American Pastrol Page #3

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I'm turning this off.

Sure, turn it off.

The Democratic Republic of Hanoi

could just burn down

and mom would just go on

worrying about her cows.

- Don't touch me, dad.

- Merry...

I can't stand this.

You're not anti-war,

you're anti-everything.

And you're pro...

cow.

I don't know why

she's turned against me.

Is it her stuttering?

Is she angry because she

can't make friends?

She's made friends, all right, the

one's she's made in New York.

Who is she?

I thought she was smart.

She's becoming stupid, Seymour.

No. She's just a kid with a

strong will, a strong idea.

It's not very well worked out...

You're defending her.

She hates me.

Dawn.

She talks to me like...

I don't know what.

With no respect.

And if I ever spoke

to my mother like that,

do you know what my father

would have done?

He would have turned you

over his knee.

You think it's funny?

I have to pick her up

from the train.

I can't believe we

let her go to New York.

She's 16, Seymour.

We don't even know

who she's with.

We don't know who

her friends are.

Well, she likes them,

they like her.

That's what's important.

I don't like those

pamphlets they give her.

What pamphlets?

In her room, Seymour.

Police and fire departments

are on the alert

as negro demonstrators

take to the streets of Newark

after the arrest and alleged beating

of cab driver John w. Smith.

You were supposed

to be on the 8:
00.

You were involved in something

there, something political.

Everything is political.

Brushing your teeth

is political.

People who are against the war.

Is that who you see?

They're just people who

don't believe in the war.

I don't believe

in the war myself.

Then what's your problem?

I don't want you

getting mixed up in things

that could hurt your

chances for college.

My friends have been to college.

They had to leave because of the

way they treat student protestors.

Is that who they are? College

kids who have gotten thrown out?

They're just my friends.

Can't you believe that I have friends?

Don't you believe that?

Of course I believe

you have friends.

They wanted me

to stay the night.

No. That's...

You can never even

think about staying

over with people

that we don't know

or you'll never be

allowed to go again.

What do you believe in, daddy?

This is not about politics.

My responsibility is

to you, not the war.

Oh, I know.

That's why I have

to go to New York

because people there

do feel responsible,

responsible for blowing up

Vietnamese villages,

blowing up little babies.

But you don't care.

And neither does mother.

No one in our family or in our

f***ing little town does.

Sir, could you go

to your vehicle?

You need to get off the street.

There's a curfew in effect.

"Curfew"?

- What kind of fascist

bullshit is that? -Merry.

We've got enough

trouble tonight.

The curfew's to protect people.

From what?

They should riot.

I'm sorry, officer.

We're both sorry.

I am not f***ing sorry.

She's 16.

If you got any at home,

you'll understand.

I don't.

Right.

Hundreds of protestors have

gathered in the 4th precinct

where cab driver

John w. Smith is being held

after allegedly

being beaten by police,

who are calling this

an isolated incident.

Yet some local residents are

urging violent retaliation.

More news as it comes in. And now,

back to our regular programming.

Get on out of here!

- Streets to the people.

- Power to the people!

Get the f*** back home now!

Black power! Black power!

Black power!

Get out of here!

Jesus, merry.

Your father called from Florida.

He wants to know if they've

come near the factory.

I'll see in the morning.

You're not going to work tomorrow,

not with the riot going on.

It's not a riot.

It's a revolution.

People standing up

for their rights.

If you're going to defend them,

maybe you should just join them.

That's a good idea.

The governor called

the national guard in.

Of course. I mean,

what else can he do?

He can treat black people like

human beings, that's what.

No blacks on the city council,

the poverty, the unemployment.

We have 80% Negroes working at the plant.

We're proud of that.

Oh, I forgot.

You're a hero.

- Hello?

- Seymour.

- Vicky.

- It's bad.

What is it?

I ain't never seen

anything this bad.

They're beating them and dragging them.

Oh, my god.

Sniper!

- Vicky.

- People are shooting.

Police are shooting

and soldiers.

People have lost their minds.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Going to war, huh?

It's what it is.

No. It isn't, either.

These are just troublemakers,

so think.

What we're saying is you're

here to keep the peace, son.

That means protecting the people

and the property

of this neighborhood.

What I'm saying is to think.

Think before you start

shooting at somebody's window.

- Vicky. -These aren't snipers.

These are people.

Good people who

live around here.

People just like your own

mothers and fathers.

That's who lives up there.

Now, this is their home.

And they've got to live here

long after you're gone.

This is their home.

Not yours.

All right. Well done.

I'm just telling them

how it is. That's all.

But tonight is going to be bad.

Do you hear me?

So, go home. Take everybody

who came to work and go home.

You're staying, though.

There ain't no telling

how bad it's going get.

It won't be safe for

anybody, and not you.

The place will be safer

with someone inside.

Then I'll stay, too.

- I've got that.

- No, I'll put it.

- Vicky.

- They're shooting outside.

I've got it.

Are you talking to me?

I told you not to move!

Keep your people back!

What do you want?

Turn it down.

All dressed up

for your stupid...

award that they gave you?

Do you expect me to

congratulate you, too?

What was the award for anyway?

We didn't shut down

after the riots.

The people who worked there,

who have always worked there

were welcomed back

to their jobs.

The mayor thought that

that was good,

that other businesses

should have done the same.

There was a ceremony

in his office.

Congratulations,

Swede.

And I would have liked it

if you had come.

I would have

f***ing hated it.

Have you thought about

what I asked you?

Going away to private school?

If you don't like

living here with us.

I just want to be able to go to

New York again on the weekends.

No. You didn't come home last time.

You knew the rules.

I never thought my own father

would keep me prisoner.

Merry.

I have an idea for you.

I've been thinking

and I have an idea.

You want to protest the war.

Protest it right here

in old Rimrock.

What am I going to do,

march around the post office?

"Bring the war home."

Isn't that the slogan?

Look, they gave me this award.

It's just a stupid plaque,

but it means one thing.

If you take a stand,

people notice.

If you oppose the war right here

with all your strength...

This is part of America,

too, you know.

Read Marx.

Revolutions don't begin

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