Riot (1997) - full transcript

♪♪

Newscast: Headlines,
the trial in suburban simi valley

is like no other in
Los Angeles history...

Spanish language newscast:
Theodore briseno y Laurence Powell...

( Continues in Spanish )

Newscast: The jury in the
Rodney king police beating trail

has just reached verdicts

in all but one of the charges
against the four LAPD officers

in that case.

They've deliberated
three days now

on just that one count.



The trial itself took 35 days

and the jury was in
the 7th day of deliberation

when they announced that
they did reach a verdict

on all but one of those counts.

I believe that Brian Jenkins
is ready for US.

Brian has covered this trial
right from the very beginning,

so let's hear Brian live now
at the courthouse

as he finds out
exactly what's happening.

Brian?
Jenkins: Well, Patty,

it's a state of fear...
Uh, state of fearfulness

just waiting for
this decision to come down.

The court's been adjourned for
seven days of deliberations.

The last three we are told
have been devoted to

just one of the five counts
against the four officers.



There are people outside,
court watching...

How's school, Jeffrey?

It's fine.

Including opening
and closing statements,

and they of course
have opinions of their own.

There has been
a beefed-up security here

everyone's in a state
of breathless anticipation.

Pat?

I got pulled over...

..has declared
as to that count...

( Door buzzer )

Man on security camera:
Every time I come up in here

you be following a nigga around
like we stealin' and shit.

I didn't take no motherfuckerin' chiclets,
motherfucker!

You better back up off me!
Jeffrey.

Oh, man, what the fuck
you gonna do?!

Come in here
talking that shit, bitch?

You wanna go off?
Come on! Jeffrey.

You gonna kung fu me,
motherfucker?

Let's go outside
and let's find out!

Please excuse the
boy's behavior. I'm sorry.

Please. We're very sorry.

Now who's the bitch, bitch?

Fuck you, Buddha-head.

Chinese motherfucker!

Father:
Jeffrey!

You've caused enough trouble.

Son, please, finish lunch.

I have to go.

Man:
Miss Lee! Miss Lee!

Let me have a short one
for tomorrow.

I get a check tomorrow,
mama-San.

Tell Mr. Lee I said it's
okay for small bottle.

I'll take care of it
tomorrow, mama-San.

Ha ha ha ha!

I'm sick of the way you let
these fools walk all over US.

This is the toehold
on our dream, Jeffrey.

This is not a dream.
It's a nightmare.

We wanted so many things
for you, Jeffrey.

Things that your father and I
could never possibly have.

It's just...
He never stands up to 'em.

And they're always pushin'.
They're always pushin'.

It's like we owe 'em something.
We don't owe 'em nothin'.

It's been handed down
for generations.

24 karat,
always willing to bend. Mom...

Try to bend 14,
and it will snap in half

because of its rigidity.

Your lustrous sheen
can sometime be very blinding.

What you view as your
father's weakness is an illusion.

What you don't see
is his strength.

( Rap blaring from car )

You need anything else

from the store?

He loves you, Jeffrey.

What's happening, Jeff?

Why your mama
be like that, nigga?

Yo, Yoko Ono-lookin'
motherfucker,

gonna scratch my face.

I'm down for the bloozam-bling,
you understand me?

♪ South central
put your fist in the air... ♪

Silent giant-lookin'
motherfucker.

Just gonna be
all quiet and shit?

Say, bitch, that's your mama
cookin' rice, man.

Yo, chill out, Phil,
okay? Be cool. I'm just fuckin' around.

Yeah, you're always
fuckin' around, Phil.

Motherfucker!

Take off your shades.

What's up, cuz?

What's up?
They're signing.

Take off your shades
and don't say anything.

Take 'em off!

Your motherfuckerin' ass!

We coulda got killed,
motherfucker!

What's your problem, huh?

You been acting like a little
bitch since we picked your ass up.

( Horn honking ) Go around,
motherfucker!

Jeffrey: Fuck.

What?

What's your problem, huh?

Damn! I told you to take
your fuckin' shades off!

What, am I dissing a motherfucker
by not taking off my fuckin' shades?

Fuck them motherfuckers, man!

Why should I be taking off
my shades for, huh?

Should I ask
Mr. Fuckin' authority?!

This is crip turf.

You see them
throwing up their signs?

They thought we were
Mexicans from a barrio set.

What's that gotta do
with my damn shades?!

So they can see
our slanted eyes!

Okay?

Motherfuckers wanna go off,
I'm down.

Yeah? You down, Phil?

Then you gonna go all the way back
up when you go to monterey park?

Down here whether you're
Chinese, Japanese or korean,

you ain't nothin' but a Buddha-head,
straight up!

We're the enemy down here.
You got that?!

So go on back to your rich mama and daddy,
boy, with your down ass.

Fuck you, man.

You want to know why Buddha-heads
get treated like shit down here?

'Cause overpriced shit
motherfuckers like your mom and pop...

( whimpering )

Jeffrey:
You need any meat?

You shouldn't have hit him, man.

What am I supposed to do? Calling
my parents a bunch of motherfuckers.

I'm tired of this shit.
Let his ass wait in the car.

Yo, he don't know
any better, man.

Then maybe he should keep
his fuckin' mouth shut, then.

Overpriced shit?

When you're buying retail it's kind
of hard to be selling at a discount.

You don't have to tell me.
I'm right here with you.

Hey, you think your parents would
want to split a case of cherry popsicles?

He's gettin' all black and
shit. Like an Asian wannabe.

You know what your
problem is? You're jealous.

I ain't jealous.

Hey, look. Phil's got the
luxury of being a wannabe,

whereas you and me,
we ain't got no choice. We're have-to-bes.

Hey, man, coming up we couldn't
afford not to get all black and shit.

We woulda got our ass kicked
every day. Fuck that.

I came there eight years ago.

This is my English, okay?
It's survival fuckin' English.

Maybe I am jealous.

Hey, I am too...
Bitch.

Man, these cherry popsicles
taste like shit.

You better pick that shit up,
you old cabbage-head bitch.

Woman:
Take, take, take.

Look at 'em... six boxes of kotex

when you're only allowed three.

Three of those are mine.

I don't care
if they're all yours.

They should take your kind and
ship you to some deserted island

along with the rest
of the colored people.

They already have.

So maybe you oughta keep
that big mouth of yours shut.

Are you threatening me?
You don't scare me.

We got a motherfuckin'
problem, bitch.

Yeah, she's talking that
"these people" shit.

Security!

Come on.
Fuck this old lady.

Fuck. I forgot I still
got my piece on me.

Go on, then.
Ditch the shit.

This lady's talkin' shit.

I almost bitch-slapped her, man.

( Phil laughs )

Shoppers, the store
is now closed.

What's going on?
I don't know.

Please leave your items
at the checkout counter now.

Let's go find Jeff.

Newscast:
Stopped for the light,

those people have been
jumped upon,

their vehicles
have been damaged,

and in one case

one person was ripped
out of her car

and her car was stolen.

And now, looking at rocks
and bottles being thrown

at another car
in an intersection.

They're attacking
the driver right now,

they just broke out the window.

Newscopter 13
has been fired upon

by people with guns down below,

we've seen the muzzle flash
and smoke.

What we have down here, folks,

is a lot of angry people
rioting in the street.

Here's a live picture.

They're now pulling the door
off the car,

they're cracking the windows,

they are in the process
of destroying an automobile.

People have been injured.

The fire department
trying to respond here

just a short time ago.

They came under attack,

and they have now pulled off.

Jeff.
They are literally unable

yeah. You gotta take me back. To enter
this area. In terms of police presence,

there is none.

There is no police presence
here as of yet.

You don't want to
come down here.

They're attacking
everyone that...

That comes to a stop here
at this intersection.

( All groan )

Fuck! I got glass
in my fuckin' eye!

This is no time to be exchanging driver
information! Come on, Phil, let's go!

Fuck you!
Get the fuck away!

Take off!
Phil, come on!

( Tires screech )

( Gunshot ) Fuck! Fuck!

Man, what's going on?

What's going on?!
What's going on?!

We're being followed!
They're shooting!

( Gunshots )
Phil, come on!

Stick it out the window
and fire. Don't aim, just fire!

( Gunfire )

Phil, let's go!

( Horns honking )

Come on, Phil! Phil,
let's get the fuck out of here!

( Helicopter overhead )

Take me to my fuckin' store!
Take him straight to the hospital!

Don't listen to
anything he says!

If anybody gets in your way,
shoot 'em, Phil!

You understand?
I gotta go!

I'm sorry, Phil, I'm sorry!

Take me to the store!

Put that shit back, man!

Shut the fuck up, motherfucker!

I'll bust a cap
in your punk-ass!

Mama:
Please don't burn our store.

Mom!

Take what you need.
Don't burn our store.

Mom. Take what you
need. Don't burn the store.

Take what you need.
Don't burn our store.

Don't do this.
Please.

Take what you need.
Don't burn the store.

Take what you need.
Don't burn the store.

Just take what you need.
Don't burn our store.

Get the fuck out of here.

What are you doing?

Talk to me.

For once in your life,
just talk to me.

We have to get
our things moved out.

Help me. I can help,
but not like this.

Take a stand.

For once in your life,
just take a stand.

This is my way, Jeffrey.

That's not good enough.

It's not fucking
good enough, you hear me?

( Glass breaking )

Mother on security camera:
Please, don't break our things.

Please. Don't break
our things.

Please don't burn our store.

Take what you need.
Don't burn our store.

Don't do this.
Don't burn our store.

Don't do this.
Listen to me.

Listen.
Please, son.

Don't burn our store.

Don't you understand?

There is nothing to understand.

Just this once.
You have to.

You have to.

Son, stand by my side.

We are about to lose everything.

Stand by me.

You have always been
my number one.

( Glass breaking )

Daddy.

Stand by me proudly, Jeffrey.

You are welcome
to any store items.

You are welcome to take
any store items.

Please, do not burn our store.

Take whatever you need.

Man:
Fuck you, slope.

Please, feel free
to take whatever you want.

Man: Let's grab some shit
from the back. Come on!

Mother:
Our personal things!

Man: Sony?
No motherfuckerin' baloney!

Our personal things!
Please don't! No!

Mom! Mom!

Jeffrey!
Help me with her.

Come on, mom.
Come on, mom.

We'll take care of things here.

You go home.
Go home now.

Please, wife. Go.
Where's Jeffrey?

Where's my son?!
Jeffrey!

Jeffrey!
Jeffrey!

Put it back,
motherfucker! This ain't yours anymore!

It's mine, bro!

You want it back, motherfucker?

Come with me, son.
Come on!

Come! Come, come!

Go.

I love you, son.

( Exhales )

Dad.

Dad!

Open up! Daddy!

Dad, please!
Come on, open up!

Dad! Come on!

( Explosion )

Daddy!

( Indistinct shouting )

Hey! Kid!
Let go of me!

My dad's in there!
You can't go in there!

Let me go, motherfucker!
Come on, boy!

Let go of me!

Let go of my son.

Mom...

Mom...

Motherfuckerin'...

Buddha-head....

Man: Hey, we got
all kinda shit!

Clean these motherfuckers out!

Ain't nothin' up in
this sumbitch now, dawg!

You were wrong in chasing
dream of gold mountain.

You told me even Buddha
himself could not cross the ocean.

He's made of mud and stone.

Jeffrey, please.

Ketou to your father.

Show him respect.

I'll ketou for my father.

But after this day,

we don't bend for anyone.

Three hundred
and seventy-nine dollars...

And you party Hardy...

Juror: We the jury in
the above entitled action

find the defendant
Laurence m. Powell

not guilty of the crime
of submission

of a false police report
by a peace officer.

News anchor:
Well, you heard the verdict.

Probably a surprise
to some of you,

a sense of surprise among
some of the jour...

Oh, shit!

Manuel, watch your mouth, mijo.

I'm sorry, mom, I'm sorry.

Hey, don't be banging
on that TV!

Your brother gave me that TV.

No wonder it's a piece of junk.

Damn door still don't work.

What's wrong, baby?
No luck today?

There's nothing out there.

No work, nothing.

You know, mijo,

I have a friend that
works at the airport.

Maybe if I ask her
she can help you, no?

The airport won't hire
Cisco. We all know why.

Computers,
mom. You can't get away with nothin' today.

Unless you're a cop.

..Definitely gonna
change my life,

and I gotta find
something else to do with it.

Ay. He keeps kicking me.

I gotta go. I promised Iris
I'd meet her by the mall.

Sister: Iris, huh?

Are you gonna take her
to the dance on Friday?

I don't know. Maybe.

You wearing condoms when
you mess with that girl?

Cisco, por favor.
We're at the table.

Mom, I just don't want him
to end up like me.

What's that supposed to mean?

What do you think it means?

I can't even afford to buy that kid
in your belly a damn baby carriage.

Manuelito, mijo,
I wish you wouldn't go out tonight.

This Rodney king thing
is scaring me.

Ay, ma, I'm not a little kid.
I can take care of myself.

Babe.
Hmm?

I can see. ( Chuckles ) Ay.

Cisco,
could I borrow the truck to go to the mall?

The truck has a flat. You know that. What,
the same flat?

You've had that flat tire
for a week now.

That's right,
and I'll have it until I can find a job

and get some money
to get it fixed.

You all right, man?

Yeah.

It's just...

You know...

Life.

Look, I could always
quit school and get a job.

What?

And fuck your life up
like I did mine?

I just want to help
the family, man.

You want to help the family?

Then you stay in school,
and you stay out of trouble.

Entiendes?

You gotta keep
the faith, carnal...

Carnalito...
And you'll be all right.

And in the the meantime,
try the bus.

You don't want to keep
the little lady waiting.

( Exhales )

Hey, baby.
Hey, cutie.

Guess what.
What?

I got some crazy news
to tell you.

What is it?

Well, I'm pregnant.

Ay!
( Laughing )

I got you!

Jesus, Iris, don't do that!

I got you!

Shit.

I'm only playing.

That's no way to play.

At least I told you
I was playing.

There's this girl
in my science class,

she lied and she told her
boyfriend she was pregnant

just so she could
keep the money for the abortion.

Damn, that's cold.

It may be cold,

but she took that money

and she bought herself
this fresh new dress,

you know, for the party
at the center next Friday?

Well, you know me, I'll be going
wearing that same old worn-out dress

and my holey panty hose.

Yeah, but at least you
got a clear conscience.

Yeah, a clear conscience
and empty pockets.

Big fuckin' deal.

Damn, Iris,

you're so hard sometimes.

Ten years from now when
I'm walking down these streets

I want people to look at me
with respect.

You mean to tell me
you still plan to live

in this fucked up neighborhood
ten years from now?

Yeah, well, where else am I gonna live,
eh? I don't know.

But man, if I'm still here
ten years from now,

then I'll know I must have
done something wrong.

( Indistinct shouting )

Hey, what's going on over there?

( Burglar alarm blaring )
I don't know.

Man: Whoo!

Come on.

( Shouting continues )

( Car revs engine,
tires screech )

Hey, that was Carlos.

Carlos! Carlos!
Over here, homes!

What's up, man?

What's going on?

These people were yelling
"Rodney king" over and over again,

then the broke into the store,
and then they broke into this other store.

The people are
striking back, carnal.

You better come and get some
goodies before they're all gone.

You better stop this shit before the cops
come down here and throw your ass in jail.

You ain't seen the TV?
Ours is broken.

There ain't no cops
around here for miles, man.

Them poor fools are too scared
to come down here.

So I'm like, "fuck it,
I'm gettin' mine," you know?

Carlos, wait!
You're not anywhere, okay?

The fool's tripping out
or something.

We gotta stop him.

( Indistinct shouting )

Check it out! It's that
new panasonic jamming!

Let's get out of here. What
the hell are you doing, man?

You said your TV was broken,
right? Well, here you are,

every kind of TV
you could possibly want.

Fifteen inches ain't big
enough? Take twenty-seven!

Only thing is I ain't helping you
carry that big motherfucker home.

We don't need your help because
he's not taking anything, okay?

He look like he don't need my
help ever since he married you!

All right, everybody,
this is it! Everything must go!

We've slashed our prices
to the bone, motherfuckers!

Our prices are so low we're
practically giving it away!

Fuck, we are giving it all away!

( People shouting,
alarm ringing )

There are gonna be cops here
any minute.

We better move it.

When have you become
such a wuss? What?!

You're the one who's real bold, doing
crazy things with lots of people around.

Why are you so scared now?

If you think what the cops did
to Rodney king was something,

you just wait
till they come down here

and see all the shit
that's happening now.

They're gonna be
stomping in people,

including US!

They don't give a fuck, Manny.

To them we ain't nothing but a
bunch of wetbacks and niggers, okay?

Yo, let's go!
Get in the sneaker store!

Don't even think about it.

I-I just want to see
what's going on.

Nothing's gonna happen.
What about the cops?

What cops?
Ain't no goddamn cops.

Manny!

Oh! My size, too!

Are you, crazy, Manny?

Now you're gonna be like
these other maniacs around here?

Get out of my way!

Carlos: Hey, homey, you finally
figured it out, huh?

Took me a little while too,
and then I finally realized,

shit, man, all my life
people been telling me

I can't have this
and I can't have that.

That's right,
unless you're paying for it, asshole!

What, asshole?
You're the ass, Iris.

I paid for this.
My parents paid for it, too!

Take your hands off my shit!

Breaking their backs
working for whitey!

I'm like, fuck it!
I'm gettin' mine, man!

That's it, I'm outta here.
You coming with me, Manny?

Hey, man!
Get outta here.

Shit!

Damn!
What happened?

Manuel, put them back
or I'm gonna tell your mother.

What are you talking about?

It's only a pair of sneakers.
Carlos took five of them.

Now you're gonna be like Carlos?

Well, let me tell you something
about Carlos... he's a jerk!

Ain't nothin'
the matter with Carlos.

I never seen Carlos
steal nothin' in his whole life.

Well, that sure
has changed, hasn't it?

Come on, Iris,
it ain't no big deal.

I mean, shit,
I could have taken one of those tvs before,

and I didn't, right?

Oh, yeah!

Yeah! Whoo!

They broke into
the store across the street!

Come on!

Oh, shit!
Thank you, god!

I promise I won't take nothin'.

( All whooping it up )

I just want to see
what's going on.

I just want to be
part of the party.

( Alarm blaring )

This is the most amazing thing
I've ever seen in my life.

When you think about it,
it makes a lot of sense.

A lot of sense? Please.
Yeah.

I'm serious, Iris.
I mean, how much bullshit

do you think people can
put up with before they crack?

They watch TV. They
see whitey with everything.

And then they look at their own
lives and see that they ain't got shit.

Manny, that's bullshit.

If that was true,
then I'd be stealing too.

I'd be grabbing things,
taking things that didn't belong to me.

But this is a bunch of...

Oh, my god.

That's beautiful.

Why don't you put one on?

I can't.

Imagine if you went to the dance
next Friday wearing one of those.

No, I-I can't do that.

Mrs. Rodriguez?

( Nervous laughter )
Iris, Manuel. Como estan?

Mija, what do you think of this?

Well, anything you wear looks good on you,
Mrs. Rodriguez.

Oh, you're so sweet.

Gracias, muchacho, gracias.

Come on.

Oh, my god.

What?

I never realized
how beautiful you are.

You look like you'd be on
the cover of a magazine!

( Laughs ) Oui?
Yeah!

Jesus, look at you!

Oh, stop it.

I wonder how many girls
there are out there like you,

girls who just never had the chance
to know how beautiful they are?

Is this the dress you want?

Manny, you promised me
you wouldn't take anything else.

Me? I'm not takin' it.

If you want it,
you have to take it yourself.

Well...
I can't.

I can't take it.

Hey! Hey!
That's mine!

That bitch stole my clothes!

Holy shit! Who the fuck is that,
prince barria?

Yo, Manny,
check this out. Look what I found.

Oh, my god.

Ese, get rid of that shit.
I ain't keepin' it, dog.

I'm gonna sell it
on the street tomorrow.

Come on. Vamonos.
Let's go!

I'm Wendy Walsh live in
south-central Los Angeles,

and as you can see,
chaos is rampant

here on the streets
around the city.

Excuse me, young man,
what are you doing?

Hey hey, america,
what's happening!

Carlos: Hey hey hey! What's up,
america! Yo, check it out!

Looks like you're
getting something, mijo.

Yeah?

What program is that?

I don't know. It looks
like the price is right

or something.

Oh, my god.
Que Paso?

Manny: Look at my girlfriend,
she got a new dress!

And I got some stuff
for my family!

Carlos: This stuff would have
cost thousands if we bought it!

Walsh: Are you saying
that you stole these items?

Carlos: No, no,
I wouldn't call it stealing,

it's more like
creative shopping.

Dios mio!

Manuel!

Ay, dios mio!
It's hermano Manuel!

( Continues in Spanish )

This is too much shit
to be carrying around, man.

Let's take that car right there!

Whose car is that? I don't
know whose car it was,

but it's mine now!

Today everything is free!

You could get it started
without the key?

My cousin's an auto mechanic.

He taught me
all the tricks, homes.

You're gonna be so stupid
to steal somebody else's car?!

If we don't take this car, how are
we gonna get this stuff out of here?

On a magic carpet? Come on,
what are you waiting for?

Manny, don't do it.
You know it's wrong.

What you gonna do,
tell his mother?

Manny, you gonna let this bitch
talk to you like that?

I ain't no bitch, faggot!

Look at you, all dressed up
like a goddamn queen!

You deserve to have that dress,
but I can't have this car?

Someone ripped of my clothes. What
am I supposed to do, run around naked?

You put it on!
You wanted that dress!

You deserve to have nice things in life,
but I don't deserve shit?

All I said is that
it's wrong to steal this car.

Fuck her,
Manny. Give me your stuff. Come on.

Oh, shit!

It's my brother!
Maybe we could use his truck!

Hey, bro,
what are you doing here?

What the fuck
are you doing here?

You should see all the cool
stuff we got for you an alisa.

Motherfucker, get your ass in
the truck. I'm taking you home.

Oh, shit! Fuck!

Did you hear what I said?

I got you a baby carriage
and a tire!

Man, I don't care
what things you got!

Get in the truck!
I'm taking you home!

Cisco, please,
don't diss me in front of my friends, man.

What are you, stupid?
Fuck your friends!

Fuck your friends!

Let's see if your friends visit you
in fucking prison! None of mine did!

You hit me, man.
You're a man now, huh?

I'll beat your ass
just like a man, chavala,

the same way they'll beat your ass
in the joint, you keep fucking around!

Yo, Manny, let's go!
There's a cop over there!

Oh, shit!
They're whipping his ass!

Ha ha ha ha!

I've never seen anything
like this in my entire life.

I ain't goin' with you.
I'm goin' with my friends!

What? Fuck you! I ain't
goin' nowhere with you!

Hey!

Get the fuck out of here!

What are you doing?
You're stealing a car!

I don't care.
Get in!

Fuck it! Go!

Man: Hey!

Manny!

Hey, that's my fuckin' car!

Who the fuck
does he think he is?!

Fuck him!

When he was in fucking jail,
I took care of the family!

I'm the one who drove his woman

to the hospital
when she was feeling sick.

I'm the one who drove mom
to work every day!

Fuck him, man!
Fuck him!

If I were you,
I wouldn't let nobody drag me down today.

Fuck everybody today, okay?

Today is the greatest day
of my life.

And god bless Rodney king!
God bless that motherfucker!

We're going over right now
to another mall

'cause the night
ain't over, ese!

It's still young!
Let's go!

( Helicopter hovering )

We gotta get more stuff!
Fuck yeah!

Iris: You're fucking hurting me,
you asshole!

Shit! Fuck!

Carlos:
Get off of her!

What are you doing?
Yo, get off of her!

( Iris screaming ) Get the
fuck out of here, motherfucker!

Man: He's got a gun!
Get the fuck out of here!

Motherfuckers!

Goddamnit, Iris, I thought we
told you to watch the goddamn car!

Fuck you,
Carlos! They attacked me, you idiot!

You're the idiot,
you punk bitch! Fuck you, Carlos!

Is this who you decide
to follow around all night,

somebody who ain't got no
respect for anybody or anything?

You're a bitch! Shut up! Hey,
hey, hey.

( All shouting )

All right,
but just check her. Take it easy, Iris.

It's over. It's over.

You're damn rite it's over.

Where you going?
Away from you!

Iris!

You made me so ashamed!

You're no better than
any other boy from the barrio!

Yo,
forget her! She just lives down the block.

She'll be fine, man.
Come on.

Fuck, man.

Hey, I wouldn't let nobody
ruin my night tonight, man.

Come on we got over today, man.

For one day,
for one fuckin' day in my whole life,

I came out on top,
I came out the winner.

Me! Carlos Sanchez!
You know?

You know how my family's gonna freak
when they see all the stuff I got them?

I'm gonna be
a goddamn hero, homes.

A hero.
And they're gonna love me.

For once in my life,
I want to know what that feels like.

Yeah...
I know what you mean.

Mr. Lee: You're welcome
to any store items.

You hungry?

To take any store items...

Please, don't burn our store.

Please take whatever you want.

Mrs. Lee: Don't burn down
our store. Take what you need.

You're welcome to any items.

You thirsty?

Man: Fuckin' slope.

Man: Let's grab some shit
from the back. Come on!

Our personal things!
Please don't!

Sony! No motherfuckin'
baloney!

Our personal things.
Please don't. No.

Goddamn!

Help me!

Jeffrey, help me with her.

Here. Hold that.

There's a TV, homes!
Come on, mom.

Jeffrey: Put it back,
motherfucker!

Carlos: Get off me!

You want this so bad,
motherfucker? You want it?

Carlos, what the hell
are you doing?

( Gunshot, Carlos grunts )

Woman: Oh, god,
get out! They're killing people!

Man:
Get out of my way!

Carols. Carlos.

Bro! Oh, shit, bro!

Jeffrey:
Dad!

Dad!

Jeffrey: Dad, please!
Come on, open up!

Open up!

Open up! Daddy!

Come on, open up!

( Hissing )

Aaaah!

( Gas line hissing )

( Coughing )

Oh!

No!

No!!!

( No audible dialogue )

You know, I'm really getting
to hate these gooks.

What gooks?

These Vietnamese bitches
in my aerobics class.

Yesterday one of them
started giving me shit.

She said there was
too much "hiyee-impack work."

I mean, I could hardly
understand what she was saying.

They've all got
such an attitude.

Can't even find a street sign in English
on garden grove boulevard anymore.

Did you notice that? It's like
everything's in Vietnamese.

The verdicts come in today.

I met this producer yesterday.

He wants me to do
a workout video.

I tell ya, these guys
are gonna get crucified.

What guys?

Powell, koon, briseno, wind.

What are you talking
about? Rodney king.

I am so sick of hearing
about that asshole!

See, that's just it.

Don't you realize
what has happened?

Don't you realize what this
has done to the department,

that all it took
to bring down the LAPD

is one drunken asshole

doing 100 mile-an-hour
in a 35 mile-an-hour zone?

What happened to this country?

Where did it go wrong?

How did we go
from Martin Luther King

to Rodney king?

Can you tell me that?

When are you gonna get
some furniture for this place?

When are you gonna
move in with me?

I'm not moving in with you
until your divorce is final.

And that's final.

It should be
the end of the month.

You can stay here rent-free
until then.

You know, boomer,
I'm not a gypsy,

and I don't like
to live like one.

I don't like camping out.
Just look at this place.

Does anybody live here?
Hello?

I want my own home.
Is that too much to ask?

Maybe you should think about
being something other than a cop.

Okay, okay. Look, your brother
is a successful developer, right?

If he can do it,
you sure as shit can.

I know, I know.
Just think about it.

Just think about it.
Okay, I gotta go.

Hi.

Hello.

Where's Heather?

Getting dressed.

Want some breakfast?

No. The grass
needs cutting.

Yeah, I know.
I've been busy.

Yeah. I see evidence of that
everywhere I look.

Where are the light bulbs?
Oh, I moved 'em.

But this is the drawer
for the light bulbs.

This was the drawer
for the light bulbs,

and now they are over there.

I don't think over here
is the best place for them.

Boomer...

If you want to put the brown
socks with the brown socks

and the black socks
with the black socks,

be my guest, okay?

It's not about socks.

TV: The verdicts are expected
today in the police beating trial...

Oh. That asshole.

Today's the day.

What do you think
is gonna happen?

I think they're gonna get
nailed to the shithouse door.

What do you think
is gonna happen?

Don't you think those cops
went a little bit too far?

Hey, come on. They lost it,
all right?

They stopped being officers of
the law and they started being guys.

"Guys"?

Oh, so, it was a guy thing.
Oh, really?

Look, they just started wailing on that
asshole and they forgot who they were.

They forgot what
they were there for

and that they are professionals.
How inconvenient.

And look at that,
they keep showing this videotape.

That's not gonna help anything.
That's not doing anybody any good,

and you know what?
They have no idea.

People have no idea what
it was like for them out there,

because they weren't there.

Fuck!

Hey, baby.

Hi, sweetheart.

Hi, daddy.
How are you?

Ooh! So pretty today.

Give me some of that.

Ready for school?

What were you talking about?

Rodney king.

The man in the tape
who got hit so many times?

Yeah. Yeah, Rodney king.
Rocket scientist.

Baby, do you want grape, strawberry,
or peach jam on your toast?

What is this, a restaurant?

My mother never gave me
three choices.

Well, boomer,
I'm not your mother.

And you know what?

This is a restaurant.
It's my restaurant.

And I'm gonna run it
the way I want to, okay?

Come on, sweetie.
Come eat your breakfast.

( Sighs )

Why are you so grouchy?

I'm not grouchy.

Yes, you are.
No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

( Sighs )

Okay, you're right.
I am grouchy.

It's because this guy
Rodney king...

That was a terrible thing that
happened to this police department.

It destroyed morale.
People have no idea...

Emily got a computer
for her birthday.

Her parents are taking me and
Lauren to magic mountain on Saturday.

That's great.

Do you have a girlfriend, daddy?

( Sighs )

Well, do you?

No.

There you go.

I miss you, daddy.
I miss you a lot.

Do you ever think
you'll come home again?

Well...
I don't know.

Maybe.

Bye.

Ahem.

Hey, amigo.

How's it goin'?

It's goin'.
Dawn,

this is my partner boomer,
boomer, this is dawn.

Boomer? Is that
really your name?

No, it's just what they call me.

Way cool.
Yeah, cool.

Yeah, that's me.

Listen, keep it running,
okay? Okay.

It was nice meeting you.

Yes, it was nice
to meet you, too.

Wow.
Where'd you find her?

Redondo beach. She's a
professional volleyball player.

Professional volleyball?

She gets paid
to play volleyball?

You gonna marry her?
Of course.

TV: So far the demonstrators have
remained calm, do I get to be best man?

But simi valley police officers
are standing by

should any violence occur.

Fuck you, Rodney king!

Eat shit, motherfucker!

Kiss my ass,
you lowlife scumbag!

That moron's gonna walk away
from this thing a friggin' millionaire.

And he still won't know
which way to wear his hat.

I mean, don't you know that?

The reason the brothers
wear their hats backwards

is because there's
not a label on the inside

that says "this is the front
and this is the back."

Chas, you're trouble, brother.

The only reason Rodney king
was hit in the head so many times

and didn't sustain
any permanent damage

is because that was
the only part of his body

that didn't contain
any vital organs.

I want to know how one videotape has made
this whole department a big fuckin' joke.

You can thank Rose bird and her
clusterfuckin' liberals for what's happening.

Speaking of bird, you know how many
times I've been flipped off this week?

Yeah, and fuck George holliday
and his fucking video camera.

Man, the only mistake those cops
made was they got caught!

No, no, the mistake they made
was they lost control of the situation.

Those motherfuckers blew it.

No, boomer,
the mistake they made was,

they followed their training.

It was like they were
taught in the academy...

Don't tie up with the suspect.

Don't get in close.
Use your Baton.

"Don't tie up
with the suspects."

I mean, come on,
how many times have you heard that, boomer?

That's what they told US, man.

The day they took the barham
control hold away from US,

now, that was the day we
started losing control of the streets.

And what happens if you don't
have enough upper body strength

and you can't use
your Baton, huh?

Yeah, man. I mean,
that was Powell's problem, right?

He wasn't strong enough
to take mandingo out.

Yeah, and he wasn't alone
either, was he?

Well, what they teach you in the academy
doesn't always work that way in the jungle.

Chas, don't give me
that jungle bullshit.

They became the fucking
jungle. That's the problem.

Fuck that shit, man!

Have you ever thought about
what might happen

if they let those cops go?

Have you?

I mean, has anybody
thought about that?

That's not gonna happen.
But if what if it does, boomer?

Huh? I'm just saying
what if it does?

Then what?

Then we take care of business.

I don't think so.
Any of you guys think so?

And you know why, boomer?

Hey... you know why?

Because we don't have a plan.

I mean, do we?

What if the station comes
under fire from a sniper?

Have we been issued
any riot gear? Fuck, no!

Have we had any special
training in the past three months?

Fuck, no!

Is there a contingency plan
in effect? Fuck, no!

We're fucked, man!
The department's fucked!

Everything's... fucked!

Hey, come on. We got two
minutes to roll call. Let's go.

No, I called in sick.
What?

Yeah, I got stomach cramps,

fever, my ears are ringing.

You name it, I got it.

You don't look sick to me.

Actually, I, uh...

Forgot my wallet here
last night.

It's the only reason
I'm here today.

Look, boomer,
if those people out there

think we're such
a bunch of fuck-ups

because of what
they saw on the tape,

well, then, fuck 'em, man.

You know?
Fuck 'em.

Just gonna take the day off
with miss redondo beach

and play with her volleyballs.

That's bullshit, man.

You're a cop. Whether you like it or not,
you do have a job to do.

You're right, boomer.
Yeah.

You're absolutely right,
I do have a job to do.

But unfortunately, not today,

because today is for me.

I'll see ya.

( Distant siren )

Motherfuckin' bastard!
Get out of our neighborhood!

TV: Rather heated
exchanges between those

who have been
watching the trial,

there are several members of
the African-American community

who have voiced their
displeasure

and their wanting for
a conviction

for all four officers involved.

They've been here every day.

You've got a lot of people here

who are in total support
of the police officers.

One man delivered
a box of donuts

to officer Powell
as he went inside.

Hey, boomer.
Cheering him on as he went in,

saying that they supported him.

It appears that we are
going to have a verdict read.

There was some concern
that the judge would

send the jury back
in the event that

they were deadlocked
on one of the counts,

but it does not appear that
that is the case.

Judge weisberg did just that
in a previous trial.

And here's the reading.

Juror: We find the defendant
Laurence m. Powell not guilty

yes! Yes! Of unlawful
assault with a force

likely to cause
great bodily injury

and with a deadly weapon.

How about that boomer?
Yeah, how about that.

All right, LAPD!
Yeah!

Cop:
Justice, finally!

Justice.

You call that justice?

Justice for who?
Ain't no goddamn justice.

Goddamn rip-off, man.

No goddamn justice. That's some
bullshit there, that's what that is.

It's a damn joke, man!
Justice for who?

Excuse me.
Excuse me.

Fuck the LAPD.

Hey, I'm an LAPD officer.
You don't talk to me like that.

You got it bro?
I ain't your bro.

What?
What you gonna do?

You gonna beat me down
like you did Rodney king?

Just watch your mouth, mister.

Cop: Forget it, man.
These guys are assholes.

Forget it? Come on,
boomer, get over it.

Let's go. Let's get out of here.
Fuck 'em, boomer.

Fuck you.
Let's get out of here.

What?
You want some of this?

All y'all,
you can get some of this. Fuck 'em.

You know what I'm sayin'?
You know what I'm sayin'?

Hi.

Yeah, you heard what happened?

With the verdicts.

Yeah, I can't believe it.

Where's Heather?

She's in her room doing
her homework. Good.

Keep her in there.
Don't go out.

I need you to make sure
you know where your gun is

in case you need to get at it.

Keep the television on.

What are you talking about?
What's the matter?

Nothing yet. It's just...
You know, some people

might not be happy with the way
those verdicts came down

and you don't know
what can happen.

Do you think there's
gonna be trouble?

Maybe, maybe not.

Nothing we can't handle.

You, uh, you want me
to come over?

No. I'd rather you didn't.

I just want to make sure
that you're all right.

Boomer...

It's over.

Why can't you understand that?

Yeah. Sure.

Tom Bradley on TV: We are
determined that the message will go out.

Los Angeles will not tolerate
rogue cops,

will not tolerate
improper conduct

on the part of
any of our police officers.

Marching about white supremacy...

How can there be peace here?

We're just trying to
keep the peace,

make sure people don't get hurt,

that's the only reason
we're here.

So what we have in essence
is four officers

who walked out of this court
free men,

free to continue their lives
as they were before,

no doubt they'll have some
changes they'll have to deal with,

but now it falls
to the community

as to how they react to this.

( Siren blaring )

( Angry shouting )

Get out the car, motherfucker!

( Shouting continues )

Boomer:
All right, get off the car!

Get back on the sidewalk!
Back the fuck up!

Clear the roadway, people!

Right now!

Back up!

Motherfucker!

Every one of y'all!

( Shouting continues )

Back off!

Officer needs assistance.

Dispatcher: 12-0-51,
disregard group and do not get involved.

Cop: 12-a-1,
we have a major 415 group.

Situation is critical.

Requesting additional units.

( Siren wailing )

Five-oh!
Cops! Let's get out of here!

Cop: Back,
buddy. Back! Hands behind your head!

Drop 'em back!
Spread your legs!

Back the fuck up!

He's hurtin' my boy!
Let him go! He's just a child!

Ma'am, we are arresting
this child for vandalism!

Tell the judge that!

( All shouting )

What's the call? The call
is get the fuck out of here!

Headquarters is pulling
everyone out of the field.

The chief's not talking to the mayor,
and the mayor's not talking to the chief.

I guess they're
mad at each other,

just like my five-year-old
and my seven-year-old.

Back up! Back up! Now who's in charge,
boomer?!

There's nothing we can do. This
place is going up. Give me back my boy!

Get the fuck out of my face
before I arrest your black ass!

Hey!

( Shouting )

We got citizens here
that need our help!

They're tearing this place up!
Now, come on!

It's not our fuckin' problem! These
assholes got themselves to blame!

Our orders are to be redeployed
and return to the station!

Over and out. We got Rodney
king to thank for this shit!

You wanna play robo-cop? Fuck
you! We're outta here, boomer.

Come on, man!

( Banging on police car )

Give me back my boy!

Just stay back!

Woman: I hate you
motherfuckers! Just stand back!

12-0-51, officer needs
assistance at the golden west mall.

We have major incidents here.
Fires are being set, people are looting.

Dispatcher: 12-0-51,
there are no units available at this time.

Officer needs assistance.
Repeat: Officer needs assistance.

Withdraw from the area.
What?! Repeat that!

I repeat: All units are
to withdraw from the area.

Hey! Hey!

Back up! Back up!

( All shouting )

Back off!

Boomer: Are you all right?
Beating victim: Oh, shit.

Sir, are you all right?

Are you okay?
Come on.

Do you have a car?

Do you have a car?
Get in it. Go home. Go!

What are you gonna do, man?

Yeah!
Son of a bitch!

( Explosion )

Oh, yeah,
we gonna get you! Back up.

Ain't so fair now, huh?
Look at you! Yeah, man!

Let's fuck him up right here!

Goddamn piggly-wiggly!

Oh, yeah, we gonna get you!

Vamonos, hombre!

What you gonna do
with that stick, huh?

What you gonna do now?

( Car alarm )

Fuck him up!

( Siren wails )

Go to hell!

Odelle!

( Gunshot )

( Gunshot )

( Screaming )

Woman: Well?

Man:
What am I lookin' at?

Do you see that tiny
little light right there?

Yeah.
What about it?

That's your child.

We're a family.

They let me keep the tape.

Now, I know we said that we
wanted to savor our first baby,

but I can work
all the way up until...

Hey, whoa, whoa.
Don't worry about that.

That's... that's our baby?

Yeah.

I'm a father?
That's me?

Yeah.

Mmm.
Thank you, Turner.

I know this move
was tough for you,

but it's gonna get better
for US, especially now.

You'll see.

I mean, we got more space,
you're closer to work....

It's just what we said we wanted,
right? Right, right. Yes.

So why you been acting like we
runnin' out on somebody, then?

I mean, we just changed streets.

Is there something wrong
with wanting our child

to grow up without worrying
about being shot at every day?

Now, listen to how you sound.

You know people get shot at
all over this whole city.

I lived in crenshaw
all my life...

Both: And nobody's
ever took a shot at me.

That's right. And you
either. Am I right? Right.

All right.
We're cool.

But I don't want to take that chance with
my baby, Turner. And neither should you.

You're right.
You're right.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, I'm sorry, I just...

I want this to work out for US so bad,
Turner.

We earned this.

And we could really
build something here

if you just give it a chance.

Sweetie, listen,
I'm happy to be here.

You are?

I love you.

I'm a father!
( Laughs )

Hey, I'm a dad!

Everyone's in a state
of breathless anticipation.

Pat? What is the mood right now,
Brian?

You say there is
beefed-up security.

Are there fears that there
may be some kind of violence?

Hey, Turner.

Uh, do you have to go down
to your mama's house today?

Well, I told her I was gonna
get my stuff. Something wrong?

Is something wrong? No?

Huh?

Just promise me
you'll be careful.

'Cause if they
let those cops off...

Baby, they can't be that stupid.

Just promise.
I promise. I promise.

I'm gonna bring you back
some pickles and onions.

Mama's gonna flip when she
gets the news. Pickles and onions...

I got 'em!
And ice cream.

That too. I got
all the flavors you need!

I got mo' flavors!

Bye, baby!

( Starts car )

( R & b on radio )

♪ If you just
open up ♪

♪ tonight ♪

♪ slow down ♪

♪ We gotta pull out,
people ♪

♪ tonight, so right... ♪

Man: Hey,
Turner. What's up, fellas?

Vernon!

Man: Turner!
Come on back, boy!

How you doin', youngblood?

Hey. Young enough
to kick your rusty behind.

Got some beans for ya.

Yeah, that'll work.

Man, you know, this place
has not changed in thirty years.

I told you this before, vee, but I'm glad
you left my pop's name up there, man.

I owed him that much.

You know, your father
had a rare gift.

Yeah?
What is that?

He never asked nobody
for nothin'

he couldn't give back to 'em
by the end of the day.

He was his own man.

I hear that.

And I look at you.

I look at you,
I look at my dad...

Y'all started your own business.

Me, I got no stake.
I don't own Jack.

Your father always said

you want something bad enough,
you gotta do for self.

Well, you're not
doing so bad, Turner.

You got a good woman,
a new house...

I'd change places
with you anytime.

Brother,
it's all good. I cannot complain.

Matter of fact, you got any of
them big-ass cigars laying around?

I'm gonna drop some of them
over at the barber shop.

You know where the cigars are.

What's the matter,
somebody have a baby or something?

That's the rumor.

Come on.
Come here!

I'm so happy for you, Turner!

Your gonna make a great dad.

Nate's boy.
I'll be damned.

TV:
Well, you heard the verdict,

the verdict came in.
You're probably surprised

some of you, a sense of surprise
among some of the journalists

here in the media-slash-
jury room upstairs.

We've got basically
"not guilty" on every count..

They let 'em all go?

Woman on TV: Shall we accept
the fact that this was a race trial?

That it was white america's
justice system trying itself

for the beating
of an African-American male,

something they've done
for years, since slavery.

You go check on your mom,
make sure Maggie's okay.

I said,
"it's gonna be an acquittal."

Man: I just want to say to
everybody in the community

that we need to stay calm,
stay cool,

we don't need no unnecessary
confrontation with the law,

because god will take care
of US in times like these.

Because "'vengeance is mine, '
sayeth the lord."

Now, do we we understand that?

Honk for justice, young brother.

( Honks horn )
I'm with that.

All right.

( Men shouting )

Get outta here!

Yeah! Keep your ass
out of this neighborhood!

( Horns honking )

This is not gonna be
an overnight decision

based upon what the verdict is,

but definitely gonna
change my life

and I gotta find
something else to do with it.

Look at the devil smiling!
Would you hold still?!

I told y'all they was
gonna let 'em off.

Ain't no way in the world they
gonna lock up them white boys.

And they policemen too? Shoot.

I knew that when they moved it
to simi valley.

Ain't but two negroes out there,

and they both in jail!
( Laughter )

Lisa, find something else
on that TV, please.

Yo, L.A.'s fittin' to go crazy.

Y'all can believe that.
Turner: What's up, man?

Yeah, right.

Hey, buddy boy! Hey,
mama. Hey, Turner.

I thought you were
coming by after work.

I took half a day off. I can do that now,
mama. I'm the manager.

Yo, Turner,
you see that verdict?

Man, I'm not even thinking
about that madness.

They didn't even try
and give 'em a fair trial.

White folks do
whatever they want to.

So what else is new?

I'm gonna tell y'all one thing-

black man needs to
watch his step tonight.

You're damn right,
because it is open season on a nigger!

Yo, hold on,
right here. TV ..Lerman was less reserved.

Lerman:
It sends a bad message.

It says its okay to beat
somebody when they're down,

and kick the crap out of 'em,

and it's okay because
if it's not videotaped

don't worry about it,
another brother officer won't turn you in,

and if a brother officer
does turn you in, don't worry,

we'll get white jurors or
whatever it takes, and you'll walk.

I know my client would have
made a hell of a good witness,

he wanted to testify,
but they chose not to...

They didn't even
let the brother testify?!

Lisa, if you can't find something
better to watch, turn it off.

Turn it off?
Unh-unh, Maggie!

The revolution's
gonna be televised this time!

You shut up.
( Laughter )

It's gonna be televised
this time. This time it's on.

I'll get you some change,
Cheryl.

They gonna show this one.
In living color.

( Laughter )

Mom, you're working too hard.

You look tired.
I am tired.

If I hear another word
about Rodney king,

I'm gonna beat up
on somebody myself.

Let me see these feet.

Oh, that feels good.

I got something for you.

All right.

For your new house.

You're gonna have a lot of
family pictures on your mantle.

Nate and Maggie,
lookin' cleaner than the board of health.

Look at you, mom.
( Both laugh )

Thank you.

You know, I stopped by
the old liquor store today.

Vernon says hi.

You always say that
like you own that place.

Maybe sometimes I wish I did.

It's got nice memories
for me, you know?

You ever feel that way, mom?

Unh-unh.

All I see
when I look at that store

is the place
where your father died.

Why'd you stay in L.A.?

Where was I gonna go, Turner...

With a three-year-old boy

and a half a stake
in a burned-out liquor store?

You coulda gone back to Texas.

Unh-unh.

I owed it to your father to get
that business back on its feet.

Then why did you sell it later?

A lot of bad memories
in that store for me, Turner.

There comes a time
when you just gotta move on.

How's Linda?

Oh, Linda's cool.
She want to the doctor,

and her hormones are jumping
around like they're on soul train.

( Chuckling ) She's all right,
though, huh?

Yeah. She's just
a little pregnant.

Well, you tell her
that I said she...

She's what?

We're gonna have a baby, mom.

( Both laughing )

I'm gonna be a dad, grandma.

Thank you, son.
Thank you.

This whole thing
would have never happened,

all this money would have
never been spent

and all this ill feeling
would have never taken place

if one individual
had been traveling

55 miles an hour like
he was supposed to be doing.

Listen to this devil.
( Loud crash outside )

What the hell was that?

Oh, shit!
Look out there!

Do you see any police
out there? That shit is crazy!

Y'all come on away
from that window,

I got an announcement to make!

Raoul oughta take
a look at this.

All right, Keith.

Turner got some news.
Tell 'em, Turner.

Gonna be mad city.

What the hell is going on?

( Glass breaking,
people shouting outside )

Where you going?

Where you going?

Why don't they just drive off?

They better get out of there.
Serves 'em right!

Woman: You ought to
be ashamed of yourself!

( All shouting )
Get him! Get him!

Boone, go out there with him,
please. Yes, ma'am.

( Shouting )

Lay off, man!
Get the fuck off!

This Mexican wasn't on
the jury! They gotta pay!

What's up with your man?! What you
doing around here? I thought you moved.

You picked the wrong day
for a visit, nigger.

What's up with you, man? Just
getting a little payback, that's all.

That's for motherfuckin' Rodney king,
bitch!

You wrong, brother.

Yeah? We handin' out
ass-whippings

as casual as the fuckin' LAPD.

To who? To US brothers?
Does that shit make sense?

Does the fuckin' verdict
make sense, fool?

You better wake up, brother.

They don't give a fuck
about you.

When you go down to it, this might be
the only thing that does make sense...

An eye for a motherfuckin' eye.

Fuck that bullshit! Take that
shit to simi valley, not here!

Boone, you need to
take him on out of here

with the rest of
the house niggers,

because the field hands is takin'
over the plantation today, motherfucker.

Yeah. Yeah, fool. We ain't got
no more cheeks to turn, brother.

Bee, you're wrong.

This is our neighborhood, man!

Come on.

Where the fuck
are the police now, huh?

I ain't never seen nothin'
like that.

Lisa, call 911.

We closed, y'all.
Go on home.

Lord! If they ain't protestin'
down in Parker center.

What's wrong with you, running out there in
that mess? Somebody's gotta do something.

I said y'all go on home.

Anybody going towards inglewood?

I would rather not
wait on the bus.

I'll give you a ride.

Hey, Boone, check you out later.

Y'all get home safe.
Mama, get your stuff together.

I want you to stay
with me and Linda at the house.

There are times you look just
like Nathaniel, you know that?

You have a lot of him
in you, too.

Son...

Please, don't underestimate
these people out here.

Most of 'em,
they're just lookin' for an excuse.

Mom, get your things.
We're gonna be fine.

Really. We're all
gonna be okay.

Go get your bag, all right?

I couldn't get through
to the police.

Lisa, you need a ride?
Yeah. Thank you so much, Boone.

I'll see you tomorrow,
miss Maggie.

Take care, baby.
Please take care.

Oh. What was
your news, Turner?

Oh, uh,
Linda's pregnant. We've having a baby.

Oh, that's great, Turner!

Okay, bye.

Congratulations.
Come on. Let's go. Now!

Now.
Mom.

Mom.
We gotta go.

Yeah. Yeah.

( News statement
playing over loudspeakers )

we all saw with our own eyes

wasn't a crime.

Senseless and brutal beating
of a helpless man.

Today that jury said
we should tolerate such conduct

by those who are sworn
to protect and serve...

No, our eyes
did not deceive US...

Raymond!

What we saw was a crime.

No, we will not tolerate the
savage beatings of our citizens

by a few renegade cops...

No...

Turner: Mom!

Mom, come on!

Mom!
We gotta get Vernon!

Give voice to
our great frustration.

I know that we must express our
profound outrage, our anger,

but we must do so
in ways that bring honor...

( Siren wails )

Girl, come on.

( Shouting )

Come on. I don't want you
in the car alone.

Mom!

Come on. Come on.

Let's go.

( Shouting, horns honking )

Now ain't the time
to be joy-riding.

Vernon, we came back for you, man,
so get your stuff. We're gonna go.

I'm not going. There won't be be
four walls standing in the morning

if I leave here.
Don't be a fool, Vernon.

If they get in here,
it'll wipe me out. You know that!

Y'all go on now.

Vernon, come on.
We ain't got time for that mess.

I'm tellin' you.
( Knock on door )

Come on in, odelle. Hey,
man, it's spreading.

What you gonna do? I'm
gettin' the hell out of here.

It's nothing but
an old dry cleaners plant.

They want to loot it,
the hell with 'em.

The insurance company or the
government will pay for it anyhow.

Bullshit.
You stayin'?

I gotta stay. These are still my folks,
right or wrong.

Yeah, well, your folks are fittin' to
burn down the whole damn neighborhood

to the ground.

I'm gettin' out of here.

Be careful, now.

Y'all go on now.

What are you gonna do against
all these people by yourself?

Don't you see they're
getting ready to explode?

And they don't care
who they hurt!

Maggie,
everything I got is in this store.

Everything.

Now, I survived '65,
and I'm gonna survive this one.

Vernon.
Y'all go on now.

Besides, I'm not
all that helpless.

Vernon, we're not gonna
walk out of here without you.

I'm serious, now!
I'm stayin'!

Stop it!

This place took one man
away from me already,

and I'll be damned
if I'll see it happen again!

Nathaniel underestimated all those
people out there, and it cost him his life.

Please...

Please... don't make
the same mistake.

( Glass breaking )

Mama, stay away
from the windows.

Vernon, don't go out there! Vernon,
I got this.

I got your back.

Hey! What the fuck
you doin'?!

This here is a black-owned business,
and it's closed. You got it?

Yeah, right.
What's the matter with you?

You didn't get enough shit
from the mall? Huh?

Then take your ass on down to
city hall and show them how you feel.

Buses ain't runnin', Turner.

You need to
take that shit home, man.

You're the one that
need to go home, brother.

The revolution is on right now.

I am home.
Now, think about this.

Is this how we're gonna
protest the verdict?

We're gonna
tear our own shit up?

You think they give a fuck?
They're laughing at US!

What the fuck do we own around here,
brother?

Y'all got your geography
mixed. That's right!

Why you wanna burn down
your own neighborhood?

If you want to uprise so bad,

why don't you go
rise up the man's ass... oww!

Yeah!

It's on, baby!

Vernon!
You all right?

Vernon.
You okay, man?

Yeah, I'm gonna make it.

( Glass breaking )

Oh, put that back.
Why you doin' this?

I gotta go get mama.

It's not fair what you're doing!

Fair ain't got
nothing to do with it!

Give me my pocketbook.
She took my pocketbook!

Hey!

Go on with you!
Move out of the way!

Oh, god.

Call the doctor.
Call the ambulance!

Vernon, can you handle it?

Mom, there is no ambulance.
I'm gonna get the car.

Carlos:
Get in! Fuck it!

Hey! Hey, motherfucker!

That's my car!

( Glass breaking )

( Horns honking )

Did you get a doctor?
They took the car.

I'm gonna get odelle
and we'll get help.

We've gotta get him out.
I'll be back, mama.

Turner, please!
Mom, I'll be back.

Turner, no!
Turner!!!

Over here! Over here!

Baby, I got it. Nate, please,
you don't understand.

Don't worry about it. I don't want
you to go out there by yourself.

Baby. Baby!
It's gonna be okay.

Baby, please, don't.
Nate, you can't...

( shouting )

Odelle!

( Burglar alarms blaring )

We gonna get you!
What you gonna do?

Odelle!

Fuck him up!

( Gunshots )

( Screaming )

Get out of here!

( Gunshot reverberates )

Blue-eyed devil!

Turner.

Turner.

Mom!

I heard a gunshot.

Turner?

We're doing it again, mama.

Turner, come. Come.

We've got to get Vernon
out of here.

Didn't find no help, huh?

Come on, y'all, come on!

We ain't gonna find
any help around here.

( Glass breaking )

Don't do it, son.

Don't do it.

That's not all that's left
of him, believe me.

Please.

You're right, mama.

We're what's left of him.

Me, you, the baby.

Vernon:
I guess that's that.

They didn't do shit
to help rebuild the last time.

They're not gonna do shit
to help rebuild now.

It's just like you said,
Vernon...

Time to do for self.

♪♪...