Summer of Violence (2023) Movie Script
1
(gentle music)
- [NAOMI] Is this what
it's all come to?
Time to fly.
Time to be free.
Time to finally--
--be me.
But--
--what if I don't see
between the lines?
Can't seem to find outlines
that define my nature.
-[COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER]
My dear friends.
I'm very honored to be
here with you this day.
To the faculty, staff,
and to all of the graduates
of the Class of 1993.
Congratulations.
This is a tremendous
accomplishment,
and you should all be very proud
of this achievement.
And I wish you every
future success.
-[NAOMI] I can't
believe we did it.
-[PAMELA] Yes, we
fucking graduated!
See you later, Boulder!
Shit, it's your parents.
-[ELEANOR] Naomi!
- Okay, don't say anything.
- Naomi, I'm not going
to spoil your good girl image.
I know how hard it is
to keep up an act.
(Thomas laughs)
- Oh, my girl!
- [PAMELA] Hi!
- Naomi Bradford. The graduate.
Future lawyer in waiting.
Oh, come on, let me
get a picture of you two.
Come on.
- You all look so beautiful.
Pamela, I've known you so long,
I feel like you're our
other daughter.
Just like sisters.
- It's good to see you,
Mr. and Mrs. Bradford.
- [THOMAS] Okay, we go...
One, two, three.
Yeah. Graduate.
- Hey, I'm so sorry, I gotta go.
I want to head into
Denver early.
- You're not staying in Boulder
for the summer?
- No, it's fine.
I've been commuting all year.
- Well, Naomi's not going
to be here either.
We are so glad she has
her internship at the firm.
So proud.
- Okay, well, this is me.
I will see you later tonight,
Naomi.
- Okay.
- Bye.
- Bye, honey.
- Wait, tonight? We--
--we have reservations.
- Yeah, that's,
that's right, um.
We'll be there.
I'm going to head home and I'll
catch up with guys later.
- [ELEANOR] Okay.
- Okay.
Right. Love you. Bye.
- [ELEANOR] You too, honey.
- [THOMAS] Love you, too.
Congratulations!
(gentle music)
- Richie.
- [RICHIE]
Hm?
- Babe!
You're asleep?
- No, I'm getting up.
- You're not moving!
- Hey!
- You missed it!
- Oh...
Shit.
I'm sorry.
- No.
- I was going to come.
- No, you weren't.
- Yeah!
- Jesus, Richie, you knew
this was a big day for me.
- I know.
- Just one day.
Then I'm going to do
a poem at Lala's.
- Where?
- You know.
- I don't know where that is.
- Yes, you do!
- No, I don't.
- Yes, you do. Stop.
- We're gonna have our
own ceremony.
You can put the gown back on.
(Naomi laughs)
(Richie mumbles)
I love you.
- I love you.
(knocking)
Who is that?
- What?
- Oh, shit.
I hope it's not my parents.
- Your parents?
- Fuck. Yes.
Just--just--get dressed!
- They're here right now?
- Babe, hurry up!
- [RICHIE] I'm coming.
- Shit.
Hey!
I thought we--
Holy shi--!
- Watch your mouth!
- [NAOMI] A new car?
(parents laughing)
- [THOMAS] Yes, it is, young
lady, that is for you.
You earned it.
- [NAOMI] Oh, my God.
- Look at her.
Out in four years,
accepted into law school.
That was our deal.
- We didn't actually
make a deal, Dad,
you just said I couldn't
take a year off.
Richie, come look at this.
- I see it, babe.
It's righteous.
Interesting color.
Hey!
How are you doing, Mr. Bradford?
- We are doing just fine.
It's good to see you again.
- Good to see you guys.
- Naomi, let's go inside.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Come on in.
- Thank you, Richard.
- Mm-hmm.
- Sweetheart, it doesn't seem
like you're packed.
- Right...
About that.
I'm not sure I'm
going to do the internship.
- What?
- Your father pulled a lot of
favors to get you
that internship.
- Naomi, this was
part of the plan.
An internship before
your first year.
- I know that's what
you planned, Dad.
- That's what we planned!
- Right.
But how is me working
for some firm
going to help change anything?
Not that being a corporate
attorney isn't relevant.
I'm not saying that.
It's just...
I've been writing some things.
Some poems, and--
- Poems?
- Yeah. Yes!
So...
...what if I took some time out
for the summer to write
and, you know, just...
...see what that would be like?
I wrote one.
A poem.
I mean,
I wrote a lot of them.
I have a whole journal
full of them.
And...
...tonight I'm going to perform
for my first time.
- We have dinner tonight.
- After dinner, Mom.
- What time are the
dinner reservations?
- Oh, they're at 6 p.m.
Well, I need to rest my feet
after all this walking.
Naomi, we'll see you in a few
hours for dinner. You too,
Richard.
- Without a doubt.
(door closes)
(gentle music)
(Inaudible)
- [ELEANOR] Sweetheart,
we are so proud of you.
- [NAOMI] Dad?
Aren't you going to
say something?
- Naomi...
it's your life.
I would never get in the
way of that happiness.
- What are you talking about?
- You can keep the car,
that's your gift,
but there will be nothing else.
You're shacking up with that
white boy, skipping law school.
Next thing, you'll be pregnant.
- Thomas!
- Eleanor, I have smiled and
pretended for white
folks all my life,
that's why we left Mississippi.
I will not have one in my home.
I will not pretend in
my own house!
- Okay, Thomas, stop
this right now--
- You think I raised a
black child to have
her marry outside the race?
Oh, come on now, Eleanor,
to see that?
(gentle music)
I failed as a father.
It's true, Eleanor.
What's it all for, if they
abandon the race?
- I can't believe you
would bring this up tonight.
It's her graduation--!
- She can choose what she wants,
but I will not walk down
that road with her.
- [NAOMI] If he knew what
you meant to me,
he would have left it alone.
If he knew how long I waited
to hear those words,
those three words,
he would have never asked
me to give you up.
If he knew,
if he knew.
If only my father knew.
(gentle music continues)
(muffled upbeat music)
(upbeat music continues)
I'm ready for whatever
I'm ready for whatever
- Hey!
- I didn't want to not show up.
- What happened?
- Nothing.
- Bullshit. Come back here.
Ed! Watch the bar.
- It's okay, I'm fine.
I ain't got nothing to prove
Pam! Pam!
Yo, what's up with you
Now, what's up with you
I'm fine. Really!
- Okay?
Then why are you crying?
- Come on, Pam. Let's--
Let's go get a drink and
we can dance.
It's graduation.
What you tryin' do
Tell me what you tryin' do
- Do you want a hug?
I ain't doin' nothin'
So let me come through
J Strokes got it airborne
I'm on my...
Was it Richie?
That dick.
Fuck his money!
You can do so much
better than him.
He's still a drug dealer.
- Richie's fine.
- Okay, well, he's not
here with you.
So what happened?
- My dad.
(sniffles)
I don't know, he just got
really upset about Richie.
- Well, I'm upset about Richie.
Your dad will be fine.
When I was just a teen
- My dad disowned me.
- No.
What? You--!
You're the good kid!
You get the grades,
you wear those clothes.
- And?
- You do everything they say.
- No, I don't.
- No, I didn't mean
it like that.
You're like a
parent's wet dream.
Unlike me, I'm the
lesbian, black sheep,
so of course, no one
talks to me.
But you?
Not a fighter, I'm a lover
We round and round
off the ground...
- God, I haven't
told Richie yet.
- Of course the person you're
worried about is Richie.
But what about you?
This is your night!
- Pam, no, I'm not
going up there.
- You have to.
You've been wanting to do
this all frickin' year.
Forget about your dad,
forget about Richie,
just go up there for you.
You need a shot first?
- Hell yeah.
(upbeat music)
Yeah I'm the O G
Everybody here know me
I make it rain in the party
O G
- Alright, you ready?
I'mma see where you
are on the list.
- Okay.
- Don't run out.
You're going to be great, okay?
O G
Everybody here know me
Everybody here know me
- [FRANK] How you
doing Miss Lady?
All the honeys want
to hold me
Know I am the only
One to get it pumping
- I'm not--
I'm fine.
I have a boyfriend.
Spread the love like butter
- Is that right?
- [PAMELA] What's up, people?
(audience cheers)
For our Graduation
Night Open Mic,
I'd like y'all to give a warm
welcome to my bestie all
the way from Boulder, Colorado,
Miss Naomi!
(audience cheers)
(clears throat)
- Hi, my name is Naomi Bradford.
- Give it up, y'all, it's
her first time!
(audience cheers)
- Um, this is love poem
number one.
(soft gentle music)
My room is filled
with vanilla candles
and billowy clouds.
It takes me adrift.
A momentary sea of happiness.
I will share that with no one.
I will not spoil my fun.
The hole inside me is fierce,
gnawing away at me a stomach
that has never been filled.
I can feel it
reaching around my
heart to twist.
Creating these dull chills.
I look to see what may
take this away.
Nothing.
Nothing suffices.
Nothing is good enough for me.
I realize
I must like this pain.
It's something I know.
One of the few things
I can rely on.
(audience snaps)
- [PAMELA] Yeah!
(audience cheers)
- Thank you.
- [MAN] That was great.
- Alright, y'all, we
back in ten.
Let's party.
(soft music)
- Hey, I like that poem.
What you write that 'bout
that boyfriend you got?
- I don't know,
it's just...
...things I was feeling.
- Word.
So I'mma see you next
time you come through?
- I don't know if I can
really do this.
My dad is...
I don't know.
- You'll be back.
...but could it all be true
Living all my life
just with you
Cherish everyday...
- You did it! I knew you would.
Don't you feel great?
- Yeah.
(birds chirping)
Where were you?
I paged you half the night,
I called the house.
- Uh-huh.
- Why didn't you page me back?
It doesn't matter.
I'm just glad you're home now.
Guess what?
- Hmm?
- I'm staying home
for the summer.
- Wow! You did it!
- Mhm.
- You told them. How
did your Dad take it?
- I can't with my dad right now.
Let's just talk about
how much fun
we're going to have this summer.
- Oh, you know, I'm
headed out to A basin.
- Okay! Okay, I'm coming!
I'll be quick.
- Uh.
- When are we leaving?
- The--the trip's--
--about black diamonds
and the bowl, and...
And you don't like to ski those
runs, and you'll be mad
we're out all day.
But we've already talked
about this. What--?
What happened?
- My dad doesn't like us
being together.
- No way!
I couldn't tell.
'Cause if he ever
did look at me,
it was like I'm a piece of shit.
- Richie, I think he's
disowning me.
- Huh?
- So now I'm not going
home for the summer,
and you know I'm
not doing the internship.
I don't know.
I can be like you,
and we can take a
gap year together.
- Wait, but--
Disowned you? What do you
mean by that? He like--
--cut you out of the family
trust or something?
- Babe, we don't all
have trust funds.
- Yeah, but why did he do that?
- Babe, like I said,
he doesn't like us
being together.
or maybe it's the law
school thing.
I don't--
It's just that...
You're white.
And he doesn't want me to
marry some white guy
- "Married"?
You told him we were
getting married?
- No!
- What?
- I mean, we are
living together!
What's--what's next?
- We're in college.
We're having fun.
I never said I could take you--
--to--
- Oh, no,
yeah, finish it.
What? You never said what?
That you could take me home?
- No!
- To meet your parents?
So when your parents came down
from Aspen and you said
it wasn't a good time to meet
them, and you left me here--!
- You had exams!
- Oh, stop it!
God, I'm sorry.
Richie, no...
Okay, um...
We can make this work.
Okay? We don't--we don't
need our parents approval
to be together, Richie,
we don't need them!
- Jesus, Naomi, this...
Right now, it's way too serious.
I'd never even dated a
black girl before,
and I didn't think, you know,
I never wanted it to be--
--my life.
- Fuck you.
Fuck you, Richie!
Fuck you!
Fuck you.
(Naomi whimpering)
- I'm gonna go. We can
talk about this later--
- Talk about what?
I won't fucking be here!
- See,
this is why we should
have gone to an HBCU.
We wouldn't have to
deal with this shit.
And I wouldn't have had to take
the RTD all the way up here to
make sure that you,
my best friend,
doesn't drive all the way
to Denver by herself.
- Thank you, for real.
- Richie's such an asshole!
So, what? He was just
with you to just--
I'm sorry.
- It's fine.
You can say it.
He just wanted some...
...black experience,
and I gave it to him.
- You're going to love Denver.
Get out of this lily white,
small ass town.
Meet a real man.
Or woman.
- I am not joining your team.
Honestly, I'm done
with all of that.
You think I can get
a job at Lala's?
- What do you know about
being a bartender?
- Nothing.
But the poetry's there,
and I can get up all
the time and write.
I dunno, get published?
(uplifting music)
- That's it?
- That's enough.
- [RADIO DJ] You got DJ Nick
on your radio tonight.
Another carjacking in the
streets, another
innocent victim.
Come on, y'all.
Let's take it easy.
Ride with me.
I got something really nice to
play for you all this evening.
Come on.
(soothing music)
- I'm telling you,
you're going to have to
sneak in the back
if you're going to
stay in my place.
Do not let my old,
fat landlord see you.
- Sneak in?
Girl, that's crazy.
- No sublets.
No extra roommates who
aren't on the lease.
- So...
Add me to the lease.
- No!
Then we have to sign a whole
new lease and I have
to move to L.A. at the
end of the summer.
This is it for me.
- Well, that's cool.
Can you give me a soda?
Thank you.
- We can live in West Hollywood.
You know there are more
gay people per capita
in West Hollywood
than anywhere in the world?
- More than San Francisco?
- Yeah!
We can go and be
and do anything!
- Well, that's cool.
You have this whole
plan, I'm just...
Fuck, this is not how
I saw my week going.
Can I get...
uh, ten on
number three, please?
- That's...$15.60.
It's declined.
- What?
No, I'm nowhere near my limit,
can you just run it again?
- Still declined, Miss.
- I've got cash,
let's take all of it.
Alright.
(fuel pump beeps)
(distant car horn honks)
You still get an allowance?
(Naomi laughs)
You got wheels.
(upbeat music)
On the run again
Never mind the rain
Jump on the...
So you think she's just
messing with my head?
You think this is just, like,
one of the games she's playing?
Like, she has this other motive?
This is--!
Fuckin' in front of
my house again!
Can't deal with this shit.
Never mind the rain
Hey!
Get out! Party's
across the street.
I don't know why she
can't just leave him
and admit she's gay.
What is she going to do,
just put up an act for the
rest of her life?
How is she not going to
get clinically depressed?
If she isn't already.
Oh, good.
You found your bed.
Welcome to Denver.
- Pam, honestly,
thank you so much.
I'll pay rent or...
pay you back or something.
- You don't have to
worry about that.
So...
You think she's marrying him
because of the trust fund?
She can't fucking love him.
- Are you sure she's gay?
- Oh...
I'm sure.
- So...I don't know.
Maybe...
She's not as brave as you are.
Not a lot of people can
come out like you did.
- It had to be done.
Things could be
different in L.A.
- I guess.
Don't follow her to L.A.
If she won't come out
of the closet, you can't.
- I'm not going to move
just for her.
Can't live my life
gay in Colorado.
There's no fucking way.
- You still talk to her?
- Every day.
- I feel so bad for you.
- Don't do that.
You're the one in a crisis.
Don't worry about me.
- Yeah, um...
My life is...
completely over.
What have I done?
I-I have no idea how to
even be a poet.
What am I thinking?
- You don't have to
know right now.
You just got here.
It's me and you,
let's just vibe out.
Richie was really
killing your energy.
- I have to find a job.
I don't even have gas money.
- Yeah, that's a problem.
- So you'll help me?
- I don't know.
- Pam.
Pam, come on.
I need a job.
I can and I will look for one,
but what about Lala's?
- Um, you feel like a drink?
I think we need to drink.
- Pam.
Pam!
- What? I can't just--
walk into Lala's
and get you a job.
Naomi, you haven't worked a job
in all four years we
were in school.
Why do you have to do anything?
It's just--
You've had a crazy day.
Relax.
Write some of your poems.
- Write some of my poems...
- Let's top you off,
just like me.
Yeah, you can use my, uh...
My place can be your
own Shangri-La.
No one's here to lord over you.
You don't have to pay rent.
- But I need to.
- You don't have to.
Where are your--
little lights?
- They're like Christmas
lights in the summer.
- Ugh, yes.
I'mma set you up
right here in
this little corner.
This is going to be
your own Zen space.
- And I can light a
candle and write.
- Write poems,
be all artsy.
- Play Billie Holiday.
- Aw.
- Yes!
And write sad, sad poems.
- So sad.
- Great, let's take this shot.
(car tires squealing)
(gunshots)
-What was that?
- Get away from the window.
They're shooting outside.
- Shooting?
- Yeah. Yeah...
Just stay down, don't move.
(car doors slamming)
(car engine cranks)
- You think somebody got hurt?
- Probably.
- Should we go outside?
- No, definitely not.
(car engine revving)
(people screaming)
- Holy shit.
- Look...
You'll see that this is just
how things are around here.
Can't even have a party
without someone getting shot.
It's crazy.
So glad you're here.
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
- I don't care
about cleaning.
I'll do whatever to help out.
- Okay.
We can sling coffee together
with our college degrees.
- (laughs) And I promise I won't
be on your couch for long.
Pam. Pam!
I need to talk to him.
- Yeah, go.
- Can you give me
my bag, though?
- Yeah.
- Hey Naomi, how you doing?
- I'm good!
Good. Thanks.
So you're still working
at the newspaper?
- I'm interning, getting ready
for my econ exam for Oxford.
- In England?
- Yeah.
- Wow.
Wow, that's, that's amazing.
- It's not as cool as law
school, though.
Congrats, by the way.
- Um.
I'm not--
--going to law school,
that's what my dad wanted.
I'm--
--going to pursue poetry.
- You're not going
to law school, really?
- Yeah, Ed, really.
- This is what I want to do.
And I'm hoping you can
help me get published?
Maybe talk to one
of the editors for me?
- Wow. Naomi, I'd love to
help you out,
but...
they don't care about
that type of stuff.
All the paper cares
about is this.
They're already calling it
the "Summer of Violence", and...
I don't think they're going
to feel the love poems, Naomi.
- But talking about
love is exactly
what we need right now.
- Okay, but talking about love
is not going to stop
anyone from picking up a pistol.
- I know.
I know.
But...
There has to be another way.
We can't just keep
going with the--
"If it bleeds, it leads".
Where does that take us?
More death?
When is it going to be
the time where we can
talk about something
that we all fucking need?
Love.
- I'm in the real world, like...
a toddler was shot
dead last night,
and an eight-year-old
was shot in a drive by.
Fifteen deaths in one week!
One week?
- Pam, this is by your place.
I saw this, this morning!
They killed a baby?
- Told you. Stray bullets.
- No one's safe and love
won't stop a bullet, Naomi.
- Might make somebody
think twice about pulling
that trigger, though.
- Right. Naomi, look,
Your poetry is beautiful,
but your dad's right.
I mean, you should go
to law school,
that's how you make a
difference--
- [PAMELA] Ed, get out.
- Alright, alright.
I got class anyway.
Somebody had to say
something, I'm not the bad guy.
- Pam, let's do a
poetry reading,
and we can make it
about the violence.
A rally to speak peace
to the violence for
the neighborhood,
we can put that in the paper!
Is it a bad idea?
- [ED] No, but it's--
- It's fine, um...
My boss was just...
kind of weird
about the last one.
- Pam, we could pack
this place out.
It'll be good for the bar.
We'll make money,
your boss will love it.
- [JB] I'm gonna be
in the office.
- Who was that?
- No one, he's just
here to pick some stuff up.
Try and make a latte,
and don't burn yourself.
- Yeah, I gotta jet.
- [PAMELA] I'm gonna open up the
office and turn on the music.
(hip hop music)
No heavy lifting
They be riffing and tripping,
I'm built different
- That's dope.
Steady and smooth
Keep it moving
like a needle on the groove
- What's dope?
Drifting
- Doing that poetry rally you
talking about.
- It could be good, right?
- Definitely.
I could paint there too.
- Wait, these are
your paintings?
- Yeah.
- Hold on, I gotta make
sure this is straight.
Let it loose,
nothing to prove
Laid back, taking
in the skyline views
Coasting down the coastline
I could paint you too,
- Oh.
- If you let me.
- No, um --
-- I do not want to see my face
that big, that is too much.
- But you have a beautiful face.
- I don't know about that.
So uh, for the rally,
you could paint?
- Yeah.
- Like what?
- It depends.
I usually just paint off
whatever the vibe is.
Could be the kids...
Feel something off the words.
Just another form of
expressing myself, you know?
- That's cool.
But we need to figure out
how to get people in here.
- Bet.
- What's that mean?
(soft music)
- You need help.
I got you.
- No, I didn't ask
for you to help.
- So you don't want any help?
- Well, I kind of have to...
- College girl come down here.
Don't even know the
neighborhood.
- No, I don't.
- You don't.
- So --
-- I need help.
- You do.
- Frank, what are you doing?
- How you asking me
what I'm doing?
- You need to be bar training.
I know you can't
make any drinks.
- I know plenty about drinks.
- Drinking drinks and making
drinks are different things.
Plus, the coffee bar drinks.
Start memorizing these so you
can work the bar.
Might be able to get you a
shift later this week.
(gentle music)
- [NAOMI] They stole the
summer, gave it a new name.
They stole summer.
"Summer of Violence".
What about summer love?
Summer hope, summer dreams.
Freedom summer.
How can they steal the
joy of summer?
They call it the
summer of violence.
Violence comes on any corner.
Violence knows no season.
But summer --
-- is special.
They stole the summer
gave it a new name.
But I won't let them take it.
(upbeat music)
- [FRANK] What's going
on college girl?
Yeah we started from the
bottom but my team, we on
We on, we on, we on,
we on, we on, we on
Tell my people, we on
They say I'll never
be nothing
Oh boy, they wrong
Got my city on my back
and my team is strong
We on, we on, we on,
we on, we on, we on
Tell my city, we on
Wait, it takes time
to be great
- [DJ CAPRI] Yeah, yeah we are
definitely on in the middle of
this 'Summer of Violence'.
Murders are way up.
Carjackings, way up.
Talking 'bout gangs using...
(radio clicks off)
- You don't like hearing
about what's happening?
- Nah, that ain't for me.
I already know what's going on.
That's why I was really
feeling your rally idea.
With the poetry.
Yeah.
- Well, you're the only one.
- Don't worry about
ol' corny Ed.
- Uh huh, he's corny,
he goes to college.
Whatever.
- College girl,
don't be like that.
- Maybe I'm corny too.
- Are you?
- I guess you'll never
know. (giggles)
- Oh, please, Miss Lady,
I definitely want to know.
I want to know all about you.
- Whatever
(dog barking)
Pam's car's not here.
(dog barking)
- Hey, you know what?
I still have to give you
the "new neighbors'" tour.
(Naomi chuckles)
- What are you talking about?
- I'mma show you where you live.
- Okay.
(gentle music)
So where you from?
- Suburbs.
Outside of Colorado Springs.
- Is it nice?
- Yeah.
I think so.
I mean, I don't know.
I've just always been there.
And then I went to school,
and I graduated.
I haven't really seen too much.
Well, until now.
- This most definitely
ain't the suburbs.
- So --
-- here I am working at
a coffee shop.
- Wasn't supposed to be working
at a coffee shop, I guess?
- No.
- Not with that
college degree, huh?
- Nuh uh, no I got into...
I mean, I picked
this job, it's just...
- I bet your mom and dad proud.
My mom would be waking up out
of her grave yelling Hallelujah
if she found out I
went to college.
(Naomi chuckles)
I'm serious.
- My dad's not really
feeling the poetry thing.
I'm sorry about your mom.
- It's all good.
'Round here, everybody
lost somebody.
Lots of somebodies.
We just keep pushing.
- What about your dad?
- Eh.
- So did you always
like to paint?
- Honestly, I just --
-- keeps my mind going.
You know?
- Mhm.
- I like creating art.
Makes me focus
on that, and then...
focus on other things.
But --
-- I love it.
(bell tolling)
I like your voice.
Can I hear one of your poems?
(Naomi sighs)
Please?
(Naomi sighs)
- Black bodies --
-- his skin like mine.
Dark like the grounds
of espresso.
Does he smell like chocolate?
When did my skin
become an oddity?
Something I stare at
with curiosity.
Questions I can't answer,
but here it is now,
staring back at me.
His color moves with me,
blends with mine.
There are no lines of
distinction.
Does he see the beauty
I see, or is it just me?
The black bodies I've
been trained to see.
Strung up on trees,
laying inside white chalk lines.
A threat.
But do my eyes deceive me?
Is that what's really there?
When did this notion of
black bodies and
danger become one?
When did we become an "It"?
When did we internalize our fear
and turn it on ourselves?
So much so that --
-- when I see --
-- you --
-- I don't even see you.
But --
-- I feel you.
(gentle music)
You inside my head,
inside my body,
inside my heart,
and my heart --
-- can train my eyes --
-- to see what my
mind has erased.
(indistinct music playing
in background)
- Where were you?
- You scared me.
I was out...
with Frank.
- Okay.
- What?
- Nothing.
- So you left me
and I didn't have a ride home.
And after last night, I didn't
want to be here without you.
- All you had to do was page me.
- You're right, I guess.
But you could have at
least told me you were leaving.
- Look, Naomi,
I have my own life here.
We don't need to be
all over each other.
You don't need to know
about where I go.
and I don't need to know
about what you do.
- Except you have some
problem with Frank.
- You don't know him.
- He's nicer than Richie.
- Richie is the floor.
Just because he has money
doesn't make him
less of a loser.
- I like Frank.
- Okay.
I mean, whatever.
Going to bed.
Just page me next time.
It's late.
- Yeah, Mom, it's--it's
really great.
- [ELEANOR] Are you sure?
- Yeah, I'm meeting everyone
in the neighborhood.
Living with Pam is great.
- And you're writing?
- That's just it.
I, I met with the paper.
Well, someone who works for the
paper and I'm trying to
get published.
I mean, it's not a big paper
like "The Village Voice" or
anything, but --
-- it's a start for me, Mom.
- I know, baby.
- And that's not the only
thing I'm doing.
We're going to have a rally.
- A rally?
Well, that seems like a lot.
- Yeah, it's to stop the
violence. And, you know,
we'll do some poems, and I'll do
a poem, and it's to try to
speak to the dangers.
- Naomi, you don't have
to do all that.
- Yes, I do.
It's important.
- Okay.
- I mean, murders are
happening every day.
- What?
- Hold on, Mom.
Not--Not "every day" every day,
but...
People are dying.
The violence is real,
and we have to speak out.
It's just as powerful
as going to law school.
Is Dad there?
- Honey...
- Okay, uh, it's fine.
- Are you there?
- Yeah. I've got to go, Mom.
I'll call you back tomorrow.
Love you. Bye.
- What's wrong now,
Eleanor?
- This has to stop.
You hear me talking to you?
- Uh.
You know I do.
- There's shootings up there,
Naomi's living in the
middle of it.
- What do you want
me to do about it?
- Fix it!
- I've said it before,
I'll say it again,
She has to learn.
- This is not the time to be
teaching the child a lesson.
You're going to lose her.
She's stubborn.
She's out there thinking that if
she can do just enough to
impress her daddy,
everything will be all right,
but it won't.
(lively music)
- I'm going to look around.
So dark the night
But I carry this torch...
- So what type of
music you listen to?
- I listen to bands.
- Yeah.
You seem like a band girl.
- [SINCLAIRE] Hey folks,
how are we doing?
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Do you mind if I put a flyer
up in the window?
- For sure, I can take a
stack for the register.
- That'll be great yeah.
- Perfect.
- Thank you.
- You be believing everything
these white people say.
- She said yes.
- She gon' take that shit
down soon as we leave.
It's not the people we
need to be around.
- We need everybody to
stop the violence.
(vocalizing)
- Come on, girl.
I'mma show you.
- Oh, you gonna show me?
- Oh, you gonna show me?
- Yeah I'mma show you.
Yours to a cinder
Yours till the embers
grow faint
Back into the night
- I'll always be in
self-destruct mode.
(audience clapping)
- [SADIE] I cut off my old
friends and told my
lover to fuck off,
but by now he
decided he loved me
when he was drunk.
I left for college somewhat
damaged, I say,
and yet it took me
years to overcome,
years to stop trying to grow
this hair and leave it,
just leave it alone.
I'm so surprised when
people call me beautiful.
Shocked.
At every turn.
So, I don't know how they
can see it like that when
took me years, so many
years to learn
beauty is a twisted thing,
and if you're not careful,
it will tear you apart.
"Hey beautiful."
Talkin' to me?
"Yeah, you're cute."
And I walk away because that
doesn't mean a thing to me.
My beauty is mine and it
lies within me.
And it's too soon for
you to see that.
- [ROBBIE] I'm tired of walking
home from work, having to
check my back,
keep my life on track,
trying hard not to get whacked.
I'm tired of going to
babies' funerals.
Celebration of life?
How are we supposed celebrate
when they ain't even had
a chance to live yet?
- Hey!
- What the hell are you doing?
- [NAOMI] Not so loud.
I'm just reading for the rally.
- Why is Frank here?
- He's been helping me.
- Okay, that's it. This can't be
here right now. I'm sorry,
you all got to go.
- Pam, what's up? I been getting
you good tips all the time
and this how you gon' do me?
- Naomi, everyone needs to go.
- Can you just wait...
- [FRANK] No, it's alright --
-- we'll leave.
Thank you all for coming.
- Thank you, Robbie. Thank you,
thank you.
- Thank you. Appreciate it.
- Bye Ed.
-Appreciate it bro.
- Thank you.
- [NAOMI] Thank you.
Hi.
- I'll call you.
- Okay.
(door closes)
- What?
- I didn't say anything.
- I can't lose this job, Naomi.
Not all of us have a
daddy we can call.
- Okay Pam,
try and act like this
is not about Frank.
- It's not.
I have to work, and so do you.
- I just think it's funny,
you asked about him the other
night, and now you gave
him this look.
- Girl, whatever.
- Yeah, okay.
- It's not like you even know
him, because you don't.
- What is that supposed to mean?
Frank's a good guy.
He treats me better than Richie.
- I'm here.
I got you a place to live.
I got you this job.
I'm your friend.
- Of course.
I just don't see what one thing
has to do with the other.
-Forget it.
Frank's uncle is JB and
JB is some huge,
whatever, in the Crips,
so it's just
out of all the people
you could have met,
not Frank. Okay?
- His uncle's in a gang?
- Yeah.
He's dealing drugs.
He's into some serious shit.
- How do you even know all that?
- Everybody knows.
I will give you
I will give you love
I will give you
I will give you love
I will give you
- Okay, we're ready?
- Got them all
warmed up for you.
- Alright.
- Hey, this is a great idea,
Naomi.
-Thank you, Ed.
- [PAM] What's up, people?
(audience cheers)
We're all ready to start.
Now, I don't have a poem
because I know y'all can't
handle my shit,
but it's good to see
everyone out.
Get your words ready. Speak your
peace. Naomi, take it away.
(audience cheers)
- [NAOMI] Um...
I want to thank everyone
for coming out, and...
wow, this is amazing.
So we're all gathered here today
to speak our peace
through poems,
and my name is Naomi Bradford,
and I will get us started.
They say violence is random.
Random...
Isn't that a word for things
that don't really mean much,
but it can't be random
when it keeps happening
on the same six blocks.
It's not random when it keeps
killing the same black bodies.
Black bodies pulling the
trigger on black bodies.
It's not random.
It's personal.
And my heart bleeds because
I don't know who to fear more.
The street gang or the gang
sponsored by the state.
My heart bleeds for my brothers
who can't walk down the street,
am I wearing the right
colors today?
My heart bleeds for the mother
who weeps her baby.
Her baby shot dead in
their own living room.
So stop saying it's random
because it can't ever be random
when it feels so damn
personal to me.
I've heard them say
"It's self-hatred."
"The killing of
one's own image."
Or maybe it's just a reflection
of what America has done
to our psyche.
Pummeled our self-image in the
dirt, afraid of your own kind,
hating your own color.
So we. we bleach, we die,
we straighten anything to
stop seeing it.
Please make it stop.
No more black bodies bleeding,
No more mothers mourning.
No more random,
purposeful, personal, killings.
No more.
(audience snaps)
(Naomi sighs)
(gunshots)
(audience clamoring)
(dramatic music)
- [FRANK] I got you, I got you.
Here, come here, come here.
Get down, get down,
get down, get down.
It's all right, it's all right,
it's all right.
Alright look. They're only
shooting outside. They're not
shooting in here.
- How do you know that?
- Just come on, come on.
I'm sorry.
- Where's Pam? Where's Pam?
- Don't worry about Pam.
She's probably good.
Alright, come on.
(dramatic music continues)
(engine revving)
(distant sirens wailing)
- [FRANK] You all right?
So do you want me to
take you home?
- I need a pay phone.
I have to find Pam.
- I have a phone at my place.
I just have to page Pam.
I don't know where she went.
(sirens wailing)
- Look, you can page her
at my place
and then just wait for
her to call you back.
Okay?
- Okay, okay.
(hammering in background)
- [FRANK] Come on.
- You live here?
- I'm here so much, I should.
Nah, I just work here.
Sometimes I stay.
You know when ever I
need my own space.
Let me get that phone for you.
- It's nice.
- Thank you.
(phone beeps)
(dial tone)
(buttons clicking)
- [PHONE] Enter your
number now.
(buttons clicking)
- I'm sure she'll call
me back soon.
- You stay here as long
as you need to.
You want me to
take you home?
- No.
I'll wait here with you.
So you painted all of these?
- Yeah.
(spray paint can shaking)
- You never told me why
you started painting.
(spray paint can spraying)
- Pops.
Yeah, but um,
He dead now.
(spray paint can spraying)
Got shot up by the police.
They just came in the house.
Been with my uncle
ever since.
(spray paint can spraying)
- You saw it?
- Yeah.
- I'm so sorry.
- I appreciate that,
but it ain't necessary.
A lot of people dying every
day some kind of way.
- Not like that.
Not in front of their kids.
- Seeing bullets go
through somebody.
I think it does
something to you.
Just like a disease
inside of you.
I don't want to feel like that
all the time, so...
- That's why you paint.
- Yeah.
(spray paint can spraying)
- Tell me about your father.
- I don't really talk
about him like that.
- Please?
I want to know.
Was he funny?
- Yeah.
He was a funny guy.
Could crack a joke or two.
Now him,
he was a real painter.
Like, he paints with
paintbrushes.
Me, I'm more street.
Yeah, he could've been
a real artist.
I mean he was an artist.
Like his paintings could've
been in museums and shit.
Can I show you something?
- What?
- You're beautiful.
(gentle music)
- It's so --
-- that's how you see me?
- Yeah...
That's how I see you.
(gentle music continues)
- [NAOMI] My lover
before me.
The walls are porous.
Like the honeycombs
of a beehive.
The air was cold that day,
but our moods were high
My lover before me
stood naked.
I caught the smoke
from his kiss.
I could feel it
entering my lungs,
his taste on my lips.
I am lost with him.
Inside his cave,
I have known
no greater beauty
than this.
This...
...day...
...with my lover...
...before me.
Hey.
You awake?
- I ain't ever
going to sleep.
- The lights are so pretty.
- Mhm.
- Pam never called.
I have to go check on her.
- She's fine.
She'll probably call you
in the morning.
Just go to sleep.
Tell me about that Venice.
- So there's two.
There's one in California,
and there's one in Italy.
But we should go to both.
They have these canals, where
you have to get around by boat.
- Um.
I ain't gettin' in no boat.
- (chuckles) You can't be
afraid of boats.
- I ain't gettin' in no boat.
I don't even know how to swim.
- You got to teach me.
- I will.
- Just go to sleep.
(kisses)
- Pam?
- [PAM] This is so fucked up.
- I was looking all over for
you. I went by the house.
What are you doing now?
Pam, hey, just stop it. Hey...
Let's just go home.
- I told you we shouldn't have
done the rally.
I have to get this place cleaned
up before my manager opens
in the morning.
- Pam, Pam.
Stop, stop.
You're not going to
lose your job.
It's going to be okay.
- Well, you just have
to be political.
I don't, I don't think that's
why this happened.
It just happened.
Pam?
Please, let's just go home.
- I need to finish.
You can go.
I'll be done soon.
- Stop it!
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
- You didn't do anything.
- Yeah, but I went home with
Frank tonight--
Oh.
(gunshots)
- [GANGSTER 1] Get the
keys man!
- [GANGSTER 2] Holy shit.
(car engine cranks)
- [GANGSTER 1] Drive, drive!
(car doors close)
(dramatic music)
- Pam, no!
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, Pam no.
Please. Pam, no. No.
Somebody help me!
Please, Pam.
No. No, Pam, it's okay.
It's okay, Pam.
We're okay, okay?
Pam, please!
Please, Pam, wake up.
God, please don't do this to me.
Pam, please!
Just wake up. It's okay.
(dramatic music continues)
- [POLICE OFFICER]
Ma'am?
What's your name?
(sirens wailing)
Ma'am?
We need you to come down to
the station to give a statement.
Ma'am?
- How long are they gonna
leave her like that?
(dramatic music continues)
(sirens continue wailing)
- [REPORTER] ...a lot of blood
where police found the car.
The summer of violence continues
to take lives.
The death total now at 54...
- Babe, just sit down.
- Wait.
I'm waiting to see what they're
going to say about Pam.
It's been weeks.
- [REPORTER] ...a young
business owner's brutal...
- It's not going to happen.
- [REPORTER] This is
Diane Clark, reporting
from Five Points.
- You think it was JB and them?
Jacking her car?
- Babe, how I'm supposed to
know where he be at?
- You work for him.
- Who told you that?
- It doesn't matter.
- No, it does.
I don't work for him.
I got my own thing,
I don't fuck with him like that.
- God, none of this
makes any sense.
(television continues
indistinctly)
Are you lying to me?
About JB?
- Look, I swear to
God on my heart,
I ain't in that life.
He my blood, but he
ain't my family.
You my family.
(television continues
indistinctly)
Close your eyes.
-What? Frank, stop playing.
- Close your eyes.
(Naomi sighs)
(television continues
indistinctly)
(somber music)
It's me and you.
It's gonna be okay.
It's gonna be okay.
(somber music continues)
(indistinct background chatter)
- [NAOMI] They didn't even
mention her name in the paper.
Who can we talk to?
- It won't matter.
Alright, killing that white
couple is over the top,
but killing each other
and stepping out of line?
- Who do you think did it?
- Don't know.
Could be anyone.
- JB?
- Naomi, that's why I'm leaving.
Alright, it's getting to much
out here, and you
should leave too.
- Pam just died.
She's not even in the
news. I can't leave.
(police radio chattering)
I can't leave my friend.
- I know.
- This is so fucked up.
- Edward Crawford?
- Sir?
- Mr. Crawford do you work
here at this establishment?
- Yeah, I DJ here sometimes,
but I also work at--
- Mr. Crawford, put your
hands on your head,
we have a warrant for
your arrest.
- It's just parking tickets.
- Whoa.
- Put your hands on
your head, sir.
-What are you talking about?
-For what?
-Hey, get against the wall!
Hands on the wall!
-You don't have to
do him like that.
- No, just--sir!
Sir, please.
You don't understand, sir.
I'm a college student.
Sir, please!
- What...
-Sir, you don't understand. I...
- Do you know there was a
shooting here?
- Yes, I'm aware, but the
lady said that I...
- He works here.
- We were here. He had
nothing to do with that!
- I had nothing to do with that!
- Shut up or you can
go with him.
- Sir, please,
You don't understand...
- You're hurting him!
- Got anything on you?
- No. Sir!
- You're hurting him!
- Sir, please! Sir!
- No, just...
- Please!
- Please, you don't understand!
- You can't arrest him for a
stupid parking ticket.
- Please! Sir, please.
- Hey!
Excuse me.
This is my stuff.
- [LANDLORD] No.
- Can I help you?
- This belongs to a tenant.
- Well, no --
-- Okay yes, but it was
in the house.
I'm staying with Pamela.
Are you the landlord?
- She's deceased.
- I know that.
- And her mother asked us to
pack up her stuff and
send it home.
- Okay, but some of this
stuff is mine.
- Who are you again?
Did you live here in
the premises?
- Listen, I need this address,
okay?
I'm a writer and I'm expecting
to hear back from
submissions I made.
- I'm sorry, miss,
you can't stay in the house.
You got somewhere to go?
- Fuck.
Fuck.
- [THOMAS] Hello?
- Can I talk to Mom?
- Naomi?
- Dad.
I need to talk to Mom.
- No, you're going
to talk to me.
This has gone on long enough.
- No.
- This is all getting too
close to home now.
You've proved your point.
You need to come home...
- Okay. Oh, what
point was that, Dad?
- Young lady, I will forgive
that tone because I know how
upset you are...
- You said I can't go down
that road with you.
Say you're sorry.
- Is that what you want?
An apology?
You will come to realize
that this is exactly
the kind of thing
I've been protecting you from.
Naomi, come--
(somber music)
(somber music continues)
- [FRANK] It's alright.
(siren wailing)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(bottles rattle)
(banging in background)
(muffled chattering)
- [JB] What the fuck, nigga?
Why I got to keep
talking to you?
You see this?
This how you got to
do these motherfuckers.
And get them the fuck
off the block!
Now handle that shit!
Get the fuck out my
warehouse, man.
Get the fuck out!
Whatchu doing sneaking
around in here?
- [NAOMI] I'm just headed out.
- Yeah, alright.
- I'm Pam's friend.
You know her?
She worked over at Lala's.
I'm sure you know her.
Everyone knew her.
I saw you at the bar one time.
I asked you a question.
- What?
- She was murdered.
- Bitch, I don't know who the
fuck you think you talking to.
- It was a carjacking
or something.
- You need to close your mouth.
You see, you might be
fucking Frank,
but all this shit is mine.
Matter of fact...
Everything in this
motherfucker...
is mine.
You have something you
want to ask me?
- I just...
No.
- No you got a question for JB,
right?
So go ahead and
ask that shit.
- You killed Pam.
(hand slaps)
(Naomi screams)
- What's wrong with you? Huh?
- What you say?
I couldn't hear you.
I did what? What did you say?
- No, no
- Nah, Naomi.
Frank got you fucked up in here.
Do you need help to know
how shit work around here?
- I'm sorry.
- Nah, you ain't fucking sorry.
- I'm sorry! No, please.
Please, no! No, you...
- The fuck is wrong with you?
- I'm sorry, no!
- Shut the fuck up!
- Oh, please. You don't
want to do this, no!
- Fuck
- No, okay, okay. Okay!
You don't, you don't
have to do this.
You don't have to do this.
Please.
You don't have to! I'm bleeding!
- Stop! Stop.
- I'm bleeding!
- You better fucking stop!
- I'm on my period
please just --
-- just don't.
I'll come back later.
Yeah. I'll come back later.
I'll come back.
I'll come back.
(Naomi panting)
- I'll come get that
shit when I want.
Tell that nigga Frank
come see me --
-- because I'm a deal
with his ass next.
And get the fuck out!
(Naomi panting)
- [FRANK] Hey!
What happened?
What happened?
- We have to go.
- Hold up, hold up, hold up.
- We have to.
No, no.
- Hey, what up?
- No Frank, please just, it's my
fault. We have to go. It's okay.
Just get in the car, please.
We have to go.
- Fuck that.
- No, Frank! Just leave it!
Frank, please!
Just get in the car!
Okay, okay.
(car engine cranks)
(car tires squealing)
No!
Frank!
(gunshots)
Frank!
(gunshots)
Frank!
(inaudible)
(dramatic boom)
[NAOMI] The sleep of death.
(somber music)
Blood spilled onto the concrete.
- [FRANK] It's me and you.
- [NAOMI] His body didn't move.
- I ain't getting in no
boat. I don't even
know how to swim.
Teach me.
(somber music continues)
I want to know
all about you.
(Naomi sighs)
(people chattering)
- [NAOMI] Professor Davis.
- Yes, Miss Bradford.
- I'm turning in my case
studies this week.
I'm sorry I got behind.
I'll get it done.
- This is a recurring theme
for you, Miss Bradford.
Law School is a commitment.
You cannot be this ineffective.
You were recommended
into this program
because of your exemplary
undergraduate work.
- I do apologize,
but my head...
- Miss Bradford,
you need to get your
act together.
It's affecting your future.
- I understand.
(upbeat music)
(people chattering)
- [CROWD] One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight,
nine, ten. Whoo!!
(indistinct chattering)
- You're...
You're the new me (laughs).
I feel so sorry for her!
- [RICHIE] Naomi, you're
drunk. Okay?
- Oh, am I?
Should I be high?
Did you make your
mark tonight, Richie?
-What the fuck? Naomi.
You need to go home. Come on.
- Let's go.
- No, I'm. Fine.
- [CRISTINA] Naomi.
- You don't get to tell
me what to do.
- Naomi, Naomi come on.
- What the fuck?
- Calm down.
- You know, he likes
black girls?
He likes black girls.
- Jesus, Naomi.
- Yeah, he's got a thing.
- Stop.
- Yeah --
-- he'll never take you
to see his mom.
- Leave her alone. I got her.
- Go home Naomi!
- He doesn't love you.
You don't know.
You don't know
anything about love.
I know love!
[NAOMI] When I held
Pam dying in my arms
I thought --
-- I should kiss her.
My kiss will save her.
I thought if I could brush her
hair with my hands.
life would rush through.
Her eyes would open.
Like Snow White
she'll wake from this
sleep of death.
But she didn't
(car engine cranks)
(car humming)
(ominous music)
(tires squeal)
(ominous music continues)
(car horn honking)
(tires squealing)
(ominous music continues)
(dramatic music)
(sirens wailing)
(beeping)
(indistinct chattering)
Did I hurt anybody?
- [NURSE] You were in an
accident. You are okay.
- Did I hurt anybody?
I didn't kill anybody, did I?
- Ms. Bradford.
- I didn't kill anybody, did I?
- Ms. Bradford.
- You're in the hospital.
You were in an accident.
The police are here.
They're going to give
you a breathalyzer.
- Ma'am.
- Where are my clothes?
What the fuck?
Let me go!
You let me go!
Untie me! Please!
I will fuck you up!
Let me go!
- Ma'am, are you ready to give
consent for a breathalyzer?
- Please! I'm naked!
Why am I naked?
- Ma'am, ma'am.
Do you give consent?
- Please. Get the fuck away
from me!
- Ma'am, do you give consent?
- Please, just call somebody.
I don't want to talk to him.
I don't have to talk to you!
Please.
- [THOMAS] Get away from her
- Who are you?
- I'm her father,
Thomas Bradford.
You have no right to
question my child.
- I have every right to question
her. We need her consent
for a breathalyzer.
I'm doing her a favor
by even asking.
- There's no call for this.
It is not legal.
It is barbaric.
Four point restraints are not
allowed in any hospital
in this state.
Who authorized this?
- We need a breathalyzer.
- She is not going to comply.
We don't need anything
else from you.
(Naomi whimpering)
Please, remove the restraints.
And I would like a moment alone
with my daughter.
- Dad, please.
- Hey.
- Hey baby, it's alright.
It's alright.
- Nah, Dad, I didn't
hurt anybody.
- It's alright.
- Dad, I'm so sorry.
- I need you to breathe.
Breathe for me. Breathe.
(Naomi breathes deeply)
Hey.
Hey, Chocolate Drop,
Daddy's here.
Daddy's here.
Daddy's here.
(wind blowing)
We don't need your
mother to see this.
- Jesus.
I didn't know it was this is
bad, I really fucked up.
- No, I fucked this up.
I fucked this up.
- Dad.
- Naomi, I...
I know I didn't let you do
what you wanted to do, and
I know that,
and I'm sorry.
I really am.
I only did what I know
and I didn't...
(somber music)
- I'm so sorry, Mom.
- It's fine.
You're alright.
That's all that matters.
- The world is a ugly place.
- We tried so hard to
protect you, honey.
We don't want you to go
through what we went through.
- Yeah, mom, I get it.
(somber music continues)
- Naomi...
You have to know
I chose to protect you.
We both did.
- Mom, I can't outrun the
ugliness of this world.
I can't hide from it.
You guys kept me in a bubble.
- Well, we kept you safe.
- So...
...this summer...
...two of my friends died.
My best friends, and I saw it.
And I don't know, I just
started drinking
just to drown it all out.
And --
-- I'm so sorry I did
that to you guys.
I am.
But, I do not have a
drinking problem.
Or maybe I do?
I don't know.
But --
-- poetry is all I know.
It's the only way I can
see the beauty.
It's the only place I
can be free.
(somber music continues)
And it's the only
place I can keep them alive
with me.
(sighs) So...
(Naomi clears throat)
I'm leaving soon.
I'm leaving to Los Angeles.
- But you don't have to leave
to write poetry.
- To write poetry I have
to live, and to live
I have to leave.
- But you can always come home.
- Yeah.
- [ELEANOR] By yourself?
Some people go their whole lives
and never do anything like this.
Oh, my gorgeous girl (crying).
(Eleanor sighs)
- I have something to show
you later on, um-hmm.
(Naomi chuckles)
(lively jazz music)
You know, I never
heard one of your poems.
- Okay?
- Well?
- You want me to perform one?
- Mm-hmm
- Here?
- Mm-hmm.
- Dad, what is this place?
- It's a club.
- I know that.
But how do you know
about a club?
- I drop by
sometimes after work.
Now go on. Get up there.
I told them we were coming.
- Okay.
Okay.
Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.
- [NAOMI] Thank you. Sorry.
- That's quite alright,
young lady.
- [NAOMI] Thank you.
- What you got?
- Um, a poem for my father.
- Is that right?
- Yeah.
- We gon' move right
along with you.
- Okay.
Yeah.
- What's happening B?
- Hey, now.
- All right, now.
- Right.
(saxophone plays)
- This is a poem from my father.
It's like a silent, steady wind
pushing you forward.
(gentle music)
It doesn't shake you off your
footing, but you feel it.
A warm breeze on a summer day.
The sunlight shining
on your face.
Oh, what I would give --
-- to have one more day
of your sunlight on my face.
It's something you
take for granted,
like air, like...
listening to hip-hop loud on the
radio as I drive down
the highway,
feeling the joy of
the road wide open,
like the ice cream on
the first day of summer,
the first day the pool opened
and I got to jump in.
That's what your love
feels like to me.
A place of calm.
A place of freedom.
Freedom to...
fly on these wings
you gave me.
Freedom to carry the torch
you bore for me.
And freedom to put it down too.
(gentle music continues)
How do you repay
a love like that?
You live,
you love,
you fly, you fall,
you crash,
and sometimes you burn.
But these life lessons
are not lost.
They are the fuel.
The fire that give
birth to a legacy.
Always,
always with love
leading the way.
(Naomi chuckles)
That's what it means
to have a father's love.
(audience chattering)
Thank you.
(audience claps)
Thank you.
- Hey, wow.
Chocolate Drop.
Thank you.
(upbeat music)
(indistinct) ...from the
ones who would love
Now let's all stand up
and celebrate
Woo
Tonight we're gonna
keep it going all night long
Having a good time,
living the good life
(gentle music)
- [NAOMI] Maybe if I sit
here a little longer,
I'll get it.
Maybe if I gaze out
upon the sea.
Watch the waves crash.
Duck around like
little brown birds
dodging the water.
Skipping across the sky
like those crazy seagulls.
Maybe I'll just come right up
next to you and wait.
Just like those birds.
I'll sit and wait
and watch.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
This is she.
(gentle music continues)
Uh yeah, I can do that.
Uh yes, yes. When,
when is it?
Oh, my God.
[NAOMI] Hi.
-Hey Naomi.
Thank you so much for coming.
- Hi.
- Naomi,
nice to meet you.
(gentle music continues)
- [NAOMI] Maybe sitting,
waiting,
watching the water.
(waves crashing)
(gulls squawking)
Maybe I'll find my strength like
that little brown bird
I'll keep running from the waves
soar in the sky,
bounce off clouds.
I'll keep searching for food.
Keep my little bird feet
grounded by the wet sand,
and then maybe I'll get it.
Maybe someone will
tell me why I'm still here,
And not you.
- Hey, College Girl.
- I left, I...
Thought you were gone.
- Not yet.
- I don't understand.
How did you find me?
- You know I got my ways.
(uplifting music)
You know I never seen
the ocean before.
- Oh, take your
shoes off (chuckles).
(uplifting music continues)
(music fades)
(waves crashing)
(soulful music)
Love don't differ from hell
So go torment someone else
I'm vibing on my own tonight
All black sneakers with
my dad's old tie
I'm jay walking moving
side to side
Headphones hopping till my
thoughts be saying nothing
I'm riding on my own tonight,
no two of us
I drop one off, he's gone,
he didn't like the two of us
Right or wrong
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
You could've told me
things weren't right
I could've moved on
instead of wasting my time
If you were honest from
the start, you'd find
An easy life instead
of drowning in your lies
It's crazy cause you
was always shy
Guess you couldn't be the same
guy at different times
Oh it's fine that you didn't
want the two of us
Us, ooh us
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
No, who knows,
you can't even tell
(vocalizing)
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah,
nah, nah nah, nah
Love don't differ from hell
So go torment someone,
someone, someone else
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
No, who knows,
who can even tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
No, who knows,
who can even tell
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music)
- [NAOMI] Is this what
it's all come to?
Time to fly.
Time to be free.
Time to finally--
--be me.
But--
--what if I don't see
between the lines?
Can't seem to find outlines
that define my nature.
-[COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER]
My dear friends.
I'm very honored to be
here with you this day.
To the faculty, staff,
and to all of the graduates
of the Class of 1993.
Congratulations.
This is a tremendous
accomplishment,
and you should all be very proud
of this achievement.
And I wish you every
future success.
-[NAOMI] I can't
believe we did it.
-[PAMELA] Yes, we
fucking graduated!
See you later, Boulder!
Shit, it's your parents.
-[ELEANOR] Naomi!
- Okay, don't say anything.
- Naomi, I'm not going
to spoil your good girl image.
I know how hard it is
to keep up an act.
(Thomas laughs)
- Oh, my girl!
- [PAMELA] Hi!
- Naomi Bradford. The graduate.
Future lawyer in waiting.
Oh, come on, let me
get a picture of you two.
Come on.
- You all look so beautiful.
Pamela, I've known you so long,
I feel like you're our
other daughter.
Just like sisters.
- It's good to see you,
Mr. and Mrs. Bradford.
- [THOMAS] Okay, we go...
One, two, three.
Yeah. Graduate.
- Hey, I'm so sorry, I gotta go.
I want to head into
Denver early.
- You're not staying in Boulder
for the summer?
- No, it's fine.
I've been commuting all year.
- Well, Naomi's not going
to be here either.
We are so glad she has
her internship at the firm.
So proud.
- Okay, well, this is me.
I will see you later tonight,
Naomi.
- Okay.
- Bye.
- Bye, honey.
- Wait, tonight? We--
--we have reservations.
- Yeah, that's,
that's right, um.
We'll be there.
I'm going to head home and I'll
catch up with guys later.
- [ELEANOR] Okay.
- Okay.
Right. Love you. Bye.
- [ELEANOR] You too, honey.
- [THOMAS] Love you, too.
Congratulations!
(gentle music)
- Richie.
- [RICHIE]
Hm?
- Babe!
You're asleep?
- No, I'm getting up.
- You're not moving!
- Hey!
- You missed it!
- Oh...
Shit.
I'm sorry.
- No.
- I was going to come.
- No, you weren't.
- Yeah!
- Jesus, Richie, you knew
this was a big day for me.
- I know.
- Just one day.
Then I'm going to do
a poem at Lala's.
- Where?
- You know.
- I don't know where that is.
- Yes, you do!
- No, I don't.
- Yes, you do. Stop.
- We're gonna have our
own ceremony.
You can put the gown back on.
(Naomi laughs)
(Richie mumbles)
I love you.
- I love you.
(knocking)
Who is that?
- What?
- Oh, shit.
I hope it's not my parents.
- Your parents?
- Fuck. Yes.
Just--just--get dressed!
- They're here right now?
- Babe, hurry up!
- [RICHIE] I'm coming.
- Shit.
Hey!
I thought we--
Holy shi--!
- Watch your mouth!
- [NAOMI] A new car?
(parents laughing)
- [THOMAS] Yes, it is, young
lady, that is for you.
You earned it.
- [NAOMI] Oh, my God.
- Look at her.
Out in four years,
accepted into law school.
That was our deal.
- We didn't actually
make a deal, Dad,
you just said I couldn't
take a year off.
Richie, come look at this.
- I see it, babe.
It's righteous.
Interesting color.
Hey!
How are you doing, Mr. Bradford?
- We are doing just fine.
It's good to see you again.
- Good to see you guys.
- Naomi, let's go inside.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Come on in.
- Thank you, Richard.
- Mm-hmm.
- Sweetheart, it doesn't seem
like you're packed.
- Right...
About that.
I'm not sure I'm
going to do the internship.
- What?
- Your father pulled a lot of
favors to get you
that internship.
- Naomi, this was
part of the plan.
An internship before
your first year.
- I know that's what
you planned, Dad.
- That's what we planned!
- Right.
But how is me working
for some firm
going to help change anything?
Not that being a corporate
attorney isn't relevant.
I'm not saying that.
It's just...
I've been writing some things.
Some poems, and--
- Poems?
- Yeah. Yes!
So...
...what if I took some time out
for the summer to write
and, you know, just...
...see what that would be like?
I wrote one.
A poem.
I mean,
I wrote a lot of them.
I have a whole journal
full of them.
And...
...tonight I'm going to perform
for my first time.
- We have dinner tonight.
- After dinner, Mom.
- What time are the
dinner reservations?
- Oh, they're at 6 p.m.
Well, I need to rest my feet
after all this walking.
Naomi, we'll see you in a few
hours for dinner. You too,
Richard.
- Without a doubt.
(door closes)
(gentle music)
(Inaudible)
- [ELEANOR] Sweetheart,
we are so proud of you.
- [NAOMI] Dad?
Aren't you going to
say something?
- Naomi...
it's your life.
I would never get in the
way of that happiness.
- What are you talking about?
- You can keep the car,
that's your gift,
but there will be nothing else.
You're shacking up with that
white boy, skipping law school.
Next thing, you'll be pregnant.
- Thomas!
- Eleanor, I have smiled and
pretended for white
folks all my life,
that's why we left Mississippi.
I will not have one in my home.
I will not pretend in
my own house!
- Okay, Thomas, stop
this right now--
- You think I raised a
black child to have
her marry outside the race?
Oh, come on now, Eleanor,
to see that?
(gentle music)
I failed as a father.
It's true, Eleanor.
What's it all for, if they
abandon the race?
- I can't believe you
would bring this up tonight.
It's her graduation--!
- She can choose what she wants,
but I will not walk down
that road with her.
- [NAOMI] If he knew what
you meant to me,
he would have left it alone.
If he knew how long I waited
to hear those words,
those three words,
he would have never asked
me to give you up.
If he knew,
if he knew.
If only my father knew.
(gentle music continues)
(muffled upbeat music)
(upbeat music continues)
I'm ready for whatever
I'm ready for whatever
- Hey!
- I didn't want to not show up.
- What happened?
- Nothing.
- Bullshit. Come back here.
Ed! Watch the bar.
- It's okay, I'm fine.
I ain't got nothing to prove
Pam! Pam!
Yo, what's up with you
Now, what's up with you
I'm fine. Really!
- Okay?
Then why are you crying?
- Come on, Pam. Let's--
Let's go get a drink and
we can dance.
It's graduation.
What you tryin' do
Tell me what you tryin' do
- Do you want a hug?
I ain't doin' nothin'
So let me come through
J Strokes got it airborne
I'm on my...
Was it Richie?
That dick.
Fuck his money!
You can do so much
better than him.
He's still a drug dealer.
- Richie's fine.
- Okay, well, he's not
here with you.
So what happened?
- My dad.
(sniffles)
I don't know, he just got
really upset about Richie.
- Well, I'm upset about Richie.
Your dad will be fine.
When I was just a teen
- My dad disowned me.
- No.
What? You--!
You're the good kid!
You get the grades,
you wear those clothes.
- And?
- You do everything they say.
- No, I don't.
- No, I didn't mean
it like that.
You're like a
parent's wet dream.
Unlike me, I'm the
lesbian, black sheep,
so of course, no one
talks to me.
But you?
Not a fighter, I'm a lover
We round and round
off the ground...
- God, I haven't
told Richie yet.
- Of course the person you're
worried about is Richie.
But what about you?
This is your night!
- Pam, no, I'm not
going up there.
- You have to.
You've been wanting to do
this all frickin' year.
Forget about your dad,
forget about Richie,
just go up there for you.
You need a shot first?
- Hell yeah.
(upbeat music)
Yeah I'm the O G
Everybody here know me
I make it rain in the party
O G
- Alright, you ready?
I'mma see where you
are on the list.
- Okay.
- Don't run out.
You're going to be great, okay?
O G
Everybody here know me
Everybody here know me
- [FRANK] How you
doing Miss Lady?
All the honeys want
to hold me
Know I am the only
One to get it pumping
- I'm not--
I'm fine.
I have a boyfriend.
Spread the love like butter
- Is that right?
- [PAMELA] What's up, people?
(audience cheers)
For our Graduation
Night Open Mic,
I'd like y'all to give a warm
welcome to my bestie all
the way from Boulder, Colorado,
Miss Naomi!
(audience cheers)
(clears throat)
- Hi, my name is Naomi Bradford.
- Give it up, y'all, it's
her first time!
(audience cheers)
- Um, this is love poem
number one.
(soft gentle music)
My room is filled
with vanilla candles
and billowy clouds.
It takes me adrift.
A momentary sea of happiness.
I will share that with no one.
I will not spoil my fun.
The hole inside me is fierce,
gnawing away at me a stomach
that has never been filled.
I can feel it
reaching around my
heart to twist.
Creating these dull chills.
I look to see what may
take this away.
Nothing.
Nothing suffices.
Nothing is good enough for me.
I realize
I must like this pain.
It's something I know.
One of the few things
I can rely on.
(audience snaps)
- [PAMELA] Yeah!
(audience cheers)
- Thank you.
- [MAN] That was great.
- Alright, y'all, we
back in ten.
Let's party.
(soft music)
- Hey, I like that poem.
What you write that 'bout
that boyfriend you got?
- I don't know,
it's just...
...things I was feeling.
- Word.
So I'mma see you next
time you come through?
- I don't know if I can
really do this.
My dad is...
I don't know.
- You'll be back.
...but could it all be true
Living all my life
just with you
Cherish everyday...
- You did it! I knew you would.
Don't you feel great?
- Yeah.
(birds chirping)
Where were you?
I paged you half the night,
I called the house.
- Uh-huh.
- Why didn't you page me back?
It doesn't matter.
I'm just glad you're home now.
Guess what?
- Hmm?
- I'm staying home
for the summer.
- Wow! You did it!
- Mhm.
- You told them. How
did your Dad take it?
- I can't with my dad right now.
Let's just talk about
how much fun
we're going to have this summer.
- Oh, you know, I'm
headed out to A basin.
- Okay! Okay, I'm coming!
I'll be quick.
- Uh.
- When are we leaving?
- The--the trip's--
--about black diamonds
and the bowl, and...
And you don't like to ski those
runs, and you'll be mad
we're out all day.
But we've already talked
about this. What--?
What happened?
- My dad doesn't like us
being together.
- No way!
I couldn't tell.
'Cause if he ever
did look at me,
it was like I'm a piece of shit.
- Richie, I think he's
disowning me.
- Huh?
- So now I'm not going
home for the summer,
and you know I'm
not doing the internship.
I don't know.
I can be like you,
and we can take a
gap year together.
- Wait, but--
Disowned you? What do you
mean by that? He like--
--cut you out of the family
trust or something?
- Babe, we don't all
have trust funds.
- Yeah, but why did he do that?
- Babe, like I said,
he doesn't like us
being together.
or maybe it's the law
school thing.
I don't--
It's just that...
You're white.
And he doesn't want me to
marry some white guy
- "Married"?
You told him we were
getting married?
- No!
- What?
- I mean, we are
living together!
What's--what's next?
- We're in college.
We're having fun.
I never said I could take you--
--to--
- Oh, no,
yeah, finish it.
What? You never said what?
That you could take me home?
- No!
- To meet your parents?
So when your parents came down
from Aspen and you said
it wasn't a good time to meet
them, and you left me here--!
- You had exams!
- Oh, stop it!
God, I'm sorry.
Richie, no...
Okay, um...
We can make this work.
Okay? We don't--we don't
need our parents approval
to be together, Richie,
we don't need them!
- Jesus, Naomi, this...
Right now, it's way too serious.
I'd never even dated a
black girl before,
and I didn't think, you know,
I never wanted it to be--
--my life.
- Fuck you.
Fuck you, Richie!
Fuck you!
Fuck you.
(Naomi whimpering)
- I'm gonna go. We can
talk about this later--
- Talk about what?
I won't fucking be here!
- See,
this is why we should
have gone to an HBCU.
We wouldn't have to
deal with this shit.
And I wouldn't have had to take
the RTD all the way up here to
make sure that you,
my best friend,
doesn't drive all the way
to Denver by herself.
- Thank you, for real.
- Richie's such an asshole!
So, what? He was just
with you to just--
I'm sorry.
- It's fine.
You can say it.
He just wanted some...
...black experience,
and I gave it to him.
- You're going to love Denver.
Get out of this lily white,
small ass town.
Meet a real man.
Or woman.
- I am not joining your team.
Honestly, I'm done
with all of that.
You think I can get
a job at Lala's?
- What do you know about
being a bartender?
- Nothing.
But the poetry's there,
and I can get up all
the time and write.
I dunno, get published?
(uplifting music)
- That's it?
- That's enough.
- [RADIO DJ] You got DJ Nick
on your radio tonight.
Another carjacking in the
streets, another
innocent victim.
Come on, y'all.
Let's take it easy.
Ride with me.
I got something really nice to
play for you all this evening.
Come on.
(soothing music)
- I'm telling you,
you're going to have to
sneak in the back
if you're going to
stay in my place.
Do not let my old,
fat landlord see you.
- Sneak in?
Girl, that's crazy.
- No sublets.
No extra roommates who
aren't on the lease.
- So...
Add me to the lease.
- No!
Then we have to sign a whole
new lease and I have
to move to L.A. at the
end of the summer.
This is it for me.
- Well, that's cool.
Can you give me a soda?
Thank you.
- We can live in West Hollywood.
You know there are more
gay people per capita
in West Hollywood
than anywhere in the world?
- More than San Francisco?
- Yeah!
We can go and be
and do anything!
- Well, that's cool.
You have this whole
plan, I'm just...
Fuck, this is not how
I saw my week going.
Can I get...
uh, ten on
number three, please?
- That's...$15.60.
It's declined.
- What?
No, I'm nowhere near my limit,
can you just run it again?
- Still declined, Miss.
- I've got cash,
let's take all of it.
Alright.
(fuel pump beeps)
(distant car horn honks)
You still get an allowance?
(Naomi laughs)
You got wheels.
(upbeat music)
On the run again
Never mind the rain
Jump on the...
So you think she's just
messing with my head?
You think this is just, like,
one of the games she's playing?
Like, she has this other motive?
This is--!
Fuckin' in front of
my house again!
Can't deal with this shit.
Never mind the rain
Hey!
Get out! Party's
across the street.
I don't know why she
can't just leave him
and admit she's gay.
What is she going to do,
just put up an act for the
rest of her life?
How is she not going to
get clinically depressed?
If she isn't already.
Oh, good.
You found your bed.
Welcome to Denver.
- Pam, honestly,
thank you so much.
I'll pay rent or...
pay you back or something.
- You don't have to
worry about that.
So...
You think she's marrying him
because of the trust fund?
She can't fucking love him.
- Are you sure she's gay?
- Oh...
I'm sure.
- So...I don't know.
Maybe...
She's not as brave as you are.
Not a lot of people can
come out like you did.
- It had to be done.
Things could be
different in L.A.
- I guess.
Don't follow her to L.A.
If she won't come out
of the closet, you can't.
- I'm not going to move
just for her.
Can't live my life
gay in Colorado.
There's no fucking way.
- You still talk to her?
- Every day.
- I feel so bad for you.
- Don't do that.
You're the one in a crisis.
Don't worry about me.
- Yeah, um...
My life is...
completely over.
What have I done?
I-I have no idea how to
even be a poet.
What am I thinking?
- You don't have to
know right now.
You just got here.
It's me and you,
let's just vibe out.
Richie was really
killing your energy.
- I have to find a job.
I don't even have gas money.
- Yeah, that's a problem.
- So you'll help me?
- I don't know.
- Pam.
Pam, come on.
I need a job.
I can and I will look for one,
but what about Lala's?
- Um, you feel like a drink?
I think we need to drink.
- Pam.
Pam!
- What? I can't just--
walk into Lala's
and get you a job.
Naomi, you haven't worked a job
in all four years we
were in school.
Why do you have to do anything?
It's just--
You've had a crazy day.
Relax.
Write some of your poems.
- Write some of my poems...
- Let's top you off,
just like me.
Yeah, you can use my, uh...
My place can be your
own Shangri-La.
No one's here to lord over you.
You don't have to pay rent.
- But I need to.
- You don't have to.
Where are your--
little lights?
- They're like Christmas
lights in the summer.
- Ugh, yes.
I'mma set you up
right here in
this little corner.
This is going to be
your own Zen space.
- And I can light a
candle and write.
- Write poems,
be all artsy.
- Play Billie Holiday.
- Aw.
- Yes!
And write sad, sad poems.
- So sad.
- Great, let's take this shot.
(car tires squealing)
(gunshots)
-What was that?
- Get away from the window.
They're shooting outside.
- Shooting?
- Yeah. Yeah...
Just stay down, don't move.
(car doors slamming)
(car engine cranks)
- You think somebody got hurt?
- Probably.
- Should we go outside?
- No, definitely not.
(car engine revving)
(people screaming)
- Holy shit.
- Look...
You'll see that this is just
how things are around here.
Can't even have a party
without someone getting shot.
It's crazy.
So glad you're here.
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
- I don't care
about cleaning.
I'll do whatever to help out.
- Okay.
We can sling coffee together
with our college degrees.
- (laughs) And I promise I won't
be on your couch for long.
Pam. Pam!
I need to talk to him.
- Yeah, go.
- Can you give me
my bag, though?
- Yeah.
- Hey Naomi, how you doing?
- I'm good!
Good. Thanks.
So you're still working
at the newspaper?
- I'm interning, getting ready
for my econ exam for Oxford.
- In England?
- Yeah.
- Wow.
Wow, that's, that's amazing.
- It's not as cool as law
school, though.
Congrats, by the way.
- Um.
I'm not--
--going to law school,
that's what my dad wanted.
I'm--
--going to pursue poetry.
- You're not going
to law school, really?
- Yeah, Ed, really.
- This is what I want to do.
And I'm hoping you can
help me get published?
Maybe talk to one
of the editors for me?
- Wow. Naomi, I'd love to
help you out,
but...
they don't care about
that type of stuff.
All the paper cares
about is this.
They're already calling it
the "Summer of Violence", and...
I don't think they're going
to feel the love poems, Naomi.
- But talking about
love is exactly
what we need right now.
- Okay, but talking about love
is not going to stop
anyone from picking up a pistol.
- I know.
I know.
But...
There has to be another way.
We can't just keep
going with the--
"If it bleeds, it leads".
Where does that take us?
More death?
When is it going to be
the time where we can
talk about something
that we all fucking need?
Love.
- I'm in the real world, like...
a toddler was shot
dead last night,
and an eight-year-old
was shot in a drive by.
Fifteen deaths in one week!
One week?
- Pam, this is by your place.
I saw this, this morning!
They killed a baby?
- Told you. Stray bullets.
- No one's safe and love
won't stop a bullet, Naomi.
- Might make somebody
think twice about pulling
that trigger, though.
- Right. Naomi, look,
Your poetry is beautiful,
but your dad's right.
I mean, you should go
to law school,
that's how you make a
difference--
- [PAMELA] Ed, get out.
- Alright, alright.
I got class anyway.
Somebody had to say
something, I'm not the bad guy.
- Pam, let's do a
poetry reading,
and we can make it
about the violence.
A rally to speak peace
to the violence for
the neighborhood,
we can put that in the paper!
Is it a bad idea?
- [ED] No, but it's--
- It's fine, um...
My boss was just...
kind of weird
about the last one.
- Pam, we could pack
this place out.
It'll be good for the bar.
We'll make money,
your boss will love it.
- [JB] I'm gonna be
in the office.
- Who was that?
- No one, he's just
here to pick some stuff up.
Try and make a latte,
and don't burn yourself.
- Yeah, I gotta jet.
- [PAMELA] I'm gonna open up the
office and turn on the music.
(hip hop music)
No heavy lifting
They be riffing and tripping,
I'm built different
- That's dope.
Steady and smooth
Keep it moving
like a needle on the groove
- What's dope?
Drifting
- Doing that poetry rally you
talking about.
- It could be good, right?
- Definitely.
I could paint there too.
- Wait, these are
your paintings?
- Yeah.
- Hold on, I gotta make
sure this is straight.
Let it loose,
nothing to prove
Laid back, taking
in the skyline views
Coasting down the coastline
I could paint you too,
- Oh.
- If you let me.
- No, um --
-- I do not want to see my face
that big, that is too much.
- But you have a beautiful face.
- I don't know about that.
So uh, for the rally,
you could paint?
- Yeah.
- Like what?
- It depends.
I usually just paint off
whatever the vibe is.
Could be the kids...
Feel something off the words.
Just another form of
expressing myself, you know?
- That's cool.
But we need to figure out
how to get people in here.
- Bet.
- What's that mean?
(soft music)
- You need help.
I got you.
- No, I didn't ask
for you to help.
- So you don't want any help?
- Well, I kind of have to...
- College girl come down here.
Don't even know the
neighborhood.
- No, I don't.
- You don't.
- So --
-- I need help.
- You do.
- Frank, what are you doing?
- How you asking me
what I'm doing?
- You need to be bar training.
I know you can't
make any drinks.
- I know plenty about drinks.
- Drinking drinks and making
drinks are different things.
Plus, the coffee bar drinks.
Start memorizing these so you
can work the bar.
Might be able to get you a
shift later this week.
(gentle music)
- [NAOMI] They stole the
summer, gave it a new name.
They stole summer.
"Summer of Violence".
What about summer love?
Summer hope, summer dreams.
Freedom summer.
How can they steal the
joy of summer?
They call it the
summer of violence.
Violence comes on any corner.
Violence knows no season.
But summer --
-- is special.
They stole the summer
gave it a new name.
But I won't let them take it.
(upbeat music)
- [FRANK] What's going
on college girl?
Yeah we started from the
bottom but my team, we on
We on, we on, we on,
we on, we on, we on
Tell my people, we on
They say I'll never
be nothing
Oh boy, they wrong
Got my city on my back
and my team is strong
We on, we on, we on,
we on, we on, we on
Tell my city, we on
Wait, it takes time
to be great
- [DJ CAPRI] Yeah, yeah we are
definitely on in the middle of
this 'Summer of Violence'.
Murders are way up.
Carjackings, way up.
Talking 'bout gangs using...
(radio clicks off)
- You don't like hearing
about what's happening?
- Nah, that ain't for me.
I already know what's going on.
That's why I was really
feeling your rally idea.
With the poetry.
Yeah.
- Well, you're the only one.
- Don't worry about
ol' corny Ed.
- Uh huh, he's corny,
he goes to college.
Whatever.
- College girl,
don't be like that.
- Maybe I'm corny too.
- Are you?
- I guess you'll never
know. (giggles)
- Oh, please, Miss Lady,
I definitely want to know.
I want to know all about you.
- Whatever
(dog barking)
Pam's car's not here.
(dog barking)
- Hey, you know what?
I still have to give you
the "new neighbors'" tour.
(Naomi chuckles)
- What are you talking about?
- I'mma show you where you live.
- Okay.
(gentle music)
So where you from?
- Suburbs.
Outside of Colorado Springs.
- Is it nice?
- Yeah.
I think so.
I mean, I don't know.
I've just always been there.
And then I went to school,
and I graduated.
I haven't really seen too much.
Well, until now.
- This most definitely
ain't the suburbs.
- So --
-- here I am working at
a coffee shop.
- Wasn't supposed to be working
at a coffee shop, I guess?
- No.
- Not with that
college degree, huh?
- Nuh uh, no I got into...
I mean, I picked
this job, it's just...
- I bet your mom and dad proud.
My mom would be waking up out
of her grave yelling Hallelujah
if she found out I
went to college.
(Naomi chuckles)
I'm serious.
- My dad's not really
feeling the poetry thing.
I'm sorry about your mom.
- It's all good.
'Round here, everybody
lost somebody.
Lots of somebodies.
We just keep pushing.
- What about your dad?
- Eh.
- So did you always
like to paint?
- Honestly, I just --
-- keeps my mind going.
You know?
- Mhm.
- I like creating art.
Makes me focus
on that, and then...
focus on other things.
But --
-- I love it.
(bell tolling)
I like your voice.
Can I hear one of your poems?
(Naomi sighs)
Please?
(Naomi sighs)
- Black bodies --
-- his skin like mine.
Dark like the grounds
of espresso.
Does he smell like chocolate?
When did my skin
become an oddity?
Something I stare at
with curiosity.
Questions I can't answer,
but here it is now,
staring back at me.
His color moves with me,
blends with mine.
There are no lines of
distinction.
Does he see the beauty
I see, or is it just me?
The black bodies I've
been trained to see.
Strung up on trees,
laying inside white chalk lines.
A threat.
But do my eyes deceive me?
Is that what's really there?
When did this notion of
black bodies and
danger become one?
When did we become an "It"?
When did we internalize our fear
and turn it on ourselves?
So much so that --
-- when I see --
-- you --
-- I don't even see you.
But --
-- I feel you.
(gentle music)
You inside my head,
inside my body,
inside my heart,
and my heart --
-- can train my eyes --
-- to see what my
mind has erased.
(indistinct music playing
in background)
- Where were you?
- You scared me.
I was out...
with Frank.
- Okay.
- What?
- Nothing.
- So you left me
and I didn't have a ride home.
And after last night, I didn't
want to be here without you.
- All you had to do was page me.
- You're right, I guess.
But you could have at
least told me you were leaving.
- Look, Naomi,
I have my own life here.
We don't need to be
all over each other.
You don't need to know
about where I go.
and I don't need to know
about what you do.
- Except you have some
problem with Frank.
- You don't know him.
- He's nicer than Richie.
- Richie is the floor.
Just because he has money
doesn't make him
less of a loser.
- I like Frank.
- Okay.
I mean, whatever.
Going to bed.
Just page me next time.
It's late.
- Yeah, Mom, it's--it's
really great.
- [ELEANOR] Are you sure?
- Yeah, I'm meeting everyone
in the neighborhood.
Living with Pam is great.
- And you're writing?
- That's just it.
I, I met with the paper.
Well, someone who works for the
paper and I'm trying to
get published.
I mean, it's not a big paper
like "The Village Voice" or
anything, but --
-- it's a start for me, Mom.
- I know, baby.
- And that's not the only
thing I'm doing.
We're going to have a rally.
- A rally?
Well, that seems like a lot.
- Yeah, it's to stop the
violence. And, you know,
we'll do some poems, and I'll do
a poem, and it's to try to
speak to the dangers.
- Naomi, you don't have
to do all that.
- Yes, I do.
It's important.
- Okay.
- I mean, murders are
happening every day.
- What?
- Hold on, Mom.
Not--Not "every day" every day,
but...
People are dying.
The violence is real,
and we have to speak out.
It's just as powerful
as going to law school.
Is Dad there?
- Honey...
- Okay, uh, it's fine.
- Are you there?
- Yeah. I've got to go, Mom.
I'll call you back tomorrow.
Love you. Bye.
- What's wrong now,
Eleanor?
- This has to stop.
You hear me talking to you?
- Uh.
You know I do.
- There's shootings up there,
Naomi's living in the
middle of it.
- What do you want
me to do about it?
- Fix it!
- I've said it before,
I'll say it again,
She has to learn.
- This is not the time to be
teaching the child a lesson.
You're going to lose her.
She's stubborn.
She's out there thinking that if
she can do just enough to
impress her daddy,
everything will be all right,
but it won't.
(lively music)
- I'm going to look around.
So dark the night
But I carry this torch...
- So what type of
music you listen to?
- I listen to bands.
- Yeah.
You seem like a band girl.
- [SINCLAIRE] Hey folks,
how are we doing?
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Do you mind if I put a flyer
up in the window?
- For sure, I can take a
stack for the register.
- That'll be great yeah.
- Perfect.
- Thank you.
- You be believing everything
these white people say.
- She said yes.
- She gon' take that shit
down soon as we leave.
It's not the people we
need to be around.
- We need everybody to
stop the violence.
(vocalizing)
- Come on, girl.
I'mma show you.
- Oh, you gonna show me?
- Oh, you gonna show me?
- Yeah I'mma show you.
Yours to a cinder
Yours till the embers
grow faint
Back into the night
- I'll always be in
self-destruct mode.
(audience clapping)
- [SADIE] I cut off my old
friends and told my
lover to fuck off,
but by now he
decided he loved me
when he was drunk.
I left for college somewhat
damaged, I say,
and yet it took me
years to overcome,
years to stop trying to grow
this hair and leave it,
just leave it alone.
I'm so surprised when
people call me beautiful.
Shocked.
At every turn.
So, I don't know how they
can see it like that when
took me years, so many
years to learn
beauty is a twisted thing,
and if you're not careful,
it will tear you apart.
"Hey beautiful."
Talkin' to me?
"Yeah, you're cute."
And I walk away because that
doesn't mean a thing to me.
My beauty is mine and it
lies within me.
And it's too soon for
you to see that.
- [ROBBIE] I'm tired of walking
home from work, having to
check my back,
keep my life on track,
trying hard not to get whacked.
I'm tired of going to
babies' funerals.
Celebration of life?
How are we supposed celebrate
when they ain't even had
a chance to live yet?
- Hey!
- What the hell are you doing?
- [NAOMI] Not so loud.
I'm just reading for the rally.
- Why is Frank here?
- He's been helping me.
- Okay, that's it. This can't be
here right now. I'm sorry,
you all got to go.
- Pam, what's up? I been getting
you good tips all the time
and this how you gon' do me?
- Naomi, everyone needs to go.
- Can you just wait...
- [FRANK] No, it's alright --
-- we'll leave.
Thank you all for coming.
- Thank you, Robbie. Thank you,
thank you.
- Thank you. Appreciate it.
- Bye Ed.
-Appreciate it bro.
- Thank you.
- [NAOMI] Thank you.
Hi.
- I'll call you.
- Okay.
(door closes)
- What?
- I didn't say anything.
- I can't lose this job, Naomi.
Not all of us have a
daddy we can call.
- Okay Pam,
try and act like this
is not about Frank.
- It's not.
I have to work, and so do you.
- I just think it's funny,
you asked about him the other
night, and now you gave
him this look.
- Girl, whatever.
- Yeah, okay.
- It's not like you even know
him, because you don't.
- What is that supposed to mean?
Frank's a good guy.
He treats me better than Richie.
- I'm here.
I got you a place to live.
I got you this job.
I'm your friend.
- Of course.
I just don't see what one thing
has to do with the other.
-Forget it.
Frank's uncle is JB and
JB is some huge,
whatever, in the Crips,
so it's just
out of all the people
you could have met,
not Frank. Okay?
- His uncle's in a gang?
- Yeah.
He's dealing drugs.
He's into some serious shit.
- How do you even know all that?
- Everybody knows.
I will give you
I will give you love
I will give you
I will give you love
I will give you
- Okay, we're ready?
- Got them all
warmed up for you.
- Alright.
- Hey, this is a great idea,
Naomi.
-Thank you, Ed.
- [PAM] What's up, people?
(audience cheers)
We're all ready to start.
Now, I don't have a poem
because I know y'all can't
handle my shit,
but it's good to see
everyone out.
Get your words ready. Speak your
peace. Naomi, take it away.
(audience cheers)
- [NAOMI] Um...
I want to thank everyone
for coming out, and...
wow, this is amazing.
So we're all gathered here today
to speak our peace
through poems,
and my name is Naomi Bradford,
and I will get us started.
They say violence is random.
Random...
Isn't that a word for things
that don't really mean much,
but it can't be random
when it keeps happening
on the same six blocks.
It's not random when it keeps
killing the same black bodies.
Black bodies pulling the
trigger on black bodies.
It's not random.
It's personal.
And my heart bleeds because
I don't know who to fear more.
The street gang or the gang
sponsored by the state.
My heart bleeds for my brothers
who can't walk down the street,
am I wearing the right
colors today?
My heart bleeds for the mother
who weeps her baby.
Her baby shot dead in
their own living room.
So stop saying it's random
because it can't ever be random
when it feels so damn
personal to me.
I've heard them say
"It's self-hatred."
"The killing of
one's own image."
Or maybe it's just a reflection
of what America has done
to our psyche.
Pummeled our self-image in the
dirt, afraid of your own kind,
hating your own color.
So we. we bleach, we die,
we straighten anything to
stop seeing it.
Please make it stop.
No more black bodies bleeding,
No more mothers mourning.
No more random,
purposeful, personal, killings.
No more.
(audience snaps)
(Naomi sighs)
(gunshots)
(audience clamoring)
(dramatic music)
- [FRANK] I got you, I got you.
Here, come here, come here.
Get down, get down,
get down, get down.
It's all right, it's all right,
it's all right.
Alright look. They're only
shooting outside. They're not
shooting in here.
- How do you know that?
- Just come on, come on.
I'm sorry.
- Where's Pam? Where's Pam?
- Don't worry about Pam.
She's probably good.
Alright, come on.
(dramatic music continues)
(engine revving)
(distant sirens wailing)
- [FRANK] You all right?
So do you want me to
take you home?
- I need a pay phone.
I have to find Pam.
- I have a phone at my place.
I just have to page Pam.
I don't know where she went.
(sirens wailing)
- Look, you can page her
at my place
and then just wait for
her to call you back.
Okay?
- Okay, okay.
(hammering in background)
- [FRANK] Come on.
- You live here?
- I'm here so much, I should.
Nah, I just work here.
Sometimes I stay.
You know when ever I
need my own space.
Let me get that phone for you.
- It's nice.
- Thank you.
(phone beeps)
(dial tone)
(buttons clicking)
- [PHONE] Enter your
number now.
(buttons clicking)
- I'm sure she'll call
me back soon.
- You stay here as long
as you need to.
You want me to
take you home?
- No.
I'll wait here with you.
So you painted all of these?
- Yeah.
(spray paint can shaking)
- You never told me why
you started painting.
(spray paint can spraying)
- Pops.
Yeah, but um,
He dead now.
(spray paint can spraying)
Got shot up by the police.
They just came in the house.
Been with my uncle
ever since.
(spray paint can spraying)
- You saw it?
- Yeah.
- I'm so sorry.
- I appreciate that,
but it ain't necessary.
A lot of people dying every
day some kind of way.
- Not like that.
Not in front of their kids.
- Seeing bullets go
through somebody.
I think it does
something to you.
Just like a disease
inside of you.
I don't want to feel like that
all the time, so...
- That's why you paint.
- Yeah.
(spray paint can spraying)
- Tell me about your father.
- I don't really talk
about him like that.
- Please?
I want to know.
Was he funny?
- Yeah.
He was a funny guy.
Could crack a joke or two.
Now him,
he was a real painter.
Like, he paints with
paintbrushes.
Me, I'm more street.
Yeah, he could've been
a real artist.
I mean he was an artist.
Like his paintings could've
been in museums and shit.
Can I show you something?
- What?
- You're beautiful.
(gentle music)
- It's so --
-- that's how you see me?
- Yeah...
That's how I see you.
(gentle music continues)
- [NAOMI] My lover
before me.
The walls are porous.
Like the honeycombs
of a beehive.
The air was cold that day,
but our moods were high
My lover before me
stood naked.
I caught the smoke
from his kiss.
I could feel it
entering my lungs,
his taste on my lips.
I am lost with him.
Inside his cave,
I have known
no greater beauty
than this.
This...
...day...
...with my lover...
...before me.
Hey.
You awake?
- I ain't ever
going to sleep.
- The lights are so pretty.
- Mhm.
- Pam never called.
I have to go check on her.
- She's fine.
She'll probably call you
in the morning.
Just go to sleep.
Tell me about that Venice.
- So there's two.
There's one in California,
and there's one in Italy.
But we should go to both.
They have these canals, where
you have to get around by boat.
- Um.
I ain't gettin' in no boat.
- (chuckles) You can't be
afraid of boats.
- I ain't gettin' in no boat.
I don't even know how to swim.
- You got to teach me.
- I will.
- Just go to sleep.
(kisses)
- Pam?
- [PAM] This is so fucked up.
- I was looking all over for
you. I went by the house.
What are you doing now?
Pam, hey, just stop it. Hey...
Let's just go home.
- I told you we shouldn't have
done the rally.
I have to get this place cleaned
up before my manager opens
in the morning.
- Pam, Pam.
Stop, stop.
You're not going to
lose your job.
It's going to be okay.
- Well, you just have
to be political.
I don't, I don't think that's
why this happened.
It just happened.
Pam?
Please, let's just go home.
- I need to finish.
You can go.
I'll be done soon.
- Stop it!
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
- You didn't do anything.
- Yeah, but I went home with
Frank tonight--
Oh.
(gunshots)
- [GANGSTER 1] Get the
keys man!
- [GANGSTER 2] Holy shit.
(car engine cranks)
- [GANGSTER 1] Drive, drive!
(car doors close)
(dramatic music)
- Pam, no!
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, Pam no.
Please. Pam, no. No.
Somebody help me!
Please, Pam.
No. No, Pam, it's okay.
It's okay, Pam.
We're okay, okay?
Pam, please!
Please, Pam, wake up.
God, please don't do this to me.
Pam, please!
Just wake up. It's okay.
(dramatic music continues)
- [POLICE OFFICER]
Ma'am?
What's your name?
(sirens wailing)
Ma'am?
We need you to come down to
the station to give a statement.
Ma'am?
- How long are they gonna
leave her like that?
(dramatic music continues)
(sirens continue wailing)
- [REPORTER] ...a lot of blood
where police found the car.
The summer of violence continues
to take lives.
The death total now at 54...
- Babe, just sit down.
- Wait.
I'm waiting to see what they're
going to say about Pam.
It's been weeks.
- [REPORTER] ...a young
business owner's brutal...
- It's not going to happen.
- [REPORTER] This is
Diane Clark, reporting
from Five Points.
- You think it was JB and them?
Jacking her car?
- Babe, how I'm supposed to
know where he be at?
- You work for him.
- Who told you that?
- It doesn't matter.
- No, it does.
I don't work for him.
I got my own thing,
I don't fuck with him like that.
- God, none of this
makes any sense.
(television continues
indistinctly)
Are you lying to me?
About JB?
- Look, I swear to
God on my heart,
I ain't in that life.
He my blood, but he
ain't my family.
You my family.
(television continues
indistinctly)
Close your eyes.
-What? Frank, stop playing.
- Close your eyes.
(Naomi sighs)
(television continues
indistinctly)
(somber music)
It's me and you.
It's gonna be okay.
It's gonna be okay.
(somber music continues)
(indistinct background chatter)
- [NAOMI] They didn't even
mention her name in the paper.
Who can we talk to?
- It won't matter.
Alright, killing that white
couple is over the top,
but killing each other
and stepping out of line?
- Who do you think did it?
- Don't know.
Could be anyone.
- JB?
- Naomi, that's why I'm leaving.
Alright, it's getting to much
out here, and you
should leave too.
- Pam just died.
She's not even in the
news. I can't leave.
(police radio chattering)
I can't leave my friend.
- I know.
- This is so fucked up.
- Edward Crawford?
- Sir?
- Mr. Crawford do you work
here at this establishment?
- Yeah, I DJ here sometimes,
but I also work at--
- Mr. Crawford, put your
hands on your head,
we have a warrant for
your arrest.
- It's just parking tickets.
- Whoa.
- Put your hands on
your head, sir.
-What are you talking about?
-For what?
-Hey, get against the wall!
Hands on the wall!
-You don't have to
do him like that.
- No, just--sir!
Sir, please.
You don't understand, sir.
I'm a college student.
Sir, please!
- What...
-Sir, you don't understand. I...
- Do you know there was a
shooting here?
- Yes, I'm aware, but the
lady said that I...
- He works here.
- We were here. He had
nothing to do with that!
- I had nothing to do with that!
- Shut up or you can
go with him.
- Sir, please,
You don't understand...
- You're hurting him!
- Got anything on you?
- No. Sir!
- You're hurting him!
- Sir, please! Sir!
- No, just...
- Please!
- Please, you don't understand!
- You can't arrest him for a
stupid parking ticket.
- Please! Sir, please.
- Hey!
Excuse me.
This is my stuff.
- [LANDLORD] No.
- Can I help you?
- This belongs to a tenant.
- Well, no --
-- Okay yes, but it was
in the house.
I'm staying with Pamela.
Are you the landlord?
- She's deceased.
- I know that.
- And her mother asked us to
pack up her stuff and
send it home.
- Okay, but some of this
stuff is mine.
- Who are you again?
Did you live here in
the premises?
- Listen, I need this address,
okay?
I'm a writer and I'm expecting
to hear back from
submissions I made.
- I'm sorry, miss,
you can't stay in the house.
You got somewhere to go?
- Fuck.
Fuck.
- [THOMAS] Hello?
- Can I talk to Mom?
- Naomi?
- Dad.
I need to talk to Mom.
- No, you're going
to talk to me.
This has gone on long enough.
- No.
- This is all getting too
close to home now.
You've proved your point.
You need to come home...
- Okay. Oh, what
point was that, Dad?
- Young lady, I will forgive
that tone because I know how
upset you are...
- You said I can't go down
that road with you.
Say you're sorry.
- Is that what you want?
An apology?
You will come to realize
that this is exactly
the kind of thing
I've been protecting you from.
Naomi, come--
(somber music)
(somber music continues)
- [FRANK] It's alright.
(siren wailing)
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(bottles rattle)
(banging in background)
(muffled chattering)
- [JB] What the fuck, nigga?
Why I got to keep
talking to you?
You see this?
This how you got to
do these motherfuckers.
And get them the fuck
off the block!
Now handle that shit!
Get the fuck out my
warehouse, man.
Get the fuck out!
Whatchu doing sneaking
around in here?
- [NAOMI] I'm just headed out.
- Yeah, alright.
- I'm Pam's friend.
You know her?
She worked over at Lala's.
I'm sure you know her.
Everyone knew her.
I saw you at the bar one time.
I asked you a question.
- What?
- She was murdered.
- Bitch, I don't know who the
fuck you think you talking to.
- It was a carjacking
or something.
- You need to close your mouth.
You see, you might be
fucking Frank,
but all this shit is mine.
Matter of fact...
Everything in this
motherfucker...
is mine.
You have something you
want to ask me?
- I just...
No.
- No you got a question for JB,
right?
So go ahead and
ask that shit.
- You killed Pam.
(hand slaps)
(Naomi screams)
- What's wrong with you? Huh?
- What you say?
I couldn't hear you.
I did what? What did you say?
- No, no
- Nah, Naomi.
Frank got you fucked up in here.
Do you need help to know
how shit work around here?
- I'm sorry.
- Nah, you ain't fucking sorry.
- I'm sorry! No, please.
Please, no! No, you...
- The fuck is wrong with you?
- I'm sorry, no!
- Shut the fuck up!
- Oh, please. You don't
want to do this, no!
- Fuck
- No, okay, okay. Okay!
You don't, you don't
have to do this.
You don't have to do this.
Please.
You don't have to! I'm bleeding!
- Stop! Stop.
- I'm bleeding!
- You better fucking stop!
- I'm on my period
please just --
-- just don't.
I'll come back later.
Yeah. I'll come back later.
I'll come back.
I'll come back.
(Naomi panting)
- I'll come get that
shit when I want.
Tell that nigga Frank
come see me --
-- because I'm a deal
with his ass next.
And get the fuck out!
(Naomi panting)
- [FRANK] Hey!
What happened?
What happened?
- We have to go.
- Hold up, hold up, hold up.
- We have to.
No, no.
- Hey, what up?
- No Frank, please just, it's my
fault. We have to go. It's okay.
Just get in the car, please.
We have to go.
- Fuck that.
- No, Frank! Just leave it!
Frank, please!
Just get in the car!
Okay, okay.
(car engine cranks)
(car tires squealing)
No!
Frank!
(gunshots)
Frank!
(gunshots)
Frank!
(inaudible)
(dramatic boom)
[NAOMI] The sleep of death.
(somber music)
Blood spilled onto the concrete.
- [FRANK] It's me and you.
- [NAOMI] His body didn't move.
- I ain't getting in no
boat. I don't even
know how to swim.
Teach me.
(somber music continues)
I want to know
all about you.
(Naomi sighs)
(people chattering)
- [NAOMI] Professor Davis.
- Yes, Miss Bradford.
- I'm turning in my case
studies this week.
I'm sorry I got behind.
I'll get it done.
- This is a recurring theme
for you, Miss Bradford.
Law School is a commitment.
You cannot be this ineffective.
You were recommended
into this program
because of your exemplary
undergraduate work.
- I do apologize,
but my head...
- Miss Bradford,
you need to get your
act together.
It's affecting your future.
- I understand.
(upbeat music)
(people chattering)
- [CROWD] One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven, eight,
nine, ten. Whoo!!
(indistinct chattering)
- You're...
You're the new me (laughs).
I feel so sorry for her!
- [RICHIE] Naomi, you're
drunk. Okay?
- Oh, am I?
Should I be high?
Did you make your
mark tonight, Richie?
-What the fuck? Naomi.
You need to go home. Come on.
- Let's go.
- No, I'm. Fine.
- [CRISTINA] Naomi.
- You don't get to tell
me what to do.
- Naomi, Naomi come on.
- What the fuck?
- Calm down.
- You know, he likes
black girls?
He likes black girls.
- Jesus, Naomi.
- Yeah, he's got a thing.
- Stop.
- Yeah --
-- he'll never take you
to see his mom.
- Leave her alone. I got her.
- Go home Naomi!
- He doesn't love you.
You don't know.
You don't know
anything about love.
I know love!
[NAOMI] When I held
Pam dying in my arms
I thought --
-- I should kiss her.
My kiss will save her.
I thought if I could brush her
hair with my hands.
life would rush through.
Her eyes would open.
Like Snow White
she'll wake from this
sleep of death.
But she didn't
(car engine cranks)
(car humming)
(ominous music)
(tires squeal)
(ominous music continues)
(car horn honking)
(tires squealing)
(ominous music continues)
(dramatic music)
(sirens wailing)
(beeping)
(indistinct chattering)
Did I hurt anybody?
- [NURSE] You were in an
accident. You are okay.
- Did I hurt anybody?
I didn't kill anybody, did I?
- Ms. Bradford.
- I didn't kill anybody, did I?
- Ms. Bradford.
- You're in the hospital.
You were in an accident.
The police are here.
They're going to give
you a breathalyzer.
- Ma'am.
- Where are my clothes?
What the fuck?
Let me go!
You let me go!
Untie me! Please!
I will fuck you up!
Let me go!
- Ma'am, are you ready to give
consent for a breathalyzer?
- Please! I'm naked!
Why am I naked?
- Ma'am, ma'am.
Do you give consent?
- Please. Get the fuck away
from me!
- Ma'am, do you give consent?
- Please, just call somebody.
I don't want to talk to him.
I don't have to talk to you!
Please.
- [THOMAS] Get away from her
- Who are you?
- I'm her father,
Thomas Bradford.
You have no right to
question my child.
- I have every right to question
her. We need her consent
for a breathalyzer.
I'm doing her a favor
by even asking.
- There's no call for this.
It is not legal.
It is barbaric.
Four point restraints are not
allowed in any hospital
in this state.
Who authorized this?
- We need a breathalyzer.
- She is not going to comply.
We don't need anything
else from you.
(Naomi whimpering)
Please, remove the restraints.
And I would like a moment alone
with my daughter.
- Dad, please.
- Hey.
- Hey baby, it's alright.
It's alright.
- Nah, Dad, I didn't
hurt anybody.
- It's alright.
- Dad, I'm so sorry.
- I need you to breathe.
Breathe for me. Breathe.
(Naomi breathes deeply)
Hey.
Hey, Chocolate Drop,
Daddy's here.
Daddy's here.
Daddy's here.
(wind blowing)
We don't need your
mother to see this.
- Jesus.
I didn't know it was this is
bad, I really fucked up.
- No, I fucked this up.
I fucked this up.
- Dad.
- Naomi, I...
I know I didn't let you do
what you wanted to do, and
I know that,
and I'm sorry.
I really am.
I only did what I know
and I didn't...
(somber music)
- I'm so sorry, Mom.
- It's fine.
You're alright.
That's all that matters.
- The world is a ugly place.
- We tried so hard to
protect you, honey.
We don't want you to go
through what we went through.
- Yeah, mom, I get it.
(somber music continues)
- Naomi...
You have to know
I chose to protect you.
We both did.
- Mom, I can't outrun the
ugliness of this world.
I can't hide from it.
You guys kept me in a bubble.
- Well, we kept you safe.
- So...
...this summer...
...two of my friends died.
My best friends, and I saw it.
And I don't know, I just
started drinking
just to drown it all out.
And --
-- I'm so sorry I did
that to you guys.
I am.
But, I do not have a
drinking problem.
Or maybe I do?
I don't know.
But --
-- poetry is all I know.
It's the only way I can
see the beauty.
It's the only place I
can be free.
(somber music continues)
And it's the only
place I can keep them alive
with me.
(sighs) So...
(Naomi clears throat)
I'm leaving soon.
I'm leaving to Los Angeles.
- But you don't have to leave
to write poetry.
- To write poetry I have
to live, and to live
I have to leave.
- But you can always come home.
- Yeah.
- [ELEANOR] By yourself?
Some people go their whole lives
and never do anything like this.
Oh, my gorgeous girl (crying).
(Eleanor sighs)
- I have something to show
you later on, um-hmm.
(Naomi chuckles)
(lively jazz music)
You know, I never
heard one of your poems.
- Okay?
- Well?
- You want me to perform one?
- Mm-hmm
- Here?
- Mm-hmm.
- Dad, what is this place?
- It's a club.
- I know that.
But how do you know
about a club?
- I drop by
sometimes after work.
Now go on. Get up there.
I told them we were coming.
- Okay.
Okay.
Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.
- [NAOMI] Thank you. Sorry.
- That's quite alright,
young lady.
- [NAOMI] Thank you.
- What you got?
- Um, a poem for my father.
- Is that right?
- Yeah.
- We gon' move right
along with you.
- Okay.
Yeah.
- What's happening B?
- Hey, now.
- All right, now.
- Right.
(saxophone plays)
- This is a poem from my father.
It's like a silent, steady wind
pushing you forward.
(gentle music)
It doesn't shake you off your
footing, but you feel it.
A warm breeze on a summer day.
The sunlight shining
on your face.
Oh, what I would give --
-- to have one more day
of your sunlight on my face.
It's something you
take for granted,
like air, like...
listening to hip-hop loud on the
radio as I drive down
the highway,
feeling the joy of
the road wide open,
like the ice cream on
the first day of summer,
the first day the pool opened
and I got to jump in.
That's what your love
feels like to me.
A place of calm.
A place of freedom.
Freedom to...
fly on these wings
you gave me.
Freedom to carry the torch
you bore for me.
And freedom to put it down too.
(gentle music continues)
How do you repay
a love like that?
You live,
you love,
you fly, you fall,
you crash,
and sometimes you burn.
But these life lessons
are not lost.
They are the fuel.
The fire that give
birth to a legacy.
Always,
always with love
leading the way.
(Naomi chuckles)
That's what it means
to have a father's love.
(audience chattering)
Thank you.
(audience claps)
Thank you.
- Hey, wow.
Chocolate Drop.
Thank you.
(upbeat music)
(indistinct) ...from the
ones who would love
Now let's all stand up
and celebrate
Woo
Tonight we're gonna
keep it going all night long
Having a good time,
living the good life
(gentle music)
- [NAOMI] Maybe if I sit
here a little longer,
I'll get it.
Maybe if I gaze out
upon the sea.
Watch the waves crash.
Duck around like
little brown birds
dodging the water.
Skipping across the sky
like those crazy seagulls.
Maybe I'll just come right up
next to you and wait.
Just like those birds.
I'll sit and wait
and watch.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
This is she.
(gentle music continues)
Uh yeah, I can do that.
Uh yes, yes. When,
when is it?
Oh, my God.
[NAOMI] Hi.
-Hey Naomi.
Thank you so much for coming.
- Hi.
- Naomi,
nice to meet you.
(gentle music continues)
- [NAOMI] Maybe sitting,
waiting,
watching the water.
(waves crashing)
(gulls squawking)
Maybe I'll find my strength like
that little brown bird
I'll keep running from the waves
soar in the sky,
bounce off clouds.
I'll keep searching for food.
Keep my little bird feet
grounded by the wet sand,
and then maybe I'll get it.
Maybe someone will
tell me why I'm still here,
And not you.
- Hey, College Girl.
- I left, I...
Thought you were gone.
- Not yet.
- I don't understand.
How did you find me?
- You know I got my ways.
(uplifting music)
You know I never seen
the ocean before.
- Oh, take your
shoes off (chuckles).
(uplifting music continues)
(music fades)
(waves crashing)
(soulful music)
Love don't differ from hell
So go torment someone else
I'm vibing on my own tonight
All black sneakers with
my dad's old tie
I'm jay walking moving
side to side
Headphones hopping till my
thoughts be saying nothing
I'm riding on my own tonight,
no two of us
I drop one off, he's gone,
he didn't like the two of us
Right or wrong
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
nah, nah, nah, nah, nah
You could've told me
things weren't right
I could've moved on
instead of wasting my time
If you were honest from
the start, you'd find
An easy life instead
of drowning in your lies
It's crazy cause you
was always shy
Guess you couldn't be the same
guy at different times
Oh it's fine that you didn't
want the two of us
Us, ooh us
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
No, who knows,
you can't even tell
(vocalizing)
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah,
nah, nah nah, nah
Love don't differ from hell
So go torment someone,
someone, someone else
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
Oh, who can tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
No, who knows,
who can even tell
The streets are out of line
Can't keep what is mine
Improve over time?
No, who knows,
who can even tell
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)
(gentle music continues)