Original subtitles

♪ WELL, WE'RE MOVIN' ON UP ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ TO A DELUXE APARTMENT IN THE SKY ♪

♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ WE FINALLY GOT A PIECE OF THE PIE ♪

♪ FISH DON'T FRY IN THE KITCHEN ♪

♪ BEANS DON'T BURN ON THE GRILL ♪

♪ TOOK A WHOLE LOT OF TRYIN' ♪

♪ JUST TO GET UP THAT HILL ♪

♪ NOW WE'RE UP IN THE BIG LEAGUES ♪

♪ GETTIN' OUR TURN AT BAT ♪

♪ AS LONG AS WE LIVE IT'S YOU AND ME, BABY ♪

♪ AIN'T NOTHIN' WRONG WITH THAT ♪

♪ WELL, WE'RE MOVIN' ON UP ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ TO A DELUXE APARTMENT IN THE SKY ♪

♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ TO THE EAST SIDE ♪ ♪ MOVIN' ON UP ♪

♪ WE FINALLY GOT A PIECE OF THE PIE ♪♪

THANKS FOR HELPING ME WITH THE GROCERIES, DIANE.

HOW ABOUT COMING IN FOR A CUP OF COFFEE? OH, NO, THANKS, LOUISE.

I BETTER NOT. WHY NOT?

YOU SPRANG FOR THE COKES IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM YESTERDAY.

YEAH, BUT... AND I ALWAYS SAY...

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT ARE NO FUN AT ALL UNLESS YOU'VE GOT COMPANY.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS DRINKING COFFEE.

OKAY, WELL, WHY NOT?

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT MR. SCHNEIDER GETTING MUGGED IN THE PARK LAST NIGHT?

NO, BUT WHAT WAS HE DOING IN THE PARK AT NIGHT ANYWAY?

HE WAS EXERCISING HIS POLICE DOG.

OH, THAT'S ME. OH!

I'LL GET THESE. YOU GET THE PHONE. THANKS, DIANE.

AHA! MRS. ISAAC NEWTON, I PRESUME.

NO. I'M MRS. DIANE STOCKWELL. HOW DO YOU DO?

I SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE THAT JOKE BECAUSE GRAVITY IS NO LAUGHING MATTER, IS IT?

NO, I CAN SEE IT ISN'T.

LET ME HELP YOU. THANK YOU.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE MET. I'M HARRY BENTLEY.

DO YOU LIVE IN THE BUILDING? NO, BUT THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT.

I'M A MAID. I WORK FOR SOME OF THE FAMILIES IN THE BUILDING.

I'M JUST GOING IN FOR A CUP OF COFFEE WITH MY FRIEND.

THAT'S NICE. THEN YOU KNOW THE JEFFERSONS, EH?

NO, JUST THEIR MAID, LOUISE.

MAID? OH, I THINK YOU'VE MADE...

LET'S BRING THE GROCERIES HERE IN THE KITCHEN, DIANE.

HEY, THIS IS A REAL NICE APARTMENT.

IT SURE IS DONE IN GOOD TASTE. OH, THANK YOU.

IT IS ALL RIGHT, I MEAN MY COMING IN LIKE THIS?

YOUR BOSS AIN'T LIKELY TO COME BACK UNEXPECTED?

BOSS? THE DAY I CALL GEORGE "BOSS"...

IS THE DAY THEY'LL INVITE LESTER MADDOX TO A HARLEM BLOCK PARTY.

- YOU CALL HIM "GEORGE" TO HIS FACE? - NOT ALWAYS.

SOMETIMES I CALL HIM "LOUDMOUTH."

- HE LET YOU TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT? - SURE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO...

IF YOUR HUSBAND GETS UP IN YOUR FACE?

HUSBAND? I THOUGHT YOU WAS TALKIN' ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYER.

HUH? THANKS.

IT SURE IS NICE HAVING SOMEBODY LIKE YOU TO TALK TO, LOUISE.

SOME OF THE MAIDS AROUND HERE ARE SO SNOOTY,

YOU'D THINK THEY OWNED THE APARTMENTS THEMSELVES.

- REALLY? - YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT, HONEY.

BUT I AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THEM STUCK-UP FOLKS...

WITH THEIR NOSE SO HIGH IN THE AIR THEY CAN'T EVEN SMELL THEIR OWN MOUTHWASH.

LOUISE! WHO'S THAT?

OH, ONE OF THE HIGHER NOSES IN THESE PARTS.

WEEZY!

OH, HI. HI.

GEORGE, THIS IS DIANE STOCKWELL.

DIANE, THIS IS MY HUSBAND GEORGE.

IF YOU'RE THE AVON LADY, I THINK IT'S TOO LATE.

HE'S A GREAT JOKER. SOMETIMES HE'S EVEN FUNNY.

THE BOTH OF Y'ALL LIVE HERE? UH-HUH. SOME PLACE, AIN'T IT?

YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW THE JEFFERSONS HAD A COUPLE.

A COUPLE OF WHAT?

A MAID AND A BUTLER. YOU TWO.

BUTLER? WHAT?

YEAH, THEY MUST BE REAL RICH. HOLD IT, DIANE.

WE ARE THE JEFFERSONS.

HEY, YOU'RE RIGHT, LOUISE. HE'S A GREAT JOKER.

HE'S NOT JOKING, DIANE.

OH, YOU GOT TO BE KIDDIN'.

HOW CAN YOU AFFORD TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS?

YOU AIN'T TALL ENOUGH TO BE NO BASKETBALL PLAYER.

SAY WHAT?

AND YOU TOO OLD FOR A ROCK-AND-ROLL SINGER.

LOOK, THIS IS OUR APARTMENT.

THEN YOU GOT TO BE A NUMBER RUNNER.

I'M GETTIN' OUT OF HERE. NO, HOLD ON.

I DON'T RUN NOTHIN' EXCEPT MY OWN BUSINESS.

THAT'S TRUE, DIANE. HE OWNS SOME CLEANING STORES.

INCLUDING THE ONE DOWNSTAIRS.

OH. OH, I'M SORRY.

EXCUSE ME.

DIANE, WAIT. WAIT, DIANE. WHAT'S THE MATTER?

WELL, I THOUGHT YOU WAS A MAID LIKE ME.

YOU A MAID? YES. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?

PLENTY. WHY AIN'T YOU OUT MAIDIN' SOMEPLACE?

- DON'T MIND HIM, DIANE. - NO, IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

- MR. JEFFERSON IS RIGHT. - MR. JEFFERSON? IT'S GEORGE, DIANE.

SHE WAS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. MR. JEFFERSON.

I BETTER BE GOING. THANKS FOR THE COFFEE.

WAIT. PROMISE YOU'LL DROP IN TOMORROW AND HAVE ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE WITH ME.

I WANT US TO BE GOOD FRIENDS. WELL, I WILL IF I CAN.

BYE, MR. JEFFERSON. BYE.

YOU HEAR THAT, LOUISE? SHE CALLED ME MR. JEFFERSON.

MRS. LOUISE.

TWO CAN PLAY AT THAT SUPERIOR JAZZ. DIANE IS MY FRIEND.

NO, SHE'S NOT. SHE'S A DOMESTIC.

YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A DISEASE.

FACT OF LIFE. YOU OWN AN APARTMENT IN THE BUILDING AND SHE'S A MAID.

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, BUSTER.

AIN'T YOU FORGETTING WHERE YOU CAME FROM?

IT AIN'T THE QUESTION OF WHERE I CAME FROM.

IT'S THE QUESTION OF WHERE I AM.

YOU ARE EAST SIDE AND SHE IS WEST SIDE.

I DON'T WANT NO CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC IN MY KITCHEN.

GEORGE, THE LORD CREATED EVERYBODY EQUAL.

EXCEPT IN YOUR CASE, HE QUIT WORK BEFORE HE GOT TO YOUR HEAD.

NOW, LOOK HERE, LOUISE...

JUST BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING UP...

IS NO REASON WHY WE HAVE TO LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE.

I'M NOT TELLIN' YOU TO LOOK DOWN ON NOBODY.

I'M JUST SAYING TO SHIFT YOUR ANGLE AND LET THEM START LOOKING UP TO YOU.

LOOK, LOUISE, I'VE DONE GOOD BY YOU, RIGHT?

AND I HOPE SOMEDAY DIANE'S HUSBAND WILL DO GOOD BY HER.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, SHE IS WHERE A DOMESTIC BELONGS... IN THE KITCHEN.

AND YOU ARE GONNA BE WHERE YOU BELONG... IN THE DOGHOUSE.

LOOK, I WEAR THE PANTS IN THIS FAMILY.

AND WHEN YOU ZIP 'EM UP, INCLUDE YOUR MOUTH.

YOU BETTER PRAY THIS IS THE U.S. CAVALRY.

HELLO. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF YOURS. OH.

IT WAS HIDING IN THE CORNER, LICKING ITS WOUNDS, THE POOR LITTLE CHAP.

HUH? IT'S GOT A NASTY BRUISE. YOU SEE?

I SHOULDN'T PUT THAT IN WITH THE OTHERS IF I WERE YOU.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ONE ROTTEN APPLE.

OH, I KNOW. IT SPOILS THE WHOLE BARREL.

AH, MR. JEFFERSON, WHAT LUCK THAT YOU'RE HERE.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TIME TO TAKE A LITTLE WALK ON THE OLD BACK, WOULD YOU?

WHAT'S WITH YOU AND THIS BACK-WALKING THING? IT'S BEEN ACTING UP AGAIN.

JUST A COUPLE OF STEPS.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU DO IT. IT'S AMAZING, REALLY.

THAT'S IT. OH, THAT'S LOVELY, YES.

YOU HAVE WONDERFUL RHYTHM IN YOUR FEET.

GEORGE!

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING.

YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN. THANK YOU.

BENTLEY, SINCE YOU'RE HERE, MAYBE YOU CAN

SETTLE A LITTLE DISCUSSION WE'VE BEEN HAVING.

IN ENGLAND DO YOU PEOPLE MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR MAIDS?

SURELY, YES. MY BEST FRIEND WAS MY NANNY.

WONDERFUL WOMAN, NANNY.

USED TO TELL ME FAIRY TALES BY THE HOUR...

WHILE I SAT IN HER LAP AND PULLED THE HAIRS OUT OF HER CHIN.

WELL, THANKS AGAIN. ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID, YES.

I'M A NEW MAN. GOOD-BYE.

GOOD-BYE, MR. BENTLEY.

THAT'S A WEIRD DUDE THERE.

OKAY, GEORGE, NOW... WHOA! I KNOW YOU THINK I'M WRONG FOR WHAT I'M DOING,

BUT ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THINGS NICE FOR YOU.

SO NOW GET YOUR COAT. I'M TAKING YOU OUT TO LUNCH.

I DON'T HAVE TIME. I'VE GOT THE WINDOWS TO CLEAN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. OH, NO?

WELL, I CAN HEAR YOUR MOTHER NOW.

"SUCH A LOVELY VIEW, GEORGE.

WHAT A PITY THE DIRTY WINDOWS STOP YOU FROM SEEING IT."

JUST HIRE A MAID TO COME IN ONE DAY A WEEK. WE CAN AFFORD IT.

I DON'T NEED A MAID. LOOK, YOU WANNA SEE YOUR FRIEND DIANE, RIGHT?

OF COURSE I DO. SHE'S A MAID. HIRE HER.

I CAN'T HIRE HER. DIANE IS A FRIEND OF MINE.

GEORGE, REMEMBER WHEN LIONEL WAS GROWING UP...

AND I DID DOMESTIC WORK TWICE A WEEK TO SORT OF HELP OUT?

YES. REMEMBER THE FOLKS I WORKED FOR?

UH-HUH. IT WAS ALL "YES, MA'AM," "NO, MA'AM."

NOW, HOW CAN I ASK DIANE TO SAY "YES, MA'AM" TO ME?

'CAUSE NOW YOU'RE THE MA'AM. THAT'S THE WAY LIFE GOES, WEEZY.

LOOK, SOME PEOPLE GOT TO BE THE MA'AMS AND THE REST ARE THE "MA'AMMIES."

I AM NOT GOING TO ASK MY FRIEND TO WORK FOR ME.

AND FOR THE LAST TIME, GEORGE, I DO NOT WANT A MAID.

YES, YOU DO. I DO NOT.

I'M ORDERING YOU TO HIRE A MAID. YOU'RE NOT ORDERING ME...

I'M TELLING YOU! I DON'T WANT A MAID! HEY!

I CAN HEAR YOU OUT IN THE HALL. WHAT YOU FIGHTING ABOUT NOW?

YOUR MOTHER'S ACTING LIKE A CRAZY WOMAN AGAIN.

OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF MY HEART, I OFFERED TO GET HER A MAID...

TO HELP HER KEEP THE PLACE CLEAN, AND SHE GOES OFF INTO A WILD HYSTERIC.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME, MA.

YOU COULD USE A LITTLE HELP AROUND HERE.

JENNY'S PARENTS, THEY HAVE AN APARTMENT JUST LIKE THIS. THEY HAVE A MAID.

ONLY ONE? I FIGURED THE WILLISES WOULD HAVE THREE MAIDS.

- THREE? - I FIGURE A BLACK ONE FOR MR. DAY,

A WHITE ONE FOR MRS. NIGHT AND A PLAID ONE FOR JENNY.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TOLD YOU. WHY DON'T YOU CUT THAT OUT?

QUIET!

I AIN'T GOT NO TIME TO BE ARGUING.

I GOT BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE. YOU'RE GONNA GET A MAID AND THAT'S IT.

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE'LL HAVE A MAID,

AND THAT'S OVER MY DEAD BODY.

GOOD. THEN SHE CAN CLEAN UP THE MESS.

AND THEN WHEN LIONEL TOLD GEORGE YOU HAD A MAID, I DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE.

RELAX, LOUISE. HAVING A MAID ISN'T THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

BUT I TOLD GEORGE I DIDN'T WANT A MAID. HE'S NOT GONNA PUSH ME AROUND.

- THEN GET A DIVORCE. - WHAT?

SURE. IT'LL BE EASY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS STAND UP AND SAY,

"YOUR HONOR, I WANT A DIVORCE ON THE GROUNDS...

THAT MY HUSBAND IS FORCING ME TO HAVE A MAID."

THEN AFTER THEY RELEASE YOU FROM BELLEVUE...

TOM! BUT IT IS FUNNY.

WHAT AM I GONNA DO?

GEORGE CALLED AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY,

AND TOMORROW I'M GONNA BE CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S REALLY BOTHERING YOU, LOUISE?

YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT SPENDING THE MONEY.

I CAN'T HELP IT. IT'S THE WAY I WAS BROUGHT UP.

"A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED."

A PENNY? HA!

YOU KNOW WHO MADE THOSE SAYINGS UP, DON'T YOU? RICH PEOPLE.

TO KEEP POOR PEOPLE HAPPY ABOUT BEING POOR.

LIKE, "I GOT PLENTY OF NOTHIN' AND NOTHIN'S PLENTY FOR ME."

♪ AND THE MOON BELONGS TO EVERYONE ♪

♪ THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE ♪

LIKE FOOD, RENT, CLOTHING.

THAT'S RIGHT. ♪ AND I GOT NO CHECKBOOKS ♪

♪ GOT NO BANKS STILL I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY THANKS ♪

♪ I'VE GOT THE SUN IN THE MORNING AND THE MOON AT NIGHT ♪♪

DID YOU EVER TRY LIVING ON SUNSHINE?

THEY'D TOSS YOU IN JAIL IF YOU TRIED LIVING ON MOONSHINE.

OKAY, OKAY, SO I'VE BEEN BRAINWASHED.

BUT HOW CAN I CHANGE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

TOM, DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU WANTED A COKE?

DID I? OH, YES, OF COURSE I DID.

SIT DOWN, LOUISE. I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU,

SOMETHING I HAD TO LEARN MYSELF.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND STILL ENJOY LIFE?

WELL, HONEY, I HAD A LIFETIME OF BEING POOR.

TAKE SHOPPING. ALL OF MY LIFE, I'VE ONLY BOUGHT THREE KINDS OF DRESSES...

"FIFTY PERCENT OFF", "SECONDS" AND "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS."

YOU'LL GET USED TO IT, LOUISE.

ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS LEARN THREE LITTLE WORDS... "I'LL TAKE IT."

BUT FIRST I HAVE TO FORGET THE FOUR BIG WORDS... "HOW MUCH IS IT?"

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT MONEY COULD SOLVE ALL OUR PROBLEMS.

BUT I'VE HAD MORE FIGHTS WITH GEORGE IN THE LAST WEEK...

THAN I'VE HAD IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THE BIBLE WAS RIGHT.

MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

MONEY WAS NEW IN BIBLICAL DAYS. THEY DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.

I GO WITH GEORGE BERNARD SHAW... "THE LACK OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL."

WELL, MY GEORGE...

WELL, MY GEORGE SAYS THE SAME THING, ONLY HE PUTS IT DIFFERENTLY.

HE SAYS, "BEING BROKE STINKS."

HI THERE, GEORGE.

- HI. - WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?

BASKING IN THE WARMTH OF YOUR WELCOME.

WELL, IF YOU TWO BASKERS WILL EXCUSE ME,

I'M GONNA MIX MYSELF A DRINK.

OH, GEORGE. IT'S ALL RIGHT, LOUISE. WE'RE LEAVING.

- I HOPE IT'S NOT ON MY ACCOUNT. - I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER REASON.

HELEN, TOM, WAIT.

GEORGE, I INVITED THEM HERE. THEY'RE OUR GUESTS. SO YOU BE NICE.

OKAY. GOOD NIGHT AND HAVE A NICE EVENING.

YOU HEAR THAT? AND THIS IS THE MAN THAT YOU SAID WAS RIGHT.

- WHO SAID I WAS RIGHT? - WE DID. WE AGREE WITH YOU.

- LOUISE SHOULD HAVE SOME HELP AROUND THE HOUSE. - YOU TOOK MY SIDE, HUH?

YES, HEAVEN HELP US. GOOD NIGHT.

WAIT A MINUTE. YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU JUST GOT HERE. SIT DOWN.

SIT ON DOWN. RELAX. WELL.

SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO GET ALONG WITH HIM, HELEN?

JUST AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE SAYS.

I'M GLAD YOU TWO FINALLY STRAIGHTENED LOUISE OUT.

NOBODY STRAIGHTENED ME OUT. I DON'T WANT A MAID...

AND I STILL GET GOOSE PIMPLES THINKING ABOUT THOSE INTERVIEWS.

WHY DON'T YOU SHARE OUR MAID? SHE ONLY WORKS FOR US TWICE A WEEK.

TWICE A WEEK? WE DON'T WANT NO USED MAID.

WE'RE GONNA GET OUR OWN MAID, FULL TIME, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

FIVE DAYS A WEEK? ARE YOU CRAZY?

THIS MORNING YOU SAID ONCE A WEEK.

THINGS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT DIRTIER SINCE THEN.

AND YOU ARE MORE OF A SHOW-OFF.

JUST BECAUSE HELEN SAID SHE HAS A MAID TWICE A WEEK...

TWICE A WEEK IS A CLEANING WOMAN. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REAL MAID.

WITH A UNIFORM. ONE THAT FITS MY POSITION.

REMEMBER, I WORKED MY WAY FROM THE BOTTOM UP TO THE TOP.

SO DOES A GOPHER.

OH, GOD, TOM, IT FEELS SO GOOD TO DISAGREE WITH HIM AGAIN.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THIS APARTMENT.

IT'S GOT A FULL-TIME DOOR. USE IT. BYE.

WILL YOU SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I'M TIRED OF THIS! JUST GET OUT!

I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOUR FIGHT WHEN YOU'RE REALLY ROLLING,

BUT WE CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC IN THERE. WHO WE? WHO, WHO?

JENNY AND ME. YOU AND JENNY?

SHE'S GOT YOU LOCKED IN THAT BEDROOM WITH HER ALONE?

WE AIN'T ALONE. WE GOT GLADYS KNIGHT, STEVIE WONDER, ROLLING STONES.

DON'T GIVE ME THAT. THE MUSIC MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLAYING, BUT YOU WASN'T LISTENING.

JENNY, COME OUT HERE NOW. WHY?

POP KNOWS WE'RE MESSIN' AROUND.

WELL, OKAY, AS SOON AS I CAN GET INTO MY CLOTHES.

YOU COME OUT HERE RIGHT NOW, YOUNG LADY!

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING YOU SAY.

YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.

BOTH OF YOU. AND RIGHT IN YOUR MOTHER'S HOUSE TOO.

WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE HONORABLE THING TO DO, DAD... FORCE ME TO MARRY HER.

YOU'RE HER MOTHER. AREN'T YOU GONNA SAY ANYTHING TO HER?

I DON'T THINK THAT COLOR BLANKET SUITS YOU, JENNY.

OKAY, I'LL TAKE IT OFF. NO, DON'T!

NOW YOU SATISFIED, POP? COME ON. I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

YOU AIN'T GOING NOWHERE? YOU CAN'T TELL ME...

WOMAN, YOU BETTER GET IN THAT ROOM! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKING TO?

NOW, YOU HEARD THAT? THAT'S HOW Y'ALL LOOK.

THAT WAS A GREAT IMITATION OF YOU, GEORGE.

FINE SON HE IS.

HE COULD'VE STOPPED ME BEFORE I MADE A DAMN FOOL OUT OF MYSELF.

WELL, HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WHEN YOU WERE FIRST BORN.

GEORGE, WHY DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT SO MUCH?

IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WHY CAN'T WE JUST TALK IT THROUGH, LIKE TOM AND HELEN?

THEY DON'T FIGHT. THEY DON'T FIGHT 'CAUSE THEY'RE SCARED TO FIGHT.

- WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? - YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT IT MEANS.

IF YOU TWO EVER REALLY STARTED GOING AT ONE ANOTHER,

INSIDE OF FIVE MINUTES, HE'D BE CALLING YOU...

- DON'T SAY IT. - NIGGER.

HE SAID IT.

NOW, YOU LISTEN TO ME.

WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF FIGHTS AND IT'S NEVER HAPPENED.

- DON'T TELL ME IT NEVER CROSSED YOUR MIND. - NO MORE THAN IT...

- EVER CROSSED MY MIND TO SAY THE WORD "HONKY" TO TOM. - HOW COME YOU SAID IT THEN?

COME ON, HELEN. LET'S GO.

THAT'S THE BEST IDEA YOU'VE HAD ALL DAY.

TOM, I'M WORRIED.

ABOUT WHAT? JUST NOW, IN THERE.

WHY DID "HONKY" EVER CROSS MY MIND?

WHY SHOULDN'T IT? DON'T YOU THINK WORDS LIKE THAT CROSS MY MIND TOO?

YEAH, BUT EVEN WHEN WE'VE HAD OUR WORST FIGHTS, YOU'VE NEVER CALLED ME NIGGER.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND.

HELEN, REMEMBER YOU TOLD ME...

YOU USED TO HAVE A LOT OF TERRIBLE FIGHTS WITH YOUR SISTER?

YEAH. WE COULD HAVE FILLED MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

WELL, DIDN'T YOU HAVE ANY CRAZY THOUGHTS THEN?

SURE. I CAN EVEN REMEMBER WISHING HER DEAD.

CAN YOU REALIZE THAT? AND I REALLY LOVED HER. OH, I FELT SO GUILTY.

HONEY, WE CAN'T STOP CRAZY THOUGHTS FROM POPPING INTO OUR HEADS. NOBODY CAN.

WHAT MATTERS IS NOT WHAT PASSES ACROSS OUR MINDS.

IT'S HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES TOGETHER.

AND, BABY, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT PRETTY GOOD.

DAMN GOOD.

I BEG YOUR PARDON. I'LL COME BACK LATER.

SHE HASN'T EVEN BEEN HIRED YET AND ALREADY SHE'S LATE.

THAT SETTLES IT, GEORGE. I DON'T NEED A MAID AND THAT'S THAT.

SHE AIN'T LATE. STOP MAKING EXCUSES. SHE IS LATE.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AT 10:00 FOR HER INTERVIEW.

WELL, IT'S ONLY FIVE MINUTES TO TEN.

WELL, SHE'S ALMOST LATE.

- I'M NOT HAVING A MAID AND THAT'S THAT. - GIVE THE WOMAN A CHANCE.

GOOD MORNING, LOUISE. OH, HELLO, MOTHER JEFFERSON. COME IN.

OH, MAMA! OH, GEORGE!

I WAS JUST PASSING BY.

ON THE 12th FLOOR?

I HOPE I DIDN'T INTERRUPT ANYTHING. NO, MAMA.

LOUISE WAS JUST WAITING TO INTERVIEW THE NEW MAID.

A MAID?

YOU'RE GETTING A MAID TO LOOK AFTER THIS ITTY-BITTY APARTMENT?

- YES. - WELL, WELL.

ALL THE YEARS I WAS MARRIED, BRINGING UP A FAMILY IN THAT GREAT BIG HOUSE,

WE NEVER HAD A MAID.

WHAT GREAT BIG HOUSE? WE HAD A THREE-ROOM WALK-UP.

- HE DOESN'T REMEMBER. - NO, YOU MEAN YOU DON'T REMEMBER.

DON'T TALK TO YOUR MOTHER LIKE THAT. DON'T YOU PICK ON GEORGE.

HE HAS ENOUGH ON HIS MIND TRYING TO THINK UP WAYS TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY...

TO PAY FOR YOUR MAID, WHICH YOU DON'T NEED.

OH, YOU SEE THERE, GEORGE. EVEN YOUR MOTHER AGREES WITH ME.

WELL, ON THE OTHER HAND,

I CAN UNDERSTAND YOU WANTING SOMEBODY...

TO KEEP THE PLACE NEAT AND CLEAN...

FOR A CHANGE.

MOTHER JEFFERSON, WHY DON'T YOU GO...

GO IN THE KITCHEN AND GET YOURSELF A CUP OF COFFEE.

MRS. JEFFERSON? I'M FLORENCE JOHNSTON. THE AGENCY SENT ME.

OH, YES. COME IN.

- THIS IS MY HUSBAND. - HOW YOU DO?

10:00 ON THE DOT, LOUISE. OH, I BELIEVE IN BEING PROMPT, MR. JEFFERSON.

I ALWAYS SAY I AIN'T GOT NO RIGHT TO WASTE TIME WHEN OTHER PEOPLE IS PAYING FOR IT.

I HEAR YOU. SHE'S GOT THE JOB.

NOW, JUST A MINUTE, GEORGE. I'M DOING THE INTERVIEWING.

THIS SURE IS A LOVELY APARTMENT, MRS. JEFFERSON. THANK YOU.

AND IS THAT YOUR KITCHEN? YES.

OOH, LOOK AT THAT KITCHEN.

AND I SEE YOU GOT A COOK TOO.

IT'S GONNA BE A REAL PLEASURE LOOKING AFTER A PLACE LIKE THIS.

BUT IT'S A VERY LARGE APARTMENT. WE HAVE FOUR BATHROOMS.

THAT'S GOOD. I LOVE LARGE APARTMENTS. SMALL ONES ARE SO BORING.

BUT LOOK AT ALL THOSE WINDOWS.

THEY MUST BE CLEANED EVERY TWO WEEKS.

- EVERY TWO WEEKS? - WELL, THERE YOU ARE, GEORGE.

- SHE DOESN'T DO WINDOWS. - NOT NO EVERY TWO WEEKS.

I'D CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS EVERY WEEK.

- YOU WOULD? - BUT THERE'S JUST ONE THING.

I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SMALL CHILDREN. DO YOU?

OH, YES, WE DO. LITTLE LIONEL. SORRY.

LITTLE LIONEL? LIONEL IS 22 YEARS OLD.

WILL YOU STOP FOOLING AROUND AND TELL MRS. JOHNSTON SHE'S HIRED.

I AM? WELL, SIR, THANK YOU.

I'LL GET THE DOOR FOR YOU. SEE, SHE DOES DOORS TOO.

HI, DIANE. FLORENCE. WHAT YOU DOING HERE?

- I'M THE JEFFERSONS' NEW MAID. - WHAT?

- HI, DIANE. - WHAT YOU MEAN "HI, DIANE"?

- HOW COME YOU'RE HIRING HER? - WHAT?

SHE SAID HOW COME YOU'RE HIRING ME, MRS. JEFFERSON.

I KNOW WHAT SHE SAID. I WANNA KNOW WHAT DOES SHE MEAN.

I MEAN HAVE I GOT LEPROSY OR SOMETHING?

HOW COME YOU DIDN'T OFFER ME THE JOB?

BUT, DIANE, YOU'RE MY FRIEND. I CAN'T ASK YOU TO WORK FOR ME.

WELL, I'M SURE GLAD EVERYBODY AIN'T AS FRIENDLY AS YOU ARE.

MY CHILDREN WOULD STARVE TO DEATH.

HI, LOUISE. OH, DIANE, YOU'RE HERE.

I KNEW YOU'D LIKE HER. ISN'T SHE WONDERFUL?

DIANE IS YOUR MAID?

YEAH. LUCKY WE WEREN'T GOOD FRIENDS.

OH, DIANE, I'M SORRY. WELL, IT'S TOO LATE NOW.

NO, IT AIN'T. IT AIN'T NO PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

WORK IT OUT WITH MRS. JEFFERSON. I CAN ALWAYS GET SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE AGENCY.

OH, THANK YOU, FLORENCE. FLORENCE!

BUT THERE'S JUST ONE THING. DO YOU FOLKS MIND IF I ASK YOU SOMETHING?

NO. GO RIGHT AHEAD. YOU LIVE IN THIS APARTMENT, RIGHT?

UH-HUH. YOU GOT AN APARTMENT IN THIS BUILDING TOO?

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, HOW COME WE OVERCAME AND NOBODY TOLD ME?

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THE JEFFERSONS WAS RECORDED ON TAPE IN FRONT OF A STUDIO AUDIENCE.

♪ MOVIN', MOVIN ON UP ♪♪