Original subtitles

ELLA: Curtis.

Oh my goodness, what?

Good, you're not busy.

Baby, please, I'm very busy.

Baby, we're trying to find out who killed the opera singer.

We don't know if it was her hater assistant

or her crazy ex-boyfriend.

Curtis, are you serious?

Baby, I'm very serious.

The detectives found DNA on both of 'em, so we can't be sure.

Get out the dressing room!

Curtis this is not important.

What are you doing?

Curtis, listen.

Yes!

Curtis, what is that?

Where did you get that from?

Curtis!

What?

Where did you get that remote?

Baby, put that away.

Baby, I've gotta see what happened.

Curtis, Curtis, please, please just pay attention to me,

please.

Honey, do I look different?

Is that a multiple choice question?

Curtis, honey, you are looking at the new director

of the help center.

What?

Sooky, sooky!

Can I say "sooky, sooky" to you?

Baby, that is so cool.

You know what?

I think I like a woman who brings home the bacon.

You do?

How did you get that job?

Well, I haven't yet.

But I'm hoping that I will.

I'm hoping that I will, Maybe Wait, wait, wait, wait, baby.

[inaudible]

After I show them how great I am with helping people.

Well, you know, you'd help anybody.

Right, then I can show them how I

schmooze with the best of them.

OK.

You know I love the way you schmooze, baby.

And baby, I have some great ideas for fundraising.

OK, well, you need to get out there and raise them funds,

then.

You go raise them funds, girl!

I'm going to.

I'm going to.

It's the--

I missed it!

Baby, I don't understand something, though.

What, baby?

Why did you have to turn off my show to tell me that?

So that you would listen to me.

Curtis, what?

What difference does it make?

They rerun those shows 20 times a day.

I saw this one last week!

I know who did it.

It was the man in balcony.

Don't you say that. Don't you--

The balcony.

Don't-- don't Say that!

Curtis, Curtis!

Don't tell me, OK?

What?

It takes a qualified television detective

to make that assessment.

I've seen it. Wait, wait, wait.

Where are you going?

I'm going over to CJ's, where I can

watch TV in peace and quiet.

Good.

Good, good, good, good.

That way I can just clean up here.

Clean up for what?

I am having the help center committee

over for lunch tomorrow, baby.

And I want everything to be perfect.

Get out, get out, get out.

Yes?

This is my house.

How you gonna kick me out of my House

I'm the only one to do the kicking out around here.

OK, sorry, baby.

Then you can just help me clean up.

Put this in the closet.

I didn't say I was staying.

I'm going.

I was just saying, you can't be kicking nobody.

I kick myself out.

OK, well, kick yourself out.

[inaudible] Oh, that's good.

That's a good one, baby

[theme music]

Yo, snitch!

Making me itch, man.

Think you got the gout.

Look, whatever.

Everyone around here may be scared of you, but I'm not.

[laughter]

But

Look, is this the best you got, Drew?

Oh no.

See, I'm just beginning.

Watch your back.

You know, one day, you're gonna be working for me!

What do we have here?

Yeah, I doubt that.

Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Where's-- where's-- where's-- where's the asparagus I made,

the asparagus tips?

Oh, uh, come on, help yourself, Janine.

Where are my asparagus tips?

Come here, Janine.

Now, baby, you know I love you.

I love you too.

Honey, I want them to give me the job,

not give them food poisoning.

Asparagus is not that bad.

Asparagus is not supposed to melt in your mouth.

It's crunchy.

OK, wish me luck.

Good luck.

I'm gonna go and work the room.

All right, go work then.

Wait!

Reverend, hello.

Listen, thank you for coming.

And listen, oh, that sermon you preached?

Oh, top notch.

You did your homework.

Please, help yourself.

Please do.

Yes.

Ruby, that clothing drive, that clothing

drive, clothing drive that you gave

was better than a Macy's sale.

It was just way better than a whole Macy's sale.

Eat, girl.

All right. Oh, Darlene.

Yes?

Hi.

Listen, I just wanna say thank you.

You have done just a wonderful job.

You've been the best director the help center has ever had.

Oh, Thank you so much.

Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome.

And if I am half as good as you--

Hello, everyone!

Darlene, Darlene, congratulations.

Oh, come in, introduce yourself.

Who is that?

Amber Brown, New Yorker.

She's up for the director's job.

She's up for the director's job?

Why didn't somebody tell me?

Because--

She's up for the director's job.

Because it's not important.

This is your job.

[inaudible]

What?

She's coming over here?

She's coming over here.

Hi, Ella.

Hello.

Amber Brown.

Amber.

I hear that we're both up for the same position.

That's what I'm hearing.

You know, this will be the fifth nonprofit that i run.

How about you?

This will be my first.

Oh, I see.

Well, I guess you've got to start somewhere.

You know, I was a newbie at the Ford Foundation,

but I got my sea legs pretty quickly.

That's great.

Listen, would you care for a biscuit?

Oh, no, no.

I don't do carbs, darling.

Oh, of course you don't, darling.

You know what, why don't you tell me a little bit more

about the grind at the center and what's your specialty?

Oh, well, right here, eggs Benedict, darling.

Well, I do-- what do I do?

I talk to-- yes, I talk to women who are

going through tough situations.

She helps to-- helps to initiate the changes.

Well, well.

You know what?

That's very noble of you.

You know, I'm more of an office fundraiser person.

I like board meetings, power lunches.

And I convince heads of Fortune 500 companies

to donate millions of dollars.

[laughter]

What's so funny?

So what are your thoughts on fund-raising?

You-- oh, you're talking to me?

Yes, yes.

Well, I'm so sorry.

Well, um, you know what?

I've actually been thinking about having

a celebrity auction.

Oh?

Where we use the local newscasters.

Oh, wow.

You know what?

I was thinking the same thing.

But maybe I'll get an old friend of mine, Beyonce.

Bey--

You know Beyonce?

You know Beyonce?

Oh my gosh, I love her music.

Janine!

Janine, come here.

She knows Beyonce.

Come here.

She knows Beyonce!

Who do you know?

You gotta know somebody.

Well, Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus?

Well-- well, I have one more idea.

I think it's gonna be good too.

Well, I've heard that people donate

their old cell phones and laptop computers

and other little gadgets.

Wow, you know what?

I did that last year.

You certainly did, and it was a huge success.

And then I contacted the phone company,

and they matched the funds.

Oh, you are just--

They matched the funds.

OK, well-- well, OK, then.

Excuse me, everyone.

OK.

[laughter]

Janine!

What are you so tickled about?

Oh, there it is, there it is.

She was right.

They do show these things 20 times a day.

Yeah, that was on yesterday.

Thank you.

That's the one with the opera singer.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know who killed the--

Don't you say nothing!

You are not qualified to give the verdict.

All right.

Hey, Dad.

Hey, Unc.

Hey, 'Lik.

What's up, Malik?

Wait a minute.

Thought you were supposed to be in school.

Yeah, well, I finished all my classes early.

Those teachers are slacking.

Well, I'm glad you two are both here.

I need to talk to you.

OK, well, can't it wait until after the verdict, please?

Oh, this is a good one.

You'll never guess that the conductor killed the opera

singer with a French horn.

I guess we're talking now.

Thanks.

What's up, Malik?

What are you doing home in the middle of the week?

'Cause school sucks.

And you were right, Dad.

All the kids hate me because of the fraternity thing.

You're not going for the other kids.

You're going to get an education.

Look, I study all the time, but it just doesn't stick.

A lesson you need to learn now--

anything worth doing is gonna be hard.

Look, I think I'm just not cut out for college.

And I think you're selling yourself short.

I made my decision, and now that I'm 18,

I hope you all respect my wishes.

Oh, here we go with this.

What's the decision?

Well here it is.

I can't take it anymore.

I'm dropping out of college.

Ella, Ella.

Oh, excuse me, excuse me.

Yes

I am so glad that you had a chance to meet Amber.

Oh, yes, I am too, and she's wonderful.

I just know that the both of you

could learn so much from each other.

Oh, absolutely.

Oh, absolutely.

Oh, Ella, you know Amber's background

and her success is all behind the scenes.

Now, fund-raising, corporate sponsors, public funds.

I don't want to toot my own horn, but beep beep.

Um, excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but I just--

I had to come over here and tell you all

what a godsend Miss Ella is.

Oh, Janine, thank you. You don't have to do that.

Oh yes, I do. Excuse me.

- Janine. - Excuse me, please.

Janine.

I honestly do not know where I would

be if it wasn't for this woman.

Actually, yes, I do.

I would still be in a crack house.

Oh my.

Or possibly dead somewhere.

Listen, Darlene, I just do it because I love helping people.

That's it.

Look, I am so glad that we're all on the same page,

because I have an announcement to make.

Oh.

Today?

Excuse me, attention, everyone.

Listen up.

Well, first of all, I want to thank

the very talented Ella Payne for throwing such

a wonderful event at her home.

[applause]

And now I'm not supposed to say anything because the board

hasn't voted yet, but unofficially, I

want to announce that the new director of the help center

is Amber Brown.

Oh, me?

Oh my, I didn't see this coming.

Oh my!

Thank you so much, Darlene.

What you reading?

Uh, "The Alchemist."

My literature professor gave it to me.

It's real good.

"The Alchemist."

Who wrote that?

Oh, Paulo Coelho.

Did he drop out of school?

Look, Dad, I already made my mind up.

Oh, you a man.

You make your own decisions.

Don't try that reverse psychology on me.

I took psych 101.

Oh, see, I thought that you dropped

out of college because some guys were making fun of you.

Well, not just because of that.

I'm not that good at engineering either.

OK, but if you wanna come home, it's no free food.

All right.

No free rent.

No free rides.

That includes gas.

You're gonna need a job.

Look, Dad, just give me a little bit more

time to get things figured out.

I thought you already figured things out.

You see, a man would have figured things out

before he made a big decision.

Well, I haven't thought that far ahead.

Wanna be a man?

I'm gonna have to treat you like a man.

I believe I paid for this.

And a man contributes to the house.

Well, look, I'll just go live with Uncle

Curtis and Auntie Ella.

Oh no.

I cannot let you do that.

They already got another child living with them.

Dad, but what do you want from me?

I want you to not drop out of college after two months.

Look, I've already made my mind up, Dad.

Oh, you made your mind up.

Then you need to make up your mind

to pay me some rent by the 5th.

And some cable by the 15th.

And I'm gonna need the water bill by the 21st.

Oh, by the way, that can, that's a buck fifty.

Love you.

I'm just gonna be the bigger woman.

I'm going to call her, and I'm going

to congratulate her again.

Come on with all that, baby, come on.

I'm gonna do whatever it takes, baby, to help her out.

- Ella. - What?

I know what you want, baby.

Just let me go down there and let me just

take the air out of her tires.

How about that? - No.

- What kind of car she drive? - Range.

No.

Curtis, don't do that.

[doorbell rings]

I'll get it.

Oh, you'll get the door?

I'll get the door.

ELLA: Thank you, baby.

'Cause I got a job to do!

Get the door.

Amber.

Mrs. Payne.

Curtis, this is Amber.

Amber, this is my husband, Curtis.

Come on in.

Oh, OK.

Yes, Amber.

This is Amber, and Amber, this is my husband.

Yeah, I heard you when you said it.

ELLA: That's--

Hello.

Nice to meet you, I guess.

Curtis?

Yeah.

OK baby, can you just give us a minute?

Yeah, I got your back.

Got your back.

Curtis.

Baby, I'm just gonna go and on and step on out here.

OK, baby.

Look at that!

Is this you parked out front?

Yes, that's my Range Rover.

Wow.

Wow, what big tires you have.

Um, listen, I didn't know Darlene was

gonna make that announcement.

It's OK.

It's official.

It happened.

It's done.

You, congratulations.

Well, I'm not the one you should be congratulating.

OK, what?

I know who the new help center director is gonna be.

We all heard.

We all know.

It's you.

No, that was the unofficial word from Darlene,

but in spite of my vast work experience and my tremendous

qualifications, they want you.

What?

Well, the board wanted someone with compassion and heart

for the community.

Wait, I-- I am going to be the new

director of the help center?

Yes, congratulations.

Oh, Amber, thank you.

Mwah, mwah.

They want me!

Yes, you deserve it.

OK, well.

Oh, well-- well, you do have to help us with the fund-raising.

Oh, consider it done.

Yes.

You know what, you do such good work here,

and I will be here to support.

Thank you.

So we can expect a big donation from you.

Yes you can expect it, but you're not gonna get it.

Hell no.

Think again.

I guess you told her.

Yeah.

You are not dropping out of school.

You are not dropping out of school.

I did not raise you to live in this house--

- We. - What?

- We did not raise him. - We.

Sorry.

We did not raise you to live in our house

without an education to end up some no count uneducated man

boy.

I'm practically failing all the classes in my major.

um, maybe you need a new major.

If engineering isn't working for you, change your major.

Don't drop out of school.

Thank you.

Janine.

Sorry.

Do you even like science and math classes?

No.

what do were you like?

Well, I love reading.

Coelho.

Exactly, yeah.

I love my English literature class.

Well, we're reading "The Invisible Man,"

"The Great Gatsby," "The House on Mango Street."

You know, I just love opening a book

and finding a new world to explore.

That's great.

Yeah, I mean, in fact, I spend so much time

reading fiction that I can't even

do my engineering homework.

Sounds like you're in the wrong major, son.

Well, look, I know I can change my major,

but engineers make way more money.

Well, a lot of people change their major

so they find the best fit.

Malik, you should study something you love.

That way, college won't be so bad.

Yeah, you know what?

I could make my major in creative writing

and get my minor in-- in literature.

Malik Payne, writer.

See?

I like the sound of that.

So what do you think you wanna write about?

Uh, maybe novels or even movies.

See?

I can see the excitement on your face already.

So you give school another chance.

You know, you change majors, see how you feel next semester.

Deal?

Deal.

Uh, can I eat now?

OK, I'm gonna read you all this really rough,

rough draft of my first novel.

"We march single file.

Eric, who led our three man expedition,

cleared a path through broken glass, rocks, and trash that

littered the side of the road.

I pulled the collar of my jacket up against the wind.

The night was unusually dark, punctuated by breaks

in the clouds that allowed cold shafts of moonlight

to briefly illuminate our path."

[applause]

[theme music]