Original subtitles

Where do you come from?

How many did the assignment?

[slow tense music]

♪ Stick to the promise and I'll be your man ♪

[yelling]

If they saw the word altercation on your school record,

they wouldn't even look at your application.

[Gloria] Why were you fighting Seren?

I thought ya'll was friends, Day.

Why you gotta see the counselor?

She's worried I'm not getting everything I need.

At home?

-[raining] -[slow tense music]

They shot your ass, you're dead, go!

[slow tense music]

[gun firing]

-[Woman] David! -[Man] David!

-[Man] Yo, Day! -[Woman] David!

-[Man] David! -[Woman] David!

David, David Young?

I'm Dr. Bree.

So, you wanna tell me about the fight?

Yes, I'm really sorry.

It says here that you didn't hit Seren.

Seren, and I didn't.

I would've knocked his corny ass out.

David?

Yes?

You didn't hit him but--

But I provoked him.

It says that you told the principal so right here.

-Yes. -So always tell the truth?

This nigga.

You always tell the truth?

It says here that you called him something.

Called his ass out.

Told his ass stop fronting like his life was all good.

Know full well his life is as fucked up as mine.

-David? -What?

Yes?

Are you, David, are you getting enough rest at home?

I didn't actually...

I wasn't home last night.

-Nigga. -No, where were you?

I, me and Seren--

Stop talking.

We worked on a project together, presented it today.

Stop talking.

He invited me over to his house to work on it.

-Spent the night and everything. -Stop.

Tell him too much, he'll ask more questions.

So how was that, spending the night at Seren's?

[slow tense music]

[fun rhythmic music]

Some believe that it would be a political action

or a military aggression that would finally set ablaze

a simmering revolution.

But no, it was a woman, a woman who knew that the only way

to get slaves to fight for freedom

is to get them to believe that they were once free.

I am the great, great, great grand niece of this

mighty priestess.

She sacrificed the bull that began the revolt.

Because of her, I am here today.

[deep rhythmic music]

[singing in foreign language]

-[applauding] -[bell ringing]

Have you all lost your mind?

Thank you, Marissa, that was powerful, good job.

I'll give you a late pass so you can clean this up.

Don't worry Dr. Woods-Trap, it's all natural grape juices and oil.

I brought the vinegar baking soda solution right here.

Good thinking.

See me at my desk, sir.

Damn.

What you saying?

I'm so sorry Dr. WT.

Being a good community member means being fully present.

Where were you?

Well, technically, I was.

Until Marissa put her little voodoo spell on me.

You think you can clown your way out of this?

Marissa, get to class.

I need to understand what is going on with you.

You're up in people's face one minute,

sleeping in the back of my room the next.

-David? -I'm trying.

Try harder.

You can't be acting out like this with

high school interviews weeks away.

I...

Forgot?

No, it's, it's just a lot going on.

Is that your way of asking for help?

I guess.

Oh, don't worry, I was gonna do that anyway

because that's how I am.

You have an assignment due for this course, yes?

Yes.

And things with Seren are?

I mean.

Have you two made peace?

We said sorry and shook hands.

Good, prove it.

I'm sorry?

The assignment that you have yet to turn in is due

tomorrow and you need to incorporate Seren into it.

Huh?

Good, you heard me.

By tomorrow?

Or lose 50 points for being late.

Do this and do it well, David.

Nothing looks better on a recommendation

than a righted wrong.

I have a meeting with the counselor tomorrow.

You also have a project that's due, good luck.

Dr. Woods-Trap says I have to do my

where I'm from assignment tomorrow.

What, you want some encouragement?

You got this, homie.

What's he got now?

Girl, ain't nobody was even talking to you.

What, you cooking meth in there?

You need to stop stealing cable and

watching half episodes of Breaking Bad.

[giggling]

Thank you.

[bell ringing]

Listen, I don't even wanna know.

I store her chemistry set in my locker

because it's bigger, happy?

Um...

Woods-Trap says we have to work together

for my where I come from assignment.

The hell?

Nice, next time try, "the fuck?"

Man, the fuck?

Yeah, she says since we was fighting,

we gotta work together or else I lose 50 points.

I don't know why you speaking Creole.

All this we.

Sounds like you got a problem.

-Seren? -What?

No, no, no, David, I'm tired. And school's almost over.

How am I supposed to help you put your project together by tomorrow?

Look, I all ready got it planned.

-I just need some support. -I don't know.

Give me a quick yes instead of a slow no.

[bell ringing]

-Okay. -Okay!

Yeah, okay, but you're gonna have to spend

the night at my house.

Nigga, is you crazy?

I can't spend the night at your house.

-I'm not trying-- -Yo, for real?

You think I would let--

I mean, you... I'm just saying.

Yo, nothing's gonna happen while you're there.

-And Ray's gone. -For good?

No, for work.

He's in Atlanta.

He won't be back until the weekend.

Oh.

[soft tense music]

Listen, I know you want help and

I wanna help you but school's almost over

and I'm not staying after school today.

So, you either come over or I'm not helping.

[soft tense music]

[many people talking]

[slow tense music]

[laughing]

Just take your shoes off.

Come on.

Welcome to my palace, sir David.

How may I be helping you?

Why thank you, sir.

I'll take a Kool Aid Jammer on the rocks,

shaken and stirred, please.

Yeah, I don't know what that is but

coming right up, sir David.

Damn, this the life.

Nigga, you made it.

I wouldn't ever wanna leave the house.

I'll be like, ma, I'm homeschooling now.

Your real daddy ever lived here?

Nah, Ray bought this house.

Where your real daddy stay?

Away.

I think he lives in Tampa but my mom prefers it that way.

He's from Overtown originally.

So she says I'll pick up those ways.

JD's dad was from Overtown.

He dead?

I mean, JD was like two.

-How? -Shot.

I don't even remember him really.

What about your daddy?

Never met him.

Yeah, I don't even know his name.

What DJ stand for, I thought that was junior?

You know the first day of class when the teacher

be like, come introduce yourself and

what you like to be called?

The first day in your mom's class,

I was just like, call me DJ.

Yeah, I don't even know what he look like.

That's what the project's about.

How I had to figure it out.

So, you gonna tell the whole class

you don't know your daddy?

I'm gonna tell them about my mom.

Hey, Miss Glo.

Yo, you a clown.

[door shutting]

What?

[deep tense music]

Is it Ray?

Um...

[slow eerie music]

-[sighing] -Okay.

Your daddy gone on his trip?

Yes.

Yes what?

Yes, he's gone.

Seren, we have talked about this.

-Yes. -How many times?

How many times?

[Seren] A lot.

Then why are you still...

Baby, I don't wanna be in your face like this

but you need to learn.

Do you hear me?

Answer me.

Yes.

Yes what?

Yes, ma'am.

[sighing]

I don't know where you're getting this mood from

but after what you pulled at school,

be lucky you get company because

you are gonna get an attitude adjustment.

Move.

[deep tense music]

Hey there, Mr. DJ, how are you?

Please get your elbows off my island, thank you.

I have enough hard time keeping it clean

with your friend and his daddy.

I'm glad you all apologized and

are acting like your gentlemanly selves again.

I told your mama not to worry,

there'd be no foolishness over here.

And I think it's good that you have to work

together on this.

Of course, I would've liked some notice.

[slow tense music]

Was Mrs. Kelly all right with you spending the night?

Yes, she was, she was real nice.

To me.

She was hell a rude to my boy, Seren.

David?

She made us dinner.

It was nice.

You know she hitting Seren.

You don't know shit.

With those thick ass glasses on,

he look like he can see it all.

Good dinner?

Yeah, we worked on the project some more

and then we went to bed.

Was your mom angry about you spending the night?

Mom, please?

[Mother] No, it's a school night.

We're gonna be doing school work.

-[Mother] Do it over the phone. -Yeah.

Gloria be tripping.

Nah, I mean, she doesn't like me staying the night out,

especially after what happened this summer.

Don't say it.

This summer, what happened this summer?

[Both] Don't say it.

It was real.

It was a bad summer for the neighborhood.

Homestead Village.

[Three] The 'ville.

A lot of activity over there in the summer.

It was in the paper.

Yeah.

Anyone you know?

♪ How could you deny your own

♪ Your own flesh

Okay.

♪ Your own flesh

Okay, yeah, yeah.

What?

Why you pick this girl song, it's so high?

What, you don't like it?

Nah, it's cool, it's just we gonna need a higher voice.

Who you calling?

Mom?

[Mother] Yeah?

Can I call Marissa, it's for a project?

Yo, I don't want everybody to know about it.

[Mother] Sure, sweetie.

-Sweetie. -She's so aggie.

Thanks, mom.

[phone ringing]

Oui?

[Seren] Good evening, Miss Eugene.

This is Seren from Galvin Middle School?

Why are you using your white voice?

Shh.

I was wondering if I could speak to Marissa, please?

You trying to impress her with your white voice.

-Oh my god. -Quit.

[laughing]

Somebody's on the phone for you.

You know I don't allow boys calling but it's Seren,

so make it quick.

Hello?

[Seren] Oh, hey, Marissa, it's--

What's up? What's David want?

[Seren] How could you tell?

I could hear him sniggling in the background.

What you want?

Well, he wanted to know if you could help him with--

Then why are you asking me?

-What? -She wanna talk to you.

[Marissa] Actually, I don't want to talk to either of you.

But since you can't ask for what you need.

Hold up, hold up.

I need, I need a girl's voice for my project.

I don't do anything last minute.

Man, I told Seren that.

He was all, well, maybe we could ask nicely.

Shut up.

-[Marissa] Well. -Well what?

Ask nice!

You know what, I don't care.

My mom don't allow me to be on the phone after 5:00.

That's a lie.

Seren is okay.

-Mom! -[laughing]

Tell Seren to text it to me and

you'll meet me in the spillout before school, David.

You know, you love to be late.

[laughing]

[lighthearted music]

-Boo! -God, Jay, you scared me!

I'm sorry, but I made these.

JG, JG, let her get through the door.

What the G can stand for?

Gentleman.

Mmm hmm, live JG, yes.

Girl, come on. How you doing?

I'm fine, you got my baby working in a sweat shop.

You're the man.

He was working on my nerves.

[laughing]

I was trying to get an ensemble ready for an event

and I figured he could use a new sock for them new shoes.

His granddaddy got him those.

Go get your bag.

Thank you.

-You good? -I'm, I'm fine.

Where's Day?

He's spending the night at his friend's house, why?

I was...

Wait, he what?

He's spending the night?

[laughing]

We doing that white people shit now?

[laughing]

He was working on a project, girl.

Oh.

I can't stop him forever.

He wanna do a lot and I want him to too.

I want him right up there with them white kids.

I just, it put me on edge.

This for the Infinity's Ball?

Oh, girl, you can tell you an old queen.

The Infinity Drag House is no more, they are extinct.

-Shut up! -Mmm hmm.

Ooh, and you was trying to get with the Infinities so hard.

Ooh, just all over him.

And I told you that bi shit wasn't covered.

Ma?

What's bi shit?

[laughing]

Mind your business.

Bye, Elijah.

Come on, boy.

See you, Star.

And he was bi, bae, I had the hickey to prove it.

Okay, girl.

[laughing]

Bitch, but what else was he sucking on?

[laughing]

[deep tense music]

Okay, so first, I start, right?

Just humming some and doing the chorus but with no words.

Right.

And that's when you'll be narrating,

saying all that stuff, like what happened, right?

Yeah.

Man, I still can't believe your mom did that.

If you knew her, you would.

I'm just like her though.

I just be doing shit sometimes.

I don't even know why.

Especially if I feel like I can't get out

or that I'm stuck.

Stuck where?

Everywhere, just feel like,

just feel like sometimes I can't be still.

I'm too still sometimes.

It's like I can't move sometimes.

Like I'm stuck.

You should tell somebody.

-I told you. -I know.

You gotta tell somebody though, like older though.

Who, my mom?

You seen her.

She's...

-She's just-- -Yo, you think she knows?

Nah.

She see what she wanna see.

It's so fucked up how she be bugging on you though.

Always.

Sometimes she, she just goes too far.

My mom gets mad and...

she might look like she gonna hit me but

she end up hugging me even more.

It's weird.

It's like, it's like the only time she hug me

is when she's so mad, she might hit me.

She popped JD though.

[laughing]

You gotta pop him every once in a while.

That nigga will run into traffic, pull a fire alarm.

[laughing]

I like Miss Glo.

You ain't ever really met her.

I know but I like her though.

Hey, thanks for coming over.

I ain't had no choice.

You giving people ultimatums.

Wait, you mean ultimatums.

You've been hanging around Marissa too much.

What's up with ya'll anyway?

Man, go to sleep.

Nah, don't try to hide it now, light skin.

You blushing.

You like her?

Nah, nah, no, I don't, I don't.

You can't hide nothing, boy, you changing colors.

[laughing]

Man, you the worst, yo. Go to sleep, please.

Man, I'm gonna try, I'm gonna try.

Try harder.

[laughing]

[Mother] Seren, you boys go to bed.

[Man] I'm gonna have to start cooking.

[Woman] You think you can do better, be my guest.

[Man] I don't know, at this point, he could do better.

[laughing]

[Woman] Fine, you two can get up and

I'll get my beauty sleep.

[Man] All right, we're gonna do that.

[Seren] Mom, I thought the food was amazing.

[Mother] Oh, thank you, baby. See, you know where your bread is buttered.

[Man] Manners.

Good morning, sleepy head.

We didn't wanna wake you but we can be loud in the mornings.

Come on, sit down, get some breakfast.

Look who joined us.

Morning, David.

Morning.

Hey.

Seren, get your friend some breakfast.

Excuse me, mom.

Sure love, you don't have to do that.

I know, I got it, ma'am, he's my guest.

David, please.

Seren talks about you all the time,

so it's nice to finally officially meet.

I talk about you too, DJ.

I think Ray was starting to get jealous.

Oh yeah?

Don't stay gone so long next time.

Well, I came back as early as I could.

[Mother] It was a great surprise.

I'm glad to hear that.

[glass shattering]

-I'm sorry. -It's cool.

And get every bit of it up.

You know I like to walk around here barefoot.

Geez!

Okay, god.

Keep it up.

Hey, hey, hey.

Why you making your face ugly with all that anger, huh?

Come on, you know he's just showing off for his friend.

He's just trying to impress, right, David?

[Mother] Yeah, I wish he'd save all that for

school or something.

It's what men do.

We like to show off for each other, it's natural.

You gotta let him grow into a man.

Seren, first Corinthians, chapter 13 verse 11.

I become a man, I put away childish things.

That's right, that's right.

You invited David to church?

Oh yeah, David, he's singing his first solo

in the men's day celebration, you have to come.

I...

I gotta ask my mom.

Oh, great, I'm sure Gloria will say it's fine.

That's gonna be great.

It's the 31st, so don't forget.

[giggling]

You boys eat up so dad won't be late dropping you off.

First of all, do not call my house asking for no favors.

I'm in class with you fools all day,

you could've asked me here.

Now I got my mom asking me all these questions.

-Hey, you all right? -Yeah.

I don't even understand because I wanna ask you for--

Hey, I'm sorry about that surprise.

I don't understand.

I didn't know he was gonna--

You ain't seem to mind.

What?

Ya'll was happy as the Eldridge Cleaver family.

Think you mean the Partridge family.

Who?

I don't even know how ya'll waited this late to get this done.

I mean, I know David likes to be late but Seren,

I expected better from you.

I just, I gotta play it cool.

At least when he's around,

she ain't all over me.

Ya'll got a game to play.

I wish it was a game.

Now my mom's asking me all these questions

like I'm [mumbles].

You think she ever gonna let us talk?

Well, maybe if we ask nicely.

-[laughing] -All right, so lets go.

Wait, aren't we gonna practice my project?

No, I have a science lab I have to prep for.

And besides, Seren told me, I get it.

You get it, hey, girl.

Hey boy, I get it, I know the song.

I mean, who doesn't know Your Childby Mary J Blige?

That'd be sacrilege.

Sacri what?

How do ya'll stay in the gifted program?

I do not know.

Marissa, okay, can we just run it one time.

This is 50% of my grade.

If I don't get this, Woods-Trap can't recommend me for Herstin.

Wait, you trying to get WT.

She never gives recommendations, you have to ask.

I know, but I can't ask with a big fucking F

on my grades, now can I?

Do not talk to me like that!

Marissa, okay, come on, I'm sorry.

You've been saying that a lot lately.

Because I'm fucking trying, I'm tired!

You seen me, I'm just trying to get my head up.

Ya'll see me!

Woods-Trap thinks this is best for me.

So please, please, can you help me?

I'm begging.

I'm begging.

One, two, three, go.

[light humming]

It's hot, right?

It's hot out here.

You gotta get used to it, baby, it's Florida.

It's Miami, it don't get much cooler.

[David] I don't remember it all but

she said this is how it happened.

She went to his house.

Hello?

Oh, hey.

I'm sorry to bother you.

This old car just--

Why you standing up here?

I know I must look crazy,

I don't even wanna come in, if I could just use your phone.

You went to DATE?

Um, yeah, how'd did you--

The sticker on your car.

Which location?

Oh, downtown.

Well, I used to go, I plan on going back.

Let me get you the phone.

My husband isn't in or else I'd have him help you.

Wait, you might know him, he teaches at DATE too.

Wait, that's how I know you,

you were one of my husband's students.

Look, I don't want anything.

And that's how you show you don't want nothing,

coming up to people's house with your child?

Our child.

I didn't make this baby by myself, that's not how it works.

I'm not trying to be disrespectful,

I thought saying this over the phone would be--

You need to leave right now.

I can't have him growing up not knowing who his daddy is.

I don't want that--

Well, you should've thought about that before you laid down.

You know your man.

Ask yourself, did he tell me about you.

Ask yourself!

He's good at keeping secrets.

And I'm 100% sure that he's the father, look at him.

Look at him.

Look!

Get off my porch, Gloria, go home!

Sharon, go into the house.

Darien, she--

Go into the house, Sharon!

Get off our porch, you crazy coming up to my house!

Look, I don't wanna argue,

you just wasn't returning my calls and, I mean, he's yours.

That baby could be anybody's, I wasn't the only one.

It was a one time thing.

What, I wasn't with no one else.

She doesn't know what she's talking about.

Nigga, I don't want nothing from you!

I don't want your lying ass.

Look--

Babe, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry.

This baby is yours. The baby is yours.

Acting like you didn't know what you was doing.

He looks just like you, Darius.

Go in the house, Sharon!

You know how these hood rats be trying to latch on

to anything that's good.

Go in the house, baby, please, just go in the house.

I may be the first one to come to the house

but I won't be the last.

I must've had a heat stroke thinking I wanted my baby,

go on, go in the house.

Take your ass in the house, nigga!

You done said what the fuck you said!

You come here again, I will call the police.

Don't worry, you won't see us again.

Step back, step back.

And when he grow up to be somebody,

don't try claiming him.

-[soft solemn music] -[baby crying]

♪ How could you deny your own flesh and blood ♪

♪ Gotta face reality

♪ There could never be anymore of us ♪

And that's the story of how I came

to be without a father.

I tell it to point out that all of us get here

in many different ways, and sometimes,

people judge those ways.

They try to make you feel like you're nothing.

But something as simple as a song on the radio

can tell you that you're not a nobody.

Mary J made a song for folks who sometimes get

called nothing or treated like a nobody.

And I come from those people.

I'm not nothing.

[applauding]

[bell ringing]

What's up, Jason?

You're really brave.

A really important story, D.

What was that?

White privilege.

Is that how that works?

I guess he liked it.

Did she like it?

I don't know, she hasn't said anything.

I mean, I got good job.

Yeah, me too.

Hey Marissa, thanks again.

That was amazing.

Yeah, that arrangement was.

-[laughing] -You owe me.

Well done, David.

Well done.

Thank you, Dr. WT.

That's all, David.

Do you think Dr. Woods-Trap enjoyed the project?

I don't know about enjoyed.

She said well done.

Nigga, we made it!

David.

[All Three] Yes?

There seems to be, you seem to be taking

a moment before answering.

Am I confusing you?

[All Three] No.

See, like there.

You seemed to take a moment to collect yourself

before answering.

Because you trying to trick me like this

is CSI Miami or something.

All I'm trying to do is explain to you what you wanna hear

so I can get the fuck up out this office.

[All Three] So you can explain to the principal

get off my dick, that I'm exceptional.

I'm a little tired, Dr. Bree.

I know we got one more session but can we end early?

Sure, David.

Let me just put your last appointment down in my calendar.

And I just have one more question.

Do you mind?

No, it's, I'm okay.

Why didn't you do your presentation about your friend?

My friend?

The one that died this summer.

I knew I shouldn't have said nothing.

Dude really trying it.

[All Three] That wasn't the assignment.

You told me that that's just what's happening

where you're from, at Homesteade Village.

[All Three] The 'ville.

You said it was a dangerous summer

and someone close to you died.

He wasn't just close to me,

he was like the only thing to me besides

me my old girl and JG.

He was the only one that listened to me.

He encouraged me to stay happy and look to better days.

He encouraged me to study hard, learn poetry,

and learn to read people.

To try to make it to a better place.

[All Three] He wanted me to go to Hurston.

Hurston, the prep school?

[All Three] He was the one that told me about it.

He helped me understand my situation.

Achieve more than what he did.

That's all he wanted from me.

So, it didn't make sense to do him for my project.

He wasn't where I was from.

He was worried about where I was going.

[slow tense music]

Now that he's gone,

David?

How do you feel?

David?

[slow solemn music]

I just keep thinking about this poem he taught me.

All things must die.

[slow eerie music]

[deep rhythmic music]