02x24 - The Wedding

[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 ♪

♪ There ain't nothing
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 ♪♪

Good morning, Weez.

What was that for?

That was for nothing.
Free of charge.

Oh, well, in that case,

I'll take two for
the price of one.

And I thought Harry
Belafonte was romantic.

He can't hold a
candle to you, George.

What are you talking about?

The article I was reading.

Harry Belafonte and his
wife got married again.

Just imagine, after 18 years,

the Belafontes decided
to repeat their vows.

Why? Didn't they get
them right the first time?

They just felt romantic.

After 18 years?

Yes.

We've been married
longer than that,

and I still feel romantic.

I get goose pimples

whenever I think of
our beautiful wedding.

Beautiful?

It was at the Veterans
of Foreign Wars hall.

Well, what was wrong with that?

That old drunken veteran

that was left over from
the party the night before.

That's right.

We never did get him
sobered up and out of there.

Every time we
said, "I do," he did.

Well, at least we had
a beautiful ceremony.

Well, it would've been,

if old Steve Jackson
hadn't made that mistake.

What mistake?

He showed up,
and he had the ring.

Yeah, but he paid the
Reverend before the ceremony.

When the minister found
out how little he was getting,

he read the words so fast

Mama didn't even have a
chance to get her handkerchief out.

Well, anyway, I still say ours

was the most beautiful
wedding two people ever had.

Wrong.

The most beautiful
wedding two people ever had

will be held next Saturday.

Who's getting married?

Us.

Oh, George, do
you really mean it?

Of course I do.

Anything Harry Belafonte
can do, I can do better.

Yeah, and you've got
a cuter belly button.

You'll like this wedding
even better than the first one.

Why?

This time, you know
what you're getting.

Oh, it's all right, George,

I'll marry you anyway.

And this time,

I got the money
to do it up right.

You really mean it,
George? You're wonderful!

I know.

Oh, I just thought of something.

We can't do it next
Saturday. There isn't time.

Okay, we'll make it Sunday.

But Lionel will still be away

taking his executive
training course.

He'll miss our second wedding.

So what?

He missed the
first one, didn't he?

That's right, thank goodness.

We'll have it right
here in this apartment.

One of my customers,
Mr. Mendleson,

well, he's a big caterer,

so we'll let him
handle the whole thing.

We'll have flowers.

We'll hire a trio to
play some music.

George, you don't hire a
trio for an apartment wedding.

You're right. We'll
get a 10-piece band.

No, we'll rent an organ,

and Mr. Bentley
will play for us.

An organ. Hey, that's class.

I'll tell you what
else we're having.

A great big old wedding cake,
triple-decker, all chocolate.

Well, maybe we'll have
a little vanilla frosting

just so the Willises
won't feel bad.

Oh, George, this is so exciting.

Weez, do you know where
Skeeter Jackson lives?

Well, the last I heard,
he was still in Harlem.

I want him to be best man again.

Ooh, there's so much to do.

Now, I can wear my blue outfit

and the bracelet you
gave me for Christmas,

that's something new,

and I can borrow
something from Helen.

Now, what about something old?

Aren't you inviting your mother?

Will you hurry
up? This is heavy.

GEORGE: I don't want
to get this thing scratched.

All right, turn it around.

Let's set it down... easy, easy.

Okay, okay.

[GRUNTING]

That was tough.

Why are you breathing so hard?

We're the ones who carried it.

I had to show you
where to put it, didn't I?

What about the couch?

You want me to carry
that out for you too?

Your hands clean? Just kidding.

You know, George,

I never thought you had
enough romance in your soul

for a second wedding.

I don't need romance in my soul.

I got soul in my soul.

Well, if you'd
offer us something,

we'd drink to that.

Yeah, help yourself.

When will Louise be back?

Soon as she can dig
up Skeeter Jackson.

Who's Skeeter Jackson?

He was the best
man at my wedding.

I believe that.

Well, I must say I'm
delighted you chose me

to give the bride away.

I didn't chose you.
Weezy choosed you.

Hi, everybody.

Hi, Louise. Hi, Louise.

Oh, thanks for moving
the furniture, George.

No trouble at all, Weezy.

Did you find Skeeter?

Yes, I did,

and he will be here for
the wedding tomorrow.

What's he been into these days?

He works in a carwash,

and there's something
else I found out...

uh, which I'll tell you later.

Tell me now.

Later, George.

Come on, Weezy, if you've
got something to say, say it.

You never keep secrets
from the Willises anyhow.

Oh, yes, she does, George.

She still hasn't told us
how she puts up with you.

Come on, Weezy, what is it?

All right, George.

Your prices are too
high in your Harlem store.

Don't listen to
them lies, Weezy.

They come from my competition.

They come from Skeeter

and a lot of people I talked to.

They can't afford your prices.

They have to take their cleaning

all the way across town
to Amsterdam Avenue.

Yeah, that store doesn't
do the high-class job I do.

My prices are the
same in all my stores.

Well, that seems fair.

Nobody's forcing the
people who can't afford it

to go into George's store.

Hm, that's all you know, Tom.

Those people are trapped.

It's either pay the price
or take a long walk.

None of our old customers

go into the Jefferson
Cleaners anymore.

Really?

Weezy, why are you

discussing personal business

in front of the nosy neighbors?

Well, speaking as one
of the nosy neighbors,

I still can't believe
what I'm hearing.

You're taking advantage
of your own people.

Taking advantage?

Did you say taking advantage?

That's what she said, George.

I ain't doing
nothing of the kind.

My prices are the same all over.

Ain't nothing special
about the Harlem store.

Helen has a point, George.

If those people can't
afford the same prices,

you should charge less.

Ha! I'm surprised
at you, Willis.

You the one always
running around

talking about brotherhood
and equal opportunity.

That's right.

Well, here I am, equal
opportunity personified.

If I lower the prices
for the brothers,

that's discriminating
against the honkies,

and you wouldn't
want that, would you?

Well, I, uh... Baloney, George.

It wouldn't hurt you
to make less profit,

at least in that store.

That's right.

I agree, and I think I can speak

for the rest of the honkies.

Did I say that?

Well, George, what are
you going to do about it?

Look, does General Motors

lower their prices in Harlem?

Of course not.

And what's good
for General Motors

is good enough for
George Jefferson.

Don't you understand?

You have an obligation.

That's right.

I've got an obligation
to pay the rent.

But you owe something
to the community.

You've got to put
something back.

I'm always putting
something back.

I donate to everything.

George, you just don't get it.

No, you don't get it. Don't
meddle in my business.

Your business?

What about the
years I broke my back

helping you build
up that business?

Don't live in the past, Weezy.

It's a sign of getting old.

You just take care of
the house and the kitchen,

things you understand.

What?

Tom, maybe we'd better...

No maybes about it. Goodbye.

Bye.

There's something

you've got to
understand, George,

I'm a partner in
this marriage too.

Yes, you are, Weezy,
a junior partner.

Junior?

Well, you're yelling
at me, ain't you?

That makes you junior.

Now, if you could just learn

to be a silent partner too.

So long.

We'll see you two
lovebirds tomorrow.

If you wanted a silent partner,

you should've married
a dummy, like I did.

Ah, are they busy?

No more than usual.

Now, just remember what you said

in the marriage ceremony,

which you will be
repeating tomorrow...

Love, honor, and
obey your husband.

Well, right now,

I don't think I could
handle any one of those.

Ahem?

Bentley, what are
you doing here?

I stopped by to
practice the organ

for the ceremony tomorrow.

We're busy.

Oh, good, because I haven't
got time to stop and chat.

I don't play very well,

and I want to do
justice to Mendelssohn.

Why?

He ain't no music
critic, he's just a caterer.

Now, what was I getting to?

You were getting
no place, George,

and that's where
you're going to stay

until you admit

that I'm an equal
partner in this marriage.

Of course you are, Weezy.

You take care of the house,
I take care of my business.

Perhaps I'll play
"Oh, Perfect Love."

Now, you hear this.

You are unreasonable
and you're stubborn,

and I'm beginning to think

that tomorrow is a big mistake.

Too bad, because I
already paid for tomorrow.

I already invited
everybody for tomorrow,

and no matter what you say,

we are going to be
happily married tomorrow.

[PLAYING ORGAN]

Am I an equal partner
in this marriage or not?

You're as equal as
you're going to get.

You take that back or else.

Or else what?

Or else the wedding
is off, and I mean it.

[ORGAN FLOURISH]

You can't just leave
me waiting at the altar.

[ORGAN FLOURISH]

Aah.

[PLAYS WEDDING MARCH]

Ah, not bad for an amateur.

How does that sound?

Hello?

Hellooo?

♪ All alone I'm so all alone ♪♪

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Coming!

[DOORBELL RINGS]

In a minute.

Oh, it's you, Florence,
and you're late.

Late? It looks like
I'm the first one here.

And what you doing?
Getting married or buried?

You'd better hope
I'm getting married,

because I didn't leave
you nothing in my will.

I am too early.

Uh-uh, you're just in time
to get me a glass of punch.

Ha! No way, baby,
but you can get me one.

Say what? Well, you're the maid.

I ain't maiding today,
honey. I am guesting.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Well, since you ain't
busy, get the door.

On second thought,
I'll get it myself.

Who are you?

I'm Ralph, the doorman, sir.

Oh, I didn't recognize
you without your hand out.

Hey, glad you
can make it, Ralph.

Well, I wouldn't miss this

for the world,
Mr. Jefferson, sir,

even though I did go
through a lot of trouble

arranging things.

Yeah, Ralph, thanks.

One question, sir.

Exactly what do
you want me to do?

Well, you know, just
hang around the door,

announce people, show them in.

You know, just try
to look expensive.

That won't be hard,
because I am expensive.

Yes, indeed.

Why, renting this
outfit alone cost me...

Would you care to
see the receipt, sir?

Keep it till later, Ralph.

Wait a minute.

You mean he's
going to stand there

and announce folks

like I did at your
party last year?

That's right.

Oh, well, then, hold
this, Mr. Jefferson.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Good afternoon.

Well?

Ms. Florence Johnston of Harlem.

Oh, Weezy, how come
you ain't dressed yet?

Yeah, Mrs. Jefferson, you can't
get married in your bathrobe.

I know.

Oh, Weez, hurry up
and change your clothes.

I'm not changing my clothes
until you change your mind.

She don't sound too
happy to me, Mr. Jefferson.

You know how it is with brides.

She's probably
just a little nervous.

I can understand that.
Look at who the groom is.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Willis

and their lovely
daughter, Jenny,

of the 14th floor.

Why, Ralph, what
a nice introduction.

Yes, Ralph, can
we hear it again?

The part about
the lovely daughter.

Where's the happy couple?

I don't know where
the happy couple is.

Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson
is in the kitchen.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Get the door, Ralph.

May I have your names, please?

George, there's
no use in arguing.

I'm not marrying you

until you take
back what you said.

You already married to me.

Well, I'm not making
the same mistake twice.

Come on, Weezy, you
can't call off the wedding

10 minutes before
it's supposed to start.

Okay, then you call it off.

Look, I'm warning you.

You go get that
wedding dress on.

There isn't going
to be any wedding,

not until you start treating me

like an equal.

Okay, I'm already
dressed for the wedding.

Now you get dressed,
and we'll be equal.

All right, George,
I'm going to do

what I should've
done in the first place.

That's my girl.

I'm calling off the wedding.

Hey, wait, no, no, Louise.

Well?

Do you want me to
get down on my knee?

Will you please marry me?

Not until you take
back what you said.

I take back what I said.

And we're going to
be equal partners?

You got it. Does that mean...

We don't have time to stand here

and discuss details.

Just hurry and go
get your dress on.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Rev. T.J. Perry.

Rev. T.J. Perry
of New York City,

and Mrs... Olivia.

Olivia Jefferson.

Mother of the groom.

Mother of the groom.

There they are,

and the good-looking
one is my son.

Ah, Rev. Perry.

How do you do?

Oh, Louise, you
look so glamorous.

But Mother Jefferson,
this is just a bathrobe.

Oh, well, it looks as good

as a lot of the dresses
I've seen you wear.

Uh, excuse me, I
have to get ready.

I'll help you, Louise.

Ah, would you like
to have some punch,

Mother Jefferson?

Why, thank you, Jenny.

Uh, Rev. Perry?

No, thank you. I don't drink.

Oh, there's no alcohol in it.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Mr. Harry Bentley.

Where you from, Mr. Bentley?

Oh, I was born in
Hertfordshire, England.

Mr. Harry Bentley...

But we moved when
I was just a toddler,

and I lived the next few years

with my aunt in Sussex.

Mr. Harry Bentley...

Then we moved to Bicester

and after that,
we made a move...

Mr. Harry Bentley
from next door.

Hey, how about
some music, Bentley?

Solid, Mr. J.

I've got my fingers
all warmed up.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Skeeter!

George!

Hey, hey. My man.

All right, everybody,
this is Skeeter Jackson.

Skeeter's going
to be my best man.

He came all the way
from 139th street.

Mr. Skeeter Jackson all
the way from 139th street.

Man, Skeeter, you
ain't changed a bit.

Well, George, you sure have.

Hey, man, this is a fine place.

Well, you know,

the cleaning business's
been good to me.

Yeah, it must've been

with the prices you're
charging these days.

Hey, man, how come
you haven't been around

before this?

Oh, I came by the
store a couple times.

Didn't you leave a
message with my manager?

I did, and I told him
I wanted to see you.

He didn't tell me.

That manager
ain't worth nothing.

What'd you want
to talk to me about?

I wanted to borrow 500 bucks.

Well, I would
have lent it to you.

Well, here you go.

Oh, hey, man,
ain't that some ring?

Oh, thanks, George.

I'll bet I can get
$600 for this.

That's for the bride, stupid.

We can get started now.
The best man is here.

I'm going to go
check on the bride.

Ah, Louise, you look beautiful.

Oh, Helen... I do, don't I?

Louise, you about ready?

Just about, George.

You'd better get out there
and stand next to Skeeter.

Okay, George.

Good luck, girl.

Thanks, honey.

You look great, Weez.

Thanks.

Um, George, did
you really mean it

when you said about
us being equal partners?

Sure I did.

Well, this partner wants you

to lower your prices
in your Harlem store.

I meant partners
in our marriage,

not in my business.

Now, hold on,
George, you said...

What are you
taking that off for?

Unless you change your mind,

I won't be needing it.

Weezy, the wedding's
about to start.

Then they'll just have
to start without me.

Look, now, I'm telling you,

you are my wife. You're
going to marry me.

Here I am, the
father of the bride.

Congratulations, son.

Well, everybody's waiting.
Are you ready, Louise?

Don't let me down, Weezy.

I won't, George.

[WEDDING MARCH PLAYS]

Dearly beloved...
[ORGAN FLOURISH]

Dearly beloved,

we are gathered
here in the sight of God

and in the face of this company

to rejoin this man
and this woman

in holy matrimony.

If anyone can show just cause

why this couple
should not be joined...

Uh, rejoined,

let that person speak now,
or forever hold their peace.

[COUGHING]

Excuse me.

Do you, George Jefferson,

take this woman to be
your lawful wedded wife,

to live together

in the holy state of matrimony?

Do you promise to love her...

I do. I do to all of that.

Do you, Louise Jefferson,

take this man to be your
lawful wedded husband,

to live together

in the holy state of matrimony?

Do you promise to love,
honor, and keep him...

Hey, what happened to "obey"?

Pardon?

You forgot to say
"love, honor, and obey."

That's what Weezy
promised at our first wedding.

Oh, we don't use the
word "obey" anymore.

You ain't very
religious, are you?

Do you promise to love,
honor, and keep him,

in sickness and in health,
for richer or for poorer,

forsaking all others,

for as long as
you both shall live?

Say, "I do."

Come on, Weezy, say "I do."

Okay, I'll lower the
prices in the Harlem store

five percent.

Six percent.

[COUGH]

Okay, eight percent,
that's my final offer.

10 percent!

I do.

Oh, George.

By the power vested in
me by the state of New York,

I pronounce you
still man and wife.

You may now kiss the...

Harry Belafonte,
eat your heart out.

Jenny!

ANNOUNCER: The
Jeffersons was recorded on tape

in front of a studio audience.