The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 1x17

Directed by Jeff Melman

Michael Weiner as Kellogg Lieberbaum • Michael Landes as Chadney Hunt • Dave Florek as Coach Smiley • Keith Bogart as Jonathan Cartwell • Edward Edwards as Assistant Headmaster Armstrong

Will proposes a black history class be instituted at Bel-Air Academy, and gets a surprise when Aunt Viv arrives to teach it.

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1. Hey, Kellogg, how was your weekend?

2. Complete disaster, Carlton.

3. I took this girl to see New Kids on the Block, right

4. and all night she's saying to me, "Donnie's so cute

5. Donnie's so sweet, Donnie's so hunky."

6. I mean, what does Donnie have that I don't have?

7. My guess is you don't have the right stuff.

8. - Oh, oh, oh. - Oh, oh, oh.

9. Alright, men.

10. It's history time.

11. Smith, you're late.

12. Uh, sorry about that, coach, but, uh..

13. I just thought I'd run a few laps before class, you know?

14. Whoo.

15. Help out the old basketball team.

16. Good idea, Smith. Good way to stay ahead of the competition.

17. Might not be a bad idea for all you men who are on the team

18. to start the day with a few laps.

19. We run enough laps at basketball practice, Coach Smiley.

20. Okay, Hunt, we're not in the gym.

21. Therefore, you are to refer to me

22. by my official teaching name

23. ProfessorSmiley.

24. And for that slip of the tongue, 20 laps.

25. Alright, men.

26. Now before we start the next

27. chapter in our history books

28. I'm going to give back the pop quiz from Friday.

29. And I want you all to take these home

30. and bring them back signed by your parents.

31. Well, I think I aced this one. How about you, Will?

32. I think I did just fine.

33. And the way that you write your "A"

34. shows that you're intelligent and playful.

35. Wow! You can tell all that from just my signature?

36. - Yep. - That's amazing.

37. Do me, do me!

38. Sign right there under Ashley.

39. Okay. So what do you see about me?

40. Well, the bold vertical strokes show that you're impulsive.

41. The large capital letters show that you're committed.

42. And the little smiley face you use to dot your "I"

43. shows that you got way too much time on your hands.

44. That's all true.

45. Who does it say I'm going to marry?

46. "Handsome movie star, who will only be happy

47. if you spend obscene amounts of money."

48. You're good.

49. - Hello, everybody. - Hi, honey.

50. Daddy, Will knows how to analyze people's handwriting.

51. Yes. He's quite good, sir.

52. One look at my signature and he deduced that I was valiant

53. ingenious and have the strength of 10.

54. Hey, let me do yours, Uncle Phil.

55. No, Will, I don't believe in that nonsense.

56. I'd hardly call it nonsense.

57. Please, Daddy, it's fun.

58. Oh, God. Alright, alright. Where do I sign?

59. Oh, no, no, Uncle Phil. You deserve a fresh piece of paper.

60. - How about you, Aunt Viv? - Sure. Why not?

61. Oh, Will, this is always such a sad moment.

62. What is?

63. Getting you and mom to sign his

64. "Hall of Shame" History exam.

65. History exam?

66. Sorry, Will.

67. Mom, dad, if it's any consolation

68. I got an "A" on the test

69. and I must say I found it very easy.

70. Carlton, Ashley, we'd like to talk to Will alone.

71. Will, what is going on here?

72. You do so well in English and Math.

73. How could you do so poorly in History?

74. It's not my fault, Aunt Viv. That class is boring.

75. Don't give us that, Will.

76. No, what I meant was, they don't teach the whole story.

77. I mean, we don't learn nothing about

78. the Black people in American history.

79. If they taught that, then maybe I'd be

80. more interested and work harder.

81. You know, that's not a bad idea.

82. - It's not? - It's not?

83. It's not?

84. Carlton, stop eavesdropping!

85. 'Sorry, mom.'

86. Now look, this does not excuse your bad grade

87. but I think you've made a good point about the curriculum.

88. So we all agree here?

89. None of this is any of my fault?

90. This has been a very productive meeting.

91. Stay put.

92. Now you brought up a valid point here

93. but if you want to learn Black history

94. what are you gonna do about it?

95. Mmm-mm.

96. Don't just complain, baby, take action!

97. Write a statement about why you think more Black history

98. should be added to the curriculum.

99. And present it at next week's parent-teachers' meeting.

100. I'll go with you.

101. - You will? - You will?

102. 'You will?'

103. The administration will take under consideration the petition

104. suggesting that we change the school motto to

105. "Bel-Air Academy: Love it

106. or go to Public School."

107. Any other new business?

108. Headmaster Armstrong, I have some.

109. Ah, Mr. Smith.

110. Well, this should certainly be fly.

111. I think the students at this school are being cheated

112. out of a valuable learning experience.

113. I'm talking about Coach Smiley's History class.

114. That's Professor Smiley, Smith.

115. That will be 10 laps.

116. What's your concern, Mr. Smith?

117. Well, we learn about George Washington

118. and Thomas Jefferson

119. and all them other dudes that wound up on our money

120. but what about Martin Luther King

121. and Crispus Attucks and all the other Black people

122. that made a difference in this country?

123. It's sorta like when there wasn't no pictures

124. of any brothers on the wall.

125. You know Spike Lee's movie, "Do the Right Thing?"

126. I'm sorry.

127. The last movie I saw was "Dead Poets Society."

128. With the right headmaster that would have been

129. a completely different story.

130. Anyway, Coach Smiley, would you care to respond to Mr. Smith?

131. Alright.

132. I'd like to make three points.

133. First, in my course, we are trying to condense 200

134. and oh, some odd years of history

135. into nine months of lessons.

136. Obviously, we have to concentrate

137. on some historical figures and exclude others.

138. That's true.

139. Second, our school

140. has a fine library, or so I've been told

141. where any student who wants to can study

142. more about Black history.

143. Another good point.

144. For years I have taught my course from this

145. well-respected textbook

146. and quite frankly, I don't know a lick more

147. than what's in this book.

148. So forget it.

149. - But I think it's important. - And it is.

150. Unfortunately, the school rulebook clearly states

151. that any requests pertaining to

152. curriculum changes be accompanied by—

153. A petition signed by a 150 student signatures.

154. Article 4, Section 9.

155. Where'd you get ahold of that book?

156. I mean it certainly will take some time

157. to revise the curriculum.

158. Well, what about having somebody come in

159. to replace Coach Smiley for

160. a month or so to teach some Black history?

161. A month off? Armstrong, I think the kid's got something here.

162. Now be that as it may, I'm sure it will be some while

163. before we can find a teacher.

164. So, unless there's any other new business, this meeting is—

165. Uh, I hate to say this, Mr. Armstrong

166. but it sounds to me like you're stalling.

167. Not at all, Mrs. Banks

168. We just wanna make sure that the person we get

169. is properly qualified.

170. For example, a college professor with a Ph.D

171. who's taught Black History and Literature

172. at the university level?

173. Where are we gonna find someone like that?

174. You're looking at her.

175. See you in a month.

176. Alright, Carl, now that we're studying something I know

177. I'm gonna be the star of this class.

178. No, you're not. I am.

179. What, are you tripping? How do you figure that?

180. Because the teacher's my mommy.

181. Good morning, class.

182. Mom, I'd like to welcome you, and say on behalf

183. of the entire class how happy we are to have you here.

184. What did you call me, Mr. Banks?

185. What I always call you, "Mom."

186. My name is not Mom. My name is Professor Banks.

187. That is how I prefer to be addressed. It that clear, class?

188. Yes, Professor Banks.

189. Black American history, gentlemen

190. from Africa, to slavery, to the present.

191. Now we've all heard of Frederick Douglass

192. Martin Luther King and Booker T. Washington.

193. But Black history includes a lot of people

194. whose names and faces aren't remembered today.

195. Now how many of you have heard the spirituals

196. sung by the slaves?

197. I have.

198. Now listen to this..

199. - Hey, that was pretty cool. - Yeah.

200. Now what do you suppose the purpose of that song was?

201. Let me handle this one.

202. For those of you unfamiliar with the spirituals

203. allow me to explain.

204. The slaves used to sing them

205. to keep their spirits up and their minds on God

206. in the face of all the oppression that they suffered.

207. That was very well put, Mr. Smith, but you're wrong.

208. I beg your pardon?

209. That song was written to be used

210. as a secret code of the Underground Railroad.

211. Secret code? What do you mean?

212. Well, first of all, can anyone tell me

213. what the Underground Railroad was?

214. Now, this one I know.

215. The Underground Railroad was a group of people

216. that led the slaves to freedom.

217. And when was it established?

218. During slavery.

219. Well, that covers about 250 years, Mr. Smith.

220. Uh, care to narrow it down a bit?

221. What do you mean, right now?

222. Sit down, Mr. Smith.

223. It was established during the 1840s.

224. Harriet Tubman, an ex-slave, was one of the leaders.

225. These gospel songs were actually secret messages sent

226. to tell the runaway slaves how to get to freedom.

227. For example, "The Drinking Gourd"

228. referred to the Big Dipper.

229. When the slaves sang Follow the Drinking Gourd

230. that signaled to the runaway slaves

231. to run towards the Big Dipper.

232. Along the route, they would meet with the abolitionist

233. and escape to freedom.

234. Well, that's what I meant.

235. Could you teach us one of the songs, professor?

236. Here's one called Wade in the Water.

237. Now this song told runaway slaves

238. that the best escape route was along the river.

239. Now, late at night, these songs could be heard

240. coming from the slave cabins along the route

241. guiding the runaways to freedom.

242. Everybody, join in now.

243. Come on, now.

244. Now, alright.

245. Not bad, guys.

246. Okay, next week's assignment will be a report

247. on the Port Royal Experiment

248. and the Penn School written by Mr. Smith.

249. Who, me?

250. This course was your idea, Mr. Smith.

251. I think it only fitting that you be given the honor

252. of the first assignment.

253. Congratulations, Will. What an honor.

254. Mr. Smith will write the first half of the report

255. the second half will be written by Mr. Banks.

256. Who, me?

257. I expect it to be at least 15 pages typed

258. double-spaced, with footnotes and the bibliography.

259. This course was a brilliant idea, Will.

260. She's your mom!

261. I can't believe mom picked us to do that special assignment.

262. Word. Man, Coach Smiley never would have did that.

263. He used to say, "Extra work for you

264. means extra work for me."

265. Excuse me.

266. Dibs on the tall one.

267. Excuse me, miss. Maybe you can help me out here.

268. I've seem to have lost all the feeling in my lips.

269. I'm Carlton Banks. That's right, the Carlton Banks.

270. Y'all want to slide out of here, get a little something to eat?

271. - Sure. - Okay.

272. Will, Carlton, I've been looking for you.

273. I think class went pretty well today, don't you?

274. Yeah. Well, got to go.

275. Just a second. I've got something for you.

276. Now this book will help you with your research paper.

277. 'It's about the Penn School.'

278. 'Now Charlotte Forten was one of its first'

279. 'Black teachers and she—'

280. Will!

281. - Are you listening to me? - Of course.

282. You were talking about the Penn School.

283. What did I say about the Penn School?

284. It's right around the corner from the Pencil School?

285. Aha.

286. Well, thanks, mom.

287. Oh, Carlton, how many times do I have to tell you

288. baby, tuck in your shirt!

289. Look at you. Honestly, Will

290. Those eyebrows!

291. Now, hurry up. We're going to the library.

292. The tall one really liked me.

293. Geoffrey, I'm going on my first job interview at an art gallery

294. and I need some advice.

295. You've been on a lot of job interviews, haven't you?

296. Why, yes, Miss Hilary. I've worked my entire life.

297. Really? Why?

298. Because I've always been partial to food and shelter.

299. Okay. Anyway, I've been trying to prepare for this interview

300. but every time I think about it, I get really-really nervous.

301. I mean, like, what do they ask you at these things?

302. Ms. Hillary, it's nothing to be nervous about.

303. Just a few simple questions.

304. For example, what is your name?

305. - Hilary S. Banks. - Education?

306. Two years of college.

307. And what are your qualifications to work in an art gallery?

308. Well, I'm like..

309. An art gallery, to me, is like..

310. Well, you know, it's like, okay.

311. Okay, when I walk into an art gallery, it's like..

312. Okay, if I had to choose, alright

313. Well, you know, it's like, I mean..

314. Leave me alone!

315. You're hired.

316. Yo, yo, G.

317. - Is Aunt Viv here? - Yes, she's in the kitchen.

318. - Shall I.. - No!

319. She can't know we're here.

320. She hasn't let us watch TV in a week.

321. I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms, man.

322. My body needs a certain amount of microwaves.

323. Hi, guys. How's that history class coming?

324. - Fine. - Yeah. Decent, I guess.

325. How are you doing with your term papers and your

326. reading assignments and your economic graphs

327. of the cotton industry?

328. Dad, if you don't mind, we'd rather not talk

329. about History class.

330. Okay, suit yourself.

331. Uncle Phil, please.

332. If memory serves, this Black history class was your idea.

333. Yeah, but I didn't know Aunt Viv was gonna teach it.

334. She's driving us crazy.

335. Last night, I had a dream that I went to the prom

336. with Harriet Tubman.

337. Will, I saw this coming.

338. You thought you're gonna get a free ride

339. in that History class didn't you?

340. - No, I didn't. - I sure did.

341. Well, I don't have any sympathy for either one of you.

342. Just because she's doing a good at teaching the class

343. and making you do some hard work.

344. - You can't take it. - Look, that's not it.

345. Uncle Phil, for her own good, you have to warn her

346. if she keeps being so tough, the whole class is gonna revolt.

347. I can see it in the kids' faces. They're on the edge.

348. - Umoja. - What?

349. Umoja.It's Swahili for "Unity." Dope, huh?

350. I got the whole Berlitz course on cassette

351. for my oral report today.

352. Hey, Lieberbaum Did you take my Jet magazine?

353. No, I've got my own subscription.

354. Good morning, class.

355. Well, who would like to make the first oral presentation?

356. Jonathan, you did your presentation yesterday.

357. But I've done a whole new presentation, just for fun.

358. Professor Banks, before we make our presentations

359. we have something to say to you.

360. A bunch of us were at Chadney's house the other night

361. making our extra-credit dioramas

362. and we started talking and

363. we agreed it was a shame that you're going to leave

364. at the end of the month.

365. Oh, yeah, terrible.

366. - That's wack. Wack situation. - That's a shame.

367. So, anyway, we came up with this.

368. It's a petition for you to become

369. our permanent history teacher.

370. Shoot me.

371. Guys..

372. I'm overwhelmed. This is very flattering.

373. According to the school rulebook

374. we need a 150 signatures.

375. And so far we've collected 148.

376. We thought it'd be fun if the two signatures

377. to put it over the top were Will and Carlton.

378. Guys, do the honors.

379. After you, Will.

380. No, you go ahead first.

381. I insist.

382. She's your mom.

383. This class was your idea.

384. Okay, okay, listen, guys.

385. I'm very touched that you want me to stay

386. but I don't think the university would approve.

387. - But I don't see— - Let's get back to work.

388. Mr. Fletcher, would you care to give your report, please?

389. - Hi there, Aunt Viv. - What are you doing?

390. Just grading papers.

391. The class coming over later?

392. Yeah. Maybe you can tell us more about Harriet Tubman.

393. Yeah, I never get enough of her.

394. I think you did get enough.

395. You thought one month was enough.

396. Mom, I'm sorry if I wasn't as enthusiastic

397. as the rest of the guys.

398. You're a great teacher. It's just..

399. I hope you don't take this the wrong way

400. but you made our lives a living nightmare.

401. Now how did I do that?

402. But Aunt Viv, you read me in front of the whole class.

403. You gave us all that extra work and made us do all those reports.

404. I didn't hear any complaints from the rest of the class.

405. That's because you were harder on the two us.

406. I'm sorry you felt I was being hard on you

407. but I thought the two Black students

408. would actually want to get the most out of the course.

409. I guess we didn't think about it that way.

410. - Mom. - Yes.

411. This whole ugly episode

412. it's not going to affect my grade, will it?

413. I'm a very tough grader, Carlton.

414. And you're very beautiful, mommy.

415. Will, there's one thing I've been wondering.

416. What's that?

417. Why did you want a course in Black history

418. in the first place?

419. - 'Cause I'm interested in it. - Are you really?

420. Of course.

421. You didn't seem happy about all the work I was giving you.

422. Weren't you the one who said if you were really

423. interested in something, you would study hard?

424. Aunt Viv, I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X

425. three times.

426. And that makes you a serious student on Black history?

427. That's a very important book.

428. Will, baby, you can read that book

429. you can wear the T-shirts, you can put up the posters

430. and you can shout the slogans

431. but unless you know all the history behind it

432. you're trivializing the entire struggle.

433. Now you started something very good here

434. but it's up to you, baby, to follow through on it.