Original subtitles

[music playing]

Yeah, Mom, look, I won't be able to make it

back home until next weekend.

I'm trying to earn some extra credit by teaching English.

Oh, well, thank you for being proud of me.

Are you proud enough to buy me a car?

Hello?

I guess not.

Flash. Flash.

Flash. Flash.

Flash.

What's up, man? You must be Malik?

Yes.

I'm Flash.

Didn't really notice.

Yeah, sorry, I'm late, man, but I kind if got tied up,

you know what I mean?

Yeah, I know what you mean.

But do you know what it means to fail a class?

Nope.

Well, you will if we don't start studying.

Yo, man, you catch the game last week?

Yeah, they showed your touchdown in the Top 10.

Really? Which one was it?

All 10.

That's why they call me Flash, man.

You give me one tiny opening, and I'm gone.

You ever play any ball?

I played a little bit in high school.

Yeah? What's you play?

I usually played sick.

You get it?

Played sick.

It was a joke.

I don't get it.

OK.

Here you go.

Let's start studying so you can pass this test.

You read out loud, and I'll follow along.

You can read a little louder.

You know what, man?

Students that usually work with me,

they read to me so I can get it.

Well, you retain better if you read yourself, so go ahead.

You know what, man?

I got a better idea.

See the alumni throw this killer party

for the athletes every year.

You should come.

I think we should just be studying.

You gonna be at the party tonight?

If I leave now, I can get a shower.

[music playing]

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: We want all our public officials

to be engaged in this effort.

Yeah, I agree.

Coming up with a new public relations program

really shouldn't be this hard.

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: It shouldn't be, but it is.

What about saving communities.

Firefighters for the people.

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: That's close.

OK, what about first there, first to care?

It could highlight the many communities

that have been saved by the heroic efforts of firefighters.

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: I love it.

Thank you.

That's why I thought about it.

Don't play.

No, I'm just playing around, baby.

I'm glad you thought of that.

Thank you.

Councilman Howard, now how about I call you back

when we work out the details?

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: Sounds good.

Way to go, Payne.

Thank you.

He was talking to me.

Janine Payne strikes again.

Here's your tie. He was talking to me.

I'm telling you he was certainly talking to me.

I struck again.

What's so funny?

I got something on my face?

Yeah, just a little higher.

Higher and to the right.

No, actually, it's a little higher right by your lip.

JANINE: Hit harder.

Did I get it?

Get the hell away from me.

There ain't nothing on my face, is there?

No.

So what brings you down here?

Oh, yeah, I made breakfast.

You know y'all pulled an all nighter, so--

Great. I'm starving.

Where is it?

Well, I was stuck in traffic.

Where's the remote?

Janine came up with a great new public relations campaign.

First there, first to care.

It highlights the heroic efforts of firefighters

in the community.

That's good.

I like that.

That's good.

Now all we got to do is submit it and find

the perfect spokesperson.

Yeah, and he has to be a former firefighter.

He needs to be strong.

Somebody brave.

Has to be in great shape.

Oh, maybe not, maybe not so great a shape.

You know, we still want him to look like an everyday man.

Oh, good.

I don't know where we're going to find that kind of person.

I don't know where we are going to find that kind of guy.

Uncle Curtis? - Yes?

What?

Do you know someone?

No.

Come on, I'm just kidding.

You'd be the perfect spokesperson.

Really?

Yeah.

Maybe we can submit him at the top of the list?

Stop playing.

Really?

Yeah, really?

Would you do it?

I'll think about it.

Have your people call my people.

He's a mess.

You've got to get going.

Get your tie.

Knock them dead, handsome.

That's me.

That's you.

Got it?

- Handsome. - Handsome.

And got a job.

And got a job.

[music playing]

I promise you, I'm going to call you.

Thank you.

Delete.

Hey, Flash, what's up, man?

What's up, man? -

That party was tight.

It was tame compared to the last one.

Who's crib was that?

One of the alums, man.

Oh, is it the one who gave you the car?

Sh.

What car?

Sorry.

Must be nice getting all those things just because you can run

and catch a ball.

Man, you can run, I fly.

That's why I'll be playing on Sunday.

That's going to be tight, man.

All right, well, look, we lost a day, so turn to Chapter 8,

you read out loud and I'll follow along.

We gotta go through this again?

Through what?

Nothing.

There are three types of it--

int--

Intellectual.

Intellectual be--

Behaviors.

Man, why you trying to embarrass me?

You know I can't do this.

I didn't know.

Yeah, well, now you do.

So go ahead and read it to me, so we can get this over with.

If you don't know how to read then how did

you get into college?

Easy.

I had a 4.0.

My 40 time, fastest in the country.

But if you can't read, then--

If I can't read, I just have to be rich enough

to pay somebody to read for me.

Yeah, but what if that never happens?

Are you crazy?

Man, I got every pro scout in the country looking at me.

What's your problem? - No.

It's not my problem.

It's going to be your problem if you get out of here and not

know how to read.

Malik, nobody care about that.

Bottom line, if I play.

I pass.

Don't you want to learn how to read?

I guess it would be cool, so I can read bedtime stories

to my kids one day.

Then talk to your coach.

I'm sure there's a reading program

that they can get you into.

- You think so? - Yeah.

I know so.

And, look, man, it'll pay off in the end.

You're right, man.

Good looking out, Malik.

No problem, just make sure you give me those season

tickets when you go pro.

No doubt.

You sure you have tape in it this time.

All right, in 3, 2, I'm standing in the home

of former firefighter Curtis Payne.

He's flanked by our new Fire Commissioner, Clarence Payne.

The Commissioner is unveiling his new campaign, first there,

first to care.

So how does it feel to be the poster child

for the new campaign aimed at restoring

faith in our fire department?

Well, first of all, I want to give

glory to God, who is the head of Ella's life, my wife.

And I'm honored to be chosen as the department representative,

especially since I lived it.

So is that why you nominated your uncle?

Well Well, this man embodies everything a firefighter

is supposed to be.

He's a strong, honest family man,

who's willing to go through the proverbial fire

if it means saving the life.

And my nephew here embodies the spirit of the department

perfectly.

Oh, so you're saying he's perfect.

No.

I didn't say that.

So he's not perfect?

Now, let's just say everybody makes mistakes.

Like when he closed the fire station?

Well, yeah.

You heard it, Atlanta, even the Commissioner's uncle

and spokesman for their new campaign

believes he made a gross error in judgment resulting

in the death of three people.

Wait a minute.

I didn't say that.

All of Atlanta just heard you.

OK, he did not mean that.

Well, of course, you'd say that.

You're the Commissioner's wife.

And cut.

Cut, camera man.

You're getting out of here.

You got to go right now.

That is not what he said.

We're all through here.

I cannot believe that reporter.

You know that's not what I meant.

CJ?

This means no.

What just happened here, baby?

[music playing]

Oh, so what's up, Flash?

What's up, Malik?

Coach Bear wanted to talk to you.

Oh. Yes, sir.

How's it going, son?

It's going fine.

Good.

Flash here just told me what you're trying to do for him,

and the rest of the coaching staff and I

want to tell you how much we appreciate

you looking out for him.

It's no problem.

I think everybody deserves a chance at a higher education.

We couldn't agree more.

Our star athlete deserves a chance to get to the pros,

and according to the strict rules here outlined

by the Board of Student Athletes, only way

he's going to get to do that is maintain a passing grade.

And we know that ain't going to happen.

Not so fast.

There's a solution to every problem.

Now, since Malik took such an interest in your education,

he's going to help us out.

Anything I can do, sir.

Good.

That's why you're gonna take that test for Flash.

The whole school is depending on you.

[phone ringing]

Don't worry about it, babe.

I got it.

Payne residence.

Listen, if you continue calling and harassing us,

I'm going to call the police.

Let me guess?

PTA?

Nope, the pastor again.

Ever since that story ran, the phones at work

have been lit up with people wanting my head.

I know.

I thought we put all that behind us?

Yeah, me too until Uncle Curtis had to open his mouth.

[phone ringing]

I'll get it.

No, no, I'll get it this time.

Payne residence.

Look, I thought I told you to stop calling here,

harassing me and my family.

Now you need to get a life.

Hey, you ain't got to talk to me like that.

I ain't got to talk to you at all.

CJ, don't be like that.

I'm sorry.

Be mad?

It's a character flaw.

I tend to get a little mad when people call me a screw

up on national television.

It's a local channel.

It ain't playing in that many markets.

CJ, you know that reporter caught me off guard.

He made me--

Made you what?

Tell the truth?

Now, you know stuff just pops out

of your Uncle's head sometimes, and he

doesn't even really mean it.

Thank you, babe.

All the time really.

Uncle Curtis, if it were you, would you

have closed the fire station?

Well--

Answer the question, baby.

Get on, Curtis, answer the question.

OK, I'm gonna answer the question.

OK, no, I wouldn't have closed it, but that's me.

See, right out of the horse's mouth.

Wait. Hold on, hold on.

Who you calling a horse?

If the hoof fits.

Oh, you know what?

I'm gonna let that slide.

I'm gonna let that slide.

Look, no, I wouldn't have made that decision, but that's me.

CJ, you are the perfect man for the job you have now.

Thanks, Uncle Curtis.

Thanks to you, I may not have that job much longer.

Now, we practiced this at home,

and you come right over here and blow it.

He didn't say what he was supposed to say.

Yo, man, I really appreciate you saying

you'd take the test for me.

You are smart, ain't you?

Smart enough not to take this test.

But, man, you told Coach.

No, I didn't.

Those are his words.

Come on, man, I need this.

You need to learn how to read, Flash.

You don't think I've tried?

It's not easy.

Neither is running over 200 pound linebackers,

but you do that.

Don't you get it?

That stuff comes easy for me, Malik.

This book stuff--

It's just another challenge.

I thought you football types like challenges?

Not like this.

Come on, you're ruining everything.

I'm not doing anything.

I'm trying to help you.

You want to help me, take the test.

It's not mine to take.

So that's how it is?

Yeah, that's how it is.

Some friend you turned out to be.

I know this negative publicity is not why you hired me.

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: It's actually the opposite

of why I hired you.

Is there anyway to spin this.

Sir, with all due respect, we are doing our best.

We've started shooting some footage of a day in the life

of a fire commissioner.

Hopefully, streaming this online will regain the public support,

and show them the lengths we go to keep them safe.

COUNCILMAN HOWARD [ON PHONE]: Is your uncle involved.

No. No.

He is as far away from it as possible.

Get in here now.

I gotta call you back.

Get in here now.

You heard my husband.

You heard him.

What are you doing here?

Being kidnapped.

No, you're not.

He can leave at any time.

You gotta get past me first.

You can't be in here like this.

We're gonna set the record straight, CJ.

Is this even legal?

Of course, it is.

When we drug him out of his car, he volunteered to come.

Now, he's going to film me so that I can

say what I really meant to say.

Come on, camera man, make it do what it do.

I love it when you talk gangster, baby.

Good evening.

I'm Ray Jamieson, and I'm at City

Hall, where I've been asked to recant an earlier story.

No, you don't have to recant anything.

OK, this reporter was nice enough to do a story on me

being appointed the new spokesperson for the First

There, First to Care campaign, and I never finished.

So he is going to let him finish today.

Hi, Calvin. Hi, Miranda.

Hi, kids.

I've always wanted to do this.

OK, thank you.

Now, during the last interview I

was asked if I would have closed the fire

station like my nephew, your new fire commissioner.

And I answered no.

Does he really think this is helping?

The truth is the city's budget required

that that station be closed.

I mean, he had no choice.

But you yourself said that your nephew

made a mistake, that you wouldn't

have closed the station.

No.

You said he made a mistake.

I said, I wouldn't have closed the station.

But that would have been for sentimental reasons,

and it would have been wrong.

What happened to that family was both tragic and unfortunate,

but no one would have ever thought something

like that would happen.

OK.

No, I'm not finished.

I want the people of Atlanta to know that your new fire

commissioner felt terrible about those events,

and that's why he's dedicated his life

to making sure we are all safe.

And I don't know about you, but as for me, I can tell you

I sleep a whole lot better knowing

that this man is on the job.

There.

I'm done.

All right, cut it.

Well, I hope you're satisfied.

I know I am.

So what's to keep me from just tossing this tape in the trash?

Well, the fact that he has been recording

this whole thing, and that it would give me nothing but joy

to stream this online.

I'm sure it would go viral.

So I have one question for you?

Do you feel lucky, punk?

[music playing]

I have a mind to kick you out of this school.

You know what you did?

No, but I'm sure you're going to tell me.

You just ruined a man's ability to feed his family.

I don't know what you're talking about.

After your little attack of conscious,

we found another person to take Flash's test for him,

but he wouldn't let her.

Good for him.

He's been cutting practice short all week.

He's probably so depressed he's turning to drugs.

Because that's what we do.

That's what guys like Flash do.

Now, don't be dumb.

You know, football is the only chance

he has of becoming anything.

Well, I don't believe that.

You're the only one who doesn't.

You know, your little false hope just ruined

all of our chances--

I mean, all of his chances.

What's going on?

Flash, we were just talking about you.

Yeah I heard.

Look, I better leave you two alone.

Hold up, Malik, I want you to hear this.

Look, I thought about what you said.

I decided to work a little harder,

my Pops working with me, and I studied.

I took my test.

Sorry, son.

We can find another way.

And I got a C.

You got a C?

Yeah.

Let me see that.

Look, man, it's going to take a while for me

to get that reading thing down.

If I can memorize a playbook, I can memorize anything.

That's good, man.

I'm proud of you.

You know, for the first time since I started playing

football, I'm proud of me too.

You should be.

Don't touch me, man.

I heard what you said.

I was just looking out for you.

You was looking out for you.

So what are you going to do now?

Quit football?

You're an athlete.

Correction, I'm a student athlete.

Emphasis on student.

I'll be at practice as soon as my tutor decides to release me.

Congrats, man.

There are three types of intellectual behavior.

Now, you're really a superstar.

Man, I couldn't have done it without you.

Hi, I'm Doc Shaw, and I play Malik

Payne on "House of Payne."

According to UNICEF, nearly 1 billion people

will enter the 21st century unable to read a book

or sign their names.

One child in four grows up not knowing how to read,

and these children are three to four times more likely to drop

out of school in later years.

As a community, we must make education

our number one priority.

To make reading a part of your family lifestyles

strive to read to your children 20 minutes every day.

It's never too early and never too late to learn to read.