Bringing Down the House Page #7

Just one second.

SARAH:
Come here, William.

Hey, come here.|Are you hungry?

Charlene...

If there was ever a time|I needed a favor, it's now.

You got it, baby.|Anything.

Oh, thank you!

Oh. Mrs. Arness?

Yes? Oh, yes.

My family and I are pleased|to invite you for dinner.

Yeah, oh.

Well, very well.|I wasn't expecting this.

Uh, but if you insist.

And then afterwards,|we can sign the contracts.

Of course.

Dinner is served.

I was raised|in the South, you know.

That smells just like|our Ivy's jambalaya.

She was so wonderful.

We paid her nothing,|of course, you know.

But, then, people had standards|of service in those days.

And, of course, Ivy did know

that you serve from the left|and collect from the right.

Don't...

stop at that story, because|I love hearing about your past.

That is fascinating.

Oh, yes.

Well, anyway,|as I was saying...

Yeah. Fast-actin'.

Fast-actin'.

Ooh, I'm gonna get you.

I'm gonna get you.

Uh-huh.|I'll serve your food right.

Was it the left?|Was it the right?

Father's work with the|Pasadena Republican Youth Group

has truly been invaluable.

I hope y'all brought|y'all appetites.

Oh, yes.

I brought mine.

Oh, my goodness.

This is much too much for me.

I'll never get through|all that.

I have a little less here.|I'll trade with you.

Thank you.

What, Charlene?

Nothing, sir.

Oh, this food|is so delicious.

Serves him right, anyway,

makin' me wear|this stinkin' outfit.

You're very lucky to have found|such talented help.

Well, our Ivy was with us|for so long,

we really thought of her|as one of the family.

And after every meal,

my mother would scrape|all the food we hadn't eaten

and put it on one big plate|and give it to Ivy.

Charlene...

what is that|particular taste?

It's familiar, yet...

Is it some kind of herb|like sage?

No, it's sort of more|like a milk of mint.

Milk of... whatever it is,|the taste is explosive.

Well, good, then.

Enjoy.

Oh, just one moment.

Uh, you know, uh,

there's a lovely,|sad Negro spiritual...

...that Ivy's brother used...

Are you all right?

Anyway, Ivy's brother|used to sing this

when he came in|from the tobacco fields.

Now, there's a second verse

if you'd like to join|in the chorus.

That's an unusual feeling.

- Dad?

Are you okay?

I hope your father's|all right.

Does this happen often?

Well, If you'll excuse us.

Georgey, let's go watch that|biography on Francis Drake.

We... I mean,

he seemed to be|so moved by that song.

Oh, he movin', all right.

- And tonight's top story...|- William?

The FBI needs your help

in finding fugitive at large|Charlene Morton.

Charlene is an African-American|female, 31 years of age...

What is it?

...and 5'6", 175 pounds,

with a tattoo|on her left breast.

Convicted of armed robbery,

Charlene is considered|cunning and highly dangerous.

Having escaped from the Women's|Correctional Facility

outside Los Angeles|a mere six days ago,

Morton is suspected|to be armed.

This bank surveillance tape|shows Charlene wielding a gun

and holding a customer hostage.

Charlene is considered dangerous|and may be armed.

If you have any information|concerning Charlene Morton,

please contact|your local FBI office.

That's it for tonight's edition|of "Criminals at Large."

Good night and be safe.

PETER:
Mrs. Arness,|I can explain everything.

Pete, before you lose it,|just let me explain.

There's nothing to say.

But I didn't do it, Pete.

You have to get out.

All right.|I'll get my stuff.

I don't understand.|You saw her and where is she?

I don't know where she is.

Don't drop the soap.

What the hell does that mean?

I just don't believe this.|I'm worried about her.

I hate the fact that|she's out there all alone.

You're worried about the poor,|innocent, frail creature

who can hardly take care|of herself on the street?

What about me?|Tobias is gonna fire me!

And another goody...

if Arness calls the cops,|I could go to jail!

Here's the local number|for the Bureau.

The FBI takes harboring|a fugitive very seriously.

You, gentlemen, will be|the first to hear from me.

Arness didn't call the cops,|she called the FBI.

- Now, you haven't seen me.|- I have seen you.

No, I mean,|you haven't seen me.

I'm looking right at you.|What are you...

If you do hear from her,

please tell her the cool points|are out the window and...

she's got me all twisted up|in the game.

Why you messin' with Lene?

I'm not messing with her,|I'm helping her.

Bullshit!

Uh! I'm telling you|the truth!

Listen up.|You do not reopen this case.

From now on,|I'm handlin' it for her.

I'm not gonna reopen the case.|The case is closed.

Stay out of her life.

If I got to come back here,|things are gonna get bloody.

Maybe I should|just finish this now.

We have to find Charlene.

I thought you hated Charlene.

I found out she's innocent.

I knew it. I knew it.

Where am I gonna find her?

Well, you can call her.

How can I call her|if I don't know where she is?

I gave her your phone,|in case you might...

You gave her my new|$600 titanium cellphone?

Good idea. Come on.

W-What happened to your head?

Metropolitan Museum of Art.|How may I help you?

I know who set you up.

What?! Who?

Get in.

So, what's up?

The guy points a gun to my head

and tells me|not to reopen the case.

I'm thinking,|"Why is he doing this?"

And then it dawns on me...|it's because he was involved.

God damn him.

I can't believe|Widow did this to me.

Where do you think he is?

I don't know.

Probably downtown|at this club he hang out at

called the Down Low.

Got to get a confession.

You can't go there.

Eh, man, I'm serious.

A white man at the Down Low

is either a cop, a corpse,|or a crackhead.

You can't even talk 'hood.

I'll figure out something.

Oh, and Howie told me|to tell you

that "The cool points|are out the window,

and you got him|all twisted up in the game."

Really?

That's the nicest thing|anybody's ever said to me.

I'm gonna drop you off here

because I got to get to the|office for a conference call.

So, I'll see you|in a little bit.

All right. Okay, cool.

Yeah, freak boy,|I need a ride.

Can you come now?

Damn.|A straight, cold pimp.

Looks like Gendler|beat us to her.

I can assure you, Mrs. Arness,

Peter Sanderson|is no longer affiliated

with Tobias, Kline, and Barnes.

Good.

You have great ankles.

What?!

Were you a dancer?

Yeah... well, yes.|I was.

I bet you had great presence.

Oh. How you two doin'?

I hope I'm not interruptin'|anything.

You're nasty.

W-What are you doing here?

Please, Mrs. Arness, I'm not|here to cause any trouble.

Well, that would be a first.

Julia? Julia?

Julia a little tied up|right now.

I just need you|to hear me out.

Peter is not responsible|for any of this. I am.

I mean,|the guy is a great lawyer.

And he's one of the most|decent men I've ever known.

- I doubt that's saying much.|- Shut up, fool.

If only you knew the lengths|he's willing to go to

to help a friend.

Listen... sister...

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