Original subtitles

(gentle music)

(funky music)

(car horn honks)

(gentle music)

(crickets chirping)

(footsteps padding) (gentle music continues)

- Well?

- Yeah, man. - Let's rip it up.

(ominous music)

(footsteps padding)

(ominous music continues)

(door thuds)

Shit!

(gunshot bangs) Get out of here, man!

(dog barking) (Tommy groans)

(gunshot bangs)

(dog barking)

(gunshot bangs)

(body thuds)

(men on radio chattering)

(gentle music)

(Tommy panting)

- You okay?

- I can't make it, man, get out of here.

- No, you can, now, come on.

- No, I can't, I needed a fix.

I should have told you, man.

I wasn't in no kind of shape for that.

Come on, get out of here, man.

I can't make it.

- I ain't gonna leave you, Tommy.

(both panting)

- Look, one thing you can tell the guys is, man.

(Tommy chuckles)

If I don't make it. - Come on, man,

we gonna make it, we gonna make it.

- If I don't make it, you can tell them

that I did kick the habit.

- Yeah.

- All right?

Here, give me your hand, help me out.

Hey.

Now, you're doing it.

- Come on, now, come on.

Hang on, man.

We've been through too much.

Come on.

(siren blaring)

Come on.

Let's do it now.

Come on.

Come on, let's get up.

Come on, man.

Help me.

(siren blaring)

Tommy?

Tommy!

Come on, man.

Wake up, Tommy, wake up!

Come on, man, you can't.

You can't leave me, man, we've been through too much.

Come on, wake up, wake up, wake up!

Come.

(siren blaring)

Come on, man.

Come on, man.

Wake up, wake up, wake up!

(siren blaring) (horns honking)

(ominous music)

(ominous music continues)

- [Nate] Boy, you got a goodie there.

(J.J. grunts)

(ominous music continues)

- Feel well enough to join me?

- Yeah, yeah, beer.

Hey, I'm sure enough glad you happened by the other night

when you did, man.

Sure was a close one.

- Yeah.

- So your name's Williams?

- No, I ain't Williams.

That's the boss.

- Well, where is the dude, man?

I wanna leave my thanks on him.

Name J.J.

Hey, what's your game, baby?

(Sonny chuckles)

- Let me put it on you this way, J.J.

My game is my business.

Now, the old man said you're to be here when he gets back.

And that's what I'm here to see to.

And that's the only game I'm playing.

Dig?

(J.J. chuckling) - Yeah, man, I dig.

Hey, man, don't get uptight, man.

I was just trying to be friendly, you know,

spread a little love around, get a few answers here.

Can't blame a dude for that.

- Hey, why don't we save the lip service

until Nate gets here, huh?

- Nate?

Nate Williams?

Big Nate Williams?

Hey, man, I think it's,

think it's about time for me to split.

- Hey! - Whoa.

- You stay till Nate gets here.

(horn honks) (car engine revving)

(car door thuds)

(footsteps tapping)

- Yeah.

- [Sonny] Hey, boss.

How was your trip?

- Fine, Son, is everything all right here?

- No problems, boss.

- The suspense is killing me.

I can't wait to find out why you picked me up that night.

Hey, ain't nobody ever cared for me before.

(Nate sighs)

- You got a lot of guts, kid.

It isn't every day someone tries

to hold up Tony Burton's joint.

That place is guarded like fort knox.

- Yeah, I found that out the hard way.

Man.

(J.J. chuckles)

Nate Williams.

Numbers king.

Man, you are the last person I ever expected to help me.

- I'm the kind of man that recognize talent.

And when I find it, I put it to work.

- You offering me a gig?

- I'm not offering, you got one.

Your friend got killed, didn't he?

- Yeah, my friend Tommy.

We didn't have no bread, but nothing else we could do.

We grew up together too.

He was my best friend.

Man, right in front of my eyes.

Still can't believe he's dead.

All we was trying to do was survive.

- That's what we all trying to do.

- You lucky you got away with just a scratch, sucker.

Ain't no use in you snibbling.

You still alive, ain't you?

If I was Nate,

you would. - Sonny.

You talk about survival, kid.

Let me tell you what it takes.

When you've lived out there as long as I have,

then you can talk about survival.

The more you know, the more you need to know.

It doesn't get any easier the older you get either.

What you got the other night was just the smoke.

The fire is yet to come.

I'm gonna do something that no one ever did for me.

I'm gonna give you the benefit of my experience.

If you use it well,

we'll get along.

If you don't, you'll have to answer to me.

Do you understand, mister?

- Yes, sir.

- Here, J.J.

Here's some bread.

Get yourself together, then I wanna see you later, okay?

- [J.J.] Thanks.

(upbeat music)

♪ Make them pay ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ 'Cause the man awaits ♪

♪ He's staying committed, so carry through ♪

♪ Stop the death flow ♪

♪ Depends on you ♪

♪ All you got to do is take out the man ♪

♪ Stop the strife ♪

♪ Maybe end your life ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Today's the day ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ It's freedom day ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Make them pay ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Blow the man away ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ You stay committed ♪

♪ So carry it through ♪

♪ Stop the death flow, depends on you ♪

♪ All you got to do is take out the man ♪

♪ Stop the strife, maybe end your life ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Today's the day ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Freedom day ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Make them pay ♪

♪ Hey, J.J. ♪

♪ Throw the man away ♪

♪ Blow the man away ♪

♪ Blow the man away ♪

♪ Blow the man away ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ J.J.J.J.J.J. ♪

♪ Yeah, throw the man away ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Kill 'em ♪

♪ Take him on one time ♪

♪ Please ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, oh, yeah ♪

♪ Take 'em on, yeah ♪

♪ Make him pay ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ Make him pay ♪

- What's happening, blood?

- How you doing?

- [Diablo] Why you in the middle of the street, man?

- Got to be careful, baby.

Hey, dig, man.

I've been putting the squeeze on the dope,

but the skag is still getting through.

And I wanna cut it off completely and quick.

I wanna put that lid on so tight,

even the rats can't come up for air.

- [Diablo] What kind of crusades are you on?

- Tony Burton.

- [Diablo] But why now, man?

His kind's been around a long time.

- Ain't no room for the both of us,

and like you, I wanna control my own destiny.

As long as Tony is here,

there's always gonna be somebody telling us what to do.

If we cut off the flow of the big H,

Tony loses most of his control in his community.

- [Diablo] And are you gonna take up where Tony left off?

- Hey, man, you need money to run your organization, right?

And the kind of money you need you can't get

by selling a two-bit newspaper on the street corners

or passing around a tin cup at a rally.

You need the kind of money my organization can give you.

- Hey, man, I've had offers before.

I turned them down

because I don't want nobody to control us.

Now, the essence of our struggle is independence,

And we don't like slave masters

no matter what color they are.

- And some of your men are no good to you as they are.

The less skag in the community, the better for you.

- Come on, man.

Since when you are concerned about anybody besides J.J.?

You pimp everything and everybody in the neighborhood.

You trying to hustle me, too, J.J.?

Because if you are, man, I'm not gonna stand for that shit.

Look, man, I know you.

I know how you make your money.

You got women whoring for you.

Your numbers rackets takes people eating money, man,

possessions stolen, trucks hijacked, welfare checks copped.

You name it, J.J., you got it.

You're no goddamned different from Tony.

Now, look, man.

You're bleeding the goddamned community.

As far as I'm concerned,

you're just as corrupt as he is.

- Look, I'm not gonna justify corruption to you.

It's always been here, and it always will be.

What I'm rapping to you about is power, baby.

I know what I am.

And right or wrong, people look up to me

because they think I am a success.

I've got what they've always wanted, money.

Without it, you're nothing.

Money buys dignity.

Poverty is a crime.

Nobody ask you where you got your dollar.

They ask you, do you have it?

That idealistic shit don't pay your rent.

I don't wanna start philosophizing anyway.

All I want is Tony out of here.

Everything else is secondary.

- You're a cold motherfucker, J.J.

- Yeah, you tell me about it.

Now, what I want. - Wait, goddamn it.

Wait, a goddamn minute, J.J.

Before we go any farther, I want you to understand

that any alliances between us is subject to some conditions.

- Speaking of alliance, brother Niah is with us.

- You dealing with dude and his men?

You'll kill us, man.

They take pride in wiping people out.

That's how they make their living.

Those cats don't play.

- This is a war.

We've got to use every weapon at our disposal.

Niah and his brothers are some

of the baddest warriors around.

They get the job done.

Now, what are your conditions?

- Okay, I want all dope to be destroyed.

I want my men to be protected

and bailed out of jail if necessary.

And I want you to pay all operational expenses

on my headquarters,

and no goddamn body but me gives orders to my men.

Now, if you wanna work with me under those conditions,

then I'm with you.

- All right.

All right.

As long as your men do the job that needs to be done,

it's all right with me.

They know the streets and the small-time pushers.

We've got to keep them dry,

and that's what your men can do.

Now, I know who the big-time operators are,

and I can keep the pressure on them.

And between us, we ought to be able

to let Tony feel the squeeze, and that's where it's at.

- [Diablo] Okay, brother, let's get it on.

(J.J. giggles)

Power to the people.

(J.J. giggles)

(funky music)

- What do you say, Cabbage?

- How's it going, lieutenant?

- Okay.

- [Cabbage] I'll tell J.J. that you're here.

- Okay.

- J.J.

The lieutenant is here to see you.

Yeah.

You can go up now.

(footsteps tapping)

- Nice.

Very nice.

It's real sharp.

(Joe giggles)

Not bad at all, considering.

How long I know you, J.J.?

- Four years.

- You've done very well, you're a man of power.

- You know, Joe, if I had more than $4 in my pocket,

you would say I've come a long way.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- Just what I said.

Not as sharp as you used to be.

- I got a feeling you're trying to tell me something.

- Who is it you're working for?

You take money from me, from Nate, from Tony.

You take money from everybody.

Now, don't you have no loyalties?

- Loyalties?

(Joe laughs)

I'm loyal to myself and whoever pays me.

- All right.

Since I just paid you,

there is something I want you to do for me.

I want you to tell Tony to stay out of the black community.

Things are gonna be a little different from now on.

We're sick and tired of being exploited.

And somebody has got to put a stop to it,

and it looks like that somebody is going to be me.

You tell Tony that for me.

You tell him that I am prepared to fight

with everything I've got.

Not only him, but anybody who comes in here

and tries to walk over us.

His power ends where he sees the first black face.

- You're biting off an awful lot, J.J.

You're sure that's the message you want me to give him?

- I'm positive.

And being a cop,

you should know that it isn't so easy

for a white man to come in here

and fuck over us without getting his brains blown out.

- Yeah, that's true, but does Tony know that?

- That's why I want you to tell him to avoid bloodshed.

- Okay, if that's what you want.

- That's it.

(phone rings) See you, Joe.

- Take it easy.

- Oh, yeah, yeah, send him up.

Okay.

(funky music)

- [Diablo] Cockroach.

(water splashing)

(gentle music)

(water sloshing)

- Honey, say hello to Joe.

- Hi, Joe.

Why don't you take your clothes off and have a swim?

- Honey, why don't you go for a swim?

Joe's not here for pleasure.

- That's right, honey bucket.

(Joe sighs)

Yeah, just came over to pick up my rent

and give you a message from J.J.

He said to stay the hell out of his neighborhood.

He said to make sure that you understand

that his neighborhood starts where the black faces start

and end the same way.

Just repeating what he said, Tony.

- So?

- He's prepared to fight.

(Tony scoffs)

- He's prepared to fight with what?

- Don't underestimate him, Tony.

Since he started to take over,

he's organized everything into a smooth-running operation.

He's got everything under his control except for the dope.

He's gambling for complete power,

and he may be able to do it,

'cause we can't go into the community the way we used to.

The people will back him up against us.

Even the police have to watch their step in there nowadays.

- I don't give a damn what he's gambling for.

The territory is not mine to give.

I was put here to run it, and that's what I'm gonna do.

I've been threatened before.

How does Nate stand on this?

- [Joe] I like him, Tony, but he's getting a bit old.

- If we put pressure on him, will that stop J.J.?

- J.J.'s pretty strong-willed, but it may work.

- Well, we're gonna have to see that it works.

Go ahead and tell Johnny to give you your money.

- Mm-hmm.

(funky music)

- Right.

(man singing indistinctly) (gentle music)

- Got some nice entertainment here, J.J.

- The rumors were true.

There is a beautiful lady in town.

- And looks like she's gonna stay for a while.

- Seem like the club is doing all right, J.J.

- It's beautiful, I really like it.

I wish you a lot of success.

- I hope so.

- Sonny, will you stay with Yvonne till I get back?

J.J. and I have got to go take care of some business.

- Dig you later, Sonny.

- [Nate] I heard you've been putting a lot of pressure

on Tony.

- Yeah.

We got to run him out of the neighborhood.

- What you'll get is nothing but a whole lot of trouble.

Tony will bring men in and he'll fight you.

And there'll be a lot of bloodshed.

Are you willing to take that on yourself?

J.J., don't let your mouth overload your ass, now.

- Hey, Nate.

For years, you stood by and let these people come in here

and do whatever they like without saying

or doing anything about it.

Now when I'm willing to take the risk,

you're trying to stop me.

If it's a fight Tony wants, he can have it.

It's better than letting it drag on

for another 30 years like you did.

- I don't have to listen to this.

There isn't gonna be any fight 'cause I don't want it.

- Well, Nate, you don't have any choice.

Now, you stood by

and you let these people fill this community with dope

from street to street until nobody is safe from it,

not even our kids.

And people are killing each other to get bread to by junk

to put in their arms!

And who's responsible for this?

Tony and his people.

Some junkie almost killed me in an alley one night

to get bread to by shit to put in his arms.

The night you picked me up,

my best friend died because he needed junk.

- You're no better than Tony.

- I'm not patting myself on the back about how great I am.

I just want Tony out of here.

And if it's gonna take that to split us up,

let it happen right here and right now!

- Hey.

The entertainment is starting.

Looks like I got here just in time.

- Come on, let's dig some music.

(gentle music)

Yvonne, why don't you have a seat?

I'll be right with you.

I have to close up here with my bartender.

- Okay.

- I'm going home, I'm feeling a little tired.

I'll meet you at the gym with Sonny.

- You're not sick or anything, are you?

- No, I'm just a little tired in every respect.

- Okay.

Hey, Cabbage, come over here.

The next time you let anybody into my office

without warning me first, you're fired.

I didn't know you'd mind Nate's daughter, J.J.

- Anybody.

- Sonny, let's go.

(man singing indistinctly)

(car horns honking)

- What did you do last night, baby?

- Nothing, I went to bed very early.

- Oh, yeah. - I had to work.

- I'm Tony Burton.

Tell Nate I'm here.

- Do you have an appointment, sir?

- He'll see me.

- Well, just a moment, let me see if he'll see you.

Mr. Williams, there's a Mr. Burton here to see you.

Yes, uh-huh, all right.

Mr. Burton, if you'll have a seat for a few moments,

Mr. Williams will see you as soon as he's free.

(Tony sighs)

(Tony sighs)

(phone buzzing)

Yes, Mr. Williams.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Burton, you can go in now.

- Thank you.

Stay here.

- Mr. Burton, to what do we owe the honor of this visit?

- Nate, our organizations have been getting along

for a long time.

But lately things haven't been working out so well,

and that's not good business.

I want things back on the old footing.

- You've been talking,

and I haven't understood one word you've said.

As far as I'm concerned, everything's the same.

- Not quite.

My people are being harassed, we're losing our merchandise.

Now, I don't say that you're directly responsible,

but I understand J.J. has some part in this.

You tell him to lay off.

- Mr. Burton, things haven't really changed.

Your kind is still coming into my office

telling me what to do.

Now, I don't know what's going on out there,

but I do know there's got to be a change.

And maybe that's what J.J. is out there trying to do.

Speaking of changes, Mr. Burton.

Chair.

- Nate, we have a vested interest in this community.

Now, if you have any influence anymore,

you see that we don't lose it.

(Nate chuckles)

- Vested interests.

I know how much vested interest you've had over the years

in this community.

Remember?

I've always been part of that interest.

- You tell that punk that I'm not gonna stand by

and watch him destroy what I've built up.

Now, I don't want any bloodshed.

But if that's what he's after, I'll give it to him.

- Bloodshed?

You mean you come into my office,

tell me you gonna shed my blood if I don't do what you want?

You better be careful when you talk about shedding blood

in this community.

It might just spill over on you.

- If that's what you want.

- Good-bye, Mr. Burton.

(gloves thudding) (people chattering)

- Hey, Sonny.

You pack a good punch for your age.

Be confident, guys.

- Pack a good punch for any age.

And I can prove it.

- No, thanks.

I don't fight except when I have to

or my survival's at stake.

Then I never lose.

- Copping out, J.J.?

- Nigger, you get out of my face.

You wanna fight, go down and fight city hall.

That's where your problem is.

You wouldn't be here picking a fight with me.

(metal clanging)

- Listen, you jiving?

I let niggers like you call me Uncle.

Before the meat wagon comes and scrapes them up.

Nigger!

If you got any guts,

you'll make a move so I can mop the floor with your ass.

(metal clanging)

(fists thudding)

- Next time you fuck with me, I'll kill you.

- You didn't hurt him, did you?

- Just ring the bell, that nigger will get up fighting.

(Sonny sighs)

(Sonny chuckles)

- That was a lucky punch, J.J.

- Sonny, get in the shower.

(Sonny panting)

I like the idea of Tony coming over

with his hat in his hand to ask a favor of me.

Nate Williams.

Not to tell me, but to ask me.

And things begin to come clear to me

why I picked you up that night.

I felt you were different then.

I knew the time would come when there had to be a change.

And I think the time is now.

I sensed your instinct for survival also,

but you're going too far, J.

- This is my fight.

You stay out of it.

I can handle it.

You take care of yourself and Yvonne.

- I've stayed alive for a long, long time, J.

That's proof enough that I can take care of myself.

(Sonny laughs)

- I still think that was a lucky punch, J.J.

- [J.J.] Right.

(all laughing)

(suspenseful music)

- Now, wait a minute, man.

You take that shit, they'll kill me.

- I'm gonna let you go this time.

Next time I won't be so easy on you.

You tell whoever it is you're working for,

not to send you back,

'cause if they do, your ass won't be worth much.

- All right, move out.

Take your friend.

Don't spend time.

(car engine revving)

(tires screeching)

(door clicks)

(J.J. laughing) (Yvonne moaning)

- Oh, J.J., it's beautiful.

Yeah, I really enjoyed the evening.

You sure know nice places to go, J.J.

- Whenever I have more than three drinks,

I can never get these goddamn keys in that lock.

- I think you had more than three drinks.

Everything was so lovely.

- Anything for a beautiful lady.

(both laughing)

- No.

- [J.J.] Yeah.

- No.

(gentle music)

♪ All of my life ♪

♪ I've had bad luck ♪

♪ Yes, it was all downstream ♪

♪ Now you're in my life ♪

♪ It's gold times for us ♪

♪ Are you real or just a dream ♪

♪ Anything you desire ♪

♪ Fighter fuel, swim for the fire ♪

♪ Take my soul ♪

♪ It's for hire ♪

♪ And I won't charge a dime ♪

♪ There's no peace where I wander ♪

♪ Though I've roamed here and yonder ♪

♪ Loving you, I just ponder, ponder ♪

♪ Come fill a hole in my soul ♪

♪ When you're close, days are sunny ♪

♪ When you go, it ain't funny ♪

♪ No, no, no, no ♪

♪ When your game, kicks some money ♪

♪ Only stay in my life ♪

(gentle music)

(cabinets thudding)

(glasses clattering)

(button clicks)

(gentle guitar music)

- Morning.

Mm.

I could get used to this.

I dig your being here in the morning.

- It's no problem.

Say the word, and I'll be here whenever you want.

- That was a fast one.

- You know, it really bugs me

when you men don't expect a woman to speak her mind

about what she wants.

You expect women to be hiding in alleys

and dodging around corners with their feelings.

As soon as we're being straightforward, you get uptight.

It's the same thing with my father.

He can find 10 million reasons to convince me

that I don't really know what I want.

Now, could you tell me at one time or what age,

a woman is supposed to know what she wants, J.J.?

- No, I wasn't getting uptight.

I was just trying to make conversation.

Come on.

It's too early in the morning to be getting massacred.

(both giggle)

- Get up here.

(both giggle)

- I love you.

But I can't make that commitment right now.

So many things I got to do.

Things I can't tell you about.

Trust me.

- All right.

If it has to be that way, I can accept it.

Leastways I know you love me.

- Mm.

- You have something to look forward to.

Now I know I'm not leaving this city,

and don't you try and get rid of me, you hear?

(both giggling)

(funky music)

(car engine revving)

(car engines revving)

(car engine revving)

(funky music continues)

(car engine revving)

(tires screeching)

(car engines revving)

(tires screeching)

(funky music continues)

(tires screeching)

- We got a cockroach upstairs.

- Let's see what we got.

(ominous music)

(ominous music continues)

- Now, cockroach,

let's run that shit down from the top again.

- I told you everything I know already.

- I wanna hear it again.

- I heard rumors that there's a shipment coming in.

From what I understand, it's a big one.

- How do you know?

- The message came down to firm up our connections.

And to make some new ones.

- That's why you were hanging around the high school, huh?

- No.

I was just taking a walk, it was a beautiful day.

I don't push that stuff to the kids.

I, I don't play that game.

- Cockroach, you're lying.

Now, you been crawling around this neighborhood for years.

It's extermination time.

- No, please, mister.

Don't shoot me.

I'll, I'll, I'll get out of the.

The area.

I, I, I, I'll leave the neighborhood.

- Now, that's one promise I'm gonna make sure you keep.

Now, when is that shipment coming in?

- I don't know.

Maybe three weeks.

I don't know exactly.

- Are you sure they said three weeks?

- Mister, honest, I don't know.

If I hear anything, I'll call you and, and let you know.

- What make you think you're gonna live to call me?

Especially if you don't tell me what I wanna know.

Now, when and how was that shipment coming in?

- Honest, mister, I told you everything I know.

Even if you kill me, I couldn't tell you anymore.

I don't know anymore.

- I know what I'd do with the motherfucker.

Put a clamper over his face and turn him loose.

Then for sure he won't be back.

He wouldn't last 10 seconds out there in that shit.

- That's exactly what I should do.

(gun clicks)

Now, Cockroach.

Start running.

Move!

(men laughing)

(knuckles rapping)

- [Man] Yeah?

- [Diablo] Rem Stokes.

- [Man] You need fuel?

- [Diablo] Yeah, baby, come on,

open up, man, it's dry in there.

(woman grunts)

- [Man] Toss it over here, man.

- Hey, I got to have some of that.

One fix, please?

You, you can't dump it before you give me a fix.

I'll pay you.

Anything.

I've been uptight for three days.

Please.

(woman sobbing)

I'll fuck you for it.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

I'll fuck you for it right now.

- Close your eyes and you pretend it's me.

- You cold, filthy motherfucker!

(woman sobbing)

(ominous music)

(man grunts)

(woman sobbing)

- Now, what did you say was happening at J.J.'s?

- I went over there to see him

and I saw some militants coming out the back door,

only they weren't militants.

They were J.J. and his men dressed

to look like Diablo's boys.

I tailed them to guess where?

Diablo's headquarters.

- I thought those two didn't get along.

That's why the squeeze is on so tight.

I didn't know he had it in him.

- I told you not to underestimate him, Tony.

These militants don't care about the dope.

They just dump it anyway.

- See, that's the only way J.J. can keep the squeeze on

all over the ghetto.

Well, it's time to teach that spook the facts of life

about my territory.

Joe, you are working exclusively for me now.

- Hey, look, Tony, I don't work for anybody.

Don't you ever try to put me in between you and J.J.

I don't wanna be caught up in any shooting.

When that time comes, I become a cop again.

Hey, I got to breeze.

- You'll go when I tell you.

What do you think we've been paying all that money for, Joe?

We can't have the militants stockpiling guns.

Something has to be done, and it's your duty to do it.

- When did you find that out, Tony?

I didn't know they had any firearms.

- And even one unregistered gun's illegal, right?

So when you make the raid on the headquarters,

you'll have justifiable cause.

- I couldn't do that, Ton'.

I just couldn't.

- You'll do it,

And I don't want one of those black bastards to escape.

You'll do what I say, Joe, because if you don't, well.

I'll let you know the time and the place for the raid.

Well, you can go, Joe.

- Tony, New Orleans calling.

It's all right to pick up the package.

- Good, good.

(gentle music)

- Tell J.J. that Mrs. Willie Mae Brown is here.

- Just a minute, I'll let him now.

J.J.

Ms. Willie Mae Brown is here to see you.

Okay.

Will you take a seat over there?

J.J. will be right with you.

- All righty.

(gentle music continues)

(Mae gasps)

J.J.

- How you are, Mrs. Brown?

- So good to see you. - Good seeing you.

How is your husband, Mrs. Brown?

Is he feeling any better yet?

- I'd say he's about the same.

His mind is all right,

but his body just ain't so good anymore.

- Well, if you need some money, I can give you some.

- Thank you, hon.

But that's not all I came for.

You know that I work for Judge Kindle, now, don't you?

- Yeah.

- Well, when I was at work,

making the beds, I heard the judges' son

and his girlfriend talking out by the pool.

He was talking about a big deal

that's worth $3 1/2 million.

And he was gonna use the judge's plane to fly it in.

And then she said,

"What, what makes you think that you're so indes,

indes, ind.

- You mean indispensable.

- Right.

That's the word.

Indispensable.

(both giggling)

- What did he say then?

- Well, he said, "Who else can move $3 1/2 million worth

of dope without somebody suspecting him?"

- He's a shrewd mother.

(J.J. chuckles)

- You know, Nate has always told us to keep our ears open.

- You did right by coming to me, Mrs. Brown.

I'll make sure that Nate hears about it too.

- Oh, thank you, J.J.

You don't know how much this is appreciated.

And if I hear anything more, I'll let you know.

- [Joe] Hello, Tony.

See it on the 6:00 news.

No, I'm not going along.

They should be leaving the station about now.

Right, Ton'.

- Okay, bro, me and you.

Men,

you've been doing a beautiful job,

protecting your brothers in the street.

But we've got to continue to keep the squeeze on

and break the man's back.

(man chuckles)

- Right on, brother.

We can dig it.

- Now, we understand

that Tony is expecting a large shipment.

Our job is to find out when, where,

and rip it off before it gets into the pusher's hands.

So brothers, I want you to keep the grapevine open,

keep the squeeze on, and don't overlook anything.

- I dig.

I mean, we put an awful lot of money down in the sewers

since we started.

And we're talking about a lot of money on this one haul.

- Brother, we don't care how much money is involved.

We're still gonna dump that shit in the river.

I mean, hey, man,

these guys are hooking 13 and 14-year-old

young brothers and sisters,

and I don't want my sister to be no junkie at 13 years old.

And if there's anybody in here that does not have

that same goal in mind,

you gonna have to answer to me.

- I didn't say I was gonna cop the dope and sell it.

- Hey, brothers, let's not get carried away here.

Now, we'll answer that problem when we get to it.

Like I said, we've been doing a fine job.

And we want to continue.

Now, I think we should go back and find out what we can.

Right?

Let's do it.

(gentle music)

- At 4:40 in the afternoon,

police raided the headquarters

of black militant organization at 4547 Dorchester Avenue.

(Tony laughing)

Police have been informed a large cache

of illegal arms was hidden in the building.

(Tony chuckles)

- Well, they wanted a fight.

Le's see how they handle this one.

- It looks like they're gonna have trouble for a long time.

You still hold all the cards, Tony.

(man giggles)

- There's general hysteria here.

From what we understand, Diablo,

The head of the militant organization,

was not in the house

when the raid took place. - A set-up.

A perfect set-up.

- What do you mean?

- There's no report as to their condition.

One policeman has died and one is injured seriously.

Three more have been taken to the hospital

with minor wounds.

- What's going on, J.J?

- I got to call a lawyer to get some brothers out of jail.

- [Reporter] Ladies and gentlemen,

there's a commotion going down on down the street there.

It looks like, yes, it's Diablo.

Let me see if I can talk to him.

Here he comes now, ladies and gentlemen,

Diablo, the leader of the organization.

Diablo, what do you have to say

about the police finding arms.

- Hello.

J. Johnson here.

Hey, let me speak with Bill.

- [Diablo] Americans have the constitutional right

to protect themselves and their property.

- Bill.

- [Diablo] A citizen isn't armed is a potential.

- Some of Diablo's men were busted tonight.

- [Diablo] That's why headquarters is an issue anyway.

- I want you to go down there and straighten it out.

Call me after you've taken care of it.

- This is nothing more than a retaliation.

- A retaliation from whom?

- [J.J.] Yeah, okay.

- I have nothing more to say.

- [J.J.] Talk to you later. - Please, elaborate, Diablo.

- [Diablo] All I have to say is,

we're gonna continue to keep the heroin out

of the black community. - Niah?

- [Diablo] This is not gonna deter us from our goal.

- [Reporter] Just one more question, Diablo.

- [J.J.] Strike.

(gentle music)

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ See the living poverty, yeah ♪

♪ Diablo said, it's wrong, it's wrong ♪

♪ It's wrong, it's wrong ♪

♪ Diablo said, poverty's a dirty crime ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it better ♪

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ It's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong ♪

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it better ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it ♪

♪ What you gonna do about it, yeah ♪

(woman grunts)

♪ Poverty's a crime ♪

♪ It's a cancer on my mind ♪

♪ Got to shed this life from off my shoulders ♪

♪ I ain't got a dime ♪

♪ Stack stays on my mind ♪

♪ It could scar my chances like it's stronger ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ See the living poverty ♪

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ It's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong ♪

♪ Diablo said ♪

♪ See the living poverty ♪

♪ Gonna kill a pusher ♪

♪ Gonna kill a pusher ♪

♪ I'm gonna kill a pusher ♪

♪ Gonna kill a pusher, yeah ♪

- [Woman] It's your move, dear.

- I know it's my move, goddammit.

Stop pushing me.

And you back off,

I can't think with you breathing down my neck.

- Don't get so uptight, dear.

It's only a game.

You win some, and you lose some.

- Just shut up, will you?

Guard your queen.

- [Woman] Checkmate.

You lose again, Tony.

- Son of a bitch!

How can a dummy like you beat me every time?

- Maybe you need to learn

how to play the game a little better.

Your offensive is very weak, Tony.

- I don't need any advice from a dumb bitch like you.

- I'm the one who won, darling.

(phone rings)

- Hello?

Just a minute.

Okay, Charlie, go ahead.

- [Charlie] Your mother's birthday present is on the way.

It's a very nice present, I picked it out myself.

It should get there around 10:00 tonight

by special messages.

- Any problem getting what I wanted?

- [Charlie] No, it's exactly what you ordered.

- Good, good.

How's the weather in New Orleans?

I'm thinking about coming down for a weekend.

- [Charlie] Nice flying weather.

- Good, glad to hear it.

Okay, Charlie, I'll call you when I'm ready to come down.

- [Charlie] Good-bye.

- See you.

I don't like using an amateur to make this delivery.

It's too important.

A lot hinges on it.

- He came through before.

I don't think we'll have any problems.

- Yeah, but if something goes wrong, it's my ass.

(rain pattering)

(car engine revving)

(men chattering)

- Okay, I called the airport.

And according to the flight plan,

the plane should be here at 10:00.

It is now 9:30.

Judge keeps his plane here,

so this is where it should be coming in.

Remember, the important thing is to get that skag, okay?

Let's begin.

Get out.

(car engine revving)

(gun clicks)

(rain pattering)

(plane engine revving)

Here they come.

Take your positions.

(plane engine revving) (car engine revving)

(plane engine revving)

(gunshot bangs)

- [Man] Take cover.

(gun firing)

(guns firing)

(guns firing)

(guns firing)

(guns firing)

(tires squealing)

(gunshots banging)

(funky music)

(plane engine revving)

(guns firing)

(explosion booms)

(gun firing)

(tires screeching)

(explosion booms)

(gun firing)

(gun firing)

(gunshot bangs)

(car engine revving) (tires screeching)

(explosion booms)

(fire crackling) (funky music continues)

- Goddamn pig.

What the hell do I pay you for?

How did they know?

Now, somebody tipped it.

I wanna know right now who you're working for,

me or those sons of bitches?

- I didn't even know there was gonna be a shipment.

How could I tell you something I didn't know?

- Well, somebody finked!

- I came over here the minute I heard

what happened at the airport.

If I were a fink, would I be here?

- I want what's mine.

This is all-out war.

- Department's not gonna stand for that, Ton'.

- I don't give a damn about the department!

I'm gonna wipe him out!

- You think he's sitting at the nearest corner,

waiting for you to come and get him?

He's not stupid.

It's gonna be awfully hard for somebody white

to find J.J. in the ghetto.

- I'll flush him out.

- How?

(phone rings)

- Yeah, what?

Oh, you got a lot of nerve calling here, J.J.

What the hell do you want?

- [J.J.] The question is, Tony, what do you want?

- What belongs to me.

- [J.J.] You don't know anything

about the law of the streets, do you, Tony?

You're still saying yours, I've got it.

- Oh, I'm gonna blow your goddamn wooly head off.

- [J.J.] Don't bother looking for me.

In my neighborhood, we can see you coming.

(phone thuds)

- Well, here I come, you son of a bitch.

Out of the way.

Come on.

- [Woman] Where are you going, Tony?

(knuckles rapping)

- [Sonny] Yeah, who is it?

- [Joe] Sonny, it's me, Joe Sterling, I wanna take to Nate.

It's important.

Something happened to J.J., let me in.

- [Sonny] Just a minute.

(door clicks)

What?

(gun thuds)

- [Nate] Sonny, what is it?

- Sit down.

Sit down.

Get the girl.

Now.

- [Yvonne] Daddy, daddy!

- I wanna know where J.J. is holding my shipment.

(Yvonne sobbing)

- What are you talking about?

What shipment?

I don't know anything about J.J. or any shipment.

- [Tony] Yo, tell him what I'm talking about.

- Oh, what are you doing here?

Who are you?

What do you want?

- Listen, Nate.

Your boy hijacked a shipment

of heroin belonging to Tony here, and Tony wants it back.

It's a lot of money.

So if you know where J.J.'s sitting,

you'd better tell him.

- I don't know where J.J. is.

Didn't you look for him at the glove?

- Nate, he called me to let me know he has it.

Now, he's hiding out somewhere playing a dumb game,

and I wanna know where he is.

- Daddy, what's this all about?

What do you and J.J. have to do with heroin shipment?

Oh! (hand slaps)

- Sit down!

- We mean business, Nate.

- I told you I don't know anything about any shipment.

I don't know where J.J. is.

Tony, you know better than to come over here.

(Nate grunts) (fist thuds)

- Oh!

(Nate grunting)

(fists thudding)

- Come back here!

- Daddy.

(Nate grunting)

(Nate grunts) Oh, please!

(Yvonne sobbing)

- Now, for the last time, where's J.J.?

- Can't do that, Tony.

- Oh, no. - Uh-uh.

He doesn't know anything, and I'm not gonna let you.

(gunshots banging)

- Old man, for the last time.

(both screaming)

- No! (Yvonne sobbing)

- Okay, let him up and let him see this.

Now.

(Yvonne sobbing)

- Tony.

You fucking iced him.

- Oh!

- All right, we'll take her.

We'll trade her for the shipment.

Now, little girl, you better start to think,

where I could find J.J.

Now, come on!

Come on!

- No! (Yvonne sobbing)

- Get her feet!

- Come on.

(Yvonne squealing)

- Take him for a swim in the bathtub.

(Yvonne screaming)

(phone ringing)

(car engine revving)

(Yvonne sobbing)

- Get up here!

(upbeat music)

(Yvonne sobbing)

(Yvonne sobbing)

(knuckles rapping)

- [Niah] Who is it?

- [Diablo] Diablo!

- [Niah] Are you by yourself?

- [Diablo] Got a couple of brothers with me.

(upbeat music continues)

- [Reporter] With the reinstatement of the death penalty,

the population of San Quentin stands at 2,800

and is rising by 100 convicts in Chile continues

in the wake of.

- [Reporter] Tons of marijuana were seized.

Six persons arrested in Arizona's largest.

- [Reporter] In the 500 today,

11 people were killed when a racing car crashed.

- [Reporter] In the world of sports,

the Rams are now 7 and 2,

having demolished the New Orleans Saints 29 to 3.

- [Reporter] Racial tensions are increasing.

- [Reporter] At 8:00 this morning,

Police were called to the home of Nate Williams.

The numbers came by one of his employees.

They found the bodies of police lieutenant Joe Sterling,

Former middleweight champion Sonny Spider Brown,

and Mr. Williams himself.

Spider Brown was employed as Mr. Williams' bodyguard.

However, police have no comment

on why Lieutenant Sterling was there.

As of this time, no one knows the whereabouts

of Mr. Williams daughter, Yvonne,

who was living with him.

Last night was a violent night.

There were also six shooting deaths

and a plane crash at the Hammond private airport.

Some of the bodies of the men have been identified,

and they are believed to have had underworld connections.

Police are speculating that there may be some connection

between the incidents.

Chief inspector of homicide said this morning

there will be an all-out effort from the police department

until these crimes are solved.

This has been the 9:00 edition of the WWBW News.

Stay tuned for further developments at 10:00.

(upbeat music continues)

- I tried to call him last night to warn him.

Phone rang forever, nobody answered.

- What are you gonna do, man?

Yvonne's gonna be in bad shape

when she finds out her father's dead.

- Knowing Tony, he has her.

I'm just gonna have to wait him out.

- Wait him out?

You're sitting here telling me you're gonna wait Tony out?

How do you know that Yvonne will be alive

when you finish your waiting.

- She's all right.

Long as he thinks I've got his stuff.

Remember, we're talking about $3 million.

- Where is it?

- Plane exploded last night with it.

- Well, what the hell do you have to bargain with?

Do you have any feelings for anybody?

- What do you want me to do?

My feelings aren't gonna bring her back.

Want me to call up Tony and tell him I don't have his stuff?

You think he'll hand her over to us

or give her up to the police.

Come on, man, pull your head together.

We're fighting for survival here.

- Whose survival are we fighting for, J.J.?

Yours?

Mine?

Yvonne's?

Or Nate's?

Sonny's?

The cats at the airport?

Now, what the hell are we fighting for?

How do I know you weren't in it all the time for the money?

- You don't know.

And I'm not gonna waste time trying to convince you.

- Don't you ever turn your back on me, sucker.

You got me into this shit!

(phone ringing)

- Yeah?

This is J.J.

Okay, oh, Cabbage.

Yeah, keep the place open.

And be expecting the cops to come around about Nate.

- I'm transferring all your office calls

to your mobile phone.

- Okay, talk to you later.

Hey, Diablo.

The problem is out there, not on here.

Instead of standing around yelling at each other,

we should get our heads together to go out and find Yvonne.

And we got some of what we wanted.

We got Tony out of here.

The price was high, but we did it.

(gentle music)

(phone dial whirring)

(phone rings)

Yeah?

- [Tony] Hello, J.J.

- Tony.

Yeah, just a second.

All right, Tony, what can I do for you?

- [Tony] You know what you can do for me?

I've got the girl.

- Tell me something I don't know.

- [Tony] What you don't know is,

I'll kill her to get my property.

- I don't give a damn if you kill her or not.

- You're bluffing, J.J.

- [J.J.] Call it.

- You want me to kill her?

- Tony, understand, what I have is worth $3 million

on the open market.

- Oh, you know better than that.

It'll take you a hell of a long time

to get your return on the street.

- [J.J.] Give me my million dollars.

And cut the bullshit. (bell clanging)

- $250,000 and the broad.

- $500,000, and it's a deal.

- [Tony] $350,000 and the broad.

- Okay, Tony, small bills.

- Now, you'll have my package intact, J.J.

All of it?

- That's right.

In front of the police station, 84th precinct.

Bring only one man, the money, and Yvonne.

- It'll take me 36 hours to get that much cash.

- Call me, Tony.

I knew he'd go for my bait.

We've got him in a corner.

- Hold on a second.

Hey, man.

- Hey, bro, what's happening?

- What's happening, daddy?

Man, I ain't seen you in ages, man.

Hey, man, you know where I can cop some skag?

Shit's really scarce this time around, man.

I mean, like, it's trying to find gold.

Man, I mean, this town is dry.

- That's how we gonna keep it, bro.

- Say, brother.

(man chuckles)

Don't talk like that.

You scare me into believing you the man.

I understand you and brother Diablo is responsible

for keeping the shit so tight.

You cats sitting on a bunch that you gonna cut loose

after a while for a lot of bread?

Because if you are, you better cut me in,

'cause I likes to be where the action is.

- Say, bro, I don't know nothing about no action.

Man, I rap to you like.

- Say, man, you a jive nigger, you know that?

Always wanting to keep everything to yourself.

Say, brother, everybody got to live.

- Man.

Fuck you.

- [Tony] Oh, you know better than that.

It'll take you a hell of a long time

to get your return on the street.

- [J.J.] Give me my million dollars.

And cut the bullshit. (bell clanging)

- I heard those bells.

I heard those bells on that tape before.

That's the bells of that church

near that fancy Italian restaurant

where my mother used to cook.

What's the name of that place?

St. Mark's, that's the church.

Yeah.

St. Mark's church bells, I'd recognize in my sleep.

- Now, this is very important,

because that means that we would know the neighborhood

where Tony is hiding.

Let me play it for you one more time to make sure.

- [Tony] Oh, you know better than that.

It'll take you a hell of a long time

to get your return on the street.

- [J.J.] Give me my million dollars.

And cut the bullshit. (bell clanging)

- Hey, I'm positive.

That's good old St. Mark's.

- Now, we can't afford to make a mistake.

So I'm gonna call somebody else and have them check.

Hey, Cabbage.

Hey, listen to this tape, huh?

- [Tony] Oh, you know better than that.

It'll take you a hell of a long time

to get your return on the street.

- Give me my million dollars.

And cut the bullshit. (bell clanging)

Hey, my man here thinks they're St. Mark's bells.

Now, I want you to go over there and check to make sure.

Okay, talk to you later.

(Diablo sighs)

- Can't help thinking about Yvonne,

even though I didn't particularly like Nate.

He kept our people enslaved by supplying them as domestics.

(Diablo scoffs)

My mother, she thought he was something else.

Nate Williams.

Great black pharaoh.

- Does that make you Moses?

Nate Williams.

Domestic.

(J.J. chuckles)

That shrewd mother.

That cunning old man.

Man, we had our differences,

but I've got to take my hat off to him.

We have a new alliance.

The Maintenance Guerrilla Force.

- What the hell are you talking about, J.J.?

- Domestics, that's what I'm talking about.

It's the greatest information agency ever devised.

A direct route to the power structure.

- That's heavy, J.J.

- I think there are potentially more powerful

than parades in uniform.

They're right next to the people

who make the important decisions in this country.

You show me a powerful man,

and I'll show you a man with a mami.

- Yeah.

Yeah, we're gonna do it to him yet, J.J.

- Hey, hey.

Let me speak to Laurie.

It's J.J.

Hey, Laurie.

Yeah, I'm sorry to hear about that, too, but.

And we're getting ready to do something about it.

We need your help, yeah?

Yeah.

Look, listen.

How many domestics work

in a 10-block area around St. Mark's?

No, no, everybody, everybody, men as well as women.

Okay, when you've figured it out,

make a list of it, call me back here.

Okay?

Oh, wait one more thing.

One more thing, one more thing.

Nate has a picture of Yvonne in his office.

Run off 40 copies of that and then call me back.

- 6:00 in the morning, you just getting home, huh?

Well, that means you'll be sleeping again all day today.

Be too tired to go look for a job again today.

- That's right, pop.

You're right again.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

Danny?

Danny.

Who is that girl?

- [Danny] What is it, pop?

- Who is this girl?

- [Danny] Is that all?

Some girl I'm trying to find.

- Who is she?

- What difference does it make, pop?

- I'm just wondering, 'cause yesterday morning,

I saw some men bringing this girl in the hospital.

Last night when I went back to work,

some of those same men were still hanging around.

I know they're racketeers

because they carried her into their private suite.

- You sure, pop?

You sure you saw this girl?

- As sure as I was mopping that floor.

- Pop, this is important.

Can you hear the bells of St. Mark's from that hospital?

- Boy, you on that dope again?

(horns honking)

(Yvonne groans)

- Your boyfriend wants to talk to you.

- J.J.?

Please come and get me.

(Yvonne sobbing)

They killed daddy and they're gonna kill me.

I can't stand it anymore.

(Yvonne sobbing)

- [J.J.] Take it easy, honey.

I'm arranging a trade with Tony now.

You will have to,

you just have to hold on a little longer.

- I can't.

I have to get out of here!

(Yvonne sobbing)

- You convinced?

You convinced?

1:00 sharp, and you be there by yourself.

(funky music)

(gunshot bangs)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshot bangs)

(gunshots banging)

(gun clicks)

(gunshot bangs)

(funky music continues)

(gunshots banging)

(funky music continues)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

- Move and I'll kill you.

J.J.!

Put my heroin in the floor, or I'll kill her.

J.J., do you hear me?

J.J.!

(metal clangs) (ominous music)

(footsteps tapping)

(knife clangs)

(upbeat music)

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power to spare ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power to spare ♪

♪ Power to spare ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ We can all share ♪

♪ Come take my hand ♪

♪ Together we stand ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Ain't it enough to make you sick ♪

♪ What we've been through ♪

♪ Slave and scraping ♪

♪ Inside I know we share power to spare ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪

♪ Power ♪