Numbers, girls, cigarette bulk ads, secured loans.
78,283.
- How's the pharmacy business? - Higher and higher.
- South Chicago... terrific. - Good. Okay, let's go.
- Now. - Check.
They're hot as baby sis.
Can I get you something, Mr. Bruno?
No. Thank you, Mrs. Foster.
- You, Mr. Louie? - No, thank you, Lucy.
Just leave some coffee on the stove.
It's a raid! We got fuzz all over the place!
What? Lock the doors!
- Yeah? - What the hell's going on?
I've been trying to reach you. It's a bust. Burn the books.
The money from the last six months is marked.
- Stash the books. - Yes.
Move, move!
Mrs. Foster?
You could do me a big favor. This case, I almost forgot.
I need to have it taken to my cousin, the florist. You know, Mr. Richie.
- Sure, Mr. Bruno. No trouble at all. - It's right by the bus stop.
I appreciate it.
And here is a little something for you. I don't want to keep you.
See you tomorrow, Mr. Bruno.
They're gone.
They called it off.
They called it off!
- Lt. Shorter. - What the hell is going on?
- What are you calling me here for? - What do you mean? I just talked to you!
You talked to me? No.
What is this? You told me there was going to be a bust!
This place was swarming with cops a couple of minutes ago...
...and now there's nobody here!
You better find out what the hell is going on. I think I've been had.
I can't do that.
Do it. Now.
Hold on.
Hey, Josh.
You guys hit anyplace this afternoon?
No, why?
I hear there was a big bust.
- Who got busted? - I heard it was Bruno.
- Yeah, but not from our guys, right? - No, not that I know of.
No, there's no bust from here. You've been conned.
Look, I got to go. Try not to call me here.
We've been screwed.
I been trying to reach you. There's gonna be a bust. Burn the books!
Big Bruno is bleeding mad!
Bleeding?! He pissed his pants!
That is what I dig, baby!
475,000!
- To the dollars! - The dollars!
Right on!
Bea!
Bea, snap it up or you'll miss your plane.
I'm coming, I'm coming.
Jesus, thank you.
For you, anytime. You in New York, Manny...
...our barrio is your home.
You're beautiful, baby.
You're the only one that Bruno's got a make on, so be careful.
I'm long gone. The only one I'll miss is my grandson...
...and he won't lack for a thing. I'm retiring in style, thanks to you.
If I were you, I wouldn't go to the Caribbean or Africa.
Those are the first places they'll look.
Don't worry. Where I'm going...
Don't tell me, Bea. I don't wanna know.
Thanks, Manny.
Goodbye, Bea.
All right. All right. Quiet! Quiet!
Men and ladies of the 33rd...
Drunken people, settle down.
Here's to Joshua Burke, retiring today.
Hear, ye!
How time flies. Twenty-five years working with a man.
Depending on him, bumming his cigarettes, borrowing his money.
You think you know a guy, turns out he had me listed as a dependent.
Smart guy! All right.
- Here's to Josh Burke. - Hey!
Thanks, everybody. I'm gonna miss this place.
But I'll probably run into you guys.
I'll stumble in here a few times just out of habit.
But before I go, I want to confess something.
Shorter still owes me $4.
Josh! Hey, come on, Josh!
Oh, my goodness. I tell you, if they ever get air condition...
- Letter for Mr. Anderson. - Thank you.
If they ever get some air conditioning in this place...
...you may have fun.
I'll be back in a minute.
Mr. Anderson.
- Where did you get this? - A gentleman. He's at the bar.
Who? Who? What? Where?
Well, he must have gone. He's not here now. Why, what's wrong?
Nothing.
I want to talk to you about a 12-story leap...
...with $ 90,000 from the Consumer Credit Company...
...and also the bank messenger who lost $ 205,000.
I expect you tomorrow, 6 p. M...
...at the Drake Hotel, suite 11-300.
Be there. It's important to you.
Honey, please. What's in it?
- You'll find out. - I can't wait! It's killing me!
- Don't go through my pockets. - I was hanging up your jacket.
- I couldn't miss it. - This is for a 29-year old woman...
...and you won't be that for another 72 hours. So there.
Give me a hint.
What do you need?
I got all I need. And I'm looking at him.
All right, I'll wait. If you insist.
I'll tell you what I don't want. Another party.
Don't plan no surprises. I don't like surprises.
Messenger delivered it, Mr. Durrell. Said it should come up right away.
Thank you. Thank you.
I want to talk to you about a staged bust, a Mr. Bruno...
...and $475,000 in a shopping bag.
I expect you tomorrow, 6 p. M...
...at the Drake Hotel, suite 11-300.
Be there. It's important to you.
You want to see me?
- Well, who are you? - I don't like games. What do you want?
Hold it. You asked me to come here.
I'm here because you sent me that letter.
You sent me a letter.
I don't even know you.
Well, I'm getting the hell out of here.
- Hello. - Anderson.
- Who is this? - I see you got my note.
I got your note. Now, what do you want?
I want you to come to lunch tomorrow at 1:30 at the voisin.
What is this? I have no time for this crap.
You don't come, you got nothing but time.
I'll think it over.
Yeah, well, while you think about it, let me talk to your friend there.
- Yeah. - Manny.
Be at lunch tomorrow, 1:30, the Voisin.
- Who's this? - Never mind.
- What's this about? - I got your butt nailed.
I know people who'd pay money for the guy who conned Vic Bruno.
They wanna run a dumdum bullet up his nose.
I'd rather not put him in touch with you or the old lady or the Puerto Ricans.
But I could, so that is why you'll be at lunch tomorrow at 1:30 at the voisin.
And that is where you'll find out what this is all about.
Now, put David on the extension. I wanna talk to both of you.
What?
Gentlemen, I want to be fair and relieve your minds.
Neither of you knows what I want with the other.
Therefore, you are safe from each other.
This is confidential. I will keep it that way. Trust me.
Oh, yeah. Anderson...
...I reserved the suite in your name, so pay for it on your way out.
And Durrell, lunch tomorrow is on you.
Be on time, fellas.
Do you know her?
No, I thought you did.
Well, she better have one hell of a deep voice.
Good afternoon, I'm Lila French. Which of you is David Anderson?
- I am. - Very pleased to meet you. Lila French.
- You must be Mr. Durrell. - Manuel Durrell.
Pleased to meet you.
I must say, this is the most interesting offer we've had in a long time.
- I'm dying to discuss it. I'm curious. - Oh, yes. We must discuss it.
- We have to. - Needless to say, your note made my day.
- What was in it? - In your note?
We agreed in principle, you know. But his secretary...
See, Manny has never read it...
...and I was wondering if you'd let us... Let him read it.
Oh, by all means!
Oh, let me read it. May I? I love it.
It's inspiring. It's more like a poem.
Well, old Dave always was better with words.
- How did he put it to us? - He put it beautifully.
- I'm sure he did. - Here's the beautiful part.
"We will dedicate eight hours a day, five days a week...
...for six weeks, to your community improvement center...
...free of charge.
If at the end of six weeks our work has been helpful...
...and the center finds we have indeed been helpful...
...in realizing the aims of the center's project..."
- How modest. - Oh, well...
Go on.
"...then we pledge to continue that contribution free of charge...
...for an additional period of time. Five years in the case of Mr. Anderson...
...and four years, six months in the case of Mr. Durrell."
Oh, yeah. He put it beautifully.
- How'd he come up on them figures? - Statute of limitations.
- I beg your pardon? - He said there's got to be limitations.
- You're so modest, it's unbelievable. - Yes, it is unbelievable.
This part is so touching. Listen.
"If at the end of six weeks we have not made a real contribution...
...we shall have to withdraw and offer our services...
...to a state or federal institution."
You write a hell of a letter.
Isn't it thrilling?
We try so hard to get people to donate two hours a day...
...a week, a weekend, anything.
Then two successful men of your money and stature...
...come along and decide to devote eight hours a day...
...five days a week? There's so much to do.
- I'm dying to show you the center. - I'm dying too.
- He means he can't wait. - Don't worry.
It'll work. If you're that interested, we will make it work.
We won't let you give your services to some state or federal institution.
The state's loss is our gain.
That's the way we feel about it too.
State's loss.
That's sweet.
- Mr. Anderson? - Yes, sir.
- Telephone call for you, sir. - Thank you.
- Madame, would you like a cocktail? - A dry sherry, please.
- Hello. - Now you understand.
I just heard your proposal.
You wanna work for the community center or the penitentiary?
- You're crazy. You're nuts. - You're nuts if you think I'm kidding.
It's the best deal you ever had. Five years there or 15 in Joliet.
Think about it. You got five seconds. Four. Three.
Two. One. Deal?
- Deal. - Give me Durrell.
Your partner.
- Hello. - I want to know your decision.
I can't give it to you right now.
Now!
- I would like to discuss it. - With who, Bruno? Deal?
- Deal. - You will work hard.
You will be watched and graded. You will be a success.
- It'll take hard work and money. - We got to finance this too?
Use your head. You're smart. I know you're too smart to skip.
Happy days.
Just trying to clear the decks.
- You'll be ready to start tomorrow? - Oh, yes. I think we have to.
Will 9:00 be all right?
- 9:00? - In the morning?
- Well, we do open at 7:30 for daycare. - 7:30?
- No, 9:00 will be fine. - Fine.
I'll show you everything tomorrow morning.
I must tell you, our job preparedness program is where we need immediate help.
The juvenile court assigned us 30 youths.
Not volunteers, mind you, they are assigned. Ironic, isn't it?
Ironic.
Anyway, that program ends in three weeks and we have not found one job...
...or prepared one kid for taking and holding a job.
Oh, thank you. How do you prepare your poisson mousse?
- Fresh salmon... - We got to find him.
- And quick. - Because I cannot get up at 9:00...
...for the next five years. It will kill me.
There must be a connection between him and that center. We start there.
That's where we start in more ways than one, doctor.
I'll take it.
- What are you having? - Poisson mousse.
Poison moose.
- Cheers. - Cheers.
To the center.
I think I'll have the chitterlings.
- Fried? - Au gratin.
- Morning, Miss Nelson. - Morning.
- How you doing, Mr. Hewitt? - Hi.
You gotta find jobs for 30 kids who don't know how to do nothing.
- That's it. - They want to work?
Well, yes and no. Welcome back to the center, James.
Hi!
- Morning, Mr. Theodore. - Morning, Miss French.
Stop it!
All right! All right! Hey, quiet! Quiet!
Denise, don't do that. How do you expect to get a job?
I don't want no damn job.
- Miss Thomas don't play that. - Don't start no stuff now, girl.
You know you ain't supposed to say damn. Sounds too much like s-h-i...
- Roscoe. - Then I don't want no raggedy-ass job.
- Quiet! - Forget you, doo-doo face!
Denise, that language isn't necessary.
Yeah, Denise, you're trashy. Miss Garbage-mouth.
I got your garbage-mouth and your mama too.
I know you gonna fight behind that.
Sit down.
Now, Denise, go on back to your place. Go on!
Sheila.
You be the applicant.
- Hey, titty-sucker... - Sheila!
I'm sorry, Miss Thomas. I'm sorry. I was just fooling. I'll do it.
- Good morning. What can I do for you? - I came to see about a job for Sheila.
For Sheila Tracy Moran.
- Well, what do you do, Sheila? - I do everything.
- Oh, I see. Well, do you? - Yes, I do.
- Well, can you? - I sure can.
Well, how about a little night work? You think you can handle that?
That's when I do my best work.
Take your seats.
Let me turn off these lights so I can check out your references.
Stop it! Stop it!
That's disgraceful. Why can't you for once try to help yourselves?
Go on back to your seat.
Miss Thomas. Miss Thomas. Miss Thomas.
Harry? Harry!
You be the applicant.
Still stay?
Thirty jobs.
For them.
Well, I guess one of us will have to get the jobs...
...and one of us will have to train the kids.
- How much time do we have? - This program's over in three weeks.
Three weeks. Three weeks. Okay, champ, call it.
- Heads. - Tails.
- I get the kids. - You get the kids.
Thank you.
- Hi, Miss French. - Miss French scored twice!
Well, go on with your stable.
Oh, I know Miss French don't play that stuff.
People, please. Miss French has brought some visitors.
The least you can do is be polite. Really.
It's all right, Miss Thomas.
This is Sarah Thomas, youth counselor. Ladies and gentlemen...
...l'd like you to meet Mr. Anderson and Mr. Durrell.
These two very fine gentlemen have graciously volunteered their time...
...to work at the center, and they will be working with you.
No stuff. That's nice, you know?
- Are you a male role model? - They're with the CIA, I bet you.
Nice threads, baby. Where'd you cop your goods?
- You mean, who his booster is, man. - These are my threads and my booster.
Okay, big time, don't call the law on me. I was just admiring your bad butt.
Get back to your seats.
Now, Mr. Durrell will be working directly with you.
Oh, that's good. He's ours and he's fine too.
Mr. Anderson will be working with the companies we hope will employ you...
...when this program's over in three weeks. So now let's all get acquainted, okay?
Miss French, if they gonna torture us, I'm leaving.
Gerald, does the thought of being a success really frighten you so much?
Now, I'm going back to my office with Mr. Anderson.
Would you give Mr. Durrell a little orientation?
Orientation Orientation
We've been at it for six hours, Thursdays and Fridays...
...for two months and... I don't know, it's not working.
Well, are there any rules and regulations we have to follow?
Oh, no. Anything we can come up with to get them to seriously try.
They feel they're going to be rejected...
...so they protect themselves with flippancy and hostility.
I don't know. Sometimes it's so difficult.
Why don't you take a break.
I could use some coffee, but I'd better stay. I can wait.
- You take your coffee. I'll be all right. - Okay.
Who wants to tell me about the program? What's going on and how's it been going?
Isn't there anybody who wants to tell me about the program?
Who wants to tell me about the program?
- What do you want to know? - Tell me about the program.
Program ain't shit.
Who's gonna tell me about the program?
- Man, is you crazy? - Lesson number one...
...you don't get something for nothing.
- You pay dues. You got my 20. - Anthony got a 20.
Anthony's gonna pay dues.
Hey, Roscoe, you ought to charge him for a shoeshine on his right foot.
All Gibson donations are funds we raise outside the city budget.
They fund the child-care center, the children's theater...
...which introduces the children to their Afro-American heritage...
...the family development program, which has adult classes in reading...
...family hygiene and family budgeting...
...and, of course, the Golden Age Club, which is for our senior citizens.
When gifts are listed as "Anonymous," who is Anonymous?
Only the board knows that.
- The board? - Six marvelous people.
- Men? Women? - Both.
Tonight is board night. I'd love to show you off. Can you go?
Love to. I'd love to hear their voices.
- Date? - Yeah, date.
Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen of the board...
...meet our philanthropist, our godsend, Mr. David Anderson...
...president of the Anderson Management Corporation.
I'm Hedda Champion. My husband is Dr. Howard Champion.
Alberta Ballard. My husband and I have served here...
...since the center opened in 1968. And I think you're a fine young man.
Thank you.
Naomi Chamberlain. I own property, not slums.
And I think ought to warn a good-looking young man like you...
...l'm a widow.
Behave yourself.
Malcolm Pomeroy, Pomeroy Dry Cleaners.
Tell me, Mr. Anderson, just what does your management corporation manage?
Money. I move it around.
I take it from here, put it there...
...wherever the interest rates happen to be the highest.
Reverend Clair Hurst, Carmel Independent Baptist Church.
Congratulations, Mr. Anderson. To give us so much of your time...
...your business must be very successful and very well-organized.
Has to be. Keeps me out of trouble.
Col. Randolph Ballard. That's my wife over there.
She's not a widow.
And you're not the one... You are not the ones to be thanking me.
See, it is I who've been made to feel that this is something that I must do.
So I want to thank all of you for the time that I've been given.
It's just a thrill to be here with people...
...and know who is here when they are here.
Time and time again, I have seen old and young...
...stepping side by side and neither one knowing where they're going...
...or from whence they cometh.
You see...
I'll get it, hon.
Yes?
"Yes"? "Yes"?! He doesn't recognize us.
You are living with our daughter in sin.
Yes.
She never even showed him a picture of us.
No, no, no, no, l...
I'm Emma McLean and this is my husband, the Reverend Daniel McLean...
...of the Kingdom Apostolic Church, sanctified, of Atlanta. And I'm sanctified.
- And this is my sister and... - I'm thirsty.
Name's Nellie Bond.
Well, won't you come in? I just...
I... It sure is a pleasure to see you.
I've heard so much about you.
It's... It's just that we weren't expecting you.
That's the whole idea.
- Oh, well, Nikki is going to be surprised. - I'm sure she is.
- Nikki, honey! - Yes, baby?
Mama!
- Daddy. - And Aunt Nellie. Surprise, surprise.
- Manny, look who's here. - Yes, I see.
Mama.
Daddy.
- Aunt Nellie. - It's so good to see you.
- Happy birthday, sugar. - Thanks, Daddy.
I thought you were gonna call later this evening.
But not in person, eh, Manny?
- How are things at home? - Fine, sugar. All your sisters about grown.
And waiting for you to show them the proper example.
Aunt Nellie, Atlanta, has it changed much?
How did you all get here? Did you fly? Drive?
Yes, Atlanta has changed. No, we didn't fly. Yes, we drove.
- All this way just for my birthday. - And other things.
- Relax, Emma. - I am relaxed.
Well, I ain't. I'm thirsty.
- Do you have something cold? - Yes. What would you like?
Scotch on the rocks.
So Manny, as you no doubt have noticed, I have a lot on my mind.
Yes, I can see that.
Well, I got a lot on my mind too, Mother, dear.
- But you go first. - All right.
- Mother, please. - It has to be said, child.
No, it doesn't. You've said it before...
...and I've told Manny. He knows how you feel.
Why don't we all sit down and get acquainted.
We are already acquainted. We are a family.
Manny is family too, Mama. He's part of my family.
The Bible says, "Let them marry." 1 Corinthians.
Now, if you don't care about your father and me...
...at least think about your sisters.
Emma, please. Nikki and the boy are happy.
And they're together. And the boy ain't whooping on her.
And she ain't poisoning his food or trying to work roots on him.
That's more than you can say for a lot of the married folks that we do know.
- Well, you do look good, Nikki. - Oh, thanks, Daddy.
Manny's good to me.
Well, you all just keep on being good to one another.
Now, will somebody be good to me? I need another drink.
Oh, I'm so happy to see you.
See, Emma's sanctified. I'm modern.
Nikki tell me you in the stock market. How's business?
Well, right now they got me running the bonds.
Oh, I mean, they get me to buy bonds.
Yeah.
Now, keep these in mind.
They're the three points your prospective employers will be asking themselves.
One, can you do the work? Two, are you dependable?
And three, can you get along with others? Now...
- Barbara, what are you reading? - Iceberg Slim.
Will you pay attention, please?
Your mind tends to wander, Barbara.
Now, class, your personal appearance is your first introduction to your employer.
Barbara, will you put away that nail file?
There's your introduction. I mean, that's some personal appearance.
Hey, I want his job. Now, whatever he do, that's what I want to do.
You know what he do. Sweet Manny Mac, boss player.
- Taking applications. - Get-down time, y'all.
Stable master's here.
- Hello. - Class, your personal appearance...
...that includes alertness and concentration.
Denise, you be the applicant.
And, Barbara, you conduct the interview.
Morning, my name is Denise orville.
- What's your name? - I told you.
Why do you want to work here?
What's your address, your age, your mama's name, your sexual preferences?
Stop it.
How do you expect to get anything...
...if you cannot keep your mind on it for one minute?
You have the attention span of a 5-year-old.
Time, damn it.
- What? - Time-out.
Badmouthing me about my attention span.
I've been paying attention. That's what's wrong.
I paid enough attention to peep your game, Miss Thomas.
So don't give me all that bullshit.
You're shucking. I ain't never gonna get no damn job...
...not with people like you around.
I beg your pardon?
You ain't deaf.
I said, if we all get jobs, it'll blow your game.
Yeah, game. All you middle-class, bourgeois-ass niggas.
I know where you coming from.
All of y'all got the jobs, and you making your money off of us.
Right on.
Administering to your lesser brothers and sisters.
All us poor, deprived ghetto children. Shit!
Now, what you high-toned niggas make for this jive-ass number...
...you running down on us? 15,000?
And Mr. Durrell, 15, 20,000?
Well, if it wasn't for niggas like us, y'all wouldn't make shit!
And where y'all live? Not around here, I bet you that.
Am I right or wrong?
So don't blow smoke up my ass about no frigging job.
- My mama didn't raise no fools. - That's right.
Now, I got enough attention span to know what's happening.
What's happening is, I can recognize a poverty pimp...
...when I see one.
What's happening is bourgeois bullshit.
Barbara, you're not going to get me...
...on some kind of middle-class guilt.
I went to school, Barbara.
I put in my time and I paid my dues. I went to school, Barbara.
It was hard work and I worked hard.
My ass bleeds for you.
So now you work hard on your game of underprivileged niggas.
"Can you do the work? Are you dependable?
Can you get along well with others?" Shit!
Can you do the work?
Now, you put your attention span to that when you take your 15,000...
...and your tight-ass self back to your first-Negro-in-my-block neighborhood...
...and your electric vibrator.
- Now, what you need is a man. - Yeah.
Or somebody, whatever gets you through the night.
That's a terrible thing to say to me.
Even to imply such untruths...
...is so unfair.
You mean, like talking about somebody's attention span?
Right on.
I didn't start that. I was minding my own business, playing her game.
She had no call talking about how dumb we are.
Hey, Barbara just got mad and went for that middle-class sore spot.
She's right.
There's nothing wrong with being middle-class.
- The point is what you're doing. - But that's what I do, you know.
I do make my living from their misery.
You're working for a better life for them, Barbara included.
I give her credit. Barbara's bright.
John is sharp, but most of these kids...
The tragedy is, the school system has done a rotten job.
It hasn't taught the children, especially ghetto children...
...how to think through a problem, how to figure out what the problem is...
...and how to pick the right tools to solve it.
Because life is a series of problems.
But I think the street is teaching them how to solve problems.
I mean, not about a job, maybe, but about hustling to survive, you know.
Well, myself, I know about that.
But these kids don't know jobs or hustling. That's why they're here.
Anyway, street hustling is not an action. It's a reaction.
It's accepting second-class status.
Still, the whole question of finding jobs for them gets to me.
They should have been gotten to, given the proper direction...
...when they were 3, 4, 5.
And here they are at 17, 18...
...and here we are, with a few thousand dollars...
...trying to clean up the damage, the mess...
...the schools have spent millions to make.
Maybe you're right. Maybe it is too little too late.
But then, there must be some other...
A different kind of approach.
Mr. Durrell, they need so much.
Now, I'm a woman. I mean, I'm not a very strong woman...
...and you're a man, and you're black and successful.
Well, you could... Whatever you could come up with...
...try. Try, please.
Sarah, you're good people.
All right.
Anybody seen Mr. Durrell?
What about Miss Thomas?
They all keeping in practice walking on water.
Yeah, that's funny. Now, where did they go?
Miss Thomas went one-on-one with Barbara and got her ass wasted.
She split and Mr. Durrell went after her.
And your ass is next.
Hey, I've been looking for you.
- Mr. Theodore, how are you? - Fine, Mr. Durrell. And you?
Very well, thank you. Very well.
- I went to the meeting. Nothing. - Beautiful. Where do we go now?
We check all the records, find out the names...
...of the alternate board members, the former board members...
...the consultants and the advisers. His name's got to be there somewhere.
- How are you gonna get those records? - You mean, how are we going to get them?
We are going to hit the safe in Miss French's office.
- The safe? - That's right, but don't worry about it.
It's A-105 lpswich. Cake box.
- I see. - You see what? You see what?
Nothing. Just, I see.
- Well, when are we gonna hit the safe? - Tonight.
It's gonna take a couple of days to run these names down.
Sooner the better.
I don't know if I can survive six weeks with those teenage gorillas.
Six days with them gorillas is enough to curl your naps.
Who do you guys think you are, Errol Flynn, running up and down fire escapes?
How much did you get up there?
I said, how much did you get up there?
I wanna decide on our cut.
- I think they're trying to mug us. - Looks like it.
- Can you fight? - We'll know in a minute.
What good is this?
None of us were close enough to see their faces.
These are the best con artists in the city.
Well, the bum you're looking for is smarter.
That was a class job he did on me.
Use your head, Shorter.
Would he hit me in this town if you cops had a sheet on him?
He's clean.
- We went through this eight months ago. - I keep trying.
What about the old woman, Mrs. Foster?
She's right in front of your eyes.
Present address: Copenhagen, Denmark.
Real name: Bea Quitman.
Cardsharp, con artist.
In 20 years, six arrests and no convictions.
- Smart. - Yeah.
Smart.
Daughter: Mrs. Cleo Strong.
Married Jake Strong, bus driver for the CTA.
Residence: Maywood, Illinois.
One son, Darryl. 8.
His grandmother's favorite.
She thinks he pees ginger ale.
Yeah. You do nice work.
We aim to please.
Mr. Durrell, what is happening?
They're only supposed to be here Thursdays and Fridays.
- I know. - But it's Monday, and they're all here.
They said you were gonna put them to work.
- Yes. - You know they're not ready for that.
And salaries?
The kids are the center's responsibility.
- Let me try. - But on your own?
Okay. All right.
Okay.
The job is, you work for me. Any objections?
I don't know. What you do?
I mean, I'm too nervous to steal.
You're going to work here, preparing yourselves to get and hold a job.
Ain't no big thing.
We can do that.
$ 100 a week, four hours a day, five days a week.
Hello.
It's my money.
I'm gonna work your behinds to a frazzle.
No whining, no bitching and no shucking. Or you're fired.
Anybody wants out, now is the time.
Hey, Durrell, you did say you was gonna give us half in advance.
Hello, heaven.
You got it, baby.
- All right. - Yeah, man.
What the hell is this?
Half. It's called incentive.
Incentive?
You get the other half at the end of the week.
Oh, man!
Get off the floor, man.
Anybody don't want it?
- Miss Thomas! - Miss Thomas!
- Miss Thomas, over here! - Miss Thomas?
Let me tell you something.
You all are a bunch of lazy, shiftless, no-good bums.
Hey, man, where you coming from?
You're the most useless bunch of misfits I have ever seen.
Hey, wait a minute. Better take that somewhere else.
And those who ain't lazy are dumb.
Here you are in the Banneker Community lmprovement Center...
...and you can't even spell it or tell me who Benjamin Banneker was.
Because you don't know nothing.
And you don't want to know nothing.
You wear your ignorance like a badge of honor...
...and you call that being cool. That's called masturbation.
That's right.
It may make you feel good, but it does not produce life.
It is time you all start pulling your own weight.
It is time you start being responsible for your own existence.
It is time you had a say in how you live or how you die...
...instead of doing everything in your power to fail because it's easier.
Hey, Durrell, lighten up. Damn.
Yeah. You ain't gotta come on us like that.
Now, listen. For reasons of my own...
...I got a stake in y'all doing something and not failing.
So I'm going to keep these size 12s up your behinds...
...until you get into a position where you can get a job and keep it.
We're gonna cut out every excuse you ever use to fail.
Hey, Durrell, that's cold.
Life is cold.
What you get out of being so good to us, sugar daddy?
I got a soft heart, sweetie baby.
Now...
...if you have the slightest interest in not going to your graves a total nothing...
...we are going to play the "interview game" on a professional basis.
John?
You be the boss.
Adrian, go get the job.
All right, move it! Move it! You're on salary.
- Good morning. - Where's your smile?
- I ain't no Tom. - You gotta be a Tom to smile?
- What you got against the boss? - Forget the damn boss!
That is so smart. That is smart. You walk out...
...but he's got a job and you haven't. But you showed him, right?
Look, you go to get a job because you've got to feed yourself.
Or your family. And walk with pride because you are doing it.
No welfare, no unemployment, no rich relatives, no church charities.
Your own ass is on the line.
Now, you wanna be a man? A woman?
Feed your family.
All right, Adrian, go on back to your chair.
Willie.
Come for the job.
- Good morning. - Morning.
I'm Willie Mangum.
I came to see about a job.
Well, Mangum, why do you want to work for me?
Well, because...
Actually, I'd just like to work anywhere. I need the job. I just wanna work.
You need the job? Why'd you leave your last job?
I haven't worked before.
But...
But what?
But my mother...
I'm old enough to be working now.
My father is...
Well, he's not there.
And I have a little brother.
Well, there's four of us...
...and my little brother Timothy...
Well, he's not right.
I know that, I mean...
...he's kind of slow.
And the kids laugh at him sometimes.
But it's not Timmy's fault, I mean, because he just likes everybody.
But they laugh at him sometimes...
...and Mama tries, but she lost that little piece of job she had.
Cutbacks and everything.
And the welfare sends some, but it's...
See...
...Timothy can't be by himself.
He's like a little baby.
And I watch him. Some.
Mama says I have to be a man now.
But...
...sometimes I get scared.
Because it's hard sometimes.
She don't force me or nothing...
...but if I'm gonna be a man...
...then I gotta get me a job and help out...
...or move...
...or something.
So...
...I got in this program...
...to get me a job.
You know, to help out...
...my family.
And so Mama can watch Timmy.
He almost hurt himself a couple of times.
But he's really sweet.
And kind of a happy kid, you know?
And if I'm gonna be a man...
...I gotta get me a job.
Because of Timmy.
And Mama.
You know, Mangum...
...people laugh sometimes.
But they probably all like Timothy as much as you do.
It's just their way, you know?
You really want a job, don't you?
Yes, I want the job.
Willie, you sure you can do the work?
- I'll learn it. - I think you will.
You're all right, man. You ought to have a chance.
Willie...
...go out to the coffee machine and bring me a container of black coffee.
Go.
Anybody else?
Barbara?
Good morning.
I'm Barbara Hanley, and I'd like a job.
And I'm not gonna smile, because I don't feel like it.
You're not feeling well?
I don't feel like it, because I'm...
I'm mad.
Why are you mad, Barbara?
- I don't know. - Why do you want to work here?
Let somebody else go. I'm not ready for this.
Okay.
Bubba.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
My name is Percy Watkins, and I would like a job.
What makes you want a job here, Percy?
Well, sir, I would like to have me a job so I can buy me some grass!
Easy, son, easy!
Gonna spill my first aid kit.
I did so enjoy your visit. Thanks for a happy birthday.
You take care of yourself and come see us.
Bon voyage and have a safe trip.
There's something I want you to remember: I love Nikki.
We got good eyes. We can see you love the girl.
I can see you're happy, sugar.
You're gentle with her, I'll grant you that.
I know what's bothering you, and I respect you for it. It's just that...
...well, anyway, one day, maybe Nikki and I...
Well, you see...
Maybe we'll get married.
Probably. I mean...
I mean, otherwise...
...how would it look to her sisters when they come to visit?
Oh, Lord.
You see, this is all the family I've got. Right here, right now.
So I guess I gotta do what's right for the family.
You're all right, boy.
Come on, Emma, Daniel, let's go. It's a long, dry trip. Come on.
- What's happening? - Hey.
- Last night I had an idea. - Good morning, gentlemen.
Good morning, Mr. Theodore.
Last night I had an...
Is it possible he could have a deep telephone voice?
You never know these days.
I'm going to need your permission to escalate my ultimate weapon.
- I don't go for violence. - I'm not talking about violence.
I'm talking sex appeal. I'm gonna use it on Miss French.
- Be serious. - I am serious.
I'm serious.
She's got eyes for me.
Now, all I have to do is take her out.
One thing leads to another, and at the end of a week...
...anything I ask her about anybody, she will tell me.
She will smack her mama if I tell her to.
You're the one she'll smack.
I take it that you didn't turn up anything on those names.
No. But his name's got to be on that list somewhere.
Now, you give me permission to work on Miss French...
...and I will uncover that dude, and we will get away clean.
Now, just be cool. Let me work on her.
Poor baby.
Don't be so modest, David.
Two mailroom jobs, firm and committed? That is great.
We still have 28 more to go.
You'll get them, I know you will. I have confidence in you.
Thank you.
- We're off to lunch, Marsha. - Yes, Miss French.
Of course, there are problems I had intended to discuss with you.
For instance, the board members, the contributors, the sponsors.
I know nothing about the backgrounds of the contributors and the sponsors.
The big corporations want to know the names.
Let's meet. I'll give you what I can.
Good, I'll pick you up at 7:30.
Then, after dinner at the Grotto, we can go to the disco in old Town.
I thought you meant meet in my office.
With all the hustle and tension in there? I got to meet my boss. That's you!
There's not much to know. I was born four blocks away.
I'm 5'7", five pounds overweight and divorced.
Divorced? Oh, some turkey messed over you?
He wanted to fly airplanes, and I wanted to do this.
- He still writes from overseas. - You still carrying a torch?
This is a business meeting, isn't it, Mr. Anderson?
I didn't know you before, now I know you well enough to ask you to dinner.
For business.
You're persistent. You talk fast. I hope the work goes as quickly.
- I work fast also. - I've noticed.
I keep my business life and my social life separate.
What if I said I was a teenager looking for a job?
No.
- You ever hear of the Quantum Theory? - Physics wasn't my best subject.
It's not physics. It's a discotheque.
- A discotheque? - Yes, a discotheque.
You know, like, you do the funky chicken, the funky rhinoceros.
- I know, I know. - Yeah. You do.
You think I'm an old spinster dedicating her life to good works and no fun at all.
- I didn't say you was old. - You're wrong.
- You are old? - No, the other.
I'm sorry. I was wrong.
We'll go to dinner tonight and down to the Quantum Theory.
No.
What is it that you have against me?
I'm rich, I'm suave...
...and I have a clean navel.
I'm full-blooded.
- How about if I'm a veteran? - David Anderson, you're impossible.
You just have to get to know me.
Maybe I better.
I'm gonna go damp my hair. I can feel it tightening.
- Excuse me. - Yes, please.
David Anderson.
You haven't danced with me all night.
Now, if you don't dance with me, I'll holler rape.
- Is that a request? - What? The rape or the dance?
- Don't make no never mind to me. - Don't make no never mind to me neither.
- Look out, now. - Look out.
- What a lovely evening. - Want to do it again?
Somebody?
- Is it serious? - Kind of serious.
That's a fence I won't try to climb. I hope that you're happy.
I hope that he's miserable, but I hope you're happy.
Thanks, David. You're a very nice man.
If he ever hurts you, I'll personally come in and beat him to death...
...with one of Manny's teenage gorillas. - I'll keep you posted.
Now, let's talk about common courtesy.
You know what courtesy is?
Respect.
That's all. Respect for other people.
And that comes from respect for yourself.
You give respect so others will give you respect. If they don't, it's on them.
How many here play basketball?
Hey, I'm bad, man.
All right.
Slam's my name. That's my game.
- Denise, show that sucker. - Yeah, show the dunk.
Earline the Pearline. Now you see me, now you don't.
Can't miss you, the way your sneakers smell.
Okay, okay, okay.
Now, someone feeds you a pass, you score, you say:
"Hey, nice pass." Now, that is a common courtesy.
Common, no big deal.
"Please" and "thank you" are common courtesies.
Common, no big deal.
Nothing taken away from you. But now let's discuss the psychology...
...of common courtesy. - Psychology!
The psychology of courtesy is...
...to encourage someone to give you that pass, set that pick...
...so that you can take your best shot.
- Getting people to help you get over. - Courtesy is to give and go.
- Give and get. - I ain't playing with Denise.
She's a ball hog.
A job's like a ball team. You don't have to like everybody you play with.
But the only way you'll get your piece of the action...
...your championship ring, is...
Is for everybody to get one.
That's what winning is, getting your piece of the action.
Now, we're gonna go downtown, into the field...
...to practice common courtesy.
- All right! - Oh, yeah!
Go to the corner, make a right turn. It's about two blocks down.
- Hey. - Yes?
I'm looking for the McNally Association? Associates?
They're upstairs. You delivering something?
No, I'm looking for a job.
Eighteenth floor.
- Hey, you got a light? - No, I don't.
Good morning.
What can I do for you?
I'm going to inquire about a job.
What do you need?
Could you direct me to the offices of McNally Associates, please?
- They're in 1805. - Thank you.
- Excuse me, sir, do you have a light? - Yeah. Sure.
Here you go.
- Thanks again. - Don't mention it. Good luck with the job.
Okay, now, here's the play.
You give courtesy and kindness and you get them back.
Barbara, it's your turn. Pick out anybody. Get directions to Garfield Hays Monument.
- The what? - Damn, Barbara.
The damn Garwood Hays Monument. Don't you know nothing?
Lord have mercy! Jesus, help my people!
- I never heard of the place! - There is no such place.
There's no such monument, but get the information anyway.
Get it out. But get it with kindness. And courtesy.
- Okay. - Okay? All right.
Now, you ready?
- Yeah. - Okay, let's go.
- Go on, girl. - All right.
Sir, could you help me, please?
- What do you want, kid? - I think I'm lost.
I have to find the Garfield Hays Monument.
You guys know where it is?
- No, boss. - Boss, it's a quarter of.
Oh, see, they're waiting for me. My mother, father and my little brother.
But I don't wanna keep you.
Boss, we better go.
Take your time. The little girl is lost!
I don't want to take your time, sir.
It's all right, kid. Now, let me see.
The Garfield Monument? Monument?
I've been there lots of times. It's a big place.
Yeah, pretty big.
I played there when I was a kid. I used to feed the pigeons.
You see down there?
See that policeman down there?
Tell you what, go ask the cop. He'll tell you where it is.
Thank you very much.
- Have a nice day, now. - Okay, little girl. Be careful, now.
Sweet kid.
- Hey! Hey! - All right, Barbara.
All right, all right. Okay, okay.
Now, we're heading back to the center. Let's go, let's go. Back to the center.
- What'd you find out? - Nice lady.
But what'd you find out for you and me?
You? Hey, man, there's a chump already in the picture.
- The names. - I don't know the turkey's name.
I'm talking about the names from the safe.
I figure if I get tickets for the ballet, I'll be able to impress her with my class.
- Dave, it's been a bad day. - I'm working on it.
- What about the child-care center? - I think we need more participation...
...from the parents, you know, because we...
- Morning. - Morning.
Excuse me.
- Morning. - Morning.
Yes.
- Everything okay? - Yeah.
Good.
- I've changed my mind. - About what?
I'm gonna climb that fence.
He's no more entitled to you than I am.
I mean, who does he think he is, anyway? I mean, who is he?
- Roger Lawrence. - Roger Lawrence?
Roger Lawrence? Lila Lawrence?
I mean, what kind of name is that? I mean, are you kidding me?
- No. - You're not?
- No. - Well, what does he do?
He's the regional sales director, Pharaoh Products.
- Well, where is he? - He's out of town. He's in D.C.
In Washington, D. C? He's taking care of business in Washington, D. C?
Well, I'm taking care of business right here. You know why?
- Meaning what? - Meaning that I've changed my mind.
It means that I'm gonna be shooting at you. It means that you are in a world of trouble.
And another thing, I'm getting four tickets to the Dance Company of Harlem.
You are going with me. Manny's going and Nikki's going.
Now, why? Because I'm from Tennessee and when I get my Tennessee up...
...I will kick over a mountain, kill a buffalo with this little finger.
No violence to yourself, of course, my dear.
But I'm going across the hall, I'm gonna get the 21 on the job...
...for the little lady and gentlemen gorillas across the hall.
But at 7:30 p.m., I'm coming by your place and I'm picking you up.
And 7:30 means 7:30, not CP time. You understand?
Thank you.
Lovely day, Miss Darren, don't you think?
Bright and shiny, Mr. Anderson.
- Well, here we are. - Again.
- May I show you to your door? - This is my door.
No, I mean your other door.
Church people.
What's wrong with them? Are they lonely?
They just ride up and down in this building?
You know the people?
It's your building.
Are these statues, or what?
Good night.
Hey, come on! Get in line!
Get in line! Get in line if you wanna get paid.
Please get in line. You do wanna get paid, don't you?
So shut up!
Oy vey!
- 0-0-J... - That's it!
That's it.
G...
- Come on, John. What takes you so long? - Don't give me hassle.
Thank you.
Tape it soft.
- Get down this weekend. - Slow.
Mr. Durrell, I don't understand how you can do this or what it is you're really doing...
...but I think I like it.
And they tell me Mr. Anderson is doing so well with finding jobs too.
Keep praying, Sarah. We still gotta housebreak them. Time is short.
- I'll be burning incense night and day. - A few candles wouldn't hurt.
Yes, Mr. Tillman, thanks. You will not regret it. Can you call me Thursday?
Thank you, sir. Bye-bye.
Save me from committees!
Jobs 17, 18 and 19.
- You are working miracles. - I am a captain of industry.
And I'm gonna go straight to the top, and when I get there...
...l'm taking you away from here. - Thanks, captain, but no, thanks.
This is my thing. I went away to college just so I could come back here...
...because of a truly beautiful woman. That one right there.
- Who? - Martha Burke.
She started the center. She had the job I have now.
You know that kid Barbara that Manny has so much trouble with?
- Yeah. - That was me.
Always mad and never knowing why until I met Mrs. Burke.
She turned my whole life around.
She got mad every time she saw a kid's life being wasted.
This center was her passion. She's dead now, but not really.
- Who's this gentleman with her? - That's Mr. Burke. And that's the Hamiltons.
Mr. Burke. Is he connected with the center in any way?
- No, it was her baby. You know him? - I've seen him before.
You might've, if you've had any trouble with the law.
Oh, really?
Why?
That's Detective Joshua Burke. Just retired, I think.
Oh, really.
Hi, Dave. Come on in. Honey!
You know a cat named Joshua Burke?
Detective Joshua Burke, just retired from the force.
His wife, Martha Burke, died about three years ago.
Now, here's the bombshell. Martha Burke was coordinator of the center.
- Our center? - Yes, our center.
She started it. Her baby, her pet. Now, four years ago, she took sick.
The woman who took over her job was the woman she had trained.
Lila. Lila French.
Yes. I think Joshua Burke is our man.
Let's check him out. I took down his number.
Hello?
Hello? Hello, who is this? Hello?
- Got him! - Got him!
Now, I want him picked apart from the day he was born.
We will find out something, anything that will get him off of us.
I want him by the short hairs.
Give me a couple of days and you've got him on a platter, short hairs and all.
Could you tell me where I could find Miss French?
Right in there, miss.
City funded, yes, but the advantage is that our kids are prescreened in the program.
Someone to see you, Miss French, a Mrs. Quitman?
Yes, so they're already familiar with your employee requirements.
And they want to work.
I'm Bea Quitman. I'm looking for a Manuel Durrell. He's an old friend.
Manny's working in the field. Would you like to leave a message?
I'm in from Copenhagen just for the day.
I'm going to the Nash Corporation.
Hello. My name is Dave Anderson. I work with Manny.
I got a bite on jobs 20 and 21 for the little gorillas.
- All right! - Bye.
- I'm so disappointed. - He'll be back by the end of the day.
Well, maybe I can get back later.
- It was nice meeting you. - Nice meeting you.
$ 1.50.
- So? - Yes, he works there.
- He'll be back later. - That's nice.
- What about my grandson? - Trust me, Grandma.
I trusted you, right?
Go.
Second car on the left.
Call Nikki, will you? And tell her to come meet you at your house, all right?
- Lampkin called, job number 22. - Great. Now, just call Nikki, will you?
- Okay, what's up? - Nothing, just do what I tell you.
Okay, sure.
Name Mrs. Bea Quitman mean anything to you?
- Yeah. - She came in and asked for you, just left.
Got into a limo with five hood types, two of them sitting in your car right now.
- Where's Bea? - Drove off in a limo with the other three.
- They looking for you? - Yeah.
Is it serious?
- Very. - That's what I thought.
Don't get mad, but I had Lila call Nikki to come over to her place.
That was good. Thanks.
Bea.
If she gave her right name, she must be trying to tell me something.
Well, what are you going to do?
I'm gonna stay away from my car, for one thing.
Until I find out what's going on. And there's only one man who can tell me.
- Detective Joshua Logan Burke? - Right.
I don't want you in on this, Dave. It's my problem.
Detective Joshua Logan Burke happens to be my problem also.
- Dave, I'm trying to keep you out of this. - But you can't.
Detective Joshua Burke, I believe.
- Can I help you? - You damn well better.
Come in.
And they drove off with Bea.
The other two are sitting in my car now.
Can we use the phone? I wanna check on the women.
If the neighbor told you I was a policeman, it's not quite true. I retired a month ago.
This is no time for games. You've had us jumping on that string for weeks.
Gently.
Mr. Durrell, is it?
Even if I knew what you were talking about, what could I do?
Nikki's not there. Lila's been calling ever since we left. No answer.
- We gotta go. - Listen...
...l'll nose around, see what I can come up with.
I'll be at Lila French's apartment. You remember, your wife's replacement.
- Fairmont Avenue. It's listed. - Yeah.
Miss McLean, there's a lady waiting for you.
- For me? - Yes.
Nikki?
- Yeah? - I want my money.
- All $475,000. - You got Nikki?
Nikki and the old lady and you.
- You've got 18 hours. - Listen...
I'll call you at that place where you work.
You don't have to be circumspect, Mr. Burke. They've told me everything.
Yes, everything.
What you've done isn't very nice, Mr. Burke.
- I did it for her. - No.
Martha Burke never used people to get what she wanted.
Bruno called.
- He's got my woman. - He wants his money.
And he wants you dead.
- What you gonna do? - I want my woman free.
I've only got half the money. I'll find the rest someplace...
...but I won't walk in there and give him his money and my life without a chance.
I'm not gonna walk in there naked. Now, you have got to get me an edge.
Burke, you owe me.
- For my woman. - What are you asking me?
Look...
...Bruno has got to have some kind of a weak link.
- Now, you're a cop. - Was a cop.
But you still know how to get to things. Hey, if I'm going down...
...Bruno is going down.
I don't know. I don't know.
Even if I came up with some ideas...
...you'll probably need a hell of a good safe man.
And that could get you killed even before you met Bruno.
Burke, for my woman.
Wait here. I'll call you back.
Josh? You're looking good.
Ty, I gotta talk to you.
Well, what is it?
Ty...
...l'm gonna lay it on you.
What's the matter, you in trouble?
Ty, I need some information. You gotta give it to me. You gotta.
Hey, you want help? You got it. What do you need?
- I don't know what you're talking about. - Yes, you do.
I know nothing. I...
Ty?
We're old friends, right?
I know about the gambling, and I know about the loans from Bruno.
And you don't pay that money back, ever.
You pay him his way. I know that.
- When did you? - I always knew.
Here's you, Ty, 19 years. You got six years till you retire.
And I wish you well.
Ty, I got a short memory. Soon as I hear what you got to tell me...
...l'll forget where it came from.
Ty, better them than you.
Oh, Jesus!
Let's have a cup of coffee.
Yeah?
What?
You serious?
Okay.
We gotta hit two places, one you'll not believe.
Let's go.
- Hi. - Hi.
This one's been taken care of. We just cleaned it out.
Okay.
Let's go.
No, please. No, please. No, no.
I could have opened the gate for you.
Mr. Durrell, your class is ready. It's a quarter after...
Sarah, would you take the class? We're having an emergency.
Oh, certainly. I'm sorry. Certainly.
- Yeah? - You got my property?
- Yeah. - We make the exchange...
...underneath Lakeshore Drive and Walker, 2:00.
- I'll be there. - Sure you will.
It's on.
- Let me go with you. - No.
If they see you, they won't deal.
Just take care of Nikki.
- Where's my woman? - Let me see the money.
Where is she?
Okay.
She'll be coming out of that warehouse right over there.
Get in, con man.
Where's Manny?
No! I'm not going anyplace! I want Manny! Manny!
So. Long time. Long time.
- You're a smart boy. - I got your boy.
- What'd you say? - I'm not a boy.
Look, I came here to give you this.
It's two-thirds of the money. I'm short a third. You wanna count it?
Money isn't everything, you see?
You're an embarrassment to me. Like a boil.
You interfere with the normal flow of things, boy.
- Man. - We'll see about that.
You're smart. I give you credit for that. But now you're in trouble, see?
You shouldn't deal in other people's money.
- You should take your own advice, Bruno. - Mr. Bruno.
That was other people's money. Money you took from poor people.
You preaching to me, con man?
I don't steal that money. People give it to me.
- I provide a service. - Dope is a service?
Gambling, whores? Twelve-year-old junkies are informed consumers?
You got a lot of spunk, boy. A lot of spunk.
You are not dealing with a boy, titty-sucker.
Watch how you talk here.
Okay.
So I touched you and I touched you good. All right, I owe you.
But you owe people. You owe a lot of people in my neighborhood...
...so in a matter of touching other people's money, we're even.
Right?
Right.
- Can I have him now, boss? - No, let him talk.
It's his last testament.
Now, I wanna walk out of here owing you nothing. Equal.
So why don't you count the money.
- I wanna talk a deal. - Deal?
You believe that?
He wants to talk a deal.
Durrell, only deal you're gonna talk...
...is what kind of box you want to be buried in.
Don't talk to me about deals, boy.
Get him out of here. You know what to do.
That's gonna be the death of you, Bruno.
- This? - That!
That money? You don't understand. This is nothing.
It's two-thirds of nothing!
It's pride.
Principle.
You don't understand that, smart boy.
You shouldn't get in places where you are a lightweight.
Smart. Smart?!
You're stupid! You think this is big money?
This is nothing! This is crap! This is...
What is this?
That's a copy of your ownership of Coryell Management Limited.
The Internal Revenue Service might be interested in your imports and exports.
That might be the details of your cigarette business.
That's a federal offense. Interstate hijacking.
The stamps on the packs are federal stamps.
Where did you get this?
From where you kept them, in a safe at St. Ambrose Monastery.
That was good thinking. Those nice monks don't know nothing.
Give them a contribution, and they let you store things where the cops can't come in.
Nice thinking.
Check that one out.
I mean, that's important.
That's the deal between you and Foster that got the Turk killed in Delaware.
Now, I know you're not connected...
...and the syndicate would just as soon have you out of the way.
And that piece of paper will put your behind deep in a marsh.
And you, Louie...
...you, Stosh...
...and you...
...but especially him.
- I'm gonna blow him away, boss. - You hit my safe.
I hit two safes.
And I'm sure you've noticed that those papers are copies.
I've got 25 sets...
...around town.
Now...
You boys wanna talk a deal with a lightweight?
I wanna walk out of here and go back to my life.
You hear me?
Back to my woman.
Durrell.
Twenty-five copies?
Around town.
So anything happens to you happens to us?
That's right.
So...
You walk out clean, we're even. That's it?
And you stop dealing dope in South Chicago.
Deal.
Where's Bea?
The old lady?
Back in Copenhagen.
- How'd you find her? - I've got friends everywhere.
Remember that, boy.
Man.
What happens if you drop dead of a heart attack or something?
Manny!
- Oh, baby! Are you all right? - I'm fine.
- They didn't hurt you, did they? - No, baby, I'm fine.
Well, what happened?
It's a standoff for now.
This center has too much excitement for me. I'll have to get an honest job.
- Is there any money in this line of work? - I guess we'll have to find out.
I don't care if you sharecrop, baby. I can work.
Well, now, what you gonna do for me?
Well, first, we gonna get you a high-school diploma.
Just a minute, now. We still got this problem of...
oh, my God, Miss French! It's horrible!
Please come, Miss French!
I told him to stop bothering me! I told him! I did!
Didn't I? Didn't I tell him? I told him!
These commencement exercises of the class of '77...
...which we had to give ourselves...
...are dedicated to Benjamin Banneker:
Free man, irrigation farmer...
...weather predictor, author of an almanac...
...builder of the first American-made clock...
...and chief surveyor of the city of Washington, D. C...
...our nation's capital.
Our opening pageant...
...presented by Barbara Hanley and Percy Watkins...
...exhibited a tableau in pantomime, you understand?
Shut up, Gerald! See, I told you not to let him do it.
- He always got to be a star. - Quiet, y'all.
- Go ahead, Gerald. - That's all.
I'd just ask our guests to please excuse my colleagues...
...and let your patience overcome the nausea and disgust...
...at the ignorance which is, indeed, the curse of our people.
- Get back in line, son! - Why would do you wanna do that?
The next section of our program is awards. Willie?
The recipient of the class gift award is Miss French.
Oh, thank you.
This gift was commissioned by the entire class of '77.
The artist is Timmy Mangum, my little brother.
Hey! Let's hear it for Timmy.
Miss Thomas, it is my honor to present you with this.
The key to the block.
And this.
The collected works of Stevie Wonder!
Thank you.
Will you two cut that out? Really!
Now, for Mr. Durrell and Mr. Anderson...
...the joint incentive award.
We heard y'all call us "the gorillas." That's cool.
Now, you can take this award and spend it on the 23 rookie gorillas...
...you got coming in next week!
- Rookie gorillas? - Rookie gorillas?
- Twenty-three, and they're volunteers. - No.
I meant to tell you, but all this excitement...
No, you didn't.
- No, no, no. - It's honest work.
- No. - No, no, no.
Please.
- No. - No.
Boy! Get on that.
That's it, girl.
Move it, y'all.