Original subtitles

Oh, Dee, you don't sound too good, baby.

Well, maybe you ought to just stay in bed.

Honey, don't be silly. I'm fine.

Besides, it's Thanksgiving.

I have a feast to prepare.

And germs to spread.

Well, thank you, Mr. Sensitive.

Honey, your sister's coming all the way from Oakland, and Dell will be here.

Hakeem and his mama are probably already downstairs.

I mean, if I don't get up, who's gonna cook?

Chef Frank.

Maybe I'll just whip up a batch of my famous Mitchell chili.

I can even make a turkey chili.

Hey, Daddy. Hey, baby.

O .D., you look terrible.

Well... Viral infections will do that to a person.

Well, Dee's cold has gotten a lot worse, so I'm just going to order dinner from

Tiny's. Tiny's?

Daddy, you cannot just order Thanksgiving dinner from a restaurant.

I will make it.

Oh, pumpkin.

Daddy, I am serious. I used to cook all the time.

Yeah, I remember.

Look, I have been watching Dee prepare Thanksgiving dinner for years. I have

picked up a thing or two.

Yes, you have, Moesha. And, honey, I think it's a great idea.

Now, Dee, to microwave the turkey, do I press the chicken button three times?

Dee, I'm just kidding.

Now, honey, I don't want you to do a thing but rest, because I'm going to

on you hand and foot.

Oh, honey, that is so sweet.

All I got to do is pick up Sandy from the airport and change my shirt.

It's me.

It's me. It's me.

It's

me.

Dee might need them back to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks, Adele.

Adele, this isn't one of our parts.

Oh.

It is now. Merry Christmas.

Where's Dee?

She's sick. We're making dinner.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I wish there was something I could do. Well,

actually, Adele, you could really... I said I wish.

Adele, why don't you go to Atlanta with Uncle Bernie?

Ooh, girl, two days in an L -Doll with no heat and an H -Rack?

I don't love Bernie or the Commodores that much.

Bye, Andy.

So, Niecy, I know why you really want to spend Thanksgiving with us and not your

family. You want me, don't you?

Look, Dorian, my family is spending Thanksgiving in San Diego with

I didn't go because I have a paper due on Monday.

Got it?

I got it.

So, you want to sit next to me during dinner?

Thanks, but, uh, I'm too big for the kiddie table.

I know love hurts, but... Dang!

Please, can you go to the grocery store and pick me up a popcorn, please? Sure,

girl. As long as it's ten items or less.

Girl, the cashier in the express lane is a cutie.

Okay. I'm listening.

I'm jealous.

Go on, go on.

Well,

Dorian, you must be happy your mom's coming for Thanksgiving.

I guess.

But I know she's going to beg me to move back home.

Well, what are you going to tell her? The truth.

Look, I can't be all things to all people.

I mean, if I left, what would y 'all do without me?

You mean before or after the party?

Dorian, I'm going to pick up your mom. Would you like to come along?

Nah, my mom is just going to make a scene at the airport crying and carrying

And D -Money can't go out like that.

Right, right. I must be tripping. Good

morning, good

morning. Make way for my mom's sweet potato pie.

Where's Mrs. Mitch? In the bed. She has a cold.

Oh, man. I hope she feels better soon.

Dang, I forgot to tell Nisa to give me some cinnamon.

Oh, that's okay. I got some cinnamon in my house.

What? You have food?

You got a lot to be thankful for this year, huh?

Moesha, honey, Harkin told me about Steve. But don't worry about a thing,

because I'm here now. Move right away.

Mo, I'm sorry, Mo. I did everything I could. I couldn't stop her.

Did you try duct tape?

Yes. My mama is strong.

Ooh, looks like I got here just in time. This turkey needs to be basted. Moesha,

where's the baster?

Oh, you mean the squirty?

Squirty?

I've heard enough. Everybody out of my kitchen.

We're not in your kitchen.

Let me tell you something, little boy.

You want some of what he's about to get?

No, ma 'am. I didn't think so.

Um, Mama, why don't, um, you and Mo work together?

Ha!

Well, then what we all stand around here for? Either get busy or get out.

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

That's your mama.

I'm not a kid anymore.

Sandy,

what do you have in here?

Just a few gifts for my baby.

Sandy!

Oh, how cute.

You look great.

Me? Oh, look at my niece. I've grown up.

So how's college life?

Oh, I'm enjoying my classes and the professors are great. Uh -huh. Well,

pretend your father's not here.

How are the boys?

The boys are fine.

Speaking of fine, Hakeem, look at you.

Oh, hey. Walking around like a young Wesley.

Nice.

Well, I get that a lot.

From who?

Hey, Sandy, girl, you're looking good.

Got yourself a new boyfriend or something? Got myself a trainer.

Same thing. You give him all your money, don't you?

You haven't changed a bit.

But I hear my Dorian has. He sure has. This boy's doing all his chores. His

grades are up. And I haven't been in detention for at least two days.

That's because it's Thanksgiving break.

Wasn't somebody missing?

Where's Dee?

Upstairs resting while I'm down here sweating over a hot oven.

Dee has a cold.

Oh, Mr. Mitch, it's almost kickoff time. No, no, no, son. You're going to have

to watch that game by yourself. I'm going upstairs and check on Detroit.

I mean, D.

Hey, you're going to be sick, too, when your team loses. Oh, I'm telling you.

Well, I'm ready to help out in the kitchen.

Oh, nonsense. You're a company. You rest. I'll be all right in there by

Now, how is she going to be in there by herself when I'm going to be in there

with her?

Round two. This is better than WWF.

I can see you, baby. I can see you, too.

I really miss you at home.

Look, Ma, I know what you're gonna say, but I want to stay here for now.

I know.

That's why I took down all the posters in your room and brought them to you. I

repainted the whole house.

What? I did a little redecorating.

It's so hard to walk past your room and not see you in it.

You could have just closed the door.

So do you think...

You could spend a week of your Christmas vacation with your old mom.

A week?

Yeah. Come on.

Honey, it's not like I'm asking you to move back home.

A week will help me stop missing you.

So?

Hi. A week is cool, I guess.

Thanks, baby.

Now let me show you the new watch I bought you.

You know, it's not good to overmix cornbread.

It won't rhyme.

Hey, Niki.

Here are your groceries, Mom.

You okay?

Girl, everybody is doing their last -minute shopping. I mean, it's a

out there. People were pushing and shoving. Oh, girl, my bad.

I mean, no, girl, it was great. Look, I got shoved into the 10 items or less

guy. Our eyes met, and we both smiled.

Then he said, paper or plastic?

like a man who considers my needs.

Well, let me tell you about my needs.

I need some fresh corn.

Nobody's canned corn for Thanksgiving. You're going to have to take this back.

Who's she talking to?

Why are you putting garlic in the mashed potatoes?

Oh, I told him to use garlic.

Figures.

Here, use this.

No pepper's good for you.

Look at Hakeem.

He ate a lot of pepper.

Hakeem, that's your selling point.

Look at here, little boy.

I am not D.

I ain't gonna go for no back talk.

He wasn't talking back to you. We always use garlic, that's all.

Yeah, Ma, look, I like pepper and I like garlic.

Well, garlic it is. Pepper it is. Garlic. Pepper. Garlic. Pepper. Garlic.

-pe -pe -pepper.

What is going on down here?

Mrs. Campbell's scaring me.

Miles, honey, go on and set the table.

Mrs. Mitchell, should we be in the bed?

Well, from the sounds of things, it looks like I ought to be right down

Besides, I'm feeling much better.

Honey,

you're sick.

Why don't you go on back upstairs?

I'm fine.

Just fine.

I'm fine.

I'm going to stay that way.

Dee, look, don't worry. We just had a slight disagreement.

We'll pull it together.

Yeah, right, Ma?

Oh, absolute that. Mm -hmm. All right, so we got everything under control, Mrs.

Mitch. You go rest.

Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

Come on now, baby. Come on. Come on up there. Everything's going to be all

right.

Good.

All right.

Hey,

what's up?

What's up, Mouse?

What's wrong?

Is it Trina or Renee?

Neither one.

My mom's is tripping.

Uh -oh.

She wants you to move back to Oak Town, huh?

Look, if you want, I can make a big scene so you can stay.

I'll even cry.

Save it, man.

My mom doesn't even care.

What?

Is that what she said?

Basically.

Well, then why is she here?

To eat.

Don't you see?

Now that I'm gone, she's having fun.

I was just in the way. She doesn't care.

Well, then why'd she buy you all those cool gifts?

To make it look like she loves me.

Yeah, but deep money can't be bought.

I feel you, man.

So, can I have your watch?

I'm just kidding, man.

You'll be all right.

Dorian told you that? No.

I was eavesdropping.

Well, Tia, it was a very private moment, and I didn't want to be all in this

business, so I thought you could butt in.

Knock, knock.

Hey. Up for a visitor?

Sandra, come on in.

Oh, the TV is off.

Well, I guess we can all just catch up.

Frank, you can go and watch. the gate. No, no, no, Dee. I don't care nothing

about that game.

Daddy, Detroit is losing.

I feel better.

Well, I'll let you two talk about whatever it is you need to talk about.

Sit down, Sandra.

You look great.

Oh, honey, I've been keeping myself busy with cooking classes and ceramic

classes. I've even been taking horseback riding lessons.

Girl, stop. Sounds like you're having fun.

I'm miserable.

See, I miss my son.

And I'm afraid I'm losing him to you guys.

Well, Sandra, there's something I need to tell you. No, I know.

You guys are only trying to help.

And I don't want to sound ungrateful for everything that you and Frank are

doing.

Sandra, that's not it.

Moesha overheard Dorian saying that you didn't want him anymore.

What?

Where would he get an idea like that, Dee? I love my son.

I know you do.

You just have to tell him.

Here you are.

I'm glad to see you like your new gang boy.

It's all right.

Nice day, isn't it?

Look, you don't have to sit out here with me. I'm not a little kid, you know.

Of course I know that.

I'm your mother.

Why aren't you acting like one?

Excuse me?

A mother just doesn't ship her kid away.

As I recall, you ran away.

Yeah, but you never asked me to come back home.

Look, just admit it.

You're happy I'm not there to ruin your fun?

Dorian, I didn't ask you to come back home because I know that sometimes it

takes a man to whip a boy into shape.

And boy, you needed some whipping.

Sit down.

Give me that.

See, this is one of our problems.

With Super Mario Brothers?

Yeah.

And maybe all the other things I've been buying you and letting you get away

with. That is all going to stop.

Fine. Now I won't get anything from either of my parents. Now, that is

Honey, you know you will always have my love.

But I realized that every time your father disappointed you, I would run out

buy you something, hoping to make you feel better.

But now I know that no gift can fill that void.

But if you love me so much, why don't you want me to come back home?

Letting you go was the most painful thing I have ever had to do.

And there is not a day that goes by when I don't question that decision.

I should be the one bragging to Frank and Dee about your accomplishments, not

the other way around.

But then I remind myself that a mother is supposed to put her son's needs

her own.

You are a good mother.

I know I was running you ragged.

You definitely kept me on my toes.

And you're a good son.

And I love you.

I love you, too.

Let's all bow our heads for grace.

Heavenly Father, I just want to thank you for my beautiful family and friends

and for all the times that we've shared.

They've made us grow closer and our bond stronger.

And thank you for my health.

Thank you.

I'm thankful that Bernie made it safely to Atlanta and that I'm here with the

rest of his family, my family.

I'm thankful for my new roommate, D -Money.

Even though he sleeps with a nightlight.

And I'm thankful that my mom is here.

I really missed her.

I'm thankful for the way you all have embraced my son.

Lord, I'm thankful that my son is doing well in college and making his mama

proud.

And I want to thank Mrs. Campbell for helping me put this meal together.

I'm thankful for my mom and my second family, the Nichols.

I'm also painful that my football team won because Mr. Mitch owes me some

Okay, amen.

I got it.

I got the fresh corn.

Oh, honey, forget about the corn. Come on over here and grab a plate.

Oh, no.

Oh, I see somebody going to eat this corn.

All right.

I can't.

Would you do the honors of cutting the first slice of turkey?

Oh, really?

Yes, yes. Come on.

Now,

hold it just a second. All right.

Well,

um, let's eat.

Sometimes there are a lot of issues festering under the surface.

But as soon as people talk about them, the cleansing waters just flow.

This is exactly what Thanksgiving is all about.

Love.