1
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(BEES BUZZING)
(CROWS CAWING)
TRAIN CONDUCTOR: All aboard!
(BELL TOLLING)
(PEOPLE SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
(GLASS SHATTERING)
(SHOUTING)
(SIREN WAILING)
(GRUNTING)
(DOGS BARKING)
(CHURCH BELL TOLLS)
(OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)
(SIREN WAILING)
(HANDCUFFS CLICKING)
(HORN HONKS)
(TIRES SCREECH)
SERGEANT JIM:
All right, let's go.
(CAR DOOR SLAMS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
That's my main man Pierce
coming back from the war!
Thank you! Thank you, man.
(ALL CHEERING)
(OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)
MAN:
Hey, what's happening, Jack?
Private party.
Pick another card.
There you go!
(DOOR THUDS)
Oh, I see what you're saying.
There we go!
(GRUNTING)
Damn it! Give me that shit.
Party's over!
Here we go. Move on out.
Move on out.
Step out! Step out!
Everybody out! Out!
Let's go!
I know you can hear me.
Get the fuck up and go!
OFFICER 1: I don't care what
you do during the week. Get out!
- OFFICER FRANK: Party's over!
- Let's get it moving!
You know how this works!
Says who?
I'm sorry?
MAN: Man, take a hike!
Come in here
smelling like pig juice!
(ALL LAUGHING)
Excuse me, miss.
Thank you so much.
OFFICER FRANK:
What'd you say?
I ain't said anybody
talking... Hey, man!
(ALL SHOUTING)
Come on, man! Let me go, man!
Let me go!
(CONTINUES SHOUTING)
Hold on a second.
Get the fuck out!
Get out! Get out!
How many times
you want me to say it?
You're moving slow!
Come on, man!
Motherfuckers, man!
Look, Frank, man.
The owner split.
Man, I'm sorry,
but you got a room...
...full of open warrants
in there. All right?
Just make sure you search
the women, you lazy bastard.
All right. Watch your eyes.
Oh, shit!
(YELLS)
MAN: You know
that's not right, brother!
(THUDDING CONTINUES)
UNDERCOVER COP: No, no, no!
(GRUNTS)
We gotta go
through the front.
What? You wanna take these
guys out in public, Sarge?
We have no fucking option.
- Go tell them. Run.
- All right.
- You dirty pig!
- Get the fuck out of here.
Anybody else?
Why're we not moving?
You wanna go next?
Out, out, out!
OFFICER 1: All right,
party's over, folks. Let's go!
You heard him.
Time to move out!
Put your drinks down
and step out the door.
OFFICER FRANK: I do not understand,
I thought I was very clear!
Let's go! Come on!
Out of here! Let's go!
Come on!
OFFICER FRANK:
Congratulations.
Get the fuck out! How many
times I gotta say "Move out?"
OFFICER 1: Let's go!
I know your black asses
is faster than that.
Go!
Let's move! Come on!
Move! Let's go!
OFFICER 2: On your feet!
Move it! Let's go!
We're taking them out front.
Out the front door!
Let's go! Now!
Taking them out the front.
OFFICER 1: Shit!
OFFICER 2: Out the front!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
Guys, sir, both sides.
POLICEMAN 1: Up against
the wall. Against the wall.
Let's move it. Come on.
Let's go!
Here we go. Squad's here.
If they're not resisting,
don't push them.
(OVERLAPPING SHOUTING)
Put it right there.
POLICEMAN 1:
Right here against the wall.
Welcome home!
Thank you, sir.
Get out the way.
Get out the way!
POLICEMAN 2:
Hands where we can see them.
We had to use the front door.
- Shit!
- Make it a public display.
I almost feel bad for them.
- We gotta get out of here.
- Quickly.
Let's go! Get them in!
SERGEANT JIM: All right! Start
loading them up! Let's go!
Okay, let's go!
MAN: Look at this shit!
Let's hurry!
Get it out of here!
Get it out! Let's go!
Make sure we get
those guys at the back.
What are you doing down here
all the time?
(MEN SHOUTING)
OFFICER FRANK:
We gotta get this moving!
MAN: Stop messing with us.
These people
didn't do a thing.
Where's the other one?
It should be here any minute.
BALD MAN: What did they do?
Please calm down!
Everything's fine.
OFFICER FRANK: Finally!
Over here.
MAN: This is our neighborhood
and here y'all come.
That's not necessary.
Open the door! Get them in!
(OVERLAPPING SHOUTING)
Arrests for
a private gathering?
That's police overreach!
You got no liquor license
on this place.
Get the fuck out of my face.
- Let's just keep it calm.
- Are you fucking kidding me?
POLICEMAN 3: Come on! Get in
the damn van! Step in there!
Move, let's go!
Let's get them moving,
gentlemen!
Let's go!
Get them in the wagon!
Hey, Dave! Told you you'd
get busted, you alcoholic!
Oh, the night's not over!
(LAUGHING)
SERGEANT JIM: Go home!
Go home!
Go home!
MAN: You go home!
(ALL SHOUTING)
- SERGEANT JIM: Get them in.
- POLICEMAN 4: Last one.
Get them in!
BALD MAN: You punk-ass
motherfuckers!
(INDISTINCT CLAMORING)
SERGEANT JIM:
Let's go, get in!
Don't touch me!
Let's go! In!
I'm moving!
Get in! Let's go!
(SHOUTING INTENSIFIES)
Get in the car! Let's go!
(THUDDING)
(SHOUTING)
(CHEERING AND LAUGHING)
Check this, motherfuckers!
(SIRENS BLARING)
(ALARM RINGING)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(SHOUTING)
Bub, can't even
ride that bike!
You know good and well you
don't know how to ride no bike.
MAN: Do it, man! Throw it!
Catch this!
Yeah! That's what
I'm talking about!
RIOTER: It's show time now!
(CHEERING)
MALE NEWSCASTER: Destroyers
striking from as far as three miles...
...away from this
west side ghetto,
...where it all began
early this morning...
...with a police raid on an
after-hours drinking parlor.
There have been
some reports of gunfire.
Police are under orders
not to fire.
More than 200 looters
have been arrested so far.
Police officials say they
do not have enough men...
...to worry much
about the looters.
They are there
to protect the firemen.
But that is
why you elected me.
(SHOUTING)
To bring about change.
But during this time,
...it's important that
we all settle down.
(ANGRY SHOUTING CONTINUES)
- Settle yourself!
- CONYERS: I know you're angry.
I'm angry, too.
This city has problems,
especially with the policemen.
We have problems.
(ALL SHOUTING)
However,
...change doesn't
happen overnight.
But change is coming.
(ALL SHOUTING)
Let's work together!
Nah! Bring Stokely Carmichael
down here!
We don't wanna hear
from your ass!
Look here.
This is what I need you to do!
I need you to not mess up
your own neighborhood.
This is your home!
Yeah, burn it down!
Burning it down
is not the answer!
(ALL SHOUTING)
(CHANTING)
Burn it down! Burn it down!
Settle down! Settle down!
(SHOUTING INTENSIFIES)
FIREFIGHTER 1:
Hoses up! Hoses up!
FIREFIGHTER 2: Get that engine
in a little closer!
Engine four, let's relay!
Come on! Roll it back!
You gotta roll it back.
RIOTER: We gonna let
this motherfucker burn!
(ALL SHOUTING)
What the fuck!
FIREFIGHTER 3:
Let's move back! Come on!
Get out of here!
(SIREN WAILING)
(SHOUTING)
GEORGE W. ROMNEY: At the
request of Mayor Cavanaugh,
...we've made state police...
...and National
Guardsmen available...
...to assist in dealing
with what is a case...
...of lawlessness and hoodlumism...
...and to protect
the persons and property...
...of people
in the areas involved.
MALE NEWSCASTER:
Here in Detroit, a city of war...
...where snipers
hide on rooftops,
...the violence continues.
US Army paratroopers,
National Guardsmen,
state and local police...
...are continuing the fight
against a handful of snipers.
On the city's west side, a 150-block
area is off-limits to everybody.
This is no man's land, an area
of destruction and devastation.
ABC newsman Tom Mclntyre says...
...it's hard to believe that this
could happen in America.
But here it is, in Detroit,
the nation's fifth largest city.
LYNDON B. JOHNSON: I am declaring
a public state of emergency.
And I am also indicating
that I will promulgate...
...such rules,
orders and regulations...
...as I deem necessary
to protect life and property.
CAPTAIN: Second unit,
left lane!
18-40!
Rally point! Rally point A!
Sniper in the window!
(SCREAMING)
Third floor window!
CAPTAIN: Move to cover!
Move to cover now!
Stand by! Hold your fire!
(PEOPLE SCREAMING)
(SIREN WAILING)
POLICEMAN: Don't move!
All right, he's clear.
Move back!
Hey!
(ALARM RINGING)
FLYNN:
Oh, I almost hit that one.
(LAUGHING)
LYNDON B. JOHNSON:
There is no American right...
...to loot stores...
...or to burn buildings,
...or to fire rifles
from the rooftops.
That is crime.
And crime must be
dealt with forcefully...
...and swiftly,
and certainly under law.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADER:
...LBJ tell you...
...that, "Violence never
accomplishes anything,"
"...my fellow Americans."
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
Don't you see,
the real problem with violence...
...is that we have
never been violent.
We have been too nonviolent!
(ALL SHOUTING)
Excuse me!
POLICEMAN: Go back
the way you came!
I need to go down this road
to get to work.
What did I say? Back!
I need to go down this road
to get to work, Ford Assembly.
Hold on! Where you going?
Hey! Let him go!
You cannot go this...
(GUNSHOTS)
(SCREAMING)
POLICEMAN: Take cover!
We might have a sniper on...
KRAUSS:
Boy, would you look at this.
So sad.
It's preventable, you know.
That's the worst part.
Look at this.
This looks like fucking 'Nam.
You believe this is the USA?
And we're to blame.
(HONKS HORN)
By standing by,
the trouble started. Now this.
(MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS)
FLYNN:
What can you do with this?
They're crazy.
They're not crazy. They know
exactly what they're doing.
This is gonna
be worse than '43.
KRAUSS: No, we need to stop
failing these people.
They're looking to us, and
we keep letting them down...
...left, right, and center.
Take this motherfucker
right here. Halt!
(TIRES SCREECH)
Halt!
Halt!
(GUNS COCKING)
Get back!
(SHOUTING)
- DEMENS: Stay off the street!
- KRAUSS: Halt!
DEMENS: Back up!
Hey!
(GRUNTS)
KRAUSS: Come here!
Get back off the street!
(WHIMPERING)
Hey, Phil! Come on!
Hey, Phil!
Forget him! Come on!
Fuck!
(GASPS)
FLYNN: You're not supposed to
shoot the looters anyway.
(PANTING) Yeah.
How the hell
are we supposed to stop them?
What a fucking specimen, huh?
(GROANING)
(GASPING)
(LEON WHIMPERING)
OLD LADY: Confound it!
What... What are you doing
under there?
(STUTTERING)
I just live down the street.
If you can go
get my wife Roberta?
You want me to
call the ambulance?
No, no police!
Just, please, Roberta.
OLD LADY: Goodness!
LEON: Get me Roberta.
MALE REPORTER:
1,100 National Guardsmen...
...have been rushed
into as many areas...
...as they can cover,
protecting police.
Looters carry off thousands
of dollars' worth of goods...
...with a gay sort of leisure.
Many negro shop owners
put up signs...
...reading "Soul Brother"
to avoid damage.
But the fire bombers
and looters...
...are indiscriminate.
POLICEMAN:
Just cuff him to the chair.
I'll get to him
when I get a second.
Write your address
and your date of birth.
Talk to him!
Where am I supposed
to put him?
I don't care. Take him
to your house!
POLICEMAN: Let's move
these negroes out of here!
There's no room!
Sergeant!
Homicide detectives
wanna have a word with you.
POLICEMAN:
Quit pushing! You got room...
...for two more
in holding or not?
(OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)
Step back from
the goddamn counter!
Come on, move!
Behind the door!
Hey! Whose prisoner is this?
(ALL SHOUTING)
Don't talk to me!
For God's sake.
DETECTIVE: Sit the fuck down
and shut up!
Krauss, in here. I need you.
Go, come on.
Guys, come on. Out.
(DETECTIVE SIGHS)
DETECTIVE:
I got a young black,
...shotgunned in the vicinity
of Virginia Park.
Did I hear earlier
you shot a black guy?
I missed, called it in.
You missed?
I might've clipped him.
He was real fast.
Sit down, patrolman. Sit down.
MAN: What's the hold up?
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING
CONTINUES)
NEWSCASTER: (ON RADIO)
Schools, city offices...
...and many stores remain
closed today in Detroit,
...and a 9:00 p.m. curfew has
been ordered for this evening.
Hey, Ma.
- Hey.
- (PHONE RINGING)
I got it.
Hello.
No, I'm off.
I worked a double.
Okay. All right.
What? Back to work?
Yeah, Mr. LeFrank called.
I thought Vinny
was your boss.
I got two jobs,
two bosses, Ma.
Security company needs me
for the looting.
- Looting?
- Yeah, watch the news.
(SIREN WAILING)
(SINGING)
Nowhere to run to, baby
Nowhere to hide
Got nowhere
to run to, baby
Nowhere to hide
It's not love
I'm running from
It's the heartbreak
I know will come
- What do you say there, Fred?
- Hey.
Yo, you're late.
Listen, I almost lost my job
getting here. I'm sorry.
I don't give a damn
about Ford Motor Company.
Bumper cars and sheet metal
motherfucker?
You about to be
with the stars!
But I need to
buy bread, negro.
Listen, it's gonna be good.
You sure?
Yeah.
All right?
- Thanks, man.
- Yeah.
- I need you here, man.
- I'm here!
What you need?
Water or something?
I know
you're no good for me
(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
But you've
become a part of me
Is that A&R man out there?
Yeah, he out there, waiting
to get his mind blown, baby.
When it's so deep
So deep...
Deep inside of me...
All right, folks, come on.
Let's get this together.
You ready?
Get these steps together.
Hold on. Let me get
that note one more time.
(SINGING) If you haven't got
Love
Love
A traveling man
once told me
That he didn't ever care...
FRED: Watch your spacing.
That any time
he wants to go...
That he go anywhere...
If you haven't got love
Love believe me...
The traveling man
once told me...
If you haven't got love
Love will leave me...
Then you're lonely
So lonely...
You're lonely
So lonely
You're lonely
So lonely
Oh, yeah
If you haven't got
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
You're up next, boys.
Let's get it! Come on!
- It's Motown, baby.
- All right. Are we ready?
Give it up!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
CONTINUES)
- Motown Records, baby.
- Motown, we're Motown tonight.
ANNOUNCER:
All right, settle down, cats.
Now, I know you guys
think that we reached...
...the top of this evening
but we have not.
Because we're about to take
this thing to another level.
(CHEERING)
Because the band of brothers
I'm about to bring to this stage...
...comes straight out
of Motor City herself.
He talkin' about you.
If you would,
stand up on your feet...
...and make some noise
for Detroit's own...
The Dramatics!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
You got to tell these folks that
they got to go home right now.
These folks
is out here rioting.
Hold on. They're doin' what?
They out here rioting.
- Right now?
- Right now.
Tell these folks
they got to go home.
ANNOUNCER: Excuse me.
We're ready, right?
Listen, you boys can't
go out there tonight.
What do you mean
we can't go out there?
These folks is
out here rioting.
You cannot go
out there tonight.
We're on
the schedule, brother.
We all gotta get the hell
out of Fox tonight.
Now,
ladies and gentlemen,
I'm afraid
I have some bad news.
(CROWD MURMURING)
MAN: What's going on?
It seems like we're all gonna
have to exit the building...
...and head to our homes.
(CROWD JEERS)
Come on, just one song, man!
Motown's right there!
This is Detroit,
we're no stranger to this.
(ALL GRUMBLING)
Now, the police said we have
absolutely nothing to worry about.
So if you would,
just grab your things.
Ma'am, grab your purse.
Slowly, slowly.
Exits to your left
and to your right.
- DARRYL: Damn it!
- JIMMY: What the hell?
FRED: We gotta go, boys.
We gotta go.
I'm going on that stage.
We're going on that stage,
y'all hear me?
People are leaving, man.
The band's leaving.
Ma'am, your purse.
LARRY: We won't get
another shot like this.
ANNOUNCER: I'm sorry.
We need to get
out of here, Larry.
ANNOUNCER:
Watch your step, sir!
Now, boys, I'm sorry.
But we've got to go.
- I'm sorry.
- All right.
Larry, I mean...
What can we do?
Larry, there's
nothing we can do.
Another day...
Another day, man.
(POLICE SIRENS
WAILING FAINTLY)
Listen, I know
you want it bad, man.
Larry, we gotta go.
We gotta go.
(SIGHS ANGRILY)
Come on.
Larry!
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Larry.
(SINGING)
You might be a rich man
With the world on a string
But with all your riches
You haven't got everything
If you haven't got love
Love
If you haven't got love
Ooh, love
You're lonely
You're lonely
So lonely
Ooh, baby
(SIGHS)
We were so close.
FRED: Yeah, y'all looked good,
y'all sounded good.
There'll be a next time.
There will be.
Bus driver!
Hey, now! Bus driver!
(PEOPLE SHOUTING)
(HORN HONKING)
Hey, y'all seeing this?
(ANGRY SHOUTING)
POLICEMAN: (THROUGH SPEAKER)
Clear the street.
Go back to your homes now.
Disperse
or you will be arrested.
I say we go up to 12th Street
and be a part of this.
We're working musicians, man.
I can't be singing
when I'm supposed to...
...be out there
swinging, brother.
Hey, look. We're not
too far from the Algiers.
Let's just go there
till all this blows over.
DARRYL: We gotta
get off this bus!
BUS DRIVER:
Everybody out! Let's go, now!
(CLAMORING)
(DOOR OPENS)
- MAN: Come on, man!
- DETECTIVE: Sit the fuck down!
(DOOR SHUTS)
MAN: I didn't do anything!
I'm sorry,
I've been working...
...straight shifts
since the riots started.
Yeah, that guy you shot at
didn't make it home.
Ambulance found him
bleeding out under a car.
(SIGHS)
Are we sure
it's the same guy?
He's the only
Virginia Park shooting today.
You carry a shotgun,
he had shotgun wounds.
You wanna play ballistics?
Jesus Christ, I'm sorry.
That's it?
What else?
You shot him in the back.
Right. He was...
He was running away from me.
Where else do you
want me to shoot?
My point was him being
no threat to you.
In hindsight,
but I'm thinking,
...why is he running
away from me,
...if all he did was
steal some groceries?
What if he killed somebody
in that grocery store?
He's avoiding the police.
What do you assume from that?
You don't assume.
If he had a weapon in his
hand, that's another story.
We don't shoot for robberies.
Detective, you know it's
a war zone out there, right?
Yeah. 10th had to shut down.
They're destroying the city.
We're facilitating that
with the message we send,
...which is that it's okay, go
ahead, burn down your houses,
...rob a store.
It's total chaos. And...
Where does that lead us
long term, Detective?
All right, kid. Thank you.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Anytime.
I'm recommending
murder charges.
You go back to work,
wait to hear from the DA.
Yes, sir.
And kid...
Calm down out there.
Thank you, Detective.
(OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)
All right?
Forget it.
- Are you in trouble?
- I'm fine, so forget it.
He's doing his job,
same as you and me.
DETECTIVE: Stand up. Let's go.
On your feet.
(SHOUTING)
(ALARM RINGING)
JIMMY: Go home, now! All you
people, off the streets.
Yo, we need to split up, man.
DARRYL: I mean, the police are
going crazy out here right now.
Five brothers together, you
know they gonna say we a gang.
LARRY: Come on, man,
we're not splitting up.
Shit!
POLICEMAN: Where do you think
you're going?
- FRED: We're going home, man.
- Get off the street!
Hands on the wall!
- Keep them up!
- FRED: Okay!
MORRIS: Oh, shit!
(GRUNTING)
POLICEMAN: Keep moving!
What the hell
you talking about?
Look at this mess, man!
Hey, come here! You! Stop!
It's after curfew!
POLICEMAN: (OVER SPEAKERS) This is
the Detroit Police. There is a curfew.
LARRY: We're going home!
JIMMY: Assalamu alaikum,
my brother!
POLICEMAN: (OVER SPEAKERS)
Disperse!
Leave using the streets
behind you.
This direction!
MORRIS: This is our street!
POLICEMAN:
Go back to your homes!
Go back to your homes!
(SIREN WAILS)
POLICEMAN: (OVER SPEAKERS)
Disperse...
...or you will be arrested.
(MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYING)
LARRY: Hello, hello.
Hello.
How you doing?
Just need to get a room.
Y'all at the
wrong hotel, though.
Ritz down the street.
Yeah, well, the Ritz ain't got
you behind the counter, so...
(CHUCKLES) Look, all I got
is a room in the annex...
...out back down
through the breezeway.
$11 a night,
you pay in advance.
That's cool.
(R&B MUSIC PLAYING)
(OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS)
LARRY: A8, A8.
(UNLOCKING)
(KEYS JINGLE)
Voil!
What you expect for 11 bucks?
(SCOFFS)
(SIREN WAILING)
(GROANS)
Hey!
OFFICIAL: With the exception
of a few isolated snipers...
POLICEMAN: You know
what fucking time it is, boy?
- Let me have a little fun with you.
- KID: Come on, man!
- POLICEMAN: What time is it?
- KID: I ain't got no watch.
How am I supposed to know
what time it is?
POLICEMAN: It's past curfew
and you know it, Goddamn it!
KID: You gonna shoot me
because I don't have a watch?
POLICEMAN:
Get the fuck off my street!
- What you gonna do? Shoot me?
- Get off my street!
Do it! Go ahead.
I will kill you
right the fuck now.
DISMUKES: So sorry!
I'm guarding that grocery store
right there. I'm guarding it.
This my nephew.
I'm so sorry, I apologize.
I'm gonna take him away.
Come on.
I ain't your nephew,
motherfucker!
Just get across the street.
Calm down.
- They let you out, Uncle Tom?
- Just get across the street.
Keep on walking.
Don't look back.
Keep on moving.
Dumb jacky giant,
I'll beat your head
to the white meat.
You won't kick my ass.
I'm a black belt in karate,
I'll whoop that ass.
Besides,
even if you did win,
...those ten guys over there
would be on you...
...and behind them is 10,000.
Now, you smart. Go home.
(SIREN WAILS)
(EXHALES)
So you the cool brother, huh?
Dismukes.
Okay, Tom.
POLICEMAN: (OVER SPEAKERS)
This is the Detroit Police.
There is a curfew.
You cannot stay on the street.
What the hell was that?
You checked
the windows and doors?
- I checked them already.
- Check it again.
I don't even wanna see
graffiti back there.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello.
Everything is fine.
No trouble here.
I'll sleep when they stop
rioting. Good night, sir.
SPENCER: Hey, hey.
Hey. Look at this.
CAPTAIN: Miller, with me.
Ready, Title 32? Let's do it!
MILLER: You got it!
DISMUKES: You know what?
I'm gonna go talk
to those white guys.
SPENCER: I'm gonna stay here,
if that's okay.
I'm gonna make sure they
don't start shooting at us.
CAPTAIN: All right, boys.
Relax here.
SPENCER: Hey, you sure
you want them white boys...
- ...to know where we are?
- I'll be right back.
(BELL CHIMES)
ROBERTS: Jefferson, Wood, head
in there and take the roof.
JEFFERSON: We're on it.
Hey, fellas.
Melvin Dismukes.
I'm with United Security,
I'm guarding that grocery
store across the street.
I come bearing gifts.
Oh.
Thank you.
Isn't this nice, boys?
ROBERTS: All things
considered, this is pretty good.
Thank you. I don't have
my usual appliances.
You got any sugar?
Oh, don't push it, man.
ROBERTS: It's good
to have some quiet.
We were at Black Bottom
earlier today.
We actually took sniper fire.
Had one, right by here.
Ain't no snipers here, man.
Just you and me...
...and the people
partying in that motel.
How long do you think
this is gonna last?
Yeah, how long till these
negros, people, quit?
What do you think?
How the hell
am I supposed to know?
Is Morris home? It's Larry.
(SIGHS)
I can't find
those guys anywhere.
No, no, no. No, he's fine.
Just when you see that cat, tell
him to come down to the Algiers.
We're rehearsing.
Bye.
(SIGHS)
FRED: No luck?
His mama don't even know
where he is.
FRED: He's probably all right.
(SIGNING) Look in my eyes...
And don't you see water?
And it's all
because of you
So look at me
I ain't acting like
I ought to
And it's all
because of you
So look in my eyes
And don't you see water?
And it's all
because of you
FRED: You're gonna
get back on that stage.
Yeah, it's not
that simple, brother.
Listen, when they hear
you blow... Money raining.
And I want a cut.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Look at me.
In the eyes.
I'm looking at you
in the eyes, Fred.
You're gonna
get a record deal.
(CHUCKLES)
All right?
(SINGING) Look in my eyes
The Fox Theatre...
...welcomes The Dramatics!
Yeah?
Yeah.
(GIRLS LAUGHING OUTSIDE)
You know what, Fred?
I think it's time to fix
that little problem of yours.
FRED: What problem?
- I don't have a problem.
- Yeah, you do. Come on.
- We're not doing this.
- Yeah, we're doing this.
Come on! Don't give me a no.
Come on.
(SINGING) You're gonna look
in her eyes
I don't need it,
I don't want it.
And she's gonna
get you off...
Come on.
LARRY: Okay, no. Man,
I'm doing you a favor, okay?
- Okay?
- I'm going.
LARRY: We're going.
Look at this
nice little scene right here.
- JULIE: There you go, Karen.
- Thank you.
Enjoy it because
we are now officially broke.
There's rioting outside, and I'm
not writing to my parents again.
LARRY: Look at this.
That right there.
It's perfect.
- Larry.
- What?
They white.
So, they white.
Beggars can't
be choosers, all right?
What does that mean?
You know what I say?
What?
Let freedom ring. (LAUGHS)
I've had that freedom,
thank you very much!
JULIE: No, you haven't.
Because freedom doesn't mean
giving it away for free.
(SCOFFS)
Only you could make
prostitution sound high class.
Come on.
I'm not trying
to do this, brother.
Hey, stop.
Why won't you just
leave them alone?
I think those boys
are eyeballing us.
FRED: Okay, stop.
Come on, man.
Follow my lead.
Okay, so we do it together
and it's like a co-op.
Excuse me, ladies.
I'm Larry Cleveland.
I wouldn't be interrupting a
private conversation here, would I?
JULIE: We must be neighbors.
I'm Julie, Ohio.
Karen, Ohio.
(CHUCKLES) No,
my last name is Cleveland.
(LAUGHS)
We're actually from Ohio.
Okay, so what y'all
doing in Detroit?
Well, Julie here
is a professional prostitute.
- Okay...
- She's kidding!
I'm a hairdresser.
And a hoe.
(JULIE LAUGHS)
What do you guys do?
(LAUGHING)
I'm a singer
in The Dramatics,
...and Fred here is my bodyguard.
The Dramatics?
Yeah.
Never heard of them.
(SCOFFS)
But I love... I love Motown.
The Supremes are my favorite.
Well, if you love
The Supremes,
...you'll definitely love
The Dramatics.
Larry.
Sing something to her.
(SINGING) Baby
I'm for real
I said I'm as real
As real can get
Oh, my God!
You can really sing.
It's who I am,
you know. I sing.
It's who he is.
We were just gonna go
get something to eat.
A friend of ours
is staying at the annex.
Would you like to join us?
I mean, yeah. I could eat.
Fred, you hungry?
Yeah, I can eat.
JULIE: Let's go.
Let's go.
How you doing?
Good.
How are you?
(SOUL MUSIC PLAYING)
(TELEVISION BLARING)
(SAUSAGES SIZZLING)
Mmm...
We looking good!
KAREN: Hey, Carl!
Mmm.
We're starving.
You know I got something
for y'all to eat.
Okay.
- Hey, babe.
- Hey!
CARL: Mmm.
Hello!
KAREN: Hi, guys!
CARL: Come on in.
It's a nice joint, man.
AUBREY: Sit down, man.
LARRY: Say what?
Sit down, take a seat.
Hey, Aubrey.
How you doing?
Hey, Karen.
JULIE: Okay, where I grew up,
when you meet someone new,
...you're supposed
to say "Hi, hello!"
"How are you?"
It makes them
feel comfortable.
Nice duds, man.
Thanks, man, I appreciate it.
We were performing earlier.
Watch out.
(LAUGHING)
LEE: Total bull.
(MEN LAUGHING)
This guy. Okay.
CARL: Food is served
right there.
(LAUGHING)
LEE: Yeah, all right, man.
Hey, Julie,
(TAPS BED)
...the air conditioning's
real nice over here.
Real nice, huh?
LARRY: Mmm-hmm.
The bed's comfortable, too.
(CHUCKLES)
- Yeah, that's nice.
- Yeah?
CARL: Maybe roll up
one of these joints.
(MOUTHING)
Aubrey, man,
turn that radio up.
(SONG PLAYING ON RADIO)
(CHUCKLES)
(MUSIC STOPS)
Come on, fellas, please.
(VOLUME OF
JAZZ MUSIC INCREASES)
Can we please let Trane speak?
What the hell?
That's beautiful.
So sad that he died.
He was young, right?
He was 40.
But he used his years.
Let me tell you,
that man lived.
Unfortunately, it was heroin.
Now, we know Trane
did not overdose.
Don't put a rumor
on that, man.
I didn't say Trane overdosed.
But John Coltrane was a junkie
for years.
Love Supreme Trane
was high on dope.
I'm not saying
that's taking anything away...
...from the man
as a spiritual example.
He's one of my many saints.
But heroin
is what killed his liver.
I heard the FBI poisoned him.
FBI. You wanna know
how I know?
John Coltrane's wife
is a Detroit musician,
...same set as me.
Oh, so now you a trained
expert on Coltrane?
(CHUCKLES)
MALE NEWSCASTER:
Continuing coverage tonight...
...of the rioting
here in Detroit.
The National Guard
has been called in...
...and more than 3,200 people have
been arrested, most of them negros.
Updates will continue
throughout our broadcast...
Why is everything
always so violent?
You ask your people that?
Try a little revolution
with the English,
...all that "liberty or death?"
That ain't
so non-violent at all.
LARRY: Man, she from Ohio.
I highly doubt she understands
your logic about liberty and death.
(LAUGHING)
Well, let's put it
in layman's terms.
Slide over, stripes.
You see,
...you white, ain't you?
(GASPS)
Brother.
You white, right?
See, y'all don't
have to deal with...
...the police nearly
as much as we do.
Unless, of course,
you're some...
Uncle Tom handkerchief head,
you know?
It's like... When you're
black, it's almost like...
...having a gun pointing
right at your face.
You understand that?
It's like this.
Hey, boy!
Get your hands off my plate.
Put the hot dog...
Step away from the mustard!
Put your hands down!
Don't... You nervous?
- You're making me nervous!
- LEE: You got a gun on me.
This like police brutality
or something, man.
Oh. Oh... So you gonna tell me
how to do my job now?
- I'm not...
- So now you're the police officer...
...that tells me how to do my job
on my street?
What you doing
on my street, nigger?
See, that's the way they like
to express themselves.
You know, "My street,
my house, my car."
That way they can take
everything from you.
- Larry.
- So again.
What you doing
on my street, boy?
LEE: Did I do something
wrong, officer?
Did you do something wrong?
I ought to blow
your head right off.
Get that gun off me, man.
- Or what, boy?
- I said, get that gun off...
(GUNSHOT)
(SHRIEKS)
JULIE: Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
You shot him! Carl!
(LEE WHIMPERING) Lee!
CARL: He shouldn't
have made a move.
Lee?
Hot dog, please! (LAUGHS)
(ALL LAUGHING)
- KAREN: You're nuts!
- JULIE: What?
- AUBREY: Oh, man!
- KAREN: You're nuts!
You're nuts!
It was just a starter pistol.
It just starts races.
It don't kill nobody,
- ...it don't hurt nobody.
- KAREN: Crazy!
I'm just demonstrating
white power.
So am I, honey.
Sweetheart, baby,
it was just a joke.
Y'all can go
and get the hell out,
...you and your partner.
(ALL LAUGHING)
Thought they could
take a joke.
(LAUGHING)
(IMITATING LARRY)
I'm performing.
(LAUGHS)
Sorry, Larry,
they're usually nice guys.
No, come on. Don't let
those fools bother you.
Why don't we all go to my room
and relax for a little bit?
We told a friend
we'd drop by.
JULIE: Maybe later.
Come on.
Find me later.
See you!
CARL: I thought
everybody should know.
AUBREY:
But you scared them off, man.
But Karen though...
(SMACKS LIPS)
She was looking at me.
- Karen wasn't looking at you.
- Karen was feeling me, man.
She was like, "Hey, Aubrey!"
I was like, "Hey, Karen!"
POLICEMAN: (ON SPEAKERS)
Disperse or you will be arrested.
AUBREY: Julie!
(MEN LAUGHING)
We should teach
these pigs a lesson.
LEE: What you
talking about, Carl?
Them right down there.
(LAUGHS)
LEE: You know
if you shoot them,
...they're gonna
shoot us back, right?
How they gonna know
where it came from, Lee?
- It's not even possible.
- Just calm down, man.
Man, you chicken.
LEE: It's already crazy
in here enough.
CARL: Look.
They need to understand...
...that they can't be picking
on us all the time.
Y'all gotta be
with the program!
We're gonna
get our asses beat!
One, two.
Would you...
(GUNSHOT)
SOLDIER:
Get down! Hit the deck!
You guys okay?
- Who's shooting?
- From down there, maybe?
It could be
any one of those buildings.
Did you just hear
that gunshot, baby?
No, I didn't hear anything.
Anyway, you know
if I get a record deal,
...we gonna drive
a Cadillac, right?
(CHUCKLES)
Look, check him out!
(LAUGHING)
Run, Mr. Cracker, run!
(GUNSHOTS)
ROBERTS: Get down!
EDDIE: Muzzle flash!
By the Algiers,
could be a sniper.
(GUNSHOTS)
- Mike?
- I'm okay!
I didn't get hit!
Keifer Command, this is
Warrant Officer Roberts.
EDDIE: Take cover!
ROBERTS:
Army taking sniper fire.
Algiers Motel vicinity,
on Virginia Park.
CARL: Yeah, keep running.
(LAUGHING)
- LEE: That was bad, brother.
- AUBREY: That's crazy, man.
CARL: Now everybody know
what it's like to be black.
(LAUGHING)
Police 2-4, potential sniper...
- ...in the area.
- Army taking fire.
DISPATCHER 1:
Near the Algiers Motel...
...on Virginia Park.
Sniper on the roof.
Sniper fire, sniper fire,
Virginia Park.
DISPATCHER 2: Sniper
fire near the Algiers Motel.
10-4, on the way.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(SIREN WAILING)
DISPATCHER 1: Shots fired,
Virginia Park, sniper on the roof.
DISMUKES: Sniper out there!
Lock the whole place up!
(PANTING)
Let's find that motherfucker.
(GUN COCKS)
(DOGS BARKING)
Anyway, my boy Fred
was just telling me...
...that the rioting
is getting so bad,
...even Ford's thinking about
shutting down assembly for a day.
Larry, that's terrible.
LARRY: Yeah, I know it is.
Maybe we should
make the most of it.
In a time of hate, love does
become more important.
Maybe the most important.
Why don't you come over here
and visit me?
We got a swimming pool
and I think...
...we need to spend
some time together.
My mom says
I can't leave the house.
But I want to.
Your mama, right.
- Give me some shells.
- DEMENS: Here.
Thanks.
(GUNS COCKING)
(PEOPLE CLAMORING)
SOLDIER: Move, move, move!
Move forward!
(SHOUTING)
SOLDIER 1:
Left hand, top window!
SOLDIER 2:
Spread out to the side!
Hey, y'all, there's a bunch
of police outside right now.
(SOLDIERS CLAMORING)
AUBREY: Quit playing, man!
Why would I be playing?
Yo, is they lost?
SOLDIER 1: Come on, move!
CARL: I hope so!
What you mean? I don't know.
I don't know, man,
but it look like...
...they coming
right toward the house.
SOLDIER 2: Go! Don't just
stand there! Move up!
Get in position!
- Close the windows!
- SOLDIER 2: Window!
Hide everything!
Turn the lights off!
SOLDIER 2: Sniper!
(GUNSHOTS)
(ALL SHOUT)
AUBREY: Oh, shit!
LARRY: Baby,
did you hear that?
FRED: They're shooting at us!
I gotta go!
They're shooting us.
Larry!
Fred, you good?
You good?
AUBREY:
I don't wanna die, man!
CARL:
We gotta get out of here!
- AUBREY: Man, don't get up!
- LEE: Carl, stay down!
- They can't do this to us.
- LEE: Stay down!
They can't do this to us.
- AUBREY: Carl, stay down!
- LEE: What're you doing, man?
(GASPING)
SOLDIER 2: Here we go!
Go. Go. Go. Go.
(SHOTGUN BLAST)
(SHOTGUN BLAST)
(GROANS)
SOLDIER 1: Going up.
(GASPING)
Clear!
FLYNN: Clear!
(GASPING)
POLICEMAN: Police!
(WHIMPERING)
(SIREN WAILING)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(POLICEMEN
SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
Hey, do you hear that?
Fred, stay low!
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Police! Get on the floor!
Get the fuck
against the wall right now!
(OVERLAPPING SHOUTING)
All right, all right!
FRED: I didn't do nothing!
(SHOUTING CONTINUES)
FLYNN: Have you got a weapon?
LARRY: I don't have
a fucking gun!
FLYNN: Put your hands
behind your back!
- Have you got a firearm?
- No!
Have you got a fucking weapon?
(SHOUTING UPSTAIRS)
(CARL GASPING)
POLICEMAN: Go, go, go!
- Come here! Come on!
- Why you doing this?
Get him the fuck
downstairs now.
- Get the fuck out of here now!
- DEMENS: Get out of here!
- FLYNN: Come on!
- DEMENS: Take him!
(WHIMPERING)
Put your hands on your head
and relax. Just calm down.
Sit down.
Put your hands on your head.
Move the fuck downstairs! Go!
LARRY: I don't have a gun!
Don't pull, man!
Police! Put your hands
on your head!
GREENE: They already are.
(JULIE GASPING)
KRAUSS:
Against the walls and doors!
All of them! Against the wall!
LARRY: Fred!
Walls and doors!
I didn't do nothing!
I don't have nothing!
(SHOUTING CONTINUES
IN HALLWAY)
FRED: I don't got no gun!
(GUN COCKS)
(COCKS GUN)
Anybody in there?
No, sir.
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS)
Get the fuck up! Get up!
Get downstairs! Go!
- FLYNN: Get him downstairs!
- What's going... (SHRIEKS)
What're you doing here?
(SHOUTING)
POLICEMAN: Down on
the ground! Get down!
- LEE: I'm not resisting!
- POLICEMAN: Get up!
(OVERLAPPING SHOUTING)
KRAUSS: Yeah, keep goin'!
Don't look at me!
Against the wall,
bring them all down!
POLICEMAN: Hey! You got him?
KRAUSS: Against
the walls and doors!
POLICEMAN: Turn around
and stay against the wall.
KRAUSS: Let's get them
down here!
Let's go!
(GRUNTS)
Don't you fucking move!
- Get them, go!
- What did we do?
DEMENS: You better
shut your mouth!
FLYNN: Get them! Get
the fuck... Get out of here!
Get the fuck downstairs!
(OVERLAPPING SHOUTING)
Go! Let's get them
down here!
POLICEMAN: Go!
Down the stairs! Let's go!
- KRAUSS: Let's go!
- FRED: Okay, okay!
AUBREY: Come on, man!
My arm, man! Stop!
We didn't even do anything!
Shit!
(ALL GRUNTING)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
AUBREY: Where's Carl, man?
AUBREY: Where's Carl?
What happened?
Fella here had a knife,
tried to go for my gun.
Yeah, I heard him shout,
"Get off my gun!"
Yeah, it all happened
pretty fast.
I guess you had
to defend yourself.
(WHIMPERING)
LEE: Aubrey, get back!
Get back
against the wall! Move!
- Chill!
- They killed Carl!
Don't be stupid, boy!
Stay against the wall!
Okay, okay.
AUBREY: (CRYING) He has his face
filled with blood. They killed him, man.
Shame.
A young kid like that.
Still, he might be the
shooter. We need to find out.
AUBREY: (WHIMPERING)
They killed him, man.
(AUBREY SOBBING)
AUBREY:
They killed our friend.
KRAUSS: What's the deal
with the girls?
I found them with the
big nigger down the end.
Same room?
- You find anything?
- Nothing.
No gun?
No.
Some bad news.
One of the guests is dead.
(SOBBING)
He tried to take
a police officer's weapon,
...ended up getting shot.
Carl Cooper.
AUBREY: He killed Carl.
(SOBBING)
(SOBBING)
May he rest in peace. Amen.
Amen.
Now let's not be stupid
in this situation.
(JULIE SNIFFLING)
We still have a crime scene
here and you're all suspects.
Each and every one of you.
Don't look at me!
Turn around, face the wall!
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(SOBBING)
Was Carl the one
doing the shooting?
Huh?
Somebody better start
getting honest with me.
(ALL SOBBING)
(FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS)
Hey! I want that gun!
We looked around,
we didn't find a gun.
Doesn't mean
it's not here! Go find it!
You, too!
I got nothing
against you people.
But you need to tell me
where the gun is.
You need to tell me...
...who was doing the shooting.
I'm only gonna ask
so many times.
Who did the shooting?
We don't know.
You do fucking know!
You were upstairs,
who was doing the shooting?
- Who was doing the shooting?
- You doing the shooting, man!
Lee!
LEE: No, man.
Carl ain't got no gun.
What's that?
You're the ones out here
killing people!
Say that to my face!
I said, Carl ain't shoot
nobody, man!
Yeah, all right.
(GRUNTING)
MICHAEL: Fuck.
(KAREN SOBBING)
Stop your goddamn crying!
Face the door!
You, too. Face the front!
(GASPING)
Why don't you pick that up
and defend yourself?
Hmm?
It's easy, look.
You sure you don't wanna
try and stab me?
(GASPING)
I'm not gonna play your game.
FLYNN: Come on.
That would just give me
an excuse to do...
...what we both know
is gonna happen anyway.
Right?
Man, y'all
some crazy crackers!
(GRUNTS)
GREENE: Shit!
(AUBREY SOBBING)
(LEE COUGHING)
FLYNN: Get off of me.
You still a cracker. (COUGHS)
Shut the fuck up, all right?
Shut up.
KRAUSS: There's a goddamn
shooter in this house.
Was it Carl?
Let me tell you something.
If you think that you can
shoot at innocent people...
...and get away with it,
...you are dead wrong.
My partner said, "stand up."
- Look, I'll take him.
- So stand.
DISMUKES: Go search the place,
I'll take him with me.
Come on, come on.
- Come on.
- Get the fuck outta here.
(GROANING)
KRAUSS:
I got all night, people.
Nobody's gonna talk?
Nobody knows
who the shooter is?
AUBREY:
Please, God. Please, God.
Nobody's going to admit shit?
All right.
Then start prayin'.
Start praying. What's the
matter, boy? You don't pray?
You don't go
to fuckin' church?
- Start praying!
- AUBREY: Oh, Lord.
Forgive our trespasses as we forgive
those that trespass against us.
KRAUSS: 'Cause I will
kill you, one by one,
...until you tell me exactly
what is going on here.
AUBREY: Cover us with
the blood of Jesus, God.
I'm just gonna assume
you're all criminals.
Because if we're honest,
you probably are.
So let's hear it.
Let's fucking hear it!
Pray! Do it loud!
(GRUNTS)
You don't sing
that gospel shit?
(SINGING) My way
There you go,
now we got two of 'em.
AUBREY: Take the hate out
of our hearts, God.
What about you?
Your grace is with me
You are not praying. I'm not
hearing shit out of you.
- Mary, full of grace...
- KRAUSS: I don't give a fuck.
You may need a little fuckin'
help to know how to pray.
(GRUNTS)
(ALL PRAYING)
You are near me
JULIE:
Hail Mary, full of grace.
When my life
He's really fuckin' praying.
It's not bad.
(LAUGHING)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(LEE COUGHS)
(MUSIC SHUTS OFF)
All right, check the room.
Under the beds
and in the drawers. Okay?
(CLATTERING)
(SHOUTING AND CRYING)
They're gonna kill us, man.
Why? You gonna be crazy?
They the ones
that's acting crazy.
They lost they mind
when they seen...
...a couple white girls
in a room with a black man.
They're lookin' for
a sniper, okay?
But Carl wasn't
no sniper, man.
So if a guy goes for your gun,
...you gonna let him have it
because he's black?
Come on!
A cop has a shotgun
like yours, right?
You hold that tight
with two hands.
How you even gonna
try to take that?
Lotta ways.
(SIREN WAILING)
(BOTTLES CLANGING)
(GRUNTING)
There's no guns
in this whole motel...
...except the ones
these cops brought.
There's no guns.
(PANTING)
(SIGHS)
We takin' something
for those crazy boys.
Pick 'em up.
What's the point?
Look, I understand. Okay?
But don't antagonize
those guys.
I need you
to survive the night.
Survive the night.
(SIGHS)
All right?
You don't think
you're gonna talk?
I'll fucking make you talk.
Where's the fuckin' gun?
FLYNN: Get up!
Get the fuck up!
You gonna tell me
where the gun is?
- FRED: I don't know.
- FLYNN: Bullshit!
(GRUNTING)
FLYNN:
Stop fucking lying to me!
Where's the fucking gun!
I swear to God,
I'll pull the fucking trigger!
Where is it?
AUBREY: I don't know,
I swear...
FLYNN: Bullshit!
SERGEANT: Come here.
What's going on?
I gotta tell you, Detroit PD
is going nuts in there.
What do you mean?
Looks like they're
terrorizing suspects,
...beating and so forth,
trying to get a confession.
Well, that's not correct,
they got their civil rights.
That's what I'm saying.
Don't look right to me.
FLYNN: Where's
that fucking gun?
Don't lie to me!
Where's the gun?
All right.
Let's let them have the case.
I don't wanna get involved in
any civil rights mix-up, you know?
Let's go.
(SIREN WAILS)
- Where's the fucking gun!
- I don't know!
FLYNN: Bullshit!
You people are always lying!
Who's the shooter?
KRAUSS: Find it?
No.
All this looks stolen.
I searched
the whole room, myself.
He wouldn't even
tell you, huh?
All right.
Get Demens to watch the line.
Come with me.
Get in there. Quickly.
- LEE: Wait, wait, wait.
- KRAUSS: Lie down.
Come on!
We need you in here.
Get the...
Get on the goddamn floor.
(GROANS)
LEE: You don't have to
do this, man.
(LEE SOBBING)
We're gonna hold the line.
(GIRLS WHIMPERING)
Why you gotta fuck them, huh?
What's wrong with us?
KRAUSS: Listen to me.
You need to tell me...
...where the gun is
and who the shooter is...
I swear to you there's no gun.
There's no gun, man!
KRAUSS: ...or I swear to God,
I will kill you.
LEE: There's no gun, man.
(SOBBING)
Okay.
I don't know nothing, man.
No!
(GUNSHOT)
(MUFFLED SCREAMS)
AUBREY:
He shot him. He shot him.
DEMENS: Face the fucking wall.
(ALL SOBBING)
KRAUSS:
Be still and stay quiet,
...or the next one is for real.
Understand?
This'll make 'em talk.
Watch this.
That one didn't even kick.
That's what happens
when you lie to us.
Who else wants to kill one?
You wanna kill one?
Okay.
All right.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
MICHAEL: Officer, wait!
I didn't shoot nobody!
- Officer, wait!
- Shut up!
MICHAEL: Fuck!
ROBERTS: Shut up.
Get the fuck in there.
I told you I don't know where
the fucking gun is, man.
- You looked for it, right?
- Shut your mouth!
Hey, man. You gotta tell me where
the gun is so all this can stop.
- Where's the gun?
- I don't know.
- You can't do this shit!
- Shut the fuck up!
(GUNSHOT)
AUBREY: Michael. Michael.
(GIRLS CRYING)
KRAUSS:
You think we're bluffin'?
This is Detroit.
We don't bluff.
(WHISPERS) Now, be quiet,
...or the next one
will be for real.
(DOOR OPENS)
(DOOR SHUTS)
I killed that nigger.
There you have it.
AUBREY: Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Get your goddamn hands
off her. Turn around.
What's your part
in all this, huh?
Probably know
where the gun is.
Probably know
who the shooter is.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
KRAUSS: Yes, you do.
And you're lyin' to me.
Get away from me!
You think you'd get a pass
'cause you're white?
No, whore. You don't.
Find out what she knows.
It's okay. Easy, easy.
KRAUSS: Face the goddamn wall.
I'm not gonna tell you again.
It's just you and me.
Take a seat.
(FLYNN SNIFFS)
Sit down.
Sit down.
Ouch.
You all right there, miss?
Is everything okay?
(SCOFFS)
You're okay though, right?
Don't touch me.
Try to keep calm.
What are you doin'
living here?
It's a hotel, isn't it?
Yeah.
So you're up here
for a while?
Some, uh,
...prostitution, maybe?
I'm visiting from Ohio.
My father is a judge.
And your father,
he knows you're here, right?
Living amongst the blacks?
Are there black people here?
I didn't notice,
I'm colorblind.
Really?
What color am I? Blue?
(CHUCKLES)
You look yellow to me, sir.
(GRUNTS)
- You're working prostitution.
- No!
(SOBBING)
(CHAIR SCRAPING)
FLYNN: Look at me.
You're fuckin'
these black guys, right?
They're kids.
What's the matter with you?
I'm trying
to protect you, miss.
Stay there.
She's a hooker.
All right, fuck it.
Come here.
So, you are the pimp.
No, sir.
I think you're mistaken.
(GRUNTS)
- Fuck!
- KRAUSS: Listen.
We've got
all the time in the world.
We are gonna get
to the bottom of this.
So think very carefully about
how you answer our questions,
...or you're gonna end up like
your friends in the next room.
How long you been pimpin' out
these young girls, huh?
Destroying their bodies
and minds.
I just met 'em.
I ain't pimpin'.
I just got back from the war.
You're a veteran?
Yes, sir.
(GRUNTING)
(GASPS)
KRAUSS: Fuckin' stupid
do you think I am?
You wear army green,
...you try to be
a fucking serviceman.
We don't need
pimps in the army.
Probably drove
a fucking supply truck.
(GREENE GROANING)
I was airborne. (WHIMPERS)
(THUDDING)
(GREENE GRUNTING)
(GUNSHOTS)
OFFICER 1: Look out!
OFFICER 2: Take cover!
Move to cover!
Get down! Get down!
OFFICER 1: Go, go, go!
(GUNSHOTS)
- OFFICER 1: Take cover!
- OFFICER 2: Sniper!
(GUNSHOT)
Down, down!
OFFICER 1: Across the street!
They're running up Euclid!
- OFFICER 3: Three houses up.
- OFFICER 4: I see him!
OFFICER 5:
Who's got eyes on him?
Don't worry about it. If it
was anything, they'd grab us.
(GRUNTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Larry, what are you doin'?
Larry.
Get back on the wall.
Let's get the fuck up
outta here.
AUBREY: They're gonna
come back.
We can. Let's go.
No.
FRED: What are you doing, man?
Come on. Come on.
Fred, let's go.
No, Larry. Stop.
OFFICER 1:
Who's got eyes on him?
OFFICER 2: Watch the roof!
KAREN: Just breathe,
just breathe.
(SHUDDERING BREATHS)
AUBREY: It's okay.
I'm here, I'm here.
(GASPING)
Come on, come on.
Stay the fuck away.
(OFFICERS SHOUTING)
OFFICER 1:
Check all those windows!
Hold your perimeter!
FRED: They're shooting.
You hear that?
Shut up!
OFFICER 2: Fall back!
Covering fire! Put it down!
Fire! Fire!
(GUNSHOTS)
LARRY: Oh, shit!
FRED: Oh, shit!
- OFFICER 3: We got 'em!
- OFFICER 4: Hold your fire!
ROBERTS:
All right, it's clear.
Snipers everywhere, tonight.
OFFICER 5: Clear!
(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)
DEMENS: Is that your
buddies out there, huh?
Is that who was
shooting at us?
Huh? What do you gotta say?
(PANTING)
Fuck!
GREENE: Says right there.
Paratrooper, eight years.
Two deployments.
(PANTING) Honorable discharge.
- This is a fake.
- No, sir.
- This your girl?
- GREENE: I just met her.
What's his name?
I don't know.
His name is Karl Greene.
I wasn't asking you,
I was asking her.
You just said,
"What's his name?"
You're lucky I haven't broken
your fuckin' neck, yet.
GREENE: Okay.
All right, man. I see
what you're trying to do.
I'm not gonna cause
any trouble, okay?
But I'm not gonna
lie down for you, either.
What are you doin'
in Detroit, huh?
Like everybody else,
I'm lookin' for work.
KRAUSS: Left one war zone
and joined another.
GREENE: Yeah.
All right. Get this
motherfucker back in line.
Give me back
my government card, man.
(DOOR OPENS)
(GREENE GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(WHIMPERS)
(DOOR CREAKING)
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(SHUSHING)
Why don't you
get outta here?
Run out the back door. Run.
Right now, go!
You know the one
who was praying?
He's okay, it's not him.
And you can
scratch off G. I. Joe.
That little twerp with
the big, fuckin' prayer.
Yeah, it's not him.
That leaves us with the big
motherfucker who's in that room.
I like him for it.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
Flynn.
Fuck!
He's escaped.
Well, we need another one.
I know.
(WHIMPERS)
(DOOR OPENS)
(GASPING)
(DOOR SHUTS)
Still... Still no gun.
So, who wants to go next?
Hmm?
KAREN: (WHISPERING)
Please, please, please.
Please. Just, please, please.
Officer, can I say something?
There we go.
Yes, you can.
I think you have
the wrong house.
'Cause nobody we saw...
'Cause nobody we saw here
was shooting at the police.
Please.
It's possible
we made a mistake.
But I need to know for sure.
Can't let a cop killer
get away with it, can I?
KAREN: (WHISPERING)
Please, please.
(ALL SOBBING AND WHIMPERING)
How about you, sweetheart?
You wanna be next?
KAREN: No.
KRAUSS: Hmm?
(KAREN STAMMERING)
KAREN: No, I don't, please.
KRAUSS: I think you know something.
KAREN: I don't.
KRAUSS:
You wanna just die now...
KAREN: No.
KRAUSS: ...or watch me
kill the others first?
Which one, huh? Which one?
(KAREN SCREAMING)
Get her outta here. Jesus!
And her! Up!
Upstairs!
JULIE: No!
(SCREAMING AND CRYING)
Shut up!
You wanna cry, huh?
KRAUSS: Jesus Christ!
FLYNN: You wanna cry?
I'll give you something
to cry about.
KRAUSS: Watch them.
This one's coming with me.
FLYNN: Shut up!
You wanna cry, huh? I'll give
you something to cry about.
JULIE: Leave her alone!
(MUFFLED SCREAMING)
I guess there are no weapons
on your person.
(LOUD FOOTSTEPS
ASCENDING STAIRS)
Stay over there
and keep quiet.
(DOOR SHUTS)
God.
Aren't you ashamed
of yourselves?
You're the one
checking out my tits.
You're having
sex with niggers.
It's 1967, asshole.
Honestly.
It doesn't bother you?
The Afro Sheen in their hair?
The way it smells?
You're on some trip.
You think you can
come into my city...
...and pimp out a bunch
of young girls?
I said it wasn't like that.
I don't care
if you were in the army.
I'll drown all you pimps in the
river until the city's clean.
You gonna question them or
I'm gonna take 'em outta here.
KRAUSS: Just hold on.
Look.
You might not be
such bad girls after all.
But be straight with me.
Who was shootin' at the
National Guard out there?
Mister?
I didn't see anybody shoot
at the National Guard.
I would tell you if I had.
You would?
You can think I'm a slut if you
want, but I was raised right.
All right. I'm gonna
get 'em outta here.
Let's get you
covered up, okay?
You too.
(DOOR OPENS)
KRAUSS: Come on.
Hey, can I get a hand?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER
ON POLICE RADIO)
Fuck.
Fuck those fuckers.
You're fucking
murdering those kids!
Why don't you stop them?
JULIE: This animal did it too.
He shot one of them!
Don't concern yourself.
They're just scaring them.
It's an interrogation tactic.
Are you nuts, Mister?
I saw the bodies!
Those guys are getting
murdered in cold blood.
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
ROBERTS: I didn't really
shoot the guy.
It's not real.
I didn't shoot that guy,
and neither did the other.
It's to get the guys to fess up
about the location of the gun.
Who said they even had a gun?
I don't know.
If they did, it was just a
toy. It wasn't a real gun.
Well, thanks for saving us.
We gotta head out.
KAREN: Are we safe here?
She means, are you gonna tell
the police where we are?
No.
(DOOR SHUTS)
(SOBBING)
JULIE: Karen.
We're gonna be okay.
But those boys...
(SIREN WAILING)
(GRUNTING)
Fucking stay there.
You see that? See that shit?
That is your fault
right there. Look at it.
You don't talk, that's
what happens. Look at it.
(INDISTINCT POLICE
RADIO CHATTER)
At ease.
That kid. Him.
He was up there
in the same room...
...as those other
two delinquents.
Yeah. Let's get
our confession out of him,
...vacate the premises,
all right?
- Okay.
- Demens should do it.
Do what?
You haven't
killed a nigger yet.
(CLEARS THROAT) Uh...
Well, I don't know
about that.
KRAUSS: Sure you do.
What's the matter, partner?
Problem?
Whatever you say.
Which one?
(GUN COCKS)
Come with me. I gotta ask you
some questions.
Please.
(SOBBING) Please don't
kill me, please.
Please don't
shoot me, please.
Where is the gun?
AUBREY: I don't know. Please.
I don't know. I swear to God,
I don't know. Please. Please.
I got no cause
to shoot you.
AUBREY: Please don't
shoot. Please.
DEMENS: Where's the gun?
AUBREY: Please don't
shoot me, man.
I ain't never shot
anybody before in my life.
Please! I don't know
where... Please.
Please, don't...
(GUNSHOT)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
KRAUSS: Turn around.
(SOBBING)
They fucking killed him.
So that's done.
Good. Great job.
I didn't think I could do it,
but I did it.
Boy, I feel funny.
Yeah. It's the right thing.
He'll talk now.
What do you mean?
Another one bites the dust.
I bet some of you thought
we weren't serious, huh?
Well, we still
don't have our gun...
...and we are running
out of time, people.
Who was the sniper?
Just be honest with us
so we can all go home.
KRAUSS: You shot him, Demens.
DEMENS: Yeah, I got him.
Jesus Christ, Marty.
We weren't actually
shooting the other guys.
We're playing with them.
What do you mean?
Playing.
Playing what?
A game.
A game to get them to talk,
scare the shit out of 'em.
Interrogation tactics.
Fuck.
This is strictly
police business.
ROBERTS: Hey, boys,
let's move out.
KRAUSS: Have you got...
You don't have a knife.
- Fuck me.
- DEMENS: Oh, fuck.
Okay, listen. Listen.
(GROANS)
- Listen to me.
- Oh, fuck.
He grabbed your gun,
all right,
...and you warned him, okay?
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
And you were forced to shoot
him, okay? Line of duty.
- Get your fucking story straight.
- Oh, fuck.
Hey, get your head straight.
I'm serious.
All right,
just take a minute.
Stay here.
(GROANS)
Oh, God.
(DOOR SHUTS)
Oh, fuck.
(GROANING)
(WHISPERING) Marty shot the guy.
What?
- He did?
- Yeah.
Point blank.
We need to wrap this up
and get out of here.
We don't have a suspect.
Should we just
arrest them all?
No, no, not now. We just need
to get out of here, you know?
And... Us and them.
If they're smart, they're not
gonna say anything, all right?
All right. Let's do this.
You come with me.
KRAUSS: Listen to me.
You're free to go.
But you don't talk about this
to anyone, ever.
You understand?
'Cause I got your name,
...and I know
exactly who you are.
I don't got your name.
I don't know
nothin' about you.
(WHIMPERING)
Please don't kill me.
(SNIFFLES)
Please don't kill him.
What's this here?
I don't see nothin'.
KRAUSS: All right.
Get going.
FRED: (SOBBING)
Hey, we don't know nothin'.
We don't know nothin'.
No, no, no, no!
Relax.
Listen.
What if I told you you can
run out that door right now,
...but you never talk about
what you saw here?
Understand?
FRED: Please don't kill him.
Please don't kill him.
(PANTING)
No, no, no!
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Listen to me.
What do you see here?
You killed him.
You killed him.
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
We're gonna try this again.
I don't see anything.
There's a dead guy
right there.
(GUNSHOTS)
(THUDDING)
(WHIMPERING)
(GUN COCKS)
(GUNSHOT)
(GUN COCKING)
(SIRENS BLARING IN DISTANCE)
(PANTING)
OFFICER DAVID: Halt!
(PANTING)
Please, please, please...
Please, please, please...
OFFICER DAVID: Hey.
Hey.
Oh, my God.
Who could do this
to someone?
Hey, hey, hey. I'm here
to help you, all right?
Come on. Hey.
I'm gonna get you
to the hospital, okay?
All right? Relax.
Okay? Hey, hey,
it's all right.
Come with me. Come on.
Come on.
We're gonna get you there.
Come on, brother.
Don't you go on me, all right?
Come on. Come on.
We got him.
Let's go.
(MACHINERY WHIRRING)
(PEOPLE CONVERSING
INDISTINCTLY)
Aubrey! Phone call!
Aubrey, hey!
You got phone call!
- Say again?
- You got a call from home.
Something's wrong.
Kid's in trouble or hurt,
or something.
Bet it's my youngest.
He's always googy-googy.
(CHUCKLES)
Yes?
ROBERTA: (ON PHONE)
Well, Aubrey,
(SOBBING)
...they found Aubrey dead this
morning at the Algiers Motel.
No. No. Aubrey's supposed
to be at home.
It's gotta be somebody else.
(DIAL TONE)
(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)
What is this, Ma?
A mistake?
It's gotta be a mistake.
Aubrey's got more sense
than that.
Well, baby, you never know.
Let's go see.
(GROANS)
(SNIFFLES)
(HAMMERING CONTINUES)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
OFFICER: Dismukes?
Is he there?
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS
CONTINUE)
Looking for a Dismukes.
Appreciate it.
Any of you fellas
named Dismukes?
Yeah, that's me.
I have to ask you
to come with us, sir.
Is there a problem?
No. I don't think so.
Rather not have
to ask again, though.
Y'all tell the boss, huh?
You got this?
- Take care of yourself.
- OFFICER: This way.
Come on, I ain't got all day.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
Take a seat.
(PHONE RINGING IN DISTANCE)
(DOOR OPENS)
DISMUKES: I'm sorry, I...
I assume this is about
what went on at the motel?
What happened at the motel?
DISMUKES: If you don't know,
I'll tell you.
I was working security
by Wisconsin.
And on Tuesday night,
we heard gunfire...
...coming from the area
near the Algiers.
DETECTIVE THOMAS: Oh.
In that direction.
Police was there. State
police, National Guard.
It was a lot of shooting.
(WHISTLES IN DISMAY)
And when I went in there,
three kids had been killed.
No.
- Yes, sir.
- This right there, right?
Is that what
you're talking about?
(LIGHTER SNAPS SHUT)
Yes, sir.
Yeah.
He was lying just like this.
The blood was fresh.
It hadn't congealed yet.
So they were killed
right before you got there?
(EXHALES)
Yes, sir.
You carry a.38, right?
A revolver.
Do you carry a revolver?
I do have a.38.
Hmm. You ever shoot anyone?
- No.
- Strike anyone?
- Not the way you mean, sir.
- What do I mean?
Fellas,
...you know, sometimes,
...when a black guy's put
in a position of authority,
...other black guys, they like
to single you out, okay?
Because I'm not supposed
to tell 'em what to do.
When we have
these conversations,
...we do them in stages, okay?
Stage one, witnesses.
Stage two, suspects.
What stage are we in?
You don't know
what stage we're in?
No. Could you
specify for me?
DETECTIVE JONES:
Yeah, we're in stage two.
You're a suspect.
I didn't do it.
The police...
Ah, here we go.
The police shot those kids.
DETECTIVE THOMAS: See,
how the hell do you know that...
...when you weren't inside
the building...
...until after
the shooting stopped?
So, are you lying to us now,
...or were you lying
just a minute ago?
DETECTIVE JONES: That's
a good question, Detective.
DETECTIVE THOMAS:
You need to think real hard.
You need to answer me.
All due respect,
I am telling the truth.
I'm not lying.
I told you what I saw.
I saw these kids...
- DETECTIVE JONES: Melvin.
- Okay. Okay.
- We're here to help you, okay?
- Yes, sir.
Melvin, do you
wanna go home?
Yeah.
DETECTIVE THOMAS: Can we
let him think about it?
DETECTIVE JONES: Yeah. You
think about it, okay, Melvin?
I didn't do it.
(DOOR CLOSES)
DETECTIVE JONES: (ON INTERCOM)
Number four, step forward.
You're doing
a real good job, honey.
(PRISONERS CLAMORING)
(BANGING ON BARS)
Eddie...
Has he woken up?
No, man.
(SIGHS)
Hey.
Larry.
Hey, wake up, brother.
(SNIFFLES)
Hey.
Be gentle.
JIMMY: It's all right, man.
It's us.
You know where
my little brother is?
The police are saying
Fred is dead,
...but I can't get nobody
to tell me what's going on.
(STRAINED) What's going on?
You tell us, man.
The police...
The police?
LARRY: The police...
They...
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
(SOBBING)
- You have children?
- Oh, yes. I have three boys.
The oldest is 12.
Then nine and seven.
You know
how youngsters are then.
(CHUCKLING) Oh, boy...
The way they communicate,
grunts and groans.
My little cavemen.
Especially boys. (CHUCKLES)
It's like they don't know if
they wanna be slick, you know?
That's right.
They're still trying
to find their place in life...
...and we have
to allow for that.
AUBREY SR.: Uh-huh.
DR. BREYER: Oh, yes.
AUBREY SR.: Hmm.
Well,
I can see
you want to go back there.
Sure.
(DOOR CLOSES)
MAN: (ON TV)
We helped put out fires.
We helped try to keep the riots
down and keep the corner clear.
What can you say...
...about having all this
murdering and confusion?
Everybody isn't thieves
and murderers.
I wish that things could be
better for the negro people.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
KRAUSS: Just, uh...
Remember what I told you, and
this whole thing's gonna blow over.
All right?
You did nothing wrong.
I think I gotta say somethin'.
Hey. You made...
Demens.
Something that took one minute...
...should not define
your entire life.
You understand?
(DEMENS SIGHS)
You made a mistake.
You say what you need to say,
...and you move on.
That's how
you get out of this thing.
- All right?
- All right.
KRAUSS: All right?
Yeah. You don't have to
lecture me, I know what to do.
There you go.
You were doing your job.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(DOOR OPENS)
You first, knucklehead!
All right.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS
CONTINUE)
Flynn!
(DOOR OPENS)
DETECTIVE:
All right. Let's go, ladies.
I'll be with you
in a few minutes.
Well?
Some things were said
in there.
(STAMMERS) Such as?
You stupid...
You motherfucker, you're dead.
You're fucking dead.
You too?
We're all going down.
Phil, listen. It's...
- No. No.
- Just listen to me.
- Get the fuck out of my way.
- FLYNN: Phil!
(SIREN BLARING)
(BANGING ON DOOR)
I got nothing to say
without my union lawyer.
Are you kidding me,
you racist fuck?
Get out of the car
before I break your neck.
I couldn't say for sure who
went inside the building first.
Um...
There were five,
...maybe six state police.
We have complete statements
from your partners.
We know you shot those kids.
So just go from there.
No. No.
I don't recall
doing that. Uh...
Bang his head against
the table. Might help.
Hey.
I'm trying to help here.
I'm trying to be thorough.
So, you wanna know...
...how many state police
were on the scene,
...how many National Guard?
I can't tell if you're stupid
or smart,
...but I'm willing to
find out. (DOOR OPENS)
Don't say another word.
Come on.
What's the point?
Coercive testimony
will be tossed.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SCOFFS)
(BANGING ON DOOR)
Larry!
Yo, you sure he's home?
Give him a minute.
Man, what?
What's so important?
MORRIS: The record company
called, baby!
They wanna hear our music
at the studio!
Oh, and they called you?
Yeah, man. They said
they tried to call you...
...but you never
called them back.
JIMMY: This is what
we've been working for, man.
They wanna hear
The Dramatics!
(SCOFFS) So what?
You Mr. Show Business now?
This isn't professional.
Call at business hours,
not 3:00 in the morning.
MORRIS: But Larry...
Larry! It's a record company,
man. They don't keep banking hours.
Come on.
(ON SPEAKER) Listen, you guys
had better sound good...
...because I'm broke.
(CHUCKLING)
(ALL CHUCKLE)
Let me hear that blend.
(MORRIS CLEARS THROAT)
Uh, yes, sir.
- Are you guys ready?
- Yeah.
One, two.
One, two, three, four.
(SINGING) Look in my eyes
And don't you see water?
And it's all
because of you
Well look at me
I ain't acting like I oughta
And it's all
because of you
Ooh
Ooh
(CLEARS THROAT) Uh, George,
can we get a minute?
- Come on.
- GEORGE: Yeah, hurry back.
Look, what is
in your head, man?
'Cause you ain't singin'
in there.
How am I supposed to sing
with what happened to Fred?
Look, you just do it.
Sing while my boy
is lying dead?
Look, a song ain't words
on a page, man.
That ain't music.
Music is what you put into it...
...and you can make that
whatever you want.
I'm not singing so white
motherfuckers can dance!
Well, them pale motherfuckers
ain't dancing for free!
(SIGHS)
Since when do you care
if white folks dance anyway?
(SIGHING)
MALE REPORTER: During the week
of rioting in Detroit,
...three negros were shot
to death in a motel room.
Police and the Guardsmen
had raided the motel,
...searching for snipers.
Later,
witnesses to the shootings...
...said the three negros
had been lined up...
...and shot in cold blood
by the officers.
Today, two police officers
were arrested...
...and charged with the murders...
...of two of the negros
shot in the motel.
The officers,
one with two years' service,
...the other with four...
...and no previous
misconduct charges,
...were ordered
held without bail.
They pleaded not guilty.
Their attorney said...
...the arrests
were a shame and a pity.
Police Commissioner,
Ray Girardin,
...refused to discuss
the facts of the case,
...except to say
the two officers...
Who do you got mail for?
MAILMAN: Larry Cleveland Reed?
Larry!
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
Larry, you got a letter.
From the government.
(GROANS)
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(MEN CLAMORING)
FRED: I didn't do nothin'!
I didn't do nothin'!
- KRAUSS: Lie down.
- LEE: Please, man!
KRAUSS: I will kill you
one by one...
...until you tell me
exactly what is going on here.
Don't look at me. Turn around.
Start praying!
FLYNN: Get down! Get up!
Get the fuck up! Get up!
Bullshit!
Stop fucking lying to me!
LEE: Carl ain't got no gun.
KRAUSS: One of the guests
is dead.
AUBREY: Please don't shoot.
Please.
DEMENS: Where's the gun?
AUBREY: Please don't shoot me, man!
FRED: Officer,
can I say something?
I think you have
the wrong house.
MALE NEWSCASTER:
In the Algiers Motel case,
...both the prosecution
and the defense...
...in their opening statements...
...reminded the all-white jury
of the racial violence...
...that seared Detroit
two summers ago.
ATTORNEY LANG: Now, Mr. Reed,
before the police...
...or military personnel
started firing,
...to your knowledge, had there
been any sniper fire...
...from inside the Algiers Motel
or annex?
LARRY: No.
And did you see anyone
in the motel that night...
...with a gun of any kind
in their hand...
...outside of police officers
or military personnel?
I saw someone shoot a toy gun
at one of his friends.
A toy gun.
AUERBACH: (CHUCKLES) Mr. Reed.
Isn't it a fact that your head...
...was against the wall
for most of the evening?
No, sir, it is not.
My hands were against the wall
for most of the evening.
That's a fact.
I asked about your head.
My head is attached
to my neck.
It moves. This way, and that.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
AUERBACH: And yet, it cannot
turn completely around...
...to see what's behind you?
Unless you have
a special skill...
...this courtroom
should know about?
(ALL CHUCKLE)
You said you saw the flash
before you heard the gunshot.
Was that your testimony?
Well, it was pretty confusing.
Well, which is it?
Which came first?
Did you see the flash?
When did you hear the body
hit the floor?
I can't say for sure.
You said you were
just outside the door.
You also said
you might be confused,
...that you don't know
what point in time...
...these things happened.
So, are you confused?
I saw the flash,
just through the door.
What I need to know is,
...did you see Aubrey Pollard...
...make a threatening move
toward my client?
Or are you perhaps confused
on that point as well?
Yes, sir.
Being a military man,
...you would be able
to distinguish...
...between the uniforms
of a National Guardsman...
...and that of a Detroit police
officer. Is that correct?
I suppose.
And so you say...
...that the man who took one
of the victims into the room,
...that he was
a National Guardsman?
So I presume
you know that because...
...he was wearing a uniform
of the National Guard.
Well, yes. I saw a guy in
uniform take him back there.
Did you see anybody else
go back into that room?
No.
Would you have been
able to see...
...if anybody else
went back into that room?
At the time, wasn't your head
turned back around...
...by the police officers...
...that were still
standing there with you?
Yes.
And so in one of the lineups,
...when you were asked to identify
the officers who beat you,
...who did you identify?
Do you see him
here today in court?
Him.
And him.
(ALL MURMURING)
You just identified
two of the defendants.
Why would you identify
only one of them...
...at the time of the lineup...
...if both of them took part
in beating you?
Which recollection
for the record...
...would you say
is the correct recollection?
I just said
I couldn't tell at first.
When I went down to the police
station, I was very nervous.
AUERBACH:
And so now, you are calm?
And you will not be changing
your story again then?
This is it? This is the one
you want us to work with?
Objection. Asked and answered.
JUDGE: Overruled.
AUERBACH: So you were led into
a room, and then what happened?
(LEE CLEARS THROAT)
He fired off a shot
by my head and told me...
...to keep my mouth shut
and lay still.
Or the next one for real.
And what did you do?
I lie still.
And were you mistreated
in any way after that?
Mistreated?
Have you ever been
arrested, sir?
Sure.
AUERBACH: Ever spent
a night in jail?
LEE: Yeah.
AUERBACH: How many times
have you been arrested?
- LEE: I don't know.
- How many nights and days have you spent...
...in prison for crimes
you've committed...
LEE: I don't know, a few.
...or alleged
to have committed?
Criminal acts.
I don't know. A few.
ATTORNEY LANG:
Are you certain?
Yeah, you don't forget
a beating like that.
So you're certain
that these three men...
...beat you and the others?
Yes, I'm certain.
(ALL MURMURING)
Up until some army guy
pulled me in a room...
...and told me to lie still.
Then you heard him go out
and tell them I was dead.
ATTORNEY LANG: And this is
what's being referred to...
...as the "death game?"
What did you see next?
I didn't see nothin' lying
face down on the floor,
...but I heard Aubrey yell,
"Don't shoot."
And he shot. I heard that.
(ALL MURMURING)
ATTORNEY LANG:
Your witness, council.
Now we've already
talked to your cohort about,
...friend, Lee,
about his criminal past.
Have you ever had trouble
with the law?
I'm not on trial here.
No need to introduce
a new crime, sir.
Just the ones already known.
Or maybe you can start
by telling us,
...how did the night begin?
Party? A few drinks?
Man, why? Why y'all talking
about me at all?
Man, y'all see
a black man in court...
...and assume
I'm the one on trial.
Man, they killed
my friends, man!
They beat us!
(ALL CLAMORING)
Lined us up and abused us and
y'all doing the same thing!
There's no justice here, man.
Go fuck yourself, man.
(ALL CLAMORING)
(JUDGE BANGING GAVEL)
- Man, no, get off of me!
- JUDGE: Take him out.
MICHAEL: This is bullshit!
What? What you lookin' at?
This is bullshit!
(ALL CONTINUE CLAMORING)
I think what is clear here,
Your Honor,
...is that these men were under
an intolerable situation.
They were under this duress,
which we say was inherent,
...and for that reason,
had no other choice.
All right.
All they had to do
was keep quiet.
If they kept quiet,
they wouldn't be here today.
But they made a statement,
...and that statement
should be admissible.
AUERBACH: Not if they were
made under duress, Your Honor.
Not if the taking
of those statements...
...violates
constitutional rights.
These policemen
were owed an obligation.
Advising them that they had
a right to remain silent,
...they had a right to counsel,
...and that anything they said
could be used against them...
...in a court of law.
I don't think
these defendants,
...because
they're police officers,
...have any right to expect
anything more from us,
...but they have a right
under the Constitution...
...not to settle
for anything less.
I therefore rule
the statements inadmissible.
Wasn't that just
a load of bullshit.
Whew.
(CHUCKLING)
Wow, man.
That was...
You know as well I do,
...those kids shouldn't have been
killed like that.
Yeah. It's a shame.
Should've complied
with a lawful order...
...and relinquish their weapons.
But you're
a solid guy though.
Really.
(RETCHING)
(COUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)
They know
what they're supposed to do.
Jury entering. All rise.
All rise.
JUDGE: Has the jury reached
a verdict in this matter,
...with regard
to the charges of murder...
...in the first degree
and assault?
MALE HEAD JUROR:
We have, Your Honor.
On the assault,
...not guilty.
(ALL CLAMORING)
(SCATTERED APPLAUSE)
MALE HEAD JUROR:
As to the murder charges,
...not guilty.
(SCATTERED CHEERING)
What we have witnessed today is a
disappointment to the justice system,
...to the state of Michigan.
MALE REPORTER: Excuse me,
would you like to comment?
This wouldn't have happened
if they had found black girls...
...in a hotel with white men.
No, sir. No way
would they do this...
...to white men.
That's the truth!
And I don't care
who knows it!
Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Pollard, how
do you feel about losing your son?
MA: How do you think he feels?
How would you feel?
How would you feel?
It's a terrible pain.
- A pain that never goes away.
- AUBREY SR.: Come on.
Thanks, man.
CONYERS: Listen, sir,
will you conduct yourself...
...with a little bit of empathy?
We are here today to witness...
...the justice system
at work and we demand...
...that police criminality
be treated the exact same way...
...as any other form
of criminality.
MALE REPORTER: Some people
would say it's wrong...
...to judge the police
for doing theirjobs.
CONYERS: Nice try.
- You have my statement.
- WOMAN: What a shame.
CONYERS: Police criminality
needs to be treated...
...the same as any other
form of criminality.
(PEOPLE CHEERING)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(SINGING) Some people
are made of plastic
You know some people
are made of wood
Some people
have hearts of stone
Some people are up
to no good Some people
But baby
I'm for real
I'm as real
as real can get
And if what you're looking
for is real lovin'
Then what you see
Is what you get
MORRIS: We have
a contract, Larry.
We gotta snatch
this, brother.
Not like this.
Look, Motown
is a black-only company.
Oh, but you know what I mean.
Who listens to this music?
This ain't easy for me, man.
(SNIFFLES)
We all a long way from easy.
Well, then you do
what you need.
I'm gonna lay low.
Come on, man.
(SIREN BLARING IN DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
(SIGHS)
(SHIVERING)
(WIND HOWLING)
(PIANO PLAYING)
- (SIGHS) Excuse me, brother.
- Yes, son.
I submitted an application
for the church choir director...
...and I never heard
anything back.
Oh, um,
speak to the choirmaster.
Okay, thank you.
Excuse me.
I submitted an application
for the church choir director...
...and I never heard
anything back.
Larry Cleveland Reed.
Larry. Uh...
Oh, I remember. You're
with The Dramatics, right?
Yes, sir.
You're a little bit
overqualified.
We're just
a neighborhood church.
Well, yeah,
I am overqualified. So?
Why don't you go try some
of those clubs downtown?
I'm sure they'd be happy
to have you.
And I guarantee you,
the pay will be much better.
(SIGHS) There's police
at those clubs downtown.
And it's dangerous.
Sir, can you please help me?
I need a job.
Do you sing
any liturgical music?
LARRY: Yeah, I know something.
Let me see if I...
Okay. (CLEARS THROAT)
(SINGING) Master
(PIANO PLAYING)
The tempest is raging
Oh the billows
Are tossing high
The sky
Is overshadowed
with blackness
No shelter or help
Is nigh
Carest thou not
That we perish?
How can thou lie asleep
When each moment
So madly is threatening
Oh a grave
A grave
A grave
A grave
In the angry deep
Get up, Jesus
Because
(CHOIR CONTINUES SINGING)
(SONG ENDS)