The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
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Two plus nine equal 11.
Robyn.
I want you to know that
my whole family is depending on you.
They mad right now
'cause I put you in charge of my affairs.
But in the long run,
they're gonna be better off
because of your strength.
I'm... I'm sorry
for what's about to happen here today.
But I got to set things right.
That... That motherfucker got to pay
for what he done.
I know you in there, old man.
- Who is it?
- You know damn well who it is.
Come on in. It's open.
Good morning. Today is March 17, 2021,
and welcome to Atlanta News 8
morning report.
Here are your top stories
and international news.
Tensions throughout
the Middle East remain high,
after a seventh straight day of bombings
in the Afghan capital city of Kabul.
And the stability of the region
continues to deteriorate.
We have breaking news.
A bomb has exploded in a Kabul mosque
being attended by top Afghan officials.
Fourteen people were killed,
with dozens more reported as injured.
The Afghan executive chief
remains unharmed.
Reports are coming in
from our sister station…
The US ambassador in Kabul is expected
to make a statement
giving an update on the situation,
along with information
on who the Afghani government suspects
is behind this latest attack.
This is a developing story.
We just heard Johann Sebastian Bach's
Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 in F Major.
You're listening to WKCT,
Atlanta's classical music station.
Coming up, we have a viola concerto…
Stop playing around, Pity.
Coydog?
Boy, you stop playing around.
Do what you promised.
I… I forgot.
Forgot?
I didn't give my life for you to forget.
- Get her out of there!
- Come on! Come on!
Come on, Maude, pick your head up!
- Come on, Maude!
- Faster, now, faster!
More water!
Pity!
- We got to save her, Mama!
- Pity!
- We got to!
- Pity!
No! Mom!
- Pity!
- Please let me go!
I should've saved her.
I should've s-s...
Mama.
Mama?
Mama.
- Mama!
- Yes, baby?
Hey, Maude. How you doing?
Her mama been gone for three days,
and Maude don't have nothing to eat.
Well, come on in.
Take a chair at the table.
I just made a mess of grits.
Thank you.
Papa Grey.
Get him!
Papa Grey!
Papa Grey, you in there?
Papa Grey.
To make these,
we're gonna start with protein…
Papa Grey?
Who that?
It's me.
Me? I'm me.
Is you that woman who wanna rob me?
No.
I'm that man that's telling you
that I'm here and that it's me, Reggie.
Reggie?
How I know it's you?
You know my voice.
I know the voice
if I see the face who talking.
But, you know, sometimes...
Sometimes I don't know, you know?
Okay, okay.
So how I'ma prove to you that I'm me?
Well, what I always tell Reggie
he got to do?
I got to take care of my kids.
I got to go to the doctor
if I run a fever.
And... I got to put in
at least ten dollars in the bank
every time I get paid.
Well, anybody know that.
What I tell Reggie about drinking?
You say, "Don't do it. Don't do it.
'Cause when you do, you like to get mad."
That shit don't sound nothing like me.
Papa Grey, open up.
Told you. Good to see you, Papa Grey.
All right. Right. Here we go.
Work with me.
Hey! There you go. All right now.
- And?
- Always...
- Always lock the door.
- Always lock that door.
You don't want that woman coming back
and robbing you again.
Uh-uh. No, Lord. She slapped me down.
Stole my... Stole my change can and...
Yeah, yeah. That's okay, Unc.
Hey, you got some ice water I could drink?
Ice water, to drink?
Yeah! Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Come on. Come on, man.
You get the pitcher out the icebox here.
I'm gonna...
I'm gonna find your special glass
I always keep for you to, you know,
drink your water out of 'cause...
Yeah. How's the hand?
It's got a big old bandage on it,
but it's... It's aight.
I'ma find that glass,
'cause I know how you like your water,
so I've always keeped your special glass
in a special place.
You done ate three cans of beans
in three days, Uncle. That's good.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Three cans ago, when you was here,
- I washed the glass…
- Okay.
…so it'd be ready for you when you came.
Where... Where's...
- What is that?
- I can't remember where.
Why you got the alarm clock
in the icebox, Papa Grey?
I... I wanted to know what
the temperature was, so I... I was...
I think this would do you better
by your sleeping table. What you think?
Yeah.
Yeah?
Okay. All right.
All right.
You put that up there, didn't you?
Because I know I didn't.
You're something else.
We've got a high-pressure system
that could very likely…
I had a visitor
just before you got here, but...
But that... that was...
That was a long time ago.
And then... then you showed up.
They came inside?
Well, who was it?
A man I used to know.
What man?
You know what man.
One of them niggas hang out
up on the corner?
No... No... No. It's...
It... It's... It's... It's...
It's somebody from before your time.
- Who was?
- Coydog.
Man who taught me my figures, how to read.
Yeah. Okay. Coydog, huh?
You talking about the old days.
Uh-huh. Okay.
There was a fight somewhere out there too,
'cause... 'cause I heard a lot... a
whole... Whole bunch of clanging, you know.
Them cowbells... cowbells was ringing.
Do you want some water, Papa Grey?
I think we're gonna have to shape you up
before we present you to the world, Uncle.
No, no. I... I... I like it like this.
Yeah.
Got a little Frederick Douglass going.
Let me help you out.
So like I was saying, Unc, Nina,
she ain't too happy around here no more.
So, I was thinking of packing her
and the kids up
and moving on down to Texas.
Yeah. All right.
What you think about that?
Think it'd be all right if somebody else
came to check on you from time to time?
Yeah. Yeah. The more the better.
What's wrong with that woman, Reggie?
Over there.
Lower your voice.
You see she got
that big old lump on her neck
like a head about to grow out of it?
What's wrong with her?
Nothing wrong with her, Papa Grey.
Just be quiet.
Why I got to be quiet when she got
something that look like a big grapefruit
about to bust out of her neck?
- I wanna know what's wrong with her.
- Ptolemy?
- Don't you?
- Ptolemy Grey?
Yes, ma'am. Come on, Unc.
- What?
- Let's go to the doctor.
- You need to shut him up.
- I'm so sorry.
What she say?
Why you got me in here
when that woman out yonder
with that big old thing on her throat?
Well, that's, Ms. Pine,
and she's got what we call a goiter
and a thyroid infection.
And we're just prepping her
for a trip to the hospital.
You know, Coydog used to say
hospital where Black folk went to die.
Well, as a resident
I practically lived in a hospital,
and somehow I made it out alive.
Yeah, but you ain't but so Black.
Hand's completely healed. It's amazing.
Told ya.
Ain't nobody sticking needles in me,
wrapping my hand up
like it's a ornery hog.
Well, Mr. Grey…
People your age, with a burn like that,
would take months to heal.
No, I heal fast.
Old Black man in the cotton fields,
he can't be playin' sick.
Once upon a time I could pick
300 pounds of cotton on a summer day.
Them other niggas be passing out
in the dirt from the heat.
Not me.
I worked till the June moon come up.
The June moon.
The way they tell the story
is that he was only 12
when he came up from the Delta up north.
- He walked barefoot...
- Uh-uh! I ran.
He r...
Mr. Grey.
Do you remember when I used to live
in your building when I was a kid?
No.
You don't remember when I used to
trick-or-treat by your apartment door
and you... you'd give out apples.
- Apples?
- Yeah.
No.
Come on, Papa Grey. You remember.
Remember what?
Excuse me one second.
- Ms... Ms. Kamal?
- Yes, Doctor?
Mr. Grey, would you like a pop?
Dr Pepper?
A Dr Pepper? You got it.
Mrs. Kamal, could you please take Mr. Grey
to the snack room
- and get him a Dr Pepper?
- Yes.
Yep, I got you.
Come with me now, honey.
We'll get you a soda.
- All right.
- You coming?
No, I'ma talk to him for a minute.
You know what he's gonna tell you, right?
You need to lose some weight.
He's slipping, I know.
No, it's not the slipping.
It's the rate of the decline.
Only a few weeks,
and he's already deteriorated...
You don't have to tell me. You don't...
I'm the one that's there,
right there with him. The only one.
Hey, but otherwise, physically he's...
He's healthier than either one of us.
I mean… his hand,
his recuperative ability.
And see, that's... that's why
I suggested this study
and why they're interested in him.
Now, Dr. Rubin wants to sit
with the both of you.
He'll offer some examinations,
maybe ask for some tests.
Like on a guinea pig?
Look, I am told
that Dr. Rubin has had lots of success
with patients just like your uncle.
First off, ain't nobody
just like my uncle.
Yeah.
What you saying, Milton?
You telling I should go along
with these tests? That's the move?
All I'm saying is that
this Dr. Rubin knows more about dementia
than anyone I've ever met.
Yeah.
- That's all you got for me?
- That's all I got.
Other than the alternative.
Look, it's Coy.
Coydog!
- What?
- Hey, Coy! I'm coming...
Papa Grey!
What you doing, Unc?
You've got to pay attention, man.
Hey, motherfucker.
What's up with all the loud talk, partner?
The fuck wrong with this old man? He slow?
Nah, he old. What's wrong with you?
Girl, this nigga be
getting on my damn nerves.
- Get back in this piece of shit.
- I told him to call yesterday.
He didn't do that.
Hello, ladies!
Are y'all going down to Miss Deena's?
Is you a player, Grandad?
I ain't been to Miss Deena's
in about 90 years.
I bet she miss you too, huh?
- I don't even know where it's at no more.
- I bet you could find her if you looked.
I bet you I get older,
I can still cut a rug though.
Sensie.
- Sensie.
- Don't touch me. What's wrong with you?
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
He old. He thought you were somebody else.
Don't touch me.
Have a nice day.
Papa Grey, what you doing?
The onliest woman I ever loved,
right there.
God's one true gift to me.
Sensia Howard.
Come on, Unc. Let's go eat.
You know I sent Mr. Johnson packing?
What?
I told the nigga that if he didn't find
some kind of regular job in six weeks,
he had to go.
Can't fault you there.
You look like you losing weight, Mr. Grey.
He mostly only eats when I'm around.
He needs to eat more. Okay?
You want some pie, Uncle?
Uncle?
You know, Reg, it seem like...
Seem like I can't remember
nothing no more.
Like, I... I sit
and I think about
when little Maude Petit come live with us,
then I try to say what day it is.
Ain't got a clue.
So you want me to take you
to that special doctor?
The special doctor
that might help you remember things.
When that chicken gonna come?
Yeah.
- Sonia.
- Yeah, baby?
Can you bring out some more fried thighs?
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah, we still hungry.
Okay.
Hello?
Yeah, is this Dr. Rubin's office?
Hi. Yeah. My name's Reginald Lloyd,
and I was told by Dr. Milton Riley
down at the People's Clinic
that I can expect an appointment
for my great-uncle Ptolemy Grey.
You heard of him, huh?
Yo. Hold on.
Next week? Hold on. Okay.
Uh-huh.
As you can see, traffic is backed up
for miles due to a multi-vehicle pileup…
Okay. All right.
Got it. Thank you.
…a semitruck blew a tire, lost control
and slid across multiple lanes
going southbound
where 285 connects to I-85.
Papa Grey.
Yeah, boy?
Unc, you ever worry
about losing your woman?
Your family?
Family...
Family the most important thing you got.
Unc, I got something I need to say,
and I don't know who else to say it to.
It's about Nina and me.
See, Nina…
Nina got this ex-boyfriend
who went to prison for killing somebody.
A dozen were treated for minor injuries
and released on-scene.
At this time,
no casualties have been reported.
Georgia Highway Patrol…
…the devastating scene.
You still with me, Unc?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Sure.
So, what do you think I should do?
That... That woman on the news.
You know, th... know the pretty, Black one?
She said there's a big wreck
on the freeway,
cars backed up for miles.
Ain't that something?
Yeah.
All right, Unc.
This here, this your next appointment.
It's a big one, all right?
Now, I'll be back by to take you,
but I gotta run.
Already?
Why don't you stay and play some dominoes?
Nah, next time, Unc. Next time.
I gotta go.
It's Latisha's birthday.
Birthday? Y'all having a party?
Nah, nah.
Just... Just a little cake,
a few presents, you know.
I gotta go.
Well, I'll be here.
Yep.
All right, now, when I leave,
you throw the bolt.
- Throw the bolt.
- What you about to do?
- Throw the bolt.
- That's right.
- Reggie.
- Yeah?
- I'll be back to bring you to the doctor.
- I'll be here.
- Yeah.
- Throw the bolt.
That's it.
There have been several deaths…
…has that lavender…
Coy?
Coydog, you in there?
It's environmentally friendly,
reused soap.
You can feel really good
about using this soap…
And this should come as no surprise
to anybody who has lived in Atlanta
for any length of time that again…
Reggie?
Reg. Reggie, no...
No, no, no bean... No more bean.
Reggie.
No beans.
Throw the bolt.
What?
Uncle Grey.
Reggie?
Nah, Uncle. It's Hilly.
Who-lly?
Hilly. Niecie's son.
Where Reggie at?
He couldn't... He couldn't be here.
Mama sent me to come get you.
"Get me"?
What that mean, "Get me"?
Bring you to Niecie's house.
- Niecie.
- Yeah. Niecie.
Hilda Brown, your sister June's daughter.
June... June dead. June died long time ago.
Look by the wall, Papa Grey.
It's a... it's the picture
over there on the wall.
How you know what's in my house?
- 'Cause I been here before.
- When?
It was a long time ago.
But I... I've been here.
Look by the wall. There's a picture
with a piece of tape on it.
It say "Hilliard." That's me.
What I'm looking for again?
For "Hilliard." H-I-L-I...
- Okay, all right, all right, all right.
- It's right there by the wall.
June had Niecie.
Niecie had Hilliard, who also named Hilly.
- Yeah.
- Papa Grey, come on, old man.
All right, all right, all right.
Hold your horses.
Damn, Uncle. I ain't think
you was gonna ever open up.
Something wrong with this boy, Pity.
I got eyes, Coy. I can see.
What?
- Come on in.
- All right.
- Well, you gotta move back to let me in.
- What?
You gotta move to let me in, Unc.
Come on, now, move. Goddamn.
What the fuck is that smell?
- I don't smell nothing.
- That's your toilet?
It smell like you boo-booed on yourself.
Uh-uh, no! Now don't be touching things.
- Stop touching things.
- Okay.
Where Reggie at?
He ain't... He ain't been here.
And today... Today bank day.
- You need to go to the bank?
- Yeah, with Reggie.
He at Mama's.
I'll take you to the bank.
We go on over there. Come on.
Oh, no! Shit!
Look what you done did! Oh, no!
Don't... Don't touch 'em.
I'll... I'll get 'em up.
- Go outside and wait.
- I'ma help you pick up...
- Go wait! I'll come out there.
- Oh, hell, man.
Papa Grey, I need you to come with me
to Mama house.
All right. But go... go ahead.
- Put on a clean shirt and come home, okay.
- Uh-huh.
- We need to go to the house.
- Okay. All right.
- I'ma be outside. I'm waiting on you.
- I'm coming. I'm coming.
Damn. Messed up my stuff
and touching on things…
One, two,
three.
Got what you need, Uncle?
Uh-huh. One, two, three.
Hey, hold it right there, motherfucker!
Hey!
- What you doing?
- Fuck you push me for, nigga?
- What you fucking with my uncle for?
- Your uncle?
That motherfucker there owe me money.
He told me he was gonna give me
money for my rent.
- He promised me, and you know he got it.
- Uh-uh.
Everybody in here know he got a whole bag
full of money in that apartment.
- No.
- Look, he said no.
- I said yeah.
- Look, bitch.
You keep playing with me and I'ma
break your fucking jaw! Get the fuck on.
He owe me.
Somebody owe your ass a bath.
Come on, Papa Grey.
She ain't gonna mess with you.
I'm coming for you, nigga.
She don't mean that shit. Come on.
What bank you been going to?
That way.
I'ma find you.
All right, come on.
What's that about a bag of money?
Do this look like a bank to you?
Slow down, baby.
Ask... Ask Reggie.
"Ask Reggie." All right, go ahead.
Ask Reggie. Here.
Ask him. You always asking about Reggie.
Ask Reggie.
- I'm tired of hearing that shit.
- What?
You got no bank card on you?
Where your wallet at?
Wallet? Why?
'Cause I'm tryna get us to the bank, Unc.
You don't know where we at.
Goddamn.
Okay, check's right here.
Grollier's Bank.
That shit ain't even on this street.
Shit, man.
Motherfuckers.
What's going on, gentlemen?
Ain't nothing going on, Officer.
My name is Hilliard Brown,
and this is my uncle Ptolemy Grey.
Just chilling.
That the case, sir?
- All right.
- You come with us.
Come on. Ah, man. Hold on, bro. For what?
We're gonna detain you
till we figure out what's...
- I checked him.
- Get your fucking hands off me.
- Hold up. Stop! Stop! Stop, he...
- We're detaining you.
- He who my nephew...
- Sir, you know this man?
Do you know this man?
He who my nephew sent
to bring me where he at. Reggie.
I mean, he ain't Reggie,
but he taking me to where Reggie is.
That's my... my sister's daughter's boy,
Hilliard.
He taking me to see Reggie.
- Let me see some ID.
- What?
- Show me some ID.
- All right.
Why you always coming through,
messing with folk?
- Just relax, bruh. Chill.
- Do what he say, youngblood.
Damn.
So why are you digging through
his pockets?
I'm just... I'm just helping him
cash his checks, man.
I'm walking my uncle to the bank.
He don't know where the bank is.
He's senile. He don't know
what the fuck we doing. I'm just...
- Is this true?
- Uh-huh.
You're okay?
- Yes, sir, Mr. Bull. Yes, sir.
- Are you sure you're okay?
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Keep it up, Hilliard.
Here.
Man, you trying to get me killed, bruh?
- What?
- Come on, we need to go to the bus.
You the one fighting with the police.
P-T-O-L-E-M-Y.
Cross the T.
You get three checks every month?
Social security.
This my pension from the post office.
And this is death benefits
from Sensia Howard.
One, two, three.
You a lucky motherfucker, Unc.
If I had that type of money,
my life would be made.
All right.
Excuse me, sir.
Hi. I'm Shirley. Shirley Wring.
Shirley Wring?
W-R-I-N-G.
Hello, W-R-I-N-G.
My name, is... is Ptolemy.
This is a little embarrassing.
I came here to pay my phone bill,
but I'm short.
I need about $40.
All I have is this.
My father gave it
to my mother 60 years ago.
This a treasure.
And all I ask is that you let me buy it
back when I get my social security...
This what Coydog was trying to tell me.
A treasure to save all the Black peoples.
Hello, Mr. Grey.
Do you remember me? Kora Brooks?
Uh-huh.
Mr. Brown here says that you want him
to cash your checks.
Reggie is over his house,
and Hilliard is taking me there.
So, you know Mr. Brown?
- He just told you that.
- Yeah.
He... He's my sister's daughter's child.
- Niecie's boy.
- Niecie's boy. I told you that, lady.
I got her on the phone,
I can call her now and ask her.
That's not necessary.
- Come with me, Mr. Brown.
- Thank you.
Man. You know, we got shit to do. Come on.
So, can you lend me the money, Ptolemy?
Okay, that's three checks. That's $300.
Come on, Unc. Let's go, we already late.
Hey, this here Miss, W-R-I-N-G.
Hey. Come on, let's go.
I need my money.
- I'ma hold on to it for you.
- I need it now.
All right. Damn.
Where are the other two envelopes?
They only put the money in one envelope.
Count out what you need.
I took an even 50.
Thank you so much, Ptolemy.
And this…
Is my gift to you.
Come on, Unc. Let's go.
Hell yeah, man. Police tried to tase me
in my neck and everything, bruh.
It is what it is though.
All right, my bruh. All right.
Unc, put your money away, man.
Whenever I go to the bank with Reggie,
I always end up with near about $300.
One, two, three.
This here ain't but one. One hundred.
You don't remember you gave
your money to the old lady?
An even 50. That's what she took. Even 50.
Nah, she took almost two.
I'm telling you. I saw her.
She took almost two.
- Let me count it again.
- Hands off my money.
You stole enough of my money already.
Thief.
Here we are.
This Reggie birthday party?
Kinda.
Pitypapa.
Hey, baby. It's been too long.
It's me, Pitypapa.
Your favorite niece. Niecie.
- June... June's girl.
- That's right.
You remember. That's right.
Ain't nothing wrong with you.
And here you are in my house.
Where Reggie? He ain't... He ain't
been to my house eight, nine bean cans.
Robyn.
Robyn! Where...
We ran out of the ribs,
but we got enough fried chicken.
Ms. Hannah brought the coleslaw,
but I can still go get Hawaiian Punch mix.
Don't worry about that now.
There's somebody I want you to meet.
Pitypapa, this here is
my best friend Frida's little girl, Robyn.
Frida died,
so now Robyn live here with me and Hilly.
Robyn, this is my mother's brother,
Mr. Ptolemy Grey.
Hey.
Robyn. First bird of spring.
She might be coming by
to help you out sometime.
Ain't that right?
I guess.
You hungry?
Well, I wanna see Hilly... I-I mean Reggie.
I-I wanna see Reggie.
Get something in your stomach first, yeah?
Then Reggie.
Robyn, can you please put the phone down?
Take your uncle
and go fix him a plate, please.
That is not my uncle.
Well, come on.
Where Reggie? The...
The thief said he was gonna be here.
- The what?
- Where Reggie at?
He got in trouble 'cause he stayed
in town so long taking care of you.
Reggie in trouble? Where at?
We got to go help him.
He ain't in trouble no more.
He's fine.
Greens?
Yes, ma'am.
Yams?
Yeah.
Coleslaw?
I already got greens on my plate.
And what about fried chicken?
Yeah. Thigh, please.
Sorry, I dropped it. It's... It's my fault.
- I'm sorry. I dropped it.
- Here. Wipe yourself off, little sister.
I got you.
It's... It's all good, Mr. Grey.
- It's all right.
- I know you?
Yeah.
Billy Freres, sir.
Me and Reggie been best friends
since we were little boys.
Don't you remember?
We used to come to your house
all the time.
You let us look through
your old magazines.
National Geographic. Jet.
Y'all was looking for naked girls.
Yeah, you remember that.
Hey, want some fried chicken, Mr. Grey?
Thighs.
I got you.
Look at him.
Just eating like a pig, don't know shit.
Well… he was there for Reggie
when he needed a gentle hand.
When we were kids,
he used to let us play for hours,
and never, not once,
did he say a bad word.
You want anything else?
I wanna see Reggie.
Come on.
Say excuse me, man.
Sorry, sir... Nice... Nice gators.
Who he?
Alfred somebody.
Think he a friend of Reggie's.
- He shouldn't be doing that.
- I was trying...
Nina.
Look who it is.
- What's up, Robyn?
- Hey.
This is Reggie's great-uncle.
Yeah, Papa Grey.
I'm glad you're here.
Reggie talked a lot about you.
Well, where Reggie at?
This way.
His little children
like me and Maude Petit was
down in Burdette.
How come...
How come y'all got him in here like this?
Somebody shot him.
Ain't nobody tell me. Didn't n...
Didn't nobody say.
- Nobody ain't call you?
- Nobody said.
No, don't think so.
No. I... I don't remember.
I-I don't remember. I don't think so.
Oh, Reggie. Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Oh, God, Reggie!
Please, God, no.
Please.
Please, Reggie. Please, get up.
Don't be dead.
Please, don't be dead.
There he is.
- Yeah, I'ma take him home.
- I'm supposed to take him.
Yeah, well, he don't like you.
Says you messed up his stuff.
His stuff was already messed up
when I got there.
Yeah, you made it worse.
Yeah. And he... he... stole my one, two
and just give me three.
- What's he talking about?
- I don't know. You know he crazy.
Let Robyn take him.
You'll be home soon, Pitypapa.
Aight, come on. I'll take you to the bus
and get you to your house.
Reggie gonna come later?
Yeah, he gonna be there.
You all right?
Reggie really dead?
Yeah.
Well, who killed him?
Nobody know.
I'ma find who did it.
I swear.
---
Two plus nine equal 11.
Robyn.
I want you to know that
my whole family is depending on you.
They mad right now
'cause I put you in charge of my affairs.
But in the long run,
they're gonna be better off
because of your strength.
I'm... I'm sorry
for what's about to happen here today.
But I got to set things right.
That... That motherfucker got to pay
for what he done.
I know you in there, old man.
- Who is it?
- You know damn well who it is.
Come on in. It's open.
Good morning. Today is March 17, 2021,
and welcome to Atlanta News 8
morning report.
Here are your top stories
and international news.
Tensions throughout
the Middle East remain high,
after a seventh straight day of bombings
in the Afghan capital city of Kabul.
And the stability of the region
continues to deteriorate.
We have breaking news.
A bomb has exploded in a Kabul mosque
being attended by top Afghan officials.
Fourteen people were killed,
with dozens more reported as injured.
The Afghan executive chief
remains unharmed.
Reports are coming in
from our sister station…
The US ambassador in Kabul is expected
to make a statement
giving an update on the situation,
along with information
on who the Afghani government suspects
is behind this latest attack.
This is a developing story.
We just heard Johann Sebastian Bach's
Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 in F Major.
You're listening to WKCT,
Atlanta's classical music station.
Coming up, we have a viola concerto…
Stop playing around, Pity.
Coydog?
Boy, you stop playing around.
Do what you promised.
I… I forgot.
Forgot?
I didn't give my life for you to forget.
- Get her out of there!
- Come on! Come on!
Come on, Maude, pick your head up!
- Come on, Maude!
- Faster, now, faster!
More water!
Pity!
- We got to save her, Mama!
- Pity!
- We got to!
- Pity!
No! Mom!
- Pity!
- Please let me go!
I should've saved her.
I should've s-s...
Mama.
Mama?
Mama.
- Mama!
- Yes, baby?
Hey, Maude. How you doing?
Her mama been gone for three days,
and Maude don't have nothing to eat.
Well, come on in.
Take a chair at the table.
I just made a mess of grits.
Thank you.
Papa Grey.
Get him!
Papa Grey!
Papa Grey, you in there?
Papa Grey.
To make these,
we're gonna start with protein…
Papa Grey?
Who that?
It's me.
Me? I'm me.
Is you that woman who wanna rob me?
No.
I'm that man that's telling you
that I'm here and that it's me, Reggie.
Reggie?
How I know it's you?
You know my voice.
I know the voice
if I see the face who talking.
But, you know, sometimes...
Sometimes I don't know, you know?
Okay, okay.
So how I'ma prove to you that I'm me?
Well, what I always tell Reggie
he got to do?
I got to take care of my kids.
I got to go to the doctor
if I run a fever.
And... I got to put in
at least ten dollars in the bank
every time I get paid.
Well, anybody know that.
What I tell Reggie about drinking?
You say, "Don't do it. Don't do it.
'Cause when you do, you like to get mad."
That shit don't sound nothing like me.
Papa Grey, open up.
Told you. Good to see you, Papa Grey.
All right. Right. Here we go.
Work with me.
Hey! There you go. All right now.
- And?
- Always...
- Always lock the door.
- Always lock that door.
You don't want that woman coming back
and robbing you again.
Uh-uh. No, Lord. She slapped me down.
Stole my... Stole my change can and...
Yeah, yeah. That's okay, Unc.
Hey, you got some ice water I could drink?
Ice water, to drink?
Yeah! Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Come on. Come on, man.
You get the pitcher out the icebox here.
I'm gonna...
I'm gonna find your special glass
I always keep for you to, you know,
drink your water out of 'cause...
Yeah. How's the hand?
It's got a big old bandage on it,
but it's... It's aight.
I'ma find that glass,
'cause I know how you like your water,
so I've always keeped your special glass
in a special place.
You done ate three cans of beans
in three days, Uncle. That's good.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Three cans ago, when you was here,
- I washed the glass…
- Okay.
…so it'd be ready for you when you came.
Where... Where's...
- What is that?
- I can't remember where.
Why you got the alarm clock
in the icebox, Papa Grey?
I... I wanted to know what
the temperature was, so I... I was...
I think this would do you better
by your sleeping table. What you think?
Yeah.
Yeah?
Okay. All right.
All right.
You put that up there, didn't you?
Because I know I didn't.
You're something else.
We've got a high-pressure system
that could very likely…
I had a visitor
just before you got here, but...
But that... that was...
That was a long time ago.
And then... then you showed up.
They came inside?
Well, who was it?
A man I used to know.
What man?
You know what man.
One of them niggas hang out
up on the corner?
No... No... No. It's...
It... It's... It's... It's...
It's somebody from before your time.
- Who was?
- Coydog.
Man who taught me my figures, how to read.
Yeah. Okay. Coydog, huh?
You talking about the old days.
Uh-huh. Okay.
There was a fight somewhere out there too,
'cause... 'cause I heard a lot... a
whole... Whole bunch of clanging, you know.
Them cowbells... cowbells was ringing.
Do you want some water, Papa Grey?
I think we're gonna have to shape you up
before we present you to the world, Uncle.
No, no. I... I... I like it like this.
Yeah.
Got a little Frederick Douglass going.
Let me help you out.
So like I was saying, Unc, Nina,
she ain't too happy around here no more.
So, I was thinking of packing her
and the kids up
and moving on down to Texas.
Yeah. All right.
What you think about that?
Think it'd be all right if somebody else
came to check on you from time to time?
Yeah. Yeah. The more the better.
What's wrong with that woman, Reggie?
Over there.
Lower your voice.
You see she got
that big old lump on her neck
like a head about to grow out of it?
What's wrong with her?
Nothing wrong with her, Papa Grey.
Just be quiet.
Why I got to be quiet when she got
something that look like a big grapefruit
about to bust out of her neck?
- I wanna know what's wrong with her.
- Ptolemy?
- Don't you?
- Ptolemy Grey?
Yes, ma'am. Come on, Unc.
- What?
- Let's go to the doctor.
- You need to shut him up.
- I'm so sorry.
What she say?
Why you got me in here
when that woman out yonder
with that big old thing on her throat?
Well, that's, Ms. Pine,
and she's got what we call a goiter
and a thyroid infection.
And we're just prepping her
for a trip to the hospital.
You know, Coydog used to say
hospital where Black folk went to die.
Well, as a resident
I practically lived in a hospital,
and somehow I made it out alive.
Yeah, but you ain't but so Black.
Hand's completely healed. It's amazing.
Told ya.
Ain't nobody sticking needles in me,
wrapping my hand up
like it's a ornery hog.
Well, Mr. Grey…
People your age, with a burn like that,
would take months to heal.
No, I heal fast.
Old Black man in the cotton fields,
he can't be playin' sick.
Once upon a time I could pick
300 pounds of cotton on a summer day.
Them other niggas be passing out
in the dirt from the heat.
Not me.
I worked till the June moon come up.
The June moon.
The way they tell the story
is that he was only 12
when he came up from the Delta up north.
- He walked barefoot...
- Uh-uh! I ran.
He r...
Mr. Grey.
Do you remember when I used to live
in your building when I was a kid?
No.
You don't remember when I used to
trick-or-treat by your apartment door
and you... you'd give out apples.
- Apples?
- Yeah.
No.
Come on, Papa Grey. You remember.
Remember what?
Excuse me one second.
- Ms... Ms. Kamal?
- Yes, Doctor?
Mr. Grey, would you like a pop?
Dr Pepper?
A Dr Pepper? You got it.
Mrs. Kamal, could you please take Mr. Grey
to the snack room
- and get him a Dr Pepper?
- Yes.
Yep, I got you.
Come with me now, honey.
We'll get you a soda.
- All right.
- You coming?
No, I'ma talk to him for a minute.
You know what he's gonna tell you, right?
You need to lose some weight.
He's slipping, I know.
No, it's not the slipping.
It's the rate of the decline.
Only a few weeks,
and he's already deteriorated...
You don't have to tell me. You don't...
I'm the one that's there,
right there with him. The only one.
Hey, but otherwise, physically he's...
He's healthier than either one of us.
I mean… his hand,
his recuperative ability.
And see, that's... that's why
I suggested this study
and why they're interested in him.
Now, Dr. Rubin wants to sit
with the both of you.
He'll offer some examinations,
maybe ask for some tests.
Like on a guinea pig?
Look, I am told
that Dr. Rubin has had lots of success
with patients just like your uncle.
First off, ain't nobody
just like my uncle.
Yeah.
What you saying, Milton?
You telling I should go along
with these tests? That's the move?
All I'm saying is that
this Dr. Rubin knows more about dementia
than anyone I've ever met.
Yeah.
- That's all you got for me?
- That's all I got.
Other than the alternative.
Look, it's Coy.
Coydog!
- What?
- Hey, Coy! I'm coming...
Papa Grey!
What you doing, Unc?
You've got to pay attention, man.
Hey, motherfucker.
What's up with all the loud talk, partner?
The fuck wrong with this old man? He slow?
Nah, he old. What's wrong with you?
Girl, this nigga be
getting on my damn nerves.
- Get back in this piece of shit.
- I told him to call yesterday.
He didn't do that.
Hello, ladies!
Are y'all going down to Miss Deena's?
Is you a player, Grandad?
I ain't been to Miss Deena's
in about 90 years.
I bet she miss you too, huh?
- I don't even know where it's at no more.
- I bet you could find her if you looked.
I bet you I get older,
I can still cut a rug though.
Sensie.
- Sensie.
- Don't touch me. What's wrong with you?
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.
He old. He thought you were somebody else.
Don't touch me.
Have a nice day.
Papa Grey, what you doing?
The onliest woman I ever loved,
right there.
God's one true gift to me.
Sensia Howard.
Come on, Unc. Let's go eat.
You know I sent Mr. Johnson packing?
What?
I told the nigga that if he didn't find
some kind of regular job in six weeks,
he had to go.
Can't fault you there.
You look like you losing weight, Mr. Grey.
He mostly only eats when I'm around.
He needs to eat more. Okay?
You want some pie, Uncle?
Uncle?
You know, Reg, it seem like...
Seem like I can't remember
nothing no more.
Like, I... I sit
and I think about
when little Maude Petit come live with us,
then I try to say what day it is.
Ain't got a clue.
So you want me to take you
to that special doctor?
The special doctor
that might help you remember things.
When that chicken gonna come?
Yeah.
- Sonia.
- Yeah, baby?
Can you bring out some more fried thighs?
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah, we still hungry.
Okay.
Hello?
Yeah, is this Dr. Rubin's office?
Hi. Yeah. My name's Reginald Lloyd,
and I was told by Dr. Milton Riley
down at the People's Clinic
that I can expect an appointment
for my great-uncle Ptolemy Grey.
You heard of him, huh?
Yo. Hold on.
Next week? Hold on. Okay.
Uh-huh.
As you can see, traffic is backed up
for miles due to a multi-vehicle pileup…
Okay. All right.
Got it. Thank you.
…a semitruck blew a tire, lost control
and slid across multiple lanes
going southbound
where 285 connects to I-85.
Papa Grey.
Yeah, boy?
Unc, you ever worry
about losing your woman?
Your family?
Family...
Family the most important thing you got.
Unc, I got something I need to say,
and I don't know who else to say it to.
It's about Nina and me.
See, Nina…
Nina got this ex-boyfriend
who went to prison for killing somebody.
A dozen were treated for minor injuries
and released on-scene.
At this time,
no casualties have been reported.
Georgia Highway Patrol…
…the devastating scene.
You still with me, Unc?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Sure.
So, what do you think I should do?
That... That woman on the news.
You know, th... know the pretty, Black one?
She said there's a big wreck
on the freeway,
cars backed up for miles.
Ain't that something?
Yeah.
All right, Unc.
This here, this your next appointment.
It's a big one, all right?
Now, I'll be back by to take you,
but I gotta run.
Already?
Why don't you stay and play some dominoes?
Nah, next time, Unc. Next time.
I gotta go.
It's Latisha's birthday.
Birthday? Y'all having a party?
Nah, nah.
Just... Just a little cake,
a few presents, you know.
I gotta go.
Well, I'll be here.
Yep.
All right, now, when I leave,
you throw the bolt.
- Throw the bolt.
- What you about to do?
- Throw the bolt.
- That's right.
- Reggie.
- Yeah?
- I'll be back to bring you to the doctor.
- I'll be here.
- Yeah.
- Throw the bolt.
That's it.
There have been several deaths…
…has that lavender…
Coy?
Coydog, you in there?
It's environmentally friendly,
reused soap.
You can feel really good
about using this soap…
And this should come as no surprise
to anybody who has lived in Atlanta
for any length of time that again…
Reggie?
Reg. Reggie, no...
No, no, no bean... No more bean.
Reggie.
No beans.
Throw the bolt.
What?
Uncle Grey.
Reggie?
Nah, Uncle. It's Hilly.
Who-lly?
Hilly. Niecie's son.
Where Reggie at?
He couldn't... He couldn't be here.
Mama sent me to come get you.
"Get me"?
What that mean, "Get me"?
Bring you to Niecie's house.
- Niecie.
- Yeah. Niecie.
Hilda Brown, your sister June's daughter.
June... June dead. June died long time ago.
Look by the wall, Papa Grey.
It's a... it's the picture
over there on the wall.
How you know what's in my house?
- 'Cause I been here before.
- When?
It was a long time ago.
But I... I've been here.
Look by the wall. There's a picture
with a piece of tape on it.
It say "Hilliard." That's me.
What I'm looking for again?
For "Hilliard." H-I-L-I...
- Okay, all right, all right, all right.
- It's right there by the wall.
June had Niecie.
Niecie had Hilliard, who also named Hilly.
- Yeah.
- Papa Grey, come on, old man.
All right, all right, all right.
Hold your horses.
Damn, Uncle. I ain't think
you was gonna ever open up.
Something wrong with this boy, Pity.
I got eyes, Coy. I can see.
What?
- Come on in.
- All right.
- Well, you gotta move back to let me in.
- What?
You gotta move to let me in, Unc.
Come on, now, move. Goddamn.
What the fuck is that smell?
- I don't smell nothing.
- That's your toilet?
It smell like you boo-booed on yourself.
Uh-uh, no! Now don't be touching things.
- Stop touching things.
- Okay.
Where Reggie at?
He ain't... He ain't been here.
And today... Today bank day.
- You need to go to the bank?
- Yeah, with Reggie.
He at Mama's.
I'll take you to the bank.
We go on over there. Come on.
Oh, no! Shit!
Look what you done did! Oh, no!
Don't... Don't touch 'em.
I'll... I'll get 'em up.
- Go outside and wait.
- I'ma help you pick up...
- Go wait! I'll come out there.
- Oh, hell, man.
Papa Grey, I need you to come with me
to Mama house.
All right. But go... go ahead.
- Put on a clean shirt and come home, okay.
- Uh-huh.
- We need to go to the house.
- Okay. All right.
- I'ma be outside. I'm waiting on you.
- I'm coming. I'm coming.
Damn. Messed up my stuff
and touching on things…
One, two,
three.
Got what you need, Uncle?
Uh-huh. One, two, three.
Hey, hold it right there, motherfucker!
Hey!
- What you doing?
- Fuck you push me for, nigga?
- What you fucking with my uncle for?
- Your uncle?
That motherfucker there owe me money.
He told me he was gonna give me
money for my rent.
- He promised me, and you know he got it.
- Uh-uh.
Everybody in here know he got a whole bag
full of money in that apartment.
- No.
- Look, he said no.
- I said yeah.
- Look, bitch.
You keep playing with me and I'ma
break your fucking jaw! Get the fuck on.
He owe me.
Somebody owe your ass a bath.
Come on, Papa Grey.
She ain't gonna mess with you.
I'm coming for you, nigga.
She don't mean that shit. Come on.
What bank you been going to?
That way.
I'ma find you.
All right, come on.
What's that about a bag of money?
Do this look like a bank to you?
Slow down, baby.
Ask... Ask Reggie.
"Ask Reggie." All right, go ahead.
Ask Reggie. Here.
Ask him. You always asking about Reggie.
Ask Reggie.
- I'm tired of hearing that shit.
- What?
You got no bank card on you?
Where your wallet at?
Wallet? Why?
'Cause I'm tryna get us to the bank, Unc.
You don't know where we at.
Goddamn.
Okay, check's right here.
Grollier's Bank.
That shit ain't even on this street.
Shit, man.
Motherfuckers.
What's going on, gentlemen?
Ain't nothing going on, Officer.
My name is Hilliard Brown,
and this is my uncle Ptolemy Grey.
Just chilling.
That the case, sir?
- All right.
- You come with us.
Come on. Ah, man. Hold on, bro. For what?
We're gonna detain you
till we figure out what's...
- I checked him.
- Get your fucking hands off me.
- Hold up. Stop! Stop! Stop, he...
- We're detaining you.
- He who my nephew...
- Sir, you know this man?
Do you know this man?
He who my nephew sent
to bring me where he at. Reggie.
I mean, he ain't Reggie,
but he taking me to where Reggie is.
That's my... my sister's daughter's boy,
Hilliard.
He taking me to see Reggie.
- Let me see some ID.
- What?
- Show me some ID.
- All right.
Why you always coming through,
messing with folk?
- Just relax, bruh. Chill.
- Do what he say, youngblood.
Damn.
So why are you digging through
his pockets?
I'm just... I'm just helping him
cash his checks, man.
I'm walking my uncle to the bank.
He don't know where the bank is.
He's senile. He don't know
what the fuck we doing. I'm just...
- Is this true?
- Uh-huh.
You're okay?
- Yes, sir, Mr. Bull. Yes, sir.
- Are you sure you're okay?
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Keep it up, Hilliard.
Here.
Man, you trying to get me killed, bruh?
- What?
- Come on, we need to go to the bus.
You the one fighting with the police.
P-T-O-L-E-M-Y.
Cross the T.
You get three checks every month?
Social security.
This my pension from the post office.
And this is death benefits
from Sensia Howard.
One, two, three.
You a lucky motherfucker, Unc.
If I had that type of money,
my life would be made.
All right.
Excuse me, sir.
Hi. I'm Shirley. Shirley Wring.
Shirley Wring?
W-R-I-N-G.
Hello, W-R-I-N-G.
My name, is... is Ptolemy.
This is a little embarrassing.
I came here to pay my phone bill,
but I'm short.
I need about $40.
All I have is this.
My father gave it
to my mother 60 years ago.
This a treasure.
And all I ask is that you let me buy it
back when I get my social security...
This what Coydog was trying to tell me.
A treasure to save all the Black peoples.
Hello, Mr. Grey.
Do you remember me? Kora Brooks?
Uh-huh.
Mr. Brown here says that you want him
to cash your checks.
Reggie is over his house,
and Hilliard is taking me there.
So, you know Mr. Brown?
- He just told you that.
- Yeah.
He... He's my sister's daughter's child.
- Niecie's boy.
- Niecie's boy. I told you that, lady.
I got her on the phone,
I can call her now and ask her.
That's not necessary.
- Come with me, Mr. Brown.
- Thank you.
Man. You know, we got shit to do. Come on.
So, can you lend me the money, Ptolemy?
Okay, that's three checks. That's $300.
Come on, Unc. Let's go, we already late.
Hey, this here Miss, W-R-I-N-G.
Hey. Come on, let's go.
I need my money.
- I'ma hold on to it for you.
- I need it now.
All right. Damn.
Where are the other two envelopes?
They only put the money in one envelope.
Count out what you need.
I took an even 50.
Thank you so much, Ptolemy.
And this…
Is my gift to you.
Come on, Unc. Let's go.
Hell yeah, man. Police tried to tase me
in my neck and everything, bruh.
It is what it is though.
All right, my bruh. All right.
Unc, put your money away, man.
Whenever I go to the bank with Reggie,
I always end up with near about $300.
One, two, three.
This here ain't but one. One hundred.
You don't remember you gave
your money to the old lady?
An even 50. That's what she took. Even 50.
Nah, she took almost two.
I'm telling you. I saw her.
She took almost two.
- Let me count it again.
- Hands off my money.
You stole enough of my money already.
Thief.
Here we are.
This Reggie birthday party?
Kinda.
Pitypapa.
Hey, baby. It's been too long.
It's me, Pitypapa.
Your favorite niece. Niecie.
- June... June's girl.
- That's right.
You remember. That's right.
Ain't nothing wrong with you.
And here you are in my house.
Where Reggie? He ain't... He ain't
been to my house eight, nine bean cans.
Robyn.
Robyn! Where...
We ran out of the ribs,
but we got enough fried chicken.
Ms. Hannah brought the coleslaw,
but I can still go get Hawaiian Punch mix.
Don't worry about that now.
There's somebody I want you to meet.
Pitypapa, this here is
my best friend Frida's little girl, Robyn.
Frida died,
so now Robyn live here with me and Hilly.
Robyn, this is my mother's brother,
Mr. Ptolemy Grey.
Hey.
Robyn. First bird of spring.
She might be coming by
to help you out sometime.
Ain't that right?
I guess.
You hungry?
Well, I wanna see Hilly... I-I mean Reggie.
I-I wanna see Reggie.
Get something in your stomach first, yeah?
Then Reggie.
Robyn, can you please put the phone down?
Take your uncle
and go fix him a plate, please.
That is not my uncle.
Well, come on.
Where Reggie? The...
The thief said he was gonna be here.
- The what?
- Where Reggie at?
He got in trouble 'cause he stayed
in town so long taking care of you.
Reggie in trouble? Where at?
We got to go help him.
He ain't in trouble no more.
He's fine.
Greens?
Yes, ma'am.
Yams?
Yeah.
Coleslaw?
I already got greens on my plate.
And what about fried chicken?
Yeah. Thigh, please.
Sorry, I dropped it. It's... It's my fault.
- I'm sorry. I dropped it.
- Here. Wipe yourself off, little sister.
I got you.
It's... It's all good, Mr. Grey.
- It's all right.
- I know you?
Yeah.
Billy Freres, sir.
Me and Reggie been best friends
since we were little boys.
Don't you remember?
We used to come to your house
all the time.
You let us look through
your old magazines.
National Geographic. Jet.
Y'all was looking for naked girls.
Yeah, you remember that.
Hey, want some fried chicken, Mr. Grey?
Thighs.
I got you.
Look at him.
Just eating like a pig, don't know shit.
Well… he was there for Reggie
when he needed a gentle hand.
When we were kids,
he used to let us play for hours,
and never, not once,
did he say a bad word.
You want anything else?
I wanna see Reggie.
Come on.
Say excuse me, man.
Sorry, sir... Nice... Nice gators.
Who he?
Alfred somebody.
Think he a friend of Reggie's.
- He shouldn't be doing that.
- I was trying...
Nina.
Look who it is.
- What's up, Robyn?
- Hey.
This is Reggie's great-uncle.
Yeah, Papa Grey.
I'm glad you're here.
Reggie talked a lot about you.
Well, where Reggie at?
This way.
His little children
like me and Maude Petit was
down in Burdette.
How come...
How come y'all got him in here like this?
Somebody shot him.
Ain't nobody tell me. Didn't n...
Didn't nobody say.
- Nobody ain't call you?
- Nobody said.
No, don't think so.
No. I... I don't remember.
I-I don't remember. I don't think so.
Oh, Reggie. Oh, God.
Oh, God.
Oh, God, Reggie!
Please, God, no.
Please.
Please, Reggie. Please, get up.
Don't be dead.
Please, don't be dead.
There he is.
- Yeah, I'ma take him home.
- I'm supposed to take him.
Yeah, well, he don't like you.
Says you messed up his stuff.
His stuff was already messed up
when I got there.
Yeah, you made it worse.
Yeah. And he... he... stole my one, two
and just give me three.
- What's he talking about?
- I don't know. You know he crazy.
Let Robyn take him.
You'll be home soon, Pitypapa.
Aight, come on. I'll take you to the bus
and get you to your house.
Reggie gonna come later?
Yeah, he gonna be there.
You all right?
Reggie really dead?
Yeah.
Well, who killed him?
Nobody know.
I'ma find who did it.
I swear.