Original subtitles

Hello, bud.

George Owens.

We met at the Pirates -Reds game last year.

Remember I was the other guy there?

Anyway, I was just calling to see if you had any openings on your sports page.

No, I'm not writing for the Bulletin anymore.

We had a little disagreement over my working conditions.

I wanted to keep working and they wanted me to stop.

Yeah, well, if something opens up, I'd appreciate you keeping me in mind.

Bye.

No luck, huh?

I thought it was such hot stuff another newspaper would grab me up just like

that. It's been almost two months and nothing.

Oh, don't worry about it, honey. Something's going to turn up.

You just relax and try to get your mind off it.

Hey, Dad, did you find a job yet?

I'm afraid not, Jim.

Well, don't worry about it, Dad, because Kevin just got a big promotion, Mr.

Clark. I'm the new assistant manager.

Congratulations, honey. You must be doing a good job.

Nah, I'm just the only one there with a decent complexion.

Anyway, now I'm going to be making an extra buck twenty -five an hour, so I'll

be able to help out a little more at home.

Ah, thanks, Bill.

I've given Heather her four o 'clock hand to the office.

She sends her regards.

What happened? I thought she just had a sore throat.

We took her to the doctor today. She's got mononucleosis.

Mono, that's the kissing disease.

Boy,

the guy she kissed is probably dead already.

So will you be if you don't wash up to dinner.

Yes, nurse.

Anyway, thank you for picking up Heather's prescription.

Yeah, how much do I owe you? Oh, that's all right, George.

Forget it. Come on, Belvedere. I can pay for my own kid's medicine.

Anyway, well, it's, um, $23.

Oh, then, uh, thanks.

Now, look, I'm gonna pay you.

It's just things are a little tight right now. I understand.

You know, honey, we would have a little more money coming in if you just went

down and... Hey, I told you already I'm not signing up for that.

The Navy?

Unemployment. I mean, I've been paying my own way since I was 16, and I don't

need any handouts from anybody.

George, it's not a handout.

You've worked hard, you've paid into the system, and you're entitled to take

something out.

I don't know. Don't worry, George.

I'll go with you.

Oh, yeah.

We'll pack a lunch, go down early, and get into line. We'll make a day of it,

just like we do in England.

Sounds like fun.

All right.

All right, I'll do it. Good.

Now you'll still be able to afford me.

Never met her before.

Who cares when you cop kicked your jacket as you came through the door? No

there. But sometimes things get turned around and no one's spared.

All hands look out below.

There's a change in the status quo.

Gonna need all the help that we can get.

According to our new arrival.

It's all right, George. You can take the glasses off now.

You're among your own kind.

You see that guy out there?

You see the look he gave me when I walked in here?

George, he was wearing a hospital gown and a cowboy hat.

I wouldn't be too concerned.

Okay, so what do we do now?

Well, I'm going to the movies, but I suggest you get into that line.

Well, what if it's the wrong one? The first one always is.

So you might as well get it over with.

Hi.

I sure hope I'm in the right line.

Well, that depends what you have in mind.

I just mean I've never done this before.

Oh, yes, I remember my first time.

Here, I mean.

We're moving now.

Anyway, if this is your first time, you're supposed to fill out one of those

forms over there. The pretty pink ones, I believe.

Thanks.

So how long have you been out of work?

About five weeks.

What? I said about five weeks.

Oh.

Why'd you wait so long to apply?

Oh, I don't know.

Pardon me?

I said I don't know.

It's nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm not ashamed.

See you next time.

Uh -huh.

Have you been on yet, George?

Uh -uh.

They're still talking about all these guys taking the Fifth Amendment.

Well, pay attention.

You may need it someday.

Hi, guys.

Hurry up, Mom.

Dad's going to be on TV.

What? Hey, I think this is it.

You hear a lot these days about public apathy and people afraid to get

But happily, that wasn't the case today, as we hear from Shaka Spielman in

suburban Pittsburgh.

I'm standing in front of the Market Street office of the State Department of

Human Resources, where at 10 .30 this morning, Mrs. Edna Wilkes had just come

through this door having picked up her unemployment check. Mrs. Wilkes, what

happened then?

Well, I guess it was around 10 .30, and I'd just come out of that door

after having just picked up my unemployment check.

Anyway...

And he pulled a knife and said, give me your money.

And that's when this nice gray -haired gentleman came running out of that door,

grabbed my assailant's knife away, and held him on the ground till the police

arrived. And that gray -haired gentleman is here with me now, unemployed, a

sports writer, George Owen. George, I guess the question is, there were dozens

of people around at the time. Why you?

It's just I was in the office there, and...

It sounded like someone needed help. It seemed like the thing to do.

How long have you been out of work?

Huh? Uh, two months.

You told me five weeks.

Any, um, any prospects?

Oh, yeah, sure. Uh, I mean, nothing concrete, but, uh... What's happening?

What's going on?

Oh. Hello.

As George Owens just proved, being unemployed doesn't mean being

Reporting from suburban Pittsburgh, Shaka Spielman.

Action news.

George, you're a hero.

Yeah, you never told us he had a knife.

Well, that's right. You could have been hurt.

Oh, it was just a little Swiss Army knife. Yes.

He came at George with a spoon.

Well, I say let's go out and celebrate. It's my treat. Bravo. All right, let's

go. Great.

Hey, let's eat in a bad neighborhood.

Any neighborhood you're in, Wesley, is a bad neighborhood.

No, I mean so Dad can beat up another mugger. Ah, let's not get greedy, champ.

Let's leave some for the other heroes.

Oh, come on. So what if we forgot

Heather?

Morning. Morning.

You still working on that thing? You were up half the night.

Oh, I'm almost done.

Hey, this isn't your paper.

Who's Harriet Wallace?

Oh, she's just a friend of mine.

I typed this for her as a favor.

And $75.

Well, we need the money.

So what's next? We start taking in laundry?

We can't. The machine's broken.

I've been doing the washing down at the creek.

What are you dressed up for? I'm going out to get a job. You already got a job.

I mean, one that pays.

Hey, listen, Bill. Now, look, George.

The household needs the money. I have the time. So just forget about your

foolish pride.

Okay. Go ahead.

Try it. find a job out there.

It ain't so easy. You forget, George, you are talking to a person of many and

varied talents.

My only problem will be in deciding which job to take.

Come on, Miss Belvedere, we're going to be late.

I'm coming.

Go ahead, have your little laugh.

No, no, I think you look very nice.

Yeah, you were right.

You got a job just like that.

Hey, Dad, guess what?

They want you to come to my school for Citizenship Day. They're going to give

you an award.

Oh, did you tell them about Daddy and the Mugger?

No, it was in a paper.

Down on his luck, sports writer, thwarts mugging.

See, it tells all about how you're on the skids and you have four hungry

to feed, but you still cared enough to help somebody else.

Why didn't they just put a headline on the front page? George Owens, loser.

Honey. I mean, my whole family's out there trying to scrape together a living

while dear old dad sits around the house waiting for a phone call that's never

going to come. George, you are not a loser. The entire community respects and

admires you. No, they don't. They feel sorry for me. That's not true.

I'm not getting that.

Mr. Owens?

Yeah? You don't know us, and I realize it isn't much, but I hope it will help.

Thanks. God bless you.

Well, looks like we've got dinner.

Look, my family and I appreciate the offer, but we're really not that hard

Besides, I don't think my neighborhood is zoned for live hogs.

What do you mean you assumed it was?

Yeah.

Goodbye.

What is that?

A canned ham. Someone left it on my windshield.

Hey, take a look at this. Wax lips.

Wes, put that back.

Oh, Mom.

Those lips are going to people who really need them.

I mean, all this stuff.

We're going to give it to the poor and homeless. People like that.

Things went rather well.

Look, Mr. Belvedere, you've got to start doing things the way you were told to,

not the way you want to.

I don't even know what you're talking about.

First of all, you don't ask people how they want their chicken. We only serve

one way, fried.

I thought my chicken masala was rather well -received. It took you 45 minutes

make it. So good food takes time. It's not supposed to be good. It's supposed

be fast. Is that why you serve it in a bucket?

Come on.

Go get cleaned up.

School at seven for your father's award.

All right.

I'm sorry, Kevin.

I'll try and behave from now on. Fine. Oh, incidentally, I have rather a daring

idea about the mashed potatoes.

Use real ones.

You're starting again.

Hey, Dad.

You almost finished with your speech for the awards tonight?

Almost, champ. Just gotta add a few finishing touches.

That's nothing but a bunch of doodle.

Like my bunny?

Yeah.

Look, Wes, what would you think if your old pop kind of pooped out and didn't go

to that thing tonight?

Why? What's the matter?

They're just giving me that award because I'm out of work and they feel

for me.

Nobody's feeling sorry for you, Dad. You're a hero.

At least you are to me.

Thanks, pal.

So you coming?

Yeah, I'm coming.

Good as new.

Great. Let's see what's your problem.

Insulation's shot.

Thanks. So what do I owe you? Ten bucks.

Ten bucks, that's it?

Yeah, well, there wasn't that much to fix.

Well, what about travel time, minimum charges, parts and labor and all that

stuff? That's all included.

Oh, I get it.

You saw me on TV, right?

Huh?

Look, pal, I don't know what you heard, but we're not the Jode family here. I

don't need your charity.

I mean, you repair guys are notorious for ripping people off, and I won't be

treated any different.

So how much? I don't know. I said how much.

$200. Fine.

I'll send you a check.

Sure.

So as soon as I saw the smoke coming out of the window, I ran down to the corner

and turned in the alarm to the fire department.

Thank you. I've done that.

Was it a fire at the time?

someone yelling from the second floor.

So I went inside, ran upstairs, and came down with Mrs. Simmons and her little

baby girl.

Anyway, I want to say thank you for this award and that being a good citizen is

its own reward and something that everyone should do every day.

Oh, in case you're wondering, I did... I didn't burn my hands getting out Mrs.

Simmons. It's when I went back for the puppies.

Good night, everyone.

Drive carefully.

Earning Masters, ladies and gentlemen. Isn't he wonderful?

Our next award goes to a man who, at the risk of his own life, thwarted an armed

robbery attempt, thereby demonstrating...

citizenship,

while at the same time getting one more gun -sucking punk off of the street.

Wait, here he is.

Pittsburgh's favorite sports columnist until he got fired, George Owens.

Congratulations, Mr. Owens.

Thank you, Vice Principal Bigelow for the wonderful introduction.

First of all, I'd... I'd like to thank everyone for this award. It means a lot

to me.

Anyway, I guess now I'm supposed to say something about good citizenship and

what it's all about.

I guess coming to the aid of another citizen like Ernie and I did would be an

example of good citizenship.

Conversely, littering or attempting to overthrow the government would be an

example of bad citizenship.

I had some other things to say, but a good citizen also knows

when he's fighting the big ones.

So unless there's some questions, I'd just like to say thanks and... I have a

question. Yes, young man.

When the guy came at you with a machete, were you scared?

It really wasn't a machete, and I really didn't think about it.

If that's it... I have a question.

Sure. Did you get my casserole?

Huh? The tuna casserole. Remember?

Noodles and peas. I left it on your doorstep.

Oh, yes. Thank you.

It was delicious.

I want the dish back.

Hey, what about the mattress and box spring I left on your lawn? You get

Yeah, we did. Thanks.

You using it?

No.

Why not?

Well, for one thing, it smells like someone's been raising goats on it. Hey,

look, I was just trying to help out a family in need. But maybe what you

need is a fat lip. Sir, I suggest you try sitting down.

Who are you? I am his butler.

You have a butler?

Yeah, so?

So how much you make on unemployment?

No, he's not really our butler. He's our housekeeper. What are you, the upstairs

maid? Hey, you guys dress pretty nice.

Hey!

Hey, hey, hey!

Hey, knock it off!

Look, everybody's been real generous to me and my family.

And I'm sorry if I sounded like I was ungrateful, because I'm not.

It's just kind of tough taking handouts from people when all your life you've

paid your own way.

I mean...

walking into that unemployment office wasn't easy for me.

And having it wind up as front page news, well, I wasn't thrilled about that

either. But there are a lot of other people, good people in the same boat.

And we've got nothing to be ashamed of.

In fact, I'm proud.

I'm proud I'm George Owens, unemployed sports writer.

And I'll tell you why.

Because I got a great family.

a family who sticks together through thick and thin.

I mean, my oldest kid in Butler, out slinging chickens. My wife takes in

My youngest kid, he brings home money, too.

We're just afraid to ask him where he's getting it.

The point is, whether I get a job today or the next day or never,

we're all going to be okay.

And you know why?

Because we're good citizens.

Bravo.

Is that for Heather? Yeah, honey.

Well, I'll take it up.

Well, she might still be contagious. You better stay away.

Wesley, have you seen your brother?

I think he's outside.

What's the matter?

Mr. Belvedere, if I tell you something, do you promise not to laugh at me?

Wesley, you are talking to a man who's wearing a chicken suit.

I think I miss Heather.

Good God, you must be coming down with something.

No, it's just, I'm used to having her around.

You know, to torment.

I am, sorry.

And I've got all these great names to call her.

She's too sick to appreciate.

Well, if it'll make you feel any better.

You can call me Pizza Face.

Owen's residence.

Just one moment.

It's you, George.

Action news.

What do they want this time?

Hello?

No, I still haven't found anything.

Huh?

Yeah, well, I guess I could do that.

Thanks. I'll see you then.

They want to give me a job.

As a sports writer?

No, as a sportscaster.

Wow!

They want me to audition next week. That's fantastic!

Yeah, great, Dad!

So what do you think, Belvedere? Can you picture me on TV?

Not on my TV.

There you are, Kevin.

Okay, Mr. Belvedere.

Good news.

Your father may have found a job.

Oh, that's terrific.

Well, we'd better get going. We don't want to be late for work.

You don't have to worry about that.

What?

We're letting you go.

You mean I'm being dismissed?

Yes.

They didn't like my new recipe for the batter?

All my three different kinds of gravies?

Or all you can eat for 99 cents?

That's the one that really sunk you.

I had such plans for Mr. Clarkson. I know, Mr. Belvedere, but... Alfresco

Dining, Nouvelle Cuisine, Silver Buckets... Forget it, Mr. Belvedere.

It's over.

You're quite right.

I'm fine now.

And the batch.

Oh, one more thing.

Although my career in the past... food lane seems to have taken a detour

george's star seems to be on the rise his audition with the action news team

appears to have gone rather well and there may be a job in the offing i've

news to george being in my living room i just hope the rest of pittsburgh can

handle it well they can always move to philadelphia