Original subtitles

For today's kids, it's easy to get a complete picture

of the adults in your life.

Maybe even too complete.

But growing up in 1985,

we had to work with the information we were given.

And some family members

were easier to figure out than others.

I knew my parents loved social justice, pescetarianism,

and wearing socks with sandals.

And I knew my Aunt Dee-Dee worked at Pan Am,

loved her stories,

and had what she called "a lot of guy friends."

But when it came to my granddad,

the details were kind of... one-note.

God, he loved that Ferrari.

I wonder if the Smurfs' commune

ever got raided by the ATF.

Who wants $5?

Granddad!

Sorry, Dad says you can't give us any more money.

Narc.

So, I hope you brought gifts we can pawn.

I brought something even better.

'Cause I'm gonna take you guys

to Family Day at the country club.

My country club... Twin Rivers.

It's got tennis courts, a golf course, two pools,

and it's up on a hill,

so you can literally look down on the poor side of town.

Is that ice cream on fire?

- Did you say "ice cream"? - Did you say "fire"?

That's Baked Alaska.

You can order as many of them at the club as you want.

Most of my experiences with my granddad had been at home,

so I was excited to see him in his element

and hopeful that I might finally get

a more complete view of who he was.

Hey. What's all the excitement about?

If it's about Daddy's squash, I hate to disappoint you,

- but the flea beetles got there first. - Mm.

We're going to Granddad's country club for Family Day.

The country club?

Absolutely not.

? In the mix ?

? Oh, oh, oh, they keep trying ?

? But they can't stop us ?

? 'Cause we got a love ?

? That keeps rising up ?

? In the mix ?

? Life turns around ?

? 'Round and 'round it goes ?

? Ooh, it's a mixed-up world ? ? Ooh, it's a mixed-up ?

? And that's for sure ? ? Mixed-up ?

? In the mix ? ? Baby ?

? We're gonna get by ?

? We're gonna ? ? On our own, side by side ?

? Love's all we need to be free ? ? Lo-o-o-ve is all ?

? I got you, you got me ?

? Yaaaaay us! ?

? I-I-In the mix ?

? Yaaaaay us! ?

? I-I-In the mix-ish ?

Come on, Paul, what is so bad about the country club?

You were practically raised there.

No one there looks like my family, do they?

Of course not.

I mean, these clubs haven't been the most excited

about letting people like me inside.

Well, technically...

Unless they're working.

Okay.

But times have changed.

Now the club is very diverse.

We got doctors, lawyers.

We even have a ginger.

He can't use the pool, though.

The sun is not his friend.

I hate to say it,

but Alicia's white husband is right...

those clubs are racist.

First, they didn't let in black people,

then Jewish people,

magicians...

though I get that one.

Don't trick me and expect me to clap.

Shame on you.

- Thank you, Denise. - Mm-hmm.

And that is why we are not going.

Hold on. We can go?

And the "we" includes me?

Then forget everything I was just saying.

Wait, why do you want to go?

Because Mama and Daddy

never, ever, ever would have been allowed to go there.

It's called reparations.

I'm gonna get my 40 crab legs and a Moscow Mule.

Look, uh, I didn't say anything when you wouldn't let me

take the kids to see "Back to the Future"

because it showed a white man inventing rock 'n' roll.

And I didn't say anything when you tried to stop me

from buying them the View-Master

because it had the word "master" in it.

But I'm putting my foot down on this

because the club is actually something I care about,

it's a big part of my life,

and I want to share it with my grandkids.

Well, when I put my foot down,

I put my foot down,

and we're not going.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I lost a bet with Santi,

and I have to pick up her toys.

I feel like I'm already learning so much

about Granddad Harrison.

Did you know he wore shorts?

I didn't even know he had legs.

Guys, we don't know Granddad at all.

He's more than just a man in a suit

who makes Dad feel bad about himself.

He also likes to whistle at the honeys.

Look, we need to go to that country club.

It could be the only chance we have

to learn more about him.

Yeah, he's really old.

Like... 40.

I think Denise is right.

We should go to the club.

But, babe, you just said

those clubs aren't excited about having us there.

And neither were the lunch counters in the South

that we fought hard to sit at.

I remember how I felt

not being allowed to go to certain places.

I don't want our kids to ever feel that.

This is important for them.

What's really going on?

Nothing.

Something is up.

You just missed a chance to tell me

about how you sat with Dr. King at the lunch counter.

It's like my dad hasn't accepted that I've changed.

And inviting us to a lily-white country club

is just proof that he doesn't get my family.

Let's show them who we are.

And who knows?

You and them might have fun.

I mean, I know I will.

Like Denise said, I'm getting my 40 crab legs.

You know, this could be like when we first met.

You mean when we siphoned the gas

out of all those police cars?

Yeah, the rush of tearing down the establishment

- demanding equality... - Mm.

...protesting the patriarchy.

Mm.

You should probably keep that on.

Ooh, it's so sexy when you care about my edges.

We've been talking and...

- Oh! - Uh...

- Kids, we're going to the club. - Yeah.

Yay!

- Go to your room. Now. Goodnight. - Don't even brush. Just go.

I knew my granddad was rich,

but this country club was another level.

Ever been to a place where you can feel

your credit score go up just by looking at it?

That was this.

And we hadn't even gone inside yet.

Here we go.

- Ooh. - Wow.

I want to get married here.

A bunch of times.

Look at this, Dee.

Mama and Daddy wouldn't believe it.

I haven't eaten for 72 hours

in preparations for my reparations.

Oh, I'm ready to stick it to the man

and show this place what I've become,

whether they like it or not.

Fun journey, but don't mess this up for us.

I'm not leaving before I taste and touch everything.

Hey, kids!

- Grandpa! - Come here!

Wow, Granddad, your house is huge.

I want to see everything and meet your friends and...

Whoa, slow down, Bowdie. We got all day.

- Ready to make waves, babe? - You know me, baby.

You two go have fun.

We'll be on the patio.

Now, can you point me to the poncho check?

Uh-oh. Here come the management.

Hi. Can I take your order?

Oh. You're the waiter?

You absolutely can take our order.

And you can take my dry-cleaning.

Now, what's market price today?

- The crab legs. - Oh, we'll have all of them.

And french fries for the table.

And I'll have what that nice white lady is having over there.

That's our French onion soup.

Oh, I meant literally,

I want to have what she's having.

I want you to go over there, snatch it from her,

and bring it back to me.

Being the only black guests at the country club,

my mom expected to attract some attention.

I don't even like bread.

What she didn't expect

was that most of that attention came from black employees.

I mean, they were proud to have black people there

but expected them to act right in public.

That's the way my mom was raised.

Denise, Alicia,

you better not embarrass me in front of all these white people.

While my Aunt Dee-Dee stayed true to her rebel ways,

my mom was snapped right back into worrying

about getting in trouble.

Larry, can we have some more bread, please?

So sorry about that. Thank you, Larry.

Yeah, thank you, Larry.

Your dad came here every Saturday for 17 years.

Yeah, Rainbow, that was until I realized

I could do much more for the world

outside of these gates.

I was already learning so much about my granddad,

like how he and all his rich white friends

called each other by their full names.

- Fred Burnish. - Harrison Jackson.

Bowdie, watch this.

Good to see you.

Mm-hmm.

You see how he didn't say "thank you"?

A lot of the members here

forget to treat the staff like people.

Cucumber sandwich, sir?

Sir? No, please, please, call me Paul.

And you shouldn't be serving me a sandwich.

You're a human being, with dignity,

- just like any of us. - It's really okay.

- Well, you know, I can take these... - No, I got it, sir...

- ...myself and I'll serve my... - Sir, you don't need to ser...

- Thank you, but no thank you... - If you just give me th... I'll just...

I'll grab that, and... Thank you so much.

We'd all just be better off if we did our own part. Mmm!

I have to throw away everything you touched.

Paul Jackson, it's been years.

- How have you been? - Oh.

I-I'm shocked you recognize me.

I'm so different.

Not just the outside,

but my soul has done a complete 180.

You know, the old Paul would've named his daughter Betty.

New Paul... I named my daughter Rainbow Johnson.

She took her mother's last name

because the new Paul is also a feminist.

Ah.

Hi, Fred Burnish.

Pleasure to meet you, Rainbow.

Harrison Jackson here won't stop bragging

about you and your beautiful family.

Oh, wow, Dad.

- I had no idea. - Don't ruin your mascara.

So, you're off to the court?

Uh, yeah, I got a date with George Woodcomb.

We can make it doubles

if you two want to lose a little money.

Oh, okay.

You know how you love tennis.

- Nah. - Come on, Dad. It sounds like fun.

Okay. Sure.

- Let's give it a shot. - All right!

So, while we had a plan,

Johan and Santi were left to explore Twin Rivers.

I live in the cold weather.

My husband makes people sleep vith the fishes.

Cool.

Mm!

Oh, thank you so much.

Oh, it's in the shell.

I don't want to make a mess.

Would you like me to take it to the kitchen

- and shell it for you? - Would you also like my purse?

- Denise. - What?

You think he's gonna go back there

and get that crab meat out in the kitchen

and not get a taste?

Oh.

All right.

You're not gonna use the tools? Okay.

Mm. Good one, sis.

What's next? You expect me to stop eating when I'm full?

Mmm.

Mm.

Oh, gosh.

- People are watching. - Mmm!

Good.

- Mmm. - Mommy!

Oh!

What happened? You two are filthy.

Yeah, rich people's dirt is just as dirty as regular dirt.

Don't worry, I washed my hands.

Now, crab me!

- Here you go. - Yeah.

Thank you very much.

Use your muscles.

Get in there, baby.

Good luck! I hope you win.

It's not about winning.

It's about having fun.

Granddad told me that's what losers say

so they can sleep at night.

Ace! Suck it, Fred Burnish!

Dad, relax, it's just a game.

A game you used to be good at

before you started squatting to pee.

You know what? This is exactly why I...

Listen, I know you didn't want to come here,

but you want to stick it to the man?

Fred Burnish grossed $85 mil last year,

and he refuses to give his workers disability.

Plus, he hires illegals...

so they can't unionize.

15-Love.

- Suck it! Whoo! - Whoo!

Suck it again, Burnish!

Suck it!

- Whoo! - Whoo!

See? Huh?

We still got our doubles mojo.

Yeah, I guess we do.

I'm really sorry. We've run out of crab legs.

Oh.

But can I interest you in dessert?

We have apple pie a la mode, chocolate cake,

and snow cones for the kids.

What if I want a snow cone?

You can order one, ma'am.

Maybe I will, Larry.

I want one.

What flavors are we working with?

Cherry, watermelon...

Cherry snow cones for the table.

But I don't want cherry. I want watermelon.

- I want watermelon, too. - I want double watermelon.

We're not ordering that.

We're all getting cherry.

Are you really pressed about ordering watermelon?

It's all red syrup over ice.

- No one will know. - I will know.

Everyone but her

will have double watermelon.

Can you please stop saying that fruit?

I can't say watermelon?

Please use your inside voice.

Watermelon. Watermelon.

Watermelon!

Okay. Everybody stop!

Sit down. Sit down.

Well, my mom's plan to not live up to racist stereotypes

was going great.

You can't do that here.

- But isn't that why we came here? - No.

I meant drinking Pimm's cups with my pinky out.

Not sitting around a table full of black people

chanting a fruit that you know

has a delicious, yet painful history.

All I'm doing is trying to enjoy my lunch.

Why do you care so much about what these white folk think?

I don't.

Please lower you voice.

- I will raise my voice. - Oh.

And my blood alcohol level.

Excuse me. I need a drink.

Oh, what can I get for you?

You know how people put drinks in coconuts?

Is there any way you could carve out a watermelon,

put a few ounces of whatever in it,

and send it to the black woman on the patio?

Hey, Aunt Dee-Dee.

Oh, hey, Bow. You having a good time?

The best time.

Granddad's gonna order me something

called a virgin mint julep,

and then I'm gonna drive his golf cart...

Excuse me.

May I help you?

You can help us with my dry cleaning.

And whose guest are you?

We're with Mr. Harrison Jackson.

I'm going need both of you to follow me.

Oh, I see.

You come over here just to be a melanin marshal,

pigment patrol, corporal of color,

secretary of skin tone...

bigot!

L-Let's not make things unpleasant.

For who?

I'm not going anywhere.

What's going on?

Dad, they think we're lying.

These idiots think just because I'm black,

I can't have a sister

- who married a white man with a rich dad. - Hold on.

You don't think I know how this works?

I marched with Dr. King.

If they're getting arrested, I'm getting arrested, too.

- Arrested? - No one is arresting anyone.

I don't even carry handcuffs.

I really don't want to go to jail with you.

Calm down, everyone.

- Yes, they are my guests. - Oh.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Jackson. I didn't realize.

It's all right. It was an honest mistake.

You calling that an honest mistake?

Paul, help me out. They're just doing their job.

This was the image of my grandad

that my father did not want me to see.

"Help you out"?

They're harassing my family.

Just relax.

No, you know what?

This is my fault.

I knew we shouldn't have come here.

Let's go.

Can you bring my dry cleaning by the house?

W... They don't do dry cleaning here.

Who gave you this?

Hey, BowBow.

I know today was a little intense.

Is there anything you want to talk about?

Why would Granddad belong to a place

that treats his family like that?

It's complicated.

No, it's not.

You've always said that people

should be treated the same no matter what.

- I know, but... - But what?

I'm just... so mad at him.

And you can be mad at him.

That's fair.

Did you know that Granddad didn't always have money?

Yeah. He grew up in the Depression.

And he once told me a story that when he was a kid,

he didn't have anything to eat for a couple days,

and he just kept telling himself

that he was going to be rich one day.

So, belonging to that club is like keeping that promise

to that little boy he used to be.

Now, I'm not saying that makes it okay, but...

That's why we see things a certain way, and he doesn't.

Yeah.

I sometimes forget that.

But you're exactly right.

You know, and I used to be almost as blind

as he is to things.

But after I moved away,

I started to see the world differently.

So, if you changed,

then maybe Granddad Harrison can change.

Maybe.

I hope so.

I hope so, too.

Look, I know I was a little uptight today.

You mean a little whack?

When I saw all the black staff looking at us,

I thought about how our parents

taught us how to act in front of white people.

And I guess I got snapped back in time.

You tried to snap the kids back to it, too.

I guess I shouldn't think the whole race

depends on how I behave in front of company.

It's not like white people care

about how they behave in front of us.

I'm proud of what we did today.

Me too.

And I have to give you credit.

Sending a watermelon over?

That was pretty good.

To be honest, I was a little concerned

at how excited she was to make it.

I tried to tell you.

Mm.

You forgot your poncho.

I want to talk about what happened.

Well, I just had to explain to your granddaughter

that you grew up in a different time,

that you can't help say some of the things you say.

But that is the last time

I am ever gonna have that conversation

with her or any of my kids.

You don't have to explain me to Rainbow.

She knows me.

She doesn't, Dad.

She's getting to know who you are.

And you think being a big shot at some fancy club

is gonna show her.

Did I want to show them a good time? Yes.

But what is so bad

about being proud of how hard I worked

to get a seat at the table

and then trying to share that seat with my family?

You can rub elbows with people like that

and pretend that you don't know what they're really thinking.

But I don't have that luxury 'cause my kids are brown.

My wife is black. My life is different.

But you refuse to accept that.

I know you've changed.

How could I not?

The boy I raised, the one that loved tennis,

loved the club, loved me...

oh, he's long gone.

And I miss him.

Oh, God. I sound like a broad.

My kids adore you, Dad.

But if you want to be in their lives...

and I really want you to be...

you need to make some changes.

Look, I'm not making any promises, but...

I did make the change from a Jaguar to a Ferrari.

I have a Ferrari.

We know, Dad.

Granddad was a man born in a different time.

Just saying.

I wish I could say he was perfect after that day,

but that's not real.

What I can say is that he loved us.

And he tried.

I know!

A lot of who you are as a person

is because of how your parents raised you.

But who you are is also shaped

by who you decide you want to be.

Look at your granddad.

What I learned from my granddad

is that there is hope for everyone.

And never give up on the people you love,

because one day,

they might finally become the beautiful picture

you already had of them in your mind.

Okay, Paul's gone.

I still can't.

Just pretend it's cherry.

But what if Paul comes home?

So what if he does?

Everybody loves watermelon.

Yeah, but... Mm.

Come on. We'll do it together on three.

One, two, three.

- Oh! Uh... - Oh, snow cones.

What flavor?

- Cherry! - Love cherry.

- Can I have some? - Oh!

Mine's bad.

I'm really hungry.

Mmm.

Yeah.

All gone.

Save some for me.

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