Original subtitles

Oh, where is that Joey?

We ask him to do one thing.

Get the car back in time for me to pick

my brother up at the airport

and he can't even do that.

Yeah, it's too late now.

Uncle Russell called from the airport.

He's gonna take a cab.

Oh, no!

I wanted everything to go right for this visit.

You know, this is the first time in years

Russell's come just to see me.

Ever since he came out the closet

and announced he was gay, there's been this...

...distance between us.

Now this week I wanna see if we can get past that

and be close again.

Oh, daddy that's wonderful.

Well, thanks to Joey, this whole visit's getting off

on the wrong foot. Oh, I'm so mad at him.

Where the hell is Joey with my car?

He said he was gonna pick up his new stereo.

That was four hours ago.

Oh, leave your brother alone.

He's a good guy.

But, daddy, you just said, you were upset with Joey!

Well, just 'cause I'm upset doesn't mean

I can't have fun annoying Roc.

- Andrew. Hey-hey. - Oh-ho-ho-ho!

So good to have you here, Russell.

Hey, Uncle Russell, how are you doing, man?

- Good, good, good, good. - Good to see you.

Hey, Uncle Russell. Oh...

Oh, I'm so sorry, you had to take a cab from the airport.

Oh, don't even worry about it.

Oh, will you look at my cute grand-nephew here.

Look how big he's got.

- Hey, hey, hey, Roc. - Mmm?

He's looking more and more like you every day.

Yeah, well, we're praying he'll grow out of it.

Isn't he funny, boy?

I mean pop makes up lots of funny jokes about me.

I guess when all you do all day is watch TV

you need something to keep you awake during the commercials.

- So, so, Uncle Russell... - Uh-huh?

Tell us all about your trip to Europe.

Well, alright, I'll tell you what, I'll tell you all about it

over dinner. I'm taking everybody out.

I found this fantastic new restaurant.

That sounds good to me.

Oh, well, if we're gonna be going out

I guess I better go get us a babysitter, huh?

Um, there's this women I know down at the senior center.

Uh, she's very reliable.

Now, I got her number in the kitchen.

Uh, Roc, why don't you come with us and negotiate her fee?

Fee?

I'll tell you the fee.

She can watch all the TV she wants

and lounge around on our lovely furniture.

That's her fee.

♪ Baby ♪

♪ There's a man ♪

♪ With no future ♪

♪ So it seems ♪

♪ Can't live out his dreams ♪

♪ Now he's trapped into thinking ♪

♪ He won't succeed ♪

♪ And he can't believe ♪

♪ Live your life today ♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ Not for tomorrow ♪ Not for tomorrow ♪

♪ Oh ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Live your life today ♪

So, daddy where is the number for the babysitter.

I don't really know any babysitter.

I just said that to get you two in here.

Look, I'd appreciate it, if you'd both stay home tonight.

Why?

Well, I'd like to spend some time with Russell alone.

Just the two of us, like we used to when we were kids.

I mean, can't you do that after we get our free meal?

Roc!

Hey, come on Eleanor.

I was gonna order a lot of stuff

and then bring some back home.

Roc!

I'll then put into freezer and save it for Christmas dinner.

Son, I know when it comes to getting a free meal

you lose all sense of decency.

But please, do this for me.

Al-alright, papa.

Alright, daddy.

We'll make up some kinda excuse

as to why we can't have dinner tonight with y'all.

Thank you, Eleanor.

- Uncle Russell. - Uh-huh?

I'm really sorry, but, uh, that sitter isn't available.

So, Roc and I are gonna have to stay home with the baby tonight.

Eleanor, I'm sorry to hear that.

Yeah, I'm sorry too.

Because that sitter isn't available, we won't be joining

you at that nice restaurant, for that expensive meal

you were gonna pay for.

I'll go change. I'll be with you in a minute.

Hello.

- Oh, hey, Joey! - Oh, lord!

Uh-uh-uh, hold on, hold on. He says, he's running late.

He wants to know, what we're gonna do about Uncle Russell.

L-l-let me talk to him, Eleanor.

Hey, Joey.

Yeah, mm-hmm.

Yeah, well don't worry about it. It's not too late.

Uncle Russell's plane has been delayed.

Yeah, you still got time to get to the airport and pick him up.

Uh-huh. Yeah, American Airlines. Flight 208.

Uh, I think gate 15. Don't come home without him.

- Hey, Roc. - Hmm?

Got some bad news about your car.

- Uh, the headlight is busted. - What?

Wait, wait, wait a minute.

It's not my fault. It was not my fault okay.

When I came out of the airport

after waiting for Uncle Russell.

Very funny, nice try, Roc.

I went to the parking lot

and the headlight was busted.

Somebody must've backed into it.

Joey, I told you to straddle two parking space.

I did, that's why they backed into it.

Man even left a note saying

"Learn how to park, you jackass."

What the hell do he mean he ain't gonna do with it.

He better come through with it today. I'm tired of playing.

What the hell are you doing here, Andre?

Why don't you mind your business, trash man?

Yo, man, this is Dre. How far we go back man?

Now you telling me you ain't hanging no more.

Look, man...

I'm reaching out to you.

You're the last person, I could turn to.

So what are you saying?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I hear you.

Yeah, when you came out the penitentiary, who schooled you?

Yeah, well, I... Who put pulls on your ass?

Yeah, well, let me tell you some...

What'd y'all looking at?

Oh, yeah.

Y'all think this is funny, huh?

Well, let me just say something.

I'm a little embarrassed but I'm gonna say it anyway.

I gotta hand it to y'all.

I really admire y'alls commitment and determination

to ruining my business.

I guess this is what the "Wallstreet Journal"

would call a hostile-takeover.

Get me out of here. Get me out of here.

You see I told you we could do this.

We got him right.

He's starting to fall apart.

As long as we keep the pressure on him, we got him.

He ain't nothing. Nobody want no parts of him.

- Even the other dealers. - That's right.

We're one touch away

from knocking Andre Thompson out.

Oh, Russell. This is great.

The next time I come visit you, dinner's on me.

Oh, Andrew, I'm gonna hold you to that.

It's a funny thing about this restaurant though.

There aren't any women here.

Just a bunch of good looking, well dressed... men.

So this is a...

Gay restaurant, yeah.

So everybody here is...

Gay.

Oh.

Um, you don't have a problem with that?

Oh, no.

No problem at all.

Uh, Andrew, take it easy.

Nobody in here thinks that you and I are a couple.

If they did, they'd be saying the younger one

could do a hell of lot better.

- Gentlemen, ready to order? - Ahem. Yeah.

I'll have a nice thick juicy T-bone steak.

Um, that's what my late wife used to cook for me.

Uh, she was a woman, you know.

- I'll have the same. - Alright.

Oh, Russell, you had your little joke.

Actually, Andrew...

...I brought you here to make a point.

See you're very uncomfortable being around gay people.

Aren't you?

Well, a little, Russell.

But you have to understand it's only natural.

- I'm not around this every day. - Hey, I totally understand.

But you see when I'm around straight people

which is most of the time

I have to adjust to their discomfort

What's your point?

My point is, you see, when Chris and I

were in Europe, we made a very interesting discovery.

You see, folks over there are more accepting their gay people.

I mean, in France and Italy, we never got the feeling

that people were passing judgment

on the way we lived our lives.

That I tell you is ...very liberating.

What are you getting at, Russell?

That experience, made Chris and I come to a decision.

Andrew, we're moving to Paris.

Hello. Oh, hey, Uncle Russell.

Oh, well, I'm not even sure if he's here. Hold on.

Daddy!

- Uncle Russell calling. - I'm not here.

Um... Uncle Russell, I-I think he went out to the senior center.

Right, I'll tell him. See you later.

Daddy, you can't keep avoiding him like this.

He really wants to talk to you.

Oh, tell him to send me a postcard from Gay-Paris.

Daddy, you can't blame him for wanting to move to Europe.

Look, I don't have to tell you!

It's hard enough being a black man in this country.

Uncle Russell is black and gay.

So it's really tough for him here.

Oh, but, Eleanor, he's my only brother.

And we're both getting on in age.

Now I wanna be a part of his life but I can't do that

if he's living 3000 miles away.

Well, you can still stay in touch with him.

Oh, come on.

We're never going to be as close as we were when we were kids.

I was a fool for thinking we could get that back.

The sad truth is... my brother didn't care about me at all.

Oh.

Roc. Alright, I got the estimate on the car.

- Don't get mad, okay. - Mm-hm.

Now look, the original estimate was $350.

But I talked the man down to $248.

Well, what good does that do me? My deductible is $250.

What good does it do you? I just saved you two dollars.

Which coincidentally is the cost of the beer

if you were looking to thank me.

Joey, you better get my money.

Roc, I don't have your money.

Look, look, look...

Trash man.

Can I, uh, talk to you for a second?

In private.

Yeah, sure. You can talk to me.

What do you want?

You know, uh...

...it's been three years that you've been sticking to my side.

I gotta be honest with you, man.

If it was anybody else, I would've taken 'em out

a long time ago.

I don't know it's something about you, man

that makes me stop and think.

And...

...don't get me wrong man, it's not like

I'm-I'm getting a conscious all of a sudden--

Oh, you know what, Andre...

Maybe you're more like me than you wanna think.

See, right now, you sell garbage.

But maybe deep in your heart, you really wanna pick it up.

I mean work on that trash truck with me.

You really expect me to-to-to

to give up my fine house, my car, all the fine things

in life that you'll never have.

I don't envy you.

You acquired all those nice things

off the blood of your own people.

And when you die...

...how much of that nice stuff do you think

you'll be able to take with you.

How much of that stuff will they be able

to cram into your casket?

You know I used to always wonder what makes guys like you tick.

Well, I'll tell you, Andre.

I mean it's easy.

Compared to you, I'm living the good life.

You see, Andre, I can sit with my back to the door.

I can sit with my back to the door and relax.

'Cause I know I haven't done anybody wrong.

Yeah, well, let me tell you something.

There are many ways to die.

Only two ways to live.

Rich or poor.

And this is the only way that I know how to get rich.

And don't get me wrong. I'm not apologizing for a damn thing.

But when I look at my life, I don't see no other way.

You see, man...

...I've been in and out of penal institutions

since I was 11 years old.

And I don't see no other way.

Maybe it's messed up my mind or something, all I know

is that I can barely read above a sixth grade level.

But I know how to count money.

So you see, I'm just a pawn in this drug game.

All I know is that I'm trying to achieve

a piece of the America dream the only way they will allow me.

So you see...

...if you move me out of this neighborhood...

...it ain't gonna make no difference.

Another drug dealer just gonna come here and set up shop.

And I'm telling you something, I spared your ass, trash man.

Maybe the next guy won't do that.

Well, you see, Andre

that's where you and all of your drug dealers

continue to miscalculate.

It's not just me. It's everybody here.

There are more of us than you.

There are more good, hard working people

than there are drug dealers.

And we're tired.

Tired, Andre. And we plan to change things.

Yeah, well, if you believe that

you're not as smart as I thought you were.

Well, then maybe I'm not.

But I do know, you know understand

a little about this world.

Regardless of corruption and who's really

bringing in the drugs into the community.

We as a people can no longer use that reason as an excuse

to stand by and do nothing about it.

I mean, if we take your view of the world Andre

we'd see nothing but crack addicts and heroine junkies

you know, vomiting and urinating in the streets.

If you take my view it's a beautiful park

where children are playing without fear.

And if you can't see how ugly that first picture is

and how beautiful the second one is...

...then there's no hope of redemption for you at all.

Yeah.

Well, I've spent all my life in that ugly picture.

And I don't see where there's a place for me in the other one.

Well, there's a place for you if you wanna be in there, Andre.

You call yourself a businessman.

Well, then maybe it's time you become a real businessman

and start building up this community

instead of tearing it down.

So you want me to be like you.

Turn my whole life around.

- I don't think I can do that. - Oh, sure you can.

Anybody can change, Andre, if they put their mind to it.

I mean look at it this way.

If you start to change now, you might just be able...

...to negotiate yourself...

...a cool spot... in hell.

Yeah, I hear you.

- Hey, Uncle Russell. - Hey, Joey.

- How you doing? - Good. Good. Good to see you.

- Good to see you! - Yeah.

- Hey-hey, Uncle Russell. - Hey, Roc.

- Uh, where's Andrew? - Oh, I'll get him for you.

Hey, pop. Pop come down here a minute.

Look, I'm kind of busy right now.

Andrew, wait a minute, you've been avoiding me

ever since dinner last night.

I think we gotta talk.

Oh, there's nothing to talk about.

Oh, come on, pop, if you two guys

got a problem you should talk it out.

Yeah, yeah, Uncle Russell's gonna be leaving soon

come on, pop, you can't leave it like this.

Joey, maybe we better leave them alone.

Oh, there's no reason for that.

There's not gonna be any heavy discussion here, you can stay.

I don't think we need some kind of heavy discussion.

I just need to know, what I did to make you so mad at me.

Well, what do you think you did?

Well, just speak your mind, pop?

Boy, what have I told you about

staying out of grown folks conversation?

I am sorry, pop.

Alright, I'll tell you.

Since the time... you told me you were gay...

...we've hardly seen each other.

And I was hoping when you came to visit

we could start over again.

But the only reason you're here is to tell me

that you're leaving the country.

Well, I'm mad 'cause I used to have a brother I was close to...

...and now I've lost him.

Andrew, the reason we're not as close as we used to be

is because you never really accepted my being gay.

Now admit it.

Alright, I'll admit it.

But I don't understand why you have--

Why I have to be gay?

Andrew, because that's who I am.

Well...

Is it...

...out of the question that you could become straight?

Oh!

Um, I mean I heard that they're doing

some wonderful things with hypnosis.

Hey, pop, pop, pop.

You know maybe he can't change who he is.

You know, besides, he's not hurting anybody.

Oh, I know that.

Look...

I didn't mean to offend you just now.

Well, you did.

And it's too late but...

...you know what the funny thing is.

You're mad at me 'cause I don't call you.

And I'm sitting at home stewing

because you never call me.

Well, can't you see what you guys are doing, huh?

How much time are you guys gonna lose...

...waiting for one another to pick up the phone?

Well, that maybe true.

But it's pointless to have this conversation now.

Especially since you're moving across the ocean.

No, no, no, it isn't now. Come on, pop.

They got phones in Europe too.

I mean they ring funny, but they work.

That's not enough for me.

I mean don't you understand.

We haven't been really brothers for so long

and now we're never really gonna be brothers again.

Whoa, whoa. Wait-wait-wait a minute.

Pop, you're brothers for life.

I mean, you know, the only reason why you are arguing now

is because you love each other so much.

Alright, take it from me.

When it comes to brothers, there's a fine line

between love and hate.

Isn't that right, Roc?

Yeah.

And you know what side I'm on.

Hey, Russell.

He's right you know.

Yeah, yeah, maybe he's right, but wait...

I don't know if this'll help.

But I promise, I'll call you every chance I get.

And I'll call you over in Paris, too.

- Uh, and I got another idea. - What's that?

Um, you're gonna be here for another three days, right?

Right.

Well, let's spend every minute of it together.

Till I get so sick of you that I'll be glad to see you go.

You got a deal.

Hey, pop.

You know how it's great to see you two

patching things up but, pop, there's no way in hell

you're calling Paris on my phone.