All language subtitles for Black-Girl

[ Music plays ]

Man: Hold it. Wait a minute.
I ain't ready.

♪ All right, then ♪

♪ hey, hey, hey,
let's go, conductor ♪

You're late, you know.

I know.

♪ You don't care... ♪

Hey, how about some service?

♪ I played you
14 bars of something ♪

♪ I don't know
what it is, but... ♪

♪ If you get me
to the bridge on time, yeah ♪

♪ count me in
when it's my part ♪

♪ I can't read these charts ♪

♪ come here... ♪

♪ Come here ♪

$3.70, please.

Pay the waitress, man.

You ain't
none of my date.

You better pay
for your own shit.

♪ I play you 14 bars of... ♪

Hoo!
Hey!

Man, what'd you do that for?
You're a crazy niggah.

Hey-ho, don't lie now.
I didn't do nothing to you.

Yeah, man. I'm sorry.
It was an accident.

I pulled his coat about it.
It won't happen again.

Man, you almost
got US in trouble.

I told you Ernie don't go
for no shit like that.

Ernie, I don't wanna
do the tables no more.

Don't pay no attention
to them guys.

You just do your work
the way you're doing it,

and if anybody bothers you
again, come tell me.

Ernie, you promised me
you was gonna let me dance.

You can dance.
Take the late shift.

I can't work the late shift.
I got to be in by 11:00.

Besides, the girls
told me wasn't too many tips
on the late shift.

Everybody spent up their money.
And I gotta make more money.

You on stuff?
On stuff?

You know what
I'm talking about.

You mean dope
or something?

I don't want
none of that mess in me.

What do you need
so much money for?

I have to buy
my mother something.

What, a car?

No. Just something.

Shit...girl, do you know
where you're living at?

Can't no colored woman
make no money

unlessin' she get up off
some of that Johnson.

You could work in some
white woman's house.

You gonna be getting up
off at the truck
when Ann ain't there.

You might as well
treat me equal.

Come on, you watch these steps.
They different.

That girl just keep doing
the same thing every night.

Tell bessie to come here.

Give me my purse.

Bessie gonna be mad at you
putting her on them tables.

You know she don't
like the tables.

Who's the boss here,
me or bessie?

Take the tables.
I wanna see something.

Tables?

You heard me.
Take the tables.

Go on, mama.
Show me your motion.

Original shit she's doing.
That shit's original.

Give the stripper
some money, buck.

Like having ass
all over the bar.

Get it on, sister,
with your bad self.

Go, darling baby, go!

Go ahead, baby.

Do it, sister, do it.

Roll on, baby.

Damn, baby, do it. Do it!

♪ Black girl ♪

♪ where do you think
you're going to? ♪

♪ Young girl, where is your
imagination taking you? ♪

♪ Do you think that
the clouds around you ♪

♪ are gonna let you fly? ♪

♪ Don't you know what can happen
to a black girl ♪

♪ who sets her eyes too high? ♪

♪ What is your program, girl? ♪

Dear lord, if you help me
get this house for my mother,

I'll never ask you
for anything else, amen.

♪ Oh, girl, what is that light
shining in your eyes? ♪

♪ Hey, girl, better think twice,
better think twice ♪

♪ you know, making up a dream
you can live by ♪

♪ is hard to do ♪

♪ are you sure you can
dream of something better ♪

♪ than what's
laid out for you? ♪

♪ What are you
thinking, girl? ♪

Billie Jean,
where you think
you're going?

Come back in here
and wash these dishes.

Wash 'em yourself.

Y'all stop that foolishness.
I'll do 'em myself.

Mu'dear,
you need your rest.

You don't need to be
washing dishes
behind nobody.

And Billie Jean
ain't doing nothing.

I don't mind. Besides,
Rosie wants Billie Jean

to tend to her books
on the weekends.

What books?

That loud music playing
in her room the past two months

ain't been
coming out no books.

Maybe she can study
with the music on.

That's right.

You know you done
quit school.

Done quit school?

Billie Jean, you mean you been
leaving here every morning

with your books like you
was going to school,

and you ain't been going?

You see, she can't say nothing
'cause she know it's true.

My lord, my lord.

There ain't no use
you throwing things around

like you mad at me.

What are you gonna do
when Rosie finds out about it?

Lord have mercy,
y'all get mad

when Rosie takes on
about netta so.

Maybe reason why she does
'cause neither one of y'all

don't want to get nothing
in your own heads!

Norma! I asked you
and Ruth Ann

to keep them children
out of my room.

They done broke my record.

Girl, don't be hollering at me
about them breaking no record.

They told you they didn't
break the record.

Like they didn't
tear the picture
of that dancer off my wall!

Now, the way you be
kicking your legs all out

when you doing
that ballet-dancing stuff,

you could've
broke it yourself.

It ain't no ballet dancing.

That's what
it look like to me.

The record
was inside the cover.

Funny it happened to be
the one I was practicing
my dancing with.

Girl, them children,
they can't even read.

How they gonna pick out
some old record
you was dancing to?

Maybe they had some help.

I know you ain't accusing me
of breaking no record!

You better not
be accusing me.

Y'all got my uniform ready?

Norma: She could've
had it ready by now.

What is going on in here?

She's starting some old mess
about a damn record.

Somebody broke the record
I been practicing
my dancing with.

I don't wanna hear nothing
about no darn dancing.

I told you that mess
you doing ain't nothing.

What the devil you keep on
carrying on about it for?

Norma fay, why don't you
and Ruth Ann

make Billie Jean get on
with her schoolwork?

Then she wouldn't have time
to be popping her tail.

Ain't no schoolwork to get
'cause Billie Jean done quit.

Billie Jean, you mean to tell me
you done quit school?

This teacher was
picking on me, mama.

What teacher? And don't
stand there and lie to me!

I'm not lying.

Then how come you didn't
come and tell me about it?

There's something else
to this.

I'm going up to that school
and find out what it is.

She thinks she's grown.
You can't tell her nothing!

If I wasn't already
halfway late to work...

Get out of my face!

If it wasn't for my netta...

Lord, I don't know
what I'd do.

And if I had just one of you
to follow her example...

Ruth Ann, hurry up
with my dress!

No. No, you go.

No, you go.

No, you go.
You go.

Aah!

Both: Want to buy some
mother's day flowers?

Y'all ain't never gonna
sell nothing like that.

Ruth Ann, out here selling
mother's day flowers.

Mother's day?

Damn, it almost
is mother's day, ain't it?

Bring 'em up here, y'all,
so I can see 'em!

Fay, wanna buy some
mother's day flowers?

How much is they?
A quarter.

A quarter for the whole box?

Both: No, ma'am.
A quarter a piece.

A quarter a piece?!

I almost forgot mother's day
was right around the corner.

Ruth Ann, zip me.

A quarter for these
little bitty things?

Both: Yes, ma'am.

Ruth Ann: Hey, fay, look.

Look at the wild woman,
will ya?

How you expect she got
way down here by herself?

You watch it.
One of these days,

she's gonna walk in front
of a car and get killed.

If y'all don't wanna buy
none of these,

say so and let
these children go on.

Don't keep
picking all over 'em.

Mama, look.

I don't know why the city
don't do something

and put that woman away
before she hurt somebody.

That's what I said.

Y'all's mother make these?
Yes, ma'am.

You tell her they mighty little
to be costing a quarter,

but we gonna
help out, anyway.

Pay 'em, Ruth Ann.
Ruth Ann?

Ain't this something?

Norma fay, you sure a letter
didn't come for me from netta?

Mama, I am not
the mailman.

And I already
told you no.

All right.

[ Telephone rings ]

Hey, this you, netta?

Mama Rosie!
Is anything the matter?

Guess I was a little
worried about you.

Something come to me in a
dream I wouldn't see you no
more.

I done told you
about those dreams.

I can't remember one yet I
had about you didn't come
true.

Seems like you want me
to worry about you.

But how can you say that?

Is it the money?

You know I'll scrape up some
kind of change to send you.

No, ma'am, it's not that.

I got enough
saved up to come.

You act like you don't
wanna see me no more.

Now, you know
that's not true.

I didn't say nothing
when you didn't come home
for Christmas.

I didn't say nothing
when you didn't come home
for Thanksgiving.

I ain't gonna stand not
seeing you for mother's day.

I didn't know whether or not

you'd be up to having
company, mama Rosie.

Company? Darling,
you ain't no company.

This is your family
and your home.

Ain't no need of you
staying in no empty college

like you ain't got
no home to come to.

Now you come on home,
you hear me?

Well, I'll write
and let you know.

Yes, ma'am. I promise
I'll try to come.

And you let me know if you're
gonna fly or take a bus.

I'll have Mr. Herbert
drive me to meet you.

I'll know within two days.

Okay...you take care, too.

Bye.

[ Dance music plays ]

[ Knock on door ]

[ Knock knock knock ]

What y'all want?
We want some water.

How many times I tell you
to go through mu'dear's room

or get water
out of the bathroom?

I don't want
no toilet water!

Then drink it out of the ditch!
Girl, you get out of here.

I'm gonna tell
big mama.

The next time your mama
leave you here with me, boy,

I'm gonna beat your ass!

Mama said tell her
next time you beat me.

You tell her with
your own nappy-headed self

and you better not
bring your butt back in here!

[ Pounding on door ]

Mu'dear: Open up
this door, child.

Why don't you let these children
get their water?

And stop scaring them
all the time.

I ain't scaring them.

They pass through my room
all day long,

and they don't be wanting
nothing out of that kitchen.

How do you know
they don't be wanting nothing?

I know they don't
be wanting nothing.

Mama's put them up to running
back and forth through here.

What is this mess lately

about somebody
picking on you all the time?

You gonna lose your mind,
locked up every day like this.

That's right.
I'm losing my mind.

It's just my imagination

that when Norma and Ruth Ann
was living here,

they'd keep their things
all over this room.

They can't stand to see me
have this room to myself,

but I'm losing my mind 'cause
I see through all that mess.

That's right, miss Billie Jean.

Just make a joke
out of everything that I say.

You know, you ain't
gonna get very far

disrespecting your parents
and your grandparents.

Hey, how y'all doing?
Hey, Herbert.

At least you could've
knocked, Mr. Herbert.

Now you listen here. I am not
gonna stand for this mess.

I am just not
gonna stand for it!

I wasn't talking to you.

What's
the trouble here?

I'm gonna tell Rosie she better
do something with this child.

You hear me? 'Cause
I don't play with children.

Open this door, girl!

Ain't I told you
to keep this door open?

Now open that other door!

Mama, sometimes
I be in here undressing,

Mr. Herbert walk in here
without even knocking.

You don't be undressing

all the time you keep
these doors locked.

Who you think
you're talking to?

Besides, Mr. Herbert
seen plenty kinds

of whatever
you trying to hide.

If Mr. Herbert was married
to mu'dear, that'd be different.

But he ain't no kin
to nobody in this house.

That ain't
none of your business.

As far as you're concerned,

Mr. Herbert pay half
the rent on this house,
and he's a roomer.

How come he ain't got
no room to hisself?

That ain't
none of your business

who my mama
has in her room.

You keep your trap shut
or get out and get a place.

Mighty funny when
netta's mama went crazy

and she didn't have
no place to stay,

you opened your big heart
and welcomed her, but i--

because netta's
got sense enough
to stay in school

and get something in her head
instead of her tail.

You ugly bastards!

Do you want me
to get a stick

and beat all the black
off of you?

You must've forgot
what a good beating
feel like.

You better snap out of
whatever's on your mind!

Don't you
roll your eyes at me.

This ain't dear
you're playing with,
you understand?

Yes, ma'am. I wasn't
rolling my eyes at you.

Dear better not come
and tell me

you sassed her or Herbert,
or it's gonna be
woe be unto you.

Billie Jean,
what'd you call my baby?

He was sticking
his tongue out at me.

That don't give you no right
to call him no bastard.

A bastard is a child
that ain't got no daddy,

and my child got a daddy!

She's smelling her piss,
that's all.

You're getting out of this house
tomorrow and finding a job.

She's already
got a job, mama.

Already got one? Where?

At the groovy bar and grill
down at second ward.

At the groovy bar and grill?
Doing what?

Doing that ballet dancing.

It ain't
no ballet dancing.

P-a-l-l-e-t is pallet,
ain't it?

B-a-l-l-e-t
gots to be ballet.

It ain't even
that kind of dancing.

Have you started
this mess yet?

I just work
three nights.

How come just now
I'm hearing about it?

I thought she had done
told you about it.

It's a job.

I didn't see no reason
for her to be hiding no job

unless it's something else
she doing.

I was gonna
tell you.

You was gonna tell me.

After I got
my first week's pay--

you ain't gonna see
no week at that place.

I don't approve of that
dancing mess, no how.

And shaking your tail at
the groovy grill, of all places.

I didn't raise
none of y'all like that.

That man don't wanna be
looking at no ballet dancing.

They wanna see
some striptee, baby.

How much is you getting
for this mess?

$3 a night, mama.

$3 a night.

But I get tips, mama.

Tips! I don't care
how many tips you get.

You dip your ass over there
sometime today

and get what
that man owes you.

I better not ever hear of you
going in no place like that

unless you got a husband
to take you.

That truant officer
walk in there,

you out of school
and under 18,

you'll get carried
right off to reform school.

They'll make me pay a fine.

Mama!
What?!

Daddy just drove up.

You kidding.

No, I ain't kidding.
Look at that nice car.

I'd like to ride in that.

I'm gonna drive in it.

What is it?

Don't you tell him I'm here.
Jive-ass bastard.

Mu'dear, Mr. Herbert...

Cheryl Ann and Earl,
come and look at your grandpa.

Ooh-ee! Man, this sure
is a pretty car.

It's gonna stay that way.
Don't be getting
too close to it.

Why don't you go play
over yonder somewhere?

Can I wash it
for you, mister?

Y'all done learned
to hustle young.

Come along, get back.
Come on. See you.

Hey!

Both: Daddy! Daddy!

Ooh, daddy. This thing
is worth a lot.

You're talking
my language, man.

Hey, girls, come on.
Lay something on me.

Daddy, you're
a sight to see,
I mean...

You ain't seen nothing yet.

I didn't wanna mess up these
little old country boy's minds

on the first day.

You're gonna make
mama's eyes pop out.

Hey, young blood,
come on, watch the car.

Don't be letting nobody
get all on it, you hear?

I won't let them
get on it, mister.

All right.
Come on, let's go.

Oh, lord,
there's my boy.

How you doing?

You sure look well.

Hey, dear.

You sure smell good as home.
Hey, what's going on, Herbert?

Nothing, Earl.

Same old thing.
Working hard.

Come on, gimme five.

Ruth Ann: Mr. Herbert,
come see this view.

Man, I thought you'd have
been done left this town.

What would I
wanna leave it for
if I like it?

Honey, you sure went
and did something for yourself.

I'm proud of you.

But why don't you come
to see US more often?

As far as I'm concerned, you're
still a member of this family.

Don't pay no attention to Rosie.

You know I ain't scared
of your daughter.

I'm just a mover.
You know me.

Oh, lord.

Say, who's them?

This one's mine, daddy.
I named him after you.

Didn't your mama write you
that you had grandchildren?

Sure, she did
'cause I was over
to big mama's house

the day she wrote
the letter.

Earl, you and Cheryl
go hug your grandpa's neck.

Now look, don't y'all
be calling me no grandpa.

And what the hell else
are they supposed to call you?

Oh, lord.

Now, me and you ain't gonna
get in no fights

before we even say hello,
is we, Rosie?

What you driving?

A Mr. El dorado, mama.

You bring me any money?

Now, Rosie,
why can't you be nice?

How come I ain't being nice?
I ain't cussed you out...Yet.

Girl, you ain't
changed a bit.

Doing all right for yourself,
ain't you, Earl?

Daddy, let me
have the keys.

Me and Ruth Ann wanna
take US a little spin.

No, not in my car, you ain't.

Oh, daddy, come on.

Now get out the way,
Norma fay.

Don't be jerking your hands
in my pockets.

Children, y'all give your daddy
a chance to sit down and rest.

He just got in the door.

Before you know it,
he'll be back out the door.

We won't see him again.
Norma fay, get the money.

Wait, don't
be wrinkling my suit.

Don't be digging your hands
in my pockets.

You'll stretch the pants.
Get back. Come on.

Y'all stretchin' the pants.

How do you get the money
out of there, then?

I'll show you. Just, please,
come on, get back.

You know I'm gonna
give y'all money.

Right now!

Good lord.

You the begging-est woman
I ever seen in my life.

Always got your hand out.

How is anybody
supposed to know
we need something?

Ooh, daddy. Y'all, I see
a 1 with two 0s behind it.

Now give 'em room to breathe.

Come on.

Lord have mercy.

She got it first.

Let mama hold that for you
till you get old enough.

Y'all go on outside
and play. Go on.

Billie Jean, come on out
and get some of this money.

I ain't giving
every niggah's kid
in the neighborhood

some of this money.

What the hell you mean,
every niggah's kid?

I know you know who
Billie Jean's daddy is.

I know you ain't intending
to come into this house,

give everybody some money,
and ain't giving
Billie Jean none.

I'm letting her
wear my name.
Ain't that enough?

You can have it back
anytime you want it.

Well, looky there.

I didn't ask you
to come out here
and act smart.

Time you growed up
and got fine.

When's the last time you seen
your old, no-good daddy?

Chickenshit bastard
better not bring his tail
around here again.

I heard he was telling people
Billie Jean wasn't his'n.

Up his mammy's ass
with a flagpole.

I ought to know who
Billie Jean's daddy is.

Rosie, don't.

What is he trying to say
about me, dear?

See? When you had me,
you wouldn't treat me right.

'Cause you wouldn't
act right.

Wouldn't act right?
Dig this girl, will ya, dear?

Didn't she have a roof
over her head,

and did these children
ever want for anything?

They sure didn't
want for nothing.

Well, mama,
I wanted for something.

That was your trouble.
You was never satisfied.

You wanna style big,
I know.

But if you had just had
a little Patience...

Come on, get your money.

That's all right.
I don't want no money.

Girl, are you crazy?

You better not be
turning down no money.

You don't want it, you get it
and give it to me.

I wondered what that voice
was kept telling me,

"pack your things and git
while the getting's good."

Now I know. Two rosies
under the same roof.

Herbert, you sure must have
your balls together.

What the devil
are you talking about?

Billie Jean
got ways like you.

Billie Jean
ain't nothing like me.
That child over there...

She's more like me
than anybody I've ever met

'cause she wants
something out of life.

Who is that?

That's my other daughter.
The one you don't know about.

When did you have this one?

You always springing
some new kid on me.

Is she wearing my name, too?

She's too good
to wear your name.

How come she's too good
to wear daddy's name, mama?

What's going on here?
"To my dear mama Rosie..."

Mama Rosie?

You can read, can't you?

"God will surely bless you
for helping so many of US

when we needed help."

Earl, Rosie didn't tell you,

but she's done gone to keeping
girls every now and then.

First, it was one of Norma
and Ruth Ann's friends

that didn't have
no place to stay.

Every stray alley cat in town
done found 'em a good thing.

Dear, I don't like that.

You getting
any money for this?

I don't want no money for it.

Let me get this straight--

you just gives a girl a home
who ain't got no home

just out of the goodness
of your heart?

I love those girls like
they was my own daughters.

Norma fay and Ruth Ann
and Billie Jean

wasn't enough for you.

They don't appreciate me
like them other girls do.

Maybe if you would
appreciate US more, mama.

What is there to appreciate?

I don't see none of y'all's
graduation pictures up there.

You and Ruth Ann couldn't
keep your dresses down.

Y'all got caught, huh?

Yeah, they got caught.

The way Billie Jean like
to shake her tail, she's next.

I don't put no faith
in none of them no more.

But my girl netta--
she's gonna pull me through.

When she get her diploma,
she gonna come back and teach.

What is so big
about a teacher, mama?

You go into some
white woman's kitchen,

you liable to find one
working there.

What is the sense in
spending all that time
in some fancy college

just to come out
and work in a kitchen?

That ain't gonna happen
to my netta.

How do you know that?

I know.

Because she's smart,
that's why.

She done won all kinds
of awards and scholarships,

and they can't mess with you
when you're smart!

A spiritualist told me
that a child that was mine

was gonna
make me happy one day.

Now, you can groan
all you want,

but I don't see none of y'all
helping me get nothing.

All Billie Jean got on her mind
is that dancing mess.

Dancing?

Yeah, daddy. She do that
ballet-dancing stuff.

You know, where you
kick your legs all out,

and you have your arms
flopping like chicken wings.

You know,
like the white folks do.

Is that what you wanna do,
Billie Jean?

It's paying her $3 a night
at the groovy bar and grill.

At the groovy and two?

You doing that kind of dancing
at the groovy and second ward?

What you talking about, man?
She's the star dancer.

Damn, what is them niggahs
drinking out there?

Rosie: They just had her
doing that crazy dance for fun.

They were switching her
to the striptee next.

Well, tell me something...

Even at that, $3 a night...

You'd get more than that
picking cotton.

Baby, if you wanna use what
your mama gave you that bad,

come on back
to Detroit with me,

I'll show you how to get
your ph.D. In the funky chicken,

and I guarantee that'll sell
when cotton won't.

Look, Earl, you know better
than to talk like that

with dear sitting here.

You respect her,
and I mean that.

Herbert,
dear ain't no virgin.

I got enough sense to know that.
But that ain't the point.

I don't care what he do
out in them streets,

he ain't got no business
coming in here,

talking like that
in front of these women.

Hell, everybody in here's
married, except Billie Jean.

From what I just heard
she's sneaking and doing,

she may be in motherhood
this very minute.

And even if she ain't yet,

at least Earl'll
take her where she won't
be disgracing this family.

Can't nobody disgrace nothing
that's already a disgrace.

What the hell
are you trying to say?

If you don't like this family,
ain't nobody holding you in it!

Hold on before
you say something
you'll be sorry for.

If I say it, I ain't sorry.

Herbert knows
I don't play that shit.

I wouldn't let no man
talk like that in front
of daughters of mine.

Look, you skin your cat,
and I'll skin mine!

Hell, I was just
trying to help.

I got somebody who can
help me get all that I want.

Now don't you worry
about it. I got netta!

All right, Rosie.

Hey, get off my car!

Oh, daddy, come on.

Mama, daddy fixing to leave!

Wait a minute, e.P.

Gimme a ride to work.

You gonna drive this car,
or you wanna let me drive?

If I'd knowed you was gonna
drive around here stylin',

I'd have took a bus.

Girl, you want me
to let you out at the corner?

No kidding, e.P. I want you
to come by for mother's day

'cause my other daughter
might be coming home,

and I want you to meet her.

Rosie, I don't wanna meet
no more of your daughters.

You ought to want
to meet her so you can see

what your daughters
didn't make out of theyselves.

That bitch ain't staying
in this house.

How you gonna stop her?
You don't live here no more.

I said she wasn't
staying in this house!

Well, I ain't deaf.

Rosie: Let me see that watch.
You better not make me late.

Earl: What you being
so faithful for?

You gonna get a raise
or a promotion or something?

Raise or promotion nothing.

There's more teachers
seen me there for years

pass me in the hall
and don't even speak.

That's why I want
my girl netta

to teach here
when she get her diploma.

I'm gonna sit in on her classes
when I finish my work, too.

Oh, e.P., I know
I can learn it.

I've watched her helping
Billie Jean with her schoolwork.

I'm telling you,
she's got so much Patience.

Rosie, I didn't know
you wanted an education.

Yeah...i always wanted one.

Why don't you let me
send you to night school?

I don't want it
for myself no more.

As long as my girl netta
gets hers, I'll have mine.

Rosie, come on,
take the day off.

We going to the park
and watching ducks in the lake.

Is you crazy? These people
seen me in this car.

No, they ain't seen you.

I'll call and tell 'em
you don't feel well.

I know you better unjack
this thing and let me out.

Ain't nobody seen you
except the kids,

and they ain't gonna
say nothing.

You trying to
make that old devil
make me do something,

and I ain't gonna
listen to him.

Come on, girl.

Remember how I used to
lift you over that fence,

and we'd just run
like jackrabbits

from one end of the field
to the other.

You remember the time
I outran you?

You mean the time
I had that bad ankle.

Bad ankle my foot.

Every time I'd win at something,
you'd lay it on your bad ankle.

Wanna try again?
Come on.

On your Mark...Come on...

Get set...

Go!

I don't know...

You coming back
to Detroit with me,

or you want me
to come back here?

For what?

Oh, don't beat a player crazy.

You know what I'm talking about.

You think I'm gonna get bit
by the same dog twice?

Damn. I got an elephant
on my hands.

18 years,
and you still remember.

The bitch didn't mean nothing.
That's what's so killing.

How did I know
she didn't mean nothing?

You don't see me
with her, do you?

Maybe she didn't want you.

Shit. You know better
than that.

You wouldn't have
went up down her job

and threatened to whip her ass

if you thought
she didn't want me.

Who told you that lie?

That's all right.
I heard all about it.

Whoever told you
is a bare-faced liar

'cause you ain't never seen me
showing my behind in public.

I got too many other ways
to get even with her.

Is that what you was
trying when you married
Billie Jean's daddy?

That had nothing to do
with getting even.

What'd it
have to do with, then?

I dare you to say
you felt something for him.

I did feel something
for him.

Where'd you feel it at?

Where do you think
I felt it at?

Shit. You know I'm the only man
ever got next to you.

You think so?

If my life depended on you
admitting it,

I'd be a dead son of a bitch

'cause you ain't gonna admit
nothing like that.

E.p., how are all them
girls in Detroit

getting along
with you down here?

Now that you mention it,

I was thinking,
since you like to keep girls,

I'd round up
all them funky bitches

and bring 'em
down here to you.

If you stop playing with me,
I'll stop playing with you.

Rosie...

You know I ain't happy
doing that stuff.

I'm a one-woman man,
and you know it.

What do you want with me?

You know what we had
going between US.

Humph. I ain't
going for that.

What was wrong with it?

You still trying
to get revenge?

I ain't never said
I wanted no revenge on you.

Then what is it? I never did
beat all on you or nothing

like some guys do women,
never even raised
my hand to you.

'Cause you know
you better not

pull no shit like that,
that's why.

You're right.
You're always right.

In fact, you're so right,

it seemed I ought to be able
to come down sometime

and not see you
in the same rut,

paying rent on that
matchbox of a shack

where, half the time,
you heat your own water

before you can
wash your face

or paying off
some loan company

where you borrowed money
for them kids.

Hell, they got
they own husbands.

Who told you I was
borrowing money? Dear?

Dear ain't
told me nothing.

What's the matter
with you?

I'm trying
to understand you.

I bet you don't
have no trouble

understanding them
other women you got.

Them babes
know what they want.

And I know
what I want, too.

What do you want that
any man can give you?

If you were the man for me,
you'd know that.

The man for you?
The man for you, Rosie?

Look, baby,
you see this money?

Here's $1,000 cash.
Go on. Count it.

I want to see you go out
and find the man for you,

and when you find that dude,
I don't care where I'm at,

let me know,
and I'll come
wherever you are.

I'll not only take off
my hat to that bird,
I'll eat it, too.

This $1,000 is yours,
and I'll give him 1,000.

Make sure you contact me

'cause I wanna see
that bad mutha.

Well, you may lose your money
and get indigestion to boot.

You're the damnedest woman
I ever met.

Gimme my money.

If you was willing
to pull with me

till I got my shoe business
going good,

then you could have
your home paid for,

you wouldn't have
to slave no more.

But you keep on
wearing yourself out
doing for somebody else,

so go on, keep on
letting yourself go.

You don't even laugh
like you used to.

I told you,
don't be worrying about me.

This is the last time
I'm coming to you.

The last time.

I didn't ask you
to come this time.

Just as cool
as you is, baby.

[ Humming ]

Hey there.

You here?

Thought you was going
somewhere with Herbert.

No, I didn't have to go
nowhere with Herbert.

He had a Deacon board meeting,
but I don't have to go with him.

I don't know why
them deacons ain't made
Herbert quit that board,

living in sin with you
the way he is.

Lord. I could tell the way
you come through that door

you was aiming
to start some dirt.

Mama, I'm not trying
to start no dirt.

It just don't look right,
you and Herbert shacking up.

There's more folks in the church
doing more than Herbert and me.

That includes the pastor, too.

What kind of example is that
to set before Billie Jean?

Your girls ain't no babies,
and neither is you.

It's a sin for a woman
as young as you

to be walking around here
burning.

God didn't mean for US
to burn like that, you know.

Old Herbert done interpreted
that Bible to you that way

just so's he could get
half of your bed.

Smarter than I thought he was.

Herbert and nobody else
don't have to tell me that

when it comes to nature.

That Bible belongs
on the shelf, not myself.

I know where you got them
ideas from--old auntie.

Lord, if I'd have known
leaving you with that old woman

was gonna make
this big a fool of you,

I'd have rather gived you away
and never seen you again.

You come pretty close
to doing it as it was, mama.

You ain't never gonna
forget that, is you?

Auntie didn't let me
forget it, mama.

Morning, noon, and night.

"If it wasn't for your mama
leaving your daddy,

I wouldn't be fooling with you."

Oh, sometimes I wish Earl
would never come to this town.

Mama, what does Earl
got to do with this?

Oh, Rosie, Rosie.

Picking on me
ain't gonna wash your
feelings away for him.

Oh, you talking out
of your head, mama.

Yeah, that's right.

I'm just a dumb old woman
talking out of of my head.

I don't know nothing.

Oh, Rosie...

Even that old whale
had to let Jonah

out of his gut one day.

Honey, whatever's
holding on to you...

You better give it up
before it's too late.

Rosie, you better give it up.

You been down our way yet?

Nope. But I'll come
if you want me to.

You got anything
in there for me?

You got anything for me?

You crazy.

Now, how come
I gotta be crazy?

You better give me my mail
from out of there

'fore these people
start gossiping.

Your sister
got anything for me?

I told you, you crazy.

Boy, I tell you,

how y'all expect for
Santa claus to bring
y'all anything

if you gonna
act like that?

Shit.

Get a letter
from your boyfriend?

Ann!

Mmm-mmm-mmm.

What you call me for?

I want you to come go into
Billie Jean's room with me.

What for?

Just be cool.

[ Rock music plays ]

Norma: Jean...

[ Pounding on door ]

Open the door, Jean.

You got a place to stay
for next year?

What?

'Cause if you ain't married
by next year, come stay with me.

Oh, I would take you,
but when the baby comes...

I don't know
what Johnny gonna say
with an extra person.

I don't care what Melvin say.

If my people can't come there
when they out in the cold,

then he don't want me there.

What y'all talking about?

Whatever do you mean,
what we talking about?

What y'all talking about,
a place for me to stay?

You know you can't
sleep on that couch.

Mama don't let nobody
sleep on her couch.

She ain't heard yet.

I told you mama
hadn't told her yet.

Ain't heard what?
Is some other girl
coming to live here?

No, that's just it.

Ain't gonna be no whole lot
of different girls no more.

Mama said from now on,

there just gonna
be one certain girl.

Mama don't ever tell
nobody nothing.

She go and do whatever
she feel like doing,

and everybody's
supposed to fall in line.

You mean to tell me
that mama didn't tell you

when your friend
get her diploma

from that fancy college
next year,

you gonna have to
give up your room?

Give up my room.

Nah, mama ain't
told me that,

and that girl ain't
none of my friend.

I don't see why
they both can't stay
in here together.

But I guess she
gonna have to have
the whole room.

You know
all them clothes
teachers wear.

Changing two
and three times a day.

Suits in the morning,

casual slacks
in the afternoon,

and cocktail rags
at night.

Yeah, Jean,

I'm afraid she gonna have
to have the whole room.

Yeah, but the way
mama put it, though,

she wanted Billie Jean married
and off her hands by next year.

She didn't
wanna see her netta

cramped up in this room
with another person.

Did mama say that?

Yeah, that's right.

You go ask her so she know
we come and told you.

I'm sorry I said anything.

Wait a minute. I ain't
gonna say nothing.

What I think
is at least mama
could have told you.

Yet and still, I don't
think it's fair...

To be kicked out
of your room

for somebody
that ain't even
in the family.

I ain't giving up
my room to nobody.

I tried to tell you,
three years ago,

when you was all
friendly with her.

"You better watch that girl."

I knew then mama had plans
for her to come back here

and get that room.

Oh, no. You wouldn't listen.

Now you're being
kicked out your room for her.

You think I didn't
watch her, huh?

You think I been secret buddies
with her all these years, huh?

She come writing me letters
when she first left,

all chummy and stuff,
but I didn't even answer her.

I'm tired of hearing
that girl's name.

Every time I turn around,
mama throwing her up to me.

"Why don't you follow
my netta's example?

My netta gonna be teacher this
and teacher that."

Have y'all ever been with mama
when she tell people,

"I worked at the school."

What is
all this bragging she doing
about some old ignorant gal

coming back to this hole--
to spook the kid--

then trying to make Billie Jean
give up her room for her.

She ain't
getting my room.

I'll burn it down
'fore I see her in it.

Well...if you feel
that way about her,

how you gonna stand to stay
in the same room with her

when she come
for mother's day?

She coming here
for mother's day?

Next week sometime,
so I heard.

I guess mama didn't
tell you that either, huh?

No, mama ain't
told me nothing.

Damn.

Oh, Ruth Ann, maybe mama
was gonna tell her.

Maybe mama waiting
till she know definite

before she tell her.

Oh, yeah...Maybe so.

All mama said was she called
and asked her to come.

She won't know
nothing definite

till the girl write
and tell her what day.

A letter coming here
for mama?

I know what to do
with her letters

when they come here
for mama.

Well, I'll be damned.

Mama ain't read them?

No. I didn't like the way
she was sounding in 'em,
all appreciative.

I told you Billie Jean

got more sense
than she make out.

Billie Jean!

You is our full-blooded
sister now, girl.

And I promise you one thing--

that if anybody,
and I mean anybody,

come to try to take over
your room,

they gonna be in
for a big surprise.

♪ Black girl ♪

♪ where do you think
you're going to? ♪

♪ Young girl, where is your
imagination taking you? ♪

♪ Do you think that
the clouds around you ♪

♪ are gonna let you fly? ♪

♪ Don't you know what can happen
to a black girl ♪

♪ who sets her eyes too high? ♪

♪ What is your program, girl? ♪

♪ Oh, girl ♪

♪ what is that light
shining in your eyes? ♪

♪ Hey, girl ♪

♪ better think twice,
better think twice ♪

♪ you know, making up a dream
you can live by ♪

♪ is hard to do ♪

♪ are you sure you can dream
of something better ♪

♪ than what's
laid out for you ♪

♪ what are you
thinking, girl? ♪

Ruth Ann: I bet you
if it was my room

she was coming
to rip off,

I'd meet her before she
even got through the door.

Norma:She might as well
take her head off on the steps

before she hit
the front porch.

Ooh, and, Jean, you know
Norma fay don't play.

Shit, just because we ain't
got no fancy diplomas

from no Harvard and them
other highfalutin colleges,

do not mean we gonna
let her walk in here

and walk over our sister.

That's right.

Billie Jean:
Now hold it, y'all.

I want this to
be my party

'cause it's been a long time
since I got funky.

Right on, sis.

We all gonna get funky.

Ooh, here she come, y'all.

Do your thing, sis.

If she don't, I sure got
my shit together.

Thank you so much.

Teach!

Hi, Billie.

Gimme that bag,
damn it.

Look who's here, y'all.
It's teach.

Get on in here
and make yourself comfortable.

Around here toting bags

with all these heavyweight
champs in the house.

Mama Rosie?

Wait a minute.
It is my pull.

I thought you pulled already.

How the hell you thought
I pulled already

and you just
trumped my card?

Get on, then. Sure will be glad
when you start winning

so you can stop
being so grouchy.

Up there at that big,
fancy white college,

they don't teach you
how to speak to people

when you come in
they house, miss teacher?

I was waiting
to see your faces.

What the hell you got
to see our faces for?

You know we got 'em.

Look, y'all, Santa claus
done come early.

Hey, you went
in my suitcase.

I didn't take nothing
but our presents.

They is for US,
ain't they, teach?

One, two, three--
they gots to be for US.

Well, I wanted them
to be a surprise.

Well, ain't that nice?
Which one's mine?

The smaller ones
have perfume in them.

I'll take it.
Give it here.

Yes, honey, hurry up
and give it to her.

Go to hell, asshole.

What's in this one?

It's a book.

I know you ain't brought me
no damn book.

I got the book for Billie.

What I'm gonna do with it?

You better
take it, sis.

One of them big words
gets whipped on you,

you'll be glad
you got it.

I guess the last one's mine.

You got perfume,
too, sis.

Oh. Me and Ruth Ann,
we stink?

I wasn't thinking that
at all.

"The dance en-cy-clo..."

I thought it would
help you with your work.

What work?

Your dancing.

I don't do that mess no more.

You don't dance anymore?

You heard her.

Did mama Rosie
go to work today?

How the hell else is she gonna
feed all these stray boarders

that's always
popping in on her?

Yuck yuck,
sure 'nough.

She called
and asked me to come,

so I wrote back and told her
that I'd be arriving--

mail don't
go as fast here

as it do in them
big college towns.

Oh, let me see now...

"Dear mama Rosie,
next Saturday, the 25,

Travis field, flight #720."

Why, you sure did
write a letter.

Sure 'nough you did.

You mean mama Rosie
doesn't get her mail?

No, see, i's in charge
of the inner-house mail,

and beings that I been
so busy lately,

I ain't had a chance
to route this one yet.

I hope that something

is coming through real clear
to you, miss teacher.

It's clear to me
why Billie

never answered about
that talent search

and that national tour
I wrote her about.

What talent search?
What national tour?

Oh, telling you would be like
giving you your mail.

And that seems to be
against the rules around here.

She's saying we stole
Billie Jean's letter, sis.

Yeah, and I don't
like it worth a damn.

Then how come
I didn't get it?

Just because she say
she sent a damn letter

don't mean she did.

Her mouth
ain't no prayer book.

This new dance company
they're forming,

you have to be enrolled
as a student,

so I sent you
an application for enrollment.

Enrollment in college?

Billie Jean didn't even
finish high school.

Talking about college.

You didn't finish school?

I could've finished
if I'd wanted to.

I ain't talking
about the could've.
I'm talking about the did.

This old teacher
made me mad, that's all.

She talking any niggah
off the street
can sing and dance.

They can. Miss halley's kid
down the street

ain't but eight years old,

and she can do the same
country ass-kicking you do.

Whatever you call it,
it was me who taught her
those movements.

That's what
I'm talking about, fool.

If some eight-year-old kid
can do it,

you a damn fool bussing up
to some big-time college

with something anybody
can learn in kindergarten.

You can make
that company.

Just get this high-school thing
over with--this summer, maybe.

But will they take me,
that big college?

Say!

Where did Billie Jean go?

Search me.

What's the matter with y'all,
drunk? Here I am.

For a minute there, I thought
you had done cut out on US.

Think how proud
mama Rosie would be--

what is all this shit about you
calling my mother mama?

She is not none
of your goddamn mama!

Your mammy
lives ten blocks from here.

And if you wanna
call somebody mama,

walk ten fucking blocks.

Listen, Norma,

I ain't never called
your mother a mammy,

and I don't think you should
call my mother that.

Well, if you care
so damn much for her,

why in the hell don't you
just go stay with her?

You ain't taking over
Billie Jean's room.

Taking over Billie's room?

Is that what you think?

That's what
we all think.

I'm going straight to law school
next year when I finish,

and I'm gonna
be there a while.

You're coming right up there
to finish your education.

Look, girl, why don't you
leave my sister alone?

She told you she don't wanna
go to no white-ass college

with all you sudiddy niggahs
walking around

with your noses
all up in the air.

But I wouldn't
get like that.

Go on up there, then,
if you so bent on it.

What the hell
you telling US for?

You gonna have
a mind of your own

and listen to someone else
over your own sisters.

I am listening
to y'all, really.

I thought maybe the house
mama always wanted--

if I could
just learn something--

aw, Billie Jean,
who do you think you kidding?

You ain't rarin'
to go to no college

'cause of no schoolbooks.

You ain't never even really
been smart in no books.

This gal done told you how them
little old white boys up there

do their thing...

And that's why you
breaking all out in this sweat.

That ain't the reason.

She ain't even said nothing
about no boys.

I don't know
what she waiting on.

By the way, how is them
little white boys, miss college?

Being as you had a chance
to get out.

I wouldn't know.

I know you ain't saying

you been up there
all this time

and you ain't
tried none of them yet.

That's exactly
what I'm saying.

Damn!

Have you tried any man yet?

Being that's not what
I went up there for,

I don't consider it
a lost cause.

Who you saving it for?
Jesus?

Girl, if you don't hurry up

and get your head
out them damn books

and find yourself a man,
you gonna go crazy.

Or end up funny,
one.

I mean, that's a disgrace.

A 21-yeard-old grown woman

still walking around here
guarding the stuff

like it was
the first national bank.

I always said too much
of that book stuff

will sure kill off
a girl's feminine stuff.

And trying to drag
Billie Jean into the shit.

Look, let me tell you
one thing--

I can see that

she's filling your head
with all this college talk.

And I can tell
you've fallen for it.

Well, go ahead. But if you
disgrace this family

by ending up
funny or something,

you better change
your last name.

And I better not see you
around here no more.

I ain't going to no college.
I'm just listening.

I'm gonna stay right here
with you and Ruth Ann.

Oh, look,
don't get US wrong.

Me and Norma, we'd be proud
to see you go off to college.

Wear some nice rags.

Thing she's wearing.

You'd look good
in stuff like that.

But what me and Norma's
trying to say,

we want you to come back
with your feminine stuff
still together.

Yeah.

Them some nice
dry goods, all right.

While you over there,
raise up her dress.

See if she got
one of them "things."

I always wanted to see
what one of them freaks
looked like.

You know, I think you done
hit on something there.

Sure I have.
Remember how she used
to always run and hide

every time one of US
was about to see her naked?

Ain't this a bitch?

All this time, we ain't even
been safe in this house.

Don't you put your hands
on my clothes, Norma.

Ooh, you better
watch her, sis.

If she is a man,
she probably fights like one.

Where you going?
Get my things.

Where you
gonna stay?

What the hell do you care
where she gonna stay?

Let her take her ass to her
insane-ass mammy's house.

You didn't think we knew about
the lunaticky bitch, did you?

Uh-huh.

Even the insane asylum
won't take her ass.

Hey, don't.

Beware bad dog, sis.
She getting healthy.

Come on, bitch!

Come on.

Come on.

Fuck with the bear.

Fool, if you don't
get away from me,

I'm gonna make another
path up your ass.

You know better than
to be pulling me back

when somebody's
walking up on me.

Hey, Norma,

you the winner, baby!
Everything is cool!

What you waiting on, tramp?
Get your ass in gear...

Before the butcher
starts carving some Bologna.

I wanted to tee off on her
so bad, I could taste it.

Tell me why.

Why would you, of all people,
do something like that?

I didn't have nothing to do with
them talking about your mama.

Well, if you didn't get
your kicks out of that,

what was in it
for you?

You said
you'd never change,

but, oh,
have you changed.

Look, don't you be putting
all that stuff on my head

and be acting surprised like you
don't know what's been going on.

Ever since the day
you came in this house,

I can't say nothing
to my mama

that she don't be throwing
your name up to me.

I didn't know
she was doing all that.

You know now.

I mean, how do you think I feel
knowing my mama sat down,

talked to you, and probably
put her arms all around you,

and told you she loved you
and everything?

She never
did all of that.

You just throwing stuff in
that never happened.

She never told me
anything like that.

She didn't?

I swear to god
she didn't.

Really?

It's not even her way.

Look, how long
do it take you

to put your shit
in that suitcase?

It all depends how big
the suitcase is.

Are you trying to play
on my intelligence?

I'm trying
to get out of here.

Hell, you done had
plenty enough time
to do that.

It just didn't close--

ain't nobody
asked you nothin'.

Billie, did you really teach
Mrs. Halley's kids how to dance?

I sure wish I could teach
someone how to dance.

Now, all you men that pledged
to help off with the service

at our mother's day luncheon
this afternoon,

if you didn't bring
your aprons with you,

you go on back home
and get it.

Now, y'all know that
at every father's day luncheon,

the women always tries

to make US feel like kings,
now, don't they?

All: Amen.

You brothers might as well
say amen.

You know I'm telling you
the truth.

All: Amen.

Don't the sisters do right by US
on father's day?

Make me know it, then.

All: Amen.

Some of you men
sitting out there

I knew when your mothers had to
almost hock your underwears

to get you out of trouble
or something.

All: Amen.

This is my mother.

Pardon me,
sister foster.

You wouldn't be here
if it wasn't for mama.

Ain't nobody gonna
stand by you like mama.

Don't care what you
done to her before.

God bless you

for bringing your mama
to church this morning.

She's sure been
needing you.

You back to stay with US
for a while now?

Just for a while,
sister Jenkins.
As long as I can.

God bless you. You gotta
keep on praying for mama,

and she'll
be all right one day.

Thank you, sister Jenkins.

Now come on, y'all.

That offering is mighty noisy.
I can hear it way up here.

And I know the lord
can hear it.

You know the lord
don't wanna be counting

all them coins that
you're putting in there.

I say amen.
Amen.

Make sure that you put in
your love offering.

Will you wait a minute
till I get my change
out of there?

Ain't you gonna
put your tithe in?

I know you better
give me my change.

♪ Lord created man ♪

♪ and the mother
gave birth to you ♪

♪ so thanks
to the lord above ♪

♪ and thank your mother, too ♪

Would you stay with my mother
till I get back, please?

I want to take those to somebody
'fore she gets away.

Yeah, honey.
Sister foster knows me.

She'll be all right.

You go ahead on.

Mama, I'll be right back.

♪ Day by day, she showed you ♪

♪ what's wrong
and what is right ♪

♪ year by year,
she taught you ♪

♪ to seek the guiding light ♪

♪ be thankful and be grateful ♪

♪ for what is given to you ♪

♪ to the lord who gave US
life eternal ♪

♪ and thank your mother, too ♪

♪ day by day, she showed you ♪

♪ what's wrong
and what is right ♪

♪ year by year... ♪

Something told me
to look up here.

You better hurry up and get
your mother's day surprise.

Oh, come here.

Lot of jealous eye's
been looking at 'em.

Oh, look what my sweet daughter
went and gave me.

Mmm, look how nice
they're wrapped.

Oh, thank you, darling.
Thank you.

I thought
it would be better

if I brought
my mother up here.

That's nice. How long
have you been in town?

I haven't been here too long.

You mean to tell me that...

If I had decided not to come
to church this morning,

I wouldn't have even known
you was here?

Thank you,
sister Jenkins.

Sure you
would've known.

If I hadn't
seen you here today,

I was gonna get your present
to you some kind of way.

But why didn't you call me?

I was busy trying
to get things together,

and I was walking all over town
trying to find you some flowers

that weren't
picked all over.

I appreciate all the trouble
you went through to get 'em,

but...you made me think
you was gonna stay with me.

Mama Rosie,

you don't understand
what I'm trying to do.

You got plenty of people
to lean on.

My mother only has me.

I appreciate everything
you've done for me,

but I can't deal
with all this.

Deal with what?
What is it?

I understand about your mother.
You should've called me.

I am my mother's
daughter, not yours.

I ran away from my mother
years ago

because I wasn't
strong enough then.

But I am going to her now.
It's as simple as that.

Don't you raise
your voice with me.

Don't you dare
raise your voice with me.

♪ Day by day, she showed you ♪

♪ what's wrong
and what is right ♪

♪ year by year,
she taught you ♪

♪ to seek the guiding light ♪

♪ be thankful and be grateful ♪

Who they from?

I don't know, Mrs. Webb.
You have to sign for it.

"A Rose is still a Rose..."

"...and the Duke of Earl
is still a Pearl."

Where's Billie Jean?

Still in there
talking to netta.

Then go get her.

Herbert, put this on
the living room table for me.

Okay, dear.

Acted more like big sisters
to Billie Jean,

but we thought it was a stage
she was going through.

We don't deal with it now,
it's gonna be too late.

Ruth Ann: Sure will.

That's the way
I feel about it.

I'm really afraid that
Billie Jean is gonna fool around

and get hurt hanging around
in one of them places.

Me, too, mama.
And you work hard every day.

You can't
look after everything.

Besides, you done
the best you could for her.

You really have.
So what we got to do now

is just take the time out
from our own lives

and just try to save
Billie Jean's.

Billie Jean?

Ma'am?

I think it's time you and me
had a little talk.

Now, you almost 18,
you ain't got no job,

no husband, or no nothing.

You ain't gonna hang out
in honky-Tonks

until some old drunk niggah
comes and kills you...

'Cause I'd rather
kill you myself.

I'm not gonna hang out
in no honky-Tonks.

What you gonna do?

You don't know, do you?

I do know.

What is you gonna do?

I'm going up
to where netta is

to finish high school,
and I'm going to college.

Girl, why don't you
stop lying?

Are you crazy?

Now, you're not going
up there where she is.

You're just not going.

Mama, if she just wanna
finish high school,

how come she can't
do it here?

She wanna get off
away from you

and hang around
in them joints with men.

That's not
what I wanna do.

You sound like
you is losing your mind.

She needs to be
in a reform school

'cause she gonna get hurt.

Do you want me to call
the truant officer?

Yes.

What?

Rosie: Where you going?
And come back here.

I told you, this child
is beside herself.

What's the trouble?

Ain't nobody
call you out here.

Call mu'dear for me.

You better not.

Ain't nobody scared of you.
You knows I ain't.

Dear, you better come here
and see about this mess.

And I know you better
get your ass out of my house.

What's all the screaming
in here? What's going on?

Dear, call the truant officer.

Don't be twisting
on that child like that.

Hold her. Shit,
I'll call him myself.

Ain't nobody gonna call
nobody till I find out
what this is about.

Dear, Billie Jean is my child.

But what did she do?

All I said was that
I'm going to college.

Turn her loose.

I said turn her loose.

Rosie, sure enough,
Billie Jean is your child,

but I got a feeling
you're wrong.

Y'all lie.

You ain't never in your life
called me a liar.

And god's gonna
whip you for that.

When you're
laying on your deathbed,

god's gonna whip you
'cause I'm your mother.

You don't understand what
I been through with these girls.

You don't know nothing
about nobody in this house

'cause you're too busy
trying to save strangers.

If anybody touch one of them
gals off the street,

you'll bring down
the wrath of god.

But with your own children,
your own family...

What about my own family?

What kind of love did you
give me to pass on?

You're gonna carry that
to your grave, ain't you?

You're gonna whip me with that
until it kills you or me.

I loves all of you.

I did what I could
for Billie Jean.

I didn't raise her
for no dancing

and shaking her tail
in public.

God didn't make you perfect
in your judgment, either.

You could be wrong
about Billie Jean.

God knows I ain't crazy about
her wanting to be no dancer,

but that's her life.

Now, if she don't
make nothing out of it,

it will be her nothing.

You want US to stand around
and let her ruin her life?

She can't do no worse with her'n
than you done with your'n.

Now, Rosie, you come
to your senses.

There's your cab, baby.

Mama, I'm fixing to go now.

[ Honks horn ]

I'll write you to let you know
I got there all right.

It takes about eight hours
or something like that.

Thanksgiving
is the next big holiday.

If I have the money,
I'll come home.

[ Cabbie honks horn ]

You take care of yourself
now, you hear?

I will, mu'dear.
I'll be writing you.

And don't you
stay away too long.

I won't.

Hurry up now. They charges
for waiting, you know.

Billie Jean...

Ma'am?

I ain't never in all my life

apologized to nobody
for nothing.

Just ain't in me.

Yes, ma'am.

But you drop a card
or something and...

Let me know how
your dancing's coming on.

You hold your head up now.
Stay with the lord.

Mama...

Billie Jean knows
I didn't try to hurt her.

She knows that now,
honey.

Just seemed like...

All my children were gonna
end up just like me.

Just like me.

♪ Brother, have to hurry,
can't be late ♪

♪ just can't waste the time ♪

♪ life is much too short
and too sweet ♪

♪ to spend
just waiting in line ♪

♪ sister, get it on ♪

♪ have to get there
or get left behind ♪

♪ try to catch your dream ♪

♪ if it takes you
a whole lifetime ♪

♪ it's together ♪

♪ just a matter of time ♪

♪ we can make it ♪

♪ oh, sister ♪

♪ got to hurry ♪

♪ can't be late ♪

♪ can't waste the time ♪

♪ brother ♪

♪ life is much too short ♪

♪ get it on ♪

♪ and much too sweet ♪

♪ got to get there ♪

♪ got to catch your dream ♪

♪ or be left behind ♪

♪ get left behind ♪

♪ sister, have to hurry,
can't be late ♪

♪ just can't
waste the time ♪

♪ life is much too short
and too sweet ♪

♪ to spend
just waiting in line ♪

♪ brother, get it on ♪

♪ have to get there
or get left behind ♪

♪ try to catch your dream ♪

♪ if it takes you
a whole lifetime ♪

♪ it's together ♪

♪ just a matter of time ♪

♪ we can make it ♪

♪ it's up to you, oh, baby ♪

♪ what you do, oh, baby ♪

♪ don't you know? ♪

♪ It's up to you, oh, baby ♪

♪ what you do, oh, baby ♪

♪ don't you know? ♪

♪ Don't you know? ♪

♪ It's up to you, oh, baby ♪

♪ what you do, oh, baby ♪

♪ don't you know? ♪

♪ Don't you know? ♪

♪ It's up to you, oh, baby ♪

♪ what's you do, oh, baby ♪

♪ don't you know? ♪

♪ Don't you know? ♪

♪ It's up to you, oh, baby ♪

♪ what you do... ♪