Original subtitles

♪ ♪

(traffic rumbling, horns honking)

(sirens wailing)

(horn honking)

♪ ♪

(sirens wailing)

♪ ♪

-INEZ: All right, mama. -(distant chatter)

-(jail cell opens) -WOMAN: You look well.

-INEZ: Okay. -WOMAN 2: I do?

WOMAN: Yeah, you do. You look nice.

-WOMAN 2: It's a lot. -It is a lot.

Your back is gonna start to hurt.

You gon' get bigger. This ain't nothing yet.

Let me tell you right now, this ain't nothing, right.

WOMAN 3: Your feet gon' swell.

-MAN: You like isolation, huh? -WOMAN 4: They always do

this shit every fucking day! I'm tired of it!

-WOMAN: You gotta talk to your baby. -WOMAN 2: Yeah.

MAN: What, you want a special invitation?

Get your ass in the line. Let's go!

WOMAN 4: Oh, shut the fuck up before I come over there!

♪ ♪

(indistinct chatter in distance)

GEE: Ain't no damn way you coming back up in here.

-Why not? -Back up.

I was wondering why the hell you disappeared.

Rap sheet as long as the goddamn sidewalk.

I'm-a call the cops, you keep standing there.

All right, well, then give me my two weeks back.

-From a year and a half ago? -Then give me my job back.

You know what?

Here. Here-here you go.

That good enough for you?

WOMAN: Is that Inez?

-(horn honks) -(woman whoops)

How you doing, mama?

(chuckles)

WOMAN: I thought you moved to another shelter.

INEZ: No, you know, I was in Rikers.

They had me in there for boosting and shit.

WOMAN: Can't wait for you to get at this hair, though.

If I go get the dye, will you please do it for me next week?

I really missed you, girl.

Yeah, and apparently these roots, too.

-What you been doing? -(laughter)

-What she been doing? -Nothing, nothing.

Yes, the roots missed you, too.

SHAWN: Come on, Terry, hurry up!

WOMAN 2: Hey-hey-hey-hey.

SHAWN: You ain't getting nothing from the store

if you keep acting like that.

WOMAN 3: Inez, whatever happened to that scammer nigga

you was fucking with? You ever hear from him?

WOMAN 4: We missed you, yo.

-(woman laughing) -INEZ: Terry.

You don't hear me calling you?

You don't remember me now?

Just let me see your eyes, T, so I know you're not mad at me.

SHAWN: He not gonna answer.

INEZ: I'm back across the street at the shelter.

And, look, I'm staying out of trouble this time.

I'm-a be around here for good now.

You hear that, T?

Just want to make sure you're doing okay.

Here. Get you another Icee.

Look, y'all keep this between us, a'ight?

Don't let nobody know I came by here.

SHAWN: Okay.

-MICHAEL H.: You're pretty. -INEZ: See y'all around.

SHAWN: Man, stop flirting with people.

(kids chattering playfully)

♪ ♪

WOMAN: Hey! Hey-hey-hey! None of that!

Get up. Get up. Okay, let's go!

Everybody, if you don't know how to act,

then we not coming to the park!

Turn around. Let's go!

(horns honking)

(lively chatter)

I got the perms, the hairs, the weaves!

-MAN: Fuck out the street! -Wash and dry!

-I know you want that hair done. -(horn blares)

WOMAN: Next time, I'm-a hit you!

Hey-hey-hey, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma!

-Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me. -(horn honks)

Hold on. Slow down.

Hey, hey, you know you want me to do your hair.

WOMAN 2: Bitch, move!

What the fuck is wrong with you?

WOMAN 3: Thank you, baby.

WOMAN 4: Hey, come here.

-How are you? -(horns honking)

I want to take this French roll out and put me some length in.

Yeah, you know, I do braids for 75.

-Call me. -All right, I will.

INEZ: My number's right there, right there.

A'ight.

I'm about to ask y'all a serious question.

Who is y'all best player of all time?

Bro, what?

-(tires screech, horn honks) -Michael Jordan!

-INEZ: Shawn. -Huh? Oh. Oh, hi.

How's your friend doing? I need to know he's okay.

Terry not here no more. Stop asking.

Well, figure out a better answer.

Now, if I tell you, what are you gonna give me?

-Here. -Thank you.

Now, what's up?

He at the hospital.

The hospital? Why? Wh-What happened?

Running from our foster mother.

Fell out the window, hit his head.

(sirens wailing)

Let me see.

It hurt?

You know you could've died doing something like that?

What's wrong with the one I gave you?

It's corny.

All right, well, then buy your own fucking toy, then.

(sighs)

What you like?

Power Rangers.

Tell me more about your foster mother.

You like her?

She probably gone anyway.

When I was in foster care,

stuff like this happened all the time.

My sister used to look out for me.

But she ran away.

Where's she at now?

I don't know.

I can't find her.

My family's gone, boo.

You left me on the street corner?

Who would tell you something like that?

Why the fuck would they tell you some shit like that?

(sighs)

Get that out your head.

(lively chatter)

♪ ♪

MAN: Hey, yo, what's up, ma? What you doing?

Pushing my way. Where you going?

(chatter continues indistinctly)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(Terry imitates whooshing, laughs)

(Inez grunts)

(Terry laughing)

INEZ: Wow, really?

Hold up. Hold up, hold up, hold up.

Want to split this?

Yeah.

Okay.

Um, T...

...I just wanted to come say bye.

Just-just for a little while.

Um, I think they gonna move you.

I don't know where yet,

but I'll see you soon.

(Inez sniffs, clears throat)

Save my beeper number,

just in case,

till I find you, okay?

When?

I don't know yet.

Why you keep leaving me?

Well, that means you have bad luck,

because I'm about to do a karate kick!

Pow! Pow!

(woman speaking indistinctly over P.A.)

(sobbing softly)

Would it make you feel better if you came to stay with me?

Just for a couple days?

Yeah.

♪ Oh, yeah, coming through with my Shaolin crew... ♪

INEZ: All right, we gonna go to Harlem where I grew up at.

-♪ Gimme St. Ides brew ♪ -(horns blaring)

♪ In the midst of broken bottles and crushed up cans ♪

♪ Meth Tical's in the jam, oh, how dry I am ♪

-(sirens wailing) -♪ With St. Ides in my system ♪

♪ Crack another, I'm blessed, let's go get the next one ♪

♪ And get over, the object is to stay sober ♪

-(lively chatter) -♪ Lay on the sofa ♪

♪ Better yet, dial my chauffeur ♪

♪ Call me the Wallabee Champ, stressed out ♪

♪ Could never be, son, ricochet daily ♪

♪ Hit the deli for a cold one, naturally blessed... ♪

INEZ: Yo, look how big this man's head is.

(Terry chuckles quietly)

You want to see New York turn into the suburbs?

(Inez chuckles)

(pop music playing quietly over speakers)

-How's the pizza? -Good.

Where's my dad at?

He's gone.

But you wouldn't have liked him anyway.

I got somebody else in mind.

You miss your old friends?

They're not my friends.

(sighs) Yeah.

Sometimes I feel like I ain't got no friends either.

Except you.

Ugh.

(smacks lips, chuckles)

(lively chatter)

(line ringing)

(train brakes squealing)

(line continues ringing)

How much longer?

How much longer?

-(musical tone plays) -AUTOMATED VOICE: We're sorry.

-TERRY: How much... -Terry, just give me a minute, please.

We gonna sleep out here?

-You want to? -No.

All right, then shut the fuck up and let me finish!

AUTOMATED VOICE: ...and try your call again.

(line beeping)

Sorry for cursing.

-(grunts) -Damn, Terry!

Just go, go. Go back to Brooklyn.

-Go back to Brooklyn! -I don't want to go back!

I'll call your social workers right now!

I want to stay with you!

Well, then stop crying and look at me.

All you got is me. Okay?

I'll go to war for you, you know that?

Do you understand that? Against anybody.

Against this whole fucked-up city.

They can try all they want. They can try all they want,

but they not breaking us up this time.

You want to find a new home?

Hmm?

Yes.

But I need to know we in this thing together.

Tell me.

-We're in this together. -Tell me!

We're in this together!

♪ ♪

(coins clinking in phone)

(dialing number)

-(line rings) -KIM: Hello?

Kim? Boo, it's Inez.

Oh, my God, thank God you got the same number.

Listen, I'm uptown.

♪ ♪

KIM: A'ight, y'all go sit in the living room

while I talk to her real quick.

-Is that Ghetto Inez in my living room? -Shh.

When did you start hanging with her again?

She's with her son. Please don't say anything.

She needs a place to stay.

-(sighs) -Want to come say hi?

Girl, I'm tired.

For how long?

-I don't know. -(sighs)

We'll deal with this tomorrow.

INEZ: Good morning, sunshine.

MS. JONES: If y'all are hungry,

I'm-a make breakfast downstairs.

INEZ: Come on, dance with me.

Oh.

Look at you. Look at you.

(rap music playing quietly)

You get your GED?

-Inside. -Really?

Yo, that's fly.

Bruh, you get, like, excited about the weirdest things.

-I'm proud of you. -(laughs)

So what's your plan?

You up here for good or...?

I don't know.

I'm tired of these catty-ass shops.

-Start your own. -With what money?

What am I supposed to do right now?

Me and my son need something to eat right now.

Yeah.

You know, I've been meaning to ask you about Terry.

So, you have him with, uh, Lucky?

Me and Lucky were broken up when I had T.

He still locked up?

Yeah.

I'll introduce them when he gets out.

The city had him.

He's not supposed to be with me.

Yo, can't you get locked up for some shit like that?

Not if you keep it to yourself.

It's safe with me.

Inez, we good.

KIM: Look at the cute little dinosaurs.

-They look dumb. -Okay, no, they don't.

-Stop being mean. -(stove clicking)

MS. JONES: (sighs) She working?

KIM: I think she went job hunting today.

You can't go to anybody's place looking and talking like that.

And all that yakking.

Ma, she can borrow my stuff.

Terry, you like the coloring books, baby?

Good. You know, when I was your age,

my mother taught me how to read.

She spent a lot of time with me.

Well, let me get a, um, a loosie, a Big Burst

and some sunflower seeds, the nacho cheese ones.

NEWSWOMAN (over TV): ...a six-year-old boy snatched.

Brookdale, one of the city's most troubled

and underfunded hospitals, reports the child was spending

one of his last mornings in patient care.

Um, they talking about that kid that got snatched in Brooklyn?

I don't know that story.

All right, um, matter of fact, let me get a newspaper, too.

NEWSWOMAN: ...information to please call Crime Stoppers

at 800-577-1212.

(dial tone droning)

(dialing)

(line ringing)

-KIM: Jones residence. -Yeah, Kim,

I need you to make sure you keep Terry in your sight.

Don't let him out of your sight.

What?

Just keep him in the house.

-Inez, where are you? -Just do it! Please, Kim!

I don't want nobody asking questions.

-I got to handle some things. -Of course.

-She say where she was at? -Uh-uh.

MS. JONES: Doesn't make no sense.

It doesn't take this long to look for work.

KIM: You like to play games, Terry?

MS. JONES: This is ridiculous.

So quiet.

Who's hiding in there?

Hmm?

(door closes)

("Till You Decide to Come Home" by The Detroit Emeralds plays)

I found work.

Come on, boo, so you can try these on.

You like 'em?

They're too big.

You'll grow into them.

Why don't you take 'em upstairs.

♪ Even though ♪

♪ It's not my fault that you're gone... ♪

Kim, check the stove for me, please.

Okay.

♪ Pray for you, darlin' ♪

♪ Till you decide to come home... ♪

Can you just at least act like you see me here?

Exactly what do you expect and want from me?

Showing up after being God-knows-where...

Doing what I had to.

Like some kind of streetwalker.

What the fuck did you just call me?

Shit.

Run that back again.

-KIM: Ma, Inez... -You always treated me like

I'm not good enough to be around your daughter.

Whatever you think of me, just spit it out!

I don't think anything of you.

-(women grunting) -(objects clattering)

-What the-- Inez, what's up with you?! -What?!

-What?! -No! I'm fine.

Glass almost cut my foot.

Turning my house into damn 125th Street.

-Ma. -No, no.

♪ That love walks through open doors... ♪

The hell are you teaching that little boy up there?

22 years old, acting like a child.

You want to be taken serious,

be from Harlem, not of Harlem.

KIM: So that's it?

You don't have nothing else to say?

-I said I was... -To me!

Was I wrong? Yes.

But what else do you want me to say?

That I'm nothing? A streetwalker?

You can't keep fighting everyone you disagree with.

We got to grow up.

Okay, look, my mom's gonna be who she's gonna be, but, like...

But, like, what?

When are you going to realize that you are enough?

Who cares what she says?

Why even let any of that shit get to you?

Sh...

(voice breaking): She said I was a bad mother.

Come here. Come here.

She forgets you don't have one.

Hey, you.

You better get that chip off your shoulder.

I know you hear me.

Come on.

All right, promise me you're gonna be good for Mommy?

(car door closes)

(car door opens)

(door creaking)

(indistinct chatter in distance)

INEZ: T, don't go up.

We don't really know anybody here.

I lied.

Don't look at me like that.

Get off me.

-Why you being mean to me? -'Cause you keep fucking up!

-(slaps) -Ow!

Who said you could talk to me like that?

-I liked them! -Okay, well, yeah, what about me?

What about me, Terry?!

Some shit is more important than some coloring books.

(grunts)

(sighs)

I didn't mean to hurt you.

Wait right here.

(coins clinking in phone)

(dialing)

(line ringing)

WANDA (recorded): Hey, this is Wanda.

Leave a message after the beep, and I'll call you back.

(sighs)

♪ ♪

(line ringing)

-CYNTHIA (over phone): Hello? -Hi. This Cynthia?

-Who this? -Listen, I need a favor.

-What? -Yeah, the building that I'm living in,

it got asbestos, and they cleared everybody out.

CYNTHIA: Inez, I'm sorry. You can't stay here.

-(musical tone plays) -AUTOMATED VOICE: The number

-you are calling is no longer in service. -(grunts)

-WOMAN: Hello. -It's your old hairdresser, Inez.

-You said who? -Just give me the address,

-and we'll come by later. Terry! -I did not say...

Terry, are you crazy?! Where were you going?!

-Get off me! Get off me! -Are you crazy?!

-Our stuff was in there! -(slaps) -(screams)

(chattering, chuckling)

♪ ♪

I can't go back to that shelter.

MISS ANNIE: How long you been on the street?

Long enough.

Where are your people?

Gone.

Gone where?

You from up here?

I lost them.

Lost them how?

Yeah.

You and the rest of us.

My baby girl's still struggling.

Her son's about the same age as your little boy.

(calls out): Pea?

Pea?

You can take the little room on the second floor.

PEA: Yes?

Clear your things from Sadie's old room. Hmm?

-Okay? -Okay.

MISS ANNIE: And like I tell all my tenants,

try anything, I keep a .44 ready.

Go show him where to go, baby.

TERRY: Is this your house?

WOMAN: Ooh!

Mm. Mm-mm-mm-mm.

Mm. Girl.

It's nothing.

Does that mean I don't have to pay you?

Well...

Girl, I feel like something.

(sighs)

-Thank you, sweetie. -Mm-hmm.

PEA: I can't even get it this time.

INEZ: Where does the rent go?

PEA: That-- No.

Just leave it right there.

TERRY: Got him.

-PEA: Yeah. -(toy clatters)

Oh, no, wait.

-You ever see her? -MISS ANNIE: Who? Oh, Crystal?

Yeah, your daughter.

She, um...

She's cleaned up a few times.

That's a battle I can't fight.

She'll come home for good when she's ready.

(Terry and Pea chattering playfully)

By the way, if you're still looking for better money,

uh, a friend of mine might have a job for you.

Really? Where at?

Cleaning staff for a nursing home on Jamaica Avenue.

-In Queens? -Yes, Queens.

That's, like, a two-hour train ride.

Well, do what you want.

Just don't waste any more time feeling sorry for yourself.

Your generation don't know just how good you have it.

♪ ♪

NEWSWOMAN: Jaywalking is a fact of life here.

No more, says Mayor Giuliani.

He plans to crack down on pedestrians who cross

where and when they're not supposed to.

WOMAN: I'll walk where I want to walk! Motherfucker...

RUDY GIULIANI: Plan with me

to make the realistic changes

that will actually make people's lives

better than they are right now,

and work hard with me

to apply these plans to improve our city.

MAN: Improve these nuts!

GIULIANI Dream, believe,

plan and work.

This is the foundation for the process of change.

-(lively chatter) -(R&B music playing)

KIM: Say, "Hi, Mommy."

-Hey. -Hi.

Tell Mommy what books we read today.

Hey, girl.

(Terry grunting playfully)

(laughing)

(door opens)

(sighs)

The dash is missing.

Huh?

Never mind.

(chuckles)

Yo, how much they charge you?

-350. -Okay.

You did good, babe.

How you like the job?

I miss doing hair.

He back in school yet?

Hand me a screw.

Got to get a copy of his birth certificate and all that.

I, um, started applying, too.

I'm going to Clark Atlanta in the fall.

You leaving us?

I wouldn't say it like that.

I'm happy for you.

You could go back, too.

Even if it's, like, part-time or something like that.

Yeah, someday.

-INEZ: All right, baby. -(TV playing quietly)

You got cereal and milk. Leftovers is in the fridge.

And don't heat it up for over 60 seconds,

'cause if you do, your mouth will get burnt.

And do not answer the door for anybody.

If the phone rings,

wait for the answering machine to come on to see if it's me.

Okay?

I'll be back from work around 6:00.

Okay?

Be good, boo.

♪ ♪

(indistinct newscast playing over TV)

(cartoon music playing over TV)

MAN (over TV): Today, the streets are

even more dangerous than you think.

MAN 2: You like flying?

I got something that'll really make you fly.

MAN: So talk to your kids about drugs, or...

(upbeat music playing over TV)

(cartoon sound effects playing over TV)

(rap music playing over TV)

WOMAN (over TV): Quincy Jones has made his mark in music

as a composer, conductor and arranger

during a time when it was almost unheard of

for a Black composer to do a Hollywood movie.

QUINCY JONES (over TV): The imagination's always been

a comfort zone, safety zone really,

because it's something that you run to

and make it anything you want...

(chatter over TV fades)

(kids chattering playfully outside)

This house look...

Everything okay?

Why nobody looking for me?

Because we made it too hard for them.

That was the whole point, remember?

Come here.

Hey.

Look.

I don't know what the fuck to tell you, T.

But there's more to life than fucked-up beginnings.

♪ ♪

You're not holding it right.

Hey, talk to me nice. I got this.

You ready?

You ready-ready?

(bat strikes ball)

Yeah!

You did it! You did it! You did it!

You gonna throw it all the way over...

TERRY: Throw that thing better than that.

(Inez laughs)

Now you just being lazy.

You ready?

-Yeah. -Mm-hmm.

Mm.

(bat strikes ball)

Oh! Okay, yeah, you did it.

I never had my own room growing up.

You want to try?

TERRY: Who lived here before us?

INEZ: I don't know. A bunch of immigrants.

-TERRY: And before them? -I don't know, baby.

We can go to the library and look it up. (grunts)

Down and up. Down...

(video game sound effects playing)

Who's that?

(chuckles)

This is me.

When I was first coming out of the group home.

Cute little thing.

(knocking on door)

My body was a playground for a thousand niggas

-before you came along. -That's nasty.

-(knocking) -(Inez chuckles)

INEZ: Hey, I got more of us,

but things get lost when we moving around so much.

-RUDY: Yo. Open up. -Hold on, hold on.

RUDY: It's Rudy.

-Hello. -Hey.

RUDY: Don't be mad I'm late.

Some of the papers took longer to get.

INEZ: What if he needs to go to the doctor?

RUDY: Just show up and say he's sick.

-And I got this from the city so it looks legit. -Okay.

RUDY: Hotbox, numbers.

-Whatever you need, hit me up. -Okay.

-Okay? -Okay.

(door closes)

(lock clicks)

Okay, I went with Daryl, last name Raymond.

We just moved in from Jersey.

-Your middle name is Terry. -(phone ringing)

I don't like it.

-Hey, Kim. -(Kim speaking indistinctly)

Daryl Raymond.

MALE VOICE (on video game): Three, two, one. Now!

-(siren wailing) -(horns honking)

-(door closes) -(lock clicks)

That's him?

Why you standing there looking scared?

Neighbor down the hall walks him home for me after school.

Terry, I want you to meet Lucky.

Hey, Lucky.

What's up, little man?

Lucky's gonna be moving in with us.

For how long?

Damn.

(chuckling)

Little nigga trying to kick me out already.

-(Lucky laughs) -INEZ: Come here.

(sucks teeth)

What's this cut on your face?

(sighs)

(R&B music playing)

LUCKY: Let me get one for good luck, babe.

Let me get one for good luck.

Mm, mm-mm-mm.

You can get a shot. You want a shot?

Come on, you can get a shot. Go ahead. Take a shot.

PEA: Terry! Terry!

LUCKY: Yeah, get it, Pea!

-Pea, out! Pea, out! -INEZ: Not in my kitchen!

-Not in my kitchen! -LUCKY: Look at the D.

-Look at the D! -(boys laughing)

Good job, Pea.

(playful chatter continues)

-Shoot! -I'll... I'll take it.

-LUCKY: Let me get another. -TERRY: No.

PEA: Pass it.

Want to go again?

(chuckles)

What's wrong?

Where was he before?

How many times you gonna ask me that?

Till I get an answer.

He belongs with his mother.

Nobody's even looking for him.

Course they're not looking for him

because they're looking for me.

And every other nigga round here with a target on they back.

Hey, how many times I been locked up for you, Lucky?

I just got out, man!

Trying to move on from all that shit.

Do you remember what it felt like

to grow up without a father?

I just want us to be a family. That's all.

-(zipper zips) -That's not my fucking kid.

I just wanted you.

But you fucked-up in the head.

Yeah, nuts for thinking you would fucking understand.

I didn't sign up for this shit.

(door opens)

(door closes)

(sighs)

"You are not a cow.

You are not a boat or a plane or a snore."

-"Snort." -"Snort."

-(laughs) -Stop.

TERRY: "You are not a boat."

-"Or-or..." -"Or a plane

-or a snort." -"Snort."

(mumbling playfully, laughing)

"You are a... bird?

And you are my mother."

Yeah.

(laughs)

"And you are my mother.

And you are my mother. And you are..."

♪ ♪

-(motorcycle engine rumbling) -(women chattering)

(engine shuts off)

INEZ: I literally saw you look at her with my own eyes.

(panting sharply)

Is it 'cause she lighter than me?

-'Cause her hair's nicer? -You're too sensitive.

Well, then just be sensitive to my sensitivity.

Where'd you stay this whole time?

Was posted up with Mike.

-That bike not hot, is it? -No.

(grunting, panting)

One.

All right, I need another can of broth.

Come on, let me do that after the game.

No. Can you go now?

And why don't you take Terry with you?

-(chuckles) -ALICIA: How you doing, Lucky?

I'm good, 'Licia. How you doing, shorty?

You should call me.

Do me a favor.

Walk on this side of me.

It's for your protection.

You always this quiet?

Sometimes.

And what you thinking about?

Well, it sounds like a lot.

How did you get that name Lucky?

(chuckles)

Made a few mistakes, that's all.

That's a story for another time.

-And I'm a mistake, too? -Who told you that?

It's why you don't want me around.

That's not true.

You're a blessing.

For your mom especially.

Everything is just...

...just complicated.

A'ight? Come on.

(Lucky sighs)

(sighs)

How'd you get that one?

Guy cut me with a knife.

Why?

He wanted something I took.

You see this one right here?

See it?

On the East Side,

everybody hide they box cutters right here.

TERRY: It hurt?

(Lucky chuckles)

LUCKY: Yeah, a little bit. (sighs)

(radio playing quietly)

Everything's changing.

A couple of years from now,

we're not gonna have to worry about this at all.

(Lucky inhales sharply, sighs)

(Inez grunts softly)

What do two crooks know about raising a family?

(Inez chuckles)

MAN: Yeah!

(excited chatter)

Let me get a picture.

WOMAN: Girl, he holding you like he love you, okay?

KIM: Terry, now!

MAN: And we on the block right now celebrating.

Shout-out to the newlyweds,

-Lucky and Inez. -WOMAN: Yes, girl, show me the ring!

Okay! All right!

(excited squealing, chatter)

What the ring like?

MAN: That's exactly what we bringing here to the block.

Right here, right now.

Come get a plate. Come get a cup.

-(Lucky sighs) -Come get whatever you need,

and come rock out with your boy.

Come here.

WOMAN: You look good, ma. You look good.

T...

...your mother's my wife now.

But I want you to know from the bottom of my heart

that I'm here for the both of you.

We blood now.

You scared I'm-a take her away from you?

No.

Nobody's going anywhere from this point on.

I promise to protect you and your mother.

You understand?

Yes.

We're gonna give you the life that we never had.

A'ight?

You hear me? Hmm?

(laughs) Come here.

Up-up-up. There we go. There we go.

-WOMAN: Girl, you got you a family now. -(Lucky whooping)

(indistinct chatter)

WOMAN: King of the world!

LUCKY: We got to get this.

Hold on. Hold on. Here we go. Here we go.

-INEZ: Oh, wait, wait, wait. -Look at the camera, T.

-Look at the camera. -Ready?

(grunts playfully)

Say, "Family!"

ALL: Family.

(excited chatter continues)

(woman laughs)

I'm so happy for y'all.

♪ ♪

Let me see.

♪ ♪

(Lucky sighs)

(sighs)

What you want to hear?

That one.

(laughs)

NEWSWOMAN: If federal court

lets new zoning laws take effect, starting today,

42nd Street will have to take on a different look or else.

NEWSWOMAN 2: According to the mayor,

the crackdown on low-level offenses

is a quality-of-life issue.

GIULIANI: If you change, in fact,

the true nature of the establishment,

then you probably have a defense under the law.

-WOMAN: Yo, yo, turn it up! -NEWSWOMAN 3: Today, at 11:00,

the police officer said he sodomized Abner Louima

in the presence of another officer,

although he did not implicate any of the four

-other officers... -NEWSMAN: On the streets here,

there are serious questions about police practice and race.

-WOMAN: Shit's fucked-up! -A young African immigrant died

when four plainclothes cops shot him 19 times,

firing 41 bullets...

NEWSMAN 2: The shockwaves are still being felt

in New York City tonight

following the acquittals in the controversial trial.

NEWSMAN 3: An officer is allowed to stop, question you.

If he develops any more suspicions, he can frisk you.

So, really, it should be described as

stop-question-frisk.

(woman shouting in distance)

PEA: Yer.

What up, T?

Yer.

How you been?

I'm not starting freshman year without no pussy, B.

Light skin, fatty, exotic,

hair down to the ass, no medium to hot breath...

Nigga, them shorties don't want you.

No, nigga, that's standards.

Don't fault me for caring about my heart.

Go get that.

TERRY: Nah, nah.

-(scoffs) I'm good. -"Nah." Keep not listening.

I am listening!

See how they respond to that nice shit, man?

-What's good with that? -I just got my own style.

Since when is "bum nigga" a style?

OFFICER: Hey, hey. You, you. Now.

Up against the wall, right now.

OFFICER 2: Yeah, just put your hands where I can see 'em.

-OFFICER: Don't make any sudden move. -PEA: Damn, bro.

OFFICER: Thought you looked older.

TEACHER: Daryl can be a little aloof sometimes.

He daydreams a lot.

But overall he's a very bright kid.

I was surprised to see that you were his mother.

Most of our students here aren't as articulate.

Oh, is that so?

To be honest, Mrs. Raymond, um...

...I don't think Daryl belongs here.

Have you thought about

applying to the specialized high schools?

No.

I'd like you to meet Ms. Tucker.

Hi.

She's a counselor at Tech, Science and Leadership.

I also run an outreach program on the side

to get more students like Daryl to take the test.

Would you be open to that, Daryl?

If they got girls.

A lot of the kids go on to MIT, Harvard.

It might take some getting used to.

There wouldn't be as many minorities.

Ma, you know the Laundromat shut down?

Yeah, they sold the building.

So, where we supposed to go?

Go down to Ramirez. What's a couple of blocks?

I don't like going over there.

Well...

We got stopped by the cops again.

Um, were they looking for someone?

I don't know.

Did they take your name?

No.

I'm just calling it out so you know it ain't me.

WOMAN: Girl, and then he talk about he want to move in.

I'm like, "Are you paying half the rent?"

-Hey, girl. How you doing? -Hey, girl, what's up?

Hello.

WOMAN: Girl, so, you know, like, I'm a woman.

I shouldn't be paying rent if a man stay here.

-You know what I'm saying? -What's going on over there?

Girl, you know they bought the building.

But anyway, girl, what you think I should do, though?

You think I should, like, split the rent?

WOMAN 2: Girl, I don't know.

WOMAN 1: Right, 'cause I ain't doing that.

-TERRY: Ah! -Scared me half to death.

-Here, let me get that. -Any-Anything else?

Mom, I'm hungry.

Well, then go to the store.

With what money?

I gave you money earlier this week, Terry.

(sighs) Come on.

INEZ: Look, I only got ten dollars to my name.

I'm giving you five.

Here.

You thought any more about what she said?

-Who said? -Your teacher.

Why does everything good mean I got to go somewhere else?

Well...

You'll probably fit right in.

As soft as you are,

I'd rather that than you chasing after Pea.

Speaking of him, I'm switching to the night shift

so I can be here after school.

Make sure you're not just running around.

What's up with you and Luck?

Excuse me?

Y'all not talking or something?

Stop trying to change the subject.

Listen.

I'm not saying you got to go.

But at least think about it.

I'll buy you a new pair of Jordans.

WOMAN: In each portion,

you will have approximately ten minutes per section...

(woman continues speaking indistinctly)

♪ ♪

Ooh. (chuckles)

What, you want me to pull up there with you or something?

'Cause you acting mad pussy right now.

(rap music playing quietly)

Anything else?

Yeah, where can I call you?

-(scoffs) -PEA: Simone, quit playing.

A'ight, give me your name on AOL.

"Unavailable222."

Wow, so I can't even get to know you?

PEA: Yeah, get her, T.

Listen, there's nothing else I need to know about you

or your little dirty-ass, smelly-ass friend.

PEA: Stop acting like we ain't doing you a favor, Midnight.

-Nappy-head-ass. -(scoffs) Next customer.

Knew you wasn't getting that.

(clicks tongue) I ain't trippin' on her.

'Cause I already tried four times.

-Got to be a dyke! -SIMONE: Shut the hell up, Pea.

PEA: That's why I want one of them Indian-looking girls.

Shoot, they fire.

INEZ: Let me see. Let me see it.

Oh, my... (chuckles)

You got into Tech?

I don't see the big deal.

Thought all I had to do was prove that I can get in.

I changed my mind.

Well, I didn't! I ain't going!

Boy, you know how hard I'm busting my ass

to get you chances I never had?

You make me feel like a damn fool.

-Be a fool, then. -Boy!

I need you to talk some sense into him.

Please.

(TV playing quietly)

Saying what, exactly?

That he should go to a better school.

He doesn't want to be controlled.

Who gives a fuck about what he wants?

What does he need?

I don't know.

(TV clicks off)

Matter of fact, I do.

(clears throat)

It's you.

Like how?

You're too tough.

Okay. What else?

I'm listening.

Maybe if you quiet down some...

...he would actually hear what you have to say.

Okay.

I don't even remember the last time I raised my voice.

(sighs)

He'd do good at any school.

You used to like when I got spicy.

"Try and be quiet."

(sighs)

"You should try and be quiet."

Right?

Quiet like when you went missing for weeks

and I sat here and said nothing?

And never mind who you was with.

-See, there it go. -If I get any more quieter,

I won't even have a fucking voice at all.

You know, I'm not about to sit here and argue with you.

That's real easy for you to say

'cause you get to be the saint, right?!

You get to be the saint while I'm stuck here

fighting these wars all by myself!

-See how loud you're getting? -What... (sobs)

-Well, then fucking show up for me, Lucky. -Fuck this shit.

Show up for me!

(keys jangling)

I wonder what'd happen if I leave, too.

(sighs)

You scared.

Something's gonna happen.

I can feel it.

I can feel it.

Did he tell you he got stopped by the cops again?

A few times.

Then let him use his other name.

He doesn't have an I.D.

That's not the fucking point, Lucky!

Shit. I don't know, a'ight?

Day's bound to come any-fucking-way.

(breath trembling)

(keys slam on floor)

LUCKY: Take care of your moms, T!

Where Luck going?

INEZ: And you-- I'm-a say this one time.

You look at me when I'm fucking talking to you.

It's either you go to that school

or you find somewhere else to live.

You hear me?

(door opens)

(door closes)

(TV clicks on)

MAN (over TV): ...where to push and where not to push.

But I'm-a take but so much, and she gon' take but so much,

so we compromise.

RICKI LAKE: It works out for you guys.

So, you gonna get married or...?

-WOMAN: Uh... (mutters) -All right, all right, all right.

-(laughter) -That-That's a whole nother show.

I'm sorry. You had a comment. Yes?

WOMAN 2: You say you do it for the attention.

There are other ways of getting attention.

Don't-- doesn't it cost you a lot of friendships

and relationships, being a bitch?

WOMAN: Well, it has cost me a lot of friendships

and a lot of relationships,

but I find in life that sometimes

having a friend in yourself is better than having--

worrying about having people as your friends,

'cause no one's gonna look out for you but you,

-and I've learned that in life. -(applause)

I've looked out for people, you know, but...

LAKE: You seem to make some sense.

WOMAN: I mean, I'm saying, I-I have friends now.

They're bitchy like me, so we get along.

-(laughter) -(Inez chuckling)

We-- I'm serious. We understand each other.

And, like, I'm-I'm generous...

-MAN: They got a little dog pound. -Right.

And I help, I help out some of my family members

-as well as they help me. -(chuckles)

But they also know where to push my buttons

and where to go also, as Paul said.

LAKE: Okay, yes?

WOMAN 3: I know I like to get what I want,

but I think there are other ways to do that.

That only makes people...

♪ ♪

(basketball bouncing)

LUCKY: Come shoot some hoops with me.

I'm about to go to the store.

Come here.

You need some money?

-Ma gave me some. -Here.

Take it anyway.

A man should always have some money in his pocket.

So, um, where you been at?

(ball clanks on rim)

I needed some time to clear my head.

(ball clanks on rim)

Feels like it's been a lot longer than that this time.

Y'all breaking up or something?

Want to shoot?

Your mother ever tell you how we met?

No.

She used to work at this coffee shop

that closed down a few years ago.

I used to get my hair cut right across the street.

I'd go in, I'd order me a bagel or whatever,

but I'm still not sure how I'm-a kick it to her.

And ended up telling her the truth.

That she was the most beautiful woman...

...that I ever seen.

Were you nervous?

(chuckles softly)

I just felt like she should know.

But something told me to go back, right?

(sniffs)

This is when I had my other bike.

A few days later, I said, "Let me take you for a ride."

We been rocking ever since.

T...

...don't get caught up in none of this shit

that you see around here.

Have I ever?

Took me too long to learn that.

I don't want to see you fall into

the same traps as me and your mother.

I want you to make better choices than me.

When it comes to her.

When it comes to everything.

I, uh...

I got into the specialized high school.

Oh, yeah? (sniffs)

-So what you gon' do? -I don't know.

What you think?

It's not up to me, T.

You getting older now.

Time for you to start thinking for yourself.

What?

♪ ♪

I love you.

You hear me?

Yeah.

Check up.

Oh, got it.

(train passing)

LUCKY: Psst, psst.

Ayo, ma!

What are you doing here?

I can't walk with my lady?

(chuckles softly)

How was work?

INEZ: Good.

-(kisses) -LUCKY: Good morning. (laughs)

Yo, you remember what it's like when we were coming up?

I remember.

(laughs)

You should be proud of yourself, Inez.

We made it.

You don't seem happy.

Think Terry resents me?

Teenagers hate everybody.

But I do sense a little void in him.

First couple years of his life, he ain't have nobody.

Kid's still walking around here with a broken heart.

Maybe it's time for y'all to have that conversation.

Give him some of the answers that he been looking for.

Yeah, I'll know when the time's right.

(sighs)

Um...

I was thinking, when Terry goes off to school,

maybe I'll get to doing hair again.

Maybe open up a shop.

Can't wait.

(cheering, applause)

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: Thank you.

Citizens, I am honored and humbled to serve

as the 108th mayor of the City of New York.

As Toni Morrison has said,

"New York is the last true city."

And it is the vitality of our neighborhoods

that define us.

In the next four years,

I will devote myself to building a better New York--

safe, strong and ready to lead the world

in the 21st century.

Thank you.

-Thank you. -(cheering, applause)

I, Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of the City of New York.

JUDITH KAYE: Do solemnly swear.

-BLOOMBERG: Do solemnly swear. -That I will...

♪ ♪

TERRY: So, um... so, which one you, uh...

which one you want to hear?

(Lucky coughing)

Let me hear that one.

(sucks teeth) It's mad old, though.

(scoffs)

Old?

The fuck is The Delfonics, B?

Why don't you pass me that one right there.

-TERRY: Yeah, who? -LUCKY: Yeah.

What does it say?

The sample.

Wasn't too old for the Fugees. (wheezing)

-(scoffs) -(laughing)

Oh, come on.

You don't even know your own taste.

Yo, these shits is, like, mad random, though, like...

Yo, you deadass a old head.

Like, what are you talking about?

Cassettes in here.

What's going on? (scoffs)

Come on.

T.

Hey, I want you to hang on to that.

That way, you can take your time flipping through everything.

So, which college you decided on?

I don't know yet.

You should be more excited.

Nah.

-I am. -A'ight.

Well, go somewhere far.

You know, my era...

...we ain't get those kind of shots.

Yeah.

Maybe.

Go on and show off that legacy of Harlem.

-(Lucky laughing) -(knocking on door)

(doorbell rings)

Hi. I'm Jerry.

Uh, I'm your new landlord.

(door closes)

The lady across the hall said that your husband has cancer.

Really sorry to hear that.

It's all right.

So you own those buildings across the street, too?

Yeah. Yeah.

Everything working okay?

Heat coming up?

Hot water? All that?

I actually just realized that, um,

I got a few loose tiles around my shower area.

Oh, yeah. Let's go look at it.

-(flashlight clicks) -Uh-oh.

Something happen here?

INEZ: Yeah.

We tried to fix it a few times, but it keeps falling off.

-Oh, I can fix this for you. -Really?

Yeah. This is no problem at all.

Um... wow.

Maybe some new cabinets, too,

because these have to be at least 20 years old.

-Have you met Javier? -Who?

-Uh, the new super. -No.

Okay, let me see when I can get my guys in here

to take care of all of this,

and then also your... also your tiles, okay?

-Thank you. -Yeah. You got it. No problem.

INEZ (softly): Hey.

("Ain't It Good Feeling Good" by Eloise Laws playing)

Anybody else come by?

(whispers): How you feeling?

(sighs)

(whispers): We talked about his schools.

(wheezing)

(coughing softly)

♪ Oh, just to feel your heated body ♪

♪ Pressing next to mine ♪

♪ Ooh, sweet delight... ♪

WOMAN: Simone?

Can you wipe down 84 and 83?

Try not to look so pitiful.

♪ Melt me down in your deliciousness ♪

♪ Sugarcoat me, baby ♪

♪ With every touch ♪

♪ Keep the feeling coming... ♪

(knocking on door)

JAVIER: We're here for the repairs.

Thank you.

-Yeah. -Yeah.

(door closes)

-Uh, where at? -Over there to the right.

Ah, I see.

-See that one right there? -There.

♪ Might live on a distant star ♪

♪ But no matter where you are ♪

-♪ Music ♪ -♪ There's music ♪

♪ Music ♪

♪ Sweet, sweet music ♪

(blows)

♪ Music ♪

♪ Mm-hmm ♪

-♪ Music ♪ -♪ Music ♪

♪ Music, music ♪

-♪ We like all kinds of music ♪ -♪ Music ♪

♪ Music ♪

♪ When things get bad ♪

♪ A simple song will make you glad... ♪

-(phone ringing) -(song fades)

Manna's. Simone speaking.

Oh, uh... S-Simone?

Yes?

Oh, um... yeah, I just, um...

Yeah, I-I just wanted to let you know

I think you're the most, uh...

...well, you're the most, uh, b-beautiful girl,

you know, uh, or whatever, you know.

I was just trying to see if you...

Would you please stop fucking calling here?

I'm working.

Well, call me tonight, then.

-Fine. -(picks up pencil)

(drops pencil)

To stay or to go?

INEZ: Look. The whole sink is gone.

Look at the hole by the shower.

It wasn't so big at first,

but more fell down this morning.

All we got left is the kitchen sink.

JERRY: Yeah, I know. I know. I know.

Let me show you the kitchen.

No, no, uh, I already, I already saw it.

Um...

(sighs)

Inez, this, this is my... this is my mistake.

The guys, they thought this was a full flip,

like some of the other units,

so I'm happy to have them come back in and finish up,

and I won't charge you anything or...

Okay, yeah, just let me know the day.

I can stay home from work

or Terry could be here if it's after school.

Well, we'd actually need you to,

uh, to clear out of the apartment.

'Cause there's-there's just too much damage.

I mean, everything's got to get lifted.

Like how long?

I-I mean, as long as it t-- you know, until it's done.

A couple months.

What are we supposed to do in the meantime?

-Calm down. -Don't tell me to calm down.

Like two adults, okay?

There's no reason here to get loud.

(music playing quietly over Terry's headphones)

We have no bathroom, no shower, Jerry.

-We have no stove, Jerry. -(sighs)

Is-- there's not, like, a family member

or a friend you could stay with?

Well, this building is too old.

I come in and fix something,

I got to come back a couple months later and do it again.

You know, this way, we come in here,

we replace everything all at once.

There's got to be another option.

Or you-you could leave.

(music over headphones stops)

My hands are tied. Give me a call.

Let me know what you decide.

Yo, why you ain't fight him on that?

("So Long" by Cassidy featuring Mashonda and Raekwon playing)

♪ Yo, Cass, what up, son? ♪

♪ What's going on, playboy? ♪

♪ How's it looking over there? ♪

♪ Yo, I got me a good one and all that ♪

-♪ Oh, okay, okay ♪ -♪ What's up with you? ♪

♪ You know I got me something lovely, too ♪

-♪ You know how we do it ♪ -♪ You know how we like 'em ♪

♪ Man, super official, right? ♪

♪ All day, if it ain't official ♪

♪ I ain't fucking with her ♪

-♪ That's right, son ♪ -♪ Ha-ha, yeah ♪

♪ It's usually the beauty that attract me ♪

♪ But perhaps she was the right person ♪

♪ Her personality made me happy... ♪

Hey, yo, um...

Can you walk on the other side of me?

Hmm?

It's for your protection.

♪ And I can charm a computer, for us to conversate ♪

-Come on. -♪ All it take ♪

♪ To make an impression, like a teacher lecturing ♪

♪ When I'm speaking, she taking lessons ♪

♪ But every time we argue and fight ♪

♪ I feel like I'm dying... ♪

(song fades)

-(lively chatter) -(R&B music playing quietly)

Think you put enough?

You know you want one.

(Terry grunts)

Why you always acting all stank whenever we come around?

That's not a act.

Your friends are dumb as fuck, especially Pea.

"What you gon' do about that kitchen?"

-"Damn, when you gonna eat some more meals?" -(chuckles)

-"Wow! What up, Midnight?" -A'ight, a'ight.

I get it. I get it.

I'm sorry. I know those are your friends.

Is that how you are, too?

You see me here, right?

I'm not here for anybody trying to make me hate myself.

So how'd you miss a year of school

and still end up at Tech?

You like it?

It's okay.

Okay? And? What else?

What don't you like about it?

(sighs) I don't know.

Just don't.

There's nothing wrong with being smart, you know.

We could use a few more engineers around here.

I just don't care about none of that, though.

Okay, so what you want to do?

Uh, I mean, I like a lot of things, you know.

Uh...

Right now, I'm... I'm into music.

You want to rap?

(scoffs) Nah. Like...

Like, uh...

You-you ever seen The Wiz?

Yeah.

Yeah, like, stuff like that.

Um, this Black dude, uh, Quincy Jones,

he, uh, did the whole score for the movie, you know.

Did some other movies, too.

Like a composer.

Yeah. Yeah. (chuckles)

PS, I know who Quincy Jones is.

You should be in some art school.

You could go to Juilliard.

I can help you figure out what it takes.

No.

Kids trying to get in there have been training for years.

Well, where'd Quincy Jones go?

He didn't go to school.

I want to see you again.

I should be honest with you.

Um... I'm moving in a couple weeks.

To my uncle's in Florida.

This white guy was trying to help us save the house

but took the deed or something.

But we can keep in touch, though.

I'm gonna miss Harlem.

INEZ: What's her name?

TERRY: I don't know what you talking 'bout.

So who's the girl I saw you hanging out with?

-Just a girl, Ma. -(video game playing)

Well, is she your girlfriend?

(chuckles): What...

Come on. You know I like Spanish girls, Ma.

Pardon me?

What, she look too much like you for you to take seriously?

You know what, little boy?

I love you.

I really do.

But I'm starting not to like you anymore.

(video game chimes, pauses)

MS. TUCKER: Now, what's this all about?

Showing up late, not handing in your work.

Something's on your mind.

I said I'm fine.

What's going on with college? You make a decision yet?

Daryl?

(sighs)

-Not yet. -And why's that?

You discuss it with your mother?

Yeah.

A little.

You know this is a safe place.

How have things been at home since your father got worse?

They, uh... they don't think he's gonna come home.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I think the landlord's trying to push us out or something.

Do you want to come work with me at CCA?

I run the after-school program.

Part-time, a few hours.

How much it pay?

Enough to help.

You do good, we'll work on something better this summer.

I don't need working papers from you

since you're turning 18 soon.

Just ask your mother

for your birth certificate and Social, okay?

(exhales)

Um...

Thank you, Ms. Tucker.

I'm happy to help.

Yo, Ma?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(Lucky coughs)

(Lucky coughing)

Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey.

Okay, breathe.

(labored breathing)

Okay, okay. Okay.

Maybe you should try and eat some food.

Yeah?

-I'm not hungry. -Okay.

Why do you love me?

The same reason everybody does.

(scoffs)

That's not an answer.

I want to know why.

You should...

You should probably stop talking and get some rest, okay?

I never really knew where it came from.

Or whether or not...

...whether or not I deserved it.

Maybe that's why I never...

...I never fully gave it back.

Now I wonder...

...I wonder if it's too late.

Damaged people don't know how to love each other.

That's all.

(inhales sharply)

♪ ♪

T, sit down.

I need to talk to you about a few things.

(Terry breathing deeply, sniffling)

Um...

Before Lucky got sick,

we wanted to have a conversation with you about...

I don't want to talk to you about Lucky.

It's not about him.

Yo, I don't want to talk to you about anything!

Yeah?

Only thing I ever wanted more than a mother

was a fucking father!

Maybe...

(sniffles)

Maybe if you, if you weren't so hard on him,

walking around here so miserable all the time,

he'd still fucking be here.

(Inez grunts softly)

You don't mean that.

(Inez sighs)

("Time Goes By" by Mike Moran and Madeline Bell playing)

-♪ Every now and then ♪ -(siren wailing)

-(lively chatter) -♪ I'm so high ♪

♪ Knowing there's a chance I'll see you ♪

♪ Feel like I could fly ♪

♪ 'Cause tonight I will be near you ♪

♪ We'll be one ♪

♪ We'll be alone... ♪

Yo, Ma.

-Ma. -What?

This lady over there, she keep looking over here.

Who is that?

That's Lucky's daughter and her mother.

Make 'em a plate.

She's what?

We'll talk about it later.

♪ And let me enjoy you ♪

♪ I know it's time you were leaving... ♪

(song ends)

(rap music playing faintly in distance)

(clattering in other room)

INEZ: Fuck!

Terry!

-TERRY: Ma, what happened? -(water running)

Come move this stuff!

One of the pipes! (grunts)

TERRY: I g-- I got it.

Ma! Yo.

INEZ: Come on, come on.

(Inez grunts)

(rap music playing in distance)

Sweetheart.

You seen Javier?

-Who? -The-the super.

Oh, um, not since yesterday.

Sorry.

(door opens)

(door closes)

MS. TUCKER: Daryl, we need to talk.

Your paperwork was denied.

What?

The Social Security number you gave me isn't valid.

I'm glad I caught it before somebody else did.

(stammers) I-I forgot.

It-it expired.

That's not how it works.

So, then wh-- that mean, like, I don't get the job or...

Well, before I can even look into any of that,

we need to sort out how you ended up with phony papers.

Did you really ask your mom?

Sh-She don't, she don't have 'em.

You're from here, right?

-Wh-What you mean? -Born in the States.

Uh, y-yeah.

Nah, yeah, yeah.

Well... (sighs) this could mean a lot of hell for you.

To get a job, to-to do anything.

I mean, it's still probably, you know, like, with the city.

Fr-From when I was in foster care.

Hmm.

Oh, I have a friend down in Social Services who can help.

No, no, it's cool, it's cool, it's cool.

It's-it's all good. It's all good.

We just-- It's all good.

Hey, Janice.

Listen, I need a favor. I have a student here

-whose paperwork is... -Hey, no, no.

Hey, yo-yo, Ms. Tucker, come on!

It's all, it's all good.

Um...

Uh, they don't, they don't know I'm-I'm with my mother.

-You know? -And why is that?

Who are you supposed to be with?

Um...

Have you told anyone else about this?

-Nah. -Is Daryl your real name?

If you lied on your college applications, it's a felony.

It's Terry!

It's-it's T-- it's Terry Wallace.

How long ago did this happen?

When-when I was little.

I was a social worker for years.

If the city didn't want to give you back,

it's likely because something happened.

Regardless of what, you are still a ward of the state.

By law, I have to report this.

Oh, do-do... do any of that even matter, though?

Um, you know, I'm finna be 18 in a few weeks, you know, so...

I can't keep this to myself.

I have to speak with your mother.

(rap music playing quietly)

(door opens, closes)

Can-can I talk to you?

It'd be nicer if you could help.

What happened?

What does it look like, Terry?

Called the super ten times since yesterday.

It's about the job with Ms. Tucker.

Sh-She, um, sh-she want my birth certificate

and my Social.

The real one.

What do you mean, the real one?

Um, the papers I found in your room, they-they didn't work.

What do you mean, the papers you found in my room?

You went through my stuff? Why wouldn't you ask me?

I didn't know I had to!

She want to come by tomorrow evening and talk to you.

For what?

Well, I-I mean, I don't know. What was I supposed to say?

(sighs)

I don't know how the hell we gonna get ahold of those.

Come with me outside. I...

I need to smoke.

Starting to smell in here.

(door closes)

(lighter clicking)

You wanted to leave me.

No.

No, Ma.

Why would you say something like that?

Forget it.

What time your teacher coming tomorrow?

Around 6:00 or something.

I think.

T, you should probably see if you can, um,

stay with Pea and Miss Annie a little while,

till they finish working on the apartment.

Where you gonna go?

I'll figure it out.

I'll go to your school tomorrow

and get everything straightened out with, um,

Ms. What's-Her-Face.

(door opens)

♪ ♪

(horns honking, cars passing)

(door closes)

TERRY: Yo, Ma?

-(phone dialing) -(sighs)

(line ringing)

Yo, hey, Titi. What's up?

Um...

Yeah, you, um, you heard from my mother yet?

Nah, y-- I been, um, I-I been trying to call her all morning.

No, she, um...

Yeah, just, um...

Yeah, just give me a-a call back when-when you do.

(knocking on door)

(doorbell ringing)

H-Hey, y-yeah.

Yeah, Aunt Kim. H-Hold on.

Let me, uh... hey, no, let me, uh,

-let me give you a call back. -(doorbell rings)

MS. TUCKER: Hi, Terrance.

Is your mother home?

Um...

Uh, n-no.

She left for work already?

Yeah, uh... I think so.

(indistinct police radio chatter)

Do you mind if we come in and talk for a bit?

Uh...

Y-Yeah. I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Okay. -Thank you.

-Uh, this is Anne. -Hey.

And this is Officer Philips, Officer Russo.

May we have a seat?

How long ago did she leave?

TERRY: Yesterday evening.

OFFICER PHILIPS: What was the last thing she said to you?

Did she say anything out of the ordinary?

Anything unusual?

W-Well...

not that I remember.

Uh, everything seemed fine.

Excuse me, sir, could you, could you,

could y'all, you know, not go through all our stuff?

Terrance, we really need your cooperation on this.

Uh, she-she, like, gonna get in trouble or something?

You know, 'cause, I mean, you know, why does it even matter?

I mean, you know, I'm almost 18, you know, so...

Um...

Well, about that.

It's difficult for me to say what I have to say right now.

Inez...

is not your biological mother.

Uh...

Like some joke or something? (chuckles)

No, it's not.

This is the woman who abducted you.

Whatever story she told you was just a lie that she cooked up.

I am so sorry you have to find out like this.

OFFICER PHILIPS: Are you sure you don't know where she is?

Any ideas at all?

MS. TUCKER: Give him some room, please.

(sniffles)

For now, we need to focus on

what's best for Terry moving forward.

What's best for me?

He doesn't have any known relatives that we can trust.

ANNE: That's all right.

We can place him at Sheltering Arms for the time being.

It's a family services program. It's...

MS. TUCKER: I know what it is.

ANNE: Just for a couple of weeks,

until we can navigate next steps.

If that's all right with you.

MS. TUCKER: I don't know if your parents

are still on the street, but we can work on that.

Everything was such a mess back then.

In my office, the only record you had on some kids was...

...just an index card.

(cell phone ringing)

Hello?

Terry, is that you?

TERRY (crying): Yeah. Y-- Titi.

I stopped by the group home,

but nobody seems to know where you are.

I'm-I'm at, I'm at a pay phone.

I-I can't stay there.

You want to meet me back here?

I want you to come stay with me.

-Yeah. -Okay.

I think you should stop by the house first,

pick up any last things you might want to take with you.

Yeah.

I'll see you soon, baby.

Okay.

Okay.

♪ ♪

(objects clattering)

(door closes)

(objects continue clattering)

Ma?

Hey, Terry.

What you, what you, what you doing?

I left some things.

Look, don't stand over there looking over me.

I'm sure they already got to you, so feel free to run along.

Can we, can we talk, though?

Talk about what?

You serious right now?

Fine.

You want to talk, let's talk.

(kicks object)

Fetch me my Newports.

-You was just over there... -Over on the stand.

(box slams on table)

What you want me to say?

That I fucked up?

Yeah, T, I fucked up.

But life goes on. So what?

Well, as long as it's your call, right?

Who was the one who made the choice,

standing in that hospital? Was it you or me?

Thinking you was my fucking mother!

-Lower your fucking tone! -(hits table)

You better watch how the fuck you talking to me.

Did Lucky know?

Yes, he knew.

He didn't agree with it, but he knew.

Why? Why you do it?

I don't know why I did it, T.

It was something small that turned into something else.

And that's supposed to make it right or something?

Who made you the chief of right or wrong?

You don't think I have feelings, too?!

After all those years I took care of you,

who the fuck was there to take care of me?!

I stood up for everybody else! What the fuck was it for?!

Every chance you had,

every chance you had, you turned your back on me!

-That's not true. -Oh, please.

Nobody else give a shit about Black women

except for other Black women, and even that shit get messy.

Who heard me when I was hurt?

It wasn't you.

And it damn sure wasn't Lucky.

But you were my mother!

Hmm?

(voice breaking): Now, how am I supposed to feel?

I need to know what was real.

(sighs)

I never left you on that corner.

I was the one that found you.

Little two-year-old running around outside the shelter.

I waited outside on that block for hours with you.

Waiting for anybody to show up.

I saw so much of myself.

I just... I just wanted to look out for you.

I didn't want you getting chewed up like I was.

I seen somebody who needed me.

But...

But maybe I'm the one who needed you.

And, T, for that, I'm sorry.

I'm-I'm sorry.

(sniffles)

I tried to change.

But I don't, I don't want it.

I don't want this.

Not if... not if it's built on a lie.

Not if being loved by you or anybody else

means not loving myself.

They not gonna let you get away with it.

I ain't going to jail.

I already know what the fuck they gonna say anyway.

Already know.

And guess what. I don't give a fuck.

Because I still won.

I won.

Because I know you gonna grow up to be somebody.

(sniffles)

I wish I didn't know.

I wish, I wish you could've did a better job

of keeping that lie to yourself.

I wish it could've continued

so that we could've continued, and I...

(sniffles) ...I wish I knew how to be better to you

so you didn't feel like you had to leave me alone.

'Cause I'm scared.

(sniffling) I'm scared that I won't have no home no more.

And one day I'm gonna show up

and it's gonna feel like we ain't never happened.

Ma!

Like this wasn't our living room?

Our home?

I miss my bed, Ma.

(sniffles)

The one that you made for me.

(sniffles)

Where's home for me now?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(Terry exhales heavily)

(Terry sniffling)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

INEZ: This isn't goodbye.

I promise.

This isn't goodbye, T.

(crying)

I promise.

(crying): I love you, Ma.

I love you.

I think you should go.

(horn honks)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

DRIVER: Okay, miss. Where to?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(music ends)