Summer of Violence

- Is this what it's all come to?

Time to fly.

Time to be free.

Time to finally--

-be me.

But--

--what if I don't see between the lines?

Can't seem to find outlines

that define my nature.

My dear friends.

I'm very honored to be here with you this day.

To the faculty, staff,

and to all of the graduates of the Class of 1993.

Congratulations.

This is a tremendous accomplishment,

and you should all be very proud of this achievement.

And I wish you every future success.

- I can't believe we did it.

- Yes, we fucking graduated!

See you later, Boulder!

Shit, it's your parents.

Naomi!

Okay, don't say anything.

- Naomi, I'm not going to spoil your good girl image.

I know how hard it is to keep up an act.

Oh, my girl!

Hi!

- Naomi Bradford. The graduate. Future lawyer in waiting.

Oh, come on, let me get a picture of you two.

Come on.

You all look so beautiful.

Pamela, I've known you so long, I feel like you're our other daughter.

Just like sisters.

- It's good to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Bradford.

Okay, we go...

One, two, three.

Yeah. Graduate.

- Hey, I'm so sorry, I gotta go. I want to head into Denver early.

- You're not staying in Boulder for the summer?

No, it's fine.

I've been commuting all year.

- Well, Naomi's not going to be here either.

We are so glad she has her internship at the firm.

So proud.

Okay, well, this is me.

I will see you later tonight, Naomi.

- Okay. - Bye.

- Bye, honey. - Wait, tonight? We--

-we have reservations.

- Yeah, that's, that's right, um.

We'll be there.

I'm going to head home and I'll catch up with guys later.

- Okay. - Okay.

Right. Love you. Bye.

- You too, honey. - Love you, too.

Congratulations!

Richie.

Hm?

Babe!

You're asleep?

No, I'm getting up.

- You're not moving! - Hey!

You missed it!

Oh...

Shit.

I'm sorry. - No.

- I was going to come. - No, you weren't.

Yeah!

- Jesus, Richie, you knew this was a big day for me.

- I know. - Just one day.

Then I'm going to do a poem at Lala's.

Where?

- You know. - I don't know where that is.

- Yes, you do! - No, I don't.

Yes, you do. Stop.

- We're gonna have our own ceremony.

You can put the gown back on.

I love you.

I love you.

Who is that? - What?

- Oh, shit. I hope it's not my parents.

Your parents?

- Fuck. Yes. Just--just--get dressed!

They're here right now?

Babe, hurry up!

I'm coming.

Shit.

Hey!

I thought we--

Holy shi--!

Watch your mouth!

A new car?

- Yes, it is, young lady, that is for you.

You earned it. - Oh, my God.

Look at her.

Out in four years, accepted into law school.

That was our deal.

- We didn't actually make a deal, Dad,

you just said I couldn't take a year off.

Richie, come look at this.

- I see it, babe. It's righteous.

Interesting color.

Hey!

How are you doing, Mr. Bradford?

- We are doing just fine. It's good to see you again.

Good to see you guys.

Naomi, let's go inside.

Okay.

Thank you.

Come on in.

Thank you, Richard.

Mm-hmm.

- Sweetheart, it doesn't seem like you're packed.

Right...

About that.

I'm not sure I'm going to do the internship.

What?

- Your father pulled a lot of favors to get you that internship.

- Naomi, this was part of the plan.

An internship before your first year.

- I know that's what you planned, Dad.

That's what we planned!

Right.

But how is me working for some firm

going to help change anything?

Not that being a corporate attorney isn't relevant.

I'm not saying that.

It's just...

I've been writing some things.

Some poems, and--

Poems?

Yeah. Yes!

So...

...what if I took some time out

for the summer to write and, you know, just...

...see what that would be like?

I wrote one.

A poem.

I mean,

I wrote a lot of them.

I have a whole journal full of them.

And...

...tonight I'm going to perform for my first time.

We have dinner tonight.

After dinner, Mom.

- What time are the dinner reservations?

Oh, they're at 6 p.m.

Well, I need to rest my feet after all this walking.

Naomi, we'll see you in a few hours for dinner. You too, Richard.

Without a doubt.

- Sweetheart, we are so proud of you.

Dad?

Aren't you going to say something?

Naomi...

it's your life.

I would never get in the way of that happiness.

What are you talking about?

- You can keep the car, that's your gift,

but there will be nothing else.

You're shacking up with that white boy, skipping law school.

Next thing, you'll be pregnant.

Thomas!

- Eleanor, I have smiled and pretended for white folks all my life,

that's why we left Mississippi.

I will not have one in my home.

I will not pretend in my own house!

- Okay, Thomas, stop this right now--

- You think I raised a black child to have

her marry outside the race?

Oh, come on now, Eleanor, to see that?

I failed as a father.

It's true, Eleanor.

What's it all for, if they abandon the race?

- I can't believe you would bring this up tonight.

It's her graduation--!

She can choose what she wants,

but I will not walk down that road with her.

- If he knew what you meant to me,

he would have left it alone.

If he knew how long I waited to hear those words,

those three words,

he would have never asked me to give you up.

If he knew,

if he knew.

If only my father knew.

Hey!

I didn't want to not show up.

What happened?

Nothing.

Bullshit. Come back here.

Ed! Watch the bar.

It's okay, I'm fine.

Pam! Pam!

I'm fine. Really!

Okay?

Then why are you crying?

Come on, Pam. Let's--

Let's go get a drink and we can dance.

It's graduation.

Do you want a hug?