Raising the Heights (1998) - full transcript

[SHOUTING] [SIRENS]

[GLASS BREAKING]

LET'S GO, MAN!

YOU SEE IT?

[SIRENS]

[HORN HONKS]

Man: HAD NOT THE RESIDENTS BEEN GIVEN PROPER TREATMENT,

THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE RED LIGHT.

Second man: THE JEWISH COMMUNITY DOES NOT RIOT.

Woman: OH, THE POOR GUY.

Third man: YOU WILL HAVE JUSTICE.



I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO COMMENT.

WE WANT JUSTICE!

WE WANT JUSTICE!

WE WANT JUSTICE!

WE WANT JUSTICE!

WE WANT JUSTICE!

Janet Reno: I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO COMMENT.

[SHIP'S HORN BLOWS]

[RAP MUSIC PLAYS]

[SEMIAUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE]

[RAP MUSIC CONTINUES]

UNH!

MOUTH-TO-MOUTH?

SHUT THE FUCK UP, ASSHOLE.



WAIT.

HEY!

UNH! EH! UNH!

DREE, I NEED TO GET FREAKY!

DREE?

DREE, PLEASE COME BACK! I NEED--DREE!

DREE! ENH!

AH-EEH! AH!

EH!

AH! ENH!

[SOBBING]

I'M SICK OF THIS SHIT. YOU CHECK ME EVERY DAY.

HAVE YOU FOUND A WEAPON ON ME YET? WHY DON'T YOU

CHECK THE REAL GANGSTA BITCHES, MAN.

I KNOW YOU'RE MY SISTER AND ALL,

BUT THIS GOTTA GO.

GOOD MORNING, PHYLLIS.

GOOD MORNING, PAUL.

MAN, I'M SICK OF THIS SHIT.

YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

I'M SURE THEY DON'T HAVE THIS IN A WHITE SCHOOL.

Paul: TAKE IT EASY.

GOD.

GOOD MORNING, AUDREY.

[OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS]

[BELL RINGS]

MY NAME...

IS...

MR...

SAXTON.

QUIET!

I EXPECT SILENCE IN MY CLASSROOM AT ALL TIMES.

THOSE OF YOU THAT CAN'T HANDLE THAT RULE,

THERE'S THE DOOR.

OH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER.

YES, INDEEDY. YES.

OH, DON'T SIT DOWN, YOUNG MAN. GET RIGHT UP.

YOU WERE DOING JUST FINE.

NO. I CAN'T STAND UP.

YES. STAND UP. EXACTLY.

[CLASS LAUGHS]

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. THAT WAS MY--

COMIC RELIEF. YOU KNOW WHO WOULD LOVE THAT?

MR. LAIDLAW.

THANK YOU.

[CLASS LAUGHTER STOPS]

ANYBODY ELSE?

NOW, I UNDERSTAND

THAT I'M YOUR FIFTH HISTORY TEACHER THIS SEMESTER.

I WILL ALSO BE YOUR LAST.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

THAT'S NOT MY CONCERN.

BUT I PROMISE YOU THIS...

IT'S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

YOU SEE, I'M NOT LIKE THE OTHER WHITE TEACHERS

WHO RUN AND HIDE EVERY TIME ONE OF YOU PEOPLE FLASHES A KNIFE.

I GREW UP ON THE STREETS,

IN THE GHETTO, JUST LIKE YOU,

AND I FOUGHT ALL YOUR WARS, AND I KNOW ALL YOUR TRICKS,

SO ANY OF YOU WANT TO CHALLENGE ME, BE MY GUEST.

JUST DON'T START CRYING WHEN THEY COME TO PICK UP THE PIECES.

WHOA! SHIT! WHOA!

WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?

HE DIDN'T EVEN DO NOTHIN'.

ANYTHING.

HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

IN MY CLASS, YOU'LL SPEAK PROPER ENGLISH AT ALL TIMES.

YOU WILL NOT "AX" ME A QUESTION.

YOU WILL ASK ME A QUESTION.

SO, MR. CLASSROOM SPOKESMAN, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

MICHAEL STALLWORTH.

WELL, SIT DOWN, MICHAEL STALLWORTH,

BEFORE I TURN YOU INTO A WHITE BOY.

SIT!

OH, MAN, SERIOUS! I KNOW YOU'RE LYIN'!

YO! YO! YOU JUMPED HER FOR REAL, MAN?

MAN, SHE HAD A BIG, TIGHT, JUICY ASS, MAN.

OH, MAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DID IT. DAMN.

EXCUSE ME.

YOU GENTLEMEN PART OF THIS CLASS?

MAN, DO WE LOOK LIKE WE PART OF THIS CLASS?

WE HEAR YOU GOT SOME NEW HONEYS DOWN HERE

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES.

WELL, NOW THAT YOU'VE MADE YOUR INTRODUCTIONS,

I SUGGEST YOU LEAVE

BEFORE YOU GET INTO MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU ALREADY ARE.

SO WHAT YOU GONNA DO, REPORT US OR SOMETHING?

I HANDLE MY PROBLEMS MY WAY.

OH, YOU ALL OF THAT, HUH?

BIG MAN,

BIG MOUTH...

YOU MUST NOT KNOW WHO THE FUCK I AM!

IN CASE YOUR LITTLE DUMB, CRAZY

LITTLE WHITE ASS

WANNA KNOW WHO'S RUNNIN' THIS SCHOOL,

IT'S THE GREASE MAN AND ACTION,

SO YOU STAY OUT OF OUR WAY.

YOU GET THE MESSAGE?

WHAT'S THE RACKET IN HERE?

SOME KIND OF A PROBLEM?

THESE STUDENTS WERE JUST LEAVING.

YOU, GET OUT.

SAY, WATCH THAT.

I SAID, GET OUT. SHIT.

AND YOU, LET'S GO.

I THINK WE'LL GET ALONG JUST FINE.

WE'RE HERE

AT BROOKLYN'S 77th ANNUAL HOT DOG EATING CONTEST.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CONTESTANTS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

AND ARE CLEARLY INTO THE COMPETITION.

THE WINNER RECEIVES A WHOLE YEAR'S SUPPLY OF HOT DOGS,

BUT, BEST OF ALL, GETS TO CARRY HOME THAT KING WIENER TROPHY.

I'M JUDY BURKE, REPORTING FROM CONEY ISLAND.

THAT'S A WRAP.

GOOD SHOW.

DEFINITELY AN EMMY.

YEAH.

HI. THIS IS JUDY AT CONEY. TELL MURRAY

IT'LL BE THERE FOR EDITING BY 6:00. THANKS.

WHAT ARE YOU SO MAD ABOUT?

I'M TIRED OF THIS.

I DIDN'T SPEND 4 YEARS AT SYRACUSE

SO I COULD COVER HOT DOG EATING CONTESTS

AND DOG GROOMING SHOWS. I FEEL LIKE I'M WORKING

FOR GODDAMN ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT.

BUT, JUDY, BE HAPPY.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE READING THE WEATHER.

IF I WANTED TO BE HAPPY, RONNIE,

I'D MARRY SOME RICH LAWYER,

AND I'D WORK OUT ALL DAY.

THERE'S TOO MUCH GOING ON HERE, RONNIE,

THAT WE JUST DON'T REPORT.

LOOK AT THIS.

I REMEMBER COMING HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY

AFTER SCHOOL WITH MY FRIENDS,

AND NOW NO DECENT PARENT WILL LET THEIR KID COME

WITHIN A MILE OF THIS PLACE.

AND ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR--

HOT DOGS AND WIENERS.

COME HERE.

SIR, MAY I SPEAK TO YOU ON-CAMERA FOR A FEW MOMENTS?

SURE. WHY NOT?

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN CONEY ISLAND?

I WAS HERE WHEN THEY BUILT THE PLACE.

IN THOSE DAYS, WE HAD THE NICKEL HOT DOG,

STEEPLECHASE, LUNA PARK,

JUST LIKE DISNEYLAND TODAY.

THE WHOLE CITY WOULD BE HERE ON THE WEEKEND.

PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WOULD STOP BY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES

THAT HAVE OCCURRED HERE OVER THE YEARS?

THE BLACKS AND PUERTO RICANS

STARTED MOVIN' IN.

IT DESTROYED THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHITE FOLKS STARTED PANICKING

AND SLOWLY MOVING AWAY,

AND WITH THEM WENT THE TOURIST TRADE.

YEAH. IT'S TOUGH MAKING A DOLLAR TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

HEY, BABY, YOU COMIN' MY WAY?

NO.

OH, COME ON. DON'T BE LIKE THAT.

I GOT SOME STUFF TO DO, ALL RIGHT?

YO! SEE YOU TONIGHT, RIGHT?

OH, NO, NO, NO.

HOW ABOUT ME?

NO. I'M SAYIN', YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO,

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN', BUT, I MEAN...

AFTER LAST NIGHT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I GOT LEFT,

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

BABY, DON'T YOU KNOW GOD HELPS THOSE WHO TRY?

YO, MAN, I'M TELLIN' YA, MAN,

YOU'RE PASSING UP A LOT OF EASY MONEY.

I'M TELLIN' YOU, MAN.

MAN, DON'T YOU SEE

I GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH MY TIME?

HEY, MAN, PEACE.

ALL RIGHT.

SEE YA.

WHAT'S HE TALKIN' ABOUT?

NOTHIN'.

MICHAEL, DON'T GIVE ME THAT NOTHIN' CRAP!

NOW, COME ON, TELL ME. WHAT'S HE TALKIN' ABOUT?

DARRYL WANTS ME TO-- TO, UM...

DARRYL WANTS ME TO WORK WITH HIM

AT THIS WAREHOUSE AFTER SCHOOL,

MAKE A FEW EXTRA BUCKS. IT'S NOTHIN', ALL RIGHT?

NOTHIN' ILLEGAL, I HOPE.

YO, COME ON, IT'S NOTHIN' LIKE THAT.

I DON'T WANNA WAIT 10 YEARS

WHILE YOU ROT IN SOME STINKIN' PRISON.

I TOLD YOU, IT'S NOTHIN' LIKE THAT!

IT BETTER NOT BE.

THERE'S NOTHIN' TO WORRY ABOUT.

[HUMMING]

LOOK, I'LL SEE-- I'LL SEE YOU LATER?

YEAH.

BYE.

[LAUGHTER]

Man: IT'S LIKE THAT, MAN. I LIKE THAT.

Second man: YOU'RE THE BEST.

MAN, YOU ARE THE FUCKIN' BEST.

YOU REALLY ARE. YOU GUYS ARE A PIECE OF WORK.

YOU REALLY ARE, I'LL TELL YA.

WE HAVE GOT THIS THING SET UP SO FUCKIN' SMOOTH

THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOIN' ON.

YOU GUYS--YOU GUYS SHOULD BECOME ACTORS.

OH, MAN.

I DON'T THINK SO.

THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY

IN THIS BUSINESS.

TELL ME ABOUT IT. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.

Action: SO Y'ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO?

[ALARM SOUNDS]

THERE'S SOMEBODY OUT THERE.

GET HIM. GET HIM! GO GET HIM!

COME ON. COME ON, MAN.

COME ON!

[RAP MUSIC PLAYS]

[HONK]

[HONK HONK HONK]

MICHAEL!

[DOG BARKS]

YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!

[RAP MUSIC PLAYS]

Woman: I LIKE GREENS. I WOULD TRY IT.

OH, GREAT. GREAT. WELL, YOU COME OVER.

I'M GONNA FIX YOU SOME GREENS, OK?

DID YOU EVER MAKE THE MATZO BALLS

FOR YOUR HUSBAND?

YES, MRS. BERKOWITZ,

I MADE THE MATZO BALL SOUP FOR MY HUSBAND

THAT YOU SENT HIM LAST WEEK.

YES, I DID.

AND IT CAME OUT SMALL AND HARD,

AND HE LIKES THEM SOFT AND BIG.

IN FACT, HE LIKES EVERYTHING SOFT AND BIG.

HEY, LADIES, LET ME IN ON THE JOKE!

MICHAEL, DON'T YOU LEAN OVER THAT FAR!

ONE OF THESE DAYS, YOU'RE GONNA GO OVER THAT LEDGE!

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, MRS. WILKES.

THAT KID GETS CUTER AND CUTER EVERY DAY.

OH, MS. B, DON'T YOU START THAT.

HONEY, IF I WASN'T SO OLD AND RUSTY,

I'D GO AFTER HIM MYSELF.

HA HA HA! HA HA HA!

LET ME SEE!

BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

I BET I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.

YOU WANT SOME CANDY?

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND YOU?

THANKS. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Man: YOU STUPID BITCH!

I TOLD YOU TO HOLD ON TO THAT CRAP.

WHERE IS THAT SHIT?

HERE IT IS, BABY.

Judy: HI, MOM!

OH! AHH!

GUESS WHAT? WHAT?

I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU.

YOU DO?

HI, MOM.

STEVEN!

HOW YOU DOIN'?

MY HANDSOME BOY, HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD. GOOD.

COME ON IN AND SIT DOWN.

I'M MAKING SUPPER FOR JUDY,

BUT I HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU ALWAYS DO, MOM.

Mom: SO HOW'S SCHOOL?

Steven: I TAKE THE BAR EXAM IN A FEW WEEKS.

YEAH. ANY GOOD GIRLS AT YALE?

NAH. THE PRETTY ONES DON'T NEED LAW SCHOOL.

THEY GO INTO BROADCASTING.

OH, REALLY?

YOU CAN COME VISIT ME AT THE STATION.

BIG PROFESSIONAL LADY.

OOH, JEALOUS, JEALOUS, JEALOUS.

YOU DISH IT, YOU TAKE IT.

YOU CAN GO AND LIVE ON THE STREET, FOR ALL I CARE!

BUT I DIDN'T DO NOTHIN'!

YO! WHAT'S UP?

WHAT'S GOIN' ON HERE?

YOU STAY OUTTA THIS, ALL RIGHT?

YOUR SISTER GOT HERSELF SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL

FOR A WEEK!

FOR WHAT?

SCHWANNA, WHAT'D YOU DO THIS TIME?

THEY CAUGHT HER SMOKIN' THIS.

Michael: HEY, LOOK, WHAT YOU NEED THAT STUFF FOR?

FOR THIS, I WORK ALL NIGHT AND ALL DAY,

TENDIN' SICK PEOPLE AND EMPTYIN' BEDPANS,

AND MY OWN DAUGHTER'S GOOFING OFF

IN THE SCHOOL BATHROOM!

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN SCHOOL,

AND YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!

IT'S MY LIFE!

THEN GO AND LIVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!

MAYBE I WILL!

WHAT DO I GET HERE ANYWAY?!

YOU'RE NEVER HOME WHEN I COME HOME.

YOU DON'T COOK SUPPER ANYMORE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS SOME TYPE

OF BEVERLY HILLS MANSION OR SOMETHING!

WE GOT COCKROACHES AND BUGS CRAWLIN' ALL OVER THE FLOOR!

WE GOT THINGS CRAWLIN' AROUND

THAT GOD AIN'T EVEN NEVER HEARD OF.

GET OUT!

THAT'S RIGHT! GET OUT!

MY PLEASURE!

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE WEDDING NEXT WEEK.

Judy: MOM, I'M NOT GOING.

WHY NOT?

IT'S YOUR SECOND COUSIN'S WEDDING.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET A CHANCE

TO BE WITH THE FAMILY?

THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO THAT WEDDING.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE SO DIFFERENT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THEIR NAMES.

I WOULD FEEL VERY OUT OF PLACE.

WHY? THEY COME TO ALL OUR AFFAIRS.

YEAH. IT'S EMBARRASSING.

SORRY TO SAY, MA,

BUT YOUR SIDE OF THE FAMILY IS ALL WHACKED OUT.

WISH THEY WERE MORE LIKE DAD'S FAMILY.

YOU'RE ONE TO TALK ABOUT FAMILY.

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA START ONE OF YOUR OWN?

MA, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

YEAH. I MEAN, CAN I FINISH LAW SCHOOL FIRST?

Judy: I'M NOT READY TO START HAVING A FAMILY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE BOTH VERY BUSY NOW.

OH, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.

THAT'S ALL I HEAR FROM YOU.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

I TOLD YOU TO MOVE OUT OF THIS PLACE A LONG TIME AGO.

DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU'RE LONELY.

I'M NOT LONELY, AND WHERE I LIVE

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

OH, DAMN, IT'S BEEN IN OVER 3 HOURS,

AND IT STILL DIDN'T COOK THROUGH.

I ASKED JULIO 10 TIMES TO FIX THAT OVEN,

AND THE JEWISH LANDLORDS DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT US.

ANY PROBLEMS IN THE BUILDING?

NO. NOTHING I'VE HEARD ABOUT.

NOBODY OVERDOSE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS?

OH, STEVEN, GOD!

COME ON, MOM!

LOOK WHAT THE BLACKS DID TO THIS PLACE.

USED TO BE GORGEOUS,

THE NICEST BUILDING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WELL, NOW LOOK AT IT. IT'S A JUNGLE.

IT'S ALL RUNDOWN AND FALLING APART.

I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE WOULD DIE

JUST TO MOVE IN HERE.

NOW THEY'RE JUST PLAIN DYING.

I KNOW EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE.

THEY'RE DECENT, HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING

AND SURVIVE.

IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT

THEY'RE NOT SO INTELLIGENT.

THESE JEWS COME IN HERE,

AND THEY BUY UP ALL THE BUILDINGS,

AND THEN THEY LEAVE US TO ROT!

ALL THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT

IS COLLECTING THEIR RENT ON TIME.

BUT, MA, THEY WERE HERE BEFORE WE EVEN MOVED IN.

YEAH, BUT ONCE WE MOVE IN, THEY PANIC AND MOVE OUT.

OF COURSE EVERYONE MOVED OUT!

I MEAN, THEY BRING IN THE DRUGS, BOOZE, PROSTITUTES.

LOOK HOW THEY WRECK THE APARTMENTS.

WHY SHOULD ANYONE STAY?

WHITE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HIRE US!

AND WHEN THEY DO,

IT'S TO SWEEP THEIR FLOORS OR PARK THEIR CARS.

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME

YOU SAW A JEW WORKING IN A CAR WASH?

WHAT ABOUT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?

DON'T BELIEVE THAT HOAX!

IT'S THE JEWISH MEDIA

WHO'S FEEDING YOU THAT HOGWASH.

THEN THEY'VE GOT THIS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BULLSHIT.

I'VE GOT 6 FRIENDS WHO COULDN'T GET INTO YALE

BECAUSE THEY NEEDED ROOM FOR UNDERQUALIFIED BLACKS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

WHERE'S THE JUSTICE IN THAT? IT'S REVERSE DISCRIMINATION.

LOOK AT LOS ANGELES. RODNEY KING!

THEY TREAT WHITE CRIMINALS

WITH KID GLOVES.

A BLACK KID WILL SIT IN JAIL LONGER

FOR STEALING A CONTAINER OF MILK

THAN ONE OF THOSE WHITE NECKTIES WILL

FOR TAX EVASION! WHERE'S THE JUSTICE?

A PACK OF ANIMALS KILLED AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER,

YANKEL--WHAT'S HIS NAME?

YANKEL ROSENBAUM.

RIGHT. THEY KILLED YANKEL ROSENBAUM

IN COLD BLOOD, AND THERE'S ONLY ONE ARREST.

IN BENSONHURST AND HOWARD BEACH,

THEY ARREST A DOZEN WHITE BOYS FOR THE SAME CRIME.

IT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD. I'M TELLING YOU,

THE ITALIANS HAVE GOT IT RIGHT.

THE ONLY WAY TO TREAT THESE PEOPLE

IS WITH CLUBS AND GUNS

BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND.

LET THE JEWS TAKE THEIR MONEY

AND GO LIVE IN ISRAEL.

LET THEM ALL GO BACK TO AFRICA.

THEY'RE COMIN' TO GET ME! THEY'RE COMIN' TO GET ME!

OH, MY GOODNESS. THEY'RE COMIN' TO GET ME!

WHAT'S WRONG, MRS. WASHINGTON?

THE MARTIANS ARE COMING.

I KNOW IT. I FEEL IT!

I FEEL THEM

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

ZAPPING ME! WHAT CAN I DO?

TRY ZAPPING THEM BACK.

YO, BERKOWITZ!

WHEN YOU GONNA FIX MY LEAKING TOILET?!

I'M TAKING CARE OF IT.

YOU SAID THAT LAST WEEK!

HOW MANY TIMES I GOTTA BE PISSING

AT MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE?!

YOU WANT SERVICE?

YEAH, FUCK, I WANT SERVICE!

TRY PAYING YOUR RENT ON TIME.

I DON'T WANT TO WAIT AN EXTRA 3 WEEKS

LIKE I DID LAST MONTH.

CHEAP ASS MOTHERFUCKER!

[RAP MUSIC PLAYS]

HOW ABOUT HELPING OUT?

LEAVE ME ALONE, MICHAEL.

WHAT, JUST BECAUSE

YOU GOT BASKETBALL TRYOUTS TOMORROW

YOU CAN'T DO NOTHIN'?

EXACTLY.

Mother: LEAVE KEVIN ALONE!

WHY?

I'M TIRED OF HIM GETTIN' A FREE RIDE.

YOU THINK THAT BASKETBALL'S

THE ANSWER TO ALL YOUR PROBLEMS?

WHAT IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT?

WHAT YOU GONNA DO THEN,

PUMP GAS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

I DON'T SEE YOUR PUNK ASS PULLING DOWN NO 6 FIGURES.

I GO TO SCHOOL. I GOT A CHANCE,

WHICH IS MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER HAVE.

Mother: YOU BOYS GOTTA STOP THIS.

I'VE GOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITHOUT YOU TWO FIGHTING.

AT LEAST I BRING IN SOME EXTRA CASH DELIVERING.

ALL YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME

IS AN ELDUARDO DA VINCI BULLSHIT,

SO WHAT YOU SAYING?

FUCK YOU!

FUCK ME? OH, YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?

STOP IT! DON'T YOU DARE TALK LIKE THAT IN MY HOME!

NOW, LOOK...

KEVIN HAS A POINT.

OH, MA, COME ON.

LISTEN, YOUR--YOUR DRAWINGS ARE GOOD AND FINE,

BUT THEY DON'T PUT NO BREAD ON THE TABLE.

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE LIVING HERE,

YOU GOTTA EARN YOUR KEEP.

GET A JOB IN YOUR SPARE TIME.

AND THEN WHEN ALL THE BILLS ARE PAID,

THEN GO BACK TO YOUR DRAWING.

BUT, MA, I'M JUST TRYING--

NO, NO, NO BUTS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

YEAH.

OK.

JULIO, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU,

SCREWING YOUR 14-YEAR-OLDS?

HEY, MAN, I MUST'VE DOZED OFF.

THAT WHAT I PAY YOU FOR? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE

TAKING CARE OF THIS DUMP.

I DO, MAN. YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CLEAN THIS PLACE UP.

I HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE, MAN.

YOU GOT THE SHIT?

YEAH, I DO, I DO, MAN. WAIT. IT'S RIGHT HERE.

IT'S THE BEST.

BEST.

YEAH, YEAH, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

THE BOYS AT YALE WILL LIKE THIS.

YEAH, YEAH. YOU GOT THE CASH, MAN?

HEY, HAVE I EVER STIFFED YOU BEFORE?

HERE.

HERE'S YOUR CASH.

HEY!

THERE'S 2 GRAND MISSING HERE!

I KNOW. IT'S JUST SO YOU WON'T RUN OUT ON ME.

HEY, MAN, THE BOYS WON'T LIKE THIS.

TELL THE BOYS THE MONEY

WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK.

I JUST HOPE--

ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BUILDING?

YEAH, MRS. JEFFERSON'S RADIATOR NEEDS FIXING,

AND MRS. JOHNSON'S TOILET IS LEAKING.

YOU GOT IT BACKWARDS.

MRS. JEFFERSON'S THE ONE WITH THE TOILET PROBLEM.

HAVE YOU CALLED THE PLUMBER YET?

NO, NOT YET.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

NO WONDER THIS PLACE IS FALLING APART.

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?

HE'S WITH ME, MAN.

WHAT YOU WANT HERE, MAN?

JULIO, YOU GOT A COUPLE OF BUCKS

I COULD BORROW FOR A FEW DAYS?

AW, COME ON, MAN!

WHY DO YOU ALWAYS COME TO ME FOR BREAD?

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE TO YOU,

SOME KIND OF SAVINGS AND LOAN?

HEY, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

YO, ALL THAT CAN'T BE YOURS.

HEY, SWEET DREAM, BOY. THAT BREAD AIN'T KOSHER.

MOTHERFUCKER STIFFED ME FOR 2 GRAND!

NOW I GOT TO ANSWER TO THE HOMEBOYS.

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.

SMART BOY, MAN. YOU STAY OUTTA THIS SHIT.

MAYBE I COULD DO SOME HANDY WORK ON THE WEEKENDS.

YOU CRAZY? FRED WILL KILL YOU IF YOU TAKE HIS WORK.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? I NEED THE MONEY.

LOOK, I KNOW 2 WAYS YOU CAN MAKE BREAD AROUND HERE.

YOU EITHER GET A JOB,

OR YOU CROSS THE LINE AND DO WHAT US SUCKERS DO, MAN.

YOU GO DEAL DRUGS OR STEAL.

HEY, IT'S NOT GLAMOROUS, BUT IT'S A LIVING.

I AIN'T THAT DESPERATE.

NOT YET, YOU AIN'T.

MURRAY, WOULD YOU LISTEN?

NO. I SEND YOU TO DO WIENERS,

YOU DO WIENERS, NOT SOCIOLOGY.

WIENERS, HOT DOGS, MUSTARD, RELISH,

PICKLES, SAUERKRAUT, BUNS.

IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE,

300 FAT SLOBS STUFFING THEIR FACES

WITH THEIR BEER BELLIES HANGING OUT?

MURRAY, I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT

FOR A CHANGE, SOMETHING SERIOUS.

LOOK, IF I WANTED SERIOUS,

I'D HAVE HIRED WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY.

WHAT I WANT FROM YOU IS FLUFF.

FLUFF.

FLUFF. FLUFF! STUFF THAT SELLS RATINGS.

WE CALL IT HUMAN INTEREST.

I DON'T WANT ANY MORE

RACIAL MUMBO JUMBO FROM YOU.

HEY, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

SOMETIMES I WISH I COULD DO MORE

THAN JUST GIVE THE BASKETBALL SCORES.

I'LL TALK TO HIM FOR YOU.

AND YOU, GOLDILOCKS, IT'S ABOUT TIME

YOU TOOK A HAIRCUT.

YOU'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.

MISSOURI.

I'M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE

A GODDAMN KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.

CAN I GET SOME PROFESSIONALISM

AROUND HERE?

DAMN HYMIE NAZI.

LISTEN, CAN YOU HELP ME

FIGURE OUT THESE SCHEDULES?

LET ME SEE.

EVERYBODY AROUND HERE IS EITHER JEWISH, BLACK,

SPANISH, OR CHINESE.

AREN'T THERE ANY REGULAR PEOPLE IN NEW YORK?

LISTEN, I'M SORRY.

WHY DON'T YOU AND I

GO OUT TO DINNER TONIGHT?

I'M VERY BUSY.

OK, HOW ABOUT TOMORROW NIGHT?

FORGET IT. HERE.

SHIT.

GOOD MORNING, MR. HECKLAND.

NO CIGARETTES.

[BELL RINGING]

GOOD MORNING, INEZ, JOANNE.

LATE AGAIN.

GOOD MORNING, MICHAEL.

HEY, MR. LAIDLAW.

GEORGE, CARLOS, GO TO CLASS.

JOSE, MELISSA, LET'S MOVE ON.

SO HOW IS YOUR MOTHER?

SHE'S DOING ALL RIGHT.

WORKING HARD AS USUAL, I'LL IMAGINE.

SHE KNOW ANY OTHER WAY?

YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER

WHEN YOUR FATHER FIRST MET YOUR MOTHER.

IT'S A SHAME THAT HE DIED THE WAY HE DID.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND,

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TELL ME.

IT'S ABOUT THE NEW TEACHER.

MR. SAXTON?

ARE YOU HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIM?

I SAW HIM DEALING DRUGS WITH ACTION AND GREASER

AFTER SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE HARD ACCUSATIONS, MICHAEL.

VERY HARD.

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?

YEAH.

I'LL LOOK INTO THIS.

IN THE MEANTIME,

STAY AWAY FROM GREASER AND ACTION.

I'LL HANDLE THIS.

JUDY, I SAW THE TAPE

OF THE CONEY ISLAND VENDOR.

SO DID MURRAY.

OBVIOUSLY YOU, TOO, HAVE AN OPINION.

IT'S VERY ONE-SIDED.

GREAT. ANOTHER LECTURE.

COME ON. IT'S SO EASY TO BLAME BLACK PEOPLE.

LOOK, I DIDN'T MEAN IT

AS AN INDICTMENT OF ALL BLACK PEOPLE.

BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO?

I MEAN, LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO BE

AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER,

DO EXACTLY THAT, INVESTIGATE.

GET BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.

WHAT GOOD IS THAT GOING TO DO?

NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN TO A WOMAN ANYWAY.

COME ON, JUDY. LOOK, I'M AN AFRICAN AMERICAN.

BECOMING AN ANCHORMAN ON A NEW YORK NEWSCAST

WAS BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS.

YOU KNOW, I NEVER EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN,

BUT IT DID HAPPEN. IT IS POSSIBLE.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE JEWISH,

THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T BE SUCCESSFUL.

YEAH, I KNOW YOU'RE JEWISH.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN...

JOHN F. KENNEDY,

MARTIN LUTHER KING...

ANWAR SADAT...

MALCOLM X...

WHAT DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?

ANYONE?

MICHAEL?

UM, AHEM, THEY-- THEY WERE

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVISTS

WHO WANTED SOCIAL CHANGE,

BUT, UM...

BEFORE THEY...

COULD ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING,

THEY WERE ASSASSINATED.

Saxton: THAT'S TRUE.

BUT WHAT ELSE DO THESE FAMOUS PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON?

WHAT ELSE DO THEY SHARE?

MICHAEL?

NO ANSWER.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

THEY ALL TRIED TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

THEY WERE OBSESSIVE VISIONARIES

WHO TRIED TO RESHAPE THE EARTH

INTO WHAT THEIR VISION OF THE WORLD SHOULD BE.

AH, BUT WHAT WAS THEIR FATE?

WHAT REWARD DID THEY RECEIVE FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS?

IN THE END, ALL THEY GOT WAS GRIEF, PAIN, MISERY,

AND A PREMATURE DEATH.

NOW, SOME SAY THEY TRIED TOO HARD.

SOME SAY THEY WERE TOO DEEPLY INVOLVED

IN AFFAIRS THAT DID NOT CONCERN THEM.

JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS SHIT NO MORE.

COME ON, MAN. I SAW SAXTON

ALL OVER YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

LOOK, IT'S NOTHING. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

COME ON. WE'RE NOT STUPID.

THERE'S SOMETHING GOIN' ON BETWEEN YOU TWO.

LOOK, IT'S GONNA BE A LOT SAFER

IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

THAT'S YOUR MAN.

LOOK, I SAW SAXTON DEALING WITH ACTION AND GREASER

AFTER SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

WHAT? NO SHIT!

DID YOU TELL THE PRINCIPAL?

YEAH, HE SAID HE'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT.

YOU MEAN SAXTON'S A DRUG DEALER?

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT--

DON'T GO TELLING NOBODY YOU HEARD THAT!

I AIN'T SAYIN' SHIT, MAN.

GOOD.

SO WHERE WE GOIN' FOR LUNCH?

I GOTTA STUDY FOR A GEOMETRY TEST.

COME ON. WHY?

I MEAN. COME ON, BABY.

YOU ALREADY GOT THE CURVES AND THE CIRCLES

AND THE RECTANGLES. NO, YOU GOT THAT BOX, HERE, RIGHT?

COME ON, STOP. I GOTTA GO.

GO THEN.

SEE YA LATER.

YO, LOVER BOY, LET'S PULL A JOB NOW.

WE GOT THE TIME.

MAN, WHAT'S UP WITH YOU?

YOU ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT ROBBING AND STEALING?

DON'T YOU HAVE A CONSCIENCE?

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

NOBODY CARED WHEN MY BROTHER GOT KILLED

BY SOME WHITE PIECE OF SHIT.

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

NOBODY CARES. NOBODY MATTERS.

IT MATTERS TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT MATTERS TO THE BLACK IMAGE.

FUCK THE BLACK IMAGE!

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE BLACK IMAGE.

WHEN WHITE BOYS STEAL,

THEY MAKE HEROES OUT OF THEM--

JESSE JAMES, BUTCH CASSIDY,

ALL THEM MACHO MOVIES.

WHEN BLACK BOYS STEAL,

WE'RE CONSIDERED ANIMALS,

SCUMS OF THE EARTH.

YO, WHY DON'T YOU CONSIDER ME

AS A MOTHERFUCKIN' ROBIN HOOD,

THE ROBIN HOOD OF EAST FLATBUSH?

DON'T GIVE ME YOUR SELF-RIGHTEOUS BULLSHIT.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA START RUNNING AROUND TOWN

WEARING A MASK AND A CAPE CALLING YOURSELF BATMAN?

LOOK, MAN, I DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO SURVIVE,

AND YOU BETTER DO THE SAME THING

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE PLAYING

WITH YOUR FINGERPAINTING.

I KNOW WHERE YOU GO AFTER SCHOOL.

EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYTHING.

YOU CAN'T HIDE THINGS AROUND HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP YOURSELF

AS WELL AS YOUR FAMILY,

YOU BETTER START LIVING REALITY.

YOU KNOW YOU NEED THE MONEY.

YOU WANT TO BUY SOMETHING NICE

FOR SIMONE?

WHERE YOU GONNA GET THE BREAD?

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, MAN, SHE'S GONNA RUN OFF WITH

SOME RICH MOTHERFUCKIN' DRUG DEALER

FUCK YOU! AND LEAVE YOUR ASS!

SO ARE YOU WITH ME OR WHAT?

WHAT'S WRONG, JUDY?

I'M SUFFOCATING AT THE STATION.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT I COULD BE DOING.

YOU ALWAYS DO THAT.

YOU'RE NEVER SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.

YOU ALWAYS WANT MORE AND MORE AND MORE,

AND THEN YOU WIND UP LOSING EVERYTHING

YOU ALREADY HAVE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH WANTING MORE?

SINCE WHEN ARE YOU THE ONE TO STUNT AMBITION?

IT'S JUST WHEN WILL IT BE ENOUGH?

HOW MANY GIRLS GET TO BE ON TELEVISION EVERY DAY?

ONLY THE PRETTY ONES. THAT'S THE POINT.

IF I CONTINUE DOING WHAT I'M DOING,

I'M GOING TO BE REPLACED AS SOON AS SOMEONE

YOUNGER AND PRETTIER WALKS THROUGH THE PRODUCER'S DOOR.

THE ONLY WAY I CAN LAST IN THIS BUSINESS IS

IF I MAKE MY MARK AS A JOURNALIST

AND NOT AS A VIDEO DOLL.

IS THERE SOMEBODY YOU CAN TALK TO?

WELL, YES, THERE ARE A LOT

OF BRIGHT AND INTERESTING PEOPLE WORKING THERE.

JUST REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE.

MA, I KNOW WHO I AM,

AND I WORK WITH VERY GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT JEWISH.

SO WHAT?

JEWS AREN'T THE ONLY GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD,

YOU KNOW?

WHO'S TALKING ABOUT GOOD?

I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE

"JUDY BERKOWITZ TO WED JASON VAN HORN"

IN THE NEW YORK TIMES SOCIAL COLUMN.

50% OF ALL THE JEWS IN THIS COUNTRY

MARRY GENTILES.

WE'RE DOING TO OURSELVES

WHAT THE GOYIM HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO TO US

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

MA, PLEASE.

WHERE'S YOUR SENSE OF IDENTITY?

I KNOW WHO I AM!

DO YOU?

AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

WELL, ARE YOU JUDY BERKOWITZ

OR JUDY BURKE? WHICH ONE IS IT?

OH, PLEASE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH BERKOWITZ?

YOU DISGRACE YOUR FATHER'S MEMORY

WHEN YOU CHANGE HIS NAME.

IT'S NOT A JEWISH WORLD OUT THERE!

I NEEDED EVERY BREAK I COULD GET,

AND IT JUST SEEMED SAFER.

SAFER? IF WE WANTED SAFETY,

WE'D ALL CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY!

YOU'RE ASHAMED OF YOUR RELIGION.

NO, I'M NOT!

YES, YOU ARE. ADMIT IT.

I'M SURE THAT NOBODY AT THAT STATION

KNOWS THAT YOU'RE JEWISH!

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, MA. TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

WE'VE JOINED THE REST OF SOCIETY.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE OLD DAYS.

IN THE OLD DAYS,

WE SACRIFICED FOR OUR RELIGION.

AND WHERE DID THAT GET YOU?

BUBBE AND ZAIDIE DIDN'T LET YOU DO ALL THE THINGS

THAT YOU WANTED TO DO.

YOU WANTED TO BE AN ACTRESS,

A DANCER.

BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET YOU DO THOSE THINGS,

AND LOOK AT YOU NOW.

YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS

OF EVERYTHING I'M ACCOMPLISHING RIGHT NOW.

JEALOUS?

HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT, JUDY?

I LOVE YOU.

I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF YOU.

I JUST DON'T SEE

WHY YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL,

ESPECIALLY HERE IN NEW YORK.

YOU'RE INTELLIGENT, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL,

YOU'RE WITTY.

YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL AT EVERYTHING

YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO.

I SEE YOU INVOLVED

IN EVERY OTHER SOCIAL ISSUE.

WHY NOT BE PROUD OF YOUR RELIGION?

YOU THINK YOU CAN SHED YOUR JUDAISM

SO EASILY BY CHANGING YOUR NAME

AND DRESSING LIKE A SHIKSA?

WELL, YOU'RE WRONG.

YOU CAN RUN ALL YOU WANT,

BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE THE FACT

THAT YOU'RE A JEW,

AND YOU ALWAYS WILL BE A JEW.

COME ON, MAN. LET'S GO.

SHE LOOKS LIKE A RICH BITCH.

MAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU TALKED ME INTO THIS.

TAKE THAT SHIT OFF, MAN! JUST REMEMBER ROBIN HOOD.

ROB-- MAN, I FEEL LIKE

THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM,

THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE.

YOU AIN'T GOT TO DO NOTHING. JUST BUMP INTO HER.

I'LL GRAB THE BAG.

NO!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

COME ON!

COME ON, MAN! COME ON!

COME BACK!

COME BACK!

HEY.

STEAL FROM THE RICH...

GIVE TO THE POOR.

[RAP MUSIC PLAYS]

[VOICES SHOUTING]

NOW, THAT WASN'T SO BAD NOW, WAS IT?

[BELL RINGS]

Judy: MURRAY.

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

PUT IT ON THE NEWS.

NO WAY. WHY NOT?

DID THEY FONDLE YOU?

DID THEY SEXUALLY MOLEST YOU?

NO. THEN IT AIN'T NEWS.

I THINK I CAN GET MY BAG BACK.

HOW YOU GONNA DO THAT?

ONE OF THE KIDS HAD THIS STRANGE LOOK

IN HIS EYE, LIKE HE WAS DESPERATE.

I SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU. I REALLY DO,

BUT I CANNOT LET THE NEWS

BECOME A VEHICLE FOR PERSONAL AGENDAS.

DAMN NIGGERS LOOSE IN THIS JUNGLE.

YO, MAN, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, MAN?

LOOK, I DON'T FEEL TOO GOOD

ABOUT WHAT WE DID TODAY, ALL RIGHT?

MAN, DON'T RUN NO GUILT SHIT ON ME NOW, MAN.

WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.

DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR SOME WHITE BITCH.

HER MOTHER LIVES IN MY BUILDING.

WHAT'S HER NAME?

BERKOWITZ.

JEWISH PRINCESS BITCH.

DON'T WORRY, MAN. SHE AIN'T COMIN' AFTER US.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

LOOK, MAN, JEWS ARE SCARED OF US, MAN.

THEY AIN'T LIKE THE GUINEAS.

YEAH, BUT THEY GOT THE COPS.

MAN, COPS AIN'T GOT TIME FOR MINOR LEAGUE SHIT LIKE THIS.

BE COOL!

IT ONLY GETS EASIER.

HEY, MIKE. WHERE YOU GOING?

YEAH. YEAH. HA HA.

YEAH. COME ON OVER HERE.

GET ON OVER HERE. YEAH.

SEE? I TOLD YOU HE WAS OVER HERE.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOME

FUCKED-UP SHIT YOU DID TO US

OVER THERE. GOT US RUNNING

LIKE YOU SOME SORT OF TRACK STAR.

RUNNING AND RUNNING AND RUNNING--

ALL RIGHT, MAN, CUT THE BULLSHIT.

SO WHAT'S UP, MIKE? YEAH.

WHAT YOU GOING AROUND STUPID

MINDING MY BUSINESS FOR, HUH?

WHAT, YOU THINK YOU EYEWITNESS

OR SOMETHING, MOTHERFUCKER?

YOU ALREADY GOT A PROBLEM.

WORD IS YOU BEEN GOING AROUND TELLING PEOPLE

WHAT WENT DOWN IN THE ALLEY.

WHAT? MAN, I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING.

MIKE! WHERE YOU GOIN', MIKE?

MIKE, MIKE, HOW YOU GONNA PLAY US OUT

LIKE THAT, MAN?

SHOW HIM WHAT WE DO TO MOTHERFUCKERS

THAT RUN THEY MOUTH TOO MUCH AROUND HERE.

OH, BABY.

OH, YEAH.

WHERE IS IT, MOTHERFUCKER?

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

WHAT THIS, HUH, MOTHERFUCKER?

WHAT IS THIS?

DON'T THINK I KNOW WHAT THE FUCK

GOIN' ON AROUND HERE? I KNOW EVERYTHING

THAT'S GOIN' ON AROUND HERE.

WHAT, YOU THINK I'M STUPID OR WHAT, NIGGER, HUH?

YOU GOT THIS OFF THAT WHITE-ASS BITCH

THIS AFTERNOON, DIDN'T YOU, MIKE?

DIDN'T YOU, MIKE? YOU STIFF-UP,

CAN-DOWN MOTHERFUCKER.

YEAH. OH.

FISTFUL OF DOLLARS.

THAT MOTHERFUCKER.

SHIT.

YOU LISTEN TO ME, MOTHERFUCKER,

AND YOU LISTEN GOOD.

IF THERE'S ONE MORE MOTHERFUCKIN' TIME

YOU GO AROUND TELLIN' MY BUSINESS, STUPID,

AND I'LL KILL YOUR ASS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE AS THAT.

YOU HEAR ME, MOTHERFUCKER?

BANG!

PUNK-ASS MOTHERFUCKER. MMM.

CHILL OUT, MIKE. MMM.

OHH.

YOU BETTER HAVE A DAMN GOOD REASON

FOR THIS FACE.

MA, IT WAS JUST A FIGHT.

HA. JUST A FIGHT, MY ASS.

YOU GOT YOUR BUTT KICKED BY ACTION AND GREASER.

SHUT UP, SCHWANNA.

WHAT'S THAT?

MICHAEL'S BEEN SQUEALING ON SOME DRUG DEALERS

DOWN AT SCHOOL.

IT AIN'T NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

YEAH, BUT IT'S MY BUSINESS.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU

TO KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN

AND DON'T GO MESSING IN NOBODY'S AFFAIRS?

MA, THOSE GUYS ARE CRACKHEADS

AND DRUG DEALERS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY ARE.

YOU WANT TO STAY ALIVE AROUND HERE,

YOU MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

I ALREADY LOST YOUR FATHER THAT WAY.

THOUGHT HE HAD TO BE THE WORLD'S KEEPER,

PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE DRUG PUSHERS

ALL BY HIMSELF.

FOOL GOT HIMSELF KILLED.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU THAT WAY.

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT FROM?

CONSIDER IT AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

I KNOW WHERE MICHAEL GOT THAT.

YOU STOLE IT FROM THAT WHITE GIRL

THIS AFTERNOON.

IS THAT TRUE?

IT SURE IS.

THE WHOLE BUILDING IS TALKING ABOUT IT.

IS THAT TRUE? MICHAEL, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

IS THIS THE ONLY MONEY WE'RE EVER GONNA SEE?

IS THIS THE ANSWER?

THE REASON YOUR FATHER GAVE HIS LIFE?

DARRYL TALKED ME INTO IT.

IT WAS HIS IDEA.

YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS.

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF YOU KIDS

ALWAYS TRYING TO BLAME

SOMEBODY ELSE FOR YOUR CRIMES.

YOU CAN'T JUSTIFY YOURSELF FOR STEALING.

IS THIS HOW I RAISED YOU?

IS THIS YOUR FUTURE?

YOU PRESSURED ME INTO IT.

DON'T YOU LAY IT ON ME.

MA, YOU SAID WE NEEDED THE MONEY.

NOT LIKE THIS.

NOT BY STEALING.

I DON'T WANT THIS MONEY.

NOT ANY OF IT. DO YOU HEAR?

[BAND PLAYS]

ISN'T THIS GREAT?

YEAH, YEAH. IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

IT'S WONDERFUL. COME ON.

HELLO.

OH, HI!

HOW DARE YOU?

HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? YOU STOLE FROM ME TODAY.

LOOK, ALL RIGHT. I'M SORRY.

HERE'S YOUR MONEY. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

NO. DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME.

YOU THREW ME DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT,

YOU VIOLATED ME,

YOU STOLE MY CREDIT CARDS,

MY WALLET, MY TELEPHONE.

HOW COULD YOU?

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY.

YOU ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS,

MISS NEWSCASTER.

YES, I DO.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I GOT A STORY FOR YOU.

COME TO MY SCHOOL...

AND ANSWER ME THIS,

WHY ARE THE TEACHERS

DEALING DRUGS TO THE KIDS?

YOU ANSWER THAT FOR ME,

I'LL TELL YOU ANYTHING

YOU WANT TO KNOW.

[DOOR OPENS]

MY FATHER BOUGHT THAT STUFF FOR ME.

GAVE IT TO ME ON MY 13th BIRTHDAY.

LAST THING HE EVER GAVE ME.

YOU SEE HIM IN EVERY FACE YOU DRAW, DON'T YOU?

DON'T FORGET HIM. MAKE HIM PROUD.

HA. MAKE HIM PROUD.

HE FOUGHT FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED IN,

AND WHAT DO I DO?

I JUST TALK.

I DON'T EVEN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

MICHAEL, DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF...

'CAUSE I DO.

HEIL, HITLER.

THE NAZIS DIDN'T FINISH THEIR JOB.

LISTEN, YOU IGNORANT LITTLE BASTARD,

IF HITLER HAD EVER GOTTEN AHOLD OF YOU NIGGERS,

HE WOULD'VE MADE AUSCHWITZ LOOK LIKE CLUB MED.

HEY, MAN.

I WANT TO KNOW WHO MUGGED MY SISTER

THIS MORNING.

MAN, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, MAN.

YOU'RE THE EYES AND EARS AROUND HERE.

YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

YOU BETTER NOT BE HOLDING OUT ON ME,

OR I WILL KICK YOUR BLACK ASS

BACK INTO THE GUTTER WHERE IT BELONGS.

IT'S THE TRUTH, MAN. I SWEAR.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY?

YOU PROMISED ME YOU'D BRING THE REST OF IT.

I DID, HUH?

WELL, LET'S MAKE A DEAL.

YOU FIND OUT WHO MUGGED MY SISTER,

AND THEN I WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR MONEY.

GOD.

[PRACTICING A CHEER]

LOOK, MALCOLM X's MOTHER WAS HALF WHITE,

AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.

NO, I KNOW FOR A FACT

THAT HE IS A 100%

NUBIAN BROTHER, OK?

YES, HE IS. YES, HE IS.

I MEAN,

ALL THE NIGGERS KNOW THAT.

WHY YOU ALWAYS USING THE WORD "NIGGER" FOR?

YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

YEAH, I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I DON'T SEE WHY.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE BLACK ANYWAY.

OH. SO WHAT, YOU TELLING ME

I'M NOT BLACK NOW?

WELL, THANK YOU, MISS PRINCESS AFRICA HISTORIAN.

YES, I AM MISS PRINCESS AFRICA,

AND IF YOU KNEW ANYTHING

ABOUT BEING BLACK,

YOU WOULD BE, TOO.

NUMBER ONE,

I AM VERY PROUD OF BEING BLACK,

AND NUMBER 2, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW--WHAT? WHAT?

YOU WANT TO BE ALL WHITE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN I WANT TO BE WHITE?

WHAT SHOULD I DO, GRAB MY CROTCH

AND CALL MYSELF A NIGGER?

NO. I DON'T KNOW

ABOUT THAT NIGGER SHIT,

BUT I KNOW YOU CERTAINLY GRAB

YOUR CROTCH LIKE YOU GOT SOMETHING THERE.

YOU ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING BETWEEN YOUR LEGS. FUCK YOU.

All: OH!

NO, YOU WANT TO BE A FUCKING--

YOU WANT TO BE A FUCKING WHORE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU ARE.

OH, I WANT TO BE A FUCKING WHORE? PLEASE.

BLACK, WHITE? YOU'RE CONFUSED.

NO, YOU'RE CONFUSED.

YOU'RE THE FIRST MISS PRINCESS AFRICA

THAT GOES AROUND STRAIGHTENING HER HAIR--

NO--NO, NO, BITCH. WHY DON'T YOU--

GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE--

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. CHILL, CHILL.

CHILL, CHILL, CHILL, CHILL, CHILL, CHILL.

CHILL, CHILL, CHILL, CHILL, CHILL.

BITCH.

FUCK YOU.

OOH, YOU OREO.

WHAT?

ALL RIGHT, DREE, DREE, LOOK.

DREE, DREE, LOOK.

ALL I KNOW FROM ALL THIS IS--IS THAT

I--I KNOW YOU LOVE ME AS MUCH AS I LOVE YOU.

GET THE FUCK OFF ME.

OH! [LAUGHS]

STUPID FUCKING ASSHOLE.

YOU FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT.

THIS MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MY KID?

HI, GIRLS. I'M JUDY BURKE

FOR CHANNEL 6 NEWS.

DO YOU MIND IF I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS?

NOW A LOT OF DRUGS ARE BEING SOLD

IN THIS HIGH SCHOOL, RIGHT?

YEAH. YEAH.

NOW WHERE DO THESE KIDS

GET THESE DRUGS? CAN YOU TELL ME?

FROM THEIR HOUSE.

FROM THEIR HOUSE?

NEIGHBORHOOD. FATHER.

DO THEIR FATHER-- THEIR FATHER?

NOW HOW OLD ARE MOST OF THESE KIDS

THAT KIND OF--

THEY START YOUNG.

11 AND UP.

11 OR UP?

11.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD, LIKE, A BROTHER

OR, YOU KNOW, OR A SISTER

STARTING TO GET INVOLVED

IN THIS KIND OF THING?

I-- NO.

YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO GETS INVOLVED IN IT.

THEY--THEY KEEP IT A SECRET.

NOW DO THEY BRING THEM

INTO THE SCHOOL. DO THEY SELL THEM

IN THE SCHOOL? YEAH.

IN THE HALLWAYS? YEAH.

WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?

YOU LET THIS TV REPORTER SNOOP AROUND HERE.

WHAT IS THIS, A FUCKING CIRCUS?

LOOK, ALEX,

I FIGURE IT'LL BE GOOD FOR THE SCHOOL,

GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS.

MAYBE RAISE THEIR HEIGHTS

A LITTLE BIT.

RAISE THEIR HEIGHTS.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO RAISE THEIR HEIGHTS.

WE CAN'T AFFORD TO RAISE THEIR HEIGHTS.

LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN

CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL,

YOU GOT TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE,

MAINTAIN STATUS QUO,

AND JUST DO BUSINESS.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

NO MORE FUCKING PUBLICITY STUNTS.

OK, WHAT ABOUT MICHAEL?

I DON'T WANT HIM HURT.

YOU DON'T WANT HIM HURT?

THEN YOU MAKE SURE

HE KEEPS HIS MOUTH SHUT,

BECAUSE I DO, IT'S GOING TO BE

A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE

TAKING HEAT ON THIS.

IF THAT BOY FINGERS ME,

I'M TAKING YOU DOWN WITH ME.

YOU AND THIS WHOLE FUCKING SCHOOL.

[SIGHS]

AND YOU GUYS SEE THIS--THIS GOING ON?

EVERY DAY.

LIKE, IN BIOLOGY CLASS

YOU SEE SOMEBODY SELLING DRUGS?

YOU SEE THEM PASSING IT,

'CAUSE THEY KNOW WHO TO GO TO AND EVERYTHING.

YOU GUYS--YOU GUYS EVER GO

TO THE, UH, THE PRINCIPAL

AND ASK HIM, TELL HIM WHAT'S GOING ON?

NO, 'CAUSE WE GET TOO SCARED.

OR THE TEACHERS OR SOMETHING?

WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?

THAT BITCH JUDY BURK FROM THE TV, MAN.

WHAT THE FUCK YOU DOING OUT HERE?

TURN THAT SHIT OFF.

LEAVE ME ALONE, OK? I DIDN'T COME HERE TO--

NO, YOU BETTER GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM

AND START THAT SHIT. NOT AROUND HERE THOUGH.

I WILL LEAVE, ALL RIGHT?

TURN THAT SHIT OFF.

YOU BETTER NOT BE ASKING NOTHING OVER HERE.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,

LEAVE HER ALONE, LEAVE HER ALONE.

THIS IS NOT SOME FUCKING JUNGLE.

GET BACK IN SCHOOL.

GO ON. GO ON.

WE GOT TO GO BACK.

DO WHAT I TELL YOU.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH. YEAH. THANKS A LOT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THESE STUDENTS ARE ANIMALS.

THEY SHOULD BE LOCKED UP IN A CAGE,

MAYBE EVEN CASTRATED.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING DOWN HERE BY YOURSELF?

I CAME TO THIS HIGH--

WE USED TO GO TO THIS HIGH SCHOOL

A LONG TIME AGO. I'M A REPORTER,

AND I'M DOING A STORY

ON THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED HERE

OVER THE YEARS, SO I THOUGHT

I'D COME DOWN AND INTERVIEW

A FEW NICE STUDENTS MM-HMM.

ON WHAT HAPPENED.

MM-HMM. MM-HMM.

[SIGHS]

YEAH. WELL, YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

MM-HMM.

THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT CAPABLE

OF PHRASING COMPLETE SENTENCES.

I THINK YOU'D BE BETTER OFF TALKING TO A TEACHER.

MY NAME'S ALEX SAXTON.

NICE TO MEET YOU, MR. SAXTON.

THANK YOU. I'M JUDY BURKE,

BUT I GUESS YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY.

I BELIEVE I DO.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT TEACHERS

ARE ACTUALLY SELLING DRUGS HERE

TO STUDENTS.

IS THIS TRUE?

I DOUBT IT'S TRUE, BUT, UH,

IF IT WERE, I ALMOST CAN'T BLAME THEM.

WHAT WITH THE LOUSY 25 GRAND

SOME OF US MAKE A YEAR TO START.

LOOK, THESE KIDS ARE KILLING THEMSELVES

IN THE STREETS.

LOOK AROUND YOU, MISS BURK.

THIS IS A WAR ZONE.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER DOWN HERE

WHO SUPPLIES THE DRUGS.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT ANY WAY THEY CAN.

BUT, GOD, HA,

THESE ARE YOUR STUDENTS

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

NOW, DO YOU HATE THESE PEOPLE?

LOOK, I DON'T HATE THEM.

IT'S JUST THAT NEW YORK IS TURNING INTO

SOME GOD-AWFUL THIRD WORLD COUNTRY,

AND EVERYWHERE I GO, PEOPLE WITH STRANGE FACES,

WEIRD CLOTHING, AND CRAZY CUSTOMS

ARE SPEAKING TO ME IN LANGUAGES

THAT I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND.

SEEING YOU GETTING ATTACKED LIKE THAT?

IT JUST GETS TO ME.

MICHAEL--

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?

WHAT YOU THINK HAPPENED TO MY FACE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I GOT JUMPED BY ACTION AND GREASER

AFTER SCHOOL YESTERDAY.

YES. I GOT JUMPED.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING

TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SAXTON.

YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO SOMETHING

ABOUT ACTION AND GREASER, TOO.

WHAT'S UP? WHAT'S GOING ON?

THERE'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

HA. OH, INVESTIGATION?

THAT AIN'T GOING TO DO NOBODY HERE

AT THE SCHOOL ANY GOOD.

WHAT YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

JUDY, I REALLY THINK YOU SHOULD GO TO THE POLICE.

NO, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE KID,

MICHAEL STALLWORTH,

AND HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY FOR HIMSELF.

I MEAN, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

I WENT TO THAT SCHOOL, AND I HARDLY

RECOGNIZED THE PLACE.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMPLE.

THE SCHOOL BOARD SPENDS, WHAT, $7,000 A YEAR

ON EACH STUDENT IN NEW YORK CITY?

THE AVERAGE KID IN LONG ISLAND

GETS 10 TIMES AS MUCH.

I MEAN, MONEY ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE

ALL THE PROBLEMS.

79th AND AMSTERDAM, PLEASE.

BUT YOU KNOW, FAMILY ISN'T

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

PUBLIC EDUCATION IS.

MEANS IT'S THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY

TO MAINTAIN FISCAL EQUALITY FOR ALL ITS KIDS,

BLACK OR WHITE.

YOU MEAN RICH OR POOR.

NO, I MEAN BLACK OR WHITE, JUDY.

RACISM IS A PART OF ALL THIS.

YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS BLAME EVERYTHING

ON RACISM.

OH, WELL, YOU JEWS DO THE SAME

WHEN YOU CRY ANTI-SEMITISM.

BUT WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH NOTHING

AND BUILT OURSELVES UP FROM THE GHETTO.

WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME?

ON, COME ON. YOU CAN CAMOUFLAGE RELIGION,

BUT NOT COLOR, JUDY.

I MEAN, HEY, DON'T FORGET, WE CAME HERE AS SLAVES.

GOT A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

WE'VE HAD OUR SHARE OF MISERY, TOO.

HOLOCAUST WAS NO PICNIC, YOU KNOW.

OH, LOOK, THIS IS LIKE ARGUING DISEASES.

YOU HAVE CANCER, I HAVE AIDS.

WHICH IS WORSE?

WHAT WE GOT TO DO IS TRY TO FIND

SOLUTIONS TO BOTH OUR PROBLEMS.

THEN WHY BLAME US

FOR ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS?

WHY THE HATRED?

I GUESS JEWS ARE AN EASY TARGET, YOU KNOW.

IT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING MIDDLE AMERICANS

WILL AGREE WITH US ON.

[LAUGHS]

WHAT?

IT'S INTERESTING THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN

THIS KIND OF EMOTION BEFORE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF PASSION.

JUDY...

YOU THINK OF ME AS BEING DIFFERENT

FROM OTHER BLACK PEOPLE,

MAYBE BECAUSE I DRESS WELL,

SPEAK ELOQUENTLY,

MAYBE BECAUSE I'M A LIGHTER VERSION,

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

INSIDE I HAVE THIS--

THIS RAGE.

THE SAME RAGE THAT BURNS

IN EVERY BLACK MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD

IN AMERICA.

IT'S A RAGE YOU JEWS HAVE LOST.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIT IN.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATING

AN ENTIRE AFRICAN NATION.

OH, COME ON. DON'T YOU KNOW YOU CAN NEVER FIT IN?

ALL RIGHT, MAYBE YOU CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE

ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT INSIDE

YOU'RE AS JEWISH

AS THE CHASIDIM IN WILLIAMSBURG.

JUDY, I AM PROUD TO BE BLACK.

I DON'T THINK YOU'RE PROUD TO BE JEWISH.

OF COURSE I'M PROUD TO BE JEWISH.

JUST BECAUSE I DON'T WEAR IT ON MY SLEEVE

DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T SUPPORT

JEWISH CAUSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS

OR B'NAI BRITH,

SOME FACELESS ORGANIZATIONS ON CAPITOL HILL.

YOU NEED CHARISMATIC LEADERS

TO COME TO THE FOREFRONT,

ESPECIALLY FROM AMONG THE MEDIA.

HEY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WON'T DEFEND YOUR OWN PEOPLE,

WHO WILL?

WHO WILL?

MOTHERFUCKER, WAKE UP! EVERYBODY, WAKE UP!

WAKE THE FUCK UP!

SCHWANNA, SHUT YOUR LITTLE ASS UP.

YOU'RE WAKING UP THE DEAD.

YOU MIND YOUR BUSINESS, YOU OLD COCK-EYED BITCH.

I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!

I'LL KILL YOU FOR THAT SHIT.

YOU FUCKING BITCH! SHUT UP!

SCHWANNA, WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU?

GET OUT OF MY WAY.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

DON'T TOUCH ME.

LET ME HELP YOU.

WHAT DO YOU WANT, YOU OLD KIKE BITCH?

WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME LIKE THIS?

'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE YOUR UGLY FACE.

AAH! NO! NO!

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

I--I DIDN'T DO NOTHIN'.

BULLSHIT.

WHY YOU SHAKIN' LIKE THAT?

ARE YOU ON SOMETHING, SCHWANNA?

NO, NO, NO.

STOP.

GIVE IT BACK.

WHO'D YOU GET THIS FROM?

GIVE IT TO ME!

WHO'D YOU GET THIS--

SCHWANNA, WHO GAVE THIS SHIT TO YOU?

ACTION DID.

WHAT?

ACTION GAVE IT TO ME.

ACTION DID. [CRIES]

FUCKIN' JEW.

Action: GO AND GET THAT MOTHERFUCKER.

AAH!

JULIO!

GET THAT MOTHERFUCKER, MAN.

COME HERE.

JULIO!

OH, SHIT.

JULIO, JULIO, WHAT UP, JULIO?

GET OVER HERE, MAN.

WHY THE FUCK

YOU GIVE THAT SHIT TO MY SISTER?

'CAUSE SHE WANT IT, MOTHERFUCKER,

JUST LIKE SHE WANTED ME.

STOP! STOP! NO, HE'S MY BROTHER!

ACTION, PLEASE STOP. HE'S MY BROTHER!

STOP IT! SOMEBODY CALL THE POLICE!

NO! STOP!

ACTION, NO!

♪ MY HAZARDOUS THOUGHTS TO CUT THE MIC'S ♪

♪ LIFE SUPPORT SHORT

♪ BRAINS GET STAINED LIKE TABLECLOTHS ♪

♪ WHEN I LET OFF

♪ POWERFUL, POETRY...

FUCK, JULIO.

♪ LET ME AT THEM

♪ I CRAMP YOUR STYLE LIKE A SPASM ♪

WHAT THE FUCK?

NO, NO, NO!

ACTION, PLEASE, NO!

ACTION, PLEASE!

PLEASE, ACTION, DON'T HURT MY BROTHER.

PLEASE LEAVE MICHAEL ALONE.

MICHAEL!

SCHWANNA!

Action: LET'S GO. LET'S GET OUTTA HERE.

SCHWANNA. OH...GOD.

SOMEBODY HELP ME!

SCHWANNA.

DON'T LEAVE ME. DON'T DIE.

SOMEBODY HELP ME! COME ON!

SCHWANNA. PLEASE.

GOD. OH. OHH.

SCHWANNA.

WHY?

YES.

STOP, MICHAEL! WHERE YOU GOING?

WHERE YOU GOING? STOP, MICHAEL!

GET OFF ME!

MICHAEL, BE REASONABLE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED ACTION AND GREASER

WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE.

DON'T DO NOTHING YOU MIGHT REGRET, MICHAEL.

MICHAEL, COME BACK! MICHAEL!

MURDERER!

MICHAEL, COME BACK!

MOTHERFUCKER, YOU KILLED MY SISTER!

YO, MICHAEL!

[EVERYONE SHOUTING]

MR. LAIDLAW'S COMING!

MR. LAIDLAW'S COMING!

THEN CLOSE THE DOOR!

GIVE ME A HAND! GET SOME CHAIRS!

BRING ME THEM CHAIRS!

Woman: MICHAEL!

Girl: HURRY UP!

Leilo: OPEN UP IN THERE!

Leilo: WHAT'S GOIN' ON IN THERE?

MICHAEL, OPEN UP!

[EVERYONE SHOUTING]

MICHAEL, OPEN UP! WHAT'S GOIN' ON IN THERE?

YOU DAMN NIGGERS, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET AWAY WITH THIS!

THESE ROTTEN BASTARDS ARE TYING ME UP!

LET MR. SAXTON OUT OF THERE,

OR I'M GONNA CALL THE POLICE.

CALL THE POLICE. YOU LIKE WHAT I GOTTA SAY.

PLEASE, I CAN'T BE RESPONSIBLE

FOR WHAT HAPPENS, MICHAEL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T BE RESPONSIBLE?

WHAT ABOUT SCHWANNA?

YEAH, WHAT ABOUT SCHWANNA?

YOU'RE GUILTY FOR HER DEATH!

IT WASN'T MY FAULT!

THAT'S BULLSHIT!

[MUSIC PLAYS]

[KIDS TAUNTING]

YOU PIECE OF SHIT, IT'S YOUR FAULT SCHWANNA DIED!

IT'S YOUR FAULT, MAN! YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE!

FUCK YOU, MAN!

FUCK YOU!

YOU'RE JUST A FUCKING RACIST!

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW NOTHING ABOUT US.

MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE KIDS GO HOME.

I DON'T WANT NO KIDS AROUND THE SCHOOL.

I DON'T WANT NO POLICEMEN.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS OURSELVES.

AND I DON'T WANT NO PRESS.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

I NEEDED TO GET AWAY FOR A FEW HOURS.

JUDY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

[KIDS SHOUTING]

[MUSIC PLAYS]

WHAT ARE THEY DOING UP THERE?

I WOULD SAY THAT THEY'RE...

LETTING OFF A LITTLE STEAM, MAYBE?

I'M YOUR FUCKIN' TEACHER!

Guard: SHALL I CALL THE POLICE?

Leilo: NO POLICE.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE GETTING ARRESTED TODAY.

EVERYONE, TAKE A LOOK.

[MUSIC STOPS]

Anchorman: GOOD EVENING. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT,

A HOSTAGE SITUATION IS DEVELOPING IN BROOKLYN.

STUDENTS AT EAST FLATBUSH HIGH SCHOOL

HAVE TAKEN A TEACHER HOSTAGE.

THE TEACHER'S BELIEVED TO BE

39-YEAR-OLD ALEX SAXTON OF WHITE PLAINS.

IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE

ANOTHER RACIALLY MOTIVATED INCIDENT,

THE BLACK STUDENTS

ARE THREATENING TO THROW THE WHITE TEACHER

FROM A THIRD FLOOR WINDOW.

HA HA HA HA HA!

OH, YOU NIGGERS CAN'T WIN.

YOU CAN KICK AND SCREAM ALL YOU WANT,

BUT NO ONE'S GONNA LISTEN TO YOU,

EVEN IF IT IS THE TRUTH.

YOU GOT NO CREDIBILITY.

AND YOU KNOW WHY?

IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR BLACK SKIN.

THEY'LL TAKE ONE LOOK AT YOU AND PRONOUNCE YOU GUILTY,

EVEN BEFORE THE TRIAL BEGINS.

I'M GONNA MAKE SURE

YOU SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN JAIL.

YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S GONNA SPEND

THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN JAIL, MICHAEL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE,

SOME KIND OF HERO PROTECTING YOUR SCHOOL?

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY?

A FAKE. YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A COMMON THIEF.

WHAT THE FUCK YOU CALL ME?

YOU HEARD ME.

I KNOW YOU MUGGED THAT NEWS REPORTER THE OTHER DAY.

EVERYBODY KNOWS.

WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE,

I'M GOIN' STRAIGHT TO THE FUCKIN' COPS.

YOU AIN'T GONNA TELL THE COPS SHIT.

SEE, I'M GONNA TELL THEM--

I'M GONNA TELL THEM

ABOUT YOUR WHOLE BUSINESS HERE AT SCHOOL.

WHO DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA BELIEVE?

ME, A WHITE TEACHER,

OR SOME FUCKING SPADE

THAT JUST MUGGED A JEWISH GIRL

FOR A COUPLE FUCK YOU! LOUSY BUCKS?!

I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU KNOW HE'S RIGHT.

WHITE PEOPLE ARE NEVER GONNA BELIEVE US.

I MEAN, A JEWISH GIRL?

JEWS DON'T DO SHIT FOR US!

JEWS ARE THE ONES WHO BROUGHT US HERE FROM AFRICA.

WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JEWS?

YOU EVER SPEAK TO ONE, HUH?

DID YOU EVER SPEAK TO ANY WHITE PERSON?

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK SO.

LOOK, Y'ALL,

HE'S TRYING TO DIVIDE USING THAT BLACK/JEWISH,

BLACK/WHITE BULLSHIT, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.

WE GOT TOO MANY OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.

I MEAN, SEE, Y'ALL SO--SO--SO CAUGHT UP

IN YOUR OWN STUFF

THAT YOU FORGET THE REAL PROBLEM.

HE'S THE PROBLEM.

NICE SPEECH, BOY.

BUT I THINK YOU BETTER GIVE THIS UP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

[SIRENS]

YO, MR. LAIDLAW!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HOSTAGE SITUATION IN BROOKLYN.

WHERE?

EAST FLATBUSH. SOME BLACK KIDS

HAVE A WHITE TEACHER HELD UP IN A CLASSROOM.

LET ME COVER IT.

NO WAY. IT'S TOO HOT.

I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I CANNOT LET YOU WALK INTO THAT VOLCANO.

I WAS JUST THERE YESTERDAY. I CAN HANDLE IT.

YOU GOING OFF ON ONE OF YOUR DISCURSIONS AGAIN?

LOOK, I'M SICK OF HAVING THIS ARGUMENT WITH YOU

EVERY TIME THERE'S A HOT ASSIGNMENT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING. CASE CLOSED.

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?

GODDAMN JEWISH FAGGOT.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I AM SICK AND TIRED

OF YOUR STUPID, LOUSY BIGOTRY.

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?

I'M JEWISH, YOU BRAINLESS BLOND MORON.

YOU STILL WANNA FUCK ME, OR AM I NOW CONTAMINATED?

Judy: RONNIE, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

MARTHA, GOD'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF SCHWANNA,

AND GOD'S GONNA TAKE CARE--

WHERE WAS GOD THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN SHE GOT SHOT?

CAN YOU TELL ME THAT?

OH, COME ON, DON'T BLAME GOD!

IT'S THOSE GODDAMN GREEDY-ASS JEWISH PEOPLE'S FAULT!

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE]

THEY KILLED OUR STEVE.

LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

I'M JUST SICK OF THIS SITUATION.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE]

[SIRENS]

I GUESS IT'S TIME TO FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL.

YEAH, REFORM SCHOOL

WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU, RIGHT?

SHIT, I GET THROWN OUT OF HERE,

I AIN'T GOIN' BACK TO SCHOOL.

ARE YOU OK,

HMM?

YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SCHWANNA, AREN'T YOU?

THE LAST THING SHE SAID...

SHE WAS SCREAMING...

"HE'S MY BROTHER."

"HE'S MY BROTHER."

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

I'M FREEZING.

I'M STARVIN', MAN.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER

WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HOLD OUT.

LOOK, I PROMISE YOU ALL,

ONCE WE GET OUTTA HERE,

I'LL BUY YOU THE BIGGEST,

JUICIEST CHEESEBURGERS, ALL RIGHT?

YEAH, THE ONES WITH THE SHIT RUNNING DOWN THE SIDELINES.

[LAUGHTER]

ACTUALLY, MICHAEL, I'M-- I'M A VEGETARIAN, SO I...

NO, YOU'RE A VEGETABLE.

THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS. THAT'S VERY NICE.

YEAH, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I WANT YOU TO ANSWER ONE QUESTION.

WHAT IS IT?

WHY DO YOU HATE SO MUCH?

I MEAN, WHY--WHY ALL THIS FUCKIN' ANGER?

WELL, DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, KID,

'CAUSE I HATE EVERY FUCKIN' GUINEA, EVERY SPIC,

EVERY JEW, AND EVERY MOTHERFUCKIN' GOOK

THAT STEPS INTO THIS COUNTRY.

I HATE 'EM ALL!

I DON'T THINK SO.

YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK?

I THINK THAT YOUR LIFE IS SO FUCKED UP

THAT YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF

UNLESS YOU'RE SHITTIN' ON SOMEBODY ELSE.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

SEE, IT'S THAT SIMPLE...

I THINK THAT THE ONLY PERSON YOU REALLY HATE...

IS YOUR OWN DAMN SELF.

[POUNDING]

Officer: OPEN UP IN THERE. THIS IS THE POLICE.

OPEN UP, OR WE'RE COMING IN.

FIRST HEAR WHAT WE GOT TO SAY.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY,

YOU'RE HOLDING A MAN HOSTAGE IN THERE.

OPEN UP, THEN WE'LL LISTEN.

NO, YOU LISTEN NOW.

THIS WHOLE SCHOOL'S CORRUPT,

FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO THE FUCKING TOP.

LOOK, STOP, OR WE GONNA KILL SAXTON.

LOOK, LOOK, THEY'RE PUTTING UP A LADDER.

Officer on bullhorn: COME ON.

GIVE IT UP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

ALL UNITS MOVE IN. ALL UNITS MOVE IN!

[POUNDING]

Saxton: STOP. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU BLACK...PUT ME DOWN!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! HELP!

HELP! HEY, YOU GUYS CAN'T DO THIS.

HELP! HELP! HELP, SOMEBODY!

YEAH, YOU'RE STUCK UP HERE. WE'RE GONNA DROP YOU, MAN.

LET'S DROP THE BASTARD.

HELP! HELP!

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE]

SHUT THE FUCK UP.

IF YOU WERE SORRY, YOU WOULD SAY SO.

I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!

THEY'RE GONNA KILL ME!

THEY'RE GONNA FUCKIN' KILL ME!

YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN TO US NOW?

YOU GONNA LISTEN TO US NOW?

AAAH!

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

PULL HIM UP.

PLEASE, PLEASE!

[RING]

[RING]

[RING]

HELLO?

WHO IS THIS, MICHAEL?

Y-YEAH. WHO'S THIS? YO, TELL 'EM TO STOP.

THIS IS JUDY FROM CHANNEL 6 NEWS.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE AIR LIVE IN 5 SECONDS.

THIS IS JUDY BURKE REPORTING LIVE

FROM EAST FLATBUSH HIGH SCHOOL.

ON THE LINE IS MICHAEL STALLWORTH,

ONE OF THE BOYS ALLEGEDLY HOLDING ALEX SAXTON HOSTAGE

IN A CLASSROOM ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

WHAT WAS NOT REPORTED EARLIER

IS THAT MICHAEL'S SISTER SCHWANNA STALLWORTH

WAS KILLED IN A SHOOT-OUT EARLIER

BETWEEN 2 DRUG DEALERS.

MICHAEL, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON?

THEY KILLED MY SISTER!

Judy: WHO KILLED YOUR SISTER?

ALL OF 'EM! TH-TH-TH-THE TEACHERS, THE PRINCIPALS--

THEY'RE ALL INVOLVED WITH THE DRUG DEALERS,

AND NOBODY GIVES A DAMN TO STOP 'EM.

MICHAEL, WHY DIDN'T YOU GO TO THE AUTHORITIES?

THE POLICE DON'T CARE,

THE POLITICIANS DON'T GIVE A DAMN,

AND THE SCHOOL BOARD'S WORTHLESS.

LOOK, WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE SAME EDUCATION

AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

STOP THE DRUGS, STOP THE CRIME,

AND STOP SELLIN' US OUT.

SO THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE?

YOU'RE NOT HOLDING MR. SAXTON HOSTAGE

BECAUSE HE'S WHITE?

I TOLD YOU. WE'RE HOLDING THE BASTARD

BECAUSE HE'S SON OF A BITCH DRUG DEALER.

BLACK AND WHITE NEVER HAD NOTHIN' TO DO WITH IT.

THAT'S JUST THE TV AND NEWSPAPERS

TURNING THE WHOLE STORY AROUND.

LOOK, I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE BLACK, WHITE, PURPLE, WHATEVER.

YOU TAKE AWAY MY OPPORTUNITY,

AND YOU'RE MY ENEMY.

LOOK, I'M PROUD TO BE BLACK.

OUR LIVES COUNT JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE'S.

ALL WE WANT IS JUSTICE.

ALL WE WANT IS A CHANCE.

DO YOU THINK YOUR ACTIONS HERE TONIGHT

WILL ERASE YEARS OF RACISM?

DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE ONLY CAUSING MORE HATE?

I--I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I COULD DO.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PAST.

I ONLY CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE.

OUR FUTURE.

I TRIED EVERYTHING.

I TURNED EVERYWHERE,

I'VE BEEN BETRAYED BY EVERYONE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO?

SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

Officer: MICHAEL, PLEASE COME OUT.

WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE KNOW THE TRUTH.

MICHAEL, PLEASE COME OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

IT APPEARS THAT THIS FRIGHTFUL NIGHT

IS FINALLY OVER.

MR. LAIDLAW, THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL,

CONFESSED TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE

HIS SHAMEFUL DISPLAY OF APATHY.

HIS TESTIMONY WILL LIKELY HELP CONVICT

THE TEACHER ALEX SAXTON.

PERHAPS THIS ORDEAL WILL HELP WAKE UP CITY OFFICIALS

AND FELLOW CITIZENS TO THE PLIGHT

OF OUR INNER CITIES

AND PREVENT OCCURRENCES LIKE THIS

FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, AS HISTORY HAS PROVEN,

WE HAVE DREADFULLY SHORT MEMORIES.

I'M JUDY BERKOWITZ,

REPORTING FOR CHANNEL 6 NEWS.

[SIREN WAILS]

SO WHAT NOW?

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

I DON'T KNOW, MICHAEL.

I WISH I HAD ALL THE ANSWERS.

I GUESS WE GOTTA MAKE OUR OWN.