Original subtitles

♪♪

♪♪

♪ Walkin' through these dirty halls ♪

♪ With them "so cool" kids around ♪

♪ Walkin' with my head held down ♪

♪ Just trying to avoid the crowd ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ One hand on the glass bottle, and the others would follow ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ All this smoke strikin' my face ♪

♪ I don't feel nothin' but sorrow ♪

♪ Now I'm seeing, now I'm seeing, now I'm seeing ♪

♪ That y'all nowhere ♪

♪ It's been a few years now ♪

♪ Now I'm feeling, now I'm feeling, now I'm feeling ♪

♪ Like your glory days have now gone ♪

♪ And I know it, and I know it, and I know it ♪

♪ Y'all hurtin' ♪

♪ For a while, you been lost ♪

♪ For all those times y'all thought you ran the world ♪

♪ Your glory days are now gone ♪

♪ Gone ♪

♪ Your glory days are now gone ♪

♪ Gone ♪

♪ Walking through these old memories ♪

♪ Where I'd feel so apart ♪

♪ I never fit the normal crowd ♪

♪ Never drank or smoked at all ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ They always talked to me ♪

♪ Couldn't understand why I never followed ♪

♪ Too much pride in my damn self ♪

♪ Don't need to feed no ego ♪

♪ Now I'm seeing, now I'm seeing, now I'm seeing ♪

♪ That y'all nowhere ♪

♪ It's been a few years now ♪

♪ Now I'm feeling, now I'm feeling, now I'm feeling ♪

♪ Like your glory days have now gone ♪

♪ And I know it, and I know it, and I know it ♪

♪ Y'all hurting ♪

♪ For a while you been lost ♪

♪ For all those times y'all thought you ran the world ♪

♪ Your glory days are now gone ♪

Thank you for seeing me today.

Ms. Walden, your son's situation is very serious.

He cuts class constantly,

and when he does show up, he doesn't even try.

♪♪

[ Scoffs ]

Well, that's... inventive.

[ Chuckles ]

That's a math test.

Are you aware that your son

is running with -- with corner boys?

Thugs?

No, my son --

He is not like that.

Why don't we just call him in here,

lay down the law right now.

James isn't in school today.

Yes, he is.

I dropped him off myself this morning.

Well, he didn't make it into the building.

He keeps this up, he'll have to repeat the year.

He's a good kid.

He can still get back on track.

There are 1,200 students in this school.

I have to focus on the ones who want to be here.

♪ Oh ♪

♪♪

[ Dog barks in distance ]

[ Siren wails in distance ]

How was school today?

Fine.

Learn anything new?

Nah, not really.

[ Barking continues ]

Well, I learned something new today.

Hmm?

Yeah, I learned that my son...

is a liar.

I hope you had fun today,

'cause you're gonna pay for it tonight.

Whoa, what's this?

These are textbooks.

And you would know that if you went to school.

Hey, you don't know nothing.

Look, what I know, James,

is that the only thing you have learned

is how to cut class.

And it's "anything."

Huh?

"I don't know anything."

And you said it, not me.

[ Barking continues ]

♪♪

For many years, she's a mothe, a mover, and a shaker.

Please welcome Congresswoman Lorraine Townsend.

[ Cheers and applause ]

So, Lorraine, children are your priority.

Yes, Sally Ray, that is why educatin

is the centerpiee of my agenda.

Our kids are the futur,

and if we want that futue to be bright,

we have to start investig in our kids now,

and that starts with our schools.

Right on, sister.

Right?

If we want our kis

to have the educatin that they deserve,

we have to give our schools the resources that they nee.

Amen to that.

So, a vote for Lorraine Townsend

is a vote for your children's future?

Absolutely.

[ Horn honks ]

[ Engine shuts off ]

Uh, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.

That's your homeroom, right?

I'm gonna wait here until you wave to me from that window.

Ma, come on!

I am not leaving this to chance.

Come on, Ma.

Do not make me go in there with you.

[ Groans ]

[ Sighs ]

[ School bell rings ]

[ Indistinct conversations, announcement over P.A. ]

[ Laughs ]

That your mom?

Huh? Don't cry, Superfly.

You'll be back with your mom tonight.

She'll tuck you in real good and tight.

You miss your mama, don't you, boy?

[ Laughs ]

Now we're going to move on to germination.

What is it?

[ Sniffs ] Mr. Turner,

perhaps you can enlighten us?

[ Music playing on headphones ]

Mr. Turner.

[ Music continues ]

Mr. Turner!

[ Students murmuring, laughing ]

You killin' my groove, lady. What's up?

Can you define germination?

Germination -- a nation of Germans.

I don't know. Uh, germs --

I don't know. A long word for germs?

Go ahead, Mr. Smith.

Germination is how a seed turns into a plant.

It has angiosperms and gymnosperms.

[ Laughs mockingly ]

Bonz: Anyone catch that?

Boy, did you just say "sperm"?

[ Laughter ]

You could all stand to be more like Mr. Smith here.

You won't be laughing when you flunk out

and end up working at McDonald's for the rest of your life.

[ Students "Ooh" ]

[ School bell rings ]

I ain't gonna be working at McDonald's.

There will be a quiz tomorrow.

[ Music playing on headphones ]

[ Door opens ]

What's going on?

[ Door closes ]

What up, James? Jerome, come here.

Come here.

What was that shit you were talking in class earlier?

Huh?

W-What are you talking about?

What am I talking about?

You trying to show me up?

Hmm? Think you so smart?

No.

Huh?

Man!

[ Chuckles ] You fucked up now.

You stepped on my Ones.

[ All grunting ]

[ Bone snaps ]

Aah!

What up, James? You need a lesson, too?

Huh?

Aah!

Come here. Get in on this.

Come on. Come on!

[ Clears throat ]

Go!

[ Door opens ]

Oh, shit! Come on!

I'm sorry, man.

I'm sorry.

Principal Chapman: Give me one reason I don't have him arrested.

Please. He is 15.

He can't have a record.

James, tell me the others involved,

and I might go easier on you.

He's suspended, effective immediately.

Next time, he goes to jail.

I will personally see to it.

There will not be a next time.

Come on, James.

[ Car doors shut ]

You want to tell me what happened?

I defended you back there.

Tell me I was right to do so.

You better answer me.

You think you know everything.

I can't hear you.

They made me do it, Ma.

You can't keep blaming others for making bad choices.

What are you talking about? You weren't even there!

James Walden!

You want to know why they beat on Jerome?

The teacher asked "What is germination?"

Jerome told him, and the teacher

told the other kids to be more like him.

And Bonz -- Bonz just got so --

Whoa. Bonz?

Bonz -- he's skinny.

Bonz just got so mad, Ma.

So, he hit another boy in class for answering a --

Yes.

And there are three of them coming for me next, Ma.

♪♪

Baby, I'm sorry.

People around.

♪♪

[ Engine starts ]

[ Seatbelt clicks ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

Now, that's what your school should be like.

What?

[ Scoffs ] In your dreams.

May I help you?

Yes.

I need to enroll my son.

We don't enroll students mid-semester.

But if you'd like to apply,

we can consider him for the winter term.

No, no, please.

My son needs a new school now.

I'm sorry.

[ Papers rustling ]

[ Scoffs ]

[ Papers fall ]

James.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Do you draw a lot?

Sometimes.

May I?

♪♪

Wow, these are very good.

Thank you.

You see that?

That was done by a young man about your age.

He's at Georgetown now studying graphic design.

Why don't you go out into the hall?

You'll see our Fall Arts Exhibit.

Lots of great student work.

Okay.

♪♪

We did have one student withdraw last week.

So there's one open space.

Yes.

My son needs this.

$3,500 pro-rated. That's $3,000.

$200 for books and $100 for uniforms.

So $3,300.

A year?

For the semester.

Tuition alone is $7,000 a year.

Any chance for a scholarship?

Not with the grades you mentioned. I'm sorry.

[ Chuckles ] It's fine, it's fine.

♪♪

I forgot my checkbook.

When would you need it?

The board meets next month.

The books have to balance.

That's not a problem.

Welcome to Harriet Jacobs Academy.

In a Jiffy Tax Services. How can I help you?

Uh, let me transfer you to a tax specialist.

Just one second.

♪♪

♪ I'm playing games like I've been for a while ♪

♪ You're dropping names, but that suits your style ♪

You'll empty trash, sweep, clean --

all the stuff we can't make the interns do.

That's fine.

Wait, is that the Congresswoman?

Yes.

I am a huge fan.

I think the education plan that she's come up with

is so important.

This is her private office.

She's extremely busy.

Don't speak to her unless she speaks to you first.

Don't even look at her. You're invisible.

One more thing.

Can you scrub toilets?

I've had experience with this, yes.

Good. You're hired.

♪ Hangin' on a line ♪

♪ It's got you, too ♪

♪ Sayin' it's fine when it's not up to you ♪

♪ And in due time, we'll see this through ♪

♪ And follow all the maps we drew ♪

♪ In my life, I wanna be ♪

Wait, hold -- hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.

What?

Please say you're not gonna make me wave to you at my new school.

I'm scrubbing toilets, James, for you to go to this school.

Am I wasting my time?

Ma.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You have got to choose.

If you want to be a delinquent, ruin your life,

I will drive you to juvy right now myself

to help prep you for the life you will be living in prison.

School or juvenile hall?

School.

What?

School.

Just a little louder so I can really hear --

School!

And with, like, that feeling.

I want to go to school!

There we go.

That's the answer. That's the answer.

Can I go? I'm gonna be late.

Boy, let me look you over before we do anything.

Come on.

[ Laughs ]

Sharp. Oh, wait, you still got a tag on.

Hold on one second.

Oh, don't. Don't -- don't.

Why not?

You know, I just want to --

Just in case we have to return it.

This uniform is not going to be returned.

You're gonna get to stay here.

Yeah, but can you just leave it there?

Okay.

♪♪

I love you.

Later, Mom. I love you, too.

♪♪

Congresswoman Townsend: Great.

Well, a contribution like that is a game changer, and I'm --

I'm -- I'm thrilled to have your support.

All right. Well, thank you. We'll be in touch.

[ Receiver clicks ]

That was a six-figure phone call.

I love it. [ Laughs ]

It's Virginia, right?

That's right.

Those your kids?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's Whitney. She's 14.

And that's Henry. He's 10.

My James is 15.

Oh!

Want to --

You know you want me to see him.

Okay. I'll show you.

[ Laughs ]

Let me see.

That's my James.

Aww, look at that face.

He's handsome.

Thank you.

It's a great age.

Phew!

It's a crazy age. [ Chuckles ]

Tell me about it.

[ Laughs ]

I cannot keep up with all the lessons and recitals and games.

Hmm.

Tell me about your son --

What's he do?

Um, yeah, no.

His school didn't offer anything like that.

They learned more like how to cut class

and how to trick the metal detector.

That has to change.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

But, um, I put him in the Harriet Jacobs Academy

because I wanted to give him some more opportunities

like... your daughter has.

You're a good mom, Virginia.

But it shouldn't be that way.

Our schools have simply got to do better.

You know that that is a big part of my agenda, right?

I definitely know.

That's why I really like working here.

I feel like I'm part of the team.

[ Both chuckle ]

The cleaning part, anyway -- but the team nonetheless.

There are no small parts in this fight.

You have a good evening, Virginia.

And you tell that dimple-y boy I said --

I said hi.

[ Laughing ] Okay.

[ Footsteps departing ]

♪♪

♪♪

Mr. Walden, enlighten us.

Why can't plants eat bugs?

'Cause plants aren't animals.

Ah, the metaphysical approach.

Animals eat. Plants are not animals.

Ergo, plants do not eat.

But what if I tell you some plants do eat?

This is Edith.

As you can see, Edith is a plant - a Venus flytrap.

She didn't have much growing up. The soil was very poor.

So...Mr. Walden, will you do the honors?

Just pick up a bug...

and drop it in when I say... now.

And that is evolution in action.

Edith's ancestors couldn't live in poor soil,

so they adapted.

And now Edith eats bugs.

Nature is resilient.

Living things find a way to survive.

U-Unless they're bugs.

[ Laughing ] Uh, yeah, unless they're bugs.

Uh, if you remember what we were talking about yesterday,

we were talking about evolution.

Can anyone tell me how this relates to our conversation yesterday?

Now, remember, we were talking about "Jurassic Park"...

Hey, no Hot Pockets?

Oh, you can have Hot Pockets, or you can have tuition.

Which is it gonna be?

Well?

I'm thinking.

[ Laughs ]

[ Scoffs ]

[ Dog barking in distance ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Knock on door ]

Yes?

I'm sorry to bother you.

Hey.

Can I ask you a quick question?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, thank you.

I'm very, very interested in your work.

And I've been doing a lot of reading.

And -- here we go -- I found this.

This looks like D.C. spends $14,000 per child per year?

Yeah, that's right.

I mean, I'm sorry, I'm probably not understanding,

but isn't that a lot?

Do you mind if I see that?

Oh, no. Sure.

So, it's right there, District of Columbia.

[ Laughs ]

There's your problem right there.

Do you have any idea who Cliff Williams is?

No, not really.

Let's just say he's not someone

who wants to see people lift themselves up.

He's someone who stands opposed

to the kind of work that you and I are doing

for our kids.

Huh.

But thank you, Virginia.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

I appreciate it.

Oh.

[ Glass breaks ]

♪♪

[ Sighs ]

♪ Beware the false motives of others ♪

♪ Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers ♪

♪ And you never suppose it's those ♪

♪ Who are closest to you ♪

♪ To you ♪

Oh. Hi, Virginia.

Hello, Ms. Townsend.

So, are you coming to the town hall on Friday?

Yes, ma'am.

Good.

The mayor will be there, plus our biggest supporter.

So it's all hands on deck.

♪♪

[ Sighs ]

All right. Well, see you then.

♪ Forgive them, Father ♪

♪ For they know not what they do ♪

It says here you want to borrow $7,000 for school?

For my son. For one year.

Right.

Well, that is a significant percentage

of your annual income, ma'am.

I know. But I'm good for it.

I have never been late on a payment in my life.

Uh, okay. Do you -- Uh, do you own your home?

[ Clears throat ] I rent.

♪ They say all the right things to gain their position ♪

♪ They'll use your kindness as their ammunition ♪

Assets? Land? Businesses? Boats?

[ Scoffs ] Uh, I just sold my yacht.

[ Chuckles ]

♪ And I found to be true ♪

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. $600?

♪ That everyday people, they lie to God, too ♪

Fine! Fine!

♪ So what makes you think that they won't lie to you? ♪

♪ Forgive them, Father ♪

♪ For they know not what they do ♪

[ Sighs ] I-I really wish I could help, Ms. Walden.

But, um, you just don't qualify.

Please?

Please.

I promise I will pay you back.

On time and with interest.

[ Sighs ] Um, what about the father?

Can he help?

[ Sighs ]

♪♪

Principal Martinez.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Crying ]

♪♪

Goddamn it.

[ Crying ]

♪♪

Hey, Ma.

Hey, Ma, what are -- What are you doing here?

Whatever it is, I-I-I didn't do it.

Like, I've been real good. I-I even got a pass to come out here.

Um...

I am so sorry, James.

I am so sorry.

♪♪

[ Silverware clanks ]

[ Door slams ]

[ Rap music plays ]

♪♪

♪♪

James Walden! What is this doing in the trash?

Because that's what it is.

This --

♪ And we about to make a killin' ♪

[ Music stops ]

I spent good money on this.

And you're gonna need it for when you go back there.

How am I goin' back, Ma? You gonna rob a bank?

You gonna do that for me? Please?

[ Rap music plays ]

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Shoe clasp breaks ]

[ Scoffs ]

[ Sighs ]

Annette: There you are.

I've got your question all written out for you.

Oh, wait. I'm sorry. What?

Your question. Just in case.

You've never done this before.

So, in theory, people will ask great questions

so the Congresswoman can show off her strengths.

But sometimes we have to help. Sit here.

If I touch my ear like so, you go up to the mic...

Whoa.

...and you ask your question.

No, I'm sorry.

I'm terrified of public speaking.

This is reading, not speaking. You'll be great.

[ Clears throat ]

He's not here. Let's start.

You sure?

Yeah.

All right.

[ Light feedback ]

Good evening.

Welcome to the School Matters town hall meeting.

[ Applause ]

We're a tight community, and we look out for each other.

But we couldn't do it without strong, righteous leaders.

And we have one of the best.

For 20 years, she has done battle for you in Congress,

and she has won.

So, folks, let's welcome our very own Lorraine Townsend.

[ Applause ]

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you so much.

And thank you all for coming to discuss

what is the most pressing issue facing us today --

education.

And I am so excited to see what we can accomplish together.

All right, who's up first?

Yes, sir?

My daughter is scared to go to school.

There's fights, knives, guns.

How's she supposed to learn?

I am a mother of two.

And that's why my plan calls for tighter security

and stricter disciplinary rules.

Come on, now. They have guards, they have metal detectors.

That ain't no school. It's a damn jail.

I hear you. I hear you.

But these things take time, right?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Um, my -- my kids, they -- they make all A's.

But the test scores say that they're reading below grade level --

Well, we have to end social promotion.

And we have to end grade inflation.

So, your solution is to flunk my kid?

No, ma'am. I-I am not suggesting that at all.

But what I am suggesting is we have to start thinking big.

That's why my plan calls for

rebuilding our crumbling schools,

giving more funding to our teachers.

So that eventual--

[ Audience murmuring ]

Yes, ma'am.

Did you have a question?

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Hello--

[ Feedback ]

I'm Virginia Walden,

and I have a question for the Congresswoman.

[ Inhales deeply ]

[ Exhales deeply ]

"D.C. schools are chron"--

Oh, God.

Sorry.

Very nervous.

Take your time.

You're among friends here.

[ Laughs ]

"D.C. schools are chronically"...

[ Scoffs ]

It's been a long day.

I had to pull my son out of school.

It was a really good one.

But I couldn't afford it.

So, tomorrow, my son has to come back here.

And he can't learn here. Nobody can.

And Lorraine Townsend is telling us that we need to wait,

be patient,

and, "eventually," change will come.

Well, I don't know about you, but my son can't wait.

He needs change today.

Not tomorrow, not next week,

and definitely not "eventually."

'Cause we've been waiting...

for decades.

And...

I'm done.

And -- and -- and you know what else I'm done with?

I am done with this lie about money.

Now, they tell us, they say to us that the schools are bad

because they're poor, and -- and we believe them because --

because we know what poor looks like, right?

This place does look poor.

But you know what?

The school I took my son out from?

Now, that school cost $7,000 a year.

Now, I know -- I know that is a lot.

It's a lot.

Ms. Walden --

But did you know

that this public school gets twice as much money...

Ms. Walden!

...per child per year.

Woman: Are you kidding me?

What if your kids could just go to school

and sit down and study?

Yes!

Just get out of this hopeless cycle that we live in?

Yes.

They could go to college,

become a doctor,

a scientist.

They could become a teacher.

Anything!

Just imagine it.

Because I know I have.

And losing that hope today, losing that hope --

Man: Yeah.

Let her finish!

[ Voice breaking ] Losing that hope for my son,

that was the saddest thing in the world.

Amen.

[ Audience murmuring ]

You're fired.

I'm fired. I know. I quit.

And you can clean your own damn toilets.

[ Murmuring continues ]

[ Siren wails in distance ]

Hey. What's up, y'all?

I want some candy.

I want some candy, too.

All right.

Candy! Candy!

One for you.

Can I have some candy?

Want some candy?

And a Ring Pop for you.

What -- What -- What are you doing?

What are you doing?

I'm passing out after-school snacks.

What's wrong with you?

Wha--

Does your mother know you're out here recruiting kids?

Nah, just helping out the community --

offering career options, is all.

Get off my street, Garnett.

And if I ever see you here again with these kids,

I swear, I'm gonna make --

What?

What you gonna -- You gonna put me in the corner?

Give me a time-out?

I'm gonna give you a good old-fashioned ass whuppin'.

That's what I'm gonna do.

[ Laughs ]

All right, uh-huh.

Be careful.

'Cause your boy already missing a daddy.

There you go. All right.

That's for you.

Ring pops.

Hey, stay in school. All right?

Okay.

[ Scoffs ] "Stay in school."

[ Sighs ]

[ Scoffs ]

[ Siren wails in distance ]

♪♪

I'll make you a deal, okay?

You go to school, you study hard.

I will move heaven and Earth for you to go back to Harriet Jacobs Academy.

Which bank you gonna rob?

[ Both laugh ]

I will not tell.

♪ I'm looking around, and I see more of the same ♪

♪ Yeah, more of the same ♪

♪ People looking for purpose, someone to blame ♪

♪ As I'm on my quest for fame ♪

♪ Every day the place is changed ♪

♪ I stay humble trying to play the game ♪

♪ Trying to play the game ♪

♪ I'm trying to play the game, yeah ♪

♪ I figured it out, my dreams are bigger than me ♪

Do you really need this that bad?

We hurt you that bad?

You can't walk?

You need a wheelchair or something, too, while you're at it?

♪ I'm so glad that I believe ♪

♪ I believe ♪

♪ That God has plans for me ♪

♪ Got plans ♪

♪ Mama told me it will happen, you'll see ♪

♪ It'll happen, you'll see, you'll see ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, time for you to raise up ♪

♪ Time for you to get right, time for you to get up ♪

♪ Time for you to be loud, time for you to raise up ♪

♪ Get up, stand up, raise up ♪

♪ You gotta know who you are ♪

♪ You are meant for a purpose ♪

♪ Who you was meant to be ♪

♪ You are meant to be ♪

♪ Mm-hmm ♪

♪ I can't move forward till I let go of the past ♪

♪ Got to let it go, yes ♪

[ Door creaking ]

Hi.

I would like to see Congressman Williams.

The Congressman isn't here right now.

Then let's make an appointment.

[ Pages rustling ]

His first available is December 3rd at 8:00 A.M.

He can give you 10 minutes.

[ Scoffs ]

You've got to be kidding.

Sorry. He's very --

Yes, yes. He's very, very busy.

Got it. [ Sighs ]

♪♪

♪♪

I mean, he's got to come through the door at some point, right?

[ Scoffs ]

♪♪

We'll take care of that. I'll see you tomorrow.

Yes. Yes. Okay.

Cliff: Yeah.

See you tomorrow, Cliff.

Congressman?

Sir? Hey! Cliff?

Um...

Yes?

I read your report.

Um, when you said that young people,

they shouldn't have to wait while we take the long,

slow walk to lift up our public schools.

Yes, yes. I say a lot of things. I'm a politician.

Sure, but, um, what you did in Milwaukee and Cleveland,

um, so that low-income students could go to private schools,

well, I want to do that here in Washington D.C.

Uh-huh.

I see.

Um...

You've done your homework.

I-I did.

Yeah. And you get an F in history.

We tried it here. No one wanted it.

Did you know that?

Uh, no. No.

Yeah. Parents in poverty with kids in terrible schools,

who will, therefore, remain in poverty.

The parents just didn't want it.

No. I-I don't believe you.

Well, it doesn't matter what you believe.

No one wanted it.

No, but we do!

I do.

Take it up with your local representative.

Lorraine Townsend doesn't --

Lorraine Townsend is not my problem.

Now, if you'll be so kind and step aside,

I have a date with my 9-iron.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

♪♪

"No one wanted it."

Tryin' to tell me what people want.

How's he know? Burnt-out old fart.

♪ She turn fire into rain ♪

♪ Heal your pain like novocaine ♪

♪ If you was blind, I guarantee ♪

♪ She touch your eyes so you can see ♪

♪ Ohh, I lo-o-o-ove ♪

♪ Livin' in a woman's world ♪

Hi.

I was hoping you might be interested --

I ain't got no money.

♪ A woman's world ♪

Afternoon, sir. Hi.

I was wondering if you'd be open --

♪ Pick her pills and give you life ♪

Ma'am, hi. Hi.

I'm Miss Virginia. I have a petition --

Oh, can I help you with that?

Stop! Thief.

Thief!

No! No.

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Livin' in a woman's world ♪

Get a scholarship to go to a better school.

♪ It's a woman's world ♪

Thank you.

You won't regret it.

♪ It's a woman's world ♪

Hi, there. How are you?

♪ It's a woman's world ♪

Would you be interested in signing a petition?

♪ And you're just a man in a woman's world ♪

♪♪

[ Car alarm blaring ]

♪♪

Virginia: Young lady, why are you sitting out here all by yourself?

[ Man shouting ]

Where's your mother?

[ Blaring stops ]

You live here?

[ Shouting continues ]

[ Bang ]

Come on.

Come on.

Delilah!

Get inside! What'd I tell you about talking to strangers?

She was out here all alone, and it was dangerous.

Are you judging me?

No, ma'am, I am not judging you.

I know you're judging me. Get off my block.

Mom! Mom!

Mom, Mom, Mom. Mom, Mom, Mom. It's -- It's all right.

Telling me how to be a mother to my baby.

I get it, I get it, I get it.

It's all right, it's all right, it's all right.

Just go inside. Go inside.

Hell no.

Damn...

My bad. I had to work.

You had to work?

Aren't you like 15?

So who's watching her?

I am.

And who's watching you?

You should get out of here.

Would you like to sign a petition?

Okay.

Just write your name and then sign it.

♪♪

Great. We're gonna have some meetings,

and I'll give you a call.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

♪♪

Well, Well, Well.

I see you prancing all over the hood acting all civic and shit.

Let me by, Garnett.

Not till you pay what you owe.

Owe? I don't owe you anything.

No?

Get out of my way.

Why you think nobody been hassling you?

Why you still got your purse?

I didn't ask for your help.

What you getting names for anyway?

It's just for a scholarship program.

Hmm.

For career options.

Mm.

No, no! Don't! Please! No!

[ Clipboard thuds ]

I'm the career optin around here.

Got that?

[ Engine starts, car door closes ]

♪♪

[ Vehicle departs ]

♪♪

Man: Several weeks later...

♪ I've been in love with perfect strangers ♪

Let's check the first flower.

♪ That had me caught up in my dreams ♪

♪ Always dressed like heaven's angels ♪

♪ But they don't know me ♪

♪ They don't comfort me ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ God knows I'm tired of crying ♪

♪ When love's cutting me so raw ♪

♪ I don't wanna hurt no more ♪

♪ No more ♪

♪ Breaking the chains out of this tragedy ♪

What's up, man?

You good? All right?

Man, you doin' something with this corner.

You turnin' shit to gold.

Yeah, you know, I'm grinding, working hard.

A token of appreciation.

Oh, nah, man.

All right, all right, all right.

Yeah!

Damn!

Yeah!

See what happen when you put in that work?

All right, all right. Shit!

You like the kicks?

Yeah.

Come work for me. I'll hook you up.

Think on it.

♪♪

[ Dogs barking ]

[ Indistinct yelling ]

[ Baby cries ]

[ Yelling continues ]

[ Knock on door ]

[ Lock unlocks ]

Hey!

You're the lady from the other night.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes.

Um...

Whatcha -- What are you doing here?

Can I talk to you for a minute?

[ Sighs ] I dropped out of that school 15 years ago.

And it was terrible even then.

Hmm.

Nothing changes.

Oh, it changes. It gets worse.

[ Clicks tongue ]

How many names you got?

Oh...

Oh.

Oh, well, I had more, but Garnett Brown burned them.

Mm.

Oh.

That sounds about right.

Mm-hmm.

Whatcha gonna do with the names?

I was thinking about taking them to the D.C. Council meeting

tomorrow night.

Mm.

But now... [ Scoffs ]

I got so few names, I don't even know.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

What?

[ Both laugh ]

Say no more.

That's it.

Mm-hmm.

Excuse me.

No, it's cool.

[ Knock on door ]

Shondae.

Hey, go ahead, have a seat. It's all good.

Okay.

Yeah.

[ Pounding on door ]

Shondae!

Damn it, Robert!

What the hell you doing waking me up?

Uh...

Maybe I should --

No, no, no, no, no. No, no.

Sit tight. It's all right.

She testy when she tired, but she can get you them names.

I'm taking names right now.

Shondae, honey, I --

Unh-unh. Don't call me honey.

Look, I'm sorry I woke you up. I really am.

But I think you will want to hear this.

When do you need these by?

Um, tomorrow night for the D.C. Council meeting.

All right.

[ Slaps clipboard ]

All right.

She said "all right."

Okay.

Okay. [ Chuckles ]

I mean, is there a problem?

No. No. Nothing at all.

No.

We'll see you tomorrow night.

Okay.

Um --

I'll grab your stuff for you.

[ Siren wailing ]

Hey. Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa!

No!

C-Chill, chill, chill!

It's me.

[ Sighs ]

If you get enough names,

can you change things around here for my sister?

This is complicated.

But, yes.

Yes, the more names the better.

Okay?

Okay.

I can get more names, then.

Okay.

[ Chuckles ]

I didn't mean to scare you like that.

I know.

[ Chuckles ] I know.

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Chairman Randall: Uh, I hereby call this meeting to order.

Unbelievable.

Um, excuse me.

Sorry, Your Honor.

Yes, sir.

Please, have a seat.

♪♪

Oh, my God.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Who are they?

Let's just say Shondae has a way with people.

Looks like we're gonna have an interesting meeting.

Woman: Lots are so broken, I almost fell the other day.

Ma'am, ma'am, thank you, uh...

I mean, what are you gonna do about --

...but your four minutes are up.

[ Scoffs ]

Uh, next?

Next?

[ Clears throat ]

Um...

[ Clears throat ]

Um...

Ma'am?

I-I'm here to present, uh, a-a petition.

Now, I have --

Uh, your -- your name, ma'am?

It's Virginia Walden.

Virginia Walden?

And, uh, on behalf of the parents of Washington, D.C.,

for a scholarship program

so that low-income students can go to a private school.

Uh, ma'am, ma'am, excuse me for second.

Uh, um, uh, did you register to speak?

We -- we don't have your name on record.

Uh...

I'm sorry, I thought this was an open meeting.

Well, the -- the rules are clear.

If you want the floor, you have to register

48 hours before the meeting.

But I thought t-this was an open --

I know what you thought, but the rules are clear.

No, but I-I-I --

No, no, no. Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am,

the rules are clear.

Sir, to whom?

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

If I knew the rules, I would have followed them.

Now, I am here.

Can't you just take the petition?

I'm sorry, ma'am. We can't.

Um, we've gathered many names here.

Why don't you register for the next meeting?

Okay? Please, take your seat.

[ Audience murmuring ]

[ Scoffs ]

Uh, all right.

Uh, anyone else?

Okay, I move--

Hold on.

[ Audience murmurs ]

Hold on.

Ma'am, your name?

Shondae Smith.

Shondae Smith.

Okay. Uh, I don't have your name here, either.

Yeah, I'm sure you don't. But I'mma speak anyway because I took off work.

All these folks took off work.

Woman #2: That's right.

My boy, Jerome -- he right over there.

Say hi, baby.

My son -- He real bright, and he work hard.

And the bullies at his school beat him up for it.

They hurt his leg and broke a bunch of ribs.

I shouldn't have to put him back in that school.

But I got no choice.

That's wrong.

♪♪

[ Sighs ]

My -- my name is Tasha White.

White.

My name's not on your list, either.

[ Sighs ]

My kids, they -- they falling behind,

but the school won't help.

And they act like I'm the problem.

They say that my son has no potential.

My daughter should have a choice, but she doesn't.

That's wrong.

[ Audience murmuring ]

Can we have order in the chamber?

♪♪

[ Gavel banging ]

Folks...

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

Please, respect the Council. Please have a seat.

Virginia: ...And present this petition

on behalf of the parents of Washington, D.C.

[ Sighs ]

[ Camera shutters click ]

♪♪

[ Golf club swings ]

Okay.

♪♪

Hey!

[ Groans ]

Congressman Williams!

Hey! Hey.

What are you doing here?

Uh...did you see this?

This is a private club.

I know.

Members only.

I know.

That's why I had to tell the people at the gate

that I was the maid. Did you see this?

Don't make me call security.

Oh. Look at you, Mr. tough guy.

Well, I guess you got a lot to prove, what with those pants and all.

You said the people of D.C. don't want change, and they do.

Now, I took a petition with hundreds of names

to the Council last night.

Shouldn't we at least have a conversation?

That last shot doesn't count.

You have no idea how difficult this would be.

If we lived anywhere else, you could go

to your local government and set up a scholarship program.

That's what we did in Milwaukee and Cleveland.

But in D.C., you need an act of Congress.

That means you need to get the attention

of a bunch of politicians who don't care about you,

because you didn't elect them.

And then you've got to get them all to agree,

which happens... never.

And then you need the President to sign it into law.

You have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting all of that done.

Well, no wonder why nothing changes around here.

Exactly.

Until now.

[ Silverware clanks ]

I've been in this game for a long time.

There's a way things are done -- or not done.

And that doesn't change because you want it to.

Disagree.

Disagree all you want. It doesn't change things.

Dis...a...gree.

[ Swallows ]

[ Breathes deeply ]

You might just be formidable.

Agree.

Why don't we have a real drink and seal the deal?

No. I like to stay sharp.

Prevents bad choices... like those pants.

These pants are tactical. They blind the opposition.

Ha! What, so folks don't see how bad your game is?

I like golf. But what I'm really good at?

Legislation.

You better be.

You have no idea.

Congressman Williams: Education is the civil rights issue

of our time.

We, the people, have failed in our moral and legal obligation

to provide quality education to every American child.

Right now, thousands of children

right here in our nation's capital

are bearing the burden of our failure.

These children are caught up in a cycle of poverty,

dependency, and crime.

We have abandoned the most vulnerable members

of our society.

And we must do better.

I'm thrilled to introduce the D.C. Education Incentive Act.

This bill will create a scholarship fund

so that low-income parents like Virginia

can send their kids to schools

where they will break free from the shackles of poverty.

It's my pleasure to introduce you to Virginia Walden,

a single mother from one of D.C.'s toughest neighborhoods.

Please put your hands together and welcome Ms. Virginia Walden.

[ Applause ]

Man: First you let her run over you at the town hall meeting,

now this.

Honestly, Lorraine, it's like you want us to pull our funding.

No, no, no. I-It's nothing to worry about. It's not going anywhere.

Look, I am 100% confident in our plan.

Then prove it.

[ Receiver clicks, dial tone ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Siren wailing ]

Shit.

[ Dogs barking ]

Shit.

Yo, that was -- That was close.

[ Chuckles ]

You got some weak-ass shoes, man.

The damn sole's coming apart.

[ Chuckles ]

I wish I had some kicks like yours.

Come to work.

You know where to find me.

Yeah, yeah. I got you.

All right.

[ Barking continues ]

[ Breathing heavily ]

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

This is the "Sally Ray Show."

Please join me in welcoming our special guest.

She is a mother, a trailblazer --

Virginia Walden.

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪♪

[ Cheers and applause continues ]

So, Virginia, you're a single mom.

Yes, I am.

Tell us about your son.

Um...

James is kind and smart.

He's also a teenage.

Speak!

[ Laughs ] Teenagers! I have two myself.

[ Laughter ]

James is, um, susceptible.

The streets just pull him in.

Yeah.

And school --

He was just falling between the cracks there.

And I just...

[ Clears throat ] Sorry.

I just thought I was gonna lose him.

So I put him in a private school.

Wow. How did you afford that?

[ Laughs ]

I didn't.

[ Laughter ]

Overnight, James -- He just changed.

You know, my son was excitd for school.

It was just incredibl.

But then I had to pull him ot because I couldn't pay for i.

And that led you to partner with

Congressman Clifford Williams

on the D.C. Education Incentive Act.

Yes. No child should be cut off from education.

Poor kids have just as much of a right to learn as rich ones.

[ Applause ]

Well, that's, uh, inspirational.

And Congressman Williams -

He had tried this before in Milwaukee..

and so I thought

this is somebody who's passionate about it,

and I feel lucky to have his support.

I'm sure he feels lucky to have your support

and your information.

I don't know what you mean.

Congresswoman Lorraine Townsend,

who's served our community for over 20 years,

uh, she said that your plan, uh,

actually harms low-income residents.

Yeah, that's not true.

It's not true that Townsend said that

or not true that your plan helps poor people?

Neither. I -- I mean, b--

[ Breathes deeply ] I mean --

My source says that you went through the trash

looking for campaign secrets.

What? Campaign secrets?

What?

So, you admit you insinuated yourself

in the inner circles of the Townsend campaign.

You're not serious.

Donna! Get me the "Sally Ray Show."

Now.

Oh, no, I am serious, Virginia.

Admit it.

Admit what?

This is all about the money.

Yes. Yes, it is.

That - That is what I am saying.

Right.

So, how much is Cliff Williams paying you to do his dirty work?

Hmm?

Now, I-I have a statement here, uh,

from the Townsend campaign that I'd like to read.

"For generations, black people were kept out

of America's public schools.

Now Virginia Walden and her reactionary allies

want to set us back 50 years."

What do you say to that?

[ Audience murmuring ]

♪♪

All right!

Yeah!

[ Dogs barking ]

[ Vehicle approaching ]

[ Rap music playing on radio ]

[ Music stops ]

What's up, man?

Hey, yo, I got a petition I need you to sign, too.

[ Barking continues ]

What? You ain't gonna sign it?

[ Engine starts ]

It's for the kids, man!

[ Door opens ]

Rise and shine.

Mm!

Girl, it's been a week.

Get your ass out of this damn bed.

Listen, I just worked a 12-hour shift.

My feet hurt. My back hurts. My soul hurts.

But I'm here.

I'm here.

So get your ass outta this damn bed.

Okay.

But Cliff Williams is gonna be here

with about a million parents in exactly --

hmm -- 15 minutes.

Wait, what?

Mm-hmm.

This is a movement, honey.

It don't stop just 'cause you caught the vapors.

[ Crying ]

Aw, hell no. Okay.

All right, all right.

Here, baby.

I can't go out there.

Either you go out there, or they come in here.

But you doing this.

I got my ass handed to me on that show, Shondae.

There's still plenty left.

Mm-hmm!

[ Laughs ] You're too much.

[ Laughs ]

Shondae, I got to tell you something.

Sure, anything.

Come on.

I can't even look at you.

James, my son... he --

He was the one who stomped my Jerome's glasses.

I know all about that.

Then why are you here?

'Cause this is bigger than all of that.

Plus, James ever come near my Jerome again,

he got me to deal with.

[ Both laugh ]

I can work with that.

Then we good.

Then we good.

Shondae, what am I gonna tell all these people?

The right thing.

You're gonna say the right thing.

[ Scoffs ]

[ Clock ticking ]

Okay, good lord, family. He don't bite.

Excuse me, baby.

Not my friends, at least.

Where's Virginia?

Mm.

She was delayed. We should just get started.

I'm out.

No, Tash. Come -- Come on. No, no, no!

Unh-unh!

Listen, y'all, y'all can't just walk out like that.

Virginia: Sit...

Why not?

...down.

[ Women groan ]

Well, you heard her. Get back in there and sit down.

Please.

Go this way.

Now, I know what you all are thinking.

And I know because I thought the same thing

when I first met the Congressman.

No offense.

No offense.

And I thought he can't be bothered with us.

He doesn't care about us.

But he does.

Is she right? Do you care?

Look, I understand why you might doubt me.

I'm a white man with a Harvard degree,

two homes, a chauffeur --

A fat head.

[ Laughs ]

[ Clears throat ]

And a fat head.

But this isn't about me.

It's about your children.

Can you get my son into a school where they don't beat him up because he's bright?

There's no telling what we can accomplish if we work together.

Man, why should we trust you?

Ha ha. You shouldn't trust me.

I'm a politician.

[ Light laughter ]

But what you can trust is that I'm a hell of a legislator.

And I'm never better than when the stakes are high

and the odds are long.

So I'm confused. Are we talking about politics or poker?

[ Laughter ]

I never fold. I can't.

So, where do we go from here?

♪♪

♪ Some souls are born in the shadow ♪

Lorraine Townsend is going to fight you -- hard.

And I'm sorry to say that Congress just doesn't care about you.

Well, we gonna have to make them care. That's what we gonna do.

Well, now, how are we gonna do that?

♪ Out of the womb in shackles ♪

If you want people in Congress to care,

you need to find someone with clout to endorse you.

Wha-- The mayor.

Exactly.

That is gonna take a miracle.

The mayor is on Townsend's side, a-a-and has been for years.

Well, luckily I specialize in miracles.

And now, so do you.

♪ Well, sometimes you got to rise ♪

♪ Rise ♪

♪ Sometimes you got to rise ♪

♪ Rise ♪

♪ Above your ♪

Okay, can someone please tell me

where the hell the Congressman is?

He is coming. He's gonna be here.

This is crazy.

Oh, you made it!

You made it!

What's going on? Anything for my baby sister.

So happy to see you.

Hey! Ah!

[ Cellphone ringing ]

Oh, wait. Hold on.

Hey.

Oh.

Hello, Congressman.

Congressman Williams: I can't make it.

Wait, what?

I've got another vote --

the Water Reclamation and Storage Act.

The what?

The point is that when I vote "yes" for them,

we'll pick up six votes "yes" for us.

So how many do you need?

218.

Ugh.

What's he saying?

He's saying that he's not coming.

What?

Okay, I'm gonna kill that man.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Hey.

You want to help me give a speech?

♪♪

Come on.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

♪♪

Hello, everybody! I'm Delilah.

All: Hi, Delilah.

This is Miss Virginia!

She's nervous, so I'm helping her.

Hi, Miss Virginia.

Uh, thank you, Delilah.

[ Chuckles ]

Uh, Delilah is right.

I am so nervous.

Um...

But, you know, I start to feel less nervous

when I look out at this crowd.

In fact, I start to feel fantastic.

Yes!

[ Laughs ]

I feel fantastic because

there's just so much power standing here.

There's so much purpose.

There is so much strength right here.

Can you feel it? Can you feel it?

Yes!

Now -- now, those up on the Hill,

they said we would fail.

They say that we all don't care about our kids.

But they could not be more wrong.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Hi.

Yeah, you will not believe what's going on down here.

We have started a petition.

And more than 7,000 people have signed it.

That's right -- 7,000.

And we are going to march it over to the mayor's office.

We are going to put it in his hand.

And we are going to get his support.

Do you hear me?

That's right!

I need you to fix this.

I'm not shutting down a peaceful protest, Lorraine.

This is America.

Now, do you see these?

You see these bags?

These backpacks, every single one of them

is filled with signatures --

yours, mine, our neighbors,

our friends.

Whoo!

We need your help to get them over there.

Who wants to carry one? Come on.

Come on up here. Help us with a bag.

Come on up here.

Because we have to let them know that kids come first.

Kids come first!

All: [ Chanting ] Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first! Kids come first!

My entire legacy going down the drain.

All because of this ridiculous woman.

Are you listening to me?

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

Kids come first!

[ Vehicle approaches ]

[ Music playing on radio ]

♪♪

[ Music stops ]

Superfly.

Everything cool?

Hey, yo, speak up. You finding your way?

Yeah.

Yeah, you -- you been working real hard.

Maybe I put you on your own corner.

Yo, come here, man.

I want to ask you something. Make sure you tell me the truth.

The count's off.

Know anything about that?

Nah.

Yo, just playin' with you, man.

Hey, almost forgot. This right here...

for services rendered.

Yeah!

Jays is fine, right?

Yeah.

Thanks.

Yo, uh, where Bonz at?

Uh...

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]

...poverty, communities torn by crime.

[ Scoffs ] Windbag.

Today, I stand before you with my friend and colleague

from across the aisle, Congressman Clifford William.

And I hereby endorse the D.C. Education Incentive Act.

I call upon Congress to move forward and to act.

Ahh!

Ma! Ma!

Yes, yes!

Do not kill this bill...

I thought you was dying.

...a bill which provides great opportunities --

No, no, no. Mnh-mnh.

I am very much alive!

Oh, my goodness!

[ Telephone rings ]

Oh, wait, hold on while I get the phone.

[ Laughs ]

Hello?

Oh! Hi!

We are watching you right now on the TV.

Congressman Williams: You're going to need a speech

for when you testify before Congress.

Wait, no.

No, I-I -- I-I-I really --

♪♪

Sit. Oh, my goodness.

Yes!

[ Dog barking ]

What's up?

Before I give you this, can you sign this for my little sister?

[ Dog barks ]

All right.

A little token of appreciation.

It's on the house.

[ Dog barking, telephone rings ]

Virginia: Hello?

Woman: I was calling you about the scholarship program.

Abs-- Yes.

You want to do something with the scholarship program.

I will -- Uh, let me just grab a pen,

and then I can get all of your information.

Okay.

Hello?

Hello?

♪♪

♪♪

Ma! When's dinner? I'm starving.

I'm not even gonna ask you to explain this.

[ Bangs desk ]

You are not even going to school.

Did Garnett Brown give you these? Huh?

Are you selling your soul for clown shoes?

[ Stove clicking ]

Ma. Ma, what are you --

What are you doing? Mom -- Mom --

Please don't do that, Ma. That's my money. Please.

It is not yours.

You did not earn this honestly,

and you will never spend it.

Stop, Mom! Please! Stop! Mom, what are you doing?!

Stop! Please! Please!

Stop it!

[ Groans ]

I hate you!

I hate you! I hate you!

I hate you, Ma!

I hate you.

♪♪

[ Door closes ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Spray can hissing ]

♪♪

♪♪

Damn. How you do that?

Just do.

"Just do"?

Yeah.

Lucky as hell, man.

Look at this. You got talent.

I'd try to make some money off this shit.

My mom found my money, man.

Oh, shit.

She hates me.

Your mom don't hate you.

She's -- I wish I had a mom

like would stay on me like that.

Then you can have her.

You don't get it, man.

Just think about this, though --

Some kids don't even have a mom

or a pops out here, man.

Alright.

Everything your mom do, man, she do for you.

I wish my moms would get it together like that.

Yeah, you right.

Be safe, man.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Exhales deeply ]

♪♪

[ Gunshots ]

[ Dog barking, alarm blaring ]

[ Tires squeal ]

Jesus. James!

James! Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Bonz?

Oh, Jesus.

Jesus.

[ Sobbing ]

♪♪

Somebody help me!

[ Sobbing continues ]

♪♪

[ Sirens wailing in distance ]

[ Police radio chatter ]

♪♪

[ Engine starts ]

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

I run a high school with 1,200 students.

The building is falling down.

We can't afford chalk.

And she wants to steal what little we do have for her

so-called "scholarship" program.

This woman delivered 7,000 signatures,

but the D.C. Education Incentive Act

would only provide scholarships for 1,700 kids.

It's an affront on equal opportunity.

We cannot allow it.

Next up, we will have, um, Virginia Walden.

♪♪

[ Clears throat ]

I wrote a speech.

Um, I was gonna come here and beg you all

to not abandon our children.

Again.

But then, um, then after this "testimony,"

I-I just can't be polite anymore.

This misinformation.

The bad faith --

Ms. Walden.

Let me just start with Principal Chapman.

You said that this bill takes money away

from the public schools and makes them worse.

But, sir, have you even read it?

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

Didn't think so.

Because if he had read it, he would have known

that it provides the same funding for the public schools

as it does for the scholarship program.

That's what we call compromise.

And we wrote it like that so that people would not be able

to argue that we're somehow undermining the public schools.

But, yet, sir, somehow,

here you are arguing exactly that.

And you, Mr. Patterson,

or should I really just call you "Mr. Lobbyist"?

Because, and I do think it is important for this room

to know this, this is not a neutral party.

This is one of Lorraine Townsend's

biggest donors.

She is bought and paid for --

Ms. Walden.

Now, now, Ms. Townsend,

I have the floor.

I'm so tired of this --

so tired of trying to persuade you all to do the right thing.

So now, I am just going to flat out tell you

what you are going to do.

You are going to do right by my son.

You are going to do right by him

and the thousands of kids

in Washington, D.C. just like him.

♪♪

This is America.

This is the land of opportunity.

There is no opportunity if there is no education,

and you all know that is true.

So you cannot --

You must not --

♪♪

You will not deny our children their right to learn.

♪♪

One last point.

[ Groans ]

[ Zipper unzips ]

♪♪

Way more than 7,000 people signed up for this.

People want this.

And it is life or death for them.

And -- and in fact,

the boy who collected these signatures --

he got shot last night trying to deliver them to me.

He was a dropout.

A drug dealer who just wanted better for his little sister.

♪♪

Don't let his death be in vain.

♪♪

♪♪

[ Gavel bangs ]

[ Indistinct conversations ]

Mama?

Oh, baby.

Thanks, Ma.

♪♪

Thanks

Okay, guys, this is it.

The House votes on our bill today.

And we are here at the Capitol to make sure that every

one of those 435 representatives understands what's at stake.

What's at stake for us.

The people of the District of Columbia.

And we will be heard.

Voices.

Crowd: Choices!

Second chances.

Second chances!

Kids come first.

Kids come first. Kids come first.

Kids come first.

Kids come first. Kids come first.

You got a permit?

Officer, please. Our vote is today.

Hey, lady, lady, I got kids of my own, okay?

I wish I could just turn my back on all of this,

but we're getting complaints.

Who is complaining?

Move or I'll have to remove you myself.

Then you do what you got to do.

[ Chanting "Kids come first!" ]

Put the megaphone down.

Kids come first! Kids come first!

Kids come first!

[ Indistinct shouting ]

♪♪

[ "The Price is Right" playing on television ]

♪♪

Barker: Mary, your bid.

[ Indistinct shouting ]

Mary: $850, Bob.

Her bid is --

Hi. Officer.

Officer.

Officer, please.

This is an emergency.

Man: $1,450, Bob.

What?

Could you please put the TV on C-SPAN

so we can all watch the House vote?

The actual retail price is $868 --

[ Cheers and applause ]

You got kids?

Narrator: Sprinkled with pollen --

the stigma is the green objet on the right.

Almost all the pollen tubes now grow toward the stigma.

So, that's government.

Yep.

What are they doing?

I'm not sure.

[ Gavel bangs ]

Madam Speaker: The House is in the Committee

of the Whole House of the State of the Union

for the further consideration of H.R. 1956,

the D.C. Education Incentive Act.

Narrator: This seed grew inside a ripening apple.

If the seed is planted,

it will grow into a mature plant that will flower.

If the stigma of the flower --

What do you think you're doing?

Madam Speaker: To provide private school scholarships

to low-income District of Columbia families.

Question is on passage of the bill.

Those in favor, say "aye."

Those opposed say "no."

[ Gavel bangs ]

The no's have it.

[ People groan ]

Officer: That's it?

That's it.

Good.

"Family Feud" is about to come on.

Wait.

Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Wait, Virginia.

Virginia, come back.

♪♪

Madam Speaker, I'd like to ask for a recorded vote

on the final passage.

Those favoring a recorded voe will rise.

♪♪

Those in favor having risen, a recorded vote is ordered.

Members will record their voe by electronic device.

This is a 15-minute vote.

[ Gavel bangs ]

♪♪

♪♪

[ Clears throat ] Excuse me.

Excuse me.

A little last-minute whisper campaigning, Lorraine?

I bet you wish you could vote today.

[ Button beeps ]

♪♪

It's not fair that the member who doesn't get to vote

is the representative from D.C.

I feel you. I do.

No, you don't. You're enjoying this.

On the contrary. I find it tragic.

Almost as tragic as the thousands that elected you

not actually being represented by you.

How dare you? Those are my people.

I know them.

Maybe.

But you don't listen to them.

They want this bill, and you want to block it.

If that's not failure to represent, I don't know what is.

♪♪

♪♪

-[ Laughs ] -Yes!

♪♪

Dang, man.

[ Scoffs ] It's all good, it's all good.

We still in this, we still in this.

Okay, I can't take it, I can't take it.

I can't take it, I can't take it.

It's okay. It's okay.

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

[ Light applause ]

♪♪

What happens now?

Do they go to sudden death or something?

[ People shushing ]

And that's that.

On a tie vote, the motion loses.

"Robert's Rules of Order," Article 8, number 46.

Mm-hmm. You got me there, Lorraine.

Oh! But...

♪♪

Madam Speaker: And the "ayes" have it.

[ Cheering ]

♪♪

♪♪

God, I love politics.

[ Sighs ]

[ Chuckles ]

Oh.

Mm!

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[ Indistinct conversations ]

♪♪

Hi, Miss Virginia!

Oh, my goodness! Delilah!

How are you, baby girl?

Oh!

I'm good.

Yes. I believe it.

Hi.

Hey.

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you.

♪♪

If you fill out this form, we can get

Delilah all signed up.

[ Chuckles ] I don't write too good.

Okay.

I'll help.

I-I just want to do good for Delilah.

I don't want her to end up like me.

♪♪

I got you.

[ Chuckles ] Yeah.

Just sign this.

♪♪

Okay, great.

[ Indistinct conversation ]

♪♪

♪♪

Great.

Thank you.

No problem.

♪♪

♪ If you hear this message ♪

♪ Wherever you stand ♪

♪ I'm calling every woman ♪

♪ Calling every man ♪

♪ We're the generation ♪

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♪♪

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♪ If you're out there ♪

♪ Tomorrow's starting now ♪

♪ Now, now ♪

♪ If you're out there ♪

♪ If you're out there ♪

♪ If you hear this message ♪

♪ Wherever you stand ♪

♪ I'm calling every woman ♪

♪ Calling every man ♪

♪ We're the generation ♪

♪ We can't afford to wait ♪

♪ The future started yesterday ♪

♪ And we're already late ♪