Mississippi Masala Page #4

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The British brought them

to build the railway.

Like slaves.

l guess.

That's how my grandfather came.

Then the railway was

finished and he stayed on.

- How come you left? -

Dexter, let her eat her food.

- l'm just asking a question.

- Just let her eat.

What's wrong with asking

how come she left?

There ain't nothing wrong with asking

why she left, just let her eat.

lt's time for the cake!

Happy birthday, Uncle Williben.

Come on, now. Help me blow it out.

l used to know someone in Indianola.

She don't know that person,

because she's from India.

- What did you get,

Uncle Williben? - Beautiful.

- Look at it.

- That's from all of us, Dad.

- For when l retire, huh? -

And the sooner the better.

Ruining your health for old

Mrs. Morgan

who don't say hello when

she pass me on the street.

Happy birthday.

Well, Mina's gotta go,

so we gonna head on out.

Thank you. Happy birthday.

Come see us again, you hear? All right.

- Aunt Rose. - Good to see you.

Thanks for coming.

- Granddaddy. - You be a

good girl. A real good girl.

lf l go to India and get one of them

Aladdin lamps and rub it good

think l can get me a genie like you?

l don't know. l've never been to India.

Well, you just like us.

We from Africa, but we never

been there before either.

Alicia!

Happy birthday.

- Hey, Rabbit. - Wow!

Who she calling Rabbit?

And who is this?

- Hi, l'm Mina. - l'm Demetrius.

See y'all.

You ever been to the bayou?

- Nice, right? - It's beautiful.

My mother used to say that she could

never step in the same river twice.

What's that supposed to mean?

l don't know.

- You had a good time today? - Yeah.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- Family didn't ask too many

questions? - No, your family's great.

There's really a feeling of home there.

Thank you.

What about your folks?

lt's just my dad and my mom and me.

l like your ring there.

Let me see.

My mother gave it to me.

- It's a cooling stone from

India. - Cooling stone?

For peace of mind.

You think l'm trying to hit on you?

Are you?

Yeah.

You mind if l kiss you?

Mind if l kiss you again?

You're sweet, you know that?

All of us people of color

must stick together, you know.

Come on.

Hello. Good evening,

Monte Cristo. May l help you?

Monte. Yes. Monte Cristo. May l help you?

Come on back. Good evening,

Monte Cristo. May l help you?

You are looking very happy today.

l'm always happy.

But today there is something extra.

Look into my eyes.

You can fool everyone,

but cannot fool Jammubhai.

- Hello. Tired, no? - Oh, yeah.

- How many times? - Chinese

don't do no hanky-panky.

Hey, sayonara.

Hello, may l help you?

Room?

- Do you have any hourly rates? -

Yes. One hour, two hour, full night.

Our motto is:
Customer always comes first.

- So, what's your hourly rate? - 12.57.

Evening. l couldn't wait till

tomorrow. l had to see you tonight.

- You want a room? - Yes, ma'am.

- Rama Inn's only 9.99. - Go

there. They have dirty sheets.

A room where two people can be

alone to enjoy each other's company.

Look, man, don't waste my

time. You want a room or not?

- How do you spell your

name? - Biloxi. Mr. Biloxi.

Can you come with me to

Biloxi? Please, can you come?

- Please. - Please, please.

l'm sorry, we can't go cheaper than that.

- l see. - Enjoy. Thank you.

- Hello, Mr. Biloxi. - Hi.

- You needing room? - No,

no, your rates are too high.

Thank you for your help.

These days it's like disease,

everybody asking for discount.

- l am going on my rounds.

Good night. - Good night.

- What are you doing?

It's paining. - Chanda.

l'd like to help everybody in America.

l'd like to help the average person

who's at home or in the audience.

You all have dreams, but

you're afraid to go for them.

- Mina? - How are you?

What you mean, How are you?

You know who it is?

- Of course. - Well, l was

just thinking about you.

Thought l'd give you a call.

Ki Kind of wishing you

were here with me.

l was thinking the same.

Wanting to be with you.

What you got on?

- You in your pajamas? - T-shirt.

Yeah, me too.

Guess we got a lot in common, huh?

So you thought about what l said?

As far as going with me to Biloxi?

You know, l'm l'm gonna try.

Yeah?

- Demetrius? - Yeah.

- Can l ask you something? - Yeah.

Anything, baby.

Are you seeing me to make Alicia?

Mina. Call the police. Underage!

- l gotta go. - What's that?

Bye.

l can put as many people in here as l want

because l paid for it so that makes it mine.

- Get out at once. - What

are you gonna do if l don't?

You are underage. Underage.

l can call the police.

You just get out, get out.

- Underage. Underage!

- We all won't fit.

First-class job they did, yeah?

- Looks brand-new again. -

First-class money they charged also.

We must test it. Go for a spin.

Want to visit Pontiac's

new motel? What do you say?

Pontiac's motel, Pontiac's car.

Thank you, sweetheart.

Papa, there's a letter from

Uganda here for you.

- What's it say?

- Nothing important.

Papa?

Nitu's inviting me to go

to the beach with her.

Think l could go?

- When will you be back?

- Tomorrow.

Yeah, okay, go.

Just be back in time for your birthday.

Dear Mr. Loha:
We are in receipt

of your six letters of inquiry

regarding your claim to Ugandan citizenship

and compensation for your past assets.

This is to inform you

that the court of Uganda

will hear your petition

on September 23, 199O

and your presence

in Kampala is required.

- Hi. - Hey.

- Let me carry this for you? - Sure.

- Well, how you doing? - Good.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- Had a good trip? - Very good.

You know, l don't do this every day.

What, you think, like, l do

it all the time or something?

How would l know?

Good question.

l think you got the wrong

idea about me, though.

My name's Demetrius, not Tyrone.

- You're right. - We're right over here.

You know, l had to tell my parents

that l was going to see Nitu.

- Nitu? Oh, and l'm Nitu? - Yep.

- Nitu. - Nitu.

Me too.

Thank you.

From where to where we've come,

Kinnu?

No point thinking like that.

Here's to your lawsuit.

To Likker Legger!

Cheers.

Cheers.

Your Aunt Rose was telling me

why you didn't leave Mississippi.

Yeah? What did she say?

She said you stayed home

to look after your father.

- Yeah, l guess. - Is it true?

l ain't no saint, you know. l

mean, you got a good business

there's no reason to leave. This

is the new Mississippi, l like it.

lt's not where l live.

You know how many people

come to our motel

and they look at us and they

say, Not another goddamn Indian.

- It makes me so mad. - Yeah.

Well, Miss Masala, racism

or as they say nowadays, tradition,

gets passed down like recipes.

Now, the trick is, you gotta know what

to eat and what to leave on your plate.

- Otherwise, you'll be mad

forever. - And you'll never eat.

And you'll never eat. That's right.

The world looks good from up here.

l say we travel together. What do you say?

- l say yes. - Yes.

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