Oh, Preacher!
Rise and shine, brother Preacher. It's time to get up.
Get out of bed.
Come on, get up!
Oh, nigger!
Get out of bed, brother Preacher, or we gonna be late for school.
It's Friday mornin'. School time.
You dig?
So get up.
All right.
Come on, man.
Mr. Mason's gonna have my ass for missin' class all this week.
That ain't nothin' new. Come on, get dressed.
Hey, Cochise, pass me my glasses, man.
Hey, man, no wonder you can't keep a girl.
Man, see that?
I'm worryin' about bein' kicked out of school and you busy signifyin'.
I'm sorry.
Besides, your mama like it.
Jive.
"Chicago, 1964"
The Cooley Code Of Conduct is prepared to help each of you students...
choose the right road inside and outside of school.
Now you all have a copy of the school code...
and I'd like for you to read it with me.
Would you share those with him? I gave too many to your row.
- Just pass it. - Are you all with me?
- Yes. - We will all read the code together.
The Cooley High School Code.
"Cooley students are conscious of developing good character.
We are good sports.
We are good losers as well as good winners.
We do have respect for our school...
and will do nothing that will reflect on Cooley's good name.
At social functions we do follow all rules...
and listen to the people in charge.
We honor and respect our parents, teachers...
and others who are responsible for our guidance.
- We are honest. - Wake up.
We are punctual and meet every obligation promptly.
We hand in our homework and class work on time.
- We're gonna get outta here. - Are you with me?
- Yes. - "Cooley students respect property.
We do not destroy...
school facilities or school grounds.
We do not enter public transportation illegally.
Cooley students are aware of personal appearance.
We wear clean, neat clothes.
We keep our bodies clean.
We avoid excessive ornamentation.
Can I have a hot dog, please?
I've got 15 cents someplace.
- Can I have some ketchup? - We don't have any.
- No ketchup? - Right.
- Could I have some relish on it? - I don't have any relish.
- No relish? - No relish.
- What you got? - Mustard.
- Mustard? - That's it.
A big establishment like this, and all you got is mustard?
- Right. - Do you like mustard?
Y eah, I like mustard.
Then you eat the hot dog.
Willie, dig the little fat one up there.
That one right there. Look like Johnny Mae.
I think she's got a new boyfriend too.
Dig Beverly in the corner back there.
That look just like Beverly.
- Looks more like you, Pooter. - More like Pooter's mama.
- You better be glad I ain't sensitive. - Dig him.
That's right, man, we glad you ain't sensitive.
If you was sensitive, you wouldn't like me feedin' this to your daddy there.
Be quiet.
- Hey, monkey. - Here you go, monkey.
Wow, man!
Hey, man, dig. He's just like Pooter's daddy.
You ain't supposed to feed them. It's bad for the appetite.
Shut up, man. Take this, you big, black, ugly gorilla!
Hey, man, what's wrong with you?
Don't be talkin' to no gorilla like that.
- Shut up. - Hey, Mr. Gorilla.
Forgive these humans. They don't know how to act in front of no gorilla.
- I think he's crazy. - You hear that?
I don't believe it. You're crazy.
See? You be nice to him and he'll be nice to you.
Look out, man!
Pooter got hit with gorilla shit!
Damn, man, you sure do stink.
He smell better now than he ever did.
We can't go home. They'll know we cut class.
We gotta sneak back in school before next period.
I gotta get cleaned up.
We gonna be late, man!
Somebody gonna know. I gotta go and take a shower.
Nobody's gonna know you got hit with gorilla shit, man.
Believe me.
We'll show you old turkeys how to do it.
Hot damn!
That's the way he gonna do it at Gramblin' next year.
When I get that scholarship.
Hey, y'all! School's already out!
I gotta get to the showers before they lock up for the night.
- Come on. - Let's split, man.
Willie, let's go. Come on, Pooter.
Guys, I gotta take a shower. You wanna wait for me?
You're not gonna wait for me, man?
Yeah, Pooter, we gonna wait for you, but hurry up.
We'll be down at Martha's, hear?
Hey, Cochise, Preach.
- How you doin', Dorothy? - Have you seen Tyrone?
I ain't seen him, baby. Wasn't he in school?
Tyrone wasn't in history and since y'all missed Mr. Mason's class...
he moved the midterm up from Friday to Monday.
And you dummies thought you had a week to study.
Monday? That blows our whole weekend.
Man, I gotta go back and get my history book.
- Get mine too. - What's wrong with your grades?
Get the book.
You the star. You ain't got to worry about your grades.
You ain't gotta worry either. You know you failin'.
Dorothy, the only thing I know...
is that your mama's a whore.
By the way, I'm givin' a quarter party tonight.
- A belly rub? - It ain't gonna be no belly rub.
- It's gonna be a nice quarter party. - I gotta study.
If you see Tyrone, tell him to come.
All right. Where'd Preach go?
I give you one guess.
Listen, dice, listen.
Four. Shootin' a dime.
Shootin' a dime. I got him.
- Hey, Martha. - Hi, Cochise.
Preach, come on.
- Let's go. - Shootin' a dime.
Martha said she'd kick you outta here next time she caught you gamblin'.
Got a point there. I'm comin'. Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure.
You don't win my money and walk. You either make me or break me.
- Excuse me. What'd you say? - I wasn't even talkin' to you.
Now, gentlemen, gentlemen. No need to create havoc and melee.
- How much money you got left? - Fifty cents.
Fifty cents? Man, it don't take but a second to win 50 cents.
- Shooting 50 cents. - We was shootin' dimes.
I know that, but now we shootin' 50 cents.
- Am I faded? - Y eah, you faded.
Where you goin'?
I'd like to get through to the washroom.
- Let the lady pass. - Mama, go walk someplace else.
Why don't you gamble someplace else?
'Cause we gamblin' here, sweet thing.
This is a restaurant, not an alley.
Keep on steppin', baby. We wanted to be preached to, we'd go to church.
Y'all need to go to church.
Hallelujah.
Man, ain't she fine?
You ain't gettin' none of that high yellow bitch.
Sure. If I don't get some of that, I give up your mama.
- A dollar say you don't. - A dollar? Bet.
Shoot.
Thanks, man!
- All right, Jackson. - Now, Martha.
- I warned you. - Put that thing down.
- Now out! - That's sharp.
Martha, I was just tryin' to help the establishment.
By the time I count to five, you better get your lyin' ass outta here!
One, two, three!
Come on, baby.
Preach, don't.
- Come on, Johnny Mae. - You'll tell.
I swear I won't tell a soul.
Well, I'll do it if she do it.
- Come on, Sandra. - Yeah, come on, Sandra.
I ain't givin' you nothin'.
I'll be right back.
Hey, Preach, come here.
Come here.
Excuse us, ladies.
As one friend to another, I wanna tell you somethin'.
- Get that chick outta here. - Why?
- She blowin' my action, man. - I always get it off with Sandra.
She's just tryin' to give me a hard time.
Hey, take her someplace else. I don't want her here.
- I think we should leave now. - Okay.
Cochise, I'm ready to go home.
Baby, look. Wait a minute. I just wanna talk to you.
I was just thinkin' that you and l--
Oh, baby, come on.
Come on, lover.
Hey, man.
I don't mean to break nothin' up, but I'm gonna split.
So I tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna go and take Sandra home. Hear?
You ain't got to make no speech. Just go.
Yeah, okay.
Bye.
Come on, Sandra. Come on.
Come on, Jimmy Lee.
If you can afford them fancy rings and clothes, you can give me some money.
You know these welfare checks ain't enough to live on.
Oh, Aunt Melba. Now I need these clothes to work in.
You ain't never done a day's work in your life.
Oh, Aunt Melba, that sure is cold.
Most of the time I help to pay the rent.
Mama, didn't I get a letter today?
Did you look up on the dresser where the mail is kept?
Y eah.
If it's not on the dresser, then it ain't come yet.
Now Jimmy Lee, I ain't playin' with you.
What about jail? Your uncle and me had to bail you out at 3:00 in the mornin'.
I sure do wanna thank you all for comin' down and gettin' me out of jail.
I gotta split now, Melba. Thanks a lot.
All right, Jimmy Lee.
- Don't forget what I told you. - Don't worry.
- Don't you have a scarf? - Great grub, Aunt Melba.
I'll bring you your money back tonight.
- I promise. - Make sure you do, young man.
Oh, Tommy.
What are you doin'? What are you doin' here, huh?
Come on.
A scholarship! My man got a scholarship. Dynamite.
That's really outta sight, man.
Hey, man, that is really hip.
You know how it is. Gotta do somethin'.
Hey, y'all dig.
This year when I get outta Cooley, it's gonna be Gramblin' University.
Y'all gonna make me drop the wine, man.
You just uptight 'cause you ain't goin' nowhere.
Soon as I get out, I'm off like a big black bird to Hollywood.
I'm gonna be a famous writer, man.
Nigger, your ass ain't goin' no place but jail.
How you know?
What kind of script is gonna come from somethin' like this?
All of the sudden he's gonna be a big-time Hollywood writer.
You crazy.
Call me crazy when I come back with my first million.
You think somebody's gonna pay you a million for that junk you write?
- Has anybody heard Preacher's poetry? - Not me.
"Your eyes are like limpid pools of eternity swallowing up my soul."
Wait. There's more. Check this out.
"Liquid dreams and visions of you beckon to my throbbing manhood."
You copied that out of my notebook.
What ya doin' goin' in my notebook?
- What's with you? - He had no business in my notebook.
Why don't you hit him with your throbbing manhood?
You think it's funny because I wanna be somethin' besides a factory worker.
That's because you're stupid niggers that don't know shit!
He's just jivin', man.
He ain't got but one like this.
Hey, man, what they know? They don't know nothin'.
We supposed to be celebratin', right? Right?
Come on, man. Let's go get some of that wine.
- Wine time, fellows. - Y eah, baby.
Good times.
This is for the brothers who ain't here.
Hey, man, you pourin' out our wine!
This is for the brothers who ain't here.
Forget them, man. They don't get none.
But there's a lot of brothers that's dead or in jail...
and we just got to give 'em a little bit of respect.
- You pour yours out, we'll drink ours. - Respect.
The kid goes first.
Good, kid, good.
What time's the party start?
About 8:00 or somethin', she said.
We'd better be gettin' over there, man.
Hey, give him a hand.
Mama, that sure is cold. And I thought we was tight.
We is tight, but if you ain't got no quarter, you can't get in.
Oh, man. Come on, man.
That party ain't nothin' no way. We don't wanna come in.
Stone, how's the party?
I don't know. That broad won't let us in.
- Who's on the door? - Dorothy.
Dorothy? Oh, man, we gonna be over like a fat rat in a cheese factory.
Yeah? We'll see.
- Where y'all goin', man? - You want some of this?
- Oh, yeah. - Where y'all goin' now?
- We dig y'all later. - Let me kill this.
Hey, mama, how you been?
-What the hell you mean, "How you been"? -Been lookin' for you since yesterday.
You have my number. You wouldn't even call.
My mama didn't pay her phone bill so they took it, and I didn't have a dime.
- You could've done somethin'. - I did. I came over.
Shit.
Wait. Let me talk to you about it.
- I gotta watch the door. - Preach, come watch the door.
- What? - Come watch the door.
Preach'll watch the door.
Don't let nobody in that ain't got no quarter.
- You know you can trust me. - Y eah, I bet.
You kept me waitin' all lunch period.
I tried to come on over. You know l'd have been there if I could've got there.
Man, I thought this was gonna be fun.
You can't get nothin' here but a heat rash. Let's go.
Be cool, man. Fun gonna start in a minute.
Well, my fun is gonna start right now.
Tyrone, that was pretty cool how you handled Dorothy.
Yeah, man. Rap 13 always works.
- Pooter's here and ready to jam. - Cochise!
I'm gonna dance with somebody, but not right now.
I'll see y'all later.
- Why'd you let that go by? - Make your move before Sandra get here.
I don't have to worry, man. Her mama wouldn't let her out.
Yeah, right.
- Hey, Cochise. - Johnny Mae.
How you doin'?
Hi there.
Now don't fall over.
Why don't you go somewhere?
Your place or mine?
Don't you understand the meaning of the word "no"?
I tried bein' nice to you, but you walk around with your ass on your shoulders.
Let me tell you one thing. You sure are fine.
- She loves me. - Blew it again, eh, chum?
I just ain't come up with the right lie yet.
- You got any slow records? - Y eah.
That's a good one, isn't it?
Don't mess with that record. You got all night to grind.
Shut up and turn out the lights.
- Mama said not to turn out the lights. - Dorothy, your mama like the dark.
Baby, what's wrong?
Thanks, baby.
Hi. My name is Richard Morris.
I came to talk to you.
By the time I get up, I wanna know your name...
your address and your telephone number.
- Name? - Loretta Brown.
Address?
Why don't you call me Friday?
I watched you play all last season...
and I'm probably your biggest fan.
Hey, you sweet thing you. You feel like dancin'?
Would you get the hell off the breakfront?
My mama said not to lean on the breakfront...
'cause she ain't paid for it yet.
Why don't you get outta here?
Browning. I like "Sonnets From The Portuguese."
"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
- This is dynamite. - You like poetry?
Yeah. This is brilliant.
I didn't know that.
Oh, yeah, girl.
But if you really like love poetry...
you oughta check out a dude called Walter Benton.
He got this poem called...
"Were I Pygmalion or God...
I would make you exactly as you are...
in every dimension.
From your warm hair to your intimate toes...
would you be wholly in your own image.
I would change nothing...
add or take away.
Yeah, that's dynamite.
And that poem fits you too, you know? It really fits you. Yeah.
I'm gonna give you that...
as soon as I steal a copy.
Damon, I don't want you to come in if you're gonna start trouble.
- What you talkin' about? - Don't give me that.
You always breakin' up parties fightin'. You ain't gonna break up this one.
I come here to have a good time like everybody else.
- Here, take this quarter. - I ain't playin' with you, Damon.
Hey, man!
- Nobody put their hands on my old lady! - Damon, I'm sorry!
Get out of my way. I'm kickin' his ass.
I apologize, but that's as far as it goes.
There ain't gonna be no fightin' here. You take it outside.
- Cool it, mama. - Cool it, my ass!
Any fightin', this is my last party.
You gonna take this ass-kickin', chump!
You wanna fight, you take it outside.
Don't fight him, Tyrone, please.
Ain't nobody hit me in my jaw!
Who you pushin'?
You gotta come help.
A fight? Is there another way outta here?
No, man. Cochise is in the middle of it.
- I ain't goin' out there. - You got to!
Damon started it and he's goin' crazy.
Shit!
Look, baby, I'll rap with you later, hear?
- You ready? - Y eah, I'm cool.
Kick his ass!
Get him, chief!
Kick his ass!
My mama's gonna kill me!
Man, you really kicked Damon's ass.
What a hell of a time to start a fight. You blew my rap.
Ain't Willie supposed to be comin'?
- He said he'd meet us at the party. - That nigger's always late.
I ain't high no more. Are you high?
Man, that was some bad stuff Stone and Robert had.
That was Sam's stuff. You know he ain't gonna sell it to us.
Yeah, but Jimmy Lee can get it.
- All right. - That's all right.
Hey, fellas.
It's about time.
Hey, man, what y'all doin'? Why you ain't at the party?
- Listen to him. - Man, come on.
Hey, what we doin'? What about the party?
I'm on the scene with the record machine comin' to you from Robert's Lounge.
Check it out. Super hit of '64 knockin' on the door.
Man, I can get you all the chicks you want.
Hold it down. Cool it.
Listen, man, all these chicks live in different places.
It's a hassle to drag you around town, so I got these pictures here of 'em.
You just check through and find out which one you want.
That one.
Come on with me and we'll call her.
Is it time now, baby?
I got this cat that wants to come up.
Right.
All right, we'll be right over.
Man, you in luck.
But first I gots to stop and give this cat his money back.
- You gotta what? - These bitches steal, man, you know?
So to keep my customers safe, I hold their money for 'em.
This chick is a real freak.
As a matter of fact, she's so good you might not last more than 30 seconds.
But we've got a set policy, man.
If you don't last no more than five minutes, you get a second try for free.
Pooter, where you think you're goin'?
You stay here, man. You're too young.
Hey, Johnny Red, you seen my buddy?
- Jimmy Lee? - Yeah.
He was here about 30 seconds ago. Made a phone call and left.
Man. Was he goin' to work?
He had a customer with him.
Yeah, okay. Come on, y'all.
Hey, baby.
Dig, man. This chick you're goin' to see, she is out of sight.
I mean, she is bad. But she one of them thieves, man.
So to keep you from bein' robbed, 'cause I don't want no unhappy customers...
be a wise thing for you to put your money in this envelope and seal it.
I'll just hold it for you until you're finished.
- Thief, huh? - I can't stop her, man.
- But she's clean, right? - All my girls are.
Listen. You go up there and you ask for Louise, okay?
It's on the top floor, all the way in the back.
- Knock on the last door on your left. - Got it.
- All the way to the rear. - Got it.
And I'll wait for you in the car till you're finished.
What the hell you want here, honky?
I'm looking-- Is Louise here?
There's no goddamn Louise live here, honky.
My money.
I've been screwed!
To spend the night with you
- I'm no good - I'm no good
- For you - For you
But what can I do
- Baby - Baby
I do so much depend on you
- Pooter, you can't sing no bass. - Start smokin'.
You tenor. Tyrone, you be baritone.
Willie, you be bass. And Preach, stay out of it.
You squares still walkin'? Check out this luxury, brothers.
- Where'd y'all get this from? - Don't worry about it.
- This is bad. - You like it, huh?
Y'all, come on.
- Not me. - Be cool, man.
- You scared? - Scared?
Preach, I know you ain't jivin'.
Come on.
Forget them turkeys.
- This is bad, man. - This is all right.
Yeah, Stone, this is sharp. It really rides sweet.
-Now I know why everyone digs Cadillacs. -Watch for the man.
Don't be goin' through no red lights now.
Don't worry about it.
- Man, let's hear some sounds. - That's hip with me.
Hey, I'm gonna live down here one of these days.
- Can I have some herb? - Huh?
I need the herb here.
- Roll up the window, man. - Wait a minute.
Got any fire?
Give me some fire so I can be the fireman.
This remind me of the time, Jack...
I used to drive this Maserati for this rich whitey over on the Gold Coast.
Dig. This number used to do 160, Jack.
You lyin'-ass nigger. I've known you since you was eight, man.
He ain't ever even seen no Maser-dati.
You don't know everything about me.
- I used to be a drivin' ass, man. - Can I get some fire?
Hey, since you braggin', you wanna drive?
- What? - Do you wanna drive?
- Drive this? - Y eah, drive this now.
Y eah, man, let me drive this bad-mobile.
- Pull on over. - Pull over, Stone.
- Pull on over up there. - We gonna die now.
Pull over, Stone, and let the nigger drive.
What you tryin' to do? Get us busted?
- What are you doin'? - Tryin' to find the "on" switch.
- It's already on. - No kiddin'.
All you do is step on the gas.
You gotta put it in gear first.
- I guess "R" means "reverse." - Get outta the car!
- I got it, man! - Don't let him drive!
Man, you can't drive.
Shut up, man!
We gonna crash!
Hey, man, stop.
We can't stop till we get to the stop sign.
- I see the stop sign. - Damn, man, stop.
I told you I'd get the hang of it.
- Damn! The man! - What?
If they bust us, I'm just a hitchhiker.
Just stay cool. Maybe they'll think it's my old man.
- Hands off the wheel. - What?
Don't move, keep smilin'...
- and take your hands off the wheel! - What you mean?
- I ain't goin' to jail! - Hey, Stone!
Let's get 'em.
Man, get your foot off my foot!
- They comin', man! - Oh, shit!
Take it easy, man.
- Look out! - The man is on us!
- Get your hand on the wheel! - Get off my neck!
- Are they still behind us? - Hell, yeah!
- They are? - They're comin' up!
Oh, shit!
Where you goin'?
This car's too big to go through there!
They on us! There they are, man!
You're crazy, man! Don't try it again!
There it is!
- They still behind us? - Yeah.
We gotta lose 'em!
We can't go through that! The car's too big to go through there!
- Look out! Get away! - Watch it!
We'll get you, you smart ass punks!
Tell that jerk to get us down from here and move!
I used to drive this Maserati for this rich whitey over on the Gold Coast.
Man, I did! And Jack, I'll tell you, man.
I was drivin' so fast that these dudes--
These dudes wanted to hire me to race--
Watch out!
- Shit! - Oh, shit!
Whiplash! Whiplash!
Let's get outta here!
Whiplash! Whiplash!
Shut your mouth and lay down on the ground!
Where'd they go?
They don't know!
- We're gonna chase 'em with this car. - Come on, man.
You're under arrest for being ugly.
Man, get outta my face before I knock you out.
Why don't you leave Jeffrey's badges alone?
- Don't that look real? - No, that don't look real.
Got them from cornflakes box tops.
Damn. I can't never remember none of these names and dates.
The Emancipation Proclamation, 1776.
1862, dummy.
Put that away. Let's go to the movies.
- Who is it? - Jeffrey. Who do you think?
- What you want now, man? - Damn, Jeff.
- I want my basketball. - Forget it!
Get outta here and quit runnin' back and forth.
This is my room. I can come in my room anytime I want.
How we supposed to get any studyin' done like this?
Told you we should've went to my house. Ain't nobody never at my house.
Man, stop bouncin' the ball!
Your damn brother's a pain in the ass.
Damn. He's more trouble than all my brothers and sisters put together.
Don't worry about it. He ain't gonna bother us.
Look out!
- How much money you got, Preach? - Nothin' but 50 cents.
- Ain't enough for show fair. - I dig it.
- Preach, you always out for gamblin'. - I said I ain't got enough.
Stop it, man!
Man, how many people got money for show fair? Raise your hands.
Wow, man. We only got enough for four of us.
That means one of us ain't goin'.
Hey, if I ain't goin', ain't nobody goin'.
The genius has struck again. Come here.
- All we got to do-- - Get outta here, man.
All we got to do is go down--
All right.
What do you mean? For the two of you?
- Y eah. - Fifteen dollars apiece.
Fifteen dollars? That's a whole lotta money.
Well, you pretty black fine thing you, you got to pay for what you get.
- Gonna give you the money. - Give me the money.
Give her the money, man!
- Under arrest. - You don't look like no cops to me.
That's why they hired us, baby. 'Cause we don't look like cops.
Up against this wall here.
Move it, bitch! I said, up against the goddamn wall!
Spread eagle! Split 'em apart!
- What are you doin'? - Against the wall!
- What are you lookin' for? - I didn't find it.
You bitches are under arrest for prostitution.
- Morris, get the squad car. - Check, Jackson.
Hey, baby, this is my best day.
And y'all gonna make us lose a whole lotta money.
Baby, you're makin' my heart bleed for you.
Look, man, come here. Let me talk to you.
Man, I just got out yesterday. Give me a break here.
Man, I ain't made up yet.
Come on, give me a break.
Well, uh--
- We take bribes. - Nigger, how much you want?
- How about ten-- - Twenty dollars.
No, he said ten dollars.
- Ten dollars. Here. - Shit.
Wait a minute! The Lone Ranger?
Girl, they tryin' to stick us up!
They ain't nothin' but thieves!
Rape! Rape!
- You dummy! - I'm sorry. Excuse me.
Get up one more time and I'm gonna break your left toe.
Excuse me.
Quick! Over there!
Here it comes!
Well, hello.
We're very glad to see you. You kept your word.
We always keep our promises.
Excuse me.
Go sit somewhere else.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry. Excuse me.
Excuse me. Can I sit over here? Thank you.
- Damn! Watch it! - Sorry. Somethin' made me trip.
Sorry, my ass. You stepped on my shoe.
- I said I'm sorry. What else can I say? - I oughta kick your ass.
If you think you're so big and bad, why not pick on somebody your own size?
- I'll kick your ass too! - You and what army?
This army. Disciples!
You ain't got shit. Counts!
Hey, man, it's all my fault. I'm sorry.
Fight!
- Oh, Mama, please? - I'm late now.
But I'll talk to you about it tomorrow. There's stew in the refrigerator.
Make sure all of you eat your supper, hear?
And take care of Dee and make sure she eats.
Bye, Dee. And eat your supper and be a good girl.
Bye, Ma.
- Hello, Leroy. - Bye, Ma.
Bye.
- Be careful, hear? - Late for work. Okay.
Stop throwin' your coat on me.
"Don't you be throwin' your coat at me."
Don't hit me.
You ain't supposed to be eatin' peanut butter.
Mama said we were supposed to have stew.
Girl, if you don't get outta my face--
- It's for me. - Get back. It's for me.
- It's for me. Gimme that phone. - Ain't nobody callin' you.
Get back! Back!
Jackson residence.
It's for you.
Hello? Who is this? Oh, Shirl.
Bobby? Comin' over to your house? Girl, when?
I'll be right over. Bye.
- I'm goin' over to Shirl's house. - Take her with you.
Bobby's goin' to be there. She'll spoil everything.
I don't care.
Mama said to take care of her, and if you leave her, I'm telling.
You can take care of her. You ain't doin' nothin'.
I don't care. You take her with you anyway.
- Damn! Can't have no fun. - I'll tell Mama you been cussin' too.
Damn him! Who he think he is? God?
Were I Pygmalion or God...
I would make you exactly as you are in all dimensions.
From your warm hair to your intimate toes...
would you be wholly in your own image.
I would change nothing-- add or take away.
Y eah.
Well, we're here.
I'm sorry. Are you all right?
I'm sorry.
Maybe you oughta take 'em off.
Yeah.
Ow! Shit!
- Are you hurt? - Am I hurt?
No, everything's all right.
I guess I can do it.
You can do it?
- Okay. - Okay.
I forgot to tell you...
I've never done anything like this before.
You mean--
- You know what? - What?
- I'm embarrassed. - Oh, baby.
Ain't nothin' to be ashamed or embarrassed about.
Maybe I'd feel better with somethin' on.
Could you hand me my panties?
- Hand you your panties? - Y eah.
Okay.
My brassiere?
Right. Your brassiere.
Preach, you so crazy.
Oh, boy! Wait till I tell Cochise I won.
That nigger owes me a dollar, baby.
You bet?
Hey. Brenda.
- Listen, baby. - A bet?
- I'm nothin' but a cheap dollar bet? - No. Wait a minute, now.
It's not really like that.
- Baby, just let me talk to you, now. - I thought you was different.
- I really thought you meant it. - I do mean it, baby.
You know I care for you.
- I mean, I really do care for you. - You don't.
Just wait till I find my drawers. Don't be upset.
Hey, Preach, you see--
Damn it! Didn't I tell you not to come in my room before you knock?
Baby, wait. Get out the way.
Move out the way. Brenda--
I'm tellin'. I'll tell.
Ooh, I'm gonna tell Mama you had naked girls up here.
Aw, damn.
Hey, Preach, you get that history thing together, man?
You know I don't believe in failin' no history test.
I hope so, 'cause I plan to be copyin' you.
Don't copy exact. Change one or two and make 'em wrong.
Hey, "W" means wrong, stupid.
Does that mean to make it wrong, or it's already wrong?
Y'all go ahead, man. I'll catch up with you later.
Hello, Miss Stiff.
Hey, Brenda. What's happenin', baby? Dig, let me--
I must have said or done somethin' to you durin' one of my blackouts, huh?
Y eah. You see, I have these spells.
It's somethin' like epilepsy. Doctors say there ain't no cure, baby.
But when I come to, I've said and done all kinds of crazy things.
Now, dig, see, the last thing--
The last thing I remember, we were in bed talkin', and I blacked out.
- I don't want to hear it. - But it's the truth, baby.
It always happens, especially when I'm excited or somethin'. Really happy.
The adrenaline rushes from my head, and soon I'm unconscious.
Baby, anything I do after that I'm not responsible for.
Now, you got to forgive me.
Aw, bab--
Oh, Brenda, don't be that way.
Okay.
Okay, I forgive you.
That's for yesterday, bastard!
- What's that all about? - Sandra, I can explain, baby.
Listen. Um--
- Damon got it in the eye. Pow! - Oh, shut up with that jive.
That's what you get. I'm bein' grounded for three months.
- Three months? Damn. - My mother got down on me.
Hello, Mr. Mason.
- Hello, Mr. Mason. - Hey, wait a minute.
Take off those shades.
These is my shades and my face.
Man, you can pull that "bad" act out on the street, but you don't move me.
Now, you take off those shades before I bounce you off those hall lockers.
Put 'em back on. And you better make at least a "C" on your midterm.
- Afternoon, Mr. Mason. - Hi, Sandra.
You, after school. You, after school.
Hey, when you gonna bring up that fine daughter of yours so I can rap to her?
Just as soon as I find out where you were last Friday.
Now, I want to talk to you.
Where you been all last week?
- I was home sick with the flu. - That's a lie.
Because I was at your house twice last week.
I wasn't home.
I was at my aunt's house.
My mama sent me to my aunt's house while she go to work...
'cause she didn't want me to be home by myself.
And then, see, my little sister's--
Okay. Hold it.
All right, now.
Class starts right now.
All right, now. Class starts right now.
As of this point...
everybody in class shut up.
Let me start by tellin' you again...
that if you fail this test...
you fail the course.
Anybody caught cheating...
will be an automatic fail...
for both persons.
Which reminds me, Preach.
Get up here.
- That's your desk, Mr. Mason. - Today you're my guest of honor.
What can I do?
All right. Put all books in your desk.
The first half of the test will cover the Civil War.
Pass these out, please.
How you doin', George?
- How you doin', David? - What are you doin' here?
I have warrants for the arrest of Richard Morris and Leroy Jackson.
- For what? - Grand theft, auto.
All right, let's step it up.
Turn to your left down there in the corridor.
Come on. Hold it.
- Can I go to the bathroom? - No. Come on in.
Hold it. You.
You in there.
Come on. Get in there.
Come on. You go in here.
Come on in here.
Come on.
What did you do last Friday night?
I was at this party on the West Side.
- What time did you leave the party? - About 1:00.
We left the party about 3:00 a.m....
and we caught the Jackson Street bus and we rode all the way--
Wait a minute. Last time you said you caught the "L."
Oh, yeah. Yeah, see?
We caught the "L" and then we took the bus.
Look, I'm tired of you lyin'.
For the last three hours, you told me four different stories.
Mister, I swear on a stack of bibles...
I ain't never been in a stolen car ever in my life.
- And that's the truth. - Bullshit!
No, it's not bullshit.
I know those two kids. Those are good kids.
Richard Morris just won a scholarship to college.
You don't want him to lose that over a simple joyride.
- These kids have to be taught a lesson. - Is it worth ruinin' their lives?
You admit that they weren't even on the scene...
when the car was stolen, right?
Y eah, yeah.
Well?
Okay, they'll be out within an hour.
Thanks, George. You're still my main man.
What about the other two?
No way. Their record is much too bad.
Oh, man, change the grand theft, auto...
to simple joyride or somethin'.
Get outta here!
Okay. Thanks, George.
I won't forget it. See you Wednesday.
I told the dude that we went to a party on the West Side...
and then we went home, and we left at 1:00.
Oh, man, no. No, man!
I told them we left at about 4:00 a.m....
and that we didn't see Stone and Robert at all.
- I told you not to say nothin'. - Nothin'? I had to say somethin'.
- Morris and Jackson? - What's goin' on?
- You're gonna go home. - Hey, what about us?
You've gotta be booked. You're gonna stand trial.
Let's go. I haven't got all day.
Let's go.
Guess I don't have to tell you who told on us.
Damn.
"Mama called and said she had to work overtime.
She will be home late.
- Hi, Mama. - Don't "Hi, Mama" me.
What you doin' ridin' around in stolen cars?
Mama, that wasn't me. They got the wrong somebody.
- Don't lie to me! - I swear, Mama.
They made a mistake. It was somebody that looked like me.
Shut up! I don't wanna hear!
What is this, Dee's sayin' you're upstairs with naked girls?
And now you gone and got yourself arrested. You know I got three jobs.
- And I've got to trust somebody. - Mama, you can trust me.
- Go upstairs and get that belt. - Get my belt?
Get that belt!
Oh, Mama!
I'm tired. I ain't doin' it no more.
I'm tired.
Mama, I been thinkin'. Maybe I oughta leave.
I'm almost 18 years old now, and--
That's how you put it through the hoop, Junior.
I got Cochise on my side, man.
I ain't playin' with no chumps that squeal on their friends.
- What you talkin' about? - They told on Stone and Robert.
That's a lie!
If you didn't tell, how come you out and Stone and Robert ain't?
- I don't know! - Y eah.
- Man, we didn't say nothin'. - Somebody oughta kick your ass.
Don't worry. Stone and Robert are gonna do just that...
when they get out of jail, chump!
You better carry your baldheaded ass on out of here.
Cochise, have you seen Preach?
No, not since the gym.
You don't know why he didn't come to class?
Sure don't.
Hey man, if you ain't got to pee, let me.
Damn.
Cool it! Mr. Mason! Hide the dice.
You boys better get outta here. Class is gettin' ready to start.
And leave the dice and the cards.
What happened to you today?
I don't understand you, Jackson.
You read poetry books and history books for fun...
and you make the worst grades in two states.
You didn't even try to make up the midterm you missed.
- Don't you want to graduate? - Don't much matter.
Aw, man.
For ten years I been pushin' kids through this school...
just so when they applied for a job they could write...
"high school graduate" on their job application.
That's why when I find a guy who has potential...
I hate to see him keep messin' up.
Son, what is it you want?
Huh? With your brains, you can have it.
Whatever it is, man, knowledge will get it for you.
Don't you want somethin'?
I want to live forever.
- You through, Mr. Mason? - Yeah, man. I'm through.
And the next time you're in trouble, don't count on me--
jail or anything else.
- You got us out. - Yeah. Who else?
Mr. Mason, thank you. Thank you, hear?
- What's the matter with you. - You'll never understand.
I gotta find Cochise.
Yeah, baby, this stuff is so good--
Hey, y'all. What's happenin'?
- Hey, man, you seen Cochise? - Yeah, he's at my place, man.
He took some chick up there a couple of hours ago to get down.
You think he's still up there? 'Cause I got to talk to him.
Probably. Why don't you come by with me? I got to go home anyway.
- Okay. - Listen, fellas. Later.
Just a minute.
Come on, now! Hurry up in there!
- You ain't in no big hurry. - I ain't got all day!
Hey! You know who was--
- Wait a minute, man. - You son of a bitch.
Hey, hey, man! What's goin' down here?
He used to go with her, man.
Aw, man! You mean to tell me you're mad about some bitch?
- Let me talk to you, man. - I got nothin' to say.
- Please? - Hey, man, let him go.
Let him do what he want to do.
- Can I talk to you? - Okay.
Look, I know you got no reason to believe me. Why should you?
It's my fault. I know that.
But I'm sorry.
Forgive me?
See, in the beginning, it was like that.
I mean, see--
Hey, Stone! What's happenin', man?
- Hey, what's happenin'? - When did y'all get out?
We just got out this mornin'. Our people got us out on bail.
- What's wrong? - Huh? I just thought of somethin'.
I got some business I gotta take care of right away.
I want to talk to you, so meet me at the "L" station...
- in 15 minutes. - The "L"?
- Y eah, at the "L." - Are you sure?
I'm positive. Go ahead, now. Hurry up. I'll be right there.
Go ahead.
Hey, Preach.
- Hey, Preach, what's happenin'? - Hey, Damon.
- How you been doin'? - Everything cool?
Hey, Stone! Hey, Robert!
What's happenin', man?
Oh, dig, now. I know what you're thinkin', man.
But dig, Mr. Mason got us out, man.
- Bullshit! - Uh-uh. Let's check it all out.
All right? We check it out, find out what really went down.
And we can take it from there. All right?
- I'm gonna stomp your ears together. - Hey, Cochise, tell 'em, man!
- Get outta here! - What do you think I'm tryin' to do?
- Will you get out? - Come out here! Now!
- Ah, forget you, sucker! - Get outta here!
- Girl, you crazy? - Get out of here!
- Are you tryin' to find a new home? - Put that thing down!
- I'm tryin' to go! - Get out!
- Put that down. Calm down, will you? - Will you get out?
I'm trying to find a way out. Wait a minute.
The whole world will be in here, and it's all your fault!
- Rape! Rape! - Rape? Shut up!
- Will you please leave? - Later for you, sissy!
- No, leave! - Your mama's a sissy too!
- You want me to use this on you? - Okay, mama, okay.
- All right, let's go. - All right, we'll leave.
He gotta come out here sometime, and we'll be waitin' on him.
Yeah, but not in here. Let's go!
- Get outta here! - Wait a minute. Put that down!
What are you doin'? Get out of here! Get out!
Come on in, sucker! I got somethin' for your ass!
- Come on in! - No, don't!
Wait a minute! Stop!
- They're gone! - Good. Now you can get outta here!
Wait a minute. Don't open that door yet. I don't want anyone to see me like this.
- Turn around. - Jesus Christ!
I don't want anyone to see me like this. Turn around!
I ain't lookin' at you. I'm tryin' to get outta here.
- Just turn around and don't look. - All right. I ain't gonna look!
- Turn around, then. - Okay. I'm turnin' around.
Ooh, nice. Very nice.
Martha, open the side door for me, please.
Martha, please?
- Have you seen Preach? - Yeah. He was supposed to meet me here.
Last time I saw him, he was at Martha's. Stone and Robert had just come in.
- He was actin' sort of crazy. - Oh, man. How long ago was that?
- About 20 minutes ago. - Y eah, okay. Later.
Hurry up.
Come on, girl.
Oh, by the way, Cochise was lookin' for you.
Later for Cochise.
I'm in love.
But he seemed a little upset when I told him you were at Martha's.
Upset. Yeah, I bet. What'd he say?
Nothin'. I just told him Stone and Robert had come in, and he ran off.
- Stone and Robert? - Yeah.
- And he went off lookin' for me? - Uh-huh.
Oh, wow.
Look, baby, I gotta get off at this next stop.
Oh, don't get mad, Brenda. But I can't explain now.
I gotta get off. I'll call you later tonight.
Hey, y'all got--
It wasn't us!
Kill him!
I bet you won't tell nothin' else.
Get up!
Get up, chump!
Hey, man. Have you seen 'Chise?
He just went towards the subway.
- Was Stone or Robert with him? - No. What's happenin', man?
Hey, 'Chise. You all right, man?
Help! Help me, somebody!
Help, please!
For the dudes who ain't here.
You know, sometimes I be walkin' down the street or sittin' around...
and I look up, and I expect to see you comin' around the corner...
or hear your voice callin' my name.
I almost expect you to go to Hollywood with me.
I know. Don't worry, man. I'm gonna make it.
I can lie and steal too good not to survive.
Pooter and the guys...
they gonna be all right, man, they gonna make it.
We were sittin' around the other night, we got high.
And I told 'em, "'Chise wouldn't want you all just sittin' around...
wastin' time, you know?
They gonna make it.
Man, I have so much to tell you.
I wrote a poem for you.
Nigger, I know you don't like poetry, but I'm gonna read it to you anyway.
I never read my poetry for nobody, not even my mama.
See the damn thing.
It goes...
"We were friends a long time ago...
Iaughin', rappin'...
chasin' girls...
obeyin' no laws, except the one of caring.
Basketball days and high nights.
No tomorrows.
Unable to remember yesterday...
we live for today.
Aw, man, it don't rhyme.
You could've been the greatest, man.
You could've been.
I gotta go.
"PREACH - Went To Hollywood"
"And Did Become A Successful Screenwriter"
"STONE & ROBERT - Both Killed In 1966"
"During A Gas Station Hold Up"
"BRENDA - A Librarian, Married, With Three Children"
"Residing In Atlanta, Georgia"
"DAMON - A Sergeant, U.S. Army"
"Stationed In Europe"
"POOTER - A Factory Worker"
"ln Muncie, lndiana"
"TYRONE - Killed During An Outbreak Of Racial Violence"
"At The 1968 Democratic Convention In Chicago"