The Brother from Another Planet (1984) Movie Script
- The 130th Spirit House
is dedicated to giving
the neighborhood youth
an education in history
and a background
in Islamic culture.
The Spirit House is funded
totally through
private donations.
May Allah guide you, brother.
- Police!
Police!
Police!
- Put your hands up.
Up on top of the car.
- Damn, Odell!
Man, this machine is fucked.
- If it is, you fucked it.
- Zapped my spaceship
right off the screen.
Wasn't nothing even close to it.
- Maybe it was
internal malfunctions.
- Internal malfunctions!
- A spaceship doesn't
have to get hit to crash.
Some of them get
internal malfunctions,
like when the astronauts
cash in their tickets.
That's what usually did it.
Can I help you, brother?
- That's the seat
McVeigh was sitting on
the night Percy
Williams shot him.
Don't nobody like
to sit on that seat.
- Something the matter, brother?
- There's a power in that seat.
- Machine is fucked.
- Internal malfunctions.
- Damn!
Did it again.
- They say it won't be long
before all those satellites
they sent up there years back
going to be crashing
back down to earth.
Insides wear out up there.
Things go haywire.
- No, man, they just get tired.
You know, start
out with this orbit
that's real high and wide,
and the next time around,
you get a little
closer to earth,
next time, a little closer,
and so on,
till gravity hook into it
and it come crashing down.
You hear some
noise on your roof,
and you got a Sputnik
sizzling in the living room.
- Get you something
to drink, brother?
- Maybe he don't drink.
- Man don't drink.
What'd he come into a bar for?
- Man is a fugitive
from a chain gang.
Got a hunted look on him.
- The man's a wino
who should be out on the street.
- Damn, Odell
getting hard-hearted
since he own this bar.
- Yeah, Odell, ain't nobody
after the chair he's on.
Let the man sit.
- Got bloodhounds at his heels.
- He's got internal
malfunctions,
if you ask me.
- Damn, Odell, look at it now.
Look what it's doing.
Looks like that thing they
hook up to the dude's heart
for surgery on TV.
- You broke it.
- I didn't break nothing.
Damn machine up and quit on me.
- Sure you don't want
nothing to drink, brother?
- I want my quarter back.
- You know what's
on them satellites
that come crashing down?
Diseases.
Diseases we ain't
even got a name for.
Space germs.
- Can't nothing live out
in space, not even germs.
No atmosphere.
Odell, give me my quarter back.
- These ones can.
- Man sat on the death seat,
and he felt it.
The seat's got a power to it.
- Sit down, Smokey.
You'll get dizzy again.
- This machine has had it.
Give me my quarter back, Odell.
- Fly, I loaned you that quarter
in the first place.
Hey, brother,
do you speak English?
- You'll get
everything eventually.
- Every time I come in here,
I bring that whole damn folder.
Birth certificate,
death certificate,
doctor's certificate,
job certificate,
landlord certificate, tax form,
receipts, bills.
And every time I come in,
the one little piece
of paper I ain't got
is the one they want.
- Mrs. Brown, I think-
- If I was 10 years younger,
I'd take another job
and be shed of the
whole lot of you.
- Mrs. Brown, look-
- Man tell me I got
to be re-certified
because the regulations
is changing.
Ain't nothing changing.
He just lost the damn form.
You look at that
pile on his desk.
He can't find the telephone
under that pile on his desk.
No way he going to
find my ADC form.
- Mrs. Brown, I think-
- Got egg salad
all down his front
every time he talks to me,
and it ain't even lunchtime yet.
- Mrs. Brown, I'll take
over your re-certification,
if you want me to.
- Man wanted my folder,
but I wouldn't give it to him.
He done lost my whole life
under that pile on that desk.
Do he wash?
- Mrs. Brown, look,
I'm out of here in half an hour.
If we're going to get this
done, I need your help.
- They never should have
let him pass the
civil service test.
Man don't wash.
- The man is deaf,
the man is crazy,
or the man is a wino.
- It takes one to
know one, Smoke.
- Odell?
- Mm-hm?
- When did we have
that new sign put up?
- Let me see.
That was the day Mookie
Wilson stole home.
- Late August.
- Yeah.
- I can't find the bill.
- That's because your
cousin put it up,
and he can't write.
- Don't be smart.
What you want for dinner?
- You mean what do I want,
or what do I want
that you can cook?
- Uh-oh!
- Well, in that case,
where are you taking
me for dinner?
- What do you want to have?
- You mean, what do I want,
or what do I want
that you can afford?
Smokey?
What is he doing?
- Diagnosis.
Diagnosis.
Pour me a drink, Odell.
Scotch.
- Maybe it's rested up now.
Give me another quarter, Odell.
- Here.
You're just going to
bust it up some more.
- How about Chinese food, Dell?
Think you can handle that?
- As long as the
menu's in English.
I don't eat anything
I can't pronounce.
- Oh, this man.
- What are you doing
with that drink, Smokey?
- Diagnosis.
Crazy.
The man is definitely crazy.
- How about Szechuan West?
- You know I don't
go down there.
- Oh, come on,
don't be that way.
- Baby, you name me one thing,
one thing they got
below 110th Street
that we ain't got up here,
you name it, and I'll
stock it in the bar.
- Hey.
- Hey, Sam.
What it is, brother?
- All right!
- Yeah!
Touchdown.
- My man.
Man's still got them soft hands.
- Hey, Bernice, Smokey.
- Hi, Sam.
Try not to break
anything valuable.
- You come just in time, Sam.
We got a client for you.
- I'm off duty.
- Uh-uh.
Check out the guy in the corner.
- Who's his tailor?
- Man's crazy.
I gave him a test.
- He don't talk, neither.
- What am I supposed to do?
- You the city, Sam.
You supposed to figure
out where to put him.
- Men's shelter?
- It's all smelly there.
- Okay, the Hilton.
You got the tab?
- What they pay
you for up there?
- I just make phone calls.
You want him out?
You can call the cops.
- Cops?
Aw, man.
- He knew the death seat
when he sat down on it.
- It's not like I got to go
drum up more business
for the city, you know?
Hi.
What's your name?
- Man don't talk, Sam.
- What's that he talking?
- Man might be Haitian.
They say them Haitians
got diseases, man.
Voodoo germs.
You drank out of that
glass he touched, Smokey.
- Man ain't no Haitian.
- Can you talk?
Nod your head yes or no.
- The only people
got worse diseases than the
Haitians is the Polynesians.
- This is yes.
- Them poor suckers got leprosy.
- This is no.
Can you talk?
- You got leprosy,
first thing happens,
your penis drops off.
- You can't talk, but
you can understand.
- Damn, damn, damn!
Bust again.
Why don't you get someone
to fix this, Odell?
- You're the only fool that
comes in here and plays,
and you don't use
your own quarters.
- Who wants to spend
their own quarters
on a machine that's always
bust halfway through the game?
- He got up on his feet.
- After it drop off,
they just don't seem
to care no more.
- He's messing with
the space shooter.
- You go to them
Polynesian islands,
you see some long faces, man.
Don't never go drinking
out of somebody else's
glass like that, Smokey.
- He fixed it!
The brother fixed it.
How you do that, man?
- Say, brother, how did
you fix that machine?
- You don't go sending
somebody who can fix
a machine like that
to no damn shelter.
The brother got talent.
- Yo, Sam, Bobby's wife has been
taking in boarders now and then.
- Bobby Carter's wife?
- Yeah, big white girl?
- She's in ADC.
She'd better watch her ass.
- You a cop or something?
Hey, this thing works, Odell!
- I don't want her
to lose her benefits.
That's all.
She's not my case.
- Another thing you
don't want to do
is sit on no toilet over
there neither, Polynesia.
- Walter, my man,
you are space-shot,
you know that?
You're cruising
the stratosphere.
- You know how to fix things?
Man's got talent.
- Where you from, bro?
- Up.
Up, up, uptown?
- South Bronx?
- Man's from South Bronx.
They all crazy up there.
- What if he's dangerous though?
It's just her, the kid,
and Bobby's mother.
- Dangerous?
Sam, you got to be a real
pussy since you moved downtown.
Come back home,
it's all dangerous.
- I never lived here, Fly.
- Sam's from Englewood.
- What's that?
- It's in New Jersey.
- You let people know that?
- I hear that playing
those machines too much
does something to
your brain cells.
- Look here, Sam,
I think she's
charging 50 a week,
room and board.
- You got any money?
- You the city, Sam.
You pay for him.
- Every man's got a talent.
- Yep.
Yours is drinking.
- Yeah, and I'm the best too.
- Hey, Sam.
Don't tell Bernice.
- Make some phone calls, Sam.
Get the man a job.
While you're at it, get me one.
- 10 to six, Walter.
Just water.
- Thank you, sir.
If my wife calls, I
have not been here.
- In this bar or on this planet?
- I'll walk him over.
It's on my way to the subway.
Come on.
Come on, brother.
- Sam, before you go,
you got a quarter
I could borrow?
- Say hi to Snow White.
- David's cookies.
Come on.
See you later, guys.
- If I was you,
I'd throw that glass away.
- I can't promise you anything,
but I'll make some phone calls.
I'm afraid you're going to
have to come in to the center
and go through some paperwork.
I hate to do this to you,
but I've got to cover
my ass on this one.
We might be able to get
you set up somewheres,
but it takes a little time.
Hey, brother!
Come on, man.
It's been a long day.
I got a couple
ideas on some jobs,
if you can really fix things.
If this doesn't pan out,
I'm going to have to take you
over to the men's shelter.
- Nice pants, man!
Wearing his pajamas
and shit, man!
- What is that?
Change that shit, man.
- You don't talk, huh?
Well, that's good.
You don't talk, you don't
talk people into things.
You don't talk, you don't lie.
My Bobby, he's off living
with this other girl.
He's always talking
people into things.
He's great at that.
If they had it in the Olympics,
he'd win a gold medal.
Bobby, Bobby.
I met him up at this
place, he comes up to me,
and he starts talking.
Next thing you know,
I'm big as a house
with Little Earl here.
Bobby's sweet, if he
doesn't get bored with you
or see something he likes
better right across the street.
You eat pork?
You don't, you're
out of luck tonight.
That's what we're having.
You don't talk, so you
can't complain, right?
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah!
- Mother's going to come
home and complain now,
like she's some kind
of gourmet cook.
- I cut my knee.
- My philosophy is,
you got complaints,
you just go eat somewheres else.
My mama made us clean
our plates every night,
and she couldn't
cook worth shit.
She'd couldn't even
cook pudding, you know?
She'd cook chocolate pudding
and there'd be
these lumps in it,
like tumors, you know,
like what people
with breast cancer
have cut out.
- Get up there with that bucket.
Why, you,
Look here, muscle-brain.
You pour the water down,
and mop-head will stand
under and see if it leaks.
Hey, watch out with that ladder!
- There were six of us.
I'm from Alabama.
Can you handle that?
Pidcock, Alabama.
I'm up here taking care of
the old lady and Little Earl,
and he's off making
time with some girl
doesn't have any more sense
than I did when I was her age.
If they could see me now.
Where are you from?
You look like you might
be from the South.
No way I'm going back there.
Not with Little Earl, I'm not.
I burned my bridges.
Here.
You look like you might
be about Bobby's size.
Serves him right.
He didn't even come by
to pick up his stuff.
You know, this stuff is
going to rot your brain.
Sometimes I feel like I have
been taken for a slave up here.
You know, they have them.
White slaves.
The Arabs keep them.
It's like a whole
'nother world up here,
a whole 'nother planet.
With all the talking he did,
Bobby didn't ever tell me
how I couldn't go back.
Not unless I give up Earl,
and that's one thing I'm
not ever going to do.
That's the one
thing Bobby gave me
that he didn't take back later.
I've got to stay and
keep Little Earl safe
from all that mess outside.
- Hello, hamster.
- The shoes are almost new.
He didn't wear them
but once or twice.
Mother's okay, you know.
She's got a good heart.
But she resents it,
because she thinks I
drove Bobby away from her.
He said he couldn't
wait to get out of here.
He said it was like
being in jail here,
and now he says that
he's really in love
and all this stuff.
Like he doesn't remember
that he said the exact
same things to me
when we first met.
Like I've got no memory.
Like I've got no feelings.
- I wonder where
this hamster is from.
- The worst is being
alone here all day.
Little Earl.
Yeah, but he talks just
about as much as you do,
and when he does,
he's five years old.
Sometimes I just think
I am going to go crazy
living up here like this.
You eat pork?
- Three-toe.
- Phew.
Hmm.
Boy didn't marry
her for her cooking.
- He didn't marry me, period.
You're lucky you
missed the rain.
- Mm.
Who's that?
- Boarder.
- What's his name?
- I don't know.
He doesn't talk.
They brung him
over from Odell's.
He's nice.
- What's he wearing
Robert's clothes for?
- They fit.
- What's Robert going to say,
he sees somebody walking around
in his clothes?
- Bobby's got his
self a new wardrobe.
He don't care, Mama.
You going to work this weekend?
- Looks like it.
- Sit down and put your feet
up. I'll bring you dinner.
- A bright, white light
streaking over the
Statue of Liberty.
Government officials
attribute the UFO sightings
to commercial air traffic
and unusually clear
atmospheric conditions.
- If Big Earl was still living,
he'd straighten
that boy out fast.
I see you got the TV fixed.
- No, it just fixed itself.
- Girl, nothing in
this world fix itself.
Little Earl,
take your nose away
from that machine.
Come give your
grandma some sugar.
- Where's his tools?
You need tools?
Everybody needs tools.
- Look, just let him try,
and if he doesn't fix anything,
it's not going to cost you.
- He doesn't have parts,
either. You need parts.
- Come on.
What's it going to hurt?
You might even get some
cheap repairs out of it.
- Hector!
We're in the Job Corps.
Come and get this guy.
- Here it is, brother,
pinball graveyard.
I've been bugging Mr. Lowe
to unload these
turkeys for months.
Mr. Lowe says you don't talk.
Hey, you looking for
the outlet, brother?
There it is, right here, okay?
Yeow.
Are you going to fix these
machines, brother, or what?
There she goes again.
That's the reason
why these suckers
are all on the blink,
man, that girl.
She can play all
day on a quarter,
if she don't get bored.
Wears the machines down.
I mean, she's in
here todos los dias,
like a fucking zombie.
Bing bong, bing bong,
bing bong, bing bong, bing bong.
Hey, you must be from
Carolina, Puerto Rico.
That's where all the
brothers come from, you know?
Like Clemente.
He was out of this world, man.
He made it to the top
without a knife or a gun.
He used a baseball bat.
Yeah.
Anyway, Mr. Lowe is a
weasel-dick motherfucker,
so you watch your
ass with him, okay?
And if you need anything,
llama Hector, huh?
Hector, no mas.
- It's a whole new
breed coming up.
- Uh-huh.
- They don't know.
Young bloods got no sense
of history coming up.
They give themselves some
African-sounding name,
Jamocha Ali, Rashid quadruple X.
They think they in
touch with the past.
- Don't start up with
that again, Walter.
It messes with my game.
- I remember when
there was history here.
- Go light on them
cookies, Smoke.
Suckers cost a fortune.
- They're good, though.
- Yeah, this was
where it was, Fly.
Harlem was the place.
- Still is, Walter.
- Not like it was.
- Ain't nothing like it was.
That's history, man.
It don't stand still for nobody.
- Yeah, this is
where it was, Fly.
Harlem was the end of the line.
- I don't see nobody
here going nowheres.
- Yeah, you hit Harlem,
you had made it.
Smokey remembers,
don't you, Smoke?
- Some days I do,
some days I don't.
- I'd rather be a cockroach
on a baseboard up here
than the emperor of Mississippi.
- I remember certain
Saturday nights.
I was a little boy peeking
round my mama's legs.
What it was?
It was elegant.
- Harlem was the place.
- Yeah.
- End of the line.
- Beer.
- What kind?
- Draft.
- On the rocks.
- Have any of you seen this man?
- We have reason to
believe he's been in here.
- Lots of people
have been in here.
What's his name?
- Didn't he tell you?
- How the man going to tell you
his name when he can't talk!
- Where is he?
- Look, y'all got
any kind of ID?
- ID?
- Your badges, man.
- Badges?
- What badges?
- We don't have to
show you any badges.
- Look, if you're dicks,
you've got badges.
- What makes you
think we're dicks?
- I could answer that.
- Well, look, if
you ain't dicks,
what the hell am I
talking to you for, then?
- Government.
- Whose government?
- Immigration.
- We have reason to believe
this man is an illegal alien.
- So's half the fucking city.
So what?
- Could we see your
green card, mister?
- Green card?
Man, what you
talking, green card?
Green card, my black ass.
My people built this
country, sucker.
You ever been to South Carolina?
Huh?
My people built that.
- Can't build a state, man.
- Look, all I know is when
they got off the boat,
there wasn't nothing there.
Now there's shopping malls and,
what's that shit?
Miniature golf, from nothing.
Ask me for a green card.
My people was in
the revolution, Jim.
How long you been here?
- Keep the change, sport.
- That's $2, man.
- We'll be back.
- White folks get
stranger all the time.
- Hey, Jefe, taking
lunch now, okay?
- How's that colored
fellow doing in the back?
- Haven't heard a
peep out of him.
- They're clever with
their hands, the colored,
but they forget things.
This one forgot his tools.
No management skills.
English, Hector, Se
habla English here!
How's it going in here, brother?
You've been a busy man!
Since you're all finished here,
how's about you keep
a lid on the kids
while I get a bite?
All you've got to
do is make change.
You know how to make
change, don't you?
Hector will be back 10
minutes late, as usual.
They give you a good
day's work, the Spanish,
but they've got
no sense of time.
- Are you the new fix-it man?
As fast as you can
fix these things,
I can wear them down.
They don't make
them fast enough.
Playing like, warp 10
on everything in here,
playing max on the
difficulty scale,
and still, I'm totally
inside their time, you know?
You know what that's like?
It's like everything
in the world
is going slow-motion,
except you.
Boring, right?
Can't do nothing about it.
You know everything that'll
happen before it does.
Can't change it,
just shoot it down
when it comes.
Bad enough in here.
You should see what
it's like at home.
Do you know what
I'm talking about?
Just once,
just once I wish it could
be me going slow-motion,
everything else zipping past.
Hey, what are you doing?
Hey, all right.
There's no way you'll
beat me, though.
I'll wear you down.
That was fantastic.
- Excuse me.
You want to see a card trick?
No, really.
It's a story.
Move over.
Go ahead, move over.
I'm going to tell
you a little story
about Joe and the bartender.
The bartender goes to Joe,
"You know, business has been
real slow in my bar, Joe.
I was wondering if
you could go out
and get four drinking buddies
to come drink at my bar, and
I'll give you two bucks?"
Joe goes, "Sure, I could use
the money," so Joe goes out.
Cut the cards.
Cut the cards.
Okay, I'll cut them for you.
So Joe goes out,
and Joe's gone five,
he's gone 10, he's gone 15,
he's gone 20,
he's gone 26 minutes,
and he comes back
huffing and a-puffing
and he says, "All
right, Mr. Bartender,
here's your four guys."
The bartender goes, "Great,
Joe, there's your two bucks,"
so they're just
sitting around talking,
and the bartender goes, "Joe,
these four guys, they're
kind of lonely, Joe.
I was wondering if you
could go get four girls
to drink with the four guys?
I'll give you two more bucks."
Joe goes, "Sure, that's easy.
I've got lots of girlfriends,"
so Joe goes out.
Cut the cards.
#~That's right.
Okay, I'll do it for you.
So Joe goes out,
and Joe's gone five,
he's gone 10, he's gone 15,
he's gone 17 minutes,
and he comes back
huffing and a-puffing,
and he says, "All
right, Mr. Bartender,
there's your four girls to
drink with the four guys."
The bartender goes, "Great,
there's your two bucks,
but, Joe, it took you so
long to get the girls,
the guys, they left, so
do me one last favor.
Go get me four more
drinking buddies,
two cases of Ace High whiskey,
and change for two 20s,
and I'll give you
two more bucks.
The last time I'll
send you out."
Joe goes, "Sure, but
I'm sick of going out.
I don't want to go out
anymore." So cut the cards.
Go ahead.
Okay, I'll cut
them for you again.
So Joe goes, and this
time Joe hurries back.
He's gone five,
he's gone 10, he's
gone 15 minutes.
He comes back and says,
"All right, Mr. Bartender,
there's your four
drinking buddies,
your two cases of
Ace High whiskey,
and your change for two 20s."
Bartender goes, "Great,
there's your two bucks.
Thanks a lot."
So they're just
sitting around talking,
and the bartender goes,
"Are you a family man, Joe?"
He goes, "I certainly am.
I've got seven kids.
Four boys, three girls."
The bartender goes, "I've got
three boys and four girls.
That's great, Joe.
How old are you, Joe?"
"Well, I'm 67.
My wife, she says she's 55.
She's really 65."
"Oh, that's great, Joe.
Joe, are you a gambling man?"
"I sure am. I play at the
96 Club on 42nd Street.
The other night I won $499.
My partner, he had a full house,
aces over eights,
which usually wins,
but I said not
this time, sucker,
I got a straight flush."
I have another
magic trick for you.
Want to see me make all
the white people disappear?
- The 10 Street, Columbo
Circle, 125th Street next.
This is the Uptown A
Express going to 2-7.
Change for the double A local
across the platform, the D.
On the upper level,
change for the Number
One Broadway train.
- See?
What did I tell you?
- Uptown A, 125th Street next.
- No, we're not late.
Look, it says here,
"Professor Maxwell,
seminar participants only,
wine and cheese."
- Oh, good, I'm starving.
- Four o'clock, there we are.
Now we've just
got to find the...
Ed, do you recognize
any of this?
- You mean the architecture?
- No, no.
The neighborhood, actually.
I don't seem to remember
seeing quite so many-
- Maybe it's the back way in.
I remember there was a gate,
and you could see the library.
- Yeah, I don't see
the library, Ed.
- Well, it's behind a wall.
- I think we're in Harlem, Ed.
- That's not where
we want to be.
- No, it isn't.
You, uh,
you haven't been paying
attention, have you,
after we got out of the subway?
- Well, I couldn't
tell you, like,
where the subway entrance is,
or how to find it.
Is that what you mean?
- We're lost.
We're lost in Harlem.
- I don't think we're going
to make that reception.
- No, no.
- A couple of beers, please.
Do you have Bud?
- Hi.
- How's it going?
- We're in for the
self-actualization conference
at the University.
- Do you know where
the subway is?
- Good nose.
- We're from Indiana.
- That's right next to Illinois,
where Chicago is.
- He knows that, Ed.
- Well, a lot of
folks around here
don't have a very clear
picture of the Midwest.
- Can you, like, point in
the direction of the subway?
- He's right.
That's where it is.
- So where are you from?
- I mean,
I didn't want to be
like Ernie Banks.
I wanted to be Ernie Banks.
- Mr. Cub.
- And it never
really dawned on me
that he was black, you know?
- Wrist hitter.
- I was, you know,
what, seven years old,
and he was just Ernie Banks.
He was my hero.
- All in the wrists.
- There weren't any
black people in my town.
At least, I don't
think there were.
- Mr. Cub.
- Is it eight o'clock?
Geez, will you look at that?
This is really something, huh?
Wander in here off the street.
I mean, if people would sit down
and talk like this more often-
- Communication,
that's what it's all about.
- Three blocks south,
one block east.
Subway entrance.
You want the A train, downtown.
Hm?
- Okay, right.
Thanks.
- Yeah.
That's quite a
grip you got there.
- Give me five, brother.
- Thanks a million, folks!
- You a popular
man today, brother.
You know, there were two others
in here earlier looking for you.
- Men in black.
No, man.
White skin, black clothes,
and they were stranger
than these two.
- Motherfucker, hand it over.
Come on, fucker, I'll
cut your fucking face!
Put it here.
- He's retarded, man.
He don't know what you saying.
- Fuck ain't retarded,
he's just holding out.
- The money, mister.
Give him your money!
- Hurry up, punk!
That's for holding
out, motherfuck!
- Pick it up, Willis.
- You got blood all
over it, Rickey.
- Man, hustle your butt,
or I'll cut your ass too.
- Let me go, Mister!
Let me go!
- There was blood on the floor
at the bottom of
the stairs tonight.
I hope one of them poor boys
who hangs out there
didn't get hurt.
- They're not poor boys,
Mama, they're junkies.
They bust that light
down there again?
- Light was out.
- If the super
doesn't put a lock
on that front door,
I'm going to wring his neck.
- Where are you from?
- Noreen, did a client
come in while I was out?
A black man, around
30-something,
kind of strange, doesn't talk?
- No.
No-show?
- Third interview he's
crapped out on this week.
- More power to him if
he can do it without us.
- The girls and I had our
first hit with this one.
Hope you like it.
- That's how it is, brother.
Cover charge is $15.
All you've got is five
and some change, here.
If the boss wasn't around,
I would slip you by,
but he's been in
my ass all night.
Some other time, all right?
- Yo, brother, you
forgot your money!
- Welcome to Babylon, brother.
You got that faraway
look in your eye.
Come out here with intents
upon realizing the
truth, I think.
There's many a peril laying
out there for you, brother.
Don't want to lose the way.
Let Virgil guide you, man,
inform you in the
ways of the night.
Children withering
away up here, brother,
worshiping the idol of capital,
lusting after the
false salvation
of here and now.
Black brother and sister
perishing up here, man,
waiting for scraps
from oppressor's table.
Oppressor got us for house pet,
doing tricks to get rewards.
Oppressor need a slave,
him find it here.
Oppressor need a harlot,
him find it here.
Oppressor don't need you at all.
Why get away from the mob?
- You fellas want to party?
- All people on the street
at nighttime, brother-
- Hey, listen, I'll give you
a blowjob if you fix my shoe.
- Look at what we own.
- You think you can fix it?
- Everything Babylon make-
- Come on.
- Everything it take
in, it shit out here.
- Hey, listen,
listen, it's a bargain!
- Hey mop-head, bring your
handsome friend back here.
- Nighttime is promise, brother.
You make deals in the night.
Pay all you've got for
what you can't see,
and when sun come
up, illuminate,
we been cheated again.
All the people desire
walking the streets
at nighttime, brother.
All the people feeling.
People dream, people
fear, people hatred.
All that's eating
your heart in the day,
all them feelings too dangerous
to show the oppressor,
come out prowling for
confrontation at nighttime.
We're killing each other
on these streets, brother.
This place not
your home, brother.
Virgil don't have
to inform you this.
Here, brother.
Take the ship back.
Just for a night,
take the ship back.
Just for a night,
take the ship home
to the promised land.
- Have you seen this man?
Could you say that in English?
- Fucking Roy
Orbison, Johnny Cash.
- I think we'll have to
speak with your supervisor.
- Harriet Tubman made
over 30 trips back South
after she escaped
that first time.
Now, every time,
she was in danger
of being captured
and sent back to the
people who had owned her.
Men and women who
had been slaves
made their way, with
Harriet's guidance,
through hostile country,
going from station to station
on the Underground Railroad
till they reached New York.
Now, New York was
the promised land.
New York was the
end of the line.
Sometimes bounty hunters
would track them up North
and kidnap them
back into slavery.
- Randy Sue Carter?
We would like to ask
you some questions.
- If you're looking for Bobby,
I have no idea where he is.
- We have reason to believe
that this man has
been living with you.
- He comes and goes.
Right now he's gone.
- Where does he work?
- Here and there.
He fixes things.
What do you want with him?
- Immigration.
- Immigration?
Give me a break.
We had a kid overdose right
downstairs last night,
and you're pestering people
about whether they got
some piece of paper
that says they're legal?
- Will he be coming
back tonight?
- You want to know
what my opinion is?
- Just the facts, ma'am.
- My opinion is that you people
just made up this
immigration scam,
just to keep people
under your thumb.
- Is he coming back tonight?
- What am I, his mother?
Wait for him.
See if I care.
Just don't do it in my kitchen.
- Ma'am, have you ever
looked at his feet?
- What are you, sick?
- You going to sit
on that all night?
Very funny.
Look, can I get
you another drink?
I don't care,
but the boss has been
on my ass all night.
Good, I'll get you another one.
- Thank you, thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Listen, I'm going to
sit here for a minute,
but don't get any
ideas, all right?
The man that owns this club
has been on my ass
since I opened here
and I am trying to
keep him off of it,
so if he comes by, you
are my gentleman friend
from Philadelphia, okay?
Well, what's your name, honey?
You can't talk?
Well, some alibi
you're going to be.
You can hear, can't you?
You like my singing?
Oh, well.
My voice isn't what it used to
be when I was with the girls,
but it's got character.
- There you are, precious.
How's my girl tonight?
- Mr. Price, this is Louis.
Louis is from Philadelphia.
- Pleased to meet you, Louis.
- Louis doesn't talk.
- Well, that so?
Well, that's awful.
That's just terrible.
Must leave you out of the
conversation, huh, Louis?
Hey, look here, precious,
what I found digging
through the office.
Must have been
taken 15 years ago.
- Oh, look at this, Louis.
This is me and the girls.
We were just kids.
- You were flying
high in them days.
- Yeah.
- Must have felt like
it would last forever.
- Mm-hm.
- I remember when you
were working the Apollo.
I had to stand in
line to get a ticket.
- That'll happen.
- Yeah, standing out in
the rain a whole hour
just to see my favorite singer,
and now here you
are, working my club.
- Here I am.
- You know, it's funny how
when one is shooting up,
the other's tumbling down.
Must be a law of nature.
- That's real funny.
- But there's always some point
when the one shooting up
and the one tumbling down
is on the same level,
even if it's just for
one little second.
- Mm-hm.
- I was wondering, after
your last set tonight,
maybe you and I can-
- Oh, Mr. Price, I'm so sorry.
Louis and I have
made other plans.
- Well,
that's just too bad, isn't it?
Nice talking to you, Louis.
Flying high in them days.
- I will never
tumble down that low.
- Another drink.
- Thank you.
Now, do you really
like my singing?
Really?
As long as I have been
wearing these things,
I still haven't
gotten used to them.
Like to go blind, flapping
them around in bed.
I'll only be a second, honey.
You haven't gone to sleep
on me now, have you?
Look, make a noise if
you're still awake, okay?
I have been out with
some guys who were quiet,
but this really takes it.
You know, I don't do this a lot.
People think because
you're on tour,
you're always sleeping around,
but it's not true.
Well, most tours, it's not.
When we were young and foolish
and still singing
in bowling alleys.
Of course, that all changed
when I hooked up with Rodney.
Boy, you know, I hardly even
think about Rodney anymore,
but as bad as things got,
I sure miss the girls.
Well, you didn't waste any time
getting comfortable, did you?
Well, here I am.
Still interested?
How come I like you so much?
You could be anybody.
Louis,
hey, try and stay with me, okay?
I mean, let's just
forget about that woman
that you saw on stage.
It's just you and me, okay?
I'm flying at four,
so I've got to be to
Kennedy by three o'clock.
I remember when Rodney decided
to go on the road with me.
As long as he didn't have
to carry my bags, he said.
He wouldn't even
let me carry them.
Sometimes we'd have to
wait for a half an hour
for the porter to come.
Rodney was like that, though,
real proud about
the little things.
Now, I don't know when
I'll be back in New York,
because I don't have any
bookings after Atlanta.
You were great in
bed last night,
but you're going to have
to do something
about them toenails.
- Yo, man, how
about a little help?
Come on, put it
in the hoop, man.
Come on, brother.
Come on, shoot it up!
All right.
Funny-looking motherfucker,
but he can shoot, can't he?
- So how long you
been up here, pal?
I mean, are you
a native or what?
My first day in this precinct.
My partner upstairs,
he's been handing me all
kinds of horror stories.
Like, you know,
how they're going to cook
me, eat me alive up here,
I don't look out what I'm doing.
Yeah.
Can't be all that bad, I figure.
Looks pretty damn
nice to me, Harlem.
I mean, you know, like,
people are people, right?
I mean, you put on a uniform,
it's not like you hand in
your status as a human being.
I mean, we're here to
protect and serve, right?
Like it says on the LA,
cruisers on "Adam-12".
You know, they never
should have taken
that show off the air.
So, what do you think?
Yeah, well, take it easy, pal.
- Is Sam Prescott in?
- Are you clients of his?
- We're looking for this man.
- Ever see him?
- Are you gentlemen
with an agency?
- Immigration.
- FBI.
We're working
together on this one.
- I see.
Okay.
This is an inter-agency
request for information form.
You both have to complete this
and take it to the
Applications receptionist.
That's line seven in
the central office,
and I'm going to need
documentation on both of you.
This can be birth certificate,
alien naturalization papers,
draft registration,
military ID card,
military discharge papers,
and I'll need a letter
from your department heads
on official stationery
verifying employment
and something with
a picture on it.
No student IDs allowed.
This is form 10-7G.
Fill this out and
have it notarized.
- We'll come back later.
When Mr. Prescott is in.
- And I'll need social security
numbers on both of you.
- I'm sorry.
You just can't stay here.
If it was just me, it
would be different,
but I have Little Earl and
the mother to think about.
I have got to take care of them.
I mean, those guys just
gave me the creeps.
Is there anything that you need?
Clothes or money or anything?
Well, I hope you understand,
but whatever you're
messed up in,
I can't take the chance.
It's been nice knowing you.
- Great deal!
Casios, $40.
My low overhead ensures
you great savings.
Casio 45s, $40, $40.
Great deal, sir.
Great deal, $40.
Anyone can be a musician.
Just try it.
It's a great gift.
Step right up!
Play a Casio.
- So I say to him,
"Barry, I wouldn't call what
we have a relationship,"
and he says to me, "What
would you call it?"
I said, "We're just
seeing each other,"
and he says, "To me,
that's a relationship."
I said, "Barry, call
it what you want.
To me, we're just
seeing each other."
I can't believe this guy.
I have gone out
with him five times,
and he wants a relationship.
Why?
I can't believe it.
I don't want to
get that serious.
I mean, I someday want to
get married and have babies,
but five times?
He's cute and everything.
I mean, I knew he was
interested in me right away.
Believe me, I knew he
was interested in me.
I could tell immediately.
Can I help you?
Do you have an appointment?
You can't go in there
if you don't have
an appointment.
Do you have something
to deliver to Mr. Vance?
Look, go downstairs,
have them call up,
and we'll get you a floor pass
and we'll start
from scratch, okay?
Number one, he's short.
I mean, he can't help that,
but I can't help the
way I feel about that,
and you know what else?
He wears those shirts
with the little epaulet
things on the shoulders.
- Hey, brother,
what's happening?
- I know how the man feels.
My bladder ain't worth
beans these days.
- I heard Bobby's old
lady threw him out
on account of them guys
been looking for him.
I wonder how he's making out.
- Oh, the flesh is weak,
the spirit finds a way.
- What was that, man?
- I'm open.
Dell, hit me.
Hit me.
- Flea-flicker.
- Hey, now.
Buttonhook at 10.
- Look at them hands.
Z-out and fly.
Bump and run.
- Come on, let a man
drink in peace, will you?
- The bomb.
- Where is he?
- Now, Smokey.
- You know, I don't know if
I like him in bed or not.
The sex is okay and everything.
It's not great, though.
He has fabulous hands.
He's got great hands.
He's from New Hampshire, though.
That's kind of weird.
I always thought I'd meet a guy.
- Who are you?
How did you get in?
Who sent you?
Did Gregory send you?
You want some of
this, is that what?
Here, take all you want.
Look, whoever's
paying you for this
isn't paying you what I could.
I've got an organization here.
We're diversifying.
We're moving in every direction.
This, this is nothing.
It solves some
cash flow problems.
It solves some
problems on the books.
You tell me who sent you,
and I'll cut you in.
That's what you want, isn't it?
A piece of the action?
It's stupid to go
for just one score.
Oh, I knew it was a mistake
getting involved
with you people.
You don't see the big picture.
You just don't see.
What are you?
Look, whoever you are,
we can still talk.
There's still time.
I own real estate.
- Three-toe.
is dedicated to giving
the neighborhood youth
an education in history
and a background
in Islamic culture.
The Spirit House is funded
totally through
private donations.
May Allah guide you, brother.
- Police!
Police!
Police!
- Put your hands up.
Up on top of the car.
- Damn, Odell!
Man, this machine is fucked.
- If it is, you fucked it.
- Zapped my spaceship
right off the screen.
Wasn't nothing even close to it.
- Maybe it was
internal malfunctions.
- Internal malfunctions!
- A spaceship doesn't
have to get hit to crash.
Some of them get
internal malfunctions,
like when the astronauts
cash in their tickets.
That's what usually did it.
Can I help you, brother?
- That's the seat
McVeigh was sitting on
the night Percy
Williams shot him.
Don't nobody like
to sit on that seat.
- Something the matter, brother?
- There's a power in that seat.
- Machine is fucked.
- Internal malfunctions.
- Damn!
Did it again.
- They say it won't be long
before all those satellites
they sent up there years back
going to be crashing
back down to earth.
Insides wear out up there.
Things go haywire.
- No, man, they just get tired.
You know, start
out with this orbit
that's real high and wide,
and the next time around,
you get a little
closer to earth,
next time, a little closer,
and so on,
till gravity hook into it
and it come crashing down.
You hear some
noise on your roof,
and you got a Sputnik
sizzling in the living room.
- Get you something
to drink, brother?
- Maybe he don't drink.
- Man don't drink.
What'd he come into a bar for?
- Man is a fugitive
from a chain gang.
Got a hunted look on him.
- The man's a wino
who should be out on the street.
- Damn, Odell
getting hard-hearted
since he own this bar.
- Yeah, Odell, ain't nobody
after the chair he's on.
Let the man sit.
- Got bloodhounds at his heels.
- He's got internal
malfunctions,
if you ask me.
- Damn, Odell, look at it now.
Look what it's doing.
Looks like that thing they
hook up to the dude's heart
for surgery on TV.
- You broke it.
- I didn't break nothing.
Damn machine up and quit on me.
- Sure you don't want
nothing to drink, brother?
- I want my quarter back.
- You know what's
on them satellites
that come crashing down?
Diseases.
Diseases we ain't
even got a name for.
Space germs.
- Can't nothing live out
in space, not even germs.
No atmosphere.
Odell, give me my quarter back.
- These ones can.
- Man sat on the death seat,
and he felt it.
The seat's got a power to it.
- Sit down, Smokey.
You'll get dizzy again.
- This machine has had it.
Give me my quarter back, Odell.
- Fly, I loaned you that quarter
in the first place.
Hey, brother,
do you speak English?
- You'll get
everything eventually.
- Every time I come in here,
I bring that whole damn folder.
Birth certificate,
death certificate,
doctor's certificate,
job certificate,
landlord certificate, tax form,
receipts, bills.
And every time I come in,
the one little piece
of paper I ain't got
is the one they want.
- Mrs. Brown, I think-
- If I was 10 years younger,
I'd take another job
and be shed of the
whole lot of you.
- Mrs. Brown, look-
- Man tell me I got
to be re-certified
because the regulations
is changing.
Ain't nothing changing.
He just lost the damn form.
You look at that
pile on his desk.
He can't find the telephone
under that pile on his desk.
No way he going to
find my ADC form.
- Mrs. Brown, I think-
- Got egg salad
all down his front
every time he talks to me,
and it ain't even lunchtime yet.
- Mrs. Brown, I'll take
over your re-certification,
if you want me to.
- Man wanted my folder,
but I wouldn't give it to him.
He done lost my whole life
under that pile on that desk.
Do he wash?
- Mrs. Brown, look,
I'm out of here in half an hour.
If we're going to get this
done, I need your help.
- They never should have
let him pass the
civil service test.
Man don't wash.
- The man is deaf,
the man is crazy,
or the man is a wino.
- It takes one to
know one, Smoke.
- Odell?
- Mm-hm?
- When did we have
that new sign put up?
- Let me see.
That was the day Mookie
Wilson stole home.
- Late August.
- Yeah.
- I can't find the bill.
- That's because your
cousin put it up,
and he can't write.
- Don't be smart.
What you want for dinner?
- You mean what do I want,
or what do I want
that you can cook?
- Uh-oh!
- Well, in that case,
where are you taking
me for dinner?
- What do you want to have?
- You mean, what do I want,
or what do I want
that you can afford?
Smokey?
What is he doing?
- Diagnosis.
Diagnosis.
Pour me a drink, Odell.
Scotch.
- Maybe it's rested up now.
Give me another quarter, Odell.
- Here.
You're just going to
bust it up some more.
- How about Chinese food, Dell?
Think you can handle that?
- As long as the
menu's in English.
I don't eat anything
I can't pronounce.
- Oh, this man.
- What are you doing
with that drink, Smokey?
- Diagnosis.
Crazy.
The man is definitely crazy.
- How about Szechuan West?
- You know I don't
go down there.
- Oh, come on,
don't be that way.
- Baby, you name me one thing,
one thing they got
below 110th Street
that we ain't got up here,
you name it, and I'll
stock it in the bar.
- Hey.
- Hey, Sam.
What it is, brother?
- All right!
- Yeah!
Touchdown.
- My man.
Man's still got them soft hands.
- Hey, Bernice, Smokey.
- Hi, Sam.
Try not to break
anything valuable.
- You come just in time, Sam.
We got a client for you.
- I'm off duty.
- Uh-uh.
Check out the guy in the corner.
- Who's his tailor?
- Man's crazy.
I gave him a test.
- He don't talk, neither.
- What am I supposed to do?
- You the city, Sam.
You supposed to figure
out where to put him.
- Men's shelter?
- It's all smelly there.
- Okay, the Hilton.
You got the tab?
- What they pay
you for up there?
- I just make phone calls.
You want him out?
You can call the cops.
- Cops?
Aw, man.
- He knew the death seat
when he sat down on it.
- It's not like I got to go
drum up more business
for the city, you know?
Hi.
What's your name?
- Man don't talk, Sam.
- What's that he talking?
- Man might be Haitian.
They say them Haitians
got diseases, man.
Voodoo germs.
You drank out of that
glass he touched, Smokey.
- Man ain't no Haitian.
- Can you talk?
Nod your head yes or no.
- The only people
got worse diseases than the
Haitians is the Polynesians.
- This is yes.
- Them poor suckers got leprosy.
- This is no.
Can you talk?
- You got leprosy,
first thing happens,
your penis drops off.
- You can't talk, but
you can understand.
- Damn, damn, damn!
Bust again.
Why don't you get someone
to fix this, Odell?
- You're the only fool that
comes in here and plays,
and you don't use
your own quarters.
- Who wants to spend
their own quarters
on a machine that's always
bust halfway through the game?
- He got up on his feet.
- After it drop off,
they just don't seem
to care no more.
- He's messing with
the space shooter.
- You go to them
Polynesian islands,
you see some long faces, man.
Don't never go drinking
out of somebody else's
glass like that, Smokey.
- He fixed it!
The brother fixed it.
How you do that, man?
- Say, brother, how did
you fix that machine?
- You don't go sending
somebody who can fix
a machine like that
to no damn shelter.
The brother got talent.
- Yo, Sam, Bobby's wife has been
taking in boarders now and then.
- Bobby Carter's wife?
- Yeah, big white girl?
- She's in ADC.
She'd better watch her ass.
- You a cop or something?
Hey, this thing works, Odell!
- I don't want her
to lose her benefits.
That's all.
She's not my case.
- Another thing you
don't want to do
is sit on no toilet over
there neither, Polynesia.
- Walter, my man,
you are space-shot,
you know that?
You're cruising
the stratosphere.
- You know how to fix things?
Man's got talent.
- Where you from, bro?
- Up.
Up, up, uptown?
- South Bronx?
- Man's from South Bronx.
They all crazy up there.
- What if he's dangerous though?
It's just her, the kid,
and Bobby's mother.
- Dangerous?
Sam, you got to be a real
pussy since you moved downtown.
Come back home,
it's all dangerous.
- I never lived here, Fly.
- Sam's from Englewood.
- What's that?
- It's in New Jersey.
- You let people know that?
- I hear that playing
those machines too much
does something to
your brain cells.
- Look here, Sam,
I think she's
charging 50 a week,
room and board.
- You got any money?
- You the city, Sam.
You pay for him.
- Every man's got a talent.
- Yep.
Yours is drinking.
- Yeah, and I'm the best too.
- Hey, Sam.
Don't tell Bernice.
- Make some phone calls, Sam.
Get the man a job.
While you're at it, get me one.
- 10 to six, Walter.
Just water.
- Thank you, sir.
If my wife calls, I
have not been here.
- In this bar or on this planet?
- I'll walk him over.
It's on my way to the subway.
Come on.
Come on, brother.
- Sam, before you go,
you got a quarter
I could borrow?
- Say hi to Snow White.
- David's cookies.
Come on.
See you later, guys.
- If I was you,
I'd throw that glass away.
- I can't promise you anything,
but I'll make some phone calls.
I'm afraid you're going to
have to come in to the center
and go through some paperwork.
I hate to do this to you,
but I've got to cover
my ass on this one.
We might be able to get
you set up somewheres,
but it takes a little time.
Hey, brother!
Come on, man.
It's been a long day.
I got a couple
ideas on some jobs,
if you can really fix things.
If this doesn't pan out,
I'm going to have to take you
over to the men's shelter.
- Nice pants, man!
Wearing his pajamas
and shit, man!
- What is that?
Change that shit, man.
- You don't talk, huh?
Well, that's good.
You don't talk, you don't
talk people into things.
You don't talk, you don't lie.
My Bobby, he's off living
with this other girl.
He's always talking
people into things.
He's great at that.
If they had it in the Olympics,
he'd win a gold medal.
Bobby, Bobby.
I met him up at this
place, he comes up to me,
and he starts talking.
Next thing you know,
I'm big as a house
with Little Earl here.
Bobby's sweet, if he
doesn't get bored with you
or see something he likes
better right across the street.
You eat pork?
You don't, you're
out of luck tonight.
That's what we're having.
You don't talk, so you
can't complain, right?
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah!
- Mother's going to come
home and complain now,
like she's some kind
of gourmet cook.
- I cut my knee.
- My philosophy is,
you got complaints,
you just go eat somewheres else.
My mama made us clean
our plates every night,
and she couldn't
cook worth shit.
She'd couldn't even
cook pudding, you know?
She'd cook chocolate pudding
and there'd be
these lumps in it,
like tumors, you know,
like what people
with breast cancer
have cut out.
- Get up there with that bucket.
Why, you,
Look here, muscle-brain.
You pour the water down,
and mop-head will stand
under and see if it leaks.
Hey, watch out with that ladder!
- There were six of us.
I'm from Alabama.
Can you handle that?
Pidcock, Alabama.
I'm up here taking care of
the old lady and Little Earl,
and he's off making
time with some girl
doesn't have any more sense
than I did when I was her age.
If they could see me now.
Where are you from?
You look like you might
be from the South.
No way I'm going back there.
Not with Little Earl, I'm not.
I burned my bridges.
Here.
You look like you might
be about Bobby's size.
Serves him right.
He didn't even come by
to pick up his stuff.
You know, this stuff is
going to rot your brain.
Sometimes I feel like I have
been taken for a slave up here.
You know, they have them.
White slaves.
The Arabs keep them.
It's like a whole
'nother world up here,
a whole 'nother planet.
With all the talking he did,
Bobby didn't ever tell me
how I couldn't go back.
Not unless I give up Earl,
and that's one thing I'm
not ever going to do.
That's the one
thing Bobby gave me
that he didn't take back later.
I've got to stay and
keep Little Earl safe
from all that mess outside.
- Hello, hamster.
- The shoes are almost new.
He didn't wear them
but once or twice.
Mother's okay, you know.
She's got a good heart.
But she resents it,
because she thinks I
drove Bobby away from her.
He said he couldn't
wait to get out of here.
He said it was like
being in jail here,
and now he says that
he's really in love
and all this stuff.
Like he doesn't remember
that he said the exact
same things to me
when we first met.
Like I've got no memory.
Like I've got no feelings.
- I wonder where
this hamster is from.
- The worst is being
alone here all day.
Little Earl.
Yeah, but he talks just
about as much as you do,
and when he does,
he's five years old.
Sometimes I just think
I am going to go crazy
living up here like this.
You eat pork?
- Three-toe.
- Phew.
Hmm.
Boy didn't marry
her for her cooking.
- He didn't marry me, period.
You're lucky you
missed the rain.
- Mm.
Who's that?
- Boarder.
- What's his name?
- I don't know.
He doesn't talk.
They brung him
over from Odell's.
He's nice.
- What's he wearing
Robert's clothes for?
- They fit.
- What's Robert going to say,
he sees somebody walking around
in his clothes?
- Bobby's got his
self a new wardrobe.
He don't care, Mama.
You going to work this weekend?
- Looks like it.
- Sit down and put your feet
up. I'll bring you dinner.
- A bright, white light
streaking over the
Statue of Liberty.
Government officials
attribute the UFO sightings
to commercial air traffic
and unusually clear
atmospheric conditions.
- If Big Earl was still living,
he'd straighten
that boy out fast.
I see you got the TV fixed.
- No, it just fixed itself.
- Girl, nothing in
this world fix itself.
Little Earl,
take your nose away
from that machine.
Come give your
grandma some sugar.
- Where's his tools?
You need tools?
Everybody needs tools.
- Look, just let him try,
and if he doesn't fix anything,
it's not going to cost you.
- He doesn't have parts,
either. You need parts.
- Come on.
What's it going to hurt?
You might even get some
cheap repairs out of it.
- Hector!
We're in the Job Corps.
Come and get this guy.
- Here it is, brother,
pinball graveyard.
I've been bugging Mr. Lowe
to unload these
turkeys for months.
Mr. Lowe says you don't talk.
Hey, you looking for
the outlet, brother?
There it is, right here, okay?
Yeow.
Are you going to fix these
machines, brother, or what?
There she goes again.
That's the reason
why these suckers
are all on the blink,
man, that girl.
She can play all
day on a quarter,
if she don't get bored.
Wears the machines down.
I mean, she's in
here todos los dias,
like a fucking zombie.
Bing bong, bing bong,
bing bong, bing bong, bing bong.
Hey, you must be from
Carolina, Puerto Rico.
That's where all the
brothers come from, you know?
Like Clemente.
He was out of this world, man.
He made it to the top
without a knife or a gun.
He used a baseball bat.
Yeah.
Anyway, Mr. Lowe is a
weasel-dick motherfucker,
so you watch your
ass with him, okay?
And if you need anything,
llama Hector, huh?
Hector, no mas.
- It's a whole new
breed coming up.
- Uh-huh.
- They don't know.
Young bloods got no sense
of history coming up.
They give themselves some
African-sounding name,
Jamocha Ali, Rashid quadruple X.
They think they in
touch with the past.
- Don't start up with
that again, Walter.
It messes with my game.
- I remember when
there was history here.
- Go light on them
cookies, Smoke.
Suckers cost a fortune.
- They're good, though.
- Yeah, this was
where it was, Fly.
Harlem was the place.
- Still is, Walter.
- Not like it was.
- Ain't nothing like it was.
That's history, man.
It don't stand still for nobody.
- Yeah, this is
where it was, Fly.
Harlem was the end of the line.
- I don't see nobody
here going nowheres.
- Yeah, you hit Harlem,
you had made it.
Smokey remembers,
don't you, Smoke?
- Some days I do,
some days I don't.
- I'd rather be a cockroach
on a baseboard up here
than the emperor of Mississippi.
- I remember certain
Saturday nights.
I was a little boy peeking
round my mama's legs.
What it was?
It was elegant.
- Harlem was the place.
- Yeah.
- End of the line.
- Beer.
- What kind?
- Draft.
- On the rocks.
- Have any of you seen this man?
- We have reason to
believe he's been in here.
- Lots of people
have been in here.
What's his name?
- Didn't he tell you?
- How the man going to tell you
his name when he can't talk!
- Where is he?
- Look, y'all got
any kind of ID?
- ID?
- Your badges, man.
- Badges?
- What badges?
- We don't have to
show you any badges.
- Look, if you're dicks,
you've got badges.
- What makes you
think we're dicks?
- I could answer that.
- Well, look, if
you ain't dicks,
what the hell am I
talking to you for, then?
- Government.
- Whose government?
- Immigration.
- We have reason to believe
this man is an illegal alien.
- So's half the fucking city.
So what?
- Could we see your
green card, mister?
- Green card?
Man, what you
talking, green card?
Green card, my black ass.
My people built this
country, sucker.
You ever been to South Carolina?
Huh?
My people built that.
- Can't build a state, man.
- Look, all I know is when
they got off the boat,
there wasn't nothing there.
Now there's shopping malls and,
what's that shit?
Miniature golf, from nothing.
Ask me for a green card.
My people was in
the revolution, Jim.
How long you been here?
- Keep the change, sport.
- That's $2, man.
- We'll be back.
- White folks get
stranger all the time.
- Hey, Jefe, taking
lunch now, okay?
- How's that colored
fellow doing in the back?
- Haven't heard a
peep out of him.
- They're clever with
their hands, the colored,
but they forget things.
This one forgot his tools.
No management skills.
English, Hector, Se
habla English here!
How's it going in here, brother?
You've been a busy man!
Since you're all finished here,
how's about you keep
a lid on the kids
while I get a bite?
All you've got to
do is make change.
You know how to make
change, don't you?
Hector will be back 10
minutes late, as usual.
They give you a good
day's work, the Spanish,
but they've got
no sense of time.
- Are you the new fix-it man?
As fast as you can
fix these things,
I can wear them down.
They don't make
them fast enough.
Playing like, warp 10
on everything in here,
playing max on the
difficulty scale,
and still, I'm totally
inside their time, you know?
You know what that's like?
It's like everything
in the world
is going slow-motion,
except you.
Boring, right?
Can't do nothing about it.
You know everything that'll
happen before it does.
Can't change it,
just shoot it down
when it comes.
Bad enough in here.
You should see what
it's like at home.
Do you know what
I'm talking about?
Just once,
just once I wish it could
be me going slow-motion,
everything else zipping past.
Hey, what are you doing?
Hey, all right.
There's no way you'll
beat me, though.
I'll wear you down.
That was fantastic.
- Excuse me.
You want to see a card trick?
No, really.
It's a story.
Move over.
Go ahead, move over.
I'm going to tell
you a little story
about Joe and the bartender.
The bartender goes to Joe,
"You know, business has been
real slow in my bar, Joe.
I was wondering if
you could go out
and get four drinking buddies
to come drink at my bar, and
I'll give you two bucks?"
Joe goes, "Sure, I could use
the money," so Joe goes out.
Cut the cards.
Cut the cards.
Okay, I'll cut them for you.
So Joe goes out,
and Joe's gone five,
he's gone 10, he's gone 15,
he's gone 20,
he's gone 26 minutes,
and he comes back
huffing and a-puffing
and he says, "All
right, Mr. Bartender,
here's your four guys."
The bartender goes, "Great,
Joe, there's your two bucks,"
so they're just
sitting around talking,
and the bartender goes, "Joe,
these four guys, they're
kind of lonely, Joe.
I was wondering if you
could go get four girls
to drink with the four guys?
I'll give you two more bucks."
Joe goes, "Sure, that's easy.
I've got lots of girlfriends,"
so Joe goes out.
Cut the cards.
#~That's right.
Okay, I'll do it for you.
So Joe goes out,
and Joe's gone five,
he's gone 10, he's gone 15,
he's gone 17 minutes,
and he comes back
huffing and a-puffing,
and he says, "All
right, Mr. Bartender,
there's your four girls to
drink with the four guys."
The bartender goes, "Great,
there's your two bucks,
but, Joe, it took you so
long to get the girls,
the guys, they left, so
do me one last favor.
Go get me four more
drinking buddies,
two cases of Ace High whiskey,
and change for two 20s,
and I'll give you
two more bucks.
The last time I'll
send you out."
Joe goes, "Sure, but
I'm sick of going out.
I don't want to go out
anymore." So cut the cards.
Go ahead.
Okay, I'll cut
them for you again.
So Joe goes, and this
time Joe hurries back.
He's gone five,
he's gone 10, he's
gone 15 minutes.
He comes back and says,
"All right, Mr. Bartender,
there's your four
drinking buddies,
your two cases of
Ace High whiskey,
and your change for two 20s."
Bartender goes, "Great,
there's your two bucks.
Thanks a lot."
So they're just
sitting around talking,
and the bartender goes,
"Are you a family man, Joe?"
He goes, "I certainly am.
I've got seven kids.
Four boys, three girls."
The bartender goes, "I've got
three boys and four girls.
That's great, Joe.
How old are you, Joe?"
"Well, I'm 67.
My wife, she says she's 55.
She's really 65."
"Oh, that's great, Joe.
Joe, are you a gambling man?"
"I sure am. I play at the
96 Club on 42nd Street.
The other night I won $499.
My partner, he had a full house,
aces over eights,
which usually wins,
but I said not
this time, sucker,
I got a straight flush."
I have another
magic trick for you.
Want to see me make all
the white people disappear?
- The 10 Street, Columbo
Circle, 125th Street next.
This is the Uptown A
Express going to 2-7.
Change for the double A local
across the platform, the D.
On the upper level,
change for the Number
One Broadway train.
- See?
What did I tell you?
- Uptown A, 125th Street next.
- No, we're not late.
Look, it says here,
"Professor Maxwell,
seminar participants only,
wine and cheese."
- Oh, good, I'm starving.
- Four o'clock, there we are.
Now we've just
got to find the...
Ed, do you recognize
any of this?
- You mean the architecture?
- No, no.
The neighborhood, actually.
I don't seem to remember
seeing quite so many-
- Maybe it's the back way in.
I remember there was a gate,
and you could see the library.
- Yeah, I don't see
the library, Ed.
- Well, it's behind a wall.
- I think we're in Harlem, Ed.
- That's not where
we want to be.
- No, it isn't.
You, uh,
you haven't been paying
attention, have you,
after we got out of the subway?
- Well, I couldn't
tell you, like,
where the subway entrance is,
or how to find it.
Is that what you mean?
- We're lost.
We're lost in Harlem.
- I don't think we're going
to make that reception.
- No, no.
- A couple of beers, please.
Do you have Bud?
- Hi.
- How's it going?
- We're in for the
self-actualization conference
at the University.
- Do you know where
the subway is?
- Good nose.
- We're from Indiana.
- That's right next to Illinois,
where Chicago is.
- He knows that, Ed.
- Well, a lot of
folks around here
don't have a very clear
picture of the Midwest.
- Can you, like, point in
the direction of the subway?
- He's right.
That's where it is.
- So where are you from?
- I mean,
I didn't want to be
like Ernie Banks.
I wanted to be Ernie Banks.
- Mr. Cub.
- And it never
really dawned on me
that he was black, you know?
- Wrist hitter.
- I was, you know,
what, seven years old,
and he was just Ernie Banks.
He was my hero.
- All in the wrists.
- There weren't any
black people in my town.
At least, I don't
think there were.
- Mr. Cub.
- Is it eight o'clock?
Geez, will you look at that?
This is really something, huh?
Wander in here off the street.
I mean, if people would sit down
and talk like this more often-
- Communication,
that's what it's all about.
- Three blocks south,
one block east.
Subway entrance.
You want the A train, downtown.
Hm?
- Okay, right.
Thanks.
- Yeah.
That's quite a
grip you got there.
- Give me five, brother.
- Thanks a million, folks!
- You a popular
man today, brother.
You know, there were two others
in here earlier looking for you.
- Men in black.
No, man.
White skin, black clothes,
and they were stranger
than these two.
- Motherfucker, hand it over.
Come on, fucker, I'll
cut your fucking face!
Put it here.
- He's retarded, man.
He don't know what you saying.
- Fuck ain't retarded,
he's just holding out.
- The money, mister.
Give him your money!
- Hurry up, punk!
That's for holding
out, motherfuck!
- Pick it up, Willis.
- You got blood all
over it, Rickey.
- Man, hustle your butt,
or I'll cut your ass too.
- Let me go, Mister!
Let me go!
- There was blood on the floor
at the bottom of
the stairs tonight.
I hope one of them poor boys
who hangs out there
didn't get hurt.
- They're not poor boys,
Mama, they're junkies.
They bust that light
down there again?
- Light was out.
- If the super
doesn't put a lock
on that front door,
I'm going to wring his neck.
- Where are you from?
- Noreen, did a client
come in while I was out?
A black man, around
30-something,
kind of strange, doesn't talk?
- No.
No-show?
- Third interview he's
crapped out on this week.
- More power to him if
he can do it without us.
- The girls and I had our
first hit with this one.
Hope you like it.
- That's how it is, brother.
Cover charge is $15.
All you've got is five
and some change, here.
If the boss wasn't around,
I would slip you by,
but he's been in
my ass all night.
Some other time, all right?
- Yo, brother, you
forgot your money!
- Welcome to Babylon, brother.
You got that faraway
look in your eye.
Come out here with intents
upon realizing the
truth, I think.
There's many a peril laying
out there for you, brother.
Don't want to lose the way.
Let Virgil guide you, man,
inform you in the
ways of the night.
Children withering
away up here, brother,
worshiping the idol of capital,
lusting after the
false salvation
of here and now.
Black brother and sister
perishing up here, man,
waiting for scraps
from oppressor's table.
Oppressor got us for house pet,
doing tricks to get rewards.
Oppressor need a slave,
him find it here.
Oppressor need a harlot,
him find it here.
Oppressor don't need you at all.
Why get away from the mob?
- You fellas want to party?
- All people on the street
at nighttime, brother-
- Hey, listen, I'll give you
a blowjob if you fix my shoe.
- Look at what we own.
- You think you can fix it?
- Everything Babylon make-
- Come on.
- Everything it take
in, it shit out here.
- Hey, listen,
listen, it's a bargain!
- Hey mop-head, bring your
handsome friend back here.
- Nighttime is promise, brother.
You make deals in the night.
Pay all you've got for
what you can't see,
and when sun come
up, illuminate,
we been cheated again.
All the people desire
walking the streets
at nighttime, brother.
All the people feeling.
People dream, people
fear, people hatred.
All that's eating
your heart in the day,
all them feelings too dangerous
to show the oppressor,
come out prowling for
confrontation at nighttime.
We're killing each other
on these streets, brother.
This place not
your home, brother.
Virgil don't have
to inform you this.
Here, brother.
Take the ship back.
Just for a night,
take the ship back.
Just for a night,
take the ship home
to the promised land.
- Have you seen this man?
Could you say that in English?
- Fucking Roy
Orbison, Johnny Cash.
- I think we'll have to
speak with your supervisor.
- Harriet Tubman made
over 30 trips back South
after she escaped
that first time.
Now, every time,
she was in danger
of being captured
and sent back to the
people who had owned her.
Men and women who
had been slaves
made their way, with
Harriet's guidance,
through hostile country,
going from station to station
on the Underground Railroad
till they reached New York.
Now, New York was
the promised land.
New York was the
end of the line.
Sometimes bounty hunters
would track them up North
and kidnap them
back into slavery.
- Randy Sue Carter?
We would like to ask
you some questions.
- If you're looking for Bobby,
I have no idea where he is.
- We have reason to believe
that this man has
been living with you.
- He comes and goes.
Right now he's gone.
- Where does he work?
- Here and there.
He fixes things.
What do you want with him?
- Immigration.
- Immigration?
Give me a break.
We had a kid overdose right
downstairs last night,
and you're pestering people
about whether they got
some piece of paper
that says they're legal?
- Will he be coming
back tonight?
- You want to know
what my opinion is?
- Just the facts, ma'am.
- My opinion is that you people
just made up this
immigration scam,
just to keep people
under your thumb.
- Is he coming back tonight?
- What am I, his mother?
Wait for him.
See if I care.
Just don't do it in my kitchen.
- Ma'am, have you ever
looked at his feet?
- What are you, sick?
- You going to sit
on that all night?
Very funny.
Look, can I get
you another drink?
I don't care,
but the boss has been
on my ass all night.
Good, I'll get you another one.
- Thank you, thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Listen, I'm going to
sit here for a minute,
but don't get any
ideas, all right?
The man that owns this club
has been on my ass
since I opened here
and I am trying to
keep him off of it,
so if he comes by, you
are my gentleman friend
from Philadelphia, okay?
Well, what's your name, honey?
You can't talk?
Well, some alibi
you're going to be.
You can hear, can't you?
You like my singing?
Oh, well.
My voice isn't what it used to
be when I was with the girls,
but it's got character.
- There you are, precious.
How's my girl tonight?
- Mr. Price, this is Louis.
Louis is from Philadelphia.
- Pleased to meet you, Louis.
- Louis doesn't talk.
- Well, that so?
Well, that's awful.
That's just terrible.
Must leave you out of the
conversation, huh, Louis?
Hey, look here, precious,
what I found digging
through the office.
Must have been
taken 15 years ago.
- Oh, look at this, Louis.
This is me and the girls.
We were just kids.
- You were flying
high in them days.
- Yeah.
- Must have felt like
it would last forever.
- Mm-hm.
- I remember when you
were working the Apollo.
I had to stand in
line to get a ticket.
- That'll happen.
- Yeah, standing out in
the rain a whole hour
just to see my favorite singer,
and now here you
are, working my club.
- Here I am.
- You know, it's funny how
when one is shooting up,
the other's tumbling down.
Must be a law of nature.
- That's real funny.
- But there's always some point
when the one shooting up
and the one tumbling down
is on the same level,
even if it's just for
one little second.
- Mm-hm.
- I was wondering, after
your last set tonight,
maybe you and I can-
- Oh, Mr. Price, I'm so sorry.
Louis and I have
made other plans.
- Well,
that's just too bad, isn't it?
Nice talking to you, Louis.
Flying high in them days.
- I will never
tumble down that low.
- Another drink.
- Thank you.
Now, do you really
like my singing?
Really?
As long as I have been
wearing these things,
I still haven't
gotten used to them.
Like to go blind, flapping
them around in bed.
I'll only be a second, honey.
You haven't gone to sleep
on me now, have you?
Look, make a noise if
you're still awake, okay?
I have been out with
some guys who were quiet,
but this really takes it.
You know, I don't do this a lot.
People think because
you're on tour,
you're always sleeping around,
but it's not true.
Well, most tours, it's not.
When we were young and foolish
and still singing
in bowling alleys.
Of course, that all changed
when I hooked up with Rodney.
Boy, you know, I hardly even
think about Rodney anymore,
but as bad as things got,
I sure miss the girls.
Well, you didn't waste any time
getting comfortable, did you?
Well, here I am.
Still interested?
How come I like you so much?
You could be anybody.
Louis,
hey, try and stay with me, okay?
I mean, let's just
forget about that woman
that you saw on stage.
It's just you and me, okay?
I'm flying at four,
so I've got to be to
Kennedy by three o'clock.
I remember when Rodney decided
to go on the road with me.
As long as he didn't have
to carry my bags, he said.
He wouldn't even
let me carry them.
Sometimes we'd have to
wait for a half an hour
for the porter to come.
Rodney was like that, though,
real proud about
the little things.
Now, I don't know when
I'll be back in New York,
because I don't have any
bookings after Atlanta.
You were great in
bed last night,
but you're going to have
to do something
about them toenails.
- Yo, man, how
about a little help?
Come on, put it
in the hoop, man.
Come on, brother.
Come on, shoot it up!
All right.
Funny-looking motherfucker,
but he can shoot, can't he?
- So how long you
been up here, pal?
I mean, are you
a native or what?
My first day in this precinct.
My partner upstairs,
he's been handing me all
kinds of horror stories.
Like, you know,
how they're going to cook
me, eat me alive up here,
I don't look out what I'm doing.
Yeah.
Can't be all that bad, I figure.
Looks pretty damn
nice to me, Harlem.
I mean, you know, like,
people are people, right?
I mean, you put on a uniform,
it's not like you hand in
your status as a human being.
I mean, we're here to
protect and serve, right?
Like it says on the LA,
cruisers on "Adam-12".
You know, they never
should have taken
that show off the air.
So, what do you think?
Yeah, well, take it easy, pal.
- Is Sam Prescott in?
- Are you clients of his?
- We're looking for this man.
- Ever see him?
- Are you gentlemen
with an agency?
- Immigration.
- FBI.
We're working
together on this one.
- I see.
Okay.
This is an inter-agency
request for information form.
You both have to complete this
and take it to the
Applications receptionist.
That's line seven in
the central office,
and I'm going to need
documentation on both of you.
This can be birth certificate,
alien naturalization papers,
draft registration,
military ID card,
military discharge papers,
and I'll need a letter
from your department heads
on official stationery
verifying employment
and something with
a picture on it.
No student IDs allowed.
This is form 10-7G.
Fill this out and
have it notarized.
- We'll come back later.
When Mr. Prescott is in.
- And I'll need social security
numbers on both of you.
- I'm sorry.
You just can't stay here.
If it was just me, it
would be different,
but I have Little Earl and
the mother to think about.
I have got to take care of them.
I mean, those guys just
gave me the creeps.
Is there anything that you need?
Clothes or money or anything?
Well, I hope you understand,
but whatever you're
messed up in,
I can't take the chance.
It's been nice knowing you.
- Great deal!
Casios, $40.
My low overhead ensures
you great savings.
Casio 45s, $40, $40.
Great deal, sir.
Great deal, $40.
Anyone can be a musician.
Just try it.
It's a great gift.
Step right up!
Play a Casio.
- So I say to him,
"Barry, I wouldn't call what
we have a relationship,"
and he says to me, "What
would you call it?"
I said, "We're just
seeing each other,"
and he says, "To me,
that's a relationship."
I said, "Barry, call
it what you want.
To me, we're just
seeing each other."
I can't believe this guy.
I have gone out
with him five times,
and he wants a relationship.
Why?
I can't believe it.
I don't want to
get that serious.
I mean, I someday want to
get married and have babies,
but five times?
He's cute and everything.
I mean, I knew he was
interested in me right away.
Believe me, I knew he
was interested in me.
I could tell immediately.
Can I help you?
Do you have an appointment?
You can't go in there
if you don't have
an appointment.
Do you have something
to deliver to Mr. Vance?
Look, go downstairs,
have them call up,
and we'll get you a floor pass
and we'll start
from scratch, okay?
Number one, he's short.
I mean, he can't help that,
but I can't help the
way I feel about that,
and you know what else?
He wears those shirts
with the little epaulet
things on the shoulders.
- Hey, brother,
what's happening?
- I know how the man feels.
My bladder ain't worth
beans these days.
- I heard Bobby's old
lady threw him out
on account of them guys
been looking for him.
I wonder how he's making out.
- Oh, the flesh is weak,
the spirit finds a way.
- What was that, man?
- I'm open.
Dell, hit me.
Hit me.
- Flea-flicker.
- Hey, now.
Buttonhook at 10.
- Look at them hands.
Z-out and fly.
Bump and run.
- Come on, let a man
drink in peace, will you?
- The bomb.
- Where is he?
- Now, Smokey.
- You know, I don't know if
I like him in bed or not.
The sex is okay and everything.
It's not great, though.
He has fabulous hands.
He's got great hands.
He's from New Hampshire, though.
That's kind of weird.
I always thought I'd meet a guy.
- Who are you?
How did you get in?
Who sent you?
Did Gregory send you?
You want some of
this, is that what?
Here, take all you want.
Look, whoever's
paying you for this
isn't paying you what I could.
I've got an organization here.
We're diversifying.
We're moving in every direction.
This, this is nothing.
It solves some
cash flow problems.
It solves some
problems on the books.
You tell me who sent you,
and I'll cut you in.
That's what you want, isn't it?
A piece of the action?
It's stupid to go
for just one score.
Oh, I knew it was a mistake
getting involved
with you people.
You don't see the big picture.
You just don't see.
What are you?
Look, whoever you are,
we can still talk.
There's still time.
I own real estate.
- Three-toe.