The Meteor Man

I'm up. Ellington, I'm up. I'm up. I'm up.

She don't want to believe that the boy is using drugs...

but he comes home every day with bloodshot eyes...

and then he eats everything in the kitchen.

She knows he didn't get those red eyes...

from being in the library.

I hear the boy can't even read.

Good morning, Mr. Moses.

What do you think?

You think this is something, check this out.

What do you think?

Look, girls, y'all just gonna have to wait in line.

Mr. Moses, let's make a trade.

I'll trade you The Best of Wynton Marsalis...

for Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.

Never!

I would never give up any of my records for anything.

It would be like cutting off one of my hands.

Jeff, you're right. Got to go younger, huh?

Yeah. I'm getting me girls on Soul Train.

Have a good day, Mr. Moses.

- Good morning, Mrs. Walker. - Morning, Jeff.

Thanks again for the tickets tonight for that show.

No... thank you.

When the Georgetown Three make it big...

I'm going to say, "Special thanks to Mrs. Walker...

"who let me slide on my rent when I didn't have it.

"This Grammy's for you."

Have a good day.

Hey, Jeff, ready for tonight?

You know I am.

First show's sold out. Second one's almost there.

- Cool. - And this device I invented...

will monitor the vibrations of the audience.

- That's great. - Just keep the music coming...

from the baddest jazz trio in D.C.!

And I got some women lined up for you.

Michael, I told you. I don't want to meet anybody.

Come on, Jeff. You got to get over Stacy.

It's been four months since you broke up.

You got to move on, experience life.

- You're right. - Anyway, first show...

Debra's bringing her cousin Denise.

She's kind of fat, but she's got a cute face.

Cool, cool.

Second, Anita's bringing her girl. Says she's a ten.

- A ten? - Uh-huh.

Without a weave, she's a six.

That's cool. I got to go. Warden.

Just appease her.

With this baby here, you won't be here much longer.

Move over, Wynton Marsalis.

Cool.

Aren't you going to say excuse me, Dre?

Excuse me.

Thanks again for calling, Mr. Reed.

If he gets out of line again, I will be back.

Keep it!

Ahem. Excuse me, Mr. Reed. Mrs. Laws is waiting for you.

You wanted to see me?

Well, you've done it this time, Mr. Reed.

What did I do?

Look.

Louis, what happened to you?

You. You're the one filling his head up with all this junk.

We have taught this boy to stand up for himself...

to fight the bullies, but he doesn't listen to us.

He said, "Mr. Reed teaches us differently.

"Mr. Reed said that we should run from the bullies..."

and that Mr. Reed encourages the smaller kids...

to practice running, hiding, and eating their lunch quickly!

I didn't say "quickly." I said "rapidly."

- I was trying to help. - Well, thanks to your help...

every bully at this school is beating him up.

A younger girl did this to him!

Mr. Reed, have you ever stood up to anybody?

Or better yet, have you ever had your butt...

Mrs. Williams, I'll handle it from here.

Mr. Reed, may I remind you...

that you are just a substitute teacher?

No more of this.

I was simply talking about how life is.

I don't care.

Teach only from the books and not your philosophy on life.

That's all for now.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.

If you have the meetings in the evening...

nobody wants to come out. Everybody's just so afraid.

It's a question of what you people really want to do.

Do you want this community or what?

Ted, I realize that we are the community.

That's right.

Nothing's going to happen until we do what I said.

Are you down with o.p.p.? You know me.

I really do understand that. We just can't go around...

Let's cross the street.

Put your hand down.

- Hey, man. - You want this?

What for?

I ain't crossin' the street for nobody. Leave me alone, Maxine.

- Dad, come on. - Ted, don't be crazy.

- Are you scared? - Yeah, I'm scared.

I don't have to prove nothing to nobody.

I want to see a hero, I'll rent Rambo.

You go ahead on, then.

We got to get these young people involved in this.

What did I just say? I said give me the green.

You lucky that didn't break, old man.

See you later, old man.

Don't see me later. See me now, punk...

'cause I ain't crossin' no street.

Damn.

Gangs only take over because you let them.

If you would've challenged them, they'd think twice.

You know they got us living like animals...

with bars on every window, alarms on every car.

All I'm saying is, if we would just patrol our streets...

like right here at Drake's Place...

where all the drugs are...

and with everybody wearing one of these hats.

Show them those hats, Maxine.

If everybody wore one of these caps...

they'd know that we meant business.

- Ma. - Don't you have a show to do?

He needs money again.

Your brother Kenny never asks for anything.

Dad! How much?

I just need ten dollars for gas.

You know, you should be coming to some of these meetings.

This is your community, too.

You listen to what Mrs. Walker's talking about.

That's right.

This whistle will be a signal to everybody who hears it...

to call the police.

You crazy if you think...

I'm going to walk up some dark alley...

with a loud orange hat on my head and a whistle.

I can see the headlines now...

"Golden Lords kill old man in loud orange hat...

"and stuff a whistle up his butt."

Ernest is right.

This patrol is a dumb idea.

Oh, Elvira!

No. It's time we stuck together.

Mom, Dad, I got to go to the show...

but she's right.

We can't win.

Don't upset your father.

Ernest, I need you to help me here, man.

Listen, what about the kids in this neighborhood, huh?

Damn.

They took my radio and my bass.

What's going on? Dre.

Squirrel?

Lords!

This is your initiation.

You want to be a Golden Lord? Then get him.

Lords!

What's up, fellas? Where's he at?

What, y'all just gonna stand around here looking stupid?

Split up.

Come on, Dre, he ain't stupid enough to hide in there.

You see something over there, Squirrel?

Nobody.

All right, Golden Lords, move out.

Come on, move out and check every corner.

Move out, Golden Lords!

Watch it. Watch it. I got you. I got you, OK?

All right. Let's... Easy. OK.

OK, let's go. Clear a path, please.

People, please, move out of the way, please.

Keep this door open. Come on, open the door.

- Bring him in. Is he conscious? - No, ma'am.

- Oh, my God. - Calm down.

He's going to be all right. He's going to be all right.

We'll cut him right here. Gauze.

- That's good. - On your left.

Thank you, nurse.

Dr. Simmons, take a look at this.

Heavenly father...

I know everything happens for a reason...

so I'll just leave it in your hands.

Amen.

Excuse me.

I need somebody to talk to about my friend.

I'm worried about his condition.

What time you get off work?

I just want to discuss his condition.

Visiting hours are over. Good night.

You're doing much better, Mr. Reed.

Don't try to talk. You need your rest.

My name is Vanessa, and I'm going to take great care of you.

Understand?

Just push the button on the side of the bed...

and I'll be there.

Are these the same X-rays?

Jefferson, Jefferson Reed.

Mary, would you give me the blood vial on this patient?

"Jefferson Reed."

The patient's name is Jefferson Reed.