1
00:01:28,492 --> 00:01:30,743
My name is Clareece "Precious" Jones.

2
00:01:33,246 --> 00:01:37,416
I wish I had a Iight-skinned boyfriend
with real nice hair.

3
00:01:37,501 --> 00:01:40,044
And I wanna be on the cover of a magazine.

4
00:01:40,128 --> 00:01:43,506
But first, I wanna be
in one of them BET videos.

5
00:01:43,590 --> 00:01:45,925
Momma said I can't dance.

6
00:01:46,009 --> 00:01:49,512
Plus, she said, who wants
to see my big ass dancing, anyhow?

7
00:01:49,596 --> 00:01:53,265
Well, if there's no volunteers,
then l'm going to have to call people.

8
00:01:53,350 --> 00:01:57,186
Okay, Leticia, you got number one. Leticia!

9
00:01:57,270 --> 00:01:58,646
Jess Wesley, number two.

10
00:01:58,730 --> 00:02:01,857
I Iike math. I don't say nothing.

11
00:02:02,692 --> 00:02:06,112
I don't open my book, even. I just sit there.

12
00:02:06,196 --> 00:02:07,738
-You down?
-Number six.

13
00:02:07,823 --> 00:02:11,784
Every day I teII myseIf
something's gonna happen.

14
00:02:11,868 --> 00:02:12,993
l'm... l'm dead serious.

15
00:02:13,078 --> 00:02:15,412
Like, I'm gonna break through.

16
00:02:15,956 --> 00:02:18,707
Or somebody's gonna break through to me.

17
00:02:19,126 --> 00:02:21,418
I'm gonna be normaI

18
00:02:21,503 --> 00:02:24,421
and pay attention,
and sit in the front of the class.

19
00:02:24,506 --> 00:02:26,715
Distributive principles...

20
00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:27,883
Someday.

21
00:02:27,968 --> 00:02:30,219
...are principles that
you can do in your head.

22
00:02:30,303 --> 00:02:32,388
l like Mr. Wicher.

23
00:02:33,348 --> 00:02:37,726
I pretend he my husband
and we Iive somepIace Iike Westchester.

24
00:02:38,812 --> 00:02:42,439
Look at him. He Iike me, too, I know it.

25
00:02:43,233 --> 00:02:47,987
I can teII by his eyes.
He aIways Iooking at me and smiIing at me.

26
00:02:48,071 --> 00:02:50,156
Boys! Boys! Boys!

27
00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,448
l'm not your fucking boy!

28
00:02:51,533 --> 00:02:52,658
You're disrupting the class.

29
00:02:52,742 --> 00:02:55,161
Yeah, well, l'm talking now,
so you listen.

30
00:02:56,079 --> 00:02:58,831
Shut the fuck up! l'm trying to listen!

31
00:03:02,085 --> 00:03:04,420
Mr. Wicher know I got his back.

32
00:03:04,838 --> 00:03:06,380
One twenty-two.

33
00:03:08,008 --> 00:03:10,050
Why are we barking, Jess?

34
00:03:10,594 --> 00:03:15,014
Monday's assignment.
l'm assuming everybody did it.

35
00:03:15,432 --> 00:03:17,433
-No.
-No.

36
00:03:20,770 --> 00:03:25,482
Please... Quiet. Precious, get your things.

37
00:03:25,567 --> 00:03:27,651
l have... Come here for a second.

38
00:03:27,736 --> 00:03:28,861
Now this shit.

39
00:03:28,945 --> 00:03:31,947
ls there anybody
who didn't do their homework?

40
00:03:34,451 --> 00:03:39,246
Why? These aren't requests.
These are requirements. Okay?

41
00:03:42,918 --> 00:03:45,836
You have to go to the principal's office.

42
00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:57,848
Go to the principal's office!

43
00:03:57,933 --> 00:04:00,851
All right, that's enough. That's enough.

44
00:04:01,228 --> 00:04:04,313
No, he's not allowed on campus.
Where was he seen?

45
00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:06,315
Could you get Mr. Tork from Room 25,

46
00:04:06,399 --> 00:04:08,817
tell him to go to Room 1 6 right away?
Thank you.

47
00:04:08,902 --> 00:04:11,654
No. He was seen on the second floor.

48
00:04:12,948 --> 00:04:14,490
Yes. Thank you.

49
00:04:14,658 --> 00:04:16,742
Send Clareece in here!

50
00:04:19,996 --> 00:04:21,997
She's ready for you now.

51
00:04:25,669 --> 00:04:27,962
Mr. Taylor? Ms. Lichenstein.

52
00:04:28,463 --> 00:04:29,755
Come in.

53
00:04:30,173 --> 00:04:32,508
Matthew Williams, second floor.

54
00:04:33,343 --> 00:04:36,637
ln front of his locker.
Yes. Suspended last week.

55
00:04:39,391 --> 00:04:40,557
Yeah.

56
00:04:41,184 --> 00:04:43,310
Yes, absolutely. Thank you.

57
00:04:44,521 --> 00:04:46,272
Hello, Clareece.

58
00:04:51,361 --> 00:04:53,070
Are you pregnant?

59
00:05:00,370 --> 00:05:04,415
You're 1 6. You're still in junior high school,

60
00:05:06,209 --> 00:05:09,128
and you're pregnant with your second child.

61
00:05:09,212 --> 00:05:11,380
ls that correct, Clareece?

62
00:05:14,134 --> 00:05:16,093
Are you pregnant again?

63
00:05:23,435 --> 00:05:25,769
What happened, Clareece?

64
00:05:25,854 --> 00:05:28,564
l had sex, Ms. Lichenstein.

65
00:05:33,987 --> 00:05:38,032
Do you have any other thoughts
about your situation, Clareece?

66
00:05:43,246 --> 00:05:44,621
Clareece?

67
00:05:44,998 --> 00:05:46,749
Am I in trouble?

68
00:05:48,585 --> 00:05:51,337
Thank you. I gotta get back to math.

69
00:05:51,421 --> 00:05:54,506
Sit down, Clareece. Sit down right now.

70
00:05:56,718 --> 00:06:00,512
We should have a parent-teacher's
conference with you, me and your mother.

71
00:06:00,597 --> 00:06:02,681
My mother's busy.

72
00:06:02,766 --> 00:06:05,100
All right. Well then,
how about if I come to your house?

73
00:06:05,185 --> 00:06:07,144
lf I were you, I wouldn't.

74
00:06:07,228 --> 00:06:09,938
l... l'm going to have to suspend you.

75
00:06:11,107 --> 00:06:14,109
That ain't fair! I didn't do nothing!
l do my work!

76
00:06:14,194 --> 00:06:15,277
My grades is good!

77
00:06:15,362 --> 00:06:17,279
ls something going on at home?

78
00:06:17,364 --> 00:06:21,492
lf something's going on at home,
l want you to tell me right now.

79
00:06:33,296 --> 00:06:35,297
You get my cigarettes?

80
00:06:35,715 --> 00:06:37,549
No, they didn't have it.

81
00:06:37,634 --> 00:06:40,886
l played the number, though.
l couldn't box it.

82
00:07:08,415 --> 00:07:10,374
Yes. Yeah.

83
00:07:12,252 --> 00:07:15,045
Right there. Yeah. Daddy loves you.

84
00:07:24,180 --> 00:07:26,098
Precious, what did you think of the film?

85
00:07:26,182 --> 00:07:27,349
l thought it was fabulous.

86
00:07:27,434 --> 00:07:29,935
-What's next for you?
-What?

87
00:07:30,019 --> 00:07:32,604
-How are you feeling?
-l feel great!

88
00:07:34,566 --> 00:07:36,108
Just one more, just one more, quick!

89
00:07:36,192 --> 00:07:37,818
l love you, too!

90
00:07:40,196 --> 00:07:41,405
You know I love you!

91
00:07:41,489 --> 00:07:43,073
Hey, boo!

92
00:07:51,374 --> 00:07:53,584
l ain't gonna say it no more.

93
00:07:58,798 --> 00:08:00,924
The door was open, so I Iet myseIf in.

94
00:08:01,009 --> 00:08:04,386
WeII, there goes my chance
to teII you I'm not home.

95
00:08:04,929 --> 00:08:06,680
Now, Mary, this is important.

96
00:08:11,644 --> 00:08:13,228
Now, come on, Mary,
she'II have a great time.

97
00:08:13,313 --> 00:08:16,732
I'd enroII myseIf, but I became ineIigibIe
for teen pageants a few days ago.

98
00:08:17,734 --> 00:08:20,611
Yeah, I see your acne's cIeared up.

99
00:08:21,571 --> 00:08:23,864
You know, this pageant can do Brenda
a world of good, Mary.

100
00:08:23,948 --> 00:08:27,618
And the man in charge, he's tops
in his fieId. A briIIiant promoter.

101
00:08:27,911 --> 00:08:29,786
How Iong have you two been dating?

102
00:08:31,247 --> 00:08:33,332
A dance teacher.

103
00:08:35,251 --> 00:08:38,212
Tell them assholes to stop ringing my bell.

104
00:08:38,922 --> 00:08:40,964
l hate crackheads.

105
00:08:41,758 --> 00:08:44,551
No one ever ring this beII
except for crackheads.

106
00:08:44,636 --> 00:08:46,762
Why they fucking with us?

107
00:08:51,267 --> 00:08:54,645
Stop ringing the goddamn buzzers,
motherfuckers!

108
00:08:54,729 --> 00:08:56,897
Give the ghetto a bad name.

109
00:09:02,737 --> 00:09:05,113
Stop ringing the goddamn buzzer!

110
00:09:14,707 --> 00:09:17,834
Stop it!

111
00:09:18,294 --> 00:09:20,295
Press "listen," stupid.

112
00:09:25,635 --> 00:09:29,471
lt's Sandra Lichenstein
for Clareece and Ms. Mary Johnston.

113
00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,476
Who is that, Precious?

114
00:09:35,061 --> 00:09:37,062
White bitch from school.

115
00:09:44,445 --> 00:09:46,154
What do you want?

116
00:09:46,656 --> 00:09:50,158
Clareece, I want to talk to you
about your education.

117
00:09:53,997 --> 00:09:55,914
Eighty-six that bitch.

118
00:09:56,749 --> 00:09:58,750
My mother don't wanna get cut off weIfare.

119
00:09:58,835 --> 00:10:01,378
And that's just what this visit
gonna resuIt in.

120
00:10:04,257 --> 00:10:07,426
Ms. Lichenstein, get out of here
before I kick your ass.

121
00:10:07,510 --> 00:10:09,761
All right, Clareece, I spoke to Mr. Wicher,

122
00:10:09,846 --> 00:10:12,681
and he told me
that you're one of his best math students.

123
00:10:12,765 --> 00:10:15,726
lf your fat ass don't get
that bitch away from here...

124
00:10:15,810 --> 00:10:18,437
...Iike a, Iike a potentiaI for math.

125
00:10:18,521 --> 00:10:20,063
So I called Mrs. McKnight

126
00:10:20,148 --> 00:10:24,276
from Higher Education AIternative
Each One Teach One.

127
00:10:25,111 --> 00:10:27,279
lt's an alternative school.

128
00:10:28,031 --> 00:10:30,365
Clareece, are you listening to me?

129
00:10:31,034 --> 00:10:31,992
Yeah.

130
00:10:32,076 --> 00:10:35,954
Okay. Mrs. McKnight. Each One Teach One.

131
00:10:36,164 --> 00:10:42,044
lt's located at the 1 1th floor,
Hotel Theresa, 1 25th Street.

132
00:10:42,587 --> 00:10:45,005
-Get rid of that bitch.
-The semester started a few days ago,

133
00:10:45,089 --> 00:10:46,131
so you're not too Iate.

134
00:10:46,215 --> 00:10:47,758
Eleventh floor.

135
00:10:48,176 --> 00:10:49,843
l heard you the first time.

136
00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:51,970
Okay.

137
00:10:53,389 --> 00:10:57,726
I don't know what an aIternative schooI is,
but I feel I wanna know.

138
00:10:59,687 --> 00:11:01,938
My heart is aII warm inside.

139
00:11:02,857 --> 00:11:05,442
Mr. Wicher think I'm a good student.

140
00:11:06,986 --> 00:11:08,945
l knew that he liked me.

141
00:11:29,050 --> 00:11:31,468
School ain't gonna help none!

142
00:11:31,552 --> 00:11:34,096
Take your ass down to the welfare.

143
00:11:34,180 --> 00:11:36,431
Who the fuck she think she is?

144
00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:42,187
So I guess you think you cute now, right?
Uppity bitch.

145
00:11:42,271 --> 00:11:45,273
You should have kept
your fucking mouth shut.

146
00:11:47,151 --> 00:11:49,152
Just 'cause he gonna give you
more children than he give me,

147
00:11:49,237 --> 00:11:51,488
you think you something fucking special?

148
00:11:51,572 --> 00:11:53,573
Fuck you and fuck him!

149
00:11:58,037 --> 00:11:59,329
Precious!

150
00:12:01,457 --> 00:12:03,750
Precious! Precious!

151
00:12:04,794 --> 00:12:06,378
Get down here, bitch!

152
00:12:06,462 --> 00:12:08,839
You brought that white bitch up
in my house!

153
00:12:09,757 --> 00:12:11,675
You...
Why would you bring that bitch up in here?

154
00:12:11,759 --> 00:12:12,801
l didn't bring her here.

155
00:12:12,885 --> 00:12:15,762
Well, why the fuck did she ring my buzzer?

156
00:12:17,348 --> 00:12:18,598
l can't hear you, Precious.

157
00:12:18,683 --> 00:12:20,726
Since you got
so much motherfucking mouth,

158
00:12:20,810 --> 00:12:22,477
and you gonna bring a bitch up
in my house,

159
00:12:22,562 --> 00:12:24,604
why would that bitch ring
my goddamn buzzer?

160
00:12:24,689 --> 00:12:26,398
l didn't tell her to come here.

161
00:12:26,482 --> 00:12:30,193
See, I think right now, you feeling
like you're becoming a grown woman.

162
00:12:30,278 --> 00:12:32,112
'Cause of that shit you pulled
in the kitchen.

163
00:12:32,196 --> 00:12:35,574
l should've fucked you up,
but I let you walk away,

164
00:12:35,658 --> 00:12:37,576
and I let you come get yourself together.

165
00:12:37,660 --> 00:12:40,704
But, bitch, l'm gonna let you know
if you ever pull that shit on me again,

166
00:12:40,788 --> 00:12:43,331
that will be your last
motherfucking day standing,

167
00:12:43,416 --> 00:12:44,416
l promise you that.

168
00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:47,043
You gonna send a white bitch
to my motherfucking buzzer?

169
00:12:47,128 --> 00:12:48,754
Talking about some higher education?

170
00:12:48,838 --> 00:12:52,090
You're a dummy, bitch,
you will never know shit.

171
00:12:52,175 --> 00:12:54,468
Don't nobody want you.
Don't nobody need you.

172
00:12:54,552 --> 00:12:57,179
You done fucked around
and fucked my motherfucking man

173
00:12:57,263 --> 00:12:59,181
and had two motherfucking children,

174
00:12:59,265 --> 00:13:00,932
and one of them is a goddamn animal,

175
00:13:01,017 --> 00:13:04,102
running around,
looking crazy as a motherfucker.

176
00:13:04,187 --> 00:13:08,190
Bitch, you know what?
See, I think you... I think you're trying me.

177
00:13:08,858 --> 00:13:12,778
l think you're really trying to fuck with me.
You're fucking with my money.

178
00:13:12,862 --> 00:13:14,946
And you're gonna stand up there
and look down at me

179
00:13:15,031 --> 00:13:16,615
like you're a motherfucking woman.

180
00:13:16,699 --> 00:13:18,658
l'm gonna show you
what real women do, bitch.

181
00:13:18,743 --> 00:13:21,203
See, you don't know
what real motherfucking women do.

182
00:13:21,287 --> 00:13:23,246
Real motherfucking women sacrifice.

183
00:13:23,331 --> 00:13:26,708
l should've aborted your motherfucking ass.
'Cause you ain't shit.

184
00:13:26,793 --> 00:13:29,377
l knew it the day the doctors put you
in my goddamn hand

185
00:13:29,462 --> 00:13:30,962
you wasn't a goddamn thing,

186
00:13:31,047 --> 00:13:33,340
and you have that smirk
on your face, bitch?

187
00:13:33,424 --> 00:13:35,133
Get it off your fucking face!

188
00:13:35,218 --> 00:13:38,804
Now smile about that!
Smile about that, you fat bitch.

189
00:13:42,391 --> 00:13:44,518
l'm gonna kill you, bitch!

190
00:13:54,403 --> 00:13:56,154
Get off me, bitch!

191
00:13:58,407 --> 00:13:59,825
And "bIank" and eggs?

192
00:13:59,909 --> 00:14:01,243
-Bacon?
-Right.

193
00:14:01,327 --> 00:14:03,870
-And "What's up, Doc?" He eats these.
-Carrots.

194
00:14:03,955 --> 00:14:07,332
-Right. And ice, it comes in a tray.
-lce cubes.

195
00:14:07,416 --> 00:14:10,335
Right. And the best part of the steak. The...

196
00:14:10,419 --> 00:14:11,878
-The T-bone. The...
-No.

197
00:14:11,963 --> 00:14:13,296
-FiIet mignon.
-Right!

198
00:14:13,381 --> 00:14:16,842
-And an EngIish... Thomas' EngIish...
-Muffin!

199
00:14:16,926 --> 00:14:18,718
-Right.
-That's it!

200
00:14:27,353 --> 00:14:29,813
You really need to get some rest.

201
00:14:29,897 --> 00:14:32,691
You have such a big day
ahead of you tomorrow.

202
00:14:32,775 --> 00:14:35,944
And remember, Mommy loves you.

203
00:14:39,282 --> 00:14:44,619
Describe these things that are pIanned.
Things that are planned. Ready? Go!

204
00:14:47,790 --> 00:14:50,917
Precious, you know I love you.

205
00:14:51,002 --> 00:14:54,004
l'm gonna kick that white lady
out of my house,

206
00:14:54,088 --> 00:14:55,922
move you in with me.

207
00:14:56,007 --> 00:14:58,133
Wanna live in Westchester?

208
00:14:59,969 --> 00:15:01,303
-Commit a...
-Crime.

209
00:15:01,387 --> 00:15:03,346
And this is you get back together again.

210
00:15:03,431 --> 00:15:04,472
-A class...
-Reunion.

211
00:15:04,557 --> 00:15:06,057
And this is when you're Iike this,

212
00:15:06,142 --> 00:15:07,392
-you're expecting...
-Pregnant.

213
00:15:07,476 --> 00:15:09,936
-Yeah. And this is you make a fast...
-Escape.

214
00:15:10,021 --> 00:15:11,771
-Right.
-That's it!

215
00:15:44,305 --> 00:15:48,266
Where you going?

216
00:15:48,517 --> 00:15:52,520
Make sure you play my 852
and tell them to box it.

217
00:15:56,067 --> 00:15:58,193
And get some kitty litter.

218
00:16:02,573 --> 00:16:04,449
Ethel, where you at?

219
00:16:08,412 --> 00:16:09,621
Precious, what are we gonna play?

220
00:16:09,705 --> 00:16:10,705
Girl, get the fuck out of here.

221
00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:12,248
Ain't you supposed to be
at school or something?

222
00:16:12,333 --> 00:16:13,959
You said we was gonna play.

223
00:16:14,043 --> 00:16:16,169
That's exactly why
we ain't gonna be playing.

224
00:16:16,253 --> 00:16:17,837
l never said nothing like that.

225
00:17:19,984 --> 00:17:23,695
You would say some shit like that to me,
and you don't even mean it?

226
00:17:23,779 --> 00:17:27,949
No, l'm not playing with you.
No, and she call... Hold on.

227
00:17:28,951 --> 00:17:31,411
Each One Teach One, hold, please.

228
00:17:31,954 --> 00:17:35,415
Yes. She called my house.
l know it wasn't your sister, Trey.

229
00:17:36,083 --> 00:17:38,043
Because it wasn't her.

230
00:17:41,756 --> 00:17:43,506
What this is here?

231
00:17:44,133 --> 00:17:45,467
Each One Teach One.

232
00:17:46,343 --> 00:17:48,386
l'm looking for an alternative school.

233
00:17:48,471 --> 00:17:50,263
This is an alternative.

234
00:17:50,347 --> 00:17:52,474
What alternative is?

235
00:17:52,558 --> 00:17:55,018
What exactly are you asking me?

236
00:17:55,102 --> 00:17:57,145
Lady at my other school
told me to come here.

237
00:17:57,229 --> 00:18:00,565
Hotel Theresa.
Said it's an alternative school.

238
00:18:00,649 --> 00:18:06,696
An alternative school, it's like a choice.
lt's a different way of doing things.

239
00:18:06,781 --> 00:18:10,450
So, I need your discharge papers
saying that they discharged you.

240
00:18:10,534 --> 00:18:13,453
l got kicked out of school
'cause I was pregnant.

241
00:18:13,537 --> 00:18:16,414
Well, I still need your discharge papers,
otherwise we can't let you in.

242
00:18:16,499 --> 00:18:18,541
Ms. Lichenstein didn't say all that.

243
00:18:18,626 --> 00:18:20,960
You the one she called about.

244
00:18:22,755 --> 00:18:24,506
Clareece P. Jones?

245
00:18:25,007 --> 00:18:28,343
They already sent over
your discharge papers and stuff.

246
00:18:28,427 --> 00:18:30,053
l could start today?

247
00:18:30,137 --> 00:18:33,473
Yeah. Are you currently receiving AFDC?

248
00:18:33,557 --> 00:18:36,601
My mother get AFDC
for me and my daughter.

249
00:18:36,685 --> 00:18:39,896
So your mother has custody of you and
your daughter, and you're on her budget?

250
00:18:39,980 --> 00:18:42,941
Okay, well, l'm gonna need a copy
of your mother's budget,

251
00:18:43,025 --> 00:18:46,027
and a copy of your phone bill
and your utility bill.

252
00:18:46,112 --> 00:18:49,405
We gotta give you a few tests,
test your reading and your math level,

253
00:18:49,490 --> 00:18:51,157
see where to place you.

254
00:18:51,784 --> 00:18:54,661
Hold on, baby. Each One Teach One, hold.

255
00:18:55,579 --> 00:19:00,125
To enter into the GED classes,
you gotta get an 8.0 or better on the TABE.

256
00:19:31,574 --> 00:19:34,742
There's aIways something wrong
with these tests.

257
00:19:36,829 --> 00:19:38,955
These tests paint a picture of me
with no brain.

258
00:19:40,249 --> 00:19:42,333
These tests paint a picture
of me and my mother,

259
00:19:42,418 --> 00:19:44,878
my whoIe famiIy, as Iess than dumb.

260
00:19:44,962 --> 00:19:49,048
Just ugIy, bIack grease to be wiped away,
find anotherjob for.

261
00:19:50,801 --> 00:19:53,052
Sometimes I wish I was dead.

262
00:19:54,722 --> 00:19:58,433
I'II be okay, I guess, 'cause I'm Iooking up.

263
00:20:00,644 --> 00:20:03,188
I'm Iooking up for a piano to faII.

264
00:20:03,272 --> 00:20:07,233
Or a desk, couch, TV... Momma, maybe.

265
00:20:08,235 --> 00:20:10,445
AIways something in my way.

266
00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:12,780
Yeah, man.

267
00:20:12,865 --> 00:20:15,116
Yo, make sure you get that
for me, too, man.

268
00:20:15,201 --> 00:20:16,701
Alternative.

269
00:20:16,785 --> 00:20:18,786
Man, you gotta stop smoking
them shits, man.

270
00:20:18,871 --> 00:20:21,164
That ain't the only thing
that's gonna fucking kill you.

271
00:20:21,248 --> 00:20:23,124
Hustling in these streets gonna kill you.

272
00:20:23,918 --> 00:20:25,168
lt is what it is.

273
00:20:25,252 --> 00:20:27,337
Then my mind come back down to Earth.

274
00:20:28,172 --> 00:20:30,965
Let me get some of that sweet ass, orca!

275
00:20:31,467 --> 00:20:32,467
What up, mama?

276
00:20:32,551 --> 00:20:34,594
Why boys aIways grabbing on themseIves?

277
00:20:34,678 --> 00:20:38,514
You heard what the fuck I said?
l said give me some fucking ass.

278
00:20:38,599 --> 00:20:41,392
l'm serious!
When you gonna let me hit that?

279
00:20:41,477 --> 00:20:42,518
That bitch is laughing...

280
00:20:42,603 --> 00:20:43,978
I wish they'd Ieave me aIone.

281
00:20:44,063 --> 00:20:46,064
-She's stupid.
-Yeah.

282
00:20:48,734 --> 00:20:50,610
Yo, that's not even funny.

283
00:20:51,153 --> 00:20:53,488
That's what she'd get anyway, no.

284
00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:57,492
Precious!

285
00:22:57,279 --> 00:23:00,239
Ma, I need some money!

286
00:23:04,536 --> 00:23:06,162
Ma, l'm hungry!

287
00:23:08,248 --> 00:23:10,792
Come take care of Mommy, Precious.

288
00:23:15,839 --> 00:23:18,091
I wish she'd stop this shit.

289
00:23:25,099 --> 00:23:27,100
The other day I cried.

290
00:23:28,143 --> 00:23:31,854
I feIt stupid. But you know what?

291
00:23:32,398 --> 00:23:34,065
Fuck that day.

292
00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,195
That's why God, or whoever,
makes new days.

293
00:23:39,947 --> 00:23:41,656
Still hungry, though.

294
00:23:47,454 --> 00:23:49,831
Nigger wants me to leave my kids.

295
00:23:51,041 --> 00:23:52,542
They're my kids.

296
00:23:55,754 --> 00:23:58,589
-What d'you want, baby?
-Give me a basket, please.

297
00:23:58,674 --> 00:24:00,508
-Sides?
-l don't know yet.

298
00:24:00,592 --> 00:24:04,220
Still thinking about it.
Trying to watch my figure.

299
00:24:08,058 --> 00:24:11,060
Butchie, you got a 1 0-piece ready?

300
00:24:32,833 --> 00:24:34,375
Potato salad.

301
00:24:34,877 --> 00:24:36,043
Thank you.

302
00:24:42,050 --> 00:24:43,885
Hell, no, she didn't!

303
00:24:44,470 --> 00:24:46,929
Get her ass! Get that big bitch!

304
00:25:20,422 --> 00:25:23,049
No, I am not the one.

305
00:26:29,866 --> 00:26:31,325
You in ABE?

306
00:26:33,370 --> 00:26:34,495
Yeah.

307
00:26:36,164 --> 00:26:37,873
Time's a-wasting.

308
00:27:01,189 --> 00:27:02,898
What's your name?

309
00:27:03,734 --> 00:27:05,192
Clareece.

310
00:27:06,403 --> 00:27:08,154
Are you coming in?

311
00:27:14,578 --> 00:27:17,038
That door closes in 20 seconds.

312
00:27:22,419 --> 00:27:24,712
How are you guys doing today?

313
00:27:26,214 --> 00:27:28,799
Would you like to join us, Consuelo?

314
00:27:29,926 --> 00:27:32,470
Consuelo, class is beginning.

315
00:27:35,599 --> 00:27:38,768
You guys know
that you are in the ABE class.

316
00:27:39,269 --> 00:27:42,772
This is not GED.
This is to get you ready for your GED.

317
00:28:03,919 --> 00:28:07,380
These journals are very important
to this class, so do not forget them.

318
00:28:07,464 --> 00:28:09,840
You will need to use them every day
that you are here.

319
00:28:09,925 --> 00:28:11,384
They are the key to this class.

320
00:28:11,468 --> 00:28:12,802
lt's 9:07, Joann. You're late.

321
00:28:12,886 --> 00:28:15,513
You're the one who said breakfast is
the most important meal of the day.

322
00:28:15,597 --> 00:28:18,557
Tomorrow, that door will be locked at 9:00.

323
00:28:21,728 --> 00:28:25,523
l want you to state your name,
where you were born,

324
00:28:25,607 --> 00:28:30,277
your favorite color, something you do well
and why you're here.

325
00:28:31,488 --> 00:28:33,155
l'll go first.

326
00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,782
When you due?

327
00:28:35,659 --> 00:28:37,827
-My name...
-What you mean, you don't know?

328
00:28:37,911 --> 00:28:39,578
...is Blu Rain.

329
00:28:39,663 --> 00:28:41,914
-That's your real name?
-Yes, it is.

330
00:28:41,998 --> 00:28:44,458
Your first name's Blu?

331
00:28:47,671 --> 00:28:51,966
My favorite color is purple. I sing well.

332
00:28:53,218 --> 00:28:54,885
And l'm here

333
00:28:57,723 --> 00:28:59,807
because I love to teach.

334
00:28:59,891 --> 00:29:01,350
She like to sing.

335
00:29:01,435 --> 00:29:02,893
Rhonda?

336
00:29:02,978 --> 00:29:06,981
I wish I couId sing.
Go to church and sing in the choir.

337
00:29:07,858 --> 00:29:09,233
Show them how it's done.

338
00:29:09,317 --> 00:29:14,029
All right.
My name is Rhonda Patrice Johnson.

339
00:29:15,907 --> 00:29:17,241
Problem?

340
00:29:18,618 --> 00:29:20,536
-l should smack her.
-What?

341
00:29:20,620 --> 00:29:26,167
l was born in Kingston, Jamaica,
and my favorite color is blue.

342
00:29:26,668 --> 00:29:28,252
And I cook good.

343
00:29:28,336 --> 00:29:30,963
My mother, she used to have a restaurant
over on 7th Avenue.

344
00:29:31,047 --> 00:29:33,632
Before she get sick,
she teach me everything.

345
00:29:33,717 --> 00:29:37,553
So l'm here to get my reading up,
so I can get my GED.

346
00:29:42,768 --> 00:29:46,353
My name is Rita Romero.
l was born here in Harlem.

347
00:29:47,773 --> 00:29:51,692
l'm here 'cause I was an addict
and I dropped out of school.

348
00:29:52,527 --> 00:29:55,654
So I never got
my reading and writing together.

349
00:29:56,198 --> 00:29:57,990
My favorite color's black.

350
00:29:58,074 --> 00:29:59,450
What do you do good?

351
00:29:59,534 --> 00:30:02,286
"Well," Joann. "What do you do well?"

352
00:30:02,370 --> 00:30:05,289
-What do I do well?
-No. Rita?

353
00:30:05,916 --> 00:30:08,626
l'm a good mother. Very good mother.

354
00:30:12,047 --> 00:30:15,090
My name's Jermaine.
My favorite color is red.

355
00:30:15,175 --> 00:30:17,301
Tell us where you were born first.

356
00:30:17,385 --> 00:30:20,554
l was born in the Bronx. Still live there.

357
00:30:20,639 --> 00:30:24,558
My favorite color is red. Used to be blue.

358
00:30:25,936 --> 00:30:28,145
l can dance real good.

359
00:30:28,230 --> 00:30:30,439
Homie of mine told me
about Each One Teach One,

360
00:30:30,524 --> 00:30:33,275
so I came here to stay out of trouble.

361
00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,153
So you came here to Harlem
to stay out of trouble? ls that right?

362
00:30:36,238 --> 00:30:37,613
Yeah.

363
00:30:37,697 --> 00:30:40,366
-Consuelo?
-This is bullshit.

364
00:30:40,450 --> 00:30:41,992
You think so?

365
00:30:46,748 --> 00:30:48,123
Clareece?

366
00:30:50,752 --> 00:30:52,419
Can I skip, too?

367
00:30:54,422 --> 00:30:55,881
Joann?

368
00:30:55,966 --> 00:30:59,426
Okay. l'm Joann. Hey.

369
00:31:02,055 --> 00:31:04,265
My favorite color is fluorescent beige

370
00:31:04,349 --> 00:31:07,226
and my ambition is to have
my own record layer.

371
00:31:07,310 --> 00:31:08,352
What's a record layer?

372
00:31:08,436 --> 00:31:11,355
Tell us where you come from
and why you come to this school.

373
00:31:11,439 --> 00:31:13,399
l was born in Kings County Hospital,

374
00:31:13,483 --> 00:31:15,901
but my mother moved us to Harlem
when I was nine.

375
00:31:15,986 --> 00:31:21,031
l'm here to get my GED, and then...
Well, l'm already into the music industry.

376
00:31:21,116 --> 00:31:24,702
l'm just trying to take care of
this little education thing so I can move up.

377
00:31:24,786 --> 00:31:29,832
Let's begin. This is ABE.

378
00:31:29,916 --> 00:31:31,250
Can I go?

379
00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,134
l wish I could sit
in the back of the cIass again.

380
00:31:48,643 --> 00:31:52,688
My name Clareece "Precious" Jones.

381
00:31:53,815 --> 00:31:55,566
l go by Precious.

382
00:31:57,319 --> 00:32:00,696
l live in Harlem. I like yellow.

383
00:32:01,781 --> 00:32:07,828
And I had problems at my other school,
so I come here.

384
00:32:10,165 --> 00:32:12,082
Something you do well?

385
00:32:14,586 --> 00:32:15,961
Nothing.

386
00:32:16,671 --> 00:32:19,006
Everybody's good at something.

387
00:32:22,052 --> 00:32:23,469
Come on.

388
00:32:27,057 --> 00:32:30,809
Well, I can cook. And...

389
00:32:33,271 --> 00:32:36,065
l never really talked in class before.

390
00:32:39,945 --> 00:32:42,196
How does that make you feel?

391
00:32:49,579 --> 00:32:50,746
Here.

392
00:32:54,542 --> 00:32:56,543
lt makes me feel here.

393
00:32:58,964 --> 00:33:01,006
Everybody open theirjournal.

394
00:33:01,091 --> 00:33:05,135
Write the date at the top of the page,
and write.

395
00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:08,931
l don't care if you spell everything wrong.

396
00:33:09,015 --> 00:33:11,141
l don't care if it's grammatically incorrect.
But just write.

397
00:33:11,226 --> 00:33:12,935
Write anything that you're feeling.

398
00:33:13,019 --> 00:33:15,354
This class will be a revolving door.

399
00:33:15,438 --> 00:33:18,607
Some of you will make it
and some of you won't.

400
00:33:20,318 --> 00:33:22,069
Fifteen minutes. Go.

401
00:33:24,864 --> 00:33:30,077
Before, I got a A-minus at EngIish,
and I didn't have to say nothing.

402
00:33:31,371 --> 00:33:35,499
Ms. Rain said we gonna read
and write in our notebooks every day.

403
00:33:35,583 --> 00:33:37,751
How we supposed to do that?

404
00:33:40,422 --> 00:33:43,340
But then she see the worry on my face
and she say,

405
00:33:43,425 --> 00:33:46,593
"The Iongest journey
begin with a singIe step."

406
00:33:48,972 --> 00:33:51,890
Whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean.

407
00:33:53,018 --> 00:33:54,518
Come on, come on, do the work.

408
00:33:54,602 --> 00:33:58,022
You love it, love it, learn it.

409
00:33:59,065 --> 00:34:00,482
Consuelo?

410
00:34:01,192 --> 00:34:03,110
"C" for Consuelo.

411
00:34:03,570 --> 00:34:05,320
"C" for kick your ass.

412
00:34:05,405 --> 00:34:07,740
lt's "K" for kick your ass, stupid.

413
00:34:07,824 --> 00:34:09,825
l got the "D," Ms. Rain.

414
00:34:14,164 --> 00:34:15,664
"D" for dick.

415
00:34:16,499 --> 00:34:18,625
Ms. Rain, tell this little-ass bitch
that she don't know me.

416
00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:20,669
Which you wish you had.

417
00:34:28,762 --> 00:34:30,095
-Help her.
-"E."

418
00:34:30,180 --> 00:34:34,808
"E."

419
00:35:01,336 --> 00:35:02,878
"F" for fat.

420
00:35:04,339 --> 00:35:05,547
What?

421
00:35:06,007 --> 00:35:07,174
Good.

422
00:35:10,762 --> 00:35:13,847
Hey! Hey! Hey! Quit it! Hey!

423
00:35:14,974 --> 00:35:16,850
-What?
-Hey, you stop it right now!

424
00:35:16,935 --> 00:35:18,477
-You fucking...
-Quit it!

425
00:35:18,561 --> 00:35:19,686
-She just hit me!
-Drop it!

426
00:35:19,771 --> 00:35:20,896
Shut the fuck up!

427
00:35:22,148 --> 00:35:23,232
She just slapped me!

428
00:35:23,316 --> 00:35:24,650
Get out.

429
00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:27,986
We don't fight in my class. Sit down.

430
00:35:32,867 --> 00:35:34,701
"C" for cold.

431
00:35:44,254 --> 00:35:46,255
Do you live with anybody?

432
00:35:47,590 --> 00:35:49,007
My mother.

433
00:35:49,717 --> 00:35:51,385
What does she do?

434
00:35:53,555 --> 00:35:55,430
She don't do nothing.

435
00:35:59,018 --> 00:36:01,895
l want you to read a page from this book.

436
00:36:10,155 --> 00:36:11,321
Try.

437
00:36:13,074 --> 00:36:16,910
All I need you to do is sound out
these words for me.

438
00:36:16,995 --> 00:36:18,537
You don't have to know every word.

439
00:36:18,621 --> 00:36:22,332
You just have to... lt doesn't matter
if you stumble or... Try for me...

440
00:36:22,417 --> 00:36:26,545
...or trip up on it.
You just need to say what you know.

441
00:36:26,629 --> 00:36:30,257
Come on. You can do this.
Try. Take it word by word.

442
00:36:31,301 --> 00:36:32,926
-Are you listening to me?
-Precious!

443
00:36:33,011 --> 00:36:36,013
l just wanna know where you are
in your reading skills.

444
00:36:36,097 --> 00:36:37,389
'Cause l'm looking at your test scores...

445
00:36:37,473 --> 00:36:39,975
Some higher fucking learning.
You're a dumb bitch!

446
00:36:40,059 --> 00:36:41,685
Try to read, okay?

447
00:36:41,769 --> 00:36:44,104
Just heIp me and then I can heIp you.

448
00:36:44,689 --> 00:36:46,607
We'll start from scratch. Word for word.

449
00:36:46,691 --> 00:36:49,234
l want you better than your mother.

450
00:36:50,278 --> 00:36:52,696
-l'm gonna call the nurse.
-No.

451
00:36:57,744 --> 00:37:00,120
lt all look the same to me.

452
00:37:03,791 --> 00:37:05,375
What's this?

453
00:37:07,754 --> 00:37:10,130
l can't do that, Ms. Rain.

454
00:37:11,174 --> 00:37:12,841
Push yourself.

455
00:37:15,428 --> 00:37:16,637
A.

456
00:37:18,473 --> 00:37:19,890
What's this word?

457
00:37:25,104 --> 00:37:27,940
Do you know the letters? Come on.

458
00:37:29,525 --> 00:37:30,651
"D."

459
00:37:33,905 --> 00:37:35,280
"A."

460
00:37:36,866 --> 00:37:38,242
"Y."

461
00:37:38,993 --> 00:37:40,994
Do you know that word?

462
00:37:43,498 --> 00:37:44,706
"Day."

463
00:37:46,834 --> 00:37:48,627
What word is that?

464
00:37:50,672 --> 00:37:52,506
Ate. Ate.

465
00:37:52,590 --> 00:37:55,008
Good. Almost. The word is "At."

466
00:37:56,844 --> 00:37:58,053
"At."

467
00:38:00,682 --> 00:38:01,932
"The."

468
00:38:04,644 --> 00:38:05,727
Sound it out.

469
00:38:05,812 --> 00:38:07,312
"Beach."

470
00:38:07,397 --> 00:38:10,524
The word is "Shore."
lt's almost like "Beach."

471
00:38:11,234 --> 00:38:12,693
Very good.

472
00:38:13,319 --> 00:38:15,862
Now, read the whole thing for me.

473
00:38:17,865 --> 00:38:19,032
"A

474
00:38:20,576 --> 00:38:21,994
"Day

475
00:38:24,580 --> 00:38:26,748
"At The

476
00:38:27,792 --> 00:38:29,209
"Shore."

477
00:38:36,968 --> 00:38:39,052
Get your big ass in here.

478
00:38:51,733 --> 00:38:54,026
Where was you at this morning?

479
00:39:00,700 --> 00:39:03,201
You hear me talking to you?
Where was you at this morning?

480
00:39:03,286 --> 00:39:05,662
School. I was at school.

481
00:39:05,747 --> 00:39:07,164
You a lying whore.

482
00:39:07,248 --> 00:39:09,249
-l'm not lying.
-You is.

483
00:39:09,834 --> 00:39:12,336
The welfare done called here saying
they gonna remove you from my budget

484
00:39:12,420 --> 00:39:14,296
'cause you ain't been
attending school regularly.

485
00:39:14,380 --> 00:39:16,089
l told you I got kicked out.

486
00:39:16,174 --> 00:39:18,216
l been home nearly every day
for two weeks now.

487
00:39:18,301 --> 00:39:21,678
You ain't told me nothing
about no damn school today.

488
00:39:21,763 --> 00:39:24,765
l told you I was going
to school this morning.

489
00:39:26,434 --> 00:39:29,644
You plan on putting some food
in that frying pan?

490
00:39:35,151 --> 00:39:37,486
Precious, you got something
you wanna say?

491
00:39:37,570 --> 00:39:39,696
-No.
-Then don't be slamming shit down in here.

492
00:39:39,781 --> 00:39:41,365
You understand?

493
00:39:42,283 --> 00:39:43,742
Yes, ma'am.

494
00:39:45,453 --> 00:39:48,872
You need to forget about that school shit
and take your ass down to the welfare.

495
00:39:48,956 --> 00:39:50,791
l'm getting a stipend from school.

496
00:39:50,875 --> 00:39:53,085
Fool, what the fuck is a stipend?
What is that?

497
00:39:53,169 --> 00:39:56,755
Fuck a stipend.
l said take your ass down to the welfare.

498
00:39:56,839 --> 00:39:57,964
Right now?

499
00:39:58,049 --> 00:40:01,718
Why in the fuck would you go right now?
lt's at nighttime. Shit is closed.

500
00:40:01,803 --> 00:40:03,053
You gotta be there by 7:00 a.m.

501
00:40:03,137 --> 00:40:05,722
in the morning
if you wanna talk to somebody.

502
00:40:05,807 --> 00:40:07,432
Fucking stupid.

503
00:40:11,104 --> 00:40:14,773
You think you're too good now?
ls that what it is?

504
00:40:15,566 --> 00:40:18,485
You think you is too good for the welfare?

505
00:40:21,739 --> 00:40:26,118
There's more white folk getting assistance
than it is niggers, Ms. Onassis.

506
00:40:27,954 --> 00:40:29,538
I think I said therapy...

507
00:40:29,622 --> 00:40:33,375
Hurry your ass up.
l am in here fucking starving.

508
00:40:34,127 --> 00:40:35,752
Now what you gonna do
if I die of starvation?

509
00:40:35,837 --> 00:40:38,004
Where you gonna go after that?

510
00:40:39,173 --> 00:40:41,133
l forgot. School.

511
00:40:42,593 --> 00:40:45,429
Each... What that bitch say?
Each one do what?

512
00:40:45,513 --> 00:40:47,597
Each one teach one?

513
00:40:47,682 --> 00:40:49,141
Well, they don't know
who the fuck they teaching,

514
00:40:49,225 --> 00:40:51,393
'cause you can't learn shit.

515
00:40:51,936 --> 00:40:54,813
Keep on listening to them white people.

516
00:40:54,897 --> 00:40:57,566
That's what's gonna get you fucked up.

517
00:41:00,111 --> 00:41:02,404
Precious, l'm hungry.

518
00:41:28,389 --> 00:41:32,225
You ain't cooked no collard greens
with the fucking pigs' feet?

519
00:41:32,727 --> 00:41:35,729
Like, how am I supposed to eat pigs' feet
with no collard greens?

520
00:41:35,813 --> 00:41:39,649
And why in the fuck does that pigs' feet
have so much hair in it?

521
00:41:39,734 --> 00:41:43,028
You eat it. You come eat this shit.

522
00:41:43,112 --> 00:41:45,405
-l'm not hungry, though.
-Yes, you is.

523
00:41:45,490 --> 00:41:48,658
Precious, if you don't get
this goddamn plate...

524
00:41:54,081 --> 00:41:58,585
You just fix mine when you get done.
Since you fucked it up, you gonna eat it up.

525
00:41:59,086 --> 00:42:02,005
Hurry up and eat, Precious.
l'm fucking hungry, too.

526
00:42:04,091 --> 00:42:08,470
And don't let it get cold,
'cause cold-ass pigs' feet is nasty as shit.

527
00:44:17,141 --> 00:44:20,352
So, tell me about...
Tell me about your home life.

528
00:44:23,397 --> 00:44:25,899
Ain't nothing to really talk about.

529
00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:28,902
You're in a safe place. Just talk.

530
00:44:29,236 --> 00:44:30,236
What's going on?

531
00:44:30,321 --> 00:44:31,655
What's the first thing
that comes to your mind

532
00:44:31,739 --> 00:44:33,865
when you think about home?

533
00:44:33,949 --> 00:44:37,661
l just wish I had my own TV,
so I could watch it in my room.

534
00:44:38,412 --> 00:44:41,956
lf I had my own TV,
l wouldn't have to watch it with my mother.

535
00:44:42,041 --> 00:44:44,834
And what's it like,
watching TV with your mother?

536
00:44:44,919 --> 00:44:47,671
You enjoy watching TV with your mother?

537
00:44:47,755 --> 00:44:52,759
l need to know about your home life.
l need to know what it's like where you live.

538
00:44:53,761 --> 00:44:55,887
My mother's like a whale on the couch.

539
00:44:55,971 --> 00:44:59,974
She say I eat all the time,
but she always making me eat.

540
00:45:00,059 --> 00:45:02,268
Then she call me a fat mess.

541
00:45:02,353 --> 00:45:05,480
She say the apartment
is little 'cause of me.

542
00:45:05,564 --> 00:45:08,358
Only time she ever leaves
is to play her numbers.

543
00:45:08,442 --> 00:45:11,361
l feel like I could just sit in the house
with her every day,

544
00:45:11,445 --> 00:45:12,862
the shades drawn,

545
00:45:12,947 --> 00:45:17,158
watch TV, eat, watch TV, eat again.

546
00:45:18,035 --> 00:45:20,286
Can you help out with that?

547
00:45:21,497 --> 00:45:24,165
Can we talk about something else now?

548
00:45:30,464 --> 00:45:32,382
How about your firstborn?

549
00:45:32,466 --> 00:45:33,800
Mongo?

550
00:45:35,636 --> 00:45:37,721
Mongo is her... ls that...

551
00:45:38,389 --> 00:45:41,057
Mongo. That's short for "mongoloid."

552
00:45:41,934 --> 00:45:46,271
ls that what you call her? Or that's...
What is that? A nickname?

553
00:45:46,981 --> 00:45:48,898
She got Down's syndrome.

554
00:45:57,116 --> 00:45:58,074
How you doing, Precious?

555
00:45:58,159 --> 00:46:00,744
My grandmother Toosie
bring IittIe Mongo over to our house

556
00:46:00,828 --> 00:46:05,165
on days when the sociaI worker come,
so it look like she live with us.

557
00:46:06,667 --> 00:46:08,710
Answer the fucking door.

558
00:46:10,379 --> 00:46:12,630
Do you see what you did? God damn it.

559
00:46:12,715 --> 00:46:16,009
Then my mother gets money
and the food stamps for me and Mongo.

560
00:46:16,093 --> 00:46:17,510
Who is it?

561
00:46:18,095 --> 00:46:19,721
lt's Ms. Turner.

562
00:46:20,765 --> 00:46:21,806
Social worker's here.

563
00:46:21,891 --> 00:46:25,602
Why didn't you tell me that bitch
was coming so fucking early?

564
00:46:25,686 --> 00:46:28,354
My fucking wig. Come get my wig!

565
00:46:28,439 --> 00:46:29,773
Come up!

566
00:46:34,528 --> 00:46:36,362
Where's my lipstick?

567
00:46:40,117 --> 00:46:42,744
Thank you, thank you.

568
00:46:52,671 --> 00:46:55,924
-Get off of me.
-Leave that child alone, please.

569
00:46:56,008 --> 00:46:58,218
Mind your goddamn business.

570
00:47:00,095 --> 00:47:02,096
-Hi, Precious.
-Hey.

571
00:47:02,515 --> 00:47:05,308
-Hello, Ms. Turner. How you doing?
-Hi, Mary. How are you?

572
00:47:05,392 --> 00:47:08,645
Please excuse that.
My sweet grandbaby just knocked it over.

573
00:47:08,729 --> 00:47:11,022
Please, have a seat. Excuse the mess.

574
00:47:11,106 --> 00:47:12,649
-Thank you.
-Thanks.

575
00:47:12,733 --> 00:47:13,983
How are you, Mary?

576
00:47:14,068 --> 00:47:17,070
l'm doing really good, Ms. Turner.
Thank you.

577
00:47:17,905 --> 00:47:20,448
When was the last time
you've taken her to the doctor?

578
00:47:21,575 --> 00:47:23,910
Precious, when...
When did we take her? The baby?

579
00:47:23,994 --> 00:47:25,036
Last month.

580
00:47:25,120 --> 00:47:28,540
Yeah... On the 1 6th.
On the 1 6th. Yes, yes, ma'am.

581
00:47:29,124 --> 00:47:31,709
Okay, and what did the doctor say?

582
00:47:34,296 --> 00:47:37,257
They said
that she's progressing really good.

583
00:47:37,341 --> 00:47:39,133
She's doing really good.

584
00:47:39,218 --> 00:47:41,386
-That's good.
-Yes, ma'am.

585
00:47:41,470 --> 00:47:43,221
And have you been looking for a job?

586
00:47:43,305 --> 00:47:47,600
l have, Ms. Turner. I am.
But they've all been saying the same thing.

587
00:47:47,685 --> 00:47:51,187
You know, they'll call me back.
They'll get back to me.

588
00:47:53,566 --> 00:47:55,692
When did you go looking for the job?

589
00:47:55,776 --> 00:47:59,946
l went last week
and I filled out several applications.

590
00:48:00,030 --> 00:48:03,741
And they all said the same thing,
that they would call me.

591
00:48:05,828 --> 00:48:07,120
Mommy!

592
00:48:07,496 --> 00:48:09,998
No! No!

593
00:48:11,292 --> 00:48:13,543
ls that a new microwave oven?

594
00:48:13,961 --> 00:48:15,920
A... A microwave?

595
00:48:16,964 --> 00:48:20,633
No, ma'am.
We warm our things up in the oven.

596
00:48:21,969 --> 00:48:24,429
-l see. lt's a toaster oven.
-Yes. Yes, ma'am.

597
00:48:24,513 --> 00:48:28,808
Okay.
l will be seeing and speaking with you

598
00:48:30,102 --> 00:48:31,102
in a week or so.

599
00:48:31,186 --> 00:48:32,228
-ln a week or so?
-Yes.

600
00:48:32,313 --> 00:48:35,815
Okay, do you know what time you'll be...
You'll be coming?

601
00:48:35,900 --> 00:48:37,150
-l'll let you know.
-Okay.

602
00:48:37,234 --> 00:48:38,610
-l'll let you know.
-Thank you so much.

603
00:48:38,694 --> 00:48:41,487
Precious, any questions for me?

604
00:48:43,866 --> 00:48:45,658
How are you, Precious?

605
00:48:45,743 --> 00:48:48,828
l'm doing good. How you doing?

606
00:48:49,580 --> 00:48:51,581
l'm good, thank you.

607
00:48:52,708 --> 00:48:54,751
Ladies, thank you for your time.

608
00:48:54,835 --> 00:48:56,753
Thank you so much, Ms. Turner.
Have a great day.

609
00:48:56,837 --> 00:48:59,005
-And you. Bye, Sheila.
-Bye.

610
00:49:04,094 --> 00:49:06,554
Come get this motherfucking... Get her.

611
00:49:06,639 --> 00:49:09,515
Moving all around and shit
while l'm trying to talk to this bitch.

612
00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:11,517
Makes me fucking itch.

613
00:49:12,770 --> 00:49:15,563
She done threw her fucking candy
on the floor.

614
00:49:15,648 --> 00:49:17,190
Goddamn animal.

615
00:49:18,817 --> 00:49:21,945
And now you gonna give it to her?
Put the fucking candy back on the floor!

616
00:49:22,029 --> 00:49:23,571
Then you go and pick it up
and let her have it.

617
00:49:23,656 --> 00:49:26,866
You're so fucking stupid.
Just like her dumb ass.

618
00:49:26,951 --> 00:49:30,662
That bitch gonna come up in here
and I gotta fucking make pretend?

619
00:49:30,746 --> 00:49:32,080
l'm so sick of it.

620
00:49:32,164 --> 00:49:34,624
l don't know what the fuck
you shaking your head for.

621
00:49:34,708 --> 00:49:36,167
You didn't do no goddamn better.

622
00:49:36,251 --> 00:49:38,336
You know what?
Let's talk about your father.

623
00:49:38,420 --> 00:49:40,880
Tell me about your relationship with him.

624
00:49:40,965 --> 00:49:43,424
l don't know much more
than you do, Ms. White.

625
00:49:43,509 --> 00:49:45,176
lt's Ms. Weiss.

626
00:49:45,260 --> 00:49:47,929
Talk to me about
the little you do know about your father,

627
00:49:48,013 --> 00:49:51,265
'cause it is important,
whether you know it or not.

628
00:49:52,059 --> 00:49:54,644
He give me this baby
and my one before it, but l...

629
00:49:54,728 --> 00:49:57,313
What did you say he gave you?

630
00:49:57,398 --> 00:49:58,815
-Nothing.
-No, Clareece, you just said

631
00:49:58,899 --> 00:50:00,066
your father gave you something.

632
00:50:00,150 --> 00:50:02,151
-l heard you just say...
-You didn't hear shit.

633
00:50:02,236 --> 00:50:05,029
-l heard you say your father...
-l ain't say nothing. I ain't say shit like it.

634
00:50:05,114 --> 00:50:06,948
-l don't care, honey.
-l didn't say nothing like that.

635
00:50:07,032 --> 00:50:08,616
-l need to know this.
-Let's move on.

636
00:50:08,701 --> 00:50:10,076
l need to know this to help you.

637
00:50:10,160 --> 00:50:13,162
-Bitch, can we change the subject?
-Okay.

638
00:50:13,247 --> 00:50:16,416
Well, l'll see you next time, then.
Or maybe you'll see someone else.

639
00:50:16,500 --> 00:50:21,087
But you're gonna have to talk to somebody
if you want your check, sweetie.

640
00:50:31,306 --> 00:50:33,349
l see vampires, too.

641
00:50:36,186 --> 00:50:39,522
They come at night.
They tell me l'm one of them.

642
00:50:40,899 --> 00:50:44,027
They say, "Precious, you belong with us."

643
00:50:46,447 --> 00:50:48,948
And then they go downstairs
through the floor.

644
00:50:49,033 --> 00:50:51,868
The people that live under us,
they is vampires,

645
00:50:51,952 --> 00:50:54,287
so that's where they should go.

646
00:50:54,830 --> 00:50:56,998
They be so nasty, though,

647
00:50:57,082 --> 00:50:59,459
leaving their dirty tampons and shit
in the garbage.

648
00:50:59,543 --> 00:51:01,961
Don't even offer to take it out.

649
00:51:02,046 --> 00:51:04,589
They got no fucking home training.

650
00:51:07,634 --> 00:51:11,387
l been going to the doctor, too. lt's nice.

651
00:51:12,806 --> 00:51:17,143
Ms. Rain fall out when she found out
l ain't never been to no doctor before.

652
00:51:20,314 --> 00:51:22,690
Don't know how I had my first baby
on the kitchen floor

653
00:51:22,775 --> 00:51:25,693
with my momma kicking me
upside my head.

654
00:51:28,363 --> 00:51:29,739
Them the kind of things
you're talking about

655
00:51:29,823 --> 00:51:32,658
when you say,
say whatever come to my mind?

656
00:51:37,206 --> 00:51:39,957
That's the end of them welfare checks.

657
00:51:40,042 --> 00:51:44,087
I just couIdn't Iie no more.
l shouldn't have said none of that.

658
00:51:47,633 --> 00:51:49,425
Momma gonna kiII me.

659
00:51:58,268 --> 00:51:59,852
Motherfuckers!

660
00:52:03,482 --> 00:52:05,108
Are we done?

661
00:52:05,192 --> 00:52:06,943
l'm not doing this with you today.

662
00:52:07,027 --> 00:52:09,695
At night, we went out on a fieId trip.

663
00:52:14,868 --> 00:52:16,786
These girls is crazy.

664
00:52:17,204 --> 00:52:20,540
Ain't nobody ever grabbed my hand
like that before.

665
00:52:37,266 --> 00:52:39,725
...as a candidate
for the Democratic nomination

666
00:52:39,810 --> 00:52:42,812
for the presidency
of the United States of America.

667
00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:47,233
...and by having destroyed it,
now we don't know...

668
00:52:49,611 --> 00:52:54,574
...and the testimony you're about to give
wiII be the truth, the whoIe truth...

669
00:52:54,658 --> 00:52:56,534
l still have a dream.

670
00:52:58,370 --> 00:53:01,998
It is a dream deepIy rooted
in the American dream.

671
00:53:03,250 --> 00:53:07,003
I have a dream that one day

672
00:53:08,505 --> 00:53:13,676
this nation wiII rise up
and Iive out the true meaning of...

673
00:53:13,760 --> 00:53:15,887
I'm gonna teach my baby aII of this.

674
00:53:15,971 --> 00:53:19,015
"We hoId these truths to be seIf-evident,

675
00:53:19,099 --> 00:53:21,184
"that aII men are created equaI."

676
00:53:21,268 --> 00:53:23,519
No fear. That's bullshit. That's bullshit.

677
00:53:23,604 --> 00:53:24,687
You mean, write a whole new one?

678
00:53:24,771 --> 00:53:27,648
No, girl, if I need to explain myself to you...

679
00:53:27,733 --> 00:53:29,483
-You'll figure it out.
-You think that l'm stupid?

680
00:53:29,568 --> 00:53:32,612
Oh, my God. That I believe in you?

681
00:53:34,615 --> 00:53:36,157
That I think you're incredible?

682
00:53:36,241 --> 00:53:37,950
Yes, but I don't know what to do.

683
00:53:38,035 --> 00:53:41,078
All right, pull it together. Okay.
Who's next?

684
00:53:42,039 --> 00:53:43,372
I'm happy to be writing.

685
00:53:43,457 --> 00:53:46,459
-Go ahead, Rhonda.
-I'm happy to be in schooI, too.

686
00:53:46,543 --> 00:53:49,879
Ms. Rain say we gonna write
every day in our notebook.

687
00:53:49,963 --> 00:53:51,923
She gonna write back to us every day, too.

688
00:53:52,007 --> 00:53:55,801
"Yesterday I went to church for
the first time since I come to this country.

689
00:53:55,886 --> 00:53:57,178
"l got all the way to Brooklyn.

690
00:53:57,262 --> 00:54:00,056
"The church was up the block and around
the corner upon the 3 train.

691
00:54:00,140 --> 00:54:01,807
"The preacher preached
two and a half hours

692
00:54:01,892 --> 00:54:04,393
-"about Jehovah.
-Rhonda! Rhonda!

693
00:54:04,478 --> 00:54:07,897
"And how Lord Jesus, Son of God, Messiah,
Jehovah delivers."

694
00:54:07,981 --> 00:54:09,982
ls that a fairytale?

695
00:54:11,526 --> 00:54:12,860
Sit down.

696
00:54:12,945 --> 00:54:14,237
Did anybody do this assignment?

697
00:54:14,321 --> 00:54:16,822
Momma say this schooI ain't shit.

698
00:54:16,907 --> 00:54:19,367
She say you can't learn nothing
writing in no book.

699
00:54:19,451 --> 00:54:24,664
-This is a fairytale called "Enchanted."
-She wrong about that. I is learning.

700
00:54:27,417 --> 00:54:30,878
"Once upon a time, in a faraway land,

701
00:54:31,296 --> 00:54:35,424
"there lived a beautiful princess
named Joann-a.

702
00:54:36,009 --> 00:54:40,304
"She was very, very fly and extra, extra tall,

703
00:54:40,889 --> 00:54:44,392
"and every single boy loved her,
big and small.

704
00:54:45,185 --> 00:54:49,272
"Except for one idiot boy
who was so stupid and dumb.

705
00:54:49,356 --> 00:54:53,567
"And out of all the cute boys who loved her,
he was the cutest one."

706
00:54:54,695 --> 00:54:57,989
-That's all I got so far.
-That's a good beginning.

707
00:54:58,073 --> 00:55:01,617
Thinking about IittIe Mongo, too. I miss her.

708
00:55:01,994 --> 00:55:03,452
That's how you start a fairytale.

709
00:55:03,537 --> 00:55:05,830
I'm happy my baby coming up.

710
00:55:06,957 --> 00:55:10,793
I'm gonna read to this baby, too,
and hang coIors on its waII.

711
00:55:11,712 --> 00:55:14,630
Listen, baby. Mother not dumb.

712
00:55:14,715 --> 00:55:17,008
Mother Iove you. Listen.

713
00:55:17,509 --> 00:55:21,178
"Once upon a time,
there was a magical princess

714
00:55:21,263 --> 00:55:24,432
"who lived in a magical bubble
under the sea.

715
00:55:24,975 --> 00:55:27,059
"And she was from land."

716
00:55:42,284 --> 00:55:43,951
Stop screaming.

717
00:56:04,931 --> 00:56:08,768
His name's Abdul Jamal Lewis Jones.

718
00:56:09,770 --> 00:56:12,605
He heaIthy. His mother Iove him.

719
00:56:28,747 --> 00:56:30,956
The food in this hospital's nasty.

720
00:56:31,625 --> 00:56:32,750
lt's not from here.

721
00:56:32,834 --> 00:56:34,418
Where it from?

722
00:56:34,503 --> 00:56:37,046
A little shop by my house where

723
00:56:37,130 --> 00:56:39,548
l get my organic food,
so I don't have to eat that

724
00:56:39,633 --> 00:56:42,218
nasty mystery-meat stuff
they got downstairs.

725
00:56:42,302 --> 00:56:45,304
Can you bring me something?
l don't like fruit. I like McDonald's.

726
00:56:45,389 --> 00:56:47,598
First of all, I don't eat McDonald's.

727
00:56:47,682 --> 00:56:50,351
Second of all, you don't need
to be eating McDonald's, either.

728
00:56:50,435 --> 00:56:51,477
lt's not healthy.

729
00:56:51,561 --> 00:56:53,771
But I like McDonald's.
We all like McDonald's, right?

730
00:56:53,855 --> 00:56:56,482
We like McDonald's, too, over here.

731
00:56:56,566 --> 00:56:58,067
l don't like no damn McDonald's.

732
00:56:58,151 --> 00:57:01,237
l want some of that organic shit
like you got.

733
00:57:01,655 --> 00:57:03,114
Well, I tell you what,

734
00:57:03,198 --> 00:57:05,741
when you get up out of here,
you go with all your little friends,

735
00:57:05,826 --> 00:57:06,784
and you go to McDonald's,

736
00:57:06,868 --> 00:57:08,744
and you get as much
McDonald's as you want.

737
00:57:08,829 --> 00:57:11,288
But right now,
you're gonna take care of your health.

738
00:57:11,373 --> 00:57:13,082
Are you a doctor?

739
00:57:14,167 --> 00:57:16,127
-Are you her doctor?
-Am I a doctor?

740
00:57:16,211 --> 00:57:18,879
-Yeah.
-l am a nurse's aide.

741
00:57:18,964 --> 00:57:20,756
Nurse John-John.

742
00:57:20,841 --> 00:57:22,508
Oh, that's funny?

743
00:57:23,009 --> 00:57:24,760
Well, you're a man.

744
00:57:25,512 --> 00:57:28,180
-You've never seen a male nurse?
-No.

745
00:57:28,348 --> 00:57:30,433
Not looking like you do.

746
00:57:31,226 --> 00:57:35,354
l am a male nurse.
l am Nurse John McFadden.

747
00:57:35,439 --> 00:57:38,023
So was you up in the room
when she popped the baby out?

748
00:57:38,108 --> 00:57:39,150
You was like, all up in between her...

749
00:57:39,234 --> 00:57:41,277
Joann, don't be nasty!

750
00:57:41,361 --> 00:57:42,945
How was it? Was he screaming?

751
00:57:43,029 --> 00:57:44,113
lt hurt.

752
00:57:44,197 --> 00:57:45,781
Tough gal like you had to scream?

753
00:57:45,866 --> 00:57:50,119
Not so tough with a baby coming out of me.
lt hurt. And it burned.

754
00:57:50,203 --> 00:57:51,454
-Are you married?
-Shut up!

755
00:57:51,538 --> 00:57:53,205
You got a girlfriend?

756
00:57:53,290 --> 00:57:55,708
-Why you asking? He don't want you.
-How would you know?

757
00:57:55,792 --> 00:57:57,460
Why don't you stop being a ho
for 1 0 minutes?

758
00:57:57,544 --> 00:57:58,711
What's wrong with these people?

759
00:57:58,795 --> 00:58:00,171
You don't want her, right?

760
00:58:00,255 --> 00:58:03,048
l wish I was a cantaloupe in that cup.

761
00:58:03,133 --> 00:58:04,633
So he could eat you?

762
00:58:04,718 --> 00:58:08,345
Okay, no. I gotta go. I gotta go.

763
00:58:08,763 --> 00:58:11,557
No, that's all right. That's all right.

764
00:58:14,811 --> 00:58:16,770
Can I get a kiss, too, Nurse John?

765
00:58:16,855 --> 00:58:19,607
-Good afternoon, ladies.
-Bye, Nurse John.

766
00:58:19,691 --> 00:58:22,568
-Bye!
-Good night, Nurse John-John!

767
00:58:23,987 --> 00:58:26,280
Precious and John-John

768
00:58:26,364 --> 00:58:28,324
Sitting in a tree

769
00:58:28,408 --> 00:58:32,203
-F-U-C-K-l-N-G
-Shut up! Y'all are nasty.

770
00:58:35,916 --> 00:58:38,584
You think he's spending the night
up in here?

771
00:58:40,754 --> 00:58:43,964
Now she gonna write
about Nurse John in her book!

772
00:58:45,258 --> 00:58:46,926
"Dear Ms. Rain,

773
00:58:47,427 --> 00:58:50,596
"AII the years I sit in cIass, I never Iearned.

774
00:58:50,889 --> 00:58:53,766
"Now I got a baby again by my father.

775
00:58:54,518 --> 00:58:57,144
"I wish I had a boyfriend Iike other girls.

776
00:58:57,229 --> 00:59:00,397
"Then I'II feeI right
that I have to quit schooI.

777
00:59:00,482 --> 00:59:03,984
"I Iove my baby, but I want schooI, too.

778
00:59:04,069 --> 00:59:06,445
"Social worker ask me
if I wanna give IittIe Mongo

779
00:59:06,530 --> 00:59:10,074
"and AbduI up for adoption.
l could kill her.

780
00:59:10,492 --> 00:59:14,245
"She never helped before.
Now she wanna take my kids away?

781
00:59:14,955 --> 00:59:18,207
"If she takes AbduI,
I won't have nothing no more."

782
00:59:18,291 --> 00:59:20,251
"Dear Precious,

783
00:59:20,335 --> 00:59:23,629
"I think your first responsibiIity
has to be to yourseIf.

784
00:59:23,838 --> 00:59:26,382
"If you keep AbduI, you might have nothing.

785
00:59:26,466 --> 00:59:28,926
"You're Iearning to read and write.
That's everything.

786
00:59:29,010 --> 00:59:31,679
"You come back to school
when you get out of the hospitaI.

787
00:59:31,763 --> 00:59:32,888
"You're onIy 17."

788
00:59:32,973 --> 00:59:35,391
This looks like a big-ass condom.

789
00:59:37,269 --> 00:59:39,353
Use that for Nurse John.

790
00:59:39,854 --> 00:59:42,022
Not looking like that.
Your hair looks a mess.

791
00:59:42,107 --> 00:59:44,817
-l'm giving you banjee.
-Shut up!

792
00:59:44,901 --> 00:59:46,402
l got yourjournal.

793
00:59:46,486 --> 00:59:47,987
Thank you.

794
00:59:53,243 --> 00:59:54,785
What's wrong?

795
00:59:54,869 --> 00:59:56,203
Nothing.

796
00:59:56,288 --> 00:59:57,871
Are you sure?

797
00:59:57,956 --> 00:59:58,998
Yeah, l'm sure.

798
00:59:59,082 --> 01:00:03,502
All right. l'm bored. l'm about to leave. Bye.

799
01:00:05,171 --> 01:00:06,839
Bye, Ms. Toosie.

800
01:00:07,340 --> 01:00:08,924
You got a nasty-ass mouth.

801
01:00:09,009 --> 01:00:11,093
You got a nasty-ass hat.

802
01:00:13,513 --> 01:00:16,307
That's what's wrong,
you hanging out with bitches like that.

803
01:00:16,391 --> 01:00:17,975
Here's your baby.

804
01:00:18,059 --> 01:00:20,436
lt's probably the last time
you're gonna ever see him.

805
01:00:20,520 --> 01:00:21,937
Grandmother come and visit and say,

806
01:00:22,022 --> 01:00:24,607
"Only a dog would drop a baby
and walk off."

807
01:00:24,691 --> 01:00:25,983
Not even a dog.

808
01:00:26,276 --> 01:00:28,694
Say later, "Not even a dog."

809
01:00:28,778 --> 01:00:31,864
l'm proud of you.
Ain't nothing like your mother.

810
01:00:31,948 --> 01:00:35,284
"Where was your grandmother
when your father was abusing you?

811
01:00:35,368 --> 01:00:37,453
"Where is IittIe Mongo now?

812
01:00:38,204 --> 01:00:40,956
"What is going to be the best thing for you
in this situation?"

813
01:00:41,041 --> 01:00:43,334
"Ms. Rain, you ask too many questions.

814
01:00:43,418 --> 01:00:45,961
"Sometimes I wish I could stop breathing.

815
01:00:46,046 --> 01:00:48,422
"I just wanna be a good mother."

816
01:00:49,466 --> 01:00:51,634
"Being a good mother might mean
Ietting AbduI be raised

817
01:00:51,718 --> 01:00:55,387
"by someone who's better abIe than you
to meet his needs."

818
01:00:56,097 --> 01:00:59,600
"Ms. Rain, I is the best
to meet my chiId's needs."

819
01:01:08,985 --> 01:01:10,819
"Who's gonna heIp you?

820
01:01:11,363 --> 01:01:13,656
"How wiII you support yourseIf?

821
01:01:14,866 --> 01:01:17,910
"How wiII you keep Iearning
to read and write?"

822
01:01:18,953 --> 01:01:21,038
"The weIfare heIped Momma."

823
01:01:21,831 --> 01:01:25,417
"You look and see
how much weIfare has heIped your mom.

824
01:01:27,712 --> 01:01:29,338
"You could get your GED,

825
01:01:29,422 --> 01:01:32,091
"and go to coIIege.
You can do anything, Precious."

826
01:02:54,215 --> 01:02:55,632
You back?

827
01:02:56,217 --> 01:02:57,593
What's his name?

828
01:02:58,094 --> 01:02:59,678
Can I hold it?

829
01:04:03,493 --> 01:04:05,077
Hey, Precious.

830
01:04:08,832 --> 01:04:10,082
Hey.

831
01:04:13,545 --> 01:04:15,254
You had the baby?

832
01:04:15,839 --> 01:04:17,130
A boy.

833
01:04:18,383 --> 01:04:20,634
Where you been all this time?

834
01:04:27,267 --> 01:04:28,934
Let me see him.

835
01:04:36,150 --> 01:04:37,901
Can I hold him?

836
01:04:57,422 --> 01:04:59,423
He look like his daddy.

837
01:05:04,971 --> 01:05:06,471
He named Abdul.

838
01:05:07,765 --> 01:05:11,351
Put all this shit down
and go get me something to drink.

839
01:05:29,829 --> 01:05:31,288
You bitch!

840
01:05:31,873 --> 01:05:34,082
-You fucking bitch!
-You crazy, Momma?

841
01:05:34,167 --> 01:05:36,668
Am I crazy? Bitch, if I was to...

842
01:05:37,670 --> 01:05:39,379
You ruined my fucking life!

843
01:05:39,464 --> 01:05:42,132
You done took my man,
you had those fucking babies,

844
01:05:42,216 --> 01:05:43,467
and you got me put off the welfare

845
01:05:43,551 --> 01:05:45,844
for running your goddamned
stupid-ass mouth!

846
01:05:45,970 --> 01:05:49,806
l ain't stupid and I didn't take your man.
Your husband raped me!

847
01:05:49,891 --> 01:05:51,391
Didn't no-fucking-body rape you!

848
01:05:51,476 --> 01:05:53,810
Bitch, don't you put
your fucking hands on me!

849
01:06:14,415 --> 01:06:16,708
Mary, leave that girl alone!

850
01:06:55,289 --> 01:06:57,249
Can I see the baby now?

851
01:09:08,840 --> 01:09:11,967
B... C... D...

852
01:09:12,885 --> 01:09:17,305
E... F... G... H...

853
01:09:17,974 --> 01:09:20,684
l... J... K...

854
01:09:27,733 --> 01:09:29,317
l'm tired of shopping.

855
01:09:29,402 --> 01:09:31,361
Yes, because they all trying
to take your money.

856
01:09:31,445 --> 01:09:33,321
They don't...

857
01:09:43,958 --> 01:09:45,876
l'm calling the cops.

858
01:09:51,090 --> 01:09:53,592
Tell me what you see back there.

859
01:10:05,980 --> 01:10:10,483
I couId teII by Ms. Rain's face
I ain't gonna be homeIess no more.

860
01:10:10,568 --> 01:10:12,611
I just don't know
where I'm gonna end up, though.

861
01:10:12,695 --> 01:10:14,279
l'll hold.

862
01:10:16,199 --> 01:10:17,949
l feel bad for her.

863
01:10:18,034 --> 01:10:21,786
She just an ABC teacher.
She ain't no social worker.

864
01:10:23,414 --> 01:10:24,664
What's going on?

865
01:10:24,749 --> 01:10:25,916
But she all I could think of.

866
01:10:26,000 --> 01:10:28,460
Look, when the others get here,
tell them to start writing.

867
01:10:28,544 --> 01:10:30,712
And whichever one of you is older
is in charge, okay?

868
01:10:30,796 --> 01:10:32,464
Consuelo, I know that's not you.
Come here.

869
01:10:32,548 --> 01:10:34,674
Ms. Rain, I can't stay. l'm serious.
l've tried to talk...

870
01:10:34,759 --> 01:10:37,344
Consuelo, you're not leaving class
and l'm not dealing with this right now.

871
01:10:37,428 --> 01:10:39,763
Take this money.
Go get something for Precious to wear.

872
01:10:39,847 --> 01:10:42,307
Quick. And bring back my change.

873
01:10:42,391 --> 01:10:46,102
Sixteen years old. A three-day-old infant.

874
01:10:46,729 --> 01:10:48,855
The baby not bleeding.
l think this is Precious' blood.

875
01:10:48,940 --> 01:10:51,816
Well, why didn't you tell me that before?

876
01:10:53,152 --> 01:10:55,612
We'll find you a place to live.

877
01:10:58,824 --> 01:11:00,533
Joann, you're late.

878
01:11:00,618 --> 01:11:02,827
Rhonda, you ain't the teacher.

879
01:11:02,954 --> 01:11:05,288
Joann, Ms. Rain is busy
with Precious today,

880
01:11:05,373 --> 01:11:07,499
so I am the teacher today.

881
01:11:07,583 --> 01:11:09,459
Okay. Why?

882
01:11:09,919 --> 01:11:11,670
-Where's Precious?
-Just sit. Pull out your notebook.

883
01:11:11,754 --> 01:11:14,172
Joann, you wanna say one of your raps
to the baby?

884
01:11:14,257 --> 01:11:15,674
What's the baby doing here?

885
01:11:15,758 --> 01:11:17,467
-Joann's gonna rap for you.
-Let me see.

886
01:11:17,677 --> 01:11:19,970
She all right. She's doing good.

887
01:11:20,680 --> 01:11:23,640
Why is the baby wrapped up
in a blood-covered blanket?

888
01:11:23,724 --> 01:11:26,476
-Joann, what's so funny?
-For real. What happened?

889
01:11:26,560 --> 01:11:27,978
You don't wanna know is
how it got on the blanket.

890
01:11:28,062 --> 01:11:29,145
You know what your problem is, Joann?

891
01:11:29,230 --> 01:11:31,022
That you can't take anything
serious enough.

892
01:11:31,107 --> 01:11:33,525
-Jermaine, me expect better from you.
-Okay, Rhonda.

893
01:11:33,609 --> 01:11:36,152
Joann, stop laughing at this baby.

894
01:11:37,822 --> 01:11:39,114
Queens.

895
01:11:41,450 --> 01:11:43,201
Let me call you back.

896
01:11:43,286 --> 01:11:44,577
Just tell me what happened!

897
01:11:44,662 --> 01:11:45,996
No, it's not funny.

898
01:11:46,080 --> 01:11:48,915
But Joann, there's nothing funny
about a baby with blood on it.

899
01:11:49,000 --> 01:11:50,792
l got a West lndian friend
who's a Council member.

900
01:11:50,876 --> 01:11:53,003
Let me see what she can do.
Hold on a second.

901
01:11:53,087 --> 01:11:56,381
l found a lesson plan in our notebooks.
We're gonna...

902
01:11:57,925 --> 01:11:59,634
Clareece Jones.

903
01:11:59,719 --> 01:12:02,012
Hey, Ms. Lisa. How you been?

904
01:12:02,847 --> 01:12:04,055
l don't know.

905
01:12:04,140 --> 01:12:08,059
l went to see that movie, Barfly, last night.
Piece of shit.

906
01:12:09,061 --> 01:12:12,188
-l'm sorry.
-lt's on my desk. Can you hold?

907
01:12:12,273 --> 01:12:14,566
Something's wrong with you, Precious.

908
01:12:14,650 --> 01:12:16,192
This baby stink.

909
01:12:16,277 --> 01:12:18,570
Well, we don't have a Pamper,
so have a seat with the baby.

910
01:12:18,654 --> 01:12:21,323
-l am sitting.
-ln your seat, please.

911
01:12:21,407 --> 01:12:23,491
The first thing

912
01:12:23,576 --> 01:12:29,247
is shut the bumba-ros-clot...

913
01:12:30,124 --> 01:12:32,625
Ms. Rain, why did you let Rhonda
teach the class?

914
01:12:32,710 --> 01:12:34,336
She don't even know how to speak English.

915
01:12:34,420 --> 01:12:35,462
Let Rhonda take over.

916
01:12:35,546 --> 01:12:39,174
-Shut the bumba-ros-clot up.
-What the fuck is a "ros clot"?

917
01:12:39,258 --> 01:12:41,176
Yeah, Brenda, you there?

918
01:12:41,260 --> 01:12:43,845
The last four of the Social are...

919
01:12:43,929 --> 01:12:46,514
2-4-2-1 .

920
01:12:46,599 --> 01:12:48,725
-Rita?
-l just wanna know how to spell "Aquarius."

921
01:12:48,809 --> 01:12:51,686
-Anybody know how to spell "Aquarius"?
-lt's A-Q-U-A-R-l-U-S.

922
01:12:51,771 --> 01:12:52,979
Can you spell "boy" then?

923
01:12:53,064 --> 01:12:54,314
Can you spell "slut" then?

924
01:12:54,398 --> 01:12:56,024
Let's explore that.

925
01:12:56,108 --> 01:12:59,444
You wanna spell "slut," Consuelo,
l'll give you the first letter.

926
01:12:59,528 --> 01:13:01,654
Can you spell "illegal immigrant," then?

927
01:13:01,739 --> 01:13:03,782
Great, thank you.

928
01:13:05,368 --> 01:13:07,869
Can you please use "slut" in a sentence?

929
01:13:07,953 --> 01:13:09,329
Consuelo is a slut...

930
01:13:09,413 --> 01:13:12,207
-You the one who's the ho up in here...
-Joann is not a slut.

931
01:13:12,291 --> 01:13:14,667
Perfect. You get a gold star.

932
01:13:16,504 --> 01:13:18,213
But you know she likes that.

933
01:13:18,297 --> 01:13:20,590
Well, she's just insecure.

934
01:13:20,674 --> 01:13:22,300
-You think?
-Yeah.

935
01:13:22,802 --> 01:13:26,388
-That chicken was good.
-Really good. Did you have enough?

936
01:13:26,472 --> 01:13:28,390
There ain't more, is there?

937
01:13:28,474 --> 01:13:30,141
-ls there more?
-Yeah.

938
01:13:30,476 --> 01:13:32,769
Maybe later. Not now.

939
01:13:32,853 --> 01:13:34,813
l don't want you to think l'm greedy.

940
01:13:34,897 --> 01:13:37,232
You're not greedy.
lf you're hungry, let's get you some more.

941
01:13:37,316 --> 01:13:40,485
l guess I kind of eat
too much sometimes, though.

942
01:13:40,569 --> 01:13:41,820
No, you don't.

943
01:13:41,904 --> 01:13:43,780
-Blu, is that you?
-Not always.

944
01:13:43,864 --> 01:13:45,949
What are you doing here?

945
01:13:46,409 --> 01:13:49,077
l live here. Why didn't you tell me?

946
01:13:49,161 --> 01:13:51,955
-Hey, sweetie.
-ls this... ls this...

947
01:13:53,541 --> 01:13:55,750
This is Katherine, Precious.

948
01:13:55,835 --> 01:13:57,877
-Are you okay?
-lt's so nice to meet you, finally.

949
01:13:57,962 --> 01:14:01,381
Oh, my God. These straight-up lesbians.

950
01:14:01,465 --> 01:14:05,051
-This is Abdul.
-He's gorgeous. He looks just like you.

951
01:14:06,095 --> 01:14:07,429
Precious, can I hold him?

952
01:14:07,513 --> 01:14:09,264
You know how to?

953
01:14:09,348 --> 01:14:11,349
They stiII nice enough
to Iet us stay in their home

954
01:14:11,434 --> 01:14:13,768
untiI I get situated, though.

955
01:14:13,853 --> 01:14:17,939
-He's heavy. Oh, my God!
-You wanna hold him?

956
01:14:18,023 --> 01:14:20,525
I guess this is how the peopIes
on TV feel at Christmastime.

957
01:14:20,609 --> 01:14:23,194
-Don't drop him.
-Come on. I only work with children.

958
01:14:23,279 --> 01:14:24,320
You know how you are. I saw you...

959
01:14:24,405 --> 01:14:26,448
When we were putting up the tree,
you dropped half the top of it.

960
01:14:26,532 --> 01:14:28,116
They're so nice to me and AbduI.

961
01:14:28,200 --> 01:14:30,285
-Be careful. Hold him with both hands.
-Please.

962
01:14:30,369 --> 01:14:32,078
Oh, Abdul.

963
01:14:34,039 --> 01:14:36,207
Merry Christmas, Precious.

964
01:14:37,042 --> 01:14:38,168
Thank you.

965
01:14:38,252 --> 01:14:39,586
Why peopIes that bareIy know me

966
01:14:39,670 --> 01:14:43,006
should be nicer to me
than my mother and my father?

967
01:14:43,632 --> 01:14:45,049
l felt warm.

968
01:14:45,384 --> 01:14:46,593
-What?
-l'm just...

969
01:14:46,677 --> 01:14:49,846
l'm just concerned about the baby
and the cats upstairs.

970
01:14:49,930 --> 01:14:51,097
They're fine.

971
01:14:51,182 --> 01:14:53,183
Grandmother's scared of Momma.

972
01:14:53,267 --> 01:14:55,685
I know that's why
she ain't Ietting me stay with her.

973
01:14:55,769 --> 01:14:57,687
lf Ronald McDonald were running things...

974
01:14:57,771 --> 01:15:00,565
Ms. Rain say don't be afraid of nothing.

975
01:15:01,233 --> 01:15:03,693
l bet she ain't scared of Momma.

976
01:15:03,777 --> 01:15:06,404
Wouldn't you be a little bit suspicious?

977
01:15:06,489 --> 01:15:07,739
Just write the book.

978
01:15:07,823 --> 01:15:11,075
-Well, who's gonna read it?
-Nobody, if you don't write it.

979
01:15:11,160 --> 01:15:14,704
You know, Precious writes every day.
You should try it.

980
01:15:14,788 --> 01:15:18,041
ls that right?
What do you write about, Precious?

981
01:15:18,834 --> 01:15:20,084
Stuff.

982
01:15:21,170 --> 01:15:23,588
My life. Abdul.

983
01:15:26,008 --> 01:15:28,176
How come y'all don't like McDonald's?

984
01:15:28,260 --> 01:15:30,094
Katherine was just drawing a comparison

985
01:15:30,221 --> 01:15:32,263
so that her point could be
more easily understood.

986
01:15:32,348 --> 01:15:33,348
Yes.

987
01:15:33,432 --> 01:15:35,934
They taIk Iike TV channeIs I don't watch.

988
01:15:36,018 --> 01:15:37,393
My Uncle Clayton.

989
01:15:37,478 --> 01:15:40,939
I'm gIad AbduI here to Iisten in on them,
though, 'cause I know they're smart.

990
01:15:41,023 --> 01:15:42,440
Before he got saved,

991
01:15:42,525 --> 01:15:45,193
he used to smoke like a chimney
and drink like a fish.

992
01:15:45,277 --> 01:15:47,320
I don't understand a word they're saying.

993
01:15:47,404 --> 01:15:48,988
You understand?

994
01:15:52,576 --> 01:15:54,035
Y'all be watching Oprah?

995
01:15:54,119 --> 01:15:57,038
No. I don't, actually.
You know what time I get home from work.

996
01:15:57,122 --> 01:16:00,250
-l watch it.
-Momma say homos is bad peopIes.

997
01:16:00,960 --> 01:16:03,378
But Momma,
homos not ones who raped me.

998
01:16:03,462 --> 01:16:05,755
And what do that make you?

999
01:16:05,839 --> 01:16:09,968
Homos not ones who let me sit in class
aII them years and never Iearn nothing.

1000
01:16:10,052 --> 01:16:12,929
The homos not ones who sell crack
to peopIes in Harlem.

1001
01:16:13,013 --> 01:16:15,014
-...that I have ever seen. Tell her!
-That doesn't work.

1002
01:16:15,099 --> 01:16:17,684
l wonder what Oprah got to say about that.

1003
01:16:17,768 --> 01:16:20,144
Ms. Rain is the one
who put the chaIk in my hand,

1004
01:16:20,229 --> 01:16:22,689
made me queen of the ABC's.

1005
01:16:25,651 --> 01:16:27,569
After I settIed at the haIfway house,

1006
01:16:27,653 --> 01:16:30,071
I worked my hardest
to memorize Ietter sounds,

1007
01:16:30,155 --> 01:16:33,157
writing in the journaI,
and reading smaIIer and fatter books.

1008
01:16:33,284 --> 01:16:36,494
Then I found out the Mayor's office
give me a Iiteracy award

1009
01:16:36,579 --> 01:16:38,329
and a check for progress.

1010
01:16:40,749 --> 01:16:42,500
One, two, three.

1011
01:16:42,585 --> 01:16:44,335
The party is on.

1012
01:16:44,628 --> 01:16:46,004
Go, Joann!

1013
01:16:49,300 --> 01:16:51,384
Let me see what you got!

1014
01:16:51,468 --> 01:16:56,556
Everybody come. Nurse John, Cornrows,
all the staff was out there.

1015
01:16:57,099 --> 01:16:59,350
Even Ms. Katherine showed up.

1016
01:16:59,685 --> 01:17:00,977
Precious.

1017
01:17:04,189 --> 01:17:05,607
What's up?

1018
01:17:06,108 --> 01:17:07,609
What's that?

1019
01:17:08,193 --> 01:17:09,861
What does it look like?

1020
01:17:09,945 --> 01:17:11,863
Plastic stupid apple.

1021
01:17:15,034 --> 01:17:16,701
A little something for you.

1022
01:17:16,785 --> 01:17:19,495
-ls there more money in it?
-You're so greedy.

1023
01:17:19,580 --> 01:17:22,332
Yo, who's that?

1024
01:17:25,252 --> 01:17:26,502
What?

1025
01:17:29,381 --> 01:17:31,382
-What?
-Come on.

1026
01:17:31,884 --> 01:17:34,344
Precious, where are you taking me?

1027
01:17:35,763 --> 01:17:39,474
What am I supposed to do, diva? Yeah?
Wait a minute. Hold on, girl.

1028
01:17:39,558 --> 01:17:41,100
Yeah...

1029
01:17:45,272 --> 01:17:47,398
My mom called last night.

1030
01:17:50,069 --> 01:17:53,363
And we don't really have a relationship.

1031
01:17:53,822 --> 01:17:56,658
We don't talk,
because she really has a problem with...

1032
01:17:56,742 --> 01:18:00,495
Some folks got a light around them
that shine for other peopIes.

1033
01:18:00,579 --> 01:18:03,665
I think maybe some of them was in tunneIs,

1034
01:18:03,749 --> 01:18:06,459
and in that tunneI,
maybe the onIy Iight they had

1035
01:18:06,543 --> 01:18:08,086
was inside of them.

1036
01:18:08,170 --> 01:18:11,422
Then I thought about how strong
you've had to be.

1037
01:18:14,009 --> 01:18:17,762
And then,
even Iong after they escaped that tunneI...

1038
01:18:19,098 --> 01:18:21,933
-l'll help you clean up.
-Okay.

1039
01:18:22,601 --> 01:18:25,603
...they stiII be shining for everybody eIse.

1040
01:18:29,817 --> 01:18:31,859
That's Ms. Rain to me.

1041
01:18:34,822 --> 01:18:36,364
"Award for Outstanding Achievement."

1042
01:18:36,448 --> 01:18:40,076
In a book I read,
this Iady escaped to a haIfway house.

1043
01:18:40,160 --> 01:18:41,369
And when she was there,

1044
01:18:41,453 --> 01:18:44,372
she asked the peopIe there
what a haIfway house was.

1045
01:18:44,456 --> 01:18:48,793
They toId her it was haIfway between
her old life and where she wanna be.

1046
01:18:48,877 --> 01:18:50,795
That's kind of nice.

1047
01:18:52,464 --> 01:18:55,550
That aIso mean I can't stay here forever.

1048
01:18:55,634 --> 01:18:57,802
There's stiII a way to go.

1049
01:18:58,512 --> 01:19:01,472
It'd be something to get my own apartment.

1050
01:19:02,307 --> 01:19:05,810
AbduI nine months and aImost waIking.
He's smart, too.

1051
01:19:06,478 --> 01:19:09,564
I've been reading to him
since the day he was born.

1052
01:19:09,648 --> 01:19:12,692
He's bareIy taIking,
but he's aIready counting.

1053
01:19:13,652 --> 01:19:15,486
Momma, Daddy,

1054
01:19:16,238 --> 01:19:20,658
IS 1 1 1 , 444 Lenox aII seem
Iike some oId, bad dream.

1055
01:19:22,828 --> 01:19:26,831
I wish I couId've just started out here,
but still with Abdul.

1056
01:19:28,250 --> 01:19:32,420
I'm gonna get Mongo, too.
I gotta get Mongo back.

1057
01:19:34,506 --> 01:19:35,590
Hey, Miss Cassidy.

1058
01:19:35,674 --> 01:19:37,884
Hey, Precious,
somebody downstairs for you.

1059
01:19:37,968 --> 01:19:39,719
-Who is it?
-l didn't ask who it was.

1060
01:19:39,803 --> 01:19:41,012
You want me to watch the baby?

1061
01:19:41,096 --> 01:19:43,973
No, I gotta go down and get him anyway.

1062
01:20:18,383 --> 01:20:20,051
Your daddy dead.

1063
01:20:21,970 --> 01:20:23,429
That's all?

1064
01:20:28,519 --> 01:20:30,394
He had that AlDS virus.

1065
01:20:45,911 --> 01:20:47,161
There you go, dreaming again!

1066
01:20:47,246 --> 01:20:49,914
Precious, do you hear me taIking to you?

1067
01:20:51,333 --> 01:20:52,458
Did you hear what I said?

1068
01:20:57,422 --> 01:20:58,840
You got it?

1069
01:21:00,092 --> 01:21:01,717
Got what?

1070
01:21:01,802 --> 01:21:03,761
-The AlDS virus.
-No.

1071
01:21:04,763 --> 01:21:06,430
How do you know?

1072
01:21:06,515 --> 01:21:09,392
We never did it up in the ass, so I know.

1073
01:21:13,772 --> 01:21:16,232
You better get to a doctor, Mom.

1074
01:21:18,944 --> 01:21:20,653
You coming home?

1075
01:21:37,629 --> 01:21:39,130
Yo, Precious!

1076
01:21:57,774 --> 01:22:00,776
Rita, what do I mean when I say the author

1077
01:22:00,861 --> 01:22:05,531
describes her protagonist's circumstances
as "unrelenting"?

1078
01:22:06,533 --> 01:22:08,868
l don't know. I don't know.

1079
01:22:11,246 --> 01:22:14,832
lt's like, say, like if Rita,
she tries to do something,

1080
01:22:14,917 --> 01:22:17,376
and she's going and she's going,
and me, I try to stop her

1081
01:22:17,461 --> 01:22:20,087
and she no stop, she keep on going.

1082
01:22:20,714 --> 01:22:22,506
Relentless-un.

1083
01:23:15,227 --> 01:23:17,687
l'll see you tonight. Bye.

1084
01:24:06,778 --> 01:24:08,279
Come with me.

1085
01:24:09,698 --> 01:24:11,115
Precious?

1086
01:24:12,951 --> 01:24:14,410
Excuse me?

1087
01:24:16,329 --> 01:24:18,456
Nurse say l'm HlV positive.

1088
01:24:25,088 --> 01:24:27,631
l ain't got nothing to write today.

1089
01:24:29,468 --> 01:24:31,135
ls your baby okay?

1090
01:24:32,179 --> 01:24:35,556
He all right.
l just got to stop breastfeeding him.

1091
01:24:39,269 --> 01:24:41,437
Remember, you once told me

1092
01:24:41,938 --> 01:24:44,815
you never really got to tell your story.

1093
01:24:46,276 --> 01:24:48,319
-Write.
-Fuck you!

1094
01:24:48,820 --> 01:24:51,822
You know nothing
of what l've been through.

1095
01:24:52,991 --> 01:24:55,326
l ain't never had no boyfriend.

1096
01:24:57,996 --> 01:25:00,581
My daddy said he gonna marry me.

1097
01:25:01,249 --> 01:25:04,543
How he gonna do that?
lt would fucking be illegal!

1098
01:25:20,811 --> 01:25:22,019
Write.

1099
01:25:24,147 --> 01:25:26,690
l'm tired, Ms. Rain.

1100
01:25:27,567 --> 01:25:30,736
lf not for yourself,
then for the people who love you.

1101
01:25:30,821 --> 01:25:32,613
Nobody loves me.

1102
01:25:32,697 --> 01:25:34,949
People do love you, Precious.

1103
01:25:35,408 --> 01:25:37,868
Please don't lie to me, Ms. Rain.

1104
01:25:38,703 --> 01:25:41,080
Love ain't done nothing for me.

1105
01:25:42,124 --> 01:25:45,543
Love beat me, raped me,

1106
01:25:46,962 --> 01:25:50,965
called me an animal,
make me feel worthless.

1107
01:25:51,633 --> 01:25:53,217
Make me sick.

1108
01:25:55,554 --> 01:25:57,638
That wasn't love, Precious.

1109
01:25:59,724 --> 01:26:01,559
Your baby loves you.

1110
01:26:04,855 --> 01:26:06,313
l love you.

1111
01:26:13,613 --> 01:26:14,864
Write.

1112
01:26:23,790 --> 01:26:25,749
What are you thinking?

1113
01:26:27,919 --> 01:26:32,131
You never told me about
your relationship with your mother.

1114
01:26:34,885 --> 01:26:36,552
l didn't, did l?

1115
01:26:37,262 --> 01:26:39,847
Really, l'm here to help you.

1116
01:26:39,931 --> 01:26:43,100
You can talk to me.
This is a safe environment.

1117
01:26:44,436 --> 01:26:45,811
You're right.

1118
01:26:45,896 --> 01:26:48,439
We could talk about your daddy instead.

1119
01:26:48,523 --> 01:26:51,358
We could talk about my mother, my father,

1120
01:26:51,443 --> 01:26:55,821
my aunts or my sister or my brother,
but none of it's gonna help you.

1121
01:26:56,489 --> 01:26:57,990
You don't even like me.

1122
01:26:58,074 --> 01:27:01,118
Have we not been in this room together

1123
01:27:01,203 --> 01:27:04,455
for, like, a year, discussing your life?

1124
01:27:04,539 --> 01:27:07,541
Does that mean we like each other,
because we discuss my life?

1125
01:27:07,626 --> 01:27:09,084
l can't speak for you.

1126
01:27:09,169 --> 01:27:13,631
l can only speak for me,
and I do like you. I do.

1127
01:27:14,299 --> 01:27:16,133
So, are you ltalian, or...

1128
01:27:16,218 --> 01:27:17,509
What color are you, anyway?

1129
01:27:17,594 --> 01:27:19,678
Are you some type of black or Spanish?

1130
01:27:19,763 --> 01:27:21,972
What color do you think I am?

1131
01:27:23,934 --> 01:27:27,269
No, l'd like to know.
What color do you think I am?

1132
01:27:28,104 --> 01:27:29,813
My throat is dry.

1133
01:27:30,649 --> 01:27:32,399
Your throat is dry?

1134
01:27:32,817 --> 01:27:34,526
lt's really hot in here.

1135
01:27:34,611 --> 01:27:36,695
lt is kind of hot in here.

1136
01:27:37,239 --> 01:27:40,115
l'm gonna go get a soda.
What do you want?

1137
01:27:40,492 --> 01:27:42,326
Soda sounds fine.

1138
01:27:42,410 --> 01:27:43,827
All right.

1139
01:28:14,359 --> 01:28:15,859
Thank you.

1140
01:28:16,444 --> 01:28:17,903
No problem.

1141
01:28:21,616 --> 01:28:24,827
So, I have to talk to you about your mother,

1142
01:28:25,370 --> 01:28:27,705
and I don't know
how you're gonna feel about this,

1143
01:28:27,789 --> 01:28:30,541
but she says she wants to see you

1144
01:28:30,625 --> 01:28:35,254
and she wants to be reunited
with you and her grandchildren.

1145
01:28:35,839 --> 01:28:38,799
She wants to come
and have a session here with you.

1146
01:28:38,883 --> 01:28:40,467
What did you tell her?

1147
01:28:40,552 --> 01:28:43,387
l said I had to speak to you about it.

1148
01:28:46,016 --> 01:28:47,433
lt's up to you.

1149
01:28:47,517 --> 01:28:50,477
l don't know.
l never thought about it before.

1150
01:28:52,022 --> 01:28:54,523
Ms. Weiss said in that fiIe I got HIV.

1151
01:28:54,607 --> 01:28:57,026
She said I was supposed to die from it.

1152
01:28:57,110 --> 01:28:59,153
I ain't worried about dying.

1153
01:28:59,237 --> 01:29:03,198
Shit, I gotta worry about
how I'm supposed to raise these kids.

1154
01:29:04,200 --> 01:29:06,702
l was just writing, like, about...

1155
01:29:07,412 --> 01:29:09,496
l wanna open up this clinic

1156
01:29:09,581 --> 01:29:12,791
about, like, mothers and their children.

1157
01:29:13,626 --> 01:29:16,670
You know, just,
if they're sick or something like that.

1158
01:29:16,755 --> 01:29:20,424
l always wanted to do that,
give back to the community.

1159
01:29:20,508 --> 01:29:23,385
Because I know my mom would be
proud of me if I did that,

1160
01:29:23,470 --> 01:29:25,137
and my children, too.

1161
01:29:25,221 --> 01:29:28,932
l want my children to be proud
of their mother, you know?

1162
01:29:30,060 --> 01:29:34,605
-That's always what I wanted to do, so...
-That's good. That's really nice.

1163
01:29:38,193 --> 01:29:42,654
l don't really want to read the whole thing,
l kind ofjust wanna say what it's about.

1164
01:29:43,907 --> 01:29:47,534
Okay, the counselors
at Advancement House,

1165
01:29:49,371 --> 01:29:51,872
they were quizzing me
about my mother and my father, right?

1166
01:29:51,956 --> 01:29:53,707
But it's not really about them.

1167
01:29:53,792 --> 01:29:55,876
They're trying to get me to do workfare.

1168
01:29:55,960 --> 01:29:58,337
-They want me to be a home attendant.
-How do you know?

1169
01:29:58,421 --> 01:30:00,714
Because I stole my file and I read it.

1170
01:30:00,799 --> 01:30:02,716
All they want me to do is work.

1171
01:30:02,801 --> 01:30:06,053
Now, I do wanna work,
but not for no welfare check.

1172
01:30:06,137 --> 01:30:07,554
What kind of sense that make,

1173
01:30:07,639 --> 01:30:10,557
for somebody like Precious to quit school
before she got her GED

1174
01:30:10,642 --> 01:30:13,268
and go work
for some old white people somewhere?

1175
01:30:13,353 --> 01:30:16,438
She ain't never gonna be nothing
if she gets stuck in some shit like that.

1176
01:30:16,523 --> 01:30:18,023
Rhonda used to home attend.

1177
01:30:18,108 --> 01:30:21,110
She used to have to go all the way out
to Brighton Beach.

1178
01:30:21,194 --> 01:30:24,530
Yeah, okay, Rhonda would be
working there all day and night.

1179
01:30:24,614 --> 01:30:26,657
She'd be on call, right?

1180
01:30:27,075 --> 01:30:31,286
She made $6.37 an hour,
but for only eight hours.

1181
01:30:31,871 --> 01:30:33,997
That equal out to $50.96.

1182
01:30:34,999 --> 01:30:36,417
But that's not a whole lot of money,

1183
01:30:36,501 --> 01:30:39,628
especially 'cause,
for real, she there for 24 hours.

1184
01:30:39,712 --> 01:30:44,425
So, $50.96 divided by 24

1185
01:30:44,509 --> 01:30:48,429
is $2.1 2 an hour. That's not a lot of money.

1186
01:30:48,513 --> 01:30:52,891
She said that old bitch would ring a bell,
like, a real-life, actual bell

1187
01:30:52,976 --> 01:30:54,810
when she wanted something from her
in the middle of the night.

1188
01:30:54,894 --> 01:30:57,604
-You don't want to do that shit.
-Rhonda, is that true? Rhonda!

1189
01:30:57,689 --> 01:31:00,732
Them home attendants be working for, like,
six days a week.

1190
01:31:00,817 --> 01:31:04,695
l'd only see Abdul on Sunday.
Plus, l'd have to leave class.

1191
01:31:05,029 --> 01:31:08,323
Well, that's not an option.
You're not leaving class.

1192
01:31:08,408 --> 01:31:11,535
Plus, l'm gonna start going to
insect survivor meetings.

1193
01:31:11,619 --> 01:31:13,120
lt's "incest."

1194
01:31:14,873 --> 01:31:18,041
-That ain't what I said?
-No, you said "insect."

1195
01:31:18,626 --> 01:31:19,918
What's the difference?

1196
01:31:20,003 --> 01:31:21,795
Well, one's where your family molests you,

1197
01:31:21,880 --> 01:31:24,548
the other's like a roach or bugs.

1198
01:31:27,218 --> 01:31:29,845
-So, you a scientist now?
-l'm just saying.

1199
01:31:29,929 --> 01:31:32,723
No, that's cool. Thank you. Thank you.

1200
01:31:38,897 --> 01:31:42,483
It was hard teIIing them strangers there
what my father did.

1201
01:31:42,567 --> 01:31:44,568
Sometimes it felt good.

1202
01:31:49,824 --> 01:31:54,036
Last week, Ms. Rain asked us
to write down what we wanna be like.

1203
01:31:54,454 --> 01:31:57,998
I wrote that I be reaI skinny,

1204
01:31:58,750 --> 01:32:00,959
with Iight skin and Iong hair.

1205
01:32:02,420 --> 01:32:04,087
Loretha Holloway?

1206
01:32:05,298 --> 01:32:06,423
Go on back there.

1207
01:32:06,508 --> 01:32:08,342
She read it and said l'm beautiful like I am.

1208
01:32:08,426 --> 01:32:11,929
But, there's no kids back there
for me to play with.

1209
01:32:14,098 --> 01:32:16,058
Just shut up and sit there, then.

1210
01:32:16,142 --> 01:32:19,520
Gonna talk to this lady
before my shit gets cut off.

1211
01:32:19,604 --> 01:32:21,063
But somehow,

1212
01:32:22,190 --> 01:32:25,442
right now... And I don't know why, but...

1213
01:32:27,570 --> 01:32:29,321
I think she right.

1214
01:32:35,703 --> 01:32:36,787
Here.

1215
01:32:45,463 --> 01:32:47,089
Clareece Jones?

1216
01:32:53,054 --> 01:32:55,055
I think she right.

1217
01:33:00,311 --> 01:33:02,396
Okay, Mrs. Johnston,
let's talk about the abuse.

1218
01:33:02,480 --> 01:33:04,690
There were no drugs in my house.

1219
01:33:04,774 --> 01:33:06,733
l didn't play that.
There weren't no drugs in my house.

1220
01:33:06,818 --> 01:33:08,485
Precious knew I would whup her ass

1221
01:33:08,570 --> 01:33:10,070
if she gonna bring some drugs
up in my house.

1222
01:33:10,154 --> 01:33:12,531
You know what l'm talking about.

1223
01:33:13,658 --> 01:33:18,829
l'm referring to specific
sexual and physical acts

1224
01:33:19,372 --> 01:33:21,164
involving Precious.

1225
01:33:21,833 --> 01:33:23,834
Why you ain't say that?

1226
01:33:24,544 --> 01:33:26,169
Yes, that.

1227
01:33:28,214 --> 01:33:30,132
What do you wanna know?

1228
01:33:30,216 --> 01:33:32,217
According to Precious' files,

1229
01:33:32,302 --> 01:33:36,346
she has now had two children
by your boyfriend,

1230
01:33:36,431 --> 01:33:40,684
the late Carl Kenwood Jones,
who was also her father.

1231
01:33:46,983 --> 01:33:48,984
-Yeah.
-This is accurate?

1232
01:33:51,404 --> 01:33:53,196
Yes, Ms. Weiss.

1233
01:33:53,698 --> 01:33:56,783
l need to know why you're here.
You've been calling this office

1234
01:33:56,868 --> 01:34:00,787
saying you want to be reunited
with Precious and your grandchild.

1235
01:34:00,872 --> 01:34:04,374
Now, I really need to know
what's gone on in that home.

1236
01:34:04,459 --> 01:34:06,585
Ms. Weiss,
l understand we need to discuss it,

1237
01:34:06,669 --> 01:34:08,003
but l'm just telling you.

1238
01:34:08,087 --> 01:34:10,839
You said l've been calling here
and l've been wanting to see

1239
01:34:10,923 --> 01:34:12,382
Precious and my grandson.

1240
01:34:12,467 --> 01:34:16,970
You're goddamn right I wanna see them.
Because they belong to me. Okay?

1241
01:34:17,055 --> 01:34:20,098
Now, there was a time
Precious had everything,

1242
01:34:20,183 --> 01:34:21,975
and I done told her that.

1243
01:34:22,060 --> 01:34:25,687
And me and Carl, we loved Precious.
And you need to know that.

1244
01:34:25,772 --> 01:34:28,482
We loved Precious and we had dreams.

1245
01:34:28,566 --> 01:34:33,278
Precious was born around the same time
Ms. West's son got killed.

1246
01:34:34,781 --> 01:34:38,742
The summertime.
She was born in the summertime.

1247
01:34:38,826 --> 01:34:40,827
Remember? Remember that?

1248
01:34:41,120 --> 01:34:43,080
l was born in November.

1249
01:34:43,581 --> 01:34:45,123
November.

1250
01:34:46,000 --> 01:34:48,460
Yeah, that's right.

1251
01:34:49,754 --> 01:34:51,630
My Scorpio child.

1252
01:34:53,800 --> 01:34:55,258
You know...

1253
01:34:55,968 --> 01:35:00,013
Scorpios, they can be tricky.

1254
01:35:01,224 --> 01:35:05,769
And, l'm not saying that they lie.
l'm not saying that.

1255
01:35:06,312 --> 01:35:08,647
But you just gotta watch them.

1256
01:35:12,610 --> 01:35:16,405
Can we talk about the actual acts

1257
01:35:16,489 --> 01:35:19,199
of physical and sexual abuse

1258
01:35:19,283 --> 01:35:21,743
that occurred in your household?

1259
01:35:22,328 --> 01:35:23,870
When it first began,

1260
01:35:23,955 --> 01:35:26,957
where it happened
and how did you respond?

1261
01:35:33,339 --> 01:35:35,507
Precious was a little girl.

1262
01:35:36,968 --> 01:35:39,970
Try and remember
how old you think she was.

1263
01:35:44,267 --> 01:35:45,809
She was three.

1264
01:35:47,770 --> 01:35:51,231
And I had been giving her the bottle

1265
01:35:53,151 --> 01:35:55,610
and I was giving Carl the tittie

1266
01:35:55,987 --> 01:36:00,031
because my milk hadn't dried up
in my breasts

1267
01:36:01,159 --> 01:36:04,494
but not from her, but because Carl was...

1268
01:36:05,663 --> 01:36:07,581
Because Carl was sucking on them

1269
01:36:07,665 --> 01:36:11,501
and that's what kept my milk in my breasts.

1270
01:36:14,213 --> 01:36:17,007
And I thought that that was for hygiene.

1271
01:36:17,925 --> 01:36:20,677
l did what my mother told me

1272
01:36:21,262 --> 01:36:25,140
that I was supposed to do with my child,
so that's what I did.

1273
01:36:25,600 --> 01:36:28,268
And you're sitting up there
and you're trying to judge me...

1274
01:36:28,352 --> 01:36:31,188
l'm not judging you,
but you're asking me for money

1275
01:36:31,272 --> 01:36:33,690
and you're asking me
to be reunited with your grandson.

1276
01:36:33,775 --> 01:36:36,193
But, Ms. Weiss,
l don't like you looking at me like that.

1277
01:36:36,360 --> 01:36:39,821
You got this bitch looking at me
like l'm some kind of fucking monster.

1278
01:36:39,906 --> 01:36:41,823
We don't talk like this in my office, okay?

1279
01:36:41,908 --> 01:36:45,452
l didn't want her sucking behind him,
because that was nasty.

1280
01:36:45,536 --> 01:36:49,247
And things that he was...
lt was just nasty, Ms. Weiss.

1281
01:36:54,879 --> 01:36:58,507
l had a man, and I have a child

1282
01:37:00,301 --> 01:37:04,137
and I had to take care of both of them.
Okay?

1283
01:37:05,807 --> 01:37:10,811
Did I want Carl to touch my baby?

1284
01:37:12,897 --> 01:37:15,232
Because I would lay my baby.

1285
01:37:15,316 --> 01:37:19,945
l would lay her on the side of me,
on this pillow

1286
01:37:21,697 --> 01:37:23,865
and it was pink

1287
01:37:24,575 --> 01:37:27,619
and it had this little white writing on it

1288
01:37:27,703 --> 01:37:31,832
and it had her name,
because she was precious.

1289
01:37:32,750 --> 01:37:35,085
And I would lay my baby on that pillow

1290
01:37:35,169 --> 01:37:38,547
and Carl would be laying on the other side

1291
01:37:39,966 --> 01:37:43,844
and then we would...
We would start doing it

1292
01:37:43,928 --> 01:37:46,054
and he reached over

1293
01:37:48,349 --> 01:37:50,350
and he touched my baby.

1294
01:37:50,434 --> 01:37:51,977
And I asked him,

1295
01:37:52,770 --> 01:37:55,355
l said, "Carl, what are you doing?"

1296
01:37:55,439 --> 01:37:57,858
And he told me to shut...

1297
01:37:57,942 --> 01:38:00,944
To shut my fat ass up,
and it was good for her.

1298
01:38:01,028 --> 01:38:04,281
-And what did you do then?
-l shut my fat ass up.

1299
01:38:04,782 --> 01:38:08,118
And I don't want you to sit there
and judge me, Ms. Weiss.

1300
01:38:08,202 --> 01:38:09,953
You shut up
and you let him abuse your daughter?

1301
01:38:10,037 --> 01:38:11,997
l did not want him to abuse my daughter.

1302
01:38:12,123 --> 01:38:13,582
-l did not want him to hurt her.
-But you allowed him

1303
01:38:13,666 --> 01:38:15,542
-to hurt her.
-l did not want him to do nothing to her.

1304
01:38:15,626 --> 01:38:17,544
l wanted him to make love to me.

1305
01:38:17,628 --> 01:38:20,630
That was my man.
That was my fucking man.

1306
01:38:20,798 --> 01:38:23,633
That was my man
and he wanted my daughter.

1307
01:38:24,927 --> 01:38:27,220
And that's why I hated her.

1308
01:38:27,305 --> 01:38:30,307
Because my man,
who was supposed to be loving me,

1309
01:38:30,391 --> 01:38:33,226
who was supposed
to be making love to me,

1310
01:38:34,312 --> 01:38:36,563
was fucking my baby.

1311
01:38:36,647 --> 01:38:40,275
She made him leave.
She made him go away.

1312
01:38:40,818 --> 01:38:41,943
So, whose fault was it, then?

1313
01:38:42,028 --> 01:38:45,196
lt's this bitch's fault
because she let my man have her

1314
01:38:45,281 --> 01:38:46,865
and she didn't say nothing.

1315
01:38:46,949 --> 01:38:48,950
She didn't scream. She didn't do nothing.

1316
01:38:49,035 --> 01:38:52,579
So, those things she told you I did to her,

1317
01:38:52,663 --> 01:38:55,832
who else was gonna love me?

1318
01:38:58,836 --> 01:39:02,464
Since you got your degree
and you know every-fucking-thing,

1319
01:39:02,548 --> 01:39:06,593
who was gonna love me,
who was gonna make me feel good?

1320
01:39:06,677 --> 01:39:10,347
Who was gonna touch me
and make me feel good late at night?

1321
01:39:10,431 --> 01:39:12,974
And she made him go away, so...

1322
01:39:13,726 --> 01:39:17,228
When you sit there and you write
them fucking notes on your pad

1323
01:39:17,313 --> 01:39:21,358
about who you think I am,
and why I did it, all of that.

1324
01:39:22,693 --> 01:39:24,903
Because I didn't have nobody.

1325
01:39:33,704 --> 01:39:36,873
The people from

1326
01:39:38,501 --> 01:39:40,543
Each One Teach One,

1327
01:39:41,253 --> 01:39:44,214
they had... They called me

1328
01:39:47,176 --> 01:39:50,261
and they told me that my baby
was writing poems.

1329
01:39:50,346 --> 01:39:51,846
ln fact, you know what, I got...

1330
01:39:51,931 --> 01:39:53,515
Wait a minute.

1331
01:40:19,500 --> 01:40:20,959
l'm sorry.

1332
01:40:21,961 --> 01:40:25,338
l'm sorry.
And, Ms. Weiss, I don't want no checks.

1333
01:40:25,423 --> 01:40:29,634
l don't need no more money. Please.
l'm so sorry.

1334
01:40:30,553 --> 01:40:32,721
l took that TABE test again.

1335
01:40:33,931 --> 01:40:35,056
And what happened?

1336
01:40:35,141 --> 01:40:36,808
l scored a 7.8.

1337
01:40:38,519 --> 01:40:40,437
Last time it was 2.8.

1338
01:40:42,815 --> 01:40:44,190
According to that test,

1339
01:40:44,275 --> 01:40:46,985
l'm reading at
a seventh- and eighth-grade level.

1340
01:40:48,279 --> 01:40:51,448
Next year, high school. After that, college.

1341
01:40:57,997 --> 01:40:59,789
Well, I like you, too.

1342
01:41:02,126 --> 01:41:04,169
But you can't handle me.

1343
01:41:05,963 --> 01:41:08,298
You can't handle none of this.

1344
01:41:16,223 --> 01:41:19,642
You know, I never knew what you was
until this day.

1345
01:41:19,727 --> 01:41:22,479
Not even after all them things you did.

1346
01:41:23,981 --> 01:41:27,484
Maybe I was too stupid, or
maybe I just didn't want to.

1347
01:41:29,945 --> 01:41:32,280
You ain't gonna see me no more.

1348
01:41:35,868 --> 01:41:37,160
Bye!

1349
01:41:40,873 --> 01:41:42,749
l didn't want him to hurt my baby.

1350
01:41:42,833 --> 01:41:45,251
Please, God,
l didn't want him to hurt my baby.

1351
01:41:45,336 --> 01:41:48,213
Ms. Weiss,
l didn't want him to hurt my baby.

1352
01:41:48,297 --> 01:41:50,090
l would say to him, I would say...

1353
01:41:50,174 --> 01:41:53,426
"Carl, what are you doing?
What are you doing? What are you doing?"

1354
01:42:02,520 --> 01:42:04,104
Can you go get her back?

1355
01:42:04,188 --> 01:42:06,773
You can do that,
because that's what you do.

1356
01:42:06,857 --> 01:42:08,691
That's what you do.

1357
01:42:09,110 --> 01:42:12,821
l need you to go
and I need you to get my baby back.

1358
01:42:12,905 --> 01:42:16,533
You told me that I could come in here
and you could get...

1359
01:42:16,992 --> 01:42:18,451
You could get Precious to say...

1360
01:42:18,536 --> 01:42:21,037
Ms. Weiss? Ms. Weiss? Ms. Weiss?