Original subtitles

Come on, Dad.

You promised that when I was 14, I could carve the Thanksgiving turkey. Yes, I

did. All right. First, you start with this.

And then, we'll see.

Dad, that's not a turkey. It's a chicken.

Right. You passed the first part of the test. You know a chicken from a turkey.

Dad, I don't need this.

I watched you and Mr. Norton at the butcher shop. Just let me carve the

Son. You gotta understand, this is tonight's dinner. You start with this,

practice, you'll know everything about cutting the turkey.

Now, get your utensils. All right?

All right.

That's the way Mr. Norton at the butcher shop does it. Mr. Norton is a show

-off. Now, go ahead and get the utensils out of here, son.

You've got to understand.

Look at this. Will you look at this? You see the diagram here?

Look at the picture of the chef.

The man is happy.

And he's smiling as he's slicing.

He's not like this.

So, now, go ahead and start.

Slice. No, no, no.

You don't.

Look at this chef's face again.

Is he like this?

He's like this.

Yes, dear.

Honey, what are you doing?

I'm carving.

Oh, I get it. You're going to pass the honor of carving the turkey owed to your

son this year. That's nice.

Dear, I'm not sure yet about the passing of anything.

What time is Sandra's bus supposed to get in here? Isn't she late? Well, she

should be here by now.

Oh, son, please be careful. Don't hurt yourself.

Thanks, your mom.

You're excited because your daughter's coming home, aren't you? No, I am not

excited. I am not excited. Our firstborn is coming home from college, and you

are excited.

I am not excited, I'm telling you, so just stop it.

Firstborn, the inquisitive one.

Yes, indeed. I remember she was about four years old. She said, Daddy, where

the ducks go when the pond freezes over?

Right then and there, I knew she was smarter than I.

Yeah, she used to ask a lot of questions. And now she can answer them.

Four A's and a B.

Hey, hey, hey. All right. And half of her belongs to you. Oh, thank you so

Just the feet. Oh, don't try it.

Listen, isn't she late?

Honey, please calm down. Now, she'll be here any minute. I've got to go check on

Theo.

Who is it?

Sandra.

Sandra who?

Sandra, your daughter.

remember. The one that goes to Princeton?

Yeah, that's the one. The one with four A's and a B last year?

Yes. What do you want?

Daddy, come on. It's getting cold out here.

The one that calls long distance?

Yes, Daddy.

And asks for money?

Yes. And the one who brought... Step aside a second, please.

What is this you brought here? I missed you, Daddy. Of course you did. Somebody

has to bring in your dirty laundry.

Gosh,

let me look at you.

Oh, you haven't changed?

Oh, Mom, I was home two months ago.

Oh, really? I thought it was longer than that.

Do you like it? Oh, I love it. Will you do it tonight?

Sure.

Nice jacket.

Thanks. You can't borrow it.

I'll lend you my suede boots. Those are my suede boots.

We'll lend them back to you if you lend me that jacket.

Sis! Hey, Theo!

Why do you smell like chicken?

I'm a trainer.

Dad just may let me carve this year's turkey.

Hey, all right. You're moving up.

You know, it really, really... moves me to see this entire family here.

Because we can each take a bag.

Rudy,

you can take more than that.

There you go.

What's it say?

Princeton. Can I sleep in it? Sure.

And for you?

The Reinhardt study guide.

organize your thoughts. It really helped me.

Great, thanks.

I've always wanted to get my thoughts organized.

Sandra. Yeah, Vanessa?

Can I visit you at Princeton?

Sure. You can wear my t -shirt.

Don't you two have something to do?

No. Come on, I really want to talk to Sandra alone, okay?

Okay, boys.

What about one day you'll understand, one day I'll understand.

about this year's crop. They're terrific, but the really exciting news

some friends and I have decided to go to Paris this summer.

Paris? We can have this great apartment real cheap.

Oh, Paris is so romantic.

There is a lot more to Paris than romance.

Like what?

I want to spend some time there and experience the culture like some of the

great writers did.

Richard Wright and James Baldwin.

Have you talked to Mom and Dad yet?

No, that's why I thought I'd come to you. See, I've been away, and you're

in touch with the family climate.

Who do I go to first?

Don't even think about going to Dad.

Concentrate on Mom.

See, if you get her on your side, then you can double -team Dad, and then you

might have a fighting chance.

The family climate hasn't changed.

Well, what approach do I use with Mom?

Ask her about her work. See, nobody asks Mom about her work.

Then, when you got her feeling real good, you could slip in, Paris.

Oh, great idea.

Good luck.

Because if you get a go, that means I'm going next.

Hi. Hi, honey. You want some hot chocolate? Oh, no, thank you.

How's work?

Fantastic.

Really? Oh, yes. I won my last three cases.

There's even some talk that I might become a partner next month.

That's great.

So, what do you want to ask?

Oh, I love Paris. I've always wanted to go. You have?

Uh -huh. And so do you.

Well,

just for the summer. The friends and I thought we'd rent this apartment in the

city. Hey, hey, wait a minute. Friends?

Yeah, Michelle Stewart and Lisa Barnes.

You've met them.

Okay, so what about this apartment?

Well, it's Michelle's cousin's apartment. She's a ballet dancer.

Paris in the summertime with girlfriends in a dancer's apartment?

Sounds sensational to me.

Did you know you let me go? Honey, I'd love for you to... Oh, but wait a

Wait a minute before you get too hot and excited. Hold on.

There is one person who stands between you and Paris.

Now, if you want the golden fleece, you've got to go past the Cyclops. He's

cute Cyclops, but a tough one.

Well, what do you think he'll do?

Well, let's see.

First, he's going to say, aha.

And then he's going to say, hmm, interesting.

Then he's going to throw every excuse in the book at you, but you've got to hang

in there and wear him down.

When is the best time to get in? We strike tomorrow morning.

All right. Now,

one more chance. Here is your turkey carving practice cabbage.

Dad, that's the cabbage.

Right.

Oh, I watched you last night and what you did to that chicken.

You see, a long time ago, before you were born, I prayed that God would give

a son to carry on the family name.

And you were born.

And I've watched you do things.

And many times, I've wanted to ask you not to tell anyone who you are.

And last night was one of those times.

Son, what you did with that chicken, you might as well have taken three cherry

bombs, put them inside of the bird, let it go off, bloom, and we all take

whatever piece of it.

You're supposed to respect the food, you understand?

Slice it in an appetizing manner. Now, let me explain to you.

You should slice the turkey properly.

You take the blade gently in your hand and you

slice ever so gently following the brain going along the

contour of the brain.

Dad? Yes? Why are you talking like that?

This makes me feel more secure when I'm in the kitchen.

Now, try it, my boy.

think she'd like to ask you. You brought her in to tell me she has something to

ask me? Daddy, can I... How's work?

Oh, no, no, no, no. The two of you standing there together looking like the

United Front.

Go ahead.

Ask him.

Daddy, what do you think about me spending the summer in Paris?

I think it's a great idea. Now, I'd like to know what you think.

Hmm, interesting.

Well, she would go with a couple of her girlfriends.

Lisa and Michelle.

Where are you going to live?

Oh, Michelle's cousin is letting us have the apartment for the entire summer.

What does that mean?

I don't know. It's the new one.

Have you seen the apartment?

cousins a ballet dancer.

Paris. The people expect you to speak French.

Well, I'm taking French next semester.

I don't think that's good enough, you see, because when an American speaks

French to a French person, they look at you like they don't understand what

you're talking about.

They look at you like this. French people made up this face.

Daddy. I've made plans.

We always travel someplace in the summer. And this summer, we're going to

Grand Canyon.

I mean, it's a part of the Huxtable tradition, and I don't think that you

wouldn't want to break that tradition, would you?

Well, can I call a family forum?

You're kidding.

You can't do that. Only a parent can call a family forum.

Well, okay, in that case, I'm calling it. Denise!

want to come on dad family forum

please

come down here we're having a family forum what's a family forum it's

dad invented to settle family disputes you have to be honest and everybody gets

a vote i get to vote too yep you too

with me or you cut a chicken for the rest of your life.

Not fair.

Okay. Now, here's the problem.

Sondra has an incredible opportunity to spend a glorious summer in one of the

world's most famous cities and your father says no.

That is leading the voters. I object.

Overruled. Now, Denise.

What do you think of Sandra's going to Paris?

I think it's a wonderful educational opportunity, and I hope to one day

in her footsteps.

You call this honest?

Denise, be honest.

Okay, it's not a wonderful educational opportunity. I still hope to follow in

her footsteps.

She should go.

Vanessa?

Does this mean we won't go to the Grand Canyon?

We're still going to the Grand Canyon.

Vanessa,

what is your vote?

I think it would be neat for her to go. Me too.

Will you bring me back a Paris shirt?

Of course I will.

That's bribery.

Theo?

What was that, Cliff?

Okay, Theo?

Phil, Dad won't let me carve the turkey.

Phil, you have to be honest.

I think she should go.

Sandra,

you know how I feel.

Claire? I want to call a family caucus.

You can't do that.

Oh, yes. No, you can't, because there's no such thing as a family caucus.

Ah, but you don't know the bylaws, and the bylaws state that a caucus can be

called... And we are going to have a one -on -one conversation because we are

the two disputees. Let's go.

Dad, I have never heard about a family caucus.

Well, that's because I made it up. I just want to ask you a question. Why

It's a fabulous city.

Why not St. Louis?

Dad, I want to experience a different culture.

Why not Japan?

You'd let me go to Japan?

I'll make the reservations.

Dad, what is wrong with Paris?

No 20 -year -old single woman should be in Paris. Paris is

love in bloom.

The national drink is wine.

They drink wine with the yogurt.

That's what Paris is.

Old men in a beret singing about Mimi.

and old men in berets and wine.

It has wonderful museums and bookstores and art galleries. It has a great sense

of history.

Are you going to Paris to study history?

No. You're going to Paris for one thing.

To party!

I'm not going just to party. So, you are going to party!

Are you saying that you don't trust me?

Not exactly. It's just that, uh... I remember when I was 20 years old, I

to go to Rio.

Why Rio? Rio because I saw this movie called Black Orpheus.

And it had this woman in it.

And Carnival.

And I watched that movie and I said, I'm going to go to Rio and I'm going to

find that woman. And I didn't care about culture.

I wanted to find that woman.

And I wanted to party.

Well, did you get to go?

No, but I saw that movie about a hundred times.

Well, see, don't you wish you had?

See, I have the chance if you'll just trust me.

Why not Budapest?

No, Dad.

Paris.

Omaha?

Harris. You'll make me look good in front of your mom?

Uh -huh. Until I gave up a good fight.

Yes.

Well, have fun.

Thank you, Daddy.

I love you.

I wish

I was 20 again.

Would you go to Rio?

Your mother wouldn't let me.

until everyone's been seated.

very special occasion. We will now take one minute to say why we are thankful.

Denise.

Well, I'm thankful for this house, and I'm also thankful that Daddy's been a

nicer to my boyfriends lately.

Thank you.

Vanessa. Well, I have a lot of things to be thankful for, but mostly I'm

thankful for not having to play the clarinet anymore.

He wants to say something.

I'm thankful for my bad Bobo and my friend Mary for giving me bad Bobo and

mother for letting me sleep over Mary.

Well, I'm thankful that I get to go away this summer, and I'm always thankful

that I can come home.

Dad! And now, the lovely Claire Huxtable.

Well, I'm thankful that you call me the lovely Claire Huxtable.

Wait, wait, wait, my turn, my turn.

First, I'm thankful that we're almost finished being thankful.

Second, I'm thankful that Dad's letting me carve.

But the six most important happen to be Rudy,

Vanessa, Denise.

to look upon the face of my son as he carves the turkey. I turn over to him

Old Hickory.

The Cosby Show is videotaped in front of a live studio audience.