Original subtitles

Man, this is the second day in a row without any heat.

I'm about to call this management company up

and give 'em a piece of my mind.

Yeah, well, let me listen.

I wanna hear what lie they use this time.

[recorded message] 'Hello. Thank you for calling RNG Property Management.'

'If you have a question about billing, press one.'

'About rentals, press two.'

'For noisy neighbors, press three.'

'Wondering why your furniture is on the street, press four.'

'Dead body next door, press five.'

We're almost dead.

Press five.

[theme song]

♪ We're brothers ♪

♪ We're happy and we're singing ♪

♪ And we're colored ♪

♪ Give me a high five ♪♪

(male #1) 'Alright, cut and print. Beautiful, guys.'

'Dynamite. That is..'

♪ Girl what you got goin' on tonight? ♪

♪ I got something that you gonna like ♪

♪ Won't you just chill with me tonight ♪

♪ I got something that you gonna like ♪

♪ Girl what you got going on tonight? ♪

♪ I got something that you gonna like ♪

♪ Won't you just chill with me tonight ♪

♪ I got something that you gonna like ♪

♪ I got something.. ♪♪

Here, you go,father.

Oh, thanks, son.

Hey, pop. Whoa, man, what are you doing?

You just put dirty dishes in the soup.

Oh, lord have mercy.

What am I thinking?

And what did I do with the dishwater?

Man, this soup is slammin'.

It's so lemony fresh, man.

And check out the spoon.

I can see myself.

Hey, Shawn, man.

I think something's wrong with pop.

- He's acting all crazy. - Oh, yeah?

- Yeah. - How could you tell?

Hey, you gave me a nickel too much.

Uh, no problem. Uh-uh, just keep it.

Man, this is serious.

Hey, pop.

You don't look so good, man.

Huh? You're no Harry Belafonte yourself.

Pops, the boys are right.

You do seem a little out of it.

If you're comin' onto me

that hand gotta goway

This man is talkin' outta his head with fever.

You need to get him to a doctor.

Oh, nonsense. I don't believe in doctors.

Besides, I have work to do.

Come on, pop. You can't work when you are sick.

Of course I can.

I haven't missed a day in this diner, since, you know..

- Achoo! - Hey, man.

Don't you think it's unhealthy working around food

while spewing germs in every direction?

Nonsense. That's an old wives' tale.

[sneezing]

But don't worry, the heat'll kill the germs.

- Achoo! - Hey, man!

- Oh! - Hey, come on, hold up.

Don't be so sensitive, y'all. Where are you going?

Hey, now, this is just a cold, man.

It was just a little sneeze.

God!

Ah..

- Thank you, son. - You got it, pop.

Choo!

Man, you're worse than that little monkey from "Outbreak."

Achoo!

(Marlon) Okay, Pops. It's all ready.

(Pops) Help me to the bed. I gotta lie down.

I know you gotta lie down, you are breaking my neck.

- Ow! - What's the matter, pop?

I feel a sharp pain, I hope I didn't crack my hip.

You're sittin' on the TV remote, man.

Calm down, pop.

The doctor gave you a full examination

and said all you have was a cold

and the crustiest feet he ever seen.

Yeah, but what did he say when I was outside the room?

Pop, the man just wanted to know if you had insurance.

Oh! See, they only wanna know that if you're a goner.

Pop, man, what is the matter with you?

I've never seen you act like this before.

I've never been this close to the Grim Reaper before.

You know, boys

when I was in the doctor's office

I saw that bright light they always talk about.

Pops, that was the eye-exam.

Look, pop, the doctor said

all you gotta do is rest up for a couple of days

and you'll be bang-bang-banging in no time.

That's the same thing they told your Uncle Tony.

He went to sleep and never woke up again.

That's 'cause Aunt Sylvia lit his bed on fire.

Look, pop, if you are that worried I'mma call mom

and tell her come back from Atlantic City.

Hell, no.

You know how ornery she'd get if you pull her away

from those nickel slots.

I'll be fine.

- You sure? - Yes, I'm sure.

- Alright. - Alright.

As long as I got my boys to nurse me back to good health.

[softly] Damn!

Uh, alright, Pops, well..

...Marlon's gonna stay here with you.

'Cause..

Don't you remember that time when pop stood in line

all night long just to get you some Run-DMC tickets.

Or what about that time he lied and told ma

he was the one that broke her James Brown cookie jar.

And who was the one that surprised you

on your 13th birthday with that drum set, huh?

Okay. Alright. Okay, okay, alright.

You are right. I should take care of him.

Alright, I'm out.

Hey, wait a minute.

He did all that stuff for you.

Yeah, well, he would have done it for you

if you was his favorite.

Aye! Hey!

Who's gonna rub me down with Vicks?

Your favorite...Shawn.

I can't, pop. I-I-I gotta go run the newsstand.

Yeah, well, I gotta run the diner.

Well, who's gonna take care of me?

[bell ringing]

[indistinct chatter on TV]

Boy, Pat Sager's got a big head.

[TV switches off]

Alright, Pops. What is it now?

My pillow's gone flat.

Man, I just plumped it five minutes ago.

I guess you didn't do such a good job.

My back is killing me.

Take advice from an old-timer, son.

Enjoy your youth while you can.

How can I? I already cleaned your apartment.

I made your meals.

I even scraped the corns off your feet.

Which reminds me..

...you missed my baby-toe.

Hey, how's our impatient patient?

That old man has been working me like he's given benefits, y'all.

I can't take this no more.

We come too far as a people to be scraping feet.

I'm out, man.

- Mm-hm-hm! - Nice goin', Pops.

You and your Grinch feet just scared off the only person

that's gonna sit with you.

Oh, I don't care about him.

Although he makes a me-e-ean baloney sandwich.

I'd rather have my family take care of me.

And I'd rather have Janet Jackson give me a tongue bath.

Doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

What's wrong with you, boys?

Man, between the newsstand and the diner

me and Marlon have been running like

Mark Friedman at a Fair Con rally.

But I guess it's worth it to see my pop well again.

Are you nuts?

You can't expect a man my age to bounce back so quickly?

Shoot!

I'd be lucky if I can force down that..

...leg of lamb and those new potatoes.

What leg of lamb and new potatoes?

The one you're about to go in the kitchen and cook me up.

- Now, leave. - Pop.

Damn!

Make me some gravy and biscuits.

You know how much I love 'em.

Gimme that! Give me that!

Boy..

...you sound like an ice-cream man on crack.

Ice cream!

Stupid bell.

Yo, man, what's wrong with you?

Man, this is whack.

It's not like pop to take advantage of a illness

just to stay at home.

I know, that sounds more like you.

Ain't that about nothing?

Our own father's playing us.

But you know what?

If he thought the diner was in trouble

I bet you, he'd be up out of that bed faster

than Lisa Marie on her honeymoon.

Yeah.

All we gotta do is find somebody to take over the diner

and screw it up.

Hm.

You know, I was halfway down the block

and I said, "Snap!

I ain't got no shoes on."

(in unison) Yee-tee-tee!

You mean, I can run the diner any way I want.

That's right. You get to put your own vanilla flavor on it.

You know what I am saying?

Shawn, Marlon..

...I'm touched, man.

It's not everyday a brother would give another brother

a chance like that.

Thank you, man.

You're mighty-whitey, man.

My love, man. Alright, I get to work.

Hey, bet, man, I won't let you down.

If you do...you do.

As-salamu-alaykum.

Hakuna matata.

I don't know, Marlon, man, I never ran no diner before.

Don't worry about it. That's good, Mike.

So, now, you can look at it through a fresh eye.

Just remember you can't go wrong.

'Cause you are the manager.

See? You, the man...nager.

- You man...nager. - I don't know. I don't get it.

It's a Black thing, you won't understand.

- Excuse me - Whoo!

Do you work here?

Huh-huh! Do I work here?

I am only the manager, sweet thing.

Yeah, and I'm the owner's son.

See, he takes care of the diner

and I, uh..

...take care of the customers. Boop!

How nice! We just joined the gym next door.

Yeah, and we are looking for a restaurant

where we can get something light and healthy.

Well, he's light.

And he's healthy.

We are talking about health food.

You know, tofu, sprouts.

Do you serve that sort of thing here?

(together) Do we serve that sort of thing here?

Girl, please.

We could whip you up a couple of porcini mushroom sandwiches

with some grilled vegetables on the side.

- Hmm. - We could?

Great, I love a man who's into nutrition.

Oh, well, you like nutrition.

You wait till you try Marlon's fat-free cheesecake.

- Fat-free? - Ooh!

Mm-hmm.

And if you are good

I'll serve a little extra Marlon on the side.

This place is perfect.

We'll be back right after the class.

- Okay, alright. - Alright.

Hey, girls, if you all need a towel boy

don't hesitate to give me a call.

(in unison) Yeah.

I'm gonna start chopping vegetables, man.

Hey, Mike, are you sure you want to make this health food junk?

Oh, yeah, I mean when I was growing up on Long Island

our cook was a vegetarian.

Your cook?

No, I mean my mama bought a Veg-O-Matic..

...at the thrift store in the projects, boy.

Boy, the closest thing you come to the projects

was watching "Good Times."

Hey, what's up with these cheesecakes?

It it really fat-free?

Well, actually, the cheesecake is $3.50 a slice

but the fat is free.

Ay, pop.

- Ow! - Oh, sorry.

Hey, man, we brought you some lunch.

It's the Tuesday special.

This don't look like my meatloaf.

Oh, that's 'cause it's tofu-loaf and soya cheese.

What the hell is going on here?

Well, pop, Mike thinks the diner needs healthier food.

Mike?

You're not talking about "It's all good, Mike?"

Don't tell me that boy is working in my diner.

- Oh, no, no. - Oh, no. Of course not, pop.

- Thank God. - He's running it.

What?

This is my own fault. Get-get out of my way.

I should have known not to leave the diner in your hands.

I am the only who can run it.

But, pop, don't you need your rest?

Here, pop. You ain't supposed to be up out of bed.

- Don't you need your rest? - I'll rest when I am dead.

Right now, I am going down to save my diner.

Okay.

Hurry up. Ah! What are you tryin' to do, kill me?

- You gotta take it easy, man. - Give me my hat.

Hey, pop, you might have a relapse.

- Yeah, mm-hmm. - Be careful, man.

[laughing]

Here's your cheesecake, my chocolate yoo-hoos.

What's goin' on here?

(Shawn) That's what I wanna know.

This place is packed.

Hey, I got one word for y'all.

Cheesecake. enough of it, man.

Oh, no.

What's this, man?

You've changed my menu?

Oh, have some beet juice, Pops. It'll calm you down.

The only thing that will be beat around here is your butt

if you don't put my menu back.

Pops, relax. It's working, man.

Just look at the receipts.

Ain't nothin' but zeros here.

Move your thumb.

Whoo! Man!

This is just fat-food, man.

Your regular customers are never gonna go for this.

Yeah, I don't know about that, man.

Take a look at ol' Grady and Rollo over there.

More ginseng tea here.

Better make it double.

I've never seen the diner this busy.

Hey, hey, to be honest with you, pop

I don't think Mike can handle this.

As a matter of fact, right now it's the perfect time

for you to step in and take over.

That's right, Pop.

See, now the diner needs you more than ever.

You the man, pop. You the man.

- You the man. - You the man.

- No, no, no, no. - Come on, do your thing, man.

Look like you boys got everything under control.

I guess I'll just head on home.

Home? But, pop, you just got here, man?

I know.

This is a young man's game.

I see that now.

The last thing you need is an old man all in your way.

Y'all keep up the good work though.

It's time for me to move on.

[panting]

Yo, pop. What's the big emergency, man?

I want you boys to run to the market for me.

I came clear across town for that?

Pop, the least you can be doing is lying on the floor

in a puddle of blood or somethin'.

Sorry to disappoint you.

I ran out of my grape Kool-Aid.

And why can't you get that yourself?

These mean streets are no place for an old broke down

black man like me.

Oh, pop, just 'cause you smell like moth balls and Bengay

don't mean you old.

Yeah, pop, you can't sit around eatin' prunes

and watchin' "Matlock" for the rest of your life.

I don't intend to.

It's gonna be "Murder, she wrote."

That Angela Lansbury is one foxy mama.

Oh, yeah, I'm plannin' on enjoyin' my retirement.

Retirement, Pop?

Yo, gee, what about the diner?

That health food joint?

With all those young kids runnin' around?

They don't need me.

Oh, come on, pop, don't talk like that.

Your diner's your life, man.

Why don't you just come on down to the diner

and work the lunch rush?

Can't. I already got big plans for today.

Like what?

Pickin' out my headstone..

...and writing my epitaph.

Here lies Pop Williams.

Shh! Don't tell nobody.

[instrumental music]

Hey, Shawn. You know what?

I've been thinkin', man.

So, you wanna go in the back and lay down?

No, I'm serious.

Maybe pop has the right idea about retirement, man.

Are you buggin', man?

Pops' still got a couple of good years left in him.

Shawn, think about it. What's so bad about retiring?

You don't have to work, you can make your own schedule

you can just lie back and chill.

Hell, no wonder why you think it's so good.

You've been retired since high school.

All I'm sayin' is pop's been workin' like a slave.

It's about time he retired.

You're not talkin' about Pops retirin', are you?

- Marlon is. Why? - Take it from me.

Kiss of death, beginning of the end, last gasp.

- How would you know? - Mother, of course.

I remember the day that she retired from Mary Kay Cosmetics

and took up her second career.

It was a pain in my butt.

Well, it's good to see you ain't bitter about it.

You know, when she was workin' she was fun, full of life.

Once she retired she stopped goin' out, stopped cookin'

stopped puttin' in her teeth.

Hey, we don't gotta worry about that.

- Pop got his own teeth. - Stay with me now.

In no time at all, mother had moved into my place

in her housecoat and curlers.

Now all she does is park in front of the TV

with a bag of prunes..

...look at reruns..

...of "Murder, she wrote."

Oh, damn, we in trouble.

This is the best cheesecake I have ever eaten.

Thank you kindly.

Usually, fat-free food doesn't taste this good.

What? What are you talkin' about?

That's regular ol' cheesecake. That ain't fat-free.

What?

Marlon, you lyin' little Q-Tip head.

Hey, hey, hey, hey..

It's not a lie.

It's creative advertising.

Yeah. And my butt's the bill, boy?

This is the third slice I had today.

You didn't have to tell us that.

- Marlon, you a dead man. - Hey, hey, hey, hey.

I didn't know it was gonna go this far.

I was just tryin' to push up on some honeys.

Who knew I was a marketing genius?

Yo, those girls ain't gonna see it that way.

Yeah, and neither will your father.

If he finds out, he's gonna have a fit.

Wait a minute.

Maybe that's exactly what he needs.

You know what I'm talkin' about, Marlon?

No.

[vehicles honking]

Goodnight, there.

Wait, wait, wait. What are you doing?

This is your fourth time up and down those stairs.

Figure about 500 more of these

I should work off half a slice of that cheesecake.

Yeah, well, we better get to this diner

'cause pop will be here any minute.

Hey, uh, Dee?

Now, you remember what to do right?

- Yeah, act angry. - Right.

Be a piece of cake.

Cheesecake.

Afternoon, boys.

- 'Say, what's up, pop?' - 'Hey, what's up?'

Got a little something for you.

Ooh, me first, pop. Me first, please.

Settle down, there's plenty for everybody.

It's arts and crafts day at the senior center.

Oh, pop, wow.

- What is this? - Pot holders.

You hold pots with those. I made those.

Man, I ain't seen a weave this bad

since Diana Ross played at Central Park.

Yeah, well, Pops, you probably worked up quite an appetite

makin' these little, uh, kufis.

Let's go get some milk.

Hey, hey! Look who's here.

- Yeah, it's pop. - Hello, Pops.

Just a retiree..

...having lunch, that's all.

Alright, that is two diet sodas

and two slices of fat-free cheesecake.

Cuckoo!

Oh, my Lord, look what I found.

- What? - This cheesecake box.

Mrs. Butterball's double fig cheesecake

with Graham cracker butter crust.

Butter?

You said this was a health food restaurant.

Uh-huh. Hey, don't look at me.

But you're the manager.

Yeah, but...he's the manager of desserts.

Sellout!

I got some seaweed to clean. Late.

You get back here.

Listen to this girls.

The label says it's a 172 grams of fat per slice.

- What? - He said it was fat-free.

So what? So it has a little bit of fat, it's just cheesecake.

I mean how bad could that be?

I've gained four pounds since I started eating that stuff.

You? I'm up to a size three.

You too, girl? Don't you hate when that happens?

Now, just calm down, ladies.

It's nothing to be concerned about.

If you ask me, you all look beautiful.

But I can pinch a quarter of an inch on my waist.

Well, I could pinch two inches somewhere else.

I can't see my ribs anymore.

What's wrong with that?

A man likes a woman with a little meat on her bones.

I heard that.

Wouldn't you rather cuddle up to a soft fluffy pillow?

Or a skinny hard stick?

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Sometimes the stick can do the trick.

You know, Pops, since I gained this weight

my boyfriend has wanted to cuddle a lot.

And I haven't been passing out nearly as much.

You see, there?

Life is too short to cheat yourself of the things

that you like.

You mean like runnin' the diner?

Just think, the thrill of overcharging.

The challenge of makin'

three-day-old doughnuts look fresh.

This is a sweet feeling.

The secret is in the powdered sugar, you know that, don't you?

But shh!

(together) Don't tell nobody.

Hey, Pops, you know what time it is?

- Lunch time. - Mmm-mm-hmm!

Tuesday, you know what that means.

Meatloaf and, macaroni and cheese.

(all) Ooh!

Where's my spatula? I gotta make lunch.

- Yes! - Yeah!

- Pops is back in business. - Pops is back in business.

- Pops is back in business. - Pops is back in business.

Hey!

- You know what this means? - What?

Free cheesecake for everybody.

[all cheering]

Boy, are you crazy?

That's funny, that's funny..

He means free water.

Haven't I taught you something?

Okay, okay.

You kids can have me at no extra charge

with whipped cream and strawberries.

And, as you can see, I'm-I'm fat-free.

[recorded message] 'Refund on security deposit, press 88. And good luck.'

'Bomb threats, press 89. Poltergeist, press 90.'

(male #2) 'RNG management, thank you for waiting.'

'How can I help you?'

[humming]

'Hello?'

- Uh, hey! - 'Hello?'

'Lousy crank calls.'

(Shawn) Look up, Marlon. Say cheese.