All language subtitles for Brother To Brother (Eng Subs)

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.