Original subtitles

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Get behind me, get behind me.

Behind me... Don't nobody stay behind.

Shut up, motherfucker. Cover yourself with the blanket.

Be quiet.

Move over there. Are you the relatives?

Did you bring the money?

Over there. The money.

- Yes, and the boys? - Stay there.

Who paid you? What's up? What's going on?

- Who do I let off? - The children.

Get off, fucking kids. Hurry up, I don't want to see you.

Move, bitch. Lose weight, bitch.

What's up?

Come on. Let's go, come on.

Maya Montenegro?

Here.

Get back in, bitch!

- What's this? - I got mugged.

I don't give a shit if you got mugged.

I'll pay you for her. Here's my wedding band.

I'm coming, Maya.

- My watch. - I'll pay too.

Let her out.

- Don't do it. - Don't move.

- I beg you. - Fuck you.

Don't take her away.

Rosa, help me!

Where are you taking me, motherfucker?

Rosa, help me, Rosa. Help me, Rosa!

Move away from the window.

Why are you crying now, huh?

Where are you taking me?

Shut up. Shut the fuck up.

- You cry a lot, huh? - Don't fuck with me.

- Shut the fuck up. - Take out a coin.

Let's have a toss to see what happens to her.

Somebody will get laid tonight, man.

Do you want it, or not?

Toss it, man. Let's see it.

Fuck it, man.

Let me carry your bag, you're tired.

Don't be like that with me. I'm not like that prick.

What's wrong? Don't worry.

I'm not like that prick.

You're not as ugly as I first thought.

But you stink, motherfucker.

You don't smell bad yourself, honey.

Do you like them?

Where did you get them?

In Tijuana, they're the coolest in all Tijuana.

Later. It's late, sweetheart.

- Do you like to sing? - No, honey.

I know very well that I'm outside...

Hit it.

But the day that I die, I know you'll have to cry.

You do sing nice, sweetie.

Cry and cry...

Fly and fly...

Its "cry," man.

Oh, that's right. I'll follow you, then.

Then a mule-seller told me...

No, I got it wrong already.

That you don't have to get there first,

But you have to know how to do it...

That's it, go on, go on.

With or without money,

I always do what I want,

And my word is the law.

Oh, mama!

Turn around, let me lather you up.

I'm liking you already.

Put some water on.

You lather me up good.

And that's how you're gonna stay.

With or without money,

I always do what I want.

- You sing well. - Let's see.

- Excuse me? - Hold on a sec.

Don't be long.

Didn't you like my voice?

You do sing, I had heard you before.

I know you like me, honey.

I told you I'd heard you in the car.

I know, you've been looking at my hair, it drives them crazy.

How do you take care of it, man?

But you must know how to get there.

What the fuck? You bitch.

Bitch. Open it, bitch.

Open it right now!

Fucking bitch!

Fucking bitch. Where are you?

Fucking bitch!

Come back, you cunt!

My boots! Son of a bitch!

Luis, how are you? It's me, Maya.

Mom!

How are you doing?

Oh, you, you are so big.

- She's here! Rosa! - Simona! Look at you.

Mom was so worried.

You're taller than me.

What happened? I was so scared.

Thank God you're here.

- And who is she? - Uh, Grandma.

Ah, exactly.

- Granny. - Yes.

This is the dress we sent her.

Uncle...?

Enrique.

Uncle Quique. Let me see Uncle Quique.

Rosa, look at this.

Wow.

And she is Valeria.

Check out Valeria in her dress.

At her party. Beautiful.

It's time to go and do homework, okay?

Luis, Simona, you have a test tomorrow.

Simona, make sure that your brother

is doing everything the way he should be doing it.

I will stay with you.

No watching TV or anything. Make sure he does everything right.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

What happened with the money?

I've been penniless since Bert got sick.

Why didn't you tell me, Rosa? Those guys are crazy.

Who's crazy? I told you.

I told you, but you bugged and bugged me.

You've never listened to me.

Easy, easy, hey, hey. What's going on here?

You said you had it fixed up. You don't mess with these guys.

- I thought I did. - What happened with the money?

Listen...

I know someone who owns a bar.

I got you a job there. He promised me...

$800 in advance of your wages.

Okay?

But he has a brother and he didn't tell his brother.

They got into a big argument and this morning

they only gave me $300.

Rosa...

I want to work with you cleaning the offices.

So do hundreds of others. We talked about this before.

I know, but I'm fitter, I'm faster.

We're not gonna talk about this anymore.

Enough is enough.

- Please. - Okay.

What kind of bar is it?

Hey, baby. Excuse me again.

Where are you from?

- Me? - Yeah.

- From Mexico. - Whereabouts in Mexico?

- Mexico City. - They say Mexico City girls

are all sluts.

I don't know. Where are you from?

Guatemala.

You know what I've been told?

That Guatemalans are all fairies.

That's not possible.

Careful with the bottle.

I hope you don't get me into trouble with the guy at the door.

Why?

I told you you couldn't come. You can't come in.

What do I do?

I don't know. Just stay out.

- I'll wait here. - Shut up.

I'll be here all night, Rosa.

- How are you doing? - Oh, not too good.

Not too good? Oh.

Hi, can I help you?

Sorry?

- Waiting for someone? - Er... no.

You can't hang here. Do you speak English?

- Do you understand? - Yes, I speak English.

I can understand everything.

You can't hang here. You have to leave.

- Got that? - Yes.

- Thank you. - Okay.

Hi. Are you okay?

- Excuse me? - Are you lost?

No, no, I'm okay.

Do you know anybody who could help me get a job?

Not really, but I could ask around.

Hey, gentlemen... guys, guys.

She can't hang here.

I'm just making sure she's all right.

She's all right. She was just getting ready to leave.

- She's fine. - She's doing nothing wrong.

I'm okay.

Look, man, you know the policy. She can't hang here.

You sure you'll be okay here?

- Yeah. - Yeah?

Come on, man, we're late.

Let this guy do his job. You know, he's a good guy.

- Fucking son of a bitch bastard. - What the fuck did he say?

- Motherfucker. Let's go. - What the fuck did he say?

I got your "Pina," whatever the fuck he's saying.

What did he say?

I don't know, your hair...

I don't think that I...

Can you turn around so I can see it?

Can you turn sideways? Turn around?

Yeah, that's not... That's not good.

It has to be tighter, okay? 'Cause it's very dangerous.

Some machines, and...

The uniform is a little too big. I mean, can I see you tighten it?

Can you hold it on your waist and pull it tighter so I can...

Yeah, that's nice. Good, that's better.

That's nice.

Thanks for this chance, Mr. Perez, and...

I will... I will work hard.

I know you will. I know.

It's about time we got someone young in here,

got rid of some of these old fucking hags. They're worthless.

You know, I get letters... Begging me to work here.

You know how lucky you are?

Do you realize that?

You know, 'cause I do a favor for Rosa.

You know, arrange the paperwork. You know, decent paperwork.

So, for that... I charge a commission.

Oh.

What kind of commission?

You first month's salary.

We can split it over two months...

I mean, you know?

What do you say?

Hi.

Hold it, hold it, hold it.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Wait a minute. You're not running...

It's not a marathon, okay? It's not the Special Olympics.

- I'll never finish on time. - Yes, you will.

Let me show you something. Hold it.

Go plug this up down there. You trying to kill yourself?

No.

I'll never finish on time.

You'll finish. Just slow down. Take your time.

Relax, take your time. Get a little rhythm in it.

Take long steps. Kinda swing your butt,

your shoulders and your hips, and come back,

then you just go back the other way.

Act like you're dancing, okay? This is your man...

- With a vacuum? - Yeah.

- This is your man, okay? - Oh, sure.

If you do it like this, you'll cover the grounds.

Here, you try.

Go on, go on. You're doing it right. Come on.

Think about it. We're dancing, okay? Easy, up then back.

Up and back.

Okay, there you are.

I'm telling you, girl, that's your man.

Treat him good, he treats you good.

Watch, Maya, first use the screwdriver, like this.

That's easier.

- Yeah, that's the idea. - Not with the finger.

But first you have to clean up these little bits.

It's stuck.

But be careful, because sometimes

the draft blows the dirt in your face.

Doesn't appear that there are any material facts.

All the discovery is done. I think you should do it.

The judge just isn't ready to grant it.

If we prevail on a couple of issues, it'll be all right.

It costs a lot, and she's very...

I think it's really a good idea.

Did I tell you my theory about these uniforms?

No.

They make us invisible.

Well, come on. Let's move on to the other one.

Why?

We have to wait for it to come back.

- What are you doing? - Hold it a minute.

Good heavens, woman. What are you doing?

- ...but he was great. - If this goes wrong...

We're gonna need the assignment languages.

If this doesn't work, you're gonna be up to your ass

in shareholder derivatives.

I know that. Who pushed all the fucking buttons?

You're nuts, woman. It's your first day.

There he goes down there. Come on!

- Son of a bitch! - Motherfucker!

Where are you?

Excuse me. Don't be scared.

- Is that wax? - Yes.

I'm sorry.

Fucking bitch!

Don't let us catch you, motherfucker!

Come out, fucker!

Shit.

Where are you, motherfucker?

Get out of the way.

Aw, fuck!

Son of a bitch! Where did he go?

- Oh, God damn. - The other side.

Ernest, you went the wrong way, goddamn it!

- Fuck. - Which way?

What, what the fuck?

Oh, shit.

You can get hurt down here. I'm really sorry about that.

- It doesn't matter. - I'm not a thief.

I promise. Don't turn me in.

No.

Does this end... Oh, great.

I gotta get to the service elevator.

Service elevator, okay?

It's right there, down the hallway.

- Thanks a lot, miss. - You're welcome.

Where are you, motherfucker?!

Nobody touch that motherfucker until I get him.

His shit is mine.

This is really nice of you. You're not going to get into trouble.

- Yes. Shut up. - Ow!

Sorry.

Son of a bitch. Dispatch, we lost him.

That's wonderful, assholes.

What are you, the maricón triplets?

Stop calling us that, would you?

Fuck off, baldy.

Just find him, will you, you prick?

Shut the fuck up. At least we're doing something.

Who was that? That 4'2", walking, talking dick?

Just shut your fat ass up.

Perez, you're the only one with a brain...

Oh, sir, I'll take that.

Shit! We gotta find him.

Whoa, whoa, what have you got in there?

Oh, books, and... old telephone books.

Okay, get out.

Okay, thank you. That was actually exciting.

Yeah.

So what's your name?

- Berta? - No.

- Rosa? - No.

- Teresa? - No.

- Well, you're not Juan. - No, sure...

Where did you get that list?

CIA.

- Anna? - No.

Where did you get it?

I stole it off their notice board. You're Maya, right?

How do you know? Who the hell are you?

Hello.

Hi, Auntie. Mom, Auntie is here.

Already?

Where are you? Why did it take you so long?

Because the lines were endless.

I got you this one

because they didn't have the other kind.

I'll get it.

- Hi. Is Rosa in? - Hi.

Yeah. Hold on. Mom!

There's somebody at the door.

- Who is it? - I don't know.

Hi. I'm Sam Shapiro, the Justice for Janitors Campaign.

I'm Rosa, "Justice for Rosa Campaign."

- Who is it? - What do you want?

He has come to throw the wax all over the floor.

Ls this the "payaso" you told me about?

Yeah.

I'm actually here with the Janitors' Union.

May I come in for a second?

Yeah, sure.

Thanks.

So, Sam...

you any good with electric fans?

Am I...? No, you actually don't want me to touch that.

- This is Luis. Sam. - Hi, Luis.

- Please, have a seat. - Oh, thanks.

You want money, huh?

Yeah. More money than you ever imagined.

You know what this is?

Let me see.

Wait. This is a check stub.

That's right. How much is it an hour?

- $8.50. - $8.50?

- What's the date? - December 22nd, 1982.

That's 17 years ago.

17 years ago,

that cleaner earned $8.50, plus health,

plus sick pay, plus holidays.

Okay?

Today... Los Angeles 1999,

you don't have a union deal, you get $5.75..

Plus nothing.

Over the past 20 years, they've been taking

billions of dollars from the poorest communities in this city.

Billions, okay? We're gonna get that back.

Not millions, billions of dollars. Billions.

You think I'm nuts. Think I'm kidding?

I think you're cute.

You and what army's gonna get this money back, pal?

Let me ask you something. Does Rosa ever work late?

Oh, no, she can't. She plays golf.

Does she get overtime?

Are you out on a weekend pass from the nuthouse?

Health care, dental care.

Not just for her, for the whole family.

Listen. Let's say one of your kids gets sick.

Or Rosa.

Dad is sick.

- What? - Dad is sick.

Yeah, he needs an operation soon...

Or else he'll get worst. Much worst.

- What's wrong? - Diabetic.

His eyes are really bad.

- Look, that's my problem. - Bullshit. Come on.

- Watch your mouth. - No offense, but...

you're ill, all right?

The kids are losing out, all because these fucking bastards...

Excuse my language... These bastards at Angel

do not want to pay health insurance.

How much do the kits cost? $250? $300?

He ran out of test strips, too.

Look, Bert,

if Rosa had this... The health care...

If... if... if. If I hear this word once more...

Listen to me. He will be treated by now.

It doesn't have to be "if."

The union buildings downtown, every janitor has health care.

Every one of them. Don't take my word for it,

go down there and talk to them. I think that's a great idea.

Would you do that?

I don't think so.

Why not? Hmm?

If you got together with a few of them,

they would tell you exactly how they did it, step by step.

And if the company finds out, they're out. Right?

Well, start with a few you can trust.

- I trust nobody. - All right, go to a safe place.

One mistake... I'm on a blacklist.

Do you have any idea what those "pendejos" are like?

You have every chance...

There is every chance you can get fired.

I've seen it before. So don't give me any shit here.

What are you going to do? Pay the rent, feed my kids?

And you'd better keep away from this "payaso."

They will fire anyway. If you say something...

Oh, listen, she is the expert here.

No, I'm not.

Mom, calm down.

- Dad, could you just“? - That's enough.

Be quiet! You know everything till you fuck up another job.

- No, I don't know anything. - Be quiet when I talk to you!

I'll get you another job just like this.

You know what? You two, homework.

- You don't have to get my job. - Quiet. You...

This is it. We don't have any time anymore.

We have a lot of shit to do. We're busy, so get out.

Listening never hurt anyone. That's all I'm asking.

You know what? We might be

at the bottom of the shithole, but we are doing our best.

That's where we're going to stay if we let them get away with it.

"We"? "we"?!

When was the last time you got a cleaning job?

You and your union. Your fat union white boys.

College kids. What the hell do you know?

This campaign is different.

Don't ever say "we." I believe in nothing. Nobody.

Nothing. Nothing but this.

Do you hear me, wise guy? Now, get out.

- Get out! This is my house. - Thank you for your time.

This is my house,

and nobody tells me what to do in my house.

What's wrong with you?

What do you mean, "What's wrong with you?"

You just have to listen.

- Just shut up, everybody! - He's not talking nonsense.

Just do your homework.

Sam.

Thanks.

You forgot something.

Thank you.

- I'm really sorry. - That's all right.

Yeah.

Good to see you again.

Give me a call if... Whatever, you know.

Political...

Manumeter, many meter“ many...

All these books.

He's spent three years like this, coming in early.

Why so many books?

Try helping him, you could learn something.

You know what's the best part?

He copies every single thing from the book.

What is your problem?

Why the fuck does he do that?

And why the fuck do you bug him so much?

He's supposed to be the smart one, the intelligent one.

You know what I don't understand?

Why the fuck don't you just photocopy those things?

Hey, hey!

Come here. Come here.

Not you. You, come over here.

What time is it?

What time does it say on the clock?

- I'm sorry. My bus. - What?

What? I can't hear you.

- The bus. - I'm not asking you.

Am I talking to you?

I can't hear. What's the problem?

- I'm sorry, the bus... - Where are your glasses?

- Where are your glasses? - My glasses?

You can't see, you can't work. What's the problem?

I left them in my house. I'm sorry, sir.

Well, if you can't see, you can't work.

- What are you doing here? - I'm sorry, sir.

My bus, it slowly...

Bullshit. Your bus was late.

Everybody else was on time. What happened?

You know what? You lose a shift.

Don't come back without your glasses.

- You can't see. - I forget to wear.

- What the fuck is going on? - I'm sorry.

Fucking elderly and fucking blind.

Get me some crippled people, some fucking lepers.

This is a fucking business we're running

not a fucking camp for spastics.

- Jesus Christ! - I'm sorry.

Do yourself a favor, don't come back.

- Don't come back! - Tomorrow.

There is no tomorrow. Don't come back.

Please, I need my work.

You never finish on time any ways. I don't want to hear it.

You're fired. Get out of here.

I need my work.

You can't finish on time anyways. Do something else.

I need... I need work.

I need my work.

She reminds me so much of my mother.

I need my work.

Hello?

Hello, excuse me, is that Sam Shapiro?

- Yeah, this is Sam. - Hello, Sam. I'm Maya.

- Hi, Maya. - Do you remember me?

Of course. The Toluca Street gang.

Ah, yeah.

Listen, something happened at work.

So we would like to talk with you.

Now, this building... I don't know if you know this...

Is one of the most important buildings in L.A. right now.

That's because Angel Cleaning Company

is one of the biggest cleaning contractors in the country,

and they managed to outbid union cleaning companies.

And you know how they do that? They cut your wages.

Yeah. They don't pay health insurance.

Do you have health insurance? No.

I'll make it very clear. I'll do a little diagram for you.

- Do you have a pen? - Yeah, I do.

Okay, look, take any building, right?

Here's your building.

You have your owners...

All right? Next you've got your cleaning contractors.

Okay?

Next, we've got the tenants, okay?

Now this is where it gets very interesting,

because the tenants... Who are the tenants?

You know, finance houses, big banks.

Some of the biggest banks in the country

are operating out of this building.

These guys, they have tremendous, tremendous reputations.

They don't want any problems, right?

What we have to do,

is we pressure these guys

to make these guys hire union companies.

How do you force them?

There's many ways to do it. You go...

I'll explain it to you. You go to...

It's how they started to get all of us.

Hold on.

You see people are interested in hearing something?

Let them hear it, then we'll talk.

- I'll explain to you. - I'm listening.

You close off an intersection.

Close off one set of traffic lights downtown at rush hour,

you realize the effect that has on all these people?

Can you imagine how many lawyers

and secretaries and accountants and...

business people and banks...?

You know how many people are going to be affected by that?

Multiply that throughout the entire city,

believe me, it's cheaper to pay you a decent wage.

Are you fucking crazy?

What are you talking about here?

Who's gonna do it?

We've done it, okay? We've done this, and it works.

We have a group of workers...

Okay, guys, don't listen, please, to these fucking idiots.

Okay, look. That's fine.

Don't listen, all right?

Don't listen to me, all right? Talk to the other cleaners.

Talk to the guys who are in the union, okay?

They're having open meetings in the garage right now.

If we don't do it, who's gonna do it for us?

That's what they're saying. If we organize together...

But what's wrong with talking to the other janitors?

- Just talking with them? - Okay, listen.

I am a worker here like you.

I have been here only eleven month.

My English is bad like yours.

I had nothing in Russia, but here I have my job.

I can feed my kids, I can pay rent, I can do everything.

Maybe tomorrow my life will be better than today“ yes!

If we will listen to him, we will have trouble, believe me.

What happened with you? What happened“?

Shut up, please. Okay, let's go.

No, no, no. Shut up, you. You are not the boss here.

You're a janitor like everybody else.

Okay, okay, shut up.

Let's go because I can't have any deals with this.

It's not my business. Let's finish this meeting.

No, we want to listen.

And you never come back. Please, I beg you.

Where are we going?

Don't be so impatient.

Go on, tell me.

Wait and see.

Ruben.

Hey, Maya.

Look.

Read it.

Did you pay $1,600?

Yes, I've been saving for this for years.

And you know what? I'm going to college.

- This one? - Yes.

- Like that? - I'm paying 20%.

They're gonna pay 80%.

- Who? - A company. It's about $16,000,

16,000 fucking dollars. Imagine that.

I've been waiting for this since I got to this country.

How are you gonna pay for that?

Well, see, first I took an exam.

I didn't do so well in the oral exam,

but I came in first in the math test.

But even then they didn't give me a scholarship, and you know why?

Simply because I'm not an American citizen.

But then...

I found a private foundation

belonging to two Mexican brothers, with a lot of money.

They had about 800 applications,

and guess who they chose?

- No?! - Number one, baby.

Yes! And then?

But now what I have to do is show proof...

that I paid 20% of the cost

by the first day of the semester, and I only have $1,600 to go.

- And that's it. - Really?

- That's it. - Congratulations.

No, I can't believe it.

"I've just moved into my new office, Mama,

but things at home are not going so well.

You can't find a good maid available nowadays,

and forget about a good cook.

Besides, I need somebody to walk the dog,

so I am sending my chauffeur, Hector..."

Maya!

"...to go straight into the city to pick you up.

He has strict orders to lock you up in the trunk

if you start acting up."

Maya! Oh, Maya, come quick.

Perez is mad. He's pissed off and he wants us downstairs now.

- Now? - Right now. Come on.

We have enough problems. Come on.

You think you're pretty fucking smart, don't you?

Don't you? Pretty fucking smart.

You didn't think we'd find out about your little fucking meeting?

Well, you know what? We're fucking smarter than you.

Oh, what's this I got in my back pocket?

Anybody seen this before? Look at it!

"Media."

Where the fuck do you think you are, the White House?

You know what? Join a union.

They'll take 20% of your fucking check.

Join a union. They'll check your fucking papers.

You got Immigration.

Join a union.

They'll make your fucking life difficult.

Look at me.

Look at me!

No fucking union, right?

Right?!

And let me tell you this, if we catch any of you

talking to those motherfuckers, we got security,

we got surveillance cameras everywhere.

You can get the fuck out of here. You're gone.

Try it. Now get back to work.

Get out of here! I don't want to fucking see you guys.

Go back to work?

Go back to work. Get out of here.

Back to work!

You've still got to finish on time. Get out of here.

Here's what I think of your fucking flyer.

Get the fuck out of here. I don't even want to see you guys.

- Berta. - Yes?

Three and a half floors. It's hard.

Takes it out of you.

How would you like a vacation?

- Would you like that? - Sure, I'd like that.

Take a week off?

Everything paid for.

- $12.50 an hour. - Oh, that's nice.

Sounds good?

- With insurance. - That, too?

The company, we have new contracts.

And we're gonna be very busy. We gonna need people...

People we can trust a lot.

A lot of confidence.

How would you like to be a supervisor?

Me? That would be cool.

I'd try to do it as best as I can.

Yeah, because you've been here a long time.

- How many years? - 17 years here.

And do you think you could be a supervisor?

Yes, I could do it.

That's all I wanted to know. Thank you.

Berta?

Sit down again. One thing.

Who organized the meeting, with the union?

Who was it, Berta?

Do you know?

Can you tell me who it was?

Come in.

What's wrong?

- What's wrong? - What happened?

What's this? What is this?

Don't you even remember?

No, it's 3:00 in the morning. I don't know.

You left it... in the basement,

and Perez found it.

- The supervisor. - Oh, no.

- Oh, no. - Have you any idea

what it's like to have this guy on our back?

Can I ask you something?

What do you risk?

Huh?

How much do you get paid?

$22,250.

So, what happened? You get fired?

No.

- They fired Berta. - Shit.

They wanted to know who organized the meeting.

But she wouldn't tell them.

So...

I feel really stupid, okay? I feel... I fucked up.

Yeah, I know, but...

she has all her family in El Salvador,

and sends them money... All her money for them,

since 17 years ago.

She was saving the money for her daughter's wedding.

She has not seen her for five years. You don't understand...

We're going to work it out. We'll work something out, okay?

You want a drink?

I don't know what else to offer you right now. I'm sorry.

Yes. Thanks.

Good, 'cause I need one.

Here.

Sit down.

Thanks.

Yep.

It's not great, but it does work.

Thanks.

I'm sorry.

Well, don't see Rosa for the rest of your life.

She is ready to cut your balls off.

That's nice.

Yeah, she's a tough one.

Sometimes...

I get scared...

everything is going to go wrong.

Sometimes, I...

I think, what is going to happen with me?

And...

I don't have an answer.

I'm scared. Oh, please.

Thanks.

- "Better rights," right here... - Shh! He's watching us.

Yeah, there's always been trouble.

If he says something, talk about what we're gonna eat.

- Let's go, guys, let's go. - It's gonna be fine. Come on.

Fuck.

- All right, let's go eat. - Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Where the fuck do you think you're going?

- We're going for a walk. - We're gonna get burritos.

- It's lunch break. - Bullshit. Get back over there.

No, I don't think so. Lunchtime's our time.

- You can't keep us in. - Who the fuck said so?

Who says? The law. The court.

So if you can read this judgment...

Bullshit. You want to read that? Read that.

- We all got a copy. - Bullshit, Oscar.

- Don't talk to him like that. - I don't give a fuck what you have.

Read it. Read it, okay?

Just read it really carefully. It is our right to organize.

Okay?

- This is bullshit. - We got an attorney...

Oh, you got an attorney? You got an attorney?

- ...to tell us what we can do. - Is that right?

- Hurry up. - Get the fuck out.

- Don't talk like that, man. - Fucking troublemaker, man.

Rosa, where are you going?

Get your fucking hands off me, man.

Perez, Perez.

What is this shit, Freddy? What the fuck is this?

- I don't know. - "Restrained and cursed"?

"Coursed." What is that word there?

- "Coerced." - "Coerced"?

Is that good?

No, I don't think so.

Fuck.

We're here tonight to send a very strong message

to all these building owners,

that janitors in this city are getting ready to fight

and will do whatever it takes

to have much better working conditions in this city...

Especially buildings like this one behind you

that is cleaned by a non-union company

that don't treat workers right.

Yeah, that's right.

I have great news for you, okay?

For the first time,

we have non-union janitors from Building 646.

Yes!

Guys, I'd like you to come up and introduce yourselves.

We can do it!

We can do it!

I'm very happy to be here this night.

I'm very glad to hear that,

and to see that there are some students,

to see other workers from other unions.

All this reminds me of something that

sometimes we forget.

We have always got more strength

than we realize.

Always.

I learned that in my country,

when I organized the students, campesinos,

workers, back there in El Salvador.

But, sometimes life is very hard.

Sometimes you lose someone you love,

your family, a friend...

but you have to come to this country

and sometimes you can become sad, angry,

upset, frightened,

or even lose hope.

And I feel the hope back

now that I'm here with you, so thank you for that.

What do we want?

Justice! Now!

Janitors united...

Will never be divided!

Hello. Have one of these.

We're trying to fight for a decent wage for these people.

Mr. Griffin. Hi.

You're the building manager from 646, right?

- Yeah. Do I know you? - No, but I know who you are.

- Griff, what the hell is going on? - Let me ask you something.

Can you survive off $5.75 an hour?

Because that's what the janitors at your building get.

You know what? I don't hire the janitors,

and I don't pay the janitors.

I suggest that you take this up with their employers,

- which is Angel Services... - This is really good wine.

You shouldn't tell tales, Mr. Griffin.

You are the building manager. You take it up.

Who do you think you are? Coming in here, telling me...

I need... I need to do whatever I want to do.

This is... sit down... This is private...

Eat the broccoli. It's really good for your heart.

- It looks good. - Yeah, that looks great.

Do you mind if I have a bite of that?

What's good for my heart is you can leave now.

- Really delicious. - My lambchop!

Tony! Tony!

The guy just stole a lambchop off of my plate!

What kind of place is this?

These accusations! I'm not a thief.

What are you doing with that? Give me that!

What are you doing?

- Make sure he pays his bill. - Yeah.

We know, Mr. Griffin, how you walk out on bills.

All right. You're not helping your cause.

You're going to hear from my lawyer.

I'm tired of being harassed!

This march took place

in Century City, Los Angeles in 1990.

So, you're going to see it, where it is,

and we'll talk about it.

For the janitors of Los Angeles,

this was supposed to be just another morning.

They would sing, they would march,

some would go to jail.

But when the marchers reached the entrance to Century City,

they found themselves trapped in a movie,

a very bad movie.

Twice the demonstrators tried to submit to arrest.

The police moved in with a vengeance.

No provoking! No provoking!

The marchers were barely able to scramble to sanctuary

in a nearby neighborhood.

50 of them would go to jail.

But more than 60 demonstrators would end up in hospitals

and emergency rooms.

Among them, were two pregnant women,

one of whom would miscarry.

I want to survive in this country, legally.

I'm not robbing a bank, or doing anything wrong.

I'm simply asking for an increase for the work that I do.

And the policeman hit me on my back and my hip.

And he shoved me, as though I were garbage.

He hit me awful.

I started to learn English

Because I had no choice

To fight the gringo boss I had to have a voice...

I used to work at a place

Where they wanted to boss me around,

Just because of the goddamn English

I couldn't speak

The gringo boss got angry and yelled at me in English...

"You wetbacks don't understand

What you are supposed to do."

Here's one from the people, for the people!

It goes like this.

I can't dance. I can't dance.

I'm hereto sing to you

About a sad situation

J“ With the laws being made

By the White House and Immigration

All of my Latin people

Suffer from discrimination

They take away our rights

And sic the INS on us

But I won't leave this place

I won't leave, I'll never leave...

So I say it here singing

This joyful melody

It's better to die fighting

J“ Than to die on your knees

J“ We have to follow the example

Of the legendary César Chávez

And all together we say now,

(We can do it, we can do it)

Scream!

We can do it!

We can do it!

We'll go on, of course.

' To the day-laborers of the Norte!

Somebody! Somebody call an ambulance!

Call an ambulance. Call an ambulance.

We need some help.

Ma'am? Ma'am.

- Is my dad okay? - How is he?

He's okay. His diabetes is serious, but he's not critical.

- Meaning? - He's stable now, so don't worry.

He was dehydrated, we gave him fluids.

It's very common with diabetics.

What's the difference between "critical" and "serious"?

- He has some renal dysfunction. - His kidneys?

And I suspect he has some early retinopathy.

Both his eyes will need laser treatment.

You mean he can go blind?

Ma'am, look,

you need to make an appointment with a diabetes clinic.

They'll make an assessment, run some tests and help you.

No, I can't wait anymore.

I've been waiting months and months,

and they fuck up the date. Now I'm telling... shit!

- Listen... - I can't wait anymore.

There's nothing I can do.

I'm sorry, you'll just have to speak to them, okay?

Wait, wait! I want to have a word with you.

I'll catch up with you. Come here.

Three injunctions in two days?

Come on. What is that?

You want to tell me what you were doing in Beverly Hills at night?

- It's a free country. - Not in Beverly Hills, it isn't.

What is this?

- Singing, dancing... - A little lullaby for Mr. Wallace.

Who is he?

Chief executive of Angel Services.

What is this in here about jamming his office up

with 400 faxes in one day?

I'm trying to get in contact with the guy.

Jesus Christ. What are you doing?

The lawyers are going insane. Don't you understand?

I'm trying to keep the executive board off your back.

They're crawling up my ass. Is that what you want?

The old-timers are waking up, finally?

Don't go there, okay?

Let's see where you are in 10 years, okay?

We ought to start talking about changing our target.

What? We've been working this building for four months,

- No way I'm changing targets. - What do you have to show for it?

- Jack shit, Sam. - I'm on my...

People are waiting for me. What do you want me to say?

- "Go for an easier target"? - No, a better target.

A better target, with a better goal for your efforts.

That's what you tell them. Remember who pays your wages.

You like the good old days, where you collect your dues,

pay your pensions, fuck the organizers.

Don't you preach to me, you fucking dickhead!

You have no idea the fucking battles I have been through.

Another one of these, we're in debt, you want that?

You're not going to have your $40 million to give the Democrats,

so they can piss it down the toilet, like last time?

In debt. Do you know what that means?

Our hands tied behind our back? Subject to broad order?

Sent back to the Stone Age because of your carelessness?

No organizers anywhere? Is that what you want?

Think! To be continued.

Venceremos!

I get another one of these, I'm shoving it up your ass!

Give me a fucking heart attack.

You know the Hollywood lawyers on the 27th floor?

- Remember those ones? - Yeah.

We found out that

they're not just the largest tenants in the building,

but also they own 15% there.

They don't only represent these big stars, all right?

These guys have a vested interest in this building.

Not only that, we found out some juicy information.

They're about to merge with another big law firm

that handles even more big clients,

which is going to make them even more powerful...

What the hell is juicy about that?

They're going to have themselves a little party.

Okay? A little celebration.

They're going to have some powerful people there...

big managers, agents, maybe some actors.

Some of the richest men in the city are going to be there.

We're going to crash the party, okay?

With volunteers.

But we need to get in the building.

Can you imagine their faces when“?

Wait. Listen to the man, let him talk.

What's the point of this?

The point?

First of all, no one fucks with the stars, right?

These... that's rule number one.

I'm going to personally embarrass the shit out of all of these attorneys.

You've just got to get me into the building.

This is the biggest public event we can“ have had in years.

You understand?

We either win it all or we lose it all,

and I think it looks quite complicated.

Um-hm.

You know, I've something to tell you about college.

I have everything ready.

I'll be able to pay the $1,600 by the deadline they gave me.

And I'll still have $125 left.

But if I don't pay on time...

the scholarship moves on to the next person on the list.

But what are you trying to tell me?

I'm not gonna do this.

What?

The truth is, Maya, that...

I don't want to jeopardize my scholarship.

I don't want to lose it.

You know that I've been killing myself

the last five years to get it,

and to lose it just like that? I don't think so.

Just like that?

The way I see it, our families can't afford...

to lose the money we send them, either.

But, it's different, Maya.

I don't know about you, but I think that...

if we don't do it in this way,

we'll be left with what we had. Nothing's gonna happen.

But I'm not doing it just for me, Maya.

I'm doing it for you, too.

Don't say that.

Why not, Maya?

You know I love you.

And I want us to be together, Maya.

But I don't know what I want.

What about Sam?

I like him.

He's cool, he's funny.

I'm learning from him.

He believes in something.

And he's also white.

Don't give me that shit.

I don't know what you are thinking.

That's why you're doing it, right?

What was it that you said when they fired Teresa?

"She looks like my mother."

That's why I'm doing it.

I'm doing it because my sister

has been working 16 hours a day since she got here.

Because her husband can't pay for the hospital bills.

He doesn't have medical insurance, like 40 million people in this country,

in this fucking country! The richest country in the world!

I'm doing it because I have to give Perez

two months of my salary, and I have to beg him for a job.

I'm doing it because we feed those bastards,

we wipe their asses, we do everything for them.

We raise their children,

and they still look right through us.

And maybe one day I will go to school too, you see?

But what good will it be if I forget about everything?

Maya!

Maya!

- I'm a friend of Gavin's. - Gavin? Sure.

Oscar, you have to secure the fire exits, okay?

You have to leave them unlocked. Ella, hold the elevator.

So when the guys... You bring the guys in, okay?

So you meet Ella, bring the guys in and that's it.

And you will be up there.

We're going to wait for the guys upstairs.

This is the other thing. I got the radio.

It's working pretty good.

So I will listen to security guards,

if something happens, okay? And I will let you know.

Beforehand, all right?

Benecio.

Big fan of his. He's a nice guy, yeah.

Good actor.

Ladies and gentlemen,

if we could have your attention for just a moment.

We'd like to thank you all for coming today.

This is a big day for both Ted and I,

bringing together two separate firms.

A merger's always a difficult process, but...

we seem to have worked it through.

Indeed, we have. It's a personal triumph

that after weeks of intense negotiations,

we've finally decided on whose name goes first.

My congratulations to both of you.

My friend would like to say a few words.

Would you mind? This is a very special occasion.

It's a friend of Gavin's. It's fine, it's okay.

Sure. Just a few words, though. Introduce yourself.

Hello everybody, my name's Sam.

I just want to say

that with unsurpassed brilliance, you have represented

some of our best and most talented actors.

At the same time as you're negotiating

these multi-million dollar contracts...

the janitors in your building

earn less than $12,000 a year.

So, allow me to present to you

your golden turkey,

for the worst performance by an attorney.

Yeah!

- There you go! - Bravo!

That was great. Wonderful.

We just want to make a point that janitors in this building,

owned by this firm, make poverty wages, and that's not fair.

They make $5.75 an hour.

I really appreciate your having come.

- I would like to clarify this. - I appreciate your sharing...

I have a little demonstration,

a demonstration that will help ensure that you get the message.

It's free of charge, pro bono, if you will.

- I think... - We could demonstrate...

what a superior job union cleaners can do,

So, enjoy the show!

Si se puede! Si se puede!

Ernest, get the fuck up here right away.

I need your people up here. The fucking janitors are here.

...how the lawyers and business executives who work in this high-rise

usually come and go without much thought

for the people who sweep the floors and empty the trash.

Tonight, they were impossible to ignore.

They demanded "Justice for Janitors"

outside a downtown high-rise that was sold 15 months ago.

We pay 75% of our wages in rent,

and then we have to buy food,

we have to buy clothes for our children.

Management spokesman, Tony Rizzoli,

says the company is taking a hard line.

These people

felt it necessary to sneak into the building,

and disrupt the whole thing, turning on vacuum cleaners,

yelling and screaming...

But it's a tough life for unskilled laborers,

when there is no shortage of workers willing to do their job for less.

The Angel company has been going on for years...

There's never been a complaint...

I have to show you something.

Really.

...and, excuse me...

It's been going on for three weeks. I'm sick of this.

No talks are scheduled,

and the union says the protesters will be back.

Management says if there's another trespassing incident,

they will be arrested...

Wait a second.

Wait... hold on, Maya.

No, I can't do this here.

Hold on. I'm going to get into so much trouble

if I get caught.

You're a troublemaker.

Shit! Aw, shit!

Shh!

I'm going to get in trouble over this shit.

Hello, babies!

Everybody, line up. Let's go.

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Line up.

- What's happening? - Stand up!

Shit.

- What happened? - All right, goddamn it!

You, Ben...

you, Ruben...

Dolores...

you, Juan...

Oscar...

and definitely your ass, Ella...

Got two minutes to get your shit and get the fuck out of here,

before I have you thrown out.

What are you talking about? We haven't done anything.

You haven't done anything?

You let unauthorized people into my building,

which is a violation of company policy,

for which you can be terminated...

Which is what this is, motherfuckers“ termination.

It was you, you fucking bitch! It was you, Marina!

I know it was you. I'm fucking pregnant!

I'm not fucking crazy, you bitch!

You are crazy! I didn't say anything.

Take it easy, take it easy.

They were not involved. I did it.

Shut up, Maya.

No, I am telling you that I did it.

Ruben wasn't involved. He has nothing to do...

He's going to lose his scholarship, so please...

I don't give a shit. You did it? You can go, too.

You can go, too. That's right.

You and all of them get the fuck out of here.

- What are you talking about? - I don't give a shit!

What have you done, Marina? Why?

- Why would you do this? - It wasn't me.

And keep your mouth shut, please, Maya.

Okay, all right. That's enough.

It's not. It's not. And where is your sister Rosa?

I don't know where is my sister.

She is taking care of her husband.

So, what are you talking about?

I would like to know, why do you do that?

She's warn him. I say the truth.

What are you talking about, Marina?

Tell us. Explain it.

She phoned him. She said she's sick.

And after that, she told him who was involved.

Goddamn it, shut up.

What are you talking about?

- You're a fucking liar. - It was she...

- Goddamn it, shut up! - Ask him who's going to be

the new supervisor of the new buildings.

What?! Marina...

- You're gonna believe her? - It's going to be your sister.

- Please, believe me. - Ask him.

- Perez... - It wasn't me.

Okay, she is not the first time she says something like that.

What happened with my sister? So...

It's none of your business.

Yes, it is my business because we are losing our jobs.

It's my sister. I did it. I am telling you.

I want to know the truth, that's it.

Ask her. Ask your sister.

Fuck you.

- Get them out of here. - You can't do this with people.

You bitch!

Why?

Ella. Ella, your friend, Ella.

Dolores, Ben,

Ruben will lose his place in college,

and he wasn't there.

Why don't you shut the fuck up?

I won't shut up. Dolores is pregnant.

Just shut up.

Anyway, they were gonna lose their jobs.

It was just a matter of time.

So it was you?

Of course it was me. And I'd do it again.

I won't stand around with my arms crossed

while my husband is dying waiting to be seen on a waiting list.

Life is now, Maya. Right now, stupid.

It's not a fucking fairy tale, huh?

Why?

- Why what? - Why did you sell us out?

- Why did you sell us out? - You sold yourselves out.

You did it yourselves. You alone.

You did it on your own.

We're always saying, "We're gonna win."

But when will we realize it?

When will we realize that they're much stronger than us?

It's always been like that.

How many times have we discussed it? God!

Pick up those clothes.

You're a fucking traitor, Rosa.

You're a fucking traitor, sis.

Really? You think I'm a traitor?

You do, don't you?

You think that?

Even when I was supporting everybody?

Sending money to you and Mama? You think so?

When I was feeding everybody?

Did you guys ever wonder...

How did Rosa manage to send the money?

How old was I when I got to Tijuana?

I was a little girl. A little girl, right?

And you didn't even wonder about how I did it.

What for? Rosa kept your mouths pretty full.

You know how I did it?

Turning tricks.

I was a hooker. What do you think about that?

- I didn't know. - I was turning tricks, honey.

So that you guys didn't starve.

For five fucking years in Tijuana, every single night.

Just about every single night. "Suck their dicks, Rosa."

- I never knew that. - "Fuck, Rosa. Fuck, fuck.

Come on, because your family is starving."

"Suck their dicks," right? "Come on, come on!"

Sounds awful, huh? Disgusting?

What do you think?

Nobody asked me, huh? My dad leaves,

and who gets screwed? Who gets screwed?

Rosa. Let Rosa start fucking everybody.

I didn't know, Rosa.

Let her suck everybody's fucking dicks...

Blacks, whites, sleazeballs, slimebags.

Let her fuck everybody, right?

- But we didn't know. - My husband gets sick,

and I have to fuck. Whose turn is it? Rosa's.

Let Rosa pick up all the pieces, right?

She has to be doing everything all the time,

as if Rosa were an idiot, fucking everybody, right?

So you had something to eat!

I hate the whole fucking world! I hate it!

I've put up with it all my fucking life!

I've been keeping it here, in my own gut.

How do you like that, Maya?

Come on, come here!

- Rosa, I didn't know. - I'm talking to you.

Do you know how I got you your job?

Didn't you want a job here?

"Come on, sis, get me a job, because I can do everything."

You know what I did? Yes, honey, I had to fuck Perez.

- Don't joke about that. - I fucked him.

I fucked him for you! I fucked him for you!

Because I'm tired. Tired!

All my life. My husband gets sick, I go fuck.

- My dad leaves, I go fuck. - I didn't know!

You want a job? I go fuck. All the time!

Goddamn it, I didn't know!

No? Everybody looked the other way.

- I didn't know, Rosa. - Now do you feel bad?

Do you feel bad?

I have a husband. I have two kids. And what?

I'm a fucking whore, right? That's what I am.

Because I did it in Tijuana, I keep on doing it here.

How do you like that, Maya?

My own daughter, my baby asks me where her dad is.

What am I going to tell her, Maya?

I don't even remember his face.

I don't know who the fuck is her father.

"You were born in a brothel, honey."

You are right, Maya. I am a fucking traitor.

A traitor who is lying to herself,

to my own family, to my baby girl.

Rosa, what did we do to you?

What did you do to me?

I didn't know.

Sir, can I use the restroom?

- To your left, in the back. - Thank you.

- Don't lose it. - No, no.

Sir! There's a body! Oh, my God!

Where's the body?

What body?

Hey!

Shit!

Hey! Open the fucking door!

Hey, listen, lady...

you'd better open up this door,

I'm going to tell you right now,

or you're in big trouble! Open this door!

Oh, my God! There is a man, a pervert,

in the ladies' rest room.

- He's got his pants pulled down. - He's got his pants down?

- Yes, it's horrible. - All right, calm down.

- You call the police. - Thank you.

I'll kick his ass. All right?

- Eh, buddy! - What?

- Pull up your pants. - Pull up my...?

What are you doing with your pants down?

What the fuck are you“? Open this door!

The police are on their way. Pull them up.

What's that?

Check it out.

Is this a joke or what?

You start on September 12th.

How did you manage to get all that money?

Don't ask.

Listen...

if you don't become the most important attorney in this country,

I will never forgive you.

Wow.

Oh...

I don't know, what to tell you, Maya.

Go to school.

Thanks.

You want to have dinner tonight with me?

- Tonight? Yeah. - Yeah?

- Of course. Where? - At my house.

What are we doing? Pizza?

No, I'm going to cook. I'll pick you up at 8:00.

We want bread, but roses, too!

Down with exploitation!

No justice, no peace!

Okay, okay. All right.

All right. Wow. Okay, listen up.

Today is a great day for the janitors in this building.

All right?

But we have to let the owners of this building know

that this is going to continue

until they get their jobs back. Right?

Yeah!

Okay, okay. In the past few months,

I've seen you insulted, okay?

I've seen you fired from your work,

I've seen you go through financial crisis with your families.

There's been threats of deportation.

I've seen friends split up because of betrayal. All right?

I salute your courage, 'cause it takes a lot of it.

Now, we're fighting for health care, right?

Yeah!

For respect at work.

Yeah!

We want bread, but we want roses, too.

Yeah!

We want all the beautiful things,

all the beautiful things in life.

You see that banner? That banner dates back to 1912,

from Lawrence, Massachusetts, when 10,000 immigrant workers,

who were mostly women, had to fight against poverty wages.

And it was a violent, and a long dispute,

but you know what happened? They won. They won, okay?

No one's giving you roses for nothing.

Okay? No one. You know when you get roses?

When you stop begging... and you organize.

That's it.

And you form a labor movement

that is strong enough to compete against these powerful companies

that are controlling our lives.

Okay? Stand up for your fucking rights!

Yeah!

Okay.

Can I have your attention, please?

You have 30 seconds in which to disperse.

Not even by the police.

We shall not be moved.

Not even by the police.

We shall not be moved...

Listen to me. You people are trespassing,

you are violating the law.

You will have to disperse.

You have 30 seconds to leave the building.

Do you have any medical problems?

Stand right there.

Search her and take off the cuffs for me, please.

- Are you sick, ill or injured? - Can you spread your legs?

Come on, sit down.

Okay, who's Jose Ramirez?

Jose?

What's your name, sir?

- Me? - Yeah, you.

Emiliano Zapata.

Augusto Sandino.

What's your name?

Pancho Villa, Jr.

Give me your right thumb, like this.

Come on over to your right.

I want you to look straight at the ceiling, please.

Did you fill out a "No money" slip?

Yeah, I put it in with the booking.

Oscar?

- These are the last two. - Come on.

All right! What's happening? Hey!

...finally get us out of here.

Which one can you sing best?

You, come here, take a picture.

Hold on, hold on.

Hey, listen up. Listen up.

Listen up!

- Angel wants to settle. - What?

Angel wants to settle. Hold on.

Everybody's been reinstated. You've all got your jobs back.

They're going to give you health insurance, holidays...

We have won! We have won! It's over!

How is it? How is it?

I don't know.

We can do it! We can do it!

The detectives need to see you.

Listen, the detectives need to talk to you.

Your prints match those for a felony robbery suspect.

What's up? Where are you taking her?

I don't know.

Excuse me, officer, what happened?

Doesn't look good, man. They made her prints

at the scene of a robbery of a gas station.

That can't be true. Come on.

Do you have any relatives living in the United States?

My sister.

- And what's her status? - I'm sorry?

Is she legal? Does she have papers?

Yes, yes.

Mother's maiden name?

Hernandez.

Ma'am, you must sign this form, right here.

You're going to be taken to the Tijuana border.

If you re-enter the United States,

you will be prosecuted for grand theft

under Section 47 of the penal code.

If convicted, you'll be subject

to a maximum prison sentence of three years in state prison.

Do you understand? Understand?

You know, this is the United States government.

We're going very easy on you. Consider yourself lucky.

Rosa!

Rosa!

Leave her alone.

- Rosa! - Rosa!

Come here!

Hey, here they come.

Oscar.

Where's Maya?

I don't see her.

Maya's not there.

- There she is! - Here she comes.

We're with you, Maya.

Don't worry, honey.

Hi, Maya! Here we are.

Maya!

- Bye. - Bye.

Take care.

Take care of yourself.

I love you.