1
00:00:02,502 --> 00:00:04,137
[***]
2
00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:05,739
NARRATOR:
1982.
3
00:00:05,772 --> 00:00:07,741
That was the year I turned 13.
4
00:00:07,774 --> 00:00:10,477
Before I was a comedian,
I thought the coolest thing
5
00:00:10,510 --> 00:00:14,547
that would happen to me
was being a teenager.
6
00:00:14,581 --> 00:00:19,252
I was going to have women,
money, stay out late...
7
00:00:19,285 --> 00:00:23,423
I thought it was going
to be the bomb.
8
00:00:23,456 --> 00:00:24,724
'Sup?
9
00:00:24,758 --> 00:00:27,160
He's here!
Chris is here!
10
00:00:27,193 --> 00:00:28,361
Yo, Chris!
11
00:00:28,395 --> 00:00:30,296
[PEOPLE CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
12
00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:32,432
[CHANTING]
Chris! Chris! Chris! Chris!
13
00:00:32,465 --> 00:00:34,567
Chris! Chris! Chris! Chris!
14
00:00:34,601 --> 00:00:36,569
[CHANTING CONTINUES]
15
00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:38,605
NARRATOR:
Boy, was I wrong.
16
00:00:38,638 --> 00:00:40,240
Chris!
17
00:00:40,273 --> 00:00:43,276
Get in the bathroom and wipe
the pee off the toilet seat!
18
00:00:44,811 --> 00:00:46,646
Disgusting!
19
00:00:48,682 --> 00:00:50,617
[***]
20
00:00:56,489 --> 00:01:00,093
* Aw, make it funky now
21
00:01:21,836 --> 00:01:24,939
JULIUS:
Come on, y'all, let's go.
We got to move.
22
00:01:24,973 --> 00:01:28,176
NARRATOR:
When I was 13,
my mother convinced my father
23
00:01:28,209 --> 00:01:29,711
to move us out
of the projects.
24
00:01:29,744 --> 00:01:31,112
She always said, "'Project'
25
00:01:31,145 --> 00:01:33,915
"is just another word
for 'experiment.'"
26
00:01:33,948 --> 00:01:36,718
In a lab, the government
gives rats cheese.
27
00:01:36,751 --> 00:01:39,921
In the projects, the government
gives people cheese.
28
00:01:39,954 --> 00:01:41,923
Dad...
29
00:01:41,956 --> 00:01:43,558
can we stop at McDonald's?
30
00:01:43,591 --> 00:01:45,126
You got some
McDonald's money?
31
00:01:45,159 --> 00:01:46,594
Julius, the kids
have to eat.
32
00:01:46,628 --> 00:01:47,996
They ain't got
to eat McDonald's.
33
00:01:48,029 --> 00:01:50,465
We got some bologna in the back.
I'll pull over.
34
00:01:50,498 --> 00:01:53,167
NARRATOR:
My father Julius always kept
bologna handy just in case.
35
00:01:53,201 --> 00:01:54,869
We get one combo meal.
36
00:01:54,902 --> 00:01:57,105
Drew gets the burger.
Tanya gets the fries.
37
00:01:57,138 --> 00:01:58,606
Chris, you can
have the drink.
38
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,875
NARRATOR:
One time, I just got ice.
39
00:02:00,908 --> 00:02:02,644
[***]
40
00:02:02,677 --> 00:02:05,880
NARRATOR:
We moved to an apartment
in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn.
41
00:02:05,913 --> 00:02:07,749
Now, had we known
that Bed-Stuy
42
00:02:07,782 --> 00:02:09,917
would be the center
of a crack epidemic,
43
00:02:09,951 --> 00:02:13,488
I guess we would've picked
someplace else.
44
00:02:13,521 --> 00:02:15,156
Bed-Stuy even had
its own motto:
45
00:02:15,189 --> 00:02:17,659
"Bed-Stuy, do or die."
46
00:02:17,692 --> 00:02:20,061
Look at that.
Look at that, look at that.
47
00:02:20,094 --> 00:02:22,630
NARRATOR:
Those are some of the guys
that are going to die.
48
00:02:22,664 --> 00:02:24,766
If I ever catch
any of y'all
49
00:02:24,799 --> 00:02:26,701
spray-painting
on anybody's wall,
50
00:02:26,734 --> 00:02:28,703
I'mma put my foot
so far up your behind,
51
00:02:28,736 --> 00:02:31,105
you'll have toes for teeth.
52
00:02:31,139 --> 00:02:32,640
Get inside.
53
00:02:32,674 --> 00:02:34,108
NARRATOR:
That's my mother Rochelle.
54
00:02:34,142 --> 00:02:36,544
She had a hundred recipes
for whooping ass.
55
00:02:36,577 --> 00:02:39,213
Boy, I will slap the caps
off your knees.
56
00:02:39,247 --> 00:02:41,783
I will knock you
into last night.
57
00:02:41,816 --> 00:02:43,952
I will slap your name
out the phone book
58
00:02:43,985 --> 00:02:46,020
and call Ma Bell
and tell her I did it!
59
00:02:46,054 --> 00:02:48,022
NARRATOR:
That's my younger brother Drew.
60
00:02:48,056 --> 00:02:50,658
There's nothing worse
than having a little brother
61
00:02:50,692 --> 00:02:52,026
that's bigger than you.
62
00:02:52,060 --> 00:02:53,895
My sister, Tanya,
was the youngest
63
00:02:53,928 --> 00:02:57,231
and would do anything
to get me in trouble.
64
00:02:57,265 --> 00:02:58,666
Chris, clean that mess up.
65
00:02:58,700 --> 00:03:00,535
Tanya did it.
Uh-uh!
66
00:03:00,568 --> 00:03:01,836
ROCHELLE:
Did I ask you that?
67
00:03:01,869 --> 00:03:03,538
NARRATOR:
Since I was the oldest,
68
00:03:03,571 --> 00:03:05,139
I had to be
the emergency adult.
69
00:03:05,173 --> 00:03:07,875
If you smell smoke, and you
think the house is gonna
70
00:03:07,909 --> 00:03:10,244
catch fire, get your brother
and sister and get out.
71
00:03:10,278 --> 00:03:13,648
If you smell gas and you think
the house is gonna blow up,
72
00:03:13,681 --> 00:03:15,683
get your brother and sister
and get out.
73
00:03:15,717 --> 00:03:18,653
If you smell smoke and your
brother catches on fire,
74
00:03:18,686 --> 00:03:20,521
get your sister
and get out of here.
75
00:03:20,555 --> 00:03:22,890
NARRATOR:
Fortunately,
the house never caught fire
76
00:03:22,924 --> 00:03:24,292
and neither did my brother.
77
00:03:24,325 --> 00:03:25,927
Mom, why is it
that Drew and Tanya
78
00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,029
get to go to school
in our own neighborhood,
79
00:03:28,062 --> 00:03:30,231
but I have to go all
the way to Brooklyn Beach?
80
00:03:30,265 --> 00:03:33,234
NARRATOR:
Brooklyn Beach was
a poor Italian neighborhood
81
00:03:33,268 --> 00:03:34,636
on the other side of town.
82
00:03:34,669 --> 00:03:35,970
It was just like Bed-Stuy:
83
00:03:36,004 --> 00:03:37,972
take away the gangs,
add the mob.
84
00:03:38,006 --> 00:03:40,742
Because the junior
high school around here
85
00:03:40,775 --> 00:03:43,044
is like a hoodlum factory.
86
00:03:43,077 --> 00:03:45,847
Now, those white kids,
they get an education.
87
00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:47,782
NARRATOR:
Not a Harvard-type education,
88
00:03:47,815 --> 00:03:50,818
just a not-sticking-up-
a-liquor-store type education.
89
00:03:50,852 --> 00:03:52,987
Hey, Dad.
Hi, baby.
90
00:03:53,021 --> 00:03:55,556
What's up?
Oh, what's up, Dad?
91
00:03:55,590 --> 00:03:57,859
Hey, Daddy.
Hey, baby.
92
00:03:57,892 --> 00:03:59,894
NARRATOR:
Tanya was
my father's favorite.
93
00:03:59,928 --> 00:04:01,663
What's wrong with
your oatmeal?
94
00:04:01,696 --> 00:04:02,864
Chris made
it too lumpy.
95
00:04:02,897 --> 00:04:04,599
NARRATOR:
And she knew it.
96
00:04:04,632 --> 00:04:06,968
You don't
have to eat it.
97
00:04:09,837 --> 00:04:12,907
JULIUS:
I know you're not
gonna throw that away.
98
00:04:12,941 --> 00:04:13,942
Eat that.
99
00:04:13,975 --> 00:04:16,010
That's 30 cent
worth of oatmeal.
100
00:04:16,044 --> 00:04:19,147
NARRATOR:
My father always knew
what everything cost.
101
00:04:19,180 --> 00:04:22,183
That's a $1.09 in the trash!
102
00:04:22,216 --> 00:04:26,187
That's two dollars on fire.
103
00:04:26,220 --> 00:04:29,123
That's 49 cent of spilt milk
104
00:04:29,157 --> 00:04:30,825
dripping all over my table.
105
00:04:30,858 --> 00:04:33,227
Somebody gonna drink this milk.
106
00:04:33,261 --> 00:04:35,196
Uh, baby,
did you see this?
107
00:04:35,229 --> 00:04:37,732
Mm. Oh, I paid this.
108
00:04:37,765 --> 00:04:39,834
It says you paid half.
I know.
109
00:04:39,867 --> 00:04:41,302
I gave you all the money.
110
00:04:41,336 --> 00:04:43,071
How come you only paid
half the bill?
111
00:04:43,104 --> 00:04:45,773
I cannot even believe that
you're asking me that.
112
00:04:45,807 --> 00:04:47,041
I'm asking you
a question.
113
00:04:47,075 --> 00:04:49,043
I'm trying to find out
what's going on--
114
00:04:49,077 --> 00:04:51,312
No, you're not.
You're questioning my judgment.
115
00:04:51,346 --> 00:04:54,649
You act like there's not a big
red bill sitting on the table.
116
00:04:54,682 --> 00:04:57,151
Okay, fine.
You do it, then.
117
00:04:57,185 --> 00:05:00,688
I will. I am. Fine.
Okay. Good. Fine.
118
00:05:00,722 --> 00:05:03,791
NARRATOR:
My parents taught me love
is never having to say:
119
00:05:03,825 --> 00:05:06,261
"Kiss my ass!"
Where the stamps at?
120
00:05:06,294 --> 00:05:08,396
NARRATOR:
I was never cool growing up.
121
00:05:08,429 --> 00:05:09,931
The coolest thing about me
122
00:05:09,964 --> 00:05:12,200
was this pair
of white sneakers I had.
123
00:05:12,233 --> 00:05:13,801
Oh, no, no, no.
124
00:05:13,835 --> 00:05:15,903
You are not going to school
in those sneakers.
125
00:05:15,937 --> 00:05:18,006
NARRATOR:
Believe it or not,
there was a time
126
00:05:18,039 --> 00:05:20,074
when you couldn't wear sneakers
everywhere.
127
00:05:20,108 --> 00:05:21,943
Why? Everybody else
wears sneakers.
128
00:05:21,976 --> 00:05:23,211
Because you look raggedy.
129
00:05:23,244 --> 00:05:25,246
And plus,
you have an assembly today.
130
00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:26,814
Boy, you done lost your mind.
131
00:05:26,848 --> 00:05:28,349
NARRATOR:
My mother hated raggedy.
132
00:05:28,383 --> 00:05:30,885
She always said it's better
to be poor and neat
133
00:05:30,919 --> 00:05:32,353
than rich and raggedy.
134
00:05:32,387 --> 00:05:35,056
I think she said that
because we were poor.
135
00:05:35,089 --> 00:05:38,660
Here.
Wear Drew's good shoes.
136
00:05:38,693 --> 00:05:40,061
I hate these shoes.
137
00:05:40,094 --> 00:05:42,030
Everybody will make fun
of me at school.
138
00:05:42,063 --> 00:05:43,898
You've been going there
for a week.
139
00:05:43,932 --> 00:05:45,700
You don't know everybody.
140
00:05:45,733 --> 00:05:48,269
NARRATOR:
I was the only black kid
at the school.
141
00:05:48,303 --> 00:05:49,404
They know me.
142
00:05:50,738 --> 00:05:52,140
NARRATOR:
This is so embarrassing.
143
00:05:52,173 --> 00:05:53,875
How come he's
wearing my shoes?
144
00:05:53,908 --> 00:05:55,810
'Cause you only have
one pair of feet.
145
00:05:55,843 --> 00:05:57,378
Chris, don't fool around
after school.
146
00:05:57,412 --> 00:06:00,114
I need you to be here
to let Drew and Tanya in, okay?
147
00:06:00,148 --> 00:06:02,250
You won't be here?
I got to work today.
148
00:06:02,283 --> 00:06:03,384
But you know the drill.
149
00:06:03,418 --> 00:06:05,019
Yeah, yeah,
I know, I know.
150
00:06:05,053 --> 00:06:07,722
Daddy's gonna be asleep,
don't wake him up till 5:00.
151
00:06:07,755 --> 00:06:10,258
That's right. Chris.
152
00:06:10,291 --> 00:06:12,026
You got your bus pass?
153
00:06:12,060 --> 00:06:13,928
Yeah. Um...
154
00:06:13,962 --> 00:06:16,130
somewhere around here.
Mm-hmm.
155
00:06:16,164 --> 00:06:18,032
You keep on.
You lose this bus pass,
156
00:06:18,066 --> 00:06:20,468
and your behind is gonna be
walking to school.
157
00:06:20,501 --> 00:06:23,004
Oh.
158
00:06:23,037 --> 00:06:25,039
Here's two dollars for lunch.
Thanks.
159
00:06:25,073 --> 00:06:26,975
All right.
Now, be good.
160
00:06:27,008 --> 00:06:28,710
CHRIS: I will.
Bye, Mommy.
161
00:06:28,743 --> 00:06:30,144
Bye, baby.
162
00:06:30,178 --> 00:06:31,412
Hold your sister's hand.
163
00:06:31,446 --> 00:06:34,115
Don't go in the street.
164
00:06:36,250 --> 00:06:38,853
NARRATOR:
Keisha was the girl next door.
165
00:06:38,886 --> 00:06:41,155
At 13, I didn't know
a lot about sex,
166
00:06:41,189 --> 00:06:43,424
but I knew she had something
to do with it.
167
00:06:43,458 --> 00:06:45,293
Hey, Drew.
NARRATOR:Drew?!
168
00:06:45,326 --> 00:06:46,794
What's up, Keisha?
169
00:06:49,197 --> 00:06:50,898
You know her?
170
00:06:50,932 --> 00:06:52,367
Yeah.
171
00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,836
NARRATOR:
Drew was so cool,
he got girls at 10
172
00:06:54,869 --> 00:06:56,871
that I couldn't get
until I was 30.
173
00:06:56,904 --> 00:06:58,373
Listen, when y'all
get to the house,
174
00:06:58,406 --> 00:07:00,875
don't ring the bell
or knock on the door.
175
00:07:00,908 --> 00:07:03,144
Just wait, okay?
Whatever.
176
00:07:03,177 --> 00:07:05,046
What if I have to go
to the bathroom?
177
00:07:05,079 --> 00:07:07,415
Go at school.
That bathroom is so nasty.
178
00:07:07,448 --> 00:07:10,118
Listen,
if you wake up Daddy,
179
00:07:10,151 --> 00:07:12,320
he's gonna punch me
square in the face.
180
00:07:12,353 --> 00:07:15,123
And if he does that,
I'm gonna punch you in the face.
181
00:07:15,156 --> 00:07:17,859
And then he's gonna kill me
and wind up in jail.
182
00:07:17,892 --> 00:07:19,761
Now, do you want Daddy
to go to jail?
183
00:07:19,794 --> 00:07:21,462
No.
[MOCKINGLY] No?
184
00:07:21,496 --> 00:07:23,798
[NORMALLY]
All right, then!
185
00:07:23,831 --> 00:07:25,800
NARRATOR:
Even when my mother got mad,
186
00:07:25,833 --> 00:07:27,502
she still made
my dad's dinner.
187
00:07:27,535 --> 00:07:29,070
...have this on my mind.
188
00:07:29,103 --> 00:07:30,872
NARRATOR:
...vegetables, potatoes,
189
00:07:30,905 --> 00:07:34,075
and his favorite:
a big piece of chicken.
190
00:07:34,108 --> 00:07:37,145
I had to take two buses
to school every day.
191
00:07:37,178 --> 00:07:39,414
Was the junior high school
across the street
192
00:07:39,447 --> 00:07:40,815
really that bad?
193
00:07:40,848 --> 00:07:43,551
[GUNSHOTS]
[PEOPLE SCREAMING]
194
00:07:43,584 --> 00:07:45,219
NARRATOR:
Much like rock and roll,
195
00:07:45,253 --> 00:07:47,855
school shootings were also
invented by blacks
196
00:07:47,889 --> 00:07:50,858
and stolen by the white man.
197
00:07:50,892 --> 00:07:53,928
My first bus
was the 26.
198
00:07:53,962 --> 00:07:56,264
I read the newspaper
every single day.
199
00:07:56,297 --> 00:07:58,132
I learned more
on the way to school
200
00:07:58,166 --> 00:08:00,768
than I learned at school.
201
00:08:02,170 --> 00:08:04,372
My next bus was the 44.
202
00:08:04,405 --> 00:08:06,808
I was the only black person
on the bus.
203
00:08:06,841 --> 00:08:08,576
And nobody would sit
next to me.
204
00:08:08,610 --> 00:08:10,278
I mean, nobody.
205
00:08:11,245 --> 00:08:12,981
If you think she's mad now,
206
00:08:13,014 --> 00:08:15,083
wait till her daughter
brings home O.J.
207
00:08:15,116 --> 00:08:17,218
[STUDENTS CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
208
00:08:17,252 --> 00:08:19,854
NARRATOR:
My mother thought
going to a white school
209
00:08:19,887 --> 00:08:21,556
meant I would get
a better education
210
00:08:21,589 --> 00:08:23,491
and I would be safer.
211
00:08:23,524 --> 00:08:25,493
Wrong!
212
00:08:25,526 --> 00:08:27,262
That's Joey Caruso,
213
00:08:27,295 --> 00:08:29,831
a little thug with a big chip
on his shoulder.
214
00:08:29,864 --> 00:08:31,399
You know,
I managed to avoid him
215
00:08:31,432 --> 00:08:33,301
before I wore these shoes.
216
00:08:34,369 --> 00:08:35,903
Nice shoes, Bojangles.
217
00:08:35,937 --> 00:08:38,106
Bojangles?
218
00:08:38,139 --> 00:08:40,008
That's not what
your mother called me
219
00:08:40,041 --> 00:08:42,510
when I was tap-dancing
in her drawers last night.
220
00:08:42,543 --> 00:08:44,612
[STUDENTS GASP, EXCLAIM]
221
00:08:44,646 --> 00:08:47,382
NARRATOR:
I know you think I'm crazy,
but if I let him
222
00:08:47,415 --> 00:08:50,418
get away with that,
he'd be doing it all year.
223
00:08:50,451 --> 00:08:52,020
Now, I couldn't beat him,
224
00:08:52,053 --> 00:08:54,389
but I thought maybe
I could out-black him.
225
00:08:54,422 --> 00:08:56,424
What?
Did I stutter?
226
00:08:56,457 --> 00:08:59,160
[STUDENTS EXCLAIM]
Do you know who I am?
227
00:08:59,193 --> 00:09:00,895
You step on
my shoe again,
228
00:09:00,929 --> 00:09:02,163
and I'mma tell you
who I am.
229
00:09:02,196 --> 00:09:04,132
[STUDENTS EXCLAIM]
I don't play that.
230
00:09:04,165 --> 00:09:05,867
I'm from Bed-Stuy, boy.
231
00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:08,169
I'll bring half of
Marcy up in here.
232
00:09:08,202 --> 00:09:09,938
I will beat
your butt so bad,
233
00:09:09,971 --> 00:09:11,940
you're gonna need
crutches in your sleep.
234
00:09:11,973 --> 00:09:13,274
NARRATOR:
Hey, this might work.
235
00:09:13,308 --> 00:09:15,209
You know what else
I'm gonna do--
236
00:09:15,243 --> 00:09:16,277
[CROWD GASPS]
237
00:09:16,311 --> 00:09:18,379
What's your name?
Chris.
238
00:09:18,413 --> 00:09:21,015
I'm Dr. Raymond,
your new principal.
239
00:09:21,049 --> 00:09:23,318
Now get off my feet.
240
00:09:23,351 --> 00:09:26,321
[SNICKERING]
RAYMOND: That's funny?
241
00:09:26,354 --> 00:09:27,622
That's not funny.
242
00:09:27,655 --> 00:09:29,524
What's your name, son?
243
00:09:29,557 --> 00:09:31,092
Caruso.
244
00:09:31,125 --> 00:09:33,628
Fix yourself up
next time you come to my school.
245
00:09:35,697 --> 00:09:37,398
See those shoes?
246
00:09:37,432 --> 00:09:39,200
They say something.
247
00:09:39,233 --> 00:09:40,602
They say, "I'm a student.
248
00:09:40,635 --> 00:09:42,971
I want to learn."
249
00:09:43,004 --> 00:09:45,073
I want more of that...
250
00:09:45,106 --> 00:09:47,308
and less of this.
251
00:09:47,342 --> 00:09:48,943
[***]
252
00:09:49,944 --> 00:09:51,679
Don't bump into me again.
253
00:09:51,713 --> 00:09:54,515
NARRATOR:
Even though Caruso
was messing withme,
254
00:09:54,549 --> 00:09:57,218
getting embarrassed
made him even madder.
255
00:09:57,252 --> 00:09:59,020
So you know what's coming next.
256
00:09:59,053 --> 00:10:00,355
This isn't over, nigger.
257
00:10:01,689 --> 00:10:04,359
NARRATOR:
Oh, he got away with calling me
nigger that day.
258
00:10:04,392 --> 00:10:07,228
But later in life,
he said it at a DMX concert
259
00:10:07,262 --> 00:10:09,998
and almost got stomped
to death.
260
00:10:10,031 --> 00:10:13,034
Hey, are you really from
Bed-Stuy, do or die?
261
00:10:13,067 --> 00:10:15,236
Yeah.
You ever been shot?
262
00:10:15,270 --> 00:10:18,539
No.
Well, at least not yet.
263
00:10:18,573 --> 00:10:20,575
I'm Greg.
I'm Chris.
264
00:10:20,608 --> 00:10:23,044
NARRATOR:
Greg Wuliger
wasn't my first choice
265
00:10:23,077 --> 00:10:25,079
for a friend,
but mutual ass-kicking
266
00:10:25,113 --> 00:10:26,614
seemed to bring
people together.
267
00:10:26,648 --> 00:10:29,217
Cool shoes.
Thanks.
268
00:10:29,250 --> 00:10:31,552
You know, if that
was the new principal,
269
00:10:31,586 --> 00:10:33,121
who was the old one?
270
00:10:33,154 --> 00:10:34,622
I didn't touch her!
271
00:10:34,656 --> 00:10:37,292
I don't know what you're
talking about. Ask anybody.
272
00:10:37,325 --> 00:10:39,193
NARRATOR:
Mr. Palmer was accused
of doing something
273
00:10:39,227 --> 00:10:41,629
we can't tell you about
because of the network censors.
274
00:10:41,663 --> 00:10:43,398
The school settled
the lawsuit out of court,
275
00:10:43,431 --> 00:10:45,300
and he's not allowed
to teach anymore.
276
00:10:45,333 --> 00:10:47,068
If he moves to your
neighborhood,
277
00:10:47,101 --> 00:10:49,270
you'll get a warning.
278
00:10:49,304 --> 00:10:51,506
Back at home, my father
should have been in bed,
279
00:10:51,539 --> 00:10:54,142
but he'd rather
lose sleep than money.
280
00:10:54,175 --> 00:10:55,677
What are you doing?
281
00:10:55,710 --> 00:10:57,312
I'm paying the bills.
282
00:10:57,345 --> 00:11:00,381
See? It says $40,
I'm paying $40.
283
00:11:00,415 --> 00:11:04,018
And that's exactly why I don't
let you pay the bills.
284
00:11:04,052 --> 00:11:06,154
[***]
285
00:11:07,722 --> 00:11:09,624
Where are you going?
To work.
286
00:11:09,657 --> 00:11:12,193
Is Chris gonna be home
in time to wake me up?
287
00:11:12,226 --> 00:11:13,595
Can I see in the future?
288
00:11:13,628 --> 00:11:15,163
What's wrong with you?
289
00:11:17,165 --> 00:11:20,268
[DOOR CLOSES]
Probably can see in the future.
290
00:11:23,204 --> 00:11:25,139
NARRATOR:
By lunchtime, I was starving.
291
00:11:25,173 --> 00:11:26,674
GREG:
I'm gonna go
get a hot dog.
292
00:11:26,708 --> 00:11:29,243
I'm gonna get
a slice of pizza.
293
00:11:31,412 --> 00:11:32,347
Got my money...
294
00:11:33,481 --> 00:11:35,483
[***]
295
00:11:38,653 --> 00:11:40,255
Give me back my bus pass.
296
00:11:40,288 --> 00:11:43,024
You want it?
Take it, you little...
297
00:11:47,195 --> 00:11:50,164
After school, Satchmo.
298
00:11:59,042 --> 00:12:01,144
NARRATOR:
After school, I had a plan.
299
00:12:01,178 --> 00:12:02,879
Th-This is crazy.
300
00:12:02,913 --> 00:12:05,749
Man, it's a school fight. School
fights only last a minute,
301
00:12:05,782 --> 00:12:08,018
'cause somebody always
comes and breaks them up.
302
00:12:08,051 --> 00:12:10,487
All I have to do is get
in the first punch,
303
00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:12,589
somebody'll stop it.
304
00:12:12,622 --> 00:12:14,591
CROWD [CHANTING]:
Fight! Fight! Fight!
305
00:12:14,624 --> 00:12:16,793
[CHANTING CONTINUES]
306
00:12:17,994 --> 00:12:20,630
What're you waiting
for, Corn Bread?
307
00:12:21,631 --> 00:12:23,266
[CROWD EXCLAIMS]
308
00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:25,168
This'll be over any minute.
309
00:12:25,202 --> 00:12:27,504
[***]
310
00:12:33,009 --> 00:12:35,212
[***]
311
00:12:47,858 --> 00:12:50,727
Is somebody
gonna stop this?
312
00:12:55,165 --> 00:12:56,767
[GROANS]
313
00:13:03,573 --> 00:13:06,643
Wait! Wait! Wait!
314
00:13:06,676 --> 00:13:07,778
Wait for me!
315
00:13:07,811 --> 00:13:10,180
Thank you. Thank you, yeah.
316
00:13:10,213 --> 00:13:12,282
Come on, ma'am, come on.
I got a schedule. Let's go...
317
00:13:12,315 --> 00:13:14,818
Wait! Wait! Hold up!
Hold up! Wait!
318
00:13:14,851 --> 00:13:16,553
There's a kid
trying to catch...
319
00:13:16,586 --> 00:13:18,822
Yeah, yeah, I know, I see...
320
00:13:18,855 --> 00:13:20,657
Wait, wait,
wait, wait-- Ow!
321
00:13:20,691 --> 00:13:22,559
[GRUMBLING]
322
00:13:24,695 --> 00:13:26,196
Bet you don't get me tomorrow.
323
00:13:26,229 --> 00:13:27,564
I bet I do.
324
00:13:27,597 --> 00:13:28,899
You do...
Yeah, go sit down.
325
00:13:28,932 --> 00:13:31,268
Cut that out, you bunch
of hoods! Back off!
326
00:13:34,705 --> 00:13:37,708
NARRATOR:
I was still hungry,
but I was almost home.
327
00:13:37,741 --> 00:13:39,242
What could go wrong now?
328
00:13:39,276 --> 00:13:41,044
Daddy!
329
00:13:41,078 --> 00:13:43,980
Daddy! Daddy!
330
00:13:44,014 --> 00:13:46,283
NARRATOR:
That girl's trying
to get me killed.
331
00:13:46,316 --> 00:13:48,352
Daddy! Dad--
332
00:13:48,385 --> 00:13:50,354
Girl, you don't want
Daddy to go to jail.
333
00:13:50,387 --> 00:13:52,055
I told her to quit.
334
00:13:52,089 --> 00:13:55,058
I have to go to the bathroom.
I told you to go at school!
335
00:13:55,092 --> 00:13:57,594
That bathroom is nasty!
336
00:13:59,763 --> 00:14:01,765
Listen. We're going in.
337
00:14:01,798 --> 00:14:04,267
But once we get in, I don't
want to hear any noise.
338
00:14:04,301 --> 00:14:06,136
None.
Do you understand?
339
00:14:06,169 --> 00:14:07,104
Yes.
340
00:14:08,638 --> 00:14:11,141
[***]
341
00:14:11,174 --> 00:14:13,110
[TOILET FLUSHING]
342
00:14:16,179 --> 00:14:19,149
[CONTINUES FLUSHING, MUFFLED]
343
00:14:19,182 --> 00:14:21,952
NARRATOR:
My father always
slept in his uniform.
344
00:14:21,985 --> 00:14:25,756
That way, when he woke up,
he'd be ready to go.
345
00:14:26,757 --> 00:14:28,291
[FLOORBOARDS CREAK]
346
00:14:28,325 --> 00:14:29,760
I know how
to pay bills.
347
00:14:29,793 --> 00:14:31,028
I can pay the bills...
348
00:14:42,172 --> 00:14:44,107
[LATCH CLICKS]
349
00:14:44,141 --> 00:14:46,977
NARRATOR:
You may not think messing up
a pair of $40 shoes
350
00:14:47,010 --> 00:14:49,880
is such a big deal,
but you have to realize
351
00:14:49,913 --> 00:14:52,349
that my father's car
only cost $65.
352
00:14:52,382 --> 00:14:54,117
I had to get those shoes clean.
353
00:14:54,151 --> 00:14:56,086
[***]
354
00:15:21,378 --> 00:15:24,981
NARRATOR:
For the first time that day,
things were going all right.
355
00:15:30,020 --> 00:15:33,924
All I had to do now was keep
everybody quiet till 5:00.
356
00:15:33,957 --> 00:15:35,325
[LAUGHING]
357
00:15:35,359 --> 00:15:37,361
[MUFFLED LAUGHING]
358
00:15:37,394 --> 00:15:39,696
[CLOCK TICKING]
359
00:15:44,401 --> 00:15:45,869
Dad...
360
00:15:45,902 --> 00:15:47,671
Dad.
361
00:15:48,138 --> 00:15:49,906
Time to get up.
362
00:15:50,774 --> 00:15:52,209
It's 5:00?
363
00:15:52,242 --> 00:15:54,244
Yep.
364
00:15:54,277 --> 00:15:56,947
It's not 4:59?
365
00:15:56,980 --> 00:15:58,482
Nope.
366
00:15:58,515 --> 00:16:00,450
No...
367
00:16:01,418 --> 00:16:02,986
What job am I
going to?
368
00:16:03,020 --> 00:16:05,255
You're driving a truck.
369
00:16:05,288 --> 00:16:07,024
[SIGHS]
370
00:16:10,460 --> 00:16:12,896
[GROANS]
371
00:16:12,929 --> 00:16:15,432
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello?
372
00:16:15,465 --> 00:16:17,367
Hey, hey, baby.
It's Mommy.
373
00:16:17,401 --> 00:16:18,502
Is your father up?
374
00:16:18,535 --> 00:16:20,103
Yep.
Good, good, good.
375
00:16:20,137 --> 00:16:22,239
Take his plate
out of the refrigerator
376
00:16:22,272 --> 00:16:23,507
and put in the oven for him.
377
00:16:23,540 --> 00:16:25,008
What plate?
378
00:16:25,042 --> 00:16:27,244
The one with
the big piece of chicken.
379
00:16:27,277 --> 00:16:29,212
[***]
380
00:16:40,223 --> 00:16:41,792
Haven't I told you
381
00:16:41,825 --> 00:16:44,928
do not eat
the big piece of chicken?
382
00:16:44,961 --> 00:16:46,496
But I was still hungry.
383
00:16:46,530 --> 00:16:48,899
NARRATOR:
My mother wasn't mad at me,
she was
384
00:16:48,932 --> 00:16:51,168
looking out for my father.
You see how big he is?
385
00:16:51,201 --> 00:16:53,470
NARRATOR:
She didn't want him
to go to work hungry,
386
00:16:53,503 --> 00:16:56,173
'cause if he goes to work
hungry, he'll be grouchy,
387
00:16:56,206 --> 00:16:58,942
and if he's grouchy, he might
call his boss "cracker,"
388
00:16:58,975 --> 00:17:00,410
and if he calls
his boss "cracker,"
389
00:17:00,444 --> 00:17:02,546
then we're living
in the projects again.
390
00:17:02,579 --> 00:17:07,050
But do not eat the biggest
piece of chicken.
391
00:17:07,884 --> 00:17:10,120
Do you understand?
392
00:17:15,258 --> 00:17:17,894
At least you didn't
mess up your school shoes.
393
00:17:22,165 --> 00:17:24,368
Now come over here
and give me some sugar.
394
00:17:24,401 --> 00:17:26,503
[***]
395
00:17:29,506 --> 00:17:31,274
Now go to bed.
396
00:17:34,845 --> 00:17:36,213
Rochelle.
397
00:17:36,246 --> 00:17:37,447
What?
398
00:17:37,481 --> 00:17:39,483
Look, I'm not trying
to tell you what to do,
399
00:17:39,516 --> 00:17:42,152
but I'm working hard trying
to pay for this place.
400
00:17:42,185 --> 00:17:44,221
You know that.
Just because you make money
401
00:17:44,254 --> 00:17:46,123
doesn't mean you know
how to spend it.
402
00:17:46,156 --> 00:17:48,225
You got to know how
to work the system.
403
00:17:48,258 --> 00:17:49,292
What system?
404
00:17:49,326 --> 00:17:51,061
The debt system.
405
00:17:51,094 --> 00:17:54,164
I run this house like they run
the country: on a deficit.
406
00:17:54,197 --> 00:17:56,833
Rent is due on the 3rd.
I don't pay it till the 9th
407
00:17:56,867 --> 00:17:59,036
because you don't get
your check till the 7th.
408
00:17:59,069 --> 00:18:00,904
If you pay
the light bill now,
409
00:18:00,937 --> 00:18:02,406
I won't have money
for the groceries,
410
00:18:02,439 --> 00:18:04,508
the rent would be late and then
you'll have to work overtime.
411
00:18:04,541 --> 00:18:06,276
You want to work
overtime again?
412
00:18:06,309 --> 00:18:07,344
No, I don't think so.
413
00:18:07,377 --> 00:18:09,046
If we don't owe people money,
414
00:18:09,079 --> 00:18:11,014
we won't have any money at all.
415
00:18:12,549 --> 00:18:15,285
[SIGHS]
Um...
416
00:18:15,318 --> 00:18:18,055
Uh, why didn't you
just say that then?
417
00:18:18,088 --> 00:18:20,223
Because you didn't ask.
418
00:18:24,428 --> 00:18:25,862
Baby.
419
00:18:25,896 --> 00:18:27,964
Don't "baby" me.
420
00:18:27,998 --> 00:18:31,068
Come here. I'm sorry.
421
00:18:31,101 --> 00:18:32,569
Okay?
422
00:18:34,171 --> 00:18:36,339
Who told you to open
the mail, anyway?
423
00:18:36,373 --> 00:18:38,975
Come here, pookie.
424
00:18:39,009 --> 00:18:41,211
No, last time you said
"pookie," I got pregnant.
425
00:18:41,244 --> 00:18:43,146
You my pookie.
You always my pookie.
426
00:18:43,180 --> 00:18:46,249
No pookie.
Okay, little bit of pookie.
427
00:18:46,283 --> 00:18:47,884
Love you.
428
00:18:47,918 --> 00:18:49,586
I love you too, baby.
429
00:18:52,389 --> 00:18:55,125
NARRATOR:
My dad always checked on us
in between jobs,
430
00:18:55,158 --> 00:18:58,328
his night job
and his late-at-night job.
431
00:18:58,362 --> 00:18:59,663
Dad?
432
00:18:59,696 --> 00:19:01,898
Hey, man.
433
00:19:01,932 --> 00:19:04,101
I thought you were asleep.
434
00:19:04,134 --> 00:19:06,536
I'm sorry I ate
the big piece of chicken.
435
00:19:06,570 --> 00:19:08,572
That was 89 cent
worth of chicken.
436
00:19:08,605 --> 00:19:11,108
What, you didn't get enough
to eat at school?
437
00:19:11,141 --> 00:19:12,943
I was still hungry.
438
00:19:12,976 --> 00:19:15,045
Now I'm still hungry.
439
00:19:15,078 --> 00:19:16,413
Look, next time,
440
00:19:16,446 --> 00:19:19,116
eat a little something
extra at breakfast, okay?
441
00:19:19,149 --> 00:19:20,117
Okay.
442
00:19:20,617 --> 00:19:22,586
Here.
443
00:19:22,619 --> 00:19:24,588
Now don't go pulling
this money out.
444
00:19:24,621 --> 00:19:27,057
Somebody'll try to rob you.
445
00:19:27,090 --> 00:19:29,292
Don't tell
your mother about this.
446
00:19:29,326 --> 00:19:31,061
[***]
447
00:19:31,094 --> 00:19:32,629
Everything okay at school?
448
00:19:32,662 --> 00:19:34,631
NARRATOR:
I didn't tell him
about the fight.
449
00:19:34,664 --> 00:19:37,634
My dad went to school
during the Civil Rights era.
450
00:19:37,667 --> 00:19:41,705
After hoses, tanks and
the dog bites on your ass,
451
00:19:41,738 --> 00:19:43,974
somehow Joey Caruso
didn't compare.
452
00:19:44,007 --> 00:19:47,044
Yeah, it was all right.
453
00:19:48,378 --> 00:19:50,947
Good. I'll see you
in the morning.
454
00:19:50,981 --> 00:19:53,950
NARRATOR:
My father wasn't the type
to say, "I love you."
455
00:19:53,984 --> 00:19:56,420
He was one of four fathers
on the block.
456
00:19:56,453 --> 00:19:59,356
"I'll see you in the morning,"
meant he was coming home.
457
00:19:59,389 --> 00:20:02,726
Coming home was his way
of saying, "I love you."
458
00:20:02,759 --> 00:20:04,327
Unplug that clock, boy.
459
00:20:04,361 --> 00:20:06,530
You can't tell time
when you sleep.
460
00:20:06,563 --> 00:20:08,365
That's two cents an hour.
461
00:20:09,666 --> 00:20:12,402
ROCHELLE:
What the hell happened
to my towel?
462
00:20:12,436 --> 00:20:14,404
[***]
463
00:20:24,130 --> 00:20:26,065
[***]
464
00:20:27,366 --> 00:20:30,837
* Aw, make it funky now