Original subtitles

50 guys in the Ravens, man. One more and you're going to make a difference.

We're going to war.

Jesse, they make war on their own people. And you will put the knife in

I can't help them.

Where are they?

Careful, Jesse.

Be careful.

That was good, Jesse. Thanks, man. Thanks, son.

Baby, you all right?

Yeah, I just lost my concentration a little bit.

Well, you got to get it back, because you know this is the street version of

Carmen. It's tough stuff. I know, I know. It won't happen again, okay? No

offense, but if it does, I can jump right into this pot, Dusty.

Thanks, but I think I got it covered.

Trying to help.

Leroy, how come we're doing a street version of Carmen?

That's because we don't have a lot of students in the school who can handle

opera. I can handle the opera. I can be...

I'm impressed, but that's only one role, babe. I can handle all the roles. I can

even do that tenor part, you know, where he's chasing Carmen and stuff.

I don't know the words, but I can do that part.

Maybe we'll discuss this later.

What's that all about in there?

It's you, Jesse.

Me? What are you talking about?

Well, you know that beat that I have to take in the dance where I look at you?

Uh -huh.

Well, something like flash in front of my eyes.

It was a knife.

A knife?

And I've been seeing other things, too. Things that really scare me. And it's

always when I'm looking at you.

Is there something going on that you're not telling me about?

No, everything's fine.

I wish I could believe that.

Hey, now, wait a minute.

I think you're getting a little bit carried away by this part.

I mean, just because you're playing a fortune teller doesn't mean you are one.

Hey, everything's cool, babe, I swear.

Listen, I'll see you later, all right?

What are you doing here?

This is my bodega. Where should I be?

Just that you're early.

It's just that I wanted to see that you got school on time.

Go ahead.

Nah. It's all right. I got a couple of minutes.

Hey, so how did it go last night with Rosemary? How did it go?

I'll tell you how it went.

That crazy Rosemary proposed to me. Are you serious?

Can you believe a thing like that? Yeah.

So when's the wedding?

The woman does not propose to the man.

Okay, so you go back and propose to her.

Jesse, look at me.

Are you looking?

I am 64 years old.

You've spent most of those years alone.

Who's alone?

I've got you, haven't I?

That's not the same as having a wife, Hector. Wise guy.

Is that what I pay you for?

You think you know everything?

You think that you are the son that I never had, eh?

Well, I'm going to tell you why I let you stay around.

It's because you're a pretty good worker and because I don't have to pay you so

much.

The author. I like him.

The author. I like him, too.

Then why didn't you tell me it was bothering you?

Nothing's bothering them.

That's another thing.

You are a lousy liar.

What do you want?

Jesse.

Jesse wants nothing to do with you.

I think we'd better let him decide.

Um, it's all right, Hector. It's cool. I'll be right back.

I think you don't like us.

We're very hurt.

How many times we asked you to be one of us?

How many times, Rafael?

A lot of times, man.

You see?

And still you say no?

We don't understand.

Is there something wrong with us?

George, come on, man. What are you talking about? I got nothing against you

guys. And we got nothing against you? Even though you are a ballerina.

We need you, Velasquez.

That's why we're going to give you this last chance.

George, you got 50 guys in the Ravens, man. One more and you're going to make a

difference. We're going to war.

My kid brother, Luis, is a regular general.

You got trouble with the skulls. So what else is new? There's always trouble

with the skulls. No, it's different now.

Popeye's back.

I thought he was an Attica.

Well, Attica don't want him no more.

He's too mean. Got out a week ago.

Took over the skull. Said they turned into a bunch of old women while he was

away. And now he's out to prove they're men.

You got it. They grabbed two of our warriors and beat him real bad.

Put by himself, took a personal interest.

So we need every man we can get. Are you a man, Velazquez?

Or are you just a little ballerina? Is that why you brought me up here, man? To

enthook me?

I don't have to prove I'm a man to you. I don't owe you nothing. Shut up, man!

You owe us plenty.

You live in our neighborhood, you walk our streets, streets we've made safe for

you, but still you hold yourself apart.

You take from us, but you won't give back.

Why do you even live here, man?

He lives here because he's got a good deal.

A room in a bodega, all he can eat. And heck to the old man who takes care of

you like a little baby.

Well, the free ride is over.

We're calling on you, Velasquez.

And what if I don't come?

The streets are dirty enough.

For now.

Time's running out.

We'll be seeing you home, boy.

When we do, you better have a new attitude.

I just came to see this stupid school.

Did George send you?

Ah, George don't tell me what to do. I come on my own.

Sure you do.

You think I'm a kid, right?

Man, I'm no kid.

Look. Yeah, that look like I'm a kid to you?

When I became a Raven, they put that hot knife in my hand. I didn't even scream.

So you came all the way up here to show me that?

Why? You interest me, man.

You mouth off to George?

That's a gut.

He goes out of your stoop.

What difference does it make?

It makes a big difference.

Look, you ain't got much time, man.

You're either a brother or you're not.

You better decide.

Not joining any gangs, okay?

30 years I've been on this spot. 30 years I watched them killing each other.

now I see them squeezing you.

They're scum.

Ratas. Stay away from them. Hector, I don't like them any more than you do.

why do you talk to them?

They're pretty hard to ignore.

Is this why you crawled out of Mexico?

To join a gang to hurt people?

Jesse, they make war on their own people.

I know, I know.

Don't fool yourself.

Because once you get in, you can never come out again.

What are you doing here?

A lady comes to visit you.

Is that the way you talk?

Jesse doesn't like surprises.

I'm Nicole.

How did I know that?

You shouldn't have come.

This is where you live.

Yeah.

He's nice, Hector.

How do you know? You just met him.

I know.

What are you mixed up with, Jesse?

Nothing.

That boy at school, who was he?

Stay out of this, Mickey. It's got nothing to do with you. Then what does

have to do with?

It's got to do with a lot of things, things that you don't know anything

I know a lot more than you think I do.

Jesse, I know that you're in trouble, and I know that it's getting worse.

It is, isn't it?

Why won't you tell me?

Because you can't help.

Get out of my store.

Stay here.

That's not nice, old man. We just came by to pick...

Hey, how's it going, amigo?

Jesse's no amigo of yours. Take it easy. I'm not afraid of them, Jesse.

Hey, you, I'll take you all on, one by one.

No. You talk big, old man.

It's dangerous to have a mouth like that in this neighborhood.

Things could get broken.

Things can get good.

We can protect you from that.

Jesse can protect you.

If he would have joined the Ravens, nothing like this would have happened.

happened to you again? You're such a big man. No, that's not. You can bust up an

old man's store.

No, be cool. I'm so impressed.

I'm so impressed. Cool. I spit on you. You're lucky, old man.

You're lucky Jesse's so strong. Otherwise, you come over here, I might

bust you up. What do you want?

I want you, Velasquez.

You join the Ravens and nothing happens to him.

Is she your lady, man?

So what about it?

Not bad.

She got guts anyway.

Got to come up in this neighborhood.

It's more than you.

Hey,

what do you think of my kid brother here, Jesse?

It's going to be like Harry James, you know? Found that trumpet at your school.

You mean he stole it?

So what, man? It's broke. Look, it don't even play.

See, no sound.

Very funny. Now, if you guys are finished.

Finished? We're just starting. We got to know if you're a brother or not.

He's no brother of yours.

Is that the way you feel about it, Velazquez?

I don't like the things you do, man, and I don't like the way you do them. We do

what is necessary.

That's the way it is.

Think we like it that way?

We got to look out for ourselves.

If we don't, who will?

Yeah, we didn't make this life, but it's all we got.

If you don't like your life, why don't you change it?

What did you say?

You don't have to live this way.

You don't have to live this way.

You hear that, little brother? Maybe we should move off to Park Avenue.

What do you know?

Uptown girl.

Have you ever been hungry?

Have you ever been poor? Have you ever seen your mama beaten for a welfare

check? When you get in trouble, you call the police.

You think anybody cares if we get in trouble here? Here we are on police.

If we want to survive.

And you, you look at us like we're animals.

Like we're crazy. Like you're different than us.

But you're not.

You're the same.

And when things go bad for you, who will you turn to?

To us.

Because we're all you got. Don't you ever forget that.

And whether you like it or not, you are a brother.

I'll see you again and I have to catch my breath.

A friend of a friend, I have to know you.

I'm falling into something that scares me half to death.

Then you look at me and I only see.

What I'm looking into.

You got like a knife with your eyes.

Look into my life with your eyes.

for your hand and you smile as if you know

everything's planned but no one told

me I'm falling anywhere

you are is where I'll go run and fly

I've got to find what you want to show

With your eyes.

know what you two guys are doing up there, but keep doing it, please.

Everybody,

you can take 10.

Oh, Leroy, you know what I was saying about being ready to jump into that part

of Carmen? Yeah.

Well, I think I'm gonna take a rain check.

That was just one tough act to follow.

I mean, do you think you need to be Latin to get into a part like that?

Dusty, I got a feeling it's about more than just being Latin.

If the war's on, Nicole, why do you keep coming here?

Because I'm worried about you, Jesse.

What are you doing?

Sending you home.

You don't belong here.

Neither do you.

I'm not so sure.

Jesse, I am staying.

What happened?

Who did this, man?

Did the Ravens do this?

God.

Hang on. Hang on, Hector. You're gonna be fine, man.

Hey, did somebody call an ambulance or something?

Jesse.

In my apron.

Roseberry.

I'll give it to her.

You'll give it to her.

Okay?

Promise me no revenge.

Promise me.

I can't.

Then I don't want to know.

It was a nice funeral, man.

Yeah.

Hey, did you see the raven sent a wreath, man?

Tell him to make the wreath just pretty, you know? No raven in Figney or nothing

like that.

You know, we always used to send flowers.

Now we think reads. Reads are very sharp.

What do you want, Riz?

Why are you always hanging around me lately?

Man, I had you figured wrong, man.

I thought you were an old lady because you went to that school.

Maybe that school ain't so bad.

You weren't a tough dude.

Man, they're trying to make no sounds anyway.

Man, don't worry, man.

We're gonna find out who did that thing.

And when we do, man, we're gonna get him.

Then we're gonna give him to you, man.

I was wondering what happened to that horn.

I didn't steal it. I just borrowed it. Who said anyone's stealing it? I just

said I was wondering.

Man, go ahead. Call the police. They ain't gonna do nothing anyway. That

broken. Don't even play.

Really? Let's see.

Don't do that for me.

Well, then it would seem that the fault was not with the trumpet.

It was with the trumpeter.

What are you saying? I ain't got no lip?

The sound of a trumpet does not come from the lip. It comes from way down

in your guts.

I guess I ain't got no music in me.

I've seen you before.

Are you a student here?

No, I got a friend who goes here, Jesse Velasquez.

Ah, yes, Mr. Velasquez, a very talented young man.

Can he play that thing?

Oh, I imagine he could if he put his mind to it.

Just like you could. Here, keep it.

What, are you giving it to me?

Yes, I am.

Wait a minute. Is that legal? I mean, don't belong to the school?

No, it's mine, and I want you to have it as a gift.

Why?

Because I have a feeling about you.

I think there's more music in you than you know.

Gracias.

You can't understand any of this.

Why, because I'm not an underprivileged minority?

Nicole. Jesse, I understand more than you think I do. I understand that you're

about ready to go to a place where you cannot come back from. What do you want?

I want you to leave the barrio.

I know why you stayed there before, because Hector was there and he was an

important part of your life, but he's gone, baby.

There is nothing left for you. No, see, that's where you're wrong, because

there's one thing left.

Revenge?

You want to take revenge for Hector?

If you do, Jesse, I don't want to know you either.

Jesse.

Hey, Jess.

We know, man. We know who did that thing.

Everybody knows, man. It was a skull.

No, I'm talking about the man himself.

Popeye.

Manuel's cousin works at the tailor across from Hector's place.

Yesterday, he saw the skulls go by walking right down our street.

Popeye was high, crazier than ever, out of his mind.

He went into the bodega, right? There was terrible yelling inside. You could

imagine what Hector said to Popeye. And you could imagine what Popeye...

We're

ready to get him, man.

The plans are set.

Tomorrow in the morning's the time. We're gonna get him while he sleeps.

I'll be there.

And you will put the knife in him.

You put the knife in him for Hector, man.

For Hector.

You're a wise guy.

Is that what I pay you for?

You know everything, don't you?

I bet you think that you're the son that I never had.

Well, let me tell you why I keep you around.

I keep you around because you're not such a bad worker and because I don't

to pay you so much.

Look at that face.

What's to you?

Forgive me, Dios.

I like you.

He was alone.

I've got you, haven't I?

Promise me no revenge.

Promise me.

I can't.

Then I don't want to know you.

Come on, man.

We'll pick it up tomorrow.

Same place, same time.

Where is he?

You know who.

I don't know, and I don't care.

You know, you would think with all the acting lessons you had in the school,

you'd do better than that.

Yeah, well, it's going to have to do.

You know, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to my next class.

Nicole, I'm not excusing you.

You know, I would like to know what's going on.

You want to know what's going on, Leroy? Do you really want to know what's going

on? Jesse is out there somewhere in the barrio getting ready to take revenge for

Hector. Then what the hell are you doing in here?

I told you it's got nothing to do with me.

Nicole, I don't know what's going on between you and Jesse right now, but

is the wrong time for you to turn your back on him. You've got to do something.

Don't you think that I have tried? I have tried. Obviously, you are not

hard enough.

And what the hell do you know about it? Do you even know what he's mixed up

with?

Do you have any idea what we're talking about here? We are talking about gangs,

Leroy.

We are talking about people who kill each other. For your information,

I was raised in the same kind of neighborhood as Jesse was. Oh, here he

am so tired of hearing about this, you know? But hearing about the barrio and

about the ghetto and all these damn tough neighborhoods.

Like people like me don't even know what life's about.

Like I'm some little crystal image sitting up in Never Never Land just

to be broken.

I didn't say that. You didn't have to. That's what you think.

And that's what Jesse thinks.

He won't listen to me because I've never been hungry.

Because I've always had a roof over my head and I've always had clothes on my

back. I don't understand because of that.

Well, you want to know what I understand, Leroy? Do you want to know

understand? I understand that Jesse is out there somewhere in the bar right now

getting ready to do something wrong for the rest of his life.

You can break a heart Walk away when it falls

apart You can tell your lies

You can kill with your pretty eyes

He's all yours, brother.

I have no knife.

I have no knife.

Jesse! Do it, man.

Do it now.

Take your justice!

We're not walking out of here, Velazquez.

Who do you think you are?

I'm Jesse Velazquez.

Your brother, man.