where did you get
sleeping pills?
In the orange bottle
in the medicine cabinet.
George, those are
my hormone tablets.
What?
I mean, what?
Don't worry.
They won't have
any effect on you.
No, I guess you're right.
Morning, Mom, Pop.
Morning, son.
Hi, Lionel.
You want some breakfast?
I'm not hungry. Thanks.
Well, I better call
Mrs. Warren and tell her
I won't be working today.
I thought
you called her
last night.
I tried,
but the phone lines
were clogged.
Did they find out
who shot him yet?
No.
Probably some nut,
like the guys
who shot President Lincoln
and President Kennedy.
Yeah. Well, this is
some country, ain't it?
I mean, every time
we get somebody who wants
to help people,
he gets gunned down.
Right. Whoever
invented guns
ought to be shot.
But, Mrs. Warren, I...
But... I know.
If you could
just let me off
this one day...
What's the matter, Weezy?
Mrs. Warren
is having guests tonight,
and she wants me to work.
Give me that.
Hello, Mrs. Warren?
Yeah, that's right.
Oh, look, well, today
is a day of mourning
at our house.
Yeah, I know, well...
Well, why don't you just
get yourself a new maid.
Right on, Pop.
I don't believe these people,
wanting you to work today!
But, George, we need that job.
No, we don't.
We don't need nothin'.
From now on,
you're working for me,
the president
and general manager
of Handy-Dandy Cleaners.
But aren't you being
a little premature?
You still don't have
the loan from the bank yet.
Don't worry,
I'll have it soon.
Stupid television.
Hey, hey, don't worry.
Soon as I get dressed,
I'll just go out
and get us a new TV.
How are you gonna do that?
The same way everybody else
out there is doing it.
I'll just take it.
Lionel, you know
it's not right
to steal!
Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah?
Well, it's not right
to kill people, either,
but that didn't stop them
from killing
Martin Luther King!
We didn't raise you
to be a thief!
Lionel, I want to talk to you!
Mr. Jefferson?
Yeah, who are you?
It's me,
William Drew.
Oh, Mr. Drew.
Come on in.
Oh, thank you.
Oh! It's really crazy
out there.
Oh, I brought
the loan papers
over for you to sign.
Oh, but you didn't have
to do that.
You could've waited
until Monday.
Oh, well, I would have,
but today's the final day
of the contest.
Oh, contest?
Yes, the bank is giving
a prize for the most dollars
in minority loans.
Oh. What do I win?
Oh, nothing,
but I win a new set
of golf clubs.
Thanks to you.
Oh, glad I could help you out.
Now, uh, all I need
is your signature.
Uh-huh. When can I move
into the new store I rented?
Oh, oh, oh, about the store,
well, you're gonna have
to get another place.
Another place?
But I only want
to open one store.
No, no, I mean,
you'll have to find
a different neighborhood
for your store.
Why?
Well, Mr. Jefferson,
you've seen what's going on
out there. It isn't safe.
Mr. Drew...
I couldn't even drive
my car up here today.
I had to take a cab.
Fortunately, I got
a Negro cabbie.
But this ain't that bad
a neighborhood.
Not a bad neighborhood?
Well, the people out there
are tearing down
everything in sight.
That's because
they're just angry about
what happened last night.
Look, my bank can't let you
open a store in an area
where the people
behave like animals.
Animals?
So, Mr. Jefferson,
if you want the loan,
you'll just have to locate
your store in a more
respectable neighborhood.
Oh, you mean like
a white neighborhood?
That's a thought.
Well, do you want
the loan or not?
Do I want the loan?
Do I want the loan?
Hell, no, I don't want
the loan. I don't want
nothing from you, honkey.
Honkey?
That's right, honkey.
What's going on, George?
I'm throwing this honkey
out of here.
Mr. Jefferson,
this is no way
to treat a banker.
This is the only way
to treat a banker like you.
I'm withdrawing you
from my house and depositing
you in the street.
Are you sure this is
what you want to do?
No, what I really wanna do
is against the law.
George, why did you throw
Mr. Drew out the door?
Because he wouldn't fit
through the window.
Did you lose the loan?
Yeah, I lost the loan,
but I found my dignity.
I can't believe that chump.
He called the people
in this neighborhood animals.
Oh, well, George,
in that case, I'm glad
you threw him out.
Yeah, it felt great, too.
The only way
to fight white power
is with black power.
The militants are right.
They are not right,
and you know it.
Now, I want you to go
in there and talk to Lionel.
Why?
Because he won't listen to me.
He says he's going out there
and steal a television.
Okay, I'll go talk to him.
Good.
I'm gonna tell him
to make sure he gets one
with a remote control.
George!
Let's face it, Weezy.
The only way we're gonna get
anything from Whitey
is by taking it.
Well, if Lionel goes out there,
he'll just be proving
what some white people think.
I don't care
what the honkeys think!
I'm tired of guessing
what they think.
Okay, George.
I guess you're right.
In fact, why don't you
go out there with Lionel?
We could use a stereo, too.
What?
And while you are out there,
get rid of this thing.
Weezy, what are you doing?
Oh, we don't need
this picture anymore.
The man is dead.
What?
Oh, Dr. King is probably
looking down on us
right now, saying,
"Get out there,
and get what you can!
Burn, baby! Burn!"
No, he'd never say that.
Then why are you
sending Lionel out there?
I don't know. Damn it, Weezy,
I don't know nothin' anymore.
See y'all later.
Where do you think
you're going?
Out. I am gonna let
this country know
that this time,
they have pushed us too far.
Look, Lionel, Lionel, Lionel.
I know how you feel,
but violence is not the answer.
Oh, yeah?
Well, what is the answer?
Nonviolence?
I mean, that's what
Martin Luther King thought,
and you see where it got him.
Lionel. Lionel!
Martin Luther King
helped accomplish a lot
for our people.
Oh, sure, he tried,
but what did he
really accomplish?
I mean, nothing's changed.
You're wrong, Lionel.
Lots of things have changed.
Maybe not as fast
as we'd like, but there
have been a lot of changes.
Look, I remember
the first day I realized
that I was colored.
Black.
Okay, black.
I was sitting
on the doorstep
with my father,
and I hear this siren
screaming louder
and louder and louder,
coming closer
and closer
and closer, right?
And all of a sudden,
this great big red fire truck
comes racin'
around the corner
right past our house,
so I'm all excited,
you know, and I look
at my father and say,
"Wow, when I grow up,
I wanna be a fireman."
And he just looked at me,
and he smiled and said, "Yeah,
"don't you know, Georgie,
that they don't let Negroes
on the Fire Department?"
And for a long time after that,
I felt like less of a person
just because I was co...
Black.
Then Martin Luther King
comes along and reminds me
that I am just as good
as everybody else.
He gave me hope.
He gave me the confidence
to go out there
and start my own business,
and that's what I'm gonna do.
Pop. Pop, see,
you're dreaming.
I mean, w-w-we got no car.
We got no TV.
Mom's got no job.
No loan.
No loan?
That's right.
Well, then how are you
gonna start your business?
I don't know, Lionel,
but I'm gonna do it.
You can do whatever
you want, if you really
want to. Right, Weez?
Your father is right, Lionel.
We shall overcome.
The night before his death,
Reverend King delivered
the following speech
to striking sanitation workers
in Memphis,
"We've got
some difficult days ahead,
"but it really
doesn't matter with me now
"because I've been
to the mountaintop.
"I don't mind.
"Like anybody,
I would like
to live a long life.
"Longevity has its place.
"But I'm not concerned
about that now.
"I just want to do God's will.
"And he's allowed me
to go up to the mountain.
"And I've looked over,
"and I've seen
the promised land.
"I may not get there with you,
but I want you to know tonight
"that we, as a people,
will get to the promised land.
"So I'm happy tonight.
I'm not worried
about anything.
"I'm not fearing any man.
"Mine eyes have seen
the glory of the coming
of the Lord."
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
♪ 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 ♪
Hey, Weezy, how much longer
are we gonna be looking
through this old stuff?
Why? Is there something
else you'd rather do?
Well, Florence
isn't here tonight,
and, uh, I figured
we could turn in early
and, well, you know.
Really, George?
Oh, we could do that later.
Oh, come on, Weezy.
Let's go now.
Look, George, I'm flattered.
After all these years,
you still can't wait.
No, it's not that.
It's that if I wait too long,
I'll miss Johnny Carson.
Johnny Carson, huh?
Then I'll have two men
in the bedroom
to make me laugh.
You know,
we've sure come a long way
since this was taken.
You got that right. Huh!
Who would have thought
when we were living in Harlem
that we'd have everything
we have now?
I'll tell you who. Me.
Yeah, you were pretty
sure of yourself, all right.
Remember the day
you came home and told me
you wanted to open
your own cleaning store?
Yep, that was in, um, 1968.
Good afternoon.
This is Ed Cummings
with the 5:00 news
for Thursday, April 4th.
And now, the day's top stories.
In Washington to...
President Johnson
further stated
that his decision
not to seek reelection was...
fresh from a resounding victory
over President Johnson
in the Wisconsin
Democratic primary...
the McCarthy campaign
is gearing up for
next month's Indiana primary,
where Senator Robert Kennedy
is expected to offer...
Hey, Weez, I'm home.
Well, you're home early.
Boy, I'm so excited.
I can hardly wait.
Well, you might have to.
I've got a headache.
I'm not that kind of excited.
I'm getting ready to meet
with a banker.
A banker?
And if everything works out
right, you can take off
that maid uniform for good.
Why? So we'll both
be standing around
in our underwear?
Look, Weezy,
put something nice on.
He'll be here in a minute.
George, why in the world
is a banker coming here?
Okay, Weez,
what would you say
if I was to tell you
that I was gonna go
into my own business?
Oh, well, I'd say,
"Take two aspirins,
and call me in the morning."
Okay, you laugh,
but one day we're gonna be
so rich, you're gonna have
your own maid.
You can sit back
and watch her
do all the work.
Well, that sounds great, George,
but do you really
think you could run
your own business?
Of course I can. Look, Weezy,
I've been working for Stevens
for five years now, right?
I run the pressing machines.
I tag all the clothes.
I wait on the customers.
I make deliveries.
What does Stevens have
that I ain't got?
Cuter knees?
Yeah, Weezy,
I'm tired of bustin' my butt
making everybody else rich.
It's time I got a piece
of the pie for me. Huh!
Uh, but, George,
how can you be so sure a bank
is going to lend you money?
You ever hear of a bank
lending salami?
George!
Look, Weez, they got
this new thing that's called
the Minority Lending Program,
and I hear
all you need to qualify is
to be colored, ambitious
and have a great personality.
Well, two out of three
ain't bad.
Look, Weezy,
I know how to talk
to these people.
I deal with people all the time.
All I gotta do
is humor him, right?
And then, you know,
make him think
I'm on his side.
How are you gonna do that?
That's easy.
I'll just wait for him
to say something stupid
and agree with him.
But what makes you think
he's gonna say
something stupid?
Come on, Weezy,
given enough time, everybody
says something stupid.
Oh, I don't know. I think
you should just be honest
with the man.
See that? It only
took you four seconds.
Oh, shoot!
I need a tie.
I got a tie
around here somewhere?
Uh, look in the wardrobe,
on the top shelf.
Man, I ain't wore this tie
since the day we got married.
I wonder if it still fits.
Oh, shoot! I forgot
I have trouble
tying these things.
How did you tie your tie
for our wedding?
I didn't. Mama did it.
Hey, maybe I ought
to call her and ask her
how to tie a tie.
Good idea.
And while you're at it,
ask her how to untie
the apron strings.
Oh, apron strings.
George Jefferson?
That's me.
I'm William Drew from
the Mercantile National Bank.
Oh, yes, sir!
Mr. Drew, come on in.
Oh, thank you.
Uh, are you all right?
Oh, yeah,
I was just taking
this tie off.
Gets uncomfortable
from wearing it all day,
you know?
Hope you don't mind.
Oh, no, no.
Oh, have a seat.
Thank you.
Uh, can I get you
some coffee or something?
Oh, no, no, no.
Uh, well, I really
can't stay long.
My car is parked out front,
and I don't want to leave it
out there too long
in a neighborhood like this.
You know what I mean.
Oh, yeah.
I know what you mean.
Your home is very...
Very comfortable.
Thank you, but it ain't
nearly as comfortable
as the place I'm gonna have
once my new cleaning business
makes me rich.
Oh, now,
that's a healthy attitude,
Mr. Jefferson,
but I should caution you
that the majority
of businesses
in the first five years
don't even show a profit.
But I'm not a majority.
I'm a minority, remember?
Now, let me see.
You gave me most
of the financial information
over the phone.
What I need now
is some personal data.
Mmm-hmm.
Uh, "data" means information.
Right.
I didn't mean
to imply that you...
Oh, no, no, no,
everybody makes errors.
Exactly.
"Errors" means mistakes.
Right. Now,
let me see.
Are you married?
Uh, yep.
Greatest woman in the world.
Mmm-hmm.
And how many children
do you have?
Just one, a son.
Really? Well, now,
that's surprising.
It is?
Yeah, don't most
colored people
have large families?
Well, I guess not,
or we wouldn't be called
a minority.
Hey, here she is now.
Uh, Louise, I'd like you
to meet Mr. Drew,
a white guy...
I mean, a nice guy
from the Mercantile Bank.
Hello, Mrs. Jefferson.
Nice to meet you.
Your husband
was just giving me
some personal information.
"Personal information"
means data.
Oh, no.
Lionel?
What happened?
Oh, I was in a demonstration.
The pigs showed up,
started bustin' heads.
A demonstration?
What were people
demonstrating about?
Police brutality.
Are you okay?
Yeah, but they
really messed up
a couple of brothers.
Uh, brothers?
But you told me
you had only one boy.
"Boy"? Who is he?
Uh, Lionel,
this is Mr. Drew
from the bank.
Oh, is that your new Buick
parked out front?
Yes. Is it all right?
Oh, it's fine, except
for that bumper sticker
that says,
"America, love it
or leave it."
Well, if people
don't like it
in this country,
they're perfectly free
to go someplace else.
Oh, yeah?
Lionel, look,
I'm talking to Mr. Drew
about giving me a loan
to open my new cleaning store.
Oh, so that's why
you're wearing a suit.
What he means is,
that's why I'm wearing
a suit now.
See, usually I take it off
as soon as I get home
from work.
You do?
Of course I do.
Weezy, why don't you
take Lionel in the kitchen
and make sure he's okay?
Excuse me, Mr. Drew.
Come on, Lionel, I'll put
some ice on your head.
Yeah, and while you're at it,
put some tape on his mouth.
Kids.
Mr. Jefferson, I... I hope
your son isn't anti-police.
I mean, where would
the people of this country
be without law and order?
In jail.
Right. You know, it seems
like every time I turn on
the television these days,
people are protesting
against this
or marching against that.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Yeah, and this country
would be better off
if people spent
less time marching
and more time working.
Right. Working
to open cleaning stores.
We gotta clean this country up.
And him, he's the one
who's causing most of it.
That's ri...
What? Martin Luther King?
Yeah, you know,
I've heard that
he's a communist.
A communist?
Mmm-hmm.
What do you think?
What do I think?
Oh, well, I think we should
talk about me and my chances
of getting a loan.
Loan?
Oh, yes, yes.
Right, yeah.
You know, Mr. Jefferson, I'm...
I'm very impressed with you.
Oh, you are?
Mmm-hmm.
And I'm going
to recommend that
your loan be approved.
Oh, that's great.
Well, we
at the Mercantile Bank
like to help people
who want to help themselves.
That's me.
So I'll just bring
the loan papers around
tomorrow morning
for your signature,
if that's all right with you?
Oh, sure, it's all right.
That's fantastic.
Thanks a lot, Mr. Drew.
You're welcome.
You know, Jefferson, I wish
all Negroes were like you.
Uh-huh.
Hey, Weezy, Lionel,
come on out here, quick.
Oh, what happened, George?
I did it.
I got the loan.
Oh, that's wonderful.
Oh, you deserve a big kiss.
I sure do, but first,
I gotta show you something.
Come on over here.
This is the best surprise
I could ever give you.
Blip! Aha!
Hey, what a surprise. A key.
No, no, no, I'm gonna show you
the store I rented
for the brand new cleaners.
But you still
don't have the loan yet.
Where did you get
the money to rent a store?
I sold our car
for the down payment.
Sold our car?
George, how could you?
It wasn't easy, Weez.
Getting 300 bucks
for a '55 Chrysler
with bald tires took
a lot of talking. Oh, boy!
Well, here it is.
The future site
of Handy-Dandy Cleaners.
Handy-Dandy Cleaners?
Right. Can you think
of a better name?
Well, how about
Jefferson Cleaners?
Come on, Weezy.
Be serious.
That would never work.
Pop, I'm not sure
this whole thing
is gonna work.
Why not?
Lionel, you should be proud
of what your father is doing.
Well, sure, I'm proud
of what he's trying to do,
but do you know
what the odds are
of a black man making it
in this system?
You know something, Lionel?
You're starting
to sound just like
them black militants,
always yelling about everything.
"Down with the country!
Down with the system!
Down with everything!"
Yeah, well,
those brothers are doing
a lot more than yelling.
They are taking action.
Okay, you call it action.
I call it violence.
Well, call it
whatever you want,
but what they're saying is
the only way
to fight white power
is with black power.
They are wrong, Lionel.
That's not the only way.
That's right.
Martin Luther King
is fighting back,
but he's doing it
the right way,
nonviolent.
Oh, yeah, well,
what King is doing is fine,
but just maybe
the days of sit-ins
are over, right?
I mean, just maybe
that it's time
to stand up and fight.
Oh, what's the sense
in talking to you?
Come on, Weez, now.
Here is where I'll stack
all the clean laundry,
and this is
where I'll have
all my cleaning equipment,
and right here
is where you will wait
on the customers.
That's great, George.
Me?
Oh, yeah, congratulations.
You are the first employee
of Handy-Dandy Cleaners.
Really? What's
my weekly salary?
Well, I'll give you a hint.
It ends with a zero.
Yeah?
And it starts with a zero,
but you got one
big fringe benefit.
You get to fool around
with the boss.
Mom! Pop!
Get back!
What was that?
Somebody threw a brick
through the window!
Hey, this is private property!
Hey, what's going on out here?
Haven't you
heard, man?
Heard what?
Brother Martin,
he's dead.
What?
Martin Luther King?
That's right.
They shot him,
and now they're gonna pay.
But...
Damn.
I can't believe it.
They killed him.
They really killed him.
You bastards!
Rioting broke out in some
40 U.S. cities last night
in response
to the assassination
of Martin Luther King.
In the nation's capital,
armed troops stood guard
at the White...
What?
Morning, George.
Good morning.
I'm afraid
that television's
on its last legs.
Yeah, just like
everything else
in this country.
How long have you been up?
All night.
I couldn't stop
thinking about it.
Me, neither.
Boy, I even took
sleeping pills.
That didn't even help. Huh.
Sleeping pills?
Where did you get
sleeping pills?
In the orange bottle
in the medicine cabinet.
George, those are
my hormone tablets.
What?
I mean, what?
Don't worry.
They won't have
any effect on you.
No, I guess you're right.
Morning, Mom, Pop.
Morning, son.
Hi, Lionel.
You want some breakfast?
I'm not hungry. Thanks.
Well, I better call
Mrs. Warren and tell her
I won't be working today.
I thought
you called her
last night.
I tried,
but the phone lines
were clogged.
Did they find out
who shot him yet?
No.
Probably some nut,
like the guys
who shot President Lincoln
and President Kennedy.
Yeah. Well, this is
some country, ain't it?
I mean, every time
we get somebody who wants
to help people,
he gets gunned down.
Right. Whoever
invented guns
ought to be shot.
But, Mrs. Warren, I...
But... I know.
If you could
just let me off
this one day...
What's the matter, Weezy?
Mrs. Warren
is having guests tonight,
and she wants me to work.
Give me that.
Hello, Mrs. Warren?
Yeah, that's right.
Oh, look, well, today
is a day of mourning
at our house.
Yeah, I know, well...
Well, why don't you just
get yourself a new maid.
Right on, Pop.
I don't believe these people,
wanting you to work today!
But, George, we need that job.
No, we don't.
We don't need nothin'.
From now on,
you're working for me,
the president
and general manager
of Handy-Dandy Cleaners.
But aren't you being
a little premature?
You still don't have
the loan from the bank yet.
Don't worry,
I'll have it soon.
Stupid television.
Hey, hey, don't worry.
Soon as I get dressed,
I'll just go out
and get us a new TV.
How are you gonna do that?
The same way everybody else
out there is doing it.
I'll just take it.
Lionel, you know
it's not right
to steal!
Oh, yeah? Oh, yeah?
Well, it's not right
to kill people, either,
but that didn't stop them
from killing
Martin Luther King!
We didn't raise you
to be a thief!
Lionel, I want to talk to you!
Mr. Jefferson?
Yeah, who are you?
It's me,
William Drew.
Oh, Mr. Drew.
Come on in.
Oh, thank you.
Oh! It's really crazy
out there.
Oh, I brought
the loan papers
over for you to sign.
Oh, but you didn't have
to do that.
You could've waited
until Monday.
Oh, well, I would have,
but today's the final day
of the contest.
Oh, contest?
Yes, the bank is giving
a prize for the most dollars
in minority loans.
Oh. What do I win?
Oh, nothing,
but I win a new set
of golf clubs.
Thanks to you.
Oh, glad I could help you out.
Now, uh, all I need
is your signature.
Uh-huh. When can I move
into the new store I rented?
Oh, oh, oh, about the store,
well, you're gonna have
to get another place.
Another place?
But I only want
to open one store.
No, no, I mean,
you'll have to find
a different neighborhood
for your store.
Why?
Well, Mr. Jefferson,
you've seen what's going on
out there. It isn't safe.
Mr. Drew...
I couldn't even drive
my car up here today.
I had to take a cab.
Fortunately, I got
a Negro cabbie.
But this ain't that bad
a neighborhood.
Not a bad neighborhood?
Well, the people out there
are tearing down
everything in sight.
That's because
they're just angry about
what happened last night.
Look, my bank can't let you
open a store in an area
where the people
behave like animals.
Animals?
So, Mr. Jefferson,
if you want the loan,
you'll just have to locate
your store in a more
respectable neighborhood.
Oh, you mean like
a white neighborhood?
That's a thought.
Well, do you want
the loan or not?
Do I want the loan?
Do I want the loan?
Hell, no, I don't want
the loan. I don't want
nothing from you, honkey.
Honkey?
That's right, honkey.
What's going on, George?
I'm throwing this honkey
out of here.
Mr. Jefferson,
this is no way
to treat a banker.
This is the only way
to treat a banker like you.
I'm withdrawing you
from my house and depositing
you in the street.
Are you sure this is
what you want to do?
No, what I really wanna do
is against the law.
George, why did you throw
Mr. Drew out the door?
Because he wouldn't fit
through the window.
Did you lose the loan?
Yeah, I lost the loan,
but I found my dignity.
I can't believe that chump.
He called the people
in this neighborhood animals.
Oh, well, George,
in that case, I'm glad
you threw him out.
Yeah, it felt great, too.
The only way
to fight white power
is with black power.
The militants are right.
They are not right,
and you know it.
Now, I want you to go
in there and talk to Lionel.
Why?
Because he won't listen to me.
He says he's going out there
and steal a television.
Okay, I'll go talk to him.
Good.
I'm gonna tell him
to make sure he gets one
with a remote control.
George!
Let's face it, Weezy.
The only way we're gonna get
anything from Whitey
is by taking it.
Well, if Lionel goes out there,
he'll just be proving
what some white people think.
I don't care
what the honkeys think!
I'm tired of guessing
what they think.
Okay, George.
I guess you're right.
In fact, why don't you
go out there with Lionel?
We could use a stereo, too.
What?
And while you are out there,
get rid of this thing.
Weezy, what are you doing?
Oh, we don't need
this picture anymore.
The man is dead.
What?
Oh, Dr. King is probably
looking down on us
right now, saying,
"Get out there,
and get what you can!
Burn, baby! Burn!"
No, he'd never say that.
Then why are you
sending Lionel out there?
I don't know. Damn it, Weezy,
I don't know nothin' anymore.
See y'all later.
Where do you think
you're going?
Out. I am gonna let
this country know
that this time,
they have pushed us too far.
Look, Lionel, Lionel, Lionel.
I know how you feel,
but violence is not the answer.
Oh, yeah?
Well, what is the answer?
Nonviolence?
I mean, that's what
Martin Luther King thought,
and you see where it got him.
Lionel. Lionel!
Martin Luther King
helped accomplish a lot
for our people.
Oh, sure, he tried,
but what did he
really accomplish?
I mean, nothing's changed.
You're wrong, Lionel.
Lots of things have changed.
Maybe not as fast
as we'd like, but there
have been a lot of changes.
Look, I remember
the first day I realized
that I was colored.
Black.
Okay, black.
I was sitting
on the doorstep
with my father,
and I hear this siren
screaming louder
and louder and louder,
coming closer
and closer
and closer, right?
And all of a sudden,
this great big red fire truck
comes racin'
around the corner
right past our house,
so I'm all excited,
you know, and I look
at my father and say,
"Wow, when I grow up,
I wanna be a fireman."
And he just looked at me,
and he smiled and said, "Yeah,
"don't you know, Georgie,
that they don't let Negroes
on the Fire Department?"
And for a long time after that,
I felt like less of a person
just because I was co...
Black.
Then Martin Luther King
comes along and reminds me
that I am just as good
as everybody else.
He gave me hope.
He gave me the confidence
to go out there
and start my own business,
and that's what I'm gonna do.
Pop. Pop, see,
you're dreaming.
I mean, w-w-we got no car.
We got no TV.
Mom's got no job.
No loan.
No loan?
That's right.
Well, then how are you
gonna start your business?
I don't know, Lionel,
but I'm gonna do it.
You can do whatever
you want, if you really
want to. Right, Weez?
Your father is right, Lionel.
We shall overcome.
The night before his death,
Reverend King delivered
the following speech
to striking sanitation workers
in Memphis,
"We've got
some difficult days ahead,
"but it really
doesn't matter with me now
"because I've been
to the mountaintop.
"I don't mind.
"Like anybody,
I would like
to live a long life.
"Longevity has its place.
"But I'm not concerned
about that now.
"I just want to do God's will.
"And he's allowed me
to go up to the mountain.
"And I've looked over,
"and I've seen
the promised land.
"I may not get there with you,
but I want you to know tonight
"that we, as a people,
will get to the promised land.
"So I'm happy tonight.
I'm not worried
about anything.
"I'm not fearing any man.
"Mine eyes have seen
the glory of the coming
of the Lord."
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.