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tree growing in your backyard.

You're an idiot.

Don't call me an idiot

in front of my son.

Back home, no one would even

consider calling New York's finest.

Nobody cares about

above 125th street.

First rule of survival:

Do not get involved.

Smithism.

- Where did I put that telephone?

- I can assure you

cops come knocking on the door, and I'm the

only black man in this godforsaken place.

You don't want daddy

to go to jail? No.

- Tell her.

- Daddy's lying.

I didn't make the world what it is.

I can just live in it.

I'm teaching my son good values.

You're doing more, aren't you?

What does that mean?

You want to see the evidence?

Hold on.

Where is it?

Where is it?

Help me!

4,091, 4,092, 4,093, 4,094,

4,095, 4,096, 4,097, 4,098...

Don't play innocent.

The jar. The Troy jar.

The jar with the money.

Oh, really? Cat got your tongue.

I'm securing his future.

It's for college.

What good will that do?

You're pampering him!

He has to be tough!

He won't get a chance otherwise.

Archie, there are programs

that we can get...

What? Help?

Charity? Begging?

Okay, now is not the time

for your pride.

Read any newspaper.

When society is sick and mean, the

innocent get the blame. Smithism.

You don't need to be an educated

man to learn how to survive.

Aha!

Why you hidin' the jar from me?

I told you.

I'm trying to get

a better life for Troy.

- This life isn't good enough?

- I appreciate you.

I thought it's the good life you

wanted for him. It's not enough!

It's not enough?

No, it is not.

You won't let me be

the mother he needs.

I let you do exactly what

you need... he's my baby.

He is not a baby!

He is a baby!

The sooner you realize that,

then the sooner...

He needs to learn

how to survive!

You know how he'll be

treated out there.

I don't know what you're

talking... i know you don't.

I gotta train him,

and you keep pampering him.

You're yelling and our

son's in the next room!

He can hear what I have to say,

and you keep mommying him.

He's scared of you, Archie! He is

not scared of me! My son loves me!

My son loves me and respects me!

Shut up.

'Cause he knows who I am!

Shut up! Don't tell

me to shut up!

I'm trying to teach him

how to survive,

and you're putting these notions

in his head that aren't true.

Oh?

I can't.

I can't.

You can't what?

Uh... I can't.

You can't what?

A couple of stupid...

One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven,

eight, nine, ten,

eleven, twelve.

Hmm. Can you believe it?

Twelve years old.

It's those Mowbray kids again. They want

us to be scared so they can laugh at us.

No!

What are you going to tell them

about Debbie not being here?

If you call,

they take her away from us.

Leave that girl alone!

Keep your mouth shut. You're

gonna wake up your mother.

- But, dad, she needs help. -No

one asked you to get involved.

Go to bed now.

That's his last strike.

One.

Two.

Three. Four.

Five. Six.

Seven, eight, nine, ten...

12, 13,

14, 15, 16...

17, 18, 19, 20.

4,980, 4,981.

4,985.

4,986.

4,987.

4,993.

4,994.

4,995, 4,996.

4,997.

4,998.

4,999.

Mama!

Mama!

What?

Please, help me.

Please, help me.

No! Help!

God, stop, stop, stop.

Oh...

No!

Jesus.

It-it's me, your neighbor, Sam.

It's-it's-it's, uh...

I'm sorry about

the music earlier.

It's kitty. She's...

She's been beaten badly

and she needs help.

I had nothing to do with it.

Can you call the police

and tell them that?

I think it'd be better if you called.

I'm not good with police stuff.

Too many questions.

Can you... can you do it?

Okay, fine.

Where's mama? Don't worry about mommy.

You're with me now.

This is it. Okay.

Come on. Let's go.

Come on. One, two,

three, four, five, six.

Fight for your right.

Don't slow down.

Gotta stand up for yourself. Thirty-six.

Make a change. Thirty-seven.

I can't feel it.

Tough, tough, tough, tough.

Faster.

Faster, faster, faster.

Faster, faster. Simon says,

"jump to your daddy."

What did I tell you?

Only trust yourself or you fall.

Smithism. Get up.

Repeat after me.

I'm a man.

Look at me.

Look at me. Look.

Look at me, Troy.

Look at me. Look at me.

Say "I am a man."

"I am a man."

Give me this. My father was tough

on me, but he taught me life.

When you have a son of your own,

you'll understand.

Be a good boy and go fetch

some more for me, will you?

Strike one.

They both hate me. At

least they notice you.

When I grow up,

I'm not gonna be like them.

You don't hate me, do you?

Of course not. You're my

brother, and I love you.

Good night, Billy.

You have to go to sleep.

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