|
Precious Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire
|
| 00:01:15 |
My name is Claireece "Precious" Jones. |
| 00:01:20 |
I wish l had a Iight-skinned boyfrIend |
| 00:01:24 |
And l wanna be on the cover of a magazine. |
| 00:01:27 |
But first, l wanna be |
| 00:01:30 |
Momma said l can 't dance. |
| 00:01:32 |
Plus, she said, who wants |
| 00:01:36 |
Well , if there's no volunteers, |
| 00:01:40 |
Okay, Leticia, you got number one. Leticia! |
| 00:01:44 |
Jess Wesley, n umber two. |
| 00:01:45 |
l like math. l don 't say nothing. |
| 00:01:49 |
l don 't open my book, even. I just sit there. |
| 00:01:53 |
-You down? |
| 00:01:54 |
Every day I tell myself |
| 00:01:58 |
l'm. . . l'm dead serious. |
| 00:02:00 |
Like, l'm gonna break through. |
| 00:02:02 |
Or somebody's gonna break through to me. |
| 00:02:06 |
l'm gonna be normal |
| 00:02:08 |
and pay attention, |
| 00:02:11 |
Distributive principles. . . |
| 00:02:13 |
Someday. |
| 00:02:14 |
. . .are principles that |
| 00:02:17 |
I like Mr. Wicher. |
| 00:02:20 |
l pretend he my husband |
| 00:02:25 |
Look at him. He like me, too, l know it. |
| 00:02:30 |
l can teIl by his eyes. |
| 00:02:35 |
Boys! Boys ! Boys! |
| 00:02:37 |
l'm not you r fucking boy! |
| 00:02:38 |
You're disrupting the class. |
| 00:02:39 |
Yeah, well, l'm talking now, |
| 00:02:43 |
Shut the fuck up ! l'm trying to listen ! |
| 00:02:49 |
Mr. WIcher know l got his back. |
| 00:02:51 |
One twenty-two. |
| 00:02:55 |
Why are we barking , Jess? |
| 00:02:57 |
Monday's assignment. |
| 00:03:02 |
-No. |
| 00:03:07 |
Please. . . Quiet. Precious, get your things. |
| 00:03:12 |
l have. . . Come here for a second. |
| 00:03:14 |
Now this shit. |
| 00:03:15 |
ls there anybody |
| 00:03:21 |
Why? These aren't requests. |
| 00:03:29 |
You have to go to the principal's office. |
| 00:03:43 |
Go to the principal's office! |
| 00:03:44 |
All right, that's enoug h . That's enough. |
| 00:03:48 |
No, he's not allowed on campus. |
| 00:03:51 |
Could you get Mr. Tork from Room 25, |
| 00:03:53 |
tell him to go to Room 1 6 right away? |
| 00:03:55 |
No. He was seen on the second floor. |
| 00:03:59 |
Yes. Thank you. |
| 00:04:01 |
Send Claireece in here! |
| 00:04:06 |
She's ready for you now. |
| 00:04:12 |
Mr. Taylor? Ms. Lichenstein. |
| 00:04:15 |
Come in. |
| 00:04:17 |
Matthew Will iams, second floor. |
| 00:04:20 |
ln front of his locker. |
| 00:04:26 |
Yeah. |
| 00:04:28 |
Yes, absolutely. Thank you. |
| 00:04:31 |
Hello, Claireece. |
| 00:04:38 |
Are you pregnant? |
| 00:04:47 |
You're 1 6. You're still in junior h igh school, |
| 00:04:53 |
and you're pregnant with you r second child. |
| 00:04:56 |
ls that correct, Claireece? |
| 00:05:01 |
Are you pregnant again? |
| 00:05:10 |
What happened, Claireece? |
| 00:05:12 |
l had sex, Ms. Lichenstein. |
| 00:05:20 |
Do you have any other thoughts |
| 00:05:30 |
Claireece? |
| 00:05:31 |
Am I in trouble? |
| 00:05:35 |
Thank you. I gotta get back to math. |
| 00:05:38 |
Sit down , Claireece. Sit down right now. |
| 00:05:43 |
We should have a parent-teacher's |
| 00:05:47 |
My mother's busy. |
| 00:05:49 |
All right. Well then, |
| 00:05:52 |
lf l were you , l wouldn't. |
| 00:05:54 |
l . . . l'm going to have to suspend you. |
| 00:05:58 |
That ai n't fai r! l didn't do nothing ! |
| 00:06:01 |
My grades is good ! |
| 00:06:02 |
ls something going on at home? |
| 00:06:04 |
lf something's going on at home, |
| 00:06:20 |
You get my cigarettes? |
| 00:06:22 |
No, they didn't have it. |
| 00:06:24 |
l played the number, though. |
| 00:06:55 |
Yes. Yeah. |
| 00:06:59 |
Right there. Yeah . Daddy loves you. |
| 00:07:11 |
Precious, what did you think of the fil m? |
| 00:07:13 |
l thought it was fabulous. |
| 00:07:14 |
-What's next for you? |
| 00:07:17 |
-How are you feeling? |
| 00:07:21 |
J ust one more, just one more, quick! |
| 00:07:23 |
l love you , too! |
| 00:07:27 |
You know I love you ! |
| 00:07:28 |
Hey, boo! |
| 00:07:38 |
l ain't gonna say it no more. |
| 00:07:45 |
The door was open, so l let myself in. |
| 00:07:48 |
Well, there goes my chance |
| 00:07:51 |
Now, Mary, this is important. |
| 00:07:58 |
Now, come on, Mary, |
| 00:08:00 |
I'd enroll myself, but l became ineligibIe |
| 00:08:04 |
Yeah, l see your acne's cleared up. |
| 00:08:08 |
You know, this pageant can do Brenda |
| 00:08:10 |
And the man In charge, he's tops |
| 00:08:14 |
How long have you two been dating? |
| 00:08:18 |
A dance teacher. |
| 00:08:22 |
Tel l them assholes to stop ringing my bell. |
| 00:08:25 |
I hate crackheads. |
| 00:08:28 |
No one ever ring this bell |
| 00:08:31 |
Why they fucking wIth us? |
| 00:08:38 |
Stop ringing the goddamn buzzers, |
| 00:08:41 |
Give the ghetto a bad name. |
| 00:08:49 |
Stop ringing the goddamn buzzer! |
| 00:09:01 |
Stop it! |
| 00:09:03 |
Stop it! |
| 00:09:05 |
press ''listen ,'' stupid. |
| 00:09:12 |
lt's Sandra Lichenstein |
| 00:09:19 |
Who is that, Precious? |
| 00:09:22 |
White bitch from school. |
| 00:09:31 |
What do you want? |
| 00:09:33 |
Claireece, l want to talk to you |
| 00:09:40 |
Eighty-six that bitch. |
| 00:09:43 |
My mother don 't wanna get cut off weIfare. |
| 00:09:45 |
And that's just what this visit |
| 00:09:51 |
Ms. Lichenstein , get out of here |
| 00:09:54 |
All right, Claireece, l spoke to Mr. Wicher, |
| 00:09:56 |
and he toId me |
| 00:09:59 |
lf your fat ass don't get |
| 00:10:02 |
...like a, like a potential for math. |
| 00:10:05 |
So l called Mrs. McKnight |
| 00:10:07 |
from Higher EducatIon Alternative |
| 00:10:12 |
It's an alternative school. |
| 00:10:15 |
Claireece, are you listeni ng to me? |
| 00:10:18 |
Yeah. |
| 00:10:19 |
Okay. Mrs. McKnight. Each One Teach One. |
| 00:10:23 |
lt's located at the 1 1 th floor, |
| 00:10:29 |
-Get rid of that bitch . |
| 00:10:32 |
so you're not too late. |
| 00:10:33 |
Eleventh floor. |
| 00:10:35 |
l heard you the first time. |
| 00:10:37 |
Okay. |
| 00:10:40 |
I don 't know what an alternative school is, |
| 00:10:46 |
My heart is aII warm inside. |
| 00:10:49 |
Mr. WIcher think I'm a good student. |
| 00:10:53 |
I knew that he liked me. |
| 00:11:16 |
School ai n't gon na help none! |
| 00:11:18 |
Take your ass down to the welfare. |
| 00:11:21 |
Who the fuck she think she is? |
| 00:11:24 |
So I guess you th ink you cute now, right? |
| 00:11:29 |
You should have kept |
| 00:11:34 |
Just 'cause he gon na give you |
| 00:11:36 |
you think you something fucki ng special? |
| 00:11:38 |
Fuck you and fuck him ! |
| 00:11:45 |
Precious! |
| 00:11:48 |
Precious! Precious! |
| 00:11:51 |
Get down here, bitch ! |
| 00:11:53 |
You brought that white bitch u p |
| 00:11:56 |
You . . . |
| 00:11:58 |
l didn't bring her here. |
| 00:11:59 |
Well, why the fuck did she ri ng my buzzer? |
| 00:12:04 |
l can't hear you, Precious. |
| 00:12:05 |
Since you got |
| 00:12:07 |
and you gonna bring a bitch u p |
| 00:12:09 |
why would that bitch ring |
| 00:12:11 |
l didn't tell her to come here. |
| 00:12:13 |
See, l think right now, you feeling |
| 00:12:17 |
'Cause of that shit you pu lled |
| 00:12:19 |
l should've fucked you up, |
| 00:12:22 |
and l let you come get yourself together. |
| 00:12:24 |
But, bitch, l'm gonna let you know |
| 00:12:27 |
that will be your last |
| 00:12:30 |
l promise you that. |
| 00:12:31 |
You gonna send a white bitch |
| 00:12:34 |
Tal king about some higher education? |
| 00:12:35 |
You're a dummy, bitch, |
| 00:12:39 |
Don't nobody want you. |
| 00:12:41 |
You done fucked around |
| 00:12:44 |
and had two motherfucking children, |
| 00:12:46 |
and one of them is a goddamn animal, |
| 00:12:48 |
running around, |
| 00:12:51 |
Bitch, you know what? |
| 00:12:55 |
l think you're real ly tryi ng to fuck with me. |
| 00:12:59 |
And you're gonna stand u p there |
| 00:13:02 |
like you're a motherfucking woman. |
| 00:13:03 |
l'm gonna show you |
| 00:13:05 |
See, you don't know |
| 00:13:08 |
Real motherfucking women sacrifice. |
| 00:13:10 |
l should've aborted your motherfucking ass. |
| 00:13:13 |
l knew it the day the doctors put you |
| 00:13:16 |
you wasn't a goddamn thing, |
| 00:13:18 |
and you have that smirk |
| 00:13:20 |
Get it off your fucking face! |
| 00:13:22 |
Now smi le about that! |
| 00:13:29 |
l'm gonna kill you , bitch ! |
| 00:13:41 |
Get off me, bitch ! |
| 00:13:45 |
And ''blank'' and eggs? |
| 00:13:46 |
-Bacon? |
| 00:13:48 |
-And ''What's up, Doc?'' He eats these. |
| 00:13:50 |
-Right. And ice, it comes in a tray. |
| 00:13:54 |
Right. And the best part of the steak. The. . . |
| 00:13:57 |
-The T-bone. The. . . |
| 00:13:58 |
-Filet mignon. |
| 00:14:00 |
-And an English. . . Thomas' English. . . |
| 00:14:03 |
-Right. |
| 00:14:14 |
You really need to get some rest. |
| 00:14:16 |
You have such a big day |
| 00:14:19 |
And remember, Mommy loves you. |
| 00:14:26 |
Describe these things that are planned. |
| 00:14:34 |
Precious, you know l love you. |
| 00:14:38 |
l'm gonna kick that white lady |
| 00:14:41 |
move you in with me. |
| 00:14:43 |
Wanna live in Westchester? |
| 00:14:46 |
-Commit a. . . |
| 00:14:48 |
And this is you get back together again. |
| 00:14:50 |
-A cIass. . . |
| 00:14:51 |
And this Is when you're Iike this, |
| 00:14:53 |
-you're expecting. . . |
| 00:14:54 |
-Yeah. And this is you make a fast. . . |
| 00:14:57 |
-Right. |
| 00:15:31 |
Where you going? |
| 00:15:33 |
Where you going? |
| 00:15:35 |
Make sure you play my 852 |
| 00:15:43 |
And get some kitty litter. |
| 00:15:49 |
Ethel, where you at? |
| 00:15:55 |
Precious, what are we gonna play? |
| 00:15:56 |
Girl , get the fuck out of here. |
| 00:15:57 |
Ain't you supposed to be |
| 00:15:59 |
You said we was gonna play. |
| 00:16:01 |
That's exactly why |
| 00:16:03 |
l never said noth ing like that. |
| 00:17:06 |
You would say some shit li ke that to me, |
| 00:17:10 |
No, l'm not playing with you. |
| 00:17:15 |
Eaoh One Teach One, hold , please. |
| 00:17:18 |
Yes. She cal led my house. |
| 00:17:23 |
Because it wasn't her. |
| 00:17:28 |
What this is here? |
| 00:17:31 |
Each One Teach One. |
| 00:17:33 |
l'm looking for an alternative school. |
| 00:17:35 |
This is an alternative. |
| 00:17:37 |
What alternative is? |
| 00:17:39 |
What exactly are you aski ng me? |
| 00:17:42 |
Lady at my other school |
| 00:17:44 |
Hotel Theresa. |
| 00:17:47 |
An alternative sohool, it's l ike a choice. |
| 00:17:53 |
So, I need your discharge papers |
| 00:17:57 |
l got kicked out of school |
| 00:18:00 |
Well, l still need you r discharge papers, |
| 00:18:03 |
Ms. Lichenstein didn't say all that. |
| 00:18:05 |
You the one she called about. |
| 00:18:09 |
Claireece P. Jones? |
| 00:18:11 |
They al ready sent over |
| 00:18:15 |
l could start today? |
| 00:18:17 |
Yeah. Are you currently receiving AFDC? |
| 00:18:20 |
My mother get AFDC |
| 00:18:23 |
So your mother has custody of you and |
| 00:18:26 |
Okay, well, l'm gonna need a copy |
| 00:18:30 |
and a copy of your phone bi ll |
| 00:18:33 |
We gotta give you a few tests, |
| 00:18:36 |
see where to place you. |
| 00:18:38 |
Hold on , baby. Each One Teach One, hold. |
| 00:18:42 |
To enter into the GED classes, |
| 00:19:18 |
There's always somethIng wrong |
| 00:19:23 |
These tests paint a picture of me |
| 00:19:27 |
These tests paint a picture |
| 00:19:29 |
my whole famiIy, as Iess than dumb. |
| 00:19:31 |
Just ugly, bIack grease to be wiped away, |
| 00:19:37 |
Sometimes l wish l was dead. |
| 00:19:41 |
l'll be okay, I guess, 'cause l'm looking up. |
| 00:19:47 |
l'm Iooking up for a piano to fall. |
| 00:19:50 |
Or a desk, couch, TV. . . Momma, maybe. |
| 00:19:55 |
Always something in my way. |
| 00:19:58 |
Yeah, man. |
| 00:19:59 |
Yo, make sure you get that |
| 00:20:02 |
Alternative. |
| 00:20:03 |
Man, you gotta stop smoking |
| 00:20:05 |
That ain't the only thing |
| 00:20:08 |
Hustling in these streets gonna kill you. |
| 00:20:10 |
lt is what it is. |
| 00:20:12 |
Then my mInd come back down to Earth. |
| 00:20:15 |
Let me get some of that sweet ass, orca! |
| 00:20:18 |
What up, mama? |
| 00:20:19 |
Why boys aIways grabbIng on themseIves? |
| 00:20:21 |
You heard what the fuck I said? |
| 00:20:25 |
l'm serious! |
| 00:20:28 |
That bitch is laughing. . . |
| 00:20:29 |
l wish they'd Ieave me alone. |
| 00:20:31 |
-She's stupid. |
| 00:20:35 |
Yo, that's not even funny. |
| 00:20:38 |
That's what she'd get anyway, no. |
| 00:20:43 |
Precious! |
| 00:22:44 |
Ma, I need some money! |
| 00:22:51 |
Ma, I'm hungry! |
| 00:22:55 |
Come take care of Mommy, Precious. |
| 00:23:02 |
l wish she'd stop this shit. |
| 00:23:12 |
The other day l cried. |
| 00:23:15 |
l felt stupid. But you know what? |
| 00:23:19 |
Fuck that day. |
| 00:23:22 |
That's why God, or whoever, |
| 00:23:26 |
Still hungry, though. |
| 00:23:34 |
Nigger wants me to leave my kids. |
| 00:23:38 |
They're my kids. |
| 00:23:42 |
-What d'you want, baby? |
| 00:23:45 |
-Sides? |
| 00:23:47 |
Still thinking about it. |
| 00:23:55 |
Butchie, you got a 1 0-piece ready? |
| 00:24:19 |
potato salad. |
| 00:24:21 |
Thank you. |
| 00:24:29 |
Hell, no, she didn't! |
| 00:24:31 |
Get her ass! Get that big bitch ! |
| 00:25:07 |
No, l am not the one. |
| 00:26:16 |
You in ABE? |
| 00:26:20 |
Yeah. |
| 00:26:23 |
Ti me's a-wasting. |
| 00:26:48 |
What's your name? |
| 00:26:50 |
Claireece. |
| 00:26:53 |
Are you coming in? |
| 00:27:01 |
That door closes in 20 seconds. |
| 00:27:09 |
How are you guys doing today? |
| 00:27:13 |
Would you like to joi n us, Consuelo? |
| 00:27:16 |
Consuelo, class is beginning. |
| 00:27:22 |
You guys know |
| 00:27:26 |
Th is is not GED . |
| 00:27:50 |
These journals are very important |
| 00:27:54 |
You will need to use them every day |
| 00:27:56 |
They are the key to this class. |
| 00:27:58 |
lt's 9: 07 , Joann. You're late. |
| 00:27:59 |
You're the one who said breakfast is |
| 00:28:02 |
Tomorrow, that door wil l be looked at 9: 00. |
| 00:28:08 |
l want you to state you r name, |
| 00:28:12 |
your favorite color, something you do well |
| 00:28:18 |
l'll go first. |
| 00:28:20 |
When you due? |
| 00:28:22 |
-My name. . . |
| 00:28:24 |
. . . is Blu Rain. |
| 00:28:26 |
-That's your real name? |
| 00:28:29 |
Your first name's Blu? |
| 00:28:34 |
My favorite color is pu rple. l sing well. |
| 00:28:40 |
And l'm here |
| 00:28:44 |
because l love to teach. |
| 00:28:46 |
She like to sing. |
| 00:28:48 |
Rhonda? |
| 00:28:49 |
l wish l could sIng. |
| 00:28:54 |
Show them how it's done. |
| 00:28:56 |
All right. |
| 00:29:02 |
Problem? |
| 00:29:05 |
-l should smack her. |
| 00:29:07 |
l was born in Kingston , Jamaica, |
| 00:29:13 |
And l cook good. |
| 00:29:15 |
My mother, she used to have a restaurant |
| 00:29:18 |
Before she get sick, |
| 00:29:20 |
So I'm here to get my reading up, |
| 00:29:29 |
My name is Rita Romero. |
| 00:29:34 |
l'm here 'cause l was an addict |
| 00:29:39 |
So l never got |
| 00:29:43 |
My favorite color's black. |
| 00:29:45 |
What do you do good? |
| 00:29:46 |
''Well,'' Joann. ''What do you do well?'' |
| 00:29:49 |
-What do l do well? |
| 00:29:52 |
l'm a good mother. Very good mother. |
| 00:29:59 |
My name's Jermaine. |
| 00:30:02 |
Tel l us where you were born first. |
| 00:30:04 |
l was born in the Bronx. Still live there. |
| 00:30:07 |
My favorite color is red. Used to be blue. |
| 00:30:12 |
l can dance real good. |
| 00:30:15 |
Homie of mine told me |
| 00:30:17 |
so l came here to stay out of trouble. |
| 00:30:20 |
So you came here to Harlem |
| 00:30:23 |
Yeah. |
| 00:30:24 |
-Consuelo? |
| 00:30:27 |
You think so? |
| 00:30:33 |
Claireece? |
| 00:30:37 |
Can l skip, too? |
| 00:30:41 |
Joann? |
| 00:30:42 |
Okay. l'm Joann . Hey. |
| 00:30:49 |
My favorite color is fluorescent beige |
| 00:30:51 |
and my ambition is to have |
| 00:30:54 |
What's a record layer? |
| 00:30:55 |
Tell us where you come from |
| 00:30:58 |
l was born i n Kings Cou nty Hospital, |
| 00:31:00 |
but my mother moved us to Harlem |
| 00:31:02 |
l'm here to get my G ED, and then . . . |
| 00:31:08 |
l'm just trying to take oare of |
| 00:31:11 |
Let's beg in . This is ABE. |
| 00:31:16 |
Can l go? |
| 00:31:23 |
l wish I could sit |
| 00:31:35 |
My name Claireece ''Precious'' Jones. |
| 00:31:40 |
l go by Precious. |
| 00:31:44 |
l live in Harlem . l like yellow. |
| 00:31:48 |
And l had problems at my other school, |
| 00:31:57 |
Something you do well? |
| 00:32:01 |
Nothing. |
| 00:32:03 |
Everybody's good at something. |
| 00:32:09 |
Come on. |
| 00:32:14 |
Well , l oan cook. And. . . |
| 00:32:20 |
l never really talked in class before. |
| 00:32:26 |
How does that make you feel? |
| 00:32:36 |
Here. |
| 00:32:41 |
lt makes me feel here. |
| 00:32:45 |
Everybody open their journal. |
| 00:32:48 |
Write the date at the top of the page, |
| 00:32:53 |
l don't care if you spell everything wrong. |
| 00:32:56 |
l don't care if it's grammatically incorrect. |
| 00:32:58 |
Write anything that you're feeling. |
| 00:33:00 |
This class will be a revolving door. |
| 00:33:02 |
Some of you will make it |
| 00:33:07 |
Fifteen min utes. Go. |
| 00:33:11 |
Before, l got a A-minus at English, |
| 00:33:18 |
Ms. Rain saId we gonna read |
| 00:33:22 |
How we supposed to do that? |
| 00:33:27 |
But then she see the worry on my face |
| 00:33:30 |
''The longest journey |
| 00:33:35 |
Whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean. |
| 00:33:40 |
Come on , come on , do the work. |
| 00:33:41 |
You love it, love it, learn it. |
| 00:33:46 |
Consuelo? |
| 00:33:48 |
''C'' for Consuelo. |
| 00:33:50 |
''C'' for kiok your ass. |
| 00:33:52 |
lt's ''K'' for kick your ass, stupid. |
| 00:33:54 |
l got the ''D,'' Ms. Rain. |
| 00:34:01 |
''D'' for dick. |
| 00:34:03 |
Ms. Rai n , tell this little-ass bitch |
| 00:34:05 |
Which you wish you had. |
| 00:34:15 |
-Help her. |
| 00:34:17 |
''E.'' |
| 00:34:20 |
''E.'' |
| 00:34:48 |
''F'' for fat. |
| 00:34:51 |
What? |
| 00:34:52 |
Good. |
| 00:34:57 |
Hey! Hey! Hey! Q u it it! Hey! |
| 00:35:01 |
-What? |
| 00:35:03 |
-You fucking. . . |
| 00:35:05 |
-She just hit me! |
| 00:35:06 |
Shut the fuck up! |
| 00:35:09 |
She just slapped me! |
| 00:35:10 |
Get out. |
| 00:35:12 |
We don't fight i n my class. Sit down. |
| 00:35:19 |
''C'' for cold. |
| 00:35:31 |
Do you live with anybody? |
| 00:35:34 |
My mother. |
| 00:35:36 |
What does she do? |
| 00:35:40 |
She don't do nothing. |
| 00:35:46 |
l want you to read a page from this book. |
| 00:35:57 |
Try. |
| 00:36:00 |
All l need you to do is sound out |
| 00:36:03 |
You don't have to know every word. |
| 00:36:05 |
You just have to. . . lt doesn't matter |
| 00:36:09 |
. . .or trip up on it. |
| 00:36:13 |
Come on . You can do this. |
| 00:36:18 |
-Are you listening to me? |
| 00:36:20 |
l just wanna know where you are |
| 00:36:23 |
'Cause l'm looking at your test scores. . . |
| 00:36:24 |
Some higher fucking learning. |
| 00:36:27 |
Try to read, okay? |
| 00:36:28 |
Just help me and then I can help you. |
| 00:36:31 |
We'll start from scratch. Word for word. |
| 00:36:33 |
l want you better than you r mother. |
| 00:36:37 |
-l'm gonna call the nurse. |
| 00:36:44 |
lt all look the same to me. |
| 00:36:50 |
What's this? |
| 00:36:54 |
l can't do that, Ms. Rain. |
| 00:36:58 |
push yourself. |
| 00:37:02 |
A. |
| 00:37:05 |
What's this word? |
| 00:37:12 |
Do you know the letters? Come on. |
| 00:37:16 |
''D .'' |
| 00:37:20 |
''A.'' |
| 00:37:23 |
''Y.'' |
| 00:37:25 |
Do you know that word? |
| 00:37:30 |
''Day.'' |
| 00:37:33 |
What word is that? |
| 00:37:37 |
Ate. Ate. |
| 00:37:39 |
Good . Almost. The word is ''At.'' |
| 00:37:43 |
''At.'' |
| 00:37:47 |
''The.'' |
| 00:37:51 |
Sound it out. |
| 00:37:52 |
''Beach.'' |
| 00:37:54 |
The word is ''Shore.'' |
| 00:37:58 |
Very good. |
| 00:38:00 |
Now, read the whole thing for me. |
| 00:38:04 |
''A |
| 00:38:07 |
''Day |
| 00:38:11 |
''At The |
| 00:38:14 |
''Shore.'' |
| 00:38:23 |
Get your big ass in here. |
| 00:38:38 |
Where was you at this morning? |
| 00:38:47 |
You hear me talking to you? |
| 00:38:50 |
School. l was at school. |
| 00:38:52 |
You a lying whore. |
| 00:38:54 |
-l'm not lying. |
| 00:38:56 |
The welfare done called here saying |
| 00:38:59 |
'cause you ain't been |
| 00:39:01 |
l told you l got kicked out. |
| 00:39:03 |
l been home nearly every day |
| 00:39:05 |
You ai n't told me nothing |
| 00:39:08 |
l told you l was going |
| 00:39:13 |
You plan on putting some food |
| 00:39:22 |
Precious, you got something |
| 00:39:24 |
-No. |
| 00:39:26 |
You u nderstand? |
| 00:39:29 |
Yes, ma'am. |
| 00:39:32 |
You need to forget about that school shit |
| 00:39:35 |
l'm getti ng a stipend from school. |
| 00:39:37 |
Fool, what the fuck is a stipend? |
| 00:39:40 |
Fuck a sti pend . |
| 00:39:43 |
Right now? |
| 00:39:45 |
Why in the fuck would you go right now? |
| 00:39:48 |
You gotta be there by 7:00 a. m. |
| 00:39:50 |
in the morning |
| 00:39:52 |
Fucking stupid. |
| 00:39:58 |
You thi n k you're too good now? |
| 00:40:02 |
You think you is too good for the welfare? |
| 00:40:08 |
There's more wh ite folk getting assistance |
| 00:40:14 |
l think l said therapy. . . |
| 00:40:16 |
Hurry your ass up. |
| 00:40:21 |
Now what you gonna do |
| 00:40:22 |
Where you gonna go after that? |
| 00:40:26 |
l forgot. School. |
| 00:40:29 |
Eaoh. . . What that bitch say? |
| 00:40:32 |
Each one teach one? |
| 00:40:34 |
Well, they don't know |
| 00:40:36 |
'cause you can't learn shit. |
| 00:40:38 |
Keep on listening to them white people. |
| 00:40:41 |
That's what's gonna get you fucked up. |
| 00:40:47 |
Precious, l'm hungry. |
| 00:41:15 |
You ain't cooked no col lard g reens |
| 00:41:19 |
Like, how am l supposed to eat pigs' feet |
| 00:41:22 |
And why in the fuck does that pigs' feet |
| 00:41:26 |
You eat it. You come eat this shit. |
| 00:41:30 |
-l'm not hungry, though. |
| 00:41:32 |
Precious, if you don't get |
| 00:41:41 |
You just fix mine when you get done. |
| 00:41:46 |
Hurry up and eat, Precious. |
| 00:41:51 |
And don't let it get cold , |
| 00:44:04 |
So, tell me about. . . |
| 00:44:10 |
Ain't nothi ng to really talk about. |
| 00:44:13 |
You're in a safe place. Just talk. |
| 00:44:16 |
What's going on? |
| 00:44:17 |
What's the first thing |
| 00:44:18 |
when you think about home? |
| 00:44:20 |
l just wish l had my own TV, |
| 00:44:25 |
lf l had my own TV, |
| 00:44:29 |
And what's it like, |
| 00:44:31 |
You enjoy watching TV with your mother? |
| 00:44:34 |
l need to know about your home life. |
| 00:44:40 |
My mother's like a whale on the couch. |
| 00:44:42 |
She say I eat al l the time, |
| 00:44:47 |
Then she call me a fat mess. |
| 00:44:49 |
She say the apartment |
| 00:44:52 |
Only time she ever leaves |
| 00:44:55 |
l feel like l cou ld just sit in the house |
| 00:44:58 |
the shades drawn, |
| 00:44:59 |
watch TV, eat, watch TV, eat again. |
| 00:45:05 |
Can you help out with that? |
| 00:45:08 |
Can we talk about something else now? |
| 00:45:17 |
How about your firstborn? |
| 00:45:19 |
Mongo? |
| 00:45:22 |
Mongo is her. . . ls that. . . |
| 00:45:25 |
Mongo. That's short for ''mongoloid.'' |
| 00:45:28 |
ls that what you call her? Or that's. . . |
| 00:45:33 |
She got Down's syndr ome. |
| 00:45:44 |
How you doing, Precious? |
| 00:45:45 |
My grandmother Toosie |
| 00:45:47 |
on days when the social worker come, |
| 00:45:53 |
Answer the fucking door. |
| 00:45:57 |
Do you see what you did? God damn it. |
| 00:45:59 |
Then my mother gets money |
| 00:46:03 |
Who is it? |
| 00:46:05 |
It's Ms. Turner. |
| 00:46:07 |
Social worker's here. |
| 00:46:08 |
Why didn't you tell me that bitch |
| 00:46:12 |
My fucking wig . Come get my wig ! |
| 00:46:15 |
Come up! |
| 00:46:21 |
Where's my lipstick? |
| 00:46:27 |
Thank you, thank you. |
| 00:46:39 |
-Get off of me. |
| 00:46:43 |
Mind your goddam n business. |
| 00:46:47 |
-H i , Precious. |
| 00:46:49 |
-Hello, Ms. Turner. How you doing? |
| 00:46:52 |
Please excuse that. |
| 00:46:55 |
please, have a seat. Excuse the mess. |
| 00:46:58 |
-Thank you. |
| 00:46:59 |
How are you, Mary? |
| 00:47:01 |
l'm doi ng really good, Ms. Turner. |
| 00:47:04 |
When was the last time |
| 00:47:08 |
Precious, when. . . |
| 00:47:10 |
Last month. |
| 00:47:12 |
Yeah. . . On the 1 6th. |
| 00:47:16 |
Okay, and what did the doctor say? |
| 00:47:21 |
They said |
| 00:47:24 |
She's doing really good. |
| 00:47:26 |
-That's good . |
| 00:47:28 |
And have you been looking for a job? |
| 00:47:30 |
I have, Ms. Turner. l am. |
| 00:47:34 |
You know, they'll call me back. |
| 00:47:40 |
When did you go looking for the job? |
| 00:47:42 |
l went last week |
| 00:47:47 |
And they all said the same thing, |
| 00:47:52 |
Mommy! |
| 00:47:54 |
No ! No! |
| 00:47:58 |
ls that a new microwave oven? |
| 00:48:00 |
A. . . A microwave? |
| 00:48:03 |
No, ma'am. |
| 00:48:08 |
-l see. lt's a toaster oven. |
| 00:48:11 |
Okay. |
| 00:48:17 |
in a week or so. |
| 00:48:18 |
-l n a week or so? |
| 00:48:19 |
Okay, do you know what time you'll be. . . |
| 00:48:22 |
-I'l l let you know. |
| 00:48:24 |
-l'l l let you know. |
| 00:48:25 |
Precious, any questions for me? |
| 00:48:30 |
How are you, Precious? |
| 00:48:32 |
l'm doi ng good . How you doing? |
| 00:48:36 |
l'm good, thank you. |
| 00:48:39 |
Ladies, thank you for your time. |
| 00:48:41 |
Thank you so much, Ms. Turner. |
| 00:48:43 |
-And you . Bye, Sheila. |
| 00:48:51 |
Come get this motherfucking . . . Get her. |
| 00:48:53 |
Moving all around and shit |
| 00:48:56 |
Makes me fucking itch. |
| 00:48:59 |
She done threw her fucking candy |
| 00:49:02 |
Goddamn animal. |
| 00:49:05 |
And now you gonna give it to her? |
| 00:49:09 |
Then you go and pick it u p |
| 00:49:10 |
You're so fucki ng stupid. |
| 00:49:13 |
That bitch gon na come up i n here |
| 00:49:17 |
l'm so sick of it. |
| 00:49:19 |
l don't know what the fuck |
| 00:49:21 |
You didn't do no goddamn better. |
| 00:49:23 |
You know what? |
| 00:49:25 |
Tel l me about your relationshi p with him. |
| 00:49:27 |
I don't know much more |
| 00:49:30 |
lt's Ms. Weiss. |
| 00:49:32 |
Talk to me about |
| 00:49:35 |
'cause it is im portant, |
| 00:49:39 |
He give me this baby |
| 00:49:41 |
What did you say he gave you? |
| 00:49:44 |
-Noth ing . |
| 00:49:45 |
your father gave you something. |
| 00:49:47 |
-l heard you just say. . . |
| 00:49:49 |
-l heard you say your father. . . |
| 00:49:52 |
-l don't care, honey. |
| 00:49:54 |
-l need to know this. |
| 00:49:55 |
l need to know th is to help you. |
| 00:49:57 |
-Bitch , can we change the subject? |
| 00:50:00 |
Well , l'll see you next time, then. |
| 00:50:03 |
But you're gonna have to talk to somebody |
| 00:50:18 |
l see vampires, too. |
| 00:50:23 |
They come at night. |
| 00:50:27 |
They say, ''Precious, you belong with us.'' |
| 00:50:33 |
And then they go downstai rs |
| 00:50:36 |
The people that live under us, |
| 00:50:38 |
so that's where they should go. |
| 00:50:41 |
They be so nasty, though, |
| 00:50:44 |
leaving thei r di rty tampons and shit |
| 00:50:46 |
Don't even offer to take it out. |
| 00:50:49 |
They got no fucking home training. |
| 00:50:54 |
l been going to the doctor, too. lt's nice. |
| 00:50:59 |
Ms. Rain fall out when she fou nd out |
| 00:51:07 |
Don't know how l had my first baby |
| 00:51:09 |
with my momma kicking me |
| 00:51:15 |
Them the kind of things |
| 00:51:16 |
when you say, |
| 00:51:24 |
That's the end of them welfare checks. |
| 00:51:27 |
l just couIdn 't lie no more. |
| 00:51:34 |
Momma gonna kIll me. |
| 00:51:45 |
Motherfuckers! |
| 00:51:50 |
Are we done? |
| 00:51:52 |
l'm not doing this with you today. |
| 00:51:54 |
At night, we went out on a field trip. |
| 00:52:01 |
These girls is crazy. |
| 00:52:04 |
Ain 't nobody ever grabbed my hand |
| 00:52:24 |
...as a candidate |
| 00:52:26 |
for the presIdency |
| 00:52:30 |
...and by havIng destroyed it, |
| 00:52:36 |
...and the testimony you're about to give |
| 00:52:41 |
I stiIl have a dream. |
| 00:52:45 |
It is a dream deeply rooted |
| 00:52:50 |
l have a dream that one day |
| 00:52:55 |
this nation will rise up |
| 00:53:00 |
l'm gonna teach my baby all of this. |
| 00:53:02 |
''We hold these truths to be seIf-evident, |
| 00:53:06 |
''that all men are created equal. '' |
| 00:53:08 |
No fear. That's bullshit. That's bu llshit. |
| 00:53:10 |
You mean , write a whole new one? |
| 00:53:11 |
No, girl , if I need to explain myself to you. . . |
| 00:53:14 |
-You'll figure it out. |
| 00:53:16 |
Oh , my God . That l believe in you? |
| 00:53:21 |
That l think you're incredible? |
| 00:53:23 |
Yes, but l don't know what to do. |
| 00:53:25 |
All rig ht, pull it together. Okay. |
| 00:53:29 |
l'm happy to be writing. |
| 00:53:30 |
-Go ahead , Rhonda. |
| 00:53:33 |
Ms. Rain say we gonna write |
| 00:53:36 |
She gonna wrlte back to us every day, too. |
| 00:53:39 |
''Yesterday l went to church for |
| 00:53:42 |
''l got all the way to Brooklyn. |
| 00:53:44 |
''The church was up the block and around |
| 00:53:47 |
''The preacher preached |
| 00:53:48 |
-''about Jehovah . |
| 00:53:51 |
''And how Lord Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, |
| 00:53:54 |
ls that a fairytale? |
| 00:53:58 |
Sit down. |
| 00:53:59 |
Did anybody do this assign ment? |
| 00:54:01 |
Momma say this school ain 't shit. |
| 00:54:03 |
She say you can 't Iearn nothing |
| 00:54:06 |
-This is a fai rytale called ''Enchanted.'' |
| 00:54:14 |
''Once upon a time, i n a faraway land, |
| 00:54:18 |
''there lived a beautiful princess |
| 00:54:22 |
''She was very, very fly and extra, extra tall, |
| 00:54:27 |
''and every single boy loved her, |
| 00:54:32 |
''Except for one idiot boy |
| 00:54:36 |
''And out of all the cute boys who loved her, |
| 00:54:41 |
-That's all l got so far. |
| 00:54:45 |
Thinking about littIe Mongo, too. l miss her. |
| 00:54:48 |
That's how you start a fairytale. |
| 00:54:50 |
l'm happy my baby coming up. |
| 00:54:53 |
I'm gonna read to this baby, too, |
| 00:54:58 |
Listen, baby. Mother not dumb. |
| 00:55:01 |
Mother Iove you. Listen. |
| 00:55:04 |
''Once upon a time, |
| 00:55:08 |
''who lived in a magical bubble |
| 00:55:11 |
''And she was from land.'' |
| 00:55:29 |
Stop screaming. |
| 00:55:51 |
His name's AbduI Jamal Lewis Jones. |
| 00:55:56 |
He heaIthy. His mother Iove him. |
| 00:56:15 |
The food in this hospital's nasty. |
| 00:56:18 |
lt's not from here. |
| 00:56:19 |
Where it from? |
| 00:56:21 |
A little shop by my house where |
| 00:56:24 |
I get my organic food , |
| 00:56:26 |
nasty mystery-meat stuff |
| 00:56:29 |
Can you bring me something? |
| 00:56:32 |
First of al l , l don't eat McDonald's. |
| 00:56:34 |
Second of all, you don't need |
| 00:56:37 |
lt's not healthy. |
| 00:56:38 |
But l li ke McDonald's. |
| 00:56:40 |
We like McDonald's, too, over here. |
| 00:56:43 |
l don't like no damn McDonald's. |
| 00:56:45 |
l want some of that organio shit |
| 00:56:48 |
Well , l tell you what, |
| 00:56:50 |
when you get up out of here, |
| 00:56:52 |
and you go to McDonald's, |
| 00:56:53 |
and you get as much |
| 00:56:55 |
But right now, |
| 00:56:58 |
Are you a doctor? |
| 00:57:01 |
-Are you her doctor? |
| 00:57:03 |
-Yeah . |
| 00:57:05 |
Nurse John-John. |
| 00:57:07 |
Oh , that's funny? |
| 00:57:09 |
Well, you're a man. |
| 00:57:12 |
-You've never seen a male nurse? |
| 00:57:15 |
Not looking like you do. |
| 00:57:18 |
I am a male nurse. |
| 00:57:22 |
So was you up in the room |
| 00:57:25 |
You was like, all up i n between her. . . |
| 00:57:26 |
Joan n , don't be nasty! |
| 00:57:28 |
How was it? Was he screaming? |
| 00:57:30 |
lt hurt. |
| 00:57:31 |
Tough gal like you had to scream? |
| 00:57:32 |
Not so tough with a baby coming out of me. |
| 00:57:37 |
-Are you married? |
| 00:57:38 |
You got a girlfriend? |
| 00:57:40 |
-Why you asking? He don't want you. |
| 00:57:42 |
Why don't you stop being a ho |
| 00:57:44 |
What's wrong with these people? |
| 00:57:45 |
You don't want her, right? |
| 00:57:47 |
l wish l was a cantalou pe in that cup. |
| 00:57:50 |
So he could eat you? |
| 00:57:51 |
Okay, no. l gotta go. l gotta go. |
| 00:57:55 |
No, that's all right. That's all right. |
| 00:58:01 |
Can l get a kiss, too, Nurse John? |
| 00:58:03 |
-Good afternoon , ladies. |
| 00:58:06 |
-Bye ! |
| 00:58:10 |
Precious and John-John |
| 00:58:13 |
Sitting in a tree |
| 00:58:15 |
-F-U-C-K-I-N-G |
| 00:58:22 |
You thi n k he's spending the night |
| 00:58:27 |
Now she gonna write |
| 00:58:32 |
''Dear Ms. Rain, |
| 00:58:34 |
''AlI the years I sit in cIass, l never learned. |
| 00:58:37 |
''Now I got a baby again by my father. |
| 00:58:41 |
''I wIsh I had a boyfriend Iike other girls. |
| 00:58:44 |
''Then I'll feel right |
| 00:58:47 |
''I love my baby, but l want school, too. |
| 00:58:51 |
" Social worker ask me |
| 00:58:53 |
''and Abdul up for adoption. |
| 00:58:57 |
'"She never helped before. |
| 00:59:01 |
''lf she takes AbduI, |
| 00:00:02 |
''I think your first responsibility |
| 00:00:06 |
''If you keep Abdul, you might have nothing. |
| 00:00:09 |
''You're learning to read and write. |
| 00:00:11 |
''You come back to school |
| 00:00:14 |
''You're onIy 1 7. '' |
| 00:00:15 |
This looks like a big-ass condom. |
| 00:00:19 |
Use that for Nurse John. |
| 00:00:22 |
Not looking l ike that. |
| 00:00:24 |
-l'm giving you banjee. |
| 00:00:27 |
l got your journal. |
| 00:00:29 |
Thank you. |
| 00:00:35 |
What's wrong? |
| 00:00:37 |
Nothing. |
| 00:00:38 |
Are you sure? |
| 00:00:40 |
Yeah , l'm sure. |
| 00:00:41 |
All right. l'm bored. l'm about to leave. Bye. |
| 00:00:47 |
Bye, Ms. Toosie. |
| 00:00:49 |
You got a nasty-ass mouth. |
| 00:00:51 |
You got a nasty-ass hat. |
| 00:00:56 |
That's what's wrong , |
| 00:00:58 |
Here's your baby. |
| 00:01:00 |
lt's probably the last time |
| 00:01:03 |
Grandmother come and visit and say, |
| 00:01:04 |
''Only a dog would drop a baby |
| 00:01:07 |
Not even a dog. |
| 00:01:08 |
Say later, '"Not even a dog. " |
| 00:01:11 |
l'm proud of you . |
| 00:01:14 |
''Where was your grandmother |
| 00:01:17 |
''Where is IIttle Mongo now? |
| 00:01:20 |
''What is going to be the best thing for you |
| 00:01:23 |
''Ms. Rain, you ask too many questions. |
| 00:01:26 |
''Sometimes l wish l could stop breathing. |
| 00:01:28 |
''I just wanna be a good mother. '' |
| 00:01:32 |
''Being a good mother mIght mean |
| 00:01:34 |
''by someone who's better abIe than you |
| 00:01:38 |
''Ms. Rain, I is the best |
| 00:01:51 |
''Who's gonna heIp you? |
| 00:01:53 |
''How wIll you support yourself? |
| 00:01:57 |
''How wiIl you keep learning |
| 00:02:01 |
''The weIfare helped Momma. '' |
| 00:02:04 |
''You look and see |
| 00:02:10 |
''You could get your GED, |
| 00:02:11 |
''and go to college. |
| 00:03:36 |
You back? |
| 00:03:38 |
What's his name? |
| 00:03:40 |
Can l hold it? |
| 00:04:46 |
Hey, Precious. |
| 00:04:51 |
Hey. |
| 00:04:56 |
You had the baby? |
| 00:04:58 |
A boy. |
| 00:05:00 |
Where you been all this ti me? |
| 00:05:09 |
Let me see him. |
| 00:05:18 |
Can l hold hi m? |
| 00:05:39 |
He look like his daddy. |
| 00:05:47 |
He named Abdul. |
| 00:05:50 |
put all this shit down |
| 00:06:12 |
You bitch ! |
| 00:06:14 |
-You fucking bitch ! |
| 00:06:16 |
Am l crazy? Bitch , if l was to. . . |
| 00:06:20 |
You ruined my fucking life! |
| 00:06:22 |
You done took my man , |
| 00:06:24 |
and you got me put off the welfare |
| 00:06:26 |
for running your goddamned |
| 00:06:28 |
l ain't stupid and l didn't take you r man. |
| 00:06:32 |
Didn't no-fucking-body rape you ! |
| 00:06:34 |
Bitch, don't you put |
| 00:06:57 |
Mary, leave that gi rl alone! |
| 00:07:37 |
Can l see the baby now? |
| 00:09:51 |
B. . . C. . . D. . . |
| 00:09:55 |
E. . . F. . . G . . . H. . . |
| 00:10:00 |
l . . . J . . . K. . . |
| 00:10:10 |
l'm tired of shopping. |
| 00:10:11 |
Yes, because they all trying |
| 00:10:14 |
They don't. . . |
| 00:10:26 |
l'm cal ling the cops. |
| 00:10:33 |
Tel l me what you see back there. |
| 00:10:48 |
l could teII by Ms. Rain 's face |
| 00:10:53 |
l just don't know |
| 00:10:55 |
l'll hold. |
| 00:10:58 |
I feel bad for her. |
| 00:11:00 |
She just an ABC teacher. |
| 00:11:05 |
What's going on? |
| 00:11:07 |
But she all l couId think of. |
| 00:11:08 |
Look, when the others get here, |
| 00:11:11 |
And whichever one of you is older |
| 00:11:13 |
Consuelo, l know that's not you. |
| 00:11:15 |
Ms. Rai n , l can't stay. l'm serious. |
| 00:11:17 |
Consuelo, you're not leaving class |
| 00:11:19 |
Take this money. |
| 00:11:22 |
Quick. And bring back my change. |
| 00:11:24 |
Sixteen years old . A three-day-old infant. |
| 00:11:29 |
The baby not bleed ing . |
| 00:11:31 |
Well, why didn't you tell me that before? |
| 00:11:35 |
We'll find you a place to live. |
| 00:11:41 |
Joann , you're late. |
| 00:11:43 |
Rhonda, you ain't the teacher. |
| 00:11:45 |
Joan n , Ms. Rain is busy |
| 00:11:47 |
so l am the teacher today. |
| 00:11:50 |
Okay. Why? |
| 00:11:52 |
-Where's Preoious? |
| 00:11:54 |
Joann , you wanna say one of you r raps |
| 00:11:56 |
What's the baby doing here? |
| 00:11:58 |
-Joann's gonna rap for you. |
| 00:12:00 |
She all right. She's doing good. |
| 00:12:03 |
Why is the baby wrapped u p |
| 00:12:06 |
-Joann, what's so funny? |
| 00:12:09 |
You don't wanna know is |
| 00:12:10 |
You know what your problem is, Joann? |
| 00:12:11 |
That you can't take anything |
| 00:12:13 |
-Jermaine, me expect better from you. |
| 00:12:16 |
Joann, stop laughing at this baby. |
| 00:12:20 |
Queens. |
| 00:12:24 |
Let me call you back. |
| 00:12:25 |
J ust tell me what happened ! |
| 00:12:27 |
No, it's not funny. |
| 00:12:28 |
But Joann, there's nothing funny |
| 00:12:31 |
I got a West Ind ian friend |
| 00:12:33 |
Let me see what she can do. |
| 00:12:35 |
l found a lesson plan in our notebooks. |
| 00:12:40 |
Claireece Jones. |
| 00:12:42 |
Hey, Ms. Lisa. How you been? |
| 00:12:45 |
l don't know. |
| 00:12:46 |
l went to see that movie, Barfly, last night. |
| 00:12:51 |
-l'm sorry. |
| 00:12:54 |
Something's wrong with you, Precious. |
| 00:12:57 |
This baby stink. |
| 00:12:58 |
Well, we don't have a pamper, |
| 00:13:01 |
-l am sitting. |
| 00:13:03 |
The fi rst thing |
| 00:13:06 |
is shut the bumba-ros-clot. . . |
| 00:13:12 |
Ms. Rai n , why did you let Rhonda |
| 00:13:15 |
She don't even know how to speak English. |
| 00:13:16 |
Let Rhonda take over. |
| 00:13:18 |
-Shut the bumba-ros-clot up. |
| 00:13:21 |
Yeah, Brenda, you there? |
| 00:13:23 |
The last four of the Social are. . . |
| 00:13:26 |
2-4-2-1 . |
| 00:13:29 |
-Rita? |
| 00:13:31 |
-Anybody know how to spell ''Aquarius''? |
| 00:13:34 |
Can you spell ''boy'' then? |
| 00:13:35 |
Can you spell ''slut'' then? |
| 00:13:36 |
Let's explore that. |
| 00:13:38 |
You wanna spel l ''slut,'' Consuelo, |
| 00:13:42 |
Can you spell ''illegal immigrant,'' then? |
| 00:13:44 |
Great, thank you. |
| 00:13:47 |
Can you please use ''slut'' in a sentence? |
| 00:13:50 |
Consuelo is a slut. . . |
| 00:13:51 |
-You the one who's the ho up in here. . . |
| 00:13:54 |
perfect. You get a gold star. |
| 00:13:59 |
But you know she likes that. |
| 00:14:00 |
Well, she's just insecure. |
| 00:14:03 |
-You think? |
| 00:14:05 |
-That chicken was good . |
| 00:14:09 |
There ain't more, is there? |
| 00:14:11 |
-ls there more? |
| 00:14:13 |
Maybe later. Not now. |
| 00:14:15 |
l don't want you to thi n k l'm greedy. |
| 00:14:17 |
You're not greedy. |
| 00:14:19 |
l guess l kind of eat |
| 00:14:23 |
No, you don't. |
| 00:14:24 |
-Blu , is that you? |
| 00:14:26 |
What are you doing here? |
| 00:14:28 |
l live here. Why didn't you tell me? |
| 00:14:31 |
-Hey, sweetie. |
| 00:14:36 |
This is Katherine, Precious. |
| 00:14:38 |
-Are you okay? |
| 00:14:40 |
Oh, my God. These straight-up Iesbians. |
| 00:14:44 |
-This is Abdul. |
| 00:14:48 |
Precious, can l hold him? |
| 00:14:50 |
You know how to? |
| 00:14:51 |
They stilI nIce enough |
| 00:14:54 |
untiI l get situated, though. |
| 00:14:56 |
-He's heavy. Oh , my God ! |
| 00:15:00 |
l guess thIs is how the peoples |
| 00:15:03 |
-Don't drop him. |
| 00:15:05 |
You know how you are. I saw you. . . |
| 00:15:06 |
When we were putting up the tree, |
| 00:15:09 |
They're so nice to me and Abdul. |
| 00:15:10 |
-Be careful . Hold him with both hands. |
| 00:15:12 |
Oh, Abdul. |
| 00:15:16 |
Merry Christmas, Precious. |
| 00:15:19 |
Thank you. |
| 00:15:20 |
Why peoples that barely know me |
| 00:15:22 |
should be nicer to me |
| 00:15:26 |
I felt warm. |
| 00:15:27 |
-What? |
| 00:15:29 |
l'm just concerned about the baby |
| 00:15:32 |
They're fine. |
| 00:15:33 |
Grandmother's scared of Momma. |
| 00:15:35 |
l know that's why |
| 00:15:38 |
lf Ronald McDonald were running things. . . |
| 00:15:40 |
Ms. Rain say don't be afraid of nothing. |
| 00:15:43 |
I bet she ain't scared of Momma. |
| 00:15:46 |
Wouldn't you be a little bit suspicious? |
| 00:15:49 |
J ust write the book. |
| 00:15:50 |
-Well , who's gon na read it? |
| 00:15:53 |
You know, Precious writes every day. |
| 00:15:57 |
ls that right? |
| 00:16:01 |
Stuff. |
| 00:16:03 |
My life. Abdul. |
| 00:16:08 |
How come y'all don't like McDonald's? |
| 00:16:10 |
Katherine was just drawing a comparison |
| 00:16:12 |
so that her point could be |
| 00:16:14 |
Yes. |
| 00:16:15 |
They talk like TV channels l don't watch. |
| 00:16:18 |
My U ncle Clayton. |
| 00:16:20 |
I'm gIad Abdul here to listen in on them, |
| 00:16:23 |
Before he got saved, |
| 00:16:25 |
he used to smoke like a ch imney |
| 00:16:27 |
l don 't understand a word they're saying. |
| 00:16:29 |
You u nderstand? |
| 00:16:35 |
Y'all be watching Oprah? |
| 00:16:36 |
No. l don't, actually. |
| 00:16:39 |
-l watch it. |
| 00:16:43 |
But Momma, |
| 00:16:46 |
And what do that make you? |
| 00:16:48 |
Homos not ones who let me sit in cIass |
| 00:16:52 |
The homos not ones who seIl crack |
| 00:16:55 |
-. . .that l have ever seen. Tell her! |
| 00:16:57 |
I wonder what Oprah got to say about that. |
| 00:17:00 |
Ms. Rain is the one |
| 00:17:02 |
made me queen of the ABC's. |
| 00:17:08 |
After l settled at the halfway house, |
| 00:17:10 |
l worked my hardest |
| 00:17:12 |
writing in the journal, |
| 00:17:15 |
Then I found out the Mayor's office |
| 00:17:19 |
and a check for progress. |
| 00:17:23 |
One, two, three. |
| 00:17:25 |
The party is on. |
| 00:17:27 |
Go, Joann ! |
| 00:17:31 |
Let me see what you got! |
| 00:17:34 |
Everybody come. Nurse John, Cornrows, |
| 00:17:39 |
Even Ms. Katherine showed up. |
| 00:17:42 |
Precious. |
| 00:17:46 |
What's up? |
| 00:17:48 |
What's that? |
| 00:17:50 |
What does it look like? |
| 00:17:52 |
plastic stupid apple. |
| 00:17:57 |
A little something for you. |
| 00:17:59 |
-ls there more money in it? |
| 00:18:02 |
Yo, who's that? |
| 00:18:07 |
What? |
| 00:18:11 |
-What? |
| 00:18:14 |
Precious, where are you taki ng me? |
| 00:18:18 |
What am l su pposed to do, diva? Yeah? |
| 00:18:22 |
Yeah . . . |
| 00:18:27 |
My mom called last night. |
| 00:18:32 |
And we don't really have a relationship. |
| 00:18:36 |
We don't talk, |
| 00:18:39 |
Some folks got a light around them |
| 00:18:43 |
l think maybe some of them was in tunnels, |
| 00:18:46 |
and in that tunnel, |
| 00:18:49 |
was inside of them. |
| 00:18:50 |
Then l thought about how strong |
| 00:18:56 |
And then, |
| 00:19:01 |
-l'l l help you clean up. |
| 00:19:05 |
... they stilI be shining for everybody else. |
| 00:19:12 |
That's Ms. Rain to me. |
| 00:19:17 |
''Awar d for Outstanding Achievement.'' |
| 00:19:19 |
In a book I read, |
| 00:19:22 |
And when she was there, |
| 00:19:24 |
she asked the peopIe there |
| 00:19:27 |
They told her it was halfway between |
| 00:19:31 |
That's kind of nice. |
| 00:19:35 |
That also mean l can't stay here forever. |
| 00:19:38 |
There's still a way to go. |
| 00:19:41 |
lt'd be something to get my own apartment. |
| 00:19:44 |
Abdul nine months and aImost walking. |
| 00:19:49 |
l've been reading to him |
| 00:19:52 |
He 's barely taIking, |
| 00:19:56 |
Momma, Daddy, |
| 00:19:58 |
IS 1 1 1, 4 4 4 Lenox all seem |
| 00:20:05 |
I wish l couId've just started out here, |
| 00:20:10 |
I'm gonna get Mongo, too. |
| 00:20:17 |
Hey, Miss Cassidy. |
| 00:20:18 |
Hey, Precious, |
| 00:20:20 |
-Who is It? |
| 00:20:22 |
You want me to watch the baby? |
| 00:20:23 |
No, l gotta go down and get him anyway. |
| 00:21:00 |
Your daddy dead. |
| 00:21:04 |
That's all? |
| 00:21:11 |
He had that Al DS virus. |
| 00:21:28 |
There you go, dreaming again.r |
| 00:21:29 |
Precious, do you hear me taIking to you? |
| 00:21:33 |
Did you hear what l said? |
| 00:21:39 |
You got it? |
| 00:21:42 |
Got what? |
| 00:21:44 |
-The Al DS virus. |
| 00:21:47 |
How do you know? |
| 00:21:49 |
We never did it u p in the ass, so l know. |
| 00:21:56 |
You better get to a doctor, Mom. |
| 00:22:01 |
You coming home? |
| 00:22:20 |
Yo, Preoious! |
| 00:22:40 |
Rita, what do l mean when l say the author |
| 00:22:43 |
descri bes her protagonist's circumstances |
| 00:22:49 |
l don't k now. l don't know. |
| 00:22:53 |
lt's l ike, say, like if Rita, |
| 00:22:57 |
and she's going and she's going, |
| 00:23:00 |
and she no stop, she keep on going. |
| 00:23:03 |
Relentless-un. |
| 00:23:57 |
l'll see you tonig ht. Bye. |
| 00:24:49 |
Come with me. |
| 00:24:52 |
Precious? |
| 00:24:55 |
Excuse me? |
| 00:24:58 |
Nurse say l'm H lV positive. |
| 00:25:07 |
l ain't got nothing to write today. |
| 00:25:12 |
ls your baby okay? |
| 00:25:14 |
He all right. |
| 00:25:21 |
Remember, you once told me |
| 00:25:24 |
you never really got to tell your story. |
| 00:25:28 |
-Write. |
| 00:25:31 |
You know nothing |
| 00:25:35 |
l ain't never had no boyfriend. |
| 00:25:40 |
My daddy said he gonna marry me. |
| 00:25:43 |
How he gonna do that? |
| 00:26:03 |
Write. |
| 00:26:06 |
l'm tired , Ms. Rain. |
| 00:26:10 |
lf not for you rself, |
| 00:26:13 |
Nobody loves me. |
| 00:26:15 |
people do love you, Precious. |
| 00:26:17 |
please don't lie to me, Ms. Rain. |
| 00:26:21 |
Love ain't done nothing for me. |
| 00:26:24 |
Love beat me, raped me, |
| 00:26:29 |
called me an animal , |
| 00:26:34 |
Make me sick. |
| 00:26:38 |
That wasn't love, Precious. |
| 00:26:42 |
Your baby loves you. |
| 00:26:47 |
l love you. |
| 00:26:56 |
Write. |
| 00:27:06 |
What are you thinking? |
| 00:27:10 |
You never told me about |
| 00:27:17 |
l didn't, did l? |
| 00:27:19 |
Really, l'm here to help you. |
| 00:27:22 |
You can talk to me. |
| 00:27:26 |
You're right. |
| 00:27:28 |
We could talk about your daddy instead. |
| 00:27:31 |
We could talk about my mother, my father, |
| 00:27:34 |
my aunts or my sister or my brother, |
| 00:27:39 |
You don't even l ike me. |
| 00:27:40 |
Have we not been in this room together |
| 00:27:43 |
for, like, a year, discussing your life? |
| 00:27:47 |
Does that mean we like each other, |
| 00:27:50 |
l can't speak for you. |
| 00:27:51 |
l can only speak for me, |
| 00:27:56 |
So, are you ltalian, or. . . |
| 00:27:58 |
What color are you , anyway? |
| 00:28:00 |
Are you some type of black or Spanish? |
| 00:28:02 |
What color do you think l am? |
| 00:28:06 |
No, l'd like to know. |
| 00:28:10 |
My throat is dry. |
| 00:28:13 |
Your throat is dry? |
| 00:28:15 |
lt's really hot in here. |
| 00:28:17 |
lt is kind of hot in here. |
| 00:28:19 |
l'm gonna go get a soda. |
| 00:28:23 |
Soda sou nds fine. |
| 00:28:24 |
All right. |
| 00:28:56 |
Thank you. |
| 00:28:59 |
No problem. |
| 00:29:04 |
So, I have to talk to you about your mother, |
| 00:29:07 |
and l don't know |
| 00:29:10 |
but she says she wants to see you |
| 00:29:13 |
and she wants to be reu n ited |
| 00:29:18 |
She wants to come |
| 00:29:21 |
What did you tell her? |
| 00:29:23 |
l said l had to speak to you about it. |
| 00:29:28 |
lt's up to you. |
| 00:29:30 |
l don't know. |
| 00:29:34 |
Ms. Weiss said in that file l got HIV. |
| 00:29:37 |
She said l was supposed to die from it. |
| 00:29:39 |
l ain't worried about dying. |
| 00:29:41 |
Shit, l gotta worry about |
| 00:29:46 |
l was just writing , like, about. . . |
| 00:29:49 |
l wanna open up this clinic |
| 00:29:52 |
about, l ike, mothers and their children. |
| 00:29:56 |
You know, just, |
| 00:29:59 |
l always wanted to do that, |
| 00:30:03 |
Because I know my mom would be |
| 00:30:06 |
and my children, too. |
| 00:30:07 |
l want my children to be proud |
| 00:30:12 |
-That's always what l wanted to do, so. . . |
| 00:30:20 |
l don't really want to read the whole thing, |
| 00:30:26 |
Okay, the counselors |
| 00:30:31 |
they were quizzing me |
| 00:30:34 |
But it's not really about them. |
| 00:30:36 |
They're trying to get me to do workfare. |
| 00:30:38 |
-They want me to be a home attendant. |
| 00:30:40 |
Because I stole my file and l read it. |
| 00:30:43 |
All they want me to do is work. |
| 00:30:45 |
Now, l do wanna work, |
| 00:30:48 |
What kind of sense that make, |
| 00:30:50 |
for somebody like Precious to quit school |
| 00:30:53 |
and go work |
| 00:30:55 |
She ain't never gonna be nothing |
| 00:30:59 |
Rhonda used to home attend. |
| 00:31:00 |
She used to have to go all the way out |
| 00:31:03 |
Yeah , okay, Rhonda wou ld be |
| 00:31:07 |
She'd be on call , right? |
| 00:31:09 |
She made $6 . 3 7 an hour, |
| 00:31:14 |
That eq ual out to $50. 96. |
| 00:31:17 |
But that's not a whole lot of money, |
| 00:31:19 |
especially 'cause, |
| 00:31:22 |
So, $50.96 divided by 2 4 |
| 00:31:27 |
is $2. 1 2 an hou r. That's not a lot of money. |
| 00:31:31 |
She said that old bitch wou ld ring a bell, |
| 00:31:35 |
when she wanted something from her |
| 00:31:37 |
-You don't want to do that shit. |
| 00:31:40 |
Them home attendants be working for, like, |
| 00:31:43 |
l'd only see Abdul on Sunday. |
| 00:31:47 |
Well, that's not an option. |
| 00:31:50 |
plus, I'm gonna start goi ng to |
| 00:31:54 |
lt's ''incest.'' |
| 00:31:57 |
-That ain't what l said? |
| 00:32:01 |
What's the difference? |
| 00:32:02 |
Well, one's where your family molests you, |
| 00:32:04 |
the other's like a roach or bugs. |
| 00:32:09 |
-So, you a scientist now? |
| 00:32:12 |
No, that's cool. Thank you . Thank you. |
| 00:32:21 |
lt was hard telling them strangers there |
| 00:32:25 |
Sometimes it felt good. |
| 00:32:32 |
Last week, Ms. Rain asked us |
| 00:32:37 |
l wrote that I be real skinny, |
| 00:32:41 |
with IIght skin and long hair. |
| 00:32:44 |
Loretha Holloway? |
| 00:32:47 |
Go on back there. |
| 00:32:49 |
She read it and said l'm beautiful like l am. |
| 00:32:50 |
But, there's no kids back there |
| 00:32:56 |
J ust shut up and sit there, then. |
| 00:32:58 |
Gonna talk to this lady |
| 00:33:02 |
But somehow, |
| 00:33:04 |
right now. . . And I don 't know why, but. . . |
| 00:33:10 |
l think she right. |
| 00:33:18 |
Here. |
| 00:33:28 |
Claireece Jones? |
| 00:33:35 |
l think she right. |
| 00:33:42 |
Okay, Mrs. Johnston , |
| 00:33:45 |
There were no drugs in my house. |
| 00:33:47 |
l didn't play that. |
| 00:33:49 |
Precious knew l wou ld whup her ass |
| 00:33:51 |
if she gonna bri ng some d rugs |
| 00:33:52 |
You know what l'm talking about. |
| 00:33:56 |
l'm referring to specific |
| 00:34:01 |
involving Precious. |
| 00:34:04 |
Why you ain't say that? |
| 00:34:07 |
Yes, that. |
| 00:34:10 |
What do you wanna know? |
| 00:34:12 |
According to Precious' files, |
| 00:34:14 |
she has now had two ch ildren |
| 00:34:19 |
the late Carl Kenwood Jones, |
| 00:34:29 |
-Yeah . |
| 00:34:33 |
Yes, Ms. Weiss. |
| 00:34:36 |
l need to know why you're here. |
| 00:34:39 |
saying you want to be reunited |
| 00:34:43 |
Now, l really need to know |
| 00:34:47 |
Ms. Weiss, |
| 00:34:49 |
but l'm just telling you. |
| 00:34:50 |
You said l've been call ing here |
| 00:34:53 |
Precious and my grandson. |
| 00:34:55 |
You're goddamn right I wanna see them. |
| 00:34:59 |
Now, there was a time |
| 00:35:02 |
and l done told her that. |
| 00:35:04 |
And me and Carl, we loved Precious. |
| 00:35:08 |
We loved Precious and we had dreams. |
| 00:35:11 |
Precious was born around the same time |
| 00:35:17 |
The su mmertime. |
| 00:35:21 |
Remember? Remember that? |
| 00:35:23 |
l was born in November. |
| 00:35:26 |
November. |
| 00:35:28 |
Yeah, that's right. |
| 00:35:32 |
My Scorpio child. |
| 00:35:36 |
You know. . . |
| 00:35:38 |
Scorpios, they can be tricky. |
| 00:35:43 |
And, l'm not sayi ng that they lie. |
| 00:35:48 |
But you just gotta watch them. |
| 00:35:55 |
Can we talk about the actual acts |
| 00:35:59 |
of physical and sexual abuse |
| 00:36:01 |
that occurred in your household? |
| 00:36:04 |
When it first began, |
| 00:36:06 |
where it happened |
| 00:36:15 |
Precious was a little girl. |
| 00:36:19 |
Try and remember |
| 00:36:26 |
She was three. |
| 00:36:30 |
And l had been giving her the bottle |
| 00:36:35 |
and l was g iving Carl the tittie |
| 00:36:38 |
because my m ilk hadn't d ried u p |
| 00:36:43 |
but not from her, but because Carl was. . . |
| 00:36:48 |
Because Carl was sucking on them |
| 00:36:50 |
and that's what kept my milk in my breasts. |
| 00:36:56 |
And l thought that that was for hygiene. |
| 00:37:00 |
l did what my mother told me |
| 00:37:03 |
that l was supposed to do with my child, |
| 00:37:08 |
And you're sitting u p there |
| 00:37:10 |
l'm not judging you, |
| 00:37:13 |
and you're aski ng me |
| 00:37:16 |
But, Ms. Weiss, |
| 00:37:18 |
You got this bitch looki ng at me |
| 00:37:22 |
We don't talk like this i n my office, okay? |
| 00:37:24 |
l didn't want her suoking behind him, |
| 00:37:28 |
And th ings that he was. . . |
| 00:37:37 |
l had a man , and l have a ch ild |
| 00:37:42 |
and l had to take care of both of them. |
| 00:37:48 |
Did l want Carl to touch my baby? |
| 00:37:55 |
Because l would lay my baby. |
| 00:37:57 |
l would lay her on the side of me, |
| 00:38:04 |
and it was pink |
| 00:38:07 |
and it had this little white writing on it |
| 00:38:10 |
and it had her name, |
| 00:38:15 |
And l would lay my baby on that pillow |
| 00:38:17 |
and Carl would be laying on the other side |
| 00:38:22 |
and then we would . . . |
| 00:38:26 |
and he reached over |
| 00:38:30 |
and he touched my baby. |
| 00:38:32 |
And l asked him, |
| 00:38:35 |
l said, ''Carl, what are you doing?'' |
| 00:38:38 |
And he told me to shut. . . |
| 00:38:40 |
To sh ut my fat ass up, |
| 00:38:43 |
-And what did you do then? |
| 00:38:47 |
And l don't want you to sit there |
| 00:38:50 |
You shut up |
| 00:38:52 |
l did not want him to abuse my daughter. |
| 00:38:54 |
-l d id not want hi m to hurt her. |
| 00:38:56 |
-to hurt her. |
| 00:38:58 |
l wanted h im to make love to me. |
| 00:39:00 |
That was my man. |
| 00:39:03 |
That was my man |
| 00:39:07 |
And that's why l hated her. |
| 00:39:09 |
Because my man, |
| 00:39:12 |
who was supposed |
| 00:39:16 |
was fucking my baby. |
| 00:39:19 |
She made him leave. |
| 00:39:23 |
So, whose fault was it, then? |
| 00:39:24 |
lt's this bitch's fau lt |
| 00:39:27 |
and she d idn't say nothing. |
| 00:39:29 |
She didn't scream. She didn't do nothing. |
| 00:39:31 |
So, those things she told you l did to her, |
| 00:39:35 |
who else was gonna love me? |
| 00:39:41 |
Since you got your degree |
| 00:39:45 |
who was gonna love me, |
| 00:39:49 |
Who was gonna touch me |
| 00:39:53 |
And she made him go away, so. . . |
| 00:39:56 |
When you sit there and you write |
| 00:39:59 |
about who you th ink l am , |
| 00:40:05 |
Because l didn't have nobody. |
| 00:40:16 |
The people from |
| 00:40:21 |
Each One Teach One, |
| 00:40:23 |
they had . . . They called me |
| 00:40:29 |
and they told me that my baby |
| 00:40:32 |
ln fact, you know what, l got. . . |
| 00:40:34 |
Wait a minute. |
| 00:41:02 |
l'm sorry. |
| 00:41:04 |
l'm sorry. |
| 00:41:07 |
l don't need no more money. please. |
| 00:41:13 |
l took that TABE test again. |
| 00:41:16 |
And what happened? |
| 00:41:17 |
l scored a 7. 8. |
| 00:41:21 |
Last time it was 2. 8. |
| 00:41:25 |
Accordi ng to that test, |
| 00:41:26 |
l'm reading at |
| 00:41:30 |
Next year, high school. Atter that, college. |
| 00:41:40 |
Well, l like you, too. |
| 00:41:44 |
But you can't handle me. |
| 00:41:48 |
You can't handle none of this. |
| 00:41:58 |
You know, l never knew what you was |
| 00:42:02 |
Not even atter all them things you did. |
| 00:42:06 |
Maybe l was too stupid , or |
| 00:42:12 |
You ain't gonna see me no more. |
| 00:42:18 |
Bye! |
| 00:42:23 |
l didn't want him to h urt my baby. |
| 00:42:25 |
Please, God , |
| 00:42:27 |
Ms. Weiss, |
| 00:42:30 |
l would say to him , l would say. . . |
| 00:42:32 |
''Carl, what are you doing? |
| 00:42:45 |
Can you go get her back? |
| 00:42:46 |
You can do that, |
| 00:42:49 |
That's what you do. |
| 00:42:51 |
l need you to go |
| 00:42:55 |
You told me that I could come in here |
| 00:42:59 |
You could get Precious to say. . . |
| 00:43:01 |
Ms. Weiss? Ms. Weiss? Ms. Weiss? |
