Original subtitles

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

frustrating thing, Florence, is that to most people, the job of a doorman seems

so simple.

Well, ain't it?

My stars, no.

I mean, for starters, the door to this building opens both inward and out,

thereby doubles my responsibilities right off the bat.

I never thought of that.

Few do.

So, with all respect, I'd have to say that my job is no doubt tougher than any

maid's.

Now, wait a minute, Ralph.

You don't know about everything I have to do.

There's the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping.

Not to mention that.

On top of everything else I have to do around here, I have to answer that

doorbell each and every time it rings.

Day in.

You think that's easy? I can understand that.

Doors can take a lot out of you.

Sure. See, doors are all you have to do.

But they're only one part of my responsibility.

Go on in there, block. Get you the doorbell ringing.

Well, no, I didn't. But since you're over there, would you mind answering it?

Florence, the doorbell was hot.

Oh, well, it works out perfectly because you're already in.

for us, Miss Jefferson.

Whose job do you think is tougher, mine or Ralph's?

Oh, that's easy.

Ralph, you don't have a job anymore.

I forgot to mention that. Along with everything else, I have to put up with

attitudes.

Well, I was told that attitudes are even worse at the unemployment office.

Now, would you like to help me put away these groceries?

I ain't got no job security, either.

I'll have a talk with her, sir. Perhaps I can inspire her to work harder by

example.

Ralph, don't you have someplace else you're supposed to be?

As a matter of fact, sir, there's someplace I could be.

I'm thinking of asking Mr. Whittendale for a raise.

Do you think I have a chance?

Well, I never say never, Ralph.

I prefer the word impossible.

Yes, sir. You know, you may be right.

I phoned Mr. Whittendale three times, and so far his responses have been,

somewhat negative.

What'd he say? I don't know. He won't return my calls.

Do you think he could be avoiding me?

Look, Ralph, in order to avoid somebody, you have to know he exists.

Look, Ralph, you have to make Whittendale more aware of you.

You have to assert yourself.

Get attention and respect while you're on the job. Force people to notice you.

That's good advice, sir.

Perhaps I should get a gun.

Maybe you should just get the door.

Yes, sir.

Ralph, I am impressed. Is there any door that's beyond you?

Mr. Whittendale's, I'm afraid.

What do you want, Bentley?

Mr. J., I came to return your golf shoes. I didn't need them after all. I

a meat tenderizer instead.

What's this about Mr.

Whittendale? He's nervous about asking for a raise.

Ah, a raise, is it? Yes, it is.

And I, Ralph Hart, definitely believe I deserve one. I mean, I do my job. I do

it well at all times without exception. This reminds me, Ralph. Did you pick up

my prescription at the chemist yet?

I'll get to it. I'll get to it. You don't have to badger me.

A raise, is it?

Anyway, like I was saying, Ralph, if you want to get something from somebody,

you have to make them sit up and take notice.

Mr. J., I couldn't agree with you more.

Ralph, if I might give you an example.

You see, a friend of my family's back in England is also a doorman. And on one

occasion when he wanted a raise, this is what he did.

You see, every morning at his post, he would make it a point to single out the

owner of the building as he went by and say to him, Have a good day, Mr.

Favisham. Have a very good day.

And did it work? Indeed it did. Mr. Favisham had many, many good days.

No, I mean, did he get the raise?

Why do you ask?

Bentley, let me try.

Look, Ralph, if you want a raise, you've got to make yourself believe that

you're worth a raise.

I am, sir.

Well, then you've got to make Whittendale believe it. That I don't

can, sir.

But are you a doorman or a doormouth? I'm a doorman, sir. I can hear you. I'm

doorman, sir. I still can't hear you. I'm a doorman and damn proud of it, sir.

Then get out there, Whittendale. Yes, sir. You got it.

Mr.

J., it's wonderful of you to help Ralph like that, but why have you never told

me about your hearing difficulty?

Hurry on down to the store.

I'm talking about you. I want you busy now.

For your information, Mr. Jefferson, I finished my work earlier today. Right,

Miss Jefferson?

Well... Well, the next time that happens, will you let me know I might be

to think of something else I want you to do?

I can't do that, Mr. Jefferson.

Why not?

Of course you're going to think of something else for me to do.

That's right, and I just did.

Now, bedroom closets are a mess. Get in there and clean them up right now.

Does it have to be now, Miss Jefferson?

Well...

it doesn't have to be now i want to hear yes sir mr jefferson sir i will clean

your bedroom closet sir my only purpose in life is to clean your closet sir

Thanks for the advice.

What advice?

Ralph wanted to ask Whittendale for a raise, and he was afraid, so I gave him

the benefit of my knowledge.

Oh, well, don't give up, Ralph.

There's still a chance you could get it.

Oh, man.

I'm a cinch. Mr. Jefferson told me to assert myself.

I did, and I'm getting noticed.

It's only been an hour. What could you possibly have done?

So many things, sir.

For starters, remember how I used to tip my cap like this?

Now, inspired by you, I'm giving it more of a flourish.

I think it makes more of a statement, don't you?

George, you must be very proud.

That's not exactly what I had in mind, Ralph.

Ah, that's not all, sir. I've also adopted an entirely new attitude towards

-tippers. What's that? I've decided they're entitled to their mail after

Uh, Ralph, I don't think that's quite enough to get a raise.

Then wait till you hear this.

Just a half an hour ago, I spotted a suspicious -looking man lurking around

door in dungarees yet.

Dungarees? The fiend?

Yes, sir.

So I dispersed him forthwith.

How are you at dispersing yourself, Ralph?

I'll be on my way in a jiff. You...

You haven't heard the best part yet, not five minutes after I got rid of the

vagrant. I got word that Mr. Whittendale wants to see me.

Forthwith? Yes, ma 'am. I'm on my way there now.

He'll probably commend me for my good works.

Then I'll bring up the matter of my salary.

Oh, that's great. You know, Ralph, whether you get the raise or not, I just

you to know, get out of here.

Yes, sir, and thank you, sir. I feel this one's in the bag, and I owe it all

you.

May I say something, sir?

It's great to be alive.

I want to die.

Ralph, calm down and tell us what happened up there.

You want to know what happened? Think about it. What's the worst thing, the

worst possible thing that could happen to a doorman?

The breaking of both hands.

No, sir. No, sir. It's worse, much worse than that.

I'm being replaced by an automatic door.

An automatic door. I still can't believe it.

I mean, it's something every young doorman thinks about when he's starting

But you always say to yourself, nah, it'll never happen to me.

Ralph, maybe you're jumping to conclusions.

Now, who's to say, just because we are getting an automatic door, that we are

going to lose our doorman? Mr. Whittendale gave me two weeks' notice,

Okay, then at least now we know who's to say.

Smooth wheeze. Look, Ralph, we're sorry. You're sorry?

Sir, you don't understand.

Nobody understands.

I mean, it's not that simple.

You see, my father was a doorman.

And his father before him.

I remember when I was six years old, Dad took me down to the Chrysler building.

We stood at the entrance staring at those big brass door handles.

Dad said to me, come on, Ralphie, show me what you've got.

God, I wanted to impress him.

And what happened?

You had to ask.

I reached up and grabbed a handle.

I had to reach up in those days.

Anyway, I pulled that door open like a champ.

Oh, sure, I knew Dad was back there pulling with me, but it still felt

wonderful just the same.

Well, Ralph, you still have your memory.

Yeah?

Well, Ralph, speaking of doors, I just happen to have one.

Yes, sir.

I suppose I've bothered you kind people long enough.

I wish there was something we could do. As a matter of fact, ma 'am, there is.

I was thinking, how's about you start a petition?

You know, to keep things the way they've always been.

A petition?

A petition, of course. What a great idea. Why did I think of that? I'm

you 100%. We should get that rolling right away.

Thank you, ma 'am.

And thank you, sir.

I'll come back tomorrow morning for the results.

Oh, and, uh...

We'll beat this thing together, sir. We'll do it as a team, because united we

stand, divided we... I

can't believe it.

Over 300 tenants in this building, and the only ones who signed Ralph's

were the Willises and us.

Yeah, I can't believe it either. I didn't think Helen was that crazy about

Ralph.

Oh, now that's him.

one of us is going to have to break the bad news to him. Don't worry about it,

Weasley. I'll take care of the whole thing.

Ralph, come on in.

Weasley's got something to tell you.

Oh, Ralph, what happened?

It was a rough night, ma 'am.

I'm afraid I had one too many, took a stroll past the supermarket door and

punched out the electric guy.

What happened to your leg?

The door fought back.

Any luck with a petition?

Oh, look, Ralph, you already got your uniform. Why don't you try to find some

work like a general or something?

Are you trying to tell me that we didn't get the required amount of signatures?

Ralph, we didn't get any signatures.

Now, don't take it personally.

Just you and the Willises?

Tell me the truth, ma 'am.

Did you sign for Mrs. Willis?

Okay.

That's it. That's it.

I'm all washed up.

I have opened my last door, hailed my final taxi cab.

I might as well cut off my epaulets.

Wait a minute, Ralph. Don't do that.

You got to check with your wife first, don't you?

I just want to thank you for everything.

And I want you to know that no matter what happens to me, where I wind up,

row, soup kitchen, all night laundry, reading yesterday's times,

I'll always remember you were my friends.

Didn't do me any good.

But you were my friend.

I wish there was something more we could do. Now that you mention it, man, there

is. I was thinking maybe, Mr.

Jefferson, you could invite Mr. Whittendale down here this afternoon to

him on my behalf.

Come on, Ralph, you're asking a lot. I'd have to make a phone call.

Please, sir, you're my last hope.

My children are telling me they don't love me anymore.

They don't respect me. They don't want me. My children don't want me.

Oh, Ralph, that's terrible.

Yes, ma 'am. And imagine how they'll feel when they find out I've lost my

George, look at him. Now you know what you have to do. Yeah, we... Here, Ralph,

here's a buck.

Oh, George.

Okay, I'll tell you what. I'll get Whittendale down here about 2 o 'clock.

think you ought to be here, too.

Oh, well, sir, I don't think I can be as eloquent as you can alone.

I know that. I just want him to see what a pathetic wreck you've turned into.

Good thought.

Oh, about that buck.

Mr. Jefferson, does Mr.

Whittendale know he's coming down here to talk about me? Of course not. We want

him to show up, don't we? Yeah.

Oh, now, Ralph, just relax.

Now, the key is to stay calm and try to look on the bright side.

Did I tell you about the horrible, horrible nightmare I had last night?

Ralph, you're not trying.

It was awful, ma 'am.

I was standing at the end of an endless hallway.

It was lined with closed doors, thousands of them, but I couldn't open

single one.

I raced to the first one and then the next one and the next, but not one of

would open. I was frantic.

I woke up screaming to my wife, hold me, hold me, please hold me.

And what did she do?

Nothing. She sleeps in the den.

Oh, there he is. That's Whittendale. Now remember, Ralph, just do what I told

you. Just be as pathetic as possible. Just be yourself.

Mr. Whittendale. Do you have a present?

You wanted to see me?

Yeah, thanks for coming down.

Hart, shouldn't you be done at your post?

The workmen are coming to measure the doorway today.

Ah.

Uh, Mr. Whittendale, Ralph is what I wanted to talk to you about. Yes, well,

it's too bad we're going to lose him, but that's progress.

Do you really think it's progress, sir? Yes, it is.

It's good enough for me.

George.

Mr. Whitt... Sit up, Ralph.

Mr. Whittendale, what we wanted to talk to you about is keeping Ralph on.

Now, we are not crazy about the idea of an automatic door, but we feel that the

building would be better served by a human being.

No? Who did you have in mind?

And I think most of the tenants in the

building feel the same way.

All right.

I'm willing to listen.

Give me three good reasons why I should retain Hart here.

Okay, I will.

One.

If you have large packages, Ralph will open the door for you.

Two.

Okay. Two.

Mr. Whittendale, the man has a family.

You can have them if you give me my job back soon.

Oh, come now, Hart. With all respect, I'm sure you can find another job.

But see, Mr. Whittendale, Ralph is more than just a doorman. He's our friend.

We've known him for years.

You can still have him over.

Don't you think he'd be cheaper than an automatic door?

always have you over.

I'll get it. Wait a minute, Weas. Where are your manners?

Ralph, how about one for the rogue?

Yes, sir.

And thank you, sir.

What did you do to your hand and foot?

Nothing that won't heal, sir. Wish I could say the same for my heart.

Oh, Ralph.

What are you doing here?

We heard the news about you, Ralph.

And Mr.

Whittingdale's secretary told us he was here.

Can we speak to him for a moment?

Well, I don't know.

Show them in.

Ah, Mr. Whittingdale. As tenants of this building, we protest the dismissal of

Ralph the doorman.

We're here to ask you to keep him on.

Well, people, as I told the Jeffersons here, I'm willing to listen.

What do you have to say?

Mr. Whittingdale, I have a dog.

A beautiful purebred pedigree retriever.

Ralph walks her for me. It's the only time Sheba gets out.

Sheba recently gave birth to five of the homeliest mongrel puppies you ever saw.

Now, most people might be upset having a purebred violated by some mangy

mutt.

But, I have to say, Those little puppies have brought a lot of love into

my lonely life.

She named the runt after me.

I would just like to say that Ralph Hart is a treasure.

Ralph Hart is a friend.

Mr. Whittendale, I'm a finicky person. I don't get along that well with people.

Knowing this, Ralph Hart combed the entire city until he found just the

cab driver to suit me.

And now I give that man all of my business. All of it.

And I must say, I think I've made a good friend in Sidney Hart, a wonderful cab

driver.

Sidney Hart. Kind of a coincidence, isn't it, sir?

And I'd like to put this to you, Mr. Whittendale.

We don't want an automatic door.

An automatic door can't tip its cap. An automatic door can't say, good morning.

An automatic door can't tell you if it's raining.

Well, I must say, I wasn't aware Hart does all that.

He doesn't.

But the point is, he could.

Well, that's quite a testimonial, Hart.

These people seem to care about you.

Well, as my father used to say, people are funny.

Sorry, that was our click letter, sir.

Well, everybody, here's what I think.

My advisors told me that an automatic door would be more practical and more

efficient. Now, to a man like me, with a building to run and a myriad of

complicated decisions to make day in and day out...

This issue's just not that big a deal. You want Hart?

You got him.

That's a down thing.

Oh, thanks to your good friend.

I'm so happy for you.

I just don't know what to say.

I do.

Where's that 25 bucks you promised me?

25? He only offered me 10.

Me too.

It's 25 a piece, Ralph, or we blow the whistle. Just a minute. Calm down. Calm

down. You'll all be satisfied.

It's only money.

Okay, we're square.

And if I ever catch you even looking at my Sheba, I'll bury you. You understand?

Wait a minute. What about mine?

Your what, sir?

My 25 bucks.

You don't exactly qualify.

See, you're, well, you're different from the others.

Oh, yeah? How's that? Unlike them, you actually live in the building.

Good day, sir.