Original subtitles

Oh, good.

Yes! Aah‐h!

Gah! Come on, Khadijah, it's a beautiful day.

Put that stuff aside, let's go for a run!

Please, look at these bills. I can't.

Thank God! I hate runnin'.

Whoo! Let's eat.

[knock on door]

Hey, Kha..

[shivers]

These are yours. They were in my box.

Yes, right next to your Coco's singles newsletter.

Damn, another 30‐day notice!

Just look on the bright side.

Means you have another 29 days of free electricity.

I thought you always paid your bills on time.

I do when I have the money.

But things have been so tight lately

I'm thinkin' about auctionin' off a kidney.

Trust me, there's no money in organs.

You know, Kyle, you work with money everyday

maybe you can help straighten out my finances.

No. No. Nope, sorry, I do not work for friends.

Well, don't think of me as a friend.

Think of me as someone who fed you dinner every other day

for the past three years.

Okay, fine, I'll help.

But be warned. I'm tough.

I'm gonna force you to live on a strict budget.

And you can start by cuttin' out unnecessary household expenses.

Ergo... stop feeding that.

[theme song]

♪ We are living single ♪

♪ Ooh in the 90's kind of world ♪

♪ I'm glad I got my girls ♪

♪ Oh keep your head up ♪ ♪ What? ♪

♪ Keep your head up ♪ ♪ That's right ♪

♪ Whenever this life get tough you gotta fight ♪

♪ With my homegirls standing to my left ♪

♪ And my right ♪ ♪ True blue ♪

♪ We're tight like glue ♪

♪ We are living ♪ ♪ Check check check it out ♪

♪ Check check check it out ♪ ♪ Single ♪

[theme music]

Here's those arms I've been missin'.

And there's those lips that need some kissin'.

Oh, yeah, kissin'.

Another long day at the library, huh?

Yes, after I did my class assignment

I read the whole art history textbook.

You know, I love night school.

Whenever I'm in the class, I can be myself.

Only smarter.

Hey, I'm real happy for you, baby, but..

Startin' to miss you.

Today I was up in 3‐C unclogging the drain..

And once I got the grease trap open

I spent the whole afternoon just writin' your name

out on the sludge.

So romantic!

[keys jingling]

Whoo. Looky here, looky here, looky here!

Wow, Regine, is all that stuff yours?

Well, I'm workin' on makin' all things mine

but for now, this'll have to do.

Synclaire, I thought you were at the library.

They kicked me out for staying past closing time.

The librarian told me to get a life.

[scoffing] Now, how sad is that!

Ha ha ha.

You know, you have your wigs to cover your head

and I have night school to fill mine, alright?

Yeah, that's what you get

for tanglin' with the intellectual.

Oh, yeah, right.

The woman's got "Beauty and the Beast" sheets.

[knock on door]

Looks like someone who's supposed to be on a budget..

Went shoppin'.

Only got the things I needed.

Mmm‐hmm.

‐ What's this? ‐ I gotta shave my legs.

Wear pants.

Double print photos?

That was only extra two dollars.

Which in the bank at 2.5% interest will put $17.50

in to your pocket by the time you are 70.

And what is th..

Okay, well, I guess those are a necessity

but, you know, in the future, Khadijah, don't be afraid to buy

your feminine hygiene products in bulk, you know.

Well, what do you say we go to a movie?

Maybe one of those sensitive female films

where Debra Winger dies at the end.

I'm sorry but I'm not done studyin' for the surprise quiz

we get every Monday.

Um, okay.

But you can pick me up after class.

Good, then I'll look forward to Monday.

Now, only rainy days will get me down.

Thank you, for your quiz papers, ladies and gentlemen.

And remember, another surprise quiz next Monday.

That was his idea of a quiz?

The final's gonna be murder.

Oh, please, Synclaire, you know you aced it.

You're the best student in the class.

Hey, Synclaire, you ready to roll?

We got reservations at Mr. Foo's romantic river chante.

Boyfriend! Aren't you going to introduce us?

Overton, these are my friends, Nazila and Aaron.

‐ Hello. ‐ How you doin'?

So, Overton, are you an art buff, too?

Oh, no, he is not interested in this stuff.

‐ 'Oh.' ‐ Not true.

I appreciate paintin' as much as the next man.

In fact, the Dutch Boy all‐weather semi gloss

is my personal favorite.

[laughing] Oh, you..

I read somewhere that Franz Kline

actually used house paint in some of his work.

'Cause he liked the texture.

Well, if he was really interested in texture

I believe stucco would've been the way to go.

Overton, you're such a hoot!

‐ You've gotta join this class. ‐ Oh, yeah, yeah!

What'd you think, Synclaire?

I mean, what better way to spend time with my baby

than to join the class?

Yeah, what better way?

Congratulations, Khadijah!

By using coupons and buyin' generic brands, you saved

forty‐five percent of your last grocery bill.

And also saved money on grapes, by eatin' them

before I got to the register.

He doesn't even know how much I saved her on the trail mix.

That's not saving, that's stealing.

Well, you could save a lot of money in jail.

Hey, Khadijah, guess what I‐I..

Generic food?

[scoffing] Oh, no!

Nothin' for me. Uh‐uh.

I know what you're sayin'.

This stuff is so bad, I was almost tempted not to eat it.

Khadijah, now I know that you're tryin' to save money..

But I have got an incredible deal for you.

Two fifth row tickets to see your favorite performer.

The Artist Formally Known As Prince?

[laughs]

And they're yours for what I paid for them, 30 bucks a piece!

I can't. It's not in my budget.

I'm proud of you, Khadijah.

Now, you keep this up, and next time you can buy

the supermarket brand.

Sad thing is I'm lookin' forward to that.

I'll give you $25 a piece for 'em.

What?

I cannot believe that you are tryin'

to buy these tickets in front of Khadijah!

And shunt me in the process!

‐ Kyle! ‐ Hey, hey, hey.

These tickets are in my budget.

I will not be taking a limo to the concert

because... it's not in my budget.

I will not be buying new clothes for the concert

because... it's not in my budget.

But I suppose you'd be taking

taking some bimbo to an expensive dinner.

That is an investment.

Don't I have some luxuries in my budget?

Yeah, but you blew that on the gumball machine

at the supermarket.

Oh!

Have to admit, Synclaire, I am pretty nervous

about bein' back in school.

Almost faked a fever.

Then I thought, hell, who am I foolin'?

You'll be fine.

That's Professor Fletcher. Come on.

Now, hold up, slick, I'm with her.

Good evening, art lovers and those of you

who need the extra credit.

Oh, I see we have a new student in class tonight.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Well... name is Overton Wakefield Jones.

Originally from Cleveland.

I'm an Aquarius. Synclaire's my girlfriend.

Obie, he doesn't need to know that.

No, some of the fellas might want to keep that in mind.

Oh, and I, I believe the art feeds the soul.

Yeah, I used to believe that, too.

Last week I told you to bring in reproductions

of your favorite paintings for interpretation.

Uh, why don't we start the class off on a high note.

Synclaire.

This is "The Scream", by Edward Munch

a German expressionist who really captured the despair

and isolation of his generation.

I really relate to this piece.

Normally, I'm a chipper gal.

But sometimes, I feel that everything out in the world

is a hostile force to get me.

They had to get past me first, baby.

Yes, ah, anyway

the composition, the rhythm of this piece

really speak to me.

Very good, Synclaire!

Reminds me of "Home Alone".

Since you've brought yourself to our attention, Overton

why don't you go next?

Well... I just went with my heart.

"Dogs Playing Poker".

See, if dogs could play poker

this is exactly what they'd look like.

And I really loved the way the artist captured

the tight‐lipped expression of the bulldog

who's obviously bluffin'.

Obie, Obie, that's not real art.

But it is based on a fine work.

‐ "The Card Players". ‐ By Paul Cezanne.

‐ I looked it up. ‐ Oh, nice job, Overton!

'Now, who'd like to go next?'

‐ Aaron. ‐ Uh..

[clears throat]

I brought in Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa".

Which is, in my opinion, the greatest painting

in all the world.

A masterpiece of portraiture.

That's also the most reproduced work in history.

I know. I forgot about the assignment.

Went to a card shop down on the corner.

They had a million of these!

Also, I got the "Mona Lisa" t‐shirt..

Uh, the travel umbrella, and a shower curtain.

The man says when you walk around in the bathroom

the eyes follow you.

Can anyone save the drowning Aaron?

Well, I believe that the "Mona Lisa" is a great work

because of da Vinci's dramatic use of light and shadow.

[grunts]

Overton, you obviously have some opinion on this.

Well, personally, I don't get the hype.

I mean is it me, or is this smile crooked?

And the background, I'm guessin'

these are supposed to be mountains

but you can't really tell.

It just doesn't look finished to me.

Overton is absolutely right.

In fact, da Vinci never finished the "Mona Lisa".

Wasn't even his favorite painting.

Well, what do you know?

Take note, people, Overton is not afraid

to challenge conventional wisdom.

I say, bravo!

And I encourage all of you to twist your minds

the way Overton has twisted his.

I'm mad as H!

Ooh, she said the H letter!

Did I hear Synclaire almost cuss?

Overton worked my last nerve in class today.

He had to sit next to me.

Had to let everyone know I was his girlfriend.

And if that's not bad enough, he had to be the teacher's pet.

Suck up!

Hey, I have never seen you this mad at him.

Truth is, I'm mad at myself

I let him join that class, knowing it wasn't a good idea.

I know exactly what you're goin' through.

In college, my boyfriend and I were in the same class.

And it was a real drag.

What did you do?

He gave me a failing grade on my midterm, so I dumped him.

Synclaire, you need to be straight up with Overton

ask him to leave the class.

I don't wanna be petty. I just want him to go away.

Synclaire, honey, you've got to handle

the fragile male ego with kid gloves.

Sweetie, I say throw a brick through his window.

Oh, no no!

I'm probably making too much of this.

The smart thing to do is just for me

to ignore all of my deepest feelings.

Okay.

But, um, you let me know when you're ready

to do that brick thing.

Hey, Synclaire, study time.

Now, I took the liberty of highlighting your book.

And dog‐earing all the appropriate pictures.

Give me my book, you freakin' barnacle!

Did I say that out loud?

Um, something wrong, Synclaire?

Is it too late to say no?

Hell, yeah!

Ooh, watch yourself. He went for the whole H word.

Would you two get out of here? Overton and I need to talk.

Sure, get a back bone now.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, watch this.

[Regine screams]

I didn't mean to snap like that.

To be honest with you

I was really enjoyin' that class until you enrolled.

Then why'd you tell me I could join?

I was just being polite.

Well, maybe if you had to have been ruder to me then

you'd be nicer to me now.

Talk about rude.

You just waltzed into that class

and turned it into the Overton Show.

Staring Overton

with his trusty sidekick, Professor Fletcher.

Oh, I see.

So, you intimidated by the fact that Overton is not

just a simple handyman any more, huh?

That's right. Just a big old wind bag!

Well, um, I got a little news flash for you, girlie.

I like that class.

And I'm good in that class.

And I'm stayin' in... that class.

God, I miss him so!

Hey, Overton. Where's Synclaire?

Don't know, and don't care.

Well, art mavens..

I finished grading your quizzes

and I'm pleased to report that at least half of you understood

what I've been talking about.

As for the rest of you, it's only night school.

Who really cares?

Once again, Synclaire James

had one of the most insightful essays

and with her permission I'd like to read a portion.

Synclaire.

Um, Miss James?

Um, she'll be here.

No she won't.

I chased her away.

I grieve that I asked.

I grieve, too.

See my, my beautiful Synclaire was like this Venus here.

And I'm like the clamp shell she's standin' on.

Only, instead of holdin' her up, I just... slam shut on her.

I just like to say, if we can all learn to relate art

to our personal lives, the way Overton has

I'm sure we'd be just as embarrassed

for ourselves, as we are for him.

Oh, freedom!

Yeah, I'll see you. I'll see you.

New releases.

Microwave popping corn!

Oh, yes, we're gonna pop you.

Yes, I am. Yes, I am gonna pop you.

I'm gonna pop you.

[humming]

For shame! For shame, Khadijah!

It's not how it looks.

Uh‐huh? What's in the microwave?

Generic budget dinner.

[popping]

You're pathetic, you know that?

Did you drop something on the way to the market?

My shopping list.

‐ Excuse me? ‐ My shopping list.

Replete with brand names and extravagances.

Look at this, mineral water, air freshener, pre‐cut salad.

Why don't you just spit in my face?

It'll never happen again.

[scoffs]

You know what your problem is? You can't commit.

Khadija, I'm afraid I can no longer

be your financial advisor.

No, I need you!

You can't be trusted. No. No, look..

‐ Please. ‐ No.

I say we end this now.

Okay, Kyle, maybe you're right.

But if I need you, can I call you for some advice?

Just give me some time, Khadija.

[sighs]

Aren't you supposed to be in class?

Yes, but I knew Overton would be there

so I wandered around.

I... had a conversation with a woman on a bench.

I... realized she was talking to herself.

Hey, everyone.

‐ Synclaire. ‐ Overton.

Uh, let's get outta here.

I got some movies. They're already paid for.

Oh, you're a cheap date!

You know, I mean that as a compliment.

So, um... where were you tonight?

I just thought it'd be better for us

if I stopped goin' to class.

Come on, girl, you know you love that class.

Besides, the only reason I signed up

was so we could spend more time together.

That's sweet, Overton.

But I realize that I also need a place that's just for me.

You see, at work, it's always about Khadijah.

And at home, it's always about Khadijah and Regine

and Maxine and Kyle and you, then me.

I'm like Eve Tange in the surrealist movement.

‐ Who? ‐ Exactly!

I'm overshadowed the way he was by Salvador Dali.

‐ Who? ‐ Oh, it doesn't matter.

Yeah, well, you do deserve a place that is special to you.

I mean, hey, I got that in the basement.

So... I'm gonna drop the class.

‐ Are you sure? ‐ Positive.

Oh, thank you, Obie!

So is the academic career of Overtone Wakefield Jones.

I'm gonna miss it.

Well, why don't you just take another course?

Hmm, it's a good idea.

Maybe I could take the architecture class

across the hall.

You know, buildings speak to me

the same way that screamin' dude speaks to you.

Obie, I'm so sorry we had a fight over this.

Yeah, me too. But you know what fightin' means?

Makin' up, baby.

It was a really big fight.

You know what? It was bigger than that.

[theme music]

[theme music]

‐ All finished. ‐ Thank you.

(Khadijah) Let's see here.

Baby when you die, that's gonna be worth something.