God Bless the Child (1988) - full transcript
Single mother, Theresa Johnson, becomes homeless, loses her job and tries to survive with her young daughter, Hillary, through charities and public shelters.
( children chattering
and laughing )
Look what I got for you.
Come on,
have a piece of bread.
Come on.
Come on,
little squirrel.
Come on.
You don't have to
be afraid.
- Nobody's gonna hurt you.
- Woman: When I was a kid,
sometimes we had them
for supper
with potatoes and carrots.
Well, no wonder
he won't come down.
Come on, honey.
We have to go see a lady.
I hope she's home.
Some people like you
to call first.
( doorbell rings )
- Mrs. Prentice.
- Yes?
Do you remember me?
Theresa Johnson.
I used to be on your
housekeeping crew
when I worked afternoons.
Oh, yes, Theresa.
How are you?
Are you still working
at the hotel?
Yes, ma'am,
only now I'm on day shift,
and this is my daughter,
Hillary.
What a pretty girl.
Well, come in, please.
I'm being put out
of my place.
They're tearing down
the whole building,
putting up a convention center
or something.
I'm not real sure.
We have to be out
by this weekend.
Oh, dear.
- I've been looking
at apartments.
- Uh-huh.
They all want too much.
Well, what about
your husband?
Did you ever hear
from him?
Hillary got a postcard
from Houston--
a picture of the Astrodome.
That was nine months ago.
I don't think
we'll be seeing him again.
Anyway, I'm still looking
at places,
but, just in case,
I was wondering if me
and Hillary could stay with you
for a little while.
You haven't any relatives,
any friends?
Just my daughter.
All we'd need is a couch
to sleep on,
just till I find something
I could afford.
Well, I'd have to ask
my husband.
Thank you.
Mommy, what's this?
It's a blender.
People use it to make
their own juice.
What's that?
It's a crock pot.
You've seen them on TV.
What about this?
Come here, hon.
It smells nice in here, huh?
You see, the thing is,
it hasn't been that long
since our own kids moved out.
This is the first time we've
had the house to ourselves.
You can see for yourself
how small it is.
I really wish we could help,
but it's...
Sweetheart, would you like
to take some of those with you?
Yeah? Okay.
Here, I tell you what.
We'll bundle them all up
in a napkin, okay? Yeah.
I think I'm gonna save
these for breakfast tomorrow.
I think that's a good idea.
- Hey. You getting up?
- Mm-hmm.
Don't forget you got
to wash my clothes today.
Put 'em in a bag.
I'll see if I can do 'em
at work.
You be good now
and listen to your teacher.
I will.
Tired before you start.
Gonna make for a long day.
I've been looking
at apartments all weekend.
I got to look
at more tonight.
They all want first month's rent
and a deposit on top of that.
We're just living
pay to pay.
I got to find something soon,
though.
Maybe they'll let me
have some time off to look.
Child, you don't even
want to let 'em know
you got problems.
They got 50 Puerto Ricans
and half of Saigon
ready to jump in your place.
They got no time
for your headaches.
Well...
could one of you
put us up for a few weeks?
Just till I can save up
some money?
I got five children of my own
in a 2-bedroom apartment.
I just don't have the space.
The last thing I need is you
stretched out on my sofa.
My husband looking at you
when he go to bed,
when he get up
in the morning.
Best to avoid
those kind of situations.
( both laughing )
So what do you do
when you're being
put outdoors?
You got no money,
you don't know anybody?
Where do you go?
Maybe it's time
to go back home.
My daddy died.
My mom is on a pension.
She's living in a trailer
with my two sisters.
She got diabetes real bad.
She can't help me.
I stayed in
a rooming house once.
Awful place.
I'd sooner sleep
in the woods.
Well, there's always
the shelters.
Our church got one.
Give you
a warm place to stay
until you get back
on your feet.
I don't know.
Sleeping with all those
strangers.
You have any furniture?
Just some pots and pans
and a small TV.
The rest belongs
to the landlord.
Pack it up
in a couple of boxes.
All the stuff
you can't carry with you,
you can keep it with me
until you get an address.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
You're gonna be needing
to travel light.
( television chatter )
Woman:
She said he was spending
too much time
at the hospital.
She was worried about him.
Man: You didn't tell her
anything, did you?
Woman: Of course not.
What could I tell her?
That he was trying to save
the life of a son
she doesn't know he has?
Man: Look, Paul
isn't even sure that...
Announcer:
...storms batter Florida Keys
as a result
of hurricane Hector
making its way
up toward the Gulf.
Rain and winds
of up to 100 miles per hour
caused structural damage
to two resorts
and forced the closure
of all others in the area.
On the mainland, volunteers
worked throughout the night
with sandbags and shovels
to protect the expensive
beachfront properties
threatened by tides more
than 10 feet above normal.
The weather service
predicts the hurricane
will begin to lose its--
Hi.
I was sleepy.
I washed all your clothes.
They're in my room.
Okay.
I looked all over.
I couldn't find us
an apartment.
Why not? Everybody else
has someplace to live.
Please don't be mad at me.
Are you
and Mary Beth ready?
Are we gonna go
to the church now?
Yeah, but first...
we're gonna
do something special.
Come on.
- Can I help you?
- Yes.
- We're looking
for a place to stay.
- For tonight?
For a couple of nights.
For as long as you'll
let us.
Miss, you didn't think
there'd be a bed
just waiting for you,
did you?
Those beds
are very precious.
People start lining up
for them at 4:00.
Oh.
Most of the time,
there's a waiting list.
I didn't know that.
Rosalie Davis
hasn't shown up.
It's 20 minutes
past curfew.
We can let you have
her space.
You're a very lucky
young woman.
- Thank you.
- There's a two-week limit.
The shelter is for women
and children only.
There's no smoking,
no alcoholic beverages,
no weapons, and you're
responsible for your own meals.
And we have a very
strict curfew.
You must be in by 7:00
at night
and out by 7:00 in the morning
with all your belongings.
That's no problem.
I have to get
my daughter to school
and then I have to be
at work at 8:00, so...
You have a job?
Mm-hmm.
30 hours a week,
cleaning rooms.
Then you have money.
These beds are for people
who have no place else to go.
You can get a room
of your own.
( sighs )
If you make me go
to a hotel,
I'll be back in two weeks,
and I won't have anything.
I'm just trying to
get a little bit ahead.
I'm trying
to find us a home.
You want to see
Carrie downstairs.
She's wearing a red sweater.
She'll show you
where your bed is.
Thank you very much.
Do you have your money
on you?
- Yes.
- Keep it close to you.
Don't let anybody see it.
Okay.
Good night.
Good night.
I had to take two buses
all the way across town,
an hour and a half
each way.
Man said he had
a job to talk about.
- He never even showed up.
- I'm sorry, Mrs. Davis.
but your bed has been
reassigned.
You gave it away?
You gave away my bed?
You know the rules
on curfew.
I don't care about
your damn curfew.
Where am I supposed to sleep?
Mrs. Davis,
this is a church.
What kind of church throws
women out into the street?
You people got not right.
That was my bed.
That bed was mine!
( toilet flushes )
Excuse me,
they said you'd show me
where my bed is.
( baby cooing,
loud snoring )
What's wrong?
I can't sleep.
There's too many people.
Shh.
( coughing )
* All through the night
* All through the night
* All little ones
* Are sleeping
* God bless babes
* And beasts and birds
* All small things
* That have no words
* All through the night
* All through the night
* All little ones
* Are sleeping
Hi.
Hi.
Would you like an apple?
Help yourself.
You didn't sleep here
last night.
No, I only do that a couple
of nights of the week.
- Last night I stayed home.
- You have a house?
Mm-hmm, in Willow Brook
about six miles from here.
My mom still hasn't
found us a place to live.
Maybe we can come
stay with you?
Oh, I wish you could,
sweetheart.
I wish I could open up
a big hotel
and take in every kid that
doesn't have a home.
But I can't.
I'm sorry.
You know what would make
your mom real happy?
If you were to take
this washcloth
and go to the bathroom
and get yourself all cleaned
up before she got here, hmm?
- Thanks for the apple.
- You're welcome.
- Good evening.
- Hi.
Where's Mary Beth?
She likes to eat with me.
She's in my suitcase.
I'll take her out later.
Cheap sandwiches.
When are we gonna have
something else?
Hillary, I've had a really
hard day today,
and the last thing I need
is your complaining, okay?
Look over there.
Woman:
Poor soul.
I spent all morning
talking to the welfare lady.
She's probably having a better
conversation than I did.
They cut off my food stamps.
Said I needed an address
to prove I was a resident.
I said, "How can I give you
an address
when I ain't got a home?"
They said, "You got have
a stove to cook on."
I said, "I may not have a stove,
but I still got a stomach.
Me and my boy
still got to eat."
Two hours of that,
and I was ready
to talk to a light bulb.
Hey, you!
Get away from those kids.
I guess when you're living
in a shelter,
you can't be too fussy
about who your neighbors are.
I never figured
it'd be this expensive.
Buying all your meals out,
taking two or three buses
to get anywhere,
using payphones
all the time.
You can't keep any money
in your pocket.
I know.
Was that your husband
out by the truck?
Ed. We used to have a farm.
The bank's got it now.
We came here trying to get
set up again.
It's been hard though,
especially for Kenny.
One day he's got a home
and friends,
his own way of life,
next day, nothing.
It's hard for him
to understand that.
Yeah.
And your husband
he sleeps in the truck?
Sometimes.
Sometimes he just walks
the streets.
I can't tell you
how much that scares me.
During the day though,
Ed and I,
we go looking for work.
Kenny, he just goes
to the park,
sits there by himself
thinking and brooding.
I'm not sure what
I'm gonna do about Hillary.
I'm supposed to go to work
on Saturday,
usually she's in school.
Kenny could watch her.
- I didn't mean that.
- No, really.
He's very good
with children.
He's very responsible.
If he had someone else
to take care of,
it would help take his mind
off his own troubles.
We used to have
a lot of animals,
chickens and rabbits
and a pig that won prizes.
There was a creek
in the backyard,
woods to play in.
Even had my own treehouse.
Now I don't even have
a house at all.
We used to have an apartment,
but they made us move out.
My mother used to give stuff
to the poor.
Now we are poor.
I don't know
how that happened.
You ran out of money.
We sit around in the back
of the truck,
and people look at us
like we're bums,
like we're not as good
as they are.
I'm not gonna
let this happen to me.
When I grow up,
I'm gonna get a good job.
I'm not gonna
let this happen to me.
We better go.
It's getting late.
- Mrs. Johnson?
- There's no hot water left.
Mrs. Johnson, the ladies
upstairs asked me
to remind you that you only
have three days left here.
Your bed will be
reassigned on Sunday.
Okay, thank you.
Where you're staying right now,
this here's the Hilton.
Clean sheets,
room to move around,
space for the kids to play.
You ain't gonna find
anything better than this.
Salvation Army gives you
your own room.
But they only got 15 of them.
Good luck getting one.
Mm-hmm.
Now the Lenox house
ain't too bad.
That's a neighborhood
shelter on Broxton.
They give you five nights.
But don't just show up
at the last minute,
You got to go down there
round about 3:30, 4:00,
get your name on the list.
I don't get off work
till 5:00.
Those beds go fast.
The Harvest mission,
that's the last place
you want to go.
They give out beds
one at a time,
and they give them out
to anybody.
- Man: Hey, hey,
look what I got here.
- Who's that?
Woman:
Outreach worker.
If you need some eyeglasses
or something,
if you can't figure out
your welfare forms,
he'll help you out.
He's all right.
Hey, little lady.
What you got there?
Let's see, looks to me
like maybe a space capsule
getting ready
to go to the moon?
- Nope, it's a turtle.
- Oh.
Where did you get those?
I got these
in New Orleans.
They have a big parade there,
and people
in beautiful costumes
throw these out to the crowd.
- They're pretty.
- Thank you.
Theresa: Hillary.
Look what he's wearing
on his neck.
I go to Mardis Gras
every year,
and I like to bring these
back for the children.
Is is okay to give her one?
Sure. It's okay.
The little blue one, baby.
Here you go. Here you go.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I'm gonna go show Kenny.
I'm Calvin Reed.
I'm an outreach worker
for a group of churches.
They pay me to help people.
Is there anything
I can do for you?
Can you find me an apartment
for $225 a month?
Those are pretty hard
to come by...
- I know.
- But every now and then
one of them pops up.
They won't be anything
too luxurious, now.
Four walls and a roof
sound just about right.
- And your name is?
- Theresa...
- Johnson.
- Okay, Miss Johnson,
I'll keep my eyes open.
Thank you.
- Good night.
- Good night.
( school bell rings )
What's the matter?
Why did you come to school?
I lost my job.
I left early yesterday
to sign up for another shelter
and they found out.
When I came in today,
they said I was fired.
I can't do anything right.
I can't keep a job.
I can't keep a husband.
Mom, it's okay.
Don't cry.
It's not okay, sweetie.
What are we gonna do?
Please, Mommy, don't cry.
- It's okay.
- What are we gonna do?
Oh, sweetheart,
what are we gonna do?
What are we gonna do today?
After the clothes are done,
maybe we'll go over
to the park.
The park?
We always go to the park.
Why can't we go
somewhere else?
You never took me
to the zoo?
That costs money.
We're gonna have to watch
our pennies for a little while.
Well, tomorrow's school.
We gotta catch the bus.
I think we're gonna let you
miss school for a little bit.
But I like school.
All my friends are at school.
That's the only place
I have fun!
- I don't want to go with you!
- Hillary!
I'm not sure where we're gonna
be staying at tonight,
when they want us in,
when they want us out,
how we're gonna get back
and forth,
what buses we have to take,
let alone how you're gonna
get to school.
It's just too much for me
to figure out.
But I'm doing good in school.
And you can go back
when we find a place.
But I'll be behind everybody,
and everybody
will make fun of me.
Come here.
When I was a little girl,
I had to miss
a lot of school, too.
It ain't so bad.
You'll catch up.
Come here.
I hope we find
a place soon.
I don't like
living like this.
I'm Theresa Johnson.
I signed up for a bed
a few days ago.
Oh, yes, Mrs. Johnson.
You know we're co-ed here.
Men on the first floor,
women on the second.
- No men are allowed upstairs.
- I understand.
You're bed's up that way.
- Far room on the left.
- Thank you.
Give me the phone.
I said, give me the phone!
Excuse me,
could you hang on a minute?
What the hell
is your problem?
Can't you see
I'm on the phone?
( both shouting )
- I'll kill you!
- I swear to God!
( door slams )
Does that bed
belong to anybody?
Is this okay with you?
Come on, baby.
You do the pillow, okay.
Do you have
any savings accounts,
checking accounts, stocks,
bonds, jewelry,
or other items
of cash value?
No.
Have you been looking
for another job?
Yes, ma'am,
I've been looking all week.
And how's that going?
It goes fine up until
they ask me my address.
Nobody wants to hire you
if you're moving
every two weeks,
if they're not sure
they can get a hold of you.
Some of the shelters
are all the way across town
and I'd get there too late
to make curfew.
I can't work nights,
afternoons or weekends
because there's no place
for me to leave Hillary
except school.
I can't leave her
in a shelter all by herself.
It's like I can't get a job
unless I have a place,
and I can't get a place
unless I have a job.
I need to ask you a few
questions about your husband.
We came out here together
with Hillary.
He was looking
for factory work,
something better than
we had back home.
He'd get jobs
off and on,
but then it just
it all kind of dried up.
That's when he left.
Are you divorced?
Not that I know of.
So it's a case of desertion.
Yes.
Do you have a boyfriend,
or is there any other man
in your life right now?
No.
Is there likely to be
in the near future?
I don't think so.
Well, you are required
to notify this office
should that
situation change.
Okay, it would seem
you're eligible for AFDC.
How much?
With one child,
about $240 a month.
I'll put your papers
through this afternoon,
and we should have a check
ready for you
in about four weeks.
Four weeks?
Miss, I got barely
a $100 in my pocket.
How are we supposed
to get by for four weeks?
The Salvation Army,
church kitchens.
I'm sorry.
Man: Number 63.
Number 63.
Is there anything else?
I'm still hungry.
We'll go over to St. Paul's
later on.
They're gonna be
serving spaghetti.
- When?
- Just a couple of hours.
Why don't you throw
those away?
Excuse me, miss
is there a problem?
What?
You've been sitting on
this bench for an hour.
- Are you waiting for a bus?
- No, I'm just sitting here,
resting a little.
Man: Well, this isn't a place
to be hanging around
with your daughter.
Maybe you should go over
to the park or playground.
Yes, sir.
See the guy
with the clipboard, ma'am.
He'll set you up.
I've got a 7-year-old girl.
We've been walking all day
and we can't go no further.
We used up our time at
most of the other shelters.
We're real tired,
and we need a place to sleep.
See the guy
with the clipboard.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Woman on television:
$1,150.
Bob Barker: $1,150.
Lisa, what's your bid?
- $1,201.
- $1,201.
- ( buzzer buzzes )
- You all overbid.
The lowest bid is $1,050.
Go lower than $1,050.
- ( audience shouting )
- Woman: $895.
Thank you.
Barker:
$895. Arthur?
- $900.
- $900.
- $901.
- $901. Lisa?
- $850.
- $850.
( cheers and applause )
- Hillary.
- Actual retail price,
$1,000.
- ( buzzer buzzes )
- You all overbid.
Don't you ever
walk away from me again.
- I was just watching TV.
- Until I tell you
different,
you stay next to me
every minute. Okay.
It's okay.
It's just for tonight.
I'll find us
a better place tomorrow.
I'll sit up tonight.
You can sleep on my lap.
Come here, baby.
Come up here, sweetie.
Right up here.
That a girl.
Good night.
I hate the night,
'cause you got to lay down
in a place like this.
I hate the day,
'cause you got
to keep on moving,
scrounging for
a little bit of food.
Always hungry,
always tired.
God forgive me.
I hate being alive.
Woman: Wake up, you all!
Wake up!
Wake up, you all. Wake up.
You got to go.
Wake up, you all!
Got to go!
Wake up! Come on, you all!
Wake up!
Wake up!
Wake up, darling!
Wake up. Wake up.
Wake up.
Wake up, darling.
Wake up, darling, wake up.
Wake up! Come on, you all.
Get up.
Get up, get up. Now, go.
Come on, you all.
- Come on.
- That woman stole my shoes.
Well, what did you take
them off for?
- She had shoes of her own.
- And now she's got yours
and she'll probably
be selling them for food
because food is what
it's all about, darling.
I can't go around
with no shoes.
Look, there's a thrift shop
about four blocks
over on Jefferson.
You can get a pair
of shoes there for $3.00.
Wake up, you all!
Get up, get up!
Come on, you all.
Get up.
Get up. Got to go.
Was it good?
Mm-hmm. Just like
you used to make,
except yours is better.
It's stopped raining.
Thank you.
We should go now.
You go use the bathroom.
It's right back there.
I'll pay the bill
and I'll meet you outside.
Mommy?
You're not gonna leave me,
are you?
Hillary, why would you
even ask that?
Because things
got bad before, Daddy left.
Baby, I'd never leave you.
You're what keeps me going
from day to day,
the one and only thing
that makes me smile.
If I ever lost you,
I don't know what I'd do.
I love you, okay?
- Okay?
- Okay.
Okay. Go back
and do your business
and wash your hands,
and I'll meet you
right up front.
Yes? Okay.
Move away from the door,
please!
There is no more room here!
( crowd shouting )
You'll have to clear
off the stairway!
All the downtown
shelters are full!
You'll have to find a bed
on your own!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
You all will have to go!
I'm sorry!
Put this on.
You warm enough? Yeah?
Come here, baby.
Hillary.
I'm sorry.
I wish I was smarter.
I wish I knew how
to take care of you better.
It's okay, I don't mind.
- Good night, baby.
- Good night, Mommy.
You don't want any more?
( sirens wailing )
Calvin:
I see you still got my beads.
Hey, how you doing?
I'm Calvin Reed?
Don't you remember me,
the outreach worker?
Hi.
Calvin: I've been looking
all over for you.
I think I've found
you a place.
All my money's gone.
I don't have a cent.
Ah, don't worry about that.
Come on, let's go
take a look at it.
Come on.
The water pressure's
not too good
and the ceiling leaks,
and you're probably gonna have
to deal with some roaches.
- It's better than a doorway.
- Yeah, that's right.
That's right. It's definitely
better than a doorway.
This is the bedroom.
I think I can get you
a blanket and some
sheets for that.
I can get you a couch
for this room over here.
Maybe even a end table
and a lamp.
- How much is the rent?
- $180 a month, no deposit.
I talked to the landlord.
He said he'll wait
for your AFDC check,
take the first
month's rent out of that.
That only leaves me
$60 a month.
Well, plus food stamps.
That ought to give you
another $100 or so.
I'll help you
with the applications.
Oh, right over
here's the kitchen.
Now believe it or not,
this old refrigerator
works pretty good.
I don't know what
we're gonna do about a stove.
A lady I used to
work with
is holding some
things of mine.
- I got a hotplate.
- Well, there you go.
There you go.
See how sometimes things
just kinda fall into place?
Here, just write down
your friend's name and address,
and I'll run over in my van
and pick up
that stuff for you.
I'll bring you a couple
boxes of food
to get you started.
My outreach center's
just up the street.
I work it out of my house.
So if you find yourself
in trouble,
just stop on by.
I might be able
to help you out.
- Why are you doing this?
- That's my job.
Why are you
doing this for me?
Well, most people don't
understand about poverty.
Poverty's like a disease.
It grabs a hold of you,
don't let go.
It just keeps on
beating you down.
You want to break free
of it so bad,
but you don't know how,
and before too long,
it just crushes all the hope
out of you.
Yeah, I've gotten so I can
look in people's eyes
and tell who's given up
and who's still trying.
You want to work.
You're not an alcoholic.
You're not a dope addict.
You got a chance to make it.
- I'll bring the stuff
back in an hour.
- Okay.
Mr. Reed?
Thank you.
You're welcome,
Miss Johnson.
Are you okay out there?
There's another little girl
over there.
- Can I go play with her?
- Come on.
Hi.
I'm Theresa Johnson.
I moved in to that house
right back there.
Hi, I'm Sharee.
My daughter was wondering
if she could play
with your daughter.
Sure.
We've been
moving around a lot.
She hadn't had much of a chance
to make any friends.
What are you doing?
Are you drawing something?
What's your name?
Her name's Keisha.
What's yours?
Hillary.
I know a song.
* Farmer in the dell
Want me to teach it
to you?
Here, put these in her hair.
She likes these.
Andre, Caesar,
if you rip those pants,
I'm gonna rip your hind end!
I'll put one here
and one here.
Mommy, I look pretty
like the ladies on TV!
That's right, baby,
you look real pretty.
- Do more. Put more in.
- Okay.
Hey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How you doing?
- Okay.
If you keep doing that
baby like that,
she gonna puke
all over the floor,
and I ain't cleaning it up.
Oh, go get grandma.
Bad grandma.
- Go spank her.
- Don't teach her that.
- How was school today?
- Great.
I got an 82
on my book report.
- An 82?
- Yeah.
Did you hear that?
Your brother got a 82
on his schoolwork!
Yeah, I could
have done better,
but my spelling
wasn't too good.
When am I gonna
get a dictionary?
When I get a job.
Oh, yeah,
and when I grow wings,
I'm gonna fly to Tahiti
and drink coconut milk.
You don't even know
where Tahiti is.
They got a dictionary
at the library.
You can study there.
I guess you're right.
Is the toilet still broke?
Yeah, uh, use that bucket
over there by the sink
to flush it with.
Okay.
Your brother's graduating
in a few weeks.
- He's graduating mid-term?
- Yeah.
And I want you to talk
to your husband,
see can he spare
a few dollars.
Richard's gonna need
some new clothes.
Mama, you think Thomas
has money he don't need?
Richard's a proud boy.
If he's got to sit through
that graduation
in those same old rags,
everybody else
in a new coat and tie,
he just won't go.
I didn't go to
my eighth grade graduation.
And you quit school
two years later.
That's what happens
when you can't keep up.
You give up.
Now your brother's
a bright boy.
He's got a good head
on his shoulders.
He's got a chance
to make it out of here.
I don't want him having
any excuses to quit.
Thomas is out in his car
waiting for you.
Mama, did you wash
my blue blouse?
It's hanging out there
on the line, Tracy.
Girl:
Matthew, we're going.
- Chandra,
- Mm?
Don't forget to ask Thomas.
Come on, Matthew.
Richard!
Bobby?
You okay?
My dad came home drinking
and my mom made me
get out of the house.
Could I stay
with you tonight?
Was he hitting her?
He was yelling.
Wine makes him crazy.
You can't tell
what he's gonna do.
Last time he put
her face through a window
and she was all cut up
and bleeding.
Man, you guys
should just leave.
I mean, get away.
Sometimes I wish I was a cop.
Then I could stop him.
Boy, I'd shoot him,
but I wouldn't kill him,
just wound him
in the arm or the leg
just to stop him.
Look, um, come by
after supper.
I'll leave my window open
for you.
- Thanks, man.
- I'll see you later.
How is it?
Mmm, Mary Beth
likes it, too.
She does?
Well, we'll give her more.
It's nice having
a home again, huh?
Am I gonna go back
to school now?
I talked to Mr. Reed
and he said that the new term
will start in a few weeks.
We'll get you in then.
Are you gonna get a job?
As soon as you start school.
I'm tired.
These last couple of months
have worn me down.
I'd like to rest a little,
take a little time
to settle in,
and then I'll start
looking for a job,
something that pays
decent money,
lets me set
a little aside.
Maybe then we can get us
some nice things.
Bicycle for you, hmm?
And new clothes for me.
Something I'd look good in.
Maybe somebody
will ask me out...
to a movie or to dinner.
Who?
Sweetheart.
Your daddy left us, honey.
And he's not coming back,
and I don't want to go
through this life alone.
Eat your vegetables.
Make sure Mary Beth
eats hers, too.
Okay, today, we're
going to do patty-cake.
Put your hands up like this.
Now I'm gonna pat 'em.
* Pat-a-cake,
pat-a-cake *
No.
Keep your hands up.
Ready?
* Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
baker's man *
* Roll 'em up, roll 'em up
* Put 'em in a pan
* Bake me a cake
as fast as you can *
* Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
baker's man *
- * Bake me a cake...
- Mama, me and Bob
are gonna go scrapping over
on the Delaware.
Okay, but watch yourself.
People drive crazy over there.
Richard:
Yeah.
- I had this dream
last night.
- Yeah?
I was living on this farm,
I had lots of space,
lots of fresh air,
fresh vegetables
anytime you wanted
to eat 'em.
- A farmer?
- Yeah!
And I had my own horse,
this big gray one.
We were riding around
all over. It was great.
No, man, a singer.
That's what I dream
about being,
like Prince
or Freddie Jackson.
- You?
- Yeah.
Get to wear mean-looking
clothes,
ride around
in a big limousine,
girls screaming at you.
The first thing I'd do
is buy my mama a big mansion.
Um, Bob, is your mom okay?
I mean,
did your dad hurt her?
He cut her lip,
but nothing too bad.
Hey, look at that.
Someday.
Someday, I'd like to work
in a place like that.
Come on, man, there's still
a couple more blocks.
Theresa:
It was this big,
eating through my bread
just as bold as you please
in my cupboard.
I told Hillary not
to go in them anymore.
The best thing to do
is keep all your food
in the refrigerator.
Can't we do something?
Can't we tell the landlord?
Well, with these houses,
everybody's gotta put up
with something.
I mean, some people
don't have water.
Some people
don't have electricity.
Just about everybody
got rats.
They ate through everything--
the bread,
the rice, the macaroni.
All we got left
is a few cans of vegetables
I can't give you
much this time.
We're coming into
the fourth week.
Fourth week?
Food stamps only
last about three weeks.
Now getting through
that fourth week,
that's the killer.
People live on cornbread
and ketchup.
Maybe a cup of coffee
and one egg a day.
Maybe a box of oatmeal
for a whole week.
And when that runs out,
they come to me.
Seems like it's getting worse
every month.
Whatever you can give me.
Let's see what I can do.
Announcer: If ratified,
the treaty would eliminate
more than 1,000
intermediate-range missiles.
If they gave me what it costs
to build just one of those,
I could feed more people
than that missile could kill.
I'm sorry, Hillary,
but your mama
should be here soon, okay?
( knock on door )
I'm sorry,
Mrs. Watkins. Hi.
I wasn't expecting
to be so long.
- We got to go,
so say bye-bye.
- Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Caesar, you got
food on your own plate.
Leave Keisha's supper alone.
Man on TV: You know,
a daughter's wedding
is a joyous day
for a man.
So as that momentous day
draws even closer,
I'd like to make a toast
to the bride and groom.
To Alissa and Alex,
may their union
bring happiness
and good fortune
to us all.
All:
To Alissa and Alex.
I'm going out
for a little while.
I'll be back by 11:00.
You going to see Curtis?
Don't tell Mom, okay?
I should tell Mom.
I should tell the police.
That boy's too old for you.
- Can I tell you something?
- What?
Curtis has been pressing me.
He wants to have sex with me.
You make sure that boy
keeps his pants on.
You tell him to keep
his business to himself.
But he's so handsome,
and he's not poor.
He could be
with anybody he wants.
And what if he gives you
a baby?
Maybe we'll get married.
Did he tell you that?
I could always get on welfare.
Girl,
what is wrong with you?
Don't you see
how it is around here?
You got your eyes closed?
That welfare is a trap.
It gives you enough
to get by,
but not enough to get out.
Once you're on it,
you never get off.
You still got your babies.
You got somebody
to love you.
Yeah, and when you hear them
crying at night,
when they look up
at you and say,
"Mama, I'm hungry,"
and you can't feed 'em,
that love
will tear you apart.
And what you gonna do
if you have a baby like Keisha?
You know that child
ain't right,
and there ain't a thing
I can do to help her.
Curtis pays attention to me.
He makes me feel special.
Then hold his hand.
Go for a walk
and look at the stars.
But you don't have
to be giving him no sex.
It's all I got to give him.
I just don't know.
Mama, Mama,
the check is here!
Mama, the check is here!
Okay, okay, come on.
Thank you.
My AFDC check.
Don't forget you got
to get soap,
toothpaste,
and toilet paper.
I know, honey.
I know.
- Mama, I want a baseball.
- Mom, I want a GI Joe.
This is our welfare check.
I didn't hit no lottery.
Mama, you said you'd get
me some makeup.
Maybe next month, Tracy.
We got to try to hold on
to some of this
for your brother's
graduation clothes.
Richard, your father's here.
Okay.
Man:
Hey, Richard.
Look, I'm going over
to Jefferson Street
to watch some boxing.
You want to come?
Let me tell you something.
Trading punches,
that's all they was doing.
Trading punches.
That wasn't boxing.
- That was ugly.
- It sure was.
- Hey, you want to get
something to eat?
- Yeah, sounds good.
- Let's go down
this way here.
- All right.
Let me tell you something.
Now when I fought,
whether it was in the gym
or in the streets, man,
I was smooth.
See, I knew how to move, man,
and I had this right,
this right
that came out of nowhere.
It came out the sky.
Bam!
Raymond Watkins said hello.
Hey, I'm surprised you
ain't put the gloves on.
You seem to be pretty quick.
I've been busy with school.
- I got two As
on my last report card.
- That's good.
That's real good, man.
My graduation's next week.
You think you can come?
They probably wouldn't
even let me in the school.
Me and school ain't never
got along too good.
Ah, they'd let you in.
- So you got two As, huh?
- Yeah, yesterday.
That's good.
That's real good.
I had a buddy of mine
who used to get As
all the time.
His name was, uh,
Rainbow Bennett.
Yeah, Rainbow Bennett.
Yeah, ended up on the corner
like the rest of us.
Started messing with
them needles.
Took himself right out
of the picture.
You see sometimes,
being smart can hurt you.
You know what I mean?
It lets you see
how bad things are.
Oh, look, I ain't gonna
be fooling with no drugs.
- Good.
- I got plans for my future.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm gonna finish school.
I'm gonna get a good job,
and I ain't gonna be
hanging on the corner.
- I'm gonna be somebody.
- You talking about me?
I'm talking about
getting out of here.
( scoffs )
Let me tell you something.
I took every job anybody
ever offered me--
factory work, hauling,
painting houses.
Hey, look, just 'cause
you want to be somebody,
don't mean somebody gonna let
you.
Your mother gets a check
right now 'cause I'm not there.
I am worth more than her gone
than I am being in the house.
Do you know what
that does to a man, huh?
But you got two As,
so you gonna beat all that.
Look, I ain't gonna be poor
for the rest of my life, okay?
I'm gonna fight
till I get out of here.
You must be
a pretty tough little kid
'cause you're gonna
fight the streets.
You're gonna fight the man.
You're gonna fight history.
You come back
and see me in 10 years,
let me see me how much fight
you got left in you.
Look, I'm not hungry anymore.
Can I go home now?
Hey, the car's back
that way.
( no audible dialogue )
Hillary:
Mommy! Mommy!
Get 'em off me, Mommy!
Mommy!
( moans )
Get away!
Mommy! Mommy!
Mommy! Mommy!
Get away from her!
Get away from her!
- Get away!
- Mom!
- Get off of her!
- Mommy!
You're okay, baby.
You're okay.
You're okay
because they're gone.
They're all gone.
They're gone, honey.
Did they bite you?
Did you feel them
bite you, honey?
I don't see any marks.
Look at me.
I don't see any marks.
You're okay. You're okay.
Your mommy's got you.
Your mommy's got you.
- ( sirens )
- Richard.
Richard, there's an ambulance
down by Bobby's house.
- What?
- ( siren )
( chattering )
( chatter continues )
What are you doing here?
I pay the rent.
This is my place.
Let's go, man.
Woman:
Bobby! Bobby!
( woman sobs )
Oh, Bobby, no!
Let me sit with him.
( continues sobbing )
Let me go!
( siren )
Bobby.
They were all around her.
The biggest rats I ever seen.
They weren't afraid
of the light.
They weren't afraid
of Hillary.
They weren't afraid of me.
I had to go after them
with a broom.
Living in this neighborhood,
every evening brings
a new nightmare.
I want to talk
to that landlord.
I want him to do something.
I hardly spoke to him.
He says the house comes as is.
His position is
if you don't like it,
- you don't have to stay there.
- Well, that ain't right.
Can't we do something?
Can we tell somebody?
If you want,
you can report him
to the public health
department.
Okay, then.
Yeah,
that's what I want to do.
That could bring even bigger
problems, Mrs. Johnson.
You don't want
your landlord coming--
There were rats crawling
on my little girl.
All right. All right.
I'll get the number.
We can call from here.
Thank you.
Are you all right?
You look tired.
We lost one of our children
last night.
A little boy,
Bobby Gifford.
Oh, God.
His parents were having
an argument.
He stepped in between them.
I'm sorry.
People die
in these neighborhoods.
They-- they die from cold.
They die from hunger.
They die from...
rage and violence.
Oh, but when a child dies...
that's when I can't sleep.
Here's the number.
Let's see if they're in.
( knock on door )
Are you okay?
I got a letter from
the power company today.
I've been holding back
a little bit on
the bills each month
trying to save some money.
Now they say I got
to pay the whole thing
or they're going
to cut the lights off.
I'm not going to
be able to get you
your graduation clothes.
It's okay.
But I'm thinking about
talking to Ms. Marshall,
that lady I used to sew for.
- She got a boy--
- Mama, don't do that.
I'm sorry, baby.
When's this is all
gonna change?
What do I have to do?
You got to stay in school.
You got to study hard.
I do that already...
and it doesn't seem
to make any difference
because every day's
the same.
I wake up feeling
ashamed and...
it never goes away.
Sometimes...
I feel like killing myself.
Don't you ever
talk like that.
Your life
is a precious gift.
Mama, we ain't got a chance.
Me and Bobby,
we used to talk about--
we used to talk about
getting out.
But, I mean...
it was just a dream...
and now Bobby's gone.
He got out of here,
but...
he had to die to do it.
It ain't fair, Mama.
It just ain't fair.
( knock on door )
You Teresa Johnson?
Yes.
I'm Howard Matthias.
I own this place.
I want you out of here
by Friday.
What?
You got a hell
of a nerve, lady.
I let you in here
without a deposit,
I wait for
your welfare to start up,
and you turn me
into the Health Department.
That's real gratitude.
There's rats running
all over here.
Well, what do you want
for 180 a month?
That's the problem
with you people.
You want everything
handed to you--
welfare checks,
food stamps,
cheap housing,
and even then you bitch.
Well,
I've had my fill of it.
I want you off these premises
by noon Friday.
You can't do that.
You have to give me 60 days
or 90 days or--
You're gonna get
cute with me, huh?
Well, I'll tell you
what I'm gonna do.
Friday afternoon,
I'm gonna have
one of my people come by
and take the doors
off the hinges.
You want to live in this
neighborhood without doors?
It's up to you.
You know landlords
all around here
are burning these places down
for the insurance.
Can't say that I blame them.
You people are more trouble
than you're worth.
Are we going to have
to go back in the shelters?
I don't know.
Maybe for a little while.
Oh.
Honey.
( chattering )
Richard.
Your mama came by
my place today.
She told me about Bobby.
He was a good kid.
- I got to get home.
- She also told me
you're having some problem
with your wardrobe.
- You're not going
to your graduation?
- It's no big thing.
I still get my diploma.
They'll mail it to me.
You know,
I never did get mine.
I was in the 10th grade.
Construction company
was offering jobs
paying $6.50 an hour.
That diploma seemed
far away, you know?
It was out there
somewhere.
Nobody I knew had a diploma.
But that job was real.
It was right there.
But you had to be
18 years old
to work for them,
so I lied about my age,
went to work laying concrete.
I've been doing that same
kind of work ever since,
working with my hands,
working with my back.
And you know, man,
sometimes I wonder
what it would be like
to work with my brains.
Here.
Take this.
Put in your pocket.
Put it in your pocket.
Tell your mother I said
to take you shopping,
get you a nice jacket
and tie for your graduation.
'Cause I'm going
to be there man,
and I'm going to
be watching you.
I want my son
to look good.
Hey,
let's get this party moving!
They ain't gonna hold up
graduation
for your raggedy butts!
Ohh! Look at you!
( all chattering )
Proud of you.
You're going to
graduate today!
( chatter continues )
I want a picture.
I want a picture!
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Come on, gather round.
Andre, come here, baby.
All right, everyone--
I'm proud of you!
- All right, come on.
My brother, all right?
- Say cheese!
All:
Cheese!
Oh, Keisha, get in there.
Come on.
Get in the picture!
Come on, get in the picture!
Andre, turn around.
( chatter continues )
Smile!
All:
One, two, three, cheese!
( laughter )
Woman:
Okay, let's have
one picture.
Woman #2:
Come on, everybody.
One, two, three.
All:
Cheese!
( laughter )
I got kicked out
of my house.
All the other shelters
are full.
I got my name
on the waiting lists.
You know where the beds are.
Down there.
Right there.
Mommy?
I don't feel good.
My head hurts.
My stomach hurts.
Here, let me see.
( Hillary retching )
Okay. Okay.
Okay.
Okay, come here.
Come here.
Let me put some cold water
on your face.
Hillary? Hillary!
Lead poisoning?
How'd she get that?
Paint, window putty,
even the dust
in her environment.
You been staying
in the shelters?
Yes.
Some of those older buildings
are loaded with it.
Same with a lot of old houses.
It can take some time to
accumulate in a child's system.
Unless you've been staying
in one place,
it's very difficult
to pinpoint the source.
The important thing is this--
you can't let it happen again.
You have to watch her closely.
You have to be very,
very careful
about everything
she puts in her mouth.
What am I supposed to do?
We have to stay
wherever there's room.
Any reoccurrence can lead
to very serious consequences--
neurological damage,
learning disabilities.
Right now your daughter's
in good hands.
We'll keep her here
on the IV for about a week
and then schedule
some follow-up examinations.
Just let her rest,
and go get some sleep yourself.
Come back tomorrow.
I have to go now, baby.
The doctor says
you're gonna be okay.
I'll be back in the morning.
I love you.
Woman on PA: Paging
Dr. Silverman, room 103, stat.
- Dr. Silverman.
- Hi.
( chattering )
Hi, honey. Hi.
How you feeling today?
Mommy, look what I painted.
Here's the hospital.
Here's the doctor
and here's the nurse.
And when I'm all done,
we're gonna hang it up
on the wall!
Is that you
with the big smile?
- Uh-huh.
- Great.
- Guess what I had for lunch.
- What?
Hamburger,
French fries,
and chocolate pudding
for dessert.
Chocolate pudding!
Boy, are you lucky.
See this?
His name's Nibbles.
He runs around
this wheel all day
and he likes me
to feed him lettuce.
Here, Nibbles,
have some lettuce.
I talked to the doctor
a little while ago.
He said you've been doing
real good.
He says you can leave here
day after tomorrow.
I don't want to leave here!
I like it here!
I have my own bed!
Everybody's nice to me!
It's the best place
I ever stayed,
and I don't want to go!
We'll see what the doctor says.
Brought you a candy bar
No, I don't want
a candy bar.
Well,
I'll hold onto it for you.
You might want it
after supper.
Go back to your paints, honey.
They're gonna dry up.
Go on. Come on, go on.
Woman on PA: Orderly,
third floor nurses' station.
Orderly,
third floor nurses' station.
Man:
Come on, give me
the things back.
Man #2:
Quit pushing me.
Quit pushing me!
- Aah!
- ( siren )
Come on, get back here!
Mrs. Johnson.
I need to talk you.
Come in.
I want you to take Hillary.
I want you
to find her a home.
Are you sure about this?
We stay in places where you're
afraid to fall asleep.
We eat food
nobody else wants.
We spend all day on the street
walking with no place to go.
People look at us
like we're trash.
They don't want
to stand next to us.
They don't want
to talk to us.
They don't even want
to know we're there.
It's the loneliest
kind of life.
It's no way for a child live.
Others can give her better.
Can they love her
as much as you?
No. No.
But she needs more than love.
She needs other kids to play
with,
friends who aren't gonna
be leaving every two weeks.
She needs decent clothes
and food
that don't make her sick.
She needs a roof over her head
and a safe place to sleep.
She needs a home.
Mrs. Johnson, please,
sit down.
The first thing
we'll need to do
is contact
the juvenile court.
They'll assign a counselor
to see if there's any way
you and Hillary
can remain together.
If that doesn't seem to be
in her best interest,
they'll begin
court proceedings.
They'll need to talk
to Hillary's father.
Her father?
I don't know where he is.
They'll try
to track him down.
In the meantime,
you'll be assigned an attorney
to help you
with the hearings.
How long is all this
gonna take?
It could take six months.
It could take longer.
Six months?
That's too long.
She can't live like this
another six months.
What if she gets sick again?
What if she gets hurt?
There's only one way they'll
take a child immediately.
How?
If she's been abused
or abandoned.
Abandoned?
You tell me where,
you tell me when.
I call a woman
from the juvenile court.
We'd come get her.
They'll put her
in a children's shelter
for two weeks,
then place her
in a foster home.
After that, they'll start
working on her adoption.
There's no easy answer,
Mrs. Johnson.
If you do this,
it's gonna affect Hillary
for a long time to come.
She'll have a hard time
trusting people
and more than likely,
she'll blame you.
So I have to choose between
keeping her on the streets
or having her hate me.
I can't think
about me right now.
I have to think about Hillary.
I have to think
about her future.
My family
has always been poor,
Mister Reed--
my mother, and my grandmother,
and her mother before that.
We worked hard
and we sweated,
but we ain't never been
anything but poor.
I don't know how
to stop that for Hillary.
I don't know how.
Except to give her
to somebody else.
Her doctor's name
is Dr. Cheney.
She has to go back
for a checkup once a month.
That's the medicine
she has to take.
Don't worry, Mrs. Johnson
we'll take care of this.
It's the best thing I can do,
isn't it, Mr. Reed?
Maybe she'll grow up
to be healthy and smart.
And maybe one day,
she'll forgive me
for what I've done.
I love my daughter.
I love my daughter.
I love her so much.
I love her.
I know. I know.
Let's sit down a minute,
okay?
I got something
I want to show you.
Over there.
You were so good
while you were in here.
You did everything
the nurses told you to,
and you never cried once.
You made me so proud.
And I got you a present.
A present?
See if you like it.
Do you like it?
Yes.
Here, let's put it on you.
First we'll take
this one off.
And then...
There.
Oh.
It looks beautiful on you.
It's pretty.
You know
what that heart means?
What?
It means your mommy
loves you.
And whenever you look at it,
that's what I want you
to remember.
Your mommy loves you.
I love you too, Mommy.
Come on,
let's go to the park.
Excuse me,
can you tell me
what time it is?
11:30.
Honey,
it's almost lunchtime.
I'm going to go get us
some sandwiches.
You think you can stay here
and play by yourself
for a little while?
Yeah, I want to go
on the swing.
Good.
No, wait!
Don't forget Mary Beth.
Okay.
- Hillary!
- Hi!
Hi. Could you come
over here, please?
My mom's gone.
She went to get sandwiches.
I know,
she asked me to come get you,
take you over to my house.
Why, is she gonna be there?
Hillary, you and I
are gonna have to talk
about some things.
- Who's that?
- Her name is Mrs. McCurdy.
She's a very nice lady,
She's gonna come with us.
But I'm not supposed to go
with anybody but my mommy.
I know, sweetheart,
but this time's different.
My mommy told me
to stay here.
It's okay, it's okay.
We're just gonna
go to my house.
Why can't we wait for her?
We'll talk about
all that later.
- Come to the car.
- Come on, sweetheart.
- Come on, come on.
- No.
I don't want to go.
Where's my mommy?
- It's okay.
- Mommy! Mommy!
Here we go.
Here we go.
( Hillary sobbing )
Theresa:
Her doll.
Please, pick up her doll.
( engine starts )
Pick up her doll.
Mommy!
Hillary, your doll.
Here you go.
There you go.
Mommy!
Mommy!
( Hillary sobs )
and laughing )
Look what I got for you.
Come on,
have a piece of bread.
Come on.
Come on,
little squirrel.
Come on.
You don't have to
be afraid.
- Nobody's gonna hurt you.
- Woman: When I was a kid,
sometimes we had them
for supper
with potatoes and carrots.
Well, no wonder
he won't come down.
Come on, honey.
We have to go see a lady.
I hope she's home.
Some people like you
to call first.
( doorbell rings )
- Mrs. Prentice.
- Yes?
Do you remember me?
Theresa Johnson.
I used to be on your
housekeeping crew
when I worked afternoons.
Oh, yes, Theresa.
How are you?
Are you still working
at the hotel?
Yes, ma'am,
only now I'm on day shift,
and this is my daughter,
Hillary.
What a pretty girl.
Well, come in, please.
I'm being put out
of my place.
They're tearing down
the whole building,
putting up a convention center
or something.
I'm not real sure.
We have to be out
by this weekend.
Oh, dear.
- I've been looking
at apartments.
- Uh-huh.
They all want too much.
Well, what about
your husband?
Did you ever hear
from him?
Hillary got a postcard
from Houston--
a picture of the Astrodome.
That was nine months ago.
I don't think
we'll be seeing him again.
Anyway, I'm still looking
at places,
but, just in case,
I was wondering if me
and Hillary could stay with you
for a little while.
You haven't any relatives,
any friends?
Just my daughter.
All we'd need is a couch
to sleep on,
just till I find something
I could afford.
Well, I'd have to ask
my husband.
Thank you.
Mommy, what's this?
It's a blender.
People use it to make
their own juice.
What's that?
It's a crock pot.
You've seen them on TV.
What about this?
Come here, hon.
It smells nice in here, huh?
You see, the thing is,
it hasn't been that long
since our own kids moved out.
This is the first time we've
had the house to ourselves.
You can see for yourself
how small it is.
I really wish we could help,
but it's...
Sweetheart, would you like
to take some of those with you?
Yeah? Okay.
Here, I tell you what.
We'll bundle them all up
in a napkin, okay? Yeah.
I think I'm gonna save
these for breakfast tomorrow.
I think that's a good idea.
- Hey. You getting up?
- Mm-hmm.
Don't forget you got
to wash my clothes today.
Put 'em in a bag.
I'll see if I can do 'em
at work.
You be good now
and listen to your teacher.
I will.
Tired before you start.
Gonna make for a long day.
I've been looking
at apartments all weekend.
I got to look
at more tonight.
They all want first month's rent
and a deposit on top of that.
We're just living
pay to pay.
I got to find something soon,
though.
Maybe they'll let me
have some time off to look.
Child, you don't even
want to let 'em know
you got problems.
They got 50 Puerto Ricans
and half of Saigon
ready to jump in your place.
They got no time
for your headaches.
Well...
could one of you
put us up for a few weeks?
Just till I can save up
some money?
I got five children of my own
in a 2-bedroom apartment.
I just don't have the space.
The last thing I need is you
stretched out on my sofa.
My husband looking at you
when he go to bed,
when he get up
in the morning.
Best to avoid
those kind of situations.
( both laughing )
So what do you do
when you're being
put outdoors?
You got no money,
you don't know anybody?
Where do you go?
Maybe it's time
to go back home.
My daddy died.
My mom is on a pension.
She's living in a trailer
with my two sisters.
She got diabetes real bad.
She can't help me.
I stayed in
a rooming house once.
Awful place.
I'd sooner sleep
in the woods.
Well, there's always
the shelters.
Our church got one.
Give you
a warm place to stay
until you get back
on your feet.
I don't know.
Sleeping with all those
strangers.
You have any furniture?
Just some pots and pans
and a small TV.
The rest belongs
to the landlord.
Pack it up
in a couple of boxes.
All the stuff
you can't carry with you,
you can keep it with me
until you get an address.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
You're gonna be needing
to travel light.
( television chatter )
Woman:
She said he was spending
too much time
at the hospital.
She was worried about him.
Man: You didn't tell her
anything, did you?
Woman: Of course not.
What could I tell her?
That he was trying to save
the life of a son
she doesn't know he has?
Man: Look, Paul
isn't even sure that...
Announcer:
...storms batter Florida Keys
as a result
of hurricane Hector
making its way
up toward the Gulf.
Rain and winds
of up to 100 miles per hour
caused structural damage
to two resorts
and forced the closure
of all others in the area.
On the mainland, volunteers
worked throughout the night
with sandbags and shovels
to protect the expensive
beachfront properties
threatened by tides more
than 10 feet above normal.
The weather service
predicts the hurricane
will begin to lose its--
Hi.
I was sleepy.
I washed all your clothes.
They're in my room.
Okay.
I looked all over.
I couldn't find us
an apartment.
Why not? Everybody else
has someplace to live.
Please don't be mad at me.
Are you
and Mary Beth ready?
Are we gonna go
to the church now?
Yeah, but first...
we're gonna
do something special.
Come on.
- Can I help you?
- Yes.
- We're looking
for a place to stay.
- For tonight?
For a couple of nights.
For as long as you'll
let us.
Miss, you didn't think
there'd be a bed
just waiting for you,
did you?
Those beds
are very precious.
People start lining up
for them at 4:00.
Oh.
Most of the time,
there's a waiting list.
I didn't know that.
Rosalie Davis
hasn't shown up.
It's 20 minutes
past curfew.
We can let you have
her space.
You're a very lucky
young woman.
- Thank you.
- There's a two-week limit.
The shelter is for women
and children only.
There's no smoking,
no alcoholic beverages,
no weapons, and you're
responsible for your own meals.
And we have a very
strict curfew.
You must be in by 7:00
at night
and out by 7:00 in the morning
with all your belongings.
That's no problem.
I have to get
my daughter to school
and then I have to be
at work at 8:00, so...
You have a job?
Mm-hmm.
30 hours a week,
cleaning rooms.
Then you have money.
These beds are for people
who have no place else to go.
You can get a room
of your own.
( sighs )
If you make me go
to a hotel,
I'll be back in two weeks,
and I won't have anything.
I'm just trying to
get a little bit ahead.
I'm trying
to find us a home.
You want to see
Carrie downstairs.
She's wearing a red sweater.
She'll show you
where your bed is.
Thank you very much.
Do you have your money
on you?
- Yes.
- Keep it close to you.
Don't let anybody see it.
Okay.
Good night.
Good night.
I had to take two buses
all the way across town,
an hour and a half
each way.
Man said he had
a job to talk about.
- He never even showed up.
- I'm sorry, Mrs. Davis.
but your bed has been
reassigned.
You gave it away?
You gave away my bed?
You know the rules
on curfew.
I don't care about
your damn curfew.
Where am I supposed to sleep?
Mrs. Davis,
this is a church.
What kind of church throws
women out into the street?
You people got not right.
That was my bed.
That bed was mine!
( toilet flushes )
Excuse me,
they said you'd show me
where my bed is.
( baby cooing,
loud snoring )
What's wrong?
I can't sleep.
There's too many people.
Shh.
( coughing )
* All through the night
* All through the night
* All little ones
* Are sleeping
* God bless babes
* And beasts and birds
* All small things
* That have no words
* All through the night
* All through the night
* All little ones
* Are sleeping
Hi.
Hi.
Would you like an apple?
Help yourself.
You didn't sleep here
last night.
No, I only do that a couple
of nights of the week.
- Last night I stayed home.
- You have a house?
Mm-hmm, in Willow Brook
about six miles from here.
My mom still hasn't
found us a place to live.
Maybe we can come
stay with you?
Oh, I wish you could,
sweetheart.
I wish I could open up
a big hotel
and take in every kid that
doesn't have a home.
But I can't.
I'm sorry.
You know what would make
your mom real happy?
If you were to take
this washcloth
and go to the bathroom
and get yourself all cleaned
up before she got here, hmm?
- Thanks for the apple.
- You're welcome.
- Good evening.
- Hi.
Where's Mary Beth?
She likes to eat with me.
She's in my suitcase.
I'll take her out later.
Cheap sandwiches.
When are we gonna have
something else?
Hillary, I've had a really
hard day today,
and the last thing I need
is your complaining, okay?
Look over there.
Woman:
Poor soul.
I spent all morning
talking to the welfare lady.
She's probably having a better
conversation than I did.
They cut off my food stamps.
Said I needed an address
to prove I was a resident.
I said, "How can I give you
an address
when I ain't got a home?"
They said, "You got have
a stove to cook on."
I said, "I may not have a stove,
but I still got a stomach.
Me and my boy
still got to eat."
Two hours of that,
and I was ready
to talk to a light bulb.
Hey, you!
Get away from those kids.
I guess when you're living
in a shelter,
you can't be too fussy
about who your neighbors are.
I never figured
it'd be this expensive.
Buying all your meals out,
taking two or three buses
to get anywhere,
using payphones
all the time.
You can't keep any money
in your pocket.
I know.
Was that your husband
out by the truck?
Ed. We used to have a farm.
The bank's got it now.
We came here trying to get
set up again.
It's been hard though,
especially for Kenny.
One day he's got a home
and friends,
his own way of life,
next day, nothing.
It's hard for him
to understand that.
Yeah.
And your husband
he sleeps in the truck?
Sometimes.
Sometimes he just walks
the streets.
I can't tell you
how much that scares me.
During the day though,
Ed and I,
we go looking for work.
Kenny, he just goes
to the park,
sits there by himself
thinking and brooding.
I'm not sure what
I'm gonna do about Hillary.
I'm supposed to go to work
on Saturday,
usually she's in school.
Kenny could watch her.
- I didn't mean that.
- No, really.
He's very good
with children.
He's very responsible.
If he had someone else
to take care of,
it would help take his mind
off his own troubles.
We used to have
a lot of animals,
chickens and rabbits
and a pig that won prizes.
There was a creek
in the backyard,
woods to play in.
Even had my own treehouse.
Now I don't even have
a house at all.
We used to have an apartment,
but they made us move out.
My mother used to give stuff
to the poor.
Now we are poor.
I don't know
how that happened.
You ran out of money.
We sit around in the back
of the truck,
and people look at us
like we're bums,
like we're not as good
as they are.
I'm not gonna
let this happen to me.
When I grow up,
I'm gonna get a good job.
I'm not gonna
let this happen to me.
We better go.
It's getting late.
- Mrs. Johnson?
- There's no hot water left.
Mrs. Johnson, the ladies
upstairs asked me
to remind you that you only
have three days left here.
Your bed will be
reassigned on Sunday.
Okay, thank you.
Where you're staying right now,
this here's the Hilton.
Clean sheets,
room to move around,
space for the kids to play.
You ain't gonna find
anything better than this.
Salvation Army gives you
your own room.
But they only got 15 of them.
Good luck getting one.
Mm-hmm.
Now the Lenox house
ain't too bad.
That's a neighborhood
shelter on Broxton.
They give you five nights.
But don't just show up
at the last minute,
You got to go down there
round about 3:30, 4:00,
get your name on the list.
I don't get off work
till 5:00.
Those beds go fast.
The Harvest mission,
that's the last place
you want to go.
They give out beds
one at a time,
and they give them out
to anybody.
- Man: Hey, hey,
look what I got here.
- Who's that?
Woman:
Outreach worker.
If you need some eyeglasses
or something,
if you can't figure out
your welfare forms,
he'll help you out.
He's all right.
Hey, little lady.
What you got there?
Let's see, looks to me
like maybe a space capsule
getting ready
to go to the moon?
- Nope, it's a turtle.
- Oh.
Where did you get those?
I got these
in New Orleans.
They have a big parade there,
and people
in beautiful costumes
throw these out to the crowd.
- They're pretty.
- Thank you.
Theresa: Hillary.
Look what he's wearing
on his neck.
I go to Mardis Gras
every year,
and I like to bring these
back for the children.
Is is okay to give her one?
Sure. It's okay.
The little blue one, baby.
Here you go. Here you go.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
I'm gonna go show Kenny.
I'm Calvin Reed.
I'm an outreach worker
for a group of churches.
They pay me to help people.
Is there anything
I can do for you?
Can you find me an apartment
for $225 a month?
Those are pretty hard
to come by...
- I know.
- But every now and then
one of them pops up.
They won't be anything
too luxurious, now.
Four walls and a roof
sound just about right.
- And your name is?
- Theresa...
- Johnson.
- Okay, Miss Johnson,
I'll keep my eyes open.
Thank you.
- Good night.
- Good night.
( school bell rings )
What's the matter?
Why did you come to school?
I lost my job.
I left early yesterday
to sign up for another shelter
and they found out.
When I came in today,
they said I was fired.
I can't do anything right.
I can't keep a job.
I can't keep a husband.
Mom, it's okay.
Don't cry.
It's not okay, sweetie.
What are we gonna do?
Please, Mommy, don't cry.
- It's okay.
- What are we gonna do?
Oh, sweetheart,
what are we gonna do?
What are we gonna do today?
After the clothes are done,
maybe we'll go over
to the park.
The park?
We always go to the park.
Why can't we go
somewhere else?
You never took me
to the zoo?
That costs money.
We're gonna have to watch
our pennies for a little while.
Well, tomorrow's school.
We gotta catch the bus.
I think we're gonna let you
miss school for a little bit.
But I like school.
All my friends are at school.
That's the only place
I have fun!
- I don't want to go with you!
- Hillary!
I'm not sure where we're gonna
be staying at tonight,
when they want us in,
when they want us out,
how we're gonna get back
and forth,
what buses we have to take,
let alone how you're gonna
get to school.
It's just too much for me
to figure out.
But I'm doing good in school.
And you can go back
when we find a place.
But I'll be behind everybody,
and everybody
will make fun of me.
Come here.
When I was a little girl,
I had to miss
a lot of school, too.
It ain't so bad.
You'll catch up.
Come here.
I hope we find
a place soon.
I don't like
living like this.
I'm Theresa Johnson.
I signed up for a bed
a few days ago.
Oh, yes, Mrs. Johnson.
You know we're co-ed here.
Men on the first floor,
women on the second.
- No men are allowed upstairs.
- I understand.
You're bed's up that way.
- Far room on the left.
- Thank you.
Give me the phone.
I said, give me the phone!
Excuse me,
could you hang on a minute?
What the hell
is your problem?
Can't you see
I'm on the phone?
( both shouting )
- I'll kill you!
- I swear to God!
( door slams )
Does that bed
belong to anybody?
Is this okay with you?
Come on, baby.
You do the pillow, okay.
Do you have
any savings accounts,
checking accounts, stocks,
bonds, jewelry,
or other items
of cash value?
No.
Have you been looking
for another job?
Yes, ma'am,
I've been looking all week.
And how's that going?
It goes fine up until
they ask me my address.
Nobody wants to hire you
if you're moving
every two weeks,
if they're not sure
they can get a hold of you.
Some of the shelters
are all the way across town
and I'd get there too late
to make curfew.
I can't work nights,
afternoons or weekends
because there's no place
for me to leave Hillary
except school.
I can't leave her
in a shelter all by herself.
It's like I can't get a job
unless I have a place,
and I can't get a place
unless I have a job.
I need to ask you a few
questions about your husband.
We came out here together
with Hillary.
He was looking
for factory work,
something better than
we had back home.
He'd get jobs
off and on,
but then it just
it all kind of dried up.
That's when he left.
Are you divorced?
Not that I know of.
So it's a case of desertion.
Yes.
Do you have a boyfriend,
or is there any other man
in your life right now?
No.
Is there likely to be
in the near future?
I don't think so.
Well, you are required
to notify this office
should that
situation change.
Okay, it would seem
you're eligible for AFDC.
How much?
With one child,
about $240 a month.
I'll put your papers
through this afternoon,
and we should have a check
ready for you
in about four weeks.
Four weeks?
Miss, I got barely
a $100 in my pocket.
How are we supposed
to get by for four weeks?
The Salvation Army,
church kitchens.
I'm sorry.
Man: Number 63.
Number 63.
Is there anything else?
I'm still hungry.
We'll go over to St. Paul's
later on.
They're gonna be
serving spaghetti.
- When?
- Just a couple of hours.
Why don't you throw
those away?
Excuse me, miss
is there a problem?
What?
You've been sitting on
this bench for an hour.
- Are you waiting for a bus?
- No, I'm just sitting here,
resting a little.
Man: Well, this isn't a place
to be hanging around
with your daughter.
Maybe you should go over
to the park or playground.
Yes, sir.
See the guy
with the clipboard, ma'am.
He'll set you up.
I've got a 7-year-old girl.
We've been walking all day
and we can't go no further.
We used up our time at
most of the other shelters.
We're real tired,
and we need a place to sleep.
See the guy
with the clipboard.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Woman on television:
$1,150.
Bob Barker: $1,150.
Lisa, what's your bid?
- $1,201.
- $1,201.
- ( buzzer buzzes )
- You all overbid.
The lowest bid is $1,050.
Go lower than $1,050.
- ( audience shouting )
- Woman: $895.
Thank you.
Barker:
$895. Arthur?
- $900.
- $900.
- $901.
- $901. Lisa?
- $850.
- $850.
( cheers and applause )
- Hillary.
- Actual retail price,
$1,000.
- ( buzzer buzzes )
- You all overbid.
Don't you ever
walk away from me again.
- I was just watching TV.
- Until I tell you
different,
you stay next to me
every minute. Okay.
It's okay.
It's just for tonight.
I'll find us
a better place tomorrow.
I'll sit up tonight.
You can sleep on my lap.
Come here, baby.
Come up here, sweetie.
Right up here.
That a girl.
Good night.
I hate the night,
'cause you got to lay down
in a place like this.
I hate the day,
'cause you got
to keep on moving,
scrounging for
a little bit of food.
Always hungry,
always tired.
God forgive me.
I hate being alive.
Woman: Wake up, you all!
Wake up!
Wake up, you all. Wake up.
You got to go.
Wake up, you all!
Got to go!
Wake up! Come on, you all!
Wake up!
Wake up!
Wake up, darling!
Wake up. Wake up.
Wake up.
Wake up, darling.
Wake up, darling, wake up.
Wake up! Come on, you all.
Get up.
Get up, get up. Now, go.
Come on, you all.
- Come on.
- That woman stole my shoes.
Well, what did you take
them off for?
- She had shoes of her own.
- And now she's got yours
and she'll probably
be selling them for food
because food is what
it's all about, darling.
I can't go around
with no shoes.
Look, there's a thrift shop
about four blocks
over on Jefferson.
You can get a pair
of shoes there for $3.00.
Wake up, you all!
Get up, get up!
Come on, you all.
Get up.
Get up. Got to go.
Was it good?
Mm-hmm. Just like
you used to make,
except yours is better.
It's stopped raining.
Thank you.
We should go now.
You go use the bathroom.
It's right back there.
I'll pay the bill
and I'll meet you outside.
Mommy?
You're not gonna leave me,
are you?
Hillary, why would you
even ask that?
Because things
got bad before, Daddy left.
Baby, I'd never leave you.
You're what keeps me going
from day to day,
the one and only thing
that makes me smile.
If I ever lost you,
I don't know what I'd do.
I love you, okay?
- Okay?
- Okay.
Okay. Go back
and do your business
and wash your hands,
and I'll meet you
right up front.
Yes? Okay.
Move away from the door,
please!
There is no more room here!
( crowd shouting )
You'll have to clear
off the stairway!
All the downtown
shelters are full!
You'll have to find a bed
on your own!
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
You all will have to go!
I'm sorry!
Put this on.
You warm enough? Yeah?
Come here, baby.
Hillary.
I'm sorry.
I wish I was smarter.
I wish I knew how
to take care of you better.
It's okay, I don't mind.
- Good night, baby.
- Good night, Mommy.
You don't want any more?
( sirens wailing )
Calvin:
I see you still got my beads.
Hey, how you doing?
I'm Calvin Reed?
Don't you remember me,
the outreach worker?
Hi.
Calvin: I've been looking
all over for you.
I think I've found
you a place.
All my money's gone.
I don't have a cent.
Ah, don't worry about that.
Come on, let's go
take a look at it.
Come on.
The water pressure's
not too good
and the ceiling leaks,
and you're probably gonna have
to deal with some roaches.
- It's better than a doorway.
- Yeah, that's right.
That's right. It's definitely
better than a doorway.
This is the bedroom.
I think I can get you
a blanket and some
sheets for that.
I can get you a couch
for this room over here.
Maybe even a end table
and a lamp.
- How much is the rent?
- $180 a month, no deposit.
I talked to the landlord.
He said he'll wait
for your AFDC check,
take the first
month's rent out of that.
That only leaves me
$60 a month.
Well, plus food stamps.
That ought to give you
another $100 or so.
I'll help you
with the applications.
Oh, right over
here's the kitchen.
Now believe it or not,
this old refrigerator
works pretty good.
I don't know what
we're gonna do about a stove.
A lady I used to
work with
is holding some
things of mine.
- I got a hotplate.
- Well, there you go.
There you go.
See how sometimes things
just kinda fall into place?
Here, just write down
your friend's name and address,
and I'll run over in my van
and pick up
that stuff for you.
I'll bring you a couple
boxes of food
to get you started.
My outreach center's
just up the street.
I work it out of my house.
So if you find yourself
in trouble,
just stop on by.
I might be able
to help you out.
- Why are you doing this?
- That's my job.
Why are you
doing this for me?
Well, most people don't
understand about poverty.
Poverty's like a disease.
It grabs a hold of you,
don't let go.
It just keeps on
beating you down.
You want to break free
of it so bad,
but you don't know how,
and before too long,
it just crushes all the hope
out of you.
Yeah, I've gotten so I can
look in people's eyes
and tell who's given up
and who's still trying.
You want to work.
You're not an alcoholic.
You're not a dope addict.
You got a chance to make it.
- I'll bring the stuff
back in an hour.
- Okay.
Mr. Reed?
Thank you.
You're welcome,
Miss Johnson.
Are you okay out there?
There's another little girl
over there.
- Can I go play with her?
- Come on.
Hi.
I'm Theresa Johnson.
I moved in to that house
right back there.
Hi, I'm Sharee.
My daughter was wondering
if she could play
with your daughter.
Sure.
We've been
moving around a lot.
She hadn't had much of a chance
to make any friends.
What are you doing?
Are you drawing something?
What's your name?
Her name's Keisha.
What's yours?
Hillary.
I know a song.
* Farmer in the dell
Want me to teach it
to you?
Here, put these in her hair.
She likes these.
Andre, Caesar,
if you rip those pants,
I'm gonna rip your hind end!
I'll put one here
and one here.
Mommy, I look pretty
like the ladies on TV!
That's right, baby,
you look real pretty.
- Do more. Put more in.
- Okay.
Hey.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How you doing?
- Okay.
If you keep doing that
baby like that,
she gonna puke
all over the floor,
and I ain't cleaning it up.
Oh, go get grandma.
Bad grandma.
- Go spank her.
- Don't teach her that.
- How was school today?
- Great.
I got an 82
on my book report.
- An 82?
- Yeah.
Did you hear that?
Your brother got a 82
on his schoolwork!
Yeah, I could
have done better,
but my spelling
wasn't too good.
When am I gonna
get a dictionary?
When I get a job.
Oh, yeah,
and when I grow wings,
I'm gonna fly to Tahiti
and drink coconut milk.
You don't even know
where Tahiti is.
They got a dictionary
at the library.
You can study there.
I guess you're right.
Is the toilet still broke?
Yeah, uh, use that bucket
over there by the sink
to flush it with.
Okay.
Your brother's graduating
in a few weeks.
- He's graduating mid-term?
- Yeah.
And I want you to talk
to your husband,
see can he spare
a few dollars.
Richard's gonna need
some new clothes.
Mama, you think Thomas
has money he don't need?
Richard's a proud boy.
If he's got to sit through
that graduation
in those same old rags,
everybody else
in a new coat and tie,
he just won't go.
I didn't go to
my eighth grade graduation.
And you quit school
two years later.
That's what happens
when you can't keep up.
You give up.
Now your brother's
a bright boy.
He's got a good head
on his shoulders.
He's got a chance
to make it out of here.
I don't want him having
any excuses to quit.
Thomas is out in his car
waiting for you.
Mama, did you wash
my blue blouse?
It's hanging out there
on the line, Tracy.
Girl:
Matthew, we're going.
- Chandra,
- Mm?
Don't forget to ask Thomas.
Come on, Matthew.
Richard!
Bobby?
You okay?
My dad came home drinking
and my mom made me
get out of the house.
Could I stay
with you tonight?
Was he hitting her?
He was yelling.
Wine makes him crazy.
You can't tell
what he's gonna do.
Last time he put
her face through a window
and she was all cut up
and bleeding.
Man, you guys
should just leave.
I mean, get away.
Sometimes I wish I was a cop.
Then I could stop him.
Boy, I'd shoot him,
but I wouldn't kill him,
just wound him
in the arm or the leg
just to stop him.
Look, um, come by
after supper.
I'll leave my window open
for you.
- Thanks, man.
- I'll see you later.
How is it?
Mmm, Mary Beth
likes it, too.
She does?
Well, we'll give her more.
It's nice having
a home again, huh?
Am I gonna go back
to school now?
I talked to Mr. Reed
and he said that the new term
will start in a few weeks.
We'll get you in then.
Are you gonna get a job?
As soon as you start school.
I'm tired.
These last couple of months
have worn me down.
I'd like to rest a little,
take a little time
to settle in,
and then I'll start
looking for a job,
something that pays
decent money,
lets me set
a little aside.
Maybe then we can get us
some nice things.
Bicycle for you, hmm?
And new clothes for me.
Something I'd look good in.
Maybe somebody
will ask me out...
to a movie or to dinner.
Who?
Sweetheart.
Your daddy left us, honey.
And he's not coming back,
and I don't want to go
through this life alone.
Eat your vegetables.
Make sure Mary Beth
eats hers, too.
Okay, today, we're
going to do patty-cake.
Put your hands up like this.
Now I'm gonna pat 'em.
* Pat-a-cake,
pat-a-cake *
No.
Keep your hands up.
Ready?
* Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
baker's man *
* Roll 'em up, roll 'em up
* Put 'em in a pan
* Bake me a cake
as fast as you can *
* Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake,
baker's man *
- * Bake me a cake...
- Mama, me and Bob
are gonna go scrapping over
on the Delaware.
Okay, but watch yourself.
People drive crazy over there.
Richard:
Yeah.
- I had this dream
last night.
- Yeah?
I was living on this farm,
I had lots of space,
lots of fresh air,
fresh vegetables
anytime you wanted
to eat 'em.
- A farmer?
- Yeah!
And I had my own horse,
this big gray one.
We were riding around
all over. It was great.
No, man, a singer.
That's what I dream
about being,
like Prince
or Freddie Jackson.
- You?
- Yeah.
Get to wear mean-looking
clothes,
ride around
in a big limousine,
girls screaming at you.
The first thing I'd do
is buy my mama a big mansion.
Um, Bob, is your mom okay?
I mean,
did your dad hurt her?
He cut her lip,
but nothing too bad.
Hey, look at that.
Someday.
Someday, I'd like to work
in a place like that.
Come on, man, there's still
a couple more blocks.
Theresa:
It was this big,
eating through my bread
just as bold as you please
in my cupboard.
I told Hillary not
to go in them anymore.
The best thing to do
is keep all your food
in the refrigerator.
Can't we do something?
Can't we tell the landlord?
Well, with these houses,
everybody's gotta put up
with something.
I mean, some people
don't have water.
Some people
don't have electricity.
Just about everybody
got rats.
They ate through everything--
the bread,
the rice, the macaroni.
All we got left
is a few cans of vegetables
I can't give you
much this time.
We're coming into
the fourth week.
Fourth week?
Food stamps only
last about three weeks.
Now getting through
that fourth week,
that's the killer.
People live on cornbread
and ketchup.
Maybe a cup of coffee
and one egg a day.
Maybe a box of oatmeal
for a whole week.
And when that runs out,
they come to me.
Seems like it's getting worse
every month.
Whatever you can give me.
Let's see what I can do.
Announcer: If ratified,
the treaty would eliminate
more than 1,000
intermediate-range missiles.
If they gave me what it costs
to build just one of those,
I could feed more people
than that missile could kill.
I'm sorry, Hillary,
but your mama
should be here soon, okay?
( knock on door )
I'm sorry,
Mrs. Watkins. Hi.
I wasn't expecting
to be so long.
- We got to go,
so say bye-bye.
- Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Caesar, you got
food on your own plate.
Leave Keisha's supper alone.
Man on TV: You know,
a daughter's wedding
is a joyous day
for a man.
So as that momentous day
draws even closer,
I'd like to make a toast
to the bride and groom.
To Alissa and Alex,
may their union
bring happiness
and good fortune
to us all.
All:
To Alissa and Alex.
I'm going out
for a little while.
I'll be back by 11:00.
You going to see Curtis?
Don't tell Mom, okay?
I should tell Mom.
I should tell the police.
That boy's too old for you.
- Can I tell you something?
- What?
Curtis has been pressing me.
He wants to have sex with me.
You make sure that boy
keeps his pants on.
You tell him to keep
his business to himself.
But he's so handsome,
and he's not poor.
He could be
with anybody he wants.
And what if he gives you
a baby?
Maybe we'll get married.
Did he tell you that?
I could always get on welfare.
Girl,
what is wrong with you?
Don't you see
how it is around here?
You got your eyes closed?
That welfare is a trap.
It gives you enough
to get by,
but not enough to get out.
Once you're on it,
you never get off.
You still got your babies.
You got somebody
to love you.
Yeah, and when you hear them
crying at night,
when they look up
at you and say,
"Mama, I'm hungry,"
and you can't feed 'em,
that love
will tear you apart.
And what you gonna do
if you have a baby like Keisha?
You know that child
ain't right,
and there ain't a thing
I can do to help her.
Curtis pays attention to me.
He makes me feel special.
Then hold his hand.
Go for a walk
and look at the stars.
But you don't have
to be giving him no sex.
It's all I got to give him.
I just don't know.
Mama, Mama,
the check is here!
Mama, the check is here!
Okay, okay, come on.
Thank you.
My AFDC check.
Don't forget you got
to get soap,
toothpaste,
and toilet paper.
I know, honey.
I know.
- Mama, I want a baseball.
- Mom, I want a GI Joe.
This is our welfare check.
I didn't hit no lottery.
Mama, you said you'd get
me some makeup.
Maybe next month, Tracy.
We got to try to hold on
to some of this
for your brother's
graduation clothes.
Richard, your father's here.
Okay.
Man:
Hey, Richard.
Look, I'm going over
to Jefferson Street
to watch some boxing.
You want to come?
Let me tell you something.
Trading punches,
that's all they was doing.
Trading punches.
That wasn't boxing.
- That was ugly.
- It sure was.
- Hey, you want to get
something to eat?
- Yeah, sounds good.
- Let's go down
this way here.
- All right.
Let me tell you something.
Now when I fought,
whether it was in the gym
or in the streets, man,
I was smooth.
See, I knew how to move, man,
and I had this right,
this right
that came out of nowhere.
It came out the sky.
Bam!
Raymond Watkins said hello.
Hey, I'm surprised you
ain't put the gloves on.
You seem to be pretty quick.
I've been busy with school.
- I got two As
on my last report card.
- That's good.
That's real good, man.
My graduation's next week.
You think you can come?
They probably wouldn't
even let me in the school.
Me and school ain't never
got along too good.
Ah, they'd let you in.
- So you got two As, huh?
- Yeah, yesterday.
That's good.
That's real good.
I had a buddy of mine
who used to get As
all the time.
His name was, uh,
Rainbow Bennett.
Yeah, Rainbow Bennett.
Yeah, ended up on the corner
like the rest of us.
Started messing with
them needles.
Took himself right out
of the picture.
You see sometimes,
being smart can hurt you.
You know what I mean?
It lets you see
how bad things are.
Oh, look, I ain't gonna
be fooling with no drugs.
- Good.
- I got plans for my future.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm gonna finish school.
I'm gonna get a good job,
and I ain't gonna be
hanging on the corner.
- I'm gonna be somebody.
- You talking about me?
I'm talking about
getting out of here.
( scoffs )
Let me tell you something.
I took every job anybody
ever offered me--
factory work, hauling,
painting houses.
Hey, look, just 'cause
you want to be somebody,
don't mean somebody gonna let
you.
Your mother gets a check
right now 'cause I'm not there.
I am worth more than her gone
than I am being in the house.
Do you know what
that does to a man, huh?
But you got two As,
so you gonna beat all that.
Look, I ain't gonna be poor
for the rest of my life, okay?
I'm gonna fight
till I get out of here.
You must be
a pretty tough little kid
'cause you're gonna
fight the streets.
You're gonna fight the man.
You're gonna fight history.
You come back
and see me in 10 years,
let me see me how much fight
you got left in you.
Look, I'm not hungry anymore.
Can I go home now?
Hey, the car's back
that way.
( no audible dialogue )
Hillary:
Mommy! Mommy!
Get 'em off me, Mommy!
Mommy!
( moans )
Get away!
Mommy! Mommy!
Mommy! Mommy!
Get away from her!
Get away from her!
- Get away!
- Mom!
- Get off of her!
- Mommy!
You're okay, baby.
You're okay.
You're okay
because they're gone.
They're all gone.
They're gone, honey.
Did they bite you?
Did you feel them
bite you, honey?
I don't see any marks.
Look at me.
I don't see any marks.
You're okay. You're okay.
Your mommy's got you.
Your mommy's got you.
- ( sirens )
- Richard.
Richard, there's an ambulance
down by Bobby's house.
- What?
- ( siren )
( chattering )
( chatter continues )
What are you doing here?
I pay the rent.
This is my place.
Let's go, man.
Woman:
Bobby! Bobby!
( woman sobs )
Oh, Bobby, no!
Let me sit with him.
( continues sobbing )
Let me go!
( siren )
Bobby.
They were all around her.
The biggest rats I ever seen.
They weren't afraid
of the light.
They weren't afraid
of Hillary.
They weren't afraid of me.
I had to go after them
with a broom.
Living in this neighborhood,
every evening brings
a new nightmare.
I want to talk
to that landlord.
I want him to do something.
I hardly spoke to him.
He says the house comes as is.
His position is
if you don't like it,
- you don't have to stay there.
- Well, that ain't right.
Can't we do something?
Can we tell somebody?
If you want,
you can report him
to the public health
department.
Okay, then.
Yeah,
that's what I want to do.
That could bring even bigger
problems, Mrs. Johnson.
You don't want
your landlord coming--
There were rats crawling
on my little girl.
All right. All right.
I'll get the number.
We can call from here.
Thank you.
Are you all right?
You look tired.
We lost one of our children
last night.
A little boy,
Bobby Gifford.
Oh, God.
His parents were having
an argument.
He stepped in between them.
I'm sorry.
People die
in these neighborhoods.
They-- they die from cold.
They die from hunger.
They die from...
rage and violence.
Oh, but when a child dies...
that's when I can't sleep.
Here's the number.
Let's see if they're in.
( knock on door )
Are you okay?
I got a letter from
the power company today.
I've been holding back
a little bit on
the bills each month
trying to save some money.
Now they say I got
to pay the whole thing
or they're going
to cut the lights off.
I'm not going to
be able to get you
your graduation clothes.
It's okay.
But I'm thinking about
talking to Ms. Marshall,
that lady I used to sew for.
- She got a boy--
- Mama, don't do that.
I'm sorry, baby.
When's this is all
gonna change?
What do I have to do?
You got to stay in school.
You got to study hard.
I do that already...
and it doesn't seem
to make any difference
because every day's
the same.
I wake up feeling
ashamed and...
it never goes away.
Sometimes...
I feel like killing myself.
Don't you ever
talk like that.
Your life
is a precious gift.
Mama, we ain't got a chance.
Me and Bobby,
we used to talk about--
we used to talk about
getting out.
But, I mean...
it was just a dream...
and now Bobby's gone.
He got out of here,
but...
he had to die to do it.
It ain't fair, Mama.
It just ain't fair.
( knock on door )
You Teresa Johnson?
Yes.
I'm Howard Matthias.
I own this place.
I want you out of here
by Friday.
What?
You got a hell
of a nerve, lady.
I let you in here
without a deposit,
I wait for
your welfare to start up,
and you turn me
into the Health Department.
That's real gratitude.
There's rats running
all over here.
Well, what do you want
for 180 a month?
That's the problem
with you people.
You want everything
handed to you--
welfare checks,
food stamps,
cheap housing,
and even then you bitch.
Well,
I've had my fill of it.
I want you off these premises
by noon Friday.
You can't do that.
You have to give me 60 days
or 90 days or--
You're gonna get
cute with me, huh?
Well, I'll tell you
what I'm gonna do.
Friday afternoon,
I'm gonna have
one of my people come by
and take the doors
off the hinges.
You want to live in this
neighborhood without doors?
It's up to you.
You know landlords
all around here
are burning these places down
for the insurance.
Can't say that I blame them.
You people are more trouble
than you're worth.
Are we going to have
to go back in the shelters?
I don't know.
Maybe for a little while.
Oh.
Honey.
( chattering )
Richard.
Your mama came by
my place today.
She told me about Bobby.
He was a good kid.
- I got to get home.
- She also told me
you're having some problem
with your wardrobe.
- You're not going
to your graduation?
- It's no big thing.
I still get my diploma.
They'll mail it to me.
You know,
I never did get mine.
I was in the 10th grade.
Construction company
was offering jobs
paying $6.50 an hour.
That diploma seemed
far away, you know?
It was out there
somewhere.
Nobody I knew had a diploma.
But that job was real.
It was right there.
But you had to be
18 years old
to work for them,
so I lied about my age,
went to work laying concrete.
I've been doing that same
kind of work ever since,
working with my hands,
working with my back.
And you know, man,
sometimes I wonder
what it would be like
to work with my brains.
Here.
Take this.
Put in your pocket.
Put it in your pocket.
Tell your mother I said
to take you shopping,
get you a nice jacket
and tie for your graduation.
'Cause I'm going
to be there man,
and I'm going to
be watching you.
I want my son
to look good.
Hey,
let's get this party moving!
They ain't gonna hold up
graduation
for your raggedy butts!
Ohh! Look at you!
( all chattering )
Proud of you.
You're going to
graduate today!
( chatter continues )
I want a picture.
I want a picture!
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Come on, gather round.
Andre, come here, baby.
All right, everyone--
I'm proud of you!
- All right, come on.
My brother, all right?
- Say cheese!
All:
Cheese!
Oh, Keisha, get in there.
Come on.
Get in the picture!
Come on, get in the picture!
Andre, turn around.
( chatter continues )
Smile!
All:
One, two, three, cheese!
( laughter )
Woman:
Okay, let's have
one picture.
Woman #2:
Come on, everybody.
One, two, three.
All:
Cheese!
( laughter )
I got kicked out
of my house.
All the other shelters
are full.
I got my name
on the waiting lists.
You know where the beds are.
Down there.
Right there.
Mommy?
I don't feel good.
My head hurts.
My stomach hurts.
Here, let me see.
( Hillary retching )
Okay. Okay.
Okay.
Okay, come here.
Come here.
Let me put some cold water
on your face.
Hillary? Hillary!
Lead poisoning?
How'd she get that?
Paint, window putty,
even the dust
in her environment.
You been staying
in the shelters?
Yes.
Some of those older buildings
are loaded with it.
Same with a lot of old houses.
It can take some time to
accumulate in a child's system.
Unless you've been staying
in one place,
it's very difficult
to pinpoint the source.
The important thing is this--
you can't let it happen again.
You have to watch her closely.
You have to be very,
very careful
about everything
she puts in her mouth.
What am I supposed to do?
We have to stay
wherever there's room.
Any reoccurrence can lead
to very serious consequences--
neurological damage,
learning disabilities.
Right now your daughter's
in good hands.
We'll keep her here
on the IV for about a week
and then schedule
some follow-up examinations.
Just let her rest,
and go get some sleep yourself.
Come back tomorrow.
I have to go now, baby.
The doctor says
you're gonna be okay.
I'll be back in the morning.
I love you.
Woman on PA: Paging
Dr. Silverman, room 103, stat.
- Dr. Silverman.
- Hi.
( chattering )
Hi, honey. Hi.
How you feeling today?
Mommy, look what I painted.
Here's the hospital.
Here's the doctor
and here's the nurse.
And when I'm all done,
we're gonna hang it up
on the wall!
Is that you
with the big smile?
- Uh-huh.
- Great.
- Guess what I had for lunch.
- What?
Hamburger,
French fries,
and chocolate pudding
for dessert.
Chocolate pudding!
Boy, are you lucky.
See this?
His name's Nibbles.
He runs around
this wheel all day
and he likes me
to feed him lettuce.
Here, Nibbles,
have some lettuce.
I talked to the doctor
a little while ago.
He said you've been doing
real good.
He says you can leave here
day after tomorrow.
I don't want to leave here!
I like it here!
I have my own bed!
Everybody's nice to me!
It's the best place
I ever stayed,
and I don't want to go!
We'll see what the doctor says.
Brought you a candy bar
No, I don't want
a candy bar.
Well,
I'll hold onto it for you.
You might want it
after supper.
Go back to your paints, honey.
They're gonna dry up.
Go on. Come on, go on.
Woman on PA: Orderly,
third floor nurses' station.
Orderly,
third floor nurses' station.
Man:
Come on, give me
the things back.
Man #2:
Quit pushing me.
Quit pushing me!
- Aah!
- ( siren )
Come on, get back here!
Mrs. Johnson.
I need to talk you.
Come in.
I want you to take Hillary.
I want you
to find her a home.
Are you sure about this?
We stay in places where you're
afraid to fall asleep.
We eat food
nobody else wants.
We spend all day on the street
walking with no place to go.
People look at us
like we're trash.
They don't want
to stand next to us.
They don't want
to talk to us.
They don't even want
to know we're there.
It's the loneliest
kind of life.
It's no way for a child live.
Others can give her better.
Can they love her
as much as you?
No. No.
But she needs more than love.
She needs other kids to play
with,
friends who aren't gonna
be leaving every two weeks.
She needs decent clothes
and food
that don't make her sick.
She needs a roof over her head
and a safe place to sleep.
She needs a home.
Mrs. Johnson, please,
sit down.
The first thing
we'll need to do
is contact
the juvenile court.
They'll assign a counselor
to see if there's any way
you and Hillary
can remain together.
If that doesn't seem to be
in her best interest,
they'll begin
court proceedings.
They'll need to talk
to Hillary's father.
Her father?
I don't know where he is.
They'll try
to track him down.
In the meantime,
you'll be assigned an attorney
to help you
with the hearings.
How long is all this
gonna take?
It could take six months.
It could take longer.
Six months?
That's too long.
She can't live like this
another six months.
What if she gets sick again?
What if she gets hurt?
There's only one way they'll
take a child immediately.
How?
If she's been abused
or abandoned.
Abandoned?
You tell me where,
you tell me when.
I call a woman
from the juvenile court.
We'd come get her.
They'll put her
in a children's shelter
for two weeks,
then place her
in a foster home.
After that, they'll start
working on her adoption.
There's no easy answer,
Mrs. Johnson.
If you do this,
it's gonna affect Hillary
for a long time to come.
She'll have a hard time
trusting people
and more than likely,
she'll blame you.
So I have to choose between
keeping her on the streets
or having her hate me.
I can't think
about me right now.
I have to think about Hillary.
I have to think
about her future.
My family
has always been poor,
Mister Reed--
my mother, and my grandmother,
and her mother before that.
We worked hard
and we sweated,
but we ain't never been
anything but poor.
I don't know how
to stop that for Hillary.
I don't know how.
Except to give her
to somebody else.
Her doctor's name
is Dr. Cheney.
She has to go back
for a checkup once a month.
That's the medicine
she has to take.
Don't worry, Mrs. Johnson
we'll take care of this.
It's the best thing I can do,
isn't it, Mr. Reed?
Maybe she'll grow up
to be healthy and smart.
And maybe one day,
she'll forgive me
for what I've done.
I love my daughter.
I love my daughter.
I love her so much.
I love her.
I know. I know.
Let's sit down a minute,
okay?
I got something
I want to show you.
Over there.
You were so good
while you were in here.
You did everything
the nurses told you to,
and you never cried once.
You made me so proud.
And I got you a present.
A present?
See if you like it.
Do you like it?
Yes.
Here, let's put it on you.
First we'll take
this one off.
And then...
There.
Oh.
It looks beautiful on you.
It's pretty.
You know
what that heart means?
What?
It means your mommy
loves you.
And whenever you look at it,
that's what I want you
to remember.
Your mommy loves you.
I love you too, Mommy.
Come on,
let's go to the park.
Excuse me,
can you tell me
what time it is?
11:30.
Honey,
it's almost lunchtime.
I'm going to go get us
some sandwiches.
You think you can stay here
and play by yourself
for a little while?
Yeah, I want to go
on the swing.
Good.
No, wait!
Don't forget Mary Beth.
Okay.
- Hillary!
- Hi!
Hi. Could you come
over here, please?
My mom's gone.
She went to get sandwiches.
I know,
she asked me to come get you,
take you over to my house.
Why, is she gonna be there?
Hillary, you and I
are gonna have to talk
about some things.
- Who's that?
- Her name is Mrs. McCurdy.
She's a very nice lady,
She's gonna come with us.
But I'm not supposed to go
with anybody but my mommy.
I know, sweetheart,
but this time's different.
My mommy told me
to stay here.
It's okay, it's okay.
We're just gonna
go to my house.
Why can't we wait for her?
We'll talk about
all that later.
- Come to the car.
- Come on, sweetheart.
- Come on, come on.
- No.
I don't want to go.
Where's my mommy?
- It's okay.
- Mommy! Mommy!
Here we go.
Here we go.
( Hillary sobbing )
Theresa:
Her doll.
Please, pick up her doll.
( engine starts )
Pick up her doll.
Mommy!
Hillary, your doll.
Here you go.
There you go.
Mommy!
Mommy!
( Hillary sobs )