Original subtitles

From Television City in Hollywood.

We'll be right back.

I was having this terrible dream.

I dreamt I was commissioned to paint Miss Black America.

Nude.

Well, what's so terrible about that?

Turned out the winner was Mom's Maybelline.

T .J., I thought I told you not to use my dish towels to wipe your

Now, what do you call this?

How about Sunset on the Congo?

Over with your stuff. You know what I almost made for dinner the other night?

Tartantine soup.

Ma, you gotta do something about JJ. Now what?

I was gonna wash my hair, and I almost used this tube of paint.

I might have wound up with green hair.

If you were a little shorter, you'd have met the first black leprechaun.

Inspiration may hit me.

In the bathroom?

Some people read, I paint.

Can a man get some rest in his own house? You should hear what's going on.

I did. Your voice is carried all the way to the west wing of the mansion.

James, I want you to talk to J .J. All right, baby.

Hi, J .J.

Now, what's eating you?

I was on this protest march. We were demanding more black policemen in the

project area.

They came and broke it up.

Who broke it up? Some black policeman.

I'm going back to sleep. James, before you go, there's something else we got to

discuss about J .J.

Well, what's to discuss, baby? If the boy made a mess, let him clean it up. It

ain't the mess he made. It's the mess he might be in.

How come all of a sudden he got so much art supplies?

I hope he hasn't been finding things.

Jody, have you been finding things?

I'm no longer forced by economic necessity to find things.

I have what we call in artistic circles a patron.

A patron?

What's he talking about?

A patron is a sponsor.

How'd you get a sponsor?

I took a couple of my masterpieces downtown, and this dude... recognized

true talent and divine inspiration when he sees it, took one look at my work and

it blew his mind to the tune of $10 for some art supplies.

A man gave you $10?

Yeah, so I can keep on exercising my ebony genius on canvas.

How about that?

Well, take a look at this, baby.

Well, this is art.

I don't know.

Say, why don't you paint things like trees, mountains?

Green Meadows.

Soon as we get some of them around here, I'll paint them.

Why don't you paint a jolly thing, something gay?

I did, Mama.

This is Sweet Willie Koontz.

Baby, let the boy do his thing. I mean, he got a sponsor now, ain't he?

Hey, Junior, who is this cat that knows the real Evans Talent when he sees it?

He owns Little, get this word, Boutique.

Fancy name for a store where they charge you too much.

When you got a name like boutique, you got to charge more.

Anyway, you're going to meet him pretty soon because he's coming over here. He

wants to pick out two of my paintings.

He thinks he can sell them.

Hey, JJ, this could be the big break you've been waiting for.

Yeah, I'm on my way.

I'm going to be the Hank Aaron of the art world.

Mr. Jackson's even got a little storage room over his store.

Pardon me, boutique.

Anyway, he says I can paint there any time I want to.

Yeah, now, how about that, baby? Now Junior's going to have his own separate

place to paint. Won't be no... Did you say Jackson?

What's his first name?

Leroy. Leroy Jackson.

Oh, well, now, James, it can't be the same one. How do we know it ain't? Well,

how do we know it is?

What's going on?

I don't want to talk about it.

Long time ago, somebody named Leroy... I'll talk about it.

Before I married your mother, Junior, Me and Leroy Jackson was working in a gas

station together.

Boy, we were tight. I mean, we did everything together. We drank together.

partied together.

Then we decided to go into business together.

So I gave Leroy Jackson $250 of my money to put on the business. You know what

he did with it? He blew it on a horse. I mean, he was my friend, and I trusted

him.

He blew everything, the money, the business, and our friendship on a horse.

Daddy, the horse lost tongue.

Is the elephant heavy?

James, you're being foolish about this whole thing.

It can't be the same when there are at least 200 Leroy Jacksons in Chicago.

Well, there's 80 ,000 at Soldier's Field the night that pigeon picked on your

Uncle Hector.

James, how long are you going to carry a grudge?

The Bible says love your enemies and pray for them. Well, baby, when I catch

to Leroy Jackson, you pray for him.

You're going to need it to recover from that head weapon I'm going to put on

you.

That ain't the kind of prayer the Lord had in mind.

The Lord ain't never lost $250 on a horse.

Hey, Mr. Jackson.

Hello, Junior. Come on in.

I want you to meet my family.

This is my mother, my brother, and my sister. How do you do? Hello.

Hi, folks.

This is Mr. Jackson, my jackpot.

The man who followed this magnificent talent, my dad.

Daddy, this is... Leroy Jackson.

The only man I ever trusted to go into business with, and you beat me out of my

money. James Evans.

I can't believe it.

Well, you're going to believe it after I separate your teeth from your mouth.

James. Now, there's going to be no violence in this house.

Ain't going to be in the house, baby. The first punch is going to knock him

clean out in the hall with it.

James, I just want to say one thing. Man, I don't want to hear it.

I've been trying to say this for 20 years. I said I don't want to hear it.

James, let the man speak his piece.

No. Now, Leroy Jackson, get the hell out of my house. Not until I get this off

my chest.

Daddy, don't throw him out. He wants to help JJ's career.

Baby, ain't nobody in this family taking no help from him. Now, split, man.

Man, I said I don't want to hear it. Now, split.

Well, too bad, Junior.

Hey, what are you doing?

Mr. Jackson, don't go.

Thanks a lot, Dad.

You just turned my jackpot into two lemons and a plum.

You better check yourself, Junior. I don't need no lip out of you and no

from him.

Just because y 'all had a hassle 20 years ago, I don't see why I gotta

I wasn't even born yet. And if I'd known this was gonna happen, I wouldn't even

bother to show up.

silly argument like this stand in the way of your son's future?

Yeah! Who you saying yeah to?

Uh, to me, the naked son.

Can I say something?

This was a big chance for J .J. The people could have discovered his talent.

Do my ears deceive my face?

Tell me, you saying something kind about me? I could kiss you.

I didn't say nothing that kind.

I'd like to express myself from the black father's point of view. This house

do with a lot less fat -mouthing from a militant midget like you.

That also goes for the medium and the large.

You ain't heard from the giant economy side.

James, the children were right.

You did the wrong thing. Look, Floyd, I'm running this house, and I'm not

to have our kids talking to me that way.

Now, Junior, as long as you're living under my roof, you ain't going to do but

one thing, and that's obey.

Who says I got to live under your roof? JJ!

Oh, what you trying to say, Junior?

I'm saying maybe I ought to leave.

Oh, son, it's rough out there. You'd be back home before your suitcase stopped

rocking.

I can make it on my own. To lose the truck was 18 when he left home.

I'm a year younger, but I'm a lot taller.

I think you're letting this go too far.

No, Mama. Mr. Jackson says I could use his storage room. Maybe I'll take him up

on that.

June, you mean to say you stay with a man who betrayed your father?

Oh, Dad, that was 20 years ago.

He's my patron now.

Well, son, and that's if you care about being my son. If you go anywhere near

Leroy Jackson's house, you can forget about ever coming back here again.

who says I'm coming back?

JJ! Well, you got your hat, get your coat. James, please.

That's exactly what I'm going to do. I'm going back.

I'll help you.

J .J., don't. Hey, come on, J .J., don't do this. I'm being asked to.

James, tell your son this is his house, too.

If he sets foot outside that door, it ain't his house no more.

J .J., you heard your mama.

Goodbye, Mama.

Goodbye, Michael.

Goodbye, Thelma.

James, you remember when Junior was born, you came into my room, picked him

in your arms and said, Florida, this boy is going places.

I never dreamed it would be the storage room over a boutique.

You're doing awake, Michael. I thought you liked to sleep late on Sunday

mornings. I ain't been sleeping too good since J .J. left. I'm used to having

him in bed with me.

I know, son.

I keep dozing off, but every time J .J. don't kick me, I wake up.

I ain't been sleeping too good myself these last few days.

Yeah, I heard you and Daddy arguing all night.

We were not arguing. We were discussing the problem.

Sure was a loud discussion.

problem coming home.

I wish I knew, child.

I sure do hope for soon, because I need JJ to kick me to sleep.

Why don't you get washed up?

Breakfast will be ready soon.

Okay.

Hey, mister, what you doing up so early?

I had a bad night.

You got mama to argue with.

I ain't got nobody.

Better pull that lip in.

Morning, baby.

It's morning.

There ain't nothing good about it.

Will you stop looking at me like I'm an imperial wizard of the clan?

If the sheet fits.

Oh, now, baby, I'm still your husband and you're still my wife. We are also

mother and father of a son that's not here.

James, we could get that boy back if you'd just be reasonable.

I am reasonable.

Then why don't you tell J .J. it's all right for Jackson to help him?

Now, Florida, my mind's made up and that's that.

Make this man more reasonable.

Hey, I don't want you doing no praying for me, woman, without my permission.

James Evans, you watch your mouth. How do you know the Lord won't reach down

punish you for that?

Well, the Lord is my friend, too.

Hey, we're running buddies, ain't we, Lord?

James, that is blasphemy.

And the Lord is going to show you a sign and make you know it. All right.

I'll give him ten seconds to show me a sign.

You ready, Lord?

You put that watch back on and apologize.

Now, you stay out of this, woman. This is between me and the Lord.

Another one of those discussions?

Just a three -way discussion.

Go finish setting the table. Yes, ma 'am.

No.

No, it don't seem funny setting the table for four instead of five.

Well, just do it without any references to number five, will you?

Okay. But it's going to be weird sitting around eating without once hearing

somebody say...

we're going to be down to a setting for three, number four.

Morning.

Good morning, sweetheart.

Hey, morning, baby girl.

Why are you so down?

I know you had all the time you needed in the bathroom this morning, didn't

That's the trouble, Daddy.

Let's just sit down and eat our breakfast and that's all.

Michael, say the blessing.

Thank you, God, for the grits we are about to receive.

And when you finish with us, say hey to JJ.

Now, what kind of blessing is that?

The Lord ain't got nothing against a good DS.

Let's face it, James, the children miss JJ.

I miss him, and in your heart, you know you miss him, too.

Why don't we just ask him to come home?

No way, baby. That boy ain't setting foot in this house again till he can

some respect for his father. Now, can we eat, please, before I lose my appetite?

I already lost mine.

Oh, my baby, when you're all finished, clear the table for me. Okay, Mom.

Hey, baby, where you going?

Your Highness has had his breakfast served, and I'm going to church.

It's Sunday, remember?

Oh, look here.

I ain't busy this morning.

You want me to go with you?

No, I don't think so.

The sermon this morning is going to be about the prodigal son.

Come in.

Hi, Junior.

Oh, hi, Mr. Jackson. How's it going?

Not too good. All this quiet has disturbed my concentration.

I could bring the radio up. No, I don't mean that kind of noise. I mean, hand

-me -yapping kind of noise.

That's music to paint by. I'll bring the radio up anyway.

It might help.

Thelma, will you stop looking over my shoulder making dumb remarks about my

paintings?

ugly system.

Just trying to recreate the peaceful sounds of home.

Yell at me.

I didn't come here to yell at you. I came here to see how you were, and I

You're just as lonesome for us as we are for you.

Yeah, I'm getting flaky having a bathroom wall to myself.

And look out that window.

No kids playing stickball.

Ned the wino not passed out in the gutter.

Nobody mugging nobody.

All this quiet is just too much for me.

This is the only thing I've painted so far.

wasn't so humble about Mr. Jackson, I could stay at home and paint, and Mr.

Jackson could still sew my paintings.

I'll keep working on you, Daddy.

I want you home, too, son.

In the meantime, I better go. I told James I was going to church.

JJ, you need any money?

No, I'm all right, Mama.

All right.

But if you need anything, you be sure and let me know you're here.

I will.

Bye, son.

Bye, Mom.

James!

What you doing here, woman?

I thought you were supposed to be going to church.

Well, I was, but the Lord detoured my footsteps in this direction.

and he's trying to explain gasoline prices.

What am I doing here?

I'll tell you what I'm doing here.

I'm missing my red checkered shirt and I thought Junior might have packed it in

with his stuff by mistake.

That's what I'm doing here now.

Well, that makes sense, except for one thing.

You want J .J. home as much as the rest of us do. And you came over here to ask

him back.

No, that's the last thing on my mind, baby. But I'm still the boy's father.

And I came over here to warn him about that no -good crook Jackson.

Because, Junior, once a crook, always a crook.

And once a stubborn ox, always a stubborn ox.

James! Leroy Jackson, get the hell out of here!

Woofing so much, you don't give nobody else a chance to woof. Amen.

Just be quiet, Florida. Now, Jackson, I'm going to talk this time, James

and I don't care what happens after.

But I'm going to say something I've been wanting to say all these years.

Something you never gave me a chance to say.

But it's on my mind, and I'm going to say it now.

After I blew that $250 on the race that day, I came by your house to tell you

this, but you slammed the door in my face.

I tried to explain it to you the other day, but you threw me out of your house.

Well, you're in my house now, and after 20 years, I'm finally going to say it,

and you're going to listen.

Y 'all ready for this, folks?

Here's a man, my blood buddy, broke my heart, beat me for my money, now he's

going to come up with a 20 -year -old excuse.

Well, this ought to be good. Go ahead and say it, Jackson.

James, I'm sorry.

what you was trying to say 20 years ago? Yeah, man.

Ain't that a whip?

Well, baby, how do you answer I'm sorry?

You don't answer it, honey. You accept it.

Oh, Jackson, you always did fight dirty, man.

Well, I hope you let me keep helping your son, because I think he really is

talented. Well, if you think you can help him, go ahead.

If somebody really wants to help me, ask me to come home.

Would immediately be too soon?

Immediately would be right on.

I don't mind.

I'm going to call Thelma, then I'm going to pack.

What you got to call Thelma for? I want her to lock herself in the bathroom.

Looking out of the window.

Watching the asphalt flow.

Thinking how it all looks when you die.

Good times. Good times.

Keeping your head up for water.

Making a wave when you can.

Temporary layoffs. Good times.

Good times is recorded on tape before live.