All language subtitles for This.is.Us.S03E13.Our Little Island Girl.AMZN.WEB-DL.KiNGS.HI.C

Beth, you have a minute?

Previously on This Is Us...

We have to let you go.

BETH: This is Beth Pearson.

I was checking to see
if you got the résumé.

But I hadn't heard anything, so...

if you could, uh, call me back?

Your last boss, Bill,
couldn't rave about you more.

That must have been hard parting ways.

Yeah. (CLEARS THROAT)
Sorry, it's still a little raw.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY, SNIFFLES)

- My mom hurt her damn hip again.
- She okay?

Yeah. I just hope
she didn't break it again.

Um, I got to head down to D.C.

- Of course. When?
- Now.

("I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER"
BY ARETHA FRANKLIN PLAYING)

♪ Say a little prayer for you ♪

♪ The moment I wake up ♪

- ♪ Before I put on my makeup
- ♪ Makeup ♪

- ♪ I say a little
- ♪ Prayer for you ♪

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS, STUDENTS MURMURING)

♪ And while combing my hair now
and wondering what dress... ♪

Damon. Damon Henderson.

Mr. Henderson, I know you hear me.

Mrs. Sawicky said
you were late for homeroom.

- Again.
- I'm sorry, Principal Clarke.

Oh, you don't have to apologize to me.

Apologize to yourself,
and don't let it happen again.

Yes, ma'am.

- Oh.
- (SNAPS FINGERS)

I got a "B" on my history exam today.

Okay.

Last time, I got a "C."

So next time you get an "A." Go on, now.

Don't be late for third period, too.

♪ Please love me true ♪

♪ This is my prayer... ♪

No running! There is no run...

- Ow!
- Ooh! My bad, Principal Clarke.

Oh, God.

BOY: Are you okay, Mrs. Clarke?

I'm fine, Donald. Keep going.

Go on, go on.

(GROANING, WINCING)

synced and corrected by susinz
*www.addic7ed.com*

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

(TLC'S "WHAT ABOUT
YOUR FRIENDS" PLAYING)

- Yes! '90s on 9 for life! Ha!
- (TURNS UP VOLUME)

Remember when we used to pretend
we were in this music video?

♪ What about your friends? ♪

♪ Are they gonna be lowdown? ♪

♪ Will they ever be around? Hey ♪

♪ Or will they turn
their backs on you? ♪

♪ Every now and then ♪

- (BOTH LAUGH)
- ♪ I get a little crazy... ♪

Oh, thanks for coming
down to D.C. with me.

Of course. Hey, telling
that woman she needs to retire

- is definitely a two-woman job.
- Yeah.

She can't be on her feet all day
chasing after teenagers.

She's lucky she only
bruised it this time.

She keeps this up, she's gonna
break the damn hip all over again.

Mm, we need to get in
there and lay down the law.

♪ Amen. ♪

You are gonna lay down
the law with me, right?

Not just lay down?

Uh... what's that supposed to mean?

Beth, when it comes
to standing up to your mom,

you have this... tendency to clam up.

I do... What?!

- I do not clam up.
- You do. You clam.

I get it. She's terrifying.

I bet she's driving you crazy
about losing your job, right?

- Nope. Not really.
- Seriously?

She's not all over you
about finding something new?

(IMITATES CAROL): "Gap in your résumé

is a red flag for
any future employer, Bethany."

No. She's been pretty cool, actually.

Oh, my God. You haven't told her
you got laid off.

Fine, all right? She doesn't know.

And I wasn't gonna tell you
until right before we walked in,

because I didn't want you
to give me crap about it

- the whole car ride.
- I'm not gonna give you crap.

Thank you.

- You know why you didn't tell her?
- Why?

- You clammed up.
- I hate you.

(LAUGHS)

♪

CAROL: Bethany?

Bethany?

Bethany. Is this homework time,
or is this drawing time?

Homework time.

"Is this homework time,
or is this drawing time?"

- (GIGGLES)
- Miss Zoe, you have something to say?

I know you're new here,

but in this house, we show respect.

Sorry, Mama C.

All right.

(BETH GIGGLES)

- (JAMAICAN ACCENT): Guess who.
- (SIGHS)

Someone who ate something
with mustard on it, that's who.

- (LAUGHTER)
- ABE: You are a very cruel woman.

But I love you.

Oh! Come on!

- Ew!
- (LIVELY CHATTER)

- Okay, that's enough.
- (PHONE RINGING)

That's enough. How was the day?

- ABE (LAUGHING): Good.
- Yeah?

- ABE: Yes.
- Good.

Hello? Yes, this is she.

What? I got in?

Bethany, who are you speaking to?

I got into the academy!

Child, give me this phone.

What academy?

Hello? Who am I speaking to?

I s... I see.

Well, now, I have to talk
to my husband about it.

I will return your call, yes.

That was Vincent Kelley from
the Whitmore Ballet Academy.

He came to my dance class at school,

and Ms. Allen said
we should dance our best,

'cause he was gonna pick
one of us to join his academy.

- (ABE CHUCKLES)
- And you think this is funny?

That our daughter auditioned
for a prestigious dance academy

behind our backs and got in?

A little, yes. (CHUCKLES)

Baby, you've seen how good our girl is.

It couldn't hurt
to just check the place out.

She's our little island girl.

She danced before she walked.

Remember?

(SIGHS)

(WHISPERS): Okay.

♪

I hope she still keeps a spare
under one of these plants.

They gave her a walker.

I don't want her to have to
drag herself to the front door.

- Please. She's probably already in bed.
- (DOOR OPENS)

CAROL: I thought I heard
some rumbling around out here.

Why are you two messing around
in my plants?

- Hi, Mom.
- (LAUGHS) Hi.

- Hi, Mama C.
- Oh.

You two didn't have to drive
all the way down here.

- It's just a bruised hip.
- No, we know we didn't.

We wanted to.
And aren't you supposed to be

staying off your feet?
And where's that walker?

- The doctor told me you're...
- Lord, please. E.R. doctors.

They are so dramatic.

And that walker thing is for old ladies.

- But you're supposed to be...
- Now, listen.

I have already been lectured to

by a doctor who doesn't
know me from Adam,

so whatever this "take it easy"
nonsense business is

you're about to spout,
I don't want to hear that.

You must be starving. Come on in.

I'll warm up dinner.

- She's still scary as hell.
- Mm-hmm.

(PIANO PLAYING
MID-TEMPO, MINOR-KEY MUSIC)

So, these are my advanced students.

One day this could be Bethany.

How many classes does she have to take?

Three classes every day after school

and then all day on Saturdays.

CAROL: And all of these classes
lead to what, exactly?

VINCENT: Good question.

Let's talk in my office, please.

Baby girl.

VINCENT: Every year, we put on

a senior showcase
for our oldest dancers,

featuring some of the classics:

Swan Lake, Giselle,

- some of the new works.
- CAROL: Mm-hmm.

So all these years of training
are for one night of dancing.

It's not one night of dancing.

It's a chance to debut our students

to some of the leading
ballet companies in the country.

Our featured soloists
go on to have careers

at the New York City Ballet,
The Royal Ballet, the Bolshoi.

How many make it?

Professionally.

It varies.

Some years, eight. Others, two.

- CAROL: Two.
- Mr. and Mrs. Clarke,

do you know American Ballet
Theatre has never had

African American principal dancer

in their 53-year-old history?

Your daughter has
a remarkable raw talent.

If Bethany works hard,

I believe she could be the first.

I believe she can do it, too.

You know, she danced before she walked.

That's a true story.

- You know, I...
- Um, could we have a moment?

In my, uh...?

Yes, of course.

This is a very expensive program.

If she goes, you... you're
gonna have to work overtime.

It's okay. I don't mind.

I'll probably have to teach
summer school.

- Abe, you heard the odds.
- Baby...

when have we ever listened to the odds?

♪

Come here.

Okay. We're gonna do this.

Your father and I,
we're gonna make this happen.

But if you go here, you'll
have to give it everything.

You'll have to be the best.

Now, is this what you want,

to work hard at dancing
every single day?

Yes, Mama.

♪

BETH: That smells good.

Yeah. "Did you put
extra Scotch bonnet pepper,"

just like your father liked it?
Yes, I did. (CHUCKLES)

Aw, it's too bad your brother
and sisters are not here.

- They love my curry chicken.
- Mom.

- We can serve ourselves.
- Hmm? Excuse me.

I can ladle this cream,
thank you very much. Mm.

(ZOE CLEARS THROAT)

So, Mom... (CLEARS THROAT)

...Zoe and I know you don't
want us running your life.

- Mm.
- And we don't want to.

Mm-mm.

But, um, I feel like we need
to talk about your job.

What about it?

Well... it's a lot.

A lot?

It... it takes a toll.

Are there clams in this rice, Mama C?

'Cause it's feeling
pretty clammy in here.

(QUIETLY): Shut up.

I...

We were thinking that...

(EXHALES)

- May...
- Look, we think it's time you...

thought about retiring.

Are you kidding me? Are you...

You want me to walk away from my job

because of a bruised hip?

Well, maybe retiring's extreme,
but there must be a way

- for you to cut back.
- I have told you,

I do not want to hear this,
especially from you.

And what's that supposed to mean?

What do you know about a job?

BETH: Wait, Mom,
what are you talking about?

- Zoe has a job.
- I'm not talking

about a passion project, dear.

- I'm talking about a path.
- Mm-hmm.

I'm talking about choosing a real path

and sticking to it, like Bethany did.

Bethany went to college.
Bethany got her master's.

And, every morning, Bethany wakes
up with a sense of purpose,

- because Bethany...
- Bethany got laid off months ago.

(SILVERWARE CLINKS)

Five, six, seven, eight.

Clarke.

Tendu derrière.

You know, when I was about your age,

I saw Misha perform
for the first time in Giselle.

Shoulders.

Do you know who that is?

The greatest of our time,
Mikhail Baryshnikov.

When he leaped,

I thought to myself,
"If gravity does exist,

it takes a vacation when he's onstage."

He simply... soared.

So, you, young lady, you've got
that flying part down.

Now you need to master the technique.

And you will.

♪

Again.

♪

Mind the tempo, Clarke.

Pull up. Don't lose your center.

♪

Come talk to me after class.

Nice work, girls.

Bethany, it's been four years.

We've talked about this before.

You know other forms of dance
can be more forgiving.

Vincent, I know I'm not built
like the perfect ballerina,

but neither was Lauren Anderson.

And now she's principal dancer
for the Houston Ballet.

The exception, not the rule.

I can be the exception, too.

I've wanted this
since I was a little girl.

I'm going to get the solo.
I'm going to get scouted.

And, in a few years,
I'm gonna be living in London,

working as the principal
ballerina with The Royal Ballet.

If you really want this,
I'm still with you.

But you're gonna have to work
ten times harder.

You up for it?

(WHISPERS): Yeah.

Hi. Sorry I missed dinner.

Stayed late to practice.

I'm gonna have to do that
from now on. (SIGHS)

You're home early.

CAROL: Okay.

She's home.

Let's tell them.

Uh, tell us what? What's up?

You both know I've been, uh...

coughing a lot lately.

Your mama convinced me to see a doctor.

And it turns out...

(SIGHS)

...I might be a little bit
sicker than I thought.

He has lung cancer.

But you don't smoke.

I know.

So unfair, right?

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I might as well start.

CAROL: We told your brother
and your sisters this afternoon.

The doctor wants your father
to start chemotherapy,

so that's what we're going to do.

Wipe those tears.

We have to be strong.

Come on.

This table isn't gonna clear itself.

Can you give us a minute?

We just found out the man has cancer.

And your auntie told you
what we're going to do about it.

Go now. Help her clean up.

♪

(SNIFFLES)

BETH: Mom,

can you please talk to me?

You've barely said a word in 20 minutes.

Okay.

Let's start with how you've been
lying to me for months.

I was always planning on telling you.

I just needed
to figure things out first.

- Have you?
- No, not yet.

I've been interviewing,
figuring out my options.

Okay.

Okay, we will sort all this out.

Tomorrow morning,
I will brew a pot of coffee,

and we will make a list of all
the great firms in your city.

Then, together,
we will proof your résumé,

go to Staples, get some fancy paper,

and begin mailing them out.

Mailing it out?

I'm sorry, did we step
through a portal to 1998?

Don't be smart.

♪

(DISHES CLINKING QUIETLY)

I'm going to quit dance.

What are you talking about?

It's my fault.

He's...

He worked too hard.

- And now it might...
- Bethany, stop.

It is not your fault
that your father is sick.

And you are not gonna give up
years of training.

You're gonna stick
to the path you chose,

and you will be the best.

♪

VINCENT: I trust you're warm?

We're gonna learn a new combination.

Sonya here will demonstrate.

♪

(SPORTSCAST PLAYING OVER TV, DOOR OPENS)

ANNOUNCER:
There was an appeal, but that...

Hi, Mom. Dad. Zo.

Mm, this is late, even for you.

CAROL: When will you hear
about the solo?

I need time to make your costume.

Eight weeks.

Okay.

(CLICKS TONGUE)
Time for bed, young lady.

You've been watching TV for hours now.

(SIGHS) It's not even that late. Chill.

I know you did not
just tell me to chill, child.

(LAUGHING)

That girl is giving your mother
a run for her money.

So, tell me, what is it
you all are working on?

Pigeon Lake?

(CHUCKLES)

It's Swan Lake, Dad.

(CHUCKLES) There it is,
that smile I missed.

We got a new girl in class today.

Oh? She any good?

Better than good.

I work hard, but...

it just comes easier to her.

I can tell.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

My baby girl.

18 months old
before you started walking.

Yeah, I know, Dad.

And your mother was scared to death.

She took you to all kind of doctors.

Wanted to find out
what was wrong with you.

But nobody could tell her anything.

And then, one day,
we were all in Kingston.

Uncle Clem put on some Burning Spear.

- You know the song?
- "Dread River."

(CHUCKLES)

That song started playing,
and it seem like

it just pick you
right up off the ground,

because you stood and
you danced straight over to me.

Your mama would never
admit it now, but she sobbed.

We were so happy.

Our little island girl,

who dance before she walked.

That's who you are.

♪

Never forget, baby girl.

I won't.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(SIGHS)

Okay.

(ABE COUGHS)

- Dad?
- Yes, my love?

Nothing.

- Good night.
- Good night.

♪

(QUIET KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

- You up?
- Hell yeah.

Past 20 years have not been kind
to this mattress.

Come with me.
I got something to show you.

(BETH CHUCKLES)

(QUIETLY): What are you doing?

(GASPS, MOUTHS)

Zoe Marie Baker,

did you hide drugs behind Big Mama?

It's the only sacred place in the house.

(WHISPERING): Lower your voice.
She might hear us.

Is it still good? (SNIFFS)

- Yeah, she's still good.
- (GIGGLES)

I will never let you
tweeze my eyebrows again.

(LAUGHS): I was a kid.

So was I.

- With no eyebrows.
- (BOTH LAUGH)

I am sorry that my mom
laid into you like that.

- About your documentaries.
- Mm. It's fine.

It really is fine with you, isn't it?

Man, I would carry
that crap around inside of me

- for, like, a year.
- Mm.

But you, you just explode,
and it's all over for you.

Mm.

Well, I think it's always been
different for me.

I mean, by the time
I came to live in this house...

(EXHALES)

Well, it was safe here.

And, uh, well, the rest of you,
you looked at your mom

like she was this strict,
domineering woman, and...

I just saw this...

this person that couldn't hurt
me like I'd been hurt before.

You know what?

We don't talk enough about
how incredible you turned out

despite all the crap
you were put through.

No. (CHUCKLES)

We really don't.

But, uh, but your mom, she...

she went easier on me, too.

But the rest of you?
She... she was tough.

Sister-cousin,
I know you inside and out,

and something bigger
is going on with you.

And you need to find a way
to talk about it

before all that pressure...

(IMITATES EXPLOSION)

What was that?

Uh, was supposed to be an explosion.

I'm pretty high.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

♪

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

(WHISPERING): I'll be up in a minute.

- (WHISPERING): Okay. Good night, cuz.
- All right. Night cuz.

ABE: Never forget, baby girl.

♪

(ABE COUGHS)

- Dad?
- Yes, my love?

BETH: I'm gonna forget.

I'm gonna forget that part of me.

Dad, I want you to know that I'll...

be happy.

I'll find love. Great love, oh.

With a man who reminds me
so much of you it's scary.

(CRYING SOFTLY)

But I can't be me without you.

How could I be?

Nothing. Good night.

- (QUIET CHATTER)
- I know. I'm really excited, though.

- Yeah, I know.
- Oh, hey, Bethany.

Hey.

(CHATTER CONTINUES)

We were all real sorry
to hear about your dad passing.

Mr. Kelley said you were gonna
at least take a couple days off.

- Did you...
- I'd rather be here with you guys.

Plus, I already broke two lamps

- trying to rehearse at home.
- (CHUCKLES)

The list is up. (CHUCKLES)

♪

(EXCITED CHATTER)

I didn't expect to see you back so soon.

Yeah, but my dad
would have wanted me to be here.

Believe me, Bethany,
I wish it could've been you.

I want you ready in five minutes.

♪

Hi.

Mom?

Mom, are you okay?

I picked up some Chinese food

after dropping your brother and
sisters off at the train station.

Are you hungry?

Mom, if you're sad, we can talk.

- We can...
- Of course I'm sad, Bethany.

What else could I be?

How was dance today?

Uh, they announced the cast
for the senior showcase.

I didn't get the solo.

(VOICE BREAKING): I worked really hard.

I'm sorry if I disappointed you.

You did your best.

That's all I ever asked.

Don't worry, Mom. I'm not gonna give up.

(SNIFFLES)

(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)

Oh.

- (MUSIC STOPS)
- Sorry. Is the music bothering you?

I just wanted to practice
a little bit before bed.

Bethany, come sit here.
I have something for you.

I gave this to your sisters
and your brother.

It helped them choose their colleges.

But you know I'm not...

I mean, the plan is
for me to get into a company.

That was the plan.

But now we have to choose
a different path for you.

A different path?

I'm sorry. I-I really am.

But I just don't see dance
as a path for you.

And I cannot watch you move to New York

and struggle to make ends meet
while you audition for companies

that you're never going to get into.

I won't continue to pay for this school.

It's setting you up to fail.

♪

Mom? What are you doing?

- (EXHALES)
- It's 3:00 a.m.

Oh, I couldn't sleep,

so I thought I'd get
a head start on listing firms.

I really don't need you
to help me find me a job, Mom.

It's okay. I'm happy to help.

Well, I'm not happy to have your help.

I know you're embarrassed.

But you don't have to be
rude to... (GROANS)

to me.

Yeah. Just keep on going
like you always do, right, Mom?

Even in pain.

That's what Clarke women do, right?

No room for weakness.

Dad dies, we just wipe our tears
and keep on marching, right?

And what would you have had us do?

Wallow in our grief?

No.

But we could've taken some time.

Mom, I remember feeling so free...

when I was a little girl.

Do you remember that?

I always had my head in the clouds,

and I was always... doodling and...

...always dancing.

- Bethany.
- You didn't have to take it from me.

You had gone as far
as you could go, Bethany.

It wasn't working out for you.

You had gone as far as you could go.

You ever wonder why Lisa, Isaiah
and Renee don't come around?

It's because of how you are.

There's no air around you.

There's no air to breathe.

No air to be sad. No air to fail.

That's your big complaint?

No air?

Well, I can live with that.

I promised my mother I'd push my
kids as hard as she pushed me.

My kids may not come around,

but that's okay with me
because I know you're all good.

But I'm not good, Mom.

I am not good.

I haven't had my head
in the clouds for years.

My husband, he dreams, oh.

He dreams these big ideas,

and he is never ashamed to do it,

because nobody ever made him
feel like he should be.

But me?

I can't even look at him.

I can't even look at the person

closest to me in the whole world.

I cannot look him in the eye...

♪

...tell him I want to be that
little girl who dances again.

(GRUNTS)

♪

This sweater looks good on you, Bethany.

And I like the braids.

A freshman college mixer.

This is a fresh start
filled with great opportunities.

♪

- Oh. I-I'm sorry.
- Oh.

No problem.

- Mom.
- No. Let me speak.

My mother was
the smartest person I ever knew.

Her little restaurant
on 129th Street in Harlem

helped put me and my brothers
through school.

My father thought education
was worthless for a girl,

but she stood up to him.

Told him I would have every
opportunity my brothers had.

She worked hard for me.

And I worked hard to make her proud.

We hardly ever fought.

Except, of course,
when I met your father.

Oh, sh-she warned me,

"Girl, bad company
will lead you astray."

But Abe wasn't bad company.

He just didn't take life so seriously.

I had so many worries.

Sometimes those worries suffocated me.

But when I was with him,

I felt like I could finally breathe.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

I guess he gave me that air that
you said I don't have on my own.

Which is why I fell in love with him.

And your grandmother came around.

She came home one night;
Abe was over visiting me.

He had brought me dinner
while I was cramming for exams.

And he was feeding me.

Literally, feeding me
one forkful at a time,

because I wouldn't stop studying
to pick up a fork.

And she saw that he was
exactly what I needed.

I was too serious;
he wasn't serious enough.

But together we made
the perfect balance.

Bethany, I don't know if I made
the right decision for you.

But I didn't have time
to question myself.

Your father was gone.

My air was gone.

And...

I just had me and my worries,

wanting my last child to be okay.

Our little island girl,

who danced before she could walk.

(CHUCKLES)

(WHISPERS): Mom.

You didn't fail me, Mom.

I'm strong because of you.

I don't regret the path you put me on.

It brought me to Randall.

And my girls.

And a job that I loved for 12 years.

Still...

I shouldn't have taken dance
away so quickly.

I'm sorry.

(QUIETLY): Thank you.

♪

♪ The moment I wake up ♪

♪ Before I put on my makeup ♪

Hey. There she is.

♪ I say a little prayer for you ♪

- Mwah.
- (SIGHS)

♪ While combing my hair now... ♪

How's your mom doing?

She'll be fine. She's always fine.

And what about you?

I will be.

I'm ready to tell you
what I want to do next.

Okay.

♪ You stay in my heart
and I will love you ♪

♪ Forever and ever... ♪

(EXHALES) Should I come in with you?

I could be, like, your hype man. What?

- What? (HUMMING)
- (LAUGHS)

- Thanks, babe, but I got this.
- All right.

♪ To live without you... ♪

- Hey, Beth...
- I know. It's crazy.

People are gonna think it's crazy.

Child, please. When have we
ever listened to people?

What? I say something wrong?

No.

♪ I run for the bus, dear ♪

♪ And while riding,
I think of us, dear ♪

♪ I say a little prayer for you ♪

♪ At work, I just take time ♪

♪ And all through my coffee... ♪

Mr. Marcus, get your head
out of that phone.

There's a whole world out here
that you're missing.

Sorry, Principal Clarke.

♪ And ever, you stay in my heart ♪

♪ And I will love you ♪

♪ Forever and ever, we never will part ♪

♪ Oh, how I love you ♪

♪ Together, together,
is how it must be ♪

♪ To live without you ♪

♪ Would only mean heartbreak ♪

♪ For me... ♪

♪ My darling, believe me ♪

♪ For me, there is no one ♪

♪ No one, no one but you ♪

♪ Answer my prayers now, baby ♪

♪ Forever and ever ♪

♪ You stay in my heart
and I will love you ♪

♪ Forever and ever ♪

♪ We never will part,
oh, how I love you ♪

♪ Together, together,
is how it must be ♪

♪ To live without you ♪

♪ Would only mean heartbreak ♪

♪ For me... ♪

- You really know your stuff.
- (CHUCKLES): Sorry.

It's been a while.
I was just... (PANTING)

um, getting a feel
for things again. (CHUCKLES)

Our beginner's class
starts in 20 minutes,

but I think you're gonna be
bored to tears.

You really belong in an advanced class.

Actually, I have something else in mind.

(PANTING)

I want to teach.

synced and corrected by susinz
*www.addic7ed.com*