The Women of Brewster Place (1989) - full transcript

Woman:
That day I first
showed up on Brewster place,

all I could think was,
"how did this happen to me?"

Seems like, as soon as you
get comfortable in life

something comes along
to turn your life upside down.

You never know
what's gonna happen

and sometimes things
which seems the worst

works out different
in the end.

Like that big ol' wall
cuttin' off the light
from my plants.

Even it had its purpose.

It was a long journey
from the farm in Tennessee
where I come from

all the way up here.



But I reckon how
I was always meant to be here

on Brewster place.

Back with the other women
and back with ciel.

We did a lot
of laughin' here,

and some cryin'.

Most important, though,

we learned that when
we women came together

there was a power
inside US

we never felt before.

Woman: Leave me alone!
Man: Shut up!

Girls:
♪ grandma, grandma,
sick in bed ♪

♪ we called the doctor
and the doctor said...♪

Girl:
It's my turn!
It is my turn.

Good afternoon, ma'am.



Oh, you must be
the new tenant.

I heard you
was comin' today.

Welcome to Brewster place.

I'm the handyman.
Just call me Ben.

How do you do?

Oh, I got your key
here someplace.

Oh, here it is.

Come on, we can
go on up, and, uh,

see if everything's
working.

Or, knowing this place,
see if anything's working.

I can let myself in,
thank you.

No, I told miss ciel
I'd take good care
of you.

- I'll take care of ya.
- I'd rather go myself,
mister.

Ben. I'm Ben.

Thank you.

All right, suit yourself.

If you need anything,
I'm in the basement.

Number 11-a.

Can you remember that?

Woman in distance:
Look at this mess!

Woman:
Boy, you better
come on in here!

Woman:
Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

- Hey, gal.
- Here, chick, chick.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

I said, "hey, gal."

I heard you the first time.

Here, chick, chick,
chick-ee.

Here, chick, chick.

Gal, are you gonna
come over here or not?

I do have a name,
butch Fuller.

Oh, oh! Please,
please 'cuse this poor,

ignorant, colored folks,
miss Mattie, ma'am.

Or, or, shoul's I says,
miss Mattie Michael, ma'am.

Or, or, shoul's I say
miss ma'am--

I gets it all mixed
up and stuff.

There you go.
That's better.

And now I done
gone through all that,

I hope I get
what I come for.

A cup of that cool
spring water is all.

Guess I couldn't
deny a dog a drink
on a day like this.

Well, that's mighty
hospitable of ya.

- Here.
- Why, thank you,
miss Mattie.

And, uh, since you
inquired as to
my whereabouts--

I did no such thing.

I'm fittin' to go down
to low ground, pick me up
some wild herbs,

and, um, go on over
to the morgans'
sugar cane field.

Now, if you
wants to come along,
picks you out a few,

be more than obliged
to carry them back
this way for ya.

Of course, I know
what your daddy
will say.

"Why, that butch Fuller,
he ain't nothin'

but a no-count ditch hound
and ain't no decent woman
be seen talkin' to him."

He only says that
'cause it's the truth.

Yeah, well, big woman
like you's afraid of what
her daddy might say?

I ain't afraid
of nothin,
butch Fuller.

Besides, papa's gone
to take mama to town.

Well, then?

Sugar cane remind me
of you, miss Mattie.

It's plump and sweet,

but it sure is
a whole lot of trouble.

Ah. Just reach in my
overall top and get me
out my kerchief, huh?

This sweat's fittin'
to blind me.

Well, we got our cane.
Let's go.

Now, ain't that
just like a woman.

Drag a man
clear out of his way,

cut three times more
cane than he need,

except they want
double-time back home

before he get a chance
to rest himself,

let alone
gather up them herbs

he really
come all this way for.

All right.

Where's the herb patch?

Just in the clearing
in them woods.

Come on, gal.
I ain't gonna bite ya.

Jeez, this is nice, huh?

Whew.

Lord, gal, ain't
your feet tired
after all that walking?

You blaspheme too much.

You ain't supposed to
use the lord's name
in vain.

Y'all folks
and your "ain'ts."

You ain't supposed to
do this, you ain't
supposed to do that.

That's how come
I never been
no Christian,

'cause all it mean is,
you can't enjoy

the one life
god give ya.

So what's your idea
of enjoying life,
butch Fuller?

Runnin' after
every woman you see?

Mattie.

Mattie, I don't be runnin'
after everywoman I see.

I just don't stay
around long enough

to let the good times
go sour, is all.

You know,
when two people
get in a rut

and they start cussin'
and fightin' and
carrying on,

and then they only
hanging on 'cause

they done forgot
how to let go.

You see,
all the women I know,

they don't remember nothin'
but good days with me.

And then they get
stuck with men

who beat on 'em
and cheat on 'em

and ignore 'em.

And all they
got to do
is sit back and

think about ol' butch.

And they say,
"yeah,

that was a sweet
red thing."

And all our days
were sun-lit.

May not have been
a long-timer,

but sure was a good time.

That might be true,
but other folks say--

I know what sanctimonious
folks like your daddy
say about me.

You know what?
It ain't cost me
a lick of sleep.

My daddy can't help it
if you got a bad reputation.

My reputation ain't
none of your daddy's
business.

Just like it ain't none
of my business your daddy
want his daughter

sittin' up in the house
gettin' old

and not keepin' company,
so she so dumb,

she don't know her head
from a hole in the ground.

For your information,
butch Fuller,

I keep company
every sunday afternoon.

With who?

Fred Watson.

Fred Watson?
Gal, that ain't
keepin' company,

that's sittin' up
at a wake.

Shoot, here I was,
all set to get jealous
of someone,

and all you talkin' about
is ol' "dead Fred."

Hell, I could come around
your house, steal you away
with two suitcases

before ol' Fred
could bat an eye.

You ever notice it
take him twice as long
to blink

as the average person?

No, I ain't noticed that.

Yeah, well next time
you sittin' up on your
daddy's front porch

in one of them hot,
passionate

courtin' sessions,

before you nod off,
just take notice
of how he blinks.

Yeah, ol' dead Fred.

Miss Mattie Michael.

Mm-mm-mm.

How'd you ever
get a name like
"Michael" anyway?

Shouldn't it be
"Michaels"?

Papa said, when
the emancipation came,
his daddy was a little boy,

and he'd always been
hard of hearin',

so people on the plantation
had to call him twice
to get his attention.

So, since his name
was Michael,

they always used to
have to say,

"Michael! Michael."

So, when the union
census-taker came,

and asked what my
granddaddy's name was,

everybody said
"Michael Michael"
was all they knew.

And so, then the yankee
census-taker came.

He--

when the yankee
census-taker came,
he put that down.

And we been
Michael-Michael
ever since.

Mama, I can't stand
much more of this.

Don't worry, baby.

He can't spend
the rest of his
life not talking.

This thing
has done hurt him.

That's all.

I know.

You didn't tell him
it was butch, did you?

You think I wanna see
my man in jail

for killin' the likes
of butch Fuller?

Besides,
it ain't for me
to tell.

I'm so ashamed.

Now,
you listen to me, girl.

There ain't nothin'
for you to be
ashamed about.

Having a baby
is the most natural
thing in the world.

There ain't nothin'
in the Bible that says
having a baby's sinful.

The sin is in
the fornicating

and god done
forgave you for that
a long time ago.

What's going on
in your belly now

ain't nothin'
to hang your head
about.

You remember that.

Yes, ma'am.

Mattie's father:
Mattie, come on out here.

Go on.

Yes, papa?

I been thinking about
this here thing.

I done always
try to do my best
by you.

I seen to it
you never seen
a hungry day.

Never had
to go out and ask
nobody for nothin'.

Now, ain't that true?

Yes, papa.

I know folks say it a lot.

I put too much store in you,

keeping you
too close to home,

settin' you up
to be better
than other folks.

But all I know is,

I done the best
I know how to do.

Papa, you ain't
done nothing wrong,
i'm--

it could be,
I should have
let you marry

that Harris boy
that you were
sweet on once.

I just wanted
something better
for you

than some wanderin'
field hand

draggin' you off
to Arkansas,

keeping you away
from your family,
and--

what's past...

Is past.

Now, I still think
this Fred Watson
is a tolerable fellow.

In spite of what he done.

Fred?

Well, I mean,
I was young once, too.

Done and made
plenty of mistakes.

Ain't through
makin' them, either.

So, I figure,
I go on over there
to his place

tomorrow morning
after breakfast

and just
clear this thing up.

I know he'd be willing
to do the right thing
by you.

Papa, it ain't
Fred's baby.

What?

It ain't Fred's.

Whose is it?

I said,

whose is it?

I ain't saying.

What do you mean,
you ain't saying?

I ain't--

hm?

I ain't sayin'.

You will too say!

- Sam!
- Stay out of this,
fannie!

Now, you tell me,

or I'm gonna
beat it out of you!

Well? Huh?

Tell me! Tell me!

Tell me!

Tell me! Tell me!

- Sam, stop it!
- Tell me!

Sam! For the love
of Jesus!

Fannie!

Get off of me!

Tell me!

Tell me!

Tell me!

So help me, Jesus,

you hit my child again,

and I'll meet
your soul in hell.

Fannie--

i--

fannie, she--

oh, Jesus.

Oh, Jesus.

I had such hopes
for that girl, fannie.

Oh, fannie.
I had dreams.

Look at her.

Mattie:
Oh, etta, isn't he the most
perfect thing you ever saw?

Ooh!

Oh!

No, he's just
as ugly as
he can be,

just like every
other newborn
I ever seen.

Oh, looky there,

you done hurt
his feelings.
Give him here.

Hurt his feelings.

Go back to your mama.

Oh,
that's okay, baby.

I can't stand those
squealing babies.

You see why
I can't have
no children?

I don't got
the Patience
for all that.

The Patience
comes with the baby,
etta.

All you know is,
it's yours

and you gotta
do for it.

And you're all mine,
aren't you, baby?

All mine.

That's right,
all yours.

Built in heartache
for the next 20 years.

Etta.

Now, me, when I want
ready-made trouble,

I dig up a handsome man.

No diapers to change,
and I'll walk
when I'm ready.

That's what
I'm fixin' to do, too.

Bennett's starting
to fray my nerves.

- You leavin'?
- Mm-hmm.

Hm. I was ready
to leave months ago,
when I got your letter

but I wanted to wait
until you got settled,
and now you're settled.

You don't need me.

And this town is dead.

Where you goin'?

Oo-hoo.

New York City.

That's the only place
to be right now.

All them soldier boys
just pulling up to the dock

with pockets
full of combat pay

just looking for somebody
to help 'em spend it.

And Mattie,

they got this place
called Harlem

with nothin'
but wall-to-wall

colored doctors
and businessmen.

You just gonna
leave US here?

Well,

you could come with me

you should come with me!

With all them
possibilities,

you bound to find
this baby a rich daddy.

Etta, I can't
go draggin' my baby

all around the country
behind you.

I remember when you
first left home,
you said,

"St. Louis
is the place to be."

Then it was,
"Chicago is
the place to be."

Then it was here,
and now it's
New York City.

You ain't gonna find
whatever it is you're
looking for that way.

Well, I sure as hell
ain't gonna find it
sitting here.

- And neither will you.
- I ain't lookin'
for nothin', etta.

I got everything I need
right here,

in this baby
god's done sent me.

Well,

as long as god sends you
something to feed him,

I reckon you'll be fine.

It's okay, honey.
We got each other.

We got each other.

Mm.

Take a look at this.

Miss Cleo?

Miss Cleo?

Is this an emergency,
miss Michael?

Well, I guess, um--
don't guess so, no.

Then save it
for after my lunch.

That's what I wanted
to talk to you about,
miss Cleo,

my lunch break?

You see, I have to
go home at lunch
and check on my baby, and

it's 30 blocks, and

a half-hour ain't hardly
enough time to walk
all the way there and back.

- You leave that baby
all alone?
- Oh, no, ma'am.

He stays with miss praill,
this old woman downstairs,

but I ain't so sure
she's right in the head,

'cause she talks to
herself and she keeps
all these cats,

but she's all
I can afford right now.

So, I was just thinkin',
miss Cleo,

that maybe
if I didn't take
no coffee breaks--

unh-uh. I can't do it.

I let you start doing
something different
in here,

and then every girl
I got have her own
brainstorm by morning!

I'm sorry.
I just can't do it.

You better
get back over there
to Alice dickson

before she starts
to holler.

Woman:
So anyway, let me get
back to that last story.

So, anyway, I was
sittin' in the front...

It's okay, baby.
It's okay.

It's okay, it's okay.

It's okay.
It's okay.

We don't take
children here.

He's real good.

He hardly cries at all,
and I'll pay you anything.

I don't care how much
you pay. We don't
take children here.

Ma'am?
Excuse me, ma'am.

I saw where you
had a vacancy.

No vacancy.
No vacancy.

- But the sign said--
- that vacancy was filled
this morning.

I just hadn't had time
to take down the sign.

Woman:
Where are you goin'
with that pretty red baby?

You lost, child?

You lookin' for
the bus depot,

you're walkin'
the wrong way.

Train station is clear
on the other side of town.

What are you gapin' at?
You simple-minded
or something?

I asked you
if you was lost!

Well, come on up here
if you can't hear me.

Come on in.
Whew.

You mean to tell me
you never thought of
pluggin' up that rat hole

with some steel wool
until you could find
a better place to live?

- No, I just--
- you just up and left, huh?

Ain't that a caution--
whew!

Where's your husband?

I ain't got one.

Well, I had five,
and I tell you-- ha!

You ain't missin' much!

Come on in here.

Oh. Ooh.

Whew!
Sit down.

Lord, he is heavy.

How you tote him
around all day?

Mm-mm-mm.

Ooh, look at
them fat legs.

You pretty
red thing, you.

I was always partial
to reddish men.

My second husband
was his color.

Boy, did he
have a temper.

Yeah, well,
don't mind
this mess.

I don't have the
strength I once had
to keep it tidy.

I guess y'all
must be hungry, huh?

But I don't even
know your name.

That mean you can't
eat my food?

You said you got to be
properly introduced.

That in the oven there
is called "pot roast."

And on the stove is

string beans
and white potatoes.

And I think there's even
a angel food cake here

just waitin' to make
your acquaintance.

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean
to sound ungrateful,

it's just that this
all happened so quick

and I don't even know
how much space you got
here for US

or how much you charge
or anything.

I'm Mattie Michael

and this is basil.

My name's Eva Turner.

Most folk call me
miss Eva.

Oh.

- Oh, let me help you.
- Uh-huh.

There we go.

You like green onions
on your string beans?

- Basil, no.
- Leave him be.

He ain't
botherin' nothin'.

Them's lucielia's toys,
and she's asleep.

Who's lucielia?

That's my grandbaby.

My son's child.

I had her since--

oh, since she was,
uh,

6 months old.

Parents just
up and went
to Tennessee,

left her here.

Neither one of them
worth the spit

it would take
to curse them.

Well.
Can't blame her daddy
none, though.

He just like his father.

That was my last husband,

the one I should have
never married.

But, I was always partial
to dark-skinned men.

I thought you said
before you were
partial to--

ain't that a fact.

Well,

truth be told,

I liked them all.

They just don't
agree with me.

Like fried onions. Here.

You like fried onion?

What say I make US some
liver and fried onions

for sunday supper
tomorrow?

That'd be nice, ma'am,
but you haven't told me

how much it's gonna cost
for US to stay here.

Well, I ain't runnin' no
boarding house, gal.

This here's my home.
I got the spare room,

and you're welcome
to stay.

Well, I can't just
stay here. I have to
pay you something.

Well,
I'll think about it,
and I'll--

I'll let you know.
Here.

Look at that pretty
red thing.

Eva:
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm!

Girl: I didn't do anything
to your coloring book. I
don't care about your color--

- boy: Still!
- Girl: Why would I
want your color--

- boy: But I didn't
steal your crayon!
- Oh, boy.

Girl:
No, I saw you do it!

- Boy: I don't like crayons!
- Girl: Yes, you do.

Boy:
I don't taste crayons.
You taste them.

I didn't touch
your stupid
coloring book.

- Oh, yes you did.
- No, I didn't.

Ow! Ow!

Ciel? Ciel?

You narrow-tailed
heifer!

What you laughing at,
mister? Huh?

What me to get him
for you?

No, I want you
two hellions

out of my kitchen
right now.

Out! Out!

I declare, can't we
just have one morning

of peace and quiet
in this house?

Mama, cielia tore
my coloring book.

I don't want to hear it.
I don't want to hear it!

Listen, it's too early
in the morning
for this nonsense.

I want both of you
upstairs and washed
for breakfast.

You heard what she said,
now get!

Go on.

Good morning.

It ain't natural.

Just ain't natural.

Oh, they just
bein' children,
miss Eva.

I ain't talkin' about
them children, Mattie,
I'm talking about you.

Here you done spent
another weekend
holed up in this house.

That is not true.

Friday after work

I went to choir practice,

Saturday I took basil
and ciel to the zoo

and in a few minutes
I'm fixin' to go
to church.

Mm-hmm. Well, I ain't
heard you mention
no man

in all that excitement
going on.

When's the last time
a man come by here
to take you out?

I been so busy,
I ain't noticed.

I have my hands full
raising my son.

When I was your age
I as on my second husband.

Well, now, miss Eva,

i'da have to start

20 years ago
to beat your record.

Yeah, well,
I ain't making
no joke, girl.

You never have no needs
in that direction?

Don't no young woman
want an empty bed

year in and year out.

My bed hasn't been empty
since basil was born.

That boy needs
his own bed

and I been telling
you that for years!

And I been telling you
he is afraid of the dark!

All children's
afraid of the dark.
They get used to it.

I am not gonna have my son
screaming his head off

all night long
just to please you!

He's still a baby
and he does not like
sleeping alone!

Five years old
ain't no baby!

And you sure it's basil
who don't wanna be alone?

Now, you listen to me,
old woman,

just because we stay
in your house don't
mean you have the right

to tell me how to
raise my child.

It's my house
and I'll say
what I want.

Well, you tell me
what I owe and I'll pay

and we'll be out of
your house before
this week is over.

- I ain't decided yet.
- You been sayin' that
for five years.

And you been movin'
every time I mention
that spoiled brat of yours!

You still saving
my rent money
in that bag, ain't ya?

Of course.

Good!

'Cause you gonna--
you gonna be usin' it
to buy yourself some clothes

to go to my funeral.
That's if you
plan on coming.

You crazy old bitty.

You think you can
win every argument

by talking 'bout
your funeral.

You too ornery to die
and you know it.

Yes.

Folks say I am just about
like that, ain't I?

Well.

You know, truth be told,
I was thinkin' about

staying 'round here
about a hundred years.

Hoo-hoo, lord,
I couldn't stand you
that long.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe 99 and a half.

Mm-hmm.

Lord it is hot in here,
and that fan ain't
doing nothin'

but blowing
the hot air around.

Mattie,
somebody wants you
on the telephone.

Thank you.
Be right back.

Hello?

Oh, hi, honey.
What's wrong?

What?

No.

Just sit tight,
I'll be right there.

- Hey, mama.
- Hey, miss Mattie.

I can't even believe
y'all been sitting
out here all this time.

Why didn't miss Eva
meet y'all at the bus stop?

Well, I guess
she forgot.

What is that old woman
thinking about?

Leaving y'all babies
sittin' out here
all this time.

Y'all come on
upstairs now.

Take off
your good clothes.

And I don't wanna hear
a peep out of ya.
Come on.

Basil: Peep, peep,
peep, peep.

- Go on upstairs.
- Basil: Peep, peep...

Wake up, old woman.

You done gone to sleep
and left them children.

Miss Eva?

Miss Eva?

♪ And I know

♪ he watches

♪ me

♪ His eye

♪ is on

♪ the sparrow

♪ and I know

♪ he watches

♪ me.

Why does ciely
have to go away
with those people?

They're her mama and daddy.

She's gonna live with them.

Where are we gonna live?

We're gonna live here,

just like miss Eva
would have wanted.

I'm gonna make
the down payment
with that rent money

she never would take.

And I'm gonna

pay the mortgage

the best way
I can figure.

You gonna have nice house
and a yard to play in,

if it's the
last thing I do.

What if those people
decide to take me
away like ciely?

Oh, baby.

Now, don't you
worry about that, now.

Nobody's gonna
take you anywhere.

You and me, we always
gonna be together.

I promise you that.

Now, eat your food.

Mattie:
Basil, not so fast.
You're gonna choke.

- I got someplace to go.
- Where you got to go?

You been runnin'
all weekend and you
promised me today

you were gonna
stay and help me
with this yard.

Stop hassling me?
I'm just going out
for a little while.

I told you I'd cut
the damn grass,
and I'll do it.

All right, fine.
Now, don't get yourself
all worked up,

you're gonna
upset your stomach.

I ain't gonna
upset my stomach.

Can I borrow a couple
dollars to get some gas
for the car?

- Basil.
- It's not for today.

It's for tomorrow.
I need it for job hunting.

I don't get my check
from the last place
till Thursday

and I don't wanna waste
four days sittin' around here
doin' nothing.

Fine.

You know I'm not the kind
of man to sit around and
let a woman support him.

Although, I would make
a pretty good hustler,
don't you think?

Fine.

You just tell them
that down at the
unemployment office.

Basil, where'd you say
you were going?

Hello?

Basil:
Mama, it's me.

Mama, you gotta come get me.
You gotta help me.

Basil?

Where are you?
What's wrong?

They beat me up, mama.
Those bastards
beat me up.

Who beat you up, basil?
Where are you?

I'm in jail.

Mama, you gotta listen to me.
It was an accident.

I didn't mean
to kill nobody!

Mama, can you hear me?

I didn't mean it!

Mama?

Mama?

Basil, honey.

Are you all right?

Yeah, mama, I'm terrific.
I never felt better.

- Baby, your face.
- Ow!

Well, that's great.
Make it hurt worse.

I'm sorry,
I didn't mean--

when am I getting
out of here?

Well, honey,
I'm working on that.

Reverend Kelly's
found US a good lawyer.

He says there's nothin'
to worry about.

Well, fine.
So, when do I get out?

Well, there's
some kind of
hearing tomorrow

and then they tell US
when you go to trial.

Mama, I don't see why
there's got to be
a trial.

It was an accident.

And that guy was
pickin' on me
over some broad.

I didn't even know him.

I know, honey,
but a man is dead.

There's got to be
some kind of proceeding
about that.

Yeah, well,
he's better off
than me.

The cops beat me up
and threw me
in this hell hole.

They say you
resisted arrest,
basil,

and you broke
a policeman's wrist.

So, what?
They had no right
arresting me

for something
that wasn't my fault!

And what are you doin'?
Sticking up for them?

Basil.

I ain't sticking up
for nobody,

it's just that,
we gotta face this thing

so we can
see our way
clear from it.

What "we," mama?
It's me.

I'm stuck in here, not you.
You're home in a clean house.

I'm stuck here in this
filthy place with rats
crawling under my bed.

Honey, as soon as they
tell US the bail tomorrow

I'm gonna put it up
and you'll be out.

Why tomorrow, mama?
Why can't you
put it up today

and not make me
have to spend another
night in this place?

'Cause they won't
take it till tomorrow.

There's nothing
we can do but wait.

Okay, fine.

If you can't, you can't.

Basil, honey?

We still got time.

Don't you want to
sit and talk?

There ain't nothin' left
to talk about, mama.

Unless you want
to hear about
the broken toilets

that ain't been flushed
in three days.

Or the bedbugs
that have ate up my back.

Or this greasy food
I keep throwing up.

Other than that,
I got nothing else
to say to you.

The trial is set
for December 1,

which is two weeks
from today,

on the charges of
involuntary manslaughter,

resisting arrest
and assault of a
peace officer.

Bail is set
for $25, 000.

Motion to suspend
or reduce bail,
your honor.

- Denied.
- Your honor,

given that this
is this young man's
first offense

I'm aware of the
circumstances,
Mr. Garvin.

Motion is denied.

Judge:
Next.

I'm sorry,
miss Michael,

but at least we got
an early trial date.

And the d.A.
Assures me

that they won't
go so heavily
on the assault charge

if we drop
the implication
of undue force.

There's no way that your
son shouldn't be free
in 15 days.

I want to post bail.

Now, I understand
your concern.

But it's for
a very short
period of time,

and I'm really
not so sure
that your assets--

my house is paid for.

Can't I put that up?

Yes, you can.

Then that's
what I'll do.

You do understand
that the purpose
of bail

is to ensure
that the defendant
appears before trial?

Now, if you
forfeit the bail--

I understand.

All right. I'll get you
the papers from
the bonding company.

I swear, basil,
you done more work
in the past two weeks

than you done in a whole
lifetime put together.

Mama, I'm so happy
to be a free man,

I'd cut the grass
with my teeth.

Well, I got to hurry up

and make me a list
of what I need done
around here,

before all this
gratitude runs out.

Hello.

Oh, hello,
Mr. Garvin.

Yes, sir. Friday, 9:00.

We'll be there.

Thank you for calling.

Damn.

I'll blow my brains out
before I spend my life
in jail, mama.

Basil, stop
talking stupidness.

Now, you ain't goin'
to jail, 'cause you
ain't done nothing

to go to jail for.

The lawyer said so
and he ought to know.

You think that
uncle Tom lawyer
cares what happens to me?

Mama, he'll say anything
to get your money.

If somebody offered
him a nickel more
than you did

he'd throw me in jail
personally and
swallow the key.

Then what about the jury?
They bound to see the truth.

The jury?
Mama, that jury's
gonna be so white

you're gonna
think we just had
a heavy snowfall.

I don't care how white
they are! They gotta
listen to the evidence.

Ain't a white man alive
gonna pass up a chance

to put a black man
in jail, mama.

- You don't know people
like I do.
- Basil.

And they ain't
gonna send me to no
county jail this time.

They'll send me
to someplace
a lot worse.

I couldn't stand it,
mama.

I just couldn't.

I'm making your
favorite dinner
tonight.

Creamed chicken
and rice.

Does that help?

Yeah, mama.
That helps a lot.

You have a good day.

Now, you do
what I told you.

Last time
I came in here,

you didn't do
what I told you to do.

That's 'cause you
told me to make you
look like Lena horne.

And that's what I want.

Alfreda, honey,
I have to work with
what you bring in here.

Woman:
There they are. Hi.

- Driver: How's it goin'?
- Woman: Come along,
come along.

Woman:
Mattie?

Mattie.

Ciel?

- Mattie.
- Ciel.

- Oh, Mattie!
- Ciel!

Look at you!

Look at you.

It's so good
to see you.

- I'm so sorry about basil.
- Hush.

We're not gonna
talk about that, now.

You look good.

How you been?

Oh, I'm fine.

Oh, I just can't
believe you're here.

Yeah.

I can't believe it
myself.

Ciel:
Mattie!

Come here.
I got a surprise for you.

Child, I'm too old
for surprises.

Woman, you better
get yourself in here.

I got all your
pictures hung.
What do you think?

Hey, baby girl.

You come to see Mattie?

You come to see me,
your pretty little--

Mattie!

Ciel, why are you so worried
about what myapartment
look like?

Because i--

I know you don't
like it here...

Very much, and i--

it's my fault
you're here.

It ain't your fault

and you know it.

Besides,
if I hadn't had you,

I don't know where
I would have gone.

You need to stop
wasting your worrying
on me

and worry up a daddy
for this child.

Serena has a daddy.

Lord, there for Cora Lee
and miss Sophie again.

Well, if she got a daddy,

how come I been here
all this time and
I ain't seen him?

I told you, he's off
looking for work.

Hmm.

How long did you
say he been gone?

Mattie, there was
nothin' for him here.

What else could he do?

I swear I get so tired
of listening to those two,
I don't know what to do.

Could y'all please
keep it down?

People can't even
hear themselves think.

Them brats of yours
been squealing
and hollering

in front of my door
the whole day.

I'm gonna
call the police,
you hear me?

Now, y'all hear that?
Y'all just get in there!

I told 'em, but their
damn heads are as hard
as rocks.

Well, you can just
tell that to the police
when they get here.

If the police can talk
some sense into those morons,
all right with me!

'Cause lord knows,
I can't do nothin'
with them.

Well, you should have
thought of that

before you started
breeding them
like roaches!

There ain't no two of 'em
got the same daddy anyway.

That is, if you even
know who the daddys are!

Ain't none of your
damn business!

Excuse me.

Get in there, I said.
Get in there.

What is this thing
made of?

Well, it's probably the dirt.
I ain't cleaned it
since I bought it.

Why doesn't
that surprise me?

Let's just put it here.

Have you ever vacuumed
this thing?

For that I'd have to
own a vacuum, right?

- Abshu.
- Shoot me. I'm a bachelor.

Well, if you think
you're gonna live here
and be a slob,

- you're in for
a rude awakening.
- I don't think i'm--

if you think you're
gonna sit on the couch
and watch football games

while I clean the apartment,
and cook dinner--

kiswana,
I don't even
like football.

And I'm a better cook
than you are.

What's wrong
with you, baby?

I don't know.

I just don't want US
to be my parents.

And how is
that gonna happen?

We wouldn't be living here
if we were your parents,
right?

Right.

Man on TV:
And now...

Y'all go!
Y'all stop that.

This is messing up my
picture!

All right, all right,
that's it. I'm--

now, get out of here.
All, y'all. I'm sick
and tired of you.

Wait a minute.

Doesn't anyone
have any homework?

All: Not me.

Awful strange no one
ever has any homework.

When I was in school,
we always had homework.

And we didn't
get left back like
you little dumbasses.

Woman on TV:
If only we could be like
this together forever.

Girl:
Wow!

What y'all children
starin' at?

Man:
Hey, girl.
Don't walk away.

Hey, girl,
you hear me
talkin' to you.

Where you goin'?

Lord.

Oh, child.

Thank you.
Whew!

The younger I get,
the harder those steps
seem to reach.

I don't know why
you got to tote these
records everywhere,

as much as you
move around.

It's good to see you, too.

Whew.

Lord.

I've been driving
since sunup.

I thought you said
you were gonna take a plane.

I was, but when I said
I was heading home

simeon got so ornery,
he wouldn't give me
no money for the plane.

So, I asked him for half,
so I could, you know,
take the train.

Wouldn't even do that.

And Mattie, I'll be
damned if I come back
to this city

on that raggedy old bus.

I ain't forgot how
folks talked about me
last time I did that.

So, I wait till simeon
came by my house
all drunk up and snoring,

took the car
and the registration...
Here I am.

You stole the man's car?

"Stole," hell!

He owed me that!
And then some.

You'll have
a hard time explaining
that to the police.

I'm surprised
the highway patrol
ain't stopped you.

They ain't stopped me
because simeon
didn't report it.

How do you know that?

'Cause the sheriff
of that county
is his wife's daddy

and he'd have a lot
of explaining to do.

Well, he could just say
you picked his pockets.

Oh yeah?

Have to be a damn good
pickpocket to get away
with these.

Ooo!

Girl, I'm through with you.
I'm through with you!

Both:
Whoo!

At least you
could have
washed 'em.

♪ You'll be mine
in the morning ♪

Here you go.
Corn.

♪ Oh, and be mine...

♪ Again in the night

♪ We'll always,
I mean always ♪

♪ be together

♪ because our love,
yes, our love ♪

♪ will be right

♪ to love...

Hi, baby.

♪ And to be loved
forever ♪

♪ let's make a vow

♪ to never...

Hi, baby.

♪ Ever part.

Oh... it's you.

Let me look at you.

Ciel: Whew!

I ain't get enough
sleep last night.

Hm. So, he's back?

And what does
that mean?

Hm. Don't mean
nothing.

I was just observin'
that the man is back.

So, you think
I'm a fool,
don't you?

I ain't said that.
Bible said, "judge not."

Then why don't
that apply to gene,
Mattie?

Why are you so mad at me?
I done told you
it's your life.

Can we walk and talk
about her life
at the same time?

This bag is heavy.

Mattie,
you just don't
understand.

He's got a new job
down at the docks.

He was just depressed
before about a new baby
and no work.

Uh-huh. I know.

Listen, he just went
to the store
to get some paint

so he could fix up
the apartment and stuff.

He's really
making an effort.
You'll see.

Besides, my child
needs a daddy.

Ciel, you ain't got
to convince me.

Don't sound to me
like you the one
she' trying to convince.

Hi, mom,
it's kiswana.

Melanie.

No, no, nothing's wrong.
I just called to say hi.

I'm going to get a phone.

I just haven't
gotten around to it.

I'm not out in the streets,
and it's broad daylight.

How do you know anything
about this neighborhood?

You've never
even seen it.

What kind of people, mama?

Black people?

Mama--
mama, just--

never mind.
I have to go.

A mad rapist
wants to use the phone.

So, trustin' you
stay out of jail,

what do you
intend to do now?

I guess I could get
a couple thousand
for the car.

That'll tide me over
till my next

business opportunity
comes along.

You and your
business opportunities.

Why don't you
just settle down

and get yourself
a regular job?

A job? Doing what?

What kind of
experience I got?

Nothin' that's gonna
get me a regular job.

- You don't know that.
- I do know it.

And why you on me?

I ain't heard nothing
about you working.

Child, what I got
to work for?

Them days
is behind me.

Oh, Mattie,

I don't need no job.

What I need
is to find me
a good man,

then live quietly
until I'm old age.

Mm-hmm.

So, where you
planning on findin'
a good man?

That's the part
I got to figure out.

Problem is, all the
decent men is either dead
or waiting to be born.

Etta,

why don't you go
to meetin' with me
tonight?

What are you gonna do,
pray me up a man?

There's a few decent,
settle-minded men

in our church,
widowers and such.

Besides, a little prayer
wouldn't hurt your soul
a bit.

I thank you
to leave my soul
out of this.

Besides, since
your church got all
the fine Christian men,

how come you ain't
snapped one yet?

Child,
I done banked them fires
a long time ago.

Seein' as how you
still keepin' up
steam...

I done called
the police
at least three times

on c.C. And that crowd,

sellin' drugs
by that wall.

Well,
that's three calls
you done wasted.

Mattie:
Beats all I ever seen.
Just disgraceful.

Ciel:
Ain't that the truth.

- Hi.
- Ciel: Hi.

My name is kiswana browne.
I live in apartment 312.

Oh, yeah.
You moved in
the other day.

I saw you.

No, actually
I moved in
a few weeks ago.

The other day
my boyfriend
was moving in.

A rug for me.

Anyway, what i'm
trying to do is,

I'm trying to get people
interested in starting
a tenants' association.

Mattie:
A who?

Well,
the way it works, is--

did you know that
almost every building
on this street

is owned by the same man?

And if we just--

I'm sorry,

that little boy is eating
out of the garbage.

Sophie:
That's one of Cora Lee's
little hellions.

You lucky
he ain't doing worse.

Man on TV: Doctor...

Now what?
I'm gonna miss Rachel
coming out her coma.

Man #2 on TV:
I've seen cases
like this before.

Some patients
do survive...

- Kiswana: Hi.
- Mama, I ain't done nothin'.

Would you tell
this damn fool
I ain't done nothin'?

- What a way to talk!
- I ain't done nothin'!

Missy, I'm sorry,
did he steal something
from you?

He's always taking things.

I've whupped him for it
but he won't stop.

I've tried to tell
the dumbass
his teachers

are threatening
to send him
to reform school.

You hear that,
you dumb head?
Reform school!

Wait,
it's nothing like that.

He was downstairs eating
out of the garbage and
I thought you should know

because... well,
he might be hungry
or something.

I know he does that.

He's looking for sweets.
The dentist at the clinic

said all his teeth
are rotten, so I won't
give him anything sweet.

So, he go huntin'
through the garbage,
looking for candy.

Now, I've tried to make
him stop, but you can't
be everywhere at once.

I figure once he gets sick
from that filthy habit,
he'll stop by himself.

Girl:
Give me my money.
Serena, give it here!

Believe me, my kids
get plenty to eat.

I got two full books
of food stamps
I ain't even used.

I was just about to
cook dinner when you
came through the door.

- Oh.
- Y'all come on in here.
It's almost time to eat.

Y'all hear me?
I said get in here

or you're gonna
be damn sorry.

Don't worry.
I take care
of these crews.

I swear, I could
introduce etta to god

and she'd find something
wrong with him.

Well, you tried.

I'm gonna keep trying,
too.

I'm tired of watching
that girl run all over
the globe

looking for something
she ain't gonna never find.

Why are you so quiet?

You feelin' bad today?

I been feelin' bad
all week.

Why don't you
go to the doctor?

I did.

What'd he say?

He said I was pregnant.

Ain't that a caution.

Mattie,
try not to get yourself
all worked up.

No,

I'm happy for ya.

Really.

That child could use
a brother or sister
to play with,

just like you and--

just like me
and who, Mattie?

You know, since
the day you called
to tell me about basil,

I haven't once heard
you mention his name.

That ain't the subject.

We was talkin'
about the baby.

I think it would be good
if you talked about basil.

It can't help you
to keep it all
bottled up.

There ain't nothin'
to talk about.

It's over and done.

Does gene know
about that baby?

I told him as soon
as I found out.

He packin' yet?

Mattie,
I got enough
problems.

I don't need you and
your cantankerous moods.

Everything's
gonna be all right.

You'll see.

Fine.

I'll see.

You're home early.

You see anybody else
in here?

Gene, the baby's sleeping.

Listen, can't a man
even relax in his
own home

without everybody
pickin' on him?

I'm not picking on you.
I just don't want you
to wake the baby.

What about me, huh?

What, don't I matter
around here no more?

No, I'll tell you
what the answer
to that is-- hell no.

Everybody's more
important than me.

Your friends, the baby.

Hell, I ain't nothin'
'round here no more.

I don't care
what she says.

A kid doesn't
eat garbage
unless he's hungry.

And besides, c.C. Baker
and that gang out there
in the alley?

A kid that age
has no business
being out there alone.

Anything could happen.

Maybe you should
tell Cora Lee that.

And that apartment.
Trash everywhere.

Dirty dishes piled up
all over the sink.

Kids running wild,
I don't even know
how many.

And I swear,
all she cared about

was that I was
interrupting
her soap opera.

I'm sure it's
a little bit more
complicated than that.

Oh, that's great.
My mother's gonna
love that.

Kiswana, you can't expect
people who live here
under these conditions

to think and act
like the people
you grew up around.

I grew up in an area
just like this.
I know what it's like.

Abshu, I'm not
completely naive.

I didn't expect
this to be linden hills.

I just thought that
these people would be
a little bit more--

I don't know.

- I expected them to care.
- What makes you think
they don't?

What are you gonna do,
write off the woman
as a human being

because she got
dirty dishes
in her sink?

I've known people
like Cora Lee
my whole life.

All I'm saying is,

I'm not sure
how to help someone
like Cora Lee.

You gotta find a way,
and baby,

if you can't find a way,
you gotta make a way.

Come here.

Listen, these people
have had the life

beaten out of them
for years.

You can't change
something like that
overnight.

But you can't run away
from a problem 'cause
there's no easy answer, either.

That's what
everyone else does.

And baby,

you and I,
we're supposed
to be different.

I lost my job today.

Will you tell me
how the hell we
supposed to make it now?

I don't know.
I'll get a second job.

You can find
another job.
It'll be okay.

That ain't gonna
do it this time, ciel.

We ain't got no money
coming in, we got
another baby on the way.

- How are we gonna make it?
- I don't know.
We'll be fine.

No, it ain't gonna be fine.
Look, I'm doin' the best
I can right now.

- I know that, honey.
- Ciel,

I'm just
tired of US never
getting ahead.

Oh, baby.

When I have this baby,

I'll get my tubes tied.

Ciel, what the hell
are we supposed to
feed it

when it gets here?
Hm? Air?

- Wait--
- just babies and bills.

Babies and bills.
That's all you good for.

I'm telling you,
with two kids and
you on my back, ciel,

I ain't gonna
never have nothin'.

You hear me?

Nothin'.

Nothin'.

I got a hole
in my bathroom wall
as big as my head.

Don't you mean
you got a hole
in your head

as big as your
bathroom wall?

You in the mood
for a joke today,
miss lady?

Why don't you
take a look
in the mirror?

Why don't y'all shut up
and let the girl talk?

Why don't you shut up?
We hear your mouth
over everybody's.

I don't know how you hear
anything over yours.

Okay, everyone,
everyone, please.

If we all talk at once,
we're not gonna
accomplish anything.

Well, wait a minute,
I wanna know,
what's Ben doing here?

He works for the landlord.

You know I lives here
just like the rest
of y'all.

Y'all ain't got no heat,
I ain't neither.

So, what?
You stays too zooted
to get cold anyway.

The landlord
don't throw garbage
in the air shaft,

and he don't break
the glass in the door.

And how about that riffraff
that hang out in the alley,

selling drugs back there
by that wall?

Ain't nothin' no good
going on back there
by that wall.

It's just
a gathering place
for lowlifes.

That damn wall
blocks all my sun.

I can't get a cactus
to grow in my apartment.

Okay, you're all
gonna get a chance

to voice your concerns,
I promise.

The thing is,
we've gotta do this
in a constructive manner

or we're just
wasting our time.

It's just like that wall
you're all so upset about.

That wall does
what that wall
is supposed to do.

It closes US in.
It holds US back.

It shuts US off
from the rest
of the world.

Man: You know, she's right.
Woman: Uh-huh.

Now, we can get
to the other side,

but we've gotta
climb over it,

or go around it,
or just knock it down.

We're never
gonna get anywhere
if we just stand

and bang our heads
against it.

- Woman: All right,girl.
- Does that make any sense?

Well, I still say
Ben's got no business
being here.

Lot of folks got no business
being here. Why you gotta
pick on one old wino?

I ain't banging my head
against nothing.

Woman:
Well, if y'all ain't
gonna do nothin but fight,

I'd rather be home
watchin' my TV.

I'm missing my stories.

Soloist:
♪ I once

♪ was lost

♪ but now

♪ I'm found now

♪ was blind

♪ but, thank god

♪ I see

♪ lord! Lord!

Churchgoers:
♪ oh, lord, I see

soloist:
♪ amazing

♪ grace

♪ how sweet

♪ the sound,
the sound, the sound ♪

- ♪ that saved
- churchgoers:
♪ saved a wretch

- ♪ a wretch
- ♪ saved a wretch

♪ like me

♪ I once

churchgoers:
♪ was lost

♪ was lost

- ♪ but now
- ♪ now I'm found,
I'm found ♪

Soloist:
♪ I see

- ♪ was blind
- I was blind, was blind

- ♪ but now
- ♪ I see, I see

♪ I see

♪ but now I see

lord, yeah!

Oh, yeah!

Halleluiah!
Halleluiah!

Yeah!

Yeah, yeah!

Yes! Yes!

Yes!

Whoo!

There's one of the
widowers I was
telling you about.

You and your toys.

Whew.

Got to hush
your fussin' now.

I knew you'd come home
soon as I got this child
ready to go to sleep.

Why you so late today?
Thought you got off early
on Tuesday.

I got off real
early today.

I been to see a doctor.

Anything wrong?

Not anymore.

Ciel.

Mattie, it's for the best.

I still got Serena
and I'm still young.

I got plenty of time.

It's just that gene's
been trying so hard
to get on his feet

and he couldn't take
one more thing.

Now, I know you don't
think much of gene

but he is my husband
and I gotta think about
what's best for him,

and this was for the best.

I don't wanna hear
any more about it.

Won't say another word.

Oh, my god.

Woman:
Melanie?

Melanie?

- Mama!
- Hi, baby.

Thank you.

I thought you were
someone calling for
the people next door,

since no one calls me
Melanie anymore.

Honey, to me,
if you get a name,

you answer to it
your whole life.

How in the world
do you get up
all those steps

- with groceries
and laundry?
- Well, i--

well, I guess
when you're young
it doesn't bother you

- like it does an
old woman like me.
- I guess.

I would have called
before I came,

- except you have
no telephone.
- I'm working on it.

Actually,
I really didn't
expect to find you home.

I thought
you would be out
job hunting.

I'm going to.
In fact, I was just
checking the ads.

That sounds like
a good idea.

Since when have you
ever had experience

as a forklift
operator?

My hand must
have slipped.

I meant to circle
"file clerk."

Baby.

Are you sure you haven't
been sitting here
daydreaming again?

God, mama,
I haven't done that
in years.

When are you gonna
realize that i'm
a grown woman now?

Please,
have a seat.

Thank you.

I will.

I must say,

you have fixed
this place up nicely.

Really, mama?

Well, considering
what you have
to work with.

Look,

I know it's not
linden hills,

but I think it has
a lot of potential.

As soon as they
come and paint,

I'm gonna hang
my ashanti print
over the couch,

and I thought
a big Boston fern

would go well
in that corner.
What do you think?

I think that's
very fine, baby,
very fine.

Thank you.

I just wish you'd
put in a telephone

so your father and I
wouldn't have to worry
so much.

Mama, I'm going
to get a phone.

It's just that they
want $75 for a deposit,

and I can't
swing that right now.

Melanie,
I can give you
the money.

I don't want you
giving me money.
I want to make it myself.

- Then let me
lend it to you.
- No.

I think it's
downright selfish
of you

the way you make US
worry so much.

Worry about what?
I'm fine!

Melanie, anything can
happen to you living over
here with these people.

What do you mean,
"these people"?

They're my people, mama,
and yours, too.

Or have you forgotten that
over in linden hills?

That's not
what I meant
and you know it.

I mean, these streets,
this house-- it's so
shabby and run down.

This is how
poor people live.

You're not
poor, Melanie.

No, mama,
you'renot poor.

You're the one
with a husband
in real estate,

with a five-figure income
and a house in linden hills.

All I've got
is my unemployment

and an overdrawn
checking account.

This is all
I can afford.

You could afford
much more if you hadn't
dropped out of college.

Yeah, I knew it.
I knew you'd
get around to that.

You'll just never
understand, will you?

- Understand what, baby?
- That my place is here,

with my people

Melanie,

what help
could you possibly
be to these people

while you're living
hand-to-mouth
on a file clerk's check?

Well, at least I'm here,
in day-to-day contact
with my people,

instead of being like you
and daddy and sitting
over in linden hills

with a terminal case
of middle class amnesia.

You don't have to live
in the slums to care,
Melanie.

You don't
have to try to be
something you're not.

Oh, god.
I can't stand this.

Trying to be
something I'm not?

Trying to be proud
of my African heritage?

If that's being
something I'm not,
then fine!

I'd rather be dead
than be like you.

A stuck-up nigger
who's ashamed
of being black.

My grandmother

was a full-blooded
iroquois.

My grandfather
was a black

from a long line
of journeymen

who lived in Connecticut

since the establishment
of the colonies.

My father was a bajan

who came to this country
a cabin boy

in a merchant mariner.

I know all of that, mama.

Then know this!

I am alive

because of the blood
of a people who
never scraped

or begged

or apologized
for what they were.

They asked
only one thing
of this world--

to be allowed to be.

And I learned,
through the blood
of these people,

that black
isn't beautiful.

It isn't ugly.

It isn't kinky hair,
it isn't straight hair.

Black is just black!

It broke my heart
when you changed
your name.

I gave you my
grandmother's name,

a woman who bore
nine children

and educated them all.

Who held off
six white men
with a shotgun

when they tried
to drag one of her
sons off to jail

for not knowing
his place.

And you

had to reach into
an African dictionary

to find a name that
would make you proud.

When I brought my babies
home from the hospital,

I swore to whatever
gods would listen

that I would use
everything I had
or could get

so that my children

would be prepared
to meet this world
on its own terms.

So that no one

could make them ashamed
of what they were
or how they looked.

Whatever they were!
However they looked!

And Melanie,

that's not white

or red

or black

or purple.

That's being a mother.

Mama.

It's gonna be trouble.

What is?

Them two.
Just moved in.

You were not.
You just didn't want
to do double dancing.

No, no, you didn't
want to do single
dancing.

- That's not true.
- You said no. No, singular.

Two young girls
livin' by themselves.

What kind of trouble?

You name it.

First thing is,
they gonna be
throwin' loud parties

and keepin'
everybody up
all night.

Both:
Hello.

They ain't been here
two weeks and I ain't heard
a peep out of them.

They just have
to settle in first.

What do you think
they bought all them
groceries for?

Dinner?

Go ahead, make all
the fun you want,

but you just
Mark my words,

they'll be trouble.

Yes! What is it?

Oh, it's you.

I thought it was that
damn old blue-haired
coot miss Sophie.

No.

Y'all, hush up
that racket right now.

Some days
I just don't know.

Well, I'm sorry to bother you,
but the other day
I forgot to mention

that I'm trying to start
a tenants' association
on this block

and I thought
you might be interested.

- Uh-huh.
- I don't know
if you know this,

but all the buildings
on this street are owned
by the same man

and if we pull together,
we can put pressure on him
to start fixing up the place.

Once we get
the association rolling

we can even stage
a rent strike and do
the repairs ourselves.

I want you to check
off on this sheet

all the things
that are wrong
with your apartment.

Then I'm gonna take
these forms and file them
at the housing court.

There's plenty wrong
with this place, but ain't no
piece of paper gonna fix it.

Well, if we can
get enough people--

- Is it okay if I come in
for a minute?
- Oh, sure.

These kids
got me so rattled,

I forgot my manners.

Well, I've already been
to four of the buildings

and the response
has been really great.

In fact, we're having our
next meeting this Saturday
morning at 10:00.

Oh, I don't know.

You know, it's hard
to keep the place clean

with these kids
tearing it up
all the time.

- I know what you mean.
- You got kids then?

No, but my brother has two
and he says that they
can be quite a handful.

Well, I got a lot more
than that,

so you can just imagine
what I go through.

If they could just
stay babies.

They so sweet.

And they just love you.
They don't talk back.

When I was a little girl,
I used to love a baby doll.

I had ten sisters
and brothers.

It was hard for my parents
to do for all of US,

but every Christmas
I got me a new baby doll.

Until I was 13
and my daddy said
I was too old.

I had all the old ones,
but it just wasn't
the same as the new ones.

They way they feel,

the way they smell.

I'd just hold them
and smell them and think,

"this is my baby.
She's all mine
and I'm all hers

and we got each other,
no matter what happens."

That's the way I feel
about my real babies.

They so

tiny and new
and helpless.

And then they grow up

and turn into these
little dumbasses.

Yeah, you laughin' now,
brucie?

I told you a million times
to stop swingin'
on my curtains,

- so good for you.
- He might have
hurt his head.

No, he's always falling
from something.

His head
is hard as a rock.

That curtain rod
is shot.

I ain't got no money
to replace any of--

them drapes can
just stay down,
for all I care.

There's a big knot
coming up on the side
of his head.

- Maybe we should--
- it'll go down.

Look,
if I went runnin'
to the hospital

every time
one of these kids
bumped their heads,

I would spend
the rest of my life
in the emergency room.

You just don't know.
They wild and disgusting

- and you can't
do nothing with them.
- Ow!

See what I mean?

Well, they're probably
that way from being
cramped up in the apartment.

Kids need space
to move around.

There is plenty of space
in the schoolyard
for them to play,

but will they go
to school?

And the last time
I let them go to the park,

somebody gave Sammy
a reefer.

Now, if I let them go
to that park, I'll have
a bunch of junkies on my hands.

Look, I got your
piece of paper,
I will look it over,

but I'm sorry,
I've got a million
things to do.

You'll have to
come back another time.

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean
to keep you.

I wasn't trying
to tell you how to
raise your children--

yeah, I know.

It's just that
I'm busy right now.

You know, there are
a lot of good things
that go on around here, too.

Yeah? Like what?

Well,
my boyfriend's gotten
a Grant from the city

and he's putting on
a black production

of Shakespeare's
"a midsummer night's dream"
at the community center.

Maybe you could come
and bring the children.

"Abshu Ben-Jamal
productions."

Maybe come this
Saturday afternoon.
The kids'll love it.

I don't know.
That Shakespeare stuff--

they won't understand
and they'll start acting up

and embarrass me
in front of
all those people.

No, it's funny
and it's colorful
and it has fairies.

I mean,
all kids like stories
with fairies.

So, what if they don't
understand every word?

- I don't know.
- Oh, come on.

I'll come get you
and we can walk
over together.

How about 1:30,
so we get good seats?

Yeah, all right, 1:30.

Great.

Maybe your husband
would like to come, too.

I ain't married.

Um...
Your boyfriend?

I ain't got no
real boyfriend.

Oh.

I mean,
I usually got a couple
of men friends

that come by
and see me.

It gets lonely with nothin'
but the kids around here.

I'm sure.

Well, anyway,
I'll see you on Saturday.
It'll be fun, you'll see.

Isn't she beautiful,
Mattie?

Yes,
I could just
look at her

for the rest
of my life
and be happy.

She sure is a
pretty little thing.

Hey, listen.
You wouldn't believe
the words she knows.

She even knows
her daddy's name,
huh?

"Dada gene."

"Dada gene."

Better teach her
your name.

She'll be using it
a lot more often.

Hi, honey.

How you doin',
gene?

Ciel, I wanna
talk to you.

Why don't I, um,
take Serena next door?
I got some ice cream.

She can stay
right there.

If she need ice cream,
I'll buy her ice cream.

It's, uh,
almost naptime,
Mattie.

I'll bring her
over later.

Y'all keep good.
Okay.

You too, gene.

Why the hell
is she always
over here?

You had your chance.
Why didn't you ask her?

Now, look, I ain't got time
to be arguing with you
about that old hag.

Now, ciel,
I got big doings
in the making.

I'ma need you
to help me pack.

Hey, sweetheart.

Play for mommy.

It's a really
good deal, ciel.

I never expected
to find nothin'
this good,

especially after
being out of work
for so long.

What deal?
Where are you going?

Maine, which
really ain't
that far.

Once I get settled in
on the docks up there,

I'll be able
to come home
all the time.

Well, why don't
you take US with you?

No, I got to go check out
what's happening up there
first myself,

before I go draggin'
you and the kid up there.

We don't mind.
We'll make do.
We don't need much.

It ain't gonna
work out, ciel.

I got to go see
my way clear first.

- Eugene, please!
- No! Now, that's
the end of it.

Well, how far is it?
Where'd you say
you were going?

I told you,
I'm going up to
the docks in Newport.

No, that's not Maine.
You said Maine!

I made a mistake,
that's all.

Ciel:
How'd you find out
about a place so far up?

- Who got you the job?
- My friend.

- What friend?
- None of your
damn business!

Ciel:
You leavin' here,
that's my business!

- Now, who told you?
- It ain't nobody
that you know, ciel.

- What difference
does it make?
- It don't sound right to me.

I don't give a damn
how it sound to you.
I'm going, now that's that.

Suppose you get up there
and there's no job?

I won't be no worse off
than I am right now.

Did this friend
give you a number
or something?

What are trying to say,
my friend is lying?

I don't know!
I don't even know
who your friend is!

See, I told you,
it ain't none
of your damn business.

Ciel:
You're lying, aren't you?
You don't have a job, do you?

You can think
whatever you want, ciel,
I'm going!

No, you can't go, gene!
No, you can't go!

- Why?
- Because I love you!

Well, that ain't
gonna be enough.

Serena!

Oh, Serena!

Woman:
Saddest thing I ever heard.

Woman #2:
I can hardly believe it.

Woman #3:
Somebody needs to
call down home...

Woman:
You don't think to
leave a baby like that...

I know just
how she feels.

I lost one of my own
a few years back.

The lord works
in mysterious ways,

and he don't ever
close the door

without opening up
a window.

Woman:
Oh, my goodness.

Woman #2:
Did someone feed her?

Woman #3:
I took her a plate,
but she didn't want it.

Etta Mae:
Ciel.

Ciel.

Ciel.

I think you'd feel
a lot better

if you'd go out there
and be with people.

At least let someone
come in here and
sit with you.

You get her to eat that,
you'll be doing a lot
better than me.

Ciel.

Come on,
have a little
bit of this.

Ciel, you ain't
had a bite to eat
in three days now.

Doctor say
you gotta
eat something.

If you don't like it,
you can spit it out.

Etta Mae:
Well,

the nurse said
it was normal for her
not to be hungry.

I don't care
what the nurse say.

This ain't normal.

Anybody know
where gene is
out on his sorry butt?

No, but wherever it is,
he better damn well
keep it there.

Mattie,
that child is
burning up with fever.

She won't eat,
she won't sleep.

What's she trying to do,
kill herself?

I think that's exactly
what she's trying to do.

Well, if you
want my opinion,

I think she's
gonna do it.

Now, maybe you
can do something
with her.

I sure can't.

Ciel,

I promise you,

you leave this world

it's gonna be
over my dead body.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on back.

Come on back.

Come on back.

Come on back.

Come on.
Come on!

Come on, damn it!

That's right,
child.

That's right.

That's right,
child.

That's right.

That's right.

That's right, child.
That's right.

Get back into bed.

My little girl
is gone.

I had a little boy,
Mattie.

It ain't true, baby.

You got yourself.

You got yourself.

You got yourself.

Why do we
got to take baths?
Is grandma coming?

I told you,
we going to see a play.

I don't wanna
see no play.

Yes, you do!

Dierdre, you can not
wear them socks.

They got holes
in them.

I always
wear them to school.

Well, you can't
wear them today.

Now, go put on
the ones I fixed.

Dorian,
sit your butt down
in that tub.

Okay, now nobody move
till I say "move."

Hi.

Well,
doesn't everyone
look nice?

So, are we ready?

Okay, let's go.

Boy: I'll race you!
Girl: Wait for me!

Walk!

- Man: Hey, miss Cora Lee.
- Good afternoon,
everybody.

Woman:
Is it easter already?

All:
Hello, miss Sophie.

Where are all y'all
going all dressed up?

To the community center...
For Shakespeare.

Hi, everybody.

My name is abshu Ben-Jamal
and I'd like to welcome y'all.

Now,
how's everybody doing?

I don't hear
anything out there.
What's happening?

I don't think
there's anybody here, guys.
Let's come back another day.

- Audience: No!
- Oh, that's more like it!

Making some progress.

Now, is everybody here
ready to have a good time?

- Audience: Yeah!
- Yeah! Okay.

We're gonna see
a play today.

How many of you
have seen a play before?

Not a football play,
not a basketball play,

a stage play.

Nobody?
Well, that's great.

'Cause you're all
gonna get to see your
first play together.

Now I'm gonna tell you
a little bit about it,
but before I do,

if any of you have to
go to the bathroom,
go now.

Okay, this play is called
"a midsummer night's dream."

It was written by
a famous writer named
William Shakespeare.

Anybody hear
of William Shakespeare?

Good, a few of you.

Okay, well the story
takes place a long,
long time ago

in a place called Athens,
which you probably
never heard of.

Uhn-uh.

You heard of
New York City, right?

- Yeah!
- Yeah, I thought so.

Okay, well it's
not near there either.

But it's okay,

'cause we've added
a few modern touches.

See, it was very important
to Mr. Shakespeare

that people
understood his plays
on their own level.

So, we're not here
to make you feel like
you're in school.

We're just here
to make sure you have
a good time, okay?

All:
Okay!

Okay, enjoy the play,
all right? Okay!

"Now, fair hippolyta,

our nuptial hour
draws on apace.

Four happy days
bring in another moon.

But, oh, methinks
how slow this
old moon wanes!"

They'll be fine,
don't worry.

"She lingers my desires,
like a stepdame or a dowager

long withering out
a young man's revenue."

Say what?

♪ Ooo!

♪ Here she comes,
yeah ♪

♪ look at her,
ooh, baby ♪

♪ ooo-ee baby,
set my soul on fire ♪

♪ ooo-ee, baby

♪ you're my
heart's desire ♪

♪ I'm gonna pop
like a rocket ♪

♪ headed straight
for the moon ♪

♪ ooo-ee baby,
I want your love ♪

♪ ooo-ee baby,
have I got your love? ♪

♪ I'm here to tell you, girl,
you're one of a kind ♪

♪ and if you ever
leave me ♪

♪ I'll go
out of my mind ♪

♪ ooo-ee baby,
cast a spell on me ♪

♪ ooo-ee, baby,
I'm in love, can't you see... ♪

"I see their knavery--

this is to make
an ass of me,

to fright me
if they could,

- but, I will not stir--"
- mama, am I gonna
look like that?

Why?

Is that what
a dumbass looks like
when he grows up?

"...and I will sing
that they shall hear..."

- No, baby.
- "... I am not afraid."

I'm not gonna let
you look like that.

"...His notes so true,

the wren with
little quill..."

Mama, mama?

- What, baby?
- Is Shakespeare black?

Not yet, baby.
Not yet.

Ciel?

Ciel,
open the door,
it's me.

Ciel?

Ciel, you home?

Ciel?

Ciel?

Oh, ciel.

Deliver US!
Deliver US

from this sinful world
of pain and sorrow.

Minister:
Yes, Jesus!
Yes, Jesus!

Yes, Jesus!

Deliver US

from the miseries

of our own making

as well as those
miseries made for US

- by others.
- Yes!

Hear me say it.
Hear me say it.

Hear me!

Deliver US
into a world

where tears
and suffering

are only
a distant memory,

where we shall
weep no more!

Where we shall

weep no more!

Where we shall weep

no more!

- Yes, yes, yes, lord.
- Mm-hmm.

Mattie,
that's not your
regular minister.

No, child, rev. Woods
only visit on occasion.

Can't he preach good?

What do you
know about him?
He married?

I should have known
is wasn't the sermon
that was movin' ya.

Yes!

...until there is
no room, no room.

Mm-hmm.

Not even that great big
world out there

that exacts
such a strange penalty

for my being born black.

- Whoo!
- For my being born black.

For my being born black!

For my being born black.

I sure did enjoy
that sermon,
rev. Woods.

I especially like
the part about
throwing away temptation

to preserve the soul.

Thought that was
a mighty fine point.

The lord moves me
and I speak,
sister Michael.

I'm just
a humble instrument
for his voice.

Oh, you're
too humble,
reverend.

It's been a long time
since I heard preachin'
like that.

Well, thank you very much,
sister, uh--

excuse me,
I'm about to forget
my manners.

This here
is an old friend of mine,
etta Mae Johnson.

Etta Mae,
reverend woods.

Pleased to meet you,
sister Johnson.

It's just a shame

Mrs. Woods wasn't
here tonight

to hear you preach.

Oh, she must
be mighty proud
of your work.

My wife has gone on
to her glory.

I think of myself now
as a man alone,
rest her soul.

Yes, rest her soul.

Please, rest it.

I mean,
this life is so hard,

she's better off
in the arms of the lord.

Yes, I can
testify to that.

It's even harder
when you're
a woman alone.

Sometimes
I don't know
where to turn.

Well, if I can be of any
assistance, sister--

in fact, if there's
anything you'd like
to discuss this evening,

I'd be glad
to escort you home.

Or perhaps
we could all
go for coffee?

I'm sorry, reverend,
we're gonna have to
decline your offer.

I'm afraid these services
have US all tired out.

Actually, I think a cup of
coffee is just what I need.

I'll have to
take you up on that.

Good, good.

Let me just say good-bye
to a few more people,

and I'll, uh,
meet you outside.

Reverand!

You need to put
a patent on that
speed of yours

and sell it
to the airplane
companies.

Oh, hush up.

If you'd batted
them lashes any
faster,

we'd have had
a dust storm
up in there.

What is wrong?
You said you wanted me
to meet some nice man.

- I met on.
- I meant a nice
settling-down man.

You carrying on
like some kind of
school girl.

Can't you see
what he got
on his mind?

The only thing I see
is you telling me

that I'm not good enough
for a man like that.

Oh, no,
not etta Johnson.

No upstanding,
decent man

could ever see anything
in her but a quick
good time.

Well, let me
tell you something,
Mattie Michael,

I've always
traveled first class.

Maybe not in a way
you would approve of,

with all you fine
Christian principles,

but it's done
all right by me.

And I'm gonna
keep going,
top drawer,

until the day
I leave this earth.

Don't you think
I got me a mirror.

Each year
there's a new line
to be covered.

I lay down with this body
and I get up with it
every morning.

And every day it cries
for a little more rest

than the day before.

Well, I'm gonna
get me that rest, Mattie.

And it's gonna be
with a fine man
like the rev. Woods.

And all you
slack-mouthed
gossips in Brewster

can just be damned.

You know,
I always have known
what they say about me

behind my back, Mattie.

But...i never thought

that you'd be right
up there with em'.

Well,

y'all all gonna be
humming a different tune

when I show up the wife
of a big preacher.

Wife?

Child, you can't
be that blind.

Etta, that man
has got one thing
on his mind,

and it ain't
marrying you.

How do you know?

What in the hell
could you possibly
know about that?

I'll see you
when you get home.

Miss Johnson.

My car is right here.

Are you a believer
in fate, miss Johnson?

Fate?

Destiny.
Things meant
to happen.

People meant to meet.

I noticed you
from the pulpit.

Couldn't take
my eyes off you,
to tell the truth.

I don't run across
a lot of women
as beautiful as you

in my line of work.

Seems like the ones
who keep coming
to church

stop caring
about much else.

I don't know.

Anyway, I was hoping
I'd have a chance

to get to know you
better.

And here we are.

Just like it was fate.

Sure, I believe in fate.

Why not?

Etta Mae:
God and me ain't never had
a lot to say to each other,

if you want
the honest truth.

But maybe
I just ain't been

listening hard enough,

because
every now and then,

something will happen.

Like tonight.

You-- you think your life
is heading one way

and it don't look so good,

and all of a sudden
somebody says,

"nothing's set in stone,
sister.

It ain't too late

to start down
a different road."

Maybe that's how
god works.

He-- he sends you crosses
to bear, and then,

and then he rewards you
with another chance.

What do you think?

I didn't hear you
get up.

Yeah, is there, uh,

someplace I can
drop you off?

♪ There comes a time, baby

well, thanks for that
cup of coffee, reverand.

That's what I like
about you worldly women.

You see the temporary
weakness of the flesh
for what it is

and don't try
to turn it into
something else.

Hm. Yeah.

That's US worldly women,
all right.

- ♪ That feeling
- ♪ ooh, that feeling

♪ that old feeling

- ♪ makes me wanna do
- ♪ ooh, that feeling

♪ something crazy

- ♪ You know what he's doin'
- ♪ ooh, that feeling

- ♪ I'll pass for
- ♪ ooh, that feeling

♪ oh, but when he
comes home ♪

♪ tell him, "baby,
I don't take that no more" ♪

♪ I got that feeling

♪ that old feeling

♪ makes me wanna do

♪ something crazy

♪ I got that feeling,
get that ♪

♪ that old feeling, yeah,
to do something crazy ♪

I wasn't worried
about you.

Just had a touch
of the indigestion,

so, since
I couldn't sleep,

thought I'd pass the time

and see what you see
in this "loose life" music.

♪ That crazy feeling

long as you
weren't worried.

Whew!

Whew!

Them two sure do
shop a lot.

Where do you reckon
they get all of that
money from?

Who?

Etta Mae:
Oh, yeah.

I keep meaning
to make them a pie.

Or something.

Anyway,
it keeps slippin',
what's left of my mind.

Careful, we don't
wanna lose you.

- I'm so clumsy lately.
- Lately?

So, that's it!

What?

They're...

You know--

that way!

- You think so?
- Did you see the way

they was up
in each other's faces?

I thought they was
gonna kiss each other
smack on the mouth.

Etta Mae:
Sophie, I ain't noticed
nothing like that.

Child, if they had,
I would have
thrown right up.

Now, hush, Sophie.
There you go
startin' rumors.

My mama used to say,
"if you wallow with dogs,

you gonna get up
with fleas."

What is that
supposed to mean?

It supposed to mean
that the truth
ain't no rumor.

Now, y'all just
keep an eye out
on them them two

'cause I know what
I'm talking about.

Oh, my.

Check the butter,
is that the idea?

Smell it, taste it,
and see if you live.

Where is it?

Whew.

- Smells good to me.
- Do not start with me!

All right, look,
it's not bad.

I can do
without the bread,
that's all right.

You can put
this butter
on it.

Please, just pour
a glass of wine.

Hear, hear.

Morning, Mattie.

Child, don't you know,

before that paint dries,

c.c. Baker
be right back here
with a can of spray paint,

putting up them
ol' nasty words
right back up there.

There's plenty more paint
where this came from.

Maybe I can
wear him down.

You can paint
this 'ol wall every
color of the rainbow

it'll still be asphalt.

Can't stand
this ugly old thing.

I don't even know why
it's got to be here.

Traffic control.
I did some research.

This neighborhood was
originally supposed to be

a major business district,
but the traffic got too busy

and the city decided
to block off some
of the auxiliary streets.

There was this big
battle about it
in city hall

because nobody
wanted their block

to become
a dead-end street.

Well, why didn't somebody
fight for this street?

I'm sure they did,
but the streets

with the most
political clout won,

which meant
the rich people's
streets stayed open

and Brewster place
got the wall.

It's a shame.

We could have been
a main artery
of this town.

Ain't that the story.

Colored folks
try to do
a little something,

till somebody come along
and throw up a wall.

- Why don't you
do something about it?
- What I'm supposed to do?

If I could tear down
this wall with my bare hands,

they'd just send
somebody in the next day
to put it up again.

But at least
you would have
done something.

Ain't no use.

You young.

You'll see what I mean.

No, I won't.

That's the difference
between you and me.

Did you remember
my chocolate chip
cookies?

Well, hello.

Hello to you, too.

My day?
My day was
just fine, thanks.

Little Baxter boy
brought his puppy
to the show-and-tell.

Peed all over the floor,

then proceeded
to chew the heel
off my shoe.

But yes,

I managed
to hobble to the store

to get you
chocolate chip cookies.

You know,

you should
have a talk
with Mrs. Baxter.

She ought
to train that boy
better than that.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Well,
I only had to work
half a day

and the only tragedy I had
was that I lost a fingernail
to the typewriter.

I'll put the stuff away,
and I'll make dinner
so you can get some rest.

No, you made dinner
last night and
fair is fair.

I'm not even that tired.

Tee?

What?

Have you noticed
that people aren't
as nice as they used to be?

What people, Lorraine?

You know,
people in this building.

They hardly speak
to me anymore,

and it wasn't like that
when we first moved in.

I don't know, it just,

it makes me wonder,
what are they thinking?

I personally
don't give a damn
what they're thinking.

Their "good evenings"
don't put food on our table.

Yeah, but you saw the way
those two old ladies
looked at US.

They must know something
or feel something.

They, they, they!

I'm not starting up
with this again,
Lorraine.

Now, who in the hell
are they?

You know we're
living in this dump
of a building

in this godforsaken
neighborhood

around a bunch of
ignorant negroes

with the cotton
still underneath
their fingernails

because of you
and your "theys."

"They" knew something
in linden hills,

so I had to give up
my beautiful apartment
for you.

Then "they knew"
in park heights

and you made me
so miserable
we had to move.

Now these
mysterious "theys"

are on
Brewster place?

Look out the window,
Lorraine.

You see that wall?

That's the end
of the line for me.

I'm not moving anymore,

so if that's what
you're working up to,
save it!

You see?
That's why I didn't
mention it to you.

Because you're always
flying off the handle
and jumping to conclusions

and I did not say
a damn thing about moving.

And I was not aware
that you've been so miserable
since we've been together.

Look at this dried up
celery and onions
and stuff.

These potatoes
look like rocks.

I know.
I come down here
to get my dinner,

ain't none of this
stuff fit to eat.

Woman:
Oh, you'll starve to death.

Oh, boy,
look at this big ol' onion.
I'm scared to eat the thing.

It's unnatural.

Just like all them
unnatural things
I look at through my window.

Oh, my lord.
You got to be kidding.

You mean right here
in our own building?

I wouldn't
believe it myself
if I hadn't seen it

with my own eyes.

- Believe what?
- What I told you.

And then they pulled
the shade down!

So, what?

I pull down my shades
every night, too.

Yeah,

but you ain't ...
That way.

I'm sorry.

Something new,
I overreacted.

I'm sorry.

And you know good and well
that if I was that miserable,

I would have been gone
a long time ago.

You must think
I'm some sort of
paranoid freak.

But, tee, I just can't
afford to have people
calling the school

or writing
to the principal.

I know, I know.

That's how
I lost my job
in Detroit,

and teaching
is my whole world,
tee.

I know, but look,
it's not going
to happen again.

Lorraine,
this school
is too far away

and you don't have to
tell these old bitties
where you work, you know.

I mean, you're just
worrying about nothing.

But I know something
that could make you feel

a whole lot better
about all of this.

What?

- Chocolate chip cookies.
- Oh, lord, help me.

Yes!

Look, I just wanna know,
when is somebody
gonna do something

about that crowd
gathered under my window

all night, every night,
making all that racket?

Woman:
And yeah,
what about all them kids

be running up and down
the hall all the time?

Don't be talking about
my kids, 'cause y'all
got kids, too,

and they ain't
no saints neither.

Why are you so touchy?
Ain't nobody mentioned you.

But if the shoe fits,
steal it.

Kiswana:
Okay, look, this is
getting US nowhere.

What we should be
discussing is staging
a rent strike

and taking
the landlord
to court.

What we should
be discussing
is that bad element

that's done
moved into this block
amongst decent people.

I done called the police
over a dozen times

about c.C. Baker
and that crowd
gathered out in the alley,

smokin' dope
and robbing folks.

Sophie:
That ain't what I'm talking
about and you know it.

I'm talking about
them two that just
moved in across from me.

Etta Mae:
You know, Mattie,
you know them two

that mind
their own business

and never have
a harsh word
to say about nobody?

Ain't them
the two you mean?

- What they're doing is wrong!
- Woman: Oh, yeah, yeah.

They're sinning
against the lord.

Well, let the lord
take care of that.

Kiswana:
Okay, miss Sophie.
Etta Mae, we really

can't let this turn
into a gossip session.

That doesn't
surprise me a bit,

not coming from
the likes of you.

Etta Mae:
What's that
supposed to mean?

You old prune pit!

Kiswana:
Excuse me, we must
get back to business.

Get on my nerves.

Roscoe, you have
a question?

Theresa, won't you
please go with me?

To what, Lorraine?

The tenants' meeting.
I told you all about it.

The tenants' meeting.

Lorraine,
they ought to
condemn the place.

That's a productive attitude.

I'm sorry, I can
think of better ways
to waste my time.

Why don't you go,
and you can tell me
all about it.

Please?

Okay.

Don't forget
to let me in, okay?
'Cause I don't have keys.

I'll think about it.

- Bye.
- Bye.

What do you mean,
I owe three months' rent?
I can't be no secretary.

You talk about
your mama not
owing no rent!

You understand me?
You don't put my business
in the street.

I will kick your butt
if you say
I've suckered you.

Do you
understand me?

You don't be putting
my business in the street!

Someone having a slight
difference of opinion?

Old Roscoe there
claims betina
shouldn't be secretary,

'cause she owes
three months' rent.

Ben: She say he owe more
than that and it's none
of his business.

I don't know how
it got into this.

I thought we was
supposed to be talking
about ways to, uh,

to raise money
for a housing lawyer.

Betina:
Your mama!

I'm gonna knock
your cheating--

no, wait!

- Hey, hey, hey!
- Woman:
Sister, put that down!

Well, y'all can take
y'all's tenants' meeting

and stick it where
the light don't shine!

Woman:
Well, then,
leave, then!

Kiswana:
Okay, let's settle down.

We still need somebody
to take the minutes.

Way this is going,
they better take
the hours.

Um, excuse me.
I'll take the minutes.

Thank you.
Okay, we can finally
get down to business.

Now, abshu's gonna
tell US about some

money-making ideas
and then we'll
take a vote.

Ain't we supposed
to vote over who we
wants for secretary?

I mean,
can just anybody
stroll in here

and get shoved
down our throats

and we don't have
nothing to say about it?

Uh, look, I can just go.
I was only trying to help.

No, wait.
What vote?

No one wanted the job.
Did you want to take notes?

Lord, she can't do that,

unless we all
recite the abc's.

And we better not
do that too fast!

Now, listen here.

Why should a decent
woman get insulted

while y'all all
takes sides with
the likes of them.

I'm as decent
as you are,
you old bat,

and I'll come over there
and land you on the mouth.

Yes, I will,
yes, I will!

Now, sit down.

Pick on me,
pick on me!

Like I'm the one
going around doing all them
filthy unnatural things!

- Oh, please!
- Every one of you's
seeing it!

Every one of you been
done talking about it,
not just me!

You see what you done?
Moving here with your
nasty ways.

Well, you ain't
welcome here,
you hear me?

You ain't welcome here!

What have any of you
ever seen me do
except leave my house

and go to work
just like the rest
of you?

Is it so disgusting
for me to speak to
all of you on the street

even though nobody
ever speaks back to me?

Is that my crime?

Don't you sit there
like little miss innocent.

I'll tell you
exactly what I seen.

I wasn't gonna mention
such filthy things,

but you done forced me.

You forgot to close
your shades last night.

And I saw you.
I saw the both of you.

There you was,

standing in the
bathroom door,

dripping wet

and naked as you please.

Calling
to the other one
to put down her book

and come over
and bring you
a cool towel.

She ain't got no--

standing in that
bathroom door
with your naked behind.

I saw you! I saw you!
I saw you! I saw you!

I guess you
step out of the tub
with your clothes on

to make it easier
on Jessie's eyes!

Kiswana:
Okay, stop it.
All right, be quiet.

Everybody, shut up!

There is nothing funny
going on here.

Why did you do that?

This association
is for everyone
who lives here,

you judgmental,
self-righteous old wench!

Who do you think you are?

If you can't do anything
but be disruptive
and humiliate people

then you can just
get the hell out of
my apartment.

Man: That's right.
Woman: Right!

Fine.

That's fine
with me, sister!

This ain't nothing
but a whole bunch

of old silly mess,
anyway.

Jessie!

Go on, Jessie.

I don't want to hear
another word out of anyone

that isn't strictly
related to business.

Do I make myself clear?

Oh, god.

Miss?
Miss, you all right?

You sure?

Let me help you home.

- Okay--
- I can't go home.

Okay, you ain't got to.

But I can't just
let you stay out here
alone.

You might fall in
with a bad element.

Would you
come over to my place

and have a cup of tea?

Well,
I'm sorry
about the mess.

I-- I don't
get that much company.

Thank you.

Mostly people mad

because they
ain't got no heat
or their pipes beatin'.

I hope it's okay.

Mmm.
Oh, it's
just fine.

Thank you.

That's good, good.

Lord knows how long
I had them tea bags.

I don't get
that much company.

Who's this
in the picture?

Oh, that, that's, uh--

that's maybelle Joyce,
my little girl.

You have a daughter?

I used to.

I mean,
I ain't seen her
in a long time.

How about you,
you got family
around here?

No.

My parents kicked me out
of the house when I was
seventeen years old.

They found a letter
one of my girlfriends
had written me.

When I wouldn't lie
about what it meant,
they told me to get out.

And not to take a thing
they ever bought me.

So, I left, with only
the clothes on my back.

I moved in with my cousin

and I got a job at night
at a bakery to put myself
through college.

I used to send them
Christmas cards every year.

They'd send them
right back, unopened.

After a while,
I stopped putting
a return address on them

so they couldn't
send them back.

I guess they probably just

threw them in the fireplace.

Then,

one year I called home.

My mother
answered the phone.

Then,

as soon as she
heard it was me,

she just--

she hung up.

Thank you.

You know, you--

you remind me
lots of my little girl.

Oh, she ain't
a bit like you.

It ain't always
the way you look.

She had a limp,
on account of she was
a breached baby.

Oh.

The midwife broke her foot
when she was birthin'

and it never
came back right.

So, she always
kind of cripped along.

But, she was
a sweet child.

So, when I seen you,

the way you walk
up the street,
all timid-like,

trying to be nice
to these here folks,

and the look
on your face,

when they'd be
downright rude,

and you'd look like
you was kind of
broke up in here,

that's when I thought
about my baby.

So, I guess i--

I couldn't help it.

I liked you
from the first off.

Thank you.

And thank you
for the tea.

You're welcome, miss.

Oh, anytime.

Girl:
Ouch!

Are you all right?

I hurt myself.

Oh, you did?

Can I see?

- Oh.
- It's bleeding.

It sure is.

Let's see.

You think you can
put a little bit
of spit on this for me?

Just a little bit?

Right, that's good.

See?

- Will it hurt?
- Of course not.

You know what my
grandmother used to say?

That spit...

Is god's iodine.

See?

There, I think
you gonna live.

I think it needs
a bandage.

Oh, you do?

Okay.

Let's see if we
can find you one?

What are you
doing to her?

Nothing.

She hurt her knee.

- Oh.
- Mommy, I need a bandage.

All right, baby,
give me a minute.

Uh--

I told her
about these skates
a million times.

- You know how it is.
- Yeah, I know.

Bye-bye.

What the--

you wanna see
what I'm doing?

Here, let me raise this
so you can see better.

I'm making meatloaf,

you old bat!

Meatloaf!

The way normal
people make it!

Here!

There's your
chopped peppers!

Onions. Onions!

Oh, wait, I used eggs.
Do you use eggs?

Eggs.

Eggs!

Eggs!

Here's something
freaky for you.

Olives!

I put olives
in my meat loaf!

Run up and down
the street

and tell that!

What are you yelling at,
are you crazy?

You're gonna
have to take that up
with my grandmother,

because it's her recipe.

But wait, I can't
have you thinking
I make meatloaf

without meat!

Whoa, whoa!
Theresa!

I don't care
how mad you are,

ground sirloin
is $3 a pound!

Oh.

I told you
I was tired
of meatloaf.

It's all right.

It's all right, honey.

I've heard it said
that nature don't
prepare US

for the loss of a child.

Seems to me there's
a lot of things

nature don't
prepare US for.

Yeah.

It's like them two
girls miss Sophie's

about to fry
her brains over.

She ought to be
glad they're that way.

That's one less bed
she got to worry about
pulling Jess out of.

You know, etta,

I'd never say this
in front of miss Sophie,

'cause I can't stand
the way she love

draggin' folks' business
in the street,

but if those girls
are that way,

I can't help it,

it's just hard
for me to feel
like it's all right.

I mean,

how'd they
get that way?

You think it's
from birth?

Hell, Mattie,
I don't know.

I seen plenty of them,
the places I been.

They just say
they love each other.

I don't know.

Well,

I loved women, too.

I love miss Eva,

I love ciel,

and even as ornery
as you can get,

I've loved you
my whole life.

Yeah, but it's
different with them.

They love each other
the way you love a man.

Or a man would love you.

I've loved some women deeper
than I ever loved any man.

Some women loved me
and treated me better
than any man ever treated me.

I know,
but it's still
different.

I can't explain it,
it just is.

Well, maybe it ain't.

Maybe that's why some women
get so riled up about it,

'cause they know
deep down inside

it ain't no different
at all.

Kind of give you
a funny feeling

when you think about it
like that, though.

Yeah.

I guess it does.

Hi, Lorraine.

Hi.

I haven't seen you
in a while.

I've been kind of busy.

Things have been really
picking up,

with the
tenants' association,
I mean.

There's gonna be
a block party tonight,
so if you're not busy,

we can use all the help
we can get.

Do you really think
I'd wanna help after what
happened at that meeting?

I know. I'm really
sorry about that,

but I'm sure everybody's
forgotten about it by now.

I don't think so.

Kiswana:
Not everyone who lives
here is miss Sophie.

You can't judge them
all by her.

Hey, swana,
better watch
who you talk to.

Brother abshu
know about this?

- I'll see you later.
- No, wait.

Don't let them bother you.
They're nothing but
a bunch of punks.

C.c., why don't you take
your little dusty behind
and get out of here.

Why? You got something
planned you don't
want me to watch?

Hey, lesbo, come on over
here and let me show you
what a real man can do.

From what I hear, c.C.,
she wouldn't even feel it.

- You laughing at me,
freak?
- No, no, no.

I ought to put my fist
down your throat.

You're gonna have to
come through me first.
Just try it.

Come on, c.C., man,
don't waste your time.

She ain't nothing
but a woman.

I ain't gonna
forget this,
butch.

Yeah, c.C.,
I won't sleep
a wink.

Man:
Yeah, right.

- Hi, honey.
- Hi.

You all right?

You look
a little pale.

Oh, yeah.
It's just the heat.

I think I'm gonna take
a couple aspirin and go
lie down for a while.

Good idea, then you'll
be rested up for later.

- What's later?
- Sal called,

and he and Byron are gonna
give this birthday party
down at the club

and we're gonna go,
so come on.

Uhn-uh. I'm not going
over there tonight.

I hate that club.

You never hated it before.

I always hated it.

The only reason
I ever went was 'cause
you wanted me to go.

They make me sick
with their
prancing around.

They're nothing
but a couple of fags.

So, what?
We're nothing but
a couple of dykes.

You can call yourself
anything you want to, tee,

but you leave me
out of it.

Lorraine,

you are a lesbian.

A dyke, a lesbo, a butch,

all those names that
boy was calling you--
I saw him.

And you can run
to all the basements
in the world

and it's not gonna
change anything.

Why can't you just accept it?

I have accepted it!
I've accepted it
all my life!

I lost my family
because of that!

But it doesn't make me
any different than anybody
else in this world.

It makes you damn different!

No, it doesn't!

You see this?

There's only been
two things that have
been constant

in my life, tee,
since I was 16.

That is beige bras
and oatmeal.

The day before
I first fell in love
with a woman,

I got up in the morning,
I had oatmeal for breakfast

I put on my beige bra
and I went to school.

The day after
I fell in love
with that woman,

I got up in the morning,
I had oatmeal for breakfast,

put on my beige bra,
and I went to school.

I wasn't any different
before that happened
or after that happened, tee.

And what did you do
the next day when
you went to school?

Did you stand around
in the locker room

and swap stories about

this new love in your life

with the other girls? Huh?

Why-- why didn't you
stand up there

in that locker room
and pass her picture around?

Huh?
Why didn't you take her
to the senior prom?

Why not, hm?

Lorraine,

answer me.

Because they wouldn't
have understood!

That's right!

And as long as they
own the whole damn world,

it's them and US,

and that
spells different.

And if you're
gonna be too damn puny
to live with that,

then there's no
hope for you.

There's no hope for US.

Oh, Mattie,
I see some clouds
over there.

I hope they don't
come this way.

Child, the lord done
give US a nice day
for this party,

leave it alone about
them few clouds.

Oh, I feel good
today, too. Whew!

I feel pretty good
myself.

How long do folks
who ain't welcome here

have to put up
with all this noise?

Miss Sophie,
ain't nobody said
you ain't welcome here.

Here,
go find me
some ice.

I can't sell
them sodas
if they get hot.

Woman, you talk
like you've been hit
by a train.

Why I'm going to work
at a party where I
ain't even welcome?

Oh, hush your fussin'.

You know you about
to have two fits
to be at this party.

Go on and get me some ice.

Give it over here.

She'll be the last one
they drag out of here.
You Mark my word.

- Miss Johnson, wanna dance?
- Oh, I don't mind if I do.

Woman,
you better stay here
and act your age.

Ooh, i'm
acting it-- 35.

You got regrets
older than that!

Whoo-hoo!

- ♪ Shake it up, baby, now
- ♪ shake it up, baby

- ♪ twist and shout
- ♪ twist and shout

- ♪ Come on, baby, now
- ♪ come on, baby

♪ come on
and work it on out ♪

♪ come on
and work it on out ♪

♪ well, work it on out,
honey ♪

♪ work it on out

♪ yeah, you look so good

♪ you know you
look so fine ♪

♪ You really
got me going ♪

♪ just like
you knew you would ♪

♪ just like
you knew you would ♪

♪ shake it up, baby

♪ shake it up, baby

♪ twist and shout

♪ twist and shout

♪ come on, come on,
come on, baby ♪

♪ come on, baby

♪ come on
and work it on out ♪

♪ come on
and work it on out ♪

♪ you know you twist,
little girl ♪

♪ you know you twist,
little girl ♪

♪ you know you twist
so fine ♪

♪ you know you twist
so fine ♪

♪ come on and twist
a little closer ♪

♪ twist a little closer

♪ come on and show me
that you're mine ♪

♪ come on and show me
you're mine ♪

Hi, Mattie.

Child. Child.

Oh, Mattie, you know
I thought about you a lot,

I really did.

I just had to
get away from here.

I just kept going
till the highway ran out

and Mattie, I ended up
in New York City.

I couldn't swim or fly,
so I stayed.

I just can't
believe this.

I was just waiting,
you know, for enough
time to pass

so it would be safe
for me to come back here,

and I decided that
might never be, so,

I just took a couple
of days off 'cause
I thought about it, Mattie,

and I had to see you.

Do you forgive me?

Oh, baby.

Ciel:
Oh, I'm so glad.

♪ You know you twist,
little girl ♪

♪ you know you twist
so fine ♪

Oh! Look at this!

Ooh, girl,
you look good.

Ooh, look at this!
Where you been
hiding yourself?

New York City!

And I got a new job.
I'm working for
an insurance company.

Oh, yeah,
that's a great city.
I been through there myself.

But, wait,
now I know it's not
just bright lights

put that shine
in your face.

I bet you got a new fella.

I do have somebody.

Child, is it serious?

Oh, I think so.

- Whoo!
- Whoo!

Child, that's wonderful.
Is he good to you?

Mm-hmm, Mattie,
and he's good for me.

Lord be praised,
I'm baking your
wedding cake!

And I'll dance
at y'all's reception.

You better!

Woman, ain't you
done enough dancing

- for a lifetime today?
- Oh, hush.

Would you please tell--
ciel, please tell
this old woman

that this is a party
and we supposed to be
having a good time.

Ciel, you tell this old woman
that all this hip-shaking,
rotating with them young folks--

we supposed to be
behind the table,
selling the food.

You two ain't
gonna never change.

- Look at you!
- You like it!

All:
Whoo!

♪...'cause I won't
ask again ♪

♪ will you still
love me tomorrow? ♪

I'm ready.

For what?

To go to the club.

♪ ...tell me now,
and I won't ask...♪

I changed my mind.
I don't feel up
to all that now.

♪ Will you still love me,
tomorrow? ♪

Well,
i'ma go without you.

You wouldn't last
five minutes there alone,

so why don't
you just sit down
and stop pretending.

I'm going without you, tee.

Fine, go.

♪ Up on the roof

♪ up on the roof

♪ when this whole word
starts getting me down ♪

♪ and people are just
too much for me to face ♪

♪ up on the roof

♪ I climb way up
to the top of the stairs ♪

♪ and all my cares
just drift ♪

♪ right into space

oh, never mind,
never mind.

I changed my mind.
Go on.

♪...the world below
can't bother me ♪

♪ let me tell you now

♪ when I come home
feeling tired and beat ♪

♪ I go up where the air

♪ is fresh and sweet

♪ up on the roof

♪ I get away
from the hustling crowd ♪

♪ and all that
rat race noise ♪

♪ down in the street

♪ up on the roof

♪ on the roof's

♪ the only place I know

♪ where you
just have to wish ♪

♪ to make it so

♪ let's go
up on the roof ♪

♪ up on the roof...

♪ At night those stars

♪ put on a show for free

♪ and, darling,
you can ♪

♪ share it all with me

♪ I keep on telling ya...

- Oh!
- Can't you say
excuse me, dyke?

Ain't you got
no manners?

Stepping on my foot
and not saying
you're sorry?

Get out of my way,
c.C.

You thought you was
real funny today,

laughing at me
in the street,
didn't you?

Well, we gonna see
who gonna laugh now,
all right?

- Let go of me!
- Shut up!

Let go of my arm!

You better start
taking me real serious,

'cause I'm not
playing with you.

Now, we gonna
take a little walk,

and I don't want
to hear a sound
out of you.

Now, let's go.

Yo, clear out, men,
I got a date.

Oh!
Help me!

I said move.

- Man: Man, what's wrong
with c.C.?
- Man #2: It's cool, c.

- Let go!
- Shut up!

Let me go!

Dude, you ain't gonna
never wanna look
at another woman!

I said, shut up!

Aah!

Whoo!

Whoo-hoo!

Whoo!

You been in New York
all this time,

I know you ain't
had none of this.

Ooh, angel food cake.

Your grandmama's
recipe.

Mmm!
Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Just like she
used to make
for you and--

basil.

Hmm. We used to
have to hide this
cake from basil.

He'd eat so much of it
he's make himself sick.

- You remember that?
- Yup.

I remember, Mattie.

It's not so
bad rememberin', huh?

No.

It ain't so bad.

Well,

I think I'm gonna
save my cake for later

and pitch in
and help y'all.

Especially etta Mae.

Child, you got
to watch out
for etta Mae.

She'll be out there
dancing on the floor

- instead of helping you...
- Mm-hmm.

And you'll be left
with all this business.

This is a fine party,
miss Mattie.

Gonna make US a killing.

Ben, we need to make
ourselves two killings

'cause them
housing lawyers
don't come cheap.

- Anything I can do to help?
- As a matter of fact,

you can go back there
by that wall and drag me

a box round here
so I can put this
trash in it.

It's on to me.

Hello?

Hey, what's going on
back there?

Child?

What's done
happened to you?

Oh, it's okay,
I ain't gonna hurt you.

- Get away from me!
- Let me help you.

- Get-- get away from me!
- It's okay.

- I ain't gonna hurt you!
- Leave me alone!

- Come on, honey,
let me help you.
- Leave me alone!

Ah!

Etta Mae:
Whoo! Come on,
Mattie.

Come on.

Mattie, it's gonna rain.
We've gotta get
everything inside.

Oh it's just spittin'
a little, child.
Ain't gonna amount to much.

Lord, where did Ben go
with that trash box?

I'll go get it myself.

Here, try one
of these ribs.

Mattie!

Etta Mae,
it really is gonna rain.

Oh, hush, child.
Now, we don't ask god
for a whole lot,

and it ain't gonna rain
on our party.

Etta Mae!

Ciel!

Etta Mae, come quick!

Something awful's
done happened!

Thank you!

Now, maybe I can
get some sleep.

- Mattie:
Put that stick down, now.
- Get away from me!

- We're not gonna
hurt you, just--
- get away from me!

Get away!

Give me the stick, now.
Honey, put that stick--

get away! Get away!
Get away!

Man:
Did somebody
call the police?

What the--

woman:
Lord have mercy.
Look at him!

Man: Ben!

- Woman: Did you see him?
- Woman #2: I wonder who
did it to him.

- Woman: I can't believe it!
- Man: I'm the one
that helped them.

What's going on?
What's happening?

Somebody's hurt.

Well, I can
figure that out.

She done beat poor Ben
upside the head.

Who?

Your friend.

Honey, you better
get on up there.

Go on,
see what happened.

Tee:
Excuse me.
Excuse me!

Excuse me!

Lorraine?
Lorraine?

- Tee!
- What happened?

What happened?
Just tell me, baby.

Shh, shh, shh.
Baby, I'm here.

- What happened?
Be careful!
- Tee!

I'm here, baby, what happened?
Where are you taking her?

- Wait, wait, wait--
- let her in!

Let her in!
Let her in!

What is it? What--

Man:
They didn't
bother nobody.

Man:
They didn't
bother nobody!

I don't know
what happened!

Mattie:
That's why I don't
trust trying no more.

The harder folks try

the more
something come along
smack 'em down.

There's always something!

Standing in the way
of good.

Blocking it out,

just like that wall,

blocking up this street.

And I'm tired of it!

Y'all hear me?

I'm tired of it

and I can't stand it
no more.

Etta Mae:
Mattie, where you goin'?

Man:
Well, I hope he's
gonna be all right.

Woman:
What is she doing?

Mattie:
Y'all gonna stand there?
Or y'all gonna help?

Woman:
Come on, we can't just
stand here and watch!

Oh, no!
They're gonna put every
one of our butts in jail!

Well,
I guess we'll
just have to

tear that down, too.