All language subtitles for Shes.Gotta.Have.It.1986.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC5.1-[YTS.MX]

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I want you to know the only reason
I’m consenting to this

is because I wish to clear my name.

Not that I care what people think,
but enough is enough.

And if in the end
it helps some other people out,

well, then that’s fine too.

I consider myself normal,
whatever that means.

Some people call me a freak.
I hate that word.

I don’t believe in it.
Better yet, I don’t believe in labels.

But what are you gonna do?
This was the deal.

I believe that there is only one person,

one person in this world
who is meant to be your soul mate,

your lifelong companion.

The irony is
rarely do these two people hook up.

They just wander about aimlessly.

But if you’re lucky and you do
find that person, you can’t blow it.

Nola was that person.

Deep.

Do you really mean what you say?

I swear to God on my grandmother’s Bible.

-Where you goin’?
-To get the candles.

Are you sure you have enough?

-Do you smell them?
-What?

The candles. They’re scented.

Yeah, it smells good.

Now, why don’t you undress?

I love you.

-Me?
-Mm-hmm.

I’m runnin’ on “E.”

You’re always runnin’ on “E.”

[Nola laughs]

[laughs]

What can I do for you?

A massage?

-You want a massage?
-Mm-hmm.

You got it.

-How does that feel?
-You have the serious touch.

A lot of men I’ve dealt with
don’t know a thing about a woman’s body.

-Is that right?
-Mm-hmm.

But not you.

-Sweetness.
-Mm-hmm?

Why can’t we be like this at my place?

I can only do it in my own bed.

-It has, uh, magical powers?
-Mm-hmm.

Must be the mattress.

Night-night.

[sewing machine whirring]

[whirring continues]

[exhales]

Nola and I used to be roommates,
until we had this slight falling out.

No, actually, it was a big falling out.

But we’re okay now.
We’re still friends, but not roommates.

I had a boyfriend
and sometimes he would spend the night.

Usually on a weekend.

But Nola?

Jesus, I couldn’t keep track.

I’d get up in the morning and I’d run into
all these strange men in my bathroom.

When we talked about it, she said,
“Look, I found the place,

so if you can’t hang, leave. Bye.”

So I said “Bye.”

And I got this studio.

And now I haven’t spoken to her
in a while.

And I kinda miss her.

In my experiences,
I’ve found two types of men.

The decent ones and the dogs.

It seems that men are taught
not to be in touch with themselves,

with their true feelings.

But the things that they do say?

Weak.

You so fine, baby,

I’d drink a tub of your bath water.

Congress has just approved me

to give you my heat-
and moisture-seeking MX missile.

I just wanna rock your world.

Baby...

it’s got to be you and me.

You may not realize it tonight,

but you’re sending out
some, uh, very strong vibes.

May I continue?

Well, you’re lonely.

You’re alone, you’re sad,
you’re confused...

you’re horny.

You see, you need a man like me
to understand you,

to hold you,

to caress you,

to love you.

You need me.

What’s your number?

I know I only saw you for the first time
in my life a minute ago,

but I love you.

I know I only saw you for the first time
in my life one minute ago, but I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

Look, baby,
let’s go to my house right now.

Let’s do the wild thing.
I mean, let’s get loose.

I got my BA from Morehouse,

my MBA from Harvard.

I own a new BMW 318i,

I make 53 thou a year after taxes,

and I want you to want me.

Girl, I got plenty of what you need.

Ten throbbing inches

of USDA government-inspected,

prime cut, grade-A tube steak.

[men hooting]

One guy was different.

Nola, I don’t want to chance
not seeing you again.

Whatever you wanna do, I’ll do.
Wherever you wanna go, I’ll take you.

-Will you see me?
-And that’s how we met.

-Are you following me?
-You were following me.

Oh. I was.

But I was minding my own business,
waiting for the 41 bus when you walked by.

I know it sounds corny, but if I didn’t
follow you I might not ever see you again.

You’re right. That does sound corny.

-Was it worth it?
-I don’t know.

You following me and me following you,
and you don’t know?

It’s too early to tell.

-What’s your name?
-Nola.

Jamie.

You know, uh, following me around
could be dangerous.

You look pretty safe.

Nola, I don’t want to chance
not seeing you again.

Whatever you wanna do, I’ll do.
Wherever you wanna go, I’ll take you.

Will you see me?

You will?

[whistle blows]

Aah!

-[crashing]
-[men laughing, chattering]

What about Nola Darling?
What do you want to know?

I thought she was a freak.
You know, freaky deaky?

You ask why’d I continue to see her?
Do I look like a retard?

I’m not crazy. The sex was def.

Nola had the goods
and she knew what to do.

Look, all men want freaks.
We just don’t want ’em for a wife.

-You got it?
-Yeah, I got it.

[mutters] All this way.

Dag!

You know, Nola, it took you long enough
to invite me up here.

-I don’t let just anybody up here.
-Am I supposed to be anybody?

You’re not anyone. That’s why you’re here.

Yeah, it took long enough.

-That’s nice.
-Thank you.

My birthday’s May 19.
You know what that is?

-The 19th of May? Am I supposed to know?
-You’re supposed to know.

-I’m supposed to know. Why?
-It was Malcolm’s birthday.

-The 19th? Of May?
-Uh-huh. Mm-hmm.

Yeah? That’s cool. He was down by law.

-This whole place is yours, huh?
-Whole place.

I likes, I likes.

-What’s the rent?
-It’s cheap.

-Yeah?
-Yeah.

We could put a divider right here
and you’ll have a roommate-- me.

-You’ll never know I’m here.
-You’re right, I’ll never know.

How come every time I let a guy up here,
the first thing they wanna do is move in?

Well, you work,
you got a nice crib and you’re fine.

Hmm. What makes you think
I want somebody to take care of?

I didn’t say that.
You know, I didn’t say that.

I pay my own way.
I’m not lookin’ for no meal ticket.

-Hmm.
-Yeah.

So what do you do? What’s your job?

I’m a layout paste-up artist.
I do mechanics for magazines.

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I know what that shit is.

-There’s something about you.
-About me?

-Good or bad?
-I haven’t figured it out yet.

-You’ll let me know though, right?
-You’ll be the first to know.

-You’ll let me know? You’ll let me know?
-Yeah, sure.

-You’ll let me know?
-[laughs] Yeah.

Good.

It was bad enough,
Nola and all her male friends.

But there was also this one
particular female who was after her,

and that was a bit much.

I had my suspicions
about their relationship,

so I asked her point-blank
if anything was happening.

She said no.

I know you’re thinking,
how do I know she was telling the truth?

Well, Nola couldn’t lie
even if she wanted to.

It wasn’t her nature.

She could be brutally honest.

You’re not born lesbian or heterosexual.

Both traits are within us.

We all have the potential
to go either way.

At a young age
I knew where my preference was,

and I pursued it.

Nola may have been straight as an arrow.
I just wanted her to be open-minded.

Check it out, then decide. That’s all.

You didn’t have to come.

Hey, when you said you were ill,
I flew over.

-Summer colds are the worst.
-You’re a sweetheart.

Hmm. This has lots
of lemon and honey in it.

Mmm.

This is good. Thanks, doll.

Girl, you shouldn’t be bedridden
and nobody looking after you.

It’s not that bad.
Jamie comes by every day.

Jamie?

I’ll be up and around in a couple of days.

I’m okay.

Hey, what’s on your mind?

What’s it like to make love to a woman?

-What’s it like?
-You heard.

Why do you ask?

When you wanna find out something,
you ask somebody who knows.

-I’m curious.
-[laughs] How curious?

Relax. You got the wrong idea.

-Do I?
-Hmm?

I think you have the answer
to your question already.

Come on. Someone who likes sex
as much as you do?

-What makes you say that?
-I have eyes.

[chuckles]
I forgot about your lesbian radar.

You’ve never had a woman before?

Are you deaf?

-Come on. Tell me something.
-I can tell you what it’s not.

It’s not some musty man pounding away
inside of you a mile a minute.

What’s wrong with that?

I’m sorry. Go ahead.

-I’m through.
-That’s it?

That’s the best I can do for now.
If you wanna find out, it’s on you.

And I still say you’re not Miss Naive.

I am when it comes to that.

-I know you.
-Drop it, Opal.

It’s dropped.

For now.

-You’ll come around.
-You think so, huh?

[knocking]

-I’ll get it.
-Okay.

-Who?
-[Jamie] It’s me. Who are you?

-Hi.
-Hi.

-I brought you some groceries.
-What a nice surprise.

I want to give you a big, fat, juicy kiss,
but I don’t want you to get my cold.

Come here.

[Nola giggles]
This is better than any medicine.

Opal was nice enough
to sit with me all day.

Thanks, but I’ll take care of her now.

Opal, you’re welcome
to stay as long as you wish.

Sweetheart, I just want her to know
that if she wants to leave, it’s okay.

It’s no bother.
Nola and I have a lot of fun together.

-What kind of fun?
- Fun fun.

We do.

We’d better let Nola get some sleep.
I’m gonna stay with her.

-Good-bye.
-I like nursing Nola.

You like to nurse? Go to the hospital.
Close the door on your way out.

Do I threaten you?

Afraid Nola might seek other things?

Other things?

Opal, you’re a very beautiful woman.

I would have never thought
that you were gay.

How one looks has no bearing.

I guess that’s true.

You’re learning.

Good-bye, Opal.

Jamie, it’s not over yet.

[door opens, closes]

-Wake up.
-[moans] I’m sick.

I know, sweetheart. Wake up.

Where’s Opal?

Well, I’ll be a son of a bitch.

-What are you doing?
-What are you talking about?

-What’s up with you and Opal?
-We’re friends.

-What kind of friends?
-Oh, come on.

She’s interested in me,
but I told her it’s not like that.

-You told her that?
-Mm-hmm.

-Well, I don’t like her.
-She’s done nothing.

I bet she dogs me out
every chance she gets.

She only has good things to say about you.

-Is that right?
-Mm-hmm.

I still don’t like her.

Don’t be silly.

Come here.

[engine off]

I was the best thing
that ever happened to Nola Darling.

Ask her. She’ll tell you that herself.

Why, she worshipped me.

Oh, we were something else together.

When we walked down the street,
heads turned.

We were one stunning couple.

She was a little rough
when I first started going out with her.

Typical Brooklyn tackhead.

But I refined her.

I encouraged her to read more,
took her to the best of places,

exposed her to new ideas.

Why, you should have seen
the way she dressed.

It was I who made her a better person.

I molded her.

Greer Childs was the sculptor

and Nola Darling
was but a mere lump of clay.

Poor Nola.

She got led astray by common street trash.

All of my hard work undone.

If she’d have only listened to me
and moved out of Brooklyn,

why, we’d be together this very day.

It’s so uncivilized over there.

I’ve never seen anybody who liked to
look at themselves more than you do.

-Don’t you ever get tired?
-Never happen, baby.

I’ll bet if you could marry you,
you would.

Is there a crime in a man
taking good care of himself?

One, two, three, four, five.

-Aren’t you gonna join me, honey?
-I’m working.

You know, the minute you get fat,
I’m leaving you.

You know, if you weren’t fine,
I wouldn’t even bother with you.

Don’t hurt yourself.

[piano playing classical music]

Honey, I don’t see why
you ordered that salad.

This steak looks absolutely delicious.

For someone who’s such a health nut,
it’s odd you still eat red meat.

Hey, I like meat, I eat meat.

Why don’t you order chicken or fish?

Why? Because you say so?

Keel over from a heart attack.
See if I care.

Well, are your two hoodlum friends
veggies?

-I don’t know any hoodlums.
-Oh, come on.

Jamie and that lunatic Mars?
He doesn’t even tie his sneakers.

They’re neither hoodlums nor lunatics.
So leave them alone, okay?

Nola, will you forget about them?

Honey, you and I
can really do a lot in this world.

For the love of God, I don’t even see
what you see in those two.

I’m everything that you need.

You are tripping.

One.

Two.

Three.

-Four.
-Hey, honey, I got a call from the agency.

And?

Greer Childs is gonna grace
the cover of GQ magazine.

-Really?
-[chuckles]

Come here.

That’s great. When did all this happen?

-This morning.
-I’m happy for you.

Honey, my career is really taking off
and I want you by my side.

Shh. Don’t say another word.

[drums beating]

[men singing in African language]

[drums beating, singing continues]

[drums continue beating,
tempo accelerates]

Ain’t no psychiatrist,

but I believe one of the reasons
Nola Darling was doin’ all that bonin’--

What? Having sex. Boning.

Anyway, like I was sayin’,
I think she was doin’ it

because she probably had
a bad relationship with her father.

He wasn’t around,
she was lookin’ for him. Serious.

Anyway, I told her I wasn’t her pops.

She was also greedy.

[piano: jazz ballad]

I wrote that for her.

Nola’s my only child.

She’s a normal daughter.

She hates that word “normal.”

Jessie, my wife, and I tried to expose her
to everything that we could afford.

Piano lessons, ballet lessons, everything.

And each summer we sent her away to camp.

But Nola never was one who could keep
her mind on any one thing for too long.

Every month it would be something else.

But we didn’t mind.

We still tried to encourage her.

Jessie, my wife, she’s at work now.

We both tried to show Nola as much
love and affection as we could,

and then some.

You asked me earlier if I remembered
anything strange about her.

She did crawl backwards till she walked.

I always remember music in our home.

I would go to sleep and wake up to it.

My father would be at that piano
day and night, night and day.

And sometimes my mother
would sing with him.

I stopped taking lessons
when I realized the discipline it takes.

I would never practice.

I do wish I had a brother or a sister.

Sometimes I got lonely
being the only child.

Nola Darling is having herself
a big family when the time comes.

Five rusty-butt boys!

Happy birthday, sweetheart.

-Mwah! Thank you.
-And I have another surprise for you.

-Tell me.
-Turn around.

If I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Now, turn around and close your eyes.

-No peeking.
-My eyes are closed.

I want you to click your heels together
three times and repeat after me.

-There’s no place like home.
-Oh, come on!

Come on, now. Just for the surprise.
“There’s no place like home.”

-This better be good.
-It’s gonna be.

Uh-huh. [laughs]

Two, three.

There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.

There’s no place like home.

There’s no place like home.

There’s no place like home.

[laughing] There’s no place like home.

Hit it!

[piano, combo: jazz]

[jazz continues]

[man]
♪ There’s a girl that I once knew ♪

♪ Who often had a friend or two ♪

♪ She gave him time ♪

♪ Love, wit and rhyme sublime ♪

♪ They would come from far away ♪

♪ And often gather there all day ♪

♪ To show their love
And see which one would stay ♪

♪ But to her it mattered not ♪

♪ For loyalty was not her lot ♪

♪ Her answer was
For not for them to know ♪

♪ There she goes ♪

♪ On her merry way ♪

♪ Though she’s only queen ♪

♪ For a day ♪

♪ Boy and girl ♪

♪ Often take this whirl ♪

♪ So you’d better mind ♪

♪ What you say ♪

♪ My advice to you, my friend ♪

♪ Is try to find what it’s about ♪

♪ And then you take into account ♪

♪ Your role ♪

♪ Do not take some sugar in your mouth ♪

♪ That may be sweet to you ♪

♪ But bitter in your stomach ♪

♪ Later on ♪

♪ What is good for you ♪

♪ May not be good for me ♪

♪ So a different stroke ♪

♪ For different folk ♪

♪ Could be a real good rule ♪

♪ There she goes ♪

♪ On her merry way ♪

♪ Though she’s only queen ♪

♪ For a day ♪

♪ Boy and girl ♪

♪ Often take this whirl ♪

♪ So you’d better mind ♪

♪ What you say ♪

[jazz continues]

♪ Now it’s time to bid adieu ♪

♪ It’s been a pleasure knowing you ♪

♪ I’ll see you when it’s time ♪

♪ To meet again ♪

[jazz ends]

[applause]

This is the sweetest birthday
I’ve ever had. Thank you.

-Where’d you get ’em from?
-I know the dancer.

Oh.

-That’s beautiful.
-Make a wish.

[all laughing]

[Jamie whistling]

How much did you put out for the dance?

-Not much.
-[chuckles]

Jamie, I loved it, but I know it cost you.
You didn’t have to.

I’d starve a week for you anytime.

Let me give you half.

-Uh, no.
-Are you sure?

-Sweetheart, it won’t break me.
-Suit yourself.

-[phone ringing]
-Would you get that for me, please?

-Yeah.
-Give me that.

Good evening.

-[dance pop playing]
-Yo, happy birthday, Nola. It’s me, Mars.

Thank you, but I’m sleeping.

Sleeping? This is your birthday, Nola.

Let me ride my bike over there.
In five minutes we can celebrate.

It is late. Come on.
Call me in the morning. I’m really tired.

In the morning
it won’t be your birthday, Nola.

It’s not my birthday now, if you noticed.

- Nola?
-What?

- Nola.
-What?

- Nola?
-What?

-Just let me smell it.
-[laughing] You are ill!

Please, baby. Please, baby.
Please, baby. Baby, baby, please.

- Good night.
-Good night? W-Wait a minute.

Is Jamie there?

Fuck that girl, man.

-[women] ♪ Uh-huh, baby, baby ♪
-[beeping]

-♪ Step it up ♪
-[woman] What up?

Yo, Roxanne. What up?
I been thinking about you.

-Who was that?
-Mars.

What did he want?

He wanted to come over and wish me a happy
birthday, but I told him it was too late.

Too late?

Why didn’t you tell him you were with me?

What do you see in Mars?

I don’t consider myself a poet,
but I do like writing.

And Nola likes poetry.

So I would write her poems
whenever she needed them.

The first one was the best.

Remembering the first time
my eyes found you

gives me a private joy

as deliberate and provocative
as the privacy of your touch.

You see you have me now

as you easily had me
that first warm day in spring.

Elegant and rich you seemed,

majestic in persona, vulnerable in form.

“I was taken.

I have since been inspired
by your needs and courage

and made full
by the warmth of your laughter.

You have allowed and guided me
into your heart gracefully.

Timing, you say.

Yes, timing.

The eternal rhythm of natural love.”

Aah! Aah!

That’s the worst piece of shit
I ever heard.

And Nola fell for it too.

I don’t wanna bad-mouth a brother,
but his poetry is not the answer.

Jamie ain’t got no rap.

He’s like ice cream
on a summer day-- soft.

Now, if Nola had been
righteous and correct

the way she’s supposed to have been,

she would’ve known true love-- mine!

[Nola sighing, moaning]

[Nola laughing]

[Mars] Nola.

Nola. Nola.

Nola.

Stop, stop. Nola, stop!

Stop!

-Nola, are you up?
-Yes, I’m up.

-You awake?
-I’m awake.

-You up?
-I’m up, Mars.

-Can I ask you a question?
-Yeah, go on.

-It’s okay?
-It’s okay.

Yeah, okay.
Am I as good as Jamie or Greer?

That’s the dumbest question
you’ve ever asked me.

Dumb?

-You know, I’ve been thinkin’.
-Don’t think.

Nola, I think I love you.

I know I do.

We are not in love. We’re in like.

I warned you from the beginning,
but you wouldn’t listen to me.

If anything, you’re in love with
my lovemaking, so don’t mess it up.

Don’t mess it up?

-Squash it then, okay?
-It’s squashed.

-It’s squashed?
-Yes.

Good. Later for you.

Nola.

-Nola.
-What?

Did I ever tell you about the time
I used to be a superhero?

-No, I must’ve missed that one.
-You missed that one?

-Yeah.
-I’m gonna tell you anyway, okay?

-Okay?
-Yeah.

Okay. Don’t peek.

No peekin’ at all.

Okay, turn around.

-I used to be Panty Man.
-[laughing]

Do you smell something?

-[sniffing]
-[laughing continues]

Now, do Jamie and Greer
make you laugh like this? Huh?

No, they don’t, but they don’t
put my panties on their head either.

That’s true.

If I can make a babe laugh,
I’m over like a fat rat.

And when they stop laughing--
[whooshing sound] I book.

-Uh-huh. We shall see.
-Yeah?

I’ll leave.

You know, it’s been a while
since you greased my scalp, you know.

Hint, hint.

Go get the comb and the oil
and I’ll do it for you.

-You’ll do it? Yeah? Okay.
-Yeah.

Oh, my God.

When was the last time
you washed your hair?

The other day.

-The other day?
-It’s not clean?

-Mm-mmm.
-It’s dirty?

You’ve got an awful lot of dandruff. God.

I just washed it.

Okay.

-You know, Nola?
-What?

You should trust me with your secrets.

Why should I trust you?

If you can’t trust Mars Blackmon,
who can you trust?

Trust you with what?

You know, your secret shit.
Stuff like Jamie and Greer.

Not again.

I don’t see what you see
in those two Joe Neckbones.

Have you ever taken a look
at Jamie’s head?

Guy has a fuckin’
16-piece Chicken McNugget head.

And Greer? Look at his hair.

He got that slicked-back shit.
What is that?

Lower. Right here. Right here.

-Here?
-Yeah. Right there.

-There?
-Yeah. Ah.

-This is better than bonin’.
-Oh, really?

Yeah. Serious.
Get rid of those two Joe Neckbones.

-You’re finished.
-Finished?

-Finished.
-You did the whole scalp?

-The whole scalp.
-You greased it?

-I greased it.
-Okay.

-Thank you. Nola?
-What?

Did I ever tell you about that time
I used to dance with Alvin Ailey?

-No.
-I thought I did.

-No. You danced with Ailey?
-Yeah. I didn’t tell you that?

We used to have this special African move.
It was like this.

-Ooh-bah-ah-ohh!
-[laughing]

-Somebody come and get this sick child.
-Ooh-bah-ah-ohh!

[line ringing]

-[Nola laughing] Stop.
-Stop? Stop what?

-[Nola laughing continues]
-[phone ringing]

[Mars] She’s busy.

-[ringing]
-[Mars] Who is that?

[Nola] Who cares?

-Want me to answer it for you?
-Yeah.

[Nola laughing]

[busy signal beeping]

[clock bell tolling]

I got sick and tired of feelin’ like
a spoke in a wheel, which is what I was.

To Nola, we were all interchangeable,
simply parts of a whole.

And it didn’t matter who,
just as long as it was a warm body.

Nola had no devotion,
allegiance or loyalty whatsoever.

When she whispered--

Jamie, they don’t matter.
Don’t matter at all.

You’re the one I love.

That was no consolation at all.

That “You can’t tell the player
from the scorecard” shit had to go.

When we’d be makin’ love,
I found myself wondering

who or what other men had been in this bed
with her besides the two I knew about,

doing things to what I felt was mine.

I had did enough sharing
to last me for the rest of my life.

Nola hurt me to the core,
but she’s gotta have it.

One day you’re gonna wake up in this bed
and I’m gonna be long gone.

Do you take me
for some kind of fool or something?

No!

-Idiots like your two friends.
-Greer!

What am I supposed to do?

Wait around while you sleep with Jamie
and Mars, of all people?

I never asked you to wait.

I think you’re sick.

Now, I’m not saying that you’re a nympho,
a slut or a whore,

but maybe a sex addict.

If I’m a sex addict, then why don’t you
leave me the hell alone?

Nola, I care.

Now, you need professional help.

A nice lady doesn’t go humping
from bed to bed.

-Will you please go see a doctor?
-Can you be quiet for a minute?

Okay, fine.
I won’t say anything again then.

If I’m a sex addict,
then I’m going cold turkey.

Greer Childs,
you’re numero uno on my list.

-Me?
-You.

Why me?

Honey, don’t do anything rash
like going on cold turkey.

This has to be handled very delicately.

I’m the one you should keep. Trust me.

-I know what I’m talking about.
-Don’t touch me.

-Baby.
-Get off me.

Nola Darling came to my office
a confused and frightened young lady.

It seems as if one of her male friends
told her she was sick.

She started seeing me once a week.

Gradually, she opened up,

and that’s when we started
to make progress.

My whole area of sex therapy
is about trying to get to the feelings.

He can’t--
I’m as honest with him as I can be.

I tell him. That’s his problem.

Nobody sat down with him and told him,
“This is what I’m doing.”

Well, Nola,
some types of excessive sexual activity

have all the signals of being an addiction

and can be treated in a fashion
similar to other addictions

like alcoholism and gambling.

Your friend,
if you choose to call him that,

confuses a healthy sex drive
with sickness.

I am no addict.

Well, it’s beyond sex, Nola.

It’s something else.

What we’re all looking for
in this brief life

can be described by the word “love.”

Do you hear me?

[thunder rumbling]

If what you want
is total female sexuality,

be honest.

The beautiful sex organ
is between your ears...

not between your legs.

I didn’t hear from Nola, so I called her.

And she said she had regained
her self-confidence.

Well, I would have preferred
one or two more sessions,

but she felt it wasn’t necessary.

Nonetheless, in my opinion,

Nola Darling is a healthy human being.

A female doctor! What does she know?

I didn’t need a degree to know
that the girl needed help.

[laughing]

He was the one with the problem.
The fact is, he couldn’t handle it.

He got turned out.

Lord, thank you for the food
we are about to receive,

for the nourishment of our bodies,
for Christ’s sake.

-Amen.
-[all] Amen.

Before we enjoy this meal,

I’d like to know
whose brilliant idea this was.

Who invited you?

And who invited you?

I invited all you fools.

You were gonna meet sooner or later,
so why let it be an accident?

[chuckling]

Maybe she’s right. Let’s just enjoy today.

Thank God we all have
a lot to be thankful for.

[Mars] Like what?

Our health and our careers.

Our careers?
Greer, I haven’t had a job in two years.

Fifty-dollar sneakers, and I gots no job.

-Tell me how to do it when times is hard.
-Start serving your plates.

Jamie,
would you serve the turkey for me, please?

Sure, dear.

What would you like,
white meat or dark meat?

Man, give me the dark.

Give me some more meat, man.

Those are baby slices.

-I’ll give you more later, Mars.
-Yeah?

White, please.

[Mars] Figures.

This is the first Thanksgiving
I’ve ever cooked.

-The first? Yeah, the first?
-Mm-hmm.

Honey, this food is absolutely delicious.

Thank you.

[Mars] Don’t listen to him.
It’s better than delicious.

Honey, for dessert,
try some of my homemade sweet potato pie.

You’ll love it.

Also, I brought bottles
of Martinelli’s sparkling cider.

Wait, wait, wait. I didn’t know
I was supposed to bring something.

-Nola, why didn’t you tell me?
-You didn’t have to bring anything.

-It’s okay?
-It’s okay.

-It’s okay?
-It’s okay.

-But I didn’t bring nothin’.
-You’re fine.

-It’s okay?
-Yeah.

Hey, Nola, did I ever tell you
about the time I met Jesse Jackson?

-No.
-I didn’t tell you?

-No.
-I thought I told you.

Tell me now.

Yeah, it was, like, five years ago.

I was walkin’ down the street
and I saw Jesse Jackson.

Oh, shit, I couldn’t believe it.
I went over to talk to Jesse.

I said, “Jesse.” You know, we talked.
Ba-ba, ba-ba, ba-ba, ba-ba.

I said, “Jesse, you know,

one day you’re gonna make
a good president of these United States.”

Look what happened. He ran.

It was me, Mars Blackmon.
I gave him the idea.

“Run, Jesse, run.”

-[laughing]
-It was my idea.

-Run, Jesse, run.
-Lies. Lies.

-Greer, who you callin’ a liar?
-You heard what I said.

I believe you.

Thank you, Nola. It’s the truth.

Who’d you vote for? Ronnie baby?

Why do you always stick up for this--
this chain snatcher?

Chain snatcher? I didn’t snatch this.

I bought this. This is 18-karat gold.
I did not snatch this.

What do you know? You’re a Celtic fan.

Nola, what did you expect to accomplish
by bringing us all together like this?

To share Thanksgiving with me.

Wait a minute, wait a minute,
wait a minute.

Jamie,
let’s settle this between you and me,

once and for all, man to man.

What about me?

What about you? You ain’t down, so chill.

I don’t believe you.

There’s a quarter here, right? Right?

-Heads? Tails.
-[Nola] I don’t believe this.

-[Nola laughs]
-Call it in the air, okay?

-You gonna call it in the air?
-Yeah, Mars.

You gonna call it?
You gonna call it? In the air, right?

-Can’t live without a head.
-Heads?

Tails. You lose. Nola, will you tell these
two gentlemen it’s time for them to go?

My fate decided by the flip of a coin?

How much longer must I tolerate
these ignorant, low-class ghetto Negroes?

Who you calling an ignorant,
low-class ghetto Negro?

-[Mars] Words!
-Please.

Lucky for you Nola is here,
’cause I’m gonna have to hurt you.

Oh, I’m shaking.

You’d be hurt... serious.

If you don’t stop,
I’m throwin’ the whole lot of you out.

Sweetheart, the food is quite good.

Nola, is this the first Thanksgiving
you’ve cooked?

-Very first.
-The first? The very first?

-Uh-huh.
-It’s good.

-[Nola chuckles]
-This is the first though, right?

-The first.
-Okay.

Honey, this food is indicative
of marrying material.

Marrying material?

Nola Darling would never marry
a non-modeling, non-weight lifting

pseudo black man like yourself.

That’s it. I’ve had it.

-Pass the cranberry sauce.
-Cranberry sauce?

Greer’s finished.

You know, Jamie, you’re okay.
I’ve been thinkin’. I’m gonna hook you up.

With Nola, you get four days,
I’ll get three.

That’s mighty black of you.

But I get the weekends though.

I never liked this game.

[chuckles] No wonder. It does take
some semblance of intelligence.

Intelligence?

-Nola, will you talk to this guy?
-Greer.

-Talk to him.
-Would you please not start.

I’m gonna have to hurt you, man.
Talk to this guy.

Let it go. Mars, it’s your turn. Play.

-It’s just a game.
-I’m gonna have to hurt you now.

“Insidious.” I’m gonna have to dis you.

Okay, this is a triple letter score joint,
right here.

That... is not a word.

-It is a word.
-I challenge you.

Gonna? G-O-N-N-A is not a word.

I’m gonna kick your ass. It’s a word.

Illiterate, barbaric fool.

Look it up, look it up. I quit. I quit.

Likewise.

You fake Billy Dee motherfucker.

Sore losers.

Nola, there’s nothing as pitiful in life
as a quitter.

No wonder he can’t find a job.

If I’d have known that all three
of you grown men were gonna--

See, I told you it’s a word.

...behave like children,

I would have rather
had a quiet meal by myself.

I’m going to bed. Good night.
You all make me sick.

Honey, don’t personalize this
just because you invited this idiot!

Hey, what’s this “honey” shit, man?

-Honey, will you come back?
-Because of you she left! Because of you!

Due to your temper tantrum,
you have ruined my evening.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah.
-Ruined a perfectly good Thanksgiving.

Both of you should stop it, or you can get
your coats and take this noise outside.

Jamie, if you’re staying, I’m staying.

Who are you, Henry Kissinger?

-I guess we’re gonna be one happy family.
-I doubt it.

Mars, you dry off the table,
you dry the dishes and I’ll wash ’em.

No, no, no, no, no. That’s out.

-You have a better idea?
-Yes, I do.

I’m washin’ my one fork,
my one plate, my one knife.

That’s it. Later.

Makes sense to me.

There goes that home wrecker!

-Home wrecker!
-I know she’s tryin’ to steal my man.

No-good, sleepin’-around skank bitch!

You know, I don’t blame Greer.
I blame her. She knew he was mine.

If Nola had loved Jamie,
it would have been different.

Love? Come on.
She just fucks them and leaves them.

It’s sisters like her
who are corrupting our men.

The few good ones left.

I’ll be damned if she takes Mars from me.
I’m four months pregnant.

Mm-hmm.

The decent black men are all taken.
The rest are in prison or homos.

I’ve gone to bed alone too much already!

I’m from Brownsville.
We don’t play that shit.

So what should we do to her?

Let’s set the bitch on fire.

Your fucking days are over.

Miss Girl...

will never steal another man again.

Fire! Fire! Fire!

-Oh.
-It was a bad dream, sweetheart.

A nightmare, that’s all.

These three girls were trying
to set me on fire.

They wanted to kill me. They were
the girlfriends of you, Mars and Greer.

But it’s over now, darling.
It’s all right. Relax.

Okay.

I had trouble sleeping myself.

Why?

I just have some things on my mind,
that’s all.

Have we decided on a film yet?

Oh, I forgot to tell you.
I have to help Mars look for an apartment.

-An apartment?
-Mm-hmm.

What about the movie?

We were, but he called at the last minute.
He really needs my help.

Needs your help?

Nola, Mars is supposed to be a grown man.

Next you’re gonna tell me you have to
hold his dick when he takes a piss.

Think what you want!

You know why I couldn’t sleep?

I’ve started to see another woman.

-Don’t put it off on me.
-You can do what you want, but I can’t?

How holy do I have to be?

I’ve tried to understand you, Nola,
but I’m beginning to feel like a fool.

Who is she?

-The dancer.
-[chuckling] I knew it.

-You don’t know nothin’.
-Her?

And you got no right to be upset.

I know, but I am.

So how long have you
been seeing Miss Danskin?

Two weeks, but I ain’t like you.

I can’t spread myself
between three or four different people.

-Meaning?
-Meaning, you have to make a decision.

What’s her name?

Ava.

Go back to sleep
and give it some serious thought.

Well, I’m so glad you found time
in your busy schedule to see me.

-I’ve been running.
-Well, so have I.

You know, people do make time for things
that they feel are important to them.

Ever since that Thanksgiving dinner,
I’ve lost a lot of respect for you, Nola.

I didn’t care for you telling me
that I was sick either.

Can we just get back
to the way it was between you and I?

I’ve got a job in the Caribbean
for two weeks.

-I want you to come.
-When?

Next week. Oh, everything’s taken care of.

It won’t cost you a cent.

Thinking?

-Greer?
-Uh-huh.

To tell the truth, I don’t know if I could
stand being alone with you for two weeks.

Well, that’s a nice thing to say.

I’m being honest.

Do you realize how many women would jump
at the invitation I’ve extended to you?

I only talk to fine women.

Why are you pressing me?

’Cause I’ve gotta know.

-You have to know this second?
-Yes.

-The answer is no.
-There’s no rush. Take a couple of days.

Think it over, then let me know.

Greer, let me explain something to you.

That’s the last time I wanna hear
that tired story

about you only talking to fine women.

Let it rest.

Jesus.

No matter what I said to her, she--

What’s up?

Man, are you still talking with them
about Nola Darling?

Uh-huh.

-Yeah?
-Yeah.

You sure? Let me say
a couple of things to them, okay?

-Go ahead.
-I forgot about it.

Of all Nola’s many faults,
none got me more pissed

than her not being
where she’s supposed to be.

-Never happened to me.
-Never happened to you?

-Jamie, who’s tellin’ this?
-You.

So why don’t you let me tell it?
The girl is not dependable.

Nola is dependable.

Dependable?

Nola’s about as dependable
as a ripped diaphragm.

Hey, wait. Hold it, hold it, man.
Watch your mouth.

Man, makin’ a date with her,
it’s 50-50 she shows at all.

I had two tickets to the play-off game--
Knicks against the Celtics.

I asked her if she wanted to go.
She said okay.

I waited outside the Garden
for the first goddamn two quarters,

and she never showed.

-Guess what.
-What?

Bernard King scored 35 points.

I remember that game.
Bernard was pitchin’ a bitch.

You remember that game? Bernard
was serving the whole Celtic squad.

Even jammed in Bird’s ugly mug.

A vicious, death-defying Brooklyn Bridge
high-flyin’ 360 slam dunk!

Wait a minute, man. The white boy is bad.
You gotta give him credit.

Larry Bird is the best player in the NBA.

-The best?
-He’s the best in the NBA.

-The best?
-The best.

The best? He’s the ugliest motherfucker
in the NBA, that’s what he is.

That’s too bad, man.

She never made a move like that on me.

You know how you did that?
It’s because you’re taller than me.

You’re taller than me. You’re six feet.

I’m kinda small.
That’s why Nola dogged me.

There was many a time Nola came through
in the clutch for me.

Yeah? I’m tired of talkin’
about Nola Darling, man.

I thought you said enough already.

The sister was bogus, 24/7 and 365.

-Bogus.
-Are you finished?

-I’m leavin’, okay?
-You leavin’?

Yeah, man, I’m bookin’.

Later. You gonna leave me hangin’, Jamie?

Call me sometime, okay?

-Jamie, call me, right?
-Yeah, man.

-We go to a game?
-Yeah, man.

You call me? You call me?

This guy.

Sweetheart...

what are you searching for?

Do you honestly ever think
you’re gonna find it?

Whatever.

Whatever?

What kind of answer is that?

I hope I find it.

-Whatever it is you’re searching for.
-Mm-hmm.

I’m gonna ask you one more time.

Have you made up your mind?

Jamie, I love you,
but it’s not the right time.

It can’t be right now.

-When is the right time?
-Soon.

Soon? Fuck soon!

I’ve been hearin’ that shit from day one!

I still want to see you.

One day you’re gonna regret this.

I don’t believe in regrets.

Hi, Jamie.

You can have her.

Jamie just stormed right by me.

It wasn’t the first time,
but it might have been the last.

Hey, what happened?

Nola, you can tell me.

That bad, huh?

Opal, can I have my hand back?
I’m not in the mood.

You shouldn’t let anyone
upset you like this.

I’m not gonna bite.

Is this that bad?

I can make you feel good.

Opal, it’s time for you to leave.

Are you sure about that?

Jamie?

I want you to come over. It’s important.

-Forget it, Nola.
-It’s very important. Please come over.

Why don’t you call Mars or Greer?

I don’t want to talk to Mars or Greer.
I need to talk to you.

All of a sudden, huh?

Jamie, I wouldn’t bother you
unless I really had to.

Leave me alone, Nola.

[dog barking in distance]

All right. This better be an emergency.

Where you goin’?

A friend is in need.

Well, I won’t be here when you get back.

I knew you’d come if I asked.

What’s so important?

I need you.

Is that what you got me out of bed for?
I thought something was wrong.

-I need you!
-And all the men in Brooklyn.

-That was before. I can change.
-Once a freak, always a freak.

-You don’t mean that, Jamie. Take it back.
-I ain’t takin’ a goddamn thing back.

-You don’t mean it!
-I don’t?

Come here.

Kiss me. Come on.

-I love you.
-You don’t love me!

Make love to me.

You don’t want me to make love to you.

You want me to fuck you.

Is this the way you like it? Huh?

Is this the way you like it?

Does Greer do it like this?

What about Mars?

Who else?

[shouts] Who else?

You’re hurting me!

Whose pussy is this? Whose is it?

-Huh?
-It’s yours!

[gasps]

[footsteps receding]

Here I am tryin’ to dog you
the best I can...

and what bothers me is I enjoyed it.

[door closes]

[footsteps on stairs]

[glass shatters]

[jazz]

-All right.
-Ah.

I still don’t practice enough
like I should.

Sounds fine to me.

Anything would sound fine
to someone with untrained ears.

I am not that bad.

So why are you showin’ up today, Nola?

I’ve been thinkin’ about you.

I haven’t heard from you in ages,
and you got my number.

You have mine too.

I guess that makes us even.

Look, Clo, I’ve been thinkin’ about you,
so here I am.

Oh. Nola, what happened
between you and Jamie?

Dag! You know me better
than I know myself.

I only lived with you for two years, Nola.

I know. That’s why I’m here.

So, let’s hear it.

I think I might have
really fucked up this time.

This time?

Clo, I need your help, and you’re playing.

Okay. I’m sorry.

I never saw Jamie act like this before.
He hates me.

Aw, come on.
I don’t think he hates you, Nola.

I’m telling you, he does.

I don’t even wanna try to guess
what you did to make him feel this way.

It was the same stuff. My other friends.

[chuckles]
Except, I guess, not anymore, huh?

Well, I don’t know what to tell you.

Nothing?

Don’t be a stranger.

You know where I live.

Listen, I don’t wanna sit around here
and let you get me all down.

You wouldn’t let me if I tried. Sorry.

Nope.

I miss my roommate.

So do I.

-You do?
-Mm-hmm.

Okay. I’m gonna get back to my music.

Okay. I’ll be quiet.

You know, in retrospect,

I can now see that Nola saw Mars,
Jamie and myself as a whole.

Not as three separate individuals,
but as one organism.

We let her create
a three-headed, six-armed,

six-legged, three-penis monster.

And it was all our fault.

[no audible dialogue]

Baby, you’re late. What happened?

I’m sorry. It couldn’t be avoided.

Listen, let’s go into Manhattan
for brunch, okay?

I’m sorry, Greer, I can’t.

Why not?

I won’t be seeing you anymore.

-Are you going away?
-No, I’ll still be here.

Am I supposed to cry or something?

You’re not supposed to cry.

Well, I hope not
because I don’t shed a tear for nobody.

Can we end this pleasantly?

I’m being pleasant. You’re cuttin’
your own throat and you know it, honey.

Good-bye, Greer.

Yeah, okay, fine. Hey, I’m not pressed.

There are plenty of fine,
super-fine women in Manhattan.

You never did have enough drive
or ambition for me.

You don’t wanna be somebody.
I am, so forget you.

Keep your tired ass here in Brooklyn.

I’m gonna get me a white girl.
You could’ve had it all!

Forget you.

[seagulls squawking]

It’s not gonna work, Mars.

It’s not gonna work?
What’s not gonna work, Nola?

-You and me.
-You and me? What about me and you?

-Me and you is not gonna work either.
-That ain’t gonna work either?

-Who’s it gonna work with, Nola?
-Jamie, if he’ll have me.

Jamie?

What do you mean it’s not gonna work?
It’s workin’. These things take time.

-I’m sorry, Mars.
-You’re sorry?

When I woke up this morning, I had
a feeling I was gonna have to slice you.

You can’t ax me first. I axed you.

-What’s the matter?
-Nothing’s the matter.

I’m not funny anymore?

-It’s not that. You’re always funny.
-I’m always funny.

-Then what the fuck is it then?
-I don’t love you.

You don’t love me?
Nola, what’s love got to do with anything?

Good-bye, Mars.

Good-bye?

When my last girlfriend
tried to pull this same shit,

I dumped her right in this pier.

You know you wanna laugh.
You know you want to laugh.

It’s time for you to grow up.

-Grow up?
-Yeah.

-Bye.
-Bye.

You know, Nola, you done me wrong.

Please, baby. Please, baby.
Please, baby. Baby, baby, please.

Nola!

I tried calling you at home.

I knew you’d be here.

I’ve made that decision.
It’s you I always wanted.

What about Mars and Greer?

One-on-one, you and me.

I’ve been thinking.

I need to chill for a while.

I’m talking about sex.

I’ve decided I need to be celibate.

-Celibate?
-You know.

-But why now?
-To cool out, give myself a rest.

A rest?

I’d rather not get into it.

Don’t you think that your near-rape of me
was a good-enough reason?

I never did anything like that before
in my life.

You’re always searching, Nola.
For what, I’ll never know.

I do need understanding from you.

But you go from one extreme to another.
There’s no middle ground with you.

No stability!

Why am I so lucky?

And what am I supposed to do
while you’re being a nun?

-See your dancer friend.
-That was nothing.

It won’t be that long.

I’m moving forward, Nola.

I don’t deserve this.

I love you.

Nola!

Mess up one more time...

That celibacy thing didn’t last too long.

Who was I fooling?

As for Jamie, I just got a little crazy.

Should’ve never gone back
in the first place.

It was a momentary weakness.

He wanted a wife,
that mythic old-fashioned girl next door.

But it’s more than that.

It’s about control-- my body, my mind.

Who is gonna own it, them... or me?

I am not a one-man woman.

So there you have it from a number
of people who all claim to know

what makes Nola Darling tick.

I think they might know parts of me.

[man] Slate it. Mark it.

Dad.

Bill Lee.

[jazz]

Okay.

[man] Action!

Joie Lee.

Mark it.

Raye-- [laughs] Raye Dowell.

-Say it again.
-Raye Dowell.

Action.

John... Canada... Terrell.

Tell us one of those stories, Tommy.

Well, when I was a little boy about 12,
my daddy called me to his side.

He said, “Son, you’re growing up now.

So what you wanna do with yourself?”

I said, “Well, Daddy, I wanna be a man.”

He said, “Well, you know how to be a man.
You got to cry.”

I said, “I don’t wanna cry.”
He said, “But sometimes you gotta cry.”

It don’t matter. It’s me, Tommy Hicks.

[laughter]

Slate.

Tracy Camilla Johns.

[man] Go.

-Action. Spike Lee.
-[man laughing]

-[laughter]
-Cut.