Original subtitles

Well, we're moving on up, moving on up.

Why don't you change your mind and come with us?

I ain't going to no museum to see no mummies.

Look, I got a rule.

Dead things don't come to see me, and I don't go see them.

Now, Florence, mummies aren't all that frightening.

Helen's right.

Oh, sure, maybe there's a little discoloration, and the skin is drawn

but really it's no more frightening than Helen's mother before her facelift.

Oh, but everybody gets wrinkles, dear.

Yours are just harder to see.

Because both of your chins are weighing them down.

Well, thanks for inviting me, but to tell you the truth, I'd rather take a

long nap than spend the afternoon staring at some shriveled up old body.

Uh -oh, here comes one now.

George!

We've almost died.

What are you talking about? What happened?

George, you're wet.

And you're fat.

Tomorrow I'll be dry.

I'll get a towel.

Are you all right? You won't believe it, Weezy.

Yeah, I was talking to Waldo Jenkins. You know the guy that owns the chain of

Waldo burgers?

You mean Waldo himself?

Yeah. The man in the sign with the onion rings for eyes?

The man in the commercial who says, Open wide for Waldo.

my birthday.

Yet you can recite the life story of a hamburger cook?

Well, you told me to get a hobby.

Anyway, Waldo tells me he won't sign a cleaning contract with me unless I take

him on a boat tour around the island.

But then the boat pulls into the harbor and it slams into the dock and everybody

falls into the river.

Oh, it was awful. I thought I was going to drown.

Well, damn it, we still just sit there. Ain't you going to dry me off?

George, was anybody hurt? Yeah, is Waldo okay?

Nobody got hurt, but, boy, it was scary. People were swimming and kicking and

gasping for air. I don't see how fish do it day after day.

Well, anyway, I'm happy you're home now. Safe and alive.

Yeah, I'm glad you're safe and alive, too, Mr. Jefferson. Thanks, Florence.

I just wish you hadn't come home.

Oh,

look.

It's all over now. Why don't you just take off these wet clothes and... You

the scariest part, Weas? Yeah, you could have died.

Worse. I could have died without anybody knowing who I was.

Yeah, sure, but... Huh?

Look, Weas, when I die, I don't want the headlines to read, hundreds die, dry

cleaner among them. The headline I want to see is George Jefferson dies.

I heard that.

See, Weas, she understands.

I'm a somebody, and somebodies don't go out like nobodies. Uh, George.

Oh, you know something?

They were right. I did see my life pass before my eyes.

And you want to know something that was fascinating?

That makes you think.

About what?

She asked warily.

That any of us can go at any time. And I don't want to die until the whole world

knows more about George Jefferson.

I mean, it just wouldn't be fair to me or them.

You wouldn't care for a second opinion.

No.

Already made up my mind. So you all know me as a modest guy, but starting today,

the whole world is going to know the real George Jefferson inside and out.

be too hasty.

Those are your worst two sides.

Florence, you're going to wish you were nicer to me when my book comes out.

Book? What book?

My autobiography. I've decided it's time that the whole world got a taste of the

greatness that is I.

Shoot, I better get started on the first chapter right now.

George Jefferson, man of God!

Well, George, I read the first eight chapters.

Oh, yeah? What did you think?

Well, you know that section about your days as a Navy cook?

Yes.

The eggs flew fast and furious.

The hash browns were busy hash browning.

Suddenly, the galley door flew open and in walked a wall of medals with a man

pinned behind them.

It was the Admiral.

Cancel the scrambled eggs, Jefferson, he barked. I want them over easy instead.

End of chapter three.

You end the chapter there?

Of course. Didn't you notice? Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger.

And, George, about the way your admiral had his eggs, who cares?

Well, look, Weasley, you've got to read the next chapter. You know the part

about where I ran out of hot sauce?

I did.

Who cares?

Let's be honest, Weas. You don't know nothing about great literature.

Oh, and you do.

Check to John, Weas. That's my reader's digest on a tank.

Yes, that's quite a library, George.

Wait a minute, Weas. Look, his chapters 9 through 14 is all about where I met

and married you.

Well, George, I'm very flattered, but...

My lovely wife Bubbles.

Nobody would believe a name like Wheezy Wheezy.

But don't worry about it. All the facts are true.

Hey, wait a minute, George.

I never begged to have your child.

What difference does it make one of us beg?

Well, by the time you got here, I called you an hour ago.

This better be important.

What could be more important than my new book?

Good night, George. Wait, wait, wait. The real reason I called you down here

because you're a publisher.

So? So, uh, I'll be finishing up my book in about an hour, and I just figured I

might let your company publish it.

But I don't know if I should let you use our friendship like that.

Okay, good night, George. Wait, hold on, hold on.

Your lousy begging got the best of me. Okay, I'll let you publish the book.

What about... Well, um... Oh, Louise, thank God.

Hi, Tom.

Listen, Helen asked me to give you this brochure. We picked it up at the

Egyptian exhibit this afternoon.

Oh, why, thank you, Tom.

My, look at all the artifacts.

It must have been beautiful.

Oh, I'll say it was. You know, it was almost as if the pharaoh knew that

would still be coming to see him 3 ,000 years after he died.

Yes. Good thing he shriveled well.

Well, I think you and George should get down to that museum. I tell you, what I

learned today about ancient civilization... Willis! You're a genius!

Well, actually, a lot of it was printed in the brochure. No, no, no. You gave me

a great idea about my book.

Good night, George.

Wait, hold on.

Look, don't you see 300 pages of gripping drama doesn't tell the whole

Jefferson story?

So, uh, what are you saying?

Well, I've decided that I'm scrapping the book. I'm not going to finish it.

Wonderful! I mean, oh, maybe it's for the best.

Yes, I hate to say it, but I guess you're right. Don't worry about it. I

much, much better idea.

Well,

everybody, this is it.

You let us dress up like this to come to an empty room?

Yes, George. Isn't it about time you tell us what this is all about?

Absolutely, Weed.

As you all know, last week, I, George Jefferson, almost met my maker.

How is Dr.

Frankenstein?

Anyway, as you all know, it became very important to me... to let the world know

about my greatness.

I could not justify myself with a mere book, so therefore I decided to take the

next logical step.

Which is?

Which is this.

opened a museum for himself.

Child, if I live to be a hundred, I will never see anything more ridiculous.

But then again, you should never say

never.

This has got to be a dream.

This museum is a symbol.

It's a place of hope.

It shows that every kid, if he works hard enough, can make it in this

And what greater gift can I give than to let them know that if they work hard,

they can one day grow up to be just like me.

Quite a few things come to mind.

Well, nothing comes into my mind.

So line up, pay your dollars, and knock yourselves out.

wouldn't miss this for the world.

I love my face.

I shudder to think what's behind those curtains.

Well, at least with Monty Hall, there's a chance it might be something good.

I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of curious myself.

Okay, George, let her rip.

Okay.

Ladies!

And you too, Florence.

The moment you've all been waiting for.

The life and times of George Jefferson.

Try cleaner to the world.

with you. Sure, Wiz.

What, if anything, is going through your head?

The George Jefferson Museum?

Where did you get such a stupid idea?

From you, Wiz.

Remember how excited you got about the Willis's when they went to see that

in Egypt?

Well, a lot of people got museums.

Every president gets one.

Even Roy Rogers has got one. He's got trigger stuff in his.

Well, what do you plan to do here? Stuff me?

You mean you wouldn't mind?

Look, I don't mean right now, Weave.

But think about it. It's good to plan ahead.

George, this is fantastic.

Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Push that button under the speaker.

Well, how about that, Helen? He gets the patrons involved in everything.

Oh, boy.

Welcome to the George Jefferson Museum.

You've just spent the best dollar of your life.

That's for the paying public.

Please, please don't cry.

You'll all get a chance to see everything if you just remain patient.

Years from now, when historians are searching for the dry cleaner most

in his time, one name, and one name only, will stand out among all the

others. Any guesses?

That's right.

George Jefferson.

A man, a legend, a dude with a lot of bucks.

George, that voice.

Isn't that Peter Lawford?

Yeah, he cost me, but he's worth it.

I want your word of honor. You won't tell anyone about this.

Don't worry about it. Who's going to believe it?

The early years.

George was born the son of a sharecropper in a small town in the deep

But soon, the challenge of New York, New York called a young George.

He answered.

He was three.

He was very thin, too.

The saga continues at the next alcohol.

Well, so much for the early years. Any questions?

Oh, yes, George. One, what was the transition like from a small town to New

York? You were so young. Oh, Tom, really?

Please, please stand to the right so that others have room to pass.

Por favor, manténgase a la derecha.

Nice touch, George.

Thanks, Weas.

Say, how about a little break?

You're probably getting hungry about now.

Gee, how did he know?

Just take a minute.

Visit our snack bar and have yourself a Jeffer dog.

The dog of kings.

Anybody else want one?

Oh, no, thank you, Tom.

I don't think I've earned the right to eat the dog of kings.

Come right over here, everybody.

This is a very special exhibit.

You could call this the hide point of your visit.

Only if it's marked exit.

I call this little exhibit Make Your Own Stain.

And I challenge you to make a stain that I can't clean.

Uh, Miss Jefferson, I'll be heading on home.

And you should consider checking into a home yourself.

Look, honey, I made a chocolate one.

Tom, let's go.

Yes, dear.

Oh, George, by the way, these Jeffer dogs are delicious.

George, it's getting kind of late.

I've been thinking.

Why don't you come home with me now, lie down with a cold compass, and we can

discuss getting you help.

Are you kidding?

I have obligations to my public.

Public? Yeah, well, they'll be pouring in any minute. Look, you can go if you

want to.

But, George... Look, I don't mean you're blocking the entrance.

Hey, Lou.

Look alive.

Look,

things are going to start happening any minute.

Sure. Saturday night in New York. Where else is everybody going to go?

Boss?

Hey, boss?

Yeah, Lou, what now?

Things are pretty slow back here. Can I take a break?

I guess.

You know, I don't understand it. I've been over for ten days now, not one

customer. Don't worry.

Tuesday night in New York. Where else is everybody going to go?

Man the grill. Things are starting to pop.

Oh, step right up. Step right up. Welcome.

One dollar, please.

Thank you.

One dollar. Thank you. Step right up. Step right up.

Where dinosaur?

Dinosaur? Oh, wrong museum.

You want natural history. Two blocks south.

Where dollar?

Where are the dollars?

Welcome to the George Jefferson Museum.

You've just spent the best dollar of your life.

George? Huh?

Oh, hi, Weez. Come on in.

No, for free.

You know something, Weez?

I've been doing a lot of thinking.

I never should open this place here.

I guess I made a real fool out of myself this time, right, Weez?

Weez?

Well, George...

A brush with death can scare you into doing some pretty strange things.

That's true. Yeah, I guess I just overreacted a little bit.

I just did what anybody else would have done, right, Weas?

Weas?

I can't give you that one, George.

See, Weas, you don't understand.

I feel bad about all those little kids who won't have a chance to have the

George Jefferson Museum for inspiration.

Well, I guess they'll just have to go to school, read books, and work hard for

inspiration.

Sure, that's the easy way.

George. Yeah, well, I guess the real reason is I just wanted to be

that's all.

I mean, I don't want to just end my life without everybody knowing what I was

all about.

George, you are missing the point.

You'll be remembered without all this stuff.

Yeah, sure.

Okay, so millions of people won't remember George Jefferson.

Thousands? No, not even thousands.

Hundreds.

George.

You will?

Maybe.

Of course I will.

But it won't be because of some make -your -own -stain exhibit.

You see, George, what's important is that the people who know you remember

And believe me, after this, no one will ever forget you.

You really think so?

I know so.

And here's something else I know.

You don't have to hang things on the wall to show me how great you are.

All you have to do is just be yourself.

Oh, Will.

Oh.

Will, did you make me one promise?

No matter how stupid I get, you'll always love me?

Well, I've come this far with you, haven't I?

Let's go home.

Yeah, I thought you never asked.

The George Jefferson Museum.

Yeah.