Mississippi Scholar (2024) Movie Script
1
[thunder cracks]
[lively blues music]
[birds chirping]
[wind chimes tinkling]
[phone ringing]
[line ringing]
- Hello?
- Hey, baby.
It's Auntie.
Jasper rode past,
saw your mama laid out.
You might want
to go check on her.
[wind chimes tinkling]
- Okay.
[sighs]
[gentle music]
[birdsong]
Mom.
Mom!
- Get off me.
I'm good.
- Get up.
- Leave me alone now, please.
- Oh, she fucked up again, huh?
- How about some help here?
- I ain't going nowhere
near that crazy bitch.
- Who--who you calling "bitch"?
- Hold on, Crystal.
- I'll slap the taste
out your mouth, boy.
- No, we ain't
doing that, Crystal.
Sit your drunk ass down.
- I ain't no bitch, bitch.
- Well, at least
you know you crazy.
- I'ma show you who crazy.
- You ain't gonna show me shit.
- Go on, give me $20
so I can pay this rent.
- Crystal, you ain't gon'
pay no goddamn rent.
- I'm just short $20.
- You short some other shit.
Go sit yo' ass down.
- Would you stop
being so damn cheap?
Just give me the $20, man!
- I ain't givin' you shit!
- Gimme!
Yo cheap ass.
It's for the rent, man.
- Why you lying?
[window thuds]
[somber music]
- Why are you still here?
- Why you still talking?
- I'm waiting for you
to go on, now.
- All right, whatever.
- Yeah, get off my property.
- Hey, boy.
Have a good day at school.
- Appreciate it.
- There's a sandwich in there.
- All right, you did your job.
Let's go.
- Hey, why don't you, like,
clean some of this shit up?
- That ain't even mine.
- Appreciate it, Ray.
- All right, boy.
Bye, Crystal.
- Bye.
- I love you.
- Uh-huh.
It costs $20.
[engine turns over]
[energetic blues music]
[shovel thumping]
[bright music]
- Good morning.
- Why do you do that?
- Do what?
- Just pop up.
What's with the chair?
- Well, you know
I like to be comfortable.
This is the best I could find.
[laughs]
So tell me,
what do I owe the pleasure?
- I just like starting
off my day talking
to a grumpy old man.
- [laughs]
[coughs]
[groans]
- Haven't you figured out those
things aren't good for you?
- You think that really
matters much now?
- I guess not.
Yo, Papa.
- Hmm?
- Help me understand something.
Why--why does Mom seem
like she wants to do things
that she know will hurt me?
- Hurt people hurt people.
See, that's why you got
to learn to avoid
things that cause you pain.
- I can't just not
care about her.
She's still my mom.
- Who said anything
about not caring?
- Was she always like this?
- No.
No, she wasn't.
But you see, we will
sometimes never know
what makes the demons that
cause our parents to make
the choices that they make.
See, it's always
about choices, son.
- Yeah, I'm still trying
to figure that out now.
- Well, you see, there's a road
that leads to a road
that leads to another road
that leads to another road.
See?
So you just check
out the road, son.
- Why can't you ever just
say something straight?
[sighs]
But I do miss you.
[shovel thudding]
Oh, one more thing--
[bright music]
[indistinct chatter]
- Her dad comes home, right?
And I'm on the third floor,
and all my stuff is--
ah!
- Gotcha.
- When I get you back,
you'll remember this day
and wish it never happened.
- But you'll never get me back.
- [grunts]
- Ooh, hoo.
- Remember this moment
when your neck's on fire.
- [over PA]
Pardon the interruption.
May I please have
your attention.
All items left
in the lost and found
after Friday will be donated.
- Where's the money?
- [over PA] This is the final
opportunity to claim them.
- Is it all there?
- Every time, same thing,
same amount.
No, go on, count it.
- What are you gonna do
when I'm gone next year?
- Follow you wherever you go.
We ni--
- Hey, hey.
Stop with the nigga shit,
all right?
You're not Black.
And you're gonna get
the shit beat out of you.
And then you'll remember
this conversation.
[indistinct chatter]
- A couple of us are going to
cut class if you want to come.
- Babe, I got English.
- You'd rather go to class
than hang with me?
- I said I got English.
- Okay.
You know where I'll be
if you want this.
- I wish I had
a girlfriend like that.
Take home and meet my mother.
- Shut your dumb ass up
before I knock you out.
- So sensitive.
- Mr. Puckett.
Thank James again
for saving you.
I don't know what kind
of relationship you guys have,
but you better hope
he never dumps you.
- First, you accuse
me of cheating,
then you accuse me
of having a relationship
with James when you know
I am all about Lindsey.
- Can we please
cut his tongue out?
[laughter]
- Will someone read this aloud?
Mr. Puckett, please proceed.
- "When a man starts
out to build a world,
he first starts with himself."
- Splendid.
Who wrote that?
- Langston Hughes.
- What did he mean?
- Change yourself,
you change your world.
Be the change you want to see
from inside to the outside.
- Emily?
- Could it be
about a woman, too?
- Oh, absolutely.
I think Mr. Hughes could
have easily said,
when one starts out
to build the world,
they first start with themself.
- See my dude over there?
He mad smart.
- How would you change
yourself inside,
your thoughts, your feelings?
- But what if you don't
want to change?
What if you like things
just the way they are?
- I love her.
That means you don't have
to write an essay.
- Wrong.
Convince me why things
should remain the same.
- You always say,
think for yourself.
- That's great.
If you have another opinion,
by all means, let's hear it.
Make it good.
Change requires discomfort.
And that discomfort
can wreak havoc,
so much so that there are
countless individuals stuck
in their old,
stale thought forms,
passed down from
generation to generation,
from mothers to daughters
and fathers to sons.
We need to break those patterns.
Change the way in which
you see the world.
Change your thoughts because--
- Thoughts become things.
- Exactly what I think
Mr. Langston Hughes
was talking about.
If we can find comfort within
the discomfort of change,
we are on our way.
All right. Get to it.
Begin now.
James, I want
to see you outside.
[students oohing]
I'm trying to figure
something out.
- What?
- How can we remove
your head from your ass?
- What?
- Ms. Lawson grabbed
me this morning,
told me you didn't
show up for class again.
- I have a 4.0 GPA.
What difference does it make
if I go or don't go?
- Five unexcused absences
is an automatic failure.
You have four.
- I'm not skipping
to skip, all right?
I got things to deal
with at home.
You know this
and she knows this.
- Yeah, I know.
But you can't not
go to class, period.
If you need something,
just ask.
But to just not
show is inexcusable.
Did you finish your essay?
- You just gave it to us
and then called me out.
- The one for Ole Miss.
The essay and the application
were due weeks ago.
- I'm working on it.
- How about I call
someone at Ole Miss
and tell them to float James
one of those scholarships
they got laying around.
I mean, I know he misses class
and he didn't finish his essay,
but he's super smart.
Trust me.
- Great, thanks.
- James, just get it done.
And don't forget
our trip to Oxford.
- I know.
- Homestretch, James.
Don't lose focus.
[bright piano music]
- I heard Damon wants
to get with you.
- What about James?
- What about James?
- I don't know.
He's so fun and smart.
- That nigga broke.
His moms be beggin' out
in front of the food store.
- James is going to college.
Ms. Lawson was
talking about him.
- He ain't going nowhere.
We gonna have us a baby
as soon as we graduate.
- Girl, go buy yourself a doll.
They don't poop, cry, or nag.
- Oh, my gosh.
[laughs]
[electronic bell chimes]
[indistinct chatter]
- I understand you're
doing well in class.
- Yo, what'd you got
on that English paper?
- Uh, I think I got a A.
- A?
Dr. Allen.
I am so sorry.
I didn't see you.
- And Dr. Allen, I bet
you didn't see the C-minus
that he got on our test.
- And what did you get?
- I got an A-plus.
- Trust me, Dr. Allen,
I stayed up all night
studying for that test.
- Mr. Puckett,
if you stayed up all night
and only got a C-plus,
you should have slept instead.
Now, move along before you guys
are late for your next class.
- Yes, sir.
- Sorry about that.
Yo, what time you
seeing Ray Ray?
- He's stopping
by my house later.
- Tell him I said wassup.
- I would never do that.
- Why?
- Because he doesn't like you.
- But I'm his
biggest distributor.
- You're hilarious.
- Am I?
- Put that there.
[door creaks]
- Hey, baby, come give
your auntie a hug.
Mm. You hungry?
I got some fried catfish
and greens in the refrigerator.
I can heat it up for you.
- I'm good, thanks.
But I will take some sweet tea
if you have some.
- I got it.
Sit your butt down.
I picked up some buttermilk pie
from Sweet Tea and Biscuits.
Those white ladies sure know
how to make some pie.
You want to come over
for some dinner later?
- No, thank you.
- I know you got
to deal with your mama.
I know all too well.
But, Lord willing,
it's only a matter of time
before you're out of her house.
All I know is, I love you,
and I'm praying for her.
- Amen.
[wind chimes tinkling]
- Where this boy at?
- How that baby girl
of yours doing?
- You talking about Jada?
- Yeah, Jada.
- She a'ight.
- How Jada get
a crazy-ass daddy like you?
[laughing]
- Why you always got some
shit to say, Crystal?
Drunk ass.
- Where you been, boy?
- I was at Aunt Tiny's.
- See, you need to remember
who your mommy is.
- How could he forget?
- You know what?
Mind your business, Ray Ray.
I told you this is my house.
Stop it, you little
wannabe gangster.
- Yeah, a'ight.
- Can y'all just stop,
please, for once?
[distant gunshots]
- I swear, them boys be playing
with them guns like they toys.
- Maybe they loading up
to come and get you,
put you out your misery,
- You know what? Shut up.
They should have kept
yo' ass locked up.
That's what they shoulda did.
- They can't hold me.
- Mm-hmm.
It's a matter of time before
your dumb ass do some shit
and get locked up again.
- Ha-ha, yeah, all right.
- You just watch.
Watch.
- Stop with this shit.
- Watch what I say.
- Mark my words.
Mm-hmm.
- Come on.
- What's the matter, boy?
Can't talk in front
of your mama?
Hmm?
- Look, you know
I'm just playing.
- Take that on back
on over there--
- It ain't that serious.
What's--
what's the matter with you?
- I got teachers,
college on me,
and then I got to come
home to this shit?
- Disrespectful,
that's what it is.
- Take this.
- Both of y'all
need to remember--
- And look--
- This is my house.
- Be careful around
that white boy.
- I know.
- All right. I gotta bounce.
So come on, man.
Remember what I said,
all right?
- My house!
- Why don't you, like, pay
the rent and clean up?
- Why don't you, like,
go on about yo' business.
I done told you,
this is my house.
My house, boy!
And where you think you
going with that backpack?
What's up in there, huh?
I ain't blind, boy.
You ain't fooling me
in my own house.
You think I'm crazy?
Shit.
Now, you go on about
your business.
Make sure you bring that money
next time you come over here.
You don't get to park for free.
- Yo.
- [on phone] Yo. You got it?
- Yeah, I got it.
- [on phone] Great.
- We gotta sell
this fast, though.
I need the money.
- [on phone]
Don't worry about it.
It's all spoken for.
- All right. Cool.
[sighs]
Shit. All right.
I'll talk to you
tomorrow morning.
Later.
[scraping]
[plate thudding]
[moody electronic music]
- Why you still playing
with that little boy?
- I love my man.
- [laughs] Baby, look,
I'll show you what a man is.
- Damon, you're crazy.
- Look, why don't
you come with us?
We're going to this big party
down by the lake.
- Come on, bro, let's go.
- Why don't you want
to come with me?
- I gotta meet someone.
- Is he taking care of you
the way a lady should be
taken care of?
- Yeah, he's taking care of me.
- What's the last
thing he bought you?
I mean, I bought a girl
a Louis bag last week
just cause she smiled.
Look, I think about
your fine ass every day.
You really gonna stand
there and tell me
you don't think of me?
[chuckles] Look, it's cool.
Don't worry.
Ain't nobody gotta know.
Look, Link here don't
speak to nobody, right?
Right. So come with me.
I'll make you smile.
- Yo, Tammy.
- I guess you gotta run.
Your little boy is here.
- Yo, Tammy, what the fuck?
- Hey, relax, lil bro,
we just chattin'.
- Ain't nobody talking to you!
- Hey, watch your tone, boy!
Look, if things don't work out
with your little messenger boy
here, call me sometime, okay?
- We got a problem?
- We got no beef
with you, Ray Ray.
We just--
- Ain't nobody talking
to you, nigga.
James, we got a problem?
- See?
All good, like I said.
- There's nothing going on--
- Who asked you?
- Everybody get home safe.
[engine turns over]
Streets get real crazy
around here sometimes.
- I got you.
- I got you.
- Peace out, brother.
- Later, Tammy.
- Baby, there was
nothing going on.
- Your little game's
gonna get somebody shot.
- He was talking about
buying me a Louis bag.
- Okay. Go get it, then.
Leave.
- Never.
I'm yours.
- You either roll with these
niggas or you roll with me.
Make a decision.
- I'm here, ain't I?
[train horn blares]
[melancholy piano music]
[wind chimes tinkling]
[indistinct chatter]
- Finished.
- Mm.
Very good.
You know, between your grades
and a strong recommendation
from Dr. Allen,
it looks promising.
- Dr. Allen will give
me a recommendation?
- Mm-hmm.
- I thought he didn't like me.
I didn't think he liked anyone.
- He believes in you
and your potential.
And he doesn't want
to see your life turn
into an unmitigated disaster.
- That's not gonna happen.
- Good.
- Can I ask you something?
- Shoot.
- What are you doing here?
- Grading half-assed essays.
- No, I mean in Mississippi.
You were in New York City.
Why come here?
- That's a long story.
What's on your mind?
Come on.
What's up?
- I'm just--
I'm tired.
I'm just tired.
- Well, you can sleep
when you get
that acceptance letter,
before the real work begins.
- No, I'm not that
kind of tired.
I'm tired of all the noise
and the stress.
All right? I don't think God
made me strong enough
to deal with this.
- Don't put limits on God.
- You don't know what
it's like, Mr. Keating,
to live with my mom.
- You don't know what I know.
Okay?
You can love them.
You can pray for them.
But you can't live
your life for them.
Because, James--
[electronic bell chimes]
- I can't be late
for Ms. Lawson's class.
[somber music]
[tempo increases]
- [laughs]
Wow.
What do you think?
- What do I think about what?
- The arch.
The team passes through
here every home game.
There's, like, thousands of fans
from here to the stadium
cheering, going crazy.
It's incredible.
- Cool.
I don't play football.
- You don't need
to play football
to feel the vibes, James.
Listen, come here.
Come here, listen.
Shh.
[chanting] Wilson. Wilson.
Wilson. Wilson.
- Yeah, you're tripping.
- Come on, man.
They're cheering for you. We
gotta go.
[overlapping chatter]
[bell tolling]
I mean, aren't you even,
like, a little excited?
- How will I afford this?
- Listen, don't worry
about the money.
- Yeah, that's not possible.
- I wouldn't bring you all the
way out here if I didn't think
I could make this happen.
I'm not that mean.
Come on.
[phone ringing]
James, look around, man.
This is your future.
Put that away.
Breathe it in, okay?
Be a leader.
Just use--use
all that potential.
- Yeah, what's up?
All right. Let me
call you right back.
- And for God sakes,
stop hustling.
- What are you talking about?
- I know.
- I don't know what
you're talking about.
- Where do you think I'm from?
- Then you know a man has
to put food on the table
and pay for the rent that
comes like clockwork.
Right, I've been doing
that since I was 11.
All these people out here,
they smoke.
It ain't no big deal.
Where do you think
they get it from?
- But there are folks here
that want to help you.
- I don't need no handouts.
I take care of myself.
- Yeah, I know, I know.
I've heard that one before.
Listen to me.
It takes five seconds
to get in trouble
and 25 years to get out.
Do you hear me?
Look, I know you
think it's never
gonna be you, until it is.
- You gonna show me
around campus or what?
[upbeat dance music]
- [singing]
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
- Oh, wow.
You know who that is?
Oh, excuse me, Doctor.
Uh, if you don't mind,
a minute of your time.
My name is Brian Keating.
- Uh-huh. Brian?
- And actually,
I've actually met you before.
- Yes.
- Hello, sir.
How are you?
I'm Brian Keating.
- Very nice to meet you.
- This young man
is James Wilson.
- Hi.
- James?
- James.
- Don Cole.
- Nice to meet you.
- I'm his high school
English teacher.
- Ah.
- Yeah.
Yeah, yeah. And I brought him
over here,
and I was going to tell him
a little bit about Mr. Meredith.
But, I mean, uh, you know,
Doctor, if you don't mind,
I know you could
do a much better job
than I can ever never do.
- He was the very first
African-American admitted
formally to
the University of Mississippi,
a lone individual facing
a gigantic institution.
And that institution is much
more than the university.
It's a political institution.
It's a governmental
institution.
It's a racial institution,
a religious institution
that did not want him
to enter, as a Black man,
the University of Mississippi.
And the legal process
rose all the way up
to involve the president
of the United States of America.
A riot took place right
here on the campus.
Two individuals lost
their lives that afternoon.
Because of him,
this school is now open
to individuals like yourself
and others who will follow.
So I want you to always
remember James Meredith.
- Doctor, I don't know
how to thank you.
- [chuckles]
- I--I just can't believe that
I ran into you at this moment
when I needed you right now.
- Well--
- Thank you so much.
- Fate just had
to work that way.
- Thank you so much.
Thank you, sir.
- Nice to meet you.
- Well, best wishes.
And I hope that you attend
the University of Mississippi.
Good luck with everything.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
- Nice to meet you.
- It's nice to meet you.
- Do you realize who that was?
Come on.
We got more to see.
[distant marching band playing]
All you, James.
Look at this.
[whistles]
Oh, my God!
Whoo!
Oh, baby.
Wow, that's pretty wild.
Look at this guy,
Bruiser Kinard--
that's some name, huh?
Home of the Ole Miss Rebels.
Yeah. [laughs]
- I don't see anyone
that looks like me.
- Hmm?
Let me see that.
No, it's an old brochure.
- You know Eli Manning
went here?
- Yeah, Archie was better.
- Who the hell is Archie?
- [scoffs]
All right. Come on.
Let's go.
[soft dramatic music]
[train horn blaring]
[overlapping chatter]
- Hey, how's it going?
- What's up, Dr. Allen?
- Ray Ray.
- [chuckles]
- Dr. Allen,
what's it gonna be?
- The usual--coffee, black.
So what's been
happening, Ray Ray?
- Ah, you know me.
Just grinding it out.
- Mm-hmm.
That's a nice watch.
- I just like to keep the time.
- Yeah.
Speaking of time, you know,
it's never too late
to go back to school and start
using some of that street smart
for something
other than the streets.
- Come on, Doc,
you know I ain't got
the patience for school.
Besides, I got
a little girl to raise.
- How are Samara
and the daughter?
- They my girls,
and they're both good.
- Yeah, you take care
of them queens, you hear?
- Yes, sir.
- There you go, Dr. Allen.
- There you go, Tom.
- Oh, no.
Don't worry about it.
- Oh, thank you.
Knowledge is power, son.
- That man always
seemed to care about me.
I just don't know why.
- Yo, let me get a refill!
Is mine free too?
[birds chirping]
- Um--
- What?
Who's texting you?
- It's not a text.
It's an email.
- From who?
- Ole Miss.
- Come on.
I'm ready to go home.
My mom don't get
back till 5:00.
- It looks like I got in
with a full ride.
- You're not going
way down there.
- What are you talking about?
What--what's
the matter with you?
- What?
You're gonna pick up and leave?
What about me?
- Why are you acting like this?
- I put in time with you.
I thought we were
gonna have a baby.
- Baby?
A baby?
You want to be like all these
other girls around here?
Kid at 18,
ain't about nothing else?
Don't you want to do
something with your life?
- My life?
What about us?
- I'm trying to get
up out of here.
And this right here,
this is my way out, our way out.
- What makes you
think you're so special
that you can get out?
- Because I refuse to accept
that this is all there is.
- Maybe this is it
for some people.
That don't make it wrong.
- Doesn't make it right either.
Look, don't you believe in me?
- Go, leave.
The hell with it.
The hell with you.
I hate you.
- Where are you going?
Tammy!
- How do we determine
if earlier events caused
later ones
or simply preceded them?
Is there a way to analyze,
to use facts?
That was a question.
Yes?
- There's no way to know.
You can guess, I guess.
- Conjecture is too vague.
- For every action, there is
an equal or opposite reaction.
- Yes, James, yes.
But there are also
other possible--
- James Wilson.
You need to get your things
and come with us.
- James, get your stuff,
and let's go.
- What did I do?
- Now.
[students whispering]
[tense music]
- All right, everyone,
let's settle down.
- James Wilson,
you're under arrest
for the illegal possession
of marijuana
with intent to distribute.
[police radio chatter]
[siren wailing]
[indistinct chatter]
[knocking]
- Yeah?
- Hey, Doc, you got a minute?
- Oh, yeah.
Come in.
What a pleasant surprise.
- Hey.
No, look, uh, I'll be quick.
I know, for whatever reason,
you've always cared
about helping me.
And I'd like to help
somebody who needs it
and deserves it a hell
of a lot more than I ever did.
I'm talking about James.
- Oh, James.
[scoffs]
[sighs]
You know, Ray Ray,
I sometimes marvel how some
people with so much potential
can make such poor choices.
- How about we
choose to fix it?
- I wish I could,
but what's done is done.
- Doc, hear me out.
You've helped a lot more kids
that done a lot worse
than James.
Hell, I'm one of 'em.
Let's be honest,
we're talking about weed.
If this was white Oregon
or Cali,
the shit wouldn't
even be illegal.
- Yes, but we're not.
- We're talking about James.
If he goes inside,
he ain't coming out vertical
and we lose another one,
except this one that
could have actually
made a difference,
he deserves your help.
- Why?
The last thing I need is
for some police officers
coming into my school,
arresting one of my students
for drug possession.
- The last thing he needs
is to go down for something
that wasn't his fault.
It wasn't even his weed.
It was mine.
Look, I don't ask
nobody for nothing,
but I'm asking you--
no, I'm begging you.
Don't stand by.
If there's anything you can do,
than to let this kid suffer
while the system punishes
him just because he
ain't lived long enough
to make a stupid mistake
and learn from it.
- You know, Ray Ray,
you possess a powerful gift,
the gift of persuasion.
If only you had chosen
to use it differently.
- Well, sir, maybe I'm choosing
to use it differently now.
[train horn blares]
- Yeah, she's doing
something different.
Hey, James.
- What's up?
- [laughs]
- Hey, Uncle James.
- Hey, Jada.
Man, it looks like you get
taller every time I see you.
- I'm going to be tall
just like my daddy.
- Nah, but you always going
to be my little peanut,
no matter how tall you get.
- Can you push
me on the swings?
- Yeah, I'll be
there in a minute.
Hey, go with your mama.
Take your ball.
- All right, Mama.
- Good to see you, James.
- You too, sis.
- All right, baby.
- [coughs]
- Damn, you a'ight?
- Yeah, just under the weather.
- Oh.
- Man, I don't
know what to say.
Thanks don't even cut it.
- Lucky it was only an ounce.
I mean, what they gon' do?
Give me 30 days?
I could do that standing
on my head, man.
So all I'ma do is
play some chess,
work out, get some sleep.
Besides, family's family.
Plus, if you don't
get out of here,
nobody getting up out of here.
And I won't blame if you
never come back from Ole Miss.
Shit, I wouldn't.
Don't worry about
your moms, man.
I got her.
- Man, I appreciate it.
Hey, how'd you convince
Dr. Allen
that it was yours anyway?
- Man, I got more skills
than you know about, boy.
Look here.
- I ain't taking
your money, man.
What are you doing?
- Leave it there, then.
- I ain't no charity case.
- I don't invest
in charities, nigga.
I invest in futures.
I can't have you getting
jammed up again.
So pick up the money
and prove me right,
that I know a good investment
when I see one.
It's just money, man.
- Love you, man.
- I love you, too.
Now go on, get out of here.
You're on my baby girl's time.
[engine rumbling]
[gentle music]
- I'll get that right
for you, ladies.
Doing okay?
Still doing okay over here?
Good? All right.
Doing okay?
Oh, beep-beep, cowboy.
Grab a seat.
I'll be right with you.
- [sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
Tammy joining you today?
- No.
- Well, my day's been crazy,
but nothing compared
to last night.
Larry, my husband, he ate
one of my sweet potatoes.
I was asked to make
a sweet potato casserole,
so I went out to Vardaman,
sweet potato capital
of the world.
And I got four sweet potatoes
that'd be perfect
to make the three cups
I need for my casserole.
So I put them on the island
in the kitchen
because I knew they'd
be easy to find--
- [Reginald voiceover]
Well, you see, there's a road
that leads to a road
that leads to another road
that leads to another road.
- But, Mama, Daddy got hungry,
and he ate one
of the sweet potatoes.
- [Reginald voiceover] So you
just check out the road, son.
- And I said, he ate one
of my sweet potatoes?
And she said, well, yeah,
I didn't know you needed
all four of 'em.
And I said, well, yeah,
I needed all four of 'em.
So now I gotta go buy more
sweet potatoes after work.
- How would Larry know they
were for your casserole?
- Oh, well--so do you know
the specials for today?
- No.
- That's because we
don't have any.
But we do have
a great sweet potato pie.
- Okay, I'll have a slice.
- All right.
One slice, coming right up.
[phone ringing]
- Damn.
- Hey, do you want that to go?
- How the hell I'm
supposed to pay this rent
while you off at college?
I'm talking to you,
James Wilson.
[distant gunshots]
Don't you ignore me when
I'm talking to you, boy.
Oh, so you think
you're grown now.
And you just gon' leave me?
Who gonna take care of me while
you're off at college, huh?
Who gonna take care of me?
- Yo, James, they got him!
- Got who?
What are you talking about?
- Ray Ray, they shot him!
- Where?
- At the park.
It's not good, man.
- No.
No, James, no!
No, come back here, boy!
Come back here!
[melancholy blues music]
[siren wailing]
["Amazing Grace" playing
on piano]
[siren wailing in distance]
- [singing] Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch
Like me
- [sobbing]
- [singing] I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind
But now I see
'Twas grace that taught
My heart to fear
And grace my fears
Relieved
How precious did
That grace appear
The hour I first
Believed
[paper rustling]
- [Patrick voiceover]
Dear Dad, I miss you.
I miss being home.
I don't know how much longer
I can take it here.
The days are long,
and there's not much to do.
My mistakes have
come back tenfold,
and I wish I could
get a second chance.
Being in jail is like
being in hell every day.
If there's anything you can
do to get me out of here,
please, please, do
whatever you can.
I love you, Dad.
Patrick.
- I don't know why God
keeps allowing these things
to happen to our men.
[overlapping chatter]
[harmonizing]
- [singing] Through many dangers
Toils and snares
We have
Already come
'Twas grace has brought
Us safe thus far
[door slams]
- Dad!
And grace will
Lead us home
- Are you okay?
- Not really.
But gotta be strong
for the family.
- Anything you need,
you let me know.
[indistinct chatter]
- We're here
to celebrate the life
of brother
Raymond "Ray Ray" Johnson,
a good man.
If I could pitch
anything to the family,
I would tell you
that we understand
that we can talk to anybody,
anyplace, anywhere, anytime.
Amen?
- [all] Amen.
- But the question
that I do ask is,
do we actually sit down
and listen?
Psalms 139:7, "Where can
I go from your Spirit?
"Or where can I flee
from your presence?
"If I ascended into heaven,
you are there.
If I make my bed in hell,
you're still there."
If I had anything to say,
I would say that Raymond was
a loved man.
And at times,
it's gonna get hard.
You're gonna cry,
and he's gonna be missed.
And if I had a sermon today,
I would probably say,
start back at one.
Raymond lived his life
and lived it the way
he would want to live it.
But what is
your relationship with God?
Sometimes,
as the songwriters say,
after all of my work is done,
then I have to start
back over at one.
[tender music]
- Before enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
Before enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
- Hey, Papa.
Will I be able to talk
to Ray Ray like I talk to you?
- You can talk to anyone
or anything at any time.
But can you hear them
when they talk to you?
- I just want to know
if Ray Ray's okay.
- The spirit realm is
beyond physical boundaries,
so the concept of pain, fear,
and worry
does not exist.
So of course he's okay.
You've got
an early day tomorrow.
Get some rest, son.
- [singing] Moments we shared
I know you're hurting and I
I know you're sad
- All right?
- A'ight.
- [singing] I know you're really
missing all the times we had
I know you cry
But won't you try to remember
- Yo, Ray.
- [singing] The good
- [laughs]
- [singing] Even in
your darkest time
When there's no one
by your side
Remember me
- What's the matter with you?
- I got teachers,
college on me.
- [singing] And think everyone
is going remember this
And I know you didn't
want to see me go
But I'm still here
Remember all the smiles
we had before you left
- So, bro, you're telling me
everything's okay with Ole Miss?
- Yeah.
- When I saw the way
they were grabbing you,
I was so scared, I was having,
like, heart palpitations.
- You were having
heart palpitations?
I didn't see you in no handcuffs
or your scholarship in jeopardy.
- Well, I was
having them for you.
- Yeah, right.
You were afraid they'd
be coming for you next.
Your heart wasn't
beating for me.
- I still cannot believe
what Ray Ray did for you.
I mean, I wouldn't do that
for anyone, not even you.
- That's why Ray Ray was who
he was and you who you are.
- What's that supposed to mean?
[wind chimes tinkling]
- Hey, what's that you got?
Loan me a couple of dollars
till I get my check.
You think you could do
the right thing by your mama?
I need to go to the store.
Keep playing, dumb, boy.
You play dumb, you become dumb.
- You would know.
- What'd you say, boy?
- Hey, baby.
- Hey, Auntie.
- Graduation tickets?
So what, boy, your mama's
not good enough
to go to your graduation?
- Crystal, just stop.
- No, you stop, bitch!
- What you call me?
- You heard me, bitch.
This is my son.
- No, James, let her go.
Because, see, Crystal,
I got yo' bitch.
- You got all
these people fooled
with your little God act, Tiny.
But I know what you really are
and why God won't let you have
no babies of your own.
That's why you trying
to take mine.
Let me go.
Let me go.
- Stop.
- Just stop it!
- You going to jail today,
Crystal.
'Cause I swear
it's where you belong.
- Oh, yeah?
Well, at least this time,
it'll be because
of something I did
and not what you did.
How you like that?
Hmm?
[groans] Nigga.
[police radio chatter]
- [dispatch over radio]
What's your ID?
- Adam 33rd and 2nd.
- [dispatch over radio]
252 reported on Butler Road.
Two females, no reported
weapons involved.
[siren wailing]
- Hey, what's going on here?
- My sister called them.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
what's going on?
- You gonna call 'em on me?
- What's going on here?
What's going on here?
Hey, hey, hey.
- Get your hands off me!
- Step back, son.
- Don't touch me!
I ain't your woman!
- Let me tell you something.
Now, you better
calm yourself down.
I'm here to help you.
- This lying bitch!
- Hey, hey, hey, I'm not
gonna listen to that.
Tiny, what's wrong
with your eye?
- She hit me.
- She did what?
- She hit me!
- What?
- You're a liar!
You're a liar!
- That's it.
- You're a liar!
- Let me put you under arrest.
Don't worry about it.
You're under arrest.
- You're a liar, Tiny!
You're a liar!
You always have been!
Liar!
- Okay, okay.
- A liar, liar!
You always have been!
- All right.
- Triflin' skank!
- Come on, get in that car
and be quiet.
That's the best thing.
Get in the car and be quiet.
- [sobbing]
She's a liar.
- James, no!
James!
Oh, God.
James!
Oh, God.
[somber blues music]
[radio static crackling]
[knocking]
- Hey, let me see your hands.
Let me see your hands.
Get out.
- Officers, it's not what
it looks like, I swear.
- Get out.
- Keep your hands up.
- I didn't do anything.
- Lay down, lay down.
- It's not what it looks like.
- Put your hands
in the center of your back.
Is this your vehicle?
- No, it's my teacher's.
It's my teacher's.
I'm sorry.
It's a mistake.
All right?
It's not what it looks like.
Please, please.
[siren wailing]
[winces]
All right, all right.
[siren wailing]
[knocking]
[upbeat music playing]
- [singing] Waking up
- Can I help you?
- Are you Carol Walker?
- Who's asking?
- I'm Brian Keating.
I'm one of James Wilson's
teachers.
- Yankee?
You can call me Tiny.
That's how my friends call me.
- Oh, you're Aunt Tiny.
James always talks about you.
Nice to meet you.
- Yankee this, Yankee that.
City boy.
Got him reading
all those good books.
I seen you
at Ray Ray's funeral.
God bless him.
That boy was something else.
- Have you seen James?
He didn't show up
for school today.
And he's not
returning my calls.
I went by his house,
nobody answered.
I'm just checking in on him.
- Yo, Tiny, you good?
- All good, Flip.
We don't get too many
white folks around here.
Anytime I see a white person,
it's either the police
or a bill collector.
- Mm-hmm.
So do you know where he is?
- No.
But you should know that
his mother and I got into it,
and she got arrested.
- She's in jail?
- Yes, she had
an outstanding warrant.
Listen, I want to thank you
for everything that you've
done for my James.
- Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
If you see him,
just--just tell him
I was looking for him, okay?
- Will do.
[wind chimes tinkling]
- You sure you don't want
to stay at my house?
- Yeah, I'm good.
- I wish you would have
called sooner.
- I didn't know
who else to call.
After seeing you and mom
fight like that, I just--
I knew I had to get away.
- I'm sorry that you had to see
that between your mother and I.
Sometimes the past has
a way of showing up
at the worst times,
and bind you and you know what.
But blood is thicker
than water,
and that will never change.
We're gonna be okay because that
will always be your mother.
And she will always
be my sister.
- I love you, Auntie.
- I love you, too.
- See you tomorrow.
[gentle music]
Hey, Jada.
- Hey, Uncle James.
- How was school?
- I guess it was okay.
- I know the feeling.
- Uncle James,
I really miss my dad.
- Yeah, so do I.
- I wish I had another
chance to see him.
- I'm going to tell you
something that someone I trust
once told me.
You can talk to anyone
or anything, at any time.
But the question is,
can you hear them
when they talk to you?
You see, your dad is
listening to us right now.
And if we listen really hard,
we can hear him.
Jada, I know how much
he loved you.
You were his whole world.
So I know that he would
never, ever leave you.
So try it.
Talk to him.
And when you listen,
listen with your heart,
and you'll be able to hear him.
- Well, thanks, Uncle James.
I'm gonna try it
because I need him.
I really, really need him.
- Jada, baby, come on in and
get started on your homework.
- Bye, Jada.
- Bye, Uncle James.
- I made you a snack.
It's in the kitchen.
Thank you for talking to her.
James, I'm a little worried.
She's really taking this hard.
And like you said,
she was Ray Ray's world,
but he was also hers.
- Yeah, I know.
[line ringing]
[phone ringing]
Um, sorry, Sam, I got to--
I gotta go take care
of some business.
- James, wait.
Listen to me.
More killing is not gonna
bring Ray Ray back.
And you getting involved is not
what Ray Ray would have wanted.
He believed in you.
Take a minute and think.
Maybe do what you
told Jada to do.
Talk to him, James, and listen.
Give me a second.
Here.
He would have wanted
you to have this.
- Thanks, sis.
I hear.
[gentle music]
[indistinct chatter]
Are you gonna say anything?
- Am I gonna say anything?
- Look, I apologize,
and I take full responsibility
for letting you down.
And I'm sorry.
And--and I don't blame
you or anyone
for whatever comes to me.
[line rings]
- Yeah.
Yeah, excuse the interruption.
Can you come to my classroom
for five minutes?
Okay, thanks.
- Look, I'm sorry, okay?
It's just--it's something.
And it's stupid,
and I apologize, all right?
- Mr. Wilson.
How are we this morning?
- Hey, Dr. Allen.
- Now, you can apologize to
the person who really saved you.
- Thank you, Dr. Allen,
for what you've done for me
or have done for me.
And hopefully, I don't
bother you anymore.
- After graduation,
the restraining order
goes into effect.
You can't come within
two miles of this school or me
for a minimum of five years.
- Is he serious?
[laughter]
- Do me a favor moving forward.
- Whatever you want, Dr. Allen.
- Achieve, son.
Just achieve.
If not for me,
do it for Raymond.
He went above
and beyond for you.
- Okay, it's done.
Keep it moving through
the finish line.
- Thank you, Mr. Keating.
- Hey, hold up.
- What's this?
- It's my car key.
It's yours.
- For real?
You're giving me your car?
- Happy graduation.
- Thank you.
[gentle acoustic music]
- [singing] I'm not you
and you're not me
She refused to set me free
She refused
to set them free
Na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na
- How are you feeling, Mom?
- Better.
I spoke with
the public defender.
I didn't know
about the warrants
they had out for my arrest.
Well, the good news is,
he said if I go to rehab,
they'll dismiss everything.
- You think you can
stay clean this time?
- I promise you,
I'll do my best.
I'm tired of this, son.
- [snickers] Yeah, me too.
- [laughs] Don't be funny, boy.
I'm still your mama.
I'll whoop you in here.
I'm already in jail.
What they gon' do?
Arrest me?
[laughs]
- I love it when
you're straight.
You actually have
a sense of humor.
- They, um, have
a rehab program in Florida.
- Florida?
- It's a six-month program
they think I'd be
a good candidate for.
- Who's gonna pay for this?
- They have sponsors,
so I don't have to worry
about paying for anything.
It's like a scholarship.
- A scholarship.
- Actually, that's
exactly what it's called.
- Congrats, Mom.
I just wish you were able
to come to graduation tomorrow.
- Honestly, I wouldn't
have invited me either,
but Tiny'll represent.
I'm so proud of you, son.
- I'm proud of you, too, Mom.
What's wrong?
- Nothing's wrong.
My boy is going to Ole Miss.
[laughs]
My boy is going Ole Miss!
My boy--
- Inmate!
- Is going to Ole Miss!
- Take your seat.
- Errbody!
My boy is going to Ole Miss!
- Down!
Now!
- Mom, sit down before
they kick both of us out.
- Coming where we come from,
and my boy is going to Ole Miss?
Everybody should be
in here jumping for joy.
[laughs]
- Inmate, there's
no physical contact.
- Oh, shush.
- Okay.
- It's my son.
And he's going to college.
- Your visitation
privileges are over.
Congratulations, son.
- My boy's going to college.
My boy is going to college!
Hallelujah!
My boy is going to college.
[gentle electronic music]
[tense music]
- Don't sit there.
Gonna be in my line of shot.
Get in the back.
You got your gat?
- Yeah.
- I just got
a text from Chappy.
That fool just got there.
They killed the wrong one.
This one's for you, Ray Ray.
[engine rumbles]
I'm gonna park on Beverly
and then let you out.
Then I'm gonna swing
around this way.
If I miss, then he'll come
face to face with you.
And that's when
you'll blast him.
- [Ray Ray voiceover]
Man, I don't know what to say.
If you don't get out of here,
nobody getting up out of here.
I can't have you
getting jammed up again.
- Hold up, man.
Hold up, hold up, hold up.
Yo, stop the car!
- Hey, yo, yo, don't
get scared on me now.
Hey, hey.
- [Ray Ray voiceover]
I got you. I got you.
- Something don't feel right.
- I always knew you
was a little bitch.
- I'm telling you, something
doesn't feel right, and I'm out.
King, something's off,
all right?
I can feel it.
- After all Ray Ray's
done for you,
now you want to punk out?
I don't even need you.
I'm a sure shot.
Lucky I don't shoot you.
[tires squealing,
engine revving]
[gunshots banging]
[wind chimes tinkling]
[Rob O'mara's "Big"]
- [singing] No easy living,
you recognize
That we're onto
something big
Wrestle your demons
And I hope you win
It's only then you can begin
To solve the puzzle
Make the pieces fit
They are a part
of something big
That's big
- Do you really need
to push the envelope?
- Well, they didn't start,
did they?
- That's not the point.
- Look, did you really think
I wouldn't show after all this?
- All right, hurry up.
- Congratulations, James.
- Thank you.
- So, does anybody think this
guy's gonna win any awards?
- You know, maybe just be
happy with the diploma.
- [laughs] [sighs]
- Come here.
Forget this.
Come here.
Here.
It's not about the tie.
It's about you.
All right.
You good?
- Yeah.
- All right.
- [exhales]
- On behalf of the
administration and faculty
and our illustrious
graduating class,
I would like to introduce
our distinguished principal,
Dr. Jay Allen.
[applause]
- Thank you, Ms. Lawson.
At this time, I would like
to personally welcome
family, friends, staff, and
of course, our graduating class,
to this commencement.
[applause]
Steve Jobs once said,
Your time is limited,
so don't waste it living
someone else's life.
Don't let the noise
of others' opinions
drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have
the courage to follow
your heart and your intuition.
Well, our next speaker
has done just that.
I present to you,
your valedictorian,
James Wilson.
[cheers and applause]
- Go James!
- Good day to everyone,
to Dr. Allen and the rest
of the faculty and staff,
family, friends,
and my fellow students.
Most of you know
me as James Wilson,
but I'm also the son of
a high school dropout mom
who became addiction driven
and a neglectful,
gone-too-soon father.
But it's because
of all that I've been through
that I am who I am.
And I will be the first person
in my family to attend college.
- Yeah!
Way to go, bro.
- Today, we're here
to celebrate a lot of things--
life, intellect, friendship,
defeats,
and of course,
our accomplishments.
But our accomplishments
are not only ours.
They also belong
to those who were there
day to day,
encouraging us to move forward.
And the last thing
I want to say
is never stop
believing in yourself,
even when you can't
see what's at the end.
[applause]
Graduates, you can turn
your tassels from right to left.
[gunshots banging]
- For every James that we save,
there are thousands wishing
to be saved,
those that could be,
but they never stand a chance.
I think we should
be asking ourselves,
is this all we can do
to save our youth?
[Rusted Soul's "Time"]
- [singing] Can't hold back
The hands of time
Bittersweet mystery
What life is
We never see
What will be
Time we've wasted
Can't get it back
Have to face it
Can't change the past
Faded memories
All I've had
Is all I see
Darkest dead of night
What can I do
to make it right?
Tonight
Time we've wasted
Can't get it back
Have to face it
Can't change the past
Can't change it
Just face it
Can't change it
Just face it
Lifeless hands of mine
Can't hold back time
[thunder cracks]
[lively blues music]
[birds chirping]
[wind chimes tinkling]
[phone ringing]
[line ringing]
- Hello?
- Hey, baby.
It's Auntie.
Jasper rode past,
saw your mama laid out.
You might want
to go check on her.
[wind chimes tinkling]
- Okay.
[sighs]
[gentle music]
[birdsong]
Mom.
Mom!
- Get off me.
I'm good.
- Get up.
- Leave me alone now, please.
- Oh, she fucked up again, huh?
- How about some help here?
- I ain't going nowhere
near that crazy bitch.
- Who--who you calling "bitch"?
- Hold on, Crystal.
- I'll slap the taste
out your mouth, boy.
- No, we ain't
doing that, Crystal.
Sit your drunk ass down.
- I ain't no bitch, bitch.
- Well, at least
you know you crazy.
- I'ma show you who crazy.
- You ain't gonna show me shit.
- Go on, give me $20
so I can pay this rent.
- Crystal, you ain't gon'
pay no goddamn rent.
- I'm just short $20.
- You short some other shit.
Go sit yo' ass down.
- Would you stop
being so damn cheap?
Just give me the $20, man!
- I ain't givin' you shit!
- Gimme!
Yo cheap ass.
It's for the rent, man.
- Why you lying?
[window thuds]
[somber music]
- Why are you still here?
- Why you still talking?
- I'm waiting for you
to go on, now.
- All right, whatever.
- Yeah, get off my property.
- Hey, boy.
Have a good day at school.
- Appreciate it.
- There's a sandwich in there.
- All right, you did your job.
Let's go.
- Hey, why don't you, like,
clean some of this shit up?
- That ain't even mine.
- Appreciate it, Ray.
- All right, boy.
Bye, Crystal.
- Bye.
- I love you.
- Uh-huh.
It costs $20.
[engine turns over]
[energetic blues music]
[shovel thumping]
[bright music]
- Good morning.
- Why do you do that?
- Do what?
- Just pop up.
What's with the chair?
- Well, you know
I like to be comfortable.
This is the best I could find.
[laughs]
So tell me,
what do I owe the pleasure?
- I just like starting
off my day talking
to a grumpy old man.
- [laughs]
[coughs]
[groans]
- Haven't you figured out those
things aren't good for you?
- You think that really
matters much now?
- I guess not.
Yo, Papa.
- Hmm?
- Help me understand something.
Why--why does Mom seem
like she wants to do things
that she know will hurt me?
- Hurt people hurt people.
See, that's why you got
to learn to avoid
things that cause you pain.
- I can't just not
care about her.
She's still my mom.
- Who said anything
about not caring?
- Was she always like this?
- No.
No, she wasn't.
But you see, we will
sometimes never know
what makes the demons that
cause our parents to make
the choices that they make.
See, it's always
about choices, son.
- Yeah, I'm still trying
to figure that out now.
- Well, you see, there's a road
that leads to a road
that leads to another road
that leads to another road.
See?
So you just check
out the road, son.
- Why can't you ever just
say something straight?
[sighs]
But I do miss you.
[shovel thudding]
Oh, one more thing--
[bright music]
[indistinct chatter]
- Her dad comes home, right?
And I'm on the third floor,
and all my stuff is--
ah!
- Gotcha.
- When I get you back,
you'll remember this day
and wish it never happened.
- But you'll never get me back.
- [grunts]
- Ooh, hoo.
- Remember this moment
when your neck's on fire.
- [over PA]
Pardon the interruption.
May I please have
your attention.
All items left
in the lost and found
after Friday will be donated.
- Where's the money?
- [over PA] This is the final
opportunity to claim them.
- Is it all there?
- Every time, same thing,
same amount.
No, go on, count it.
- What are you gonna do
when I'm gone next year?
- Follow you wherever you go.
We ni--
- Hey, hey.
Stop with the nigga shit,
all right?
You're not Black.
And you're gonna get
the shit beat out of you.
And then you'll remember
this conversation.
[indistinct chatter]
- A couple of us are going to
cut class if you want to come.
- Babe, I got English.
- You'd rather go to class
than hang with me?
- I said I got English.
- Okay.
You know where I'll be
if you want this.
- I wish I had
a girlfriend like that.
Take home and meet my mother.
- Shut your dumb ass up
before I knock you out.
- So sensitive.
- Mr. Puckett.
Thank James again
for saving you.
I don't know what kind
of relationship you guys have,
but you better hope
he never dumps you.
- First, you accuse
me of cheating,
then you accuse me
of having a relationship
with James when you know
I am all about Lindsey.
- Can we please
cut his tongue out?
[laughter]
- Will someone read this aloud?
Mr. Puckett, please proceed.
- "When a man starts
out to build a world,
he first starts with himself."
- Splendid.
Who wrote that?
- Langston Hughes.
- What did he mean?
- Change yourself,
you change your world.
Be the change you want to see
from inside to the outside.
- Emily?
- Could it be
about a woman, too?
- Oh, absolutely.
I think Mr. Hughes could
have easily said,
when one starts out
to build the world,
they first start with themself.
- See my dude over there?
He mad smart.
- How would you change
yourself inside,
your thoughts, your feelings?
- But what if you don't
want to change?
What if you like things
just the way they are?
- I love her.
That means you don't have
to write an essay.
- Wrong.
Convince me why things
should remain the same.
- You always say,
think for yourself.
- That's great.
If you have another opinion,
by all means, let's hear it.
Make it good.
Change requires discomfort.
And that discomfort
can wreak havoc,
so much so that there are
countless individuals stuck
in their old,
stale thought forms,
passed down from
generation to generation,
from mothers to daughters
and fathers to sons.
We need to break those patterns.
Change the way in which
you see the world.
Change your thoughts because--
- Thoughts become things.
- Exactly what I think
Mr. Langston Hughes
was talking about.
If we can find comfort within
the discomfort of change,
we are on our way.
All right. Get to it.
Begin now.
James, I want
to see you outside.
[students oohing]
I'm trying to figure
something out.
- What?
- How can we remove
your head from your ass?
- What?
- Ms. Lawson grabbed
me this morning,
told me you didn't
show up for class again.
- I have a 4.0 GPA.
What difference does it make
if I go or don't go?
- Five unexcused absences
is an automatic failure.
You have four.
- I'm not skipping
to skip, all right?
I got things to deal
with at home.
You know this
and she knows this.
- Yeah, I know.
But you can't not
go to class, period.
If you need something,
just ask.
But to just not
show is inexcusable.
Did you finish your essay?
- You just gave it to us
and then called me out.
- The one for Ole Miss.
The essay and the application
were due weeks ago.
- I'm working on it.
- How about I call
someone at Ole Miss
and tell them to float James
one of those scholarships
they got laying around.
I mean, I know he misses class
and he didn't finish his essay,
but he's super smart.
Trust me.
- Great, thanks.
- James, just get it done.
And don't forget
our trip to Oxford.
- I know.
- Homestretch, James.
Don't lose focus.
[bright piano music]
- I heard Damon wants
to get with you.
- What about James?
- What about James?
- I don't know.
He's so fun and smart.
- That nigga broke.
His moms be beggin' out
in front of the food store.
- James is going to college.
Ms. Lawson was
talking about him.
- He ain't going nowhere.
We gonna have us a baby
as soon as we graduate.
- Girl, go buy yourself a doll.
They don't poop, cry, or nag.
- Oh, my gosh.
[laughs]
[electronic bell chimes]
[indistinct chatter]
- I understand you're
doing well in class.
- Yo, what'd you got
on that English paper?
- Uh, I think I got a A.
- A?
Dr. Allen.
I am so sorry.
I didn't see you.
- And Dr. Allen, I bet
you didn't see the C-minus
that he got on our test.
- And what did you get?
- I got an A-plus.
- Trust me, Dr. Allen,
I stayed up all night
studying for that test.
- Mr. Puckett,
if you stayed up all night
and only got a C-plus,
you should have slept instead.
Now, move along before you guys
are late for your next class.
- Yes, sir.
- Sorry about that.
Yo, what time you
seeing Ray Ray?
- He's stopping
by my house later.
- Tell him I said wassup.
- I would never do that.
- Why?
- Because he doesn't like you.
- But I'm his
biggest distributor.
- You're hilarious.
- Am I?
- Put that there.
[door creaks]
- Hey, baby, come give
your auntie a hug.
Mm. You hungry?
I got some fried catfish
and greens in the refrigerator.
I can heat it up for you.
- I'm good, thanks.
But I will take some sweet tea
if you have some.
- I got it.
Sit your butt down.
I picked up some buttermilk pie
from Sweet Tea and Biscuits.
Those white ladies sure know
how to make some pie.
You want to come over
for some dinner later?
- No, thank you.
- I know you got
to deal with your mama.
I know all too well.
But, Lord willing,
it's only a matter of time
before you're out of her house.
All I know is, I love you,
and I'm praying for her.
- Amen.
[wind chimes tinkling]
- Where this boy at?
- How that baby girl
of yours doing?
- You talking about Jada?
- Yeah, Jada.
- She a'ight.
- How Jada get
a crazy-ass daddy like you?
[laughing]
- Why you always got some
shit to say, Crystal?
Drunk ass.
- Where you been, boy?
- I was at Aunt Tiny's.
- See, you need to remember
who your mommy is.
- How could he forget?
- You know what?
Mind your business, Ray Ray.
I told you this is my house.
Stop it, you little
wannabe gangster.
- Yeah, a'ight.
- Can y'all just stop,
please, for once?
[distant gunshots]
- I swear, them boys be playing
with them guns like they toys.
- Maybe they loading up
to come and get you,
put you out your misery,
- You know what? Shut up.
They should have kept
yo' ass locked up.
That's what they shoulda did.
- They can't hold me.
- Mm-hmm.
It's a matter of time before
your dumb ass do some shit
and get locked up again.
- Ha-ha, yeah, all right.
- You just watch.
Watch.
- Stop with this shit.
- Watch what I say.
- Mark my words.
Mm-hmm.
- Come on.
- What's the matter, boy?
Can't talk in front
of your mama?
Hmm?
- Look, you know
I'm just playing.
- Take that on back
on over there--
- It ain't that serious.
What's--
what's the matter with you?
- I got teachers,
college on me,
and then I got to come
home to this shit?
- Disrespectful,
that's what it is.
- Take this.
- Both of y'all
need to remember--
- And look--
- This is my house.
- Be careful around
that white boy.
- I know.
- All right. I gotta bounce.
So come on, man.
Remember what I said,
all right?
- My house!
- Why don't you, like, pay
the rent and clean up?
- Why don't you, like,
go on about yo' business.
I done told you,
this is my house.
My house, boy!
And where you think you
going with that backpack?
What's up in there, huh?
I ain't blind, boy.
You ain't fooling me
in my own house.
You think I'm crazy?
Shit.
Now, you go on about
your business.
Make sure you bring that money
next time you come over here.
You don't get to park for free.
- Yo.
- [on phone] Yo. You got it?
- Yeah, I got it.
- [on phone] Great.
- We gotta sell
this fast, though.
I need the money.
- [on phone]
Don't worry about it.
It's all spoken for.
- All right. Cool.
[sighs]
Shit. All right.
I'll talk to you
tomorrow morning.
Later.
[scraping]
[plate thudding]
[moody electronic music]
- Why you still playing
with that little boy?
- I love my man.
- [laughs] Baby, look,
I'll show you what a man is.
- Damon, you're crazy.
- Look, why don't
you come with us?
We're going to this big party
down by the lake.
- Come on, bro, let's go.
- Why don't you want
to come with me?
- I gotta meet someone.
- Is he taking care of you
the way a lady should be
taken care of?
- Yeah, he's taking care of me.
- What's the last
thing he bought you?
I mean, I bought a girl
a Louis bag last week
just cause she smiled.
Look, I think about
your fine ass every day.
You really gonna stand
there and tell me
you don't think of me?
[chuckles] Look, it's cool.
Don't worry.
Ain't nobody gotta know.
Look, Link here don't
speak to nobody, right?
Right. So come with me.
I'll make you smile.
- Yo, Tammy.
- I guess you gotta run.
Your little boy is here.
- Yo, Tammy, what the fuck?
- Hey, relax, lil bro,
we just chattin'.
- Ain't nobody talking to you!
- Hey, watch your tone, boy!
Look, if things don't work out
with your little messenger boy
here, call me sometime, okay?
- We got a problem?
- We got no beef
with you, Ray Ray.
We just--
- Ain't nobody talking
to you, nigga.
James, we got a problem?
- See?
All good, like I said.
- There's nothing going on--
- Who asked you?
- Everybody get home safe.
[engine turns over]
Streets get real crazy
around here sometimes.
- I got you.
- I got you.
- Peace out, brother.
- Later, Tammy.
- Baby, there was
nothing going on.
- Your little game's
gonna get somebody shot.
- He was talking about
buying me a Louis bag.
- Okay. Go get it, then.
Leave.
- Never.
I'm yours.
- You either roll with these
niggas or you roll with me.
Make a decision.
- I'm here, ain't I?
[train horn blares]
[melancholy piano music]
[wind chimes tinkling]
[indistinct chatter]
- Finished.
- Mm.
Very good.
You know, between your grades
and a strong recommendation
from Dr. Allen,
it looks promising.
- Dr. Allen will give
me a recommendation?
- Mm-hmm.
- I thought he didn't like me.
I didn't think he liked anyone.
- He believes in you
and your potential.
And he doesn't want
to see your life turn
into an unmitigated disaster.
- That's not gonna happen.
- Good.
- Can I ask you something?
- Shoot.
- What are you doing here?
- Grading half-assed essays.
- No, I mean in Mississippi.
You were in New York City.
Why come here?
- That's a long story.
What's on your mind?
Come on.
What's up?
- I'm just--
I'm tired.
I'm just tired.
- Well, you can sleep
when you get
that acceptance letter,
before the real work begins.
- No, I'm not that
kind of tired.
I'm tired of all the noise
and the stress.
All right? I don't think God
made me strong enough
to deal with this.
- Don't put limits on God.
- You don't know what
it's like, Mr. Keating,
to live with my mom.
- You don't know what I know.
Okay?
You can love them.
You can pray for them.
But you can't live
your life for them.
Because, James--
[electronic bell chimes]
- I can't be late
for Ms. Lawson's class.
[somber music]
[tempo increases]
- [laughs]
Wow.
What do you think?
- What do I think about what?
- The arch.
The team passes through
here every home game.
There's, like, thousands of fans
from here to the stadium
cheering, going crazy.
It's incredible.
- Cool.
I don't play football.
- You don't need
to play football
to feel the vibes, James.
Listen, come here.
Come here, listen.
Shh.
[chanting] Wilson. Wilson.
Wilson. Wilson.
- Yeah, you're tripping.
- Come on, man.
They're cheering for you. We
gotta go.
[overlapping chatter]
[bell tolling]
I mean, aren't you even,
like, a little excited?
- How will I afford this?
- Listen, don't worry
about the money.
- Yeah, that's not possible.
- I wouldn't bring you all the
way out here if I didn't think
I could make this happen.
I'm not that mean.
Come on.
[phone ringing]
James, look around, man.
This is your future.
Put that away.
Breathe it in, okay?
Be a leader.
Just use--use
all that potential.
- Yeah, what's up?
All right. Let me
call you right back.
- And for God sakes,
stop hustling.
- What are you talking about?
- I know.
- I don't know what
you're talking about.
- Where do you think I'm from?
- Then you know a man has
to put food on the table
and pay for the rent that
comes like clockwork.
Right, I've been doing
that since I was 11.
All these people out here,
they smoke.
It ain't no big deal.
Where do you think
they get it from?
- But there are folks here
that want to help you.
- I don't need no handouts.
I take care of myself.
- Yeah, I know, I know.
I've heard that one before.
Listen to me.
It takes five seconds
to get in trouble
and 25 years to get out.
Do you hear me?
Look, I know you
think it's never
gonna be you, until it is.
- You gonna show me
around campus or what?
[upbeat dance music]
- [singing]
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I
- Oh, wow.
You know who that is?
Oh, excuse me, Doctor.
Uh, if you don't mind,
a minute of your time.
My name is Brian Keating.
- Uh-huh. Brian?
- And actually,
I've actually met you before.
- Yes.
- Hello, sir.
How are you?
I'm Brian Keating.
- Very nice to meet you.
- This young man
is James Wilson.
- Hi.
- James?
- James.
- Don Cole.
- Nice to meet you.
- I'm his high school
English teacher.
- Ah.
- Yeah.
Yeah, yeah. And I brought him
over here,
and I was going to tell him
a little bit about Mr. Meredith.
But, I mean, uh, you know,
Doctor, if you don't mind,
I know you could
do a much better job
than I can ever never do.
- He was the very first
African-American admitted
formally to
the University of Mississippi,
a lone individual facing
a gigantic institution.
And that institution is much
more than the university.
It's a political institution.
It's a governmental
institution.
It's a racial institution,
a religious institution
that did not want him
to enter, as a Black man,
the University of Mississippi.
And the legal process
rose all the way up
to involve the president
of the United States of America.
A riot took place right
here on the campus.
Two individuals lost
their lives that afternoon.
Because of him,
this school is now open
to individuals like yourself
and others who will follow.
So I want you to always
remember James Meredith.
- Doctor, I don't know
how to thank you.
- [chuckles]
- I--I just can't believe that
I ran into you at this moment
when I needed you right now.
- Well--
- Thank you so much.
- Fate just had
to work that way.
- Thank you so much.
Thank you, sir.
- Nice to meet you.
- Well, best wishes.
And I hope that you attend
the University of Mississippi.
Good luck with everything.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
- Nice to meet you.
- It's nice to meet you.
- Do you realize who that was?
Come on.
We got more to see.
[distant marching band playing]
All you, James.
Look at this.
[whistles]
Oh, my God!
Whoo!
Oh, baby.
Wow, that's pretty wild.
Look at this guy,
Bruiser Kinard--
that's some name, huh?
Home of the Ole Miss Rebels.
Yeah. [laughs]
- I don't see anyone
that looks like me.
- Hmm?
Let me see that.
No, it's an old brochure.
- You know Eli Manning
went here?
- Yeah, Archie was better.
- Who the hell is Archie?
- [scoffs]
All right. Come on.
Let's go.
[soft dramatic music]
[train horn blaring]
[overlapping chatter]
- Hey, how's it going?
- What's up, Dr. Allen?
- Ray Ray.
- [chuckles]
- Dr. Allen,
what's it gonna be?
- The usual--coffee, black.
So what's been
happening, Ray Ray?
- Ah, you know me.
Just grinding it out.
- Mm-hmm.
That's a nice watch.
- I just like to keep the time.
- Yeah.
Speaking of time, you know,
it's never too late
to go back to school and start
using some of that street smart
for something
other than the streets.
- Come on, Doc,
you know I ain't got
the patience for school.
Besides, I got
a little girl to raise.
- How are Samara
and the daughter?
- They my girls,
and they're both good.
- Yeah, you take care
of them queens, you hear?
- Yes, sir.
- There you go, Dr. Allen.
- There you go, Tom.
- Oh, no.
Don't worry about it.
- Oh, thank you.
Knowledge is power, son.
- That man always
seemed to care about me.
I just don't know why.
- Yo, let me get a refill!
Is mine free too?
[birds chirping]
- Um--
- What?
Who's texting you?
- It's not a text.
It's an email.
- From who?
- Ole Miss.
- Come on.
I'm ready to go home.
My mom don't get
back till 5:00.
- It looks like I got in
with a full ride.
- You're not going
way down there.
- What are you talking about?
What--what's
the matter with you?
- What?
You're gonna pick up and leave?
What about me?
- Why are you acting like this?
- I put in time with you.
I thought we were
gonna have a baby.
- Baby?
A baby?
You want to be like all these
other girls around here?
Kid at 18,
ain't about nothing else?
Don't you want to do
something with your life?
- My life?
What about us?
- I'm trying to get
up out of here.
And this right here,
this is my way out, our way out.
- What makes you
think you're so special
that you can get out?
- Because I refuse to accept
that this is all there is.
- Maybe this is it
for some people.
That don't make it wrong.
- Doesn't make it right either.
Look, don't you believe in me?
- Go, leave.
The hell with it.
The hell with you.
I hate you.
- Where are you going?
Tammy!
- How do we determine
if earlier events caused
later ones
or simply preceded them?
Is there a way to analyze,
to use facts?
That was a question.
Yes?
- There's no way to know.
You can guess, I guess.
- Conjecture is too vague.
- For every action, there is
an equal or opposite reaction.
- Yes, James, yes.
But there are also
other possible--
- James Wilson.
You need to get your things
and come with us.
- James, get your stuff,
and let's go.
- What did I do?
- Now.
[students whispering]
[tense music]
- All right, everyone,
let's settle down.
- James Wilson,
you're under arrest
for the illegal possession
of marijuana
with intent to distribute.
[police radio chatter]
[siren wailing]
[indistinct chatter]
[knocking]
- Yeah?
- Hey, Doc, you got a minute?
- Oh, yeah.
Come in.
What a pleasant surprise.
- Hey.
No, look, uh, I'll be quick.
I know, for whatever reason,
you've always cared
about helping me.
And I'd like to help
somebody who needs it
and deserves it a hell
of a lot more than I ever did.
I'm talking about James.
- Oh, James.
[scoffs]
[sighs]
You know, Ray Ray,
I sometimes marvel how some
people with so much potential
can make such poor choices.
- How about we
choose to fix it?
- I wish I could,
but what's done is done.
- Doc, hear me out.
You've helped a lot more kids
that done a lot worse
than James.
Hell, I'm one of 'em.
Let's be honest,
we're talking about weed.
If this was white Oregon
or Cali,
the shit wouldn't
even be illegal.
- Yes, but we're not.
- We're talking about James.
If he goes inside,
he ain't coming out vertical
and we lose another one,
except this one that
could have actually
made a difference,
he deserves your help.
- Why?
The last thing I need is
for some police officers
coming into my school,
arresting one of my students
for drug possession.
- The last thing he needs
is to go down for something
that wasn't his fault.
It wasn't even his weed.
It was mine.
Look, I don't ask
nobody for nothing,
but I'm asking you--
no, I'm begging you.
Don't stand by.
If there's anything you can do,
than to let this kid suffer
while the system punishes
him just because he
ain't lived long enough
to make a stupid mistake
and learn from it.
- You know, Ray Ray,
you possess a powerful gift,
the gift of persuasion.
If only you had chosen
to use it differently.
- Well, sir, maybe I'm choosing
to use it differently now.
[train horn blares]
- Yeah, she's doing
something different.
Hey, James.
- What's up?
- [laughs]
- Hey, Uncle James.
- Hey, Jada.
Man, it looks like you get
taller every time I see you.
- I'm going to be tall
just like my daddy.
- Nah, but you always going
to be my little peanut,
no matter how tall you get.
- Can you push
me on the swings?
- Yeah, I'll be
there in a minute.
Hey, go with your mama.
Take your ball.
- All right, Mama.
- Good to see you, James.
- You too, sis.
- All right, baby.
- [coughs]
- Damn, you a'ight?
- Yeah, just under the weather.
- Oh.
- Man, I don't
know what to say.
Thanks don't even cut it.
- Lucky it was only an ounce.
I mean, what they gon' do?
Give me 30 days?
I could do that standing
on my head, man.
So all I'ma do is
play some chess,
work out, get some sleep.
Besides, family's family.
Plus, if you don't
get out of here,
nobody getting up out of here.
And I won't blame if you
never come back from Ole Miss.
Shit, I wouldn't.
Don't worry about
your moms, man.
I got her.
- Man, I appreciate it.
Hey, how'd you convince
Dr. Allen
that it was yours anyway?
- Man, I got more skills
than you know about, boy.
Look here.
- I ain't taking
your money, man.
What are you doing?
- Leave it there, then.
- I ain't no charity case.
- I don't invest
in charities, nigga.
I invest in futures.
I can't have you getting
jammed up again.
So pick up the money
and prove me right,
that I know a good investment
when I see one.
It's just money, man.
- Love you, man.
- I love you, too.
Now go on, get out of here.
You're on my baby girl's time.
[engine rumbling]
[gentle music]
- I'll get that right
for you, ladies.
Doing okay?
Still doing okay over here?
Good? All right.
Doing okay?
Oh, beep-beep, cowboy.
Grab a seat.
I'll be right with you.
- [sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
Tammy joining you today?
- No.
- Well, my day's been crazy,
but nothing compared
to last night.
Larry, my husband, he ate
one of my sweet potatoes.
I was asked to make
a sweet potato casserole,
so I went out to Vardaman,
sweet potato capital
of the world.
And I got four sweet potatoes
that'd be perfect
to make the three cups
I need for my casserole.
So I put them on the island
in the kitchen
because I knew they'd
be easy to find--
- [Reginald voiceover]
Well, you see, there's a road
that leads to a road
that leads to another road
that leads to another road.
- But, Mama, Daddy got hungry,
and he ate one
of the sweet potatoes.
- [Reginald voiceover] So you
just check out the road, son.
- And I said, he ate one
of my sweet potatoes?
And she said, well, yeah,
I didn't know you needed
all four of 'em.
And I said, well, yeah,
I needed all four of 'em.
So now I gotta go buy more
sweet potatoes after work.
- How would Larry know they
were for your casserole?
- Oh, well--so do you know
the specials for today?
- No.
- That's because we
don't have any.
But we do have
a great sweet potato pie.
- Okay, I'll have a slice.
- All right.
One slice, coming right up.
[phone ringing]
- Damn.
- Hey, do you want that to go?
- How the hell I'm
supposed to pay this rent
while you off at college?
I'm talking to you,
James Wilson.
[distant gunshots]
Don't you ignore me when
I'm talking to you, boy.
Oh, so you think
you're grown now.
And you just gon' leave me?
Who gonna take care of me while
you're off at college, huh?
Who gonna take care of me?
- Yo, James, they got him!
- Got who?
What are you talking about?
- Ray Ray, they shot him!
- Where?
- At the park.
It's not good, man.
- No.
No, James, no!
No, come back here, boy!
Come back here!
[melancholy blues music]
[siren wailing]
["Amazing Grace" playing
on piano]
[siren wailing in distance]
- [singing] Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch
Like me
- [sobbing]
- [singing] I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind
But now I see
'Twas grace that taught
My heart to fear
And grace my fears
Relieved
How precious did
That grace appear
The hour I first
Believed
[paper rustling]
- [Patrick voiceover]
Dear Dad, I miss you.
I miss being home.
I don't know how much longer
I can take it here.
The days are long,
and there's not much to do.
My mistakes have
come back tenfold,
and I wish I could
get a second chance.
Being in jail is like
being in hell every day.
If there's anything you can
do to get me out of here,
please, please, do
whatever you can.
I love you, Dad.
Patrick.
- I don't know why God
keeps allowing these things
to happen to our men.
[overlapping chatter]
[harmonizing]
- [singing] Through many dangers
Toils and snares
We have
Already come
'Twas grace has brought
Us safe thus far
[door slams]
- Dad!
And grace will
Lead us home
- Are you okay?
- Not really.
But gotta be strong
for the family.
- Anything you need,
you let me know.
[indistinct chatter]
- We're here
to celebrate the life
of brother
Raymond "Ray Ray" Johnson,
a good man.
If I could pitch
anything to the family,
I would tell you
that we understand
that we can talk to anybody,
anyplace, anywhere, anytime.
Amen?
- [all] Amen.
- But the question
that I do ask is,
do we actually sit down
and listen?
Psalms 139:7, "Where can
I go from your Spirit?
"Or where can I flee
from your presence?
"If I ascended into heaven,
you are there.
If I make my bed in hell,
you're still there."
If I had anything to say,
I would say that Raymond was
a loved man.
And at times,
it's gonna get hard.
You're gonna cry,
and he's gonna be missed.
And if I had a sermon today,
I would probably say,
start back at one.
Raymond lived his life
and lived it the way
he would want to live it.
But what is
your relationship with God?
Sometimes,
as the songwriters say,
after all of my work is done,
then I have to start
back over at one.
[tender music]
- Before enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
Before enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment,
chop wood, carry water.
- Hey, Papa.
Will I be able to talk
to Ray Ray like I talk to you?
- You can talk to anyone
or anything at any time.
But can you hear them
when they talk to you?
- I just want to know
if Ray Ray's okay.
- The spirit realm is
beyond physical boundaries,
so the concept of pain, fear,
and worry
does not exist.
So of course he's okay.
You've got
an early day tomorrow.
Get some rest, son.
- [singing] Moments we shared
I know you're hurting and I
I know you're sad
- All right?
- A'ight.
- [singing] I know you're really
missing all the times we had
I know you cry
But won't you try to remember
- Yo, Ray.
- [singing] The good
- [laughs]
- [singing] Even in
your darkest time
When there's no one
by your side
Remember me
- What's the matter with you?
- I got teachers,
college on me.
- [singing] And think everyone
is going remember this
And I know you didn't
want to see me go
But I'm still here
Remember all the smiles
we had before you left
- So, bro, you're telling me
everything's okay with Ole Miss?
- Yeah.
- When I saw the way
they were grabbing you,
I was so scared, I was having,
like, heart palpitations.
- You were having
heart palpitations?
I didn't see you in no handcuffs
or your scholarship in jeopardy.
- Well, I was
having them for you.
- Yeah, right.
You were afraid they'd
be coming for you next.
Your heart wasn't
beating for me.
- I still cannot believe
what Ray Ray did for you.
I mean, I wouldn't do that
for anyone, not even you.
- That's why Ray Ray was who
he was and you who you are.
- What's that supposed to mean?
[wind chimes tinkling]
- Hey, what's that you got?
Loan me a couple of dollars
till I get my check.
You think you could do
the right thing by your mama?
I need to go to the store.
Keep playing, dumb, boy.
You play dumb, you become dumb.
- You would know.
- What'd you say, boy?
- Hey, baby.
- Hey, Auntie.
- Graduation tickets?
So what, boy, your mama's
not good enough
to go to your graduation?
- Crystal, just stop.
- No, you stop, bitch!
- What you call me?
- You heard me, bitch.
This is my son.
- No, James, let her go.
Because, see, Crystal,
I got yo' bitch.
- You got all
these people fooled
with your little God act, Tiny.
But I know what you really are
and why God won't let you have
no babies of your own.
That's why you trying
to take mine.
Let me go.
Let me go.
- Stop.
- Just stop it!
- You going to jail today,
Crystal.
'Cause I swear
it's where you belong.
- Oh, yeah?
Well, at least this time,
it'll be because
of something I did
and not what you did.
How you like that?
Hmm?
[groans] Nigga.
[police radio chatter]
- [dispatch over radio]
What's your ID?
- Adam 33rd and 2nd.
- [dispatch over radio]
252 reported on Butler Road.
Two females, no reported
weapons involved.
[siren wailing]
- Hey, what's going on here?
- My sister called them.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
what's going on?
- You gonna call 'em on me?
- What's going on here?
What's going on here?
Hey, hey, hey.
- Get your hands off me!
- Step back, son.
- Don't touch me!
I ain't your woman!
- Let me tell you something.
Now, you better
calm yourself down.
I'm here to help you.
- This lying bitch!
- Hey, hey, hey, I'm not
gonna listen to that.
Tiny, what's wrong
with your eye?
- She hit me.
- She did what?
- She hit me!
- What?
- You're a liar!
You're a liar!
- That's it.
- You're a liar!
- Let me put you under arrest.
Don't worry about it.
You're under arrest.
- You're a liar, Tiny!
You're a liar!
You always have been!
Liar!
- Okay, okay.
- A liar, liar!
You always have been!
- All right.
- Triflin' skank!
- Come on, get in that car
and be quiet.
That's the best thing.
Get in the car and be quiet.
- [sobbing]
She's a liar.
- James, no!
James!
Oh, God.
James!
Oh, God.
[somber blues music]
[radio static crackling]
[knocking]
- Hey, let me see your hands.
Let me see your hands.
Get out.
- Officers, it's not what
it looks like, I swear.
- Get out.
- Keep your hands up.
- I didn't do anything.
- Lay down, lay down.
- It's not what it looks like.
- Put your hands
in the center of your back.
Is this your vehicle?
- No, it's my teacher's.
It's my teacher's.
I'm sorry.
It's a mistake.
All right?
It's not what it looks like.
Please, please.
[siren wailing]
[winces]
All right, all right.
[siren wailing]
[knocking]
[upbeat music playing]
- [singing] Waking up
- Can I help you?
- Are you Carol Walker?
- Who's asking?
- I'm Brian Keating.
I'm one of James Wilson's
teachers.
- Yankee?
You can call me Tiny.
That's how my friends call me.
- Oh, you're Aunt Tiny.
James always talks about you.
Nice to meet you.
- Yankee this, Yankee that.
City boy.
Got him reading
all those good books.
I seen you
at Ray Ray's funeral.
God bless him.
That boy was something else.
- Have you seen James?
He didn't show up
for school today.
And he's not
returning my calls.
I went by his house,
nobody answered.
I'm just checking in on him.
- Yo, Tiny, you good?
- All good, Flip.
We don't get too many
white folks around here.
Anytime I see a white person,
it's either the police
or a bill collector.
- Mm-hmm.
So do you know where he is?
- No.
But you should know that
his mother and I got into it,
and she got arrested.
- She's in jail?
- Yes, she had
an outstanding warrant.
Listen, I want to thank you
for everything that you've
done for my James.
- Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
If you see him,
just--just tell him
I was looking for him, okay?
- Will do.
[wind chimes tinkling]
- You sure you don't want
to stay at my house?
- Yeah, I'm good.
- I wish you would have
called sooner.
- I didn't know
who else to call.
After seeing you and mom
fight like that, I just--
I knew I had to get away.
- I'm sorry that you had to see
that between your mother and I.
Sometimes the past has
a way of showing up
at the worst times,
and bind you and you know what.
But blood is thicker
than water,
and that will never change.
We're gonna be okay because that
will always be your mother.
And she will always
be my sister.
- I love you, Auntie.
- I love you, too.
- See you tomorrow.
[gentle music]
Hey, Jada.
- Hey, Uncle James.
- How was school?
- I guess it was okay.
- I know the feeling.
- Uncle James,
I really miss my dad.
- Yeah, so do I.
- I wish I had another
chance to see him.
- I'm going to tell you
something that someone I trust
once told me.
You can talk to anyone
or anything, at any time.
But the question is,
can you hear them
when they talk to you?
You see, your dad is
listening to us right now.
And if we listen really hard,
we can hear him.
Jada, I know how much
he loved you.
You were his whole world.
So I know that he would
never, ever leave you.
So try it.
Talk to him.
And when you listen,
listen with your heart,
and you'll be able to hear him.
- Well, thanks, Uncle James.
I'm gonna try it
because I need him.
I really, really need him.
- Jada, baby, come on in and
get started on your homework.
- Bye, Jada.
- Bye, Uncle James.
- I made you a snack.
It's in the kitchen.
Thank you for talking to her.
James, I'm a little worried.
She's really taking this hard.
And like you said,
she was Ray Ray's world,
but he was also hers.
- Yeah, I know.
[line ringing]
[phone ringing]
Um, sorry, Sam, I got to--
I gotta go take care
of some business.
- James, wait.
Listen to me.
More killing is not gonna
bring Ray Ray back.
And you getting involved is not
what Ray Ray would have wanted.
He believed in you.
Take a minute and think.
Maybe do what you
told Jada to do.
Talk to him, James, and listen.
Give me a second.
Here.
He would have wanted
you to have this.
- Thanks, sis.
I hear.
[gentle music]
[indistinct chatter]
Are you gonna say anything?
- Am I gonna say anything?
- Look, I apologize,
and I take full responsibility
for letting you down.
And I'm sorry.
And--and I don't blame
you or anyone
for whatever comes to me.
[line rings]
- Yeah.
Yeah, excuse the interruption.
Can you come to my classroom
for five minutes?
Okay, thanks.
- Look, I'm sorry, okay?
It's just--it's something.
And it's stupid,
and I apologize, all right?
- Mr. Wilson.
How are we this morning?
- Hey, Dr. Allen.
- Now, you can apologize to
the person who really saved you.
- Thank you, Dr. Allen,
for what you've done for me
or have done for me.
And hopefully, I don't
bother you anymore.
- After graduation,
the restraining order
goes into effect.
You can't come within
two miles of this school or me
for a minimum of five years.
- Is he serious?
[laughter]
- Do me a favor moving forward.
- Whatever you want, Dr. Allen.
- Achieve, son.
Just achieve.
If not for me,
do it for Raymond.
He went above
and beyond for you.
- Okay, it's done.
Keep it moving through
the finish line.
- Thank you, Mr. Keating.
- Hey, hold up.
- What's this?
- It's my car key.
It's yours.
- For real?
You're giving me your car?
- Happy graduation.
- Thank you.
[gentle acoustic music]
- [singing] I'm not you
and you're not me
She refused to set me free
She refused
to set them free
Na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na
- How are you feeling, Mom?
- Better.
I spoke with
the public defender.
I didn't know
about the warrants
they had out for my arrest.
Well, the good news is,
he said if I go to rehab,
they'll dismiss everything.
- You think you can
stay clean this time?
- I promise you,
I'll do my best.
I'm tired of this, son.
- [snickers] Yeah, me too.
- [laughs] Don't be funny, boy.
I'm still your mama.
I'll whoop you in here.
I'm already in jail.
What they gon' do?
Arrest me?
[laughs]
- I love it when
you're straight.
You actually have
a sense of humor.
- They, um, have
a rehab program in Florida.
- Florida?
- It's a six-month program
they think I'd be
a good candidate for.
- Who's gonna pay for this?
- They have sponsors,
so I don't have to worry
about paying for anything.
It's like a scholarship.
- A scholarship.
- Actually, that's
exactly what it's called.
- Congrats, Mom.
I just wish you were able
to come to graduation tomorrow.
- Honestly, I wouldn't
have invited me either,
but Tiny'll represent.
I'm so proud of you, son.
- I'm proud of you, too, Mom.
What's wrong?
- Nothing's wrong.
My boy is going to Ole Miss.
[laughs]
My boy is going Ole Miss!
My boy--
- Inmate!
- Is going to Ole Miss!
- Take your seat.
- Errbody!
My boy is going to Ole Miss!
- Down!
Now!
- Mom, sit down before
they kick both of us out.
- Coming where we come from,
and my boy is going to Ole Miss?
Everybody should be
in here jumping for joy.
[laughs]
- Inmate, there's
no physical contact.
- Oh, shush.
- Okay.
- It's my son.
And he's going to college.
- Your visitation
privileges are over.
Congratulations, son.
- My boy's going to college.
My boy is going to college!
Hallelujah!
My boy is going to college.
[gentle electronic music]
[tense music]
- Don't sit there.
Gonna be in my line of shot.
Get in the back.
You got your gat?
- Yeah.
- I just got
a text from Chappy.
That fool just got there.
They killed the wrong one.
This one's for you, Ray Ray.
[engine rumbles]
I'm gonna park on Beverly
and then let you out.
Then I'm gonna swing
around this way.
If I miss, then he'll come
face to face with you.
And that's when
you'll blast him.
- [Ray Ray voiceover]
Man, I don't know what to say.
If you don't get out of here,
nobody getting up out of here.
I can't have you
getting jammed up again.
- Hold up, man.
Hold up, hold up, hold up.
Yo, stop the car!
- Hey, yo, yo, don't
get scared on me now.
Hey, hey.
- [Ray Ray voiceover]
I got you. I got you.
- Something don't feel right.
- I always knew you
was a little bitch.
- I'm telling you, something
doesn't feel right, and I'm out.
King, something's off,
all right?
I can feel it.
- After all Ray Ray's
done for you,
now you want to punk out?
I don't even need you.
I'm a sure shot.
Lucky I don't shoot you.
[tires squealing,
engine revving]
[gunshots banging]
[wind chimes tinkling]
[Rob O'mara's "Big"]
- [singing] No easy living,
you recognize
That we're onto
something big
Wrestle your demons
And I hope you win
It's only then you can begin
To solve the puzzle
Make the pieces fit
They are a part
of something big
That's big
- Do you really need
to push the envelope?
- Well, they didn't start,
did they?
- That's not the point.
- Look, did you really think
I wouldn't show after all this?
- All right, hurry up.
- Congratulations, James.
- Thank you.
- So, does anybody think this
guy's gonna win any awards?
- You know, maybe just be
happy with the diploma.
- [laughs] [sighs]
- Come here.
Forget this.
Come here.
Here.
It's not about the tie.
It's about you.
All right.
You good?
- Yeah.
- All right.
- [exhales]
- On behalf of the
administration and faculty
and our illustrious
graduating class,
I would like to introduce
our distinguished principal,
Dr. Jay Allen.
[applause]
- Thank you, Ms. Lawson.
At this time, I would like
to personally welcome
family, friends, staff, and
of course, our graduating class,
to this commencement.
[applause]
Steve Jobs once said,
Your time is limited,
so don't waste it living
someone else's life.
Don't let the noise
of others' opinions
drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have
the courage to follow
your heart and your intuition.
Well, our next speaker
has done just that.
I present to you,
your valedictorian,
James Wilson.
[cheers and applause]
- Go James!
- Good day to everyone,
to Dr. Allen and the rest
of the faculty and staff,
family, friends,
and my fellow students.
Most of you know
me as James Wilson,
but I'm also the son of
a high school dropout mom
who became addiction driven
and a neglectful,
gone-too-soon father.
But it's because
of all that I've been through
that I am who I am.
And I will be the first person
in my family to attend college.
- Yeah!
Way to go, bro.
- Today, we're here
to celebrate a lot of things--
life, intellect, friendship,
defeats,
and of course,
our accomplishments.
But our accomplishments
are not only ours.
They also belong
to those who were there
day to day,
encouraging us to move forward.
And the last thing
I want to say
is never stop
believing in yourself,
even when you can't
see what's at the end.
[applause]
Graduates, you can turn
your tassels from right to left.
[gunshots banging]
- For every James that we save,
there are thousands wishing
to be saved,
those that could be,
but they never stand a chance.
I think we should
be asking ourselves,
is this all we can do
to save our youth?
[Rusted Soul's "Time"]
- [singing] Can't hold back
The hands of time
Bittersweet mystery
What life is
We never see
What will be
Time we've wasted
Can't get it back
Have to face it
Can't change the past
Faded memories
All I've had
Is all I see
Darkest dead of night
What can I do
to make it right?
Tonight
Time we've wasted
Can't get it back
Have to face it
Can't change the past
Can't change it
Just face it
Can't change it
Just face it
Lifeless hands of mine
Can't hold back time