Prince of Central Park (2000) - full transcript
JJ's life has been miserable ever since his ill mother had to give him up. The only two good things he has are his best friend Sophia and his wonderful talent for music. Determined to know what happened to his mom, the young man escapes from his foster mother, a woman who encourages her charges to steal and bully. Following his memories, he takes shelter in Central Park. JJ becomes the new protégé of the Guardian, a homeless eccentric and self-appointed King of Central Park who promises to protect the boy and offers him the companionship of a dog called Mutt in exchange for food. Also, JJ's path crosses with Rebecca Cairn, another eccentric who lives in a brownstone overlooking the park. She takes particular interest in him, as does her estranged husband Noah Cairn who is always rescuing Rebecca when she grows depressed. JJ tries to shake off the help of these characters, thinking that his life would be better on his own. However, JJ's foster mother is looking for him, making his search for his mother dangerous. His growing relationship with the Carin's teaches him the truths about loss and letting go.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
TRIMARK HOME VIDEO
JJ: SEE,
I COME DOWN HERE
ALMOST EVERY DAY
AND WATCH
THE FERRY COME IN.
PEOPLE PILE ON AND
THEN IT LEAVES AGAIN
BACK TO THE BIG ISLAND.
IT MAKES THE TRIP
TO MANHATTAN
EVERY HOUR OR SO
EVERY DAY
OF THE WEEK...
BUT I'VE NEVER
BEEN ON IT.
NOW, MOST PEOPLE
OUT ON THE STREETS,
THEY HEAR
BUSES AND TRUCKS
AND CAR HORNS
AND STUFF,
PEOPLE YELLING
AT EACH OTHER
ALL THE TIME,
AND IT'S
ALL MIXED UP
LIKE SOME KIND
OF CRAZY TUNE.
TO ME, THE STREET
IS MUSIC.
I HEAR MUSIC
ALL THE TIME.
I CAN HEAR THE MUSIC
IN MY HEAD
AND I ALWAYS HAVE.
NOBODY KNOWS THAT.
NOBODY KNOWS ME.
THIS IS MY HOME.
THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE ISLAND
THAT I LIVE ON.
I LIKE THE CRAZINESS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE LIFE HERE.
THE STREET LIFE.
THE PEOPLE.
THE ACTION.
IT'S JUST
STATEN ISLAND.
I KNOW THAT.
Woman: SOPHIA!
WE NEED SOME
DELIVERIES TO MAKE.
COME ON, SWEETIE.
OK, MAMA.
IN A MINUTE.
OK, BUT ONLY
A MINUTE.
BRING IT, BABY!
BRING IT!
HE FAKES A LEFT.
HE FAKES A RIGHT.
HE--HE SHOOTS!
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
[CROWD CHEERING]
HE SCORES!
YES! YES!
THE CROWD GOES WILD!
[IMITATES CROWD]
Sophia: JJ!
Mama: SOPHIA!
COME ON, SWEETIE.
LET'S GO. WE DON'T
HAVE TIME FOR DAYDREAMING.
JJ: I THOUGHT
MAYBE ONE DAY
SHE WOULD BE BACK
ON THE FERRY,
THAT SHE'D
COME BACK FOR ME.
YOU SEE...
I LOST HER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW,
EXACTLY.
I WISH
I COULD REMEMBER,
BUT I KNOW THAT
SHE'S OUT THERE...
SOMEWHERE.
I HAVE THIS--
THIS MEMORY OF HER,
AND I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S A DREAM
OR IF IT'S REAL...
BUT I REMEMBER HER.
WHEN THINGS
GET TOUGH,
I THINK BACK
WHEN I WASN'T ALONE.
WHEN MY MOM
FIRST BROUGHT ME HERE.
Mom: ARE YOU EXCITED
FOR YOUR FIRST DAY
AT THIS SCHOOL?
NO.
NO?
MOMMY, CAN YOU
GO IN WITH ME?
I DON'T KNOW
ANY OF THE KIDS.
LET ME LOOK
AT YOU, OK?
I KNOW IT'S A LOT
DIFFERENT HERE
THAN BACK HOME,
BUT UNTIL I CAN MAKE
A LITTLE MORE MONEY,
THIS IS GONNA BE
YOUR NEW SCHOOL, OK?
HMM?
YEAH?
OK, MOMMY.
OK.
I KNOW
YOU'RE SCARED.
OK.
SOPHIA, COME INSIDE.
I NEED YOUR HELP.
DO YOU KNOW
THAT BOY?
YES, MAMA.
THAT'S JJ.
YOU'VE SEEN HIM
A THOUSAND TIMES.
HE LIVES
IN THE PROJECTS.
YEAH,
I'VE SEEN HIM.
WITH HIS MOTHER.
THAT'S NOT
HIS REAL MOM.
THAT'S HIS
FOSTER MOM.
MOM, CAN I GO AND
TALK WITH HIM, PLEASE?
HEY, JJ.
HEY.
I SAW YOU TALKING
WITH YOUR MOM
OVER THERE.
YEAH. YOU KNOW
HOW SHE IS.
WELL, I DON'T THINK
SHE LIKES ME VERY MUCH.
SHE JUST
DOESN'T KNOW YOU.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE HER
SOME TIME.
UH...
SO, HOW COME
YOU WEREN'T IN CLASS
THE LAST DAY
BEFORE SUMMER?
I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON
FOR GOING, YOU KNOW?
THE TEACHER SAID
WE HAD TO READ OUT LOUD
ABOUT WHAT WE WERE
GONNA DO ALL SUMMER.
YOU KNOW I FEEL
LIKE SUCH A JACKASS
WHEN I READ OUT LOUD.
I'M ALWAYS GETTING WORDS
MIXED UP AND STUFF, SO...
WELL, I CAN HELP YOU
WITH YOUR READING,
IF YOU WANT.
LOOK, MAYBE I'M
JUST NOT SMART ENOUGH
TO READ GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU
JUST TELL THEM
THE WORDS
GET MIXED UP?
I GOT
OTHER THINGS TO DO.
HOW COME YOU'RE NOT
HOME FOR DINNER?
MRS. ARDIS DOESN'T LET ME
GO HOME TILL DARK.
Mama: SOPHIA,
WHERE ARE YOU?
YOUR MOM'S COMING.
WELL, I DON'T CARE.
SOPHIA, TIME TO GO.
HI.
HI.
WHY DO YOU TALK
WITH THAT BOY, HMM?
JJ, narrating:
I HAVE THIS DREAM
ABOUT MY MOM...
THAT IF I JUST
HEAD OUT ON MY OWN,
ACROSS THE WATER,
I CAN LIVE
IN SOME FOREST...
AND SHE WOULD
FIND ME THERE.
MAYBE 2 PEOPLE
WITH THE SAME DREAMS
CAN SEE THE DREAM
IN EACH OTHER
AND FIND EACH OTHER.
MAYBE THERE WAS SOME KIND
OF REASON FOR ALL THIS,
EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED.
Woman: WHAT,
ARE YOU NUTS?
Man: WHAT'S THE MATTER,
GIRL? SLOW DOWN!
OOH.
HEY, NOAH.
HOW YOU DOING?
Voice: MOM!
REBECCA!
UNH!
Noah: DON'T MOVE.
ARE YOU HURT?
STAY THERE.
LET ME HELP YOU.
REBECCA! YOU OK?
ARE YOU HURT?
JUST MY PRIDE.
UH, AND MY BUTT.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
AGAIN TODAY, HUH?
YEAH. IT'S
A GREAT RUSH, MAN.
YOU OUGHT
TO TRY IT SOMETIME.
I DON'T HAVE
A DEATH WISH.
LOOK, IF YOU RIDE
AS MANY MILES AS I DO,
YOU'RE BOUND TO DUMP
THE BIKE A FEW TIMES, HUH?
JUST KEEP THE HELMET
CINCHED DOWN.
I DON'T WANT
ANY MORE CALLS
FROM
THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
OH, COME ON.
THAT WAS ONLY 2 TIMES.
3 TIMES!
3 TIMES!
REMEMBER THE PICK-UP
BASKETBALL GAME?
5 STITCHES
ON THE EYEBROW.
WELL, THAT WAS
BECAUSE THAT BIG GUY
GOT UNDERNEATH ME
WITH AN ELBOW.
I GOT THE REBOUND.
YOU KNOW,
WHAT IS IT WITH YOU
AND THIS TOY BOAT
FETISH, HUH?
IT'S A SHIP.
IT'S A SHIP,
NOT A BOAT.
A CLIPPER SHIP,
THE FLYING CLOUD.
IT'S THE FASTEST
SAILING SHIP
EVER MADE.
OK, OK. SHIP.
BRIAN WAS THE ONE
WHO GOT ME INTO IT
WHEN HE WAS A KID.
IT'S RELAXING.
YEAH, WELL,
BRIAN MOVED ON.
HE GREW UP.
YOU'RE STILL PLAYING
WITH HIS BOAT.
NOT TODAY,
REBECCA, OK?
I DON'T HAVE
TO MOVE OUT
THIS WEEKEND.
I CAN WAIT.
ARE YOU STILL SLEEPING
AT THE OFFICE?
NO. I FOUND
ANOTHER PLACE,
BUT I'M WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
I'M FINE.
OK.
I'LL JUST COME BY
AND PICK UP MY THINGS.
BOOKS AND CLOTHES.
PERSONAL THINGS.
WE CAN DIVIDE
THE FURNITURE
AND STUFF LATER.
WHY ARE YOU
DOING THIS?
COME ON, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT THIS
SO MANY TIMES.
WELL, OUR MARRIAGE
HAS BEEN FALLING APART
FOR YEARS. WHY SCREW UP
A GOOD THING BY LEAVING?
IT'S BRIAN, ISN'T IT?
WHEN HE LEFT THE HOUSE,
YOU JUST STOPPED
TALKING TO ME, DIDN'T YOU?
WELL, OK, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
EXACTLY STOP TALKING TO ME.
YOUR LIPS--
REBECCA.
I WISH I COULD SAY
THAT ONE THING
THAT COULD MAKE IT
ALL RIGHT FOR YOU AGAIN.
IF I COULD DO THAT,
IF I COULD FIND IT
SOMEWHERE INSIDE ME...
I'D GIVE IT TO YOU.
[THUNDER]
I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE
THIS ANYMORE, JERK.
JJ, GET OUT!
JESUS.
I'LL GET RID OF HIM.
I'M JUST GETTIN'
THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
SORRY, KID.
I DIDN'T KNOW.
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T
HAVE NO KIDS.
LOOK, MAYBE WE CAN MEET
SOMEPLACE LATER ON.
YOU LITTLE TWERP.
DIDN'T I TELL YOU
NEVER TO COME HOME
BEFORE DARK?
COME ON. IT'S
PISSING OUT THERE.
HEY! WATCH YOUR MOUTH!
WHAT, YOU COULDN'T GO
TO THE LIBRARY OR SOMETHING?
MAYBE YOU WOULD'VE
LEARNED SOMETHING.
MRS. ARDIS?
YEAH?
I'M ROSA SANCHEZ.
JJ's CASE WORKER.
[SIGHS]
ALL THE OTHER CASE WORKERS
ALWAYS CALLED
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
FOR A VISIT.
MRS. ARDIS,
THE LAST CASE WORKER
GOT HERSELF TRANSFERRED
AND I JUST INHERITED
THESE CASES.
55 KIDS. I'M SORRY
I DIDN'T CALL,
BUT I'VE BEEN
WORKING NIGHTS
AND WEEKENDS
TO GET CAUGHT UP.
A REAL
EAGER BEAVER, HUH?
WELL, I JUST WANNA DO
A GOOD JOB FOR THESE KIDS.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
A BUILDING LIKE THIS.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
COULD I COME IN,
MRS. ARDIS, PLEASE?
YEAH,
I SUPPOSE YOU CAN.
UM, JUST
HAVE A SEAT, OK?
I'LL BE WITH YOU
IN A MINUTE.
I JUST HAVE TO USE
THE POWDER ROOM.
[PIANO PLAYING]
[STOPS PLAYING]
YOU MAKE
BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
MY NAME IS ROSA.
HOW ARE YOU, JJ?
I'M ALL RIGHT.
SO, I GUESS
YOU'RE THE NEW ONE, HUH?
YEAH.
CAN I SIT DOWN?
YEAH, SURE.
[SIGHS]
HAVE YOU MET A LOT OF
DIFFERENT CASE WORKERS?
YEAH, EVERY
FEW MONTHS OR SO.
I MEAN, I HAD ONE
FOR A YEAR ONE TIME.
I'VE HAD 5 ALTOGETHER.
OH.
YEAH, THEY CARRIED
THAT SAME FOLDER
YOU GOT RIGHT THERE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL
WE KNOW ABOUT YOU, JJ.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW
A LITTLE MORE.
[LAUGHS]
HE'S GOT
A WHOLE BUNCH
OF NEW TOYS
AND STUFF.
JJ's TOYS.
THERE'S A WHOLE
BOX OF THEM.
HEY, UH, HEY, ROSA.
BY ANY CHANCE,
DOES THAT FOLDER
SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOM,
WHERE SHE IS?
OH, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW, JJ,
BUT I'LL STUDY
YOUR FILE AND--
NO...
I JUST THOUGHT
MAYBE YOU KNEW SOMETHING,
THAT'S ALL.
WHERE SHE IS...
UH, JJ?
SWEETIE, COME HERE
FOR A MINUTE.
I WANT YOU
TO PUT YOUR SUIT ON.
COME ON. WHY DO I HAVE
TO PUT THAT MONKEY SUIT ON?
BECAUSE I WANNA
SHOW THE NICE LADY
WHAT WE WEAR
TO CHURCH.
CHURCH?
YEAH.
OH, RIGHT.
WELL, HE'S GOTTA
GET DRESSED NOW.
SO, UM...
WELL, UH,
MAYBE I COULD
MAKE A CUP
OF COFFEE.
DO YOU LIKE
INSTANT?
Rosa: WE'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF UPGRADING OUR FILES.
YOU KNOW, PUTTING EVERYTHING
INTO THE COMPUTER.
IT'S SO TIME-CONSUMING.
AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S
ALL THAT EXISTS FOR JJ,
AND IT'S KIND OF THIN.
SO I WAS HOPING
MAYBE YOU COULD
FILL ME IN
A LITTLE BIT?
OH, YEAH. SURE.
OK. SO, HE'S BEEN
WITH YOU HOW LONG?
UM, ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW.
SUGAR?
UH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, HE'S
A LONER TYPE OF BOY.
HE'S NOT REAL SMART.
I MEAN, HE CAN READ,
BUT HE'S NOT
REAL GOOD AT IT.
HE'S STREET SMART.
HE'S STREET SMART.
BIT OF A DREAMER.
HE LIVES IN HIS OWN
FANTASY WORLD.
YOU'VE SEEN
HIS ROOM.
I MEAN, DID YOU SEE
THAT RUBBER LIZARD?
YEAH, I LOVE THAT.
OH, LOOK.
IS HE NOT
THE CUTEST?
OH, DOESN'T
HE LOOK HANDSOME?
THIS IS HIS SUIT.
HE'S GOT A TIE
AND EVERYTHING,
AND WHY DON'T
WE PUT THIS ON
AND SHOW HER
THE WHOLE SUIT
AND HOW IT LOOKS.
HE'S LIKE
A LITTLE MAN, HUH?
YOU KNOW, MY JJ...
IS VERY CLEVER
WITH MUSIC.
AND YOU GOTTA SEE
ALL THE TRICKS HE DOES.
GO SHOW HER, JJ.
BATTERIES ARE DEAD.
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE
LATE FOR DINNER.
MAYBE WE COULD ARRANGE
ANOTHER TIME.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?
ROSA? IS IT ROSA?
RIGHT.
Y-YOU KNOW,
JJ SEEMS A LITTLE THIN.
NO. HE'S JUST
BUILT THAT WAY.
LOOK, I NOTICED
YOU DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF FOOD
ON YOUR SHELVES.
SO, I DON'T KNOW,
DO YOU NEED
SOME MORE HELP
OR SOMETHING?
LOOK, LADY, L-LET'S GET
SOMETHING STRAIGHT, OK?
YOU GUYS SEND ME
$300 EVERY MONTH
FOR EACH
THROWAWAY KID,
SO YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PUT UP WITH THEM,
ALL RIGHT?
NOW, I PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE,
I PUT CLOTHES
ON THEIR BACK,
AND I SEND THEM
TO SCHOOL
WITH A TWINKIE.
JJ DOESN'T NEED
A TWINKIE.
WHAT HE NEEDS IS
SOMEONE TO LOVE HIM.
WELL, IF THE STATE
WANTS ME TO LOVE THEM,
THEN MAYBE THE STATE
SHOULD SEND ME
MORE MONEY.
NOW MEANWHILE,
DON'T SCREW IT UP
FOR EVERYONE
IN THE SYSTEM.
AND YOU DON'T COME
UNLESS YOU CALL, OK?
I SHOW YOU THE CLOTHES
IN THE CLOSET,
I SHOW YOU THE FOOD
IN THE KITCHEN, OK,
AND THEN YOU WRITE ME UP
AS BEING IN COMPLIANCE
AND YOU GOT ONE LESS
KID TO WORRY ABOUT.
WELL, MAYBE.
THE SYSTEM DOESN'T
WORK VERY WELL, OK?
MAYBE I CAN CHANGE IT,
EVEN A LITTLE BIT.
EVEN ONE KID.
YOU ACTUALLY THINK
YOU CAN SAVE THESE KIDS?
I'VE BEEN
IN THIS BUSINESS
FOR 15 YEARS, OK?
I'VE SEEN THE LOOK
IN THEIR EYES.
YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM,
ALL RIGHT?
THEY'RE GONNA
BE IN THE SYSTEM
FOR THE REST
OF THEIR LIVES,
JUST LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE STILL
IN THE SYSTEM,
AIN'T YA?
YEAH, I GUESS I AM.
LOOK, LADY,
I'M NOT THE BAD GUY
HERE, ALL RIGHT?
THERE'S A SYSTEM,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU DO THINGS
A CERTAIN WAY.
YOU NEED SOMETHING, JJ,
YOU CALL ME, OK?
I CARE ABOUT
THESE KIDS.
WE'LL TALK AGAIN
REAL SOON.
OH, I'M SURE WE WILL.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU
THINK YOU'RE DOING?
I MEAN, WHAT WAS
THAT ALL ABOUT?
"GEE, ROSA,
CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY MOMMY?"
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOM.
YOU SAID SHE WAS SICK.
YOU SAID SHE COULDN'T
TAKE CARE OF ME.
JUST SHUT UP,
ALL RIGHT?
JUST SHUT UP
AND GO TWIDDLE
WITH THAT
STUPID PIANO.
LOOK, I WANNA KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOM.
YOU WANNA KNOW
ABOUT YOUR MOM?
YEAH.
OK. YOUR MOM
DUMPED YOU,
AND SHE'S
NOT COMING BACK.
NO, YOU'RE LYING.
DON'T YOU GET IT?
NOBODY WANTS YOU.
NO! YOU'RE LYING!
HOW YA DOING, KID?
THE NAME IS EASY.
I WAS, UH, WONDERING
IF YOU COULD...
SPARE SOME CHANGE?
LOOK, I--I DON'T
GOT NOTHING ON ME.
EMPTY YOUR POCKETS,
MAN.
COME ON.
HAND IT OVER.
TOUGH GUY, HUH?
YOU KNOW,
JUST FOR THAT,
I'M TAKING
EVERYTHING.
I WANT YOUR CLOTHES,
TOO.
WHAT?
I'M NOT
PLAYING WITH YOU.
GIVE IT UP!
THE NECKLACE, TOO.
NO, NO, NO.
YOU DON'T WANT THIS, MAN.
IT'S--IT'S NOT
REAL SILVER OR ANYTHING.
LOOK, IT'S NOT EVEN
WORTH NOTHIN'. PLEASE...
YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU
TO REMEMBER ME.
NOW, STRIP.
ONE WORD ABOUT THIS
AND YOU KNOW
I'LL FIND YOU.
WHAT THE HELL
HAPPENED TO YOU?
YOU TOOK THE ELEVATOR
AGAIN, DIDN'T YOU?
HOW MANY TIMES
DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?
YOU CAN'T TAKE
THE ELEVATOR AT NIGHT!
HUH? HOW MANY?
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE JUST--
YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT.
NOT FOR THAT
STINKING STATE CHECK,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
AND I JUST
BOUGHT YOU
THOSE CLOTHES
AND THOSE SHOES.
I'M GONNA TEACH YOU
A LESSON.
DON'T HIT ME ANYMORE.
[TV PLAYING]
[LOUD THUD]
WHAT THE HELL?
LITTLE WISE-ASS PUNKS
CAN'T BREAK INTO MY SCHOOL.
COME OUT OF THERE, KID.
THIS IS
THE TEACHERS' WASHROOM.
LOOK AT THIS MESS!
Guard: YOU'RE REALLY
IN TROUBLE, PAL!
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HERE!
OH! OW!
Guard: I GOT YOU NOW!
I'LL GET YOU!
[CRUNCH]
AAH! OW!
I BROUGHT YOU SOMETHING.
DRUMSTICKS.
SAUTEED WITH A LITTLE GARLIC
AND SHALLOTS.
I THINK YOU'LL LIKE IT.
[WHIMPERS]
AND FOR YOU,
I'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE.
GOOD NIGHT.
I HAVE MORE PEOPLE
IN THE PARK TO FEED.
[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC STOPS]
HEY.
HEY.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT'S WRONG?
MRS. ARDIS GOT
TO PUSHING ME AGAIN, SO...
I GOT MAD
AND I PUSHED HER BACK.
IT'S NO BIG DEAL.
GOOD. I MEAN,
SHE'S A WITCH.
YEAH.
[HINGES SQUEAK]
LOOK,
I--I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME.
I DON'T WANNA GET YOU
IN TROUBLE.
LOOK, IT'S OK.
I'M GLAD YOU CAME.
I'M HAPPY YOU CAME.
BUT, UH...
THEY'RE GONNA COME
LOOKING FOR YOU,
FOR SURE,
AND THEY'LL SEND YOU
TO JUVEY HALL.
I WANTED TO SEE YOU
BEFORE I GO.
GO WHERE?
THIS PLACE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I'M GOING TO FIND OUT
ABOUT MY MOM, SOPHIA.
BUT, JJ, I MEAN,
THAT'S CENTRAL PARK.
HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO FIND HER THERE?
I'LL BE OK.
JUST, UH...
PROMISE ME
YOU WON'T FORGET ME.
ALL RIGHT?
NOT EVER.
OH, LOOK, I GOTTA GO.
WAIT, WAIT.
HERE, YOU'LL NEED
SOME MONEY.
NO. I CAN'T
TAKE YOUR MONEY.
JJ, TRUST ME.
IT'LL BRING YOU
GOOD LUCK.
THANKS.
[SIGHS]
OH, I'LL FIND YOU.
JJ's mother:
"TO THE PRINCIPAL OF P.S. 134.
"YOU HAVE ASKED ME
TO WRITE A LETTER
"EXPLAINING THE FREQUENT ABSENCE
OF MY SON FROM SCHOOL.
"I AM A SINGLE MOTHER.
"JOHN-JOHN
IS MY ONLY CHILD.
"I MUST TRAVEL EVERY DAY
"FROM STATEN ISLAND
TO MANHATTAN,
"WHERE I AM RECEIVING
RADIATION TREATMENT
FOR A CANCER."
"HE IS MY HELPER
AND CAREGIVER
"DURING TIMES
OF DIFFICULTY.
"JOHN-JOHN
IS MY RIGHT ARM.
"HE IS ONLY
4 FEET 2 INCHES TALL,
"BUT HE IS ALL HEART.
"HE IS FEARLESS,
AND HE'S BRAVE.
"YOU HAVE ALSO CALLED ABOUT
HIS BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
"JOHN-JOHN COMES
FROM A BOISTEROUS PEOPLE.
"I AM FRENCH.
HIS FATHER WAS SCOTTISH.
"HIS FATHER'S NAME
WAS SOMERLED,
"AN HONORED NAME.
"HIS FATHER,
MY BELOVED HUSBAND,
"WAS KILLED,
WITH A RIFLE IN HIS HAND,
"DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY
"IN A WAR THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ALREADY FORGOTTEN.
"HE WILL NEVER
SEE HIS SON GROW UP.
"WE ARE NEW TO YOUR SCHOOL,
SO PLEASE...
"ALLOW THIS TO BE
AN INTRODUCTION TO MY SON,
"WHO IS CALLED JJ.
"HE IS LOYAL TO HIS FRIENDS
"AND LOVING TO HIS MOTHER,
"AND I AM
VERY PROUD OF HIM.
ANNALISSE DEVIGNY SOMERLED."
TICKETS.
THANK YOU.
HEY.
RIDE'S OVER, KID.
I'M CLOSING UP.
COME ON, MAN,
JUST ONE MORE RIDE.
NO. YOU GOTTA
GET OUT OF HERE.
IT'S TIME
TO GO HOME.
COME ON.
[SCREAMS]
WHAT ARE YOU
SCREAMING FOR?
YO, I LIKE
YOUR KEYBOARD.
CAN I PLAY IT?
BATTERIES
ARE DEAD.
OH, THE BATTERIES
ARE DEAD.
WELL, THAT'S OK,
I'LL GET YOU SOME MORE.
OH!
IS THAT THE BEST
YOU CAN DO?
MY SISTER RUNS
A BETTER SCAM THAN THAT.
AND I DON'T
EVEN HAVE A SISTER!
YO, GO IN THERE
AND GET HIM, MAN!
I'M NOT
GOING IN THERE.
THE TROLL'S
IN THERE!
WHAT TROLL, MAN?
YOU THINK A TROLL
LIVES IN THERE?
Gangbanger:
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I SEEN HIM!
HE WALKS ON HIS FISTS
LIKE A MONKEY!
Second gangbanger:
YEAH, HE'S GOT CLAWS.
HE'S NOT HUMAN.
Third gangbanger:
SHUT UP, MAN.
Voice: YOU!
WE'RE
OUT OF HERE!
WHO ARE YOU?
THEY--THEY
CALLED YOU A TROLL.
THAT RUBBER GLOVE
DOESN'T FOOL ME.
I'M THE GUARDIAN.
WHERE ARE YOU?
SHOW ME.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
IN THIS PARK ALONE?
WHERE'S YOUR PEOPLE?
I'M ON MY OWN.
IF THAT'S
THE WAY IT IS,
LET ME TELL YOU
HOW IT WORKS
AROUND HERE, KID.
IF YOU LIVE
IN THE PARK,
YOU GOTTA
LEAVE SOMETHING
UNDER THE BRIDGE
AS PAYMENT.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M SAYING?
NO ONE IS ALLOWED
UNDER HERE
UNLESS I ALLOW IT.
IF YOU LET ME STAY,
I--I PROMISE
I CAN BRING YOU FOOD.
I'M GOOD
FOR SCROUNGING STUFF.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST FOR TONIGHT.
TOMORROW,
YOU LEAVE SOMETHING
UNDER THE BRIDGE,
OR I'LL COME OUT
AND I'LL FIND YOU.
IT DON'T MATTER
WHERE YOU LIVE
IN THE PARK,
I'LL FIND YOU.
I--I CAN'T SLEEP
ON THESE STONES.
THERE'S A PLACE...
UNDER THE WATERFALL.
THE MUTT
WILL SHOW YOU.
WHAT'S HIS NAME?
NAME?
HE AIN'T GOT
NO NAME.
HE'S JUST A MUTT.
[WHIMPERING]
HEY, YOU.
[ARF ARF]
[ARF ARF]
[ARF]
HEY, GOOD BOY,
GOOD BOY.
[SIGHS]
HEY, YOU HUNGRY?
I THINK
I ATE MOST OF IT,
BUT I MIGHT HAVE SOME
BURGER AND FRIES LEFT.
IF YOU WANT,
I'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT,
HAVE ALL OF IT, THEN.
HEY, DON'T BE SCARED, MUTT.
WE'RE GONNA BE OK.
JUST YOU AND ME.
WE GOT NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.
WE'LL LOOK OUT
FOR EACH OTHER, RIGHT?
EVERYTHING'S
GONNA BE PEACHES.
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE
WAS HERE BEFORE US.
[ARF ARF]
HEY, WE DID IT, BOY!
ALL RIGHT!
OH! THAT'S
MY SANDWICH!
WHO IS THAT GUY?
[GIGGLING]
[WHIMPERS]
HOP UP!
GOOD BOY.
REBECCA...
REBECCA!
OH, MY GOD.
I MUST LOOK AWFUL.
I CALLED YOU
LATE YESTERDAY.
I STOPPED BY TO SEE YOU
THIS MORNING.
YOU NEVER WENT HOME
LAST NIGHT.
I WAS WORRIED.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
PLEASE, JUST--
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE,
ALL RIGHT?
I LOOKED EVERYWHERE
FOR YOU.
YOU'RE LEAVING ME.
WHAT DO YOU CARE?
I CARE...
AND YOU'RE
NOT HOMELESS.
YOU HAVE
A VERY NICE HOME.
YOU HAVE A BROWNSTONE
ON THE PARK.
YOU CAN ALMOST
SEE IT FROM HERE.
YEAH, WELL,
DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL
ABOUT THIS. OK, NOAH?
I MEAN, IT'S JUST--
IT'S BIG.
IT--IT FEELS
REALLY EMPTY.
I--I RATTLE AROUND
IN THERE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S JUST
MAKING ME CRAZY.
I THOUGHT I'D JUST
GO FOR A RIDE--
OH, SHIT! MY BIKE!
HEY, KID!
DID YOU SEE
WHO TOOK MY BIKE?
NO.
OH, CRAP!
HE LOOKED
LIKE A STREET KID.
HE'S GOT
THESE SAD EYES.
I THINK HE LIVES
HERE IN THE PARK.
I SEE A LOT
OF KIDS LIKE THAT
ON THE STREET.
WHERE ARE
THEIR MOTHERS?
YOU'D BE A MOTHER
TO THE WORLD IF YOU COULD.
WE USED TO BRING BRIAN
HERE TO THE ROWBOATS
WHEN HE WAS
ABOUT THAT AGE.
REBECCA,
YOU HAVE TO STOP NOW.
DON'T DO THIS.
IT'S WRECKING US.
HAVE YOU TALKED
TO BRIAN LATELY
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN
GOING ON WITH US?
NO.
DON'T YOU CARE
ABOUT YOUR OWN SON?
REBECCA, I CAN'T
BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT.
WELL, I'M GOING TO
TALK TO BRIAN SOON.
MAYBE HE'LL WANNA
LIVE WITH ME AWHILE.
LET ME TAKE YOU HOME.
I DON'T HAVE A HOME.
I'M HOMELESS.
I CAN'T LET YOU DO THIS
TO YOURSELF.
I'M TAKING YOU HOME.
NO!
I CAN FIND
MY OWN WAY.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL,
I OWN A BROWNSTONE
RIGHT BY THE PARK.
YOU CAN ALMOST SEE IT
FROM HERE, RIGHT?
Boy:
DAD, MOM, LOOK AT ME!
I'M ROCKING THE BOAT!
HEY.
HEY THERE.
HEY, MUTT,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OH, SO THAT'S
YOUR NAME--MUTT.
WHAT'S
YOUR BUDDY'S NAME?
YOU DO KNOW THAT
THAT THING
ISN'T MAKING
ANY SOUND, DON'T YOU?
YEAH, WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE
THERE'S NO BATTERIES.
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE PLAYING?
I HEAR THE MUSIC
IN MY HEAD.
WELL, THAT'S NICE.
I'M REBECCA.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JJ.
GLAD TO MEET YOU.
SO, YOU LIVE
AROUND HERE?
UH...YEAH, SOMEWHERE
AROUND HERE.
OH. WELL,
IF YOU KNOW THE MUTT,
THEN I GUESS YOU'VE MET
THE GUARDIAN, HUH?
YEAH. IS THAT
WHAT THEY CALL HIM?
[CHUCKLES] YEAH.
[SIGHS]
D-DO YOU WANT THIS?
WELL, IF YOU'RE
NOT GONNA EAT IT,
I GUESS.
WELL,
YOU CAN HAVE IT.
HEY, LOOK,
I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT,
YOU KNOW,
YOU OFFERED.
WELL, YOU WERE
STARING AT IT.
HEY, LOOK, I CAN
GET MY OWN FOOD.
OH, SURE.
I GUESS WITH MUTT,
HE TAKES REALLY GOOD
CARE OF YOU, HUH?
RICH PEOPLE
WASTE EVERYTHING.
LET'S SEE
WHAT WE GOT TODAY, HUH?
IT WAS THE LAST LOAD.
GOT SOME STERNO CANS.
NOW MAYBE WE CAN HAVE
A HOT MEAL FOR A CHANGE.
I GOT A PRETTY
COOL-LOOKING
SLINGSHOT, HUH?
I SHOULD ASK
THE GUARDIAN
IF YOU CAN STAY WITH ME.
I DON'T WANNA
GET ON HIS BAD SIDE.
[WHIMPERS]
[SIGHS]
[SITAR PLAYING]
Guardian: WHAT HAVE
YOU BROUGHT FOR ME?
I HAVE SOME FOOD.
LEAVE THE KEYBOARD.
NO.
YOU'VE GOT SOME
HARD BARK ON YOU
FOR A LITTLE GUY.
OK. PLAY SOMETHING
FOR ME, THEN.
NO.
YOU WILL!
LEAVE THE MUSIC.
THAT WILL BE
YOUR TRIBUTE
FOR PASSING
UNDER MY BRIDGE.
THESE ARE THE ONLY
BATTERIES I HAVE.
I DON'T WANNA WASTE THEM.
SHE LEFT SOME
FOR YOU OVER THERE.
IN THE HOLE.
[GUARDIAN WHISTLES]
HEY! THE BATTERIES
ARE YOURS.
THE FOOD IS MINE.
SHE'S A NICE LADY.
YEAH.
BUT IF YOU WANNA
BE ON YOUR OWN,
YOU CAN'T DEPEND
ON ANYONE.
YOU GOTTA
MAKE A LIVING
LIKE ANY MAN DOES.
SO PLAY.
ALL RIGHT, BUT YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO, UH...
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HUM
ME A TUNE OR SOMETHING.
ARE YOU NUTS?
JUST PLAY
THE GODDAMN THING!
I REALLY DON'T
KNOW HOW TO PLAY.
I--LIKE, I DON'T KNOW
ANY NOTES OR ANYTHING.
BUT I CAN PLAY
SOMETHING I HEAR.
THERE WAS THIS CHINESE LADY
IN THE PARK TODAY.
SHE PLAYED SOMETHING STRANGE.
I-IT SOUNDED LIKE THIS.
[MIMICKING SITAR MUSIC]
BUT I WAS THINKING
I COULD MAKE IT
SOUND SOMETHING
MORE LIKE THIS.
[PLAYING WITH A JAZZ BEAT]
OOOHH! YOU GOT
A GIFT, KID!
OOOHHH!
IT'S JUST SOMETHING
I PICKED UP.
YOU EVER SHOW ANYONE
YOU CAN DO THAT?
WHO WOULD I EVER SHOW?
GET A HAT! PUT IT
ON THE GROUND!
PLAY YOUR MUSIC!
YOU JUST WANT ME TO BRING
YOU FOOD, DON'T YOU?
YOU'RE SAFE
HERE NEAR ME.
I PROTECT YOU
FROM THE GANGS.
YOU GOTTA UPHOLD
YOUR END
OF THE BARGAIN.
GO! PLAY YOUR MUSIC!
[ARF]
[MAN PLAYING HARMONICA]
HEY, WAY TO GO!
WHERE'D YOU GET THIS?
[JJ PLAYING KEYBOARD]
SHE LOVES THE MUSIC.
WATCH ME NOW.
WATCH ME.
[YAWNS]
[MAN WHISTLING]
[MIMICKING]
HEY, KID, CAN YOU MAKE
THAT THING PLAY BAGPIPES?
YEAH, I THINK SO.
I, UH, JUST DIDN'T
FIGURE OUT ALL
THE BUTTONS YET.
PLAY IT LIKE THIS...
♪ OH, YOU TAKE
THE HIGH ROAD ♪
♪ AND I'LL TAKE
THE LOW ROAD ♪
♪ AND I'LL BE
IN SCOTLAND ♪
♪ BEFORE YE ♪
♪ FOR ME AND MY TRUE LOVE ♪
♪ WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN ♪
♪ ON THE BONNIE,
BONNIE BANKS ♪
♪ OF LOCH LOMOND ♪
♪ ME AND MY TRUE LOVE ♪
♪ WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN ♪
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?
JJ.
TELL YOU WHAT, JJ.
HERE'S A FIVE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE
STILL HERE TOMORROW,
AND YOU PLAY ME
THAT TUNE ON BAGPIPES,
I'LL MAKE IT A 10.
ALL RIGHT,
I'LL BE HERE.
SHE'S GOT DIAMONDS. YOU KNOW
SHE'S GOT SOME MONEY.
SHE'S MOVING
AND SHE IS TRAVELING.
SHE IS TRAVELING
AND SHE IS MOVING.
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING,
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING,
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING.
SHE'S ALL OVER THE AIRPORT.
THIS IS THE AIRPORT
RIGHT HERE.
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING.
WHERE IS IT?
WHERE'S THE DIAMOND AT?
WHERE'S THE DIAMOND---OOH!
YEAH, YOU GET THE MONEY.
OK, YOU TAKE ALL THE MONEY.
WHY'S EVERYBODY
TURNING OVER MY CARDS?
OK, ONLY ONE CHANCE, OK?
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA
GET YOUR MONEY. HERE YOU GO.
HERE'S YOUR MONEY,
HERE'S YOUR MONEY.
HEY, LOOK, MUTT,
THERE'S MONEY IN THERE.
HERE WE GO. ONE MORE TIME,
ONE MORE TIME.
OH, GOD.
COME ON, KID.
LET'S TAKE A WALK.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING,
LITTLE BROTHER,
I LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE GUTTY.
YOU REMIND ME OF ME
WHEN I WAS GREEN.
LOOK, I AIN'T GREEN.
I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD.
YOU WANNA MAKE
SOME MONEY, KID?
I CAN MAKE MONEY
WITH MY MUSIC.
OH, MY MAN,
THAT'S SMALL-TIME.
JUST SOME CHANGE
ROLLING AROUND
IN YOUR POCKET.
YOU'RE STREET NOW,
AND YOU NEED
SOME REAL MONEY.
I COULD SCHOOL YOU.
LOOK, I AIN'T NO THIEF.
YOU SAY THAT NOW,
BUT...
WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN...
YOUR CHANGE
IS SPENT AND...
YOU HAVEN'T EATEN
FOR A WHILE
AND YOU'RE HUNGRY?
YOU WILL STEAL.
YEAH, WELL,
THAT'S JUST FOOD.
I MEAN, SOMETIMES
THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT CAN AFFORD
TO MISS A MEAL.
THERE YOU GO! SEE?
WE'RE ALREADY
SEEING EYE TO EYE.
LOOK AROUND, JJ.
I MEAN, DO YOU SEE
ANYBODY AROUND HERE
PUTTING OUT THEIR
HAND TO HELP US OUT?
NO. SEE, THIS WORLD
IS ABOUT
OPPORTUNITY,
TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF SOME GOOD LUCK
WHEN IT STARING YOU
IN THE FACE.
YEAH, AND I GUESS
YOUR GOOD LUCK
WAS WHEN I SHOWED UP
IN THE ELEVATOR, RIGHT?
EXACTLY.
YOU'RE LEARNING,
MY MAN.
YOU'RE THE PUPIL,
I'M THE TEACHER...
AND SCHOOL'S IN.
YEAH, WELL, LOOK,
I'M ALL DONE WITH SCHOOL.
NOW GIVE ME
BACK MY MEDAL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
YOU GIVE ME
THE KEYBOARD,
I'LL GIVE YOU
THE MEDAL.
HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
THANKS, KID.
HEY, COME ON,
YOU SAID IT WAS A TRADE.
I LIED. I'M
KEEPING THEM BOTH.
GIVE HIM BACK
HIS KEYBOARD.
ARE YOU CRAZY, LADY?
MIND YOUR BUSINESS!
JJ, ARE YOU--
HEY, YOU CAN'T--
HEY!
YOU KNOW I COULD'VE
HANDLED THAT.
OH, YEAH, SURE,
I KNOW THAT.
YOU OK?
YEAH, I'M FINE.
SO, I GUESS THAT MEDAL
MEANT A LOT TO YOU, HUH?
MY MOM GAVE ME
THAT MEDAL.
YOU KNOW, MY SON...
HE USED TO LOVE
PLAYING THE PIANO.
AND THAT PIANO IS
JUST SITTING THERE.
YOU WANNA COME OVER
AND PLAY IT?
I NEVER PLAYED
A REAL PIANO BEFORE.
OH, COME ON. NOW,
THINK ABOUT THIS, OK?
HERE'S A DEAL--I'LL
LET YOU PLAY THE PIANO,
AND YOU CARRY
MY GROCERIES FOR ME,
HELP ME WITH THE SHOPPING,
STUFF LIKE THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS ISN'T
REALLY YOUR HAT, IS IT?
COME ON. I'LL SHOW YOU
WHERE I LIVE.
OK, JUST IN HERE.
HOLD ON A SECOND.
LET ME GET THIS.
MMM! LET'S COOK
THIS STUFF UP, HUH?
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT
SMILE...WHEN YOU WANT TO.
YOU KNOW THAT?
OH, HERE. WHY DON'T
YOU CUT UP SOME BREAD?
YOU MUST BE
STARVING TO DEATH.
HERE YOU GO.
YOU KNOW,
THIS WAS ALL
BRIAN'S FAVORITE FOOD.
[GRUNTING]
WELL, THAT WORKS.
YOU COOK LIKE THIS
FOR BRIAN
WHEN HE WAS A KID?
SURE! WELL, YOU KNOW,
HE LIKED TO--
TO COOK WITH ME.
I HOPE
YOU LIKE CHICKEN.
OH...WAIT A MINUTE.
IT'S ALIVE! OH, YEAH!
STOP IT!
OH, NO!
GET AWAY FROM ME!
JJ: MMM!
[REBECCA LAUGHS]
I GUESS
YOU LIKE IT, HUH?
ARE YOU KIDDING?
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
HA! COME ON.
ROAST CHICKEN, POTATOES,
SAUTEED VEGETABLES--
NO, NO, SERIOUSLY,
THIS IS
LIKE REAL FOOD.
YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
MRS. ARDIS WAS
LIGHTING A CIGARETTE
ON THE STOVE
ONE TIME...
SHE LIT HER HAIR
ON FIRE.
SHE NEVER TURNED
THE STOVE ON
AFTER THAT. SHE HAD
KINDA LIKE A--
LIKE A VOODOO THING
ABOUT COOKING.
SO, WHO'S THIS MRS. ARDIS?
AND DOES SHE KNOW
THAT YOU'RE
OUT ON YOUR OWN?
NO, SHE DOESN'T CARE.
SHE JUST HAD ME AROUND
FOR THE CHECK.
WHAT, YOU MEAN
SHE'S YOUR FOSTER MOTHER?
NO. SHE'S NOT REALLY
ANY KIND OF MOM.
SHE'S JUST A WOMAN
WHO MAKES MONEY
OFF OF KIDS
NO ONE WANTS.
OH, JJ.
MAYBE YOU COULD
STAY HERE.
YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE FIGURE
SOMETHING OUT OR--
YOU'RE GONNA
TURN ME IN?
NO, I'M NOT
GONNA TURN YOU IN.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
COMPLETELY HONEST WITH ME.
TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR PARENTS.
WELL, I, UH...
I NEVER REALLY
KNEW MY DAD.
AND MY MOM
GOT REAL SICK,
AND I WAS PUT
INTO A FOSTER HOME.
AND THAT'S WHEN
MRS. ARDIS TOOK ME.
I'M TRYING TO FIND
MY REAL MOM, THOUGH.
MRS. ARDIS,
SHE SAID
THAT SHE GOT
A LOT BETTER
AND SHE DIDN'T
WANT ME ANYMORE.
BUT I KNOW
IT'S NOT TRUE.
MY MOTHER
REALLY LOVED ME.
I KNOW SHE DID.
DON'T EVER
DOUBT THAT, JJ.
I KNOW. I JUST
HAVE TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER.
I'M GONNA
HELP YOU FIND HER.
OOH!
OH!
I--I--I CAN
GET SOME GLUE.
OH, NO, NO, NO!
D-DON'T TOUCH IT!
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO CUT YOURSELF.
M-MAYBE I CAN
GLUE IT TOGETHER.
OH, MY GOD. YOU
KNOW, THESE WERE
NOAH'S MOTHER'S
PRESENT.
I SCREWED EVERYTHING UP.
NO, NO!
NO, NO, I NEVER
LIKED THESE.
THEY WERE
FORCED ON ME
AS A WEDDING
PRESENT.
AND THEY'RE
SO OLD-FASHIONED.
EVEN NOAH
HATED THEM.
HE WASN'T GOING
TO TAKE THEM
WITH HIM
WHEN HE WENT.
OH, NO!
OH, MY GOD.
[LAUGHS]
I MEAN, LOOK
AT THESE STUPID
PINK FLOWERS.
HEY, YOU TRY IT.
ALL RIGHT.
OK, TAKE IT BETWEEN
YOUR 2 FINGERS
AND...THROW IT!
YES!
COME ON.
GIVE IT A TRY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW.
I NEVER PLAYED
ONE OF THESE BEFORE.
WELL, SO SIT DOWN
AND JUST
TRY IT OUT, HUH?
ALL RIGHT.
SO PLAY ME
SOMETHING.
OH, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO PLAY.
YOU HAVE TO HUM ME
A TUNE OR SOMETHING.
I CAN'T DO THAT!
OH, LET ME THINK.
THERE WAS A...
THERE WAS A SONG BRIAN
USED TO REALLY LOVE.
IT WAS...UM...
[HUMMING]
[HUMMING ALONG]
IT'S A COOL PIANO.
[STRUMMING STRINGS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
WHY DO YOU KEEP
ALL THIS KID STUFF
IN HERE?
I LIKE IT.
YEAH, WELL,
WHEN BRIAN
COMES TO VISIT,
DOESN'T HE FEEL
KINDA WEIRD?
HE SLEEPS IN
THIS ROOM, RIGHT?
HE DOESN'T COME
VERY OFTEN.
WHY NOT?
HE'S BUSY. HIS COLLEGE
IS FAR AWAY.
SO IS THIS BALL
REALLY SIGNED
BY MICKEY MANTLE?
YEP. BRIAN LOVED BASEBALL.
NOT ANYMORE?
TIME TO SLEEP.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOD BLESS, BRIAN.
HEY.
YOU JUST
CALLED ME BRIAN.
I DID?
[WHISPERING] Yeah.
WELL, GOOD NIGHT,
SLEEP TIGHT, JJ.
ALL YEAR,
I TRY TO KEEP
THESE CHILDREN
INSIDE
THIS BUILDING.
NOW I CAN'T
KEEP THEM OUT.
WAIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN
"KEEP THEM OUT"?
WE HAD A BREAK-IN
LAST WEEKEND.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
WE HAD 5 BREAK-INS
IN ONE SCHOOL YEAR.
WELL, MAYBE THAT'S WHY
JJ's FILE ISN'T HERE.
NO, THAT IS NOT
WHY JJ's FILE
IS NOT HERE.
THESE KIDS RUN AWAY
ALL THE TIME,
MS. SANCHEZ.
WHEN YOU'VE BEEN
IN THE SYSTEM
AS LONG AS I HAVE,
YOU DON'T FLY OFF
THE HANDLE--
I KNOW HE'S JUST
ANOTHER KID TO YOU--
NO, HE IS NOT
JUST ANOTHER KID--
PLEASE!
PLEASE.
I CAN'T LOSE THIS BOY.
OH, MY GOD.
FOR A MOMENT...
YOU REMINDED ME
OF MYSELF.
LOOK, IF I DON'T
FIND HIM NOW,
HE IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE
ON THE STREET FOREVER.
I'M...
SORRY. I'M JUST...
TIRED.
WHAT CAN I DO
TO HELP YOU?
OK, WELL,
I THINK HE MIGHT TRY
TO FIND HIS MOM
WHO'S SICK.
SO I CHECKED SOME OF
THESE HOSPITALS, BUT NO LUCK.
I CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP
EVERY NIGHT.
THIS KID, HE WAS
LIKE A REAL SON TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO
IF YOU DON'T FIND HIM.
YEAH, WELL, WE GOT
A PHOTO, SO, UM...
WE'LL KEEP AN EYE
OUT FOR HIM, MRS. ARDIS.
WOULD YOU
LIKE TO COME IN
AND HAVE A CUP
OF COFFEE? I CAN MAKE--
NO, NO,
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
ARE YOU SURE? I MEAN,
IT'S INSTANT, BUT--
THAT BOY'S
A RUNAWAY FOR SURE.
JUST LIKE THE REST
OF HER KIDS.
JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I'M JJ's
NEW FRIEND.
[SNICKERING] YEAH?
SO?
WELL, I HEAR
YOU'VE BEEN
ASKING AROUND
ABOUT HIM.
WELL, HAVE YOU
SEEN HIM?
MAYBE.
IS THERE SOME
KIND OF REWARD?
LOOK, HE'S NOT
A LOST DOG, ALL RIGHT?
HE'S MY KID.
[CHUCKLES]
COME ON, LET'S
CUT THE BULLSHIT.
HE'S
YOUR MEAL TICKET.
JUST LIKE I WAS.
SO, YOU
WANT HIM BACK
OR DON'T YOU?
HOW MUCH?
FIRST MONTH'S CHECK.
[SIGHS]
AND HOW DO I KNOW
YOU'RE NOT LYING LIKE ALWAYS?
HE GAVE ME THIS.
HE WANTS
TO COME BACK HOME
TO HIS MOMMY.
ALL RIGHT, MAYBE WE
CAN DO SOME BUSINESS.
JJ?
BRIAN.
HEY, YOU IN THERE?
WHERE'S MY TRIBUTE?
SOMETHING'S HAPPENED?
YEAH.
THIS GANGBANGER
TOOK MY KEYBOARD.
HE PAWNED IT.
I WAS WATCHING.
WHY DIDN'T YOU
HELP ME?
YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKING
ABOUT HOW THE GUARDIAN
PROTECTS EVERYBODY
IN THE PARK.
SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
A LITTLE BIT.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
CUT OUT FOR THIS LIFE.
IT'S HARD.
I CAN TAKE CARE
OF MYSELF.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
LOOKS LIKE
YOU GOT IT BACK.
WHERE'D YOU GET THAT
KIND OF MONEY, KID?
I DID
WHAT I HAD TO DO.
THE NUMBER ONE RULE
IS THAT WE DO NOT CHEAT.
MY NUMBER ONE RULE
IS I LOOK AFTER JJ.
YOU'D BETTER GO HOME,
KID.
YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!
IT'S BETTER TO BE HERE
IN THE PARK LIVING OFF SCRAPS
THAN TO BE TRAPPED IN
A FOSTER HOME WITH THAT WITCH.
I'M FREE HERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
BUT YOU'VE GOTTA DO IT
WITHOUT RIPPING
ANYBODY OFF.
LISTEN TO ME, KID.
THIS IS THE SUMMER
OF YOUR LIFE.
THIS IS THE ONE
YOU'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER,
THE ONE
YOU CROSSED OVER.
CROSSED OVER
TO WHAT?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE A BOY ANYMORE.
ALL THAT'S
GONNA CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE
YOUR OWN SONG.
I HEAR YOU PLAYING
OTHER PEOPLE'S SONGS.
YOU GOT A GIFT,
BUT DON'T
SELL YOURSELF SHORT.
YOU'RE A PRINCE,
KID.
YOU DESERVE
THE BEST.
A PRINCE, HUH?
I'M THE KING
OF THIS PARK.
AND YOU'RE
THE PRINCE.
THE PRINCE
OF CENTRAL PARK.
YEAH.
THE PRINCE
OF CENTRAL PARK.
[DRUMMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SURPRISE.
HAVE YOU
FOUND HER YET?
HEY, HOW'D
YOU FIND ME?
YOU SHOWED ME
THAT PICTURE, REMEMBER?
YEAH. [LAUGHS]
I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T
FOUND HER YET, HUH?
NO. NOT YET.
BUT ANYWAY, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I'M GLAD YOU CAME,
YOU KNOW.
I'M REALLY HAPPY
TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU.
WELL, YOUR CASE WORKER
CAME TO OUR APARTMENT,
AND THE COPS. I MEAN,
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU.
YOUR MOM KNOWS
YOU'RE HERE?
NO. SHE THINKS
I'M AT A SLEEP-OVER
AT MY FRIEND'S.
SHE WON'T MISS ME
UNTIL TOMORROW.
GOOD, BECAUSE I WANT
TO SHOW YOU THE WHOLE PARK.
JUST SIT BACK. RELAX.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A GREAT TIME TODAY, OK?
HEY.
SO THIS IS YOUR DOG?
HE'S KIND OF
HIS OWN DOG.
REALLY BELONGS
TO THE PARK.
HE'S SO CUTE.
IT'S LIKE...
WHEN I PLAY MY KEYBOARD...
IT'S KINDA LIKE
I'M NOT IN THE PROJECTS
ANYMORE.
I'M NOT WITH MRS. ARDIS
AND NOT THAT CAVE
IN THE PARK.
I JUST FEEL FREE
WHEN I PLAY MY MUSIC.
I'M REALLY PROUD
OF YOU.
MUSIC WAS MY ONLY FRIEND
BEFORE I MET YOU.
[GIGGLES]
I DON'T WANT
TO LEAVE YOU HERE.
NO.
I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE A PLACE
TO LIVE,
THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD
AROUND THE PARK,
SO...JUST DON'T
WORRY ABOUT ME.
I HAD FUN TODAY.
YEAH.
ME, TOO.
SO, UH...
CAN I COME SEE YOU
SOME TIME?
SURE!
JUST DON'T TELL THEM
WHERE I AM.
OK?
NOT EVER.
I NEVER DID THAT
BEFORE.
NEITHER HAVE I.
[HORN HONKS]
COME ON.
WE GOTTA GO.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I SEE YOU GOT
YOUR KEYBOARD BACK.
YEAH.
WHERE'D YOU GET
THE MONEY?
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
I FOUND SOME.
YOU'RE LYING.
LOOK, IT WAS
JUST A DUSTY BASEBALL
AND OLD WATCH.
HE'S IN COLLEGE NOW.
WHAT DOES HE CARE?
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.
YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO STEAL IT!
LOOK, JUST BECAUSE
I LIVE IN THE STREETS
AND I GOT NO FAMILY
AND I GOT NO FRIENDS
DOESN'T MEAN
I'M A THIEF.
I'LL GET
THOSE THINGS BACK.
YOU DON'T FEEL ANY
REMORSE AT ALL, DO YOU?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT WORD MEANS.
DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING
FOR ME? ANYTHING AT ALL?
DO YOU EVEN LIKE ME?
HEY, LOOK, YOUR PLACE
IS JUST ANOTHER FOSTER HOME
WITH A BETTER VIEW.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD
HAVE BOUGHT THAT FOR YOU
IF YOU'D ASKED.
YOU THINK I CAN'T AFFORD
TO BUY YOU SOME MUSIC TOY?
TELL ME WHY
YOU WOULD EVER
SPEND MONEY ON ME.
NO ONE EVER GAVE ME
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
EXCEPT MY MOM.
I COULD BE YOUR MOM.
NO, YOU CAN'T.
YOU SAY THAT 'CAUSE
IT SOUNDS GOOD
AND IT MAKES YOU
FEEL NICE.
I WANT TO BE YOUR MOM.
NO, YOU DON'T.
NOT WHEN IT ALL GETS
REAL, YOU DON'T.
YOU THINK YOU CAN
LIVE WITH ME?
LOOK AT ME!
LOOK AT ME.
NO ONE
IS GONNA WANT ME!
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK
YOU DO?
JUST THINK OF HOW
EMBARRASSED YOU'D BE
HAVING ME AROUND
YOUR RICH-ASS FRIENDS.
YOU COULDN'T BE MY MOM.
YOU COULDN'T BE
ANYONE'S MOM.
WHOA. MY GOD.
YOU GOT A MEAN STREAK,
DON'T YOU?
I DON'T KNOW WHY I NEVER
SAW THAT IN YOU BEFORE.
YOU JUST THINK PEOPLE
ARE MEAN AND NASTY
WHEN THEY'RE
TELLING THE TRUTH.
[HORSE NEIGHS]
TIME TO GO HOME, JJ.
WHO ARE YOU?
WHY ARE YOU DOIN' THIS?
HEY, IT'S
MY LITTLE BROTHER.
I'M JUST TAKING HIM HOME
TO HIS MOTHER, THAT'S ALL.
I AIN'T GOING
BACK THERE, EASY.
ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND
THIS CRAZY BITCH?
DOES IT BOTHER YOU
JJ GOT AWAY?
WHO ARE YOU, LADY? YOU
DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT ME,
NOTHIN' I BEEN THROUGH.
YOU JUST WANT HIM TO
TURN OUT LIKE YOU DID,
DON'T YOU, EASY?
JUST A PETTY CROOK.
HEY, YOU!
POLICE OFFICER!
GET BACK HERE!
Officer: I GOT A MUGGER
UNDER THE ARCHES.
I'M IN PURSUIT.
OH...
DON'T WORRY.
IT'S GONNA
BE ALL RIGHT.
DON'T LEAVE ME, BRIAN.
STAY WITH ME, PLEASE.
I WON'T
EVER LEAVE YOU.
AHH...
HEY.
JJ, I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
Nurse: HE'S BEEN IN THE
WAITING ROOM ALL NIGHT.
THEY WOULDN'T LET ME
IN THE ROOM TILL VISITING HOURS.
I'M NOT NEXT OF KIN.
OH.
YOU OK?
YEAH. THEY, UM...
THEY TAPED MY RIBS
A BIT AND, UH...
A COUPLE OF STITCHES
IN MY HEAD.
13 STITCHES.
I'M GONNA
GET COFFEE.
BUT I WANT TO TALK
TO YOU LATER, OK?
HEY, IT WASN'T
HIS FAULT.
SEE YOU IN A LITTLE
WHILE, TOUGH GUY.
HOW ARE YOU
FEELING?
OH, I'M--OHH!
HA HA. FINE.
IT IS ALL MY FAULT.
[PATS BED]
COME SIT DOWN.
YOU KNOW, I SAW YOU
IN THE PARK
THE OTHER DAY
WITH THAT GIRL.
I COULD SEE THE WAY
YOU LOOKED AT HER.
[CLICKS TONGUE] SHE'S
THE ONE, ISN'T SHE?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT.
SHE'S JUST A GIRL
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHO HAPPENED TO COME
ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL PARK
JUST TO SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT?
SO MAYBE SHE LIKES ME.
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
THE FIRST ONE IS THE ONE
YOU REMEMBER THE LONGEST.
I THINK YOU'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER HER.
I LOST HER.
JUST LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE.
JJ,
YOUR MOM
DIDN'T LEAVE YOU.
YEAH,
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
I KNOW.
I REMEMBER WHEN
I WAS YOUNGER...
MY MOM HAD A ROOM
JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
HONEY, MOST HOSPITAL ROOMS
LOOK LIKE THIS ONE.
I USED TO SIT WITH HER.
I WANTED
TO TAKE CARE OF HER
LIKE I'D BEEN DOING
AT HOME.
THEN THESE PEOPLE CAME,
AND...
THEY SAID SHE COULDN'T
TAKE CARE OF ME ANYMORE.
AND THAT WAS THE LAST
TIME I SAW HER.
WE USED TO WALK
TO THE HOSPITAL
IN THAT PARK.
THIS IS THE ONLY
HOSPITAL WITHIN...
WALKING DISTANCE
TO THE PARK.
OH!
OK.
I ALWAYS KNEW
YOU WERE NUTS.
YEAH.
AH! DON'T LOOK
AT MY BUTT CRACK.
COME ON.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
IF YOUR MOTHER
WAS IN THIS HOSPITAL,
THEN WE ARE
GONNA FIND SOMEBODY
WHO CAN TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
REBECCA?
COME ON, HONEY.
Woman: THAT WASN'T
WHAT I SAID.
YOU NEED
TO LISTEN TO ME.
...COPY OF THIS,
AND--
JJ, PLEASE DON'T RUN.
WHO ARE YOU?
SHE'S MY CASE WORKER.
SHE'S ALL RIGHT.
HOW DID YOU
FIND HIM?
I DIDN'T.
I FOUND HIS MOM.
YOU FOUND HER?
I CONTACTED EVERY
HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK.
SHE WAS GIVEN RADIATION
TREATMENT IN THIS HOSPITAL,
AND I FOUND THE NURSE
WHO CARED FOR HER...
THE NURSE WHO CARED FOR HER
WHEN SHE DIED.
OH, JJ, THIS
IS NURSE YAGER.
JJ IS THE SON
OF ANNALISSE.
HOW DO YOU DO, JJ?
I'M SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE
TELL JJ
WHAT YOU TOLD ME?
YOUR MOTHER ASKED ME
TO CALL THE FOSTER MOTHER
TAKING CARE OF YOU.
MRS. ARDIS.
THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
SHE PROMISED TO BRING YOU
IN FOR VISITS,
BUT SHE NEVER CAME,
NOT EVEN AFTER
I CALLED AND SAID
THAT YOUR MOTHER
HAD PASSED AWAY.
WHERE IS JJ?
CAN I SEE MY BOY?
CAN YOU PLEASE
BRING ME MY BOY?
HE'S NOT HERE,
ANNALISSE.
THAT'S OK.
I DON'T WANT HIM
TO SEE ME LIKE THIS.
IT'S OK.
TELL MY BOY
I LOVE HIM.
JJ, NO!
Annalisse: PLEASE...
CAN YOU FIND MY BOY?
PLEASE...
OH, THANK YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND
GUARD, REBECCA.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE
ANYTHING FROM BRIAN'S ROOM.
JJ!
I'M SO GLAD
YOU CAME HOME.
WHY DIDN'T BRIAN
COME TO THE HOSPITAL
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OK?
WHAT?
I MEAN, YOU'RE HIS MOM,
RIGHT? WHAT KIND OF SON
DOESN'T COME SEE HIS MOM
WHEN SHE'S HURT?
AND HOW COME
NONE OF THESE PHOTOS
SHOW HIM GROWN UP?
JJ.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE LET HER
TELL ME THESE FAIRY TALES
THIS WHOLE TIME
ABOUT BRIAN.
NOAH, STOP HIM.
GET IT SAID, JJ.
YOU CALLED ME A LIAR.
SOMETIMES I PRETEND,
BUT IT MAKES ME
FEEL A LOT BETTER
WHEN EVERYTHING'S
CRUMMY.
WHY CAN'T I
CALL YOU A LIAR?
NO!
YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS
OF MY BOY.
HE WASN'T LIKE YOU
AT ALL.
REBECCA,
THEY'RE A LOT ALIKE.
THEY ARE NOTHING
LIKE EACH OTHER.
IT'S ALL MADE UP.
GET OUT. I WANT YOU
OUT OF MY HOME.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
BETTER.
YEAH, I KNEW
YOU WOULD SAY THAT
WHEN YOU WERE READY
TO GET RID OF ME.
MY SON WAS NEVER
THIS DISRESPECTFUL TO ME.
AND WHERE IS HE NOW?
RETARDED, IN SOME HOSPITAL?
MAYBE HE'S IN JAIL, HUH?
OUR SON IS DEAD.
YOU PROMISED.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE.
JJ's RIGHT.
WE WERE WRONG PLAYING
THESE LITTLE GAMES.
HOW OLD WAS HE?
HE WAS 14.
REBECCA, I'M NOT HIM.
HE'S DEAD.
MY SON IS DEAD.
REBECCA...
I WANT HIM BACK.
HE'S GONE, REB.
OH, THIS IS YOUR REVENGE...
BECAUSE I LET HIM DIE.
THAT'S ANOTHER LIE
YOU TELL YOURSELF.
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
I THOUGHT I WAS HELPING,
BUT I WAS JUST
ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.
YOU TOOK EVERYTHING.
BUT THAT WASN'T
ENOUGH FOR YOU.
NO, NO, NO.
NO, YOU HAD TO TAKE
MY ILLUSIONS.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE
LIVED WITH THESE LIES.
AT LEAST I HAD A LIE
TO LIVE WITH!
HE DROWNED, REB.
HE DROWNED!
IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY...
ALL THE TIME.
KIDS...
ARE DROWNING.
THEY'RE DROWNING.
WHY CAN'T WE LET HIM
BE AT PEACE?
I HURT.
YOU DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL THINGS.
I FEEL AS THOUGH
THE FLESH
AROUND MY HEART
WERE BEING EATEN
AWAY EVERY DAY!
BRING HER HOME, JJ.
REBECCA NEEDS YOU,
YOU KNOW.
IT'S YOU
SHE REALLY NEEDS.
YOU'VE ALREADY
HELPED HER
MORE THAN
I EVER COULD.
YOU DID THE RIGHT
THING, JJ.
ARE YOU GUYS
GONNA GET BACK TOGETHER?
SOME THINGS CAN'T BE
FIXED THAT WAY, JJ.
IT'S
NOT SOMETHING...
YOU CAN
JUST GLUE TOGETHER.
THERE'S TOO MANY
BROKEN PIECES.
BUT WE CAN STILL BE
A PART OF YOUR LIFE,
TAKE CARE OF YOU,
RAISE YOU,
IF YOU LET US.
IT'S OK. YOU GUYS
DON'T NEED TO PUT UP WITH ME.
YOU GOT OTHER THINGS
TO DO.
JJ...
YOU GOTTA LET SOMEONE
IN SOME TIME.
IT'S NOT A BAD THING
TO LET SOMEONE LOVE YOU.
HERE. BRING IT IN.
LEFT.
WHY AM I
TELLING YOU?
YOU DO IT BETTER
THAN I DO.
LOOK.
ITS NOSE IS DIPPING.
THAT'S MY MOM.
"SOMERLED."
YEAH.
THAT'S IT.
GIVE YOU 5 MINUTES.
THEN WE BEGIN.
THANK YOU.
HOW ARE WE DOING?
WE WANNA KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN TO JJ.
LOOK, I CAN ONLY PROMISE YOU I
WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN FOR JJ.
BUT THE FOSTER MOTHER HAS
A PRIOR ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT
WITH COUNTY SERVICES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
IN A LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN BUREAUCRAT?
THE JUDGE MAY SEND HIM
BACK TO MRS. ARDIS.
I WON'T LET HIM.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU
PREPARED TO DO?
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO GO BACK, JJ.
YEAH, WELL, NOW THAT
THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PARK,
THEY'RE JUST GONNA KEEP
SENDING PEOPLE TO FIND ME.
JJ...
THANK GOD YOU'RE SAFE!
OH! YOU HAD ME
WORRIED SICK!
YEAH, SURE.
UH, MRS. ARDIS,
ALTHOUGH
JJ DID RUN AWAY,
HE'S COME BACK
OF HIS OWN FREE WILL,
AND IN OUR TALKS,
QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED
ABOUT YOUR CARE OF HIM.
I HAVE INFORMED
THE FAMILY COURT JUDGE
THAT IN MY OPINION
JJ IS AT IMMINENT
RISK WITH YOU.
I DIDN'T COME HERE
TO GET AMBUSHED, OK?
AND I DON'T
WANT TO ARGUE.
I KNOW MY RIGHTS.
JJ's COMING HOME
WITH ME.
YOU CAME TO GET
YOUR PROPERTY.
WELL, WHERE WERE YOU
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS
WHEN HE NEEDED A HOME?
OK? I TOOK CARE OF HIM!
YOU KEPT HIM
FROM HIS MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS DYING.
LOOK, SWEETIE,
I ONLY DID THAT
TO PROTECT YOU, OK?
REALLY. HONEST TO GOD.
NO. YOU SHOULD
HAVE TOLD ME.
WHY? SO YOUR LAST MEMORY
OF YOUR MOTHER
IS HER LAYING IN A COFFIN
6 FEET UNDER?
I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO HURT.
GET THE HELL
OFF ME.
MISS, MISS.
YOU HEARD WHAT HE SAID.
BACK OFF.
LOOK, I KNOW ABOUT
ALL YOU RICH PEOPLE, OK?
YOU THINK
YOU CAN TAKE IN A KID.
IT'S LIKE GOIN' TO A PET STORE
AND BUYIN' A PUPPY.
GUESS WHAT?
THEN THEY GROW UP.
THEN WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
BRING HIM BACK TO ME?
I'M GOING
TO ADOPT HIM.
DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE
A LITTLE TOO OLD FOR THAT, LADY?
COME ON, JJ.
NO. I'M A GOOD MOTHER.
I'M GONNA SEE TO IT
YOU DON'T TAKE
ANY MORE KIDS HOME.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED
TO RAISE JJ.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
A MOTHER TO HIM.
BUT YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.
YOU BROKE HIS SPIRIT,
OR YOU TRIED TO.
YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF HIM!
YOU JUST USED HIM FOR
THE MONEY HE BROUGHT IN.
YOU LIED
TO THE CASE WORKERS
AND YOU LEFT HIM
OUT ON THE STREET!
I HAVE A CONTRACT.
I PROVIDE A SERVICE.
IF YOU EVER
COME NEAR JJ AGAIN,
I WILL SEE TO IT
YOU ARE SCRUBBING FLOORS
AT THE WOMEN'S
CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
HA. I DIDN'T COMMIT
ANY CRIMES.
YOU KNOW, MRS. ARDIS,
I CHECKED THE LIST
OF KIDS YOU'VE CARED FOR
OVER THE YEARS,
AND I CAME ACROSS THE NAME
OF SOMEONE WHO HAS.
HE'S CALLED EASY.
EASY?
THE KID
THAT MUGGED ME.
HE WAS YOURS?
LOOK, I KNOW
YOU SENT THAT BOY.
I HAD A LOT OF THOSE KIDS.
I DON'T REMEMBER
EVERY NAME.
YEAH, WELL, I'M GONNA
DO A FULL REVIEW
OF ALL THE KIDS YOU'VE
CARED FOR FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS,
AND I'M GONNA FIND EACH ONE
OF THEM AND TALK TO THEM.
YOU'RE NOT
GONNA FIND THEM.
THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE
COCKROACHES IN THE STREETS.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
THE LAST OF THIS.
I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS
IN THIS BUSINESS.
OH...
[EXHALES]
HMM.
YOU KNOW, WHEN
WE GET DONE HERE,
LET'S GO HOME.
ALL RIGHT. I JUST GOTTA
STOP BY THE PARK,
PICK UP SOME STUFF.
MUTT, COME HERE, BOY!
[WHISTLES]
[WHISTLES]
COME HERE, MUTT.
Easy:
IT'S THE MAMA'S BOY.
Gangbanger: GO AHEAD,
LITTLE RABBIT. RUN!
OH! IT'S FRAT BOY!
NICE OUTFIT, KID.
HA HA HA!
PUNK ASS!
LET'S GET HIM!
LET'S GET HIM!
COME ON Y'ALL.
HA HA HA HA HA!
THAT'S RIGHT!
YOU AIN'T RUNNIN'?
IF IT AIN'T MY LITTLE
BROTHER, MAN. WHAT'S UP?
HA HA HA.
Leader: SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
WE'D FIND HIM HERE.
HOW'S IT HANGIN',
CUZ?
GRAB HIM
RIGHT THERE.
OH, WHOA, NO, NO, NO.
STEP BACK, YO-YO.
THIS ISN'T YOU.
WHAT'S UP, MAN?
WHAT YOU WANT?
I WANT MY MEDAL BACK.
DID Y'ALL HEAR THIS?
OH, HE WANTS
HIS MEDAL BACK.
HE WANTS
HIS MEDAL BACK.
OH! GIVE HIM
HIS MEDAL BACK!
HA HA HA HA HA!
OH!
CAUGHT YA. SNAP!
HA HA HA!
ARE YOU OK?
Easy: YO, STAND HIM UP.
HO HO! E!
GIMME BACK MY MEDAL.
OH! HE GOT LOUD
WITH YOU, EASE.
SHOULD I GIVE HIM
HIS MEDAL BACK?
GIVE HIM SOMETHING.
GIVE HIM WHAT
HE'S LOOKIN' FOR.
YEAH, I WILL,
I WILL, I WILL.
IS THAT WHAT YOU LOOKIN'
FOR, LITTLE BROTHER?
I MEAN, I GOT MORE.
YO, EASE, MAN.
LET HIM GO.
YO, LEAVE HIM
ALONE, EASE.
Damn.
Leader to Easy: HEY,
WE WERE JUST HAVING FUN.
YO, STAY DOWN,
ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'RE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
I'M BEATIN' HIM UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
I'M DOING?
YOU OK, KID?
WHAT THE HELL, MAN?
LOOK AT HIM.
HE GOT
A LOT OF GUTS.
GOT A LOTTA HEART.
HE WANTS TO GET BACK UP,
MAN. STAND HIM BACK UP.
LOOK AT HIM, MAN!
Easy: MAN, HE'S TRYIN'
TO GET BACK UP.
GET HIM BACK UP, MAN!
GET OFF OF HIM, MAN.
GET UP. GET UP!
STAY DOWN, MAN.
DON'T MOVE.
BEAT IT, PUNK.
I'M NOT DOWN
WITH THIS, E!
HE'S SICK.
LEAVE. LEAVE.
HE BEAT YOU!
HE BEAT YOU, EASY!
HE MADE A FOOL
OUTTA YOU.
GO,
ALL Y'ALL, MAN!
GROWN MEN
BUT BABIES.
COME AND GET YOUR MEDAL,
LITTLE BROTHER.
DU--AH!
I--I--I CAN'T SWIM.
PLEASE HELP ME, MAN!
HELP ME!
PLEASE...PLEASE.
AAH!
[SPLASHING]
[COUGHING]
HELP ME!
OOOOHH...
OOOHH...
WHO THE HELL
ARE YOU?
YOU LISTEN TO ME,
YOU LITTLE WEASEL.
I SHOULD HAVE
LET YOU DROWN.
NO ONE ON EARTH
WOULD MISS YOU.
YOU DID OK, JJ.
[COUGH COUGH]
YOU MADE IT.
WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA DO WITH HIM?
I'VE DECIDED...
TO MAKE HIM
MY NEXT PROJECT.
SEE YOU AROUND,
PRINCE.
YOU'RE GONNA
FETCH ME FOOD...
HUH?
AND I'M GONNA TEACH YOU
TO WALK THAT LINE.
WHAT?
HUH? WHAT?
HEY, BOY.
YOU READY TO GO HOME?
LET'S LEAVE THIS
FOR THE NEXT KID.
HEY, THAT'S THE KID!
THAT'S THE KID
WITH THE KEYBOARD.
YOU GONNA PLAY
YOUR SONG?
I TOLD YOU ABOUT HIM.
HE'S BAD!
MOVE OVER, MAN.
YOU GOTTA
HEAR THIS KID PLAY.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
YOU WANNA PLAY
SOMETHING?
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
TRIMARK HOME VIDEO
TRIMARK HOME VIDEO
JJ: SEE,
I COME DOWN HERE
ALMOST EVERY DAY
AND WATCH
THE FERRY COME IN.
PEOPLE PILE ON AND
THEN IT LEAVES AGAIN
BACK TO THE BIG ISLAND.
IT MAKES THE TRIP
TO MANHATTAN
EVERY HOUR OR SO
EVERY DAY
OF THE WEEK...
BUT I'VE NEVER
BEEN ON IT.
NOW, MOST PEOPLE
OUT ON THE STREETS,
THEY HEAR
BUSES AND TRUCKS
AND CAR HORNS
AND STUFF,
PEOPLE YELLING
AT EACH OTHER
ALL THE TIME,
AND IT'S
ALL MIXED UP
LIKE SOME KIND
OF CRAZY TUNE.
TO ME, THE STREET
IS MUSIC.
I HEAR MUSIC
ALL THE TIME.
I CAN HEAR THE MUSIC
IN MY HEAD
AND I ALWAYS HAVE.
NOBODY KNOWS THAT.
NOBODY KNOWS ME.
THIS IS MY HOME.
THIS IS WHERE I LIVE.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE ISLAND
THAT I LIVE ON.
I LIKE THE CRAZINESS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE LIFE HERE.
THE STREET LIFE.
THE PEOPLE.
THE ACTION.
IT'S JUST
STATEN ISLAND.
I KNOW THAT.
Woman: SOPHIA!
WE NEED SOME
DELIVERIES TO MAKE.
COME ON, SWEETIE.
OK, MAMA.
IN A MINUTE.
OK, BUT ONLY
A MINUTE.
BRING IT, BABY!
BRING IT!
HE FAKES A LEFT.
HE FAKES A RIGHT.
HE--HE SHOOTS!
[BUZZER SOUNDS]
[CROWD CHEERING]
HE SCORES!
YES! YES!
THE CROWD GOES WILD!
[IMITATES CROWD]
Sophia: JJ!
Mama: SOPHIA!
COME ON, SWEETIE.
LET'S GO. WE DON'T
HAVE TIME FOR DAYDREAMING.
JJ: I THOUGHT
MAYBE ONE DAY
SHE WOULD BE BACK
ON THE FERRY,
THAT SHE'D
COME BACK FOR ME.
YOU SEE...
I LOST HER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW,
EXACTLY.
I WISH
I COULD REMEMBER,
BUT I KNOW THAT
SHE'S OUT THERE...
SOMEWHERE.
I HAVE THIS--
THIS MEMORY OF HER,
AND I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S A DREAM
OR IF IT'S REAL...
BUT I REMEMBER HER.
WHEN THINGS
GET TOUGH,
I THINK BACK
WHEN I WASN'T ALONE.
WHEN MY MOM
FIRST BROUGHT ME HERE.
Mom: ARE YOU EXCITED
FOR YOUR FIRST DAY
AT THIS SCHOOL?
NO.
NO?
MOMMY, CAN YOU
GO IN WITH ME?
I DON'T KNOW
ANY OF THE KIDS.
LET ME LOOK
AT YOU, OK?
I KNOW IT'S A LOT
DIFFERENT HERE
THAN BACK HOME,
BUT UNTIL I CAN MAKE
A LITTLE MORE MONEY,
THIS IS GONNA BE
YOUR NEW SCHOOL, OK?
HMM?
YEAH?
OK, MOMMY.
OK.
I KNOW
YOU'RE SCARED.
OK.
SOPHIA, COME INSIDE.
I NEED YOUR HELP.
DO YOU KNOW
THAT BOY?
YES, MAMA.
THAT'S JJ.
YOU'VE SEEN HIM
A THOUSAND TIMES.
HE LIVES
IN THE PROJECTS.
YEAH,
I'VE SEEN HIM.
WITH HIS MOTHER.
THAT'S NOT
HIS REAL MOM.
THAT'S HIS
FOSTER MOM.
MOM, CAN I GO AND
TALK WITH HIM, PLEASE?
HEY, JJ.
HEY.
I SAW YOU TALKING
WITH YOUR MOM
OVER THERE.
YEAH. YOU KNOW
HOW SHE IS.
WELL, I DON'T THINK
SHE LIKES ME VERY MUCH.
SHE JUST
DOESN'T KNOW YOU.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE HER
SOME TIME.
UH...
SO, HOW COME
YOU WEREN'T IN CLASS
THE LAST DAY
BEFORE SUMMER?
I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON
FOR GOING, YOU KNOW?
THE TEACHER SAID
WE HAD TO READ OUT LOUD
ABOUT WHAT WE WERE
GONNA DO ALL SUMMER.
YOU KNOW I FEEL
LIKE SUCH A JACKASS
WHEN I READ OUT LOUD.
I'M ALWAYS GETTING WORDS
MIXED UP AND STUFF, SO...
WELL, I CAN HELP YOU
WITH YOUR READING,
IF YOU WANT.
LOOK, MAYBE I'M
JUST NOT SMART ENOUGH
TO READ GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU
JUST TELL THEM
THE WORDS
GET MIXED UP?
I GOT
OTHER THINGS TO DO.
HOW COME YOU'RE NOT
HOME FOR DINNER?
MRS. ARDIS DOESN'T LET ME
GO HOME TILL DARK.
Mama: SOPHIA,
WHERE ARE YOU?
YOUR MOM'S COMING.
WELL, I DON'T CARE.
SOPHIA, TIME TO GO.
HI.
HI.
WHY DO YOU TALK
WITH THAT BOY, HMM?
JJ, narrating:
I HAVE THIS DREAM
ABOUT MY MOM...
THAT IF I JUST
HEAD OUT ON MY OWN,
ACROSS THE WATER,
I CAN LIVE
IN SOME FOREST...
AND SHE WOULD
FIND ME THERE.
MAYBE 2 PEOPLE
WITH THE SAME DREAMS
CAN SEE THE DREAM
IN EACH OTHER
AND FIND EACH OTHER.
MAYBE THERE WAS SOME KIND
OF REASON FOR ALL THIS,
EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED.
Woman: WHAT,
ARE YOU NUTS?
Man: WHAT'S THE MATTER,
GIRL? SLOW DOWN!
OOH.
HEY, NOAH.
HOW YOU DOING?
Voice: MOM!
REBECCA!
UNH!
Noah: DON'T MOVE.
ARE YOU HURT?
STAY THERE.
LET ME HELP YOU.
REBECCA! YOU OK?
ARE YOU HURT?
JUST MY PRIDE.
UH, AND MY BUTT.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
AGAIN TODAY, HUH?
YEAH. IT'S
A GREAT RUSH, MAN.
YOU OUGHT
TO TRY IT SOMETIME.
I DON'T HAVE
A DEATH WISH.
LOOK, IF YOU RIDE
AS MANY MILES AS I DO,
YOU'RE BOUND TO DUMP
THE BIKE A FEW TIMES, HUH?
JUST KEEP THE HELMET
CINCHED DOWN.
I DON'T WANT
ANY MORE CALLS
FROM
THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
OH, COME ON.
THAT WAS ONLY 2 TIMES.
3 TIMES!
3 TIMES!
REMEMBER THE PICK-UP
BASKETBALL GAME?
5 STITCHES
ON THE EYEBROW.
WELL, THAT WAS
BECAUSE THAT BIG GUY
GOT UNDERNEATH ME
WITH AN ELBOW.
I GOT THE REBOUND.
YOU KNOW,
WHAT IS IT WITH YOU
AND THIS TOY BOAT
FETISH, HUH?
IT'S A SHIP.
IT'S A SHIP,
NOT A BOAT.
A CLIPPER SHIP,
THE FLYING CLOUD.
IT'S THE FASTEST
SAILING SHIP
EVER MADE.
OK, OK. SHIP.
BRIAN WAS THE ONE
WHO GOT ME INTO IT
WHEN HE WAS A KID.
IT'S RELAXING.
YEAH, WELL,
BRIAN MOVED ON.
HE GREW UP.
YOU'RE STILL PLAYING
WITH HIS BOAT.
NOT TODAY,
REBECCA, OK?
I DON'T HAVE
TO MOVE OUT
THIS WEEKEND.
I CAN WAIT.
ARE YOU STILL SLEEPING
AT THE OFFICE?
NO. I FOUND
ANOTHER PLACE,
BUT I'M WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
I'M FINE.
OK.
I'LL JUST COME BY
AND PICK UP MY THINGS.
BOOKS AND CLOTHES.
PERSONAL THINGS.
WE CAN DIVIDE
THE FURNITURE
AND STUFF LATER.
WHY ARE YOU
DOING THIS?
COME ON, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT THIS
SO MANY TIMES.
WELL, OUR MARRIAGE
HAS BEEN FALLING APART
FOR YEARS. WHY SCREW UP
A GOOD THING BY LEAVING?
IT'S BRIAN, ISN'T IT?
WHEN HE LEFT THE HOUSE,
YOU JUST STOPPED
TALKING TO ME, DIDN'T YOU?
WELL, OK, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
EXACTLY STOP TALKING TO ME.
YOUR LIPS--
REBECCA.
I WISH I COULD SAY
THAT ONE THING
THAT COULD MAKE IT
ALL RIGHT FOR YOU AGAIN.
IF I COULD DO THAT,
IF I COULD FIND IT
SOMEWHERE INSIDE ME...
I'D GIVE IT TO YOU.
[THUNDER]
I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE
THIS ANYMORE, JERK.
JJ, GET OUT!
JESUS.
I'LL GET RID OF HIM.
I'M JUST GETTIN'
THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
SORRY, KID.
I DIDN'T KNOW.
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T
HAVE NO KIDS.
LOOK, MAYBE WE CAN MEET
SOMEPLACE LATER ON.
YOU LITTLE TWERP.
DIDN'T I TELL YOU
NEVER TO COME HOME
BEFORE DARK?
COME ON. IT'S
PISSING OUT THERE.
HEY! WATCH YOUR MOUTH!
WHAT, YOU COULDN'T GO
TO THE LIBRARY OR SOMETHING?
MAYBE YOU WOULD'VE
LEARNED SOMETHING.
MRS. ARDIS?
YEAH?
I'M ROSA SANCHEZ.
JJ's CASE WORKER.
[SIGHS]
ALL THE OTHER CASE WORKERS
ALWAYS CALLED
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
FOR A VISIT.
MRS. ARDIS,
THE LAST CASE WORKER
GOT HERSELF TRANSFERRED
AND I JUST INHERITED
THESE CASES.
55 KIDS. I'M SORRY
I DIDN'T CALL,
BUT I'VE BEEN
WORKING NIGHTS
AND WEEKENDS
TO GET CAUGHT UP.
A REAL
EAGER BEAVER, HUH?
WELL, I JUST WANNA DO
A GOOD JOB FOR THESE KIDS.
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
A BUILDING LIKE THIS.
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
COULD I COME IN,
MRS. ARDIS, PLEASE?
YEAH,
I SUPPOSE YOU CAN.
UM, JUST
HAVE A SEAT, OK?
I'LL BE WITH YOU
IN A MINUTE.
I JUST HAVE TO USE
THE POWDER ROOM.
[PIANO PLAYING]
[STOPS PLAYING]
YOU MAKE
BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
MY NAME IS ROSA.
HOW ARE YOU, JJ?
I'M ALL RIGHT.
SO, I GUESS
YOU'RE THE NEW ONE, HUH?
YEAH.
CAN I SIT DOWN?
YEAH, SURE.
[SIGHS]
HAVE YOU MET A LOT OF
DIFFERENT CASE WORKERS?
YEAH, EVERY
FEW MONTHS OR SO.
I MEAN, I HAD ONE
FOR A YEAR ONE TIME.
I'VE HAD 5 ALTOGETHER.
OH.
YEAH, THEY CARRIED
THAT SAME FOLDER
YOU GOT RIGHT THERE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL
WE KNOW ABOUT YOU, JJ.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW
A LITTLE MORE.
[LAUGHS]
HE'S GOT
A WHOLE BUNCH
OF NEW TOYS
AND STUFF.
JJ's TOYS.
THERE'S A WHOLE
BOX OF THEM.
HEY, UH, HEY, ROSA.
BY ANY CHANCE,
DOES THAT FOLDER
SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOM,
WHERE SHE IS?
OH, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW, JJ,
BUT I'LL STUDY
YOUR FILE AND--
NO...
I JUST THOUGHT
MAYBE YOU KNEW SOMETHING,
THAT'S ALL.
WHERE SHE IS...
UH, JJ?
SWEETIE, COME HERE
FOR A MINUTE.
I WANT YOU
TO PUT YOUR SUIT ON.
COME ON. WHY DO I HAVE
TO PUT THAT MONKEY SUIT ON?
BECAUSE I WANNA
SHOW THE NICE LADY
WHAT WE WEAR
TO CHURCH.
CHURCH?
YEAH.
OH, RIGHT.
WELL, HE'S GOTTA
GET DRESSED NOW.
SO, UM...
WELL, UH,
MAYBE I COULD
MAKE A CUP
OF COFFEE.
DO YOU LIKE
INSTANT?
Rosa: WE'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF UPGRADING OUR FILES.
YOU KNOW, PUTTING EVERYTHING
INTO THE COMPUTER.
IT'S SO TIME-CONSUMING.
AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S
ALL THAT EXISTS FOR JJ,
AND IT'S KIND OF THIN.
SO I WAS HOPING
MAYBE YOU COULD
FILL ME IN
A LITTLE BIT?
OH, YEAH. SURE.
OK. SO, HE'S BEEN
WITH YOU HOW LONG?
UM, ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW.
SUGAR?
UH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, HE'S
A LONER TYPE OF BOY.
HE'S NOT REAL SMART.
I MEAN, HE CAN READ,
BUT HE'S NOT
REAL GOOD AT IT.
HE'S STREET SMART.
HE'S STREET SMART.
BIT OF A DREAMER.
HE LIVES IN HIS OWN
FANTASY WORLD.
YOU'VE SEEN
HIS ROOM.
I MEAN, DID YOU SEE
THAT RUBBER LIZARD?
YEAH, I LOVE THAT.
OH, LOOK.
IS HE NOT
THE CUTEST?
OH, DOESN'T
HE LOOK HANDSOME?
THIS IS HIS SUIT.
HE'S GOT A TIE
AND EVERYTHING,
AND WHY DON'T
WE PUT THIS ON
AND SHOW HER
THE WHOLE SUIT
AND HOW IT LOOKS.
HE'S LIKE
A LITTLE MAN, HUH?
YOU KNOW, MY JJ...
IS VERY CLEVER
WITH MUSIC.
AND YOU GOTTA SEE
ALL THE TRICKS HE DOES.
GO SHOW HER, JJ.
BATTERIES ARE DEAD.
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE
LATE FOR DINNER.
MAYBE WE COULD ARRANGE
ANOTHER TIME.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN?
ROSA? IS IT ROSA?
RIGHT.
Y-YOU KNOW,
JJ SEEMS A LITTLE THIN.
NO. HE'S JUST
BUILT THAT WAY.
LOOK, I NOTICED
YOU DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF FOOD
ON YOUR SHELVES.
SO, I DON'T KNOW,
DO YOU NEED
SOME MORE HELP
OR SOMETHING?
LOOK, LADY, L-LET'S GET
SOMETHING STRAIGHT, OK?
YOU GUYS SEND ME
$300 EVERY MONTH
FOR EACH
THROWAWAY KID,
SO YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PUT UP WITH THEM,
ALL RIGHT?
NOW, I PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE,
I PUT CLOTHES
ON THEIR BACK,
AND I SEND THEM
TO SCHOOL
WITH A TWINKIE.
JJ DOESN'T NEED
A TWINKIE.
WHAT HE NEEDS IS
SOMEONE TO LOVE HIM.
WELL, IF THE STATE
WANTS ME TO LOVE THEM,
THEN MAYBE THE STATE
SHOULD SEND ME
MORE MONEY.
NOW MEANWHILE,
DON'T SCREW IT UP
FOR EVERYONE
IN THE SYSTEM.
AND YOU DON'T COME
UNLESS YOU CALL, OK?
I SHOW YOU THE CLOTHES
IN THE CLOSET,
I SHOW YOU THE FOOD
IN THE KITCHEN, OK,
AND THEN YOU WRITE ME UP
AS BEING IN COMPLIANCE
AND YOU GOT ONE LESS
KID TO WORRY ABOUT.
WELL, MAYBE.
THE SYSTEM DOESN'T
WORK VERY WELL, OK?
MAYBE I CAN CHANGE IT,
EVEN A LITTLE BIT.
EVEN ONE KID.
YOU ACTUALLY THINK
YOU CAN SAVE THESE KIDS?
I'VE BEEN
IN THIS BUSINESS
FOR 15 YEARS, OK?
I'VE SEEN THE LOOK
IN THEIR EYES.
YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM,
ALL RIGHT?
THEY'RE GONNA
BE IN THE SYSTEM
FOR THE REST
OF THEIR LIVES,
JUST LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE STILL
IN THE SYSTEM,
AIN'T YA?
YEAH, I GUESS I AM.
LOOK, LADY,
I'M NOT THE BAD GUY
HERE, ALL RIGHT?
THERE'S A SYSTEM,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU DO THINGS
A CERTAIN WAY.
YOU NEED SOMETHING, JJ,
YOU CALL ME, OK?
I CARE ABOUT
THESE KIDS.
WE'LL TALK AGAIN
REAL SOON.
OH, I'M SURE WE WILL.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU
THINK YOU'RE DOING?
I MEAN, WHAT WAS
THAT ALL ABOUT?
"GEE, ROSA,
CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY MOMMY?"
YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOM.
YOU SAID SHE WAS SICK.
YOU SAID SHE COULDN'T
TAKE CARE OF ME.
JUST SHUT UP,
ALL RIGHT?
JUST SHUT UP
AND GO TWIDDLE
WITH THAT
STUPID PIANO.
LOOK, I WANNA KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MOM.
YOU WANNA KNOW
ABOUT YOUR MOM?
YEAH.
OK. YOUR MOM
DUMPED YOU,
AND SHE'S
NOT COMING BACK.
NO, YOU'RE LYING.
DON'T YOU GET IT?
NOBODY WANTS YOU.
NO! YOU'RE LYING!
HOW YA DOING, KID?
THE NAME IS EASY.
I WAS, UH, WONDERING
IF YOU COULD...
SPARE SOME CHANGE?
LOOK, I--I DON'T
GOT NOTHING ON ME.
EMPTY YOUR POCKETS,
MAN.
COME ON.
HAND IT OVER.
TOUGH GUY, HUH?
YOU KNOW,
JUST FOR THAT,
I'M TAKING
EVERYTHING.
I WANT YOUR CLOTHES,
TOO.
WHAT?
I'M NOT
PLAYING WITH YOU.
GIVE IT UP!
THE NECKLACE, TOO.
NO, NO, NO.
YOU DON'T WANT THIS, MAN.
IT'S--IT'S NOT
REAL SILVER OR ANYTHING.
LOOK, IT'S NOT EVEN
WORTH NOTHIN'. PLEASE...
YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU
TO REMEMBER ME.
NOW, STRIP.
ONE WORD ABOUT THIS
AND YOU KNOW
I'LL FIND YOU.
WHAT THE HELL
HAPPENED TO YOU?
YOU TOOK THE ELEVATOR
AGAIN, DIDN'T YOU?
HOW MANY TIMES
DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?
YOU CAN'T TAKE
THE ELEVATOR AT NIGHT!
HUH? HOW MANY?
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE JUST--
YOU'RE NOT WORTH IT.
NOT FOR THAT
STINKING STATE CHECK,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
AND I JUST
BOUGHT YOU
THOSE CLOTHES
AND THOSE SHOES.
I'M GONNA TEACH YOU
A LESSON.
DON'T HIT ME ANYMORE.
[TV PLAYING]
[LOUD THUD]
WHAT THE HELL?
LITTLE WISE-ASS PUNKS
CAN'T BREAK INTO MY SCHOOL.
COME OUT OF THERE, KID.
THIS IS
THE TEACHERS' WASHROOM.
LOOK AT THIS MESS!
Guard: YOU'RE REALLY
IN TROUBLE, PAL!
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HERE!
OH! OW!
Guard: I GOT YOU NOW!
I'LL GET YOU!
[CRUNCH]
AAH! OW!
I BROUGHT YOU SOMETHING.
DRUMSTICKS.
SAUTEED WITH A LITTLE GARLIC
AND SHALLOTS.
I THINK YOU'LL LIKE IT.
[WHIMPERS]
AND FOR YOU,
I'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE.
GOOD NIGHT.
I HAVE MORE PEOPLE
IN THE PARK TO FEED.
[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC STOPS]
HEY.
HEY.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT'S WRONG?
MRS. ARDIS GOT
TO PUSHING ME AGAIN, SO...
I GOT MAD
AND I PUSHED HER BACK.
IT'S NO BIG DEAL.
GOOD. I MEAN,
SHE'S A WITCH.
YEAH.
[HINGES SQUEAK]
LOOK,
I--I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME.
I DON'T WANNA GET YOU
IN TROUBLE.
LOOK, IT'S OK.
I'M GLAD YOU CAME.
I'M HAPPY YOU CAME.
BUT, UH...
THEY'RE GONNA COME
LOOKING FOR YOU,
FOR SURE,
AND THEY'LL SEND YOU
TO JUVEY HALL.
I WANTED TO SEE YOU
BEFORE I GO.
GO WHERE?
THIS PLACE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I'M GOING TO FIND OUT
ABOUT MY MOM, SOPHIA.
BUT, JJ, I MEAN,
THAT'S CENTRAL PARK.
HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO FIND HER THERE?
I'LL BE OK.
JUST, UH...
PROMISE ME
YOU WON'T FORGET ME.
ALL RIGHT?
NOT EVER.
OH, LOOK, I GOTTA GO.
WAIT, WAIT.
HERE, YOU'LL NEED
SOME MONEY.
NO. I CAN'T
TAKE YOUR MONEY.
JJ, TRUST ME.
IT'LL BRING YOU
GOOD LUCK.
THANKS.
[SIGHS]
OH, I'LL FIND YOU.
JJ's mother:
"TO THE PRINCIPAL OF P.S. 134.
"YOU HAVE ASKED ME
TO WRITE A LETTER
"EXPLAINING THE FREQUENT ABSENCE
OF MY SON FROM SCHOOL.
"I AM A SINGLE MOTHER.
"JOHN-JOHN
IS MY ONLY CHILD.
"I MUST TRAVEL EVERY DAY
"FROM STATEN ISLAND
TO MANHATTAN,
"WHERE I AM RECEIVING
RADIATION TREATMENT
FOR A CANCER."
"HE IS MY HELPER
AND CAREGIVER
"DURING TIMES
OF DIFFICULTY.
"JOHN-JOHN
IS MY RIGHT ARM.
"HE IS ONLY
4 FEET 2 INCHES TALL,
"BUT HE IS ALL HEART.
"HE IS FEARLESS,
AND HE'S BRAVE.
"YOU HAVE ALSO CALLED ABOUT
HIS BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR.
"JOHN-JOHN COMES
FROM A BOISTEROUS PEOPLE.
"I AM FRENCH.
HIS FATHER WAS SCOTTISH.
"HIS FATHER'S NAME
WAS SOMERLED,
"AN HONORED NAME.
"HIS FATHER,
MY BELOVED HUSBAND,
"WAS KILLED,
WITH A RIFLE IN HIS HAND,
"DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY
"IN A WAR THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ALREADY FORGOTTEN.
"HE WILL NEVER
SEE HIS SON GROW UP.
"WE ARE NEW TO YOUR SCHOOL,
SO PLEASE...
"ALLOW THIS TO BE
AN INTRODUCTION TO MY SON,
"WHO IS CALLED JJ.
"HE IS LOYAL TO HIS FRIENDS
"AND LOVING TO HIS MOTHER,
"AND I AM
VERY PROUD OF HIM.
ANNALISSE DEVIGNY SOMERLED."
TICKETS.
THANK YOU.
HEY.
RIDE'S OVER, KID.
I'M CLOSING UP.
COME ON, MAN,
JUST ONE MORE RIDE.
NO. YOU GOTTA
GET OUT OF HERE.
IT'S TIME
TO GO HOME.
COME ON.
[SCREAMS]
WHAT ARE YOU
SCREAMING FOR?
YO, I LIKE
YOUR KEYBOARD.
CAN I PLAY IT?
BATTERIES
ARE DEAD.
OH, THE BATTERIES
ARE DEAD.
WELL, THAT'S OK,
I'LL GET YOU SOME MORE.
OH!
IS THAT THE BEST
YOU CAN DO?
MY SISTER RUNS
A BETTER SCAM THAN THAT.
AND I DON'T
EVEN HAVE A SISTER!
YO, GO IN THERE
AND GET HIM, MAN!
I'M NOT
GOING IN THERE.
THE TROLL'S
IN THERE!
WHAT TROLL, MAN?
YOU THINK A TROLL
LIVES IN THERE?
Gangbanger:
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I SEEN HIM!
HE WALKS ON HIS FISTS
LIKE A MONKEY!
Second gangbanger:
YEAH, HE'S GOT CLAWS.
HE'S NOT HUMAN.
Third gangbanger:
SHUT UP, MAN.
Voice: YOU!
WE'RE
OUT OF HERE!
WHO ARE YOU?
THEY--THEY
CALLED YOU A TROLL.
THAT RUBBER GLOVE
DOESN'T FOOL ME.
I'M THE GUARDIAN.
WHERE ARE YOU?
SHOW ME.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
IN THIS PARK ALONE?
WHERE'S YOUR PEOPLE?
I'M ON MY OWN.
IF THAT'S
THE WAY IT IS,
LET ME TELL YOU
HOW IT WORKS
AROUND HERE, KID.
IF YOU LIVE
IN THE PARK,
YOU GOTTA
LEAVE SOMETHING
UNDER THE BRIDGE
AS PAYMENT.
YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M SAYING?
NO ONE IS ALLOWED
UNDER HERE
UNLESS I ALLOW IT.
IF YOU LET ME STAY,
I--I PROMISE
I CAN BRING YOU FOOD.
I'M GOOD
FOR SCROUNGING STUFF.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST FOR TONIGHT.
TOMORROW,
YOU LEAVE SOMETHING
UNDER THE BRIDGE,
OR I'LL COME OUT
AND I'LL FIND YOU.
IT DON'T MATTER
WHERE YOU LIVE
IN THE PARK,
I'LL FIND YOU.
I--I CAN'T SLEEP
ON THESE STONES.
THERE'S A PLACE...
UNDER THE WATERFALL.
THE MUTT
WILL SHOW YOU.
WHAT'S HIS NAME?
NAME?
HE AIN'T GOT
NO NAME.
HE'S JUST A MUTT.
[WHIMPERING]
HEY, YOU.
[ARF ARF]
[ARF ARF]
[ARF]
HEY, GOOD BOY,
GOOD BOY.
[SIGHS]
HEY, YOU HUNGRY?
I THINK
I ATE MOST OF IT,
BUT I MIGHT HAVE SOME
BURGER AND FRIES LEFT.
IF YOU WANT,
I'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT,
HAVE ALL OF IT, THEN.
HEY, DON'T BE SCARED, MUTT.
WE'RE GONNA BE OK.
JUST YOU AND ME.
WE GOT NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.
WE'LL LOOK OUT
FOR EACH OTHER, RIGHT?
EVERYTHING'S
GONNA BE PEACHES.
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE
WAS HERE BEFORE US.
[ARF ARF]
HEY, WE DID IT, BOY!
ALL RIGHT!
OH! THAT'S
MY SANDWICH!
WHO IS THAT GUY?
[GIGGLING]
[WHIMPERS]
HOP UP!
GOOD BOY.
REBECCA...
REBECCA!
OH, MY GOD.
I MUST LOOK AWFUL.
I CALLED YOU
LATE YESTERDAY.
I STOPPED BY TO SEE YOU
THIS MORNING.
YOU NEVER WENT HOME
LAST NIGHT.
I WAS WORRIED.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
PLEASE, JUST--
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE,
ALL RIGHT?
I LOOKED EVERYWHERE
FOR YOU.
YOU'RE LEAVING ME.
WHAT DO YOU CARE?
I CARE...
AND YOU'RE
NOT HOMELESS.
YOU HAVE
A VERY NICE HOME.
YOU HAVE A BROWNSTONE
ON THE PARK.
YOU CAN ALMOST
SEE IT FROM HERE.
YEAH, WELL,
DON'T MAKE A BIG DEAL
ABOUT THIS. OK, NOAH?
I MEAN, IT'S JUST--
IT'S BIG.
IT--IT FEELS
REALLY EMPTY.
I--I RATTLE AROUND
IN THERE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S JUST
MAKING ME CRAZY.
I THOUGHT I'D JUST
GO FOR A RIDE--
OH, SHIT! MY BIKE!
HEY, KID!
DID YOU SEE
WHO TOOK MY BIKE?
NO.
OH, CRAP!
HE LOOKED
LIKE A STREET KID.
HE'S GOT
THESE SAD EYES.
I THINK HE LIVES
HERE IN THE PARK.
I SEE A LOT
OF KIDS LIKE THAT
ON THE STREET.
WHERE ARE
THEIR MOTHERS?
YOU'D BE A MOTHER
TO THE WORLD IF YOU COULD.
WE USED TO BRING BRIAN
HERE TO THE ROWBOATS
WHEN HE WAS
ABOUT THAT AGE.
REBECCA,
YOU HAVE TO STOP NOW.
DON'T DO THIS.
IT'S WRECKING US.
HAVE YOU TALKED
TO BRIAN LATELY
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN
GOING ON WITH US?
NO.
DON'T YOU CARE
ABOUT YOUR OWN SON?
REBECCA, I CAN'T
BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT.
WELL, I'M GOING TO
TALK TO BRIAN SOON.
MAYBE HE'LL WANNA
LIVE WITH ME AWHILE.
LET ME TAKE YOU HOME.
I DON'T HAVE A HOME.
I'M HOMELESS.
I CAN'T LET YOU DO THIS
TO YOURSELF.
I'M TAKING YOU HOME.
NO!
I CAN FIND
MY OWN WAY.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL,
I OWN A BROWNSTONE
RIGHT BY THE PARK.
YOU CAN ALMOST SEE IT
FROM HERE, RIGHT?
Boy:
DAD, MOM, LOOK AT ME!
I'M ROCKING THE BOAT!
HEY.
HEY THERE.
HEY, MUTT,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
OH, SO THAT'S
YOUR NAME--MUTT.
WHAT'S
YOUR BUDDY'S NAME?
YOU DO KNOW THAT
THAT THING
ISN'T MAKING
ANY SOUND, DON'T YOU?
YEAH, WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE
THERE'S NO BATTERIES.
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE PLAYING?
I HEAR THE MUSIC
IN MY HEAD.
WELL, THAT'S NICE.
I'M REBECCA.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JJ.
GLAD TO MEET YOU.
SO, YOU LIVE
AROUND HERE?
UH...YEAH, SOMEWHERE
AROUND HERE.
OH. WELL,
IF YOU KNOW THE MUTT,
THEN I GUESS YOU'VE MET
THE GUARDIAN, HUH?
YEAH. IS THAT
WHAT THEY CALL HIM?
[CHUCKLES] YEAH.
[SIGHS]
D-DO YOU WANT THIS?
WELL, IF YOU'RE
NOT GONNA EAT IT,
I GUESS.
WELL,
YOU CAN HAVE IT.
HEY, LOOK,
I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT,
YOU KNOW,
YOU OFFERED.
WELL, YOU WERE
STARING AT IT.
HEY, LOOK, I CAN
GET MY OWN FOOD.
OH, SURE.
I GUESS WITH MUTT,
HE TAKES REALLY GOOD
CARE OF YOU, HUH?
RICH PEOPLE
WASTE EVERYTHING.
LET'S SEE
WHAT WE GOT TODAY, HUH?
IT WAS THE LAST LOAD.
GOT SOME STERNO CANS.
NOW MAYBE WE CAN HAVE
A HOT MEAL FOR A CHANGE.
I GOT A PRETTY
COOL-LOOKING
SLINGSHOT, HUH?
I SHOULD ASK
THE GUARDIAN
IF YOU CAN STAY WITH ME.
I DON'T WANNA
GET ON HIS BAD SIDE.
[WHIMPERS]
[SIGHS]
[SITAR PLAYING]
Guardian: WHAT HAVE
YOU BROUGHT FOR ME?
I HAVE SOME FOOD.
LEAVE THE KEYBOARD.
NO.
YOU'VE GOT SOME
HARD BARK ON YOU
FOR A LITTLE GUY.
OK. PLAY SOMETHING
FOR ME, THEN.
NO.
YOU WILL!
LEAVE THE MUSIC.
THAT WILL BE
YOUR TRIBUTE
FOR PASSING
UNDER MY BRIDGE.
THESE ARE THE ONLY
BATTERIES I HAVE.
I DON'T WANNA WASTE THEM.
SHE LEFT SOME
FOR YOU OVER THERE.
IN THE HOLE.
[GUARDIAN WHISTLES]
HEY! THE BATTERIES
ARE YOURS.
THE FOOD IS MINE.
SHE'S A NICE LADY.
YEAH.
BUT IF YOU WANNA
BE ON YOUR OWN,
YOU CAN'T DEPEND
ON ANYONE.
YOU GOTTA
MAKE A LIVING
LIKE ANY MAN DOES.
SO PLAY.
ALL RIGHT, BUT YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO, UH...
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HUM
ME A TUNE OR SOMETHING.
ARE YOU NUTS?
JUST PLAY
THE GODDAMN THING!
I REALLY DON'T
KNOW HOW TO PLAY.
I--LIKE, I DON'T KNOW
ANY NOTES OR ANYTHING.
BUT I CAN PLAY
SOMETHING I HEAR.
THERE WAS THIS CHINESE LADY
IN THE PARK TODAY.
SHE PLAYED SOMETHING STRANGE.
I-IT SOUNDED LIKE THIS.
[MIMICKING SITAR MUSIC]
BUT I WAS THINKING
I COULD MAKE IT
SOUND SOMETHING
MORE LIKE THIS.
[PLAYING WITH A JAZZ BEAT]
OOOHH! YOU GOT
A GIFT, KID!
OOOHHH!
IT'S JUST SOMETHING
I PICKED UP.
YOU EVER SHOW ANYONE
YOU CAN DO THAT?
WHO WOULD I EVER SHOW?
GET A HAT! PUT IT
ON THE GROUND!
PLAY YOUR MUSIC!
YOU JUST WANT ME TO BRING
YOU FOOD, DON'T YOU?
YOU'RE SAFE
HERE NEAR ME.
I PROTECT YOU
FROM THE GANGS.
YOU GOTTA UPHOLD
YOUR END
OF THE BARGAIN.
GO! PLAY YOUR MUSIC!
[ARF]
[MAN PLAYING HARMONICA]
HEY, WAY TO GO!
WHERE'D YOU GET THIS?
[JJ PLAYING KEYBOARD]
SHE LOVES THE MUSIC.
WATCH ME NOW.
WATCH ME.
[YAWNS]
[MAN WHISTLING]
[MIMICKING]
HEY, KID, CAN YOU MAKE
THAT THING PLAY BAGPIPES?
YEAH, I THINK SO.
I, UH, JUST DIDN'T
FIGURE OUT ALL
THE BUTTONS YET.
PLAY IT LIKE THIS...
♪ OH, YOU TAKE
THE HIGH ROAD ♪
♪ AND I'LL TAKE
THE LOW ROAD ♪
♪ AND I'LL BE
IN SCOTLAND ♪
♪ BEFORE YE ♪
♪ FOR ME AND MY TRUE LOVE ♪
♪ WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN ♪
♪ ON THE BONNIE,
BONNIE BANKS ♪
♪ OF LOCH LOMOND ♪
♪ ME AND MY TRUE LOVE ♪
♪ WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN ♪
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, SON?
JJ.
TELL YOU WHAT, JJ.
HERE'S A FIVE.
NOW, IF YOU'RE
STILL HERE TOMORROW,
AND YOU PLAY ME
THAT TUNE ON BAGPIPES,
I'LL MAKE IT A 10.
ALL RIGHT,
I'LL BE HERE.
SHE'S GOT DIAMONDS. YOU KNOW
SHE'S GOT SOME MONEY.
SHE'S MOVING
AND SHE IS TRAVELING.
SHE IS TRAVELING
AND SHE IS MOVING.
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING,
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING,
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING.
SHE'S ALL OVER THE AIRPORT.
THIS IS THE AIRPORT
RIGHT HERE.
WATCH WHERE SHE'S GOING.
WHERE IS IT?
WHERE'S THE DIAMOND AT?
WHERE'S THE DIAMOND---OOH!
YEAH, YOU GET THE MONEY.
OK, YOU TAKE ALL THE MONEY.
WHY'S EVERYBODY
TURNING OVER MY CARDS?
OK, ONLY ONE CHANCE, OK?
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA
GET YOUR MONEY. HERE YOU GO.
HERE'S YOUR MONEY,
HERE'S YOUR MONEY.
HEY, LOOK, MUTT,
THERE'S MONEY IN THERE.
HERE WE GO. ONE MORE TIME,
ONE MORE TIME.
OH, GOD.
COME ON, KID.
LET'S TAKE A WALK.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING,
LITTLE BROTHER,
I LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE GUTTY.
YOU REMIND ME OF ME
WHEN I WAS GREEN.
LOOK, I AIN'T GREEN.
I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD.
YOU WANNA MAKE
SOME MONEY, KID?
I CAN MAKE MONEY
WITH MY MUSIC.
OH, MY MAN,
THAT'S SMALL-TIME.
JUST SOME CHANGE
ROLLING AROUND
IN YOUR POCKET.
YOU'RE STREET NOW,
AND YOU NEED
SOME REAL MONEY.
I COULD SCHOOL YOU.
LOOK, I AIN'T NO THIEF.
YOU SAY THAT NOW,
BUT...
WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN...
YOUR CHANGE
IS SPENT AND...
YOU HAVEN'T EATEN
FOR A WHILE
AND YOU'RE HUNGRY?
YOU WILL STEAL.
YEAH, WELL,
THAT'S JUST FOOD.
I MEAN, SOMETIMES
THERE'S PEOPLE
THAT CAN AFFORD
TO MISS A MEAL.
THERE YOU GO! SEE?
WE'RE ALREADY
SEEING EYE TO EYE.
LOOK AROUND, JJ.
I MEAN, DO YOU SEE
ANYBODY AROUND HERE
PUTTING OUT THEIR
HAND TO HELP US OUT?
NO. SEE, THIS WORLD
IS ABOUT
OPPORTUNITY,
TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF SOME GOOD LUCK
WHEN IT STARING YOU
IN THE FACE.
YEAH, AND I GUESS
YOUR GOOD LUCK
WAS WHEN I SHOWED UP
IN THE ELEVATOR, RIGHT?
EXACTLY.
YOU'RE LEARNING,
MY MAN.
YOU'RE THE PUPIL,
I'M THE TEACHER...
AND SCHOOL'S IN.
YEAH, WELL, LOOK,
I'M ALL DONE WITH SCHOOL.
NOW GIVE ME
BACK MY MEDAL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
YOU GIVE ME
THE KEYBOARD,
I'LL GIVE YOU
THE MEDAL.
HOW DOES THAT SOUND?
THANKS, KID.
HEY, COME ON,
YOU SAID IT WAS A TRADE.
I LIED. I'M
KEEPING THEM BOTH.
GIVE HIM BACK
HIS KEYBOARD.
ARE YOU CRAZY, LADY?
MIND YOUR BUSINESS!
JJ, ARE YOU--
HEY, YOU CAN'T--
HEY!
YOU KNOW I COULD'VE
HANDLED THAT.
OH, YEAH, SURE,
I KNOW THAT.
YOU OK?
YEAH, I'M FINE.
SO, I GUESS THAT MEDAL
MEANT A LOT TO YOU, HUH?
MY MOM GAVE ME
THAT MEDAL.
YOU KNOW, MY SON...
HE USED TO LOVE
PLAYING THE PIANO.
AND THAT PIANO IS
JUST SITTING THERE.
YOU WANNA COME OVER
AND PLAY IT?
I NEVER PLAYED
A REAL PIANO BEFORE.
OH, COME ON. NOW,
THINK ABOUT THIS, OK?
HERE'S A DEAL--I'LL
LET YOU PLAY THE PIANO,
AND YOU CARRY
MY GROCERIES FOR ME,
HELP ME WITH THE SHOPPING,
STUFF LIKE THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS ISN'T
REALLY YOUR HAT, IS IT?
COME ON. I'LL SHOW YOU
WHERE I LIVE.
OK, JUST IN HERE.
HOLD ON A SECOND.
LET ME GET THIS.
MMM! LET'S COOK
THIS STUFF UP, HUH?
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT
SMILE...WHEN YOU WANT TO.
YOU KNOW THAT?
OH, HERE. WHY DON'T
YOU CUT UP SOME BREAD?
YOU MUST BE
STARVING TO DEATH.
HERE YOU GO.
YOU KNOW,
THIS WAS ALL
BRIAN'S FAVORITE FOOD.
[GRUNTING]
WELL, THAT WORKS.
YOU COOK LIKE THIS
FOR BRIAN
WHEN HE WAS A KID?
SURE! WELL, YOU KNOW,
HE LIKED TO--
TO COOK WITH ME.
I HOPE
YOU LIKE CHICKEN.
OH...WAIT A MINUTE.
IT'S ALIVE! OH, YEAH!
STOP IT!
OH, NO!
GET AWAY FROM ME!
JJ: MMM!
[REBECCA LAUGHS]
I GUESS
YOU LIKE IT, HUH?
ARE YOU KIDDING?
IT'S INCREDIBLE.
HA! COME ON.
ROAST CHICKEN, POTATOES,
SAUTEED VEGETABLES--
NO, NO, SERIOUSLY,
THIS IS
LIKE REAL FOOD.
YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND.
MRS. ARDIS WAS
LIGHTING A CIGARETTE
ON THE STOVE
ONE TIME...
SHE LIT HER HAIR
ON FIRE.
SHE NEVER TURNED
THE STOVE ON
AFTER THAT. SHE HAD
KINDA LIKE A--
LIKE A VOODOO THING
ABOUT COOKING.
SO, WHO'S THIS MRS. ARDIS?
AND DOES SHE KNOW
THAT YOU'RE
OUT ON YOUR OWN?
NO, SHE DOESN'T CARE.
SHE JUST HAD ME AROUND
FOR THE CHECK.
WHAT, YOU MEAN
SHE'S YOUR FOSTER MOTHER?
NO. SHE'S NOT REALLY
ANY KIND OF MOM.
SHE'S JUST A WOMAN
WHO MAKES MONEY
OFF OF KIDS
NO ONE WANTS.
OH, JJ.
MAYBE YOU COULD
STAY HERE.
YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE FIGURE
SOMETHING OUT OR--
YOU'RE GONNA
TURN ME IN?
NO, I'M NOT
GONNA TURN YOU IN.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
COMPLETELY HONEST WITH ME.
TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR PARENTS.
WELL, I, UH...
I NEVER REALLY
KNEW MY DAD.
AND MY MOM
GOT REAL SICK,
AND I WAS PUT
INTO A FOSTER HOME.
AND THAT'S WHEN
MRS. ARDIS TOOK ME.
I'M TRYING TO FIND
MY REAL MOM, THOUGH.
MRS. ARDIS,
SHE SAID
THAT SHE GOT
A LOT BETTER
AND SHE DIDN'T
WANT ME ANYMORE.
BUT I KNOW
IT'S NOT TRUE.
MY MOTHER
REALLY LOVED ME.
I KNOW SHE DID.
DON'T EVER
DOUBT THAT, JJ.
I KNOW. I JUST
HAVE TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER.
I'M GONNA
HELP YOU FIND HER.
OOH!
OH!
I--I--I CAN
GET SOME GLUE.
OH, NO, NO, NO!
D-DON'T TOUCH IT!
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO CUT YOURSELF.
M-MAYBE I CAN
GLUE IT TOGETHER.
OH, MY GOD. YOU
KNOW, THESE WERE
NOAH'S MOTHER'S
PRESENT.
I SCREWED EVERYTHING UP.
NO, NO!
NO, NO, I NEVER
LIKED THESE.
THEY WERE
FORCED ON ME
AS A WEDDING
PRESENT.
AND THEY'RE
SO OLD-FASHIONED.
EVEN NOAH
HATED THEM.
HE WASN'T GOING
TO TAKE THEM
WITH HIM
WHEN HE WENT.
OH, NO!
OH, MY GOD.
[LAUGHS]
I MEAN, LOOK
AT THESE STUPID
PINK FLOWERS.
HEY, YOU TRY IT.
ALL RIGHT.
OK, TAKE IT BETWEEN
YOUR 2 FINGERS
AND...THROW IT!
YES!
COME ON.
GIVE IT A TRY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW.
I NEVER PLAYED
ONE OF THESE BEFORE.
WELL, SO SIT DOWN
AND JUST
TRY IT OUT, HUH?
ALL RIGHT.
SO PLAY ME
SOMETHING.
OH, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO PLAY.
YOU HAVE TO HUM ME
A TUNE OR SOMETHING.
I CAN'T DO THAT!
OH, LET ME THINK.
THERE WAS A...
THERE WAS A SONG BRIAN
USED TO REALLY LOVE.
IT WAS...UM...
[HUMMING]
[HUMMING ALONG]
IT'S A COOL PIANO.
[STRUMMING STRINGS]
[DOOR CLOSES]
WHY DO YOU KEEP
ALL THIS KID STUFF
IN HERE?
I LIKE IT.
YEAH, WELL,
WHEN BRIAN
COMES TO VISIT,
DOESN'T HE FEEL
KINDA WEIRD?
HE SLEEPS IN
THIS ROOM, RIGHT?
HE DOESN'T COME
VERY OFTEN.
WHY NOT?
HE'S BUSY. HIS COLLEGE
IS FAR AWAY.
SO IS THIS BALL
REALLY SIGNED
BY MICKEY MANTLE?
YEP. BRIAN LOVED BASEBALL.
NOT ANYMORE?
TIME TO SLEEP.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOD BLESS, BRIAN.
HEY.
YOU JUST
CALLED ME BRIAN.
I DID?
[WHISPERING] Yeah.
WELL, GOOD NIGHT,
SLEEP TIGHT, JJ.
ALL YEAR,
I TRY TO KEEP
THESE CHILDREN
INSIDE
THIS BUILDING.
NOW I CAN'T
KEEP THEM OUT.
WAIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN
"KEEP THEM OUT"?
WE HAD A BREAK-IN
LAST WEEKEND.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
WE HAD 5 BREAK-INS
IN ONE SCHOOL YEAR.
WELL, MAYBE THAT'S WHY
JJ's FILE ISN'T HERE.
NO, THAT IS NOT
WHY JJ's FILE
IS NOT HERE.
THESE KIDS RUN AWAY
ALL THE TIME,
MS. SANCHEZ.
WHEN YOU'VE BEEN
IN THE SYSTEM
AS LONG AS I HAVE,
YOU DON'T FLY OFF
THE HANDLE--
I KNOW HE'S JUST
ANOTHER KID TO YOU--
NO, HE IS NOT
JUST ANOTHER KID--
PLEASE!
PLEASE.
I CAN'T LOSE THIS BOY.
OH, MY GOD.
FOR A MOMENT...
YOU REMINDED ME
OF MYSELF.
LOOK, IF I DON'T
FIND HIM NOW,
HE IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE
ON THE STREET FOREVER.
I'M...
SORRY. I'M JUST...
TIRED.
WHAT CAN I DO
TO HELP YOU?
OK, WELL,
I THINK HE MIGHT TRY
TO FIND HIS MOM
WHO'S SICK.
SO I CHECKED SOME OF
THESE HOSPITALS, BUT NO LUCK.
I CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP
EVERY NIGHT.
THIS KID, HE WAS
LIKE A REAL SON TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO
IF YOU DON'T FIND HIM.
YEAH, WELL, WE GOT
A PHOTO, SO, UM...
WE'LL KEEP AN EYE
OUT FOR HIM, MRS. ARDIS.
WOULD YOU
LIKE TO COME IN
AND HAVE A CUP
OF COFFEE? I CAN MAKE--
NO, NO,
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
ARE YOU SURE? I MEAN,
IT'S INSTANT, BUT--
THAT BOY'S
A RUNAWAY FOR SURE.
JUST LIKE THE REST
OF HER KIDS.
JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I'M JJ's
NEW FRIEND.
[SNICKERING] YEAH?
SO?
WELL, I HEAR
YOU'VE BEEN
ASKING AROUND
ABOUT HIM.
WELL, HAVE YOU
SEEN HIM?
MAYBE.
IS THERE SOME
KIND OF REWARD?
LOOK, HE'S NOT
A LOST DOG, ALL RIGHT?
HE'S MY KID.
[CHUCKLES]
COME ON, LET'S
CUT THE BULLSHIT.
HE'S
YOUR MEAL TICKET.
JUST LIKE I WAS.
SO, YOU
WANT HIM BACK
OR DON'T YOU?
HOW MUCH?
FIRST MONTH'S CHECK.
[SIGHS]
AND HOW DO I KNOW
YOU'RE NOT LYING LIKE ALWAYS?
HE GAVE ME THIS.
HE WANTS
TO COME BACK HOME
TO HIS MOMMY.
ALL RIGHT, MAYBE WE
CAN DO SOME BUSINESS.
JJ?
BRIAN.
HEY, YOU IN THERE?
WHERE'S MY TRIBUTE?
SOMETHING'S HAPPENED?
YEAH.
THIS GANGBANGER
TOOK MY KEYBOARD.
HE PAWNED IT.
I WAS WATCHING.
WHY DIDN'T YOU
HELP ME?
YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKING
ABOUT HOW THE GUARDIAN
PROTECTS EVERYBODY
IN THE PARK.
SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
A LITTLE BIT.
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT
CUT OUT FOR THIS LIFE.
IT'S HARD.
I CAN TAKE CARE
OF MYSELF.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.
LOOKS LIKE
YOU GOT IT BACK.
WHERE'D YOU GET THAT
KIND OF MONEY, KID?
I DID
WHAT I HAD TO DO.
THE NUMBER ONE RULE
IS THAT WE DO NOT CHEAT.
MY NUMBER ONE RULE
IS I LOOK AFTER JJ.
YOU'D BETTER GO HOME,
KID.
YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!
IT'S BETTER TO BE HERE
IN THE PARK LIVING OFF SCRAPS
THAN TO BE TRAPPED IN
A FOSTER HOME WITH THAT WITCH.
I'M FREE HERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
BUT YOU'VE GOTTA DO IT
WITHOUT RIPPING
ANYBODY OFF.
LISTEN TO ME, KID.
THIS IS THE SUMMER
OF YOUR LIFE.
THIS IS THE ONE
YOU'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER,
THE ONE
YOU CROSSED OVER.
CROSSED OVER
TO WHAT?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE A BOY ANYMORE.
ALL THAT'S
GONNA CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE
YOUR OWN SONG.
I HEAR YOU PLAYING
OTHER PEOPLE'S SONGS.
YOU GOT A GIFT,
BUT DON'T
SELL YOURSELF SHORT.
YOU'RE A PRINCE,
KID.
YOU DESERVE
THE BEST.
A PRINCE, HUH?
I'M THE KING
OF THIS PARK.
AND YOU'RE
THE PRINCE.
THE PRINCE
OF CENTRAL PARK.
YEAH.
THE PRINCE
OF CENTRAL PARK.
[DRUMMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SURPRISE.
HAVE YOU
FOUND HER YET?
HEY, HOW'D
YOU FIND ME?
YOU SHOWED ME
THAT PICTURE, REMEMBER?
YEAH. [LAUGHS]
I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T
FOUND HER YET, HUH?
NO. NOT YET.
BUT ANYWAY, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I'M GLAD YOU CAME,
YOU KNOW.
I'M REALLY HAPPY
TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU.
WELL, YOUR CASE WORKER
CAME TO OUR APARTMENT,
AND THE COPS. I MEAN,
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU.
YOUR MOM KNOWS
YOU'RE HERE?
NO. SHE THINKS
I'M AT A SLEEP-OVER
AT MY FRIEND'S.
SHE WON'T MISS ME
UNTIL TOMORROW.
GOOD, BECAUSE I WANT
TO SHOW YOU THE WHOLE PARK.
JUST SIT BACK. RELAX.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A GREAT TIME TODAY, OK?
HEY.
SO THIS IS YOUR DOG?
HE'S KIND OF
HIS OWN DOG.
REALLY BELONGS
TO THE PARK.
HE'S SO CUTE.
IT'S LIKE...
WHEN I PLAY MY KEYBOARD...
IT'S KINDA LIKE
I'M NOT IN THE PROJECTS
ANYMORE.
I'M NOT WITH MRS. ARDIS
AND NOT THAT CAVE
IN THE PARK.
I JUST FEEL FREE
WHEN I PLAY MY MUSIC.
I'M REALLY PROUD
OF YOU.
MUSIC WAS MY ONLY FRIEND
BEFORE I MET YOU.
[GIGGLES]
I DON'T WANT
TO LEAVE YOU HERE.
NO.
I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE A PLACE
TO LIVE,
THERE'S A LOT OF FOOD
AROUND THE PARK,
SO...JUST DON'T
WORRY ABOUT ME.
I HAD FUN TODAY.
YEAH.
ME, TOO.
SO, UH...
CAN I COME SEE YOU
SOME TIME?
SURE!
JUST DON'T TELL THEM
WHERE I AM.
OK?
NOT EVER.
I NEVER DID THAT
BEFORE.
NEITHER HAVE I.
[HORN HONKS]
COME ON.
WE GOTTA GO.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I SEE YOU GOT
YOUR KEYBOARD BACK.
YEAH.
WHERE'D YOU GET
THE MONEY?
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
I FOUND SOME.
YOU'RE LYING.
LOOK, IT WAS
JUST A DUSTY BASEBALL
AND OLD WATCH.
HE'S IN COLLEGE NOW.
WHAT DOES HE CARE?
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.
YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO STEAL IT!
LOOK, JUST BECAUSE
I LIVE IN THE STREETS
AND I GOT NO FAMILY
AND I GOT NO FRIENDS
DOESN'T MEAN
I'M A THIEF.
I'LL GET
THOSE THINGS BACK.
YOU DON'T FEEL ANY
REMORSE AT ALL, DO YOU?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THAT WORD MEANS.
DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING
FOR ME? ANYTHING AT ALL?
DO YOU EVEN LIKE ME?
HEY, LOOK, YOUR PLACE
IS JUST ANOTHER FOSTER HOME
WITH A BETTER VIEW.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD
HAVE BOUGHT THAT FOR YOU
IF YOU'D ASKED.
YOU THINK I CAN'T AFFORD
TO BUY YOU SOME MUSIC TOY?
TELL ME WHY
YOU WOULD EVER
SPEND MONEY ON ME.
NO ONE EVER GAVE ME
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
EXCEPT MY MOM.
I COULD BE YOUR MOM.
NO, YOU CAN'T.
YOU SAY THAT 'CAUSE
IT SOUNDS GOOD
AND IT MAKES YOU
FEEL NICE.
I WANT TO BE YOUR MOM.
NO, YOU DON'T.
NOT WHEN IT ALL GETS
REAL, YOU DON'T.
YOU THINK YOU CAN
LIVE WITH ME?
LOOK AT ME!
LOOK AT ME.
NO ONE
IS GONNA WANT ME!
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK
YOU DO?
JUST THINK OF HOW
EMBARRASSED YOU'D BE
HAVING ME AROUND
YOUR RICH-ASS FRIENDS.
YOU COULDN'T BE MY MOM.
YOU COULDN'T BE
ANYONE'S MOM.
WHOA. MY GOD.
YOU GOT A MEAN STREAK,
DON'T YOU?
I DON'T KNOW WHY I NEVER
SAW THAT IN YOU BEFORE.
YOU JUST THINK PEOPLE
ARE MEAN AND NASTY
WHEN THEY'RE
TELLING THE TRUTH.
[HORSE NEIGHS]
TIME TO GO HOME, JJ.
WHO ARE YOU?
WHY ARE YOU DOIN' THIS?
HEY, IT'S
MY LITTLE BROTHER.
I'M JUST TAKING HIM HOME
TO HIS MOTHER, THAT'S ALL.
I AIN'T GOING
BACK THERE, EASY.
ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND
THIS CRAZY BITCH?
DOES IT BOTHER YOU
JJ GOT AWAY?
WHO ARE YOU, LADY? YOU
DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT ME,
NOTHIN' I BEEN THROUGH.
YOU JUST WANT HIM TO
TURN OUT LIKE YOU DID,
DON'T YOU, EASY?
JUST A PETTY CROOK.
HEY, YOU!
POLICE OFFICER!
GET BACK HERE!
Officer: I GOT A MUGGER
UNDER THE ARCHES.
I'M IN PURSUIT.
OH...
DON'T WORRY.
IT'S GONNA
BE ALL RIGHT.
DON'T LEAVE ME, BRIAN.
STAY WITH ME, PLEASE.
I WON'T
EVER LEAVE YOU.
AHH...
HEY.
JJ, I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
Nurse: HE'S BEEN IN THE
WAITING ROOM ALL NIGHT.
THEY WOULDN'T LET ME
IN THE ROOM TILL VISITING HOURS.
I'M NOT NEXT OF KIN.
OH.
YOU OK?
YEAH. THEY, UM...
THEY TAPED MY RIBS
A BIT AND, UH...
A COUPLE OF STITCHES
IN MY HEAD.
13 STITCHES.
I'M GONNA
GET COFFEE.
BUT I WANT TO TALK
TO YOU LATER, OK?
HEY, IT WASN'T
HIS FAULT.
SEE YOU IN A LITTLE
WHILE, TOUGH GUY.
HOW ARE YOU
FEELING?
OH, I'M--OHH!
HA HA. FINE.
IT IS ALL MY FAULT.
[PATS BED]
COME SIT DOWN.
YOU KNOW, I SAW YOU
IN THE PARK
THE OTHER DAY
WITH THAT GIRL.
I COULD SEE THE WAY
YOU LOOKED AT HER.
[CLICKS TONGUE] SHE'S
THE ONE, ISN'T SHE?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT.
SHE'S JUST A GIRL
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHO HAPPENED TO COME
ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL PARK
JUST TO SEE YOU.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT?
SO MAYBE SHE LIKES ME.
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
THE FIRST ONE IS THE ONE
YOU REMEMBER THE LONGEST.
I THINK YOU'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER HER.
I LOST HER.
JUST LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE.
JJ,
YOUR MOM
DIDN'T LEAVE YOU.
YEAH,
HOW DO YOU KNOW?
I KNOW.
I REMEMBER WHEN
I WAS YOUNGER...
MY MOM HAD A ROOM
JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
HONEY, MOST HOSPITAL ROOMS
LOOK LIKE THIS ONE.
I USED TO SIT WITH HER.
I WANTED
TO TAKE CARE OF HER
LIKE I'D BEEN DOING
AT HOME.
THEN THESE PEOPLE CAME,
AND...
THEY SAID SHE COULDN'T
TAKE CARE OF ME ANYMORE.
AND THAT WAS THE LAST
TIME I SAW HER.
WE USED TO WALK
TO THE HOSPITAL
IN THAT PARK.
THIS IS THE ONLY
HOSPITAL WITHIN...
WALKING DISTANCE
TO THE PARK.
OH!
OK.
I ALWAYS KNEW
YOU WERE NUTS.
YEAH.
AH! DON'T LOOK
AT MY BUTT CRACK.
COME ON.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
IF YOUR MOTHER
WAS IN THIS HOSPITAL,
THEN WE ARE
GONNA FIND SOMEBODY
WHO CAN TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
REBECCA?
COME ON, HONEY.
Woman: THAT WASN'T
WHAT I SAID.
YOU NEED
TO LISTEN TO ME.
...COPY OF THIS,
AND--
JJ, PLEASE DON'T RUN.
WHO ARE YOU?
SHE'S MY CASE WORKER.
SHE'S ALL RIGHT.
HOW DID YOU
FIND HIM?
I DIDN'T.
I FOUND HIS MOM.
YOU FOUND HER?
I CONTACTED EVERY
HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK.
SHE WAS GIVEN RADIATION
TREATMENT IN THIS HOSPITAL,
AND I FOUND THE NURSE
WHO CARED FOR HER...
THE NURSE WHO CARED FOR HER
WHEN SHE DIED.
OH, JJ, THIS
IS NURSE YAGER.
JJ IS THE SON
OF ANNALISSE.
HOW DO YOU DO, JJ?
I'M SORRY
FOR YOUR LOSS.
WOULD YOU PLEASE
TELL JJ
WHAT YOU TOLD ME?
YOUR MOTHER ASKED ME
TO CALL THE FOSTER MOTHER
TAKING CARE OF YOU.
MRS. ARDIS.
THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR.
SHE PROMISED TO BRING YOU
IN FOR VISITS,
BUT SHE NEVER CAME,
NOT EVEN AFTER
I CALLED AND SAID
THAT YOUR MOTHER
HAD PASSED AWAY.
WHERE IS JJ?
CAN I SEE MY BOY?
CAN YOU PLEASE
BRING ME MY BOY?
HE'S NOT HERE,
ANNALISSE.
THAT'S OK.
I DON'T WANT HIM
TO SEE ME LIKE THIS.
IT'S OK.
TELL MY BOY
I LOVE HIM.
JJ, NO!
Annalisse: PLEASE...
CAN YOU FIND MY BOY?
PLEASE...
OH, THANK YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAND
GUARD, REBECCA.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE
ANYTHING FROM BRIAN'S ROOM.
JJ!
I'M SO GLAD
YOU CAME HOME.
WHY DIDN'T BRIAN
COME TO THE HOSPITAL
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OK?
WHAT?
I MEAN, YOU'RE HIS MOM,
RIGHT? WHAT KIND OF SON
DOESN'T COME SEE HIS MOM
WHEN SHE'S HURT?
AND HOW COME
NONE OF THESE PHOTOS
SHOW HIM GROWN UP?
JJ.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE LET HER
TELL ME THESE FAIRY TALES
THIS WHOLE TIME
ABOUT BRIAN.
NOAH, STOP HIM.
GET IT SAID, JJ.
YOU CALLED ME A LIAR.
SOMETIMES I PRETEND,
BUT IT MAKES ME
FEEL A LOT BETTER
WHEN EVERYTHING'S
CRUMMY.
WHY CAN'T I
CALL YOU A LIAR?
NO!
YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS
OF MY BOY.
HE WASN'T LIKE YOU
AT ALL.
REBECCA,
THEY'RE A LOT ALIKE.
THEY ARE NOTHING
LIKE EACH OTHER.
IT'S ALL MADE UP.
GET OUT. I WANT YOU
OUT OF MY HOME.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
BETTER.
YEAH, I KNEW
YOU WOULD SAY THAT
WHEN YOU WERE READY
TO GET RID OF ME.
MY SON WAS NEVER
THIS DISRESPECTFUL TO ME.
AND WHERE IS HE NOW?
RETARDED, IN SOME HOSPITAL?
MAYBE HE'S IN JAIL, HUH?
OUR SON IS DEAD.
YOU PROMISED.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE.
JJ's RIGHT.
WE WERE WRONG PLAYING
THESE LITTLE GAMES.
HOW OLD WAS HE?
HE WAS 14.
REBECCA, I'M NOT HIM.
HE'S DEAD.
MY SON IS DEAD.
REBECCA...
I WANT HIM BACK.
HE'S GONE, REB.
OH, THIS IS YOUR REVENGE...
BECAUSE I LET HIM DIE.
THAT'S ANOTHER LIE
YOU TELL YOURSELF.
IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
I THOUGHT I WAS HELPING,
BUT I WAS JUST
ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.
YOU TOOK EVERYTHING.
BUT THAT WASN'T
ENOUGH FOR YOU.
NO, NO, NO.
NO, YOU HAD TO TAKE
MY ILLUSIONS.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE
LIVED WITH THESE LIES.
AT LEAST I HAD A LIE
TO LIVE WITH!
HE DROWNED, REB.
HE DROWNED!
IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY...
ALL THE TIME.
KIDS...
ARE DROWNING.
THEY'RE DROWNING.
WHY CAN'T WE LET HIM
BE AT PEACE?
I HURT.
YOU DON'T KNOW.
I FEEL THINGS.
I FEEL AS THOUGH
THE FLESH
AROUND MY HEART
WERE BEING EATEN
AWAY EVERY DAY!
BRING HER HOME, JJ.
REBECCA NEEDS YOU,
YOU KNOW.
IT'S YOU
SHE REALLY NEEDS.
YOU'VE ALREADY
HELPED HER
MORE THAN
I EVER COULD.
YOU DID THE RIGHT
THING, JJ.
ARE YOU GUYS
GONNA GET BACK TOGETHER?
SOME THINGS CAN'T BE
FIXED THAT WAY, JJ.
IT'S
NOT SOMETHING...
YOU CAN
JUST GLUE TOGETHER.
THERE'S TOO MANY
BROKEN PIECES.
BUT WE CAN STILL BE
A PART OF YOUR LIFE,
TAKE CARE OF YOU,
RAISE YOU,
IF YOU LET US.
IT'S OK. YOU GUYS
DON'T NEED TO PUT UP WITH ME.
YOU GOT OTHER THINGS
TO DO.
JJ...
YOU GOTTA LET SOMEONE
IN SOME TIME.
IT'S NOT A BAD THING
TO LET SOMEONE LOVE YOU.
HERE. BRING IT IN.
LEFT.
WHY AM I
TELLING YOU?
YOU DO IT BETTER
THAN I DO.
LOOK.
ITS NOSE IS DIPPING.
THAT'S MY MOM.
"SOMERLED."
YEAH.
THAT'S IT.
GIVE YOU 5 MINUTES.
THEN WE BEGIN.
THANK YOU.
HOW ARE WE DOING?
WE WANNA KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN TO JJ.
LOOK, I CAN ONLY PROMISE YOU I
WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN FOR JJ.
BUT THE FOSTER MOTHER HAS
A PRIOR ENFORCEABLE AGREEMENT
WITH COUNTY SERVICES.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN
IN A LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN BUREAUCRAT?
THE JUDGE MAY SEND HIM
BACK TO MRS. ARDIS.
I WON'T LET HIM.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU
PREPARED TO DO?
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO GO BACK, JJ.
YEAH, WELL, NOW THAT
THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PARK,
THEY'RE JUST GONNA KEEP
SENDING PEOPLE TO FIND ME.
JJ...
THANK GOD YOU'RE SAFE!
OH! YOU HAD ME
WORRIED SICK!
YEAH, SURE.
UH, MRS. ARDIS,
ALTHOUGH
JJ DID RUN AWAY,
HE'S COME BACK
OF HIS OWN FREE WILL,
AND IN OUR TALKS,
QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED
ABOUT YOUR CARE OF HIM.
I HAVE INFORMED
THE FAMILY COURT JUDGE
THAT IN MY OPINION
JJ IS AT IMMINENT
RISK WITH YOU.
I DIDN'T COME HERE
TO GET AMBUSHED, OK?
AND I DON'T
WANT TO ARGUE.
I KNOW MY RIGHTS.
JJ's COMING HOME
WITH ME.
YOU CAME TO GET
YOUR PROPERTY.
WELL, WHERE WERE YOU
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS
WHEN HE NEEDED A HOME?
OK? I TOOK CARE OF HIM!
YOU KEPT HIM
FROM HIS MOTHER
WHEN SHE WAS DYING.
LOOK, SWEETIE,
I ONLY DID THAT
TO PROTECT YOU, OK?
REALLY. HONEST TO GOD.
NO. YOU SHOULD
HAVE TOLD ME.
WHY? SO YOUR LAST MEMORY
OF YOUR MOTHER
IS HER LAYING IN A COFFIN
6 FEET UNDER?
I DIDN'T WANT YOU
TO HURT.
GET THE HELL
OFF ME.
MISS, MISS.
YOU HEARD WHAT HE SAID.
BACK OFF.
LOOK, I KNOW ABOUT
ALL YOU RICH PEOPLE, OK?
YOU THINK
YOU CAN TAKE IN A KID.
IT'S LIKE GOIN' TO A PET STORE
AND BUYIN' A PUPPY.
GUESS WHAT?
THEN THEY GROW UP.
THEN WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
BRING HIM BACK TO ME?
I'M GOING
TO ADOPT HIM.
DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE
A LITTLE TOO OLD FOR THAT, LADY?
COME ON, JJ.
NO. I'M A GOOD MOTHER.
I'M GONNA SEE TO IT
YOU DON'T TAKE
ANY MORE KIDS HOME.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED
TO RAISE JJ.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
A MOTHER TO HIM.
BUT YOU DIDN'T DO THAT.
YOU BROKE HIS SPIRIT,
OR YOU TRIED TO.
YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF HIM!
YOU JUST USED HIM FOR
THE MONEY HE BROUGHT IN.
YOU LIED
TO THE CASE WORKERS
AND YOU LEFT HIM
OUT ON THE STREET!
I HAVE A CONTRACT.
I PROVIDE A SERVICE.
IF YOU EVER
COME NEAR JJ AGAIN,
I WILL SEE TO IT
YOU ARE SCRUBBING FLOORS
AT THE WOMEN'S
CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
HA. I DIDN'T COMMIT
ANY CRIMES.
YOU KNOW, MRS. ARDIS,
I CHECKED THE LIST
OF KIDS YOU'VE CARED FOR
OVER THE YEARS,
AND I CAME ACROSS THE NAME
OF SOMEONE WHO HAS.
HE'S CALLED EASY.
EASY?
THE KID
THAT MUGGED ME.
HE WAS YOURS?
LOOK, I KNOW
YOU SENT THAT BOY.
I HAD A LOT OF THOSE KIDS.
I DON'T REMEMBER
EVERY NAME.
YEAH, WELL, I'M GONNA
DO A FULL REVIEW
OF ALL THE KIDS YOU'VE
CARED FOR FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS,
AND I'M GONNA FIND EACH ONE
OF THEM AND TALK TO THEM.
YOU'RE NOT
GONNA FIND THEM.
THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE
COCKROACHES IN THE STREETS.
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
THE LAST OF THIS.
I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS
IN THIS BUSINESS.
OH...
[EXHALES]
HMM.
YOU KNOW, WHEN
WE GET DONE HERE,
LET'S GO HOME.
ALL RIGHT. I JUST GOTTA
STOP BY THE PARK,
PICK UP SOME STUFF.
MUTT, COME HERE, BOY!
[WHISTLES]
[WHISTLES]
COME HERE, MUTT.
Easy:
IT'S THE MAMA'S BOY.
Gangbanger: GO AHEAD,
LITTLE RABBIT. RUN!
OH! IT'S FRAT BOY!
NICE OUTFIT, KID.
HA HA HA!
PUNK ASS!
LET'S GET HIM!
LET'S GET HIM!
COME ON Y'ALL.
HA HA HA HA HA!
THAT'S RIGHT!
YOU AIN'T RUNNIN'?
IF IT AIN'T MY LITTLE
BROTHER, MAN. WHAT'S UP?
HA HA HA.
Leader: SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
WE'D FIND HIM HERE.
HOW'S IT HANGIN',
CUZ?
GRAB HIM
RIGHT THERE.
OH, WHOA, NO, NO, NO.
STEP BACK, YO-YO.
THIS ISN'T YOU.
WHAT'S UP, MAN?
WHAT YOU WANT?
I WANT MY MEDAL BACK.
DID Y'ALL HEAR THIS?
OH, HE WANTS
HIS MEDAL BACK.
HE WANTS
HIS MEDAL BACK.
OH! GIVE HIM
HIS MEDAL BACK!
HA HA HA HA HA!
OH!
CAUGHT YA. SNAP!
HA HA HA!
ARE YOU OK?
Easy: YO, STAND HIM UP.
HO HO! E!
GIMME BACK MY MEDAL.
OH! HE GOT LOUD
WITH YOU, EASE.
SHOULD I GIVE HIM
HIS MEDAL BACK?
GIVE HIM SOMETHING.
GIVE HIM WHAT
HE'S LOOKIN' FOR.
YEAH, I WILL,
I WILL, I WILL.
IS THAT WHAT YOU LOOKIN'
FOR, LITTLE BROTHER?
I MEAN, I GOT MORE.
YO, EASE, MAN.
LET HIM GO.
YO, LEAVE HIM
ALONE, EASE.
Damn.
Leader to Easy: HEY,
WE WERE JUST HAVING FUN.
YO, STAY DOWN,
ALL RIGHT?
WHAT'RE YOU TALKIN' ABOUT?
I'M BEATIN' HIM UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
I'M DOING?
YOU OK, KID?
WHAT THE HELL, MAN?
LOOK AT HIM.
HE GOT
A LOT OF GUTS.
GOT A LOTTA HEART.
HE WANTS TO GET BACK UP,
MAN. STAND HIM BACK UP.
LOOK AT HIM, MAN!
Easy: MAN, HE'S TRYIN'
TO GET BACK UP.
GET HIM BACK UP, MAN!
GET OFF OF HIM, MAN.
GET UP. GET UP!
STAY DOWN, MAN.
DON'T MOVE.
BEAT IT, PUNK.
I'M NOT DOWN
WITH THIS, E!
HE'S SICK.
LEAVE. LEAVE.
HE BEAT YOU!
HE BEAT YOU, EASY!
HE MADE A FOOL
OUTTA YOU.
GO,
ALL Y'ALL, MAN!
GROWN MEN
BUT BABIES.
COME AND GET YOUR MEDAL,
LITTLE BROTHER.
DU--AH!
I--I--I CAN'T SWIM.
PLEASE HELP ME, MAN!
HELP ME!
PLEASE...PLEASE.
AAH!
[SPLASHING]
[COUGHING]
HELP ME!
OOOOHH...
OOOHH...
WHO THE HELL
ARE YOU?
YOU LISTEN TO ME,
YOU LITTLE WEASEL.
I SHOULD HAVE
LET YOU DROWN.
NO ONE ON EARTH
WOULD MISS YOU.
YOU DID OK, JJ.
[COUGH COUGH]
YOU MADE IT.
WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA DO WITH HIM?
I'VE DECIDED...
TO MAKE HIM
MY NEXT PROJECT.
SEE YOU AROUND,
PRINCE.
YOU'RE GONNA
FETCH ME FOOD...
HUH?
AND I'M GONNA TEACH YOU
TO WALK THAT LINE.
WHAT?
HUH? WHAT?
HEY, BOY.
YOU READY TO GO HOME?
LET'S LEAVE THIS
FOR THE NEXT KID.
HEY, THAT'S THE KID!
THAT'S THE KID
WITH THE KEYBOARD.
YOU GONNA PLAY
YOUR SONG?
I TOLD YOU ABOUT HIM.
HE'S BAD!
MOVE OVER, MAN.
YOU GOTTA
HEAR THIS KID PLAY.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
YOU WANNA PLAY
SOMETHING?
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
TRIMARK HOME VIDEO