All language subtitles for (1981)Carbon Copy

What are you trying to do, Walter?

Nothing tricky, dear.

You make me feel so used.

-Do what considerate husbands do?
-What do they do?

They jog.

l'm 41 . Who knows when
the magic will leave my body?

Then will be the time to startjogging.

You have no right to force me, Walter.

The Bible says, ''Woe unto the wife who
turneth her back on a horny spouse.''

The Bible doesn't say that.

lt did, long ago.
lt was edited out by a lesbian.

-vivian, l want you!
-Walter, you're scaring me.

Nothing to be afraid of, sweet baby.

lt's just an old friend coming
for a visit. Open the door.

l said open the door!

Would you get off?!

-Buenos dias, Bianca.
-Buenos dias, Secora Whitney.

Ponga la bandeja en la mesa

Gracias

-Who was that?
-Bianca, the new housekeeper.

-Where's Estelle?
-Walter, l had to fire her.

-But l liked her.
-She forgot her place.

Bianca is from Guatemala. Everyone
imports them from Central America.

They don't resent
being treated like servants.

lmport a husband
you can treat like a servant!

l feel like l don't really belong.

You know how l hate it
when you just barge into the bathroom.

What is there to see
that l haven't already seen?

You won't admit it,
but l've seen you naked.

-l've even laid you, vivian.
-Must you use that language in here?

-This is not some cheap bar!
-l could get more action in a bar!

-Good morning, Mother.
-Good morning.

-Morning, Walter.
-Mary Ann.

-Mother, can l go shopping?
-As long as you're home by 6:00.

-You don't need new clothes.
-Walter says l don't need new clothes.

Of course you do, darling.
l'll talk with him later.

You committed a moral crime
this morning!

That's the country's problem.
We're a nation of sex-starved men.

So we jog and
vote for the death penalty.

l was shocked, Walter. Shocked.

l did not try to rape my wife
in front of the housekeeper.

l don't lack a sense of
the theatrical. l majored in theatre.

Raping the housekeeper - that's drama.

My daughter was crying when she called.

-She had no right to call you.
-vivian's concern is your career.

Her upbringing has stressed
the importance of that career.

Beware the wife who places
the bed ahead of the office.

l've seen careers ruined
because of sexually aggressive wives.

-A wise man can make arrangements.
-l'm not the kind of man who cheats.

Not cheating, Walter. Not cheating.

Think of it as easing the pressures
on someone you love.

You're a lucky man, Walter.

Then why don't l feel lucky?

vivian, Mary Ann...
There's something wrong, Nelson.

l feel like l've blown up a beautiful
balloon, but l'm inside. l'm lonely.

Learn to trust unhappiness, Walter.

You and l have shared many secrets.
l'll share this one by forgetting it.

Go throw yourself into your work.

l've never seen a happily married
executive that was worth a damn.

Hold on please, l'll see if he's in.

Mr. Whitney, there's a young man here
who wants to see you. A Roger Porter.

-l don't know a Roger Porter.
-He says he's Lorraine Porter's son.

Have him sent up.

Lorraine Porter's son.

Lorraine.

Lorraine Porter.

-Mr. Whitney, he's here.
-Have him come in.

Lorraine Porter's son?

Yeah. Yeah, this is cool.

Nothing ratty-tatty about this place.

And that's the way it should be up here
where the hog is fat.

No meat scraps.
We're talking T-bone steak here, huh?

And man, you're it, huh?
The big ace in the card deck.

l'm sure glad our zodiac signs crossed.

Like my horoscope said: Capricorn,
consolidate your financial future.

Here l was, thinking l was just a poor
black orphan in the cold white world.

Lorraine is... Your mother's dead?

Gone.

l can't tell you how sorry...
l'm truly and deeply sorry.

She was a very special person.
A dear friend.

-What about your father?
-Oh, Mom never got married.

You know it is with us colored folks.

What kind of thing is that
to say about your mother?

Not marrying didn't make her less of a
woman. ltjust made him less of a man.

l don't like you, Mr. Porter.

l've tolerated your bad manners because
your mother and l were friends.

Dear friends. Someone l knew very well.

No, you lived with her.
You didn't know her.

Let's lay it on each other straight.

l don't believe it.
Lorraine was a lovely person.

lntelligent, cultured...

lt's just too shocking
to accept you as her son.

Well, if that's too much of a shock,
this will send you into a coma.

Hi, Daddy.

Your son?

There's things about me l never told
you. And you're my dearest friend.

l guess that's how we keep
our dearest friends.

By only telling them the things
that make us dear to them.

You didn't know about Lorraine,
or about me changing my name.

-Changing your name?
-From Weisenthal to Whitney.

Weisenthal. What sort of name is that?

lt's Jewish.

-Have a drag. You'll feel better.
-lt's too late. Too late!

You're not really in trouble.

l'm Jewish, my son is black, my lawyer
smokes pot, and l'm not in trouble?

lt makes me feel better
and doesn't hurt my judgment.

l delivered the valedictorian
speech at Harvard stoned!

Get me out of this spot and l'll keep
you in grass the rest of your life.

You provide the facts,
l'll provide the solution.

Who knows you changed your name?

Just vivian and her father.
lt was his idea.

-Who knows about Lorraine?
-Just vivian's father.

After l got out of the Army, l went to
college. l met her in my second year

We lived together almost three years.

After l graduated, l came here
to Unilectron as a copywriter

lt was gonna be temporary until l made
enough so we could get married.

Oh, yeah. The only problem was,
l made an instant smashing success.

l was kidding around, and l came up
with the biggest lie l could think of.

''Unilectron - The Company
That Puts People Ahead Of Profit.''

-Was that yours? That's a biggie.
-ln two weeks, l was a junior exec.

Then, like everything else, vivian's
father found out about Lorraine.

Oh no. What did he do?

He had a father-to-son talk with me.

No, it was more like the Pope
talking to a parish priest.

Someday you will sit in this chair

He promised the priest the vatican.

l'm only showing the concern your
parents would show if they were alive.

He slipped on their ghosts like an overcoat.

As your mistress, yes.
But not marriage.

He moralized

-She would never be accepted.
-The fear of the unknown.

As the wife of a plumber a mechanic,
an elevator operator - fine.

A veiled threat
to my future employment.

-We wouldn't want to lose you.
-A direct threat.

-l am not a bigot.
-He believed

l am a realist.

From that day
l've never known the difference

-l am your friend.
-He insisted

There might be a child.

The image we leave of ourselves on
this earth after death. Consider that.

l said nothing

You're in love,
but not for the last time.

That's what makes man superior

He can love, forget, and love again.

Write to her Say that getting married
at the moment would not be practical.

She'll understand.

They're very understanding.

l wrote the letter She never answered

After she died
Roger found all my letters

How could a dude write
all these pretty words?

Just dripping with honey!

Man, they could make a nun pack
a suitcase and blow the convent.

You showed little respect
for her by reading these.

Not as little as you showed
by writing them...Dad.

Stop calling me Dad. Who told you
that l'm...? That we're related?

After l found the letters l asked Aunt
Clara. You remember her Mom's sister

Well, Mom went to stay with Aunt Clara
when she got...that way.

You know aunt Clara wouldn't lie, not
with her husband being a preacher..

l won't argue the fact
that you're my son.

You're a good sport, Dad.

-This is a moment for total honesty.
-Nothing but the truth.

We both agree that
this is a delicate situation.

l think we would both agree to keep
this delicate new s to ourselves.

Oh, you mean now we found each other
we're not going to tell anyone?

Who would we tell?

Well, l guess first your wife.

-Stop following me.
-Shouldn't l follow in your footsteps?

-Why are we walking by the ocean?
-ln case l decide to throw myself in.

When do we go home
and tell the family?

-Do you really expect to live with us?
-Are you ashamed of me, Dad?

-Stop calling me Dad!
-What should l call you?

Well, l don't know. Whitey. Honky.
Mr. Charley. Anything, but not Dad!

Not right now. lt's something
l'm gonna have to get used to.

Slowly. lf ever

Good morning, Whitey!

Hi there, Honky.

No, that's no way
for a boy to talk to his father

And whatever else l may feel
l respect you.

Mr. Charley...
Yeah, that has a certain dignity.

Like l'm your son, flesh of your flesh,
blood of your blood.

-Mistake of my mistakes.
-You'll change, when you adopt me.

-Adopt you?
-l'm 1 7. lt's time l became legal

No way. No how.

-l know l'm not all you want in a son.
-That's a keen observation.

We'll become buddies.

We'll go to games.

We'll go fishing and hiking.
We'll wrestle on the floor together

We'll become pals.

Teach me to build a model airplane.
l'll show you how to pick a lock.

Take me to a business meeting. l'll
take you to a revolutionary meeting.

Why are you doing this to me, God?

So this boy claims to be your son

He is my son.

l think a judge is better qualified
to make that decision.

l can't deny it. Not because of him,
but because Lorraine was his mother

l loved her but l really can't
remember what she looked like.

We used to laugh a lot,
but l can't remember what about.

There were so many moments.

lt was so long ago.

Oh, God. To be young again
with a lover that says yes.

Unfortunately, you're in San Marino
with a wife who says no.

Now, you may not love vivian, but a
husband owes his wife some loyalty.

-What does a father owe his son?
-You know what l mean.

vivian, my wife, all of them.

They're social animals
whose jungle ends at the city limits.

Now, you want to toss those tigers
this kind of raw meat?

That's the answer They're animals.
Appeal to their instinct.

-Their instinct is to kill.
-That's their basic instinct.

What about their baser instincts?
Envy, ego, false pride?

What are you saying?

Let vivian adopt without ever knowing.
Let it be her victory, not my defeat.

Take in a colored orphan
for the summer

lt's a program to show underprivileged
kids a better way of life.

lf they see a better way of life,
they'll want it permanently.

Why give them false hope?
lt seems so cruel

No more cruel than busing.
You accepted that.

Only because it didn't affect
Mary Ann. Oh, Walter why us?

-Why must you get us involved in this?
-We owe it to them, vivian.

When will we stop owing?

They already have welfare, low rent
housing, special job programs,

and four of their own Tv series.
When will we stop owing and be even?

vivian, it's just
for the summer vacation.

-We'll be the only family to have one.
-That's what disturbs me.

Disturbs you? Cynthia Robbins
will be so green with envy

-she'll probably go and adopt one.
-That's true, isn't it?

Do you think Gloria and Elizabeth will
let you and Cynthia get ahead of them?

Even if they all adopt colored orphans,

it won't diminish
the fact that you did it first.

Like heart transplants.

No matter how many doctors do it,
Christian Barnard will get the credit.

You'll be the Christian Barnard
of compassion.

You can start an organization.
Call it ''Human Transplant.''

To take people with no hope
and give them new life.

''Human Transplant.''

l'll bring him over and you can see
for yourself what a fine boy he is.

He could sleep in your
garage workshop until we decide.

-Just in case it doesn't work out.
-Good idea.

lt's easier to ask someone
to leave your garage.

l don't dig it, Mr. Charley. The whole
adoption bit. Sleeping in the garage.

l told you, it's just temporary.

-Seems wrong, pretending l'm an orphan.
-You are one.

No, l ain't. l got a daddy.
Don't l, Mr. Charley?

Put your feet down.
This is a Rolls-Royce, not a bus.

Will l get it when you die?

lt's a company car
lt will go to Mary Ann.

-You like Mary Ann more than me.
-Far more and l'm not very fond of her

Will you stop playing
with that telephone?

-Are you going to high school, Roger
-Uh -uh.

-When did you leave?
-About a year ago.

-Have you ever thought of going back?
-Don't need to.

-You won't get far with that attitude.
-l'll make out.

Without a diploma, you'll make out
on the unemployment line.

l mean, outside of waiting for me
to die, you have no future.

Stop playing
with the glove compartment.

-You belong to a golf club, don't you?
-What about it?

-Well, l can join it, can't l
-Only as a caddy.

-Oh, they don't have no black members.
-None.

-Makes you proud, doesn't it?
-What makes me proud?

That the first black
to join the club will be your son?

-Must l wear these square clothes?
-Yes.

-The brothers will think l sold out.
-Relax. There are no brothers here.

So this is going to be my new home.
All right.

Just the garage.

l said, just the garage.

So this is Roger

Mr. Whitney has told me so much
about you. Welcome to our home, Roger

Thank you, ma'am. lt's an honor

My, what a fine looking boy. You were
right, l was worried over nothing.

You're just in time for dinner
Walter will you tell Mary Ann?

Roger..

-We're having chicken.
-l love chicken.

l know you do. l had Bianca
prepare it especially for you.

-We want you to enjoy your stay here.
-Thank you, ma'am.

You don't have to call me ma'am.
Just Mrs. Whitney.

-Mrs. Whitney?
-Thank you.

lt's an exciting experiment.

When Mr. Whitney first broached it,
l had my doubts.

But then l realized that l'd be giving
a boy a chance to improve himself.

-You will try to improve yourself?
-Oh, yes, ma'am.

-Mrs. Whitney.
-Mrs. Whitney.

We want to be proud of you, Roger

We'll ask our church to accept you as
a member You'll be a Presbyterian.

-Well, l was raised to be a Baptist...
-You'll be a Presbyterian.

-How far along are you in high school
-l don't go to high school

We'll give him remedial schooling
and then a job training program.

Excellent. This is going to be
an exciting summer Roger

Well, what do you think, Mary Ann?
Shall we adopt Roger for the summer?

-Have you ever been arrested?
-That's an offensive question.

Yes, l've been busted by the pigs.

Roger in our community, the pigs
are known as ''police officers.''

-Where l come from, they're known as...
-Police officers.

Police officers.

Why were you arrested, Roger

Well, l was walking along
in a protest march against the Klan,

singing the second verse of
''We Shall Overcome,''

''Black and white together
Black and white together

-Black and...''
-We know the song, Roger

...when this man hit me
over the head with a lead pipe.

Well, l fell down,
and he started kicking me,

and then the...police officers
arrested me.

Roger you must promise to never go on
one of those protest marches again,

-or sing that ''Overcome'' song again.
-Never

Well, if you feel the urge, you may
sing it in the privacy of your room.

Well, Mary Ann,
do you approve of Roger

-l think we should ask Dennis first.
-Yes.

Who's Dennis?

Dennis Erkle.
He's captain of the lacrosse team.

Why do we need Dennis Erkle's approval

His father is Judge Erkle.
He's running for Superior Court.

His chances might be jeopardized if
his son's fiance has him living here.

-Fiance?
-They're sort of unofficially engaged.

Don't you think you should inform your
father about something this important?

l did. l called Daddy in Westport,
and he gave me his blessing.

No, your legal father Walter Whitney,
who's clothed, fed and housed you,

while that drunk hasn't even
visited you in two years.

Mother l will not sit here
and have Walter slander my father

l just knew he'd cause trouble!

We're all upset. Let's wait
until morning before taking a vote.

vote? What vote?

On whether to take Roger
into our home. We discussed all that.

l never agreed to a vote. lt's our
decision, yours and mine.

Please, Walter l don't want to argue the point.

l didn't vote when l adopted Mary Ann.

She is my natural child. lt was
the only decent thing to do.

So if he were my natural son, l'd have
the right to expect you to accept him.

Don't make ludicrous parallels, Walter

-lf he were my son, you'd accept him?
-Yes, if he were your son, of course.

All right, vivian, l will let you be as good as your word.

-Roger is my son.
-l don't find that very amusing.

-Neither do l, but it's a fact.
-That can't be. He's...

And so was his mother

-This is really your son?
-Yes.

-Your natural son?
-Yes.

Oh, my God! And to think l was going to let him live here!

You promised to accept him!

-You tricked me! Don't touch me!
-You're getting hysterical

God won't forgive you
for having a black child!

How do you know? Maybe he'll
be pleased. Maybe God is black.

You will burn in hell for saying that,
Walter

''Deep in my heart, l do believe...''

Will you stop singing that song?

''We shall overcome someday.''

Mr. Charley? l got a feeling
you better start learning the words.

-Where's the boy?
-ln the garage.

And vivian?

Upstairs, with Dr. Bristol
and Reverend Hayworth.

-How is she?
-She's under sedation.

Reverend Hayworth is praying with her

l even had to give Mary Ann
tranquilizers.

l've been their family doctor
for 40 years.

l delivered vivian. And to see her
in this state of shock...

You must be a sadist
to flaunt a black son in front of her

l didn't flaunt him.
And he's not black.

He's ''hickory bronze.''
The same color as your new car

l would just as soon you did not
compare that boy to my new car

l am no longer your
personal physician.

And l would advise you not to get sick
in San Marino, Mr. Whitney.

Your father-in -law wants the family
to spend the night at his house.

-l don't see God's book around, Walter
-l'm sorry.

Sorry is for those seeking
forgiveness. Do you seek forgiveness?

-Forgiveness for what, Reverend?
-vivian said you told her God is black.

-l simply posed it as a possibility.
-We don't speculate on God's color

lf you want her to speak to you again,
go and tell her God is white.

We're not sure! Hindus don't
believe it. Moslems, Buddhists...

God is white. lt's simple logic.
His Son is white.

That's not proof.
l'm white. My son is black.

l'll pray for you, Walter

Acompaca la Secora Whitney a mi carro

Walter this is the most
critical night of your life.

l was beginning to get that feeling.

But one which you can easily survive,
provided we proceed with good taste.

-And Roger is not good taste.
-Someday, pelhaps. Not at the moment.

-When will he be tasteful Who decides?
-People. Me, you.

Me?

Have l been wrong in interpreting
your silence as approval

lt's human.
People lean any way the wind blows.

The wind blows white, not black.
lt blows Whitney, not Weisenthal

You mustn't legally recognize him.

As long as he is illegitimate,
society is not threatened.

Someday the torch of leadership,
of power will be passed to you.

We must feel confident that when
your turn comes to pass on the torch,

you won't put it in the hands of one
who'd burn down the country.

Pass on the torch to him?

l don't think of Roger as my future.

l even resent his being here.

But l have a serious problem,
Nelson, a flaw in my character

l don't have the sense of commitment,
or strength, or courage

to say to him :
''Go away, you never happened.''

Walter you were like a son to me.

But as you well know, a son can turn
out to be a bitter disappointment.

-Mr. Charley, where you going?
-To work.

Unless you're hungry,
stay in your room.

-Can l go swimming in the pool
-Maybe tomorrow. Read, in your room.

lf you can't read, just...
sit and draw pictures.

Mr. Charley...

l want you to know that no matter what
happens, l'm behind you 100 percent.

-Rub my head for luck.
-l don't believe superstitious myths.

lt's no myth. You only met me yesterday
and your luck has changed.

l never thought of it like that.
Get your hand off the car

-Sorry, we can't let you in.
-Can't let me in?

-Orders from the man upstairs.
-l'm the man upstairs.

-Mr. Longhurst gave the order
-Yes, sir

We also got orders to confiscate
your car lt's company property.

This is outrageous!

Hello.

-l'd like to call my secretary.
-You don't have one, sir

-Security. Give me your credit cards.
-My credit cards?

Article 7 of your contract.

''Unilectron may revoke all issued
credit cards at any time.''

May l have your credit cards, please?

Thank you, sir Have a nice day.

put mee in halfwith his scissors. I saw meyself Iying there on the gro

Roger Mr. Charley.
Has anyone been around this morning?

l've been trying to reach you. They
said you don't work there anymore.

As soon as you left, the family came
back. Cops, movers and everything.

lt's a wild scene, Mr. Charley.
All your suitcases are on the lawn.

-They put my suitcases on the lawn?
-They didn't put them. They threw them.

What about my golf clubs?
My fishing gear My dobro?

-What's a dobro?
-lt's like a guitar

They just threw that on the lawn, too.

l've got feeling
you ain't welcome here.

All right. Call a cab, put everything
in it, and come down to my lawyer

242 Comstock. Got that? 242 Comstock.

-She's throwing my things out.
-Yes, l know. l advised her to do so.

Your dossier Walter
Tax returns, bank statements,

investments, insurance. Everything.

You advised her
You, my dearest friend? My lawyer

l'm still your friend, but l agreed
to represent vivian in the divorce.

-You agreed to represent vivian?
-Do you think l like doing this?

-You sold out.
-l recommend an attorney, Bob Garvey.

because of the uniqueness of the case, l think he's eminently qualif

l don't object to him recommending
you. l object to the reason he did.

They won't get away
with this. l'll fight.

-Fight, Mr. Whitney? Fight with what?
-Money. l've got money.

-You have other funds not listed here?
-No. Everything l have is in there.

-Where is the boy now?
-Downstairs, waiting in the cab.

ls the meter running?

l mean, with a financial statement
like this, l'd watch every nickel

There must be some mistake.

Your salary has gone into a stock
option plan, in vivian's name.

A trust fund is in Mary Ann's name.
Your bank account is in vivian's name.

You don't even have a checking account.

l didn't need checks.
l had credit cards.

All right. Cutting through all
the talk, Mr. Garvey. What am l worth?

How much have you got in your wallet?

68 dollars.

-You mean that's it?
-That's it, baby.

l'm worth 68 dollars?

l know it's a very old clich,
Mr. Whitney, but...

You've still got your health.

For 68 dollars, who wants it?

Until we get them into court,
you can collect unemployment.

l can't. Not unemployment.
That's what they want to do. Break me.

l won't give them the satisfaction.
They're never going to make me crawl

And stop smiling.
Even you're irritating me.

-Sorry. l didn't mean that.
-You don't have to apologize.

-Social menopause is a difficult time.
-Social menopause?

You're changing color You don't want
to play the game as a white man, so...

...they're gonna let you watch it
as a black man.

This is it? lt's got no swimming pool

Maybe they got a tennis court. Stop
complaining. They got Tv and free ice.

That'll be 22 dollars.
Checkout is noon.

No dope, no parties, no fighting. Only
people in the room is them that paid.

-Sounds fair enough. Here you are.
-OK. Room 13.

lf l give three short rings on
the telephone, the vice squad is here.

The vice squad?

He happens to be my son.

l've heard them all,
mister but that's cute.

Hey Daisy, fella out here says...
Wait till l tell you...

-You have to put a quarter in it.
-They only promised free ice cubes.

-l don't like ice cubes.
-Stop whining and eat them. Stop that!

-l gotta watch Starsky and Hutch.
-We can't afford them.

-Maybe some quarters will come out.
-We do not steal

-lt ain't stealing. l'll put them back.
-We do not steal, Roger

ltjust seemed like
the natural thing to do.

Then control your natural instincts.
Who told you to take that bed?

-l can't sleep on a narrow bed.
-Neither can l.

-lf l don't sleep, l get a headache.
-You? l'm the one we got to keep alive.

-Well, l got it first.
-All right. We'll let reason prevail

We'll split the room in half.
The line will be between the beds.

Each man can do as he pleases, and no
crossing the line without permission.

-Call it.
-Heads.

Tails.

Take that bed and l'll take this.

l hope you get a job
so we can find a decent place to live.

Don't worry about me.
l'll get a job. l've got friends.

Walter come in, come in.

Sit down, sit down.

-Where is he?
-Where's who, Freddie?

-Your son.
-Who told you?

vivian called Helen this morning.

ls he really as black as she says?

-How does it feel, Walter
-Uncomfortable. l got to talk to you.

vivian told Helen that
she threw you out of the house.

-l've got a favor to ask you.
-Where are you and your son staying?

ln a motel
l'm not with Unilectron anymore.

vivian told Helen
they took your Rolls-Royce away.

Freddie, l need a job.

Nelson called the old man
this morning, Walter

-No chance, huh?
-Your name is shit around here.

l appreciate that. There's nothing
worse than being left up in the air

l can loan you some money. vivian told
Helen they took everything you had.

Thanks, old buddy, but l'm fine.
l'm just fine.

Well...see you around.

See me around where, Walter

That's true. Where?

-You want a loan without collateral
-l'll pay it back. Soon as l get a job.

-2,036 dollars. That's a lot of money.
-l said l'd pay it back.

No house, no car,
no jewelry, no stocks

You must have something
you can put up for security.

Our 15 years of friendship
guarantees l'll pay you back.

l'm giving you the ultimate
collateral Walter Whitney's word.

But your name isn't Walter Whitney.

Seven sixty-five for food.

The paper bus fares, phone calls,
lunch. 22 dollars for the room.

We're down to 30 bucks.

22 dollars again for the room
tomorrow. Phone calls, buses...

...and it's kaput.

Eat, enjoy! This may become known
as the ''Second Last Supper ''

-What's this?
-Cream cheese, bagel and lox.

-Oh. What's lox?
-Smoked fish.

-l don't dig smoked fish.
-Shut up and eat it. lt's soul food.

-This is soul food?
-You're not the only people with soul

That sandwich is the result of
6,036 years of suffering.

-l don't understand.
-Don't understand what?

lf you're that loyal to a sandwich,
why change your last name?

None of your business.

l'm just wondering... After you make me
legal, will l still be Roger Porter

Whatever makes you happy.

Roger Whitney.

Yeah, that's style.
Sounds like l belong.

Roger Weisenthal

No, l can just see everybody saying,
''You don't look like no Weisenthal.''

-Where you going?
-Out.

-You coming back?
-Unless l'm hit by a car or lightning.

But knowing my luck, l'll be back.

-Here we go. Get set.
-Good shot.

Throw me the ball. You cut under
the basket and l'll pass to you.

OK, Dad. Try one more...
...l'll get it.

-Throw it here. Cut under the basket.
-Now?

OK. Here we go. There you go.

-Go in your corner and cut out here.
-You want me to throw it to you?

-l'll get it, Dad.
-lt's all right. l'll get it.

-ls that your boy?
-Yeah.

-He's about 1 7, right?
-Yeah.

-He's a good ballplayer
-Not bad.

l've got a son about that age, too.
Want to play? You two against us two.

-Three baskets win. For five dollars.
-OK, you're on.

-Be back in five minutes.
-OK.

-Where are we going?
-To pick up an easy five bucks.

Just hope those two turkeys
haven't left yet.

OK, first team scores
three baskets wins five dollars!

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

-You said my son against your son.
-He is my son. You take it out first.

-Come on, son.
-OK, Dad.

-You didn't mention basketball.
-Don't slam dunk it, it'll scare them.

-Listen, Mr. Charley...
-Rogerjust do what comes naturally.

Here we go. Here we go.

Come on, Roger stop kidding around.

That's one!

-Will you stop clowning around?
-But l didn't even get a chance...

Shoot! Shoot!

-What the hell kind of shot was that?
-lt was the best l could do.

That's the best you could do?

Five bucks. We blew five big ones.

l'm the father of the only black kid
who can't play basketball.

No luck finding a job, huh?

Look, jobs at my executive level
are notjust floating around.

Don't worry,
l'll get work somewhere.

l heard about a place where there's
jobs for hard -core unemployables.

l am not a hard -core unemployable.

You go there in the morning, and guys
come by who need help with odd jobs.

-Mowing lawns, cleaning stables...
-Where did you even hear about that?

This afternoon,
when l gave this guy a lift.

-How could you give someone a lift?
-ln the car l was driving.

-Car? Whose car?
-My car

-You have a car
-l got it used, to come out here.

-You let me blow my money on cabs?
-l didn't have a chance to tell you.

-We went to your car then the ocean...
-OK, forget it.

-Where is it?
-lt's over there.

lt's the red one.

-Should have guessed.
-l paid 1 4 dollars and a record player

You were overcharged.
You drove this 2,036 miles?

You could have been arrested
for littering the highway.

-Do you hear that engine?
-lt needs a tune-up.

-lt's a menace!
-Beats walking.

No, it doesn't.

-Hey, there's gas fumes in here.
-That means the engine's still running.

Open the window.

-lt's stuck. lt won't open.
-Well, bang on it a few times.

What are you doing to my car?

Your insurance will cover it, won't it?

-What was that?
-l don't know. We may be on fire.

On fire?

That dude on the bike. Y ell for him to
get out of the way. l can't slow down.

-Blow your horn.
-Don't have one.

-Don't have one?
-That's it.

Out of the way! Out of the way!
We've got no brakes!

Out of the way! We've got no brakes!

Good morning, officer
Get the hell out of here.

85 cents.
That's what we're down to. 85 cents.

-You can sign up for unemployment.
-Never That's what they want me to do.

Welfare? Lots of black families
are on welfare.

We are not a black family.

-What's going to become of us?
-l don't know.

l never thought it would end up like
this. Sandwiches in a cheap motel

l expected a mansion.
Look where you dragged me.

l thought you'd take care of me.

l'm doing the best l can! l've been
rejected by every corporation in town.

-So we're talking wall here.
-We're doing what?

-They really got you up against a wall.
-Oh. Yeah.

-That's it!
-What's it?

-The wall.
-What wall?

The money's in the wall safe behind
the picture of vivian's mother

Right.

Who is it?

Don't hurt me. Take what you want.

l know what you're going to do. l know l can't talk you out of it.

l can't stop you. l'm alone. My husband
isn't here. l'm defenseless.

All right. Go ahead.
Do what you're going to do and leave.

Go ahead and...

...get it over with.

Well, what are you waiting for
Go ahead! Do it!

Seventeen years of marriage,

and the only memorable night with
my wife was when l was a burglar

She was a wild woman. lf she knew
it was me, she'd have had a headache.

Roger remember that
place you mentioned?

The place for
the hard -core unemployables.

On the corner of Lincoln and Seco.
But there's lots of competition.

Stop worrying. l can hold my own with any misfit.

Come on, you guys.
Let's go. Move it.

After Roger registers, have him pawn
my clubs and find a cheap apartment.

l'll meet him at your office.

Are you sure
you know what you're doing?

They're not going to beat me,
Mr. Garvey.

Who knows how to load scrap iron?

All right, you in the blue cap across
to the white cap. Get in the truck.

You want a drink, buddy? Five cents.

l only drink after work.

Hey, any of you turkeys
ever worked in a rock quarry?

All right, get on. You, yeah, you,
come on, get on.

Sit down and hang on!

Everybody in?

lt's just you and me, buddy.

You know how to clean stables?

-Yes, sir l can.
-l'm available.

OK. You, dummy.

l think he means you.

Yeah, you dummy. Get your butt
in the back! On the double!

You shovel each
and every one of these real clean.

Then come over here
to this other barn...

You start all the way at the other end,
clean all these up to here...

Then go back
and clean all those on that side.

You load it all in this wheelbarrow
here, clear up to the top. Got that?

Come on, then.

Come on.

-Then unload it here. Got it, dummy?
-Yes, sir

Then you go over there to that barn
over there, and start over again.

Now go! Go back to number one,
and don't stop till l tell you.

Go ahead, go!

Move it, move it! Move it, dummy!

32 stalls. You're OK, dummy.

Mr. Charley!

Mr. Charley?

l waited for you at Mr. Garvey's.
When you didn't show up, l came here.

l hocked the golf clubs
and found us a furnished apartment.

Wasn't easy, but l found one.

Had a rough day, huh?

Once l lived the life of a millionaire

Spending my money, l didn't care

Carried my friends out for a good time

Bought bootleg liquor
Champagne and wine

When l began to fall so low

Nobody wants me 'round their door

lf l ever get my hands on
A dollar again

l'm gonna hold on to it
Till them old eagles scream

Nobody knows you

When you're down and out

ln my pocket, not one penny

And my friends, l haven't any

lf ever l get on my feet again

Then l'll find my long lost friends

lt's mighty strange, without a doubt

No man can use you
When you're down and out

l mean when you're down and out

-Where are we, Roger
-Watts, Mr. Charley.

Watts? What are we doing in Watts?

Well, it's not the fanciest apartment,
but at least it's home.

-This is home?
-This is home.

Get down to that store, boy!
Your momma will be home from work soon

Hope we don't have to pay for that.

l don't mind living in Watts, but do we
have to live in the poor section?

The lock sometimes gets stuck.

Which in a way is good, 'cause you can
hear anyone trying to break in.

Who'd want to break in?

This is a furnished apartment?

This is terrible. Terrible!

The better places wanted
first and last month's rent.

l only got 35 dollars
for the golf clubs.

35 dollars? That was a complete set of
MacGregor clubs! Where's the bedroom?

lt pulls out.
One of us can sleep on the couch.

-l thought that was the bathroom.
-Yeah, l did too, at first.

-Where is the bathroom, Roger
-lt's down the other end of the porch.

No. l'm not sharing a communal
bathroom. lt's unhygienic.

That's exactly how the other tenants
feel That's why every apartment

has its own toilet seat.
lt wasn't easy to get you in here.

They weren't too happy
about a white person in the building.

-You're here on a trial basis.
-l don't want to lower their standards.

l registered
at a job training center today.

All they had was a class
for short -order cooks.

Short-order cook. That's a good trade.
You can always get a job.

You can save money with me doing
the cooking. Now, just sit and relax.

-What?
-l can feel the springs.

-Hey who's talking?
-Turn off the goddamn radio!

-What's the carton?
-Something l brought from home.

-What's in it?
-A lot of stuff that belongs to you.

-To me?
-Yeah, l found it after Mom died.

lt's yours, ain't it?

lt's mine.

lt'd be embarrassing
if it was someone else's.

Mom was great for saving things.

lf a bird left some crumbs on a
Window sill, she'd leave them there.

lt never entered her mind that
the bird had forgotten where she lived.

Hey, it's... lt's like Cinderella.

You know, like the slipper fit
and you were once the prince.

But it's midnight, too late, and the
prince has turned back into a pumpkin.

Aside from mangling a beautiful
fairy tale, the slipper doesn't fit

because the prince's feet are swollen
from shoveling manure all day,

so he can support
the pretender to the throne.

l cleaned 32 stables.

l've been following the horses all day,

picking up the pieces of my life.

ln a couple of weeks, you're going to
have a trade. You'll get a job.

Then each of us goes his own way.

Until that time,

l'll shovel it. l'll live in it.

But l won't take it.

Think l'll go take a walk.

Where is that welfare check?

-What check?
-You know what check l mean!

-Woman you better get off my back!
-l'm gonna get right on your ass!

Woman have you got
a death wish?

We had difficulty finding you.

Forgive me for not getting up.
Hard day at the stables.

l got the job
without a character reference.

Walter many strong words
were said in the heat of crisis.

But what you said was true.

The wind does blow white, not black.
lt does blow Whitney, not Weisenthal

When you shovel manure, you really find
out which way the wind's blowing.

l admire you, Walter

l mean that.

You've shown a determination and an...

...ingenuity which l admire.

l thought you would break,
but you only bent.

l respect that ability to survive.

The company misses you, Walter

vivian misses you.

Come back. Come home
to the people you belong with.

-What about Roger
-Provisions will be made.

A good military academy to strengthen
character A tour of duty overseas.

And if by chance he survives?

ln that case, he will be sent adequate
funds so that he can live comfortably.

lt will preserve your integrity,
your sense of obligation,

and most important, the quality
of life you've worked hard to create.

l think vivian would like
to say something in private.

Peace with honor Walter

Why peace at all, Nelson?
l'm a deserter You execute deserters.

Only as a last resort.

You're one of us, Walter
And there are so few of us.

We are the true minority.

Those tiny wheels
that keep the one big wheel turning.

lf we vanish, that wheel stops, and it
rusts into chaos, anarchy, nihilism.

''All Power to the People ''?

They had it once.
lt was called the Stone Age.

l had a long talk with Mary Ann.
She's agreed to call you ''father ''

Oh, Walter l know that l have, on
occasion, failed you as a woman.

But l assure you, l am a woman
capable of great warmth and passion.

-But only for burglars.
-Walter l knew that was you all along!

Come home, Walter

l'll be waiting.

-They're after me!
-What did you do?

What did l do? Nothing.

l'm just walking. These dudes break a
window, grab some stuff, and take off!

-Well, the police pulled up, and l ran.
-lnnocent people don't run.

-Maybe not in San Marino.
-They wanted to ask what happened.

When a cop yells, ''Freeze your ass,
nigger '' he's decided what happened.

-Open up! Police!
-Help me, Mr. Charley!

The bed! Quick! Hide in here!

-They'll find me!
-No, they won't! Do as l say!

-Why?
-Because l'm your father and l say so!

Get in!

-Open up!
-Coming!

Shove off, pigs!

What's a white guy doing in here?
Let's get him.

-How you doing, Mr. Charley?
-Not too good, Roger

You get points today. Got yourself
arrested for me, roughed up...

-Finally started to act like a father
-Enough so l'll get off your back.

l didn't want anything from you,
Mr. Charley.

No adoption, no trust fund. Nothing.

l just came out here because every kid
wants to see what his dad is like.

l didn't want you to like me
because l was your son.

l wanted you to respect me
because was Mom's son.

But l looked in your eyes,
and you didn't see Mom.

You saw black.

And Mom deserved better than that.

You owed her more than that.

l looked at you in that big office,
and l kind of went crazy inside.

l said to myself, ''This is the man
who broke Mama's heart.''

The man she spent her whole life loving
and waiting for

nd she died Ioving you, Mr. Charley. I think you oughtto knowtha

You walked away from a great lady.

There's no woman in the world could
love a man more than she loved you.

She would have made you happy.
She knew how to make people happy.

l wanted to hurt you like you hurt Mom.

l wanted to insult you so you'd take
a swing at me, then l'd punch you out.

lsn't that terrible?
A son wanting to hit his own father

l was glad
when things went wrong for you.

Then l realized
no matter what happened,

that couldn't make
any good happen to Mama.

She's dead, Mr. Charley.

We'll never see her again,
hear her again, touch her again...

She deserved a better life.

You should have
given her a better life.

l should have given her a better life.

Did you love my mom, Mr. Charley?
This is very important.

-Did you love my mom?
-Yeah. l loved her

l loved her very much.

Wow.

Black and white together

That's a lot to overcome.

Go back to your family. l think
they'll be a lot nicer to you now.

You're not a bad guy. lf you weren't
my father we might have been friends.

Walter Just in time
for the board meeting.

lt's as though it never happened.
Nothing's changed!

Everything changes. Constantly.

That's why we have to adapt.
So we can always come out on top.

Being on top means
somebody's on the bottom.

Can't have winners without losers.

-Why can't we all win, Nelso?
-No losers?

That's what life is all about.

Even death has heaven and hell.
Winners and losers.

lt's hard to hate you, Nelson.

You have just enough logic
to give your sickness respectability.

You've sentenced whole races
to be born losers,

and as the father of one, l object.

Not that he was born with two strikes,

but that you won't give him
a third pitch to swing at.

Goodbye, Nelson.

You walk out this time,
and l'll destroy you.

When l'm through, you'll think
shoveling horseshit is a step up.

l just don't understand. Why is he
going back there? What's he gonna do?

The college semester starts
in a couple of weeks.

What's that got to do with him?
He left high school when he was 16.

-That's when he graduated, Mr. Whitney.
-Graduated?

-He made me promise not to tell you.
-He goes to college?

Roger received a scholarship
from Northwestern.

That's where l went.

He's in his second year of pre -med.

He was right, Mr. Garvey.
l looked at him and l saw black.

l didn't see Lorraine, what she would
have brought up our son to be.

l looked at him and l didn't see
a college student. l saw a dropout.

l didn't see a doctor l saw a short-order cook.

Look, there he is.

-Roger
-Yeah.

-Just wanted to wish you a good trip.
-Thanks.

lf you need money or anything, l can
always be reached through Mr. Garvey.

lf you need anything, if you
run short or something, l mean,

l'll be at Aunt Clara's.

-Well, have a good trip, Roger
-So long, Mr. Charley.

''Mr. Charley'' doesn't sound right.
Not when you're saying goodbye.

Well, so long, Dad.

l have this friend back in Evanston.
Bernie Levin.

He'd always try to talk me into coming
back there and working for him.

l thought l mightjust go there
and take him up on it.

lt's not far from the university.

Might give us a chance to see
one another every once in a while.

Have dinner talk,

maybe take in a ball game.
Get to know one another

l mean, maybe we'll
never get to be friends, but then,

maybe we will.
l mean, it's worth a try.

Yeah.

Well, have a good trip, son.

Hey, listen. lf l'm gonna go back
there, l might as well start now.

Wouldn't hurt to have someone along.
l'm a good mechanic.

Good idea.

Send the rest to me
at his Aunt Clara's.

Well, all right. All right!

Hey, almost forgot. This picture of Mom.
I think she'd like you to have.