Black Caesar Page #4

Come to my congregation.

Rufus' Convent Avenue Baptist Church,

on 145th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

Yeah, we need some

young strong men like you there.

And go with God, huh? Thank you, Jesus.

- Hallelujah.

- Excuse me.

How you doin', sister? What's your name?

What's your name, young lady?

- Excuse me.

- Thank you, Jesus.

- Is that Mr Gibbs' car?

- Yes, it is.

- I'd like to see him.

- Call his office.

- My name is Gibbs too.

- You should have been a relative.

Well, I am. I'm his father.

Well, I was just across...

just comin' into the bar for a drink.

I sell, you know. Cosmetics.

Mainly for coloured folks in the south.

I only been in town for a few days,

and it was a coincidence

to be seein' you across the street.

It'd have been wrong if I didn't

take advantage of that.

You wanna go up and see Mom?

Well, your mom and I didn't get along.

You do recollect me, son?

Look at me.

Hey, you remember Rufus? He used to

live next door to us. He's a preacher now.

Young Rufus.

He was always a bad boy.

Never thought he'd take up religion.

Hey, Pop, uh, like to take a ride,

look at the old neighbourhood?

We want Tommy! We want Tommy!

We want Tommy!

We want Tommy!

We want Tommy!

We want Tommy!

Take my advice.

Get out. Go home.

Well, now, I... I can understand

my son sayin' that,

but why should you

feel that way towards me?

Please. Listen to me.

We want Tommy!

We want Tommy! We want Tommy!

Pull over.

That used to be home sweet home, Pa.

Top window. Rear.

Always seemed to me

like a much bigger building.

You must know what I do for a livin'.

I'm not gonna lecture you.

I don't have the right.

Did it ever occur to you...

that I've been waitin' 25 years

just to kill you?

No.

No, wait. Listen. Please.

It was the Depression.

You don't know what it was like to...

Then the war, and my chance to get away.

You never had those responsibilities.

You've never been trapped.

Or not knowin' where to run

or-or who to hate.

I was 20 years old - 20 years old -

when I enlisted.

And-and I was a cook all through the war.

I was a cook!

You never sent home

one allotment cheque.

My ma had to scrub floors

on her hands and knees for pennies!

I'm gonna kill you!

She couldn't get no allotment.

We wasn't married legal!

Folks didn't bother much in those days.

- She never told me.

- I... I could've sent you somethin'.

Go on. Start walkin'.

I didn't mean to break it to you that way.

- I wouldn't have said it...

- It don't matter.

Just... move on before I change my mind.

Pa!

I don't ever wanna see you again.

I understand, son.

What are you gonna do now?

Kill your momma?

Bullshit. No cuts, no rake-offs,

no palefaces in my territory.

Send your boys in,

I'll send them back in a paper bag!

(chuckles)

How'd you like that, huh?

I did pretty good, huh?

Hey, hey. Wait, wait. I got something

to take to California with you, huh?

All the way from

Bergdorf Goodman, Fifth Avenue.

Open it! Open it!

Every time I give somebody something,

they don't appreciate it.

Maybe now we can relax a little,

get those youth centres built.

Help the people a little.

Joe...

Some genius you are!

They're gettin' ready to hit us. Hard.

I'm gonna import some muscle

from Detroit and Philly.

We've gotta tighten up on our security.

Things are gonna get

a little messy around here.

I don't want Helen to get hurt.

You either.

So what I want you to do

is take Helen to California.

Buy one of those, uh, big houses.

You know, out in Beverly Hills someplace.

Get a record company for her.

Set her up in the recording business.

If her records don't sell, you buy 'em. OK?

I'll be out when I can.

Momma's dead

Never again will she hold my hand

I gave her the best.

I never really made her happy, Rufus.

I'd like to pray for her.

I really would.

I kinda feel... I could pray for her.

Go ahead.

She always said

you were a good kid, Rufus.

If it means that much to you.

My momma's dead

Oh, Lord, have mercy

on this poor black woman's soul.

For all she ever wanted to do

was to bring her baby into this world,

and work for him, love him, raise him like

every other black woman on this earth.

Please, Lord, let her rest in peace.

No more waitin' on tables, no more

cleanin' other people's houses.

Let this strong black woman...

rest in heaven in peace.

What are you doin' here?

Came by to pay my respects

to your momma.

Didn't anybody else come?

Your girl? Or anybody?

No.

They weren't invited.

Invited or not, I come

to say goodbye to that woman.

She was my wife, son.

Pa.

How's everything?

Pardon?

I said...

"You need anything?"

I'm fine.

Thanks.

Would you like to come stay with me, Pa?

No.

I travel a lot.

No one to cry

No one to sit by the bedside

No one to watch the light in my window

No one, no one to come in

Come in and pull the cover

over my head at night

Who invited you?

I kinda missed my old bed. And besides,

I thought you might be Ionesome tonight.

Not tonight. Not any night.

Oh, you think my husband

wouldn't like it?

I don't think I'd like it.

Why don't you find out what your girl

is doing in California with your friend Joe?

Everybody else knows.

I want my clothes back!

Momma's dead

Never again will she hold my hand

Never again to hear her call my name

How long, Helen?

Tell me. I asked you a question, Helen.

Don't be silly. Nothing's happened.

Come on down, Joe.

Come on down. Let's play.

Tell me about it, Helen.

I wanna hear all the details.

Was he as good as me, Helen?

Tell me about it, Helen. Tell me.

Everybody used to wipe up the street

with him. I protected him.

He was fag bait and I saved his black ass.

I can take care of myself now.

(Helen shouts)

(Helen) Don't. Stop it.

Oh, no. No.

You sh*t on me. You sh*t on me.

No! Don't do it!

He was the only person you could leave

me for who you thought I wouldn't kill!

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

Don't kill him! Please, Tommy, don't.

Tommy, please. Don't kill him, Tommy.

Please don't kill him. Tommy, wait.

Tommy!

(Joe) Get it over with!

- Stop it!

- Get it over with!

Stop it! Don't you do that to him!

Please!

Tommy, stop it. Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it!

Oh, Tommy, just...

I can't let you get away with this.

Make me lose respect.

Cost me plenty - two of my own people.

I'm not one of your people!

You white n*gger!

All you wanted was money! Cash!

To live in whitey's house.

And run with his women.

Agh!

Joe!

(Helen sobs)

If you knew how to fight, Joe, you coulda

owned the town and everybody in it.

I never wanted to own anybody.

Oh, baby!

Oh, babe!

Baby!

I hate him! I hate him for hurting you!

I hate him. I hate him.

(door opens)

(door closes)

Seems like our little coloured friend

has lost his charm.

Where's the key to the safe-deposit box?

Keeps it with him all the time.

Long as he has those ledgers...

we can't touch him.

What's to stop us from touching

his associates? One by one.

Rate this script:2.0 / 1 vote