Original subtitles

Now the world don't move to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for

you may not be right for some. A man is born, he's a man of means.

Then along come two, they got nothing but the genes. But they got different

strokes to take, different strokes to take, different strokes to move the

Everybody's got a special kind of story.

Everybody finds a way to shine.

It don't matter that you got not a lot. So what? You'll have yours and I'll have

mine. And together we'll be fine.

Different strokes to move the world. Different strokes to move the world.

What are you doing in there?

Scaring the bums off you.

Young man, what have you been told about hiding and jumping out at people?

That's the only way somebody my size is going to scare anybody your size.

Well, watch yourself, because somebody my size might decide to keep somebody

your size from getting any bigger.

You got that, Arnold?

lovely day.

Arnold,

that is the second time this week that you've scared me half to death. Which

half did I get this time?

Please, don't do that again. All right, Mr. Drummond.

Where's Willis?

I have to talk to you boys about something very important.

Uh -oh.

Whatever it is, I didn't do it. No.

Arnold, you're not in any trouble.

Yet. But have patience. The day has just started.

Do you want me, Mr. Drummond? Yes, please.

Now, you boys know that there's a social worker dropping by today to see how

you're doing, right?

Yeah, right.

Now, it's very important to all of us that she sees how much you like it here.

But you said if you wanted to leave, the door was always open.

That's right, Willis.

Now, I'm going to tell the social worker how much I like you guys.

It might be helpful if you could say something, you know, complimentary about

me. Okay.

I'll tell her you got all your own teeth.

I thank you. And my dentist thanks you, but that's not exactly what I meant.

Arnold, what could you say?

I could say this is a place I want to die and be buried. Right here in this

with a colored TV and stereo.

Yeah, it's just like King Tut. Yeah, King Tut.

Who's that?

It might be better if you just simply said that you couldn't imagine wanting

live anywhere else. Except Harlem.

You know what I like about Harlem?

What?

Gang of kids.

If you behave yourself, Willis, today, I'll buy your own gang of kids.

We'll give it a try.

And we'll do what you say.

Thanks, Willis.

Now, let's see.

What could you say about me that's nice?

And still truthful, of course.

We could say you're a real cool dude.

A real cool dude?

Mm -hmm.

You know, I like that.

That's who do we knew. He got five years still in the hot car.

Yeah. Then he got spanked by his mommy because he wasn't old enough to drive.

All right. Okay, fellas, get ready for breakfast. And that social worker could

be here any minute. All right, Mr. Drummond. Okay, Mr. Drummond.

Are you Mr. Drummond? Yes.

Miss Amesley, social worker.

Oh, yes, please, come in.

Can I get you a drink, Mrs. Amesley?

Miss Amesley.

And I never drink on the job.

Do you drink, Mr. Drummond?

Oh, never.

Never!

Won't you please sit down?

Now then, the children.

Ah, yes.

Those happy, well -adjusted little tots.

Boys! Coming, Mr. Drummond. Coming, Mr. Drummond.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Drummond.

Yeah, we would have been here sooner, but we're up there counting our

here I want you to meet.

This is Arnold, and this is Willis Jackson.

Boys, this is Miss Amesley, social worker who's come to pay our happy home

visit.

How do you do?

I'm happy Willis.

And I'm delirious Arnold.

You're Arnold, you're Willis. Yes, ma 'am. We also got a happy goldfish

named Abraham.

gopish we ever saw laugh.

Happy children making happy jokes.

So you boys are really happy living here. If this was heaven, I'd kill

tomorrow.

that you children certainly do have a lovely place to live in.

Confidentially, the man is loaded.

L -O -D -I -D.

He sure treats us right.

You know, children can be spoiled that way.

Well, if you're gonna turn bad, that's...

right from wrong. Oh, and wrong from right.

Whichever we happen to get involved in first.

Boys.

Have you ever lived in a non -black neighborhood before?

Just once.

When our landlord in Holland painted our building white.

Do you miss seeing other black children your age?

No, ma 'am.

Black kid my age, all I gotta do is look in the mirror.

Well, I guess that's all the questions that I have for the boys. All right,

boys, you can run up to your room and listen to your classical records.

Perhaps Peter and the Wolf?

I know you like the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies. Oh!

Just a minute.

I want you to take my card.

We can never be too careful in these cases.

And I want you to feel free to call me should the need arise.

Oh, we won't be needing anything.

We even got a phone in the car.

Yeah, and if you don't have anything to do yourself sometimes, you can give us a

buzz.

Come, little brother.

It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Ainsley.

For me, Likewise.

Very civilized person, isn't she?

How wonderful human beings.

Aren't they adorable?

Yes. And you've coached them very well.

Now then, Mr. Drummond, I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask you.

Yes? You also have a teenage daughter.

Kimberly. She's 13.

She's at boarding school, but she comes home weekends to keep me from using the

phone.

Now then, Mr. Drummond, I understand you're a widower. When it comes to

do you... Yes, I do.

Well, the boys seem to be getting along just fine, and frankly, I'm surprised.

Why should you be?

Well, it's been my observation that white children are usually happier in

families, and black children with black families.

Oh, really?

Mm -hmm.

But then it just might be that money can buy happiness.

It must be nice to be L -O -D -I -D.

It's true, I do have money, but I really care a lot for those boys.

Good.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

I kiss you.

Mrs. Garrett, I'm a very fortunate man.

Yeah, you sure are.

have a gem of a housekeeper like me.

I was referring to the boys, but you too.

Thanks. You know what that social worker was just telling me?

That it's been her observation that black children belong with black

Black children what?

Black children belong...

What's the matter?

Shut up and give me a hand.

Tell me why you're crying.

Never mind.

Oh, now come on, Arnold.

We've always been straight. You know, brother to brother, right?

Yeah. And now that Mama and Papa have died, we've got to look out for each

other.

Cry and tell him what's bugging you.

Well, Mr. Drummond said we belong with the black family.

I heard him tell Ms. Garrett.

He said black children belong with black families. You sure he said that?

I heard him. My ears aren't painted on.

Why would he say a thing like that?

You know, he likes us.

Nothing makes sense.

I thought there was one dude who was colorblind.

What are we gonna do, Willis?

Don't worry about it.

I'm your big brother, and I'll take care of it.

I'm sure glad you're my big brother.

Me too, short stuff.

Why won't he pretend to like us, Willis?

I guess because we laid his fad in Hunkyland.

What does that mean?

It means we better get out of here before he puts us under the jockey suit

plants us on the front lawn.

Hasn't this been an absolutely terrific day?

My, we're in an especially good mood this evening.

And why not?

I had a wonderful day at the office, I've got two fine boys, and I walked

all the way through Central Park without being mugged.

It's a little joke.

Oh, when they're that little, they really need a magnifying glass.

Well, I'll go up and call the boys for dinner. Forget it.

They've already...

What? Yes, they went out and bought pizza and beans.

Went out and bought?

Yes, sir.

The only one who ever walked out on my cooking was my ex -husband.

And that was only because I tried to poison him.

Now that's a joke.

I think I better have a talk with the boys.

Oh, by the way, that social worker called three times.

Her number's on the pad there.

I wonder what she wants.

Ms. Ainslie, Philip Drummond here.

What?

I can't believe that.

But I... Well, yes, under the

circumstances, I...

Very well.

I'll be expecting you.

Miss Ainsley is bringing a black couple here tomorrow morning.

Oh, adopting two more children?

Why not? The more, the merrier.

Just the opposite, I'm afraid.

Keep looking.

What do you think he'll do because we call a social worker?

He'll probably throw a party after we leave.

Yeah, maybe we could leave later. I sure hate to miss a good party.

Uh -oh, he's coming up.

Remember now, if he don't want us here, we'll show him we don't care.

Get up there.

Good evening, fellas.

What's so funny, guys?

The whites are attacking the Indians, and the Indians are winning.

Oh, man, talk about a fast haircut.

Oh.

Willis, I understand that you called that social worker this afternoon.

Yeah. had a chat with the lady.

And just what did you tell her?

I thought we'd be better off with a black family.

In case you hadn't noticed, we're black.

But you were happy this morning. I mean, what's the problem?

Just that things ain't working out.

You know, man, blacks belong with blacks, and whites belong with whites.

Unless you happen to be a zebra.

I thought you liked it here.

Why do you want to leave?

Because we'd like it better somewhere else.

I see.

Well, all I want to do is what's best for you guys.

Because I love you.

But that's the way you want it.

A black couple's coming here tomorrow morning to see you.

Good night, boys.

Well, I guess we told the man.

Yeah.

Well, a guy who don't want us to stay, he sure is pretending like he does.

Yeah. You know, if he wanted us to stay, he would have tried harder.

But he didn't say one word about us staying.

He sure can put on a good act.

This is a tough world we live in, Willis.

There's only two people we can trust, and that's you and me.

Right. And sometimes I'm so sure about you.

Come on, Mr. Drummond. Cheer up.

Eat your breakfast.

I hardly slept a wink all night thinking about those kids.

How can I eat?

It's easy.

You take your little porky poo, and then you stick it in the eggy poo, and then

you put it in your mouthy poo.

That makes me sicky poo.

I still can't understand why the boys want to leave.

Just tell me one thing that I did wrong.

Well, sometimes you're a little overbearing, and you can be a

you can be very demanding. I only asked for one thing.

Wait. That was the bad news. Now for the good news.

I could use some.

Well, you're very kind and loving, and you make a wonder...

I'm telling you, these kids are living in the lap of luxury.

Confidential. This place would make the greatest garage sale in history.

What's a garage sale?

What's a garage sale?

That's when I call rich.

Oh, believe me, Mr. Drummond, that black couple's going to have to be something

else before those boys will give up all this and leave you.

Thanks, Mrs. Garrett. You really cheered me up. Now all I feel is miserable.

I'll get it.

Good morning, Miss Ainslie.

Please come in.

Thank you.

Please come in. Thank you.

Mr. Drummond, this is the couple I was telling you about, Mr. and Mrs.

How do you do, sir? How do you do, Mr. Thompson?

Mrs. Thompson. Hello.

Please sit down. Thank you.

Charming place you have here, Drummond.

Thank you, Thompson.

It reminds me of our little flat in London.

Your little flat? Oh, our main home's on Long Island.

We use the London place just for weekends.

May I ask what line of business you're in, Mr. Thompson?

Well, you know all the oil the Arabs have.

Yes.

Someone has to sell them the barrels.

Mr. Drummond, The children.

Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

Willis! Arnold!

Would you come down here, please?

Oh,

Jeffrey, look at the darling little one.

This darling little one is my goldfish.

I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.

This is Arnold, and this is Willis. Hello, Arnold. Hi. How do you do?

And they're simply marvelous boys.

I'm in love with them already.

Well, we're packed and ready to make the tracks.

Yeah, well, tell us something about yourselves.

How old are you? Eight, trying for nine.

I'm 13, trying to get out of here.

Well, I know we're going to make one big happy family.

I'm sure.

As I told you yesterday, Mr. Drummond, black children belong with black

families.

You said that?

That's right.

You said Mr.

Drummond said that. He did say it. What do you want, an instant replay?

Hold it, boys.

What did I say?

You said that black children belong...

I heard you say it. I was standing right up there looking down on your bald

spot.

So that's it.

You boys started all this because you thought... Arnold, you little... Dummy.

Thank you, Willis.

Come here, Arnold.

Arnold, you only overheard a part of the conversation.

I was merely repeating what this...

Rather opinionated lady here said.

I am not opinionated. I was merely repeating what the computer said.

You can tell your computer to go suck a lemon.

Willard.

Arnold, what you did was a very natural mistake.

I mean, sometimes people hear a part of a conversation and they jump to the

wrong conclusion.

Why, when I was only nine, I overheard my father talking, and I was sure he

wanted to sell me.

How much did he get for you?

No, it wasn't me. It was just some stock, but I learned a very important

Misunderstandings do occur.

But see, when you love someone, well, then you discuss it first before you do

anything about it.

Do you hear that, lame brain?

Yeah, I heard. I guess there's only one thing bigger than my ears. My mouth.

Mr. Drummond, will you take me and short his back?

Willis, if you boys had left, I was thinking about leaving with you.

Olivia, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yeah, baby.

It's obvious that these boys belong here.

Black or white, it's love that comes.

Mr. Drummond, I think I will tell my computer to go suck a lemon.

Fellas, anytime you'd like to come out to the island and swim in our pool or go

fishing off our yacht.

We'd love to have you. Yes, we'd love to have you. You got a swimming pool.

Oh, yeah.

And a yacht, too. Yes, indeed.

Mr. Thompson, you better leave your name and address just in case.

just one drum what might be right for you may not be right for some a man is

born he's a man of means then along come two they got nothing but the genes but

they got different strokes to take different strokes to take different

to move the world everybody's got a special kind of story

everybody