Original subtitles

Lady Godiva was a freedom rider.

She didn't care if the whole world looked.

Joan of Arc was the Lord to guide her. She was a sister who really could.

Isadora was the first bra burner. Ain't you glad she showed up?

Oh, yeah.

The country was falling apart.

Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.

And Bethesda's gone. God, I'm gone.

Walter!

Walter! Walter!

Where's the coffee? Never mind, Walter. This is important.

Nothing's more important than my morning coffee.

Walter, Victoria's bed has not been slept in. She hasn't been home all

This morning, she's nowhere to be found.

Neither is the coffee.

For all we know, Walter, our housekeeper could be lying dead somewhere.

I mean, maybe it doesn't matter to you, but Victoria is more than just a

housekeeper to me. She's more like my daughter.

Maude, Victoria's probably all right. She's most likely out with her new

boyfriend. Now, tell me where she keeps the coffee.

Did you look in the can marked coffee?

Yes! There's flour in it!

Then did you look in the can marked flour?

No.

Well, doesn't it figure that if there is flour in the coffee can, that there

might be something other than flour in the flour can, like sugar?

Hello?

Victoria Butterfield, who's calling, please?

Oh, of course I know who you are, Mr. Butterfield. Victoria talks about you

the time, but I thought you live in the West Indies.

I see.

How interesting.

Walter, Walter, it's Victoria's father. He's a steward for Royal West Indies

Airlines, and he's in New York on a layover.

If he's an airline steward, ask him to bring me a cup of coffee.

Why am I including you in on this conversation?

I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Buck... Oh, Victoria, um...

I sent her out to do some shopping for me.

Oh, well, if you're at the Tuckahoe Railway Station, then you're only ten

minutes away.

Right, we'll see you then.

Ta -ta.

Walter, what are you going to do? We can't let him know that Victoria was out

all night. What will he think? Carol! And if Carol doesn't know where she is,

Walter, we're going to have to call the hospital, the police, possibly even the

morgue. You're starting to panic, and that's not going to do any good at all.

You're right, honey, I'm sorry.

Now, let's talk this over quietly and calmly, and let's try to figure it out

rationally. Of course.

Now, where do you think she hid the coffins?

Carol! Carol!

Carol, wake up and come right down here. I have something important to ask you.

Carol!

Carol, did you hear me?

What do you want, Mother?

were you?

I was watching the sunrise.

Watching the sunrise.

The people at Coppertone salute you.

Who were you with?

Mother, I am a little upset. I really don't want to discuss it.

Okay. If it's that painful, we won't discuss it. Thank you.

The subject is closed.

Good. Who were you with?

Mother, it is none of your business. I do not want to discuss it. What do you

mean it is none of my business? I happen to be your mother and I...

Oh, thank heavens.

You had me worried to death. Where have you been?

I was out with George, and we stayed up to see the sunrise.

You cute little minx, you. You and George are getting very serious, aren't

Momentito.

What is this cute little minx business with Victoria, but when I stay out all

night, you yell at me?

My darling, there is a great difference between a minx and a mink.

Walter, our Victoria is in love.

Act interested.

I'm sorry.

Victoria, this George of yours, is he a pretty bright guy?

Oh, very bright.

Well, then, do you think he'd know where I could find some coffee around here?

No. Mrs. Finley told me not to buy any until it went down to a dollar a pound.

I do vaguely remember having said something like that. You really take the

I mean, holding me hostage in a price war.

You're really something else more. You really are.

I'm going over to the hormones and borrow some coffee from them. What do

think of that?

Actually, I'm rather pleased he's gone.

Victoria, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you.

Guess who is on his way over here?

Who?

Your father.

Oh, what are you talking about? He is right here in Tuckahoe. He should be

any moment.

Oh, how nice.

Honey, is there something wrong? No.

Are you sure?

No, nothing's wrong.

I'm very happy my father's coming.

Just a minute, Victoria.

I can tell when someone is troubled.

I have an eye for that, right, Carol?

I'd say nose is a better word.

Carol, Carol, Carol.

My fondest wish.

is that when I'm 83, you won't have enough money to send me to a home.

Victoria.

Victoria, I find that if you're troubled, if you confide in someone you

respect, the burden is much easier to bear.

You're right, Mrs. Finley.

Thank you.

Carol, let's talk in the kitchen.

Wait a minute!

Seriously, wouldn't you like someone who's a little bit older and a little

wiser to help you with your problems?

No.

Well, at least now I have some hot coffee.

Arthur sold it to me for 75 cents.

Oh, Victoria, George is a very nice -looking guy.

I know.

But if my father finds out that George isn't a West Indian, he's going to

that I break off with him.

But you're a grown woman.

Yes, but my father's very forceful and domineering and strong.

Just like my mother.

Well, not that strong.

Victoria, we have the same problem.

Parents.

A couple of months ago, I was going out with a guy named Eddie Winslow.

He was married and hadn't gotten around to getting a divorce. Well, my mother

found out about it and hit the roof.

I had to break off with him and swear to her that I would never see him again.

And that's who you were with last night?

Right. But I haven't told her because I wanted to spare myself the hassle.

All right, you two, I'm going to level with you. Not being in on this is

me batty.

I really feel I can help. Victoria, I consider you my daughter. And Carol,

you're like a daughter to me, too.

Father Cumming, I don't want him to see me like this. Wait, please.

Victoria, please, wait a minute. I really feel that I can help.

Do you know that in China, age is revered for its wisdom?

Let's go upstairs and change. Right.

The last time I believe a fortune cooker.

Walter, I want you to see a picture of Victoria's boyfriend.

Walter, where are you?

Oh, I know where he went. He took the sports page.

Victoria!

Good morning. Good morning.

You are Mrs. Finlay. Yes, and with the lilt of the West Indies in your speech,

you must be Victoria's father.

Enter our house and partake of our hospitality as the hummingbird sucks on

mango.

I beg your pardon.

Well, I guess if you've seen one hummingbird suck a mango, you've seen

Please sit down. Sit down. Victoria should be down any moment.

Oh, you must be so terribly proud of her. Do you know that in night school,

is one of the brightest students in her class? She'll make a marvelous nurse.

I'm very glad to hear you say that.

Plus, I have a feeling that in a very short time, you may be losing a

Oh? Don't they make a handsome couple?

absolutely gaga about each other.

Well, he seems a nice -looking chap.

Do you know which island he comes from?

St. Croix?

St. Thomas? I believe St.

Louis.

St.

Louis? Missouri.

Father!

Girl, how could you do such a terrible thing to me?

Oh, please, Papa, don't be upset.

But he's an American.

I'm astonished.

Just a moment, Mr. Butterfield. You mean you're upset because Victoria's

boyfriend is an American?

No. I'm upset because Victoria's boyfriend is a Negro.

So

he

is.

Maybe I should explain.

Amongst old -fashioned island people... Old -fashioned?

Old -fashioned.

It's not acceptable for a West Indian to become involved with an American black.

I knew it.

I should never have let you come to this country.

As soon as you get here, right away, you start passing for black.

She certainly had me fooled.

Victoria, I have no choice but to take you back to St. Norman with me. Now go

upstairs and pack your things.

Father, you can't be serious.

You just can't ask me to leave like this.

What about my job? What about my school?

Victoria, I gave you a direct order.

Now go upstairs and pack.

Remember. I am your father.

Just a minute, Mr.

Butterfield. I'm afraid that Victoria is not the timid little daughter you knew

back on St. Norman.

Since she has been in this house, she's become a very proud, forceful woman. And

if you think you can just snap your fingers and expect her to pay any

at all, well, you are living in a fool's paradise.

Victoria, no.

On the other hand, I could be wrong.

Victoria, please, come back down.

Well, that's settled.

Now, while Victoria is packing, if you'll excuse me, I'm going out for a

sandwich. Mr.

Butterfield, your daughter is upstairs, crushed, devastated.

What kind of a man would go out for a sandwich at a time like this? I don't

to discuss my decisions with a stranger.

But I'm certainly... Especially a woman.

Especially a woman. You hate blacks. Now you hate women. Is there anything else

you hate?

Yes. Aunt Jemima pancakes.

Mr.

Butterfield, I'll have you know that I am proud to be a woman. I cherish the

fact that I am a woman. Above all else, I am a woman.

Good. Very good indeed. In that case, you make me a sandwich.

Jung!

I'm going to ignore that remark.

But I'll tell you right now, I am not allowing Victoria to leave this house

unless it is her decision as a liberated woman.

As a what?

Surely even on St. Norman you've heard of a liberated woman.

Oh, yes. We have the bones of one of them in our museum.

I have never allowed myself to say this to a black person before, but I don't

like you.

Victoria, no dilly -dallying. Go on with your packing. I just came down to get

an aspirin.

I can't get any from upstairs because the bathroom door is locked.

And now while we're waiting for my daughter, and since I can't get a

perhaps you'd be kind enough to lend me your sports section.

The sports section, I'm afraid it's not available.

We keep it locked in the bathroom.

Then perhaps a cup of coffee?

Actually, that's locked in the bathroom, too.

I just talked to Victoria.

Carol, I'd like you to meet Mr. Butterfield. This is Victoria's father,

daughter, Carol. How do you do? Hello.

This is so sad.

It is not sad.

I am not allowing Mr.

Butterfield to take Victoria anywhere against her will.

Oh, but that's just it. Victoria wants to go with him. She just told me.

I can't believe it.

Typical woman.

Can't face facts.

I should have cold -cocked you when I had the chance.

Victoria, Carol just told me something that I cannot believe. That you want to

go back with your father.

That's true, Mom.

Victoria, you'd be going against your will.

Please, try to understand.

I have to go back with my father.

Victoria, even if it means giving up your happiness and your independence and

your only chance for a fulfilling life... What are the ways there to show

father that I love him?

Have you ever considered a nice tie at Christmas?

I'm sorry.

I'm very sad.

But I have to do my duty as a daughter. Oh, Victoria. Victoria, a false sense of

duty can be a very tragic thing.

I'm going to tell you a story from my own experience.

Once there were two sisters.

One was very frivolous, only interested in having a good time.

The other was more serious and more responsible.

Well, one day, their mother became terribly ill.

The doctor assured them that, yes, she would recover, but she would require

constant attention for at least a year.

Well, the frivolous sister said, let's hire a nurse. After all, we have our own

lives to live. But the serious sister said, no, I will take care of her. It is

my duty as a daughter.

Well, because of that false sense of duty, the responsible sister gave up one

whole year of her life.

And she became very bitter and very resentful because of all the happiness

she had sacrificed. And the mother, sensing this, became angry with the

daughter. And Victoria, to this day, my mother and my sister do not speak to

each other.

You never told me that story.

So?

Your only duty to your father, Victoria, is to be honest with him and tell him

exactly how you feel.

But my father wouldn't like that at all.

He'd get angry with me. We'd fight.

Victoria, fighting is a very healthy thing to do. Carol and I fight all the

time. That's for sure. Do you mind? I'm talking.

What we do is a very loving thing. It means that we're able to express to each

other exactly what we feel.

Like a couple of months ago, Carol was running around with this jerk, Eddie

Winter. Mother, don't be stupid. Eddie is not a jerk.

How I love you for that.

Anyway, this jerk, Eddie Winter.

pretended he was getting a divorce, but he was just stringing Carol along.

Oh, we fought long and hard about that, didn't we, Carol? We certainly did.

But thank heaven, Carol came to her senses and broke it up with that jerk

Winslow. But even if she hadn't, Victoria, I'd still love her.

But I think I love her just a little bit more because she had the courage to

stand up for what she believed.

That was beautiful.

It's from the heart.

Well, I have to tell you something from the heart.

I was out all night last night with Eddie Winslow.

I love you for telling me that.

Now go and pack. You're leaving with her.

I thought you were going to love me no matter what I did. How could I possibly

love anybody who's a bigger jerk than Eddie Winslow?

Mother, I have my own life to live, which you seem to forget.

And who gave you that life?

Oh, the pain.

Do you have any idea what you weighed at birth?

Not enough.

Mother, I am old enough to have a son of my own. I am old enough to be your

mother. And in case you don't know it, I am your mother.

Oh,

Father, it's beautiful.

What is all that racket out there?

Father, that's Mrs. Finley and her daughter. They're fighting.

That's a disgrace.

No, it isn't, Father. It's beautiful.

They're completely open and honest. Liar!

I say it is a disgrace for a daughter to raise her voice to her mother. Even

that mother.

Father, no, it isn't. Not always. Yes, it is, girl.

Don't you remember the story of the sassy little parrot?

The little parrot was hanging by his beak from the branch of a planting tree.

Down below him was a big old alligator, his jaws wide open.

The parrot's daddy said, Baba, don't you hang by your beak from that tree?

And the little parrot said, why not?

That is the last time that parrot ever questioned his daddy.

Baba, I don't want to go back with you.

What? What are you saying?

Father.

Do you have any idea who I really am or what I really feel right now?

Victoria Ramsey Butterfield, march up those stairs this minute and finish your

packing.

This is the last time I'm going to say this to you. I am your father.

Can this be my daughter?

Try to understand, Papa.

I'm doing this because I love you. And I love you enough to let you know exactly

what my feelings are.

That is the first time you ever kissed me without my telling you to.

But it's the first time I've really felt that I could.

I see you are determined.

And it's all because of that big bodacious woman.

My only hope is that her bones end up in our museum.

Papa, don't fight me on this.

Please.

All right.

Victoria.

Now tell me, is it serious with this college fellow?

It could be.

Before you do anything rash, think of the children.

I don't care how long you were in labor with me. Of course you don't. Even then,

all you thought about was yourself.

Listen, Mother, what I do with that jerk Eddie Winslow is my own business.

I'm just doing what you told Victoria to do. You told her to run her life. Well,

I'm going to run my life. Right into the ground.

Mrs. Finley, guess what?

I'm not going back with my father.

Good. He can take Carol.

I think our Mr. Shakespeare said it best.

How sharper than a serpent's tooth is an ungrateful child.

Our Mr.

Shakespeare. Boy, when you decide not to be black, you pull out all the stop

-stops.

For Mrs.

Finlay, we should call it truth.

After all, we're both in the same boat.

How did that happen?

It had something to do with love.

Love, the greatest homewrecker of them all.

Mrs. Finlay, may I take you out for a sandwich?

Why don't I make one for both of us?

The pod was recorded on videotape before a studio audience.