Mississippi Masala Page #6

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Glad to meet you.

l know who you are.

- Then you know l'm here to see

Mina. - That will not be possible.

All right. Then l'm glad to have the

opportunity to talk with you, sir.

l'm sorry. We have nothing to discuss.

l believe we do, being that you about

ruined my reputation and business.

l think l'm entitled to

an answer, don't you?

l see.

You think l ain't good

enough for your daughter?

No, that's not it.

Mina is free to love anyone, to live

as she chooses. l respect her freedom.

But that does not absolve me of

my responsibility as her father.

No disrespect to you, sir,

but she's a grown woman.

And we care for each other. Now,

l think that's all there is to it.

You know, once l was like both of you.

l thought l could change the world,

be different.

But the world is not so quick to change.

Mina is my only child.

l don't want her to go through

the same struggle as l did.

l'm a black man born and raised in Mississippi.

Ain't a damn thing you can tell me about struggle.

- What do you know about my? - No, l know.

l know you and your folks can

come here from God knows where

and be as black as the ace of

spades, but you start acting white

and treating us like your doormats.

l know that you and your daughter

ain't but a few shades from this here.

That l know.

- To our last night in Uganda.

- In Uganda.

- To Uganda. Cheers. - Cheers.

Cheers. Cheers.

To Uganda, you have been so good

to us until this madman came.

Yeah, we created the madman.

We buggers in Uganda.

Most people are born with five

senses. We are left with only one.

A sense of property.

- But you see - If l release

him, they'll get my neck.

l'm trying to tell you

He gave an interview,

this brother of yours

on BBC for the world to hear.

- Well - That Amin was evil.

You.

Out.

You can go.

Come on, let's go.

lt's easy to be king of Kampala.

Big fish in a little pond.

Why don't you try to be king of London?

Or king of Bombay.

Because l was born here!

l've always been Ugandan first,

Indian second.

l've been called a bootlicker and

a traitor by my fellow Indians.

Okelo

Uganda is my home.

Not anymore, Jay.

Africa is for Africans.

Black Africans.

Do you know why we left Uganda?

Do you?

They put you in jail.

After 34 years,

my brother Okelo told me:

Africa is for Africans.

Black Africans.

After 34 years,

that's what it all came down to.

The color of my skin.

That's why we left.

Not because of Idi Amin

or anything like that.

Mina.

Believe me.

l'm speaking from experience.

People stick to their own kind.

You are forced to accept

that when you grow older.

l'm only trying to spare you the pain.

Okelo risked his life to save yours.

l don't know what more proof

you could have of his love.

What do you remember?

You were just a child.

l remember.

l remember his face when

he came to say goodbye

and you wouldn't even look at him.

My suggestion is you settle out of

court. Save you a lot of time

Why should we, Mr. Turnbull?

How can you expect any jury to believe

your client's in bed with a back injury?

Don't think we're ignorant

Indians who'll get scared and pay.

l'm a lawyer myself!

No court on earth will entertain for

one minute this fraudulent claim!

Why don't you just try me?

Don't get scared, Anil.

Pure bluff.

He was just trying to extort money.

Bloody crooks.

l'll fix them.

Jammubhai, l don't want you to fix anything.

You and your family have

completely ruined me.

You've brought me nothing but trouble.

Jammubhai, my peace of mind is gone.

Now, l wish that you would also go. Yes.

Maybe my shanti will return then.

Do you know what your friend's done?

He's just sued Anil for 50,OOO.

Pack your things.

We're leaving Mississippi.

Going back to Uganda?

What is it going to solve?

lt will get Mina away from this fellow.

Number two,

we are not wanted here.

And number three,

next week is my court hearing.

What court hearing?

l'm going to fight it, Kinnu.

l'm going to win it.

l'm going to get our property back.

Kinnu, we can start a new life.

How can you even think of it, Jay?

How can you even think

of going back to Uganda?

Kinnu.

We are getting old.

l don't want to die in

some stranger's country.

- l'm ashamed of you and your behavior.

- How come you always take their side?

What about me?

l've worked hard to buy this motel.

- And l'm not running a charity!

- Anil, you have become American.

So what? l live here in America. If

you don't like it, go back to India.

Jammubhai.

Please, forgive us for all this.

And please, even now if you'll

change your mind about going

l forgot my shoes in the other room.

l feel so bad.

How many times must l tell you?

l was thinking of going anyway.

This was just what we needed.

Well?

Sir, do you know where

l can find Demetrius?

Young lady, you've caused

enough trouble in my son's life.

Don't cause problems in mine

by coming in here like this.

l'm sorry. l am sorry for everything.

l didn't come to make trouble.

l just wanna say goodbye to him.

We're moving back to Africa.

- Williben, they need you in

the kitchen. - Yes, ma'am.

Sir, please.

He's talking to motels in Indianola.

Yes, ma'am.

Yes Ma'am, we have the latest equipment,

the best prices, the best service

Wonderful smiles.

Why don't you take my card?

lt won't hurt you. It's just a piece of paper.

- Oh, all right, l give up. - Thank you.

Demetrius!

What do you want?

Huh? What you chasing me for?

Your people done put me out of

work. What more do you want?

You walk into my life

from these fancy places.

l'm just a carpet cleaner. l've never

Ieft Mississippi, but l was happy.

l was happy the way l was till

you come along after me

and God knows why.

All those years of building

up my business are gone.

Now l'm just the biggest

joke in Greenwood. Thank you.

You listen to me! l never

went after you. You chased me.

You asked me to your house,

you invited me to Biloxi

You never told me your family

had trouble with black folks.

Well, you never asked. You never

once asked me about myself.

You know why? Because you were too

busy using me to make Alicia jealous.

Who told you that?

Nobody had to. l'm not stupid, you know.

Anyway, your nightmare's over.

l just came to say goodbye.

- l'm moving back to Africa. -

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

All right, l admit at first l

Well, she was with that guy and l

l never thought l would fall in love with you.

What are you gonna do now?

Well, Tyrone went to Los Angeles.

Thinking about going somewhere, l guess.

Demetrius, can l come with you?

- What? - Can l come with you?

- Come with me where? - l don't

know. Wherever you're going.

l didn't say l was going anywhere.

l said l was thinking about it.

Well, think about it.

You said we're gonna travel

and see the world and

- What we gonna live on, fresh

air? - No, you've got the van.

l could be your partner.

l know how to clean rooms.

You're out of your mind.

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