♪ 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've 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 ♪
♪ There 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've finally got
A piece of the pie ♪
Bad day, huh?
What makes you say that?
Oh, just a wild guess.
You wanna tell me about it?
No.
Oh, come on, George.
Talking about it will
make you feel better.
No, I won't, because
if I tell you about it,
I can't help overhearing myself
and I don't wanna
hear about it again.
Then tell it to me fast.
Then you won't have
time to listen to yourself.
Okay, you asked for it.
Two girls called in sick
from my Queens store,
the transmission went
out on one of my vans,
the cleaning machine up in
the Bronx store broke down,
the income tax people
wanted to audit my books
and the accountant broke down,
then I come home to a wife
who keeps pressuring me
to hear the whole story.
I think you could use a drink.
Let Florence get it.
She's not here.
It's her day off.
Oh! That's the first good
news I've heard all day.
What are we having
for dinner? Guess.
Guess? Weezy, look, I ain't in
the mood for no 20 questions.
Just tell me what we're having.
I said guest. Dinner guest.
Dinner guest?
How come I don't
know nothing about this?
I didn't know
anything about it either
'til your mother came over.
Oh. Mama's here?
Since 10:00 this morning.
Do you wanna hear about my day?
No, no, no, no.
How's she feeling?
Still complaining.
Oh, about her broken ankle?
No, about me.
She may be hobbling
around on a cane,
but her mouth is
still going full speed.
Where is she?
In the kitchen.
She invited a friend for dinner
and she wants to make
sure everything's perfect.
A friend? What friend?
I don't know. Your mother
wants to surprise us.
All she said was it's an
old friend from out of town.
Oh, no. I bet you
it's that Rose Filbert.
Rose Filbert?
Yeah. Her and Mom used
to do everything together
'til Rose moved to Atlanta.
I wish they'd done
that together too.
I never could stand
that Rose Filbert.
Why not?
Well, when I was a kid
she always used to run up
and grab my cheeks like this
and say "How you
doing, Georgie Porgie?"
Ow! That hurts!
I know it hurts! That's
why I didn't like her.
Look, Weezy, I'm gonna
sack out right after dinner
so I'm gonna leave it up to you
to entertain Mom and
her cheek-pinching friend.
Oh, no, you don't, George!
It's your mother, your mother's
friend. You entertain them!
Oh, come on,
Weezy. I'm too tired.
There's no way in the world
I could be my
normal, charming self.
Well, don't tell me.
Tell it to your mother.
Okay, I will.
Oh, Mother Jefferson,
the broccoli is burning!
Why didn't you call me?
I've eaten here before.
I figured that's
the way you cook.
Hiya, Mama!
Oh, thank you, George.
I can't taste the vodka.
That's 'cause it's Scotch.
George, you know I don't
like Scotch. I like bloody marys.
Sorry, Mama.
Never mind.
Since it's here, I'll
struggle through it.
Uh, look, Mom.
I hope you won't feel bad
if I won't be able to entertain
you and Rose tonight.
Rose?
Yeah, Rose Filbert.
Rose Filbert's coming
here? Oh, that's wonderful!
Look, Mama, we ain't
got time for no games.
We know you invited Rose
Filbert here for dinner tonight.
I did not.
Then who is it?
That's a secret!
Mama, you know
I don't like secrets.
Now, if somebody's coming
here to eat up my food,
I'd like to know who it is.
Well, if you must know.
You remember the
summer you turned 17?
Yeah.
Remember the picture
you kept hidden in
your bottom drawer?
Picture... Oh! Oh, yeah.
That wasn't my picture, Mama.
I was just holding
that for a friend.
What picture are
you talking about?
Well, what picture
are you talking about?
Mother Jefferson...
what has all this got to
do with your secret guest?
I'll give you another
clue, George.
Puddin'.
Puddin'?
You mean you invited
Harriet Johnson over here?
Harriet was the nicest
girl George ever dated.
I can't remember the
last time I saw Harriet.
That was October 21, 1945.
That's the day she dropped you.
Dropped me? She didn't drop me!
I dropped her!
If she jilted George, why did
you invite her here for dinner?
I want her to see what she lost
when she dropped George.
I can think of one
thing she didn't lose.
Mama, when is Harriet
supposed to get here?
In a little while.
She's having her hair done.
Oh, Louise, that reminds me.
That'll give you just enough
time to put something nice on.
I've got something nice on.
Underneath?
Weezy, you look just fine.
Love must be blind.
What's Harriet been up to?
Well, she's been
living in Chicago
but she just got a divorce.
Did you mention
what I've been doing?
Yes, I told her you were
still married to Louise.
Well, what did
she say about that?
I couldn't understand
for the crying.
[LAUGHS]
It broke her up, huh?
It was me crying.
Weezy! How about a drink?
What do you want me to make?
Make her disappear!
Of all the nerve!
Asking Harriet Johnson
to come here for dinner.
Poor Harriet. I wonder what
she's been up to these days.
Going around
visiting old boyfriends.
Look, Weezy, what happened
between me and Harriet
was a long time ago
and I ain't excited
about seeing her again.
Okay, then call
her up and cancel.
I can't do that! Why not?
Well... I don't know
what hairdresser she's at.
And besides, you can see
how much Mama's looking
forward to seeing her again.
Where are you going?
To get cleaned up. George!
Oh, while I'm doing that, Weezy,
why don't you get
our best china?
Our best china?
What's wrong with
our everyday dishes?
Harriet don't come
here every day.
Yeah, that's true.
Where'd you put
my alligator shoes?
George?
Ah, Weez! I've been
looking all over for you.
How's dinner coming?
Fine.
What's that smell?
Huh? Oh!
I accidentally spilled
a bottle of cologne.
What did you do, wipe
it up with your face?
Weezy, why are
you acting this way?
You're the one
who's acting crazy.
Twenty minutes ago, all
you wanted to do was sleep.
Now you're running around
like you're expecting
the Queen of England!
Uh-oh, look, don't
tell me you're jealous
after all these years.
How would you like it if I
kept talking about my first love?
I wouldn't mind a bit.
You wouldn't?
No, you can talk about
me as much as you want.
And what makes you
think you were my first love?
Well, I was, wasn't I?
I mean, your real first love.
No.
I had a picture hidden
in my drawer too.
You did?
Yep.
Who was it?
He was so handsome
and, boy, did I love him!
You loved him and kept it a
secret from me all this time?
You better tell me who it was.
It was Nat.
Nat. I should have known.
[LAUGHS]
Nat who?
Nat King Cole.
Nat King... Oh!
See? Who's jealous now?
Ah, no, you see,
I'm just acting jealous
to show you how silly it
looks if you got jealous.
So why don't we just
forget the whole thing?
Er, George...
How close were you
and Harriet Johnson?
Weezy, look, you're my only girl
and you've always been,
since the first day we met.
Well, that's nice to hear.
[DOORBELL RINGS]
I mean, you know,
Harriet's just another girl.
I mean, she wasn't
even that good-looking.
She's probably all fat,
old and wrinkled by now.
You know how women
age quicker than men.
Puddin'!
That was a wonderful
dinner. Beautifully cooked.
Oh, thank you!
And I can't get over how
good you look, Mrs. Jefferson.
You haven't changed a
bit after all these years.
Has she, Louise?
No. She never changes.
How about some more
champagne, Harriet?
Thank you.
I would like some too, George.
Sure, Weez.
George, you're really
living high on the hog.
That's right. I brings home
the bacon, don't I, Weezy?
And his mother
brings home the sugar.
You're sweet.
Boy, George, you
are doing it in style.
A fine apartment,
$20 champagne...
How'd you know how much it cost?
Well, see, it's right
here on the price tag.
Oh, that Ralph. Did he
leave the price tag on it again?
Yes, I wonder
who made him do it.
George, you've got gravy
running off your plate.
That's right, I don't even
care if it gets on the tablecloth,
because I can clean
it at my own store.
How about a toast?
Oh, good idea.
Ah, here's to the back seat
of Junior Wilson's De Soto.
What happened in the back
seat of Junior Wilson's De Soto?
Oh, that's where
George and I first kissed...
Held hands.
Oh, well, which was it,
George? Kissed or held hands?
Both. Well... Once
we started kissing,
I'd always have to
hold George's hands.
Really?
George, could I see you
in the kitchen, please?
Not now, Weezy. Now, George!
[DOORBELL RINGS]
I can't right now, Weezy. I
gotta answer the doorbell.
Ah, Mr. J. I'm so
pleased to see you.
I'm pleased to see
you too, Bentley.
Oh, that's good, because
I've got a bit of a problem.
I'm entertaining a
lady friend tonight
and I'm in need of a wire whip.
Wire whip?
Bentley, I'm surprised at you!
Why? I do all my own cooking.
What's a wire whip
gotta do with cooking?
Well, I'm separating some eggs
and I need a wire
whip to b*at the whites.
Oh!
Well, you can have
anything you want
if it's to b*at the whites.
Louise, Bentley wants
to borrow your wire whip.
Oh, sure. Hi, Mr. Bentley.
Hello, Mrs. J. And
Mrs. Jefferson.
And, uh...
Oh! This is our next-door
neighbor, Bentley.
Harry Bentley, Miss Johnson.
Hi. Hello.
You know, she was
George's first girlfriend.
We met in high school.
Really? You two were
at school together?
But Miss Johnson looks so young.
And you look so... So what?
Dignified. Oh.
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Miss Johnson.
Thank you. But call
me Harriet, please.
Harriet! Now isn't that
an amazing coincidence?
Coincidence? Yes.
You see, your name, Harriet,
is a variation of Henrietta.
And Henrietta is the
feminine version of Henry.
So?
When I was born, my mother
wanted to name me Henry.
She and my father
fought about it for weeks.
Your father liked Harry?
Uh, no. He liked
my brother Malcolm.
LOUISE: Uh...
Come with me,
Mr. Bentley. I'll get your whip.
Jolly good.
Did that make sense?
Only if you're English.
[YAWNS]
All this champagne is
making me so sleepy, George.
I think I'll go lie down.
Okay, Mama.
I'll just take this with
me in case I can't sleep.
Thank you.
What's that string
around your finger?
Oh, that's my
"Don't forget" string.
To remind you of something?
Yes. Uh...
Uh, to meet Charlotte
at the subway at 7:15.
Oh, well, it's a
quarter of eight.
Your string must be slow.
What? Oh, no!
I hope she's still there!
Oh, Mrs. J, would
you do me a big favor?
You want me to b*at your whites?
Ah, no. I have a
roast in the oven.
Would you take it out while I
nip down and pick up Charlotte?
Oh, sure. Bless you.
A pleasure to
meet you, Henrietta!
Uh, I'll be back in a
few minutes, George.
Take your time, Weezy.
I mean "Hurry back."
Yeah, I always liked to
hear you laugh, Harriet.
When me and you was going out,
you always had
a lot to laugh at.
You weren't that bad, George.
Say what?
I'm just kidding.
We had some good
times, didn't we?
Yeah. You used to wear
those cute, fuzzy little sweaters.
I guess it was just puppy love.
Yeah, I loved the way
you used to wag your tail.
And I was so proud of the way
you'd always stand
up to those other guys
and fight over me.
Yeah, that's right.
I remember that.
I used to always fight people
saying bad things to you.
George, I'm gonna let
you in on a little secret.
Nobody ever said
bad things to me.
I just used to tell you that
so you'd fight 'em for me.
What? Why'd you do that?
Because you were so good at it.
Yeah, I was, wasn't I?
I bet you're still
good at it, George.
Well...
I bet you're still good at
other things too, puddin'.
Well, I ain't had no complaints.
I've thought a lot
about you lately.
Oh, you have?
Especially when things got
rough with my old man in Chicago.
Oh, yeah. Mama told
me you got divorced.
Well, not exactly divorced.
Oh. Just separated?
Yeah. Something came between us.
Oh, that's a shame. What was it?
His wife.
His wife?
Me and this dude
had... an arrangement.
Oh, an arrangement.
Yeah, well, you did the
smart thing by leaving Chicago
and coming to New York.
I'm so glad to know you
feel that way, George.
Mmm. Plan on staying, then?
That depends.
On what?
How good the prospects are.
Oh, you mean... a job?
Yeah, you might say that.
Uh, well, as far as I can see,
you got very good prospects.
Well, that's wonderful, puddin'.
Where you staying? In a motel.
But I just found a
great apartment.
Oh, terrific.
But it costs 500
bucks just to move in.
And I haven't got that much.
Oh. Well, how
much are you short?
500 bucks.
[SIGHS]
If only there was somebody
with enough money
to take care of it.
I know somebody.
Who?
Me.
I'll give you the money
for the apartment.
You mean you'll take
care of me, puddin'?
Yeah. I mean, what else
is money for but friends?
Oh, well.
I didn't think you'd agree
so quickly, I must say.
You're quite a guy,
George Jefferson.
Here you go. $500.
Thanks, puddin'.
This will be a great
arrangement, believe me.
I'll let you have
the key next week.
Key? What key?
Key to the apartment.
Why would I want the
key to your apartment?
What do you want to do,
climb through the window?
Wait a minute. Hold it.
What are you talking about?
The arrangement, honey.
Oh, don't be embarrassed.
It happens all the time.
Look, if you're talking about
what I think you're
talking about,
I don't want to talk about it.
But I thought you
wanted to do it.
Are you crazy?
I'm a married man!
It wouldn't interfere
with your marriage.
What? Come on, George!
This is 1977.
I know it is. And I'd like
to be around to see 1978.
Which I won't if
Weezy finds out.
George, everybody needs
a little extracurricular
activity now and then.
Well, I don't.
Weezy gives me all
the curricular I need.
But I thought we had
a good thing going.
We did! A long time ago.
Well, what's wrong with
trying to relight the candle?
'Cause somebody's
gonna get burnt.
So just give me back the check.
Why?
Because you got it
under false pretenses.
Well, you gave it
under false pretenses.
I thought you were
gonna keep me.
I wouldn't keep you if
you was a foreign stamp.
What?
Give me the check.
No. I'm keeping it.
No way! Yes!
George!
What's going on?
Uh, nothing. Nothing.
Well, what's that check for?
Check? What check?
This check.
GEORGE: Oh. For $500?
Oh, that check. That
check is a check that, uh...
That's for my mother, Louise.
Your mother?
George, why are you
giving Harriet's mother $500?
Well, because, um...
Because she needs an operation.
And George was kind
enough to lend us the money.
Yeah, that's right, Weezy.
Her mother's real sick.
Oh, I'm sorry. What's
wrong with her?
Well, she...
It's one of those sicknesses
they ain't discovered yet.
Then why are they operating?
To see if they can find it.
Oh.
Harriet didn't have enough
money for her poor mother.
I knew you'd want
me to help her.
Oh, of course, Harriet.
Anything we can do.
Well, I just hope this
$500 is gonna be enough
for my poor, dear mama.
Oh, Harriet, I'm really sorry.
Oh, that's all right.
If I don't have enough money
and she doesn't pull through...
Well, how much
more would you need?
Weezy, she's got more
than enough already.
Butt out, George.
How much, Harriet?
Oh, about...
$800?
$800!
Oh, Harriet, don't cry.
George will give you
the rest of the money.
Ain't your mother got Medicare?
[SOBS LOUDLY]
George, just write the check.
Oh, I don't know how I'll ever
be able to thank you, Louise.
No, don't thank
me. Thank George.
Here.
Thank you, puddin'.
Well, I better go see Mama
now and tell her the good news.
I hope everything turns
out all right, Harriet.
Oh, it just did. Huh?
I mean, you just made
Mama real happy.
Bye, Louise.
Bye, puddin'.
Oh, George, don't you feel good?
Yeah, Weez, I feel terrific.
Who was that crying?
I couldn't sleep.
Oh, that was Harriet crying.
Why? Louise, what
did you say to her?
Nothing.
George just gave her some money
for her mother to
have an operation.
Wasn't that nice of him?
Yes. Except for one thing.
Harriet's mother
d*ed 10 years ago.
Are you sure?
Of course I'm sure.
I may not know who's alive,
but I sure know who's dead!
George, we are out $1300.
Don't worry about it, Weezy.
I can stop the $500
check in the morning.
But what about that $800 check?
Well, she's gonna have a little
trouble trying to cash that one.
Why?
Because I signed it "Puddin'."
But how could Harriet
do such a thing?
I don't know, Weez,
but she sure fooled you.
You were fooled first.
She didn't fool me,
because I knew she didn't
want the money for her mother.
Oh?
Then what did she
want the money for?
Well... What do you
say we have a drink?
George, what did Harriet
want that check for?
What do you say we
go to bed? George!
Okay, Weez.
She wanted me to keep her.
Keep her what?
Well, you know. She
wanted to be my mistress.
You're kidding!
I'm telling you the truth!
She wanted to make
an arrangement.
George, you want me to
believe that that swinger...
I'm telling you, Weezy,
she wanted me to keep her.
Oh, you gotta come up with
something better than this!
Why shouldn't she?
She's got good taste!
See? That's why I don't
like to tell you the truth.
'Cause you never believe me.
[INAUDIBLE]
[♪♪♪]
ANNOUNCER: The Jeffersons was
videotaped in front of a studio audience.
♪ Movin', movin' up... ♪
03x21 - The Old Flame
Watch/Buy Amazon Merchandise
Spinoff series from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility of couple George and Louise Jefferson who move into a swanky high-rise building.
Spinoff series from "All in the Family" is about literal upward mobility of couple George and Louise Jefferson who move into a swanky high-rise building.