Original subtitles

♪ Tells it like it is ♪

♪ Crutch is here ♪

- ♪ For friends, family, kids ♪ - Yo, it's Francois!

- ♪ Crutch is Crutchfield ♪ - ♪ Crutch. ♪

Crutch is filmed in front of a live studio audience.

Oh, there he is.

There he is.

Top of the class, passed the bar on his first try.

Now, you would think, with all that money that you making

at that high-powered law firm, you could afford pants that fit.

Come on, Dad.

You know I look good.

Yeah, you look good in your capris.

But back in my day,

when you wore pants that didn't cover your ankles,

the whole neighborhood would tell you

- to pull your shoes up. - Hmm.

I know you ain't talking.

Your generation's outfits made no sense.

Y'all wore matching sweat suits and never went jogging.

Well, I know this weekend is going crazy,

- so I'm-a tell you now... - Mm-hmm.

...your mother would be proud of you, and I'm proud of you.

Thanks, Pop.

- Knock, knock. - Oh!

- Grandpa. - Lisa, Mase, give Grandpa some love.

Oh. Come here, girl.

- Come here. Oh... - Hey, Daddy.

- Mm. - Oh!

You look like you need a little help with that luggage.

I do. Thanks, Daddy.

Okay, Jake, get them bags.

What up, big head?

I love you, too, sis.

Ah, mwah.

And I appreciate you flying all the way from Minnesota.

My little brother graduates from Columbia Law School,

I would not miss that party.

Damn, that's a lot of bags for three days.

- Yeah. - Where's Andrew? I thought he was coming.

Oh, he couldn't make it. Crazy work thing.

Oh, man. Andrew's not coming?

I was looking forward to our annual chess games.

I was gonna whup his butt.

Uh, Lisa, Mase,

I bet you Harlem makes Minnesota

look like a whole different universe.

It sure does. There are more Black people

standing on your corner than in my whole school.

I love Harlem. Coming up here, I saw a fight

where one girl was... windmilling her fists so hard,

her ponytail popped off.

But did a titty pop out?

- Look, kids, a snake. - Yeah, Pop's new roommate.

Cool.

That's right.

Always wanted a python, and now that you kids off my dime,

I can finally do

- me. - Yeah. You'll never guess

what he named it.

I named her Financial Freedom.

And I keep her in the window 'cause I like

my financial freedom where I can see it.

Yep.

Dad's got all kinds of changes going on around here.

He turned the whole top floor into a modern,

state-of-the-art apartment that he plans to rent out, Jack.

So what? That door right there

is a special entrance for my tenants.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, you-you built an apartment

- in our house? - "Our house"?

You haven't lived here for 12 years.

So what? You've been living in your fancy place

for over a year.

Daddy, you don't want to live with strangers.

They're not strangers, they're tenants.

That is a landlord word.

Well, I'm not sure about this.

Don't worry about it. They won't move in

until you go back to Minnesota.

Wait, wait, wait, you-you found renters already?

- Without me? - Mm.

I'm your lawyer. I got to do background checks.

Only checks I want to see is rent checks.

Well, with all these changes,

maybe now we can see what's going on

in Mom and Dad's "special room."

Absolutely not.

I don't ever want to know what happened in Area 51.

That's probably live food for my python.

Who you calling a python?

Antoinette, you can unhinge your jaw,

eat the whole male deer.

I see nothing has changed with you two.

Hey, Aunt Toni.

- Hey, baby. - Aunt Toni!

- Hi, Aunt Toni! - Oh, my goodness,

you kids are growing so fast.

And there is the man of the hour.

Let 'em know. Let 'em know.

Aw.

I'm surprised you here.

I thought it was Brown Bear Week in Alaska.

Francois, you know I could tase you until you're medium-well.

You corrections officers might get away with that

at Rikers Island when you looking for love,

but in my house I got rights.

Did you get it all out?

Do you feel better?

When I heard Andrew wasn't coming,

I thought I would come over and help Jamilah

- get settled with the kids. - Yeah.

Jamilah, how did this overgrown Sasquatch

- know that Andrew wasn't coming? - Oh, well,

- well, Daddy, I... - I knew because my niece and my nephew

talk to me all the time.

Well, I did raise my kids to be kind to the simple.

Okay, well, as much as I want to stay

and watch this entertaining back-and-forth,

I got to meet with a client.

- All right. - I love y'all.

- Love you. - Bye, you. - See you soon.

- Go get 'em, boi boi. - Yep, yep.

- See you later. - Bye, Uncle Jake.

All right, let's get you guys settled.

Come on, help Grandpa take your stuff upstairs. Let's go.

- We got to work? - Mom, you said this was a vacation.

These kids got your hair

but their father's white privilege.

Let's go. Come on.

I take it you haven't told your father about Andrew yet.

You want me to bust in here, tell him I have

nowhere to go and that my marriage is falling apart?

You have nothing to be ashamed of.

People get divorced all the time.

What-- divorce? No, we're not there yet.

- Well, where are you? - I don't know.

I just need some time to breathe and figure it out.

My brother-in-law would do anything for his family.

I've known him a long time.

So I suggest you break the news to him

after he's had his third party drink.

Why the third one?

Three drinks? That's his sweet spot.

That's how your mother got him to have Jake.

I was one Crown and Coke away from being an only child?

Damn.

Me and Flaco?

We go back like spinal cords and car seats.

What does that mean, Pop Pop?

It means we're old.

Old enough

to know the greatest beatboxer ever: Doug E. Fresh.

He was raised right here in Harlem.

Now, The Fat Boys, they come from Brooklyn.

But we give them love, even though today

they'd be called The Plus-Size Boys.

That's right. Hey, yo, Flaco, let me hear it again.

That's right, y'all. Come on, Mase.

Get into it, baby.

Whoo!

This is way better than ice fishing.

Hey, yo!

- Ah! - Yo, yo, yo.

- West Coast in the house, baby. - Hey. How are you?

Hey, we ready for this party, son.

You nah mean?

On everything. Wordlife.

He's been doing this New York accent

since we landed in JFK.

Oh, my God, Lisa and Mase,

you got so much taller, and...

you three just got wider.

Ma got mad jokes, you know mean?

But deadass, though, before you was my wife and everything,

me and my dunnies right here,

we used to have a whole rap group, you nah mean?

Oh, what was it called, A Tribe Called Mess?

Me and Flaco are going on

this Hip-Hop Is Fifty Cruise,

and we was just kicking game to my grandkids

about old-school hip-hop.

Yeah, and this cruise has a special section

- for folks single and ready to mingle. - Hmm.

But I can't get a certain someone

to fill out his profile!

Here we go again.

I told you, Flaco,

the only women I want to see on this cruise

is Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte

and maybe Remy Ma or her cousin Debra

if they not locked up.

Okay, okay.

I tell you what, if you want,

I can help you fill out your profile.

Say word.

Word.

Listen, you can move on.

You'll always love Jeanette.

You're entitled to a second time around.

I mean, if anything ever happened to me,

I would want Calvin to move on.

Uh, say what now?

After a minimum of five years

with some serious grief and mourning.

Anything less than that, I will haunt you.

Come on.

Show me.

- You heard that? - Yeah, she talking about

some "after some five years," she gonna be haunting...

- Talking about this... - What you say now?

- Uh, I ain't say nothing. - Oh.

Everybody, it's official.

My son is an attorney-at-law.

We are up.

We need some of that blind justice.

So if y'all need anything, we got you.

- Reverend Dick Larkins. - Ah...

Plate full of chitlins, huh?

I got some hot sauce over there for you.

Thanks for coming out.

Well, now, Brother Crutch, we miss you at church.

Yeah, I watch online. God bless 5G.

Well, you know, our online experience

would be superb if only the church had better Wi-Fi.

I know, but once my son's big checks come in,

you sure to get a nice donation.

Oh, amen. Now, we got

- some other issues... - That's about your time, Reverend.

Okay.

- Hey, Daddy. Refresh your drink. - No, not right now, baby.

I need a clear head to receive my guests.

Come on, Dad, it's a celebration.

- Come here. - You right.

One Black person graduate from law school,

and y'all act brand-new.

I don't know why I wasn't invited.

'Cause you a thief, Miss Pearl.

I know you took my Commodores box set.

I helped you look for it.

That's how I know you took it.

Hey.

- You all good, big sis? - Yeah. Yeah.

Um, you enjoying your big night?

Ah, seeing the neighborhood come out like this

reminds me when Mom would throw parties at the house

to get people to sign petitions.

I miss those.

"Jake, one lemon cupcake per signature."

"Jamilah, tell the people why they must vote no

for Proposition 240. Go."

So, what's up with Andrew?

Why couldn't he make my little party?

You know, just work stuff.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- Work stuff? - Mm-hmm.

Okay. What kind of work stuff?

Uh...

Uh-oh. Miss Pearl taking her top off again.

This body broke up New Edition.

Jake, Jamilah.

Listen up, people. I want to make a toast.

Bad luck to toast with an empty glass.

You right, my daughter.

A celebration.

Now, I do not want to get emotional.

- I don't... - Better not.

You look bloated when you cry.

Now, I want to thank all of y'all for coming out

- to help me celebrate my many blessings. - Oh, yes.

Having two beautiful kids who have found their purpose

is a gift any father would love.

I just wish my daughter and my grandkids

wasn't so far away from me in Minnesota.

Then there's my son Jake,

who has an amazing apartment overlooking Central Park

with a Japanese toilet that done things to my butt

that my wife would never do.

God bless her soul.

The Bishop "Magic" Don Juan once said...

- Wrap it up. My arm is getting tired. - Hold on.

I mean, what-what-what did, uh, "Magic" Don Juan say?

- What did he...? - Calvin.

Okay. To purpose.

- To purpose. - Yes.

To purpose. Ok-- okey doke.

- All right. Do-si-do. - Get in there.

Yeah. I just want to piggyback

off my father's toast about purpose.

In my last year at law school,

I asked myself, what type of lawyer do I want to be

during this arduous pursuit...?

He said "arduous."

Speak your Ivy League shit, son.

- Go on. - Dad.

- Dad. - What? They got headphones on.

Well, as most of you know,

my mother was big on community.

- Big. - Yes, yes.

And because of her, I-I want to be the type of lawyer

that represents his people.

In fact, I have my first big case

tomorrow right here in Harlem.

What?!

It's a pro bono case, and working on it

has been so inspiring that I decided

to quit my job at Miller, Stevens and Cohen to pursue

a more permanent position at Legal Aid.

That's my son.

Making mo' money, mo' money!

Big checks in the house.

Uh...

I don't think he understands what pro bono means.

My uncle had pro bono.

It started in the hand, went up the arm,

and a week later... he was dead.

I don't think nobody up here know what pro bono means.

Will somebody around here tell me what's going on?

Uh, uh, Crutch, I believe what he's saying is that

with Legal Aid, he's gonna need some financial aid.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

How you gonna live in Manhattan without making no money?

I have a plan.

I thought till I got on my feet,

I could just stay in the upstairs apartment...

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa, uh, wait.

I need that apartment.

Quit playing. You have that huge house in Minnesota.

I'm not playing.

I was gonna wait till after your party

to talk to Daddy in private, but...

my marriage is probably ending,

and me and the kids have nowhere to live.

No house.

Pro bono.

What is going on?!

- Uh, we gonna have to get Crutch off this roof. - Yeah.

Jake, how could you turn down a gig

making 250 grand?

Plus housing, plus parking.

- Free parking in Manhattan? - I know.

- Was it indoor or outdoor? - Indoor.

Dad, look.

Being a corporate lawyer was killing my soul.

At Miller, Stevens and Cohen, I wasn't gonna see

a courtroom for six, maybe seven years.

They kept me locked in the law library

doing research like a peon.

My dream is to be a trial attorney,

a voice for my people,

for my community.

That's all I want, Pop.

That is the dumbest shit I ever heard.

It took Michael Jordan seven seasons to get a chip.

Impatience has always been your Achilles' heel.

You want everything now.

I'm doing meaningful work at Legal Aid.

I feel like I'm doing what Mom would have always

wanted me to do.

I'm changing lives today.

Plus I don't care that much about money.

Well, you wear some fancy clothes

for a dude that don't care about money.

Money can't buy you happiness, Dad.

You sound just like your moms.

But I'm gonna tell you like I told her,

money can't buy you happiness,

but it can get you so damn close,

you won't even know the difference.

Well, now, Mom would never have wanted Jake

to be unfulfilled or for me to be

stuck in some broken marriage.

Baby, baby, baby, marriage is not fun.

It's a job.

That's why they make you take those vows

till you dead.

It's more complicated than that, Daddy.

Let me ask you a question.

Did you and Andrew even try?

I mean, really try?

I didn't leave Andrew.

He left us.

What?

He had a gambling problem for years.

Why didn't you say something?

Because it's embarrassing.

I could barely afford to get here.

I finally told him, you know, it's Big Bear Casino or us.

And he said he couldn't stop

and didn't know how to stop gambling.

So I packed some bags

and I left.

The kids don't even know yet.

Damn, I'm-I'm so sorry, sis.

I didn't know that, I'm sorry.

I've heard enough.

Jake, get the bone saw and a shovel.

We going to Minnesota.

Daddy, what are you talking about?

The less you know, the better.

That's exactly why they went to my sister for stuff like this.

Y'all told her

before y'all told me?

I knew about Jamilah and Andrew.

I had no idea about Jake.

Free parking?

In Manhattan?

Bruh.

That's the way it is now, huh?

We keeping secrets from Daddy?

Now, see, that's why I don't even talk to my kids.

Shut up, Pearl!

Yo, Cal, thanks for convincing me to come down here, man.

Oh, oh, okay.

Hey, Red, that's enough now.

You're getting a little low.

Look, I just need you to have an open mind.

Yeah, when Jake sees what it is to work for a group

of ungrateful poor people,

he gonna run his ass back to working for a group

of ungrateful rich people, know what I mean?

May-Maybe just a little more open than that. Ooh, here.

What are y'all doing here?

Oh, I missed it.

Did you win your case?

- No, I didn't... - Yeah, listen.

That's what I was trying to tell you, Jake.

Life is not a feel-good movie, man.

Morgan Freeman is not gonna become your best friend

and help you escape prison.

Rehabilitation is just a made-up word.

So go on, stamp your form, sonny.

And stop wasting my time.

'Cause, truthfully...

I don't give a shit.

Hey, I like Shawshank, too, but...

I don't know what you're talking about.

Either get busy living

or get busy dying.

Scene.

Uncle Cal, let me just stop you right there.

What I was trying to tell you was that, uh,

I didn't win a case today, I won three cases.

Gracias, Señor Jake.

Muchas gracias.

This is Ms. Garcia, Dad.

Her landlord was trying to illegally evict her.

But your son was

phenomenal. Gracias.

Thank you.

"Phenomenal."

Sorry I wasn't here to see you make your big speech.

There are no big speeches.

It's mostly me helping people understand their rights.

That's what a Legal Aid lawyer does.

And that's what I did today.

- Mr. Crutchfield? - Yes? - What up?

Oh, this is my father Frank Crutchfield.

These are the Davidsons, Pop.

Your son got my boy signed up for a diversion program.

- Thank you for keeping him out of jail. - Just doing my job.

Your son is a real blessing.

Get!

Oh, he gonna beat his ass.

Well, look, if y'all want to see me in action,

I have one more case today.

- I'd love that. - All right.

Let me get my stuff.

Look, uh, I'll go in,

but if I run out, that's 'cause I recognize the judge.

Boo.

I saw our son in court today.

He wasn't good.

He was phenomenal.

I thought he was throwing his life away

by representing a bunch of degenerates

for no money.

But then I realized he was, uh, making a difference

for some good people...

for no money.

Always knew he was gonna be just like you.

Doing stuff for the community.

So this is Area 51.

- Whoa! - Wow!

This is so cool.

It's all yours.

All of us?

It's gonna be kind of cramped, but, uh,

I'm grateful and we'll make it work.

Good.

Can't do nothing about the upstairs

until the lease with the renters expires.

Pop.

- Let me see that lease. - Why?

Because I'm confident I can negotiate

something that will make everybody happy.

Well, it ain't gonna make me happy.

You're gonna negotiate me out of all that rent money.

Daddy, you're choosing money over us?

No. I'm choosing a lot of money over y'all.

Fine.

It's in the box.

Damn!

Them checks would've had me living like I hit

the number every month.

No way!

Look, Lisa, I'm a fireman!

Ah-ah, please get down.

Pop Pop, what is this, some kind of fly swatter?

Thank you.

Go wash your hands, both of y'all.

Really, Dad? Really?

What?!

How you think the both of y'all got here?

Ew.

Bye-bye, Financial Freedom.

I'll miss you.

Adios.

I know the real reason you're getting rid of that snake.

You fell in love with the feeding mice, didn't you?

I never should've named them.

My sister always said that you were a big softy.

It's good to know

that everything inside of you ain't dead.

And don't worry, I won't tell your grandkids.

You know what, Antoinette,

you all right in my book.

And you are still the man that my sister

fell in love with. Those kids

don't need to know that their grandpa's a little bitch.

It's official, the lease is broken.

Ah!

Jam, you get the upstairs apartment.

And I get Area 51.

- Oh. - Unless you want to switch.

Not a chance.

Thank you, bro, I take back

almost every bad thing I ever said about you.

No, you don't.

You're right.

Wow, Crutch, I love what you did with upstairs.

- Oh, man, it's dope, brother. - Yeah.

I hope y'all didn't do nothing to my sheets.

- I just changed those sheets. - Come on, man.

- Ew. - Hey, y'all, we got to take off, man.

- We gonna head to the airport. - All right, Cal.

Y'all travel safe.

- Love y'all. - Love you, too.

A little something for you, nephew.

All right, love you.

All right.

All right, hey, hey, listen, and, uh,

Crutch, you know, we got a lot of experience

of dealing with grown kids that's

never ready to leave the nest.

But if you need anything...

- Anything at all. - Anything.

I do have one question.

- Mm. - Well, we didn't, we didn't mean right now.

No, this, this whole thing's been a lot, okay?

So we're gonna holler at you, all right?

- Bye. Y'all be good. - All right, later now.

- All right, be good, love you. - All right, y'all.

Oh, Daddy.

I'm sorry about the cruise. I know

you were looking forward to it.

You know, I would've bought that ticket off of you.

Well, the cruise line said no vampire bats allowed.

What's this about the cruise?

Oh, buddy, I'm sorry, I had to give up my tickets.

- I'm sorry I didn't tell you. - Oh, yeah, we had

to sweeten the deal 'cause technically

Pops was breaking the lease.

So you're sending me out to sea with strangers?

No, Flaco, come on, I would never do you that to you, man.

You my mellow, my man, my ace boon goon.

I had to give up your tickets, too.

Are these pancakes gluten-free?

Did happy hens lay these eggs?

Oh, Pop, the movers come while I'm in court.

You mind letting them in?

Uh, also, the door

to the bathroom upstairs sticks.

And, Crutch, I'm gonna be around a lot more,

so I'm gonna need a key.

You know what I'm also gonna need?

I'm gonna need some fresh grapes.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

♪ Sometimes life can deal you a messed-up hand ♪

♪ But when it hits the fan ♪

- ♪ Hits the ♪ - ♪ Never fear ♪

♪ The Crutch is here ♪

♪ Crutchfield, Crutchfield ♪

♪ He keeps it real ♪

♪ Crutchfield ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

What's that, bro bro?