Sugar Hill

All right. Mom is all right, baby.

Just got to take my medication, that is all.

You boys know how much your mama love you, don't you?

We love you too, mommy.

Roeme, sit down.

Sit down!

All right, Ray-Ray, tie this around Mommy's arm.

Nice and tight until you see that big vein.

Why do I always have to do it?

Why do you never ask Roemello?

Baby, please.

Just like I told you before, baby.

Because you're the oldest sweetheart.

And your Mama is sick.

Please.

Just tie this around my arm, nice and tight, baby,

until you see that big vein.

Pull on it for Mama. Please.

Tight, baby.

Tight! God damn it!

That's it. That's it.

Mama?

Mom?

Mommy, what's happening? What's happening?

Mom! What's wrong?

Mama! Mama! What is it?

Mama, what's happening to you?

Roeme! Do something!

No.

Mama!

No, please!

No! Don't go! Please.

Mommy! Mommy!

Mom...

No, mom!

- Mom. - Mama.

Dear mother.

It seems like an eternity since you have been gone.

So much has happened.

So many dreams turn into nightmares.

You always wanted the best for me.

But I guess it was not meant to be that way.

Sugarhill, where you always wanted us to live...

is now a memory.

A burned out jungle.

A ghost of better days.

Like my father.

Lost, out of reach.

And the boy you loved...

has become the man you feared.

Getting rich of the same poison that killed you,

and destroyed my father.

Partners with the same men that stripped away our family dignity.

Uneasy partners.

Tied together by time...

fear...

and greed.

Me and my brother control the same streets where we once played as kids.

We had hoped for a different life.

But time's change.

People change.

From Convent to Saint Nick, the streets are mine.

I'm sorry I let you down.

I'm consumed by chaos.

Consumed by guilt.

Consumed by grief.

May God forgive me.

- Let me tell you something. - All right.

That is one nigger in here you don't want to get next to.

Why not?

Because he is in the catering business. You hear me?

What?

- I am going to put it to you straight. - All right.

That nigger serves up more heroin in Harlem,

- than McDonald's serve hamburgers. - Stop lying.

- You are tripping. - Are you tripping.

- I was just... - I do. What.

Thanks.

- Can I buy you a drink? - No!

- No? - No.

- Well, then, can I talk to you then? - I don't know, can you?

- What's your name? - What?

- What's your name? - Melissa.

- Melissa. - Yeah.

Melissa.

- What's your name? - Roemeo.

Are you serious?

- No, and you're funny. - And you're very funny as well.

- You're funny and you're fine. - Oh, thank you so much.

And you've got a tag hanging on your dress.

I'm returning this bad boy tomorrow.

- Is that right? - That's right.

Is that right?

Well, you know, I don't seen a lot of girls come and go around here.

Be careful.

Of what? People like you?

I'm just here to help.

I said, thank you.

I know.

Dad?

Ray? Anybody home?

Dad!

Oh, no.

Stop it!

Gus! Gus, Gus. No!

I'll give your money back!

Dad!

I'll get the money back!

- Stop! - You stop!

Dad! Please, wait!

What is wrong with you!

Did I not tell you! Didn't I fucking tell you?

- Oh, God! - You screwed my money!

You junky piece of shit.

Gus, no! Please no!

You fuck! Didn't I tell you?

You screw with my money!

- You think it grows on fucking trees! - Not in front of my boys!

- Get back, kid! - Wait!

- Stay down! - You think you can rip me off?

- Wait! Please... - Gus, I am sorry!

Please, God, no, Gus! Don't let him do this!

Not in front of my kids!

- Shut the fuck up! - No!

- Please stop! - Shut up.

Please!

Gus, I made a mistake!

- I trusted you, you junky piece of shit! - Please don't let him do this!

Please stop.

Stop, please.

Enough!

Please God, no God. Gus, Gus!

Up. Up. Up.

Give that to me! Fuck!

No! Don't shoot! No!

Gus!

Hey, Ro.

How long you been standing there?

Not long.

You know how many times I beeped you tonight?

Yeah, I know.

- You beeped me four times. - Four times?

Four times.

You been busy?

- Too busy for me? - Oh, come on now.

Look here I brought you something.

- I need a dentist. - A what?

What, you plan on kissing somebody?

No, my chops is hurting.

All right, man. I'll set it up all right?

Try a little of this.

Shit it is hot. What is it?

It is noodles. Chicken noodles with some scallions.

Food.

Hey, how you like my haircut?

It's nice.

Very nice.

It is my church boy haircut.

- Is that right? - Yeah.

I told Cliff.

I says, you will not cut my hair like no hood.

I want a church boy haircut.

You should eat more, Dad.

Here, take some of this.

Put it in your mouth.

Put it in your mouth.

Where Ray?

Where Raynathan?

You got it all over yourself.

He does not come around to see me anymore.

I am going back to church.

This is my last night of getting high.

What do you think about that?

Come on.

What you want me to say, Papa?

It is already broke, Ro.

It is not your fault.

You can not fix it.

All right?

I just want you to be proud of me.

- How you doing Augustus? - Oh, I feel fine. How you doing?

- I feel good too. - That's all right, I feel real good.

- You sure you do not want to count? - Do I have to count it?

Here, here, buy a lollypop.

How is your brother?

My brother...

My brother is fine.

You know, he's driving me nuts.

Is that right? Well, it's a black thing. You don't understand.

Hey what's up, you all?

- We are chilling. - Black man.

- Any problems? - No, everything is all right.

- Am I bleeding? - No.

- Cool. - Bye bye.

- You ever seen that kid before? - Never, man.

Keep an eye on that tourist "Inaudible" motherfucker.

- YG. - What's up?

- Good. - Any problems?

- Everything is cool up here. - Good. All right.

- Well, it's still early, man. - Watch out for you life, man.