Original subtitles

[soft piano music plays]

[music fades]

[Magdalene] Monet.

Monet!

Hey.

[grunts] Can you watch these boxes

while I get the other ones up?

What if someone tries to take something?

[Magdalene] You just ask them politely to freeze,

while you're sketching for the police.

[she chuckles]

[she coughs]

[door creaks shut]

[she coughs]

Can you help your mama out, please?

Mom, I'm painting.

Is that how you gonna be the man of the house?

Mom, why can't you have more sons,

so we can take turns being the man?

It's exhausting.

Yeah, I'm exhausted already. [chuckles]

[sighs] I wish you don't ever have to grow up

to be a man in this world.

Especially a Black man.

Sorry, babe, let me just put that there for a sec.

Are these my toys?

Hey, be careful. Those are fragile, okay?

-[box crashes on floor] -Monet!

Jesus, not this one.

[Monet] Sorry.

You know, your dad got this for me as a wedding gift.

If you look on the bright side,

now it's gonna remind you more of Dad when you look at it.

Your tongue is a good enough reminder.

[he chuckles]

Mom, why everything looks different here?

[Magdalene] What do you mean, baby?

The homes, the people, the streets.

Everything is much brighter. It's not like back home.

Yeah, it's different, but...

you'll have a brighter future.

And you'll go to a different school

and see brighter looking kids.

Do you know what?

I bet you shine brighter than all of them.

[she chuckles]

What if they don't like me, 'cause we don't look alike?

Hey, what do I always tell you?

You can only see the true color of a diamond

through a shining light.

There's a...

There's a rainbow in everyone

if we just look beyond our deceiving sight.

Right.

[chuckles] All right, let me see your masterpiece.

I think that girl across the street

could see my rainbow.

Stay here. I'll be right back, okay?

I'm scared of cops.

Baby, hey.

They smell fear, remember?

What you gonna be, a lion or a lamb?

A lion.

That's my boy.

I'll be right back.

[door clicks open]

[door clicks shut]

Hey, officer.

Everything okay?

Are these your items?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I just moved here.

Anything wrong, officer...

Clinton?

Well, you know, you're blocking the public path.

[Officer Clinton] May I check your ID?

It's my hair.

I-- I used to straighten it back then.

You know, my mom used to say

a Black woman should never ever straighten her hair.

You ever see a lion playing with its mane?

Ma'am, ma'am. Please, step aside.

I need to check the content of the boxes.

[Magdalene] May I ask why?

[Officer Clinton] We've had a few concerning calls

from neighbors.

I'm just doing my job.

What a warm welcome.

Hey, can you just be a little more gentle?

That's my son's toys.

-How old is your son? -Nine.

Isn't he too young to be around guns?

Leave my toys alone!

[Magdalene] Monet, stop!

Hey, what are you doing?

Hey, stop!

Don't you fucking point your gun at my son.

This is how you're raising your child?

Leave my mom alone!

Hey, it's-- it's just a game.

Okay? We're just playing a game.

[Monet] So, she's not a real cop?

No.

Certainly not.

[somber music plays]

Look at you growing all big and tall.

[chuckles]

[sighs]

All right.

♪

[chuckles]

[sighs]

[sniffles]

[Magdalene] Hey, can you stop that please?

-But it's fun. -Yeah, well, not for me.

[Magdalene sighs and clears throat]

Okay, hey, come here, come here, come here.

Do me a favor.

Okay.

Can you show me where this color is?

I don't know.

Okay, look, we know that the card says what?

Green?

Right, so, if the label's green,

take this and match it

with something else in this apartment.

Mmm.

Close.

I can't tell.

[Magdalene] Try again. Try a little harder.

Mmm...

[Magdalene groans]

Okay.

-I can't tell. -Okay.

What do we know for sure is green?

-The tree. -That's right.

[Magdalene] Careful.

Good one!

-[Monet] Thank you. -Mm-hmm.

Okay, what else?

I don't know. Give me a clue.

[Magdalene laughs]

Is the sky always blue?

-Not always. -Mom, look at the sun.

Hey, don't look up there too long, okay?

I like how bright it is.

Yeah, but, Monet, you're gonna go blind

if you stare too long.

I'm already blind.

Monet, you're not blind.

Says the blind.

Monet, we're colorblind.

Well, that's still blind.

-[indistinct] -Monet, I don't want to hear it.

[Magdalene] Stop. Please.

Okay, listen, there are people that can see color,

but that doesn't make them any different than we are.

People label colors just like we do.

They just do it in their minds.

But, look, we got a better imagination, right?

[Monet] Mmm.

[Monet] What colors do you see in the sky?

I see pink and red.

Like a giant pomegranate.

Like a giant pomegranate.

Where'd you get all that imagination?

Can we eat pomegranates tonight?

[groans] Baby, I don't think

there are enough pomegranates on this planet

to satisfy your appetite.

We haven't had any since we moved here.

All right, all right,

um, when we're done furnishing the apartment,

I'll run out and grab some pomegranates, okay?

Can you come help me with this map?

Grab that side.

Did you know that where we originally come from,

there's tons of pomegranate trees?

Can we move back?

Maybe. One day.

[slow piano instrumental plays]

Yes? Can I help you?

Hi, Mr. Walton. Sorry to bother you.

How do you know my name?

I'm the new tenant downstairs.

New tenant?

Yes, I'm Magdalene.

The rental management told me just to pay you directly--

Hold on, there must be some kind of mistake.

I'm expecting a Magdalene Whyte.

Yeah, that's me.

W-H-Y-T-E.

I know it's weird seeing a Black person

with a white last name,

like, literally Whyte. [laughs]

Huh, strange.

But management informed me

that an old white woman was here

looking for an apartment for her daughter.

Yes, that was my mom, she was helping me out.

She used to live around this area.

Your mom?

Is this some kind of a joke?

[she sighs]

All right, let me explain before you think I'm crazy.

So, I was adopted by a white woman.

She couldn't have any kids of her own,

so, she raised me...

and she gave me

the good Catholic name, Magdalene,

and, of course, I took her last name

and so here we are.

[Walton] Huh.

Believe me, if I could pick a Black family, I would,

for everyone's convenience and clarity.

[chuckles]

[clears throat]

Right, uh, so,

here is this month's rent and deposit.

-Thanks. -Wait, wait.

I want to count it first.

Make sure you didn't give me more than I asked for.

[both chuckling awkwardly]

We good?

We good?

Um, there was a boy in the application.

That's my son, Monet.

-Monet? -Mm-hmm.

I named him after my favorite artist.

French impressionist artist?

Was going blind through his career,

but still painted anyway?

-No? -No. Don't know.

[Magdalene] Mm-hmm.

Where's the father?

He's not with us.

Oh.

So, you have a man or someone to look after?

Look, um, are we good? Can I go?

-So I can-- -Yeah, I, uh.

-I'll just get your receipt. -Thanks.

Got a nice place.

Could use some color, though.

I'd love to give you one of my paintings.

[Walton] I hate colors.

Of course.

-You paint, huh? -Yup.

Professionally?

Yeah, that's why I moved here.

I got an invitation

from the city's Contemporary Art Gallery

and I hope to use that

to help pay for my son's education.

Hmm.

You know, the gallery's closed, yeah?

Look, you'll get your money on time, okay?

Well, I'm gonna need last month's rent.

What do you mean?

Well, you said you paint, right?

So?

I'm gonna need last month's rent in case something happens.

[sighs] In case what happens?

Look.

I'm a retired firefighter. I assess risk for a living.

Given this current situation,

it seems highly unlikely

to be able to keep up with the rent.

And, uh, your damage deposit won't be enough

to clean the cheap paint off my expensive furniture.

I'm sorry, cheap paint?

Yeah. My apartment, my rules.

You're lucky I accepted your application.

-Unknowingly. -Still.

A lot of landlords in this neighborhood

wouldn't be so open-minded.

Well, thank you for your open-mindedness,

but I don't have that kind of money for you.

I mean, there must be some kind of renters' protection,

or some human rights.

Look, you do what you have to do...

but I'm a firefighter and you don't play with fire.

[sighs]

[eerie music plays]

[wheezing and coughing]

[inhaling]

[gasping and coughing]

[panting]

♪

[gasping for air]

[Mr. Walton chuckles]

Uh, bet you don't have colored neighbor problems

where you are, Mr. Jackson.

[sighs]

All right.

[plays mellow piano melody]

[coughing]

-Sorry. [coughs] -Asthma, huh?

Damn.

I think I heard this is a good brand.

Yeah, it gets worse in the winter.

[she clears throat]

Uh, you know what? I-- I'll take that another time.

Okay, well...

I think I'm gonna need one of these inhalers my damn self.

-[he laughs] -Excuse me?

Well, girl...

you so fine...

[sighs] ...you're taking my breath away.

[laughs] Oh, Lord. All right.

I bet you say that to all the ladies

-that come in here. -Oh, no, no, no.

Just to a fine sister like you with a sense of humor.

See, I can't be myself around these other folks.

-If you know what I mean. -Yeah.

The name's Benyah.

You new here, right?

Yeah. Magdalene. Just moved in.

With my son, actually. These are all for him.

-[she chuckles] -He must love pomegranates.

Oh, he's obsessed with them.

Jesus, $25?

What is this? Some forbidden fruit?

-Uh. -It's not even red.

[chuckles] Well...

let me tell you a secret.

You see,

I call these diaspora pomegranates.

Taken from their native land.

Trying to blend into their new home

for over 400 years.

But don't be deceived by their exterior...

because deep down,

they haven't forgotten who they are,

their true colors.

They know who they are and where they come from.

Do you?

That one's coming out of your pocket, Benyah.

Oh, yeah, don't worry about that, Alvin,

I'll put all these on my-- on my tab.

-Oh, no, I can't allow that. -Yes, you can.

Just consider it a welcome gift.

[chuckles] Okay. Thanks.

[Magdalene laughs] Wow.

You okay?

Ooh, okay, okay, okay. Don't drip it.

-You'll spill everywhere. -So good.

Did you do your homework?

No homework, it's winter break.

Okay, school is closed, but education is not.

You don't stop learning just 'cause they tell you to.

But I want to be a painter like you.

Oh, baby.

This world is too cruel to artists.

Plus, I want to make sure you get an education

that I wasn't able to have, okay?

So that when the opportunities come,

you just catch it.

[cartoon sound effects on TV]

[orchestral cartoon music plays]

Let me show you what I learned today.

You see this pomegranate?

See all the seeds stick together?

That's how we gotta stick together.

You know, sometimes life,

it's gonna be tough on you.

It's going to squeeze you...

pressure you to every last drop exactly.

But...

even then...

we stay together.

Like a pomegranate.

-Like a pomegranate. -Mm-hmm, lock it in.

-Like a pomegranate seed, baby. -Like a pomegranate.

[both laugh]

All right, here you go.

-To our new home. -And my new friends.

-Cheers. -[glasses clink]

Oh. Oh!

Excuse me. Where did you learn that from?

I've seen how you drink.

Wait, so you're telling me I'm raising a little spy?

What else have you seen?

[playful piano music plays]

[laughs] Oh, wow. Okay.

Just gonna embarrass me like that, huh?

Okay, great.

Go to your room. Go to your room.

-[Monet laughing] -You're on punishment.

Ten days. No video games, no nothing.

-[playing on piano] -[muffled shouting]

[muffled reggae music playing]

[indistinct lyrics]

♪ [indistinct] power right to the man ♪

♪ Each is gifted, each of us is free ♪

♪ But we have to unlock your soul, destiny ♪

♪ We are not powerless, sir, no ♪

♪ Or agents of the state ♪

What're you doing?

♪ And you may be vague ♪

♪ But, Jah, he makes us all the same ♪

♪ Oh, sing, da da da da da da, da da da da da da ♪

Oh, did that hurt?

♪ Da da da da da da, da da da da da da ♪

♪ Come together brothers we be ♪

♪ And collapse the man [indistinct] ♪

♪ We are not indentured slaves, no ♪

♪ Or agents of the state ♪

[indistinct]

♪ There's one more story we need ♪

[playing on piano]

[muffled reggae music playing]

[knocking on floor] Hey!

Turn down that jungle music!

Turn down that jungle music!

[groans]

[music stops]

Anyways, you ready to eat?

Okay, there you go, baby.

Uh, hi, hello? Did you forget something?

What would your Dad do if he was here?

I don't know. I wasn't born yet.

[mockingly] I wasn't born yet. He would say his prayers first.

Come on. Get to do grace.

Ah! Colorblind, not blind.

[scoffs] Go ahead.

Dear Lord.

Thank you for the colorful dish

and helping us see things as you created them.

Excuse me, I hope you're not mocking God.

[sighs] Okay.

You know what? Hold on.

-Yeah. -No.

You're not gonna-- you're not gonna eat yet.

You need to do a good deed today first.

But why?

-But why? -I'm hungry?

Oh, you're hungry?

And you haven't did your deed either.

Uh, I'm sorry, who's the mom, me or you?

-You. -Yeah.

What does the Lord say about neighbors?

Avoid your neighbors.

Monet.

-Love your neighbors. -Very good.

So...

I want you to take this up to the landlord, okay?

And make sure you politely introduce yourself,

you understand?

But why?

Because...

a good deed goes a long way.

No, because you didn't pay enough rent.

What? Hey.

I overheard you.

Hey, uh, first of all, you shouldn't do that

and I did pay, and...

listen, it's not about paying rent, okay?

It's about paying respect.

Sometimes people need kindness more than they need money.

Oh, wait, but one thing,

don't tell him about your color blindness, okay?

But why?

Because we don't know him.

And sometimes people like to take advantage

of the disadvantaged people.

-All right? -[Monet] Mm-hmm.

You don't want to show anyone your weakness.

Remember when your friends made fun of you at school?

When they found out?

-Yeah. -[Magdalene] All right.

Go ahead.

Uh, you know what? Hold on a sec. Come here.

Uh, yeah.

There you go.

It's a symbol of peace, okay?

Right in there.

[Walton] Black Lives Matter.

Well, I say all lives matter

and to protect our lives

in this chaotic country that we live in,

uh, I'm asking you as a retired firefighter

to, uh-- oh, no, no, no, no wait.

We need law and order. That's it.

Law and order and as a retired firefighter,

I'm asking you people

to extinguish the destructive flames

of thugs and criminals in our streets.

-[sighs] -[knocking on door]

Oh, for crying out loud.

[knocking on door]

-Yes? -Hi, I'm Monet.

Hello. What do you want?

My Mom asked me to bring this dish to you,

but don't eat the flower though,

that's just the symbol of peace, I guess.

Yeah, well, that's very nice of your Mom,

but I'd rather be alone in peace.

Thank you very much.

You can eat alone in peace.

Here.

[sighs]

Okay, tell you what.

You stay here. I'll be back with the plate.

Holy moly, was that ever good!

Oh, delicious! Man, oh, man.

[groans]

[sighs]

There you go. All in one go, all done.

Delicious.

That was fast.

Yeah, well, you tell your Mom, thanks very much,

but, uh, I'd rather see the overdue rent

on a plate next time.

She said sometimes people need kindness more than money.

Is that so?

You wait here.

[chuckles] I'll give you a symbol of peace.

[tea kettle whistles]

Peace out.

[gentle music playing]

[sighs] How'd it go?

Why did he give you these?

As a symbol of peace, I guess.

Did-- did I do something wrong?

No, baby, you didn't. No. Listen.

I don't ever want you talking to that man again.

You understand?

But you said kindness goes a long way.

Yeah, I was wrong.

He's a giant

and giants have the smallest hearts.

Come here.

Come here.

Okay.

Hold still, hold still. Don't move, don't move.

Voila!

Now, you just gotta keep it on for ten minutes, okay?

Can I keep it on longer?

[Magdalene] No, baby, no, you can't.

Do bright people have bright colors?

What?

My friend Abby used to tell me that.

Let me show you something.

I want you to think about...

how much you love me.

Really feel it, okay?

Okay.

Now, still feel the same love for me?

Okay, good.

How about...

now?

Still feel the same love for me?

Okay, see?

Doesn't matter how you look on the outside.

If someone has love in their heart for you

or hate...

the outside doesn't change.

On the inside...

you still feel the same.

You understand?

Yep.

Why do we have to look different?

[Magdalene] Hmm, well...

Look, you think these masks look different,

but they're not.

They have the same essence,

just different colors.

Listen.

What's really important...

and the most important thing is...

having fun.

-[water splashing] -[both laughing]

Okay, okay, okay, okay!

You know, Shelby, we gotta get you a mate.

Yeah.

No, me. Me?

[laughs] I'm not alone.

I don't-- I don't need anyone.

You worry about yourself.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, she would have made a great mother, you know.

Look at that. Yeah.

And you would have made a great babysitter.

Here you go. Good boy.

[sighs]

Are you going to your new gallery tomorrow?

-Uh, yes, but not for long. -Can I come?

No, baby, children aren't allowed.

But you said I wasn't a child anymore.

I said you need to stop acting like a child.

I am technically the man of this house.

Hmm, well, technically you'll still be my child

even when you have great peach fuzz growing on your booty.

-[Magdalene laughs] -That's gross!

Mom, I wish I'd met Dad. What was he like?

Well, he was...

very cute...

and curious.

Just like you.

[giggles]

[grunts]

Okay!

[sighs]

Mom, what happens when people die?

[Magdalene] Let me show you something.

So over here.

There are just lights...

and then you cross over to the other side...

they become a rainbow.

See that?

Your Daddy could be up there in all those colors.

All right, it's time for bed.

-[Monet] Good night, Mom. -Thank you.

[birds chirping]

Now let's find my babies a new home.

Now, which one?

[hums]

[road din]

[sighs] Just freezing my ass off all day.

[woman] Not the best time to sell.

Yeah, tell me about it,

I've been here all day and nothing.

This would be a lot easier if it was in my gallery.

[woman] Your gallery?

Yeah, that's-- that's why I moved here.

These pieces are supposed to be in my exhibition

for the, uh, Contemporary Art Gallery.

[woman] Oh, you mean the MOCA Gallery?

Yes. You know it?

[woman] Everyone knows it, it's very prestigious.

It's too sad they had to close down.

Well, you know what?

Art must go on, right? [laughs]

You know what? I would love to give you a discount

since you're my first customer here.

[woman] Well, let me see.

Hey, guys.

[woman] How much for the yellow and green one right there?

Uh...

yellow and green.

Um... [clears throat]

Uh, this one?

[woman] No, the-- no, the one

that's mainly yellow with the green line,

right-- right there, over there.

Do you mind pointing out which one exactly you wanted?

[woman] Are you sure they're yours?

Oh, yeah, they're mine. I-- I painted them.

[woman] I-- I don't want to get in any trouble.

What-- what trouble? There's no trouble.

I painted them, they're mine. I-- I'm colorblind.

Oh, come on!

[thunder cracks]

Of course. Thank you.

[soft music playing]

[groans]

I started as a surrealist, but after today?

Yeah, that rain turned me into an impressionist. [laughs]

To my new mentor,

the rain.

[knocking on door]

[Monet] Mom, I need to pee.

Baby, let me spend a little more time

in this surreal reality

before you drag me back.

[sighs]

[Monet] I need to pee!

Okay, it's open. Come in.

Some privacy, please.

Boy, ain't nobody looking at you.

Hey, and lift up the lid.

You said you weren't looking!

I-- I have ears, so I can hear.

What are you still doing up?

I had a nightmare.

Oh, come here, tell me what happened.

You know what you were?

So colorful.

Wait. You dream in colors?

[Magdalene chuckles]

That's weird.

What happened?

[Monet] You were laid down still without breathing,

so calm and so silent,

then slowly a huge rainbow coming out of your mouth.

[laughs] Okay.

A rainbow?

Out of my mouth?

You really dreaming in colors?

Yeah, I swear to Dad.

Okay. Okay, all right.

I believe you.

I don't think I can go back to sleep.

Oh, okay, baby.

Go back to bed.

I'm gonna come in there in just a minute, okay?

Okay.

[chuckles] My baby's seeing colors.

Okay.

[sighs]

What should I name this one?

Oh, good Lord.

Yikes.

Gosh.

Okay, how's it going over here, baby?

It doesn't look as happy.

[Magdalene] Yeah, I told you not to pick it.

Flowers are never as happy

when they're separated from the soil.

[Monet] What do we do?

Um...

why don't we take it outside, on the patio?

Get some sunlight.

Wait, wait hold on. I'll give you your coat.

Here.

[door creaks open]

[Monet] Good morning.

-Nice flag. -What's that?

Nice flag.

-[Magdalene coughs] -I have the same one, see?

[Walton] Oh, yeah.

It's not the same thing, Monet.

It looks the same.

It's not the same, it's a different color.

[Monet] But it looks the same.

But it's a different color with different meeting, okay?

[Monet] It looks the same.

[Magdalene] All right, but it's different.

Come on, let's just keep fixing this.

[coughing]

Excuse me, do you mind putting that out?

[Walton] What's that?

I have asthma, so you mind while we're out here

if you could just put that out?

Hey, I'm just sitting up here having a smoke on my side.

Keep your smoke to your side then.

Hey, talk to the wind, kid.

Monet, let's go.

When are you gonna pay the rent?

-Talk to the wind, giant! -[Magdalene] Monet!

Sorry about that. Soon.

Monet, careful, careful, careful,

you'll get your shirt dirty.

I just washed that.

[coughs]

Hey, guys. How can help you?

How much is this one?

You know what? I can give that to you for 550.

510, we got a deal.

Yeah, okay. Sure.

Thanks.

You only got hundreds?

You have enough change?

You know what, these days, all I got is change.

Let me check.

Okay.

20, 40, 90.

Here you go.

I'd take that other one if you can make the same deal.

You-- you want one too?

Okay, yeah, sure.

[laughing] Where do you get this money from?

[train rattling]

Rich neighborhood, dude, rich kids.

You sell on the street, you gotta have mutual trust.

Yeah, yeah, of course.

One sec. Thanks.

[sighs] There you go.

Thanks. Hey, thank you guys so much.

Thank you. [laughs] You know what?

Hey, when the gallery opens, I'll invite you out,

and you can appreciate those on the wall.

[squealing with joy, laughing]

'Cause what? I'm an artist, duh!

All right, let's pack this up, okay.

[soft piano melody playing]

[footsteps approaching]

Girl, you sold those paintings,

you sure did sell those paintings. [laughs]

You're kidding me.

[piano melody playing louder]

[indistinct]

[sighs]

♪ Amazing grace ♪

♪ How sweet the sound ♪

♪ That saved ♪

♪ A wretch ♪

♪ Like me ♪

♪ I once was lost ♪

♪ But now, am found ♪

♪ Was blind ♪

♪ But now, I see ♪

[Magdalene coughing]

[breathing heavily]

[coughing]

[panting] Shit.

Oh, shit.

Okay, wait, wait, my inhaler.

My inhaler, God.

Oh, fuck, okay.

Okay, okay, it's okay.

[panting, coughing]

[ominous instrumental playing]

-What do you want? -Where's your mom?

[Monet] She left to go get something.

Yeah. She what?

She left to go get some pomegranates.

You mean at the grocery store?

Well, how long ago did she leave?

Just a few minutes ago.

Right.

[Monet] Do you want some pomegranates too?

No, I don't want any goddamn pomegranates.

[sinister instrumental music playing]

[Walton sighs]

Yeah, hi, yeah. This is Walton Gray.

I'd just like to report a fraud.

Yeah, my-- my new tenant just tried to pay the rent

with counterfeit money.

Well, the colors were off, I'm not fucking blind.

Sorry. Sorry.

[sighs] No...

[officer] What does she look like again?

[Walton] Bushy brown hair,

uh, she was wearing a white jacket.

-[officer] Black, White? -[Walton] Black.

-Uh, about 5'7, 5'8. -[officer] All right.

[Walton] That's her, officer. That's her right there!

[officer] It's okay, thank you, thank you.

-[siren wailing] -Hi, there.

Just stay right there,

don't move, I just want to talk to you.

I-- I just want to ask you a few questions.

Just don't move. Stay right there.

Stay right there, no, no, no!

-I didn't do anything wrong! -[officer] No, no!

-I-- I said stop, don't move! -[electric buzzing]

Gotcha! Gotcha!

[Magdalene groaning]

[officer] Face down, don't move--

What the hell is that?

A little extra tight, just for you, huh?

-[handcuffs rattling] -[officer grunts]

[breathing heavily]

[officer] Suspect is a Black woman in her 30s.

Average build, under arrest for disobeying the order.

[radio chimes]

[screams] Get off of me, I can't breathe.

[officer] Oh, stop with that cliché bullshit.

I'm nowhere near your neck.

[sobbing]

-I didn't do anything wrong. -[officer] No? No?

Then why the hell did you run away from me?

-Why'd you run? -[sobbing] I was scared.

Stop resisting or I will taze you again, you hear me?

And fuck your pomegranate.

[sobbing loudly]

[officer] Okay, all right, let me see something.

Hold on.

What's your name, huh? Magdalene Whyte.

What do you do for a living, Magdalene?

[sobbing, coughing]

-I'm a painter. -[officer] Oh, you paint?

Are you an artist, or a con artist?

[Magdalene] What?

Look familiar to you?

You buy a lot of things with these counterfeit bills?

Counterfeit money? What are you talking about?

Those boys, they gave it to me.

[muffled radio chatter]

[officer] Yeah, I've got her. I'm heading there right now.

What's the address?

[muffled chatter on radio]

[officer] Well, apparently, it's not the first time

you've been using these counterfeit bills, huh?

What?

You are in big trouble, sister.

-Get up! I said get up! -[Magdalene groaning]

[officer] Come on.

[officer grunting, panting]

I hate this ghetto shit,

and I fucking hate pomegranates.

Come on.

Counterfeit money, huh?

[Magdalene] I swear, I don't know, I didn't know!

[officer] Oh, you do, or you couldn't tell why?

What, you blind or something?

[Magdalene breathing heavily]

[officer] What is it? Say it, spit it out. Come on.

[Magdalene] I'm colorblind.

[officer laughing] You're a colorblind artist

who paints, do you think I'm stupid or something?

Get them away. There's nothing to see here.

There's nothing to see. Back off.

I said back off!

[sirens wailing]

Now, listen to me.

I'm going to gather the rest of the evidence,

and you better come up with a better excuse

by the time I get back here.

[man] Fuck off, man, let her go.

-[breathing heavily] -[man] Come on, who are you?

You okay?

♪ How sweet the sound ♪

♪ That saved ♪

♪ A wretch ♪

♪ Like me ♪

♪ I once was lost ♪

♪ But now, am found ♪

♪ Was blind ♪

♪ But now, I see ♪

♪ Stars and trees ♪

♪ Their strange fruits ♪

♪ Blood on the leaves ♪

♪ And blood at the root ♪

♪ Black body swinging ♪

♪ In the summer breeze ♪

♪ Strange fruit hanging ♪

♪ From the poplar tree ♪

[music fades]

Now, she's claiming to be an artist of some kind.

-A painter. Any truth to that? -Yeah, yeah.

Uh, she's probably made a big mess

of my apartment already.

Look, officer, how can I get my money back?

We'll deal with that soon enough.

Now, do you know anything about her being colorblind?

Colorblind?

[laughs] Well, think about it, officer.

She makes her living as a painter for Christ's sakes.

I wouldn't believe anything she says.

In fact, I think her ID's all fake.

You gonna run a check on it?

-I'm asking the questions here. -[Walton] Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry.

Now, you see people coming in and out of her apartment?

Maybe she's got others helping her?

Does she live alone?

No, no, she has a son living with her.

He told me that she's gone down to the store.

And where is he?

Just down below us.

-How old is he? -I don't know, eight or nine.

It's hard to tell with that black skin.

Can't see too clearly.

Right.

-Can you show me? -Yeah, yeah, it's, uh...

just right down there.

Uh, 201.

[officer] All right. You'll just stay here?

I'll be back in a few.

[Walton] Okay.

-Hello. -Hi, there.

Are you a cop?

-Mm-hmm. -Can I see your badge?

[clears throat] Sure.

Sorry, my mom says "Always be careful around cops."

[officer] What's your name?

Monet.

Well, listen, Monet, I'm here because of your mom.

[Monet] Where is she?

Don't worry. She's safe, she's with us.

Now, I'm more worried.

[clears throat] Look.

Not all of us are bad guys.

We're just showing her around the neighborhood.

We'll bring her back soon.

-Can I come? -Oh, no. I'm sorry, buddy.

You're too young to come with us,

but I'll tell you what.

When you're old enough,

I'll show you around the neighborhood.

[Monet] I won't go anywhere without my mom.

Right, of course.

Now, listen to me, Monet, um,

do you have any relatives or other family in town

that we could call to come watch over you?

Nobody at all?

Only my grandma back home.

But she's far, far away.

Okay, well, in that case then,

um, your mom probably wants you

to stay with Mr. Walton over there

until she comes back.

-The giant? No, thanks. -[officer] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Just for a few hours.

I'd rather be alone.

Well, I-- I don't think that's such a good idea, okay?

It's just for a little while.

If you don't help me,

then I can't help to bring your mom back.

You understand me?

Promise you bring her back.

Oh, uh, Monet, one last thing.

Do you know if your mom is colorblind?

Uh...

Is she?

It's very important for us to know.

No, she-- she's not weak.

[officer] Okay, good.

Now, why don't you pack up some stuff,

Mr. Walton will come by to get you.

All right? It'll be fun. I promise.

[sighs]

Okay, um...

look, I need you to babysit the kid

'til we figure out the situation.

No fucking way. I don't think so.

Look, I can't bring him with me, all right?

There's too much responsibility.

Besides, we don't want to see this kid

watch his mom going through this kind of an ordeal.

-It's not his fault. -Hey, it's not my fault either.

I'm the victim here.

You're a retired firefighter, correct?

[Walton sighs] Yes.

Well, just think of this as a fire drill, all right?

Look, I'm trying to put out a fire here.

-[Walton sighs] -[officer] All right?

Hey, you want to kick them out when she comes back? Great.

But until then, I need you to babysit this kid,

to take care of him, 'til the smoke clears.

Will I get my money back pretty soon?

Yeah, I'll do everything in my power.

[sighs]

Yeah.

[indistinct chattering on radio]

I'll be right there.

I gotta go, okay? I have all your contact info,

I will be in touch.

-Remember, fire drill. -Yeah.

[Walton sighs]

[drink glugging]

What?

Can you pass the pepper, please?

It's the red one.

Hello.

The red one.

What, you not hungry?

I'm starving.

What are you waiting for? Eat.

I can't eat.

What do you mean you can't eat? 'Cause it's not fried chicken?

I'm vegan.

I'm sorry, what?

I can't eat meat.

I'm vegan.

[laughing] That's ridiculous.

A Black vegan kid.

What a messed-up world we live in, I tell you.

So I can't be Black, because I'm vegan,

or I can't be vegan, because I'm Black?

Oh, well, excuse me

for not being prepared to,

uh, take care of a Black vegan kid.

What, do you want some ice cream, Your Majesty?

Is it made with non-dairy milk?

Oh, for fuck's sakes, come on.

You said the F-word.

-Yeah, so what? -You need to rinse your mouth.

[Walton sighs]

There. Happy?

Oh, what do vegan kids eat?

Ah, ooh.

There. That vegan enough for you?

[Walton sighs]

[knife clacking on wood]

Do you want to go to juvie?

Okay, "They say Black lives matter,

well, I say all lives matter.

[sighs] [indistinct].

Blue lives matter, police lives matter.

[mumbling] No Black people--"

what?

What are you memorizing?

You wouldn't understand.

[Monet] I heard you practicing it.

It's about all lives matter, right?

What? You eavesdropping on me?

I know how hard it is to memorize something.

I used to be the same at school,

but they taught us a trick that really helped.

A trick?

Apparently, some people are better at looking skills,

and some better at listening skills.

I guess, you're the first kind,

so it's best for you to listen to memorize.

But it's true, it's true, you know, when I was a kid...

I was a great listener.

I used to spend hours listening to the piano.

So what's this trick?

Have someone read it to you over and over

until it gets into your big, giant head.

-"They say Black lives matter." -[Walton] "Black lives matter."

-"We say all lives matter." -[Walton] "All lives matter."

-"Police lives matter." -[Walton] "Police lives."

-"Law matters." -[Walton] "Law matters."

[Monet] "Order matters."

[Walton] Yeah.

-"Blue lives matter." -[Walton] "Blue lives matter."

"Let Black lives matter

to Blacks and their own Black neighborhood."

[Walton] "Let Black lives matter

to Blacks and their own Black neighborhood."

"Let them keep their crimes away from us in their streets."

[Walton] "Let them keep their crimes,

uh, out of our neighborhood, off our streets."

Is that right?

Just forget it. Move on.

"We're offering a peaceful solution."

[Walton] "We're offering a future solution."

Peaceful.

[Walton] "A peaceful solution," yeah.

Seg-- gus--

What's segregation?

Um, well, it's, uh, you know,

Whites with Whites and Blacks with Blacks.

No mixing, you get it?

No mixing, then, how do you get a colorful palette?

-A what? -[Monet] My mom mixes

black and white to get gray.

Then, she mixes yellow and blue to get green.

Then, she paints a whole colorful garden

with her palate.

Yeah, but that's different.

We're talking about people, not paints.

So paint can mix, but not people?

Well, they can mix, but they shouldn't.

Look at me.

You know when you're doing your laundry,

you have your whites and you have your colors,

and you keep them separate, right?

You don't mix them,

because if you put the whites with the colors,

the colors will stain the white.

So you gotta keep them separate.

So law and order, you see?

-So is my skin stained? -[Walton] No, no.

That's not what I meant.

What I'm saying is that you and I

are not the same, and we never will be, okay?

So did God make us different?

Yeah, I think so.

Does God like each of us differently?

I don't know, I'm not God.

Why couldn't God make everyone the same color,

and make them all the same?

Why go through so much trouble to make us different?

[sighs] Look, can we get back to work, please?

If we're not the same,

why not divide us from the beginning,

and put each color in a different color planet,

so we'd never know the other one existed?

Then we'd never know that we're different.

God sounds like a jerk that wants us to fight on purpose.

Maybe God is the one who's colorblind.

Jesus Christ, kid.

I'm asking you to help me with my speech, not give me one.

I'm sorry.

I just miss my mom.

She always says question things...

until I understand them.

Yeah, I know.

I know, but some questions just...

just can't be answered.

The truck is blue.

The wall is white.

The light bulb is yellow.

The plant is green.

The tree is green.

The people are all white.

People, white, people, white, people, white,

people, white, people, white,

people, white, people, white, people, white.

Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing?

Stay away from that tree.

Is this a family tree?

I said, stay away from that tree.

What about my family? When's my mom coming back?

[Walton] I don't know just stay away from that tree.

It's a sacred tree.

I miss her and I'm bored.

What do you do when you're at home and bored?

[Monet grunts] I paint with my mom.

Yeah, well,

you can't paint here and I'm not your mom.

Do you have any games to play?

Uh.

No. Only chess. And that's not a kid's game.

I can play chess.

[Walton] You can play chess?

[scoffs]

You're a lot smarter than you look.

[quiet piano instrumental]

Well, I guess we don't have to assign colors now, do we?

-Let's go. -[Walton laughs] Good choice.

Okay.

Uh, wait, wait, wait, wait.

White always goes first.

[Monet] I'm sorry, I forgot.

Do you see everything black and white, too?

-[Walton] Huh? -Nothing.

[Walton murmuring]

That's it.

You can't keep running away, I'm gonna catch you.

Now, I'm gonna punish your queen.

Queen.

And...

checkmate.

[laughing triumphantly]

[phone ringing]

Hold on a second, I got a phone call.

Yeah, Walton here.

Oh, hello, officer. Yes, yes.

Uh, yeah, I've been waiting for your call.

Is it my mom?

What?

The boy's right here, yeah.

Hospital? What are you talking about?

I thought I said she took him down to the station?

What have you guys done?

What?

All right, well, keep me posted.

I'm not a babysitter.

Oh, hey, you can't do that.

Queen's off the board.

My mom says, no matter how many times

you fall on your face you still have to get back up to win.

Well, I'll--

I'll make an exception this time, okay?

Did they say when my mom's coming back?

Uh, no, but I'm sure she'll be home soon.

-What's wrong? -[Walton sighs]

Uh, I don't know, I'm just a little tired.

I think it's time for my nap.

What about the game?

-You won. -Huh? I win?

Yeah, you did.

["Symphony No. 5" by Beethoven playing]

The black queen claims her island.

Out the white soldiers, out the white castle.

Out the white bishops.

Out the white king, your time is up.

Why don't you make yourself busy

while I take a nap, huh?

Don't wake me up.

What if I'm hungry?

Well, there's some, uh,

some candies in the blue jar on the counter,

but just take them quietly and don't wake me up

'cause I get really grumpy, okay?

Mm-hmm.

[Walton sighs]

[Walton snoring softly]

[floorboard creaks]

[Monet grunts softly]

[Monet grunts]

[Monet gasps]

-[jar clanking] -[Walton gasps]

Oh, my God.

My sweet Candy. What the hell have you done?

I told you the fucking blue jar.

Are you blind or stupid?

No, I-- I'm sorry, the tortoise scared me.

Sorry's not gonna cut it.

You know what?

If it weren't for that nigger drunk driver,

my wife would be alive and you people

can't even leave her in peace in her own house!

I'll clean it up.

Well, no, no, you'll clean it up

by getting the hell out of my neighborhood.

-Come on. -I'm not going!

Now, look at you. You know what?

Go back to the jungle where you came from.

Maybe you'll find your mother there, huh?

I'm going!

Out! Get out.

Oh, Shelby. Oh, you poor old thing.

Look at you.

It's tricky going through for--

All right, man, I got you.

You okay?

You're good? Yeah, of course you are.

Yeah.

[Walton sighs]

[reporter] Magdalene Whyte, a Black artist,

who was recently arrested for counterfeit money,

is now in critical condition after the police locked her up

unattended in the car to freeze.

According to the witness footage,

she was abandoned for 30 minutes

and freezing temperatures before the officer showed up.

The medical staff at the hospital confirmed

that Magdalene had a history of asthma,

which is believed to worsen her condition.

It was also later revealed that she was in fact colorblind,

a condition that may have played a crucial factor

in her arrest and may also prove her innocence.

A peaceful protest outside the hospital

is now turning into a violent clash

between the police and the protestors

as they are becoming aware that Magdalene Whyte

unfortunately just went into a coma.

Let's see what they have to say.

[indistinct shouting]

[reporter] What do you have to say?

Magdalene is still in a coma,

but her brothers and sisters have just woken up.

[chanting] We are wide awake!

We are wide awake! We are wide awake!

We are wide awake! We are wide awake!

[chanting continues on TV] We are wide awake!

We are wide awake! We are wide awake!

We are wide awake!

We are wide awake! We are wide awake!

We are wide awake!

We are wide awake! We are wide awake!

-We are wide awake! -[faint beeping]

We are wide awake! We are wide awake!

We are wide awake!

-[fire alarm beeping] -[Monet coughing]

Oh, Jesus.

[fire alarm keeps beeping]

Monet!

Open the door!

[Monet coughing]

Monet! Oh, my God.

-[Monet coughing] -Oh, my God!

What are you doing in here? Come on.

-Let's get you out of here. -I'm not going with you!

-You have to come! -I am not going!

-You have to get up. Come on. -I'm not going!

-Monet, stop it. Stop it! -Not going with you!

-There's too much smoke. -Not going, I'm not going!

All right, take it easy. Here we go, come on.

Let's go upstairs, get upstairs.

[fire alarm keeps beeping]

Breathe in, breathe out.

There you go. You're doing good.

All you need is a little fresh air.

[Walton laughs] You're gonna be just fine.

That's it. Keep breathing, keep breathing.

Yeah, you want a-- you want a glass of water?

I'll get you a glass of water. Hang on.

[Monet sighs]

There you go.

Sip it slowly now.

Now, what were you doing with all those candles?

I was trying to pray for my mom.

You know, you're lucky I'm a firefighter.

You could be dead.

-I'm sorry. -No, no, I'm sorry.

I overreacted. I shouldn't have left you alone.

[Walton sighs]

So you're a real firefighter?

Yeah, I'm-- Yes. Well, I was.

How many lives have you saved?

[Walton sighs] Let me see.

Well. [sighs]

Not as many as I wished I could have.

Is this your wife's room?

Monet--

why didn't you tell the truth?

[Monet] What truth?

That you and your mom are both colorblind?

It would have changed everything,

cleared up any misunderstandings if we knew.

My mom says nothing changes

as long as other person's still colorblind.

[Walton sighs]

I miss her.

Do you ever miss your mom?

My mom? [scoffs]

Yeah, I haven't thought about my mom

in a very, very long time.

I can't even remember what it's like to be a kid.

-[Walton chuckle] -Do you want to remember?

Try it.

What? Me?

Uh-huh. Yes, you.

Yeah, let's see.

Hang on.

I do red here, you do blue here.

[Walton] Okay, okay, okay.

So, what do you think?

You're just like a robot. Let it loose.

Hey, I'm a piano player, not a painter.

I can only play the piano with these hands.

Then imagine you're playing piano with paint.

[Walton] What does that mean?

Hey, hey, hey, be careful.

Don't get it on the floor now.

Whoa, whoa, are you-- are you out of your mind?

Come on!

Come on, try it.

You know something?

I'm trying really, really hard to like you,

but it's getting very difficult, boy.

You told me not to get on the floor.

See? I didn't.

Come on!

Okay, okay. I got it, I got it, ready?

-[Walton humming] -[piano music playing]

-Fun, right? -[Walton grunts]

It is kind of fun, actually.

Nice play, high five.

[indistinct]

What color is this?

Purple!

Hey, you put blue and red together and you get purple.

Oh.

[Walton] Yeah, oh.

Oh, Candace, my wife...

always wanted to have kids.

[chuckles] Now I know why.

Why didn't you?

Well, we almost did.

And then, uh...

and a drunk driver...

bad car accident...

You know, the kid we would have had--

had a grandchild about your age now.

-[electricity crackles] -[Walton sighs]

-[Monet] What happened? -[Walton] Oh, this old building.

I'll be back in a minute.

[match crackles]

And now we are cavemen.

[Walton laughing]

You know this--

I don't know what it is, it's very strange,

but you look awfully familiar to me.

Maybe you've seen my dad.

My mom says we look the same.

Well, maybe.

I wish you could have saved him, too.

[Walton] Saved who? Your dad?

Yeah.

He died from burning in a fire.

Oh, that's horrible.

I'm so very sorry.

It's okay.

I wasn't born yet.

The firefighters tried,

but they couldn't get there in time.

When did he die?

While my mom was pregnant with me.

That was back home, right?

[Monet] No.

When my mom and dad used to be students here.

They used to work at a painting studio downtown.

-[Walton] Mm-hmm. -One day...

everything caught on fire...

and burned everything.

No, no, that doesn't seem possible.

It can be if you're not careful.

The paint caught on fire.

Everything got burnt.

-You want to come see? -[Walton sighs]

Yeah, sure.

Just don't tell my mom.

She would kill me.

[Walton breathes heavily]

Is this your dad?

He was so burnt, they couldn't bury him,

so they put him in that jar.

Was your wife burnt too?

No.

Do you have a picture?

[somber instrumental music]

Oh.

It's-- it's--

[sobbing] Oh.

[sobbing]

[Walton panting]

It's okay.

My mom says he's in a better place now.

Yeah.

I-- I don't feel so good.

Excuse me.

♪

[Walton sobbing] Oh, look at me.

Oh, God, forgive me.

[sobbing]

God, I could've saved him, but I didn't even try.

I didn't even try.

[sobbing and panting]

[indistinct clamoring outside]

[siren wailing]

[quiet, somber instrumental playing]

[sobbing quietly]

[fire crackling]

-[distant gunshot] -[people screaming]

[siren wailing]

[sirens wailing]

Monet?

Monet?

[contemplative instrumental music]

Monet, you in there?

No, no, no, no.

[car horn honking]

[man screams]

[indistinct shouting]

-[glass shatters] -[indistinct shouting]

[siren wailing]

-Hey, hey. -Yo.

Do you know where the police station is?

The station got burnt down, kid.

No roads in or out.

You okay? Where are your parents, huh?

Hold on, kid.

Mom, Mom, are you in there, Mom?

[Walton] Monet! Monet! What are you doing there?

[man shouting] Come on, bro, come outside!

Let's go! Go home, go home!

[fire crackling]

[Walton] Get away from there, it's not safe.

Your mom is not there.

Where the hell's the fire department?

Monet! Come back here!

Monet!

[all coughing]

[Walton] I gotcha, I gotcha.

[coughing continues]

Hey, come over by the car.

[Benyah coughing]

[siren wailing in distance]

Here, come on.

-[handcuffs clattering] -All right.

Hey, did you see a kid when you were in there?

Kid? What kid?

There's a whole bunch of people in there,

-we gotta get them out. -[indistinct]

I'll take care of that.

You gotta get out of here, you're free now.

Come on, let's go.

Free? I've always been free. You racist son of a bitch.

Hey, I'm just trying to save you, man.

Look, the last thing I need is a fucking white savior.

You're the one that needs to be saved.

What the hell are you talking about?

I've seen you rant and rave all week

at those blue lives racist rallies.

I know a white supremacist when I see one, okay?

You don't understand, things have changed.

-I've changed. -Maybe for you, but not for me.

I'm going in there to save my people.

Get the hell out of my way.

[bell tolling]

[muffled rumbling]

Hand me the boy, hand me the boy.

Everybody, come on out. It's not safe in there.

Let's go, let's go. I can see a way out.

Just head into the light, head into the light.

Follow the light, follow the light.

[coughing] Follow the light, just follow the light, guys.

[coughing] Anybody in there?

[coughing]

[fire crackling]

[somber piano melody]

♪

Where are we going?

We're going to the place where the sun rises in the East.

Where's that?

That's out beyond the racial rainbow

of our sacred skin colors,

beyond all the judgmental books on our God given covers.

Next to the alley of acceptance,

where hate loses all its powers.

There, there's a field of love

for you, me, and all humanity lovers.

[uplifting music playing]

♪

♪

[music fades]