The Corner (2000) s01e02 Episode Script

You sure you don't mind talking? No, man, we're cool.
So, how old are you, DeAndre? - 16 in May, if I make it.
- You don't think you'll make it? I'm gonna be thick out here, you know what I'm sayin'? It's Monroe and Fayette.
Niggers be dying.
You don't think you're being a little melodramatic? Overly dramatic to make a point.
I know what it means.
You think I gotta be some college-ass motherfucker to know what words mean? I'm saying niggers be thinking this a game.
This shit is for real.
It's hard work selling drugs in the Baltimore ghetto.
Hard work being a black man in America.
You've been selling drugs how long? Since I was 13, off and on.
You ever been arrested? - Twice.
- So you've seen jail? No, I got recons both times.
But I still gotta go to juvenile court, though.
But it's not like that's all I'm about.
I'm just trying to get some money right now.
I'm going back to school this semester, get put back on the rolls.
What grade are you in? Ninth.
You're almost 16, and you're only in the ninth grade? I got put out.
If I'm cool with it for a while I'll get a social promotion to the tenth grade soon.
What's a social promotion? It's when they promote you for being cool with it.
Let me ask you, DeAndre why do you sell drugs knowing what heroin has done to your father? - You know my father? - Yeah, we talked.
So, how do you sell drugs, knowing where they left him? People who use they're gonna use.
They'll buy it from somebody somewhere.
Might as well be me.
Does your mother use drugs? Look, I didn't mean anything by it.
I was just asking.
Listen, DeAndre.
Death row.
- Hey, Curt.
- Hey, Blue.
- What's up? - Check Hungry out.
Hungry on the hood.
Boy got that look in his eye.
He better not be thinking about stealing.
Who are you talking for? Scott.
Them New York boys don't play that shit.
Take it easy.
Them men don't worry about the consequences, that's what it is.
- Hey, darling.
- 'Morning, Ella.
Mr.
Blue, Mr.
Curt, how you doing today? - Anything to help the Lord.
- I hear that.
- How about yourself? - I'm doing fine.
We still need you at the rec center.
I've been thinking, Miss Ella, I ain't pulled my paints out in a while.
The kids love arts and crafts.
I'm going to keep bugging you till you come on by.
- I don't mind that.
- All right.
- You all have a good day.
- Have a good day.
- What's up? - Scalio! - What you got? - Diamond in the raw.
That shit is ripe.
Any clean works up in there? Talk to Reno.
Hey, Miss Ella, how you doing? - Why aren't you in school today? - It's half a day.
- I thought Wednesday was half a day.
- Today is Wednesday.
- Damn, Tae.
- Today's Thursday.
It's half a day today, too.
- Teachers meeting or something like that.
- Yeah.
Teachers meeting.
- You said we can have a basketball team.
- I said I'd think on it.
Come on, we be good.
I'll talk to Miss Davis at Francis Woods and see if she'll let us use their gym.
- But we gonna get uniforms, right? - I said I'll talk to Rose Davis.
Red and white for the Bulls.
If we do get a basketball team the boys who play will be the ones who go to class.
R.
C.
's gonna ride the bench then, 'cause he'll never go to school.
Yo, what can I say, man? Ringing the bell don't say nothing to me.
Hello, Kayla.
Come on in.
Come on in, DeAndre.
Yo, Dre.
Miss Ella said we'll have a basketball team and can play in the Rec League.
- Boo didn't come with you? - No.
- What up? - What's up, boy? Hey, Kay.
Girl, you're strong.
Check it out, R.
C.
, she can lift more than you.
Fuck you, man.
Sorry, Miss Ella, I forgot where I was.
Let's see what there is to eat.
Come on, you know you got $5.
I got $5, and I'm gonna keep it.
Yo, Boo.
I'm down to 16.
All right.
Don't make me chase you, motherfucker.
We ain't done shit.
You ain't done shit that we ain't seen.
Get your hands on the fucking wall.
You ain't done shit that we ain't seen.
Get your hands on the fucking wall.
Why y'all messing with us? We ain't doin' nothing.
You name Big Daddy whoever, but you're doomed.
Put your face down on the ground, hear me? All right, we're cool.
Get on that ground and stay right there.
Shut the fuck up, or I'll smack you, you hear me? Where you hiding it? What? Where's the ground stash at? In my pocket.
I was gonna put it down, I didn't get a chance.
I got called that you took my son.
I guess you want him back.
Not really.
Agent Cassidy, Line 78.
- Am I going to Hickey? - You're 15? 16 in May.
You're not going to Hickey.
If your mother shows up, you'll go home.
Disappointed? I ain't never been to Hickey.
- I ain't never been locked up.
- You keep at it you'll get there.
I can jail if I have to.
- Is he McCullough? - Yes.
His mama's at the desk.
What was it this time? Distribution, coke, 16 pieces, man.
- You ain't find no drugs on me.
- No, we took the money off you.
The money's on you, you go.
I'm saying, I don't sell drugs.
And I'm saying, we watched you.
And I'm saying, ouch.
Any of y'all know Bob Brown? Yeah, what about him? He be snatching up bodies every day.
You wanna say hi to Bob Brown? That won't be necessary.
I'll give you some advice, DeAndre.
You want some advice? - "This is your brain on drugs.
" - No, wasn't gonna waste my time.
I was gonna tell you, if you're gonna juggle coke on my corner you need to cut them dreads.
We made you from three blocks away.
Stand out too much, man.
Yeah, but I look good.
Damn, Boo's dumb as shit.
He got the ground stash right in his pocket.
I wonder what else he's got down his pants.
Guns, knives, a hand grenade maybe.
I ain't going to tell you again.
This shit is not for you.
Yeah, all right.
Think you're a man? You're not.
You're still my child, and this is not for children.
- Please, come on.
- You see what this shit did to your dad.
You see where I'm at with it.
This ain't no fucking joke.
You keep on with it, and I'll put your ass out of my house.
- All right.
- I'm serious.
And you're going back to school, too.
How much did they get? 16 pills.
And all the cash I had on me, like $200.
Bugsy gonna be mad.
I'm just glad they ain't get the rest of the G-pack.
- You still got the rest of the package? - Yes.
We had just re-upped.
I'll have to get rid of it all to pay Bugsy back.
That shit's dead.
What do you mean? I mean that shit's dead.
When you got locked up, the police took your whole stash.
They just took 16.
You're going to put it with the police, okay? You tell Bugsy the police got your whole pack.
Then you re-vial that shit as something else, and you sell it somewhere else.
Now you see? You're still thinking like a little boy.
But you just told me you'd put me out if I keep slinging.
Now you're telling me to put the rest of Bugsy's stuff out there? Just give it to me, okay? I'll take half, and I'll give you the rest.
I'm not saying I want you playing at this, but, damn, Dre.
You want me to let you make a fool of yourself? You get locked up for some other man's shit and the first thing out of your mouth is how to pay him back? That whole package got to be dead.
Now, what about school? What about it? Your teachers tell me that you're bright.
That you can actually do the work.
It's more a matter of you choosing to be here and not doing stupid things to get suspended.
Is that how you see it? Yes, Miss Davis.
So I take it that you're here today to actually attend a class.
Yes.
That being the case, I intend to hold on to you.
Sit down.
You're gonna get your act together? And you're gonna come to class.
If you attend most of your classes I will see that you're promoted to the tenth grade.
Is that what you want? Yes, Miss Davis.
I should see you every day of the semester, not just the first and then you're off running the streets with your friends.
No, I'm gonna do right.
I want you to write it down.
Metaphors and similes are creative ways to use language to express your moods.
Rappers use metaphors all the time.
We'll look at some examples.
Right now, let's hear some creative ways to complete this metaphor.
"Some people are hammers, but I am a blank.
" Wait till you see this backyard.
"Some people are hammers, but I" Look at this place.
Hey, come on.
I don't know, Gary, what do folks do out here? You saying, "Where the party at?" What you want me to be? Twirling around the kitchen with an apron, baking cookies and all? That ain't me, okay? Ain't none of this me.
What the hell are you watching? This ain't shit.
Stop watching this shit.
Come on.
- You're a punk? - Stop.
Stop it.
You're giving me hiccups.
All right, down there.
Drop your weapons, and walk this way with your hands up! I don't know.
I don't know what you'll do when you got to run the streets.
Can't say you don't want to fight 'cause you got hiccups and shit.
What was it like when they locked you up? Ain't no big thing.
They used handcuffs? Yeah, they always do.
Ma says she's gonna put you out.
So? I carry that, too.
I've been taking care of myself for a long time.
Where are you headed? Boy, you think I'm playing? I have to whoop his ass.
He's getting too big for that.
To be honest, I don't know how much of a coach I'd be.
You'd be great.
I got heart trouble, endocarditis, been shot and cut a few times.
- I won't do a lot of running.
- That's okay.
As long as there's adult supervision, we can use the gym at Francis Woods.
I can do that much.
Be down there to keep them out of trouble.
Like last time, we're gonna hit 'em up.
What's up? - Staying out of trouble? - I'm staying out of trouble.
Hey, Dre, here's that little fool I was talking about the other day.
DeAndre, Dinky, everybody.
Everybody settle down, Tae, Boo, R.
C.
Hey, everybody.
Settle down.
I want you to meet House.
This is gonna be your coach.
- We got us a coach? - Yeah.
This is the basketball team.
How you brothers doing? Check me out, Coach.
I got skills.
You got skills, you got played.
- What? - You heard me.
They just need some discipline.
You're too much.
All right, calm down, please.
Now go on over to the school and have a good practice.
- Hey, stop crying, come on.
- I'm out of here.
- See you later, Miss Ella.
- All right.
- Talking shit.
- What are you talking about? You're gettin' bumped this time.
It's always the same game.
Just know, this time, you can't walk five steps.
You're broke, man.
Death Row putting out a new package.
What, testers? Them fiends lining up for their free blast.
Come on, pass.
Give me the ball.
Nigger, what you want? Give me the ball.
Give me the ball.
R.
C.
, you gotta pass the ball sometime.
You're a damn hog.
Let me have the ball.
- Coach, you see that shot? - Give me the goddamn ball.
What's wrong, Coach? Man, we gotta start with some basics.
I want you to line up.
Give me two lines.
We're gonna do a lay-up drill.
- Come on.
- Give me two lines.
It's team ball.
It's not every man for himself.
You wanna play team ball, line up, we gonna do some basics.
This is basic stuff.
Okay, come on, let's go, man.
Come on, next man.
Come strong.
Hey, my man.
Come here, man.
What's your name, man? They call me Black.
You like to do things your own way? - I guess so.
- You need to check yourself.
Could we just play? Can we run the game? Go ahead, run the game.
- Give me that ball.
- Right here.
- What are you doing? - Writing down stuff I want for my birthday.
Making a list.
- We ain't got no cereal? - Where was you at last night? I went to the movies.
Bunchie told me she saw you on Fairmount.
I told you to leave them corners alone.
You don't think I'd kick your ass out of my house? I ain't been slinging.
You must think I'm stupid.
- Do you? - What? - Think I'm stupid? - No, Ma.
Then what was you doing down on Fairmount? Boo be selling off everything we got left.
But he keep messing up.
So I went down there to get him straight.
That's all.
- Get upstairs.
- What? You don't want him to hear? You think he don't know he live in a drug house? Be quiet.
I'm trying my damndest to stay calm right now.
You don't think he know what you do in the basement? Let me tell you something.
I'm still your mother.
You are my child.
As long as you're living here, you're gonna respect my house.
I ain't no child.
You can forget that.
You're a man now.
You ain't gotta listen to nobody, right? Not to you.
Get! You wanna play it like that? All right.
You've never dealt me a decent hand.
- You cheat.
- Cheat? I win, I don't cheat.
Hey, Fran.
Hey, Bunchie.
Bunchie, can I get, like, one cigarette? It's my last.
I put DeAndre out.
I told him if he kept on selling for Bugsy I was gonna put him out, and I did.
Okay? Now he's up there on Monroe, or down on Fairmount, almost every night.
You hear me, Gary? I put your son out.
Put his little ass right out.
I'm guessing he's gonna go over to the old place and set up shop, like Superfly himself.
That is till he gets tired of living with no water or electric.
What? You down at your mama's, right? I stay at the old place sometimes.
You got a roommate, then.
You're a smart man.
Charge him rent.
He makes enough money from Bugsy to pay.
Finally, I get a decent hand here.
- Play something.
- Yeah, okay.
We can paint this.
There's gonna be a nice coat on that.
Gonna look nice.
Come here, DeAndre.
Come here, son.
Gary.
The ceilings are so high.
- You like that? - I like it.
Now, how in the hell is one all-alone woman gonna fill this thing up with clothes? This here is Victorian style.
It's, like, very Victorian.
There's money here, baby.
This here is money.
Down in the yard space, there's a place to play.
Check this out.
Come on.
This spider bag looks light.
What the It's all right.
You scared me, creeping like that.
You had the headphones on.
Yeah, I was deep in a vibe.
Ma got mad, put me out.
You cool with it, right? You're always at Grandma's house, anyway.
Come on, let's go.
Come on, love.
If you wanna try, you better get on this row.
Death row, last call.
White folk money always on time.
- Most definitely.
- What time you got? - Ten past.
- Shop closed then, man.
- Ten past.
- Shop closed then, man.
- We still got, like, 20.
- Shift changeover, fool.
You got to give them jump-out boys some respect now and then.
What do you mean? See, you got to keep your mind on things.
That's your trouble.
Right now, the police, they done change shifts.
The rollers who've been here from afternoon to midnight they've taken the cars back to the district.
The rollers that's getting on at midnight they just now hopping in them cars, getting ready to hit the streets.
They gonna be all bright-eyed and shit, all pumped up.
They'll go around the first hour snatching up bodies.
How you gonna play that? How you gonna play it if you know shift change is coming? Damn, Boo, man.
This ain't brain surgery.
You just gotta think on it a little.
You stay out when the police is on shift change, Boo.
After they been out for a while, they're all tired and shit.
That's right.
You'd best roll out when fresh police come out.
Yeah, that's what I meant.
You see him there? That nigger with the key chain, he's running the crew.
He ain't never gonna touch a vial.
He won't go near that shit.
So the police know what he about.
They can't fuck with him.
He has a gun though, right? If you don't wanna take a charge for holding drugs what the fuck you be standing out there with a gun for? No, man.
The gat's over there on the back tire of that car.
And that other nigger across the street, he muscle, too.
Why else you think he's holding an aluminum bat at 1:00 in the morning? Motherfucker ain't Babe Ruth.
- They might wanna lock him up then.
- For what, a bat? Ain't no law against baseball, right? It might not seem like there's a lot of thought to this shit.
But that's because most motherfuckers don't think.
These boys, Death Row, Diamond in the Raw they got most of the fare 'cause they're smart.
Diamond in the Raw been out here forever.
The police ain't have shit to say about it.
We got Fairmount and Gilmor wide open.
That's our corner now.
We just got to be cool with it.
You know what I'm saying? - You hear me, Boo? - Damn! How they get their pussy to look so pink that way? - Hey.
- Hey, Blue.
What you need, man? Let me get an apple.
- So, what's the bomb today? - Diamond in the raw.
- Oh, yeah? - Without a doubt.
- I see that in your face.
- Bet you can.
- Hey, Blue! - Hey, Gary! - Where you headed? - I got this, you know I'm in hell or something.
I haven't.
- That's cool.
It's okay.
- Well, you know.
I know.
Just trust me.
Hey, that hurt.
Be gentle.
Like this? Okay.
Maybe I should get some boots instead.
Whatever.
Yo! You all got the new Jordans? The one with the red stripes? The Grant Hills? No, man, I ain't talking about them off-brand shit.
The new Jordans got a red stripe where there was a black one.
- Them shoes is the bomb.
- You sure? They're priced at $139, but I think you'd like to be selling them for less.
We selling any Jordans with a red stripe? Those are new.
On order, coming in tomorrow.
$139, price them at $125.
You're down with it, son.
Grant Hills? Please, man.
He said, "Grant Hills.
" This is what I'm talking about.
What the fuck? Come on, quit moving, or I'm gonna blow the shot.
Rollers.
Rollers.
DeAndre, my man.
What's up? - You need to get yourself a new corner.
- Man, I'm clean.
Why don't you call it a night? We roll past here again and see that mop you call a hairdo you're gonna take a humble.
Oh, man! You might have to chill for a little bit.
I need a break.
How come you're always in my stuff? You coming back? Can I? You gonna keep up with school? Yeah.
You gonna be bringing none of that shit in my house.
I ain't slinging no more.
I told Bugsy I need to be doing better things.
Got anything left? A few dollars.
No vials.
I think my father been robbing me blind back at the old house.
I'm gonna do good, Ma.
You gonna see.
You need to stay the hell away from it.
As you all know, Robert was to represent the class in the public oratory contest but with him out sick, we'll need someone else to step forward.
So, volunteers? Anyone at all.
I'll be giving extra credit.
I wouldn't expect you to memorize the speech on such short notice so would anyone like to at least try reading it? Yes, DeAndre.
I'm volunteering to give that speech.
"And when we allow freedom to ring "when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet "from every state and every city "we'll be able to speed up that day when all of God's children "black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles "Protestants and Catholics "will be able to join hands and sing, in the words of that old Negro spiritual: "'Free at last, free at last.
"'Thank God Almighty, we're free at last.
"' See him with the bald spots? That's how you can tell he's a thalidomide baby.
They don't grow no hair.
They don't grow Hey! What you up to? - Going to see about a job.
- A job? - Where? - Crab House, where Uncle Cardy work at.
- He gonna hook me up.
- Bay Island? Let me know how it goes.
You know you can't eat none of them crabs? - Yeah, I know.
I got an allergy.
- That's right.
- My baby gonna see about a job.
- Yeah, I heard.
First, you're gonna scrub out these steamers using steel wool.
Then you're gonna put the crabs into the steamer, okay? Don't worry.
We'll give you thick gloves so they don't pinch you.
And when that's done, you're gonna come up here and empty this out.
Ricardo says you're Gary's son.
Yes, ma'am.
I remember when Gary first worked here.
He was about the age you are.
How is he? - Fine.
- So when can you start? I know you're not serious.
How will he learn about money if we don't show him? He don't need that kind of money.
He don't know what to do with a dollar yet.
I can afford it.
This money comes from working, Andre.
This money comes from your daddy working hard every day.
You know? Give me a hug.
Thanks for sharing, Gary.
When I have it, I give it.
And there go your problem, right there.
You still got our stuff? I'm surprised you ain't taken it to a second-hand store.
Hopefully one day I'm gonna use it.
Don't wanna stay here forever.
I remember when we bought this here dining room set.
- Whatever it was, you know I'd pay cash.
- I know, baby.
We had it, didn't we? It don't make sense.
The way they were all so glad to see us fall.
My whole damn family was glad.
- Look where we're at with this shit, Gary.
- I know.
And DeAndre, off the corners, looking for a job and going to school.
- Looking for a job? - Yeah, down at Bay Island.
And, Gary, he's gonna give a speech at school.
- Seriously? - Seriously.
- When? - He gonna let me know.
You know, all I'm saying is, with DeAndre out there trying we've got to try.
Only if I can I can find some kinda work, you know.
Maybe we can even find a place.
Be a family again, baby.
I might go over to BRC.
They got this 28-day program over there.
I'll go detox myself.
You'll see, I'll get it right.
You need some time to yourself here? Yeah.
- Where'd you say that happened? - Down on Baltimore Street.
Them terrorist boys running wild down there.
Niggers banked me last week.
A bullet went right by my ear and shit.
Yo, we need to send a message.
Go down there deep.
- You see who it was, R.
C? - I don't know.
Fuck them project niggers.
They ain't all that.
You're not hearing me, man.
I'm saying we should go strong.
Last box, no snatch backs.
R.
C.
, shit! Fuck you, man.
- What, nigger? Stop crying.
- Your first time? I need more number tens.
You all right? - I don't feel too good.
- What's wrong, man? You didn't eat no crab meat, did you? I must be breathing it in, though.
Something ain't right.
- Let me get these tubes.
- No, man, I got it.
- Ricardo, what's going on back here? - It's my nephew, Miss Mary.
- I got an allergy.
- Shellfish allergy.
I thought it would only be a problem if he ate some but I think it must be the smell that's doing it.
Especially when I'm cleaning them pots.
Just for today, how about you sweep up? - Sweep up? - That'll work, Miss Mary.
I don't think he's allergic to brooms.
So now I gotta push around a broom? Be thankful.
- Can I help you? - Yeah, can I speak to Antoinette? - You got an appointment? - I just need to talk to her.
- I'm Antoinette.
Can I help you? - Yeah, I'm Fran Boyd, Vanessa's friend.
- Right.
You work with Vanessa at the - The phone company.
- Did you make an appointment? - No, I just need to talk to you, okay? I've got a minute till my appointments come in.
I hear it's, like, an 8-week wait to get into rehab and I was wondering if I can get in here sooner.
- Do you have any medical insurance? - State assistance.
State bids are scarce.
It's usually six or eight weeks before those come in.
I can put you on a waiting list.
Then it's a matter of you calling here every Tuesday, to check your status on the list.
Every Tuesday? That lets the staff know you're serious about the program.
Do you want me to put you on the list? Diamond in the Raw are putting out some more testers tomorrow.
Diamond is slinging like I don't know what.
We need to get back out here on the corner with something.
- Too slow, nigger.
- Quit playing, fool.
I'm sorry.
Yo, Tae, there go that dude.
Who? Ain't that him, Tae? - I think.
- Who that? Dude who robbed me last week over by Lexington Terrace.
Yeah, that is him.
Yeah, well, he be in the wrong place now.
Take him down.
R.
C.
, don't stop, man.
Oh, shit.
Damn, R.
C.
You see that nigger with them boots on? I ain't never seen a nigger run so fast in no damn boots.
- Damn, R.
C.
, you got blown away, kid.
- I got close.
All right, nigger.
But you fuck with one of us, you're fucking with all of us.
Good running, man.
I gotta get back up with Bugsy, man.
- You'd like to get back into this? - Yeah.
Thought you was working at the Crab House.
Fuck that! Sweeping up crab shit for $4.
10 an hour, man.
- You down? - I'm down.
- You all with it? - CMB, motherfuckers? CMB! Shit! Where's my stuff? - Where's my stuff? - I thought you'd leave them corners be.
- Where it at? - You be joking, bringing that shit here.
- Suppose DeRodd would have found it.
- I ain't playing.
What you bring in my house, under my roof is mine.
Where it at? Gone.
And the.
38? That, too.
- You think that's funny? - Check yourself.
- You gonna have to pay.
- Are you threatening me? - That shit belongs to Bugsy.
- So what are you saying? You gonna tell him? You little shit.
I'll tell him.
I'll tell him about using a minor to sell drugs.
I'll tell him about sending his ass to jail.
Yeah.
Okay.
Don't you walk away from me.
I thought you was supposed to be getting into a detox program.
It takes eight weeks for one of them beds to open up.
So? So that don't have a goddamn thing to do with you bringing a gun in here where your little brother could have got it.
And you.
You who was doing so good.
Why don't you think about doing good sometimes? Maybe if you detox, you could get back with my father and everything could be like it was.
Okay, so you just done lost your mind because your daddy's just as much a dope fiend as I am.
He'd still be on top right now if you hadn't drug him down.
You know what? Gary McCullough is a grown man.
And he made the choice to be out there doing what he's doing.
You brought him down.
Okay, that's it.
Get out of here.
Go.
Out of here.
Now.
Bunchie, bring me a Newport.
- You Fran? - Who are you? Black said you took my stuff.
Shouldn't have brought it in my house.
That's between you all.
I want what's mine.
65 vials, $200 in cash, and the.
38.
I can get the.
38 back, but I ain't got the money or the stuff, all right? If you're planning on hurting DeAndre, I could pay you back.
It's just gonna take me a little bit of time.
All right? You get me the gun.
He'll pay me back the money on the next go-around.
You ain't gonna hurt him, right? He gonna give me my money back.
But you all need to work it out so this type of thing don't happen again.
Who's that? - Bugsy.
- What did he want? What would he want? Damn.
I can't believe DeAndre went and put his connect on you.
Anyway, you got something to kick in for the rent? You got any money at all? I ain't talking about that.
Not that.
After paying Bugsy back, I'm busted out.
You've seen to that.
Damn.
I didn't get him nothing on his birthday this year, and I got nothing to shop with.
- He's waited long enough.
- I know.
- Damn.
- I thought some shit might've come through.
Look I'm going out to Mercer's at the Plaza before the stores close, to see what I can scoop.
Ain't you balled out there? I been balled out of every mall in three counties.
That don't stop the show.
I'll see you later.
Ma'am, stop right there! Give me security.
I have a black female.
She's around Thought you might have had a little trouble.
So you're back to steady slinging? No.
Boo owed me a little something from the last go-around.
You ain't gonna re-up? No, not no more.
How long have you been here at the rec center, Ms.
Thompson? Four years.
A little more than that, actually.
- So you came here after your daughter - That's right.
I decided, after that, the thing to do was work with the neighborhood children.
So I just came down and volunteered.
- And before that you were - A mother.
I raised five children, and they're all doing good.
You raised your children before the neighborhood became as bad as it did.
Oh, it's not so bad.
I mean, it's bad, but it can get better.
That's what I tell my son, Keatie, when he tells me he wants to move.
I tell him it will only get worse if everyone just gives up.
So you see the rec center as some sort of focal point for the neighborhood? I open those doors every day at 3:00.
When they're little, I get them for three hours a day.
That's a good, safe place for them to be.
What kind of a difference do you think it makes for the older ones, like DeAndre McCullough? Well, I'm hoping to get a basketball team together.
That might occupy their time and attention.
And keep them away from the corners, you think? Because you're not naive, Ms.
Thompson.
You live on Fayette Street, and you know that DeAndre and his crew are selling drugs.
People label these children and write them off.
But I see sides of them that you don't see.
I know the corners are a reality especially when they get to be around DeAndre's age.
But I also know, from seeing them every day, in my heart that DeAndre, and Dinky, Tae and R.
C have it in them to do good things.
Are you ever frightened? I mean - after what happened to your daughter? - No.
Why not? I live here.
This is where I live.