Original subtitles

So, what do you guys know for Valentine's Day?

Well, I'm spending it with three friends. Yeah, me, myself, and I.

Aw, same old crowd, huh?

What about you, Mo? There's a sweetheart concert at the park. Wanna go? And be

around a bunch of lovesick couples hugged up on dirty blankets listening to

whack love songs, girl?

No thanks. I'll probably just go to the movies.

Hey, hey, me too.

I'm trying to decide between the Eddie Murphy movie and the new Spike Lee

Well, they're both playing at the Dollar Theater, so... Cool, I'll

pick you up around 7.

Oh, so you two are going on a date.

Niecy, it's not a date.

Mo, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a date.

Come on, Niecy, neither one of us have plans.

We were separately considering going to the movies and we decided to go

together, that's all.

Quack.

Look, it's not a date, okay? You know how I know. How?

Because I'm not paying for it.

What's up, y 'all? What's up, boy? Hey, Yomo, I got your page. What's up?

Yes, Dorian, I have six numbers for you. Oh, six numbers. Y 'all playing a

lotto?

Oh, up here is a dollar. Get me a quick pick.

Yo, this isn't a joke, Niecy.

This is my life.

She's helping me look for my mom.

Whoa. You mean your mama?

Yeah.

You know, ever since I learned I was adopted, I've been wondering about her.

Now I want to find her.

That's some pretty big stuff.

And I'm ready to take it.

Dorian, you cool?

Look, I have a class of four, so we won't be able to call any of these women

until later, all right?

Later? Mo, I can't wait on this.

One of them could be my mother.

Look, I'm calling now.

All right. Well, look, I'll check on you right after I get out of class, okay?

All right.

One. Peace.

Uh, Moesha, are you sure about this?

I mean, some parents don't want to be found.

I mean, you of all people should know that.

Look, I know things don't work out that well when I try to bring you and your

dad back together.

But I went about that all wrong.

I tried to surprise you.

But see, Dorian asked for my help.

What was I supposed to do, just turn him down?

I mean, Mo, helping Dorian is cool, but you might be getting yourself into

something that you're not ready for.

Have you thought about the consequences?

Like what?

Okay, Mo, not only are you helping Dorian look for his mom, but you're

him find the woman that your dad had an affair with.

I mean, is Mr. Mitch okay with this? Well, he's not supposed to know. Well,

that's why you should leave it alone.

Look, Hakeem, don't discourage her, okay? I mean, Dorian wanting to meet his

is a good thing. Sure, besides, this could be juicy.

I mean, girl, what if she's rich?

Oh, y 'all, she could be Oprah.

I won that race. I beat you.

Beat me? Man, I'm so fast, I'm surprised you even saw me.

How was I supposed to see you? I don't have eyes in the back of my head.

Why don't you just face it? I'm fascinating you.

According to who?

According to my genes.

See, my daddy ran track in high school, and he set records.

Man, he probably wasn't even all that.

Man, yes, he was. Look.

Yeah, whatever.

Show you.

See where it's at.

See?

Right there.

See, state champion, boys.

What, what, what?

What? Maybe it was a man in 1975.

Well, who was he racing?

Moses? Adam?

John Cornelius?

Man, you don't know what you're talking about.

My Uncle Percy's old, but he creamed your dad.

Man, please, my dad would whoop your uncle's butt.

How's he gonna be my uncle?

Shoot, Uncle Percy was in the L .A. Marathon, boy.

Yeah, he was handing out water.

At least he was in it.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, boys. What are you guys arguing about?

Dad, Tony thinks his Uncle Percy can beat you running. I think we should take

him to the track and show him what's up.

Don't be silly, Miles.

Look, Percy and I are grown men, and we are not going to race just because you

two had an argument.

How about yourself? Oh, I'm doing all right. Uncle Percy, tell Mal you can

his dad running.

Oh, don't be silly. That's the same thing I said.

Anyone can look at us and tell I run circles around, Frank.

Oh, well, I don't know about circles.

Come on, Frank.

I'd leave you in my dust.

See, I told you.

Talk to sheep.

Look, Percy.

I mean, I understand if you're worried about losing face in front of Tony.

I'm not worried about losing anything, old man.

What did you call me?

You heard me, old man.

I'll give you a 50 -meter head start, and I will still laugh. Oh, well, I

we're just going to have to race.

No problem.

Meet me Sunday morning at the school.

No excuse.

Oh, don't worry. I'm going to be there. And you know what? I'm going to beat

you, Percy, because they didn't call me Fleetfoot Frank for nothing.

They probably did it to make you mad.

Yeah, just don't be late on Sunday. I can be late and still beat you.

That man doesn't know who he's dealing with. Yeah, that's right, Dad. Uh -huh.

Yeah, I'll get back out there and train just like I used to. Uh -huh, stretch a

little bit, run a few miles. I'll be good to go. What's your name?

Fleetfoot. What's your name? Fleetfoot.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

I think I better sit down.

Dang, Mo, where you been?

It's the most important day of my life.

Dorian, I am five minutes early.

Oh.

Well, this is a good address.

And I can't believe I'm about to meet my mother.

Thanks for helping me. You're welcome. But look, Dorian, before we go in there,

are you sure this is the right woman?

Yeah. She's the right age.

She lived in L .A. all her life.

Plus, I checked out all the other women with the same name.

One's dead.

One's too old.

One used to be a man.

All right.

It's a point.

Did you tell her who you are?

Nope. I saved that so I could tell her in person.

I told her I was calling from Publisher's Clearinghouse and that she

grand prize.

And that would be you?

Just kidding.

Can I help you?

Yes. Hi. We're looking for Barbara Dolores Lee.

That's me.

That's you? Yes.

the publisher's clearinghouse.

Look, we're here looking for his mom.

Unbelievable.

I don't even have the money and black relatives are already coming out of the

woodwork.

Oh, let's get out of here. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your

I'd invite you in, but the sweepstakes people should be here any minute.

I'm sorry, ma 'am, but you didn't win any contest. That was my brother who

called.

I'm never going to find my mom. No, Dorian, these things take time.

This whole thing was just dumb.

I'm sorry I wasted your time, Mom. Dorian, look, some people search for

This is a long process.

But if we keep trying, I promise we'll find her.

Mitch, how was that full workout?

Ask me when I stop hurting.

Look, break time's over, Mitchell. Now you drop and get me 50.

Or you yell at me one more time, I'm going to drop you.

Dang, Dad.

I thought you were in better shape than this.

Yeah, so did I.

No wonder we don't throw the football around anymore.

What are you talking about?

You probably passed out or something.

Yeah, Mr. Mitch, I think maybe you should forget about this race thing.

No, I don't want to disappoint Miles.

Well, there's no need in risk having a stroke just to keep Miles happy.

Man, this is so embarrassing.

All that junk I talked.

I guess I never realized how old you really are.

Well, you don't have to worry.

Because I'm going to run that race, and I'm going to beat Percy.

Yeah, now you're talking. Let's get back to your talk. All right, come on.

All right, here we go, baby. Here we go.

What?

You call that a push -up?

Dikeem, if I could get up, I'd hurt you.

I am going to this Valentine's Day concert all by myself, and I'm going to

a good time.

You're the only person I know that will go to a sweetheart concert with no

sweetheart.

Hey!

I mean, girl, this might be a good way to meet somebody.

I figure there's got to be at least one lonely guy that couldn't get a date.

And that's the guy you want.

Well, not really, but guys like that always have cute brothers.

Uh, no, this is her roommate. Hold on a second.

Here, Steve.

Hello?

Hi, Miss Lee.

Yes, I called on behalf of my brother.

He's almost 18 now.

Okay, yes, that will be fine.

All right, can you hold on a second?

Niecy, quick, get a pen. I think I found Dorian's mom.

Hello?

Excuse me.

What?

Hi there, young lady.

We're looking for Barbara Lee.

No, Barbara Lee lives here.

Well, is your mother home?

Yeah.

What was her name?

Barbara Lee, me alone.

Oh,

look, little girl. Barbara Lee Kennedy, okay.

Well, look, my name is Moesha, and this is Dorian.

She's expecting us.

Can you get her for us? Yeah, for $5.

Go get your mama now.

Mama!

Jordan, I think that's your sister.

No, that little girl is just straight bad.

Then she's definitely your sister.

Man, this is a nice place.

No. Your mama must be doing all right.

Man, I wonder what she's like.

She's nice.

She'll like me.

Why wouldn't she like you?

Well, she did give me away.

Well, I'm sure she felt she had a good reason for doing what she did.

Dorian, look, I don't want you to be disappointed, so don't expect too much,

okay?

Hi, Miss Lee.

You mean Mrs. Kennedy?

Yes.

I'm Alicia, and this is Dorian Long.

Dorian Mitchell.

My brother.

Your son.

Dorian.

Dorian.

Hello, Dorian.

It's nice to finally meet you.

Yeah, it's nice to meet you, too.

You've grown into a handsome young man.

Quite a bit bigger than last time I saw you.

Do you mind if I hug you?

Marisha, you're so beautiful.

Thank you. I knew you would be.

Cutest little girl I'd ever seen.

You knew me?

So Dorian.

Tell me all about yourself.

Okay.

But first, can I just look at you for a minute?

Oh.

You must have a lot of heart, man, to come out here and let your son see you

beat like this.

Yeah, well, winners never lose, and losers never win. Man, you better guard

here with that voice. Come talk to me. Take your head start.

Man, look, the way we've been training, we don't even need a head start.

Maybe we don't, but my dad does.

No, no, no, I don't.

But since we already agreed to it, and I am a man of my word. Man, just go.

Oh, okay.

Keep going.

Okay, right there. That should be good enough. Oh, fella.

All right.

That's it.

Mr.

Pitts, I didn't know they had those aerodynamic track suits back in the day.

Well, this shirt must have shrunk in the attic. That's all.

Whatever you say, Mr. Pitts. Good luck. I'll see you at the finish line.

Good luck. Good luck.

I took a picture of the finish.

Okay, and the winner is Mr.

Mitch by a fro.

So,

would you like anything else to eat?

Oh, no, thank you. Yeah, I'm cool.

I just want to talk.

Tell us more about you.

Well, let's see.

I've been an accountant for the last 15 years.

Married to a wonderful man. He's an orthodontist.

You've met Reesey. Oh, boy.

And I have a son.

Another son.

Named Ray Ray.

Oh, he's going to love you. He's always wanted a big brother.

Can I ask you something?

You can ask me anything you want, Dorian.

All right.

Why'd you give me away?

I mean, you kept your other kids.

Whew.

I was afraid you were going to ask me that.

There's no easy answer.

It was a complicated situation.

I didn't think it would be easy.

But I really need to know.

Dorian, I wasn't in any position to raise a child back then.

And Frank was.

And he had planned to raise you. But Marguerite wouldn't allow it.

So... Your father decided to have your aunt take you.

How's Uncle Frank?

Always controlling every situation.

Well, no, not every situation.

See, when Frank and I got together, we didn't think it was going to turn out

like this.

When Marguerite left him, we didn't think she was going to come back.

But she did.

And Frank ended up taking her back.

Um, no, excuse me. I think you have that wrong.

See, she took him back.

He left her.

My mom didn't leave him.

Yes, she did, Moesha.

She packed up her things, went to live with her sister, and left you and your

father to fend for yourselves.

What are you talking about? My mom didn't walk out on me.

Hey, Mo, calm down. No, I won't calm down, Dorian. She's talking about my

mother. Look, I know this is hard to hear, Moesha, but it's the truth. No,

not. You're lying.

Hey, Mo, don't call my mom a liar. Dorian, you just met this woman.

Aunt Sandy is your mom.

Why don't you just back off? No, she needs to back off. No, save it. I'm out.

And they're coming around the corner, and he's almost there, and it's Frank

Mitchell.

Good going, Dad. I knew you could do it, Mr. Wilson. Thanks, fellas.

Dad, I want to apologize for calling you a wimp.

Miles, you never called me a wimp.

Oh.

Well, I was thinking it.

Sorry. You're the best dad I could ever have.

Hey, ditto, Mr. Mitch. Ditto.

Hey,

well, my work is done here. Not unless you want to train for the Senior

Olympics.

Well,

now that I've won my race, I'm going to relax, get me a cup of coffee.

I'm reveling my victory. Ah, that's a good idea.

Please, please, please.

Oh,

boy.

What's wrong, Dad? Do you need to sit down or something?

Miles, who's been trying to get in touch with Barbara Lee?

I don't know who Barbara Lee is, but that's Moe's handwriting.