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A Storm in Summer (2000)
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HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING, MR. SHADDICK? A DAY OLDER SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU ASKED ME. YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO GET THAT POODLE. GOOD. WONDERFUL. I'M HAPPY FOR YOU. ANOTHER HOT ONE, HUH? YEAH, WHY NOT? LISTEN, YOU WAN TO KNOW SOMETHING? UPSTAIRS IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, THEY GO A SPECIAL DEPARTMENT. IT'S A CELESTIAL BUREAU. IT'S STAFFED BY A HUNDRED FALLEN ANGELS, AND IT'S GOT ONE JOB. YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? NO. TO HARASS ABEL SHADDICK. SOMEBODY UP THERE DOESN' LIKE YOU MUCH, HUH? I CAN HEAR THE STAFF MEETINGS NOW. MONDAY WE'LL GIVE HIM PRICKLY HEAT, TUESDAY, TWO BUM CHECKS HE'LL GET. ON WEDNESDAY, THE BANK WILL CALL ONE OF HIS NOTES, AND ON THURSDAY, WE'LL SEND HIS NEPHEW STANLEY TO STAY WITH HIM, AND ON FRIDAY, WHICH IS TODAY, WE'LL GIVE HIM A HEAT WAVE. WE'LL GIVE HIM 98 DEGREES WITH HUMIDITY SO HE'LL HAVE INSOMNIA AND HAVE TO LIE AWAKE ALL NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT SOMETHING WORSE THAN FRIDAY. WHAT'S WORSE THAN FRIDAY? SATURDAY. HOW LONG YOU HAD THIS DELICATESSEN HERE, MR. SHADDICK? AH, SINCE GOD CREATED THE EARTH, GIVE OR TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS. IT'S AN ATONEMEN FOR SOME PAST SIN. I FIGURE IT THIS WAY. IN ANOTHER LIFE, I WAS THE RUSSIAN CZAR. SO THAT COMMITTEE, THEY MET UP THERE, AND THEY DECIDED THA DURING MY NEXT LIFE THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE ME THE BUSINESS, THIS BUSINESS. EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, MR. SHADDICK. IT'S ALWAYS DARKES BEFORE THE DAWN. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. WELL, WHOEVER SAID THA SHOULD HAVE DROPS PU IN THEIR EYES. YOU'RE QUITE A CHARACTER, MR. SHADDICK. I'LL LOOK IN ON YOU TOMORROW NIGHT. YEAH, YOU DO THAT. AND IF YOU FIND ME HANGING ON A HOOK ALONGSIDE THE CHICKENS, DON'T PUT OUT A DRAGNET. IT'LL BE SELF-INFLICTED. BUT TELL THEM NOT TO PULL DOWN THE WRONG BIRD. THEY'LL FIND FIVE BIRDS HANGING ON A HOOK, ALL ABOUT 70 YEARS OLD. I'M THE ONE WITH THE PANTS. [ LAUGHS ] MORNING, BENJY. [ TELEPHONE RINGS ] [ RING ] [ RING ] YES? ONE PIN PICKLED HERRINGS, YES, ONE LOAF RYE BREAD. YOU WANT IT SLICED? ALL RIGHT. YES, LADY, I'M WRITING IT DOWN. A CHINESE WAITER I'M NOT. TWO DOZEN EGGS. THAT'S IT? NO, LADY, I DON'T DELIVER. NO, I'M TOO POOR FOR A TRUCK AND TOO OLD FOR A BICYCLE. WELL, SUIT YOURSELF. YOU WANT TO COME IN AND PICK IT UP, COME IN AND PICK IT UP. THAT'S RIGHT, LADY, INDEPENDENT. DELIVERIES, YET. FOOD STAMPS, LUCKY NUMBERS, HIT THE JACKPOT, NAME THE PRESIDENT -- A BLACK YEAR ON THE 20th CENTURY. WELL, ANOTHER SCORCHER, BENJY. WELL, THE HOT SPELL CONTINUES. YOUR COUSIN STANLEY, HE'S BEEN HERE FOR SIX DAYS. OH, I TOLD YOU THAT YESTERDAY, YEAH. WELL, AS I TOLD YOU, YOUR COUSIN STANLEY HAS ALL THE CHARM OF AN UNTIPPED WAITER. HE COMMUTES BETWEEN HIS BED AND THE COUNTRY CLUB. AND IN CASE I FAILED TO MENTION IT, YOUR COUSIN STANLEY IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA. CAN I HELP YOU, LADY? GOOD MORNING. I WONDERED, DOES MR. BANNER LIVE HERE? MR. BANNER? OH, MR. BANNER, FORMERLY MR. BLOOM. NO, STRICTLY SPEAKING, HE DOESN'T LIVE HERE. HE JUS DROPS IN OCCASIONALLY IN BETWEEN HIS BIG DEALS. MR. BANNER, FORMERLY MR. BLOOM, IS MY NEPHEW. YOU MUST BE MR. SHADDICK. I MUST BE. WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU? WELL, MY NAME IS GLORIA ROSS. I MET YOUR NEPHEW AT THE CLUB LAST NIGHT. AT THE CLUB? YEAH, AT THE COUNTRY CLUB. OH, THE COUNTRY CLUB. WONDERFUL. MAYBE HE MENTIONED IT, MR. BLOOM -- MR. BANNER? NO, HE DIDN'T MENTION IT. BY THE TIME MY NEPHEW WITH THE NEW NAME RETURNED TO HIS BED EARLY THIS MORNING, I ALREADY HAD FIVE HOURS SLEEP AND TWO SIZABLE NIGHTMARES, ONE OF THEM HAVING TO DO WITH AN AVENGING ANGEL THAT KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND TOLD ME THAT MR. BANNER, FORMERLY MR. BLOOM, WAS GOING TO LIVE WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. SO, NO, LADY, I DIDN' TALK TO MY NEPHEW. MORNING, SHADDICK. OY. OH, BOY. THE AVENGING ANGEL WITH THE CHICKENS. SURELY YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE FRESH AIR VACATION PLAN? THE WHAT? THE FRESH AIR VACATION PLAN? THE VACATION PLAN? SO WHAT ABOUT IT? WELL, IT'S CHILDREN WE BRING FROM THE CITY, AND THEY SPEND TWO WEEKS HERE WITH FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S WONDERFUL. FAMILIES, YEAH. WHAT WE ALSO DO IS CHECK ON THE HOMES AS A POLICY. YEAH, THE NATURE OF THE HOMES BEFORE THE CHILDREN ARE ENTERING IT, AND ALSO TO SEE THE COMPATIBILITY. COMPATIBILITY. AND, UH... LISTEN, I JUST WAN TO ASK YOU ONE THING. HOW MUCH DOES MY NEPHEW STANLEY OWE YOU FOR HIS RAFFLE TICKET? THERE ARE NO RAFFLE TICKETS, MR. SHADDICK. YOU SEE, WHAT IT IS, IT'S WHEN FAMILIES SPONSOR -- MRS. GOLD, YOU HERE TO PURCHASE OR JUST FONDLE? I ONLY BUY THE FRESH. THESE ARE FRESH? THEY WERE UNTIL YOU POTCHKEYED WITH THEM. DO YOU WANT MY BUSINESS OR DON'T YOU? I WOULD WELCOME YOUR BUSINESS, MRS. GOLD, BUT YOUR DAILY RUBDOWN OF MY CHICKENS I CAN DO WITHOUT. ALL RIGHT, I'LL TAKE -- I'LL TAKE THIS ONE. AH, THE LUCKY CHICKEN, THE PRIZE WINNER. HE WON HIMSELF A GOOD HOME. UH, JUST THE CHICKEN, MR. SHADDICK. I'M NOT BUYING YOUR THUMB. FOR YOU, MRS. GOLD, $1.99. $1.99. $1.99. $1... $1.50... $1.99. AND, IF IT'S NO GOOD, YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME. I WON'T SLEEP UNTIL I GET YOUR DECISION. YOU WON'T SLEEP BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO DAMN MISERABLE. LISTEN, DO ME A FAVOR. TAKE A CRUISE, ANYTHING, SO I WON' SEE YOU TOMORROW. OH, YOU'RE STILL HERE? WHAT? DO YOU THINK I COULD SPEAK TO STANLEY? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. UH, YOU SEE, HE'S GO A LOT ON HIS MIND. TODAY HE'S GOING TO TRY AND DRESS HIMSELF. BUT THE CHILD IS ALREADY ON ITS WAY. WHAT CHILD? I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. THE CHILD THA YOUR NEPHEW STANLEY -- MR. BANNER -- MR. BLOOM, HE VOLUNTEERED. HE VOLUNTEERED? YES. A CHILD IS COMING HERE BECAUSE MY NEPHEW STANLEY VOLUNTEERED? LADY, IF HERMANN GOERING HAD A CHILD, I WOULDN'T WISH HIM ON MY NEPHEW. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A BOY AND TURN HIM INTO A DELINQUEN AND YOU WANT TO USE STANLEY AS THE INSTRUCTOR, YOU MADE THE PERFECT CHOICE. YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHAT? WHAT? TELL ME, WHAT DON'T I UNDERSTAND? YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, IN A SENSE, CO-SPONSORS OF THE CHILD. STANLEY ASSURED US HE'D BE WITH YOU THROUGH THE SUMMER. LADY, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR. SAVE YOURSELF EMBARRASSMEN AND MAYBE A BUM CHECK. THE NEXT TIME THAT MY BIG SHOT NEPHEW STEPS INTO YOUR COUNTRY CLUB, JUST SHOW HIM THE DOOR AND THE RESTRICTION CLAUSE IN YOUR CLUB'S CONSTITUTION. REALLY, MR. SHADDICK. GOODBYE, LADY. THAT'S IT, FINISHED, DONE. WHAT ABOUT THE CHILD? HE'S ON THE BUS BY NOW. SO YOU'LL TAKE HIM OFF THE BUS. YOU REALLY ARE LIVING UP TO YOUR REPUTATION, MR. SHADDICK, OR DOWN TO IT. IS THAT A FACT? YOU GO AHEAD, TELL ME ABOUT MY REPUTATION. YOU'RE NOT THE MOST BELOVED MAN IN THE COMMUNITY. I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. THAT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS. A LITTLE CHILD COMING FROM THE SLUMS -- OH, LADY, PLEASE, ENOUGH ALREADY. I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BREAKDOWN BECAUSE SOME NAMELESS LITTLE MUMSER DOESN'T GET HIS FRESH AIR? I GOT MY OWN PROBLEMS. SO YOU GO BACK AND TELL YOUR MEMBERS I GOT NO TIME FOR CHILDREN, NO SYMPATHY FOR THEIR SOCIAL CHARITIES, AND NO PLACE FOR MY NEPHEW STANLEY BANNER. THIS IS MY FINAL WORD. AGAIN, GOODBYE. YOU'RE PUTTING ME IN A DREADFUL POSITION. I'LL BE ON THE PHONE FOR HALF OF THE DAY -- LADY, PLEASE, ENOUGH ALREADY! I NEVER SHOULD HAVE COME HERE. OH, BENJY, YOUR COUSIN STANLEY, HE DID IT AGAIN. I'LL KILL HIM. WHAT'S HE LIKE? SCROOGE FROM THE EAST SIDE. YOU PUT SOME POOR UNSUSPECTING KID IN WITH THA BILIOUS OLD GOAT, HE'D BE SCARRED FOR LIFE. BUT THAT KID MAY BE ON A BUS NOW. WE HAVE TO CALL NEW YORK. THE KID'S NAME IS WASHINGTON. AS IN GEORGE? NOT ACCORDING TO THIS. AS IN BOOKER T. OH, BOY. [ SIREN BLARES ] GRANDMA, I GO TO CARRY ALL THAT? SURE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE GONE TWO WEEKS. WOULD YOU LOOK AT HIM? HERE HE IS GETTING READY TO MAKE A TRIP OUT TO THE COUNTRY, AND HE LOOKS AT ME LIKE THE ANGEL OF DEATH JUST WALKED IN THE ROOM. JUST THINK, HERMY, TWO WHOLE WEEKS. TWO WHOLE WEEKS OF FRESH AIR AND FISHING AND SWIMMING. YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST VACATION OF ANY BOY IN HARLEM. IF YOU GET A LETTER FROM BILL, SEND IT TO ME, YOU HEAR? OH, YES. NOW, REMEMBER, HERMAN, WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BUS, I WANT YOU TO BE A LITTLE GENTLEMAN BECAUSE TO SEE A WELL-BEHAVED YOUNG MAN LIKE YOU IS GOING TO BE A REAL EDUCATION FOR THEM. IF THEY WANT AN EDUCATION, THEY OUGHT TO COME TO HARLEM. OH, THIS CHILD. HERE, HOLD YOUR HEAD UP. NOW, MIND -- YOU MIND YOU'VE GO ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE BUS TIME, AND THAT IS ONE BUS YOU AIN'T GOING TO MISS. NOW, PLEASE, HERMAN, DON'T GO GETTING YOURSELF DIRTY. PUT YOUR JACKET ON. OH. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU HAD ON YOUR NEW SUIT. MIND YOU, IT COST $12. JUST SO YOU COULD LOOK LIKE A LITTLE GENTLEMAN. REMEMBER, HERMAN, BE... POLITE. POLITE. I WANT YOU TO, WHAT? SMILE. SMILE. I WANT YOU TO... SHAKE HANDS. SHAKE HANDS. WELL... WELL, WE GOT EVERYTHING? WHERE'S MY POCKETBOOK? SHAKING HANDS, GOT TO BE ALL SMILES -- FOR WHAT? YOU READY, HERMAN? YES, GRANDMA, I GUESS I'M READY. [ DOOR CLOSES ] [ TELEPHONE RINGS ] [ RING ] [ RING ] OH, MY GOODNESS. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? OH, MY GOODNESS. OH, OH. HI. I'LL CATCH YOU IN A MINUTE. LOOK AT YOU. HOW ARE YOU DOING? HEY, HERMAN. Girl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an: THERE YOU GO. OKAY, YOU'RE ALL SET. Woman: HI, GREG. YOU OKAY? GOOD. HI. IS YOUR NAME JOEY? DID YOU HAVE A NICE TRIP? I'M PHYLLIS MANN. HI, MRS. MANN. HI. HEY, WHAT DO YOU SAY? YOU THE MAN WHAT THEY CALL MY SPONSOR? STAN BANNER, AND YOU ARE... HERMAN WASHINGTON. WHERE WE GOING? WE GO A LITTLE PROBLEM, HERM. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU HERE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT THIS HURRY UP CALL TO GET TO ATLANTIC CITY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU DO. YOU GO DOWN TO THE DELICATESSEN. GO OUT HERE, MAKE A RIGHT, YOU RUN RIGHT INTO IT. MY UNCLE'S THERE. HE'LL LOOK AFTER YOU UNTIL I GET BACK. 11:00 A.M. EXPRESS TO ATLANTIC CITY NOW DEPARTING. THAT'S MY BUS. HAVE A BALL, HERM. I'LL SEE YOU SOON. ATLANTIC CITY. DON'T LET MY, UH, MY UNCLE TURN YOU OFF. HE'S NOT A BAD EGG. HE'S JUST A LITTLE ODD. HE'S SET IN HIS WAYS, BUT YOU GO DOWN THERE, YOU TELL HIM WHO YOU ARE. I'M AWFUL SORRY TO CUT OUT ON YOU LIKE THIS. I MEAN THAT. DOES YOUR UNCLE LIKE YOU? YOU DON'T DIG ME? YOU TALK TOO MUCH AND YOU TALK TOO LOUD. 6, 9 -- $500. NU? YOU MEAN THE SUIT? I MEAN WHAT CAN I GE FOR YOU? WHAT DO YOU GOT? WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT? GOT A COCA-COLA? COCA-COLA, YOU GO TO THE DRUGSTORE. I'LL TAKE A GLASS OF WATER. A GLASS OF WATER? WITH CUSTOMERS LIKE YOU, I COULD GO BANKRUP IN A WEEK. GLASS OF WATER. ALL RIGHT. A LITTLE MORE. THERE YOU ARE. I'M HERMAN D. WASHINGTON. WONDERFUL. I'M ABE SHADDICK. I COME ON A BUS JUS A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO. I CAME ON A BOA 55 YEARS AGO. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS? THIS HERE IS THE ADDRESS I'M SUPPOSED TO GO TO, SO I'M YOUR KID. UH, MR. WASHINGTON, DO YOU GE THE SAME IMPRESSION THAT I DO THAT WHAT'S OCCURRING HERE IS A BREAKDOWN IN COMMUNICATIONS? DON'T YOU DIG, MAN? I'M SUPPOSED TO STAY HERE FOR TWO WEEKS. STANLEY BANNER -- HE'S WHAT THEY CALL MY SPONSOR. HE WAS AT THE BUS STATION. HE SENT ME HERE. THEY GIVE ME THIS TO TELL ME WHO WAS GOING TO MEET ME AND WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO GO. THAT STANLEY CAT, THE ONE I MET... STANLEY, STANLEY... HE THE ONE WHO SAID I SHOULD COME OVER HERE AND SEE YOU. MR. WASHINGTON, THE MAN THAT YOU ACCURATELY DESCRIBE AS THE STANLEY CAT -- MR. BANNER -- HE'S LEFT TOWN, AND IN THE PROCESS, HE LEFT YOU AND ME OUT ON A LIMB. AND I'M AFRAID THAT, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT, UH... THERE'S NOBODY HERE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. THERE'S NOBODY HERE TO LOOK AFTER YOU. YOU UNDERSTAND? OKAY. IS THIS WHAT I USE TO GO BACK TO NEW YORK? OH, YEAH, THIS IS YOUR RETURN TICKET. DON'T LOSE THAT. UH, YOU GOT, UH, OH, YOU GOT A 3-HOUR WAI FOR THE NEXT BUS. YEAH, YOU MISSED THE 11:30. OKAY. STANLEY. OH, STANLEY, I'D LIKE TO -- OH, IF I HAD YOU NOW... HEY, YOU! HEY! YOU! COME HERE! I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. DID YOU HAVE LUNCH? I ASKED YOU A QUESTION. DID YOU HAVE LUNCH? ALL RIGHT, COME ON. YOU WANT SOME LUNCH? I AM ASKING YOU A QUESTION. DO YOU WANT SOME LUNCH? DO YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT? I'LL JUST GO BACK ON THE BUS. I DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE. ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'LL GO BACK ON THE BUS, BUT FIRS THE LEAST I CAN DO IS OFFER YOU SOMETHING TO EAT. DO YOU SEE ANYTHING YOU LIKE HERE? WHAT'S THAT THERE? WHICH ONE? SHOW ME. OH, THAT'S PASTRAMI. YOU WAN A NICE PASTRAMI SANDWICH? WHAT'S PASTRAMI? OH, PASTRAMI, IT'S LIKE CORNED BEEF. IT'S HIGHLY SEASONED, AND, UH, IT'S, UH, IT'S JEWISH. YOU JEWISH? I DON'T LOOK JEWISH, RIGHT? GUY WHO OWNS OUR BUILDING, HE JEWISH. MAN, HE A PRETTY BAD CAT. NOBODY LIKE HIM. I AIN'T HUNGRY. WHERE ARE YOU GOING NOW? TO THE BUS STATION. YOU GOT A 3-HOUR WAIT. YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY HERE. NO. WHY NOT? 'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE YOU. SO -- SO YOU DON'T LIKE ME. SO GO SI IN THE HOT STATION. BOIL FOR THREE HOURS. WHAT DO YOU CARE? I DON'T CARE. I REALLY DON'T CARE. BETWEEN A BANKRUPT BUSINESS AND A BUM NEPHEW, I DON'T NEED A 3-FOOT TALL ETHIOPIAN ANTI-SEMITE. YOU I DON'T NEED. NOW WHAT? THEM ARE FISH? UH-HUH, THAT'S WHAT THEM ARE. I'VE NEVER BEEN FISHING. THEY TOLD ME THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DONE WITH YOUR SPONSOR -- PEOPLE TAKE YOU FISHING. I AIN'T NEVER BEEN FISHING. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? 136th STREET. OH. NO LAKES ON 136th STREET, HUH? HMM. YOU GOT A LAKE HERE? YEAH, A SMALL LAKE. DO YOU EVER FISH IN IT? NO, I DON'T FISH. MY SON AND I, WE USED TO FISH. MY SON, NOW, HE WAS A FISHERMAN. RIGHT, BENJ? OH, THIS KID COULD FISH -- BETTER THAN YOUR OLD MAN. THAT'S HIM. THAT'S BENJY. SOLDIER? YES, SIR. SECOND LIEUTENANT, BOMBARDIER. WHERE IS HE NOW? UH... HE WAS KILLED IN A RAID OVER A PLACE CALLED STUTTGART. I GOT A BROTHER. HIS NAME'S BILL. HE'S IN VIETNAM -- A SERGEANT. MAN, HE'S A TIGER. HE SENT ME A PICTURE OF HIM CARRYING A GUN. MAN, HE'S A REAL TIGER. YOU SAY HE'S DEAD? YEAH. HE WAS 19. THAT'S 24 YEARS AGO. WHAT ABOUT YOUR MAMA? MY MAMA? I MEAN HIS MAMA. OH, HIS MAMA PASSED AWAY MANY YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS A BABY. I RAISED HIM. WHO'S THIS CAT STANLEY? DON'T ASK ABOUT STANLEY. THANKS TO HIM, YOU TOOK A BUS RIDE FOR NOTHING. WHERE'S THIS HERE LAKE? OH, YOU WAN TO GO TO THE LAKE? OH, THAT'S EASY. YEAH, SURE. THERE, YOU GO OU THIS DOOR HERE, SEE. GO DOWN THIS STREET. IT'S ONE MILE SOUTH. WHEN YOU COME TO MAIN STREET, TAKE A LEFT. YOU GO ONE MILE -- LAKE WANATEESHIE. WANATOO-- WANATEESHIE? THAT JEWISH? IT'S JEWISH-INDIAN, AND IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GOING TO CALL THE LADY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU SO SHE CAN CALL YOUR FAMILY ON 136th STREET. NOW GO. GO ON. RUN ALONG. AND DON'T DROWN. WHEN MY BROTHER COME BACK, HE'S GOING TO TAKE ME FISHING. HE PROMISED ME. MY BROTHER, WHEN HE SAY SOMETHING, YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE HIM. OH, WITHOUT QUESTION, THAT'S A TRAIT THAT RUNS IN YOUR FAMILY -- HONOR AND INVINCIBILITY. SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR NOW, THE MESSIAH? THIS HERE LAKE I'M GOING TO, NOBODY WILL GIVE ME TROUBLE, WILL THEY? I MEAN -- I MEAN I'M BLACK. NOW, WHO WOULD GIVE YOU TROUBLE? WHO WOULD DARE? YOU'RE THE ONLY 9-YEAR-OLD ON EARTH THAT ACTS LIKE HUMPHREY BOGART. NOW WHAT? NOTHING. NOTHING -- MEANING SOMETHING. THAT MEAN NOTHING. ARE YOU AFRAID TO TELL ME? AFRAID? NO WAY, NO HOW. SO GO AHEAD. TELL ME. GET IT OFF YOUR MIND. DON'T YOU EVER GO FISHING? NO, NOT SINCE BENJY DIED HAVE I PUT A WORM TO A HOOK. WHY? NOTHING. NOTHING -- NOTHING MEANING, WHY DON' YOU AND I GO FISHING? BENJY -- AN INSPIRATION. SINCE THE FIRS OF THE MONTH, I HAVEN'T TAKEN IN ENOUGH TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL, AND THIS FISHERMAN FROM 136th STREET THINKS I GOT NOTHING BETTER TO DO IN LIFE THAN TO BE A HUCKLEBERRY FINN. WHAT THAT THING YOU SAY GO RUNNING IN THE FAMILY? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. A TRAIT? WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. YOU GOT THE SAME THING GOING BETWEEN STANLEY AND YOU. OH, THE ITINERAN PHILOSOPHER. SO TELL ME, WHA IS THIS MYSTERIOUS THING THAT BINDS ME TO MY NEPHEW? YOU'RE THE SAME KIND OF CATS -- HE GET ON THE BUS, AND YOU HIDE BEHIND THE PASTRAMI. DO YOU KNOW WHAT AN ACHILLES' HEEL IS? NO. SO I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU. MAYBE FOR AN HOUR I'LL TAKE YOU, BUT NO MORE THAN AN HOUR. MAYBE WE COULD CATCH SOME BIG FISH, THEN YOU COULD SELL THEM. MR. WASHINGTON, WITH MY LUCK, I WILL CATCH ONE MINNOW, SUNSTROKE, AND A SUMMONS FROM THE GAME WARDEN. ALL RIGHT, COME ON. LET'S GO. QUESTION -- IN YOUR LUGGAGE THERE, YOU GOT WORMS? SO WHY ARE WE TAKING IT? SO WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR? YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? YOU FORGOT SOMETHING. WHAT MIGHT THAT BE? FISHING POLES. WE AIN'T GO NO FISHING POLES. WHEN YOU GO FISHING, YOU'VE GO TO HAVE FISHING POLES. I'LL SAY THIS FOR YOU, HERMAN. YOU'VE GOT ALL THE GAIETY OF AN UNDERTAKER, BUT YOU'RE A VERY DISCERNING BOY, VERY DISCERNING. STAY HERE. DON'T MOVE. I NEEDED THIS. THAT'S TO CROSS THE STREET. I'VE BEEN CROSSING STREETS SINCE I WAS 2 YEARS OLD. OH, DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU THAT I MIGHT NEED HELP CROSSING THE STREET? OH, THAT'S DIFFERENT. WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME WAS? UH, SHADDICK... ABE SHADDICK. YOU DON'T LIKE IT? MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO ME WHAT THEY CALL YOU. LET'S GO, SHADDICK. BE RIGHT WITH YOU, WASHINGTON. NOW, YOU SEE THAT LITTLE RED BALL THERE? THAT'S CALLED THE BOBBER. YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THA BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BAIT IS -- THE BAI THAT THE FISH LIKE. NOW, HOLD THIS DOWN HERE LIKE THIS. YOU'VE GO TO MOVE THAT THING EVERY NOW AND THEN. WHAT'S THE BAIT? ARE YOU GOING TO STAR ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS? I'M NOT. THIS IS ONLY MY FIRST QUESTION. WELL, AN INTELLIGENT FISH KNOWS WHAT HE LIKES. THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO KNOW. HEY, MAN, DON'T MAKE ME OU TO BE STUPID 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW. IT WAS ON THE BOX. I DIDN'T READ IT. DO YOU WANT TO FISH? YEAH. DO YOU KNOW HOW? THEN ZIP YOUR MOUTH AND LET ME TELL YOU. TELL ME WHAT, WHAT THE BAIT IS? KEEP IT UP, I'M GOING TO THROW YOU RIGHT IN THE WATER. NOW, THIS HERE, YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE I A LITTLE BIT. LIKE THIS? THAT'S TOO MUCH. TOO MUCH. YOU WANT TO GE THE FISH'S ATTENTION, BUT YOU DON'T WAN TO SCARE HIM. NOW, WHEN THE LITTLE RED BALL STARTS TO BOUNCE, THAT'S WHEN YOU KNOW THE FISH IS NIBBLING, BUT DON'T GET TOO ANXIOUS. WAIT UNTIL THAT BALL GOES UNDERNEATH THE WATER, THEN YOU KNOW THAT THE HOOK IS SITTING IN THE FISH. I MYSELF -- AND I ADMIT THIS -- HAVE ONLY CONQUERED THIS IN THEORY, BUT MY SON BENJY, OH, HE WAS A FISHERMAN. HE HAD A NOSE FOR IT. A NOSE? AN INSTINCT, RIGHT FROM THE START, I NEVER HAD TO TELL HIM ANYTHING. GEE, I REMEMBER ONE TIME. OH, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN, WHAT, '37? YEAH, '37, '38. WE WERE OVER THERE, BUT WE WERE FURTHER DOWN. AND THAT KID, OH, HE CAUGHT A TROUT -- I MEAN, SUCH A TROUT. I MEAN, THIS WAS A FISH AMONG ALL FISH. YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING, MAN. YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING. SOMETHING'S PULLING. WELL, WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO? I FORGOT WHAT TO DO. REMIND ME WHAT TO DO! TELL ME WHAT I -- LOOK, SHADDICK, I GOT A FISH. LOOK, LOOK, I GOT A FISH. LOOK AT THIS ONE. THIS HERE'S A FISH, AND I'VE GOT IT. LOOK AT THIS FISH. I SEE THE FISH. MR. WASHINGTON, A FAVOR? I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO EXUL IN PULLING IN THE FISH. AFTER THAT, BE SO KIND AS TO PULL IN THIS ANCIENT MARINER. HERMAN, WOULD YOU COME AND HELP ME OU OF THE WATER, PLEASE, IF IT'S NO TOO MUCH TROUBLE? AH, STANLEY, STANLEY, STANLEY... BENJY... TODAY A REVELATION. I NOW KNOW WHAT KILLS OLD MEN, AND IT IS NOT HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES, AS I WAS TOLD. NO, IT'S SOFTENING OF THE BRAIN. INSIDE ASLEEP... IS THIS SMALL DARK SHADOW WITH A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER THE SIZE OF A LOAF OF PUMPERNICKEL, AND YOU KNOW WHA I WAS DOING TODAY, BENJY? I WENT FISHING IN THE LAKE WITH THIS BOY WHERE YOU AND I USED TO FISH. WELL, MAYBE WE WERE FURTHER TO THE LEFT THERE. THREE AND HALF HOURS IN THE SUN... MUCH OF IT SPENT UNDERWATER BECAUSE YOUR COUSIN STANLEY HAS GOT THE MOUTH OF A WHALE AND THE INTELLIGENCE OF A SARDINE. YES... [ BELL DINGS ] I RECEIVED THE MESSAGE YOU CALLED, MR. SHADDICK. IT'S BEEN SO LONG, I'D FORGOTTEN. I'M SO SORRY. I HAD A GOLF TOURNAMENT. MISS ROSS, FOR EACH DAY OF YOUR LIFE, MAY YOU HAVE A HOLE IN ONE. BUT AT THIS MOMENT, I HAVE PROBLEMS OF MY OWN. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE MESSAGE THAT THE BOY HAS ARRIVED AND THAT HE'S HERE WITH YOU. YEAH, HE'S NAPPING. I THOUGHT YOUR NEPHEW -- DON'T MENTION THE NAME, PLEASE. NOW, HAVE YOU FOUND SOMEBODY ELSE IN TOWN THAT CAN TAKE THIS BOY OFF MY HANDS? THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, MR. SHADDICK. I'M GOING TO TAKE THE CHILD MYSELF. HE'LL MAKE A GOOD CADDY. WELL, HE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T STAY HERE. WELL, FOR ONCE WE'RE IN AGREEMENT. BETWEEN A 70-YEAR-OLD JEW AND A 9-YEAR-OLD BLACK BOY, THERE IS NOT, MISS ROSS, WHAT YOU WOULD CALL A MUTUALITY OF INTEREST. WELL, HE'LL STAY WITH ME TONIGHT, AND I'LL ARRANGE TO BRING HIM HOME IN THE MORNING. HOME? ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE MEMBERSHIP ROLLS OF YOUR PISHY-POSHY COUNTRY CLUB DON'T HAVE ONE LOUSY FAMILY THAT'S WILLING TO TAKE HIM? WELL, GIVEN TIME, WE'D FIND MANY, MR. SHADDICK. WE WANT THE BOY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE. I MEAN, GIVEN THE SITUATION, IT'S, YOU KNOW... ENLIGHTEN ME. FOR A LITTLE BLACK BOY TO BE IN A FAMILY -- A BLACK CHILD. JUST A MINUTE, MR. SHADDICK. THE CARDINAL SIN. DON'T MAKE ME OU TO BE A BIGOT. DON'T YOU MAKE ME OU TO BE AN IDIOT. I'M A LONG TIME ON THIS EARTH. I'M AN EXPERT ON BIGOTRY. MR. SHADDICK, I WAN THE BOY TO ENJOY HIMSELF. I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT COLOR HE IS. YOU DON'T TAKE A CHILD OFF A HARLEM STREET, STICK HIM IN A POOL IN THE COUNTRY CLUB, AND EXPECT HIM TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMEN BETWEEN BREAKFAS AND LUNCH. SINCE WHEN IS SWIMMING SUCH A BIG ADJUSTMENT? IT'S A SOCIOLOGICAL PROBLEM. YOU REMIND ME OF MY NEPHEW STANLEY -- SO BUSY DRESSING FOR THE CHARITY BALL, HE FORGETS WHAT THE CHARITY IS. MISS ROSS... AN ACT OF KINDNESS IS NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL WHEN IT COMES IN FASHIONABLE SPASMS DURING THE SOCIAL SEASON. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? I THINK I'LL TAKE THE BOY NOW, MR. SHADDICK. MISS ROSS, DON'T GIVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE. THE BOY STAYS MAYBE TWO DAYS, MAYBE A WEEK. THAT'S VERY NICE OF YOU, MR. SHADDICK. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. YOU DON'T LIKE MY GOOD DEEDS, I DON'T LIKE YOURS. THEY'RE GRUDGING, ROTTEN-TEMPERED AFTERTHOUGHTS, USING A CHILD YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOU AS GESTURE TO THOSE OF US YOU LOATHE, AND I GATHER YOU LOATHE A LOT OF US. WHICH IS MY RIGHT. YES, MR. SHADDICK, AND THAT PROVES THE POINT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A COUNTRY CLUB TO FIND A BIGOT. YOU CAN FIND THEM IN DELICATESSENS. SO WE BOTH DREW A LITTLE BLOOD, MISS ROSS... BUT THE BOY STAYS. I AM NO THE MOST GRACIOUS OF MEN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, MISS ROSS, BUT IN MY LIFE... I HAVE MADE A FEW FRIENDS. GOOD NIGHT, MR. SHADDICK. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT? WHAT DID THE LADY WANT? THE LADY -- THE LADY WANTS TO DIVEST HERSELF OF HER RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S THE NATIONAL PASTIME, HERMAN, THE GREAT AMERICAN SPORT -- LET GEORGE DO IT. WHO'S GEORGE? GEORGE, TOM, DICK, HARRY -- THE OTHER GUY. WE ALL DO IT. I DO IT MYSELF. YOU SURE DO TALK FUNNY. UH, DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THAT? YEAH, I'M GOING TO GET IT STUFFED, AND THEN I'M GOING TO GE ONE OF THOSE METAL THINGS WITH WRITING ON IT UNDERNEATH. OH, YEAH, A PLAQUE. YEAH, A PLAQUE. AND I'M GOING TO SAY ON IT, THIS FISH CAUGH BY HERMAN D. WASHINGTON IN HONOR OF HIS BROTHER BILL, SERGEAN IN THE GREEN BERETS, WITH MUCH LOVE FROM HIS BROTHER HERMAN D. WASHINGTON. CAN I GET ALL THA IN THERE? YEAH... IN SMALL PRINT. BIG, AIN'T SHE? YEAH, SHE'S ENORMOUS, BUT WE'LL PUT HER ON ICE SO THAT BY THE TIME IT REACHES YOUR BROTHER, HE'LL BE ABLE TO STAND CLOSE ENOUGH TO I TO READ THE SMALL PRINT. UH, HERMAN, I WAN TO ASK YOU SOMETHING. I'LL GIVE YOU A CHOICE. YOU CAN LEAVE TOMORROW MORNING ON THE BUS, OR... YOU COULD STAY HERE WITH ME FOR A FEW DAYS. WHY? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHY? WHY DO YOU WANT ME TO STAY? DID I SAY I WANTED YOU TO STAY? I GAVE YOU A CHOICE. I SAID YOU COULD STAY IF YOU WANTED TO OR YOU COULD GO HOME TOMORROW. MMM... I'LL STAY A COUPLE OF DAYS. I'M OVERWHELMED. NOW YOU'RE GOING TO WASH YOUR HANDS. COME BACK HERE. YOU DO IT IN THE SINK. YOU'VE BEEN TOUCHING FISH. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO SEE WHAT'S PLAYING AT THE MOVIES. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL GO AND HAVE A SODA. AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK HERE, AND I'LL SPEND HALF THE NIGH WONDERING WHY I'M GOING TO ALL THIS TROUBLE. [ CHUCKLES ] WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME ALL SMILEY? YOU PREFER RAGE? YOU KNOW WHAT MY BROTHER BILL SAY? NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR BROTHER BILL SAY. HE SAY HE DON'T CARE IF MR. CHARLIE HATES HIM, AND HE DON'T CARE IF MR. CHARLIE LIKES HIM. HE SAY THAT MISTER CHARLIE SHOULD JUST GET HIS FOO OFF OF HIM. THAT'S WHA BY BROTHER BILL SAY. WELL, DO I HAVE MY FOO ON YOU? I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU. I'M STAYING BECAUSE IT'S HOT IN NEW YORK, AND HERE I CAN GO FISHING. THAT'S WHY I'M STAYING. TOO BAD YOU AIN'T BLACK. WHY? I SEEN ALL THE PEOPLE LOOKING AT US. SO THEY WAS LOOKING AT US. I KNOW WHAT THEY THINKING. SO, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? THEY THINKING... THEY THINKING, "WHAT THA LITTLE BLACK BOY DOING WITH THAT OLD JEW?" LISTEN. AS ONE FORMER GHETTO DWELLER TO ANOTHER, A LESSON -- A LESSON, HERMAN, THAT MAYBE BOTH OF US SHOULD LEARN -- ONCE TWO GUYS GO FISHING OR EVEN TO THE MOVIES, ALL THEY SHOULD CARE ABOU IS THAT THEY ENJOY. THAT'S FUNDAMENTAL. WE EQUAL, HUH? YEAH. YEAH. MAYBE MORE THAN WE BOTH REALIZE. THERE'S RATS WHERE I LIVE, GREAT BIG ONES. AND THE JOHNS STINK. EW. YOU CAN SMELL THEM ALL OVER THE BUILDING. IF WE EQUAL, HOW COME I GOT TO LIVE THERE? WHEN MY BROTHER COME BACK, WE GOING TO MOVE OUT OF THERE. WE GOING TO MOVE OU TO THE COUNTRY, AND WE GOING TO SPI RIGHT IN THAT OLD JEW LANDLORD'S EYE. MAZEL TOV. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WITH THIS JEW, YOU'RE GOING TO THE MOVIES. Man: HEY, WAIT UP. YOU KNOW SOMETHING, HERMAN? SOON YOU'RE GOING TO BE INDISPENSABLE TO ME. WHAT THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT I WON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT YOU. YOU WRONG. YOU MAKE A MISTAKE. YOU GOT TO DO IT YOURSELF. THAT'S WHA MY BROTHER BILL TOLD ME. HE SAY DON'T EVER LEAN AND DON'T EVER TURN YOUR BACK. THAT'S WHA IT'S ALL ABOUT. UH-HUH. WELL, NOW SUPPOSE SOMEBODY LEANS ON YOU? BREAK HIS ARM. LISTEN, MY LITTLE BLACK BOYCHIK, EVEN IF YOU THINK IT, DON'T SAY IT, ALL RIGHT? I'VE TASTED MORE HATE IN MY LIFE THAN I HAVE WINE. OH, YEAH, THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE ONE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PRETTY GOOD. PAUL NEWMAN AND, UH, THAT OTHER FELLOW. TWO. $2.50, PLEASE. WHAT ARE YOU GETTING? HERE. $2.50? $2.50, UH-HUH. 1...2...3. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. ENJOY. GET THAT. THAT'S FOR THE POPCORN. Man: OH, YEAH, I THOUGH IT WAS A TERRIFIC FILM. WHAT ABOUT YOU? DID YOU LIKE IT? Woman: I DID. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. GO RIGHT THERE. YEAH, THERE IT IS. WE'LL GET THAT SODA. I WANT CHOCOLATE. BUT WHEN THE CA WITH THE SHOTGUN GAVE IT TO THA OTHER BAD CAT, HOW COME THEM TWO GOOD GUYS LEAVE THE BACK DOOR OPEN, AND THEM OTHER BAD CATS, THEY ABLE TO GET OUT? MAN, ANYBODY KNOW YOU GO TO GUARD THE BACK DOOR. WHEN YOU GOT TWO BAD CATS UP IN THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW THEY GOT SHOTGUNS, TOO. UH, HERMAN, THERE'S A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. ONE IS SHOTGUNS AND THE OTHER IS BAD CATS. BUT THEY CRAZY NO TO GUARD THE BACK DOOR. WELL, MAYBE. I MEAN, YOU COULD BE RIGHT. OH, THANK YOU. YOU FINISHED? IF IT WAS ME, MAN, I'D HAVE GUARDED THE BACK DOOR. SO WE'LL WRITE TO HOLLYWOOD, AND WE'LL PU THE QUESTION TO THEM. WILL THAT SATISFY YOU? MAYBE WE DO THAT. I'LL GIVE YOU THE WORDS. WHAT DO THEY CALL THAT? YOU'LL DICTATE A LETTER. YEAH, I THINK I'LL DO THAT. BACK DOORS. Man: HE WOULD GO BACK WITH HER. Man #2: HE WOULD, TOO. WHERE YOU GOING, BOY? I SAID WHERE YOU GOING? DON'T JUST STAND THERE. DO A LITTLE SOFT SHOE FOR US, HUH? YEAH, LET'S SEE YOU DO IT, BOY. OH, LOOK WHO'S HERE. GET A LOAD OF THIS -- WHAT A COMBINATION. WHAT DO YOU SAY, IKE? THE NAME IS SHADDICK, AND THAT NAME IS WASHINGTON. WHAT'S THE MATTER, COWBOYS? YOU BORED, IS THAT IT? YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER AN OLD MAN AND A LITTLE BOY? IS THAT IT? I KNOW WHO YOU ARE -- YOU'RE MOSES. AND THIS MUST BE ONE OF MOSES'S CHILDREN FROM A DIFFERENT MARRIAGE. YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE? TWO NIGHT CRAWLERS IN SEARCH OF MANHOOD. MANHOOD, HUH? OH, SUCH COURAGE. SUCH COURTESY. HEY! EASY THERE, BOY. DROP IT. GET THE KNIFE, SHADDICK! USE THE KNIFE! USE THE KNIFE! SHADDICK, GET THE KNIFE! WHAT'S THE TROUBLE HERE? NO TROUBLE. WE'RE JUST ON OUR WAY OUT. HOLD IT. MR. SHADDICK, YOU OKAY? YEAH, IN THE PINK. TAKE OFF. YOU SURE YOU'RE OKAY? YEAH, MY FRIEND AND I, WE'RE FINE. THANKS. WHO BELONGS TO THIS? THAT'S MINE. YOURS? DEFINITELY MINE. IT'S QUITE A WEAPON, MR. SHADDICK. BE CAREFUL WITH IT. GIVE A HOLLER IF WE'RE NEEDED. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. PUT THIS IN YOUR POCKET, AND DON'T EVER LET ME SEE IT AGAIN. IF I EVER REACH THE POIN WHERE I HAVE TO CU INTO ANOTHER MAN'S STOMACH, I WILL HAVE LIVED TOO LONG. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? YOU LET SOME CAT BACK YOU UP AGAINST A WALL, AND YOU DON'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT? MAN, YOU AIN'T GOING TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH. AND YOU WOULD HAVE USED IT. IF I HAD TO. WHICH IS PERHAPS THE WORS THING ABOUT PREJUDICE. THE HATERS TURN THE VICTIMS INTO HATERS. YOU LINE UP THE TWO TEAMS, AND WHO COULD TELL THEM APART? COME ON. WE GO HOME. SHADDICK, IT DON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, BUT YOU AIN'T NO CHICKEN. I'M NOT? NO, YOU'RE A TIGER. TIGER, HUH? THEN WHY IS MY HEART BEATING LIKE IT'S TRYING TO COME OUT OF MY BODY? YOU'RE A TIGER, BUT YOU'RE AN OLD TIGER. HA HA. THEN THE LEAS YOU COULD DO IS HELP ME DOWN THE STREET, YOU GANGSTER. OH, MY GOODNESS, LOOK AT THE TIME. IT'S PAST MIDNIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A TOOTHBRUSH? OKAY, SO, WE'LL GO TO BED NOW. SO, RUN ALONG. HERMAN! THIS IS FOR YOU. OOH, OOH. OH, LOOK, MISS GLORIA ROSS. AH... YOU AND ME -- MR. SHADDICK -- TO BE MY GUESTS TOMORROW. THIS IS AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO SWIM AT THE COUNTRY CLUB SWIMMING POOL... [ SNIFFS ] REEKING OF PERFUME AND MISPLACED CONTRITION. YOU TALKING CRAZY AGAIN. YOU WANT TO GO SWIMMING? SHALL WE ACCEPT? YEAH. SURE. NOW GO TO BED. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE I CAME HERE? WHAT DID I DO? YEAH. I MEAN, YOU DON'T GO FISHING. YOU DON'T GO TO THE MOVIES. YOU DON'T DRINK NO SODA. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT. THIS IS THE FIRST MOVIE I'VE SEEN SINCE MYRNA LOY. I USED TO LOVE MYRNA LOY. AND THAT CHOCOLATE SODA -- YOU KNOW, I'D FORGOTTEN HOW GOOD A SODA TASTE. SO, AT THE RISK OF LEANING ON YOU, HERMAN, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU HAVE OPENED UP MY LIFE A LITTLE, AND AT THE FURTHER RISK OF LISTENING TO YOUR 136th STREE ELOQUENT PHILOSOPHY... I'M GRATEFUL. YOU GRATEFUL, HUH? I AM. GOOD NIGHT, SHADDICK. [ LAUGHING ] YOU KNOW, BENJY, YOU GIVE THE WORLD FISHING POLES AND ICE CREAM SODAS. OH... YOU'D HAVE SO MUCH BROTHERHOOD, EVEN GOD WOULD SMILE. PETE, COME OVER HERE, PLEASE. YES? WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE? UM...WHO? THEM. OOH. I DON'T KNOW. WELL, FIND OUT. OKAY. EXCUSE ME. SIR? HI. I WASN'T ON DUTY WHEN -- WHEN YOU CAME IN THIS MORNING. WELL, THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. I'LL LET IT GO THIS TIME. LOOK AT ME, SHADDICK -- THE AUSTRALIAN CRAWL. AH, YEAH... HE'S AVAILABLE FOR LESSONS IN THE AFTERNOON. YOU CAN TELL THE MEMBERS. THE POOL IS OPEN TO MEMBERS AND GUESTS. AFRAID SO. IT'S RESTRICTED. WELL, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERY TOM, DICK, AND HARRY RUNNING AROUND. NO, ABSOLUTELY. IS THERE A PROBLEM? UH, NO, I -- GOOD. ARE YOU A GUEST? OH, YES. WE ARE HERE AT THE INVITATION OF MISS GLORIA ROSS. OH, I SEE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WAS WONDERING IF I MIGH HAVE YOUR NAME? UH, SHADDICK, ABEL SHADDICK AND HERMAN D. WASHINGTON. THANKS. THINK NOTHING OF IT. HERMAN, OUR ENEMIES ARE MULTIPLYING. IN THE NIGHTTIME, IT'S THE HELL'S ANGELS. IN THE DAYLIGHT, IT'S SOCIETY MATRONS -- FROM THE BELLICOSE TO THE VARICOSE. [ LAUGHS ] NICE TO SEE YOU, MA'AM. YOU'RE QUITE THE LITTLE JOHNNY WEISSMULLER, AREN'T YOU? AND HOW DOES THE WATER FEEL? YOU'RE ONE OF THE SLUM CHILDREN, AREN'T YOU? OH, THERE'S NO NEED TO BE OFFENDED, CHILD. WHAT I MEANT WAS I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY YOU. I AM ELATED THAT WE CAN SHARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF OUR CLUB WITH YOU. I AM ALTOGETHER DELIGHTED. I'M GOING TO DO I FEET FIRST, BUT I AIN'T GOING TO HOLD MY NOSE OR NOTHING. I'M GOING REAL DEEP, AND I AM GOING TO DO THE AUSTRALIAN CRAWL. ISN'T THAT JUS THE CUTEST THING? AND YOU -- MR. SHADDICK, IS IT? IT THINK IT IS CHARMING WHAT YOU ARE DOING, MR. SHADDICK. WHAT AM I DOING? TAKING CARE OF THAT LITTLE BOY. I THINK IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS GESTURE. WELL, I'M ALL HEART. IT MAKES YOU WONDER SOMETIMES WITH ALL THE RIOTS AND VIOLENCE. THERE IS NO REASON ON THIS EARTH WHY WE CAN' GET ON TOGETHER. OF COURSE, THE PROBLEM IS THIS SORT OF THING WILL NEVER GE IN THE PAPERS. IF SOME MISSISSIPPI POLICEMAN HIT ONE OF THEM WITH A CHAIN, WELL, THAT'S BIG NEWS. BUT WE ARE OPENING UP OUR FACILITIES, AND THAT SORT OF THING NEVER GETS MENTIONED. WELL, THERE'S NO DOUB ABOUT IT. YOU ARE THE HUMANITARIAN OF ALL HUMANITARIANS. YOU'RE BEING SARCASTIC? ME, SARCASTIC, WHEN OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF YOUR HEAR YOU LET A CHILD JUMP OFF A DIVING BOARD? BELIEVE ME, LADY, I KNOW HOW MUCH THAT TAKES OUT OF YOU. DID I SAY I HAD A BIG HEART? STRIKE THAT -- YOU HAVE A BIG HEART. WELL, I HAVE NO INTENTION AND LETTING THE LIKES OF YOU -- HELLO, MRS. PARKER. GLORIA. YES. THEY ARE YOUR GUESTS? THEY ARE, YEAH. WELL, THIS GENTLEMAN GETS NO HONORS FOR CIVILITY. MRS. PARKER -- PLEASE. YOU GO TO THE LOCKER ROOM AND CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE LAKE. AT THE LAKE, WE CAN BOTH SWIM AS WELL AS FISH, AND HERE THERE'S DIFFICULTY BREATHING, AND THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE POLLUTION. TELEPHONE CALL FOR YOU, MISS ROSS -- LONG DISTANCE. I'LL BE RIGHT THERE. YOU DON'T NEED TO LEAVE, MR. SHADDICK. NO, ON THE CONTRARY. YOU'VE BEEN VERY KIND. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. HERMAN HAD A GOOD TIME, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CROWDING THE LADY. YOU MUS HAVE BETTER EYESIGH THAN I DO, MR. SHADDICK. I DON'T SEE ANY LADY. THANK YOU. YES? WHO? I'M AFR-- I'M AFRAID I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU. YOU HAVE TO SPEAK LOUDER. WHO? MRS. WASHINGTON? I SEE. I'M TRULY SO SORRY. I... DO YOU WANT US TO TELL THE BOY? THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. MRS. WASHINGTON, I-I'M SO, SO SORRY. I'M... I'M TRULY SORRY. HUNG UP. HE'S, UH, HE'S CHANGING HIS CLOTHES IN THE LOCKER ROOM OVER THERE, SO... I'LL GET A GLASS OF WATER IF I COULD. GLASS OF WATER, YEAH. OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, THE KID'S BEEN IN THE HOT SUN, AND I COULD USE A SCHLUCK MYSELF. SEE, THE BEST THING IS JUST GET OUT OF HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING TO HIM AND -- ME WITH MY BIG MOUTH -- BUT YOU WERE VERY NICE. MR. SHADDICK... I WAN TO THANK YOU AGAIN. MR. -- MR. SHADDICK, THAT CALL WAS FROM HERMAN'S GRANDMOTHER. OH. YEAH? YEAH, APPARENTLY, HE HAD A BROTHER IN VIETNAM. OH, YOU SHOULD HEAR THE KID TALK ABOUT THAT BROTHER -- LAWRENCE OF ARABIA AND JOE LOUIS ALL ROLLED INTO ONE. HE'S DEAD, MR. SHADDICK. WHAT? THE GRANDMOTHER JUS RECEIVED THE TELEGRAM. HE WAS KILLED ON MONDAY. OH...GOD. WELL, WHO'S GOING TO TELL HIM? WELL, THE GRANDMOTHER SUGGESTED THAT WE DO IT. WE DO? WE DO? I DON'T KNOW. WELL, IT'S EASY. YOU JUST STICK A HOLE IN THE LITTLE BOY'S HEAR AND WATCH HIM BLEED. WHAT CAN I DO, MR. SHADDICK? WHAT CAN ANY OF US DO? JUST TELL HIM AND PRAY... PRAY THAT THERE'S SOME STUFF IN THIS KID THAT HE WON'T BE DESTROYED. ARE YOU GOING TO TELL HIM NOW? NO. NO, NOT HERE. YEAH. MR. SHADDICK, HE'S COMING. THANKS FOR LETTING ME SWIM. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU SICK? NO. NO, HERMAN, I'M NOT SICK. WE GOING TO THE LAKE NOW? YEAH. WHY NOT? WE GOT TO STOP BY THE DELICATESSEN AND GET THE FISHING POLES. WELL, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. YOU SURE YOU AIN'T SICK? OH, MAYBE JUST A LITTLE. I'LL SEE YOU BOTH LATER. BYE. BYE, HONEY. MISS ROSS LOOKS A LITTLE SICK, TOO. GLORIA, MY DEAR, I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE A THING OF THIS. THIS IS HARDLY PERSONAL. ISN'T IT? BUT CERTAIN LINES HAVE TO BE DRAWN. I MEAN, TO INVITE THAT OLD MAN AND THAT -- THAT OLD MAN AND THAT SOON-TO-BE RAVAGED, WOUNDED LITTLE BOY ARE THE ONLY HONEST-TO-GOD HUMAN BEINGS WITHIN A RADIUS OF 100 MILES OF THIS SWIMMING POOL. AND THAT, MRS. PARKER, IS MEANT TO BE EXTREMELY PERSONAL. HERMAN... HERMAN? HERMAN, I WAN TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. IT'S SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS. WHAT? LOOK AT ME, HERMAN. WE GOT A CALL FROM YOUR GRANDMA. IT WAS ABOU YOUR BROTHER BILL, AND... AND SOMETHING HAPPENED... AND YOUR BROTHER IS DEAD. [ THUNDER RUMBLING ] HERMAN, CAN I COME IN? WELL, THE BUS DOESN'T LEAVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, SO WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME. YOU KNOW THE FISH? THE ENORMOUS ONE? YOU KEEP IT. EAT IT OR SELL IT. I AIN'T GOING TO NEED IT. WELL, I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE IT MOUNTED FOR YOU WITH YOUR NAME IN GOLD, YOU KNOW. I DON'T WANT IT. I CAUGHT IT FOR BILL. HERMAN, IF I SAID SOMETHING TO YOU, WOULD YOU LISTEN? COME HERE. A LONG TIME AGO -- 25 YEARS -- I RECEIVED A TELEGRAM IN THIS VERY ROOM, AND, YOU SEE, TELEGRAMS DON'T CHANGE. WARS CHANGE, THE ENEMIES CHANGE, BUT THE WORDS USED TO TELL THE LIVING ABOUT THE DEAD, THEY DON'T CHANGE. WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON, SECOND LIEUTENAN BENJAMIN SHADDICK, WAS KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 15, 1944, ON A BOMBING MISSION OVER STUTTGART, GERMANY. AND I MUST HAVE READ THAT TELEGRAM, OH... OVER A HUNDRED TIMES. IT GOT SO THAT THE WORDS, THEY WERE JUST FLOATING, AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU FEEL... YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR LIFE HAS ENDED, THAT SOME VITAL PAR OF YOUR BODY HAS BEEN STRIPPED AND THAT YOU'LL NEVER -- WELL -- WELL, YOU'LL NEVER SMILE... LAUGH... ENJOY. YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU MUST FEEL NOW... THAT THE SORROW IS JUST UNBEARABLE AND THAT THE TEARS WILL NEVER END. BUT YOU KNOW, HERMAN, THE TEARS DO END. SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY... THE CRYING DOES COME TO AN END. ONE TIME... A LONG TIME AGO -- I WAS JUS A LITTLE KID THEN -- I GOT ROLLER SKATES, SEE? AND I START DOWN THE STEPS, AND I FALL... AND, MAN, IT HURT REAL BAD. AND BILL COME OU AND HE GO DOWN THE STEPS, AND HE PICK ME UP AND SAY, "HERMY... HERMY, DON'T YOU CRY." I DON'T CRY, SHADDICK... NOT ME. I AIN'T NEVER GOING TO CRY. YOU ARE A VERY BRAVE BOY, HERMAN. YOU REALLY ARE AN INCREDIBLY BRAVE BOY. SO YOU STAY HERE AND JUST FINISH YOUR PACKING, AND I'LL, UH, WHEN IT'S TIME... I'LL CALL YOU WHEN IT'S... OH, HERMAN... LET THIS OLD JEW CRY FOR THE BOTH OF US. SHADDICK? WHY YOU CRY? HE NOTHING TO YOU. YOU NEVER EVEN KNOW MY BROTHER. SO WHY ARE YOU CRYING, MAN? I CRY BECAUSE I'M OLD. I CRY AT THE IRONY OF THINGS. I CRY BECAUSE FINE YOUNG MEN DIE AND OLD MEN JUST GO ON. I THOUGHT I'D DRIVE HERMAN TO NEW YORK, MR. SHADDICK. WELL, THAT'S UP TO HIM. I MEAN, THE WEATHER IS SO BAD. IT IS. IT'S RAINING REAL HARD. I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE ALONE, OKAY? I'LL DRIVE YOU, ALL RIGHT? IS THAT ALL RIGH WITH YOU? YEAH. GOOD. IT'S ALL RIGHT. HERMAN, I'M TRULY SORRY, HONEY. HERMAN... DO YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE IN WITH YOU? NO. YOU STAY HERE. GOODBYE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. DON'T YOU CRY NO MORE, UNDERSTAND? WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUT. YOU AND ME, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUT. AND WHEN YOU COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO GO FISHING. I'LL COME BACK. I'M REALLY GOING TO COME BACK. BENJY... [ TELEPHONE RINGS ] [ RING ] YES. WHAT? A COLLECT CALL. A COLLECT CALL FROM WHO? I SHOULDN'T ASK. MR. BANNER. ALL RIGHT, I'LL TAKE IT. HELLO, STANLEY. WHAT? OH, I'M SORRY THAT THING BLEW UP. YEAH, YEAH, YOU CAN COME BACK. YES, YOU CAN COME HOME AND STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT. NO, NOT THERE. THAT SPACE IS RESERVED FOR HERMAN. THAT'S RIGHT, HERMAN WASHINGTON. HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE, A VERY CLOSE AND PERSONAL FRIEND, AND THAT ROOM WILL BE SAVED FOR HIM. UPSTAIRS. UPSTAIRS, STANLEY. YOU CAN HAVE THE ROOM UPSTAIRS. THINK NOTHING OF IT. GOODBYE. SO, BENJY... THE DEAD COME IN ALL COLORS, BUT YOU, YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE STILL LEARNING. OH, LOOK HOW IT'S RAINING. IT'S RAINING REAL HARD, BENJ. THIS IS A REAL SUMMER STORM, AND THIS, I GUESS, WILL END THE HEAT. YEAH, END THE HEA AND CLEANSE THE EARTH. GOD, HOW WE NEED IT. -- Captions by VITAC -- |
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