Original subtitles

Well, we're moving on up. Moving on up. To the top. Moving on up. To a deep.

about them, what would it be?

I'm glad their mother's not here to feed them.

No, no, no. I mean, they're undercooked.

Look, I asked for three -minute eggs.

If these eggs were any more raw, they'd be scratching for worms.

This is Jefferson.

This is the third time this morning your husband made me cook his eggs. Each

time he said three minutes, and each time I cooked them three minutes.

But you're not in Puerto Rico anymore.

I'm in three minutes American time.

George!

Don't you think you're getting a little carried away?

They taste fine to me.

Look, that ain't the way Florence used to cook them.

Oh, here is Florence again.

All the time it's Florence.

That's right.

Florence worked here for six whole years and not once did I ever have to yell at

her.

Well, maybe a couple of times.

But at least she knew how to cook three -minute eggs.

George.

These eggs don't taste any different. Here, try them again.

I'm going down to Charlie's Bar. And this place better be clean when I get

here. What do you mean? I cleaned it last night.

Then you must have cleaned it wrong.

See? See what?

Florence never dusted on weekends.

mean what he said, trust me. He never means what he says.

But why doesn't he like me?

Well... Oh, he's all the time comparing me to this Florence. I don't wash like

Florence. I don't iron like Florence.

Yesterday I went to bed early and he said, you don't even goof off like

Florence.

That's George's way of saying he misses her. You see, she took a job at the St.

Frederick Hotel.

And so he doesn't have anyone to pick on anymore.

Well, he's doing a swell job on me.

You know, Mr. Jefferson makes her sound like Supermaid or something.

Well, Carmen, I must admit, you do have a tough act to follow.

Was she really that good?

Well, let's just say she was different.

I could tell that the first time she walked in the door.

Mrs. Jefferson, I'm Florence Johnson, the agent's assistant.

Oh, yes, come in.

Oh, this is my husband.

How you doing?

Ten o 'clock on the dot, Louise.

Oh, I've been even being prompt, Mr. Jefferson. I always say I ain't got no

right to waste time when other people is paying for it. I hear you. She's got

the job.

Of course, it wasn't long before Florence found out that working for

wasn't exactly going to be a bed of roses.

It was more like a bed of crabgrass.

George, Florence is under a lot of pressure.

But she still found time to cook 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 buy a flower. She's been with us for six years. Six

of pure hell, Wee.

that she was going downhill ever since. How about George? Uh -uh, no, it's over.

It's out.

Sayonara, city, baby. She's gone.

Now, I can't say that George was always to blame.

I mean, sometimes Florence did have an unusual attitude toward work.

Jefferson, be in the bedroom.

Would you tell them I'm here, please?

She's here!

Some for my mammy.

Some for my pappy.

A little bit more and we'll all be happy.

Excuse me, Miss Jefferson, but there's something very important I got to ask

about my work.

Oh, sure.

What is it, Florence?

What days am I getting off? Is that all you got on your mind?

Days off?

No, I'd like to talk about my money.

Florence, you better get back into the kitchen. And stay there.

Give her a chance, George.

Hold it, Wizzy.

Give the maid a chance, like you said.

Florence!

you haven't finished your work.

Mr. Jefferson, if you had a choice between work and taking a walk in the

what would you do?

I'd stay and finish the work.

Thank you. While you're doing that, I'll be in the park.

You can use some help at the center, can't you? Of course.

Good, I'll only be a minute.

Hey, that's great.

Everybody's going to the help center. Center this, center that. What about me?

What am I supposed to do?

Well, you could clean up a little. I hate coming home so messy.

Did you take my beer? Oh,

Sure was.

I poured it into me.

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.

Well, I'm through with the dishes, so if you don't want nothing else, I think

I'm going to take a nap.

Well, how about that?

Do you want to get the door?

Let me put it like this.

Ah, so that's what I'm doing wrong.

I'm working.

Oh, no, no.

You see, Florence worked, too.

Occasionally.

But she got to be like one of the family, so she managed to get away with

of things that another maid wouldn't even try.

Okay, Florence, you want 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?

He said to open his record store.

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

Oh, then you do it.

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

Yes, you did.

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

Eggs Benedict.

Great.

Oh, I can't eat all this. I'll just have toast and coffee.

Well, ain't no sense in letting them eggs go to waste.

Scooch over, Miss Jefferson.

Pass me the salt, honey.

Ain't this nice?

But that's what I don't understand.

How could Mr. Jefferson let...

me for nothing.

Well, maybe one reason is because they knew they could count on each other.

Ah, well, that's different.

Now I'm confused.

What I meant was, no matter how much at odds George and Florence were, or how

outlandish the scheme, somehow George could always talk Florence into helping

him out of it.

Oh, Florence, look, whenever Pomeroy is around, I want to make sure that you let

him know that you are a good American.

I could be a real good American if I had a real good reason.

Okay, well, 50 bucks do it.

You just bought yourself a good American.

I want to try for a great one.

Bye. Am I hearing this right?

You want me to insult you?

Yeah. I'll give you 20 bucks if you do a good job.

20 bucks?

Right. Look, Mr. Jefferson, keep your 20 bucks. This one's on me.

You really don't want to go, do you? Yep.

I need you. Please, I'm begging you. Just stay tonight.

Forget it. Look, I'll hire you back.

One night, $100.

Oh, Mr. Jefferson, please. $150.

You think money can buy anything, don't you? Okay.

Look, you stay tonight.

Take care of my guests. I'll give you $300.

What time do you want to go?

Do you understand now?

Yes. Good.

From now on, I will be nice to Mr. Jefferson.

Bad.

He was nice to him?

Yes, but only when he was nice to her. And believe me, it didn't happen that

often.

Well, how did she handle him the rest of the time?

Well, now you're talking about the essence of Florence.

Because if there was any one thing that made her so special, it was the way she

handled George.

She was, to put it mildly, incredible.

I wonder what my old high school friends are doing.

Well, if they like you, they're probably still in high school.

Well,

that's a lot better than your friends.

What friends?

I rest my case.

Well, Florence, what delicious masterpiece have you prepared for us

Well, for you, my queen, I have garden fresh vegetables.

pheasant, and your very favorite imported wine. Oh, hey, well, all right.

Uh -uh.

I said, for my queen.

You got pantyhose on under that robe?

George, the dinner was delicious.

Look, you don't have to defend her. I ate it, didn't I?

She got her revenge.

Revenge? I don't need no revenge.

Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.

And he done took enough revenge on your scrawny little body already.

I'm shadowboxing.

Well, give me five bucks on the shadow.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of our first date. And you know, Weezy paid for that

date. And she been paying for it ever since.

I am a living example of what America is today.

You sure are, child.

Your hair's in recession and your mouth's inflated.

John, Mr. Jefferson is so ugly that when he used to work in a bakery, they used

to dip his face in the batter to make the animal cookies.

We don't let nobody get the best of us. If somebody sounds on you, you sound

back on them one better.

We think on our feet.

Here, look, I'll show you what I mean.

Your cooking tastes like dog food.

That's because I'm cooking for a chihuahua.

Mrs.

Jefferson, didn't it make you angry when Florence insulted Mr. Jefferson like

that? Sometimes, but most of the time, George deserved it.

Deserved it.

There was a time or two he'd even ask for it.

I paid you a four -week salary.

I know. I blew it all in a pay toilet.

Well, Mr. Jefferson, I just wanted to remind you that my gospel singing group

coming over to practice.

Over my dead body?

I hope they get here soon.

Reach!

You sure you can't see nothing?

Nothing.

Well, I thought we were having for lunch.

I don't know about you, but I'm having split pea soup.

Looks kind of thin. What happened to the peas?

I don't know. Maybe they split.

Good

evening,

Master Jefferson, sir.

What are you wearing?

Why, this is my new mason uniform.

I bought it today, sir.

If he were any funnier, they'd put him away.

Um, um, you give me them shoes, Master Jefferson.

What? They need shining.

Look, Florence.

Now, just let me help you take them off. Look, Florence, you don't have to do

that. Oh, I don't mind.

Just lift your little foot. Look, you ain't supposed to be shining nobody's

shoes. Well, don't you think I can do a good job?

Well, sure you could. Well, then just let me help you take them off. Florence,

you get out of my shoes.

to like this Florence.

After six years, so was George.

He'd never admit it. But he enjoyed having her around just as much as I did.

We got us a maid, Weezy. We got us a maid. We got us a nosiest maid.

Just a minute, Mr. Jefferson. Let me tell you a thing or two.

Now, you got yourself a maid, but I ain't that kind of maid.

Uh -oh, too many.

Will you come here and sit down? I want to ask you something.

Can't you ask me standing up?

No, it's a sitting question. Now sit.

Thank you for being my number one fan.

Ciao, Bella.

Do you folks mind if I ask you something?

No, go right ahead.

You live in this apartment, right?

Uh -huh. And you got an apartment in this building, too?

Yes, that's right.

If Jefferson talks about her, you'd think they were the closest of friends.

Oh, they were.

She'd have to like him to get him out of some of the predicaments he'd get into.

I remember one time in particular, she really helped save his neck.

You see, George had bought some used vans.

Remember that flood they had in Mississippi last spring?

Well, them vans you bought couldn't swim.

You trying to sell me damaged vans, Owen?

There's nothing wrong with a van.

You saw them yourself.

Did you check the ashtrays for mud?

I was wondering why you let them go so cheap.

Oh, it's your crook. Now, now, now, wait a minute.

Are you going to listen to her? She's drunk. Not drunk.

Just nosy.

I heard these crooks trying to rip you off.

You trying to rip me off and get away with it, Owen? Get out of here.

All right, now, just a minute, Buster.

We got a deal, and you're going to stick to it.

What? I'll take one.

And you

know,

George never forgot what Florence did for him.

So whenever she was feeling low, George would do his best to help.

You don't understand, Mr. Jefferson.

I mean, what I'm doing just ain't enough for me.

I feel like I was meant to do something else.

Something satisfying.

What could be more satisfying than working for me?

Okay, Florence.

So the writing thing didn't work out.

But that's no reason for you to give up.

I didn't succeed at the first thing I tried doing either.

But I kept trying because I knew I had what it takes to get ahead.

What's that?

I had it.

It. That's right.

And you want to know something, Florence? You've got it, too.

I do?

Of course you do.

But you said I was just wasting my time.

Look, I might say a lot of things that I don't really mean.

And that I just sit around and don't do nothing.

Well, maybe I didn't mean that either.

And that I'm a rotten cook.

Don't push it, Flora.

You really think I got it?

Of course. I know you got it. But the big thing is that you think that you got

it, too. You do, don't you?

Yeah.

Thanks, Mr. Jefferson. I got it.

Great. Now take it out in the kitchen to get me some coffee.

So you see, Carmen, just because George may get mad from time to time, it

doesn't mean that he doesn't like you. It just means that... Well, I'm not sure

what it means.

Uh -huh!

Just what I thought.

Now, George... Don't... try to defend Louise. She hasn't done one thing since

I've been gone, right?

But, Mr. Jefferson.

You're hopeless. I've been saying it all along. You're hopeless, incompetent.

Lazy. Yes, lazy.

And you're an insult to anybody that knows how to hold on a mop.

Oh.

In some ways, she reminds me a lot of Florence.

What are you doing here?

Didn't you hear the news?

The St. Frederick Hotel had a fire.

What? Child, it went down in flames.

What about your job?

Child, it went down in flames.

You know, it sure is a good thing you said I could have my job back any time I

wanted it.

Because I sure want it.