Original subtitles

Two.

Hennessey and coffee.

Hot or cold?

Cold.

Cold?

Thank you, appreciate it.

We the only ones in here?

That's what it looks like.

You been here before?

Just once.

Where are you from?

Nia, Nia, baby, open the door.

Nia!

Nia!

Chico.

What the fuck?

What?

What do you want?

OK.

God, Chico, I can't breathe.

OK, OK.

Baby, baby.

What the fuck, man?

Nia!

Chico, get out.

Get out of my house, Chico.

What you got a knife for?

What you doing?

Actions speak.

Words raise doubt and suspicion.

A rebellion it seems.

A rebellion we need.

The goal being righteousness and peace.

The goal being justice for our people.

Arm ourselves we must with intelligence and perseverance,

and there's no promise of positive change

without violence.

But there is influence of change with action.

rebellion it seems.

A rebellion we need.

Because their fire burns our souls, and our range

burns each other.

Then just as hair flows like the waters of La Grange,

blood pours.

We treat each other like cows on family farms, butchered.

All that energy should be harnessed

to make the evil flee our streets.

The evil that lives within our authorities, the people that

govern this place.

We must move as one unit, united within unity together,

interdependent.

Like nature is upon the sun.

And love is the goal.

Freedom will unfold like the butterfly

you let fly from your palm after you caught it,

if you remember elementary school days,

the little yellow butterflies.

We must take the lead until we've been freed.

You're finished early today.

Hey, your actually showed up today,

and there's not that many of them either.

You know.

(SIGHS) I just don't want you to jeopardize this thing of ours.

Thing of ours?

Yeah, it's a great opportunity for us.

We're fortunate to have landed this gig.

This is not a gig.

You don't see that?

The way I see it, it's a gig.

Look, easy money for the summer.

Five weeks, one Saturday per week,

show the course we've complied across the board.

Is that right?

Yeah, get a few recommendations and move on.

As long as we stick together, who

knows how long funding for this little project

is going to last.

I'm not going to put my students on cleanup duty

just so people like you can come here and get educated

in comfort.

Look, all I'm saying is we're young, we're educated,

and I mean you are absolutely beautiful.

Can you you please stop?

Beautiful.

What?

You're beautiful.

That's all I'm trying to say.

And so what if I put my kids on cleanup duty?

They're great with brooms.

I'm just saying, like we're going places.

Can't you see that we're going places?

You know, the state requires that we teach productivity.

OK.

And the fact is you've been taking money

from your offenders--

Are you going to tell on me?

Is a criminal act.

Maybe, I don't know.

You know, I just--

I just don't understand why you waste your time with them.

They ain't kids.

They don't want nothing.

They're not trying to be anything.

You go tell them that.

How about that?

You tell them that.

(MUTTERING) I ain't going to tell them nothing.

OK, bye.

Have a nice day.

Man, my brother had the TV Atlantis fuck this morning.

But you know, what really pissed me off?

It was a commercial about aluminum foil.

Like, who's going to forget to buy that shit?

And on top of that it was 15 minutes before my alarm.

Knowing I could have used those fifteen minutes.

So y'all never forget to buy that shit?

Bra, I always forget to buy that shit.

So, what's up?

Hey, sunshine.

man.

A big day today, huh?

I know, I know.

OK, .

What's the name of this song?

"To Let Her Tell It."

You got to let me get this.

I got you.

What's up, y'all?

Good morning everybody.

Good morning everybody.

Good morning Miss G.

That's more like it.

You guys should be excited.

Today's a big day for you guys.

After today's finished you all receive

a certificate of completion.

So you can take that back to the courts

and show that you've complied with the state's requirements.

Now depending on your case that either reduces or eliminates

your fine, and the same goes for community service

and/or restitution.

There's less people every day.

Well, I'm glad all of you are here for the last day.

And ,, what are you doing here?

It's not 9:45.

He was early today Miss G.

Last day, no more waking up early.

You feel me?

You never did wake up early.

Got him.

I'm getting roasted for coming to class early.

I almost didn't make it.

Is that right?

We went out last night.

Where you at?

I didn't tell you you could go nowhere.

Well, we just went to the bar.

Who?

Well, what's crazy was, Nia calls a cab.

We wasn't even that drunk.

OK, well, I'm glad you guys all got home safely.

Now I want to get to presentations.

I want to get to everyone we didn't get to last week.

I thought you was going to do yours, too?

Is that what you've been preparing?

Well, I've been preparing a thesis on education

and I'm going to use my experience

with you guys for it.

Well, then what we going to talk about today?

Jazz.

But I want to get to presentations.

So who wants to go first?

I'll go.

Thank you, Sean.

Come on up.

Milo Penta got knocked down out here yesterday.

What does that mean, Sean?

Got killed.

Not too far from here.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Thank you, Miss G. I mean, just got

me thinking about why I've come to this program

in the first place.

I didn't have to come.

I could have just paid the restitution.

So?

Why you got time to be at the red fence.

That's to let you know it could have paid restitution.

OK, so Sean, why did you come?

I was saying, I remember hella long ago

I went through this phase where I would sleep like all day.

And I had the craziest nightmares.

I mean the shit felt so real that when I woke up

I'd be crying real tears.

Fucked up part is that I prefer that over my real life.

So yeah, I've got a big idea.

I just want to be free.

I want to be mentally healthy.

I mean, I want my life to be

and not like some fucking nightmare.

But Sean, what kind of dreams were they?

The presence of black people in this country

has affected the way everyone else walks,

talks, the way they dance, dress,

from the music to the language.

You know, we all use African words every single day

and don't even realize it?

Like what.

Like banana, coffee, cola, jive.

OK Miss G. Nobody uses jive anymore.

OK, well hip as in being hip.

Jazz is even--

How about you feel me?

I don't think so.

But the expression you feel me does

resonate with the black experience.

See, as a black people we aren't represented

in politics or media, so we have to constantly

ask ourselves these questions.

We're in a state of constant appraisal.

We live under the slogan of freedom, but we live oppressed.

Our culture evolves from this contradiction.

We instill it in our future generations

and understanding this contradiction

is why there are future generations.

It's why we're all still here.

It's why we're here today.

OK, so why don't we meet back up in say 10 minutes,

then we'll pick up where we left off.

Thank you.

Yes, girl, yes!

Thank you.

You're welcome.

So I was thinking about moving to Frisco with Mom.

I could see you in Frisco.

The whole art scene.

Yeah, doing your thing, girl.

But what about your parents?

Aren't they--

Like well-off?

Yeah.

Yeah, they got a real estate up in Oakland, so they do OK.

But I just don't like it over there.

Why not, though?

Just not trying to be a part of all their bullshit.

Like what?

Like for one, my dad doesn't know that my mom, i.e. his wife

is spending all of they fucking money.

How he not know that?

She shops onling all fucking day.

Buying-- name some shit.

Baby?

Baby clothes for my brother's baby that's not even his baby,

by the way.

You lying.

No, that baby has blond hair and blue eyes.

That child is a .

What?

How is that even possible?

I don't know, she a ho.

Groan.

But how your dad not know she a ho.

That Nick is a workaholic.

Plus, I think as long as she occupy, he's good, because--

He getting him a little.

You feel me?

That shit is nasty.

Right.

I'm not trying to deal with it.

That's crazy.

You ever feel empty?

Empty?

You don't like to talk about yourself, huh?

What is it you'd like to talk about?

Where are you from?

St. Louis, originally.

Miss G, I would have came to class a lot more

if I had a teacher to listen to my ideas.

You know, the problem is with teachers,

they think the students are empty.

Like a cup they have to fill.

But no one's empty.

How'd you get into jazz?

My dad.

Yeah, he loved it.

Our house was a library of old books and old vinyl records.

And when I say old, I mean old, because they were back then.

Yeah, he listened to everything, but jazz was his main thing.

He would talk about it all the time

and sometimes I would listen.

Was he a musician?

No, he was a preacher, believe it or not.

So you grew up in a church.

I did.

Tell me about it.

Well, it was a small church, the store front type.

It was in a strip mall and my dad

was the type of preacher to relate scripture to politics.

I remember one time this kid got killed by a police car up

the street from the church.

Apparently it was a stolen car.

The community was outraged.

There were rallies and meetings.

And what do they do?

They get the old Negro preacher to come and calm everyone down.

They got your dad?

Exactly.

I remember we were at a rally and the newspeople second

camera in his face and asked him,

do you expect this to be a peaceful rally?

And he responded, no one can be at peace unless he has freedom.

So you can imagine what the people thought of that.

You know, a preacher that condones violence and quotes

Malcolm X?

So your dad cared about people.

He cared about ideas.

What's going on?

Thanks.

So, does anyone have any questions?

Anything you want to ask me?

Why haven't you asked us why we're even here?

I know exactly why you're all here.

You got that?

Got it right here.

Take it easy.

Can I see your ID please?

Yes, of course.

Maria Sanchez?

That's me.

Give me one moment, I'll be right back.

OK.

In my experience, the greatest criminals write the laws.

So the criminal justice system is just that.

A criminal justice system.

It's the reason why we're all here.

Any more questions?

You gonna let us leave early today?

You still need to present your idea.

Why do you care about our ideas so much?

What's more important than ideas?

Shit, money?

Why?

If I had money, things would be different.

I could do what I want.

So money's your idea of freedom.

I'm not one to judge your big ideas, ,,

but if that really is your big idea,

then my question becomes, how do you plan to get it?

OK, any more questions?

I guess it was meant for me to be who I want to be.

Sky's the limit, don't ever underachieve.

Go here, follow your dreams, because I'm living mine.

Have more to want, hustle real nigga grind,

and I can't stop now, I ain't stopping and I never will.

The way my life going, shit is getting really real.

Grind hard all week, that's the need niggas get it.

Get you killed, jealous yeah niggas gone,

hey, can't worry about them.

Excuse me?

Can I help you?

I need to speak to Nia.

Well, we're in the middle class right now, so--

Don't make me have to act a fool in front of all these people.

Let's step outside, Nia.

Can you just wait outside.

Hold on.

Can you wait outside, please?

Come on.

I need to step outside.

You don't want to come out there.

Hip hop, mostly.

Like Mos Def, Fugees, Outcast, older stuff.

Yeah.

That's what my little brother listens to is '90s hip hop.

Well, what do you listen to?

I like my music.

Can you give me an example?

A whipping and flipping the breaks,

you flipping and stripping on dicks.

How is that motivational?

Because it's about grinding, jerking, feeling good.

That's what's motivational.

Yeah.

Is it the beat or is it the message?

The beat is just part of the message.

Explain.

If you listen to it, the cadence, the drums, the chants,

it sounds just like African war drums.

Your offenders are out there fighting.

But you shouldn't go out there.

(RAPPING) Got to fit this tape together

in the 30 in the so you don't

own the thing that's missing.

Got some shit they hit you from your street

the Mississippi, you ain't know my level,

I deserve a medal,

Be cool.

Be cool.

Oh, shit!

Hey, be cool.

All right, bra.

You want to fight, nigger!

(RAPPING) they can't kill me 'cause I

long time ago.

Bitch, I got my own money and I

I don't know the difference paper

cut that's all I know.

And they can't kill me 'cause I already

I got my own money and I

I don't know the difference ..

OK you guys.

We're going to take a 20 minute break.

I'm ready to present my ideas.

I heard about little homie who got knocked down the other day.

I didn't even know that was your partner.

I don't even like talking about that shit, bro.

I'm going to keep it 100 with you, all right?

That's my little nigga.

Boy been on his own since he was like eight though.

You know what I mean?

Pop is pimping.

Mom is hoeing.

Sisters, nieces.

I'm telling you, man.

Shit crazy, bra.

At the same time this is good.

It's good.

10 years old, bruh.

You know, bruh?

Ship is smacking out here, bruh, you feel me?

and shit.

I heard.

I was right there when it got them, bro.

What?

I was standing right in front of of him,

like I'm standing in front of you right now.

You seen that shit?

Some old bitch ass gonna hop out of a little

, right?

Shot, bam.

Me and Wheezy froze, bra.

Everybody else running and shit.

You know what I'm saying?

But I'm still post like this, you feel me?

They found 41 racks him.

And was like, excuse me, ma'am, I

don't know what your son was into, but here you go.

Handed it right to the

That's fucked up.

They didn't do that shit like that.

Man, just go put this shit--

Man, I know where to keep it, bruh.

must think I'm a or something, bruh.

You can't rob death, bruh.

You can't lick death.

You feel me?

On mommas, bruh.

You up in there in class, bruh.

Hey, but class in session out here, bruh.

Hey, I'm 'bout to go knock them niggas down, bruh.

On mommas, bruh.

Yo, I'm gonna holler at you though.

I got you.

All right, bruh.

Something told me when that bougie-ass teacher walked in

that something was that.

Even though he was hella calm about the whole situation,

I really hope he don't come back up here.

Man, what's up?

You good?

I'm fine.

What's really good though?

Why your ass been looking all sad and shit?

What's going on, girl?

Is he coming back up here or what?

I don't know.

I don't think so.

I think he's in trouble.

Your boyfriend?

Yeah.

For real?

Why you say that?

Did something happen?

He came home fucked up last night.

Fucked up like drunk and high, or fucked up like, bro?

He was high.

He's all on these pills.

Don't be taking them pills, Chico.

OK?

I ain't.

I mean, that stuff is dangerous.

But y'all sell it though.

But I said don't take 'em.

I heard you.

OK.

What you fixing to do?

Shit.

Fixing to go play 2K.

Oh.

It's for money.

Mm-hmm.

Well, can you at least put some gas in my car?

For sure.

Hey, if I pay you can you get me some act?

Have a nice day.

Bitch.

Bitch out here killing a nigga high, boy.

I swear to god.

Two of them thangs.

I used to get codeine for him, and he was selling it.

But then he started using it.

So I had to stop stealing it for him.

Man, why you stopped?

Shit got old.

Fuck am I stealing for?

Every time I got a new job it's the same thing.

When I worked at the Cookie Cutter in the mall,

he wanted cookies.

When I worked at the health food store, nigga wanted flax seeds.

Just dumb shit.

I had to stop because every time I get home he was unconscious.

I don't know if he dead or what.

I don't want to be, like, an accessory to murder

or some shit.

And now he all on these fucking pills.

Man, what happened yesterday?

I told you.

He came home high, wrecked my apartment throwing shit

everywhere.

Kind of like he was looking for something, huh?

I couldn't understand what he was saying.

That's how I know he was on something.

It's like he was trying to say something, but he couldn't.

He took my car keys.

Did he hit you?

No.

So why'd he come up here then?

He said he wanted to explain.

What'd you say?

I wasn't hearing his shit.

But he was really upset about something else.

He wanted to know how I got here now.

He was asking about you, Sean.

He was asking about me?

Were you talking about him?

I don't know that nigga.

He said something about some dudes robbed him

from over here and that you knew them.

Asking me if I knew something about it like we

were working together, like we were in on it.

Hold up.

In on what?

He said he got robbed?

Yeah.

$40,000, $50,000?

I don't know much he had.

Well, how much money does he have?

What's that nigga's name?

Chiz Naulty.

But listen, how did you know?

You need to report that motherfucking

car stolen, just in case that nigga did something in it, boy.

For real though.

Did something like what?

Sean!

Sean!

That was weird.

Did something like what?

I don't know.

Let me get a dollar.

There's $0.28.

I can't get no wine with this.

Hey, T, I'm tired of this motherfucking shit.

I ain't no motherfucking wino.

I can't tell.

You know what?

I remember your ass trying to be a motherfucking

singer and shit.

You know what though?

You need to sing for this shit.

(SINGING) She's a queen to be.

Come on keep singing.

You want this wine don't you?

Sing.

(SINGING) She's a queen to be.

Bruh, when I said class is in session,

I told you class is in session out here.

Straight like that?

Straight Like that.

Aight, my dude.

Bitch know I was popping.

Then a bitch got the nerve to go bad on them niggas though.

You feel me?

Ah, that was crazy, bruh.

I was through with it, boy.

Bruh, let's table about some blush real quick.

Shit is good.

Shit Is good.

Aight, come on let's get this stuff.

We out.

Aight.

Baby girl.

Many musicians gave themselves so fully to this music

that it consumed them.

Some died young, others burnt out and lost it.

Jazz is possessive.

Charles Mingus says, on Colloquial Dreams

that he wakes up to jazz music in the morning.

But his mom just couldn't see it-- morning night or any time.

Until he played her some Monk one night late.

He played her some Monk and now Mom spends most of her nights

in Tunisia.

If you're ever fortunate enough to hear jazz music,

maybe you'll hear Miles playing the universe.

Or maybe, just maybe, the universe is playing Miles.

OK, you guys, so I have something

that might lighten the mood.

Our Sun-Son turned in his "Big Idea,"

and it turns out he can scribble.

Uh, what are you doing?

I really want to share it with the class.

I think they'll like it.

What is it?

Well, it's a short story that Sun-Son wrote.

And if it's OK with him, I'd like to have the class read it.

I'll read it.

Perfect.

And I'd be glad to read the other part.

I'll read it then.

Thank you.

OK, let's put the desks in a circle.

OK, so let me explain what's going on here.

Sun, here, is a traveled writer in the fictional city

of Califunami, an ancient Roman city perfect for a love story.

Now Nya is going to be playing the waitress who's

been playing hard to get.

Sun has devised a plan to get Nya to open up.

So I need Sanaa to narrate.

All right.

True to his form, the writer who had been jousting

for the young woman's attention for the past week, left a note.

It read--

I'm leaving in a day.

I would love nothing more than a moment with you.

If you choose to accept my invitation,

I'll be in the Calathea garden, midday tomorrow.

If she accepted his invitation, he

would offer her a role in the play

he had created to seduce her.

Midday, she arrived in the Calathea garden.

She sat next to him on the bench.

He handed her a copy of the manuscript.

She took it instinctively.

He began.

Honesty is a responsible tenor for an intimate conversation.

The honest makes it intimate.

The vulnerability, colored by passion,

it carried away on that riff.

The pleasure of being overtaken, submitted

to an inflicting pain--

governed by a spirit akin to that of madness.

You say love is what gives life flesh.

But what do you know about love?

You're a writer.

Love is just a tool to you.

Enter the romantic.

He is the most empty of them all.

If love could only fill the chasm in man of a technological

age of sky-scraping buildings, yet devoid of cabinets to file

his most ancient records, he is lost--

restless, searching for algebra or love to make him whole.

And I fear you're not a singular menace, but the triumvirate.

There's no way I can fill you.

That wasn't my intention.

What are your intentions?

To feel you.

Oh, shit.

So it's like that then.

Hey, great job.

OK, you guys.

So we're gonna take a lunch break.

But we're gonna stay in here because I've provided

lunch for you guys today.

Aight, Miss G!

OK, you guys, here we go.

Ooh, thank you Miss G.

Kruma, good job.

You might want to save mine.

Nya, Sean, and Sanaa.

Thank you.

We love you, Miss G.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Congratulations, you guys.

Thank you so much.

Oh, Miss G, you didn't tell us about your "Big Idea."

Well, today was my "Big Idea," well most of it.

And since it's your last day, I'm

going to let you guys leave early.

Hey!

Hey!

I'm out.

But I never want to see you at this capacity again.

You'll never see me again.

Bye, Miss G.

Bye, Miss G.

Bye, Nya.

Bye, you guys.

Take care.

You too.

Bye, Kruma.

I might get in trouble again though.

I might need your number.

Bye, Kruma.

All right.

Hey, Miss G, I'm gonna add you on Twitter and Instagram,

get your followers up.

What's your handle?

JazzyBell510.

Bye, Miss G.

Miss G was hella cool, man.

Miss G was bad, dude.

Kruma, you coming tonight?

You already know.

What you talking about?

To my apartment, fool.

Oh, yeah, for sure.

For sure, I'll be there.

How about you, Sean?

Are you coming?

If that's my invitation, I'm coming.

Yeah, for sure.

For sure.

Aight, I'll text y'all the address.

Just wait for it.

Y'all be good, man.

See y'all later, bye.

Aight.

Hey, what'd the detective say though, bruh?

Bruh, they still looking for the moetherfucking car.

But you know what?

She was at work when that shit happened so she good.

She good.

But, ol' boy gotta be done as fuck

to still be driving that car.

Bruh, dumb or crazy.

You don't wanna fuck with that dumb shit, bruh.

You know that nigga came back around here?

What?

You know what man?

I already forgot about the nigga.

But look, I gotta catch mine.

Aight, be safe, bruh.

Aight.

What's up, man?

Hey, what happened to Nya's boyfriend?

They say they found him.

Shit, that was quick.

His dumbass was still in the car.

Are you OK?

Oh, shit!

Oh, Shit.

Sir, are you OK?

Oh, fuck.

I'm glad though.

I think Sean and them was looking for him.

And not for no talking.

Man, I feel like if you can't be with somebody that

could be in your corner and ride for you,

you're better off alone, you know?

That shit between Nya and her boyfriend is crazy.

But that's some hella typical ass shit.

Niggas these days out here wanting to rob you,

pimp you, steal from you.

Miss G was cool though.

We could've got a real bitch-ass teacher instead.

Man, I had this one teacher in high school, Mr. Josiah.

Nigga was like Laurence Fishburne in Higher Learning.

Kruma!

bruh, this nigga took my whole rap book

and read it to the whole fucking class and shit.

That shit was so embarrassing.

He was, like, the equation to negative to minus.

But when I tell you this nigga took and grabbed my rap book,

reading it so crazy.

This nigga was, like, 666 to the motherfucking dome.

That shit was so fucking embarassing, bruh.

Man, this ain't working out.

Kruma, you what you be thinking about?

When?

When you be looking at me.

Like you look now.

Shit, I just be wanting to holler boo sometimes.

You hungry?

I'm starving.

Hate to see what you look like when you're thirsty.

Can you get the door, please?

Oh, yeah.

Sorry about that.

What's going on?

Nigga, you short, bruh.

Yeah, bruh, we all came with.

We all came with.

Hi, are we together?

Oh, y'all ain't got no boyfriend or anything?

No.

Y'all don't want one?

I been thinking about you ever since we left class.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Wondered how you were doing.

You went looking for him?

What were you gonna do when you find him, Sean?

Nothing.

Sean, the police already got him.

So Nya seems to think--

Well, hold on.

Let me stop you right there.

It's best we won't even get into those hypotheticals.

Well, I'm just saying.

No, I'm just saying.

What, you blame me?

Did you know about it?

No.

Aight now.

You ever think about the future?

Vaguely.

What does the future look like?

I'm hoping, you.

You ever wonder why I'm even in this program?

Honestly, I never thought about it.

Sean, look at me.

Tell me what you see.

Sex.

You not supposed so say that.

I can't see you from that angle.

Come here.

Now, tell me what you see.

I see myself.

Now, what you see in mine?

I see emptiness.

What you mad?

Emptiness?

You ever been in love, Sean?

Love?

Is that what you was in?

No.

I was more, like, in need.

In need of what?

Love.

Well, with me, all my relationships

seem to end all of a sudden.

They don't fade.

They just end.

And then it's fucked up when you think

you got a friend for life, but then all of a sudden--

Miss Garcia always talking about culture.

You know?

That's Miss Garcia.

Yeah.

It's got me thinking.

I want to change my own personal culture,

stop being held up by all this bullshit.

I want to focus my energy on my rights,

because rights are liberating.

For instance, do I have the right to be happy?

Do I have the right to be loved and be mentally healthy

and have a fruitful life?

I don't know.

What you think?

I think you sexy.

To be honest, I started dressing like this

to throw the police off.

You feel me?

Shit.

But now I find myself at the library, bookstores, even

the art museum.

You know the difference between me now and say 10 years ago?

What's that?

I hit the weed just right.

Is that all you hit just right?

I done learned a whole lot since I started dressing like this.

Shit, I'm vegan now.

I read art and peace and shit.

I guess I'm just more in tune with shit.

And shit, I mean, how many niggas you know listen

to "Beet-hoven?"

Jazz is possessed by all of the hands that have touched it.

It isn't good or bad.

And if we're honest, we're not good.

We're not evil.

We're the persona of the universe

that only mysterious enchantment can articulate.

For me, jazz can never die.

It's too strong.

It's too rooted.

And as long as we need, it it'll be here--

for us, in us.

It just beats, and beats, and beats, and beats.