Original subtitles

Woom-woom.

Hootie-hoo!

Woom-wooom.

Hootie-hoo.

Did you finish all work you had to do?

No, baby, I couldn't finish because Floyd didn't show up.

I knew it.

What do expect me to do?

I expect you to get out of that chair, baby.

you could really get a lot done.

My hurting, OK?

So I can't do everything.

Curtis, you went bowling last night.

Baby, did I tell you I hurt my leg last night bowling too?

Look.

And I can't even-- when I-- when I hold it straight

out like that, it hurt.

And then it falls down?

When I have it like that.

OK, Curtis.

Then it falls down.

Is there anything on your body working, huh?

I thought you'd never ask.

Curtis, don't do this. Come on, baby.

- Walk with it. - Come on, stop.

Don't start nothing you can't finish.

Curtis, stop, baby.

Come on.

Curtis, OK.

Baby, come on.

See, stop.

See, I knew you were gonna play hurt.

Curtis, I knew you were gonna try to play hurt.

What about it?

So that's why I got you some help.

Thank you.

Help?

You little freaky deke.

Need no help.

Curtis.

I don't need no help.

His name is DeShawn.

Huh?

Who the hell is DeShawn?

Curtis, don't do this.

DeShawn is from the help center.

Come on, Ella.

Don't start with that. - OK, Curtis.

Curtis, just wait a minute, OK? - Help center?

Don't start with that help center stuff.

Curtis, he needs money.

He needs extra money, and you need help.

No, I don't need help.

You'll be perfect for each other.

CURTIS: No. - Look here, Curtis.

Well, what are you gonna do with all the stuff

you've been complaining about?

I'll get it done, baby.

You need help, OK?

Hi, Miss Ella.

Hey, baby.

What's up, pops?

What's crackalackin'?

Oh, hello no.

Curtis, now look.

You need help packing, moving, remember?

All the stuff we need to do?

I don't need help from little thug life.

Oh, so your grandpappy's got jokes, huh?

What the hell are you talking about, grandpappy?

Who the hell you calling grandpappy!

Baby, that's a term of endearment.

That ain't no term of--

It's slang.

Grandpappy!

You know how they do.

Didn't we have this discussion at the help center

about your little smart mouth?

I told you, you're not helping matters at all, baby.

You need money, and he needs a walker.

And if you wanna get paid, you have to show

some respect to my husband.

Husband?

Husband.

Y'all are really married?

Yes, we're really married.

We've been married longer than you've been alive.

Aw, is there gonna be a lot of rules and stuff?

Absolutely.

Ah hell.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

And the first one is no cussing in this house.

OK, I won't cuss in the house.

I'll do it outside.

How about you won't do it anywhere around here.

How about that?

Man, when do I get paid?

Get him.

You get paid when I'm satisfied with your work.

Homie.

So what's up with like a cash advance?

Can I get that?

Oh, what the hell is wrong with him?

Curtis!

I can't, I can't.

Oh, he cussed.

He's in trouble.

Get him, Miss Ella.

Get him.

He in trouble. - Don't touch him.

He cussed.

You can't cuss in the house, I thought.

Curtis, you cannot help that child.

You don't even like him that much.

- Yeah, I do, I do. - You don't like him that much.

No, I do. I really do.

Curtis get your hands off him.

I like him like this.

Curtis.

[music playing]

What's your name?

Miss Ella already told you my--

DeShawn.

I'm named DeShawn.

DeShawn what?

Dang, you want my social security number too?

Hey, let my tell you something.

I'm trying real hard, OK?

Real hard.

Losing air.

Let's get something straight, DeShawn.

You are in my house, OK?

And you're trying to earn my money.

So that means you do as I tell you, OK?

Hold that thought.

Miss Ella!

Where the hell he going?

Do I gotta listen to this crazy man?

This man is crazy.

DeShawn.

I'm telling you, he-- he got a yelling problem.

- Hush. - He yells.

- Hush. - He needs pills.

Look, you needed a job. He's paying.

I'm staying out of it. Thank you.

Bye-bye.

All right, my name is DeShawn Spears.

Well, DeShawn Spears, this is how it's gonna go down.

First of all, pull your pants up!

I-- I kind of like to wear my pants like this.

I mean--

Not in here!

But I don't have a belt.

You want me to take mine off?

No, that ain't even necessary.

Nope.

That's a bit much.

No what?

No, sir.

Catching on.

Know Now, DeShawn Spears, we're gonna work hard today.

And by working hard, I mean you gonna work hard

and I'm gonna supervise.

You heard me?

Wait, so that means you're not gonna help?

Of course I'm gonna help.

If "helping" means me telling you what to do

and getting a beer and sitting down and putting my feet up,

I'm gonna help a hell of a lot today!

Fine.

"Fine" what?

Uh, sir?

First thing, get yourself over there, and get them boxes,

and put them books in the boxes.

The books go in the boxes.

And when you get through, we need

to go outside, because I got some leaves for you to rake.

What's wrong with you?

I still have to do three loads of laundry.

I have to get dinner started.

I have to do the cost reports for work.

And on top of it all, the childcare director

is on his way over.

You're right.

That is today!

OK, but wait.

Since when did daycare directors start making house calls?

It's part of their philosophy.

They like to see the kids interact

in their own environment.

Oh, I see.

That's what it is.

You are brave.

Because I could not imagine leaving Christian

alone with a stranger.

It's not the army.

It's childcare.

OK?

These are trained professionals.

They-- they-- they are a very, very competitive program, OK?

The women at work are all raving about what

an amazing job this program has done with their kids.

You know, even if I wanted to, I couldn't afford it.

So.

I mean, not all childcare is expensive, Miranda.

There are lots of programs that cater to low income families.

That coat is beautiful on you.

You know that?

It's nice.

All right, listen.

You know times are tough, and Calvin is doing his best.

And I know we don't have the income that we used to.

Thus childcare is not an option.

I still think you should consider it.

Think about it.

If you put Christian in childcare,

you could go back to work, huh?

Maybe we can ask Marcel, the director, when he gets here.

Maybe we can ask him for some references.

OK, I'll think about it.

Thank you.

[doorbell rings]

Oh my Gosh.

OK.

Um, ready?

Do you have everything over there?

Yeah, everything's perfect.

Perfect.

OK.

Put the-- blocks!

Coming!

Hello.

Hi.

Hi.

Come on in, I'm Janine.

You sound so different over the phone.

Nice to meet you.

I've heard so much about you.

Miranda, cousin-in-law.

Oh, great to meet you too.

Oh, I'll go watch the kids while you two handle business.

OK.

Thanks.

Nice to meet you.

Come on in, please.

OK.

Have a seat.

I got a chance to look at the web site.

OK.

But I would really like to hear more

about the program from you.

Absolutely.

We have a staff of five, who all have degrees

in early childhood development.

All of our staff are trained lifeguards,

and they're also CPR certified.

That's impressive.

Yes.

That is actually very, very impressive.

Thank you.

And all of our staff members speak four languages.

Four?

Well, except one.

Oh?

I only speak three.

[laughter]

Bonjour, monsieur.

Ah, oui, oui, madame.

Hola! MIRANDA: I speak French.

I speak Spanish.

Hola.

That's the one I don't speak.

We-- we have a very competitive program.

Just last year, Mark Swinton applied.

Oh my goodness.

Mark Swinton the gazillionaire.

His children are involved in this program.

No, no.

They didn't make it in.

but-- but don't worry.

Don't worry.

Well, OK, I guess the million dollar

question would be how much is this program gonna cost?

I bet it's an arm and a leg.

Actually, weekly payments are based on the parents' income.

And we offer financial aid as well.

Really?

So technically, I could sign up.

- Yeah. - Really?

You just left the babies in the kitchen, huh?

Oh, no, no, no, no, they're-- they're fine.

But you said you weren't Interested

in childcare, Miranda.

That's when I thought I couldn't afford it.

Well, with us you can.

So can I have an application, please?

Sure.

Why not?

Now, I must inform you that we only have two slots available.

So unfortunately, only one of you

will be able to participate in our program.

What the hell are you doing?

Robot?

Take my food out your pockets.

What else do you have in there?

Just a little bit of my business!

Ugh!

Empty your pockets.

DeShawn, you think I'm gonna let you just come up in my house

and steal?

You can afford it.

Look around.

Look around what?

You think I stole this stuff?

I didn't steal it!

I worked hard for it!

So what you gonna do?

You got one more time to talk to me like you're a grown-up.

One more time!

Curtis, wait a minute.

What is going on in here?

Miss Ella, he stole my food.

Oh, stop it.

Curtis, what are you doing to this child?

He's not a child, Ella.

He's a grown man.

OK?

With prison tattoos!

And he's up in my house, stealing!

DeShawn, is that true?

No I didn't get this in prison.

I'm not talking about that.

I'm talking about the stealing.

Yeah, it's true.

Well, why would you steal from us when we were gonna pay you?

You a snitch, man.

You know what happens to snitches.

This is some [bleep].

Uh.

I got it.

I got this.

DeShawn, come here.

DeShawn!

I don't wanna hear anything you have to say!

Look.

Little boy, if you don't get your narrow behind over here

now!

You wanna get knocked out, old man?

- You ain't got nothing to do. - I'm not playing with you, man.

Back up. Back up! - Give me this.

Give me this!

This is plastic!

What you gonna do, scratch me to death?

You wanna hit somebody, you hit him with this, huh!

You need something with weight on it, son!

That's what you need!

I'll go and get my stuff.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

You mean the stuff you stole out my house.

That's not your stuff, MC Thug Life.

I don't care.

I don't give a--

Ella!

Ella!

Ella, get here right now!

You come here.

I ain't coming in there.

OK, what' going on, baby?

- Why'd you do it, Ella? - Where's DeShawn?

Don't worry about where he at, OK?

Where's DeShawn?

Why did you bring that boy in this house, Ella?

Why?

Don't you know, I don't have the patience for this?

I can't deal with this, Ella.

DeShawn needs a male figure in his life.

He's never had a male finger at all.

What?

And that's my fault?

No, it's not your fault, but he just needs a father figure.

Come on, baby, now that boy's not all that bad.

He's been hurt a lot.

And he's probably--

Probably wanted in five states.

Something is not right right here.

You're right about that.

I had weigh more noodles than that.

I'm not talking about noodles, baby.

Baloney, noodles.

That's my wave grease.

That's my wave-- that's my favorite cologne.

He got my favorite cologne.

Just look at these.

This is not right.

Salt, toothpaste, a blanket.

Is the boy homeless?

Our in-home visits is our way of getting to know the family,

and frankly, finding out where the most need is.

Me, me, party of one.

That's me.

That's me.

I have four kids.

Cream?

Actually there's a party of five.

My husband and I, we are living off of one income right now,

so we certainly have need.

OK, So how would describe your parenting style?

Parenting style?

Um.

How would you describe your parenting style?

Um, stylish.

I mean, of the four styles, are

you authoritarian, authoritative, permissive,

or uninvolved?

Oh, no, no, no.

I am definitely involved.

Unlike Janine here, who is so busy at work

she can't even tell the difference between her twins.

But, but, but do you allow room

for independent exploration?

I do. I do.

I swear by it.

All of my kids are independent, all four of them.

You know, they love to explore.

It's wonderful.

That's because they don't have a choice.

They're practically raising themselves.

Write that down.

Write this down.

Janine has four kids.

Hm.

I have a newborn.

I work 50 hours a week.

I do 12 loads of laundry.

I cook every night.

Can you cook, Miranda?

Shh, I have a newborn!

Is that really gonna be your answer for everything?

That's your answer for everything.

You know, I think I've seen enough.

Wait, wait, wait,wait, wait, wait, wait,wait,

wait, wait, wait,wait!

You can't go now.

Yeah, trust me.

I've seen enough.

OK, so-- so when can we enroll?

I will make my decision later, and I'll let you know.

You will let me know.

Thank you.

I look forward to the call.

Good meeting you.

Me too, me too.

It was such a pleasure.

The man's gotta go.

Thank you.

Au revoir, monsieur.

Au revoir.

Hasta luego!

He don't speak that language!

What you thinking about, baby?

Nothing.

Well, I thought you'd be a great role model too.

Baby, it's hard to help somebody

that don't wanna be helped.

I know.

And under all of that anger was just a scared little boy.

[clanging]

Thank you.

What was that?

Baby, go check it out.

Curtis, go on and check it out.

I hurt my hand.

Curtis, I'm not going out.

What is wrong with you?

You always throw me to the wolves.

Oh, it's DeShawn.

Thank God.

Thank God.

Hi, baby, welcome back.

I wanted to finish raking the leaves.

I appreciate that, DeShawn.

But look, you can't be jumping up at me

like you a grown-up, man.

Because next time, I might have to treat you like one.

I'm sorry, Mr. Payne.

[phone ringing]

Baby, you wanna get that?

OK.

Where's your parents at?

If you find 'em, let me know.

So where are you staying?

Where are you living?

I lived with my foster parents,

but it didn't work out.

So I left.

You left?

I mean, you can't just sleep on the streets.

I mean, you know what could happen to a boy

your age out on the streets?

And it's already happened.

So who cares?

Oh, hi, Marcel.

Um, come in, please.

I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time.

Oh, come, have a seat.

No, no, no, no, no.

I was just teaching Christian his times tables.

He's so advanced.

Well, yeah, I'm sorry to drop by unannounced,

but I know how bad you wanted Christian to be

a part of our program, so I wanted

to deliver the news in person.

OK, wait, so he didn't make it?

Well, as you know, we only have two openings.

Our program is in very high demand,

and there are a lot of qualified applicants.

I knew it.

Christian, who has four kids nowaday?

I can't believe this!

It was a difficult choice.

It came down to choosing either another child and Christian

or--

OK, you know what, you know what,

you know what, you know what? Tch-tch-tch.

It's OK.

Just tell me, OK?

I can take it.

I can completely take it.

Christian got in.

Oh, I knew it!

Wait, what did you say?

He got in.

Yes, a good thing that Janine and her husband

are moving to Texas, or else Christian

would've been waitlisted until next year.

Texas?

Janine-- they're not moving to Texas.

Oh, that's strange.

She told me that they were moving to Texas

and she insisted that Christian have one of her two spots.

Huh.

Well, here's your welcome packet,

and we will see you on Monday.

Thank you so much.

You hear that, Christian?

You hear that?

Your Auntie Janine loves you.

Yes, she does.

Yes, she does.

No man is an island.

What's that Mean

It means that an island can exist

out in the middle of the ocean by itself, but a man can't.

We need each other.

You need me.

You need me?

Kinda.

Yeah, I do.

And we need to find you a home.

Nobody wants a kid my age.

I have a record.

That's not true, DeShawn.

I mean, you probably got a record.

I know a couple that would take you in, a nice couple.

I mean, as long as you follow the rules.

For real?

You might have to go through the proper channels,

but my wife, she knows a bunch of social workers.

Thanks, pops.

I mean, Mr. Payne.

You're welcome.

And no matter what happens, you always have a job here.

And sandwich.

Thanks, Ella.

Boy.

Thank you, DeShawn.

Aw!

[bleep]

Hey!

- Curtis. - No!

I tried to be nice!

[theme music]