10x17 - A New Girl in Town

[bunniefuu]

in the sky

a piece of the pie

in the kitchen

on the grill

in the big leagues

it's you and me, baby

with that

in the sky

a piece of the pie

Well, the room's
all done.

Clean linen,
new towels
and fresh flowers.

And your cousin's
just gonna love it.

Tell me, how long
has it been since
you've seen her?

Ten years.
Isn't it amazing what
can happen in ten years?

Ten years ago, Rhonda
was just a little girl
in pigtails.

Now, she's a full-grown woman.

It was years ago
I started working
for you folks.

And look at me...

Now.

Well, the room's
all done.

Oh, come on, Florence!
You've done plenty with your
life in the last years.

Like what?

Oh. Well, uh,
let's see.

Uh, uh...

You don't cr*ck
your knuckles anymore.

Just trying to help.

Well, anyway, in case
I didn't tell you,

I really appreciate you
letting Rhonda stay here.

Oh, it's our pleasure.
But actually, when I say
"Our", I mean mine.

Uh, because I haven't
told George yet.

You haven't?

Uh, no. I tried last night
in bed, but I guess
you can guess what happened.

He fell asleep.

Yep.

Well, don't you think
you should tell him?

I mean, she'll be
here any minute.

Well, yes, we should
tell him all right,
but the problem is how?

I know. I'll be real nice
and do everything he says.

Come on, Florence.
George is no fool.

He'd see through that
in two, three days tops.

Well, can't you make
the decision?

I mean,
put your foot down.

No, I don't think so.

Well, we better think of
something quick because
he's gonna get suspicious

when Rhonda sits down
to breakfast, lunch,
and dinner day after day.

Wait a minute.

We could just convince him
that it was his idea
for Rhonda to stay here.

His idea?

And you think
he'll fall for that?

I know he will.

To this day, he still thinks
he asked me to marry him.

What you all
laughing at?

Oh, we were just
laughing at ourselves.

Remembering how
great it is to be .

You know,
like Rhonda.

Oh, yeah. Eighteen
is a great age.

Who's Rhonda?

Oh, you know, Florence's
cousin from Georgia.

What cousin?

Oh, George, the one
that's gonna stay
with us for a week.

Ain't no cousin
of Florence staying
with us for the week.

Oh, but, George,
you promised.

Now, a month ago,
we asked if she could stay,
and you said "Yeah."

What are you
talking about?

You really
don't remember?

No, I don't remember.

Okay, we were
having breakfast.

You had bacon and eggs,
and you were yelling

at Florence for
burning the toast.

Oh, yeah.
Now, I remember.

You did burn
the toast.

Oh, yeah, so when
is she gonna show up?

Oh, right away.

Now, George, remember.
She's Florence's cousin,
and she looks up to Florence.

Look, Weezy, I know what
you're trying to get at.

I do have some
sensitivity, you know.

So, Florence,
this cousin of yours,
is she pretty?

Or does she
look like you?

Oh, George!

Oh, come on, Weezy,
you get a lay-up,
you gotta take it.

Well, I wonder
what's keeping Rhonda?

I called the bus station.
The bus got in on time.

It probably
has something
to do with Ralph.

Ralph? You sent Ralph
to pick her up?

Well, yeah.
We didn't want her coming
from the station alone.

Besides, you know
this city's full of muggers,
petty thieves and leeches.

So you start her off
with a leech?

Boy, oh, boy...

Hello? Hello, Ralph.
Where are you?

You're at
the bus station.

Is Rhonda
with you?

What do you mean
she didn't show up?

Well, you just stay
there until she does.

What? Yes, it has
to be Florence's cousin.

No, we will not accept
just any teenager.

Or will we?

No, Ralph, we won't.
Bye, Ralph. Bye.

What do you mean
she wasn't on the bus?

Look, calm down,
Florence. It'll be okay.

I promise you.
Everything's all right.

Look, Florence,
it's one of two things.

She either got off the
bus here and got lost,

or she missed the bus
there and got lost.

So we know that
she's either somewhere
here in New York,

where we live,
or somewhere in Georgia,
where her folks live.

Either way,
we know she's lost near
someone who loves her.

I'll get some coffee.

It's her!
It's gotta be her!
It better be her!

It's her! Hi, Rhonda!
Cousin Florence!

Hey, you haven't
changed a bit.

Well, I hope
you mean physically.

And you know what else
hasn't changed a bit.

Aunt Dree's
peach cobbler!

You got it.

Lord, this woman
used to make
the best peach cobbler.

Still does.

Well, ain't
that nice.

She told me to tell you
hi, too. And Cousin Allen,
and Eugene, and Lucille.

And Andy,
and Goober,
and Aunt Bee.

I sure can't say you
haven't changed.

The last time I saw you,
you wasn't nothing
but pigtails and long legs.

Couldn't have been
no more than three
or four feet...

Mr. Jefferson,
stand over here.

Oh, never mind.
Anyway, honey, it is
so good to see you.

Oh, me, too.

But you had me
worried sick.

Why weren't you
on the bus?

Well, I wanted
to save money.

I mean, I put away
a lot already,

but there's so many
things I wanna do.

I've been making lists
all the way up here.

Okay. I wanna get
my ears pierced.
I wanna get some tapes.

You must
be Mrs. Jefferson.
Hello, dear.

Mr. Jefferson.
How are you?

Hey, do you guys have
Michael Jackson?

That's all right,
we'll figure it out.

And I need clothes...
Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait a minute.

Wait a minute.
Now, if you weren't
on the bus,

how in the world
did you get here?

Oh, I caught a ride.

You what?
Are you crazy?

What's the matter
with that?

What's the matter with that?
You could have been k*lled!

Do you know what
kind of crazy, low-life,
degenerate maniacs

go around
picking up people?

Hi.

Who is that?

Oh, that's the friend
I caught a ride with.

Pleased to meet you.

My friends
call me Burn Out.

I forget why and I...

Hey, where do
you want these?

Uh, just put them
down anywhere.

Boy! I was lucky,
Cousin Florence.

There I was
on this dark,
country road.

Suddenly, these two
headlights appeared
from nowhere.

I didn't know whether to run
or scream because of all
the crazies, you know.

But fortunately,
it was only Burn Out.

Oh!

Well, I can see you
lucked out all right.

Oh, but Burn Out's
brilliant.

All the way up here,
he was telling me
about New York

and all the great things
there are to do here.

So he got me thinking.
So I decided to stay
here forever.

Whoa, whoa,
Rhonda.

There's a big difference
between one week
and forever.

Why don't you compromise
and stay maybe eight days.

Oh, Mr. Jefferson,
a week in New York
is silly.

I mean, this is where
the action is.

Yeah, particularly,
in the midtown area.

I mean, you got the museums,
you've got Broadway,
you've got Carnegie Hall.

Plus it's so easy to get
to New York from here.

Anyway, Rhonda, we didn't
expect for you to be staying
for more than a week.

Well, neither did I,
but with all that
Burn Out was telling me,

it's like
there's no better place
to live in the world.

But, honey, this ain't
exactly my place.

Oh, I didn't mean
I'd be staying
here forever.

First thing I gotta do
is get a job
and an apartment.

And Burn Out
knows the city.

Plus, I already
got my own money.

Well, how much money?

$.
Plus the I saved
from the bus fare.

And you expect to get
an apartment with that?

Well, I know it won't
be on Fifth Avenue
or anything.

Any place in this
building vacant?

Uh, Rhonda, sweetheart,
I know your hopes
are high...

Of course
my hopes are high.

You gotta have
drive and ambition.

That's the only way
to get anything done.
Like you.

Me?
Sure.

That's why I can't wait
to hear the son of
a sharecropper story

that Florence used
to write me about.

Oh, no. Florence,
did you tell her that?

I didn't expect her
to meet you.

Look, Mr. Jefferson,
I hope this won't
embarrass you,

but I've always
thought of you as
a tremendous influence.

And if I can achieve
even a tenth
of your success,

I think moving here will be
the wisest thing I've ever
done. Don't you?

Well, Rhonda, like I said
in my sharecropper story...

Uh, not now, George.

You know, I remember
the wisest thing
I'd ever done.

It was a weird thing...

Anyway.
Rhonda, I think
we better talk.

Oh, would you mind
if we talk tomorrow?

Well, I...

Oh, it's really been
such a long trip.

And I'm just dying
to get out of
these clothes.

Well, I guess
it can wait
till tomorrow.

Anyway, it's good
to see you, honey.

Your room
is right here, dear.

Boy, oh, boy!
What a sweet, perceptive,
sensitive, young lady.

It's funny how stuff like
that can skip over a whole
generation, isn't it?

Oh, Florence,
you must be
pretty excited.

Oh, yeah,
Miss Jefferson.

But to tell you
the truth,
I'm kind of worried.

I mean, some of Rhonda's
thoughts kind of caught
me by surprise.

Let's face it, Florence.
Every thought catches
you by surprise.

Oh, George,
be serious.

Don't you see
the problem
we have here?

Rhonda shows up all
wide-eyed, young,
and innocent.

Now how do you expect
Florence to communicate
with her?

Yes, she's right.
I know I'm right.

It's been a long time
since you were that young.

I, I was gonna
make coffee,
wasn't I?

Oh, I understand what you
mean. And I'll handle it.

Now, I don't know
exactly what I'm gonna
say to Rhonda,

but I'm definitely gonna
straighten her out.

Yeah, well, I think
your point's well made.

A measure of discipline
is important,
but on the other hand,

positive reinforcement can
also be an effective tool

in the shaping of a young
person's consciousness.

You know, this could use
a touch more Vermouth.

Well, the third bottle
to your left.

My left? My left...

Oh, my left!

My left.

That's it.
I'm talking
to Rhonda.

Oh, no, Florence.
Now, maybe tomorrow
would be better.

Well, I guess
it was a long trip.
She's probably bushed.

She'll probably be
out here any minute
to say good night.

Well, good night.
Good night.

Oh.

Wait a minute,
young lady.

Where do you think
you're going?

To party
with Burn Out.

To what with who?

Yeah, we're gonna
dance until dawn,

and stroll home
as the streetlights
go off

and the sun rises over
the skyline of the city.

I don't know about Burn Out,
but the only place
you're gonna stroll

is to stroll your little
butt right back in there,
put on some more clothes,

and then take them off,
and then get into bed.

Bed? But I thought
this was the city
that never sleeps.

Isn't that right,
Mr. Jefferson?

Well, if he was awake,
he'd agree with me.

Uh, wait a minute,
young lady.

Don't try to drag other
people into this.

This is a family matter.

And since I am the only
family member, I will
make the decision.

And my decision is
you are going to bed.

Come on, Cousin Florence.
I'm years old.

You can't tell me what
to do. I'm an adult.

Oh, is that so?

Is that why you
waltzed in here late
without even calling?

Young lady, you haven't
even shown a trace
of responsibility

since you got here.

Well, what do you
want from me?
I'm only years old.

I'm just a kid.

Rhonda, let me put it
to you like this.

As long as
you're in my house,
you will obey my rules.

And my rule is anybody
that I'm responsible for
is in by :.

And stop rolling
your eyes at me!

Can you believe
that child?

Florence,
she is .

Well, since when has
age got anything to do
with being a child?

Hey, you know,
I was gonna crash
with you guys,

but you guys are
just way too loud.

You know
what I mean?

I mean, it's like the logical
reaction from the alpha rays
just isn't happening.

Slow elevator.
I'm gonna take
the stairs.

Now, that's the kind of people
that she hangs around with.

Uh, uh, Florence, I think
you've just gotten too
emotionally involved.

Uh, George?
George?

Huh?

What do you think
we can do
about Rhonda?

Look, Weezy, I distinctly
remember when I said that
Rhonda could stay here,

but that I didn't
wanna get involved.

Burn Out's right.
Y'all are too loud.
I'm going to bed.

Is that Florence?

It's probably Rhonda.

Seeing Florence's face
first thing in the morning
can make you do that.

She's gone.
She's not in there.

What am I gonna
tell her mother?

I don't know, but that
poor girl's missing
some good bacon.

How am I gonna
find her?

I wonder if that
Burn Out's listed
in the directory.

Wait a minute.

Listen to this.
"Dear Cousin Florence,
you were right.

"As long as I live under
your roof, I do have
to obey your rules.

"I'd hate more than
anything for there to be
trouble between us,

"so I'm looking
for my own place."

Well, in that case,
she won't be needing
her eggs.

"And please don't worry.
I already have a job.

"Burn Out's uncle promised
me some work at his bar
as a mud wrestler."

BOTH: Mud wrestler?

What could she be
thinking about?

That girl was raised
better than that.

You wait till I get
my hands on her.

I'm gonna shake
her cross-eyed.

Oh, Florence.
Don't get excited.
She's naive.

Maybe she doesn't know
what she's getting into.
Talk to her.

Oh, I'm gonna talk
to her all right.

I'm gonna put her over
my knee and give her
a speech she'll never forget.

Oh, calm down.

This is terrible.
What am I gonna do?

You can pass me
the salt.

George, please.
I can't believe you can eat
in a situation like this.

I guess you don't need
your eggs, either.

You know, this is all my
fault. I drove her away.

Go on, you can tell me.
It's my fault.

Oh, now, Florence,
don't be so hard
on yourself.

No. Don't be
afraid to say it.
I didn't handle it right.

Oh, you did the best
you could.

The bottom line is
my cousin entrusted
her only child to me,

and now she is
being dragged
through the mud.

Oh, Florence.

Maybe I overreacted.
After all, she is .

Well, Florence, maybe
you did overreact.

Oh, go ahead.
Blame it on me.

Now, Florence.
I understand what
you're going through.

But that's a part
of raising kids.

And what do you know
about raising kids?

Well, Lionel isn't...

Did he ever
mud wrestle?

Well, no.

Then you don't know
what I'm going through.

I'm gonna get her.

I guess you won't need
your bacon, huh?

Where are you gonna
look for her?

I'm gonna search every
mud wrestling bar in Manhattan
if it takes me all night.

Florence, wait a minute.
I wouldn't do that
if I was you.

Oh, I don't care
how dangerous it is.

Not that. I'm showing
my vacation slides
to the Willises tonight.

You don't wanna
miss out on that.

Mr. Jefferson,
don't you say
nothing here.

If you hadn't agreed
to let her come here
in the first place,

I wouldn't be
in this mess.

Would you believe this?
We've already seen two
trays of my vacation,

and I haven't even
boarded the bus yet.

Excuse me, George,
but you know, I,
I was just thinking.

When we asked you to look
at the slides from our
vacation to Yellowstone,

you suggested that we move
from the building.

And now you expect us
to give up our evening
to look at five full trays

of a tour you took through
a cleaning plant in Newark?

Look at it this way, Helen.
If you were upstairs right now
with your husband,

what would you be doing?

Roll 'em.

Uh-huh. Now, this is
what I was referring to
earlier, Willis.

See how, in New Jersey,
the clothes racks rotate
counter-clockwise.

Louise, you know,
I just can't believe it.

I am bored out of my skull,
and you are actually
interested in this?

Louise?

Louise?

Oh, now, this is
a sad one here. See?
TOM: Oh.

This worn-out,
old rag that nobody
ever claimed.

Mr. Jefferson...

I'm not talking
about you, Florence.

I was showing them
the slides.

Well, I hate
to interrupt, but...

Oh, child, interrupt.
Please interrupt.

I don't know
what to do.

I couldn't find
her anywhere.

Florence, you've been
looking for her all day.

I'm telling you,
she's all right.

Just take
your mind off it.

Sit down with us
and enjoy the slides.

All right.

Okay. Now, here we have some
of your common stains found
in New Jersey. Okay?

Oh.

Look, Helen,
close-ups!

Your beach stain.

Ugh.

Your grass stain.

Your mud stain.
Oh.

Mud!

Okay. That's it,
no more slides!
I'm sick of this.

Oh, my goodness.
What is it?

What's the matter,
Florence?

Oh, no offense,
Miss Willis,

but it's a personal,
private matter.

Aw! This must have to do
with your cousin's
mud-wrestling career.

How's she doing?

Tom! Oh, I think
we must be leaving now.

Oh, but, Helen, I,
I could give her
the benefit of my insight.

Honey, I think you used
up your insight when you said,
"Look, Helen, close-ups!"

But, bunny face, wait...

Florence,
believe me.

I do understand
what you're going
through.

But I don't think
you have anything
to worry about.

It's your cousin's
daughter, and she was
brought up in a good home.

Yeah. And those mud
wrestling places
have referees.

Well, things could be
worse. At least she's not
doing nothing illegal.

Which one here
is your cousin?
Oh!

My professional instinct
tells me you're the cousin.

What did you do?
I didn't do any...

Never mind,
don't tell me.
What did she do?

Well, ma'am, she...
I knew it, I knew it.

Officer, is it premature
to think about parole?
Ma'am...

I'll watch her.
Really, I will.
I'll even tie her up.

Ma'am...
Do you have kids?

Oh, I hope you do,
so you'll know what
I'm going through.

Ma'am...
Then again,
I hope you don't

because nobody
should know what
I'm going through.

Ma'am...
Listen, raising kids
today is so hard.

There is so much...

There was a riot down
at the club...
A riot?

Oh, there goes
the parole.

Listen, but like I said,
I'll tie her up. I'll use
real strong rope.

And you'll...

I'm not arresting
your cousin.

My partner and I were
called in. We broke up
the disturbance.

And I just thought
it was a good idea
if I saw Rhonda home.

Oh, Rhonda,
what happened?

I was minding my own
business. This guy
tried to pinch me.

The man wouldn't
listen to reason.
I had to pop him one.

She's a Johnston.

Well, Rhonda, now that
you're home safely,
I can take off.

Thank you, Officer.
Yeah, thanks.

Okay. Oh, by the way,
are you going to be
discussing this?

I'd say it'd be
a safe bet.

Then here. I'll tell them
I lost it in the scuffle.

Mud wrestling?

Now, Cousin Florence,
before you go
any further,

I want you to know
I quit that job.

Well, it's about time
you came to your senses.

Yeah. I should have
talked to you first.

Then why didn't you?

'Cause you would've
told me no.

Well, you got that right.

But that's just it,
Cousin Florence. You
don't talk to me either.

I what?
You don't. You order me.
You tell me.

Look, if I live here,
I'm gonna make mistakes.

And I'm really gonna
need your advice.

But that's what...
Advice, Cousin Florence.
Not orders.

I respect you.

And all I want is
for you to respect me
a little, too.

But it's only because
I worry about you, honey.

I love you.

I love you. But I think
the best thing for both
of us would be for me

to get a new job
and move out
as soon as I can.

I really should
be on my own.

But, honey, you're
too young for that.

I'm the same age
you were, Mama said,
when you left.

That darn woman
never could keep
her mouth shut.

That's the same thing
she says about you.

Oh, honey,
I wanted us
to be close.

I want that, too.

But here's
how I figure.

Sometimes in order
for people to get
closer together,

they have to get
farther apart.

Well, you're probably
right. But you just
don't forget I'm here.

You understand?
I won't.

Did you hear that,
George?
Huh?

Maybe sometimes people do
have to get further apart
to get closer.

Oh. Hey, Florence, don't
you think it's time you
and I got closer together?

I'll get
your suitcase.