Belle's (2012) s01e01 Episode Script

This is Belle's Restaurant.
And I'm Pam, Belle's granddaughter.
And that's Belle.
She died two years ago, but our family still runs the place like she never left.
That's Jill, my single mom.
Belle's.
How can I help you? Friday, 7:30? Hold on, let me check.
I am sorry.
We are completely booked.
- How's 9:30? - We're not really booked.
But here in Atlanta, people love going places they can't get into.
Oh, Pammy, I love your hair that way.
Thanks, Aunt Loreta.
That's my mom's sister.
She loves my hair this way, 'cause she's the one who did it for me.
- Gladys: William! - That would be my Aunt Gladys.
She's Belle's sister, and head chef since my grandmom died.
William! Pam: And when she calls my grandaddy "William," - you know she means business.
- I heard you the first time! And that's my grandaddy, Big Bill, as if you couldn't have guessed.
I thought you told me you were going to get this back burner fixed? The repair man told me he couldn't fix just one.
They're all connected.
He'd have to fix the whole circuitry.
Well, I can't cook on five burners.
- The estimate was $1,200.
- I need six burners! - Make do with five.
- I cook my mustard greens - on that burner.
- You can use another burner.
Let me explain this to you.
Black-eyed peas Sweet potatoes Skillet-fried catfish Honey baby carrots Corn cakes Mustard greens with ham hock.
- Now, that's six burners.
- Then cut out the greens.
So, you're telling me to plate my glazed pork loin without my mustard greens? I'm telling you, you can take that pot of greens and - And heat it on the griddle.
- Now you're trying to tell me how to cook.
I'm telling you, I don't care if you use the griddle, buy a hot plate, rent a hibachi, or steal a bunsen burner from the high school science department! I don't have the money to fix the whole damn stovetop! Well, I'm not done talking to you yet, William Cooper! - Oh, yes, you are! - I sure am not! You always got to get the last word, don't you? - Some day Some day - Not always! This is the banquet room.
When I'm not in school, you can usually find me in here.
It's where I do my homework, surf the Internet, and write in my journal.
I call it, "The Deep, Dark Secret Journal of Pam Mott.
" Ugh.
I hate my name.
Pam Mott? It's so bland.
It rules out so many possibilities Hip-hop artist, rock star, femme fatale.
And to be honest, I don't have too many deep dark secrets.
After all, I'm only ten.
So I write what mostly goes on here, because this is no ordinary restaurant.
Belle's is a whole world full of characters you never thought you'd meet, with stories you can never guess the endings to.
Take that sign, for example.
"Welcome Crawford Clan!" The story of how it eventually got hung there Well, it's one I've been writing about ever since last week when this man Oh, I might as well just say it When this white man came in right before lunch.
I'm sorry.
Lunch service begins at noon.
Oh, uh, no.
I'm actually not here for lunch.
I was hoping to talk to somebody about renting out the restaurant - for a special event Saturday night.
- Well, that would be me.
- I'm Jill, the manager.
- Hi.
- You said, um, this Saturday? - Yes.
- Okay, let me check.
- Great.
Yeah, our banquet room is available.
So, you know what? - Come on, let me show it to you.
- Great.
This is our banquet room, and that's my daughter, Pam.
- Pam, this is - I'm Tucker.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Now, these tables You can arrange them any way you like.
Yeah, this is not going to be large enough.
Well, how many people are you expecting? 75 to 100.
It's a family reunion.
Oh, that's a large family that you have.
Yeah, we're quite a clan.
There's actually over 1,000 of us across the country.
This is just for the Atlanta branch.
Well, obviously, this isn't going to work, so - No.
- I'm sorry.
Well, that's too bad.
I had dinner here last week, and it was the best fried chicken I have ever had.
Yeah, our Firebird Chicken My mother's original recipe.
Yeah, I went through six napkins.
Wait a second.
Why don't I just rent out the entire restaurant? I mean, I'll make it worth your while.
I can guarantee at least 100 full-course dinners, and a rental fee of, what do you say, $5,000? - $5,000? - It's a very important event.
- It's our 10th reunion.
- Well, yes.
I would hate to disappoint so many people, so, um, let me talk to my father He's the boss - and have a seat.
- Okay.
- Cup of coffee while you wait? - That would be nice.
Thank you.
Great.
Loreta, coffee, table 11.
Right away.
Yeah, good luck with that.
Dad? You know how much I still love your mother? I'm not going to fire her sister That's how much.
There's a man who wants to rent out the restaurant this Saturday night for a family reunion, and he is guaranteeing 100 dinners - and a rental fee of $5,000.
- How many reservations do we have? Three parties of two.
And don't blame Obama.
First black president in history and my gross is down 18% - Figure that out! - $5,000 for the night.
- Let me think about it.
- It sounds good to me.
But let's not seem too anxious.
Let him stew for a while.
And I'll do all the negotiating.
And whatever I say, you back me up.
- One coffee.
- Thank you.
Can I get some cream, please? - Cream.
- Thanks.
Oh, and, uh, sugar.
Thanks.
- Brown sugar, it is.
- Thank you.
I think I'll also probably need a spoon, too, please? Maybe you want me to drink it for you, too? - Uh, I'm I'm Tucker.
- Uh, Loreta one "T.
" I actually, I I saw you, um, when I had dinner here last week, I I saw you then.
Oh, yeah.
I come in every now and again to help out, you know? Really, I don't want this to like, come out too forward or anything.
I just I You're absolutely stunning, you know? And I'm sure you hear that all the time? I do, actually.
Uh, well, I you know, I'm curious if you've ever done any modeling.
Oh, yes.
TV, print, fashion, runway, swimsuit, hands, legs, feet, - and the occasional music video.
Why? - Well, um, the reason that I'm 'cause I, uh My company is We're do We're going to be doing the P.
R.
for the car show next month.
And my So, we're looking for You know, we're looking for models to, um, to, uh To stand by the cars.
And exactly what kind of car would you have me stand next to? Offhand, how about a Jaguar-XF? Hmm.
How perfect.
You know, we're both stylish refined Powerful And fun to drive.
Do you have any water? If sex were kilowatts, Aunt Loreta could light up Atlanta.
- This is my father, Bill Cooper.
- Call me Bill.
Uh, Tucker.
So, my daughter tells me that you want to take over the restaurant Saturday night - for some kind of a family reunion? - There's going to be about 100 of us.
Well, you know, Saturday night, we have - the Witherspoons' 50th wedding anniversary.
- Witherspoons? Janice and Murray! We would hate to disappoint those Witherspoons.
Well, you know, a golden wedding anniversary doesn't come along every day.
They don't.
I'll tell you what I'm going to do, though.
On top of the food and the bar, instead of $5,000, I will pay you $7,500 bucks for the night.
I suppose we could call the Witherspoons and ask them to change the date.
Yeah, why don't we ask them to come to dinner at, um, 5:30? That's a good idea.
You know, old folk like to eat early, anyway? Thanks.
We've got a deal? Fantastic.
Okay, how about I give you a check now 50% deposit, and then another 25% tonight when I sign the contract? - Fabulous.
- There you go.
All right.
- Your name is Tucker Crawford? - Yes, it is.
Well, it was a pleasure.
My wife Belle's maiden name was Crawford.
Really? Well, yeah, it's a very common name.
Whereabouts exactly does your family come from? Um, our branch was from North Carolina, Stokes County.
Stokes County? Yeah, back in the day, we had a plantation in Walnut Cove.
Belle Crawford? I will have our family historian look into that.
Again, it was a pleasure.
I'll see you tonight.
Uh, Tucker, let me walk you to the door.
Oh, you know, I have some 8x10 glossies you should look at.
- Okay.
- Mm-hmm.
Gladys? Gladys, come in here! - Daddy, what's wrong? - What is it, Bill? - This better be important, 'cause - It is important.
Now, you tell me, have you ever heard of a plantation in North Carolina called "Walnut Cove"? Yes, I sure have.
That's where my great-great-grandparents were slaves.
That's how we got the name Crawford.
Why are you asking? Because Saturday night we're throwing a party for the family that owned them.
Pam: That's our bartender, my Cousin Maurice.
I have no idea who he's with, and I have a feeling, neither does he.
- You're late.
- I overslept.
Well, as long as you've got a good excuse.
Oh, look, I want you to meet, uh, uh - Gabrielle.
So nice to meet you.
- Yes.
Hey, listen, Gabrielle? There's a room right in the back for you to change in.
- Right over there.
- Who is that? - That's the new cocktail waitress.
- What happened to the old cocktail waitress? We broke up.
Okay, where is that alka-seltzer? It's in a little cup right there.
What's wrong? What's up? Look, we rented out the restaurant this Saturday night - to the descendants of slave holders.
- Not just slave holders These are the Crawfords! The family that owned my wife's ancestors! Oh, hell no! But they are paying us a rental fee of $7,500.
Slave holders who think they're going to waltz in here and have us cook their food, pour their drinks, - and wait on them hand over foot.
- That is what we do, Dad We're a restaurant.
- Bill, you're really going to - turn their business down? - I'm not only turning it down.
But when Tucker Crawford walks back in here tonight, I'm tearing his check up in little pieces and throwing it in his face! - Yeah! - Wait a minute, now.
Let's think about this, now.
Why you want to do a thing like that? It's my way of saying that I never forget! We're not asking you to forget.
We're not asking you to forgive.
We're just saying, it's It's time to move on.
I mean, it was 200 years ago.
I will not turn this restaurant over, even for one night, to the owners of the Oak Glenn Plantation, and the family of "bring 'em back Crawford!" Oh, you don't even know that's what he was called! Well, I bet it wasn't "let 'em go Crawford!" Oh! I give up! Jill, maybe you can talk some sense into that big, thick, stubborn head of his.
Dad, they are paying us good money.
And all the Crawford clan wants Klan! There! You said it, not me! All they want is dinner.
That's it dinner! All right.
Then let us serve them what they used to serve us Week-old biscuits, pigeon tongue, pig gizzards, chicken necks with the feathers on it, and turkey nuts! Let's see how they gobble that up! We could even put signs on all the bathrooms that say "blacks only"! There you go! Oh, I cannot believe you! I'm cooking on only five burners, and you're going to turn down $10,000 for one night? It is not about the money! - It's about the principle of the thing! - That's right! I'm with you on that, Uncle Bill.
In fact, they still owe us! They We should be asking for What's the word?! Um "Reparations.
" Yeah, yeah.
Reparations.
Okay, then how do you figure we calculate these reparations? It's easy! Okay, Uncle Bill? How many years do you think Auntie's family worked for the Crawfords? - I don't know, twenty years? - Okay, so, twenty years Okay, twenty years working twelve hours a day, from sunup to sundown, comes to, um 87,600 hours.
Okay, let's say back then, they were making, what 50 cent an hour? - So, that would be - $43,800.
Bam! Now, you take that number times the number of family members that were working, and let's just say it was eight slaves, all told.
- So, that would come out to - $350,400.
Now, that number you multiply by the last 212 years You come out with a grand total in reparations of? $2,971,392.
Damn, we're going to be rich! Yeah, I can't wait to see their faces when we bring them the check.
Yeah, me, either! I mean, come on, Dad! Can't you see how ridiculous this is? We weren't there then, and neither were the Crawfords.
Well, that's true enough.
But I will not dishonor the memory of those who were.
Oh, Dad? Tucker Crawford loved my pictures, and he set up a meeting for me to meet with the promoters of the auto show - To discuss my modeling with them.
- That's so cool.
Yeah.
Well, at least somebody around here cares about someone other than themselves.
- So, what do you think? - I like it.
And it smells like my boyhood home back in North Carolina.
- Good evening.
- Good evening! Jill, I would like you to meet Judge Rodney Crawford.
He is the president of the Crawford Family Association.
- Jill? - You're black.
Yes, ma'am, all my life.
- And you're a Crawford? - Yes, ma'am, also all my life.
Judge Crawford is actually a seventh generation Crawford.
He's a direct descendant of Lewis and Millie Crawford.
Yeah, they were the first two slaves freed by the original Crawford family after the Civil War.
The judge is also our family historian.
I'm sorry.
I guess I just thought - That all Crawfords were white? - Oh, hardly.
We're actually about 90% black.
The Crawford Family Association was actually founded when his father - contacted my father.
- 1957.
Yes.
They thought it was a good idea for the descendants of the slaves and the slave owners to get together at least once a year.
- Catch up, you know, celebrate.
- That's right.
And like my dad said at the time, "We are all Crawfords now.
" You know, what a wonderful surprise this has been.
I mean, to hold the Atlanta family reunion in a place that's owned by the man who married into the Crawford family.
Has your dad got the contract drawn up and ready to sign? He's in his office.
Give me a second.
I'll I'll tell him you're here.
Okay.
- Dad? - Dinner ready yet? Almost.
Tucker Crawford is here.
Oh, the "massa" has arrived, has he? He's brought the president of the Family Association - A one Judge Crawford.
- Oh, good! The more the merrier.
Now, I can tell 'em both where to get off.
There's something you should know about Judge Crawford.
I know all I need to know about his kind, which is the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
You've got a rotten tree, you've got a rotten piece of fruit.
- If you would just listen - My mind's made up.
And there's nothing you or anyone else can say that will change it.
- Dad - I've got the check right here Ready to rip up right in front of their slave-owning faces.
Now, you just lead me to them.
O-kay.
You all might want to watch this, and learn something about honor, self-respect, and dignity.
- Where is he? - Booth 9.
Tucker Crawford! - Mr.
Cooper, how are you? - Crawford I want you to know That your money is no good here.
- Well, that is very gracious of you, sir.
- Most gracious, indeed! And on behalf of the entire Crawford family, we gratefully accept your most generous donation.
- And who in the hell are you? - This is Judge Crawford.
He is the president of the Crawford Family Association.
You know, the one I was trying to tell you about? My brother! Actually, my 49th cousin, 8 times removed.
- That's right.
- The judge is also the family historian.
Yes, and in that capacity, when Tucker here, told me that you were the husband of one Belle Crawford, I looked up her genealogy on our family tree, and to my pleasant surprise, I found an old photograph of your late wife's great-great-grandmother.
And you will not believe the likeness to your late wife.
- Ooh! - Oh.
That was before I won Miss Atlanta.
Oh, I am so sorry! That is That's the wrong envelope.
This this is the, uh Her name was Betsy, wife of Samuel.
You sure can see the resemblance, can't you? I I also found an old letter that Samuel wrote in 1859.
I thought you might like to read this.
Go on, it's not the original.
It was written to his brother Dan, a year before he married Betsy.
"My dear brother, Dan.
"I have become recently smitten with a young girl named Betsy, "who belongs to Mr.
Amos Crawford.
"She's the prettiest girl I have ever seen in my life.
"Her color is the color of fresh-cut hickory.
"Her voice is as sweet as the dulcimer.
"And her smiles are, to me, like the May morning sunbeams of spring.
And one glance from her large, dark eyes can break my heart into pieces.
" Bill, I'd like you to meet some Crawfords.
- This is Joe Crawford.
- Joe.
He's a mail carrier.
This is Millicent Crawford.
Millicent's a tax attorney.
- Hey, Millicent.
- Pleasure to see you.
This is Herb Crawford.
- Herb's a refrigerator salesman.
- Herb.
This is James Crawford.
James is a pharmacist.
Oh, show me some love.
This is Phedre Crawford.
Phedre's a restaurateur.
This is Catherine Crawford.
Catherine's a kindergarten teacher.
This is Edward Crawford Dr.
Edward Crawford.
The Crawford family reunion has been officially over for two hours.
I know I'm up really late.
But there's no school tomorrow and I'm a bit of a night owl anyway.
The party has been a huge success.
And as you can see, a lot of the Crawfords are still here.
It's amazing, isn't it? That such a diverse group of people could have such a great time together.
All it took was drinks, good food, and 150 years.