Original subtitles

♪ Whoa whoa whoa oh oh-h-h ♪

Uh, Vicky, I'd love to but, uh, oh, yeah...

I'd love to come over and see you tonight but unfortunately

I'm, uh, I'm babysittin'.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, well, I kinda got roped into it.

Uh, well, honey, if I'd have known that

I would've made other plans.

Uh, Vicky, believe it or not, I'm babysittin'. Yeah.

Okay, okay, I gotta go. I gotta go. Bye. Bye.

Babysittin', Joey, you?

Yup, Roc. I'm babysittin'.

Hello, baby.

♪ Them that's got shall have ♪

♪ Them that's not shall lose ♪

♪ So the Bible says ♪

♪ And it still is news ♪

♪ Mama may have ♪

♪ Papa may have ♪

♪ But God bless the child ♪

♪ That's got his own ♪

♪ That's got his own ♪ Them that's got shall get ♪

♪ Them that's not shall lose ♪ God bless the child ♪

♪ Them that's got shall get ♪

♪ Got his own ♪ Them that's not shall lose ♪

♪ Whoa oh oh-h-h ♪

- Oh, hey, son. - Hey, pop. Where you been?

Oh, down at the senior center

discussing our annual fundraising event.

You're not gonna sell raffle tickets again, are you?

- Nah! - Good.

'Cause I never win those things.

'Cause you never buy.

Well, I don't believe in gambling.

They didn't build those hotels in Atlantic City off winners.

What?

I heard Joey say that.

So if you're not gonna sell

raffle tickets, what are you gonna do?

We're gonna mount a theatrical production.

A play? Ha, ha! Which one are you gonna do?

Well, we don't know.

Now, I suggested "Hair."

But everybody else was worried about

the audience reaction to us doing that nude scene.

So, we're just gonna look for a vehicle

that has roles for folks our age.

Oh! This play thing sounds like a good idea.

Hey, you gonna be in it?

Well, they asked me to audition.

I have a lot of marquee value.

Yeah, that's nice, pop.

Uh, listen, son

I've been workin' on a little monologue

wanna hear it?

"Out...

"...out, brief candle!

"Life is but a walking shadow.

"A poor player...

"...that struts and frets his hour upon the stage...

"...and then is heard...

...no more."

Well, what do you think?

Pop, I'll buy every raffle ticket you got.

What do you know about...

Eleanor, how long are you gonna stare out that window?

Roc, I am tellin' you, it is something strange

goin' on across the street.

I hate to say it but...

...I think our new neighbors are dealing drugs.

Oh, come on, Eleanor. We got a clean block here.

Roc, the first thing they did when they moved in

was put bars up on the windows.

Hey, they're security conscious.

Well, how do you explain all those people

comin' and goin' at all hours of the day and night?

Roc, I'm telling you, they are dealing.

Oh, come on, Eleanor. You're jumping to conclusions.

Yeah, maybe there's a more innocent explanation.

- Like what? - Well...

He could be just fencing stolen goods.

No, pop, come on now.

Roc, I'm sorry.

Maybe, you know, with the way things are today

I'm just being a little bit paranoid.

I understand your concern, sweetheart.

That's one of the main reasons we moved here

because this was a safe neighborhood.

Right.

Hey, hey, hey! You know those new people across the street?

- Yeah. - They tried to sell me drugs.

What? Damn! You hear that, Eleanor?

Yeah, Roc. I heard it. Who would have ever suspected it?

- Damn, Roc. I feel terrible. - Yeah, I know.

Man, if I know you lived in this bad a neighborhood

I'd have stayed in New York.

- I'm not in the mood, Joey. - Alright, alright.

Well, Roc, what are we gonna do?

I'm gonna go over there and let them know

that we don't want their kind on our block.

There's a lot of hard working people living here.

Yeah, Roc, but you can't go over there empty-handed.

Like I'm gonna go bring them a house-warming gift.

No, Roc, I mean a gun.

Them cats got automatic weapons.

And they'll use 'em too.

No, Roc, Joey's right.

You can't go there

sticking your nose in their stuff.

It is dangerous. You could get hurt.

- What am I supposed to do? - Call the police.

Oh, come on, Eleanor. Let's face it.

They're not gonna come down to this neighborhood

because one guy calls 'em up and tells 'em

that there's drug dealing going on.

Yeah, I'm sorry to say it, but he's right, sis.

- This is a case of bad timing. - What do you mean?

Well, the only time you ever read about drug busts

is when someone's runnin' for office.

Yeah, too bad this ain't a local election year.

Hey, besides, if we do call the police

and those punks find out, they could retaliate.

Oh, don't listen to Joey, son.

If you see something illegal goin' on

'it's your responsibility to yourself and to the community'

to do something about it.

It's that apathetic attitude

that got us into this mess today.

Yeah. Roc, call the police.

A lot of good that'll do.

Now, look, the only reason I called you

in the first place, sergeant, is because my wife made me.

The watch commander told me a week ago

that you'd look into it!

Now look, before you tell me that you're too busy

that you're understaffed, let me tell you something.

I don't care!

I wanna see results!

Yeah, I want 'em outta here.

I want them off my street.

Why do I listen to Eleanor?

'Cause you're married to her.

- Eleanor, where have you been? - To the market.

Eleanor, I thought I told you I don't

want you goin' out by yourself.

Roc, we cannot be prisoners in our own house.

Well, he is.

Roc, that's a different story now.

The truth is, Eleanor, things are getting ugly out there.

You know, old man Junior Barnett down the street

had his house broken into last night.

- He did? - That's it. I'm goin' over.

- Roc, you can't go there alone. - Come on, Joey. Go with me.

I-I don't know. He's a big guy. He can do it by himself.

Seriously, Roc. Roc, I got a better idea, okay?

- Yeah, what? - I was watching TV the other--

- Where do you find the time? - Please, Roc, now.

Yeah, alright.

Anyway, I was switching channels, right.

I found this report on these people in Detroit

who get together and took the neighborhood

back from the crack dealers.

Yeah, they demonstrated, they picketed

in front of the crack house.

It drew so much attention

they drove away the business.

- They left. - They did?

- Mm-hmm. - Good for them.

- Roc, we can do the same thing. - Yeah, yeah. Maybe we could.

I mean, I'm sure everybody in this neighborhood

is as upset about this as we are.

Look, we'll get everybody together

and hold a neighborhood meeting here tonight.

- There you go. - Joey, this is good!

Sittin' in front of the TV all day has finally paid off.

What else did they say?

I don't know. I had to switch back to the "Bikini Open."

Just disgusting.

I didn't work hard all my life to bring you kids up

to live in a world where black people destroy each other.

- What's wrong now, pop? - Oh!

New neighbors across the street.

Uh, it looks like they really set up shop.

It's busier than ever over there.

Well, pop, I think we came up

with a way to get rid of them.

Well, I hope so, son

'cause it'd be a damn shame

to see the same thing happening on this street

that happened over on Central.

'They destroyed that neighborhood.'

All that's left is a bunch of burned-out buildings.

So what are you gonna do?

We'll get everybody in the neighborhood together, pop

now we gonna march in front of that house

until we put 'em outta business.

Well, that's great, son. I'm with you.

Well, whatever it takes to get that filth off our block.

And I'll make sure that everybody

down at the senior center knows about it too.

- Alright, pop. - Oh, that's right.

You were auditioning for that play. How did it go?

Oh, Eleanor, you wouldn't believe it.

Even in a little theatre group like ours

the casting couch still exists.

Why, that's awful.

Oh, I don't know.

I got the part.

Son, what are you doin'?

That food's for the guests.

I'm a guest, pop.

How you figure that?

I live here. I don't pay rent. Ergo, I'm a guest.

So I guess that makes me a guest, too.

I guess you're right.

This is a really great turnout. Baby, I'm so proud of you.

Yeah, thanks, Eleanor.

I'm tellin' you, when we're through

they're gonna be sorry they moved into this neighborhood.

Alright, let's get this thing started.

Okay. Come on.

Um, could I, uh

could I have your attention, everyone?

Um...

I just wanna thank everyone

for coming out on such a short notice

but, uh, we've got a serious problem in our neighborhood.

I guess you all know that drug dealers moved in

right across the street.

Yeah.

I don't know about you people

but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let them

destroy my neighborhood.

I mean, look what it's done everywhere else.

There's gotta be a point

where we just don't stand for it anymore!

Right, right.

'And there's already been robberies.'

And it's only a matter of time

until it won't be safe to leave the house anymore.

'As a matter of fact'

I'm surprised some of you came here tonight.

We had to, Roc. Something's gotta be done.

That's right, Eddie, that's right

if we sit by and do nothing

it won't be long till they completely take over.

Now we gotta show them that we're tougher than they are.

- So what are we gonna do? - We're gonna band together.

We're gonna demonstrate.

We're gonna picket in front of that house

every day and night.

- Right. - 'We're gonna take pictures.'

We're gonna write down license plate numbers.

'We're gonna form a car patrol'

'we'll get into our cars'

'and we'll blow our horns'

every time we see a drug deal going down.

Whatever it takes, okay? That'll drive 'em out.

Other folks have done it. It worked in Detroit.

- Now what do you say? - What about it, people?

- Picketing? Demonstrate? - Absolutely! Yes!

Are you crazy, Roc?

These people can hurt us. They got guns.

Eddie's right. I live next door to them.

Now, if I go down there picketing and demonstrating

in front of their house, they're gonna be coming after me.

- 'That's right.' - I got children to think of.

I'm thinking about you and your children.

'You can't be afraid.'

If we stick together, it'll work.

I mean, there's strength in numbers.

My brother's right. Come on, y'all!

No, no! I don't know, Roc.

- What good is it gonna do? - Now you see?

You see, that's just it.

You're playing into what they want.

I mean, people, they're counting on us

to sit by and do nothing.

And the longer we do that, the worse it's gonna get.

I thought you had a plan.

I mean, you're trying to get us killed.

I didn't come down here to put my life on the line.

Tomasine...

If you just sit by and do nothing...

...your life is already on the line.

No, no, I'm not interested.

You know, they probably know we're here now.

I'm gonna take my chance.

- 'Hey, hey, hold on!' - I can't believe this.

I can't believe you people

are turning your backs on this thing.

Walking away is not the answer.

You'd know that, you saw what I see every day at that hospital.

I'm talking drug overdoses, gunshot victims

babies born addicted to this awful thing.

And if you think you're safe by doing nothing then you're crazy.

Now, come on, people. Come on. Trust me now. We can beat 'em.

You be the hero, Roc.

Damn fools.

Can you believe this?

They all left. Nobody's with us.

I'm with you, my brother.

Yeah, who are you?

I'm Ronnie Paxton.

I live on the next block. I like what you said up there.

Yeah, but you're the only one.

Man, it's not your fault.

You know what I'm saying, those people right there

they just straight scared.

They're gonna go home, and hide and hope it goes away.

- That's a fact of life. - Yeah, yeah.

Well, I'm not gonna shut my eyes

and pretend it's not happening.

This is something I'm gonna fight.

Yeah. Well, I hear you, man.

And what you're sayin' is absolutely right.

It's just sometimes, you gotta say it a little louder.

How's that?

Bang, bang.

Now, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up.

Look, look, Ronnie, I appreciate your spirit.

I mean, that's good but this isn't the way to deal with it.

Now, I'm telling you now, a peaceful demonstration

is the way to do it. It worked in Detroit.

Okay, my brother.

But if you ever need my help, I'm only a block away.

And just remember, this worked in Chicago.

♪ Whoa whoa whoa oh oh-h-h ♪

I can't believe.

No one in this neighborhood cares enough

about our community to take a stand.

Listen, Roc, I know it's just hard to sit by

and watch that stuff going on across the street

but maybe we just have to wait

and eventually hope the police will do something.

Eleanor, you know that's not gonna happen.

Besides, black folks never got anywhere waiting.

Oh, pop's right, Eleanor.

Just ain't my style to sit and wait around, you know.

Maybe I can't stop 'em from selling drugs.

But I certainly can tell 'em what I think of 'em.

Oh, yeah? How you gonna do that, Roc?

- I'm goin' over there. - 'Say what? '

Oh, son, wait, you aren't serious.

Damn right, I'm serious, pop.

- Roc, are you crazy? - Maybe, Eleanor.

- But I gotta do something. - I know you wanna do something.

- But this ain't it. - I ain't scared of them punks.

I am. You go out that door looking for trouble.

They're gonna kill you.

I'm sorry, Eleanor.

Hey, look, if you came for the meeting, it's over.

Everybody left.

Yeah, well, we are here for the meeting.

Parenthetically.

What?

What I'm trying to say, man, is, uh...

...I think we're the reason for your meeting.

We're your new neighbors.

I'm Andre.

What's up?

This is what you little punks look like up close, huh?

Now, Roc. Um, listen, he didn't mean that.

Just go away and leave us alone, okay?

It's cool.

We just came by to talk.

You know, trying to be a little neighborly

you know what I'm sayin'?

Least y'all could do is invite us in.

Where's your home training, G?

We ain't got none for the likes...

Come on, pop. Come on, pop.

You wanna talk? You wanna talk, we'll talk?

- There. Let's go, fellas. - Yeah, but just you.

Alright, y'all wait for me back at the crib, man.

This will be easy.

Okay, Mr. Big shot, uh, crack dealer.

Let's talk.

Yeah, that's cool but, uh... Just you.

- I ain't goin' nowhere. - Me either.

Roc, I don't want him in this house at all.

Much less alone with you.

It's okay, Eleanor. It's okay.

I can handle this little punk.

Now, pop, please.

I want you and Joey to take Eleanor upstairs.

- Oh, no. - I ain't happy with this, son.

Pop, pop, please.

Come on, Eleanor.

You remember, son, I'll be right at the top of the stairs.

Save your breath, Roc.

I've seen too many of my friends go down with the help

of suckers like this, I ain't going nowhere.

It's okay. It's alright, Joey. It's alright.

It's alright.

Now let me break this down to you, G.

I got a nice little thing going

across the street, you understand?

And I don't need somebody like you messing things up

with your little phone calls to the police

and your stupid-ass block parties.

This ain't none of your damn business, man.

You understand? I'm trying to get paid, you understand?

And I don't need you buttin' into my affairs.

I thought this was a nice neighborhood, man.

Yeah, it was a nice neighborhood.

It's always been a nice neighborhood.

Yeah, well, I hear what you're saying, brother.

But I'm a businessman. You know what I mean?

- You're a businessman? - That's right.

Is that what you call yourself? You ain't no businessman.

You're a murderer and you're killin' your own people.

Now you may have done your killin' some place else

but it ain't happening here.

Why you trying to be a hero, man?

Huh?

I mean, it look like you got it bad enough as it is.

Working a lousy job, bustin' your ass

pickin' up people's garbage.

Got your brother and your father on your back.

Yeah, how do you know about all that?

You watching me...

...I'm watching you.

Alright, G, I'm sorry, man. Look...

Let's cut through all the crap, alright?

I'm gonna make things real easy for you, man.

How much they payin' you down at that

little funky garbage dump?

- You think you can buy me off? - I'm trying, G.

I don't want your damn money.

You know, I'll empty trash cans

for the rest of my life

before I take money from you.

Well, I got drugs, homey. What do you need?

Listen to me, you little filthy punk.

I don't think I made myself clear.

I don't want your drugs, I don't want your money.

I want your sorry ass out of my house and off my street.

Okay, Roc, now you gotta stop this now.

Stay outta this, Eleanor.

I don't think you wanna do this, G.

Oh, yeah, I've been wanting to do this ever since you moved.

No, I don't think you wanna find one of these loved ones

of yours in one of those garbage cans...

- Roc! - Roc!

Huh?

If you ever so much as look in their direction

I'll run down on you, I'll break your back.

- Don't hurt him. - Are you crazy?

- You don't know how crazy I am. - Roc, let him go, please.

- Alright, son. Come on. - Okay. Okay.

Yeah.

Well, it's obvious, we're not gonna be able

to work this out tonight, alright?

You see, you, you don't seem to understand.

See, we ain't got nothing to work out.

I want you gone from here. That's my bottom line!

And I'm gonna lean on you every day till you're outta here.

I'm gonna be in your face every day and every night.

When you close your eyes, all you're gonna see is me.

No matter how long it takes.

Even if it kills me!

Yeah.

Well, it just might...

...trash man.

It just might.

♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah whoo ♪

- Hey, kids. - Hey, pop.

Daddy, I thought I told you to come around the back way now.

Who knows when those creeps are gonna try to get back at us?

Oh, hell no, I'm not backing down.

I'm not livin' my life in a constant state of fear

'cause of those punks across the street.

Besides, I forgot.

I guess I couldn't think straight

with all that going on across the street

and this community center fiasco.

Why, what's wrong, pop?

Oh, they finally decided on doin' a play.

And I of course, had to quit.

Why is that, pop?

Oh, they're doin' "Driving Miss Daisy."

Oh, daddy, that's a... interesting play.

What's wrong with that?

What's wrong with that?

I ain't sitting on no stool for two hours

pretending to drive no wrinkled up old white lady

to no piggly-wiggly.

I heard you, daddy, but it is just a play.

Yeah, that's what white folks want you to believe.

Anything happenin' around here, son?

No, pop. Things have been pretty quiet across the street.

We just waitin' to see what's gonna happen next.

Eleanor was discussing some alternatives

to the situation.

What do you mean?

She thinks we should live somewhere else.

And Roc thinks we should die here.

Ain't nobody gonna die, Eleanor.

And I ain't runnin' away.

I got it. I got it. I got it.

Yeah, who is it?

'It's Ronnie Paxton from the meeting.'

Yeah, I recognize that voice.

- Hey! - Hey!

- 'Hey, Ronnie!' - What's up, bro?

- How you doin'? - How you doin', brother?

- What's going on? - Hey, Ronnie.

- How are you? - Hey, Ronnie.

- How you doin', Mr. Emerson? - So, what's up?

That's my question.

What do you mean?

You must have done something.

Did you see your friends from across the street over there?

- They packed up and moved away. - They did?

That's right. Don't tell me you didn't know that.

Well, no!

- They're gone! - Like the wind.

Tell me, what'd you do?

- Well, I didn't do anything. - Of course you did, Roc.

You stood up to that punk, you got right in his face.

He knew you weren't gonna back down,

I guess he was afraid of you.

He's afraid you'd mess up his business.

You see, for these cats, it's just a lot easier for them

to take their business elsewhere.

Alright! That's great!

I feel good, Eleanor! Yeah!

I don't mean to burst your bubble

or anything like that, my brother.

But if I were you, I wouldn't be too happy about that.

- Why not? They're gone! - They're not gone, man.

You just moved the problem somewhere else.

Well, yeah, yeah, maybe that's true but it's a start.

And if that's what it takes...

...we're just gonna have to win back our neighborhoods

one block at a time.

- Now, that's the spirit, son. - Yeah.

One block at a time.

And by any means necessary.