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[Cornbread] LET'S GO, TEAM. LET'S SLOW IT DOWN.

WE'RE STILL IN THE GAME.

SLOW THE TEMPO DOWN.

NOTHING BUT GOOD SHOTS. LET'S GO!

FAKE RIGHT, LEFT, JUMPER, YEAH.

CUT, MAN, CUT. LAY-UP. GOOD.

[Sam] HOW 'BOUT THEM EGGS, LEONA?

[Leona] IN A MINUTE.

YOU'RE THE ONE WHO LIKES 'EM WELL DONE.

ANY MORE COFFEE?

I JUST FILLED YOUR CUP, SAM.

HMPH. DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE.

TOO BUSY READING THE PAPER.

[Cornbread] FAKING RIGHT. ONE-ON-ONE. GO!

[Leona] SOMETHING ABOUT NATHANIEL?

[Sam] NO, HONEY, NOT TODAY.

ANYWAY, THE SPORTS PAGE AIN'T EVEN ON MY MIND.

WHY, SAM, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW

YOU READ ANYTHING BUT THE SPORTS PAGE.

[Cornbread] PASS IT OFF, PASS IT OFF.

HUSTLE. PASS IT BACK. HOOK.

[Leona] PUT DOWN THE BAD NEWS, SAM. HERE COME THE EGGS.

[Sam] YEAH, DROP IT RIGHT HERE ON THE FRONT PAGE, LEONA,

'CAUSE IT'S SCRAMBLED, TOO.

[Both laugh]

HAVE A SEAT AND DRINK SOME COFFEE WITH ME.

[Leona] YEAH.

[Cornbread] PASS, PASS, DEFENSE, DEFENSE.

PASS, PASS IT BACK.

LAY-UP.

LET IT GO, MAN.

[Leona] I'M GONNA MISS THAT BOY.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING.

IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF LATE SLEEPING DOWNSTAIR S

WITHOUT THAT BALL BUMPING ON THE FLOOR.

[Both laugh]

I BET YOU COULD HEAR SARAH SNORING.

[Laughing]

[Cornbread] CAN'T LET HIM GET THE BALL. GO BEHIND MY BACK!

YOU'RE NOT GETTING THIS BALL, MAN.

PASS IT OUT, PASS IT OUT.

SOMETIMES I WORRY ABOUT YOU, SAM,

ON THOSE HIGH BUILDINGS.

AIN'T NOTHING GONNA HAPPEN TO ME.

I GOTTA WATCH MY MAN CORNBREAD.

MM-MM-MM.

[Cornbread] COME ON, MAN, BREAK OPEN. CUT, CUT.

BEAUTIFUL, MAN. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

ARE YOU DRESSED YET, NATHANIEL HAMILTON?

IN A SECOND, MAMA. LAY-UP.

WELL, I TELL YOU. THAT BOY, SOMETIMES...

AS FAST AS HE IS ON THE COURT,

YOU'D THINK HE'D B E FASTER OUT OF THE HOUSE.

WE'LL GET 'EM, WE'LL GET 'EM.

WE'LL GET 'EM. LET BREAD HANDLE THE BALL.

I'M COMING DOWN ON HIM ONE-ON-ONE.

5 SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME.

AW, THE KID. FAKE LEFT, RIGHT,

3 SECONDS.

HEY. WOW. WHAT A SHOT. 2 FOR BREAD.

[Basketball bouncing]

THAT CORNBREAD'S GONNA DRIVE ME CRAZY.

COME ON, CHARLIE, IT'S TIME TO GET UP.

[Moaning]

WHAT TIME IS IT?

IT'S EARLY. IT'S REAL EARLY.

. HEY, THE TIME IS RIGHT, MAMA

MM-MM. NOT WITH CORNBREAD POUNDING AWAY UP THERE.

I WANT TO DO SOME POUNDING MYSELF.

CHARLIE, COME ON.

OH, WHAT'S THE MATTER?

COME ON, MAN, GET YOUR BUTT UP AND GET UPSTAIRS.

WHY, BECAUSE OF CORNBREAD?

SHH. NO. BECAUSE OF WILFORD.

THE NOISE IS GONNA WAKE HIM UP, TOO.

SO WHAT?

LOOK, I DON'T WANT HIM COMING IN HERE

AND FINDING US LIKE THIS.

[Laughs] YOU THINK HE DON'T KNOW?

HE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

12 YEARS OLD. HUH? 12 YEARS OLD,

LIVING IN THIS PLACE, HE DON'T UNDERSTAND?

ARE YOU GONNA COME TO THE MEETING TONIGHT, SAM?

YOU KNOW I DON'T G O FOR THAT STUFF, HONEY.

OH, SAM, IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU TAKE CARE OF THE URBAN LEAGUE,

THE NAACP,

AND THE BAPTIST LADIES' GARDEN CLUB,

AND I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE TESTER,

. MY WIRE CUTTERS, AND MY WEEKLY PAYCHECK

HEY, I WORK, TOO, YOU KNOW.

[Laughs]

AND I WOULDN'T HAVE YOUR JOB

FOR NOTHIN G IN THE WORLD.

[Laughing]

BUT I THANK YOU FOR IT.

MM. BUT LEAVE ME OUT OF THAT OTHER STUFF.

I AIN'T NO JOINER.

GET OUT OF HERE.

BREAK, MAN, BREAK.

WAIT A MINUTE NOW.

WORK IT OUT, POP, WORK IT OUT, POP.

STOP. NOW HOLD ON, YOU TWO.

WOW, POP, YOU'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

[Sam laughing]

LISTEN. SAM HAMILTON, A GROWN MAN LIKE YOU

PLAYING THE SAME GAME EVERY MORNING.

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

YOU LOOK PRETTY GOOD, POP.

STOP. NOW, GIMME THAT.

GIMME THAT BALL.

. GOOD MOVE, POP . GOOD MOVE, POP

GOOD MOVE, MAMA, YOU SURE SET A GOOD PICK.

YEAH, LEONA.

. WE'RE GONNA GET YO U A SCHOLARSHIP, TOO

HE FOULED ME. DID YOU SEE HIM FOUL ME?

NOW WAIT A MINUTE. THIS IS A DINING ROOM, NOT A GYM.

SO YOU CHECK THAT OUTSIDE.

[Cornbread and Sam] OH, MAMA!

DON'T YOU "OH, MAMA" ME.

THAT'S NOT FOOD. IT'S TOO TOUGH TO EAT,

SO IT STAYS OUTSIDE.

WHAT?

MAMA, I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU'RE WRONG.

THIS IS FOOD

AND MORE.

IT'S FOOD AND CLOTHES FOR YOU AND POP

AND A HOUSE AS BIG AS A BARN.

HEY, POP. COME ON, MAMA.

GO ON, BOY.

SEE THIS THING, MAMA?

COME ON, MAMA, LOOK AT IT.

'CAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE US OFF THIS STREET.

AIN'T THAT RIGHT, POP?

RIGHT.

IT'S GONNA BUY US A HOUSE

WITH A KITCHEN AS BIG AS THIS WHOLE BUILDING,

ON A STREET WITH TREES AND GRASS.

IT'S GONNA BUY A FREEZER, MAMA, BIGGER THAN ME...

FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF FOOD.

AND YOU ARE GONNA KEEP THAT BALL

? RIGHT IN THE BOTTO M OF THAT FREEZER, RIGHT

[Laughing] STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.

HEY, WAIT UP, POP. I'LL COME WITH YOU.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE NOW.

? YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANY BREAKFAST

NO, I'M NOT HUNGRY.

WELL, YOU CAN' T LIVE ON ORANGE SODA.

GO, MAN, GO!

2 WEEKS, HUH?

[Baby crying]

YEAH.

THAT SCHOOL'S A LONG WAY FROM HERE.

COLLEGE. YOU WANT ME TO BE IN COLLEGE.

YEAH.

WE'RE JUST GONNA MISS YOU.

YOU AIN'T KIDDING ME, POP.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SLEEP

IF I AIN'T BOUNCING THE BALL.

HA HA.

CUT LEFT.

YOU AND MAMA COMIN' TO THE SCHOOL SOMETIMES

TO WATCH ME PLAY?

BETTER KNOW IT. WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR ANYTHING.

GO, MAN, GO.

MORNING, NEIGHBOR.

AS LONG AS YOU GOT ONE HAND ON THAT BALL

I GUESS YOU'RE SAFE.

HEY, SUPERSTAR.

WHAT'S HAPPENING, ONE-EYE?

WHOO. WHEN YOU GONNA START

RUNNING NUMBERS FOR ME?

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

HEY, I'M SELLING DREAMS, SAM.

THERE'LL BE PIE IN THE SKY

WHEN YOU BUY IT FROM ONE-EYE.

YEAH. JUST LAY OFF MY SON.

HEY, HE COULD MAKE A TON OF MONEY

RUNNING NUMBERS FOR ME, SAM.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, POP,

, SOON AS I GET OUT OF COLLEGE

I'LL HAVE 'EM PUT IT IN MY PRO CONTRACT.

CORNBREAD RUNS FOR ONE-EYE

. IN THE OFF-SEASON

JOHN, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU GOT A HANGOVER.

? A HANGOVER

I GOT 3 KIDS SICK,

I'M UP ALL NIGHT FLUSHING THE TOILET,

AND YOU TELL ME ABOUT HAVING A HANGOVER.

WHAT DO YOU GOT, STOMACH FLU?

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE.

MAYBE IT WAS THAT RECIPE

THAT YOUR WIFE GAVE TO MY MARY TUESDAY NIGHT.

HA.

I WILL ADMIT, JOHN,

THAT BARBECUE SAUCE WAS PRETTY HOT.

HOT? HA.

HEY, WE PUT SOME IN THE FREEZER, YOU KNOW.

YEAH?

THE FREEZER DEFROSTED.

OH.

[Laughing]

HEY.

ISN'T THAT OUR OLD PAL, SHIFTY, OVER THERE?

YEAH. THE LAST TIME WE SAW HIM PUSHING SOMETHING,

IT WAS HEROIN.

10-TO-1, JOHN, THERE'S NO BABY IN THAT CARRIAGE.

HEY, HOLD IT, KID.

NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN, SHIFTY.

YOU CAN PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN NOW.

NO. I FEEL SAFER THIS WAY.

[Laughs] YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW YOU JUST DON'T LOOK NATURAL

UNLESS YOUR HANDS ARE INTO SOMETHING.

PUT 'EM DOWN SLOW AND EASY.

? WHY YOU DUDES ALWAYS HASSLING ME

THIS IS JUST A SOCIAL CALL.

WE WANT TO MEET THE FAMILY.

MAN, THIS IS MY SISTER'S.

I LOST HIM, JOHN.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

SHIFTY WANTS US TO MEET HIS FAMILY.

CAN WE TAKE A PEEK AT THE LITTLE DARLING?

OH, THAT'S A CUTE KID, SHIFTY.

WHERE'D YOU GET THE TYPEWRITER?

MAN, I TOLD YOU IT WAS MY SISTER'S.

I'M JUST BRINGING IT TO BE FIXED.

[John] HANDS ON THE CAR AND SPREAD YOUR LEGS.

THAT A BOY.

HEY, NATHANIEL.

HERE, NATHANIEL, PICK A CARD.

COME ON, MR. J, I GOTTA GO PLAY BALL.

OH, IT'LL JUST TAKE A MINUTE.

OK, OK.

HA. TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

REMEMBER IT? GOT IT.

PUT IT BACK.

HURRY UP, MR. J, THEY'RE WAITING ON ME.

I'M HURRYING, I'M HURRYING.

HOW ARE YOUR MOM AND DAD?

OH, THEY'RE JUST FINE.

NOW, IT'S--

THAT ONE, 6 OF DIAMONDS.

RIGHT. HEY, HOW'D YOU KNOW THAT?

GUESS THAT WINS ME ANOTHER ORANGE.

KEEP THE CHANGE, MR. J.

HEY. YOU OWE ME.

ALL RIGHT, BREAD.

THAT'S MY COUSIN.

WHO?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHO?

CAN'T YOU SEE? CORNBREAD, THAT'S WHO.

HE IS NOT.

HE IS SO.

YEAH. JUST LIKE CHARLIE'S YOUR UNCLE.

YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS ABOUT CORNBREAD AND ME.

WHAT'S SO GREA T ABOUT CORNBREAD?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, MAN?

CORNBREAD IS THE GREATEST PLAYER IN THE CITY!

IN THE STATE!

PROBABLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

. [Earl] I'VE SEEN BETTER PLAYERS DOWN SOUTH

[Wilford] IN MISSISSIPPI?

SURE.

THEY AIN'T GOT NOTHING IN MISSISSIPPI.

OTHERWISE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE COME UP HERE.

E CHARLIE TOLD M

THAT MISSISSIPPI IS THE LYNCHING STATE.

E HE SAY S THAT DOWN THER

A NIGGER AIN'T WORTH NOTHING.

THEM PEOPLE DOWN THERE

AS SOON KILL YOU AS LOOK AT YOU.

NOW, WHAT YOU GOT TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

MY DADDY SAID

THIS PLACE AIN'T NO BETTER THAN MISSISSIPPI.

HERE THEY DON'T STRING YOU UP,

BUT THEY DON'T LET YOU GET NOTHIN', EITHER.

NOW, WHAT YOU GOT TO SAY TO THAT?

OPEN MAN. HIT THE OPEN MAN.

? IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT HEAR THE BUMP OF THE BALL ?

? ON THE FLOOR OF THE COURT ON THE SIDES OF THE HALL ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE IS GOING TO SCHOOL NOT LOOKING TO FIGHT ?

? NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD FOOL GOT NO GUN OR A KNIFE ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S THE MAN WITH THE PLAN ?

? HE'S GOT A BASKETBALL IN HIS HAND ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S A DREAM TO HIS MOM ?

? HE'S A MAN TO HIS POP ?

? HE'S AN IDOL TO KIDS AND HE LOVES SODA POP ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ??

HEY. MR. FRED!

MR. FRED! OH, MR. FRED.

CORNBREAD WANTS A ROOT BEER,

AND HE BOUGHT ONE FOR US, TOO.

HE DON'T DRINK ROOT BEER.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING HIM, MAN.

HE DRINKS ORANGE AND GRAPE,

AND ONCE IN A WHILE COKE.

BUT NEVER NO ROOT BEER.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHA T YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I KNOW LOTS OF THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW, MAN.

YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING.

DON'T BLOW YOUR LITTLE STACKS.

LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

AW, MR. FRED, DON'T START THAT.

COME ON, PICK A CARD.

WE GOTTA GET CORNBREAD HIS DRINK.

ALL RIGHT, PICK A CARD. PICK A CARD.

PICK A CARD. COME ON.

NOW, TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

YOU GONNA REMEMBER IT?

SURE, THE 2 OF SPADES.

YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL ME.

WELL, YOU ASKED HIM.

OH, NEVER MIND . GIVE ME THE MONEY.

ROOT BEER. ORANGE.

ROOT BEER. ORANGE.

ALL RIGHT NOW, WHOA, WHOA.

SHUT UP. ROOT BEER.

WHERE WOULD YOU BE IF I WASN'T HERE

TO SETTLE YOUR ARGUMENT?

WAIT RIGHT THERE.

[Wilford] OK, EARL,

YOU PICK A CARD.

5 OF DIAMONDS.

YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED TO TELL ME.

ALL RIGHT, WISE GUYS, ALL RIGHT.

NOW, YOU LIKE ORANGE,

AND YOU BOTH LIKE ROOT BEER, RIGHT?

BRING THES E TO CORNBREAD.

, WHICHEVER HE CHOOSES

YOU SPLIT THE OTHER.

OK. BYE, MR. FRED.

BYE, MR. FRED.

[Sarah] OFF TO COLLEGE IN 2 WEEKS, HUH, LEONA?

[Leona] HONEY, I'M GONNA MISS THAT BOY.

IT'S GONNA BE SO LONELY WITHOUT HIM.

YEAH, EVEN THE BOUNCING BASKETBALL

AT 5 A.M. IN THE MORNING?

YEAH, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SARAH.

IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE IT'LL BE WILFORD.

THAT CHILD IS CERTAINLY GROWING UP, ISN'T HE?

YOU KNOW, HE REALLY ADMIRES YOUR NATHANIEL.

ANYTHING YOUR SON TRIES, MY SON IS BOUND TO COPY.

EVEN WITH--

IS THIS YOUR SON?

YES.

I'M AL PATTERSON, THE MANAGER,

AND I FOUND HIM WITH THIS.

MA--MAMA, YOU SAID

I COULD HAVE IT OVER THERE, REMEMBER?

? SOME CANDY

I--I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

MR. PATTERSON, I WAS JUST RINGING IT UP

WITH THE REST OF MRS. ROBINSON'S STUFF.

OH, 15-CENT CANDY BAR.

WILFORD, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S 15 CENTS

OR A MILLION DOLLARS. IT'S STEALING.

[Cries]

DON'T CRY NO MORE, MAMA.

I WON' T DO IT AGAIN.

I PROMISE I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S OK, WILFORD.

YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.

I KNOW. YOU'RE A REAL GOOD BOY.

[Knock on door]

IT'S THE WELFARE LADY, MAMA.

OH, LORD. NOT AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

WILFORD, YOU GO IN AND WASH UP.

[Mrs. Parsons] WELL, SARAH, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

FINE. MRS. PARSONS, I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU HERE TODAY.

I WOULD'VE TIDIED UP A LITTLE BIT.

WELL, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT THERE IS A REASON

WHY I MADE A SPECIAL TRIP OVER HERE

BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING I WANT TO FIND OUT.

[Sighs]

WHY HAVEN'T WE HAD YOUR REGULAR MEDICAL REPORT?

I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO BOTHER

TO GO DOWN TO THE CLINIC FOR YOUR REGULAR MEDICAL CHECKUP.

NOW, LOOK, SARAH, YOU AND I BOTH KNOW

THAT THE ONLY REASON THAT THE DEPARTMENT

SENDS YOU THOSE CHECKS EACH AND EVERY MONTH

IS BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPOSED HEART CONDITION.

YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT HEART CONDITION,

WE WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER PAYING THE STATE'S MONEY

TO A HEALTHY GIRL LIKE YOU.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

YOU DO UNDERSTAND?

YES, I DO.

. SEE, IF I COUL D HOLD A JOB , I REALLY WOULD

THE MINUTE THAT THEY FIND OUT

THAT THERE'S ANY NONSENSE IN YOUR MEDICAL REPORT,

YOU CAN BE QUITE CERTAIN THAT YOUR CHECKS ARE GONNA STOP.

WELL, I'LL GO DOWN TO THE CLINIC.

GOOD.

THEN THAT SETTLES THAT.

EVERYTHING ELSE OK?

YEAH.

HOW IS LITTLE WILFORD?

HE'S FINE.

HE'S NOT GETTING INTO ANY TROUBLE, IS HE?

OH, NO. WILFORD?

S WELL, I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT I

RAISING A CHIL D WITHOUT A FATHER.

BUT IT'S YOUR DUTY TO KEEP LITTLE WILFORD

FROM EVIL COMPANIONS.

[Laughs]

EVIL COMPANIONS.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'D SAY THAT.

BUT SHE DID!

EVIL COMPANIONS.

WHERE DO THEY FIND THEM WELFARE LADIES?

DOWN THERE WITH THE EVIL COMPANIONS.

[Laughing]

SEE YOU LATER, HEAR?

ALL RIGHT, PEACE. TAKE CARE.

GOOD NIGHT, NOW. KEEP COOL.

GOOD NIGHT, MUMS.

GOOD NIGHT, SARAH.

BYE.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

YOU SURE YOU'RE FEELING ALL RIGHT, HUH?

YEAH, I FEEL FINE.

MY HEART FEELS MUCH BETTER NOW.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE NO BUSINESS DANCING, ANYWAY.

WHAT DO YO U EXPECT ME TO DO,

SIT BACK THERE AND TWIDDLE MY THUMBS

WHILE YOU CARRY ON WITH EDNA?

OH, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?

SHE JUST DRAGGED ME ON THE FLOOR.

I DIDN'T SEE YOU PUTTING UP ANY FIGHT.

HEY, HEY. HEY, HEY.

OH HO.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WAIT A MINUTE. I WAS ONLY JIVIN'.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN THAT.

YEAH, MAYB E YOU WERE JIVING,

. BUT I AIN' T TOO SURE ABOUT EDNA

ARE YOU JEALOUS?

MAYBE.

WELL, BABY, IF, UH, WE MOVED IN TOGETHER...

YOU COULD KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON ME.

CHARLIE, YOU TALKING ABOUT

GETTING MARRIED AGAIN?

NOPE.

TALKING ABOUT MOVING IN.

WELFARE WOULD LOVE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, I'M TALKING ABOUT GETTING MARRIED.

? WELL, THEN, WHO'S GONNA PAY THE RENT

WELL, WHO DO YOU THINK? I WILL.

I MEAN, I CAN FIND A BETTER JOB.

IT'S NOT LIKE I AIN'T-- I AIN'T BEEN TRYING.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TRYING, CHARLIE.

YEAH, BUT IT AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU.

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS I AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU--

SHH.

[Sighs]

COME ON NOW, CHARLIE, YOU'RE GETTING SO HEAVY.

WELL, SURE. THIS--THIS--

THIS IS A HEAVY TOWN.

YOU FEEL IT SOMETIMES.

IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE CITY

IS JUST SITTIN G ON YOUR SHOULDERS.

HEY, BUT YOU GOT THE LIGHT TOUCH.

[Giggles]

MAN...

IF YOUR TOES COULD ONL Y DANCE LIKE YOUR FINGERS.

? WHAT THEY DOING HERE

WATCHING TV.

HI, BOYS.

HI, MUM.

HI, MRS. ROBINSON.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?

YOU KNOW I DON'T LIKE WILFORD HERE ALONE

WHEN I'M OUT LATE.

SO I ASKED EARL TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HIM.

COME ON, NOW. GET 'EM OUT OF HERE.

. YOU MUST BE JOKING. BUT I AIN'T JOKING

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR NIGHT.

NOW, CHARLIE, COOL IT.

NOW, DON'T SPOIL IT. I HAD A FINE EVENING.

IT'S THE BEST I'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

[Grumbling]

COME ON, EARL. LET'S GO GET SOME COOKIES.

UH-UH. NO. YOU STAY THERE. I'LL GO GET--

NO. LET 'EM STAY THERE.

WE'RE GONNA USE THE BEDROOM ANYWAY.

NO, WE AIN'T.

OH, WELL, THEN, LET 'EM GO IN THE BEDROOM,

WE'LL USE THE SOFA. HMM?

OH, COME ON, SARAH. WHAT IS IT?

NOT TONIGHT, CHARLIE.

I'M NOT IN THE MOOD FOR TV.

[Laughs] TELEVISION?

OH, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU SICK?

I THINK IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LATE FOR EVERYONE.

ARE YOU THROWING ME OUT?

I AIN'T THROWING YOU NOWHERE.

YOU LIVE UPSTAIRS.

OH, COME ON, MAMA.

CHARLIE...

WHY DON'T YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND?

I MEAN, IT'S "CHARLIE THIS,"

IT'S "CHARLIE THAT,

"CHARLIE GO, CHARLIE STAY."

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

JUST SHAKE YOUR HAND AND SMILE,

AND GO UPSTAIRS AND SPEND THE NIGHT

ALL BY MYSELF IN THAT ROTTEN BED?

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

WELL, YOU GOT ANOTHER THING COMING.

NO, NO, WILL.

YOU'RE HITTING IT TOO FLAT WITH YOUR HANDS.

LET ME SHOW YOU.

OK. YOU GOTTA KEEP IT OUT ON YOUR FINGERS.

. SEE? LIKE THIS

OKAY, NOW YOU TRY.

LIKE THAT, CORNBREAD?

YEAH. THAT'S BETTER.

OK. IT'S ME AND YOU. ONE-ON-ONE.

KEEP YOUR BACK TO ME AND GUARD THE BALL WITH YOUR BODY.

AND YOUR RIGHT HAND OUT SO I DON'T GET IT.

I--I CAN'T GET IT, CORNBREAD. NOT LIKE THAT.

OH, YES, YOU CAN, WILL.

CAN I SHOOT?

SURE.

OK, YOU FACE THE BASKET

, AND YOU BE IN BALANCE

GET THE BALL, PUT IT ON YOUR FINGERTIPS.

AND MAKE SURE IT FEELS GOOD.

AND TAKE YOUR TIME. RIGHT.

OK, IT'S O N YOUR FINGERTIPS.

YOU HOLD IT HIGH AND LET IT FLY.

HEY.

THAT'S IT, WILL, END OF LESSON.

I'LL SEE YOU IN THE LOCKER ROOM IN A FEW MINUTES.

COME ON, WILL, GET GOING.

. MR. WILSON'S GONNA BE HERE ANY MINUTE

I THINK YOU GUYS BETTER SPLIT.

TO HELL WITH MR. WILSON.

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THEM PILLS, MAN?

WHAT PILLS, STUD?

COME ON, MAN.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT.

THE STUFF THAT WAS IN THE LOCKER.

I FLUSHED IT DOWN THE TOILET.

YOU WHAT?

HEY, MAN, THAT DOPE WAS WORTH A LOT OF BREAD.

I TOLD YOUR FRIENDS

. NOT TO BRING THAT STUFF IN HERE

NAH, YOU DON'T TELL US NOTHING, SUPERSTAR.

MAN, YOUR TIME HAS COME.

LOOK, I AIN'T GOT TIME FOR THIS.

HEY!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

YOU OK?

KID WA S TELLING ME

YOU WERE IN SOME KIND OF TROUBLE.

MY COUSIN.

WELL, WHAT KIND OF TROUBLE?

IT'S ALL OVER, MR. WILSON.

THANK YOU.

WE SURE DON'T WANT ANYTHING

TO HAPPEN TO YOU, NATHANIEL.

AIN'T NOTHING GONNA HAPPEN TO ME, MR. WILSON.

THAT COLLEGE NEEDS ME TOO BAD.

[Police dispatch] 2-A 36, 2-A 36.

2-A 36.

AMBULANCE GUNSHOT VICTIM.

5525 WEST ELM.

SEE THEM IN.

2-A 36, ROGER.

HEY, THAT'S BACK IN THIS BLOCK.

[Siren]

COME ON, KIDS. BUY YOU A POP.

THIS GUY COMES BUSTING OUT OF THERE CARRYING A GUN.

ALMOST KNOCKS ME DOWN.

THEN HE TURNS AND RUN UP THEM STAIRS.

AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO FOLLOW HIM.

DESCRIBE HIM TO ME . CAN'T. TOO DARK OUT HERE.

WAS, UH, WAS HE BLACK?

'COURSE HE WAS.

WASN'T THAT DARK OUT HERE.

ANYTHING ELSE?

YEAH.

HE WAS BIG.

MIGHTY BIG.

SHE'S SHOT AND SHE'S HURT PRETTY BAD, TOO.

BUT SHE'S BREATHING.

I'M GOING AFTER HIM.

OK. I'LL WAIT FOR THE AMBULANCE,

. THEN I'LL FOLLOW YOU

HEY, JOHN, HEADS UP OUT THERE, MAN, ALL RIGHT?

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, THIS AIN'T NO PLAYGROUND.

CASH CUSTOMERS ONLY.

COME ON, SON, GO HOME.

COME ON, POP, IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE.

I KNOW IT IS, SON. THAT'S GOOD FOR YOU.

WASH SOME OF THAT SCHOOLYARD DUST OFF YOU.

NOW, COME ON, MOVE OUT. I MEAN IT.

I AIN'T RUNNING NO FREE STORE.

COME ON, BOYS, LET'S GO HOME.

LET'S GO HOME. COME ON, SON.

[Earl] YOU CHEATER.

[Wilford] I DO NOT.

YOU CAN'T DO WHAT YOU DONE, WILFORD.

YEAH? NO, YOU CAN'T.

NO, YOU CAN'T. NO, YOU CAN'T.

MAN, DIG THOSE THREADS.

YEAH. MM-HMM.

ALL COURTESY OF THAT GREAT BIG POLICY WHEEL

SPINNING UP THERE IN THE SKY.

YOUR PIE MUST BE SOAKING WET TODAY, ONE-EYE.

MM. YOU PASSING UP A GOOD THING, CORNBREAD.

RUNNING FOR ME'LL PAY YOU MORE THAN

RUNNING UP AND DOWN ON A WOODEN FLOOR.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE , ONE-EYE, LAY OFF HIM.

HE'S LEAVING FOR COLLEGE IN 2 WEEKS.

FIRST BOY FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD

TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF HIMSELF.

. NOW, HOLD ON THERE

I MEAN, SOMETHING LEGAL.

[Giggling]

IF THE GOOD LORD DIDN'T BELIEVE IN NUMBERS,

HE WOULD NOT HAVE INVENTED THE WHEEL.

HALT!

POLICE!

NATHANIEL, YOU MUST LIVE ON THAT STUFF.

HARD TO BELIEVE ORANGE SODA

COULD MAKE A KID GROW 8 FEET TALL.

[Laughs] THANKS, CORNBREAD.

YEAH, THANKS.

I BETTER GET ON HOME.

AH, IT'S RAINING TOO HARD, SON.

AND YOU'LL DROWN OUT THERE.

HE'S SO QUICK, HE CAN RUN BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS.

HE'S THE QUICKEST THERE IS.

OH, YEAH?

HE IS.

AIN'T YOU THE QUICKEST, CORNBREAD?

QUICK ENOUGH.

I BET YOU COULD MAKE IT HOME FROM HERE

IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS FLAT.

OHH.

NO, NOT THAT FAST, LITTLE COUSIN.

MAYBE... IN THIS RAIN...

I COULD MAKE IT IN 25 SECONDS.

NO WAY. YOU'LL NEVER DO IT.

I BET HE COULD.

I BET HE COULDN'T.

WHAT YOU GOT TO BET, LITTLE MAN?

BET HIM A BOTTLE OF POP.

IS THAT A DEAL? THAT'S A DEAL.

OK, MR. J, ONE MORE ORANG E FOR WHEN I GET HOME.

HOW WE GONNA TIME YOU, CORNBREAD?

LOOK, I GOT THE WATCH.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

NOTHING ON YOU RUNS STRAIGHT.

WE'LL USE MINE.

JESUS, LARRY!

YOU SEE HIM?

NO.

WHERE THE HELL DID HE GO?

LISTEN, JOHN, BE CAREFUL.

HE COULD BE SOME KIND OF NUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

OK, EVERYBODY OUTSIDE.

GET ON BACK IN YOUR APARTMENTS.

GET BACK I N YOUR APARTMENTS.

HEY, THERE HE IS!

Y'ALL READY? YEAH.

OK, HERE I GO.

AND A-1...

[Wilford and Earl] AND A-2...

AND A-3...

AND A-4...

[Wilford] COME ON, CORNBREAD, LET'S GO!

AND A-6, AND A-7...

[Earl] YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT.

HALT! POLICE OFFICERS!

AND A-13...

AND A-14...

AND A-19...

THERE HE IS IN THE STREET.

HALT! POLICE!

OH, MY GOD!

CORNBREAD!

COME BACK HERE, BOY.

CORNBREAD!

DAMN, FOOL KID.

YOU GET IN THAT STORE AND DON'T SHOW YOUR FACE.

CORNBREAD! CORNBREAD!

CORNBREAD! COME ON, MAN, GET UP.

HE'S DEAD.

NO, NO! HE AIN'T DEAD!

COME ON, CORNBREAD, MAN, GET UP!

PHONE IT IN, LARRY.

RIGHT.

CORNBREAD.

CORNBREAD.

COME ON, KID, NOW. YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

YOU KILLED CORNBREAD!

HE'S DEAD!

THEY KILLED HIM, AND HE WASN'T DOING NOTHING!

[Man] THEY THINK THEY'RE BRAVE SHOOTING KIDS.

HE WAS JUST RUNNING HOME AND THEY KILLED HIM!

[Woman] THEY AIN'T NO DAMN GOOD.

[John] HEY, QUIET DOWN.

HEY, KID. KEEP IT QUIET.

YOU KILLED HIM!

[2nd woman] DIRTY PIGS...

[John] ALL RIGHT, COME ON, BREAK IT UP. BREAK IT UP.

THEY KILLED CORNBREAD!

HE WASN'T DOING NOTHING!

AND THEY KILLED HIM!

[2nd man] THEY SHOT HIM DOWN LIKE A DOG.

[Will] HE'S DEAD! CORNBREAD'S DEAD!

THEY KILLED HIM!

THEY MURDERED HIM!

[3rd woman] IT'S A PITY.

MOVE IT BACK. STAY CLEAR.

HOLD IT BACK. DON'T STAND AROUND. GET BACK.

THEY SHOT CORNBREAD!

THEY KILLED CORNBREAD!

THEY KILLED HIM!

! MOVE IT BACK. HEY, YOU, MOVE

GET ON BACK.

THEY MURDERED HIM!

HE'S DEAD!

THAT MOTHER DID IT!

[Shouting]

. GO ON BACK TO YOUR APARTMENTS

2-A 36 REQUESTING ASSISTANCE.

4-15 GROUP 7-4-3 MARIGOLD.

CODE 2.

AHH!

UHH!

YOU SON OF A BITCH!

WILFORD!

WILFORD!

[Sirens]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, CRAZY?

WILFORD!

YOU ALL RIGHT?

ARE YO U ALL RIGHT?

ARE YOU HURT? ANSWER ME.

THEY KILLED CORNBREAD.

ARE YOU CRAZY? WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE.

. EVERYBODY' S CRAZY. COME ON

THAT'S HIM, MAMA. THAT'S CORNBREAD.

NO, NO, NO, IT AIN'T CORN--

OH, MY GOD. [Sobs]

WHY?

WHY'D YOU LET THEM DO THIS TO US?

[Doctor] IS THAT YOUR SON?

I'M SORRY,

BUT IS THAT NATHANIEL HAMILTON?

SIGN HERE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

CAN, UH...

CAN WE-- WE HAVE HIM NOW?

. STREET AIN'T NEVER BEEN THIS CLEAN BEFORE

THEY THINK THEY CAN WIPE OUT CORNBREAD

THAT EASILY.

MAMA, I DON'T THIN K I'LL PLAY BASKETBALL

AS LON G AS I LIVE.

YES, YOU WILL, TOO.

NOT TODAY,

BUT SOMEDAY SOON.

THEY MURDERED HIM, MAMA.

THEY KILLED HIM.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KILL YOU.

WHO'S GOING TO STOP THEM?

YOU AND ME.

CORNBREAD DIDN'T MAKE IT,

BUT WE'RE GOING TO WORK REAL HARD,

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE.

I'M AFRAID I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND

PRECISELY WHAT IT IS YOU EXPECT OF ME.

THE POLICE KILLED OUR BOY.

YES, I KNOW.

CAN'T NOTHING BE DONE ABOUT THAT?

ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPERS, HE ASSAULTED A WOMAN

AND VERY NEARLY KILLED HER.

THAT'S A LIE.

MY SON DIDN'T COMMIT NO CRIME.

WELL, THEN WHY DID HE RUN FROM THE POLICE?

HE WASN'T RUNNING FROM THE POLICE.

HE WAS AT THE CANDY STORE DRINKING A SODA.

HE WAS RUNNING HOME IN THE RAIN...

WHEN THEY SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.

AND HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRIME?

NOTHING.

WELL, THEY SAY THE VICTIM

IS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY HER ASSAILANT.

WELL, I WISH SHE COULD, MR. BLACKWELL,

BECAUS E IF SHE COULD,

. SHE WOULD TELL YOU IT WAS NOT OUR SON

WELL, THEN, YOU WANT ME TO BRING AN ACTION

AGAINST THE CITY FOR WRONGFUL DEATH.

WELL, YOU SEE, IF THE POLICE

SHOT AND KILLED YOUR SON WITHOUT JUST CAUSE,

YOU CAN SUE THE CITY AND COLLECT DAMAGES.

WE DON'T WANT MONEY.

WE WANT OUR SON'S NAME CLEARED.

WE DON'T WANT NOBODY

GOING AROUND SAYING THAT OUR SON WAS A CRIMINAL.

WE WANT THE POLICE TO ADMIT

THAT THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG.

I'M AFRAID YOU WON'T GET THEM

TO ADMIT ANYTHING.

YOU'LL HAVE TO PROVE IT IN A COURTROOM.

THEN WE GO TO COURT.

PERHAPS YOU OUGHT

TO THINK THIS OVER FOR A FEW DAYS.

FIRST THERE'LL BE AN INQUEST,

THEN YOU'LL FILE YOUR CIVIL SUIT.

THE PROCEDURES WILL BE EXPENSIVE

AND VERY DIFFICULT.

[Intercom buzzes]

EXCUSE ME.

YES?

UH, TELL HIM I'LL CALL BACK,

AND HOLD ALL CALLS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION.

THE, UH, CITY HAS RECEIVED

A LOT OF BAD PUBLICITY IN THIS MATTER.

YOU CAN EXPECT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY,

THE CORONER,

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

TO CLOSE RANKS AND TRY TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.

YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND WITNESSES.

WE GOT WITNESSES.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW STRANGELY PEOPLE BEHAVE

WHEN THEY HAVE TO TESTIFY IN A LEGAL MATTER.

THERE'LL BE PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR

IN A LOT OF PLACES.

WHAT'S-- WHAT'S THIS?

THAT'S A PLANE TICKET.

I'M AFRAID I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

MR. BLACKWELL...

OUR SON WAS A FINE ATHLETE.

A LOT OF COLLEGES

OFFERED HIM SCHOLARSHIPS,

AND HE HAD FINALLY DECIDED

WHICH SCHOOL HE WANTED TO GO TO.

THIS MORNING,

WE WERE SUPPOSED

TO DRIVE HIM TO THE AIRPORT

SO HE COULD FLY DOWN TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S HIS PLANE TICKET.

WE'LL CASH IT IN

AND BRING YOU THE MONEY

AS PART OF YOUR FEE.

MRS. HAMILTON...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

THAT'S THE WAY WE WANT IT, MR. BLACKWELL.

[Sarah laughs]

[Gasps ] OH, MY GOODNESS.

YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE WORLD FROM UP HERE.

COME ON, NOW, WILFORD,

YOU CAN'T SEE NOTHING

STARIN G AT YOUR LAP.

AIN'T NOTHING I WANT TO SEE.

HEY, LOOK- - LOOK OVER THERE.

THAT MUST BE OUR STREET CORNER.

WILFORD, WON'T YOU AT LEAST LOOK?

OK, I'M LOOKING.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE, BEN.

LOOK, I KNOW THAT,

BUT I TOLD THE HAMILTONS

THAT YOU AND I GREW UP

NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.

BY THE TIME I WAS 10 YEARS OLD, YOU WERE--

AND I WAS SURE YOU WERE A STRAIGHT COP.

ARE YOU STILL PLANNING

TO BE A TEACHER?

YEAH.

6 YEARS OF NIGHT SCHOOL.

I SHOULD GET MY CREDENTIAL IN JANUARY,

THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I MEAN, I'M NOT A LAWYER, BEN,

BUT I DO THE BEST I CAN.

I ADMIRE YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT, BEN?

I'M HOPING YOU CAN TELL ME SOMETHING

ABOUT THE HAMILTON CASE.

WE FILED A COMPLETE REPORT

WITH THE DIVISION, RIGHT?

AND THEN THEY, IN TURN, SENT COPIES TO HOMICIDE,

THE DA'S OFFICE,

AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS,

WHICH I'M SURE YOU'VE READ.

NOW, AS LONG AS GOLICH AND I

TESTIFY TO WHAT'S IN THAT REPORT,

EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THAT REPORT,

WE GOT NO PROBLEMS.

THE CITY WILL BACK US 100 PERCENT.

NOW, WE CHANGE ONE WORD, BEN,

AND WE GOT TROUBLES.

NOW, YOU KNOW THAT, BEN, SO DON'T--

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE MUST BE MORE TO THIS THING

THAN WHAT'S IN THAT REPORT.

WELL, YOU'RE TALKING TO THE WRONG GUY.

TALK TO GOLICH.

HE'S ALL UPTIGHT ABOUT THIS MESS.

BUT NOT YOU?

NO, NOT ME.

I KNOW WE SHOT THE RIGHT GUY.

UH, HOW COME GOLICH DOESN'T KNOW IT?

WELL, HE KNOWS IT,

BUT THOSE NEWSPAPERS, YOU KNOW,

THEY KIND OF CONFUSED HIM.

I MEAN, THEY GOT HEADLINES

LIKE "MISTAKEN IDENTITY"

AND "GOOD FAMILY, GOOD KID, POLICE BRUTALITY."

YOU'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE, BEN.

OFFICER GOLICH HAS A CONSCIENCE.

WELL, HE CAN AFFORD ONE. HE'S WHITE.

WHITE, BLACK, GREEN, RED.

I WONDER IF YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THE KID.

YOU MEAN THAT HE WAS AN ATHLETE, RIGHT?

BIG-TIME HERO, RIGHT?

GOOD GUY.

HAD A SCHOLARSHIP.

EVERYBODY'S DARLING.

SHIT, MAN,

HE JUST NEVER GOT CAUGHT BEFORE.

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU I HAVE WITNESSES?

NOW, I'M NOT DRAWING ANY CONCLUSIONS.

WITNESSES WHO'VE TOLD ME

THAT CORNBREAD COULDN'T HAVE

COMMITTED ANY CRIME.

THAT THEY ACTUALLY SAW HIM

P DRINKING A BOTTLE OF PO

IN A GROCERY STORE AT THE TIME.

SO THAT--

THAT MEANS I'M LYING, RIGHT?

OH, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, LARRY.

I'M SURE YOU DID

WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS RIGHT.

MAYBE I'D HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.

OH, WOULD YOU, BEN?

WOULD YOU? YOU IN YOUR--

YOUR BROOKS BROTHERS LAWYER'S SUIT.

. NOW, WAIT A MINUTE

WHERE DID YOU THINK I GOT THIS, IN LAW SCHOOL?

14 YEARS OLD.

RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE

ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVED.

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME

YOU HEALED UP REAL WELL, BEN,

BUT I AM STILL ON THOSE SAME

FUNKY STREETS DAY AFTER DAY

TRYING TO DEAL WITH THEM MANIACS, MAN,

AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THOSE CATS ARE AFTER ME

WITH MORE THAN JUST A--

A SAFETY RAZOR.

NOW, DON'T GIVE ME

THAT "POOR COP ON THE BEAT,

"BIG-CITY LAWYER" SHIT.

WELL, THEN DON'T GIVE ME THAT

"OLD BUDDY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD" CRAP.

MAN, THIS IS ME, BEN. THIS IS LARRY.

NOW, YOU COULD NOT WAIT TO GET

YOUR BLACK ASS OUT OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

DON'T JIVE ME, MAN.

YOU KNOW,

I'M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND.

YOU SPENT 6 YEARS GETTING READY

TO EDUCATE THE NATIVES,

AND NOW THEY TURN AROUND AND CLOBBER

THE GREAT MISSIONARY.

NO, THEY'RE NOT NATIVES, BEN.

THEY'RE SAVAGES,

AND I'M THE KEEPER OF THE SAVAGES,

AND I KEEP THEM ALL TOGETHER

SO THEY'LL CHOP EACH OTHER UP

AND NOT MAYBE GO INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BEN,

AND CHOP UP THE...

GOOD PEOPLE.

FOR A GUY WHO WAS ONLY DOING HIS DUTY,

YOU'RE MIGHTY WORKED UP.

NOW, YOU LISTEN TO ME.

YOU EVER STOP TO THINK WHY

THOSE PEOPLE BEAT YOU ON THE HEAD?

BECAUS E THEY'VE SEEN

COPS GUN DOWN PEOPLE BEFORE

AND NEVER MADE A MOVE.

WHY THIS TIME?

WHY?

BECAUSE CORNBREAD WAS A GOOD KID,

AND BECAUSE THEY KNOW

HE NEVER DID ANYTHING

TO EARN A BULLET IN THE HEART.

YOU--YOU TALK ABOUT TEACHING. TEACHING?

ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THOSE KIDS

THEY'RE NOTHING BUT SAVAGES?

NO, BEN. YOU'LL TELL THEM,

BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU TELL THEM THAT

EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.

IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL,

A DECENT, HONEST GUY LIKE YOURSELF,

WHAT CHANCE HAVE THEY GOT?

SAME CHANCE EVERYBODY'S GOT.

NOW, I'M TIRED, BEN,

SO JUST GET OUT.

I'LL BE DAMNED.

[Sarah] I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I ALWAYS LIKED

THE FERRIS WHEEL THE BEST.

, [Wilford] YOU KNOW, MAMA

I KEEP TALKING ABOUT CORNBREAD,

AND YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

D NOW, WE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CORNBREA

SOONER OR LATER.

THAT'S ALL WE'VE BEEN DOING

FOR DAYS NOW.

THINKING ABOUT CORNBREAD,

TALKING ABOUT CORNBREAD,

BUT IT AIN'T DOING US NO GOOD.

NO MATTER WHAT WE DO,

WE CAN'T BRING HIM BACK.

CORNBREAD COULD'VE HIT 50 STRAIGHT.

WHAT ABOUT THE LOOPER?

WANT TO GO ON THAT?

NAH.

I COME TO THE CARNIVAL ONCE WITH CORNBREAD.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE LOOPER.

CORNBREAD'S NOT HERE.

YOU AND I ARE.

YEAH, I KNOW. CORNBREAD AIN'T HERE.

TELL ME WHY.

MAMA, CAN WE GO HOME NOW?

WHY DON'T WE GO ON THE CYCLONE?

I LIKE THAT RIDE.

COME ON.

[Wilford] THIS AIN'T GOOD FOR YOU, MAMA.

[Sarah] SURE IT IS. IT KEEPS ME YOUNG.

AAH!

OHH!

AAH!

[Laughs]

. GEE, MAMA, YOU SURE LOOK WEIRD

YOU DON'T LOOK SO HOT YOURSELF.

HA HA HA!

[Laughing]

OH, NO.

SIMMONS AND KELLY, DOWNTOWN.

DOWNTOWN?

USUALLY SEE THE FELLOWS

FROM THE STATION OUT HERE.

WE HEAR YOU'VE BEEN DOING

A LOT OF TALKING

? TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, HUH

OH, YOU MEAN ABOUT THE HAMILTON KID?

THE ONE THEY SHOT?

U WE UNDERSTAND BLACKWELL WANTS YO

FOR A WITNESS, RIGHT?

SURE. WHY NOT?

I SAW THOSE COPS GUN DOWN THAT KID.

YOU SAW IT, HUH?

THAT'S STRANGE.

HOW COULD YOU SEE IT, BEING SO BUSY?

BUSY?

MAN, I WASN'T BUSY--

WHY DON'T YOU GIVE US A COUPLE

OF BOTTLES OF SODA, HUH?

SURE.

ON THE HOUSE.

LET'S SEE NOW.

WHAT KIND?

MARIJUANA.

I HEAR ALL YOU COLORED STORE OWNERS

KEEP A SUPPLY FOR THE SCHOOL KIDS.

WOW.

WHEN THE JUDGE GETS HOLD OF THE GUY

THAT'S DOING THIS-- WHEW.

G WHAT WAS THAT YOU WERE SAYIN

ABOUT THE SHOOTING?

HEY, MAN,

I THOUGHT--

I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE YOU GUYS--

NO, IT'S JUST LIKE HE SAID.

I WAS BACK HERE WORKING. I WAS BUSY.

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING.

JUST LIKE I SAID ALL THE TIME.

I KNEW ALL THE TIME

THAT KID WAS A WRONGDOER.

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING.

HONEST. I DON'T KNOW NOTHING.

I'LL JUST KEEP THESE FOR YOU FOR A WHILE.

WE MIGHT SEE YOU AGAIN, HUH?

HEY, MAN. HOW YOU GOING TO SEE ME AGAIN?

YOU AIN'T EVEN SEEN ME THE FIRST TIME YET.

YOU DIRTY BASTARDS.

YOU REDNECK SONS-OF-BITCHES.

GODDAMN DIRTY ROTTEN--

[Sobs]

MR. JOHNSON?

YEAH, SON?

WHY DON'T Y'ALL WANT ME

TO TEL L THE TRUTH?

IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT YOU

TO TEL L THE TRUTH.

G WE JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY ANYTHIN

RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S NOT TELLING A LIE, IS IT?

. YES, IT IS

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

WELL, M-MAMA SAYS

G THAT IF YOU SE E SOMETHING WRON

AND YOU DON'T SAY NOTHING ABOUT IT,

WELL, THAT'S JUST THE SAME

AS TELLING A LIE.

RIGHT, MAMA?

AND I DON'T TELL NO LIES,

DO I, MAMA?

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE EASY

. WITH YOU FOLKS

NOW, I'M THE PRECINCT CAPTAIN,

AND BEHIND ME

IS THE WHOLE DAMN CITY.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ON

. THE WHOLE CITY , YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD

SGT. DANAHER IS WAITING

TO QUESTION WILFORD,

AND HE'D BETTER GET THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

YOU HEAR ME?

HE'D BETTER GE T THE RIGHT ANSWERS,

'CAUSE IF HE DOESN'T,

YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT YOUR WELFARE CHECK.

YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT.

H OH, I'M FINALL Y GETTING THROUG

TO YOU, HUH?

YOU JUST REMEMBER THAT,

. SARAH ROBINSON

YOU LE T THIS SMART-ASS

KID OF YOURS TALK TOO MUCH,

AND YOU'LL BE OFF WELFARE...

LIKE THAT.

OK, KID.

NOW...

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS THING?

NATHANIEL HAMILTON.

CORNBREAD.

WHATEVER YOU PEOPLE CALL HIM.

WHAT DO I KNOW, SIR?

YEAH, DID YOU SEE HIM THE DAY HE WAS SHOT?

YES, SIR.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU SAW HIM?

THAT AIN'T THE RIGHT ANSWER.

WELL, I SAW HIM.

JESUS, WHAT'S THE MATTER

WITH YOU PEOPLE? DIDN'T YOU LISTEN

TO WHAT JOHNSON SAID?

ALL RIGHT. WELL, DON'T LET THAT KID

GIVE ME ANY TROUBLE.

WE DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE.

OK, KID.

. LET'S TAKE IT FROM THE BEGINNING

, AS FAR AS I GET IT

YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING AT ALL

ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING.

HE DIDN'T SAY THAT.

I'M TALKING TO HIM.

YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING, RIGHT?

YOU DIDN'T SEE NOTHING...

DID YOU?

TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HIM.

YOU DIDN'T SEE NOTHING AT ALL, DID YOU?

TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HIM.

SHUT UP.

I WILL NOT SHUT UP.

AAH!

I SAID SHUT UP, GOD DAMN IT.

ANY MORE OF THIS CRAP,

I'M GOING TO RUN BOTH OF YOU IN.

COME BACK HERE!

CHARLIE!

CHARLIE, THERE'S A MAN BEATING MY MOTHER!

I'M SCARED, CHARLIE!

ALL RIGHT, YOU.

LISTEN, YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER ME, SEE?

HOLD IT. DAMN IT, HOLD IT!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

YOU BETTER PUT THAT AWAY

BEFORE YOU GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE.

YOU BETTER LET THIS KID ALONE,

OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE.

NOW, GET OVER THERE. MOVE!

I'M A POLICE OFFICER.

CHARLIE, THAT MAN BEAT UP MY MAMA.

SARAH. SARAH.

I'VE GOT HIM, SARAH. WE'VE GOT HIM.

SARAH!

YOU DIRTY MOTHER!

CHARLIE.

YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

THEY'LL BE BACK, CHARLIE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT YOU BAD.

YEAH, MAN, SHE'S RIGHT, MAN.

HERE. TAKE THIS. HIDE IT SOMEWHERE.

ANYWHERE.

LISTEN, BOY,

YOU SEE HOW YOU'RE MESSING UP

EVERYBODY'S LIFE?

YOU SEE HOW MUCH TROUBLE YOU'RE CAUSING?

WELL, IF THEY HURT YOUR MAMA,

I'M GOING TO COME BACK HERE

AND KICK YOUR TAIL IN.

I APPRECIATE THAT, MR. BLACKWELL.

THANK YOU.

HE SAID HE'D DO WHAT HE CAN.

WELL, DOES HE UNDERSTAND

ABOUT THAT POLICEMAN

HITTING SARAH AND WILFORD?

OF COURSE.

WHERE IS WILFORD?

OH, HE WAS JUST HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

HE PROBABLY JUST WENT OUT TO PLAY.

PLAY?

HE WOULDN'T PLAY AT A TIME LIKE THIS, SAM.

LEONA, HE'S RUN AWAY.

OH, NO. NO, NO, NO.

WILFORD IS A SMART CHILD.

HE WOULDN'T DO A THING LIKE THAT.

NOW, YOU KNOW THAT.

HE'S RUN AWAY.

. OH, NO. NO

NO, COME HERE. NO, COME ON,

COME ON, NOW. OH, SARAH, YOU'RE--

. YOU'RE SAD

I KNEW I WAS PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON HIM.

HE'S ONLY 12 YEARS OLD.

YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF ALL UPSET

OVER NOTHING, SARAH.

. HE'S RIGHT

WHAT IF THAT POLICEMAN FINDS HIM?

HE'LL BEAT THAT CHILD.

AIN'T NO POLICEMAN, NOT EVEN A WHITE ONE,

GOING TO BEAT A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY.

YEAH, BUT...

HE HEARD WHAT CHARLIE SAID.

HE THINKS HE'S MAKING TROUBLE FOR ME.

THAT'S IT. THAT'S WHY HE'S RUN AWAY.

I KNOW HIM. I KNOW HIM.

YOU'RE TAKING IT TOO HARD.

I'M SORRY.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

NOW, EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE FINE.

WHAT THE HELL?

AREN'T YOU THE ROBINSON BOY?

WILFORD?

YES, SIR.

THAT'S THE CARD I GAVE YOUR MOTHER.

AND I SUPPOSE THE GUYS IN THE GARAGE

TOLD YOU WHERE MY CAR WAS.

YOU DON'T MISS A THING, DO YOU?

NO, SIR.

MR. HAMILTON CALLED.

HE TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED

TO YOU AND YOUR MOTHER.

I'M HEADING FO R THE POLICE STATION

TO TRY AND STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.

HOLD IT. HOLD IT, NOW.

NOW, HOLD IT.

. CLOSE THE DOOR

NOW, JUST RELAX.

COPS AREN' T GOING TO MAKE

ANY TROUBLE FOR YOU WHILE I'M AROUND,

HEAR?

YOUR MAMA DIDN'T SEND YOU TO ME,

SO SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

WE BETTER GO CALL HER.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FIRST.

OK, WE'LL SIT RIGHT HERE AND TALK.

WELL, YOU SEE,

I'M THE ONE THAT STARTED THE WHOLE TROUBLE,

'CAUSE IF I HADN'T TOLD MR. HAMILTON

THAT I SEEN THEM SHOOT CORNBREAD,

THEN HE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE TO YOU.

YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.

YEAH,

BUT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF THE WELFARE,

POLICEMAN COMES AND BEATS UP

ON ME AND MAMA,

AND THEN CHARLIE SAYS THAT I'M THE ONE

THAT'S CAUSING ALL THE TROUBLE AND SPLITS.

SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER, WILFORD?

I'M GOING TO RUN AWAY.

THEN I DON'T HAVE TO LIE

AND THEY CAN'T TAKE MAMA OFF THE WELFARE,

SEE?

YEAH, I SEE, BUT, UM,

S YOU RUN AWAY AND YOUR MAMA'

. GOING TO B E PLENTY WORRIED

YEAH. THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN.

WHO, ME?

YEAH. YOU FIND ME A SAFE PLACE TO HIDE.

THEN I'D BE LYING INSTEAD OF YOU,

AND I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T WANT

TO MAKE ME INTO A LIAR.

I STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU FOUND HIM.

OH, HE CAME TO ME.

WILFORD CAME TO MY OFFICE

TO SEE HOW HE COULD HELP THE SITUATION.

I REALLY CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

OH, IT'S NO TROUBLE.

IT'S ALL SETTLED NOW.

I COULDN'T TELL YOU OVER THE PHONE,

BUT, UH, I MADE A DEAL WITH THE POLICE.

THEY WON'T PROSECUTE YOU AND CHARLIE,

AND WE WON'T PRESS CHARGES AGAINST SGT. DANAHER.

YOU'RE SOMETHING ELSE, MR. BLACKWELL.

UH, WILFORD GAVE THE POLICE A STATEMENT WHILE WE WERE THERE.

I'M SURE THEY WON'T BOTHER YOU AGAIN.

I'M SO VERY GRATEFUL.

COME ON, WILFORD.

MMM.

YOU GOTTA GO GET YOUR PAJAMAS.

OK, MAMA.

. PUT YOUR PAJAMAS ON

THERE'S NO REASON CHARLIE CAN'T COME HOME NOW.

UH, CHARLI E DOESN'T LIVE HERE.

HE LIVES UPSTAIRS.

OH.

WOULD YOU LIKE A CUP OF COFFEE?

AH, NO, THANKS. IT'S BEEN A HARD DAY.

BUT MAYBE WE CAN DO IT ANOTHER TIME.

. UM, I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT, MR. BLACKWELL

MRS. ROBINSON--

SARAH.

YOU HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY SON.

I HAVE TO THINK YOU'RE A VERY SPECIAL KIND OF WOMAN.

SAY GOOD NIGHT TO WILFORD FOR ME.

YOU LIKE MR. BLACKWELL, MOM, DON'T YOU?

HMM.

I LIKE HIM, TOO.

YOU WAS READY TO RUN AWAY, WEREN'T YOU?

YES, MAMA.

YOU THOUGHT BY DOING THAT

YOU'D MAKE MY LIFE EASIER?

WILFORD, THERE IS NOTHING IN MY LIFE

. MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN YOU

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA SCARE US AWAY.

WE AIN'T GOT MUCH,

BUT WE DO HAVE OUR SELF-RESPECT,

AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

THEY FIGURE BECAUSE I'M ON WELFARE,

THEY CAN GET ME TO KEEP YOU QUIET,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO D O WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT,

WHATEVER THAT IS. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

I THINK SO, MAMA.

[Deputy Coroner] ALL RIGHT...

[Gavel pounds]

THIS INQUEST WILL PLEASE COME TO ORDER.

THIS IS A HEARING

CONCERNING THE DEATH OF ONE NATHANIEL HAMILTON.

UH, LET'S HAVE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY STEP FORWARD

AND CHECK OUT THE FAMILY HISTORY.

THE BOY'S AGE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH?

18.

AND THE BOY'S MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD?

STUDENT.

OH, YOU MEAN HE'S UNEMPLOYED.

UH, MR. CORONER,

THE YOUNG MAN WORKED PART-TIME

AT A RECREATION CENTER,

BUT HE WAS ENROLLED IN COLLEGE

AND DUE TO BEGIN CLASSES WITHIN 2 WEEKS.

UH, THE BOY WAS NOT IN SCHOOL AT THE TIME, COUNSEL,

THEREFORE, HE WAS UNEMPLOYED.

WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

THE FACT REMAINS THAT NATHANIEL HAMILTON

HAD GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL

AND WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN COLLEGE.

ALL RIGHT, COUNSELOR.

WELL, I DON'T SUPPOSE THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE

THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

THAT'S ALL. THERE'S A $27 INQUEST FEE,

BUT IF YOU'LL SIGN THIS, UH, WAIVER,

YOU WON'T HAVE TO PAY IT.

DO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE HER PAY

FOR THEM KILLING HER SON?

NEXT, THEY'RE GONNA ASK HER TO PAY THE COPS FOR THEIR BULLETS.

YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT, YOU KNOW?

UH, THAT'S RIGHT, MRS. HAMILTON.

WHY DON'T YOU SIGN THE WAIVER?

THIS ISN'T MY IDEA, YOU KNOW.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE WON'T ABOLISH THE FEE.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, MRS. HAMILTON.

YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR SEAT NOW.

I'M SORRY...

VERY SORRY.

THANK YOU.

[Danaher] OUR PEOPLE

MADE A VERY THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.

IN THE FIRST PLACE, OUR INFORMANTS TELL US

NATHANIEL HAMILTON WAS A MEMBER OF A GANG

THAT ROBBE D A NUMBER OF PEOPLE

AND WAS GUILTY OF MANY ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

SGT., JUST DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT.

AHEM.

YES, SIR.

UH, OFFICERS GOLICH AND ATKINS

ANSWERED A CALL AND FOUND THE VICTIM

UNCONSCIOUS FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND.

OFFICER GOLICH FOLLOWED THE ASSAILANT

UP ON A ROOF AND DOWN THE FIRE ESCAPE.

UH, OFFICER GOLICH CALLED OUT

THAT HE WAS A POLICEMAN, BUT THE SUSPECT

CONTINUED DOWN THE FIRE ESCAPE.

THEN ATKINS AND GOLICH TOGETHER

FOLLOWED HIM THROUGH A BUILDING

AND OUT INTO THE AREAWAY.

THEY AGAIN TOLD HIM TO STOP,

BUT, UH, HE DID NOT.

THEY DIDN'T SHOOT

BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE HIM CLEARLY.

THEN HE RAN INTO, UH,

THE STREET.

GO ON.

THE, UH, OFFICERS FOLLOWED HIM.

HE HAD A SHINY OBJECT IN HIS HAND,

WHICH THEY THOUGHT TO BE A GUN.

T THE OFFICERS THEN RAN OUT INTO THE STREE

D SO THEY COULD AVOI

SHOOTING INNOCENT PEOPLE.

[Deputy Coroner] CONTINUE, CONTINUE.

UH, THE OFFICERS GAVE A LAST WARNING,

AND WHEN THE SUSPECT DIDN'T STOP,

THEY SHOT AND KILLED HIM.

THANK YOU, OFFICER.

ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS?

WITH YOUR INDULGENCE.

YOU TOLD US THAT IN CHASING THE SUSPECT,

THE OFFICERS LOST SIGHT OF HIM

ON ONE OR MORE OCCASIONS.

YEAH, BUT JUST BRIEFLY.

BRIEFLY, BUT THEY DID LOSE SIGHT OF HIM?

SO THE PERSON THEY SHOT

MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE PERSON THEY WERE CHASING.

WELL, THIS GUY WAS RUNNING,

AND THEY TOLD HIM TO HALT.

WHAT ABOUT THE GARBAGE TRUCK?

WHAT GARBAGE TRUCK?

WASN'T THERE A GARBAGE TRUCK ON THE STREET,

AND WASN'T IT MAKING SO MUCH NOISE

THAT NO ONE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE HEARD THE OFFICERS,

EVEN IF THEY DID, AS YOU SAY,

TELL ANYONE TO HALT?

I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT A GARBAGE TRUCK.

ALL RIGHT, THE POLICEMEN ARE IN THE STREET

AND THEY SEE SOMEONE RUNNING.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

AND THEY THOUGHT HE HAD A GUN.

THE, UH, SHINY OBJECT.

WHAT KIND OF A DAY WAS IT, SERGEANT?

RAIN.

LIGHT OR HEAVY?

PRETTY HEAVY.

AND DARK, IT WAS DARK, WASN'T IT?

YEAH.

AND ON THIS DARK DAY WITH HEAVY RAIN,

THE OFFICERS SAW A SHINY OBJECT

IN THE HANDS OF SOMEONE

RUNNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,

IS THAT YOUR TESTIMONY?

OFFICER,

DID YOU EVER FIND THE SO-CALLED WEAPON?

NO.

DID ANYONE,

ANYONE TELL YOU THEY DEFINITELY SAW A WEAPON?

WELL, THE OFFICERS SAID THEY, UH, AHEM,

THOUGHT HE HAD A GUN.

DID ANY OTHER WITNESS TELL YOU

WHAT NATHANIEL HAMILTON HAD IN HIS HAND

AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING?

YEAH...

LITTLE KID SAID HE HAD A...

BOTTLE OF POP.

A POP BOTTLE?

IS THAT WHAT HE SAID?

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS ORANGE POP, WASN'T IT?

GEE, I DON'T REMEMBER THE FLAVOR.

CHECK YOUR BOOK.

IF YOU SAY IT WAS ORANGE POP,

. IT WAS ORANGE POP

NO, IT'S NOT WHAT I SAY, IT'S WHAT YOU SAY.

YOU'RE UNDER OATH,

YOU HAVE THE STATEMENT OF THE WITNESS. CHECK IT.

I, UH, DON'T HAVE THE STATEMENT.

OH, COME NOW,

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WITNESS.

SURELY YOU HAVE HIS STATEMENT!

NO, I, UH,

JUST CAN'T FIND IT IN THE RECORDS.

MR. CORONER,

THIS IS AN OFFENSE THAT AMOUNTS TO CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE!

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE?

TAKE IT EASY, COUNSEL.

IF THE STATEMENT'S BEEN LOST,

IT'S JUST BEEN LOST.

THE WITNESS IS HERE,

HE CAN TELL HIS STORY ANYWAY.

FOR ALL THE GOOD THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER HAS DONE,

I'M SURPRISED HE DIDN'T LOSE HIMSELF.

THAT'S ALL.

I DON'T WANT TO WASTE THE CORONER'S TIME...

WITH A LIAR.

[Watkins] YES, SIR,

13 YEARS WITH THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT.

[Blackwell] 13 YEARS.

MR. WATKINS,

YOU TESTIFIED THAT YOU WERE DRIVING YOUR TRUCK

ON THE DAY IN QUESTION,

AND THAT YOU ACTUALLY WORKED THE STREET

ON WHICH THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

NOW, THEN, DID YOU SEE THE SHOOTING?

NO, SIR.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WE KNOW THE POLICEMEN RAN INTO THE STREET

AND FIRED THEIR GUNS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM?

. WELL, I--I JUS T WASN'T LOOKING OUT

WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

AS A MATTER OF FACT,

I WAS READING MY DAILY REPORT.

YOUR DAILY REPORT?

MY DAILY REPORT.

YOU WERE SO CONSCIENTIOUS

THAT YOU STUDIED THIS REPORT AND KEPT STUDYING IT

WHILE ALL HELL WAS BREAKING LOOSE AROUND YOU?

I JUST WASN'T-- YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SEE NOTHING.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

E NOTHING. THE GARBAGE MACHIN

WAS MAKING SO MUCH NOISE,

I COULDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

WELL, THAT HELPS.

IT DOES?

OK, MR. WATKINS,

YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

AND IF I'M TO JUDGE BY WHAT'S GONE ON BEFORE,

YOU AREN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU WATCH MR. FRED.

YOU JUST WATCH HIM, HUH?

WATCH HIM TELL 'EM.

NOW, MR. JENKINS, WILL YOU TELL US IN YOUR OWN WORDS

WHAT YOU KNOW OF THIS OCCURRENCE?

I DON'T KNOW NOTHIN'.

OOH, MR. FRED.

EARL, YOU HEAR THAT?

THAT'S WRONG, MR. FRED.

SHH!

SO YOU DIDN'T SEE THIS?

NO, I--I DIDN'T SEE IT.

HA. HOW COULD I?

I--I--I WAS BUSY WORKING IN MY STORE.

WAS THE HAMILTON BOY IN YOUR STORE BEFORE THE SHOOTING?

NO, HE WASN'T IN MY STORE.

WASN'T NOBODY IN MY STORE.

FRED, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?

[Deputy Coroner] QUIET OUT THERE!

THAT'S RIGHT, MR. FRED, YOU LYING!

YOU'RE LYING.

FRED, YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE AND YOU'RE LYING.

[Deputy Coroner] NOW, JUST A MINUTE.

WHAT'D THEY DO TO YOU, FRED?

THEY BEAT YOU UP?

20 YEARS WE BEEN FRIENDS

AND NOW YOU DO THIS TO ME!

YOU SIT DOWN,

. OR I'M GONNA HAVE YOU REMOVED FROM THIS ROOM

I NEVER HURT YOU, FRED.

CORNBREAD NEVER HURT YOU!

HE JUST TRUSTED AND BELIEVED IN YOU.

[Deputy Coroner] MARSHAL, REMOVE THAT MAN.

ME AND LEONA AND CORNBREAD,

WE'VE ALWAYS DONE WHAT'S RIGHT.

Y SO THEN THEY G O AND KILL MY BO

FOR DRINKING A BOTTLE OF SODA

AND RUNNIN G DOWN THE STREET,

THAT'S WHA T THEY KILLED HIM FOR!

SAM, I KNOW YOU'RE UPSET, BUT LISTEN--

MOVE ALONG NOW.

HEY, LET'S NOT GET EXCITED HERE.

YOU TELL ME NOT TO GET EXCITED?

YOU KILLED MY BOY!

YOU AND HIM!

WHAT'D HE DO THAT YOU UP AND SHOOT HIM SO FAST?

LOOK, MR. HAMILTON, I--

WOULD YOU HAVE SHOT HIM IF HE WAS WHITE?

! I'M TALKING TO YOU

SAM! SAM!

WOULD YOU HAVE SHOT HIM IF HE WAS A WHITE BOY!

SAM!

[Sobbing]

[Marshal] I'LL TAKE HIM OUT OF HERE.

HOLD IT!

[Blackwell] IT WAS HIS SON, MR. CORONER.

I THINK HE OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED TO STAY.

[Deputy Coroner] SGT. DANAHER,

WHO'S YOUR NEXT WITNESS?

UH, WELL, I--I GUESS THAT WOULD BE THE BOY,

EARL CARTER.

JUDGE, YOUR HONOR,

UH, THIS HERE'S MY BOY EARL,

AND I BROUGHT HIM HERE TODAY.

WOULD YOU SIT DOWN?

- BUT, MR. JUDGE, UM , JUDGE, YOUR HONOR-

ONE MORE WORD,

. AND I'LL HAVE YOU THROWN OUT

NOW, I DON'T WANT TO HEAR

ANY MORE OUTBREAKS FROM ANYBODY.

THAT SHOUL D BE PRETTY CLEAR.

ALL RIGHT, BOY, COME ON UP HERE.

NOW, SON, UH...

BEFORE I SWEAR YOU IN, DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN TELLING THE TRUTH AND A LIE?

. I--I..

COME ON, EARL, MAN.

COME ON, DON'T BE AFRAID.

CAN'T YOU TALK?

JUST A MINUTE, MR. CORONER,

YOU'RE FRIGHTENING THE BOY.

MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T SHOUT AT HIM--

NOW, NOW, COUNSEL,

IF HE'S TELLING US THE TRUTH,

HE HASN'T GOT ANYTHING TO BE AFRAID OF.

BUT IF HE IS LYING TO US

THEN HE OUGHT TO BE FRIGHTENED.

NOW, ARE YOU GOING TO ANSWER ME OR NOT?

JUST COME ON, EARL, SAY SOMETHING.

JUDGE, YOUR HONOR, UH,

WHEN HE WAS A REAL LITTLE BOY AND HE GOT SCARED,

HE USED TO DO THE SAME THING.

I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SIT DOWN.

BUT THAT'S MY SON. HE DON'T KNOW NOTHING.

THERE'S NO NEED IN ASKING HIM

'CAUSE HE AIN'T GONNA SAY NOTHIN'.

I TOLD THE POLICE.

HE DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' ABOUT NOTHIN'.

WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?

SERGEANT, DID YOU GET A STATEMENT FROM THIS BOY?

NO, SIR, HE WOULDN'T SAY A SINGLE WORD.

I'M NOT SURPRISED.

YOU PROBABLY TRIED TO SHAKE HIS BRAINS LOOSE.

MR. CORONER, THE COUNSEL IS INSULTING ME

AND THE WHOLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[Deputy Coroner] ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!

I'M SICK OF THESE ARGUMENTS.

COUNSEL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU FIND YOUR WITNESSES,

BUT THIS IS THE 3rd ONE WE'VE HAD UP HERE

WHO DOESN' T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS CASE.

MR. CORONER, THESE WITNESSES WERE INTIMIDATED.

IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO TESTIFY FREELY,

THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THAT NATHANIEL HAMILTON

WAS AT THAT GROCERY STORE.

IT'S THE SAME OLD STORY, MR. CORONER,

THE ADMINISTRATION COVER-UP.

COUNSEL, DON'T MAK E CHARGES YOU CAN'T PROVE.

MR. CORONER, WE DON'T THINK THIS SHOOTING

WAS DONE MALICIOUSLY.

WE BELIEVE IT WAS AN ACCIDENT,

A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

BUT THE POLICE WON'T HAVE IT THAT WAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH.

. I WISH YOU WOULD STICK TO THE FACTS

YOU DID SEE THEM SHOOT CORNBREAD, DIDN'T YOU?

DIDN'T YOU?

NEVER MIND, MR. CORONER, I...

I DON'T WANT TO HURT THIS CHILD

ANY MORE THAN HE'S BEEN HURT ALREADY.

THEY'VE GOT NO CASE.

[Deputy Coroner] WILL, UH, WILFORD ROBINSON

PLEASE COME FORWARD?

[Man] THEY GOT TO HIM, TOO.

[Deputy Coroner] WILFORD ROBINSON?

WILFORD.

YES, MAMA?

YOU WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT,

AND I WANT YOU TO.

NOW, I WANT YOU TO BE A MAN.

NOW, YOU BE A MAN RIGHT NOW,

AND FROM NOW ON, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,

YOU'LL BE A MAN FOR THE REST OF YOUR NATURAL LIFE.

[Deputy Coroner] ROBINSON?

WELL, IS HE HERE OR NOT?

NOW, DID YOU KNOW THIS,

UH, BOY, NATHANIEL HAMILTON?

YES, SIR, I KNEW CORNBREAD ALL MY LIFE,

EVER SINCE I WAS A REAL LITTLE GUY.

AND ON THE DATE IN QUESTION,

DID YOU SEE THIS OCCURRENCE?

YES, SIR.

WHERE WERE YOU?

IN FRONT OF THE STORE.

WHICH STORE?

MR. FRED'S STORE.

ALL RIGHT, WILFORD, AHEM,

NOW, YOU GO AHEAD, IN YOUR OWN WORDS,

AND YOU TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW.

JUST START AT THE BEGINNING AND TELL US EVERYTHING YOU KNOW.

WELL, IT ALL STARTED WHEN ME AND EARL

WAS WATCHING CORNBREAD AND THE OTHER BIG GUYS

PLAY BASKETBALL.

THEN IT STARTED TO RAIN.

AND THEN WE ALL RAN DOWN TO MR. FRED'S STORE.

MR. FRED, HE WAS MAD AT HAVING ALL THOSE KIDS

IN HIS STORE.

SO HE BEGAN YELLING.

PRETTY SOON, IT WAS JUST CORNBREAD, ME AND EARL.

AND THEN CORNBREAD BOUGHT US EACH A POP.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS ALWAYS GOOD TO US.

THEN HE BOUGHT ONE FOR HIMSELF,

AND THEN ONE-EYE CAME IN.

[Deputy Coroner] BEG YOUR PARDON,

DID YOU SAY "ONE-EYE"?

YES, SIR. EVERYBOD Y OUT THERE KNOWS ONE-EYE.

[Deputy Coroner] I SEE.

[Sniffles]

GO ON, SON.

WELL, THEN CORNBREAD SAID

THAT HE HAD TO GET MOVING.

SO HE BOUGHT ANOTHER POP FOR HIMSELF

TO DRINK AT HOME,

AND THEN, WE SAID THAT HE OUGHT TO WAIT

UNTIL IT STOPPED RAINING.

BUT HE SAID NO, THAT HE HAD TO GET ON HOME.

. AND THEN..

ME AND EARL, WE GOT TO ARGUING.

G WE'S ALWAYS ARGUIN

AS TO HOW FAST CORNBREAD

. COULD RUN HOME

AND I SAID MAYBE 10 SECONDS.

AND CORNBREAD LAUGHED

AND SAID NO, ABOUT 25 SECONDS.

AND THEN WE MADE SORT OF A BET.

THEN ME AND EARL AND MR. FRED AND ONE-EYE

WENT OUT UNDER THE AWNING WITH CORNBREAD.

CORNBREAD TOOK OFF

WITH HIS BASKETBALL UNDER ONE ARM

AND HIS ORANGE POP IN THE OTHER HAND.

BOY, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HOW HE RAN.

WHEN CORNBREAD RAN-- [sniffles]

IT DIDN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE HE WAS MOVING.

HE COULD SURE RUN.

AND, BOY, WAS HE MOVING.

AND THEN, ME AND EARL,

WE GETS TO COUNTING

WHILE CORNBREAD'S RUNNING, YOU KNOW?

AND A-1 AND A-2.

AND CORNBREAD'S PUMPING AWAY,

AND IT'S RAINING,

AND CORNBREAD'S RACING DOWN THE BLOCK,

AND THEN THOSE 2 COPS,

THEY RUNS INTO THE STREET.

AND--AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY YELLED SOMETHING,

BUT I--I COULDN'T TELL WHAT IT WAS

'CAUSE THERE WAS THAT GARBAGE TRUCK

GRINDING AWAY.

ANYHOW, THOSE 2 GUYS,

THEY--THEY HAD OUT THEIR GUNS,

AND THEY SHOOT,

AND THEY SHOOT CORNBREAD.

AND THEN HE WAS DEAD.

THEY KILLED CORNBREAD AND HE WASN'T DOING NOTHIN'.

. ALL HE WAS DOING, HE WAS JUST GOING HOME

[Deputy Coroner] I DON'T KNOW WHO'S LYING,

BUT SOMEBODY IS.

. [Golich] THE KID'S GOTTA BE LYING

[Deputy Coroner] COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

[Blackwell] JUST ONE.

WILFORD.

HMM?

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CORNBREAD

BELONGING TO A GANG?

NO, SIR.

HE DIDN'T BELONG TO NO GANG.

DIDN'T HAVE TO.

BESIDES, HE WAS ALWAYS PLAYING BASKETBALL.

, SOMETIMES AT NIGHT

WHEN IT WAS QUIET,

I COULD HEAR THE BAMMIN' AND BAMMIN' OF THAT BASKETBALL

RIGHT UP AGAINST THAT BACKBOARD,

AND I KNEW IT WAS CORNBREAD,

'CAUSE IT COULDN'T BE NOBODY ELSE.

YEP, AND THAT BAM-BAM-BAM

WOULD PUT ME RIGHT TO SLEEP.

, NO, SIR, HE DIDN'T BELONG TO NO GANGS

NOT CORNBREAD.

[Blackwell] IT TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE

FOR YOU TO COME HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

I'M PROUD OF YOU, SON.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN GO.

OFFICERS GOLICH AND ATKINS.

YES, SIR?

YOU WERE BOTH THERE,

AND YOU BOTH FIRED AT THE DECEASED.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

OK, WELL, ONE OF YOU CAN TESTIFY FOR THE TWO OF YOU.

OFFICER ATKINS,

LET'S HAVE YOU UP HERE.

IT'S LATE, AND I DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANY MORE TIME.

NOW, YOU'VE HEARD THE TESTIMONY OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER.

YES, SIR, I DID.

DO YOU CONCUR WITH HIS TESTIMONY?

WELL, SIR, I...

[Deputy Coroner] OFFICER...

I'M WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.

LARRY!

DON'T.

ROTTEN BASTARDS. WHY DON'T THEY GET IT OVER WITH?

, WELL, YOU SEE, SIR

. WHAT WE WROTE IN THAT REPORT IS CORRECT

WE WERE PURSUING A SUSPECT,

AND WE DID UTILIZE STANDARD POLICE PROCEDURES.

OFFICER, YOU'RE TRYING MY PATIENCE.

THERE'S NO NEED TO REPEAT TO ME

WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE REPORT.

YES, SIR, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

NOW, I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE TESTIMONY HERE TODAY,

ESPECIALLY THE TESTIMONY OF THAT LITTLE BOY.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT, UH,

I THINK HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.

JUST A MINUTE, ATKINS.

OFFICER,

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

YES, SIR, I DO.

I REALIZE THAT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT...

IF THAT KID IS TELLING THE TRUTH,

AND I THINK THAT HE IS...

THEN GOD FORGIVE US BECAUSE...

WE MUST'VE SHOT THE WRONG MAN.

[Danaher] THERE MUST BE SOME MISTAKE, MR. CORONER.

THIS OFFICER HAS SIGNED A STATEMENT.

WE HAVE IT ON FILE IN OUR RECORDS.

I'VE HEARD ENOUGH.

THIS HEARING IS CLOSED.

THANK YOU.

IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT YOU.

YOU AREN'T GONNA BELIEVE THAT CRAP,

ARE YOU, MR. CORONER?

YOU'VE HAD IT, SERGEANT.

THE NEXT PERSON THEY'RE GONNA BE INVESTIGATING IS YOU.

HEY, YOU LOUSY BASTARD!

T 20 YEARS ON THE FORCE! YOU THINK I'M GONNA LE

CHICKEN-SHIT COPS SCREW ME UP!

HEY, LOOK OUT, DANAHER.

LAY OFF!

YOU LOUSY BASTARD!

LOOK, I DON'T WANNA HURT YOU, MAN.

WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING, GOLICH?

AAH!

[Coughs]

[Gags]

[Golich] LET'S GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE.

HEY, EARL, COME ON OVER.

COME ON, SHOOT SOME BASKETS WITH ME.

YOU MEAN, YOU AIN'T MAD?

HECK, NO, I AIN'T MAD.

AFTER ALL, WE'RE BLOOD BROTHERS, AIN'T WE?

YEAH.

HERE, TAKE A SHOT.

NO, NO, EARL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY.

LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT CORNBREAD SHOWED ME, OK?

OK.

ALL RIGHT, NOW,

CORNBREAD SAID

THAT YOU GOTTA HOLD THE BALL ON YOUR FINGERTIPS.

YEAH?

NICE AND LIGHT.

YEAH?

WHEN YOU KNOW YOU GOT THE TOUCH,

AND YOU GOT THE FEEL,

YOU LET IT FLY.

OK.

YEAH! THAT'S IT, EARL.

GREAT! FANTASTIC! YOU GOT IT, YOU GOT IT.

? IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT ?

? HEAR THE BUMP OF THE BALL ?

? ON THE FLOOR OF THE COURT ?

? ON THE SIDES OF THE HALL ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S A MAN MADE OF STEEL ?

? WAS NO SUCKER TO BUY ?

? WAS A GIANT IN HIS FIELD ?

? NOT A TRICK FOR ONE-EYE ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S THE MAN WITH THE PLAN ?

? HE'S GOT A BASKETBALL IN HIS HAND ?

? WELL, HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S THE MAN WITH THE PLAN ?

? GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HAND ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S GOIN' TO SCHOOL ?

? NOT LOOKING TO FIGHT ?

? NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD FOOL ?

? GOT NO GUN OR A KNIFE ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S A DREAM TO HIS MOM ?

? HE'S A MAN TO HIS POP ?

? HE'S AN IDOL TO KIDS ?

? AND HE LOVES SODA POP ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S THE MAN WITH THE PLAN ?

? HE'S GOT A BASKETBALL IN HIS HAND ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? TO THE KIDS ON THE BLOCK ?

? TO HIS FRIENDS AND HIS FOES ?

? HE'S NOT TIMID OR SHY ?

? AND YOU KNOW THAT HE KNOWS ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? LIKE THE MIX IN A BOWL ?

? LIKE THE YEAST IN A ROLL ?

? HE'S ALIVE, HE AIN'T DEAD ?

? HE'S THE SOUL TO THE BREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

? LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS ?

? DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN ?

? KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE BALL ?

? HIT THE OPEN MAN ?

? HE'S CORNBREAD ?

? CORNBREAD ?

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