Original subtitles

Yeah. Joan,

can I talk to you? Not right now, William. I'm in the middle of the lunch

No, Joan, I think you're in the middle of a psychotic break.

But speaking of break, look.

My mama's in the hospital having the pins in her hip replaced.

And I was wondering if you could come to Kansas City with me.

Oh, William, I can't leave the restaurant. Me eating here is the only

keeping it open.

Joan, listen.

With mama in the hospital, I'm going to be with my father.

Alone.

I thought you said he was dead.

That man scares me.

And with mama in the hospital, he might do something like...

Asked me questions and won an answer.

You know, talk.

William, I'm pretty sure you told me he was dead.

Yes, Joan, he's dead.

Emotionally.

Well, was he a judge or did you lie about that too?

Once when I was in fifth grade, I made a diorama of Australia.

And yes, it was amazing, A+. But it featured those rarest of mammals.

The marsupial.

You know the little pouch they have there? It's called the marsupium.

That's Greek for little pouch.

How did you not get beaten up every single day?

Because I didn't.

Anyway, he wouldn't congratulate me.

In fact, he insisted that I was wrong.

That a marsupial's not a mammal?

Okay, so?

So he can never let me be right about anything.

It's going to be the worst weekend of my life.

You should come, Jones.

Came into town for Mom's operation, didn't she tell you?

Your mom has enough on her mind without acting as your secretary.

I'm sorry.

You're not going to come see an older me?

No.

Don't leave your bag clogged in the doorway. That's a fire hazard.

Sorry, Dad. Sorry.

I'm sorry.

You keep saying sorry. Is that some kind of a new hip phrase that I'm unaware

of? No.

I'm sorry.

I'm just a little tired, you know.

Worked all day and took the red eye. You know, maybe I'm going to go upstairs

and take a quick nappy.

How do you find the time to come running home for such a routine operation

anyway? What do your law partners think of it?

Well, actually, they're quite supportive.

Well, they always are when they stab you in the back.

William, you are the only black man in that firm, so it is incumbent upon you

establish... A precedent of excellence. You understand what I'm saying?

You do well, the next black man gets in.

Actually, I'm entering a new black associate.

Well, we don't want to get too black.

By the way, I missed your article in the Law Review.

Well, I didn't write one.

Exactly.

You know, Dad, I'm just plump tuckered out.

You know, you're too young to be so tired.

It's one of the warning signs of cancer.

You know, speaking of horribly painful situations, how long do you think we'll

be alone together?

No. You know I don't like anyone touching the popcorn before the movie.

Joan, that's crazy.

My popcorn, my rule.

If I had known that you had ruled beforehand, I would have gotten my own

popcorn.

Okay, even I don't believe that.

Oh.

Is that me?

Huh?

Oh, shoot. You guys, it's Tony.

Now I feel guilty that we didn't call her. Oh, girl, don't feel guilty. If we

had called her, we would have had to wait for her to get a sitter, feed the

baby, all that crazy stuff.

I mean, we barely made it as it is. Okay, so what should I do? Well, just

answer it.

Turn it off, all the popcorn.

No, let me finish.

Oh, shoot, Joan. Now she's calling me.

Why don't you just pick up the phone?

Oh, hell.

Now Tony's about to blow up my phone.

Yep. Watch.

Any minute now.

Any minute.

Oh, my goodness. Tony called me ten times. She called me fifteen times.

Any minute.

Oh, God, you guys, she wants to know what we're doing tonight.

Oh, please, that child's just being nosy, trying to figure out what we're

Doesn't mean she wants to join us.

She wants to join us.

Doesn't mean she wants to see a movie.

Oh, she wants to see a movie.

Well, good thing she doesn't know we went without her.

She knows we went without her.

Oh, you guys, now I feel terrible.

We've got to do something. We have to figure out how to include Tony more.

We will, but I don't get it. How does she know we went without her?

I'm not sure, but it might have something to do with the fact that I

and told her.

What? Well, she wasn't calling me. I want to make sure she had my cell.

She does.

Oh.

And stop calling her.

She said your whiny -ass messages are eating up our anytime minutes.

What the devil?

William, what are you doing?

I'm installing safety bars in the shower. I thought it'd be a nice

Mama. You know you need a special drill. I got them right here, Dad.

You know how to even find the wall stud?

I got the locator right here. See, everything's under control.

So you did turn the water off, right?

Huh?

Well, let's not turn the shower on while I'm in it. How about that?

You got something to say, William?

Say it.

You know what? Maybe I shouldn't suppress myself.

You know, I've been in therapy for a while. Therapy?

Did I ever tell you that my father was a sharecropper?

You mentioned it.

Did I mention that we hardly had enough to eat?

But he couldn't afford to waste time worrying about his feelings.

Dad, we have plenty to eat now.

And therapy's not a waste of time. It helps people develop intimacy.

I already have a daughter, William.

You've got a son, too, damn it.

You better watch yourself, boy. I'm a man.

And a marsupial is a mammal.

What?

I don't act like you don't know.

Fifth grade.

Award -winning diorama. I got an A.

I schooled you.

But you couldn't handle it. A marsupial is a mammal.

You were wrong.

But you couldn't even let me have that one little thing, could you?

Are you done?

No, I'm not done.

All cactuses are succulents, but not all succulents are cactuses.

Cacti, William.

Both are acceptable.

I looked it up.

It's like I was ten years old all over again.

I don't know why he refuses to see me as an adult.

I want my mama.

William, are you crying?

Why, no.

Look, I just want to stay in a hotel.

But if I stay in a hotel, I'm being a disrespectful son.

I give up.

No, William, you can't give up.

I mean, what if something happens to your mother in surgery?

Then you really will be alone with him. Then what are you going to do?

My God, Joan, you just made me realize something.

Really? What?

You give a really lousy pep talk.

William, the point is you have to work things out with your father.

Why can't he work things out with me?

He's my father, damn it.

Look, if he's anything like my mother, he is not going to change.

We have to accept our parents exactly as is.

It's the only way we're ever going to get any peace.

I just want him to know how I feel.

Just once.

Then you need to talk to him, William.

I tried.

Don't you listen?

Look, I can't talk to the man.

I get all emotional. All my arguments fall apart.

You know what, William?

When I'm trying to sort out my feelings, I always go to music.

When I'm feeling blue, I go to the blues.

When I'm feeling spiritual, I go to spirituals. When I'm having problems

folks... You go to folk music.

No, William, don't be so literal. I go to punk.

Those little punks are always talking back to their parents.

Here. Oh, here we go.

Simple Plan.

They have a song called Perfect. It's perfect.

Oh, come on.

How is some grungy punk going to speak to my struggle?

Look, this is between black men and their fathers.

This is deep.

This goes back to slavery.

Forever I'm sorry I can't be perfect

And it's just too late And we can't go

It's like they're reading my mind.

Woo! I am so glad to be out that house.

Damn, that jungle fever.

Uh, Tony, it's called cabin fever. No, jungle fever's got me hooked up with

and knocked me up with Morgan.

Which led to cabin fever.

Whatever fever you got, just keep it out my popcorn.

Hey, the movie's starting.

It ain't nothing but the credits.

Shh. No, you shh.

I only have a few hours with my homegirls, okay?

Your child is so good to talk to grown folk. Give me some dicks, give me some

dirt. What's the lowdown on the down low?

Tony, we'll talk at dinner.

Girl, I can't go to dinner.

I've got a bus to move before Concepcion is out of 5 ,000.

Tony, child, you're talking like you've been locked up since 1985.

I've been stuck in that house nursing and watching I Love the 80s on VH1.

Man, those sucky empties are so not fresh.

Tony, you think you want to see a movie. Watch the movie.

Look at that baby.

Morgan is so much cuter than that baby. Did I tell y 'all what Morgan did

yesterday? She made a little spit bubble like this. Look.

Tony, that's nasty.

No, it was cute because y 'all know everything Morgan does is cute.

You know what else is funny? Her dookie doesn't even stink.

Tony, will you please stop before you get us thrown out of here?

Y 'all are wiggity -wiggity wet.

Sir?

Do you have a minute?

Well, I don't know. Must I endure another hissy fit?

Um, I'd like to sincerely apologize for my outburst earlier.

I know that was disrespectful, and that's not what I intended.

Well, I should hope not.

But although my actions were out of order, my intentions were good.

And, uh,

therefore, in my own defense, I'd like to submit an amicus brief.

William, I am your father, not your friend.

Well, I know, I know, but what I was trying to... You said amicus brief.

Is amicus not Latin for friend?

Dad, I wasn't trying to be literal.

Well, then I don't know how to respond here.

Words mean what they mean, or communication is not possible.

Well, hold on. Let me move on to the next part.

Stop.

I come here today to make

an attempt at wholeness. Now, I know how you feel about men being emasculated by

modern culture.

When you're rambling.

You're right. Let me move ahead, because I know you're not going to go in for

this touchy -feely, airy -fairy, milly -vanilly

milieu.

I said I got a moment, William.

You know what?

Forget the call.

I know I'm not making much sense.

You know?

But it's like a...

So hard to make it.

By try, I mean personally and professionally, but you get the idea.

But I just want to make you proud.

Which is my life's work.

You know.

But it's far too late.

And I can't go back. I'm sorry.

I wish I'd put the lyrics on a card.

Oh, look, you guys, we can make the 8 .45 at the Arclight.

The Arclight? I thought you wanted to go to the Grove.

No, I like real butter.

You know how I am about my popcorn.

You guys, we're doing it again.

Fighting about the popcorn?

No, making plans without Tony.

Now, haven't we learned?

Yes, we learned we cannot take her to the movies.

She won't shut up.

Tony's life is different now, and we really need to make more of an effort to

include her.

Well, you know what? I have an idea. Why don't we just pack up all this food and

take it over to her house?

Oh, yeah. We can do, like, a girls' night in party. Yeah.

Oh, my God. She's going to be so excited.

She's going to love us.

Which one of you brain -dead bitches rang my doorbell?

I've got a sleeping baby in here.

Tony, we brought food.

You also bring some of that dope you must be smoking?

Excuse me.

We're meeting you halfway.

You said you wanted to spend time with us, so here we are.

Shh! Okay,

now, first, I have never encouraged Alva to ever stop by.

And second, you sure as hell ain't bringing that food up here on my soap

linen.

Okay, now I'm confused.

Well, I can't help you there, baby girl.

Tony, um, your life has changed. and we're just trying to change with you.

Nothing's changed.

All I want is when you have to go and do something, call me, just like before.

And I'll decide if I want to go or that's what's better to do.

Just like before.

You see, people?

Options.

Okay?

So, good night.

Go on.

Bye.

She drives me crazy.

Please, ain't nobody thinking about Tony Childs. We can still make this. I know

you're not trying to go to the movies without me.

I didn't hear my phone ring.

These screw heads are horizontal.

We do screw heads vertical.

You and Dad, you taught me something.

I gotta be my own man.

I don't need therapy.

I don't need someone telling me what I already know.

Which is I gotta be me, and I gotta let you be who you are.

So if you want those screws vertical, well, then hand me the screwdriver.

You mean this flathead screwdriver?

Whatever you say.

But it hurts when you disprove all along.

And now.

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