Original subtitles

Maybe the world is blind or just a little unkind.

Don't know.

Seems you can't be sure of anything anymore.

Although.

Occupant, occupant, occupant.

Here's the strange one. It actually has my name on it.

Hi, Henry.

Hello, sweetheart.

How did you find school today?

Same as always.

Two blocks down Michigan and left of the light.

Very funny.

I was referring to your history exam.

It's history, Henry. It's old. You know, the same usual questions like, who is

Benedict Arnold?

And what was your usual answer?

He was the guy who invented Eggs Benedict.

I'm on a roll. An egg roll.

Oh, times like these, I hate being the building manager.

Uh -oh. Whose rent do you have to raise this time?

Betty's. Her lease is up, and the owner wants a 60 % rent increase.

60 %?

How am I ever going to tell her?

Hi, neighbors.

I happen to be in the laundry room, so I thought I'd fold yours, too, and bring

it up.

Why, Betty, dear.

This is wonderful of you. You didn't have to do that.

Henry, it was only a fluff and fold.

I didn't kickstart your heart.

No, really, thank you. Both of you.

Well, all I did was fold punky socks.

Which was easy because they don't have to match.

Nevertheless, I am very grateful. Very, very, very, very grateful.

Has he been hidden in the cooking chair?

Henry has something to tell you guys.

I got this letter today from the owner of the building.

This is rather difficult.

Henry, I already know. You do?

Sure. My lease is up and I'll have to sign a new one.

Let's have it.

You may not want to sign it. They're raising your rent.

I figured that.

I guess I can squeeze out another 10%. Betty, it's more than 10%.

20 %?

But 30 %?

I feel, oh, my Lord, coming on.

Betty, it's 60%. Oh, my Lord.

I'm sorry, Betty.

I can't afford a 60 % increase.

Cherry and I will have to find somewhere else to live.

No, you can't move.

Henry, can't you just call Mr. Barconi and tell him that Mrs. Johnson and

can't pay that much?

Mr. Barconi doesn't own the building anymore.

He sold it to the CIA.

CIA?

Conglomerate Investors Assets.

The phone is answered by a machine, and the address is a post office box.

What am I going to do?

Let me do some investigating.

Maybe there's a human being behind that post office box.

Thanks, Henry.

You're a decent, caring, sensitive person.

I try to be.

Come on, Cherry.

Let's change the lock on our door in case Henry tries to evict us.

Grandma, are you sure there's no way we could squeeze some extra money out of

our budget?

We could sublet our apartment to another family, but you and I would have to

live in the bathroom.

I don't mind that. I could brush my teeth in bed.

$47 here. I was saving for a satellite dish.

But you're welcome to have it.

What the heck? I don't need cable.

Thanks, honey, but keep your money.

I need a lot more than $47.

Hello, people.

Margo's here.

Hold the applause.

Why so glum?

Sharon or Grandma might have to move out of the building.

Well, don't you want to live someplace better?

I'm afraid if we have to move, it'll be someplace worse.

Worse than this?

Is that possible?

Well, it took all afternoon, but I finally found out who this building

belongs to.

Good. Who are the blood -sucking thieves?

I'll tell you later.

Tell me now.

All right. If you insist.

Conglomerate Investors Associates and this building are owned by Benjamin J.

Kramer.

Margot's father?

Small world, isn't it?

It sure is.

I had no idea Daddy was the slumlord.

Margot, you have to talk to your father about this.

Now, wait a minute. I can't interfere in Daddy's business.

But you have to do something.

All right.

I'll go shopping.

I'll speak to my father about this.

But if you ask me, this whole... This situation is your own fault.

Our fault?

Yeah. If you were smart, you would have been born wealthy.

Hello,

Daddy.

Sweetheart, what a nice surprise.

Ah, Princess, I didn't know you had a new driver.

Mr. Warnemont. Who wants to talk to you? He's Punky's father.

Punky?

You know, mismatched shoes, ridiculous clothes, less fortunate than us.

Everyone's less fortunate than us, dear.

Hi there. Hello.

Have you checked the market today, Daddy?

Ding -dong, bell and alarm is up three and a quarter.

Well, I'm very proud of you. You know, she doubled her play money on a long

shot. Oh, play money, that's cute.

What do you give her, Monopoly money?

Play with it.

Yes, sir. Under these blonde curls is the brain of a robber baron.

Daddy, stop.

I'm already impossible to live with.

I have to dash. I have shopping before I meet Mommy.

Need some cash, dear?

Tempting, Daddy.

But plastic's so much cleaner.

Mr. Warnemont. Bye.

I love that little girl.

Unfortunately, I only get about an hour a month with her, but it's quality time.

Nice collection of antique cash registers.

Oh, thanks.

I love the sound they make.

Now then, what can I do for you?

Mr. Kramer, I manage your building at 2520 Pierce Street. One of the tenants,

Mrs. Johnson, is scheduled for a 60 % rent increase.

Unfortunately, there's just no way she can pay that much.

Really? Well, why don't I check that?

Let's see. Betty Johnson, apartment 3C.

Employment nurse.

Well, at her salary, my computer says she can't afford a 60 % increase plus

new dresses a year and two meals every day.

And at her weight, that's more than enough food.

It's been a pleasure.

Mr. Kramer.

Isn't it possible for you to...

I cut down this increase so it's a little less... Gouging?

I'm sorry, I'd really like to help you out. I really would, but my board would

just never approve.

Mr. Kramer, you don't understand.

No, you don't understand.

My computer tells me that my rents were 60 % below the market. Now, you're the

manager. Go manage. And if she can't pay the increase, get rid of her.

I most certainly will not.

Well, if you'd like to continue living in your apartment at a reduced rent, you

certainly will.

If you throw Betty Johnson out, you can throw me out as well.

Well, that's the first sensible thing you've said.

Warnemont, you're out.

love company.

I thought we were going to be thrown out on the streets all by ourselves.

But you're going to be thrown out with us.

Yeah. I feel a lot better.

Great. Glad to be of service.

Now keep looking for apartments to rent.

Oh! Here's a house to rent. Only $100 a month.

Wow. What does it say?

Okay. Four bedrooms, three baths.

That's great.

Put on a roof and move right in.

I'll get it.

Hi.

May I come in? Why not? It's your building.

No, it isn't. It's Daddy's.

Cherry, I tried to get him to change his mind about raising your rent.

But all I got from him was...

Friendship and money don't mix.

That sounds like something he'd say.

No, he didn't say it.

He has it printed on his business card.

Well, I just wanted you to know that I'm on your side.

And I'll do anything I can to help.

Hold it, Margo.

You'll do anything to help us?

Certainly.

Anything?

Uh -oh.

Well, what did you have in mind? I think you'd better sit down for this.

Remember that movie we saw in social studies?

The one where those college students were protesting a nuclear power plant?

Yeah, they chained themselves to a fence.

What if we do that in your father's office?

He doesn't have a fence in his office.

Well, we'll find something else to chain ourselves to.

How does that keep us from losing our apartment?

Marco's dad won't like the publicity.

It'll be in newspapers and maybe even on TV.

He'll be on TV?

Your dad will be so embarrassed, he won't want to raise rent.

I don't know.

I don't know either.

I don't want to embarrass my own father.

But on the other hand, television exposure is important.

Brandon, this is a job for you.

What did he say?

He said, hey, baby, what's your sign?

She's a Virgo.

He's a Taurus.

That makes them very compatible.

to. How about that cute little table lamp?

Cherry, they'll just unscrew the bulb and take us right off to jail.

Hey, dude, I'm like new at this protesting stuff, okay?

Gotta be something big and heavy. Something that's impossible to move.

prepared.

I'm not fair to you.

What possessed you to pull such a stupid stunt?

Henry, you always told me if I had a problem, I should use punky power.

Well, you shorted out this time.

That's why for the next month, you and your punky power will be grounded.

But we couldn't let Mr. Kramer kick us out of our home.

Sweetheart, are you all right?

And what have these lunatics done to you?

Now, stay here, Kramer. No, you stay here. I was just at a... fancy party

lots of wonderfully rich people, and now I'm standing in a swamp that used to be

my office.

The only reason I'm not having you all arrested is because my little daughter's

involved.

Daddy, I wanted to be here.

I'm on their side.

No, you're delirious, my little dove.

You don't know what you're saying. Your hair's wet.

I do know what I'm saying.

These are good friends, and they're more important than business.

Well, your mommy and I have friends, but they have the good taste not to need

us.

Well, these friends do need me, and I want to help them.

I see.

So you, uh, actually like these people?

Yes.

Well, I've never denied you anything.

If this, uh, friendship thing's that important to you.

Then they can stay in their little apartment?

Of course.

What does he want?

you're going to charge us.

Well, I suppose it wouldn't have to be a 60 % increase.

Maybe 30%. Or 20%. All right, 10%. Hold it, I'm negotiating

with a dog.

Would you forget the increase if I made a sacrifice for my friend?

A big sacrifice.

Like what?

Like, for one full year, I'll do my own...

You will?

Actually, that'll save you a lot more than gouging these poor people.

Yeah, but it won't be as much fun.

All right, no rent increase.

Thank you, Mr.

Kramer. Thank you, thank you.

Thank you so much.