1
It is written.
"Go out into the world
and proclaim the good news
to all creation."
Let us pray now for three
members of our order...
who leave us this day to carry
on our work beyond these walls.
We ask you, oh Lord,
to watch over Sister Michelle...
and those two of Your servants
whom she has chosen
to accompany her.
We ask you to guard
over Sister Barbara.
Thank you.
Look with favor, too,
upon Sister Irene.
May You bless their efforts
and grant them the strength
and patience...
To carry out Your will.
And may they find, through Your
divine mission and sacrifice,
a continuing source
of dedication and inspiration.
If you're in old habits
set in your old ways
Changes are a-coming
'Cause these
are changin' days
And if your head
is in the sand
While things are goin' on
What you need
What you need
What you need
is a change of habit
Now if you're in the habit
To let your temper fly
When you talk with people
Who don't see eye to eye
And if you don't believe that
there's a newer world ahead
What you need
What you need
What you need
is a change of habit
A change of habit
A change of outlook
A change of heart
You'll be all right
The halls of darkness
have doors that open
It's never late
to see the light
So if you're in the habit
Of putting people down
Just because
they're different
From the wrong side of town
Oh, don't count on
any medals, son
They're pinning none on you
What you need
What you need
What you need
is a change of habit
A change of habit
A change of outlook
a change of heart
You'll be all right
the halls of darkness
Have doors that open
It's never late
To see the light
Hey, girls!
On this street,
I stop the traffic!
Get out of here!
Stop, look and listen, baby
That's my philosophy
It's called rubberneckin',
baby
But that's all right with me
Stop, look and listen, baby
That's my philosophy
It's called rubberneckin',
baby
But that's all right with me
Some people say
I'm wastin' time
They don't really know
I like what I see,
I see what I like, yeah
Give me such
a oh, hey, hey, hey
The first thing
in the morning
The last thing at night
I look, stare everywhere
And I see everything in sight
hey, hey, hey, stop
Stop
Look and listen, baby
That's my philosophy
Yes, it is now
It's called rubberneckin',
baby
But that's all right with me
It's all right
People say
I'm wastin' time, yeah
But I don't really care
I see what I like
I like what I see, yeah
And it gives me such
a ohh, ohh, ohh, ohh
I must have said
a million Hail Marys
to get out of a neighborhood
just like this.
I suddenly realize
how safe I felt in my habit.
We argued that out before.
It's just a symbol of authority,
like a policeman's uniform.
Yeah, well, you never see
a policeman getting mugged.
We're gonna live the way
other people live
and dress the way they do.
For once in our religious lives,
we're not going to be different.
There's a lot to be said
for being different.
Don't you see, we can't be
identified with the old order.
If we're gonna
reach these people,
we've got be accepted first
as women, then as nuns.
Yeah, well, I think we're about
to be accepted as women.
Just ignore them.
Excuse us.
You want a little help?
You want a little help?
Wrong neighborhood.
Sittin' on the back porch
all by myself
Along came Mary Jane
I'm with somebody else
hey, hey, hey
Stop, look and listen, baby
That's my philosophy
It's called rubberneckin',
baby
That's all right with me
yeah, yeah, yeah, hey
Some people say
I'm wastin' time
They don't really know
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I like what I see
I see what I like, yeah
Music to exercise
evil spirits by.
Ready?
Anytime you are,
Sister Michelle.
The last thing at night
Oh.
If we don't want these people
to know we're nuns...
I think we better stop
calling each other "Sister."
Right, Michelle.
Stop, look and listen, baby
That's my philosophy
Yes, it is now
It's called rubberneckin',
baby
But that's all right with me
It's all right
People say
I'm wastin' time, yeah
But I don't really care
It's called rubberneckin',
baby
That's all right with me
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey, hey, hey, baby
The door's open, ladies.
It's...
Will you hold this, please?
You just got to know
the combination, that's all.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
You've been very helpful.
But I think we can manage now.
I'm sorry,
but the office is closed.
But we have to see the doctor.
Hey, Doc? Doc?
You left us hangin'
in the middle of our thing, man.
Fake it for about 32 bars,
I'll be right back.
You're the doctor?
You don't look like a doctor.
Well, man doesn't
live by bread alone,
especially the kind of bread
you make in a free clinic.
John Carpenter, M.D.
Just like the sign says.
Which one of you is in trouble?
I beg your pardon?
Look, I know the whole story.
You don't want to go
to your family doctor uptown...
so you figure you'd come here
and get everything
straightened out, right?
We were sent here.
You came to the wrong place.
'Cause I won't do
any more for you
than I would any other kid who
finds herself in the same fix.
Whichever one of you
is the lucky girl, follow me.
I'll give you some
vitamin pills and a diet sheet.
Just try not
to gain too much weight,
especially
in the first three months.
All three of you?
Uh, just out of curiosity,
was it the same guy?
Doctor, we were sent here by
the Catholic Action Committee.
Look, don't try
to con me, honey.
We were given to understand
that you were
desperately in need of nurses.
That's my problem.
It's got nothing
to do with you chicks.
We are the nurses they sent.
I am a psychiatric social worker
with a degree in speech therapy.
Sis... Barbara
is a laboratory technician.
Irene is a R.N.
with a degree in public health.
Great. Just great.
I ask for three
hard-nosed nurses
and they send me
Park Avenue debutantes.
Which end of Park Avenue
do you figure I'm from, Doctor?
The last three nurses who worked
here couldn't take it.
Two of them got raped.
One even against her will.
We are very hard-nosed.
Cute.
But not hard enough.
You'll never make it in this
neighborhood, ladies.
Never.
Well, Doctor,
you don't exactly sound
as if you were born
and bred here.
I'm from Shelby County,
Tennessee.
Obviously
not on a diplomatic mission.
Honey, diplomacy
starts and ends here
at the point
of a switchblade knife.
Why don't you go
back uptown, ladies?
We are here and we are going
to stay here for two months
which is the length
of our assignment.
Okay. Okay.
Have you got a place to stay?
We understand that Father Gibbons...
the local parish
has arranged for an apartment.
Okay, we start work
at 8 o'clock sharp.
See you then, all right?
All right.
Oh, ladies, what are your names?
Oh, I'm Michelle.
This is Irene and Barbara.
Last names?
Oh.
You do have last
names, don't you?
Oh, yes.
It's Gallagher.
Gallagher.
Nice Irish boy meets
pretty French girl
and what happens happens, huh?
Yeah. Barbara?
Bennett.
Irene?
Hawkins.
Okay, ladies, that will be all.
See you tomorrow morning.
Good-bye.
Weirdos, man. Weirdos.
Just get out of our way.
Washington Street
is our turf, see?
We have no designs on anything
on Washington Street.
Now, if you'll excuse us.
Saints preserve us,
it's a rumble.
There we are.
You get out of here, all of ya!
I'll call the precinct.
Good afternoon.
Talk about the wages of sin.
Will you look
at the duds on them.
Oh, we're not what
you think we are.
Sure, and they're calling
themselves "massosies" now.
I read it in the Enquirer.
We don't want any monkey
business around here,
I'm warning ya.
We have friends at the precinct.
We want to be friends too.
Call Father Gibbons.
He'll want to know what's
coming into his parish now.
And tell him one of em's black
as the ace of spades.
Ooh-ooh!
I think our neighbors
are Catholic.
Yes. It's too bad
they're not Christian.
What a mess.
What a rotten mess.
Well, furniture would help.
We'll check that out
with Father Gibbons
when we go to evening prayers.
In the meantime, let's get
this place next to godliness.
It's only 7:00.
This church keeps
banker's hours.
All right.
All right, I'm coming.
I'm coming!
You don't have
to knock the door down.
Father Gibbons?
Come in. Come in.
Well, what is it?
An accident?
I don't fancy giving
a conditional absolution
on a long ride in an ambulance.
And having to pay my own way
back from the hospital
in a taxi.
It's nothing like that, Father.
What then?
We wanted to come
into the church to pray.
Oh.
So it's you?
The secret agents
from the Little Sisters of Mary.
Well, uh, in a manner
of speaking, yes.
You might say
we're on a secret mission.
I don't like underground nuns
who wear bobbed hair
and silk stockings.
Oh, but they're nylon, Father.
Thank you.
Father, we're here to help.
For 43 years,
I've managed without you.
The bishop told me to let
you come into the parish
and find a place
for you to live.
But don't expect
anything else from me.
Well, we'd like to pray.
Very well.
I keep the doors locked.
I'm not about to roll
out the red carpet
for every thief
in the neighborhood
to come in and steal
our candlesticks...
and anything else
you can't nail down.
They've already made off
with one of the Stations
of the Cross.
Now, when you've finished,
you'll find your own way out.
Thank you, Father.
Father Gibbons?
May I suggest you put
away the candlesticks
unlock the doors
and make it easier for those
who wish to pray to our Lord?
Flapper skirts
on a bride of Christ.
I've been ordered
by the bishop to countenance.
But I warn you, Sister,
I'll have none
of your arrogant lip.
You think it's twins?
I think it's the
Green Bay Packers,
that's what I think it is.
Good morning.
Oh, good morning, ladies.
Back this way, please.
Where's Miss Teenage America?
She gone back to mother already?
The Catholic Action Committee
is sending us
some secondhand furniture.
Barbara's gone to wait for it.
She'll be here
just as soon as she can.
It'll be a relief
to sleep in a bed again.
Hmm? Yeah.
You'll take care
of the house calls.
You'll work with me here
in the office, all right?
Yes, Doctor.
Now, about the house calls...
You probably won't be able
to make 'em all in one day.
I'll make them.
I've shorted you on drugs.
I don't want you getting
rolled for narcotics.
Doctor, I was born
in a place like this.
I know where it's at.
Fine.
Just don't push your luck, huh?
I got a patient for you.
What's she doing here?
She sure doesn't act
like she enjoys it.
She knows it's her duty.
Forcing yourself to like misery?
That's her bag, huh?
A girl like that
should get married
and raise a whole bunch of kids.
Turn her hang-ups
into something worthwhile.
In fact, uh, I'd prescribe
that for all three of you.
You said you had a patient.
In my office.
Don't you run off.
I'll be right with you.
Mr. Hernandez, Julio,
this is Miss Gallagher.
How do you do?
Hello.
Stand up.
Miss Gallagher's
a speech therapist.
I want her to talk to Julio.
What good is to talk?
He no talk back.
Julio.
What's the matter with you?
He's got trouble, miss.
Trouble in school,
trouble on the streets,
all because he don't talk good.
Do they have a remedial
speech program at the school?
What school?
He comes from the school
with the high wall...
bars on the window,
that kind of school.
I n-n-no g-g-go back.
You shut up!
You don't talk until
you talk good.
You just listen!
Julio.
Maybe I can help you.
Maybe we can correct
your speech problem.
W-W-Why...
do I...
do-do it?
T-T-Tell me.
He talk like a dummy,
but he ain't no dummy.
Mr. Hernandez, we're not
gonna get anyplace
until you let Julio
speak for himself.
Julio.
That's sharp.
It feels...
good.
I feel good.
I... talk... better.
Julio, put it down.
You heard the lady.
Drop it or I'll smash
your teeth in.
Julio, please.
For me.
You see, he knows
what's good for him.
Julio, I'd like to see you
tomorrow afternoon at 4:00.
All right?
All... right.
I'll bring him.
Alone, doctor Carpenter.
Alone, Mr. Hernandez.
Gracias.
It gets a little messy
down here.
I thought you handled
that very well, Miss Gallagher.
Well, you certainly have
a way with a compliment, doctor.
It's Southern charm, we call it.
He seems to be
taking it very well.
Yeah.
Well, you don't feel very much
when you're on the stuff.
"H."
Oh.
Hello?
Hi. Listen,
the furniture came
but the men just dumped
it on the sidewalk...
and drove off
before I could stop them.
Just a minute.
It's Barbara.
The furniture arrived
and she needs some help
getting it into the apartment.
Look, I got patients stacked
up out there like jet planes
over International Airport.
So I can tell Barbara
what to do with her furniture.
Dr. Carpenter suggests
that you rely on your own
resources to solve this problem.
Ay, mama!
Lily.
She's a beauty.
The hussy.
Massosie.
I have to get this furniture
moved downstairs...
And I need a man.
Oh, good.
All I have is 40 dollars.
But I'll get more.
I'll get the other 20.
Now, you borrow 50,
you owe 60, you pay back 40.
Now you owe 30.
I'll pay it back.
Friday, for sure.
I'm not worried.
I got good collateral...
your arms, your legs,
your wife and your kids.
It's very heavy.
You think we're
some kind of faggots?
I beg your pardon?
Everybody says it's
how she was born deaf.
Well, there's no sign
of any physical damage.
She doesn't respond.
Has she ever tried to speak?
I heard her whistle once.
People learn to whistle
by imitating the sound.
But you got to be
able to hear to do that.
Maybe she can hear.
Is Amanda your daughter?
My sister's kid.
She just come and dumped her
on me a couple of years ago.
She-She never wanted the kid
in the first place.
I think she's autistic.
Artistic?
Nah. She don't even
lift up a crayon.
No. Autistic.
Sometimes, when a child's
rejected very early in life,
they crawl inside themselves
and shut out the whole world
as if they're trying to punish
the rest of us along
with themselves.
Amanda?
Hey. Hey.
Hey, baby, look at me.
Come on, come on, look at me.
You see how she resists
any kind of contact.
It's typical
of autistic frustration.
Well, she never likes anyone
to pick her up or hold her.
First, I want to make sure
she's not deaf.
I think she ought
to see a specialist.
You're the doctor.
Hey, we got it
all moved in, chula.
I don't know how to thank you.
Sure you do.
Hey, we're gonna
have a party, huh?
Hey, Tito!
No, gentlemen, really.
I have work to do.
Hey, you got some wine?
And I will get the first dance.
No, no. I am the first.
Oh, no, gentlemen.
I really think you better go.
After the party, eh?
No. No, now, please.
You heard the lady. Out!
Yeah, sure, we go.
Thank you very much, sir.
A girl with a shape like yours
can do better
than two-bit winos.
I'm The Banker.
Who gave you permission
to set up shop in my territory?
The Catholic Action Committee.
Well, nowadays, everybody's
got a piece of the action.
Did you stick something
in your eye, Tomas?
Mm-hmm.
Somebody put
their fist into his eye.
Yeah, but I hit him good first.
I don't let nobody call my
sister a dirty, stinking bitch.
She ain't dirty.
Well, you better
let Desiree fight
her own battles, because
she ain't lost one yet, pal.
Hey, Doc, could
I see you a second?
I, uh, have a problem.
Okay. Put two drops
in your eye every four hours.
And you better put a patch
on the champ's eye.
Yes, Doctor.
Desiree!
Oh, Doc.
I have such a pain
in my left chest.
Your left chest?
Now wait a minute.
Mm-hmm. A construction.
A what?
A construction.
I swear it on my mother's grave.
Your mother's alive.
So, it could be
something serious.
All right.
I better not take any chances.
There?
Um... yeah, right here.
And it hurts
when you breathe, right?
Yeah, yeah, it hurts.
Doc?
A very interesting case.
Well, what is it?
You know, you're lucky you
came to me when you did.
Oh, Doc, I was only kidding.
No.
I don't know how
to tell you this, kid.
But-But you've got
to do something.
There's nothing I can do.
You mean, I ain't
gonna get over it?
Oh, you'll get over it.
Well, what's wrong?
It's called Septum Decimises.
Huh? What's that?
That means that
you're 17 years old.
Uh, Doctor?
Mrs. Rodriguez is here.
Uh, that's all, Camille.
Yeah, for now.
Mm.
Hello?
Doctor, I think you better
get over here right away.
Yeah. Okay.
You can stop the oxygen, Irene.
Is she...
No, she's breathing
very well on her own now.
But it was touch-and-go
for a while.
Did you call the ambulance,
Michelle?
It's on its way.
Good. You go back
to the clinic with me.
We've done all we can do here.
Irene, you better stay
until the ambulance gets here.
Hey, Doc.
You call that specialist yet?
He's supposed to get back to me
by the end of the week.
Miss Parker?
Yeah?
I want to see Amanda in
my office late Friday afternoon.
Okay?
Whatever you say, Doc.
You bring order
and organization into my life
and you're gonna
ruin everything.
How are things at the hospital?
Oh, just fine.
Miss Kempton goes home today.
Oh. You really saved her life.
You were absolutely wonderful.
You were pretty good yourself,
for a religious fanatic.
Well, I'll, uh...
I'll have Irene put her
on the visiting list
for tomorrow, Doctor.
We have a rule around here.
Any nurse that lasts
out a full week...
gets to call the doctor
by his first name.
Well, I'll try to remember
that, John.
And we celebrate
by having a drink.
Oh, we don't drink.
We don't drink?
Well, uh, what I mean is...
a little wine, occasionally.
We... I...
What I mean is I...
I, uh, don't drink.
Well, if a nurse doesn't drink,
then we usually have dinner.
Yes, I'll bet you do.
But there's no chance.
We're going to try
to shame the landlord
into painting the apartment.
You're gonna have
to stop throwing
yourself at me like this
or people will start talking.
Oh, by the way,
you were right about Amanda.
She is autistic, she's not deaf,
'cause I heard her whistle.
Well, I can start working
with her right away.
I'll have to gain
her confidence.
Show her love and affection.
There are new techniques
that get results a lot faster.
You mean rage reduction?
I'd rather try
patience and love.
I hope we got that much time.
Y-You f-forgot me.
No, of course not, Julio.
Just go into the office.
I'll be right with you.
You'll be all right?
We'll be fine.
It's too bad about dinner.
I was even gonna
pick up the check.
So much?
8.65?
Oh, that's sheer
highway robbery.
You ought to take out
a license to steal, mister.
Butt out, kid.
You are a walking
social injustice.
Every week I try to save money
come Feast of Juan de Cheguez
so I can buy gifts
for the little ones.
San Juan de Cheguez?
Hey, isn't he the patron saint
of Caribbean fisherman?
Oh, you know him?
Yeah.
Oh, in Puerto Rico,
we have big fiesta
parade in the streets,
bless the boats.
Here, they do nothing
but try to steal from you.
You're holding up the line.
Wait a minute.
She gave you a ten dollar bill.
Oh, gracias.
Muchas gracias, senorita.
Oh, for the Feast
of San Juan de Cheguez.
Oh, muchas gracias.
Mm.
Noodle ring again, huh?
Mm-hmm.
Noodle ring again.
Got it!
Yeech!
Uh, if you don't like
my noodle ring...
you should have accepted
Dr. Carpenter's
invitation to dinner.
I would have.
That'll be five Hail Marys.
Nuns and men don't mix.
Oh, I think he's cute.
Fifteen.
Honest. He's groovy.
Twenty-five.
Evening, ladies.
Evening.
Brown paper bags.
I could hear the muscatel
bottles rattle.
All right,
out of the way, girls,
unless you want to get painted.
Luis, Raoul, start moving the
furniture away from the walls.
Chino, you'll mix the paint.
I know your landlord.
He doesn't shame so easily.
It's too bad Chino
and the rest of the boys
couldn't stay for dinner.
Maybe they're not partial
to noodle ring like I am.
Tell me, as a doctor
would you diagnose
what's happening today,
the riots, the student unrest,
as not really the death
throes of an old order
but the birth pains
of a new one?
I didn't know I was
making a house call.
Oh, well, I mean, don't
we all, each in our own way,
have to man the barricades?
At the Ajax Market?
Um, if we're all finished?
In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We give Thee thanks,
Almighty God,
for all Thy benefits
which we have received
from Thy bounty
through Christ, our Lord, amen.
In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I hear it's good
for the digestion.
It is.
'Fiesta San Juan de Cheguez.
August 3,
4:00 to whatever.
Free food, soft drinks.
Support your local patron saint.
What is that?
Well, we're sponsoring it
next Saturday.
I'm against this.
I think we're here
to do a job, not get involved.
Well, I'm for it.
It'll make an awful lot
of people very happy.
And happy people
are closer to God.
Look, I don't get it.
What are you,
nurses or missionaries?
I think you should
drop the whole thing.
The hospital can't handle
the usual casualties
on Saturday night.
Oh, look, Chino
forgot his guitar.
Won't he need this?
He could always
steal another one.
Oh.
Do you think
there'll be trouble?
Trouble?
At the fiesta?
You know how it is on
a Saturday night down here.
You get everybody together...
blowing out their skulls,
and all the old hates come out.
And you may wind up with
World War III on your hands.
Oh, please don't say that.
It's important to us.
Okay.
Go ahead and have your party
for old Sam Chavez.
But if you really
want to get to know
some of the kids around here,
why don't you come
down to the park
on a Saturday afternoon
when we play touch football?
Oh.
Let me show you how to do this.
Put these three fingers
right here, honey.
Like that.
Go ahead.
That's right.
Now this one right here.
Very good.
Now these three here.
What?
These three right here.
Now you got a complete
chord change.
Now, see, go back to this one.
Um...
Right.
Now back to this one.
Disgusting movie.
You were right making that
man give us our money back.
When you see pictures like that,
you realize what a great force
for good Irene Dunne was.
Say, I didn't know
you could do that.
At this hour.
It's got to be an orgy.
Hey, this is fun.
Father Gibbons will certainly
want to hear about this.
I'm not ready.
I'm not ready.
Ah, come on. Come on.
That was really terrific.
Um, give me a hand.
Let's get these pictures up.
I'll help.
That's okay.
We can do it ourselves.
Thank you.
Okay.
I'm better
in the kitchen anyway.
What do you know?
We're finally alone.
John, uh, please don't.
I get the feeling
there's a message here.
Like maybe
there's somebody else?
You, you could say that, yes.
Message received.
Good night, Michelle.
Why don't you join the Y.M.C.A.?
You'd save us both
a lot of wear and tear
if you'd learn to duck
every once in a while, okay?
Okay, Miss Parker.
Come on.
Mandy.
Barbara, take over for a while.
I don't want to be disturbed
unless it's an emergency.
Do you see that?
Put it right there in that hole.
Come on, darling, take it.
Take it.
Put it in your hand.
That's a girl.
Now put it right...
Ah. Mm-hmm.
Let's try that one more time.
Put it right here.
Come on, put it...
No, no, no. No. Put it...
All right, Amanda,
let's try again.
Put it right... there.
Amanda, put it there.
You can do it. Come on.
You're doing it.
Come on, baby.
Good girl, Amanda.
Very good...
It's not gonna work, Michelle.
I don't expect to make
too much progress at first.
She's resisting you.
She's hiding behind
a wall of anger.
It's not gonna work.
I'll take over.
We'll try rage reduction.
Take her doll away from her.
No, Amanda.
No more toys, baby.
You got to learn
to start loving people.
I'm gonna hold you till you
get rid of all your hate.
Get as mad as you can.
Then you can start
to give love and take love.
Try to get away from me, baby.
Try and get away.
I love you, Amanda.
Don't you like
when people love you?
Come on. I want to see you
get as mad as you can get.
Get all that hate out of you.
Miss Gallagher?
He won't hurt her.
Let's see how mad
you can get, baby.
Oh, um, I'm sorry.
The doctor's tied up right now.
I come back tomorrow.
Get mad.
Come on, let it out.
It's Amanda.
I can take over here.
Why don't you go
in and help them?
Okay.
I love you, Amanda. I love you.
Love you, baby.
Is that as mad as you can get?
Michelle.
Get as mad as you can get.
Hold her feet.
It's okay.
We're not gonna hurt her.
Come on, show us
how mad you can get.
Get mad.
I love you, Amanda.
Come on, fight.
You can do better than that
for somebody who loves you.
Is that as mad as you can get?
Come on, that's a girl.
Good girl.
Come on, Miss Parker,
we'll wait outside.
Look at me. Look at me.
Get good and mad, Amanda.
Get mad.
Love you.
I love you, Amanda.
Is that the best you can do
for somebody who loves you?
We love you, Amanda.
Come on, that's it. Fight.
Get mad, Amanda.
Come on, show us
how mad you can get.
Get as mad as you can, Amanda.
Come on, you can do
better than that.
Let it out.
Yell. That a girl.
Let it all out.
We love you, baby.
Let it go.
Come on, baby. Get mad.
Mad.
Big girl.
You can talk, Amanda.
- Mad. Mad.
- Mad.
That's a girl.
Say it louder. Mad!
Mad.
Very good.
Say it as loud as you can, mad!
Mad!
Oh, Amanda, we love you.
Love you. Love you.
Love.
Love.
Love...
Love...
You.
You.
Love you.
Love you.
Love you.
Love you.
Yes, that's a big girl.
Big girl.
Big girl.
Big girl.
Yeah.
Yes, sweetheart. Yes.
Okay, Amanda
I want you to show them
how you can get real good
and mad, like a big girl.
I want you to hit my hand
as hard as you can.
Come on, you can do
better than that.
Hit it hard.
Good, baby. Hit it again.
Very good.
Hit it again.
Good. Good, baby.
Hit it again, one more time.
Good girl.
That's a big girl.
You gonna give me a hug?
You wanna go home?
Home.
Amanda?
Come.
Oh.
Hungry.
You did it.
We did it.
Um... excuse me.
Those two trees
are the goals at that end,
these two trees
are the goals down here.
Trash cans are out of bounds.
Two hands below the waist.
You understand the rules?
In the words of the master,
fake it for 32 bars.
Let's go.
Hey, where's Irene?
She has too many
house calls to make.
Here we go.
I fell. You understand? I fell.
You've been beaten.
I'll have to report
this to the police.
No! They will kill him.
Who will kill him?
The Banker.
You don't know how...
You listen to me now.
You fix my ribs,
you give me pills.
This your job.
Anything else, we all get hurt.
You'll have to keep him in bed.
He cannot go to work
in this condition.
He has to.
They will come back
for the money on payday.
Cool it.
Junk ain't our bag, sister.
Hey, brother, she don't want
to be our sister.
If you'll excuse me,
I have calls to make.
They'll wait.
We gotta know where you stand.
I'm a nurse.
That's where I stand.
There's no room down here
for innocent bystanders.
You're either
part of the problem
or you're part of the solution.
We've got a feeling
you're neither.
Well, I'm a Negro.
I think that's pretty obvious.
Now where you been, sister?
We ain't Negroes, we're black.
Not her.
She's just been dipped
in maple syrup.
Don't talk to me
about being black.
I've been black all my life.
So I don't want to hear that.
Everything but the soul.
You copped out.
I never have.
I've done my part.
For you. Not for us.
See, you're locked in
with those ofay chicks.
Well, you can't
have it both ways.
Get it together or get out.
You're too pretty
not to stay pretty.
Hike!
Cut back, Carlos!
Touchdown!
Atta way, Carlos!
Oh, you should have had it.
You should have had it.
Oh, no! I'm sorry!
Where'd you learn
to pass like that, kid?
I had five brothers.
They taught you?
No, I taught them.
Oh.
We gotta kick off.
Ah.
Okay, gang, let's go.
Here we go.
Block their defensive tackle
coming in this time.
If he tries to get past me,
Pffft... I cut him.
Cool it. Fifteen-yard penalty.
Illegal use of knives.
Now look, you guys block,
and you go short
right over the line.
Okay, break!
Red dog that passer!
Okay, down Set.
All right, go team.
Come on!
Hike!
You blindsided me.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I'm a little overtrained, kid.
Okay, the Slum Bowl Game
is now part of sports history.
So how about
an ice cream cone, huh?
Oh, I'd love it.
Hey, let's find Amanda.
She loves ice cream.
Okay.
A few hours
on a Sunday afternoon,
and then back
to Washington Street.
Washington Street.
It sounds as if it
should have elm trees...
and frame houses
with big white pillars in front.
What brought you to the clinic?
A sergeant in my outfit
in the army named Cal Edwards.
He was from Washington Street.
You don't want
to hear about it, do you?
Cal Edwards.
He's not one
of our patients, is he?
He was killed on the other
side of the world.
Where's the ice cream stand?
He must have been
a very good friend of yours.
He saved my life once.
So I figured I owed him
and Washington Street
a few of the years he gave me.
Anyway, I learned more here
than I would in the suburbs
giving out diet pills
and vitamin shots.
Say it, Amanda.
Go on, say it.
Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream.
Good girl.
Let's get some.
Up we go, baby.
That's a girl.
Amanda wants strawberry.
Make that two.
And for the missus?
Uh...
chocolate.
Here you go, kiddo.
What do you say?
Good.
Good. Very good.
That'll be 30 cents.
Amanda, how about
a nice, big smile?
A little smile?
How about a grin?
This calls for a special
kind of magic.
Now once it was told to me
We're born
with the magic key
It opens the door
to miracles of spring
Smile, Amanda.
It takes you
to wishing wells
To ice cream and carousels
And yet this magic key
won't unlock a thing
Unless you have a happy
You have a happy
Mm, have a happy
Warm smilin' face
Now start believin'
In believin'
Let your address
Be Sunshine Place
There's love
and there's joy untold
Much more than
your heart can hold
It's there like the ring
you grab on a merry-go-round
The world isn't half as gray
With friends on a rainy day
But people keep away
when you wear a frown
You've got to have a happy
Yeah, have a happy
Have a happy
Warm, smilin' face
Mm, start believin'
In believin'
Let your address
Be Sunshine Place
Let your address
Be Sunshine Place
Let your address
Be Sunshine Place
Hey, Julio!
Well now, why do you suppose
he ran off like that?
Julio's a boy with big problems.
It's his stuttering.
It makes him feel inadequate.
But I am making
headway with him.
You take away his stuttering,
you're gonna find
he has a deeper problem.
I don't think
you want any part of that.
Oh, thank you.
Maybe you're wrong about Julio.
You were wrong about Amanda.
I hope so.
There's one thing
I'm not wrong about, Michelle.
The other night
when I put my arms around you,
it was no accident.
It was intentional.
And I learned something from it.
'Cause you didn't
quite level with me.
There isn't anyone else.
Thanks for an absolutely
marvelous day.
Now you know
how the other half plays.
Well, me for the sack.
And me for the sack cloth
and the ashes.
Church?
I've got to talk to somebody.
Oh, you're not going
all the way uptown
to the convent at this hour.
No.
We have a church right here
in the neighborhood.
Father Gibbons?
He will burn you at the stake.
Ah, not exactly an apostle
of the Ecumenical Movement.
Ah, no.
More The Inquisition.
But still a Priest.
I'd better get changed.
A lovely supper, ladies.
I'll look for you at early Mass.
Father Gibbons,
I'm so glad I ran into you.
Ah, we were playing
touch football in the park.
Notre Dame.
French, for Our Lady.
Well, I don't think
Our Lady would be very proud
to claim you now.
Father, we've done nothing
to be ashamed of.
Men in your rooms.
Late parties.
Profane music until all hours.
Forsaking the habit
was one thing,
but now you're not even
dressed like females.
Father!
I've had enough of you.
I want you out of my Parish.
Oh, please don't say that.
I'll have
none of your arguments.
I've called Bishop Finley
and we're seeing him
at 11:00
on Monday morning.
If you feel you can make
a case for your conduct,
do it then.
Goodnight, Sisters.
Hello.
I was lookin' for you.
I can't help you, Banker.
I'm not a veterinarian.
Funny.
Now, you shook down
the manager of the Ajax Market.
That's not so funny.
You stay away from my clientele.
You stay away from my clinic.
I got clientele in your clinic.
You ask that nurse
who's working for you.
Good morning, Doctor.
Good morning.
I'm going to help you out
with the early customers.
Michelle and Barbara
had to go uptown.
Some kind of meeting?
Umm. Some kind of meeting
is right.
What business do you have
with The Banker?
A hundred dollars worth.
It's my contribution to the
Feast of San Juan de Cheguez.
You can't borrow money
from The Banker.
Oh? I thought it was practically
a neighborhood tradition.
Ah... so is knife fighting
and joy popping.
Well, I have a week
to pay him back.
Until the Fiesta.
Let's 'see, six to five.
That's a hundred and twenty
for the hundred,
and if the borrower
doesn't pay back,
The Banker usually
breaks a leg or a head.
You're really askin'
for trouble, Irene.
Yes, I am.
I have no intention
of paying him back.
You don't understand.
No, it's you who don't
understand, Doctor Carpenter.
You see, I've decided
Barbara's right.
We have to get involved.
I've been running from reality.
Ah, come on.
A nurse is usually
up to her ears in reality.
No. I have to face it.
I have used my vocation
to get away from all
the things I've ever known.
Doctor, do you know
what it is to be really poor?
I mean, hungry?
Frightened?
To be black?
I've been all those things
except black.
When little white girls
were playing with dolls
and wearing party dresses,
I was dodging drunks
in dark hallways,
praying I could get away
from the stench of the ghetto.
So I could be somebody, not...
Not 'just another nigger
in the streets.
Good morning.
Oh.
Miss Parker, Amanda.
Just have a seat
in the waiting room.
I'll be with you in a minute.
Irene, it's not my place
to tell anybody
when to fish or cut bait.
But let's hope it doesn't
turn out to be fish
or get your throat cut.
They shame the other
fine Sisters of the cloth
who know their place.
Our place is where we're needed.
How we dress is unimportant.
You're no longer needed
in my parish.
Something is needed
in your parish,
Father Gibbons.
There are new methods,
innovations,
for instance: you might try
bringing more people
back into the church
by having a Mass in Spanish.
Or a folk Mass.
Don't instruct me, Sister.
I've preached more sermons in
my time than you'll ever hear.
Yes, I'm sure we can
always count on you
to tell it like it was, Father.
I apologize to you
for that, Father.
I approved this project
in the first place
because we all realize
that we need new methods,
new forms
to reach this generation.
But some of the incidents
that Father Gibbons
has been describing to me...
But no one knows we're nuns,
Your Excellency.
You know, Sister Barbara.
Tell the Commissioner
that I can see him
at 2:00
this afternoon.
Yes, sir.
I realize it was a great risk
sending them out
to mix with the world.
And not have them
mixed up by it.
Inexperienced people
who get emotionally involved
can often do more harm
than good.
Among our first lessons
is the importance
of order, discipline.
Not license and wantonness.
I want them out of my parish
and I want this...
this festival they've
dreamed up, cancelled.
The whole neighborhood's
been sharpenin'
their switch knives
and polishing
their brass knuckles
for the past two weeks.
Maybe we should consider
cancelling this celebration
before it endangers
the whole project.
We can't do that,
Your Excellency.
These people are counting
on celebrating
the Feast Day
of San Juan de Cheguez,
we must not disappoint them.
All right, Sister.
You can go ahead with it.
If you'll excuse me,
Your Excellency.
You're excused, Father Gibbons.
San Juan de Cheguez.
Ha.
I doubt he ever drove a single
snake out of Puerto Rico.
Thank you, Your Excellency.
Thank you.
I do think, however,
that the Sisters must resume
wearing their habits.
I can't think
of one good reason.
Well, may I give you two?
First: None of us wants
to embarrass the church.
Equally important,
wearing your habits
guarantees you a certain
amount of personal safety.
After all, the church
doesn't need martyrs
in wholesale lots.
But there's so much we haven't
accomplished yet as women.
It's either that, or you
return to the convent.
Thank you, Your Excellency.
Mother Joseph.
Mother Joseph.
Rose!
For the love of heaven
you've got to see this.
Good morning, ladies.
They're nuns.
Saints preserve us,
they are nuns.
Wild parties, pagan music,
men at all hours.
Whatever they done,
they must've had good cause.
Good morning, Desiree.
Oh.
If you like I have a dress
you might want to wear
to the Fiesta tonight.
Yeah. Sure. Okay.
We can hardly wait.
We're really gonna
blow this block apart.
As a favor to us, I fervently
hope that you don't do that.
And I was worried
about you and the Doc.
Yes, well, then, if you'd like
to come over this afternoon.
Ah, Sisters,
why don't you go on
to the Clinic without me.
Please tell Dr. Carpenter
I'll be there as soon as I can.
I have a rendezvous with destiny
at the Ajax Market.
Sister Barbara!
I know, order and discipline,
Well, I'm being
wilfully disobedient.
That is called
doing your own thing.
Are you sure you don't want me
to go to the Clinic with you?
No. No.
You've got your calls to make.
Dollar seventeen.
For you, Sister,
eighty-five cents.
Oh.
Well, thank you, sir.
You're welcome.
Oh, it's you.
John.
Oh, you're early, good.
John, I want to talk to you.
We got those polio shots today.
We'll have kids comin'
out of the woodwork.
John, please.
You've got to be kiddin'.
I'm a member of the Order
of the Little Sisters of Mary.
We were only going
to be here for two months.
John, please say something.
I'll be damned!
I'm sorry.
We would've gone away
and you and I would never
have seen each other again.
You could've told me, you know.
I couldn't.
It was an experiment.
We weren't to tell anyone
that we were nuns.
Even after you saw
I was gettin' hung up on you?
That was wrong for both of us.
I took vows.
Didn't you take
a vow of honesty?
Hello.
Excuse me, please.
Thank you.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
Thank you.
Ah, pardon me, please.
Thank you.
Get the fire hoses
and the police dogs,
we are not moving.
We are here to end
the discriminatory practices
in the Ajax Market.
I don't employ obsolete tactics
to deal with
a contemporary situation.
Um-huh. Do you hear him
threatening her?
He asked her how her legs felt.
Call in your goons.
Fire your tear gas bombs.
In a potentially
violent confrontation,
it's imperative that
law enforcement officials
should conduct themselves
with calm and understanding.
Club us.
Load us into that
paddy wagon, out there,
and we will bear
our scars proudly.
The only scars you'll bear
will be splinters,
Sister Barbara.
A law officer
should always remember
to keep his own good humor
even in the face of vituperative
comment and obscenity.
Dirty Establishment Fink.
I destroyed property.
I fermented a riot.
I demand to be arrested.
You're not gonna get your wish.
Well, where are the reporters
and the television cameras?
I want to be dragged
out by my heels.
If you care to come
by the Station House,
we might discuss
environmental social pressures
and how they affect
present day society.
Oh, police brutality!
Come on. Let's go.
Who's there?
I bring back statue.
Stay where you are.
Fiesta.
Dirty little thief!
Come back.
Thief. Robber. Vandal.
You want mustard?
All right, two with mustard.
Lieutenant.
Everything's quiet, so far.
No sign
of the Hernandez kid, Julio.
When you find him,
try to take him quietly.
Yes, Sir.
Hello, John.
I'm glad you decided
to come tonight, John.
Yeah.
Well, what do you think
of our party?
I can feel the lid rattling.
When it blows,
you're gonna need a doctor.
Hello, Amanda.
I've been looking
all over for you.
Hello, Miss Parker.
Hello.
Are you having a good time?
I think you've been
having hot dogs.
I see a little mustard
here and there.
Isn't it just terrific?
I never thought
we'd get this many people.
The magic combination.
Sam Chevez and free booze.
Alcohol?
Where did that come from?
I got an idea.
Oh, I see. I see.
Mother Joseph.
Oh, I'm so glad you could come.
Well, the fishing catch
of Puerto Rico
should reach record
proportions this year.
This is Amanda.
She's a little shy
with strangers.
Sometimes she likes her puppet
to do the talking for her.
Hello, dear.
And what is your name?
My name is Irene.
When little white girls
was playing with dolls
I was praying
I could be somebody.
And not just another
nigger in the street.
Oh, dear.
You borrowed money,
I want it back.
You're not gonna get it.
You have made a donation.
Now, look here, Sister,
whatever it is you are
your time's up.
I've declared
a moratorium on that debt.
A moratorium
for the whole neighborhood.
You'd better cool it, Irene.
Butt out.
Stop the music.
Stop the music.
In honor of San Juan de Cheguez,
all debts to the Banker
are hereby cancelled.
You sure do like trouble, Irene.
She's gonna get it.
What are you gonna do?
Beat up the whole neighborhood?
Break a hundred arms,
a thousand legs?
Lucky for you you're wearing
that gunny sack, dinge.
Well, don't let that stop you.
You keep talkin', it won't.
Go ahead.
Beat up a Nun.
Great public relations you...
You small time gorilla.
Right along
the barricades, there.
Along the barricades.
Cool it.
Stay put until I call you.
Nobody sent for the fuzz, man.
We're just naturally interested
in any kind of trouble.
There ain't
no trouble here, man.
You got my gilt-edged,
triple-bonded guarantee,
Lieutenant.
I'll settle for that.
Excuse me.
All right, come man.
Now, cool it, everybody.
Cool it.
Let's have a good time.
Come on, break it up.
Go on, dance.
Have fun.
Start the music.
Ah, I'd like to thank you.
We help our own, Sister.
Are you all right?
Yes, I'm quite all right.
Sister Michelle,
I'd like all of you
to make arrangements
to return to the Convent.
Tomorrow will be soon enough.
But Mother Joseph,
the worst is over.
Or yet to come.
Hey, Sister.
Sister.
How do you like what I did
to that dress you gave me?
I, I made what they call
a few alterations.
And everybody said
I looked like a real lady.
I mean, like...
Thanks, Sister.
Sister Barbara,
Bishop Finley told us
to wear our Habits or else...
Well...
I guess I've chosen
"or else."
I'm going uptown
to tell Mother Joseph.
I would have
told her earlier but...
I didn't... I didn't want
to spoil the party.
Barbara!
Sister Michelle,
I am too limited as a nun.
Everything in life
has limitations.
I know. I know.
But I want to pick my own.
I want to grow up in my own way.
We'll miss you.
I'll be back.
I may be giving up
the religious life,
but I'm not giving up the fight.
I've organized a Political
Advancement Committee
right here in the neighborhood.
And we have our first meeting
tomorrow morning.
Look. We've scored two
victories today, already.
The Ajax Market and The Banker.
And now's no time to stop.
You are too much.
Put that down.
No.
Knife make me...
big man.
I want to help you.
Bring statue back for you.
Priest want to put me in jail.
Go to the police.
Give yourself up.
No go back.
I'll explain to them.
You not my friend.
No more. You lied.
You make a fool of me.
No.
I show what kind of man I am.
No.
Julio. Please.
No.
Julio.
No.
Oh, God.
It was appropriate, wasn't it?
Delivering a baby
on this special night.
Well, I come
from a long line of people
who believe in getting married,
having kids, raising a family.
Our church
believes in that, too.
Not for Nuns.
Julio, please.
No.
No, please.
That's Michelle.
Call the police. Quick.
Shut up.
I kill you.
John, don't hurt him.
Are you all right?
I tried.
I tried.
It's okay, honey.
It's all over now.
It's okay.
Sometimes making a decision
can be terribly painful.
I should've come to you
sooner, Mother Joseph.
Well, you need time to explore
your own feelings.
You've got to choose
the kind of love you want.
Physical love
or the love you can find
only through prayer.
From my own experience,
I can tell you,
that nothing is more painful
than no decision.
I'm finding that out.
Well, perhaps an outside
stimulus will help you.
Dr. Carpenter
is here to see you.
Hello, John.
Michelle.
It's been a long time.
A long time.
How is Julio?
Father Gibbons is coming
out of the Middle Ages.
He's not gonna press charges.
And Julio is under
psychiatric care.
I'm so glad.
When he gets out of the hospital
he's still gonna need
a speech therapist.
You'll find someone.
Look, I don't know
if I'm breaking any rules
about being here or not.
Oh, of course not, John.
Or do you have a rule against
the way I feel about you.
Well, the fact that
I'm a Nun doesn't stop me
from being a woman,
and it doesn't change
the way I feel about you.
On the way up here,
I had it all figured out.
I was just gonna lay
all my cards on the table.
But this place
can slow you down.
You know what I mean?
I wish there were
an easy answer.
Would you be
committing a... a sin
if you were to leave here
and get married?
In marriage,
you love God through one person.
As a Nun, I made a commitment
to love God through all people.
But this place is not a prison.
You can get a release, you know.
But in leaving, in marriage,
I'd be giving up the freedom
to dedicate myself to people
who need me desperately.
Let's try to find a way,
Michelle.
I thought I'd found my way
until I met you.
Things are different now.
You said that yourself.
Because I love you.
And no matter what I do,
I'll still love you,
even if I stay in the Order.
Nothing's gonna change that.
If you stay in the Order?
John, I know it's not fair
not to give you an answer,
but I honestly
don't know if I can.
Why don't you try?
John, I...
I have to go. Please!
Believe it or not,
I'm still down here
on Washington Street.
I'm working everyday
with my group.
And are we way out!
It's from Barbara.
What's
an 'infrastructural sphere
of mechanistic behaviorism'?
Do you think she's a Communist?
Oh, no, no.
Well, whatever it is,
she's happy with it.
You seem happy, too.
Peace, Sister.
It's wonderful.
So I've heard.
You are never gonna
be able to fish or cut bait
until you see
that young man again.
Shall we go?
Go where?
Where do all good
little Nuns go on Sunday?
To church.
Come praise the lord
for he is good
Come join in love
and brotherhood
We'll hear the "word"
And bring our gifts
of bread and wine
And we'll be blessed
beneath this sign
So let us
Pray together
Pray together
Pray with one mighty voice
And let us
Sing together
Sing together
Pray and we'll rejoice
We'll rejoice
When strangers reach out
for your hand
For your hand
Respond to them
and understand
Havin' the faith
to understand
He moves in mysterious ways.
Outside the gate
We'll calm the storm
With faith in Him
we won't be late
Never late
So let us
Pray together
Pray together
I don't know
what it's all about.
Give me the old days
when you could go to Mass
and not think
about a blessed thing.
And let us
Sing together
Sing together
Pray and we'll rejoice
We'll rejoice
We'll rejoice
The love of God
is on our side
Love is on our side
We have the strength
to move the tide
We'll move the tide
The world was saved
So there'll be
peace and love for all
Love for all
And we must hear
our brothers' call
So let us
Pray together
Pray together
Pray with one mighty voice
Let us
Sing together
Sing together
Pray and we'll rejoice
We'll rejoice
With love
Love for all to the Lord
We'll rejoice
Love for all to the Lord
We'll rejoice
With love for all
to the Lord
We'll rejoice
For the Lord
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