Original subtitles

Well, we're moving on up. We're moving on up. Too deep down. We're moving on

To a deep.

Trying to get these pages all sorted and stapled.

Well, if you needed some help, you should have asked me.

Oh, good.

Staple these.

You should have asked me yesterday.

Today is my day off.

Keep this up, and you're going to have a lot of days off.

I'm just kidding. I'll be glad to help.

Besides, it'll give me something different to do around here.

What do you mean?

Well, when I first took this job, it had a lot of challenges.

You know, things like digging Mr. Jefferson's hair out of the bathroom

But after six years, the thrill is gone.

But then again, so is most of his hair.

Hey, Wheaton.

Oh, hi, George.

Florence, get this place cleaned up.

Another challenge.

George, this is Florence's day off. The way she works every day is her day off.

Well, take it easy, George. Easy? I don't have time to take it easy. Mr.

Claymore will be here any minute.

Who's Mr. Claymore?

He's the owner of the St. Frederick Hotel.

He's coming here to talk about a cleaning contract.

Well, wouldn't you normally meet him at his office?

Weasley, from what I hear, there's nothing normal about this guy.

I don't understand.

Let me put it this way. He came to New York in 1952. He tried to get a hotel

room and couldn't, so he bought his own hotel.

He sounds a little crazy.

He ain't crazy. He's rich.

And when you're rich and crazy, they call you eccentric.

I've been calling you the wrong name for years.

See, if I can land this contract, this is my first hotel account.

And it's just the beginning.

Today, it's the St. Frederick and Mr. Claymore.

Tomorrow, it's the Travelodge and Mr.

Lodge.

What a nice dream.

Yeah, I know. Now help me get these papers out of the way before he gets

Oh, but George, I'm right in the middle of putting together the newsletter for

the health center. Come on, please don't be so selfish.

You're always thinking about you.

It's time we started thinking about me.

Now look, if Mr. Claymore was to come in here and see this place all messy, you

think he's going to hire me to clean his laundry?

Okay, George, I'll go up to Helen's and work on the newsletter.

Florence, you want to come with me? No, she don't. I want to hear the way to Mr.

Claymore. Uh -uh. This is my day off, and I ain't doing nothing.

I'll pay you double time.

On the other hand, an idle mind is the devil's workshop.

Right. Mr. Claymore leaves here, and I got his business. I'm going to feel ten

feet tall.

Well, at least it'll double your height.

See you later, Florence.

Okay, Miss Jefferson.

Oh, excuse me.

Is this the Jefferson residence?

Yes, it is. I'm Arthur Claymore, owner of the St. Frederick Hotel.

Oh, yes. Nice to meet you, Mr. Claymore.

I'm Louise Jefferson.

Hello. And this is Florence Johnston, now a housekeeper.

Hi, Florence.

Nothing wrong?

Oh, no. Excuse me. But I ain't never met nobody who owned their own hotel.

Except in a Monopoly game.

Well, I... I have to run.

It was nice meeting you.

Florence, would you show Mr. Claymore in? Okay, Miss Jefferson.

Mr. Claymore, this is in.

Can I take your coat? Oh, thank you.

You know, I had a cheese omelet in the coffee shop at your hotel about a couple

of weeks ago.

Oh.

You don't remember me, huh?

Was it a good omelet? The best.

You know, if you'd had that omelet a month ago, you would have hated it.

Was it around that long?

My old chef was lousy.

You know who cooked that omelet you ate?

Well, I didn't check it for autographs.

An irate customer. He said my food was garbage.

I said, if you think you can do better, try it. He did.

I hired him on the spot.

Just like that? Yes.

Well, when I see talent, I move fast.

So, you're here to talk dirt with Mr. Jefferson. I don't normally handle the

cleaning contracts, but my executive housekeeper just quit to go to another

hotel. That's too bad.

Well, maybe it's for the best. If she hadn't quit, I'm afraid all my maids

have. Was she that bad? Oh, worse, worse. Her motto was, if you can't beat

kick them.

She didn't seem to understand that maids are people, too.

You know, when I was president of my maids' union, I spend a lot of time

to tell folks that maids work much better for people when they respect

were president of your maids' union?

Yeah, for two years straight.

Well, your fellow maids must have had a lot of respect for you.

I guess so. But then again, I bought the doughnuts.

Florence, you've got a wonderful sense of humor.

Oh, thanks.

I'll tell Mr. Jefferson you're here.

Oh, Mr. Jefferson!

Mr. Jefferson! Will you quit yelling?

I'm sorry, but I just wanted to tell you that... Just shut up and listen. Look.

Okay, this Mr. Claymore might be a nut, but treat him like a kid.

Maybe I should kiss his feet.

No, he might see through that.

One more thing. Try not to say nothing stupid in front of him.

Oh, don't worry. You've done a good job of that.

Mr. Jefferson, meet Mr. Claymore.

Oh!

Claymore. I wasn't expecting such a young man.

Have a seat.

Thank you. Oh, wonderful.

Why didn't you tell me he was here?

I tried, but you were determined to make a fool of yourself.

Good job.

You've got a nice place here, Mr. Jefferson.

Oh, thank you. Oh, by the way, just call me George.

Okay, George.

Good. And I'll call you Mr.

Claymore. Okay.

Would you like a drink?

Sounds good. The Scotch and the Rocks. Hey, that's the same for me. Florence?

Oh, none for me, thanks. It's too early in the day.

This Florence ain't much of a maid. Oh, really? It looks like she does a nice

job of keeping your place clean.

Yeah, well, I guess, you know... Oh, you know, I was just calculating something.

I figured... Oh, excuse me.

I've got to go to the kitchen to get the ice. You think you can find your own

way?

It's a good thing Mr. Claymore is here. I'd speak my mind.

Mm -hmm.

And that would be a short speech.

You still need a ladder to understand.

Florence is really sharp, you know. Yeah, if her mouth was a buzzsaw, there

wouldn't be a tree left standing within 50 miles.

Well, it's a shame she works for you.

Tell me about it.

I need an executive housekeeper for my hotel, and I think somebody like

would be right for the job.

Are you serious?

Of course I am.

Would you mind if I just mentioned it to her?

Florence, an executive?

Excuse me.

What's the matter with him?

Florence, I run my business on instinct.

My instinct tells me that you'd make a good executive housekeeper for my hotel.

Me, an executive?

Well, what does an executive housekeeper do?

Well, for one thing, you'd supervise a staff of over 50 people. Oh!

Schedule for the room attendance.

Deal with the unions.

Handle the cleaning contract.

Supervisor... Wait a minute. What did you just say?

Oh, deal with the unions? No, no, no, no. I mean after that.

Oh, handle the cleaning contract.

Oh, that's it?

You mean she'd be the one who'd decide who gets your hotel's cleaning contract?

That's right.

Oh. Lawrence, you know, I think Mr. Claymore is right. You'd be an expert

executive housekeeper.

Wait a minute, Mr. Jefferson. I know what you're thinking.

You want me to take that job so you can get that cleaning account.

Lawrence, I'm shocked!

How could you say something like that about me?

Mr. Claymore, are you offering me a job?

Lawrence, I told you when I see talent, I move fast.

Well, you sure do.

Would you like some time to think it over? Of course he'd like some time to

think it over.

Okay, she thought it over. She'll take it.

Mr. Claymore, I'm flattered, but I don't know nothing about working in a hotel.

No, no, we have a training program. All our new executives have to complete that

program. Is it hard?

Well, it's not easy, but then if you really want something, you have to work

it, right?

Yeah, but I... I don't know what to say. Well, you'll also have an

administrative assistant.

She knows all about the hotel business.

Well, why don't you make her executive housekeeper?

No!

Well, quite frankly, Florence, I offered her the job, but she has a young son.

She likes to spend as much time as possible with him.

I need someone who's going to stay on the job till it's done.

Mr. Claymore, I don't know what to say.

Say yes!

I'll get it. No, I'll get it.

You stay here and try to afford the word yes.

Florence, there is one thing about the job I probably shouldn't tell you.

The new manager I just hired reminds me a lot of Mr. Jefferson.

He's short?

No.

Oh, he's a good manager. He gets results.

It's just that some people consider him a tough man to work for, but I think you

can handle him.

I don't know Mr. Claymore.

Job pays $26 ,000 a year.

I mean, it's one... $26 ,000?

Mr. Claymore, it's for you. Oh, thank you, George.

I left your number with my secretary.

Oh, Miss Jefferson. Miss Jefferson, guess what?

You got a call from Billy Dee Williams.

No, no, no. For real.

Mr. Claymore offered me a job as executive housekeeper at his hotel.

A job?

Yeah. And it pays $26 ,000. Do you think I ought to take it?

Uh, but that would mean you wouldn't be working here anymore.

Yeah. If it was Florence at that hotel, you'd be an executive.

Yeah. But we wouldn't get to see each other as much.

Yeah. And we wouldn't get to see each other as much. Yeah.

George,

how can you be so happy about this?

I'm happy for her.

I'm happy for her, too.

But I'll miss her.

But look, Weasley, that's the good part.

She can still live here.

What? You mean I can live here without working here? Yeah, we're used to it.

You can stay here as long as you want. What do you say to that, Weas?

Well, I... But then again, I... Look, all I want is what's best for

Florence. Are you sure you would like this job?

It sounds kind of interesting.

Well, then I think you ought to give it a try.

You do?

Well, look, Florence, you've been telling me you've been looking for a

challenge, and this certainly sounds like one.

Yeah, but what if I take the job and I can't do it? Then I got nothing.

You'll never know whether you can do it or not, unless you give it a try.

Well, Florence, what do you say?

Mr. Claymore, you got yourself an executive housekeeper. Well, all right.

This calls for a celebration.

Florence, pour us some champagne.

Watch yourself. I don't work here no more.

Hello, Elena.

Hi, Leo.

Meet your new boss yet? Not yet. She's upstairs having breakfast with Mr.

Claymore. Oh, oh.

Hey, nice picture.

My son drew that.

Little Ray?

Hey, the kid's good.

You know, that's one of the prettiest sunsets I've ever seen.

It's a chicken.

A chicken?

Oh. Well, don't go by me.

I'm a city boy.

But I like Little Ray. How come you don't bring him around anymore?

Because the last time he was here, you taught him the difference between a full

house and a flush.

He's only seven years old. He shouldn't be playing poker.

I know.

He took me for six bucks.

Really?

Oh,

what a kid.

Oh, excuse me. Oh, yes, may I help you? I'm Florence Johnston, the new executive

housekeeper. Oh, nice to meet you, Miss Johnston. I'm your assistant, Elena.

Oh, hi, Elena.

Call me Florence, please.

You got it.

Have you met Mr. Block, our manager, yet? No, he was supposed to have

with Mr. Claymore and me, but he had to meet somebody.

Something about bringing a convention into the hotel.

Oh. Why don't I get us some coffee while you check out your new office? Okay.

Oh, hey.

Nice picture. Who drew it? My son, Ray. He's only seven.

He's got a great eye for sunset.

It's a chicken.

Nice feathers.

That's a barn.

This is paper, isn't it? Yeah.

Nice paper.

I was trying to buzz you.

Oh, you were?

There's a Mr. Jefferson here to see you. Oh, Mr. Jefferson? Tell him to come in.

Hey,

Marge.

I thought I dropped by to tell you your first day is going.

Well, I ain't doing nothing yet.

Oh, just like your other job, huh?

Just kidding.

Oh, Elena, this is Mr. Jefferson, my boss.

I mean... He used to be my boss. Now we just live together.

His wife lives with us, too.

I used to be the Jeffersons' maid.

Gotcha.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Jefferson.

Yeah, I know.

Hey, come on. I brought you a little something for your office.

Oh, Mr. Jefferson, you shouldn't have.

Yeah, I know.

to an executive housekeeper.

It's beautiful.

Yeah, me and Weezy are real proud of it. This is just our way of saying good

luck on your new job.

Oh, what's this?

Oh, that's just one of my business cards, you know.

You got my card and my number in case you ever want to give me some good news.

Oh, by the way, here's my bid for your cleaning contract.

Okay, thanks.

Look, I know you probably got a lot of bids, so you just evaluate them all.

And whichever one you decide is the best, pick it.

Okay. I mean, look, don't be influenced by a close personal friendship.

Okay, if you insist.

Now, remember, when you're deciding who to give that contract to, don't be

thinking about the time I lent you $1 ,000 with no interest.

I won't give it a thought. Good.

Or the time I bought you that plane ticket to Hawaii.

And, uh, the time you were sick, I sat with you all night.

You never did that.

Okay, so I owe you one.

Would you like some coffee, Mr. Jefferson?

Oh, no thanks. I gotta run. Look, Blunt, now you take all the time you need to

decide on who to give that contract to. Okay. I'll call you in an hour.

How long did you work for him?

Six years, going on 20.

Elena, can I ask you something?

Sure. Why didn't you take this job?

Well, you see...

You have to work so hard and so late at night that while you're sweating out a

problem here, I could be spending the time with my son, Ray.

Watching him paint feathers on a barn.

Well, couldn't your husband babysit?

Oh, well, I'm divorced.

My ex lives in Illinois.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Yeah, I wish he moved farther west.

Good morning, ladies.

Hello, Mr. Block.

Florence Johnston, Lyle Block.

Oh, come on, sit, sit.

You sit, too, Elena.

At your own desk. Oh, yeah, right.

Well, it's so nice to meet you, Florence.

Well, same here, Mr. Block. Hey, hey, call me Lyle. We're both executives,

right? All right, Lyle.

Well, I'm sorry I missed your meeting with Mr. Claymore this morning.

Oh, that's okay. He filled me in on most everything I needed to know. Good.

Well, Florence, let's get to know each other, okay?

Fine. Well, I have a master's degree in management.

I'm a Colgate man.

Well, I use Crest myself.

23 % fewer cavities.

You know, our last executive housekeeper had no sense of humor at all. I mean,

zero. Zip.

Yeah, I heard she was pretty tough on the maids. Yeah, well, she had her good

points.

You know, I really sympathize with you executive housekeepers having to ride

herd on a bunch of illiterate, uneducated maids.

So, tell me, Florence, what was your last job,

huh?

I was a maid.

M -A -I -D.

See? Some of us can't even spell.

Oh.

Where were you a maid?

At the Jefferson's. Oh, at the Jefferson's. Yes.

And I don't think I know that hotel.

Well, the Jefferson's ain't a hotel. It's an apartment.

An apartment?

Yeah, you know, one of those things with four walls and a ceiling.

But I don't understand.

You went to college and you don't understand what an apartment is?

Uh, Florence, do you mean that you've never worked in a hotel before?

That's right.

Are you telling me that for the job of executive housekeeper, Mr. Claymore

a neophyte?

Neophyte? I ain't no neophyte. I'm a church -going woman.

Tape recorder, huh?

Huh?

Isn't it here? Tape recorder?

Yes, yes. Mr. Claymore put you up to this, right?

This ain't no joke. Mr. Claymore hired me for real. Oh, come on, Florence. Do

you think I'm a fool?

Am I under oath?

Florence, you're in over your head.

Do you have any idea what it takes to be a hotel executive?

I'll tell you what it takes. It takes training. It takes experience.

Do you think I'm here for my looks?

Definitely not.

Look, I'm getting my training from the management course. And Mr. Claymore...

Oh, yes, yes, I know, Mr. Claymore.

Well, unfortunately for me, if he hired you, I can't fire you.

But there is a way to make this easy on both of us, yes?

Yeah. Well, um, it's very simple.

You see, all you have to do is quit.

What do you mean, quit? Oh, hey, Florence, you don't want a desk job.

I mean, you were a maid.

You're used to the action.

The smell of the cleanser, the roar of the vacuum.

Soap is in your blood.

I mean, go back to what you know best.

March to the beat of janitor in a drum.

You make it sound tempting.

Well?

But not as tempting as seeing your butt leaving my office.

Okay, Florence.

Now, I tried to be civil.

I'll give you three days before you fall on your face.

And when you do, don't expect me to be there to pick you up.

Look, Mr. Block, you may not have faith in me, but I've got enough faith in me

for both of us. And I'm going to show you that I can be the best darn

housekeeper that this hotel has ever seen.

Hello.

Hello.

Let's make that two days, huh?

Ta -da!

Well, what do you think?

Oh, Lawrence, how smart you look!

Yeah, you don't look nothing like you.

I went shopping last night.

Now that I'm an executive, I figure I better start dressing like one.

Well, you've been an executive for two days now.

How does it feel?

I still can't believe it. I wonder if I died and this is heaven.

No, it can't be.

Let's face it, Florence, it's for real. You are the executive housekeeper of the

St. Frederick Hotel.

Yeah, and you know, this is the kind of job I've always wanted. I mean, I'm

dealing with interesting people.

Yeah, like dry cleaners, for instance?

Making good money.

Well, you should. I mean, it's your job to make sure that the sheets and towels

in hotels are sparkling clean.

Yeah, and making challenging decisions.

Like, uh, who gets the hotel's cleaning account?

George, you are being too subtle.

Oh, you think so?

Yeah, why don't you try skywriting?

Oh, by the way, we'll be making a decision on that contract today.

Oh. But I got to tell you, Mr. Jefferson, some of those bids are pretty

They are?

Yeah. Oh, I'll make you some more coffee. Oh, don't be silly. I'll make

got a long day ahead of you. Sit down.

Oh, where will I find the coffee? On the bottom shelf above the sink.

Want me to give you a boost?

Good one, Florence.

Oh, that must be Angie.

Angie? One of the maids at the hotel.

I met her two years ago at one of the maids' union meetings, and now we're

working together.

Oh, small world, isn't it?

Yeah, if you don't have to clean it.

Oh, Miss Jefferson, this is Angie Houston.

Hello, Angie. Hi, Miss Jefferson.

And Angie, Miss Jefferson is the best boss anybody could ever have.

Oh, I don't think that's true.

I think Florence is the best boss anybody could ever have.

Oh, Angie.

Miss Jefferson, yesterday Florence held a meeting with all of us maids, and she

told us that we would all be treated with respect.

She said more, but I couldn't make it out because everybody was screaming,

Hallelujah!

Oh, Angie, we better get going before the boss starts screaming.

Florence, you're the boss, remember?

Nice meeting you, Miss Jefferson.

Same here, Angie.

Did you hear that, Miss Jefferson? She called me boss.

How come it sounds so good on me and so bad on Mr. Jefferson?

for work. Okay. Like they say, another day, another penny.

Uh, that's another dollar.

Honey, speak for yourself.

I'll see you later.

Oh, good morning, Florence.

Oh, hi, Betty. How you doing this morning?

Child, at my age, any day that I wake up and don't hear harps playing, I'm doing

fine.

Oh, I see I got Angie on my floor again today.

Oh, yeah. Ain't she great?

Yeah. Great at getting other folks to do her work for her.

What? Now, don't get me wrong, Florence. I like Angie.

But she's got more excuses for getting out of work than my old man's got for

getting out of loving.

Are we talking about the same Angie?

Yeah.

Yesterday, I went into this room where she's supposed to be cleaning, and there

she was, laid up on the bed, looking at the young and the restless.

Maybe you should have a talk with her. I tried.

She won't listen to me.

Okay. I'll have a talk with her.

Good. Oh, and Florence, we are all very happy to have you here.

Thanks, Betty.

Of course not.

After that last bozo we had, we happy to have anybody here.

Oh, Florence, you should have seen little Ray when I dropped him off at

today. Well, I bought him a new briefcase, and when he went to class

that, he looked just like a little congressman.

Yeah? Well, in that case, all he needs for his little briefcase is a little

bribe.

See you later, Florence. Oh, Angie, just a minute. I want to talk to you.

I was just talking to Betty, and she told... And she told you about me

television in one of the rooms, huh?

Well, you... Yeah. Hold it, Florence. Say no more. I get the message.

Good. Next time, I'll put a do not disturb sign on the door.

Angie. I was just kidding. No more soap operas. From now on, I'm going to be the

hardest working maid you got. If for no other reason than to make you look good

as a new executive housekeeper, honey.

Thanks, Angie.

All right.

Hope I wasn't too hard on her.

Hello, Florence.

Oh, hi, Lyle.

Am I interrupting anything?

Of course not.

Well, I should be. A little something called work.

Florence, are you aware that rooms 211 through 224 haven't been cleaned yet

today?

No, Lyle. Ah, then you're probably also unaware that occupying those rooms are

some very important kangaroos.

Kangaroos? Well, no wonder those rooms need cleaning.

No, no, no, no. The kangaroos are a club.

And it took me four full days using every bit of charm and personality I

book that convention here.

Yeah? What did you do with the other three and a half days?

Oh, it's cute, Florence. Cute.

But while you're down here making jokes, those kangaroos are up in their rooms

hopping mad.

Florence, which one of the maids was assigned to clean those rooms?

Let's see.

Angie Houston.

Well, you had any complaints about her before?

Well, I had a little talk with Angie this morning, and she's promised to do a

good job from now on. Oh, how nice.

Well, I want you to talk to her again and tell her that if she messes up one

more time, she is fired.

Gone 86.

Hi, Chief.

Earl, don't you know how to knock?

Sure.

Like that, Chief?

Yeah, like that, Earl.

Florence. Johnston, right?

Right. Right.

You want to know how I knew her name, Chief?

You saw her nameplate.

No, I never even noticed that.

Well, how did you know her name, Earl?

I met her yesterday.

Earl, why did you come barging in here anyway, huh?

I just wanted to tell you not to worry, Chief, that New York's number one house

detective has solved the case. Oh, did we hire that guy from the Waldorf? Huh?

Hey, Chief.

Okay, Earl, okay. What case is it this time?

Okay. The case of the missing tips.

Ah. Missing tips?

Oh, yeah. You see, for the past couple of months, some of the maids have been

complaining about tips that the guests say they left, but the maids can't find.

So, what's been happening to the tips, Earl?

Okay.

Someone's been stealing them.

Who?

One of the maids, Angie Houston.

Angie Houston, are you sure?

Oh, yeah. You see, I observed her entering and leaving room 317.

So?

So, Miss Houston isn't assigned to clean room 317.

So? So, I walked up to her and I asked her if she could give me a $5 bill for

five ones.

So? So, she gave me this.

You'll notice the bill has a blue mark in the corner.

So?

So it's a specially marked bill I left on the pillow in room 317 as bait.

Oh, I see. And Miss Houston took the bait.

Hey, that's good, Chief.

Now, I think we can handle this.

Right, Chief.

Oh, by the way, Chief, I found out how that pole in the parking garage got

How? Okay. A car ran into it.

Well?

Oh, Lyle, I really can't believe Angie's been stealing tips.

I have the proof right here.

I'm sure you'd agree that this type of behavior simply will not be tolerated.

Well, yeah, but... Stealing is grounds for dismissal.

So call Miss Houston into your office and fire her immediately.

Lyle?

Me? Fire her? I've never fired anybody before, especially not a friend.

I don't even know if I can do that kind of thing. Florence, you're an executive

now, and you just have to realize that firing people is part of your job.

And I like to think of it as one of the fringe benefits.

Angie, you know that stealing is grounds for dismissal.

And here at the St. Frederick, it simply will not be tolerated.

Therefore, you're fired.

Oh, Angie, don't look at me like that.

I mean, I don't like this any better than you do.

And I can see that some things about this job ain't gonna be easy. You know

I mean?

Earl?

Well, I was just... No need to explain.

Okay, let me piece this together.

Okay.

You have to fire someone, and you don't know how to do it, so you're practicing

on a mop.

Earl, that's incredible.

I mean, how did you know that?

I'm a detective.

Besides, I had to fire someone once.

But I did one thing different.

What's that?

I used a broom.

actually ever fire anybody?

Well, almost.

You see, for a while, I had my own detective agency, and I caught my

embezzling from me.

I didn't know what to do.

I mean, I just couldn't bring myself to say, you're fired, Mom.

Was there something you wanted, Earl?

Oh, yeah. I'm looking for my $5 bill. You know, the one with the blue mark on

it? Oh.

Yeah, Mr. Block has that.

Okay, I solved that one.

Earl. Hi, Chief. What are you doing in here?

Uh, it's about my $5 bill.

Ah, ha -ha.

Yes, well, I'm keeping that.

Evidence.

Boy, you're learning, Chief.

Florence, I bailed you out with the kangaroos who complained about Angie's

Oh, and how did you do that, Lyle?

Well,

I personally delivered a bottle of champagne to each of them.

Really? I did that two hours ago.

Was yours domestic or imported?

Domestic. Well,

now that you've fired Angie, we won't be having any more problems with

kangaroos.

Lyle. Well, you did fire her, didn't you?

Well, I thought I'd let her finish out the day.

Oh, how admirable.

I mean, in fact, why stop there? I mean, let's give her a gold watch and a going

-away party.

Excuse me.

It's about the cleaning contracts. I narrowed down the bids to those who do

quality work, then I looked to see which one had the lowest bid, and...

Oh, Lord, don't tell me. Mr.

Jefferson's bid wasn't the lowest.

You told me.

Are you sure?

I double -checked all my figures. See for yourself.

Blue Sky Cleaners is the lowest bid.

Oh, how am I going to tell Mr. Jefferson he didn't get the account?

Well, you could always... No, no, no, hold it, hold it, hold it. I mean,

an executive at this hotel, and you can't tell some cleaner his bid was too

high? But, Lyle, you don't understand. He's a friend. Oh, I understand, all

right. There are a lot of things about this job you can't do. Oh, but Mr.

Block... Elena, why don't you go sit at your desk before we find someone to sit

there for you?

Oh, and another thing.

Contact Angie Houston and tell her that Florence would love to see her

immediately. Yes, sir.

Florence, you may not realize this, but...

I'm a very understanding man.

And I understand what you're going through.

You do?

Oh, of course. Now, it's hard for you to fire Angie Houston because she's a

friend, right?

Right. And it's hard for you to tell this Jefferson fellow he didn't get the

cleaning contract because he's a friend, too, right?

Right.

Yeah, well, tough noogies.

What? Florence, you're too soft.

I mean, if you want to make it to the top, you've got to be hard as a rock.

cold, ruthless, a mean, lean, executive machine.

I don't want to be like that.

Oh, well, then maybe you don't want to be an executive.

Well, maybe I don't. And maybe you made a mistake taking this job. Maybe I did.

Maybe you'd be happier somewhere else.

Ain't no maybe about that.

Maybe I should tell Mr. Claymore how you feel.

Maybe you should.

I mean, he will be so disappointed to hear this, as I am.

Well, I guess I won't be needing this anymore.

Florence, Angie's on her way down.

Well, I just might not be here when she gets here.

What do you mean?

I mean, maybe Mr. Block is right. Maybe I do belong behind a vacuum cleaner

instead of a desk. Oh, but Florence... Hey, Florence! Elena!

How's it going?

Not too well.

Florence.

Mr. Jefferson, if you're here to talk about the cleaning contract, you might

well talk to Elena.

What? But you're the executive housekeeper.

Not anymore, I'm not.

What? Florence is thinking of quitting.

Quitting? But Florence, I thought you said you loved your job here.

Well, I do, but I don't like some of the things I gotta do.

She has to fire one of the maids. Well, that ain't no big deal.

Just call in your office and say you're fired.

But she's a friend.

Well, then say you're fired friend.

Well, firing Angie ain't the only thing I got to do. I also got to tell one of

my very best friends he didn't get the cleaning contract.

No problem. You just sit him down here and you...

Say what?

I'm sorry, Mr. Jefferson. I wish there was something I could do, but blue sky

cleaners came in with a bid lower than yours.

Excuse me a minute, Elena.

Okay, I'm leaving.

But please, just promise me you won't start throwing things.

Hey, come on, Elena. Do I look like that kind of a guy?

Okay, I promise.

Florence, please.

Brace up, Mr. Jefferson.

Okay, I'm braced.

Pretty please?

Now, see, I can't go around hurting people like this all my life.

I mean, I know how much you cared about that contract.

Well, damn right I care about the contract.

See? But not as much as I care about you.

What?

Look, Florence, you said you liked your job here.

I know, but... Okay, look, this is your big chance.

You may never get another one.

Everybody's given a certain number of years on this earth.

You've already used up most of yours.

You know what I mean.

Just remember, you said I could have my old job back if I wanted. Yeah, sure,

Floss, but... I mean, life was much easier when I was just a maid.

Maybe so.

But were you happy being just a maid?

No. All right.

Listen, me and Weezy were talking about you last night.

I mean, she misses you, but she's real proud of you.

She thinks that you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it.

What do you think?

Florence, you may not have noticed, but I'm not the easiest person in the world

to work for.

No.

It's true.

Now, look, if you can put up with me for six years, you can do anything.

Mr.

Jefferson.

You said it all.

Excuse me, Florence.

Angie's here to see you.

Should I send her in?

Why not?

I mean, I am the executive housekeeper.

Oh, thanks.

Hey, thanks, Mr. Jefferson. Don't mention it, Florence. I'll see you

Oh, you know, I think I'll rush home tonight and cook you and Miss Jefferson

big dinner just like I used to.

Oh, come on, Florence. I've had a bad enough day already.

Hey there, Florence.

Oh, girl, I just love what you've done with this office.

Now, what do you want to talk to me about?

Um, Angie, I might as well come right to the point. I hear you've been stealing

tips.

Who told you that?

Doesn't matter who told me. Is it true?

Well, sure.

You mean you admit it?

Sure.

I don't understand.

Let's not beat around the bush. I know what you're going to say.

You do?

Sure.

Okay, how much do you want?

What? How about 40 %?

Angie! All right, all right, 50%. Angie, we're talking about stealing.

Oh, come on, Lauren.

Come on, nothing. You've been stealing tips from the maids. I can't let you get

away with that.

Hey, look, Florence, I know you gotta make a good impression on Whitey, but

could level with me. I mean, after all, we are sisters.

Well, maybe in your book. But where I come from, sisters don't go around

each other off.

So,

um, what are you saying?

I'm saying you're... I'm saying you're... I'm saying

you're... Fired! You heard me.

You're serious, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

Oh, wow.

Florence, you are a trip.

I mean, honey, you are really a trip.

Now, look, Andrea. Who do you think you're fooling sitting behind that desk?

You ain't nothing but a maid, just like me.

So while you're sitting there gloating over what a hot number you think you

why don't you try remembering that, honey, you are still black.

Hold it a little bit.

hard as you have, but I never took nothing that didn't belong to me. So

running down no guilt trip on me. Because in the black race I belong to,

-achievement comes in way ahead of stealing.

You know, baby, I bet you would have changed your tune if I had offered you

huh? Well, I'll just take 100 % for the maid who earned it.

fired you once and if i have to fire you again it's going to hurt you far worse

than it does me because you are going to be the only person standing in the

unemployment line with a mop for a tail

Florence, are you all right?

I will be as soon as my blood stops boiling.

I'm so glad you're staying.

I am, too.

Florence!

Oh, hi, Mr. Claymore. How are you? Hello, Mr. Claymore. Hello, Elena.

Florence, Lyle came to me a few minutes ago.

He was in a very good mood. I should have known then something was wrong.

He told me you said you weren't happy here.

Why, Mr. Claymore, I'm very happy here.

But I thought you were going to quit. Quit?

Why in the world would I quit, Lyle?

Hold it. Hold it, Florence.

Did you fire Angie Houston?

Yes.

Well, did you take care of the cleaning contract?

Yes.

Well, you see, Mr. Claymore, she's getting to be more and more like me

day.

Well, I'm sure Mr. Claymore is willing to overlook that.

Oh, I knew my instinct was right.

She's a real gem, huh, Lyle? Oh, yes, sir, sir, yes.

You made a fool out of me.

Oh, go on, Lyle. You deserve the credit for all that.

Florence, today you got lucky.

But one of these days, your luck is going to run out. And when it does,

me when I gloat. Oh, Lyle.

Let me show you something I learned from my last employer. Yeah? What's that?

Hmm.