Original subtitles

We're moving on up. We're moving on up.

shopping trip.

My feet are worn out.

So is my credit card.

That looks heavy. Is there anything in there for me? No.

Oh, careful. Don't strain yourself.

I bought some beautiful clothes, Florence. And look what we picked up at

Antoine.

Oh, Miss Jefferson.

Now that got class.

Well, at least we don't have to worry about you breaking it while you dust it.

Why? Because you never dust.

Florence, why are you so dressed up?

Oh, I'm expecting company. My cousin Ernie's coming by.

Ernie the bum?

Mr. Jefferson, he's not a bum. Oh, excuse me. I mean Ernie the thief.

George, how can you call Ernie names like that?

We never even met him. Look, Mr. Jefferson, don't spoil this for me. Now,

haven't seen Ernie since he moved to the West Coast two years ago.

Well, you sure have heard from him a lot. All those long distance phone calls

collect. And who do they collect from?

Me.

George, give Ernie a chance.

People can change their lives.

That's right.

Ernie straightened himself out.

He's moving back out here to open a record store.

Oh, yeah? What's he going to open up with, a crowbar?

He's here.

Now, George, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything.

Oh, come on. You know me. Right. Don't say anything.

Ernie! Lawrence!

You look like a million bucks before taxes.

Oh, Ernie.

For you.

Thank you.

He must have passed the cemetery on his way up here.

is Miss Jefferson.

Oh, well, hello, Mrs. Jefferson.

Oh, my.

Oh, I must admit that I didn't expect you to be such a young woman.

Thank you, Ernie.

Oh, and this is for you.

Oh, how thoughtful.

And that's Mr. Jefferson.

Oh, uh, a pleasure, Mr. Jefferson.

Oh, and I have something for you, too.

This ought to cover those collect phone calls I made from California.

Yeah, look, I'm sorry I let it go this long, but, uh, well, you know, I don't

like to send money through the mail. Oh, yeah, I know what you mean.

Well, let's see.

Oh, Florence.

You know, I don't even believe I'm really here.

Well, we got a lot to catch up on. Yes, we sure have.

Well, you're going to have your chance. George and I were just leaving. I wasn't

leaving. Wait a minute, wait, wait, wait.

Sure is good to see you again.

You know, you've always been my favorite cousin.

Really? For sure.

Florence, you were always there when I needed you.

Always there getting me out of messes.

Yeah, and it was a full -time job, too. Yeah.

But you don't have to worry about your cousin no more.

Because you are looking at a changed man.

For real, Ernie? For real.

Florence, there is a lady in my life now.

Oh, that's wonderful.

What's her name? Well, her name is Loretta. And she is the perfect woman.

now that I have her, I'm going to stop wasting my life.

That's why this record store would have been such a break for me.

Would have been.

Oh, well, I was all set to make the down payment fee when the owner raised his

asking price, though.

Now I gotta kiss the whole deal goodbye because I'm a few bucks short.

Well, I got a little something put away in the cookie jar. How much do you need?

A thousand dollars.

That's a lot of chocolate chips.

I mean, I've asked around, but no luck. See, I don't have any friends here,

Florence. Oh, except for my old crowd, but I want to stay away from them.

Well, good for you.

I just wish I knew somebody that had that kind of money.

Well, wait a minute. Now, um, I think I might know somebody who can help.

Oh, Mr.

Jefferson? Oh, no, Florence.

I couldn't let you ask him.

Now, you can't let an opportunity like this slip by.

I'm gonna go ask him.

Uh, is there anything I can do to help?

Yeah. Just have me buried in a pine box.

thinking how lucky I am to work here.

You're forgetting.

You don't work.

Oh, yeah?

Oh,

Mr. Jefferson, you little devil. That was a good one.

Oh, coffee?

Yeah.

I'd like some, too.

Oh, and she wants something. What is it? Me?

Want something?

I don't want nothing. I have everything.

A good job, a generous boss.

Dribble, dribble.

That's it.

What's going on?

Now that you mention it, there is one teeny -weeny little thing.

Ernie needs $1 ,000.

$1 ,000 for what, Belle?

needs it to open his record store.

Look, Florence, only a jackass would give your cousin that much money.

Oh, then you do it.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way.

It's just that Ernie deserves this chance, Mr. Jefferson.

And I know you can afford it. Think of all the money Mr. Jefferson throws away

on clothes.

Forget it, Florence. He ain't getting a dime.

Mr. Jefferson.

Ernie's gonna make a success out of that store. I know it. He's changed.

He hasn't changed. People don't change.

George, how can you say that?

Because I happen to be a great judge of character. Look, Weasley, I know people.

I gotta know people. The clothes that I have been cleaning all of these years,

who do you think wears them?

People, that's who.

Sometimes your logic amazes me.

Mr. Jefferson, look.

I'll guarantee his loan.

And I promise you'll get your money back.

George, you know Florence wouldn't ask you for that money if it wasn't very

important to her.

Okay, Florence, I'll give you the money.

Only so I can get the satisfaction of seeing you crawling to me saying, Mr.

Jefferson, you're so smart. You were right about Ernie.

Well, that's not going to happen.

But thanks for loaning me the money.

And if there's ever anything I can do for you... More coffee.

It's in the pot.

I gotta go tell Ernie.

What? You mean to tell me he's been out there by himself all this time, alone?

I knew it.

He's making long -distance phone calls.

Hello, what city are you in?

Oh.

Uh,

the time is 4 .19 .20.

Ernie, guess what?

You got your money. All right.

Oh, Florence, I don't know what to say.

Well, that's what families are for.

A thousand bucks, right?

Right. Here you go, honey. Just fill in your name.

Oh, thank you.

You know, this is the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me. Oh, really?

Mr. Jefferson, I'll pay you back. A hundred dollars a week.

Oh, whatever you say, earn.

Good luck, Ernie.

Well, I guess I better go and close that deal, huh? Oh, but I'm coming back

tonight because I'm going to take my favorite cousin to the best restaurant

town.

Oh, I'll pick you up at 7?

Make it 7 .30. I want to look my best.

You better make it tomorrow. That's going to take a while.

I'll see you later. Bye -bye.

Well, thanks for loaning him the money, Mr. Jefferson.

I know he's going to prove you wrong. No, he ain't, Florence. Believe me. I

a jerk when I see one.

That's right. He sees one every morning when he shaves.

Here's the cleaning Mr. Jefferson asked me to drop off.

Say, don't you look lovely?

Why, thank you. Your hair?

Thank you.

Your earrings?

Thank you.

Your dress?

I ain't got no change, Ralph.

It's a little loud.

Oh, but then some women can look good in anything.

I want to look good tonight because my cousin Ernie is taking me to dinner.

In Miami?

Miami. That's where he told his girlfriend they were going.

Loretta? I guess. She was waiting for him downstairs in the lobby while he

visited you this afternoon.

I was, um... I was standing behind a potted palm when he came downstairs and

told her they were on Easy Street.

Then Ernie said they should go to the bank, cash the check...

Get out to the airport and they'd be in Miami by seven tonight.

Well, did he say anything else? Yeah.

He said, hey, you behind the potted palm, get lost.

Mr.

Jefferson.

What's that for?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Force of habit.

What's wrong with you?

Mr. Jefferson, there's something I've got to tell you. Look, Florence, I know

looks good for Ernie now, but mark my words.

Sooner or later, you're going to come crawling to me saying, Mr. Jefferson,

were right about Ernie and I was wrong.

And I'm going to eat it up like candy.

Okay, now what you got to tell me?

Oh, um, here's your cleaning.

June is off.

Oh, then I must be finished.

Florence, don't you think working nights at Ernie's record store is too much for

you? No.

It's important that Ernie makes good so Mr. Jefferson can get his money back.

But you look exhausted.

Me? Exhausted? I feel like I just woke up.

You did.

Didn't I tell you I like my sweaters folded, not hung on hangers?

Yes, you did.

And why does this one look like it was made for Quasimodo?

Now, George, you just made a mistake.

So did I, Weezy. I hired her.

Excuse me, will you? I have to go in the back and bang out the humps in my

sweater.

Uh -oh, I'm late.

Well, you're not going to work again tonight, are you? I've got to.

But what about dinner?

Oh, don't worry. I'll pick up a hot dog.

I meant our dinner.

Oh, there's a roast in the oven for you and Mr. Jefferson.

Wait a minute, Florence.

I can't. I'm late.

That's a new dress I bought to attract men.

But it looks like a waitress dress.

Well, I'm waiting for a man, ain't I?

Welcome to Lou's weenie world.

I gotta go, Mr. Jefferson.

Oh, no, you're not.

I don't think you can tell me what's going on.

I can't.

Oh, yes, you can.

We trusted you with the money. Now I want you to trust me with the truth.

Okay, but you gotta promise not to tell Mr. Jefferson.

Why? Because the only thing worse than me being wrong is Mr. Jefferson being

right.

Okay, I promise I won't tell George.

Well, okay.

Ernie took Mr. Jefferson's money and ran off to Miami.

Miami? What about the record store?

There ain't no record store. I've been working nights as a waitress to pay Mr.

Jefferson back.

Oh, Florence.

Listen.

Go to George and tell him what happened. He can be a very understanding man.

Sometimes.

No, Miss Jefferson, this is my problem and I'll solve it my way. But,

Florence... And remember, you promised not to tell.

I've had it. Look, the next time she messes up, she's fired.

Oh, now calm down. What's the problem? Look, my white underwear, they're pink.

Well, Florence probably washed them with your red sweatshirt. Weasley, suppose I

get into an accident.

Then I gotta go to hospital in pink underwear.

That woman lives to torture me, Weasley. She lives to torture me!

All right, George. Easy now.

Florence left the roast in the oven. You'll feel much better after you've

Feel better? We've got a whole dressing full of hot pink underwear.

All right, we'll just buy you some socks to match.

Hey, Fantasyland, if Florence screws up one more time, she's had it, I'm fine.

George, Florence is under a lot of pressure. But she still found time to

you this delicious...

That's it, she's gone.

Gone, Weezy.

Gone, fired, tanned, axed. The old heave -ho striker.

But, George, you can't fire Flory. She's been with us for six years. Six years

of pure hell, Weezy.

She was lousy when she came, and then she was going downhill every time. But,

George... Uh -uh, no, it's over. It's out.

Sayonara, city baby.

She's gone.

George, you don't understand.

Look. Let's go out to eat.

Oh, she's gone, weas.

I've heard about this new little restaurant.

It might be just what you need.

The woman is hinting.

Hey,

where's my food?

Oh, it'll be ready in just a few minutes.

Use the time to make out your will.

Florence, get those people some water.

Yes, sir, right away.

While you're at it, bring me a cup of coffee.

Yes, sir.

Hey, lady, these eggs are sunny -side up. I ordered them over easy.

Yes, sir.

Here, pass this to the gentleman behind you.

And ask him to pass these to the...

You want to eat here?

What's wrong with it?

It looks like a place that old flies come to die.

Welcome to Lou's Weenie World. I'm Lou, your host.

I'm George, and I'm leaving.

A booth for two, please. Right this way.

Looks like you do quite a business.

always say you roast a better weenie and the world will be the path to your

door. Yeah, we'll be the path to this door.

Look,

I don't want to rush you. Why don't you take your time and peruse the cuisine?

Get out of here.

Enjoy your dinner.

Lawrence, we got people at table two. Hustle your butt over there. Yes, sir.

Do you mind if I take a short break first? A couple of hours will be plenty.

You take a break and it'll be permanent. Now get moving.

Yes, sir.

Maybe I'll try this zucchini weenie.

We're out of that.

Oh.

Well, I ain't too hungry anyway, so I'll try this zucchini weenie. I'm sorry,

but...

I didn't tell him, Florence, but I think it's about time you did. Nobody ain't

got to tell me nothing.

I got eyes.

You moonlight me. When you should be home earning the money, I'll pay you.

this is the last straw, Florence. You are fired.

Florence, tell him, please.

Um, Ernie ran off with your money, and I'm working here tonight to pay you

See, I told you.

A leopard never changes its spot.

That's not true, George.

Just because Ernie let Florence down doesn't mean everyone will. Some people

deserve a second chance. Yeah, well, I wish I could get a second chance on my

thousand bucks.

Look, Mr. Jefferson, you trusted me, and you'll get your money back.

Now, don't blame me for firing me. I would have done the same thing.

So I'll have my stuff out of your apartment tomorrow morning.

Hey, Florence.

The menu says we offer superlative cuisine.

prepared and served in an elegant manner.

So get your cannon gear and start slinging some weenies. Hey, wait a

stay out of this. Listen, buddy. You're the worst excuse for a waitress I ever

had. Look, you. Butt out, Shorty.

Shorty, look.

First of all, I don't want nobody yelling at this woman in my presence.

And she don't have to work for no loudmouth who don't appreciate her. She

for me.

Get off that easy.

Here. Go sling your own weenies.

I left law school for this.

Mr. Jefferson, without this job, how am I going to pay you back?

Well, Flores, just say those words I want to hear.

Okay, I admit it.

You're a better judge of character than I am.

And I was wrong and you were right.

We're even.

Ha!

Welcome back, Florence.

Wait, hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it.

Let's get one thing straight. Now, you're coming back to work, right?

Things are going to be different, right?

Yes, sir.

No more pink underwear, right?

No, sir.

No more humps in my sweater, right?

And the first thing you're going to do when we get home tonight is clean that

oven, right?

No, sir.

What? Look, I bushed up there on my feet all day. Look at you.

You're going to clean up. That oven ain't going nowhere.

Florence, look.