Southside With You Page #6

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"Did I even deserve the A?"

Sometimes, I forget why I'm fighting.

Or even that I am fighting.

I didn't know I was wrestling

with myself about the firm.

I understand that.

You think you're real smooth, don't you?

Why?

Did you know you were speaking today?

No!

Well, not exactly.

I knew there was a decent chance, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Pretty good setting to bring a girl.

Surrounded by people who adore you,

people who might tell this

girl heart-tugging stories

about how you inspired their

sons to join the navy.

And an inspirational speech that

had everybody in awe, Mr. Obama.

Including you?

It wasn't bad.

You sounded a little professorial.

But you definitely have a

knack for making speeches.

Thank you.

You know, that being said,

it didn't hurt to take you

there on our first date.

- Our first what?

- You heard me.

You must have misspoken,

because according to you,

this isn't a date until I say so.

You know, if you don't wanna spend

any more time with me today,

I'll respect it.

I won't like it,

but I'll respect your wishes.

But if you wanna keep hanging,

let's call it a date

and move on to the next event.

- Next event?

- Drinks and a movie.

You think you're real smooth.

And real cute.

I don't know about the cute part.

I mean, they did look good on Dumbo.

- I'd rather be Dumbo than the Wicked Queen.

- Wicked Queen?

Now,

you can't just say any old wicked queen.

From which movie?

Why can't nobody love me

Like my baby does?

Young girl turned out to be

Two times, twice the woman

That I thought she was...

Michelle:
Don't even come at me

with that "Innervisions" nonsense.

Barack:
It's a better album all around.

Michelle:
"You and I,"

"Sunshine of My Life," "Superstition."

- Barack:
All great songs.

- His best.

Huh, not better than "Higher Ground."

"Talking Book"

was the first album I ever heard.

And if it was the last,

I'd be set for life.

- That's how brilliant it is.

- Mm-mm.

Man.

Well, at least we can agree

that Stevie is the best.

- Mm.

- At least we can start from there.

Okay,

so what about that moment in the church

before the meeting?

Which?

I think Bernadette said it

about you finally dating a sister.

Who knows with those two?

- They love to gossip.

- Is it true?

- Is what true?

- That you never date black women?

- Not true.

- But you did date white women.

I've dated a couple white women, yes.

Which do you prefer?

Come on, buster.

Now it's your turn to ante up.

My girlfriend at Columbia was white.

Okay.

It was pretty serious.

What was her name?

Jennifer.

How long were you with Jennifer?

A little over two years.

Mm-hmm.

Columbia was a...

strange time in my life.

I was reading a lot, figuring stuff out.

I had very few friends.

- Except for Jennifer.

- Exactly.

She was lovely.

She really was.

She was very caring.

Kept me company when I was lonely.

We fell into that private little

universe couples can fall into

where you develop your own kind of

language and customs, you know?

I've never had that with anyone

other than my own family.

It's nice.

Anyway,

when we went to visit her family,

they were incredibly gracious to me.

Very nice, open-minded people.

But I looked around at all

the pictures on the walls,

all the white faces,

and I knew I couldn't spend

any more of my life

living as an outsider.

Does that answer your question?

So, why did you come to Chicago?

To try and make a difference.

Mm-hmm.

Thought I would, too.

Thought maybe I'd work civil cases.

Help women, empower them.

Being at that meeting today

aroused some of those old dreams.

Lit some kind of fire.

But those last couple years,

the corporate firms

descend upon the campus

like a pack of wolves.

And they're so appealing.

I wanted to be in a position

to pay off my loans,

pay my folks back,

live a little,

enjoy life.

There's nothing wrong with that.

There's nothing wrong

with it until there is.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I just feel like something

else is pulling at me.

I wonder if I can write books

or hold a position of

influence in civil rights.

- Politics?

- Maybe.

I just want to do more.

Yeah, so do I.

And maybe just wanting it

is enough for now.

Hm.

Whatever I end up doing,

I take comfort in knowing I can't

do much worse than my dad did.

That doesn't sound like the same guy

who gave that fancy speech earlier,

the one who talked about

letting go of judgment.

I've noticed how you talk

about your father.

That's such an angry way

to live your life...

judging him,

living your life against his.

You're still fighting him,

but he's not here anymore.

You said earlier you felt

his life was incomplete.

Every father's life is incomplete.

That's why they have sons...

to finish what they started.

You know, my grandfather

was not a very generous man.

He could have helped

my dad through college,

but he was so terrified

of getting into debt,

he refused to lend him any money.

So my dad had to drop out of school

after a year.

Took a while,

but he forgave my grandfather.

Then he got his job with the city...

and he has spent the rest of his life

working in that boiler room,

making sure not to do to his kids

what his father did to him.

You have to forgive your father...

so your anger doesn't turn you into him.

You have to forgive him...

so you can be better than him.

That's what he would want.

Man:
Get out of the way, man!

Cop:
Break it up, break it up!

Get off of him!

Get off, man! Get out of the way!

Man:
Let me through! Let me through!

Let me through! Get off me, get off me!

Get his arm! Get his arm!

- Cop #2:
Gary, that's enough.

- Gary:
Shut up.

Gary, that's enough, man!

- Cop #2:
Gary, that's enough!

- Gary:
Shut up!

Man:
Radio Raheem! Radio Raheem!

- No!

- Radio!

Radio Raheem! Radio Raheem!

Man in theater:
Yeah!

Michelle:
What's the matter?

Be careful! I feel a riot coming on.

Ugh.

- I'm gonna use the restroom.

- Okay.

Woman:
No, I don't wanna see it.

Man:
Michelle?

It is you.

Your height gave you away.

Avery, what are you doing here?

Uh, picking up groceries.

What do you think?

We came to the movies.

- You did?

- Yeah.

We partners do that from time to time.

And, uh...

and on occasion,

we bring along our wives.

Laura, this is Michelle Robinson,

one of our more tenacious associates.

Michelle, this is my wife, Laura.

So pleased to make your acquaintance.

Likewise, likewise.

I think Avery mentions you

at least a dozen times a day.

Are you here alone?

Me? Um, I'm...

with a friend.

Actually...

I have to go.

What did you think of the film?

What did I think? I liked it.

Well, all the hoopla leading up to it,

I had to see for myself.

Oh, what did you think?

Compelling,

though the ending was puzzling

and more than a little infuriating.

Ha! Barack!

- Avery.

- Wow!

Having a Sidley Austin reunion, here.

We just came from a community meeting

that we attended

as colleagues and friends,

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