1
00:00:02,502 --> 00:00:04,137
[***]
2
00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:05,739
NARRATOR:
1982.
3
00:00:05,772 --> 00:00:07,741
That was the year I turned 13.
4
00:00:07,774 --> 00:00:10,477
Before I was a comedian,
I thought the coolest thing
5
00:00:10,510 --> 00:00:14,547
that would happen to me
was being a teenager.
6
00:00:14,581 --> 00:00:19,252
I was going to have women,
money, stay out late...
7
00:00:19,285 --> 00:00:23,423
I thought it was going
to be the bomb.
8
00:00:23,456 --> 00:00:24,724
'Sup?
9
00:00:24,758 --> 00:00:27,160
He's here!
Chris is here!
10
00:00:27,193 --> 00:00:28,361
Yo, Chris!
11
00:00:28,395 --> 00:00:30,296
[PEOPLE CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
12
00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:32,432
[CHANTING]
Chris! Chris! Chris! Chris!
13
00:00:32,465 --> 00:00:34,567
Chris! Chris! Chris! Chris!
14
00:00:34,601 --> 00:00:36,569
[CHANTING CONTINUES]
15
00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:38,605
NARRATOR:
Boy, was I wrong.
16
00:00:38,638 --> 00:00:40,240
Chris!
17
00:00:40,273 --> 00:00:43,276
Get in the bathroom and wipe
the pee off the toilet seat!
18
00:00:44,811 --> 00:00:46,646
Disgusting!
19
00:00:48,682 --> 00:00:50,617
[***]
20
00:00:56,489 --> 00:01:00,093
* Aw, make it funky now
21
00:01:24,584 --> 00:01:27,687
JULIUS:
Come on, y'all, let's go.
We got to move.
22
00:01:27,721 --> 00:01:30,924
NARRATOR:
When I was 13,
my mother convinced my father
23
00:01:30,957 --> 00:01:32,459
to move us out
of the projects.
24
00:01:32,492 --> 00:01:33,860
She always said, "'Project'
25
00:01:33,893 --> 00:01:36,663
"is just another word
for 'experiment.'"
26
00:01:36,696 --> 00:01:39,466
In a lab, the government
gives rats cheese.
27
00:01:39,499 --> 00:01:42,669
In the projects, the government
gives people cheese.
28
00:01:42,702 --> 00:01:44,671
Dad...
29
00:01:44,704 --> 00:01:46,306
can we stop at McDonald's?
30
00:01:46,339 --> 00:01:47,874
You got some
McDonald's money?
31
00:01:47,907 --> 00:01:49,342
Julius, the kids
have to eat.
32
00:01:49,376 --> 00:01:50,744
They ain't got
to eat McDonald's.
33
00:01:50,777 --> 00:01:53,213
We got some bologna in the back.
I'll pull over.
34
00:01:53,246 --> 00:01:55,915
NARRATOR:
My father Julius always kept
bologna handy just in case.
35
00:01:55,949 --> 00:01:57,617
We get one combo meal.
36
00:01:57,650 --> 00:01:59,853
Drew gets the burger.
Tanya gets the fries.
37
00:01:59,886 --> 00:02:01,354
Chris, you can
have the drink.
38
00:02:01,388 --> 00:02:03,623
NARRATOR:
One time, I just got ice.
39
00:02:03,656 --> 00:02:05,392
[***]
40
00:02:05,425 --> 00:02:08,628
NARRATOR:
We moved to an apartment
in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn.
41
00:02:08,661 --> 00:02:10,497
Now, had we known
that Bed-Stuy
42
00:02:10,530 --> 00:02:12,665
would be the center
of a crack epidemic,
43
00:02:12,699 --> 00:02:16,236
I guess we would've picked
someplace else.
44
00:02:16,269 --> 00:02:17,904
Bed-Stuy even had
its own motto:
45
00:02:17,937 --> 00:02:20,407
"Bed-Stuy, do or die."
46
00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,809
Look at that.
Look at that, look at that.
47
00:02:22,842 --> 00:02:25,378
NARRATOR:
Those are some of the guys
that are going to die.
48
00:02:25,412 --> 00:02:27,514
If I ever catch
any of y'all
49
00:02:27,547 --> 00:02:29,449
spray-painting
on anybody's wall,
50
00:02:29,482 --> 00:02:31,451
I'mma put my foot
so far up your behind,
51
00:02:31,484 --> 00:02:33,853
you'll have toes for teeth.
52
00:02:33,887 --> 00:02:35,388
Get inside.
53
00:02:35,422 --> 00:02:36,856
NARRATOR:
That's my mother Rochelle.
54
00:02:36,890 --> 00:02:39,292
She had a hundred recipes
for whooping ass.
55
00:02:39,325 --> 00:02:41,961
Boy, I will slap the caps
off your knees.
56
00:02:41,995 --> 00:02:44,531
I will knock you
into last night.
57
00:02:44,564 --> 00:02:46,700
I will slap your name
out the phone book
58
00:02:46,733 --> 00:02:48,768
and call Ma Bell
and tell her I did it!
59
00:02:48,802 --> 00:02:50,770
NARRATOR:
That's my younger brother Drew.
60
00:02:50,804 --> 00:02:53,406
There's nothing worse
than having a little brother
61
00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:54,774
that's bigger than you.
62
00:02:54,808 --> 00:02:56,643
My sister, Tanya,
was the youngest
63
00:02:56,676 --> 00:02:59,979
and would do anything
to get me in trouble.
64
00:03:00,013 --> 00:03:01,414
Chris, clean that mess up.
65
00:03:01,448 --> 00:03:03,283
Tanya did it.
Uh-uh!
66
00:03:03,316 --> 00:03:04,584
ROCHELLE:
Did I ask you that?
67
00:03:04,617 --> 00:03:06,286
NARRATOR:
Since I was the oldest,
68
00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:07,887
I had to be
the emergency adult.
69
00:03:07,921 --> 00:03:10,623
If you smell smoke, and you
think the house is gonna
70
00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:12,992
catch fire, get your brother
and sister and get out.
71
00:03:13,026 --> 00:03:16,396
If you smell gas and you think
the house is gonna blow up,
72
00:03:16,429 --> 00:03:18,431
get your brother and sister
and get out.
73
00:03:18,465 --> 00:03:21,401
If you smell smoke and your
brother catches on fire,
74
00:03:21,434 --> 00:03:23,269
get your sister
and get out of here.
75
00:03:23,303 --> 00:03:25,638
NARRATOR:
Fortunately,
the house never caught fire
76
00:03:25,672 --> 00:03:27,040
and neither did my brother.
77
00:03:27,073 --> 00:03:28,675
Mom, why is it
that Drew and Tanya
78
00:03:28,708 --> 00:03:30,777
get to go to school
in our own neighborhood,
79
00:03:30,810 --> 00:03:32,979
but I have to go all
the way to Brooklyn Beach?
80
00:03:33,013 --> 00:03:35,982
NARRATOR:
Brooklyn Beach was
a poor Italian neighborhood
81
00:03:36,016 --> 00:03:37,384
on the other side of town.
82
00:03:37,417 --> 00:03:38,718
It was just like Bed-Stuy:
83
00:03:38,752 --> 00:03:40,720
take away the gangs,
add the mob.
84
00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:43,490
Because the junior
high school around here
85
00:03:43,523 --> 00:03:45,792
is like a hoodlum factory.
86
00:03:45,825 --> 00:03:48,595
Now, those white kids,
they get an education.
87
00:03:48,628 --> 00:03:50,530
NARRATOR:
Not a Harvard-type education,
88
00:03:50,563 --> 00:03:53,566
just a not-sticking-up-
a-liquor-store type education.
89
00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,735
Hey, Dad.
Hi, baby.
90
00:03:55,769 --> 00:03:58,304
What's up?
Oh, what's up, Dad?
91
00:03:58,338 --> 00:04:00,607
Hey, Daddy.
Hey, baby.
92
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,642
NARRATOR:
Tanya was
my father's favorite.
93
00:04:02,676 --> 00:04:04,411
What's wrong with
your oatmeal?
94
00:04:04,444 --> 00:04:05,612
Chris made
it too lumpy.
95
00:04:05,645 --> 00:04:07,347
NARRATOR:
And she knew it.
96
00:04:07,380 --> 00:04:09,716
You don't
have to eat it.
97
00:04:12,585 --> 00:04:15,655
JULIUS:
I know you're not
gonna throw that away.
98
00:04:15,689 --> 00:04:16,690
Eat that.
99
00:04:16,723 --> 00:04:18,758
That's 30 cent
worth of oatmeal.
100
00:04:18,792 --> 00:04:21,895
NARRATOR:
My father always knew
what everything cost.
101
00:04:21,928 --> 00:04:24,931
That's a $1.09 in the trash!
102
00:04:24,964 --> 00:04:28,935
That's two dollars on fire.
103
00:04:28,968 --> 00:04:31,871
That's 49 cent of spilt milk
104
00:04:31,905 --> 00:04:33,573
dripping all over my table.
105
00:04:33,606 --> 00:04:35,975
Somebody gonna drink this milk.
106
00:04:36,009 --> 00:04:37,944
Uh, baby,
did you see this?
107
00:04:37,977 --> 00:04:40,480
Mm. Oh, I paid this.
108
00:04:40,513 --> 00:04:42,582
It says you paid half.
I know.
109
00:04:42,615 --> 00:04:44,050
I gave you all the money.
110
00:04:44,084 --> 00:04:45,819
How come you only paid
half the bill?
111
00:04:45,852 --> 00:04:48,521
I cannot even believe that
you're asking me that.
112
00:04:48,555 --> 00:04:49,789
I'm asking you
a question.
113
00:04:49,823 --> 00:04:51,791
I'm trying to find out
what's going on--
114
00:04:51,825 --> 00:04:54,060
No, you're not.
You're questioning my judgment.
115
00:04:54,094 --> 00:04:57,397
You act like there's not a big
red bill sitting on the table.
116
00:04:57,430 --> 00:04:59,899
Okay, fine.
You do it, then.
117
00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:03,436
I will. I am. Fine.
Okay. Good. Fine.
118
00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:06,539
NARRATOR:
My parents taught me love
is never having to say:
119
00:05:06,573 --> 00:05:09,009
"Kiss my ass!"
Where the stamps at?
120
00:05:09,042 --> 00:05:11,144
NARRATOR:
I was never cool growing up.
121
00:05:11,177 --> 00:05:12,679
The coolest thing about me
122
00:05:12,712 --> 00:05:14,948
was this pair
of white sneakers I had.
123
00:05:14,981 --> 00:05:16,549
Oh, no, no, no.
124
00:05:16,583 --> 00:05:18,651
You are not going to school
in those sneakers.
125
00:05:18,685 --> 00:05:20,754
NARRATOR:
Believe it or not,
there was a time
126
00:05:20,787 --> 00:05:22,822
when you couldn't wear sneakers
everywhere.
127
00:05:22,856 --> 00:05:24,691
Why? Everybody else
wears sneakers.
128
00:05:24,724 --> 00:05:25,959
Because you look raggedy.
129
00:05:25,992 --> 00:05:27,994
And plus,
you have an assembly today.
130
00:05:28,028 --> 00:05:29,562
Boy, you done lost your mind.
131
00:05:29,596 --> 00:05:31,097
NARRATOR:
My mother hated raggedy.
132
00:05:31,131 --> 00:05:33,633
She always said it's better
to be poor and neat
133
00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:35,101
than rich and raggedy.
134
00:05:35,135 --> 00:05:37,804
I think she said that
because we were poor.
135
00:05:37,837 --> 00:05:41,408
Here.
Wear Drew's good shoes.
136
00:05:41,441 --> 00:05:42,809
I hate these shoes.
137
00:05:42,842 --> 00:05:44,778
Everybody will make fun
of me at school.
138
00:05:44,811 --> 00:05:46,646
You've been going there
for a week.
139
00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,448
You don't know everybody.
140
00:05:48,481 --> 00:05:51,017
NARRATOR:
I was the only black kid
at the school.
141
00:05:51,051 --> 00:05:52,152
They know me.
142
00:05:53,486 --> 00:05:54,888
NARRATOR:
This is so embarrassing.
143
00:05:54,921 --> 00:05:56,623
How come he's
wearing my shoes?
144
00:05:56,656 --> 00:05:58,558
'Cause you only have
one pair of feet.
145
00:05:58,591 --> 00:06:00,126
Chris, don't fool around
after school.
146
00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,862
I need you to be here
to let Drew and Tanya in, okay?
147
00:06:02,896 --> 00:06:04,998
You won't be here?
I got to work today.
148
00:06:05,031 --> 00:06:06,132
But you know the drill.
149
00:06:06,166 --> 00:06:07,767
Yeah, yeah,
I know, I know.
150
00:06:07,801 --> 00:06:10,470
Daddy's gonna be asleep,
don't wake him up till 5:00.
151
00:06:10,503 --> 00:06:13,006
That's right. Chris.
152
00:06:13,039 --> 00:06:14,774
You got your bus pass?
153
00:06:14,808 --> 00:06:16,676
Yeah. Um...
154
00:06:16,710 --> 00:06:18,878
somewhere around here.
Mm-hmm.
155
00:06:18,912 --> 00:06:20,780
You keep on.
You lose this bus pass,
156
00:06:20,814 --> 00:06:23,216
and your behind is gonna be
walking to school.
157
00:06:23,249 --> 00:06:25,752
Oh.
158
00:06:25,785 --> 00:06:27,787
Here's two dollars for lunch.
Thanks.
159
00:06:27,821 --> 00:06:29,723
All right.
Now, be good.
160
00:06:29,756 --> 00:06:31,458
CHRIS: I will.
Bye, Mommy.
161
00:06:31,491 --> 00:06:32,892
Bye, baby.
162
00:06:32,926 --> 00:06:34,160
Hold your sister's hand.
163
00:06:34,194 --> 00:06:36,863
Don't go in the street.
164
00:06:38,998 --> 00:06:41,601
NARRATOR:
Keisha was the girl next door.
165
00:06:41,634 --> 00:06:43,903
At 13, I didn't know
a lot about sex,
166
00:06:43,937 --> 00:06:46,172
but I knew she had something
to do with it.
167
00:06:46,206 --> 00:06:48,041
Hey, Drew.
NARRATOR:Drew?!
168
00:06:48,074 --> 00:06:49,542
What's up, Keisha?
169
00:06:51,945 --> 00:06:53,646
You know her?
170
00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,115
Yeah.
171
00:06:55,148 --> 00:06:57,584
NARRATOR:
Drew was so cool,
he got girls at 10
172
00:06:57,617 --> 00:06:59,619
that I couldn't get
until I was 30.
173
00:06:59,652 --> 00:07:01,121
Listen, when y'all
get to the house,
174
00:07:01,154 --> 00:07:03,623
don't ring the bell
or knock on the door.
175
00:07:03,656 --> 00:07:05,892
Just wait, okay?
Whatever.
176
00:07:05,925 --> 00:07:07,794
What if I have to go
to the bathroom?
177
00:07:07,827 --> 00:07:10,163
Go at school.
That bathroom is so nasty.
178
00:07:10,196 --> 00:07:12,866
Listen,
if you wake up Daddy,
179
00:07:12,899 --> 00:07:15,068
he's gonna punch me
square in the face.
180
00:07:15,101 --> 00:07:17,871
And if he does that,
I'm gonna punch you in the face.
181
00:07:17,904 --> 00:07:20,607
And then he's gonna kill me
and wind up in jail.
182
00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,509
Now, do you want Daddy
to go to jail?
183
00:07:22,542 --> 00:07:24,210
No.
[MOCKINGLY] No?
184
00:07:24,244 --> 00:07:26,546
[NORMALLY]
All right, then!
185
00:07:26,579 --> 00:07:28,548
NARRATOR:
Even when my mother got mad,
186
00:07:28,581 --> 00:07:30,250
she still made
my dad's dinner.
187
00:07:30,283 --> 00:07:31,818
...have this on my mind.
188
00:07:31,851 --> 00:07:33,620
NARRATOR:
...vegetables, potatoes,
189
00:07:33,653 --> 00:07:36,823
and his favorite:
a big piece of chicken.
190
00:07:36,856 --> 00:07:39,893
I had to take two buses
to school every day.
191
00:07:39,926 --> 00:07:42,162
Was the junior high school
across the street
192
00:07:42,195 --> 00:07:43,563
really that bad?
193
00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:46,299
[GUNSHOTS]
[PEOPLE SCREAMING]
194
00:07:46,332 --> 00:07:47,967
NARRATOR:
Much like rock and roll,
195
00:07:48,001 --> 00:07:50,603
school shootings were also
invented by blacks
196
00:07:50,637 --> 00:07:53,606
and stolen by the white man.
197
00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,676
My first bus
was the 26.
198
00:07:56,710 --> 00:07:59,012
I read the newspaper
every single day.
199
00:07:59,045 --> 00:08:00,880
I learned more
on the way to school
200
00:08:00,914 --> 00:08:03,516
than I learned at school.
201
00:08:04,918 --> 00:08:07,120
My next bus was the 44.
202
00:08:07,153 --> 00:08:09,556
I was the only black person
on the bus.
203
00:08:09,589 --> 00:08:11,324
And nobody would sit
next to me.
204
00:08:11,358 --> 00:08:13,026
I mean, nobody.
205
00:08:13,993 --> 00:08:15,729
If you think she's mad now,
206
00:08:15,762 --> 00:08:17,831
wait till her daughter
brings home O.J.
207
00:08:17,864 --> 00:08:19,966
[STUDENTS CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY]
208
00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,602
NARRATOR:
My mother thought
going to a white school
209
00:08:22,635 --> 00:08:24,304
meant I would get
a better education
210
00:08:24,337 --> 00:08:26,239
and I would be safer.
211
00:08:26,272 --> 00:08:28,241
Wrong!
212
00:08:28,274 --> 00:08:30,010
That's Joey Caruso,
213
00:08:30,043 --> 00:08:32,579
a little thug with a big chip
on his shoulder.
214
00:08:32,612 --> 00:08:34,147
You know,
I managed to avoid him
215
00:08:34,180 --> 00:08:36,049
before I wore these shoes.
216
00:08:37,117 --> 00:08:38,651
Nice shoes, Bojangles.
217
00:08:38,685 --> 00:08:40,854
Bojangles?
218
00:08:40,887 --> 00:08:42,756
That's not what
your mother called me
219
00:08:42,789 --> 00:08:45,258
when I was tap-dancing
in her drawers last night.
220
00:08:45,291 --> 00:08:47,360
[STUDENTS GASP, EXCLAIM]
221
00:08:47,394 --> 00:08:50,130
NARRATOR:
I know you think I'm crazy,
but if I let him
222
00:08:50,163 --> 00:08:53,166
get away with that,
he'd be doing it all year.
223
00:08:53,199 --> 00:08:54,768
Now, I couldn't beat him,
224
00:08:54,801 --> 00:08:57,137
but I thought maybe
I could out-black him.
225
00:08:57,170 --> 00:08:59,172
What?
Did I stutter?
226
00:08:59,205 --> 00:09:01,908
[STUDENTS EXCLAIM]
Do you know who I am?
227
00:09:01,941 --> 00:09:03,643
You step on
my shoe again,
228
00:09:03,677 --> 00:09:04,911
and I'mma tell you
who I am.
229
00:09:04,944 --> 00:09:06,880
[STUDENTS EXCLAIM]
I don't play that.
230
00:09:06,913 --> 00:09:08,615
I'm from Bed-Stuy, boy.
231
00:09:08,648 --> 00:09:10,917
I'll bring half of
Marcy up in here.
232
00:09:10,950 --> 00:09:12,686
I will beat
your butt so bad,
233
00:09:12,719 --> 00:09:14,688
you're gonna need
crutches in your sleep.
234
00:09:14,721 --> 00:09:16,022
NARRATOR:
Hey, this might work.
235
00:09:16,056 --> 00:09:17,957
You know what else
I'm gonna do--
236
00:09:17,991 --> 00:09:19,025
[CROWD GASPS]
237
00:09:19,059 --> 00:09:21,127
What's your name?
Chris.
238
00:09:21,161 --> 00:09:23,763
I'm Dr. Raymond,
your new principal.
239
00:09:23,797 --> 00:09:26,066
Now get off my feet.
240
00:09:26,099 --> 00:09:29,069
[SNICKERING]
RAYMOND: That's funny?
241
00:09:29,102 --> 00:09:30,370
That's not funny.
242
00:09:30,403 --> 00:09:32,272
What's your name, son?
243
00:09:32,305 --> 00:09:33,840
Caruso.
244
00:09:33,873 --> 00:09:36,376
Fix yourself up
next time you come to my school.
245
00:09:38,445 --> 00:09:40,146
See those shoes?
246
00:09:40,180 --> 00:09:41,948
They say something.
247
00:09:41,981 --> 00:09:43,350
They say, "I'm a student.
248
00:09:43,383 --> 00:09:45,719
I want to learn."
249
00:09:45,752 --> 00:09:47,821
I want more of that...
250
00:09:47,854 --> 00:09:50,056
and less of this.
251
00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:51,691
[***]
252
00:09:52,692 --> 00:09:54,427
Don't bump into me again.
253
00:09:54,461 --> 00:09:57,263
NARRATOR:
Even though Caruso
was messing withme,
254
00:09:57,297 --> 00:09:59,966
getting embarrassed
made him even madder.
255
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,768
So you know what's coming next.
256
00:10:01,801 --> 00:10:03,103
This isn't over, nigger.
257
00:10:04,437 --> 00:10:07,107
NARRATOR:
Oh, he got away with calling me
nigger that day.
258
00:10:07,140 --> 00:10:09,976
But later in life,
he said it at a DMX concert
259
00:10:10,010 --> 00:10:12,746
and almost got stomped
to death.
260
00:10:12,779 --> 00:10:15,782
Hey, are you really from
Bed-Stuy, do or die?
261
00:10:15,815 --> 00:10:17,984
Yeah.
You ever been shot?
262
00:10:18,018 --> 00:10:21,287
No.
Well, at least not yet.
263
00:10:21,321 --> 00:10:23,323
I'm Greg.
I'm Chris.
264
00:10:23,356 --> 00:10:25,792
NARRATOR:
Greg Wuliger
wasn't my first choice
265
00:10:25,825 --> 00:10:27,827
for a friend,
but mutual ass-kicking
266
00:10:27,861 --> 00:10:29,362
seemed to bring
people together.
267
00:10:29,396 --> 00:10:31,965
Cool shoes.
Thanks.
268
00:10:31,998 --> 00:10:34,300
You know, if that
was the new principal,
269
00:10:34,334 --> 00:10:35,869
who was the old one?
270
00:10:35,902 --> 00:10:37,370
I didn't touch her!
271
00:10:37,404 --> 00:10:40,040
I don't know what you're
talking about. Ask anybody.
272
00:10:40,073 --> 00:10:41,941
NARRATOR:
Mr. Palmer was accused
of doing something
273
00:10:41,975 --> 00:10:44,377
we can't tell you about
because of the network censors.
274
00:10:44,411 --> 00:10:46,146
The school settled
the lawsuit out of court,
275
00:10:46,179 --> 00:10:48,048
and he's not allowed
to teach anymore.
276
00:10:48,081 --> 00:10:49,816
If he moves to your
neighborhood,
277
00:10:49,849 --> 00:10:52,018
you'll get a warning.
278
00:10:52,052 --> 00:10:54,254
Back at home, my father
should have been in bed,
279
00:10:54,287 --> 00:10:56,890
but he'd rather
lose sleep than money.
280
00:10:56,923 --> 00:10:58,425
What are you doing?
281
00:10:58,458 --> 00:11:00,060
I'm paying the bills.
282
00:11:00,093 --> 00:11:03,129
See? It says $40,
I'm paying $40.
283
00:11:03,163 --> 00:11:06,766
And that's exactly why I don't
let you pay the bills.
284
00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:08,902
[***]
285
00:11:10,470 --> 00:11:12,372
Where are you going?
To work.
286
00:11:12,405 --> 00:11:14,941
Is Chris gonna be home
in time to wake me up?
287
00:11:14,974 --> 00:11:16,343
Can I see in the future?
288
00:11:16,376 --> 00:11:17,911
What's wrong with you?
289
00:11:19,913 --> 00:11:23,016
[DOOR CLOSES]
Probably can see in the future.
290
00:11:25,952 --> 00:11:27,887
NARRATOR:
By lunchtime, I was starving.
291
00:11:27,921 --> 00:11:29,422
GREG:
I'm gonna go
get a hot dog.
292
00:11:29,456 --> 00:11:31,991
I'm gonna get
a slice of pizza.
293
00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:35,095
Got my money...
294
00:11:36,229 --> 00:11:38,231
[***]
295
00:11:41,401 --> 00:11:43,003
Give me back my bus pass.
296
00:11:43,036 --> 00:11:45,772
You want it?
Take it, you little...
297
00:11:49,943 --> 00:11:52,912
After school, Satchmo.
298
00:12:05,358 --> 00:12:07,460
NARRATOR:
After school, I had a plan.
299
00:12:07,494 --> 00:12:09,195
Th-This is crazy.
300
00:12:09,229 --> 00:12:12,065
Man, it's a school fight. School
fights only last a minute,
301
00:12:12,098 --> 00:12:14,334
'cause somebody always
comes and breaks them up.
302
00:12:14,367 --> 00:12:16,803
All I have to do is get
in the first punch,
303
00:12:16,836 --> 00:12:18,905
somebody'll stop it.
304
00:12:18,938 --> 00:12:20,907
CROWD [CHANTING]:
Fight! Fight! Fight!
305
00:12:20,940 --> 00:12:23,109
[CHANTING CONTINUES]
306
00:12:24,310 --> 00:12:26,946
What're you waiting
for, Corn Bread?
307
00:12:27,947 --> 00:12:29,582
[CROWD EXCLAIMS]
308
00:12:29,616 --> 00:12:31,484
This'll be over any minute.
309
00:12:31,518 --> 00:12:33,820
[***]
310
00:12:39,325 --> 00:12:41,528
[***]
311
00:12:54,174 --> 00:12:57,043
Is somebody
gonna stop this?
312
00:13:01,481 --> 00:13:03,083
[GROANS]
313
00:13:09,889 --> 00:13:12,959
Wait! Wait! Wait!
314
00:13:12,992 --> 00:13:14,094
Wait for me!
315
00:13:14,127 --> 00:13:16,496
Thank you. Thank you, yeah.
316
00:13:16,529 --> 00:13:18,598
Come on, ma'am, come on.
I got a schedule. Let's go...
317
00:13:18,631 --> 00:13:21,134
Wait! Wait! Hold up!
Hold up! Wait!
318
00:13:21,167 --> 00:13:22,869
There's a kid
trying to catch...
319
00:13:22,902 --> 00:13:25,138
Yeah, yeah, I know, I see...
320
00:13:25,171 --> 00:13:26,973
Wait, wait,
wait, wait-- Ow!
321
00:13:27,007 --> 00:13:28,875
[GRUMBLING]
322
00:13:31,011 --> 00:13:32,512
Bet you don't get me tomorrow.
323
00:13:32,545 --> 00:13:33,880
I bet I do.
324
00:13:33,913 --> 00:13:35,215
You do...
Yeah, go sit down.
325
00:13:35,248 --> 00:13:37,584
Cut that out, you bunch
of hoods! Back off!
326
00:13:41,021 --> 00:13:44,024
NARRATOR:
I was still hungry,
but I was almost home.
327
00:13:44,057 --> 00:13:45,558
What could go wrong now?
328
00:13:45,592 --> 00:13:47,360
Daddy!
329
00:13:47,394 --> 00:13:50,296
Daddy! Daddy!
330
00:13:50,330 --> 00:13:52,599
NARRATOR:
That girl's trying
to get me killed.
331
00:13:52,632 --> 00:13:54,668
Daddy! Dad--
332
00:13:54,701 --> 00:13:56,670
Girl, you don't want
Daddy to go to jail.
333
00:13:56,703 --> 00:13:58,371
I told her to quit.
334
00:13:58,405 --> 00:14:01,374
I have to go to the bathroom.
I told you to go at school!
335
00:14:01,408 --> 00:14:03,910
That bathroom is nasty!
336
00:14:06,079 --> 00:14:08,081
Listen. We're going in.
337
00:14:08,114 --> 00:14:10,583
But once we get in, I don't
want to hear any noise.
338
00:14:10,617 --> 00:14:12,452
None.
Do you understand?
339
00:14:12,485 --> 00:14:13,420
Yes.
340
00:14:14,954 --> 00:14:17,457
[***]
341
00:14:17,490 --> 00:14:19,426
[TOILET FLUSHING]
342
00:14:22,495 --> 00:14:25,465
[CONTINUES FLUSHING, MUFFLED]
343
00:14:25,498 --> 00:14:28,268
NARRATOR:
My father always
slept in his uniform.
344
00:14:28,301 --> 00:14:32,072
That way, when he woke up,
he'd be ready to go.
345
00:14:33,073 --> 00:14:34,607
[FLOORBOARDS CREAK]
346
00:14:34,641 --> 00:14:36,076
I know how
to pay bills.
347
00:14:36,109 --> 00:14:37,344
I can pay the bills...
348
00:14:48,488 --> 00:14:50,423
[LATCH CLICKS]
349
00:14:50,457 --> 00:14:53,293
NARRATOR:
You may not think messing up
a pair of $40 shoes
350
00:14:53,326 --> 00:14:56,196
is such a big deal,
but you have to realize
351
00:14:56,229 --> 00:14:58,665
that my father's car
only cost $65.
352
00:14:58,698 --> 00:15:00,433
I had to get those shoes clean.
353
00:15:00,467 --> 00:15:02,402
[***]
354
00:15:27,694 --> 00:15:31,297
NARRATOR:
For the first time that day,
things were going all right.
355
00:15:36,336 --> 00:15:40,240
All I had to do now was keep
everybody quiet till 5:00.
356
00:15:40,273 --> 00:15:41,641
[LAUGHING]
357
00:15:41,675 --> 00:15:43,677
[MUFFLED LAUGHING]
358
00:15:43,710 --> 00:15:46,012
[CLOCK TICKING]
359
00:15:50,717 --> 00:15:52,185
Dad...
360
00:15:52,218 --> 00:15:53,987
Dad.
361
00:15:54,454 --> 00:15:56,222
Time to get up.
362
00:15:57,090 --> 00:15:58,525
It's 5:00?
363
00:15:58,558 --> 00:16:00,560
Yep.
364
00:16:00,593 --> 00:16:03,263
It's not 4:59?
365
00:16:03,296 --> 00:16:04,798
Nope.
366
00:16:04,831 --> 00:16:06,766
No...
367
00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:09,302
What job am I
going to?
368
00:16:09,336 --> 00:16:11,571
You're driving a truck.
369
00:16:11,604 --> 00:16:13,340
[SIGHS]
370
00:16:16,776 --> 00:16:19,212
[GROANS]
371
00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:21,748
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello?
372
00:16:21,781 --> 00:16:23,683
Hey, hey, baby.
It's Mommy.
373
00:16:23,717 --> 00:16:24,818
Is your father up?
374
00:16:24,851 --> 00:16:26,419
Yep.
Good, good, good.
375
00:16:26,453 --> 00:16:28,555
Take his plate
out of the refrigerator
376
00:16:28,588 --> 00:16:29,823
and put in the oven for him.
377
00:16:29,856 --> 00:16:31,324
What plate?
378
00:16:31,358 --> 00:16:33,560
The one with
the big piece of chicken.
379
00:16:33,593 --> 00:16:35,528
[***]
380
00:16:46,539 --> 00:16:48,108
Haven't I told you
381
00:16:48,141 --> 00:16:51,244
do not eat
the big piece of chicken?
382
00:16:51,277 --> 00:16:52,812
But I was still hungry.
383
00:16:52,846 --> 00:16:55,215
NARRATOR:
My mother wasn't mad at me,
she was
384
00:16:55,248 --> 00:16:57,484
looking out for my father.
You see how big he is?
385
00:16:57,517 --> 00:16:59,786
NARRATOR:
She didn't want him
to go to work hungry,
386
00:16:59,819 --> 00:17:02,489
'cause if he goes to work
hungry, he'll be grouchy,
387
00:17:02,522 --> 00:17:05,258
and if he's grouchy, he might
call his boss "cracker,"
388
00:17:05,291 --> 00:17:06,726
and if he calls
his boss "cracker,"
389
00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:08,862
then we're living
in the projects again.
390
00:17:08,895 --> 00:17:13,366
But do not eat the biggest
piece of chicken.
391
00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,436
Do you understand?
392
00:17:21,574 --> 00:17:24,210
At least you didn't
mess up your school shoes.
393
00:17:28,481 --> 00:17:30,684
Now come over here
and give me some sugar.
394
00:17:30,717 --> 00:17:32,819
[***]
395
00:17:35,822 --> 00:17:37,590
Now go to bed.
396
00:17:41,161 --> 00:17:42,529
Rochelle.
397
00:17:42,562 --> 00:17:43,763
What?
398
00:17:43,797 --> 00:17:45,799
Look, I'm not trying
to tell you what to do,
399
00:17:45,832 --> 00:17:48,468
but I'm working hard trying
to pay for this place.
400
00:17:48,501 --> 00:17:50,537
You know that.
Just because you make money
401
00:17:50,570 --> 00:17:52,439
doesn't mean you know
how to spend it.
402
00:17:52,472 --> 00:17:54,541
You got to know how
to work the system.
403
00:17:54,574 --> 00:17:55,608
What system?
404
00:17:55,642 --> 00:17:57,377
The debt system.
405
00:17:57,410 --> 00:18:00,480
I run this house like they run
the country: on a deficit.
406
00:18:00,513 --> 00:18:03,149
Rent is due on the 3rd.
I don't pay it till the 9th
407
00:18:03,183 --> 00:18:05,352
because you don't get
your check till the 7th.
408
00:18:05,385 --> 00:18:07,220
If you pay
the light bill now,
409
00:18:07,253 --> 00:18:08,722
I won't have money
for the groceries,
410
00:18:08,755 --> 00:18:10,824
the rent would be late and then
you'll have to work overtime.
411
00:18:10,857 --> 00:18:12,592
You want to work
overtime again?
412
00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:13,660
No, I don't think so.
413
00:18:13,693 --> 00:18:15,362
If we don't owe people money,
414
00:18:15,395 --> 00:18:17,330
we won't have any money at all.
415
00:18:18,865 --> 00:18:21,601
[SIGHS]
Um...
416
00:18:21,634 --> 00:18:24,371
Uh, why didn't you
just say that then?
417
00:18:24,404 --> 00:18:26,539
Because you didn't ask.
418
00:18:30,744 --> 00:18:32,178
Baby.
419
00:18:32,212 --> 00:18:34,280
Don't "baby" me.
420
00:18:34,314 --> 00:18:37,384
Come here. I'm sorry.
421
00:18:37,417 --> 00:18:38,885
Okay?
422
00:18:40,487 --> 00:18:42,655
Who told you to open
the mail, anyway?
423
00:18:42,689 --> 00:18:45,291
Come here, pookie.
424
00:18:45,325 --> 00:18:47,527
No, last time you said
"pookie," I got pregnant.
425
00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,462
You my pookie.
You always my pookie.
426
00:18:49,496 --> 00:18:52,565
No pookie.
Okay, little bit of pookie.
427
00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:54,200
Love you.
428
00:18:54,234 --> 00:18:55,902
I love you too, baby.
429
00:18:58,705 --> 00:19:01,441
NARRATOR:
My dad always checked on us
in between jobs,
430
00:19:01,474 --> 00:19:04,644
his night job
and his late-at-night job.
431
00:19:04,678 --> 00:19:05,979
Dad?
432
00:19:06,012 --> 00:19:08,214
Hey, man.
433
00:19:08,248 --> 00:19:10,417
I thought you were asleep.
434
00:19:10,450 --> 00:19:12,852
I'm sorry I ate
the big piece of chicken.
435
00:19:12,886 --> 00:19:14,888
That was 89 cent
worth of chicken.
436
00:19:14,921 --> 00:19:17,424
What, you didn't get enough
to eat at school?
437
00:19:17,457 --> 00:19:19,259
I was still hungry.
438
00:19:19,292 --> 00:19:21,361
Now I'm still hungry.
439
00:19:21,394 --> 00:19:22,729
Look, next time,
440
00:19:22,762 --> 00:19:25,432
eat a little something
extra at breakfast, okay?
441
00:19:25,465 --> 00:19:26,433
Okay.
442
00:19:26,933 --> 00:19:28,902
Here.
443
00:19:28,935 --> 00:19:30,904
Now don't go pulling
this money out.
444
00:19:30,937 --> 00:19:33,373
Somebody'll try to rob you.
445
00:19:33,406 --> 00:19:35,608
Don't tell
your mother about this.
446
00:19:35,642 --> 00:19:37,377
[***]
447
00:19:37,410 --> 00:19:38,945
Everything okay at school?
448
00:19:38,978 --> 00:19:40,947
NARRATOR:
I didn't tell him
about the fight.
449
00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:43,950
My dad went to school
during the Civil Rights era.
450
00:19:43,983 --> 00:19:48,021
After hoses, tanks and
the dog bites on your ass,
451
00:19:48,054 --> 00:19:50,290
somehow Joey Caruso
didn't compare.
452
00:19:50,323 --> 00:19:53,360
Yeah, it was all right.
453
00:19:54,694 --> 00:19:57,263
Good. I'll see you
in the morning.
454
00:19:57,297 --> 00:20:00,266
NARRATOR:
My father wasn't the type
to say, "I love you."
455
00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:02,736
He was one of four fathers
on the block.
456
00:20:02,769 --> 00:20:05,672
"I'll see you in the morning,"
meant he was coming home.
457
00:20:05,705 --> 00:20:09,042
Coming home was his way
of saying, "I love you."
458
00:20:09,075 --> 00:20:10,643
Unplug that clock, boy.
459
00:20:10,677 --> 00:20:12,846
You can't tell time
when you sleep.
460
00:20:12,879 --> 00:20:14,681
That's two cents an hour.
461
00:20:15,982 --> 00:20:18,718
ROCHELLE:
What the hell happened
to my towel?
462
00:20:18,752 --> 00:20:20,720
[***]
463
00:20:31,698 --> 00:20:33,633
[***]
464
00:20:34,934 --> 00:20:38,405
* Aw, make it funky now