Original subtitles

Well, we're moving on up, moving on up, to the top, moving on up, to the top.

Hear, hear.

To you, Lionel, an accomplished businessman, a brilliant electrical

and the man who's going to raise my granddaughter the way she ought to be

raised, rich.

Um, how about me?

Oh, yeah, you too.

So, tell us more about this new project, Lionel. It all sounds so exciting.

Oh, well, it's just one account.

Oh, yeah, but it's big. I mean, really big, man.

Thank you, Ed Sullivan.

Marlo, it is a supermarket, right?

A supermarket?

Ma, it's going to be the third largest supermarket in New Jersey.

Meldon's or Paramus?

Oh, I've seen their commercials.

If it grows, it's at Meldon's.

You know, the chipmunk.

You know, Lionel, I was wondering, does the size of the building you're working

on make your job more difficult?

Size makes any job more difficult, Willis. Think of your poor tailor.

Well, anyway, congratulations,

Lionel. Let's drink to your future and to electricity.

May the fox fly and produce us another grandchild.

Oh, here, here.

Now, Lionel, you're not going to give up your regular job yet, are you?

No, Mom, not yet anyway. I'm just moonlighting right now. But eventually,

to have my own electrical contracting company. See, I want to make it on my

just like Pop.

Lionel, I'm proud of you. You know, it takes a special kind of a son to

appreciate his father's greatness.

Your great father thinks that you are ready to be your own boss.

Well, not yet, anyway. I mean, you know, all I've ever done on my own so far is

a few odd jobs for you and, you know, favors for friends.

Oh, but, Lionel, you're the best. Why, you put in that digital alarm clock next

to our bed.

But,

Jenny, see, all I had to do was plug that in.

Oh, well.

Well, he knew right where the outlet was.

Well, anyway, it's obvious that the kid's a genius.

I wonder where he gets that from.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, listen, everybody, we better get going.

Oh, yeah.

We're celebrating the Meldon's account.

Lionel's taking me to 21.

21? Wow, I'm impressed.

Oh, that ain't nothing.

Here, Lionel.

Take her to 22.

Good night.

Enjoy.

Boy, my son is incredible, ain't he?

You know, Wheezy, that boy's gonna make a million bucks one day.

I just hope he'll be happy, that's all.

So what is a million bucks supposed to make him?

Suicidal?

George, you're missing the whole point.

Cash isn't the most important thing in the world, you know.

You're right. That's why God invented stocks and bonds.

Anyway... I'm really happy Lionel is taking on some outside jobs.

The extra income certainly can't hurt.

Yeah, inflation's sure putting the bite into me.

Well, Willis, it's only fair. It looks like you've been putting the bite into

everything else.

Ah, inflation hasn't hurt me one bit. Right now, I'm sitting on top of the

world.

Congratulations,

George.

May I give you a suggestion on what to do with the North Pole?

I'll get it.

Oh, you're just jealous, that's all.

My business is better than ever. My profits are up. All my employees worship

Everything I touch turns to gold.

I can't remember when the last time I had a problem.

George, that was the fire department. Your Brooklyn store just burned down.

What?

Why do these things always happen to me?

I'll go with you. No, no, no, Weezy, it could be dangerous.

You might get burned or hit on the head with something. Or even killed.

Come on, Willis. Right, George.

He owns this rubble.

Your name, sir?

Can't you read? It's written right on the door. It's gone.

There it is, sir.

Would you mind?

There, there, George.

If you need me, I'll be checking the damage outside.

Everything is ruined, Willis. There's nothing left.

Don't be so hasty, George.

There must be something you can salvage.

Oh, look!

This piece of bronze sculpture is still intact.

That's not a piece of sculpture. That was my cash register.

Well, I never claimed to know much about art. I just know what I like.

All the expensive stuff is in the back.

The big machinery and everything. Maybe some of that is still over.

Oh, no, no, George.

No, no, George. Take it easy.

It's not that bad.

Well, you still have one wall.

It's all gone, Lewis.

The pressing machine, the steam compressor, the T -104 quiet button

static vac.

This place a home.

George,

I just had a thought.

Well, don't think, please. So far, nobody's been hurt.

Really?

You've got insurance.

You're going to be reimbursed for all of this. Plus whatever extra it costs to

fix the place up.

Who knows?

This fire could make you money.

Hey, you're right.

That's terrific, Willis.

You know, if you were a girl, I'd... Nice.

Hello?

Yeah, this is Jefferson Cleaners.

You say insurance pays for everything?

Oh, sure.

Good.

I always wanted a push -button phone anyway.

Oh, man.

What a fire. Oh, Willis.

It even ripped the phone out of the wall.

Oh, hello, Chief.

Hello, Mr. Jefferson.

Get a chance to look around?

Yeah, it's pretty bad, huh? Pretty bad.

Do you have insurance?

Well, let me think.

Yep.

Good. You've definitely got a claim here.

Hey, I'm rich.

Who could talk about money at a time like this?

I was able to determine the cause of the fire. It was faulty wiring.

Wiring? Right.

So you're going to be okay.

The guy who should be worried is the guy who wired this place.

He's going to lose his shirt.

George, what's wrong?

Willis, I got a big problem.

What?

Lionel did the wiring.

George, you've got to stop taking those things. They're not candy.

I can't help it. I feel terrible. I feel rotten. Even my headache's got a

headache.

Oh, I understand, George. You've got a lot on your mind.

Have you gotten in touch with Lionel yet?

No, I left a message with the secretary telling him to come right over.

He's been out.

Lord, I hope he ain't out doing no more wiring.

Now, George.

I can't help it. We never started.

All I can think about is Lionel's career in ruins, like my store.

And it's all Willis' fault.

What?

Willis. He had Jenny.

Lionel married her. They had a kid. He needed extra money. He took outside

He wired my store. It burned to the ground.

Well, thank goodness your headache hasn't affected your sense of logic.

Oh, Lionel, I'm glad you're here. Hi, Mom. Hey, Pop, I got the message. What's

up?

Lionel, I got to talk to you about something important.

Oh, well, I'm glad you called, because, listen, I got something important to

talk to you about, too. Pop, I thought it over. I decided not to wait. I'm

to start my own electrical contracting company right away.

What your father means is maybe this isn't the best time to start your own

business. Well, sure it is. What, with the Meldon's account? What could

screw it up?

And who better to talk to about starting my own business than my dad?

Why do we name him Lionel? Do you know how hard it is to live that name down in

prison?

Listen, what are you talking about? Look, son.

I'll get you the best lawyer money can buy, and if he loses, I'll write you

every week. You might be number

62489 to them, but to us, you'll always be our little boy.

You ever sniff a cleaning fluid?

Lionel, sit down.

You know the Brooklyn store.

Uh, yeah, let me see. That's the one in Brooklyn, isn't it?

Sure, I rewired that store six months ago. Lionel, you know that, and I know

that. Now, forget it.

What's going on?

Lionel, you know the Brooklyn store.

Come on, we went through that already, okay? What happened to the Brooklyn

store? It burned down.

It burned down how?

Fine.

What caused the fire?

The wiring.

But I put in that wiring myself.

I told you to forget about that.

Oh, no, wait a minute, Pop. That wiring was not faulty.

Oh, faulty is such a harsh word, son.

You just put it in wrong, that's all.

Look, who said the wiring was faulty?

Oh, nobody important, Lionel.

Just the fire marshal.

You need that more than I do.

Lionel, don't you blame yourself.

Your mother's right. I mean, look, they've been studying electricity for

Nobody knows how the hell it works.

Why would they expect you to?

Look, Pop, I'm telling you, man, that wiring was not faulty.

You don't believe me. Of course I believe you. You're my son.

A father always believes his son.

Look. I know a guy in the passport bureau.

I can get you out of the country before midnight.

Don't panic.

Everything's going to be all right. I'm not going to file no insurance claim.

What? George, you lost a building, equipment, inventory.

Do you know how much that'll cost to replace?

Yeah. I was figuring out last night.

Oh, I guess you didn't hear me crying, huh?

Look. Look, there is no need to cover up for me because there's nothing to cover

up. Your father's just trying to protect your reputation, your career.

But look, if it was my fault, which it wasn't, I'd take the blame, which I

should, but if it wasn't, so I won't. But if it was your fault, which it might

have been, you could be ruined, which you won't because I won't let you. And

wait, you're both right.

I think.

Mom, see, he won't let me fight my own battles. He's treating me like a kid.

Now just calm down. He's not treating you like a kid.

Just relax, and I'll get you some cookies.

Pop,

man, you really hurt me here.

Lionel, I'm trying to keep you from being hurt. Oh, man, there you go with

same... Look, my being hurt is not the point here, Pop. Will you listen? See, I

told you the wiring was good, but you don't believe me. I didn't say I didn't.

I'm not the one who said I didn't believe you. Pop, you don't believe me.

the hell is he so mad about? That nigga burned down my...

you like this, but they're really depending on me at the help center.

That's okay, Weas. You know something, Weas? The way I figure it, if you take a

part -time job, give up buying clothes, buy bargain brands of

everything, and if I work seven days a week and only eat what Willard throws

away, we'll have the loss on the store made up in only 63 years.

Well, I was going to have some cavities filled, but I'll save the money and just

let my teeth fall out.

Good. Every little bit helps, Weas.

Hi, Stan Green, Mutual Fidelity Insurance.

You must be Mrs.

Jefferson. That's right.

Won't you come in?

That's my husband, George.

Just let me say I'm saddened greatly by the loss of your...

Brooklyn store.

Fire is a terrible thing. It hurts us all, but no one is hurt more than you

your lovely wife, uh, Louise.

We here at Mutual Fidelity care about our clients, et cetera, et cetera, et

cetera.

You know what I'm trying to say.

Well, your concern touches us deeply, Mr., uh...

Green. And it's nice to know that a big company, et cetera, et cetera, et

cetera. You know what I'm trying to say. See you later, George.

Mr.

Green, you and I have something to talk about. Oh, we most certainly do. And

just let me assure you, Mr. Jefferson, that we at Mutual Fidelity stand

behind you.

As long as you don't stick it to us.

That's a little insurance joke.

And they say insurance people are dull.

Yeah, it's a bum rap.

Anyway, I have your report right here. You're a lucky man.

You suffered a total loss.

I'm not filing a claim.

And according to the terms of your policy, you're entitled to full

I said I'm not filing a claim. And we at Mutual Fidelity feel that you're not

filing a claim.

Okay, what's your angle?

No angle.

I just hate to see you poor guys lose all that money.

Well, what are you talking about? The preliminary report shows that the fire

caused by faulty wiring.

We'll get our money back by suing the incompetent jerk that did it. He ain't a

jerk. What?

I mean, uh, the jerk is competent. Look, why don't we just call it even? I mean,

nobody was hurt but me, thank God.

Well, you're entitled to thousands of dollars, and you're not going to take

Isn't that un -American?

Okay, I'll tell you the truth.

I am sick and tired of hearing about people paying insurance premiums year

year, and as soon as one little thing happens, like a fire, they go running to

their insurance company saying, give me, give me, give me.

That's an interesting point of view.

Right. I mean, you always hear about people helping out the little folks,

But tell me, who looks out for the big multinational corporations?

I don't know. Who?

Nobody. That's who.

Oh, maybe the rich tax firms.

And, of course, the corporation gets windfall profit tax breaks. But is that

enough? Well, this is one guy that says, no, sir, it is not.

What are we laughing at? I smell a rat.

Uh -huh. It says here that the wiring was done by a...

Lionel Jefferson.

Any relation?

To who?

To you.

Me? My name is George Jefferson.

I don't see the connection.

You're sure you're not trying to protect a relative?

Keep my son out of this.

I mean, no, I ain't.

I'm sorry, Mr. Jefferson. I'm going to have to revise this report.

Oh, come on, Mr. Green. That could ruin his reputation.

It could bring criminal charges. I mean, he could go to jail.

I mean, it would be terrible.

Yeah, a name like Lionel would be tough to live down in the big house.

Come on, give me a break.

I'm sorry. Rules are rules.

Oh, man.

But there may be some hope.

Sometimes, because of mistakes or oversights, a report like this could get

Lost? How?

Well, for instance, I could take it out of my briefcase to make room for

something else like, uh, money.

You're not suggesting a bribe, are you? Oh, no, no, of course not.

Am I?

Okay, well, look, I'm kind of new at this.

What are the going rates for this kind of thing? Like 30,

40 bucks?

That's not a bribe. That's cigarette money.

This report might have to get lost eight or nine times before it's officially

gone.

500?

As the trainer said to the elephant... 1 ,000?

Up, Simba.

You're getting warmer.

I'll tell you what. When you hit a number I like, I'll knock off $100

used to have an electric train named after your son.

Go away. I don't know you. No, wait. I got to talk to you, Pop. It's really

important. Oh, Pop.

This must be Lionel.

Gee, he's young and good -looking, too.

Should be real popular in the big house.

Don't go away. We'll be right back.

Oh, I know you will.

Hey, Pop, what's going on?

Nothing. What makes you think something's going on?

What do you want to talk to me about?

Oh, well, look, I checked out the Brooklyn store.

You want to know what caused the fire?

This. My burglar?

Yeah, it was a freak accident, but there was a manufacturer's defect.

It shorted out, and it caused the fire.

Well, they've been studying electricity for years, Pop.

I mean, nobody knows how the hell it works. Why should you be expected to?

So your wiring wasn't faulty.

Well, Pop, faulty is such a harsh word.

Let's just say I put it in.

See, I knew you were right all the time.

Made plenty of room in my briefcase.

Good. Is there room enough for that?

What's that?

That's what caused the fire. My burglar alarm.

Lionel didn't have nothing to do with it. Now, I'm filing a full claim, and I

don't want it to be lost.

Well, what about our arrangement? What, you mean a bribe? Oh, he wanted you to

bribe him? Yeah.

But you know me, I ain't gonna stay having no shakeout.

Now, just a minute here.

As the trainer said to the elephant, out, Simba, out.

You were great, Pop. And it's the truth.

But look here, man, I just got one question.

What's that?

Why'd you have to name me Lionel?

Look, the city's self -loving. Your mother wanted to call you Leslie.