Original subtitles

Previously on Moesha. I'm not your uncle, Dorian.

I'm your father.

All right, I understand that this is difficult for you and it's going to take

you a while to adjust.

But I want you to understand something. I am still your father.

And there's only so many times I'm going to let you walk away from me.

Since this award banquet is for Frank, I'm going to make sure it's special.

Oh, thank you, Andell.

This could be just what we need to break some of the tension around here.

Oh, you mean the tension about Frank being Dorian's father?

Oh.

Is that still supposed to be a secret?

You know Bernie can't hold water.

It's been a secret for far too long anyway.

Good, because I put it in the church bulletin for this Sunday.

You what?

Look at you. How are you doing, Mo? I'm fine. I just came by to drop a few

things in the washing machine. I didn't think anybody would be home.

Nobody else is home, right?

Well, if by nobody you mean your father. No, he's still at work.

So why don't you drop that off in the washing machine and relax?

Maybe stay for lunch?

Ooh, looks like she's staying for good.

Felicia. Oh, Ma, I want you to check out this program I designed for your dad's

baby.

The Leimert Park Businessman of the Year Banquet.

The one where you're going to introduce your father?

The one I won't be attending.

Thanks. What are you talking about? I already put your name in the program.

Well, Andel, technically you didn't, because you see, it says right here,

Miyoshi Mitchell.

I'm going to kill that printer.

And I'm going to kill you, too, if you don't... Andel, why don't you let us

about it? Besides, you might want to stop the presses, unless the event was 1

,800 years ago.

February 21st, 200.

The gift stopped the presses. I'm going to stop that check.

Mom, I hope I see you tomorrow night.

All right.

Moesha, honey.

Won't you even consider giving the speech? I mean, it's just a short little

introduction before your father gets his award.

It'll just make him feel so good.

Hey, come on. Why are you sweating me about the banquet?

Surprise, you're even going.

Moesha, your father is still my husband, and I still love him. I vowed to stand

by him through better or worse, and those vows are important to me.

Well, I didn't make any vows to be his daughter, so I won't be standing

near him.

Moesha, now you know your father deserves this award.

Look at what he's done for the community.

He sponsors the basketball team. He hired the neighborhood kids. He has

to countless charities and organizations.

Mm -hmm. So let the rest of the community honor him.

I'll wait till he gets the Father of the Year Award. I mean, who knows how many

surprises he gets to show for that.

Yo, Joaquin.

Let me holler at you. Yo, what's up, chef?

What's up with your girl, Mo?

She got a boyfriend?

No.

Yo, but, uh, if I was you, I wouldn't even step to her. Hey, well, good thing

you're not me, because I'm about to put on a step show up in here.

Oh, well, go for it.

Yeah.

Just hope you got insurance.

I was like, but she used up your lifelines in the first three questions.

How you going?

Uh,

Moesha, can I talk to you? Uh, I was already talking.

To my friend.

No, see, you were talking to an old friend.

It's time to make a new friend.

Oh.

You want to be my friend.

All right, then let's talk. You know, like friends. Hey, I'm with it.

So, what's on your mind?

Well, you see, I have this problem.

I have a tendency to sit here.

minding my business when some clown just comes over with the mistaken impression

that I'd ever be interested in anything he'd have to say. Oh, uh, maybe I should

just go. Oh, no, no, no, don't leave.

I'm not through, friend.

Look, I created the version you've run.

That's all right.

I'm out.

Hey, so, uh, how'd your step show go?

She's feeling me.

You're kind of rough on him, aren't you? It worked.

He's gone.

Yeah, keep acting like that and everybody will be gone.

What are you saying?

Look, Ma, I know you're pretty upset.

Okay, but instead of taking it out on strangers, you need to talk it out with

people who care about you.

How many times do I have to tell you I'm all right? Yeah. Is that why you spend

all your time in your room?

I've been studying.

Oh, so is that why your answer machine says, leave me alone?

I thought I'd be over all of this by now, but I just can't stop thinking

it. Well, I guess not, Moesha.

I mean, you spend all your time locked up in the basement room, sulking.

Mm -hmm.

You know what? You need to get out, Mo, and have some fun.

Yep.

You're right, Hakeem. Maybe that will work.

Yeah?

Well, um, how does, um, 10 a .m. tomorrow sound? I'll pick you up.

And what?

Okay, Mo.

I'll be at your dorm room tomorrow at 10.

I'll make that 10 .15.

The buses run kind of late on Saturday.

Okay, boys, I'm going to have to run out for a few minutes. Miles, when you

finish eating, I want you to wash the dishes.

Dorian, I want you to clean up the kitchen.

Dorian? Did you hear what I did?

Yeah, Uncle Frank.

Well, I'm out.

I'm on my way over tonight just to lay down some tracks in his studio.

Your sister's karaoke machine is not a studio.

Even Jay -Z started somewhere.

And he sure wasn't pushing a mop.

Hey, but Dad said we had to clean up the kitchen.

And why should I listen to him?

Because he's your dad, too.

All right.

Technically, he's the guy who got my mother pregnant.

He has no right to tell me what to do.

Well, he's still beating the both of us, so I'm doing the dishes.

Like I said, I'm out.

Hello. Where are you taking Hakeem tomorrow?

Lisa, don't get it twisted. Hakeem is taking Mia.

Oh. Well, if you want to go in somewhere, you better take some money.

You know it's right.

Hey, Lisa. Hey, Mr. Mitchell.

Daddy, what are you doing here?

What's wrong?

Oh, no, nothing's wrong, Mo.

Dee told me you came by the house to do your laundry and you left these in the

dryer. I thought you might need them.

A pair of sweat socks and a scrunchie.

Look, Mo, this thing's gone on long enough, baby. We really need to talk.

You ain't never lied.

I need to talk, and I definitely don't want to hear anything you have to say.

Well, that's not new, is it?

Come on, baby. Why don't we just sit down and work this out?

Daddy, what is there to work out?

You cheated, you lied, you were wrong, and you still are. And now I'm here,

baby. I'm trying to make it right.

Well, it's too late for that.

No, no, no, baby. As long as we both still breathing, it's not too late.

Oh.

Baby, you don't know how sorry I am.

I mean, not just for the indiscretion, but for hiding the truth from everybody

for all of these years.

So that's it?

That's your whole apology for almost destroying our family?

Mo, if I hadn't done what I did, you wouldn't have a family.

What are you talking about?

Mo, after I found out that Dorian's mother wasn't going to raise him, I

to bring him home.

But Marguerite told me that she'd leave me if I did.

Mama was going to leave you? Well, that's what she said, Mo.

And then...

Sandy stepped in and offered to adopt Dorian.

Mo, baby, I kept my marriage together. I made sure that Dorian was cared for,

and I provided a loving home for you and later on Miles. Yeah, but you wouldn't

have had to do all of that if you'd have messed around in the first place.

Daddy, how could you do that?

Look, there was a lot going on that you never knew about.

First of all, your mother and I were separated at the time. Yeah, because you

had an affair.

No, Mo.

We were separated because we were young, because we were broken, because we

didn't realize how difficult a marriage could be.

That doesn't excuse what you did.

No, it doesn't.

But your mother forgave me, Mo.

And what about you?

Thank you, Daddy, for bringing me back my socks.

Here's the ticket for tonight's banquet.

Oh, yeah.

I'm sorry your mom can't make it.

Yeah, so is she. She knows almost everybody being honored.

Shoot, she works for three of them.

I'll see you tonight. All right.

Yeah.

What's up, boy?

What's up, son? Yo, man, this sure is something.

Mr. Mitch finally getting his props.

Yo, you gonna be there tonight?

Are you crazy?

What would I look like sitting there clapping while people talk about the

Frank Mitchell?

Be as fake as he is.

Oh, look, dude, at some point, you just got to forgive him and let it go. You

mean like he let me go?

And let some other man pretend to be my father?

Also, I didn't mess up his perfect little family?

Oh, come on, Dorian.

Look, man, I'm sure he did what he thought was right.

Man, forget him and his stupid little dinner.

Well, if you're that angry, Mr. Mitch, man, you need to let him know how you

feel. Oh, yeah, that'll fix everything, won't it? No, but it'd be a start.

Hey, I .D. Hmm?

Did Aunt Del find anyone to introduce Uncle Frank at that banquet tonight?

No, but if we have to use Reverend Brown, bring the no -dos.

Well, I've been thinking.

And what about if I did?

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

So what do you think?

Well, I think your father would be thrilled.

But what's with this sudden change of heart? I thought you were still upset

him. I was, but I'm working on it.

Great, Dorian. I'll make sure I let Frank know.

Oh, I did.

Hmm? Can it be a surprise?

Okay.

But you better get to work on your speech.

If you need someone to rehearse it with, just let me know.

Nah. I'm gonna come straight from my heart.

Soon as I can find about ten more ways to say jerk.

Look, this right here, this is the throttle, okay? And this is the brake.

And I'm never going to be able to ride this.

Yeah, sure you can, Mo.

It's just like riding a motorcycle.

Oh, that explains everything.

Look, this is easy, okay?

Just as long as you take it slow.

Maybe you should, because I know what I'm doing.

No more!

No more!

Hey,

dog, you all right?

Yeah, yeah, I'm all right.

in the four -wheeling.

I'm not.

It's my first time.

What? Man, we could have been killed. I hope you're joking.

Yeah, I am.

It's my second time.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, girl.

Better back that thing up, man. Getting kind of close to the edge, Mo. I'm not

gonna jump, man. I'm just reminiscing. Oh, whoa, whoa. What, you been up here

before? Yeah, a lot of times when I was little.

My dad used to bring me up here to watch the Dodger games.

Way up here?

Yep. He is cheap.

Well, it didn't feel cheap.

It was special. You know, we'd have a picnic, listen to the game on the radio,

let me hog the binoculars.

Yeah, well, you know, I still think your dad's a pretty cool guy.

You know where this is going.

He deserves another chance, Mom.

Then why don't you be his daughter?

I'm sorry I snuck down with you.

Hey, y 'all. Sorry. What'd you bring?

Frank's.

Frank.

Honey, why aren't you dressed?

Your awards banquet is in less than half an hour.

Yeah, why don't you just call Andy? I'll see if she'll accept the award for me.

Why, Frank, you worked hard for this honor.

But do I really deserve a D?

Baby, Dorian alternates between defying me and ignoring me. And I'm all out of

ideas on how to get through to Moesha.

Frank, this whole thing with Dorian has been very difficult on all of us.

But you've done all the explaining and apologizing that you can do.

Now it's time for you to move on with your own life.

And that means going tonight and accepting your award.

Because you deserve it.

Besides, I look too good to stay home tonight.

All right.

So,

how did you like your dinner?

Oh, it was delicious.

Yes, especially that tofu, um, thing.

Well, we aim to please.

Dee, you have any Tums? My stomach upset, too. No, I'm still hungry.

Hey, what's up, Dorian?

I didn't think you were coming.

Came to help Uncle Frank celebrate.

I mean, after what he did at my party, it's the least I could do.

Dorian, don't you do nothing stupid.

I'm just following your advice.

I'm going to let Uncle Frank and everybody else in this room know just

feel.

You want to do this, Mom?

Yeah.

They need to know who my dad really is.

Dorian.

Hey, man, what are you doing here?

You don't want to talk about your dad, so I came to pick up your slack.

Aha! Hello again. Did everyone enjoy dinner?

Well, forget you... Next time, eat at home.

I was going to introduce our guest of honor, but I see his daughter is here to

do that.

Ladies and gentlemen, Moesha Mitchell.

I've got this, Dorian.

But, Mo, I'll... Dorian, I got it.

Oh.

I see. Go get it, Mo.

When I was a little girl, like most little girls, I thought my dad was

I didn't think he could do anything wrong.

Then I grew up.

As a teenager, like most teenagers, I didn't think he could do anything right.

Now I know that my dad isn't perfect.

But he does do a lot of things right.

He makes mistakes.

But...

What he's taught me is that in business and in life, the most important thing is

how you recover from the mistakes that you've made.

He's been a role model for me, a leader in this community, and I love him.

Ladies and gentlemen, businessman of the year, my dad, Mr. Frank Mitchell.

Me too, Dad.

Well, first I'd like to thank everybody for this beautiful trophy.

And secondly, I'd like to thank my family who are here with me tonight.

First, my wife, Dee.

Thank you, baby.

And my children, Moesha, Miles,

Dang, Mo.

Thought you was going to give him what he deserved.

I think I did.

Honey, this is such an auspicious occasion. I think we should take one

everybody. Yeah, good idea. Come on, everybody.

Oh, come on, you guys. Let's get a picture.

All right.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, now one with just the family.

Oh, wait just a second. Where's Dorian? He was here just a second ago.

Dorian?

Guess he must have left.

Daddy, it is okay.

Next time, it'll be the whole family.

Yeah, yeah. Okay? All right. Come on.

Okay. We're ready.