Life

In accordance with the regulations of the state of Mississippi...

...we gather today to lay to rest...

...the remains of inmates R. Gibson, number 4316...

...and C. Banks, number 4317.

'Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.'

May God have mercy on their souls.

- Amen. - Amen.

You can go ahead, fellas.

Look like you finally free now, boys.

Finally free.

Friends of yours, old-timer?

Let's just say we spent some time together.

Now, why do I get the feeling when you say 'some time,' you mean some time.

I'd been here a good while when they come.

They come here, must've been 1932.

- Man! - Shit, that's like... Wait a minute.

That's 65 years, son.

Shit.

Didn't they burn in that fire yesterday?

Listen, man, I seen them niggers before they put them in the box.

And when I tell you, them niggers, they was bacon burnt.

It was like from the X Files, man.

What you got in that bottle anyway?

This is Rayford's special recipe.

He had what we call exacting standards when it comes to the hootch.

- So, what were they, bootleggers? - Something like that.

- Hank, my man, how you doin'? - No, not tonight, Ray.

- Spanky's not happy with you. - Is Spanky here?

Find a place where they let you in the front door.

Wait.

Remember I bought your girl the alligator shoes?

What's wrong? I came through for you!

She was wearin' pigskin when I met her. She's in alligator now. Let me in.

Yeah, that's how it goes, brother.

Thank you, man. I appreciate it.

- How does this tie look? - Lookin' sharp, man.

I feel lucky tonight, too.

- Here's to your new job down at the bank. - Thank you.

I always knew you'd make something of yourself.

- With my first paycheck, I'll buy... - What, baby?

Season tickets to the Yankees, right on the first base line.

What's wrong?

I was hoping you were gonna say an engagement ring, Claude.

- Engagement ring? - That's what respectable folks do.

Get a job, get married, start having babies.

Isn't that what you want?

I just don't see no reason to rush into things.

I got to clean this. I'll be right back, baby.

- Good evening, sir. - Can I have a towel, please?

- Of course. - Look at this.

Hey, there ain't no reason to get violent. I tried to call.

Sit your ass down.

Congratulations. You finally got yourself a job.

Now you can pay Mr. Riley that 50 bucks you owe him.

- I got a bill to pay out there. - Lookie here.

- $22. - Not bad... for a start.

That's two weeks' pay. I'm with my girl. You gotta leave me something.

- How about your legs? - My legs? Those are good.

That's good.

I'll keep the legs.

Excuse me.

How'd he get in here?

Evenin'.

- You got any of that French shit? - Yeah, bro.

That's the one there.

- Thanks, man. - All right.

- Do I smell French? - That's it.

- Here, you keep the change. - Thank you.

- Hey, don't I know you? - I don't think so.

- Yes, I know you. What is your name? - Claude Banks.

Claude Banks! Hey, it's me, Ray Gibson.

We went to high school. How you doin'?

- You went to Monroe? - Yes! How you doing?

You lookin' all sharp. Good to see colored folks doin' good.

I went to Jefferson.

You must have another Claude Banks in mind.

- Excuse me. - I'm sorry. My mistake.

Are you wearin' that dress?

Hey, what's goin' on?

Is it about my tab? Don't worry, it's covered.

It's hot in here tonight. Hot.

This ain't about your tab. You got bigger problems than that.

Hold up one second...

You shouldn't have run numbers on Spanky's side of Broadway.

- I think we gotta get out of here. - Excuse me, sir, your bill.

The bill? Of course, the bill.

How can I forget the bill? Such an incredibly large bill.

Just tell me where you want me to go.

Get over here.

- You took my ankle. - All right, that's not nice.

Yeah, right?

What do you think they're gonna do to us?

What'd you do, dine and ditch?

- Over ten bucks? - Yeah.

- Probably just a thumb. - Who is he?

Friend of yours?

I never met this man before tonight.

He's a lowlife that hangs around in bathrooms pickpocketing people.

I'm a professional man.

I got a job that starts on Monday.

I'll pay you back with my first paycheck, with interest.

I won't tell you how to run your business...

...but if you cut off my fingers, you won't get nothing.

Working on adding machines, I got to be whole.

I need these for prayin'!

- Drop him. - What does 'drop him' mean?

This ain't the way you treat somebody.

Spanky, you ain't got to do that to that guy.

He's a square. He didn't know who he was fucking with.

It's filthy down there.

Damn, there's a rat. I hate rats.

But you do. What does that say about you?

What does that say about me?

I'm just tryin' to get by. You remember when you started out?

Nigger, please.

Wait a second.

I want you to see this. Check this out.

- I got access to that. - Is that some more of your bathtub brew?

Hell, no, this come up from the Mississippi.

I can get more. I want to go into business.

Under present circumstances, I think I may want a partner, OK?

I was supposed to wear this suit on Monday!

If you give me the front money and a truck...

...I can get there in two or three days, if somebody helps me with the driving.

- Come on, now! - Come on, Spank.

I'm gonna tell you something.

- You fuck me on this, I'll spare no expense. - I understand.

- Do you hear me? - I hear you.

- You got a deal. - All right.

Pick a man and get outta here.

With all due respect to you gentlemen...

...I think I'm gonna just take the choirboy.

You got to be crazy.

At least pick somebody who can watch your back.

I want someone who won't shoot me once the truck's full.

- Lift him. - Not that you'd do that.

- Lift him! - You know what I mean.

There you go.

Sure he ain't dead?

Sure hope you can drive.

This rum run we're doin' is gonna really improve my relationship with Spanky.

Good man to have on your side. He's got capital connections.

I ain't got capital yet, but I will.

Then I'll have my own place.

Don't get me wrong, I like Spanky's. I want my own.

I'm gonna call my place...

...Ray's Boom-Boom Room.

Don't that sound like a place where it's fun? Sound excitin'.

Ray's Boom-Boom Room. I like that.

Wouldn't you want to check out a place like that?

Hell, you'd want to.

The Boom-Boom Room.

What you think?

You ain't said nothin' since we left.

The least you can do is give me friendly conversation.

I don't want a friendly conversation. I don't want to be your friend.

I just want to do this thing and get back to New York in time to start my job.

What the hell kind of job you got?

If you must know, bank teller at First Federal of Manhattan.

What's so funny?

I'm just laughing at myself. Excuse me.

No, you found something very amusing. What's so funny?

'Bank teller' just sounds like ladies' work, I always picture a woman doing that.

Maybe I should dig around in other people's pockets for money.

It's obviously been highly successful for you.

You'd be surprised what you find there.

I've never heard of a man settin' out to be a bank teller.

This time next year, I'll be a loan officer.

So, I go to the bank for a loan...

...I gotta deal with a tight-ass like you?

- That's right. - Well, how do I get a loan?

- You? - Yes, me. What's 'you'?

I can't get no money?

- You need collateral. - What, you think I ain't got collateral?

I have... Look at this. What about this?

That thing? Who'd you steal it from?

I ain't steal that. My daddy gave it to me.

Who'd he steal it from?

Watch what you say about my daddy. My daddy's dead.

Say what you want about me. Don't drag my daddy into it.

This watch is sterling silver. It's top-shelf, top of the line.

It's very near and dear to my heart, so no wisecracks or I'll whup your ass.

Looks like a fake to me. Loan denied.

Fuck you. I'll take my business elsewhere.

And for future references, you will not be welcome at Ray's Boom-Boom Room.

- There's no Boom-Boom Room. - When there is one.

When there's one, don't come, 'cause you ain't gettin' in.

- Smell that? - Yeah, I smell something.

- Smells good, right? - I think we should go to another place.

The ambiance ain't really very welcoming.

Are you kiddin'? Tell me you don't want one of these pies right here.

Them pies look good, but I kinda lost my appetite.

- When I came in, my appetite left. - Good afternoon, Billy.

We'd like some coffee and a couple slices of pie.

How do you know my name is Billy?

It says it right there on your shirt.

If you boys can read so good, how come you missed that sign on the door?

That sign on the door...

Why didn't we see that sign that say 'No Coloreds Allowed'?

We rushed in. We was really hungry, so we missed it.