05x20 - Welcome to the Other Neighborhood

[bunniefuu]

So, Calvin, what are we drinking to?

To success.

Marty and I are having our grand

opening in a couple of weeks.

It's all coming together.

Ah, well, to Butler and Butler.

Oh, uh, we actually

have to change the name.

There is a Butler and

Butler Funeral Home.

Now, I made them an offer,

but they said over their dead bodies.

(SNICKERS) (LAUGHS)

A pun, huh?

You really are in a good mood.

In that case, these guys sound

like a real bunch of stiffs.

Am I right?

No.

Oh, Mama.

I have only had three

dates with Janelle,

and she says you invited

her here for dinner tomorrow.

Uh-huh.

And you didn't ask me?

Well, I didn't know if you were free.

I mean, you're more

than welcome to come.

Well, th-this is a little awkward, Ma.

It's a new relationship, and

she is my English professor.

Well, you're the one who

said that she may be the one.

Don't you want your

mother's opinion? No.

Pop, did you know about this?

Of course.

I keep up with my woman.

Ah. There's my partner. Come on in.

I was just telling Dave how

great everything's going.

Yeah, I'm not so sure.

There are protesters in

the street in Boyle Heights.

They're marching against gentrification

- in the neighborhood.

- Good.

I hope they march those

suckers right on out of there.

No offense, Dave.

Uh, none taken, but, Calvin,

you should really read this flyer.

Th-They're talking about your business.

They say that you're the gentrifiers.

What?

I can't be a gentrifier.

I'm not even white. No offense, Dave.

Welcome to the block,

welcome to the neighborhood ♪

Welcome to the hood. ♪

Dave, isn't Grover's family

tree project looking great?

Oh, amazing.

Hey, wasn't Great-Grandma

Johnson a handsome woman?

My teacher says I need

her personal details.

What was her job?

Oh, well, it was World w*r I,

and she ran a house, and

There were other women there.

And, um

Okay, you see, when,

um, when soldiers, uh

who were lonely and had money

would come home from the w*r

Just say nurse, Dave.

She was a nurse.

Um, the only missing piece is your dad.

Oh. Well, you know, my dad left

when I was younger than

you are now, Grover.

Hmm.

What if I just put a picture

of some other old guy?

Here. This guy'll do.

Grover, that's Colonel Sanders.

Cool. Grandpa was in the Army.

(LAUGHS)

Pop, why don't you tell Janelle

about you and Marty's new shop?

They're gonna be fixing electric cars.

Yes, that's right.

It's called the Fuse Box.

Ooh, I like that name, but, wait,

do electric cars even have fuses?

(CACKLES)

Do-do electric cars have fuses?

(LAUGHTER)

Do they?

They don't, but, you know,

it's-it's just a fun, retro name.

Yes, retro.

Listen, you know what?

A funny thing happened. Um

The people saw us

building a nice new shop,

and they thought that we were there

to gentrify their neighborhood.

MARTY: Yeah, I-I don't know

if it's that funny, Dad.

You know, I was on Twitter

and people are worked up.

- They are?

- Yeah. There's even a hashtag.

#RefuseTheFuse.

(GROANS) CALVIN: Then I'll you know,

I'll just come up with my own

hashtag and drown them out.

#Calvin'sDope.

#ButlerLove. You know?

Oh, hey, buddy. Is that

the finished product?

- Let me see it.

- Yeah, I got everybody.

And it turns out

Great-Grandma Johnson wasn't

a nurse after all.

I asked Grammy, and she

said she was a lady of the night.

Okay, uh, well, do you

know what that means?

Well, obviously she

solved crimes after dark.

Uh, well, you know, Grover,

that's not exactly what it was.

No, don't argue with Grammy.

Is that a picture of my dad?

Whoa, that's recent.

Where did you get that?

Facebook.

It's this old website.

He lives in Oxnard.

He loves Huey Lewis and

the News, just like you do, Dave.

Yeah. I mean, that's not saying much.

Everybody loves Huey Lewis and the News.

I'll meet you in the car, sweetie.

Dave, did you know your

dad was so close by?

I had no idea.

I mean, he sent me a

friend request on Facebook,

but that was years ago.

Oh, my God. You never told me that.

I didn't accept it.

I mean, just 'cause he lives in Oxnard

and is apparently a fellow member of

the Hugh Crew doesn't change the fact

that he abandoned me when I was 11.

(SIGHS)

Now I have "Hip to Be

Square" stuck in my head.

And for the first time,

I am not loving it.

- Oh, hey.

- Oh, hello, fellas.

What is that you say?

"What grade did you get on

your English paper, Malcolm?"

An "A."

(LAUGHS) Ooh. Wow.

You got an "A" from your

girlfriend. That's surprising.

(CHUCKLES SARCASTICALLY)

Oh, please, man. I got an

"A" because I earned it.

And your boy might just

make the dean's list.

Oh, is Janelle the dean, too?

(LAUGHTER)

(LAUGHS FORCEFULLY) No.

Hey, look, there's no shame in it.

You're still excelling

because of your skills.

Just maybe not your academic skills.

- (MUTTERS)

- (LAUGHTER)

Hey, look, Malcolm. I did the

same thing to get a job at Arby's.

What? That

You know what? I have

always gotten good grades.

I'm not gonna let you

two get in my head.

And wasn't the manager of

that Arby's your cousin?

I mean, by marriage.

A lot of people showed up for this.

You were right, we should

have bought a third tray of tacos.

No way.

You know who buys three trays of tacos?

Jeff Bezos.

We don't want them thinking

we're one of those out-of-touch

rich corporations with

unlimited taco money.

Ah.

These are fantastic.

Oh, well, all right.

I'm glad you enjoy them.

You ever been to El Rey's?

Best Mexican food in South Pasadena.

Oh, I'll have to check it out sometime.

Luis Cabrera. Uh

Very nice setup you got here.

Well, I mean, it's not too

nice, you know, but, uh,

- Calvin Butler.

- Oh.

Man of the people.

Well, I can't wait to hear

what you guys got planned.

Awesome. Okay.

Um, so can, um, everybody

please have a seat?

Sit down!

Thank you.

Okay, baby. Go ahead.

Yeah, all right, uh, hello, everybody.

I am Calvin Butler,

co-owner of Fuse Box EV Solutions.

This is my partner, my son Marty Butler.

And as you can see,

we are no gentrifiers.

Okay? So I hope

that clears everything up.

Please enjoy the tacos.

Uh, Luis, my new friend.

Do you, uh, do you have a question?

Uh, yes. Yes, uh, thanks, Calvin.

Uh, my-my question

is very simple, um

Who the hell do you think you are?

Excuse me?

What? You think that

just because you're not

some white guy, we're gonna be cool

with you busting into our neighborhood

and pushing out our businesses?

Look, I-I'm not busting

or pushing anything.

We're building and improving.

Oh, is that what this is? Improvement?

You know, I-I think I liked it better

when we could all get together

as a neighborhood and

enjoy our coffee shops

- and our-our tailor and our bookstore.

- (MURMURING IN AGREEMENT)

But, no, it's all gone now.

But yet here you are with

your fancy ED Solutions.

Uh, it-it-it's EV Solutions.

Uh, it's very different.

I miss the coffee shop.

They have the best conchas.

- (OVERLAPPING AGREEMENTS)

- CALVIN: Okay, look, look.

I don't know nothing about no couches.

All right? That coffee shop was

not here when we leased the place.

It was already closed.

You're right. You're right, it was.

They raised the rent

because outsiders like you

with fat wallets came in, am I right?

GROUP: Yeah.

Guys, guys, look.

We want to be a friend to

the neighborhood, all right?

I brought tacos.

Only two trays.

Yeah, and the worst part,

- they're from Pasadena.

- (GROANING, MURMURING)

You can't bring Pasadena

tacos to Boyle Heights.

(CHANTING): One, two, three, four!

We don't want your EV store!

One, two, three, four!

We don't want your EV store!

- (CHANTING CONTINUES)

- Oh, no, no, no. Well, you know what?

Y'all got chants? Well, I got chants.

(CHANTING): Hell no.

No tacos.

Hell no. No tacos.

I'm the boss, so grab that salsa.

(CHANTING): One, two, three, four

I mean, where do those people get off

saying my shop's gonna

ruin their neighborhood?

And they've got some

nerve yelling at my man,

and those corny-ass chants.

Mine was better than theirs,

and it was off the dome.

Dave? What's going on, man?

You hitting that yo-yo pretty hard.

You know most men learn

to yo-yo from their dads?

Uh, no.

I didn't get that.

I had to teach myself.

How to yo-yo?

Yeah, see? You get it.

You were there for Malcolm

and Marty during their yo-yo years.

They didn't have to go to

the library and get a book.

Okay.

Hey, I'm starting to think

this is not about a yo-yo.

Oh, yeah, great, here comes the lecture.

"This isn't about a yo-yo, Dave.

This is about your dad

coming back into your life."

Okay. What?

Look, come on, man, sit down.

What's-what's going on?

Grover found my dad.

Apparently, he lives in Oxnard, and

I haven't seen him since I was 11.

Hmm.

- So, are you gonna see him?

- Why should I?

He up and left when I was

a kid. I mean, you're a dad.

Would you ever do that to your kids?

(SCOFFS) No, sir.

Well, guess who did.

My father Lamar Johnson.

Grover? Lamar?

You Johnsons are k*lling me

with these Black-ass names.

Look, as far as I'm concerned,

any man that leaves you as a kid

- doesn't deserve anything from you.

- Yeah, thank you.

But maybe you deserve

something from him.

Dave, I miss my dad every day,

and I would give anything

for the opportunity

just to speak with him

for a few more minutes.

I mean, think about it, maybe

you need some clarity.

Maybe you want to hear his story.

No, no, I don't want to hear his story.

I need him to hear my story.

I'm just so angry, Calvin.

Dave, if that's the way

you feel, then tell him.

But just make sure you

don't miss the chance

while you still have it.

Maybe you're right.

(SIGHS) Thanks, Calvin.

Wow. Never seen someone yo-yo sad.

(KNOCKING)

- Gemma, you got a min

- (SHUSHES)

One of the smoke detectors

has a low battery beep.

I'm trying to figure out which one.

Got it.

- I just had a quick question

- (SMOKE DETECTOR BEEPS)

No, no, no, no! Ooh, you talked over it.

Now we have about 30 seconds. What's up?

Okay, uh, before you were a principal,

you were a teacher, right?

Would your personal

feelings towards a student

ever affect how you graded them?

All the time.

- Really?

- I'm not gonna give a good grade

to the kid who said I had manly hands.

Oh. (CLICKS TONGUE)

Okay, Gemma, but, uh

Damn, I never noticed your

hands before. They are

lovely. I still don't notice 'em.

(SMOKE DETECTOR BEEPS)

Was that in the kitchen?

I thought it was upstairs.

Damn it.

So, this is about you

being in Janelle's class?

Yes, I am doing really

well in the class,

but now I'm worried it's because

I'm doing really well outside the class.

(CHUCKLING)

(LAUGHING): Okay.

Because you're so good at pleasing her?

(LAUGHING): Oh, men.

It is not that funny.

(SIGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

You know what I should do?

I should do a terrible job

on the paper on purpose,

see if she gives me an

"A" anyway, there it is.

Can you believe that Luis guy?

Bad-mouthing Pasadena tacos?

Ain't nothing wrong with these tacos.

Well, you know, I-I

was thinking, though,

what they're concerned about,

they're not crazy.

Are you taking their side

and eating all the carnitas?

- (MUTTERING)

- No, D-Daddy, no, that

Uh

You know what, baby? Maybe he's right.

You know, those people are afraid

their neighborhood is

losing its identity.

And you of all people

should understand that.

I mean, you remember how upset you were

when Friendly's Market was replaced

- by Mucho Mochi?

- Mm-hmm.

I wasn't upset.

You damn near lost your mind.

And now it's your favorite.

It's not my favorite.

(SCOFFS) I mean,

I like the green tea,

but it's not my favorite.

Dad, to be fair,

most of the people in that neighborhood

can't afford electric cars.

They don't see how our

business helps them.

Okay, but you saw what

commercial property

is going for these days. All right?

That was the only space we could afford.

Now, if those people don't like it,

then I don't know what to tell 'em.

Maybe don't tell them anything.

Just go down there,

be your charming self,

and show them that you understand.

MARTY: Yeah, Dad. You get them together

and you prove to them

that you're an ally.

That Marty, Marty,

Marty, Marty. You know what?

I know what I'm-a do.

I'm just gonna go down

there, be my charming self,

and prove to them that I'm an ally.

(KNOCKING)

Hold on.

- Hello.

- Hey, handsome.

BOTH: Mmm.

Hey, can I ask you a question?

Of course.

What the hell is this?

That is my essay.

Oh, well, let me read

you my favorite passage.

- Okay.

- "This story was short,

making it a short story

as opposed to a long story,

- which is a novel."

- (MOUTHS)

That is technically true.

Well, yes, it is.

And so, technically, you got a "D."

(LAUGHS)

That is fantastic.

Why is that fantastic?

Well, because you passed my test.

You see, I was all worried

that I was only getting A's because

you and I are a thing.

So, you wrote this garbage on purpose?

Yes, I did. (LAUGHS)

- Pretty brilliant, right?

- Let me get this straight.

You thought I would give

you an "A" that you didn't earn?

But now I know that you wouldn't,

so (LAUGHS)

You want some of this cheese plate?

It's Mm-mm.

So, in that mind of yours,

you thought you were

breaking me off so good

that I would just throw

away my principles?

Well, now that you have said it out loud

like that, I-I kind

of feel like an ass.

Hmm.

And an egomaniac. Mm.

And a and an idiot?

- Keep going.

- More? That's

I didn't give you the

credit you deserve,

and I'm sorry.

And right after dinner, I'm

gonna rewrite that essay.

Well, you can rewrite it.

I'm not gonna regrade it.

You got a "D."

Damn, you are beautiful,

you're smart, and you have integrity.

- I like that.

- Mm.

- You're still getting a "D."

- Damn.

Well, Dr. Finch, that makes two of us.

All right. Hey, everybody.

Thank you so much for

coming back. Hey

Really, Luis?

That's what we doing?

Well, you didn't seem to

get the hint last time,

so I thought you could use

a little, um, visual aid.

Could-could, uh

could-could I get one of those?

Now, what did I do?

(CHANTING): One, two, three, four!

We don't want your EV store!

Five, six, seven, eight!

Fuse Box is the place we hate!

- (CHANTING CONTINUES)

- Oh, oh, so y'all adding verses?

You know what? People, come on.

Can we just take this down a notch?

- (CHANTING STOPS)

- (SIGHS)

Listen, I owe you all an apology.

The character of my

neighborhood matters to me.

Now, I realize that

the character of your

neighborhood matters to you.

And the other night,

after some contemplation

all on my own, without

any help from anyone

I realized that I need to be your ally.

Look, I have a plan, all right?

Is there someone here named Julian?

I'm Julian.

Julian, look, I understand that

you used to have a

coffee shop on this block.

Well, I've been thinking

I could use a coffee

stand right in that corner.

You know, people could have a latte

while they wait for

their cars to be repaired,

and I'm gonna need somebody to run it.

This dude is literally giving

my job to somebody else.

Uh, no, I was talking about you.

Oh, cool. I-I could do that.

Julian is not the sharpest

cheese on the cr*cker, is he?

Okay. And-and I'm

not done here, people.

I want to hire local.

I understand that Antonia's

Tacos was a local institution

before you lost your lease.

Well, I got a permanent spot for you

in the parking lot out front

for your taco truck. (SHRIEKS)

(LAUGHING): Thank you.

Thank you.

Ay! You are an angel, Mr. Calvin.

(LAUGHS)

And to-to all of you.

If you used to work around here,

please let me know what your skills are.

Maybe we can find a

place for you at the shop.

So, now he thinks he can just buy us.

Oh, God. This guy.

Well, I can be bought.

Me, too.

Listen, Luis.

We're trying to meet you halfway, man.

Are you with us?

(SIGHS) Fine. Fine.

We'll call off the protest,

but we'll be watching you.

You know what? We'll be watching you.

Well, you know where I'll

be, so I'll be watching you.

(STAMMERS) You watch

me and I'll watch you.

We'll just be watching.

- Okay.

- Yeah, we'll just see

- who watches the most.

- Uh-huh.

- Gonna be watching me, like I

- Yeah.

- (MUTTERING)

- Still watching you.

You keep watching. (SCOFFS)

Like, like, he the only

one who can watch people.

- (BOTH MUTTERING)

- Still watching!

(SMOKE DETECTOR BEEPS)

Where did that beep come from?

I don't know.

Is that your dad's friend request?

Yeah.

Looks like he posted some pictures

from the Huey Lewis concert.

Yeah, it's from the Plan B tour.

That album was and I

don't say this lightly

just okay.

(CHUCKLES) Okay. Look.

Whatever you decide, I support you.

You know that.

But he did reach out.

(SIGHS) That's something.

(SIGHS)

Friend request accepted.

- (SMOKE DETECTOR BEEPS)

- (OBJECTS CLATTERING)

I got it!