An American Crime Page #3

-What?

She is telling horrible lies

about me.

What kind of lies?

She's telling everyone

that I'm a slut.

You should've seen those boys

when they heard that I was a slut.

Sylvia said that?

Don't worry, baby...

...don't you worry.

Did you ever hear Sylvia

use any vanity or vulgar language?

No, Sir.

Do you know how often Sylvia went

to Sunday school on church?

She'd go every time we would.

- Does Sylvia have a bible?

- Yes.

Did she dress up nice and clean?

Yes, Sir.

As Mathew said:

"Enter by the narrow gate".

"For the gate is wide and the way

is easy that leads to destruction... "

"... and those who enter by it,

are many. "

"When the gate is narrow

and the way is hard... "

"... that leads to life

and those who find it, are few. "

Jennie, come sit with me!

We need to go upstairs

and get changed.

I want you all down here.

Family meeting.

It's a lesson for all of you.

You need to apologize to Paula.

But Gertie,

I, I didn't want to...

I want you to apologize.

What she'd done, mama?

She's been spreading lies

about your sister.

I...

I'm sorry.

Paula, you have the right

to get even.

What you wanna do?

I want you to punish her, mama.

You have to learn to fight

your own battles, baby.

- Get over there.

- Johnny, grab her arms.

I said I was sorry.

I don't care what you said.

Go on, she's got it coming.

Let her go!

I'm sure, she can defend herself.

I am not!

Fight to fight!

- I am not.

- She is not!

Damn it!

Enough, that's okay!

Get up!

Get up! Get up!

She's learned her lesson.

That's what happens

when you tell lies.

Go on!

You too, get out!

Are you awake?

You're okay?

Did you say your prayers yet?

How about mama's favorite song?

Turn now to me and be

gracious to me, Lord...

...for I am lonely and afflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart...

...and bring me out

of my distresses!

Consider how many are my foes...

Thank you.

...and with that violent hatred

they hate me.

Guard my life and deliver me.

Let me not be put to shame...

...for I take refuge in thee...

...may integrity and uprightness

preserve me.

Amen.

- I hear, your sister's pregnant.

- I see you.

- Who's the guy?

- You know, that's not funny.

I didn't say it.

A lot of people are talking.

Why aren't you in school?

You, uh, doing okay?

Yeah.

It's, uh, Sylvia, right?

Yeah.

Eric.

I, uh, I've seen you at church.

Yeah, that's me.

You're going to the picknick,

on Saturday?

Well, I hope so.

Okay.

Maybe I'll see you there.

-I'm gonna go.

-Okay.

Why was Mama so upset

about the other day?

You haven't heard?

I told everyone,

that Paula was a slut.

That's not true, is it?

There's some worse rumors

going around a bit on you.

Do you think, she's pregnant?

- What do you think?

- Yeah, she's real easy.

Thanks.

How's your mama?

Okay.

She's still in the hospital?

Yeah.

Who's taking care of you?

I am.

Oh, you don't have a girlfriend?

I don't know.

- You don't know?

- No, I don't.

And, does she know?

You wanna a sip?

I ain't old enough.

You ain't old enough

to smoke, either...

...and that's not stopping you.

Jennie?

I think,

we should call mom and dad.

How are we supposed to do that?

Here, I found this in the trash.

So, uh, how long's Sylvia

gonna be staying here?

You got a crush on Sylvia?

She is pretty.

When I was in high-school...

...I was popular with the boys

too then, they all chased me.

I believe it.

Thank you.

Oh, are you warm.

What're you doing home

from school so early?

I'm not feeling real good.

Paula?

You better go.

Alright, you first.

Hello?

- Mama?

- Oh, Honey!

I was afraid,

you didn't get our letter.

Oh, mama, we miss you so much.

Oh, I miss you too, Honey.

I'm gonna pick you up

in 2 weeks.

So, how is everything going there?

Gertrude's awful strict, mama.

We got in a whole

lotta trouble.

What do you mean?

Did she punish you?

What? These girls been getting

in trouble again? Let me talk to them.

She got mad

because your check's late.

-Our check was late?

-No, it wasn't.

Let me talk to her.

Mama, we gotta go.

Sylvia?

Sylvia?

They're coming, mama.

Calling your boyfriend, Sylvia?

No.

Nobody special.

We miss our parents.

Thank you, Jennie.

Where'd you get the money to

make a long-distance call?

I was picking up empty bottles

at the Park, and traded'm in.

Honest, that's all she did.

What she's gonna do?

What she always does, when

she catches you stealin'.

Are you gonna lie to me again?

- No, Gertie, I,

- You gonna steal in this household?

I didn't steal from you, Gertie.

What, you gonna call your parents

and wein that...

-... Gertie doesn't treat you right?

-No, ma'am.

Alright.

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry!

Okay, okay, that's a good girl,

that's a good girl.

You wanna put some ice on that.

Now, I think you stated, Marie,

that your sister Paula...

...you'd volunteered, that Paula

was jealous of Sylvia.

Every time she looked at her,

her eyes looked like she hated her.

Do you know, what the

word jealous means?

Angry at someone.

Can you assign a reason...

...as to why Paula might shoot Sylvia,

those angry, jealous glances?

I guess, because Sylvia thought...

...she was so much more important

than Paula was.

Do you remember a time

you went to Bethany Baptist church...

...and had little sandwiches

and something to drink?

I haven't seen you eat

good for a few weeks.

bOh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Orbach,

I've I had to work./b

What happened to your arm, Paula?

I lost my temper, with Sylvia.

What do you mean,

what happened?

She's been doing some real

terrible things.

I had to be real strict with her.

Come on, its Ok.

It's Ok, come on.

Don't take too much.

Hey, what're you doing here?

Came out for the free food

and the women.

I hope you don't want

any money, because...

- ... John Senior has...

- I'm not here for money.

Bradley sent me about Paula.

- Did you say hi to the baby yet?

- Hmm.

- Look, about yesterday...

- It's fine, it's fine.

- Sylvia, I'm really...

- It's alright...

...mama will be back

by the end of this week.

Hey!

Hi!

A couple of my friends are eating

over there, you wanna join us?

- Sure.

- Okay.

Sylvia!

- Just one second.

- No problem.

Ricky, you know what I said

the other day about Paula?

Did you say something?

No.

Because people are talking...

...and Stephanie and

Paula, are blaming me.

No, no, I wouldn't do

something like that.

I better go.

Are they saying she's pregnant?

They say, he's willing

to pay for the abortion.

Shut up, keep your

voice down, please!

If Paula's willing to go through

with it, anything to keep it quiet.

Here.

There's not gonna be an abortion,

because she's not pregnant.

He didn't even know about it.

The thing is,

Sylvia is the one saying it.

That girl's been nothing but trouble

since she came into my house.

If anybody is pregnant,

she is, I bet she is.

I'll take off.

Bye, Kenny.

Bye.

-He'll be back, baby.

-Hey!

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