A Storm in Summer (2000) - full transcript
An old Jewish shop owner Mr. Shaddick ('Peter Falk') suddenly finds himself responsible for a little black boy named Herman Washington ('Aaron Meek') trying to escape the chaos of Harlem as part of a sponsorship program. At first, Mr. Shaddick wants nothing more than to get rid of the kid, but to spite the well to do lady who tries to take him over to her home, he decides to take Herman in. As time goes on, Mr. Shaddick finds himself caring about Herman and has the misfortune of being the bearer of bad news, which reminds him of when he received a telegram himself.
How are you this evening,
mr. Shaddick?
A day older since
the last time you asked me.
You know, i'm going to
get that poodle.
Good. Wonderful.
I'm happy for you.
Another hot one, huh?
Yeah, why not?
Listen, you want
to know something?
Upstairs
in the kingdom of heaven,
they got
a special department.
It's a celestial bureau.
It's staffed by
a hundred fallen angels,
and it's got one job.
You know what it is?
No.
To harass abel shaddick.
Somebody up there doesn't
like you much, huh?
I can hear
the staff meetings now.
Monday we'll give him
prickly heat,
tuesday,
two bum checks he'll get.
On wednesday, the bank
will call one of his notes,
and on thursday,
we'll send his nephew stanley
to stay with him,
and on friday,
which is today,
we'll give him
a heat wave.
We'll give him 98 degrees
with humidity
so he'll have insomnia
and have to lie awake
all night worrying
about something worse
than friday.
What's worse than friday?
Saturday.
How long you had this
delicatessen here,
mr. Shaddick?
Ah, since god
created the earth,
give or take
a couple of years.
It's an atonement
for some past sin.
I figure it this way.
In another life,
i was the russian czar.
So that committee,
they met up there,
and they decided that
during my next life
they were going to
give me the business,
this business.
Every cloud has
a silver lining, mr. Shaddick.
It's always darkest
before the dawn.
That's what they say.
Yeah, that's what they say.
Well, whoever said that
should have drops put
in their eyes.
You're quite a character,
mr. Shaddick.
I'll look in on you
tomorrow night.
Yeah, you do that.
And if you find me
hanging on a hook
alongside the chickens,
don't put out a dragnet.
It'll be self-inflicted.
But tell them not to
pull down the wrong bird.
They'll find five birds
hanging on a hook,
all about 70 years old.
I'm the one
with the pants.
[Laughs]
morning, benjy.
[Telephone rings]
[ring]
[ring]
yes?
One pint
pickled herrings, yes,
one loaf rye bread.
You want it sliced?
All right.
Yes, lady,
i'm writing it down.
A chinese waiter i'm not.
Two dozen eggs.
That's it?
No, lady, i don't deliver.
No, i'm too poor for a truck
and too old for a bicycle.
Well, suit yourself.
You want to come in
and pick it up,
come in and pick it up.
That's right, lady,
independent.
Deliveries, yet.
Food stamps, lucky numbers,
hit the jackpot,
name the president --
a black year
on the 20th century.
Well, another scorcher, benjy.
Well, the hot spell continues.
Your cousin stanley,
he's been here for six days.
Oh, i told you
that yesterday, yeah.
Well, as i told you,
your cousin stanley
has all the charm
of an untipped waiter.
He commutes between his bed
and the country club.
And in case i failed
to mention it,
your cousin stanley
is not my cup of tea.
Can i help you, lady?
Good morning.
I wondered,
does mr. Banner live here?
Mr. Banner?
Oh, mr. Banner,
formerly mr. Bloom.
No, strictly speaking,
he doesn't live here.
He just
drops in occasionally
in between his big deals.
Mr. Banner,
formerly mr. Bloom,
is my nephew.
You must be mr. Shaddick.
I must be.
What can i get for you?
Well, my name
is gloria ross.
I met your nephew
at the club last night.
At the club?
Yeah, at the country club.
Oh, the country club.
Wonderful.
Maybe he mentioned it,
mr. Bloom -- mr. Banner?
No, he didn't mention it.
By the time my nephew
with the new name
returned to his bed
early this morning,
i already had
five hours sleep
and two sizable nightmares,
one of them having to do
with an avenging angel
that knocked on my door
and told me that mr. Banner,
formerly mr. Bloom,
was going to live with me
for the rest of my life.
So, no, lady, i didn't
talk to my nephew.
Morning, shaddick.
Oy. Oh, boy.
The avenging angel
with the chickens.
Surely you're familiar with
the fresh air vacation plan?
The what?
The fresh air
vacation plan?
The vacation plan?
So what about it?
Well, it's children
we bring from the city,
and they spend
two weeks here
with families
in the community.
It's wonderful.
Families, yeah.
What we also do
is check on the homes
as a policy.
Yeah, the nature
of the homes
before the children
are entering it,
and also to see
the compatibility.
Compatibility.
And, uh...
listen, i just want
to ask you one thing.
How much does my nephew
stanley owe you
for his raffle ticket?
There are no raffle tickets,
mr. Shaddick.
You see, what it is,
it's when families sponsor --
mrs. Gold, you here to purchase
or just fondle?
I only buy the fresh.
These are fresh?
They were until you
potchkeyed with them.
Do you want my business
or don't you?
I would welcome your business,
mrs. Gold,
but your daily rubdown
of my chickens
i can do without.
All right, i'll take --
i'll take this one.
Ah, the lucky chicken,
the prize winner.
He won himself
a good home.
Uh, just the chicken,
mr. Shaddick.
I'm not buying your thumb.
For you, mrs. Gold, $1.99.
$1.99.
$1.99.
$1...
$1.50...
$1.99.
And, if it's no good,
you'll hear from me.
I won't sleep until
i get your decision.
You won't sleep because
you're too damn miserable.
Listen, do me a favor.
Take a cruise, anything,
so i won't
see you tomorrow.
Oh, you're still here?
What?
Do you think
i could speak to stanley?
No, i don't think so.
Uh, you see, he's got
a lot on his mind.
Today he's going to try
and dress himself.
But the child is already
on its way.
What child?
I've been trying
to explain it to you.
The child that
your nephew stanley --
mr. Banner -- mr. Bloom,
he volunteered.
He volunteered?
Yes.
A child is coming here
because my nephew stanley
volunteered?
Lady, if hermann goering
had a child,
i wouldn't wish him
on my nephew.
Now, if you
want to take a boy
and turn him
into a delinquent
and you want to use stanley
as the instructor,
you made
the perfect choice.
You still
don't understand.
What? What?
Tell me,
what don't i understand?
You were supposed to be,
in a sense,
co-sponsors of the child.
Stanley assured us he'd be
with you through the summer.
Lady, do yourself a favor.
Save yourself embarrassment
and maybe a bum check.
The next time
that my big shot nephew
steps into
your country club,
just show him the door
and the restriction clause
in your club's constitution.
Really, mr. Shaddick.
Goodbye, lady.
That's it, finished, done.
What about the child?
He's on the bus by now.
So you'll take him
off the bus.
You really are living up
to your reputation,
mr. Shaddick,
or down to it.
Is that a fact?
You go ahead, tell me
about my reputation.
You're not the most beloved
man in the community.
I don't give a damn.
That's painfully obvious.
A little child coming
from the slums --
oh, lady, please,
enough already.
I'm supposed
to have a breakdown
because some nameless
little mumser
doesn't get his fresh air?
I got my own problems.
So you go back
and tell your members
i got no time for children,
no sympathy for
their social charities,
and no place for my nephew
stanley banner.
This is my final word.
Again, goodbye.
You're putting me
in a dreadful position.
I'll be on the phone
for half of the day --
lady, please,
enough already!
I never should have
come here.
Oh, benjy,
your cousin stanley,
he did it again.
I'll kill him.
What's he like?
Scrooge
from the east side.
You put some poor
unsuspecting kid
in with that
bilious old goat,
he'd be scarred for life.
But that kid
may be on a bus now.
We have to
call new york.
The kid's name
is washington.
As in george?
Not according to this.
As in booker t.
Oh, boy.
[Siren blares]
grandma, i got
to carry all that?
Sure. You're going to
be gone two weeks.
Would you look at him?
Here he is getting ready
to make a trip
out to the country,
and he looks at me
like the angel of death
just walked in the room.
Just think, hermy,
two whole weeks.
Two whole weeks
of fresh air
and fishing and swimming.
You know you're going to
have the best vacation
of any boy in harlem.
If you get a letter
from bill,
send it to me, you hear?
Oh, yes.
Now, remember, herman,
when you get off the bus,
i want you to be
a little gentleman
because to see a well-behaved
young man like you
is going to be
a real education for them.
If they want an education,
they ought to come to harlem.
Oh, this child.
Here, hold your head up.
Now, mind --
you mind you've got
about an hour
before bus time,
and that is one bus
you ain't going to miss.
Now, please, herman,
don't go
getting yourself dirty.
Put your jacket on.
Oh.
That's the first time
you had on your new suit.
Mind you, it cost $12.
Just so you could look
like a little gentleman.
Remember, herman, be...
polite.
Polite.
I want you to, what?
Smile.
Smile.
I want you to...
shake hands.
Shake hands.
Well...
well, we got everything?
Where's my pocketbook?
Shaking hands,
got to be all smiles --
for what?
You ready, herman?
Yes, grandma,
i guess i'm ready.
[Door closes]
[telephone rings]
[ring]
[ring]
oh, my goodness.
Good morning.
How are you doing today?
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, oh.
Hi.
I'll catch you
in a minute.
Look at you.
How are you doing?
Hey, herman.
Girl: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Did somebody die?
Unh-unh.
Not going
to a funeral?
Unh-unh.
You look like you're
going to a funeral.
Two weeks in the country.
Herman going
to the country.
Which country?
Fairview, new york.
Anybody want
to take my place?
Hmm...
unh-unh.
Going to be fun
in the country.
Hermy, give me
the ball back.
Herman,
we've got to go, baby.
Get your suitcase.
We don't want to --
we can't miss that bus.
May i have your attention,
please.
Oh, my goodness.
This is one day
i sure wish
i didn't have to
go in to work.
Now, herman,
make sure you get on
the right bus.
You hear me?
Yes, grandma.
What you do is this --
look at the number
on the bus.
It ought to be the same
as on this tag here. See?
I'll tell you what.
Just show this
to the bus driver,
and he'll check it
for you.
Yes, grandma.
You know you're going
to have a good time.
Ha ha ha.
I wish i was
going with you.
Mm-hmm.
Your brother's going to be
so proud of you
'cause i know
i'm proud of you myself.
Mm-hmm.
You know that?
Yes, grandma.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, this is a chance,
i'm telling you.
Mm-hmm.
And write me a postcard
because i want to know
what you're doing,
what you're seeing,
everything, you hear me?
Yes, grandma.
Mm-hmm.
Well,
give grandma a kiss.
Oh, honey.
Now, i know you're
going to have a good time,
but i got to go, baby.
Bye now.
Bye.
Bye, grandma.
You lost, sonny?
What bus you on?
I didn't do nothing.
I'm just minding
my own business.
Let's see.
Well, that's your bus
right there.
You can board it right now,
if you want.
You fuzz?
Fuzz?
Cop?
So, you're running
from the law, are you?
What you got in there,
stocks and bonds?
I'm going to the country.
Well, like i said,
that's your bus out there.
You have a good time
in the country.
Hey.
Stay away from the fuzz.
Final call -- upstate limited
now departing.
All aboard, please.
[Humming]
morning, unc.
Nice affair at the club
last night.
Let me ask you something.
Do i deserve this?
Going to be hot today, huh?
Atlantic city
will be murder.
I got to be there by 5:00.
A guy i know
got a discothèque --
topless.
Looking for a manager.
Could be three bills
a week and a cut.
Topless, unc.
How does that grab you?
Well, me it don't grab
so much,
but the atlantic city
vice squad...
stanley, give them
a message for me, will you?
Tell them that if they'll
keep you in jail
for more than 60 days,
i'll send them free salami.
My uncle,
the sentimentalist.
Listen, i could be gone
quite some time --
i'm destitute.
I bet.
I'll send you a postcard
from atlantic city.
Forget the postcards.
Don't need a postcard.
Stanley, do me a favor.
If by some miracle
you get this job
and you have an extra $10
in your pocket,
please buy some flowers
for your mother's grave.
You got a thing about death,
don't you, unc?
And you don't,
huh, stanley?
You're immortal.
You don't die.
Get out of here.
How long has ben been gone?
1944, wasn't it?
It's almost 25 years.
You keep his picture around,
his effects --
it's like he died
on thursday.
Mr. Bloom,
son of my late sister,
my bed you can borrow,
my telephone you can use,
my food you're free to eat,
but how i mourn my child
and for how long --
that's my business,
you understand?
All right, all right.
Look at the time, huh?
I got to catch the 11:00.
You stay loose, unc.
Uh, just a minute,
mr. Rockefeller,
if you don't mind.
Some unfinished business,
namely your latest
philanthropy.
What are you talking about?
The slum child that you're
going to entertain
for two weeks.
The lady was here
this morning --
miss ross.
I forgot all about that.
I'll call her
from the station.
You do that, stanley.
Your unpaid debts i'll meet.
Your indiscriminate
charities, no.
Relax, okay?
Just -- can you relax?
I got a little high
last night.
They had this booth,
they were signing up kids,
they had one more spot --
you know how it is.
I know how it is with you --
a good deed is not enough.
You have to have a brass band
and a photographer.
And how is it
with you, unc?
Explain that question.
I don't know
how you survive.
I manage.
You manage.
Seven days a week,
hating everything you do,
doing the same thing --
up at 6:00, open the cases,
hang up the chickens,
scream at somebody
on the phone.
6:00 at night
you lock it all up,
the next morning
you do it all over again.
In the parlance
of the time, stanley,
that's what's known
as making a living.
Easy it's not,
enjoyable it's not,
but it's what
old guys like me
have to do to get by.
I don't expect you
to understand.
Any guy who would
change his name
like he changes
his shirt,
this is a person
that wants the rose
without the thorns.
Life is not like that.
Life is misery,
but i made a pact with it.
You made a pact with it.
You love it.
You'd rather be caught dead
than smile.
Hey, stanley, you want
to see me smile?
In heaven
i'm going to smile
when they read my will
and they come to the part
where it says how much
i leave my nephew stanley --
a blank page.
I can't top you, unc.
Wish me luck.
Luck.
Luck i'll wish you.
I love your hat.
Man: there you go.
Okay, you're all set.
Woman: hi, greg.
You okay? Good.
Hi.
Is your name joey?
Did you have
a nice trip?
I'm phyllis mann.
Hi, mrs. Mann.
Hi.
Hey, what do you say?
You the man
what they call my sponsor?
Stan banner,
and you are...
herman washington.
Where we going?
We got
a little problem, herm.
I've been waiting
for you here,
and all of a sudden
i got this hurry up call
to get to atlantic city,
but i'll tell you
what you do.
You go down
to the delicatessen.
Go out here, make a right,
you run right into it.
My uncle's there.
He'll look after you
until i get back.
11:00 a.m. express
to atlantic city now departing.
That's my bus.
Have a ball, herm.
I'll see you soon.
Atlantic city.
Don't let my, uh,
my uncle turn you off.
He's not a bad egg.
He's just a little odd.
He's set in his ways,
but you go down there,
you tell him who you are.
I'm awful sorry
to cut out on you like this.
I mean that.
Does your uncle like you?
You don't dig me?
You talk too much
and you talk too loud.
6, 9 -- $500.
Nu?
You mean the suit?
I mean what can i get
for you?
What do you got?
Well, what do you want?
Got a coca-cola?
Coca-cola,
you go to the drugstore.
I'll take a glass
of water.
A glass of water?
With customers like you,
i could go bankrupt
in a week.
Glass of water.
All right.
A little more.
There you are.
I'm herman d. Washington.
Wonderful.
I'm abe shaddick.
I come on a bus just
a couple of minutes ago.
I came on a boat
55 years ago.
What else would you like
to discuss?
This here is the address
i'm supposed to go to,
so i'm your kid.
Uh, mr. Washington,
do you get
the same impression
that i do
that what's occurring here
is a breakdown
in communications?
Don't you dig, man?
I'm supposed to stay here
for two weeks.
Stanley banner --
he's what they call
my sponsor.
He was at the bus station.
He sent me here.
They give me this to tell me
who was going to meet me
and where i'm supposed to go.
That stanley cat,
the one i met...
stanley, stanley...
he the one who said i should
come over here and see you.
Mr. Washington,
the man that you
accurately describe
as the stanley cat --
mr. Banner --
he's left town,
and in the process,
he left you and me
out on a limb.
And i'm afraid that, uh,
i don't know how
to tell you this,
but, uh...
there's nobody here
to take care of you.
There's nobody here
to look after you.
You understand?
Okay.
Is this what i use
to go back to new york?
Oh, yeah, this is
your return ticket.
Don't lose that.
Uh, you got, uh,
oh, you got a 3-hour wait
for the next bus.
Yeah,
you missed the 11:30.
Okay.
Stanley.
Oh, stanley, i'd like to --
oh, if i had you now...
hey, you!
Hey!
You!
Come here!
I want to ask you
a question.
Did you have lunch?
I asked you a question.
Did you have lunch?
All right, come on.
You want some lunch?
I am asking you
a question.
Do you want some lunch?
Do you want something
to eat?
I'll just go back
on the bus.
I don't want to stay here.
All right, so you'll
go back on the bus,
but first
the least i can do
is offer you
something to eat.
Do you see anything
you like here?
What's that there?
Which one? Show me.
Oh, that's pastrami.
You want
a nice pastrami sandwich?
What's pastrami?
Oh, pastrami,
it's like corned beef.
It's highly seasoned,
and, uh, it's, uh,
it's jewish.
You jewish?
I don't look jewish, right?
Guy who owns our building,
he jewish.
Man, he a pretty bad cat.
Nobody like him.
I ain't hungry.
Where are you going now?
To the bus station.
You got a 3-hour wait.
You might as well stay here.
No.
Why not?
'Cause i don't like you.
So -- so you don't like me.
So go sit
in the hot station.
Boil for three hours.
What do you care?
I don't care.
I really don't care.
Between a bankrupt business
and a bum nephew,
i don't need a 3-foot tall
ethiopian anti-semite.
You i don't need.
Now what?
Them are fish?
Uh-huh,
that's what them are.
I've never been fishing.
They told me that's one
of the things you done
with your sponsor --
people take you fishing.
I ain't never been fishing.
Where do you live?
136th street.
Oh.
No lakes
on 136th street, huh?
Hmm.
You got a lake here?
Yeah, a small lake.
Do you ever fish in it?
No, i don't fish.
My son and i,
we used to fish.
My son, now,
he was a fisherman.
Right, benj?
Oh, this kid could fish --
better than your old man.
That's him.
That's benjy.
Soldier?
Yes, sir.
Second lieutenant,
bombardier.
Where is he now?
Uh...
he was killed in a raid
over a place
called stuttgart.
I got a brother.
His name's bill.
He's in vietnam --
a sergeant.
Man, he's a tiger.
He sent me a picture of him
carrying a gun.
Man, he's a real tiger.
You say he's dead?
Yeah.
He was 19.
That's 24 years ago.
What about your mama?
My mama?
I mean his mama.
Oh, his mama passed away
many years ago
when he was a baby.
I raised him.
Who's this cat stanley?
Don't ask about stanley.
Thanks to him, you took
a bus ride for nothing.
Where's this here lake?
Oh, you want
to go to the lake?
Oh, that's easy.
Yeah, sure.
There, you go out
this door here, see.
Go down this street.
It's one mile south.
When you come to main street,
take a left.
You go one mile --
lake wanateeshie.
Wanatoo-- wanateeshie?
That jewish?
It's jewish-indian,
and in the meantime,
i'm going to call the lady
that's responsible for you
so she can call your family
on 136th street.
Now go.
Go on. Run along.
And don't drown.
When my brother come back,
he's going
to take me fishing.
He promised me.
My brother,
when he say something,
you've got to believe him.
Oh, without question,
that's a trait that runs
in your family --
honor and invincibility.
So what are you
waiting for now,
the messiah?
This here lake
i'm going to,
nobody will give me trouble,
will they?
I mean --
i mean i'm black.
Now, who would
give you trouble?
Who would dare?
You're the only
9-year-old on earth
that acts
like humphrey bogart.
Now what?
Nothing.
Nothing --
meaning something.
That mean nothing.
Are you afraid to tell me?
Afraid? No way, no how.
So go ahead. Tell me.
Get it off your mind.
Don't you ever go fishing?
No, not since benjy died
have i put a worm
to a hook.
Why?
Nothing.
Nothing --
nothing meaning, why don't
you and i go fishing?
Benjy -- an inspiration.
Since the first
of the month,
i haven't taken in enough
to pay the electric bill,
and this fisherman
from 136th street thinks
i got nothing better
to do in life
than to be
a huckleberry finn.
What that thing you say
go running in the family?
I don't know what you're
talking about. A trait?
Whatever you call it.
You got the same thing going
between stanley and you.
Oh, the itinerant
philosopher.
So tell me, what
is this mysterious thing
that binds me
to my nephew?
You're the same kind
of cats --
he get on the bus,
and you hide
behind the pastrami.
Do you know
what an achilles' heel is?
No.
So i'm not going
to tell you.
Maybe for an hour
i'll take you,
but no more
than an hour.
Maybe we could catch
some big fish,
then you could sell them.
Mr. Washington,
with my luck,
i will catch one minnow,
sunstroke,
and a summons
from the game warden.
All right, come on.
Let's go.
Question --
in your luggage there,
you got worms?
So why are we taking it?
So what are you
standing there for?
You've got something
to say?
You forgot something.
What might that be?
Fishing poles.
We ain't got
no fishing poles.
When you go fishing,
you've got
to have fishing poles.
I'll say this
for you, herman.
You've got all the gaiety
of an undertaker,
but you're
a very discerning boy,
very discerning.
Stay here. Don't move.
I needed this.
That's to cross the street.
I've been crossing streets
since i was 2 years old.
Oh, did it ever
occur to you
that i might need help
crossing the street?
Oh, that's different.
What did you say
your name was?
Uh, shaddick...
abe shaddick.
You don't like it?
Make no difference to me
what they call you.
Let's go, shaddick.
Be right with you,
washington.
Now, you see
that little red ball there?
That's called the bobber.
You've got to keep
your eye on that
because that's where
the bait is --
the bait
that the fish like.
Now, hold this
down here like this.
You've got
to move that thing
every now and then.
What's the bait?
Are you going to start
asking a lot of questions?
I'm not. This is only
my first question.
Well, an intelligent fish
knows what he likes.
That's all
you have to know.
Hey, man, don't make me out
to be stupid
'cause you don't know.
It was on the box.
I didn't read it.
Do you want to fish?
Yeah.
Do you know how?
Then zip your mouth
and let me tell you.
Tell me what,
what the bait is?
Keep it up,
i'm going to throw you
right in the water.
Now, this here,
you've got to move it
a little bit.
Like this?
That's too much.
Too much.
You want to get
the fish's attention,
but you don't want
to scare him.
Now, when the little red ball
starts to bounce,
that's when you know
the fish is nibbling,
but don't get too anxious.
Wait until that ball
goes underneath the water,
then you know that the hook
is sitting in the fish.
I myself --
and i admit this --
have only conquered this
in theory,
but my son benjy,
oh, he was a fisherman.
He had a nose for it.
A nose?
An instinct,
right from the start,
i never had
to tell him anything.
Gee, i remember one time.
Oh, that must have been,
what, '37?
Yeah, '37, '38.
We were over there,
but we were further down.
And that kid,
oh, he caught a trout --
i mean, such a trout.
I mean, this was a fish
among all fish.
You've got something, man.
You've got something.
Something's pulling.
Well, what do i do?
What do i do?
I forgot what to do.
Remind me what to do!
Tell me what i --
look, shaddick,
i got a fish.
Look, look, i got a fish.
Look at this one.
This here's a fish,
and i've got it.
Look at this fish.
I see the fish.
Mr. Washington, a favor?
I'll give you a minute
to exult
in pulling in the fish.
After that, be so kind
as to pull in
this ancient mariner.
Herman, would you come
and help me out
of the water, please,
if it's not
too much trouble?
Ah, stanley, stanley,
stanley...
benjy...
today a revelation.
I now know
what kills old men,
and it is not hardening
of the arteries,
as i was told.
No, it's softening
of the brain.
Inside asleep...
is this small dark shadow
with a chip on his shoulder
the size of a loaf
of pumpernickel,
and you know what
i was doing today, benjy?
I went fishing in the lake
with this boy
where you and i used to fish.
Well, maybe we were further
to the left there.
Three and half hours
in the sun...
much of it spent underwater
because your cousin stanley
has got the mouth of a whale
and the intelligence
of a sardine.
Yes...
[bell dings]
i received the message
you called, mr. Shaddick.
It's been so long,
i'd forgotten.
I'm so sorry.
I had a golf tournament.
Miss ross, for each day
of your life,
may you have
a hole in one.
But at this moment,
i have problems of my own.
I understand from the message
that the boy has arrived
and that he's here with you.
Yeah, he's napping.
I thought your nephew --
don't mention the name,
please.
Now, have you found
somebody else in town
that can take this boy
off my hands?
That's why i'm here,
mr. Shaddick.
I'm going
to take the child myself.
He'll make a good caddy.
Well, he obviously
can't stay here.
Well, for once
we're in agreement.
Between a 70-year-old jew
and a 9-year-old black boy,
there is not, miss ross,
what you would call
a mutuality of interest.
Well, he'll stay
with me tonight,
and i'll arrange to bring him
home in the morning.
Home?
Are you telling me
that the membership rolls
of your pishy-poshy
country club
don't have one lousy family
that's willing to take him?
Well, given time,
we'd find many, mr. Shaddick.
We want the boy
to feel comfortable.
I mean, given the situation,
it's, you know...
enlighten me.
For a little black boy
to be in a family --
a black child.
Just a minute, mr. Shaddick.
The cardinal sin.
Don't make me out
to be a bigot.
Don't you make me out
to be an idiot.
I'm a long time
on this earth.
I'm an expert on bigotry.
Mr. Shaddick, i want
the boy to enjoy himself.
I don't give a damn
what color he is.
You don't take a child
off a harlem street,
stick him in a pool
in the country club,
and expect him
to make an adjustment
between breakfast
and lunch.
Since when is swimming
such a big adjustment?
It's a sociological
problem.
You remind me
of my nephew stanley --
so busy dressing
for the charity ball,
he forgets
what the charity is.
Miss ross...
an act of kindness
is not such a big deal
when it comes
in fashionable spasms
during the social season.
Do you understand
what i'm saying?
I think i'll take
the boy now, mr. Shaddick.
Miss ross, don't give
yourself the trouble.
The boy stays
maybe two days,
maybe a week.
That's very nice of you,
mr. Shaddick.
Well, let me
tell you something.
You don't like my good deeds,
i don't like yours.
They're grudging,
rotten-tempered afterthoughts,
using a child
you couldn't care less about
as gesture
to those of us you loathe,
and i gather
you loathe a lot of us.
Which is my right.
Yes, mr. Shaddick,
and that proves the point.
You don't have to go
into a country club
to find a bigot.
You can find them
in delicatessens.
So we both drew
a little blood, miss ross...
but the boy stays.
I am not
the most gracious of men,
as you pointed out,
miss ross,
but in my life...
i have made a few friends.
Good night, mr. Shaddick.
What are you going
to do with that?
What did the lady want?
The lady --
the lady wants
to divest herself
of her responsibility.
It's the national pastime,
herman,
the great american sport --
let george do it.
Who's george?
George, tom, dick, harry --
the other guy.
We all do it.
I do it myself.
You sure do talk funny.
Uh, do you have plans
for that?
Yeah, i'm going
to get it stuffed,
and then i'm going to get
one of those metal things
with writing
on it underneath.
Oh, yeah, a plaque.
Yeah, a plaque.
And i'm going to say on it,
this fish caught
by herman d. Washington
in honor
of his brother bill,
sergeant
in the green berets,
with much love
from his brother
herman d. Washington.
Can i get all that
in there?
Yeah...
in small print.
Big, ain't she?
Yeah, she's enormous,
but we'll put her on ice
so that by the time
it reaches your brother,
he'll be able to stand
close enough to it
to read the small print.
Uh, herman,
i want
to ask you something.
I'll give you a choice.
You can leave
tomorrow morning on the bus,
or...
you could stay here with me
for a few days.
Why?
What do you mean why?
Why do you want me
to stay?
Did i say
i wanted you to stay?
I gave you a choice.
I said you could stay
if you wanted to
or you could go home
tomorrow.
Mmm...
i'll stay
a couple of days.
I'm overwhelmed.
Now you're going
to wash your hands.
Come back here.
You do it in the sink.
You've been touching fish.
And then after that,
we're going to go see
what's playing
at the movies.
And then after that,
we'll go and have a soda.
And then we'll
come back here,
and i'll spend
half the night
wondering why i'm going
to all this trouble.
[Chuckles]
why are you looking at me
all smiley?
You prefer rage?
You know
what my brother bill say?
No, i don't know
what your brother bill say.
He say he don't care
if mr. Charlie hates him,
and he don't care
if mr. Charlie likes him.
He say that mister charlie
should just get his foot
off of him.
That's what
by brother bill say.
Well, do i have my foot
on you?
I just wanted to tell you.
I'm staying because
it's hot in new york,
and here i can go fishing.
That's why i'm staying.
Too bad you ain't black.
Why?
I seen all the people
looking at us.
So they was looking at us.
I know what they thinking.
So, what were they thinking?
They thinking...
they thinking, "what that
little black boy doing
with that old jew?"
Listen.
As one former ghetto dweller
to another,
a lesson --
a lesson, herman,
that maybe both of us
should learn --
once two guys go fishing
or even to the movies,
all they should care about
is that they enjoy.
That's fundamental.
We equal, huh?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Maybe more
than we both realize.
There's rats where i live,
great big ones.
And the johns stink. Ew.
You can smell them
all over the building.
If we equal, how come
i got to live there?
When my brother come back,
we going
to move out of there.
We going to move out
to the country,
and we going to spit
right in that old
jew landlord's eye.
Mazel tov.
But in the meantime,
with this jew,
you're going to the movies.
Man: hey, wait up.
You know something,
herman?
Soon you're going to
be indispensable to me.
What that mean?
That means that i won't know
what to do without you.
You wrong.
You make a mistake.
You got to do it yourself.
That's what
my brother bill told me.
He say don't ever lean
and don't ever
turn your back.
That's what
it's all about.
Uh-huh.
Well, now suppose
somebody leans on you?
Break his arm.
Listen,
my little black boychik,
even if you think it,
don't say it, all right?
I've tasted more hate
in my life than i have wine.
Oh, yeah, that's the --
that's the one.
It's supposed
to be pretty good.
Paul newman and, uh,
that other fellow.
Two.
$2.50, please.
What are you getting?
Here. $2.50?
$2.50, uh-huh.
1... 2...3.
there you go.
There you go. Enjoy.
Get that.
That's for the popcorn.
Man: oh, yeah, i thought
it was a terrific film.
What about you?
Did you like it?
Woman: i did.
Yeah, that's right.
Go right there.
Yeah, there it is.
We'll get that soda.
I want chocolate.
But when the cat
with the shotgun
gave it to that
other bad cat,
how come them
two good guys
leave the back door open,
and them other bad cats,
they able to get out?
Man, anybody know you got
to guard the back door.
When you got two bad cats
up in the building,
you know
they got shotguns, too.
Uh, herman,
there's a couple of areas
that i know nothing about.
One is shotguns
and the other is bad cats.
But they crazy not
to guard the back door.
Well, maybe.
I mean,
you could be right.
Oh, thank you.
You finished?
If it was me, man,
i'd have guarded
the back door.
So we'll write
to hollywood,
and we'll put
the question to them.
Will that satisfy you?
Maybe we do that.
I'll give you the words.
What do they call that?
You'll dictate a letter.
Yeah, i think i'll do that.
Back doors.
Man: he would
go back with her.
Man #2: he would, too.
Where you going, boy?
I said where you going?
Don't just stand there.
Do a little soft shoe
for us, huh?
Yeah, let's see
you do it, boy.
Oh, look who's here.
Get a load of this --
what a combination.
What do you say, ike?
The name is shaddick,
and that name is washington.
What's the matter, cowboys?
You bored, is that it?
You have to go after
an old man and a little boy?
Is that it?
I know who you are --
you're moses.
And this must be one
of moses's children
from a different marriage.
You know who they are?
Two night crawlers
in search of manhood.
Manhood, huh?
Oh, such courage.
Such courtesy.
Hey!
Easy there, boy. Drop it.
Get the knife, shaddick!
Use the knife!
Use the knife!
Shaddick, get the knife!
What's the trouble here?
No trouble.
We're just on our way out.
Hold it.
Mr. Shaddick, you okay?
Yeah, in the pink.
Take off.
You sure you're okay?
Yeah, my friend and i,
we're fine. Thanks.
Who belongs to this?
That's mine.
Yours?
Definitely mine.
It's quite a weapon,
mr. Shaddick.
Be careful with it.
Give a holler
if we're needed.
Good night.
Good night.
Put this in your pocket,
and don't ever let me
see it again.
If i ever reach the point
where i have to cut
into another man's stomach,
i will have lived too long.
Where have you been?
You let some cat back you
up against a wall,
and you don't do
nothing about it?
Man, you ain't going
to live long enough.
And you
would have used it.
If i had to.
Which is perhaps the worst
thing about prejudice.
The haters turn the victims
into haters.
You line up the two teams,
and who could
tell them apart?
Come on. We go home.
Shaddick, it don't make
any difference,
but you ain't no chicken.
I'm not?
No, you're a tiger.
Tiger, huh?
Then why
is my heart beating
like it's trying
to come out of my body?
You're a tiger,
but you're an old tiger.
Ha ha.
Then the least
you could do
is help me down
the street,
you gangster.
Oh, my goodness,
look at the time.
It's past midnight.
Do you have a toothbrush?
Okay, so,
we'll go to bed now.
So, run along.
Herman!
This is for you.
Ooh, ooh.
Oh, look,
miss gloria ross.
Ah...
you and me --
mr. Shaddick --
to be my guests tomorrow.
This is an invitation
for you to swim
at the country club
swimming pool...
[sniffs]
reeking of perfume
and misplaced contrition.
You talking crazy again.
You want to go swimming?
Shall we accept?
Yeah.
Sure.
Now go to bed.
What did you do
before i came here?
What did i do?
Yeah. I mean,
you don't go fishing.
You don't go
to the movies.
You don't drink no soda.
You know, you're right.
This is the first movie
i've seen since myrna loy.
I used to love myrna loy.
And that chocolate soda --
you know, i'd forgotten
how good a soda taste.
So, at the risk
of leaning on you, herman,
it seems as though you have
opened up my life a little,
and at the further risk
of listening
to your 136th street
eloquent philosophy...
i'm grateful.
You grateful, huh?
I am.
Good night, shaddick.
[Laughing]
you know, benjy,
you give the world
fishing poles
and ice cream sodas.
Oh...
you'd have
so much brotherhood,
even god would smile.
Pete, come over here,
please.
Yes?
What are they
doing here?
Um... who?
Them.
Ooh. I don't know.
Well, find out.
Okay.
Excuse me. Sir?
Hi. I wasn't on duty
when --
when you came
in this morning.
Well, those things happen.
I'll let it go this time.
Look at me, shaddick --
the australian crawl.
Ah, yeah...
he's available for lessons
in the afternoon.
You can tell the members.
The pool is open
to members and guests.
Afraid so.
It's restricted.
Well, that's the way
it should be.
You can't have every tom, dick,
and harry running around.
No, absolutely.
Is there a problem?
Uh, no, i --
good.
Are you a guest?
Oh, yes. We are here
at the invitation
of miss gloria ross.
Oh, i see. Well,
thank you very much.
I was wondering if i might
have your name?
Uh, shaddick,
abel shaddick
and herman d. Washington.
Thanks.
Think nothing of it.
Herman, our enemies
are multiplying.
In the nighttime,
it's the hell's angels.
In the daylight,
it's society matrons --
from the bellicose
to the varicose.
[Laughs]
nice to see you, ma'am.
You're quite the little
johnny weissmuller,
aren't you?
And how does
the water feel?
You're one
of the slum children,
aren't you?
Oh, there's no need
to be offended, child.
What i meant was
i was simply trying
to identify you.
I am elated
that we can share some
of the benefits
of our club with you.
I am altogether delighted.
I'm going to do it
feet first,
but i ain't going to hold
my nose or nothing.
I'm going real deep,
and i am going to do
the australian crawl.
Isn't that just
the cutest thing?
And you --
mr. Shaddick, is it?
It think it is charming
what you are doing,
mr. Shaddick.
What am i doing?
Taking care
of that little boy.
I think it is an absolutely
marvelous gesture.
Well, i'm all heart.
It makes you
wonder sometimes
with all the riots
and violence.
There is no reason
on this earth
why we can't
get on together.
Of course, the problem is
this sort of thing
will never get
in the papers.
If some
mississippi policeman
hit one of them
with a chain,
well, that's big news.
But we are opening up
our facilities,
and that sort of thing
never gets mentioned.
Well, there's no doubt
about it.
You are the humanitarian
of all humanitarians.
You're being sarcastic?
Me, sarcastic,
when out of the goodness
of your heart
you let a child
jump off a diving board?
Believe me, lady,
i know how much
that takes out of you.
Did i say
i had a big heart?
Strike that --
you have a big heart.
Well, i have no intention
and letting the likes
of you --
hello, mrs. Parker.
Gloria.
Yes.
They are your guests?
They are, yeah.
Well, this gentleman
gets no honors
for civility.
Mrs. Parker --
please.
You go to the locker room
and change your clothes.
We're going to go
to the lake.
At the lake,
we can both swim
as well as fish,
and here there's
difficulty breathing,
and there is also a problem
with the pollution.
Telephone call for you,
miss ross --
long distance.
I'll be right there.
You don't need to leave,
mr. Shaddick.
No, on the contrary.
You've been very kind.
Thank you for the invitation.
Herman had a good time,
but obviously
we're crowding the lady.
You must
have better eyesight
than i do, mr. Shaddick.
I don't see any lady.
Thank you.
Yes?
Who?
I'm afr--
i'm afraid
i can't understand you.
You have to speak louder.
Who?
Mrs. Washington?
I see.
I'm truly so sorry. I...
do you want us
to tell the boy?
That's all right.
That's all right.
Mrs. Washington,
i-i'm so, so sorry.
I'm...
i'm truly sorry.
Hung up.
He's, uh,
he's changing his clothes
in the locker room
over there, so...
i'll get a glass
of water if i could.
Glass of water, yeah.
Oh, thank you very much.
Yeah, the kid's
been in the hot sun,
and i could use
a schluck myself.
See, the best thing is
just get out of here
as soon as possible
because somebody's going to
say something to him and --
me with my big mouth --
but you were very nice.
Mr. Shaddick...
i want
to thank you again.
Mr. -- Mr. Shaddick,
that call was
from herman's grandmother.
Oh.
Yeah?
Yeah, apparently, he had
a brother in vietnam.
Oh, you should hear
the kid talk
about that brother --
lawrence of arabia
and joe louis
all rolled into one.
He's dead, mr. Shaddick.
What?
The grandmother just
received the telegram.
He was killed on monday.
Oh... god.
Well, who's going
to tell him?
Well, the grandmother
suggested that we do it.
We do?
We do?
I don't know.
Well, it's easy.
You just stick a hole
in the little boy's heart
and watch him bleed.
What can i do,
mr. Shaddick?
What can any of us do?
Just tell him and pray...
pray that there's
some stuff in this kid
that he won't be destroyed.
Are you going
to tell him now?
No.
No, not here.
Yeah.
Mr. Shaddick, he's coming.
Thanks for letting me swim.
That's all right.
Are you sick?
No.
No, herman,
i'm not sick.
We going to the lake now?
Yeah. Why not?
We got to stop
by the delicatessen
and get the fishing poles.
Well, if that's
what you want.
You sure you ain't sick?
Oh, maybe just a little.
I'll see you both later.
Bye.
Bye, honey.
Miss ross looks
a little sick, too.
Gloria, my dear,
i don't mean to make
a thing of this.
This is hardly personal.
Isn't it?
But certain lines
have to be drawn.
I mean, to invite
that old man and that --
that old man
and that soon-to-be ravaged,
wounded little boy
are the only honest-to-god
human beings
within a radius of 100 miles
of this swimming pool.
And that, mrs. Parker,
is meant to be
extremely personal.
Herman...
herman?
Herman, i want
to tell you something.
It's something
very serious.
What?
Look at me, herman.
We got a call
from your grandma.
It was about
your brother bill,
and...
and something happened...
and your brother is dead.
[Thunder rumbling]
herman, can i come in?
Well, the bus doesn't leave
for about an hour,
so we got plenty of time.
You know the fish?
The enormous one?
You keep it.
Eat it or sell it.
I ain't going to need it.
Well, i thought i would
have it mounted for you
with your name in gold,
you know.
I don't want it.
I caught it for bill.
Herman, if i said
something to you,
would you listen?
Come here.
A long time ago --
25 years --
i received a telegram
in this very room,
and, you see,
telegrams don't change.
Wars change,
the enemies change,
but the words used
to tell the living
about the dead,
they don't change.
We regret to inform you
that your son,
second lieutenant
benjamin shaddick,
was killed in action
june 15, 1944,
on a bombing mission
over stuttgart, germany.
And i must have read
that telegram, oh...
over a hundred times.
It got so that the words,
they were just floating,
and you feel
like you feel...
you feel like
your life has ended,
that some vital part
of your body
has been stripped
and that you'll never --
well -- well,
you'll never smile...
laugh...
enjoy.
You feel the way
you must feel now...
that the sorrow
is just unbearable
and that the tears
will never end.
But you know, herman,
the tears do end.
Somehow, someway...
the crying does come
to an end.
One time...
a long time ago --
i was just
a little kid then --
i got roller skates, see?
And i start down the steps,
and i fall...
and, man,
it hurt real bad.
And bill come out
and he go down the steps,
and he pick me up
and say, "hermy...
hermy, don't you cry."
I don't cry, shaddick...
not me.
I ain't never
going to cry.
You are a very brave boy,
herman.
You really are
an incredibly brave boy.
So you stay here
and just finish your packing,
and i'll, uh, when it's time...
i'll call you when it's...
oh, herman...
let this old jew cry
for the both of us.
Shaddick?
Why you cry?
He nothing to you.
You never even know
my brother.
So why
are you crying, man?
I cry because i'm old.
I cry at the irony
of things.
I cry because
fine young men die
and old men just go on.
I thought i'd drive herman
to new york, mr. Shaddick.
Well, that's up to him.
I mean,
the weather is so bad.
It is.
It's raining real hard.
I don't want you
to be alone, okay?
I'll drive you,
all right?
Is that all right
with you?
Yeah.
Good.
It's all right.
Herman,
i'm truly sorry, honey.
Herman...
do you want me
to drive in with you?
No.
You stay here.
Goodbye.
I just wanted
to say something.
Don't you cry no more,
understand?
We're going to make out.
You and me,
we're going to make out.
And when you come back,
we're going to go fishing.
I'll come back.
I'm really going
to come back.
Benjy...
[telephone rings]
[ring]
yes. What?
A collect call.
A collect call from who?
I shouldn't ask.
Mr. Banner.
All right, i'll take it.
Hello, stanley.
What?
Oh, i'm sorry
that thing blew up.
Yeah, yeah,
you can come back.
Yes, you can come home
and stay as long as you want.
No, not there.
That space is reserved
for herman.
That's right,
herman washington.
He's a friend of mine,
a very close
and personal friend,
and that room
will be saved for him.
Upstairs.
Upstairs, stanley.
You can
have the room upstairs.
Think nothing of it.
Goodbye.
So, benjy...
the dead come in all colors,
but you,
you already knew that.
Unfortunately,
we are still learning.
Oh, look how it's raining.
It's raining real hard, benj.
This is a real summer storm,
and this, i guess,
will end the heat.
Yeah, end the heat
and cleanse the earth.
God, how we need it.
mr. Shaddick?
A day older since
the last time you asked me.
You know, i'm going to
get that poodle.
Good. Wonderful.
I'm happy for you.
Another hot one, huh?
Yeah, why not?
Listen, you want
to know something?
Upstairs
in the kingdom of heaven,
they got
a special department.
It's a celestial bureau.
It's staffed by
a hundred fallen angels,
and it's got one job.
You know what it is?
No.
To harass abel shaddick.
Somebody up there doesn't
like you much, huh?
I can hear
the staff meetings now.
Monday we'll give him
prickly heat,
tuesday,
two bum checks he'll get.
On wednesday, the bank
will call one of his notes,
and on thursday,
we'll send his nephew stanley
to stay with him,
and on friday,
which is today,
we'll give him
a heat wave.
We'll give him 98 degrees
with humidity
so he'll have insomnia
and have to lie awake
all night worrying
about something worse
than friday.
What's worse than friday?
Saturday.
How long you had this
delicatessen here,
mr. Shaddick?
Ah, since god
created the earth,
give or take
a couple of years.
It's an atonement
for some past sin.
I figure it this way.
In another life,
i was the russian czar.
So that committee,
they met up there,
and they decided that
during my next life
they were going to
give me the business,
this business.
Every cloud has
a silver lining, mr. Shaddick.
It's always darkest
before the dawn.
That's what they say.
Yeah, that's what they say.
Well, whoever said that
should have drops put
in their eyes.
You're quite a character,
mr. Shaddick.
I'll look in on you
tomorrow night.
Yeah, you do that.
And if you find me
hanging on a hook
alongside the chickens,
don't put out a dragnet.
It'll be self-inflicted.
But tell them not to
pull down the wrong bird.
They'll find five birds
hanging on a hook,
all about 70 years old.
I'm the one
with the pants.
[Laughs]
morning, benjy.
[Telephone rings]
[ring]
[ring]
yes?
One pint
pickled herrings, yes,
one loaf rye bread.
You want it sliced?
All right.
Yes, lady,
i'm writing it down.
A chinese waiter i'm not.
Two dozen eggs.
That's it?
No, lady, i don't deliver.
No, i'm too poor for a truck
and too old for a bicycle.
Well, suit yourself.
You want to come in
and pick it up,
come in and pick it up.
That's right, lady,
independent.
Deliveries, yet.
Food stamps, lucky numbers,
hit the jackpot,
name the president --
a black year
on the 20th century.
Well, another scorcher, benjy.
Well, the hot spell continues.
Your cousin stanley,
he's been here for six days.
Oh, i told you
that yesterday, yeah.
Well, as i told you,
your cousin stanley
has all the charm
of an untipped waiter.
He commutes between his bed
and the country club.
And in case i failed
to mention it,
your cousin stanley
is not my cup of tea.
Can i help you, lady?
Good morning.
I wondered,
does mr. Banner live here?
Mr. Banner?
Oh, mr. Banner,
formerly mr. Bloom.
No, strictly speaking,
he doesn't live here.
He just
drops in occasionally
in between his big deals.
Mr. Banner,
formerly mr. Bloom,
is my nephew.
You must be mr. Shaddick.
I must be.
What can i get for you?
Well, my name
is gloria ross.
I met your nephew
at the club last night.
At the club?
Yeah, at the country club.
Oh, the country club.
Wonderful.
Maybe he mentioned it,
mr. Bloom -- mr. Banner?
No, he didn't mention it.
By the time my nephew
with the new name
returned to his bed
early this morning,
i already had
five hours sleep
and two sizable nightmares,
one of them having to do
with an avenging angel
that knocked on my door
and told me that mr. Banner,
formerly mr. Bloom,
was going to live with me
for the rest of my life.
So, no, lady, i didn't
talk to my nephew.
Morning, shaddick.
Oy. Oh, boy.
The avenging angel
with the chickens.
Surely you're familiar with
the fresh air vacation plan?
The what?
The fresh air
vacation plan?
The vacation plan?
So what about it?
Well, it's children
we bring from the city,
and they spend
two weeks here
with families
in the community.
It's wonderful.
Families, yeah.
What we also do
is check on the homes
as a policy.
Yeah, the nature
of the homes
before the children
are entering it,
and also to see
the compatibility.
Compatibility.
And, uh...
listen, i just want
to ask you one thing.
How much does my nephew
stanley owe you
for his raffle ticket?
There are no raffle tickets,
mr. Shaddick.
You see, what it is,
it's when families sponsor --
mrs. Gold, you here to purchase
or just fondle?
I only buy the fresh.
These are fresh?
They were until you
potchkeyed with them.
Do you want my business
or don't you?
I would welcome your business,
mrs. Gold,
but your daily rubdown
of my chickens
i can do without.
All right, i'll take --
i'll take this one.
Ah, the lucky chicken,
the prize winner.
He won himself
a good home.
Uh, just the chicken,
mr. Shaddick.
I'm not buying your thumb.
For you, mrs. Gold, $1.99.
$1.99.
$1.99.
$1...
$1.50...
$1.99.
And, if it's no good,
you'll hear from me.
I won't sleep until
i get your decision.
You won't sleep because
you're too damn miserable.
Listen, do me a favor.
Take a cruise, anything,
so i won't
see you tomorrow.
Oh, you're still here?
What?
Do you think
i could speak to stanley?
No, i don't think so.
Uh, you see, he's got
a lot on his mind.
Today he's going to try
and dress himself.
But the child is already
on its way.
What child?
I've been trying
to explain it to you.
The child that
your nephew stanley --
mr. Banner -- mr. Bloom,
he volunteered.
He volunteered?
Yes.
A child is coming here
because my nephew stanley
volunteered?
Lady, if hermann goering
had a child,
i wouldn't wish him
on my nephew.
Now, if you
want to take a boy
and turn him
into a delinquent
and you want to use stanley
as the instructor,
you made
the perfect choice.
You still
don't understand.
What? What?
Tell me,
what don't i understand?
You were supposed to be,
in a sense,
co-sponsors of the child.
Stanley assured us he'd be
with you through the summer.
Lady, do yourself a favor.
Save yourself embarrassment
and maybe a bum check.
The next time
that my big shot nephew
steps into
your country club,
just show him the door
and the restriction clause
in your club's constitution.
Really, mr. Shaddick.
Goodbye, lady.
That's it, finished, done.
What about the child?
He's on the bus by now.
So you'll take him
off the bus.
You really are living up
to your reputation,
mr. Shaddick,
or down to it.
Is that a fact?
You go ahead, tell me
about my reputation.
You're not the most beloved
man in the community.
I don't give a damn.
That's painfully obvious.
A little child coming
from the slums --
oh, lady, please,
enough already.
I'm supposed
to have a breakdown
because some nameless
little mumser
doesn't get his fresh air?
I got my own problems.
So you go back
and tell your members
i got no time for children,
no sympathy for
their social charities,
and no place for my nephew
stanley banner.
This is my final word.
Again, goodbye.
You're putting me
in a dreadful position.
I'll be on the phone
for half of the day --
lady, please,
enough already!
I never should have
come here.
Oh, benjy,
your cousin stanley,
he did it again.
I'll kill him.
What's he like?
Scrooge
from the east side.
You put some poor
unsuspecting kid
in with that
bilious old goat,
he'd be scarred for life.
But that kid
may be on a bus now.
We have to
call new york.
The kid's name
is washington.
As in george?
Not according to this.
As in booker t.
Oh, boy.
[Siren blares]
grandma, i got
to carry all that?
Sure. You're going to
be gone two weeks.
Would you look at him?
Here he is getting ready
to make a trip
out to the country,
and he looks at me
like the angel of death
just walked in the room.
Just think, hermy,
two whole weeks.
Two whole weeks
of fresh air
and fishing and swimming.
You know you're going to
have the best vacation
of any boy in harlem.
If you get a letter
from bill,
send it to me, you hear?
Oh, yes.
Now, remember, herman,
when you get off the bus,
i want you to be
a little gentleman
because to see a well-behaved
young man like you
is going to be
a real education for them.
If they want an education,
they ought to come to harlem.
Oh, this child.
Here, hold your head up.
Now, mind --
you mind you've got
about an hour
before bus time,
and that is one bus
you ain't going to miss.
Now, please, herman,
don't go
getting yourself dirty.
Put your jacket on.
Oh.
That's the first time
you had on your new suit.
Mind you, it cost $12.
Just so you could look
like a little gentleman.
Remember, herman, be...
polite.
Polite.
I want you to, what?
Smile.
Smile.
I want you to...
shake hands.
Shake hands.
Well...
well, we got everything?
Where's my pocketbook?
Shaking hands,
got to be all smiles --
for what?
You ready, herman?
Yes, grandma,
i guess i'm ready.
[Door closes]
[telephone rings]
[ring]
[ring]
oh, my goodness.
Good morning.
How are you doing today?
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, oh.
Hi.
I'll catch you
in a minute.
Look at you.
How are you doing?
Hey, herman.
Girl: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Did somebody die?
Unh-unh.
Not going
to a funeral?
Unh-unh.
You look like you're
going to a funeral.
Two weeks in the country.
Herman going
to the country.
Which country?
Fairview, new york.
Anybody want
to take my place?
Hmm...
unh-unh.
Going to be fun
in the country.
Hermy, give me
the ball back.
Herman,
we've got to go, baby.
Get your suitcase.
We don't want to --
we can't miss that bus.
May i have your attention,
please.
Oh, my goodness.
This is one day
i sure wish
i didn't have to
go in to work.
Now, herman,
make sure you get on
the right bus.
You hear me?
Yes, grandma.
What you do is this --
look at the number
on the bus.
It ought to be the same
as on this tag here. See?
I'll tell you what.
Just show this
to the bus driver,
and he'll check it
for you.
Yes, grandma.
You know you're going
to have a good time.
Ha ha ha.
I wish i was
going with you.
Mm-hmm.
Your brother's going to be
so proud of you
'cause i know
i'm proud of you myself.
Mm-hmm.
You know that?
Yes, grandma.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, this is a chance,
i'm telling you.
Mm-hmm.
And write me a postcard
because i want to know
what you're doing,
what you're seeing,
everything, you hear me?
Yes, grandma.
Mm-hmm.
Well,
give grandma a kiss.
Oh, honey.
Now, i know you're
going to have a good time,
but i got to go, baby.
Bye now.
Bye.
Bye, grandma.
You lost, sonny?
What bus you on?
I didn't do nothing.
I'm just minding
my own business.
Let's see.
Well, that's your bus
right there.
You can board it right now,
if you want.
You fuzz?
Fuzz?
Cop?
So, you're running
from the law, are you?
What you got in there,
stocks and bonds?
I'm going to the country.
Well, like i said,
that's your bus out there.
You have a good time
in the country.
Hey.
Stay away from the fuzz.
Final call -- upstate limited
now departing.
All aboard, please.
[Humming]
morning, unc.
Nice affair at the club
last night.
Let me ask you something.
Do i deserve this?
Going to be hot today, huh?
Atlantic city
will be murder.
I got to be there by 5:00.
A guy i know
got a discothèque --
topless.
Looking for a manager.
Could be three bills
a week and a cut.
Topless, unc.
How does that grab you?
Well, me it don't grab
so much,
but the atlantic city
vice squad...
stanley, give them
a message for me, will you?
Tell them that if they'll
keep you in jail
for more than 60 days,
i'll send them free salami.
My uncle,
the sentimentalist.
Listen, i could be gone
quite some time --
i'm destitute.
I bet.
I'll send you a postcard
from atlantic city.
Forget the postcards.
Don't need a postcard.
Stanley, do me a favor.
If by some miracle
you get this job
and you have an extra $10
in your pocket,
please buy some flowers
for your mother's grave.
You got a thing about death,
don't you, unc?
And you don't,
huh, stanley?
You're immortal.
You don't die.
Get out of here.
How long has ben been gone?
1944, wasn't it?
It's almost 25 years.
You keep his picture around,
his effects --
it's like he died
on thursday.
Mr. Bloom,
son of my late sister,
my bed you can borrow,
my telephone you can use,
my food you're free to eat,
but how i mourn my child
and for how long --
that's my business,
you understand?
All right, all right.
Look at the time, huh?
I got to catch the 11:00.
You stay loose, unc.
Uh, just a minute,
mr. Rockefeller,
if you don't mind.
Some unfinished business,
namely your latest
philanthropy.
What are you talking about?
The slum child that you're
going to entertain
for two weeks.
The lady was here
this morning --
miss ross.
I forgot all about that.
I'll call her
from the station.
You do that, stanley.
Your unpaid debts i'll meet.
Your indiscriminate
charities, no.
Relax, okay?
Just -- can you relax?
I got a little high
last night.
They had this booth,
they were signing up kids,
they had one more spot --
you know how it is.
I know how it is with you --
a good deed is not enough.
You have to have a brass band
and a photographer.
And how is it
with you, unc?
Explain that question.
I don't know
how you survive.
I manage.
You manage.
Seven days a week,
hating everything you do,
doing the same thing --
up at 6:00, open the cases,
hang up the chickens,
scream at somebody
on the phone.
6:00 at night
you lock it all up,
the next morning
you do it all over again.
In the parlance
of the time, stanley,
that's what's known
as making a living.
Easy it's not,
enjoyable it's not,
but it's what
old guys like me
have to do to get by.
I don't expect you
to understand.
Any guy who would
change his name
like he changes
his shirt,
this is a person
that wants the rose
without the thorns.
Life is not like that.
Life is misery,
but i made a pact with it.
You made a pact with it.
You love it.
You'd rather be caught dead
than smile.
Hey, stanley, you want
to see me smile?
In heaven
i'm going to smile
when they read my will
and they come to the part
where it says how much
i leave my nephew stanley --
a blank page.
I can't top you, unc.
Wish me luck.
Luck.
Luck i'll wish you.
I love your hat.
Man: there you go.
Okay, you're all set.
Woman: hi, greg.
You okay? Good.
Hi.
Is your name joey?
Did you have
a nice trip?
I'm phyllis mann.
Hi, mrs. Mann.
Hi.
Hey, what do you say?
You the man
what they call my sponsor?
Stan banner,
and you are...
herman washington.
Where we going?
We got
a little problem, herm.
I've been waiting
for you here,
and all of a sudden
i got this hurry up call
to get to atlantic city,
but i'll tell you
what you do.
You go down
to the delicatessen.
Go out here, make a right,
you run right into it.
My uncle's there.
He'll look after you
until i get back.
11:00 a.m. express
to atlantic city now departing.
That's my bus.
Have a ball, herm.
I'll see you soon.
Atlantic city.
Don't let my, uh,
my uncle turn you off.
He's not a bad egg.
He's just a little odd.
He's set in his ways,
but you go down there,
you tell him who you are.
I'm awful sorry
to cut out on you like this.
I mean that.
Does your uncle like you?
You don't dig me?
You talk too much
and you talk too loud.
6, 9 -- $500.
Nu?
You mean the suit?
I mean what can i get
for you?
What do you got?
Well, what do you want?
Got a coca-cola?
Coca-cola,
you go to the drugstore.
I'll take a glass
of water.
A glass of water?
With customers like you,
i could go bankrupt
in a week.
Glass of water.
All right.
A little more.
There you are.
I'm herman d. Washington.
Wonderful.
I'm abe shaddick.
I come on a bus just
a couple of minutes ago.
I came on a boat
55 years ago.
What else would you like
to discuss?
This here is the address
i'm supposed to go to,
so i'm your kid.
Uh, mr. Washington,
do you get
the same impression
that i do
that what's occurring here
is a breakdown
in communications?
Don't you dig, man?
I'm supposed to stay here
for two weeks.
Stanley banner --
he's what they call
my sponsor.
He was at the bus station.
He sent me here.
They give me this to tell me
who was going to meet me
and where i'm supposed to go.
That stanley cat,
the one i met...
stanley, stanley...
he the one who said i should
come over here and see you.
Mr. Washington,
the man that you
accurately describe
as the stanley cat --
mr. Banner --
he's left town,
and in the process,
he left you and me
out on a limb.
And i'm afraid that, uh,
i don't know how
to tell you this,
but, uh...
there's nobody here
to take care of you.
There's nobody here
to look after you.
You understand?
Okay.
Is this what i use
to go back to new york?
Oh, yeah, this is
your return ticket.
Don't lose that.
Uh, you got, uh,
oh, you got a 3-hour wait
for the next bus.
Yeah,
you missed the 11:30.
Okay.
Stanley.
Oh, stanley, i'd like to --
oh, if i had you now...
hey, you!
Hey!
You!
Come here!
I want to ask you
a question.
Did you have lunch?
I asked you a question.
Did you have lunch?
All right, come on.
You want some lunch?
I am asking you
a question.
Do you want some lunch?
Do you want something
to eat?
I'll just go back
on the bus.
I don't want to stay here.
All right, so you'll
go back on the bus,
but first
the least i can do
is offer you
something to eat.
Do you see anything
you like here?
What's that there?
Which one? Show me.
Oh, that's pastrami.
You want
a nice pastrami sandwich?
What's pastrami?
Oh, pastrami,
it's like corned beef.
It's highly seasoned,
and, uh, it's, uh,
it's jewish.
You jewish?
I don't look jewish, right?
Guy who owns our building,
he jewish.
Man, he a pretty bad cat.
Nobody like him.
I ain't hungry.
Where are you going now?
To the bus station.
You got a 3-hour wait.
You might as well stay here.
No.
Why not?
'Cause i don't like you.
So -- so you don't like me.
So go sit
in the hot station.
Boil for three hours.
What do you care?
I don't care.
I really don't care.
Between a bankrupt business
and a bum nephew,
i don't need a 3-foot tall
ethiopian anti-semite.
You i don't need.
Now what?
Them are fish?
Uh-huh,
that's what them are.
I've never been fishing.
They told me that's one
of the things you done
with your sponsor --
people take you fishing.
I ain't never been fishing.
Where do you live?
136th street.
Oh.
No lakes
on 136th street, huh?
Hmm.
You got a lake here?
Yeah, a small lake.
Do you ever fish in it?
No, i don't fish.
My son and i,
we used to fish.
My son, now,
he was a fisherman.
Right, benj?
Oh, this kid could fish --
better than your old man.
That's him.
That's benjy.
Soldier?
Yes, sir.
Second lieutenant,
bombardier.
Where is he now?
Uh...
he was killed in a raid
over a place
called stuttgart.
I got a brother.
His name's bill.
He's in vietnam --
a sergeant.
Man, he's a tiger.
He sent me a picture of him
carrying a gun.
Man, he's a real tiger.
You say he's dead?
Yeah.
He was 19.
That's 24 years ago.
What about your mama?
My mama?
I mean his mama.
Oh, his mama passed away
many years ago
when he was a baby.
I raised him.
Who's this cat stanley?
Don't ask about stanley.
Thanks to him, you took
a bus ride for nothing.
Where's this here lake?
Oh, you want
to go to the lake?
Oh, that's easy.
Yeah, sure.
There, you go out
this door here, see.
Go down this street.
It's one mile south.
When you come to main street,
take a left.
You go one mile --
lake wanateeshie.
Wanatoo-- wanateeshie?
That jewish?
It's jewish-indian,
and in the meantime,
i'm going to call the lady
that's responsible for you
so she can call your family
on 136th street.
Now go.
Go on. Run along.
And don't drown.
When my brother come back,
he's going
to take me fishing.
He promised me.
My brother,
when he say something,
you've got to believe him.
Oh, without question,
that's a trait that runs
in your family --
honor and invincibility.
So what are you
waiting for now,
the messiah?
This here lake
i'm going to,
nobody will give me trouble,
will they?
I mean --
i mean i'm black.
Now, who would
give you trouble?
Who would dare?
You're the only
9-year-old on earth
that acts
like humphrey bogart.
Now what?
Nothing.
Nothing --
meaning something.
That mean nothing.
Are you afraid to tell me?
Afraid? No way, no how.
So go ahead. Tell me.
Get it off your mind.
Don't you ever go fishing?
No, not since benjy died
have i put a worm
to a hook.
Why?
Nothing.
Nothing --
nothing meaning, why don't
you and i go fishing?
Benjy -- an inspiration.
Since the first
of the month,
i haven't taken in enough
to pay the electric bill,
and this fisherman
from 136th street thinks
i got nothing better
to do in life
than to be
a huckleberry finn.
What that thing you say
go running in the family?
I don't know what you're
talking about. A trait?
Whatever you call it.
You got the same thing going
between stanley and you.
Oh, the itinerant
philosopher.
So tell me, what
is this mysterious thing
that binds me
to my nephew?
You're the same kind
of cats --
he get on the bus,
and you hide
behind the pastrami.
Do you know
what an achilles' heel is?
No.
So i'm not going
to tell you.
Maybe for an hour
i'll take you,
but no more
than an hour.
Maybe we could catch
some big fish,
then you could sell them.
Mr. Washington,
with my luck,
i will catch one minnow,
sunstroke,
and a summons
from the game warden.
All right, come on.
Let's go.
Question --
in your luggage there,
you got worms?
So why are we taking it?
So what are you
standing there for?
You've got something
to say?
You forgot something.
What might that be?
Fishing poles.
We ain't got
no fishing poles.
When you go fishing,
you've got
to have fishing poles.
I'll say this
for you, herman.
You've got all the gaiety
of an undertaker,
but you're
a very discerning boy,
very discerning.
Stay here. Don't move.
I needed this.
That's to cross the street.
I've been crossing streets
since i was 2 years old.
Oh, did it ever
occur to you
that i might need help
crossing the street?
Oh, that's different.
What did you say
your name was?
Uh, shaddick...
abe shaddick.
You don't like it?
Make no difference to me
what they call you.
Let's go, shaddick.
Be right with you,
washington.
Now, you see
that little red ball there?
That's called the bobber.
You've got to keep
your eye on that
because that's where
the bait is --
the bait
that the fish like.
Now, hold this
down here like this.
You've got
to move that thing
every now and then.
What's the bait?
Are you going to start
asking a lot of questions?
I'm not. This is only
my first question.
Well, an intelligent fish
knows what he likes.
That's all
you have to know.
Hey, man, don't make me out
to be stupid
'cause you don't know.
It was on the box.
I didn't read it.
Do you want to fish?
Yeah.
Do you know how?
Then zip your mouth
and let me tell you.
Tell me what,
what the bait is?
Keep it up,
i'm going to throw you
right in the water.
Now, this here,
you've got to move it
a little bit.
Like this?
That's too much.
Too much.
You want to get
the fish's attention,
but you don't want
to scare him.
Now, when the little red ball
starts to bounce,
that's when you know
the fish is nibbling,
but don't get too anxious.
Wait until that ball
goes underneath the water,
then you know that the hook
is sitting in the fish.
I myself --
and i admit this --
have only conquered this
in theory,
but my son benjy,
oh, he was a fisherman.
He had a nose for it.
A nose?
An instinct,
right from the start,
i never had
to tell him anything.
Gee, i remember one time.
Oh, that must have been,
what, '37?
Yeah, '37, '38.
We were over there,
but we were further down.
And that kid,
oh, he caught a trout --
i mean, such a trout.
I mean, this was a fish
among all fish.
You've got something, man.
You've got something.
Something's pulling.
Well, what do i do?
What do i do?
I forgot what to do.
Remind me what to do!
Tell me what i --
look, shaddick,
i got a fish.
Look, look, i got a fish.
Look at this one.
This here's a fish,
and i've got it.
Look at this fish.
I see the fish.
Mr. Washington, a favor?
I'll give you a minute
to exult
in pulling in the fish.
After that, be so kind
as to pull in
this ancient mariner.
Herman, would you come
and help me out
of the water, please,
if it's not
too much trouble?
Ah, stanley, stanley,
stanley...
benjy...
today a revelation.
I now know
what kills old men,
and it is not hardening
of the arteries,
as i was told.
No, it's softening
of the brain.
Inside asleep...
is this small dark shadow
with a chip on his shoulder
the size of a loaf
of pumpernickel,
and you know what
i was doing today, benjy?
I went fishing in the lake
with this boy
where you and i used to fish.
Well, maybe we were further
to the left there.
Three and half hours
in the sun...
much of it spent underwater
because your cousin stanley
has got the mouth of a whale
and the intelligence
of a sardine.
Yes...
[bell dings]
i received the message
you called, mr. Shaddick.
It's been so long,
i'd forgotten.
I'm so sorry.
I had a golf tournament.
Miss ross, for each day
of your life,
may you have
a hole in one.
But at this moment,
i have problems of my own.
I understand from the message
that the boy has arrived
and that he's here with you.
Yeah, he's napping.
I thought your nephew --
don't mention the name,
please.
Now, have you found
somebody else in town
that can take this boy
off my hands?
That's why i'm here,
mr. Shaddick.
I'm going
to take the child myself.
He'll make a good caddy.
Well, he obviously
can't stay here.
Well, for once
we're in agreement.
Between a 70-year-old jew
and a 9-year-old black boy,
there is not, miss ross,
what you would call
a mutuality of interest.
Well, he'll stay
with me tonight,
and i'll arrange to bring him
home in the morning.
Home?
Are you telling me
that the membership rolls
of your pishy-poshy
country club
don't have one lousy family
that's willing to take him?
Well, given time,
we'd find many, mr. Shaddick.
We want the boy
to feel comfortable.
I mean, given the situation,
it's, you know...
enlighten me.
For a little black boy
to be in a family --
a black child.
Just a minute, mr. Shaddick.
The cardinal sin.
Don't make me out
to be a bigot.
Don't you make me out
to be an idiot.
I'm a long time
on this earth.
I'm an expert on bigotry.
Mr. Shaddick, i want
the boy to enjoy himself.
I don't give a damn
what color he is.
You don't take a child
off a harlem street,
stick him in a pool
in the country club,
and expect him
to make an adjustment
between breakfast
and lunch.
Since when is swimming
such a big adjustment?
It's a sociological
problem.
You remind me
of my nephew stanley --
so busy dressing
for the charity ball,
he forgets
what the charity is.
Miss ross...
an act of kindness
is not such a big deal
when it comes
in fashionable spasms
during the social season.
Do you understand
what i'm saying?
I think i'll take
the boy now, mr. Shaddick.
Miss ross, don't give
yourself the trouble.
The boy stays
maybe two days,
maybe a week.
That's very nice of you,
mr. Shaddick.
Well, let me
tell you something.
You don't like my good deeds,
i don't like yours.
They're grudging,
rotten-tempered afterthoughts,
using a child
you couldn't care less about
as gesture
to those of us you loathe,
and i gather
you loathe a lot of us.
Which is my right.
Yes, mr. Shaddick,
and that proves the point.
You don't have to go
into a country club
to find a bigot.
You can find them
in delicatessens.
So we both drew
a little blood, miss ross...
but the boy stays.
I am not
the most gracious of men,
as you pointed out,
miss ross,
but in my life...
i have made a few friends.
Good night, mr. Shaddick.
What are you going
to do with that?
What did the lady want?
The lady --
the lady wants
to divest herself
of her responsibility.
It's the national pastime,
herman,
the great american sport --
let george do it.
Who's george?
George, tom, dick, harry --
the other guy.
We all do it.
I do it myself.
You sure do talk funny.
Uh, do you have plans
for that?
Yeah, i'm going
to get it stuffed,
and then i'm going to get
one of those metal things
with writing
on it underneath.
Oh, yeah, a plaque.
Yeah, a plaque.
And i'm going to say on it,
this fish caught
by herman d. Washington
in honor
of his brother bill,
sergeant
in the green berets,
with much love
from his brother
herman d. Washington.
Can i get all that
in there?
Yeah...
in small print.
Big, ain't she?
Yeah, she's enormous,
but we'll put her on ice
so that by the time
it reaches your brother,
he'll be able to stand
close enough to it
to read the small print.
Uh, herman,
i want
to ask you something.
I'll give you a choice.
You can leave
tomorrow morning on the bus,
or...
you could stay here with me
for a few days.
Why?
What do you mean why?
Why do you want me
to stay?
Did i say
i wanted you to stay?
I gave you a choice.
I said you could stay
if you wanted to
or you could go home
tomorrow.
Mmm...
i'll stay
a couple of days.
I'm overwhelmed.
Now you're going
to wash your hands.
Come back here.
You do it in the sink.
You've been touching fish.
And then after that,
we're going to go see
what's playing
at the movies.
And then after that,
we'll go and have a soda.
And then we'll
come back here,
and i'll spend
half the night
wondering why i'm going
to all this trouble.
[Chuckles]
why are you looking at me
all smiley?
You prefer rage?
You know
what my brother bill say?
No, i don't know
what your brother bill say.
He say he don't care
if mr. Charlie hates him,
and he don't care
if mr. Charlie likes him.
He say that mister charlie
should just get his foot
off of him.
That's what
by brother bill say.
Well, do i have my foot
on you?
I just wanted to tell you.
I'm staying because
it's hot in new york,
and here i can go fishing.
That's why i'm staying.
Too bad you ain't black.
Why?
I seen all the people
looking at us.
So they was looking at us.
I know what they thinking.
So, what were they thinking?
They thinking...
they thinking, "what that
little black boy doing
with that old jew?"
Listen.
As one former ghetto dweller
to another,
a lesson --
a lesson, herman,
that maybe both of us
should learn --
once two guys go fishing
or even to the movies,
all they should care about
is that they enjoy.
That's fundamental.
We equal, huh?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Maybe more
than we both realize.
There's rats where i live,
great big ones.
And the johns stink. Ew.
You can smell them
all over the building.
If we equal, how come
i got to live there?
When my brother come back,
we going
to move out of there.
We going to move out
to the country,
and we going to spit
right in that old
jew landlord's eye.
Mazel tov.
But in the meantime,
with this jew,
you're going to the movies.
Man: hey, wait up.
You know something,
herman?
Soon you're going to
be indispensable to me.
What that mean?
That means that i won't know
what to do without you.
You wrong.
You make a mistake.
You got to do it yourself.
That's what
my brother bill told me.
He say don't ever lean
and don't ever
turn your back.
That's what
it's all about.
Uh-huh.
Well, now suppose
somebody leans on you?
Break his arm.
Listen,
my little black boychik,
even if you think it,
don't say it, all right?
I've tasted more hate
in my life than i have wine.
Oh, yeah, that's the --
that's the one.
It's supposed
to be pretty good.
Paul newman and, uh,
that other fellow.
Two.
$2.50, please.
What are you getting?
Here. $2.50?
$2.50, uh-huh.
1... 2...3.
there you go.
There you go. Enjoy.
Get that.
That's for the popcorn.
Man: oh, yeah, i thought
it was a terrific film.
What about you?
Did you like it?
Woman: i did.
Yeah, that's right.
Go right there.
Yeah, there it is.
We'll get that soda.
I want chocolate.
But when the cat
with the shotgun
gave it to that
other bad cat,
how come them
two good guys
leave the back door open,
and them other bad cats,
they able to get out?
Man, anybody know you got
to guard the back door.
When you got two bad cats
up in the building,
you know
they got shotguns, too.
Uh, herman,
there's a couple of areas
that i know nothing about.
One is shotguns
and the other is bad cats.
But they crazy not
to guard the back door.
Well, maybe.
I mean,
you could be right.
Oh, thank you.
You finished?
If it was me, man,
i'd have guarded
the back door.
So we'll write
to hollywood,
and we'll put
the question to them.
Will that satisfy you?
Maybe we do that.
I'll give you the words.
What do they call that?
You'll dictate a letter.
Yeah, i think i'll do that.
Back doors.
Man: he would
go back with her.
Man #2: he would, too.
Where you going, boy?
I said where you going?
Don't just stand there.
Do a little soft shoe
for us, huh?
Yeah, let's see
you do it, boy.
Oh, look who's here.
Get a load of this --
what a combination.
What do you say, ike?
The name is shaddick,
and that name is washington.
What's the matter, cowboys?
You bored, is that it?
You have to go after
an old man and a little boy?
Is that it?
I know who you are --
you're moses.
And this must be one
of moses's children
from a different marriage.
You know who they are?
Two night crawlers
in search of manhood.
Manhood, huh?
Oh, such courage.
Such courtesy.
Hey!
Easy there, boy. Drop it.
Get the knife, shaddick!
Use the knife!
Use the knife!
Shaddick, get the knife!
What's the trouble here?
No trouble.
We're just on our way out.
Hold it.
Mr. Shaddick, you okay?
Yeah, in the pink.
Take off.
You sure you're okay?
Yeah, my friend and i,
we're fine. Thanks.
Who belongs to this?
That's mine.
Yours?
Definitely mine.
It's quite a weapon,
mr. Shaddick.
Be careful with it.
Give a holler
if we're needed.
Good night.
Good night.
Put this in your pocket,
and don't ever let me
see it again.
If i ever reach the point
where i have to cut
into another man's stomach,
i will have lived too long.
Where have you been?
You let some cat back you
up against a wall,
and you don't do
nothing about it?
Man, you ain't going
to live long enough.
And you
would have used it.
If i had to.
Which is perhaps the worst
thing about prejudice.
The haters turn the victims
into haters.
You line up the two teams,
and who could
tell them apart?
Come on. We go home.
Shaddick, it don't make
any difference,
but you ain't no chicken.
I'm not?
No, you're a tiger.
Tiger, huh?
Then why
is my heart beating
like it's trying
to come out of my body?
You're a tiger,
but you're an old tiger.
Ha ha.
Then the least
you could do
is help me down
the street,
you gangster.
Oh, my goodness,
look at the time.
It's past midnight.
Do you have a toothbrush?
Okay, so,
we'll go to bed now.
So, run along.
Herman!
This is for you.
Ooh, ooh.
Oh, look,
miss gloria ross.
Ah...
you and me --
mr. Shaddick --
to be my guests tomorrow.
This is an invitation
for you to swim
at the country club
swimming pool...
[sniffs]
reeking of perfume
and misplaced contrition.
You talking crazy again.
You want to go swimming?
Shall we accept?
Yeah.
Sure.
Now go to bed.
What did you do
before i came here?
What did i do?
Yeah. I mean,
you don't go fishing.
You don't go
to the movies.
You don't drink no soda.
You know, you're right.
This is the first movie
i've seen since myrna loy.
I used to love myrna loy.
And that chocolate soda --
you know, i'd forgotten
how good a soda taste.
So, at the risk
of leaning on you, herman,
it seems as though you have
opened up my life a little,
and at the further risk
of listening
to your 136th street
eloquent philosophy...
i'm grateful.
You grateful, huh?
I am.
Good night, shaddick.
[Laughing]
you know, benjy,
you give the world
fishing poles
and ice cream sodas.
Oh...
you'd have
so much brotherhood,
even god would smile.
Pete, come over here,
please.
Yes?
What are they
doing here?
Um... who?
Them.
Ooh. I don't know.
Well, find out.
Okay.
Excuse me. Sir?
Hi. I wasn't on duty
when --
when you came
in this morning.
Well, those things happen.
I'll let it go this time.
Look at me, shaddick --
the australian crawl.
Ah, yeah...
he's available for lessons
in the afternoon.
You can tell the members.
The pool is open
to members and guests.
Afraid so.
It's restricted.
Well, that's the way
it should be.
You can't have every tom, dick,
and harry running around.
No, absolutely.
Is there a problem?
Uh, no, i --
good.
Are you a guest?
Oh, yes. We are here
at the invitation
of miss gloria ross.
Oh, i see. Well,
thank you very much.
I was wondering if i might
have your name?
Uh, shaddick,
abel shaddick
and herman d. Washington.
Thanks.
Think nothing of it.
Herman, our enemies
are multiplying.
In the nighttime,
it's the hell's angels.
In the daylight,
it's society matrons --
from the bellicose
to the varicose.
[Laughs]
nice to see you, ma'am.
You're quite the little
johnny weissmuller,
aren't you?
And how does
the water feel?
You're one
of the slum children,
aren't you?
Oh, there's no need
to be offended, child.
What i meant was
i was simply trying
to identify you.
I am elated
that we can share some
of the benefits
of our club with you.
I am altogether delighted.
I'm going to do it
feet first,
but i ain't going to hold
my nose or nothing.
I'm going real deep,
and i am going to do
the australian crawl.
Isn't that just
the cutest thing?
And you --
mr. Shaddick, is it?
It think it is charming
what you are doing,
mr. Shaddick.
What am i doing?
Taking care
of that little boy.
I think it is an absolutely
marvelous gesture.
Well, i'm all heart.
It makes you
wonder sometimes
with all the riots
and violence.
There is no reason
on this earth
why we can't
get on together.
Of course, the problem is
this sort of thing
will never get
in the papers.
If some
mississippi policeman
hit one of them
with a chain,
well, that's big news.
But we are opening up
our facilities,
and that sort of thing
never gets mentioned.
Well, there's no doubt
about it.
You are the humanitarian
of all humanitarians.
You're being sarcastic?
Me, sarcastic,
when out of the goodness
of your heart
you let a child
jump off a diving board?
Believe me, lady,
i know how much
that takes out of you.
Did i say
i had a big heart?
Strike that --
you have a big heart.
Well, i have no intention
and letting the likes
of you --
hello, mrs. Parker.
Gloria.
Yes.
They are your guests?
They are, yeah.
Well, this gentleman
gets no honors
for civility.
Mrs. Parker --
please.
You go to the locker room
and change your clothes.
We're going to go
to the lake.
At the lake,
we can both swim
as well as fish,
and here there's
difficulty breathing,
and there is also a problem
with the pollution.
Telephone call for you,
miss ross --
long distance.
I'll be right there.
You don't need to leave,
mr. Shaddick.
No, on the contrary.
You've been very kind.
Thank you for the invitation.
Herman had a good time,
but obviously
we're crowding the lady.
You must
have better eyesight
than i do, mr. Shaddick.
I don't see any lady.
Thank you.
Yes?
Who?
I'm afr--
i'm afraid
i can't understand you.
You have to speak louder.
Who?
Mrs. Washington?
I see.
I'm truly so sorry. I...
do you want us
to tell the boy?
That's all right.
That's all right.
Mrs. Washington,
i-i'm so, so sorry.
I'm...
i'm truly sorry.
Hung up.
He's, uh,
he's changing his clothes
in the locker room
over there, so...
i'll get a glass
of water if i could.
Glass of water, yeah.
Oh, thank you very much.
Yeah, the kid's
been in the hot sun,
and i could use
a schluck myself.
See, the best thing is
just get out of here
as soon as possible
because somebody's going to
say something to him and --
me with my big mouth --
but you were very nice.
Mr. Shaddick...
i want
to thank you again.
Mr. -- Mr. Shaddick,
that call was
from herman's grandmother.
Oh.
Yeah?
Yeah, apparently, he had
a brother in vietnam.
Oh, you should hear
the kid talk
about that brother --
lawrence of arabia
and joe louis
all rolled into one.
He's dead, mr. Shaddick.
What?
The grandmother just
received the telegram.
He was killed on monday.
Oh... god.
Well, who's going
to tell him?
Well, the grandmother
suggested that we do it.
We do?
We do?
I don't know.
Well, it's easy.
You just stick a hole
in the little boy's heart
and watch him bleed.
What can i do,
mr. Shaddick?
What can any of us do?
Just tell him and pray...
pray that there's
some stuff in this kid
that he won't be destroyed.
Are you going
to tell him now?
No.
No, not here.
Yeah.
Mr. Shaddick, he's coming.
Thanks for letting me swim.
That's all right.
Are you sick?
No.
No, herman,
i'm not sick.
We going to the lake now?
Yeah. Why not?
We got to stop
by the delicatessen
and get the fishing poles.
Well, if that's
what you want.
You sure you ain't sick?
Oh, maybe just a little.
I'll see you both later.
Bye.
Bye, honey.
Miss ross looks
a little sick, too.
Gloria, my dear,
i don't mean to make
a thing of this.
This is hardly personal.
Isn't it?
But certain lines
have to be drawn.
I mean, to invite
that old man and that --
that old man
and that soon-to-be ravaged,
wounded little boy
are the only honest-to-god
human beings
within a radius of 100 miles
of this swimming pool.
And that, mrs. Parker,
is meant to be
extremely personal.
Herman...
herman?
Herman, i want
to tell you something.
It's something
very serious.
What?
Look at me, herman.
We got a call
from your grandma.
It was about
your brother bill,
and...
and something happened...
and your brother is dead.
[Thunder rumbling]
herman, can i come in?
Well, the bus doesn't leave
for about an hour,
so we got plenty of time.
You know the fish?
The enormous one?
You keep it.
Eat it or sell it.
I ain't going to need it.
Well, i thought i would
have it mounted for you
with your name in gold,
you know.
I don't want it.
I caught it for bill.
Herman, if i said
something to you,
would you listen?
Come here.
A long time ago --
25 years --
i received a telegram
in this very room,
and, you see,
telegrams don't change.
Wars change,
the enemies change,
but the words used
to tell the living
about the dead,
they don't change.
We regret to inform you
that your son,
second lieutenant
benjamin shaddick,
was killed in action
june 15, 1944,
on a bombing mission
over stuttgart, germany.
And i must have read
that telegram, oh...
over a hundred times.
It got so that the words,
they were just floating,
and you feel
like you feel...
you feel like
your life has ended,
that some vital part
of your body
has been stripped
and that you'll never --
well -- well,
you'll never smile...
laugh...
enjoy.
You feel the way
you must feel now...
that the sorrow
is just unbearable
and that the tears
will never end.
But you know, herman,
the tears do end.
Somehow, someway...
the crying does come
to an end.
One time...
a long time ago --
i was just
a little kid then --
i got roller skates, see?
And i start down the steps,
and i fall...
and, man,
it hurt real bad.
And bill come out
and he go down the steps,
and he pick me up
and say, "hermy...
hermy, don't you cry."
I don't cry, shaddick...
not me.
I ain't never
going to cry.
You are a very brave boy,
herman.
You really are
an incredibly brave boy.
So you stay here
and just finish your packing,
and i'll, uh, when it's time...
i'll call you when it's...
oh, herman...
let this old jew cry
for the both of us.
Shaddick?
Why you cry?
He nothing to you.
You never even know
my brother.
So why
are you crying, man?
I cry because i'm old.
I cry at the irony
of things.
I cry because
fine young men die
and old men just go on.
I thought i'd drive herman
to new york, mr. Shaddick.
Well, that's up to him.
I mean,
the weather is so bad.
It is.
It's raining real hard.
I don't want you
to be alone, okay?
I'll drive you,
all right?
Is that all right
with you?
Yeah.
Good.
It's all right.
Herman,
i'm truly sorry, honey.
Herman...
do you want me
to drive in with you?
No.
You stay here.
Goodbye.
I just wanted
to say something.
Don't you cry no more,
understand?
We're going to make out.
You and me,
we're going to make out.
And when you come back,
we're going to go fishing.
I'll come back.
I'm really going
to come back.
Benjy...
[telephone rings]
[ring]
yes. What?
A collect call.
A collect call from who?
I shouldn't ask.
Mr. Banner.
All right, i'll take it.
Hello, stanley.
What?
Oh, i'm sorry
that thing blew up.
Yeah, yeah,
you can come back.
Yes, you can come home
and stay as long as you want.
No, not there.
That space is reserved
for herman.
That's right,
herman washington.
He's a friend of mine,
a very close
and personal friend,
and that room
will be saved for him.
Upstairs.
Upstairs, stanley.
You can
have the room upstairs.
Think nothing of it.
Goodbye.
So, benjy...
the dead come in all colors,
but you,
you already knew that.
Unfortunately,
we are still learning.
Oh, look how it's raining.
It's raining real hard, benj.
This is a real summer storm,
and this, i guess,
will end the heat.
Yeah, end the heat
and cleanse the earth.
God, how we need it.