03x12 - Roots

[bunniefuu]

♪ Now, the world don't move ♪

♪ To the b*at of just one drum ♪

♪ What might be right for you ♪

♪ May not be right for some ♪

♪ A man is born ♪

♪ He's a man of means ♪

♪ Then along come two ♪

♪ They got nothin'
but their jeans ♪

♪ But they got
diff'rent strokes ♪

♪ It takes diff'rent strokes ♪

♪ It takes diff'rent strokes ♪

♪ To move the world ♪

♪ Everybody's got ♪

♪ A special kind of story ♪

♪ Everybody finds
a way to shine ♪

♪ It don't matter that you got ♪

♪ Not a lot... So what? ♪

♪ They'll have theirs,
and you'll have yours ♪

♪ And I'll have mine ♪

♪ And together we'll be fine ♪

♪ 'Cause it takes
diff'rent strokes ♪

♪ To move the
world, yes, it does ♪

♪ It takes diff'rent
strokes to move the world ♪

[Doorbell rings]
I got it, arnold.

Hey, you guys made it!

Yeah, we managed to slip
through the park avenue toll gate.

How you doin', my man?

What's happenin', willis?

That's a bad dashiki
you're wearin'.

Did you have it made?

Not, it came right off the rack.

It looks like it came
right off the horse.

Fellas, say hi to arnold.

Hi. Hey, arnold.

Arnold, say good-bye
to the fellas.

Ok.

Good-bye.

Hey, arnold, what's
your problem?

Aw, you know how it is
for a little kid on saturday.

Nothin' to do but watch
all that v*olence on tv.

So don't watch the news.

I was talking
about the cartoons.

Then hang out with us, arnold.

Ok.

Hey! The g*ng's all here.

Oh, you guys remember
my dad, don't you?

Yeah. Hi.

Hi, oscar. Hi, charles.

How you doin'? Nice to see you.

Mr. Drummond, this
is a bad, get-down,

Outta sight pad you got here.

Thank you. I couldn't
put it better myself.

Oh, hi.

Willis: you guys remember
my sister kimberly, too.

Hi, kim. Hello.

Well, I've got to go
now. Have fun, everybody.

Ok, bye. Bye, dad.

Stay cool, and
don't wig your gig.

What does that mean?

I don't know, but it
sounds hip, doesn't it?

Well, I just wanted
to say hello.

It was nice seeing you guys.

Kimberly's in the ballet.

That's why she's wearing
those leg warmers.

Oh, I thought she
had lumpy legs.

Yeah!

How would you feel
about a lumpy head?

Kimberly's got a big
ballet recital next week.

Why don't you show the
guys one of those fancy steps?

Yeah, do a pas de deux.

But that takes people.

Then do a potty one.

Right now?

Sure. I love the way you dance.

Well, all right.

But don't expect pavlova.

All right!

Did you see that?
Did you see that?

That was bad.

Thank you, thank you.

You've been a marvelous
audience. Ha ha!

Man, she's something else.

How'd you guys like
to come to her recital?

Sorry, man. Ballet
just ain't our thing.

I heard that.

Hi, fellas.

Lunch is ready whenever you are.

I made willis's favorite:

Beef bourguignon.

Beef who?

Bourguignon.

With julienne potatoes,

Artichokes vinaigrette,

And to start, cold vichyssoise.

Sorry, ma'am.

I don't dig stuff

I got to translate to eat.

Willis, maybe you
should've told me

What food your friends speak.

Hey, you guys made her feel bad.

I didn't mean to,

But don't you guys ever
get any soul food over here?

Sure, if we want it.

I bet the black eyed peas
wear false eyelashes.

Willis, looks like
you're really heavy

Into this park avenue trip.

Hey, what's that
supposed to mean?

Yeah, don't knock park avenue.

It's got the fanciest
garbage in town.

I bet.

All this highbrow stuff...

The ballet, the maid.

Food with names you
can't even pronounce.

So what?

The food doesn't know
you can't pronounce it.

Willis, you ain't the same dude.

Sure, I am. Aren't i, arnold?

[Scoffs] aren't i?

You hear that, oscar?

That's penthouse
talk for "ain't i."

Willis, you've changed.

Only his socks and underwear.

Hey, come on, guys.

I haven't changed at all.

Yes, you have, man. No jive.

Look at you.

Even the way you
walk has changed.

What do you mean?

Well, you used
to walk like this.

Now you walk like this.

Ah, hey, come on, man.

You don't walk
like that, willis.

You walk more like this.

Thanks, arnold.

I hate to say it, bro,

But it looks to me like you
guys are losing your blackness.

What'chu talkin' 'bout, oscar?

What do you mean
losin' our blackness?

Yeah, look at that face.

You call that plaid?

Willis knows what we mean.

You're cut off
from your roots...

From the old neighborhood.

You never hang out with
the brothers anymore.

Yeah, down here,

All you see is white folks.

Your father's white,

Your sister's white,

Even your maid's white.

You forgot our chauffer.

He's white, too.

Arnold...

You know something, charles?

I bet even the
cockroaches here are white.

Well, we've got a
black exterminator.

Willis, what you got

Is a bad case of white-itis.

Oh, yeah?

Well, maybe you
guys ought to leave

Before you catch it.

What you got is a
bad case of stupid-itis.

I think you both better split

Before we sic one of our
white cockroaches on you.

Yeah, b*at it, you two.

And in case that ain't
hip enough for you,

It means get lost, cut out,

Hit the cement,
kiss off, turkeys.

I say, oscar,

Shall we vacate the premises?

By all means, old chap.

So long, h*nky.

Boy, those guys got some nerve

Coming up here and
insulting us like that.

Yeah. They'd probably
insult our limousine

'Cause it's got
white wall tires.

Some friends.

They're just jealous
'cause we got it so good.

Imagine him saying we're
losing our blackness.

When I get up and look in
the mirror every morning,

I know I'm not losing mine.

Course, it has been a long time

Since we've been back
to the old neighborhood.

Willis, you're not saying
those jive artists are right.

Well, they got
me pretty steamed,

But maybe they
got a point, arnold.

You know, just to make sure we
don't lose touch with our blackness,

It couldn't hurt to go back
to harlem just for a visit.

Well, I guess not.

You know, arnold,

Maybe we have been forgetting

Who we are and
where we came from.

Maybe we should even
change our way of life.

Whatever you say.

Just don't ask me to give
up the bare necessities

Like the hot tub, the limousine,

And the gucci toilet paper.

Hey, adelaide,
what's for dinner?

I am starving.

Collard greens, sweet potatoes,

Black eyed peas.

Again?

I've had so much
soul food lately,

My stomach's starting
to sing the blues.

Yeah, adelaide,

We've had it three
nights in a row now.

I know, honey, but it seems
so important to the boys.

Where are the boys?

Are they up in harlem again?

It's a safe bet they're
not up in white plains.

Please, just for a change,

Would you make
us something else?

Of course. How about some fish?

Any kind of fish
except filet of soul.

How does hamburger sound?

Heavenly.

I thank you from the
bottom of my stomach.

Hey, y'all.

What it is, everyone?

Arnold, what's
that, a new dance?

No. It's the way the hip
uptown brothers walk.

Well, it looks very strange.

It's also very painful.

You think it's easy
ealking like this?

Then why are you
walking that way?

Because it's in my
roots. Right, willis?

Right. [Sniffing]

Hey, what's that smell?

Oh, that's a strange
food we have around here

Called hamburger.

Hey, we asked for chit'lins.

Hamburgers is white food.

Well, adelaide can burn them
and turn them into black food.

Don't limit your
diet like this, guys.

Yeah, you know, you didn't even
eat your cereal this morning.

That snap-crackle-pop
stuff is white, too.

It is?

Well, maybe we can find a cereal

That says "dig it, get
down, and right on."

That's real good
street humor, dad.

That's really virusi.

visuri?

That's swahili for "great."

That's wonderful.

When did you start
to learn swahili?

Charles and oscar are teaching

A couple of new
phrases to us each day.

I think that's super.

Yeah, like, yesterday
we learned, um,

[Swahili phrase]

What does that mean?

It means "walk in
peace, my brother."

That's beautiful, willis.

We also learned
[swahili phrase].

And what does that mean?

Employees must wash their hands.

[African music playing]

Daddy, would you please
do something about that?

What in the world
is going on up there?

Willis and arnold won't
turn down their african music.

It's so loud. Every
time I start doing this,

It turns out like this.

Well, I better speak to them

Before the neighbors
get restless.

I'm trying to be understanding,
but it's getting harder and harder.

Wait, daddy. Have you
been in their room today?

No. Why?

You'll see.

Oh, boy.

Now, listen, fellas. I think...

What is going on in here?

Hey, what brings
you to our turf, dad?

I couldn't resist the
call of the primal drums.

[Music stops]

Hey, who's disturbin' the soul?

Oh, hi, dad.

When did you get these outfits?

Today. They help us get
into the african groove.

Right.

[Drumming]

Fellas...

Fellas!

Don't stop us now, dad.
We're just starting to cook.

Well, you better
turn off your stove

Before you get
your butts b*rned!

Now, listen. You're
going to have to be

An awful lot quieter.

Think of the neighbors.

Kimberly can't even
hear her own music.

Are you saying her music's
more important than ours?

No, but yours isn't any
more important than hers.

Now, you want her
to be at her very best

When we go to see her
ballet recital, don't you?

Sure, but we're not
going to her recital.

You're not going? Why?

Because ballet is white.

White? Ballet's universal.

Why are you suddenly labeling
everything black or white?

Because that's the
way it is in this family.

It's three-to-three.

Three-to-three?

Yeah. You and kimberly
and adelaide are white,

And me and willis and
abraham are black.

We're just telling it
like it is around here, dad.

I don't believe this.

Who cares whether
you're black or white?

Everybody cares,

Unless you're a zebra.

Don't you realize how hurt
your sister's going to be

If you don't go to her recital?

We're not trying
to hurt kimberly.

Well, then you've got
to learn to compromise.

I think he's right, willis.

One of us could
go to the recital,

And I could stay home.

Neither of us is going, dad.

Now, look, you two.

I've had enough of this
black-white business.

You're overdoing it, and I
want you to knock it off.

You're disrupting
this whole family.

What is the matter
with you, willis?

Incidentally, dad, my
name's not willis anymore.

My name is hasani.

Hasani?

Yeah, because, see,
willis is a white name.

So I picked out a name that
goes back with my ancestors.

My name is abubaka.

But if that's too tough for you,

You can just call
me kunta arnold.

See, dad, we don't want to
live by white rules anymore.

Oh, really?

Well, let me tell you something.

We don't have any rules in this
family that are black or white.

We just have rules.

And I'm your father, and you'll
do what I tell you to do, willis.

And that goes
for you, too, kunta.

You know something, dad?

I don't think you're
into the african scene.

Look, I am not against it,

But you're overdoing it.

And another thing...

This is your home, not harlem.

I want you to spend more
time in your own home.

Well, I think we should
spend more time in harlem.

Starting right now.

Willis...

If you're going to reject
everything that's white,

Then that includes
your sister and me.

You comin', abubaka?

So anyway, dr. Chadway,
i... I just don't know

What to do about
my sons' behavior.

I mean, they're defiant,

And they seem to
have this obsession

That they're losing touch
with their black heritage.

So I thought that a
black psychologist

Might be more
sensitive to the problem.

Hmm. Well, that makes sense.

Please go on.

Well, I just don't know
what's got into my sons.

I thought I was a
pretty good father.

Tell me, mr. Drummond,

Do you have any black
friends or business associates

Who come to your house?

Actually, no.

What about black
literature or art?

Do you have any in your home?

Um, I guess we don't.

Do you ever take the
boys to see black theater?

No, but they never miss
a richard pryor movie.

Heh heh heh. Sorry.

Well, there seems
to be some basis

For their feeling of alienation.

Yes, I'm beginning to
see what you mean.

You just made a point now
that I hadn't thought of.

Well, could we make an
appointment so I can bring the boys in?

Well, from what you told me,

It seems that they
might be more receptive

In their own home.

Uh, let's make an
appointment at your place.

Fine!

I can make it
tonight if you like.

This won't ruin your
reputation, will it?

What do you mean?

A doctor making house calls.

Now, listen, everybody.

We're not saying that
it's anybody's fault.

I mean, the boys
have their thing.

Kimberly has her thing.

So let's all cooperate
with dr. Chadway,

Ok, willis?

Ok.

Well, why don't we all
start by stating how we feel.

Go ahead, fellas.

Well, me and arnold feel

That we've been out of
touch with our roots.

And dad doesn't want us
to express our blackness.

Oh, now, that's
not true, willis.

I only objected
when you overdid it

And showed a lack of respect
for the rest of the family.

Well, did you make your
objections clear, mr. Drummond?

I think so.

I told them to
knock it off, or else.

Well, you can't get
much clearer than that.

Not without swearing.

Well, I think you guys have
become a little fanatical.

Kimberly, that's a
crock of watchaopuzi.

What is that?

African bologna.

Come on, come on.

Let's just cool it, kids, ok?

Look, I have an idea
that just might help.

Why don't we try a game
called psychodrama?

Psycho?

Are you saying we're a
bunch of nut burgers?

Arnold, please, let
dr. Chadway speak.

No, in psychodrama,

You put yourself in
the other guy's shoes.

Anyone who tries to put
themselves in my shoes

Is gonna have unhappy toes.

It's like being in a play.

You pretend you're
the other person,

And you act the way you
think that other person would.

It's what we call role reversal.

Let's give it a try?

Yeah, let's try it.

Sure, why not?

Ok.

All right, fine.

Now, kimberly, you'll be arnold.

And arnold, you'll be kimberly.

Mr. Drummond, you'll be willis.

And willis, you'll
play your dad.

I told you my name isn't willis.

I know, I know, hasani.

But just for the sake of
the game, you'll be willis.

I mean, you'll be me, ok?

Ok.

And I'll put abubaka
on the back burner.

Now, let's say it's a
typical afternoon,

And arnold and
willis are coming in

Through the front
door from school.

Oh, no, no, no, no, guys.

No, you're mr. Drummond
and kimberly, remember?

Oh, right. Right.

Ok, go ahead, willis, arnold.

Should we act as weird as
they've been acting lately?

Hey, if that's your
impression, don't hold back.

Right on, mama.

All right.

Let's go, bro. On with the show.

Yeah.

Thought you all might
like something to drink.

What it is, everybody?

Hey, no jive. Give me .

Yeah.

They're makin' fun of us.

Hey, we're not
makin' fun of you, dad.

We're just expressing
our blackness.

Right, arnold?

You know it, blood.

As they say in harlem,

If you don't like it,
you can kiss my chit'lins.

I think this group

Has already had
something to drink.

Please continue, everybody.

Now, what have
mr. Drummond and kimberly

Got to say to arnold and willis?

Well, um...

Just act the way
your father would.

Ah, it's easy to be dad.

Just tell bad jokes
and laugh at them.

Arnold, you're
supposed to be kimberly.

Oh, sorry. I mean...

[Girlish voice] oh, sorry.

All right, fine. Now
let's see if we can

Get to the point where
this controversy started.

Willis?

Yes, ma'am?

Well, arnold and me
was up in our room

Playin' some soul
and gettin' down.

[Drumming]

You got a mean b*at, hasani.

You see that, arnold?

They got not rhythm.

Stay in your roles, guys.

All right, now how would
mr. Drummond and kimberly

React to this?

[Imitating mr. Drummond]
what's that infernal noise

Up in the boys' room?

[Imitating kimberly]
oh, daddy...

Those boys are
driving me up a wall.

Don't fret, my darling daughter.

I'll speak to those rotten kids.

Oh, thank you, daddy dear.

Because with all that noise,

I can't do my poo-dee-doo.

I'll take care of it,

My adorable, perfect daughter.

Oh, thank you,
great white father.

Now, see here, willis.

You, too, arnold.

If you guys don't
cut out that racket,

I'll be forced to
tan your bottom.

Sorry, dad. God b*at ya to it.

Tell it like it is, willis.

How do you expect kimberly
to practice her ballet

With those drums blasting away?

I don't ever want to hear

No more drums in
this house again.

What'chu talkin'
'bout, kimberly?

Who cares about
kimberly's ballet?

How white can you get?

I hate ballet.

Hey, wait a minute, dad.

I never said that exactly.

Yes, you did, willis.

Let's face it, dad.

You just don't like
me and willis anymore.

What? Yeah.

Tell the truth.

You're probably disappointed

That you ever
adopted black kids.

Dad, are you saying that because

That's the way you
really feel yourself?

I'm not dad.

You are.

I'm not dad anymore. I'm me.

No, no, no. Wait a minute.

If you're you,

Which me am i?

Any way you look at it, dad,

You're white, we're black,

And we just don't
think the same.

Yeah, maybe me and arnold

Would be better off if
we had black parents.

Why are you saying
these things, dad?

Isn't it the truth, willis?

No!

You know I don't care
what color you are.

That's right.

As far as we're concerned,

You're colorless.

Dad, you know, you're
really hurting me.

You know I love you.

Me, too.

And we love you, too, kimberly.

Can we go to her
ballet recital, willis?

Yeah, we wouldn't miss it.

Hey, guys...

I know that it's
important for you

To hang on to your heritage.

And I know that I should've been

More tuned in to your
needs, and I will be.

But I don't want anything
ever to come between us.

Neither do it.

I didn't realize
how I was behaving

Until I saw you
acting like me today.

You did a great
job of being willis.

You sounded real rotten.

Well, I think we've made
a great start, everybody.

A few more
sessions should do it.

Just shows you
what a lot of love

And a good psychologist can do.

We really appreciate
your help, dr. Chadway.

Well, it's my pleasure.

And I hope you realize, fellas,

That blackness isn't a
matter of what you eat

Or the way you walk and talk.

It's a matter of
dignity and pride.

It's the way you think, feel,

And conduct your life.

Is it safe to come in now?

Sure, come on in, adelaide.

Gee, there for a minute,

I thought I'd stumbled
into the twilight zone.

Well, we were just
working out a little problem

With what they
call role reversal.

Oh, I've heard about that.

Was anyone playing me?

I was going to,

But I would've looked
silly in your girdle.

♪ Now, the world don't move ♪

♪ To the b*at of just one drum ♪

♪ What might be right for you ♪

♪ May not be right for some ♪

♪ A man is born,
he's a man of means ♪

♪ Then along come two ♪

♪ They got nothin'
but their jeans ♪

♪ But they got
diff'rent strokes ♪

♪ It takes diff'rent strokes ♪

♪ It takes diff'rent
strokes to move the world ♪

♪ Yes it does ♪

♪ It takes diff'rent strokes
to move the world, mmm ♪