Original subtitles

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

deluxe apartment in the sky.

Which bone is it this time?

I just scoured out the bathtub, and look at this hairball I got out the drain.

Just look at it.

Very nice, but actually, I prefer the dry look.

I don't know how Mr. Jefferson does it. It seems like he's losing more hair than

he ever sprouted.

Please don't say anything.

George is very worried about losing his hair.

Well, he ought to be worried.

It must be a disaster happening on top of his head.

Because his hair sure is evacuating.

Hi, Louise.

Florence. Hi, Helen. I'll be ready to go in a minute.

Don't rush.

The way things are going down at the help center, I am in no hurry to get

I know what you mean. Come on, let's sit down.

We'll have some coffee first.

Florence. Okay, son. Good to me.

No, Florence, I meant for you to get some coffee for us. Okay, Miss

in a second.

What happened to the health center, Jack?

It's been murder for the last six months.

With Reagan in office?

There doesn't seem to be enough money for social programs.

Yeah, every program the health center has is being cut back.

It's getting to the point where we need to have a health center for the health

center.

I am so frustrated.

Some days I wonder if it's all worth the effort.

Yeah, well, I think... Hold that thought, Miss Jefferson.

And let me tell you what I think.

I think you've got a hairball problem.

Beg your pardon?

You see, day after day, I'm in the bathroom digging out Mr. Jefferson's

hairballs.

No sooner do I get rid of one than another one sneaks up behind me.

Some days I wonder if it's all worth the effort.

Yeah.

So?

So even though I don't like it, I still do my daily hairballing.

Lord knows you ain't gonna do it for me.

Safe bet.

Exactly.

My point is, nobody's going down to the health center and do your job for you

either. I know, but lately we've had so many setbacks.

Look, you're doing the best you can.

At least you're trying.

And that's a whole lot more than a lot of folks can say.

Hello, girls.

I hate it when men call women girls.

Me too. George, why do you do that?

Well, because I know you ain't a boy.

Or did you forget about that little evening four weeks ago?

Hey, buddy, I don't know what kind of vitamins you're taking, but I could sure

use some of them myself.

Amen to that.

It's nice to have you home, George.

Uh, can we put that to a vote?

But why aren't you two at work? Well, we decided to take the whole day off, and

believe me, we've got it coming. That's right. After all, me and Willis are big

businessmen, right?

At least I'm a big businessman.

He's extra large.

Let's face it, me and Willis are past that time clock stage.

We are what you call a couple of financial maggots.

That's magnet, George.

Although in your case, both pronunciations apply.

Look, we got the whole day stretching ahead of us. What do you say the four of

us go out and do something together?

I would ask you to come, Florence, but you're not wearing enough makeup and I

don't get no lawsuits.

Well, Mr. Jefferson, according to this mirror, my makeup looks fine.

Well, what do you say? You coming with us?

Well, we can't, Tom. We're due down at the help center.

Yeah, and I can't wait to get there. The help center has nice, hard walls.

Perfect for banging your head against.

What do you mean?

Well, it's just that for a help center, we don't seem to be helping very many

people. Well, if that's the only thing bothering you, just change the sign to

the Not Much Help Center.

George, it's not funny.

Lately, our work there is one big headache.

Then quit!

Quit? You don't need no headaches. You're married to me.

I thought you enjoyed working there. Oh, we do.

But it's just that we're not seeing enough results.

Then quit.

Look, you're supposed to enjoy the money we give you. Do like the other rich

ladies do. You go out, go to lunch, go some shopping, and then come home and

gossip with each other until us men get home, right?

Sounds like a pretty full day to me.

Well, dear, if your work at the help center is too difficult, maybe you

find something else to do.

Look, Tom, we work down at the help center because we care, and we're not

to quit just because it's not easy.

Look, Weez, I'm glad you're working at the help center.

Oh, thank you, George.

I mean, so what if you never help anybody?

I mean, the important thing is that you get out of the house, you get to show

your diamonds off and, you know, kill the day.

You know, when I married George, it was till death do us part.

Let's get out of here before us do part.

What are you doing?

We just lost the neighborhood crime watch program, too.

But why?

That was the one program that didn't require any money. But it required

Everybody in the neighborhood thought it was a nice idea, but nobody wanted to

come to the meeting.

Why not?

They were afraid that if they left home, they'd be ripped off.

Look, Louise, we've only been here an hour, and already it's been a horrendous

day.

I think that we've reached the you -know -what stage.

Oh, no, Helen, not that. I know.

I hate to resort to it myself, but we have got to make it through this day

somehow.

What other choice do we have?

All right.

I'll get the stuff.

Good.

You see, it's been a depressing day, so we just broke down and got out the old

chip.

Oh, my God, you're hurt.

No, it's an allergy.

See, this time of year, I always break out in black eyes.

Sit down.

Listen.

I'm Helen, and this is Louise.

What's your name?

Would you like to tell us who did this to you?

Nobody. I fell down.

What did you do?

Land on someone's spit?

You fell here.

You're a prostitute, aren't you? Well, hey, another genius.

My guess is you were roughed up by either your John or your pimp.

Wow.

Technical terms.

I bet you never missed a single episode of Beretta.

Look, you don't have to prove to us you're tough.

We are here to help you. And that's the name of that tune.

Here, drink this, Linda.

It's Maggie.

Good, now at least we know your name.

Well, congratulations, there's one for you.

Maggie, you're a young, pretty girl.

Why don't you let us help you find another job?

The health center has a program. I know, I know, secretarial school for ex

-junkies, ex -cons, and ex -hookers, right?

Well, yeah, but you can learn how to... How to type, how to take shorthand, and

how to make a good cup of coffee. And gee, if I work real hard, I can make

a week.

That's right.

I'll make 300 a day, sweetheart.

Tax -free.

How much of it do you get to keep?

So, Maggie, are you happy?

You know, I think that deep down, you know there's a better way.

Don't you want to have a normal life with normal relationships?

Someone to love you.

Hey, I got somebody who loves me. My man loves me.

He's got a great way of showing it.

I have this common, see?

My man cares enough about me to keep me in line.

Maggie, you're a grown woman.

You don't need anybody to keep you in line.

Who are you to tell me what I need?

We are not trying to tell you anything.

We are asking you to think about your life, to think about what you could be

doing, to think about... Look, I didn't come in here for a sermon.

Really? Then why are you here?

I came in to get some ice for my eye.

So how about it?

We don't have any ice.

Yesterday, our refrigerator was stolen.

Well, thanks so much for all your help.

Maggie, I know we come off a little preachy, but Helen and

I have been working here for five years with people who have had all kinds of

problems, and we'd like to think that we know what we are doing.

You rich do -gooders don't know nothing about nothing.

You leave your fancy home and you come slumming down here for a couple of hours

a day to dabble in other people's misery.

You want me to pour my heart out to you so that you can run home and tell your

husbands about the poor little wretch that you saved.

Well, I'm not going to let you use me like that.

You just find somebody else to make you think you're doing something worthwhile.

Louise, I don't think potato chips are going to do it this time.

Well, not these, anyway.

Let's get the hell out of here and find the nearest bar.

I want to propose a toast.

To what?

Our last day at the help center.

I don't know, Helen. This place looks a little rough.

How rough could it be?

It's called Mom's.

Besides, look, there's a security guard right at the bar.

Yeah, I guess we'll be safe.

order, it's happy hour.

You a mom?

Oh, yes.

There it is in red, white, and blue.

Mom?

Could we see a menu?

How quaint.

Gee, I can't make up my mind.

Everything looks so good.

What do you want?

I'd like to have a vodka gimlet on the rocks with a twist.

And I'm in the mood for a fresh banana daiquiri.

Two beers.

poem on the table.

Roses are red, violets are blue.

Take off your clothes and... Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Isn't that impossible?

Not according to that diagram.

How much do we owe you?

I'm going to keep the change.

Please do.

Helen?

Yeah?

Do you really want to quit the health center?

Well,

it's just that I'm so...

of getting a cold shoulder from the government and from the city and even

the people we're trying to help.

Well, along the way, we have had some successes.

But there have been so few and so far between.

What are you thinking, Louise?

About Maggie?

A young girl like that.

Living a life like that.

I wanted to help her so much, but I couldn't get through. I know.

She got to me, too.

So much so that here I am, sitting in a place with a menu carved on a man named

Mom.

But, Alan, maybe it is us. Maybe we are not qualified to help people like

Maggie. What do you mean?

Well... Maybe we are too far removed.

I used to think I could relate to these people's problems because I was raised

in a neighborhood like this.

But now I'm just a visitor.

So?

What's the answer?

I don't know.

In order to relate to these people, do we have to move into the ghetto and give

all our money away?

Give up our jewelry and our nice clothes?

No. So maybe George is right.

Maybe we should stop trying to save the world.

He thinks we should spend our days lunching. And shopping.

And gossiping.

And sipping cocktails in some of the finest lounges in New York.

Bottoms up.

It must have been the water.

Hi,

sugar. Where the hell you been?

Oh, I've been doing a little... Save it.

Give me, give me, give me.

Sugar, I don't have nothing for you.

You've got nothing?

What have you been doing, huh?

Not making me any money, that's for sure.

See, sugar, I've been walking around doing some thinking. Thinking?

Now, what makes you think you can't think?

Now, look, walking is fine, but thinking is my job, and I'm thinking you better

get your tail out on that street and bring me some money.

See, sugar, what I've been thinking is that I'd kind of like to go back to

Cincinnati.

I want to go home, sugar.

Home, baby.

You are home.

You see now?

You had to go and try to think. So now you got yourself all turned around.

So now I'm just going to have to straighten you out like I did this

In the car.

I don't want to go in the car.

Excuse that.

But there seems to be a disagreement here.

And we have an opinion, if you care to hear it. Baby, move.

I don't think he cares to hear it.

Well, he's going to hear it anyway.

Maggie, don't worry.

It'll be okay.

And he's through pushing you around.

Hey, lady.

Stay out of my business.

I'll put you out on the streets, too.

Look, we are not afraid of you.

Baby,

don't you go crazy on me, huh?

You know that I'm all you got.

I mean, you were nothing when I found you. Now, what do you want to go back to

being nothing, huh? Of course not.

You go home, you lose me. You can't afford to lose me.

Hey, how can you hurt me like this, baby? I love you.

Well, you got a real great way of showing it.

No, sugar.

I'm going home.

Baby, there's only one place you're going.

And that's in the car.

Don't you strike her.

Hey, listen.

If you think I won't go through both of you to get what's mine, you're crazy.

Look, mister.

If you want her, you are going to have to go through the both of us.

Wody Helen.

Helen.

Louise.

You want to move?

We did it, Helen. We stared him down.

Well, not quite, Louise. Look.

Hey, I don't allow no trouble in here.

Besides, I got a daughter.

Maggie, are you all right?

I don't know.

But I'll tell you one thing.

You two ladies are really... crazy.

Well, right now, we are going to send you back to Cincinnati.

Come on, Helen, let's get our coats.

Right.

Helen. Yeah?

You can let go of my arm now.

and you still want to quit the help center?

What for?

I think we do a pretty good job.

Yeah, and I hope I'll always remember this feeling, because it's the small

victories that make up for all the big losses.

Amen.

Listen, you guys really stuck your necks out for me, and, well, I, you know,

I appreciate it.

Oh, it's okay, Maggie.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Maggie, we're taking you to the bus station.

You're going home.

I met Sugar at the bus station.

Like I said, we're taking you to the airport.

You're going home.