Cecil Gains interviews for a prestigious butler position at the White House with the formidable Maitre D', Freddie Fallows. Despite Freddie's initial coldness and preference for his own recruits, Cecil uses his refined knowledge of service and social etiquette to earn Freddie's respect and bridge the professional gap.
FREDDIE: Are you political, Mr. Gains?
CECIL: No, sir.
FREDDIE: Good, we have no tolerance for politics at the White House.
CECIL: Forgive me for asking, but how did you find me?
FREDDIE: I didn’t. You served RD Warner at the Excelsior Hotel a few years ago. He is the Chief Usher here which means he
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More from The Butler
Reconciliation at the Protest
from The Butler
After years of estrangement over their differing political views, Cecil joins his son Louis on the front lines of an anti-apartheid protest. The two men finally reconcile as Cecil chooses his relationship with his son over his career and past convictions.
The Uncle Tom Argument
from The Butler
A tense family dinner erupts into a violent argument when Louis and his girlfriend Carol challenge Cecil's traditional values with their Black Panther ideology. The conflict reaches a breaking point when Louis insults Sidney Poitier, leading Cecil to kick his son out of the house after a physical confrontation involving Gloria.
The Subversive Butler
from The Butler
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. discusses the Vietnam War and the social significance of the black domestic worker with Louis. King offers a profound perspective on how Louis's father's profession serves as a quiet but powerful form of subversion against racial stereotypes.
The Dinner Table Confrontation
from The Butler
A tense family dinner erupts into a generational and ideological clash when Louis brings home his girlfriend, a member of the Black Panther Party. The conflict reaches a breaking point when Louis insults Sidney Poitier, leading Cecil to kick his son out of the house and Gloria to deliver a stinging defense of her husband's dignity.
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