Gospel Hill Page #6

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- It's my second.

My first year was at this suburban school.

You know, great facilities,

good students, good teachers.

It was too civilized really.

Listen, Mr. Malcolm...

I've been teaching my students

about what happened here...

during the civil rights movement

in the '60s.

I know that it must've been really hard

for you to lose your father like that-

murdered by a white man.

How do you know

it's a white man?

Well, wasn't he?

I don't know that.

Somebody must know.

Yeah. Somebody must.

He was gunned down

in broad daylight.

There were witnesses around

that said they didn't see anything.

I mean, these were black people.

- Ah, they had no choice.

Everybody has a choice.

- Mm-mmm. No.

You have a choice.

Your parents have a choice.

Those folks had one choice,

the same as my daddy-

stand quiet or lie quiet.

I understand the choice

that your father made.

You don't understand.

You can't possibly understand.

Here. Gimme your hand.

Now, you see that?

Hmm? It's not your doing.

But you'll never

in your life understand.

Mr. Malcolm.

Mr. Malcolm.

So, I hear you didn't

get your car fixed.

It was a misunderstanding.

Yeah, well, he's in pain.

But a lot of people are.

You can't be afraid of other people's pain.

I'm not afraid. I just don't like being

put in a box and labeled.

Uh! Well, you will get used to that.

I shouldn't have to get used to that.

- No.

But it's a sure fact of life.

And here's something else

you're not gonna like.

Once a lot of black people in town

find out who you goin' around with...

they won't be so friendly.

What about who I am?

What I think, what I feel?

It goes both ways.

Hey, Lonnie.

What's up, man?

- What it do, Luther?

Where you goin'?

Have some of this.

Nah, I gotta get on back.

Take her home and come on back

and get your head right.

Nah, I told my wife I'm gonna

help with dinner and stuff, man.

Dinner and stuff?

N*gger, you 'posed to be the man.

Trust me.

I am the man.

But I ain't your n*gger.

Anyway, a man don't sit around here drinkin'

no 40-ouncer when there's work to be done.

Later, Luther.

Hey, brother.

How you doin' today?

Not as good as you, brother.

If I was any better,

they'd have to bury my ass.

All right.

Take care.

Hey, brother?

Stay strong.

Strong.

F*** you!

You know-

- Just talk to me.

Tell me what it is. We can figure it out.

Well, this isn't gonna work out,

you know, Yvonne.

What?

- Well, you know, I-

Well, wait. Are you telling me

that you lost the love?

Is that what you're trying to tell me?

- No, it's just-

What's the point, huh?

I'll remind you.

It's okay.

Have a drink. Come on.

Have a drink with me.

- No.

I don't wanna have a drink.

I don't wanna talk.

I just want you to go.

Okay.

I'll leave.

But if you think that's gonna solve

your problems, Carl, you're wrong.

It's a start.

I'm sor-

Hi.

- Hi.

You look cute.

Come on in.

Uh, wait. Um-

I-I can't come to dinner tonight.

Why?

I don't think that we should

see each other anymore.

What?

I-I can't do this.

What'd I do?

- Nothing. It's nothing that you did.

Then what is it?

It's just who you are.

Wait. Whoa. Wait! Hey.

What do you mean,

"who you are"?

What I mean is that

you and I are different.

You owed me 'bout five dollars for, like,

a whole year, and I ain't said nothin'.

Don't you feel for Joel?

Oh, h-how can you

even ask me that?

'Cause you're just sittin' there feelin'

so sorry for yourself.

Why you always gotta throw blame

around all the time?

Hmm? I mean, you wanna blame somebody,

look in the mirror.

What did I do?

- Come on, man.

I mean, listen to yourself.

"N*ggers" this, "n*ggers" did that.

She broke up with Joel

because of you.

Maybe you oughta

look at your own life.

You don't know about my life.

Don't I?

Always easier to blame someone else

than it is to look at your own self.

I guess that makes you the n*gger, huh?

All right then.

- Carl. Carl.

Do you think I like feeling this way?

Well, how do you wanna feel, Dad?

I wanna feel somethin' else.

Raul Malcolm.

He... was a man who stood up.

He did what was right.

Why didn't you?

Same reason as everybody else.

Didn't want to end up

like your daddy.

Somethin' I'll never

be able to get right.

The men in this town...

had their way with

just about... everybody-

includin' me.

I didn't mind being their boy.

I thought it was

the road to the top.

I didn't believe that they-

they'd kill a man...

because he stood

between them and the bank.

And they ran right over me.

How could you live with that, Herrod?

I'm about done.

That's the way it is for you.

But it doesn't give me

any satisfaction.

I'll go to my grave...

never having seen

the man that killed him.

What would you do

if you did?

I don't know.

But I'd do somethin'.

Then I'll take ya.

Let's go.

Ernest Hatch.

Yeah?

I want you to meet...

John Malcolm.

This here is Ernest Hatch.

He was a-

a rich man's puppet, just like me.

Huh!

Ernest here is the man

that shot your daddy dead.

Is this what you want?

No.

No.

Well, hello, Doc.

You know you're not gettin'

it done with Sarah Malcolm.

But you know what this means to us.

It's time to play hardball.

We gotta stop her. L. Donn'll take care

of it. You just stay out of the way.

Good luck at the meetin'!

# Well, I been workin'

all of these years, you know #

# All I got is the blues #

# I work, work, work

Yeah #

# What do I have to show #

# The only thing I ever get, y'all #

# Is a hard damn way to go #

# Sometime I feel like

throwin' up my hand #

# Feel like sayin'

What's the use #

# All I have all these years

of workin' hard #

# All I have is the blues #

# I work, work, work, y'all #

# Still can't save a cent #

# Time I pay my rent, my house

No, you see #

# My money's already spent #

# Lord, I feel like throwin' up

both of my hands sometime #

Hello?

- John? This is Ron Palmer.

Yeah.

- Things have gotten out of hand.

L. Donn is gonna do

something to Sarah.

We're back to order.

This is it, boys.

I think everything's gonna go our way.

We are here to vote

on the proposal put forth...

by Valley Corporation

to rezone Gospel Hill.

Is there any further discussion on

the matter before we go to the vote?

Yes, Madam President?

Yes, Mrs. Malcolm.

Go ahead with your question.

I have a petition here signed by

members of our community stating that...

we, in effect, oppose

the development project.

Mrs. Malcolm-

- Where is it written...

that what is good for the people

must not inconvenience the powerful?

Sarah, please. Enter the petition.

Madam President, if I may,

let me reiterate...

the tremendous growth potential and

benefits that will come to this community.

What community? If it's only in the

interests of the whites and the affluents...

that merits consideration, then...

how is that a community?

Madam President,

I suggest that the council...

is ready for a vote.

Miriam, we are not ready

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