04x14 - Fire

Episode transcripts for the TV Show "Diff'rent Strokes". Aired: November 3, 1978 –; March 7, 1986.*
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Series follows Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African-American boys from Harlem taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman and widower, Phillip Drummond, for whom their deceased mother previously worked, and his daughter, Kimberly.
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04x14 - Fire

Post by 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 came two ♪

♪ They got nothing
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 ♪

[Video game sounds]

Pow! Pow! Pow!

Another solaroid jupitro
bites the atmosphere.

Arnold, you're the
terror of outer space.

Willis: my turn.

Uh-oh, here's comes
the fat, wobbly one!

I may be fat, but
I'm not wobbly.

I'm going to the
market, mr. Drummond.

Ok, adelaide.

Thanks for helping me
balance my checkbook, philip.

It's always such a hassle to me.

You're welcome, sophia.
Now, just remember,

When you write a check,
you subtract, you don't add.

Too bad.

My way, I always
end up with more.

My way keeps you out of jail.

Hey, g*ng, your
aunt sophia and I

Are going for a brisk walk across
the park. How 'bout joining us?

We were gonna have a
barbecue on the terrace.

Aw, come on. Exercise will do
you good. Get the ol' heart pumping.

Yes. Let's have a
little togetherness.

It'll be fun and safe, too.

It's sunday. All the
muggers will be in church.

What do you say, g*ng?

I vote for the barbecue.

You get your heart pumping,
I'll get my mouth pumping.

I'll tell you what.

On the way back, we'll stop
and get a super deluxe pizza.

With mushrooms, pepperoni,
olives, cheese, the works.

How's that for togetherness?

That's my kind of togetherness.

Me wrapped around a pizza.

Well, dad, I'll go get
into my hat and coat.

Me, too.

You're gonna look
funny in her hat and coat.

[Telephone rings]

Hello.

Yes, this is he.

Uh, this is chief west
of the fire department.

I don't want to alarm
you, mr. Drummond,

But we've got a
situation down here.

There's a small fire
in the south wing.

But it's not on the park
avenue side where you are.

A fire!

What? Did you say...

Yes, I did.

That's what it sounded like.

What floor is
the fire on, chief?

Wow! That's only
floors below us.

Oh, dear.

I guess we'd better get
out of here, hadn't we?

Stay where we are?

Why?

Oh. Oh, I see.

Oh, dear!

Well, look, what
about our neighbors?

There's another penthouse
on this floor, you know.

Well, we stopped
them on the way up.

You're the only
ones up there now,

And just stay calm.

Now, we'll have the
fire out in no time.

And we'll keep you advised.

Oh, please do.

There are children here.

Oh, dear!

And a lady.

Thanks, chief.

Oh, dear!

Do you have to keep
saying, "oh, dear"?

Yes, I'm too much of a lady
to use another -letter word.

Now, sophia, try to calm down.

You'll be all right.

Did the fire chief say that?

Oh, is the fire spreading?

What are we gonna do?

Are we trapped?
Can they rescue us?

Oh, philip, don't
just stand there.

Slap my face.

Look, it's just a small fire.

The chief said they'll
have it out in no time.

That's what paul newman
said in the towering inferno,

And look what happened to him.

I saw that movie. He only
b*rned a hole in his pants.

Now, they want everybody
above the st floor

To stay right where they are.

The chief says that's the
safest place for us to be.

He forgot about bermuda.

Now we better not
tell the kids about this.

No use in getting
them upset, ok?

Oh, dear.

Now, don't start that again.

Ready, dad.

Where's arnold?

Here he is. Nanook of the north.

Let's move it out of here.

Mush! Mush!

Arnold, why are you
wearing all these clothes?

Because the weatherman
said it was gonna be a nice day.

And there's
things I don't trust...

Weathermen and zippers.

Hey, you know something, guys?

I think you kids were right.

Let's stay home.

Say what?

I'm really hungry.

And that barbecue
sounds great to me.

What do you say, kids? Arnold, I'll
give you a rain check on the pizza.

Ok. Somebody help me unpeel.

I'll set up the grill.

I'll take care of the charcoal.

I'll get the hamburger patties.

Oh, no, you won't get
the hamburger patties.

Arnold, you cannot be trusted
with the hamburger patties.

Sure I can. I never eat more
than when they're raw.

Philip?

Mm-hmm.

Is it wise to be having
a barbecue now?

Oh, sure. The smell of burnt hamburgers
will cover the smell of the fire.

Philip, you are so smart.

Yes, I am.

Now, let's not
let on to the kids,

And there's nothing
to worry about.

Ohh...

Hey, how's it going?

Great, dad. Get ready to eat

The greatest
hamburger of your life.

Hmm. Hope it doesn't give us

The greatest
heartburn of our life.

Well, I see we have
another chef in the family.

At your service,
mesdames and monsieurs.

Step aside, bus boy.

Let the main man do his thing.

The main man is doing his thing.

Aw, come on, willis.

There's a special way
you got to make them.

See, I've been watching the
guy at hamburger heaven.

If you don't flip them
right, they don't taste right.

Let me show you, please, willis?

Ok, flip away.

You know, come to think of it,

You would make a
good short order cook.

All right.

Stand back and observe closely.

First you slide the flipper
under the patty like this.

And then it's all in the wrist.

Now it's all in the street.

Gee, I hope it
didn't hit anybody.

They'll think it's hailing meat.

I wonder where it landed.

I think on that fire truck.

Fire truck?

There's a whole bunch
of them down there.

Well, I wonder
where the fire is.

Just because there are fire
trucks doesn't mean there's a fire.

Then why are they there?

Well, it could be a false alarm.

Mm-hmm. Or maybe the
firehouse is being painted.

How about a cat up a tree?

Look, it's probably
nothing, g*ng.

Let's get the food going.

I think I smell smoke.

Smoke? Oh, of course.
It's from the charcoal.

We haven't lit it yet.

What will they think of next?

Charcoal that smells
like smoke before it's lit.

Hey, you guys, why
don't we go down there

And find out what's happening?

Ok.

We can look for the hamburger.

We can still eat it.

They swept the
streets this morning.

Hey, wait a minute.

Hold it! Hold it, troops.

I've got a better idea.

Yes, that's a
wonderful idea, philip.

Daddy hasn't said it yet.

I know, but all your
father's ideas are wonderful.

Look, I'm starved.

You guys get the barbecue going.

I'll go in and phone downstairs
to see what's going on, ok?

Ok. All right.

Ok. Ok.

Listen, sophia, I
smell smoke, too.

So do i. Oh, what's
happening, philip?

I thought that fire chief promised
you the fire wouldn't come up this high.

Now, tell him he has no right
to go back on his promise.

Hello.

Could I speak to
chief west, please?

Hello, chief.

This is philip drummond
in the penthouse.

Yeah. Look, we
smell smoke up here.

What's happening?

I see. I see. Well,
what should we do?

Ok, fine.

Thank you, chief.

Well, what did he say?

You're not gonna panic, are you?

That depends on
what you say he said.

It's not good. The
fire has spread.

Just a little,
but it has spread.

Now, I'm gonna level
with you, sophia.

I think the
situation is serious.

Oh!

Now, look, getting
hysterical won't help.

Well, being calm sure as
hell hasn't done any good.

Now, the chief wants us
to take certain precautions,

And I'm gonna have
to tell the children.

So let's play it down.

Now, for their
sake... For their sake...

Try not to look worried.

Oh, did you have to say that?

Now, I'm worried about
not looking worried,

And that worries me.

Kids, will you come
in here, please?

Yeah, dad. What do you want?

Arnold and willis: what
do you want, dad?

Uh, I have to tell
you something.

Can't it wait, dad? I was just
about to light the charcoal.

Well, now, it's
kind of important.

But it's really nothing
to worry about.

That's right. There's
nothing to worry about,

And if I look panicked,

That is only my natural
expression under stress.

Why should you look panicked?

Now, kids, listen.

This is nothing to
get alarmed about.

But there's kind of a
small fire in the building.

What are you talking about, dad?

Daddy, how kind of and
how small is that fire?

Well, it's on the other
side of the building,

It's down several floors,

And I'm sure the fire department
will have it out very soon.

That might not be
soon enough. Look!

Holy smoke.

Philip, is it all right
to look worried now?

Hey, dad, I closed all
the vents in the kitchen.

Good.

We got the ones upstairs.

Good. I closed all
the vents in here.

Dad, if there's nothing
to worry about,

Why did the fire chief say to
put wet rags around all the doors

And close the vents?

It's just a precaution, arnold.

It's always best to try to
circumvent any possible eventualities.

Like smoke coming in
and choking us to death?

That's another way to put it.

Daddy, why don't we
just get out of here?

Yeah, dad. We're
gonna suffocate inside.

Now, wait. No. Listen,
g*ng. Trust me.

Now, the chief said the first
thing we have to do is to stay calm.

It's too late for that.
What's the second thing?

We're much better
off to stay in here.

Now, that corridor
could be full of smoke.

And you should never go in an
elevator when there's fire in the building.

You'd get trapped in there.

Oh, what a terrible way to die,

Listening to elevator music.

Man, we've had it.

I can just see my gravestone.

Here lies arnold jackson.

He was young, but well-done.

I can't believe we're just
going to stand around here

And do nothing.
What about the stairs?

Yeah. Or the roof.

Oh, we definitely can't
use the stairs or the roof.

Why not? Well...

Philip, why can't we use
the stairs or the roof?

Well, because the stairwells
make a funnel for the smoke.

Smoke kills more
people than fire does.

I knew one of us
would have the answer.

If we try to go up on the
roof and that door is locked,

We are in big trouble.

What size trouble are we in now?

Dad, are we just going
to stand around here

Until our toenails
start to melt?

No, willis. That's why
we've been stuffing

All these wet rags
under the doors.

So let's collect all
the rags that we can...

Old towels, sheets,
anything you can find.

Just in case,

I think I'll sew my
rags into a parachute.

Philip, I don't think
I'm going to make it.

A lot of people think
I'm not dependable,

But in an emergency
they're right.

Just take it easy.

Come on, just relax now.
Come around here and sit down.

Relax.

Watch some television.
That'll relax you.

Just don't listen to the news.

[Telephone rings]

I'll get it.

Hello. Oh. Hello, chief.

What's happening?

Hello.

Hello.

Dad, what happened to the phone?

The phone went dead.

The tv stopped.

Now the electricity's dead.

Looks like we're
going to be next.

When we said we're
going to have a barbecue,

I didn't think it
was going to be us.

If you'd all just clear
out into the street.

Everything's under
control, not to worry.

You want to move some of
that equipment through here?

That's it, keep it
moving, keep it moving.

Oh, my goodness.
Where's the fire?

On the st floor, lady,

And would you please
stay out of our way?

I live here. I work
for the drummonds.

Where are they? The drummonds?

Well, they're up
in their apartment.

If you'll please just
stand aside, lady.

Can I send them a message?

Not now. Please,
lady, you're in our way.

Well, I have to
see the drummonds

Because, you know, I work
for the drummonds and I don't...

Are you feeling better, sophia?

Oh, a little.

Oh, philip, I don't want to die,

Especially now that I have my
checkbook straightened out.

I'd like to hang around, too.

I want to find out if the
trickle-down theory works.

Unfortunately, we
don't have the privilege

Of selecting our own time.

Philip, do you believe
in reincarnation?

Well, I didn't, but it's beginning
to sound very attractive.

I've never told this to anyone.

You know that peach
tree in our old back yard?

Yes.

I think it's uncle hubert.

Uncle hubert came
back as a peach tree?

Well, there's a
remarkable resemblance.

The tree is old and gnarled,

And the peaches have fuzz
just like he did on his head.

Come to think of
it, his wife celia

Could be the lemon tree.

Philip, if you had your choice,

What would you
like to come back as?

Oh, I don't know.

A lion or an eagle,

Anything but a little kid.

Why not a little kid?

I'd hate to go through
toilet training again.

Philip!

You really did inherit
father's sense of humor.

You think so?

Yes.

Too bad mother
was the funny one.

Oh, philip.

You are such a dear man.

And you are a wonderful
human being, sophia.

Weird, but wonderful.

Here's some more
towels, kimberly.

Thanks.

And some wash cloths.

Thank you.

Man...

Just think, I may never
hear dad say again,

"Wash behind your ears, arnold,"

'Cause I won't be here
and neither will my ears.

Oh, arnold, stop
talking like that.

Let's face it, kimberly,
we're done for.

finito. finished.

The deep six. The last round-up.

The big move to bone city.

Arnold's right.

We should have gone
shopping with adelaide.

Right now, we could
be buying shake-n-bake

Instead of being it.

Guys, if I don't make it,

I want you each to
have something of mine

To remember me by.

Willis, I want you to
have my gold necklace.

Oh, gee, thanks kimberly.

Arnold, for you my class ring.

It's not as valuable
as the necklace,

But it really does
mean a lot to me.

I'll keep it forever.

Unless you want to swap
it for the necklace, willis?

Kimberly, I want to give
something to you, too,

That's very important to me.

Your comb?

My gold key ring
with my initial on it.

Oh, wow. Thanks, willis.

That's sweet.

Give it to your
husband some day.

Just make sure you marry a guy

Whose name starts with a "w".

Kimberly, I want you to
have something of mine, too.

Would you like my piggy bank?

Sure, arnold. That's
very generous.

Of course, I would
love to have it.

Good. I'll give you the piggy

As soon as I get the money out.

Hey, you guys, we'd better get

These wash cloths
and stuff to dad.

Ok, come on.

Hello, god?

It's me again, the
kid in penthouse "b."

I've got to talk fast

Because there's not
too much time left.

I've always looked forward
to seeing you personally,

But I don't want it to happen
any sooner than necessary.

So could you please
put out this fire?

If you do, I promise to
take all my friends to see

The next movie about
you with george burns.

Although if you don't
mind a suggestion,

I think they'd sell
a lot more tickets

If you played the part yourself.

Well, that's about it.

Over and I hope not out.

Excuse me, chief.

Can you tell me
what's happening now?

Well, it's all right,
lady. The fire's out.

[Sighs]

Ok, heart, start b*ating again.

Lady, you can't go up there yet.

Why not?

The elevator's still off limits

And there might be
smoke in the stairwells.

Oh.

Well, at least the folks
know the fire's out now.

I'm afraid they
don't know it yet.

The phones aren't working.

Unfortunately, they might think

It's a lot worse than it is

Because the exhaust
system is all fouled up.

Could be blowing smoke
back through their vents.

Well, can't you send
somebody up there to tell them?

I'm sorry, lady, I don't have
a man for you right now.

That's the story of my life.

I'll let the drummonds
know as soon as I can.

Radio dispatcher:
engine , squad one,

West second,
apartment number one,

Medical aid meeting victim...

Only more to go.

[Coughs]

Philip, the smoke
is getting worse.

The fire must be coming closer.

[Coughs]

Hey, look, kids, smoke rises.

So just in case
this gets any worse,

Why don't we all get
down on the floor?

The air will be a little
bit better down there. Ok?

Good, while we're down there,

Why don't we do
a little praying?

Ok, there we go.

Don't you worry, abraham.

I'm not gonna let you die.

If worse comes to worse,

I'll flush you down the
toilet and set you free.

If you were a little smaller,

We could do the same for you.

Philip, I've been thinking.

Good. It's never too late.

No. Seriously.

If we've gotta go, I want to
go with a clean conscience.

Remember that model
airplane that you got

For your ninth birthday?

Remember it? I built it.

A little p- o w*r hawk.

Sharks teeth
painted on the nose.

I used to pretend
I was the pilot...

Until you accidentally broke it.

Philip, it wasn't
exactly an accident.

I was jealous because
you paid so much attention

To that rotten little plane,

So... I stepped on it.

Several times.

Can you forgive me?

Oh, don't be silly, sophia.

Of course I forgive you.

That was years ago.

It's no big deal.

[Voice breaking] I
loved that plane!

Gotta get up there.

[Panting]

Gotta tell 'em the fire's out.

I gotta change this girdle.

It's k*lling me.

If I got to go,

There's one thing I wish I
could have done before I d*ed.

What was that, arnold?

Tell the gooch what
I really think of him.

Isnt the gooch
that bully at school

Who used to b*at you up?

No. He's a bully at school

Who still beats him up.

Arnold, what are you doing?

I'm calling the gooch.

He's real brave on a dead phone.

[Arnold dialing]

Hello, gooch? This
is arnold jackson.

I just got one
thing to tell you.

You better not mess with me

Or any of my friends ever again!

You got that, banana brain?

'Cause I you do, I'm gonna
have to relocate your teeth

To another neighborhood!

Guess I told him.

[Telephone rings]

The phone is working.

You really were
talking to the gooch.

Yeah, but the
laugh's on him. [Ring]

I'll be dead before
he can k*ll me.

We're saved.

If we're saved, I'm dead.

Hello? Oh, hello, chief.

What? Hey, that's wonderful!

Thanks, chief. The fire's out!

All right! We're saved! Awesome!

Oh, see? Why were
you all so worried?

[Knock on door]

That must be the firemen.

I didn't have the
strength to lift my key.

Adelaide, what are
you doing down there?

The fire's over.
You're all safe.

We know that, adelaide.

You know?!

I climbed flights to
tell you, and you know?!

Couldn't you have lied to me?

Ooh... Oh, dear.

Oh, give her a chair.

Give her a drink.

Give here a raise!

Adelaide, we really do
appreciate your concern for us,

But you shouldn't
have done that.

That was a very dangerous
thing for you to do.

Daddy?

You were right...
We all made it.

Sophia, adelaide, kids,

I want to tell you how
very proud I am of all of you.

You did what you were
told, and you didn't panic.

Speaking of panic!

Hello, gooch?

This is your good buddy arnold

Hey, listen, I understand

Some liar's been going
around phoning people

Saying he's me.

Yeah. Hey, why don't you and me

Try to find out
who this clown is?

I'll hold him, and
then you can have fun

b*ating him up.

♪ 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 nothing
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 ♪

♪ Hmm ♪
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