Marvin & Tige (1983) - full transcript

[up-tempo music playing]

[woman yelling]...Eighty dollars short...

[indistinctive voices]

[woman] Now,
what are you talking about?

You never
come home with nothing!

Now I want that?
And the $80?

[indistinctive voices]

[woman] Yeah, well you
gonna go out in a second

if you don't get that money!

[man] You can't? Man!

[woman] Why do you think
I'm living out here?



[woman] Oh, don't give me that!
I'm....

[door closes]

[Tige] I'm home.

Hope you brought something
that don't need cooking.

They cut off the gas today.

We can still use
the hot plate, can we?

I got some pork and beans
and some lunch meat for us.

I didn't even think about that.

Yeah, go ahead
and plug it in for me.

I'll heat up some of that meat

and open up one of those
cans of beans, is that okay?

[Tige] Yeah, that's okay.

[crying]

...and over here,
he tries it on Cinderella.



And it fits.

[chuckling]

And then her fairy godmother
comes back and casts a spell.

And makes her all
dressed up beautiful again.

The prince has found his bride.

They, they get married,

and they live
happily ever after.

The end.

Well, what happened
to her step sisters?

And her step mamma?

I don't know.

Doesn't say.

What do you think
happened to them?

They all threw up.

[chuckles] You crazy little boy.

Go on and into bed.

It's too early to go to bed.

Don't give me any
back talk. Go on to bed.

Ain't you forgetting something?

Would you wipe that
frown off your face

and get back over here?

You ain't got but one mamma.

As if you didn't know it.

I didn't appreciate my mamma
while she was alive neither.

I appreciate you.

You just get sloppy, that's all.

Can I even be
motherly if I want to?

[Vanessa]
You're all I got, Tige.

[Vanessa crying]

[Tige] Mamma?

Mamma?

Mamma?

Mamma, you asleep?

Mamma?

[tearfully] Mamma!

[Tige sobbing]

What's your name please?

I'm Carrie Carter.

[officer #1] And this is
your residence here?

[Carrie] Yeah, I live here.

[officer #1] How long have
you known the deceased?

[Carrie] Ten or
12 years, I guess.

[officer #1] What's
your phone number, miss?

My number's 794-8733.

Does he have nay next of kin?

No. Poor child,
he ain't got nobody.

If it's all right,
he can spend night here.

Could he?

Sure, I'll have
the Welfare Board

come over tomorrow
and pick him up.

[knocking at door]

[Carrie] Tige? Come on
out of there, baby.

Now, you can't stay in there.
It ain't good for you.

Tige?

[glass clanking in trolley]

That's gonna hurt.

Have to go, that's one
of the most painful ways.

Problem is...

Problem is with that,

you could lay around
for three or four hours...

before anything happens.

Or someone could come along,

get you to a hospital...

and the doctors
could save your life.

Then they call in
a psychiatrist.

And he probe and he search
and he try to find some reason

why an eight year old kid
would try to kill himself.

Eleven.

What?

Eleven.

Eleven?

Excuse me.

Then they say,

"He undoubtedly was
unhappy about something."

Maybe some tragedy in
his life he can't cope with.

Mamma dead.

Oh, I'm sorry to
hear that, I really am.

She the only,
only family you have?

Yeah, I...

I can see how that would...

Make a person feel lost.

But if,

if you're a hundred percent
sure you wanna die,

and I, I could suggest
some other ways...

You see there's gas,

uh, electrical... uh, shock,

uh, jumping from a building,
sleeping pills, poison,

uh, hanging,
uh, and if you can find a gun,

the old reliable
bullet in the head,

which rarely, if ever, fails.

But, on the other hand, if,

if you feel that you...

could at least
live one more night,

I'd invite you home for
a bowl of chili. [chuckles]

And you,
you could get some rest,

and sleep on it.

And you could start
again in the morning.

That's the way
you should do things!

Would you like to
come home with me?

You don't have to
if you don't want to.

But I really don't
think that you...

Should be out here
all by yourself.

The boogeyman could get ya.

Ain't no boogeyman!

Oh, you may be right
about that, I, I wouldn't know.

I never, I never stayed out
that long to find out.

Well, you coming or not? I...

[barely audibly] I don't care.

[normal voice]
Whatever you wanna do.

[glass clanking in trolley]

[Marvin calls out] Coming?

Turn all these in tomorrow.

Twenty dollars' worth here.

Pretty good living
from bottles and cans.

[Marvin sighs]

[Marvin huff out a breath]

Oh, by the way...

[sighs] My name is Marvin.

[chuckles]

[chuckling] That's
a terrible name, Marvin, I know.

Every time I hear
the name Marvin

I think of a man
with a big nose.

Big black glasses.

Brown shoelaces. [chuckling]
White socks and little bow tie.

[laughing] And checkered jacket.

Ah!

Anyway, make yourself at home.

Oh!

You know, one thing
I like about this place...

It heats up fast,
there're no drafts here.

Warm.

I gotta heat up
that bowl of chili for you.

I made this fresh yesterday.

So you're not gonna
get ptomaine or anything.

[Marvin whistling
"Jungle Bells"]

Would you like to join me?

Ah, c'mon, don't--
C'mon, don't do that.

No, don't, don't do that!

Don't cry! Don't! Damn!

On second thought, maybe...

I don't know, maybe it's
good to let it all out.

[sighs] Because you know
what makes you cry, don't ya?

No, not just you, anybody.

It's thoughts.

And feelings, that does it.

You know, it starts right up
here in your head, and, and...

These sad thoughts,
trigger a reaction...

And when these depressing,
aggravating and sad thoughts

collect, it's like
decongesting a head cold.

The... thoughts start right
up here in your forehead

and goes straight out of your
eyes in the form of tears.

And the more you cry,

the more of these depressing
feelings you get rid of.

[sighs] And you
start to feel better.

[chuckling]

Yeah, I think some of those,

those bad feelings
are gone already.

There.

It is a little better, isn't it?

[burning sound]

Is it?

[chuckles] Your stuff's burning.

[Marvin] What?

Oh.

So much for dinner! [groans]

[pan sizzling under cold water]

Didn't do my grocery
shopping for this week.

Is that for me?

What about you?

I ain't hungry.

Well, thank you very much.

Sure you don't want half?

[chuckles]

What's your name, by the way?

Tige.

I beg your pardon.

Tige.

Tige.

What's that,
a first name or a last name?

First.
My last name Jackson.

Tige.

That's a handsome name.

Unusual.

Is it African, or what?

You see a bone stuck in my nose?

I didn't say you were African.

I only said... Never mind.

What about your father?
Is he dead too?

Asked my mamma
one time where my dad was.

She said he don't
give a damn 'bout me.

As far as he concerned, we dead.

-So was he.
-[Marvin chuckles]

Wanna lie down?

There's a bed inside there.

You want some music?
You like music? You mind it?

Put some music on.

[classic piano music playing]

Well, good night to you too.

[Marvin snoring]

[store man] It's closing time.

Time for little boys
to be getting home.

[knocking at door]

[Marvin] Who is it?

-[Tige] Tige.
-[Marvin] Tige?

[Tige] How much
company do you get?

Well, hello again.

Hey.

[Marvin] C'mon in,
it's cold out there.

Take it you didn't find
a place to stay tonight

other than here?

That's okay.

You can stay here tonight.

I could use the company.

Take your coat off,
there's a closet right in here.

Oh, the coat on the door.

That way you can see if
anyone tries to steal it.

Or possibly for
a quick getaway.

I think it's good
to be cautious, but...

I do give people the benefit of
the doubt, and trust, sometimes.

Ah, there's a couple of
fish sticks in the pan,

if you're hungry.

[sniffs]

[yawning]

You ain't got
no television, do you?

I have a deck
of cards, wanna play?

[Tige] Okay.

You know how to play 'Old Maid'?

'Old Maid'?

Yeah. See, it's the old maid.

Ah.

I thought you were gonna say
poker or something like that.

What's the matter with you?

Well, I thought, I assumed
that you knew poker, that you,

dice, gambling.

You must think I'm like Mojo.

Who's Mojo?

Just a stupid creep who
lives across the hall from me.

He does all them things.

Man, you know how
to play 'Old Maid' or not?

Oh, I know, I... [chuckles]

Play 'Old Maid'.

Take out all your pairs first.

You know, Mojo gonna end up
just like his brothers.

In jail.

Miss Carrie got her hands
full with them niggers.

[Marvin] Who is she?

She's a nice lady.

She got a good job too.

She was gonna come let
my mamma live with her.

Finished taking out
all your pairs?

Gotta take turns pulling
from each other now.

Got it, got it.

So when do you go
back to Miss Carrie's

instead of running amuck
and trynna do yourself in?

Well, think would like living
with her,

if it wasn't for that Mojo.

Man, that nigger never
gonna amount to nothing.

And you? What are
you gonna amount to?

Who, me? I might not
even make it till 12.

Much less trynna
amount to something.

It's a pretty rough
statement to make, there.

So what? It's true though.

Look what happened to my mom.
Almost followed. Except for you.

Well, maybe I'm your
guardian angel, Tige.

I ain't gonna knock it.

Maybe you is.

Are not is.

Are not is what?

You are, not you is.
Don't use 'is' with you.

How come? It mean
the same thing, don't it?

Possibly, but it...

It's just not the way it
was intended to be.

Well, I couldn't care less.

You saying nobody ever had
no trouble understanding

what I'm talking about.

Don't see what the hell you
complaining about neither.

Hey. Don't talk that way, right?

It's my house.

I don't like that.

Did you hear me?

So don't say 'hell'.

All right?

I can say whatever
the hell I want.

Hey, you can say
what you wanna say,

but you don't say what
you wanna say, around me.

You plan to stay here,
just remember that.

This is my home.
Let's get it straight.

What I say goes.

If you don't like that idea...
there's the door.

I ain't gotta do
nothing you tell me.

And I ain't gonna stay here.

Yeah, where will you go?

Who the hell cares?

Well, I do. I, I,
I do a little, I suppose.

You know, if you--
you don't have any place to go,

otherwise you
would have done so.

Why don't we try meeting
each other half way on things,

not all your way, not all mine?

There now.

That solves one
problem right there.

As long as you're not talking,
you can't swear at me.

I'm going to bed.
You do what you like.

[Tige] I'll leave
in the morning.

[Marvin] What?

[raising his voice] Said I'll
leave in the morning, man!

-[Tige sighs]
-[Marvin] That's what you want.

[Marvin] You know [chuckling]
you don't need a lot of money,

really to live.
You know what you need?

[Tige] What?

[Marvin] A terrific
sense of humor.

You know where it comes from?

-[Tige] Where?
-[Marvin] The Sun.

You can't look at the sun

-without smiling!
-[Tige laughing]

[Marvin] You really
don't notice that?

[Tige] Nope.

["Jungle Bells" music playing]

[baby crying]

-[Santa] C'mon, sit closer.
-[little girl crying]

-[Santa] Well...
-[little girl] Mamma, mamma.

[Tige] Don't you like girls,
just cause they girls?

[Marvin] Girls? What are girls?

Girls are birds.

What do you mean,
"I don't like 'em?"

How can I not like 'em?

What would the
world be without 'em?

[Tige] You sure
don't act like it.

You ain't no fag, is you?

[Marvin] Hey! [chuckling]

Just cause I don't go
around picking up girls,

doesn't mean I make it
a practice of picking up guys.

I'm a guy. You picked me up.

Yeah, well, we're all entitled
to our mistakes, you know?

Look, they got another one.

[choir singing Christmas songs]

Beautiful tree.

[Tige] Yeah.

Is that the biggest
tree in the world?

No, it's not the biggest.

Pretty close though.

-[choir continues singing]
-[Tige] You all right, Marv?

You need a heavier coat.

Nah, I'm all right.
It ain't cold out here.

-[Marvin] You sure?
-[Tige] Yeah.

Suit yourself.

Get over here,
before you freeze your rump off.

[Tige] Hey, Marv?

Is this gonna be another one of
these "Hey, Marv" night's?

I need a bedtime story.

Bedtime story? You?

-[Marvin laughing]
-[Tige] Yeah.

Like kids get 'em, don't they?

-Okay.
-Ain't I good enough? [chuckles]

Okay, okay.

I'll tell you a short one, okay?

Once upon aa time...
There lived this little elf,

in the beginning
of this huge book.

And he, one day, wanted to
see how the other pages lived.

So he went all the way back,

page after page,
page after page,

till he got to
the very last page.

And low and behold,
what do you think it said?

-What?
-Good night.

[Tige sighs] Oh, man.

[Marvin sighs] I never said
I was Mother Goose, did I?

-[Tige laughs]
-[Marvin] Go to sleep-- What?

What did you say?

-[both laughing]
-[Tige] Good night.

[Marvin] Huh!

[Tige] Ho, ho, ho.

[Marvin] Ho, ho, ho.

Oh!

-[lady chuckling]
-[Marvin] Say thank you.

-[lady] Okay.
-[Tige] Thank you.

Thank you. Merry Christmas,
thanks very much.

Fifteen tiny little dollars.

We fallin' behind,
ain't we, Marv?

Ah, don't worry about it.

We get a little
tight, we get more.

Where?

What did I just say?

-Okay, okay.
-Okay.

[Tige trying to whistle
"Jingle Bells"]

-[Tige continues whistling]
-All right, put it back.

[chuckling] Hey, Marv.
You scared me, man.

I thought I asked you to go
after some cereal for me.

I was gonna get 'em for you.

What, after you, you put
everything in your pockets,

-I suppose?
-Just trynna help you out, man.

Yeah, well don't help me
that way. Just put it back.

Back? I can't!

Somebody might see me.

[yelling] Somebody's
already seen you. Me!

Now, either you put
it back in that cart,

or you put it back
where you got it from.

And we're not leaving here
until you do one or the other.

What about my money?

What about your money, what?

Oh, I tell you, Tige.

I can't give it
to you right now.

We got a lot of expenses.
We got groceries, and...

And other things.

So, you just gonna
take my money, huh?

Without even asking me.

[Marvin] Well...

I didn't think
you'd mind that much

considering you pay
free room and board.

But it's still my money, man.

You don't be taking my money
on that kind of deal.

You wanna eat tomorrow?

I can get my own food.

All right.

That's the way you want it.

Don't follow me
around, will you?

All right...

One, two, three, four...

Four...

Fifty.

I owe you $3,
and then we're even, right?

It's my money.

I know it's your money.
Can't we just drop it now?

Go on, take your bath.

I'll cook us some,
something to eat. Go on.

Scoot, go! Bang. Boom.

Unbelievable.

[yells out] You are
unbelievable.

I don't know how many times
I've started this puzzle,

and I lose interest
and put it away.

What's it picture of?

That, my friend, is the
greatest mystery of them all.

[Marvin imitates evil laugh]

Have to put it
together and find out.

-It is sure ain't easy.
-A good puzzle never is.

-Ah.
-What about me?

What about you, what?

I want something to drink, too.

Well, go on in the kitchen and
get yourself a glass of milk.

[Tige makes choking sound]

Urgh!

It tastes terrible.

Don't see how you
can drink that.

Rarely does one
drink for mere taste.

However, they still do it.

For what's your reason?

Or do you got any?

I have a reason.

I think everyone has.

Sometimes I drink to get high...
Or to... Cure my nerves or...

when I need a little courage.

Ah...

Think you-- you drink, hmm...
To forget. Forget things.

[chuckling] I guess I've used
every one of those excuses

from one time to another.

Oh!

But I, I don't,
I don't need the drink.

I don't have to.

I just don't have
a good reason to stop I guess.

[Tige] You
a alcoholic, ain't you?

No, [chuckles] I don't think so.

I don't know.
Sometimes I want to.

[Marvin takes deep breath]

Drink the rest of that.

-Why?
-'Cause I want you too.

Dink it.

[Marvin groaning]

Shows you ain't a regular drunk.

You bet it does.

[Tige] Marvin?

Yes, what?

If you want me to,
I'll help you quit.

[chuckles] No, I, I don't...

Only alcoholics
need help to quit.

You just keep reminding me
that I'm not one, okay?

Okay.

-Got two so far.
-Hmmm.

Uh, try to find the edges.

Tige?

You in the bathroom?

You should've let me know.

[Marvin] Where've
you been all day?

Man, I've been at school.

[Marvin] What?

Yeah! You know, one of those
things with books and bells--

Yeah, I know what a--
I know what a school is.

-And you went there?
-Yeah.

Well, you've been howling about
me learning something, ain't ya?

Did anyone ask you anything,
the teachers or anything?

Nah, get this, man.

I told them all
I was from out of town.

[laughing] And I was
checking out all the schools

to see which one
I wanted to go to.

[Marvin laughs]

They believe that, huh?

Yeah! Well, see this,
they don't know me like you do.

So, tell me.
What did you learn as school?

Man, I learned a lot today.

In one class they were showing
a film about some dude named...

Benjamin, who was
on electricity.

Benjamin, some--
what's the dude's name, man?

-Franklin.
-Yeah, that's him!

-[Marvin chuckles]
-That's him.

Well, anyway,
it was a cartoon film, right?

And it was showing how this
bald headed guy with hair

was catching
electricity with his cape--

-[Marvin laughing]
-What's wrong?

[laughing] And what they're
sayin' lightnin' don't strike...

-the same place two times.
-[Marvin laughing]

[Marvin] What?

[Tige laughing]
You know why that is?

[Marvin laughing] Why?

Because when lightnin'
strikes that place... [laughing]

[both laughing]

I ate lunch too.

Did you pay for it, at least?

-No.
-Did he?

No, I, I didn't steal it either.

You see, I told the teacher
I had no money, right?

And she bought it for me.

Good, that's nice.
That's very nice.

See, it pays to be honest,
that's good.

I got these books so you can
start teaching me something.

-Oh. I'm no teacher.
-C'mon!

-You want me to teach you?
-Yeah.

Oh! I'm not a teacher, I'm not--

C'mon, Marv, man.
You know I can't go to school.

They gonna be trynna
find out where I come from.

Try to stick me in a home.

Where did you get these books?
From another kid?

No, I swapped 'em.

-You what? [chuckling]
-No!

I mean, I borrow them
from the lib-ry.

[chuckling] Yeah, but it's
library, it's not lib-ry.

-[stammering] Wh-- Li--
-Library.

Libe-bwory.

-Library.
-Library, right?

-Yeah.
-Li-- Library!

See that! I'm learning already!

-Yep, great!
-C'mon, man, let's get started.

Which book we gonna use first?

Okay, this-- which one?

This...

-Read that?
-Can you read that?

Wait.

That right there's
an 'A', right?

Yeah.

And that's a one?

[Marvin] Yeah.

Man, I don't think
I can read the rest.

The rest of it?

You didn't read any of it, yet.

An 'A' and a 'one',
that's not reading.

[chuckles] Well, I told ya
I couldn't read to begin with.

[Marvin under his breath]
Oh my god!

I never said I was no genius.

Yeah, you never said
you were illiterate, either.

I mean, you should've
stayed in school long enough

to at least learn how to read!

Man, I told you why I had to get
out of school, I had to work!

Yeah, I know, I know, I know.

So, what do you want
from me then?

A miracle?

I guess, you know I'm
not so good with children.

Still...

You know, when you want
something bad enough,

you don't let what others
do or say, turn you against it.

Man, I wanna learn something.

Anything.

At least be able
to write my name.

And read a little bit.

So I can be like other people.

But man, the way
you howl at folks...

It's enough to scary them out of
doing anything they wanted to.

What's it say?

Tige Jackson.

Here. You take it,
you practice on it for a while,

I'm gonna cook us some dinner.

-[Marvin] Forget that.
-[both laughing]

You're so slow.

Slow down.
Why can't you button up?

[both chuckling]

[Marvin] I had
a nice time today.

[Tige] Yup.

-[Marvin] You?
-[Tige] Yup.

Nice bike.

How much do you think
a bike like that costs?

Used to be $130,00.

It's been reduced to $99,99.

[Marvin] Ever owned
a bike like that?

Nah.

I'll get it for you.

How?

How do you think somebody
picks up something like that?

Without having any money?

Don't look like that.

-You do it.
-Man, I do it small.

You steal something like that
and you get caught,

you go to jail.

Okay, maybe I won't get caught.

And don't try give it to me.

You can't eat no bicycle.
And you can't wear it neither.

I've been going this long
without things like that.

I guess I can keep on going.

You ain't gotta
steal for me, Marvin.

It ain't your style.

You just ain't worth it.

Come on, let's go home.

Bye, bike.

[both laughing]

[Marvin] Ah,
I love Christmas Eves.

Still have that knife of yours?

[Tige] Yeah, why?

Let me borrow it a minute,
I wanna get us a Christmas tree.

[Tige] Here.

[Tige] Ain't no Christmas tree!

[Marvin] Yeah,
a tree is just a tree.

Got to add the
Christmas to it yourself.

Here's your knife.

Thanks.

What do you think?

That's stupid.
I guess it will do.

[Marvin imitating evil laugh]
It's beautiful.

[Tige imitates evil laugh]

Hey, Marv?

Yes?

Uh, what was Christmas
like, back in your day?

You mean back in the 1800's?

Yeah, back then?

Was you poor?

No, I wasn't poor.

My family was well off.

It was special.
Was very special.

[Marvin sighs]

It wasn't just receiving
the gifts that made us happy,

it was...

The fact that we
were all together.

Where's your family now?

Is, is they dead or something?

No.

Just my wife.

Sorta lost track of everyone
back then, when she died.

Catherine, my wife...

Very beautiful lady.

And lovely green eyes.

Was so long ago.

Then she became ill,

and the doctor told her
she had a month to live.

How do you tell somebody you
have one month to live?

Look them straight
in the eye and say

"Your life has been cancelled."

And when she died...

It was like the end
of the word for me.

I thought...

[Tige] That's all right, Marvin.

You ain't gotta
tell me no more, man.

-What?
-You remembering too much, man.

Ah, sometimes...

Sometimes memories
are all we have left.

You not supposed to
remember that bad stuff, man.

Gotta remember the good things.

-[church bells toll]
-[kids shouting to each other]

[Tige making car sounds]

Merry Christmas to you too!

Hey, are these for me?

Hey, you'd be pretty
embarrassed if they weren't,

-now would you?
-[Tige chuckles] Yeah.

Do they fit?

-I guess.
-Give me your right foot.

-By how much?
-Come one, very funny.

Let's go, right foot.

Okay, hold on.

[Marvin] Ah, ew!

[chuckles] Ow!

-[Tige laughing]
-Oh my God.

They fit fine.

Aren't you gonna
teach me how to skate?

Yeah, no. No, you go
practice for a while.

I go, I gotta get some sleep,

I was up half the night
trynna find those things.

[Tige in a sing-song voice]
Marvin.

Tige!

-Yeah?
-Later.

[chuckling]

[Marvin] All right,
grab a hold of this.

Good!

Come on.

Okay. Come on.
Just try to be free.

[woman]
That's about it, Mr. Stewart.

[Marvin] I understand,
I understand.

There's-- and there's
no hope for adoption?

-No.
-Unless I can prove

that he doesn't have
any living relatives.

-[Woman] Exactly. That's right.
-Thank you very much,

-for your help.
-[woman] You're welcome.

And uh,
I'll fill out these forms.

-[woman] Good.
-Thank you for your time,

I really appreciate it.
Thank you very much.

[girls] ♪ Tell me the name
of your sweetheart ♪

-[kids playing]
-[girls] ♪ A B ♪

♪ C D E F G H ♪

♪ I J K L M ♪

[Carrie] Who's there?

[Marvin] My name
is Marvin Stewart.

I'd like to talk to Miss Carrie,
about Tige Jackson.

That poor child
didn't have nobody.

I almost wished
I could take him.

But I can't help him none.

I got four of my own.

With two in jail
and one pregnant.

I'm sorry to hear
that, Miss Carrie.

But Tige must have
someone, somewhere.

I understand his father's dead.

Hmm, well, I doubt if he's dead.

That's what Vanessa told Tige

when he started
asking about his daddy.

I can't say exactly
where he is, but...

He's probably in Atlanta though.

Lord, she wanted to marry
him, ever since she met him!

[smirks] She figured
if she had his baby,

she could hold on to him.

That was eight,
mmm, nine years ago.

Never heard a word
from him the whole time.

What, you have his
last known address?

Or telephone number?

I... I think I got
his number here someplace.

-Charlie?
-[Charlie] Ma'am?

Uh, look in that top
drawer and bring me that

little address book and a pen.

I wanna ask you something,
do you believe in God?

-Yeah.
-If you believe in God...

then...

you gotta believe that He
created people to be different.

Gave 'em a brain to think with,

and a good-- and a capacity
to love and understand.

Maybe just waiting for us
to put it all to use.

[chuckles] But man,
that stuff's been going on

for years and years.

Man, when He gonna come
down and help us out?

I think He will.
I think He will.

Ah, I think people are
beginning to treat people

more like people,
instead of like, colors.

You know?

Like when I first met you,
you were just like a...

A little black child. Now
you're, you're... You're you.

You're Tige Jackson, you're you.

What do you think of
when you look at me?

Hmm, I used to see just a...

-a white man.
-Hmmm.

[chuckles]
Well, now I see Marvin.

You seem the same as me, now.

-[Marvin] Aha!
-Not black, but, you know?

-Just the same.
-[Marvin chuckling]

For a person who don't even know
what a question mark is,

you're asking pretty good ones.

A person is always saying,
"I don't know." You do.

[Marvin] Yeah. Okay.

We'll, I love you too.

We're all so happy.
Let's go have some fun!

Okay.

Where shall we start?

The scream machine!

The scream machine?

I tell you what,
let's start with something

a little closer to the ground.

Ah, Marv!

[Marvin] Oh, no, not for me.

If you wanna try it,
you go right ahead.

You're young, you'll make it.

C'mon! Try it with me, man?

No.

-[people screaming]
-Yeah!

Oh!

-Oh!
-[Tige laughing]

Oh, my God!

-Wow! Here we go again!
-[Tige laughing]

Oh!

[Tige laughing]

[Marvin grumbling]

Ah...

[indistinctive voices]

Wait, wait.
Oh-ho-ho. Ho-ho-oh! [laughing]

[Tige singing] ♪ Ringle bells
Ringle all the way ♪

Did they teach you
the name of that song?

I sing it the way I wanna.

I can teach you the words.

What do you have against me,

me teaching you
the words to a song?

Oh, I see, I see. You just...

You don't wanna
learn anything, is that it?

I know I'm not far away.

Well, you don't know
the words to the song.

Look at that sign over there.

Can you read that?

Don't care.

Yeah, but you
really should you know?

You need an education
in order to find out

what the world is all about.

Listen, man, I already
know what the world is about.

It's about all
your white crackers,

especially them big ones.

You know the ones that say
"You gotta have an education".

My mamma
got turned out 20 jobs, 20!

Just because she didn't have
that little tiny piece of paper

that says she learned
all the things that they wanted.

You're jealous, you know that?
[chuckles] You're jealous!

You're jealous of
the more fortunate.

But there're poor whites,

as well as blacks,
and, and every other race.

Now, you wanna end up
like your mother?

No education,
no hope for the future?

You keep on going
just the way you're going.

Hey.

Is that you're answer to
everything? Just to walk away?

Who says I won't die tonight,
just like my mamma?

And who says you won't
live to be a 100?

Now wait a minute!

What are you gonna have
to show for all those years?

You need a wife,
you need a home,

you need kids,
you need a family.

You need a job!

And you can make all that
happen if you want to.

Look who's talking!

You've been through
all this shit yourself,

and what you got
to show for it? Huh?

A drunk! A liquor bottle
and bad breath!

Man, all that work
you've been through,

and you ain't
got a damn thing!

But I guess that's what
the world needs,

some more well educated drunks.

Apologize!

For what?
It's all true ain't it?

You don't insult people!

You respect others,
and they respect you.

Pfft. Like hell they will!

[yelling] Hey, listen! I asked
you repeatedly not to swear,

and I've asked you to try
to act more like a human being.

If you can't do
those two simple things,

-then you take a walk!
-[Tige grumbles]

I don't wanna see
your black face again!

Know what else you can do too?

Yeah, I know what I can do!

I know what I can do,
don't tempt me, son!

Go to hell, bastard!

All right.

Put that knife away.

Just get it away.
[yelling] Put it in there!

Get it in your pocket!
Get that in your pocket!

You won't have any hands!

Go on! I don't feel
like playing games!

[newsman] In sports tonight,
two games in the MBA...

[newsman continues speaking]

[muffled voices from television]

[newsman continues speaking]

[newsman] ...a cold front
has moved into the south

and temperatures will be
dropping into the lower teens,

with the chill factor
temperature below zero.

There will be rain
and high winds.

[Marvin calling out] Tige!

Ed?

See that kids I was with?

Yeah, I saw him a long
while ago, went that way.

[Marvin] Thanks!

[Marvin] Tige?

Tige?

Can't stay out here all night.

[Marvin] Think that's enough?

-Think that's enough?
-Yeah, it's enough.

Whoop. All the way back.

Now we take it.

-[Tige coughing]
-[Marvin grunting]

All right, all right. Okay.

All right, all right.

-[Tige continues coughing]
-All right, okay.

[Marvin sighs] You say
you won't live to be 12?

[chuckles]
With me around, you won't.

[moaning and coughing]

[Tige continues coughing]

[coughing]

I'm, uh, gonna give you
a little bit of this.

Okay now, open up.

There you go.

No, no, suck it all in.

Lick the spoon now.

C'mon. There you go.

It won't do you any good at all.
[takes deep breath and sighs]

Look, I'm gonna
take you to a doctor.

I'm taking you to Grady.

You gonna turn me over
ain't ya?

No, I gotta get you
to a hospital.

And I can't sit here...

[stammering] I don't know
what to do with you.

I can't even take care of ya.

[in sad voice] I don't
wanna go to them people.

Tige.

Leave me alone, dammit!

-C'mon.
-Move, move. Move.

Hello?

Mr. Richard Davis, please?

Who the hell are you anyway?

What business is if of yours?

Could I sit down?

Actually...

I'm nobody to be
concerned about.

I'm just a guy in the middle.

I've been sort of
a guardian to Tige,

ever since his mother died.

I guess, I should
have told you that before.

She died penniless

and, she had no other
relatives except for Tige.

And I didn't see any harm

in keeping him
for myself, for a while.

So why didn't you just
dump him in an orphanage

and be done with it?

Well, now that I see
as a perfectly good father...

I don't have a son.

I have three children,
they are all girls.

Now, look, Mr. Davis, I, I,

I'm not trying
to hand him back to you.

I really don't care
two cents about you,

personally, or your family.

My only concern is Tige.

I came here because you're
my only good candidate for help.

What kind of help?

Tige is sick, he's ill.

Now he's dead set...

against being
admitted to a hospital

because he' afraid he'll
end up in state's custody.

So, what do you want?

All I want is for
a doctor to look at him.

I think I can handle
the rest from there.

But, the problem is,

I just don't even have
enough money for cab fare.

So, if you could spare a little
something, anything at all...

You take me for some kind
of fool or something?

You expect me to believe that?

You come walking
in here from nowhere.

I don't even know you.

And you expect me
to hand you some money

because you asked me to?

You gotta be crazy or something.

Um, all you have to do
is come home with me,

and see for yourself.

What's the matter, you afraid I
might be telling you the truth?

You so afraid of a little boy?

[chuckling] I'm not
afraid of anything.

Then come with me.

I'm not going anywhere with you.

For all I know,
you may be some kind of a nut

who goes around digging
things up on people

and tries to blackmail them.
You know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna pretend
you never came in here.

But if you try to
play games with me...

I'll be glad to take you on.

So, why don't you
just go out that door,

the same way you came in.

Would it be better if I
brought him here to you?

I would rather you get
your behind out that door

before I call the security guard
and have you thrown out!

Thank you very much for
your precious time. Good day.

[door slams shut]

Tige?

Tige?

Wake up.

Wake up.

Oh God, no!

Hey!

[car horn tooting]

Help! Stop!

[driver shouting] You crazy?

Please, I need help. I gotta
get him to a hospital, please!

-He's gotta...
-[driver] All right, get in.

[Marvin] I can't
get him to wake up.

He needs a doctor.

-Well, what do we do?
-Just bring him this way.

[Marvin] All right.

[loudspeaker] Dr. Anderson,
to maternity please.

I didn't have time to dress him.

Sir, no need to explain.

Dr. Ross to emergency.

Dr. Ross to emergency.

[Marvin] How is he?

[Dr. Ross] As well as can be
expected, he's in a coma now.

[Marvin] A coma?
What's wrong with him?

[Dr. Ross] He's small,
suffering from malnutrition.

The odds aren't good.

I'm sorry to say I've done
all that I can for him,

it's not up to me--

[Marvin] Wait a minute,

wait a minute!Are you saying he's dying?

[Dr. Ross] I'm saying
that there's that possibility.

[Richard] Hello?

Hello?

Mr. Davis?

This is Marvin Stewart again.

[Richard] What?

You know what I told you before.

Look, I'm not
calling about money.

I'm calling about your son.

He's at Grady.

And uh, he has pneumonia,
he may not make it.

Not that that
really bothers you--

[click followed by dial tone]

[loudspeaker] Dr. Anderson
to maternity please.

[heart monitor beeping]

Please don't...

Please don't die on me, son.

[heart monitor beeping]

[monitor continues beeping]

[Marvin] Are you
concerned, or curious?

Little of both.

Ah, you know, it was,
it was such a shock to me.

All of a sudden...

I have had some time
to think about it though.

Listen...

I've got a wife
and three daughters...

I know a...

Man, how do you explain
that to people? How do you,

explain that to your family?
I mean, I love my wife.

He's still your son.

[Richard quietly] Look, I told
Vanessa to get an abortion,

and I was gonna pay for it.

I mean, it's not my fault.

[Marvin grunts]

-All that doesn't matter now--
-[Richard] She wanted me

to give up my
future and my wife,

for her.

I told her I couldn't do it.

And so she cussed me out,
spit on my face

and told me to get the hell out
and that's just what I did.

I want my son to live, and I
want to take him home with me.

I'm sure she's told him
a lot of things about me,

but I don't care
what she told him,

I wanna try prove to him
what his old man is really like.

I wanna...

Make it up to him.

I wanna thank you
for doing what you have for him.

I'm willing to pay you
for your troubles.

Oh, that's not necessary.

I didn't do it for money.

Why did you do it?

Loneliness.

Tige?

Tige?

How you feeling?

[croakily] Tired.

Well, you had me so
scared there for a while.

You gonna be all right.

This the hospital?

Yup. You don't
have to worry about it.

You don't have to worry about
them taking you away from me.

I told them I was
your official babysitter.

They believed it?

[chuckles]

Well, they don't
know me like you do.

That's good.

What's all this sh,
shit they got stuck--

Hey! Watch your language!

Oh.

I meant "stuff".

Okay.

Who's he?

Oh, that's, uh, the doctor.

Thank you very much
for your concern. I...

know you have to go.

So, I'll speak
to you later. Hmm?

Hey, um... [clears throat]

I'll wait for you outside.

-[Tige] hey, Marv?
-[Marvin] Yes?

Was... Was you scared
I was gonna die?

Yeah... A little.

You were pretty sick.

Oh man, don't you know
I wouldn't leave you?

Yeah, I know.
Guess I should've known better.

[Tige laughing]

Man, you ain't supposed
to do that to me, I'm a boy!

Yeah, I... [stammering]
I'm afraid I lost my head.

Come here.

What is it?

Man, come down.

Don't you tell
nobody I did that.

[Marvin chuckles]
Ah... Don't worry I won't!

You sleepy?

A little bit.

Gonna stay with me, Marv?

I'll be right here.

I want you to tell me
a story before you leave.

All right. Uh...

I have a good one.

Once upon a time,

there was this fairly
good-looking, middle-aged man...

who met a little boy
who'd been dipped in chocolate.

And they lived
happily ever after.

Take it easy, partner,
I'll see you later.

Uh, Mr. Stewart?

What was all that about?

Why didn't you tell him
who I really was?

Uh, for one very...

good reason.

Mr. Davis, we don't want
to excite or upset him.

[Marvin clears throat]
Ah...

You know, just to find out that
you're here, that's one thing,

but to know that
you wanna take him,

from me, and you wanna take him,

there's no telling what kind of
effect that would have on him.

So, I, I think we outta...

play it slow.

[Marvin clears throat] For now,
I think it would be best if he

came home with me.

-With you?
-Yes.

I mean, you saw what
happened with him, with me.

I mean, he, he responds to me.

He, he expects it from me.

He's used to me.

That way I can ease
the truth out more gently.

That's the way I see it.

You may see something else.

No, no, no, no, you, uh...

You made me realize
something anyway, I...

[loudspeaker]...line one, please.

Ah, he needs time to get
used to me and... [chuckles]

my family needs time
to get used to him, now.

Okay, we'll do it your way.

Good... I'll get in touch with
you when the time is right.

Okay, listen, why don't you...

I'm sure you're gonna need this.

Why don't you take
a few dollars?

-No, I, I--
-No, no, please?

That's not necessary,
I told you that before.

[getting upset] Let's get one
thing straight, I love the boy.

And once upon a time,
I wanted to adopt him.

I wanted to be his father.

Now, if it wasn't for you,

I, I would've tried. Now, don't
try to pay me off, because...

I didn't do this for you,
all right?

Sorry, I didn't
mean it that way. I--

You said
you didn't have any money

and so how are you expecting
to take care of my son

when he gets out?

All right.

And by the way, Mr. Davis,

have you considered
the fact that Tige

may not take
to you at all?

Yeah, I've considered that, yes.

Uh, he may hate
my guts, I know that.

But, I'd never be able to
forgive myself if... I didn't...

At least try to be
a father to him.

I mean, you can
understand that, can't you?

I'm afraid I can.

Okay, thank you.

[loudspeaker]Miss Hanson to reception area.

[Tige] Yeah, and I sure hope
there ain't no pieces missing.

All right.

Getting hot now.

Think I'll paste this puzzles
and put it on cardboard

and hang it up?

Man, I wish I knew
what the picture was.

Marv?

Hey? Hey!

You got it.

Did you say something?
I wasn't listening, I'm sorry.

Marvin, why you up?

You sick or something, man?

No.

No, just restless.

Hey, can't-- [chuckling]

can't pay any attention
to us old folks, you know?

We're just...

Senile.
Wondering around,

trynna figure out our problems
in the middle of the night.

Yeah, my mamma used to wonder.

She'd get up real late,

she'd be thinking about money,
bills and all that stuff.

Sometimes she'd be
thinking about me.

Tired of me already, Marv?

Ah, come on, come here.
Come here, bird.

Hey, you won't--
wouldn't talk to me at dinner.

-And you're drinking again.
-Yeah.

You know what I was wondering?

What?

I was wondering...

What would happen to you,

if suddenly
something happened to me.

You plan on dying on me?

No, not yet.

I just want you to understand
that we don't have the best...

arrangement here.

You know,
I just get this... [grunts]

You know what you need?

What?

You need clothing.

And you need...

Education, and you need...

Regular meals.
That's what you need.

So I was just thinking
about all that, and...

I decided that you should
have something better.

Gonna send me away, ain't ya?

No, I'm gonna do
what I think is best.

You know I'm gonna go
to welfare people.

Don't need no clothes,

need no books,
or need no education.

Listen...

[sighs] It's not
an institution of any kind.

It's, I, it's a family.

And I met with him,
and I talked with him...

And have... [chuckles]

And have three little girls,

and they want a boy.

And they've invited us
to dinner tomorrow.

Ain't going.

Do you tell me
what you ain't gonna do!

[Marvin laughing]

No, look. These are nice people,
I'll make a deal with you,

all right?

You meet them,
and then you decide.

And...

If you don't like them at all,

then we forget
about it, all right?

And if you do like them...

Just a little bit, then...

we can work it out
some other time.

All right? How does that sound,
I mean, does that sound fair?

Yeah.

It's all right, I guess.

You sure you ain't dying?

Positive.

Okay.

[Marvin] Get the door.

So, who lives here?

[Marvin] Richard Davis
and his family.

Richard Davis?

Who the heck is Richard Davis?

Your father.

My father?

Man, you lying.

I ain't going in there.

You're going in there with me.

Otherwise, I'm gonna
take you over my shoulders

and carry you in.

He's your father,
he wants to see you.

How come you telling me
this after all this time?

You making some kind of deal
with them, or something?

Same deal I made with you.

You ain't gonna leave me
alone with this guy,

-is you, Marv?
-Not if you don't want me to.

Don't want you to.

Hello, Tige.

Hey.

Um... Mrs. Davis?

Uh... My name is Marvin Stewart.

Come in.

[Marvin] With all that going on,
I don't see how he could resist.

[kids playing]

[Richard] I could
pick him out the crowd.

[Marvin] Good evening, Davis.

[Richard] I'm sorry I'm late.

[Marvin] Would you like me
to call him in for you?

No, no. He's having fun.

Don't bother just now.

Why don't we do a little
talking in the den?

Excuse me.

[Richard] He's getting along
with the girls, I see.

Oh, he loves girls.

Um...

Is there a word for it, when...

you're afraid to talk to
somebody you don't know?

I mean, I've been driving
around for two hours

trynna get the butterflies
out of my stomach, and...

Making up a speech
or something, and...

Trynna figure out some of the
questions he might ask, and...

Have some answers
ready, you know?

Well, I wish I could
help you, but I can't.

I think I've a pretty good idea
of the first question, though.

-Why after all these years.
-That's the one, all right.

[chuckles] Oh, boy.

Is that what he said when
you told him about me?

Afraid so, Richard.

Look, if this is going
too fast for you...

I could keep him a while longer.

Oh, no, no, no,
I want him, he's my son.

I don't wanna
put this off anymore.

[Tige] Marvin?

Marvin?

Tige, we're in here.
Come on in.

Hey, man you
should've seen the--

Oh.

Tige Jackson,

this is your father,
Richard Davis.

Hello, Tige.

-Tige?
-What?

Don't you know how
to say hello to a person?

Oh. Hey. [sniffs]

It's been a long time, huh?

You know, I got
something for you, Tige.

Just something
I thought you might like.

It's a watch.

It's very nice.

So... What do you say?

Thanks.

[barely audible] Well done.

You don't seem too
thrilled to see me?

Why should I be?
I ain't seen you in this long.

So, what's the big deal?

You got your pretty house
and your Cadillac.

Ain't never cared
two cents about me, right?

And that watch...

Man, this stinking
ten dollar watch.

You must think this gonna make
everything okay, don't you?

Well, it ain't.

I bet you wished Marv
never dug you up

in the first place, don't you?

I bet you wish I was dead.

Just like my mom.

-[Marvin] Hey. That's enough.
-That's okay, it's okay,

it's okay, uh, he can say
anything to me he wants to,

I owe him that much.

But I'd like to do
one thing first, okay?

Uh, why don't you sit down?

Come on, sit down.

I, uh...

I wanna tell you
my side of the story.

-[knock at the door]
-Okay?

And I know you hate me.

-But I'd like it to be for--
-Excuse me, y'all?

Daddy? Mommy said that dinner's
ready, if anybody is interested.

You sound like...

[Richard] That's
pretty good. Pretty good.

[all chattering]

Tige, aren't you
gonna eat anything?

There's Jell-O,
with fruit cocktail.

Great! Jell-O. I love Jell-O,
you like Jell-O? Hmmm?

[Mrs. Davis] We got
some chocolate cake.

[Tige] Nah.

But you can wrap it in some
aluminum foil for me.

-I could take it home.
-Home?

-[Mrs. Davis] Sit down...
-[Richard] No, I gotta...

Yeah, what's
the matter with him?

I don't know.

If you really wanna find out,
why don't you ask him?

Would you like some
dessert? Some Jell-O?

-Jell-O, yeah, I like Jell-O.
-Very good.

I'm a coward.

I just didn't have
the heart to tell him.

[Richard] What the
hell does that mean?

It means I got here,
it's your job to keep him here.

Maybe it is, but will he let go
as easy as you're doing?

Easy?
Are you kidding me?

[Mrs. Davis] Excuse me.

M, Marvin, did you call a cab?

Yes, I guess I did.

So, I hate to eat and run,

but under the circumstances,
I think it's...

a good time to say good bye.

I like you.

Yeah, well, wait a minute. I--

Thank you, for the lovely meal.

[Tige] Hey, Marv!
Wait up, man, wait.

Phew, move over. [panting]

I can't go anywhere without you.

I mean, I thought I could
leave without saying good bye.

What you talking about?

I told you I was gonna do what
I thought was best, didn't I?

-But--
-[Marvin] Didn't I?

Man, you said we
come here and then we go,

we go way home after that.

[Marvin] Tige.

You are home.

This is where you belong.

And this is where
I want you to stay.

-You people, don't like me--
-[Marvin] Hey, hey, c'mon!

C'mon! Don't talk like that!

You don't belong with me.

Was nice while it lasted.

I enjoyed your company,
I was happy for it.

But, there's so much
more for you here.

Look, look behind you, go on!

Turn around and look behind you.

Tige?
Do me one favor.

Just promise me
you're gonna stay here.

All right, look.

I want to do this nicely,

I didn't wanna
hurt your feelings.

But if you must know,

I was tired of the whole setup.

I'm sick of you.

-Man, you lying.
-[Marvin] Yeah? What if I'm not?

You don't wanna stay here?

That's fine with me.
You just do what you want.

Just don't come
running back to me.

I don't want you.

Understand?

I don't want you
to come back to me.

If you're stupid enough to louse
this up, you go right ahead.

Know what's good for you,
stay put. Now, get outta here!

Two forty-four,
Alexander Street.

Let's go, come on, let's go.

Let's go.

[chuckling] You look like you've
seen a ghost or something.

Hey, Marv.

Hi, Tige.

Did I scare you?

Man, you sure scared me.

[chuckling] I didn't
know what you was,

come busting through
the door like that.

No, I knew you were here.

You sure made a mess,
didn't you?

[Tige laughing]

So, how are you
and your father getting along?

Okay, I guess.

What's the matter,
you having trouble?

Nah.

Not that. I like him
and all, you know?

We have some good times
together, sometimes.

Like, like, he takes
me to ball games.

-Buts...
-What?

Yeah, it's just that,

I don't get
to see him that much.

Have to go to school,

he have to go to work.

I don't even get to
sleep with him at night,

like I did with you.

I guess I just like it,

a one person instead
of with a whole family.

I kind alike it
one on one, Marv.

[Marvin] Yeah.

-Marvin?
-Yeah?

You even miss me any?

[Marvin] Oh...

[Marvin chuckles]

Course I do, why you ask?

I don't know.

Guess cause everything
just seems so different.

This place just don't
seem the same no more.

What about me?

You?

You seem different too.

I know you the same...

But you still seem different.

I don't understand it.

I think I know what it might be.

It's like...

Two ugly ducklings,
living in a pond.

One is really a duck,
[chuckles] the other, a swan.

now, what happens is...

The ugly duckling,
who's really a swan...

one day leaves the pond.

-You know that rhymes?
-Yeah, I do.

And, while he's away, he grows.

He gets new feathers,
he meets other swans...

And he learns what
it's like to be a swan.

And then one day...

He decides to go back
and visit his old pal...

-The old ugly duck...
-[Tige chuckling]

...still living
in the muddy pond.

And, you know,
with the same old ways.

Now, you and I both know
that a duck and a swan

are not the same.

But you can't deny there was
something very strong there.

And no matter what
changes are taking place...

there's a close bond,
still felt by both of them.

It is with me.

What about you?

That's cute, Marv.

I was wondering
if you could still do that.

You know, like you used to.

You know, explain things
to me like that?

You still with me, man.

Don't you get lonely?

Oh yeah, I suppose
I do, sometimes.

Don't you want
no friends, though?

Rejoin civilization, is that
what you're saying to me?

You want this fat, old duck
to jump in the pond with you?

Hmm, maybe someday
I'll be a swan too, but...

until then, you just have
to accept me the way I am.

Wait. Marv.

I didn't mean nothing by it,

just want you to be
happy, man, that's all.

Right now the only thing that's
gonna make me happy,

is to see the mug
of yours smile.

You need to shave.
Getting fuzzy.

I'll get around to it
sooner or later.

Have it by, have it done by,
uh, Sunday, okay?

Why Sunday? What's Sunday?

A special occasion.
It's my birthday.

Your birthday? Oh!

-Huh, 12 right?
-[Tige] Yup!

Think I'd never make it?

Think I'd ever
make it this far?

But I did!

Uh, hey, Marv?

[Marvin] yeah?

Will you laugh,
if I tell you something, man?

It depends on whether
it's funny or not.

Just something I...

I thought I'd let you know,
just in case you didn't.

-Marvin?
-[Marvin] Yes?

I love you, man.

I had to tell you.

Cause I, I didn't get
the chance to tell my mamma

when she was living.

I can't remember
when I heard those words...

Thank you for letting me know.

I love you too.

Well, I gotta go now.

See ya later, Marv.

Listen...

Now, remember this.
Ten o'clock on Sunday, right?

Don't be late.

Don't worry about no present.

Okay?

See you Sunday.

Bye, Marv. See you.