Original subtitles

Come here.

Close the door.

Close the door.

You ain't at the photographer's!

You ain't getting your picture taken.

Move!

Oh! Oh, God!

Ooh, son...

Ooh, you got a sweet - you got a sweet, sweet back!

Oh, God!

Oh, son! Oh, son!

Sweetback!

Oh, Sweetback!

We're getting static from the chief about that stiff that was found yesterday.

You know what I mean?

- We don't know nothin' about no dead man.

We know that, but the commissioner doesn't.

We just want to borrow one of your boys for a couple of hours

and take him downtown to make us look good, official-wise.

Why me? I'm short one man already.

George is sick.

You're our friend. We knew you'd be willing to lend a hand.

When did you people start getting so interested in Black folks,

dead or alive?

This is progress.

I can't. I'm short.

Only got two guys working now.

Donald to explain, Sweetback to train,

and the two of 'em to trounce and bounce.

We got a nice understanding, Beetle.

It's mutual.

Everybody profits.

Let's keep it that way.

[man] I'm the good dyke fairy godmother.

Yes, the good dyke fairy godmother.

Why, didn't you know that all good dykes have fairy godmothers?

And I'm here to answer the prayers of a good dyke.

Yes, the good dyke fairy godmother.

Didn't you know that all good dykes have fairy godmothers?

And I'm here to answer the prayers of a good dyke.

Zap, child.

- Why me?

I'm shorthanded as it is.

George is sick.

[woman] Go on, baby sister. Get it on, girl!

[man 1] Clean on down to the bone!

[woman 2] Jelly, jelly, jelly!

You got it, Sweetback!

-[man 2] Get to it, brother!

- You're cool, Sweetback!

Him or one of the other boys.

We'll have him back for you before tomorrow noon.

Now, Sweetback here's the greatest!

Absolute greatest!

Greatest in the world!

- Oh, I know what you're thinking. Huh!

How many times have I heard that before?

Well, as a special added attraction,

if one of you young ladies would like to step up and try this gentleman,

I'm sure you'll find him more than lively.

But, uh, that is to say, uh -

However...

You know, this offer is, um, only open to, um...

sisters?

Ounce of prevention...

-...is worth a pound of sniffing around. - Hey!

That's all, folks.

[Beetle] When Sweetback gets dressed, tell him I want to see him.

[Beetle] Go with these gentlemen for the evening.

See you tomorrow.

That's a hell of a show you guys put on.

- We aren't going to use the handcuffs. - Just like we told Beetle.

- It's just a little eyewash. - Cigarette?

[dispatcher on radio] Calling W2, calling W2.

-[officer] Read you loud and clear. - Proceed to Unit One.

Crenshaw, Sector Two. Backup 10-W4.

Community disturbance. Possible 415 developing.

- Step on it! - Roger.

I got the cuffs. It's just for appearance's sake.

We don't want anybody to come around here and find you just sitting here.

Don't go away.

[man] Let him alone! Leave him alone! Take your hands off him!

He must be the ringleader.

Come on, let's get him out of here before a crowd forms.

[officer 1] You've been stirring up the natives, kid.

- Nice night! -[officer 1] Yeah.

Nice night for a drive.

A little walk, too, maybe.

All right, why don't you step out over here. Get some fresh air.

That's better.

Lookee here. He doesn't look very tough to me.

- Does he look tough to you? - Nah!

He don't look too tough.

Be careful. Don't mark his face.

Oh, no, no, we're not gonna hurt his face.

Why, sir, I think he's drunk!

Stand on your feet. You're a tough man!

Wait a second. Hey, Sweetback.

I'm sorry, man.

Forgot you two were attached together.

Let's see if we can get a little air between you.

There. You step over here.

That's better, isn't it?

Let's see this -

You don't look too tough now!

Stay home at night, and you wouldn't get into all this trouble, would you?

- What's the matter with you? You drunk? -[officer 2] He looks like a sniper to me!

Thanks, man.

Where are we going?

Where do you get that "we" shit?

Sweetback!

Yeah.

Oh, hang loose, baby.

Yeah.

We got to chop a skosh, you know.

Gonna lay it on you, hmm?

Sweetback, baby!

Looking good, yeah!

You looking good.

You have to be awful cool.

'Cause what you do affect all the rest of our little employees,

and we can't have that 'cause we got a good operation going here.

Being in public relations, it's a nice little business.

Like a...

Yeah, man.

You don't have to worry about nothin'. I'm Beetle.

Me. Beetle? I'm your man.

Everybody got a man. I'm your man.

It's a little rough now.

Don't worry about it, baby.

Don't worry about it.

That make you feel like a new one, baby. Can you dig it? A brand-new one.

Yeah.

But you know what, man?

Like, you gonna have to kinda lay out, you know?

Stretch out a little while. Be real cool.

Kinda lay dead.

Ol' Beetle let you know what's happenin', what's going down.

Don't have to worry about nothin'. If you need anything, anything at all...

Brother, just keep the faith in Beetle.

Ol' Beetle gon' bring you through. 'Cause this is just a skirmish, yeah.

You know how the game go, baby.

But you keep the faith in me and you my man.

You my favorite man.

Can you dig it, baby?

Together. You know?

Maintain!

They can't bother you as long as Beetle's with you.

Now you go and hibernate like that ol' bear.

And don't go nowhere. Can you dig it? Yeah?

Ha! Mellow.

Go out the back door, now. Speed on.

And don't let nobody know where you at. Let sleeping dogs rest.

Can you dig it, baby? Yeah!

You were in the car.

Were you still in the car, Sweetback?

How many men were in the ambush?

How'd they work it?

You know they're still unconscious.

Come on. They were your friends too.

Do you know where Mu-Mu might be?

We can't figure out what they used to beat them with.

Here, give me your coat.

Hmm?

[officer] Sir, I think we discovered the weapon and one of the assailants.

- Uh-huh'? - Mr. Sweetback.

Yeah?

I think we have a new development in the case.

Wash your car, mister?

[officer] I'm not buying it. Now get away from here./

I'm sorry, sir.

Proceed.

He didn't tell us where Mr. Mu-Mu was or anybody else.

Proceed!

- No charge if you don't like it. - Yeah, no charge if you don't like it.

[officer] Just move away from the car.

Oh, yes.

I see.

You have the witness called Sweetback.

And Mr. Sweetback knows the whereabouts of the suspect,

but that Mr. Sweetback has been injured in a fall.

Not too badly, I hope.

Fell down and bruised himself, sir.

- Can we print that, Commissioner? - Of course.

I have no secrets from the press.

[officer] - I'm sorry, sir, I don't under -

Fine! Fine!

You say the witness has given you the whereabouts of the suspect?

Too bad the witness has injured himself in a fall.

Okay. Right, sir.

Proceed!

Well?

Commissioner says to beat the information out of the nigger

before we get into the station.

Wait a minute! Let's take him some place where we can really work on him.

[officer] Air squad units have been alerted

and a search pattern has been constructed over the area.

Barricades have been set up immediately adjoining the streets.

Four additional units are now on the scene assisting.

All other available units are being deployed in searching the area.

Apprehension in a matter of moments.

- Impossible to -

You sure are jive!

And don't tell me you came here looking for Steve.

You know Steve's not here. He's got two more months to do.

What are you, some kind of Indian giver or something?

You gave me to him.

I knew you'd be back.

What do you want me to do, take them off?

- Beg. - No.

You too proud to beg?

No, but you wouldn't take them off if I did.

Flaughs] You know every goddamn thing, don't you?

Well, first things first.

-[officer 1] Where's Sweetback? -[officer 2] Where's Sweetback?

-[Beetle] I don't know where Sweetback is. -[officer 1] Where's Sweetback?

I don't know where Sweetback is. I don't know where's Sweetback.

- Come on. You can tell us. - He seems to be hard of hearing.

- No. Uh-uh. - If he don't talk, he's gonna be.

Where's Sweetback? Where is he?

- Where's Sweetback? - I don't know where Sweetback.

- Where is Sweetback? - Come on, boy!

- Where is he?

- I don't know where Sweetback is. - Come on, boy, talk!

- I don't know where Sweetback is! - Come on, boy! Where's Sweetback?

- He must be deaf! - If he isn't, he's gonna be.

- Look at me. Where's Sweetback?

- I don't know where he is. - Where is he?

I don't know where's Sweetback. I don't know where Sweetback is.

Come on! Where is Sweetback?

- I don't know where's Sweetback. - Tell me! Where's he at?

I don't know where he is. I haven't seen Sweetback.

- Come on, boy. - Sweetback!

You only got one good ear left, boy.

Do you want to save it? Do you want to talk?

- This guy is tough.

Both ears are gone and he still won't talk!

So he's tough.

Oh, Jesus!

[woman] Oh, Lord!

Oh, Jesus!

-[woman 2] Take him into glory, Lord! -[woman 3] Yes, Lord!

[woman 2] You know his heart.

-[woman] He didn't do it!

[woman] Oh, Jesus, if he had only known.

[preacher] Black misery!

[woman 1] Jesus, save him Lord!

You know his heart!

You know his heart!

You know my brother's heart, Lord. Save him!

[preacher] Brothers and sisters, each one of us.

Brothers and sisters.

We're here because one of our brothers is in that box.

But he's not dead.

He's alive and with us!

- We can't see him. -[woman] Jesus!

[preacher] But we know he's here.

And I'm glad to tell you today

that though he may be in that box...

-[woman] Oh, Lord! -...he's gonna be in heaven with us.

I can see him now!

Good God Almighty, that's our man.

- Yes, my children, he is dead. -[woman] Save him, Lord!

[preacher] But he is not dead. He is with us here today.

[woman] You know his heart!

Our brother died here today of an overdose.

An overdose of Black misery!

Yes, Lord!

We'll bow our head in prayer.

What are you doing here, Sweetback? They're looking for you.

You're as hot as little sister's twat!

Where you going?

I don't want you to cover for me. I'm going upstairs to the farm.

To the farm? You can't hide there!

You can't hide there.

They know all about the farm. Not only yesterday.

The unwed mothers, the girls I get you from upstairs...

The Man knows about everything.

- Ain't it strange when we die?

Our folks like to rejoice.

But when it comes to the living, that's it.

The hype I'm laying down for them people inside, it ain't dangerous.

I'm just selling them a little bit of happiness.

You know, from the happy land.

We all are gonna die, so all I want 'em to have is some peace.

It's my job to make them believe

that they're going to get it better on the other side.

It's my job.

Mu-Mu, the boy you saved, and those other kids,

they're laying down the real religion.

They've got it.

You offer pretty good news to me, slapping up on some white cops.

Yes, indeed.

I'm gonna say a Black "Ave Maria" for you.

Like the kids say, "Later for waiting."

You saved a plant that they were planning to pick in the bud!

That's why the Man's down on you.

That's why the Man's down on you!

I'm still gonna say

a Black "Ave Maria" for you.

[disc jockey] Right on we go on KGFJ Soul Radio

[disc jockey] Right on we go on KGFJ Soul Radio

with 'Sandra Z, "the newest hit by Earth, Wind 6i Fire.

What does a dead man need bread for?

So they was whipping a brother.

How many brothers have you whipped? And how many sisters have you slipped?

Life is tough, baby. A real struggle from the womb to the tomb.

Every dollar we make, the guineas get 20,

the police get 40, and Goldberg gets 50.

Anybody can tell you that don't add up to a dollar.

That adds up to a dollar and a dime.

That's why all of us niggas is so far behind.

[man] And Africa shall stretch forth her arms!

Yeah, and bring back a bloody stump!

Viva Puerto Rico libre.

I haven't forgotten you staked me, Sweetback.

İf I had the dough, I would lay it on you,

but I don't have it.

I wouldn't shuffle or shit you, baby. I wouldn't do it for nothing.

You can't get out of this town on wings, wheel or steel.

I wouldn't shuffle or shit you, brother.

Like I said, what does a dead man need bread for?

[man on PA] Albuquerque, Wichita Falls, ramp seven. San Diego...

Just like the railroad station, boss. Full of pigs.

Stop!

Mu-Mu, brothers.

You're the guy that got my buddy in all this trouble.

Yeah.

[Mu-Mu] Where you brothers going?

This is the best I can do for you on such a short notice.

Buy yourself a last supper.

You're dead, man.

What have we here?

Well, looks like we have a couple of, uh, private trespassers,

and you just trespassed on private property.

And that's a no-no!

-[man 1] Let's stomp 'em, man. -[man 2] Let's stomp 'em.

[man 3] They gotta pay, man. They gotta pay.

[man 4] Hey, give 'em a chance, man. This is a democracy.

[man 4] Look at this! Look what he brought me!

-[man 2] Payment number one.

- You ought to save him. - Yeah.

Save him for something even heavier than you.

-[man 3] For what? -[man 2] Something sporty.

-[man 3] Like what? -[man 2] Well, how about a duel?

-[man 4] A duel? -[man 3] A duel?

-[man 4] Sounds out of sight to me! -[man 5] Yeah, like the good old days.

-[man 2] The good old days. -[man 1] Me!

- Me and Hairnet!

[man 2] Gotta throw him back. He's too little.

- That's the one! - Yeah, right on.

I think we should have a good -

Something - We could really lay on something good for him.

- All right! The Prez!

- Yeah, the Prez!

- Right on. - Yeah, when the Prez comes back -

Yeah, you're gonna get it. The Prez gon' come for you.

That's when you and the Prez are gonna... duel.

Right on.

Hey, Prez, have we got news for you.

Hey, have we got work for you.

We got a guy here for you to duel.

Your fight, man.

What's it gonna be?

Wrestling?

Hey, how about knives?

Yo, baby, who knows?

Come on, man, your choice. What's it gonna be? Huh?

What's it gonna be, man?

Come on, man. Come on, baby. What's it gonna be, huh?

What's it gonna be? Your choice, baby!

Fucking.

[woman] Well? Well?

Well? Well?

Well?

-[man 1] All right. -[man 2] Yeah, Prez!

[man 3] Come on.

I bet Sambo is too scared to even get it on.

[woman] After the Prez does you in, then we'll do you in.

-[man 2] Yeah!

Do him off, baby!

Ball him into bad health, Prez!

Come on. Do it to him, Prez.

Get it on.

Get it, Prez. Get it!

Get it on!

Give it to him! Yeah! Yeah!

Ball him up, baby! Ball him up now!

Hey!Hey!Hey!

- Get it! Get it! - Let's go!

Get it!

You got it! You got it, baby!

Yeah, Sweetback!

Whoo!

[man 1] You'll be cool here.

[man 2] We'll fix you up with help in the morning.

[man 3] Nobody will bother you here.

Have a good time. Come on. Let's get the fuck out of here. Come on!

[Mu-Mu] No danger here.

- Did they get 'em on the phone? - Yeah. How long will it take?

Hey, Sweetback!

[biker] Big Sadie, the Prez, heard her guys planning this cross,

so she called us.

Look here. I can only take one of you.

I won't get ten feet with three people on this bike.

Now, they told me to pick up Sweetback.

You Sweetback, ain't you?

- Take him. - You know what you're doing, man?

He's our future, bro. Take him.

[biker] Yeah, take these straps here.

Sweetback.

[commissioner] I want them! I want them, do you hear?

And I want them now!

God, there could be an uprising on our hands.

Cop killers, and niggers to boot!

No patrol will be safe in their area.

That's all.

Uh, Rossi, Bill, just a minute.

Uh, look, you guys, I didn't mean any offense by -

by that word I used.

It was just a -just a figure of speaking, you understand.

You know, you guys could be a real credit to your people

if you brought those guys in.

Okay?

-[officer 1] That's not him.

[officer 2] So what?

Bingo! We got him!

If things change, the majority of the people will decide where and when.

This is a democracy. It's not communism.

And we are all going to respect the law or pay the consequences.

As a citizen, you are required by law

to aid us in this identification.

Is this Sweetback's body?

I ain't learned to read lips yet.

He lost his hearing. He ain't able to read lips yet.

Yeah.

I told you one time I ain't seen Sweetback.

Never heard of him. Whatever - What e-else do he go by?

I'm positive I've never seen him.

Huh? Yeah? Thank you.

I've been looking for him myself.

I don't know nothing about no Sweetback.

- I'm gonna shake your hands with these. - I haven't saw Sweetback.

I haven't seen him.

I just keep kids for the county

and make things for the old people, like this.

Ain't that pretty?

Ain't they pretty?

But when the kids get so grown and so bad,

it takes them away from me.

I might have had a Leroy once, but I don't rightly remember.

They get so bad and so grown -

I might have had a Leroy once, but I don't rightly remember.

Make these things for older people.

And these kids for the county, they just takes 'em away from me.

I might have had a Leroy once, but I can't rightly remember.

And when the kids get bad and older,

they usually take them away from me.

I might have had a Leroy, but I don't rightly remember.

When the kids get older and bad,

they usually take them away from me.

I might have had a Leroy.

When the kids get older and bad,

they usually take them away from me.

Just takes 'em away from me.

I might have had a Leroy, but I can't rightly remember.

No! Other people I don't give a damn about 'em.

I don't know nobody but my own goddamn self.

No, I haven't seen Sweetback. I haven't seen him in a long time.

Look, I don't - I don't see the cat.

If I never see him, it won't be too soon for me. Do you understand?

Do you understand, man?

I haven't seen the cat and I don't want to see him.

You just keep leaning and leaning and leaning!

Get the fuck off of my back, man!

I'm - I'm clean, man!

Look, I'm clean! There's nothing there!

Look! Look!

When I get pissed off, man,

I will throw a natural-born nigga fit on you, understand?

So why don't you leave?

Why don't you leave?

I am clean.

Look, nothing, nothing.

No place, man. I'm clean.

So stop leaning on me.

I ain't on the street no more, understand?

I ain't in the trade no more.

I just want to be left alone, baby.

So, don't push me!

You're pushing my button, baby. You're pushing my button.

Leave!

Split!

Leave, motherfucker!

Sweetback, man. Shit!

Fuck the reporters!

I know they're out there!

Now, look, this guy's got one chance.

Right here.

Now let's get him!

No. No, I haven't seen him.

Sweetback? Never heard of him.

I haven't - I haven't seen him.

Get your information from somewhere -

- Thank you, but I haven't seen him.

[man] I haven't seen him.

All right, now Why'd you run?

- Why'd I run? - Uh-huh.

- I run 'cause I gave my word I'd run. - You gave what word?

- I promised to run. - You promised who? What?

This guy gave me five dollars to change duds with him.

Told me if anybody come after me, just, uh, keep on running.

Was he a Black guy?

Yeah, he was colored.

What's he look like?

Like a buddy I used to pal around with back in Denver.

Now, would you say he was about this tall? Around this size?

Yeah, about like that. Yeah.

- What was he doing? - Poorly.

-[officer] You mean how he was doing. - Yeah, poorly.

-[chorus] Progress, Sweetback/

[Sweetback] Yes, we want you to believe!

[chorus] No! Progress, Sweetback/

[Sweetback] He ain't stopped clubbin' us for 400 years,

and he don't intend to for a million.

[chorus] He sure treat us bad, Sweetback.

[Sweetback] We should make him do us better!

[chorus] Chicken ain't nothing but a bird!

A white man ain't nothing but a turd!

Nigga ain't shit!

[Sweetback] Get my hand on a trigger!

[chorus] You talkin' revolution, Sweetback!

-[Sweetback] I wanna get off these knees!

[chorus] You talking revolution, Sweetback/

[Sweetback] Somebody listen to me!

[chorus] If he can't burn you out, he 'll stomp you out!

[Sweetback] He won't waste me!

[Sweetback] Bu! he won't waste me!

[chorus] You can't make it on wings, wheels or steel, Sweetback/

[Sweetback] We go! feet!

[chorus] You can't get away on wings, wheels or steel, Sweetback/

[Sweetback] Niggas got feet!

[Sweetback] Your brother and your sister too ?

[Sweetback] How come it took me so long to see ?

[Sweetback] How he gets us to use each other!

-[chorus] Niggas scared! -[Sweetback] We got to get it together!

If he kick a brother, it got to be like he kicking your mother!

[chorus] Don't let 'em get you too!

Haul your Black ass, Sweetback!

He ain't gonna let you stand tall, Sweetback!

The Man knows everything, Sweetback!

The Man knows everything!

[Sweetback] I'm tired of them fucking with me!

- Rock on, brother!

-[chorus] Run, Sweetback!

- Run, motherfucker!

[Sweetback] But they won't bleed me!

[chorus] Run, Sweetback! Run, motherfucker!

[radio: announcer] 23 to 24, and what a ball game this has been.

Going for the first down. He's got it.

- The Bulls will have to stop the clock.

- They did, with 78 seconds left.

The clock has stopped, and they'll bring the chains.

- Vaya con Dios!

No, child - I mean, Officer. I didn't see a Mr. Sweetback.

If you see him, send him here.

I'm a militant queen!

Won't I do, Officer?

[man] Anybody can tell you that don't add up to a dollar.

That adds up to a dollar and a dime.

[officer] Come on, stand up straight. What's the matter with you?

[man] Buy yourself a last supper. You're a dead man.

[biker gang member] Your fight, man! What is it gonna be ?

Your choice, baby!

- I swear I saw Sweetback. - Where?

- He saw us? - Over there in that clump of bushes.

You sure it's him?

If it ain't Sweetback, Why'd he go in the wrong direction?

No wonder he was going the wrong way.

Bark.

[officer 1] He's heading for the border!

He's gonna get there before we do.

He's gonna get across the border before we can catch him!

He's gonna get there before we do.

[officer 2] Goddamn dogs.

[officer 3] Dogs moving faster than we are.

[officer 1] Just let me draw a bead on his Black ass, and he's dead.

[officer 3] He's further ahead than that.

[officer 1] Just one goddamn glimpse of his Black ass, and he's dead!

-[officer 3] He's gonna make it! -[officer 1] Let the dogs go!

- No, I won't do it! - Let the dogs go!

- I can't do it. I won't! - Let 'em go, goddamn it!

Do it!

Can't let the dogs go!

[officer 1] Let the dogs go!

-[officer 3] I won't do it! -[officer 1] Turn loose of those dogs!

Sorry.

No hard feelings. I just had to catch him.

- Well, what's done is done.

I guess it'll save the taxpayers some money.

Listen!

No barking.

Yep.

Well, I guess there's no sense you hanging around here, Rooney.

No use in you missing the fun, Rooney.

May as well get in on it. Go on, boy.