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File Name .......: Brother To Brother (2004, American).avi File Size .......: 699,07 MB Duration ........: 01:30:14 Video Codec .....: XviD MPEG-4 codec Video Bitrate ...: 955 KB/s Resolution ......: 544 x 336 Aspect Ratio ....: 1.61:1 Framerate .......: 23,976 FPS Audio Codec .....: MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3) Audio Bitrate ...: 128 KB/s (CBR) Channels ........: 2 Ch

There are thoughts that have the power to trap me.

I write them down to be more honest about them

and lessen their potential to do harm.

There's a war inside me.

I was just coming to get some books out of the basement.

I told you not to step foot anywhere near this house.

But I need them for school.

Anything you left in this house

does not exist.

Now get out of my sight.

''If we-and now I mean the relatively conscious whites

''and the relatively conscious blacks- do not falter in our duty,

''we may be able, handful that we are,

''to end the racial nightmare and achieve our country

''and change the history of the world.

''If we do not do everything,

''the fulfillment of that prophecy,

''re-created from the Bible in a song by a shame,

''is upon us.

''God gave Noah the sign.

No more water- the fire next time.''

Does anyone care to comment on how this passage written in 1963

might relate to the political and cultural climate of today?

The L.A. riots, for one.

That's good.

Rashan.

Unarmed brothers getting shot by the cops.

How long is that going to be tolerated?

Who was writing this?

James Baldwin wasn't tolerated.

I mean, he was basically silenced

because him being gay was a threat

to the major leaders of the civil rights movement.

I didn't even know James Baldwin was gay.

We're talking about activism and political struggle,

not what people do with their sex organs.

If you like to take it up the ass, that's your business.

All right, guys, that's enough.

All right?

The majority of people at the time

didn't care that Baldwin was gay.

That's completely beside the point.

It's not when you consider

the contribution of ideas you may want being silenced.

I mean, what else did he have to say?

We don't know.

We need to be talking about why black people

were getting lynched every day across this country.

This class is about black political struggle.

And what I'm saying has nothing to do with that?

Yo.

Yo, Perry, slow down. Jesus.

Look, that guy is a fucking dick.

I hate him.

I think you got your point across.

What is that, the first time

you opened your mouth in that class all semester?

Well, it's probably because I feel like

if I open my mouth, I'll just start screaming.

Just brush it off, bro.

Come on, you know

he's just trying to get a rise out of you.

Yeah, well, it's working.

Yo, did you get your ticket for the De La show tomorrow?

I'm actually on my way to get it right now.

Better hurry up before it sells out.

Shit is going to be off the meter, man.

Excuse me.

I was wondering if you

might be interested in having your portrait done.

What's in it for me?

The pleasure of giving me pleasure, for one,

and the ability to see

the reflection of your beauty through my eyes, for two.

Isn't that enough?

You can either come or not.

It's up to you.

So you ready for the opening?

I guess.

I mean, the paintings are almost done.

So my boy's stepping out into his Soho debut.

Please.

Hey, speaking of debuts,

I thought you had something new for me.

Yeah, I do.

Well, what you waiting on, an invitation?

All right; all right; all right.

Check it; check it.

I made conflicting reports.

The truth emerges.

Coarse-edged, an ungentle blade

for peeling back the night skin.

It requires great strength in the hands;

a strength not as obvious as muscles.

I believe what I feel moves unsaid in the air between us.

Satellite blackouts.

It is true.

Some of the people we love are terrorists.

I'm feeling that.

That was nice.

For real? You took a little- you took a minute.

I had to-I had to, you know, the satellite.

But I liked it.

It was almost as though it had journeyed to meet him.

The night was so blue.

lf colors could be heard, he'd paint most wondrous tunes.

Symphonious.

Think.

A dulcet-clear tone of a blue-like night.

He blew a cloud of smoke.

Soon the smoke would rise,

and he would clothe the silver smoke

in blue smoke garments.

Truly, smoke is like imagination.

Hmm.

Damn.

Even Grandpa got a bag of tricks.

You think you started this?

l've been riffing on corners like this

since before your mother was even

a figment of your grandmother's imagination.

And you ain't lost nothing either.

Well, stay sharp.

And watch your backs.

Hey, bring 'em on; l'm ready.

She didn't card you?

What are you, crazy, man?

With a killer smile like this?

So how come a good-looking guy like you

isn't going out with anyone?

l don't know.

l mean, l've never really been the social type.

l always feel like l have to come up with a good line

to approach someone.

What are you talking about?

Just be normal.

And what's normal?

You know, man, regular shit like, "Do you come here a lot?"

"God, this song's dope."

They know how nerve-racking and awkward it can be.

I mean, one of my best lines ever, man.

I was out with this woman for the first time,

and I looked at her and I said,

"Baby, what would you do

if l busted a suave move right now?"

You did not.

Man, hell, yeah, I did.

And what'd she say?

She said, "Well, l guess it wouldn't be that suave

since you just said that."

And then I just leaned in and went for it.

You're out of your fucking mind.

Sometimes it's all about risk.

Yeah, that's what l'm talking about.

This next performer has graced the stage a few times.

He's going to riff something new for ya.

Let's give it up for Marcus.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, this one, um,

something l just started working on yesterday.

Still a little rough, so please bear with me.

lt's all right, baby, we like it rough.

Oh, we know how you like it.

Yeah, all right.

Amid conflicting reports, the truth emerges.

Coarse-edged, an ungentle blade

for peeling back the night skin.

It requires great strength in the hand.

Yeah, l just wanted to tell you

that I really dug your piece.

Oh, really?

Well, what'd you like about it?

Oh, l just think it got to the source of a lot

of the anger that people l know feel.

I mean, who am I to talk, right?

But, like, you know, l guess l can, 'cause, like,

l spent most of my life around that shit,

like brothers on lockdown for some petty bullshit.

You know, and you watch that,

and the anger just builds, you know what l'm saying?

You reading again anytime soon?

No, man.

Well, keep me posted.

I'm Danny.

Perry.

Nice to meet you.

Well, l'll see you around.

Caucasoids.

They never cease to amaze me.

What? He was complimenting you.

Like I need that motherfucker to tell me about my poem?

Well, what's the big deal?

I just hate when people like that

always try to tell me about my shit.

like you too stupid to know what you did.

You know what?

You see this anger you're feeling towards white people

is the same anger brothers feel towards me for being gay.

What? That's totally different.

Oh, it is?

Come on, you know how brothers front.

Together, they might dis you

so that nobody else think that they that way.

But you know that if you got into any real trouble,

you still fam, and they got your back.

Well, you know, l'm not so sure about that.

Remember Little League?

'Member-ah, let's go back to Little League,

when everybody used to tease you 'cause you threw like a girl.

Who stood up for you?

Look, all right; all right; you got me.

Championship game.

Now, why we got to go back there?

- Ninth inning. - Aw, come on.

Bases loaded; two outs.

The Tigers are beating us, eight to seven.

You get up to bat.

What happened? You struck out and we lost.

Yeah, well, thank you for reminding me, Marcus.

- l appreciate that. - Anytime, man.

Ron-bigmouthed Ron starts shoving you, pushing you.

"All you had to do was hit the ball, just hit the ball."

Remember that?

You fell on the ground, all crying.

Your eyes started getting all watery.

The other kids come over.

"Yeah, kick his ass.

Kick his ass, Ron."

Who jumped in and broke it up?

You did.

Who did?

You did.

That's right. l did.

And don't forget about it.

Everybody in the world ain't out to get you, man.

But don't worry.

l'm-a find a good brother for you.

Got my eye looking out for it.

Well, don't take too long, man.

I can't wait forever.

Peace.

Congratulations.

Thanks for coming through.

Don't doubt.

All right.

''He blew a cloud of smoke.

''Truly, smoke was like imagination.

''lf colors could be heard, he'd paint most wondrous tunes.

''Symphonious.

''Think.

The dulcet-clear tone of a blue-like night.''

That was the shit.

The way they did that.

Go, ooh, ooh, ooh.

De La-

in the house tonight.

Go, ooh, ooh, ooh.

Yo, that is some old Soul Train shit.

Yo, take it to the front.

Take it back.

Ahhh.

I'm faded.

Oh, my God.

l've never been this fucking hungry before.

That was last Halloween.

I can't believe you would go out in public like that, man.

Hey, that was a calm year.

If it was up to me, every day would be Halloween.

When I was, like, 12, l used to wear this ornate lamp shade on my head

and walk down the block just out of boredom.

And the big freak of the ghetto award goes to...

Don't push me, 'cause l'm close to the edge.

Oh, shit.

You all right there, my man?

Oh, just as dandy as can be.

Hey, is, um,

is this your mother right here?

That's Evelyn.

She runs the homeless shelter where l work.

There are more pictures of her than there are of your family.

She's all the family I have, as far as I'm concerned.

What do you mean?

Let's just say...

there are certain practices I engage in

that my parents can't understand.

And you can't talk to them about it?

It's clear that they don't

want to have anything to do with me.

Guess you can say I've been cut off.

That's really fucked up, man.

What are these?

The best porn compilation $20 could buy.

You mind?

Go for it.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Don't ask so many questions.

Hey, where are you going?

Think I'm gonna head back to my room.

lt's 3:30 in the morning.

Why don't you just stay here?

I just feel like I need to be in my own bed.

You didn't feel that way a few hours ago.

I'll talk to you later.

Get out!

How's it going, Tom?

You doing all right?

I'm hanging in there.

Excuse me, sir?

You have to sign out.

What's your name?

- Bruce. - Last name?

Nugent.

Sign next to your name, please.

''lf colors could be heard,

''he'd paint most wondrous tunes.

''Symphonious.

''Think.

''The dulcet-clear tone of a blue-like night.

Truly, smoke was like imagination.''

This is you, isn't it?

I guess it is.

Well, I want to talk to you.

Do you mind if I walk with you?

You seem ready to, whether I want you to or not.

And I suppose I never could

resist the company of a handsome young man.

I really love it.

The phrasing, the mood. Everything.

It's like someone of a completely different

time and place, but it's exactly how I feel.

Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you,

but I'm here and now,

flesh and blood right in front of your very own eyes.

Well, I know that, but...

I mean...

God, I don't know where to start.

Well, how'd someone like you end up sleeping in a shelter?

Someone like me?

Yeah.

I mean, you know, a respected, published writer

of the Harlem Renaissance.

Slept in hallways and rooftops then.

Why would things change now?

Respected?

If you wrote about being gay in that time,

respect was the last thing you was gonna get.

How'd you get into writing?

Langston Hughes turned me on to it.

Night after night, he and I would walk each other

back and forth from his house to my house.

If we hadn't finished talking,

we'd turn right back around and continue.

Do you see it? It's Orion.

See those three on line to the left?

No.

I think you've been smoking something.

All you got to do is open your eyes.

It's right there.

So you guys were pretty tight?

I was pretty taken with him.

How could I not be?

He was good to look at, good to listen to,

good to talk to, and at 24, he'd been all over the world,

to places I'd only dreamed about.

So I was thinking we'd go get a cup of coffee.

There's a nice place on 128th Street.

Didn't your mom ever teach you it's not polite to stare?

It smells good.

I'm starving.

I tell you, the food doesn't get much better than this.

Oh, look, there's Wally.

- Wally who? - Thurman.

That's Wallace Thurman?

Wally.

How you been?

I've been good.

It's impossible.

Well, this is my friend, Bruce.

It's his first time in New York,

so he's just soaking it all in.

Well, there's certainly a lot out there to soak in.

Will you join me?

Absolutely.

So how's your new job over at The Messenger?

It's keeping a roof over my head, you know?

And thank God I'm a quick reader,

'cause I tell you, some of this stuff,

the quicker you get through it, the better.

That bad, huh?

Horrendous.

But I guess it helps to see exactly

the kind of writing I don't want to be doing.

Excuse me.

I'm not feeling very well.

No, no, no, stay.

I-I just need to get some air.

There I was, thinking of myself as this open-minded Bohemian,

and the sight of someone I admired being so black-

It all came crashing down on me,

seeing these prejudices within me.

I was sick at the sight, and at my own reaction.

Come in.

Hi.

Didn't expect I'd be seeing you again so soon.

Well, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier today.

I-I just admire your work so much, and-

I know I must have been incredibly rude.

I honestly think I've

just been a little overwhelmed.

Well, apology accepted.

Actually,

if you don't have any plans, l'd love it if you and Langston

would come over for a drink tonight.

That would be great.

Around 7:00?

We'll be there.

So you think he's for real?

What do you mean?

I mean, he could just be a nut job

with a really vivid imagination.

He's for real, all right.

Damn.

lt's just fucked up that-

That what?

That his life turned out the way it did.

l just think he has different values.

l mean, his mind's different.

Like he's an old man, but not really.

You can tell that he's wide-open and don't regret shit.

''Some of the strongest work in the upcoming 'Flip Mode' show

''comes from Kona Johnston, Emma Simms,

''and the young Perry Williams.

''These are names l'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more from

in the not-too-distant future.''

Yeah.

Goin' out to all my high rollers.

Omega.

No doubt.

You know how we do it.

Stay chasin' the paper.

No home training.

Whatever.

l'm sorry, man.

Was that your foot?

Yeah, it was.

You and them big clod stomper feet you got.

You know what they say, man.

Big feet...

big shoes.

You make me feel so good.

l'm glad.

I like making you feel good.

I love your skin.

It's so smooth.

And your lips.

You are so fucking beautiful.

And you have the sweetest black ass

that I have ever seen.

What are you doing?

I've gotta go.

What? Where are you going?

I-I'm late.

I have to be somewhere.

I ain't even going to say it.

I hate when the motherfuckers prove me right,

though, and they always do, every time.

All right; shut up.

And usually it ain't so bold and obvious.

They at least try to be subtle about it, but Jim,

blatant enough to say shit straight up,

then so stupid he don't even know he's being offensive.

You're not gonna stop, are you?

All right, fine.

But that's the type of shit right there

that should knock them blinders right off your face.

I mean, it's got to be crystal clear to you now.

Look, maybe he was just being honest.

Oh, and the fact that his honesty offends you

doesn't mean anything?

But it could be that he's just not aware.

Damn.

I mean, this is some deep, delusional shit going on.

You know, sex with homeboy must be real good

if you still don't know after some racist bullshit like that.

We're working hard to provide food and shelter

for young brothers who are out on the street.

Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated.

A quarter, a dime, a nickel. Anything.

Yes, we want them to resist the wicked ways

that some of our weaker brothers have fallen into.

Young brothers without the knowledge or the know-how

to follow the teachings of our Lord,

who said in Leviticus 20:10

that ''if a man lies with a man as he does a woman,

''they both have committed

''an abomination and shall be put unto death.

Their blood is upon them. ''

Man, why don't you shut the fuck up?

Don't nobody on this train

need to be hearing that bullshit.

So the word of the Bible is bullshit?

Damn right when it's words like that.

In my heart, I still love you,

but the Lord does not condone your lifestyle.

I'll pray for you both.

Why don't you keep your prayers for yourself, man?

No more pigs in our community!

Off the pigs!

The revolution has come.

Off the pigs!

I picked up a newspaper in Paris,

and your face was right there.

And I looked around at this French caf� and thought,

''What the hell am I doing here?

''Struggles going down, and l'm thinking

about white America's race problem from overseas.''

l bought a plane ticket the next day.

We wanted fundamental, irrevocable liberation.

l looked closer at your words,

and l knew you weren't with it, man.

You hated black folks.

Some of the very people whose liberation

l was fighting for did not want me there.

l was spat upon because of something

l could not control,

because l'm a homosexual.

When white people criticized me,

it sent me into heated, clear articulation.

But when black people criticized me...

it really made me want to break down and cry.

The relationship between black and white in America

is a power struggle.

lt's there every day, in each interpersonal relationship.

I know about white men and black men.

l've been menaced by both.

That's right,

and the psychic distance between love and hate

is the same as the physical distance

between a smile and a sneer.

What did I ever do to you?

You let the white man fuck you in the ass!

Now, what does that make you?

Huh?

That makes you the lowest scum on the earth.

And who gives you the right to judge?

l'll show you my right, motherfucker.

Why are we watching this in class?

Because a friend of mine made it,

and I thought it was important and relevant.

So now anybody can show whatever they want

and we're forced to watch it

just because they think it's important?

Hey, we were supposed to do a presentation.

That's my presentation.

Well, I don't think I should have to look at it.

Why do you care?

Maybe because you're afraid to face yourself.

Perry, enough.

Step on out of the closet, brother.

Life's all right on the other side.

Look, I've warned the both of you.

l will not tolerate that level of discussion in this classroom.

That's it for today.

Perry, come here.

Now, whatever personal issues you have with Rashan

needs to remain outside this classroom.

Is that understood?

Yeah.

Now, it's okay for you to use that

as part of your presentation, but also, I think

part of your presentation must come from your own voice,

your own thoughts and ideas around these issues,

how they affect you, society, and culture in the present.

I'm-a tell you why these niggers is Satan.

Why? 'Cause I ain't giving out

full benefits with paid vacation.

And it seem like the bank tryin' to be my wife.

You ever come up here?

No, not really.

I'm from Brooklyn;

Harlem's not really my area;

Look at everything you're missing.

Looks just like Brooklyn.

A whole lot of people doing a whole lot of nothin'.

That's it, huh?

Yup.

God, I can't believe it's still here.

bang!

Look at you.

An old man like me is game for a little adventure.

You should be too.

Come on.

You go first.

Whose big idea was this, anyway?

Oh, live a little.

That night Langston and I came to visit,

we ended up staying off and on for two years.

This building was what we affectionately called

Niggerati Manor.

Looks like we missed all the fun.

He's positioned in front of the typewriter

for some serious work.

I'm just posing and waiting for distraction.

And here you are.

Well, you know what they say

about all work and no play.

Well, even when l'm working, l'm playing

up here.

So how's Zora doing?

Good.

She's been, uh, down South,

collecting stories and filming all sorts of things.

What a life.

Yeah, no kidding.

We actually have this new idea for a journal

we've been bouncing back and forth.

Something like Crisis?

Bite your tongue.

No more weeping and moaning for respect from white people.

Locke and DuBois have had their say.

This is about younger artists.

Something with spunk and passion.

Sounds like we've all been having the same conversation.

We're talking drawing, fiction, poetry, essays;

anything by young Negroes with something new to say.

Well, count us in.

Wally!

''We of the younger generation

''are like all other human beings in a period of transition.

''We are eternally discovering

''things about ourselves and our environments

''which our elders have been at pains to hide.

''They have been so busy justifying their presence

''in a hostile, racist environment

''that they've ceased to be human beings.

''With the new magazine, we will cease to look

''for respectability in the white person's eyes.

''We will express the beauty and ugliness

''of our individual selves for ourselves.

''lf anything is deemed disturbing or pornographic,

then so much the better.''

What do you think?

l think you just finished the cover of our magazine.

We need to show things that other magazines won't.

If not, then why bother?

We're ready to get low-down and nasty.

There you go, always want to go muckin' around in the gutter.

Wait a minute,; he has a point.

Bruce and I were thinking that there are two types of people

that upstanding Negroes want no part of.

Queers and whores,

the types that we're the most fond of.

And we'd like to give them

a little token of our appreciation.

Heads, Wally, you get the streetwalker.

Tails, the homosexual.

It's heads, streetwalker.

Now let's really wreak some havoc.

Now, remember, it's a first draft.

Be gentle.

Just read it.

''This is a song for the genius child.

''Sing it softly, for the song is wild.

''Sing it softly as ever you can,

''Lest the song get out of hand.

''Nobody loves a genius child.

''Can you love an eagle, tame or wild?

''Wild or tame,

''can you love a monster of frightening name?

''Nobody loves a genius child.

Kill him, and let his soul run wild.''

lt's incredible.

l thought you'd like it.

lt's about you.

And if it seems like we worked hard,

Lord knows we played even harder.

Oh, that's right.

Oh, that's it.

Oh, God,; oh, God,;

I'm coming.

l'm coming too.

Oh, that's it.

Oh, God,; oh, God,; I'm coming.

Oh, me too. Oh, oh.

Bravo, Wally.

Wally, I think that's your best piece of work yet.

Hey,; hey.

Bravo, Wally.

Harold, relax.

He and I share everything else around here;

why not the men?

Oh, my God.

Are you sure you don't have some Negro blood in you?

If I'd have known, I'd have joined you.

Wally!

Oh!

Oh, oh, my God; oh, my, God.

Oh, I'm coming.

Oh, oh, please.

Oh, don't stop.

Oh, oh.

Would you please get

your big Canadian lug off of me?

You know these white boys never get enough.

Well, somebody's going to have to get up

and get some gin for this party.

What party?

The one that's going to pay the rent next month,

which is supposed to start in less than two hours,

and as usual, it looks like I'm going to be the one

to drag all that booze up on the train.

Not bad.

And the winner is?

l think it requires more research.

Wally, Harold!

We're drinking to Bruce's new loves.

May the best man win.

You've got to excuse me.

l think my friends are drinking without me.

Hear, hear!

Hear, hear!

Boys will be boys.

These are just for you, right?

Anything Carl wants, he gets.

You're one of the few people

who was willing to patronize our magazine.

This is the least

we can do.

Ow, oh.

Ow.

I think I'll survive.

So how do you want us?

Standing, kneeling, lying down erect?

Harold, turn your back.

Excellent.

Bruce.

l couldn't resist.

You ever go out cruising back then?

I beg your pardon.

You're such an old soul in that young body.

Nice try, but don't change the subject.

l'm sorry.

What did you ask?

Cruising;

trolling around, looking for trade.

Oh, yeah.

I suppose I did do that.

You might say I was...

obsessed with it.

Wait a minute.

Later, when I had to appear in court,

the judge asked the ''sailor''

if the sexual encounter was done against his will.

He said, ''Yes. ''

I yelled,

''There are 13 buttons on a sailor's pants.

You could have stopped me any time you wanted.''

The judge dismissed the case.

And later, he asked me if I had a thing for uniforms.

I said, ''Sailors, yes. Police officers, no.''

l think the, uh, judge was a little bit

of a closet case himself.

I guess some things never change.

You got that right.

So how are things going with that cute white boy

I've seen you with?

Heh, Jim?

Yeah, you know the one.

When have you seen me with him?

I keep an eye out.

So come on, out with it.

It's not really working out.

I think I should just move on.

It's like one of those things where you're always trying

to make someone into something they're not.

Anything just to fill the emptiness

and to avoid being alone.

Wait, how many times have you seen us together, anyway?

See, I knew it.

You are a crazy stalker, aren't you?

I can hear it now.

''Remains of young black boy

''found in the belongings of elderly black artist.

Details at 1 1 :00.''

''Elderly?''

l believe the word you're looking for is ''legendary.''

You'd be surprised at the things you notice

when you really start to look.

Hey, where you going?

Sometimes a lady needs a moment to herself.

Gather her thoughts.

Attend to business.

l guess she needs a room of her own too, huh?

That's definitely right.

Well, well.

You look happy tonight.

I met somebody,

somebody who reminds me

of what it felt like to fall in love.

Uh-oh, sounds dangerous.

You ever start talking with someone

and feel like you've known them forever?

Their entire past and future flashes right before your eyes.

And your heart starts beating faster,

'cause you know how hard their life's going to be.

And it just tears you up inside.

I just listened

and stared at him.

And I wanted to hold him.

All right, here we go.

And I looked down at my hand and thought to myself,

''Where'd this come from?''

You ever think like that?

Like, ''What's a hot piece of ass like me

doing trapped in this old man's body?''

l think it, and it's usually right before

l do something l know l'm going to regret.

But you usually do it anyway.

Oh, you got that right.

Here's to lost beauty.

May it always be nearby

with the potential to keep you warm.

Wait, that is one I'm going to have to join you on.

Why are you making all of this drama out of nothing?

Do you know how many white guys l've met

who don't give a shit about what's going on in my mind,

but only want to sleep with me because they want

some sweet black ass or some big black dick?

And that's you think I'm like?

I don't know.

I'm not inside your head.

Look, that night,

you knew I wasn't sure.

I mean, this is all new to me.

I don't know what I'm doing.

I never meant to put you in an awkward position.

But...

I've been looking for a boyfriend

for a really long time.

And I've been intensely lonely for a really long time.

And I got kicked out of my parents' house recently,

which led to a lot of emotional shit and-

I just need someone in my life who's more than a friend,

someone who's willing...

to love me.

I don't have that,

and I thought that you might be that.

But I don't think you are.

''Regrets will drift away with time.

''And sometimes the thing you're looking for

''is staring you right in the face,

and you're still blind to it.''

How's it going?

All right.

Man, what's your deal?

Excuse me?

Look, no offense, but I really think

I'm a little too young for you.

True.

So what do you want?

Little bit of time, maybe.

That's it.

So what did you want to talk to me about?

I don't know.

I've been worried about you.

You find a job yet?

I've been looking.

There's just not that much out there.

Hanging out with Parker and Alden all day in the Village

is not what I call looking.

It's not like a job is going to jump up

at Bickford's and bite you on the ass.

It might.

And don't think we don't know you've been selling

the magazine and keeping the money to feed yourself.

Mm-hmm.

Why, young lady, what are you accusing me of?

It's not right.

If anybody should be keeping that money, it's Wally.

He's put the most into it.

Well, a job will turn up, sooner or later.

l hope so,

for your sake.

But the more important question is,

will you still walk with me

if l smoked a cigarette on the street?

You are not going to do that.

Like hell I'm not.

What have I got to lose?

It's not like I have

some stellar reputation to protect.

Well, I'm not interested

in some highfalutin' critic's opinion of my work anyway.

They are the last people I'm writing for.

Well, it is going to affect

the amount of people who buy the damn thing.

We might as well know the battle we're up against.

And since you've already read them all,

why don't you start,

and we'll take turns sharing the torture.

All right, you asked for it.

These are just some of the highlights.

''I have just tossed the first issue of Fire!!

''into the fire.

''Aaron Douglas, in spite of the meaningIess grotesqueness

''of his creations, has gained a reputation as an artist.

''He is permitted to spoil the perfectly good pages

''and the cover with his ink and pen hodgepodge.

''Langston Hughes displays his usual ability

''to say nothing in many words.

''Zora Neale Hurston,

''writing in the slang of the deep South,

''betrays her own education

''and that of the vast majority of her readership.

''Wallace Thurman and Richard Bruce,

''in choosing to write about prostitution

''and homosexuality respectively,

''have decided to drag the Negro race through the muck,

the remnants of which will never be fully cleansed.''

I'm sorry.

l'm-

That's not funny.

''The remnants of which will never be fully cleansed.''

This calls for a celebration.

I say we should all go down to Stella's for brunch

and the biggest pitcher of mimosas that money can buy.

Thank you.

I think we should read it here.

I think you lost your mind.

No, everyone should read the work

of the person sitting to the left of them.

You kick the person when you want them to take over.

What about the artwork?

You have to pose like the subject in the drawing.

Hot damn, I like it.

Langston, you start.

I don't know about this.

Come on.

Let's give the people a little taste.

- Come on. - Ow, Jesus.

All right; all right.

Here goes.

''And there I saw Cordelia, careening in a drunken abortion

''of the Charleston and surrounded by

''a perspiring circle of hand-clapping enthusiasts.

''Seeing that she was about to leave the room,

''I rushed forward, calling Cordelia.

''Still eager to speak, I heard one of the girls ask,

'''Who's the dicty kid?' and Cordelia answered,

'The guy who give me my first two bucks.'''

''Laughter; suddenly, like a taut drum.

''Laughter; suddenly, neither truth nor lie.

''Laughter; hardening the dusk dark evening.

''Laughter; shaking the lights in the fish joint,

''rolling white balls in the pool rooms,

''and leaving untouched the boxcar

some train had forgotten.''

You'll recognize this, Aaron.

That's it, isn't it?

Fire.

Fire gonna burn my soul.

Fire.

Fire gonna burn my soul.

All right.

lt's hot now, whoo.

I ain't been good.

I ain't been clean.

I been low-down, stinkin' mean.

Fire.

Fire gonna burn my soul.

Whoo!

Ah, Mr. Thurman.

So glad you could make it.

Please sit down.

Thank you.

I read the manuscript, and with a few minor adjustments,

we would seriously consider publishing it.

We are very interested in presenting new

and important Negro writers, such as yourself,

to the public.

There is a hunger for the reality of Harlem life-

telling it like it is, no holds barred.

And I believe that a Negro writer has access

to insights into this world

that a white writer can never get to.

Are we seeing eye-to-eye on this?

Oh, absolutely.

So what were these minor adjustments

that you were talking about?

Well, I was just thinking it would be interesting

to play up the nightclub atmosphere,

making it darker, more menacing-

a front for numbers running or drugs.

But that's completely untrue to the character.

The whole point is him opening up the club

so he can turn his life around and do right by Stella.

The public wants danger, sex,

and violence from Harlem stories.

A good writer has to make concessions

to what the public wants.

But the language of the novel preserves the folklore roots-

If you're not writing in easy-to-read English

that people can understand,

then how do you expect people to get it?

It is English, the Negroes' English.

How hard can it be to translate that into something

that everyone can understand?

It is the oral Negro tradition.

The people that are a part of it recognize it.

I'm not speaking for these people; I am these people.

Do you want to know what the biggest-selling book

of the past six months has been?

And from a white author.

Imagine how the public would embrace

the authentic Negro perspective.

I think you're speaking to the wrong writer.

Every good writer has to make concessions

to what the public wants.

Well, these are concessions

that I am not willing to make.

You have a good day.

I want to thank you for your time, Mr. Macallister.

Excuse me, sir.

These magazines are meant to be displayed and sold,

not hidden away.

It's not my doing; it's the NAACP.

What do you mean?

Apparently, there have been

a lot of complaints from the public,

so we were told not to display them.

And all these things live inside you

until you make your peace with them.

Oh, come on, take it easy.

lt's like when my dad caught me with this guy in my room.

He was kicking the shit out of me.

And he just kept screaming, ''Not in my house.''

Almost like he was trying to convince himself

that I was someone else.

Get out!

Like if he just kept pounding on me,

this...thing would go away.

And my mother kept saying,

''Where did we go wrong?''

Said she felt like killing herself.

I thought of the times when the thought of them

knowing I was gay was enough to make me want to kill myself.

She finally understood how that must have felt.

No matter how far you run,

those connections will always be there.

Family is the core stuff,

and you got to fight like hell to let them know who you are.

The rest is up to them.

It's smut, and it's filth.

We're your children!

And we're sick and tired of lying to white folks

and bourgeois Negros like yourself!

You are sick!

And you are no child of mine.

My children are trained to know better.

Good, obedient little dogs,

waiting for the master to throw them a bone!

Maybe it's time to feed ourselves!

This is what proper Negroes do with trash like you!

Who do you think you are?

And don't talk to me about famiIy

because we are the family, okay?

You guys went through so much.

Don't you ever think you should write about it so people know?

Oh, it'll live on.

God.

All the shit you must have seen

by the time you were my age;

I think Langston really taught me about kindness,

Zora taught me how to listen,

and Wally, he showed me how to use words like weapons

and how to have fun with them.

Actually, maybe I taught him that.

Got pretty confusing with Wally.

You know, who taught what to whom.

l was wondering if you might do something for me.

What?

l haven't been able to paint in a long time, and...

And what?

You remind me of- a lot of Wally.

And since he always used to pose for me,

I was wondering-

All I have to do is sit there?

And be your natural, beautiful self.

I guess I can do that.

When do you want to do it?

We could do it here, tomorrow,

around the same time.

That sounds good.

Hey, Evelyn.

You know, you are really coming along,

especially with this one.

I'm really proud of you, baby.

Thank you.

I'm glad you're here.

I'm glad too.

I think I need to step outside for a minute.

Okay.

Here he is.

Perry, this is John Lewis.

He owns a gallery in Chelsea.

Perry's one of the painters in the show.

Really?

What kind of work do you do?

Well, it's hard to say.

It keeps changing.

Abstract portraits, I guess.

I mean, I don't know.

I'm not good at summing it up.

Though it's probably best if you just judge for yourself.

He did the three in the back,

and he'll be happy to show you more work

whenever it's convenient.

Oh, that'd be wonderful.

Excuse me.

I need to get some air.

Well, it's nice chatting with you.

What's up with you?

Nothing.

I'm just not interesting in packaging myself

as the next big deal.

Well, you'd better learn.

You know, for somebody who was always preaching

about evil whitey, you sure know how

to turn on that step 'n' fetchit routine when you need to.

Listen, man.

That starving artist bullshit might be a really cool myth,

yo, but living it ain't all that.

Look, I'm just not comfortable talking to people like that.

Well, a few months of ramen noodles and tuna fish,

you'd be real comfortable real quick.

I don't know.

It just smell like a lot of bullshit to me.

You know how many people would kill to be in this show

at your age, while you're still in school?

Are you crazy?

Yeah, and you know how many of 'em would end up

going through such a mind fuck that they're dead junkies at 27?

But I guess that don't matter

'cause their prices are still going through the roof.

I'm not going out like that.

Perry, do you think

I could have a short word with you?

I was just about to leave, man.

I wanted to tell you,

I think your work has a lot of potential.

Thanks.

Do you have a gallery?

No.

I was thinking, if you approach the same themes

in a more accessible way, you could do very well.

Do you have time for a quick drink?

I have to go meet somebody.

Well, maybe we can get together some other time next week.

Bitch-ass cocksucker.

Ugh.

Faggot motherfucker.

Keep your fucking mouth closed, bitch.

Faggot.

All right, that's it.

Let me get at this bitch.

Here go the fire next time, motherfucker.

Is there someone named Perry on this floor?

Uh, first door on the left around the corner.

Maybe you can get him to come out.

He hasn't left his room in, like, a week.

Is this where all the hot young guys are

when they're supposed to be hanging out with me?

What are you doing here?

What happened?

Nothing.

I don't want to talk about it.

Who did this to you?

Look, it was dark.

I couldn't see their faces.

Have you told anyone?

Why?

The cops aren't gonna do anything.

So you're going to just stay in this room in the dark

and hide from the world for the rest of your life?

What does it matter?

It matters 'cause you were supposed to help me,

and I was counting on you, and you let me down.

Go.

All right, get up.

Look, what's your problem?

You're my problem.

A deal's a deal.

I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes.

Hey, what's this door over here?

That's Langston's old room.

You know, l've had two teachers refer to him this past month.

Weren't you jealous?

Didn't you ever want what he had?

- Never. - Bullshit.

No, it's not.

You have no idea what kind of sacrifice it takes

to become a spokesperson for the entire black race.

What's going on?

Have you read Wally's manuscript?

Yeah.

And does anything sound familiar to you?

He's taken two entire chapters from you,

and he's sending it out.

So what's your point?

How can you be taking this so lightly?

We both decided that all of us living together in this house

is what we're interested in writing about.

So that gives Wally the right

to take credit for your work and get paid for it?

Maybe some of us don't do it for the credit.

This isn't school. There's no teacher to impress.

You are full of shit, and you know it.

If we can't trust each other, then who can we trust?

No one; exactly.

Means the people you think are your friends

will stab you in the back in the blink of an eye

if it serves their purpose,

and then DuBois and Locke have won.

We've become the vermin that they think we are.

We're his family, and he's crying out for help.

It's all in the manuscript, for Christ's sake.

You're the one who needs to open your eyes.

''As much as he wanted to be a great novelist,

''he knew deep down that he could only ever be

''a mediocre journalist,

''his writing forever encumbered

''by obsessive rendering of actual occurrences,

''never being able to let his imagination run wild

''and soar to the heights he wished were possible.

''All of the younger writers of our generation

''were mired in decadence.

We were a curiosity, even to ourselves.''

Shut up.

Paul's suicide at the end.

What, that character's supposed to be me?

It isn't me. It's him.

Look, I am a real writer,

and I am trying to build a career.

I don't want to have to worry

about my friends stealing from me.

When we started this,

we wanted to say something important.

What happened to that?

Where's this going?

We wanted to make it.

No.

You wanted to make it.

That wasn't on anybody else's agenda.

I'm leaving.

Fine.

Hey, run away like you always do.

Yeah, that'll fix it!

And sure enough, his prophecy came true.

Instead of slashing his wrist,

he slowly drank himself to death.

Grand, immediate gestures like the slashing of wrists

could only be done in Wally's fiction.

But in two years, he was dead at 34,

the first of us to go.

But where did Langston go?

And Zora and Aaron and the rest of them?

Slowly, we all moved out.

I still saw them,

but after that day, it wasn't the same.

Times changed.

The Depression set in,

and people really thought our excesses was what brought it on.

Why?

Well, the idea was that we weren't out being

good, productive workers because

we were too busy giving in to our base desires.

And blacks and queers were the vices

that needed to be cleaned up

to get the country back on its feet.

White people ran back downtown

almost as quickly as they'd come up.

It never really was the same.

That sense of risk and magic was gone.

Well,

maybe you can get a little bit of it back tonight.

So how do you want me?

l've been waiting to hear you say that.

Okay, no funny business now, all right?

All right, go over by the fireplace in that chair.

Bruce?

Bruce?

Bruce!

Bruce, oh, my God!

Bruce, wake up!

One, two, three.

Excuse me, Mr. Williams?

It seems as if you're his only relation,

and we need to know

what kind of arrangements you want to make.

What do you mean?

For the body.

I haven't thought about that.

''I first met Bruce Nugent on the street

''doing what he does best:

''making magic out of words and rhythm.

''His ability to use words

''to transport me to different realities

''would forever alter my perception of the world.

''He taught me how

''to weave spells and conjure myths,

''the power of which would not be denied.

''Through him I learned the complexity of what

''was inside me was also outside, if I was willing to look deeper.

''With words and images,

''I could convey the truth of my experience,

putting it down and passing it on.''

l've known rivers,

dusky rivers.

Rivers l have seen.

Rivers l have known.

Ancient than the world,

and older than the blood.

I've known rivers.

I've known rivers.

All through Africa

and North America.

South America and Australia.

Oh, l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers in the north and the south.

l've known rivers in the east and the west.

l've known rivers all over this world.

And l've sailed some and seen the rest.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers,

ancient, dusky rivers.

And my soul has grown deep like the rivers, rivers,

rivers, rivers.

Like the rivers.

Rivers l have seen.

Rivers l have known.

Ancient than the world,

and older than the blood.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

All through Africa

and North America,

South America and Australia.

Oh, l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers in the north and the south.

l've known rivers in the east and the west.

l've known rivers all over this world.

And l've sailed some and seen the rest.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers,

ancient, dusky rivers.

And my soul has grown deep like the rivers, rivers,

rivers, rivers.

Like the rivers.

Hit me.

Rivers l have seen.

Rivers l have known.

Ancient than the world,

and older than the blood.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

All through Africa

and North America,

in South America and Australia.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers in the north and the south.

l've known rivers in the east and the west.

l've known rivers all over this world.

And l've sailed some and seen the rest.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers.

l've known rivers,

ancient, dusky rivers.

And my soul has grown deep like the rivers, rivers,

rivers, rivers.

Like the rivers, rivers, rivers.