Original subtitles

- Hey boy!

Hey boy, hey look, see this set here?

Works tomorrow, so don't touch it.

Sweep around out here, but don't get near the set, got it?

* Hey boy

* Hey boy

* Hey boy

* Hey boy, boy, boy

* I hear you, boy

* Hey boy

* Hey boy

* Hey boy

* Boy, don't you know this set works tomorrow *

* Hey boy

* C'mon boy

* Boy, boy, boy

* Here ya go boy

* Boy

* Hey boy

* Hey boy

* Here's your boy

Do you know why you're here?

- Yeah.

I'm here, Mister Doctor,

'cause I'm crazy!

* Think about it

* Think about it

* Think about it

* Think about it

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Better know what you're doing to yourself *

* Legend is dying

* Crowd is denying

* Telling ourselves that it isn't true *

* No, no, no, no

* Burning each other

* And it's brother killing brother *

* It seems to be the only thing to do *

* The time has come

* To deal with the pressure

* We've got to put it all on a shelf *

* Think about what you're doing to me *

* When you know what you're doing to yourself *

* Millions of dollars are wasted each day *

* By brothers buying poison that eats their souls away *

* Hey, take a look around

* Well, and I bet you will see

* How all of the crime is gonna fit there, yeah *

* Brothers running game

* And my sister's gone to shame *

* I tell you it's a doggone pity, yeah *

* When the truth is a lie, and I'm sure you'll agree *

* It's up to you and me and no one else *

* Think about what you're doing to me *

* And you know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

Okay, I think we lost 'em.

- Oh baby, I'm sorry, how's my best girl?

Oh, I'm fine.

- Finally.

- You know Joyce, just one of these nights,

just one night, I'm gonna come home

before my kids say their prayers, you know what I mean?

- Mm, well don't worry about it,

I don't think they're gonna forget their daddy.

- Let me have your coat.

- Well, I don't know.

Sounds good.

You know how long I've been waitin' to get here?

- Hm-mm.

Let's see, about 12 1/2 hours.

You know that, that makes you a pretty important person,

do you know that?

- Well I hope so.

- As they say on the street, can you dig it?

- Dug it.

Missed you.

- Hey, I did hear the kids.

- Oh, so did I, but they're not spoilin' my night tonight.

I'll check on 'em.

- She was just a dumb broad.

I bet you she won't yell cop again.

You waited three months for the money?

- Yeah, she thought she was dealin' with

the corner drugstore, huh?

Well, forget it.

We wrap up 58th--

We wrap up 58th Street School,

that gives us every elementary school in LA.

Now you add to that every high, every junior high,

plus junior colleges, man, that's one hell of a take a day.

- Percy, sometimes I think we oughta lay off the kids.

Now, when I was 10, 11, and 12,

I didn't know what a pill looked like.

- Never, never!

Don't ever say that again.

The man's been takin' us.

The man's been takin' us from the time we got here

'til the time we leave.

Now you dig man, 65% of your average national network

commercial time is geared to rippin' off the kid.

Man, from Santa Claus to sugar-coated oatmeal.

Hell man, sugar alone is more harmful

to the kid than the pill.

- I'm hip.

- I don't feel a thing, not worth a damn I don't!

We'll never land 58th Street School anyway.

- Look man, we don't need it.

Now, so it's gonna cost us a little to lose it.

It'll cost us a hell of a lot more to win it.

And I'm not talkin' about the money,

I'm talkin' about our necks.

- Oscar, when you sniff that junk, man I can't stand ya!

I want it all!

That includes 58th Street.

Now I want you to tell Reggie to round up

some junior high guys and rip that coach off the grounds.

Now if they can't do it, we'll hire some

senior high dudes to do it.

And if that don't work,

we'll hire the neighborhood gang to do it.

Man, after takin' the biggest, toughest schools

in the neighborhood, I ain't about to let some little

elementary school do me in.

You show me one thing that the white man

passes up when it comes to money.

Man, no matter how small the take,

and I'll eat this whole damn room.

Tell Reggie he can come.

Hey man, I got an exam in the morning and so do you.

You guys can split.

Hey wait.

Oscar, you know that girl Michelle,

I want you to check her out.

We may want to pay her a visit.

- Irene, is there anything about that night

that you can remember that you haven't told us?

- Look at my face.

- So you didn't see anybody at all?

- I was asleep.

All right, honey, you can go.

Boy, get up here with that wheelbarrow.

I gotta get this place,

where in the hell did they find you mammy hoppers anyway?

Listen here boy, you're handling that wheelbarrow

like a teaspoon, get on with it boy!

Get it filled up with some more rocks.

I gotta bunch of concrete trucks getting in, go on boy!

I gotta get this job done and clean it up.

- Hey Mack, lighten up.

He's a new man and, well I just don't wanna lose him.

- Hell, he ain't gonna make it anyhow and you know it.

50 bucks say that wheelbarrow'll bite him in the butt.

Do I hear any callers on my bet from you mothers?

He's a goner!

Come on!

- Don't make me kill you man.

- Look man, they thought you were somebody else,

it was a mistake.

Well just look at it this way,

six months ago, you'd have been wiped out.

Now we've come a long way from that.

And from where I stand, that's real progress.

You uh, you want a cup of coffee?

Was talkin' to that jailhouse psychiatrist, what's his name?

Well anyway, he tells me you're gonna start things

spinning for yourself real good one of these days.

Is that right?

Is that right?

- Did you see that, not one stinkin' word.

Who does he think he is?

Jesus Christ!

- K.D.,

have you thought about adoption?

- Oh no, not this one, this one I hate.

Think I'm joking?

Of all the jailbirds assigned to me on probation,

he's the only one that intimidates me.

- I mean all of that damn silence, he's laughing, man.

I mean deep down inside he's laughing like hell.

- At you, man.

Me, us.

After all I mean, we get paid for the little

good that we do, or we think we do.

Knock that stuff off, man.

- Listen, Carl, this is serious business

and we had better snap to it.

So far all you've been doing is talking in riddles man.

What are you talking about?

- Come on, Carl, don't be so stupid.

What Chris is waiting on is that time factor.

He's looking for the time factor, I sense it.

And when it happens, well Carl, I hate to think about it

because it's gonna make you and I look like public enemies--

- Now wait man, wait-- - and I'll tell you somethin',

to me that's a little embarrassing.

- Nobody makes me look like a public enemy,

you understand, nobody!

I know who I am, what I do, and how much bullcorn

I take out there, you understand?

Now listen to me good, you're 6-2, you weigh 195 pounds,

I'm 5-11 1/2, and I weigh 170 pounds.

Now you carry him on your shoulder, you understand?

You carry him on your shoulder.

- Listen Carl, you should--

- Now wait a minute, wait a minute,

now I know that guy you're talkin' about,

as far as I'm concerned, he's a two-bit punk

that oughta be in one of two places, preferably jail.

Number two, in some psychiatric ward in a straight jacket.

Now that's the way I feel about it.

- Come on, Carl, come on,

you oughta be sellin' me on this guy.

- Jesus Christ.

- Look here man, I thought Oscar was suppose to be here.

- You forget about Oscar, Oscar's days are numbered.

What I want you to do is get that lady off

58th Street School grounds.

I don't care how you do it, but you get her off

and get her off fast, you understand?

That's what we're payin' you for.

- You gotta move man.

Hey look I, I could say I'm sorry

and I wish the whole damn thing didn't happen.

I'd have to do it anyway,

I'd have to tell you, you gotta move.

Neighbors are complaining, people are movin' out.

I'm sorry.

Hey look, no hard feelings, man.

- I like speed, what do you like?

- Please, I think I want out.

- Look, you asked for this ride sister,

sit there and shut up.

- Man, what kind of a liar are you?

- Listen, you want out, okay, jump, but--

- Now only a bully would pull a stunt like this,

now I want out now and I mean it.

Let me out, open this door!

You better open this door and let me out!

Let me out of this car.

Door opens on the other side.

- Sorry I'm late Joe,

but I just couldn't get my car started.

Oh boy, here they come.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, back away,

back away now come on, make room for Little Joe and me,

come on, watch out, watch out.

We couldn't get the car to start.

Wait, now wait everybody, move aside now.

Come on, you know how we do things around here.

Let's have a little bit of order, please.

Well we're here now, we're here, okay.

Just calm down, just calm down.

I wanna play some ball.

- Got that one, okay.

All right, make room, come on,

how am I suppose to get in here?

Watch out.

Oh no, okay Joe Joe, that's enough.

I want the bat, I want the bat.

- Now wait a minute, wait a minute.

Move out the way, move out the way, more out the way.

Everybody be quiet, be quiet.

Be quiet now.

Now come on, make room for me to get Joe through here.

Come on honey, you got that one off?

- Yep.

- All right.

We didn't think you'd ever get here.

- Well we're here now.

All right, well we're here now.

Just be quiet.

Be quiet!

Now wait, just wait a minute.

Now that's not the way we do things here, is it?

No.

- Okay, that's better, now wait a minute.

Okay Joe, you pass 'em out.

Here you go, Joe.

The bat.

Come on, go, go, go.

- Now wait a minute, let Joe give it to you.

Oh, let me have this ball.

- Let me have the basketball, I want the basketball.

- Get that.

Hold on, all right.

Come on, Joe.

Okay go on, that's it.

Some work, huh, yeah.

- I go first 'cause I got the bat.

- I go first 'cause I got the ball.

- I go first 'cause I got the bat.

- I go first 'cause I got the ball.

- I go first 'cause I got the bat.

- I go first 'cause I got the ball.

- How you gonna play without a bat?

- Easy, get a stick.

- Aw man, you just wanna argue all the time

but I'll let you go on up.

- All right.

- All right, right on.

- Come on, let's go.

Everybody on the bench, here's the ball.

- All right, batter up.

That's ball one.

Strike one.

Quiet, quiet, quiet!

Now all y'all sit down.

Come on, play ball.

- You cheat, you cheat.

You always keep playin' with me every time you was out here.

- Come on Jayden, put it in there.

- Ball one.

- Put it in there, let's go Jayden, here.

Yeah, one, two, three, out.

- Strike two.

- Come on Jayden, put it in there, let's go, let's go.

- Strike three, you're out.

Oh be quiet, come on, next at bat.

- Let's go, come on you get that, let's go.

Let's go, put it over.

- He's out!

- I say he's safe.

- I say he's out.

- I say he's safe.

- I say he's out.

- I say he's safe.

- And Little Joe says out, so man, he out.

Miss O'Connell'll take the ball, man.

He can, he got this one, knock it off, come on.

- Come on man, put it in here.

I'm gonna show you how to hit this ball.

Come on, put it on over here, come on.

- All right, so you proved that you can take over.

Now how 'bout

movin' out, okay. - Not until I,

Not until I knock this ball over the far fence.

- Leave her alone. - Leave her alone.

Leave her alone.

- I hope to hell you're satisfied.

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

- You're nothing but a bunch of bums!

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

- Mindy, I wish I was Muhammad Ali.

I would beat up those bullies.

They would never come on our playground again, I bet ya.

- Say, I was worried about you guys.

How come you didn't call the cops?

- Man, you're a disgrace, and certainly

no different than those other bullies.

And I wish to Christ you'd quit followin' us.

- Mindy, who is that guy who was following us?

- A nightmare.

Hey, who's that you were talking to?

- Just a guy called Reggie.

Mindy.

- Ready.

- Our father who art in heaven.

Uh, our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth--

- In earth.

- In earth, as it is on heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and, and--

- Forgive us our--

- Forgive us for our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us.

- And lead us not into temptation, but--

- Deliver us.

- Deliver us from evil, um--

- For thine is the kingdom.

- For thine is the kingdom.

- The power and the glory.

- The power and the glory.

- Forever--

- Forever, amen.

Ah, here you go, get the other side.

- Mindy!

- Hi, I'll be right with you, gotta get Joe's mama.

- It's all right, take your time.

- Thanks for the lift, Michelle.

- Oh I'm just glad I was at school when you called.

- How in the hell did you ever get your driver's license?

What's the matter with you, huh?

Drop dead!

I said drop dead!

- Drop dead yourself, dammit!

I mean, is it all right with you?

- Just take me home.

Move it out, come on, let's go!

- We're not permitted to lease for less than six months.

And that calls for two months rent in advance.

I'm glad you understand that.

There's one other item.

The cleaning fee, which of course

you get back when you leave,

if, when you move you've left everything

the way you found it.

- $50, I usually get more but you look like a clean person.

20, 25, 30,

35, 40, 45, 50, just right.

Uh, we don't give receipts for cleaning fees

but don't worry, it's safe.

Your apartment's number 12, down the hall to the left.

- Okay, I'll be right back, I gotta get my clothes.

- Don't worry, you got six months

to get those clothes in here.

20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50.

Uh young man, I gave you the best apartment in the building.

Now if there's anything wrong,

you just let me know and I'll fix it, all right.

- Fine.

- I don't believe this.

Look at this place.

I thought he gave me the best place in the house.

My stove look like somethin' from the Salvation Army.

Hm, oh it never fails, they do it to us

every time we turn around, it never fails.

Pink walls, I'll be damned, they went,

must be Alice in Fairyland or somethin'.

Look at this room, I don't believe this.

Where did he come, you know, oh man, holy mackerel.

Well, I guess I'm gonna have to live here but

if this is the best place that he's got,

I hate to see what the rest of these places look like, hm.

- Well, hello there.

I am still your husband, right?

- Roy, we've gotta get rid of that damn car of mine.

- Oh Mindy, baby, that's a brand new car.

Now we haven't even made the first payment yet,

how the hell are we gonna get rid of it?

- I don't know.

- Well, is there anything left of it?

- What the hell's that suppose to mean?

- Well, does it still have a motor?

How 'bout a fender?

A rear end?

A horn?

A door?

A rear view mirror?

You flooded that carburetor again, didn't you?

- Hello.

Oh Michelle, hi.

Yeah, I'm glad you called, listen I'm sorry

about blowin' up at you in the car but,

you know how it was, just one of those days.

Hm?

Now wait a minute Michelle, this is your life.

Now I can't make decisions for you, you're a grown woman.

You've gotta decide what's important to you.

All right, so you were in the play, that's a fact.

You've gotta decide what's really important in your life.

I mean, why did you come to college?

To pursue a stage career, or was it for those things

that you told me about when you first started?

Have you forgotten about those?

Yeah, well and another thing, you know why I haven't

been down to see that damn play of yours?

Because you actors are out there romanticizing

the very thing that I'm out there

fighting against on the playground every day.

Don't you see that?

Can you imagine giving marijuana and pills to 12 year olds?

If you could just, just come down

to the real world for a minute, Michelle.

Just come down to the playground for a minute and see,

see what you're doin' to the minds of those kids.

Makin' heroes out of punks and dope pushers.

That's right.

Don't you have any conscience, I mean,

don't you care what you're doin'?

Yeah, okay Michelle, well listen.

Until you like to get up off your behind,

and find out what's really important to your life,

well just don't bug me, 'cause I don't wanna hear it!

- I got me an empty truck there boy,

and I want it filled up with that fill dirt, you got it?

And there's just one shovel.

Does that say anything to you, boy?

Now I done talked to the foreman,

and I done backed that damn truck

right up there to the dirt.

You don't even hardly have to get out of your tracks.

You got it, boy?

What's the matter with you boy, you sick or somethin'?

Gotta hand it to you boy,

you sure know how to make a shovel sing.

- You know, sometimes when we're out here havin' fun,

skatin' and all, I wish I could just stand up

and never sit down again, you know what I mean?

We had a good time today.

- We sure did.

Hey, did you see Bobo when he fell down?

- Yeah, I did.

- And Joan and Morgan fell right on top of him.

Helen should be out in a minute, Little Joe.

I'm late for class, I can't wait, okay?

- Okay.

- See you later.

- Maybe I can help you.

Okay, try it now.

Hey listen, don't push the accelerator

until it starts, okay?

All right, now try it.

Hi.

- Hi.

- My name is Chris, what's your name?

- I'm Little Joe.

Hi.

- Hi.

- See you later, Little Joe.

- All right.

- In fact, about 30 years ago I had this black friend--

- Uh, Mr. Adams, I'm pretty dirty

and I need some soap and water as you can see,

so if you'll excuse me.

- Yeah, sure, another time, go on.

- What kind of fool does he think I am?

He had a black friend 30 years ago.

He wouldn't know a friend if it jumped up and bit him.

Hi Joe.

- Hi Chris, come on in.

- Okay.

- I've seen you before, outside the house.

- That's right, my name is Chris Townes.

- Hi, I'm Helen, Little Joe's sister.

- Nice to meet you.

I just came here to talk to Little Joe

for a minute, is that okay?

- Oh, okay.

- Thank you.

- I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, Joe.

- Okay.

- Nice meeting you.

You know, Joe, you could help me if you would.

- Well you remember the girl that picked up the girl

that picks you up to take you to the playground?

- I guess I do, kinda.

Joe honey, who are you talking to?

- Oh, mother this is Chris, Chris, this is my mother.

He helped Mindy get the car started.

- Oh, nice meeting you.

- She's in the kitchen.

- Oh okay, I have something to do.

- Michelle huh, hm, yeah I do kinda like her.

But you know somethin', she doesn't even know I'm alive.

Joe, you know where she lives?

- Yeah, but I ain't tellin'.

Mindy doesn't like you, that's the girl who picks me up.

Chances are Michelle won't like you either.

You know Mindy and Michelle are best friends.

- Yeah, but you remember I helped her

get her car goin' for her.

- Big deal.

- Well I admit that the other day when, what's her name,

Mindy, thumbed a ride from me, I had a bad day, that's all,

and she got a little upset 'cause I was goin' too fast.

I shouldn't have done it.

And then when I saw her goin' to pick you up,

then I really felt like a heel.

That's why I've been hangin' around so much.

'Cause I wanted to apologize, that's all.

But she's so hard to apologize to.

- How do I know you're tellin' the truth,

and not planning to do anything weird to both of them?

- Okay.

Look Joe, I'm on probation, not for murder or robbery,

or rape or anything like that.

Honest to god, Joe, I'm leveling with you.

Believe me, trouble just ain't my thing, Joe.

- Well, you should've said that at first.

Michelle lives at 3010 West Vermont Avenue, apartment seven.

- Hi, my name is Chris Townes, Miss,

it is Miss, isn't it?

- Michelle, Michelle Searcy.

- Well Miss Searcy, you see we're conducting a survey

on what people would prefer to see on television

if they had anything to say about it.

- Uh, the Panathorpine Association, Miss Searcy.

And, well do you mind if I come in,

it'll only take a second to--

- No I'm sorry, I can't,

I have an examine in the morning at eight.

- Mm.

- But, maybe tomorrow around four.

- Four p.m. sharp, you sure that's okay with you?

- That's fine.

- Thank you, Miss Searcy, then I'll be here.

Four p.m. sharp.

- All right, give me the ball.

Give me the ball!

Right here, right here.

- Just give me the ball.

Give me the ball!

Come on, right here.

Give me now.

Throw me the ball, man.

Give it to Chris.

Give me the ball!

You wanna take the ball?

- How long are you gonna torture us?

What have we done?

For Christ sake what have we done?

- Nothin' baby, we're what you call people chasers.

We're just out here to chase ya.

- Yeah, and I know why.

Never, you hear me, never!

- Hey sister, we've seen you on campus

and you look like you know what's happening.

- That's right, and us brothers have gotten together

and put together a campus newspaper, you dig?

- You see, this paper will give you the truth,

the whole truth, and nothin' but the truth.

- That's right, now we hear there's been

some jivin' goin' on down here on this campus.

- But see now if you don't know what you're lookin' for,

you may not be able to pick up on it,

'cause it's subtle baby.

Mr. Charlie's whole game is subtle,

but, we got it all right here.

- Now, wait a minute, baby.

This ain't no ordinary campus paper, can you dig it?

This paper is guaranteed to get your head straight.

I mean guaranteed, baby.

- That's right, and when you read it,

your mind will automatically expand.

- Right.

- That's how heavy it is.

- Right.

- Really, now wait a minute--

- It ain't for any lightweights.

- How much is it, my coffee's gettin' cold.

- For you, $2.

- Oh.

- You're in trouble, man.

Violation of your probation, you ever hear of it?

- Yeah, I heard of it.

What time is it?

- It's jail time for you, man.

- Look, I got a four o'clock appointment.

- Yeah, well what about your appointment with me,

why didn't you keep it?

I pick up this phone man, and it's two years, Chris,

two long years in jail.

You broke your promise to me, man!

- All right, you and your broken promise, pick up the phone!

But who do I call about a broken life,

can you deal with that?

- You're crazy, man.

- And don't tell me about football and baseball,

boxing or show business with this being the 20th century,

and how many of our guys have made it,

when you know that 75% of them are the part of

the man's menagerie, that's all!

Just as play things, no more, no less!

You know it, I know it, and they oughta know it!

By the way, where'd you get a word like menagerie?

- Heard it somewhere, I guess.

- Later.

- You only see my face, but I took a punch to the gut

that I thought would kill me.

- And just what are you tryin' to prove?

Those are our people over there, Mindy,

and you try changin' them and they'll kill you.

Roy, I'm a recreation director, what am I suppose to change?

- Look, you know what I mean.

- I don't know what you mean.

- Are you tryin' to tell me that these beatings

are part of your recreational training?

- You're really funny, so I get pushed around by some hoods?

- That's exactly what I mean, Mindy.

And tomorrow you'll say, so I got stabbed by a dropout?

You're dealing with a lot of dangerous people over there.

They're ignorant people, nobody's safe over there, nobody.

- Oh for god sakes, Roy, this is the most educated

country in the world and everybody, black and white,

is afraid to go to sleep at night.

It's not just over there.

- Look Mindy, we've got a problem, I hope you realize that.

- Well what do you do when Little Joe,

paralyzed from the waist down, tries to stand up

and come to your defense?

He fell flat on his face.

And what do you suppose motivated him, education?

He knows that I love him,

and he was ready to die for me.

Now if you think that I'm gonna let a bunch of punks

destroy something as beautiful as the relationship

that I have, not only with Little Joe,

but all those wonderful kids,

well Roy, we do have a problem.

- Hm, hm.

- Oh, it's you again.

- That's right, you kinda hard to get rid of, aren't you?

- That's right, I'm hard to get rid of.

- That's right, you're gonna leave, you know that?

- I ain't never leaving.

- You're gonna leave, you understand me?

- Never!

- You understand me, I'm gonna knock your face off!

- You're not gonna put that

junk in my kids, never!

- Never! - Yeah!

- I'm never leavin', I'm not goin'--

- You're gonna leave-- - Never!

- You're gonna leave them grounds,

do you hear me? - Get outta here!

You're gonna leave, you know that don't you?

- Kill me, do it, kill me!

You're not gonna put that junk

- in my kids, never!

- You're gonna leave!

- No!

You're gonna leave!

No, no, no!

Are you okay?

* Think about what you're doing to me *

* And you know what you're doing to yourself *

* We're so tired of the killing *

But I've always paid, you know that.

If I could sleep, do you think

I'd be on the phone talkin' to you?

Go to hell!

* Ooh, ooh-ooh

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Ooh, ooh-ooh

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Ooh, ooh-ooh

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Ooh, ooh-ooh

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo, woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo, woo-woo, woo

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

- Hello, Tony, I'm sorry about what I said.

No please, don't hang up.

No please, I'll give you what you want.

I'll give it to you, please Tony, just hurry.

Door is always unlocked to you, Tony, you know that.

Please hurry, hurry.

- I don't believe it.

This is a chance to skip college with a bonus.

- I'm leaving.

- I, I still don't believe it.

I'm, it, it's like a nightmare.

What did I do wrong?

- Mark, you were beautiful, I mean really,

you've been beautiful.

It's just that I've taken a long look at myself,

and I realize a stage career's not what I'm after.

- Hey man, how long is it gonna take you

to get that coach off the school grounds?

- She's practically gone, man.

- Yeah, good, good, we're losin' a lot of money, man.

These kid're ready to fly, let's give 'em wings.

- Did you tell Percy about Oscar?

- Hey man, not me.

- Oscar's runnin' scared.

- Yeah, he's here.

- Well what about Whitey, is he here?

- Yeah, I saw him in the kitchen.

- Yeah, go get him.

These guys have never seen it to fail.

Last one hired, first one fired.

- Had to lay off all the blacks.

I didn't wanna do it but, I had my orders.

Hey boy.

- Come on, I've been waitin' for this moment.

- Hey now, wait a minute, boy.

I heard you was laid off.

- Good news, huh, you're glad about it, aren't you?

You've been tryin' to get me laid off

ever since I started on this job!

- Dammit!

When I first seen ya, I thought you,

I thought you was one of them damn smart alecks.

You know the kind of guy with a chip on both shoulders.

Well I done come to see me one hell of a man.

You understand that?

I want you to know somethin', I ain't scared of you, boy.

Don't you forget that.

But if you want a damn job, I've got one to offer you.

- This another one of your lousy tricks?

- I swear to god it ain't.

And I'd feel damn honored if you'd accept my offer.

You understand that?

Now, you take yourself a couple of days off,

and report to that address right there.

And now, well wait a minute.

Don't be late, I don't like lateness, you know that.

So hang in there, hm.

(kids talking and yelling excitedly)

* Ooh, ooh-ooh

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

- No!

- Oh!

- All right, you beat up on ladies and kids,

now come on try it man-sized, come on, come on.

Come on, come on, come on.

Come on, come on.

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

- Come on.

Come on, come on, come on.

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on.

Come on.

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

- Come on, come on, come on.

Come on.

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on.

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

- Come on.

- Oh Roy, you should've seen him when he fixed,

he was outta sight, really.

I mean there we were, surrounded by all these bullies,

and like from out of heaven there he comes

and he hit one there, and kicked one this way,

and they were flyin' everywhere.

He saved our lives really, really.

I knew you'd wanna meet him, baby.

Oh, just a minute.

Michelle, hi.

- Oh my god.

- Mark told me you quit the show, I'm glad.

Well, so much for that.

I've got the most adorable man that you've got to meet.

Take me to him in a hurry, baby.

- Come on.

Ought

- Michelle, Chris, Chris, Miche,

don't tell me you--

Uh-huh.

- When, I mean, ho,

right, oh never mind.

- Tell me, what happened to you that day?

I waited until 4:30, you know.

- Something came up at the last minute.

- Well, my survey didn't go too good I'm afraid.

You see it was all make believe.

- You mean uh--

- Mm-un.

- Oh.

Tell me, how did you come up with a name like,

what did you call it, um, uh, what was it?

Can you imagine $2 for a campus newspaper.

- Yeah man, you should've seen them.

Hey baby, dude, this paper's

gonna actually blow your mind.

(Chris, Mindy, Michelle laughing)

Mr. Charlie's game is over, and I mean a right child.

(Chris, Mindy, Michelle laughing)

And you can get it for the giant sum of $2.

Now can you dig it?

(Chris, Mindy, Michelle laughing)

- Mindy, I just don't see what's so damn funny out there.

- Well, I've listened to one sermon on the subject,

why start up again?

- Because if I know you, black eye, swollen face,

sprained ankle, and all of you right back out there.

- But I'm ready.

- How can you say that, your whole body is one big fracture.

- Roy, the whole world is scared, I know.

But we're lettin' a few people put all of us on the run.

If I felt what I was doin' was wrong,

for one minute, do you know,

what a truly fine person you are?

And that deep down, you're just as proud

of me as I am of you.

Or baby I just couldn't go on.

If I'm just one big fracture, why do I feel so good?

- What can I do for you, Mr. Evans?

- It's about my wife.

You see she's a recreational director

over at the 58th Street School.

There's been some gang activity over there.

As a matter of fact, she was beaten up

pretty badly yesterday.

- Why didn't your wife report this when it happened?

- That's just what doesn't figure in.

You see she's got some strange idea

about wanting to help people.

But I'm afraid for my wife's life, man.

- Mr. Evans, why don't you make her quit?

- That's just it, I tried, but she won't hear any of it.

- Well what do you want me to do, run her off the grounds?

- Look man, my wife's life is in danger

I wanna know what the hell you intend on doin' about it.

- Now calm down Mr. Evans, all right?

I'll look into it.

- You'll look into it.

Man if we were white, you wouldn't be sittin' here

throwing those damn darts, - Now look--

- You'd have out a pad and a pencil--

- Now wait a minute! - And you'd take down

every word I have to say.

- I'm gonna forget what you said,

and I'm gonna forget the tone of voice in which you said it.

And I promise you I'll look into it.

Hi Kelly, is your brother Chris home?

- Sure Carl, I'll go upstairs and get him.

- Eh, thank you.

Hi Chris, I went over to your place and you weren't there

so I thought I'd stop by your mother's.

I got the report on what happened over at 58th Street School

and uh, I think it was a good thing you did man,

and I wanna thank you.

- Thanks, but I just did what I had to do.

- Seems for all the years that I've known you,

I've had you--

- Done me wrong and you damn well won't be the last.

I want to tell you somethin'.

There are moments when I feel so right,

so sure that I'm right, that I feel I can take this

whole damn cockeyed world and turn it right side up.

And you know what I'd do with it, Carl?

I'd hand it to you on a silver platter,

'cause I know what you're going through, man.

You seem uptight, Carl.

- Uptight, yeah I'm uptight.

I'm uptight about politicians coming into our communities

using them for political footballs.

They talk black, but they deal in green and white.

I'm tired of locking up a lot of hoods

and punks that commit vicious crimes

and find 'em on the street two days later.

Yeah, I'm uptight.

I found Oscar Peterson shot to death, nobody knows a thing.

Yeah, I'm uptight.

I'm uptight about hearin' us call one another nigger

on television and laugh, right.

And the white man watches it an he applauds.

And he's sayin' well you finally woke up

and you discovered who you are.

I'm tired of watching a mockery made of my own people,

you understand that?

Yeah, I'm uptight, I'm uptight about a lot of things.

But that's no fault of yours, that's my problem.

Worst thing about it is

there's so damn little I can do about it.

- For the past two weeks you've been short $10!

That comes to 20 bills, why?

- I cleaned out already,

I did.

Where's the money, punk?

Eddie's got it!

Eddie's got it!

- Look, you mean to tell me you let a punk

like Eddie take your money?

For real man? - I promise,

me and my partners, we're gonna get Eddie tomorrow.

- You got 'til tomorrow.

- Helen, child, what a pleasant surprise.

Turn around, let me look at you.

My goodness, you're as pretty as a picture.

Come on, let me fix you some coffee, come on.

Oh you're beautiful.

- Helen, did you make a special trip

over here just to see us?

- Yes, it's kinda special.

- I think it's something about Little Joe.

Sit down Helen, you can talk to us.

- I don't feel like sitting if you don't mind.

- All right, all right.

What about Little Joe?

- Yesterday he came home with bruises all over his face.

- Who would wanna beat up on Little Joe?

- Your son's one of them, Mr. Tindall.

- Oh no, no, not, not my Reggie.

- He doesn't do the beating up, he pays other boys to do it.

Him and a few older people that I don't know

are trying to take over 58th Street School grounds,

so they can sell marijuana and pills to those little kids.

The coach over there knows what they're up to,

and it's makin' it hard for 'em.

They're trying to make her quit.

They beat her up really bad.

- Reggie!

Come here.

- Hey, Pop.

- Don't you ever hey, Pop me again.

- Look at ya.

What do you call it, clean?

- I said don't call me Pop again.

Have I told you, don't call me Pop again!

Beatin' up those kids and pushin' 'em around,

you're lower than a dog.

Lie, and tell me I'm wrong!

- That's the way I make my money, so what?

- Pull your heat, come on.

Helen came over to the house.

Do you know who Helen is?

Do you know who Helen is?

- Yeah, I know who Helen is, so what?

- You're a disgrace, get out, get out!

Get out!

- I wanna go up to my room and get my things.

- You've got no room!

Whether it's upstairs or with the birds.

There've been four generations of men in this family,

until you, now get out of my sight!

Get out, before I kill you!

How'd you get my address?

Promise you won't get angry?

Okay, I promise.

Well I got it from Joe.

But you know he gave me the third degree first.

Little Joe is still sitting outside.

- Mom and Helen must be bakin' a cake.

That's the only time they ever forget me.

- Oh yeah, well that's all right, we'll do the honors.

Come on.

- Mom, Helen.

Mom!

Helen!

Mom!

Helen!

Oh, I know where they are.

You do?

- Sure, they went to go pick up my new suit.

Oh you should see it, Michelle.

I got a piece of the goods in my room

on top of the dresser, would you get it for me?

- Sure will.

Oh my god!

Oh god.

- Now what are we gonna tell Little Joe?

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

Did you see anybody come out

of this house earlier today?

- No, I didn't see anybody.

You saw nobody?

Are you sure, are you absolutely sure?

- I told you I didn't see anybody.

- He finally fell asleep.

- That's good.

- Hello, I'm Reverend Blackwell

from Mount Sinai Baptist Church.

Little Joe used to attend my church, may I come in?

- Michelle, will you come and help me, please?

- Mindy I heard what happened the other day

to Little Joe's mother and sister.

I thought I'd stop by to see if there's anything I can do.

- There is something you can do to help, Reverend.

You said you wanna know what you can do to help, right?

- That's right.

- Well, I'll tell you.

Reverend you oughta go back to your church,

and get on the telephone, call every black preacher

in the country that you know.

- To tell 'em to padlock their churches,

to lead their congregations on a march,

not on Washington, but through our streets.

With signs reading thou shall not kill

and brothers stop killing your brother.

Reverend, you know the Bible never said

it was a sin to be hungry.

Or on the doors for that matter.

But it does say thou shall not kill.

Our neighborhoods are execution chambers.

We're just killin' one another for nothin'.

No wonder some people think we're animals

with a gullibility for vice that's endless.

Our women and kids are afraid to walk the streets.

And when the sun goes down it's a nightmare.

Well if we can sit in and kneel in,

just to sit at a counter to drink some water,

then I think the church oughta damn well

lay its body down in the streets, at every intersection.

'Til our neighborhoods are safe.

Now that's what you can do, Reverend,

instead of leadin' your congregation in the hymn,

I'm on My Way to Heaven Anyhow, let me tell you somethin'.

You are not on your way to heaven anyhow.

* Know what you're doing to yourself *

* Woo, woo-woo

* Know what you're doing to your *