Crooklyn Page #9

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- Oh. Thank you.

- Happy birthday, Troy.

Thank you.

It's a training bra.

- You not gonna need that

for quite a while.

- Ahem!

Oh, this came in the mornin' mail.

It's for you.

- It's from my mommy.

- [Song] Oh, yeah!

What'd she say? I hope

she don't mind about me takin' out

those braids and things.

- I didn't know what else to do.

- Let's let her read her letter in peace.

Come on, everybody.

Let's make breakfast, hmm?

Viola? Let's go.

- Jade.

- [Carolyn's Voice] Dear ladybug:

Happy birthday. The mailman just tapped

on the window, and I got your letter.

Hooray! I'm glad to hear you're havin'

such a wonderful time down there.

Could this be true?

Although you've been gone only a month,

it feels like an eternity.

- Minnie wanted to know:

- When will Troy be back

from down South?

[Carolyn]

All the boys are still on the stoop

playin' Strat-o-Matic baseball.

What a waste of time.

And Tommy still can't sing.

[Off-key]

# Yester-you #

# Listen to me #

# La-la-la-la

La-la-la la-la means #

# I love you #

[Carolyn] Last night

we had yet another run-in with Tony.

Vic Powell didn't slap him this time.

Your father was there, thank God.

Wendell has been telling me

that every morning Tony throws

trash from his sidewalk...

onto our stoop.

We finally caught him red-handed.

What the hell you

think you're doin'?

Throwing this trash back. Who told you

to throw it here in the first place?

- How do you know it was us?

- You did it to your own stink house.

- I know exactly what happened.

- You're the one who's

always throwin' garbage.

[Carolyn]

You know how it is on our block.

A little shouting starts.

Before you know it, you got

a big crowd wantin' a show.

- [Arguing]

- Wendell, what's goin' on?

Caught him throwin' trash over there.

I expect more from a grown man.

What do you think you're doin'?

Your children are constantly over here

throwin' their trash on my property.

- True.

- And furthermore, they go on the roof,

and throw rocks down on my dogs.

- Untrue.

- Machine gun, machine gun, machine gun!

[Shouting]

- Are you doing this?

- Are you gonna believe this man?

Yeah, you gonna believe

this stinky over us?

My children are doing no such thing.

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

You should start actin' like an adult

and cut this foolishness out.

Tony, I hate to tell you this,

but your house stinks. That's the truth.

Why you house stink, man?

[All Laughing]

- [Speaking Spanish]

- Hey, you up there.

Hey, mister number four.

Mira, mira. Where's my rent?

- I want to talk to you.

- When you gonna pay the rent?

You want me to,

I'll come over.

I'll help try to straighten up,

but this situation got to stop.

I smell your animals all in my house.

You understand me?

Okay.

Here.

[Carolyn]

Aren't you glad to be away from these

crazy people in Crooklyn, New York?

And now, about your father.

It started with Clinton.

You're the eldest. I expect

more from you, but I'm gonna

let you make your own decision.

Man, why did Daddy have

to have his concert tonight,

the night of the NBA championships?

- Dang!

- Which is more important?

[Brown]

All right! Nice!

- Was that some new stuff

tonight, brother?

- Yeah, man.

[Carolyn]

You ought to record it, Woody.

I plan to. I also started

working on my folk opera.

[Maxine]

Folk opera? About what, Woody?

- What you laughin' at?

- Jessica was laughing.

She's from the city.

My folk opera is about me

growin' up in Alabama.

[Brown]

All right. You got the material for it.

- You know that's right.

- [Laughing]

Doin' it right!

We were all trying very hard

to lift your father's spirits.

And it was working, until:

[Door Slamming]

The Knicks are world champs.

We got some ice cream

and cake right here.

- Clinton.

- I'm not hungry.

[Footsteps Ascending Stairs]

And the Knicks won.

How 'bout that?

[Carolyn] I've enclosed

some gifts for you and Viola.

Ladybug, we all

miss you dreadfully.

I miss you.

Love, Mommy.

P.S. We got the lights

turned back on,

thanks to Uncle Brown, who is

also buying your plane ticket home.

- Please write and thank him...

- "Please write to him

and thank him immediately."

[Song]

Queenie!

Queenie!

I don't know where

she's run off to.

- Well, here she is, the birthday girl.

- These are for you.

- Thank you.

- Did your mother send you those?

- Mm-hmm. They're jade.

- Oh.

Aren't they pretty. What are they?

Little elephants?

Look, Mama.

Aunt Carolyn sent me some also.

Oh, well, Viola,

you don't have pierced ears.

- You know how I feel about that.

- But Troy has pierced ears.

Well, Troy was also

wearin' them funny...

braids and beads

and shells and things.

- You don't ever let me

do what I want to do.

- I want to go home.

- Beg pardon?

- I'm going home.

Now, Troy,

no need to get upset.

Everybody has a little argument

now and then.

Uh, your Aunt Song didn't mean nothin'

about your hair and your earrings.

- Did you, honey?

- [Troy] I don't care!

- See what you did?

- Lord, have mercy. Troy!

How would it look if you left now?

Aunt Song has

a big mouth sometimes.

You want your folks to think we done

scared you back up North?

If she goes, I go.

Troy, Aunt Song loves you

and your family.

Clem, do something!

Now look, folks. Troy wants

to go home, Troy's goin' home.

- That's all there is to it.

- Troy?

[Pitifully] At least stay for

the birthday party I've prepared.

- Song. Fix us some breakfast.

- [Troy] All right.

Queenie!

Queenie! Queenie,

where are you?

- [Crying] Oh, Lord, have mercy.

- [Clem] Come on back in here.

Where is my baby?

Queenie! Where are you?

Jesus, Master,

where is my child? Queenie!

Queenie, where are you?

Queenie?

Where are you, baby?

[Laughing]

Stop that! Please!

- Did you find her, Mama?

- I just don't understand

where my baby is.

It's not like Queenie just to up

and disappear. Why, Lord, why?

- She'll be back, Aunt Song.

- Don't worry. Queenie'll show up.

It's gettin' late, y'all. Everybody

have enough ice cream and cake?

- [All] Yes.

- Everybody brush their teeth

and wash their hands?

- [All] Yes.

- All right, help me pull this bed out.

Come on. Move!

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.

Pick up the pillow.

Viola, help 'em

with the pillows.

Get out of here, Judy, Jody...

Whatever your names are.

[Screaming]

Oh, dear God!

Oh, God, take me right now.

I don't want to live anymore

without my baby.

[Sobbing]

Queenie!

[Sobbing]

[Sobbing]

Oh, God! Queenie!

[Crying]

[Sniffling]

Looks like it's gonna rain.

That means that

my baby is in heaven.

- [Sobbing]

- Troy, I'll go get your bags.

Bye, Aunt Song.

- I'm sorry about Queenie.

- [Sobbing]

Maybe you could come

stay with me sometime.

I'd like that.

Bye, Queenie.

Sorry you got squashed to death in

the sofa, even though I hated your guts.

- [Engine Starting]

- [Clem] Let her go, Viola.

All right, let's go.

# Every time I think

I've had enough #

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