Original subtitles

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

I think so, Mr. Bentley.

Oh, good. You see, Valerie's coming over for dinner tonight, and I'm mixing her

favorite drink. I call it After Five.

What's After Five?

I don't know. I've never been able to get her to drink more than four.

I say, what a stunning dress. I'm sure Mr.

J will love it.

Oh, do you think it'll fit him?

Well, I suppose if you take the hem up a little bit. I suppose if you take the

hem up. I'm going to ask Florence for the cherries.

Oh, Florence! Morris isn't here. She's visiting her aunt for a few days.

But the cherry should be on the top shelf in the refrigerator.

Thank you.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Mr. Wentworth.

What?

You want me to be in the play at the help center?

To replace Melinda?

Oh, I couldn't. She's a very beautiful woman, and I...

Thank you.

How much rehearsing time will there be?

Oh, I'm sorry.

But I just wouldn't feel right leaving my husband alone that many nights.

But thank you for asking anyway.

Goodbye.

What was that all about?

Oh, the help center's putting on a play to raise money. That was the director,

Mr. Wentworth. He wanted me to play a part.

Oh, what'd you tell him?

I said no.

I'd rather spend my evenings with you.

Of course you would.

You should have known that in the first place.

Hello, Mr. J.

Hey, Bentley.

Oh, thank you for the cherries, Mrs. J.

Hey, Bentley, with all those cherries, you could make a perfect gift pack.

and nut.

Very good, Mr. J. A gift pack.

I just hope that Valerie has fun unwrapping me.

George?

Yeah, Whis, what is it?

Do you notice anything different about me?

Oh, yeah, your diet's working.

George, I'm talking about my new dress.

So am I. You fit into the dress, didn't you?

I bought it especially for tonight.

Oh, come on, Whis. You ain't got to get all dressed up just to sit and watch me

work. What's for dinner?

Nothing. What do you mean, nothing?

Well, I thought it would be fun if we went out tonight.

Look, Weasley, I can't go out. I gotta look over all these papers.

Oh, they can wait. Why don't we just go out on the town?

Out where?

Oh, I don't know.

How about a disco?

A disco?

Yeah.

Discos, where's that today?

Oh, it ain't gonna be where I'm at tonight.

Oh, come on, George. I hear there's a great new one called Dirty Betty's. Oh,

I'd rather stay right here at Filthy Florence.

I'm not going to argue about this anymore.

Good, Weasley. Because I like peace and quiet when I work.

Well, I'm not going to be quiet unless you take me out to dinner and then

dancing. But, Weasley, look. Come on, George. It'll be healthy for you.

Healthy? How?

Because if you don't take me out, I'll break your legs.

Did you see that?

Yeah, I'm gonna have to give him one of my business cards.

What for?

If he keeps doing that, he's gonna have to have his pants cleaned.

George, will you stop thinking about the business? Come on, let's get down.

Okay, I'll get down. I just hope I can get back up again.

It's midnight.

He ain't trying to drag me. He's got four more hours before they close.

But, George, shouldn't we be leaving soon?

What are you talking about? I ain't getting my second win yet.

But I'm tired.

Anyway, come on. Oh,

sorry. I'm going to sit this one out.

Louise, what's the matter?

Oh, I'm just sore from too much dancing.

Too much dancing?

Yeah. George and I have been out discoing for the past three nights, but

take it anymore.

So he's going out tonight by himself.

By himself? What's gotten into him?

Disco fever.

Dirty Betty.

What's Dirty Betty's? My destination for tonight.

See you later, Weems. Freak out!

I'm not sure I believe what I just saw.

Every night now, he comes home, wolfs down his dinner, and changes from a

conservative businessman into a disco duck.

Who was the idiot who gave him the idea to start discoing?

Louise, I didn't mean that. Oh, that's okay, Tom. It's my own fault.

I told him to stop working so much and get out and live.

Hey, maybe if we went down there with you, we could try to talk him out of it.

Oh, Helen, would you?

You think he'd pay any attention to it?

Good point. He never has before.

Oh, Helen, please. You are my only hope.

Oh, what the heck. Let's give it a whirl.

Oh, thanks, Helen. And if this works, I owe you both a favor.

Well, maybe you can get George to stop calling me honky.

I said favor, not a miracle.

center

Bored. Very good, Louise.

Thanks. And it's a double word. You get twice as many points for bored.

That's good, because I'm twice as bored as I was last night.

Oh, wow. We could always play backgammon.

We played backgammon yesterday in gin the night before.

Oh, how about charades?

First word.

It's ridiculous.

No, no, it's a bird.

Thing is ridiculous.

George and Helen have been out discoing for the past three nights while we sit

here twiddling our thumbs.

Yeah.

Let's face it. We are married to a couple of disco junkies.

You know something, Louise? You're right.

And I'm fed up. So am I. When Helen gets home tonight, I'm going to tell her to

knock it off. And when George comes through that door, I'm going to pluck

feathers off that little disco duck.

I want to talk to you.

Later, Weezy.

I'll get a glass of milk. This is going to make you be thirsty.

But, George!

Helen?

There's something I want to say to you.

Yes?

Can I get you something to drink, too?

Come on.

Oh, right.

Helen, it's just that I'm... Tired of sitting home alone?

Well, yes.

And you want me to quit dancing?

As a matter of fact, I do.

Okay, I will.

No, Helen, I... I've given this a lot of thought, and I... You will?

Do you really mean it, Helen?

Louise, you're looking at a lady who's discoed out.

Honey, I ain't got another huffle left in my buckle.

Tom, let's go.

Good night, Louise.

Good night.

You see, Louise, just don't let yourself get bossed around.

Tom!

Let's go!

Oh, coming, sweetheart.

George, I've got a surprise for you.

Good. I hope it's a new disco shirt.

No, you've lost your partner. Helen's giving up disco.

Why, she wouldn't do a dumb thing like that.

She'd rather stay home with Tom.

Now, that is dumb.

I thought that would shake you up.

Well, I just have to find another partner.

What? Look, don't worry about it, Weez. All the girls down at Dirty Betty's are

standing in line to dance with motor hips.

That's me.

George, I'm tired of sitting home alone every night. Well, Wheezy, find

something to do.

Like what?

Whatever you want. Just do your own thing.

My own thing?

Like me. This goes my thing, and I'm doing it to death.

George, is that all you have to say? I'm afraid so, Wheezy. I wish I could stay

up and talk, but I'll go get some rest for tomorrow night because Dirty Betty's

in for a treat when no motor hips moves his magic feet.

glad you decided to act in the play after all, Mrs. Jefferson.

Do you really think I can do it?

Under my direction, you can do anything.

Now let's go over that scene again.

Gary, we can't go on like this.

I've got to tell my husband.

Darling, my private plane is waiting at the airport.

We'll send him a telegram from Rio.

A telegram?

But that's such a cold way to end a marriage.

Okay, we'll send him a candygram.

Gary, this is serious.

All right, Chuck, what's going on here?

Chuck, I didn't expect you home so early.

I can see that.

What the hell's going on around here?

George, this is Clifford Wentworth, the director of the play at the health

center. What is this?

You're not in the cast.

Oh, yeah? If you don't keep your hands off my wife, you're going to be in the

cast.

This is my husband, George.

Hmm.

You know, I could get you a part in The Wiz as a munchkin.

Oh, yeah? And what do you play? The Wicked Witch of the West?

Mr. Wentworth is one of the finest directors in New York. I bet you can't

traffic on a one -way street.

Louise, I refuse to create under these conditions.

Mr. Wentworth, please, I can assure you he won't bother us again.

Where's my lunch?

You'll have to get it yourself.

I'm busy now.

George,

I said I'm busy.

There'll be no more interruptions. Well, let's hope not.

Now, shall we take it from the top of the second act?

Yes. Louise, this is the critical scene. I want you to do exactly as I say.

You'll play it without words, using your body as a dramatic instrument.

Are you ready? Yes.

Okay. All right.

Now, you're alone in your hotel room. It's late. You haven't heard from your

lover. You're angry.

Angry.

You hear a knock at the door.

Could it be him?

You brighten.

You run to the door. But it was only the wind.

You close the door.

You're depressed.

What's the matter, Louise? Did you slam your finger?

No, why?

That look of pain on your face.

Oh, that was my depressed look.

Oh, I see.

Well, let's proceed. You need a drink.

But no, that's the easy way out. Instead, you decide to call him.

No, you won't give him the satisfaction.

You really need that drink.

No, you must call him and tell him how you really feel.

But the line's dead.

A look of horror comes over your face.

The secret police have cut the line.

That's it. They know where you are.

You're terrified.

Suddenly, you hear a horrible scream.

Baloney!

George! I can't even find a piece of baloney in here.

I believe his trough is empty.

George, if you want some baloney, go look in a mirror.

Please. Let's go on. Okay, Louise. But this time, play it bigger.

Bigger?

Bigger. What did you call me, honky?

George, do you have to stay in here?

Yeah, this is my apartment. I can stay wherever I want.

If I found you in my apartment, I'd spray you with raid.

Say what?

Louise, we've got three weeks to get this play ready.

You'll have to solve your personal problems on your own time.

I'm going back to the health center.

Peasant. Turkey.

Thanks a lot, George.

Don't mention it, Louise. You sound like a dumb play anyway.

It's a good play with a very fine, talented director.

And I'm going to be rehearsing afternoons and evenings.

Hey, wait a minute. Ain't you forgetting something?

What? Me. What happens when I come home for lunch? I don't know, George. I won't

be here.

But we... I'm just following your advice, George. I'm doing my own thing.

It's over, Sarah.

I'm leaving for Switzerland in the morning alone.

Oh, Mrs. J., that's perfect.

Oh, thanks.

But I'm still a little nervous about getting up in front of an audience.

Oh, yes, the stage fright. You know, I had a great -great -uncle who once had

appear in a public square in front of a large crowd of people.

Was he nervous?

Yes, but after a moment, his nervousness disappeared.

What happened?

They hanged him.

Hey, we... George?

You're not in your disco clothes. I know.

But you'll be late.

I'm not going.

What? Well, I gave it a lot of thought, and I decided that I'd rather stay home

with my sweet, loving, wonderful wife.

You are giving up discoing for me?

That's right.

Oh, George, thanks.

I'll call Mr. Wentworth and tell him I won't be at rehearsal tonight.

You're giving up the play?

Absolutely.

I'd rather spend all my evenings with my wonderful, considerate husband.

Oh, shoot, we ain't that great.

Oh, yes, you are.

Now, you just sit right here and make yourself comfortable while I fix dinner.

Oh, what's the matter? Nothing.

Jesus, my back hurts.

How did you hurt it? Too much disco dancing, eh?

Quiet, Bentley.

So that's it.

reason you're staying home with me is because you can't dance. Now, wait a

minute. I decided to stay home with my sweet, loving, wonderful wife.

What's that look for?

That's a look of anger.

To the plane. I'm late for rehearsal.

But I need you here tonight. What about my bat?

I'm sure Mr. Bentley will be glad to help you out with it.

Oh, of course.

Please lie down.

What about my dinner?

Let's see.

There's three weeks rehearsal, one week performance.

If you're lucky, you should get dinner in about four weeks.

Four weeks?

Shake, shake, shake, shake your booty.

Shake your booty.

Shake your booty.

The Jeffersons was videotaped in front of a studio audience.