Original subtitles

Okay, okay, yeah, that's

Fine.

That's fine.

Okay, can you call me if you

Hear anything?

Thank you.

Okay, she hasn't checked in

At work?

No.

I'm gonna call the house and see

If she left a message.

Good morning, baby.

Why aren't you dressed for work?

I'm having a sick day.

But you're not sick.

Whatever.

I'm not going to that fire

Station with all that

Whispering.

"What's he gonna do now?

When is he gonna leave?

Where is he gonna go?

You're too young and too cute to

Retire."

Young and cute?

Just work with it.

Come on, pops, we got a real

Crisis here.

I know.

Can you believe I've been forced

Out?

I'll never be happy.

Nothing can make me happy ever,

Ever again, never ever.

Pops, miranda's missing.

Who? Who?

No. That ain't working.

Nice try.

Come on, curtis. Please?

Baby, she's a con artist,

Okay?

Now you see her, now you don't.

Uh, that's a magician.

Yeah, but whatever.

They always fly back to where

They roost.

That's a pigeon.

Well, look.

You know what I'm talking about.

She'll be back, and I'll still

Be forcibly retired.

Man, she hasn't called home

Either.

Malik, can you come down to the

Police station with me?

He can't go to the police

Station, becse he's gonna stay

Here and look at the scrapbook

With me.

Remember? You promised.

But what about miranda?

She can look at the book when

She comes back.

Mom, can you call me if you

Hear anything?

Yes, we will.

Thank you.

So selfish. Ugh!

Curtis, baby, you are going

To have to snap out of this

Little funk.

You had a great career, baby.

Look at it.

[sobs]

[sobs]

Oh, look. Remember that?

Remember this with the dog at

The fire--the dog-food factory?

Oh.

All those little dogs. [sobs]

Curtis.

It's a good thing I was

There, isn't it?

And then remember when I rescued

Nelson mandela out of the

Burning house?

Baby, that's maddie nelson

From the church.

Her mustache is that thick?

Maddie nelson.

Let me make you some breakfast,

Baby, okay?

Oh, thank you, baby.

Thank you.

Hey, will you make me the

Star-shaped waffles with my

3 eggs, one of them scrambled,

One over medium, one over easy?

I'm going to make your

Breakfast.

Thank you, baby.

And fresh-squeezed orange juice?

Choo choo!

No, no, no. Curtis, what?

What are you doing?

Ha ha ha!

I'm getting back on track, baby.

Back on track.

Curtis, this is not what I

Was talking about.

Well, I guess, next time,

You'll be a little more

Specific.

Okay, baby, why are you

Setting this up in the middle of

The living room?

Because claretha, the fiend

That wouldn't leave, of which

Whom you invited to stay here,

Has taken over the guest room.

That's why.

[doorbell]

Curtis--

Get the door, ella.

You see how busy I am. Come on.

You get it.

You're closer to the door.

Baby, I'm working on the

Railroad.

No, you're working on my last

Nerve.

* all the live-long day

Choo choo!

It could be miranda, baby.

Get it.

You know I'm not getting the

Door now.

Hold on.

[doorbell]

I'm coming.

Ah! Ah! Oh!

Who is it, baby, who is it?

It's c.J.

Oh!

Do you know you scared the mess

Out of me?

You sounded just like c.J. When

You--aah!

It is me.

Oh!

It's so good to see you!

It's a baby.

And these are my babies.

Oh, goodness.

We didn't even know you were

Coming.

You don't have nothing to

Say?

Not in front of the baby.

Oh, it's really sweet that

You're actually taking

Consideration of our kids now.

I ain't talking about your

Little beast.

I'm talking about my babies.

We didn't know you guys were

Coming!

Hi!

Yeah, so what hotel you

Staying in?

How was your flight?

And what hotel you staying

In?

How long are you guys gonna

Be here?

And what hotel y'all staying

In?

Actually, c.J. Didn't have

The money for us--

Hey, man, you got your toy

Trains out.

Get your hands off my toy.

Get your hands off my toy.

Get your hand--and it's not a

Toy!

This is an "O" gauge norfolk

Southern dash-9, baby!

Okay, okay.

It's top of the line right

Here.

This is bigness right here.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

My knowledge of trains only goes

As far as "Soul train."

Get your hands off me.

Speaking of trains, there's one

That will take you to a hotel.

It's the same train that all

Blacks used on the underground

Train, take you to the hotel

Called the "Soooul train."

Please, curtis.

Curtis is trying to find a way

To relax.

They asked him to retire.

No!

Forced retirement, ella.

Get it straight.

Uncle curtis, I'm sorry, man.

I didn't know.

Yes, you did. You told me--

Tch tch tch! Janine.

What did she say?

When have you ever listened

To anything janine says?

Tch tch tch.

What were you talking about,

Now?

Oh, we--there was a

Change--there was changes in

Chicago, so we--just changes.

Lots of changes.

Wow.

Come on, I mean, with all the

Changes--you know, there's a

Lot of changes, and we were

Wondering if it would be okay

For us to, you know, stay here

For a little while, if it's

Okay.

Ho ho! You're just gonna bust

Into that like that?

If I ever even entertain the

Idea of you staying in this

House, I will kick my own ass.

You heard me.

You will never, ever, as long as

This house is sitting on this

Ground in atlanta, georgia, ever

Will you stay in this house!

Never!

Hoo hoo hoo!

Of course you can stay.

Boo boo boo.

Doo boo boo.

They ain't getting none of my

Food.

Chugga chugga chugga chugga.

Chugga chugga. Chugga chugga.

Chugga chugga chugga. Ha.

Hold on, I'm gonna get you.

I'm coming to get you.

Everybody get your money ready.

All aboard!

Oh, man, that is impressive.

Whoa, look at that.

Don't touch it.

Don't touch it. Don't touch it.

Sorry.

You underestimated me like

The fire department did.

Look, unc, I understand how

You feel, man.

You do, huh?

Yeah, I mean, during these

Times, lots of people are losing

Their jobs, being forced to

Retire.

I understand.

Hmm. Probably gonna give my

Job to some young, stupid idiot.

[chuckles]

Probably--and then go make

Him work hard and gonna pay him

Half of what they paid me.

[chuckles]

They're like puppet masters.

Hmm. Pulling all the strings.

Uh-huh, and a decent,

Hard-working man like yourself

Always gets screwed over.

See? You get me.

You get me, nephew.

Ella don't get me.

You want to flip the switch one

Time?

For real?

One time.

Ha ha ha!

Watch him do it.

Do it one.

[bell rings]

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

That was cool, that's cool.

Isn't that cool?

Isn't that cool?

You know how hard I worked

On this, c.J.?

It's a lot of work, man.

Yeah. And they think they can

Just treat you any old kind of

Way they want to.

Well, they can't, because I'm

A hard worker.

With a family to support.

No. I ain't got no family.

No, y'all getting the hell out.

It's just me and ella.

That's it.

Well, you know, you were the

Heart and soul of that fire

Station.

You get me again.

You get me again.

And you know what, nephew?

You wasn't so bad yourself.

Thank you.

You weren't great.

Okay.

But you weren't bad.

I wouldn't fire you.

Want to wear my hat?

Wow!

Here. Put it on.

Put it on.

Ah.

[chuckles]

Thanks. [chuckles]

You got to flip it.

You got to flip it.

Like right there?

That's it.

I look cool?

That's cool.

[chuckles]

Okay, now you got to say,

"All aboard!"

Got to say "All aboard"?

That's okay. Don't do it.

I'll say it.

Yes, sir.

All aboard!

All aboard!

Bam! Look at it.

Look at the light.

Look at the light come on!

I'm sorry I couldn't get you.

Ha ha ha!

Did you see how the light come

On when it went past the horsey?

Ha ha ha!

Man.

Unc, I, uh--I got something I

Need to talk to you about.

What's that? What?

[cell phone rings]

Hold on.

Hold on one second.

Hello?

Yeah.

Okay, right away.

All right.

I'll be right there. Thanks.

Who's that, nephew?

That was, uh, uh--the

District chief want to talk to

Me.

Get out of here. The nerve.

I don't know.

I don't know what he wants to

Talk to me for.

I'll tell you what.

You go over there and give him a

Piece of my mind.

I'm gonna give him all of

Your mind.

You let him know we paynes,

And we don't take it like that.

We're gonna see what he says,

But I'm gonna let him know what

It is.

Go handle your business.

Yeah.

Handle your business.

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha!

Hey, c.J.

Yeah.

I need my hat.

All aboard.

All aboard.

Hey, baby. Hey, baby.

Come on, come on.

Come on and play train with me.

Curtis, please.

There's too much going on, and

The twins are in there sleeping.

Girl, hush up and get that

Caboose of booty over here, over

Here.

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Grr.

Mwah.

I've looked everywhere.

You are always interrupting.

She's not here. Bye.

Curtis, this is serious.

Baby, you always go to him.

I need you, ella.

Go keep yourself busy.

I was trying to get busy.

Mama, I honestly don't know

How much more I can take.

I'm gonna head out and look for

Her.

Mrs. Lucas.

All the rooms are full. Bye.

Where is miranda, and why

Aren't you looking for her?

I have been looking for her.

I cannot believe all of you

Are falling for this mess.

Your daughter's a con artist,

Lady.

You ought to know that.

Hell, you raised her, sort of.

How dare you.

Now, how would you feel if it

Was your son who was missing?

I don't get a chance to miss

Him, ella.

He's always here.

Where's miranda?

I don't know.

I've been looking for her--

What do you mean, you don't

Know?

Did you call the cops?

No. I mean yes, yes, of

Course.

What's wrong with you people?

Miranda is missing.

We know.

And calvin has done everything

He can.

If something has happened to

My baby, I don't know what

I'd do.

Wait.

It's miranda.

Oh, let me talk to her.

Miranda, where are you?

What?

Wait. Are you sure?

No. No, no, that's okay.

Yeah, of course we want the

Phone back, yes.

I'll call you back at this

Number.

Wait. What did she say?

Where is she?

It wasn't her.

Somebody found the phone.

The phone? Oh, no.

Okay, okay, baby.

What else did they say?

They just wanted to find the

Owner, and I was the last number

She dialed.

So, did you talk to her?

No. I mean, yes, yes, of

Course I talked to her.

What is going on?

[crying]

I want to know what is going on!

I know you're upset.

I am, too.

It wasn't my intention to break

Your daughter's heart!

But you did, calvin!

Okay, wait a minute, sandra.

Now, calvin is not the only one

To blame here.

Your little daughter has done a

Mess, too, to tear this marriage

Up.

Oh, I don't know what I'd do

If something happened to her.

Please don't talk like that.

Please don't tell me how to

Talk!

Your child is here!

Mine is not.

Wait a minute.

No, no, mom, I can handle

This.

I've done everything I can--

Oh, you've done everything.

Really?

Yes, I have.

Really?

You mean like lying and cheating

And getting my daughter

Pregnant?

I'm not surprised she ran out on

You.

I'm just trying to help!

Really?

I think you've done enough.

Hey.

Where's uncle curtis?

I need to talk.

Go on in there.

No, no, not to him. To you.

No, no. No, no.

C.J., not now.

Miranda is missing.

Her mother was here, and that

Was a mess.

I got out of control.

She lost her mind.

It was just not good.

It was not good.

I got a job.

Hallelujah.

And I wasn't completely

Honest about why we're here.

Okay, what are you talking

About?

The job is here in atlanta.

I'm replacing uncle curtis at

The firehouse.

[chuckles]

You're doing what?

You're doing what?

Yeah, okay, yeah.

I don't need any coffee.

I need--I need a drink.

You're replacing curtis? What?

This is--this is too much.

This is too much, god.

This is--this is--this is just

Way too much.

Okay, I am happy for you, c.J.,

But this is too much!

Shh!

This is too much.

I don't even know if I'm

Gonna take it.

Of course you're gonna take

It.

A lot of folks are out there who

Don't have jobs.

You've been blessed, so you got

To take it.

I didn't ask for it, aunt

Ella.

I would never do that.

I would never ask--

Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.

You know I wouldn't do that.

They offered it to me.

I don't know what to do.

Well, I know what you're

Gonna do.

You have to tell--you got to

Tell your uncle what happened.

No! No way.

No. He will kill me.

C.J., you have to tell him,

And it's gonna crush him.

He's gonna crush me.

Don't worry about it.

Just--just--just tell him.

He can take it.

He's a grown man.

[toy train horn blows]

C.J.

Oh, I'm glad you're here.

You must have read my mind.

You can take it.

Oh, you must have talked to

Aunt ella.

Ooh.

What are you waiting for?

Take it.

And be gentle with it, because

It's precious to me.

Really? You're sure?

I said it, didn't I?

Look, unc, if you don't want

Me to take it, I will not

Take it.

I won't take it.

How the hell else is the box

Gonna get in the closet, you

Idiot?

Oh!

You're talking about the box.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Oh, okay.

Speaking of taking things, man,

This is real funny.

I'll tell you.

What did the district chief

Say?

Well, that's actually what

Was funny, unc, because--

You ain't even got to tell

Me, with all of them cutbacks.

Think they're gonna have

Something for you?

They had nothing for me, and I'm

Gifted.

I was born to be a firefighter.

You just took it up as a hobby.

As a matter of fact, they

Want me to--

C.J. C.J., listen.

Hey, baby, listen.

I have a surprise for you.

I need you to close your eyes.

Close them. Close them.

Don't peek.

All right. Okay.

And turn around.

Ta-da!

Jazi!

Father!

Oh, father, I've returned!

I thought you wasn't coming

Till next week.

Not another one!

Oh, grand-uncle!

It is so delightful to be back

In your humble domicile.

What did she just say?

I think it's the school.

You know, she's been around all

Those other kids, and they're

All very gifted.

Well, did they give you a

Gift receipt so you can send her

Back?

Doo doo doo.

What's all the commotion?

The babies are sleeping.

Aah! Jazi, get over here!

Grand-auntie!

As effervescent as always.

Thank you, I think.

Oh, I was so homesick.

How I longed to be back here

Amongst the common folk where

Everyone is so quaint and

Simple.

Did she just call me stupid?

No, I think what she meant

Was--

Oh, and while we're all

Gathered together, might I make

A few suggestions that will

Surely enhance the qualities of

Our lives?

Ella, get the belt.

No, I'll get it myself.

I have to stimulate my mind.

Well, I'm about to stimulate

Your behind.

The girl done gone crazy, ella.

Curtis, jazmine, why don't

You--

For example, I need to be

Surrounded by the

Classics--shakespeare, dickens,

Thoreau.

For example, I'm about to

Give you the

Classics--ass-whupping.

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, grand-uncle, how pedestrian.

Oh, I have a great announcement

To make.

Be careful, jazmine.

The next time y'all want to

Send me off, just think about

It.

I'm gonna come home just like

This.

Now, where the twins at?

Where the twins?

Back here, baby.

I love that girl.

Mom, something's wrong.

Something's wrong.

Mrs. Lucas just pulled up, and

The cops are right behind her.

Okay.

Have they called here?

Have you heard anything?

No, calvin.

I know they're gonna give me

Some bad news, mom.

You don't know what they're

Going to say.

No, I can't calm down!

This is my wife!

Something's wrong!

That's him. That's him.

I know he knows something about

My daughter.

I know you do.

What? What's going on?

The police want to ask you a

Few questions, calvin.

Wait.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

You called the cops on my son?

I did.

What, you think I have

Something to do with miranda's

Disappearance?

I know you have something.

You're not telling me

Everything, calvin.

Wait a minute.

What are you doing?

And you need to be looking

For my wife instead of

Questioning me.

[all shouting at once]

Get your hands off of him!

No, get off of him!

He didn't do anything!

You need to leave.

You need to leave.

Let him go! Mommy, stop.

What is going on?

What happened? Honey?

My god, are you all right?

Why are the police here?

Because I thought he did

Something to you.

Mommy, no.