Residue (2020) - full transcript
A young filmmaker returns home after many years away, to write a script about his childhood, only to find his neighborhood unrecognizable and his childhood friends being scattered to the wind.
[dramatic music playing]
[rap music playing]
[male voice]
…that you hated this place.
This place where you was born.
So why did you come back?
Did you sense that our obliteration
was right around the corner?
You brought the only weapon that you had:
a camera.
Who you 'bout to shoot, Jay?
Did you actually think
a script could make a difference?
You thought a film could save us?
Or did you see yourself
as an archeologist,
coming to unearth our bones
from the concrete.
[radio static]
[female voice on the radio]
[radio static]
[classical music playing on the radio]
[radio static]
[male voice on the radio]
[upbeat rap music playing]
[music fades away]
[man] Hey, is this your truck?
Yeah.
[man] Turn the music down.
The music is too loud.
Who are you?
[Jake] I'm Jake, I live up the street.
Turn the music down.
You're also double-parked.
Don't make me have to call the cops.
Have a nice day!
[man] Can I help you?
[Jay] Uh…
Uh, no. I… think I got the wrong house.
[men talking]
[men laughing]
[Jay] Hey, what's up, y'all?
How y'all doin'?
[man 1] What's up, man?
Everybody alright?
Y'all remember me?
Jay, from across the street.
Lavonne's son?
-Over in 48.
-Yeah!
-[Jay] Over in 48.
-[man 1] Ms. V's son.
Oh, he Ms. V's son. You Ms. V's son?
What's up, man? What's goin' on, champ?
-You grew up like big, nigga.
-Yeah.
You was a little crumb snatcher
back in the day.
Yeah!
He got hair on his face and everything!
-Got a lil' darker, though.
-Well, hey, man.
Just got back from Cali today… yeah.
Trying to figure it out,
looks a lot different around here.
Yeah it is, man. Yeah,
a lot of White folks moved back up here.
Big time.
Yeah.
Anyway, I'm looking for Demetrius.
You all remember Demetrius, right?
[man 1] That's the kid you used to be with
riding the bicycle.
Demetrius who used to live up the street?
-[Jay] Yeah, yeah.
-Ah, okay, yeah.
We know D.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-[Jay] You seen him around?
-[man 1] Not lately, man. Not lately.
-We don't know where he at.
-[man 1] He be coming and going, you know.
-Yeah, we don't know where he's at.
What, he moved or something?
Last I heard, he was living out
in Maryland or something, I don't know.
Maryland? What he doing out there?
Probably doing
the same thing he was doing here,
Probably shaking and baking,
you know, getting that money.
Man he used to live up the street, man,
he not around here no more.
We ain't seen him,
we don't know where he at, man.
-[man 2] He used to live up the street.
-[man 3] About 15 years been gone.
We don't know where he at,
he used to live up the street.
Alright.
Alright.
I guess if you see him, let him know.
-[man 2] Alright, man.
-[man 3] Keep looking, man.
-Alright, take it easy.
-[man 1] Preach, man.
[man 3] Ain't no telling what that nigga
been doing in 15 years, man,
can't be giving up information like that.
[phone ringing]
-[man 1] Your phone is ringing, man.
-And he over here asking about somebody.
Can't come here asking
about somebody you haven't seen in…
[man 1] But he used to hang with the kid
back in the day.
Yeah, but you can't come around here
asking for information like that.
-[man 1] He could be Five-0 or something.
-Yeah, whatever, man.
-[man 1] Yeah, you right, man.
-[man 3] I don't know, we…
-[man 1] Ms. V., man.
-Yeah.
His mom fine too.
-Ms. V? Was she? Was she!
-[laughing]
-Lord, have mercy.
-Yes, indeed!
-She fine. She still got it!
-Yes, she was.
-Was she?
-God damn.
Make me want to go back
to the liquor store right now.
-Yeah, you know.
-I wish she still lived across the street.
I know, that's right?
[man 3] Where she go, anyway?
-[man 2] Nobody knows.
-I don't know.
But they still own their house.
Her son comes back and forth
through there.
[man 3] Right, right, right.
-[Jay] What's up, y'all!
-Hey! What's up, Jay boy!
Welcome home!
[car engine revving]
[phone dialing]
[Joe] Hi, it's Joe.
I'm not sure if I have
the right number to be honest,
but I just came across your property
and I thought I'd reach out.
I found your number on the Internet,
and I wanted to see if you'd
be interested
in getting a cash offer for
your home.
I'm a local investor,
right now I have about five to ten houses
and I'd love to make you
a cash offer for yours.
Ideally, I'm looking to buy a home
in the next 30 days or so.
If you're interested, give me a call back
and I'd love to chat with you
about making you a cash offer.
Look forward to hearing from you, bye.
[female voice] Hey, how's it going?
I'm just calling the homeowners
in the neighborhood…
[indistinct conversation over the phone]
[woman whispering]
[woman speaking in Spanish]
[woman whispering in Spanish]
Hey, son, how you doing?
Doing good, how are you?
I'm good. I'm just still doin' my usual.
Trying to get this… this work in.
That's good.
It's good to be home.
[man] It's good to have you back.
[door opens]
Oh, Jay! Is that you?
Hey, Ma.
Oh, it's so good to see you!
[Jay] It's good to see you too.
How was your trip?
[sighs] It was long, but it was good.
[Lavonne]
Is that your big old truck outside?
[Jay] Mm-hmm,
I bought it just before I got here.
How is the apartment?
A little small,
but I'll manage, I'll be alright.
[Lavonne] You need anything?
-No, I'm good right now.
-[Lavonne] Okay, well, just let me know.
Alright.
Oh, Ma, I saw this on the door.
What's this about?
-Oh, this?
-Where you been?
We been getting that all the time.
[Lavonne] It must be working
'cause people are moving.
-You aren't thinking about selling?
-Oh, no! We not leaving here.
They getting bold with it, though.
Now, you see what they wrote on there?
They calling…
This is the third one this week,
from this company. I mean…
[man] Your mom got a White boy
living upstairs above you.
[fireworks exploding]
[indistinct voices]
-[kid 1] I heard you was moving.
-[kid 2] Yeah.
-[kid 1] Where you moving to?
-[kid 2] I don't know, probably New York.
-[kids playing]
-[dog barking]
[man] There's drugs in every neighborhood.
[gunshots]
[kid screaming]
You okay?
[Jay] Mm-hmm.
You thinking?
[Jay] Mm-mm.
You feeling?
[Jay] Mm-hmm.
[woman] Hmm.
How many hoes you got?
What?
[woman chuckles]
How many hoes you got?
[Jay chuckles]
A couple.
[woman chuckles]
A couple? [chuckles]
Yeah, I mean,
I figured I gotta be straight up.
[woman] Hmm.
[kiss]
[woman] Alright, a couple…
[woman sighs]
[Jay] Come on, Blue.
I'm just fucking with you.
I just got back in town,
you think I'm puttin' them like that?
[Blue] Hmm-mm.
[Jay] Hey, how many hoes you got?
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[people talking]
[dog barking]
[dog barking]
Who the fuck is that? Jay?
[Jay] Delonte!
-What's good, son?
-[Jay] What's going on?
-What's up with you?
-[Jay] Cool, man.
When the fuck you get back?
Got back this morning, man,
that's my white truck out front.
Oh, yeah? I seen that old dusty-ass
white joint out front, man.
Yeah, man, it gets me where I need to go.
That's all that matters.
[laughing]
Hey, man but, you heard them gunshots?
[laughing] Nigga, that was me.
That was you?
-Yeah, you remember Cardo?
-[Jay] Yeah, dumb as shit.
Yeah, yeah,
he trying to sell me a hammer and shit,
I had to test that joint out,
let it off a couple times.
Make sure, ain't about to buy
nothing faulty from that nigga.
[Jay] Yeah, make sure, man.
[chuckles]
[police siren]
[car engine revving]
-Anyway, what you got going on?
-Just here, working on this movie.
Movie?
-Yeah
-[Delonte] 'Bout what?
'Bout Q Street. The whole neighborhood.
Eckington. Everything.
The fuck you want
to shoot a movie about Q Street for?
Just trying to give a voice
to the voiceless, man.
Nigga, who's voiceless?
[Jay] Niggas around the way.
[laughing]
Yeah, alright, Movie Man. I see you.
Alright, but…
anyway.
I was looking for Demetrius.
You know where he's at?
I don't know.
Stop playing, dawg.
I don't know where he at.
-You really not gonna tell me where he at?
-Nigga, I don't know where that nigga at!
[man voice over radio]
Fuck.
[car door closes]
[officer]
My man, Lonte! What's going on, Lonte?
What's up, bro.
[officer] What's going on out here?
-Cooling man, I ain't making no noise.
-[officer] Oh, yeah?
[Delonte] No.
[officer] Y'all ain't heard them gunshots
a few minutes ago?
[Delonte] I heard them,
I don't know where they came from.
[officer] Oh, you ain't heard where
they came from.
Well, fuck,
y'all having a meeting or something?
Shit, just rappin' and shit.
[officer] Hey, what's up with you, cuz?
Hey, my man!
Oh, oh-oh, he's acting
like he doesn't talk to the 12, huh?
So what y'all bout to stand here
all night?
No, y'all gotta get the fuck.
Y'all gotta get the fuck.
We done talking anyway,
I'm about to head home.
Alright, Jay, welcome back.
[officer] Yeah, yeah, get the fuck, Jay.
I'll get with you later.
Bitch ass nigga.
[car door closes]
Hey, welcome back!
[kids playing]
[indistinct voices]
[man 1] I know somebody just got robbed
for their Starter Jacket.
[man 2] You seen them glasses Biggie had?
[man 3] Talkin' about them glasses?
The Versace ones?
[man 2] Yeah.
Fam was out here killing for that!
No, you ain't gonna get killed
for no Versace, man.
[police siren]
Speaking of getting killed,
somebody just got killed for some words.
-Guess who?
-Who?
-Everybody loves him. Guess.
-What you talkin' about?
-You gotta be talking about Pac.
-Really? Pac?
-When he die?
-[Jay] Hey!
[man 3] Probably a couple of days ago,
I can't believe he died…
-[kid] Dion!
-[Dion] Yeah!
Can you come help me with my bike?
[man 3] So what happened?
You don't think Big did it?
-[man 2] Why would Big do it?
-It ain't even that serious.
-[man 3] It ain't no street thing…
-[man 2] Come on, man, it had to be Big.
What do you think about Sug?
-[kid gasps]
-I don't know. I'm not worried about that.
[Lavonne] Hey, Jay!
What time you gotta be back?
I forgot.
All I know is that 2Pac…
[Lavonne] When the street lights come on.
Yes.
-[Lavonne] What time?
-When the streetlights come on.
[door closes]
[Dion] You going to Demetrius house?
[Jay] Yes.
-If somebody's there!
-[Dion] You need help crossing the street?
Yes.
[Jay imitates engine]
[Dion] Watch out.
[wind chimes]
[muffled voices]
-What's up, man.
-[man] Hey.
Can I help you?
[Jay] No. I'm good, thanks.
[man] Oh, you moving in?
-[Jay] Uh-huh.
-[man] Dope. Welcome to the neighborhood.
[Jay] Thanks.
Actually, this is my parent's house.
I grew up here.
[man] Oh, you're Lavonne's son.
[Jay] Yup. Alright, man.
-[Josh] My name's Josh, what's yours?
-[Jay] Jay.
[Josh] See you around, Jay.
Ma, you remember Demetrius, right?
-Yeah, from Q Street?
-Yeah.
You know what happened to them?
I think they moved.
[Lavonne] I know the Grandfather
passed not too long ago.
[woman]
…and then, she tried to lie about it!
And I was just, like,
why would you lie to me?
-That just really doesn't make any sense.
-[Lavonne] Oh, hell, no!
Get off my lawn! Shoo!
[woman] I was going to clean it up!
It's not a big deal!
-Clean it up?
-[woman] No, it's--
When you clean that poop up
it still leaves a residue!
Sorry, not on my lawn!
[man] Listen, you don't have to be a jerk.
Come on, Rachel, let's get out of here.
[laughing]
Fucking crazy. What's that about?
Wait, wait, wait.
Jay, we got bigger fish to fry.
I got to get to the office.
[man] Have a nice fucking day, bitch.
[woman] Jim!
[Lavonne] Jay!
Jay, no, no, no! Jay, stop! Stop!
-[woman] Come on, Jim.
-Jay, come here.
Come on. Don't listen to him!
Jay, come on.
I gotta get to the office.
Jay! Stop! Come on!
Look, you can't fall for that shit!
He's a decoy, Jay, those are the decoys!
How many people do we know,
lives wasted on some shit like that?
Think about Q Street.
That's not you.
Demitrius
Delonte!
Come on!
Delonte, come on!
[Delonte] What about Demetrius?
We gonna go pick him up, now, let's go!
-[Delonte] You sure?
-Yes!
-[Delonte] Right now?
-Yes!
-[Delonte] Are you lying?
-No!
[Lavonne] Hey, Delonte.
[chuckles] Okay.
[Delonte] Hey, Ms. Vonnie.
[Lavonne]
Y'all ready to get to the mountains?
-[both] Yes!
-[Lavonne] Alright, let's go!
[man] Hey!
Hey, Shorty, how you?
Let me holla at you.
Yeah, I'm talking to your bitch.
Stop playing with me before I get
out this car and crush you, son.
[Blue] No! No.
-Chill out. Chill out…
Jay, you always doing this shit!
Let's get the fuck out.
You said come on, right? What's up?
[man 1] What's up with you?
I don't see none of that.
What's up with you? What you wanna do?
[man 2] What's up, my nigga?
[man 1] What you wanna do?
You should go ahead about your business.
Coward.
-[man 2] Alright, my nigga.
-[man 1] He a bitch.
Ran away and everything.
[man 2] Yo, be cool, baby!
Be cool, baby, I'll holla at you.
[Delonte] Hey, Ms. Vonnie.
[Lavonne]
Y'all ready to go to the mountains?
-[both] Yes!
-[Lavonne] Alright, let's ride!
[Delonte]
We almost at the mountains, my guy!
And watch how we see those deers,
we gonna beat them up like…
[Jay] Why?
Why would we beat up those beautiful,
majestic creatures.
They've done nothing to us.
[Delonte]
Father nature! What is you doing?
-[Jay howling]
-[Delonte] Hey! Hey!
[kids playing]
[laughing]
[kids playing]
[kids playing]
[Dion] Come on! Stop being scared!
Hurry up.
-[Jay] Hey, Demetrius!
-[Dion] Hurry up, come on.
[fireworks exploding]
[rap music playing]
[man] I'm making sure these kids alright
against the Police, that's crazy!
The Police! You gotta watch the Police!
That don't make no motherfucking sense!
[Lavonne] Did you get some crabs
for 4th July?
I'm mad you ain't bring me any.
[chuckles]
[man] Be careful!
Be careful out there, man!
[firework sets off]
Be careful!
[kids playing]
Dion!
[screaming]
[people talking]
[woman 1] Go to DC! I love DC.
[woman 2] I'm okay with it.
As long as I don't live in a crack house,
I'm fine.
[laughing]
[woman 1] Okay, so we live kind
of across the street from a crack house.
But that's okay
because our building is nice.
[woman 2] There's lots of fighting.
[woman 3] It was not a good omen
for moving here.
It's exciting, but I like excitement.
[woman 1] She was propbably one of the
stragglers we were talking about.
from, like, the old version of DC…
[screaming]
-[officer] Sir, stop resisting.
-No, no! No, no!
[man] No! No!
[rap music playing]
[Delonte] Jay! Jay! Jay!
Come on, come on, come on.
Get up get up! I just seen him!
He was digging in your pockets and shit,
come on, come on!
Son, you good, son?
Where the fuck this nigga at?
I just seen this nigga.
[woman] You bad now
or you think you a man?
You coulda got us killed, goddamn it, Tre!
Oh, Isaiah, you in this too? Calm down?
You calm the fuck down,
what the fuck are y'all doing?
It's not okay. It's three little boys
in that goddamn car!
It's not…! It's not okay!
[woman] Watch out, Isaiah,
you goin' get yourself hurt!
It's not okay and you know,
I know your mother, boy!
[man] There's drugs in every neighborhood.
[Lavonne]
Why isn't it registering… to you,
that we could be having
a funeral right now, Reggie.
-[Reggie] It's registering very well.
-[Lavonne] Apparently not.
And if I have to move again then so be it
'cuz maybe
this isn't the right place for me.
[Reggie] Run and hide. Where you gonna go?
You going to another country?
[Lavonne] Cuba.
[Reggie] Never mind. I'm going to bed.
You can't escape it.
The world is a ghetto, just remember that.
[Lavonne] You always on some Motown shit.
[water dripping]
[Blue] Jay?
[Jay groans]
[Jay] Yeah.
[Blue] You awake?
[Jay sighs] I think so.
[Blue] Uh-uh.
Don't go nowhere.
Your ass should be in the hospital.
[Jay] It ain't that bad.
[Blue chuckles]
[kiss]
[Blue] Right.
"Chill, Moe.
You like got a dent
in the back of your head, Slim."
[laughing]
[Jay] It's "kill", not "chill."
Really?
[Jay] I don't know…
I been out the loop.
Who is Demetrius?
[Jay] I don't know, some nigga.
[Blue] You was talking about him
when you was out.
[Jay] I mean, for real, for real.
Demetrius was my best friend growing up.
He used to live in that green house
across the street.
I remember his mother was Dominican.
His grandmother could cook, oh, my God.
[singing in Spanish]
[Jay] When I used to walk in they house,
I just felt like that was my grandma.
[singing in Spanish]
[Jay]
I think his father died when he was young,
so they was really protective
over Demetrius.
Back then, it used to be me, Demetrius…
Delonte, yeah, he the one
that brought me back here tonight.
Oh, yeah, and Mike, I don't think
you met Mike,
and his older brother, Dion.
They both locked up, though.
Dion, that was Big Bro.
He treated us like his little brothers.
Always looking out, man, always.
[singing in Spanish]
Demetrius!
Demetrius!
-That's you?
-[Demetrius] What up, bro?
[construction site noise]
[knocking on the door]
[Reggie] Jay!
Jay!
What you doing, man?
Get up. Let's go, come out to the car.
Let's go,
get the food your mom made for you.
-[Jay] Who doing construction?
-[Reggie] Next door.
They gutting out the house, remodeling.
That's the norm
in the neighborhood right now.
Let's go.
Don't keep me waiting.
-Hey! Mr. Reggie what's going on?
-[Reggie] Mike!
Man, how you been, man?
-It's nice to see you.
-[Reggie] I'm happy to see you.
Yeah, man, long time no see.
[Reggie] I know. I know.
When'd you get home?
I been home like two months now.
[men talking]
[Mike] Happy to be out here.
[Reggie] Yeah.
-You see, Jay?
-That's Jay?
-[Jay] What's good, man?
-What's up, Mr. University?
-How are you?
-[Jay] I'm alright.
Man, that's what's up,
I'm proud of you, that's what's up.
[Jay] Appreciate it. Good to see you out.
Yeah, man, I'm maintaining, man.
[Jay] Yeah.
[Reggie] So how's Dion?
Dion, he's still in.
He'll be alright.
-[Reggie] What about Chris, how he doing?
-Chris doing alright for himself.
Got a nice apartment,
doing the family thing.
-He found his way.
-[Reggie] I'm happy to hear that.
-Yeah.
-[Reggie] And what about Tony?
Same thing, can't get right,
man, back in there.
-[Reggie sighs]
-Yeah.
I talked to him the other day,
he in good spirits, though.
-[Reggie] Okay.
-Yeah, yeah.
-[Reggie] Tell him I asked about him.
-Yeah, I definitely will, man.
He'll be happy to hear that.
Promise me this.
You gotta promise me. You
gotta promise us.
What's that?
You gonna stay out.
We need you to stay out.
Man, I'm trying, man.
I'm trying, Mr. Reggie.
I'm trying my hardest.
We'll try to help you with anything.
But, we just need you to stay out.
Yeah.
You need anything,
don't hesitate to holler.
You need to talk or anything,
I'm here for you.
-Okay, I appreciate that.
-As usual.
-I'm trying, though, man.
-As usual.
-Yeah.
-How's your mom?
Uh…
[Reggie] Oh, there she is!
There she goes, right there,
look what the neighborhood dragged in.
-Hey! Mr. Reggie how you doing?
-[Reggie] Hey!
I'm good, Ms. Tonya,
I see you glowing and cheesing!
I been trying to figure out
why she been cheesing this whole time.
Hush, boy.
They not getting this baby back.
-[Reggie] Don't blame you.
-God is good.
-[Reggie] Yes, he is.
-They aren't getting my baby again.
[Reggie] There you go.
We gonna keep him out.
That's right.
You gonna help me get
some groceries out the car?
Yes, ma'am. Can I have this back?
[Mike] Bye, Mr. Reggie.
-So Vonnie's doing alright?
-She's doing great. She's doing great.
I'll make sure
I'll let her know you asked about her.
Do that. I'll get inside before it rains.
-[Reggie] Great to see you.
-Alright.
-Bye, now.
-[Reggie] Alright, alright.
Take the bags with you.
[Jay] Alright.
And make sure you help Ms. Cooke
with the garden.
[Jay] I got you.
How you doing over there, Jay?
I'm good.
[Ms. Cooke] You hungry?
No.
-Enjoy.
-[Jay] Thanks, I appreciate it.
-It's good?
-[Jay] Mm-hmm.
I just finished the planks,
I'll get the clothesline tomorrow.
Oh, don't rush,
I'm enjoying having you here.
-[Jay] I'm enjoying this cooking.
-Oh, good.
I'll make sure you have some tomorrow.
[door opening]
Delonte?
Delonte, is that you?
[Delonte] Yeah, Grandma.
Come here, son.
Jarell is here.
Jarell is here.
Come on, Delonte.
[Delonte] Grandma, I gotta go.
Grandma,
I gotta go up the street to meet Mike.
Grandma, why are you tripping?
You know Mike!
Grandma, I'm coming right back.
I'm 'bout to go holla at Mike right quick.
I'm coming right back,
why is you tripping right now?
Grandma, I told you I gotta go,
I'll be back, damn!
Shit.
[door closes]
[crying] Go ahead and eat, son.
You been working all morning.
Eat your food.
That boy got some demons.
He seen his own momma get shot,
right there,
right there where you're sitting.
I tell you…
[Jay] What happened?
[Ms. Cooke] His momma
was messing around on his daddy
and, and she got pregnant by another man.
-Hey, Mike!
-[Ms. Cooke] And his father knew it.
Hurry up, nigga.
[Ms. Cooke]
So he promised her he would take her life.
-[Mike] What's up?
-What's up, man?
What's up with your man,
what he talking about?
-He said five more minutes.
-Okay, man.
I'm gonna need the shit.
[Jay] What's up, y'all?
-[chuckles] What's up, man?
-[Jay] I'm good, man.
What's going on, you alright?
-How's your head?
-[Jay] Good, man.
Let me see.
[laughing]
Humpty Dumpty ass nigga, man.
Hey go ahead, man.
That's fucked up, man.
[Jay] What ya'll up to, though?
We about to ride uptown,
waiting on his man.
[Jay] Yeah?
[Mike] Mm-hmm.
Hey, good looking out, though man.
Don't trip off that shit,
you gotta be more careful.
Niggas move to Cali and get soft.
Who's soft?
Nigga was on a bike with two flat tires.
Not two flat tires! He riding on rims?
Unc was pedaling hard as shit.
[laughing]
[Mike] Go ahead, man.
Hey, it be like that sometimes,
happens to the best of us, man.
-It be like that sometimes.
-It wasn't nothing.
-[Delonte] Want some seeds?
-No, I'm good.
Hey, you seen Demetrius?
Everybody trying to act like
they don't know what I'm talking about.
-Demetrius?
-Yeah.
Demetrius--
Son, why the fuck you keep asking
about this man?
-[Jay] What?
-Like now I'm getting curious.
-Like what, you the feds or something?
-No, he ain't no like that.
Then why you keep asking about him?
I done seen you walking around here
knocking on everybody door
trying to find out where this man at!
[Jay] That's my man!
What you mean?
-Then let him do him!
-Your man just coming home.
You know what I'm saying. He just trying
to see where this man at.
-What's up with his man.
-Fuck all that.
This ain't about his man, It's about
his motherfucking movie.
Son, that's how you feel?
It just hit me anyway, we out.
What? Hey, son, that's how you feel?
[Delonte] Yeah, nigga!
Hey, Mike, that's how you feel too?
You know it ain't even like that,
you know he be tripping.
Come on, son, you know where he at, right?
-Listen, I'ma make this move--
-[Delonte] Hit the road, move, Mike.
I'ma come back, we gonna holla one on one.
I'ma talk with you about it.
Come on, man Don't do me like that.
We ain't got time right now.
I'm on the move.
When I get back,
I promise I'ma holla at you.
It's me, come on, man. I got you.
[dog barking]
[dog barking]
[man] Well… we're gonna have some beer,
and food, and music, and stuff like that.
-So…
-Okay.
[man] I thought maybe you guys
would like to come and hang out.
Yes, so I don't know what we're doing
on 4th July yet,
but maybe we could come through.
[man] Okay, that would be cool.
-Thank you for your kindness.
-[man] I like to have a big party.
-Okay.
-[man] Are you guys settled in?
Getting used to the area again?
Cool. Alright.
Alright well, then I guess uh,
hopefully, I'll see you on the 4th.
-Later.
-Alright, bye.
What was that about?
[Jay] Ain't nothing.
Okay.
[Lavonne] Oh…
-Her little thighs and…
-Mm-hmm.
[Reggie] Believe it or not,
she wearing that same type of outfit now.
[laughing]
[Lavonne]
Fashion just keeps going back around.
Hey, Jay!
Since you're working
on that script about Q Street,
we decided to break out the old slides.
[Reggie]
Yeah, all these beautiful photos I took.
-[Lavonne] You took?
-[Reggie] Yes.
-[Lavonne] That's my work.
-[Reggie] But I took the majority of them.
-[Lavonne] Oh, here you go.
-[Reggie] The best ones.
No.
[Lavonne] You remember Dion from Q Street?
Yeah.
[Lavonne] Found this letter
that he wrote you, a few years back.
[Reggie] Did you ever respond
to that letter or any of his letters?
No.
[Lavonne]
Well, maybe you should now. Check on him.
Or maybe even go see him.
[Reggie]
That was your neighborhood big brother.
You looked up to him,
followed him around everywhere he went.
He misses you.
No.
He ain't trying to see me.
-[Reggie] Why you say that?
-[Lavonne] How do you know?
[Jay] All these letters he been writing,
I never wrote him back.
Who would want to see me, right?
[Reggie] Why wouldn't he,
if he took the time out to write you?
-[Lavonne] Go see him, Jay.
-[Reggie] Yeah.
It means a lot to him.
Alright.
[Lavonne] I recognize my work. "The best."
[Reggie]
No, I'm the man behind the camera.
[Lavonne]
Oh, yeah? Wait till you see this.
[Reggie] Is that Tonya?
[Lavonne] Yeah! Look how young she looks!
[Reggie] I know, and she was big.
[Lavonne] Well, she was pregnant!
-That's baby Mike in there!
-[Reggie] Oh, really?
-You know, he's out now.
-[Lavonne] Oh, yeah?
[Reggie]
Yeah, I saw him on Q Street the other day.
He's looking good. I was
happy to see him.
-[Lavonne] That's good.
-[Reggie] Yeah.
I had him promise me
he would stay out of trouble.
…and, and me being here with you,
I don't feel like I'm growing
towards that,
I don't feel like I'm growing
towards my higher self.
I just feel like…
Hold on, this my dad.
Hey, Reggie, what's up, man?
Right now?
Dawg, it's raining outside!
Alright, alright, I'm coming, I'm coming.
Hey, hold on, where you going?
[Blue]
I don't even want to be here, like…
[Jay] Hold on.
Sit down, sit down right quick.
Alright, let me go handle this,
I'ma go talk to my dad real quick.
I'll be back,
we'll talk about it, alright?
Alright?
[Reggie] Tonya!
Ms. Tonya!
What you doing out in the rain?
What's wrong?
[Ms. Tonya] They got him, Reggie.
They got my baby, Reggie.
[Reggie] Jay! Jay!
[Ms. Tonya] They got him.
They got my baby, Reggie.
[thunder crashes]
-[Reggie] Hey!
-[Ms. Tonya] They got him, Reggie!
They got my baby!
They got him! They got him! They got him!
They… They got him, Reggie!
[thunder crashes]
[Ms. Tonya screams]
They got him! They got him, Reggie!
They got my baby, Reggie!
They got my baby, Reggie!
They got my baby, Reggie!
They got my baby!
They got my baby! They got my baby!
They got my baby! They got him!
[thunder crashes]
[thunder crashes]
[dog barking]
You good? Everything good?
Cooling man, you know how I do.
Moving back to Cali?
Yeah, in about a week.
Hey, man.
Did I ever say goodbye when I left?
I mean, when we was leaving… moving.
I mean, I don't know.
I remember when y'all left, though.
What you remember?
I remember we all rode our bikes
to y'all new house.
-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah, nigga, you don't remember that?
Not really.
Who was with us?
It was me, you, Demetrius, Ceecee, Jacob.
It was all of us.
Damn, that's wild. You got a
good ass memory, man.
Yeah, I remember
because I couldn't believe
how big y'all house was.
Y'all house was big as shit.
That's wild man,
it's crazy you remember that.
Yeah, man, everybody remember that.
Y'all house was the cornerstone, son.
Mrs. Vonnie, Mr. Reggie,
everybody felt that.
Anyway, what's up with the film?
It's coming together, you know,
I got some good stuff to write.
I'ma write it when I get back to L.A.
Yeah, I seen you going house to house,
getting information.
Yeah.
You know I been thinking
about doing something,
writing a movie or a book or something.
Oh, for real?
-Just an idea.
-Yeah? What's it about?
-Nothing too much, man.
-Come on, man. You not gonna tell me?
Come on.
Alright.
It's about this boy who live in a warzone,
and he had this brother,
they was real tight.
The boy end up leaving,
going to do his own thing,
while the brother
had to stay home in the warzone,
take care of the family,
put food on the table,
make sure everybody's straight.
The brother that's gone don't know
what's going on, he living it up.
The other brother gotta take care
of them responsibilities.
The brother that's gone,
he comes back home,
it's still a warzone,
but now it's a jungle.
He thinking everything's sweet
in this jungle.
His own family
don't give a shit about him.
And they know
that he don't give a shit about them.
'Cuz he left.
No matter what he say,
no matter what he do,
they see
right through his transparent ass.
But, hey.
It's just an idea.
Little movie or something
I been thinking about doing.
I don't know if I'ma do it for real.
Just an idea.
But, hey, I ain't gonna hold you,
I know you got shit packed.
You be safe, man.
[Delonte] Have fun out in Cali too.
[Ms. Cooke echoing]
That boy got some demons.
He seen his own momma get shot.
Right there,
right there where you're sitting.
His momma was messing around on his daddy
and she got pregnant by another man.
And his father knew it.
So he promised her he would
take her life.
And he told her: "I'll do it
in front of your whole family."
I tell you, I never seen nothing
like that in my life.
Coming so heavy on her. He was so crazy.
Just the idea that she
had another man,
and he had a lot of women,
a lot of women.
That's what's wrong with Delonte.
Delonte suffered so much.
[gunshot]
No!
[Ms. Cooke echoing]
He talked all this mess about her,
but he was just as bad, he was worse.
Both of them,
both of them was out there on them drugs.
He said he would killed all of us.
[Ms. Cooke]
Call the police, call the police, baby.
Go, hurry up!
[door opening]
[Ms. Cooke]
That what's wrong with Delonte.
[screaming]
[rambling]
Who's that?
[panting]
[screaming] Who's that? Who's that?
Who's that? Who's that?
Are you okay? Damn!
What's wrong with you?
[panting]
[soft music playing]
♪ How can I love
With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ With all the hate I see? ♪
Y'all grew up together?
Yeah.
He was a lot older than me, though.
[Jay]
But he looked out for me too, though.
Taught me how to fight and shit.
But you don't know how to fight, babe.
[Jay mumbling]
You said what?
Shut your ass up, nigga.
[laughing]
So you ain't seen him
since y'all was kids?
I think I seen him
maybe once like ten years ago.
He was doing alright.
You know, had a job, kids, a family.
The whole thing.
Damn.
What they got him for now?
I don't know.
Probably possession, though.
[Jay] Niggas dealing with the same shit.
These White boys
making a fucking killing…
and niggas wasting away in jail.
Hey, man, what's up?
How you been?
How you holding up?
[car engine fades away]
[muffled voices]
[male voice over speaker]
[man breathes heavily]
[sighs]
[people talking]
[Dion] What's up, bro?
Good man, just thinking.
[Dion]
That's the best thing to do out here, man.
Yeah.
[Dion] Used to come out here a lot
when you was gone, man.
Oh, yeah?
[Dion] Yeah, do that and just think.
Look at the birds. Listen to them!
The smell, everything.
You don't get this in the city,
that's for sure.
You sure don't.
How you feeling, though?
-[Dion] I can't complain, man.
-Yeah?
[Dion] Just walking it down.
Hey, man.
Sorry about the letters,
you know, not writing.
[Dion] Fuck them letters, man,
don't worry about that.
I'm happy you here, dawg,
that's all that really matters, bro.
You don't remember the mountains,
though, do you?
Yeah!
Looks just like we left it too.
[Dion] No bullshit.
[Jay] Remember the creek?
Hell, yeah, I remember that creek.
[Jay] Hell, yeah.
[Dion]
You don't remember that swing, though,
[Jay]
Oh, when we was swinging into the water?
[Dion] Hell, yeah.
[Jay] That shit was fun, dawg.
Until the water was too low
and you bust your ass on them rocks.
That wasn't so fun, was it?
[Jay] Yeah.
-[Dion] Yeah, no bullshit.
Oh, what's up with your grandmother, man?
-How's she?
-[Jay] You remember my grandmother?
Hell, yeah, Grandma Marilyn, right?
-[Jay] Yeah.
-Yeah.
[Jay] She loved you, man.
I loved her too, man.
She used to treat me like her own blood,
man, I'll never forget her.
[Jay] Nigga.
You probably don't remember this,
but I remember when we was little,
we was in the car
and I was trying to get a cup
to pass it to my Grandma,
and I accidentally
hit her in the face with it.
I remember, dawg, you got buck as shit.
You was like:
"Hey, nigga! Don't be hitting
my Grandmother like that!"
Hold up, nigga,
you getting beside yourself, ain't you?
-You got a little size on you.
-[Jay] You scared now?
[laughing]
[Jay] Yeah! Yeah!
[laughing] Come on.
Damn, dawg, you still got it.
[Dion sighs]
How she doing now, though?
She passed away.
Damn.
-[Jay] Yeah.
-That's how it go, though, right?
We all gotta punch that clock some time.
[Jay] Yeah.
[Dion] Damn.
That's how it go.
[Jay] Come on.
[knocking on door]
[guard]
Alright, come on, wrap it up. Let's go!
[Jay] Hey.
What's up?
I been looking for Demetrius,
you know where he at?
Yeah, word is they moved
out Maryland somewhere.
-[Jay] Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.
Delonte could tell you, though.
Him and Demetrius got tight
the last couple years.
-For real?
-[Dion] No bullshit.
[guard] Time! Come on out!
[knocking on door]
[sobbing]
[Jay sobbing]
[Jay crying]
[crying]
Big Bro.
[crying]
I wish I could have done something.
Alright, homie.
Good to see you, man.
-Tell Mrs. LaVonne and Reggie…
-[knocking on door]
I said I love them
and I think about them all the time.
Thanks for coming to see me.
-Love you, homie.
-Love you too, man.
[chains rattling]
[Jay] Sorry about them letters, man.
[Dion] Fuck them letters!
[rap music playing]
[crowd talking]
Jay!
-Jay, come talk to me! Jay, talk to me!
-Get the fuck off me!
-Jay!
-Back up off me!
-Get the fuck off me!
-What is wrong with you?
What the fuck is wrong with you?
You don't even know these niggas!
You just met them!
All this shit going on
and you wanna smoke with these niggas?
You don't stand for shit!
Fuck you!
[tapping on chair]
[tapping on chair]
[tapping on chair]
[tapping on legs]
[knocking on wall]
[tapping on chest]
[knocking on wall]
[boy] Hear me out!
[knocking on wall]
[tapping and knocking]
[bicycle rolling]
I heard you were looking for me.
Son, where is Demetrius?
-[Delonte] Hey, Jay, don't make me have--
-Where the fuck is he!
Mike is dead!
Under the concrete, son.
Never coming back.
Dion will be an old man
by the time he get out this time.
And these White folks goin' paint
over the city like we never existed.
Pave right over us!
I'm trying to tell this story for you,
for Dion, for Demetrius--
You ain't that important
and you ain't saving nobody.
You damn sure ain't saving me.
[Delonte] Jay, don't act all sad now.
Don't forget, you left us.
Where was you at?
You wasn't here.
You was out Cali, living the life,
while we in the city trying to survive.
You come back in the city now
talking about some…
"Where Demetrius at" like
you really care.
You ain't care.
You only care about yourself.
Yourself, and that motherfucking movie.
[man] What the fuck is your problem, man?
[grunting]
[man]
911? There's a guy beating up my friend!
[coughs]
[man grunting]
This my home!
[man grunting]
My home!
[police siren]
[woman] Whoa. [chuckles]
-[man] Whoa!
-[woman] Oh!
-[man] Jesus!
-[woman] Holly shit!
[man] What the fuck?
-[woman] Oh, my God!
-[man] What are they doing?
-[man] Are those…
-[woman] No fucking way!
-There's…
-[man] Where'd they go? Did…?
[woman] No, I can't see them anymore.
They…
They're like all the way down there.
[man] Does that happen a lot?
-[woman] No.
-[man] Like…
No, not… not really.
I mean, apparently,
it used to be like that
all the time, but…
the neighborhood
has been cleaned up since then.
-[man] Jesus!
-[woman] I guess.
-[man] What is this neighborhood anyway?
-[woman] Uh…
NoMa.
It's NoMa, but it used to be Eckington.
-But, NoMa.
-[man] What's NoMa?
North Massachusetts Ave.
So it's like
how they abbreviate stuff in New York.
Like SoHo.
-[man] Oh, oh, oh! Like different…
-[woman] Yeah.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [man] Or have you heard of WeHo?
West… That's West Hollywood.
-[woman] Yeah, exactly.
-[man] That's so horrible.
[woman] SoHa? SoHa? Do you know?
-[man] No.
-South Harlem…
-[Demetrius] So, I heard you was moving.
-[Jay] Yeah.
-[Demetrius] Where you moving to?
-[Jay] I don't know, probably New York.
[Demetrius] How long you think
you gonna be living there?
[Jay] Two weeks.
[Demetrius]
And then you 'bout to come back
or you 'bout to live somewhere else?
[Jay] I could come back.
[Demetrius] Okay.
-Is you gonna be here when I get back?
-[Demetrius] Yeah.
You sure?
[heart beat sound]
[soft music playing]
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Oh, ooh, yeah ♪
♪ One game, game ♪
♪ Hmm ♪
♪ How can I love
With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ And what did I feel
When you lied to me? ♪
♪ When you lied to me? ♪
♪ I'm giving my heart so I cry you see ♪
♪ I gotta cry, you see ♪
♪ I'm keeping it real
So don't hate on me ♪
♪ And I need ♪
♪ My intentional love
Won't change for anything ♪
♪ Hmm ♪
♪ But all I wanna know is ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love ♪
♪ What is love ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ They say that I'm wrong
I'm doing anything ♪
♪ I won't say that I'm right
I'm doing anything ♪
♪ I'm doing anything ♪
♪ I heard all them love songs
So you feel my pain ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ So many people use your name in vain ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ There're better words
But still we choose you first ♪
♪ Sweet lady, would you be my lover
For a lifetime? ♪
♪ Please, don't go ♪
♪ Please, don't go ♪
♪ I heard all them love songs
So can you feel my pain? ♪
♪ But what I'm trying to know is ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ What can I do
If I don't have no choice? ♪
♪ I'm singing this song
For who don't have no voice ♪
♪ I've been through some pain
So I'm paranoid ♪
♪ And it might seem strange
But I've been here before ♪
♪ How can I love
With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ I'm giving my heart so I cry You see ♪
♪ I'm turning my dreams into reality ♪
♪ Into reality ♪
♪ My intentional love
Won't change for anything ♪
♪ But all I wanna know is ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What it is? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
[music fades away]
[rap music playing]
[male voice]
…that you hated this place.
This place where you was born.
So why did you come back?
Did you sense that our obliteration
was right around the corner?
You brought the only weapon that you had:
a camera.
Who you 'bout to shoot, Jay?
Did you actually think
a script could make a difference?
You thought a film could save us?
Or did you see yourself
as an archeologist,
coming to unearth our bones
from the concrete.
[radio static]
[female voice on the radio]
[radio static]
[classical music playing on the radio]
[radio static]
[male voice on the radio]
[upbeat rap music playing]
[music fades away]
[man] Hey, is this your truck?
Yeah.
[man] Turn the music down.
The music is too loud.
Who are you?
[Jake] I'm Jake, I live up the street.
Turn the music down.
You're also double-parked.
Don't make me have to call the cops.
Have a nice day!
[man] Can I help you?
[Jay] Uh…
Uh, no. I… think I got the wrong house.
[men talking]
[men laughing]
[Jay] Hey, what's up, y'all?
How y'all doin'?
[man 1] What's up, man?
Everybody alright?
Y'all remember me?
Jay, from across the street.
Lavonne's son?
-Over in 48.
-Yeah!
-[Jay] Over in 48.
-[man 1] Ms. V's son.
Oh, he Ms. V's son. You Ms. V's son?
What's up, man? What's goin' on, champ?
-You grew up like big, nigga.
-Yeah.
You was a little crumb snatcher
back in the day.
Yeah!
He got hair on his face and everything!
-Got a lil' darker, though.
-Well, hey, man.
Just got back from Cali today… yeah.
Trying to figure it out,
looks a lot different around here.
Yeah it is, man. Yeah,
a lot of White folks moved back up here.
Big time.
Yeah.
Anyway, I'm looking for Demetrius.
You all remember Demetrius, right?
[man 1] That's the kid you used to be with
riding the bicycle.
Demetrius who used to live up the street?
-[Jay] Yeah, yeah.
-Ah, okay, yeah.
We know D.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-[Jay] You seen him around?
-[man 1] Not lately, man. Not lately.
-We don't know where he at.
-[man 1] He be coming and going, you know.
-Yeah, we don't know where he's at.
What, he moved or something?
Last I heard, he was living out
in Maryland or something, I don't know.
Maryland? What he doing out there?
Probably doing
the same thing he was doing here,
Probably shaking and baking,
you know, getting that money.
Man he used to live up the street, man,
he not around here no more.
We ain't seen him,
we don't know where he at, man.
-[man 2] He used to live up the street.
-[man 3] About 15 years been gone.
We don't know where he at,
he used to live up the street.
Alright.
Alright.
I guess if you see him, let him know.
-[man 2] Alright, man.
-[man 3] Keep looking, man.
-Alright, take it easy.
-[man 1] Preach, man.
[man 3] Ain't no telling what that nigga
been doing in 15 years, man,
can't be giving up information like that.
[phone ringing]
-[man 1] Your phone is ringing, man.
-And he over here asking about somebody.
Can't come here asking
about somebody you haven't seen in…
[man 1] But he used to hang with the kid
back in the day.
Yeah, but you can't come around here
asking for information like that.
-[man 1] He could be Five-0 or something.
-Yeah, whatever, man.
-[man 1] Yeah, you right, man.
-[man 3] I don't know, we…
-[man 1] Ms. V., man.
-Yeah.
His mom fine too.
-Ms. V? Was she? Was she!
-[laughing]
-Lord, have mercy.
-Yes, indeed!
-She fine. She still got it!
-Yes, she was.
-Was she?
-God damn.
Make me want to go back
to the liquor store right now.
-Yeah, you know.
-I wish she still lived across the street.
I know, that's right?
[man 3] Where she go, anyway?
-[man 2] Nobody knows.
-I don't know.
But they still own their house.
Her son comes back and forth
through there.
[man 3] Right, right, right.
-[Jay] What's up, y'all!
-Hey! What's up, Jay boy!
Welcome home!
[car engine revving]
[phone dialing]
[Joe] Hi, it's Joe.
I'm not sure if I have
the right number to be honest,
but I just came across your property
and I thought I'd reach out.
I found your number on the Internet,
and I wanted to see if you'd
be interested
in getting a cash offer for
your home.
I'm a local investor,
right now I have about five to ten houses
and I'd love to make you
a cash offer for yours.
Ideally, I'm looking to buy a home
in the next 30 days or so.
If you're interested, give me a call back
and I'd love to chat with you
about making you a cash offer.
Look forward to hearing from you, bye.
[female voice] Hey, how's it going?
I'm just calling the homeowners
in the neighborhood…
[indistinct conversation over the phone]
[woman whispering]
[woman speaking in Spanish]
[woman whispering in Spanish]
Hey, son, how you doing?
Doing good, how are you?
I'm good. I'm just still doin' my usual.
Trying to get this… this work in.
That's good.
It's good to be home.
[man] It's good to have you back.
[door opens]
Oh, Jay! Is that you?
Hey, Ma.
Oh, it's so good to see you!
[Jay] It's good to see you too.
How was your trip?
[sighs] It was long, but it was good.
[Lavonne]
Is that your big old truck outside?
[Jay] Mm-hmm,
I bought it just before I got here.
How is the apartment?
A little small,
but I'll manage, I'll be alright.
[Lavonne] You need anything?
-No, I'm good right now.
-[Lavonne] Okay, well, just let me know.
Alright.
Oh, Ma, I saw this on the door.
What's this about?
-Oh, this?
-Where you been?
We been getting that all the time.
[Lavonne] It must be working
'cause people are moving.
-You aren't thinking about selling?
-Oh, no! We not leaving here.
They getting bold with it, though.
Now, you see what they wrote on there?
They calling…
This is the third one this week,
from this company. I mean…
[man] Your mom got a White boy
living upstairs above you.
[fireworks exploding]
[indistinct voices]
-[kid 1] I heard you was moving.
-[kid 2] Yeah.
-[kid 1] Where you moving to?
-[kid 2] I don't know, probably New York.
-[kids playing]
-[dog barking]
[man] There's drugs in every neighborhood.
[gunshots]
[kid screaming]
You okay?
[Jay] Mm-hmm.
You thinking?
[Jay] Mm-mm.
You feeling?
[Jay] Mm-hmm.
[woman] Hmm.
How many hoes you got?
What?
[woman chuckles]
How many hoes you got?
[Jay chuckles]
A couple.
[woman chuckles]
A couple? [chuckles]
Yeah, I mean,
I figured I gotta be straight up.
[woman] Hmm.
[kiss]
[woman] Alright, a couple…
[woman sighs]
[Jay] Come on, Blue.
I'm just fucking with you.
I just got back in town,
you think I'm puttin' them like that?
[Blue] Hmm-mm.
[Jay] Hey, how many hoes you got?
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[people talking]
[dog barking]
[dog barking]
Who the fuck is that? Jay?
[Jay] Delonte!
-What's good, son?
-[Jay] What's going on?
-What's up with you?
-[Jay] Cool, man.
When the fuck you get back?
Got back this morning, man,
that's my white truck out front.
Oh, yeah? I seen that old dusty-ass
white joint out front, man.
Yeah, man, it gets me where I need to go.
That's all that matters.
[laughing]
Hey, man but, you heard them gunshots?
[laughing] Nigga, that was me.
That was you?
-Yeah, you remember Cardo?
-[Jay] Yeah, dumb as shit.
Yeah, yeah,
he trying to sell me a hammer and shit,
I had to test that joint out,
let it off a couple times.
Make sure, ain't about to buy
nothing faulty from that nigga.
[Jay] Yeah, make sure, man.
[chuckles]
[police siren]
[car engine revving]
-Anyway, what you got going on?
-Just here, working on this movie.
Movie?
-Yeah
-[Delonte] 'Bout what?
'Bout Q Street. The whole neighborhood.
Eckington. Everything.
The fuck you want
to shoot a movie about Q Street for?
Just trying to give a voice
to the voiceless, man.
Nigga, who's voiceless?
[Jay] Niggas around the way.
[laughing]
Yeah, alright, Movie Man. I see you.
Alright, but…
anyway.
I was looking for Demetrius.
You know where he's at?
I don't know.
Stop playing, dawg.
I don't know where he at.
-You really not gonna tell me where he at?
-Nigga, I don't know where that nigga at!
[man voice over radio]
Fuck.
[car door closes]
[officer]
My man, Lonte! What's going on, Lonte?
What's up, bro.
[officer] What's going on out here?
-Cooling man, I ain't making no noise.
-[officer] Oh, yeah?
[Delonte] No.
[officer] Y'all ain't heard them gunshots
a few minutes ago?
[Delonte] I heard them,
I don't know where they came from.
[officer] Oh, you ain't heard where
they came from.
Well, fuck,
y'all having a meeting or something?
Shit, just rappin' and shit.
[officer] Hey, what's up with you, cuz?
Hey, my man!
Oh, oh-oh, he's acting
like he doesn't talk to the 12, huh?
So what y'all bout to stand here
all night?
No, y'all gotta get the fuck.
Y'all gotta get the fuck.
We done talking anyway,
I'm about to head home.
Alright, Jay, welcome back.
[officer] Yeah, yeah, get the fuck, Jay.
I'll get with you later.
Bitch ass nigga.
[car door closes]
Hey, welcome back!
[kids playing]
[indistinct voices]
[man 1] I know somebody just got robbed
for their Starter Jacket.
[man 2] You seen them glasses Biggie had?
[man 3] Talkin' about them glasses?
The Versace ones?
[man 2] Yeah.
Fam was out here killing for that!
No, you ain't gonna get killed
for no Versace, man.
[police siren]
Speaking of getting killed,
somebody just got killed for some words.
-Guess who?
-Who?
-Everybody loves him. Guess.
-What you talkin' about?
-You gotta be talking about Pac.
-Really? Pac?
-When he die?
-[Jay] Hey!
[man 3] Probably a couple of days ago,
I can't believe he died…
-[kid] Dion!
-[Dion] Yeah!
Can you come help me with my bike?
[man 3] So what happened?
You don't think Big did it?
-[man 2] Why would Big do it?
-It ain't even that serious.
-[man 3] It ain't no street thing…
-[man 2] Come on, man, it had to be Big.
What do you think about Sug?
-[kid gasps]
-I don't know. I'm not worried about that.
[Lavonne] Hey, Jay!
What time you gotta be back?
I forgot.
All I know is that 2Pac…
[Lavonne] When the street lights come on.
Yes.
-[Lavonne] What time?
-When the streetlights come on.
[door closes]
[Dion] You going to Demetrius house?
[Jay] Yes.
-If somebody's there!
-[Dion] You need help crossing the street?
Yes.
[Jay imitates engine]
[Dion] Watch out.
[wind chimes]
[muffled voices]
-What's up, man.
-[man] Hey.
Can I help you?
[Jay] No. I'm good, thanks.
[man] Oh, you moving in?
-[Jay] Uh-huh.
-[man] Dope. Welcome to the neighborhood.
[Jay] Thanks.
Actually, this is my parent's house.
I grew up here.
[man] Oh, you're Lavonne's son.
[Jay] Yup. Alright, man.
-[Josh] My name's Josh, what's yours?
-[Jay] Jay.
[Josh] See you around, Jay.
Ma, you remember Demetrius, right?
-Yeah, from Q Street?
-Yeah.
You know what happened to them?
I think they moved.
[Lavonne] I know the Grandfather
passed not too long ago.
[woman]
…and then, she tried to lie about it!
And I was just, like,
why would you lie to me?
-That just really doesn't make any sense.
-[Lavonne] Oh, hell, no!
Get off my lawn! Shoo!
[woman] I was going to clean it up!
It's not a big deal!
-Clean it up?
-[woman] No, it's--
When you clean that poop up
it still leaves a residue!
Sorry, not on my lawn!
[man] Listen, you don't have to be a jerk.
Come on, Rachel, let's get out of here.
[laughing]
Fucking crazy. What's that about?
Wait, wait, wait.
Jay, we got bigger fish to fry.
I got to get to the office.
[man] Have a nice fucking day, bitch.
[woman] Jim!
[Lavonne] Jay!
Jay, no, no, no! Jay, stop! Stop!
-[woman] Come on, Jim.
-Jay, come here.
Come on. Don't listen to him!
Jay, come on.
I gotta get to the office.
Jay! Stop! Come on!
Look, you can't fall for that shit!
He's a decoy, Jay, those are the decoys!
How many people do we know,
lives wasted on some shit like that?
Think about Q Street.
That's not you.
Demitrius
Delonte!
Come on!
Delonte, come on!
[Delonte] What about Demetrius?
We gonna go pick him up, now, let's go!
-[Delonte] You sure?
-Yes!
-[Delonte] Right now?
-Yes!
-[Delonte] Are you lying?
-No!
[Lavonne] Hey, Delonte.
[chuckles] Okay.
[Delonte] Hey, Ms. Vonnie.
[Lavonne]
Y'all ready to get to the mountains?
-[both] Yes!
-[Lavonne] Alright, let's go!
[man] Hey!
Hey, Shorty, how you?
Let me holla at you.
Yeah, I'm talking to your bitch.
Stop playing with me before I get
out this car and crush you, son.
[Blue] No! No.
-Chill out. Chill out…
Jay, you always doing this shit!
Let's get the fuck out.
You said come on, right? What's up?
[man 1] What's up with you?
I don't see none of that.
What's up with you? What you wanna do?
[man 2] What's up, my nigga?
[man 1] What you wanna do?
You should go ahead about your business.
Coward.
-[man 2] Alright, my nigga.
-[man 1] He a bitch.
Ran away and everything.
[man 2] Yo, be cool, baby!
Be cool, baby, I'll holla at you.
[Delonte] Hey, Ms. Vonnie.
[Lavonne]
Y'all ready to go to the mountains?
-[both] Yes!
-[Lavonne] Alright, let's ride!
[Delonte]
We almost at the mountains, my guy!
And watch how we see those deers,
we gonna beat them up like…
[Jay] Why?
Why would we beat up those beautiful,
majestic creatures.
They've done nothing to us.
[Delonte]
Father nature! What is you doing?
-[Jay howling]
-[Delonte] Hey! Hey!
[kids playing]
[laughing]
[kids playing]
[kids playing]
[Dion] Come on! Stop being scared!
Hurry up.
-[Jay] Hey, Demetrius!
-[Dion] Hurry up, come on.
[fireworks exploding]
[rap music playing]
[man] I'm making sure these kids alright
against the Police, that's crazy!
The Police! You gotta watch the Police!
That don't make no motherfucking sense!
[Lavonne] Did you get some crabs
for 4th July?
I'm mad you ain't bring me any.
[chuckles]
[man] Be careful!
Be careful out there, man!
[firework sets off]
Be careful!
[kids playing]
Dion!
[screaming]
[people talking]
[woman 1] Go to DC! I love DC.
[woman 2] I'm okay with it.
As long as I don't live in a crack house,
I'm fine.
[laughing]
[woman 1] Okay, so we live kind
of across the street from a crack house.
But that's okay
because our building is nice.
[woman 2] There's lots of fighting.
[woman 3] It was not a good omen
for moving here.
It's exciting, but I like excitement.
[woman 1] She was propbably one of the
stragglers we were talking about.
from, like, the old version of DC…
[screaming]
-[officer] Sir, stop resisting.
-No, no! No, no!
[man] No! No!
[rap music playing]
[Delonte] Jay! Jay! Jay!
Come on, come on, come on.
Get up get up! I just seen him!
He was digging in your pockets and shit,
come on, come on!
Son, you good, son?
Where the fuck this nigga at?
I just seen this nigga.
[woman] You bad now
or you think you a man?
You coulda got us killed, goddamn it, Tre!
Oh, Isaiah, you in this too? Calm down?
You calm the fuck down,
what the fuck are y'all doing?
It's not okay. It's three little boys
in that goddamn car!
It's not…! It's not okay!
[woman] Watch out, Isaiah,
you goin' get yourself hurt!
It's not okay and you know,
I know your mother, boy!
[man] There's drugs in every neighborhood.
[Lavonne]
Why isn't it registering… to you,
that we could be having
a funeral right now, Reggie.
-[Reggie] It's registering very well.
-[Lavonne] Apparently not.
And if I have to move again then so be it
'cuz maybe
this isn't the right place for me.
[Reggie] Run and hide. Where you gonna go?
You going to another country?
[Lavonne] Cuba.
[Reggie] Never mind. I'm going to bed.
You can't escape it.
The world is a ghetto, just remember that.
[Lavonne] You always on some Motown shit.
[water dripping]
[Blue] Jay?
[Jay groans]
[Jay] Yeah.
[Blue] You awake?
[Jay sighs] I think so.
[Blue] Uh-uh.
Don't go nowhere.
Your ass should be in the hospital.
[Jay] It ain't that bad.
[Blue chuckles]
[kiss]
[Blue] Right.
"Chill, Moe.
You like got a dent
in the back of your head, Slim."
[laughing]
[Jay] It's "kill", not "chill."
Really?
[Jay] I don't know…
I been out the loop.
Who is Demetrius?
[Jay] I don't know, some nigga.
[Blue] You was talking about him
when you was out.
[Jay] I mean, for real, for real.
Demetrius was my best friend growing up.
He used to live in that green house
across the street.
I remember his mother was Dominican.
His grandmother could cook, oh, my God.
[singing in Spanish]
[Jay] When I used to walk in they house,
I just felt like that was my grandma.
[singing in Spanish]
[Jay]
I think his father died when he was young,
so they was really protective
over Demetrius.
Back then, it used to be me, Demetrius…
Delonte, yeah, he the one
that brought me back here tonight.
Oh, yeah, and Mike, I don't think
you met Mike,
and his older brother, Dion.
They both locked up, though.
Dion, that was Big Bro.
He treated us like his little brothers.
Always looking out, man, always.
[singing in Spanish]
Demetrius!
Demetrius!
-That's you?
-[Demetrius] What up, bro?
[construction site noise]
[knocking on the door]
[Reggie] Jay!
Jay!
What you doing, man?
Get up. Let's go, come out to the car.
Let's go,
get the food your mom made for you.
-[Jay] Who doing construction?
-[Reggie] Next door.
They gutting out the house, remodeling.
That's the norm
in the neighborhood right now.
Let's go.
Don't keep me waiting.
-Hey! Mr. Reggie what's going on?
-[Reggie] Mike!
Man, how you been, man?
-It's nice to see you.
-[Reggie] I'm happy to see you.
Yeah, man, long time no see.
[Reggie] I know. I know.
When'd you get home?
I been home like two months now.
[men talking]
[Mike] Happy to be out here.
[Reggie] Yeah.
-You see, Jay?
-That's Jay?
-[Jay] What's good, man?
-What's up, Mr. University?
-How are you?
-[Jay] I'm alright.
Man, that's what's up,
I'm proud of you, that's what's up.
[Jay] Appreciate it. Good to see you out.
Yeah, man, I'm maintaining, man.
[Jay] Yeah.
[Reggie] So how's Dion?
Dion, he's still in.
He'll be alright.
-[Reggie] What about Chris, how he doing?
-Chris doing alright for himself.
Got a nice apartment,
doing the family thing.
-He found his way.
-[Reggie] I'm happy to hear that.
-Yeah.
-[Reggie] And what about Tony?
Same thing, can't get right,
man, back in there.
-[Reggie sighs]
-Yeah.
I talked to him the other day,
he in good spirits, though.
-[Reggie] Okay.
-Yeah, yeah.
-[Reggie] Tell him I asked about him.
-Yeah, I definitely will, man.
He'll be happy to hear that.
Promise me this.
You gotta promise me. You
gotta promise us.
What's that?
You gonna stay out.
We need you to stay out.
Man, I'm trying, man.
I'm trying, Mr. Reggie.
I'm trying my hardest.
We'll try to help you with anything.
But, we just need you to stay out.
Yeah.
You need anything,
don't hesitate to holler.
You need to talk or anything,
I'm here for you.
-Okay, I appreciate that.
-As usual.
-I'm trying, though, man.
-As usual.
-Yeah.
-How's your mom?
Uh…
[Reggie] Oh, there she is!
There she goes, right there,
look what the neighborhood dragged in.
-Hey! Mr. Reggie how you doing?
-[Reggie] Hey!
I'm good, Ms. Tonya,
I see you glowing and cheesing!
I been trying to figure out
why she been cheesing this whole time.
Hush, boy.
They not getting this baby back.
-[Reggie] Don't blame you.
-God is good.
-[Reggie] Yes, he is.
-They aren't getting my baby again.
[Reggie] There you go.
We gonna keep him out.
That's right.
You gonna help me get
some groceries out the car?
Yes, ma'am. Can I have this back?
[Mike] Bye, Mr. Reggie.
-So Vonnie's doing alright?
-She's doing great. She's doing great.
I'll make sure
I'll let her know you asked about her.
Do that. I'll get inside before it rains.
-[Reggie] Great to see you.
-Alright.
-Bye, now.
-[Reggie] Alright, alright.
Take the bags with you.
[Jay] Alright.
And make sure you help Ms. Cooke
with the garden.
[Jay] I got you.
How you doing over there, Jay?
I'm good.
[Ms. Cooke] You hungry?
No.
-Enjoy.
-[Jay] Thanks, I appreciate it.
-It's good?
-[Jay] Mm-hmm.
I just finished the planks,
I'll get the clothesline tomorrow.
Oh, don't rush,
I'm enjoying having you here.
-[Jay] I'm enjoying this cooking.
-Oh, good.
I'll make sure you have some tomorrow.
[door opening]
Delonte?
Delonte, is that you?
[Delonte] Yeah, Grandma.
Come here, son.
Jarell is here.
Jarell is here.
Come on, Delonte.
[Delonte] Grandma, I gotta go.
Grandma,
I gotta go up the street to meet Mike.
Grandma, why are you tripping?
You know Mike!
Grandma, I'm coming right back.
I'm 'bout to go holla at Mike right quick.
I'm coming right back,
why is you tripping right now?
Grandma, I told you I gotta go,
I'll be back, damn!
Shit.
[door closes]
[crying] Go ahead and eat, son.
You been working all morning.
Eat your food.
That boy got some demons.
He seen his own momma get shot,
right there,
right there where you're sitting.
I tell you…
[Jay] What happened?
[Ms. Cooke] His momma
was messing around on his daddy
and, and she got pregnant by another man.
-Hey, Mike!
-[Ms. Cooke] And his father knew it.
Hurry up, nigga.
[Ms. Cooke]
So he promised her he would take her life.
-[Mike] What's up?
-What's up, man?
What's up with your man,
what he talking about?
-He said five more minutes.
-Okay, man.
I'm gonna need the shit.
[Jay] What's up, y'all?
-[chuckles] What's up, man?
-[Jay] I'm good, man.
What's going on, you alright?
-How's your head?
-[Jay] Good, man.
Let me see.
[laughing]
Humpty Dumpty ass nigga, man.
Hey go ahead, man.
That's fucked up, man.
[Jay] What ya'll up to, though?
We about to ride uptown,
waiting on his man.
[Jay] Yeah?
[Mike] Mm-hmm.
Hey, good looking out, though man.
Don't trip off that shit,
you gotta be more careful.
Niggas move to Cali and get soft.
Who's soft?
Nigga was on a bike with two flat tires.
Not two flat tires! He riding on rims?
Unc was pedaling hard as shit.
[laughing]
[Mike] Go ahead, man.
Hey, it be like that sometimes,
happens to the best of us, man.
-It be like that sometimes.
-It wasn't nothing.
-[Delonte] Want some seeds?
-No, I'm good.
Hey, you seen Demetrius?
Everybody trying to act like
they don't know what I'm talking about.
-Demetrius?
-Yeah.
Demetrius--
Son, why the fuck you keep asking
about this man?
-[Jay] What?
-Like now I'm getting curious.
-Like what, you the feds or something?
-No, he ain't no like that.
Then why you keep asking about him?
I done seen you walking around here
knocking on everybody door
trying to find out where this man at!
[Jay] That's my man!
What you mean?
-Then let him do him!
-Your man just coming home.
You know what I'm saying. He just trying
to see where this man at.
-What's up with his man.
-Fuck all that.
This ain't about his man, It's about
his motherfucking movie.
Son, that's how you feel?
It just hit me anyway, we out.
What? Hey, son, that's how you feel?
[Delonte] Yeah, nigga!
Hey, Mike, that's how you feel too?
You know it ain't even like that,
you know he be tripping.
Come on, son, you know where he at, right?
-Listen, I'ma make this move--
-[Delonte] Hit the road, move, Mike.
I'ma come back, we gonna holla one on one.
I'ma talk with you about it.
Come on, man Don't do me like that.
We ain't got time right now.
I'm on the move.
When I get back,
I promise I'ma holla at you.
It's me, come on, man. I got you.
[dog barking]
[dog barking]
[man] Well… we're gonna have some beer,
and food, and music, and stuff like that.
-So…
-Okay.
[man] I thought maybe you guys
would like to come and hang out.
Yes, so I don't know what we're doing
on 4th July yet,
but maybe we could come through.
[man] Okay, that would be cool.
-Thank you for your kindness.
-[man] I like to have a big party.
-Okay.
-[man] Are you guys settled in?
Getting used to the area again?
Cool. Alright.
Alright well, then I guess uh,
hopefully, I'll see you on the 4th.
-Later.
-Alright, bye.
What was that about?
[Jay] Ain't nothing.
Okay.
[Lavonne] Oh…
-Her little thighs and…
-Mm-hmm.
[Reggie] Believe it or not,
she wearing that same type of outfit now.
[laughing]
[Lavonne]
Fashion just keeps going back around.
Hey, Jay!
Since you're working
on that script about Q Street,
we decided to break out the old slides.
[Reggie]
Yeah, all these beautiful photos I took.
-[Lavonne] You took?
-[Reggie] Yes.
-[Lavonne] That's my work.
-[Reggie] But I took the majority of them.
-[Lavonne] Oh, here you go.
-[Reggie] The best ones.
No.
[Lavonne] You remember Dion from Q Street?
Yeah.
[Lavonne] Found this letter
that he wrote you, a few years back.
[Reggie] Did you ever respond
to that letter or any of his letters?
No.
[Lavonne]
Well, maybe you should now. Check on him.
Or maybe even go see him.
[Reggie]
That was your neighborhood big brother.
You looked up to him,
followed him around everywhere he went.
He misses you.
No.
He ain't trying to see me.
-[Reggie] Why you say that?
-[Lavonne] How do you know?
[Jay] All these letters he been writing,
I never wrote him back.
Who would want to see me, right?
[Reggie] Why wouldn't he,
if he took the time out to write you?
-[Lavonne] Go see him, Jay.
-[Reggie] Yeah.
It means a lot to him.
Alright.
[Lavonne] I recognize my work. "The best."
[Reggie]
No, I'm the man behind the camera.
[Lavonne]
Oh, yeah? Wait till you see this.
[Reggie] Is that Tonya?
[Lavonne] Yeah! Look how young she looks!
[Reggie] I know, and she was big.
[Lavonne] Well, she was pregnant!
-That's baby Mike in there!
-[Reggie] Oh, really?
-You know, he's out now.
-[Lavonne] Oh, yeah?
[Reggie]
Yeah, I saw him on Q Street the other day.
He's looking good. I was
happy to see him.
-[Lavonne] That's good.
-[Reggie] Yeah.
I had him promise me
he would stay out of trouble.
…and, and me being here with you,
I don't feel like I'm growing
towards that,
I don't feel like I'm growing
towards my higher self.
I just feel like…
Hold on, this my dad.
Hey, Reggie, what's up, man?
Right now?
Dawg, it's raining outside!
Alright, alright, I'm coming, I'm coming.
Hey, hold on, where you going?
[Blue]
I don't even want to be here, like…
[Jay] Hold on.
Sit down, sit down right quick.
Alright, let me go handle this,
I'ma go talk to my dad real quick.
I'll be back,
we'll talk about it, alright?
Alright?
[Reggie] Tonya!
Ms. Tonya!
What you doing out in the rain?
What's wrong?
[Ms. Tonya] They got him, Reggie.
They got my baby, Reggie.
[Reggie] Jay! Jay!
[Ms. Tonya] They got him.
They got my baby, Reggie.
[thunder crashes]
-[Reggie] Hey!
-[Ms. Tonya] They got him, Reggie!
They got my baby!
They got him! They got him! They got him!
They… They got him, Reggie!
[thunder crashes]
[Ms. Tonya screams]
They got him! They got him, Reggie!
They got my baby, Reggie!
They got my baby, Reggie!
They got my baby, Reggie!
They got my baby!
They got my baby! They got my baby!
They got my baby! They got him!
[thunder crashes]
[thunder crashes]
[dog barking]
You good? Everything good?
Cooling man, you know how I do.
Moving back to Cali?
Yeah, in about a week.
Hey, man.
Did I ever say goodbye when I left?
I mean, when we was leaving… moving.
I mean, I don't know.
I remember when y'all left, though.
What you remember?
I remember we all rode our bikes
to y'all new house.
-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah, nigga, you don't remember that?
Not really.
Who was with us?
It was me, you, Demetrius, Ceecee, Jacob.
It was all of us.
Damn, that's wild. You got a
good ass memory, man.
Yeah, I remember
because I couldn't believe
how big y'all house was.
Y'all house was big as shit.
That's wild man,
it's crazy you remember that.
Yeah, man, everybody remember that.
Y'all house was the cornerstone, son.
Mrs. Vonnie, Mr. Reggie,
everybody felt that.
Anyway, what's up with the film?
It's coming together, you know,
I got some good stuff to write.
I'ma write it when I get back to L.A.
Yeah, I seen you going house to house,
getting information.
Yeah.
You know I been thinking
about doing something,
writing a movie or a book or something.
Oh, for real?
-Just an idea.
-Yeah? What's it about?
-Nothing too much, man.
-Come on, man. You not gonna tell me?
Come on.
Alright.
It's about this boy who live in a warzone,
and he had this brother,
they was real tight.
The boy end up leaving,
going to do his own thing,
while the brother
had to stay home in the warzone,
take care of the family,
put food on the table,
make sure everybody's straight.
The brother that's gone don't know
what's going on, he living it up.
The other brother gotta take care
of them responsibilities.
The brother that's gone,
he comes back home,
it's still a warzone,
but now it's a jungle.
He thinking everything's sweet
in this jungle.
His own family
don't give a shit about him.
And they know
that he don't give a shit about them.
'Cuz he left.
No matter what he say,
no matter what he do,
they see
right through his transparent ass.
But, hey.
It's just an idea.
Little movie or something
I been thinking about doing.
I don't know if I'ma do it for real.
Just an idea.
But, hey, I ain't gonna hold you,
I know you got shit packed.
You be safe, man.
[Delonte] Have fun out in Cali too.
[Ms. Cooke echoing]
That boy got some demons.
He seen his own momma get shot.
Right there,
right there where you're sitting.
His momma was messing around on his daddy
and she got pregnant by another man.
And his father knew it.
So he promised her he would
take her life.
And he told her: "I'll do it
in front of your whole family."
I tell you, I never seen nothing
like that in my life.
Coming so heavy on her. He was so crazy.
Just the idea that she
had another man,
and he had a lot of women,
a lot of women.
That's what's wrong with Delonte.
Delonte suffered so much.
[gunshot]
No!
[Ms. Cooke echoing]
He talked all this mess about her,
but he was just as bad, he was worse.
Both of them,
both of them was out there on them drugs.
He said he would killed all of us.
[Ms. Cooke]
Call the police, call the police, baby.
Go, hurry up!
[door opening]
[Ms. Cooke]
That what's wrong with Delonte.
[screaming]
[rambling]
Who's that?
[panting]
[screaming] Who's that? Who's that?
Who's that? Who's that?
Are you okay? Damn!
What's wrong with you?
[panting]
[soft music playing]
♪ How can I love
With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ With all the hate I see? ♪
Y'all grew up together?
Yeah.
He was a lot older than me, though.
[Jay]
But he looked out for me too, though.
Taught me how to fight and shit.
But you don't know how to fight, babe.
[Jay mumbling]
You said what?
Shut your ass up, nigga.
[laughing]
So you ain't seen him
since y'all was kids?
I think I seen him
maybe once like ten years ago.
He was doing alright.
You know, had a job, kids, a family.
The whole thing.
Damn.
What they got him for now?
I don't know.
Probably possession, though.
[Jay] Niggas dealing with the same shit.
These White boys
making a fucking killing…
and niggas wasting away in jail.
Hey, man, what's up?
How you been?
How you holding up?
[car engine fades away]
[muffled voices]
[male voice over speaker]
[man breathes heavily]
[sighs]
[people talking]
[Dion] What's up, bro?
Good man, just thinking.
[Dion]
That's the best thing to do out here, man.
Yeah.
[Dion] Used to come out here a lot
when you was gone, man.
Oh, yeah?
[Dion] Yeah, do that and just think.
Look at the birds. Listen to them!
The smell, everything.
You don't get this in the city,
that's for sure.
You sure don't.
How you feeling, though?
-[Dion] I can't complain, man.
-Yeah?
[Dion] Just walking it down.
Hey, man.
Sorry about the letters,
you know, not writing.
[Dion] Fuck them letters, man,
don't worry about that.
I'm happy you here, dawg,
that's all that really matters, bro.
You don't remember the mountains,
though, do you?
Yeah!
Looks just like we left it too.
[Dion] No bullshit.
[Jay] Remember the creek?
Hell, yeah, I remember that creek.
[Jay] Hell, yeah.
[Dion]
You don't remember that swing, though,
[Jay]
Oh, when we was swinging into the water?
[Dion] Hell, yeah.
[Jay] That shit was fun, dawg.
Until the water was too low
and you bust your ass on them rocks.
That wasn't so fun, was it?
[Jay] Yeah.
-[Dion] Yeah, no bullshit.
Oh, what's up with your grandmother, man?
-How's she?
-[Jay] You remember my grandmother?
Hell, yeah, Grandma Marilyn, right?
-[Jay] Yeah.
-Yeah.
[Jay] She loved you, man.
I loved her too, man.
She used to treat me like her own blood,
man, I'll never forget her.
[Jay] Nigga.
You probably don't remember this,
but I remember when we was little,
we was in the car
and I was trying to get a cup
to pass it to my Grandma,
and I accidentally
hit her in the face with it.
I remember, dawg, you got buck as shit.
You was like:
"Hey, nigga! Don't be hitting
my Grandmother like that!"
Hold up, nigga,
you getting beside yourself, ain't you?
-You got a little size on you.
-[Jay] You scared now?
[laughing]
[Jay] Yeah! Yeah!
[laughing] Come on.
Damn, dawg, you still got it.
[Dion sighs]
How she doing now, though?
She passed away.
Damn.
-[Jay] Yeah.
-That's how it go, though, right?
We all gotta punch that clock some time.
[Jay] Yeah.
[Dion] Damn.
That's how it go.
[Jay] Come on.
[knocking on door]
[guard]
Alright, come on, wrap it up. Let's go!
[Jay] Hey.
What's up?
I been looking for Demetrius,
you know where he at?
Yeah, word is they moved
out Maryland somewhere.
-[Jay] Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.
Delonte could tell you, though.
Him and Demetrius got tight
the last couple years.
-For real?
-[Dion] No bullshit.
[guard] Time! Come on out!
[knocking on door]
[sobbing]
[Jay sobbing]
[Jay crying]
[crying]
Big Bro.
[crying]
I wish I could have done something.
Alright, homie.
Good to see you, man.
-Tell Mrs. LaVonne and Reggie…
-[knocking on door]
I said I love them
and I think about them all the time.
Thanks for coming to see me.
-Love you, homie.
-Love you too, man.
[chains rattling]
[Jay] Sorry about them letters, man.
[Dion] Fuck them letters!
[rap music playing]
[crowd talking]
Jay!
-Jay, come talk to me! Jay, talk to me!
-Get the fuck off me!
-Jay!
-Back up off me!
-Get the fuck off me!
-What is wrong with you?
What the fuck is wrong with you?
You don't even know these niggas!
You just met them!
All this shit going on
and you wanna smoke with these niggas?
You don't stand for shit!
Fuck you!
[tapping on chair]
[tapping on chair]
[tapping on chair]
[tapping on legs]
[knocking on wall]
[tapping on chest]
[knocking on wall]
[boy] Hear me out!
[knocking on wall]
[tapping and knocking]
[bicycle rolling]
I heard you were looking for me.
Son, where is Demetrius?
-[Delonte] Hey, Jay, don't make me have--
-Where the fuck is he!
Mike is dead!
Under the concrete, son.
Never coming back.
Dion will be an old man
by the time he get out this time.
And these White folks goin' paint
over the city like we never existed.
Pave right over us!
I'm trying to tell this story for you,
for Dion, for Demetrius--
You ain't that important
and you ain't saving nobody.
You damn sure ain't saving me.
[Delonte] Jay, don't act all sad now.
Don't forget, you left us.
Where was you at?
You wasn't here.
You was out Cali, living the life,
while we in the city trying to survive.
You come back in the city now
talking about some…
"Where Demetrius at" like
you really care.
You ain't care.
You only care about yourself.
Yourself, and that motherfucking movie.
[man] What the fuck is your problem, man?
[grunting]
[man]
911? There's a guy beating up my friend!
[coughs]
[man grunting]
This my home!
[man grunting]
My home!
[police siren]
[woman] Whoa. [chuckles]
-[man] Whoa!
-[woman] Oh!
-[man] Jesus!
-[woman] Holly shit!
[man] What the fuck?
-[woman] Oh, my God!
-[man] What are they doing?
-[man] Are those…
-[woman] No fucking way!
-There's…
-[man] Where'd they go? Did…?
[woman] No, I can't see them anymore.
They…
They're like all the way down there.
[man] Does that happen a lot?
-[woman] No.
-[man] Like…
No, not… not really.
I mean, apparently,
it used to be like that
all the time, but…
the neighborhood
has been cleaned up since then.
-[man] Jesus!
-[woman] I guess.
-[man] What is this neighborhood anyway?
-[woman] Uh…
NoMa.
It's NoMa, but it used to be Eckington.
-But, NoMa.
-[man] What's NoMa?
North Massachusetts Ave.
So it's like
how they abbreviate stuff in New York.
Like SoHo.
-[man] Oh, oh, oh! Like different…
-[woman] Yeah.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [man] Or have you heard of WeHo?
West… That's West Hollywood.
-[woman] Yeah, exactly.
-[man] That's so horrible.
[woman] SoHa? SoHa? Do you know?
-[man] No.
-South Harlem…
-[Demetrius] So, I heard you was moving.
-[Jay] Yeah.
-[Demetrius] Where you moving to?
-[Jay] I don't know, probably New York.
[Demetrius] How long you think
you gonna be living there?
[Jay] Two weeks.
[Demetrius]
And then you 'bout to come back
or you 'bout to live somewhere else?
[Jay] I could come back.
[Demetrius] Okay.
-Is you gonna be here when I get back?
-[Demetrius] Yeah.
You sure?
[heart beat sound]
[soft music playing]
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Oh, ooh, yeah ♪
♪ One game, game ♪
♪ Hmm ♪
♪ How can I love
With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ And what did I feel
When you lied to me? ♪
♪ When you lied to me? ♪
♪ I'm giving my heart so I cry you see ♪
♪ I gotta cry, you see ♪
♪ I'm keeping it real
So don't hate on me ♪
♪ And I need ♪
♪ My intentional love
Won't change for anything ♪
♪ Hmm ♪
♪ But all I wanna know is ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love ♪
♪ What is love ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ They say that I'm wrong
I'm doing anything ♪
♪ I won't say that I'm right
I'm doing anything ♪
♪ I'm doing anything ♪
♪ I heard all them love songs
So you feel my pain ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ So many people use your name in vain ♪
♪ Love ♪
♪ There're better words
But still we choose you first ♪
♪ Sweet lady, would you be my lover
For a lifetime? ♪
♪ Please, don't go ♪
♪ Please, don't go ♪
♪ I heard all them love songs
So can you feel my pain? ♪
♪ But what I'm trying to know is ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love What is love ♪
♪ What is love ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
♪ What can I do
If I don't have no choice? ♪
♪ I'm singing this song
For who don't have no voice ♪
♪ I've been through some pain
So I'm paranoid ♪
♪ And it might seem strange
But I've been here before ♪
♪ How can I love
With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ With all the hate I see? ♪
♪ I'm giving my heart so I cry You see ♪
♪ I'm turning my dreams into reality ♪
♪ Into reality ♪
♪ My intentional love
Won't change for anything ♪
♪ But all I wanna know is ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What it is? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
♪ What is love? ♪
[music fades away]