funding for crossroads cafe was provided in part... by the departments of education of the states of... california, florida, illinois... and new york. and by the united states department of education... and the united states immigration and naturalization service.

don't get overconfident, my friend. you haven't won yet. come on, victor, i haven't got all day. it took you long enough. mr. brashov, the delivery is here. can you excuse me a moment, jess ? - this won't take long. - but it's your move. i'll tell you what. why don't we leave the board just the way it is, and we can finish later tonight after the party ? no, we can't. but why not ? are you coming, mr. brashov ? because i'm going home now. but you can't go home, jess. you have to stay. mr. brashov. jess, please, don't leave yet. - so long, victor. - please, jess, just a little while longer.

too late, victor. you had your chance. mr. brashov. mr. brashov ? are you all right ? yes, i'm fine. i was just-- thinking about jess. i miss him, too. - hi, jihan. - hello. is jamal here ? - i think he's in the back. - thanks. hello, mr. brashov. hello, jihan.

everything okay ? yes, everything is fine. oh, jihan, what are you doing here ? - i was just on my way home. - how has your day been ? well, i went by the office and cleaned out my files, picked up our airline tickets and found a company that will ship our things to egypt. jamal ? yes ? why are you unpacking the same boxes you've already packed ? because i don't think we should move back to egypt. ah, henry, nice of you to join us. i'm not that late. tell that to mrs. tracy. she is waiting for her lunch to be delivered. since when did you become the boss around here ? i don't have to be the boss to know when someone is not doing his job.

thank you, henry. i have been very selfish. you would have to give up everything you've accomplished here. but we've been through this a million times. i thought that this was what you wanted to do. this was supposed to be our decision. i know that i was just offered a good job, but it's unfair of me to expect you to go back to egypt. unless it's what you really want to do. what do you think ? i think you made the right decision. you mean, you want to go to egypt ? no, i mean you're right that we shouldn't go. oh. now this one's from someone named sally. she's the lady down the street. oh, you mean the one that brought over that sponge cake ?

didn't i ever teach you it's the thought that counts ? ah, i hope it's not somebody else bringing over food. i've never eaten this much in my life. -victor, come in. -i hope i am not disturbing you. not unless you have food in that bag. no, i don't. good. derek, this is mr. brashov. he's the owner of the cafe where your father always spent so much time. oh, right. he talked about you a lot. your father was a wonderful man. thank you. mom, i'm going to take a look at some of that paperwork, if you'll excuse me. of course. please sit down, victor. have you eaten ? we have more leftovers than we know what to do with. no, thank you. i just ate. seems like everyone who comes in that door wants to feed me. i just came over to give you this.

jess and i spent so many hours sitting across from each other, staring at this board. every time i look at it i think of him. why don't you keep it ? oh, no, it should be here. but there's so much of jess in this house. i'm not sure if having his things around makes me feel better or worse. carol, if there is anything i can do, or anything you need-- the only thing i need is more time with my husband, and you can't give me that. no. for years, jess and i talked about taking a cruise. he said he wanted to show me the greek islands. but we never seemed to have enough money.

somehow, things always came up and we never got around to going. i finally bought these tickets a month ago. ten days off the coast of greece. i was going to surprise jess with them on our next anniversary. i am sorry, carol. but perhaps you and your son will go. it wouldn't be the same. i should go. thank you so much for coming by. good-bye, carol.

excuse me. pardon me. jamal, what's in the box ? my tools. i'm sending them back to egypt. but i thought you changed your mind. we did, but then we changed it back again. see you later. turkey sandwich, no mayonnaise. that's right. and i'll have a hamburger. coming right up. - hey, look who's here. - hi, henry. - uh-oh, here comes trouble. - hello to you, too. hello, katherine. are you going to be having lunch ? yes, i thought i'd see crossroads cafe from this side of the counter. - excuse me. - be back in a second. take your time. so, how is life as a civilian ? absolutely terrific. don't rub it in. - here you go. - thanks, henry. what's this ? that's the catalogue from the city college. i have to take a few courses there before i start law school. college ? law school ? what's next, the supreme court ? no, just a lot of late nights and strong coffee.

better you than me. henry, get moving. i need those dirty dishes off of table one. yeah, yeah. so how's mr. brashov doing ? so-so. yeah. i still can't believe it. are you all right ? henry ! yeah, i guess i-- where are the first-aid supplies ? they're in mr. brashov's office. come on, henry. rosa, can you handle things out here ? i think so. not while you're cooking, you can't. i'll take care of the customers. come on, henry. i'll go get the broom. you really should be more careful, henry. maybe if you weren't always telling me to work faster, i would be. "faster" is not another word for "reckless." yeah, yeah. rosa, i'll have a turkey burger, lettuce, tomato, no onions, mayonnaise on the side.

- hi, mr. brashov. - hello, katherine. there, that should do it. don't i need stitches ? no. but you must keep it clean. i'll look at it again tomorrow. pretty good for a waitress. you should have been a nurse. i was. wait a minute. you used to be a nurse ? i still am a nurse. - you could have fooled me. - it's a long story. the short version is, i have to be recertified in this country. - sounds like a lot of work. - it is. lucky for you, that's not something you have to worry about. what are you talking about ? you can keep doing your job here at crossroads cafe, and no one will care if you have any education. hey, i'm not going to be here forever. oh, really ? where are you going to go ? what do you mean ? how many opportunities do you think there are... for a busboy with a high school education ? let me know if there's any more bleeding.

henry, i just saw katherine out there. what happened to your hand ? no big deal. i cut it. oh. hey, jamal. did you ever want to become anything else besides an engineer ? well, up until the age of five, i wanted to collect garbage. so, what happened ? well, every day my parents let me take out the garbage. then my aunt let me take out her garbage. then the neighbor next door let me take out his garbage. - how long did that last ? - about a month. that's when you knew you wanted to become an engineer. no. that's when i knew i didn't want to collect garbage. [ narrator ] just a few months after his graduation from high school, edgar villamarin left his native colombia... for the united states. i wanted to see if i could make it financially,

independently of my family, and i also wanted to venture out... in doing some things that i wanted to do. [ narrator ] the day he arrived, edgar enrolled in a class to learn english and began looking for work. "i am looking for a job." i learned that very early in my english as a second language classes. and about 20 blocks down, a famous hamburger franchise said, "yes, we need somebody. we'll call you." and sure enough, they called me the same day, and i started the following day. with that little money i was able to do some things, such as go to school and save for college, which was my dream and my goal at the time. [ narrator ] for the next few years, edgar was a full-time psychology student and a full-time employee, with little time for anything else. i had the great fortune to find a job in the same city...

in a mental health agency... in a place where i would be practicing what i was studying. and i stayed there for six years until i completed... my bachelors of science degree and my masters of science degree in psychology. [ narrator ] with degrees in hand, edgar villamarin concentrated on achieving what he thought of... as the american dream. more financial comfort, a nice house, a car, the ability to travel, to entertain myself with all kinds of things. but eventually, as i achieved them, there was a sense of, "what is the point ? what is the meaning of all these things ?" and the issue of giving became... more of a priority for me in my life. [ narrator ] today, edgar assists children... who do not have fathers in their lives... through an organization called big brothers. i am in charge of a staff of six people.

beyond that, i have the responsibility... to decide who is an acceptable volunteer. and what is the big brother looking for in a little brother ? edgar's constantly in touch with all the big brothers in the program. he's familiar with everyone and all the matches... and keeps us, you know, active... and provides some of the tickets to the events that we go to, the ball games, the theater. i take very little credit for it, because i was just a bridge. i was somebody in the middle who said, "i believe that this man would be good for this child." so i think the hero is really the volunteer, and that's where the credit should go. when i get older i'd like to be a big brother, like juan. well, then it's a worthwhile program then. and that, to me, is what the american dream really is. the knowing that if you want to be...

what you really, truly want to be, you can do that here in this country. you can go to school. you can get a job. you can be the best person that you can be. thank you. carol, come in. how are you doing, carol ? hi. hi, carol. hi, everybody. would you like something to eat ? no ! but i'd like to talk to you, victor, if you've got a minute. why don't we step into my office ? okay. katherine, it was wonderful seeing you again. please, say hello to bill and the kids. i will. thank you, mr. brashov. bye, carol. take care. bye-bye. thanks for helping out, katherine. anytime. well, i'd better get back to work. - see you guys later. - bye-bye. - see you. wait, katherine, let me walk you out.

thanks. katherine ! i know exactly what you mean. when eva died, there were so many details to take care of... and papers to fill out. - my son's been very helpful. - i'm very glad of that. victor, there's something i'd like you to have. the greek islands are supposed to be very nice this time of year. carol, i can't take these. give me one good reason why not. because they're yours. and because getting away is the most important thing in the world for you right now. i couldn't possibly take this trip. i wouldn't stop thinking about jess.

what about derek, or one of your friends ? you are a friend. jess always said you did nothing but work. this would make him very happy. but when would i go ? one thing i've learned these last few weeks: never wait for the perfect time to do anything. it may not come. please, for jess. all right, for jess. so, they usually make deliveries twice a week ? unless we are very busy. then they will make an extra trip. all right. well, i think i have everything i need. please, call me if you have any questions. okay. you're not thinking of switching delivery companies, are you, mr. brashov ?

no, henry. jihan and i have changed our minds again. we're going to stay. this has been a very difficult decision. thank you for your patience. jamal, please wait. there is something i would like to talk to all of you about. what is it ? i have made a very important decision. you want rosa to cook more haitian food. i have decided to sell crossroads cafe. the man who just left here will be the new owner. his name is mr. clayborne, and he is very nice. i don't get it. henry, i am 65 years old. it's time for me to find a life outside this cafe. i want to spend time with my daughter and granddaughter. i want to visit my brother.

the only way i can do any of that is by saying good-bye to crossroads cafe. so, when will mr. clayborne become the new owner ? oh, not for a few weeks. and don't worry. he is a very fair and honest man. so, what do you think of all this ? it would have been easier to cook more haitian food. you have to pay attention to the next few minutes. it's not an option. because what we're talking about is necessity.

another way you can talk about necessity... is to use the word "must." you "must" sense that i enjoy our sessions together. it's been my pleasure. i'll talk to you again soon.

my lawyer will have copies of everything sent to you. tell him to take his time. i want everything to go smoothly. oh, excuse me. this is jamal al-jibali. oh, how do you do ? nice to meet you. jamal is a graduate of the finest technical school in egypt... and the best handyman anywhere. jamal knows this restaurant better than anyone. he will be a great help to you. right, jamal ? actually, mr. brashov, i wanted to talk to you about that. oh, don't tell me. what happened ? in the end we realized that egypt is our home, and that we can have a good life there. well, you will probably change your mind again. no, mr. brashov. this time we are both sure. sorry to interrupt your meeting. it will be a shame for you to lose jamal. well, actually, it'll be a shame to lose all of your people. i don't understand.

well, i know they're all very good at their jobs, but i have employees who've been loyal to me for years. i wouldn't have the heart to let them go. i'm sure you understand. oh, yes, yes, of course. somehow, i don't think mr. brashov is convinced that jihan and i are leaving. i can't imagine why. well, he's never going to believe what i've got to tell him. what's that ? well, in a few months, katherine and i will probably be in a car pool together. isn't the restaurant out of her way ? what i'm trying to say is that katherine and i will be going to the same college. - henry, that's wonderful news ! - yes, that's great. - i'm very proud of you, henry. - we all are. so, i'd better get going before i change my mind again. yeah, me too. i'm right behind you. i'm right behind you. are you coming, rosa ? in a few minutes. i still have a couple of things to do. all right, see you see you later. tomorrow. later.

thanks for coming in. well, i hope you have no regrets, mr. brashov. believe me, i'm sure this is the right decision. good luck, mr. clayborne. i wish you much success. thank you. so, when does the new boss move in ? as it turns out, rosa, he won't be buying crossroads cafe after all. what ? you mean, he changed his mind ? no, i did. you're beginning to sound just like jamal. but what about all your plans, all the things you said you want to do ? i'm still going to do them. i'm getting more confused by the minute. i know a manager who can run the cafe for me. that way, i don't have to change any of my plans at all. how did you find someone so fast ? oh, i've known this person for quite some time. who is he ? someone who's very smart and ambitious,

and has experience in the restaurant business. someone i trust completely. sounds perfect. i'm glad you agree. what are these for ? if you're going to manage crossroads cafe, you should be able to open the door. you're not serious. very serious, and also very happy, for both of us. see you tomorrow, rosa. wait ! what about the supply order ? oh, i'm sure you'll know what to do. what about hiring someone to replace jamal ? i have complete faith in you. but, mr. brashov, i have so many questions. don't worry, rosa. we'll talk about everything in the morning. and whatever we haven't covered, we'll discuss when i return. from where ? my daughter, granddaughter and i are going on a trip. i hear the greek islands are beautiful this time of year.

yes !

closed-captioned by captions, inc. los angeles crossroads cafe is a series that teaches english... to speakers of other languages. for information, call toll-free:

inactive activities on a glorious day! huh? let's get out there and play! yeah! sweet. whew! p-l-a-y! play! there are lots of great play ideas online.