Blackout Page #5

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It's 8:
30. Yankees game.

You got ESPN?

I don't think we're gonna

have any television tonight.

You're right there, of course.

That's the reason

I'm stuck here to begin with. Idiot.

-You're a baseball fan, huh?

-Oh, yeah. What are you, kidding?

My dad use to take me down here

to Ebbets Field all the time when I was

a kid to watch the Dodgers play.

I actually saw the great

Jackie Robinson play ball.

Jackie was cool with me.

He was one class act.

You say that kind of like

you knew him personally.

I can go better than that.

We used to play on the same team.

You played ball with Jackie...

Okay, before I get very excited here,

let me ask you something.

Are you just some old guy

who maybe fabricates

and exaggerates his life a little bit

to make up for his shortcomings?

You calling me a liar?

I'll throw your ass out in the dark.

No, no, I'm sorry.

Just checking. Sorry to interrupt.

When I was a young man,

I was quite an athlete.

After World War ll,

when I got discharged,

I was signed by the Negro League.

The Kansas City Monarchs, 1946.

Had a great roster.

Lot of talent on that team,

Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige...

Wow.

I got traded that season, though,

to the Newark Eagles.

The Eagles, right.

You know, the Newark Eagles

and the Kansas City Monarchs

played in

the Negro World Series that year.

Yeah. And the Newark Eagles won.

Sort of a revenge. Poetic justice.

I like to feel that

I had a little part in that.

Yeah.

I can't believe I'm sitting here

with a American Negro League

world champion.

George, that is...

-So what position you play?

-Center field.

-You ever see Jackie Robinson again?

-Nope.

The next season

he got signed by the Majors.

And then after that, they

started picking off all the colored boys,

and so the Negro League just

sort of dismantled.

Yeah. I ended up in Brooklyn.

That's where I met my missus.

Been here ever since.

-Thank you for dinner.

-You're welcome, miss.

What happened to your face?

Some of the stores on

the block were looted today.

Just got into a little scuffle,

but I'm all right.

-Are you sure?

-I'm good.

Nine months from now,

you know what it's gonna be.

I'm good.

A lot of blackout babies!

So let's get it popping.

We have a lot to talk about, you and me.

-Okay?

-Okay.

I'm sorry...

Yes, I was a bit frustrated

about our money situation.

However, all I kept thinking

about today was you.

I felt terrible for being

on your back this morning.

Today put a lot of things

in perspective for me.

About what's really important. I just...

I don't want to take

you for granted, okay? I'm sorry.

Look, I felt the same way, you know,

not being able to reach you and all.

But first off, I'm just glad you're okay.

Look, ma...

I got something important

I want to tell you and...

What is it?

I'm not doing good, you know?

I need some help.

You know, with the recession,

losing my job,

no work, you, me, everything...

You know,

at first I could deal with it, you know?

It was natural, I'd shake it off.

It was good, you know, it was all right.

But it's not easy no more, it's becoming

more and more difficult and...

I'm struggling, you know. I find myself...

I can't even walk out

that front door sometimes.

You know...

Then I realized, you know,

I was hurting... I was hurting

us both by keeping it from you.

You should have told me.

We could have

gotten through this together.

It's...

I want to get some help.

Okay, I'm going to get some help

to help me get back to being me.

Okay.

Because I can't lose you.

No, you're not gonna lose me.

-Mind if I ask you a personal question?

-Of course. Shoot.

We're sitting here,

we're talking like two old buddies

from talking about Jackie Robinson

to fusion to everything under the sun.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...

What happened?

What happened? Life happened.

I'll tell you what happened.

There's the life you plan

and then there's the life you're given.

Don't feel sorry for me, bro, I'm cool.

I've lived five lifetimes already.

You hungry?

Yeah, yeah, I could eat.

What you got on the menu?

Franks and beans.

-You got anything else?

-Yeah, beans and franks.

-I don't suppose those are firecrackers?

-No, I don't think it is.

I didn't think so.

Yo, Ty!

Ty, that's you?

Yo, Ty, what you doing outside, man?

Oh, my Lord.

-What are they doing out there?

-What else?

Taking advantage of the situation.

Come on, baby, close the curtain, okay?

Come on.

Hey, George.

Did you ever seen that movie

The Ten Commandments

with Charlton Heston?

Of course.

Do you remember that scene

he's talking to all the Israelites,

and he's telling them,

"Stay in your homes and wait for

pestilence and the Angel of Death

"to go into the homes of the Egyptians"?

That's how I feel

right now, like we're

waiting for darkness to pass.

Feel like praying?

Just kidding.

Hey, would you like to

stay the night out here?

Yeah, maybe that's a good idea.

I mean for both of us, right?

Right.

Yeah, okay.

Good night, George.

Good night, Sol.

Yo, Ty, you out here?

Yo, yo, yo!

It's dark as hell out.

Yo, Tyrone, stop playing, son,

where you at?

Yo, word to my mother, son.

Don't make me hurt you, son.

Yo, Ra, chill, son.

Oh, you see me, man. You think

I give a f*** if you see my face, cousin?

Yo, Ra, chill, son.

-Take your sh*t off.

-Yo, chill.

Yo chill, what?

Bro, you ain't gotta do this, man.

-Word.

-Yeah, word.

-No, you know me, son...

-Word.

I'm from your block.

-I'm from your block, son.

-Don't f*** with me.

-Yo, we from the same block, yo.

-That don't mean sh*t, partner.

-Little f***ing fancy nigga, boy.

-Yo, Ra.

You gonna beg me, right?

Yo, chill, son.

F*** you doing?

You's a dumb motherf***er, you know?

That's why I've never

liked your f***ing ass!

All you had to f***ing do

was run a jersey, n*gger.

And now you want

to act all f***ing hard and sh*t.

CJ?

CJ?

Where are you?

Okay.

CJ!

CJ.

CJ, where are you?

-Ma'am! I just want some water!

-No! No!

-Come on! I just want some water!

-No!

Stop flashing it at my face.

Do something, man.

Go get some clothes or something.

Yo, son, let me tell you something, man.

We about to f***ing rack up today, man.

Yo, let's not get greedy, son.

We good. Let's bounce.

Nigga, is you f***ing crazy?

Understand what I'm trying to tell you.

Right now, tonight,

New York is deaf, dumb,

blind and she about to get f***ed.

Let me tell you something, B.

When is the next time you think

we gonna get a shot like this?

You think there is gonna be another

blackout like this again? You stupid?

Yo! Go upstairs

and get some sneakers, man!

Bring them shits downstairs.

Now, hurry up, man!

Make sure you get some Filas, homie.

-Come on, hurry the f*** up.

-Come on, let's go, let's go!

Yo!

Tyrone, what the f*** you doing, man?

Damn, I'm going to prison!

Get them lights off.

All right, motherfuckers, where are you?

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