1 00:01:28,492 --> 00:01:30,743 My name is Clareece "Precious" Jones. 2 00:01:33,246 --> 00:01:37,416 I wish I had a Iight-skinned boyfriend with real nice hair. 3 00:01:37,501 --> 00:01:40,044 And I wanna be on the cover of a magazine. 4 00:01:40,128 --> 00:01:43,506 But first, I wanna be in one of them BET videos. 5 00:01:43,590 --> 00:01:45,925 Momma said I can't dance. 6 00:01:46,009 --> 00:01:49,512 Plus, she said, who wants to see my big ass dancing, anyhow? 7 00:01:49,596 --> 00:01:53,265 Well, if there's no volunteers, then l'm going to have to call people. 8 00:01:53,350 --> 00:01:57,186 Okay, Leticia, you got number one. Leticia! 9 00:01:57,270 --> 00:01:58,646 Jess Wesley, number two. 10 00:01:58,730 --> 00:02:01,857 I Iike math. I don't say nothing. 11 00:02:02,692 --> 00:02:06,112 I don't open my book, even. I just sit there. 12 00:02:06,196 --> 00:02:07,738 -You down? -Number six. 13 00:02:07,823 --> 00:02:11,784 Every day I teII myseIf something's gonna happen. 14 00:02:11,868 --> 00:02:12,993 l'm... l'm dead serious. 15 00:02:13,078 --> 00:02:15,412 Like, I'm gonna break through. 16 00:02:15,956 --> 00:02:18,707 Or somebody's gonna break through to me. 17 00:02:19,126 --> 00:02:21,418 I'm gonna be normaI 18 00:02:21,503 --> 00:02:24,421 and pay attention, and sit in the front of the class. 19 00:02:24,506 --> 00:02:26,715 Distributive principles... 20 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:27,883 Someday. 21 00:02:27,968 --> 00:02:30,219 ...are principles that you can do in your head. 22 00:02:30,303 --> 00:02:32,388 l like Mr. Wicher. 23 00:02:33,348 --> 00:02:37,726 I pretend he my husband and we Iive somepIace Iike Westchester. 24 00:02:38,812 --> 00:02:42,439 Look at him. He Iike me, too, I know it. 25 00:02:43,233 --> 00:02:47,987 I can teII by his eyes. He aIways Iooking at me and smiIing at me. 26 00:02:48,071 --> 00:02:50,156 Boys! Boys! Boys! 27 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:51,448 l'm not your fucking boy! 28 00:02:51,533 --> 00:02:52,658 You're disrupting the class. 29 00:02:52,742 --> 00:02:55,161 Yeah, well, l'm talking now, so you listen. 30 00:02:56,079 --> 00:02:58,831 Shut the fuck up! l'm trying to listen! 31 00:03:02,085 --> 00:03:04,420 Mr. Wicher know I got his back. 32 00:03:04,838 --> 00:03:06,380 One twenty-two. 33 00:03:08,008 --> 00:03:10,050 Why are we barking, Jess? 34 00:03:10,594 --> 00:03:15,014 Monday's assignment. l'm assuming everybody did it. 35 00:03:15,432 --> 00:03:17,433 -No. -No. 36 00:03:20,770 --> 00:03:25,482 Please... Quiet. Precious, get your things. 37 00:03:25,567 --> 00:03:27,651 l have... Come here for a second. 38 00:03:27,736 --> 00:03:28,861 Now this shit. 39 00:03:28,945 --> 00:03:31,947 ls there anybody who didn't do their homework? 40 00:03:34,451 --> 00:03:39,246 Why? These aren't requests. These are requirements. Okay? 41 00:03:42,918 --> 00:03:45,836 You have to go to the principal's office. 42 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:57,848 Go to the principal's office! 43 00:03:57,933 --> 00:04:00,851 All right, that's enough. That's enough. 44 00:04:01,228 --> 00:04:04,313 No, he's not allowed on campus. Where was he seen? 45 00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:06,315 Could you get Mr. Tork from Room 25, 46 00:04:06,399 --> 00:04:08,817 tell him to go to Room 1 6 right away? Thank you. 47 00:04:08,902 --> 00:04:11,654 No. He was seen on the second floor. 48 00:04:12,948 --> 00:04:14,490 Yes. Thank you. 49 00:04:14,658 --> 00:04:16,742 Send Clareece in here! 50 00:04:19,996 --> 00:04:21,997 She's ready for you now. 51 00:04:25,669 --> 00:04:27,962 Mr. Taylor? Ms. Lichenstein. 52 00:04:28,463 --> 00:04:29,755 Come in. 53 00:04:30,173 --> 00:04:32,508 Matthew Williams, second floor. 54 00:04:33,343 --> 00:04:36,637 ln front of his locker. Yes. Suspended last week. 55 00:04:39,391 --> 00:04:40,557 Yeah. 56 00:04:41,184 --> 00:04:43,310 Yes, absolutely. Thank you. 57 00:04:44,521 --> 00:04:46,272 Hello, Clareece. 58 00:04:51,361 --> 00:04:53,070 Are you pregnant? 59 00:05:00,370 --> 00:05:04,415 You're 1 6. You're still in junior high school, 60 00:05:06,209 --> 00:05:09,128 and you're pregnant with your second child. 61 00:05:09,212 --> 00:05:11,380 ls that correct, Clareece? 62 00:05:14,134 --> 00:05:16,093 Are you pregnant again? 63 00:05:23,435 --> 00:05:25,769 What happened, Clareece? 64 00:05:25,854 --> 00:05:28,564 l had sex, Ms. Lichenstein. 65 00:05:33,987 --> 00:05:38,032 Do you have any other thoughts about your situation, Clareece? 66 00:05:43,246 --> 00:05:44,621 Clareece? 67 00:05:44,998 --> 00:05:46,749 Am I in trouble? 68 00:05:48,585 --> 00:05:51,337 Thank you. I gotta get back to math. 69 00:05:51,421 --> 00:05:54,506 Sit down, Clareece. Sit down right now. 70 00:05:56,718 --> 00:06:00,512 We should have a parent-teacher's conference with you, me and your mother. 71 00:06:00,597 --> 00:06:02,681 My mother's busy. 72 00:06:02,766 --> 00:06:05,100 All right. Well then, how about if I come to your house? 73 00:06:05,185 --> 00:06:07,144 lf I were you, I wouldn't. 74 00:06:07,228 --> 00:06:09,938 l... l'm going to have to suspend you. 75 00:06:11,107 --> 00:06:14,109 That ain't fair! I didn't do nothing! l do my work! 76 00:06:14,194 --> 00:06:15,277 My grades is good! 77 00:06:15,362 --> 00:06:17,279 ls something going on at home? 78 00:06:17,364 --> 00:06:21,492 lf something's going on at home, l want you to tell me right now. 79 00:06:33,296 --> 00:06:35,297 You get my cigarettes? 80 00:06:35,715 --> 00:06:37,549 No, they didn't have it. 81 00:06:37,634 --> 00:06:40,886 l played the number, though. l couldn't box it. 82 00:07:08,415 --> 00:07:10,374 Yes. Yeah. 83 00:07:12,252 --> 00:07:15,045 Right there. Yeah. Daddy loves you. 84 00:07:24,180 --> 00:07:26,098 Precious, what did you think of the film? 85 00:07:26,182 --> 00:07:27,349 l thought it was fabulous. 86 00:07:27,434 --> 00:07:29,935 -What's next for you? -What? 87 00:07:30,019 --> 00:07:32,604 -How are you feeling? -l feel great! 88 00:07:34,566 --> 00:07:36,108 Just one more, just one more, quick! 89 00:07:36,192 --> 00:07:37,818 l love you, too! 90 00:07:40,196 --> 00:07:41,405 You know I love you! 91 00:07:41,489 --> 00:07:43,073 Hey, boo! 92 00:07:51,374 --> 00:07:53,584 l ain't gonna say it no more. 93 00:07:58,798 --> 00:08:00,924 The door was open, so I Iet myseIf in. 94 00:08:01,009 --> 00:08:04,386 WeII, there goes my chance to teII you I'm not home. 95 00:08:04,929 --> 00:08:06,680 Now, Mary, this is important. 96 00:08:11,644 --> 00:08:13,228 Now, come on, Mary, she'II have a great time. 97 00:08:13,313 --> 00:08:16,732 I'd enroII myseIf, but I became ineIigibIe for teen pageants a few days ago. 98 00:08:17,734 --> 00:08:20,611 Yeah, I see your acne's cIeared up. 99 00:08:21,571 --> 00:08:23,864 You know, this pageant can do Brenda a world of good, Mary. 100 00:08:23,948 --> 00:08:27,618 And the man in charge, he's tops in his fieId. A briIIiant promoter. 101 00:08:27,911 --> 00:08:29,786 How Iong have you two been dating? 102 00:08:31,247 --> 00:08:33,332 A dance teacher. 103 00:08:35,251 --> 00:08:38,212 Tell them assholes to stop ringing my bell. 104 00:08:38,922 --> 00:08:40,964 l hate crackheads. 105 00:08:41,758 --> 00:08:44,551 No one ever ring this beII except for crackheads. 106 00:08:44,636 --> 00:08:46,762 Why they fucking with us? 107 00:08:51,267 --> 00:08:54,645 Stop ringing the goddamn buzzers, motherfuckers! 108 00:08:54,729 --> 00:08:56,897 Give the ghetto a bad name. 109 00:09:02,737 --> 00:09:05,113 Stop ringing the goddamn buzzer! 110 00:09:14,707 --> 00:09:17,834 Stop it! 111 00:09:18,294 --> 00:09:20,295 Press "listen," stupid. 112 00:09:25,635 --> 00:09:29,471 lt's Sandra Lichenstein for Clareece and Ms. Mary Johnston. 113 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,476 Who is that, Precious? 114 00:09:35,061 --> 00:09:37,062 White bitch from school. 115 00:09:44,445 --> 00:09:46,154 What do you want? 116 00:09:46,656 --> 00:09:50,158 Clareece, I want to talk to you about your education. 117 00:09:53,997 --> 00:09:55,914 Eighty-six that bitch. 118 00:09:56,749 --> 00:09:58,750 My mother don't wanna get cut off weIfare. 119 00:09:58,835 --> 00:10:01,378 And that's just what this visit gonna resuIt in. 120 00:10:04,257 --> 00:10:07,426 Ms. Lichenstein, get out of here before I kick your ass. 121 00:10:07,510 --> 00:10:09,761 All right, Clareece, I spoke to Mr. Wicher, 122 00:10:09,846 --> 00:10:12,681 and he told me that you're one of his best math students. 123 00:10:12,765 --> 00:10:15,726 lf your fat ass don't get that bitch away from here... 124 00:10:15,810 --> 00:10:18,437 ...Iike a, Iike a potentiaI for math. 125 00:10:18,521 --> 00:10:20,063 So I called Mrs. McKnight 126 00:10:20,148 --> 00:10:24,276 from Higher Education AIternative Each One Teach One. 127 00:10:25,111 --> 00:10:27,279 lt's an alternative school. 128 00:10:28,031 --> 00:10:30,365 Clareece, are you listening to me? 129 00:10:31,034 --> 00:10:31,992 Yeah. 130 00:10:32,076 --> 00:10:35,954 Okay. Mrs. McKnight. Each One Teach One. 131 00:10:36,164 --> 00:10:42,044 lt's located at the 1 1th floor, Hotel Theresa, 1 25th Street. 132 00:10:42,587 --> 00:10:45,005 -Get rid of that bitch. -The semester started a few days ago, 133 00:10:45,089 --> 00:10:46,131 so you're not too Iate. 134 00:10:46,215 --> 00:10:47,758 Eleventh floor. 135 00:10:48,176 --> 00:10:49,843 l heard you the first time. 136 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:51,970 Okay. 137 00:10:53,389 --> 00:10:57,726 I don't know what an aIternative schooI is, but I feel I wanna know. 138 00:10:59,687 --> 00:11:01,938 My heart is aII warm inside. 139 00:11:02,857 --> 00:11:05,442 Mr. Wicher think I'm a good student. 140 00:11:06,986 --> 00:11:08,945 l knew that he liked me. 141 00:11:29,050 --> 00:11:31,468 School ain't gonna help none! 142 00:11:31,552 --> 00:11:34,096 Take your ass down to the welfare. 143 00:11:34,180 --> 00:11:36,431 Who the fuck she think she is? 144 00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:42,187 So I guess you think you cute now, right? Uppity bitch. 145 00:11:42,271 --> 00:11:45,273 You should have kept your fucking mouth shut. 146 00:11:47,151 --> 00:11:49,152 Just 'cause he gonna give you more children than he give me, 147 00:11:49,237 --> 00:11:51,488 you think you something fucking special? 148 00:11:51,572 --> 00:11:53,573 Fuck you and fuck him! 149 00:11:58,037 --> 00:11:59,329 Precious! 150 00:12:01,457 --> 00:12:03,750 Precious! Precious! 151 00:12:04,794 --> 00:12:06,378 Get down here, bitch! 152 00:12:06,462 --> 00:12:08,839 You brought that white bitch up in my house! 153 00:12:09,757 --> 00:12:11,675 You... Why would you bring that bitch up in here? 154 00:12:11,759 --> 00:12:12,801 l didn't bring her here. 155 00:12:12,885 --> 00:12:15,762 Well, why the fuck did she ring my buzzer? 156 00:12:17,348 --> 00:12:18,598 l can't hear you, Precious. 157 00:12:18,683 --> 00:12:20,726 Since you got so much motherfucking mouth, 158 00:12:20,810 --> 00:12:22,477 and you gonna bring a bitch up in my house, 159 00:12:22,562 --> 00:12:24,604 why would that bitch ring my goddamn buzzer? 160 00:12:24,689 --> 00:12:26,398 l didn't tell her to come here. 161 00:12:26,482 --> 00:12:30,193 See, I think right now, you feeling like you're becoming a grown woman. 162 00:12:30,278 --> 00:12:32,112 'Cause of that shit you pulled in the kitchen. 163 00:12:32,196 --> 00:12:35,574 l should've fucked you up, but I let you walk away, 164 00:12:35,658 --> 00:12:37,576 and I let you come get yourself together. 165 00:12:37,660 --> 00:12:40,704 But, bitch, l'm gonna let you know if you ever pull that shit on me again, 166 00:12:40,788 --> 00:12:43,331 that will be your last motherfucking day standing, 167 00:12:43,416 --> 00:12:44,416 l promise you that. 168 00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:47,043 You gonna send a white bitch to my motherfucking buzzer? 169 00:12:47,128 --> 00:12:48,754 Talking about some higher education? 170 00:12:48,838 --> 00:12:52,090 You're a dummy, bitch, you will never know shit. 171 00:12:52,175 --> 00:12:54,468 Don't nobody want you. Don't nobody need you. 172 00:12:54,552 --> 00:12:57,179 You done fucked around and fucked my motherfucking man 173 00:12:57,263 --> 00:12:59,181 and had two motherfucking children, 174 00:12:59,265 --> 00:13:00,932 and one of them is a goddamn animal, 175 00:13:01,017 --> 00:13:04,102 running around, looking crazy as a motherfucker. 176 00:13:04,187 --> 00:13:08,190 Bitch, you know what? See, I think you... I think you're trying me. 177 00:13:08,858 --> 00:13:12,778 l think you're really trying to fuck with me. You're fucking with my money. 178 00:13:12,862 --> 00:13:14,946 And you're gonna stand up there and look down at me 179 00:13:15,031 --> 00:13:16,615 like you're a motherfucking woman. 180 00:13:16,699 --> 00:13:18,658 l'm gonna show you what real women do, bitch. 181 00:13:18,743 --> 00:13:21,203 See, you don't know what real motherfucking women do. 182 00:13:21,287 --> 00:13:23,246 Real motherfucking women sacrifice. 183 00:13:23,331 --> 00:13:26,708 l should've aborted your motherfucking ass. 'Cause you ain't shit. 184 00:13:26,793 --> 00:13:29,377 l knew it the day the doctors put you in my goddamn hand 185 00:13:29,462 --> 00:13:30,962 you wasn't a goddamn thing, 186 00:13:31,047 --> 00:13:33,340 and you have that smirk on your face, bitch? 187 00:13:33,424 --> 00:13:35,133 Get it off your fucking face! 188 00:13:35,218 --> 00:13:38,804 Now smile about that! Smile about that, you fat bitch. 189 00:13:42,391 --> 00:13:44,518 l'm gonna kill you, bitch! 190 00:13:54,403 --> 00:13:56,154 Get off me, bitch! 191 00:13:58,407 --> 00:13:59,825 And "bIank" and eggs? 192 00:13:59,909 --> 00:14:01,243 -Bacon? -Right. 193 00:14:01,327 --> 00:14:03,870 -And "What's up, Doc?" He eats these. -Carrots. 194 00:14:03,955 --> 00:14:07,332 -Right. And ice, it comes in a tray. -lce cubes. 195 00:14:07,416 --> 00:14:10,335 Right. And the best part of the steak. The... 196 00:14:10,419 --> 00:14:11,878 -The T-bone. The... -No. 197 00:14:11,963 --> 00:14:13,296 -FiIet mignon. -Right! 198 00:14:13,381 --> 00:14:16,842 -And an EngIish... Thomas' EngIish... -Muffin! 199 00:14:16,926 --> 00:14:18,718 -Right. -That's it! 200 00:14:27,353 --> 00:14:29,813 You really need to get some rest. 201 00:14:29,897 --> 00:14:32,691 You have such a big day ahead of you tomorrow. 202 00:14:32,775 --> 00:14:35,944 And remember, Mommy loves you. 203 00:14:39,282 --> 00:14:44,619 Describe these things that are pIanned. Things that are planned. Ready? Go! 204 00:14:47,790 --> 00:14:50,917 Precious, you know I love you. 205 00:14:51,002 --> 00:14:54,004 l'm gonna kick that white lady out of my house, 206 00:14:54,088 --> 00:14:55,922 move you in with me. 207 00:14:56,007 --> 00:14:58,133 Wanna live in Westchester? 208 00:14:59,969 --> 00:15:01,303 -Commit a... -Crime. 209 00:15:01,387 --> 00:15:03,346 And this is you get back together again. 210 00:15:03,431 --> 00:15:04,472 -A class... -Reunion. 211 00:15:04,557 --> 00:15:06,057 And this is when you're Iike this, 212 00:15:06,142 --> 00:15:07,392 -you're expecting... -Pregnant. 213 00:15:07,476 --> 00:15:09,936 -Yeah. And this is you make a fast... -Escape. 214 00:15:10,021 --> 00:15:11,771 -Right. -That's it! 215 00:15:44,305 --> 00:15:48,266 Where you going? 216 00:15:48,517 --> 00:15:52,520 Make sure you play my 852 and tell them to box it. 217 00:15:56,067 --> 00:15:58,193 And get some kitty litter. 218 00:16:02,573 --> 00:16:04,449 Ethel, where you at? 219 00:16:08,412 --> 00:16:09,621 Precious, what are we gonna play? 220 00:16:09,705 --> 00:16:10,705 Girl, get the fuck out of here. 221 00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:12,248 Ain't you supposed to be at school or something? 222 00:16:12,333 --> 00:16:13,959 You said we was gonna play. 223 00:16:14,043 --> 00:16:16,169 That's exactly why we ain't gonna be playing. 224 00:16:16,253 --> 00:16:17,837 l never said nothing like that. 225 00:17:19,984 --> 00:17:23,695 You would say some shit like that to me, and you don't even mean it? 226 00:17:23,779 --> 00:17:27,949 No, l'm not playing with you. No, and she call... Hold on. 227 00:17:28,951 --> 00:17:31,411 Each One Teach One, hold, please. 228 00:17:31,954 --> 00:17:35,415 Yes. She called my house. l know it wasn't your sister, Trey. 229 00:17:36,083 --> 00:17:38,043 Because it wasn't her. 230 00:17:41,756 --> 00:17:43,506 What this is here? 231 00:17:44,133 --> 00:17:45,467 Each One Teach One. 232 00:17:46,343 --> 00:17:48,386 l'm looking for an alternative school. 233 00:17:48,471 --> 00:17:50,263 This is an alternative. 234 00:17:50,347 --> 00:17:52,474 What alternative is? 235 00:17:52,558 --> 00:17:55,018 What exactly are you asking me? 236 00:17:55,102 --> 00:17:57,145 Lady at my other school told me to come here. 237 00:17:57,229 --> 00:18:00,565 Hotel Theresa. Said it's an alternative school. 238 00:18:00,649 --> 00:18:06,696 An alternative school, it's like a choice. lt's a different way of doing things. 239 00:18:06,781 --> 00:18:10,450 So, I need your discharge papers saying that they discharged you. 240 00:18:10,534 --> 00:18:13,453 l got kicked out of school 'cause I was pregnant. 241 00:18:13,537 --> 00:18:16,414 Well, I still need your discharge papers, otherwise we can't let you in. 242 00:18:16,499 --> 00:18:18,541 Ms. Lichenstein didn't say all that. 243 00:18:18,626 --> 00:18:20,960 You the one she called about. 244 00:18:22,755 --> 00:18:24,506 Clareece P. Jones? 245 00:18:25,007 --> 00:18:28,343 They already sent over your discharge papers and stuff. 246 00:18:28,427 --> 00:18:30,053 l could start today? 247 00:18:30,137 --> 00:18:33,473 Yeah. Are you currently receiving AFDC? 248 00:18:33,557 --> 00:18:36,601 My mother get AFDC for me and my daughter. 249 00:18:36,685 --> 00:18:39,896 So your mother has custody of you and your daughter, and you're on her budget? 250 00:18:39,980 --> 00:18:42,941 Okay, well, l'm gonna need a copy of your mother's budget, 251 00:18:43,025 --> 00:18:46,027 and a copy of your phone bill and your utility bill. 252 00:18:46,112 --> 00:18:49,405 We gotta give you a few tests, test your reading and your math level, 253 00:18:49,490 --> 00:18:51,157 see where to place you. 254 00:18:51,784 --> 00:18:54,661 Hold on, baby. Each One Teach One, hold. 255 00:18:55,579 --> 00:19:00,125 To enter into the GED classes, you gotta get an 8.0 or better on the TABE. 256 00:19:31,574 --> 00:19:34,742 There's aIways something wrong with these tests. 257 00:19:36,829 --> 00:19:38,955 These tests paint a picture of me with no brain. 258 00:19:40,249 --> 00:19:42,333 These tests paint a picture of me and my mother, 259 00:19:42,418 --> 00:19:44,878 my whoIe famiIy, as Iess than dumb. 260 00:19:44,962 --> 00:19:49,048 Just ugIy, bIack grease to be wiped away, find anotherjob for. 261 00:19:50,801 --> 00:19:53,052 Sometimes I wish I was dead. 262 00:19:54,722 --> 00:19:58,433 I'II be okay, I guess, 'cause I'm Iooking up. 263 00:20:00,644 --> 00:20:03,188 I'm Iooking up for a piano to faII. 264 00:20:03,272 --> 00:20:07,233 Or a desk, couch, TV... Momma, maybe. 265 00:20:08,235 --> 00:20:10,445 AIways something in my way. 266 00:20:11,780 --> 00:20:12,780 Yeah, man. 267 00:20:12,865 --> 00:20:15,116 Yo, make sure you get that for me, too, man. 268 00:20:15,201 --> 00:20:16,701 Alternative. 269 00:20:16,785 --> 00:20:18,786 Man, you gotta stop smoking them shits, man. 270 00:20:18,871 --> 00:20:21,164 That ain't the only thing that's gonna fucking kill you. 271 00:20:21,248 --> 00:20:23,124 Hustling in these streets gonna kill you. 272 00:20:23,918 --> 00:20:25,168 lt is what it is. 273 00:20:25,252 --> 00:20:27,337 Then my mind come back down to Earth. 274 00:20:28,172 --> 00:20:30,965 Let me get some of that sweet ass, orca! 275 00:20:31,467 --> 00:20:32,467 What up, mama? 276 00:20:32,551 --> 00:20:34,594 Why boys aIways grabbing on themseIves? 277 00:20:34,678 --> 00:20:38,514 You heard what the fuck I said? l said give me some fucking ass. 278 00:20:38,599 --> 00:20:41,392 l'm serious! When you gonna let me hit that? 279 00:20:41,477 --> 00:20:42,518 That bitch is laughing... 280 00:20:42,603 --> 00:20:43,978 I wish they'd Ieave me aIone. 281 00:20:44,063 --> 00:20:46,064 -She's stupid. -Yeah. 282 00:20:48,734 --> 00:20:50,610 Yo, that's not even funny. 283 00:20:51,153 --> 00:20:53,488 That's what she'd get anyway, no. 284 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:57,492 Precious! 285 00:22:57,279 --> 00:23:00,239 Ma, I need some money! 286 00:23:04,536 --> 00:23:06,162 Ma, l'm hungry! 287 00:23:08,248 --> 00:23:10,792 Come take care of Mommy, Precious. 288 00:23:15,839 --> 00:23:18,091 I wish she'd stop this shit. 289 00:23:25,099 --> 00:23:27,100 The other day I cried. 290 00:23:28,143 --> 00:23:31,854 I feIt stupid. But you know what? 291 00:23:32,398 --> 00:23:34,065 Fuck that day. 292 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:39,195 That's why God, or whoever, makes new days. 293 00:23:39,947 --> 00:23:41,656 Still hungry, though. 294 00:23:47,454 --> 00:23:49,831 Nigger wants me to leave my kids. 295 00:23:51,041 --> 00:23:52,542 They're my kids. 296 00:23:55,754 --> 00:23:58,589 -What d'you want, baby? -Give me a basket, please. 297 00:23:58,674 --> 00:24:00,508 -Sides? -l don't know yet. 298 00:24:00,592 --> 00:24:04,220 Still thinking about it. Trying to watch my figure. 299 00:24:08,058 --> 00:24:11,060 Butchie, you got a 1 0-piece ready? 300 00:24:32,833 --> 00:24:34,375 Potato salad. 301 00:24:34,877 --> 00:24:36,043 Thank you. 302 00:24:42,050 --> 00:24:43,885 Hell, no, she didn't! 303 00:24:44,470 --> 00:24:46,929 Get her ass! Get that big bitch! 304 00:25:20,422 --> 00:25:23,049 No, I am not the one. 305 00:26:29,866 --> 00:26:31,325 You in ABE? 306 00:26:33,370 --> 00:26:34,495 Yeah. 307 00:26:36,164 --> 00:26:37,873 Time's a-wasting. 308 00:27:01,189 --> 00:27:02,898 What's your name? 309 00:27:03,734 --> 00:27:05,192 Clareece. 310 00:27:06,403 --> 00:27:08,154 Are you coming in? 311 00:27:14,578 --> 00:27:17,038 That door closes in 20 seconds. 312 00:27:22,419 --> 00:27:24,712 How are you guys doing today? 313 00:27:26,214 --> 00:27:28,799 Would you like to join us, Consuelo? 314 00:27:29,926 --> 00:27:32,470 Consuelo, class is beginning. 315 00:27:35,599 --> 00:27:38,768 You guys know that you are in the ABE class. 316 00:27:39,269 --> 00:27:42,772 This is not GED. This is to get you ready for your GED. 317 00:28:03,919 --> 00:28:07,380 These journals are very important to this class, so do not forget them. 318 00:28:07,464 --> 00:28:09,840 You will need to use them every day that you are here. 319 00:28:09,925 --> 00:28:11,384 They are the key to this class. 320 00:28:11,468 --> 00:28:12,802 lt's 9:07, Joann. You're late. 321 00:28:12,886 --> 00:28:15,513 You're the one who said breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 322 00:28:15,597 --> 00:28:18,557 Tomorrow, that door will be locked at 9:00. 323 00:28:21,728 --> 00:28:25,523 l want you to state your name, where you were born, 324 00:28:25,607 --> 00:28:30,277 your favorite color, something you do well and why you're here. 325 00:28:31,488 --> 00:28:33,155 l'll go first. 326 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,782 When you due? 327 00:28:35,659 --> 00:28:37,827 -My name... -What you mean, you don't know? 328 00:28:37,911 --> 00:28:39,578 ...is Blu Rain. 329 00:28:39,663 --> 00:28:41,914 -That's your real name? -Yes, it is. 330 00:28:41,998 --> 00:28:44,458 Your first name's Blu? 331 00:28:47,671 --> 00:28:51,966 My favorite color is purple. I sing well. 332 00:28:53,218 --> 00:28:54,885 And l'm here 333 00:28:57,723 --> 00:28:59,807 because I love to teach. 334 00:28:59,891 --> 00:29:01,350 She like to sing. 335 00:29:01,435 --> 00:29:02,893 Rhonda? 336 00:29:02,978 --> 00:29:06,981 I wish I couId sing. Go to church and sing in the choir. 337 00:29:07,858 --> 00:29:09,233 Show them how it's done. 338 00:29:09,317 --> 00:29:14,029 All right. My name is Rhonda Patrice Johnson. 339 00:29:15,907 --> 00:29:17,241 Problem? 340 00:29:18,618 --> 00:29:20,536 -l should smack her. -What? 341 00:29:20,620 --> 00:29:26,167 l was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and my favorite color is blue. 342 00:29:26,668 --> 00:29:28,252 And I cook good. 343 00:29:28,336 --> 00:29:30,963 My mother, she used to have a restaurant over on 7th Avenue. 344 00:29:31,047 --> 00:29:33,632 Before she get sick, she teach me everything. 345 00:29:33,717 --> 00:29:37,553 So l'm here to get my reading up, so I can get my GED. 346 00:29:42,768 --> 00:29:46,353 My name is Rita Romero. l was born here in Harlem. 347 00:29:47,773 --> 00:29:51,692 l'm here 'cause I was an addict and I dropped out of school. 348 00:29:52,527 --> 00:29:55,654 So I never got my reading and writing together. 349 00:29:56,198 --> 00:29:57,990 My favorite color's black. 350 00:29:58,074 --> 00:29:59,450 What do you do good? 351 00:29:59,534 --> 00:30:02,286 "Well," Joann. "What do you do well?" 352 00:30:02,370 --> 00:30:05,289 -What do I do well? -No. Rita? 353 00:30:05,916 --> 00:30:08,626 l'm a good mother. Very good mother. 354 00:30:12,047 --> 00:30:15,090 My name's Jermaine. My favorite color is red. 355 00:30:15,175 --> 00:30:17,301 Tell us where you were born first. 356 00:30:17,385 --> 00:30:20,554 l was born in the Bronx. Still live there. 357 00:30:20,639 --> 00:30:24,558 My favorite color is red. Used to be blue. 358 00:30:25,936 --> 00:30:28,145 l can dance real good. 359 00:30:28,230 --> 00:30:30,439 Homie of mine told me about Each One Teach One, 360 00:30:30,524 --> 00:30:33,275 so I came here to stay out of trouble. 361 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,153 So you came here to Harlem to stay out of trouble? ls that right? 362 00:30:36,238 --> 00:30:37,613 Yeah. 363 00:30:37,697 --> 00:30:40,366 -Consuelo? -This is bullshit. 364 00:30:40,450 --> 00:30:41,992 You think so? 365 00:30:46,748 --> 00:30:48,123 Clareece? 366 00:30:50,752 --> 00:30:52,419 Can I skip, too? 367 00:30:54,422 --> 00:30:55,881 Joann? 368 00:30:55,966 --> 00:30:59,426 Okay. l'm Joann. Hey. 369 00:31:02,055 --> 00:31:04,265 My favorite color is fluorescent beige 370 00:31:04,349 --> 00:31:07,226 and my ambition is to have my own record layer. 371 00:31:07,310 --> 00:31:08,352 What's a record layer? 372 00:31:08,436 --> 00:31:11,355 Tell us where you come from and why you come to this school. 373 00:31:11,439 --> 00:31:13,399 l was born in Kings County Hospital, 374 00:31:13,483 --> 00:31:15,901 but my mother moved us to Harlem when I was nine. 375 00:31:15,986 --> 00:31:21,031 l'm here to get my GED, and then... Well, l'm already into the music industry. 376 00:31:21,116 --> 00:31:24,702 l'm just trying to take care of this little education thing so I can move up. 377 00:31:24,786 --> 00:31:29,832 Let's begin. This is ABE. 378 00:31:29,916 --> 00:31:31,250 Can I go? 379 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:40,134 l wish I could sit in the back of the cIass again. 380 00:31:48,643 --> 00:31:52,688 My name Clareece "Precious" Jones. 381 00:31:53,815 --> 00:31:55,566 l go by Precious. 382 00:31:57,319 --> 00:32:00,696 l live in Harlem. I like yellow. 383 00:32:01,781 --> 00:32:07,828 And I had problems at my other school, so I come here. 384 00:32:10,165 --> 00:32:12,082 Something you do well? 385 00:32:14,586 --> 00:32:15,961 Nothing. 386 00:32:16,671 --> 00:32:19,006 Everybody's good at something. 387 00:32:22,052 --> 00:32:23,469 Come on. 388 00:32:27,057 --> 00:32:30,809 Well, I can cook. And... 389 00:32:33,271 --> 00:32:36,065 l never really talked in class before. 390 00:32:39,945 --> 00:32:42,196 How does that make you feel? 391 00:32:49,579 --> 00:32:50,746 Here. 392 00:32:54,542 --> 00:32:56,543 lt makes me feel here. 393 00:32:58,964 --> 00:33:01,006 Everybody open theirjournal. 394 00:33:01,091 --> 00:33:05,135 Write the date at the top of the page, and write. 395 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:08,931 l don't care if you spell everything wrong. 396 00:33:09,015 --> 00:33:11,141 l don't care if it's grammatically incorrect. But just write. 397 00:33:11,226 --> 00:33:12,935 Write anything that you're feeling. 398 00:33:13,019 --> 00:33:15,354 This class will be a revolving door. 399 00:33:15,438 --> 00:33:18,607 Some of you will make it and some of you won't. 400 00:33:20,318 --> 00:33:22,069 Fifteen minutes. Go. 401 00:33:24,864 --> 00:33:30,077 Before, I got a A-minus at EngIish, and I didn't have to say nothing. 402 00:33:31,371 --> 00:33:35,499 Ms. Rain said we gonna read and write in our notebooks every day. 403 00:33:35,583 --> 00:33:37,751 How we supposed to do that? 404 00:33:40,422 --> 00:33:43,340 But then she see the worry on my face and she say, 405 00:33:43,425 --> 00:33:46,593 "The Iongest journey begin with a singIe step." 406 00:33:48,972 --> 00:33:51,890 Whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean. 407 00:33:53,018 --> 00:33:54,518 Come on, come on, do the work. 408 00:33:54,602 --> 00:33:58,022 You love it, love it, learn it. 409 00:33:59,065 --> 00:34:00,482 Consuelo? 410 00:34:01,192 --> 00:34:03,110 "C" for Consuelo. 411 00:34:03,570 --> 00:34:05,320 "C" for kick your ass. 412 00:34:05,405 --> 00:34:07,740 lt's "K" for kick your ass, stupid. 413 00:34:07,824 --> 00:34:09,825 l got the "D," Ms. Rain. 414 00:34:14,164 --> 00:34:15,664 "D" for dick. 415 00:34:16,499 --> 00:34:18,625 Ms. Rain, tell this little-ass bitch that she don't know me. 416 00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:20,669 Which you wish you had. 417 00:34:28,762 --> 00:34:30,095 -Help her. -"E." 418 00:34:30,180 --> 00:34:34,808 "E." 419 00:35:01,336 --> 00:35:02,878 "F" for fat. 420 00:35:04,339 --> 00:35:05,547 What? 421 00:35:06,007 --> 00:35:07,174 Good. 422 00:35:10,762 --> 00:35:13,847 Hey! Hey! Hey! Quit it! Hey! 423 00:35:14,974 --> 00:35:16,850 -What? -Hey, you stop it right now! 424 00:35:16,935 --> 00:35:18,477 -You fucking... -Quit it! 425 00:35:18,561 --> 00:35:19,686 -She just hit me! -Drop it! 426 00:35:19,771 --> 00:35:20,896 Shut the fuck up! 427 00:35:22,148 --> 00:35:23,232 She just slapped me! 428 00:35:23,316 --> 00:35:24,650 Get out. 429 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:27,986 We don't fight in my class. Sit down. 430 00:35:32,867 --> 00:35:34,701 "C" for cold. 431 00:35:44,254 --> 00:35:46,255 Do you live with anybody? 432 00:35:47,590 --> 00:35:49,007 My mother. 433 00:35:49,717 --> 00:35:51,385 What does she do? 434 00:35:53,555 --> 00:35:55,430 She don't do nothing. 435 00:35:59,018 --> 00:36:01,895 l want you to read a page from this book. 436 00:36:10,155 --> 00:36:11,321 Try. 437 00:36:13,074 --> 00:36:16,910 All I need you to do is sound out these words for me. 438 00:36:16,995 --> 00:36:18,537 You don't have to know every word. 439 00:36:18,621 --> 00:36:22,332 You just have to... lt doesn't matter if you stumble or... Try for me... 440 00:36:22,417 --> 00:36:26,545 ...or trip up on it. You just need to say what you know. 441 00:36:26,629 --> 00:36:30,257 Come on. You can do this. Try. Take it word by word. 442 00:36:31,301 --> 00:36:32,926 -Are you listening to me? -Precious! 443 00:36:33,011 --> 00:36:36,013 l just wanna know where you are in your reading skills. 444 00:36:36,097 --> 00:36:37,389 'Cause l'm looking at your test scores... 445 00:36:37,473 --> 00:36:39,975 Some higher fucking learning. You're a dumb bitch! 446 00:36:40,059 --> 00:36:41,685 Try to read, okay? 447 00:36:41,769 --> 00:36:44,104 Just heIp me and then I can heIp you. 448 00:36:44,689 --> 00:36:46,607 We'll start from scratch. Word for word. 449 00:36:46,691 --> 00:36:49,234 l want you better than your mother. 450 00:36:50,278 --> 00:36:52,696 -l'm gonna call the nurse. -No. 451 00:36:57,744 --> 00:37:00,120 lt all look the same to me. 452 00:37:03,791 --> 00:37:05,375 What's this? 453 00:37:07,754 --> 00:37:10,130 l can't do that, Ms. Rain. 454 00:37:11,174 --> 00:37:12,841 Push yourself. 455 00:37:15,428 --> 00:37:16,637 A. 456 00:37:18,473 --> 00:37:19,890 What's this word? 457 00:37:25,104 --> 00:37:27,940 Do you know the letters? Come on. 458 00:37:29,525 --> 00:37:30,651 "D." 459 00:37:33,905 --> 00:37:35,280 "A." 460 00:37:36,866 --> 00:37:38,242 "Y." 461 00:37:38,993 --> 00:37:40,994 Do you know that word? 462 00:37:43,498 --> 00:37:44,706 "Day." 463 00:37:46,834 --> 00:37:48,627 What word is that? 464 00:37:50,672 --> 00:37:52,506 Ate. Ate. 465 00:37:52,590 --> 00:37:55,008 Good. Almost. The word is "At." 466 00:37:56,844 --> 00:37:58,053 "At." 467 00:38:00,682 --> 00:38:01,932 "The." 468 00:38:04,644 --> 00:38:05,727 Sound it out. 469 00:38:05,812 --> 00:38:07,312 "Beach." 470 00:38:07,397 --> 00:38:10,524 The word is "Shore." lt's almost like "Beach." 471 00:38:11,234 --> 00:38:12,693 Very good. 472 00:38:13,319 --> 00:38:15,862 Now, read the whole thing for me. 473 00:38:17,865 --> 00:38:19,032 "A 474 00:38:20,576 --> 00:38:21,994 "Day 475 00:38:24,580 --> 00:38:26,748 "At The 476 00:38:27,792 --> 00:38:29,209 "Shore." 477 00:38:36,968 --> 00:38:39,052 Get your big ass in here. 478 00:38:51,733 --> 00:38:54,026 Where was you at this morning? 479 00:39:00,700 --> 00:39:03,201 You hear me talking to you? Where was you at this morning? 480 00:39:03,286 --> 00:39:05,662 School. I was at school. 481 00:39:05,747 --> 00:39:07,164 You a lying whore. 482 00:39:07,248 --> 00:39:09,249 -l'm not lying. -You is. 483 00:39:09,834 --> 00:39:12,336 The welfare done called here saying they gonna remove you from my budget 484 00:39:12,420 --> 00:39:14,296 'cause you ain't been attending school regularly. 485 00:39:14,380 --> 00:39:16,089 l told you I got kicked out. 486 00:39:16,174 --> 00:39:18,216 l been home nearly every day for two weeks now. 487 00:39:18,301 --> 00:39:21,678 You ain't told me nothing about no damn school today. 488 00:39:21,763 --> 00:39:24,765 l told you I was going to school this morning. 489 00:39:26,434 --> 00:39:29,644 You plan on putting some food in that frying pan? 490 00:39:35,151 --> 00:39:37,486 Precious, you got something you wanna say? 491 00:39:37,570 --> 00:39:39,696 -No. -Then don't be slamming shit down in here. 492 00:39:39,781 --> 00:39:41,365 You understand? 493 00:39:42,283 --> 00:39:43,742 Yes, ma'am. 494 00:39:45,453 --> 00:39:48,872 You need to forget about that school shit and take your ass down to the welfare. 495 00:39:48,956 --> 00:39:50,791 l'm getting a stipend from school. 496 00:39:50,875 --> 00:39:53,085 Fool, what the fuck is a stipend? What is that? 497 00:39:53,169 --> 00:39:56,755 Fuck a stipend. l said take your ass down to the welfare. 498 00:39:56,839 --> 00:39:57,964 Right now? 499 00:39:58,049 --> 00:40:01,718 Why in the fuck would you go right now? lt's at nighttime. Shit is closed. 500 00:40:01,803 --> 00:40:03,053 You gotta be there by 7:00 a.m. 501 00:40:03,137 --> 00:40:05,722 in the morning if you wanna talk to somebody. 502 00:40:05,807 --> 00:40:07,432 Fucking stupid. 503 00:40:11,104 --> 00:40:14,773 You think you're too good now? ls that what it is? 504 00:40:15,566 --> 00:40:18,485 You think you is too good for the welfare? 505 00:40:21,739 --> 00:40:26,118 There's more white folk getting assistance than it is niggers, Ms. Onassis. 506 00:40:27,954 --> 00:40:29,538 I think I said therapy... 507 00:40:29,622 --> 00:40:33,375 Hurry your ass up. l am in here fucking starving. 508 00:40:34,127 --> 00:40:35,752 Now what you gonna do if I die of starvation? 509 00:40:35,837 --> 00:40:38,004 Where you gonna go after that? 510 00:40:39,173 --> 00:40:41,133 l forgot. School. 511 00:40:42,593 --> 00:40:45,429 Each... What that bitch say? Each one do what? 512 00:40:45,513 --> 00:40:47,597 Each one teach one? 513 00:40:47,682 --> 00:40:49,141 Well, they don't know who the fuck they teaching, 514 00:40:49,225 --> 00:40:51,393 'cause you can't learn shit. 515 00:40:51,936 --> 00:40:54,813 Keep on listening to them white people. 516 00:40:54,897 --> 00:40:57,566 That's what's gonna get you fucked up. 517 00:41:00,111 --> 00:41:02,404 Precious, l'm hungry. 518 00:41:28,389 --> 00:41:32,225 You ain't cooked no collard greens with the fucking pigs' feet? 519 00:41:32,727 --> 00:41:35,729 Like, how am I supposed to eat pigs' feet with no collard greens? 520 00:41:35,813 --> 00:41:39,649 And why in the fuck does that pigs' feet have so much hair in it? 521 00:41:39,734 --> 00:41:43,028 You eat it. You come eat this shit. 522 00:41:43,112 --> 00:41:45,405 -l'm not hungry, though. -Yes, you is. 523 00:41:45,490 --> 00:41:48,658 Precious, if you don't get this goddamn plate... 524 00:41:54,081 --> 00:41:58,585 You just fix mine when you get done. Since you fucked it up, you gonna eat it up. 525 00:41:59,086 --> 00:42:02,005 Hurry up and eat, Precious. l'm fucking hungry, too. 526 00:42:04,091 --> 00:42:08,470 And don't let it get cold, 'cause cold-ass pigs' feet is nasty as shit. 527 00:44:17,141 --> 00:44:20,352 So, tell me about... Tell me about your home life. 528 00:44:23,397 --> 00:44:25,899 Ain't nothing to really talk about. 529 00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:28,902 You're in a safe place. Just talk. 530 00:44:29,236 --> 00:44:30,236 What's going on? 531 00:44:30,321 --> 00:44:31,655 What's the first thing that comes to your mind 532 00:44:31,739 --> 00:44:33,865 when you think about home? 533 00:44:33,949 --> 00:44:37,661 l just wish I had my own TV, so I could watch it in my room. 534 00:44:38,412 --> 00:44:41,956 lf I had my own TV, l wouldn't have to watch it with my mother. 535 00:44:42,041 --> 00:44:44,834 And what's it like, watching TV with your mother? 536 00:44:44,919 --> 00:44:47,671 You enjoy watching TV with your mother? 537 00:44:47,755 --> 00:44:52,759 l need to know about your home life. l need to know what it's like where you live. 538 00:44:53,761 --> 00:44:55,887 My mother's like a whale on the couch. 539 00:44:55,971 --> 00:44:59,974 She say I eat all the time, but she always making me eat. 540 00:45:00,059 --> 00:45:02,268 Then she call me a fat mess. 541 00:45:02,353 --> 00:45:05,480 She say the apartment is little 'cause of me. 542 00:45:05,564 --> 00:45:08,358 Only time she ever leaves is to play her numbers. 543 00:45:08,442 --> 00:45:11,361 l feel like I could just sit in the house with her every day, 544 00:45:11,445 --> 00:45:12,862 the shades drawn, 545 00:45:12,947 --> 00:45:17,158 watch TV, eat, watch TV, eat again. 546 00:45:18,035 --> 00:45:20,286 Can you help out with that? 547 00:45:21,497 --> 00:45:24,165 Can we talk about something else now? 548 00:45:30,464 --> 00:45:32,382 How about your firstborn? 549 00:45:32,466 --> 00:45:33,800 Mongo? 550 00:45:35,636 --> 00:45:37,721 Mongo is her... ls that... 551 00:45:38,389 --> 00:45:41,057 Mongo. That's short for "mongoloid." 552 00:45:41,934 --> 00:45:46,271 ls that what you call her? Or that's... What is that? A nickname? 553 00:45:46,981 --> 00:45:48,898 She got Down's syndrome. 554 00:45:57,116 --> 00:45:58,074 How you doing, Precious? 555 00:45:58,159 --> 00:46:00,744 My grandmother Toosie bring IittIe Mongo over to our house 556 00:46:00,828 --> 00:46:05,165 on days when the sociaI worker come, so it look like she live with us. 557 00:46:06,667 --> 00:46:08,710 Answer the fucking door. 558 00:46:10,379 --> 00:46:12,630 Do you see what you did? God damn it. 559 00:46:12,715 --> 00:46:16,009 Then my mother gets money and the food stamps for me and Mongo. 560 00:46:16,093 --> 00:46:17,510 Who is it? 561 00:46:18,095 --> 00:46:19,721 lt's Ms. Turner. 562 00:46:20,765 --> 00:46:21,806 Social worker's here. 563 00:46:21,891 --> 00:46:25,602 Why didn't you tell me that bitch was coming so fucking early? 564 00:46:25,686 --> 00:46:28,354 My fucking wig. Come get my wig! 565 00:46:28,439 --> 00:46:29,773 Come up! 566 00:46:34,528 --> 00:46:36,362 Where's my lipstick? 567 00:46:40,117 --> 00:46:42,744 Thank you, thank you. 568 00:46:52,671 --> 00:46:55,924 -Get off of me. -Leave that child alone, please. 569 00:46:56,008 --> 00:46:58,218 Mind your goddamn business. 570 00:47:00,095 --> 00:47:02,096 -Hi, Precious. -Hey. 571 00:47:02,515 --> 00:47:05,308 -Hello, Ms. Turner. How you doing? -Hi, Mary. How are you? 572 00:47:05,392 --> 00:47:08,645 Please excuse that. My sweet grandbaby just knocked it over. 573 00:47:08,729 --> 00:47:11,022 Please, have a seat. Excuse the mess. 574 00:47:11,106 --> 00:47:12,649 -Thank you. -Thanks. 575 00:47:12,733 --> 00:47:13,983 How are you, Mary? 576 00:47:14,068 --> 00:47:17,070 l'm doing really good, Ms. Turner. Thank you. 577 00:47:17,905 --> 00:47:20,448 When was the last time you've taken her to the doctor? 578 00:47:21,575 --> 00:47:23,910 Precious, when... When did we take her? The baby? 579 00:47:23,994 --> 00:47:25,036 Last month. 580 00:47:25,120 --> 00:47:28,540 Yeah... On the 1 6th. On the 1 6th. Yes, yes, ma'am. 581 00:47:29,124 --> 00:47:31,709 Okay, and what did the doctor say? 582 00:47:34,296 --> 00:47:37,257 They said that she's progressing really good. 583 00:47:37,341 --> 00:47:39,133 She's doing really good. 584 00:47:39,218 --> 00:47:41,386 -That's good. -Yes, ma'am. 585 00:47:41,470 --> 00:47:43,221 And have you been looking for a job? 586 00:47:43,305 --> 00:47:47,600 l have, Ms. Turner. I am. But they've all been saying the same thing. 587 00:47:47,685 --> 00:47:51,187 You know, they'll call me back. They'll get back to me. 588 00:47:53,566 --> 00:47:55,692 When did you go looking for the job? 589 00:47:55,776 --> 00:47:59,946 l went last week and I filled out several applications. 590 00:48:00,030 --> 00:48:03,741 And they all said the same thing, that they would call me. 591 00:48:05,828 --> 00:48:07,120 Mommy! 592 00:48:07,496 --> 00:48:09,998 No! No! 593 00:48:11,292 --> 00:48:13,543 ls that a new microwave oven? 594 00:48:13,961 --> 00:48:15,920 A... A microwave? 595 00:48:16,964 --> 00:48:20,633 No, ma'am. We warm our things up in the oven. 596 00:48:21,969 --> 00:48:24,429 -l see. lt's a toaster oven. -Yes. Yes, ma'am. 597 00:48:24,513 --> 00:48:28,808 Okay. l will be seeing and speaking with you 598 00:48:30,102 --> 00:48:31,102 in a week or so. 599 00:48:31,186 --> 00:48:32,228 -ln a week or so? -Yes. 600 00:48:32,313 --> 00:48:35,815 Okay, do you know what time you'll be... You'll be coming? 601 00:48:35,900 --> 00:48:37,150 -l'll let you know. -Okay. 602 00:48:37,234 --> 00:48:38,610 -l'll let you know. -Thank you so much. 603 00:48:38,694 --> 00:48:41,487 Precious, any questions for me? 604 00:48:43,866 --> 00:48:45,658 How are you, Precious? 605 00:48:45,743 --> 00:48:48,828 l'm doing good. How you doing? 606 00:48:49,580 --> 00:48:51,581 l'm good, thank you. 607 00:48:52,708 --> 00:48:54,751 Ladies, thank you for your time. 608 00:48:54,835 --> 00:48:56,753 Thank you so much, Ms. Turner. Have a great day. 609 00:48:56,837 --> 00:48:59,005 -And you. Bye, Sheila. -Bye. 610 00:49:04,094 --> 00:49:06,554 Come get this motherfucking... Get her. 611 00:49:06,639 --> 00:49:09,515 Moving all around and shit while l'm trying to talk to this bitch. 612 00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:11,517 Makes me fucking itch. 613 00:49:12,770 --> 00:49:15,563 She done threw her fucking candy on the floor. 614 00:49:15,648 --> 00:49:17,190 Goddamn animal. 615 00:49:18,817 --> 00:49:21,945 And now you gonna give it to her? Put the fucking candy back on the floor! 616 00:49:22,029 --> 00:49:23,571 Then you go and pick it up and let her have it. 617 00:49:23,656 --> 00:49:26,866 You're so fucking stupid. Just like her dumb ass. 618 00:49:26,951 --> 00:49:30,662 That bitch gonna come up in here and I gotta fucking make pretend? 619 00:49:30,746 --> 00:49:32,080 l'm so sick of it. 620 00:49:32,164 --> 00:49:34,624 l don't know what the fuck you shaking your head for. 621 00:49:34,708 --> 00:49:36,167 You didn't do no goddamn better. 622 00:49:36,251 --> 00:49:38,336 You know what? Let's talk about your father. 623 00:49:38,420 --> 00:49:40,880 Tell me about your relationship with him. 624 00:49:40,965 --> 00:49:43,424 l don't know much more than you do, Ms. White. 625 00:49:43,509 --> 00:49:45,176 lt's Ms. Weiss. 626 00:49:45,260 --> 00:49:47,929 Talk to me about the little you do know about your father, 627 00:49:48,013 --> 00:49:51,265 'cause it is important, whether you know it or not. 628 00:49:52,059 --> 00:49:54,644 He give me this baby and my one before it, but l... 629 00:49:54,728 --> 00:49:57,313 What did you say he gave you? 630 00:49:57,398 --> 00:49:58,815 -Nothing. -No, Clareece, you just said 631 00:49:58,899 --> 00:50:00,066 your father gave you something. 632 00:50:00,150 --> 00:50:02,151 -l heard you just say... -You didn't hear shit. 633 00:50:02,236 --> 00:50:05,029 -l heard you say your father... -l ain't say nothing. I ain't say shit like it. 634 00:50:05,114 --> 00:50:06,948 -l don't care, honey. -l didn't say nothing like that. 635 00:50:07,032 --> 00:50:08,616 -l need to know this. -Let's move on. 636 00:50:08,701 --> 00:50:10,076 l need to know this to help you. 637 00:50:10,160 --> 00:50:13,162 -Bitch, can we change the subject? -Okay. 638 00:50:13,247 --> 00:50:16,416 Well, l'll see you next time, then. Or maybe you'll see someone else. 639 00:50:16,500 --> 00:50:21,087 But you're gonna have to talk to somebody if you want your check, sweetie. 640 00:50:31,306 --> 00:50:33,349 l see vampires, too. 641 00:50:36,186 --> 00:50:39,522 They come at night. They tell me l'm one of them. 642 00:50:40,899 --> 00:50:44,027 They say, "Precious, you belong with us." 643 00:50:46,447 --> 00:50:48,948 And then they go downstairs through the floor. 644 00:50:49,033 --> 00:50:51,868 The people that live under us, they is vampires, 645 00:50:51,952 --> 00:50:54,287 so that's where they should go. 646 00:50:54,830 --> 00:50:56,998 They be so nasty, though, 647 00:50:57,082 --> 00:50:59,459 leaving their dirty tampons and shit in the garbage. 648 00:50:59,543 --> 00:51:01,961 Don't even offer to take it out. 649 00:51:02,046 --> 00:51:04,589 They got no fucking home training. 650 00:51:07,634 --> 00:51:11,387 l been going to the doctor, too. lt's nice. 651 00:51:12,806 --> 00:51:17,143 Ms. Rain fall out when she found out l ain't never been to no doctor before. 652 00:51:20,314 --> 00:51:22,690 Don't know how I had my first baby on the kitchen floor 653 00:51:22,775 --> 00:51:25,693 with my momma kicking me upside my head. 654 00:51:28,363 --> 00:51:29,739 Them the kind of things you're talking about 655 00:51:29,823 --> 00:51:32,658 when you say, say whatever come to my mind? 656 00:51:37,206 --> 00:51:39,957 That's the end of them welfare checks. 657 00:51:40,042 --> 00:51:44,087 I just couIdn't Iie no more. l shouldn't have said none of that. 658 00:51:47,633 --> 00:51:49,425 Momma gonna kiII me. 659 00:51:58,268 --> 00:51:59,852 Motherfuckers! 660 00:52:03,482 --> 00:52:05,108 Are we done? 661 00:52:05,192 --> 00:52:06,943 l'm not doing this with you today. 662 00:52:07,027 --> 00:52:09,695 At night, we went out on a fieId trip. 663 00:52:14,868 --> 00:52:16,786 These girls is crazy. 664 00:52:17,204 --> 00:52:20,540 Ain't nobody ever grabbed my hand like that before. 665 00:52:37,266 --> 00:52:39,725 ...as a candidate for the Democratic nomination 666 00:52:39,810 --> 00:52:42,812 for the presidency of the United States of America. 667 00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:47,233 ...and by having destroyed it, now we don't know... 668 00:52:49,611 --> 00:52:54,574 ...and the testimony you're about to give wiII be the truth, the whoIe truth... 669 00:52:54,658 --> 00:52:56,534 l still have a dream. 670 00:52:58,370 --> 00:53:01,998 It is a dream deepIy rooted in the American dream. 671 00:53:03,250 --> 00:53:07,003 I have a dream that one day 672 00:53:08,505 --> 00:53:13,676 this nation wiII rise up and Iive out the true meaning of... 673 00:53:13,760 --> 00:53:15,887 I'm gonna teach my baby aII of this. 674 00:53:15,971 --> 00:53:19,015 "We hoId these truths to be seIf-evident, 675 00:53:19,099 --> 00:53:21,184 "that aII men are created equaI." 676 00:53:21,268 --> 00:53:23,519 No fear. That's bullshit. That's bullshit. 677 00:53:23,604 --> 00:53:24,687 You mean, write a whole new one? 678 00:53:24,771 --> 00:53:27,648 No, girl, if I need to explain myself to you... 679 00:53:27,733 --> 00:53:29,483 -You'll figure it out. -You think that l'm stupid? 680 00:53:29,568 --> 00:53:32,612 Oh, my God. That I believe in you? 681 00:53:34,615 --> 00:53:36,157 That I think you're incredible? 682 00:53:36,241 --> 00:53:37,950 Yes, but I don't know what to do. 683 00:53:38,035 --> 00:53:41,078 All right, pull it together. Okay. Who's next? 684 00:53:42,039 --> 00:53:43,372 I'm happy to be writing. 685 00:53:43,457 --> 00:53:46,459 -Go ahead, Rhonda. -I'm happy to be in schooI, too. 686 00:53:46,543 --> 00:53:49,879 Ms. Rain say we gonna write every day in our notebook. 687 00:53:49,963 --> 00:53:51,923 She gonna write back to us every day, too. 688 00:53:52,007 --> 00:53:55,801 "Yesterday I went to church for the first time since I come to this country. 689 00:53:55,886 --> 00:53:57,178 "l got all the way to Brooklyn. 690 00:53:57,262 --> 00:54:00,056 "The church was up the block and around the corner upon the 3 train. 691 00:54:00,140 --> 00:54:01,807 "The preacher preached two and a half hours 692 00:54:01,892 --> 00:54:04,393 -"about Jehovah. -Rhonda! Rhonda! 693 00:54:04,478 --> 00:54:07,897 "And how Lord Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, Jehovah delivers." 694 00:54:07,981 --> 00:54:09,982 ls that a fairytale? 695 00:54:11,526 --> 00:54:12,860 Sit down. 696 00:54:12,945 --> 00:54:14,237 Did anybody do this assignment? 697 00:54:14,321 --> 00:54:16,822 Momma say this schooI ain't shit. 698 00:54:16,907 --> 00:54:19,367 She say you can't learn nothing writing in no book. 699 00:54:19,451 --> 00:54:24,664 -This is a fairytale called "Enchanted." -She wrong about that. I is learning. 700 00:54:27,417 --> 00:54:30,878 "Once upon a time, in a faraway land, 701 00:54:31,296 --> 00:54:35,424 "there lived a beautiful princess named Joann-a. 702 00:54:36,009 --> 00:54:40,304 "She was very, very fly and extra, extra tall, 703 00:54:40,889 --> 00:54:44,392 "and every single boy loved her, big and small. 704 00:54:45,185 --> 00:54:49,272 "Except for one idiot boy who was so stupid and dumb. 705 00:54:49,356 --> 00:54:53,567 "And out of all the cute boys who loved her, he was the cutest one." 706 00:54:54,695 --> 00:54:57,989 -That's all I got so far. -That's a good beginning. 707 00:54:58,073 --> 00:55:01,617 Thinking about IittIe Mongo, too. I miss her. 708 00:55:01,994 --> 00:55:03,452 That's how you start a fairytale. 709 00:55:03,537 --> 00:55:05,830 I'm happy my baby coming up. 710 00:55:06,957 --> 00:55:10,793 I'm gonna read to this baby, too, and hang coIors on its waII. 711 00:55:11,712 --> 00:55:14,630 Listen, baby. Mother not dumb. 712 00:55:14,715 --> 00:55:17,008 Mother Iove you. Listen. 713 00:55:17,509 --> 00:55:21,178 "Once upon a time, there was a magical princess 714 00:55:21,263 --> 00:55:24,432 "who lived in a magical bubble under the sea. 715 00:55:24,975 --> 00:55:27,059 "And she was from land." 716 00:55:42,284 --> 00:55:43,951 Stop screaming. 717 00:56:04,931 --> 00:56:08,768 His name's Abdul Jamal Lewis Jones. 718 00:56:09,770 --> 00:56:12,605 He heaIthy. His mother Iove him. 719 00:56:28,747 --> 00:56:30,956 The food in this hospital's nasty. 720 00:56:31,625 --> 00:56:32,750 lt's not from here. 721 00:56:32,834 --> 00:56:34,418 Where it from? 722 00:56:34,503 --> 00:56:37,046 A little shop by my house where 723 00:56:37,130 --> 00:56:39,548 l get my organic food, so I don't have to eat that 724 00:56:39,633 --> 00:56:42,218 nasty mystery-meat stuff they got downstairs. 725 00:56:42,302 --> 00:56:45,304 Can you bring me something? l don't like fruit. I like McDonald's. 726 00:56:45,389 --> 00:56:47,598 First of all, I don't eat McDonald's. 727 00:56:47,682 --> 00:56:50,351 Second of all, you don't need to be eating McDonald's, either. 728 00:56:50,435 --> 00:56:51,477 lt's not healthy. 729 00:56:51,561 --> 00:56:53,771 But I like McDonald's. We all like McDonald's, right? 730 00:56:53,855 --> 00:56:56,482 We like McDonald's, too, over here. 731 00:56:56,566 --> 00:56:58,067 l don't like no damn McDonald's. 732 00:56:58,151 --> 00:57:01,237 l want some of that organic shit like you got. 733 00:57:01,655 --> 00:57:03,114 Well, I tell you what, 734 00:57:03,198 --> 00:57:05,741 when you get up out of here, you go with all your little friends, 735 00:57:05,826 --> 00:57:06,784 and you go to McDonald's, 736 00:57:06,868 --> 00:57:08,744 and you get as much McDonald's as you want. 737 00:57:08,829 --> 00:57:11,288 But right now, you're gonna take care of your health. 738 00:57:11,373 --> 00:57:13,082 Are you a doctor? 739 00:57:14,167 --> 00:57:16,127 -Are you her doctor? -Am I a doctor? 740 00:57:16,211 --> 00:57:18,879 -Yeah. -l am a nurse's aide. 741 00:57:18,964 --> 00:57:20,756 Nurse John-John. 742 00:57:20,841 --> 00:57:22,508 Oh, that's funny? 743 00:57:23,009 --> 00:57:24,760 Well, you're a man. 744 00:57:25,512 --> 00:57:28,180 -You've never seen a male nurse? -No. 745 00:57:28,348 --> 00:57:30,433 Not looking like you do. 746 00:57:31,226 --> 00:57:35,354 l am a male nurse. l am Nurse John McFadden. 747 00:57:35,439 --> 00:57:38,023 So was you up in the room when she popped the baby out? 748 00:57:38,108 --> 00:57:39,150 You was like, all up in between her... 749 00:57:39,234 --> 00:57:41,277 Joann, don't be nasty! 750 00:57:41,361 --> 00:57:42,945 How was it? Was he screaming? 751 00:57:43,029 --> 00:57:44,113 lt hurt. 752 00:57:44,197 --> 00:57:45,781 Tough gal like you had to scream? 753 00:57:45,866 --> 00:57:50,119 Not so tough with a baby coming out of me. lt hurt. And it burned. 754 00:57:50,203 --> 00:57:51,454 -Are you married? -Shut up! 755 00:57:51,538 --> 00:57:53,205 You got a girlfriend? 756 00:57:53,290 --> 00:57:55,708 -Why you asking? He don't want you. -How would you know? 757 00:57:55,792 --> 00:57:57,460 Why don't you stop being a ho for 1 0 minutes? 758 00:57:57,544 --> 00:57:58,711 What's wrong with these people? 759 00:57:58,795 --> 00:58:00,171 You don't want her, right? 760 00:58:00,255 --> 00:58:03,048 l wish I was a cantaloupe in that cup. 761 00:58:03,133 --> 00:58:04,633 So he could eat you? 762 00:58:04,718 --> 00:58:08,345 Okay, no. I gotta go. I gotta go. 763 00:58:08,763 --> 00:58:11,557 No, that's all right. That's all right. 764 00:58:14,811 --> 00:58:16,770 Can I get a kiss, too, Nurse John? 765 00:58:16,855 --> 00:58:19,607 -Good afternoon, ladies. -Bye, Nurse John. 766 00:58:19,691 --> 00:58:22,568 -Bye! -Good night, Nurse John-John! 767 00:58:23,987 --> 00:58:26,280 Precious and John-John 768 00:58:26,364 --> 00:58:28,324 Sitting in a tree 769 00:58:28,408 --> 00:58:32,203 -F-U-C-K-l-N-G -Shut up! Y'all are nasty. 770 00:58:35,916 --> 00:58:38,584 You think he's spending the night up in here? 771 00:58:40,754 --> 00:58:43,964 Now she gonna write about Nurse John in her book! 772 00:58:45,258 --> 00:58:46,926 "Dear Ms. Rain, 773 00:58:47,427 --> 00:58:50,596 "AII the years I sit in cIass, I never Iearned. 774 00:58:50,889 --> 00:58:53,766 "Now I got a baby again by my father. 775 00:58:54,518 --> 00:58:57,144 "I wish I had a boyfriend Iike other girls. 776 00:58:57,229 --> 00:59:00,397 "Then I'II feeI right that I have to quit schooI. 777 00:59:00,482 --> 00:59:03,984 "I Iove my baby, but I want schooI, too. 778 00:59:04,069 --> 00:59:06,445 "Social worker ask me if I wanna give IittIe Mongo 779 00:59:06,530 --> 00:59:10,074 "and AbduI up for adoption. l could kill her. 780 00:59:10,492 --> 00:59:14,245 "She never helped before. Now she wanna take my kids away? 781 00:59:14,955 --> 00:59:18,207 "If she takes AbduI, I won't have nothing no more." 782 00:59:18,291 --> 00:59:20,251 "Dear Precious, 783 00:59:20,335 --> 00:59:23,629 "I think your first responsibiIity has to be to yourseIf. 784 00:59:23,838 --> 00:59:26,382 "If you keep AbduI, you might have nothing. 785 00:59:26,466 --> 00:59:28,926 "You're Iearning to read and write. That's everything. 786 00:59:29,010 --> 00:59:31,679 "You come back to school when you get out of the hospitaI. 787 00:59:31,763 --> 00:59:32,888 "You're onIy 17." 788 00:59:32,973 --> 00:59:35,391 This looks like a big-ass condom. 789 00:59:37,269 --> 00:59:39,353 Use that for Nurse John. 790 00:59:39,854 --> 00:59:42,022 Not looking like that. Your hair looks a mess. 791 00:59:42,107 --> 00:59:44,817 -l'm giving you banjee. -Shut up! 792 00:59:44,901 --> 00:59:46,402 l got yourjournal. 793 00:59:46,486 --> 00:59:47,987 Thank you. 794 00:59:53,243 --> 00:59:54,785 What's wrong? 795 00:59:54,869 --> 00:59:56,203 Nothing. 796 00:59:56,288 --> 00:59:57,871 Are you sure? 797 00:59:57,956 --> 00:59:58,998 Yeah, l'm sure. 798 00:59:59,082 --> 01:00:03,502 All right. l'm bored. l'm about to leave. Bye. 799 01:00:05,171 --> 01:00:06,839 Bye, Ms. Toosie. 800 01:00:07,340 --> 01:00:08,924 You got a nasty-ass mouth. 801 01:00:09,009 --> 01:00:11,093 You got a nasty-ass hat. 802 01:00:13,513 --> 01:00:16,307 That's what's wrong, you hanging out with bitches like that. 803 01:00:16,391 --> 01:00:17,975 Here's your baby. 804 01:00:18,059 --> 01:00:20,436 lt's probably the last time you're gonna ever see him. 805 01:00:20,520 --> 01:00:21,937 Grandmother come and visit and say, 806 01:00:22,022 --> 01:00:24,607 "Only a dog would drop a baby and walk off." 807 01:00:24,691 --> 01:00:25,983 Not even a dog. 808 01:00:26,276 --> 01:00:28,694 Say later, "Not even a dog." 809 01:00:28,778 --> 01:00:31,864 l'm proud of you. Ain't nothing like your mother. 810 01:00:31,948 --> 01:00:35,284 "Where was your grandmother when your father was abusing you? 811 01:00:35,368 --> 01:00:37,453 "Where is IittIe Mongo now? 812 01:00:38,204 --> 01:00:40,956 "What is going to be the best thing for you in this situation?" 813 01:00:41,041 --> 01:00:43,334 "Ms. Rain, you ask too many questions. 814 01:00:43,418 --> 01:00:45,961 "Sometimes I wish I could stop breathing. 815 01:00:46,046 --> 01:00:48,422 "I just wanna be a good mother." 816 01:00:49,466 --> 01:00:51,634 "Being a good mother might mean Ietting AbduI be raised 817 01:00:51,718 --> 01:00:55,387 "by someone who's better abIe than you to meet his needs." 818 01:00:56,097 --> 01:00:59,600 "Ms. Rain, I is the best to meet my chiId's needs." 819 01:01:08,985 --> 01:01:10,819 "Who's gonna heIp you? 820 01:01:11,363 --> 01:01:13,656 "How wiII you support yourseIf? 821 01:01:14,866 --> 01:01:17,910 "How wiII you keep Iearning to read and write?" 822 01:01:18,953 --> 01:01:21,038 "The weIfare heIped Momma." 823 01:01:21,831 --> 01:01:25,417 "You look and see how much weIfare has heIped your mom. 824 01:01:27,712 --> 01:01:29,338 "You could get your GED, 825 01:01:29,422 --> 01:01:32,091 "and go to coIIege. You can do anything, Precious." 826 01:02:54,215 --> 01:02:55,632 You back? 827 01:02:56,217 --> 01:02:57,593 What's his name? 828 01:02:58,094 --> 01:02:59,678 Can I hold it? 829 01:04:03,493 --> 01:04:05,077 Hey, Precious. 830 01:04:08,832 --> 01:04:10,082 Hey. 831 01:04:13,545 --> 01:04:15,254 You had the baby? 832 01:04:15,839 --> 01:04:17,130 A boy. 833 01:04:18,383 --> 01:04:20,634 Where you been all this time? 834 01:04:27,267 --> 01:04:28,934 Let me see him. 835 01:04:36,150 --> 01:04:37,901 Can I hold him? 836 01:04:57,422 --> 01:04:59,423 He look like his daddy. 837 01:05:04,971 --> 01:05:06,471 He named Abdul. 838 01:05:07,765 --> 01:05:11,351 Put all this shit down and go get me something to drink. 839 01:05:29,829 --> 01:05:31,288 You bitch! 840 01:05:31,873 --> 01:05:34,082 -You fucking bitch! -You crazy, Momma? 841 01:05:34,167 --> 01:05:36,668 Am I crazy? Bitch, if I was to... 842 01:05:37,670 --> 01:05:39,379 You ruined my fucking life! 843 01:05:39,464 --> 01:05:42,132 You done took my man, you had those fucking babies, 844 01:05:42,216 --> 01:05:43,467 and you got me put off the welfare 845 01:05:43,551 --> 01:05:45,844 for running your goddamned stupid-ass mouth! 846 01:05:45,970 --> 01:05:49,806 l ain't stupid and I didn't take your man. Your husband raped me! 847 01:05:49,891 --> 01:05:51,391 Didn't no-fucking-body rape you! 848 01:05:51,476 --> 01:05:53,810 Bitch, don't you put your fucking hands on me! 849 01:06:14,415 --> 01:06:16,708 Mary, leave that girl alone! 850 01:06:55,289 --> 01:06:57,249 Can I see the baby now? 851 01:09:08,840 --> 01:09:11,967 B... C... D... 852 01:09:12,885 --> 01:09:17,305 E... F... G... H... 853 01:09:17,974 --> 01:09:20,684 l... J... K... 854 01:09:27,733 --> 01:09:29,317 l'm tired of shopping. 855 01:09:29,402 --> 01:09:31,361 Yes, because they all trying to take your money. 856 01:09:31,445 --> 01:09:33,321 They don't... 857 01:09:43,958 --> 01:09:45,876 l'm calling the cops. 858 01:09:51,090 --> 01:09:53,592 Tell me what you see back there. 859 01:10:05,980 --> 01:10:10,483 I couId teII by Ms. Rain's face I ain't gonna be homeIess no more. 860 01:10:10,568 --> 01:10:12,611 I just don't know where I'm gonna end up, though. 861 01:10:12,695 --> 01:10:14,279 l'll hold. 862 01:10:16,199 --> 01:10:17,949 l feel bad for her. 863 01:10:18,034 --> 01:10:21,786 She just an ABC teacher. She ain't no social worker. 864 01:10:23,414 --> 01:10:24,664 What's going on? 865 01:10:24,749 --> 01:10:25,916 But she all I could think of. 866 01:10:26,000 --> 01:10:28,460 Look, when the others get here, tell them to start writing. 867 01:10:28,544 --> 01:10:30,712 And whichever one of you is older is in charge, okay? 868 01:10:30,796 --> 01:10:32,464 Consuelo, I know that's not you. Come here. 869 01:10:32,548 --> 01:10:34,674 Ms. Rain, I can't stay. l'm serious. l've tried to talk... 870 01:10:34,759 --> 01:10:37,344 Consuelo, you're not leaving class and l'm not dealing with this right now. 871 01:10:37,428 --> 01:10:39,763 Take this money. Go get something for Precious to wear. 872 01:10:39,847 --> 01:10:42,307 Quick. And bring back my change. 873 01:10:42,391 --> 01:10:46,102 Sixteen years old. A three-day-old infant. 874 01:10:46,729 --> 01:10:48,855 The baby not bleeding. l think this is Precious' blood. 875 01:10:48,940 --> 01:10:51,816 Well, why didn't you tell me that before? 876 01:10:53,152 --> 01:10:55,612 We'll find you a place to live. 877 01:10:58,824 --> 01:11:00,533 Joann, you're late. 878 01:11:00,618 --> 01:11:02,827 Rhonda, you ain't the teacher. 879 01:11:02,954 --> 01:11:05,288 Joann, Ms. Rain is busy with Precious today, 880 01:11:05,373 --> 01:11:07,499 so I am the teacher today. 881 01:11:07,583 --> 01:11:09,459 Okay. Why? 882 01:11:09,919 --> 01:11:11,670 -Where's Precious? -Just sit. Pull out your notebook. 883 01:11:11,754 --> 01:11:14,172 Joann, you wanna say one of your raps to the baby? 884 01:11:14,257 --> 01:11:15,674 What's the baby doing here? 885 01:11:15,758 --> 01:11:17,467 -Joann's gonna rap for you. -Let me see. 886 01:11:17,677 --> 01:11:19,970 She all right. She's doing good. 887 01:11:20,680 --> 01:11:23,640 Why is the baby wrapped up in a blood-covered blanket? 888 01:11:23,724 --> 01:11:26,476 -Joann, what's so funny? -For real. What happened? 889 01:11:26,560 --> 01:11:27,978 You don't wanna know is how it got on the blanket. 890 01:11:28,062 --> 01:11:29,145 You know what your problem is, Joann? 891 01:11:29,230 --> 01:11:31,022 That you can't take anything serious enough. 892 01:11:31,107 --> 01:11:33,525 -Jermaine, me expect better from you. -Okay, Rhonda. 893 01:11:33,609 --> 01:11:36,152 Joann, stop laughing at this baby. 894 01:11:37,822 --> 01:11:39,114 Queens. 895 01:11:41,450 --> 01:11:43,201 Let me call you back. 896 01:11:43,286 --> 01:11:44,577 Just tell me what happened! 897 01:11:44,662 --> 01:11:45,996 No, it's not funny. 898 01:11:46,080 --> 01:11:48,915 But Joann, there's nothing funny about a baby with blood on it. 899 01:11:49,000 --> 01:11:50,792 l got a West lndian friend who's a Council member. 900 01:11:50,876 --> 01:11:53,003 Let me see what she can do. Hold on a second. 901 01:11:53,087 --> 01:11:56,381 l found a lesson plan in our notebooks. We're gonna... 902 01:11:57,925 --> 01:11:59,634 Clareece Jones. 903 01:11:59,719 --> 01:12:02,012 Hey, Ms. Lisa. How you been? 904 01:12:02,847 --> 01:12:04,055 l don't know. 905 01:12:04,140 --> 01:12:08,059 l went to see that movie, Barfly, last night. Piece of shit. 906 01:12:09,061 --> 01:12:12,188 -l'm sorry. -lt's on my desk. Can you hold? 907 01:12:12,273 --> 01:12:14,566 Something's wrong with you, Precious. 908 01:12:14,650 --> 01:12:16,192 This baby stink. 909 01:12:16,277 --> 01:12:18,570 Well, we don't have a Pamper, so have a seat with the baby. 910 01:12:18,654 --> 01:12:21,323 -l am sitting. -ln your seat, please. 911 01:12:21,407 --> 01:12:23,491 The first thing 912 01:12:23,576 --> 01:12:29,247 is shut the bumba-ros-clot... 913 01:12:30,124 --> 01:12:32,625 Ms. Rain, why did you let Rhonda teach the class? 914 01:12:32,710 --> 01:12:34,336 She don't even know how to speak English. 915 01:12:34,420 --> 01:12:35,462 Let Rhonda take over. 916 01:12:35,546 --> 01:12:39,174 -Shut the bumba-ros-clot up. -What the fuck is a "ros clot"? 917 01:12:39,258 --> 01:12:41,176 Yeah, Brenda, you there? 918 01:12:41,260 --> 01:12:43,845 The last four of the Social are... 919 01:12:43,929 --> 01:12:46,514 2-4-2-1 . 920 01:12:46,599 --> 01:12:48,725 -Rita? -l just wanna know how to spell "Aquarius." 921 01:12:48,809 --> 01:12:51,686 -Anybody know how to spell "Aquarius"? -lt's A-Q-U-A-R-l-U-S. 922 01:12:51,771 --> 01:12:52,979 Can you spell "boy" then? 923 01:12:53,064 --> 01:12:54,314 Can you spell "slut" then? 924 01:12:54,398 --> 01:12:56,024 Let's explore that. 925 01:12:56,108 --> 01:12:59,444 You wanna spell "slut," Consuelo, l'll give you the first letter. 926 01:12:59,528 --> 01:13:01,654 Can you spell "illegal immigrant," then? 927 01:13:01,739 --> 01:13:03,782 Great, thank you. 928 01:13:05,368 --> 01:13:07,869 Can you please use "slut" in a sentence? 929 01:13:07,953 --> 01:13:09,329 Consuelo is a slut... 930 01:13:09,413 --> 01:13:12,207 -You the one who's the ho up in here... -Joann is not a slut. 931 01:13:12,291 --> 01:13:14,667 Perfect. You get a gold star. 932 01:13:16,504 --> 01:13:18,213 But you know she likes that. 933 01:13:18,297 --> 01:13:20,590 Well, she's just insecure. 934 01:13:20,674 --> 01:13:22,300 -You think? -Yeah. 935 01:13:22,802 --> 01:13:26,388 -That chicken was good. -Really good. Did you have enough? 936 01:13:26,472 --> 01:13:28,390 There ain't more, is there? 937 01:13:28,474 --> 01:13:30,141 -ls there more? -Yeah. 938 01:13:30,476 --> 01:13:32,769 Maybe later. Not now. 939 01:13:32,853 --> 01:13:34,813 l don't want you to think l'm greedy. 940 01:13:34,897 --> 01:13:37,232 You're not greedy. lf you're hungry, let's get you some more. 941 01:13:37,316 --> 01:13:40,485 l guess I kind of eat too much sometimes, though. 942 01:13:40,569 --> 01:13:41,820 No, you don't. 943 01:13:41,904 --> 01:13:43,780 -Blu, is that you? -Not always. 944 01:13:43,864 --> 01:13:45,949 What are you doing here? 945 01:13:46,409 --> 01:13:49,077 l live here. Why didn't you tell me? 946 01:13:49,161 --> 01:13:51,955 -Hey, sweetie. -ls this... ls this... 947 01:13:53,541 --> 01:13:55,750 This is Katherine, Precious. 948 01:13:55,835 --> 01:13:57,877 -Are you okay? -lt's so nice to meet you, finally. 949 01:13:57,962 --> 01:14:01,381 Oh, my God. These straight-up lesbians. 950 01:14:01,465 --> 01:14:05,051 -This is Abdul. -He's gorgeous. He looks just like you. 951 01:14:06,095 --> 01:14:07,429 Precious, can I hold him? 952 01:14:07,513 --> 01:14:09,264 You know how to? 953 01:14:09,348 --> 01:14:11,349 They stiII nice enough to Iet us stay in their home 954 01:14:11,434 --> 01:14:13,768 untiI I get situated, though. 955 01:14:13,853 --> 01:14:17,939 -He's heavy. Oh, my God! -You wanna hold him? 956 01:14:18,023 --> 01:14:20,525 I guess this is how the peopIes on TV feel at Christmastime. 957 01:14:20,609 --> 01:14:23,194 -Don't drop him. -Come on. I only work with children. 958 01:14:23,279 --> 01:14:24,320 You know how you are. I saw you... 959 01:14:24,405 --> 01:14:26,448 When we were putting up the tree, you dropped half the top of it. 960 01:14:26,532 --> 01:14:28,116 They're so nice to me and AbduI. 961 01:14:28,200 --> 01:14:30,285 -Be careful. Hold him with both hands. -Please. 962 01:14:30,369 --> 01:14:32,078 Oh, Abdul. 963 01:14:34,039 --> 01:14:36,207 Merry Christmas, Precious. 964 01:14:37,042 --> 01:14:38,168 Thank you. 965 01:14:38,252 --> 01:14:39,586 Why peopIes that bareIy know me 966 01:14:39,670 --> 01:14:43,006 should be nicer to me than my mother and my father? 967 01:14:43,632 --> 01:14:45,049 l felt warm. 968 01:14:45,384 --> 01:14:46,593 -What? -l'm just... 969 01:14:46,677 --> 01:14:49,846 l'm just concerned about the baby and the cats upstairs. 970 01:14:49,930 --> 01:14:51,097 They're fine. 971 01:14:51,182 --> 01:14:53,183 Grandmother's scared of Momma. 972 01:14:53,267 --> 01:14:55,685 I know that's why she ain't Ietting me stay with her. 973 01:14:55,769 --> 01:14:57,687 lf Ronald McDonald were running things... 974 01:14:57,771 --> 01:15:00,565 Ms. Rain say don't be afraid of nothing. 975 01:15:01,233 --> 01:15:03,693 l bet she ain't scared of Momma. 976 01:15:03,777 --> 01:15:06,404 Wouldn't you be a little bit suspicious? 977 01:15:06,489 --> 01:15:07,739 Just write the book. 978 01:15:07,823 --> 01:15:11,075 -Well, who's gonna read it? -Nobody, if you don't write it. 979 01:15:11,160 --> 01:15:14,704 You know, Precious writes every day. You should try it. 980 01:15:14,788 --> 01:15:18,041 ls that right? What do you write about, Precious? 981 01:15:18,834 --> 01:15:20,084 Stuff. 982 01:15:21,170 --> 01:15:23,588 My life. Abdul. 983 01:15:26,008 --> 01:15:28,176 How come y'all don't like McDonald's? 984 01:15:28,260 --> 01:15:30,094 Katherine was just drawing a comparison 985 01:15:30,221 --> 01:15:32,263 so that her point could be more easily understood. 986 01:15:32,348 --> 01:15:33,348 Yes. 987 01:15:33,432 --> 01:15:35,934 They taIk Iike TV channeIs I don't watch. 988 01:15:36,018 --> 01:15:37,393 My Uncle Clayton. 989 01:15:37,478 --> 01:15:40,939 I'm gIad AbduI here to Iisten in on them, though, 'cause I know they're smart. 990 01:15:41,023 --> 01:15:42,440 Before he got saved, 991 01:15:42,525 --> 01:15:45,193 he used to smoke like a chimney and drink like a fish. 992 01:15:45,277 --> 01:15:47,320 I don't understand a word they're saying. 993 01:15:47,404 --> 01:15:48,988 You understand? 994 01:15:52,576 --> 01:15:54,035 Y'all be watching Oprah? 995 01:15:54,119 --> 01:15:57,038 No. I don't, actually. You know what time I get home from work. 996 01:15:57,122 --> 01:16:00,250 -l watch it. -Momma say homos is bad peopIes. 997 01:16:00,960 --> 01:16:03,378 But Momma, homos not ones who raped me. 998 01:16:03,462 --> 01:16:05,755 And what do that make you? 999 01:16:05,839 --> 01:16:09,968 Homos not ones who let me sit in class aII them years and never Iearn nothing. 1000 01:16:10,052 --> 01:16:12,929 The homos not ones who sell crack to peopIes in Harlem. 1001 01:16:13,013 --> 01:16:15,014 -...that I have ever seen. Tell her! -That doesn't work. 1002 01:16:15,099 --> 01:16:17,684 l wonder what Oprah got to say about that. 1003 01:16:17,768 --> 01:16:20,144 Ms. Rain is the one who put the chaIk in my hand, 1004 01:16:20,229 --> 01:16:22,689 made me queen of the ABC's. 1005 01:16:25,651 --> 01:16:27,569 After I settIed at the haIfway house, 1006 01:16:27,653 --> 01:16:30,071 I worked my hardest to memorize Ietter sounds, 1007 01:16:30,155 --> 01:16:33,157 writing in the journaI, and reading smaIIer and fatter books. 1008 01:16:33,284 --> 01:16:36,494 Then I found out the Mayor's office give me a Iiteracy award 1009 01:16:36,579 --> 01:16:38,329 and a check for progress. 1010 01:16:40,749 --> 01:16:42,500 One, two, three. 1011 01:16:42,585 --> 01:16:44,335 The party is on. 1012 01:16:44,628 --> 01:16:46,004 Go, Joann! 1013 01:16:49,300 --> 01:16:51,384 Let me see what you got! 1014 01:16:51,468 --> 01:16:56,556 Everybody come. Nurse John, Cornrows, all the staff was out there. 1015 01:16:57,099 --> 01:16:59,350 Even Ms. Katherine showed up. 1016 01:16:59,685 --> 01:17:00,977 Precious. 1017 01:17:04,189 --> 01:17:05,607 What's up? 1018 01:17:06,108 --> 01:17:07,609 What's that? 1019 01:17:08,193 --> 01:17:09,861 What does it look like? 1020 01:17:09,945 --> 01:17:11,863 Plastic stupid apple. 1021 01:17:15,034 --> 01:17:16,701 A little something for you. 1022 01:17:16,785 --> 01:17:19,495 -ls there more money in it? -You're so greedy. 1023 01:17:19,580 --> 01:17:22,332 Yo, who's that? 1024 01:17:25,252 --> 01:17:26,502 What? 1025 01:17:29,381 --> 01:17:31,382 -What? -Come on. 1026 01:17:31,884 --> 01:17:34,344 Precious, where are you taking me? 1027 01:17:35,763 --> 01:17:39,474 What am I supposed to do, diva? Yeah? Wait a minute. Hold on, girl. 1028 01:17:39,558 --> 01:17:41,100 Yeah... 1029 01:17:45,272 --> 01:17:47,398 My mom called last night. 1030 01:17:50,069 --> 01:17:53,363 And we don't really have a relationship. 1031 01:17:53,822 --> 01:17:56,658 We don't talk, because she really has a problem with... 1032 01:17:56,742 --> 01:18:00,495 Some folks got a light around them that shine for other peopIes. 1033 01:18:00,579 --> 01:18:03,665 I think maybe some of them was in tunneIs, 1034 01:18:03,749 --> 01:18:06,459 and in that tunneI, maybe the onIy Iight they had 1035 01:18:06,543 --> 01:18:08,086 was inside of them. 1036 01:18:08,170 --> 01:18:11,422 Then I thought about how strong you've had to be. 1037 01:18:14,009 --> 01:18:17,762 And then, even Iong after they escaped that tunneI... 1038 01:18:19,098 --> 01:18:21,933 -l'll help you clean up. -Okay. 1039 01:18:22,601 --> 01:18:25,603 ...they stiII be shining for everybody eIse. 1040 01:18:29,817 --> 01:18:31,859 That's Ms. Rain to me. 1041 01:18:34,822 --> 01:18:36,364 "Award for Outstanding Achievement." 1042 01:18:36,448 --> 01:18:40,076 In a book I read, this Iady escaped to a haIfway house. 1043 01:18:40,160 --> 01:18:41,369 And when she was there, 1044 01:18:41,453 --> 01:18:44,372 she asked the peopIe there what a haIfway house was. 1045 01:18:44,456 --> 01:18:48,793 They toId her it was haIfway between her old life and where she wanna be. 1046 01:18:48,877 --> 01:18:50,795 That's kind of nice. 1047 01:18:52,464 --> 01:18:55,550 That aIso mean I can't stay here forever. 1048 01:18:55,634 --> 01:18:57,802 There's stiII a way to go. 1049 01:18:58,512 --> 01:19:01,472 It'd be something to get my own apartment. 1050 01:19:02,307 --> 01:19:05,810 AbduI nine months and aImost waIking. He's smart, too. 1051 01:19:06,478 --> 01:19:09,564 I've been reading to him since the day he was born. 1052 01:19:09,648 --> 01:19:12,692 He's bareIy taIking, but he's aIready counting. 1053 01:19:13,652 --> 01:19:15,486 Momma, Daddy, 1054 01:19:16,238 --> 01:19:20,658 IS 1 1 1 , 444 Lenox aII seem Iike some oId, bad dream. 1055 01:19:22,828 --> 01:19:26,831 I wish I couId've just started out here, but still with Abdul. 1056 01:19:28,250 --> 01:19:32,420 I'm gonna get Mongo, too. I gotta get Mongo back. 1057 01:19:34,506 --> 01:19:35,590 Hey, Miss Cassidy. 1058 01:19:35,674 --> 01:19:37,884 Hey, Precious, somebody downstairs for you. 1059 01:19:37,968 --> 01:19:39,719 -Who is it? -l didn't ask who it was. 1060 01:19:39,803 --> 01:19:41,012 You want me to watch the baby? 1061 01:19:41,096 --> 01:19:43,973 No, I gotta go down and get him anyway. 1062 01:20:18,383 --> 01:20:20,051 Your daddy dead. 1063 01:20:21,970 --> 01:20:23,429 That's all? 1064 01:20:28,519 --> 01:20:30,394 He had that AlDS virus. 1065 01:20:45,911 --> 01:20:47,161 There you go, dreaming again! 1066 01:20:47,246 --> 01:20:49,914 Precious, do you hear me taIking to you? 1067 01:20:51,333 --> 01:20:52,458 Did you hear what I said? 1068 01:20:57,422 --> 01:20:58,840 You got it? 1069 01:21:00,092 --> 01:21:01,717 Got what? 1070 01:21:01,802 --> 01:21:03,761 -The AlDS virus. -No. 1071 01:21:04,763 --> 01:21:06,430 How do you know? 1072 01:21:06,515 --> 01:21:09,392 We never did it up in the ass, so I know. 1073 01:21:13,772 --> 01:21:16,232 You better get to a doctor, Mom. 1074 01:21:18,944 --> 01:21:20,653 You coming home? 1075 01:21:37,629 --> 01:21:39,130 Yo, Precious! 1076 01:21:57,774 --> 01:22:00,776 Rita, what do I mean when I say the author 1077 01:22:00,861 --> 01:22:05,531 describes her protagonist's circumstances as "unrelenting"? 1078 01:22:06,533 --> 01:22:08,868 l don't know. I don't know. 1079 01:22:11,246 --> 01:22:14,832 lt's like, say, like if Rita, she tries to do something, 1080 01:22:14,917 --> 01:22:17,376 and she's going and she's going, and me, I try to stop her 1081 01:22:17,461 --> 01:22:20,087 and she no stop, she keep on going. 1082 01:22:20,714 --> 01:22:22,506 Relentless-un. 1083 01:23:15,227 --> 01:23:17,687 l'll see you tonight. Bye. 1084 01:24:06,778 --> 01:24:08,279 Come with me. 1085 01:24:09,698 --> 01:24:11,115 Precious? 1086 01:24:12,951 --> 01:24:14,410 Excuse me? 1087 01:24:16,329 --> 01:24:18,456 Nurse say l'm HlV positive. 1088 01:24:25,088 --> 01:24:27,631 l ain't got nothing to write today. 1089 01:24:29,468 --> 01:24:31,135 ls your baby okay? 1090 01:24:32,179 --> 01:24:35,556 He all right. l just got to stop breastfeeding him. 1091 01:24:39,269 --> 01:24:41,437 Remember, you once told me 1092 01:24:41,938 --> 01:24:44,815 you never really got to tell your story. 1093 01:24:46,276 --> 01:24:48,319 -Write. -Fuck you! 1094 01:24:48,820 --> 01:24:51,822 You know nothing of what l've been through. 1095 01:24:52,991 --> 01:24:55,326 l ain't never had no boyfriend. 1096 01:24:57,996 --> 01:25:00,581 My daddy said he gonna marry me. 1097 01:25:01,249 --> 01:25:04,543 How he gonna do that? lt would fucking be illegal! 1098 01:25:20,811 --> 01:25:22,019 Write. 1099 01:25:24,147 --> 01:25:26,690 l'm tired, Ms. Rain. 1100 01:25:27,567 --> 01:25:30,736 lf not for yourself, then for the people who love you. 1101 01:25:30,821 --> 01:25:32,613 Nobody loves me. 1102 01:25:32,697 --> 01:25:34,949 People do love you, Precious. 1103 01:25:35,408 --> 01:25:37,868 Please don't lie to me, Ms. Rain. 1104 01:25:38,703 --> 01:25:41,080 Love ain't done nothing for me. 1105 01:25:42,124 --> 01:25:45,543 Love beat me, raped me, 1106 01:25:46,962 --> 01:25:50,965 called me an animal, make me feel worthless. 1107 01:25:51,633 --> 01:25:53,217 Make me sick. 1108 01:25:55,554 --> 01:25:57,638 That wasn't love, Precious. 1109 01:25:59,724 --> 01:26:01,559 Your baby loves you. 1110 01:26:04,855 --> 01:26:06,313 l love you. 1111 01:26:13,613 --> 01:26:14,864 Write. 1112 01:26:23,790 --> 01:26:25,749 What are you thinking? 1113 01:26:27,919 --> 01:26:32,131 You never told me about your relationship with your mother. 1114 01:26:34,885 --> 01:26:36,552 l didn't, did l? 1115 01:26:37,262 --> 01:26:39,847 Really, l'm here to help you. 1116 01:26:39,931 --> 01:26:43,100 You can talk to me. This is a safe environment. 1117 01:26:44,436 --> 01:26:45,811 You're right. 1118 01:26:45,896 --> 01:26:48,439 We could talk about your daddy instead. 1119 01:26:48,523 --> 01:26:51,358 We could talk about my mother, my father, 1120 01:26:51,443 --> 01:26:55,821 my aunts or my sister or my brother, but none of it's gonna help you. 1121 01:26:56,489 --> 01:26:57,990 You don't even like me. 1122 01:26:58,074 --> 01:27:01,118 Have we not been in this room together 1123 01:27:01,203 --> 01:27:04,455 for, like, a year, discussing your life? 1124 01:27:04,539 --> 01:27:07,541 Does that mean we like each other, because we discuss my life? 1125 01:27:07,626 --> 01:27:09,084 l can't speak for you. 1126 01:27:09,169 --> 01:27:13,631 l can only speak for me, and I do like you. I do. 1127 01:27:14,299 --> 01:27:16,133 So, are you ltalian, or... 1128 01:27:16,218 --> 01:27:17,509 What color are you, anyway? 1129 01:27:17,594 --> 01:27:19,678 Are you some type of black or Spanish? 1130 01:27:19,763 --> 01:27:21,972 What color do you think I am? 1131 01:27:23,934 --> 01:27:27,269 No, l'd like to know. What color do you think I am? 1132 01:27:28,104 --> 01:27:29,813 My throat is dry. 1133 01:27:30,649 --> 01:27:32,399 Your throat is dry? 1134 01:27:32,817 --> 01:27:34,526 lt's really hot in here. 1135 01:27:34,611 --> 01:27:36,695 lt is kind of hot in here. 1136 01:27:37,239 --> 01:27:40,115 l'm gonna go get a soda. What do you want? 1137 01:27:40,492 --> 01:27:42,326 Soda sounds fine. 1138 01:27:42,410 --> 01:27:43,827 All right. 1139 01:28:14,359 --> 01:28:15,859 Thank you. 1140 01:28:16,444 --> 01:28:17,903 No problem. 1141 01:28:21,616 --> 01:28:24,827 So, I have to talk to you about your mother, 1142 01:28:25,370 --> 01:28:27,705 and I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, 1143 01:28:27,789 --> 01:28:30,541 but she says she wants to see you 1144 01:28:30,625 --> 01:28:35,254 and she wants to be reunited with you and her grandchildren. 1145 01:28:35,839 --> 01:28:38,799 She wants to come and have a session here with you. 1146 01:28:38,883 --> 01:28:40,467 What did you tell her? 1147 01:28:40,552 --> 01:28:43,387 l said I had to speak to you about it. 1148 01:28:46,016 --> 01:28:47,433 lt's up to you. 1149 01:28:47,517 --> 01:28:50,477 l don't know. l never thought about it before. 1150 01:28:52,022 --> 01:28:54,523 Ms. Weiss said in that fiIe I got HIV. 1151 01:28:54,607 --> 01:28:57,026 She said I was supposed to die from it. 1152 01:28:57,110 --> 01:28:59,153 I ain't worried about dying. 1153 01:28:59,237 --> 01:29:03,198 Shit, I gotta worry about how I'm supposed to raise these kids. 1154 01:29:04,200 --> 01:29:06,702 l was just writing, like, about... 1155 01:29:07,412 --> 01:29:09,496 l wanna open up this clinic 1156 01:29:09,581 --> 01:29:12,791 about, like, mothers and their children. 1157 01:29:13,626 --> 01:29:16,670 You know, just, if they're sick or something like that. 1158 01:29:16,755 --> 01:29:20,424 l always wanted to do that, give back to the community. 1159 01:29:20,508 --> 01:29:23,385 Because I know my mom would be proud of me if I did that, 1160 01:29:23,470 --> 01:29:25,137 and my children, too. 1161 01:29:25,221 --> 01:29:28,932 l want my children to be proud of their mother, you know? 1162 01:29:30,060 --> 01:29:34,605 -That's always what I wanted to do, so... -That's good. That's really nice. 1163 01:29:38,193 --> 01:29:42,654 l don't really want to read the whole thing, l kind ofjust wanna say what it's about. 1164 01:29:43,907 --> 01:29:47,534 Okay, the counselors at Advancement House, 1165 01:29:49,371 --> 01:29:51,872 they were quizzing me about my mother and my father, right? 1166 01:29:51,956 --> 01:29:53,707 But it's not really about them. 1167 01:29:53,792 --> 01:29:55,876 They're trying to get me to do workfare. 1168 01:29:55,960 --> 01:29:58,337 -They want me to be a home attendant. -How do you know? 1169 01:29:58,421 --> 01:30:00,714 Because I stole my file and I read it. 1170 01:30:00,799 --> 01:30:02,716 All they want me to do is work. 1171 01:30:02,801 --> 01:30:06,053 Now, I do wanna work, but not for no welfare check. 1172 01:30:06,137 --> 01:30:07,554 What kind of sense that make, 1173 01:30:07,639 --> 01:30:10,557 for somebody like Precious to quit school before she got her GED 1174 01:30:10,642 --> 01:30:13,268 and go work for some old white people somewhere? 1175 01:30:13,353 --> 01:30:16,438 She ain't never gonna be nothing if she gets stuck in some shit like that. 1176 01:30:16,523 --> 01:30:18,023 Rhonda used to home attend. 1177 01:30:18,108 --> 01:30:21,110 She used to have to go all the way out to Brighton Beach. 1178 01:30:21,194 --> 01:30:24,530 Yeah, okay, Rhonda would be working there all day and night. 1179 01:30:24,614 --> 01:30:26,657 She'd be on call, right? 1180 01:30:27,075 --> 01:30:31,286 She made $6.37 an hour, but for only eight hours. 1181 01:30:31,871 --> 01:30:33,997 That equal out to $50.96. 1182 01:30:34,999 --> 01:30:36,417 But that's not a whole lot of money, 1183 01:30:36,501 --> 01:30:39,628 especially 'cause, for real, she there for 24 hours. 1184 01:30:39,712 --> 01:30:44,425 So, $50.96 divided by 24 1185 01:30:44,509 --> 01:30:48,429 is $2.1 2 an hour. That's not a lot of money. 1186 01:30:48,513 --> 01:30:52,891 She said that old bitch would ring a bell, like, a real-life, actual bell 1187 01:30:52,976 --> 01:30:54,810 when she wanted something from her in the middle of the night. 1188 01:30:54,894 --> 01:30:57,604 -You don't want to do that shit. -Rhonda, is that true? Rhonda! 1189 01:30:57,689 --> 01:31:00,732 Them home attendants be working for, like, six days a week. 1190 01:31:00,817 --> 01:31:04,695 l'd only see Abdul on Sunday. Plus, l'd have to leave class. 1191 01:31:05,029 --> 01:31:08,323 Well, that's not an option. You're not leaving class. 1192 01:31:08,408 --> 01:31:11,535 Plus, l'm gonna start going to insect survivor meetings. 1193 01:31:11,619 --> 01:31:13,120 lt's "incest." 1194 01:31:14,873 --> 01:31:18,041 -That ain't what I said? -No, you said "insect." 1195 01:31:18,626 --> 01:31:19,918 What's the difference? 1196 01:31:20,003 --> 01:31:21,795 Well, one's where your family molests you, 1197 01:31:21,880 --> 01:31:24,548 the other's like a roach or bugs. 1198 01:31:27,218 --> 01:31:29,845 -So, you a scientist now? -l'm just saying. 1199 01:31:29,929 --> 01:31:32,723 No, that's cool. Thank you. Thank you. 1200 01:31:38,897 --> 01:31:42,483 It was hard teIIing them strangers there what my father did. 1201 01:31:42,567 --> 01:31:44,568 Sometimes it felt good. 1202 01:31:49,824 --> 01:31:54,036 Last week, Ms. Rain asked us to write down what we wanna be like. 1203 01:31:54,454 --> 01:31:57,998 I wrote that I be reaI skinny, 1204 01:31:58,750 --> 01:32:00,959 with Iight skin and Iong hair. 1205 01:32:02,420 --> 01:32:04,087 Loretha Holloway? 1206 01:32:05,298 --> 01:32:06,423 Go on back there. 1207 01:32:06,508 --> 01:32:08,342 She read it and said l'm beautiful like I am. 1208 01:32:08,426 --> 01:32:11,929 But, there's no kids back there for me to play with. 1209 01:32:14,098 --> 01:32:16,058 Just shut up and sit there, then. 1210 01:32:16,142 --> 01:32:19,520 Gonna talk to this lady before my shit gets cut off. 1211 01:32:19,604 --> 01:32:21,063 But somehow, 1212 01:32:22,190 --> 01:32:25,442 right now... And I don't know why, but... 1213 01:32:27,570 --> 01:32:29,321 I think she right. 1214 01:32:35,703 --> 01:32:36,787 Here. 1215 01:32:45,463 --> 01:32:47,089 Clareece Jones? 1216 01:32:53,054 --> 01:32:55,055 I think she right. 1217 01:33:00,311 --> 01:33:02,396 Okay, Mrs. Johnston, let's talk about the abuse. 1218 01:33:02,480 --> 01:33:04,690 There were no drugs in my house. 1219 01:33:04,774 --> 01:33:06,733 l didn't play that. There weren't no drugs in my house. 1220 01:33:06,818 --> 01:33:08,485 Precious knew I would whup her ass 1221 01:33:08,570 --> 01:33:10,070 if she gonna bring some drugs up in my house. 1222 01:33:10,154 --> 01:33:12,531 You know what l'm talking about. 1223 01:33:13,658 --> 01:33:18,829 l'm referring to specific sexual and physical acts 1224 01:33:19,372 --> 01:33:21,164 involving Precious. 1225 01:33:21,833 --> 01:33:23,834 Why you ain't say that? 1226 01:33:24,544 --> 01:33:26,169 Yes, that. 1227 01:33:28,214 --> 01:33:30,132 What do you wanna know? 1228 01:33:30,216 --> 01:33:32,217 According to Precious' files, 1229 01:33:32,302 --> 01:33:36,346 she has now had two children by your boyfriend, 1230 01:33:36,431 --> 01:33:40,684 the late Carl Kenwood Jones, who was also her father. 1231 01:33:46,983 --> 01:33:48,984 -Yeah. -This is accurate? 1232 01:33:51,404 --> 01:33:53,196 Yes, Ms. Weiss. 1233 01:33:53,698 --> 01:33:56,783 l need to know why you're here. You've been calling this office 1234 01:33:56,868 --> 01:34:00,787 saying you want to be reunited with Precious and your grandchild. 1235 01:34:00,872 --> 01:34:04,374 Now, I really need to know what's gone on in that home. 1236 01:34:04,459 --> 01:34:06,585 Ms. Weiss, l understand we need to discuss it, 1237 01:34:06,669 --> 01:34:08,003 but l'm just telling you. 1238 01:34:08,087 --> 01:34:10,839 You said l've been calling here and l've been wanting to see 1239 01:34:10,923 --> 01:34:12,382 Precious and my grandson. 1240 01:34:12,467 --> 01:34:16,970 You're goddamn right I wanna see them. Because they belong to me. Okay? 1241 01:34:17,055 --> 01:34:20,098 Now, there was a time Precious had everything, 1242 01:34:20,183 --> 01:34:21,975 and I done told her that. 1243 01:34:22,060 --> 01:34:25,687 And me and Carl, we loved Precious. And you need to know that. 1244 01:34:25,772 --> 01:34:28,482 We loved Precious and we had dreams. 1245 01:34:28,566 --> 01:34:33,278 Precious was born around the same time Ms. West's son got killed. 1246 01:34:34,781 --> 01:34:38,742 The summertime. She was born in the summertime. 1247 01:34:38,826 --> 01:34:40,827 Remember? Remember that? 1248 01:34:41,120 --> 01:34:43,080 l was born in November. 1249 01:34:43,581 --> 01:34:45,123 November. 1250 01:34:46,000 --> 01:34:48,460 Yeah, that's right. 1251 01:34:49,754 --> 01:34:51,630 My Scorpio child. 1252 01:34:53,800 --> 01:34:55,258 You know... 1253 01:34:55,968 --> 01:35:00,013 Scorpios, they can be tricky. 1254 01:35:01,224 --> 01:35:05,769 And, l'm not saying that they lie. l'm not saying that. 1255 01:35:06,312 --> 01:35:08,647 But you just gotta watch them. 1256 01:35:12,610 --> 01:35:16,405 Can we talk about the actual acts 1257 01:35:16,489 --> 01:35:19,199 of physical and sexual abuse 1258 01:35:19,283 --> 01:35:21,743 that occurred in your household? 1259 01:35:22,328 --> 01:35:23,870 When it first began, 1260 01:35:23,955 --> 01:35:26,957 where it happened and how did you respond? 1261 01:35:33,339 --> 01:35:35,507 Precious was a little girl. 1262 01:35:36,968 --> 01:35:39,970 Try and remember how old you think she was. 1263 01:35:44,267 --> 01:35:45,809 She was three. 1264 01:35:47,770 --> 01:35:51,231 And I had been giving her the bottle 1265 01:35:53,151 --> 01:35:55,610 and I was giving Carl the tittie 1266 01:35:55,987 --> 01:36:00,031 because my milk hadn't dried up in my breasts 1267 01:36:01,159 --> 01:36:04,494 but not from her, but because Carl was... 1268 01:36:05,663 --> 01:36:07,581 Because Carl was sucking on them 1269 01:36:07,665 --> 01:36:11,501 and that's what kept my milk in my breasts. 1270 01:36:14,213 --> 01:36:17,007 And I thought that that was for hygiene. 1271 01:36:17,925 --> 01:36:20,677 l did what my mother told me 1272 01:36:21,262 --> 01:36:25,140 that I was supposed to do with my child, so that's what I did. 1273 01:36:25,600 --> 01:36:28,268 And you're sitting up there and you're trying to judge me... 1274 01:36:28,352 --> 01:36:31,188 l'm not judging you, but you're asking me for money 1275 01:36:31,272 --> 01:36:33,690 and you're asking me to be reunited with your grandson. 1276 01:36:33,775 --> 01:36:36,193 But, Ms. Weiss, l don't like you looking at me like that. 1277 01:36:36,360 --> 01:36:39,821 You got this bitch looking at me like l'm some kind of fucking monster. 1278 01:36:39,906 --> 01:36:41,823 We don't talk like this in my office, okay? 1279 01:36:41,908 --> 01:36:45,452 l didn't want her sucking behind him, because that was nasty. 1280 01:36:45,536 --> 01:36:49,247 And things that he was... lt was just nasty, Ms. Weiss. 1281 01:36:54,879 --> 01:36:58,507 l had a man, and I have a child 1282 01:37:00,301 --> 01:37:04,137 and I had to take care of both of them. Okay? 1283 01:37:05,807 --> 01:37:10,811 Did I want Carl to touch my baby? 1284 01:37:12,897 --> 01:37:15,232 Because I would lay my baby. 1285 01:37:15,316 --> 01:37:19,945 l would lay her on the side of me, on this pillow 1286 01:37:21,697 --> 01:37:23,865 and it was pink 1287 01:37:24,575 --> 01:37:27,619 and it had this little white writing on it 1288 01:37:27,703 --> 01:37:31,832 and it had her name, because she was precious. 1289 01:37:32,750 --> 01:37:35,085 And I would lay my baby on that pillow 1290 01:37:35,169 --> 01:37:38,547 and Carl would be laying on the other side 1291 01:37:39,966 --> 01:37:43,844 and then we would... We would start doing it 1292 01:37:43,928 --> 01:37:46,054 and he reached over 1293 01:37:48,349 --> 01:37:50,350 and he touched my baby. 1294 01:37:50,434 --> 01:37:51,977 And I asked him, 1295 01:37:52,770 --> 01:37:55,355 l said, "Carl, what are you doing?" 1296 01:37:55,439 --> 01:37:57,858 And he told me to shut... 1297 01:37:57,942 --> 01:38:00,944 To shut my fat ass up, and it was good for her. 1298 01:38:01,028 --> 01:38:04,281 -And what did you do then? -l shut my fat ass up. 1299 01:38:04,782 --> 01:38:08,118 And I don't want you to sit there and judge me, Ms. Weiss. 1300 01:38:08,202 --> 01:38:09,953 You shut up and you let him abuse your daughter? 1301 01:38:10,037 --> 01:38:11,997 l did not want him to abuse my daughter. 1302 01:38:12,123 --> 01:38:13,582 -l did not want him to hurt her. -But you allowed him 1303 01:38:13,666 --> 01:38:15,542 -to hurt her. -l did not want him to do nothing to her. 1304 01:38:15,626 --> 01:38:17,544 l wanted him to make love to me. 1305 01:38:17,628 --> 01:38:20,630 That was my man. That was my fucking man. 1306 01:38:20,798 --> 01:38:23,633 That was my man and he wanted my daughter. 1307 01:38:24,927 --> 01:38:27,220 And that's why I hated her. 1308 01:38:27,305 --> 01:38:30,307 Because my man, who was supposed to be loving me, 1309 01:38:30,391 --> 01:38:33,226 who was supposed to be making love to me, 1310 01:38:34,312 --> 01:38:36,563 was fucking my baby. 1311 01:38:36,647 --> 01:38:40,275 She made him leave. She made him go away. 1312 01:38:40,818 --> 01:38:41,943 So, whose fault was it, then? 1313 01:38:42,028 --> 01:38:45,196 lt's this bitch's fault because she let my man have her 1314 01:38:45,281 --> 01:38:46,865 and she didn't say nothing. 1315 01:38:46,949 --> 01:38:48,950 She didn't scream. She didn't do nothing. 1316 01:38:49,035 --> 01:38:52,579 So, those things she told you I did to her, 1317 01:38:52,663 --> 01:38:55,832 who else was gonna love me? 1318 01:38:58,836 --> 01:39:02,464 Since you got your degree and you know every-fucking-thing, 1319 01:39:02,548 --> 01:39:06,593 who was gonna love me, who was gonna make me feel good? 1320 01:39:06,677 --> 01:39:10,347 Who was gonna touch me and make me feel good late at night? 1321 01:39:10,431 --> 01:39:12,974 And she made him go away, so... 1322 01:39:13,726 --> 01:39:17,228 When you sit there and you write them fucking notes on your pad 1323 01:39:17,313 --> 01:39:21,358 about who you think I am, and why I did it, all of that. 1324 01:39:22,693 --> 01:39:24,903 Because I didn't have nobody. 1325 01:39:33,704 --> 01:39:36,873 The people from 1326 01:39:38,501 --> 01:39:40,543 Each One Teach One, 1327 01:39:41,253 --> 01:39:44,214 they had... They called me 1328 01:39:47,176 --> 01:39:50,261 and they told me that my baby was writing poems. 1329 01:39:50,346 --> 01:39:51,846 ln fact, you know what, I got... 1330 01:39:51,931 --> 01:39:53,515 Wait a minute. 1331 01:40:19,500 --> 01:40:20,959 l'm sorry. 1332 01:40:21,961 --> 01:40:25,338 l'm sorry. And, Ms. Weiss, I don't want no checks. 1333 01:40:25,423 --> 01:40:29,634 l don't need no more money. Please. l'm so sorry. 1334 01:40:30,553 --> 01:40:32,721 l took that TABE test again. 1335 01:40:33,931 --> 01:40:35,056 And what happened? 1336 01:40:35,141 --> 01:40:36,808 l scored a 7.8. 1337 01:40:38,519 --> 01:40:40,437 Last time it was 2.8. 1338 01:40:42,815 --> 01:40:44,190 According to that test, 1339 01:40:44,275 --> 01:40:46,985 l'm reading at a seventh- and eighth-grade level. 1340 01:40:48,279 --> 01:40:51,448 Next year, high school. After that, college. 1341 01:40:57,997 --> 01:40:59,789 Well, I like you, too. 1342 01:41:02,126 --> 01:41:04,169 But you can't handle me. 1343 01:41:05,963 --> 01:41:08,298 You can't handle none of this. 1344 01:41:16,223 --> 01:41:19,642 You know, I never knew what you was until this day. 1345 01:41:19,727 --> 01:41:22,479 Not even after all them things you did. 1346 01:41:23,981 --> 01:41:27,484 Maybe I was too stupid, or maybe I just didn't want to. 1347 01:41:29,945 --> 01:41:32,280 You ain't gonna see me no more. 1348 01:41:35,868 --> 01:41:37,160 Bye! 1349 01:41:40,873 --> 01:41:42,749 l didn't want him to hurt my baby. 1350 01:41:42,833 --> 01:41:45,251 Please, God, l didn't want him to hurt my baby. 1351 01:41:45,336 --> 01:41:48,213 Ms. Weiss, l didn't want him to hurt my baby. 1352 01:41:48,297 --> 01:41:50,090 l would say to him, I would say... 1353 01:41:50,174 --> 01:41:53,426 "Carl, what are you doing? What are you doing? What are you doing?" 1354 01:42:02,520 --> 01:42:04,104 Can you go get her back? 1355 01:42:04,188 --> 01:42:06,773 You can do that, because that's what you do. 1356 01:42:06,857 --> 01:42:08,691 That's what you do. 1357 01:42:09,110 --> 01:42:12,821 l need you to go and I need you to get my baby back. 1358 01:42:12,905 --> 01:42:16,533 You told me that I could come in here and you could get... 1359 01:42:16,992 --> 01:42:18,451 You could get Precious to say... 1360 01:42:18,536 --> 01:42:21,037 Ms. Weiss? Ms. Weiss? Ms. Weiss?