Original subtitles

Why do some people fear change and others welcome it?

When you think about it, life is change.

How else could a caterpillar change into a beautiful butterfly?

Hey, Mo, you've been working so hard, I thought you may be thirsty.

Aww.

Even an annoying little brother can evolve into a thoughtful sibling.

Psych.

Sometimes the more things change, the more they remain the same.

Alicia. Good morning, family.

Good morning.

You seem to be in a good mood. I certainly am, pumpkin.

This Saturday is going to be my first day off in months. So I thought we might

do a family day.

What did you have in mind, honey? Well, I thought we might go to the strawberry

festival.

Daddy, I'd love to, but they give me headaches.

Strawberries? No, festivals.

That's a half midterm.

I was going to get some recycling done.

You finished with that?

Don't forget, I have soccer practice.

Yeah, that's it.

Well, what about you, Dorian?

I won't be able to make it, Uncle Frank. Why?

Because I don't want to.

Well, since everybody's gonna be busy on Saturday, I guess I'll be forced to

play golf all day Saturday.

Oh, you think you're slick, don't you?

Yeah, I do.

Hey, y 'all.

Hey. Have you guys heard that Dan is gonna close?

Oh, where'd you hear a ridiculous story like that from?

Me, see? Mm -hmm.

Yes, I heard it from my auntie's boyfriend's play cousin, Chico.

Oh, well, that's all the proof I need.

No, no, don't sleep, Mr. Mitchell.

Okay, because Chico predicted Hurricane Dennis.

Jesse bringing the boys back from Kosovo, and the return of Mr. Whipple.

Ooh, and plus it's those incense right across the street from the den.

Well, Chico said that the den looked like a ghost town.

Well, I wish my auntie's boyfriend had a play cousin I could go to for reliable

information.

Well, I know how to clear this up. Go straight to the source.

Oh, well, Chico doesn't have a phone.

I meant Andale.

Oh. You know what?

And Del would never close the deal.

Yeah, like she got something better to do.

Well, except for her engagement to your uncle, and we don't need Chico to tell

us how that's going to turn out.

That's my uncle you're talking about?

See, and Del is the problem.

Well, and Del's not answering, so I left a message.

She'll call back later.

Hey, maybe we should stop by there this afternoon.

Man, it's going to be this afternoon before we don't get going. Yeah, we're

right behind you. All right. Come on, Mal.

Have a good one, babe.

Okay.

Thank you, honey.

Nice try, Dorian.

I was this close.

Dang.

The dance fell off.

It is like a ghost town in here.

I feel like the Lone Ranger.

Oh, come on, you guys. It's not that bad. School's not out yet.

Hey, look. Here's our regular table.

Quick, let's grab it before someone else does.

Hey, wait a minute. That table's for loyal customers only.

Oh, come on, Angel. You know customers don't come any more loyal than us. Well,

maybe that's why I'm not making any money.

Then bring us three smoothies.

Uh, make that two smoothies and a glass of water.

Oh, come on, niece.

You can get a smoothie, put it on my tab.

I know you haven't been here for a while, but we have a cash -only policy

But I've always had a tab.

Exactly. Where do you think the policy came from?

Come on, Aunt Ditto, give me a break.

Let me give you a lesson in economics.

If you don't pay me, I can't pay Mr.

Electricity or Mr. Mortgage, and then I'll be out in Mr. Coal.

Then be my friend, Mr. Hamilton.

Oh, now I'm... Miss Happy.

That is so sad.

The what?

The way she's trying to hide her pain.

I think he's about to lose this place. Come on, Mo. Why did you pick that up

from her sweating me about my dad?

She's been doing that for years.

No, Chico was right.

Nobody's here. She can't pay her bills. Did you see her hair?

She can't even afford to go to the beauty shop anymore.

Like she ever went before.

Sorry, you guys. I'm all out of yogurt.

My supplier hasn't shown up. Can I get you something else?

Uh, no thanks, Sandell. We need to get to the library, but we'll see you later.

Yeah. Oh, well, let me give you your money back. No, no. You keep it. Yeah,

help with Mr. Parham.

Uh -oh.

Come on, Sharnetta.

Look, Pamela doesn't mean nothing to me.

Trisha neither.

See? My problem is, I'm a gentleman.

You know what I'm saying, baby?

Excuse me.

My bad.

Boy, you crazy?

Honey, I'm sorry the boy hit your lady.

Yeah, you better be, clown.

Clown?

Come on, Hunter. He said he's sorry. Let's just go.

You're a little freshman, pup.

Yo, homeboy, I'm a sophomore.

Don't you tell me what you are. Hey, yo, yo, yo, nice. Chill, dog.

Hey, yo, homeboy, he's delirious.

Oh, now you're going to tell me what he is. Come on with it. Hey, yo, come on, y

'all. What's the point in fighting?

Y 'all know who the winner's going to be.

Excuse

me.

Excuse me.

Guys, cut it out. Cut it out.

Dorian? Look, I'm deep. Oh, save it.

You, you.

Something that we can do.

And Dale is losing the den while we're sitting here at the pendulum.

Well, what do you suggest?

Well, for one, I think that we should start hanging out at the den again.

Okay, you know, I'll hang out there, but, uh, I'm eating here.

Yeah, man, I'm not hanging out with a bunch of high school kids. I'll look

silly. Aw, that's okay, boo.

We're used to that look.

Come on, y 'all. We need to raise some money and help in there.

How? A bake sale? Oh, come on, Niecy. Now you know this is gonna take at least

car wash.

Look, the bottom line... Yes, and Adele has done a lot for each of us. And we

can't sit idly by and watch the den.

Our den become another wig shop or nail salon.

Well, if it's a wig shop, maybe Adele has something to put on her head.

Oh, come on, Mo. I mean, we agree with you.

But what can we do?

I'm sharing Disney World.

That's the kid.

What you got in my way?

Who was that, son?

I don't know, but he says if we act now, we can get a free indoor hibachi.

Watch this.

Hello, this is Frank Mitchell.

No, I'm not in the market for a vacation property, but can I interest you in a

new car?

Hello.

Works every time.

Dad, can I go over to Sammy's house? Can I see some homework?

Works every time.

Hey, Miles.

Daddy, I need a favor.

How much do you need, and when can I get it back?

Oh, about $10 ,000, and when do you need it back?

What's going on, baby?

Daddy, it's just that I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a plan

to help Andell. I didn't realize Andell needed help.

Daddy, she's about to lose the den because she's not making any money. Wait

minute. And Dale told you that? She didn't have to. The place was

empty, and she looked like she was about to close down. Mo, I think you're

jumping to conclusions.

No, Daddy, hear me out.

You can rally the Leimert Park business owners behind and Dale and save the den.

Hold on, Mo. Look, I made a few calls, and as I understand it, a Mrs. Biggs is

buying the den and half the business is on that block.

Mrs. Biggs? Yeah, you know, Biggs Funeral Homes. They got that catchy

If you're falling and can't get up... It's okay.

Anyway, don't worry about it, Adele, baby. She's going to be just fine.

Okay, Daddy.

friends ever hang out at the den?

Please. The den is played out.

What are you talking about? I used to hang out at the den all the time. Yeah,

like I said, the den is played out.

You know what? Why am I wasting my time talking to you? I'm gonna go talk to

Miles. He can actually leave the house before next month.

Hey, baby.

Uncle Frank, could you wash the chips? You're getting crumbs all on my floor.

back him, Judy, if he hadn't been fighting in school.

But I wasn't fighting.

I was breaking up a fight.

Back in the day, I would have got a merit badge for something like that.

Yeah, well, that's not the way your aunt saw it.

Yeah, that's because she doesn't listen to me. No, no, no. Dorian, don't try to

make this about Dee. This is about right and wrong, and you were wrong.

Hey, honey. Hey, baby.

Hey, Dorian. Hi, Aunt Dee.

I'm gonna finish all my chores.

Now I'm going to go do my homework if that's okay. That's fine, Dorian.

Well, well.

Score one for tough love, huh?

Well, I've been tough enough.

I'm taking him off punishment.

Why? Well, I talked to some students today, and it seems that Dorian actually

was trying to stop the fight.

Oh, so Dorian is anything, huh?

Yeah. Go figure.

Well, what are you going to do about it, Dee?

Honey, I said I'm taking him off punishment. I mean, what else do you

do? Well, you could apologize.

What do I have to apologize for?

He told the truth, but he was still involved in a fight, and that violates

school policy.

All right, so we covered school.

Now, what about home?

Hey, D -Money, what are you doing?

Homework. No, for real.

Doing my homework, man.

Dang, what did D give you?

Life?

You'd be better off if they just pulled the switch, huh?

That's all right, Mal.

Joke now.

I won't be on punishment forever.

You don't know that?

Dorian, I'm... Look, I .D., I was studying the whole time. Mal spoke to me

first. Sorry. I thought it was visiting hours.

Miles, could you give us a few minutes, please?

Sure.

Dorian, there's nothing but time.

Dorian, I'm taking you off punishment.

Did the governor call?

No.

And I want to apologize, too.

You do?

I was wrong.

I let my personal feelings get in the way, and that's why I didn't listen to

you. What kind of personal feelings?

Well, frustration, mostly.

I mean, Dorian, from the moment you got here, you have caused nothing but

trouble. And I know that there's just so much more to you than trouble.

So you admit that you've been extra hard on me?

Yes. To the point of being unfair?

Yes. So I'm off detention?

No.

No, no, no. Look, look, look, look. We got this funeral thing sewn up, but the

name of the game is diversification, yes?

That's where the daycare centers come in.

Okay, okay. How's this for our new model?

We cover you from the cradle to the grave.

Stop breathing.

Yeah, you like that?

So do I.

Uh -huh.

Oh, absolutely.

Say habla espanol, baby.

Yeah, all right. I'll talk to y 'all later. All right.

Oh, I didn't order any flowers.

Uh, hi, Mrs. Biggs. My name is Moesha Mitchell, and the flowers are from me.

we talk a minute? Is this about that class action suit?

in the den.

What do you mean, a place in Leimert Park?

That's an offer on the table. How are you involved?

Well, see, I'm trying to save it.

The den is an institution in Leimert Park, practically a national landmark.

Plus, it was a positive place for us to hang out. You can hang out in my place,

too. Of course, now, I wouldn't advise falling asleep in there, if you know

I mean.

You're turning the den into a funeral home?

Oh,

It's going to be called Big's Big and Tall Caskets.

You know, our plus -size brothers and sisters need a classy funeral, too.

But you can put a Big and Tall Caskets anywhere.

There's only one den, one place where the youth of the community can get a

of culture, identity, and a well -seasoned veggie burger.

She sells veggie burgers?

I love veggie burgers. And we love Andale.

And we love the den. And if you take that away from us, what will we have?

If you've got the courage to come into my office, get into my face about this

whole den business, it must mean a lot to you.

It really does.

And I'm fighting this one on behalf of my little brother and all the other kids

who need a place like the den.

You've given me something to think about.

I'll take it under consideration.

Thank you.

Moesha.

Thanks for your time, Mrs. Biggs. You're welcome.

Hey, where you going with the flowers?

Oh, I took these from the casket in the showroom.

the den is closing.

Dustin, what you doing up here?

Yep, these walls get tucked. Yeah, they say paint them.

I'm just kidding.

Hey, say, remember that time you almost got married to that loser?

Yeah, that was funny.

Oh, remember that time that sleazy girl you would date showed up with her

boyfriend?

Yeah, that was hilarious.

Hey, say, you remember that time you wore those Davy Dukes? And everybody

clowning your skinny legs. They thought that was your elbows.

No, I don't remember that.

Good evening. How's everybody doing?

For those of you who don't know, my name is Chick N.

I see a whole lot of fine chicks in here.

Oh, uh, that didn't excite you chicks?

I guess I was a little bit foul.

and Dale has sold the place to a big -time undertaker.

So the dance is going to go from a fry basket to a fly casket.

From a smoothie to no movie.

I know y 'all get that.

I know y 'all get that.

How about you just get off?

Let's hear it for Tiki.

Oh, come on, you guys. This is the last time you'll ever see him perform on this

stage.

It's so hard to say goodbye. I feel like each one of you is part of my family,

and the den is our home.

Excuse me. Excuse me. I did it. I did it. I talked to Mrs. Big, and she agreed

to take her offer off the table. What?

Yes.

And, Dale, I've kept you from losing the den. Aren't you happy? Do I look happy?

No.

What's wrong with you and Dale? You just said we were like your family. You are.

They owe me money, too.

The food was better.

Andell, I didn't know. Why didn't you tell us? Because I didn't have to.

But, Andell, we are your friends. You know how much the den means to us.

You, you, you. That's all you think about.

And I haven't seen you, you, or you in here in the past three months.

Oh, that's because we've been hanging out.

Look, for the last ten years, the den has been my life. And it's been a good

life. But now I want more.

Who knows? I might start another business. Get mad. Have some kids. Well,

Bernie, you better have a plan B.

And Al?

I'm sorry.

Not as sorry as you gonna be if I don't get my money back.

Miss Big's gonna have another customer.

After much begging and pleading, Mrs. Big's agreed

to put her offer back on the table and...

And Del agreed to spare my life.

Well, that's the last of it.

I can't believe that this is the last time we're going to step foot in the

I can't believe Andel let me get away without paying my tax.

I know we haven't been hanging out here, but it was always nice to know it was

here.

Well,

this place has a lot of good memories that will always be with us.

Hey, remember that time when... Uh -uh, see...

We've already taken that stroll down memory lane, and my little skinny legs

tired.

Hurry up. How long does it take to carry out those boxes? You running up my

electric bill?

Oh, you all right?

Yeah.

Bye then.