01x13 - Jenny's Low

[bunniefuu]

♪ 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 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 ♪

♪ 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 finally got a
piece of the pie ♪♪

A four-letter word
for a heavenly body.

"Sun." S-u-n-n.

Here's your bloody mary.

Oh, thank you, louise.
It helps me think.

Oh, are you having trouble
with the crossword puzzle?

No. I always finish them.

Those puzzles are tough.
You got to know a lot.

Oh, but I do. I have a
brain like a sponge.

You must have a
liver like one too.

I practically
got it all finished.

"X-l-o-d-l"?

What's an "xlodl"?

That's a crossword puzzle word.

You better check it
with the dictionary.

Oh, it won't be
in the dictionary.

But if it won't be
in the dictionary...

That's why they put those
kind of words in puzzles.

So you can't look them up.

Oh. Jenny, can you
come here a minute?

Try this on, jenny.
Let's see how it looks.

You finished already?
That was fast.

Grandma, are you still
doin' that crossword puzzle?

I would have finished it hours
ago if people would stop helping me.

Sorry.

Ooh, I love it.

Oh, thank you, mrs.
Jefferson. It's just great.

This hem would have
taken me a week to do.

A five-letter word
for "headache."

Worry. Oh, that's not
right. Don't help me.

Excuse me.

I got it.

W-o-r-r-y.

Hello? Oh, hi, mrs. Willis.

Yeah, jenny's right here.

Thanks.

Hi, ma. Wait till you see the great
job mrs. Jefferson did on my skirt. It's...

What?

When did that happen?

Oh, yeah, I'm still here.

Well, listen, I'll be
up in a little while.

Yeah.

Is anything wrong?
Oh, no. No, nothing.

Allan just came home.

Allan? Your brother allan. Yeah.

I didn't know you
had a brother, jenny.

Would you excuse
me? I got to go.

Jenny, you mind if come up
too? I mean, I'd like to meet him.

I'm not going up. Or
not just yet anyway.

- Jenny?
- What's all that about?

I don't know, but
I'm gonna find out.

Lionel was wrong, louise.

Huh?

"Worry" isn't right.

I need a five-letter
word meaning "headache."

How about "in-law"?

Yeah!

In-law?

Where are you going? Aren't
you going to finish the puzzle?

Yes, I'm gonna finish it.

But I'm going home,

Where I can think of
my own stupid answers.

Wait a minute, jenny. We've
always been able to talk things out.

You wanna talk?
Okay, let's talk.

Good. What's the problem
with your brother?

Well, i... I don't want
to talk about it.

Okay, okay. We
won't talk about it.

Uh, couple of cokes,
please, charlie.

I'll tell what else. We're not gonna
leave here till we do talk about it.

You're not closing early, are
you, charlie? Are you kiddin'?

With crowds like this, I
might stay open all night.

That's even better.
All right, let's have it.

My own brother, and I don't
know what to say to him.

Why not start with "hello"?
'Cause I feel more like "good-bye."

It's been two years, lionel.

Two whole years since he's
been away, and what do we get?

A postcard every once in a
while, saying... Saying nothing.

"Hello. I'm fine. I'm in lisbon.

I'm in london. I'm in paris."

Anywhere but home.

Sounds like your brother is damned
if he does and damned if he doesn't.

What do you mean? Well, you
were mad 'cause he went away.

Now you're mad
'cause he came back.

Now, the trouble is, my
brother takes after my father.

What, you mean he's white?

That's exactly what I mean.

Well, I mean he
looks like he's white.

Okay, so one of you turned out white
and the other one turned out lucky.

Maybe he didn't stay in
the oven long enough.

There's more, isn't there?

Lionel... I know.

I don't want to talk about it.

Let me ask you something, jenny.

Are you sure you're not feelin' maybe your
brother's the one who turned out lucky?

Jenny!

Hi. Mrs. Jefferson? Yes.

Is jenny willis here?

No, but I expect to see her
later. Who shall I say called?

Her brother. Her brother?

Oh, her brother.

How nice. Won't you come in?

Sure.

So you're jenny's brother.

That's right. Do you happen
to know where jenny is?

No. I thought she went
up to see you. No, she didn't.

So you're jenny's
brother. Uh-huh.

Tom and helen's son. Yes.

Oh, I'm mrs. Jefferson.
I'm allan willis.

So you're...

I've already said
that, haven't i? Twice.

Well, I can't imagine what's
keeping lionel and jenny,

Unless their
elevator got h*jacked.

Well, I might as well go upstairs
and wait for them. Oh, why the rush?

Come in, sit down,
have a cup of coffee.

Are you sure it's no
trouble? Of course not.

Okay. I have nothing to do until
my husband comes home for...

Oh! George!

- What did you say?
- Nothing! Uh, nothing.

I suddenly realized
I have a lot to do,

Like washing and ironing
and darning and cooking.

Oh, hello, george.

Good-bye, allan. Good-bye,
allan. Who's allan?

Nobody. Mr. Jefferson,
I'm allan willis.

You're jenny's brother?

- That's right.
- Huh.

I thought a zebra was bad
enough. Now we got us a palomino.

George, will you cut that out!

That's all right,
mrs. Jefferson.

I'm used to cracks like that.

Hey, jenny! Boy, it's
good to... See you.

Hello, allan.

Lionel, right? Yeah,
right. How you doin'?

Yeah, jenny couldn't wait
to see you, right, jenny?

So you finally came
back from europe, huh?

Europe? How long were you there?

Two years. Hey, jenny.
We got a lot to rap about.

Hey, that's a good idea. Why don't
you go rap in the white neighborhood?

We are in a white neighborhood.

I mean the one up in
the willises' apartment.

Hey, pop, will you
stop it? No, he's right.

It is a better neighborhood
at that. Oh, sure.

He'd think anything was
better as long it had h*nky in it.

You know, I knew there was
something I missed in europe.

There wasn't anybody to feed
me those dumb racial cracks.

That's because you never
showed 'em your family portrait.

Come on, jenny.
Let's go upstairs.

Um, I'll be up in a minute.

Hey, pop, why'd you
have to say that?

Why not? It's my
house, ain't it?

It doesn't give you
the right to be rude.

He had it comin' to him. If he had any
guts, he wouldn't have hid out in europe.

He'd have been right here with his
mother and his sister, his own kind.

Hey, you didn't have to
take that just because of us.

- Oh, I know.
- Why didn't you
say something?

Because your father was right.

How are the eggs?

Hmm? Oh, fine.

More toast?

Hmm?

Oh, no, thanks.

Would you like some more coffee?

Hmm?

Mm-mm.

Hmm. Hmm?

I said, "hmm."

Why did you say that? Just
to liven up the conversation.

I'm sorry, darling. I was
thinking. About what?

Same thing you've
been thinking about.

How do you explain allan's running
away and staying away for two years?

Lots of kids are
doing that nowadays.

You know how they talk.
They want to find themselves.

Maybe allan's just searching.

Searching, my foot! The moment he comes to
breakfast, I'm gonna ask him straight out.

Tom, he just got
home. Don't push it.

Push? Me, push?

When the kid told us he
was dropping out of college,

Who said, "it's your
life, your decision," hmm?

I did. But I went right
along with it, didn't i?

Yes, but... And when he said
he was running off to europe...

Who said, "good luck,
son, and have good time"?

You did. Damn right.

And then you cried all night.

I did not. Grown men do not cry.

I wish you'd stop
eavesdropping on me in bed.

Tom, just be patient. I'm
sure allan has an explanation.

Let him do it in his own
way and in his own time.

Maybe we're both wrong
about what we're thinking.

Maybe we're both right
about what we're thinking.

And maybe you're just avoiding.

Let's face it, helen. Maybe
he stayed away from home...

Because he's ashamed of us.

- Don't say that.
- But we'll never know
until we ask him.

But not now. He'll come to us,
I'm sure of it. Just give him time.

- How much time?
- Until he finishes
breakfast.

- And if he hasn't
said anything by then?
- I'll k*ll him.

Morning, dad. Morning, mom.

Allan, I wanna talk... What would
you like for breakfast, honey?

What do you got?
Oh, cereal, eggs, grits,

Ham, bacon, waffles
and pancakes. Yes.

Would you like some scrambled
eggs? I've got them made.

Okay, I'll have them too.
Did you have a good night?

I don't know. I slept
right through it.

You know, you're in a
good mood this morning.

Why shouldn't I be? I'm home.

And it's good to have you home.

You wouldn't kid your
favorite son, would you, mom?

Of course not. What
kind of question is that?

Well, jenny didn't exactly
roll out the red carpet for me.

She had hasn't said three
words to me since I came home.

It's only fair. One word for each
postcard you sent in two years.

Do you think that's
all that's bugging her?

- Isn't that enough?
- Okay.

If that's the case, I'll
tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna get so close to jenny,

She won't have room
for her own shadow.

I'm gonna be sweet
and kind and warm.

- Trouble is, that's gonna
make it tough on you, mom.
- Hmm?

Well, when jenny sees how
adorable I am, she's gonna say to you,

"Mom, I want three more
brothers just like him."

And you're gonna
have to deliver.

What about me?

Morning, jenny. Good morning.

I'll get your breakfast. Oh, no,
thanks, mom. I'll just have coffee.

You're not on a diet, are you?

No. Well, that's good. Never
tamper with perfection.

Jenny, your brother just paid you a
compliment. Aren't you gonna say something?

I can't. I'm all choked up.

Jenny!

That's all right.
She said something.

At least we're communicating,
as cain said to abel.

- Jenny, aren't you gonna
sit down and join us?
- No, thanks. I'm fine.

I don't want to frighten you, jen, but
I'd like to give you another compliment.

I like lionel. He
seems real together.

But that george jefferson,
he's something else.

Well, at least he always
says what he thinks.

Trouble is, he don't
think before he says.

And he doesn't talk out
of both sides of his mouth.

I think she just
called me a hypocrite.

You're damn right, I did.

Well, it's good to have
the family together again.

That's what makes a home.

I don't understand you two.

Mr. Slick over here suddenly
decides to come home after two years,

And everything is
peaches and cream.

Well, don't you think he
has some explaining to do?

Look, why don't we just relax
and enjoy each other's company?

I'm sure allan will
tell us when he's ready.

Hmm, yeah, and that won't be until
they make moms mabley miss america.

You know something, jenny? I
thought you'd outgrown it by now.

Huh? But you haven't, have you?

What are you talking
about? You're still jealous.

Jealous? Of what?

Of me. Of you?

That's right. And the quicker
you face it, the better.

The truth will
set you free, baby.

Well, I'm not gonna stay here
another minute while he's here.

Call me when he's
gone. Where you going?

Downstairs. I'd rather be
with mr. Jefferson than him.

George jefferson? Yes.

At least, I know where
he's coming from.

He believes in calling
a spade a spade.

I guess I didn't do too good
a job of making it up to her.

There's no argument there.

I don't know what's going
on between you two, allan,

But you're still
brother and sister.

I suggest you bring her back
here and get it straightened out.

Okay.

Well, that's one way of solving
your problem, helen. What?

You don't have to k*ll allan.
George jefferson will do it for you.

Oh, my god. I better
get down there.

Helen, I told you
never to interfere...

Without me.

Are you serious? I can't stay in
the same house with him any longer.

Then stay here. Oh, I
was hoping you'd say that.

Stay here? But... It's okay,
mom. She can have my room.

And where are you
going to stay? In my room.

Lionel.

It's all right, jenny.
We have plenty of room.

Is jen... Come on, jenny. It's
no use running away from it.

Oh, leave me alone, will you?

Weezy, who's that the door? Oh!

If it ain't the zebra who lost
his stripes. What do you want?

I want to talk to my
sister, if you don't mind.

Then do it in your own
apartment, if you don't mind.

He can't, pop. Jenny's
staying with us.

- What? Says who?
- Says me.

How'd we get a "says you"
before we got a "says me"?

Pop, don't make things worse.
Jenny and allan already got problems.

That ain't my fault.
That's his parents' fault.

That's what you get from a
mixed marriage: assorted nuts.

Dig where I'm coming
from, your whiteness?

I dug from where you was
comin' from yesterday, chump,

And you ain't cool. Say what?

I say your teeth are yellow
and your breath is bad,

So get out of my face
'fore you wish you had.

Uh-oh. Gimme room.

Now, look, you better get
off my back and leave me alone...

'Cause the teeth you
save will be your own!

Listen, jack, if it wasn't for the
fact that you're five-foot-two,

Like white on rice,
I'd be all over you!

Look, when you in my house,
you better show some respect,

With your elephant
ears and chicken neck.

To collect respect,
you got to earn it.

So cover your
nose before I burn it.

Your brother can get
down when he has to.

He can play some dozens. I
didn't know he could do that.

Dig this elite n*gg*r
wolfin' at my door.

With your yellow behind, I'm
gonna mop up the entire floor.

You're only half white, but
that makes you half all right.

Are they here? They're here.

Oh, why did everybody have
to follow me? Leave me alone.

No. This is getting to be fun. All we
need now is an indian and a chinaman...

And we can make us a rainbow.

Jenny, come on upstairs. This is no
place to hang out our dirty laundry.

Why not? I own
cleaning store, don't i?

I'm not going back
while his face is there.

You mean while you're afraid to
face yourself. What did you say?

Will someone please tell
me what this is all about?

It's easy. He crossed
the color line, he's

Passing for an ofay
and his sister don't dig it.

I don't care what he passes for,

As long as he just
passes right on by.

Green is a color too, jenny.

What's money got
to do with this?

No, he means green with
envy, pop. Doesn't he, jenny?

You turned your
back on us, allan.

Look, people are crossing racial
lines every day. Everybody does it.

- No, not everybody.
- Oh, no?

Okay, let's be honest.

Is there anybody here who
hasn't wondered just once...

What it would be
like to be white?

Are you saying that that's
what I wanted, to look white?

No, but I am saying that
you've looked at me...

And thought, "why him?"

Just what my father
said when I married you.

See, you were the
one who had it easy.

You went anywhere you wanted.
You did anything you wanted.

In other words, why
me, right? Well, yes!

Why you?

Hey, it's not important.

It's only important to admit
it. Allan was right about that.

Mom, did you know
that's how I felt?

There's a lot of
things I didn't know.

I'm beginning to believe
I acted stupidly too.

h*nky see, h*nky do.

Allan, why did you
stay away so long?

The truth, son. Were
you ashamed of us?

Hey, I love you.

I'd have come home
if you'd asked me to.

I figured you didn't care. Maybe
it was better if I wasn't around.

Didn't care? We were worried
sick all the time you were in europe.

- You never said, "don't go".
- Because we're not
possessive parents.

Don't knock it
till you've tried it.

Okay, maybe it was me too.
That's why I went to paris,

Because at home
and even in college...

I felt I had be on my
guard all the time.

Oh, you mean you
played it white?

Yeah. White. Right
down the line.

But in paris, nobody cared. Nobody
asked me who I was or what I was,

And it was great... For a while.

And then I began to
ask the question myself.

Who am i?

That's why I came
home. To find out.

I know who you are. My brother.

Oh, isn't that nice?

You mean the fight's over?

I'm sorry, george, louise. I
didn't want to trouble you...

With our family
problems like this.

I know how you could've fixed
this problem from the start. How?

By not getting married. George!

It's all right,
louise. Look, man,

I am happy with what I've got...

'Cause he is
everything you are not.

Uh-oh! Gimme room.

I know you're happy
with what you got...

'Cause you yourself
ain't that red hot.

Well,

When I go searching
for a man, my pet,

A shrimp like you
could never fill my net.

Your mama.

The jeffersons was recorded on
tape in front of a studio audience.

♪ Movin', movin' on up ♪♪