Original subtitles

- Daddy. - Huh?

I think it's a wonderful idea

that the church is having

this rummage sale.

Gives me an excuse to get rid of

this old jewelry box Roc found.

Too bad he didn't find the jewels to go in it, huh?

Uh, thanks for reminding me, Eleanor.

Now, I can get rid of that old bowling bag

Roc always wanted me to use as luggage bag.

I know.

Hey, Eleanor, look what I found out in our trash.

My old bike.

Gee. Wonder how it got there.

Yeah, anyone can see this is not garbage.

I still remember the day I got it. Boy.

Yeah, it was Roc's 13th birthday.

His mother and I surprised him with a brand-new catcher's mitt.

So who gave him the bike?

Would you believe some knucklehead threw it out?

Roc, you found this rusty, square-wheeled, no-seat bike

in the garbage 20 years ago and you kept it?

Yeah.

What a birthday.

Well, we gotta get rid of some of this stuff.

With Joey staying up in the attic

now we don't have room for all this junk.

Hmm, oh, I don't think Joey

would notice it anyway, the difference.

Well, it's been a month since Kim's been away in Europe

and that boy's been in a fog ever since.

Hmm, well, I can't blame him. He really loves her.

Oh, well, come on. You know Joey.

I'm sure he'll bounce back in no time.

They're gonna love you. Hey!

Hey, Jo...

Looks like he bounced into a Spike Lee movie.

Uh, everybody, this is Nancy.

Nancy, this is my pop.

- Hi. Nice to meet you. - Hi.

- Yeah. That's my brother, Roc. - Hello.

- Hey. - And that's his wife, Eleanor.

- Hi. - Hi, Nancy.

So, um... did you two just meet?

No. No. We met two days ago.

Joey was sitting in a corner of the diner

looking like a little lost puppy.

I went over to cheer him up and...

...found out how sweet and cuddly he is.

Oh, how sweet.

Isn't that sweet, Roc?

Yeah. And cuddly.

Let's make some room for Joey and his friend.

I'm not moving anywhere.

Oh, uh, no, no. Don't worry about us. We were just leaving.

Oh, okay. Well, then you two have a good time.

'Okay.'

When I was marching for racial harmony in the '60s

this is not what I had in mind.

♪ There's a man ♪

♪ With no future ♪

♪ So it seems ♪

♪ Can't live out his dreams ♪

♪ Now he's trapped into thinking ♪

♪ He won't succeed ♪

♪ And he can believe ♪

♪ Live your life today ♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ Not for tomorrow ♪ Not for tomorrow ♪

♪ Oh ♪ Oh oh oh oh-h oh oh ♪

♪ Live your life today ♪

'Well, babe, you were up'

awfully early this morning.

Yeah, I was fixing this.

Look at that. Almost perfect.

Yeah. An almost wheel for that almost bike of yours.

I need some coffee.

What's the matter, daddy? Didn't you sleep well?

No. I had nightmares.

I dreamt I went to Joey and Nancy's wedding.

And there I was surrounded by white people

doing the "Achy Breaky" dance.

Daddy.

Well, you know, now that we are talking about Nancy...

Roc, I don't feel very comfortable

about Joey taking women up to his room.

Oh, come on, Eleanor. This is his house too.

He's entitled to have friends over for a few hours.

Well, I guess you're right.

Something about it still bothers me though.

Oh, no. I hope that's not what's-her-face Gidget.

Oh, pop, come on now.

Well, you know what they say.

Once you've tried black, you never go back.

Oh.

- Pop. - 'Daddy.'

Hi, is Joey here? I'm Carla.

Uh, yeah, yeah. Come on in, Carla.

I met Joey a couple of nights ago at the diner.

Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of that going around.

Hi, Carla. I'm Eleanor, Joey's sister-in-law.

And this is his brother, Roc. This is his father, Mr. Emerson.

- Oh. Nice to meet you. - Hi, how are you?

Hey, hey, Carla.

- Hi, Joey. - Hi, baby. Mm.

I see you've met everybody, huh?

- Yeah. - Well, I guess we'll be going.

- Have fun, son. - Nice meeting you, everybody.

- Okay. See you later. - 'Nice to meet you, Carla.'

And, you know, I actually believed

Joey was starting to turn his life around

with his job and Kim.

I guess I was just kidding myself

'cause now he's right back

to the same old juggling act.

Well, I hear what you're saying, Roc.

but I kinda like this one.

Something was special about her.

She's...

Black.

Daddy, I'm serious.

There's a quality in her

that I found rather attractive.

Yeah, I know. It's called pigment.

Well, come on, pop.

Either way, Joey shouldn't be

seeing both of these women.

Yeah, and he shouldn't be 32 years old

living in your attic either.

Well, what can I say?

The boy's just... cool like that.

I'm sorry I can't spend the entire afternoon with you

but it's a workday.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

You know, it must be tough being a meter maid

especially for somebody as sweet as you.

Joey, no one can be sweet

wearing a uniform as ugly as this.

Oh. Oh, no, turn around. Let me see it from the back.

- Ye-e-eah! - Hey!

You can write me a ticket anytime.

- You know what I'm saying? - Oh, Lord, have mercy.

Uh, did you say something, pop?

Uh, yes, I did.

Uh, tell me, Nancy.

Is this the first time you've ever dated a--

Uh, uh... pop.

Musician?

Yes, Joey is my first. Why?

Well, I'd like to offer a word of caution.

Uh, excuse me... pop, you telling her not to date me?

Oh, of course not.

But I've seen what happens

when a non-musician dates you guys.

Oh, well, thank you, pop.

- Uh, anyway, Nancy-- - Oh, it's wonderful at first.

Hanging out, those all-night jam sessions--

Uh, that's-that's really interesting, pop.

- Nancy, what were we talking-- - Yeah, but then reality hits.

The truth is, you're from different worlds.

- Two different worlds. - Uh... pop.

Whatever happened to the senior citizen center?

Remember you used to, used to go there and vanish for hours?

Mr. Emerson, I appreciate what you're trying to tell me

but I still wanna go out with Joey.

Well, then, uh... just one more thing.

That myth about trumpet players having--

Okay, alright, um... okay, alright.

Ooh, yeah.

Ooh, the Ruthens donated

some great stuff for the rummage sale.

Yeah. Pop, look at this. Look at this old radio.

I had one like this when I was a kid, remember, pop?

Oh, yeah. How could I forget?

You sittin' on.. Sitting down on a broken down bike

with a busted radio.

Going nowhere and listening to nothing.

Come on, Nancy. I think we'd better slide into the kitchen.

- It's about to get ugly here. - What're you talking about?

Well, if I know my brother, he's about to

beg his wife if he can keep that radio.

No. No. Uh-un.

You know, I'm surprised Joey's still seeing that girl.

Oh, I don't entirely blame Joey.

I mean, I'm sure she came after him. That's how it works.

Daddy, what are you talking about?

Oh, I know how persistent white women can be.

Now.. Now, I remember one time in the '60s--

Oh, Lord.

I was in Washington for an anti-war march

when this girl with long blond hair and love beads

walks up to me and starts talking to me

about civil rights and brotherly love.

Finally, I had to tell her

"Ms. Fonda, would you please take your hand outta my pocket?

Why don't you go talk to my buddy Tom over there?"

Oh, that must be

one of daddy's friends.

Stokely Carmichael or Eldridge Cleaver or somebody.

- Hey. - Hi.

- Roc, right? - Uh, yeah.

Hey, Carla. How you doing? Uh...

I'm supposed to meet Joey.

- Well, uh-- - 'Hey, Carla.'

I-I think there was, uh, you know

s-some kinda mix-up or something, um

'cause I believe I heard Joey say

that he was gonna meet you there.

Wherever there is.

Are you saying he's not here?

Uh...

Um, uh, y-yeah-yeah, th-that's what I'm saying.

Uh-huh.

Oh! Hi.

Hi.

Do I seem familiar to you?

Because you...

...seem a little bit familiar to me.

'Yeah, I've seen you over at the diner before.'

Now, why would I ever go to the senior center

when I can have live entertainment at home?

"Roc" live continues

after these messages.

Uh, Nancy, um, uh, this is Carla.

Um, he he, uh, she's a friend.

- Hi. - And, uh, Carla, this is Nancy.

Um.. Uh, she's a friend, too.

Um...

Well, hell, we're all friends here.

Well, I'm going back to the kitchen.

Uh-huh. And, uh, Carla was heading out the door.

- Well, when he does get back... - Uh-huh.

...tell him to burn my phone number.

Now, will you look at that? Hmm?

Now, Jo.. You know, Joey has messed up before

but this time he's really messed up.

And I'm sick and tired of being a part of it!

Well, I just hope Carla gonna be alright.

Yeah, but what about Nancy?

What about her?

She's got a police force, a country

and a constitution on her side.

Oh.. Oh, come on, pop.

Joey's taking advantage of both of these girls.

Well, I'm sorry, Roc, but I identify with Carla.

Well, I hate to say this, Eleanor, but it's sounding like

you're showing a little favoritism to Carla

because she's African-American.

Well, that's why I like her.

Roc, I.. there is nothing wrong

with having a little pride in our race.

Hmm, and there's nothing wrong with having

a little racial preference either.

It's like Michael Jackson says in that song "Black Or White."

No, pop, what Michael Jackson says in the song is

"It don't matter if you're black or white."

Well, if it don't matter, then why is it that the boy

all of a sudden is two shades lighter than Ed Begley Jr.?

Oh, daddy, now you saw "Oprah."

- It's a skin disease. - 'Yeah.'

Well, it must be leprosy.

'Cause it lopped off half his nose.

Now, pop, you leave little Mikey alone.

All I'm saying, Roc, is that I'd like to see Joey

keep giving the sisters a chance.

A chance? He should give 'em a break!

Oh, Lord. Now if this, if this, if this is...

- What up, Roc? Eleanor, hey! - Hey, Sly!

I'm dropping off some doodads for the church.

- I wanna help the cause. - You're giving away you guitar?

Now, I know you ain't getting rid of your guitars.

Now, you love your guitars.

You told me you'd sell your sister

for a brand-new Gibson solid-body guitar.

Hey, I'd sell my sister for an electric can opener

but nobody's buying.

Oh, yeah...

You are too much.

Anyway, I needed the space, so...

Oh, that must be Darnelle.

I locked her in the car.

Guess she must've escaped.

'Hey, Darnelle! Hey, baby! How you doing?'

- I'm alright. - 'How you doin'?'

You know, you could've left the keys in the car

so I could at least listen to the radio?

I'm sorry. I don't leave nobody the keys to my Hyundai.

Hey! Hey, hey. I didn't know y'all was here.

Look, I want you to meet somebody.

Nancy, this is Sly and Darnelle.

Sly, Darnelle, this is Nancy. She was just leaving.

- Hi. - Hi, yeah, sorry I can't stay.

I wanna get to know all Joey's friends though.

Maybe we should all go out together sometime?

Do a little putt-putt. Ha ha.

Oh, that sounds nice.

You know, there's nothing more exciting

than firing a golf ball up a dinosaur's butt.

Great fun.

Yeah, and on that note, uh...

Alright, I'll see you later, sweetie.

- Okay. - Alright, bye-bye.

- Bye. - See you later. Bye.

- Woo! - What's up, man?

So, Joey, I see you've been

shopping uptown lately.

Oh! Man, that, that, Nancy's a friend, you know?

Oh. So what happened to Kim?

Nothing happened to Kim.

Uh, excuse me, brotherman, but it sounds to me like

you have deserted a proud Nubian goddess

so you can go out with a white girl.

Hey, uh... Kim left me.

Darnelle, will you just cool it?

Sly, I can't help how I feel.

I get tired of seeing our brothers

putt-putting the white women.

Yeah. I'm with you, girl.

Black women have it hard enough

without our brothers dating all over the rainbow.

Well, thank you very much, ladies.

I feel enlightened and accosted.

Yeah, Joey's right, you know, if we're gonna discuss this

we at least need to discuss the man's position.

Excuse me. I think we all know what the man's position is.

- On top. - Up!

Got that right.

Huh!

If, if you guys thought you could get away with it

you'd go out with geese.

Hey! Look what I found.

Excuse me, Roc

but I think we're having an important discussion here

about inter-racial relationships.

Oh.

Well, let me know when the subject moves to perks.

- Roc. - Now, you see?

Roc is an excellent example of our fine brothers.

- Oh, yeah. - Mm-hmm.

Look how thoughtful he is

bringing all these lovely things.

Well, thank you very much, but you're not

planning on taking that, are you?

Will you please just take that thing

with you when you leave?

- So, Joey, tell me something. - 'What?'

What's it like dating a white girl?

I've been with this one since eighth grade.

You see, Joey...

...the black woman is the black man's natural mate.

Now, of course, there are so few eligible brothers out there

a sister can get desperate.

Now, why you looking for eligible brothers

when you got a fine specimen like me?

Well, you see, Sly...

I mean brothers who, uh

you know, know how to open doors

who leave the keys in the car for somebody

who offer to pay for dinner and who understand

that paying for a meal does not entitle them

to a trip to bountiful.

So does this mean you're not kicking in

your share of the gas money?

Oh, you made me laugh. You know I'm a sucker for a funny man.

Hey, and you know I'm a sucker for a beautiful lady.

So come on, let me cook you dinner.

Oh, well, now, if you're gonna fix me dinner

I'll give you dessert.

- 'Oh.' - 'Uh-oh! Uh-oh!'

'Yeah, well, then bring back my fruit bowl.'

- Oh. - Hey, Roc.

Well, I'm glad we're closing the door on that discussion.

All I'm trying to do is get you to see, Joey

that when you go out with Nancy

you're sending a message to society.

Well, I mean, we're all in this society together.

It shouldn't matter who you go out with.

No, Joey, it doesn't matter who you go out with

if you're looking for love.

I guess I'm all up in arms over this

'cause I thought you had found love with Kim.

Well, thank you, Dr. Eleanor.

You know, Joey, maybe it is a good thing

Kim left and went off to Europe

before you showed her your true colors.

- What do mean by that? - Hey, look what I found.

A little white man.

What I mean, Joey, is that maybe

it's a good thing Kim left before you hurt her.

Wait a minute, we are not talking about Kim, alright?

We've been talking about black and white.

We're not talking about Kim.

'Okay, come on, you two.'

- 'Now, come on.' - No. No, why not?

Because she's a part of this.

I mean, a month ago, you were writing Kim poetry

and losing yourself in the stars.

You told me you.. You loved her.

Yeah, well, she told me that she loved me too and then she left.

So you know the old saying, "Outta sight, outta mind."

- Joey-- - No, I don't wanna hear it.

I am through with it.

Oh, man, Roc, what did I just do?

Aw, baby, let it go. Joey's gotta work through this himself.

No, no, baby, this isn't even about interracial relationships.

This isn't about anything we've been talking about.

I got so caught up in my own opinions

I didn't see what was happening with Joey.

He's in pain. He misses Kim.

And right now, he's up there hurting.

I think he needs to talk to somebody.

A man.

Who do you have in mind, huh?

Oh, Eleanor, I don't wanna talk.

Hey.

- Hey, Joey. - Hmm.

Can I talk to you a minute?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, boy, you've really

fixed up this old attic.

Okay, Roc, I know

what you're gonna talk to me about.

You're gonna tell me that you don't approve of

who I'm going out with so...

- Let's hear it. - No, Joey.

I'm worried about you.

You can't keep bouncing from woman to woman.

Hey... I protect myself.

Well, that's good to know.

That's not what I'm talking about, Joey.

Hey, come on, now, these women have feelings, too.

Are you planning on telling them

they're just substitutes for Kim?

I don't know what to do.

Yeah, well, Joey, you can't keep doing

what you've been doing.

I wonder if Kim knows how much I really miss her, man.

Well, then call her up and tell her.

- You mean that? - Sure.

Wait a minute, wait, you-you mean

you-you'll let me call her

all the way to Stockholm?

Alright, you could, you know, okay, three minutes on Sunday.

Anything after that, you better put it in a letter.

Alright, alright, I will. Alright, thanks, man.

- Thank you, I appreciate it. - Alright, don't mention it.

Hey, u-uh, Roc, uh, I-I wanna ask you one question.

- Yeah, what's that? - This is my room, right?

- Yeah, sure. - Then get out.

- What? - You heard what I said.

Get out.

I'm serious, Roc. Get out.

Okay, you can come back in now.

Joey, what the hell's the matter with you?

I always wanted to know what that felt like. See, throwing...

...throw, throwing you out, it, it was like

great therapy for me, man.

I mean, I'm feeling better already.

- Mm-hmm. - Get out! Get out! Go on.

- Go! Get outta here! Beat it! - I'm, I'm--

Get outta here! Get out! Beat it!

Yeah, yeah, alright, alright.

"Roc" live will be right back.

- Eleanor. - Mm-hmm.

Baby, you're not gonna believe

what I bought at the rummage sale.

- It's an antique! - Really? What is it?

Oh, it's a classic, sweetheart.

I've been looking for one of these for years.

- Yeah? - Now, now, close your eyes.

'Close your eyes, baby. Alright, keep 'em closed.'

- Keep 'em closed. - 'Okay.'

Behold an American original.

Roc, there better be something inside

'cause to my eyes, that's just a trash can.

Mm-mm, sweetheart, they don't make 'em

like this anymore, you know?

Mm-mm. Ah, look at the design.

The classic lines, the craftsmanship.

Nowadays, cans are plastic.

But this is a throwback from a time

when people cared about their garbage.

Roc, Baby, it's time for you to take that vacation

we've been talking about.

- Uh-huh. - Heya.

Oh! A garbage can by the couch. That's a good idea.