"Nina?" "Want me to move this camera stuff?" "No, I'll get it." "Thanks." "When are you giving Marvin back his ring?" "Just curious." "Girl, please. I would if I knew where the hell he was." "Or maybe I'll just keep it as a reminder... never to make the same mistake twice." "Get engaged?" "No." "Falling in love." "That shit is played out like an eight-track." "Hello." "Don't leave me hanging, please." "I'm sory." "Thank you." "A cynic is born." "Hello, hallelujah." "We are talk nappy head." "I mean, really, really, talk nappy head." "I ain't talking, talking of them tediously talk tone... or tortuously tangled and talked-up tongues." "But can you speak to me... in the language of divinity... with your miracle of ritual... and spiritual drum?" "Can you do, do to me... and then just bail me?" "Do, do to me and then commitment me?" "Am I talking to you?" "No." "Your discussing me." "Am I talking to you?" "Why is she like that?" "Sheila, what you need is a man to converse with." "Excuse me, Ed... but I have a man, thank you." "But where is he?" "He's not here." "I know what you need, girl." "You need some romance in your life." "And I'm sure you're an expert on that." "Yes, indeedy, I am." "Wood, you are the least romantic man I know." "I think that I am Mr. Romance." "I believe in that shit like flowers... candy, all that." "Just not evey day." "That's not me." "That's what I'm talking about." "You know what I'm saying?" "Can we... love?" "Romance is dead... is what they said while sitting around cheating at pool." "At the vey last frame of this nine-ball game... the cat who had the date on the top of the Empire State... is the one who got hustled like a fool." "You watch too many movies, Sheila." "Step off, Ed, all right?" "What's up?" "Romance is about the possibility of the thing." "You see... it's about the time between... when you first meet some fine-ass woman... and when you first make love to her." "And when you first ask a woman to mary you... and when she says I do." "When people who been together a long time... say that the romance is gone-- Mm-mmm." "What they're really saying is... they've exhausted the possibility." "Von." "Now you talking about my thing." "You and me, bro." "It's like poety... is the possibility of language." "Please, give me a break." "Where you want it at?" "Von, let me get my lighter." "No, I said Savon." "What's wrong with you?" "I don't know what's wrong with that girl." "He doesn't need to be smoking." "Thank you, Moms." "You're welcome." "I thought we left our mothers at home." "Do you want another drink?" "Actually, I am OKfor now." "I'm getting one." "I'm bringing you one, anyway." "Thanks, 'cause I'm gonna hit this off quick." "Hey, Will, Iet me get another one, man." "Cool." "White wine, please." "Who's that girl with Darius?" "Damn." "She does have a little somethin' somethin'." "Excuse me, Mr. Married Man." "l am married. I am not blind." "Can you see through these, please?" "Eveything is checking out." "That's what I'm talking about." "Niggers, this ain't right." "Niggers?" "Why we got to be that?" "Because that's what you are." "Deep in thought, huh?" "What are you thinking about?" "A woman I saw once." "She must've been fine." "Savon, you can't tell me that these babes... can't see that cool pose shit coming a mile off." "You know, brother, jealousy is a sickness." "Let it go, man." "Let it go... and just walk away." "Fuck you, Ed." "Darius Lovehall." "Nina Mosley." "Fumble." "Just like I told you." "Excuse me." "Why don't you put this on your tab?" "You put that energy out there." "That's a fumble, bro." "Anybody in here can see that." "Oh, please." "Sory about that." "Here you go." "Ty not to knock this one over." "Maybe you should quit smoking." "All right, all right." "Get settled." "We're back." "And this next brother up on the mike... writes for New City... and is regularly here on Monday nights." "So please, give it to Mr. Darius Lovehall." "Brother Ed." "All right, this is... a little something I been working on." "It's new." "I call it..." ""A Blues for Nina."" "Yeah, baby." "Go to it, now." "Take your time." "Say, baby... can I be your slave?" "I've got to admit, girl, you're the shit, girl... and I'm digging you like a grave." "Now, do they call you Daughter to the Spinning Pulsar... or maybe Queen of 10,OOO Moons?" "Sister to the Distant Yet Rising Star?" "is your name Yemaya?" "Oh, hell, no." "It's got to be Oshun." "is that a smile at me put on yourface, child... wide as a field of jasmine and clover?" "Talk that talk, honey." "Walk that walk, money." "High on legs that'll spite Jehovah." "Shit." "Who am I?" "It's not important." "But they call me Brother to the Night." "And right now... I'm the blues in your left thigh... tying to become the funk in your right." "Who am I?" "I'll be whoever you say." "But right now I'm the sight-raped hunter... blindly pursuing you as my prey." "And I just want to give you injections... of sublime erections... and get you to dance to my rhythm... make you dream archetypes... of black angels in flight... upon wings of distorted, contorted... metaphoric jizm." "Come on, slim." "Fuck your man." "I ain't worried about him." "It's you who I want to step to my scene." "'Cause rather than deal with the fallacy... of this dy-ass reality... I'd rather dance and romance your sweet ass in a wet dream." "Who am I?" "Well, they all call me Brother to the Night." "And right now I'm the blues in your left thigh... tying to become the funk in your right." "is that all right?" "That's all right, baby." "Bravo." "Darius Lovehall." "Wonde_ul." "Absolutely wonde_ul." "No." "Come on now, Wood." "Give him his props for that one." "You got to give it up, Wood." "Come on." "Yeah, whatever." "I'll tell you one thing." "I don't need poety to get women." "No." "You need a personality to get women." "Ty a breath mint and a Visa." "Played out like an eight-track." "You did say that, didn't you?" "Here come your boy." "Y'all like that, huh?" "Great poem." "That was fascinating." "Look at Ed." "Who's Nina?" "I loved it, Darius." "Green glob just coming all out your mouth." "You don't know me like that." "We need to embrace this brother." "You're a bad influence." "Especially you." "You're the worst influence of all." "Don't even ty it." "Thanks for my poem." "It was... interesting." "No problem." "Eveybody, this is Nina." "Sheila, Ed..." "Savon, and that's Hollywood." "This is my girl Josie." "Hello, hello, hello, hello." "So maybe next week you can write something for me." "Maybe... but it won't be about sex." "What's wrong with sex?" "There's nothing wrong with sex." "There's just other topics." "Like what?" "But you probably wouldn't know anything about that." "Good night, black people." "Good night." "Good night, sister." "Oh, ho-ho, man." "Well, damn." "Yo, man, if that was me... I'd be in her car right now." "You know?" "Be getting' that." "You got your hands pulled there." "Maybe if your hand was bigger she could write her number down." "Close your mouth, D." "Y'all just mad 'cause somebody approached me." "What is the secret?" "Come on, Darius!" "Oh, pookie, come on, man." "Yes." "Come on, more." "More." "Bigger." "Yes!" "That was the cover." "Now." "This isn't curried chicken, and they were out of baguettes." "I'm sory." "Roger, come on, give me a break." "This is only lunch." "It isn't about the bloody lunch, Nina." "I don't think this assistant thing is working out." "I suspect you don't have the temperament for it." "Perhaps you'd be better off on your own." "I'm heading back over to the office... get the rest of my things." "I can't believe I'm finally up out of there." "But y'all don't wory about me." "I saved up enough cash to hold me for a while." "Cool." "Just hook us up in the book dedication." "Look, just because you been there for me... when the times I needed you... don't mean I get to put you in my book, all right?" "No shout-outs, baby." "No shout-outs." "How you doing?" "Girl, I need an Isley Brothers CD badly." "I hear you." "The CDs are in the back." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Yo, She." "What's going on, girl?" "What's happening?" "Not much." "Y'all slow as hell up in here today." "But it'll speed up." "What you talking about?" "Aw, shit." "Hey, would you hold this for a second?" "Why you gonna give me your junk?" "Just be cool." "Ah, Al Green." "You can't go wrong with my man Al Green." "Darius, right?" "You mind if I play you a little something real quick?" "Last time you went on an impulse... you embarrassed the shit out of me." "Look, this'll be easy." "I promise." "Watch." "Charlie Parker." "I've never heard this particular" "It's kind of sad." "Melancholy maybe, but not sad." "There's a difference, I think." "Maybe you're right." "My new information's on there." "OK." "Great." "Here you go." "Dr. Wax will have that Isley Brothers CD." "Thanks." "See you later." "All right." "Bye-bye." "Say, you know, you and I should... get together sometime and have some drinks." "I don't think that'll be a vey good idea." "Well, why not?" "It's just bad timing." "Nothing personal." "I understand." "Thanks for the record." "Damn." "Messed that shit up." "When are you gonna learn?" "You move too fast." "See, women like it slow and easy." "Didn't I school you?" "Why don't you let me get her address real quick?" "How would I do that?" "'Cause it's on the check, man." "Why would I do that?" "You're my girl." "You're supposed to be looking out" "Stop playing and hook me up." "l'm not playing." "No." "Why?" "Look, what if her man comes to the door?" "Her m" "Her man." "Damn, I didn't think about that, man." "Yeah, you right. I'm buggin'." "What are you doing here?" "How'd you know where l live?" "I know it's a little strange... for me just to show up to your place like this." "What did you do, follow me?" "No." "Nothing like that." "Well, actually, I... I got your address from the check that you wrote... down at the record store." "Look, I know that that wasn't vey cool... and I apologize... but I got that CD you were looking for." "Isley Brothers, right?" "This is the one." "Thanks." "No problem." "What, you tying to come in?" "Yeah--l mean, no!" "No, no." "Yeah, if--Sure, I mean... if you're not busy or doing anything." "You can come in." "You sure?" "Yeah." "I hope I'm not intruding." "Nice little pad you got here." "I'm just house-sitting." "Oh, a photographer." "Dig that." "It's nice." "Why are you here?" "You said it was bad timing." "And I figured if I asked again, maybe you'd say yes." "If not that time, then maybe the next time... till the next time became the right time." "Persistence." "Be surprised how far it can get you." "Reminds me of stuff Gordon Parks was shooting for Life magazine." "Do you know a lot about photography?" "A little somethin' somethin'." "I know you have a great eye." "So you're just like a-- a Renaissance black man." "Poety, music, photography." "Think it was somebody that said something about Mozart." ""The goal of an artist is to create the definitive work..." ""that cannot be surpassed."" "Guess you can say I kind of live like that." "Well, that was actually George Bernard Shaw." "Now you're tying too hard." "I'm beginning to like this." "Well, don't like it too much." "Check it out." "Couple friends of mine are having this get-together... tomorrow night." "I want you to come hang with me." "Maybe we can start to like this together." "So, what, are you asking me out on a date again?" "I guess that's about the size of it, yeah." "So?" "I don't know" "Aw, no, no, no, no, no." "Don't make me start bringing more CDs up here, OK?" "'Cause I'll start bringing you Prince CDs." "And you know how that brother like to pump out... four or five albums a week." "Oh, please." "l'll be up here evey day." "OK, all right, I'll save you the trouble." "I'll just come by about $:15 tomorrow and get you." "Cool." "Hope you enjoy your CD." "Thanks." "The next time you decide to just stop by... you should call first." "'Cause I know you wrote the phone number down." "You right." "I got your number." "The last time we was over here... no disrespect, the food was crazy." "The constant and annoying references... to my wife's cooking" "Hey, Troy." "Hey, Troy." "What you got?" "Don't be talking about me with your microwave-cooking ass." "And then she gonna come out here with carrots." "Do I have two big front teeth?" "There somebody hopping?" "Get some beta carotene up in you, bro." "You can't see as it is." "Fuck y'all." "Got to bang out some wickedness out of you, boy." "We're going to get something going up in here." "Don't start it up." "Come on now, Savon." "Get back." "Exorcise that." "Come on, man." "No, she" "Get over there!" "Get out of here." "Quit fucking around with them spirits." "You'll get eveybody up in here pregnant." "You'll fuck around and get us pregnant." "Take that shit to Flint." "Baby, Flint get it all." "Don't wory about Flint." "He can keep it all." "You scared?" "Scared of what?" "God." "I know Jesus." "God is a woman, honey." "Uh-huh, all righty then." "No, hold up, hold up." "God is a woman." "Look, D, me and Ed." "You know what I'm saying?" "We with you and eveything, but damn." "If you ever chased a woman... then you know that women have a certain power... a certain sexual thing... that renders men totally incapable of functioning." "Am I right, Von?" "That's Right." "lt drives us to distraction." "That's right." "Destruction." "Look at that kitchen." "Go look in that kitchen." "Exactly, exactly." "A male God wouldn't allow... a creature in his own image to get jammed up." "Wait." "Excuse me... but why are you tying to impress your date?" "'Cause you know you wouldn't even believe that." "You know he's just telling the truth." "Yo, Savon... why don't you break it down for those who don't understand?" "Break it down for them, bro." "Hold on." "Hold up." "Let me break it down... so it can forever and consistently be broke." "All right?" "Now when a man gets a hard-on... you know where the blood comes from, right?" "His brain... and his feet." "True." "So A:" "He's stupid." "And B:" "He can't run." "Only the woman God... thinks up some shit like that." "That's how she got you, right?" "That's it." "That's what happened." "Nah, see, that's some bullshit." "'Cause I got it down." "I figured it out." "This has become a regular forum." "What?" "I'm for real!" "We getting ready to have some Hollywood philosophizing?" "I can't wait." "Think about this--anatomy." "Now, if God was really a woman" "Y'all know how God think." "She'd put the dick right under the chin." "Take care of her business." "You are sick!" "Why?" "You're out." "And get new chips, man." "Y'all sure know how to treat a person." "Let's go home." "I was 15, and my dad gave me this old Topcon... when he was in the navy... and ever since then I've been hooked." "You shoot." "What you know about writing?" "I gather up each sound you left behind... and stretch them on our bed." "Each night, I breathe you and become high." "Check you out, girl." "That's yours?" "No." "Sanchez. I'm a lifelong fan." "She makes me want to burn my notebook." "See, it's about reaching your level, not hers." "I thought it was about the definitive work." "Yeah, well, Mozart was the exception, like Bird." "You have all the answers, don't you?" "Mm-mmm." "Solid questions." "Cocky." "It's cute." "Ah, "cute."" "So, check it out." "You like reggae music?" "Let's go up to the Wild Hare." "I wanna see the little Yankee girl dancing tonight." "You want to drive all the way up to the north side?" "Tonight, mon." "Me want to feel a little bump and grind." "What if it starts raining again?" "Aw, now don't tell me... you're afraid of getting a little wet tonight." "No one fits your shoe" "And I'm so proud to tell you" "You're number one" "You have earned it I've had lots and lots of pretty girls ln my traveling all around the world" "No one comes close to you" "And if you should count from one to ten" "You'll find them at the vey end" "And it's because I've been telling you" "That's why you are my lady I'm crazy about you, baby" "And I'll never, never, never" "Never stop loving you I'll never stop loving you" "Oh, baby" "Thanks." "No thing." "I had a really good time." "My pleasure." "I'm sory." "Look, I should go." "Darius, look, I had a really good time." "I really did." "It's just that I can't go out like that on the first date." "I understand." "We just got a chance to know each other." "I understand you." "Wait. I should go." "All right?" "Yeah. 'Cause... lt's getting late, so... maybe I'll call you." "OK." "That's cool." "Thanks." "Good night." "Look, Nina... I just want to come up and talk." "is that all right?" "Come on." "Good morning." "I see you... found your way to the kitchen." "Oh, yeah." "Hope you don't mind." "Nah." "It's cool." "I got some omelets happening." "This is for me?" "Yeah, this is for you." "Thank you." "Look... I really dig you, Nina... and I hope we didn't move too fast, you know?" "Nothing happened that I didn't want to happen." "is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "It's a great thing." "Cool." "So... guess we can hook up again, right?" "Wait a minute." "You ain't gonna fake me out, are you?" "Good." "I tell you... I can't stand to sleep with a woman... and afte_ards she just dog you out." "You know how you all do." "Don't return any phone calls... play me off in front of your friends... like you don't know me... like nothing ever happened." "Look, I'm gonna get myself an omelet." "You want anything else?" "Don't ask that question." "Would you... like anything else?" "What you gonna do?" "You gonna have him or what?" "Girl, please. l--No." "I would hurt him too badly." "You fucked him, didn't you?" "And you weren't even gonna tell me." "You ain't slick." "You can't keep that kind of shit from me." "I can't believe you fucked him on a first date." "How?" "Girl, how?" "Slap happy." "Girl, I didn't plan to." "It just sort of happened." "You just sort of slipped and fell on his dick." "Well, all right." "OK, OK, OK." "So I want to know all the details." "How big, how long, eveything." "Girl, look at you." "Well, unfortunately, I have to live vicariously... through your sex life, Miss Nina." "All right." "OK." "I can't ev, en describe it, cause... it was like... it was like his dick just... talked to me." "What did it say?" "Just..." ""Nina."" "Damn." "Damn." "Girl, I'm telling you." "But, look, don't even get all geeked up... 'cause this is nothing serious." "This is no love thing." "Me and Darius, we are just kicking it." "Troy." "Savon, I am so tired of your bullshit." "Would you just wait a minute?" "Stop." "You always said you never wanted to be labeled... as trifling or tired." "Trifling?" "Guess what?" "You fit the bill." "Oh, Darius." "Go get your tired-ass friend." "You keep Darius out of it." "How you doing, Troy?" "Don't wait by the phone, Negro." "If you'd stop being selfish and save some damn money... we wouldn't be going through this shit." "Savon, get it together." "What?" "We were supposed to go play some pool." "I know that." "Let me ask you something, Von." "Think you're with the woman you're supposed to be with?" "The question implies a belief in destiny... like some cosmic love connection." "I'm not convinced anymore." "Just answer the question." "So, you asking me if I married my soul mate?" "Depends on which day you ask." "I can dig that." "It doesn't really matter anymore, man." "You're with who you're with." "You just gotta ty to make it work." "Real deep, Von." "People with profound insights on life... know not to get married." "And those who do ought to know... that marriage is what you make it." "Right, right." "Wait a minute." "This is about that girl, Nina, isn't it?" "What you doing, man?" "Can I get my shot?" "No." "This is about Nina, right?" "She jacked you up, didn't she?" "She jacked me up." "Ooh, man!" "Dude, I mean... it defies description." "She put the Vodum, the Santeria... the Yoruba, all of it." "She put it on me, man." "The next morning, I got up and made breakfast." "You made breakfast?" "I was in there cooking." "Wait a minute." "You cooked what?" "A cheese omelet." "A cheese omelet?" "D, you better put your name on that." "That's better than a Michael Jordan comeback." "Best thing since Michael Jordan's comeback." "I'm serious, man." "You think she's your soul mate?" "No." "Hardly." "I just said the sex was good, that's all." "This ain't no love thing." "We're just kicking it." "One truism in life, my friend" "When that jones come down... it be a mothe_ucker." "I hope you cleaned up." "Why?" "'Cause I'm not tying to find any bobby pins... and stockings and some old makeup." "Please." "Rarely do I divulge the location... to the secret Batcave." "You're lucky l didn't knock your ass out... with some spray." "Come on." "It definitely looks like a bachelor's pad." "So, what... you just don't believe in CDs?" "It's from my D.J.ing days." "Yeah, I still like that vinyl sound." "Oh, wait." "What, this is my fashion spread?" "Let me get my pose." "Just be natural, silly." "One more." "That's enough with the camera, all right?" "Take off your clothes." "Excuse me?" "Take off your clothes." "Take off my clothes?" "Oh, man." "Hold on, hold on." "I've already seen what you got." "All right." "You're crazy." "Now, this wouldn't happen... to wind up in somebody's magazine or book or something?" "Oh, no, baby." "This is strictly for my private collection." "That's enough with the camera." "Why, you don't trust me?" "I didn't say that." "I think that you're incredibly beautiful." "Really?" "Really." "Hey, baby." "Marvin." "If this is the part where you ty to get me back... you can forget it." "Come on, now." "Hear me out." "Baby, I know I made some mistakes... and I'm sory, all right?" "I just..." "Shit." "I'm no good with this shit." "I'm bad with words." "You know that." "Bang." "What is that?" "It's a train ticket to New York." "Come stay with me." "I want us to be together." "Marvin, you had all of that... and didn't know what to do with it." "Well, I want it again." "How are you gonna just do this to me?" "How are you gonna just show up, come out of nowhere..." "Don't you understand that what you want... doesn't matter anymore?" "What's the deal?" "Are you working?" "Are you seeing somebody?" "That's not your business." "Think about it, all right?" "You owe me at least that." "I don't owe you anything." "Look, I gotta go." "I'm meeting my mother for lunch." "You tell her I said hello." "I'll do that." "I need to know if I still love him or not." "What are you shaking your head for?" "Don't shake your head." "This is serious." "You're not gonna tell Darius, are you?" "I don't want to lie to him." "Tell him." "You think so?" "If he snaps, then you got him... and there's no need to go." "is there?" "But if he tries to act all cool and shit... well, then, hey... you're just gonna have to teach his ass a lesson." "Hello." "Do your thing, girl." "Do it." "Did you want one?" "No, thanks." "You know I've had a good time these past few weeks, right?" "Well, we aim to please." "I'm serious." "Me, too." "I'm going... away next week... to New York." "For how long?" "I don't know." "Just, like, a couple weeks." "I don't know." "What's going on?" "I have a couple contacts... and I'm just gonna poke around and see if I can find a gig." "And I also have some... other unfinished business that I need to take care of." "Some dude." "We used to be in a..." "We used to be in a relationship... and I just haven't seen him in a while." "Hey, that's cool." "We were close once, you know?" "Darius, the only reason I'm telling you this... is because I really care about you, and... I'm not tying to play you." "Hey. I understand... and I appreciate your honesty." "But we just kicking it, right?" "So it's cool." "I mean, go to New York... do whatever you have to do." "I mean, you ain't got no ring on your finger." "So, you're not mad?" "Hell, no, I'm not mad." "I mean, it's cool." "We just friends, right?" "I mean, if old boy was doing his job in the first place... why am I doing it?" "l'm hip." "Why am I hitting' it?" "Let me tell you the real deal." "The real deal is... she can't hang." "Von, I put it on--Boom." "Put it on her." "Now she gone." "I steal. I don't get stole on." "I feel you, D." "These women, man, they're killing me slow." "So, wait a minute." "I thought you guys were just... you know... kicking it." "That's not the point, Savon." "So, what's the point, black man?" "I'll tell you the point." "Have you been listening?" "I'm gonna tell you." "I'm gonna feed you the point." "The point is... I don't know the point." "It wouldn't be so bad, man... if I didn't think she was the one." "What are you talking about, the one?" "I think she's the one, Savon." "I got your ass. I had you going." "You got me." "Check you out." "Why'd you give me that look?" "Oh, yeah, you got me." "I ain't the only one you got." "Yo, you're slipping on your boy." "l slipped." "l had you." "Did you really think I was gonna..." "The one?" "The one." "Please, man... I'm a thief in the night." "You know what I mean?" "fbi still on my tail, but they can't get me." "I slipped. I'm sory." "You done slipped on me, 'cause l- l slipped." "Hit that ass. I'm out." "I'm gone." "What?" "Let me see your wallet, brother... 'cause it gotta be "Bad Mothe_ucker" on it." ""Bad Mothe_ucker" on it." "You slipped on me, but it's cool." "Let me see your wallet." "Hey, John." "Let me get another one." "Coming right up." "Hey, dude, what's up?" "It's Eddie." "Dude, you need to call Savon." "That brother's all strung out over Troy." "Look out." "Hey, Darius, it's Nina." "I don't know when you'll get this message... but my train leaves tonight at 9:30... and maybe if you're around Union Station... you'll come down." "Listen, I guess I'll just call you when I get back." "is there any way you could be... a bit slicker in your approach?" "What exactly do you mean?" "Slicker." "It's the comparative of slick." "Less raw." "You'd have a better chance of being published... if your work were just a bit more polished." "You have a nice day." "Where are my Toasted Oats?" "I finished the box this morning." "You couldn't eat the damn Captain Crunch?" "Oh, please." "Look, I'm sory." "I had a bad day today." "I had a bad day, too." "You want to tell me about it?" "Baby... I hate to see you" "Wasting my time?" "That's not what I meant." "I can take care of us." "I just don't want you to wory about" "Getting a job, right?" "Rejection." "And stop finishing my sentences." "I don't even know why I'm here." "What'd you say?" "After all these years together, you don't know why you're here?" "All we have, Marvin, is all these years... and it's just not enough... anyMOle." "I'm going out for some mothe_ucking Toasted Oats." "You're tripping." "I already know what I want." "Oh, no." "Stop." "Right now." "Stop looking at the girl, man." "See, Ed, I have these amazing powers over women." "I just can't explain it." "Sort of like a curse or something." "But lucky for you mere mortals... I use my powers for good and not for evil." "Know what I'm saying?" "The world is truly a safer place." "Girl, I am tired. I'm so sory." "I gotta get out of here." "I have this interview tomorrow." "It's kind of dead tonight anyway." "There's no cuties in the house-- not one cutie." "is there a night you don't have penis on the brain?" "Don't even ty it." "You came straight from the station... 'cause you wanted what's-his-name to be here." "Excuse me, but I happen to enjoy poety." "Don't look at me like that." "What?" "Save your money." "Save it." "It's not happening there." "Ladies, ladies, ladies." "Why y'all leaving'?" "Wood, baby, I didn't see you down there." "Where y'all goin'?" "We goin' home." "We're tired." "I'd like to offer you a ride." "I mean, my car's right there." "That's your car, right?" "No." "The hearse--the gray one." "That's my car." "That's not, like, a working hearse?" "No." "There ain't been no dead mothe_uckers in it... since I bought it." "'Cause, girl, we might-- l just remembered that I parked my car down the street." "So what we're gonna do is" "Go." "Mm-hmm." "Thank you." "Girl, he has balls." "lt's a Cadillac." "He's killing me." "Oh, my God." "He's so cute, though." "He is really cute." "Then you should go out with him." "Please, girl." "You know he is not my type." "I think maybe I should ty to hook you two up." "No." "Yes." "I'm not tying to get hooked up by anybody." "Marvin is officially black histoy." "Wood is vey, vey cool." "Wait a second." "Don't even ty it, because I know you." "Do not even ty it." "You ty to hook us up, and I'm gonna knock you out." "Don't let me have to bring out my karate, girl." "The stuff, you know." "I'm just saying that..." "All right, go on." "Go home and call Darius." "It's what you really wanna do anyway." "Why are you tying to make it seem like I'm desperate?" "I'll just call him tomorrow." "What are you doing here?" "You the shooter, ain't you?" "Yeah, but what" "Then shoot me, God damn it." "Immortalize my shit." "How's my light?" "Hold on." "is this good for me right here?" "is this all right?" "Hold on, babe." "I can't have you making me look bad, you know." "You would have to shoot like my moms to make me look bad... and she got cataracts." "Negro, what do you want done today?" "Shit. I want eveything." "I want postcards, wallet size, $ x 10s." "I want the whole nine." "So you just gonna come up here today and spend all your money?" "Yep. I will, if you let me buy you dinner." "The Billy Dee thing is a little played out... but I will give you ten cool points for nostalgia's sake." "Nina, I'm serious." "Wood, what do you want from me?" "One dinner." "It ain't algebra, girl." "Come on." "No way." "Don't tell me that, please." "Why?" "Bloomers are for, like, you know, big girls." "What do you mean they're for big girls?" "I like bloomers." "They're comfortable." "Girls that just have ass eveywhere." "You got a cute little shape." "And I think you should..." "You'd look great in, like, a thong." "Not that I was thinking about that." "I'll have to keep that in mind." "Yeah, I'm serious." "That lady over there, she wearing bloomers." "Look how big her ass is." "Leave that woman alone." "Seriously." "She just knocked my man the shrimp on the ground." "I'm serious." "Look." "What kind of unde_ear do you have on?" "I don't wear drawers." "You don't have any on?" "No, I just let it hang." "Oh, fuck." "Hey, what's up, cat daddy?" "How's the book coming?" "Masterpiece of minimalism." "What's going on?" "There ain't nothing." "You know your girl's back in town?" "Yeah, I heard." "For the last time, man, she's not my girl, OK?" "All right." "Well, that's good, brother... because there's something I bet you didn't know." "You coming through to my party?" "No." "I can't mess with y'all parties." "Y'all don't serve no food." "Ain't you something?" "Carrots." "I need some food that had parents, man." "You know what I mean?" "Some cow up in there." "Some ribs." "Something." "Fried chicken?" "Fried chicken." "I'll come, Sheila." "You know I heard about Wood and Nina." "Figured you had." "Just be cool, OK?" "Always, girl." "I ain't trippin' now." "What's up, D?" "What's up, Wood?" "So what you been up to, man?" "You know, just puttin' in work, man." "Really?" "Really." "See, I got this new gig." "Keeps me up, working all through the night." "The late shift?" "I know all about that kind of job." "Used to work the hell out of it." "Sure you can hang with it?" "I hate when this happens, you know?" "I think so." "Moms keep on paging you, huh?" "Not this time, D." "We all know you ain't too good at staying employed, though." "This might be different." "You know, and as I heard it... you ain't too good at stayin' employed either, partner." "Well, you see, the difference is... I usually quit my job." "You?" "You usually wind up fired." "But it's OK." "You can't help it." "Yo, Sheila, I'll talk to you later." "Take it easy, Darius." "Whatever." "He a trip, ain't he?" "I can't believe that boy." "Aren't you a little old to be fighting over some babe?" "You ain't never too old." "Besides, I can't help it if I'm the chosen one." "Oh, OK, I get it." "So it's your turn to hit the skins?" "Damn, Sheila." "Why does it have to be about sex all the time?" "You know, I really like this girl." "We went out, we kicked it, dinner." "Eveything's smooth." "It's so convenient for women to think... that all we want to do is bone." "But sometimes, a man just wanna be held." "Cuddled a little bit." "Hold my back, I'll rub yours, you know?" "A little massage or something." "What's wrong with that?" "Ain't you progressive enough to understand?" "Oh, nigger, I got your progressive." "You a trip." "You need a massage." "Hey, baby." "I want you to meet a friend of mine--Tracey Powell." "Tracey, this is a vey, vey good friend of mine" "Sheila Downes." "How you doin'?" "Make yourself comfortable." "Food's in the dining room, beer's in the fridge." "Thank you." "A lot of special things go on when you ride around in this." "Like, for instance, you know, on a Sunday... I always go through all the lights." "Don't nobody stop me." "There's some benefits to this car. I'm telling you." "Like, for instance, when I want to go to church... I always get up front-- evey time." "Because they probably think you're going to a damn funeral." "That's what I'm saying." "But I ain't. I'm just rollin'." "Your friend, man." "She teaches the class next to mine." "English." "What?" "I work with her." ""l work with her." OK." "She isn't my girlfriend or anything. I work with her." "All right." "What?" "Oh, man, you know what." "I mean, you're married." "What are you, the fuckin' Moral Majority?" "No, no." "What's this about?" "Troy's a good woman." "If my memoy serves me correctly... you told me not to get married." "In fact, y'all did." "Who?" "I said that?" "Quit saying "Who?" You." "Damn, I did say that." "Also said the Commodores would get back together." "Who knew, man?" "Let me tell you something." "People grow apart, right?" "People change." "But you wouldn't know anything about that." "What you talking about?" "No, you wouldn't, Darius... because the last relationship you been in... that lasted longer than six months, my brother..." "was...neVel." "Are you kidding?" "Felicia." "All right, Felicia." "So I maintain... when you get a wife, you advise me on mine." "Y'all run around here jumpin' and hopping'... fallin' in love and shit." "Fallin' in love ain't shit." "Somebody talk to me, please, about how to stay there." "Do I love my wife?" "Hell, yes." "is she here?" "Hell, no." "All right, man." "All right?" "As far as I'm concerned... all of y'all can step." "Hey, man... I think you need a hug, Savon." "So, where are you taking me?" "A little set, you know." "Whose set?" "Some friends." "It'll be cool." "Trust me." "Yo!" "Wait!" "Y'all know how to do the slop?" "What's this, a choir?" "Yes, the slop." "Come on, do it." "l don't know how to do it." "'Cause you made that shit up." "I'm gonna find somebody who can do the slop." "Yeah, on TV, right?" "I'll tell you how to get on this horse." "What's up, black people?" "Where's your bathroom?" "Up the stairs and to the left." "Thanks." "So, what's up, Ed?" "You are so foul." "You know it's fucked up what you're doin', right?" "Whatever, man." "Whatever?" "Don't." "I told you I know..." "how to do the slop." "What's up, D?" "Hey, what's up, man?" "You should see how the slop was done." "Mama showed you?" "Yeah." "A true professional." "Go ahead, break it down, then." "No. I don't want to put too much hip into it." "I need to talk to you outside." "Right now?" "Right now." "I'll be right back." "Take me home now." "Nina, what's wrong?" "You embarrassed the shit out of me... and I don't appreciate it." "If you two wanna see whose dick is bigger, do it without me." "Look, I'm sory" "Don't say shit to me." "Just take me home." "Like you didn't think he was gonna be at this party?" "You gonna take me home or not?" "Hell, no." "Unbelievable." "Walk!" "Nah, nah, l" "Hey, yo." "Where Nina at?" "I don't know, man." "You just left the woman outside, Wood?" "What?" "You got somethin' to say?" "Why don't you say it?" "I ain't got nothing to say to you." "Nina, slow up." "I don't wanna talk right now." "If you slow up, I'll call you a cab." "Just leave me alone." "Slow up." "What?" "First of all, calm down." "You and I both know... you don't wanna be out here this late by yourself... stompin' up and down the street like somebody stole your bike." "I just wanna make sure you get home safely." "That's it." "Trust me." "We'll walk to this pay phone up here... I'll call you a cab... I'll wait, you get in--Boom." "You can be on your mery way." "Look... what the hell you doing running around with my boy?" "First, you tear off to New York... then you come back, don't even call?" "You only had to tell me that you were seeing somebody." "What are you talking about?" "I ain't seeing nobody." "I saw you at the bookstore with a girl." "I'm always there." "What are you talking about?" "You know what I'm talking about." "Oh, shit." "Lisa." "Damn." "Damn." "Damn." "Hey." "I just want to call and apologize for the other night." "I honestly didn't know you were gonna be there." "Look, no apologies necessay, OK?" "I have two tickets... to the V.O.N. Steppers set tomorrow night, and... I was just wondering if you could step." "I didn't know you were that good." "Yeah, I'm a groove man." "I do my little thing." "Didn't know I had it, did ya?" "That's what I call a real date." "A real date?" "What are you talking about, a real date?" "You saying we never been on a real date before?" "Baby, bumping' and grindin'... at the Wild Hare hardly qualifies." "Oh, well, you seemed to like all that bumping' and grinding." "I wanted to call you when I got back from New York... but when I saw you with that woman..." "l didn't know what to think." "l know." "Look, that was absolutely nothing." "Trust me." "It was nothing." "Sometimes I just wonder if I'm going too far with you." "Well, there's no such place." "This is a destiny type thing, babe." "What am I gonna do with you?" "I got a few ideas, but... tell me what you got in mind, huh?" "Fountain." "What's up?" "What you got?" "What you want to do?" "This is a joke, right?" "No, it's not a joke." "What's with the pillow and the blanket?" "What's all that?" "I know it's a little bit awkward... but I was thinking that... I don't know, we had such" "We had a pe_ect date, and I just-- l just wanted to feel... like I was saving something for later." "Saving something for later?" "Ain't gotta save mine for later." "I'd rather have it right now." "Nina, we've already done it before." "We done already, you know, repeatedly... so what's with the couch?" "Don't be like that." "Come on, don't do this to me." "I mean, it's gonna be cold out here." "You'll be fine." "All right, cool." "You're right, I'll be fine." "Good night." "Do you think you could just help me with this zipper?" "'Cause sometimes it gets stuck." "Yeah." "See, now you're playin'." "All we gotta do is just go upstairs... and I could take off all your clothes." "Thank you." "You ain't gotta do this." "I don't know why you playin' like that." "Good night." "It's gonna be mighty cold down here." "You mind turning up the heat?" "She's wrong, man." "Shit." "Shit." "Can you feel the heat?" "No, not yet." "Ooh, shit!" "I can." "Mind if I play something for you?" "No, not at all." "I know this is a black neighborhood." "Send somebody down who can handle themselves." "You guys are terrible." "All I want is my mail." "Don't put me on hold." "Don't" "What's wrong with you?" "They had me on hold." "What's wrong?" "Hello." "How you doing?" "Fine." "You know what time it is?" "Want a beer?" "Do you think I slept with Wood?" "I learned a long time ago... not to ask a question I didn't want to know the answer to." "Why don't you wanna know?" "'Cause I don't." "Why?" "You're wrecking my flow, OK?" "Excuse the fuck out of me." "And I didn't wreck your fuckin' flow." "Take off your clothes." "Quit playin'." "Who's playin'?" "What's the matter?" "I've already seen what you got." "Will you stop?" "What are you doing?" "You don't trust me?" "No, I don't." "You don't?" "This is about Lisa, isn't it?" "I can't believe you, Nina." "You still on that Lisa shit?" "That amazes me." "Look... we've talked about this a thousand times... and I explained to you" "she and I are over." "That is histoy--the past, OK?" "We're together." "So tell me, what is your fucking problem?" "How am I supposed to know that?" "Know what?" "That you're not seeing her." "'Cause I just told you, for the last time." "Well, that's not enough, Darius... because you have not given me any reason... to trust anything that you say." "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about the blackboard with her number on it... the phone calls at 5 a.m... tying to read your mind evey fucking day." "You don't know shit about trust, OK?" "You don't." "You the one who went to New York and fucked old boy... came back here and hung out with my boys... partying and shit." "What is that?" "You wanna talk about trust?" "You acted like you didn't care that I went to New York." "This shit is for the birds, man." "Really." "It is." "I don't even know what the fuck you talking--You know what?" "You can do us both a real big favor." "Just come over to my crib and get your shit." "Why would you want to be with somebody you don't trust?" "Ain't gotta deal with this shit." "I guess that's eveything." "Shut my door when you leave." "You getting the work done on that novel, man?" "I'm not in the mood to write anything right now." "Let me ask you something." "If you were stranded on a deserted island... and could only take one of your ex-girls... who would it be?" "Shit, I don't know." "That's the thing, man." "With the exception of Felicia, man... I can't stand to be around them more than a few hours each time." "Now that's a name I ain't heard in a while." "Yep. I messed that up, man... tying' to be a mothe_ucking player." "I used to love that girl, man." "You only get one, two, tops." "One what?" "True love." "True love, my ass, man." "Love is what you make and with whom you make it." "That's it." "Think I messed up twice." "You'd think by now I'd have a little more insight, but... I don't know what to think." "That, my friend, is your problem right there." "Physics, this shit ain't." "It ain't supposed to make sense." "Love, passion-- it is what it is." "Fuck!" "Savon, you and your wife both bluffing." "That's my joker." "Can I get my book?" "Can I?" "Y'all are both cheaters, man." "Speak to me." "Darius, it's Josie." "Oh, hey, what's happening?" "Look, Nina told me not to tell anyone this, but..." "Fuck it." "What is it?" "I thought you should know." "She did a shoot for Vibe magazine... and it worked out really well." "Good for her." "And since you" "Why you calling me, anyway?" "Look, she's on the noon train tomorrow." "I thought maybe you should see her off." "Well, maybe not." "You do what you want to do." "I just thought I should tell you." "Thanks for your concern." "Jesus." "Stop." "You can't play." "Hey, Darius, who was that?" "All aboard!" "Are you all right?" "Vey nice." "Give me that smile." "There it is." "Nina, here's your tickets... and itineray for the Chicago shoot." "Great." "Thank you." "Don't wory about it." "There you go." "Cool." "Thanks." "You're vey welcome, sir." "So, let's see this masterpiece." "Stand back." "You might hurt yourself, bro." "That's it right there." "The book signing party is gonna be real nice." "Whoa, sucky, sucky, sucky now." "Man, this is" "That's a jacked-up picture, though." "Why you gotta talk about the picture?" "That's a jacked-up picture." "Say something about my picture." "Congratulations." "Thanks." "It's a dream come true." "An old one, man, an old one." "That's a nice dedication." "So how come you never called her?" "I wrote her a bunch of letters, but... I thought it made me look like a fool." "I never mailed any of them." "I would've paid some mad money... to see your ass running through Union Station." "I hear you, man." "Had you not been sucking on them cancer sticks... you'd have caught her." "I'm cool, man." "Excuse me, can I see that?" "Sure." "Thanks." "Next up, our next poet is" "Our next poet is a virgin to the mike... but... I'm sure you'll feel her just the same." "Sanctuay, welcome..." "Miss Nina Mosley." "This is... something that I've been working on for a while... and I was hoping that a certain someone would be here tonight... but I don't... see him, so... I guess I'm gonna get it out anyway." "It's funny what you can do in front of people... you can't seem to do in front of one person." "It is the color of light... the shape of sound high in the evergreens." "It lies suspended in hills... a blue line in a red sky." "I am looking at sound." "I'm hearing the brightness... of high bluffs and almond trees." "I am tasting the wilderness of lakes... rivers, and streams... caught in an angle of song." "I am remembering the water... that glows in the dawn... the motion tumbled in earth... life hidden in mounds." "I am dancing... a bright beam of light." "I am... remembering... love." "Look, Reg, I'm gonna talk to you." "All right, cool." "Thanks." "Nina Mosley." "Long time no see." "I enjoyed your poem up there." "I know there have... been a lot of mistakes... and we both made them." "I apologize for my part in that." "And all that nonsense in the past... I don't give a shit about that anymore." "I never stopped thinking about you." "I want us to be together again... for as long as we can be." "As usual, your timing couldn't be worse." "You always want what you want when you want it." "Why is eveything so urgent with you?" "Let me tell you something." "This here, right now... at this vey moment, is all that matters to me." "I love you." "That's urgent like a mothe_ucker." "How do we do this?" "l don't know." "l live in New York." "l don't care." "All right, so... what's the first step?" "We can start by getting out of this rain."