Original subtitles

Oh, yes.

Yes, yes, yes, god.

See, the man said, "This is now

Bone of my bones and flesh of

My flesh.

She shall be called woman."

Hey.

"So she was taken out of man."

Hallelujah!

You must be in the spirit, ella.

All right, baby.

I got news.

What is it?

I think floyd is about to pop

The question.

Really?

Yep.

I'm about to be his soul mate,

His "Boo thang."

His third wife.

Well, you know what they

Say -- third time's the charm.

Claretha, they also say three

Strikes and you're out!

[ chuckles ]

Ella.

I'm kidding...

A little bit, but of course I am

Happy for you.

Oh.

[ laughs ]

Oh.

That's it. That's it.

Listen.

I'm listening.

Baby, you hold her.

I'll call the pound.

Hey, miss claretha.

Hey.

Curtis, guess what?

What?

Claretha is getting ready to

Jump the broom.

Oh, that's great.

Maybe after she's jumping, she

Can hop on it and ride off

Somewhere.

I'd like to fly off the

Handle and slap you, but I've

Got plans to make.

Ella, let's go look at wedding

Dresses online.

Ohhh.

Wedding dresses.

Yes.

Be sure you don't get white

Or off-white or dirty white.

Nothing near the white.

Unc, man, listen.

What I was saying about my

Meeting with the new district

Chief...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, well, anyway, he's

Coming over.

Oh, look, c.J.

If you want me to go with you,

Smooth out the way and

Everything, just say the

Word, man.

Yeah, well, that's what I'm

Saying.

See, the word is "Don't."

Don't?

Yeah. Don't.

Don't embarrass me.

Oh, ain't nobody gonna

Embarrass you.

No, no, no.

Don't say anything that would

Reflect badly on me.

Why would I say something

That'd reflect badly on you?

In fact, don't even come to

The meeting.

Then why the hell would you

Tell me about the meeting if you

Don't want me to go?

Look, I'm sick of this mess.

Now, please.

You make this guy sound like

He's some big deal or something.

But he is, unc.

I mean, this guy is, like, some

Kind of old-school fire-eater,

You know?

I mean, he was a marine, right?

He put out oil-well fires

In kuwait!

Oh, calm down, okay?

Oil-well fires in kuwait.

Do you know I put out a

Oil-barrel fire over behind the

Jiffy trip?

That ain't the same thing.

This guy commanded three fire

Stations at the same time and --

I'm talking about the

Jiffy trip over by the

Check-cashing, okay?

Over by the liquor store.

If those three go up in flames,

Then poof!

The weekend is over for

Everybody, you heard?

Little leroy is running out with

His government check burning up.

Can't nobody do nothing about it

If I wasn't there, huh?

I could tell him some stories,

You heard?

Should've been me.

[ siren wails ]

[ horn honking ]

[ tires screech ]

Oh, look at this.

Janine!

Look at this mess.

Look at this mess, girl.

What are you doing?

C.J., baby, baby, baby, baby.

Whoo.

Calm down. Calm down.

You weren't even this nervous

When we got married.

Yeah, well, I didn't have to

Impress you.

You already said yes a couple

Of times.

Ha ha. Very funny.

Whoo!

Where are the cigars? Cigars.

We have cigars?

Ah!

Cigars.

Baby, you've got to calm

Down.

It's just that the new

District chief is coming to

Visit.

He's visiting all the captains

Of every station, and I just

Want to make sure that I stand

Out, you know, because it could

Help me.

It could help me to get that new

Equipment for the station.

Listen. Don't worry.

He's going to love you.

Yeah.

Okay?

Okay, yeah.

Yeah.

I just want to make sure

That, you know, we -- we have

Something in common, you know,

Like if we play ball, we would

Shoot some hoops, drink a few

Beers.

Yeah, smoke some cigars I

Didn't know we had.

Yeah, yeah, just, you know,

I just want to be like one of

The boys.

You'll be fine.

[ doorbell rings ]

Oh, sounds like your boy is here

Now.

My boy, yeah.

Yes. Okay.

Just leave that alone.

Hey --

You're not my boy.

Uh, no. I'm your boss.

You're...Max bannon?

Well, my name is maxine.

My friends call me max, but you

Can call me chief.

Welcome. Welcome. Come on in.

Close the door.

Close your mouth.

Hello. Welcome.

Welcome, chief.

Uh, this -- this is my wife,

Janine -- janine.

And I'm, uh -- I'm c.J.

C.J.

I'm, uh, uh, the fire captain.

Oh, well, that explains the

Uniform.

[ laughs ] Yeah.

Cigar?

No?

I didn't think so.

Ooh, I see where this is

Going.

Okay, I'm gonna leave the two of

You to talk, okay?

Um, c.J., the twins are upstairs

Asleep.

I will be back in a little bit.

Okay.

Baby, that's not mine.

Oh.

You might want to hang it up.

[ chuckles ]

It was wonderful meeting you.

Pleasure.

[ chuckles ]

Okay. Have fun.

So...

So, I guess you've been really

Busy this week meeting with all

The fire captains and

Everything.

Well, a few of them were

Uncomfortable working for a,

Uh, female fire chief.

Ha! You won't have to worry

About me with that.

[ chuckles ] Yeah.

They wouldn't have to worry,

Either, at their next job.

[ chuckles ]

Oh.

Hey!

You hear that?

No, I didn't hear anything.

That's the twins -- twins.

You hear the twins?

I have twins.

I got to go check on them, make

Sure they're okay.

And, uh, you make yourself at

Home, okay?

All right.

Oh.

Whew, excuse me.

Where's c.J.?

Uh, he's upstairs.

You work for the district

Chief office?

Oh, yes. I do. I'm--

What, you his secretary?

Well, not quite.

You a personal assistant?

Oh, see, that's so nice.

He let you come along with him,

Huh, instead of staying back

There having to fetch coffee.

[ laughs ]

-and answer phones.

I do a little more than that.

Oh, that's so sweet of you.

Whatever, but listen.

Always remember, if you do a

Good job, then maybe he'll let

You ride on his fire truck.

[ imitates siren ]

[ laughs ]

[ imitates siren ]

You think? [ chuckles ]

[ chuckles ]

Ohh.

So, is the big man around, or is

He stuck in the little boys'

Room?

Do you mean chief bannon?

Ha!

District chief bannon.

Don't even sound right.

I heard he's some kind of war

Hero or something.

[ scoffs ]

That's so silly.

You know who I am?

No.

I'm big, bad curtis payne,

You heard?

Actually, I was captain before

C.J. Was.

Oh, well, do tell.

I used to run engine company

Number 5.

You know, if I hadn't been

Forced out, I'd probably be the

District chief right now.

Ha.

Then I guess I'd just be out

Of a job.

Uh, no, you wouldn't.

Fine as you are.

[ laughs ]

I'm married, though.

Uncle curtis, what are you

Doing here?

You know what I'm doing here.

I came to see this big, bad

Chief bannon.

Whatever.

The living legend.

Please.

Actually, I'm having a good time

Talking to this fine little

Vixen right here who's flirting

With me.

You should've seen her, too,

Flirting with me.

Uncle curtis.

Cute, though.

Uncle curtis...

This is chief bannon.

You --

Maxine bannon.

[ imitates siren ]

Siren. I --

You all hear that?

No.

That's my phone.

It's like a dog whistle.

Nobody can hear it but me.

Hello? Ella.

It's your aunt ella.

She's calling me.

She always calls.

Hey, baby.

You need me to come home now?

Okay, I'll be right there.

Okay, bye.

She's always calling.

So, uh...

Look here.

I got to go, and, uh, it was

Very nice to meet you, max.

I mean, uh, bannon.

Chief.

Ch-chief.

Very nice to meet you.

Uh, look here.

Good luck with the job.

C.J., I'll keep you in my

Prayers.

Hide me.

Hide me.

Floyd...

Okay, baby, what's going on?

What are you doing?

You remember my ex, vernita?

She want to meet with me.

Oh, you in trouble.

Ain't that the one...?

Don't she bench like 450?

And that's with her bad arm,

Man.

[ doorbell rings ]

Oh, you think that's her?

[ doorbell rings ]

I guess he do.

Hello.

Uh, may I help you?

Ella, it's me -- vernita.

Vernita-a-a.

[ chuckling ]

[ laughs ]

Where's the rest of you?

Curtis.

Look, I'm looking for floyd.

I'm supposed to meet him here.

He's right over there.

Floyd, is that you?

Vernita, is that you?

I lost some weight.

Actually, I lost a lot of weight

Missing you.

After we broke up, I...

I couldn't eat.

I couldn't sleep.

Girl, if I knew you were

Gonna look this good, I would've

Left you a long time ago.

I want you back, floyd.

I want you to come home.

I want you to take me home.

Ooh, floyd.

Oh, ain't nothing changed.

I know.

Here.

[ chuckles ]

She was ready.

Okay.

Uh...

He about to swallow her.

Uh...

You all stop in this house!

[ laughs ]

I'm so happy.

Me too.

Listen, can I use your

Bathroom?

I just want to fix my face a

Little bit.

Yeah, right. Go.

Right in the back.

Don't you touch a thing.

Ooh, I got something for

That.

Like, hey, she actually looks

Kind of good.

I can't wait to go home and

Celebrate!

Whoo!

Ahh!

Floyd?

Hmm?

Floyd...

Have you forgotten claretha?

Pretty much.

[ singsong voice ] Yoo-hoo.

Ella, you here?

Uh-huh.

Damn, damn, damn!

I need to, uh, talk to you

About this paperwork.

Oh! Is that the request I

Put in?

Great!

Because we really need the new

Equipment.

No, this isn't about

Equipment.

This is about the firefighter

Who died.

Oh.

Well, I followed procedure.

I mean, it was an accident.

No, I'm not talking about an

Accident.

Um, I'm talking about the fact

That this paperwork is

Incomplete, making his family

Ineligible for any benefits.

No.

Can I look at that?

Mm.

I mean, this is -- you know,

Could be embarrassing for the

Department, c.J.

[ sighs deeply ]

An oversight like that can

Lose you your job.

I thought I finished that.

Okay.

It's taken care of.

I backdated the forms and put it

Through.

You did that?

Yes, I did...

Ho ho!

But if anyone finds out, it

Could cost both of us our jobs.

So no more mistakes.

You got it?

Yeah. Yes, sir.

I mean, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

Hey, you saved my butt.

If there's anything I could do,

Anything...

Well, um, you know, c.J.,

There might be something you

Could do.

Anything. Just name it.

Well -- [ sighs ]

What?

And I never take no for an

Answer.

I've had my eye on you, c.J.

You have?

You've got quite the

Reputation as a fireman, and it

Piqued my interest, and now that

I have finally met you, oh...

Ooh.

I love what I see.

Well, thank you.

That's good.

No, that's not good.

That's good, but not --

[ laughs ]

Oh, you are so cute when you're

So flustered.

[ chuckles ]

Hey! Baby.

Hi!

Hey. [ chuckles ]

This is my wife.

This is the chief.

This is janine, my wife.

Baby, I met her earlier.

You did.

Yes.

You met her earlier.

Yes, today.

Baby.

Baby.

How long we been married?

C.J., stop playing.

[ chuckles ]

Are the two of you still

Working?

Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm gonna go check on the twins.

You won't even know I'm here.

But you're gonna be right

Upstairs.

So if I need you for anything,

I can just call you.

O-kay, c.J.

And you'll come right down.

Uh, you got it.

Um, chief...Bannon?

I'm sorry.

Chief bannon, it was really

Nice meeting you again.

No, no, no, no.

Just call me max.

Okay, max.

Go. Work hard.

So, where were we?

Huh?

Um...

This is really inappropriate.

I mean, I'm married!

Are you uncomfortable with

A woman being in charge?

You're my boss.

Oh, well, I enjoy being in

Charge, and you know what else

I enjoy?

Yeah, you told me.

[ chuckles ]

C.J., I'm not looking for a

Relationship, just somebody to

Put out my fire once in a while,

And you do want that new

Equipment you requested,

Don't you?

Okay, that's enough.

That is enough.

Oh, no, not yet.

This is sexual harassment.

I just want to be able to tell

You that this is very

Uncomfortable and that, uh,

I could report you for this.

Oh, yeah, yeah, you could.

Then there'd be all kinds of

Investigations.

They'd probably look at my

Paperwork.

They might find out that some of

It's been backdated, and, uh,

You don't want that to happen

To you, do you?

That's blackmail!

You would do me like that?

Oh, yes.

And I love black males.

[ chuckles ]

Hey, hey, hey, claretha,

Look, um, there's something

That -- that you and I really

Need to talk about.

It's very important.

Oh, floyd!

I knew it!

See, ella?

Okay, but we need to be quick

About this, lambie pie.

I mean, claretha, I really want

To tell you --

No, no, no, wait.

I'm crying.

Oh, I look a mess.

I don't want to look like this

When you propose to me.

Look...

[ chuckles ]

That ain't gonna ever happen.

[ singsong voice ] Not

Helping.

[ singsong voice ] I'm not

Trying.

Ella, I need to freshen up.

Can I use your bathroom?

No!

Yes!

Right back that way.

It's right there.

No.

No, baby.

You look fine.

I won't be but a minute.

Oh, no. You look good,

Though.

Let her go to the bathroom.

It's a musical.

It's a musical.

[ chuckles ]

And I thought you were a

Godly woman, miss ella.

I didn't know you had it in

You, baby.

[ laughs ]

Floyd, it's called reaping.

That's called creeping.

Aah!

Where you think you're

Going, hmm?

You ain't about to mess up my

Movie.

You the star attraction.

Well, maybe they won't even

Notice each other.

Maybe they'll just go right on

By each other.

What the hell are you doing

Here?

Who the hell are you?!

Maybe not.

I just got back together with

Floyd.

What?!

I'm living with floyd.

Not good.

Oh, you better back it up!

I was here first.

I was here first.

Girl, you better back up.

Back it up.

Don't make me have to hit you

'cause I will.

Uh-oh! Uh-oh.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

Ladies, I-I see you've met.

[ chuckles ]

Just now.

I can explain.

I bet he can't.

I want him to try it.

Just give it up, floyd.

I must have been crazy to try

And come back to you.

And to think I lost all this

Weight crying over you.

Wait a minute.

How much weight?

Girl, I must've dropped

65 pounds.

I'm going on your diet and

Drop me some dead weight.

Okay?

Ooh hoo hoo hoo!

But -- [ stammers ]

Baby...

I love you.

Which one, floyd?

Whichever one will take me

Home with them.

Not me.

Sure not me.

[ sighs ]

[ chuckling ] You know what?

If c.J. Plays his cards right,

He has a bright future with me.

That's wonderful.

C.J.!

Oh, c.J.?

Hey, I tried to reach you at the

Station, but you weren't there.

But I've had such a wonderful

Time talking with janine.

[ both laugh ]

Oh, really?

Yes!

What have you guys been

Talking about?

Oh, I've been bragging on

You -- you know, telling max

All your little secrets.

Oh!

I'm just playing. Come back.

You wife speaks really highly

Of you, c.J., and I am looking

Forward to you working under me.

[ coughs ]

You okay?

Yeah.

Well, listen.

I just stopped by to let you

Know that I got that new

Equipment you requested.

Oh, you did?

I like to keep my men happy.

Well, especially one as good as

This one.

Oh, thank you, max.

Thank you.

I am really so very proud of

C.J.

Oh, as you should be.

Well, you know, um, I better be

Going, but, c.J., if there's

Anything you need...

My door is always open.

Okay.

It was wonderful seeing you

Again, max.

Oh, let me get the door.

Chief, I'm really grateful for

The equipment and everything,

But I don't think I'm gonna be

Able to do it.

C.J., take the equipment.

Use it to save lives, and every

Time you do, remember that you

Owe me.

How you pay me, well, that's up

To you, and if you can't think

Of anything, I got a few ideas.

Bye, janine.

Bye, max.

[ laughs ]

Heh.

She is great.

You are so lucky to have a boss

Like her, baby, and she's taken

Such an interest in you.

You could really go all the way

With her.

And you really need to put in

That work.

Really.

Put in the work?

Yes.

Seriously.

Come on, janine.

Nini.

"Nini"?

Come on.

I'm telling you.

Just let me stay in your

Backyard -- two days tops.

Okay.

Shh.

You have two days.

Okay.

Two days. That's it.

Right.

You don't have to stay in the

Backyard.

You can stay in malik's room

Until he gets back home.

Two days, floyd.

That's it, okay?

Okay, thank you so much.

Don't touch me.

Oh, okay.

Mama.

Mama?

Come on before she change

Her mind.

No, no, no, no, no.

No, this is not part of the

Agreement.

Floyd, this is not part of the

Deal!

She's just like luggage.

C.J. Is going to kill me.

Listen. No, no, no, no, no.

Floyd, look.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'm serious, no.

He needs quiet.

Shh! I'm trying not to wake

The twins.

Oh, my gosh.

Come on, mama.

Grab this.

Put them on your back.

Hey.

What?

What time is breakfast?

Breakfast will be right after