Shuttlesworth! Shuttlesworth!
- What's up, bro? - Game's over. Warden wants to see you.
The warden? What's this all about?
Don't know nothin'. Don't wanna know nothin'.
He tells me to get you, so I get you.
Thank you, Books. You may wait outside.
Jake, please sit down. Sit down.
I was told you were on the court.
Yes, sir. I try to stay fit, trim.
You know, everything like that. Keep my mind occupied.
As you already know, you've picked the perfect recreation.
Dr. James Naismith knew what he was doin'.
- It's a great game, isn't it? - Basketball, yes.
- You played some? - Uh, yes, sir, when I was younger.
- You know, I put in a little work. - I coach my son's team.
I ran a neighborhood center.
Let's go. Show me that. Oh, good!
That's good, but you crossed over. You still bailed out.
- You coached? - Nah, nothing like that there.
You know, I see somebody out there, a little kid who needs some help.
I work with him, give him a few tips.
- Which hand did you shoot with? - Right.
- Which hand are you supposed to be shooting with? - Left.
But nowadays, uh, Warden, they--
these kids ain't gonna listen to nothin' you say, you know.
They think they know it all.
All they wanna do is dunk and-- you know, everything like that.
Their fundamentals is, uh-- is, like, sorely lacking.
That's strange. I haven't had that problem yet.
Yeah, well, you--
The kids are smart.
They know they don't listen to you, they end up in here with me.
I never thought about it like that.
Did you vote for Governor Pernell?
Uh, nah, I ain't never voted.
No matter. What does matter is Governor is a big,
huge, fanatical basketball fan.
He played himself-- four years, varsity, at Big State.
Good, not great athlete.
He's the biggest supporter Big State has. Bleeds red and white.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I saw something like that about him on TV.
Do you have a son named Jesus Shuttlesworth?
Yes, sir.
Is your son considered the number one high school prospect...
in these United States of America?
Some people rate him that high, some don't.
- You know, two, three, six. - Come on, Jake. Come on.
Don't be modest. You oughta be proud. You oughta be proud as a peacock.
I always been proud of my son even before he was the number one prospect...
in the whole entire world.
- You aren't modest, after all. - God is working with me on that, sir.
The governor's made a request that your son, Jesus Shuttlesworth,
seriously consider enrolling in his alma mater, Big State.
If you persuade your son to do this,
the governor's given me his word...
he'll do everything in his power to...
cut your time here short, considerably.
The governor can do that? He can--
- He can do that. - I'm lookin' at 15, Warden. I mean--
This is for real, right?
You can make the governor very happy.
He's got a great reputation for never forgetting anyone who's done right by him.
He's also never forgiven anyone who's done him wrong.
Can't do nothin' in here, though. I mean, behind these--
Behind these bars, you know, these walls and everything like that,
I mean, something like this here...
can't be worked out over the phone or--
We have to get started right away.
The NC two - A deadline for kids to declare is one week away.
- One week? - Seven days.
Everything's been arranged.
- It's all been worked out. - The Bulls ain't got nothin',
especially against the Knicks.
All you ever talk about is Jordan this, Jordan that.
Guard!
You do your part, you deliver your son,
- Guard! - Governor Pernell will do his part.
- Guard! - What the hell's goin' on in there?
You'll have to excuse the temporary discomfort,
but we can't trust in your abilities as an actor.
There's little margin for error.
Let's go, Doc! Hurry up.
Where you takin' him?
- What's wrong with this inmate? - I don't know.
- Food poisoning? - Are you sure?
I don't know. He just rolled him in.
I want this inmate quarantined immediately.
- Looks like he ate some of this fine prison cuisine. - I can't take a chance.
Last time something like this happened, half the prison population got sick.
- He's quarantined now. He's contagious. - God!
One last thing.
Don't try any funny business.
Any shenanigans, the deal is off.
Can't you make him shut up?
- The guy's in pain. - Then give him something.
We got two more hours to go. Man, I don't wanna hear that shit.
Two parole officers will be assigned to you.
- Spivey, he's a black man.
You should like him. He should like you.
Your other chaperone is Crudup.
Quiet. But, as my father told me, it's the quiet one's you have to watch.
Spivey, I'm sick as a dog, man.
Here. Drink that.
Drink it.
Spivey and Crudup,
two of the best, handpicked by me.
If necessary, these men have been given a green light to shoot.
We don't give a shit about you, or you being sick as a dog.
You wanna throw up, let us know. We'll pull over.
You puke back there, my main man Crudup will see to it...
that you lick it all back up,
every single nasty-ass drop.
You understand, my brother? Capisce?
Yeah, capisce. Can you pull over?
Please?
Remember what my main man Spivey said. Don't get any in the car.
- Not a drop, not a speck.
- Don't move too fast - What up?
- Let's keep control - What's up, bro?
He's always singin'.
- You know, right? - Yo, I sound good though, man.
Better take this court over, yo.
- We gotta play for real. - And don't be confused
You just have to be willing
- Willing to end the-- Aw! - Shit!
Check out Rodman here.
Hey, yo, yo, yo! We got next!
- Gonna kick these motherfuckers' ass. - For real.
Play ball!
Big man.
- Look at the pants on that kid, man. - Let's go, baby.
- That's off. - Break!
Let's go, let's go, let's go, G!
Hey!
- Bring it on now. - Move it by yourself. Come on.
- Block it. - Whoa!
Aw, shit!
- I got it. - Come on, come on, come on, come on.
Come on! I'm open.
- Ah, that's our ball. - Nice shot, Johnny!
Whoo-hoo! Good pass, James!
- Just let me know. - What's the score?
Let's go, Boog!
I got it.
I got hops, baby! I got hops.
Center court.
You got it. You got it.
- Let's go, Boogs. - Come on, baby. Let's go, baby.
Get ready to help out, Booger, before we get beat. Just steal.
Show me something, kid.
I got it! All the way! Fly! Alley-oop!
Show time!
Yeah! We're the Lincoln Railsplitters, baby! What, what, what, what?
You didn't read the paper that day, son?
Aw! Railsplitters! That's right.
So Jesus has led the Railsplitters...
to the Promised Land despite being down late the second half.
Coach Cincotta's team refused to die.
They come back to win it, and there's bedlam at the Garden.
Number one.
The game brings me love, peace and happiness.
My name is Sip Rodgers.
I go to Abraham Lincoln High School.
I play the two-spot.
We're the Railsplitters, and nobody's fuckin' with us.
Basketball is like poetry in motion.
Just comin' down the court, you got a defender in your way.
You take him to the left. You take him back to the right.
And he's fallin' back, and you just "J" right in his face.
And then you look at him, and then you say, "What?"
Basketball's the birthplace of all of my dreams,
of everything that I wanna be, of everything I wanna accomplish in life.
I feel handsome when I'm on the court. I feel like I'm somebody.
The way this goes down is simple
From this day forth anything dealing with rap stay off
This the play-offs No payoffs, strictly skills
If your brain's insane then stick to your deals
In this field it ain't about sellin' a mil wit' the run of the mill
So just be tellin' it real, it ain't like a third-time felon's appeal
Till a god schools 'em and tells 'em the deal
I'll allow you to write maybe allow you to bite
If you down to fight the power here's the power to fight
I overpower the mic Hit the crowd wit' da bomb diggy
Ring the alarm Now the squad's wit' me
From way back I shown no weakness when I speak this
Mentally strong to keep this hit and my speech is given
Now listen from the beginnin' till I reach the endin'
My short story's winnin' and keep the beat spinnin'
You know the name, P.E. You know the game, P.E.
We ain't for the fame We for the change
Word is Bond, I wake up every day wit' my game face on
You know the name, P.E. You know the game, P.E.
We ain't for the fame We for the change
Word is Bond, I wake up every day wit' my game face on
We back harder than ever Follow my lead
Through the fast lane in the game
This is Mr. Shuttlesworth. His key?
You ain't ready to get it, I don't know why they keep askin' for it
Is this guy gonna mean any trouble?
Nah, he's not gonna mean any trouble.
If you somewhat sure Hip-hop's like a chess game
Discussing the war, strategize Move like masterminds
- So where y'all stayin' at? - Marriott, mid-town Manhattan.
That's what I figured. Why aren't I stayin' down there with y'all?
Only place on Coney lsland, my man.
Why waste all that valuable time commuting back and forth...
when you can walk to see your son right from here?
You also don't have a choice.
The way I see it, this is better than your room at the hoosegow.
- This is the Ritz to you. - I ain't mad at nobody.
You understand what I'm sayin'?
Yeah. Yeah, this is better than the Marriott.
Keep your hands still. There you go.
- All right. Sit down. - Huh?
You heard what the fuck I said. I said sit down!
There's a couple of things I think we better go over.
Number one: You ain't on vacation.
You're not a free man.
In the eyes of the law, you are still a convicted felon.
Your ass is ours. You understand that?
- Do you? - Yeah, I over-stand it.
- Then answer us when we speak to you. - I understand it, over-stand it.
The sooner you do what you gonna do,
the better it will be for all concerned parties.
Mr. Shuttlesworth, you are now wired.
It's a letter of intent for your son to sign. Take it.
In here there's some money. Get some clothing.
Toothpaste, deodorant, personal effects, whatever have you.
Take a shower. Wash your ass.
Give me your right leg.
Just in case you get any smart ideas, we will track you down.
And when we find you, we will shoot you dead.
- You have to check in with us daily.
Plus, when we page you, you have to return our call within ten minutes...
or there's gonna be hell to pay.
Yeah. So y'all gonna be following me everywhere I go?
No, we're not gonna follow you.
We're gonna get you a passport, plane ticket and a VlSA card.
Of course we're gonna be around. What the fuck you think we're gonna do?
- So how long I got exactly? - You got till midnight Sunday.
- I guess I better get working. - That would be the best thing to do.
And we will see you tomorrow.
-Yeah, I bet you will. - How's the tummy?
Great. Everything's lovely. Nice seein' you gentlemen.
- Just in case. - Thank you.
It's open.
Shit.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you.
If man is the father the son is the center of the Earth
In the middle of the universe
Then why is this verse coming six times rehearsed
Don't freestyle much but I write 'em like such
Amongst the themes controlled by the screens
What does it all mean all this shit I'm seein'
Human bein's screamin' vocal javelins
Sign of a local nigga unravelin'
My wanderin' got my ass wonderin'
Where Christ is in all this crisis
Hating Satan never knew what nice is
Check the papers while I bet on ices
More than your eyes can see and ears can hear
-Year by year all sense disappears - Know y'all did your homework.
- Nonsense perseveres Prayers laced with fear - What's up?
Beware: two triple-0 is near
It might feel good It might sound a little somethin'
But damn the game if it don't mean nothin'
- What's up? - What is game, who got game
- I saw you running.
Don't even try to play it off.
If you would've been on time, there would've been no need to run.
- The bus would've come sooner, I would've been on it. - I didn't tell you?
The B-36 don't come until I get here, Lala.
You know I got it like that.
Why you gonna play me like that?
- You played yourself, faded yourself. - That's crazy.
Oh?
You're lucky the bus is here, late like you.
People use Even murders excused
So, uh, have you narrowed down your choices yet?
Not yet.
You gonna let me in on your secret?
You know I'll never keep anything from you, never.
Folks don't even own themselves
Anyway, there's this guy that I know that I want you to meet.
Who's the guy?
He's a friend of the family. His name is D'Andre Mackey.
- What does he do? - D'Andre's an agent.
You know I ain't supposed to be talking to no agent. That shit is illegal.
All he wants to do is talk to you for five minutes, see where your head is at.
My head is on my shoulders and gonna stay there.
I'm not fucking with no agents, Lala.
Who got game Where's the game in life
Jesus, please?
I got game She got game
- Please? - They got game, he got game
Come on. He's a friend of the family.
- Five minutes of your time. - So?
It's just five minutes of your time before you make your decision.
Come on. Please?
I don't know.
Let me think about it.
-I'll see you fourth period, all right? -Sounds good.
Mmm. Mmm.
- I'll be so happy when this stuff is over with. - It won't be long now.
What do you got? A Monday morning 10:00 a.m. press conference, right?
- Yeah. - Have you made a decision yet?
You know what? That's the thing that's bothering me.
And you know what? You're my coach, right? I mean, I don't mind.
Every time I walk down the hallways, "Where you goin'?
Where you goin'? Have you chosen a school yet? Are you going to the NBA?"
I'm gonna tell y'all Monday morning.
- I'm tired of hearing that. - I can understand that.
Look, maybe it's in your best interest to take it as a compliment.
People really do care about you.
People don't care about me.
They care about themselves.
They're just tryin' to get over, tryin' to get a piece of Jesus, that's all.
Not everybody's a scumbag.
Some are-- don't get me wrong-- but not everybody. Okay?
When are you gonna make a decision?
Sometime between now and Monday morning, 10:00 a.m.
I still have a lot of thinking to do. I have to weigh my options.
- You got my home phone number, right? -Yeah, I got it.
You call me anytime. I don't care how late it gets, you wanna talk this thing through.
Jesus, I always thought of you as a son. You know that, right?
Yeah, I know that too.
You remember what I told you? You remember?
- I remember. You tell me every day. - What? What did I say?
I know what you told me, Coach. I know, I know.
It'll make me feel good again, all right?
This is gonna be the most important decision in your life.
- Hi, young man. - I'm John Thompson from Georgetown University.
Hello. I'm Dean Smith, the basketball coach, University of North Carolina.
I'm John Chaney from Temple University.
I'm Roy Williams from the University of Kansas.
I'm Coach Noland Richardson, the University of Arkansas.
I'm Lute Olson, head basketball coach at the University of Arizona.
- And this will be-- - The most important decision-- - In your life.
This will be the most important decision in your life.
Coach, I understand the magnitude of this decision.
God bless you, son. I believe you do.
Baby, I love you You havin' a good time?
Because you look so good.
Mmm, you look so good. So you like the wig?
- I love it! - You look great! You look fuckin' wonderful!
You know what? You look like Kim Novak from what movie?
- Vertigo. - Vertigo, baby, I tell ya.
So what do you wanna do for your birthday? It's your day.
I wanna go on the Cyclone. I wanna go on the Turbo-Jet.
- I wanna go on the Wonder Wheel. - Damn!
Brother?
Do you know me? Do you know my lady?
No, I don't think so.
Well, brother, you lookin' at us with all that fuckin' familiarity and shit.
Mind your own business, man.
Yeah, you right.
Obviously, I'm wrong, brother. It's my mistake, uh--
No disrespect.
I don't want no trouble, my man.
Bitch, what-- Get your motherfuckin'--
I gotta meet your brother. Please let me meet your brother.
I have to meet him. We'll talk about this tomorrow. See you later, Mary.
See you, Sarah.
Miss Shuttlesworth.
Boo Boo.
- It's okay. - Daddy.
How're you doin', baby?
Oh! My little woman.
- Daddy. - How're you doin', baby?
Look at you. You done all grown up and everything like that.
That's what I keep trying to tell him.
- How's he doin'? How's your brother? - Bossy as usual.
He's supposed to be bossy and everything like that.
He's supposed to be, taking care of his little sister.
Daddy, when did you get out?
Last night.
Look. Come on.
Let me walk you over to Uncle Bubba and Aunt Sally's house.
We don't live there anymore. He moved us out.
- Where you all live at? - O'Dwyer Gardens.
Uncle Bubba hasn't changed a bit.
So who payin' the rent?
- My brother. - Your brother?
- He workin'? - Naw.
-How long y'all been livin' around here? -About a year.
- A year? - Yeah.
That's good. How're you doin' in school? You doin' all right?
- I got an "A" in Science. - In Science, yeah? What you studyin'?
- Oh, cells or somethin'. - Cells?
Yeah, me too.
- So, this is our building. - Right here?
Yeah.
It's all right. This is pretty nice, actually.
So--
You ain't gonna invite me upstairs?
I don't know if I should. I could get in trouble.
- With who? - You know who.
All right. Tell you what.
I'll leave before he come, all right?
All right, Boo?
Okay.
What's in the bag?
Toothbrush, toothpaste. An afro pick?
Underwear? Skittles, Daddy!
Ha-ha! You figured I forgot, huh?
- You went shopping? - Yeah, a little bit. Who this, baby?
That's Lala. Lala Bonilla, Jesus's lady.
Lala Bonilla.
Daddy, how'd you get out? I thought you were gonna be away a long, long time.
Can Daddy's little Boo Boo keep a secret?
Yeah.
I'm out on a-- what you call like a... work release program, baby,
where's if l--
- Well, I got a week to do a job. - Meaning?
Meaning if I do a good job, I can get out sooner than expected.
- What kind of job do you have to do? - I can't tell you that yet.
Because I'm too young. I cannot wait until I'm 18.
I am tired of people telling me that I'm not old enough.
"Can't do this. No, no, honey, can't do this. You're too young--"
Hold on, hold on. Sit down.
Look. Number one, you ain't too young. You're a young woman.
It's just that I could... get in trouble.
- Now, you don't want your daddy to get in trouble, do you? - No.
I don't want you getting into any more trouble. I know it wasn't your fault.
I know you didn't mean it.
You don't know what that means to your daddy.
Now, let's hit them Skittles.
Your brother, he's doin' all right, huh?
- He is so good. - Yeah?
He is better than good, Daddy. You should see him play.
He's a zillion times better than when you last saw him.
- Remember when he used to be so weak on his left hand? - Yeah.
Naw, now he can handle it with both.
- And he can shake so good. - Can he?
I bet he can finally beat you.
You think so?
-Yeah, he probably can.
You've reached Mary and Jesus. We're not at home.
- Leave a message at the beep.
It's me, baby. It's Lala.
Hello, son.
Mary, what did I tell you about letting strangers in the house?
- He's not a stranger. He's our father. - I don't have a father.
- Hey, wait a minute-- - Daddy, he's trippin'.
Trippin'? We'll see who's trippin' later on tonight.
- What did I tell you about talking to strangers anyway? - "Don't do it."
- And why? - Because it may cause us harm.
So why did you let this stranger in our house?
Mary, do you hear me talking to you? Don't play deaf.
I'm not standing here for my health, and you ain't deaf.
- Don't talk to your sister like that. - Am I talkin' to you?
Matter of fact, I don't even know why you're here.
Mary, answer me right now.
I won't do it again, I promise!
It's time for you to get to steppin'.
And I'd appreciate it if you don't ever walk through that door ever again.
All right. Look, I need to talk to you.
- Why? - I just need to. When can we talk?
I don't know. I'm usually around.
- Where you gonna be at? 'Cause this is kinda urgent. - I'm usually at the Garden.
- All right. - All right.
- I'll see you down there. - Yeah, you can see me there.
Enjoy the Skittles, baby.
Now you enjoy walkin' out that front door.
- Where you think you're goin'? - Help!
Get in there!
Open the door!
- Who's tryin' to break the door down? - Booger!
What's up?
Hey, how y'all doin'?
- Not good. - What's wrong, dear?
- Guess who showed at the apartment? - Who?
- Daddy. - Lord have mercy!
- Booger, take your cousin in your room. - Go in the room.
Come on, Mary. Um--
You can play with my Sony Playstation.
- Good, 'cause I can always beat you. - I'm gettin' good at--
Sit down, son.
When did all this happen?
- About half an hour ago. - What did he say? What does he want?
He says he wants to speak to me. He says it's urgent.
- It don't make no sense. - It makes perfect sense. He smells the money.
What I'd like to know, how does a convicted murderer get out so quick?
How can this happen? He's not even eligible for parole yet.
He told Mary that he was out on a work release program or something.
The man escaped just like Shawshank.
Clint Eastwood in Escape From Alcatraz. The Fugitive.
- He wasn't acting like no fugitive. - We should call the cops.
- Yeah. - We ain't gonna do no such a thing.
I think you need to go and talk to your father.
He ain't my father, all right?
I know how you feel, son, but the fact remains he is your daddy.
But as your legal guardians as appointed by the court in the state of New York,
I feel you need to involve us more in your life.
Jesus, we're family.
Your mother-- Martha,
my sister-- I loved her.
We feel responsible for the both of you.
I made a promise to your mother that if anything ever happened to her,
that we would be there for the both of you.
You hear me, Jesus?
Like I said, son, you need to talk to your daddy, see what he has to say.
I told him I'd be here at the Garden.
Before you go now, I want you to use some of my John the Conqueror root.
This is what my daddy brought up here from Mississippi.
Now, you rub some of this here between your wrist and your elbow, see,
just like this here.
- Now, this'll fix you up real good. - Oh, Bubba.
Don't nobody care nothin' about your country, backward old root.
-This mojo works! It worked on your ass! -Hmph!
- No, thanks, Uncle Bubba. - Suit yourself.
- You make a decision yet? - No, not yet.
Your Aunt Sally feels bad that we aren't being included in such an important decision.
He does not speak for me! You do what you feel is right.
- Thank you, Aunt Sally. - Will you be quiet, please?
What they offerin' you, boy? What they gon' give you?
- Full athletic scholarship. - Whoo! That's wonderful!
Full athletic scholarship, that's all?
No money, no cars, no job for your family?
- No school say nothin' like that. - See, I don't believe that.
You're tryin' to hold out on us.
- Holdin' out? - You're tryin' to cut us out the deal.
- What deal? - The deal is about to go down! I hear things.
No, you ain't hear that.
Think of your Uncle Bubba, your Aunt Sally.
I think it's only right that we be compensated for sacrifices...
we made when we took y'all in.
Bubba! I don't want any part of this.
I'm goin' into the bedroom.
Good. Take your big ass on in the bedroom, then.
Why you gotta talk to Aunt Sally like that? I thought we were family.
-We are family. Blood, thick as thieves. -I don't even know why l--
My controls ain't workin'. It's stickin' or something.
I'm the bomb. I'm the bomb. Say it. I'm the bomb.
Mm-hmm, yo, I'm the bomb. You know I'm the bomb, right?
Now, we put out a lot of money for y'all.
All I'm asking is that you let me wet my beak a little bit.
- Wet your beak? - Wet my beak, son.
You didn't see The Godfather ll? The man was called The Black Hand.
- I suspect you already got a deal in place. - What kind of deal?
The kind of deal that would enable you to get your own apartment,
pay rent, pay Ma Bell,
pay Con Ed, buy clothes, furniture with no visible means of income.
You ain't got no job, son! No J-O-B!
Don't try to play me for no fool now.
- Am I making this clear? - Yeah, you're making it very clear!
When I really get paid, I ain't gonna lose track of you and Aunt Sally!
I'm gonna take care of you, with interest if you want!
I ain't too old to have dreams. Is that what you think?
I still got dreams. I got plans too. Big plans.
- Now, why should me and your Aunt Sally get cut off? - Anything else, Uncle Bubba?
-Yo. -Yeah!
- Check 'em. - Ahh!
These are the new Jordans.
That's it, huh?Yeah. How much these cost, man?
- 139, 150 with tax. - One-fi'ty? Where the holes at?
They're on the inside. You gotta lace 'em up that way.
- Do that for me, man, all right? -Yeah, no problem, man.
Let's get rid of this first.
139!
It's arthritis.
You know, I got that, uh... arthritis thing happening.
Yeah? My brother's got the same arthritic condition.
- Really? - Only it's his left ankle.
-It's going around here in Coney lsland. -Yeah, yeah. It's contagious.
- Like the plague. -Yeah.
Damn, what's he doin' here?
Hello, Mr. Shuttlesworth.
Since when do you start calling your uncle Mister?
Hello, Uncle Jake.
- Huh? - Hello, Uncle Jake.
- How you doin'? You all right? - Okay.
- How's your game? - Okay.
- That left hand comin'? - Okay.
- Schoolwork? - Okay.
All right.
So it look like you, uh-- look like you grew a little bit.
- You think so? - Oh, no doubt.
- You ain't clownin' me, are you? - I wouldn't clown you, son.
I know you grew-- What, a couple, three inches?
- Yo, for reals? - It's the truth.
I'm--
That's the best news I've heard in weeks.
All right. Well, cool.
I'm gonna let you two talk, you know, get reacquainted.
Hey, you eatin' them vegetables, boy?
- Always, man. Hey, welcome back. - All right.
- So you got new Jordans, I see.
Yeah.Yeah, yeah. Yeah, a little somethin', son, you know.
So you ready? One-on-one?
Still can't beat your pops?
No, thank you.
- You ain't no competition. - I ain't no competition?
- Naw. - Son, l--
- If your mother could see--
Hey, all right. I'm sorry, all right? Hey, wait a minute.
That's the wrong way to start a conversation with me.
All right. Hold up, hold up.
Look, you get any of them letters?
Yeah, I got your stupid letters.
I tore 'em up too.
- What about Mary's? - I tore those up too.
All right. Since you too scared to play me, can we talk for a moment?
- Talk about what? - A lot of things.
I gotta ask you a few questions, you know, catch up on things.
Look, I don't have a lot of time, so make it quick.
I got even less time, so I'm gonna make it real quick.
I read all about you, everything like that, and, uh--
Game really developed. All the hard work done paid off.
I'm proud of you, son. I mean that.
I know these are tough times for you now.
So I figure, hey, you know, you might need some fatherly advice.
- From who? - From me.
- About what? - About, number one, where you gonna go to school.
- Have you made a decision? - Aw, damn! You too?
I already know what you're about to say.
"This is about to be the most important decision in your life."
That ain't what I was about to say. I'm gonna ask you--
I'm just hopin' that you ain't compromisin' yourself, son.
I know what's going on. I know people are offering you all kinds of things.
I just don't wanna see you beholden to somebody for something you done took.
- Something I took? - Yeah.
What do you expect? I gotta take care of Mary, nobody else but me.
I refuse to let Mary grow up in the same apartment with Uncle Bubba.
Look. All I'm sayin' is-- I would like to know where you're goin'.
- What difference does it make where I'm goin'? - I would like to know.
I don't know yet. I have to weigh my options.
- You got any idea? - Like I told the rest of the world, I don't know yet.
I pray that you understand...
why I pushed you so hard.
It was only to get you to that next level, son.
You's the first Shuttlesworth that's even gonna make it out these projects.
I was the one who put the ball in your hand. I put the ball in your crib.
- I ain't no baby no more. - All right.
Why the hell did you name me Jesus anyway? What type of name is that?
- It's a biblical name. - No kiddin'.
- You don't like that name? - I never liked my name.
- You ain't never told me. - I used to tell Mommy a lot of things.
- Why you ain't never tell me? - You haven't been around lately.
I used to hate for Mom to call me in to come in for dinner.
Jesus! Jesus!
You're lucky my dribble's got--
- Dusted in for the N.B.A. - Shut up! You look like--
- You look like a cockroach. - Cockroach?
Cockroach this then. Cockroach this.
That way. That way.
You just can't shoot the darn fool.
- Ooh, shoot it? Shoot it? - Yeah, shoot it.
Jesus!
- Jesus! Jesus! - Jesus!
Jesus, time to come in and eat. Bring your cousin Booger with you.
Could I just finish one more shot, please?
- No! I said now, and I mean it! - Come on.
People used to think she was some type of religious freak, catchin' the Holy Ghost.
Save me, Jesus! Save me, Jesus!
- Just stop, Booger! That ain't funny! - Well, it's funny to me.
Funny to me, just like you pickin' and eatin' your boogers all the time.
- I don't eat my boogers! - Yes, you do!
Man, you never seen me eat my boogers.
How many you see me eat? One, two or three?
I came to this court by myself. Why you gotta follow me?
- Maybe I wanted to play with Jesus. - Jesus!
Jesus! Jesus!
- Jesus! - Look at that.
Moses parted the Red Sea, not Jesus.
- Moses, Jesus, whatever. - Whatever?
Whatever.
Everybody and their mama's running around sayin' they're born again.
Especially all these athletes and entertainers.
They get caught smokin' crack in the hotel with ten whores.
All of a sudden they have a religious experience? They find Jesus, all right.
What's wrong with finding Jesus, huh? What's wrong with that?
How come you never hear Jesus being praised in the losers' locker room then?
- They're probably cursin' that motherfucker out. - Hey, wait, wait, wait.
- First, number one-- - God ain't shit.
Number one, why you gotta use all this kinda language?
You some kind of heathen now? You don't make no mistakes?
You be out here shootin', but you don't miss no shots ever? Ever?
People make mistakes. People veer off the path. So what? God forgives them.
- Has God forgiven you for killing my mother? - I pray that He has.
- I believe He has. When will you? - Never.
All right. Well, hey, look.
- Hey. Shit. - "Thou shall not kill."
- lsn't that from the Good Book? - That's in the Good Book. So?
So what? Ain't nothin' I can do, son, that can bring your mother back.
What you want me to do, huh?
Did you even love my mother?
Yes, I loved her!
I loved her more than life itself.
You sure did have a hell of a way of showin' it.
When you goin' back anyway?
Yo, I got next. I got next game, bro.
I wanna go eat.
Jesus, you off the phone yet?
Hey.
You been on the phone all night.
All these schools callin', we need to just get another unlisted number.
- It still gets out. - I'll be so glad when all this stuff is over.
- I know you will. - How long's it gonna be?
- Monday morning. - Praise the Lord, and thank you, Jesus.
You think that's funny, don't you?
- I like teasing you. - I know you do.
Everybody says I'm gonna be rich, won't have to worry about a thing.
- Did your father tell you that? - No, but everybody else in the world.
Everybody else in the world don't know.
Everybody says you're gonna play pro ball and have your own Nike sneakers...
and star in commercials and make mad loot.
So much money that we won't be in Coney lsland no more.
What did I tell you about listening to what people say?
I hear what you say, but if everybody's sayin' the same thing, it's gotta be true.
Uncle Bubba even said you were gonna buy him and Aunt Sally some new house in Long lsland.
He asked me if I want to go house shopping with him.
Looking for a big old house, too, with, like, a green lawn and grass...
and lots of trees and even a swimming pool in the back.
- Uncle Bubba told you that? - Mm-hmm.
- I'm gonna have to talk to that uncle of yours. - All the kids in school say,
since I'm gonna be so rich and famous, that...
I'm not gonna need to go to school anymore...
'cause I already know how to count and I'm just wasting my time.
If I hear you talkin' like that again, I'll kill you myself!
Dang! Let go of me!
All those kids don't mean shit! I'm raising you, nobody else!
- Get off of me! - We're not rich.
We don't have no money. We don't have shit.
If those were really your friends, they wouldn't be filling your head with bullshit.
I didn't say I believed it. I just said that that's what people are saying.
- Can't believe you listen to that bullshit. - Fine! I'm sorry, all right?
Goodness!
You never tell me nothin'. You never even have time for me no more.
Well, it's gonna be over Monday morning, okay?
I'm really trippin'.
I'm sorry. I apologize for putting my hands on you, okay?
I'm just-- I'm afraid.
Me too.
I mean, I just want the best for both of us.
And, you know, Mommy, she wanted you to go to college.
All these people around here, half these people aren't going to college.
Mommy wants you to get your degree.
Why is Daddy here? Why did he come back?
He's not gonna be here much longer.
But, Jesus, I miss him so, so much.
- Go to sleep. - Good night.
Hello, everyone. I'm Robin Roberts. Welcome to Sports Center.
Tonight, our feature is about a biblical player--
the Chosen One, the second coming, the resurrection,
the salvation.
ESPN gets religion as we follow a day in the life of Abraham Lincoln senior...
Jesus Shuttlesworth, the number one basketball prospect in the country.
Jesus of Coney lsland.
Jesus is the best thing to happen to the game since the tennis shoe was invented.
Jim Faen from Mount Saint Mary's used to say,
"He gives me a tingle," and I think that's what Jesus does.
He makes you excited to watch him.
Whew! Jesus Shuttlesworth.
He's the next phenom! He's awesome, baby, with a capital "A"!
The guy's unbelievable! He's a P.T.P., a prime time player!
He's the 3-S man! Super, scintillating, sensational!
He's a high riser!
His game has got everything you need.
He can defend. He can run. He can finish.
He likes to play in a crowd, and he can pass the basketball.
He makes people better. He's the real thing.
He's able to do some of the things that most coaches talk about,
and that is being able to be a triple threat.
If that's something that we as coaches have used for many years-- dribble, pass and shoot.
Pure shooter, fearsome defender, a great player.
He was coming down for a fast break, and the defender went for the ball.
He brought it behind his back and switched it over to his right hand.
It went through his legs.
Defender came up and kind of stutter-stepped a little bit,
pulled back and rang the three.
This kid might be ready for the big leagues.
He plays to win, and a lot of people play to play.
This guy plays to win.
He understands that if he performs better, they are going to win.
But he knows how to pass. He plays with his teammates.
He has all the attributes that go into being a winner.
When I watched Kenny Anderson's stuff,
- I'd never thought I would see anybody better than those guys. - Shit.
But along came Jesus.
There are very few players that give you 40 minutes of everything.
Michael Jordan'll give you 35. But 40 minutes of everything he's got...
because of what he's overcome in his life.
In terms of dealing with his sister,
and all of the pitfalls that come with being in a deprived situation.
And in a situation that's void of any kind of leadership other than his own,
he's had to be very, very self-reliant.
Now, with kids as good as he is, he's probably receiving a lot of pressure...
to go into the N.B.A. because so many kids are doing it.
When you see a kid with this kind of talent, it's almost normal for him...
to take that into consideration with the kind of money that they're getting now.
But I would tell him that he needs to go to college and get an education...
so that he'll be able to save the money that he has.
My mother, she always told me that, that...
it was great to be a superstar athlete and to be able to make it to the N.B.A.
But... I mean, you're nothing without your education.
And, you know, ever since day one, she wouldn't let me play basketball.
She wouldn't let me play in the garden, from day one, unless I did my homework.
That's right.
I think when April 11th comes, I just wanna let my hair down,
kick my feet up and have a good time.
Just go hang out with my boys back in high school:
- Sip, Booger, Lonnie, Mance. - Lincoln! Linc-- Linc-- Lincoln!
- Man, those are my partners. - My name is Sip!
Whether east or west!
-Yeah! - I rock this joint!
-Yeah! - With the most finesse. Roll call!
Lincoln! Linc-- Linc-- Linc-- Lincoln! Roll call!
- My name is Jesus. -Yeah!
- I am the man. -Yeah!
- What's up with these questions... -Yeah!
about my plan?
I think it would just be a sin that...
you know, come... two months from now,
when I graduate,
my mother, she won't be able to attend my graduation...
because, of course, she passed.
What most impresses me about Jesus Shuttlesworth...
is the foresight of his parents...
to name him appropriately as the world's greatest.
- Jesus. - Jesus. - Jesus.
- Oh, Jesus!
- Jesus. - Jesus. - Jesus.
- Hallelujah, Jesus! Hallelujah!
He got game.
Who brought you this Victoria's Secret bra-and-panties shit?
Bitch, where do you get this shit from? You crazy?
-Bitch, are you outta your fuckin' mind?
- Dakota. - I'm sorry.
Damn!
I'm sorry, baby.
The director is God.
You have no vision from nobody.
You tryin' to antebellum my ass.
You tryin' to fuckin' plantationalize on me, ain't ya?
Bitch, this ain't Gone With The Wind.
You ain't Scarlett O'Hara! I ain't Rhett Butler!
Bitch, I'll kick your ass.
Take that goddamn shit off.
Fuckin' with me.
Who the fuck you think you are?
I'm sorry.
Bitch must be crazy.
Chillin' me with some goddamn shit from some other motherfucker.
Who the fuck does she think she is?
I can't believe that bitch did me like this.
Hello?
You all right? I heard a lot of noise next door.
I thought maybe you need some help, or something like that.
Here, let me help you up.
- What the hell do you want? - It's all right. Come here.
I won't hurt you. Come here.
You can walk? You all right?
Yeah. I need... some help!
You weren't knocking on that door while I was getting my ass beat.
- Yeah, well, I didn't want to get all up in your business-- - Smart, huh?
- My God, it's funny, isn't it? - Y'all got some ice around here?
Oh, the sink doesn't work. There's some cold water in the bathroom tub.
Oh, God.
At least I still got my teeth.
- Put this right here. - Thanks.
Yeah. Right there.
I seen you around, you know.
- I noticed you right away. -Yeah?
- You don't belong here. - Oh, yeah? How can you tell that?
You don't seem like the type of guy that would be here...
in this house of ill repute.
My name's Dakota.
You ever been there?
- Where? - Dakota.
Oh, no, no, no. I ain't never been nowhere.
I'm from upstate New York.
- I'm, uh, Jake. Jake-- - Please, no last names.
In my line of work, last names aren't needed.
You're actually better off without them.
- Why he beat you like that? - Because he can.
And why you let him though?
Look. Are you trying to get inside my head or something?
- You trying to see how I think? - Naw.
You think you're real slick, huh?
Naw, I just, you know--
I just want to get to know you or something.
Look, I'm not a crack 'ho, okay? I don't do drugs.
-I ain't accusing you of nothing, baby-- -Good.
I just want you to know-- I don't do drugs. I'm clean.
Right.
You still didn't answer my question though.
Why you allow this, this, this... pimp, you know, to just--
- His name is Sweetness. - Is what?
- His name is Sweetness. - All right.
All right. Why you allow Sweetness...
to, you know, more or less, just beat you down?
A lot of reasons.
- Mm. - Take your pick.
Shoot.
I love him. He loves me.
I'm his number one money-maker. I'm his bottom bitch.
Uh, low self-esteem. I was abused as a child.
And, you know, I deserved it. It keeps me in line.
And he always says he's sorry.
You know, we're going to get married...
once he saves up enough money to get out of this...
sh-shit-hole.
Here, let me freshen that up for you.
So what about you?
I mean, look.
That's one of my problems, or one of my many problems.
I tell people my whole life history and I don't even know a thing about them.
Ah. Well, I told you my first name was Jake,
and, uh, I got two children.
Got a son. His name is Jesus,
and, uh, got a daughter named Mary.
Are you, like, religious or something?
Oh, most definitely. Most defin-- Well, more so like, uh--
Well, spirituality too.
You really think you're slick, huh?
I'm not talking anymore about me until you...
start talking some more about you.
All right. Well, um...
I like you, you know, uh, fa-- uh, Dakota.
And, uh...
I think that, uh... I can help you.
You know, trying to fuck me isn't going to help me.
- Okay? - I ain't talking about nothing like that.
Why do you all men think... dick is the cure-all?
I don't know about all men, but I don't even think like that.
- Oh, no? - No.
- You got a dick, don't you? - Without a doubt.
- You got balls, don't you? - Both of them. Both of them.
You really think you're slick, huh?
No. I don't think nothing like that.
So you want to know something about me, or not?
I'm sorry.
I talk too much. That's what Sweetness always says.
Where's my wig?
Damn!
- You lost your wig? - Where's my wig?
Oh, man.
Look under the bed.
Bingo. There it is.
- Thanks. - All right.
Anyway, uh, l, uh...
have a wife-- had a wife named Martha...
and, uh... I love her very much.
Uh, I took her life.
I murdered her, and, uh...
I'm serving time for that right now.
I still got a ways to go, and, uh...
I guess it's like God is paying-- making me pay for my sins.
Fuck you.
Okay? You killed your wife? I don't believe you.
Well, it don't matter, but, you know, it's true, uh...
I'm on a kind of a... work release program.
Well, here we are, huh?
Both fucked-up people.
...kept his mouth shut before the game.
Let's go to the Garden.
First quarter, Knicks up one. Jordan for three?
Boo-yeah! M.J. got much game.
Beaucoup game in the first quarter alone.
- Jesus. - I don't know yet.
- No, it's me, baby. It's Lala. - What time is it anyway?
It's like 1:00 a.m. I'm really sorry it's so late,
but I really have to speak to you.
- Honey, I really need you to meet with that guy I was telling you about. - Who?
- He still wants just five minutes of your time. - What's his name again?
D'Andre Mackey. He's a good brother also.
- He's a good brother? -Yeah.
I don't know. I was dreaming.
I don't know, Lala.
I'll get in trouble for this.
Look, I told you he's a really good friend of the family,
and... it would mean a lot to me.
So, please?
All right, all right. Just let me go back to sleep, okay?
- Okay. I'll arrange everything. - I'll see you tomorrow at school.
Good night.
- Jesus? - What?
- I love you. - I love you too.
So, what did he say?
He's down whenever you want to meet.
Let's go, Shuttlesworth!
Yeah, I'm coming, I'm coming.
- Morning, Jake. - Hey, what's happening?
What time is it?
Time for you to get your ass out of bed.
You see, if I was you, I wouldn't spend too much time sleeping.
-Well, you ain't me, is you? -That's right. I haven't killed anybody.
- Yet. - Why you got to take it there, Spivey?
Come on, everybody, let's be friends.
You know, it's Tuesday morning, and time is flying.
You trying to make me feel better? I know what day it is.
I don't want you to lose track of time. You see, we're on a tight schedule.
We can all go back early, if you just...
decide to give it up.
Throw in the towel.
You know, you haven't had too much success with your son yet.
- Have you? - Come on now. Leave the man alone.
It's not over till it's over, till the fat lady sings.
That's right. That's right. So since I'm on the clock,
if you two gentlemen don't mind, can I get on with my day?
We're leaving.
- Just doing our job, baby. - We all happy in our work, ain't we?
Y'all want some breakfast?
Naw, naw, naw. We had the continental over at the Marriott.
- Yeah? Ain't as good as this though.
Give me one at a time, one at a time.
- Can I have your autograph? - Back up.
Hey, yo, back up! Hey, back up, back up! Let the man breathe.
Give him some air. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right.
You want his autograph now, 'cause it's going to be worth big money real soon.
Now go on. Hey, man, back up!
Here you go. Here you go, partner.
Take it easy, Booger. It's gonna be all right.
I'll take care of you, all right? See?
I wonder where the hell this bus is. Damn!
- For whom the final bell tolls - Whoo!
- Big Time, what's up, baby?
- What up, J-man? - You got it.
You not rolling public transportation with all these knuckleheads.
Big Time Willie, that's what I've been trying to tell him but he won't listen.
- I like to ride the bus. These are my people. - Hey, what's up with Jake?
- These are my peeps right here. -Yo, man, it's your pops.
How are you doing, son? Can I talk to you for a second?
- One-on-one-- - Naw. Boog, get in the fucking car.
We late for school. Get in the fucking car, now.
- Son-- - Hey, don't push me, man.
- Can I talk to you, son? - I don't know. You'll see me around.
- Just off the back-- - Bye, Uncle Jake.
Go ahead. Take off.
- Smack me if I'm wrong-- - Big Time!
So you want me to talk to your pops, man?
He's stressing you out, I see.
I'll talk to him, man. I'll handle him. Just give me the word.
I can handle my own business, all right?
Yeah? You can handle it? All right, J-man, handle it.
You know, your pops, bugged out as he is right now,
back in the day, he could play some ball, yeah.
Did you know that? Huh? Did you know that?
- He knows. -Yeah. Let's slide off to A.C., J-man.
- What's up, Jesus! - Atlantic City, my treat.
- We got school. - J-man.
- A.C.-- - Like my cousin said, we got school.
Right. My bad, my bad.
Hey, can't be fucking with y'all's education, right?Yeah.
- So where you going to school, man? You made up your mind? - Not yet.
Look, you pygmy motherfucker--
- I'm not a pygmy. - You want to walk to school?
Big Time, it's cool.
I'll kick your ass out to the curb right now.
I mean, my bad and all, my bad,
but don't make me get violent early in the morning.
- Really. I ain't had my coffee. - Be cool, all right?
You know it's no coincidence motherfuckers don't be fucking with you, right?
Starting beefs with you, starting shit with you.
You know.
- As jealous as niggers is around here, like that nigger. - Jesus!
Look, the reason why nobody...
fucks with you is 'cause Big Time Willie put the word out, all right?
- Oh, you did? - Big Time Willie told motherfuckers...
they be fucking with the J,
they're gonna wake up dead in the Atlantic Ocean.
Look, I hate to break it down to you this way,
but it's not 'cause they love you, man.
Huh? The bigger a nigger get up in this motherfucker, the more they hate you.
All right? I mean, you can play ball and all that,
but, shit, that don't mean shit to these niggers 'round here; put a cap in your ass.
Just on G.P. That's on the strength. So you gotta watch your back.
- Oh, so I should thank you then, huh? - I don't give a fuck.
I just want you to know what the tick-tock is.
He knows.
Yeah.
You know, a lot of great ballplayers came out of Coney lsland,
but most of them didn't amount to shit.
- What about Stephan Marsbury? He made it. - Oh, true that, true that.
-Yeah, but he's one of the few. - If he can make it out here, so can l.
-Yeah? You're gonna make it? -Yeah, I'm gonna make it.
You're gonna make it out like the rest of these niggers out here, in a casket.
First thing that's gonna take you out is these drugs they got for you.
And you got the cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine.
You got the uppers, the downers, the chiva, crystal meth.
Acid. We got the nicotine for you.
Huh? You don't want none of that?
And don't forget about the alcohol, baby.
Yeah, we got that malt liquor, a.k.a. "liquid crack."
Get that motherfucker.
Just for you, black man.
You see that shit be advertised up and down Park Avenue?
Fuck, no!
Why do you fuck with me, you fucking bitches?
I keep telling y'all, stop fucking with me.
Oh, and they got the other thing for you, man.
Yeah, I almost forgot.
They got that pussy.
- Give it to me, James. - Take it.
I know you know how to spell that, don't you?
- I do. - How you spell it?
- P-U-S-- - H.I.V.
- Oh, baby, fuck me hard. - Look at 'em come.
He think 'cause he got that ball skill, he goin' up in the N.B.A., he immune.
How you gonna be immune to pussy? Pussy be talking to you, Jesus.
Pussy be saying, pussy be saying,
"Come on in, Jesus. Just a little taste."
How you gonna be immune to that shit?
- Feel so good. - All that titty up in your face.
All that good ass. How you gonna be immune to that thigh?
All those lips, all those hips? All those honey dips?
Come on, man. Be real.
That shit will fuck a nigger up quick.
Deadly combination. You know what I'm saying?
And I didn't even mention the bloodsucking leeches.
Oh, yeah.
The newfound family.
Pygmy buzzards be hovering over you trying to get that loose change.
You know what I'm saying? Huh?
They talking about "l love you." "Oh, I love you."
- I love you. - Oh, I love you, Jesus. Oh, I love you.
- You know I love you. - I love you.
Te amo. Jesús, te amo. Aye, qué fiebre.
Come on, man. I need some money.
- I love you so much. - I need some money.
- Hook a brother up. - Give me some money.
I need some cash. I'm gonna get these Nikes.
- I can't have anything but the best. - This Hilfiger sweater--
-Don't you want me looking good for you? -I need some money.
- I love you. - Hook a sister up. I need some money.
I need some Similac for my baby. I need some Pampers for my baby.
I need some Dolce Gabbana for me. I need some Chanel.
I need some Fendi. Come on.
- Mira, papi. Big Time! - What's up? How you doing?
¿ Dónde estabas tú anoche, chico?
- Let's go, Sip. - Here you go. Come get it.
Come on, slide through. Slide through, slide through.
- Here you go. I got, I got you. - Come on, come on.
- Pass, Sip. - Yo, pick that up, G.
- Goddamn, man! - Good block, baby.
- Ball out, man. - What?
- What you mean, what? You fouled the fuck out of me. - That was our ball!
You fouled me. It's the only way you're gonna block my shot anyway.
You fouled me, you fouled me. Boo-hoo!
- Always crying. - You the crybaby, you little church-going motherfucker.
That's why I don't like playing with your ass, son.
You swear you Jordan up in this piece. You foul motherfuckers too.
- Man, shut your-- - Fuck the call.
- Give me the damn ball! - Here, you want the ball?
Go get it!
- Oh, shit. - Oh, shit.
- Yo, I made that shit. - That's a million-dollar shot, baby.
- Goddamn! - Jesus!
- Coach is back. - I need to see you in my office now.
- So what's up, Coach? - You know, I don't want to keep busting your balls,
but you got any idea where you're going to go with this thing?
I mean, kid, an inkling, anything?
- Naw, I don't know yet. - You're not holding out on me, are you?
No, Coach, you know I wouldn't do that to you. I just don't know yet.
I'll know on Monday morning. I still have to weigh my options.
Do me a favor. Go lock the door.
Lock the door.
- Sit down. - What's that?
Sit down, Jesus. Sit down.
It's, uh-- it's a little package to help you...
-maybe make your decision before Monday. -I don't need that.
Buddy, you know what this is?
- What? - That's $10,000.
Huh? Take it. 10,000 "braziuls."
Hey, hey, you know how much Hilfiger this buys?
Come on.
It's yours. Don't be afraid of it. Take it.
- I can't take that. - What do you mean? You been taking it.
- I can't take it. - You've been taking, kid.
You told me before that it was just a loan, didn't you?
You're talking semantics here.
Jesus, the fact remains, you took the do-re-mi, pal. Think back with me.
You remember that little problem you had with Calculus?