Original subtitles

Hooded Justice.

It all started with you. You're the alpha, pal.

It was your idea to put on that mask and fight crime.

As fellow enforcers of the law, I gotta tell you

what an honor it is to sit across from you right now.

Captain Axis, King Mob, Moloch.

The worst villains in the city, all in jail

thanks to you and your buddies, the Minutemen.

You're true American heroes, all of youse.

But you, Hooded Justice,

you most of all, because, like I said...

you were the first.

Hey, help us settle a bet.

What's the story with that noose around your neck?

See, I... I think it's an executioner thing.

You know, let your enemies know you mean business.

But Jerry here...

Jerry, how about you tell him what you think that noose is for?

Sex stuff.

What do you want from me?

We want you to take that fucking hood off

so we can take a photo of your beautiful face.

Never.

Look, pal, we don't know who you are...

but we know what you do.

And... who you do.

Captain Metropolis.

AKA Nelson Gardner, AKA your fairy princess.

He's got a safe behind the painting of the white horse in his boudoir.

Now, in that safe is a roll of film.

Jerry, you wanna tell him what's on that film?

Sex stuff.

That's right.

Your boyfriend's got other boyfriends.

And he's trying to blackmail Director Hoover

just because he bears a passing resemblance

to the fella Captain Bigcockalus is violating on that film.

A fella who is not Director Hoover,

because Director Hoover is not a depraved homosexual.

So, you're gonna bring us that film,

and we're gonna rip up the photo we're about to take of you.

Why should I trust you?

Because Jerry and me, we won't show it to anybody.

Hell, nobody even knows we're here with you right now.

This is all hush-hush.

Just the way you like it, sweetheart.

So...

what do you say, HJ?

Well, well.

Ain't you pretty?

Jerry... you wanna do the honors?

Say cheese.

Cheese.

I should probably be worried

that I just murdered two federal agents,

but all I can think about is that Nelson Gardner is cheating on me...

with J. Edgar Hoover, no less.

Turn that shit off.

How's Detective Abar? Agent Blake, is she okay?

- Is that the release? - Yeah.

Um, you really need to get her to sign it. Now.

And you need to move her to an actual hospital

before she goes into a coma. She needs help.

You shouldn't have swallowed your grandfather's pills, Angela.

You wanna tell me where he is?

Do you know how Nostalgia works? Or how they make it?

You know, they... they insert these little chips

into your brain...

and they harvest your memories.

You know, then they put them in a little pill, and you pop one in

and you get to experience that shit all over again.

It was supposed to be for older folks, you know, a dementia treatment,

but that limited the market. Because, you know...

who wants to be in the present when you can live in the past?

Well, you know the rest.

People got hooked. Dependency. ODs.

So, Redford and the FDA outlawed it and the company that made it had to stop.

And do you know who owns that company?

Lady Trieu. Coincidence?

Hey, maybe she knows your grandpa.

Your grandpa.

Those were his pills you swallowed, Angela.

That's very, very bad.

You're not supposed to take someone else's Nostalgia.

You need to sign this release so we can get your stomach pumped.

I can't do it without your consent.

Right now.

You are an angry, angry man, William Reeves.

Angela.

You're about to turn into a vegetable.

Is it starting?

Starting?

Is it starting?

God damn it.

Do you know where your grandfather is, Angela?

You are an angry, angry man, William Reeves.

Where's your grandfather?

Where? Where is he?

I want you to think... about what you're wearing.

What you put on when you wake up.

What you take off when you go to bed.

The uniform a man wears changes him.

Make sure yours changes you for the better.

And God bless you for taking an oath...

to uphold the law...

and honor the badge.

Do us proud. Be safe out there.

Congratulations, son. Do us proud.

Be safe out there.

Congratulations, son. Do us proud.

Be safe out there.

Congratulations, son. Do us proud.

Be safe out there.

Congratulations, son.

Do us proud. Be safe out there.

Looks like I get the honor of putting a badge on you.

- Congratulations, son. - What's your name, Officer?

William Reeves, sir. And the honor's mine, Lieutenant Battle.

I joined the force because of you.

Sorry to hear that.

Beware the Cyclops.

What?

Congratulations, son. Do us proud.

Be safe out there.

Here you go, June.

- Thank you, Officer. - Thanks for coming today.

It meant a lot to see a friendly face.

I was there for work, not you.

So, why are you writing your story about me?

Because the Amsterdam says a Negro cadet making the force is big news.

So, I'm big news?

You're big something, but it ain't news, Officer.

You gonna keep calling me that?

If you don't want me to call you "Officer,"

you probably should've chosen a different line of work.

All right. Let me have it.

- Let you have what? - I know what you're thinking.

What am I thinking?

I've joined the enemy.

The police in this city smother our people under their shoes.

Lieutenant Battle is a Tom, and now I'm a Tom, too.

They just hired me for the publicity, and besides all of that...

you're worried about me.

They gave you a gun and a stick.

That's what I'm worried about.

What you're gonna do with them.

Because you are an angry, angry man, William Reeves.

I'm not angry.

It's okay. Most of us are.

I'm young. I'm healthy. I got the job I always wanted.

What have I got to be angry about?

Folks were murdered right in front of you.

Right in front of you. The whole town. All of them.

- Your mother and your father. - That was a long time ago.

I don't wanna live in the past.

And that, Will Reeves, is why you are so goddamned angry.

- Officer. Good evening. - Evening.

Hey!

Hey, yourself.

Call the fire brigade.

Stop!

Stop in the name of the law!

I thought they only said that in the pictures.

- So, what is it? - Huh?

"The name of the law"?

Who are you, boy?

What's your name?

Fred.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I wanna get home in time for Amos 'N Andy.

I saw what you did.

Oh, you mean at that fine Jewish delicatessen over there?

You know, I heard they have a rat problem.

Maybe one chewed through the wires, started a fire.

You're under arrest.

Oh...

I seriously doubt that.

I'm booking this man for arson.

He burned down a delicatessen on Jamaica Avenue.

That is not what happened, sir.

I was just out for an evening constitutional.

Mmm-hmm.

Must be a case of mistaken identity.

That's a lie. I saw him do it with my own eyes.

- Everything okay? - Yes. It's fine.

Fellas, this spook is accusing me of a horrendous crime.

Who are you gonna believe, me or him?

What'd you just call our fellow officer?

Nothing.

- Sorry if I... - Don't apologize to me.

You apologize to him.

- I'm so sorry. - We'll book this fink.

But Reeves made the arrest.

- We got it from here. - Yeah. Sure. Okay.

Good work, Officer Reeves.

- Beats the news, though. - Yeah, more hopeful.

- What's it about? - A boy. A baby.

His... His father puts him in a rocket ship

and sends him to Earth just before his planet explodes.

Are you coming, too?

We're gonna be right behind you.

Hey!

Pardon me, Officer.

- You let him go? - Let who go?

The man I brought in for burning down the deli. Fred.

Sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about.

What? You were standing right there.

The other officers took the guy to book him.

I think you're having memory problems, Reeves.

My memory is fine.

Just... let it be, okay?

I saw them do this to you. What does this mean? What is it?

It's gonna be the hole in your head if you don't let it be.

I'm trying to help you out here, Reeves. Go home. Please.

Hey there, Reeves.

Need a ride home?

- No, thanks. I enjoy walking. - Mmm.

You sure?

We just got off duty.

How about you come join us for a beer?

I appreciate it, but I got an early shift tomorrow.

Oh, come on.

We're buying.

Maybe another time.

Okay then. Another time.

Before the way

It used to be

The stars would light the way

For us to see

You know what?

Another time ain't gonna work for us.

Holding you in my embrace

Please, don't.

The way it always was

You keep your black nose out of white folks' business, nigga.

Or, next time...

we won't cut you down.

Help me! Help!

- Please! Don't hurt her. Please! - No, no, no.

No!

Help me, somebody!

No!

Thank you. My God, thank you.

Okay. I'm angry.

- Hey. - Hey, yourself.

Mmm.

- What time is it? - 3:00. Already been to work and back.

I didn't wanna wake you.

How is it?

It hurts.

You were in the paper this morning.

Calling you a hero.

A what?

"Had the hero not intervened, both victims of the attack

were convinced they would not have survived the encounter.

However, the identity of their mysterious hooded savior

remains unknown."

Mmm.

Why'd you put it on?

The hood.

I already told you. The cops put it on me...

Yeah, but then you put it back on.

Why?

I don't know.

What's the name of that picture?

Huh?

Stop saying "huh."

The movie.

The one you watched over and over when you were a boy.

You used to tell me about it all the time.

- Oh, Trust in the Law. - Trust in the Law. That's the one.

Tell me how it ends.

There's a sheriff on a horse.

He's shooting at somebody riding after him.

It's a man all in black.

A man in a hood.

And he's got a lasso, and he throws it at the sheriff.

Pulls the sheriff right off his horse.

And they're in front of the church now.

And the doors burst open,

and all the townsfolk come running out to see what's what.

The man in black tells them the sheriff's no good. Cattle thief.

He's stealing from the town.

And now they ask the man who he is.

He throws his hood back and it's Bass Reeves...

the Black Marshal of Oklahoma.

He shows his badge. The townsfolk cheer.

- They cheer for him, huh? - Yeah.

And they start shouting for him to string up the sheriff.

But Bass Reeves won't have it.

"There will be no mob justice today. Trust in the law."

What color are those townsfolk?

White.

Tell me...

what happened to the Dreamland Theater...

where you watched that picture over and over

while your mama played the piano?

What'd the Klan and the fine white citizens of Tulsa do?

They burned it down.

You ain't gonna get justice with a badge, Will Reeves.

You're gonna get it with that hood.

And if you wanna stay a hero...

townsfolk will need to think one of their own's under it.

You sure you wanna do this?

I'm sure.

I don't want to set the world on fire

I just want to start...

I'm gonna start with that bastard Fred.

Turns out he owns a market in Queens.

They wanted me to stay away from him for a reason.

I think it's got something to do

with what Lieutenant Battle said to me at the graduation.

Beware the Cyclops.

"Beware the Cyclops."

No other will do

I've lost all ambition For worldly acclaim

I just want to be the one you love

That you'd feel the same

I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me

I don't want to set the world on fire

I don't want to set the world on fire, honey.

I love you too much.

I just want to start a great big flame...

down in your heart

You see...

way down deep inside of me...

No, no, no!

And that one desire is you.

And, no, nobody else ain't gonna do.

I've lost all ambition For worldly acclaim

And with your admission

That you'd feel the same

I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of

Believe me

I don't want to set the world on fire

I just want to start

A flame in your heart

What the fuck are you supposed to be?

Angela? Can you hear me?

It's Agent Blake.

Laurie.

How do I know if she can hear me?

Angela.

You've swallowed a lethal dose of Nostalgia, and you're in a coma.

We just gave you a shot of adrenaline

to try to wake you up.

You may be confused as to who you are right now...

or when, or where, but you're still at the precinct.

You're not moving, but your eyes are wide open.

It's kind of fucking freaky, Angela.

If you can hear what I'm saying right now, I need you to blink.

Good.

That's great.

Angela, I've... I've got Cal here with me.

Your husband.

He's gonna read something to you

that they said would help get you out of this...

Or you're gonna fall right back in.

Blink if you can still hear me.

"Your name is Angela Abar.

You were born in Saigon in 1976.

I'm your husband, Calvin.

We met in Vietnam.

Now we live in Tulsa.

We have three children. Topher, Emma and Rosie.

The year is 2019.

The president is Robert Redford.

You need to come home now. You need to...

You need to wake up.

I love you.

Your name is Angela Abar.

You were born in Saigon in 1976.

We have three children. Topher, Emma and Rosie.

The year is 2019. The president is..."

Roosevelt? You really think Roosevelt's gonna save us?

Eleanor, maybe.

Good evening, ma'am. I'm sorry to bother you at this hour.

Is your husband home?

Officer Reeves. I'm Nelson Gardner. It's a pleasure to meet you.

- Uh, this is my wife, June. - Mrs. Reeves.

If you don't mind excusing us,

I'm hoping to discuss

- some business with your husband. - Oh, "Business."

How can I help you, Mr. Gardner?

I'm here on behalf of a costumed adventurer named Captain Metropolis.

Have you heard of him?

- "Costumed adventurer"? - Yes. Crime-fighting in disguise.

It's a new phenomenon, but it's growing at a brisk clip,

and Captain Metropolis would like to capitalize on that growth

by forming a team.

Patriots. Heroes.

They call themselves "the New Minutemen."

It's a great group of fellows and there's even a couple of ladies.

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what this has got to do with me.

The team is incomplete without the hero who inspired them. Hooded Justice.

Captain Metropolis is a master of strategy.

He scrutinized the different locations where Hooded Justice appeared

and cross-referenced them with patrols of local police.

- So, you think he's a cop? - No.

I believe a cop is feeding him intelligence about criminal activity.

But you know all about this, Officer Reeves, because that cop is you.

I'm sorry? I didn't mean that as a joke.

Mind if I ask, is this strategic mastermind,

Captain Metropolis, blond, about your height?

I... I don't understand what you're implying...

What does the word "Cyclops" mean to you?

Not much.

Is it some kind of underground criminal enterprise

that Hooded Justice is investigating?

Well, if you consider the Ku Klux Klan a criminal enterprise, then yes.

And they're planning something.

Sounds like a job for the Minutemen, all right.

Let's say I do know Hooded Justice. Why should he join your team?

He shouldn't.

He should join because brave men like him are rare specimens.

And why fight alone, when he could have true companionship?

Well, I have overstayed my welcome.

But I hope you do know Hooded Justice, Officer Reeves...

if only to tell him what a huge admirer Captain Metropolis is.

Something tells me they have a lot in common.

Good evening, Mrs. Reeves.

Again, I'm so sorry to have intruded.

I'll see myself out.

No.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Why do you whisper, green grass

When did you know?

When did I know? What?

That I was Hooded Justice.

The moment I laid eyes on you.

You're lying. You thought he was a white man.

True.

Until I met you.

And then I just knew.

So... you'll join us?

The others, you're sure they want me to?

Are you kidding? The Minutemen are thrilled.

Fighting crime in league with the Hooded Justice.

Your participation legitimizes the whole operation and they know it.

What they can't know, of course, is your secret.

Some of them aren't as... tolerant as I am.

You'll have to be sure you're covered up.

Wear the makeup and hood at all times.

Actually, I was hoping we could try something on the next go-round.

I wear mine, and you wear yours.

...and tell it to the birds and bees.

And everyone will know 'cause you done told the blabbering trees.

Yes, you did. You told them once before.

It's a shame... the others can never see how beautiful you are.

Why tell them all the old things

- What's wrong? - Nothing.

It's him, isn't it?

Captain Blondie and his Masquerade Squad

don't care about you.

They only care about what you can do for them.

I can't take Cyclops down alone. I need a team to help me.

- I'm your team. - I know, but I need them, too.

Tell me about the first time you saw me.

- Come on, June. Not again. - Tell me.

I woke up in the tall grass...

and there was a wrecked car,

and off in the distance, Tulsa was on fire.

I thought I was the only person still alive in the whole world.

But then I heard a cry,

so I walked to it.

And there was a baby wrapped up in an American flag, so I picked her up.

And I said...

- You're okay. - "You're okay."

And she stopped crying.

You stopped crying.

Don't you ever make me start again, William Reeves.

I won't.

Good.

Because I'm pregnant.

We three, we're all alone

Living in a memory

My echo

My shadow

And me

We three...

We're not even company

My echo

Hey, Captain Metropolis!

Captain Metropolis, can you tell us about Hooded Justice?

The Minutemen would be nothing

without the man who inspired us all.

Gentlemen, please welcome our newest member, Hooded Justice.

HJ, how do you respond to rumors that your strength is supernatural,

like the heroes in the comic books?

I'm just a man.

Now that you got a team behind you,

exactly what kind of crime are you gonna target?

I believe there is a vast and insidious conspiracy at play in the city.

And I have evidence that a secret plan is being developed by...

A new crime boss who calls himself Moloch the Magnificent.

Now, this villain is planning to harness

the sun's energy into a deadly solar weapon,

threatening every man, woman and child in New York.

So, if you'll excuse us, fellows, the Minutemen have a city to save.

One more question.

But first, let's talk about your savings and our good friends at National Bank.

Will you be at the grand opening, Captain Metropolis?

We're all alone.

Seem like we living in a memory.

That's my echo...

my shadow...

and me.

We three...

we ain't no crowd.

That's my echo...

my shadow...

and me.

You know, I've been wondering...

what good is the moonlight...

that silvery moonlight...

That shines way, way up above.

Way up on the bed.

You did it. Go, baby.

Okay, so get all the way up.

But where is that gal that I love?

We three

We'll wait for you

Even till eternity

My echo

My shadow

And me

Get out of here now.

I was just watching a movie. I wasn't doing nothing.

You better get out of here right now!

- Man, get your hands off me. - Who do you think you are?

It's okay, man. It's okay, man!

I gotta get my son. My son! He's right there.

Hey, Reeves. About time you showed up.

What happened here?

Same thing that always happens

when you put a bunch of animals in the same cage.

Go on in. We need someone who speaks their language.

Hey.

Yo!

Hey there.

- What's your name? - Lorna.

Lorna. I'm Officer Reeves. Can you tell me what happened here?

I don't... I don't know. I can't...

When the picture started, there was a flicker...

a bright light going on and off...

and the whole room was full of lightning, and...

I heard a voice inside my head, and it said...

It told me I had to hurt people.

And I think...

I think maybe I did that.

I heard a voice inside my head.

Beware the Cyclops.

I heard a voice inside my head.

A voice inside of my head. A voice...

I know their plan. You need to come down here right now.

- Come down where? - The meatpacking district.

There was a riot in the theater.

Cyclops is using film projectors to turn Negroes against each other.

I followed them to a warehouse.

So, this is your "vast and insidious conspiracy"?

William, you of all people should know.

The residents of Harlem cause riots all on their own.

No, no! This is real.

It's some kind of mesmerism.

That book I found...

Cyclops is...

Yes, yes, yes. Cyclops, Cyclops, Cyclops.

Dear God. So, the Klan is using mind control?

Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?

- Have you been drinking? - What? No.

Well, maybe you should be.

Come over.

You can bring your red file and we can talk about this.

I don't want to come over.

You need to get the others, and come down and help me.

You said you would help me.

I'm sorry, William, but this sort of thing

isn't really the Minutemen's cup of tea.

I'm afraid you're going to have to solve black unrest all on your own.

Now, if you change your mind, I would love to see you.

Jeez Louise.

Rough day, huh?

What are you doing down here, buddy?

I know all the cops that walk this beat and you ain't one of them.

Oh!

I know what you're looking for.

Free steaks.

Any boy in blue willing to put his life on the line deserves a little gratitude.

Come on. Let's go to the warehouse.

I'll give you my best cut to take home to the missus.

Though, from what I've heard about your kind,

you probably got more than enough meat to satisfy her, huh?

This your warehouse?

Yes, sir. Sure is.

Hey, do I know you?

No offense, but you jigs start to blend together after...

They ask me how I knew

My true love was true

I, of course, replied

Something here inside

Cannot be denied

No!

All who love are blind

When your heart's on fire

hit yourself again and again.

All Negroes are your enemy.

Attack them.

Do not bring harm to any white man, woman or child.

Only each other.

Fight viciously.

Hate them.

Do not stop until their blood covers your hands.

And then, hit yourself...

Again,

- and again and again. - Shit.

Tears I cannot hide

When a lovely flame dies

So I chaffed them

And I gayly laughed

To think they could doubt my love

Yet today, my love has flown away

I am without my love

Now laughing friends deride

Tears I cannot hide

So I smile and say

When a lovely flame dies

Smoke gets in your eyes

I'm like you.

No.

No! No.

No.

Stop, Daddy. Please, stop!

- No, no, no. No! - Stop!

Marcus, he was...

I was just trying to take it off.

You can't take it off. You can't ever take it off.

- That's not true. I can take it off! - You can't!

You need to hide under that hood

'cause you can't stand to see what you've become.

- I'm still me. - Which "me"?

You never should've done this.

I thought it would help you get rid of this thing you have...

but it didn't get rid of it. It just fed it.

We need to go home. Now. We need to go home to Tulsa.

No! I'm not going back there.

I wasn't talking about you, Will Reeves.

Just up here. Keep pushing.

You're gonna do everything I tell you to. Understand?

I understand.

You can stop now.

What's happening? Who are you?

Justice.

Whatever you think I did, you don't understand...

I'm trying to fucking help you people.

You don't know what's really happening here.

You have a Klan robe in your closet.

My granddad's.

I have a right to keep it. It's my legacy.

Well, if you're so proud of your legacy, why do you hide it?

You don't know me, old man.

Oh, yeah. I know you.

All right.

You can hang yourself now.

Before the way it used to be

The way for us to see

And I am always watching over you

Holding you in my embrace

Everything is in its place

The uniform a man wears changes him.

There will be no mob justice today.

He throws his hood back and it's Bass Reeves.

"Trust in the law."

The Minutemen would be nothing

without the man who inspired us all.

Hooded Justice.

You are an angry, angry man.

You stay away from Tulsa, Will Reeves.

You stay away from me and your son.

As far as you're concerned, we don't exist.

She does look like you.

I'm gonna take you home now, honey.

Oh. Hi, there.

Welcome back.

Living in the past

With a box out of my mind

Everything is swept

Living in the past

With a box out of my mind

Everything is swept

Now I'm free

And survived

With a lot of debt

And no more chances

But not until

Forget the past

And where to go

I'll be well off

Living in the past

With a box out of my mind

Everything is swept