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[Children laughing, chattering]

[Girl] You're so slow. Come on.

[Boy] Man, go away.

Mom, tell Stormy to stop.

Come on. Hurry up.

[Man on radio] WBLS.

107.5 New York.

Slow-going on the Merrick Parkway

heading out of the city this afternoon.

But don't let that spoil the start of your weekend.

TGIF begins right now

with this new release from Johnny Nash.

♪♪

[Boy] You can't even ride one of these.

Come on, fall.

Fall, fall.Go bother somebody else.

♪ I can see clearly now Oh, that's my song.

♪ The rain is gone

♪ I can see all obstacles Mom.

♪ In my way What's she trying to do?

[Girl] This is so embarrassing.

[Boy] It sure is. Come on.

Mom, just-- Mmm.

♪ It's gonna be a bright ♪ Bright

♪ Bright ♪ Bright

♪ Sunshiney day

[Boy] What is she doing?

♪ It's gonna be a bright ♪ Bright

♪ Bright ♪ Bright

♪ Sunshiney day

♪ I think I can make it now

♪ The pain is gone

♪ All of the bad feelings I'm gonna get you.

♪ Have disappeared

Whoa!

[Stormy laughing] Yeah!

[Boy] Oh, Mom, did you see what she just did?

[Mother] Stormy, I need you to wipe that table off now.

Getting ready to eat.

And, mister, you need to put something on those knees, ashy as they look.

Wait till your father sees them.

[car horn honking][Kids] Daddy's home!

♪ Nothing but blue sky

♪ Look straight ahead

Tom, what did you do?

What does it look like I did?

I bought us a new car.

Does this mean you got the promotion?

No.

This is how I'm gonna get it, sweetheart.

What do you mean, this is how you're gonna get it, honey?

Can't you see?

This car shouts,

"I am not the sort of automobile driven by a man

content to rot in the basement doing legal research."

I was law review, third in my class.

This sort of car reminds them of that.

[engine starts, backfires]Oh! Oh!

Tom![engine revs]

Do all Italian cars do that?

Maybe it's trying to talk to us in smoke signals.

Now hop on in the car.

I'm taking the family to Sizzler.

[both] Yeah!

[laughing] That tickles.

[Man] You're the one read it in Cosmo.

I know, but I didn't know it was gonna tickle.

Here. Let me get the baby toe right here, baby.Okay.

Let me get the one. Let's see. Here.Get it.

[laughing][laughs] I got it.

[blowing]

[laughter continues]

Whoo!Ooh.

You like that blowing, don't you?I do.

Hey, did you ever hear about that job from the Urban League?

Oh, the nincompoops gave it to some boojy moron from Harvard.

What?Yeah.

I'm sorry.Ah, don't be.

Something else came up that might...

I don't wanna say anything about it right now,

but it just might change everything.

What you mean, you don't wanna say nothing about it now?

Come on now. You're being a spy.

Not a spy.You gonna be Tom the Spy?

What happened?No, no, baby girl.

Yesterday, Sullivan himself came down to my dungeon.

[gasps]Yeah.

And he was hinting, you know?

It's not ideal,

but, baby, it may be

the crack in the wall we've been praying for.

Oh, Tom, that's wonderful.

Now...Now what?

Now you know what.

Now you know what. I just wanna--I'm not-- It's--

I know what you want. I know what you want.I want that toe

to kick up and hit that ceiling.

Well, you have to do the both of them.

Oh, baby, let me just get one.No.

And then let me do it twice.Mm-mm.

I'll do one and then the other one.No, you have to do both.

You make it hard for a man.Well, that's the idea.

Get on down there and do the rest of my toes.All right.

Come on, baby. Blend for Mama.

Hurry, ladies. She's about to tell him.

Coming! [Man on TV] Why the sudden formality?

Come on, come on, come on.Wait, wait, wait. Hurry up.

I'm coming, I'm coming. Oh. Oh.

[Woman] That's exactly my point, Doctor.

I don't love you anymore.

I love Dr. Quartermain, and I'm keeping his baby.

[all laughing]

I tell you, I didn't think she would do it.

I didn't think she would do it.

As fine as Dr. Q is, I would've told my trifling Ray

after the first kiss.

Oh, really?Yeah.

Hey, I'm home!

Hey-- Hey, baby.

Hey, I'm on television.

I'm on television. I'm on television.

[Mother] What do you mean, on television?

I'm at the courthouse. Me, Joe Klein,

of course Sullivan and the rest of the partners.

All right. Here it is. [Man] Our top story again tonight

is the Vickswell Avenue blaze.

Despite sworn statements from three eyewitnesses,

Thomas Spader, the attorney for the accused, had this to say.

My client acted in self-defense.

Just look at Joe Klein's face.

See it twist just because some son of a bitch

wants to hear from a black man.

Son of a bitch. [chuckling]Son of a bitch.

Stormy! [Man] Well, the accused arsonist,

Dr. Harold Silver, a successful periodontist

and owner of several low-income housing units,

has admitted to setting the blaze

that sent two black teens to the burn unit at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Doctors say those burns are so extensive

that the risk of infection is still very much a factor,

I'm starving. and the next 24 hours

will be critical.Who wants to eat?

[Kids] I do. The mothers of the two boys

and several neighbors have set up a candlelight vigil.

[thinking] Sweet Jesus, keep me near the cross.

May I please be excused?

Carol Burnett's about to start.Absolutely.

Me, too. May I please be excused, too?Yes. Yes.

Make sure you rinse your plates off.

Thanks, Mom.

That guy on TV knew my name.

He called me Attorney Spader.

[applause on TV]

How about that?

Mmm.

[chuckles]What?

Come on.[patting leg]

[laughing][mouths word]

Come on.Stop. I'm too heavy.

You're light as a feather, baby.

I'm not.Come on over here.

The kids are here.

They're looking at Carol Burnett.

Come on. [laughter]

Tom.

Tom, Tom.

You know, I just can't stop thinking about those boys.

Mmm.Why they got you doing this?

They ain't got me doing anything.

I've been rotting at that firm for nine years now,

watching all the Joe Kleins,

the Michael Ferraros, the Ernest O'Connors

pack up their desks and move upstairs.

Well, I'm goddamn good and tired of holding my breath.

This is my job.

This is what I've been trained to do.

Baby,

we've had to make hard decisions like this

all the time in law school.

This is just another one of those tests.

And putting my client in jail is not gonna help those boys heal.

This is the hand we were dealt.

And, little girl, I swear to you,

before my family,

I'm gonna win with it.

Tommy-Two, you can go over to Robbie's house if you want to,

but if Mrs. Sanchez starts asking you

any more questions about your father's trial,

you tell her you don't know.

Yes, Mom.A lot of nerve asking a child about this thing.

Come on, Stormy.

Mommy, why do the boys at school

call Steve O'Dell Little One Ball?

Is it 'cause he only has one testicle?

Sometimes I understand

why animals eat their young.

Ow, ow, ow! It stings, Mommy!

What stings, Stormy?

There's nothing but water in your hair.

You're just acting.

[Woman] Mabel? Yeah.

He's on TV again.

Who is on TV again, Tina?

Tom.[TV clicks on]

[Man] Yesterday's peaceful demonstration

turned ugly as darkness fell

and looters began making off with thousands of dollars

worth of merchandise before setting a Caldor's on fire.

Attorney for the accused arsonist in this case

had this to say.

[Tom] Hooligans are using the tragedyIt's Daddy.

of these misguided young men to take what's not theirs.

Now, their actions are just as childish as my children,

and like children, need an appropriate punishment.

Is it true you've even received death threats over this case?

Mabel, why didn't you tell me? Some crank calls

from a few desperate and confused scoundrels.

That may be the case, but we have learned

that two New Haven police officers have been assigned to guard your law office.

I'm wondering about your family. How are they holding up through this ordeal?

[Tom] All the members of my family are strong troopers.

We come from strong stock,

and we won't let any trashy rascals

cow us into bowing our heads.

That is Attorney Tom Spader.

He is the attorney for the accused doctor

accused of arson and now manslaughter

in this highly divisive and contentious case.

[rain falling]

[car approaches]

Why didn't you tell me about the death threats?

Don't worry, sweetheart.

The police tell me there's always a couple

in a case like this.

Now go back to sleep.

[sighs]

[phone ringing]

Larry, did you find the precedent?

[Man speaking, faint]

Better watch it.

I got my eye on you.

[continues, faint]

You listen to me, you stupid son of a bitch.

You call here again,

and I will find you and break you in half.

Our people--

Don't you dare tell me about our people.

My people know the difference between right and wrong

and are proud of the few of us in a position of responsibility.

Your people are obviously ignorant chimpanzees

still swinging from the trees!

[phone clangs loudly]

Mabel?

Oh.

Go back to bed, sweetheart.

I'm fine.

How long, Tom?

Oh, I'll be up an hour or two.

That's not what I meant.

Oh, well, you know, the trial will start Monday.

It shouldn't last more than a week. Don't you worry.

All the fools are gonna crawl back under the rocks they came from.

Now, baby, get some sleep.

[scoffs]

[sighs]

I don't see why we need to makeLet go.

this stupid table bigger.

It's not like anybody else is coming.Stormy!

[gasps]

The leaf in the table lets you know it's a holiday,

right?

Dear Lord, thank you for this food we are about to receive

on this Thanksgiving

for the nourishment of our bodies and our souls.

Amen.

[Mabel, Kids] Amen.

Stormy made the turkey.

She did?Mm-hmm.

[Woman] The district manager-- he says he can see Joe

taking his place in just a couple of years.

Mmm.

Joe-- has he been, uh, working out?

[purrs] I saw him washing the car the other day,

[Tina] Oh, no....and it looked like he was gonna

bust right out of his shirt, but it stayed on.

Oh, I was really hot.

Luisa, you need to watch her.

Oh, whatever. You're having sex.

I haven't had any in a couple years.

Let's talk about something else.

I'm gonna say what I said to you last year,

'cause I'm not good at this hard sell, and--

Yeah, you're pretty bad at that.

Thank you for the vote of confidence.Mm-hmm.

I use the products. They're just as good as the name-brand products.

They're not as expensive, which is also a plus.

And, uh, if you decide

you wanna buy some this year, wonderful.

If you decide you don't wanna buy some this year, that's fine, too.

I'm just very happy to have you all here.

Aw.Aw, Mable.

You know, with, uh...

Especially with the trial, you know?

To Mabel.

Mm-hmm. To Mabel.To Mabel.

Well, you can put me down for that detergent.

I love the way it makes my sheets smell.

Isn't that what Ray's supposed to say about you?Don't worry about Ray.

Did you get that yeast infection taken care of?

Why do you have to bring it up in front of ev-- What's wrong with you?

You were scratching.It was a minor rash.

[doorbell rings]I'll get it.

Hector. You looking for your mommy?

Papi says, um, come home now.

That bastard's got that racist bastard off.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Mabel.

Joe, he--

What? He got off?Oh.

Why this restaurant? And tonight of all nights?

I mean, this is so public.

That's the point, my love.

We're here to celebrate.

[Tommy-Two] Is Daddy a famous genius now?

[Tom] Why, yes, Handsome Harry, he is.

Tommy-Two, slow down.

You're acting like you never ate cake before.

[muffled] Never had cake and my own steak before.Oh!

And your mouth is full.

Leave the boy in peace. He's just excited.

Did you see what was in his mouth?

Cake?

You know, Dr. Spock never raised black children.

That's all I'm saying.

Check, please.

Oh, uh, the gentleman over there took care of it.

Well, I'll be goddamned.

99 percent positive that they'll start

a criminal division, and I'm it, honey.

Yeah?Yeah.

In a year from now, I'll be a partner.Ooh!

In three years from now, I'll be a judge.Ooh!

You can go on and enroll that boy in karate class.Oh!

Oh, Tom! Tom!Yeah.

Then go back down to Malley's and get that purse, okay?The purse?

Which purse, Tom? What purse, Tom?Oh, yeah!

Tell me which one!The alli--

Alligator!Yeah, get the alligator.

I want the alligator! I want two! [mumbles]

Two! Two purses![grunting]

I want two purse-- I want two purse--

Oh, get two. Get two, baby.

I want two purses.Oh, baby. Oh, little girl.

Tom?Shh. Yeah.

Tom?Yeah.

Honey?Oh, yeah, baby.

Can I get some shoes?

[Boy] Quizzical.

Q-U-I-

Z-I-C-A-L.

Quizzical.

I'm sorry, Lyle, but it's incorrect.

Your turn.

[clears throat]

Quizzical.

Q-U-I-

Z-Z-I-C-A-L.

Quizzical.Yes.

That is correct.

[gasps]

[panting]

Tom.

Tom, honey, it's not real anymore.

Go on back to sleep. I keep telling you, it's not real anymore.

Go on back to sleep now.

Come on. Lay down. All right.

[bell tolling]

[no audible dialogue]

[gasps]

[chuckles]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

[gasps] Hi, baby.

Hello, baby. [laughs]

Oh, hi!

Open up for Mama.

Oh!

[dishes clattering]

[sniffing]

[Woman] Yes, I've seen her rosebuds blossom.

But they've been sticking out like that for a year now.

Where you been? And how many boys have come sniffing around here?

You tall me that! Dark and ashy as she is,

don't hold your breath waiting for some man to come around here

and take her out of your hair anytime soon.

[Man] Shut up, woman.

Plenty gals good and married in this town

dealt a worse deck than she was.

Ain't that Pea-Pie always sniffing around her, acting fool--

[chattering]

Get outta the way.

Okay, Pea-Pie. There you go.

Thank you there, sir. Aw, y'all see my money?

Don't forget you owe me 2.50.Yee!

He owe me three.Pea-Pie owe me two bits now.

There's my girl. Mabel!Oh, Pea-Pie, that girl don't want you.

Mabel!

Hello, Pea-Pie.

Mabel, Mabel, that new James Dean movie's in town.

Yeah. And it's playing at the drive-in.

I mean, I know I ain't got a car or nothing,

but we could sure sit on my shoeshine box--[truck backfires]

[chickens clucking][backfires]

Who's that?

Mabel!

Hey, you!

Get him, Pea-Pie.Go on. Kick his butt, Pea-Pie. Kick his butt.

[Pea-Pie] I'm talking to you, boy.

You know he can't fight.

I got cousins who think they tough like you,

and they ain't nothing neither.Get him, Pea-Pie!

I'm gonna knock you down a peg, boy,Kick his butt.

and then I'm gonna hang you from the nearest tree.

[Boys] Oh!

[Boys yelling]

Any of the rest of you so dumb as to follow him?

You fight like a woman.You can't fight.

[laughter, chatter]

[clatter][Movers chatting]

So, they put you in charge, did they?

[chuckles]You must be praying they don't break any of the lamps.

Well, it's kind of too late for that now.

But I must tell you,

this move was not as bad as I thought it would be.

I'm Mrs. Bonner.

I live in the house next door. This is Quentin.

I'm Mabel Spader. Pleased to meet you.

[chuckles]

[sighs]

So, well, this is Quentin.

Hi.

When do they arrive?

Who?The family.

Oh, they're already here. They're unpacking. They're inside.

[glass shatters]Oh.

[Mover]Oh, man!Damn it.

Will you excuse me?[Mover #2] Doesn't sound good.

Just tell them that Mrs. Jean Bonner

in the house next door just can't wait to meet them.

Well, all right, then.[chuckles]

[chuckling] Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

[chuckles] Bye-bye.

Bye.

[sighs]

Come on, Quentin.

It's just like you're holding-- see--

two pencils at the same time.

Daddy, I'm starving.Mmm.

Tom, you don't need to teach him how to use those now.

The boy's been helping me unpack all day.

Angel, we're in the big leagues now.

He's gonna have to learn to do a lot more than just use chopsticks.

Daddy.

[sighs]

Here.

There's no Luisa Rodriguez around here.

There are hardly any Jews.

These are the Whitneys and the Biddles,

the last names you see on buildings.

Tom, I'm sure they put their pants on

one leg at a time just like us.

We all worship the same God.

Sweet pea, that reminds me.

Pierce, the new tax attorney.Mm-hmm.

He goes to the Episcopal church right down the street.

We're Baptist.

Uh-uh. Darling,

the nearest Baptist church

is all the way over in Bridgeport.

[thinking] Sweet Jesus, keep me near the cross.

And you said it yourself. It's the same God.

Look, you know, it's a great way

to get to know the neighbors.

Just try it. If you don't like it,

we'll-- we'll attend somewhere else, okay?

All right.

Mmm. Mmm.

[Man yelling, distant][clatter]

[Woman speaking, faint]

[yelling continues]

[clatter]Hey. Hey, babe.

What's happening?

What's going on?[blow lands]

It's that odd woman from next door.

She came to say hello today.[Jean] I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry!

Tom, I think he's trying to kill her. We should call the police.

If calling the police would help,

one of the other neighbors would've done it years ago.

[sighing][yelling continues]

Come on back to bed, baby.

[Mr. Bonner] Get your hands off me!No!

Don't you touch--

[sobbing]Get out! Go on!

[bell ringing]

You know Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Yep.

Do you know Walt Frazier?

Yep.

Flip Wilson?No.

Miss Jane Pittman?

Yeah.[Boys] Wow!

Can I touch your hair?

I've got almost all the David Cassidy bubblegum cards.

[gasps] Cool!Really?

Wow.

That's great.

[Eastern European accent] I was six years with the Blakes.

Ten years with the Hamiltons.

[Spanish accent] Six years with the Talbots.

I'll call them and let you know.

Okay. Thank you.Thank you.

I'm not just talking about college.

I'm talking law school,

and then law offices all over the state.

Folks waving at me.

White folks I don't even know waving

and smiling and seeing my name.

Yes, sir, Miss Mabel Johnson,

what you're looking at is the man who's gonna single-handedly

end the colored man's losing streak.

I know you will, Tom.

I knew it the first time I laid eyes on you.

You did?

Mm-hmm.You did?

I'm telling you, baby,

I'm a rocket, and you're my fuel.

[Man on TV] Our lives are not our own.

They're merely streams that we step into

for the short while that we breathe air

on this sweet earth.

I am not the brave hero

that I thought that I would grow up to be.

I am just your average cardiothoracic surgeon

at a medium-sized teaching hospital

doing his damnedest to try to save some lives.

Yet there is one thing--

Why didn't you tell me our stories was on?

Shh. Dr. Peter's about to propose.

That is you, Nurse Rebecca.

Will you marry me?

[Nurse Rebecca] I will!

Ooh, I can't believe it!

I told you. I told you. I knew it.

I don't know why she said she would.

She know what she like.

She don't know about him.[laughing]

Say, listen, you know, there's gonna be about

six of those women from the PTA coming over here.

I don't know why he wants you to start entertaining so soon.

You barely moved in here.

I think it's because he wants us to show them

that we really care about the education of our children.

And a cup of tea is gonna do all of that?

Well, I don't know about that.

But what's worrying me is, what am I gonna feed them?

I mean, I don't know what these people eat.

You know, they don't seem like chip-'n-dip kind of gals.

I tell you what. You get some white bread,

slap some mayonnaise on it,

put some cucumbers on it,

cut the crusts off and cut it up real small.

They'll never know the difference.

White bread, mayonnaise, and cucumbers?

That's what I'm talking about.

Mm-mm.

[chattering]

Aahhhhh!

[no audible dialogue]

[Butcher] Mrs. Winslow, what'll it be?

The usual. Two T-bones and a pound of bacon.

I was--If Bucky doesn't get his T-bone,

he's not a happy camper.

Hey, well, I got some beautiful ones right here.

Look how nice and marbled.Oh, lovely.

Ma'am, this is a $5 bill.

[Women laughing][Woman] I know.

[doorbell rings]

[laughing stops]

[laughing resumes]

Oh!Miss Spader's expecting you.

[Women] Oh!

Ladies.

Mrs. Spader.

Mabel.Oh.

M-Mabel. Of course.

I'm Binky Goodyear.

Becka Rainier. [laughs]

Oh, we met last year at the A.B.A. banquet.

I must say that husband of yours is quite the rising star.

[laughs]Jean.

Oh, and of course you know your neighbor,

Jean Bonner.

Yes. We met my first day here.

You know, my maid Sylvia is dying to get some time with your maid.

Aren't you, Sylvia?

Well, why don't we go in?

[Women chattering, laughing]

Oh, now, that lamp is just gorgeous.

You know, I was here once for a mixer

when those Rothbergs were still here.

Now, this is much more sophisticated.

[laughs]

Why don't we all sit down?

Now, first we'll hear from the refreshment

and then the decorating chairladies.

[Women laughing]

Mmm!

Mmm!

Mmm!

Mmm!

[laughing continues]

[uproarious laughter]

Were any of you treated to the sight of Chas's back this summer at the club?

I have half a mind to have him sheared.

I mean, the man is a savage.

James says that he was named

the top young tax attorney in the country.

That hardly qualifies him as a s-s-savage.

Wrong, Binky. That's exactly what qualifies him.

Hmph!

[Woman chuckles]

[polite chuckle]

[polite chuckles]

Oh, goodness, Mabel.

I've had the most delightful time this afternoon,

but I'm afraid I have so many errands to run

before it's time to pick up the children.

Oh. My Doris gets this rag.

[thinking] Tom told me to cancel that damn subscription

when we moved in, but no.

Oh! [laughing]

Is that a bathing suit or a potholder?

[Women laughing]

Who knows where they'd be if they didn't spend their money on such trash?

[Mabel thinking] No. No, don't look at the address. Don't look at the address!

75 cents won't break them, and God knows

[whispering] they work hard enough for it, right?

Oh, aren't we the admirable little liberal?

[sighs]

Tight ass.

[chatter on TV]

[Man] ...Acapulco with Missy Cartwright.

I was really attending

a very importantSylvia?

professional conference.

No! Veronica,

Uh-uh! meet my twin brother, Melvin.

Sylvia. Sylvia. [Nurse Rebecca] But you let me--

you let me fall in love with you.

There's still glasses to be picked up.

Dr. Quartermain got a twin.

Sylvia.What?

Come on. Get these glasses now.

[sighs][TV off]

And put your apron on.

[TV on]

[Melvin] I do not have a college education,

but I can give you something

that that man could never give,

[dishes clattering] and it's this.

[Stormy] Whoa! It's like Sounder.

[Tommy-Two] Or The Waltons.

[Kids together] Good night, John-Boy. [laugh]

[Mabel] Hush. I forgot that you all were too little

to remember the last time we saw my people.

[Tom] Please, God, let's not stay too long.

We still have to check into our motel, okay?

[laughter, chatter]

Girl, how many bedrooms y'all got?

I forgot.[sighs]

I told you, Mama. It's five.

Lord have us mercy.

Redd Foxx also got five bedrooms.

Read it in the Jet last month.

Where's my husband at? I wanna do the hucklebuck.

[sighs]

[laughing]

[chuckling]

[laughing continues]

Yeah.

Oh. Mm.

Excuse me.

♪♪

Mmm. Whoever heard of a Volvo?

Is that one of them Japanese things?

[Tommy-Two] No, Grandpa. It's Swedish.

Look at that.

Why does Barnaby Jones'burglar have to go and be colored?

Yeah.

[thinking] Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.

Don't you ever change?

Hey, Tom.Oh--

Some neck bones for you.

Tom, how dare you look down on these folks.

Are you crazy? You used to be too poor to buy dirt,

and now you're turning up your nose

at Aunt Sissy's neck bones?

Sweet Jesus, keep me near the cross.

Whoo-hoo! Mabel Agnes, girl!

Mabel Agnes! [laughing]

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

A sight for sore eyes.

Who is this fool?

Did you hear? The lord a-blessed me good, Mabel. Mm-hmm.

So I intend to give back to the motherland.

I'm gonna buy an airplane

to fly folks back to Africa cheap.

Mm-hmm. And we're gonna have our own control tower, too,

'cause the Lord knows the man would let a whole planeload

of coloreds crash right in the ocean, huh?

Pea-Pie, you telling my baby girl about your airplane?

Oh, yeah. [chuckling]

This is the moron Daddy wanted me to marry.

Now, pay no attention to the crossed-out numbers on the front.

I wrote the good one on the back.

"Pork got a future."

Mail-order pork.

That's how we're gonna finance our fleet.

Pyramid plan, just like on 60 Minutes.

Everybody gonna be rich.Yes, we are.

How about that, baby?

You get in on this. Oh, yeah.

Oh, Mabel, Pea-Pie gonna lead y'all to the promised land.

[laughter, chatter]

I gotta make a call back to the office.

Show me to the phone, sweet pea.

Okay, okay.

Where they going?

[chattering]

[Stormy]Wait.

You know, you're a fake Diana Ross.

That's not even funny.Glamour girl.

Would you stop? Would you stop?Glamour girl.

Mom!

Both of you stop. Fix the table,

go upstairs and wash up.

And I mean now.[sighs]

[Mabel] I saw that.

Rosie, give the bird another 20 minutes,

and don't forget to put butter on the green beans.

I gotta call Mr. Spader and make sure he's not gonna be late for supper.

Straight away, ma'am.

Dear Lord,

bless this food which we are about to receive

this Thanksgiving Day

for the nourishment of our body and our souls.

Amen.

Amen.Amen.

Amen.

Mmm.

You know,

on this day of giving thanks,

as I look around my table, you know what I see?

What, turkey?

[chuckles]

Stormy.

As I look around this table, I see promise,

I see unlimited horizons,

I see Princeton.

Well, I'm gonna study a year abroad in Spain.

Spain? That's very far away, isn't it, dear?

Well, that's the most sense that girl has spoken in a while.

Paris, Spain, Moscow.

That's where all these little white kids will be studying.

Race, race, race.

Can we get through one meal without you obsessing on it?

All that nasty stuff just doesn't matter

like it did back in your olden times.

It's Thanksgiving, everyone.

Though I did not appreciate the tone, young lady,

I think we were actually making the same point.

Opportunity, promise.

Those are the watchwords of the day.

Too many of our people are stuck in the olden times,

convinced that the master's shackles are still around their necks.

That's why I'm talking about Princeton.

We don't have to just settle for Negro colleges

like Morehouse or Howard.

The sky is the limit.[Mabel]Tom!

[bell ringing]

[laughing]

Fuck.

Oreo boojy motherfucker.

[laughing]

Fuck you.

I got boojy for your ass.

[bell ringing]

I'll give you five extra minutes,

but if you'd done the reading, this shouldn't have been a hassle.

Go on and catch your bus, and I'll just grade you on the ones you already finished.

No. You-- You don't understand.

I-- I--I'm sure you did fine.

But I don't take the bus.

[Students chuckling]

♪♪

[Man] You are about to witness a milestoneCome on now. It's starting.

in television entertainment.

Roots is the true storyI wanna sit there.

of celebrated author Alex Haley's

13-year search for his African ancestors.

Daddy, you took the last of the double-fudge swirl.Mmm. Mm-mm-mm.

I want some.Young lady, sit down.

Mommy, make him stop.Stormy!

Shh! ...the incredible story

of slavery in the United States

and how one brave family survived it.

From darkest Africa to the land of Dixie,

from searing heartache to soaring triumph.

After two years in production and enormous expense,

the American Broadcast Corporation

is proud to present one of the most anticipated events

in the history of television,Roots.

[whip cracking] [Man crying out]

[Man] James.

Your name is Toby.

I want to hear you say it.

Your name is Toby.

What's your name?

Kunta. Kunta Kinte.

[cries out]

I want to hear you say your name.

Your name is Toby.

What's your name?

[breathing heavily]

Kunta.

[cries out]

[whip cracks]

[Man] Who are you? Say your name.

[cries out]

[cries out]

I've got too much to work for this foolishness.

Dad!I'm sorely disappointed.

Hey, don't you kids have homework?

Tom, it's important for them to see this.

Who the hell wants to rehash

all this-- this-- this mess anyway?

"What's past is prologue." Shakespeare said that.

Tom!

And I want to hear it.

[whispers] He's gone crazy. [chuckling]

Again!

[whip cracks] [Kunta cries out]

[scoffs] I want to hear you say your name.

How dare you.

Was your dad crazy when he sent you to Ireland,

and you wanted to go with your school glee club?

Couldn't wait to get outta here.

How about you? Walt Frazier Basketball Camp.

"I got to go." Was your daddy crazy then?

Say it!

You have no idea Toby. Who are you?

what that man has been through. Say your name.

[tires screeching]

[tires screech]

♪ Someone like you

Hey, keep mowing, Toby!

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

[Man] The Equal Rights Amendment for women.

Why is it having such a hard time being ratified?

Is it finally dead in the water?

Is it unnecessary as some critics charge?

Are women already equal?

And if not, what would that equality look like?

Our guests today both feel very passionately about this subject,

so stay tuned for a lively, vigorous debate.

[Woman] It is made of an amazing space-age polymer.

You'll be julienning vegetables like--

Hi, Sam.

Hey, Mrs. S.

That rack of lamb-- did I lie?

Oh, it was like butter, Sam.

But right now I need two fillets.

My dearest friend is coming to see me,

and I want to really treat her.

You got it.

How's that?

Wonderful.

[thinking] Why didn't he wipe that sausage

off his hands before he touched my meat?

Would he have done that to a white woman?

Mabel, you're starting to sound like Tom.

Hey. [laughs]

Girl, you're a sight for sore eyes.

Hey, can I have that?

Is that for me? Thank you.

Let's go over here and see your mommy.

You're early.

Hey, we just got here.

Hey. [laughing]

Wow.

I forgot. This is really not that far.

No, it's not far at all.

Now, look, let me put the car away,Okay.

and we'll go in the front door like real company.

Okay, okay. Come on, baby.Okay? You ready?

Oh!Hmm?

Can I try?Oh, yeah.

I saw one of these on Dallas.

Well, hit it on the right-hand side.

This right here?No, top.

Top. Okay, baby, come. Let's do it together.

Right here. I'm gonna push it.

[gasps] Look at that!

I tell you, there's nothing better

than when they go down for a nap.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Tina, I'm so glad you're here. Mmm.

You know, we cannot let this amount of time go by ever again.

I mean, it's simply criminal.

[chuckles]

I miss you, too.

The streets just ain't the same without you.

What do you call this cheese again?

It's called Brie.

It's spelled Bry, but I don't know why.

Anyway, it's fabulous, because all you have to do

is put it into the microwave for about 30 seconds,

and it comes out soft like butter.

We don't have a microwave.

Well, you don't have to have a microwave.

I mean, it's-- I don't see what the big deal is.

I'm just saying that you--

Rosie, can we get those steaks, please?

[whispering] Come here.

How much do you have to pay to have a maid like that?

Child, you don't even wanna know.

Mmm.Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

More Brie?

Bry. [laughing]

You don't know how much I've missed the taste of meat.

Whenever I'm in the car without Ray, I swear to God,

I slow to a crawl in front of every McDonald's.

Get outta here.Yeah. Swear to God.

Let me tell you how happy I am

to be with someone who really appreciates good food.

Mmm.Because every time I go to lunch

with these ladies,

they order cottage cheese and Tab.

No!

Yes.

Well, that must be why them white women

always going around with their nose so squinched up.

Trying to block them good food odors

from reminding them what they're missing.

That must be the reason.

That must be the truth. [laughing]

And what is this craziness with Ray?

Telling people that the Ethiopians

found a time warp or something?

Craziness?

Well, yeah. When you...

No--

Remember when you called me, and...

I said he was trying to educate his coworkers

to the amazing achievement of the African--

things the white powers that be hid from us for centuries--

when his nasty Irish boss, in front of everybody,

told him to shut the fuck up.

What?

Mm-hmm.See? That's what I'm--

That's-- You know that's what I'm talking about.

Because you just don't know

how these white people are going to respond to anything.

I'm telling you, you know, I-- I think Ray was crazy--

you know, crazy in those quotation marks--

to-- to even broach the subject with him.

That's my Ray.

Say good-bye. Say good-bye-bye.

She's gonna fall asleep any second now.

It was so good to see you.It was great to see you.

Hey, wait up, faggot!Whoa!

Sorry, Mrs. Spader.

Tommy-Two?

Hey, Mrs. Johnson.Hi.

Getting even better-looking than your daddy.

[chuckles]

[vehicle approaching]

Hi, Mrs. Johnson.

Hey.So, like I said,

it shouldn't take us this long to get together again.

It just doesn't make any sense.

No, no sense at all.

And like you said, it's not, uh, far to come at all.

No, it's not that far.

So I'll call you next week?We'll talk next week then.

All right.All right.

[phone ringing]

Hello. [Becka] You-hoo!

[laughs]

It's me. Hi, Becka.

How was your weekend?

Oh!

Oh, it was glorious.

[inhales deeply]

Oh, where should I start?

Well, of course, Chas was away at the Mayo Clinic

getting his spastic colon checked on,

but still, I was so nervous.

I had to take a Fiorinal just to get on the train.

[laughing] And then...

Felipe met me in the city

in the most unseemly neighborhood,

and the first thing we had to do was go shopping

[laughing]

for undergarments for me!

You know, the kind without any crotch.

I was so excited.

I said, "Well, you have to let me tell Mabel, 'cause she's"...

[continues rambling]

I bought red ones, and pink ones,

and blue ones, and yellow ones,

and black ones.

Oh, they were so pretty!

And I bought you a present.

You are gonna be so surprised.

But I'm not gonna tell you what color.

[laughing] You have to wait to see.

You are going to just love them.

So, I told Felipe about my fantasy.

You know-- You know,

the one where I sashay into a smoky nightclub,

and then... [inhales deeply]

a dark man starts licking my armpits.

Oh!

[laughs]

And then, when we got back to the hotel,

Felipe surprised me

with a squeeze bottle

of Okay Margarine.

Oh-kay!

[laughing]

[thinking] That reminds me.

It's time for an oil change.

Oh-- Oh--

Oh-- Oh--

Uh, listen, Mabel.

Now, I shouldn't even be mentioning this...

[vacuum whirring]

[whirring continues]

Okay, I'm in the closet. Can you still hear me?

Yes, Becka, I can still hear you.

Ohhh!

Mabel, listen.

Tom's gonna be named to the superior court.

What?

You know-- You know how Chas's roommate at Andover

is the lieutenant governor?

And he says it is a done deal.

Oh.

That's, uh-- That's-- That's wonderful news, Becka.

We are never gonna have to pay for another parking ticket again!

[laughing][fake chuckling]

Chas says we can throw a party

for Tom.

And you know what?

Ah, don't you worry,

'cause I'm gonna make it the event of the season.

[chattering]

And I said,

"I'll take you up on that doubles match

if we can go head-to-head on the back nine."

Pow!

[thinking] This is like

some kind of weird movie

where they passed out scripts to everybody but me.

They probably decided to do that

at some buck-naked PTA meeting

that I was not invited to.

[laughing]

Ooh, buck-naked!

[Woman, Tom chuckling]

Oh! Oh.

Excuse me.Yeah.

So your father tells me you're thinking about Princeton.

We're Class of '67.

Students come there from every walk of life.

You know, black, white, green. Doesn't matter.

Why, just last year, the student body vice president

was a man named, um, Leon Robinson.

He looked like a young Sidney Poitier.

I love his movies. Have you seen his movies?

Congratulations, dear.Yes. Lovely party.

Thank you.

Ooh! [squeals]

There you are.

I've got someone

that I want to introduce you to.

The best caterer in all of Fairfield County,

Mr. Felipe Herrera.

[thinking] Okay.

Excuse me.

[chattering continues]

[sighs]

All right. You can think about it.

What? I...

Yeah, I want to.

It's true, although I'm kind of late.

Yeah, maybe I--You don't want to miss out.

We're proud of Tom.Oh, yeah.

We're so happy.

[Tom] Oh, here she is, Rob,

the belle of my ball. [laughs]

Mabel, my love,

I would like to introduce you to the next governor of the state

of Connecticut.Oh, shh.

He's frightfully superstitious.Shh.

I swear, if a black cat were to infiltrate your party,

he'd leap out the window.

[chuckling]As always, my wife

is absolutely correct. [chuckles]

Rob McInerney.

Mrs. Spader,

I'd heard that you were ravishing,

but I was completely unprepared.

Well, I'd heard you were a big old liar,

and I was completely unprepared.

Hang on to this one, Tom. She's a keeper.

Superior court's just the beginning.

Everybody says that Chas's buddy,

the lieutenant governor,

is a shoo-in for the top spot the next time.

So he'll be the one,

two years from now,

who will be nominating me

for the Supremes.

[chuckling]

The supreme court. You get it?

[chuckles][chuckles]

Yeah.

We on our way up, baby.

On our way.

We are?Mm-hmm.

♪ We're movin' up

[chuckling][chuckles]

[dog barking]

[wind howling][brush rustling]

[Man on TV] They don't have much, so we don't charge much.

It's the only place they can go and see a main group for practically nothing.

Sam and I are the only ones that can afford this place.

They thing is, I'm not sure you're the right kind of group for our club.

You mean because we're white? [Man #2] No. Wow. No, no.

I mean, our people like soul music, and I just don't know if they'll turn out.

[Mrs. Partridge] Well, we do have somewhat of a reputation.

I think we could bring some people in.

At least it'll prevent you from closing down.[sighs]

Good night, Your Honor.

Mmm.

Mmm.Good night, baby.

Good night, Mommy.Good night.

Mmm.

I hope you've been studying for the SAT.

Some folks might not be expecting

as much from a black girl,

but, young lady, I'm not one of them.

You put your mind to it, and you do better

than any of those spoiled little white girls, okay?

Yes, Daddy. You're right.

That's why I'm going to bed now, so I can get up early

and study for them before school.

Mm-hmm. Good.

That's my girl.Good night.

No sweat, baby girl.

How much longer before we go on?

[knock on door] Come in.

Hi.

[beeping]

[Tommy-Two] Damn, I can't believe we're playing a game on TV.

[beeping continues]

Tommy-Two,

I did not know you're spending the night.

I told you, Mom. Tomorrow's his birthday.

Oh. If I had known, I would've gotten you present.

Oh, nah, that's okay, Mrs. S.

[Woman] Remember, we only have two weeks to raise the money, and that means no dates.

[Woman #2] Let's decide what we're gonna do right now.

Damn, I can't wait till we get cable.

[chattering]

And we can advertise all the services.

I'm sorry.

I need your help.

What?Take your pants off.

No.

♪♪ [soft jazz playing]

♪♪ [continues]

You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Your skin look...delicious.

You like that word, "delicious"?Yeah.

I dig it.

[clears throat]

It's amazing how you're already so much bigger

than most white grown men

and Japanese men. [chuckles]

No contest.

Happy birthday, Tommy-Two.

[choir] ♪ Hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah

♪ For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ♪

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah

♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah

Whoa, there.

Happy birthday, son.

Oh, thanks, Dad. Um, I just need to take a quick shower.

Hey, come on in. I'm fixing you breakfast.

It's your day.

Hey.

Take a seat.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're 17.

[chuckling]

You're not a boy anymore.

You take after your old man.

Excellent grades,

even though sometimes that damn basketball

seems glued to your hand as if it's your ticket

out of welfare.

But you're a rocket,

and the sky is not even the limit.

And I'm proud of you.

[chuckles]Thanks, Dad.

Happy birthday, baby!

[laughs]

Happy birthday...

[sniffs]

Thanks. Um, I'm gonna go take a shower.

Hurry back. Don't want these cakes to get cold.

That's my boy. [chuckles]

Yeah, he's a rocket.

Heh-heh-heh.

What?

Huh?

What?[grunts]

Huh?

[Woman] I have two questions, and then sort of a statement.

To you, the woman in pink.

You knew what kind of neighborhood it was when you moved in,

so how can you be so surprised

if your daughter now wants to date Puerto Ricans?

And how can you expect to have any idea

what your daughter's up to if you're off doing your fancy job all day

so the poor thing comes home to an empty house?

Which leads me to my statement.

There is no finer, more difficult job...

[tires screech]

[breathing heavily]

[phone ringing]

Hello. Spader residence.

Please, just tell me she's just punch-drunk.

Tom?

Tell you who's punch-drunk?

What are you talking about?

Norm Bonner just called.

Jean just called him.

Did some-- some woman just move next door to us?

Yes. And guess what? She's--

I-- I-- I know what she is. That's why I'm calling.

She won the second largest jackpot

in the history of the Florida State Lottery.

And of all the streets in the entire United States,

she chooses to live on ours. It's wonderful.

I was just about to take a bottle of wine over to her.

How much did she win? Mabel!

Darling--What?

Let me try to be as clear as I can.

They'll assume that we invited her.

Well, that's just utterly ridiculous.

I mean, just because we're the same color, Tom,

doesn't automatically mean that we have to know her.

I mean, people won't make that kind of assumption.

That-- That just doesn't make sense.

Listen to me. I work inside the machine.

And I'm telling you, we're so close now.

The last thing we need is for people to think

that we were the beachhead

for this-- this ghetto invasion.

But, Tom, she could be a perfectly nice woman.

Whatever you do, don't go over there.

But-- I'll explain everything to you better

when I get home, all right?

I love you. Bye.

[scoffs] [click, dial tone]

[thinking] Unbelievable.

[Woman] See, you're making me go up on your ass.

You know I am not D. Poken

or Ann Thom-- whoever the hell that's supposed to be.

I am Ruth Crisp. I keep telling you that.

Every damn day you deliver the mail to my mailbox,Ma'am--

you put in the wrong shit.

[no audible dialogue]

Oh, hello.

Hello, Mrs. Crisp.

I'm Mabel Spader. I live right next door.

Yeah?

I just wanted to say welcome to the neighborhood.

I'm sorry it's taken me so long.

Oh. Well, you ain't the only one.

Well, everyone's busy with the PTA

and all the fund-raising.

Did you get your invitation?

Girl, I don't get nothing from nobody.

Well, I'm sure they were mailed out

before you moved in.

In any case, Mrs. Fontaine up the street

is having a fund-raiser on Thursday

at the Garden Club to raise money for new street lamps.

Not just for our street,

but all the way down to the ridge.

I hope we can count on you coming.

Honey, I'm sorry,

but I got better things to do with my money than eat $100 chicken.

Besides, this street has got enough light for me.

Nice meeting you, Mrs. Spader.

[scoffs] Don't come say hi to me

after you done been living here a whole damn month.

Don't know what kind of shit you trying to play.

Dear Lord, thank you for the food[People chattering loudly]

we're about to receive on this Thanksgiving

for the nourishment of our bodies and souls.

Amen.

[Mabel, Kids] Amen.

♪♪ [funk, loud][People whooping]

Everything looks wonderful. Tommy-Two, that turkey looks wonderful.

Thank you.

Someone else wasn't there.

[chattering continues] ♪♪ [continues]

I'm gonna start with the carrots.

[Tom sighs]

[Man] Let the funk in your heart, baby!

[sighs] No, no. Before we do that,

I'm gonna take you to the bridge and drop you off

into some funk!

[Man] Whoo-hoo!

A barbecue on Thanksgiving?

Well...

[sighs]

♪♪ [continues]

Was this Martin Luther King's dream?

What?

"Us don't worry about the vote.

Us just gotta have the pig feet."

Tom!I've worked too hard.

I dedicate my life distinguishing myself

from-- from--

[quietly] from these niggers.

He didn't mean that.

[laughs]That's not what he means.

These niggers.

If you look, in the nigger handbook

I swear to God, you'll see her picture.

Barbecue?

[scoffs]

Barbecue.

Mommy, can I borrow that money for those head shots we talked about?

What, honey? What?

The head shots? Please?

Oh, now, Stormy, look,

I'm a little concerned about this modeling.

I think it may interfere with your scholarship.

U-Conn's so easy, I made the dean's list

without even trying.

All right.

Thanks. I'll go get your purse.

What-- Where you...

Uh, pass some string beans, son.

Mom, may I be excused?Yeah.

Now, where you go--

[sighs]

What's wrong?

It might've been the "nigger handbook."

♪♪ [continues][chattering continues]

Hey. Can you play?

Yeah, I play a little.

Then bring it on.

And Aunt Ruth-- she's got a whole mess

of apple cobbler if you're hungry.

Well, all right.

Just come on around there.

[sighs]

I gotta go lay down.

Uh, "crean" up, miss?

[dishware, utensils clattering]

[grunting][siren wailing]

[siren stops, car doors open, close]

She probably already ran through all that lottery money,

so now she's trying to pass bad checks.[People chattering]

[laughing]

[Officer] I'm sorry, sir. Just step back.

[police radio chatter]

[Woman on radio] Caucasian female.

Suicide suspected.

[Officer] Yeah, go ahead and give them an ETA.

[chattering continues] [radio chatter continues]

[Norm sobbing]

I thought I heard something. Oh, God!

Something--

Something told me to ch-check the basement.

She looked so peaceful just hanging there.

[sobbing continues]

[no audible dialogue]

[doorbell rings]

Hi.

Hi, Mrs. Spader. Mabel.

I saw you were home, and I thought that we'd drop by.

Bad time?No, uh...

Regina.Regina.

Quong Duc,

can you heat this up and bring us some coffee in the living room?

Won't you come?Yes, ma'am.

[whispering] Is she one of those boat persons?

Yes.God bless you.

You know, it's criminal. We live so close,

yet after all these years, we hardly ever see each other.

Well, I don't know if you've heard the news.

No.

Well, Norm's tag sale should've tipped us off.

He's itching to move out to California.

Poor dear. Who can blame him?

The problem is, he's so anxious,

desperate, what have you,

that he's about to accept an offer below market.

Well, from whom?

[whispering] Ruth...Crisp.

Ruth Crisp.

But she already has a house on this street.

Exactly.

It's just the sneaky way that Norm is going about this.

Oh, yeah. So sneaky.

Dumping the house for ten percent below market value.

Huh! Just so he can run off to

S-S-San Diego.

San Diego. Who would've thought?

First, he drives poor Jean to do that awful act.

And now this!

The fact is,

Norm's on some macho power trip just like Chas.

Mm-hmm.

Just like that bastard, Felipe.

Mm-mm-mm.

Now, I give him two weeks with that battleaxe with the new boobs.

I mean, has she told you why, in God's name,

she feels she needs two houses on the same street?

No. No.

You know me--You know me--

You know me. I am completely colorblind.

Oh...

It could be J. Paul--Getty.

Yeah.But the bottom line is, nobody nee--

Nobody needs--Two houses.

Two houses.Two houses.

Two houses on the same bla-- um--

Block.

Block.

[sighs]

Save me from the crazy white people!

Quong Duc!

Do you know what Ruth Crisp has done?

She has bought two houses

on the same block,

and scared the white people

out of their minds![phone ringing]

And I'm not answering any calls right now!

Hah! [chuckling]

Oh, God.

[ringing stops]

[sighs]

[knocking]Hello, miss?

Huh?

Your husband.Okay.

He says important.

Okay. Tell him I'll be right there.

I going now, miss.

See you tomorrow.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye. See you tomorrow.

Guess who the most popular woman

on the block is today.

How many of them dropped by?

How'd you know?

One of us on their block, fine.

Two of us, maybe. But three?

Three is the Apocalypse.

Everything we've worked for,

every step we've taken

has lead us to this very moment in time.

Now, it's up to us to choose sides.

I don't really see what we can do about it, Tom.

I'm sorry.

But this time it's not we, baby, it's you.

Wh-What?

Though I've spent my whole life

getting us to the goal line,

it turns out that you're the one who's gonna win the game for us.

What are you talking about?

Just stroll over there, find out how she's doing,

then tell her nobody pays cash for a house

no matter how much they have.

[laughing]

Tom, I haven't said

but two words to this woman.

Why on earth is she gonna listen to me?

Tell her to go see Don Mahoney at the bank.

Tell her that he'll get her mortgage in a day or two.

That'll buy us enough time

to find another buyer.

I can't.

You can.

I can't. Listen to me.

We're not almost there, we're there.

After all these years,

I need you to do this, sweetheart.

For us. For the children.

I love you.[chuckles]

[click, dial tone]

I can't go anywhere looking like this.

♪♪

[Woman] Good morning, Dr. Peters.

I'm Nurse Robinson.

Just transferred here from Metro General.

[Dr. Peters] Welcome aboard, Nurse!

Your references are excellent.

I'm sure you'll fit in perfectly,

but remember, we run a tight ship here.

I don't know how they did things over at Metro...

[exhaling forcefully]

Uh! Uh!

Now, there we are.

There-- We finally-- Goddamn it!

Finally, finally on the TV.

Not playing a middle-aged deliveryman like last week,

but actually looking like a nurse.

Goddamn it!

[sighs]

Oh, my God. [chuckles]

I've turned into my father.

Cussing at the TV and scratching my behind. [chuckles]

Better than ending up like that so-and-so you married.

Mabel Agnes Turner,

you were the child born with the least sense,

and I swear you'll go to your grave

with the least sense.

Girl, you better start explaining

'fore I find my switch.

Daddy, who you gonna switch?

You can't switch me. You're dead.

Dead, dead, dead.

Besides, it's much too complicated to go into.

How long has that other colored lady

been living on your street,

and you ain't been over with a pot of beans?

Oh, come on now, Mama.

Have you seen her?

She stands out in front of her house

sucking neck bones in front of everybody.

She just-- [sucking]

Even Daddy didn't do that.

And what about all those people in the house?

She got a hundred thousand people in the house.

How many more niggers we need in the neighborhood?

[scoffs]

It's too much.

Sweet Jesus, keep me near the cross.

It's time for you to come home, girl.

Oh, Mama, too late for that.

Besides, as long as I...

trust in Tom, I'll be fine.

Everything will be fine as long--

I just gotta trust in Tom.

Even, you know,

though he's...

I'm so tired.

I'm just tired, that's all.

I'm tired.

I'm just tired.

Mm...

[long, sustained buzz]

[door opens]

[TV clicks off]

[sniffs]

[Mabel] I couldn't do it, honey.

I couldn't do it.Shh.

Don't you worry about a thing, princess.

I don't want you to ever worry about a thing.

[thinking] They come to my courtroom by the truckload,

letting public defenders

read their lives off a rap sheet.

Nothing to say for themselves but,

"Brother Judge, I was freebasing,

I was dusted."

Every one of them--

eyes lower,

back more bent than Stepin Fetchit.

A man must walk tall when he wreaks havoc

or leave havoc alone.

That coon Lotto winner missed the same point as my son--

the unshakeable complexity of living a watched life.

We are outlined in red

on maps we'll never see,

circled in photos for which we did not pose.

Some day that boy will appreciate

my contributions to the race,

my sacrifice as a life-long mole.

This is for my sweet Mabel.

And this is for my Stormy,

trying to convince herself she's Farrah Fawcett.

And this is for my seed bearer.

May he one day open his eyes.

Here's to those wild niggers unlucky enough

to pass before my gavel.

And here's to that Crisp woman,

herself, and her extended family.

May their subsequent moves

in this black-and-white chess game

be wiser.

[Men whooping, laughing]

[Men shouting]

[laughing, whooping continue]

[chattering]

[grunting]

Get out there!

No! Hey! This is my nigger!

I'm running this show!

Avery, you can barely run your own mouth.

Shut your trap or else I'll shut it for you!

[chattering]

You stay right there, boy, you hear?

This boy here-- he think just 'cause he win

some spell prize that he better than the whites,

he better than my boy!

I don't care how many books

he done got in his mama's shack,

he ain't nothing but a worthless turd on my shoe!

Same as the rest!

So the nigger's smarter than your boy.

I don't give a shit.

Let's just hurry up and do it.

Shut your hole about my boy![Men shouting]

[shouting continues]

[Man] He didn't mean nothing by it!

[Tom panting]

Stop him! Stop him! He's getting away!

Let's get him!Come on!

You see him out here?[Men shouting]

Down here!

[grunts]

We got him!Right there, right there!

Throw that 12-gauge over![gunshot]

Higher, higher![gunshot]

I got him!Hold it there, boy!

[shouting continues][gunfire continues]

I see him now!

[dogs barking]

[Men shouting]

Come on now, boy! We gonna get you!

[barking continues]

I see him!

Which way?

[chickens clucking]

I see him!

Gonna get you, boy!

[shouting continues][barking continues]

[sirens wailing, distant]

[sirens approaching]

[dog barking]

[thinking] Oh, no.

No, no, no, Tom.

No. What have you done?

Get that line set up!

We got a big one. Get that hose, boy.

I'll go around back!

[Firemen shouting]

[sirens continue]

At least nobody got hurt.

Could've been a disaster.

[radio chatter]

Goddamn.

Go away, fireman.

Turn around and leave us alone right now.

Go on, fireman. Go away.

Go away, fireman. Go on.

They need to lock a whole lot of other folks up

before they get around to you, Tom.

Did you ever mistake the wife of a judge for a maid?

[moaning]

[moaning continues]

Mama...Come on now.

Let me sit you up. Let me sit you up.

Come on, Tom. Sit you up.[breathing heavily]

That's right. That's right.

Okay, okay.

[moans]Okay, okay. You know what I made?

I made chicken and stars. Your favorite.

[moaning continues]

I just need you to eat a little bit, okay?

Come on. Here we go.

There you go. There you go.

Just one more, okay?

Here we go.

That's good. That's good.

That's good. You're doing fine.

Doing fine.

Doing fine.

It's all right.

Miss-- Miss, I-- I clean.

I clean. I clean. I clean.I got it. I got it.

I have it! I have it, thank you. I have it. I have it.

It's okay. I have it. Thank you.

[Tommy-Two] Mom. Mom. Mom!

Yes?

I need you to talk to Daddy when he gets home from court.

It's important.He didn't go to court today.

He's under the weather. Talk to him tomorrow, okay?

I told you, I need it for tomorrow!

Hmm?

What do you think he's gonna say?

Don't worry.

[Woman on TV] But those are just words, Dr. Quartermain.

I'm sick of words.

You need to give your heart to me as I have given mine to you.

Tom?Mm-hmm?

Tommy-Two has received his acceptance from school.

He needs you to sign it.What-- What--

Tom?

[Tom] No. Don't trust her!

Don't trust her! [TV continues]

It's not even her child. Not her child.

Tom,

Tommy-Two has received his acceptance from school,

and he needs you to sign it.

He is not going to Princeton.

He is going to Morehouse. [Woman] Rebecca was my best friend, too,

but that didn't stop you from getting her pregnant.

If she hadn't tragically miscarried while she--

Colored Morehouse?Mm-hmm.

[laughing] He's going to Princeton.

Tom, are you deaf?

He doesn't want to go to Princeton.

He wants to go to Morehouse. That's what he wants to do.

He wants you to sign the papers.

I want you to sign the papers.

Sign the damn papers, Tom.

[Doctor] We're both damaged goods, Nurse Veronica.

Just maybe in this crazy topsy-turvy world of ours--

Just maybe we'd grow to love each other enoughDo you have a pen?

to heal all the hurt we've inflicted upon one another.

[Nurse Veronica] Oh, Robert,

I promise you you won't be sorry.

We'll make something good and clean

out of what's left of our lives together.

Just wait. I'm going to cook more

and take better care of myself, I swear.

I'll make you proud of me if it's the last thing I do on this earth.

[Robert] I'm already proud of you.

You're the best damn nurse I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

Are you hungry, honey?

Well, if you get hungry, you just let me know, all right?

Thank your father.[Tommy-Two] Thanks, Dad.

See you Monday, miss.All right.

[dog barking]

Can I help you?

Oh.

I'm Inspector Wilkins, Mrs. Spader.

I hope you don't mind my cutting through your yard?

Well, we do have a pair of vicious dogs.

I'd hate to see you get hurt.

Occupational hazard.

While I've got you, uh,

could I ask if you saw anything unusual the night of the fire?

No, I can't say that we did.

You know, the judge and I are such homebodies,

we were probably asleep before Carson started his monologue.

Speaking of the judge, could I talk to him?

Not today. I know he wants to talk to you

because you're both in law enforcement,

but, uh, he's not feeling particularly well.

He's got a spastic colon.

Well, then, uh, when his health improves,

ask him to give me a call.

I certainly will. I'm gonna get back to my baking.

I'm making scones. Bye-bye.

Mama?

Don't...

Don't leave me, Mama.

I feel scared, Mama.

[crying]

[moaning]

[moaning continues]

I can't do this by myself.

I can't--Mama?

I can't do this by myself.

Mama!I just--

I can't. I...

Mama...

I can't do this by myself.

Mama...

You gotta help me.

Please, you gotta-- you gotta help me.

Mama? What...

I can't do this by myself.

I can't.

[sighs]

Baby,

don't let me forget to tell Sissy to--

to bring the files--

bring over the files of the Dawson case.

I really--

I-- I really--

[sighs]

[chuckling]

Between this flu and--

and the holidays,

I've gotten so far behind.

What's wrong, baby?

[crying]

You all right, sugar?

♪ Mmm

♪ My sugarplum

♪ I wants me some

♪ Of my sugar plum

♪ I loves me some Mabel

♪ I loves my princess

♪ I loves my princess Stop.

♪ You are

♪ So wonderful

You're just a fool.

♪ I'm a fool for you, baby

♪ I'm a fool for you, baby

♪ I'm a fool for you, baby

[chuckling]

[bell dings]

[Tom] Hey, baby? Huh?

Should I-- Should I put the leaf in?

Well, it's really just the two of us, honey.

Dear Lord,

bless this food we're about to receive

for the nourishment of our bodies and our souls.

Amen.

Amen.

[line ringing]

[chuckling] [Man on TV] But why didn't you tell me?

[laughter] [Woman crying]

[Man] Oh, hey, hey, hey.

[crying continues] Oh, take it easy.

Hey, you know I'm not mad. Crazy maybe--Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

♪ Just for you [phone ringing]

♪ Just for you, just for you ♪

♪ Just for you

[ringing continues]

♪♪ [vocalizing] ♪ Just for you

♪ Just for you, just for you ♪

♪ Just for you

♪ Joy

[Woman] Well, that's because...Mmm.

Mmm. [crying]

[Man] Now what's wrong?Mmm.

Tommy-Two's probably out running the streets or something.

Mm-hmm. [chuckling] [Woman crying]

I'm gonna try Stormy again, okay?

Mm-hmm. [chuckles]

[Man] Check the car...

[phone ringing]

[laughing] [Woman] I didn't do it on purpose, you know.

[Man] What? Wreck the car or wreck my career?

[ringing continues]

[doorbell ringing]

Mrs. Crisp.

Mrs. Spader, this a bad time?

Oh, no. It's-- Please.

What a pleasant surprise. Come in.

Oh, you got marble floors all in the front.

Two different colors. You got some nice shit in here.

The mirror and the thing that match-- that is fabulous.

Thank you. The two chairs all up the front.

This is beautiful. Two ways to get up the damn steps.

I'm calling somebody, telling about--

I like that thing right there. What thing?

Oh, girl! Oh!

I have been looking everywhere for curtains this soft.

Oh!

Uh, those came from Bloomingdale's.Really?

Yeah. Yeah.Oh, girl.

Listen, would you like something to drink or some coffee cake?

Coffee cake?

Girl, bite your tongue and watch your mouth.

I've been fighting these thighs my natural life.

[both chuckle]

Well, look,

I just spoke with the fire inspector.

Now, he said it was some sort of initiation.

These little white boys trying to act ghetto.

[chuckles] Please.

You and I know that's a big lie.

[thinking] Look, if you're gonna say it, just say it.

Let's get it out in the open.

I is from the deep South.

I know how they do.

But I'm almost glad about it, really. Mm-hmm.

I was almost starting to think

here up north they're gonna act different.

No, baby. These uppity white folk-- they did me a favor.

Now, like my granddaddy used to say,

it's better to set your alarm off in the morning than in the afternoon.

I don't know what the hell it mean. He was a drinker, girl.

[chuckles] Well, anyway,

now, I know I ain't been the friendliest of neighbors,

but I was wondering

if y'all could use some of this stuff.

Now, this is real good when you run out of bleach to clean your toilets.

I thought you were a millionaire.

I am, and I intend on staying one.

See, plenty of colored folks hit the number

but die in the poorhouse.

That ain't gonna be me.

No, it's not.

You know, I-- I used to love how that made my sheets smell.

I can't remember why I stopped using it.

Go on, girl. Get yourself a whiff.

It's like old times.

[laughs]

Well, as long as I got you here... Mmm.

And this rat's nest-- this is the reason why I didn't even

try to find a Baptist church yesterday.

Now, where in the hell can a speck

get her hair pressed around here?

A speck can't get her hair pressed around here.

We have to go all the way to Bridgeport.

But you know what? I found a marvelous girl.

I'll give you her phone number.

Oh, well, I appreciate that, Mrs. Spader.

Now, look, I'm gonna get outta here.

I'm gonna leave this order form with you.

Oh.Just fill it out.

Take your time. No pressure at all.

All right.All right, girl.

You know,

this has really been nice having you here, Ruth.

I was just about to say the same thing, Mabel.Mmm.

You know, that's my cousin's name.No.

Mm-hmm.You know, I got a Aunt Sissy Ruth.

She's up there in Illinois.Mm-hmm.

She makes the best neck bones you ever tasted.

Ooh, I have not had good neck bones since I moved up here.

Well, then, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna get the recipe.

I'm gonna hold you to it.All right.

All right now.

Um, I'm just about to make some coffee.

You want to join me?

That's mighty nice of you.

Sure.

[Tom] Hey, baby.Yeah?

[Tom] Who was that?

Go on back to sleep, Tom.

I'll bring up your lunch later.

I tell you, she made the best neck bones.

Mm-hmm. The kind that you suck all the meat out of?

All the meat, all the marrow--And the juices running down your arm?

Listen, you suck that neck bone so bad,

its mama starts to cry.Oh, stop it.

You know what I mean?Yeah.

[conversation continues]