(traffic rumbling,
horns honking)
(sirens wailing)
(horn honking)
(sirens wailing)
-INEZ: All right, mama.
-(distant chatter)
-(jail cell opens)
-WOMAN: You look well.
-INEZ: Okay.
-WOMAN 2: I do?
WOMAN:
Yeah, you do. You look nice.
-WOMAN 2: It's a lot.
-It is a lot.
Your back is gonna
start to hurt.
You gon' get bigger.
This ain't nothing yet.
Let me tell you right now,
this ain't nothing, right.
WOMAN 3:
Your feet gon' swell.
-MAN: You like isolation, huh?
-WOMAN 4: They always do
this sh*t every f*cking day!
I'm tired of it!
-WOMAN: You gotta talk
to your baby. -WOMAN 2: Yeah.
MAN: What, you want
a special invitation?
Get your ass in the line.
Let's go!
WOMAN 4: Oh, shut the f*ck up
before I come over there!
(indistinct chatter
in distance)
GEE: Ain't no damn way
you coming back up in here.
-Why not?
-Back up.
I was wondering
why the hell you disappeared.
Rap sheet as long as
the g*dd*mn sidewalk.
I'm-a call the cops,
you keep standing there.
All right, well, then
give me my two weeks back.
-From a year and a half ago?
-Then give me my job back.
You know what?
Here. Here-here you go.
That good enough for you?
WOMAN:
Is that Inez?
-(horn honks)
-(woman whoops)
How you doing, mama?
(chuckles)
WOMAN: I thought you moved
to another shelter.
INEZ:
No, you know, I was in Rikers.
They had me in there
for boosting and sh*t.
WOMAN: Can't wait for you
to get at this hair, though.
If I go get the dye, will you
please do it for me next week?
I really missed you, girl.
Yeah, and apparently
these roots, too.
-What you been doing?
-(laughter)
-What she been doing?
-Nothing, nothing.
Yes, the roots missed you, too.
SHAWN:
Come on, Terry, hurry up!
WOMAN 2:
Hey-hey-hey-hey.
SHAWN: You ain't getting
nothing from the store
if you keep acting like that.
WOMAN 3: Inez, whatever
happened to that scammer n*gga
you was f*cking with?
You ever hear from him?
WOMAN 4:
We missed you, yo.
-(woman laughing)
-INEZ: Terry.
You don't hear me calling you?
You don't remember me now?
Just let me see your eyes, T,
so I know you're not mad at me.
SHAWN:
He not gonna answer.
INEZ: I'm back across
the street at the shelter.
And, look, I'm staying
out of trouble this time.
I'm-a be around here
for good now.
You hear that, T?
Just want to make sure
you're doing okay.
Here. Get you another Icee.
Look, y'all keep this
between us, a'ight?
Don't let nobody know
I came by here.
SHAWN:
Okay.
-MICHAEL H.: You're pretty.
-INEZ: See y'all around.
SHAWN:
Man, stop flirting with people.
(kids chattering playfully)
WOMAN:
Hey! Hey-hey-hey! None of that!
Get up. Get up. Okay, let's go!
Everybody,
if you don't know how to act,
then we not coming to the park!
Turn around. Let's go!
(horns honking)
(lively chatter)
I got the perms,
the hairs, the weaves!
-MAN: f*ck out the street!
-Wash and dry!
-I know you want
that hair done. -(horn blares)
WOMAN:
Next time, I'm-a hit you!
Hey-hey-hey, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma!
-Excuse me, excuse me,
excuse me. -(horn honks)
Hold on. Slow down.
Hey, hey, you know
you want me to do your hair.
WOMAN 2:
Bitch, move!
What the f*ck is wrong with you?
WOMAN 3:
Thank you, baby.
WOMAN 4:
Hey, come here.
-How are you?
-(horns honking)
I want to take this French roll
out and put me some length in.
Yeah, you know,
I do braids for 75.
-Call me.
-All right, I will.
INEZ: My number's right there,
right there.
A'ight.
I'm about to ask y'all
a serious question.
Who is y'all best player
of all time?
Bro, what?
-(tires screech, horn honks)
-Michael Jordan!
-INEZ: Shawn.
-Huh? Oh. Oh, hi.
How's your friend doing?
I need to know he's okay.
Terry not here no more.
Stop asking.
Well, figure out
a better answer.
Now, if I tell you,
what are you gonna give me?
-Here.
-Thank you.
Now, what's up?
He at the hospital.
The hospital?
Why? Wh-What happened?
Running from our foster mother.
Fell out the window,
hit his head.
(sirens wailing)
Let me see.
It hurt?
You know you could've d*ed
doing something like that?
What's wrong with
the one I gave you?
It's corny.
All right, well, then buy
your own f*cking toy, then.
(sighs)
What you like?
Power Rangers.
Tell me more about
your foster mother.
You like her?
She probably gone anyway.
When I was in foster care,
stuff like this happened
all the time.
My sister
used to look out for me.
But she ran away.
Where's she at now?
I don't know.
I can't find her.
My family's gone, boo.
You left me
on the street corner?
Who would tell you
something like that?
Why the f*ck would they
tell you some sh*t like that?
(sighs)
Get that out your head.
(lively chatter)
MAN: Hey, yo, what's up, ma?
What you doing?
Pushing my way. Where you going?
(chatter continues indistinctly)
(Terry imitates whooshing,
laughs)
(Inez grunts)
(Terry laughing)
INEZ:
Wow, really?
Hold up.
Hold up, hold up, hold up.
Want to split this?
Yeah.
Okay.
Um, T...
...I just wanted
to come say bye.
Just-just for a little while.
Um, I think they gonna move you.
I don't know where yet,
but I'll see you soon.
(Inez sniffs, clears throat)
Save my beeper number,
just in case,
till I find you, okay?
When?
I don't know yet.
Why you keep leaving me?
Well, that means
you have bad luck,
because I'm about to do
a karate kick!
Pow! Pow!
(woman speaking indistinctly
over P.A.)
(sobbing softly)
Would it make you feel better
if you came to stay with me?
Just for a couple days?
Yeah.
Oh, yeah, coming through
with my Shaolin crew...
INEZ: All right, we gonna go
to Harlem where I grew up at.
-Gimme St. Ides brew
-(horns blaring)
In the midst of broken
bottles and crushed up cans
Meth Tical's in the jam,
oh, how dry I am
-(sirens wailing)
-With St. Ides in my system
cr*ck another, I'm blessed,
let's go get the next one
And get over,
the object is to stay sober
-(lively chatter)
-Lay on the sofa
Better yet,
dial my chauffeur
Call me the Wallabee Champ,
stressed out
Could never be, son,
ricochet daily
Hit the deli for a cold one,
naturally blessed...
INEZ: Yo, look how big
this man's head is.
(Terry chuckles quietly)
You want to see New York
turn into the suburbs?
(Inez chuckles)
(pop music playing quietly
over speakers)
-How's the pizza?
-Good.
Where's my dad at?
He's gone.
But you wouldn't have
liked him anyway.
I got somebody else in mind.
You miss your old friends?
They're not my friends.
(sighs) Yeah.
Sometimes I feel like
I ain't got no friends either.
Except you.
Ugh.
(smacks lips, chuckles)
(lively chatter)
(line ringing)
(train brakes squealing)
(line continues ringing)
How much longer?
How much longer?
-(musical tone plays)
-AUTOMATED VOICE: We're sorry.
-TERRY: How much... -Terry,
just give me a minute, please.
We gonna sleep out here?
-You want to?
-No.
All right, then shut
the f*ck up and let me finish!
AUTOMATED VOICE:
...and try your call again.
(line beeping)
Sorry for cursing.
-(grunts)
-Damn, Terry!
Just go, go.
Go back to Brooklyn.
-Go back to Brooklyn!
-I don't want to go back!
I'll call your social workers
right now!
I want to stay with you!
Well, then stop crying
and look at me.
All you got is me. Okay?
I'll go to w*r for you,
you know that?
Do you understand that?
Against anybody.
Against this whole
f*cked-up city.
They can try all they want.
They can try all they want,
but they not breaking us up
this time.
You want to find a new home?
Hmm?
Yes.
But I need to know
we in this thing together.
Tell me.
-We're in this together.
-Tell me!
We're in this together!
(coins clinking in phone)
(dialing number)
-(line rings)
-KIM: Hello?
Kim? Boo, it's Inez.
Oh, my God, thank God
you got the same number.
Listen, I'm uptown.
KIM: A'ight, y'all go sit
in the living room
while I talk to her real quick.
-Is that Ghetto Inez
in my living room? -Shh.
When did you start
hanging with her again?
She's with her son.
Please don't say anything.
She needs a place to stay.
-(sighs)
-Want to come say hi?
Girl, I'm tired.
For how long?
-I don't know.
-(sighs)
We'll deal with this tomorrow.
INEZ:
Good morning, sunshine.
MS. JONES:
If y'all are hungry,
I'm-a make breakfast downstairs.
INEZ:
Come on, dance with me.
Oh.
Look at you. Look at you.
(rap music playing quietly)
You get your GED?
-Inside.
-Really?
Yo, that's fly.
Bruh, you get, like, excited
about the weirdest things.
-I'm proud of you.
-(laughs)
So what's your plan?
You up here for good or...?
I don't know.
I'm tired of
these catty-ass shops.
-Start your own.
-With what money?
What am I supposed to do
right now?
Me and my son need
something to eat right now.
Yeah.
You know, I've been meaning
to ask you about Terry.
So, you have him
with, uh, Lucky?
Me and Lucky were broken up
when I had T.
He still locked up?
Yeah.
I'll introduce them
when he gets out.
The city had him.
He's not supposed to be with me.
Yo, can't you get locked up
for some sh*t like that?
Not if you keep it to yourself.
It's safe with me.
Inez, we good.
KIM: Look at
the cute little dinosaurs.
-They look dumb.
-Okay, no, they don't.
-Stop being mean.
-(stove clicking)
MS. JONES:
(sighs) She working?
KIM: I think she went
job hunting today.
You can't go to anybody's place
looking and talking like that.
And all that yakking.
Ma, she can borrow my stuff.
Terry, you like
the coloring books, baby?
Good.
You know, when I was your age,
my mother taught me how to read.
She spent a lot of time with me.
Well, let me get a, um,
a loosie, a Big Burst
and some sunflower seeds,
the nacho cheese ones.
NEWSWOMAN (over TV):
...a six-year-old boy snatched.
Brookdale,
one of the city's most troubled
and underfunded hospitals,
reports the child was spending
one of his last mornings
in patient care.
Um, they talking about that kid
that got snatched in Brooklyn?
I don't know that story.
All right, um, matter of fact,
let me get a newspaper, too.
NEWSWOMAN: ...information
to please call Crime Stoppers
at 800-577-1212.
(dial tone droning)
(dialing)
(line ringing)
-KIM: Jones residence.
-Yeah, Kim,
I need you to make sure
you keep Terry in your sight.
Don't let him out of your sight.
What?
Just keep him in the house.
-Inez, where are you?
-Just do it! Please, Kim!
I don't want nobody
asking questions.
-I got to handle some things.
-Of course.
-She say where she was at?
-Uh-uh.
MS. JONES:
Doesn't make no sense.
It doesn't take this long
to look for work.
KIM:
You like to play games, Terry?
MS. JONES:
This is ridiculous.
So quiet.
Who's hiding in there?
Hmm?
(door closes)
("Till You Decide to Come Home"
by The Detroit Emeralds plays)
I found work.
Come on, boo,
so you can try these on.
You like 'em?
They're too big.
You'll grow into them.
Why don't you take 'em upstairs.
Even though
It's not my fault
that you're gone...
Kim, check the stove
for me, please.
Okay.
Pray for you, darlin'
Till you decide
to come home...
Can you just at least act like
you see me here?
Exactly what do you expect
and want from me?
Showing up after being
God-knows-where...
Doing what I had to.
Like some kind of streetwalker.
What the f*ck
did you just call me?
sh*t.
Run that back again.
-KIM: Ma, Inez...
-You always treated me like
I'm not good enough
to be around your daughter.
Whatever you think of me,
just spit it out!
I don't think anything of you.
-(women grunting)
-(objects clattering)
-What the-- Inez,
what's up with you?! -What?!
-What?!
-No! I'm fine.
Glass almost cut my foot.
Turning my house into
damn 125th Street.
-Ma.
-No, no.
That love walks through
open doors...
The hell are you teaching
that little boy up there?
22 years old,
acting like a child.
You want to be taken serious,
be from Harlem, not of Harlem.
KIM:
So that's it?
You don't have
nothing else to say?
-I said I was...
-To me!
Was I wrong? Yes.
But what else
do you want me to say?
That I'm nothing?
A streetwalker?
You can't keep fighting
everyone you disagree with.
We got to grow up.
Okay, look, my mom's gonna be
who she's gonna be, but, like...
But, like, what?
When are you going to realize
that you are enough?
Who cares what she says?
Why even let
any of that sh*t get to you?
Sh...
(voice breaking):
She said I was a bad mother.
Come here. Come here.
She forgets you don't have one.
Hey, you.
You better get that chip
off your shoulder.
I know you hear me.
Come on.
All right, promise me
you're gonna be good for Mommy?
(car door closes)
(car door opens)
(door creaking)
(indistinct chatter in distance)
INEZ:
T, don't go up.
We don't really know
anybody here.
I lied.
Don't look at me like that.
Get off me.
-Why you being mean to me?
-'Cause you keep f*cking up!
-(slaps)
-Ow!
Who said you could
talk to me like that?
-I liked them! -Okay, well,
yeah, what about me?
What about me, Terry?!
Some sh*t is more important
than some coloring books.
(grunts)
(sighs)
I didn't mean to hurt you.
Wait right here.
(coins clinking in phone)
(dialing)
(line ringing)
WANDA (recorded):
Hey, this is Wanda.
Leave a message after the beep,
and I'll call you back.
(sighs)
(line ringing)
-CYNTHIA (over phone): Hello?
-Hi. This Cynthia?
-Who this?
-Listen, I need a favor.
-What? -Yeah, the building
that I'm living in,
it got asbestos,
and they cleared everybody out.
CYNTHIA: Inez, I'm sorry.
You can't stay here.
-(musical tone plays)
-AUTOMATED VOICE: The number
-you are calling is no longer
in service. -(grunts)
-WOMAN: Hello. -It's
your old hairdresser, Inez.
-You said who?
-Just give me the address,
-and we'll come by later.
Terry! -I did not say...
Terry, are you crazy?!
Where were you going?!
-Get off me! Get off me!
-Are you crazy?!
-Our stuff was in there!
-(slaps) -(screams)
(chattering, chuckling)
I can't go back to that shelter.
MISS ANNIE: How long you been
on the street?
Long enough.
Where are your people?
Gone.
Gone where?
You from up here?
I lost them.
Lost them how?
Yeah.
You and the rest of us.
My baby girl's still struggling.
Her son's about the same age
as your little boy.
(calls out):
Pea?
Pea?
You can take the little room
on the second floor.
PEA:
Yes?
Clear your things from
Sadie's old room. Hmm?
-Okay?
-Okay.
MISS ANNIE:
And like I tell all my tenants,
try anything,
I keep a .44 ready.
Go show him where to go, baby.
TERRY:
Is this your house?
WOMAN:
Ooh!
Mm. Mm-mm-mm-mm.
Mm. Girl.
It's nothing.
Does that mean
I don't have to pay you?
Well...
Girl, I feel like something.
(sighs)
-Thank you, sweetie.
-Mm-hmm.
PEA:
I can't even get it this time.
INEZ:
Where does the rent go?
PEA:
That-- No.
Just leave it right there.
TERRY:
Got him.
-PEA: Yeah.
-(toy clatters)
Oh, no, wait.
-You ever see her?
-MISS ANNIE: Who? Oh, Crystal?
Yeah, your daughter.
She, um...
She's cleaned up a few times.
That's a battle I can't fight.
She'll come home for good
when she's ready.
(Terry and Pea
chattering playfully)
By the way, if you're still
looking for better money,
uh, a friend of mine
might have a job for you.
Really? Where at?
Cleaning staff for a
nursing home on Jamaica Avenue.
-In Queens?
-Yes, Queens.
That's, like,
a two-hour train ride.
Well, do what you want.
Just don't waste any more time
feeling sorry for yourself.
Your generation don't know
just how good you have it.
NEWSWOMAN: Jaywalking
is a fact of life here.
No more, says Mayor Giuliani.
He plans to cr*ck down
on pedestrians who cross
where and when
they're not supposed to.
WOMAN: I'll walk where I want
to walk! m*therf*cker...
RUDY GIULIANI:
Plan with me
to make the realistic changes
that will actually
make people's lives
better than they are right now,
and work hard with me
to apply these plans
to improve our city.
MAN:
Improve these nuts!
GIULIANI
Dream, believe,
plan and work.
This is the foundation
for the process of change.
-(lively chatter)
-(R&B music playing)
KIM:
Say, "Hi, Mommy."
-Hey.
-Hi.
Tell Mommy
what books we read today.
Hey, girl.
(Terry grunting playfully)
(laughing)
(door opens)
(sighs)
The dash is missing.
Huh?
Never mind.
(chuckles)
Yo, how much they charge you?
-Okay.
You did good, babe.
How you like the job?
I miss doing hair.
He back in school yet?
Hand me a screw.
Got to get a copy of his
birth certificate and all that.
I, um, started applying, too.
I'm going to Clark Atlanta
in the fall.
You leaving us?
I wouldn't say it like that.
I'm happy for you.
You could go back, too.
Even if it's, like, part-time
or something like that.
Yeah, someday.
-INEZ: All right, baby.
-(TV playing quietly)
You got cereal and milk.
Leftovers is in the fridge.
And don't heat it up
for over 60 seconds,
'cause if you do,
your mouth will get burnt.
And do not answer the door
for anybody.
If the phone rings,
wait for the answering machine
to come on to see if it's me.
Okay?
I'll be back from work
around 6:00.
Okay?
Be good, boo.
(indistinct newscast
playing over TV)
(cartoon music playing over TV)
MAN (over TV):
Today, the streets are
even more dangerous
than you think.
MAN 2:
You like flying?
I got something
that'll really make you fly.
MAN: So talk to your kids
about dr*gs, or...
(upbeat music playing over TV)
(cartoon sound effects
playing over TV)
(rap music playing over TV)
WOMAN (over TV): Quincy Jones
has made his mark in music
as a composer,
conductor and arranger
during a time
when it was almost unheard of
for a Black composer
to do a Hollywood movie.
QUINCY JONES (over TV):
The imagination's always been
a comfort zone,
safety zone really,
because it's something
that you run to
and make it anything you want...
(chatter over TV fades)
(kids chattering playfully
outside)
This house look...
Everything okay?
Why nobody looking for me?
Because we made it
too hard for them.
That was the whole point,
remember?
Come here.
Hey.
Look.
I don't know
what the f*ck to tell you, T.
But there's more to life
than f*cked-up beginnings.
You're not holding it right.
Hey, talk to me nice.
I got this.
You ready?
You ready-ready?
(bat strikes ball)
Yeah!
You did it! You did it!
You did it!
You gonna throw it
all the way over...
TERRY: Throw that thing
better than that.
(Inez laughs)
Now you just being lazy.
You ready?
-Yeah.
-Mm-hmm.
Mm.
(bat strikes ball)
Oh! Okay, yeah, you did it.
I never had my own room
growing up.
You want to try?
TERRY:
Who lived here before us?
INEZ: I don't know.
A bunch of immigrants.
-TERRY: And before them?
-I don't know, baby.
We can go to the library
and look it up. (grunts)
Down and up. Down...
(video game sound effects
playing)
Who's that?
(chuckles)
This is me.
When I was first coming out
of the group home.
Cute little thing.
(knocking on door)
My body was a playground
for a thousand n*gg*s
-before you came along.
-That's nasty.
-(knocking)
-(Inez chuckles)
INEZ:
Hey, I got more of us,
but things get lost
when we moving around so much.
-RUDY: Yo. Open up.
-Hold on, hold on.
RUDY:
It's Rudy.
-Hello.
-Hey.
RUDY:
Don't be mad I'm late.
Some of the papers
took longer to get.
INEZ: What if he needs
to go to the doctor?
RUDY:
Just show up and say he's sick.
-And I got this from the city
so it looks legit. -Okay.
RUDY:
Hotbox, numbers.
-Whatever you need, hit me up.
-Okay.
-Okay?
-Okay.
(door closes)
(lock clicks)
Okay, I went with Daryl,
last name Raymond.
We just moved in from Jersey.
-Your middle name is Terry.
-(phone ringing)
I don't like it.
-Hey, Kim.
-(Kim speaking indistinctly)
Daryl Raymond.
MALE VOICE (on video game):
Three, two, one. Now!
-(siren wailing)
-(horns honking)
-(door closes)
-(lock clicks)
That's him?
Why you standing there
looking scared?
Neighbor down the hall walks
him home for me after school.
Terry, I want you to meet Lucky.
Hey, Lucky.
What's up, little man?
Lucky's gonna be
moving in with us.
For how long?
Damn.
(chuckling)
Little n*gga trying
to kick me out already.
-(Lucky laughs)
-INEZ: Come here.
(sucks teeth)
What's this cut on your face?
(sighs)
(R&B music playing)
LUCKY: Let me get one
for good luck, babe.
Let me get one for good luck.
Mm, mm-mm-mm.
You can get a sh*t.
You want a sh*t?
Come on, you can get a sh*t.
Go ahead. Take a sh*t.
PEA:
Terry! Terry!
LUCKY:
Yeah, get it, Pea!
-Pea, out! Pea, out!
-INEZ: Not in my kitchen!
-Not in my kitchen!
-LUCKY: Look at the D.
-Look at the D!
-(boys laughing)
Good job, Pea.
(playful chatter continues)
-sh**t!
-I'll... I'll take it.
-LUCKY: Let me get another.
-TERRY: No.
PEA:
Pass it.
Want to go again?
(chuckles)
What's wrong?
Where was he before?
How many times
you gonna ask me that?
Till I get an answer.
He belongs with his mother.
Nobody's even looking for him.
Course they're not
looking for him
because they're looking for me.
And every other n*gga round here
with a target on they back.
Hey, how many times I been
locked up for you, Lucky?
I just got out, man!
Trying to move on
from all that sh*t.
Do you remember
what it felt like
to grow up without a father?
I just want us to be a family.
That's all.
-(zipper zips)
-That's not my f*cking kid.
I just wanted you.
But you f*cked-up in the head.
Yeah, nuts for thinking
you would f*cking understand.
I didn't sign up for this sh*t.
(door opens)
(door closes)
(sighs)
"You are not a cow.
You are not a boat
or a plane or a snore."
-"Snort."
-"Snort."
-(laughs)
-Stop.
TERRY:
"You are not a boat."
-"Or-or..."
-"Or a plane
-or a snort."
-"Snort."
(mumbling playfully, laughing)
"You are a... bird?
And you are my mother."
Yeah.
(laughs)
"And you are my mother.
And you are my mother.
And you are..."
-(motorcycle engine rumbling)
-(women chattering)
(engine shuts off)
INEZ: I literally saw you
look at her with my own eyes.
(panting sharply)
Is it 'cause
she lighter than me?
-'Cause her hair's nicer?
-You're too sensitive.
Well, then just be sensitive
to my sensitivity.
Where'd you stay
this whole time?
Was posted up with Mike.
-That bike not hot, is it?
-No.
(grunting, panting)
One.
All right,
I need another can of broth.
Come on, let me do that
after the game.
No. Can you go now?
And why don't you take
Terry with you?
-(chuckles)
-ALICIA: How you doing, Lucky?
I'm good, 'Licia.
How you doing, shorty?
You should call me.
Do me a favor.
Walk on this side of me.
It's for your protection.
You always this quiet?
Sometimes.
And what you thinking about?
Well, it sounds like a lot.
How did you get that name Lucky?
(chuckles)
Made a few mistakes, that's all.
That's a story for another time.
-And I'm a mistake, too?
-Who told you that?
It's why you don't
want me around.
That's not true.
You're a blessing.
For your mom especially.
Everything is just...
...just complicated.
A'ight? Come on.
(Lucky sighs)
(sighs)
How'd you get that one?
Guy cut me with a Kn*fe.
Why?
He wanted something I took.
You see this one right here?
See it?
On the East Side,
everybody hide
they box cutters right here.
TERRY:
It hurt?
(Lucky chuckles)
LUCKY:
Yeah, a little bit. (sighs)
(radio playing quietly)
Everything's changing.
A couple of years from now,
we're not gonna have to worry
about this at all.
(Lucky inhales sharply, sighs)
(Inez grunts softly)
What do two crooks know
about raising a family?
(Inez chuckles)
MAN:
Yeah!
(excited chatter)
Let me get a picture.
WOMAN: Girl, he holding you
like he love you, okay?
KIM:
Terry, now!
MAN: And we on the block
right now celebrating.
Shout-out to the newlyweds,
-Lucky and Inez. -WOMAN:
Yes, girl, show me the ring!
Okay! All right!
(excited squealing, chatter)
What the ring like?
MAN: That's exactly what
we bringing here to the block.
Right here, right now.
Come get a plate.
Come get a cup.
-(Lucky sighs)
-Come get whatever you need,
and come rock out with your boy.
Come here.
WOMAN: You look good, ma.
You look good.
T...
...your mother's my wife now.
But I want you to know
from the bottom of my heart
that I'm here
for the both of you.
We blood now.
You scared I'm-a take her
away from you?
No.
Nobody's going anywhere
from this point on.
I promise to protect you
and your mother.
You understand?
Yes.
We're gonna give you
the life that we never had.
A'ight?
You hear me? Hmm?
(laughs) Come here.
Up-up-up.
There we go. There we go.
-WOMAN: Girl, you got you
a family now. -(Lucky whooping)
(indistinct chatter)
WOMAN:
King of the world!
LUCKY:
We got to get this.
Hold on. Hold on.
Here we go. Here we go.
-INEZ: Oh, wait, wait, wait.
-Look at the camera, T.
-Look at the camera.
-Ready?
(grunts playfully)
Say, "Family!"
ALL:
Family.
(excited chatter continues)
(woman laughs)
I'm so happy for y'all.
Let me see.
(Lucky sighs)
(sighs)
What you want to hear?
That one.
(laughs)
NEWSWOMAN:
If federal court
lets new zoning laws
take effect, starting today,
42nd Street will have to take
on a different look or else.
NEWSWOMAN 2:
According to the mayor,
the crackdown
on low-level offenses
is a quality-of-life issue.
GIULIANI:
If you change, in fact,
the true nature
of the establishment,
then you probably have
a defense under the law.
-WOMAN: Yo, yo, turn it up!
-NEWSWOMAN 3: Today, at 11:00,
the police officer said
he sodomized Abner Louima
in the presence
of another officer,
although he did not implicate
any of the four
-other officers...
-NEWSMAN: On the streets here,
there are serious questions
about police practice and race.
-WOMAN: sh*t's f*cked-up!
-A young African immigrant d*ed
when four plainclothes cops
sh*t him 19 times,
f*ring 41 b*ll*ts...
NEWSMAN 2: The shockwaves
are still being felt
in New York City tonight
following the acquittals
in the controversial trial.
NEWSMAN 3: An officer is
allowed to stop, question you.
If he develops any more
suspicions, he can frisk you.
So, really,
it should be described as
stop-question-frisk.
(woman shouting in distance)
PEA:
Yer.
What up, T?
Yer.
How you been?
I'm not starting freshman year
without no p*ssy, B.
Light skin, fatty, exotic,
hair down to the ass,
no medium to hot breath...
n*gga, them shorties
don't want you.
No, n*gga, that's standards.
Don't fault me
for caring about my heart.
Go get that.
TERRY:
Nah, nah.
-(scoffs) I'm good.
-"Nah." Keep not listening.
I am listening!
See how they respond
to that nice sh*t, man?
-What's good with that?
-I just got my own style.
Since when is
"bum n*gga" a style?
OFFICER:
Hey, hey. You, you. Now.
Up against the wall, right now.
OFFICER 2: Yeah, just put
your hands where I can see 'em.
-OFFICER: Don't make any
sudden move. -PEA: Damn, bro.
OFFICER:
Thought you looked older.
TEACHER: Daryl can be
a little aloof sometimes.
He daydreams a lot.
But overall
he's a very bright kid.
I was surprised to see
that you were his mother.
Most of our students here
aren't as articulate.
Oh, is that so?
To be honest,
Mrs. Raymond, um...
...I don't think
Daryl belongs here.
Have you thought about
applying to
the specialized high schools?
No.
I'd like you to meet Ms. Tucker.
Hi.
She's a counselor at
Tech, Science and Leadership.
I also run an outreach program
on the side
to get more students like Daryl
to take the test.
Would you be open
to that, Daryl?
If they got girls.
A lot of the kids
go on to MIT, Harvard.
It might take
some getting used to.
There wouldn't be
as many minorities.
Ma, you know
the Laundromat shut down?
Yeah, they sold the building.
So, where we supposed to go?
Go down to Ramirez.
What's a couple of blocks?
I don't like going over there.
Well...
We got stopped
by the cops again.
Um, were they looking
for someone?
I don't know.
Did they take your name?
No.
I'm just calling it out
so you know it ain't me.
WOMAN: Girl, and then he talk
about he want to move in.
I'm like, "Are you paying
half the rent?"
-Hey, girl. How you doing?
-Hey, girl, what's up?
Hello.
WOMAN: Girl, so, you know,
like, I'm a woman.
I shouldn't be paying rent
if a man stay here.
-You know what I'm saying?
-What's going on over there?
Girl, you know
they bought the building.
But anyway, girl, what you
think I should do, though?
You think I should,
like, split the rent?
WOMAN 2:
Girl, I don't know.
WOMAN 1: Right,
'cause I ain't doing that.
-TERRY: Ah!
-Scared me half to death.
-Here, let me get that.
-Any-Anything else?
Mom, I'm hungry.
Well, then go to the store.
With what money?
I gave you money
earlier this week, Terry.
(sighs) Come on.
INEZ: Look, I only got
ten dollars to my name.
I'm giving you five.
Here.
You thought any more
about what she said?
-Who said?
-Your teacher.
Why does everything good mean
I got to go somewhere else?
Well...
You'll probably fit right in.
As soft as you are,
I'd rather that
than you chasing after Pea.
Speaking of him, I'm switching
to the night shift
so I can be here after school.
Make sure you're not
just running around.
What's up with you and Luck?
Excuse me?
Y'all not talking or something?
Stop trying
to change the subject.
Listen.
I'm not saying you got to go.
But at least think about it.
I'll buy you
a new pair of Jordans.
WOMAN:
In each portion,
you will have approximately
ten minutes per section...
(woman continues speaking
indistinctly)
Ooh. (chuckles)
What, you want me to pull up
there with you or something?
'Cause you acting
mad p*ssy right now.
(rap music playing quietly)
Anything else?
Yeah, where can I call you?
-(scoffs)
-PEA: Simone, quit playing.
A'ight, give me
your name on AOL.
"Unavailable222."
Wow, so I can't even
get to know you?
PEA:
Yeah, get her, T.
Listen, there's nothing else
I need to know about you
or your little dirty-ass,
smelly-ass friend.
PEA: Stop acting like we ain't
doing you a favor, Midnight.
-Nappy-head-ass.
-(scoffs) Next customer.
Knew you wasn't getting that.
(clicks tongue)
I ain't trippin' on her.
'Cause I already tried
four times.
-Got to be a d*ke!
-SIMONE: Shut the hell up, Pea.
PEA: That's why I want one
of them Indian-looking girls.
sh**t, they fire.
INEZ:
Let me see. Let me see it.
Oh, my... (chuckles)
You got into Tech?
I don't see the big deal.
Thought all I had to do
was prove that I can get in.
I changed my mind.
Well, I didn't! I ain't going!
Boy, you know how hard
I'm busting my ass
to get you chances I never had?
You make me feel like
a damn fool.
-Be a fool, then.
-Boy!
I need you to talk some sense
into him.
Please.
(TV playing quietly)
Saying what, exactly?
That he should go
to a better school.
He doesn't want
to be controlled.
Who gives a f*ck about
what he wants?
What does he need?
I don't know.
(TV clicks off)
Matter of fact, I do.
(clears throat)
It's you.
Like how?
You're too tough.
Okay. What else?
I'm listening.
Maybe if you quiet down some...
...he would actually hear
what you have to say.
Okay.
I don't even remember the
last time I raised my voice.
(sighs)
He'd do good at any school.
You used to like
when I got spicy.
"Try and be quiet."
(sighs)
"You should try and be quiet."
Right?
Quiet like when
you went missing for weeks
and I sat here and said nothing?
And never mind who you was with.
-See, there it go.
-If I get any more quieter,
I won't even have
a f*cking voice at all.
You know, I'm not about
to sit here and argue with you.
That's real easy for you to say
'cause you get to be
the saint, right?!
You get to be the saint
while I'm stuck here
fighting these wars
all by myself!
-See how loud you're getting?
-What... (sobs)
-Well, then f*cking show up
for me, Lucky. -f*ck this sh*t.
Show up for me!
(keys jangling)
I wonder what'd happen
if I leave, too.
(sighs)
You scared.
Something's gonna happen.
I can feel it.
I can feel it.
Did he tell you he got stopped
by the cops again?
A few times.
Then let him use his other name.
He doesn't have an I.D.
That's not
the f*cking point, Lucky!
sh*t. I don't know, a'ight?
Day's bound to come
any-f*cking-way.
(breath trembling)
(keys slam on floor)
LUCKY:
Take care of your moms, T!
Where Luck going?
INEZ: And you--
I'm-a say this one time.
You look at me when
I'm f*cking talking to you.
It's either
you go to that school
or you find
somewhere else to live.
You hear me?
(door opens)
(door closes)
(TV clicks on)
MAN (over TV): ...where to push
and where not to push.
But I'm-a take but so much,
and she gon' take but so much,
so we compromise.
RICKI LAKE:
It works out for you guys.
So, you gonna get married or...?
-WOMAN: Uh... (mutters) -All
right, all right, all right.
-(laughter) -That-That's
a whole nother show.
I'm sorry.
You had a comment. Yes?
WOMAN 2: You say you do it
for the attention.
There are other ways
of getting attention.
Don't-- doesn't it cost you
a lot of friendships
and relationships,
being a bitch?
WOMAN: Well, it has cost me
a lot of friendships
and a lot of relationships,
but I find in life
that sometimes
having a friend in yourself
is better than having--
worrying about
having people as your friends,
'cause no one's gonna
look out for you but you,
-and I've learned that in life.
-(applause)
I've looked out for people,
you know, but...
LAKE:
You seem to make some sense.
WOMAN: I mean, I'm saying,
I-I have friends now.
They're bitchy like me,
so we get along.
-(laughter)
-(Inez chuckling)
We-- I'm serious.
We understand each other.
And, like, I'm-I'm generous...
-MAN: They got
a little dog pound. -Right.
And I help, I help out
some of my family members
-as well as they help me.
-(chuckles)
But they also know
where to push my buttons
and where to go also,
as Paul said.
LAKE:
Okay, yes?
WOMAN 3: I know
I like to get what I want,
but I think there are
other ways to do that.
That only makes people...
(basketball bouncing)
LUCKY:
Come sh**t some hoops with me.
I'm about to go to the store.
Come here.
You need some money?
-Ma gave me some.
-Here.
Take it anyway.
A man should always have
some money in his pocket.
So, um, where you been at?
(ball clanks on rim)
I needed some time
to clear my head.
(ball clanks on rim)
Feels like it's been a lot
longer than that this time.
Y'all breaking up or something?
Want to sh**t?
Your mother ever tell you
how we met?
No.
She used to work
at this coffee shop
that closed down
a few years ago.
I used to get my hair cut
right across the street.
I'd go in, I'd order me
a bagel or whatever,
but I'm still not sure
how I'm-a kick it to her.
And ended up
telling her the truth.
That she was
the most beautiful woman...
...that I ever seen.
Were you nervous?
(chuckles softly)
I just felt like
she should know.
But something told me
to go back, right?
(sniffs)
This is when I had
my other bike.
A few days later, I said,
"Let me take you for a ride."
We been rocking ever since.
T...
...don't get caught up
in none of this sh*t
that you see around here.
Have I ever?
Took me too long to learn that.
I don't want
to see you fall into
the same traps
as me and your mother.
I want you to make
better choices than me.
When it comes to her.
When it comes to everything.
I, uh...
I got into
the specialized high school.
Oh, yeah? (sniffs)
-So what you gon' do?
-I don't know.
What you think?
It's not up to me, T.
You getting older now.
Time for you to start
thinking for yourself.
What?
I love you.
You hear me?
Yeah.
Check up.
Oh, got it.
(train passing)
LUCKY:
Psst, psst.
Ayo, ma!
What are you doing here?
I can't walk with my lady?
(chuckles softly)
How was work?
INEZ:
Good.
-(kisses)
-LUCKY: Good morning. (laughs)
Yo, you remember what it's like
when we were coming up?
I remember.
(laughs)
You should be proud
of yourself, Inez.
We made it.
You don't seem happy.
Think Terry resents me?
Teenagers hate everybody.
But I do sense
a little void in him.
First couple years of his life,
he ain't have nobody.
Kid's still walking around here
with a broken heart.
Maybe it's time for y'all
to have that conversation.
Give him some of the answers
that he been looking for.
Yeah, I'll know
when the time's right.
(sighs)
Um...
I was thinking,
when Terry goes off to school,
maybe I'll get
to doing hair again.
Maybe open up a shop.
Can't wait.
(cheering, applause)
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG:
Thank you.
Citizens, I am honored
and humbled to serve
as the 108th mayor
of the City of New York.
As Toni Morrison has said,
"New York is
the last true city."
And it is the vitality
of our neighborhoods
that define us.
In the next four years,
I will devote myself
to building a better New York--
safe, strong
and ready to lead the world
in the 21st century.
Thank you.
-Thank you.
-(cheering, applause)
I, Michael R. Bloomberg,
mayor of the City of New York.
JUDITH KAYE:
Do solemnly swear.
-BLOOMBERG: Do solemnly swear.
-That I will...
TERRY: So, um...
so, which one you, uh...
which one you want to hear?
(Lucky coughing)
Let me hear that one.
(sucks teeth)
It's mad old, though.
(scoffs)
Old?
The f*ck is The Delfonics, B?
Why don't you pass me
that one right there.
-TERRY: Yeah, who?
-LUCKY: Yeah.
What does it say?
The sample.
Wasn't too old for the Fugees.
(wheezing)
-(scoffs)
-(laughing)
Oh, come on.
You don't even know
your own taste.
Yo, these shits is, like,
mad random, though, like...
Yo, you deadass a old head.
Like, what are you
talking about?
Cassettes in here.
What's going on? (scoffs)
Come on.
T.
Hey, I want you
to hang on to that.
That way, you can take your time
flipping through everything.
So, which college
you decided on?
I don't know yet.
You should be more excited.
Nah.
-I am.
-A'ight.
Well, go somewhere far.
You know, my era...
...we ain't get
those kind of sh*ts.
Yeah.
Maybe.
Go on and show off
that legacy of Harlem.
-(Lucky laughing)
-(knocking on door)
(doorbell rings)
Hi. I'm Jerry.
Uh, I'm your new landlord.
(door closes)
The lady across the hall said
that your husband has cancer.
Really sorry to hear that.
It's all right.
So you own those buildings
across the street, too?
Yeah. Yeah.
Everything working okay?
Heat coming up?
Hot water? All that?
I actually just realized
that, um,
I got a few loose tiles
around my shower area.
Oh, yeah. Let's go look at it.
-(flashlight clicks)
-Uh-oh.
Something happen here?
INEZ:
Yeah.
We tried to fix it a few times,
but it keeps falling off.
-Oh, I can fix this for you.
-Really?
Yeah. This is no problem at all.
Um... wow.
Maybe some new cabinets, too,
because these have to be
at least 20 years old.
-Have you met Javier?
-Who?
-Uh, the new super.
-No.
Okay, let me see
when I can get my guys in here
to take care of all of this,
and then also your...
also your tiles, okay?
-Thank you.
-Yeah. You got it. No problem.
INEZ (softly):
Hey.
("Ain't It Good Feeling Good"
by Eloise Laws playing)
Anybody else come by?
(whispers):
How you feeling?
(sighs)
(whispers):
We talked about his schools.
(wheezing)
(coughing softly)
Oh, just to feel
your heated body
Pressing next to mine
Ooh, sweet delight...
WOMAN:
Simone?
Can you wipe down 84 and 83?
Try not to look so pitiful.
Melt me down
in your deliciousness
Sugarcoat me, baby
With every touch
Keep the feeling coming...
(knocking on door)
JAVIER:
We're here for the repairs.
Thank you.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
(door closes)
-Uh, where at?
-Over there to the right.
Ah, I see.
-See that one right there?
-There.
Might live on a distant star
But no matter where you are
-Music
-There's music
Music
Sweet, sweet music
(blows)
Music
Mm-hmm
-Music
-Music
Music, music
-We like all kinds of music
-Music
Music
When things get bad
A simple song
will make you glad...
-(phone ringing)
-(song fades)
Manna's. Simone speaking.
Oh, uh... S-Simone?
Yes?
Oh, um... yeah, I just, um...
Yeah, I-I just wanted
to let you know
I think you're the most, uh...
...well, you're the most,
uh, b-beautiful girl,
you know, uh,
or whatever, you know.
I was just trying
to see if you...
Would you please
stop f*cking calling here?
I'm working.
Well, call me tonight, then.
-Fine.
-(picks up pencil)
(drops pencil)
To stay or to go?
INEZ:
Look. The whole sink is gone.
Look at the hole by the shower.
It wasn't so big at first,
but more fell down this morning.
All we got left is
the kitchen sink.
JERRY:
Yeah, I know. I know. I know.
Let me show you the kitchen.
No, no, uh, I already,
I already saw it.
Um...
(sighs)
Inez, this, this is my...
this is my mistake.
The guys, they thought
this was a full flip,
like some of the other units,
so I'm happy to have them
come back in and finish up,
and I won't charge you
anything or...
Okay, yeah,
just let me know the day.
I can stay home from work
or Terry could be here
if it's after school.
Well, we'd actually need you to,
uh, to clear out
of the apartment.
'Cause there's-there's
just too much damage.
I mean,
everything's got to get lifted.
Like how long?
I-I mean, as long as it t--
you know, until it's done.
A couple months.
What are we supposed to do
in the meantime?
-Calm down.
-Don't tell me to calm down.
Like two adults, okay?
There's no reason here
to get loud.
(music playing quietly
over Terry's headphones)
We have no bathroom,
no shower, Jerry.
-We have no stove, Jerry.
-(sighs)
Is-- there's not, like,
a family member
or a friend you could stay with?
Well, this building is too old.
I come in and fix something,
I got to come back a couple
months later and do it again.
You know, this way,
we come in here,
we replace everything
all at once.
There's got to be
another option.
Or you-you could leave.
(music over headphones stops)
My hands are tied.
Give me a call.
Let me know what you decide.
Yo, why you ain't fight him
on that?
("So Long" by Cassidy featuring
Mashonda and Raekwon playing)
Yo, Cass, what up, son?
What's going on, playboy?
How's it looking over there?
Yo, I got me a good one
and all that
-Oh, okay, okay
-What's up with you?
You know I got me
something lovely, too
-You know how we do it
-You know how we like 'em
Man, super official, right?
All day,
if it ain't official
I ain't f*cking with her
-That's right, son
-Ha-ha, yeah
It's usually the beauty
that attract me
But perhaps she was
the right person
Her personality
made me happy...
Hey, yo, um...
Can you walk
on the other side of me?
Hmm?
It's for your protection.
And I can charm a computer,
for us to conversate
-Come on.
-All it take
To make an impression,
like a teacher lecturing
When I'm speaking,
she taking lessons
But every time
we argue and fight
I feel like I'm dying...
(song fades)
-(lively chatter)
-(R&B music playing quietly)
Think you put enough?
You know you want one.
(Terry grunts)
Why you always acting all stank
whenever we come around?
That's not a act.
Your friends are dumb as f*ck,
especially Pea.
"What you gon' do
about that kitchen?"
-"Damn, when you gonna eat
some more meals?" -(chuckles)
-"Wow! What up, Midnight?"
-A'ight, a'ight.
I get it. I get it.
I'm sorry.
I know those are your friends.
Is that how you are, too?
You see me here, right?
I'm not here for anybody
trying to make me hate myself.
So how'd you miss
a year of school
and still end up at Tech?
You like it?
It's okay.
Okay? And? What else?
What don't you like about it?
(sighs) I don't know.
Just don't.
There's nothing wrong
with being smart, you know.
We could use a few more
engineers around here.
I just don't care about
none of that, though.
Okay, so what you want to do?
Uh, I mean, I like
a lot of things, you know.
Uh...
Right now, I'm...
I'm into music.
You want to rap?
(scoffs) Nah. Like...
Like, uh...
You-you ever seen The Wiz?
Yeah.
Yeah, like, stuff like that.
Um, this Black dude,
uh, Quincy Jones,
he, uh, did the whole score
for the movie, you know.
Did some other movies, too.
Like a composer.
Yeah. Yeah. (chuckles)
PS, I know who Quincy Jones is.
You should be
in some art school.
You could go to Juilliard.
I can help you figure out
what it takes.
No.
Kids trying to get in there
have been training for years.
Well, where'd Quincy Jones go?
He didn't go to school.
I want to see you again.
I should be honest with you.
Um... I'm moving
in a couple weeks.
To my uncle's in Florida.
This white guy was trying
to help us save the house
but took the deed or something.
But we can
keep in touch, though.
I'm gonna miss Harlem.
INEZ:
What's her name?
TERRY: I don't know
what you talking 'bout.
So who's the girl
I saw you hanging out with?
-Just a girl, Ma.
-(video game playing)
Well, is she your girlfriend?
(chuckles):
What...
Come on. You know I like
Spanish girls, Ma.
Pardon me?
What, she look too much like
you for you to take seriously?
You know what, little boy?
I love you.
I really do.
But I'm starting
not to like you anymore.
(video game chimes, pauses)
MS. TUCKER:
Now, what's this all about?
Showing up late,
not handing in your work.
Something's on your mind.
I said I'm fine.
What's going on with college?
You make a decision yet?
Daryl?
(sighs)
-Not yet.
-And why's that?
You discuss it with your mother?
Yeah.
A little.
You know this is a safe place.
How have things been at home
since your father got worse?
They, uh... they don't think
he's gonna come home.
I'm sorry to hear that.
I think the landlord's trying
to push us out or something.
Do you want to come work
with me at CCA?
I run the after-school program.
Part-time, a few hours.
How much it pay?
Enough to help.
You do good, we'll work on
something better this summer.
I don't need
working papers from you
since you're turning 18 soon.
Just ask your mother
for your birth certificate
and Social, okay?
(exhales)
Um...
Thank you, Ms. Tucker.
I'm happy to help.
Yo, Ma?
(Lucky coughs)
(Lucky coughing)
Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey.
Okay, breathe.
(labored breathing)
Okay, okay. Okay.
Maybe you should try
and eat some food.
Yeah?
-I'm not hungry.
-Okay.
Why do you love me?
The same reason everybody does.
(scoffs)
That's not an answer.
I want to know why.
You should...
You should probably stop talking
and get some rest, okay?
I never really knew
where it came from.
Or whether or not...
...whether or not I deserved it.
Maybe that's why I never...
...I never fully gave it back.
Now I wonder...
...I wonder if it's too late.
Damaged people don't know
how to love each other.
That's all.
(inhales sharply)
T, sit down.
I need to talk to you
about a few things.
(Terry breathing deeply,
sniffling)
Um...
Before Lucky got sick,
we wanted to have a
conversation with you about...
I don't want to talk to you
about Lucky.
It's not about him.
Yo, I don't want to talk to you
about anything!
Yeah?
Only thing I ever wanted
more than a mother
was a f*cking father!
Maybe...
(sniffles)
Maybe if you,
if you weren't so hard on him,
walking around here
so miserable all the time,
he'd still f*cking be here.
(Inez grunts softly)
You don't mean that.
(Inez sighs)
("Time Goes By" by Mike Moran
and Madeline Bell playing)
-Every now and then
-(siren wailing)
-(lively chatter)
-I'm so high
Knowing there's a chance
I'll see you
Feel like I could fly
'Cause tonight
I will be near you
We'll be one
We'll be alone...
Yo, Ma.
-Ma.
-What?
This lady over there,
she keep looking over here.
Who is that?
That's Lucky's daughter
and her mother.
Make 'em a plate.
She's what?
We'll talk about it later.
And let me enjoy you
I know it's time
you were leaving...
(song ends)
(rap music playing faintly
in distance)
(clattering in other room)
INEZ:
f*ck!
Terry!
-TERRY: Ma, what happened?
-(water running)
Come move this stuff!
One of the pipes! (grunts)
TERRY:
I g-- I got it.
Ma! Yo.
INEZ:
Come on, come on.
(Inez grunts)
(rap music playing in distance)
Sweetheart.
You seen Javier?
-Who?
-The-the super.
Oh, um, not since yesterday.
Sorry.
(door opens)
(door closes)
MS. TUCKER:
Daryl, we need to talk.
Your paperwork was denied.
What?
The Social Security number
you gave me isn't valid.
I'm glad I caught it
before somebody else did.
(stammers) I-I forgot.
It-it expired.
That's not how it works.
So, then wh-- that mean, like,
I don't get the job or...
Well, before I can even
look into any of that,
we need to sort out how
you ended up with phony papers.
Did you really ask your mom?
Sh-She don't,
she don't have 'em.
You're from here, right?
-Wh-What you mean?
-Born in the States.
Uh, y-yeah.
Nah, yeah, yeah.
Well... (sighs) this could mean
a lot of hell for you.
To get a job, to-to do anything.
I mean, it's still probably,
you know, like, with the city.
Fr-From when
I was in foster care.
Hmm.
Oh, I have a friend down in
Social Services who can help.
No, no, it's cool,
it's cool, it's cool.
It's-it's all good.
It's all good.
We just-- It's all good.
Hey, Janice.
Listen, I need a favor.
I have a student here
-whose paperwork is...
-Hey, no, no.
Hey, yo-yo, Ms. Tucker, come on!
It's all, it's all good.
Um...
Uh, they don't, they don't know
I'm-I'm with my mother.
-You know?
-And why is that?
Who are you supposed to be with?
Um...
Have you told anyone else
about this?
-Nah.
-Is Daryl your real name?
If you lied on your college
applications, it's a felony.
It's Terry!
It's-it's T--
it's Terry Wallace.
How long ago did this happen?
When-when I was little.
I was a social worker for years.
If the city
didn't want to give you back,
it's likely because
something happened.
Regardless of what, you are
still a ward of the state.
By law, I have to report this.
Oh, do-do... do any of that
even matter, though?
Um, you know, I'm finna be 18
in a few weeks, you know, so...
I can't keep this to myself.
I have to speak with
your mother.
(rap music playing quietly)
(door opens, closes)
Can-can I talk to you?
It'd be nicer if you could help.
What happened?
What does it look like, Terry?
Called the super ten times
since yesterday.
It's about the job
with Ms. Tucker.
Sh-She, um, sh-she want
my birth certificate
and my Social.
The real one.
What do you mean, the real one?
Um, the papers I found in your
room, they-they didn't work.
What do you mean, the papers
you found in my room?
You went through my stuff?
Why wouldn't you ask me?
I didn't know I had to!
She want to come by tomorrow
evening and talk to you.
For what?
Well, I-I mean, I don't know.
What was I supposed to say?
(sighs)
I don't know how the hell
we gonna get ahold of those.
Come with me outside. I...
I need to smoke.
Starting to smell in here.
(door closes)
(lighter clicking)
You wanted to leave me.
No.
No, Ma.
Why would you say
something like that?
Forget it.
What time
your teacher coming tomorrow?
Around 6:00 or something.
I think.
T, you should probably see
if you can, um,
stay with Pea and Miss Annie
a little while,
till they finish
working on the apartment.
Where you gonna go?
I'll figure it out.
I'll go to your school tomorrow
and get everything
straightened out with, um,
Ms. What's-Her-Face.
(door opens)
(horns honking, cars passing)
(door closes)
TERRY:
Yo, Ma?
-(phone dialing)
-(sighs)
(line ringing)
Yo, hey, Titi. What's up?
Um...
Yeah, you, um, you heard
from my mother yet?
Nah, y-- I been, um, I-I been
trying to call her all morning.
No, she, um...
Yeah, just, um...
Yeah, just give me
a-a call back when-when you do.
(knocking on door)
(doorbell ringing)
H-Hey, y-yeah.
Yeah, Aunt Kim. H-Hold on.
Let me, uh...
hey, no, let me, uh,
-let me give you a call back.
-(doorbell rings)
MS. TUCKER:
Hi, Terrance.
Is your mother home?
Um...
Uh, n-no.
She left for work already?
Yeah, uh... I think so.
(indistinct
police radio chatter)
Do you mind if we come in
and talk for a bit?
Uh...
Y-Yeah.
I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah.
-Okay.
-Thank you.
-Uh, this is Anne.
-Hey.
And this is Officer Philips,
Officer Russo.
May we have a seat?
How long ago did she leave?
TERRY:
Yesterday evening.
OFFICER PHILIPS: What was
the last thing she said to you?
Did she say anything
out of the ordinary?
Anything unusual?
W-Well...
not that I remember.
Uh, everything seemed fine.
Excuse me, sir,
could you, could you,
could y'all, you know,
not go through all our stuff?
Terrance, we really need
your cooperation on this.
Uh, she-she, like, gonna
get in trouble or something?
You know, 'cause, I mean, you
know, why does it even matter?
I mean, you know,
I'm almost 18, you know, so...
Um...
Well, about that.
It's difficult for me to say
what I have to say right now.
Inez...
is not your biological mother.
Uh...
Like some joke or something?
(chuckles)
No, it's not.
This is the woman
who abducted you.
Whatever story she told you was
just a lie that she cooked up.
I am so sorry
you have to find out like this.
OFFICER PHILIPS: Are you sure
you don't know where she is?
Any ideas at all?
MS. TUCKER:
Give him some room, please.
(sniffles)
For now, we need to focus on
what's best for Terry
moving forward.
What's best for me?
He doesn't have any known
relatives that we can trust.
ANNE:
That's all right.
We can place him at Sheltering
Arms for the time being.
It's a family services program.
It's...
MS. TUCKER:
I know what it is.
ANNE:
Just for a couple of weeks,
until we can navigate
next steps.
If that's all right with you.
MS. TUCKER:
I don't know if your parents
are still on the street,
but we can work on that.
Everything was
such a mess back then.
In my office, the only record
you had on some kids was...
...just an index card.
(cell phone ringing)
Hello?
Terry, is that you?
TERRY (crying):
Yeah. Y-- Titi.
I stopped by the group home,
but nobody seems to know
where you are.
I'm-I'm at, I'm at a pay phone.
I-I can't stay there.
You want to meet me back here?
I want you to come stay with me.
-Yeah.
-Okay.
I think you should
stop by the house first,
pick up any last things you
might want to take with you.
Yeah.
I'll see you soon, baby.
Okay.
Okay.
(objects clattering)
(door closes)
(objects continue clattering)
Ma?
Hey, Terry.
What you, what you,
what you doing?
I left some things.
Look, don't stand over there
looking over me.
I'm sure they already got to
you, so feel free to run along.
Can we, can we talk, though?
Talk about what?
You serious right now?
Fine.
You want to talk, let's talk.
(kicks object)
Fetch me my Newports.
-You was just over there...
-Over on the stand.
(box slams on table)
What you want me to say?
That I f*cked up?
Yeah, T, I f*cked up.
But life goes on. So what?
Well, as long as
it's your call, right?
Who was the one
who made the choice,
standing in that hospital?
Was it you or me?
Thinking you was
my f*cking mother!
-Lower your f*cking tone!
-(hits table)
You better watch
how the f*ck you talking to me.
Did Lucky know?
Yes, he knew.
He didn't agree with it,
but he knew.
Why? Why you do it?
I don't know why I did it, T.
It was something small that
turned into something else.
And that's supposed to make it
right or something?
Who made you the chief
of right or wrong?
You don't think
I have feelings, too?!
After all those years
I took care of you,
who the f*ck was there
to take care of me?!
I stood up for everybody else!
What the f*ck was it for?!
Every chance you had,
every chance you had,
you turned your back on me!
-That's not true.
-Oh, please.
Nobody else give a sh*t
about Black women
except for other Black women,
and even that sh*t get messy.
Who heard me when I was hurt?
It wasn't you.
And it damn sure wasn't Lucky.
But you were my mother!
Hmm?
(voice breaking):
Now, how am I supposed to feel?
I need to know what was real.
(sighs)
I never left you on that corner.
I was the one that found you.
Little two-year-old running
around outside the shelter.
I waited outside on that block
for hours with you.
Waiting for anybody to show up.
I saw so much of myself.
I just... I just wanted
to look out for you.
I didn't want you
getting chewed up like I was.
I seen somebody who needed me.
But...
But maybe I'm the one
who needed you.
And, T, for that, I'm sorry.
I'm-I'm sorry.
(sniffles)
I tried to change.
But I don't, I don't want it.
I don't want this.
Not if...
not if it's built on a lie.
Not if being loved by you
or anybody else
means not loving myself.
They not gonna let you
get away with it.
I ain't going to jail.
I already know what the f*ck
they gonna say anyway.
Already know.
And guess what.
I don't give a f*ck.
Because I still won.
I won.
Because I know you gonna
grow up to be somebody.
(sniffles)
I wish I didn't know.
I wish, I wish
you could've did a better job
of keeping that lie to yourself.
I wish it could've continued
so that we could've continued,
and I...
(sniffles) ...I wish I knew
how to be better to you
so you didn't feel like
you had to leave me alone.
'Cause I'm scared.
(sniffling) I'm scared that
I won't have no home no more.
And one day I'm gonna show up
and it's gonna feel like
we ain't never happened.
Ma!
Like this wasn't
our living room?
Our home?
I miss my bed, Ma.
(sniffles)
The one that you made for me.
(sniffles)
Where's home for me now?
(Terry exhales heavily)
(Terry sniffling)
INEZ:
This isn't goodbye.
I promise.
This isn't goodbye, T.
(crying)
I promise.
(crying):
I love you, Ma.
I love you.
I think you should go.
(horn honks)
DRIVER:
Okay, miss. Where to?
A Thousand and One (2023)
Moderator: Maskath3