Original subtitles

Dead girl walking!

Hang in there, Mitch!

Yeah, hey, let me get the shoes!

than more tissue?

Hakeem, you nearly scared me to death.

What are you doing in my house this early?

Oh, well, with Mo going to her new school and all, I got a little nervous.

Thought y 'all might try to have breakfast without me.

Hakeem, we'd never send you to school on an empty stomach.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're right, Mrs. Mitch. What we got is deeper than that.

And what exactly do we have, Hakeem?

Breakfast, Mr. Mitch.

That's what we have.

I mean, there's no stronger bond.

With bacon and grits have joined together, may no man put asunder.

Oh, what's up, boy?

I see you got the Dunkman's on.

Yeah, we broke down and bought them. Mm -hmm. Well, did she break me? How much

did those cost?

Ooh, Dunkman's about $120 and change.

Aw, Dee, now why would you buy a child a $120 pair of sneakers?

Honey, the first day of school only happens once a year. Yeah, but

lasts tens.

Come on, Dad.

I'm almost done.

I am in the fifth grade now.

Yeah, but you're still small enough to get jacked by a tough first man.

Oh, Miles, honey, look at those elbows and those knees.

Baby, go put on some lotion. You look like you've been crawling around in

Girl, if you don't sit up and act like you got some good sense... Daddy, I

know why you're sending me to this new school, but if it's about Q, we're not

together anymore. Tell him, Hakeem.

Oh, yeah, homeboy kicked her to the curb.

No, he didn't. All I have to do is snap my fingers and Q will come running.

Then go away, honey. Look,

Moesha, I... Daddy, I'm over Q.

I'm only into vows now.

Hey, well, I'm glad to hear that, Vanna.

But you're still going to Bridgewood.

Good morning.

Hi, Mrs. Mitchell. Hi.

Is Mo still here?

The first time we won't be together ever since kindergarten?

Well, Kim, you were going to have to split up sometime.

Mo's going to college.

Well, I don't know what he's talking about. I just got recruited to the

Institute of Leimert.

Mo, we brought you some farewell gifts.

Balloons, how sweet. Yeah, you guys are the best.

Oh, yeah, Mo, I bought you something, too. But I'm waiting for the markdown.

Everybody say, memories.

Memories.

You take this or you won't forget what we look like. Oh, Kim, I don't need a

picture to remember my friends.

Especially the ones who give me phones.

Girl, that ain't real.

We just didn't want you to feel like you couldn't hang out with all those rich

kids. And you take that out two or three times and you pretend.

And you pretend.

We better bounce, man. We're going to be late.

You know, we have plenty of time.

Not this year. We're walking, remember?

Walking?

Oh, I'm really going to miss you now.

I ain't know we're walking.

Well, I guess I head off to my new school.

Where I'll be all alone and won't know nobody.

Honey, don't go.

Yes.

Yes.

Mary Ellen Hobbs is the daughter of a dear friend of mine. She's going to be

looking out for you to help you get situated so you won't be alone after

Gee, thanks.

Don't mention it.

I'm M. Mitchell.

Hi, M.

I'm right, as always. I just knew he was only an initial. I mean, Moesha is

Trey Ghetto.

The things our parents shackled us with in the moments of Afrocentric madness.

I'm Mary Ellen.

And I'm Moesha.

Oh, so you are.

Oh, I've made a little map for you. Now, you...

are here.

Follow the red dots to class, the bathrooms are outlined in pink, and the

machine's in green.

Oh, that's my cell number in the upper corner in case you get lost.

You do have a cell phone, don't you?

Don't we all?

See ya.

Um, here's a tip.

Lose the brains.

It's so south of Olympic, east of La Brea.

Oh, and here's a little tip for you.

Lose the bad attitude because it's just after trouble and east of you don't want

any.

Hey, Moesha.

Haley.

Look, I'm really sorry for leaving you at the concert. I couldn't find you.

Oh, forget about it. I had a great time.

Much better than the whack parties they throw around here.

And the after party was really cool.

You went to the after set?

Absolutely. I was the only white girl. It was a fantasy come true.

Just kidding. Madonna was there, too.

What happened to you?

You met my father, girl. Curfew. Don't you have one?

The father or the curfew?

No, we don't have curfews. We have credit cards, and we do whatever we

Good morning, class.

Welcome back to Bridgewood.

I'm Mr. Passmore, and I'm your homeroom teacher.

Good morning, Mr.

Padmore. Very good.

Now, I'm sure you all had a wonderful summer, but I don't want to hear about

your vacations to Martha's Vineyard, Europe, or the Bahamas, since I wasn't

to afford a bus trip to Downey.

Now, before I make the announcements, I want you all to meet a new student.

And since I have no idea how to pronounce your name, why don't you stand

introduce yourself?

Hi.

I'm Moesha Mitchell, and...

I don't want to be here.

Well, that makes two of us.

Okay, these are your class schedules.

And I believe that we have an announcement coming up from the class

committee. Mary Ellen.

This year's trip is too petty. Oh, and your deposit of $1 ,000 is due by

tomorrow. And please, no post -dated checks.

Is this girl for real?

Parts of her are.

Hold it, hold it. One last announcement, which I know is going to disappoint

you. No class until tomorrow morning due to a faculty meeting.

So go on, get out of here. I love you. I mean it.

Excuse me, but there's been a mistake on my schedule.

You don't have me down for AP History.

Oh, Moesha, if you want advanced placement, you have to take the exam.

Why? I was taking AP History at Crenshaw.

Great, then continue to take it there. But there's no way you'll make it back

here in time for your second period English class.

You can take the exam now.

All right.

You have an hour.

It won't take that long.

Hey, Adele. Hey.

I like what you did with your hair.

I didn't do anything.

That's why I like it.

It's natural.

You must take me for a natural fool. What do you want?

Directness to the point.

That's what I like.

A fine woman with a keen business sense.

Yeah.

That's me.

Bye.

Remember that set we've been talking about?

Mm -hmm. How much are you going to charge us? I told y 'all, $300.

Oh, come on, Adele.

I mean, we providing our own security, and I got to be worth something.

Boy, ain't nobody scared of y 'all.

Look, Andy, now you know how hot it gets in here. You're going to sell a lot of

smoothies.

$125 when you keep all the concessions. I was going to do that anyway.

$150.

Now get out of my face before I change my mind.

Hey, what's up, Mom?

Hi, Q. Hey, we're throwing a set in here in a few weeks.

Maybe you could roll through.

I'll check my schedule, okay? Yeah, make sure you check your pocketbook, too,

because it's going to cost you a tenth of it.

I will, right after you check your refrigerator.

Now, she'll give me a free.

Hey. Hey.

Give us a dirt. What's going on at Cushaw? Well, most of it's about you.

Everybody's talking about how you sold out and crossed over to the other side.

Mm -hmm. Too good for your friends. You know, they're calling you the Oscar de

la Hoya of Leimert. Mm -hmm.

Look at me. See, that's just her way of saying that she misses you. Like

Crenshaw's nothing without you.

Yeah. See, Kim didn't realize how much she did. I mean, we don't have a class

secretary, a newspaper editor.

Or all -around goody -two -shoes. We miss you, Mo. Mm -hmm.

We need your voice. I mean, they talk about making a class trip to El Segundo.

Well, look, y 'all, as long as Q is there, my dad is not going to let me

back to Crenshaw.

Um, $100 can solve that problem.

I know people.

Well, that's my daddy you're trying to rob out, Godmama.

I was talking about Q.

Baby, we got to do something, Mo. Tell your dad you're in a culture shock, that

you can't cope with the pressures of being in a Eurocentric society, that you

yearn for the nurturing atmosphere of the cultural -compatible Crenshaw High.

So what you going to do?

Aside from the moral and cultural implications, going to Crenshaw for the

two years makes good business sense. The $32 ,000 plus you would save would be

enough to finance four years at the University of California campus of my

choice.

Or ten.

Or... Enough to feed Hakeem three meals a day for the next five years. Give or

take a few snacks.

That's what I'm talking about.

In conclusion, although I'm thankful for the opportunity to attend such a fine

school like Bridgewood, I can't in good conscience hog such a large portion of

your hard -earned resources.

Therefore... For the good of the family, I am willing to make the ultimate

sacrifice and remain at Crenshaw. Thank you.

Yeah, say that.

Say that.

Moesha, that was a very convincing presentation.

Don't you think so, Frank? Mm -hmm, compelling.

Especially the part where Hakeem eats up all our food.

Nobody knows, remember, she was desperate.

I mean, she'll do anything to get out of Bridgewood.

You know, this is nice, Mo, but you're going back, baby.

Daddy, I don't even have AP history.

Oh, Mr. Passmore called. He said you did very well on your placement exam, and

you got AP history.

See, Daddy?

Chris, your education did all that.

Baby, I'm not changing my mind.

Come on, traitor.

Hey, hey, hey.

A brother gotta eat.

The First Amendment guarantees our right to freedom of speech.

Yet one cannot yell fire in a crowded theater if there isn't one.

Now, which of the following efforts is the artistic equivalent of yelling fire?

Rush Limbaugh?

Fire. His views are needlessly inflammatory.

Well, not if you bat from the right side of the political plate.

Base hits for the young Republican.

Beavis and Butthead do America.

Ew, they're gross. Fire.

Free speech at its finest, dude.

I like the part where the guy hires them as hitmen to do his wife and those

idiots thought he meant... Anyway, fine film. Fine film.

Wu -Tang Forever.

Powering Inferno. The rap is ablaze, raging out of control. It should be

According to who?

You. Yeah, that's not what free speech is about.

You're supposed to be able to say whatever you feel regardless of what

else thinks.

Or else we'd all still be dancing to the Beach Boys.

At least we wouldn't be subjected to vulgar, unimaginative lyrics that

violence. Oh, right. That's what Will Smith is rapping about.

Do you think rap should be protected by the First Amendment?

Yes, I do.

And I also think that some objections to rap are motivated largely by racism.

Oh, here we go.

If all else fails, play the race card.

You can only play the hand that you're dealt.

Well, maybe you're in the wrong game.

Why are you here anyway?

Yeah.

Why am I?

Mo. Moesha.

Moesha.

your parents? Yeah. I don't really care what they say. See, I'm going to

complete my term as newspaper editor.

Too late.

Taylor's the new editor.

Taylor? Oh, she'll turn it into a tabloid. Oh, we'll be lucky.

Well, at least I'm still class secretary.

Um, we just nominated Kim, the class secretary.

Oh, that's cool.

That'll free me up to work on the class trip because I know y 'all still don't

want to go to El Segundo, so...

I was thinking maybe if we have a bake sale, we can raise enough money to go to

San Diego.

Oh, that's cute.

But Nisi got a bomb idea.

See, we're going to solicit donations from the local businesses, including

dad, so that we can go to Jamaica, Mom.

So, uh,

we're throwing a set, right? Yeah, we wanted the finest girls on the campus to

work the door.

I used to work the door.

Bring a hallway and go to class.

Move along.

Hi, Coach Vines.

Don't. Hi, Coach Vines me.

Either show me some student ID or you have to leave my school.

Coach Vines, it's me, Moesha Mitchell. I used to be a student here.

Used to doesn't count.

Honey, is she here yet? No, Dee.

Baby, I can't believe Mo walked out of class.

Moesha, we need to talk, baby.

We know you're at Crenshaw today.

Yeah, but I'm not going back.

I felt like Jodie Foster in contact.

It's like I was never there.

They don't need me.

I'll just go to Bridgewood where no one likes me.

Guess it all comes under the heading, life isn't fair.

No, it comes under the heading, you're grounded for a week.

That's what I said.

Life isn't fair.

I'll be there.

Well, this is the final entry into my diary because life as I know it is truly

over.

From here on out, I will walk alone without the benefit of companion or

Moesha, you have a guest.

Hey. Hi.

Oh, since you bailed, I thought you might need the homework assignment.

Thanks, but you didn't have to come out of your way.

Oh, I didn't.

I'm seeing one of the guys I met at the after party.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that you were okay.

I'm fine.

Good. See you tomorrow, then?

I'll be there.

Relax. I can find my own way out.

Okay. Looks like I have one friend.