Original subtitles

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

Well, he's been joking around like that all afternoon.

Oh, so what's in these boxes? Oh, about half of Bloomingdale's. I'm afraid I did

some real damage to our charge account, Tom.

I got a new coat, two evening dresses, and one designer pantsuit.

And I put a pretty big dent in our charge account, too. I got three new

sweaters, a pair of shoes, and a jogging outfit for weekends.

Terrific! Hey, Florence, how about you?

Oh, me? Child, I went hog wild.

What did you get?

Gum.

What's George up to back there?

He's just watching TV.

Oh, George, come on out here and see what I bought.

Is Willis still out there?

Yes. Go home, Willis.

Oh, that George.

He just can't stop kidding around.

He will after he sees this bill from Bloomingdale's.

Well, why don't you ladies let your credit cards cool off, and I'll go watch

with George.

Oh, Tom, you and television, that's all you ever do.

I wish you'd go out and get yourself some fresh air once in a while.

Well, sweetheart, that's what I did this morning when I took my weekly

constitutional.

Your weekly constitutional?

Yes. Every Saturday morning, I love to stroll up Lexington Avenue to

Krausmeier's Bakery.

You know, to see the donuts come off the belt.

Must you share that with us, Tom?

But, Helen, a Kraussmeyer donut is more than a donut.

It's a perpetual tribute to the taste buds.

Oh, Tom.

Oh, and by the way, Florence, on my way to the bakery, I saw a woman who

reminded me a lot of you.

Oh, I didn't know Lena Horne was in town.

Well, it wasn't exactly Lena Horne.

Actually, it was a bag lady.

But an attractive bag lady.

Well, anyhow, she was about 60, and instead of cruising comfortably through

golden years, the poor woman was spending her days rummaging through

searching for her next meal.

Uh, exactly what was it about this woman that reminded you of me?

You two were wearing the same dress.

Well, thank you for brightening my day.

Yes, Tom, maybe you could brighten ours, too, by shutting up.

Oh, I'm sorry, Helen. I mean, I didn't mean to be morbid, but, you know, seeing

that woman made me realize how fortunate all of us are.

Oh, thank God we're provided for in our old age. You know, Louise, our company's

pension plan is as solid as they come.

Yes, George and I are pretty lucky.

He's got great plans for us after he retires.

A trip to Europe, maybe a summer home someplace.

Oh, well, Lauren, what are you going to do when you retire?

Oh, I guess I'll just find a garbage can to rummage through.

Luckily, I already have my dress.

I meant the money that you have in your pension plan.

What pension plan?

I ain't got no pension plan.

Nice going, Helen. Now you've made her feel bad.

Well, now, Florence, I'm sure you've been preparing. Oh, I'll bet you've got

quite a savings account.

$37 .22.

Oh. Well, who knows what $37 could be worth 20 years from

now.

Well, excuse me. I think I hear George calling me.

Oh, come in, George.

While there's a lull in the conversation, I'd offer y 'all some gum.

knows what gum could be worth in 20 years?

Oh, come now, Florence. You're exaggerating. Your future isn't gloomy.

you're overlooking a simple solution that's so obvious, I'm surprised you

haven't thought of it yourself.

Well, child, lay it only.

Well, uh, tell her, Helen.

Uh, well, now, um, maybe you could win a lottery.

Or something.

Well, that's comforting.

Oh, by the way,

Do you think this bag goes with this dress?

Florence?

Oh, Florence, wait.

You know, I must confess, until right now, I never thought of your retirement.

But I promise, since it's come up, I'm going to speak to George about it right

away. Oh, no, Miss Jefferson, it's my problem. So I think I should be the one

kneel down and talk to him face to face.

We have a chat, you know, like pals.

Go home, Willis.

George, you know, I'm getting the feeling that I'm not wanted around here.

Come on, Helen, let's go.

Okay, Tom.

Oh, so long, Louise.

And Florence, good luck.

Thanks, Miss Willis.

So long, Helen, Tom.

Go ahead, Florence, ask him.

Oh, not now, Miss Jefferson. I think I'd better wait till he's in a good mood

again. By that time, we'll all be retired.

You're right. I better ask him now.

So, Mr. Jefferson, how are you feeling?

Fine, thank you.

You want me to fluff that pillow for you? No, I don't. I buy my pillows

fluffed.

I'm very comfortable, thank you.

You know, like my granddaddy used to say, there are times when you are

comfortable, and there are times when you just think you're comfortable.

But even when you think you're comfortable, you can always be made more

comfortable by somebody who cares if you're comfortable.

Your grandfather said that. Uh -huh. Is he dead now?

Uh -huh. Well, then he's comfortable.

I'm going to fluff this pillow. There.

Now, wasn't my granddaddy right? Will you get out of here?

And look at those little footsies.

You know I'd bet they'd be a lot more comfortable up there on that coffee

I know they can't reach, but I'd be happy to move it for them.

Okay, Florence, what is it? What do you want? What do I want? What do I want?

Why, merely to serve you.

Oh. To make you happy.

Are you happy? You want to make me happy? Okay, here's how to make me

buy me a box of Havana cigars. You got it. Where do they sell them?

Cuba.

If you run into a guy with a beard named Fidel, just insult his mother. He likes

that.

You're so funny.

Oh, I'm sick of this. Move your feet. We're going to talk.

Get out of here. Just give me five minutes.

Look, you don't have to put a time limit. You've been around here long

You know me, and I know you. And whatever it is you want, you can rest

the answer's no.

But that ain't fair, Mr. Jefferson. I ain't even had a chance to ask you about

my pension plan.

Pension plan? No, you can throw that out your mind.

What am I supposed to do when I'm old and gray and I can't work no more? You

should have thought about that five years ago when it happened.

Now leave me alone. I'm trying to watch television.

Oh, no.

Now we're going to talk.

Mr. and Mrs. Willis have got a pension plan. You and Miss Jefferson have got a

pension plan. What about me? What have I got?

Crow's feet.

I'd scalp you, but nature beat me to it.

Somehow, I don't think you two settled this.

It's settled.

Oh, it ain't no use, Miss Jefferson. I ain't got no pension plan because your

husband ain't got no heart.

Go on, where's my breakfast?

George Jefferson is unfair.

He's short with no hair.

Sweetheart, would you get my breakfast?

Oh, the silent treatment, huh? Well, look, Florence, that sign ain't gonna do

you no good.

Why, ain't I holding it low enough for you to read it?

Louise, deep down inside, despite this pension thing, you still love and

me, right?

I see. Well... In that case, I guess I'll have to have breakfast with my

friends, the Willisters.

A guy should have good friends, and the Willisters are good friends.

Unfair! Unfair!

Well, I might as well skip breakfast anyway. I could stand to shed a few

Well, I hope you can keep up with the way you shed your hair.

Look, Flores, okay, so you're not going to get my breakfast. Could you get my

paper?

Well, I guess I got to call my only friend in the building.

Oh, Ralph.

Hey, look, grab me a paper, will you?

Look, I don't care if Zaza's on nerve.

I need a paper.

Thank you.

George, when is all this going to get to that brain of yours?

Everybody thinks you're wrong.

Your friends are picketing the hallway.

Everyone is against you.

We have to exaggerate.

Can I help you?

See, George, doesn't all this tell you something?

Yeah, it tells me the pointy -toed shoes are back in style.

Hello, Mr. Jefferson, sir.

That was quick. I flew here on winged feet. Knowing I was doing a favor for

turned me into a virtual Hermes.

Yeah, but I don't care what you got. Just don't give it to me.

Right here,

sir.

Oh, well, now then, Mr. Jefferson, I actually, I can't give you this. You

although I admire you as a great and generous person, Florence's strike...

Must have my complete sympathy and support. After all, striking for a

lifestyle is as American as apple pie.

Here's a buck.

Out of my way, commie.

Hey, what about all the sympathy and support?

I'm sorry, Florence, but a friend's a friend and a buck's a buck. And frankly,

my friend's always been a buck.

Here's 20 bucks.

I want you to destroy those picket signs. By the way, there's an old lady

running around here with a picket sign. I want you to give a swift kick for me.

Oh, I couldn't do that to an old lady, sir. Here's five more.

Then again, I don't discriminate against age.

George, I'm telling you, everybody's against you. Please give Florence a

plan. Look, Weez, as they say in American, uh -uh. As they say in

And as they say in Spanish, no way, Jose.

Well, you give your store employees benefits, pensions, profit sharing.

because they make the profit they want to share.

Florence don't make nothing but burnt meatloaf.

If she wants to share that, she's welcome to it.

All right. I see I've let this go too far. I was really hoping that you would

understand and do this on your own.

But I should have known better.

Now, I'm 50 % of Jefferson Cleaners.

and I'm going to have our attorney draw up a pension plan for Florence.

You can't do that. I'm the boss.

Well, I'll just have to go over the boss's head.

It'll be a short trip.

I'm also 50 % of this household, and I say Florence, get... Her pension

plan. You can't set up no pension plan without my signature.

Now, how hard can it be to forge an ex?

That's a low blow.

She's getting her pension back. And I said she's not getting her pension back.

said she is. If it's up to me, she ain't getting it back. Oh, now, wait a

minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I just decided to strike us off. Oh, well, get my breakfast.

Oh.

Going on strike for myself is one thing, but when it starts to hurt your

marriage, it ain't worth it.

You know, I thought you really cared about me.

I thought I could appeal to your sense of decency.

But I see I was wrong.

So I guess I'll just have to find me a job where they'll provide for my future.

Florence, what are you saying?

I'm saying that I quit.

Stop her, George!

Come on, Weezy, would you let me savor the moment?

George!

Florence, would you come back?

I'm sorry, Mr. Jefferson, but there's nothing you can say that'll make me

my mind.

I ain't got nothing to say. I want to show you something. I want you to watch

it. Now, George, your impression of Sammy Davis Jr.

won't work this time.

See, that's the truth. I'll not talk about that.

So, you two think I'm no good, too, huh?

Worse than Helen's teriyaki pork.

Come on in, Rose.

Well, it's a strike over.

Look, would you just come on inside?

I got something I want to show you. Everybody grab a seat somewhere.

I wasn't supposed to show you this for a long time, but I guess I have no

choice.

I made this tape about six months ago.

And I want you to know, Florence, that every word in this tape comes from my

heart.

occasion.

Louise, Lionel, Jenny, Tom, Helen, Florence.

And you too, Mr. President.

What the heck is this?

I know you're probably saying, what the heck is this?

Well, this is my last will and testament.

Pretty classy putting it on videotape, huh, Louise?

I know you're all busted up over me being dead.

I don't blame you. I miss me, too.

I was a great man.

Willis, put down those peanuts.

Let's move on to what you all gathered to hear.

I was born the son of a sharecropper.

me a short tape? Okay.

Anyway, I died a rich man, which was the worst part of dying.

So, since I couldn't take it with me, here's how I'm dividing it up.

I, George Jefferson, being of sound mind and body,

the bulk of my estate to my beloved wife, Louise, so that she may live her

remaining years in comfort.

I know you'll be joining me soon, Louise.

But you just can't stand to live without me.

In the meantime, don't do anything stupid, like giving our money away or

becoming a nun.

Don't forget, I got my eyes on you from up here.

want you to know weeds that you gave me more happiness in my lifetime than any

man could hope for you made me rich in joy i only hope i did the same

for you by the way feel free to spend as much as you want on my monument

To my son, Lionel, who didn't call me enough, but never mind, because the

should be plenty.

I leave a trust fund so that he may take care of his wife, Jenny, and my

granddaughter, Jessica.

You be good to Jessica, Lionel.

She was the light of my life, even if she did have an accident on my favorite

Harris Tweed coat.

To my friends, Tom and Helen Willis, I leave, well, let me put it this way.

Close your eyes.

What do you see?

Nothing?

That's where I'm leaving you.

Just kidding.

Seriously, you two are good people, and even more important, you've been good

friends. So, I'm leaving an incredibly generous donation to the Help Center in

your name.

Well, that about does it.

I can't think of anyone else.

Hey, what about me?

Lawrence,

I'll bet you're saying, what about me?

Well, don't worry, I left you something.

Anybody out there got a quarter?

Because I never had to say it before, but what the hell, I'm dead.

I like you, Florence.

You're family to me. So, to Florence Johnson, I leave a trust fund set up in

name so that you'll never have to worry about money as long as she lives.

Florence, if you have reached the age of 65, then you'll receive the trust fund.

And if you're not 65, you sure look it.

Before I go.

this, but he's absolutely right.

Too true, too true.

Oh, Mr.

Jefferson, I could just kiss you. Wow, that was the nicest, sweetest, kindest.

Shut up, Florence.

George, why on earth didn't you show this to Florence two days ago? You could

have avoided this whole mess.

Don't you talk to Mr. Jefferson like that.

This man is a faint.

I worship the ground he walks on.

See, that's why I didn't show it to him.

So I said, I like you. I mean, I like you the way you are. Oh, Mr.

Jefferson!

That's why I didn't show it to you. I knew she was going to get all mushy.

I mean, I like you when you call me names because it shows the sign of

affection.

You do?

Yeah. You mean you like it when I call you a bald head at your walk?

Yeah. And when I say you a sword off -run?

Yeah. And when I say, child, with your mouth open to fire...

Remember, that machine has an erase button. Then you sure must have been

it on your head.