Original subtitles

- Hey, baby! - 'Oh, hey, sweetheart.'

- Hiya, pops. - 'Hey, son.'

You just in time. Suzanne and Robin will be here any minute.

It's too bad Sheila visiting her aunt

I know she'd just love to meet little Robin.

Yeah. Well, I can't wait to see 'em.

Honey, you sure you're okay about Suzanne coming to visit?

Well, why shouldn't I be? Heh!

Look, I can look past the fact that you know when

you know, you two were in nursing school

she practically, you know, begged you not to marry me

'cause she thought I'd ruin your life.

Yeah, sounds like he's gotten over it to me.

I think I'll turn in early tonight.

So I won't be in the line of fire.

Oh, come on, pop, don't be silly, look.

I mean, it's water under the bridge, you know...

I mean, you know, let, let... What's done is done.

You know, let sleeping dogs lie.

Bygones be bygones. You know, I mean, time heals all wounds.

Yeah, you left out, an elephant never forgets.

Don't tease Roc.

He's taken a very mature attitude about this

and I really appreciate him.

Yeah, I am looking forward to seeing Suzanne, you know...

So, uh, she left her job in Chicago, huh?

And now she and her daughter are moving from town to town, huh?

Well, she's hoping to find a permanent

nursing job right here in Baltimore.

Well, that's great, you know, of course

I have lived in Baltimore all my life.

I've been at the same job for nine years.

And she was the one who said I was unstable.

No, no, no, no, who, who, who's keeping track, no?

♪ Baby ♪

♪ There's a man ♪

♪ With no future so it seems ♪

♪ Can't live out his dreams ♪

♪ Now he's trapped into thinking ♪

♪ He won't succeed ♪

♪ And he can't believe ♪

♪ Live your life today ♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ Not for tomorrow ♪ Not for tomorrow ♪

♪ Ah ♪ Oh oh oh ♪

♪ Live your life today ♪

Oh, there she is!

There she is!

Look at you, Suzanne!

Oh, look at you!

Oh, girl, no, you ain't had no baby.

- Mm, mm, mm. - Mmm!

And who is this beautiful young woman?

Well, this can't be Robin.

'Cause the last time I saw Robin she was a little bitty baby.

Hi, Aunt Eleanor.

Hi, sweetheart.

- Hello, Suzanne! - Hello, Roc.

- How you doing? - It's nice to see you.

Mm-hmm.

Uh, Roc, this is Robin.

Well, hello, Robin.

You know, you have your mother's good looks.

Nice to meet you, Uncle Roc.

Mommy say you were a garbage man.

If you find something in the garbage that you like

can you keep it?

Well, yeah, yeah. Bu-bu-but-but I never do that.

Oh, Suzanne, this is my father Andrew. He used to live here.

- Oh, how are you, Suzanne? - Nice to meet you too.

Robin.

Oh, girl, where is that beautiful baby of yours?

Oh, you'll get to see him later, he's asleep right now.

But you all have a seat and we're gonna go

and pick some hors d'oeuvre.

Aunt Eleanor, can I help?

I love helping out in the kitchen.

My mom's teaching me how to cook.

What a nice place. Mm.

Roc, you and Eleanor have done alright for yourselves.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I guess we have. Mm-hmm.

I owe you an apology.

I don't know if you remember this

but back when you and Eleanor were dating, heh

I told her it would be a big mistake marrying you.

Oh, you did really? Ha-ha-ha!

Oh, wow. Well, you know, now, that you mention it

you know, I can, I-I can vaguely remember something like that.

Oh, your cough is getting bad, pops, should I drive you home?

I was wrong, Roc.

You're a much different person now, than you were back then.

Oh, well, thank you, thank you! Ha-ha.

Wh-what was wrong with me then?

Oh, nothing was wrong with you, you just

didn't know what you wanted to do with your life.

You didn't know if you wanted to be a boxer

a longshoreman, or work for the city.

Um, yes, so he went for the glamour. A gabarge.

Well, then, I guess, I have changed, you know, but...

You know, I can't believe

that's the only thing you didn't like about me.

Um, what else was wrong with me?

Well, I mean, there were a couple of other things, but...

You know, there's no point getting to that now.

You're right, there's no point. You know, what I mean?

I mean, you know, why, why bother? You know, what I mean?

I mean, after all it's just, just water under the bridge.

So, why don't you tell me what the hell they were?

You know, Roc, I don't know if you remember this?

But you used to be really cheap.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah. You had a bad temper.

- Mm-hmm. - Roc? Cheap and angry? No!

You were also stubborn, opinionated, self-righteous--

Eleanor, could you hurry up with the food?

Here it is.

I made these special for you.

Well, thank you, you know...

You know, that you can come stay here anytime you like.

Well, I see, you still like your food.

Water under the bridge. Water under the bridge.

And then in Cleveland I got laid off

because of some budget cuts.

I tell you, Eleanor, I'm just so tired of moving.

Hmm. Well, don't you worry about a thing.

I'll watch Robin tomorrow so you can go on those interviews.

Yeah, and I know you wanna get some rest for those interviews.

So why don't you just, uh, get on out of here.

Hey, Roc. Hey, sis.

Hey... now. Hey, how you doing?

Roc, sis?

Aren't you gonna introduce me to your beautiful guest?

Oh, yeah. Suzanne, Joey, Joey, Suzanne. Get out.

- Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you too.

And who is this little cutie here?

Ah, wait a minute, I see the family resemblance.

- Y'all sisters, right? - Joey!

This woman is a very good friend of mine

she deserves a better line than that.

Mm-hmm, he'll think of a better one tomorrow. Okay.

- I see y'all tomorrow, Suzanne. - Bye-bye.

- Okay. Bye, sweetheart. - Bye.

Oh, wasn't it nice to see Suzanne again?

Oh, yeah, it's great seeing her, you know.

It's amazing how she hasn't changed in all these years.

Here we go again.

- Begging cab fare. - Oh, Roc.

- Oh, hey, Evelyn. - Hi, Roc.

Hey, everybody, it's Terrance Lambert's mom.

- Evelyn. - Evelyn, how you doing?

I'm hanging in there.

It was hard coming here.

Hard standing on the steps where Terrance was shot.

But I had to come and tell you.

They've charge Damon Evans with Terrance's murder.

- Oh, thank, God. Thank, God. - That's good, that's good.

- Roc? - Hmm.

Do you think you can get me in there to see Damon?

I just got to know why he killed my, my boy.

Please.

Uh, Damon.

I'm Roc Emerson.

This is Mrs. Lambert, Terrance's mother.

You mind if she ask you a few questions?

She can ask me anything she want

don't mean I'm gonna tell her nothing.

I remember you.

I remember when you were a little boy

playing in the schoolyard.

Did you know Terrance?

'He was such a sensitive kid.'

He never left for school without giving me a hug and a kiss.

One day he forgot

he was halfway to school and he ran all the way back home.

Then he said, "I know, I gonna be late for school mama.."

...but I forgot your hug and kiss."

Now, because of you he's gone...

...and you sitting up there...

...like you don't give a damn about my boy being dead.

I don't understand.

I lost my son because of a... a jacket--

Jacket, my ass, I got him back for pointing that gun on me.

I don't care about doing no time

ain't no big thing no way.

Ain't like I killed no white boy

so what if I get ten years?

I'll only be 25 when I get out.

It's just like what Andre Thompson said

"You can't have no room in your heart for no remorse."

So, I'm gonna be like Andre.

Andre Thompson, huh?

So, those are your idols, huh? Drug dealers?

Yeah, sure ain't nobody like you.

Now, take the string and pull.

Take the string and.. Aye, aye, pop. Pop, check this...

Oh, shoot! I thought I had it that time.

Don't worry, Joey, you'll get it.

It took me half my lifetime to learn how to do this.

Yeah, you right. I will get it.

Because you are a great teacher, alright? Show me that again.

Joey, do you really wanna do this?

Or are you just try to be nice to me

so you can get a date with my mommy.

Oh! Huh?

- Uh... - Well, look at that, Joey.

Even a little 8-year-old girl can see right through you.

Now, when Robin and I get settled

we gonna have to have you over for dinner.

Uh-uh. Not unless you learn how to cook.

Only cook I know who ruined a bag of potato chips.

Oh, I should get Robin and go back to the hotel.

Okay, Suzanne, you know

you never did give me your number over there.

Oh, girl, I'll give it to you right now. I got it right here.

Let me see.

I got it.

Suzanne, did that bottle prescription say AZT on?

Yeah, that's what it said.

Eleanor, I'm HIV positive.

Suzanne...

Andre, you gotta do this.

Look, I told you I am not going nowhere to talk to nobody

about nothing, that's none of my business, man!

It is your business, Andre. That boy worships you.

Who do you think is gonna come here and straighten this out?

You think Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are going to come back

and get these kids to stop killing each other?

That's not gonna happen, it's gonna happen

when guys like you start to tell the truth.

Andre guys like you can do more than any movie

any television show, or any politician, to get these kids

to understand that life is a precious thing.

That kid Damon is about to go to the penitentiary

for killing another kid.

Proud that he is following in your footsteps

and you're gonna sit here and tell me

"It's none of your business!"

Man, Suzanne's got it rough, huh?

I mean she's HIV positive and she gotta trying to raise

that little girl all by herself.

I think that's the reason she keeps losing her jobs.

Huh, what I don't understand is

why the government and the medical establishment

don't put the money and the time into

finding a cure for this thing, once and for all.

I don't know, pop.

Well, hello, you guys.

- Hey, Joey. - Hey, Robin.

Thanks for doing this, Eleanor.

Oh, Suzanne, don't you even mention it.

Joey.

I wanna thank you for being so nice to my little girl.

Oh, well, she's a real special little girl to us.

- Okay. - Alright.

Joey, can I have some potato chips?

Oh, sure, hey. Right in here.

Now, Suzanne, if any of these landlords

want a character reference--

- I'mma give 'em your number. - You better.

Oh, this family is so special. Thank you, Joey.

Okay.

Okay, Suzanne, we will catch you later, hon.

'Okay.'

So, Robin, honey, you must be hungry. You want some lunch?

Yes, thank you. But can I make it?

I just learned how to make grilled cheese sandwiches.

The trick is you put butter on both sides of the bread.

Eureka! We've been doing it wrong for thirty years.

Right. Ha-ha-ha.

You wanna wait for me in the kitchen, dear?

- Okay. - Okay.

Alright.

So, Joey, guess you don't want Suzanne's phone number now, huh?

What you talking about?

Do you know what you were doing to Suzanne?

Yeah, I know what I was doing. I was avoiding touching here.

Okay, I am not proud of that sis, but I couldn't help it.

I've never been around nobody with AIDS virus before.

Joey, you know you can't get it just by touching someone.

I know, I know that.

But this disease scares me, sis.

Like it scares all the people that

discriminate against Suzanne.

So, I guess, I'm no better than they are, huh?

Look, I'm gonna make some calls about some jobs for Suzanne.

You mind making Robin some lunch?

- I'll do that. - Alright.

And that poor little girl though.. Man.

Can I talk with him for a second. Just one second.

- My man, what's up, boy? - Hey, Andre, what's up?

What's you doing here?

You ain't got to worry about me, you know I could do ten years

day for day standing on my head.

Heh-heh, I hear you.

You gonna do ten years, day for day in somebody's arms.

You little punk sissy.

What do you know about the penitentiary?

You ever been in jail before?

You know the dos and don'ts of making it in a penitentiary?

I didn't think so.

Let me tell you something.

You won't last ten days in here.

What you gonna do? Take your little gun with you when they

put you in the cell with a grown man? A real killer?

Somebody who's been in about 15 years already.

And is doing life and don't give a damn about nothing or nobody.

What you gonna do when he grabs you?

Can you fight without that gun, you little punk?

What you gonna do when you start screaming for the guards

and the guards don't come?

You can't call for your mama in the penitentiary.

And let me tell you something else.

After he finishes with you...

...he is gonna pass you around to all his buddies.

Then what you gonna do, you little sissy punk?

So, you got a big kick out of

the most sissified, cowardly way to take somebody out.

A drive by shooting.

Where all kinds of innocent people get shot.

So, if you wanna be like me, you can't.

'Cause the difference is I'm a man

and you're just a little punk.

Do you know what it is like being me?

I spent the best years of my life in a penitentiary.

I wasted my whole youth just like you about to do.

Do you know how many times I've been shot?

I got a hole in my lung right now and I walk with a cane.

Do you know how it feels to wake up every morning not knowing

weather one of your enemies or your friends

is gonna put a bullet in the back of your head?

Do you know how that feels?

No, you don't really wanna be like me

'cause you ain't got the heart.

And since I know you ain't got the heart

I'mma help you out, boy.

Now, this is what you gonna have to do.

First thing...

I want you to ask the man to put you in protective custody.

Then I want you to pick up a Bible and some school books

and get yourself a damn education while you're in here.

And then I want you to write the judge once a month

and let him know how you progressing

in the right direction.

You understand that?

And when you find it in your heart

I want you to write that boy's mother and you tell her

that you have to spend your entire life begging her

to forgive you, then that's what you're gonna do.

That's your only chance for surviving in here for ten years.

Now, get out of my face.

Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

Hey, hip-hop, did you have a good nap?

Yes, thank you. Joey, what time is it?

It's a little after 4 o'clock.

Is my mommy here? I need to take my allergy medicine.

No, no, baby. She is not here. But she'll be back soon.

Oh, no, I was supposed to get my medicine from her

before she left, and I forgot.

Well, I'm sure it's gonna be okay.

No, it's not okay, I always take my medicine

every day at 3 o'clock and I can't be late.

What's the problem, honey?

Uh, Suzanne has a medicine, she says she needs it.

Okay, honey.

Now, what kind of medicine is it? Are you sick?

I've allergies, I need to take my medicine. I have to have it.

Okay, honey. It's gonna be alright, okay?

Yeah, you'll be fine. Your mom will be here soon, okay?

Oh, Suzanne.. Um...

Mommy, I forgot to get my allergy medicine from you.

It's okay, baby, It's okay.

Robin, why don't you go on in the kitchen and get yourself

some water so you can take your medicine, okay?

Suzanne, that's the same pill bottle you dropped yesterday.

That AZT for both of y'all?

Eleanor, I don't wanna have to keep lying to you.

It's for Robin.

Now, please don't tell anyone.

Of course not.

So you've been moving around so much

because things been rough on Robin, huh?

You know every time I enroll her in a new school

she makes friends so fast.

And the teachers like her

and she just fits right on in.

And then somehow someone finds out that she is HIV positive

and then the whispering starts.

Then some parent calls to say they don't want

Robin in their kid's class.

And then some more calls start coming in and

soon someone's talking about circulating a petition.

I just pull out before it even gets to that point.

Man, that's terrible.

Suzanne can I ask?

She got it from a blood transfusion

when she was an infant.

That beautiful little girl.

Gotta go through life worried

people gonna find out her secret.

And then she gotta worry if they find it out

they gonna treat her like an outcast.

What a horrible way to live her life

when her time might be so short.

Mommy, I took my allergy medicine

and my allergies are all better.

Robin...

...Joey and Eleanor know that the medicine is about your HIV.

- You told them? - Oh, no, baby.

I didn't tell them. They figured it out.

So, does this mean we can't be friends anymore?

- Oh, no, honey. - No, no.

No, hip hop, we're gonna be friends forever.

Forever.