Original subtitles

I do believe...

...uh, that there's some fairly good news out there.

Use of cocaine, for example, by teenagers is dramatically down.

We have got to have the courage to change.

Experience is important, yes.

I've gotten a lot of good experience...

Now I'm confused.

I don't know whether to vote for Manny Moe or Jack.

♪ Them that's got shall have ♪

♪ Them that's not shall lose ♪

♪ So the Bible says ♪

♪ And it still is news ♪

♪ Mama may have ♪

♪ Papa may have ♪

♪ But God bless the child ♪

♪ That's got his own ♪

♪ That's got his own ♪ Them that's got shall get ♪

♪ Them that's not shall lose ♪

♪ Them that's got shall get ♪

♪ Them that's not shall lose ♪

'The look in your eyes--'

- Did you hear that, pop? - Mm-hmm.

You know I got a lot of money ridin' on this debate.

- Who do you think won so far? - Well, it's hard to tell.

Well, way I see it, you know

Bush made a good point when he said

Clinton's tax plan will hurt the average cab driver.

But hey, Clinton scored big when he said

he wanted to create more millionaires.

Yeah, but Perot's got the edge.

He sounded like Jed Clampett.

Eleanor, I said I don't wanna talk about it. Please.

Roc, honey, if your check-up didn't go well

there's no shame to it.

Uh, what check-up was that?

Oh, Roc just took another fertility test.

What's the problem, son?

Your tadpoles still runnin' in the slow lane?

Yeah, somethin' like that, pop.

But I wish you wouldn't put it that way.

Well, maybe the doctors don't know what he's doing.

Did he mention that your drawers may be too tight?

You know, come to think of it

boy, that would explain a whole lotta things.

Hey! Oh, why don't we continue this conversation

in the kitchen, honey?

Now, Roc, come on, baby.

Now, whatever the doctor told you involves me too.

- Now, what's going on? - Well, it's my sperm count.

See, my problem's gotten worse.

Oh, baby.

The doctor said today the chances of

might getting you pregnant are less than two percent.

- I'm sorry, Eleanor. - Oh, Roc. Don't be sorry.

It's not your fault.

Well, I can't help feeling like I let you down.

You know there's so many things I can't give you.

Always thought I'd at least be able to give you this.

Oh, Roc.

There are other options. I mean...

...we could always adopt.

But that's not fair to you.

I'm the one with the problem.

And I know how you were looking forward to having that...

...life growing inside you.

To be honest, Roc, I was, but...

I guess I'm gonna have to just get used to the fact that

that's not gonna happen.

Well, you know, there is...

...one other way.

What's that?

Well, the doctor, you know, did bring up the possibility of...

...you know, um...

...artificial insemination.

I see.

So what you're suggesting here

is that I get impregnated with sperm from a donor?

That's interesting.

Well-well, I, you know, I knew you wouldn't like it, you know.

I just felt obligated to mention it.

- So, what's for dinner? - No, Roc. Now...

Hold on, I never said I didn't like your idea.

I just said I never considered that.

Artificial insemination.

Let's see.

I get to be pregnant.

You get to be a daddy.

And we both get to have a beautiful little baby to love.

So this would really make you happy, Eleanor?

Yes, Roc, I-I think it would.

- Well, then... let's do it. - You sure?

Are you kiddin'? This is the best way.

See, when you're spittin' and cursin' in labor

you can't blame me, you gotta blame the donor guy.

Oh, Roc!

Oh, baby, we're gonna be a family.

Yeah, uh-huh.

♪ Keep on rockin'.. ♪

My band will put your club on the map.

Huh?

Well, yeah, you never heard of me 'cause

for the past couple of years I've been outta the country.

Yeah, I've been settin' up the Moscow Jazz Institute.

Yeah, it's-it's.. Hello?

Hello?

Damn, Roc. If I don't find a gig soon, man

Miles and Curtis are gonna walkout on me.

Well, what's your problem? I thought you said

those guys in your band were jazz heavyweights.

Well, only to people in the business, man.

You know, on the inside. I mean, they're greats, Roc.

But they're not really greats.

They've only played with the greats.

They're sorta like, sorta like, uh

what Tito was to The Jackson 5.

Yeah, I see your problem.

- What's up, G? - Hey, Troy.

It's good to see you. Hey, you got my money?

Well, that's what I came to tell you, see.

I sold all of last week's inventory at the flea market

but... well, I spent it.

Say, what?!

- Joey, telephone. - 'Yeah?'

See, Ice-T is coming to concert.

So I figured, hey, I can make a few bucks.

You know what I'm saying?

So...I.. Well, you know...

Well, what?

You're not selling drugs, are you?

No.

There's...

- 'What you sellin', son?' - Look, look, son.

Look, I'm gonna tell you somethin'.

You better take care of yourself, alright?

Alright.

When I talk to that boy, you know, sometimes I wonder.

You know, I mean, you know, about havin' kids. You know?

Even-even a cute little baby will grow up one day

to be a teenager.

Oh, don't worry, son.

You give your child the right values

and his grandpa will be around to help too.

Yeah. Well, I'm glad of that, pop.

Yeah, and from time to time, there's Uncle Joey.

Oh, well, there's always boarding school.

- Well, I got us a gig. - Well, what's wrong with that?

Well, you know, I wanted to book someplace like a club

or a resort, you know, something that Miles and Curtis

would be impressed with, not a bar mitzvah.

Who cares what it-what it is as long as it pays?

Well, I don't know, Roc. I mean, a gig like that

for a serious musician like me is-is humiliating, man.

Humiliating compared to what? You're unemployed.

Yeah, but I always find a kinda, quiet dignity to that. You know?

- Hi, guys. How you doing? - 'Hey, sweetheart.'

- Look, you just take the job. - Yeah, take the job.

You don't even know what we talkin' about.

That's right, I don't. Take the job.

You have no choice, son.

If you don't take it, you'll lose your band.

Yeah, I know, pop. But they were expectin' somethin' better.

You know? I mean, how am I gonna sell this idea to 'em?

Hey, hey, you-you guys remember Sammie Davis, Jr?

Well, uh, we're playin' for his people.

Roc, baby, honey.

I just picked up these pamphlets from the hospital

on artificial insemination.

'Well..'

...the world sure has changed.

In my day, if your wife got pregnant by another man

it usually ended in a shootout in some cheap hotel room.

'Oh, daddy.'

Listen, baby, we got some decisions we gotta make here.

Now, even though the sperm donors are anonymous

the sperm bank catalogs it according to the donor's

physical and personality traits.

Well, then that brings us a good question.

How do we know this guy isn't some kind of a psycho?

Or a Republican.

Well, I guess the only way to prevent that kinda thing

from happenin', is to go to someone that we know.

Well, I don't know. I don't know.

And by that I mean, I don't think so.

Now, wait a minute, Roc.

That's not a bad idea.

What if it were a good friend of yours?

Like... one of the garbage men that you used to work with.

Like... Ernie.

With that rough, gravelly voice?

What if it's a girl?

Or how about Reverend Hill?

Well, now, I don't think the good reverend provides

that kind of community service.

I know what I would like.

I would like for the donor

to be as much like Roc as possible.

Oh, I'd love for him to have your strength...

...your gentleness, your sweetness.

Yeah, I hear you, Eleanor, but unfortunately

there's only one of me.

That's true, but there is someone else with your genes.

Your brother.

Oh, you mean, a brother, not my brother.

Joey is smart, he's creative, and athletic.

He's got a lotta good talents.

And I'd feel a lot better knowin' that my grandchild

was a true Emerson.

Wait a minute, but, you know, aren't there

you know, laws against this-this sorta thing?

I mean.. I mean, maybe if-if we were in Utah, you know.

Well, now, wait. Now think about it, Roc.

If the baby has the same genes as you

there's a better chance that he'll be like you.

Mm-hmm.

Well... that's a good point.

That's a damn good point, you know.

Alright. Then Joey it is.

I'll ask him tonight.

Oh, Roc, that's wonderful.

This just calls for a celebration.

Yeah, let's have a toast. I'll get the wine.

Damn.

Damn. Damn.

How did I get myself into this?

Well, I'll tell you one thing, Eleanor

better not want a big family.

"Roc" live will be right back.

♪ Keep on rockin' ♪

Alright, uh...

Let's take that piece again from the top, alright?

Um...

This is dedicated to Sheldon.

From your mother on this, the day of your bar mitzvah.

A one, a two...

...a one, two, three, four.

What y'all you all stop for, man?

We was kickin', that was smokin'.

Man, we weren't kickin' or smokin'.

We're dyin'. I can't play "Sunrise, Sunset" anymore, Joey.

- It's bringing my head down. - 'Alright, alright, alright.'

We'll play something a little hipper, okay?

Um, Sheldon's mother said he like rap music

so why don't we do a arrangement of "Fight The Power."

Or-or "Baby Got Back", you know "Baby Got Back?"

Hey, listen, let's stick with "Sunrise, Sunset."

Alright, alright. You know, besides, fellas

I mean, there's no shame in playing a bar mitzvah.

I mean, Dizzy Gillespie once played at circumcision.

- Get outta here. - Sure. Sure he did.

How you think he got the name Dizzy?

Hold that thought for a minute.

Hey, Roc, what you doin' here?

- Hey, Joey, we gotta talk. - Alright.

I didn't realize you were rehearsing.

I didn't realize we were playin'.

Hey, listen, kid. We don't need to practice anymore.

- I mean we got this stuff down. - Yeah, see you Saturday.

Okay, thanks for comin' up, fellas.

Yeah, I'll see you Saturday. Hey, hey.

Remember, man, it's not what we play

or where play, what matters is we play from the heart.

Or in your cases, the pacemaker.

So, uh, what's up, Roc?

Uh, uh, sit-sit, sit down, Joey.

- What's up? - Sit down, sit down, sit down.

Alright.

Uh, you know, Joey, as you know, uh...

You know, Eleanor and I have been, you know

trying to have a baby and...

You know, I-I've got this, you know, you know...

...a reproductive problem and uh...

So, uh, so Eleanor and I are going for, you know, this, um...

...artificial, you know, insemination thing, and uh...

Uh...

You know, and, um...

Well, so we need a donor to, uh, you know...

...impregnate, you know, Eleanor...

...and, um, so, you know, we're-we're, uh...

...we-we, you know, we wanna find someone who's definitely

you know, not a psycho.

And, uh, so, you know, Eleanor and I, we decided that

uh, you know, to ask you if you, you know...

If you would, uh, you know, let us, uh, you know

have some, you know, of your sperm

you know, and all that.

Roc, that's nasty.

I-I don't want to know what you think of it.

I-I just want to know if you'll do it?

Alright, alright. Wait a minute now. Just give me a minute.

'Cause this is, this ain't somethin'

people ask you every day.

Oh, alright, alright, alright, alright.

But-but-but if we do this...

...you know, I'm the father and you're the uncle.

Yeah, sure, I mean...

Hey, we might even have a little musician on our hands.

Oh, no, no, no. This baby's gonna go to college, you know.

He's gonna study computer science, you know.

Invent a new microchip or somethin'.

Yeah, you know, but for fun he could still play the trumpet.

Uh, no, no, maybe for fun he'll sculpt, yeah.

Yeah, okay, sculpt. That'll get him all the women.

He'll get the women because he'll treat them with respect.

- Like his father. - Okay, Roc. Whatever you say.

Whatever you say. Alright, Jack.

You can count me in, I'll do it.

This is pretty exciting, huh, Roc?

I'm having your baby.

Hey, daddy.

- So-- - You know, Eleanor.

I've been readin' about the debate.

I'm disappointed in Clinton.

He went on and on about human rights in China.

Maybe if we shipped all the Blacks to China

he'd mention us in the next debate.

I heard that, daddy.

Well, you know, today is our big day.

So, are you goin' to be coming with us to the hospital?

No, I don't think so, Eleanor.

Some things are better left a mystery.

Birth, death, and how George Bush can believe

the country is not comin' apart at the seams.

I heard that one too.

- Oh, hi, Vonte. - How you doin', Mrs. Emerson?

Is the G-man in the house?

Oh, yeah. He's right upstairs. I'll go get him.

So, how you doing, son?

I'm just chillin'. So you like my new cap?

See, I know you was a Malcolm X kinda man.

Yes, I am. But Malcolm did not die

so the vultures of capitalism could feed off his legacy.

Leaving the bones of his ideals to decay into a fashion trend.

Well, I wasn't gonna wear it all the time.

Besides, wearing these clothes, it gets the message out.

That's the difference between your generation and mine.

When we wanted to get the message out

we went marching on Montgomery, Alabama

not shoppin' at Montgomery Ward.

Hey, Troy.

You got my money?

Well... I just wanna know, do you think

that Mrs. E would like a glow necklace?

See, I had some them left over from the concert.

Oh, sure, she'd probably like one.

Well, I was thinking more like 90.

Uh, yeah, okay.

So you struck out selling that crap at the concert, huh?

But if you think trying to get out of payin' me back my money...

Uh-uh, it ain't work. I'm gonna cut you off.

No more garbage for you.

If I were you, I wouldn't threaten nobody else with that.

Roc, honey, baby. We gotta get going to the hospital now.

Oh, yeah, you're doing that artificial insemination thing.

- Well, good luck. - Yeah, thanks.

Who in the hell told you that?

Oh, the word is on the street.

You mean, now everyone knows?

The whole neighborhood?

Oh, now every time they'll see me, they'll say

"Hey, there's Roc, you know he really isn't his kid's father."

Yeah, perfect, great!

That's the last time I'll ever tell you anything.

Hey, you folks. How you doin'?

Great day to get pregnant, huh?

- Hey, Joey. - So, you all set?

Oh, yeah, I'm ready to roll.

Um, I was just wonderin', is this...

...is this like when you donate blood?

I mean, when you get finished where they give you a cookie

or a cigarette?

Come on, Joey. Don't joke about this, alright?

No, no. I'm serious, I'm serious.

Now the creation of life is a very sacred thing to me too.

So, it's hammer time.

First there's some paperwork to take care of.

I need the father to sign here.

No, no, no. I mean the biological father.

Oh, that's ironic, I failed biology.

Also, sign here...

...and here, and also here.

Oh, what is this? The Declaration of Independence?

I mean, I'm gonna be raising the child.

Isn't there somethin' for me to sign?

Roc, honey, there really isn't.

Well-well, there oughta be somethin' for me to sign.

Alright, here's an organ donor card.

Now, you could donate anything but your personality.

Come here, baby. I know, forget her.

Listen...

...now, you okay?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just a little nervous.

- I know. - Hello, everyone.

- Good to see you. - Hi.

Let's get right to this. Joey...

...will you go see the technician in room 407?

Eleanor, will you come with me, please?

Sure.

Uh, Roc, you're welcome to observe

but most husbands prefer to stay in the waiting room.

Yeah, yeah, right, okay.

You know, Eleanor, between you and your brother-in-law

you're sure to have a beautiful baby.

Uh, w-w-w-wait a minute, E-Eleanor.

I need-I need to speak with you.

What is it, Roc? The doctor's waiting.

Eleanor, I-I can't go through with this.

Look, if having Joey do this upsets you

we'll can get someone else.

No, it isn't about Joey, you know.

It'll be the same with whoever we got.

You know, I just feel like I'm on the outside.

And no matter how hard I try, you know.

I'm always gonna be thinking that this child

is yours and someone else's, not ours.

But, Roc, you're the one that's gonna be raising our child.

How can I explain this to you, baby?

You know, I have to be the real father.

The only father, all the way.

I see.

Eleanor...

I tried, I-I really tried, you know.

I know how bad you want this.

I tried to talk myself into it.

Now I know people do it all the time

and I, and I envy them.

I wish I could be like 'em but I'm not.

I just think, you know, I'm, uh, I'm just selfish or somethin'.

- I don't know. - Roc, no.

Maybe I'm the one that's bein' selfish here.

I wanted to have a baby so badly.

I didn't even stop to think about

how this could be affectin' you.

Oh, no, sweetheart, you've done nothin' wrong.

I feel the same way you do, you know.

I want us to have a child more than anything.

Well then, baby, maybe we just had to keep trying.

Even though there's less than

a two percent chance of me making it happen?

Even if there's less than zero percent chance.

Baby or no baby, what's most important, is us.

I love you, Roc.

I love you, Eleanor.

Uh, okay.

Um...

Uh, you can come and get it.

Oh, hey, uh-uh...

Cynthia, where did Roc and Eleanor go?

They went home. They changed their minds

about that whole artificial insemination thing.

Wait, wait, wait. Wait a minute. Now you...

What, you're sayin' I'm not gonna be a father?

I'll be damned.

Well, they've been gone for over an hour. Where you been?

Um...

Uh...

See, um...

Well, uh...

I, uh...

You know, I finished and, uh...

I rolled over and fell asleep.