Original subtitles

Oh, come on, Bubba.

You really think that Riley can take Johnson?

Are you crazy?

Johnson will take him in the first round...

Yeah. Oh, really?

Well, put your money where your mouth is...

That's big enough to hold

your money, wallet, and your checkbook.

Oh? How much?

Come on.

Come on, you're getting warmer.

All right, now double that.

Now you're talking.

$2.00. You got it.

Okay, see you later.

Oh! Got two big ones!

Hey, Grady.

I'm in the kitchen, Lamont.

Well, come on out here.

I got somebody I want you to meet.

Well, don't shout.

A person shouldn't shout from room to room.

If a person has something to say

to a person in another room,

that person should walk in there and say it.

The trouble with you young folks

is you'd rather shout your way through life than to walk.

Would you come on out here

I've got somebody I want you to meet.

Yeah, all right.

Just let me get this thing off.

He'll be right out, Herm.

You sure he's not gonna get upset

about me having been in jail?

Oh, man, look, don't even worry about it.

Grady's a pretty nice dude.

Speak up! You talking to me?

Would you get out here?

Grady, do you remember Errol Edwards?

Oh, yeah.

Well, this is Errol's baby brother, Herman.

Herman, Grady Wilson.

How you doing?

Hey, hi, Herman. How you doing? Where's Errol?

Oh, Errol's...

He's just about getting ready

to go into law school now.

Oh, wow. That's great.

You know, we need more kids like you and Errol.

Not like some of these kids we got growing up today...

Grady, Herman's going to be staying with us for a while.

Oh? Why?

Well, because he doesn't have a place of his own.

Oh, how come?

He spent the last two years in prison.

In the kitchen, Lamont.

Just make yourself at home, Herman.

Yeah. Thanks, man.

Are you crazy bringing a killer into this house?

Grady, Herman is not a killer.

Well, he's been to jail, hasn't he?

Yeah, he's been to jail.

Well, he's a crook and a killer.

And he's in there alone.

In the living room, Lamont!

All right, you, put down those ashtrays.

Oh, man, please.

All right, up against the wall.

Well, don't you want me to raise my hands?

Yeah, right. Raise your hands.

Yeah, and what about my legs?

Yeah. Raise those too.

I mean, shouldn't I spread them?

Yeah, spread them.

Oh, yeah. Okay. Now what?

Now what?

Now stop it.

Now, Herman is not a killer.

Well, how come he went to prison?

Because of circumstantial evidence.

He just happened to be at the scene of a crime.

Oh? You just happened to be at the scene of a crime?

Well, what were you doing there?

Committing it.

Oh well, that's...

that's circumstantial evidence, all right.

Come, on Herman.

Now, where are you taking this jailbird?

I'm taking him upstairs, Grady,

and he's not a jailbird. He's got a name.

Oh, yeah?

Spell it out for me... number by number.

Herman was arrested when he was 20 years old

for stealing a Hi-fi set.

He spent two years in prison,

and he's paid his debt to society.

Oh, well, I ain't in society, so I haven't been paid yet.

Hey, look, Lamont, man maybe I'd better split.

I don't want no more hassles, man.

No, man. Where you going to go?

He ain't got no place to stay, Grady.

He got kicked out of his apartment

because he couldn't pay the rent.

Now, Herman is going to stay here with us

until he finds himself a job,

and that's all there is to it... You got that?

Okay. I just happen to have a job for him.

Here, Herman.

Here's a quarter... Your job is to get out.

Now, goodbye, criminal.

Get out. Come on, Herman.

Shakedown is at 0800 hours.

Chow is at 0830 hours.

And break-out time is any time you want to go.

Just what I need, having a crook around here.

Nah, he wouldn't want that.

Oh! I can't let him get this.

That's all I gotta do is miss hearing that fight,

especially when I've got two big ones riding on it.

Now I've got to hide all of the valuables.

Got to hide the valuables.

Boy, that's some crook...

He's been here five minutes,

and there ain't a single valuable left.

Hey, Dillinger,

put down my paper and empty out your pockets.

Did you find anything yet, Herm?

No. Not yet, man.

Did you put anything back?

Oh, stop it.

Hey, man, here looks like a couple of places I could try.

Yeah, well, you just keep right on trying, Herman.

There's bound to be somebody in this town

that'll give you a job

that don't care nothing about your past, man.

Right. Did you try the mafia?

Why don't you go in the kitchen

and fix breakfast and stifle yourself.

I'll get it.

Oh, hi there... Lester!

Esther. No "L".

Oh, well, Noel?

And a Merry Christmas to you too.

You hear anything from Fred?

Yeah. He said he was enjoying himself with his family.

Did he send me any regards?

Well, sort of.

He said that he had visited the St. Louis Zoo.

Watch it, Grady.

Ana he was having a wonderful time...

Yeah... and he wished that I was there...

Be careful.

And was sure you already were!

That did it.

Would you knock it off?

Soon as I knock him out.

Would you just stop it? Grady, stop it.

Stop it!

Now, come over here.

I got somebody I want you to meet.

Aunt Esther, this is Herman Edwards,

and he's our house guest.

Our Big House guest.

How are you doing, ma'am?

Was that an automobile accident?

No, she was born with that face.

Shut up, fool.

Lamont, could you come over

to help your Uncle Woody out today in the store?

Oh, gee, I'd love to, Aunt Esther,

but I'm going to be busy

with the truck all day making pick-ups,

and tonight, I promised Julio

I'd go to the fights with him.

What happened to your regular helper?

Well, we had to fire him for stealing.

I could have forgiven him for anything else, but stealing!

"Thou shalt not steal!"

That's one of the top 10!

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, yeah. We can understand that, can't we, Numbers?

I was hoping you'd be able to come and help him out today.

Wait a minute.

Now, you say that... Woody lost his helper,

and Herman here is looking for a job.

Oh, yeah, that's right.

You are?

Yes, ma'am.

Do you know anything about the hardware business?

Well, I've never had any...

You don't have to worry nothing about that.

Herman here is very bright,

and he picks up things very easily!

Where did you work before?

Well, you see, for the last two years, I've been...

Worked for the State.

You did?

Well... yes, ma'am, and I...

Never missed a day. Rain or shine, Herman was always there.

What did you do?

Well, I... He was a waiter!

A waiter?

Yeah.

He waited two years.

Why did you leave?

Well, I... He was done serving.

Does he get the job, Aunt Esther?

I have to get my husband's opinion,

which shouldn't be very hard, since he gets it from me.

In more ways than one.

Why, you... Wait a minute, Aunt Esther.

Wait just a minute. Just a minute.

Would you excuse me for a minute?

Say, Lamont, can I rap to you for a minute, man?

Yeah. Yeah. Excuse me.

Grady why don't you get something for Aunt Esther.

Oh, gladly. How much do you think I can get for her?

Would you stop it?

Aunt Esther!

Hey, say, Lamont, I don't think we should lie

to your aunt like that, really.

Look, Herman, nobody's asking you to like,

Just don't volunteer

any information that's not asked, all right?

Oh, come on, man.

That ain't no way to do business.

Okay, look a it this way.

Would you tell anybody

what your blood type was if they didn't ask you?

Well, of course not! All right.

Put your blood cell in the same category as your jail cell.

Okay. Okay, man.

Well, I've got to get back to the store to help my husband.

Now, can I count on you being there this afternoon?

Oh, yes, ma'am. I'll be right down there.

Just let me get my stuff.

Fine. Bye. Bye.

You don't have to rush off now, do you?

Yeah. Why?

Well, I just like having you hang around out here.

It makes the junk look so pretty.

Grady Wilson,

I wouldn't lower myself to even answer that

because I've got too much class.

Praise the Lord.

What's the matter with you, Grady?

What have you got against my Aunt Esther?

She just talks too slow.

What do you mean she talks too slow?

Well, she takes too much time between "hello" and "goodbye".

Well, at least she gave Herman a job.

Yeah, that's right, and I owe her for that...

Got getting him out of the house,

because I was afraid he was going to attack me!

Would you stop that?

Well, no, Lamont.

Really, I really get scared having a criminal in the house.

Grady, I'm gonna tell you one more time.

Herman is not a criminal.

Oh, yeah, that's... right.

Of course not.

I can see it now on my tombstone...

"Here lies Grady Wilson,

murdered in the first degree by a hell of a nice guy."

Say, Pops.

I want to thank you

for letting me stay here last night,

and for helping me get that job.

Now I can afford to get my own place.

You know, Lamont was right.

Oh, sure. Sure, Herman.

Lamont was right.

A man must show compassion and trust to his fellow man.

Can I see what you've got in that suitcase there?

Come on, Herman.

Well, I'll see you later, Grady.

I'm going to pick up Julio. We're going to the fights.

Oh, you could take me to the fights, you know?

I could, but the tickets costs 10 bucks apiece.

Well, you could spend $10

on the man that cleans the house,

washes the clothes and fixes your meals.

Sure. What time does he get here? Bye.

Shoot.

This is some dip... shrimp and ripple.

Shrimple.

All right!

Hold your horses. I'm coming.

Don't you know I hear you?

Hello, Pops.

Oh, hi. You forgot something!

No, you remembered something...

that Lamont was going to the fights with Julio

and I was gonna be here alone,

and that you got a machine gun in that suitcase,

and the silverware's in the top drawer.

Bye!

Hey, Pops. Will you come on downstairs?

I didn't come here to rob nobody.

What did you come back for?

I got fired.

You got fired the first day on the job?

You got fired?

What, she caught you stealing again, right?

No, Pops. I wasn't stealing nothing.

She just found out that I'm an ex-con.

Did you kill her?

Put your hands down, man.

Well, how'd she find out that you was an ex-con?

I told her.

Oh, well, she didn't fire you because you're an ex-con,

she fired you because you're a fool!

Okay, Pops. Anything you say.

And don't call me "Pops".

And why'd you have to go and tell her anyway?

Because she asked me.

I didn't want to lie to the lady.

Well, what made her ask?

Were you singing old chain gang songs?

The fact is that she asked me some questions

about my last job working for the state,

and I told her the truth.

She must have passed out.

No. She just raised her arms to heaven and said,

"The truth will set you free..."

and then she opened the door and freed me.

Okay, well, you can stay for a while.

I'll take care of that later,

but right now I got to listen to the fights.

Come on, I'm going to lock you in the closet.

Oh, come on, man, you can trust me.

I don't have to trust you.

Ain't none of my clothes in there.

I'll tell you what, I'll just sit right here.

On my hands.

All right, go on.

Both of them.

How'd you do it?

Do what?

Steal the radio! It's gone!

Hey, Pops. I didn't steal your radio.

You're the only thief that's been here.

You can't trust a thief for one minute...

The first chance he gets, he steals...

The freezer!

How'll I hear that fight?

What... I'll plug it in. It'll thaw out then.

I gotta hear that fight. I got two big ones on that fight.

I got to hear that thing.

Hey, you ain't gonna hear nothing on that radio.

Julio's got a radio.

Come on, why don't you go over there get it for me?

Who's Julio?

He's our next-door neighbor.

Well, why don't you go over there

and listen to it with him?

He went to the fights with Lamont.

Then how am I supposed to get his radio?

By circumstantial evidence!

You know, it's funny how you righteous dudes

are only honest as long as it's convenient.

Come on, Herman.

I don't need no philosopher now. I needs a crook.

Hey, but, man, look, that's breaking and entering.

You know, that's two to five.

No, it's 10 to 9:00. And the fight's starting soon.

Now, come on.

Just the radio, now.

I got to hear that fight.

What took you so long? You must be out of practice.

Oh, man, I didn't want to break in and steal Julio's radio.

Where did you get it from?

Martell's Appliance Store.

Martell's? Are you crazy?

Stealing a radio from Martell's

when they got color televisions.

I dislikes a thief, but I hates a dumb one.

And in the middle of the second round,

Johnson had Riley in trouble,

but Riley came on with a good flurry of hooks

to the body towards of the round...

It's Johnson now with a flurry of lefts and rights.

He's got Riley on the ropes...

We winning. We winning!

Herman, you sure know how to steal a radio!

Hey, Grady.

We figured you'd have the fight on. Mind if we listen?

No...

Yeah. Terrible reception in the squad car.

We kept picking up police calls.

You know...

Hey, Grady, can you turn it up?

Oh, yeah, sure, In the corner...

Come on, Grady, put the fight on.

What you doin'?

Riley...

Hey, you know, that's very strange.

You turned up the volume

and changed the station with the same knob.

Well, you see, that's how this radio works.

One of those buttons is for the brightness.

Five, six...

Come on, get up, Johnson! What are you doing?

Darn it!

I lost two big ones.

But he doesn't have the strength...

Hey, you turned the radio off and it's still on.

Yeah, this radio is funny that way.

Boy, I tell you, he's a heck of a fighter, Riley.

Come a along way from Dublin.

Hey, Hoppy, Smitty.

Hey, Lamont. How are you?

Hey, Herman. What you doing here?

You got some trouble or something?

No, we just stopped by to listen to the fight.

How'd you get home so fast?

I didn't even get in, man. The fight was sold out.

Besides, Johnson got K.O.ed.

I heard it on the radio in the truck.

Good thing he doesn't drive a squad car.

So, how come you turned off the radio, Grady?

Let's listen to the fight interview, man.

To practice...

Grady, what are you up to?

What are you doing with a radio in your pocket?

In the kitchen, Lamont.

No, out here. Now give me the radio.

Come on!

Give it to me.

What are you doing

with a brand-new portable radio in your pocket?

Before you jump to any conclusions,

this young man over here stole that radio,

and I was making a citizen's arrest.

Come on, get him before he escapes!

Come on, man. Would you stop it!

All right, young man,

you have the right to remain silent.

If you give up the right to remain silent...

Hold it, man. I didn't steal no radio.

All right, Mr. Wilson,

you have the right to remain silent...

Hoppy... Hmm?

Remain silent.

Hey, Herman, what are they talking about?

I bought him that radio at Martell's,

and he thinks I stole it.

Yes, he bought it, all right.

Yeah, he bought it, all right.

Yeah, he bought it, all right.

He got a good buy too.

And that's goodbye to you.

And it's time for us to divide.

That's split.

Oh, split, right. Split.

Oh... Oh... Thanks. Thanks, man.

Hey, wait a minute, you.

You stole my watch.

Grady, it's on the other arm.

Oh, yeah. How'd you do that?

College graduate. College graduate...

College graduate.

Looks like Herman's gonna have a hard time

finding a job in this town.

Oh, hi, Aunt Esther.

Don't you "Hi" me.

Here's your mail. It was in the box. Take it.

I need both hands free to preach some gospel into your heart.

Why? What did I do?

You lied to me about Herman.

Well, I didn't exactly lie.

I played with the truth, but...

Played with it?

Lamont, the truth is not a toy.

You cannot play with the truth.

The truth is a hard, firm, ragged rock,

which is as old as the world itself.

The truth reminds me a lot of you, Esther.

Shut up, fool.

Well, you're right, Aunt Esther...

I did lie a little bit, but, see, I figured

if you knew that Herman had been in prison,

that you wouldn't have given him a job. I apologize.

I didn't fire him because he was in prison.

I fired him because he didn't tell me he was in prison.

Now, wait a minute.

Now, that wasn't Herman's fault.

I told him not to tell you.

Well, that's all in the past.

I'm willing to put everything behind me.

Looks like it's already there.

You will not arouse my wrath, Grady Wilson,

because I came here filled with mercy...

And to ask Herman to come back to work for me.

Oh, really?

Yes.

Hey, Herman. I think you'd better get down here.

Hey, what's up, man?

Hey, guess what.

Aunt Esther's going to give you your job back.

Oh, really? Really...

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Well, I think that's wonderful, Aunt Esther.

That's straight out of the Good Book.

Well, hallelujah and goodbye.

Now, go straight out of the good door.

Gladly.

Come on, Herman.

We'll get you an apartment.

It's not good for an ex-con

to be associated with a known sucker!

See you later, Pops.

Take care, Lamont.

Here's a letter for you, Grady.

Open it up and read it.

I don't know who would be writing me here.

It's the bill from Martell's Appliance Store for the radio.

It seems that Herman only made the down-payment.

You owe the other eight.

I knew that crooked crook was crooked.

Once you've been on death row,

you're not ever good for society again.

I'll never forgive your Aunt Esther for forgiving him,

or you for forgiving him...

Or Martell's for sending that...