The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV Series)

Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse (1994)

Will Smith: Will Smith

Photos 

Quotes 

• Philip Banks : [after Lou cancels his trip with Will and leaves]  I'm sorry, Will.

  William 'Will' Smith : You know what? Actually, this works out better for me, you know. The slimmies of summer come to class wearing next to nothing, you know what I'm saying...

  Philip Banks : Will, it's all right to be angry.

  William 'Will' Smith : Hey, why should I be mad? I'm saying at least he said goodbye this time. I just wish I hadn't wasted my money buying this stupid present.

  [takes out a small statue of a father sitting with his son on his lap] 

  Philip Banks : I'm sorry. You know, if there was something that l...

  William 'Will' Smith : You know what, you ain't got to do nothing, Uncle Phil. Ain't like I'm still five years old, you know. Ain't like I'ma be sitting up every night asking my mom, "When's Daddy coming home?", you know. Who needs him? Hey, he wasn't there to teach me how to shoot my first basket, but I learned, didn't I? And I got pretty damn good at it too, didn't I, Uncle Phil?

  Philip Banks : Yeah, you did.

  William 'Will' Smith : Got through my first date without him, right? I learned how to drive, I learned how to shave, I learned how to fight without him. I had *fourteen* great birthdays without him. He never even sent me a damn card!

  [turns toward the front door] 

  William 'Will' Smith : [shouts]  To hell with him!

  [long pause as Will struggles to regain his composure] 

  William 'Will' Smith : I ain't need him then and I don't need him now.

  Philip Banks : Will...

  William 'Will' Smith : No, you know what, Uncle Phil? I'ma get through college without him, I'ma get a great job without him, I'ma marry me a beautiful honey, and I'ma have me a whole bunch of kids. I'll be a better father than he ever was, and I sure as hell don't need him for that, 'cause ain't a damn thing he could ever teach me about how to love my kids!

  [long pause; Will starts to cry] 

  William 'Will' Smith : How come he don't want me, man?

  [Uncle Phil rushes forward to hug Will, and Will breaks down sobbing] 

• William 'Will' Smith : How come he don't want me, man?

• William 'Will' Smith : Hilary, this is...

  Lou Smith : I'm Will's father...

  Hilary Banks : Oh, come on. Will's father is a deadbeat who left him and his mom flat.

• William 'Will' Smith : Uncle Phil, that is not cool, the way you dissing my father like that.

  Philip Banks : The hell with your father.

  Vivian Banks : Philip, for God's sake.

  Philip Banks : He waltzes in here after 15 years?

  William 'Will' Smith : Fourteen.

  Philip Banks : Excuse me. Fourteen years and acts like nothing has happened. Wake up, Will. This is the same guy who didn't think enough of you to pick up the damn phone!

  William 'Will' Smith : He made a mistake. I'm sorry that everybody can't be as perfect as you, Uncle Phil, but if I can forgive him, how come you can't?

  Philip Banks : Because he's not doing this for you, he's doing this for himself and if you think any differently, then you're a fool!

  Vivian Banks : Hey, just cool it. Just cool down. We can talk about this another time.

  William 'Will' Smith : You know what, Aunt Viv? Ain't even nothing to talk about. I've been waiting for this for a long time, my whole life and ain't nobody gonna stop me. Come tomorrow, I'm out of here.

  Philip Banks : Oh yeah, I don't think so.

  William 'Will' Smith : Who cares what you think? You are not my father!

  [storms off] 

• William 'Will' Smith : Daddy-O! What's up?

  Lou Smith : Will. Man, I'm glad you're here. Some business came up I gotta handle. So we're gonna have to put our trip on hold. You understand.

  William 'Will' Smith : [pause]  Yeah, that's cool.

  Lou Smith : Just for a couple of weeks.

  William 'Will' Smith : I understand.

  Lou Smith : Maybe a little longer.

  William 'Will' Smith : Yeah, whatever. Whatever.

  Lou Smith : Look, I'll call you next week and we'll iron out the details. Okay?

  William 'Will' Smith : Yeah, yeah.

  Lou Smith : It was great seeing you, son.

  William 'Will' Smith : You too... Lou.

• Lou Smith : [to Will]  You see, the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. The first time I held you, I didn't think I'd ever put you down.

  William 'Will' Smith : So why did you?

  Lou Smith : I just wasn't ready to be a father. I started feeling trapped. Well, one day, I just panicked and ran. It was selfish and cowardly, but that's what I did. I'm sorry.

  William 'Will' Smith : Look, why are you telling me this now?

  Lou Smith : Because you're my son and I love you. And I'm a different man now. I'm ready to be part of your life if you'll let me.

• Carlton Banks : [after discovering Will's father unexpectedly]  So is he a cop?

  William 'Will' Smith : He's my father.