Original subtitles

When Indale offered to host the father -son pancake breakfast for the church

youth group, she said it was because the church kitchen was being renovated.

But we all knew it was her love life that needed renovating.

I was really glad I volunteered to be a hostess. It was such an uplifting

experience to see all those fathers nurturing their sons.

The kind of thing you never see on the 6 o 'clock news.

Everything seemed storybook perfect.

That is, until I noticed Hakeem.

He was the only one there without a father or father figure.

My dad had promised to go with Hakeem, but an emergency at the dealership

him to cancel at the last minute.

And I tried to make him feel better.

But when he turned down a seventh pancake, I knew there was only one thing

could really make him feel better.

Having his father in that empty chair.

Your father had better hurry up. His breakfast is getting cold. What is

him so long out there in that garage anyway?

He's helping me with my family tree project.

Oh, knowing your father, your project will soon become his project. Before he

through, we are talking giant redwoods, chainsaws, spotted owls.

Sounds like an A to me.

All right, all right, all right.

I got the good stuff here.

Here you go, son.

Now, that's enough to get you started.

But you're going to finish it, right?

Oh, no, no, no. I'm already finished.

If you have any questions, just call your great -aunt Flossie.

But last time we called her, I had to go over there and hang up her phone.

Yeah, well, you better strap on your roller blades.

Dee, your family's small.

How about jotting down your info on this?

Oh, no.

I have got a steamer trunk full of info.

Oh, good. Hakeem's not here yet. Daddy and Dee.

What do you think about throwing Hakeem a surprise party for his birthday on

Saturday? Same thing I think about it on Tuesday.

Come on, Daddy, please.

Hakeem needs this. Especially since somebody stood him up for the father and

breakfast. That wasn't my fault, Mo.

The guy delivered the shipment of cars at 7 a .m. instead of 7 p .m. Well, this

is your opportunity to make it up to him from 8 p .m. to 1 a .m.

Well, Frank, honey, why don't we let her have 30 kids over between 8 p .m. and

11 p .m.? What about 50?

30. If I were you, I'd take it.

Hakeem doesn't even know 30 people.

Either way, deal.

All right.

Good morning, DeBargey. Hey.

Hakeem, I'm sorry about the father -son breakfast.

Oh, no, that's okay, Mr. Mitch. You know, I'm sure there's another special

that we can all cheer together.

Now, there seems to be something going on Saturday, but for the life of me, I

just can't figure out what that is.

Can you figure out what that is? No, no, no.

Saturday is me.

It seems like something to do with food.

Dancing.

And a celebration.

A wedding.

A bar mitzvah? Sing a day, Maya.

No.

I mean, I'm... If you think about it, give me a call. Okay.

I'll be home.

Huh? All alone.

Blowing up balloons.

Playing pin the tail on a donkey.

and smacking at a piñata.

Y 'all, don't forget to get Hakeem a gift.

Shoot, the party is my gift.

Well, I know what I'm getting, Hakeem. Yeah, well, whatever it is, you're

for it.

Don't worry, Daddy.

I don't need money for my gift.

Oh, well, in that case, get two.

gonna be doing Saturday?

You know Saturday's a big day.

Ha ha, yeah.

I knew you wouldn't forget.

Forget? You know how many church going heads I'm gonna cut on Saturday?

Right, right.

Um, Kim, what you gonna be doing? Oh, I'm going shopping.

By the way, what size do you wear?

Oh, but see, look, I'm an extra large in metal. Uh -huh. Oh, but see, I'm a

large in carcanine. All right. Well, Carl tends to cut them big, and I like

that.

I like that. Good, good. Because you and Michael are probably around the same

size. I'm sure he'll like it, too.

Why? Did you have something planned for Saturday, boo?

No.

I was just hoping my so -called friends would have a suggestion.

But I guess not.

Maybe Andale has a clue.

You got any plans for Saturday?

Well, I'll be here all day, and then, unfortunately, it looks like it's gonna

a blockbuster night.

Well, looks like it's gonna be the same for me.

Hey, you know, um, if you rent four, you get the fifth one free.

Thank you.

Hey, Hockey. Yeah, whatever.

Oh, he just being all overly dramatic because he thought we forgot his

Oh, good.

Anyway, Angel, I need some help. Then pick up the good book. That's what I

I opened up the den for the father and son breakfast, and God turned pancake

batter into dates.

Two dads, an uncle, and a legal guardian.

That's great, Angel, but what are you doing tomorrow night?

I think that's the uncle's night.

Angel, I need you here.

For what?

To call Hakeem's father.

I want him to come to the birthday party.

Why don't you just hire a clown?

Come on, Andell. I already found him. He's an insurance salesman in Rialto.

you have to do is call him up and tell him you need insurance.

Insurance? Yeah. All I need to do is snag me a deacon with some benefits.

You know, you're right.

Maybe you do need a date more than Hakeem needs a father.

glad when you can't graduate.

I need me a liquor license.

Or some liquor.

Oh, of course, Mr. Campbell. You know I have a hot date with Ronell's uncle.

Oh, the undertaker.

Hey, plenty of women are dying to meet him.

Don't go and handle your business. I'll lock up.

Mrs.

Wilkerson?

Hmm, that's me.

Must be Mr.

Campbell. Calvin Campbell.

Greater life insurance, but please call me Calvin.

Okay. And I must say, you don't look old enough to own a business.

I get that all the time.

And this beautiful young lady must be your daughter.

Excuse me?

I said daughter, I meant sister.

Hi, Mr. Campbell. I'm Moesha Mitchell. My pleasure.

I think I might cancel my 8 o 'clock. I'll be right back.

I'm interested in learning more about term life, whole life, your life.

Well, actually, Mr. Campbell, Andell doesn't need insurance.

We got you hearing the false pretenses.

Is this a thing operation? I paid those parking tickets.

You don't remember me, do you?

He used to live next door to me on 4th Avenue.

Moesha Mitchell.

Oh, yeah.

Frank and Marguerite's girl.

Little Momo.

You used to beat the living daylight out of Scooter.

So, uh, what's this about?

Well, um, it's about Scooter. I mean, Hakeem. You know, his birthday is on

Saturday.

You remember.

How could I forget?

He was almost born at our house.

Well, that explains a lot.

Anyway, we're throwing a big surprise party for him, and I would just love for

you to come.

Not that I have to explain why I can't come to the party, but, look, try to

understand.

Hakeem's mother and I weren't much older than you when we got married, and I

didn't know how to do it.

I beg your pardon?

How to be a father.

And Loretta and I didn't exactly part in the best of terms, so I send my check

and I stay clear.

But what about Hakeem?

This has nothing to do with Hakeem.

Come on, Mr. Campbell. This is your chance to get reacquainted with your

don't think a birthday party is the place to do that.

But it's a place to start.

And if you're worried about Mrs. Campbell, she can't come. She can get

You said Saturday night, right?

Yes, 8 o 'clock.

I'll be there.

Where's Calvin? He's gone.

And so is my laryngitis. I hope I can catch Ronnell's uncle.

Ooh, is that the family tree?

Yep. Can I see? It's not done yet.

Come on, Miles. It's not the Denver airport.

Come on. Let me see.

Ooh, Miles, your family tree.

Looks a lot like my family tree.

Miles, honey, what happened to all that great information your dad gave you

about the Mitchells?

Yours is better.

Miles.

Come on, Dee, your family was cool.

You had doctors and lawyers and pirates.

The Mets were cool, too. I mean, look, your great -grandfather was a porter on

the railroad.

Hmm. Porter.

Pirate.

Red beard.

Red cat.

I guess I'll take the swashbuckling life of a porter.

Miles, honey, that swashbuckling porter was important to his family. He

put all of his children through college.

Were it not for him, your father might be washing cars instead of selling them.

Okay, I see where this is going.

But I'm keeping the part about Moe being raised by hyenas.

Come on, let's fix it now. Okay. All right.

All right.

Okay, look, here's the plan.

I'm going to think I came up at 7, right? And then I'm going to tell him

we're going to see a movie at CityWalk. And then when we get to CityWalk, I tell

him I have to buy lipstick at the mall before it closes. And then when we get

the mall, I tell him I left my money at home. And then after that... You sure?

Mad bugging. Blam.

Thank you. You need a low jack to follow that plan.

Mo,

now I know you didn't call my father.

How did you find out?

At least I didn't tell him his father was coming to the surprise birthday

I have a surprise for you.

I'm not coming.

Hakeem, Hakeem, wait, let me explain, let me explain, let me explain. Mo, Mo,

Mo, you just don't get it, do you?

You think you can put me and my father in the same room and then boom, presto,

we just Opie and Andy?

Hakeem, look, just talk to him, man.

You need to heal.

You don't want to pass these issues down to your children in this vicious cycle.

Well, thank you, Rolanda.

Hakeem, on the real.

You need your father.

And I bet he needs you, too. Oh, that man don't want to see me.

And I know he don't want to come to my birthday party.

Well, if that's the way you feel, Hakeem, then I'm sorry.

What do you want me to do?

Call him and tell him not to come?

Well,

I thought about it when I went home to my cold, empty apartment.

It hit me.

I don't have hurricane insurance.

And Dale, have you ever tried personalized?

Shouldn't. Must get pops around.

You can't do better than that?

I'm sorry, baby. My mind is on a thing.

My mind is on the pop. I'll trick you.

All right, there's my homeboy Q.

I'm going to go holla at him.

Are you enjoying the party?

Oh, yeah. Hey, Buffalo Wing was awesome. You know what I'm saying?

Oh, don't worry, Joaquin. He's just running a little late.

No way, Richard.

After midnight.

Girl, my feet hurt. I'm about to get my Epsom on.

I'm right behind you.

Yeah, Mo.

Thanks for a slamming party.

Hakeem, you can't go.

Mo, he's not coming.

Maybe he got lost.

Mo, the man lived next door.

Honey, at least you tried.

Mm -mm.

I'm stuck.

And Great Grandpa Mitchell helped A. Philip Randolph start the Brotherhood of

Sleeping Car Porters. They're the first black union to integrate the AFL -CIO.

Oh, Miles, honey, you did a wonderful job.

Hey, hey, hey, Hakeem, my man.

Well, come on, Miles. Moe and I are going to help you finish up the family

Yeah, Moe.

Shut up. Come on. All right, all right, all right.

What's up, Mr. Mitch? What do you need? Well, Hakeem, since you always eat over

here, I figure it's about time that you learn how to cook over here.

Honey, I'm glad. What's on the menu?

Mitchell's. Five Alarm Chili.

Here, put this on.

Oh, okay.

But before we begin, I figured you should know the history of this

chili.

You can listen and chop up these scallions at the same time, can't you,

yeah, I think I can handle that. Get on it, then. Yeah.

You see, back in Grandpa's day, it was the man's job to bring home the bacon

and the women's job to cook it.

Oh, yeah.

But not like now, where Mrs. Mitch brings home the bacon and cooks it, too.

And that cayenne pepper.

So, anyway, one day, Grandma Mitchell went into labor just before dinner.

Hey, Grandpa had to cook for himself, huh? Mm -hmm, and his hungry little

So, he came up with this little recipe, see, and he swore that from that day

forward, every Mitchell man would learn how to cook chili.

Tell you what, why don't you, sir, let me do that.

There you go.

Like this? No, no, no, no, no, no.

Nice and slow.

See?

Nice and slow. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, you got it.

All right, now, where was I? Oh, Grandpa Mitch was swearing and stuff.

So, Grandpa passed down this little recipe to my father, who passed it down

me so that one day I could pass it down to Miles.

But today, I'm passing it down to you.

I hope this chili is as good as your story.

Oh, if you like that story, you're going to love this chili, boy.

Here, give me that.

Oh, look at this.

It's your birthday present.

But I thought ten spot in the car was my birthday present.

Just open it.

Oh, a tie.

But, uh, where's the clips?

Here,

let me show you.

All right. I hope that Hakeem and his father work things out one day.

But in the meantime, I'm happy to share my daddy with them.