All language subtitles for This.Christmas.2007.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r

[LINA'S ''SANTA BABY'' PLAYS]

[CONTINUES SINGING
''SANTA BABY'']

Ma'Dere?
Morning, Joe.

You know, Christmas is almost here.

Here's your clothes, all packed.
Just put them in the garage.

How long do you think
we're gonna be able
to keep this up?

As long as the good Lord allows.

Want me to get your bathroom stuff?
I'll get it.

All right, guys. Let's go.
Your dad's gonna
be here in a minute.

You said you were outside.

I just had a few more things to do.
That's not what you said.

Yeah, but, Malcolm,
I needed to turn off--

MALCOLM:
But it's okay.

Let's just hit
the freeway before traffic
gets bad, all right?

Let's go. All right.
Yes, Malcolm.

All right, guys. Let's rock and roll.

Tonight?

Thank you.

[PIANO MUSIC PLAYS]

T, let me get my drink, please, baby.
MAN: You got it, Q.

Christmas in Chicago
is always slow, ain't it?

MAN:
Oh, yeah, man, you know,
everybody out shopping.

Here you go.

[♪♪♪]

Come on, let's go!

Damn!

Fool.

[SHUTTER CLICKS]

Baby, what is that?

Oh, this a early Christmas present
from Joe. It's called a Nikon.

It's like the Rolls-Royce
of all cameras.

Joe! Tell me you didn't get
this boy that camera.

JOE: Don't start.
Well, we talked about that.

It's Christmas, baby.
It's too expensive.

Shirley, let it go.

Let it go.

Matter of fact, snap this.

Here.

Merry Christmas. Now...
Guess he told you.

Boy, take this grocery list
and go to the store.

Before that smart lip
of yours gets you
into trouble, now.

This everything? You sure?
Yeah.

I wrote it down.

Just saying, sometimes
you forget stuff and
I gotta come back.

You forget stuff and
always have to go back.
Now, you hurry up.

I have to change clothes.

Get ready to cook.

Yo! Ma'Dere want me
to go to the store.
You want something?

No, I'm good.

Hey, I wanted to thank you too
for the camera.

You know, I love it.
You know, when I was your age,

I wanted a watch about as bad
as you wanted that camera.

Nobody could afford it.

You take some nice pictures
with that thing.

Come here, boy.
Oh, man.

You gonna do all this
lovey-dove stuff.

You know, I'm almost grown.
Go on, get out of here.

She gonna start cooking any minute.

Don't hurt nobody on that bike.

[DION'S ''ROCKIN' AROUND
THE CHRISTMAS TREE'' PLAYS]

Merry Christmas, Lisa.

Oh, baby, please. You're gonna
drive me crazy with that camera.

Come on, where your
Christmas spirit at? Come on.

Ma, you told them 6:00, right?
They know.

Yeah, well, they should be here.

Girl, stop.
They have been
eating dinner at 6

ever since they could eat.
They know.

Look, ma.
Baby, get out of here with that camera.

You're making me nervous.
Go, go, go, go.

LISA:
Ma'Dere, come here
and taste some of this.

I wanna get your stamp of approval.
MA'DERE: Okay, baby.

You should've told them 4,
because then they would've
been here on time.

It's frustrating being the only
person in this family that
understands the relevance of a clock.

You know your brothers
and sisters are always late.

Yeah, but that don't
make it right, Rosie.

Then if you know that,
why don't you come late,
so that way you on time?

You know what? See, you--
Mama, get her.

MALCOLM:
This is like hitting the lottery.

WOMAN [OVER PHONE]:
Especially if we finance it ourselves.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

I can be
a millionaire before I'm 40.

I should be able to get
a couple hundred thousand

while I'm here in New York.

But you're gonna have
to match that, at least.

MALCOLM:
I'm pretty sure
I can get a chunk of it here.

Well, that would be a happy holiday.
Yes, it would.

JOE: Now, that's a car right there.
Come on, Joe.

All right. I'll call you
when I get a chance.

FRED: Nice.
Hey.

Nice.

Hoo. Got that new-car smell
and everything.

Damn, you got your name on the car?
Can't nobody steal it unless
their name is Malcolm, huh?

Hey, Joe, you need to get
some of these for your funeral home.

Hey, how much
this set you back?

My old man's got a dealership
in San Francisco,

so I got a great deal,
but they run for about 60.

It's a smart investment.

[CAR HORN HONKS]

Kelli's got herself
a new car too.

Merry Christmas.

[♪♪♪]

Guess she's smart like you, Malcolm.
JOE: Hey, girl.

KELLI: Joe, how you doing?
JOE: Good.

Good to see you.
You too.

Girl, you look like your mama
more and more every day.

Get over here
and hug me, girl.

And if you wasn't my cousin--
Oh, yeah. You're all talk.

Maybe, but when you gonna
put me in a commercial?

Malcolm.
Kelli.

Come on, let's get inside.
I know your mama
can't wait to see you.

Hey, Fred, get the rest of those bags.
FRED: Okay.

What you got in these bags, girl?
Lots of goodies.

JOE: Yeah? Bring anything for me?
KELLI: Of course.

If I get any free time,
I'm gonna see if I can
call you later.

And, Lisa, you know,
you regifted me last year.
I don't like that.

Mama, you know you wanted
that frame, and that's--

All right?
You think I didn't notice. I noticed it.

All right, baby. Bye.

You could've bought me something.

Did you see the frame, Rosie?
Sometimes, Lisa...

KELLI: Merry Christmas, everybody.
Hey, merry Christmas.

Damn, Baby, look at you,
getting taller by the minute.

You guys better stop calling
him Baby, because he's
almost a grown man.

He's my youngest,
no matter how tall or old he gets.

He'll always be my baby.

Ain't that right.
She's just a hater.

Mm-hm. You just
treat him special because
he's your favorite.

My favorite is whoever
I'm talking to at that second.

The one that needs
Mother's love the most.

Girl, you should've
called us. Malcolm would've
picked you up from the airport.

Maybe you'd have been on time.
I got a car.

Did you see
our new Escalade outside?

I rented a BMW convertible.
BABY: Sexy.

Hey, can I try that?
Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

Can't blame a brother for trying.

So I guess that means things
are going well on the job?

I can't complain.
I just completed a perfume spot.

What you need to do,
let me come to New York so
I can get my photography on.

What you need to do
is get a college degree,
just like your big sister.

So, Ma'Dere, is there anything else
we need to do around here?

Y'all want me to make something?
ALL: No.

What? I can cook.

Girl, you know you can't make
nothing but reservations.

MAN:
She orders up a mean Chinese.
Ten-hut.

[WOMEN SQUEALING]

Merry Christmas, Claude!

Oh, my child.
Hi, Mama.

You look so good in your uniform.
BABY: You look like a formal peanut.

KELLI: Claude's probably
got all them little girls
going berserk.

They take one look
at a fine specimen like myself,

and can we say ''Denzel''?

[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]

Yeah, when are you
gonna settle down?

[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]

Well, I know, whoever she is,
just make sure she's
taking care of you

and she can cook like your big sis.

That's right.
KELLI: I don't want to say any names,

but some of us were busy
going to college while others chose
to stay home and learn how to cook.

And those of us who
chose to stay home
helped with the cleaners,

while the rest of us,
who shall remain nameless,

jetted off to college
the first chance they got.

Are the two of you
listening to yourself?

If a stranger walked in here,
they wouldn't even know
you were sisters.

She started it.

I don't care who started it.
I'm finishing it.

Kelli, fix some Kool-Aid
for the kids.

Kool-Aid? Are you sure
you don't want me
to make something?

No.
Damn.

Child, don't hurt yourself.
Kool-Aid, plain and simple.

Play to your strengths.

Stop it. Claude, let the men know

that we'll be eating
as soon as Mel gets here.

All right. I'm gonna
get out of this uniform.

KELLI: Okay, so I just need--
Water, sugar. Help her out, please.

Where'd you get those pants?

I look good, huh?

MALCOLM:
Nothing like working for yourself.

Gentlemen.
Ma'Dere said the food is ready.
We'll eat when Mel gets here.

So, what's up with you, Malcolm?
Nothing much, man.

Good things.
Good things.

Except for the storm
on its way.

Who said it don't rain in California?

Rains, fires, mudslides.
I think God don't like California.

Hey, everybody. Merry Christmas.
Hey!

Oh, my God. Look at my-- Hey!

Hey, Fred. How you doing?
Hey. Now we can eat.

Welcome home, Mel.

Ma'Dere didn't tell me
you got leave. Hi.

CLAUDE: You know
I couldn't miss
Mama's cooking.

Oh, my God. I missed you.
Where's everybody at?
Where's Lisa?

In the kitchen.
Let me go say hi to her.

You go do that. Get in there.

[MALCOLM CLEARS THROAT]

[♪♪♪]

You got a name, homes?

Um, um, um...

Devean. Um...

Brooks.

Well, you know,
she did always
like them articulate.

I'm about to go change.
I'll show you where
your room is.

Come on, get your bags.
It's okay.

Y'all are punks, man.

Eh... Eh, uh...

Devean Brooks.
Brooks.

Can we join hands?

Bless, O Lord, almighty God

the Whitfield family and home.
May health, purity,

goodness, meekness,
and every virtue, Father,

reign on this Christmas holiday.

May all who visit here

be blessed with faithfulness
to thy law and thankfulness to God

the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

May this blessing remain
on this family, Father,

this home
and all who dwell here, Father,

through Christ, our Lord.
ALL: Amen.

Okay. Dig in, everybody.
Yes, sir.

[♪♪♪]

MALCOLM:
Pass that corn bread down here.

MA'DERE:
Macaroni and cheese.

What--? Don't put that on your plate.
LISA: I got peas.

MA'DERE:
No, that's turkey.

Everybody's good?

[CHATTERING]

MA'DERE:
Okay, okay, everybody.

Let's do the family business first.

Here are the shares
of the profit from the cleaners.

Okay? Each one of you has
your own. There you are.

Merry Christmas.
CLAUDE: Thank you, Mama.

You know you didn't have to do that.

We didn't expect anything.

I do. Thank you, Mama.
Oh, you're welcome, baby.

Baby, can you warm this up for me?
Oh, sure.

It just came out of the oven.

He likes his food
really hot. I'll just put it
in the microwave.

[PHONE BEEPING]

CLAUDE: What's with
that thing, man? It's going
off like a drug dealer.

Well, if you must know,
it's my ladies.

It's Christmastime, and they wanna
spend time with a brother.

I know Baby better not be
bringing any babies in here.

Y'all think it's time for me
to have that special
conversation with Baby?

Too late.
Me and Joe already had
that conversation.

Yeah, I learned more
than I needed to. Trust me.

I'm gonna take this in the other room.
Excuse me real quick.

Thank you, baby.

You mind...?

Thank you, baby.
Oh, you're welcome.

Yeah, Lisa, and
when you're finished,

just pass the plate over here
and I'll chew it for him too.

Shut up, Kelli.
FRED: So, Joe,

what do you guys got planned
for the holiday?

JOE:
Well, after breakfast,
Baby's gonna take the family photo.

We're gonna go out
and buy the tree.

Then you know Christmas morning
we're all going to church.

I didn't know your father
was a minister too.

No, he's not. He's a deacon.
And he's not my father.

DEVEAN:
Oh. My bad.

Yeah, our father moved on.

I'm sorry to hear that.

No, he didn't die. He just moved on.

DEVEAN:
Oh.

So, Devean,

you and Mel go
to the same school, huh?

She goes to Spelman.
It's an all-girls school.

I knew that.

No, you didn't.
Yes, I did. I knew that.

I go to Morehouse.
MALCOLM: So, um,

how do you like attending
an all-black college?

Malcolm, please
don't start with that nonsense.

No, I mean, I went to Princeton--
I went to Harvard. What's your point?

Can you let the man
speak for himself?

Go on. I just wanna know
what your experience is like

attending an all-black college.
Ignore him.

That's cool. I wanna answer.
Morehouse has certain
foundational principles

by which its
entire existence stands.

It includes an appreciation for the
ideas of justice, equality, democracy,

humane treatment of all people,

and development of spiritual self
and community.

Sounds like you got it from
a school mission statement
or something.

I did. But that's also why I go there.

Not because
it's an all-black school,

but because it embodies
the beliefs and traditions
that I value.

The fact that all the students
look just like me is a bonus.

I like that, young man.
Well said.

MA'DERE:
Well, Mel, your boyfriend has
a good head on his shoulders.

I hope some of his smarts rubs off
on my little professional student.

[CHUCKLING]

Stop, now. Mel's smart.
She's just, you know, slow.

Getting her four-year degree in what?
Seven years.

So I've changed my major
a few times. There's
nothing wrong with that.

Few times?
First a doctor, then
a journalist. Now what?

Pre-law.
Pre-law.

Mel's major is always determined
by whomever she's dating at the time.

Devean, what's your major?

Pre-law.
LISA: Damn.

Come on.

That is wrong on so many
different levels.

That was so good, Ma'Dere.

We have some sock-it-to-me cake.
Don't you want some?

As tempting as that sounds,
Ma'Dere, I do have to
make a couple more stops.

Let me see you out. Hold up.

Bye, family.
ALL: Bye.

Bye, Fred.

That boy, he need to slow down.
He does.

I know.
How many kids he have now?

Six?
Seven.

Seven?
Seven.

I'm gonna hurt him real bad
when we find him.

Not till we get that 25 G's
he owes Luther.

Or Luther will hurt you.

Don't let your temper
get you dead, man.

What happens
if he can't cover the bet?

It's on Luther, man. I wouldn't wanna
be Quentin Whitfield, though.

We about to run a Boston on you fools.
Believe that if you want to.

I think now is a good time for us
to discuss the dry-cleaner situation.

We have a dry-cleaner situation?

Well, Ma'Dere's been running
the cleaners for 20 years now,

and what little bit of money
she makes goes to
maintaining this house.

Whatever's left over after that,
she gives us in these yearly checks

that amount to, what, lunch money?

You spending way
too much money on lunch.

Look, we each own a percentage
of the cleaners.

I think it's a good idea if we sold it.

You trying to sell
Ma'Dere's dry cleaners?

She wanna sell her portion, let her.
Hey, I'll buy it.

You can't sell a percentage
of a cleaners.
We have to sell all of it.

KELLI:
Well, then I guess
you're shit out of luck

because we don't
have to do anything.

Well, we haven't been
doing anything.

And I'm the one that's
keeping the books.

How is Ma'Dere gonna
maintain this place if
we sell the dry cleaners?

Mel, she doesn't need
a place this big.

You trying to sell
Ma'Dere's house too?

Well, especially since Baby
is gonna be graduating soon.

I mean, he's gonna wanna
move out eventually.

Says who? I ain't going nowhere.

Boy, please.
All these little girls
chasing after you,

you are gonna wanna get
your own place.

All I know is everybody here
but me came home for the holidays.

You sell this house,
and you ain't gonna have
a home to come back to.

It's that simple. I mean,
do what y'all want.

I got a date. I'm gonna holler at y'all.

Well, despite what Baby says, he is
gonna wanna move out eventually.

This place is just too big
for Joe and Ma'Dere.

I mean, they can get
a smaller place. Maybe a condo.

And what makes you think Ma'Dere
wants to live with Joe?

Uh, hello? He's been living with her
since you left for school.

Joe's been living here with Ma'Dere?
Where have you been?

What, you think you're
the only one around here
getting her freak on?

Okay, stop. My God.
That is too much information.

I can't hear about Ma'Dere
getting her freak on.

Look, I don't wanna intrude
in family business--

Then don't.

This was probably
your idea, anyway.

You know, Kelli,

I'm not gonna dignify that
with a response.

You don't have to.
Because I know
you put her up to this.

Oh, come on.
LISA: So you think

I'm not smart enough
to come up with this
idea on my own?

No, it's just you're weak-willed
and easily influenced.

So you're saying my wife is stupid.
I think she said ''weak-willed.''

I said, you sometimes allow
other people to think for you.

So now I can't think for myself?
KELLI: You know what?

Why don't you concentrate
on where to put the paprika?

Kelli, I know exactly where
I wanna put the paprika. Kelli.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Everybody just bring it down a notch.
It's not that deep.

The logical thing to do is just
to put in a family vote.

Well, we can't have a family vote
without the whole family.

Quentin isn't here, so there.

Dessert, anyone?

[KOOL & THE GANG'S
''GET DOWN ON IT''
PLAYS]

[CHEERING]

Go ahead, now.

[CHANTING]
Go, bougie. Go, bougie. Go, bougie.

That's my baby right there!

Come on, Devean.
Let's see what you got.

Come on, Mama.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

He's here.

[SCREAMING]

Quentin! Oh, my goodness.

Hey, Mama.
Oh, baby. You're home.

Oh, look at you.
Whitfield!

So I've been doing a lot of traveling,
you know, touring. I went to Japan.

I recorded an album
when I was out there.

KELLI:
Wow. You know,
it's been four years.

You haven't changed a bit.
You still look great.

Don't blow his head up.
Thank you, baby.

You look good too.
Thank you.

You didn't bring no luggage, man?

Um, no, no. I just, you know--

I got another tour,
so I sent my stuff ahead.

So you're not gonna be
staying past Christmas?

Ma, I might make it back
before New Year's.

I'm just not sure yet.

Well, I guess I'll go up
and finish your room

because I wasn't
expecting you to be home.

Lisa, take care of him, now,
till I get back.

Oh, my gosh.
You have got to see Baby.

He's almost as tall as you.
Get out of here.

LISA: Yes, he really is.
He's not short like you?

Oh, be quiet.

You won't believe all
the stuff Joe has planned.

Joe?
LISA: Yes.

We have a big breakfast
in the morning.

And then the mens are gonna go
get the Christmas tree.

On Christmas morning,
we'll be going to church.

Church? You know I don't do church.
Come on, man.

So, what's that mean, man?

You don't do church.

Church ain't something you do.

It's a place you go to commune
with God in God's house.

I don't believe in God.

Not in the traditional sense.
Not in the traditional sense?

I mean, I'm a spiritual person,
you know.

I believe in a higher source. But...

But you don't believe in God.
I don't believe in your God, Joe.

Okay.

I'm gonna go upstairs
and let Ma'Dere
know I'm leaving.

I'll see y'all.
Okay.

All right. You do that, Joe.

MEL: Good night, Joe.
CLAUDE: Good night. Drive safe.

Why you gotta be like that?
Whatever. Whatever.

''You do that, Joe.''
QUENTIN: He ain't my daddy.

How he come in here?
We having a family meeting.

Come on, now. You know it's Joe.
I don't care.

LISA:
Quentin is the problem.

If Quentin says no,
Ma'Dere's not going for it.

The guy doesn't even live here.
I mean, what does he care?

Ever since Senior left,
he's got this weird hold on Ma'Dere.

Okay, well, Lisa,
you're his sister, right?

Why don't you
talk some sense into the man.

I'm telling you, Malcolm. We've been
through this over and over again. I--

I don't know what it is, but it's like...

I don't know.

Same damn reason Joe
and Ma'Dere put on
these charades every year

like Joe doesn't live here.

Oh, come on. You telling me
that Quentin doesn't know?

No. Quentin doesn't know.
Trust me. He can't stand Joe.

And he's been that way
ever since he was a kid.

Like he thinks one day
Senior's gonna come back.

[WATER RUNNING]

Hey. Hey, Lisa.

Lisa?

What?

Never mind.

DEVEAN:
You said your dad moved on.

What does that mean?

A little after Baby was born,

Senior decided to go off and,
as Ma'Dere puts it,

chase his dream of playing jazz.
He upped and left and
moved to Europe.

Wow.

She wouldn't even let Quentin Jr.
take up the saxophone.

She was afraid he'd
up and leave her too,
but she couldn't stop him.

And did he?
What?

Up and leave her?

First time he's been home
in four years.

A lot of phone calls and postcards,
but he's a wanderer too.

That's why
Senior's piano is in the garage.

She thinks that music is the root
of the evil that's taken her men away.

Hell, the rest of us are afraid
to even hum.

[♪♪♪]

Look at that smile, girl.

I love to see you happy.

Well, it's because you are such
a good man, Joe Black.

You're a real good woman,
Shirley Ann Whitfield.

And beautiful too.

Okay.

Tomorrow morning?
First thing.

I'm gonna stop in the garage,
pick up a few things.

Then I'm gonna take off,
but I'll be back.

Okay.

Merry Christmas, baby.

Malcolm.

Malcolm.

Malcolm.

Hey, baby.

I thought you had gone.

I was checking on something
for your mother.

Oh, yeah? What's that, Joe?

Christmas lights, brother.
Uh-huh.

We might have to pick some up
when we're out tomorrow.

Okay.

You know what?
What?

I'm gonna tell you something
as a courtesy to Ma'Dere.

Now, I'm only here a few
days. You might wanna
steer clear until I'm gone.

And I'm gonna say this
as a courtesy to you.

I'm here because your mother
wants me here.

If you got a problem with that,
you take it up with her.

I'll do that.

If I was here, Senior,

I'd look after your old piano, man.

Yes, I would.

[PLAYS ''THE CHRISTMAS SONG'']

[SIGHS]

[BUZZES]

MA'DERE:
Hey, Kelli, girl. What you doing?

Just unpacking, Mama.

When you gonna settle down,
child, like your sister?

Where is this coming from?

I just love you.
I want you to be happy.

Well, I don't have a problem
settling down, Mama.

I have a problem settling
for less.

I'm just focused on my career
right now.

Long as you remember your career
is not gonna keep you warm at night.

All right. Night-night.

Night.

Need some batteries?

[GASPS]

CLAUDE [WHISPERING]:
No, no. I'm not whispering.

No. No, everybody's cool.

Did you eat?

Okay, yeah, just meet me at the...

There's a club called the El Rey.
It's on Wilshire.

Yeah. Just take a cab there.

I'll meet you there in a little bit.

Yeah. Okay.

Bad girl?
Come here.

What are you doing?
In your mother's house?

QUENTIN:
Yeah. You're gonna get tore down.

Hey. I thought you were asleep.
No, I was in the garage.

I don't have my sax,
so I thought I'd play
Senior's piano.

That thing's still out there?
Yeah.

It needs to get tuned,
but it still works.

What you doing up?
I can never sleep in a strange place.

This ain't a strange place.
It's your home. Pass a napkin.

You hear that?

Hey, you know,
Lisa wants to sell
the dry cleaners.

Yeah.
Really?

You agree with her?
Oh, I'm only hearing it now.

I don't have an opinion on it
one way or the other.

Well, that's just like you.
Nothing matters. Whatever.

That's right. Nothing matters
because this is the first time

anybody asking me
my opinion about it.

Well, as far as I can
remember, you're never
around long enough

for anybody to ask you anything.

[THUDS]

Do you hear that?
What?

I don't hear anything.
What are you talking about?

CLAUDE:
Don't nobody
sleep around here?

Where you going?
Out.

Oh, no. Don't get stealthy on us.
Out where?

I just thought I'd, you know,
go check up on the old traps.

Oh, cool. I'm coming with.

I'm good by myself, thanks.
KELLI: Hold up. I wanna go too.

Oh, if it's a group thing,
then we should ask everybody.

Yeah, that's the thing.
It's not a group thing.

KELLI:
Well, you know, Quentin,
if Lisa's going, I'm out.

I've had enough of her.
No discussion.

There's no reason to talk.
QUENTIN: No Lisa, no Malcolm.

We gotta ask Mel
and what's-his-name.

How about no Q, no Kelli.
It's like Donny or Darryl.

Darian? It's something with a D.
It's like Darryl or Donny.

DEVEAN:
Devean.

Um. We wanna go.

[YOUNG JEEZY'S
''GO GETTA'' PLAYS]

MEL:
Babe, go get
that table right there.

Okay, okay.

All right, look here. I'm gonna
quarterback this thing for y'all.
What y'all wanna drink?

A beer.
Two.

I'm good.
See if they got any hot wings.

Okay.

Am I tripping or is brother man
checking me out?

MEL: Where?
Over there.

MEL: Yeah, he is peeping you out.
Yo, I know that cat, man.

We used to go
to high school together.

Um, Gerald.
That's who he is.

That might be true,
but he's not
checking for you.

You're from Oceanside?
Excuse me.

Oh, we're talking here, cousin.
But I'm with him.

Oh, it's like that.
No pressure. No pressure, man.

MAN 1: You do your thing.
Yeah. Stay black.

Who are they?
They were just keeping me company

while I was waiting for you.
Oh, okay. Okay.

Can I get four beers
and a order of hot wings?

We're out of hot wings.

You're jealous.

Of them? Please. Why?

Well, something's wrong.
You just ordered four beers.

Yeah, that's what
took me so long.

I was trying to break out,
and my sisters and brother
decided to come, so I didn't--

Where are they?
Whoa. Hang on.

You didn't tell them.

See, there's these things
with my sisters.

And then my brother Quentin
just shows up.

That's a no, right, Claude?

I'm gonna tell them.
I can't do it right now.

You're ashamed of me.
You know that isn't true.

Keep the change.
I just have to tell Ma'Dere first.

And I'm gonna tell her
first thing in the morning. All right?

In the morning?
In the morning.

I'm gonna hang out with the family
for a little bit. I'll meet you
back at the hotel. Okay?

You promise?
You have my word.

Love you.
I love you too.

Now, get out of here.

Y'all ready to get this show started?
Make some noise.

This is open-mike night.
We do this every Sunday.

Every Sunday we got live--
Oh, thank you.

--and do they thing.

Gerald, this is
my family right here.
My little sister Mel.

Hi, nice to meet you.

QUENTIN: Kelli right there.
Nice to meet you.

Pleasure's all mine.
This first singer confessed

that this is his first time
singing publicly.

This is my sister's
boyfriend, DeVon?

MAN:
Give it up for
my man Michael Whitfield.

Make noise for Michael Whitfield.
Whatever.

It's okay, baby.
Did he just say Michael Whitfield?

Oh, my God, it's Baby.

Is this one of your peoples?

That's my little brother right there.
What's he doing?

Thanks, everybody.

I'm real nervous, but, I mean, I--

I appreciate the opportunity
for y'all let--

Letting me be out here.

Just letting me
be able to do my thing.

[MUSIC PLAYS]

Okay, we need to help him.
Quentin, you need to get him down.

He's struggling.
Man. Yo.

[SINGING ''TRY
A LITTLE TENDERNESS'']

Well, I'll be damned.

DEVEAN:
Damn, Mel.

Your brother got pipes.
Can you believe this shit?

Where in the hell did he learn
to sing like that?

He's singing.

Yo.

Sweet.

Come on, baby, let's go dance.
All right, let's do this.

GERALD: I love this song. Yeah.
Yeah? You feeling it?

It's sexy.

Wanna dance?
No, I'm chilling.

Not you, fool.

Yeah, come on. I'd love to.

QUENTIN:
You didn't tell me Baby
could sing like that.

Like we knew.
Whoo! Go ahead!

Where'd everybody else go?
Down on the dance floor.

Come on, man. Let's go get
some of these honeys.

I'm good. I'm just chilling.
You sure?

All right.

Yes! Love you!

Y'all make some noise
for Michael Whitfield.
One more time.

Michael Whitfield!
What's up?

MAN:
Yo, we just wanted
to apologize, cousin.

We ain't know that off-brand
chick was yours.

Off what?
MAN: The white girl.

Me and my man Raynard,
we didn't know she was with you.

Oh, it's cool.
I ain't mad at you, though.

Like I said, it's cool.
White girls ain't got junk in the trunk.

But I hear they got
some strong knees.

Got a lot to say, huh?

Come on.
Who's on their knees now?

Say it again. Say it again.
I'm sorry--

What are you doing?
I'm sorry, man. Don't shoot me.

QUENTIN:
Get out of here. Come on.
We gotta go, let's go, let's go.

WOMAN:
Hey. Watch out. Watch out.

QUENTIN: What's wrong with you,
man? Huh? You crazy?
Wait, where's Kelli?

She's with Gerald.
Oh, she's good.

Come on, let's get out of here.
Come on.

So you pull out a gun on him
because he pissed you off.

You lost your mind?
We are Whitfields.
We do not behave that way.

Listen.
No, you listen. What are you thinking?

Okay, Q. I think you made your point.

No, Mel. I don't think I have.
Like I said, he pissed me off.

Like you are now. Now, drop it.

All right. All right.

I'll drop it.

QUENTIN:
You always had
that crazy temper, man.

You'd always just flip out. For what?

I mean, we're in a club.
We got our sisters with us.

What happened in there tonight?

Baby, please leave it alone.
We have moved on from there.

You don't want Claude to shoot you.
We moved on, Q.

Yeah, all right. All right.

You got some explaining to do.

About what?
MEL: ''About what?''

How come none of us knew
you can sing?

Because of him.
Because of me?

Shh. Before she hear you.

Who?

What do y'all think Ma'Dere'd say
if she found out I wanna sing?

Baby, come on. That doesn't mean--

Baby, nothing.
Y'all ain't have to hear it
and live with it.

I mean, she's always telling me
how I'm the last Whitfield man
who hasn't left her yet.

She's gonna find out
sooner or later.

But not until I'm ready to tell her,
and certainly not now.

Mama's real happy for this Christmas,
with everyone home.

And I don't wanna ruin it.

Y'all gonna have to promise me
that you're not gonna say nothing

until I figure a way to say it myself.
Got you.

And, Mel, tell Kelli not to say
anything in front of Ma'Dere.

I got you.
Man, this is too much drama for me.

I say we all get some sleep,
pick this up in the morning.

All right?

You know, Baby,

you can sing, man.

Good night.

Come on, D. Let's go.

I was proud of you, man.

I'm going to bed.

[♪♪♪]

I've never been
more surprised in my life.

Four years of ''maybe this year,''
so this time I didn't even ask him.

Oh, he just walked through that door,
and my heart almost stopped.

I swear, Rosie,
sometimes I thought
I'd never see him again.

He's so much like Senior.

Good morning, Kelli, girl.

Um...

''Good morning, Mama,''
would be nice.

Yeah. Good morning, Mama.

Let everybody know
breakfast is ready.

MALCOLM:
He knows it's fine.

No.

No, I-- We're not gonna bend
on that, all right?

Please. Give me a break.
Listen. It's a non-issue, all right?

I'll just fly out this afternoon,

take care of the paperwork,
and then I'll fly back.

Of course the money's there.
The money's been there
the whole time. It's in escrow.

Look, I'll talk to you about it
this afternoon, all right?

Yeah. Sure. All right.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Oh, f--

Can I help you?

Yeah, I just came to tell you
breakfast was ready.

Well, as soon as Lisa
gets out the shower,

we'll be right down.

Going somewhere?

As a matter of fact, I am.

Gotta fly back to San Francisco,
sign some papers.

You know, business.

Good for you.

[THE RONETTES'
''SLEIGH RIDE'' PLAYS]

One, two, three.

So you really
pulled a gun on him?

Yo. Don't tell Ma'Dere.
You hear me?

Man, I know.
Where'd you get the gun?

It's my service pistol.

You really was gonna shoot him?

Hell, no. I was just trying
to make a point.

You may think
you're grown now,

but Ma'Dere find out,
she gonna bitch-slap you

into the middle of next week.

And you don't wanna
miss Christmas, do you?

Man, go and pick a tree.

WOMAN:
You guys decided yet?

Let's take this one.
WOMAN: That's a good one.

That there's an ugly-ass tree,
Mr. Black.

I'm cool with it if Joe cool with it.
Yeah, I'm with it.

Yeah, we'll get this one.
Right.

Go on, take the photo.
BABY: All right, let's take this picture.

Come on. Come on.

WOMAN:
Say ''trees.''

Ready?
JOE: Ready.

I don't know what Baby is doing,
but he's killing the game.

Isn't that, like, the third gift
dropped off for him today?

LISA:
The fifth. Put it over there
with the rest of them.

[PHONE RINGS]

Oh, that's me.

Oh, my God, it's him.
Who?

Gerald, the guy from last night.
You spent the night with him,

and you're not gonna answer it?
No.

No, you didn't spend
the night with him, or no,
you're not gonna answer it?

Don't get your bra all in a knot.
We didn't sleep together.

You don't wanna waste a night
of sleep with a man like that.

Ooh. Was he good?
You gave him some?

It was a shared experience,
but if you wanna get technical,

he was the one
doing most of the giving.

Well, it is the season to give.
Well, I hope you used protection.

I'm not stupid.
MEL: Come on, where is it written

that a woman can't meet a guy,
get some and then be done with him?

They have a word for women like that.
Smart.

Ho.
What?

I'm just trying to school you.
You don't wanna end up
accidentally pregnant,

and then next thing you know
you got two kids
calling you Mommy.

Did that just come out of my mouth?

Lisa, I'm ready.

[♪♪♪]

What?

Okay. Lisa, can we go?

I'll see you guys at dinner.

What's wrong with these two?
Nothing.

It's fine. You got everything?
Yeah. I'm all set.

Hi. Excuse me.
Hi. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Do you have
any messages for room 302?

No, ma'am. No messages.
Okay. Thanks.

I can't believe Malcolm wants
Lisa to sell the dry cleaners.

I know. You gonna talk
to Ma'Dere about it?

No. We're gonna handle this
amongst ourselves.

And I'm counting on you
for your support.

I got you.
ROSIE: Kelli?

Yeah?
Santa's here.

Santa?
Santa?

And he asked for you.

MAN:
Merry Christmas.

And what is your name, little girl?
TORI: Tori.

MAN:
Tori. Really?
And what is your name, young man?

KESHON: Keshon.
Keshon.

Ho, ho, ho.

So did you write Santa a letter?
See? Even Santa calls you that

when you sleep with him
on the first night.

GERALD:
Have you been eating some
Christmas cake or anything like that?

[GERALD CHUCKLING]

Don't worry, I got something
really good for you. You been
good this year, right?

Are you sure? Because I'm making
a list and I'm checking it twice.

MA'DERE:
So he's a friend of yours?

KELLI:
Kind of. He went to
school with Quentin.

Well, you keep your eyes
on those kids.

You have to be careful
nowadays. You never know.

You be careful, okay? I mean,
it's nice and all, what he doing, but...

Yeah.
A Santa suit. Lord.

GERALD:
Merry Christmas.
Ho, ho, ho, ho.

See you, young man.

Come on over here and talk
to Santa, little girl.

Okay.

So, pretty lady,

what can Santa bring you
for Christmas?

Well...
How about peace on earth?

Hell, peace in my family
would do the trick.

Let me see what I can do.
Come on and sit on Santa's lap.

And then what?
Depends

whether you've
been naughty or nice.

Well, you're Santa.
Aren't you supposed to know?

I know you were pretty naughty
last night.

Shh.

But Santa can't say it wasn't nice.

What are you doing here?
All right, all right.

Well, as you know, I'm a fireman.

We do this every year
for the kids down at the mall.

Since your mama's house
was on the way,

I figured I'd just come on by
and spread some holiday cheer.

Uh-huh.
Oh, oh.

And being that it's Christmas,

I thought that Santa
would bring you this.

Oh, I forgot that I left that there.

Thank you, Santa.

Now give Santa some sugar.
My mother is in the next room.

She can give Santa some sugar too.
Where's she at?

Okay, that's it. You gotta go.
All right. Well, listen.

You gotta agree to have drinks
with me tonight.

Okay. I will.
All right? Nine o'clock.

I promise. Sounds good.
I'm gonna hold you to that.

All right?
Out you go.

All right.

Now, you be good,
for goodness' sake.

Oh, my God.
You slept with Santa.

I did not know
he was Santa at the time,

but technically, I guess I did.

Ho, ho, ho.

I don't see why this couldn't wait
until we got back.

Baby, for the hundredth time,

I'll be back in the morning.

But, Malcolm,
it's Christmas Eve.

Bill collectors don't care.

The car we drive,
the house we live in?

They don't pay for themselves.

Of course, you wouldn't understand
that, being as though I'm the one
that's doing all the work.

Oh, and I don't work?

I guess I just stay at home
and sit on my behind

and raise your kids.
I'm sorry.

But I'm just under so much
pressure these days, Lisa.

And I realize I'm not
as sensitive as you need
me to be, but we're partners.

Okay? Now, I need you
to get your family

to sell
the dry-cleaning business,

and then we'll have the capital
to get our life to the next level.

Do you really mean that?
We're partners?

Baby. Baby, come here.

Now, you know we're soul mates.

All right?

Everything I do,
I do for you and the kids.

All right?

Drive carefully.
Here are the keys.

Oh, and make sure you put it
in the carport, all right?

Just in case it rains.

I'll call you!

[PHONE RINGS]

Yeah?

''I love you''?

[AARON NEVILLE'S
''PLEASE COME HOME
FOR CHRISTMAS'' PLAYS]

[PHONE RINGING]

Back up, back up,
back up. Okay.

Claude!

Come help us.

CLAUDE:
Let a Marine get in here,
show you how it's done.

MEL: Turn it that way.
We're going the wrong way, y'all.

CLAUDE:
Yeah, frontways is the best.

JOE:
There you go, in the back.

MEL:
Ma'Dere, we have the tree!

KELLI:
Cocktail, anyone?

This one's from Bernice. Remember?
I thought Bernice was dead.

Oh, I'm telling her
next time I see her.

Oh, my God, Sam done put
all 15 of his kids on the card.

Wow.
Yes.

His little boy grew up.

Look, look, look. Bam.
Nice.

Yeah, hey. Oh, no.

We had the family photo

and picked up a Christmas tree
and decorated that.

And my cousin Fred came by.

Oh, okay.
Oh, honey, take these.

Wait a minute, I'll be right back.

Oh, my goodness.
FRED: Check that out.

Bam.
KELLI: That's you?

CLAUDE:
There's a lot going on.
Yeah, and...

SANDI [OVER PHONE]:
Claude.

Claude, are you there?
Yeah, yeah, I'm here.

ROSIE: What's wrong?
Oh, nothing.

That's not a nothing look.

Christmas card from Senior.

Oh, where is he now?

London.
That's a good place for him.

Rosie.

You need to be honest
with the kids

and tell them about the divorce
and move on.

Now is not the time, Rosie.

I haven't seen Quentin
in four years.

I am not doing anything
to upset him.

It's never a good time for you.

Rosie, where are the grapes?

In the freezer.

Good, the kids love
those frozen grapes.

Hey, Quen.
What up?

Look who I ran into.

DUDE:
What's up, Q?

LISA:
They were driving
up and down the street

looking for directions,
and they happened to stop me.

That's crazy, huh?

You have no idea.

You gotta love some
California hospitality, right?

Well, I'll let you boys talk.

I'm gonna go get me something to eat.
All right, now.

[GRUNTS]

[♪♪♪]

Look like that hurt.
For sure, dog.

So thought we wasn't
gonna find you, huh?

Well, man, I--

I mean, I left my PalmPilot
in my sax case,

so any idiot would have found me.

But I just didn't think that you
would have found me, you know?

Forty dollars?

Train ticket.

Look like you ain't
going nowhere, my man.

Give me one good reason
why I shouldn't put a hot one in you.

Well...

for one,

you wouldn't get your money.
Now, that's a good one.

And, uh,

for two,

you got the police
behind you right now.

All right.

What did he do?

KELLI:
Aggravated assault,
disturbing the peace.

I think someone said he had a gun.
A gun?

Mom, don't worry about it,
they're just taking him in
for questioning.

Mom, it's gonna be all right.
I was there this time.
I'll go to the station

and straighten it out, okay?
All right.

We're driving.
LISA: I wanna go too.

Mom, can you put the kids to bed?
Okay.

Call us as soon
as you hear something.

All right.

Come on, Mama.

[♪♪♪]

He's going to jail for nothing?
They said he had a gun, Quen.

Well, he did.
And that's nothing?

No, look. He got into a thing last night
with a couple of guys. He had his
service revolver on him. That's all.

Quentin, why did
you let that happen?

I didn't let anything happen.
He a grown man. What?

God, that is so classic of you.
''It's not my responsibility.''

Responsibility? What are you
talking about? I heard
you wanna sell the cleaners.

Well, we think it'll be
a good idea to sell it.

Who's we?
Malcolm and I.

But not your brother and sisters.
The cleaners isn't making any money.

I don't mean to get in your business--
MALCOLM: Isn't that what people say

right before they get
in your business?

Yeah, well, if there's any money
to be made, Quentin could use it.

Well, if we sell,
we can all come out okay.

Including you.

What about Ma'Dere?

Joe and Ma'Dere
can keep the house.

We can put Ma'Dere's profits
in a living trust.

They'll be fine.
Joe?

What's he got to do
with the house?

Joe and Ma'Dere
have been living together

ever since Mel went away
to college.

What?

Just sit down. Relax.

Been in situations
like this before.

MO:
Guy with a gun,
crowded club.

Nobody remembers
nothing.

DUDE:
Hey, this dry-cleaner situation,

it's gonna make
a windfall of money, huh?

How long have you two
known Quentin?

A while.
And you're musicians.

DUDE:
No, we're in, uh,

money management.

QUENTIN:
Sis.

What'd they say?

The club manager's
gonna drop charges.

Good, he can come home with us.
Not exactly.

Then what, exactly?

Claude is AWOL.
AWOL?

Mm-hm. They gonna let me talk
to him now. Okay? I got it.

So, what? While I'm sleeping,

everybody was out
gallivanting last night?

Sit up when I'm talking to you!

You get the kids ready for bed?
Yes, they just brushed their teeth

and now they're taking their baths.

Good, because it's
almost dinner time.
We need to start cooking.

I thought you already
cooked for Christmas.

Yes, I did, but that's for tomorrow.

If you want to eat tonight,
somebody's gotta cook.

And we gotta make cookies
for the kids to leave Santa.

Why?

He's already
had Kelli's cookies.

Should we call a lawyer
or something?

Don't even worry about it.
But, Ma'Dere, I think--

Quentin said he's gonna
take care of it.

I'm gonna call Joe
and tell him what happened.

Yeah, you go do that.
Kelli, cook dinner.

I'm going upstairs to rest. Okay?

When Quentin gets here,
somebody come up and get me.

Because--

You ain't telling me nothing.
I'm telling you something.

I came home because Christmas
is tradition in our family.

I promised her.
She would've understood.

No, she would've
been disappointed.
You don't know her.

I don't know her?
So you go AWOL so you don't
disappoint Ma'Dere?

Not Ma'Dere. Sandi.
Who the hell is Sandi?

[♪♪♪]

DEVEAN: Now, you got
the two green peppers
chopped up there.

KELLI:
And you people think
that I can't cook.

DEVEAN: Ooh! Watch out, now.
KELLI: That's all right.

Spicy.

DEVEAN:
Okay. Two green
peppers, chopped.

Oh.
DEVEAN: Uh-oh.

Got to broil the bacon.
All right, we cooking now.

DEVEAN:
I think you're supposed
to add the sausage now.

MEL:
Adding the sausage.

DEVEAN: Is that enough sausage?
MEL: Yes.

Now pour gravy over--
Pour the gravy over
the onions.

Slow, though.

That is not how it looks
in the picture.

I am not eating that.
All right.

Don't burn yourself.
Watch out.

DEVEAN:
Y'all know what
you're doing, huh?

The drippings,
it says here.

Drippings, huh?
DEVEAN: Yeah.

MEL:
Okay.

Supposed to cook like 10 minutes.
MEL: This doesn't look like Ma'Dere's.

DEVEAN: Try stirring it up.
KELLI: Like that?

DEVEAN:
That didn't help either.

KELLI:
It looks good, huh?

DEVEAN:
Maybe you should bake it?

Yup. Oh, believe me,
I'm devastated right now.

Baby, is that Quentin
calling about Claude?

No, it's Malcolm.
Oh.

So make sure you tell Lisa that
my flight's been delayed
because of the bad weather.

Tell him his possession
isn't here, and he should
call her back later.

Tell Kelli I said,
''Have a very merry Christmas.''

BABY:
He said merry Christmas.
All right, dude.

All right, man.
Man, get off the phone. All right.

Oh, you just missed
Malcolm's call.

LISA: What'd he say?
BABY: He said he's running late.

Where's Claude?
Well, they dropped the charges.

Then where is he?
AWOL.

BABY & MEL: AWOL?
Absent without leave.

They're shipping him
to Camp Pendleton.

Okay, we need to
call him a lawyer.

No, it won't do no good.
It's a military thing.

Is he all right?
Ma, he's in jail.

Are we gonna
get a chance to see him
before they send him back?

MP said that they're gonna call us
when they get there.

They're gonna need him to go
in his uniform, so somebody
gotta take his clothes to him.

SANDI:
It just doesn't make sense.

Claude's never been in trouble before.
Do I know you?

Ma'Dere, that's Sandi Whitfield,
your daughter-in-law.

Uh-oh. Damn.

Lisa, this is not funny.
No, it's not.

But I'm gonna keep drinking
until it is.

Claude and I got married
two weeks ago.

We wanted to surprise you.

Congratulations, we're surprised.

Kelli, Claude had her
staying in a hotel.

A hotel?

He talks about
you guys all the time.

You're exactly like I imagined you.
Can't exactly say the same.

Hush.

Welcome to the family, Sandi.
I'm Claude's mother, Ma'Dere.

Can we get you something to eat?
No, I'm good. Thank you.

Hey, you take it from me.
They offer you food, and you
don't accept, they get offended.

Well, in that case, I'm starving.

A sense of humor.

Mel, help her
get settled upstairs.

Yeah, and I'll get you
that plate.

Come on.
Well, this is wonderful.

Can I get you a glass of water?
Oh, no, I'm fine.

Are you sure
you don't want some water?
Because, you know--

Get yourself a glass of whatever
Miss Lisa over there is drinking.

And stop asking me
crazy questions.

And you two. Are either one
of you secretly married
to one of my children?

No, ma'am. No, ma'am.
We're friends of Quentin.

Oh, well, thank God, merry Christmas.
I'm Mo.

I'm Dude.
Duke. Yes, nice to meet both of you.

The pleasure's all ours.

Are you gonna be
eating dinner with us?

No, no, no. They--
DUDE: Cool.

We're starving.
No, he means they gotta

get back to the hotel
before they lose
their reservations, right?

Oh, nonsense.
You're friends of Quentin,
you're welcome to stay here.

QUENTIN: No, Mom--
Honey, we have plenty of room.

That's very, very kind of you,
ma'am. Thank you.

Kelli, make the two of
these gentlemen a plate.

Appreciate it, ma'am.
Mama, you gonna eat too?

Oh, no. I seem to
have lost my appetite.

First time I cook,
and you're not gonna eat?

It's not the first time
you've cooked, which is

probably why she's lost her appetite.
I lost my appetite.

[SNICKERING]

MEL:
How long did you guys think you were
gonna be able to keep this a secret?

It wasn't a secret. It was a surprise.

Yeah, I think
we kind of covered that.
Why is Claude AWOL?

Because his leave
was denied.

He didn't inform his superiors
that he was getting married.

But Claude wasn't
gonna change his mind.

He told me that he knew
he was gonna marry me

from the first moment
he laid eyes on me.

He knew, just like that?

He said some things
you can't control.

Like marriage?
And children.

You're pregnant too?

Did I just say that?
Do your parents know?

They're not fans of Claude.

Because he's--
Black.

Okay, let me get this straight.

You're a newlywed, pregnant,

your husband's AWOL and in jail,

and your parents
don't like him
because he's black?

Damn, girl.
And all I want is a stiff drink.

But I can't because I'm pregnant.

Look, you with family now, it's okay.

It's okay.

I'm gonna drop this stuff
off with Claude and
I'll be back, okay?

I'm gonna go with Joe
and let Claude know that
his wife's here and everything.

Give him my love.

I know a first sergeant
in the Corps who owes
me a favor or two.

So I'm gonna talk to him,
see if he can work it out
for us to see Claude

before they take
him back, okay?

I know the Lord will make it happen.

I put my money
on Joe first.

Baby.
He'll be all right, Ma.

Mama, I think we need to talk.

I still can't believe it.

What, AWOL or married?

Both.

I know, he's a decent kid.
Raised right.

I should know.
I practically raised him myself.

Why do you do that?
What?

Make everything about you.

Trust me,
it's not about me.

I'm the last person it's about.

Then why are you constantly
reminding everyone in this family
what you do for them?

Because when I look down
the list of everybody I take care of,

I'm not even on it.

Lisa, you chose to work at
the dry cleaners, okay?

You chose to get married,
you chose to have kids,

just like you chose
to raise Claude.

Now you want
the rest of us to feel guilty?

Somebody had to stay here
and help Ma'Dere when you left.

You think I wanted to stay here
and work at a dry cleaners?

You took away my choice
when you left.

I'm selfish. I'll own that.

But you deserve better, Lisa.

What are you really trying
to say? Because I've
heard it all before.

What? I'm bossy,
my kids are spoiled--

I shouldn't have married Malcolm--
He's cheating on you, Lisa.

I know.

You know?

I didn't have to go to college
to know that, okay?

What do you want me to say?

I got two kids, no degree--
So?

So it doesn't make me
particularly hot
on the dating circuit.

Plus, I'm not trying
to start all over.

Yeah, well, I think sharing
your husband with another woman
makes you pretty damn pathetic.

Pathetic? You know,
you would say that.

Since you don't have
any responsibilities
and you don't care

about anybody but yourself.
Yes, pathetic.

Because you know what?
When it comes to this family,

you'll go 10 rounds just to satisfy
some deep damn insecurity

because you didn't go
to college. Just have to prove to
everybody how smart you are.

But when Malcolm says jump,

your Oprah alter ego runs
for the nearest exit.

You let that fraction of
a man run you because
you're scared to start over?

Women do it every day,
so stop marking time.

Drop by a magazine rack,
deal with the issues
in your marriage,

and stop taking this shit out
on the rest of us, sister.

Get out of my face, Kelli.

[♪♪♪]

Come here!

[KELLI SCREAMS]

[BOTH GRUNTING]

Let go!
Hey!

Stop! Stop! Stop!
What are you doing?

Get away from me, Mel!

Forget you
and the rest of this family.

Oh, my hair!
What just happened?

We just had a discussion.

Uh! So dumb!

Senior was a good man.

But he was a terrible
husband and father.

But did you love him?

At one point, more than life itself.

Yeah, but he still left, didn't he?

Quentin, he left
for the same reason you left.

Senior had a calling
with his music.

It broke my heart,

but it would have killed him
if he'd stayed.

[♪♪♪]

See, some men aren't fit
to be married.

They're just too selfish.

Now, Joe, he came much later,
and he has helped me.

He has respected me in ways
that you cannot even imagine.

Mama, I got better things
to do with my imagination
than think about Joe.

Quen, I brought you into this world,
and I will take you out

if you ever use that tone
against Joe again.

Now, you understand?
It ain't gonna happen again.

By the time you wake up
in the morning, I'll be gone.

''When you wake up
in the morning, I'll be gone.''

You are truly your father's son.

You know what?

Baby was right about you.

It's kind of sad, Mama.
What are you talking about?

I mean, your hatred for Senior,
your resentment for me.

It makes it impossible for that boy
to be honest with you.

Honest? Honest about what?

That's something you're gonna
have to talk to him about.

I'm just sorry that I was
such a disappointment to you.

You know?

Merry Christmas, Mama.

What does
''discussion'' mean?

We got in an argument,
one thing led to another,
then we started acting real stupid.

Where's your new sister-in-law?

She's asleep.
It's early.

You sleep a lot
when you're pregnant.

She's pregnant?
Six weeks.

Jesus.

That's why Claude married her.

Mm-mm. Nope.

Claude doesn't even know
about the baby yet.

Poor thing, she must be so scared.

Okay, look, let's get out
of these wet clothes.

[ARETHA FRANKLIN'S
''I NEVER LOVED A MAN
(THE WAY I LOVE YOU)'' PLAYS]

Hey, man, look what I found.

Some sock-it-to-me cake, man.

Wack.

Appreciate you, man.
It's all good, man.

Y'all comfortable, man?

Look, man, you talk
to your moms yet?

Man, you'll get your money.

Hey, Quentin. You think
you could hook me up
with Lisa, man?

Man, she may have low standards,
but she ain't stupid.

Hey, man,
her husband ain't here.

And if she don't holler,
I definitely won't scream.

You don't get to disrespect
my family. Understand?

I'll tell you right now.
DUDE: You said, he heard.

Now, you owe us 25 G's,
man. We want it.

All right, man.
Tomorrow's Christmas,
the banks are closed.

The day after that,
you'll get your money.

Look like we'll be
spending Christmas here
with you and your sisters.

BABY:
Hey, what's going on, y'all?

Nothing, man. It's good.

I haven't had the opportunity
to formally meet you gentlemen.

Oh, that's Mo and Dude.

How you doing, sir?
I'm Mo. Good to meet you.

I'm Dude. Nice to meet you.

Mo and Dude.

Ma'Dere's asleep, you know, so...

Yeah, you go on up, man.

I'm gonna come say good night
to you guys in a minute.

Huh?

You gonna come upstairs
and say good night
to Joe and Mama?

Yeah.

In your mother's room?

Yeah, that's what I said.

Okay.

Well, then, let's shut it down.
We all get some sleep.

You know, we got a big day
ahead of us tomorrow.

All right, man, good night.
Good night. I'll see you tomorrow.

Good night, Joe.

Hey.
Hey.

I'm sorry. I know we were
supposed to get together.

Time slipped away from me, and--

No, no, no, it's all good.

You all right?

Ugh. You know, you just
wouldn't believe
the kind of day I had today.

With my family and...

It's just not
a good time right now.

No, I understand.

Okay. Good night, Gerald.

Clark High School.

Say what?

1993.

I remember
this skinny ninth-grader.

With bony legs
and pigtails and braces.

She dropped all of her books
on the first day of school.

Now, I went down
and helped her pick them up.

But she was so late for class

that she never even
looked up at me.

And then I see you in the club

with your family,

and I thought,
''Wow, there she is.''

Shh.

[STEVIE WONDER'S
''TWINKLE TWINKLE
LITTLE ME'' PLAYS]

Welcome to the stage!

Superstar! What's up, Baby?
Hey, what's up, man?

Yeah, just wrapping
these last Christmas presents.

Yeah.

Merry Christmas, big bro.

Ha. Yeah!

Wonder what it is.

Thanks, bro.

I wanna tell you, man, I'm...

I'm sorry, man.

For what?

Just the way
I chose to live my life.

Choices I made.
Just makes you feel like,
you know,

you gotta stay here
and look after Mama.

No, I just gotta find
the right way and the time
to tell her, that's all.

Right time to tell me what?

Shit.

What is it, Baby,
that you can't exactly tell me?

You know, Mama,

this is not my conversation, so...

Well, I'm gonna let y'all talk.

Good night.

I've been meaning to tell you,
it's just that

it hasn't seemed to be
the right time.

Ever.

But I guess now that you know,
I'm kind of relieved.

Know what?
That I wanna sing, Ma.

And I can really sing too.
Like, I got Senior's ear for music.

I can--
Oh, God! No.

See, that's what I'm talking about!
It's not about you, it's not
about Quentin or Senior.

It's about me, Mama, me.
I do not want to hear this.

You might not understand it,
but you're damn sure gonna listen!

I'm damn sure gonna listen?

Ma, I love you with all my heart,
and you know I do.

But I'm gonna sing,
and I'm gonna sing for me.

I can't be ashamed of wanting
to pursue my dream

just because
Quentin and Senior left.

They didn't leave because of you,
Ma. They left for them.

And I can't live my life
in fear of just disappointing you.

Because in the end
I'm gonna hate myself, and
resent you like you resent Senior.

You watch your mouth.
But it's true, Ma!

You watch how you talk to me.
And I feel sorry for Joe.

Because he really loves you.

But I can't one day look back
and feel sorry for me.

I just can't.
Fine.

And you!

Somehow I think that you haven't
married Joe because of us.

But the sad truth is you haven't
married him because of you, Ma.

[AARON NEVILLE'S
''SILENT NIGHT'' PLAYS]

Good night, Mo.

Good night, Dude.

You know, I was just thinking.

It was cool the way Quentin
agreed to let us stay here.

That was really,
really nice of him, man.

He's a sweet guy.

Why do you suppose he did that?

Damn.

Ticket. Wallet.

Son of a bitch!

MAN [OVER SPEAKERS]:
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the
final boarding call for number 27...

[GRUNTS]

You must think we're stupid.

Honestly? Yeah, I do.

Yeah, we gonna show you
who's stupid.

Get his ass up. Get up.

Get off of me!

Get off me, man!

Get him, get him.

[GRUNTING]

That's enough.
He's learned his lesson.

Leave him alone. Back up. Back up.
He owes us money!

He owes you money.
Twenty-five grand, right?

That's 10 right there.

Take the money
and we'll just call it even,
all right?

You must be joking, old man.

Now, you take this,
or I start shooting.

That'll ruin
everybody's Christmas.

Or I call the police.
They'll be real happy to know

both of y'all have warrants.

You ain't tough guys, man.
You bookies.

Now, take this.

You stay alive,
you stay out of jail.

My gift to y'all. Huh?

Merry Christmas.

Can we have our gun back?
Not in this lifetime.

How'd you know
they had warrants, man?

Their kind always has warrants.

How'd you know
what was going on?

Same way I knew about Darryl
and Benny waiting to beat you up

after school in the sixth grade.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Darryl and Benny?

Darryl and Benny.
Yeah, you could stop them.

But you couldn't stop
Mo and Dude, huh?

Is that your way
of giving me a spanking?

Quentin,
let me tell you something.

What you really have left
at the end of the day

is family,
and we your family, boy.

[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS]

That's my train.

I gotta get out of here.

Quentin.

[♪♪♪]

Morning, everybody.
Daddy! Merry Christmas!

How's my little bumblebee?
Little knucklehead.

BABY:
Merry Christmas!

So we got company, Baby?
Claude's wife.

Claude's what?
His wife. You know, like:

[SINGS]

Malcolm, right? Lisa's husband?
Yeah.

I recognize you from the pictures.

Right.

Claude's wife.

Claude's wife.

So, uh...

This is it, huh?

Yeah, I guess it is.

I go back to New York tomorrow.

Well, how often
do you get back home?

I generally don't have time
to leave the city.

You know.
Usually just for Christmas--

[QUINCEY JONES'
''MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE''
PLAYS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Gerald!

Yeah?

You ever been to New York?

No, but I've always wanted to go.

Well, if I send you a plane ticket,
will you come?

I think I can buy my own plane ticket.
All I needed was an invitation.

Well, you just got one.

Hey, Kelli!

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Gerald.

Santa's coming to town.

Oh, ho, ho.

Looks like
I was missed, huh?

And you're gonna find out
just how much

as soon as you
get out of those clothes.

Mm-hm. That's what
I'm talking about.

But why don't you go wash
that flight off first?

Good idea.

I'll take a shower real quick.
Real quick.

Baby, you been working out?
Uh, yeah.

That thing's paying off.

Mm. Looking good!

Just getting ready
for you, baby!

That's what I like to hear.

You know I been
missing you, right?

And I've missed you too.

Oh, baby.

You know, when I get
out this shower,
you know you gonna get it.

So are you.
That's right.

Hey, did you talk to Quentin
about the dry cleaners yet?

Everything is gonna be just fine,
if that's what you mean.

That's what I like to hear, baby.
That's what I like to hear.

Ma? You got any baby oil?
Mm-hm

New bottle right in the cabinet.

Good, because I'm gonna
need the whole bottle.

Wha--?

MALCOLM:
Man.

It's about to be on
and popping up in here.

How was your trip, Malcolm?
Oh, baby! It was great.

I got a lot of work done.
Yeah, I bet you did.

Hey, baby, where's the car at?
I didn't see it when we pulled up.

The L.A. River.
What?

The L.A. River.

What is this woman talking about?

What are you--?

What's wrong with you?
You're what's wrong with me, Malcolm.

Baby--
Why don't you step out the shower,

so we can talk about it?
It's always something with you.

Yeah, it's always something with me.

Now, you tell me--

[SCREAMS]

[♪♪♪]

What's wrong with you, woman?
Shit! Have you lost your mind?

Yeah, I lost my mind, but I found it
when you was in New York

playing house with that ho!

If I get up off this floor--
Come on, let me see you get up.

[SCREAMING]

Shit! Listen, I can explain
about New York, okay?

No, you don't need to explain.
Just get your shit

and get out of my mama's house!

Shit! God!

Oh, shit.

Quentin left?

Yep.

Some things never change.

I know you had high hopes
of him staying, Ma'Dere.

Sometimes you gotta let them do
what they gonna do.

They say if you wanna
hear the Lord laugh,

just tell him
what you've got planned.

Well, I better finish
dressing for church.

The Lord has a lot
on his plate this morning.

I heard Malcolm left.

Yep.

You know, Quentin left too.

I'd have been surprised
if he stayed.

Seems like Whitfield men
just can't stick around very long.

Which means we can't sell
the dry cleaners--

It doesn't matter.

You were right.

Is there any chance
this is not a joke?

No.

Malcolm, the dry cleaners,
everything, you were right.

I'm filing for a divorce.

Good for you, Lisa.

Yeah, it is good for me.

So I just got
one question for you.

What now?

Baby oil?

The whole damn bottle.

[LAUGHING]

All over the floor, girl.

He was sliding.
Oh, that's great!

Oh, God.

Thanks, Kelli.

It's gonna be all right.

I know.
It is.

[DENITRIA CHAMP'S
''O HOLY NIGHT''
PLAYS]

[CONTINUES SINGING
''O HOLY NIGHT'']

I wanna thank everyone again
for coming out

on this fine Christmas morning.

To praise God
and all his good works.

Amen.
CROWD: Amen.

But before we close out
this morning's services,

Deacon Black
would like to say a few words.

Merry Christmas, everybody.
Merry Christmas.

I'm glad y'all could make it.
And, Reverend Caldwell, I appreciate

you allowing me a few moments
to share with you all

a very special surprise
on this very special morning.

Brothers and sisters,
ladies and gentlemen,

please join me in welcoming
Mr. Michael Whitfield.

Baby, you come up here
and you sing for us.

Come on up here, Baby,
sing for us.

And you all know his mother,
Mrs. Shirley Ann Whitfield.

This is a very special
Christmas gift to her.

Come on up here, Baby,
and sing for us.

You know you my man, right?
Take your time.

[SINGING ''THIS CHRISTMAS'']

Let's go.

What?

MA'DERE:
No, no. I would like a piece.

BABY:
Give me some of that hot ham.
That's the hot ham there.

MA'DERE:
Joe, you got everything you need?

LISA:
Somebody needs
some macaroni and cheese.

Pass the rice.

Try the collared greens, Sandi,
because I made them.

You might not wanna do that.

Girl, she only been in
the family a hot second
and you already trying to kill her.

[LAUGHING]

[DOOR OPENS]

LISA:
What was that?

I don't know.

Oh, my God. Quentin.

JOE:
Come on in, man.
Don't just stand there.

Come on,
get something to eat.

All right. All right, now.
Y'all, look at this.

Here, you can sit right there.
No, man, I want you to sit right here.

Come on, man.

What up, soldier?

BABY:
Ain't that nice.

Oh, this moment calls for a toast.

To my family.

I am just so proud of all of you,

and each Christmas
brings something different.

This Christmas, Lisa,

I lost a son-in-law.
Hallelujah.

But I gained
a wonderful daughter-in-law,

and my oldest son is home.

And as each one of you go
into your individual lives,

I want you
to take this with you:

The Whitfields are a family,

we will always be a family,

and no one and nothing
can change that.

You know what?
I wanna add something
to that. Hold on, hold on.

I'm gonna get myself a drink.
Somebody fix me a plate, please.

[LAUGHING]

I gotta make
a toast to Joe Black.

And the rest of my family.
I love y'all.

Love you too.

[♪♪♪]

You know,
since everybody's making toasts...

Come on in, kids.
Come here. Come here.

I just wanna say that I hope
that every future Whitfield Christmas

is as wonderful

as this Christmas.
ALL: This Christmas.

[MARVIN GAYE'S
''GOT TO GIVE IT UP''
PLAYS]

One. Two. Three.

Merry Christmas.

Delroy.

[CHANTING]
Go, Delroy. Go, Delroy.

[ALL CHATTERING & LAUGHING]

I'm trying, baby.

All right. Dig this.

Merry Christmas.

Go, Loretta. Go, Loretta.

I can't dance.
The hell you can't.

Happy Christmas, Mama.

I love you.

What's up, Chris?

Oh, that's Lauren's
high-school picture.

Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ah!

WOMAN:
You are crazy.

Turn around.

Look at the camera.

Just do it.

Oh, DeBarge.

Go, Laz.

What's up, Mekhi?
What you got, now?

Robot.
Break it down.

Go, go, go.

Hey, guys. Hey, guys.

Come on, girl. Bring it in.

Come on.

Break it down, girl.

Break it down, girl.

Who a sexy mama?
You a sexy mama.

Merry Christmas.

Yeah. PG-13. PG-13.

Whoo.

Go, Sharon. Go, Sharon.

Go, Ronnie. Go, Ronnie.

Oh, taking off your jacket.

Okay.
Keep it sexy. Keep it sexy.

Go ahead.

Don't trip.

Go, Lupe. Go, Lupe.

Merry Christmas.

Oh, boy.

What you know about that? What?

Hey, Mama, I love you, baby.

Come on. They look hot.

Work it out, girl. Come on.

Let me get some!

[TLC'S ''SLEIGH RIDE'' PLAYS]