Original subtitles

Thank you.

I choose to share this volume with you today.

It was a gift from a very special friend.

A signed collection of Langston Hughes's work. It's truly wonderful.

I thought we might share the memory of the man through his works.

Poetry always informs us of our past.

Yes.

More than we are sometimes aware.

I have known rivers.

I've known rivers ancient as the world.

and older than the flow of human blood and human veins.

My soul has grown deeper, like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New

Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I have known rivers, ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Morgan Weaver gave this to me.

Do you remember her?

Morgan Weaver.

A rather striking woman, as I recall.

She still is.

I wish you could do something for me and her.

I want you to call on her.

I think she needs my help.

help you, sir?

I have an appointment with Mr. Jacobs.

Ah, then you'll want to speak with him privately. This way, please.

Good day, Mr.

Abraham.

Good of you to come.

Good of you to meet with me.

I suppose the merchandise we talked about is in that package?

I am an honest man, Mr. James.

I presume you have a package for me as well.

Hey, you.

Shall we both put up goods on the table?

Come on, come on, man, do it.

Make the exchange.

He's in the back room.

Let's go.

Oh, my God, he's been shot.

He's dead.

Take care of him.

Insurance the trash cans, the jewelry store, everything.

What are you going to do if the bank won't extend your mortgage note?

I haven't the remotest idea. There are taxes, another $2 ,000 in bills.

The phone could go off this week.

The heat would be next.

We could lose this place.

The landmark, you know.

Yes, it's an extraordinary tribute to the city's history.

It belonged to Georgia Douglas Johnson.

In the 20s and 30s, she held forth with some of the brightest people of her

generation. Gentle Langston Hughes, feisty Zora Neale Hurston, Sterling

right here in this parlor.

Since I've retired, I've spent most of my time here.

Would hurt a great deal to lose this place.

Now, you agree that we aren't going to tell her anything about what happened,

right? I said I wouldn't, okay? Okay. Mary, Lisa, meet my dear friend.

Oh, good day, Mr.

Hawk.

A man got shot.

Lisa? I just couldn't hold it in. It happened outside Flame Shop. He fell

on Mary and died.

Are you all right?

Yes, just shaking up.

but we're still going to hear Flames sing tonight. We're invited.

Let's go put these away.

Come on, Lisa. Can't you see Morgan has company?

It was a pleasure meeting you, Hawk.

Mary and Lisa, what wonderful energy.

That's an understatement when it comes to my two sisters.

I want to help you, Mrs. Weaver.

Thank you, but I can't let you.

You're just a baby. I am not. I'm 26 years old, and that makes me a woman.

You're 21, and it's time you started acting like it. I do.

What's this?

You bought that candy, didn't you?

I told you not to buy it. We hardly have enough money to buy real food. But I

didn't.

Look at this.

Junk. You bought some junk, didn't you?

You're going to have to take it back.

Jacob.

What the hell happened?

I don't know. Did you find the package Abraham was carrying? No.

Do you know anything, Jacobs?

I'm sorry. It's not your fault.

It's his case, you know.

I spent weeks trying to put this thing operation into place just to have it

up in our faces like this.

I take it you're not looking forward to meeting Mr. Schultz.

No, I'm not, Jacobs.

He's going to be very unhappy, and so will my boss and the South African

ambassador.

Why don't you wrap this thing up and write up your report?

Do you know anything about the man that did the shooting out there?

I've seen him around, if that's what you want to know.

An Africano.

What was he doing?

Snooping around, asking questions.

A frightening man, Hawk.

Do you know anything about the brown man who was killed?

Never saw him before in my life.

Coming to my show tonight?

I'll be there.

Agent Wilson, you assured me that this sting operation would get back my

company's property. I know I made the assurances, Mr. Schultz. The operation

going very well until... Until what, Agent Wilson?

At your government's request, the South African Secret Service has agreed to

stay clear of this.

But if you cannot do your job properly, I'm going to be forced... Look, let me

tell you something. I could care less about how your government feels.

And the fact that you got burglarized by some local organization against

apartheid doesn't bother me either.

But rest assured, Mr. Sheldon, I will not let my personal concerns stop me

doing my job. And right now, the police are very interested in a murder.

It disturbs me, Agent Wilson, that you're more concerned with some

than with getting back my merchandise.

And it disturbs me that you're more concerned about this merchandise and the

fact that a man has been killed over it.

I've been authorized to offer a reward.

One million American dollars, Mr. Wilson, for the return of the diamonds.

If you'll excuse me.

I'll keep you informed of my progress.

See ya.

Where'd you get those earrings?

I made them. I can make you pay if you want. Those silly looking things.

Parking in this city is getting to be ridiculous.

A person can't even park within a block of their own home anymore.

Don't look now, but there's somebody behind us.

Oh my God.

Anybody hurt?

No, uh -uh. Fine.

All right, let's go home.

Do you know why this man is trying to harm you?

I think so.

Tell me why.

I'll show you.

I think this is what that man wants.

My, my, this is quite a fortune.

Where did you get those?

I think the man that got shot must have put them in our grocery bag.

Well, why didn't you tell somebody about this? I told Mary, but she said they

were junk.

Well, they look like junk. How was I supposed to know what they were? Mary,

I keep these?

No. Of course.

I'll see what I can do.

Mr. Wilson, I told this gentleman we only have a few minutes to spare.

A few minutes is all I need.

He says his name is Hawk. Okay, that's all right. Thank you, Margaret.

So, how can I help you, Hawk?

I understand you're the federal agent in charge of secret operations.

Well, that's not exactly true.

Well, now, the men who interrupted your tea party yesterday are now trying to

kill a group of innocent women over a bag of uncut diamonds. Why?

You have the diamonds?

All I have is questions.

If you know the whereabouts of those stones, you could help us avert an

international mess.

My, my, my. Politics rears its ugly head. Explain.

Those stones belong to a South African mining company.

They were stolen by some political dissidents and smuggled here.

The mining company has asked our government's assistance in regaining

Now, do you know where they are?

What went wrong?

You don't need to know.

It's classified.

Who the hell are you, anyway?

That's an excellent question, but no answers from you, no answers from me.

An opposing -looking man is going to pass your desk in about 30 seconds.

Tail him.

Good of you to meet me, Mr. Schultz.

Good of you to call, Mr. Stringer.

Rumor has it that you're interested in acquiring some diamonds, Mr. Schultz.

Yes, the very ones the Treasury Department were trying to recover before

efforts spoiled them.

I looked you up, foreign mercenary.

Did you go for the biggest price?

I've done your homework, Captain.

How much money do you think you can get for my property on the open market? $300

,000. Half a million if I find the right buyer.

I'm prepared to make the situation a lot easier for both of us.

How's that?

You find the diamonds, I'll give you the $1 million that my company is offering

as a reward.

Oh, then you get what you want and I get what I want. Is that it? My country

avoids a lot of unnecessary embarrassment.

When will I have them back?

Well... As soon as I eliminate the man who has them now in his sight.

I would appreciate it if you would share any information about the African man

who was killed in Georgetown.

That would be Maruzi Abraham.

He was in the movement, Namibia, Soweto.

He saw a lot of death.

His business in D .C.

Spear of the nation.

Spear of the nation.

Against apartheid.

He was here to exchange diamonds for money to be used against our government

its policies.

And his life was taken in the effort.

I appreciate the delicate nature of your situation.

But if you could share anything with me about your mission here.

I can.

But I won't. I fear these walls have ears.

But you can get other answers from the American citizens against apartheid. And

be careful.

Many people are interested.

Many powerful people.

Mandela. You're welcome.

Beautiful are the stars, a sight to see.

Beautiful are the stars, bring peace to me.

Lisa, there aren't any stars out tonight. They are in my mind.

Look at this.

A reward?

One million dollars?

Mary, our problems will be over. We never have to worry again.

and Morton could really retire and let her mind rest and... Just one problem.

don't have the diamonds.

Hawk probably already turned them in.

Not all of them.

Lisa, we can't keep them. It would be wrong.

We have to turn them in also.

I'm looking for the Africana we're fervently seeking, then.

I don't know what you're talking about, mister.

I'm betting you do.

I'm also betting that you are the inside man that tipped up the hold -up guy.

No. You set me up, didn't you?

No. Well, you do know who he is, don't you?

What do you mean?

Well, I know you've seen him around the neighborhood asking questions, haven't

you? I don't know. I can't remember.

Ah, you have amnesia, or you just won't answer me, huh?

Please, look, I can't tell you anything.

He'll kill me.

You watch this.

Just brownie.

How's your memory now?

The uninitiated would think you and Mr. Johnson are the best of buddies.

Get him.

All it takes is a little encouragement.

Will he talk?

A man is afraid to. He has an awful lot of secrets.

So do you.

I tried to do a little checking up on you. You tried to?

I didn't have high enough clearance to hire your file.

Then you should have asked me.

I need the diamonds back.

Say, why are you such a top secret?

Only to those who have no reason to know.

Good to see you.

Always a pleasure.

Jean -Paul and I were working on this new tune of yours.

You mind if I help you find it? Please, please.

Sally.

I should have a

You have the diamonds?

Well, we locked up Johnson, Mr. Philp. We got him for conspiracy to commit

theft and murder.

My company doesn't care about some little jewelry clock.

The diamonds, Mr. Wilkins.

We don't know where they are.

How disappointing.

My company and my government are going to be very disappointed.

Not my problem anymore.

When a man starts out with nothing.

When a man starts out with his hands empty but clean.

When a man starts out to build a world, he starts first with himself

and the faith that is in his heart, the strength there, the will there to build.

First in his heart is the dream.

Then the mind starts seeking a way.

His eyes look out on the world, on the great wooded world.

on the rich soil of the world, on the rivers of the world.

The eyes see their materials for building, see the difficulties too, and

obstacles.

Mind seeks a way to overcome these obstacles.

The hands seek tools to cut the wood, to till the soil, and to harness the power

of the waters.

Then the hands seek other hands to help, a community of hands to help.

Thus the dream becomes not one man's dream alone, but a community dream. Not

dream, but our dream. Not my world alone, but your world and my world,

belonging to all the hands who build.

That's a beautiful reading.

It's timely prose, my friend.

Do you have a poem that you'd like to share, Hawk?

The Heart of a Woman.

It goes forth with the dawn.

In the wake of the echoes, the heart calls home.

The heart of a woman falls back with the night as it tries to forget that it

dreamed of the stars as it breaks, breaks, breaks on the sheltering

bars.

Why would you want to know something like that?

We were just wondering.

Yeah.

Turn them over to the proper authority.

Thanks.

You're quite welcome.

We cannot eliminate this man Hawk and get back my property. I'll be forced to

make other arrangements.

I can handle the man, but he's not in possession of the diamonds.

What? Who has them?

The agent they call Wilson.

The man they call Hawk handed them over to him when my contact was arrested.

Then you have a new assignment, Mr. Stringer.

How long will you be out of town, Mr. Wilson?

Oh, just a few days. Could you put this stuff in storage for me too, Margaret?

And you won't be able to get a hold of me, so I'll have to call in for my

messages.

Man of many faces, eh, Hawk?

And of many moods. Right now, your presence is not creating one of my

ones. I need your help.

Indeed. I didn't turn the diamonds over to the South Africans.

Then you need to get out of the country.

Please, listen.

I need to talk to you about the American citizens against apartheid.

And welcome to ACAA Headquarters.

And this... This is my desk.

I applaud your effort.

Apartheid is not one of my favorite concepts either.

But what do you want from me, Wilson?

Help me to stay alive.

Long enough to find a buyer for the diamonds.

So you've turned thief like everybody else?

If it helps to break apartheid, absolutely.

But don't worry, the money will be well spent. I promise you. I'm not interested

in promises, only in results.

And I don't think you can deliver anything but pain to whomever else is

in this either.

Hey, hey, hey!

I can't let you leave. You know too much.

I know you must be confused about what to do.

Why don't you turn in the diamonds, collect the reward, use the money as you

fit? Obviously I'm excluded from any such claim.

You gonna pull the trigger or what?

Only by reputation.

I knew he was in town trying to make contact with us. That's why I set up the

thing operation.

I figured he'd exchange the diamonds for the money and we'd make contact later.

What does the South African mining company have to do with this?

Peter Schultz is their representative here.

He came to me on advice of the State Department.

Offering to pay for the return of the diamonds.

I'm sure that Stringer's on his payroll, too.

Who? The man who tried to kill me just before I met you.

As long as I have those diamonds, believe me, he'll try again.

They don't care who dies.

They just want their diamonds back.

Are you a lawyer?

Yeah.

And you've just got enough food for a client.

That's right.

If your heart was any bigger, you'd be dead.

But you'll live.

What do you think is taking so long?

How should I know?

Maybe they're trying to decide how much money to give us.

What are you doing?

One million.

divided by 50, equals 20 ,000.

20 ,000 each, Mary.

That's $40 ,000.

Unfortunately for you ladies, the reward applies only to the entire cash of

merchandise.

You're not even going to give us any money for the two diamonds, are you?

I'm afraid not, Miss Weaver.

That is, of course.

Unless you can tell me where the others are located.

Well, they were turned into you, weren't they?

I'm afraid not.

You may go, ladies.

Hawk!

Fools. Now that man is going to bother Hawk, and Hawk is going to tell Morgan,

and... We are in deep trouble.

We don't even have the two diamonds. We could have sold them.

I think we should tell Hawk what we did.

What you did.

But you're right.

Wait a minute.

We don't even know his number.

I bet Morgan's old friend has it.

But that means we'll have to call Morgan. She'll have questions.

Well, I know exactly what to tell her.

What are you going to tell her?

Something crazy. Something way out. Something she'll believe.

What's that?

The truth.

Harm has come to everyone who has possessed these.

You must turn them over, no matter what they represent.

It's the right thing to do. The right thing isn't always the best thing.

The truth is true.

There is one man who will stop at nothing to get this treasure.

He must be stopped.

Yeah.

Mary.

Yeah.

Mary.

Yes, I can reach him.

In fact, he's standing right here.

Don't act nervous. But I am nervous.

Where's Hawk? How should I know? We're not even supposed to be here.

Come on.

Do you think he'll give us the diamond?

I don't know. All we can do is ask for a good cause.

Yeah, I hope he doesn't get angry with us. Angry?

Why should he be? We haven't done anything wrong.

Well, what do we do if he doesn't show up? Will you stop worrying about

everything? You are so nervous. Nervous? You're the one who's nervous.

That's a good place to be.

Now, before you say anything, I just want you to know that we never meant to

keep the diamonds. Not even two of them.

They look so pretty. Lisa.

And anyway, we gave them back to Mr. Schultz.

Schultz. Schultz.

Schultz. His name was Schultz, not Schultz. Now, be quiet for a minute.

Mr. Schultz said that if we brought him all the diamonds, He'd let us have

reward money.

And we sure could use it, you know, to give to Morgan for the house and

everything. It is much too dangerous for you to be involved.

You see the door over here? Please go inside and stay.

But we just got here.

And what about the diamond?

Later. Now please do what I ask. Please.

Oh, marvelous.

What? The way he just takes command.

Foolish, that's what you are. You never grew up. It wasn't my idea to come here

in the first place, and I don't need you to insult me either. No, you can do

that all by yourself.

Ha, ha, ha.

I'll take the diamond.

No.

Say goodbye.

I got here a little early. No, I'm a little late.

I wanted to tell you how much we appreciated all the help you've given

My friend is always there for the people. He asked and I responded.

You gave much more than was asked of you.

Your gentle persistence saved our property and, much more importantly, my

sister's lives.

This is much more than anyone could normally expect. There's a real sense of

community, Morgan Weaver.

Stars are beautiful.

You love my people.

It was a good deed to allow Morgan and her sisters the reward for the recovery

of the diamonds.

Yes, Morgan deserves the best.

All the current debts will be paid.

There will be something left over for the rest of their needs. It's a miracle.

As you say, good deeds have lives of their own. Get you in trouble?

Of course. All that's good is being done. The paradox is oppression still

lingers in the world.

It's something that will end eventually.

One step, Hawk. One step at a time.