Original subtitles

Well, we're moving on now. We're moving on now.

her arm was really broken, you can make an emergency splint with this magazine.

Well, wouldn't it be easier to use a phone book?

A phone book?

Yeah, to call a doctor.

What's going on?

Oh, Florence is pretending she has a broken arm.

She's been doing that ever since the day we hired her.

I hope you never get a broken mouth.

They don't make magazines that big.

How would you like to go into the kitchen?

If you're staying in here, I'd love to.

Well, how's my lovely, charming bride this beautiful day?

I'm fine.

What are you so happy about?

I'm always happy when I'm about to make a lot of money.

A lot of money?

That's right. Tomorrow, I will be the proud owner of six cleaning stores.

Oh, George, that's wonderful.

Wait a minute. Did you say six cleaning stores?

That's right.

But you already own seven stores.

How can you make a lot of money by owning one less?

Because I'm selling my store in Queens, and I'm getting double what it's worth.

Double? That's right. I'm having a meeting at the store today to close the

Leroy's over there now waiting for me.

What is he doing there?

Well, because the manager's on vacation and Leroy's filling in for him.

But, George, that was your first store. You always said it's your good luck

charm. Right!

And it's still giving me good luck. I mean, I'm going to make a killing on

deal. But that store has so much sentimental value.

I still remember the first day you opened it.

Yep. And I picked you up and carried you across the threshold.

And put me down behind the cash register.

Where I worked for two years.

I remember the time that dude asked you if you cleaned rabbit fur.

And you said, not if it's still on the rabbit.

Oh, that store. It's so full of memories.

I hate to see you sell it.

Well, I have to, Weezy.

They made me an offer I can't refuse.

You mean the mafia's buying it?

No. Some company called YMAX.

Hello.

Hey, Leroy, what's happening?

Mr. Jefferson, I need help down here. Help for what? A whole bunch of people

came by all at once.

Well, you're the manager. Can't you handle it yourself?

Well, there's a lot of them.

Well, are you waiting on them? No, sir.

Why not?

They're outside.

Outside? Well, do they have dirty clothes with them?

Some do.

Well, let them in, dummy. Let them in?

Right, and have them line up in single file.

Line up.

Yes, sir.

And then what?

Then take their clothes from them.

Some of them are women.

Well, take their clothes, too.

I don't think they're going to like that.

Sure they will. Customers don't like to wait. But these ain't customers.

They're picketers.

Who are they striking?

They ain't hitting nobody yet.

But they look pretty mad.

Okay, I'll be there right away.

Damn. Be right back, Weasley.

Where you going?

Down to the store. I got to show Leroy how to take care of business.

There he is.

How

can

you do this to us?

I was born in this neighborhood.

You're not going to get away with it. Will somebody mind telling me what's

happening?

She says she's mad.

You speak Spanish? No, but that's mad in any language.

Right now, I'm going to call the police.

Well, you go ahead and call the police, Jefferson.

If we get arrested, it might help our cause. Glad I see you. Oh, yeah, would

mind telling me what your cause is?

Oh, come on. You know why we're here, shorty.

But don't play dumb with us. Oh, he ain't playing.

Leroy.

What I meant was that... Look, Leroy, would you mind getting behind the

and waiting on some customers?

Ain't no customers here. That's because there's nobody there to wait on them.

So, are you going to sell your store?

That ain't none of your business. It sure is. If you sell your store, we

have any place to live.

What are you talking about, man? You don't live in my store. Yeah, but if you

sell your store, that means they got the whole block.

Who's they?

Why, man?

Shorty. Would you stop calling me shorty?

Okay, sonny.

You really don't know what's going on, do you? No, I don't. Look, Wynack wants

to buy every building on this block. For what? So they can tear them down and

build expensive apartments.

And we've got to move.

I've got a good mind to punch those people in the nose.

But, ma 'am...

Yeah, but you're the last one. Huh?

All the other owners on the block have agreed to sell. Now, it's all up to you.

If you sell, it's all over.

Oh.

I'm the last one, huh? That's right.

You're the only thing standing in Wimak's way.

Oh, ain't that something?

Huh, that sure changes things.

Excuse me. Oh, I'll take care of that for you. You can pick it up Friday.

But I don't want it clean.

Why? I sure could use it.

I'm looking for Mr. Jefferson.

My name is Gerald Woodley.

Mr. Woodley from YMAC. Hey, great looking coat you got here.

Hi, how you doing? I'm George Jefferson. Is there some place we can talk over

the deal?

Deal? Then you are going to sell.

Oh, you can't trust short people.

Wait a minute, I never said I was going to sell. But you said it was a good

offer. We should have known you wouldn't listen to us.

Yeah, you were planning on selling all along. But that was before I found out

what was going on.

Don't try to con us, shorty. But I'm telling you the truth.

Okay,

okay, I'll prove it to you.

Now, tell these folks. Did you...

a duly appointed representative of YMAC Corporation make a financial proposal to

me, George Jefferson, for the sale of this property to YMAC Corporation?

Of course I did. And did I accept this offer?

Well, you said you would be a man. Did I accept it, yes or no? Well, no, but...

Well, then I don't accept it.

Hey, hey, hey, oh, man, Mr. Jefferson, you're all right. Yeah, we were wrong

about you.

Oh, merci beaucoup.

Okay, come on, let's go.

I can hardly wait to tell the good news to Mom and Dad.

That was very clever, Mr. Jefferson.

Huh? Getting rid of those people by telling them you weren't selling.

Of course it was clever, especially since it's the truth.

Are you serious? You're not going to sell? That's right. Not at the price you

offer. But the other owners have agreed to sell.

That's their problem. I can't help it if I'm smarter than they are.

Oh, I see.

The price on your store just went up, huh?

You got it.

Okay. Now, I offered you double what your store is worth, right?

Right. Well, I have the power to make that three times what it's worth.

Really? Okay. When you get more power than that, come and see.

We'll talk business.

We're in money.

We're in money.

Oh,

Florence, I was just thinking about dinner tonight.

Good. What were you thinking of making?

I was thinking about what you could make.

Okay. What did you have in mind?

Oh, I don't know.

I've got a taste for something out of the ordinary.

Something exotic and oriental. Hey, how about lobster Cantonese?

Yeah, that sounds great. Good, why don't you call Ming Lowe's and see what they

can deliver?

Forget it, Florence.

Okay, I'll call them.

Uh, Florence, forget the phone and answer the door.

Well, my goodness, I have to do all the work around here.

Hi, Florence.

Louise, have you seen page 14 in the Globe? No. I have. The saddest Dear Abby

letter I ever read.

Dear Abby, my husband uses my electric toothbrush to clean his shoes.

What should I do?

Tell him to use fluoride shoe polish.

No, no, no. I'm talking about this story about George's store in Queens.

Was that in Dear Abby's column, too?

Florence, I'm talking about these people who've been thrown out of their homes.

What people? And what does it have to do with George?

The YMAC Corporation is buying up the whole block, and then they're going to

build luxury apartments.

Well, no wonder Mr. Jefferson got such a good price for his store.

Florence, I'm sure George didn't know anything about this scheme.

Child, Mr. Jefferson is down at his Queen's store right now making a deal.

I'd better call him and tell him what YMAC is planning to do.

I said, we're in money.

George, I was just going to call you. Well, good, I just saved us a dime.

Did you accept YMAC's offer?

No, why? Are you sure?

Sure, I'm sure. Why?

Then you heard about the people in the neighborhood.

What about them?

Why Mac is building luxury apartments and forcing the people who live there

to move.

Oh, yeah, I found out about that. The Picketts told me about it. And they

you out of selling?

Well, let me tell you something. After talking to those people who live on that

block, ain't no way that Why Mac can make me accept that crummy offer. Oh,

George, you're wonderful.

Oh, we're really proud of you for turning it down.

Well, ain't no big thing.

Oh, George, don't be so modest.

Just think, when you go down to that store, all those people can look at you

say, there's that wonderful man who saved our home.

I can't believe this.

Read it out loud.

George Jefferson, owner of Jefferson's Cleaners, has become a local hero.

By resisting the pressure from YMAC Corporation, he is the lone man

for holding off the destruction of the neighborhood.

How'd you get this story on the front page?

It was easy.

The editor is a friend of mine.

Since when?

Well, since I gave him a year's free cleaning.

Besides, newspapers are always looking for good scoops.

Scoop? For you, they need a shovel.

Is this all the copies of the paper you can get?

I bought every one the man had. He asked me if I was going to line a birdcage

for an ostrich.

Oh, I'm so proud of the way you're holding your ground. In spite of all the

money, why Mac offered you?

Well, I never thought I'd see the day. George Jefferson turning down money.

Yeah,

that's like a moth turning down a closet full of wool sweaters.

You know something, Florence?

Your trouble is you don't know how generous I really am.

I guess not.

I've been judging you by the size of my paycheck.

I've heard that these battles with corporations can drag on and on.

I know. That's why we need a lot of publicity to bring them to their knees.

Yeah, that way you can look them right in the eye.

You know, some people would hold out just to drive up the price.

You're kidding.

Hold on, I'll get it.

Hello?

Oh, Leroy, what?

What?

Property Owners Association.

Want me?

Huh? Oh, okay, okay.

I'll be right there.

What's wrong, George?

The other owners on the block are angry because I ain't selling. Damn, just

being a hero is turning into a full -time job.

You said he was going to be here in 30 minutes. Now, where is he? Yeah, I bet

doesn't show.

He's probably yellow.

Mr. Jefferson?

Oh, no, he's black.

Hey, Leroy, what's going on?

Oh, Mr.

Jefferson, man, I'm glad you're here. It's okay, I'll handle it. Jefferson,

we've been waiting here an hour for you.

Oh, really? You should have had your suits cleaned.

You're already taking us to the cleaners.

I'm Jim Baker. I own the AAA supermarket.

No kidding. We got three of your shopping carts out back.

I use them to haul around the dirty clothes.

Leroy, I said I'd handle it. I'm Bill Walters, Jefferson. I own the apartment

building on the corner.

We represent all of the property owners on this block.

Well, you don't represent me.

Well, that's why we're here.

Why aren't you with us in this YMAC deal?

Yeah, Jefferson, there's a lot of money to be made here.

You can say that again.

So why are you lousing it up?

I'm not lousing it up. Oh, you're not? I know. What do you call what you're

doing? It's called being a hero.

Ain't you read the front page?

Leroy, stick to the comics.

Hey, Jefferson, what have you got to say about that article?

I call it a smart business move.

Now, what is so smart about turning down a big profit?

Holding out for bigger profits.

Jefferson, what's your game?

Monopoly. And I'm holding boardwalk. And if YMAC wants it bad enough, they're

going to have to pay me for it.

And I'm not talking about play money.

What are we supposed to be doing while you're trying to up the ante? Look,

all going to make money on this deal.

Only I'm going to make more than you guys.

Which is only fair since I'm smarter than you are.

Now, if you guys don't mind, I got business to take care of. All right,

Jefferson, all right. But just remember this.

While you're holding up Boardwalk, none of us can pass go.

Where is my money?

Mr. Jefferson, I don't understand all this.

Why? Don't you never play Monopoly? I mean, why did you tell those guys you're

going to sell when it says here you're not? Leroy, look, don't believe

everything you read in the paper.

You mean you're going to take YMAC's offer?

No, I'm not going to take YMAC's offer. Then you're not going to sell.

Of course I'm going to sell, dummy.

What about this article?

Great publicity.

The bigger hero I am, the more YMAC has to pay.

Oh, I get it.

I think.

It's called holding out.

Didn't anybody ever hold out on you before?

Sure. Mary Lou Parker.

She held out all through high school.

I'm talking about holding out for money.

So am I.

Look, Leroy, you are looking at a man who has one of the richest corporations

the city right where he wants them. Who is that?

In the palm of my hand.

They already called me twice and raised the offer each time.

Are you sure this idea of yours is going to work?

Positive. Look, let me tell you something.

I'll bet you that before this week is out, a man from Wymack is going to walk

through that door and make me a rich man.

You're saying Mr. Woodley's going to come back here?

Yeah.

Okay.

I bet you a dollar.

Okay.

You got yourself a bet.

George, you won't believe who called the house.

Sterling James.

Who's Sterling James?

Sterling James is the newscaster.

He's coming out here to interview you.

You kidding?

That means I'm going to be on television, I told you. And Dappy Duck.

Wait a while, I'm going to be on television. Then they'll know who

dealing with.

Jefferson and Wymack.

It's like David and Goliath.

Oh, come on, Wheezy. Wymack is bigger than Goliath. And they also got more

money, right, Mr. Jefferson?

What do you mean, Leroy?

Oh, well, what he means is big corporations can afford big legal

George isn't afraid of that. Right, George?

Well, Wheezy, you never know how things are going to turn out.

You're not afraid of losing, are you?

Well, you know how it is in the business world.

It's dog eat dog.

My dog eats liver.

George, are you saying why Matt could win?

Well, look, anything can happen in business.

But if they do, nobody can say that George Jefferson didn't put up a good

Oh, you're right, George.

And I'm proud to be in your corner.

Excuse me, I'm looking for Mr.

Jefferson. That's me.

Sterling James on the spot news, but of course I'm sure you recognize me.

Of course!

Channel 5 is the only channel I watch. I'm on channel 6.

Yeah, what I mean is channel 5 is the only channel I watch when I'm not

you.

Oh, this is my lovely, wonderful wife, Louise.

How do you do? Hello.

Oh, yeah, and this is Leroy.

I'd like to interview you and your wife for tonight's newscast.

Us? If you don't mind.

Really? What a surprise.

I guess we have time. Great. Why don't you just come right over here?

Make sure you get my good side, son.

All right, I think we're ready.

Rolling.

This is Sterling James, coming to you from a small store in Queens. It's not

that small.

I'm speaking with George Jefferson, who owns this store and who, in order to

prevent the destruction of a neighborhood, has refused to sell the

large corporation.

Tell me, Mr. Jefferson, how does it feel to be a hero?

Well, you know, I guess it's not much different from any other hero. Like,

Reggie Jackson, for instance.

Now, are you saying they're going to name a candy bar after you?

Yes,

well... Mrs.

Jefferson, do you have any doubt that your husband will have any problem in

holding out against Wymack and the lure of their glittering pot of gold?

Not for...

Not for a moment.

Hit it strong, Weez.

My husband wouldn't sell if they offered him a million dollars. Not that strong.

The YMAC Corporation offered my husband a lot of money to sell out. The pressure

is terrible.

How's he been handling it?

Oh, he's laughing at their offer.

Well, the offer is laughable.

Mrs. Jefferson, you're proof that behind every successful man, there's a woman.

Won't you share with us your feelings during this time of mighty struggle?

Well, I feel... Now don't tell him anything. I just wanted to pay you a

What dollar?

We bet a dollar Mr.

Woodley would come in. Well, he did.

Mr. Jefferson.

Excuse me.

That must be an important customer.

Oh, that ain't no customer. That's Mr.

Woodley from Weimarker. I'm Leroy Crawford. I'm appearing in our church in

Amateur.

Look,

I can't talk about business right now. I don't want everybody finding out what

I've been doing. Here we have Mr.

Woodley, a representative of the company that Mr. Jefferson is fighting.

What are your feelings about what Mr. Jefferson is doing?

He has no feelings about it at all. Oh, but I do. Excuse me.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Gerald Woodley, representative of the YMAC

Corporation, and I want to say that we are proud of our devotion to progress

humanity. Those are my exact feelings.

We at YMAC realize that some people think of us as a large and powerful

corporation, one that can roll over anybody.

That's right, but I'm just a small guy.

I know when I've been licked.

Sorry, Weeds.

But once Mr. Jefferson brought the plight of the residents of this block to

attention... We knew we were doing the wrong thing.

Say what?

Are you saying that Wymack is no longer interested in this property? That is

correct. Well, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen.

George Jefferson has done it.

He's won.

This man has beaten the corporation.

Congratulations.

Wait, wait, wait.

I'll accept your offer. I'm sorry, Jefferson. Okay, I'll accept half the

Too late.

Why? All that publicity.

Publicity? Our company likes to keep a low profile. All this notoriety isn't

good for our image.

Damn. I'm sorry we couldn't do business. But wait, wait. How about one quarter?

And don't you ever come back.

George, I'm so proud of you.

Indeed, Mr.

Jefferson, you are a real hero. Do you have anything to say to our...

millions of people watching this newscast tonight?

Oh, yeah, I sure do.

I'd like to announce a great Jefferson Cleaners holdout sale at all seven

locations. Seven clean locations throughout the city. One in Manhattan on

East... I'm Leroy Crawford. I'm appearing in my church and I am a...

The Jeffersons was videotaped in front of a studio audience.