Native Son (2019) - full transcript

If you could remake
public education

in this country,
how would you do it?

That's hard.

Yeah, it's a great question.

- Yeah.
- That's what I do.

- That's what you do?
- Yeah.

How do you give kids a fair
and equitable education?

Smaller class sizes...

sex ed... goat yoga.

Right, okay.

When you make
a high school curriculum,



what's that look like?

Just people who can think
outside the box.

Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
You're my only hope.

Early mornin' I got
the whole world to myself.

I don't need no alarm clock
to wake me up.

Morning, Walter.

I'm doing my class
presentation today.

That don't mean you got to spend all
morning in the bathroom putting on makeup.

So how else am I supposed
to look nice?

Big, you be quick, all right?

Go in my room and get dressed.

And you can wear a pair
of my shoes if you want.

Thanks, Mom.

Only not the red ones.



Thank you, Lord, for the food
we're about to receive.

Get the hell outta here!

Shit! Fuck!

Big, go get it!

He's under here,
right under the thing!

Oh, shoot, Big, he's over
there, he's over there!

Hey, not my books, Big, come on!

Buddy, go get the skillet.

He's gonna bite you,
Big, watch out!

- Be careful!
- No, he ain't scared none.

Don't get too close, Big.

Hey, yo, Buddy, hurry up.

- He's gonna bite you!
- Hurry up, hurry up!

Here, take it, take it,
take it! Take it!

Finally got that motherfucker.

Huh?

Put it in the trash!

Ooh! And wash your hands!

You wash your hands?

Yeah.

Big.

Be careful.

Hey. Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey. Hey, hey.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

You all are just a bunch
of scrawny good-for-nothings.

Shiftless no-accounts
waiting for a handout.

Makin' somethin' of myself.

I got shit goin' on.

I make my move when I decide on
what my move is gonna be.

I can't be jumpin'
at just anything.

That'd be stupid.

I ain't stupid.

There's plenty
of things I could do.

Plenty of things.

Plenty of things
I could be good at.

Great at, even.

Hey.

You taking me out tonight?

Told you I would.

Mmm... but I don't dance enough.

You don't, eh?

How many hairstyles
you got to do today?

Just one, but it's elaborate.

Is that for me?

Mm-hmm.

No, that's for my boss.

I got to deliver it for him.

He been cheating
on his wife again?

Shit, you know it.

Job opportunity?

It's probably
just some bullshit.

Maybe not.

She talking about she wants me

to come home later tonight
to tell me about it.

Well, I'm telling her
that I'm coming.

That'll make her day.

I could use
some perfume, though.

Yo.

Yeah, hey. Yeah, I did it.

Rang her doorbell
and everything.

She didn't answer, so I
just left it on the front porch.

Yeah.

I hope that's cool.

All right, cool.

Bye.

You're crazy as hell.

Yeah? So what?

Thank you.

No sweat.

They're hurrying around
like a bunch of rats.

And they're all blind,

thinking they're
in a groove, but...

living in a rut.

- What's up, bro?
- What's up?

For one, the fuckin' glasses
always be foggin' up.

So get you some eye surgery.

'Cause then you have,
like, twenty-twenty.

Figure I do that shit,

I'm getting my pilot's license.

I mean, yeah, though,
all that shit for real.

Free like a bird.

You know?

In it and of it...

flying high and above it.

You should come
work for me, man.

I'm all right.

Just saying, Big,
I pay twice as much

as what that messenger job...

A'ight, Gus.

Delivering damn
envelopes and shit.

I don't need a job, a'ight?

What I need is
my motherfuckin' weed, nigga.

- I got you.
- A'ight?

I got you.

Voila.

Now, you sure you don't
want nothing but weed?

'Cause I got...

shit, I got "E,"
"F," "G," "H," "I,"

the alphabet
in this motherfucker.

I am positive, bro.

A'ight.

Yeah, that's about it.

Respect.

Still carrying that pistol, huh?

Yeah.

It was my Pop's.

You know all that shit, bro.

Don't mean you got to carry it.

Yeah, man, you got to reframe
your whole worldview, man.

See, people are
motivated by love.

Or people are motivated by fear.

But your hair...

that's smooth right there.

It's green.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
that's the, um...

that's that color, "Army issue."

Hey, yo, what's up?

You guys have that
Bad Rage vinyl?

Right here, man.

How much is that?

This, man? There's one
in the Smithsonian.

So, you in or what?

I don't know, Jack.

Man, what you mean
you don't know, man?

It's easy money.

I don't know.

Listen,

I got all the details
worked out.

Old Blum ain't got nobody
in the store, ten a.m.

Everybody gone wherever,

everybody picked up they
newspapers and all that.

Cops don't circle back
until 10:30,

so that gives us thirty
whole minutes to hit that shit.

You tryin' to rob
a corner store at gunpoint?

I'm sorry, I'm not interested

in being a part of some

least common denominator
stereotypical Negro shit.

You ain't got to
call it that, man.

Well, that's what it is, though.

Look, this ain't
a nickel-and-dime robbery.

I got all the details
worked out, bro, trust me.

I'll think about it, all right?

Get off the fuckin' stage!

Uh, excuse me,
do you guys have tickets?

- Tony. Bullshit.
- You all right, Tony.

Yo, Tony, want to hear about
how we gon' hit Blum's?

Not right now, man.

Yeah, I hear that shit.

Y'all niggas always talk about
how you want something to do,

and now I got something.

Anybody can tell you
that don't add up to a dollar.

Nigga, shut the fuck up and
watch the fuckin' movie, bro.

Fuck y'all niggas, man.

So, Big, what kind
of music you into?

You like that hip-hop?

What is it?

Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie or Tupac?

I like Kanye.

Marty was asking Big.

None of the above, man.

What about sports? The Bulls?

You know, I know a guy
that can get me some tickets.

Maybe it'd be nice if the two
of us go to a game sometime.

No, you know, sports
were more like, uh,

my dad's thing.

Know?

Right?

Yeah, more like a dad thing.

Y'all two getting serious?

Your mother's a wonderful woman.

As the three of you know.

Marty thinks I should
go to law school.

You're a great paralegal.
You should take the next step.

So y'all will both be lawyers.

Yeah, well, not all
lawyers make the big bucks.

I mostly work with the non-
profits, that kind of thing.

Tell him about the job, hon.

It's an excellent opportunity.

What is it, office work?

One of our biggest clients
is looking for a new driver.

That sounds so boring.

That's 'cause you
don't drive, stupid.

Who's the client?

Will Dalton.

He owns, like, every
building in the city.

And he's had the same driver
for twenty years.

Sounds like a great job,
good pay.

Full benefits package.

So, you interested
in the job, son?

I don't know.

I mean, I...

It's not mine yet.
I still got to...

go in and do the interview
and all of that.

So, is the interview
at the Dalton Building?

No, it's at his home office.

I'll think about it.

New game. Same old rules.

Brand-new game. Same old shit.

What was that...

The only thing
I remember from school...

"panem et circenses."

Bread and circus.

Keep them fed
and entertained and stupid,

and, that way, you can
keep them where you want them.

You and Big serious?

We together.

You should be with someone
who's got more going on.

What, like you and Gus?

Yeah. Gus has got a future.

Big's cool and all,

but... he's more like
a fixer-upper.

He's a wild card,
and he don't need fixin'.

When they made Big,

they broke the mold.

Hey, y'all know that
up there is me, right?

How you doin'?

Who is that?

Mnh-mnh. White girls
like poodles.

They go to bed with anybody.

Is you gon' look at her
all night?

Mm-mmm.

Shit, I'd rather be
lookin' at you, baby.

Well, you weren't.

Hey...

It's me and you, all right?

Oh, fuck.

Hey, look, I'm telling you,

Blum's store is
a cash-only business.

And they got money in the
till ripe for the taking.

I mean, and it'd give us
a way to prove ourselves.

We ain't
in high school no more, man.

I mean, shit, I got a son
I got to take care of

and a job I got to do,
every day.

Suit yourself.

Big?

What's Gus say?

Got "A," got "B," got "E."

Shit, I got the whole
damn alphabet.

Yeah, I don't know.
I don't think Gus is in.

Yeah, that's 'cause Gus
don't need the opportunity.

Just me, you, Big.

You got it all planned out?

Man, it's like we practically
already done it.

Yeah, home... I don't know, bro.

Know, it... it ain't for me.

Yeah.

You don't want
to nothin' authentic.

Instead of looking
and acting like a real brother,

you have to run around
fronting like a fucking clown.

I'll meet you whenever...

and rob whatever.

Name the time and place.

Next Tuesday, a week from today,

ten in the morning.

Done.

You really gon'
rob that store with Jack?

I told him I would.

Hey.

You want me to stay the night?

Maybe tomorrow night.

What about that job offer
from your mom?

What about it?

You must be the Thomas boy.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm Peggy, come in.

Thanks.

You'll get used to it.

Wait here.

All right.

You can sit down.

OK.

Great of you
to come by this morning.

- Will Dalton.
- Um, thank you for having me, sir.

No "sir," just Dalton.

Thank you for having me,
Mr. Dalton.

You can come on this way.

All right.

So, you all been
living here a long time?

The house has been
in the family for generations.

Is everything OK?

I wanted to meet our new driver.

Mr. Thomas, meet my beautiful
young wife, Mrs. Dalton.

It's a pleasure.

Did you find
the house all right?

Yeah. Yes. Yes, ma'am.

You didn't get lost.

Not at all, ma'am.

Marty says you are
a wonderful young man.

Do you enjoy driving?

Very much, ma'am.

Well, it's settled, then.

Let's head into my office.

It's a pleasure
having you in our home.

Nice to meet you.

She hasn't always been blind.

Hmm.

Have a seat.

No computer?

I'm a total Luddite.

I feel that.

I prefer, uh, cassettes to CDs.

We're on the same page.

Yeah.

- Your resume?
- Yes. Uh...

It's not really... up to date.

Ah, that's fine.

Marty says you're a good guy.

So, my security guy,

he insists that I do
a thorough background check.

OK.

Clean record.

Well, yeah.

You're a good driver?

The best.

I-I've never even
run a red light.

That's what they say.

Your first name is Bigger.

Yeah. Uh,
my friends call me Big.

- Not Biggie?
- After Biggie Smalls? Nah.

Good, seeing how Christopher
Wallace came to a difficult end.

Are you nearsighted
or farsighted?

I wear them for driving,
but, uh, they're not strong.

They're just to...
make things...

Clearer. Right.

Right.

No, sit down.

So, you'll have a room here,
on the top floor of the house.

You'll have your meals
here too, of course.

Right.

You'll make a thousand
dollars a week.

You got any questions so far?

None at all.

I'm usually at the office
by eight a.m.

Then you'll be on duty to take Miss
Dalton, our daughter,

to the university.

Her class schedule, it varies.

But during the day, should Mrs.
Dalton want to go out,

you'll take her.

Think you can handle all that?

Yeah.

You guys want me to cut my hair?

It's fine just as it is.

Is that good?

Yeah.

Job is yours, Bigger.

Great.

Mr. Greene, our last driver,

he did very well here.

We hope you will too.

I plan to.

Dad?

Mom said you were interviewing.

I already hired him.

Bigger Thomas,

this is my daughter Mary.

Hi.

Hey.

I think I saw you on the news.

What?

It's for
the kids charity event, Dad.

- Alex.
- OK.

Last year, I, um, made page six

when I took my boyfriend
Jan to Havana.

We were worried.

But it was all good
in the end, right?

Yeah, you could say that.

Let's go find Peggy.

Cool.

So, uh, your name is Bigger?

Uh, yeah, yeah.

My friends call me Big.

Your hair is rad.

Thanks.

Do you ever go to, um, Animal?

Um, yeah, yeah, sometimes.

So crazy, all the political stuff
that's going on these days, right?

Mary, I don't think Bigger

wants to talk about...

Sure he does.

Dad hates it when I talk
about Occupy

or the Peoples Movement,

but, I mean, you probably
march, right?

Well...

I hear you, I hear you.

Folks work a nine-to-five job

don't really have time
to be at all the rallies.

But you're outraged, aren't you?

Yeah.

Sure.

See, Dad?

He's outraged.

Unlike you because you're
a damn capitalist.

You're
outraged, as you should be.

I'm just happy to have this job.

I, uh, I have class tonight.

You gonna take me?

We haven't worked out
his start date yet.

Let him start tonight.

Yeah, I can... I can...
I can start tonight.

Is that cool?

Yeah, that's... that's fine.

Cool. OK.

- Bye.
- Love you.

- You too.
- See you.

It's nice...

For years, we have been staunch
supporters of the NAACP.

Mary, instead of pointing
out the good I'm doing,

delights in pointing out
my faults.

Well, I think you're doing
a pretty good job, sir.

I appreciate you saying that.

This is your room.

OK.

Look, you get southern exposure,

so it will always be
nice and bright.

We're changing the sheets
once a week.

- OK.
- And you've got Wi-Fi.

Great.

You and I will always use
these back stairs here

so that they can have their privacy,
and, quite frankly, so can we.

Cool.

You know, after you've
been working here for a while,

you might have a lady friend

whom you'd like to invite
over sometime.

I think a place like this
needs security cameras,

but Mr. Dalton thinks

heightened security
means heightened crime.

So, this is the furnace.

You'll be in charge
of loading this monster.

It heats the house adequately,
but it's a clunky old thing.

Still takes coal.

I tell Mr. Dalton,
let's get something more green, but...

maybe you'll be able
to convince him.

Until then, you'll be
loading this dinosaur

twice a day,

and each night
before you go to bed,

you have to clean out the ashes.

All clear?

All right.

Good.

Can I touch your hair?

I'm kidding.

Wanna turn the radio on?

Sure.

Shit.

You like this music?

Yeah, it's... it's cool.

What do you listen to?

Well, if you
really want to know,

sometimes, uh...

this.

It's pretty cool.

Then, uh...

sometimes I look for this.

OK.

It's all perspective.

Well, rest assured,

you and my dad are gonna
get along just great.

I thought you were
going to class?

Just meeting some friends.

You wanna come in?

Nah, I'm good. I think I should
probably stay with the car.

No, you should come in,

but, um... I get it.

OK. Stay warm.

All right.

Bye.

See ya.

Big?

Hey.

You're Jan.

How'd you know?

Stuff I read online.

Don't believe everything
you read about Jan.

There's a lot of
fake news out there.

Hey, can I drive?

Aw, don't worry about
it, Big, it's cool.

Cool. Everybody in?

Where should we go?

I'm starving.
Are you hungry, Big?

Uh, I'm all right.

Yo, how 'bout a place
in your neighborhood, Big?

You know...

where you can get
some real food.

What about B and G's?

Let's go to B and G's, yeah?

Sounds good.

I don't... I don't think y'all
want to go to B and G's.

It's on Juneway Terrace
and Howard.

Hey, maybe Big
doesn't want to go.

It'll be fun.

Come on, guys,
it'll be my treat.

All right, let's...

let's go to B and G's.

All right.

Let's go.

Thank you.

Uh, can we get
a bottle of vodka?

Thank you.

Yo, why is Big with them?

I don't know.

He's supposed to be at work.

Hmm.

It don't look like he at work.

This place is nice.

Mm-hmm.

Hey, Big.

Hey, Lily.

Look, I'm sure he ain't with her, a'ight?
He's with them.

If he's working,
then why is he sitting with them?

I don't know.

Bess.

I'm-a be cool.

A'ight.

Hey.

I thought you was at work.

I am.

Um, I'm Jan.

I'm Mary. Hi.

Nice job.

Yeah, it's all right.

I didn't catch your name.
Sorry, what's your name?

Uh, this is Bessie.

Bessie, if you want to sit
down, there's plenty of room.

No. I'm already
sitting over there.

I'll go back to my place.

Hey, you wanna...
You wanna meet up later?

You want one?

Yeah, all right.

That your girlfriend?

Yep.

Jan and I are, um, engaged.

But please don't tell my dad

because he'll lose his mind.

Your dad seems all right.

Yeah...

if you like One-Percenters.

It's all the same shit to me.

I grew up in Los Angeles...

Well, outside of Los Angeles.

My, uh, folks split up.

Me and my mom, we, uh...

scraped by.

My dad, he was
an accountant, you know?

One day he just...

dropped dead.

Uh...

So sorry.

No, it's all good.

How long?

'Bout six or seven years ago.

I live in such
an "affluenza" bubble,

and...

I've no idea...

about what, like,
black people actually think

about what's going on
in the world right now.

Well, I'll be sure
to mention that

at our next black meeting.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Let me ask you a question.

Mmm?

The driver before me, Greene,

he used to take you
wherever you wanted to go, huh?

Mnh-mnh.

No, he was, uh,

straight as an arrow,
super square,

no fun ever.

No, he was all right,
though. He, um...

He went to night school,

he got his degree in business.

Moving on up.

My parents are
very proud of him.

That's a lot of stairs.

Help me.

You can make it up.

Here's the thing, Mom...
I'm fine to go to church,

so long as you can
recognize that

religion is the opiate
of the masses.

OK.

I think it is lovely

that we are attending church

and giving thanks.

It is, it is, it's lovely.

Thank you. Thank you, Jesus.

I could use a week of rain,

just listening to you read.

You're gonna read me
another chapter, aren't you?

Mmm...

"I looked at him eagerly
when he looked at me,"

and slightly moved my hands
and shook my head.

I had been waiting for him
to see me,

that I might try to assure him
of my innocence.

It was not at all
expressed to me

that he even comprehended
my intention,

for he gave me a look
that I did not understand,

and it all passed

"in a moment."

So fantastic.

I love Beethoven.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I love him too.

All right.

So, you can borrow
the car anytime you like.

Yeah?

Take your girl out for a spin,

or something.

Yeah, uh, maybe.

Hey, babe, bring me water.

I didn't do the job
because you didn't show.

Nigga, don't be casting
your fucking anxieties on me.

Got yourself a new job
and you lost your nuts, huh?

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Don't go there, big dawg.

I'll go wherever
the fuck I want.

Better watch yourself.

Big'll put you
out on the street,

your ass gon' be walkin' home.

Ha ha ha ha.

Nigga ain't interested
in a real job.

He's too busy working
for the white folk.

Yeah.

You a house nigger now.

Hey, fuck you, nigga.

No, fuck you.

Living in a big house.

You aren't a nigga no more,
are you... nigga?

He never even really was one.

Yeah, you a lame-ass
pussy Oreo for damn sure.

Fuck!

Yo, Big, come on!

Come on, Big, get off him!

What the fuck, man?

No, no, no, no, no!

Black enough for your
motherfuckin' ' ass now, nigga?

Chill, chill.

- Man, fuck you, Big!
- No, no, no, no, no.

You hit me? Get the fuck off me!

Look at me, baby,
look at me, look at me.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

'Sup?

Can I help you with something?

My name is Greene.

You must be Bigger.

Yeah.

So, what, you here to
take your old job back?

No, young man,
I'm happy where I'm at.

Mr. Dalton says
you workin' out all right.

I am.

Still got both your
feet on the ground?

Shit, you see me standing here?

Good man. Keep standing.

You know,

you and me came up
in the same hood.

I'm guessing that you had your
share of troubles like I had.

You don't know...

nothing about me, man.

Just, you know...

try to keep both feet
on the good foot.

What is that supposed to mean?

I know you don't
know me from Adam,

but I'm just here to give you
some friendly advice.

Mr. Dalton's
giving you a chance.

Make something of it, OK?

Aren't you cold?

A little.

I don't know about Mary, man.

She seem a little crazy.

Probably.

Mm-mmm.

Mm.

What? What? Really?

Yeah.

Come on, get up.

Get up, baby.

- What?
- Come on.

- Unh-unh, what you trying to do?
- Huh?

Why you playing?

Girl...

Your friend have anything
more interesting than weed?

You know, like...

I don't know,
something stronger?

So you're studying
business management?

That's not boring. It's smart.

Yeah, it feels boring.

Well...

it's totally marketable,
which is great.

Beethoven?

Ninth Symphony?

Yeah, that's a good one.

Well, you should come.

Mmm...

What, you gon' go?

My parents are
season subscribers,

so they always get
two pairs of tickets,

but they never use 'em.

They'd love it, really.
I mean, we-we should go.

See you, Jules.

I got exams this week.

All right.

Well, you think about it.

I will.

So, where do you spend
your summer, Big?

I, uh, summer where I winter.

Not everybody goes away
for the summer, babe.

I didn't want to assume.

I mean, that's worse, right?

Sorry.

You'll get used to us.

I should probably...

Good evening, Miss Dalton.

Hi, George. Sorry we're late.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

A blockbuster.

A true fucking masterpiece.

"I don't want to know anything
about your system of ethics."

Strength is the morality

of the man who
stands out from the rest...

"and it is mine."

"with love."

Why do they call it Molly?

Enjoy yourselves.

It's going to come from you.

That's how it has to happen,
if it happens at all.

But if it does happen, it's
going to come from you, right?

Like, you have the power.

You guys have the crux.

Our generation has
the power to change things.

I should go.

I got work in the morning.

Damn, though.

Damn, you know I can't wait.

I know.

I'll text you when I get home.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you too.

- What the fuck!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's OK, it's OK,
it's OK, it's OK, it's OK.

What do you mean it's OK?

No, get the fuck off!

Jesus!

Are you OK?

Look, I'm sorry.

Are you fucking kidding me?

You know what? Fuck this!

Big, can you get her home?

Um...

Thank you for the "E."

It was an ounce.

Please just take it.

Please?

Thank you.

Yeah, well, thank you
for the record.

That shit was rad.

Thank you for coming
to my rescue at the party.

No sweat.

Meant a lot to me.

Oh, God.

I feel weird.

You want me to pull over?

Mnh-mnh.

I sorry.

- All right.
- For something weird.

Fuck.

Hey, hey, hey! Hey! Come here.

Hey, hey... Come on!

Hey, come on!

Shh.

- Thank you so much.
- Yeah, of course.

But you got to be
really quiet, OK?

Yeah.

OK.

- All right, girl.
- "All right, girl."

All right. You good?

Yep.

All right,
but you got to be quiet.

- Shh. OK?
- You shh!

Yeah...

- OK. All right.
- Hey!

- Hey.
- I love... everything.

- That's the point, OK?
- Hey.

- OK. I need you to have a seat.
- No.

I love you.

- Right.
- No! Hey.

I mean it. I really love you.

OK. All right.
I think you're really, really high.

- Hey.
- You got to lay down for me.

- All right?
- Thank you for the great drugs.

OK.

- Hey. You got to stop.
- Mm-hmm?

You're gonna
get me fired, all right?

- OK, now you got to lay...
- Do you wanna have a thing?

- We could have a little thing.
- No.

We could have a big thing.

No, no, no. Don't. Shh.

Lay down for me, all right?

- OK? I don't wanna get fired.
- OK, OK, OK, OK.

You're gonna get me fired.

If I lay down for you,

will you lay down with me?

You gonna make me lose my job.

- You're very handsome.
- Stop it.

You're so handsome.

I mean it. You're really handsome.

- MRS.
- Mary?

- I don't want you to...
- Shh!

- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
- All right, all right.

Mary, are you here?

- Shh!
- That's my mom.

- Are you home?
- Shh!

Mom?

Mary, are you there?

Mm-hmm.

Shh!

What's that, dear?

Mary?

Hey. Hey, hey!

Hey! Mary stop playing! Come on!

Let's go!

They'll open their bedroom
doors, and they'll catch me.

I hope they do.

Then it'll be over.

Then it'll be done,
and I'll be able to rest.

But no, they're not going
to open their doors, are they?

They're not going to see me

carrying her
through their house.

'Cause they're blind.

Her. Both of them.

All of them.

They're blind.

You're gonna help me out, OK?

Help me out.

Come on. Help me out.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

OK.

Big.

Big.

Big.

What's up?

You ain't like it
at their house?

Learn how to speak.

Must've fell out your pocket
when you was sleepin'.

Anybody else see you with this?

No.

Don't tell nobody, all right?

You need my help?

No, just don't tell nobody.

OK.

- Hey, baby.
- Hey, Mom.

I thought I heard you come in.

How are things goin'?

- Uh, good.
- Good?

Yeah.

You know, your father and I...

we used to always talk
about how you shine.

You're a very special boy,
Bigger, and you've always

done things your own way.

And I know, because of that,

things haven't always
been easy for you.

And this job may
not be your dream job,

but I am so proud of you for
taking on the responsibility.

And I know your dad
would be, too.

Good, bread, good meat...
Good Lord, let's eat.

Amen.

- Amen.
- Amen.

I'm sitting with them,

and they don't even
know what I've done.

Don't use your fingers.

Even if it wasn't me,
folks would assume it was.

- Hey, Mom.
- Yeah?

So I won't make it me.

I won't make it anybody.

I got to find a way
to be OK somehow.

Find a way to be
something other than...

something other than what I am.

Is Mary coming down?

I don't think
she came home last night.

Her bed wasn't slept in.

No?

I'll go give her a call.

Is Mary ready to go?

Peggy said she
didn't come home last night,

though I thought I heard her.

She came home. I brought her.

Chicago's mayor's
office today announced a plan

to add affordable housing to the city's most
expensive and gentrifying neighborhoods.

Our own George Sherman explains.

The mayor wants to
create a multimillion-dollar fund

to give low-cost loans
to developers.

The loans then
would be used for...

If I prove myself, they'll
put me on the management track,

which means I'll be in
charge of the ushers

and the concession services.

And I get a say in what kind
of products we stock.

You know, some candies
just sell better than others.

Is Tony blind, too?

The more candy you sell,

the bigger your profit margin.

Shit, man, I'll be managing
that movie theater one day.

- You know, God willing.
- Shit.

- Yo.
- Is Gus blind?

What's good, baby?

- What's good?
- Probably.

The only thing worse than
being blind is having sight...

but no vision.

Maybe everybody's blind.

Even me.

We checked all
the public transportation.

The rental cars,
the car service...

So she hasn't
gone to Cuba this time.

Doesn't seem like it, sir.

How long you been
workin' here, son?

A little over a month.

You and Mary like to hang out?

- Uh, no...
- You're pals on social media.

Yeah, well, that's just...

How about you come downtown
and answer a few questions?

You're charging
Bigger with a crime?

Not at all.

Then I don't see any reason

why you need to drag him

downtown for questioning.

No CCTV, so for now
we're believing your story.

So you brought 'em here?

Mary and Jan. Then what?

Yeah. You know, uh,
Jan's her boyfriend, I guess.

Why do you guess?

It's her boyfriend for sure.

- And they were drinking.
- Uh-huh.

You know, Jan's got a flask

that he's on, uh,
familiar terms with

if y'all get what I'm saying?

Um, they went to this party
on the Gold Coast.

One of Mary's,
uh, college friends.

What kind of party was it?

Well, I went inside.

You know,
it was so cold outside,

and I could only keep the car
running for so long, so...

I went inside.
It was pretty lively in there.

- You must've had you a time.
- Mm-hmm.

Nah, I just stayed by the door.

But Mary and Jan went in.

Yeah, uh-huh.
They was having fun.

You know, uh, smoking
and drinking and...

you know,
probably doin' other stuff.

Jan?

Yeah.

We've been watchin' him
ever since you asked us to.

He's associated with
political groups in Berkeley,

but hasn't done much here
except run his mouth.

He's a big-time talker.

Politics.

He tried to get you
to join his club

or whatever he calls it?

I don't got nothing to do

with that fucking shit.

I mean... excuse my language,

but politics
just ain't my thing.

Besides, I got
a job anyway, so...

Hmm. Well, thanks for
allowing us to talk with you.

There. Asking me questions.

But they're taking
their cues from Mr. Dalton.

Me acting a good negro
is foolin' 'em.

Even though it's the same act
that they practice every day.

Sporting their badges,

but still got
the slave mentality.

- Just tell us where the hell she is.
- Look...

I went home that night!

After you took her out
for a good time.

No, I went home by myself.

Look, I didn't go anywhere
near her fucking house, OK?

You wanna stick it
to her dad, don't you?

No, I... I want a lawyer.

What did you do to her, Jan!

You know,

which part of protect
and serve is this?

Oh, my God!

It is a peculiar sensation,

this double consciousness.

This sense of always
looking at oneself

through the eyes of others...

of measure one's soul
by the tape of a world

that looks on
in amused contempt and pity.

Hey.

Hey, yourself.

How'd you get in?

The same way I always do.

What, is that a problem?

No, it's just that, uh,

the movie doesn't start
for another hour or so.

Yeah.

Yeah, uh...
I'ma just wait it out.

You want some popcorn
or somethin'?

- No, I'm good.
- No, Big, I'll get you some popcorn. No sweat.

I didn't think you'd come.

You got the cops around
the corner or somethin'?

You know I'm not like that,

What happened to your face?

What do you think?

I know you're innocent.

Whatever happened out there,
it was, uh...

I mean,
it was some kind of accident.

Sure, they're tryin' to say
that, uh...

I raped her
'cause her body's burned.

Mary was, uh...

I didn't, uh...

you know, rape her or...

get with her...

or any of that.

I know a good lawyer.

- He'll help you.
- It's...

It's too late for that.

And the Daltons, man,
they'll be on your side

- if you just turn yourself in.
- It's too late for that!

I thought we were friends.

Let us pray

for the woman lost, Mary Dalton.

- Unh-unh. Unh-unh.
- And let us pray

for our brother Bigger Thomas.

And why do they say he's guilty?

Because in their minds,

he was guilty
before he was born.

He's got black guilt.

There ain't nobody in this city
free of this scourge.

Some of us got black guilt.

- Unh-unh!
- Some of us got white guilt.

Two sides of the same
godforsaken...

two sides of
the same shameful story.

I'm not hungry.

You're gonna
turn yourself in, right?

For what?

- I didn't do nothin'.
- Then tell 'em that.

You can't stay back here
forever.

Yesterday when they came around
askin' about you,

I didn't tell 'em nothin'.

That's good.

That's good.

You shoulda let me cut it.

I'm all right.

You know, you're always talkin'
about wantin' to get married.

Well, let's do that.

Let's just run away
and get married.

Did you kill her?

You killed her.

No.

I didn't.

But if they catch me,

they'll pin it on me

and they'll twist it up
and make it seem like I did it.

- You want that for me?
- So you got to tell 'em that you didn't.

- Tell Mr. Dalton.
- Mr. Dalton...

doesn't want to hear from me.

I don't know what
happened to her.

But what I...

what I do know...

is that I need you.

You're not makin' any sense.

Run away with me.

They'll catch us.

Not if we're smart.

Not if we lay low.

Yeah?

We lay low and...

we hide out...

you know, we just wait
until things blow over.

Then we just go.

All right?

Yeah, OK.

OK.

Now get your coat.

Go on.

Baby, get your coat.

Hey. Hey.

Put your coat on.

You'll catch cold.

You got it.

I found a spot.

Where?

It's a good spot.

OK?

Please don't do this to me, Big.

I done everything for you
I know how,

but please don't do this to me.

I don't bother nobody.
I just go to work and I go to school...

- Hey. Hey.
- Please don't do this to me.

Hey. Hey. Hey.

Baby, I love you.

I love you. You got to trust me.

OK? Hey.

Hey.

You got to trust me, OK?

OK?

You trust me?

OK.

This is a good spot.

Big.

If you ain't do nothin' wrong...

Hey. Hey.

I got this.

I got this.

Hey.

You sleep all right?

I'm not...

I don't want to.

I can't be with you
right now. I...

I came this far,
and that's all I can do.

Baby, you ain't even got to do...

No.

Stop.

Stop. Stop it!

Stop!!!

Bessie!

Bessie. Bessie!

Did you kill her?

I...

Gimme that.

Come on, give me the gun.

No.

Why you got to do that?

You got to turn yourself in, Big.

- What you do that for?
- Big.

- Baby. Baby.
- Why would you do that, Bessie?

Baby.

Why you do that? Hmm?

Why you do that?

Why you do that?

You're gonna kill me too.

Aaah!

No.

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry, baby.

Baby, I'm so sorry.

I'm so...

Bessie, I'm s...

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Stop!

Put your fuckin' hands
in the air!

Put 'em up!

Put your hands in the air.

Don't fuckin' do it.

In it...

and of it...

and now flyin' high
and above it.

Lookin' down on the whole earth.

Wish that it was different...

but it ain't.

Not yet.

Not yet.