Good Fences (2003) Movie Script
1
[Children laughing, chattering]
[Girl] You're so slow. Come on.
[Boy] Man, go away.
Mom, tell Stormy to stop.
Come on. Hurry up.
[Man on radio] WBLS.
107.5 New York.
Slow-going on
the Merrick Parkway
heading out of the city
this afternoon.
But don't let that spoil
the start of your weekend.
TGIF begins right now
with this new release
from Johnny Nash.
[Boy] You can't even
ride one of these.
Come on, fall.
Fall, fall. Go bother somebody else.
I can see clearly now Oh, that's my song.
The rain is gone
I can see all obstacles Mom.
In my way What's she trying to do?
[Girl] This is so embarrassing.
[Boy] It sure is. Come on.
Mom, just... Mmm.
It's gonna be a bright Bright
Bright Bright
Sunshiney day
[Boy] What is she doing?
It's gonna be a bright Bright
Bright Bright
Sunshiney day
I think I can make it now
The pain is gone
All of the bad feelings
I'm gonna get you.
Have disappeared
Whoa!
[Stormy laughing] Yeah!
[Boy] Oh, Mom, did you
see what she just did?
[Mother] Stormy, I need
you to wipe that table off now.
Getting ready to eat.
And, mister, you need to put something
on those knees, ashy as they look.
Wait till your father sees them.
[car horn honking][Kids]
Daddy's home!
Nothing but blue sky
Look straight ahead
Tom, what did you do?
What does it look like I did?
I bought us a new car.
Does this mean
you got the promotion?
No.
This is how I'm gonna get it,
sweetheart.
What do you mean, this is
how you're gonna get it, honey?
Can't you see?
This car shouts,
"I am not the sort of automobile
driven by a man
content to rot in the basement
doing legal research."
I was law review,
third in my class.
This sort of car
reminds them of that.
[engine starts, backfires]Oh! Oh!
Tom![engine revs]
Do all Italian cars do that?
Maybe it's trying to talk to us
in smoke signals.
Now hop on in the car.
I'm taking the family
to Sizzler.
[both] Yeah!
[laughing] That tickles.
[Man] You're the
one read it in Cosmo.
I know, but I didn't know
it was gonna tickle.
Here. Let me get
the baby toe right here, baby.Okay.
Let me get the one.
Let's see. Here. Get it.
[laughing][laughs] I got it.
[blowing]
[laughter continues]
Whoo! Ooh.
You like that blowing,
don't you? I do.
Hey, did you ever hear about
that job from the Urban League?
Oh, the nincompoops gave it to
some boojy moron from Harvard.
What? Yeah.
I'm sorry. Ah, don't be.
Something else came up
that might
I don't wanna say anything
about it right now,
but it just might
change everything.
What you mean, you don't
wanna say nothing about it now?
Come on now. You're being a spy.
Not a spy. You gonna be Tom the Spy?
What happened? No, no, baby girl.
Yesterday, Sullivan himself
came down to my dungeon.
[gasps]Yeah.
And he was hinting, you know?
It's not ideal,
but, baby, it may be
the crack in the wall
we've been praying for.
Oh, Tom, that's wonderful.
Now... Now what?
Now you know what.
Now you know what.
I just wanna... I'm not... It's
I know what you want.
I know what you want. I want that toe
to kick up and hit that ceiling.
Well, you have to do
the both of them.
Oh, baby,
let me just get one.No.
And then let me do it twice.Mm-mm.
I'll do one and then the other
one. No, you have to do both.
You make it hard for a
man. Well, that's the idea.
Get on down there and do
the rest of my toes. All right.
Come on, baby. Blend for Mama.
Hurry, ladies.
She's about to tell him.
Coming! [Man on TV]
Why the sudden formality?
Come on, come on, come
on. Wait, wait, wait. Hurry up.
I'm coming, I'm coming. Oh. Oh.
[Woman] That's
exactly my point, Doctor.
I don't love you anymore.
I love Dr. Quartermain,
and I'm keeping his baby.
[all laughing]
I tell you,
I didn't think she would do it.
I didn't think she would do it.
As fine as Dr. Q is,
I would've told my trifling Ray
after the first kiss.
Oh, really? Yeah.
Hey, I'm home!
Hey... Hey, baby.
Hey, I'm on television.
I'm on television.
I'm on television.
[Mother] What do you
mean, on television?
I'm at the courthouse.
Me, Joe Klein,
of course Sullivan
and the rest of the partners.
All right. Here it is. [Man]
Our top story again tonight
is the Vickswell Avenue blaze.
Despite sworn statements
from three eyewitnesses,
Thomas Spader, the attorney
for the accused, had this to say.
My client acted in self-defense.
Just look at Joe Klein's face.
See it twist just because
some son of a bitch
wants to hear from a black man.
Son of a bitch.
[chuckling]Son of a bitch.
Stormy! [Man] Well,
the accused arsonist,
Dr. Harold Silver,
a successful periodontist
and owner of several
low-income housing units,
has admitted
to setting the blaze
that sent two black teens to the
burn unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Doctors say those burns
are so extensive
that the risk of infection
is still very much a factor,
I'm starving. And the next 24 hours
will be critical. Who wants to eat?
[Kids] I do. The mothers of the two boys
and several neighbors have
set up a candlelight vigil.
[thinking] Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
May I please be excused?
Carol Burnett's
about to start.Absolutely.
Me, too.
May I please be excused, too? Yes. Yes.
Make sure you rinse
your plates off.
Thanks, Mom.
That guy on TV knew my name.
He called me Attorney Spader.
[applause on TV]
How about that?
Mmm.
[chuckles]What?
Come on.[patting leg]
[laughing][mouths word]
Come on.Stop. I'm too heavy.
You're light as a feather, baby.
I'm not. Come on over here.
The kids are here.
They're looking
at Carol Burnett.
Come on. [Laughter]
Tom.
Tom, Tom.
You know, I just can't stop
thinking about those boys.
Mmm. Why they got you
doing this?
They ain't got me
doing anything.
I've been rotting
at that firm for nine years now,
watching all the Joe Kleins,
the Michael Ferraros,
the Ernest O'Connors
pack up their desks
and move upstairs.
Well, I'm goddamn good and tired
of holding my breath.
This is my job.
This is what I've
been trained to do.
Baby,
we've had to make
hard decisions like this
all the time in law school.
This is just another one
of those tests.
And putting my client in jail is
not gonna help those boys heal.
This is the hand we were dealt.
And, little girl,
I swear to you,
before my family,
I'm gonna win with it.
Tommy-Two, you can go over
to Robbie's house if you want to,
but if Mrs. Sanchez
starts asking you
any more questions
about your father's trial,
you tell her you don't know.
Yes, Mom. A lot of nerve asking
a child about this thing.
Come on, Stormy.
Mommy, why do the boys at school
call Steve O'Dell
Little One Ball?
Is it 'cause he only has
one testicle?
Sometimes I understand
why animals eat their young.
Ow, ow, ow! It stings, Mommy!
What stings, Stormy?
There's nothing but water
in your hair.
You're just acting.
[Woman] Mabel? Yeah.
He's on TV again.
Who is on TV again, Tina?
Tom.[TV clicks on]
[Man] Yesterday's
peaceful demonstration
turned ugly as darkness fell
and looters began making off
with thousands of dollars
worth of merchandise before
setting a Caldor's on fire.
Attorney for the accused
arsonist in this case
had this to say.
[Tom]
Hooligans are using the tragedylt's Daddy.
Of these misguided young men
to take what's not theirs.
Now, their actions are just
as childish as my children,
and like children,
need an appropriate punishment.
Is it true you've even received
death threats over this case?
Mabel, why didn't you
tell me? Some crank calls
from a few desperate
and confused scoundrels.
That may be the case,
but we have learned
that two New Haven police officers have
been assigned to guard your law office.
I'm wondering about your family. How
are they holding up through this ordeal?
[Tom] All the members of
my family are strong troopers.
We come from strong stock,
and we won't let
any trashy rascals
cow us into bowing our heads.
That is Attorney Tom Spader.
He is the attorney
for the accused doctor
accused of arson
and now manslaughter
in this highly divisive
and contentious case.
[rain falling]
[car approaches]
Why didn't you tell me
about the death threats?
Don't worry, sweetheart.
The police tell me
there's always a couple
in a case like this.
Now go back to sleep.
[sighs]
[phone ringing]
Larry, did you find
the precedent?
[Man speaking, faint]
Better watch it.
I got my eye on you.
[continues, faint]
You listen to me,
you stupid son of a bitch.
You call here again,
and I will find you
and break you in half.
Our people...
Don't you dare tell me
about our people.
My people know the difference
between right and wrong
and are proud of the few of us
in a position of responsibility.
Your people are obviously
ignorant chimpanzees
still swinging from the trees!
[phone clangs loudly]
Mabel?
Oh.
Go back to bed, sweetheart.
I'm fine.
How long, Tom?
Oh, I'll be up an hour or two.
That's not what I meant.
Oh, well, you know,
the trial will start Monday.
It shouldn't last more than
a week. Don't you worry.
All the fools are gonna crawl back
under the rocks they came from.
Now, baby, get some sleep.
[scoffs]
[sighs]
I don't see
why we need to make Let go.
This stupid table bigger.
It's not like
anybody else is coming. Stormy!
[gasps]
The leaf in the table
lets you know it's a holiday,
right?
Dear Lord, thank you for this
food we are about to receive
on this Thanksgiving
for the nourishment
of our bodies and our souls.
Amen.
[Mabel, Kids] Amen.
Stormy made the turkey.
She did? Mm-hmm.
[Woman] The district manager...
he says he can see Joe
taking his place
in just a couple of years.
Mmm.
Joe... has he been,
uh, working out?
[purrs] I saw him washing
the car the other day,
[Tina] Oh, no... and it looked like
he was gonna
bust right out of his shirt,
but it stayed on.
Oh, I was really hot.
Luisa, you need to watch her.
Oh, whatever. You're having sex.
I haven't had any
in a couple years.
Let's talk about something else.
I'm gonna say what I said
to you last year,
'cause I'm not good
at this hard sell, and...
Yeah, you're pretty bad at that.
Thank you for
the vote of confidence.Mm-hmm.
I use the products. They're just as
good as the name-brand products.
They're not as expensive,
which is also a plus.
And, uh, if you decide
you wanna buy some this year,
wonderful.
If you decide you don't wanna
buy some this year, that's fine, too.
I'm just very happy
to have you all here.
Aw.Aw, Mable.
You know, with, uh...
Especially with
the trial, you know?
To Mabel.
Mm-hmm. To Mabel. To Mabel.
Well, you can put me down
for that detergent.
I love the way
it makes my sheets smell.
Isn't that what Ray's supposed to
say about you? Don't worry about Ray.
Did you get that yeast
infection taken care of?
Why do you have to bring it up in
front of ev... What's wrong with you?
You were scratching. It was a minor rash.
[doorbell rings]I'll get it.
Hector. You looking
for your mommy?
Papi says, um, come home now.
That bastard's got
that racist bastard off.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Mabel.
Joe, he...
What? He got off? Oh.
Why this restaurant?
And tonight of all nights?
I mean, this is so public.
That's the point, my love.
We're here to celebrate.
[Tommy-Two]
Is Daddy a famous genius now?
[Tom]
Why, yes, Handsome Harry, he is.
Tommy-Two, slow down.
You're acting like you never
ate cake before.
[muffled] Never had cake
and my own steak before. Oh!
And your mouth is full.
Leave the boy in peace.
He's just excited.
Did you see
what was in his mouth?
Cake?
You know, Dr. Spock
never raised black children.
That's all I'm saying.
Check, please.
Oh, uh, the gentleman over there
took care of it.
Well, I'll be goddamned.
99 percent positive
that they'll start
a criminal division,
and I'm it, honey.
Yeah? Yeah.
In a year from now,
I'll be a partner. Ooh!
In three years from now,
I'll be a judge. Ooh!
You can go on and enroll
that boy in karate class. Oh!
Oh, Tom! Tom! Yeah.
Then go back down to Malley's
and get that purse, okay? The purse?
Which purse, Tom?
What purse, Tom? Oh, yeah!
Tell me which one! The alli...
Alligator! Yeah, get the alligator.
I want the alligator! I
want two! [Mumbles]
Two! Two purses![grunting]
I want two purse...
I want two purse...
Oh, get two. Get two, baby.
I want two purses. Oh, baby.
Oh, little girl.
Tom? Shh. Yeah.
Tom? Yeah.
Honey? Oh, yeah, baby.
Can I get some shoes?
[Boy] Quizzical.
Q-U-I
Z-I-C-A-L.
Quizzical.
I'm sorry, Lyle,
but it's incorrect.
Your turn.
[clears throat]
Quizzical.
Q-U-I
Z-Z-I-C-A-L.
Quizzical.Yes.
That is correct.
[gasps]
[panting]
Tom.
Tom, honey,
it's not real anymore.
Go on back to sleep. I keep
telling you, it's not real anymore.
Go on back to sleep now.
Come on. Lay down. All right.
[bell tolling]
[no audible dialogue]
[gasps]
[chuckles]
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
[gasps] Hi, baby.
Hello, baby. [Laughs]
Oh, hi!
Open up for Mama.
Oh!
[dishes clattering]
[sniffing]
[Woman] Yes, I've seen
her rosebuds blossom.
But they've been sticking out
like that for a year now.
Where you been? And how many
boys have come sniffing around here?
You tall me that!
Dark and ashy as she is,
don't hold your breath waiting
for some man to come around here
and take her out
of your hair anytime soon.
[Man] Shut up, woman.
Plenty gals good
and married in this town
dealt a worse deck than she was.
Ain't that Pea-Pie always
sniffing around her, acting fool...
[chattering]
Get outta the way.
Okay, Pea-Pie. There you go.
Thank you there, sir.
Aw, y'all see my money?
Don't forget
you owe me 2.50.Yee!
He owe me three. Pea-Pie owe me
two bits now.
There's my girl. Mabel! Oh, Pea-Pie,
that girl don't want you.
Mabel!
Hello, Pea-Pie.
Mabel, Mabel, that new
James Dean movie's in town.
Yeah. And it's playing
at the drive-in.
I mean, I know I ain't got
a car or nothing,
but we could sure sit
on my shoeshine box... [truck backfires]
[chickens clucking][backfires]
Who's that?
Mabel!
Hey, you!
Get him, Pea-Pie. Go on. Kick
his butt, Pea-Pie. Kick his butt.
[Pea-Pie]
I'm talking to you, boy.
You know he can't fight.
I got cousins who think
they tough like you,
and they ain't nothing
neither. Get him, Pea-Pie!
I'm gonna knock you down
a peg, boy, Kick his butt.
And then I'm gonna hang you
from the nearest tree.
[Boys] Oh!
[Boys yelling]
Any of the rest of you
so dumb as to follow him?
You fight like a woman. You can't fight.
[laughter, chatter]
[clatter][Movers chatting]
So, they put you in charge,
did they?
[chuckles]You must be praying they don't
break any of the lamps.
Well, it's kind of too late
for that now.
But I must tell you,
this move was not as bad
as I thought it would be.
I'm Mrs. Bonner.
I live in the house next
door. This is Quentin.
I'm Mabel Spader.
Pleased to meet you.
[chuckles]
[sighs]
So, well, this is Quentin.
Hi.
When do they arrive?
Who? The family.
Oh, they're already here.
They're unpacking. They're inside.
[glass shatters]Oh.
[Mover]Oh, man! Damn it.
Will you excuse me?[Mover #2]
Doesn't sound good.
Just tell them
that Mrs. Jean Bonner
in the house next door
just can't wait to meet them.
Well, all right, then.[chuckles]
[chuckling] Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
[chuckles] Bye-bye.
Bye.
[sighs]
Come on, Quentin.
It's just like
you're holding... see...
Two pencils at the same time.
Daddy, I'm starving.Mmm.
Tom, you don't need to teach
him how to use those now.
The boy's been helping me
unpack all day.
Angel, we're in
the big leagues now.
He's gonna have to learn to do a
lot more than just use chopsticks.
Daddy.
[sighs]
Here.
There's no Luisa Rodriguez
around here.
There are hardly any Jews.
These are the Whitneys
and the Biddles,
the last names you see
on buildings.
Tom, I'm sure they put
their pants on
one leg at a time just like us.
We all worship the same God.
Sweet pea, that reminds me.
Pierce, the new tax attorney.Mm-hmm.
He goes to the Episcopal church
right down the street.
We're Baptist.
Uh-uh. Darling,
the nearest Baptist church
is all the way over
in Bridgeport.
[thinking] Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
And you said it yourself.
It's the same God.
Look, you know, it's a great way
to get to know the neighbors.
Just try it.
If you don't like it,
we'll... we'll attend
somewhere else, okay?
All right.
Mmm. Mmm.
[Man yelling, distant][clatter]
[Woman speaking, faint]
[yelling continues]
[clatter]Hey. Hey, babe.
What's happening?
What's going on?[blow lands]
It's that odd woman
from next door.
She came to say hello today.[Jean]
I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry!
Tom, I think he's trying to kill
her. We should call the police.
If calling the police
would help,
one of the other neighbors
would've done it years ago.
[sighing][yelling continues]
Come on back to bed, baby.
[Mr. Bonner]
Get your hands off me! No!
Don't you touch...
[sobbing]Get out! Go on!
[bell ringing]
You know Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Yep.
Do you know Walt Frazier?
Yep.
Flip Wilson? No.
Miss Jane Pittman?
Yeah.[Boys] Wow!
Can I touch your hair?
I've got almost all the David
Cassidy bubblegum cards.
[gasps] Cool! Really?
Wow.
That's great.
[Eastern European accent]
I was six years with the Blakes.
Ten years with the Hamiltons.
[Spanish accent]
Six years with the Talbots.
I'll call them and let you know.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
I'm not just talking
about college.
I'm talking law school,
and then law offices
all over the state.
Folks waving at me.
White folks
I don't even know waving
and smiling and seeing my name.
Yes, sir, Miss Mabel Johnson,
what you're looking at is the
man who's gonna single-handedly
end the colored man's
losing streak.
I know you will, Tom.
I knew it the first time
I laid eyes on you.
You did?
Mm-hmm. You did?
I'm telling you, baby,
I'm a rocket,
and you're my fuel.
[Man on TV]
Our lives are not our own.
They're merely streams
that we step into
for the short while
that we breathe air
on this sweet earth.
I am not the brave hero
that I thought that
I would grow up to be.
I am just your average
cardiothoracic surgeon
at a medium-sized
teaching hospital
doing his damnedest
to try to save some lives.
Yet there is one thing...
Why didn't you tell me
our stories was on?
Shh. Dr. Peter's
about to propose.
That is you, Nurse Rebecca.
Will you marry me?
[Nurse Rebecca] I will!
Ooh, I can't believe it!
I told you. I told you.
I knew it.
I don't know why
she said she would.
She know what she like.
She don't know about him.[laughing]
Say, listen, you know,
there's gonna be about
six of those women
from the PTA coming over here.
I don't know why he wants you
to start entertaining so soon.
You barely moved in here.
I think it's because
he wants us to show them
that we really care about
the education of our children.
And a cup of tea
is gonna do all of that?
Well, I don't know about that.
But what's worrying me is,
what am I gonna feed them?
I mean, I don't know
what these people eat.
You know, they don't seem
like chip-'n-dip kind of gals.
I tell you what.
You get some white bread,
slap some mayonnaise on it,
put some cucumbers on it,
cut the crusts off
and cut it up real small.
They'll never
know the difference.
White bread, mayonnaise,
and cucumbers?
That's what I'm talking about.
Mm-mm.
[chattering]
Aahhhhh!
[no audible dialogue]
[Butcher] Mrs.
Winslow, what'll it be?
The usual. Two T-bones
and a pound of bacon.
I was... If Bucky doesn't
get his T-bone,
he's not a happy camper.
Hey, well, I got some
beautiful ones right here.
Look how nice and marbled. Oh, lovely.
Ma'am, this is a $5 bill.
[Women laughing][Woman] I know.
[doorbell rings]
[laughing stops]
[laughing resumes]
Oh! Miss Spader's expecting you.
[Women] Oh!
Ladies.
Mrs. Spader.
Mabel.Oh.
M-Mabel. Of course.
I'm Binky Goodyear.
Becka Rainier. [Laughs]
Oh, we met last year
at the A.B.A. banquet.
I must say that husband of yours
is quite the rising star.
[laughs]Jean.
Oh, and of course
you know your neighbor,
Jean Bonner.
Yes. We met my first day here.
You know, my maid Sylvia is dying
to get some time with your maid.
Aren't you, Sylvia?
Well, why don't we go in?
[Women chattering, laughing]
Oh, now, that lamp
is just gorgeous.
You know, I was here once
for a mixer
when those Rothbergs
were still here.
Now, this is
much more sophisticated.
[laughs]
Why don't we all sit down?
Now, first we'll hear
from the refreshment
and then
the decorating chair ladies.
[Women laughing]
Mmm!
Mmm!
Mmm!
Mmm!
[laughing continues]
[uproarious laughter]
Were any of you treated to the sight
of Chas's back this summer at the club?
I have half a mind
to have him sheared.
I mean, the man is a savage.
James says that he was named
the top young tax attorney
in the country.
That hardly qualifies him
as a s-s-savage.
Wrong, Binky. That's
exactly what qualifies him.
Hmph!
[Woman chuckles]
[polite chuckle]
[polite chuckles]
Oh, goodness, Mabel.
I've had the most
delightful time this afternoon,
but I'm afraid I have
so many errands to run
before it's time
to pick up the children.
Oh. My Doris gets this rag.
[thinking] Tom told me to
cancel that damn subscription
when we moved in, but no.
Oh! [Laughing]
Is that a bathing suit
or a potholder?
[Women laughing]
Who knows where they'd be if they
didn't spend their money on such trash?
[Mabel thinking] No. No, don't look at
the address. Don't look at the address!
75 cents won't break them,
and God knows
[whispering] they work
hard enough for it, right?
Oh, aren't we the admirable
little liberal?
[sighs]
Tight ass.
[chatter on TV]
[Man] ...Acapulco
with Missy Cartwright.
I was really attending
a very important Sylvia?
Professional conference.
No! Veronica,
Uh-uh! Meet my twin brother,
Melvin.
Sylvia. Sylvia. [Nurse Rebecca]
But you let me...
You let me fall in love
with you.
There's still glasses
to be picked up.
Dr. Quartermain got a twin.
Sylvia. What?
Come on. Get these glasses now.
[sighs][TV off]
And put your apron on.
[TV on]
[Melvin] I do not have
a college education,
but I can give you something
that that man could never give,
[dishes clattering] and it's this.
[Stormy]
Whoa! It's like Sounder.
[Tommy-Two] Or The Waltons.
[Kids together] Good
night, John-Boy. [Laugh]
[Mabel] Hush. I forgot
that you all were too little
to remember the last time
we saw my people.
[Tom] Please, God,
let's not stay too long.
We still have to check
into our motel, okay?
[laughter, chatter]
Girl, how many bedrooms
y'all got?
I forgot.[sighs]
I told you, Mama. It's five.
Lord have us mercy.
Redd Foxx also
got five bedrooms.
Read it in the Jet last month.
Where's my husband at?
I wanna do the hucklebuck.
[sighs]
[laughing]
[chuckling]
[laughing continues]
Yeah.
Oh. Mm.
Excuse me.
Mmm. Whoever heard of a Volvo?
Is that one of
them Japanese things?
[Tommy-Two]
No, Grandpa. It's Swedish.
Look at that.
Why does Barnaby Jones'burglar
have to go and be colored?
Yeah.
[thinking] Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.
Don't you ever change?
Hey, Tom. Oh...
Some neck bones for you.
Tom, how dare you look down
on these folks.
Are you crazy? You used
to be too poor to buy dirt,
and now you're
turning up your nose
at Aunt Sissy's neck bones?
Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
Whoo-hoo! Mabel Agnes, girl!
Mabel Agnes! [Laughing]
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
A sight for sore eyes.
Who is this fool?
Did you hear? The lord a-blessed
me good, Mabel. Mm-hmm.
So I intend to give back
to the motherland.
I'm gonna buy an airplane
to fly folks
back to Africa cheap.
Mm-hmm. And we're gonna have
our own control tower, too,
'cause the Lord knows the man
would let a whole planeload
of coloreds crash
right in the ocean, huh?
Pea-Pie, you telling my
baby girl about your airplane?
Oh, yeah. [Chuckling]
This is the moron
Daddy wanted me to marry.
Now, pay no attention to the
crossed-out numbers on the front.
I wrote the good one
on the back.
"Pork got a future."
Mail-order pork.
That's how we're gonna
finance our fleet.
Pyramid plan,
just like on 60 Minutes.
Everybody gonna be rich. Yes, we are.
How about that, baby?
You get in on this. Oh, yeah.
Oh, Mabel, Pea-Pie gonna
lead y'all to the promised land.
[laughter, chatter]
I gotta make a call
back to the office.
Show me to the phone, sweet pea.
Okay, okay.
Where they going?
[chattering]
[Stormy]Wait.
You know,
you're a fake Diana Ross.
That's not even funny. Glamour girl.
Would you stop?
Would you stop? Glamour girl.
Mom!
Both of you stop. Fix the table,
go upstairs and wash up.
And I mean now.[sighs]
[Mabel] I saw that.
Rosie, give the bird
another 20 minutes,
and don't forget to put butter
on the green beans.
I gotta call Mr. Spader and make
sure he's not gonna be late for supper.
Straight away, ma'am.
Dear Lord,
bless this food
which we are about to receive
this Thanksgiving Day
for the nourishment
of our body and our souls.
Amen.
Amen.Amen.
Amen.
Mmm.
You know,
on this day of giving thanks,
as I look around my table,
you know what I see?
What, turkey?
[chuckles]
Stormy.
As I look around this table,
I see promise,
I see unlimited horizons,
I see Princeton.
Well, I'm gonna study
a year abroad in Spain.
Spain? That's very far away,
isn't it, dear?
Well, that's the most sense
that girl has spoken in a while.
Paris, Spain, Moscow.
That's where all these little
white kids will be studying.
Race, race, race.
Can we get through one meal
without you obsessing on it?
All that nasty stuff
just doesn't matter
like it did
back in your olden times.
It's Thanksgiving, everyone.
Though I did not appreciate
the tone, young lady,
I think we were actually
making the same point.
Opportunity, promise.
Those are the watchwords
of the day.
Too many of our people
are stuck in the olden times,
convinced that the master's
shackles are still around their necks.
That's why I'm talking
about Princeton.
We don't have to just settle
for Negro colleges
like More house or Howard.
The sky is the limit.[Mabel]Tom!
[bell ringing]
[laughing]
Fuck.
Oreo boojy motherfucker.
[laughing]
Fuck you.
I got boojy for your ass.
[bell ringing]
I'll give you
five extra minutes,
but if you'd done the reading,
this shouldn't have been a hassle.
Go on and catch your bus, and I'll just
grade you on the ones you already finished.
No. You... You don't understand.
I... I... I'm sure you did fine.
But I don't take the bus.
[Students chuckling]
[Man] You are about to witness a
miles tone Come on now. It's starting.
In television entertainment.
Roots is the true story! Wanna sit there.
Of celebrated author
Alex Haley's
13-year search
for his African ancestors.
Daddy, you took the last
of the double-fudge swirl.Mmm. Mm-mm-mm.
I want some. Young lady,
sit down.
Mommy, make him stop. Stormy!
Shh! ...The incredible story
of slavery in the United States
and how one brave family
survived it.
From darkest Africa
to the land of Dixie,
from searing heartache
to soaring triumph.
After two years in production
and enormous expense,
the American
Broadcast Corporation
is proud to present one of
the most anticipated events
in the history of
television, Roots.
[whip cracking] [Man crying out]
[Man] James.
Your name is Toby.
I want to hear you say it.
Your name is Toby.
What's your name?
Kunta. Kunta Kinte.
[cries out]
I want to hear you
say your name.
Your name is Toby.
What's your name?
[breathing heavily]
Kunta.
[cries out]
[whip cracks]
[Man] Who are
you? Say your name.
[cries out]
[cries out]
I've got too much to work
for this foolishness.
Dad! I'm sorely disappointed.
Hey, don't you kids
have homework?
Tom, it's important for them
to see this.
Who the hell wants to rehash
all this... this...
This mess anyway?
"What's past is prologue."
Shakespeare said that.
Tom!
And I want to hear it.
[whispers] He's gone
crazy. [Chuckling]
Again!
[whip cracks] [Kunta cries out]
[scoffs] I want to hear you
say your name.
How dare you.
Was your dad crazy
when he sent you to Ireland,
and you wanted to go
with your school glee club?
Couldn't wait to get outta here.
How about you?
Walt Frazier Basketball Camp.
"I got to go."
Was your daddy crazy then?
Say it!
You have no idea Toby. Who are you?
What that man
has been through. Say your name.
[tires screeching]
[tires screech]
Someone like you
Hey, keep mowing, Toby!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
[Man] The Equal Rights
Amendment for women.
Why is it having such a
hard time being ratified?
Is it finally dead in the water?
Is it unnecessary
as some critics charge?
Are women already equal?
And if not, what would
that equality look like?
Our guests today both feel very
passionately about this subject,
so stay tuned for a lively,
vigorous debate.
[Woman] It is made of an
amazing space-age polymer.
You'll be julienning
vegetables like...
Hi, Sam.
Hey, Mrs. S.
That rack of lamb... did I lie?
Oh, it was like butter, Sam.
But right now
I need two fillets.
My dearest friend
is coming to see me,
and I want to really treat her.
You got it.
How's that?
Wonderful.
[thinking] Why didn't he
wipe that sausage
off his hands
before he touched my meat?
Would he have done that
to a white woman?
Mabel, you're starting
to sound like Tom.
Hey. [Laughs]
Girl, you're a sight
for sore eyes.
Hey, can I have that?
Is that for me? Thank you.
Let's go over here
and see your mommy.
You're early.
Hey, we just got here.
Hey. [Laughing]
Wow.
I forgot.
This is really not that far.
No, it's not far at all.
Now, look, let me put
the car away, Okay.
And we'll go in the front door
like real company.
Okay, okay. Come on, baby. Okay? You ready?
Oh! Hmm?
Can I try? Oh, yeah.
I saw one of these on Dallas.
Well, hit it on
the right-hand side.
This right here? No, top.
Top. Okay, baby, come.
Let's do it together.
Right here. I'm gonna push it.
[gasps] Look at that!
I tell you,
there's nothing better
than when they go down
for a nap.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Tina, I'm so glad
you're here. Mmm.
You know, we cannot let this
amount of time go by ever again.
I mean, it's simply criminal.
[chuckles]
I miss you, too.
The streets just ain't
the same without you.
What do you call
this cheese again?
It's called Brie.
It's spelled Bry,
but I don't know why.
Anyway, it's fabulous,
because all you have to do
is put it into the microwave
for about 30 seconds,
and it comes out
soft like butter.
We don't have a microwave.
Well, you don't have to
have a microwave.
I mean, it's... I don't see
what the big deal is.
I'm just saying that you
Rosie, can we get
those steaks, please?
[whispering] Come here.
How much do you have to pay
to have a maid like that?
Child, you don't even
wanna know.
Mmm.Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
More Brie?
Bry. [Laughing]
You don't know how much
I've missed the taste of meat.
Whenever I'm in the car
without Ray, I swear to God,
I slow to a crawl
in front of every McDonald's.
Get outta here.Yeah. Swear to God.
Let me tell you how happy I am
to be with someone who
really appreciates good food.
Mmm. Because every time
I go to lunch
with these ladies,
they order cottage cheese
and Tab.
No!
Yes.
Well, that must be why
them white women
always going around with
their nose so squinched up.
Trying to block
them good food odors
from reminding them
what they're missing.
That must be the reason.
That must be the truth.
[laughing]
And what is this craziness
with Ray?
Telling people
that the Ethiopians
found a time warp or something?
Craziness?
Well, yeah. When you...
No...
Remember when you called me, and
I said he was trying
to educate his coworkers
to the amazing achievement
of the African...
Things the white powers that be
hid from us for centuries...
When his nasty Irish boss,
in front of everybody,
told him to shut the fuck up.
What?
Mm-hmm. See? That's what I'm...
That's... You know that's
what I'm talking about.
Because you just don't know
how these white people are
going to respond to anything.
I'm telling you, you know,
I... I think Ray was crazy...
You know, crazy
in those quotation marks...
To... to even broach
the subject with him.
That's my Ray.
Say good-bye. Say good-bye-bye.
She's gonna fall asleep
any second now.
It was so good to see
you. It was great to see you.
Hey, wait up, faggot! Whoa!
Sorry, Mrs. Spader.
Tommy-Two?
Hey, Mrs. Johnson.Hi.
Getting even better-looking
than your daddy.
[chuckles]
[vehicle approaching]
Hi, Mrs. Johnson.
Hey. So, like I said,
it shouldn't take us this long
to get together again.
It just doesn't make any sense.
No, no sense at all.
And like you said, it's not,
uh, far to come at all.
No, it's not that far.
So I'll call you next week?
We'll talk next week then.
All right. All right.
[phone ringing]
Hello. [Becka] You-hoo!
[laughs]
It's me. Hi, Becka.
How was your weekend?
Oh!
Oh, it was glorious.
[inhales deeply]
Oh, where should I start?
Well, of course, Chas was away
at the Mayo Clinic
getting his spastic colon
checked on,
but still, I was so nervous.
I had to take a Fiorinal
just to get on the train.
[laughing] And then
Felipe met me in the city
in the most
unseemly neighborhood,
and the first thing we had to do
was go shopping
[laughing]
For undergarments for me!
You know, the kind
without any crotch.
I was so excited.
I said, "Well, you have to let
me tell Mabel, 'cause she's"...
[continues rambling]
I bought red ones,
and pink ones,
and blue ones, and yellow ones,
and black ones.
Oh, they were so pretty!
And I bought you a present.
You are gonna be so surprised.
But I'm not gonna
tell you what color.
[laughing]
You have to wait to see.
You are going to just love them.
So, I told Felipe
about my fantasy.
You know... You know,
the one where I sashay
into a smoky nightclub,
and then... [inhales deeply]
A dark man
starts licking my armpits.
Oh!
[laughs]
And then, when we got back
to the hotel,
Felipe surprised me
with a squeeze bottle
of Okay Margarine.
Oh-kay!
[laughing]
[thinking] That reminds me.
It's time for an oil change.
Oh... Oh...
Oh... Oh...
Uh, listen, Mabel.
Now, I shouldn't even
be mentioning this...
[vacuum whirring]
[whirring continues]
Okay, I'm in the closet.
Can you still hear me?
Yes, Becka,
I can still hear you.
Ohhh!
Mabel, listen.
Tom's gonna be named
to the superior court.
What?
You know... You know how
Chas's roommate at And over
is the lieutenant governor?
And he says it is a done deal.
Oh.
That's, uh... That's...
That's wonderful news, Becka.
We are never gonna have to
pay for another parking ticket again!
[laughing][fake chuckling]
Chas says we can throw a party
for Tom.
And you know what?
Ah, don't you worry,
'cause I'm gonna make it
the event of the season.
[chattering]
And I said,
"I'll take you up
on that doubles match
if we can go head-to-head
on the back nine."
Pow!
[thinking] This is like
some kind of weird movie
where they passed out scripts
to everybody but me.
They probably decided to do that
at some buck-naked PTA meeting
that I was not invited to.
[laughing]
Ooh, buck-naked!
[Woman, Tom chuckling]
Oh! Oh.
Excuse me.Yeah.
So your father tells me
you're thinking about Princeton.
We're Class of '67.
Students come there
from every walk of life.
You know, black, white, green.
Doesn't matter.
Why, just last year,
the student body vice president
was a man named,
um, Leon Robinson.
He looked like
a young Sidney Poitier.
I love his movies.
Have you seen his movies?
Congratulations, dear.Yes. Lovely party.
Thank you.
Ooh! [Squeals]
There you are.
I've got someone
that I want to introduce you to.
The best caterer in all
of Fairfield County,
Mr. Felipe Herrera.
[thinking] Okay.
Excuse me.
[chattering continues]
[sighs]
All right.
You can think about it.
What? I...
Yeah, I want to.
It's true, although
I'm kind of late.
Yeah, maybe I... You
don't want to miss out.
We're proud of Tom. Oh, yeah.
We're so happy.
[Tom] Oh, here she is, Rob,
the belle of my ball. [Laughs]
Mabel, my love,
I would like to introduce you
to the next governor of the state
of Connecticut. Oh, shh.
He's frightfully
superstitious.Shh.
I swear, if a black cat
were to infiltrate your party,
he'd leap out the window.
[chuckling]As always, my wife
is absolutely correct.
[chuckles]
Rob McInerney.
Mrs. Spader,
I'd heard
that you were ravishing,
but I was completely unprepared.
Well, I'd heard you were
a big old liar,
and I was completely unprepared.
Hang on to this one, Tom.
She's a keeper.
Superior court's
just the beginning.
Everybody says
that Chas's buddy,
the lieutenant governor,
is a shoo-in for the top spot
the next time.
So he'll be the one,
two years from now,
who will be nominating me
for the Supremes.
[chuckling]
The supreme court. You get it?
[chuckles][chuckles]
Yeah.
We on our way up, baby.
On our way.
We are? Mm-hmm.
We're movin' up
[chuckling][chuckles]
[dog barking]
[wind howling][brush rustling]
[Man on TV] They don't have
much, so we don't charge much.
It's the only place they can go and
see a main group for practically nothing.
Sam and I are the only ones
that can afford this place.
They thing is, I'm not sure you're
the right kind of group for our club.
You mean because we're white? [Man #2]
No. Wow. No, no.
I mean, our people like soul music,
and I just don't know if they'll turn out.
[Mrs. Partridge] Well, we do
have somewhat of a reputation.
I think we could
bring some people in.
At least it'll prevent you
from closing down.[sighs]
Good night, Your Honor.
Mmm.
Mmm. Good night, baby.
Good night, Mommy. Good night.
Mmm.
I hope you've been studying
for the SAT.
Some folks
might not be expecting
as much from a black girl,
but, young lady,
I'm not one of them.
You put your mind to it,
and you do better
than any of those spoiled
little white girls, okay?
Yes, Daddy. You're right.
That's why I'm going to bed now,
so I can get up early
and study for them
before school.
Mm-hmm. Good.
That's my girl. Good night.
No sweat, baby girl.
How much longer before we go on?
[knock on door] Come in.
Hi.
[beeping]
[Tommy-Two] Damn, I can't
believe we're playing a game on TV.
[beeping continues]
Tommy-Two,
I did not know
you're spending the night.
I told you, Mom.
Tomorrow's his birthday.
Oh. If I had known,
I would've gotten you present.
Oh, nah, that's okay, Mrs. S.
[Woman] Remember, we only have two weeks to
raise the money, and that means no dates.
[Woman #2] Let's decide
what we're gonna do right now.
Damn, I can't wait
till we get cable.
[chattering]
And we can advertise
all the services.
I'm sorry.
I need your help.
What? Take your pants off.
No.
[soft jazz playing]
[continues]
You have nothing
to be ashamed of.
Your skin look... delicious.
You like that word,
"delicious"? Yeah.
I dig it.
[clears throat]
It's amazing how you're
already so much bigger
than most white grown men
and Japanese men. [Chuckles]
No contest.
Happy birthday, Tommy-Two.
[choir] Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
For the Lord God
omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whoa, there.
Happy birthday, son.
Oh, thanks, Dad. Um, I just
need to take a quick shower.
Hey, come on in.
I'm fixing you breakfast.
It's your day.
Hey.
Take a seat.
Yeah.
Yeah, you're 17.
[chuckling]
You're not a boy anymore.
You take after your old man.
Excellent grades,
even though sometimes
that damn basketball
seems glued to your hand
as if it's your ticket
out of welfare.
But you're a rocket,
and the sky
is not even the limit.
And I'm proud of you.
[chuckles]Thanks, Dad.
Happy birthday, baby!
[laughs]
Happy birthday...
[sniffs]
Thanks. Um, I'm gonna
go take a shower.
Hurry back. Don't want
these cakes to get cold.
That's my boy. [Chuckles]
Yeah, he's a rocket.
Heh-heh-heh.
What?
Huh?
What?[grunts]
Huh?
[Woman] I have two questions,
and then sort of a statement.
To you, the woman in pink.
You knew what kind of neighborhood
it was when you moved in,
so how can you be so surprised
if your daughter now
wants to date Puerto Ricans?
And how can you expect
to have any idea
what your daughter's up to if
you're off doing your fancy job all day
so the poor thing comes home
to an empty house?
Which leads me to my statement.
There is no finer,
more difficult job...
[tires screech]
[breathing heavily]
[phone ringing]
Hello. Spader residence.
Please, just tell me
she's just punch-drunk.
Tom?
Tell you who's punch-drunk?
What are you talking about?
Norm Bonner just called.
Jean just called him.
Did some... some woman
just move next door to us?
Yes. And guess what? She's...
I... I... I know what she is.
That's why I'm calling.
She won the second
largest jackpot
in the history
of the Florida State Lottery.
And of all the streets
in the entire United States,
she chooses to live
on ours. It's wonderful.
I was just about to take
a bottle of wine over to her.
How much did she win? Mabel!
Darling... What?
Let me try to be
as clear as I can.
They'll assume
that we invited her.
Well, that's just
utterly ridiculous.
I mean, just because
we're the same color, Tom,
doesn't automatically mean
that we have to know her.
I mean, people won't make
that kind of assumption.
That... That just
doesn't make sense.
Listen to me.
I work inside the machine.
And I'm telling you,
we're so close now.
The last thing we need
is for people to think
that we were the beachhead
for this... this ghetto invasion.
But, Tom, she could be
a perfectly nice woman.
Whatever you do,
don't go over there.
But... I'll explain everything
to you better
when I get home, all right?
I love you. Bye.
[scoffs] [click, dial tone]
[thinking] Unbelievable.
[Woman] See, you're
making me go up on your ass.
You know I am not D. Poken
or Ann Thom... whoever the hell
that's supposed to be.
I am Ruth Crisp.
I keep telling you that.
Every damn day you deliver
the mail to my mailbox, Ma'am...
You put in the wrong shit.
[no audible dialogue]
Oh, hello.
Hello, Mrs. Crisp.
I'm Mabel Spader.
I live right next door.
Yeah?
I just wanted to say
welcome to the neighborhood.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long.
Oh. Well, you ain't
the only one.
Well, everyone's busy
with the PTA
and all the fund-raising.
Did you get your invitation?
Girl, I don't get nothing
from nobody.
Well, I'm sure
they were mailed out
before you moved in.
In any case,
Mrs. Fontaine up the street
is having a fund-raiser
on Thursday
at the Garden Club to raise
money for new street lamps.
Not just for our street,
but all the way down
to the ridge.
I hope we can
count on you coming.
Honey, I'm sorry,
but I got better things to do with
my money than eat $100 chicken.
Besides, this street has got
enough light for me.
Nice meeting you, Mrs. Spader.
[scoffs] Don't come say hi to me
after you done been living here
a whole damn month.
Don't know what kind of shit
you trying to play.
Dear Lord, thank you for the
food[People chattering loudly]
we're about to receive
on this Thanksgiving
for the nourishment
of our bodies and souls.
Amen.
[Mabel, Kids] Amen.
[funk, loud][People whooping]
Everything looks wonderful.
Tommy-Two, that turkey looks wonderful.
Thank you.
Someone else wasn't there.
[chattering continues] [continues]
I'm gonna start
with the carrots.
[Tom sighs]
[Man] Let the funk
in your heart, baby!
[sighs] No, no.
Before we do that,
I'm gonna take you to
the bridge and drop you off
into some funk!
[Man] Whoo-hoo!
A barbecue on Thanksgiving?
Well...
[sighs]
[continues]
Was this
Martin Luther King's dream?
What?
"Us don't worry about the vote.
Us just gotta have
the pig feet."
Tom! I've worked too hard.
I dedicate my life
distinguishing myself
from... from
[quietly] from these niggers.
He didn't mean that.
[laughs]That's not what he means.
These niggers.
If you look,
in the nigger handbook
I swear to God,
you'll see her picture.
Barbecue?
[scoffs]
Barbecue.
Mommy, can I borrow that money
for those head shots we talked about?
What, honey? What?
The head shots? Please?
Oh, now, Stormy, look,
I'm a little concerned
about this modeling.
I think it may interfere
with your scholarship.
U-Conn's so easy,
I made the dean's list
without even trying.
All right.
Thanks. I'll go get your purse.
What... Where you...
Uh, pass some string beans, son.
Mom, may I be excused? Yeah.
Now, where you go...
[sighs]
What's wrong?
It might've been
the "nigger handbook."
[continues][chattering continues]
Hey. Can you play?
Yeah, I play a little.
Then bring it on.
And Aunt Ruth...
She's got a whole mess
of apple cobbler
if you're hungry.
Well, all right.
Just come on around there.
[sighs]
I gotta go lay down.
Uh, "crean" up, miss?
[dishware, utensils clattering]
[grunting][siren wailing]
[siren stops,
car doors open, close]
She probably already ran through
all that lottery money,
so now she's trying
to pass bad checks.[People chattering]
[laughing]
[Officer] I'm sorry,
sir. Just step back.
[police radio chatter]
[Woman on radio]
Caucasian female.
Suicide suspected.
[Officer] Yeah, go ahead
and give them an ETA.
[chattering continues]
[radio chatter continues]
[Norm sobbing]
I thought I heard something.
Oh, God!
Something...
Something told me
to ch-check the basement.
She looked so peaceful
just hanging there.
[sobbing continues]
[no audible dialogue]
[doorbell rings]
Hi.
Hi, Mrs. Spader. Mabel.
I saw you were home, and
I thought that we'd drop by.
Bad time? No, uh...
Regina.Regina.
Quong Duc,
can you heat this up and bring
us some coffee in the living room?
Won't you come? Yes, ma'am.
[whispering] Is she one
of those boat persons?
Yes. God bless you.
You know, it's criminal.
We live so close,
yet after all these years,
we hardly ever see each other.
Well, I don't know
if you've heard the news.
No.
Well, Norm's tag sale
should've tipped us off.
He's itching
to move out to California.
Poor dear. Who can blame him?
The problem is, he's so anxious,
desperate, what have you,
that he's about to accept
an offer below market.
Well, from whom?
[whispering] Ruth... Crisp.
Ruth Crisp.
But she already has
a house on this street.
Exactly.
It's just the sneaky way
that Norm is going about this.
Oh, yeah. So sneaky.
Dumping the house for
ten percent below market value.
Huh! Just so he can run off to.
S-S-San Diego.
San Diego. Who would've thought?
First, he drives poor Jean
to do that awful act.
And now this!
The fact is,
Norm's on some macho power trip
just like Chas.
Mm-hmm.
Just like that bastard, Felipe.
Mm-mm-mm.
Now, I give him two weeks with
that battleaxe with the new boobs.
I mean, has she told you why,
in God's name,
she feels she needs two houses
on the same street?
No. No.
You know me... You know me...
You know me.
I am completely colorblind.
Oh...
It could be J. Paul... Getty.
Yeah. But the bottom line is,
nobody nee...
Nobody needs... Two houses.
Two houses. Two houses.
Two houses
on the same bla... um...
Block.
Block.
[sighs]
Save me from
the crazy white people!
Quong Duc!
Do you know
what Ruth Crisp has done?
She has bought two houses
on the same block,
and scared the white people
out of their minds![phone ringing]
And I'm not answering
any calls right now!
Hah! [Chuckling]
Oh, God.
[ringing stops]
[sighs]
[knocking]Hello, miss?
Huh?
Your husband.Okay.
He says important.
Okay. Tell him
I'll be right there.
I going now, miss.
See you tomorrow.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye. See you tomorrow.
Guess who the most popular woman
on the block is today.
How many of them dropped by?
How'd you know?
One of us on their block, fine.
Two of us, maybe. But three?
Three is the Apocalypse.
Everything we've worked for,
every step we've taken
has lead us to
this very moment in time.
Now, it's up to us
to choose sides.
I don't really see
what we can do about it, Tom.
I'm sorry.
But this time it's not we,
baby, it's you.
Wh-What?
Though I've spent my whole life
getting us to the goal line,
it turns out that you're the one
who's gonna win the game for us.
What are you talking about?
Just stroll over there,
find out how she's doing,
then tell her nobody
pays cash for a house
no matter how much they have.
[laughing]
Tom, I haven't said
but two words to this woman.
Why on earth is she
gonna listen to me?
Tell her to go see Don Ma honey
at the bank.
Tell her that he'll get
her mortgage in a day or two.
That'll buy us enough time
to find another buyer.
I can't.
You can.
I can't. Listen to me.
We're not almost there,
we're there.
After all these years,
I need you to do this,
sweetheart.
For us. For the children.
I love you.[chuckles]
[click, dial tone]
I can't go anywhere
looking like this.
[Woman]
Good morning, Dr. Peters.
I'm Nurse Robinson.
Just transferred here
from Metro General.
[Dr. Peters]
Welcome aboard, Nurse!
Your references are excellent.
I'm sure you'll
fit in perfectly,
but remember,
we run a tight ship here.
I don't know how they
did things over at Metro...
[exhaling forcefully]
Uh! Uh!
Now, there we are.
There... We finally... Goddamn it!
Finally, finally on the TV.
Not playing a middle-aged
deliveryman like last week,
but actually
looking like a nurse.
Goddamn it!
[sighs]
Oh, my God. [Chuckles]
I've turned into my father.
Cussing at the TV and
scratching my behind. [Chuckles]
Better than ending up like
that so-and-so you married.
Mabel Agnes Turner,
you were the child
born with the least sense,
and I swear you'll go
to your grave
with the least sense.
Girl, you better
start explaining
'fore I find my switch.
Daddy, who you gonna switch?
You can't switch me.
You're dead.
Dead, dead, dead.
Besides, it's much too
complicated to go into.
How long has
that other colored lady
been living on your street,
and you ain't been over
with a pot of beans?
Oh, come on now, Mama.
Have you seen her?
She stands out
in front of her house
sucking neck bones
in front of everybody.
She just... [sucking]
Even Daddy didn't do that.
And what about all those people
in the house?
She got a hundred thousand
people in the house.
How many more niggers
we need in the neighborhood?
[scoffs]
It's too much.
Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
It's time for you
to come home, girl.
Oh, Mama, too late for that.
Besides, as long as I
trust in Tom, I'll be fine.
Everything will be fine as long
I just gotta trust in Tom.
Even, you know,
though he's.
I'm so tired.
I'm just tired, that's all.
I'm tired.
I'm just tired.
Mm...
[long, sustained buzz]
[door opens]
[TV clicks off]
[sniffs]
[Mabel] I couldn't do it, honey.
I couldn't do it.Shh.
Don't you worry
about a thing, princess.
I don't want you to ever
worry about a thing.
[thinking] They come to my
courtroom by the truckload,
letting public defenders
read their lives
off a rap sheet.
Nothing to say
for themselves but,
"Brother Judge,
I was freebasing,
I was dusted."
Every one of them...
Eyes lower,
back more bent
than Step in Fetch it.
A man must walk tall
when he wreaks havoc
or leave havoc alone.
That coon Lotto winner missed
the same point as my son...
The unshakeable complexity
of living a watched life.
We are outlined in red
on maps we'll never see,
circled in photos
for which we did not pose.
Some day that boy
will appreciate
my contributions to the race,
my sacrifice
as a life-long mole.
This is for my sweet Mabel.
And this is for my Stormy,
trying to convince herself
she's Farrah Fawcett.
And this is for my seed bearer.
May he one day open his eyes.
Here's to those wild niggers
unlucky enough
to pass before my gavel.
And here's to that Crisp woman,
herself,
and her extended family.
May their subsequent moves
in this black-and-white
chess game
be wiser.
[Men whooping, laughing]
[Men shouting]
[laughing, whooping continue]
[chattering]
[grunting]
Get out there!
No! Hey! This is my nigger!
I'm running this show!
Avery, you can barely
run your own mouth.
Shut your trap
or else I'll shut it for you!
[chattering]
You stay right there,
boy, you hear?
This boy here...
He think just 'cause he win
some spell prize
that he better than the whites,
he better than my boy!
I don't care how many books
he done got in his mama's shack,
he ain't nothing but
a worthless turd on my shoe!
Same as the rest!
So the nigger's smarter
than your boy.
I don't give a shit.
Let's just hurry up and do it.
Shut your hole about my boy![Men shouting]
[shouting continues]
[Man]
He didn't mean nothing by it!
[Tom panting]
Stop him! Stop him!
He's getting away!
Let's get him! Come on!
You see him out here?[Men shouting]
Down here!
[grunts]
We got him! Right there, right there!
Throw that 12-gauge over![gunshot]
Higher, higher![gunshot]
I got him! Hold it there, boy!
[shouting continues][gunfire continues]
I see him now!
[dogs barking]
[Men shouting]
Come on now, boy!
We gonna get you!
[barking continues]
I see him!
Which way?
[chickens clucking]
I see him!
Gonna get you, boy!
[shouting continues][barking continues]
[sirens wailing, distant]
[sirens approaching]
[dog barking]
[thinking] Oh, no.
No, no, no, Tom.
No. What have you done?
Get that line set up!
We got a big one.
Get that hose, boy.
I'll go around back!
[Firemen shouting]
[sirens continue]
At least nobody got hurt.
Could've been a disaster.
[radio chatter]
Goddamn.
Go away, fireman.
Turn around
and leave us alone right now.
Go on, fireman. Go away.
Go away, fireman. Go on.
They need to lock
a whole lot of other folks up
before they get around
to you, Tom.
Did you ever mistake
the wife of a judge for a maid?
[moaning]
[moaning continues]
Mama... Come on now.
Let me sit you up.
Let me sit you up.
Come on, Tom.
Sit you up.[breathing heavily]
That's right. That's right.
Okay, okay.
[moans]Okay, okay.
You know what I made?
I made chicken and stars.
Your favorite.
[moaning continues]
I just need you to eat
a little bit, okay?
Come on. Here we go.
There you go. There you go.
Just one more, okay?
Here we go.
That's good. That's good.
That's good. You're doing fine.
Doing fine.
Doing fine.
It's all right.
Miss... Miss, I... I clean.
I clean. I clean. I
clean. I got it. I got it.
I have it! I have it, thank
you. I have it. I have it.
It's okay. I have it. Thank you.
[Tommy-Two] Mom. Mom. Mom!
Yes?
I need you to talk to Daddy
when he gets home from court.
It's important. He
didn't go to court today.
He's under the weather.
Talk to him tomorrow, okay?
I told you,
I need it for tomorrow!
Hmm?
What do you think
he's gonna say?
Don't worry.
[Woman on TV] But those
are just words, Dr. Quartermain.
I'm sick of words.
You need to give your heart to
me as I have given mine to you.
Tom? Mm-hmm?
Tommy-Two has received
his acceptance from school.
He needs you to sign it. What... What...
Tom?
[Tom] No. Don't trust her!
Don't trust her! [TV continues]
It's not even her child.
Not her child.
Tom,
Tommy-Two has received
his acceptance from school,
and he needs you to sign it.
He is not going to Princeton.
He is going to More house. [Woman] Rebecca
was my best friend, too,
but that didn't stop you
from getting her pregnant.
If she hadn't tragically
miscarried while she...
Colored More house? Mm-hmm.
[laughing]
He's going to Princeton.
Tom, are you deaf?
He doesn't want
to go to Princeton.
He wants to go to More house.
That's what he wants to do.
He wants you to sign the papers.
I want you to sign the papers.
Sign the damn papers, Tom.
[Doctor] We're both damaged
goods, Nurse Veronica.
Just maybe in this crazy
topsy-turvy world of ours...
Just maybe we'd grow to love each
other enough Do you have a pen?
To heal all the hurt we've
inflicted upon one another.
[Nurse Veronica] Oh, Robert,
I promise you
you won't be sorry.
We'll make something
good and clean
out of what's left
of our lives together.
Just wait.
I'm going to cook more
and take better care
of myself, I swear.
I'll make you proud of me if it's
the last thing I do on this earth.
[Robert]
I'm already proud of you.
You're the best damn nurse I've
ever had the pleasure of working with.
Are you hungry, honey?
Well, if you get hungry,
you just let me know, all right?
Thank your father.[Tommy-Two]
Thanks, Dad.
See you Monday, miss. All right.
[dog barking]
Can I help you?
Oh.
I'm Inspector Wilkins,
Mrs. Spader.
I hope you don't mind
my cutting through your yard?
Well, we do have a pair
of vicious dogs.
I'd hate to see you get hurt.
Occupational hazard.
While I've got you, uh,
could I ask if you saw anything
unusual the night of the fire?
No, I can't say that we did.
You know, the judge and I
are such homebodies,
we were probably asleep before
Carson started his monologue.
Speaking of the judge,
could I talk to him?
Not today. I know
he wants to talk to you
because you're both
in law enforcement,
but, uh, he's not feeling
particularly well.
He's got a spastic colon.
Well, then, uh,
when his health improves,
ask him to give me a call.
I certainly will. I'm gonna
get back to my baking.
I'm making scones. Bye-bye.
Mama?
Don't...
Don't leave me, Mama.
I feel scared, Mama.
[crying]
[moaning]
[moaning continues]
I can't do this by myself.
I can't... Mama?
I can't do this by myself.
Mama! I just
I can't. I...
Mama
I can't do this by myself.
Mama...
You gotta help me.
Please, you gotta...
You gotta help me.
Mama? What
I can't do this by myself.
I can't.
[sighs]
Baby,
don't let me forget
to tell Sissy to...
To bring the files...
Bring over the files
of the Dawson case.
I really...
I... I really...
[sighs]
[chuckling]
Between this flu and...
And the holidays,
I've gotten so far behind.
What's wrong, baby?
[crying]
You all right, sugar?
Mmm
My sugarplum
I wants me some
Of my sugar plum
I loves me some Mabel
I loves my princess
I loves my princess Stop.
You are
So wonderful
You're just a fool.
I'm a fool for you, baby
I'm a fool for you, baby
I'm a fool for you, baby
[chuckling]
[bell dings]
[Tom] Hey, baby? Huh?
Should I...
Should I put the leaf in?
Well, it's really just
the two of us, honey.
Dear Lord,
bless this food
we're about to receive
for the nourishment
of our bodies and our souls.
Amen.
Amen.
[line ringing]
[chuckling] [Man on TV]
But why didn't you tell me?
[laughter] [Woman crying]
[Man] Oh, hey, hey, hey.
[crying continues] Oh, take it easy.
Hey, you know I'm not mad.
Crazy maybe... Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.
Just for you [phone ringing]
Just for you, just for you
Just for you
[ringing continues]
[vocalizing] Just for you
Just for you, just for you
Just for you
Joy
[Woman]
Well, that's because... Mmm.
Mmm. [Crying]
[Man] Now what's wrong? Mmm.
Tommy-Two's probably out
running the streets or something.
Mm-hmm. [Chuckling]
[Woman crying]
I'm gonna try Stormy again,
okay?
Mm-hmm. [Chuckles]
[Man] Check the car...
[phone ringing]
[laughing] [Woman] I didn't do it
on purpose, you know.
[Man] What? Wreck the
car or wreck my career?
[ringing continues]
[doorbell ringing]
Mrs. Crisp.
Mrs. Spader, this a bad time?
Oh, no. It's... Please.
What a pleasant surprise.
Come in.
Oh, you got marble floors
all in the front.
Two different colors. You
got some nice shit in here.
The mirror and the thing
that match... that is fabulous.
Thank you. The two
chairs all up the front.
This is beautiful. Two ways
to get up the damn steps.
I'm calling somebody,
telling about
I like that thing right
there. What thing?
Oh, girl! Oh!
I have been looking everywhere
for curtains this soft.
Oh!
Uh, those came
from Bloomingdale's.Really?
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, girl.
Listen, would you like something
to drink or some coffee cake?
Coffee cake?
Girl, bite your tongue
and watch your mouth.
I've been fighting these thighs
my natural life.
[both chuckle]
Well, look,
I just spoke with
the fire inspector.
Now, he said it was
some sort of initiation.
These little white boys
trying to act ghetto.
[chuckles] Please.
You and I know that's a big lie.
[thinking] Look, if you're
gonna say it, just say it.
Let's get it out in the open.
I is from the deep South.
I know how they do.
But I'm almost glad about it,
really. Mm-hmm.
I was almost starting to think
here up north
they're gonna act different.
No, baby. These uppity
white folk... they did me a favor.
Now, like my granddaddy
used to say,
it's better to set your alarm off in
the morning than in the afternoon.
I don't know what the hell it
mean. He was a drinker, girl.
[chuckles] Well, anyway,
now, I know I ain't been
the friendliest of neighbors,
but I was wondering
if y'all could use
some of this stuff.
Now, this is real good when you
run out of bleach to clean your toilets.
I thought you were
a millionaire.
I am, and I intend
on staying one.
See, plenty of colored folks
hit the number
but die in the poorhouse.
That ain't gonna be me.
No, it's not.
You know, I... I used to love
how that made my sheets smell.
I can't remember
why I stopped using it.
Go on, girl.
Get yourself a whiff.
It's like old times.
[laughs]
Well, as long as I
got you here... Mmm.
And this rat's nest... this is
the reason why I didn't even
try to find
a Baptist church yesterday.
Now, where in the hell
can a speck
get her hair pressed
around here?
A speck can't get her hair
pressed around here.
We have to go all the way
to Bridgeport.
But you know what?
I found a marvelous girl.
I'll give you her phone number.
Oh, well, I appreciate that,
Mrs. Spader.
Now, look, I'm gonna
get outta here.
I'm gonna leave
this order form with you.
Oh.Just fill it out.
Take your time.
No pressure at all.
All right. All right, girl.
You know,
this has really been nice
having you here, Ruth.
I was just about to say
the same thing, Mabel.Mmm.
You know,
that's my cousin's name.No.
Mm-hmm. You know,
I got a Aunt Sissy Ruth.
She's up there in Illinois.Mm-hmm.
She makes the best neck bones
you ever tasted.
Ooh, I have not had good neck
bones since I moved up here.
Well, then, you know what I'm
gonna do? I'm gonna get the recipe.
I'm gonna hold you to it. All right.
All right now.
Um, I'm just about
to make some coffee.
You want to join me?
That's mighty nice of you.
Sure.
[Tom] Hey, baby. Yeah?
[Tom] Who was that?
Go on back to sleep, Tom.
I'll bring up your lunch later.
I tell you, she made
the best neck bones.
Mm-hmm. The kind that
you suck all the meat out of?
All the meat, all the marrow... And
the juices running down your arm?
Listen, you suck
that neck bone so bad,
its mama starts to cry. Oh, stop it.
You know what I mean? Yeah.
[conversation continues]
[Children laughing, chattering]
[Girl] You're so slow. Come on.
[Boy] Man, go away.
Mom, tell Stormy to stop.
Come on. Hurry up.
[Man on radio] WBLS.
107.5 New York.
Slow-going on
the Merrick Parkway
heading out of the city
this afternoon.
But don't let that spoil
the start of your weekend.
TGIF begins right now
with this new release
from Johnny Nash.
[Boy] You can't even
ride one of these.
Come on, fall.
Fall, fall. Go bother somebody else.
I can see clearly now Oh, that's my song.
The rain is gone
I can see all obstacles Mom.
In my way What's she trying to do?
[Girl] This is so embarrassing.
[Boy] It sure is. Come on.
Mom, just... Mmm.
It's gonna be a bright Bright
Bright Bright
Sunshiney day
[Boy] What is she doing?
It's gonna be a bright Bright
Bright Bright
Sunshiney day
I think I can make it now
The pain is gone
All of the bad feelings
I'm gonna get you.
Have disappeared
Whoa!
[Stormy laughing] Yeah!
[Boy] Oh, Mom, did you
see what she just did?
[Mother] Stormy, I need
you to wipe that table off now.
Getting ready to eat.
And, mister, you need to put something
on those knees, ashy as they look.
Wait till your father sees them.
[car horn honking][Kids]
Daddy's home!
Nothing but blue sky
Look straight ahead
Tom, what did you do?
What does it look like I did?
I bought us a new car.
Does this mean
you got the promotion?
No.
This is how I'm gonna get it,
sweetheart.
What do you mean, this is
how you're gonna get it, honey?
Can't you see?
This car shouts,
"I am not the sort of automobile
driven by a man
content to rot in the basement
doing legal research."
I was law review,
third in my class.
This sort of car
reminds them of that.
[engine starts, backfires]Oh! Oh!
Tom![engine revs]
Do all Italian cars do that?
Maybe it's trying to talk to us
in smoke signals.
Now hop on in the car.
I'm taking the family
to Sizzler.
[both] Yeah!
[laughing] That tickles.
[Man] You're the
one read it in Cosmo.
I know, but I didn't know
it was gonna tickle.
Here. Let me get
the baby toe right here, baby.Okay.
Let me get the one.
Let's see. Here. Get it.
[laughing][laughs] I got it.
[blowing]
[laughter continues]
Whoo! Ooh.
You like that blowing,
don't you? I do.
Hey, did you ever hear about
that job from the Urban League?
Oh, the nincompoops gave it to
some boojy moron from Harvard.
What? Yeah.
I'm sorry. Ah, don't be.
Something else came up
that might
I don't wanna say anything
about it right now,
but it just might
change everything.
What you mean, you don't
wanna say nothing about it now?
Come on now. You're being a spy.
Not a spy. You gonna be Tom the Spy?
What happened? No, no, baby girl.
Yesterday, Sullivan himself
came down to my dungeon.
[gasps]Yeah.
And he was hinting, you know?
It's not ideal,
but, baby, it may be
the crack in the wall
we've been praying for.
Oh, Tom, that's wonderful.
Now... Now what?
Now you know what.
Now you know what.
I just wanna... I'm not... It's
I know what you want.
I know what you want. I want that toe
to kick up and hit that ceiling.
Well, you have to do
the both of them.
Oh, baby,
let me just get one.No.
And then let me do it twice.Mm-mm.
I'll do one and then the other
one. No, you have to do both.
You make it hard for a
man. Well, that's the idea.
Get on down there and do
the rest of my toes. All right.
Come on, baby. Blend for Mama.
Hurry, ladies.
She's about to tell him.
Coming! [Man on TV]
Why the sudden formality?
Come on, come on, come
on. Wait, wait, wait. Hurry up.
I'm coming, I'm coming. Oh. Oh.
[Woman] That's
exactly my point, Doctor.
I don't love you anymore.
I love Dr. Quartermain,
and I'm keeping his baby.
[all laughing]
I tell you,
I didn't think she would do it.
I didn't think she would do it.
As fine as Dr. Q is,
I would've told my trifling Ray
after the first kiss.
Oh, really? Yeah.
Hey, I'm home!
Hey... Hey, baby.
Hey, I'm on television.
I'm on television.
I'm on television.
[Mother] What do you
mean, on television?
I'm at the courthouse.
Me, Joe Klein,
of course Sullivan
and the rest of the partners.
All right. Here it is. [Man]
Our top story again tonight
is the Vickswell Avenue blaze.
Despite sworn statements
from three eyewitnesses,
Thomas Spader, the attorney
for the accused, had this to say.
My client acted in self-defense.
Just look at Joe Klein's face.
See it twist just because
some son of a bitch
wants to hear from a black man.
Son of a bitch.
[chuckling]Son of a bitch.
Stormy! [Man] Well,
the accused arsonist,
Dr. Harold Silver,
a successful periodontist
and owner of several
low-income housing units,
has admitted
to setting the blaze
that sent two black teens to the
burn unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Doctors say those burns
are so extensive
that the risk of infection
is still very much a factor,
I'm starving. And the next 24 hours
will be critical. Who wants to eat?
[Kids] I do. The mothers of the two boys
and several neighbors have
set up a candlelight vigil.
[thinking] Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
May I please be excused?
Carol Burnett's
about to start.Absolutely.
Me, too.
May I please be excused, too? Yes. Yes.
Make sure you rinse
your plates off.
Thanks, Mom.
That guy on TV knew my name.
He called me Attorney Spader.
[applause on TV]
How about that?
Mmm.
[chuckles]What?
Come on.[patting leg]
[laughing][mouths word]
Come on.Stop. I'm too heavy.
You're light as a feather, baby.
I'm not. Come on over here.
The kids are here.
They're looking
at Carol Burnett.
Come on. [Laughter]
Tom.
Tom, Tom.
You know, I just can't stop
thinking about those boys.
Mmm. Why they got you
doing this?
They ain't got me
doing anything.
I've been rotting
at that firm for nine years now,
watching all the Joe Kleins,
the Michael Ferraros,
the Ernest O'Connors
pack up their desks
and move upstairs.
Well, I'm goddamn good and tired
of holding my breath.
This is my job.
This is what I've
been trained to do.
Baby,
we've had to make
hard decisions like this
all the time in law school.
This is just another one
of those tests.
And putting my client in jail is
not gonna help those boys heal.
This is the hand we were dealt.
And, little girl,
I swear to you,
before my family,
I'm gonna win with it.
Tommy-Two, you can go over
to Robbie's house if you want to,
but if Mrs. Sanchez
starts asking you
any more questions
about your father's trial,
you tell her you don't know.
Yes, Mom. A lot of nerve asking
a child about this thing.
Come on, Stormy.
Mommy, why do the boys at school
call Steve O'Dell
Little One Ball?
Is it 'cause he only has
one testicle?
Sometimes I understand
why animals eat their young.
Ow, ow, ow! It stings, Mommy!
What stings, Stormy?
There's nothing but water
in your hair.
You're just acting.
[Woman] Mabel? Yeah.
He's on TV again.
Who is on TV again, Tina?
Tom.[TV clicks on]
[Man] Yesterday's
peaceful demonstration
turned ugly as darkness fell
and looters began making off
with thousands of dollars
worth of merchandise before
setting a Caldor's on fire.
Attorney for the accused
arsonist in this case
had this to say.
[Tom]
Hooligans are using the tragedylt's Daddy.
Of these misguided young men
to take what's not theirs.
Now, their actions are just
as childish as my children,
and like children,
need an appropriate punishment.
Is it true you've even received
death threats over this case?
Mabel, why didn't you
tell me? Some crank calls
from a few desperate
and confused scoundrels.
That may be the case,
but we have learned
that two New Haven police officers have
been assigned to guard your law office.
I'm wondering about your family. How
are they holding up through this ordeal?
[Tom] All the members of
my family are strong troopers.
We come from strong stock,
and we won't let
any trashy rascals
cow us into bowing our heads.
That is Attorney Tom Spader.
He is the attorney
for the accused doctor
accused of arson
and now manslaughter
in this highly divisive
and contentious case.
[rain falling]
[car approaches]
Why didn't you tell me
about the death threats?
Don't worry, sweetheart.
The police tell me
there's always a couple
in a case like this.
Now go back to sleep.
[sighs]
[phone ringing]
Larry, did you find
the precedent?
[Man speaking, faint]
Better watch it.
I got my eye on you.
[continues, faint]
You listen to me,
you stupid son of a bitch.
You call here again,
and I will find you
and break you in half.
Our people...
Don't you dare tell me
about our people.
My people know the difference
between right and wrong
and are proud of the few of us
in a position of responsibility.
Your people are obviously
ignorant chimpanzees
still swinging from the trees!
[phone clangs loudly]
Mabel?
Oh.
Go back to bed, sweetheart.
I'm fine.
How long, Tom?
Oh, I'll be up an hour or two.
That's not what I meant.
Oh, well, you know,
the trial will start Monday.
It shouldn't last more than
a week. Don't you worry.
All the fools are gonna crawl back
under the rocks they came from.
Now, baby, get some sleep.
[scoffs]
[sighs]
I don't see
why we need to make Let go.
This stupid table bigger.
It's not like
anybody else is coming. Stormy!
[gasps]
The leaf in the table
lets you know it's a holiday,
right?
Dear Lord, thank you for this
food we are about to receive
on this Thanksgiving
for the nourishment
of our bodies and our souls.
Amen.
[Mabel, Kids] Amen.
Stormy made the turkey.
She did? Mm-hmm.
[Woman] The district manager...
he says he can see Joe
taking his place
in just a couple of years.
Mmm.
Joe... has he been,
uh, working out?
[purrs] I saw him washing
the car the other day,
[Tina] Oh, no... and it looked like
he was gonna
bust right out of his shirt,
but it stayed on.
Oh, I was really hot.
Luisa, you need to watch her.
Oh, whatever. You're having sex.
I haven't had any
in a couple years.
Let's talk about something else.
I'm gonna say what I said
to you last year,
'cause I'm not good
at this hard sell, and...
Yeah, you're pretty bad at that.
Thank you for
the vote of confidence.Mm-hmm.
I use the products. They're just as
good as the name-brand products.
They're not as expensive,
which is also a plus.
And, uh, if you decide
you wanna buy some this year,
wonderful.
If you decide you don't wanna
buy some this year, that's fine, too.
I'm just very happy
to have you all here.
Aw.Aw, Mable.
You know, with, uh...
Especially with
the trial, you know?
To Mabel.
Mm-hmm. To Mabel. To Mabel.
Well, you can put me down
for that detergent.
I love the way
it makes my sheets smell.
Isn't that what Ray's supposed to
say about you? Don't worry about Ray.
Did you get that yeast
infection taken care of?
Why do you have to bring it up in
front of ev... What's wrong with you?
You were scratching. It was a minor rash.
[doorbell rings]I'll get it.
Hector. You looking
for your mommy?
Papi says, um, come home now.
That bastard's got
that racist bastard off.
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Mabel.
Joe, he...
What? He got off? Oh.
Why this restaurant?
And tonight of all nights?
I mean, this is so public.
That's the point, my love.
We're here to celebrate.
[Tommy-Two]
Is Daddy a famous genius now?
[Tom]
Why, yes, Handsome Harry, he is.
Tommy-Two, slow down.
You're acting like you never
ate cake before.
[muffled] Never had cake
and my own steak before. Oh!
And your mouth is full.
Leave the boy in peace.
He's just excited.
Did you see
what was in his mouth?
Cake?
You know, Dr. Spock
never raised black children.
That's all I'm saying.
Check, please.
Oh, uh, the gentleman over there
took care of it.
Well, I'll be goddamned.
99 percent positive
that they'll start
a criminal division,
and I'm it, honey.
Yeah? Yeah.
In a year from now,
I'll be a partner. Ooh!
In three years from now,
I'll be a judge. Ooh!
You can go on and enroll
that boy in karate class. Oh!
Oh, Tom! Tom! Yeah.
Then go back down to Malley's
and get that purse, okay? The purse?
Which purse, Tom?
What purse, Tom? Oh, yeah!
Tell me which one! The alli...
Alligator! Yeah, get the alligator.
I want the alligator! I
want two! [Mumbles]
Two! Two purses![grunting]
I want two purse...
I want two purse...
Oh, get two. Get two, baby.
I want two purses. Oh, baby.
Oh, little girl.
Tom? Shh. Yeah.
Tom? Yeah.
Honey? Oh, yeah, baby.
Can I get some shoes?
[Boy] Quizzical.
Q-U-I
Z-I-C-A-L.
Quizzical.
I'm sorry, Lyle,
but it's incorrect.
Your turn.
[clears throat]
Quizzical.
Q-U-I
Z-Z-I-C-A-L.
Quizzical.Yes.
That is correct.
[gasps]
[panting]
Tom.
Tom, honey,
it's not real anymore.
Go on back to sleep. I keep
telling you, it's not real anymore.
Go on back to sleep now.
Come on. Lay down. All right.
[bell tolling]
[no audible dialogue]
[gasps]
[chuckles]
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
[gasps] Hi, baby.
Hello, baby. [Laughs]
Oh, hi!
Open up for Mama.
Oh!
[dishes clattering]
[sniffing]
[Woman] Yes, I've seen
her rosebuds blossom.
But they've been sticking out
like that for a year now.
Where you been? And how many
boys have come sniffing around here?
You tall me that!
Dark and ashy as she is,
don't hold your breath waiting
for some man to come around here
and take her out
of your hair anytime soon.
[Man] Shut up, woman.
Plenty gals good
and married in this town
dealt a worse deck than she was.
Ain't that Pea-Pie always
sniffing around her, acting fool...
[chattering]
Get outta the way.
Okay, Pea-Pie. There you go.
Thank you there, sir.
Aw, y'all see my money?
Don't forget
you owe me 2.50.Yee!
He owe me three. Pea-Pie owe me
two bits now.
There's my girl. Mabel! Oh, Pea-Pie,
that girl don't want you.
Mabel!
Hello, Pea-Pie.
Mabel, Mabel, that new
James Dean movie's in town.
Yeah. And it's playing
at the drive-in.
I mean, I know I ain't got
a car or nothing,
but we could sure sit
on my shoeshine box... [truck backfires]
[chickens clucking][backfires]
Who's that?
Mabel!
Hey, you!
Get him, Pea-Pie. Go on. Kick
his butt, Pea-Pie. Kick his butt.
[Pea-Pie]
I'm talking to you, boy.
You know he can't fight.
I got cousins who think
they tough like you,
and they ain't nothing
neither. Get him, Pea-Pie!
I'm gonna knock you down
a peg, boy, Kick his butt.
And then I'm gonna hang you
from the nearest tree.
[Boys] Oh!
[Boys yelling]
Any of the rest of you
so dumb as to follow him?
You fight like a woman. You can't fight.
[laughter, chatter]
[clatter][Movers chatting]
So, they put you in charge,
did they?
[chuckles]You must be praying they don't
break any of the lamps.
Well, it's kind of too late
for that now.
But I must tell you,
this move was not as bad
as I thought it would be.
I'm Mrs. Bonner.
I live in the house next
door. This is Quentin.
I'm Mabel Spader.
Pleased to meet you.
[chuckles]
[sighs]
So, well, this is Quentin.
Hi.
When do they arrive?
Who? The family.
Oh, they're already here.
They're unpacking. They're inside.
[glass shatters]Oh.
[Mover]Oh, man! Damn it.
Will you excuse me?[Mover #2]
Doesn't sound good.
Just tell them
that Mrs. Jean Bonner
in the house next door
just can't wait to meet them.
Well, all right, then.[chuckles]
[chuckling] Bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
[chuckles] Bye-bye.
Bye.
[sighs]
Come on, Quentin.
It's just like
you're holding... see...
Two pencils at the same time.
Daddy, I'm starving.Mmm.
Tom, you don't need to teach
him how to use those now.
The boy's been helping me
unpack all day.
Angel, we're in
the big leagues now.
He's gonna have to learn to do a
lot more than just use chopsticks.
Daddy.
[sighs]
Here.
There's no Luisa Rodriguez
around here.
There are hardly any Jews.
These are the Whitneys
and the Biddles,
the last names you see
on buildings.
Tom, I'm sure they put
their pants on
one leg at a time just like us.
We all worship the same God.
Sweet pea, that reminds me.
Pierce, the new tax attorney.Mm-hmm.
He goes to the Episcopal church
right down the street.
We're Baptist.
Uh-uh. Darling,
the nearest Baptist church
is all the way over
in Bridgeport.
[thinking] Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
And you said it yourself.
It's the same God.
Look, you know, it's a great way
to get to know the neighbors.
Just try it.
If you don't like it,
we'll... we'll attend
somewhere else, okay?
All right.
Mmm. Mmm.
[Man yelling, distant][clatter]
[Woman speaking, faint]
[yelling continues]
[clatter]Hey. Hey, babe.
What's happening?
What's going on?[blow lands]
It's that odd woman
from next door.
She came to say hello today.[Jean]
I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry!
Tom, I think he's trying to kill
her. We should call the police.
If calling the police
would help,
one of the other neighbors
would've done it years ago.
[sighing][yelling continues]
Come on back to bed, baby.
[Mr. Bonner]
Get your hands off me! No!
Don't you touch...
[sobbing]Get out! Go on!
[bell ringing]
You know Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?
Yep.
Do you know Walt Frazier?
Yep.
Flip Wilson? No.
Miss Jane Pittman?
Yeah.[Boys] Wow!
Can I touch your hair?
I've got almost all the David
Cassidy bubblegum cards.
[gasps] Cool! Really?
Wow.
That's great.
[Eastern European accent]
I was six years with the Blakes.
Ten years with the Hamiltons.
[Spanish accent]
Six years with the Talbots.
I'll call them and let you know.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
I'm not just talking
about college.
I'm talking law school,
and then law offices
all over the state.
Folks waving at me.
White folks
I don't even know waving
and smiling and seeing my name.
Yes, sir, Miss Mabel Johnson,
what you're looking at is the
man who's gonna single-handedly
end the colored man's
losing streak.
I know you will, Tom.
I knew it the first time
I laid eyes on you.
You did?
Mm-hmm. You did?
I'm telling you, baby,
I'm a rocket,
and you're my fuel.
[Man on TV]
Our lives are not our own.
They're merely streams
that we step into
for the short while
that we breathe air
on this sweet earth.
I am not the brave hero
that I thought that
I would grow up to be.
I am just your average
cardiothoracic surgeon
at a medium-sized
teaching hospital
doing his damnedest
to try to save some lives.
Yet there is one thing...
Why didn't you tell me
our stories was on?
Shh. Dr. Peter's
about to propose.
That is you, Nurse Rebecca.
Will you marry me?
[Nurse Rebecca] I will!
Ooh, I can't believe it!
I told you. I told you.
I knew it.
I don't know why
she said she would.
She know what she like.
She don't know about him.[laughing]
Say, listen, you know,
there's gonna be about
six of those women
from the PTA coming over here.
I don't know why he wants you
to start entertaining so soon.
You barely moved in here.
I think it's because
he wants us to show them
that we really care about
the education of our children.
And a cup of tea
is gonna do all of that?
Well, I don't know about that.
But what's worrying me is,
what am I gonna feed them?
I mean, I don't know
what these people eat.
You know, they don't seem
like chip-'n-dip kind of gals.
I tell you what.
You get some white bread,
slap some mayonnaise on it,
put some cucumbers on it,
cut the crusts off
and cut it up real small.
They'll never
know the difference.
White bread, mayonnaise,
and cucumbers?
That's what I'm talking about.
Mm-mm.
[chattering]
Aahhhhh!
[no audible dialogue]
[Butcher] Mrs.
Winslow, what'll it be?
The usual. Two T-bones
and a pound of bacon.
I was... If Bucky doesn't
get his T-bone,
he's not a happy camper.
Hey, well, I got some
beautiful ones right here.
Look how nice and marbled. Oh, lovely.
Ma'am, this is a $5 bill.
[Women laughing][Woman] I know.
[doorbell rings]
[laughing stops]
[laughing resumes]
Oh! Miss Spader's expecting you.
[Women] Oh!
Ladies.
Mrs. Spader.
Mabel.Oh.
M-Mabel. Of course.
I'm Binky Goodyear.
Becka Rainier. [Laughs]
Oh, we met last year
at the A.B.A. banquet.
I must say that husband of yours
is quite the rising star.
[laughs]Jean.
Oh, and of course
you know your neighbor,
Jean Bonner.
Yes. We met my first day here.
You know, my maid Sylvia is dying
to get some time with your maid.
Aren't you, Sylvia?
Well, why don't we go in?
[Women chattering, laughing]
Oh, now, that lamp
is just gorgeous.
You know, I was here once
for a mixer
when those Rothbergs
were still here.
Now, this is
much more sophisticated.
[laughs]
Why don't we all sit down?
Now, first we'll hear
from the refreshment
and then
the decorating chair ladies.
[Women laughing]
Mmm!
Mmm!
Mmm!
Mmm!
[laughing continues]
[uproarious laughter]
Were any of you treated to the sight
of Chas's back this summer at the club?
I have half a mind
to have him sheared.
I mean, the man is a savage.
James says that he was named
the top young tax attorney
in the country.
That hardly qualifies him
as a s-s-savage.
Wrong, Binky. That's
exactly what qualifies him.
Hmph!
[Woman chuckles]
[polite chuckle]
[polite chuckles]
Oh, goodness, Mabel.
I've had the most
delightful time this afternoon,
but I'm afraid I have
so many errands to run
before it's time
to pick up the children.
Oh. My Doris gets this rag.
[thinking] Tom told me to
cancel that damn subscription
when we moved in, but no.
Oh! [Laughing]
Is that a bathing suit
or a potholder?
[Women laughing]
Who knows where they'd be if they
didn't spend their money on such trash?
[Mabel thinking] No. No, don't look at
the address. Don't look at the address!
75 cents won't break them,
and God knows
[whispering] they work
hard enough for it, right?
Oh, aren't we the admirable
little liberal?
[sighs]
Tight ass.
[chatter on TV]
[Man] ...Acapulco
with Missy Cartwright.
I was really attending
a very important Sylvia?
Professional conference.
No! Veronica,
Uh-uh! Meet my twin brother,
Melvin.
Sylvia. Sylvia. [Nurse Rebecca]
But you let me...
You let me fall in love
with you.
There's still glasses
to be picked up.
Dr. Quartermain got a twin.
Sylvia. What?
Come on. Get these glasses now.
[sighs][TV off]
And put your apron on.
[TV on]
[Melvin] I do not have
a college education,
but I can give you something
that that man could never give,
[dishes clattering] and it's this.
[Stormy]
Whoa! It's like Sounder.
[Tommy-Two] Or The Waltons.
[Kids together] Good
night, John-Boy. [Laugh]
[Mabel] Hush. I forgot
that you all were too little
to remember the last time
we saw my people.
[Tom] Please, God,
let's not stay too long.
We still have to check
into our motel, okay?
[laughter, chatter]
Girl, how many bedrooms
y'all got?
I forgot.[sighs]
I told you, Mama. It's five.
Lord have us mercy.
Redd Foxx also
got five bedrooms.
Read it in the Jet last month.
Where's my husband at?
I wanna do the hucklebuck.
[sighs]
[laughing]
[chuckling]
[laughing continues]
Yeah.
Oh. Mm.
Excuse me.
Mmm. Whoever heard of a Volvo?
Is that one of
them Japanese things?
[Tommy-Two]
No, Grandpa. It's Swedish.
Look at that.
Why does Barnaby Jones'burglar
have to go and be colored?
Yeah.
[thinking] Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.
Don't you ever change?
Hey, Tom. Oh...
Some neck bones for you.
Tom, how dare you look down
on these folks.
Are you crazy? You used
to be too poor to buy dirt,
and now you're
turning up your nose
at Aunt Sissy's neck bones?
Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
Whoo-hoo! Mabel Agnes, girl!
Mabel Agnes! [Laughing]
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
A sight for sore eyes.
Who is this fool?
Did you hear? The lord a-blessed
me good, Mabel. Mm-hmm.
So I intend to give back
to the motherland.
I'm gonna buy an airplane
to fly folks
back to Africa cheap.
Mm-hmm. And we're gonna have
our own control tower, too,
'cause the Lord knows the man
would let a whole planeload
of coloreds crash
right in the ocean, huh?
Pea-Pie, you telling my
baby girl about your airplane?
Oh, yeah. [Chuckling]
This is the moron
Daddy wanted me to marry.
Now, pay no attention to the
crossed-out numbers on the front.
I wrote the good one
on the back.
"Pork got a future."
Mail-order pork.
That's how we're gonna
finance our fleet.
Pyramid plan,
just like on 60 Minutes.
Everybody gonna be rich. Yes, we are.
How about that, baby?
You get in on this. Oh, yeah.
Oh, Mabel, Pea-Pie gonna
lead y'all to the promised land.
[laughter, chatter]
I gotta make a call
back to the office.
Show me to the phone, sweet pea.
Okay, okay.
Where they going?
[chattering]
[Stormy]Wait.
You know,
you're a fake Diana Ross.
That's not even funny. Glamour girl.
Would you stop?
Would you stop? Glamour girl.
Mom!
Both of you stop. Fix the table,
go upstairs and wash up.
And I mean now.[sighs]
[Mabel] I saw that.
Rosie, give the bird
another 20 minutes,
and don't forget to put butter
on the green beans.
I gotta call Mr. Spader and make
sure he's not gonna be late for supper.
Straight away, ma'am.
Dear Lord,
bless this food
which we are about to receive
this Thanksgiving Day
for the nourishment
of our body and our souls.
Amen.
Amen.Amen.
Amen.
Mmm.
You know,
on this day of giving thanks,
as I look around my table,
you know what I see?
What, turkey?
[chuckles]
Stormy.
As I look around this table,
I see promise,
I see unlimited horizons,
I see Princeton.
Well, I'm gonna study
a year abroad in Spain.
Spain? That's very far away,
isn't it, dear?
Well, that's the most sense
that girl has spoken in a while.
Paris, Spain, Moscow.
That's where all these little
white kids will be studying.
Race, race, race.
Can we get through one meal
without you obsessing on it?
All that nasty stuff
just doesn't matter
like it did
back in your olden times.
It's Thanksgiving, everyone.
Though I did not appreciate
the tone, young lady,
I think we were actually
making the same point.
Opportunity, promise.
Those are the watchwords
of the day.
Too many of our people
are stuck in the olden times,
convinced that the master's
shackles are still around their necks.
That's why I'm talking
about Princeton.
We don't have to just settle
for Negro colleges
like More house or Howard.
The sky is the limit.[Mabel]Tom!
[bell ringing]
[laughing]
Fuck.
Oreo boojy motherfucker.
[laughing]
Fuck you.
I got boojy for your ass.
[bell ringing]
I'll give you
five extra minutes,
but if you'd done the reading,
this shouldn't have been a hassle.
Go on and catch your bus, and I'll just
grade you on the ones you already finished.
No. You... You don't understand.
I... I... I'm sure you did fine.
But I don't take the bus.
[Students chuckling]
[Man] You are about to witness a
miles tone Come on now. It's starting.
In television entertainment.
Roots is the true story! Wanna sit there.
Of celebrated author
Alex Haley's
13-year search
for his African ancestors.
Daddy, you took the last
of the double-fudge swirl.Mmm. Mm-mm-mm.
I want some. Young lady,
sit down.
Mommy, make him stop. Stormy!
Shh! ...The incredible story
of slavery in the United States
and how one brave family
survived it.
From darkest Africa
to the land of Dixie,
from searing heartache
to soaring triumph.
After two years in production
and enormous expense,
the American
Broadcast Corporation
is proud to present one of
the most anticipated events
in the history of
television, Roots.
[whip cracking] [Man crying out]
[Man] James.
Your name is Toby.
I want to hear you say it.
Your name is Toby.
What's your name?
Kunta. Kunta Kinte.
[cries out]
I want to hear you
say your name.
Your name is Toby.
What's your name?
[breathing heavily]
Kunta.
[cries out]
[whip cracks]
[Man] Who are
you? Say your name.
[cries out]
[cries out]
I've got too much to work
for this foolishness.
Dad! I'm sorely disappointed.
Hey, don't you kids
have homework?
Tom, it's important for them
to see this.
Who the hell wants to rehash
all this... this...
This mess anyway?
"What's past is prologue."
Shakespeare said that.
Tom!
And I want to hear it.
[whispers] He's gone
crazy. [Chuckling]
Again!
[whip cracks] [Kunta cries out]
[scoffs] I want to hear you
say your name.
How dare you.
Was your dad crazy
when he sent you to Ireland,
and you wanted to go
with your school glee club?
Couldn't wait to get outta here.
How about you?
Walt Frazier Basketball Camp.
"I got to go."
Was your daddy crazy then?
Say it!
You have no idea Toby. Who are you?
What that man
has been through. Say your name.
[tires screeching]
[tires screech]
Someone like you
Hey, keep mowing, Toby!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
[Man] The Equal Rights
Amendment for women.
Why is it having such a
hard time being ratified?
Is it finally dead in the water?
Is it unnecessary
as some critics charge?
Are women already equal?
And if not, what would
that equality look like?
Our guests today both feel very
passionately about this subject,
so stay tuned for a lively,
vigorous debate.
[Woman] It is made of an
amazing space-age polymer.
You'll be julienning
vegetables like...
Hi, Sam.
Hey, Mrs. S.
That rack of lamb... did I lie?
Oh, it was like butter, Sam.
But right now
I need two fillets.
My dearest friend
is coming to see me,
and I want to really treat her.
You got it.
How's that?
Wonderful.
[thinking] Why didn't he
wipe that sausage
off his hands
before he touched my meat?
Would he have done that
to a white woman?
Mabel, you're starting
to sound like Tom.
Hey. [Laughs]
Girl, you're a sight
for sore eyes.
Hey, can I have that?
Is that for me? Thank you.
Let's go over here
and see your mommy.
You're early.
Hey, we just got here.
Hey. [Laughing]
Wow.
I forgot.
This is really not that far.
No, it's not far at all.
Now, look, let me put
the car away, Okay.
And we'll go in the front door
like real company.
Okay, okay. Come on, baby. Okay? You ready?
Oh! Hmm?
Can I try? Oh, yeah.
I saw one of these on Dallas.
Well, hit it on
the right-hand side.
This right here? No, top.
Top. Okay, baby, come.
Let's do it together.
Right here. I'm gonna push it.
[gasps] Look at that!
I tell you,
there's nothing better
than when they go down
for a nap.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Tina, I'm so glad
you're here. Mmm.
You know, we cannot let this
amount of time go by ever again.
I mean, it's simply criminal.
[chuckles]
I miss you, too.
The streets just ain't
the same without you.
What do you call
this cheese again?
It's called Brie.
It's spelled Bry,
but I don't know why.
Anyway, it's fabulous,
because all you have to do
is put it into the microwave
for about 30 seconds,
and it comes out
soft like butter.
We don't have a microwave.
Well, you don't have to
have a microwave.
I mean, it's... I don't see
what the big deal is.
I'm just saying that you
Rosie, can we get
those steaks, please?
[whispering] Come here.
How much do you have to pay
to have a maid like that?
Child, you don't even
wanna know.
Mmm.Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
More Brie?
Bry. [Laughing]
You don't know how much
I've missed the taste of meat.
Whenever I'm in the car
without Ray, I swear to God,
I slow to a crawl
in front of every McDonald's.
Get outta here.Yeah. Swear to God.
Let me tell you how happy I am
to be with someone who
really appreciates good food.
Mmm. Because every time
I go to lunch
with these ladies,
they order cottage cheese
and Tab.
No!
Yes.
Well, that must be why
them white women
always going around with
their nose so squinched up.
Trying to block
them good food odors
from reminding them
what they're missing.
That must be the reason.
That must be the truth.
[laughing]
And what is this craziness
with Ray?
Telling people
that the Ethiopians
found a time warp or something?
Craziness?
Well, yeah. When you...
No...
Remember when you called me, and
I said he was trying
to educate his coworkers
to the amazing achievement
of the African...
Things the white powers that be
hid from us for centuries...
When his nasty Irish boss,
in front of everybody,
told him to shut the fuck up.
What?
Mm-hmm. See? That's what I'm...
That's... You know that's
what I'm talking about.
Because you just don't know
how these white people are
going to respond to anything.
I'm telling you, you know,
I... I think Ray was crazy...
You know, crazy
in those quotation marks...
To... to even broach
the subject with him.
That's my Ray.
Say good-bye. Say good-bye-bye.
She's gonna fall asleep
any second now.
It was so good to see
you. It was great to see you.
Hey, wait up, faggot! Whoa!
Sorry, Mrs. Spader.
Tommy-Two?
Hey, Mrs. Johnson.Hi.
Getting even better-looking
than your daddy.
[chuckles]
[vehicle approaching]
Hi, Mrs. Johnson.
Hey. So, like I said,
it shouldn't take us this long
to get together again.
It just doesn't make any sense.
No, no sense at all.
And like you said, it's not,
uh, far to come at all.
No, it's not that far.
So I'll call you next week?
We'll talk next week then.
All right. All right.
[phone ringing]
Hello. [Becka] You-hoo!
[laughs]
It's me. Hi, Becka.
How was your weekend?
Oh!
Oh, it was glorious.
[inhales deeply]
Oh, where should I start?
Well, of course, Chas was away
at the Mayo Clinic
getting his spastic colon
checked on,
but still, I was so nervous.
I had to take a Fiorinal
just to get on the train.
[laughing] And then
Felipe met me in the city
in the most
unseemly neighborhood,
and the first thing we had to do
was go shopping
[laughing]
For undergarments for me!
You know, the kind
without any crotch.
I was so excited.
I said, "Well, you have to let
me tell Mabel, 'cause she's"...
[continues rambling]
I bought red ones,
and pink ones,
and blue ones, and yellow ones,
and black ones.
Oh, they were so pretty!
And I bought you a present.
You are gonna be so surprised.
But I'm not gonna
tell you what color.
[laughing]
You have to wait to see.
You are going to just love them.
So, I told Felipe
about my fantasy.
You know... You know,
the one where I sashay
into a smoky nightclub,
and then... [inhales deeply]
A dark man
starts licking my armpits.
Oh!
[laughs]
And then, when we got back
to the hotel,
Felipe surprised me
with a squeeze bottle
of Okay Margarine.
Oh-kay!
[laughing]
[thinking] That reminds me.
It's time for an oil change.
Oh... Oh...
Oh... Oh...
Uh, listen, Mabel.
Now, I shouldn't even
be mentioning this...
[vacuum whirring]
[whirring continues]
Okay, I'm in the closet.
Can you still hear me?
Yes, Becka,
I can still hear you.
Ohhh!
Mabel, listen.
Tom's gonna be named
to the superior court.
What?
You know... You know how
Chas's roommate at And over
is the lieutenant governor?
And he says it is a done deal.
Oh.
That's, uh... That's...
That's wonderful news, Becka.
We are never gonna have to
pay for another parking ticket again!
[laughing][fake chuckling]
Chas says we can throw a party
for Tom.
And you know what?
Ah, don't you worry,
'cause I'm gonna make it
the event of the season.
[chattering]
And I said,
"I'll take you up
on that doubles match
if we can go head-to-head
on the back nine."
Pow!
[thinking] This is like
some kind of weird movie
where they passed out scripts
to everybody but me.
They probably decided to do that
at some buck-naked PTA meeting
that I was not invited to.
[laughing]
Ooh, buck-naked!
[Woman, Tom chuckling]
Oh! Oh.
Excuse me.Yeah.
So your father tells me
you're thinking about Princeton.
We're Class of '67.
Students come there
from every walk of life.
You know, black, white, green.
Doesn't matter.
Why, just last year,
the student body vice president
was a man named,
um, Leon Robinson.
He looked like
a young Sidney Poitier.
I love his movies.
Have you seen his movies?
Congratulations, dear.Yes. Lovely party.
Thank you.
Ooh! [Squeals]
There you are.
I've got someone
that I want to introduce you to.
The best caterer in all
of Fairfield County,
Mr. Felipe Herrera.
[thinking] Okay.
Excuse me.
[chattering continues]
[sighs]
All right.
You can think about it.
What? I...
Yeah, I want to.
It's true, although
I'm kind of late.
Yeah, maybe I... You
don't want to miss out.
We're proud of Tom. Oh, yeah.
We're so happy.
[Tom] Oh, here she is, Rob,
the belle of my ball. [Laughs]
Mabel, my love,
I would like to introduce you
to the next governor of the state
of Connecticut. Oh, shh.
He's frightfully
superstitious.Shh.
I swear, if a black cat
were to infiltrate your party,
he'd leap out the window.
[chuckling]As always, my wife
is absolutely correct.
[chuckles]
Rob McInerney.
Mrs. Spader,
I'd heard
that you were ravishing,
but I was completely unprepared.
Well, I'd heard you were
a big old liar,
and I was completely unprepared.
Hang on to this one, Tom.
She's a keeper.
Superior court's
just the beginning.
Everybody says
that Chas's buddy,
the lieutenant governor,
is a shoo-in for the top spot
the next time.
So he'll be the one,
two years from now,
who will be nominating me
for the Supremes.
[chuckling]
The supreme court. You get it?
[chuckles][chuckles]
Yeah.
We on our way up, baby.
On our way.
We are? Mm-hmm.
We're movin' up
[chuckling][chuckles]
[dog barking]
[wind howling][brush rustling]
[Man on TV] They don't have
much, so we don't charge much.
It's the only place they can go and
see a main group for practically nothing.
Sam and I are the only ones
that can afford this place.
They thing is, I'm not sure you're
the right kind of group for our club.
You mean because we're white? [Man #2]
No. Wow. No, no.
I mean, our people like soul music,
and I just don't know if they'll turn out.
[Mrs. Partridge] Well, we do
have somewhat of a reputation.
I think we could
bring some people in.
At least it'll prevent you
from closing down.[sighs]
Good night, Your Honor.
Mmm.
Mmm. Good night, baby.
Good night, Mommy. Good night.
Mmm.
I hope you've been studying
for the SAT.
Some folks
might not be expecting
as much from a black girl,
but, young lady,
I'm not one of them.
You put your mind to it,
and you do better
than any of those spoiled
little white girls, okay?
Yes, Daddy. You're right.
That's why I'm going to bed now,
so I can get up early
and study for them
before school.
Mm-hmm. Good.
That's my girl. Good night.
No sweat, baby girl.
How much longer before we go on?
[knock on door] Come in.
Hi.
[beeping]
[Tommy-Two] Damn, I can't
believe we're playing a game on TV.
[beeping continues]
Tommy-Two,
I did not know
you're spending the night.
I told you, Mom.
Tomorrow's his birthday.
Oh. If I had known,
I would've gotten you present.
Oh, nah, that's okay, Mrs. S.
[Woman] Remember, we only have two weeks to
raise the money, and that means no dates.
[Woman #2] Let's decide
what we're gonna do right now.
Damn, I can't wait
till we get cable.
[chattering]
And we can advertise
all the services.
I'm sorry.
I need your help.
What? Take your pants off.
No.
[soft jazz playing]
[continues]
You have nothing
to be ashamed of.
Your skin look... delicious.
You like that word,
"delicious"? Yeah.
I dig it.
[clears throat]
It's amazing how you're
already so much bigger
than most white grown men
and Japanese men. [Chuckles]
No contest.
Happy birthday, Tommy-Two.
[choir] Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah
For the Lord God
omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whoa, there.
Happy birthday, son.
Oh, thanks, Dad. Um, I just
need to take a quick shower.
Hey, come on in.
I'm fixing you breakfast.
It's your day.
Hey.
Take a seat.
Yeah.
Yeah, you're 17.
[chuckling]
You're not a boy anymore.
You take after your old man.
Excellent grades,
even though sometimes
that damn basketball
seems glued to your hand
as if it's your ticket
out of welfare.
But you're a rocket,
and the sky
is not even the limit.
And I'm proud of you.
[chuckles]Thanks, Dad.
Happy birthday, baby!
[laughs]
Happy birthday...
[sniffs]
Thanks. Um, I'm gonna
go take a shower.
Hurry back. Don't want
these cakes to get cold.
That's my boy. [Chuckles]
Yeah, he's a rocket.
Heh-heh-heh.
What?
Huh?
What?[grunts]
Huh?
[Woman] I have two questions,
and then sort of a statement.
To you, the woman in pink.
You knew what kind of neighborhood
it was when you moved in,
so how can you be so surprised
if your daughter now
wants to date Puerto Ricans?
And how can you expect
to have any idea
what your daughter's up to if
you're off doing your fancy job all day
so the poor thing comes home
to an empty house?
Which leads me to my statement.
There is no finer,
more difficult job...
[tires screech]
[breathing heavily]
[phone ringing]
Hello. Spader residence.
Please, just tell me
she's just punch-drunk.
Tom?
Tell you who's punch-drunk?
What are you talking about?
Norm Bonner just called.
Jean just called him.
Did some... some woman
just move next door to us?
Yes. And guess what? She's...
I... I... I know what she is.
That's why I'm calling.
She won the second
largest jackpot
in the history
of the Florida State Lottery.
And of all the streets
in the entire United States,
she chooses to live
on ours. It's wonderful.
I was just about to take
a bottle of wine over to her.
How much did she win? Mabel!
Darling... What?
Let me try to be
as clear as I can.
They'll assume
that we invited her.
Well, that's just
utterly ridiculous.
I mean, just because
we're the same color, Tom,
doesn't automatically mean
that we have to know her.
I mean, people won't make
that kind of assumption.
That... That just
doesn't make sense.
Listen to me.
I work inside the machine.
And I'm telling you,
we're so close now.
The last thing we need
is for people to think
that we were the beachhead
for this... this ghetto invasion.
But, Tom, she could be
a perfectly nice woman.
Whatever you do,
don't go over there.
But... I'll explain everything
to you better
when I get home, all right?
I love you. Bye.
[scoffs] [click, dial tone]
[thinking] Unbelievable.
[Woman] See, you're
making me go up on your ass.
You know I am not D. Poken
or Ann Thom... whoever the hell
that's supposed to be.
I am Ruth Crisp.
I keep telling you that.
Every damn day you deliver
the mail to my mailbox, Ma'am...
You put in the wrong shit.
[no audible dialogue]
Oh, hello.
Hello, Mrs. Crisp.
I'm Mabel Spader.
I live right next door.
Yeah?
I just wanted to say
welcome to the neighborhood.
I'm sorry it's taken me so long.
Oh. Well, you ain't
the only one.
Well, everyone's busy
with the PTA
and all the fund-raising.
Did you get your invitation?
Girl, I don't get nothing
from nobody.
Well, I'm sure
they were mailed out
before you moved in.
In any case,
Mrs. Fontaine up the street
is having a fund-raiser
on Thursday
at the Garden Club to raise
money for new street lamps.
Not just for our street,
but all the way down
to the ridge.
I hope we can
count on you coming.
Honey, I'm sorry,
but I got better things to do with
my money than eat $100 chicken.
Besides, this street has got
enough light for me.
Nice meeting you, Mrs. Spader.
[scoffs] Don't come say hi to me
after you done been living here
a whole damn month.
Don't know what kind of shit
you trying to play.
Dear Lord, thank you for the
food[People chattering loudly]
we're about to receive
on this Thanksgiving
for the nourishment
of our bodies and souls.
Amen.
[Mabel, Kids] Amen.
[funk, loud][People whooping]
Everything looks wonderful.
Tommy-Two, that turkey looks wonderful.
Thank you.
Someone else wasn't there.
[chattering continues] [continues]
I'm gonna start
with the carrots.
[Tom sighs]
[Man] Let the funk
in your heart, baby!
[sighs] No, no.
Before we do that,
I'm gonna take you to
the bridge and drop you off
into some funk!
[Man] Whoo-hoo!
A barbecue on Thanksgiving?
Well...
[sighs]
[continues]
Was this
Martin Luther King's dream?
What?
"Us don't worry about the vote.
Us just gotta have
the pig feet."
Tom! I've worked too hard.
I dedicate my life
distinguishing myself
from... from
[quietly] from these niggers.
He didn't mean that.
[laughs]That's not what he means.
These niggers.
If you look,
in the nigger handbook
I swear to God,
you'll see her picture.
Barbecue?
[scoffs]
Barbecue.
Mommy, can I borrow that money
for those head shots we talked about?
What, honey? What?
The head shots? Please?
Oh, now, Stormy, look,
I'm a little concerned
about this modeling.
I think it may interfere
with your scholarship.
U-Conn's so easy,
I made the dean's list
without even trying.
All right.
Thanks. I'll go get your purse.
What... Where you...
Uh, pass some string beans, son.
Mom, may I be excused? Yeah.
Now, where you go...
[sighs]
What's wrong?
It might've been
the "nigger handbook."
[continues][chattering continues]
Hey. Can you play?
Yeah, I play a little.
Then bring it on.
And Aunt Ruth...
She's got a whole mess
of apple cobbler
if you're hungry.
Well, all right.
Just come on around there.
[sighs]
I gotta go lay down.
Uh, "crean" up, miss?
[dishware, utensils clattering]
[grunting][siren wailing]
[siren stops,
car doors open, close]
She probably already ran through
all that lottery money,
so now she's trying
to pass bad checks.[People chattering]
[laughing]
[Officer] I'm sorry,
sir. Just step back.
[police radio chatter]
[Woman on radio]
Caucasian female.
Suicide suspected.
[Officer] Yeah, go ahead
and give them an ETA.
[chattering continues]
[radio chatter continues]
[Norm sobbing]
I thought I heard something.
Oh, God!
Something...
Something told me
to ch-check the basement.
She looked so peaceful
just hanging there.
[sobbing continues]
[no audible dialogue]
[doorbell rings]
Hi.
Hi, Mrs. Spader. Mabel.
I saw you were home, and
I thought that we'd drop by.
Bad time? No, uh...
Regina.Regina.
Quong Duc,
can you heat this up and bring
us some coffee in the living room?
Won't you come? Yes, ma'am.
[whispering] Is she one
of those boat persons?
Yes. God bless you.
You know, it's criminal.
We live so close,
yet after all these years,
we hardly ever see each other.
Well, I don't know
if you've heard the news.
No.
Well, Norm's tag sale
should've tipped us off.
He's itching
to move out to California.
Poor dear. Who can blame him?
The problem is, he's so anxious,
desperate, what have you,
that he's about to accept
an offer below market.
Well, from whom?
[whispering] Ruth... Crisp.
Ruth Crisp.
But she already has
a house on this street.
Exactly.
It's just the sneaky way
that Norm is going about this.
Oh, yeah. So sneaky.
Dumping the house for
ten percent below market value.
Huh! Just so he can run off to.
S-S-San Diego.
San Diego. Who would've thought?
First, he drives poor Jean
to do that awful act.
And now this!
The fact is,
Norm's on some macho power trip
just like Chas.
Mm-hmm.
Just like that bastard, Felipe.
Mm-mm-mm.
Now, I give him two weeks with
that battleaxe with the new boobs.
I mean, has she told you why,
in God's name,
she feels she needs two houses
on the same street?
No. No.
You know me... You know me...
You know me.
I am completely colorblind.
Oh...
It could be J. Paul... Getty.
Yeah. But the bottom line is,
nobody nee...
Nobody needs... Two houses.
Two houses. Two houses.
Two houses
on the same bla... um...
Block.
Block.
[sighs]
Save me from
the crazy white people!
Quong Duc!
Do you know
what Ruth Crisp has done?
She has bought two houses
on the same block,
and scared the white people
out of their minds![phone ringing]
And I'm not answering
any calls right now!
Hah! [Chuckling]
Oh, God.
[ringing stops]
[sighs]
[knocking]Hello, miss?
Huh?
Your husband.Okay.
He says important.
Okay. Tell him
I'll be right there.
I going now, miss.
See you tomorrow.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye. See you tomorrow.
Guess who the most popular woman
on the block is today.
How many of them dropped by?
How'd you know?
One of us on their block, fine.
Two of us, maybe. But three?
Three is the Apocalypse.
Everything we've worked for,
every step we've taken
has lead us to
this very moment in time.
Now, it's up to us
to choose sides.
I don't really see
what we can do about it, Tom.
I'm sorry.
But this time it's not we,
baby, it's you.
Wh-What?
Though I've spent my whole life
getting us to the goal line,
it turns out that you're the one
who's gonna win the game for us.
What are you talking about?
Just stroll over there,
find out how she's doing,
then tell her nobody
pays cash for a house
no matter how much they have.
[laughing]
Tom, I haven't said
but two words to this woman.
Why on earth is she
gonna listen to me?
Tell her to go see Don Ma honey
at the bank.
Tell her that he'll get
her mortgage in a day or two.
That'll buy us enough time
to find another buyer.
I can't.
You can.
I can't. Listen to me.
We're not almost there,
we're there.
After all these years,
I need you to do this,
sweetheart.
For us. For the children.
I love you.[chuckles]
[click, dial tone]
I can't go anywhere
looking like this.
[Woman]
Good morning, Dr. Peters.
I'm Nurse Robinson.
Just transferred here
from Metro General.
[Dr. Peters]
Welcome aboard, Nurse!
Your references are excellent.
I'm sure you'll
fit in perfectly,
but remember,
we run a tight ship here.
I don't know how they
did things over at Metro...
[exhaling forcefully]
Uh! Uh!
Now, there we are.
There... We finally... Goddamn it!
Finally, finally on the TV.
Not playing a middle-aged
deliveryman like last week,
but actually
looking like a nurse.
Goddamn it!
[sighs]
Oh, my God. [Chuckles]
I've turned into my father.
Cussing at the TV and
scratching my behind. [Chuckles]
Better than ending up like
that so-and-so you married.
Mabel Agnes Turner,
you were the child
born with the least sense,
and I swear you'll go
to your grave
with the least sense.
Girl, you better
start explaining
'fore I find my switch.
Daddy, who you gonna switch?
You can't switch me.
You're dead.
Dead, dead, dead.
Besides, it's much too
complicated to go into.
How long has
that other colored lady
been living on your street,
and you ain't been over
with a pot of beans?
Oh, come on now, Mama.
Have you seen her?
She stands out
in front of her house
sucking neck bones
in front of everybody.
She just... [sucking]
Even Daddy didn't do that.
And what about all those people
in the house?
She got a hundred thousand
people in the house.
How many more niggers
we need in the neighborhood?
[scoffs]
It's too much.
Sweet Jesus,
keep me near the cross.
It's time for you
to come home, girl.
Oh, Mama, too late for that.
Besides, as long as I
trust in Tom, I'll be fine.
Everything will be fine as long
I just gotta trust in Tom.
Even, you know,
though he's.
I'm so tired.
I'm just tired, that's all.
I'm tired.
I'm just tired.
Mm...
[long, sustained buzz]
[door opens]
[TV clicks off]
[sniffs]
[Mabel] I couldn't do it, honey.
I couldn't do it.Shh.
Don't you worry
about a thing, princess.
I don't want you to ever
worry about a thing.
[thinking] They come to my
courtroom by the truckload,
letting public defenders
read their lives
off a rap sheet.
Nothing to say
for themselves but,
"Brother Judge,
I was freebasing,
I was dusted."
Every one of them...
Eyes lower,
back more bent
than Step in Fetch it.
A man must walk tall
when he wreaks havoc
or leave havoc alone.
That coon Lotto winner missed
the same point as my son...
The unshakeable complexity
of living a watched life.
We are outlined in red
on maps we'll never see,
circled in photos
for which we did not pose.
Some day that boy
will appreciate
my contributions to the race,
my sacrifice
as a life-long mole.
This is for my sweet Mabel.
And this is for my Stormy,
trying to convince herself
she's Farrah Fawcett.
And this is for my seed bearer.
May he one day open his eyes.
Here's to those wild niggers
unlucky enough
to pass before my gavel.
And here's to that Crisp woman,
herself,
and her extended family.
May their subsequent moves
in this black-and-white
chess game
be wiser.
[Men whooping, laughing]
[Men shouting]
[laughing, whooping continue]
[chattering]
[grunting]
Get out there!
No! Hey! This is my nigger!
I'm running this show!
Avery, you can barely
run your own mouth.
Shut your trap
or else I'll shut it for you!
[chattering]
You stay right there,
boy, you hear?
This boy here...
He think just 'cause he win
some spell prize
that he better than the whites,
he better than my boy!
I don't care how many books
he done got in his mama's shack,
he ain't nothing but
a worthless turd on my shoe!
Same as the rest!
So the nigger's smarter
than your boy.
I don't give a shit.
Let's just hurry up and do it.
Shut your hole about my boy![Men shouting]
[shouting continues]
[Man]
He didn't mean nothing by it!
[Tom panting]
Stop him! Stop him!
He's getting away!
Let's get him! Come on!
You see him out here?[Men shouting]
Down here!
[grunts]
We got him! Right there, right there!
Throw that 12-gauge over![gunshot]
Higher, higher![gunshot]
I got him! Hold it there, boy!
[shouting continues][gunfire continues]
I see him now!
[dogs barking]
[Men shouting]
Come on now, boy!
We gonna get you!
[barking continues]
I see him!
Which way?
[chickens clucking]
I see him!
Gonna get you, boy!
[shouting continues][barking continues]
[sirens wailing, distant]
[sirens approaching]
[dog barking]
[thinking] Oh, no.
No, no, no, Tom.
No. What have you done?
Get that line set up!
We got a big one.
Get that hose, boy.
I'll go around back!
[Firemen shouting]
[sirens continue]
At least nobody got hurt.
Could've been a disaster.
[radio chatter]
Goddamn.
Go away, fireman.
Turn around
and leave us alone right now.
Go on, fireman. Go away.
Go away, fireman. Go on.
They need to lock
a whole lot of other folks up
before they get around
to you, Tom.
Did you ever mistake
the wife of a judge for a maid?
[moaning]
[moaning continues]
Mama... Come on now.
Let me sit you up.
Let me sit you up.
Come on, Tom.
Sit you up.[breathing heavily]
That's right. That's right.
Okay, okay.
[moans]Okay, okay.
You know what I made?
I made chicken and stars.
Your favorite.
[moaning continues]
I just need you to eat
a little bit, okay?
Come on. Here we go.
There you go. There you go.
Just one more, okay?
Here we go.
That's good. That's good.
That's good. You're doing fine.
Doing fine.
Doing fine.
It's all right.
Miss... Miss, I... I clean.
I clean. I clean. I
clean. I got it. I got it.
I have it! I have it, thank
you. I have it. I have it.
It's okay. I have it. Thank you.
[Tommy-Two] Mom. Mom. Mom!
Yes?
I need you to talk to Daddy
when he gets home from court.
It's important. He
didn't go to court today.
He's under the weather.
Talk to him tomorrow, okay?
I told you,
I need it for tomorrow!
Hmm?
What do you think
he's gonna say?
Don't worry.
[Woman on TV] But those
are just words, Dr. Quartermain.
I'm sick of words.
You need to give your heart to
me as I have given mine to you.
Tom? Mm-hmm?
Tommy-Two has received
his acceptance from school.
He needs you to sign it. What... What...
Tom?
[Tom] No. Don't trust her!
Don't trust her! [TV continues]
It's not even her child.
Not her child.
Tom,
Tommy-Two has received
his acceptance from school,
and he needs you to sign it.
He is not going to Princeton.
He is going to More house. [Woman] Rebecca
was my best friend, too,
but that didn't stop you
from getting her pregnant.
If she hadn't tragically
miscarried while she...
Colored More house? Mm-hmm.
[laughing]
He's going to Princeton.
Tom, are you deaf?
He doesn't want
to go to Princeton.
He wants to go to More house.
That's what he wants to do.
He wants you to sign the papers.
I want you to sign the papers.
Sign the damn papers, Tom.
[Doctor] We're both damaged
goods, Nurse Veronica.
Just maybe in this crazy
topsy-turvy world of ours...
Just maybe we'd grow to love each
other enough Do you have a pen?
To heal all the hurt we've
inflicted upon one another.
[Nurse Veronica] Oh, Robert,
I promise you
you won't be sorry.
We'll make something
good and clean
out of what's left
of our lives together.
Just wait.
I'm going to cook more
and take better care
of myself, I swear.
I'll make you proud of me if it's
the last thing I do on this earth.
[Robert]
I'm already proud of you.
You're the best damn nurse I've
ever had the pleasure of working with.
Are you hungry, honey?
Well, if you get hungry,
you just let me know, all right?
Thank your father.[Tommy-Two]
Thanks, Dad.
See you Monday, miss. All right.
[dog barking]
Can I help you?
Oh.
I'm Inspector Wilkins,
Mrs. Spader.
I hope you don't mind
my cutting through your yard?
Well, we do have a pair
of vicious dogs.
I'd hate to see you get hurt.
Occupational hazard.
While I've got you, uh,
could I ask if you saw anything
unusual the night of the fire?
No, I can't say that we did.
You know, the judge and I
are such homebodies,
we were probably asleep before
Carson started his monologue.
Speaking of the judge,
could I talk to him?
Not today. I know
he wants to talk to you
because you're both
in law enforcement,
but, uh, he's not feeling
particularly well.
He's got a spastic colon.
Well, then, uh,
when his health improves,
ask him to give me a call.
I certainly will. I'm gonna
get back to my baking.
I'm making scones. Bye-bye.
Mama?
Don't...
Don't leave me, Mama.
I feel scared, Mama.
[crying]
[moaning]
[moaning continues]
I can't do this by myself.
I can't... Mama?
I can't do this by myself.
Mama! I just
I can't. I...
Mama
I can't do this by myself.
Mama...
You gotta help me.
Please, you gotta...
You gotta help me.
Mama? What
I can't do this by myself.
I can't.
[sighs]
Baby,
don't let me forget
to tell Sissy to...
To bring the files...
Bring over the files
of the Dawson case.
I really...
I... I really...
[sighs]
[chuckling]
Between this flu and...
And the holidays,
I've gotten so far behind.
What's wrong, baby?
[crying]
You all right, sugar?
Mmm
My sugarplum
I wants me some
Of my sugar plum
I loves me some Mabel
I loves my princess
I loves my princess Stop.
You are
So wonderful
You're just a fool.
I'm a fool for you, baby
I'm a fool for you, baby
I'm a fool for you, baby
[chuckling]
[bell dings]
[Tom] Hey, baby? Huh?
Should I...
Should I put the leaf in?
Well, it's really just
the two of us, honey.
Dear Lord,
bless this food
we're about to receive
for the nourishment
of our bodies and our souls.
Amen.
Amen.
[line ringing]
[chuckling] [Man on TV]
But why didn't you tell me?
[laughter] [Woman crying]
[Man] Oh, hey, hey, hey.
[crying continues] Oh, take it easy.
Hey, you know I'm not mad.
Crazy maybe... Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.
Just for you [phone ringing]
Just for you, just for you
Just for you
[ringing continues]
[vocalizing] Just for you
Just for you, just for you
Just for you
Joy
[Woman]
Well, that's because... Mmm.
Mmm. [Crying]
[Man] Now what's wrong? Mmm.
Tommy-Two's probably out
running the streets or something.
Mm-hmm. [Chuckling]
[Woman crying]
I'm gonna try Stormy again,
okay?
Mm-hmm. [Chuckles]
[Man] Check the car...
[phone ringing]
[laughing] [Woman] I didn't do it
on purpose, you know.
[Man] What? Wreck the
car or wreck my career?
[ringing continues]
[doorbell ringing]
Mrs. Crisp.
Mrs. Spader, this a bad time?
Oh, no. It's... Please.
What a pleasant surprise.
Come in.
Oh, you got marble floors
all in the front.
Two different colors. You
got some nice shit in here.
The mirror and the thing
that match... that is fabulous.
Thank you. The two
chairs all up the front.
This is beautiful. Two ways
to get up the damn steps.
I'm calling somebody,
telling about
I like that thing right
there. What thing?
Oh, girl! Oh!
I have been looking everywhere
for curtains this soft.
Oh!
Uh, those came
from Bloomingdale's.Really?
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, girl.
Listen, would you like something
to drink or some coffee cake?
Coffee cake?
Girl, bite your tongue
and watch your mouth.
I've been fighting these thighs
my natural life.
[both chuckle]
Well, look,
I just spoke with
the fire inspector.
Now, he said it was
some sort of initiation.
These little white boys
trying to act ghetto.
[chuckles] Please.
You and I know that's a big lie.
[thinking] Look, if you're
gonna say it, just say it.
Let's get it out in the open.
I is from the deep South.
I know how they do.
But I'm almost glad about it,
really. Mm-hmm.
I was almost starting to think
here up north
they're gonna act different.
No, baby. These uppity
white folk... they did me a favor.
Now, like my granddaddy
used to say,
it's better to set your alarm off in
the morning than in the afternoon.
I don't know what the hell it
mean. He was a drinker, girl.
[chuckles] Well, anyway,
now, I know I ain't been
the friendliest of neighbors,
but I was wondering
if y'all could use
some of this stuff.
Now, this is real good when you
run out of bleach to clean your toilets.
I thought you were
a millionaire.
I am, and I intend
on staying one.
See, plenty of colored folks
hit the number
but die in the poorhouse.
That ain't gonna be me.
No, it's not.
You know, I... I used to love
how that made my sheets smell.
I can't remember
why I stopped using it.
Go on, girl.
Get yourself a whiff.
It's like old times.
[laughs]
Well, as long as I
got you here... Mmm.
And this rat's nest... this is
the reason why I didn't even
try to find
a Baptist church yesterday.
Now, where in the hell
can a speck
get her hair pressed
around here?
A speck can't get her hair
pressed around here.
We have to go all the way
to Bridgeport.
But you know what?
I found a marvelous girl.
I'll give you her phone number.
Oh, well, I appreciate that,
Mrs. Spader.
Now, look, I'm gonna
get outta here.
I'm gonna leave
this order form with you.
Oh.Just fill it out.
Take your time.
No pressure at all.
All right. All right, girl.
You know,
this has really been nice
having you here, Ruth.
I was just about to say
the same thing, Mabel.Mmm.
You know,
that's my cousin's name.No.
Mm-hmm. You know,
I got a Aunt Sissy Ruth.
She's up there in Illinois.Mm-hmm.
She makes the best neck bones
you ever tasted.
Ooh, I have not had good neck
bones since I moved up here.
Well, then, you know what I'm
gonna do? I'm gonna get the recipe.
I'm gonna hold you to it. All right.
All right now.
Um, I'm just about
to make some coffee.
You want to join me?
That's mighty nice of you.
Sure.
[Tom] Hey, baby. Yeah?
[Tom] Who was that?
Go on back to sleep, Tom.
I'll bring up your lunch later.
I tell you, she made
the best neck bones.
Mm-hmm. The kind that
you suck all the meat out of?
All the meat, all the marrow... And
the juices running down your arm?
Listen, you suck
that neck bone so bad,
its mama starts to cry. Oh, stop it.
You know what I mean? Yeah.
[conversation continues]