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♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ Doo-doo ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ Doo-doo ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ That's my mama ♪
♪ Talkin' about my mama ♪♪
Hey, Earl, what's happening?
Ain't nothing shakin' but the leaves on the trees,
and they would not be shaking if it wasn't for the breeze.
♪ Ba-bum ♪
Wow, you sure sound happy for a guy who's been working all night at the post office.
Every letter I sorted had the zip code.
Cliff, it was the most beautiful experience...
I've had since I lost my father's car keys the night of the senior prom.
What was so great about that?
What I was doing that caused me to lose them. [ Laughs ]
Ah.
And by the way, I'll drop off your Playboy magazine tomorrow--
what's left of it, that is.
[ Chuckles ] Oh, my good-- Ooh.
Look at these checks. From Sam Jameson,
William Jones, Duke Belafont...
rche.
Man, you have been making grand-theft bread...
ever since you've been ffices
Oh, yes. And Albert LaForche turned me on to every one of those customers.
You know something? You can tell this dude LaForche...
is a
His checks don't be having any pretty pictures of sunsets and waterfalls on 'em.
They just got pictures of numbers. [ Chuckles ]
Hey, look at this. Dig these threes. Look at that four, man.
Whoo, Cliff! That sure is a bad nine, isn't it?
Oh, yeah. Now that is a nine.
l tell you, finance...
are in a whole different world from us.
LaForche charges his American Express bill on his BankAmericard.
, brother?
adin'
Well, Earl, when you get paid regularly by checks sent to your house,
it puts you up there in a whole different class of people.
Yeah, right on up there with them people in welfare.
Oh, I'm comin'!
Grab these groceries.
Nothin' to worry about.
Yeah, not unless you plannin' on eating them eggs.
ozen.
I sure wish they had a bus that went from here to the bus stop.
Mama, why didn't you
Oh, I've told you.
We have a little extra money now.
Oh, look at this.
Ah? Eh? Eh? Eh?
How about that, huh? Sixty dollars!
And that's just from last week.
Clifton, don't you remember what your father used to say about money?
Oh, about money? I do.
addy sayin',
"Little Earl, boy, you got that five dollars I loaned you?"
[ Chuckling ] He was quite a man.
Oh, I meant when he used to say, "Waste your cash, and you'll eat hash.
money, ve roast."
But we always had plenty food on the table.
But, Mama, we don't have to s anym
Exhibit "A," "B," "C" and "D." [ Chuckling ]
And there's plenty more where that came from.
Mama, you only live once.
I want you to reach out and grab all the gusto you can.
- You understand? - Oh, I do.
Mama, he's sayin' he wants you to stop saving money and start drinking beer, baby.
Yes.
in.
She sure is fine, ain't she, Cliff?
Forche.
I-- Uh--
Nice to see you too. You remember my associate, Earl Chambers.
What's happenin', blood? How you doin', man?
There.
to pick up some supplies for the shop.
Yeah, I just love these classy neighborhoods, man.
You know, when the police hey give you
Wow, man!
Wow! That's what happens when you ride a motorcycle helmet.
[ Laughs ] Whoo!
Yeah.
Well, uh, the usual, Mr. LaForche?
Ah, thank you.
Oh, uh, no, thanks.
First, I want to kick something around with you.
business.
- Oh? - What is this, man? What's this?
- That's an antique. - Dig this, Cliff.
ne.
Does
Earl.
Oh, uh, I'm sorry. Hey, uh, I just dropped by y hello.
g meter.
And I would hate to go downstairs...
and find out that meter maid had violated me.
[ Chuckling ]
Hey, man. Dig you brothers later.
This sure is nice, blood. [ Chuckles ]
So, as you were saying.
Clifton, as you know, my business is going into business.
ke money.
Now, all the people that I've referred you to...
have been telling me what a great job you're doing.
- Well, thank you. - I've been looking to the possibilities...
A group of barbers who would go out into the executive offices of the city and cut hair.
Thank you.
.
And, if things go the way I expect them to go,
e
Quite a lot of money.
Quite a lot of money.
?
Earl, stop that sweeping. I got great news for you.
Brother, you gave it to me when you said, "Earl, stop that sweeping."
Listen to me, man. I got something to tell you.
Lay it on me, brother. Lay it on me.
Well, first, you're fired.
ccident ain.
I did not know Ernie Jackson had a hair transplant.
So, when I swooped on his head with my clippers, I lost control.
Earl, that's forgotten.
Maybe not by Ernie Jackson,
Listen, I am firing you so that we can do something...
that we've always dreamed of.
Whoo! [ Chuckling ]
e're gonna double date nd Wilma Fulton?
No, Earl. Come on, man.
I'm talking about the dreams we used to have all through school and the army.
Yeah, LaVerne and Wilma Fulton.
No.
Remember? You fired me. So I don't have to listen. ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ♪
And you're gonna be lonely too, Cliff. [ Chuckles ]
Okay, Earl, look.
LaForche wants to go into business with me.
The the
e.
Wait a minute, Cliff.
You sure he's not offering you the world on a silver platter...
ndiana
What if he is, man?
His mone
Well, right on.
It's like you got your own Bebe Rebozo!
[ Laughing ]
Oh.
Earl, you know, it's just like I was telling you and Mama this morning.
Things are starting to turn around.
Doggone it. Clifton, I'm so happy for you, man. So happy.
Not just for me, man. For you too.
What?
You will be ecutive assistant.
- An executive? - I cleared it with LaForche and everything.
Whoo [ La
ou got it.
No more cuttin' the hairs out of "Big Daddy" Carter's ugly nose?
Brother, say no more.
I am going down to that post office,
quit my part-time job,
and I'm gonna tell that supervisor exactly what I really think.
Wait, now, take it easy, Earl.
I don't need a dead executive assistant.
Hey, man, don't worry about me.
ervisor.
I ain't scared of Bernice.
Clifton, I'm so happy for you.
Oh, thank you, sis.
Congratulations, Clifton, on your upward mobility.
Thank you, Leonard.
Tracy, Leonard-- Ooh! Ooh!
ss ton got me.
- Oh, it's nothing much. - Nothing much? Just look at this.
our mother
Ooh. You know, just what I've always wanted.
I get my choice of any of these air conditioners.
And not a moment too soon. With Congress going into session,
the city will be full of hot air. [ Laughing ]
Hot air. Get it?
Hot air.
Hey, buddy.
Well, partner--
Ow! How you think I look?
You look like you just mugged Robert Hall...
Look here, man. I bought this suit on the corner for a good price, man.
And it was tailor-made too for a dude nearly my size.
[ Knocking ]
Oh, Earl, would you see who that is at the shop, and tell 'em we're closed.
Hey, man, you must be crazy. I am an executive now, you know?
I don't have to be doing those flunky jobs anymore.
[ Scoffs ] Earl, if you don't go on in that shop,
d give them at suit.
Yeah, man.
Say, what's happening, everybod
es...
Oh, thanks, Len. Wow! That's some salary.
That's before taxes.
What can I get after taxes?
If you're audited, I'd say about one to five.
Hey, Clifton. Man, look. from LaForche
es."
Cable address: Baldy.
Gimme that. Let us see here.
It says, "Dear Clifton Curtis,
"Pursuant to our conversation of yesterday,
I have given long consideration to the employment of Mr. Earl Chambers in our venture."
How do? How do, brother?
"For various reasons I consider him to be unacceptable."
Uh-- "Vis-a-vis the personal nature of your association,
"I recommend you effect his termination immediately.
Sincerely, Albert LaForche."
Let me see that, man.
[ Chuckling ] Hey, it looks like in between these...
"pursuants" and, uh,
"vise-a-vise"...
I've been canned.
Now, uh, that's just standard business procedure, right?
Sure. Happens all the time. When new management comes in,
the first thing they do is send out letters like these...
to get rid of the old incompetents.
I-- Oh, man, I just knew it.
You see that? I-- I knew it.
Clifton, Leonard, I just don't know what to do.
ght to get
Len, is anything wrong?
Oh, no, Mama. Nothing's wrong.
As a matter of fact, we were just talking about B.T.U.'s ourselves.
B.T.U.'s and sons of B.T.U.'s.
Do you think Tracy's right?
0. ike an awful lot
Well, what am I wasting my time sitting here for?
st office...
to see if I can get my job back.
And I got to also apologize to Bernice.
I didn't know that she was so sensitive about her tattoo.
Hey, Earl, man-- [ Chuckles ]
go.
Isn't that the way it always is?
Usually when I go, Clifton, you've already been, brother.
I just got one thing to say.
When you see Mr. LaForche, tell him that--
r,
but at least I got hair to cut!
You understand?
Relax, Earl.
Listen. [ Chuckling ] Here's what you do.
You tell him his name is not no LaForche.
It's "La-Frog." Ribbit. A frog, hear?
I'm sure--
Listen to me, brother. Yeah, this is your big moment.
You cool and all. I want you to get over.
But if you want to work for a dude...
that's gonna put warts all over your body,
that's okay with me, buddy.
You've got to think about yourself, Clifton.
And 10 percent of a big chance for me.
I know that, Leonard.
Well, Tracy, you've got a good eye for colors.
Why don't you go upstairs and see which of these...
air conditioner colors would go best with my room?
Oh, sure, Mama. Sure.
Don't make any snap judgments.
Come on, Leonard.
Clifton, what's the matter? What was all that about with
LaForche wants Earl out of the deal.
Oh, I see. No wonder Earl was so upset.
I just can't stand idly by...
part-time
Clifton, do you remember Ronald Shakesnider?
ake.
him.
I know why you brought that up, Mama--
because Earl looks up to me like I used to look up to Shake.
But it really isn't that simple.
I mean, this is the world of high finance, big business.
LaForche is in such a high tax bracket, he don't even pay taxes.
Clifton, your only obligation...
is to yourself
Self and my conscience.
Well, make up your mind, Mama. Which one is it?
Nice to see you, Clifton.
Nice to see you too, Albert. [ Chuckles ]
I'd like you to meet my brother-in-law...
and financial adviser, Leonard Taylor.
Nice to see you.
Thank you.
Now, then, I've had these contracts drawn up.
I'll take those.
Well, now, before we get to the contracts, Albert,
Of course.
I'll handle this, Clifton.
It concerns my client's associate, Mr. Earl Chambers.
He's out.
Well, that takes care of the Chambers situation.
seeing
[ Mouths Words ]
Wait a minute! arl?
You'll j have
He's the
Wrong? What is
My client is Firi out
I'm sure he can be persuaded to resign.
Leonard, please.
I-- I'd like an answer to my question, Albert. What's wrong with Earl?
Clifton, you're forcing me to be blunt. He's just not our kind.
.
you, me
Thank you, sir.
practice...
to hire personnel
sophistication.
Sophistication?
Well, let me put it another way. s ]
etween us,
I don't hire the type of black...
oney
and
[ Chuckl
I don't believe this.
You're a bigot!
Now, Clifton, 're being unfair.
ople
Yeah
Well, let me tell you something about Earl Chambers.
I'd trust that man with my life!
As a matter of fact, I have many times in Vietnam.
Uh, Clifton, war stories can set a depressing tone.
l.
erstand .
an important opportunity.
I'm talkin' about my friend.
Earl Chambers is out.
Well, you can't be fairer than that.
[ Do
Whoo! I've got it!
I've got it!
And I've got to put it down!
One air condition, 13,000 B.T.U.'s and pounds.
At last! Let me look at it and see if it's the right color.
While you're checking, would you check and see if I'm still the right color?
I want to plug it in while I'm still perspiring.
Oh, wait. Wait, wait, wait. Wait.
On second thought,
I'll take it back.
Then again, I just might keep it.
Mama, I think I just hurt myself real bad.
o do .
Mama!
Mama, I'm not kiddin'. There are certain parts of my body...
the towel.
Man, am I glad to see you. Where do you want this?
[ Scoffs ] Back at the appliance store.
Oh, man!
You got to be jiving!
Man, this thing has taken all the "ooh-whee" out of me.
I'm sorry, Junior.
I just hope this time I get a seat on the bus.
Mama, I'm sorry. It just didn't work out.
Well, what happened, Clifton?
Well, LaForche didn't think that Earl was the proper type...
for him to be associated with.
He thought he was too much of a street brother.
Why, that no good--
You know, there's a word .
And I called him that too, Mama.
You know, I'm really sorry to let y on all t
You didn't let me down. And I'm proud of you.
an he world.
Although, I don't know what good he's gonna be on hot August nights.