Original subtitles

Captioning made possible by the U.S. Department of education

mom, this place is beautiful.

There aren't many clubs like this

left in the city.

( banging )

Rudy!

I wanted to hear it.

It sounds like any other piano.

Which is why we don't have one at home.

Mrs. Huxtable?

Clarence Thornhill.

Mr. Thornhill. How are you?

I'm fine, thank you.

This is Vanessa.

How are you? Hello.

And my other daughter here, liberace.

How are you, liberace?

I really appreciate your setting this up.

It's my pleasure.

Your letter demonstrated such great love

miss Horne would like

your family to sit at her personal table.

I don't know if that's such a good idea.

Cliff might try to reach out and touch her.

We could have made these arrangements over the phone.

You don't know my husband.

When it comes to Finding out his birthday present

there's nothing he won't do.

He'll even interrogate his own children.

Yeah, Dad's tricky.

Make him think he's staying home.

That's not sneaky enough.

I think we should pretend we're making him a big dinner

let him find out about it

then when he's bragging about how he's outfoxed us

we bring in a pizza.

Mushroom pizza.

He hates mushrooms!

Mushroom pizza.

He won't know whether he's coming or going.

That's a great plan.

Mom's tricky, too.

Oh, my birthday present is around here somewhere.

They've hidden...

( car door slams )

Hello.

Hi, dad.

You're home from school a little late.

Uh, traffic.

At this hour there was traffic?

Where was there traffic?

Between home and school.

Between home and school.

Rudy...

traffic.

Vanessa...

I've got to take a bath.

Your being late had something to do with my birthday.

Am I right, Vanessa?

Got to take a bath.

Rudy?

Traffic!

Make it tough on me.

I love it.

The joy of a birthday

is finding out what the present is

before one gets it.

And you know I always do.

Not this year.

"Not this year."

You say that every year, and every year I find out.

Do you want to tell me what it is now

or do you want me to start working on the children?

Work on whoever you please.

You won't find out anything.

Let the games begin.

( humming the olympics theme )

Daddy, this has nothing to do with your birthday.

Right.

I'm serious.

I'm writing a song for the school choir.

Really?

These are lyrics.

Okay, let's hear it.

"No one understands me.

"No one really cares.

"I'm an orphan of the darkness.

"a prisoner of my tears.

"I walk alone in the rain.

"the downpour of pain.

"The dreams I dream are not my own.

"I walk alone.

I walk alone."

So?

Daddy!

"I walk alone..."

is this what you think about your life?

No, but we couldn't write about the good stuff

like sex and politics.

All that's left was self-pity?

You don't like it because it's not jazz.

Have you read it for Theo yet?

Yes, she did.

I don't want to hear it again until I'm really happy.

That's just what I love about you guys--

so supportive.

Maybe it isn't a man's song.

Have you read it for your mother?

Yes.

What did she say?

"I walk alone."

Yes, you do.

Theo, my boy.

You know...

saturday's my birthday.

I'll be 48 years old.

Right, dad.

It's circled on my calendar.

Oh, thank you.

You did it.

I know there's going to be

a present for me, my boy.

So what is it?

Come on, dad.

You know I can't tell you.

I know that.

How old are you now?

Fourteen.

Fourteen.

Two years from now

you're going to want a car.

I'm the only one who can buy it for you.

So, my boy

what's it going to be?

Okay, dad.

Okay.

This year everyone is pitching in

to get you something you're really going to love.

What is it?

They won't tell me.

You're pitching in?

Yeah.

And they won't tell you?

I'm serious, dad.

They said, "Do what we say," and that was it.

They know I always break

so they're keeping it from me, too.

I'll tell you something right now.

I think it's just awful that people would ask you to pitch in

and not tell you what it is.

And if it was me

I would go upstairs and demand to know

what you are getting me for my birthday.

You know something, dad?

They said you would try that.

Well, that's all right.

I'll sit here and take this abuse

only because it's going to be my birthday

and I'm going to get some presents.

Well, maybe.

You're going to look funny walking when you're 23.

He's coming!

Sondra, I was wrong.

You need four eggs

to make a double chocolate souffle.

Okay, mom, I'll add another one.

I can't find the big serving dish.

Keep looking.

It's the only one large enough

to hold the beef Wellington.

Vanessa, it's only Theo.

I'm sorry, I heard footsteps.

Hey, is this part of Dad's surprise?

Come on, tell me.

Here he comes!

Sondra, I was wrong.

You need four eggs

to make a double chocolate souffle.

I'll add another one.

Vanessa: I can't find the big serving dish.

Clair: Keep looking.

It's the only one large enough

to hold the beef Wellington.

Mom, taste my gazpacho.

In a minute.

I can't wait

until dad tastes this Caesar salad.

Please hand me the homemade garlic croutons.

( whispering: ) Everybody, stop! Stop!

We got him.

Cliff.

Uh-uh.

You did not see that.

No, no, you did not see that.

Yes, I did.

Those kids have been working their hearts out

trying to prepare you a surprise dinner.

They'll be crushed.

My lips are sealed.

I'm supposed to trick you

into getting dressed up in your tuxedo

and get you down to the dining room.

Consider me tricked.

But let

the record show

that I found out about my present ahead of time.

You're despicable!

Oh!

I've got to admit it, cliff

you are smarter

than the rest of us.

Dear.

Yes?

I just love croutons.

And dear...

I just can't wait

until I Chew on my beef Wellington.

And dear...

I just love gazpacho soup.

Keep those eyes closed.

Okay.

I've got you.

Here you go.

All right?

Sit down?

If you like.

You ready?

Open your eyes.

Surprise! Surprise!

Is this for me?

Golly, I never would have guessed this.

Hope you're hungry.

I can't wait.

Dad, how does the big four-eight feel?

Never felt better.

I'm glad to hear you say that.

48 is traditionally

the time of mid-life crisis.

Really?

Yeah, a man reaches Dad's age

and he sees almost half a century gone.

Then he looks ahead and realizes

he has less than a third of his life left.

Sondra, I think you ought to get a job

writing birthday cards.

Dinner is served.

Surprise!

Pizza?

It's pizza, dad!

Happy birthday.

Yeah, Yeah.

Okay.

I know you better take that out of here.

Come on, cliff.

No, no, no, no.

I'm not going for no pizza.

You all can stop fooling around right now.

Bring out the croutons and the gazpacho.

Come on, I don't want no pizza.

Cliff!

No, no, no, no!

Beef Wellington! Beef Wellington!

Is that any way to behave on your birthday?

Get it out here.

You better hurry up and eat this food.

I don't want this.

This is it!

We got him.

We got him good.

Cliff, this is it.

Where did you hide the beef Wellington?

Hurry up and eat your pizza because there's more.

We're taking you someplace.

Where are you taking me?

Down to the city dump?

I don't want none of that.

Wow, dad.

Wait till you see this place.

Oh, yeah?

Well, I smell candles, I hear people...

must be in a funeral parlor.

Wrong.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen

the club premiere is proud to present

Lena Horne!

( jazz music )

Look at you.

You know you're sitting at my personal table?

Just anybody can't sit here.

I let diplomats and potentates and birthday boys.

You don't look like no diplomat, and you ain't no potentate.

I'm just joking-- I know all about him.

This is dr. Heathcliff hux... hux...

huxtable!

Whatever.

Anyway, I hope he appreciates everything his wife did

to make this possible tonight.

You better kiss her hand.

I'm going to sing a song to you, dr. Heathcliff huxtable

that just about covers

what you and your wife mean to each other.

♪ In this world of ordinary people ♪

♪ extraordinary people ♪

♪ I'm glad there is you ♪

♪ in this world of overrated pleasures ♪

♪ of underrated treasures ♪

♪ I'm glad there is you ♪

♪ I would love to live ♪

♪ Yes, I want to live ♪

♪ with you beside me ♪

♪ this role's so new ♪

♪ I'll muddle through ♪

♪ with you to guide me ♪

♪ in This world ♪

♪ where many, many play at love ♪

♪ and Hardly any stay in love ♪

♪ I'm glad there is you ♪

♪ more than ever ♪

♪ I'm glad there is you ♪

and who are these beautiful children?

I'm Sondra.

She's at princeton.

Who's the handsome young man?

Theodore.

Does he give you trouble?

Maybe once in a while.

Hang in there.

In six months, You'll be bigger than he is.

I'm Vanessa, and this is Rudy.

Do you have a boyfriend?

No, ma'am.

What about Leon?

That little one, I'll have to bite her.

I saw you on sesame street.

I was singing with Kermit the frog.

Can I meet him?

I'll try to set up a date for you.

Miss Horne, I'm Denise.

Hello, Denise.

How old are you?

Sixteen.

I want that year back.

I blew 16.

I walked around

in a blue Funk, feeling sorry for myself.

You sure hit that on the button.

She'll grow out of it.

When?

When she realizes what she's got.

And she's got a whole lot.

I noticed it.

You've got lots of love

right here in your family.

That's why I wanted to say hello.

I like being around that kind of love.

Thank you, miss Horne.

I think we should be going now.

Oh, do you have to?

Yes, thank you very much.

Good-Bye, miss Horne.

Good-Bye.

Good-Bye, Mr. Huxtable.

Good-Bye, miss Horne.

♪ In this world ♪

♪ of overrated pleasures ♪

♪ of la-Dee boody treasures ♪

you had a good time, didn't you?

Ooh, that was the best.

I'm telling you.

And what that woman did with that club was fantastic.

Isn't she something else?

To think she started singing in the cotton club at 17.

I'm talking about what she did with that hotel.

It's beautiful.

I heard her father left her that place

when he died.

Know what I want for my birthday next year?

I want you to buy me a hotel.

Cliff?

Shut up.

Hi.

What are you doing up?

Working.

At this hour?

After tonight, I took another look at my song

and decided to change it just a little.

You want to walk with somebody while you're alone?

No.

Let's hear it.

Okay, let me get the music.

( piano music )

"My mother and my father Are my best friends.

"When I'm all alone, I don't have to be.

"It's because of me that I'm all alone, you see.

"Their love is real.

"Wisdom...

"Their love is all mine.

"I have faith in them all the time.

"The best living friends

"The best living lovers

"Till the end.

"Their love is real.

"never have they lied to me, never connived me

"Or talked Behind my back.

"never have they cheated me.

Their love is Real, their love is real."

Oh, Denise, that's beautiful.

Thank you.

Captioning made possible by the U.S.