Original subtitles

It's a rare condition this day and age to read any good news on the newspaper

page. The love and tradition of the grand design, some people say, is even

harder to find.

Well, then there must be some magic clue inside these gentle walls.

It's all I see. It's a tower of dreams. Real lovers in hell.

We'll be right back.

It's the bigger love of the family.

Lord, what's seven times nine?

Sixty -three. Thanks.

Lord, what's eight times nine?

Seventy -two.

Lord, what's ninety -one?

Hello, ladies.

I thought we'd all do our homework together.

Uh -oh. Dad's paying bills. I'm out of here.

I wouldn't go in

there, Grandma.

Dad's paying bills.

I can take my medication anytime.

It's time to put some food in that little belly of yours.

Thanks, Rachel, but I just had a couple of donuts.

I was talking to little Richie.

Carl, could you hold the baby for me for a second?

Is he dry?

Hello. I bought a big smile for you, Uncle Carl. Come on. Oh, there it is.

Oh, he's crazy about me, Rachel.

Excuse me, but are you by any chance paying bills? Yes, why?

Come on, Richie.

I got this really big problem, and you're the only one that can help me.

I gotta have new high tops.

Edward, the ones that you're wearing are practically new.

I can't wear these anymore.

See?

Kareem Abdul -Jabbar.

So?

So it's embarrassing.

The guy's retired.

I think I'd look great in a pair of Michael Jordans.

I think you'd look great in a military academy.

Dad, I'm serious.

I gotta have new high tops.

Besides, only 70 bucks.

Edward, I would not pay $70 for a pair of shoes if Lola Falana was in them.

You are not getting new high tops.

Thanks a lot.

Freshman year shot.

Do we have any kids you haven't told me about?

I guess this is not a good time to tell you that the car needs a tune -up.

Well, I guess I'll dump in some more of that tulip -in -the -can stuff.

I tried that.

The car spit it back at me.

Tom, we must have the money. The police department just got a penny increase.

When did it kick in?

It already kicked in.

That's funny. I didn't feel a thing.

Why don't you ask for a raise?

If anyone deserves one, it's you.

You are the best elevator operator at the Chronicle.

Carl, I'm the only elevator operator at the Chronicle.

Well, what I mean to say is, everybody likes you down there, and, well, honey,

we sure could use the money.

Well, you got that right.

I'll go in and see Mr. Seeger tomorrow after work and ask him for a raise.

That's my girl.

You almost finished paying bills.

I just started.

I'm out of here.

Hi, Daisy.

How'd it go at work today?

Well, I walked into Mr. Seeger's office and asked for a raise.

And what happened?

He gave me this.

Come on, Mother Wednesday. Hi, honey.

Come on.

Harriet, please tell me that I'm looking at a bonus.

No, Carl.

You're looking at severance pay.

As of tomorrow, the Chronicle will have a new set... service elevator.

That's great, Mom.

It'll make your job a lot easier.

Edward, your mother was just fired.

From her job? No, from a cannon.

Harriet, that's terrible.

I thought they liked you. They do.

That's why they didn't go self -service years ago. They didn't have the heart to

fire me. What changed their minds?

Well, I could be wrong, but I think it was when I took and marched in there

a fool and asked for a raise.

Way to go, Carl.

What happened?

You people look like you're at a funeral.

We are.

Mom's job just dropped dead.

What? I was fired today, Rachel.

Don't worry, Harriet.

Everything is going to be fine.

Look, if we need extra money, I'll get some part time work.

break our rhythm. We're a well -oiled machine.

Hold. Stuff.

Feel. Huh, Rachel?

Yes, honey?

What are these?

That's the other half of what we're supposed to be stuffing.

Unseal.

Unstuff.

Unfold.

Harriet, you are going to get a job today. I can feel it.

That's what you said all week, but I still don't have a job.

Well, today is your day, honey. I just know it.

Nobody's hiring elevator operators.

Well, then forget about being an elevator operator.

Honey, there must be a thousand jobs out there that you'd be perfect for.

All you have to do is find one of them.

Now, come on. Where's that Harriet Winslow, I can do anything smile?

There it is. Now, see?

Who can resist that smile?

Thanks. I feel better already.

And today is the date. When I walk back through that door, I'm going to have me

a job. Go get them, Tiger.

Dad, I've been thinking.

No, Edward, you're not getting those high tops.

How did you know that's what I was thinking?

Because, son, I know that you have a one -track mind. And right now it is on

shoes. Now, if you want those high tops, you're going to have to use your own

money. Use my own money?

We'll just bury you with your feet sticking out so people can see them.

Harriet, back so soon?

What's wrong?

The car broke down at the end of the block.

You left the car in the middle of the street?

No, it left me in the middle of the street.

Come on, son, let's go push the car back home.

Don't worry, honey.

Things aren't that bad.

Sit down and relax.

I already made dinner.

Great. I'm starved.

Everybody to the table.

Oh, that cornbread looks good.

I like tomato jello.

Harriet, you know, if you don't find a job soon, you can always help us stuff

envelopes.

Right.

Carl, I'd like to say grace tonight.

Do you mind?

Oh, go right ahead, Mama.

thank you for this food we have before us.

And we ask you to watch over us and to give Harriet the strength she needs to

go out every day looking for work.

Please bless her with patience and understanding.

Cooking tonight, Mother Winslow?

Well, I'm only trying to help. You know, this entire meal only costs $4 .60.

If there's one thing my mother knows, it's how to feed a large family on a

budget. Well, I lived through the Depression.

What's a Depression?

Oh, it was a long time ago, honey.

The banks had failed, people lost their jobs, and had to live on practically

nothing.

Have to see about that.

I can get another meal out of that meat.

That's why they call it a depression to them.

Well, I'm depressed.

Carl, there could be rough times ahead.

Mother, this is only temporary.

That's what they said about the depression.

And it lasted ten years.

I'm hungry anymore.

Me neither.

Sit down and eat your turnips.

I just don't know why everybody's complaining.

I always loved turnips.

Maybe it was parsnips.

Excuse me.

Do you mind if I join you?

Go ahead, but I'm not going to be good company.

Well, now I don't know about that.

Honey, I know how frustrating it is for you going out there every day for a job

and coming back empty -handed.

But you just can't give up hope, you know?

Call your mother's right.

It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Let's face it.

All I've ever done is run an elevator.

Oh, now, Harriet, you know that's not true.

You work for the police department.

Well, that was years ago.

And then it was only for a few months before I got pregnant with Eddie.

Oh, do I remember that.

That was some wicked morning sickness.

Yeah, but after the doctor prescribed those pills, you were fine.

Well, we got through that together, and we can get through this together.

I don't know, Carl.

You know, I thought I'd be able to find a job making as much as I did on the old

one. But now I see I'm going to take whatever I can get.

No. Now, no.

I don't want you doing that.

Carl, we need money, and I'm not going to let this family down.

Have you heard about any jobs that you might find exciting?

Well, there was one.

But they're not going to give it to me. Well, what was it?

Well, the other day when Mr. Seeger was firing me, I noticed a posting for a

security job at the Chronicle. Now, there you go.

Honey, you can do that?

Harriet, you graduated from the police academy.

You know the Chronicle building?

You'd be perfect.

You know, the job requires management experience. They don't tell me no.

Honey, it's not what they tell you.

It's what you tell them.

All you have to do... It's show them who you really are.

And you know they're going to want you real bad.

You think so?

I did.

You're the best thing that ever happened to me.

God, you should have gone in the sale.

Well, when you got a great product, it sells itself.

Thanks, Simon.

Come on in.

Hello, Mr. Feger.

Harriet, what a surprise.

It's nice to see you back at the Chronicle.

I like the new self -service elevator.

Oh, yeah, it's a beaut, isn't it? We should have put one in years ago.

No, I didn't mean that the way it sounded.

Well, then I didn't hear it the way it sounded.

I'd love to sit and chat with you, dear, but I'm right in the middle of

interviewing people for the Assistant Director of Security.

Oh, I know. I'm your next interview.

Harriet, that's a management position.

Oh, I read the description, and I think I can handle the job.

Okay. Do you have a resume? Oh, yes.

I typed it myself.

That's nice.

Let me see.

Two jobs.

The one here at the Chronicle.

Oh, I see you worked at the police department.

Yes. Oh, but it was a clerical job.

But I did graduate the police academy.

Harriet, I like you. You know that.

But this job isn't right for you. When something comes along that is right,

give you a call.

I know how tough it is out there.

Would you mind asking Miss Alton to send the next applicant in?

Mr. Seeger, I really believe I can do that security job. Harriet, I'm trying

be nice.

But the fact is, this job requires management experience.

You'd have people working under you.

You'd have to be a leader, an organizer, a mediator.

Quite frankly, this job is way out of your league.

Oh, really, Mr. Seeger?

For your information, I have management experience coming out of my ears.

That's not on your resume.

Yes, it is.

Right there. See?

It says Mrs.

Harriet Winslow.

I worked here full -time, and I was a full -time mother.

You want to talk management?

I managed a home, a household budget, and a family.

And Mr. Seeger, I'm talking about a job you can't call in sick for, you never

get a raise or overtime, and you can't take vacation.

Every day I'm a leader, an organizer, and a mediator.

Those are my qualifications.

You want references?

Call Eddie, Laura, and Judy Winslow and ask them about my work. You know the

number.

I went to see Mr. Seeger.

I stared him straight in the eye.

And I told him I could do the job, that I deserved the job, and that he'd be a

fool not to give me the job. And then he gave you the job.

No, he told me I was unqualified, so I told him off.

And that took five hours?

No, it only took about a minute. But it felt so good, I treated myself to a

double feature.

Well, good for you, honey.

Oh, hi, Mom.

Hi, baby.

Dad, guess what?

Your son has saved $70 from working overtime at the market.

Well, I'm proud of you, son.

So I guess the next time we see you, you'll be wearing a new pair of high

Not really, Dad.

Here, thought you could use this to pay some bills.

Harriet, we should feed this boy turnips five times a day.

Thank you, son.

Congratulations. I am so happy for you.

Now, I know you didn't get your first paycheck for a while, so I took my

envelope money and went out and bought this family a celebration dinner. Honey,

I got steak, I got potatoes, I got salad, I got to work. Are you excited? I

you must be. Honey, you must feel fantastic.

I know I do. In fact, I'm so happy I could slap myself.

Girls, you can put those tarts away. Tonight, this family is eating steak.

Your mother got a new job at the Chronicle.

Hey, hey, hey, hold on, hold on. Now, Rachel, I appreciate your enthusiasm,

I didn't get the job.

You didn't? No.

Well, back to the turnips.

I can't believe Mr. Seeger didn't give you that job.

Well, I did my best. It just didn't work out.

But how could he change his mind like that?

Especially after all the nice things he said about you today.

Wait, wait, wait, wait a minute. Hold on.

You talked to Mr. Seeger today?

Yeah. He phoned about an hour ago.

Hold it now. What did he say?

Well, he mentioned that he was very impressed by some speech you made and

he hoped it took a start on Monday.

I'll call Mr. Seeger.

How'd the job interview go?

We don't know, Mama. She either got the job or she didn't.

Those would be the choice.

Harriet Winslow.

Did you call my house earlier today?

We got a little mix -up in the message.

Uh -huh.

Uh -huh.

Fine.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Yes!

I just want to say thank you.

And to say how proud...

These last few weeks weren't easy, but we pitched in there. We got through it.

Yes. Now, why don't you all pitch in and help me with this dinner? Okay. You set

the table. You peel the potatoes. You get the bread.

Honey, get me a knife. I'll get you a knife, honey. You ain't said nothing but

word.

believing in me sweetheart i was just returning the favor you believed in me

when i was afraid to take the thousands exam you told me i could do it i not

only did it i ate that sucker and i was so proud of you it only took me five

tries