The Wool Cap (2004) - full transcript

( phone ringing )

( answering machine beeping )

( snoring )

MAN 1 ( ON MACHINE ): Gigot.

You hear that? Huh? You hear it?

Look what time it is. It's

Christmas, for chrissake.

( hangs phone up )

( phone rings )

( answering machine beeps )

MAN 2 ( ON MACHINE

): Gigot. It's Ira. Wake up.

I'm eating my All-Bran,

and there's water

dripping into the bowl.

And it ain't the

hooker's bathtub again,

'cause it's coming

from the dining room.

( hangs phone up)

( clicks )

( tape rewinds )

( phone rings )

( answering machine beeps )

WOMAN 1 ( on machine ): Move it

out from there, Jamal. Move it out.

Gigot, I got water

pouring into our tree.

The... The presents... Oh,

my goodness, the whole ceiling.

You've got to get up here.

Don't you kick it, Jamal.

You better pick it up, damn it.

( hangs phone up )

( pipes knocking )

( phone rings )

( answering machine beeps )

WOMAN 2 ( on machine ): Gigot.

There's a flood all

over my dining room.

Papito, it's like

an ocean in here.

( hangs phone up )

( horns honk, car

alarm blares outside )

( water dripping )

New?

( loud rock music

playing through walls )

WOMAN: Come on, now.

Come on, Jamal. Don't be

worrying about the stereo stuff.

Some water main must

have busted, I guess.

WOMAN: Oh, goodness gracious.

Come on, baby. Come on!

Hey, Gigot, man,

you gotta find a knob

or a valve or something.

WOMAN: Look at this.

Look at this. And

God said fire next time.

Come on, baby. Nadine, come on.

Come on, man, you're slower than

molasses in the wintertime.

( loud music

playing in distance )

Gigot, Dios mío. You

have to do something.

I got a client coming at 12:00,

and at 4...

You're working Christmas

Eve? Hey, kiss my ass.

One of them's a gift, okay?

( water dripping heavily )

Oy.

All right, now, what's going on?

You've got a little problem.

Your building's falling apart.

This is a little problem?

( woman screams )

My God. Dios

mío. Son of a bitch.

[MAN SIGHS]

JOE: I'm getting a machine.

And what the hell's the use of

having an emergency number,

if you put a machine on it?

Gigot, you know, I got that

appointment... that business appointment...

Coming in, like, 25 minutes.

I teach computer

skills to businessmen.

( screams )

Yeah, well, some plumber's

gonna have a merry Christmas.

What are you doing?

Wait, wait, where you going?

What are you doing?

Where are you going?

Did you fix it?

( cell phone rings )

Oh, Papi, I love you.

No, I have an emergency.

I take care of your

computer anytime, okay?

Do we have an emergency?

Merry Christmas, baby ♪

Sure do treat me nice ♪

Mm-mm ♪

Oh, oh ♪

CUSTOMER: Thanks.

WAITRESS: Merry

Christmas, sweetie.

( people chattering )

There you go.

WAITRESS: Two

eggs turned, bacon,

whole wheat, dry.

( sighs )

MAN: You from around here?

Is the garage open?

Service station?

Oh.

Is there a service

station open around here?

Sure. There's an Arco

on the corner of

Fourth over here.

MAN: Think they have

a mechanic on hand?

Well, gosh, I don't know.

It's just gas station.

( woman screams )

WAITRESS: Next time I

call the cops, you got that?

Next time you bring

that damn thing here,

you deal with the law.

What do you think

I'm running, a zoo?

( shouting indistinctly )

Hey, monkey man.

Yo, dog, come here, I

wanna ask you something.

( laughs )

Hey, don't walk away.

I said I wanna discuss

something with you.

MAN: Talk to me,

baby. Talk to me.

Don't be like that, man.

( grunts )

Yes, you did ♪

You bought me a diamond

ring for Christmas ♪

And I feel like I'm in heaven ♪

Heaven, yeah ♪

Gigot.

You'll take care of

that water damage, eh?

I don't wanna bring

any plasterers in.

Merry Christmas. You doing okay?

You're not drinking, are you?

And you got rid of that monkey?

Good. I owe you one.

Oh, Gigot, there you are.

Let's get one thing clear.

This ain't a Christmas present.

His birthday was

actually January 6th,

but the Romans changed

it 300 years after he died.

And why did they change it?

One word: Retail.

L'chaim.

When you get a minute,

I still gotta jiggle the handle.

Oh.

Would you switch that

thing off? That's the problem.

It's taking up

all the electricity.

I'm not taking

all the electricity.

That plug is messed

up from all the water.

NANNA: Why do you wanna go

looking all Vanna White anyways?

Why you always ragging on

me, Nanna? I gotta be at work.

I'm late, they fire

me. You understand?

NANNA: Look, Nadine,

you better stop talking

back. Don't let me

come over there now.

NADINE: I can't go to work

looking like a ragamuffin.

NANNA: Well, who cares how you

look? Who's looking at you anyway?

NADINE: Oh, who's helping

bring in the money in this house?

NANNA: You better

stop your stuff. Jamal,

come over here and do

something and help me!

Come on over here, boy.

Look at that. Aren't you

just the savior of Christmas!

Mm-mm.

JAMAL: Hey, yo, yo, Gigot!

Hey, Nanna forgot

to give you this, man.

Hey, you cool, man. That's

cool you didn't bust me.

You got my back, you

know what I'm saying?

I'm gonna square up.

Hey, man, you got my stuff?

Oh, man. Why'd you do that?

Yo, Gigot, don't be messing

with me, man. Damn.

Oh, this is so nasty.

( people chattering )

WOMAN: Feliz Navidad, Gigot.

MAN [ON TV]: Clarence!

Clarence!

Clarence! Clarence!

Help me, Clarence.

( mouthing words )

STEWART ( on TV ): Get me back.

Get me back.

I don't care what happens to me.

Get me back to my wife and kids.

Help me, Clarence, please.

Please.

( phone ringing )

( snoring )

( answering machine beeps )

WOMAN ( on

machine ): Gigot, listen.

The new people is making a

heck of a lot of noise downstairs,

and it don't sound so good.

Will you check it

out for me, papi?

Okay? Feliz Navidad.

( hangs phone up )

( baby crying )

( loud music

playing in distance )

What are you doing here?

What are you doing?

Speak English?

( mouthing ) MAN: You got him?

No, it's... You know Bernard?

No? You don't know Bernard?

What's he doing?

What are you doing?

He can't talk. MAN:

He can't talk, huh?

Who are you?

What? What are you, painter?

I'm playing frigging

charades here.

You're the super.

They're living here, right?

Bernard and the black chick?

All right, I want you to

do something for me.

Give me a pen and paper,

something to write on.

Bernard gets back...

you call this number.

He's a mute. How's

he gonna call you?

Shut up! Think I'm stupid?

Bernard gets back here,

you get somebody to call.

And we'll take care of it. Huh?

You don't call, and

we'll take care of you.

( baby cries )

( fire engines wail )

( voices speaking indistinctly )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( metallic clanging )

Oh, my God. You're

the super, right?

I'm so sorry. Lou,

come on out of there.

We thought you was...

You was them guys.

Is this okay?

We just need to

stay here for tonight.

You know what's going on, huh?

Bernard kind of messed things

up, but he has assured me...

This is Lou. Louella.

You know each other.

She told me. She

told me what you done.

In the apartment?

Lou, put the bat down.

God bless you.

God bless, and merry Christmas!

( pounding at door )

Hey, man, we need a favor, okay?

I'm sorry. We don't

know anybody up here,

and it's just... We'll

make it up to you, man.

Just, uh... Just keep

her here tonight.

We've gotta go to Philadelphia.

I got this situation, okay?

It is beyond screwed

up, okay. So thank you.

Thank you, my brother,

and we'll see you tomorrow.

And we'll be back at

9, 10, noon the latest.

And she's a good kid. She

won't give you any trouble.

BERNARD: Come on.

Thank you. Arleen, right now.

Maybe some cereal

in the morning.

BERNARD: Arleen!

( snoring )

( hip-hop music

playing on stereo )

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

Man, you can sleep.

I don't mean to

be rude or nothing,

but you got nothing

to eat in this house...

except for booze

and instant coffee.

And you ain't even

got a coffeepot.

You don't talk, huh? Good.

That Bernard, he never shuts up.

But he's got nothing to say.

Sorry about last night...

with the bat and all.

I have these?

( helicopter flies overhead )

Now, that is truly heinous.

What's your name? Mine's Lou.

Sounds like a boy name, but

it's better than my real name.

Louella.

There's a boy at school,

his name is Rookey.

Course, we call him Pukey.

Slap a name on

a child like that.

What they thinking?

( screaming )

( monkey squealing )

( whimpers )

What is that?

Shh. ( squeals )

Okay, I'm gonna go

get me some breakfast,

wait for my mom upstairs.

( car alarm wails in distance )

( whistles )

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, sure.

Sure, bye.

( door opens, closes )

( loud rock music

playing in distance )

MAN ( yelling ): Shut it off!

Shut it off!

Shut it off!

Shut up!

MAN: Yeah, man. Unbelievable.

Dude, you're crazy, man.

That him?

That's him.

MAN: Yeah, yeah,

that's what I thought.

( train runs by )

Hey, how are you?

I'm so sorry. Things

got so screwed up.

I got your note.

We gonna be needing the

keys, you know, to that lock.

Thank you. Thank

you for doing that.

Hey, listen, we

gonna be leaving,

so you think you could give me

that deposit back,

like, right now?

Okay.

All right, um...

I'll figure out something else.

Thanks. Thanks.

Hey, Lou okay?

She give you any trouble?

Where she at?

You were supposed to

watch her. Where did she go?

( mouths words )

What? I'm late,

that's all. I'm just late.

So you just go

and let her run off?

What am I gonna do?

I gotta call Bernard.

Why did you do that?

I gotta find her myself.

He's gonna kill me.

Man, why did you do that?

You know what?

Thanks for nothing, man.

Thanks for nothing.

( hip-hop music

playing on stereo )

Big diamond rings and money ♪

Gonna... ♪ Hit you with a... ♪

Aa ah ah ah ah ahh ♪

Gonna... ♪ Hit you with a... ♪

Ah ah ah ah ah ahh ♪

Big girl And I like big things ♪

Big things ♪ Big diamond

rings and money ♪

Gonna... ♪ Hit you with a... ♪

( toilet flushes )

Oh. Hi.

Sorry we busted

in on you like this,

but we just didn't

have nowhere to go.

Okay, now, listen.

Look, I know I was hard

on you about this one,

and I know it was her fault,

running out on you like that.

And believe me, we have

discussed it. Right, miss?

Bernard, he's in Philly.

And things are screwed up.

And I know this is my fault,

And I'm trying

to set things right.

Um... but Bernard, he

just ain't no good, see.

And who been telling

you that all along?

Now... we ain't homeless.

We got an apartment.

We just can't go

anywhere near it.

What other place?

You give me back my

deposit, I'll get a hotel.

( hip-hop music

playing on stereo )

Gonna... ♪ Hit you with a... ♪

Ah ah ah ah ah ahh ♪

Turn that damn thing off!

And I like big things ♪

( music stops )

( somber theme plays )

( car honks )

( food sizzling )

Oh, hey, where you been?

My mom left you a note.

She went to Philadelphia

with brain-dead.

She'll be back tonight.

Want some eggs? I

went out and got 'em.

Wow, you don't look so good.

My mom said I have

to be nice to you.

No running off and no

playing my tunes too loud.

You got some butter?

This is sticking

something awful.

That was perfectly good eggs.

Wait, wait, wait. My boom box.

I need my music.

My mom's gonna get really

mad if I'm not there when...

Shh!

LOU: I know where

you're going with this.

And it's a big mistake.

Oh, Gigot, it's you.

I make big pot of coffee.

Come in, come in.

Ah. And who is this?

What is your name?

Lou.

Oh, very pleased

to meet you, Lou.

( whispers ): Don't do

this. Don't do this to me.

Ah. Well, I would love

to have some company.

How long do you

think it would be?

Oh, that's fine.

Well, do you like to bake, Lou?

Gigot.

Uh. Forty-five dollars, dear.

It's okay. When you pick her up.

And I would prefer

cash, if you could.

Well...

Lemon cake, cheesecake

or chocolate brownies?

Boy, that's a tough one.

Uh, lemon cake. May

I use your bathroom?

Oh, yes, of course.

Right through there.

Oh, no.

I don't have any lemons.

Ah. But there's a

little trick we can do

with, uh, apple-cider vinegar.

Peach. No.

It's an avocado.

( cars honking, train runs by )

WOMAN: Oh.

We can make fudge.

Oh.

Do you like liverwurst, dear?

( kids shouting )

( truck horn honks )

( door closes )

LOU: Hey.

That was cruel and unusual.

And mean.

Come on, come on.

I saved you 45 bucks.

Check it out.

Hip clip. Sports

model. Water-resistant.

( mellow theme playing )

She does this

sometimes. I don't know.

She'll come back. Don't worry.

I'm used to it.

My uncle, he came

back from the Navy,

and all he did was drink.

He died in a trailer.

And they said... his

liver was hard as a brick.

( monkey squeals )

We ain't had no dinner.

There's nothing in there.

I'm going to the deli.

You want something?

( whistles )

I'm just a kid. I need to eat.

( food sizzling )

I want 'em.

For dessert.

Coffee, black.

( mellow hi-hop theme playing )

( liquid gurgles )

( toilet flushes )

Fss! Fss! Fss! Fss! Fss!

( monkey squealing )

( sighs )

This really sucks.

MAN ( on TV ): Three, two, one.

Happy 2004!

And just listen to that

Times Square crowd.

( people cheering on TV )

( "Auld Lang Syne"

playing on TV )

MAN [ON TV]: Happy

New Year, everyone.

What? Where you going?

( fireworks explode on TV )

Well, I might not be here

when you get back either.

( "Auld Lang Syne" continues )

( fireworks explode )

( intercom buzzes )

WOMAN ( over intercom ): Yeah?

Gigot?

What are you

doing here? It's late.

( door buzzing )

( car honking )

WOMAN: You can't just drop in.

Where the hell were

you Wednesday?

Well, you can't just

show up like this, hon.

Uh-uh, no. I got bread.

I bought my groceries.

What's the matter with you?

( fireworks continue exploding )

Yeah, well, happy

New Year to you too.

I guess making it

through another year

is cause for celebration, huh?

Yeah.

Next year might be better.

That's worth

drinking to, isn't it?

Okay. I'm gonna go shower.

I got some new towel racks.

Hang them for me, will you, hon?

( plaintive trumpet

theme playing )

Gigot.

It's getting late.

Oh, honey, don't ask me that.

You know I don't do that.

I'll see you Wednesday.

I'm good for now.

You do the towel racks

next time, though, huh?

Go home.

Gigot.

Wednesday's your day.

( loud rock music

playing in distance )

IRA: It's the breakdown

of the nuclear family.

I'm not one to say anything

nice about the Mormons,

but they raise their kids.

They call that music.

( whistles )

Oh, you got something?

Everybody lies. I lied on mine.

Is that the emergency number?

You can't read

that. It's schmutzy.

Come on, stop it.

Ah, you're making

it more schmutz.

Who's that? I don't know.

Well, look at it. You're

not even looking at it.

I don't know who that is.

Well, who's this? I

don't know them either.

Well, it's not a them.

It's the day of the week.

The kid can't read.

She can't read.

It's the school systems.

No wonder the

country's in the crapper.

Cheryl Alexander.

Do you know her?

She's married to my uncle.

Where's your uncle? Dead.

Don't you have anybody?

An aunt, a cousin,

an uncle, anything?

No. Where's your father?

I don't know.

You don't know

where your father is?

No, I don't. I never

even met him.

You see? That's my point.

That's what I'm talking about.

So, what do we do? We

vote in the Republicans.

You think I wanna be here?

You think this is fun for me?!

Hang out with Mr. Yakkity-Yak.

She's coming back.

She always comes back.

( door opens, closes )

What did I say?

She's a sensitive

kid. That's not all bad.

So, what do we got here?

Can you read that?

"Two-one-five."

You got a name and an

area code. Give me the phone.

What is that...?

Where am I calling?

Where is it?

Philadelphia? See, I told you.

It's in Philadelphia.

Do you have a

listing for a Cheryl...?

What's her name?

Alexander.

Well, give me all three.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

( subtle blues theme playing )

( monkey squealing )

Eek.

( coughing )

Is that why you don't talk?

Can I see?

That's nasty.

You get that in a fight?

Mm.

Don't be thinking you

gonna leave me with my aunt.

Uh-uh. No way.

She ain't even gonna

know where my mom is.

Them two, they hate each other.

Nasty bitch.

Mm-mm-mm.

( doorbell buzzes )

This'll be fun.

Don't you come here.

Now I told the man on the phone

I don't know

nothing about Arleen.

The woman's trouble. And

she always been trouble.

So you just go on. I

don't want no part of this.

I ain't no family.

That girl is no blood to me.

Call the police. Call somebody.

MAN: Who was that?

CHERYL: I told 'em not to

come down here. Damn fools.

Hm. Isn't she sweet?

Don't be getting any ideas, now.

MAN: Yeah.

( muffled conversation )

MAN: Yeah, that's cool.

And let me get a pie.

She don't mind living

in a bowling bag?

Sorry I'm such

a pain in the butt.

Look, let's just go

home. She'll come back.

She always comes back.

She wasn't always like this.

You ain't really seen my mama.

I mean, she wasn't Mom

of the Year or nothing,

but for the last two years,

when she met Bernard,

things just got...

Hey.

Bernard used

to talk to this guy.

Tony or Johnny or something.

Yeah, here in Philly.

He had a gas station.

No, no. It was...

It was a tire store.

I don't remember the name.

Finnigan's... Framer's Tire...

Frowley's Automotive...

Jorge's Tire and Lube...

No.

Gershon and Sons.

Hey, I'm only on a

ten-minute break, man.

Gilly's Full-Service Auto,

Glo-ball Tire, Harry's Exxon...

Wait. Whoa, wait. Glo-ball.

I think that's it. I

think that may be it.

Glo-ball Tire.

What's wrong?

Your wallet?

That guy with the

newspaper. Behind you.

You've been jacked, Jack.

You got any money?

Mm. Mm-mm.

( bus engine revs )

You got a bus ticket home?

We got an idea?

Just asking. Jeez.

( horns honking,

construction drill rattling )

( Gigot playing harmonica )

Oh, hi.

Look at you.

WOMAN 2: Yeah.

Oh. You're so cute.

( people clapping )

( laughing )

WOMAN: Good job.

Here you go. Good.

( audience laughs )

LOU: Pretty little raven

At the bopper stand ♪

Taught him how to do the

bop And it was grand ♪

He started goin' steady

And, oh, my soul ♪

He out-bopped the

buzzard And the oriole ♪

He rocks in the

treetop All day long ♪

Huffin' and puffin'

And singin' his song ♪

All the little birdies

On Jaybird Street ♪

Love to hear the robin

go Tweet, tweet, tweet ♪

Rockin' robin, tweet

I love the beat ♪

Rockin' robin, tweet

I love the beat ♪

Go, rockin' robin 'Cause you

really gonna rock tonight ♪

Yeah ♪

Tweet-a-leet

Tweet-a-leet-leet-leet ♪

Tweet, tweet Tweet, tweet ♪

( audience claps, applauds )

( screeches )

Oh, my God.

This is tight.

( Gigot whistles )

Two hundred channels?

I know what I'm doing tonight.

This girl's okay.

I take back everything

I ever said about you.

What's her name?

You don't call her anything?

I'm stupid. Can I name her?

I'm thinking.

You rush these things,

you end up with a name

like "Pukey" Rookey.

Or Louella.

( car horns honking, crashing )

What's wrong?

It's just a fender-bender.

( plaintive jazz theme plays )

I feel like Britney Spears.

MAN: About five

blocks. LOU: Thanks.

MAN: Mm-hm.

( fire engine siren wails )

I wanna come.

MAN 1: No, no, I'm

not gonna let you, man.

( muffled conversation )

MAN 2: I told you, Tuesday.

( rap music playing on stereo )

So build a bridge ♪

To walk the path Check

my mathematics ♪

Me plus you plus two

Kiss equals friendly ♪

Ain't gonna be no static... ♪

[WOMAN MOANING]

Walking, street walking

Like I was JC the savior ♪

What could be greater than

JD with changed behavior? ♪

( applause and cheering on TV )

I'm a changed man

In the gangland ♪

We've really not got

nothing To talk about... ♪

MAN ( on TV ): If you're

interested in losing weight,

like so many of our audience...

If your desire is to

keep the weight off,

then the Showtime

Rotisserie Diet...

Where's Lou?

Don't let her see me like this.

She ain't never

seen me like this.

I'm gonna square up.

I got me a job interview, see.

What time is it?

And I got me a job.

Gotta get me a job.

WOMAN ( on TV ): I've

lost 15 pounds in 30 days.

That's a half a pound a day.

Get me something.

LOU: Hit it. Patty-cake,

hit it. Patty-cake, hit it.

Patty-cake, baker's man. Hit it.

Patty-cake, baker's man. Good.

Anything?

Well?

( quiet guitar theme )

So, what do we do?

Grace.

Let's call her Grace.

Did you see the one where

Will told her to move out,

and then he really missed her?

( children laughing,

sirens wailing )

( whistles )

Bye.

( car horn honking )

School zone, bozo.

MAN: Hey, watch

where you're going.

Okay. Okay.

Okay. Okay.

Check it out.

Don't you ever

smile? "Excellent."

You see that? "Excellent."

( tires squeal,

car horn honking )

I'm not saying anything.

( monkey squealing )

Done.

( whistles )

They check it at school.

Sorry.

What's wrong

with that? "Nitting."

( sighs )

"K-nitting"?

What's the K doing there?

Whose stupid-ass idea was that?

Your teaching skills suck.

"Know."

"G-nat"?

"Nat"? What the hell is a gnat?

Mosquito?

I don't know what that is.

Log?

Stop it. It's... It's not funny.

I'm done with this.

( whistles )

( chicken clucks on TV )

( breathes heavily )

( quiet guitar theme playing )

( door opens, slams shut )

You promised.

You're a liar.

( door closes )

( police siren

wails in distance )

You can't do homework

with me anymore.

Then you have to be nice.

I'm two years older than

everybody in my class.

That's bad enough.

My mother's never

been gone this long.

( thunder rumbling )

( inaudible dialogue )

( loud music

playing in distance )

I work nights. Shut 'em up.

Shut 'em up, Gigot!

Because I swear to God,

on my mother's grave,

I will kill every

single one of them!

Shut up. Shut it up!

Shut up!

( loud music continues )

Excuse me. You the super?

You know an Arleen Alexander?

Okay.

Well, her name's not on the box,

and we have this

as a last address.

Did she leave a forwarding?

So, what do you think?

Turn it over to Child Services?

DETECTIVE: Yeah.

We're looking for the

daughter. Mother died.

( mouthing ): How?

DETECTIVE: Uh, drug overdose.

Do us a favor, will you?

Give us a call if you hear

anything about the girl.

Sound good?

There's a Yiddish word for

what you're doing, my friend.

And I don't remember it,

but in Catholic it means,

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

what the hell are you doing?"

( muffled Spanish conversation )

VET: Has she been

having seizures?

Yes.

VET: And you have no

poison set out in the building?

I'd have to run a test to be

absolutely sure, but best guess...

it's a strychnine-based

rat poison.

I've seen it a million

times in dogs and cats.

An animal this size...

I'm sorry.

If you want, you could

just leave her with me.

I can...

( door closes )

( plaintive trumpet

theme playing )

( keys jingling )

Yo.

W... What's this?

( snoring )

( cars honking in distance )

LOU: Hey, get up!

Come on, get up!

It's Saturday, and

we need to go.

We're wasting time.

I'm not telling, but you

and me, we need to chill.

Seriously chill. Okay?

( people screaming )

Oh! Whoa!

That was so slamming!

Let's do it again.

What's wrong?

Where you going?

Hey. Where you going?

You can't go under there. Stop.

Hey.

Hey, man, stop.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, stop! You

can't go under there!

Hey. Hey, where you going?

You can't be under here. Stop.

What?

Look, you cannot be

under here. Come on.

This?

Thanks. Sorry.

Hey. Can I be

straight up with you?

You do not look

good in that hat.

( playing harmonica )

Olympic gymnast.

Science teacher.

( laughs )

( shooting gallery guns firing )

( Lou laughing )

Definitely.

( resumes playing harmonica )

You found my mother in

Philadelphia, didn't you?

Because you stopped looking.

Was she messed up?

Bad?

She's never left me this long.

( gentle theme plays )

She OD'd?

I have this friend Gregory.

And he went to foster

care out in Long Island.

And he got adopted by a doctor.

And they live right there.

Right on the beach.

Sweet... huh?

Hey. Don't worry about me.

I do okay on my own.

Yeah.

( siren wailing in distance )

( Lou sobbing )

( talking indistinctly )

IRA: Why the hell not?

They'll let anybody foster

a kid. They're desperate.

They'd let me, and

I'm 100 years old,

and a Communist to boot.

They don't give a rat's

tuchis if you're a mute.

And if they do,

you can sue them.

The Disability Act of 1974.

Then why do you

keep hiding the girl?

You're confused, my friend.

I don't know a lot, but I

know you're confused.

And they don't have

a sense of humor

when it comes to young kids.

WOMAN: No, I sent in the forms.

I wouldn't say "basement."

It doesn't sound good.

Call it "garden apartment."

( phone rings, people chatter )

Wait a minute,

you skipped there.

Are your parents alive?

Well, you've gotta say if

they're deceased or not.

Okay, okay.

Oh, excuse me.

When you apply to

be a foster parent,

can you get to choose the kid?

I mean, how does that work?

Well, once we've done

the background check,

we try and match the

kids with the family.

IRA: Oh, but say if

you want a specific kid.

There's a child in

the system now?

Oh, no, I was just interested.

Can you get a kid in particular?

Absolutely. If there's

a friend of the family.

Or some sort of an

existing relationship.

Sure. Sure.

Thank you very much.

You people do a great job.

Bureaucrats.

Whenever you get a chance,

you gotta blow smoke up their ass.

Greases the

wheels down the line.

Boychik, you look

like your dog died.

It'll work out.

Well, why not?

You got a felony?

What did you do?

You got a felony

for smoking pot?

Oy! Did you do any time?

You put that on

your application?

Ah... That's my boy.

Don't worry. It'll work out.

Never underestimate the

incompetence of the government.

Look at Amtrak.

( simple guitar theme playing )

( door opens, closes )

Hey. What you doing?

School? Oh, it was great.

It was great.

Check it out.

"If I was in the circus."

Our assignment after

our sorry-ass field trip.

I added the flames.

Make it more dangerous.

They had a net.

I gave Grace a friend.

( snoring )

"Nine-year-old girl...

"dies on... highway."

( Gigot snoring )

IRA: Vietnam.

Very dark chapter

in our history.

I went to every demonstration.

But I'll tell you this,

a little-known fact.

That every time there

was tear gas, you got laid.

Don't ask me why,

but it was a fact.

Not only did you get laid,

but you got laid

with enthusiasm.

Oh.

Oh, Mr. Baker.

I'm calling for

Mr. Charles Gigot.

Yes. We're looking for the

phone number of your son.

What's his name?

Clarence. They were

Army buddies together.

Could you perhaps

help us with that?

( The Youngbloods'

"Get Together" playing )

( camera shutter clicks )

Love is but a song to sing ♪

Fear's the way we die ♪

You can make the

mountains ring ♪

Or make the angels cry... ♪

WOMAN: Thank you.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Can

I get you something to drink?

And you may not know why ♪

Come on, people, now ♪

Smile on your brother ♪

Everybody get together... ♪

( doorbell chimes )

Right now ♪

( laughing )

Oh, man, look at you!

Come on in. Come on in.

( laughs )

I couldn't believe it

when my dad called.

Hey, Bets! That's C.J.

That's my boy, Clarence Jr.

Nice to meet you.

Yeah, this is Charlie Gigot.

You wouldn't be

here if not for him.

Hey, Bets!

What are you drinking, man?

She's a pretty girl.

She's... Why...?

She's asleep, huh?

I-I-I don't know

what to tell you.

I mean, jump in

here anytime, Bets.

She's really cute.

We already put one

boy through college.

We've got another

one in college.

God knows what C.J.'s

gonna do. He's going to college.

I mean, we've been raising

kids for 20-something years now.

We're tired.

We're done.

( phone ringing )

BETS: I think that's work.

Would you excuse me?

Don't do that to me, man.

That's beneath you.

C.J.: I'm going.

I'm taking the Jeep.

Eleven-thirty. I mean it.

Nice to meet you, Charlie.

CLARENCE: You need any money?

How's your mom and dad?

Oh, my God. It was

such a great movie.

And we were, like, crying

and eating these

individual frozen pizzas

with goat cheese, ooh,

and all other kinds of

gourmet stuff: olives...

We gotta get some of

those. Oh, check it out.

In the dark, they're

all sparkly and all.

Hey, how's your

uncle? He feeling better?

First, you put some

sparkly stuff on.

Then you put some fixer

on. And then you let it dry

'Cause if you

don't, they fall off.

What?

What's wrong?

"Ch-child...

WOMAN: Thank you very much.

Wel..."

We... We could hide.

We can go to Philadelphia.

We can go to the locker.

Come on. I know.

Let's just go back to

Gloria's house. Come on.

TERRY: Louella!

Hi, Louella.

( sobs )

I'm Terry. How are you doing?

I don't know. You tell me.

Listen, we're from the

Child Welfare Department,

and we were wondering

if we could talk to you.

Sure.

( phone ringing, loud

rock music blaring )

MAN ( over machine ):

Gigot, it's ten minutes to 9.

What in the name

of God is going on?

Those idiots next

door are already at it.

We had an agreement.

( snoring )

Now, you do something, damn it.

( hangs phone up )

( birds singing, dog barking )

( doorbell buzzes )

Listen, they're gonna move

Louella to a different home.

It ain't us. We love her.

They're saying we got too

many, but that's a bunch of BS.

I think it's her school.

She's having a lot

of trouble keeping up.

They think a different

environment, I guess.

She also got caught stealing

lattes at Starbucks.

Lou.

Lou!

LOU: I thought you

were a bad teacher. Jeez.

And she sweats.

It's these giant brown

stains under her armpits.

It's disgusting.

And her breath...

She must eat...

Garlic and cockroaches

for breakfast.

So they're moving me again?

That is fine by me.

You don't get to tell

me what to do anymore.

( sighs )

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You've shown me that.

I took something of yours.

I took it by accident

out of that box.

That girl with your

hat. She your sister?

She died, right?

That hat didn't look

so good on her either.

( gate swinging shut )

( slow, reflective theme plays )

( car horn beeps )

Now, get out of here.

Hey. What's going on here?

He brought his own bottle.

He does it all the time.

COP: Don't be throwing

people around like that.

He's your problem now.

You all right?

Got any ID, pal?

Where do you live? Whoa. Whoa.

What's your name?

JAMAL: He doesn't speak.

He can't talk.

He's the super of our

building. I'll get him home.

You know this kid?

I'll walk him. All right.

I want you staying out

of that bar, you hear me?

( police radio squawking )

JAMAL: Come on.

( loud rap music from bar )

Whoa. Chill, man. Chill.

I didn't have

nothing to do with it.

I swear to God I'm being

straight with you, man.

What they did, that was wrong.

I told them that. I told 'em.

Whoa. Hey. Easy, big guy.

Easy, man.

Come on. Hang on to me. Be cool.

Chill, man. Be cool, man.

( laughs ): Charles?

Your name is Charles?

Well, uh, Mr. Charles of

the "garden apartment,"

it appears this letter was

mistakenly put in my box.

( loud rock music

playing in the distance )

( music stops )

MAN 1: Stop. You're crazy.

MAN 2: Hey, I told

you. I warned you.

Bastards! I couldn't

take much more of this.

You're gonna pay for that, man!

Oy gevalt. My

kingdom for a horse.

MAN 2: I'm putting

an end to this!

Oh, what the...? MAN

2: This has got to stop.

I work nights.

It's the pounding.

That pounding and pounding.

That's not music.

It's not music.

Man, he right. Y'all guys stink.

Y'all sound like six cats

in a high-speed blender.

MAN 1: You're insane,

man. I'm calling the police.

MAN 2: Arggh! MAN 1: Oh! Oh!

The last good song

was "Fascinating Rhythm."

Ira Gershwin, 1924.

MAN 2: One more

thing for you, pal.

Do you think I was kidding

you? MAN 1: That's just great.

MAN 2: If I have to come

back in here one more time...

One more time... You

are going off the balcony...

and your friends

are going off the balcony too!

( plays bass )

Don't worry about it.

You might be coming

down with something.

Everybody I know has a cold.

You look tired.

You want something to drink?

Marry you?

( laughs )

Oh. Um...

You know, honey, I... I

couldn't adopt that girl either.

I spent more time

in jail than you.

You haven't got anybody

that could help?

No family?

( sighs )

( laughs )

Oh, I'd love to have seen

your face if I'd said yes.

( plaintive trumpet

theme playing )

Why don't you go?

Don't worry, I'll see

you next Wednesday.

Just go.

( dance music

playing inside shop )

Something to drink?

Ice?

Five dollars.

Is there something wrong?

Can I get you something else?

( closes cab door )

Yes?

Do the Gigots live here?

I'm Mrs. Gigot.

( exhales ) Are you Charles?

She was diagnosed in June.

By November, we couldn't

keep her here anymore.

So we put her in the hospital.

She never came out.

She died December 3rd,

1983.

I tried to get in

touch with you.

I sent a letter to the

address I had for you.

It came back

"addressee unknown."

I called the VA.

I even called your friend

in Chicago, your Vietnam buddy.

No one knew where you were.

MRS. GIGOT: I met

your dad in 1985.

On a vacation in Mexico.

Well, it was on a cruise ship.

I was sick the whole time.

What do you want, Charlie?

You in trouble?

You were just in

the neighborhood

and you thought you'd stop by?

After 28 years?

"I'm sorry about Mom ."

Why don't I...

No. No. I want you to stay.

"I have a small wiper."

Windshield wiper...

Prob... Trouble.

"I have a problem."

"I do need your help.

"But first...

"I have to tell you something.

"The accident

"was my fault.

"It was all my fault.

"I was falling.

"Tripping.

I had been smoking marijuana,

doing drugs, drinking..."

You think

I am an idiot?

You think we didn't know

that? My God, Charlie.

You didn't breathe

a sober breath

the two months

that you were home.

Why do you think we

were fighting all the time?

Why do you think

I wouldn't let you

use the car?

"Why didn't they arrest me?

You were hanging on by a thread.

Everybody thought you were

gonna die too, for God's sakes.

Should we have pressed

charges against you?

"I was wasted." I know that.

Gene...

We didn't know how to help you.

I tried to get you

back to work.

That's why I was pressing

to get you to come

into the company.

What do you need

from us, Charlie?

"I need...

I need you to forgive me."

GENE: Forgive you?

Get in line,

right behind me.

Because every

day I ask myself...

why I didn't get you help.

Why I didn't find the strength

to put you in a hospital.

Want forgiveness?

Take it up with God.

( scoffs )

Hope you have

better luck than me.

"I got arrested

"some time ago.

"Felony. I was in prison.

"So I can't...

"foster...

"I can't foster her myself.

"I would do all the work.

"I'd move here.

"She would live with me.

"But legally... How dare you?

Eugene. After all

you put us through.

You put your mother through!

She died without...

All she kept asking,

all she wanted...

was you.

You lost your sister.

I lost both my children.

And now you have the nerve

to come here and

ask this crazy thing.

Excuse me.

( woman sniffs tearfully )

( blows nose )

You said you just needed

some papers signed.

( door opens, closes )

( car horns honking )

TERRY: She says she

was just holding them

while she was shopping.

Of course, she didn't

have any money,

so that didn't really fly.

Did she have a

problem with shoplifting

when she was with you?

Mmm. She also

seems to like Starbucks.

I was hoping that

when I moved her,

that this new family

would make her feel...

I don't know.

Well, the teacher's report...

"Severe learning disability,

probable attention

deficit disorder."

I know.

We had her at a

residential facility,

but she seems to have

been AWOL most of the time.

So now she's at the Wright

Juvenile Detention Center.

I don't know what to do.

You?

What, you wanna see her?

Yeah.

I have to get you a

visitor's authorization.

( door buzzes )

I'm sorry. She doesn't

wanna see you.

That's what she said.

Can I help you? WOMAN: Hi.

Excuse me, I was

just wondering...

I wanna talk to you...

GIRL: Yes, you were.

( girls chattering )

( pounding on door )

IRA: I hate this holiday.

It's pagan, you know that?

Did I tell you the bit

about the Christmas tree?

( groaning )

Oh, my God.

What the hell are you

trying to do, kill me?

I love Mexico,

but what kind of culture is it

when they put a worm

in the booze, on purpose?

( chuckles )

Have a drink with me.

( whistles )

Completely?

Oh, Gigot, you tried

everything you could.

You tried your best, but...

Here, Gigot, here.

Open this.

I'm not in the habit of

buying clothes for people.

But I can't stand to look at

you in that schmatte anymore.

No offense,

you look like a condom:

a walking condom.

Try it on.

Ah, my father always said,

"You can always judge a

man by the hat he wears."

( slow, plaintive

theme playing )

Now you're styling, my friend.

MEN ( singing ): Cutting

me deep, steep ♪

You're a pretender ♪

Look who's laughing now Yo ♪

I'm a contender ♪

Sounding like six cats

♪ Caught in a blender ♪

MEN: It's what you said, yo ♪

Yo, yo, yo, hold it.

Chill. Chill. Chill. Chill.

Merry Christmas, Gigot, man.

Hey, what's happening, Gigot?

Right. Guys, I warned

you about that already.

Volume control. Rich?

Sorry, man. Merry

Christmas, Gigot.

MAN: Merry Christmas,

man. See you later.

JAMAL: All right. One more

time from the top. Let's go.

ALL: It's what you said, yo ♪

What I remember ♪

Cutting me deep, steep ♪

You're a pretender ♪

SANTA: Ho, ho, ho!

Here you go. Merry Christmas.

I think we have

something for you.

Merry Christmas. Ho, ho.

Let's see what we have

in here for you.

Santa, listen.

If I promise not to be naughty

and be extra-special nice,

can I get a cappuccino machine

with the

auto-bean-grinder built in?

Hmm?

Hmm?

( train whistle blares )

( plaintive trumpet

theme playing )

( sighs )

( woman calls

distantly in Spanish )

MAN: Gracias!

Feliz Navidad.

( bell ringing )

GIRL ( giggles ):

Come on. I know!

( women chuckling )

( choral music playing )

( sobs )

Merry Christmas, Charles.

I'm so sorry about

the way things...

I haven't been able to sleep.

It's just...

( choral theme continues )

I give up. What

the heck is this?

Louella? Somebody

dropped this off for you.

Who dropped this...?

( snowball thuds )

GIRL: Who is that?

This fool's gonna

have his ass arrested.

Anybody know him?

( snowball thuds )

GIRL 2: Who is that?

Ooh.

LOU: Move it, you guys.

Who's this?

Lou? It's nice to meet

you. I'm Charlie's father.

I get it. I get it.

He's your father.

( choral theme continuing )

( engine droning )

WOMAN: Yes, I

understand the problem.

Hold on.

It's Bruce Payez.

They're a week behind.

They wanna know if we can

hold his fixtures until Wednesday.

"No. We don't have any space.

"It's your problem.

You're gonna have to

pick them up." Hold on.

( whispers ) You don't

mean naked, do you?

"Early."

You're gonna have

to pick 'em up soon.

Like, say, now would be good.

Yeah, you wish.

GENE: I got a call for

three pallets of 5/4 white oak.

Okay. Just ask Johnny.

He's got some in the shed.

MAN: I'll talk to him...

( children chattering )

( boy laughing )

( honks )

LOU: Call me tonight. KIDS: Bye.

GIRL: Bye, Lou.

Hey, Pops. No school, two weeks.

You gotta love it.

Oh, he's just in my class.

Nuh-uh. Don't go there. Drive.

( starts car )

Well, what?

Oh, I'll show you

when we get home.

I'll make a deal with you:

I show you my report

card and you smile,

you buy me some new CDs.

Then you're a

big, fat loser, Jack.

DJ ( on radio ): KFCA,

the groove of St. Louis.

JAMAL ( on radio ): Sounding

like six dead cats In a blender ♪

It's what you said, yo ♪

What I remember ♪

Cutting me deep, steep

You're a pretender... ♪

Oh, my God.

I'm a contender ♪

Sounding like Six dead

cats in a blender ♪

It's what you said, yo ♪

Yeah, it's forever

High-speed blender, player ♪

Think you're clever ♪

Burning from the basement ♪

It's now or never ♪

Six dead cats ♪

Six dead cats ♪

Yeah, six dead cats Yo, yo ♪

Burning from the basement

It's now or never ♪

Six dead cats, yo

Yeah, six dead cats ♪

( song ends )

( organ theme playing )

NARRATOR: We hope you enjoyed

this Johnson & Johnson

spotlight presentation on TNT.