[residents chattering]
Downloaded from YTS.MX
[Elaine] Everybody has a story
and this one is mine.
-[upbeat hip-hop music] -[cars whooshing]
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
♪ Ha ♪
[train rumbling]
[train whooshing]
[bus whooshing]
♪ Ho ♪
-[drumbeat thuds] -[residents chattering]
[upbeat music]
301 Sutter Avenue
between Rockaway and Mother Gaston,
Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York.
The Langston Hughes Projects are the three tallest buildings
in all of East New York.
Each 22 stories high with eight apartments per floor
and whose average household has more than six people.
That's more than 3,000 people living on one city block.
That's what I got so far.
What do you think?
Shouldn't a poem rhyme?
[groans] Not all poems have to rhyme, Titi Elizabeth,
like a, like a haiku doesn't rhyme.
Hi-what?
[sighs] The judges at the talent show tryouts
ain't gonna care if it rhymes, Titi.
It just has to be something uniquely me.
What does that have to do with where we live?
Oh, my God, Titi.
Please don't tell me you have [speaking Spanish] again.
How would I know?
[sighs] Put it here.
[engine revving]
Elaine!
Come upstairs!
Elaine!
Okay, Mami, I'm coming!
Come on, we gotta go.
You go.
I'm trying to catch a tan.
Abuela will kill me if you get sunburnt on my watch.
[Carmen] Elaine!
Yo, Leelo.
Can you watch Elizabeth for a few?
No, not Leelo.
Ti, just put on your oxygen
and you won't have to smell his breath.
[mellow hip-hop music continues]
[Child] Where's the other one?
Huh?
[mellow hip-hop music continues]
-[button clicking] -[tape warbling]
[upbeat hip-hop music]
[Elaine] More than 3,000 people living on one city block.
Average household has six people.
[door clicking]
We live in apartment 12F.
-Hey, give it back, Ben. - We is me--
-Forget it, chump. - My mami, my papi,
my big head brothers, my sister.
Benjamin, stop being such a pendejo.
Share with your brother or you're not gonna get [speaking Spanish].
[Benjamin sucks teeth]
-[lighthearted music] -[utensils clanging]
[Elaine speaking Spanish]
Pick on somebody your own size, stupid.
Ana, don't call your brother stupid.
Elaine, tell your papi to come to eat.
[lighthearted music continues]
[lively music]
[Elaine] That's Papi.
We're just alike, except he is obsessed with salsa music
and the Puerto Rican flag.
[lively music continues]
Elaine,
our flag,
the red is for the Taino Indians indigenous to Puerto Rico,
the white is for the colonizer that has invaded us,
the blue is for the sad Africanos they brought with them,
and the star,
that one star is all of us rolled into one.
How about that, eh?
[lively music continues]
[food sizzling]
[lively music continues]
[plug clicking]
[vocalists singing in Spanish]
[sighs] Can't you play something in English?
-[Manny chuckles] -[vocalists singing in Spanish]
[gentle guitar music]
♪ Girl, I could look at you For hours ♪
♪ I could lose myself Within your eyes ♪
♪ You're the sweet aroma Of a flower ♪
♪ The sun is shining brighter When I'm by your side ♪
♪ Everything means more When you are near me ♪
♪ Everything is new now I'm alive ♪
[Manny singing in Spanish]
[Elaine] Ay, Papi.
He can't help himself.
He's a proud salsero.
[Manny continues singing in Spanish]
[Elaine] He's a rumba man.
[Manny continues singing in Spanish]
[Elaine] Oh, a rumba?
[lively drum music]
A rumba is when a bunch of Puerto Ricans get together
and we have an acoustic jam right outside.
[Manny singing in Spanish]
[players chattering]
[Manny continues singing in Spanish]
[Manny laughs]
-[audience cheering] - And that's not even
the best part of Papi, neither.
[Manny singing in Spanish]
[Manny humming]
Is that the new song you're writing, Papi?
Yeah.
Do you like it?
Does it have to be in Spanish?
[Manny chuckles]
We artists have to create from our hearts.
My heart sings in Spanish, yeah?
Are you gonna be okay here?
Okay.
-[keys jangling] -[door clicking]
[tender music]
Papi, you got the best job ever.
[Manny laughs]
[tender music continues]
[school bell ringing]
[Manny sighs]
[suspenseful music]
[door clicking]
[Manny] This is my job, Goji. You can't come here.
Relax, Manny.
School's out.
You got something for me?
You'll have it by tomorrow.
Come on, man, my kid is here.
-Yo, you lying to me? -[Elaine] Papi?
[cars whooshing]
Oh, so you Manny's daughter, huh?
I be seein' you around the block.
Elaine, go get us some chocolate milks from the lunchroom.
[Manny speaking Spanish]
[cars whooshing]
[door thuds]
[wheels rattling]
So the school just doesn't need this piano anymore, Papi?
Nah, the school has three of these.
They don't need this one.
[wheels continue rattling]
[Elaine] That is a junkie.
A lot of them around here.
Papi says, gotta stay away from them.
They'll drag you down.
It's good as new.
What am I gonna do with a piano, Manny?
Come on, Maxi.
Uh, that's what you said about my trumpet.
Trumpet is brass.
[Manny] A piano has plenty of metal parts.
It'll take you no time to strip it.
I'll give ya 50 bucks.
I need 75.
[brakes screeching]
[horn honking]
Elaine?
-Hey, Elaine? -[horn honking]
Hey, Manny.
[lighthearted piano music]
[Manny] Elaine.
[lighthearted piano music continues]
Elaine.
[Manny sighs]
Can we keep the piano, Papi?
We can write songs together.
[piano chiming]
[lighthearted piano music]
Okay. [sighs]
Seventy-five.
[gentle music]
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh ♪
[hopeful music continues]
♪ Oh, oh ♪
[knocks tapping]
[knocks thudding]
[suspenseful music]
[Carmen and Manny faintly speaking]
[knocks tapping]
[suspenseful music continues]
[knocks tapping]
[knocks thudding]
[Officer Clo] Police, open up. We have a warrant.
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
[Carmen] Okay. Ho--hold on.
[Elaine] Wait, wait, wait, wait.
[Officer Amara] Ma'am, we need you to open the door.
Wait, wait.
-Go to your room. - Senora, [speaking Spanish]?
Your room.
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
Go to your room.
[Carmen speaking Spanish]
[knocks thudding]
[police radio chatter]
[Officer Wenz] Senora.
Hold on. Uh, I gotta get my clothes on.
Go back to your room.
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
[Dispatcher 1] 500 East to I-10...
[indistinct radio chatter]
[Dispatcher 2] 104.
-Correction, 4. -[lock clicking]
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
[door clicking]
-[radio chirping] -[dispatcher faintly speaking]
[Officer Amara] Manuel Del Valle, you here?
How do I know you're real cops?
[Officer Clo] Look, you can make this easy, or you can make this hard.
[Dispatcher 3] 895, 450.
-I have four kids. -[radio chatter under dialogue]
My mother lives right downstairs on the sixth floor.
-Can I bring them to her? -Hey, listen, listen.
Maybe she can come get them,
but you're gonna have to let us in.
[radio] All I need is out there.
[Carmen sighs]
[door clicking]
[suspenseful music]
[Dispatcher 1] Brown-eyed, tan.
[Officer Clo] Hey.
-Your father here? -[Carmen] Don't talk to my daughter.
It's okay.
[Dispatcher 1] And that's 4020, correct?
Your father back there?
[Carmen] I said don't talk to my kid.
[Officer Amara] Ma'am, stay calm. You're scaring your kid.
You're the one that's scaring my kid. [panting]
Please.
Just let me call my mother.
She's right downstairs.
I got three more kids sleeping back there.
She'll come pick them up, huh?
[phone ringing]
[Abuela groans]
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
Huh?
[sighs]
[speaking Spanish]
Ah.
[speaking Spanish]
-[radio chirps] - And then the car ride.
[Carmen speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
-Bye! -[phone thuds]
[suspenseful music]
[Officer Amara] All right, guys, what are your names?
Daniel Medina.
[Officer Amara] Daniel Medina.
Benjamin Medina.
Ana Medina.
[Officer Amara] Ana Medina.
[Officer Amara] And you, what's your name?
Her name is Elaine.
[Officer Amara] Elaine?
M--Medina?
No, Del Valle, like him.
[Officer Amara] Listen, ma'am, just give us what we know you have so this could all end.
[chuckles] Yo-- You checked the room.
Th--There's nothing there.
I'm telling you, I got nothing.
There's nothing here to find, please.
Th--There's nothing here to find.
Please, just let them go.
I--I'll walk you through the apartment, just... [sighs]
[chuckles] There's nothing here, please.
Look, I'm not who you're looking for.
Come on.
I'm not who you want. Please.
Look, look, yo--You got the wrong guy, I'm telling you.
Come on.
[officers faintly speaking]
Here. We'll give it back.
[Officer Clo] Found somethin'.
[suspenseful music]
[Officer Amara] Check his arms.
[radio static crackling]
[Manny sighs]
[static hissing]
This guy's not a dealer. He's just a junkie.
That's not true.
Tell him that's not true, Pa.
Please tell them, please.
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
I don't wanna be a junkie,
and you don't wanna be a junkie, either. [sniffles]
[radio chirping]
-Please. -[officer] Negative.
-Del Valle is a junkie. -He's not a junkie.
-Stop saying that. -Come on, kids.
[sniffles] Let's go with Abuela.
[sniffles] I'll come for you soon
as I get this straightened out, okay?
Come on, guys.
[Carmen] Come on, baby.
[Carmen sniffling]
[sighs]
[door thuds]
[suspenseful music continues]
[speaking Spanish]
[Elizabeth] Mami?
[speaking Spanish].
[Elizabeth sighs]
[Elizabeth] What happened?
Nothing.
It's okay.
Go back to sleep, Titi.
[Elizabeth] Elaine, I don't have [speaking Spanish].
Okay, Titi, just go back to sleep.
[Ana] Elaine, come to bed.
Come on.
We got school in the morning.
[suspenseful music]
Go away.
Go away. [echoing]
[suspenseful music continues]
Why are you here?
I told you to go away.
Go find another family.
My heart was together, but now you broke it into pieces.
I hate you.
I was never like you.
Go take your stupid Puerto Rican flag, your conga,
your salsa music, and your salsa records.
I never wanna see your face again.
Go find another family.
Puerto Rico, Texas, Mexico.
I don't care where you go, but just don't come to my house.
I never wanna see you again.
You junkie.
[Elaine crying]
[spotlight thuds]
[Carmen] Elaine, are you ready? [echoing]
[train rattling]
Elaine. [echoing]
[train continues rattling]
Elaine, are you ready?
[Elaine] Mm.
Come on, girl.
You're gonna be late for school.
[Elaine] My stomach hurts. [sighs]
Can I stay home from school?
Now don't give me that. It's your last day.
Come on, let's go. You have all summer to be lazy.
[Elaine groaning]
Let's go. [speaking Spanish] Come on.
[residents chattering]
-[toilet flushing] -[door squeaking]
Whoa. [laughs]
I can smell your breath from here.
[Elaine] Shut up, stupid.
[door thuds]
[cabinet thuds]
[pensive music]
[Elaine sighs]
[pensive music continues]
Dude, just hang up when they call.
I can't. I feel too sorry for them.
They're using you to get to me.
Unless you want my sloppy seconds.
[urine trickling]
[Elaine gasps]
Aah!
What the f--
She probably just saw a cockroach.
Can you two shut up? I'm trying to do my homework.
[Elaine panting]
-What's going on? -[Elaine grunts]
Hey, hey, better open the door, girl.
Let me in. What you do? You called me.
Let me in. What?
[gasps] You're a senorita!
Oh, my gosh. Okay, it's okay.
It's gonna be okay. Close the door, close the door.
-[vocalist faintly singing] -[Carmen chuckles]
Yeah...
-[vocalist faintly singing] -[Elaine sighs]
[Carmen] Oh, I thought she was never gonna get it. Oh, my God.
I don't see why I just couldn't stay home.
What does it matter where you lay down?
Stay with Elizabeth. This way,
me and Abuela could get our stuff done faster.
Just promise you won't tell anybody.
Who am I gonna tell?
[door creaking]
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
I had to tell her why I let you stay home from school.
[Elaine groaning]
[sighs]
[groaning]
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish] No go outside.
We should be back by five.
[door creaking]
[Elaine groans]
You got cramps?
I don't wanna talk about it. [groans]
Okay.
You wanna play Bingo, then?
[children chattering]
-[child screams] -[basketball thudding]
O, 64.
[children chattering]
[Elaine] Yo, Crystal.
Yo, why you ain't come to school today?
-'Cause she got her period. -Ti.
What the hell, Titi?
Don't say that.
But that's why you didn't go.
I got a stomachache, but I'm good now.
Oh. We gotta cypher by the basketball courts. Come down.
-We're not allowed-- -Quit it, Titi.
Not everybody has to be all up in our business, okay?
Yo, Crystal, I'ma meet you there.
All right.
Where you going? You can't leave me alone.
I'm not.
You're coming with me.
But Mami said--
But Mami nothing.
Ti, you heard Abuela say that I'm a senorita now, right?
That means I'm not a kid anymore, right?
And I can make my own decisions.
-Yeah, but-- -But nothing.
If you wanna spend the rest of your life stuck here,
you're gonna have to do it by yourself.
Don't cry, Titi.
I didn't mean it like that.
It's okay.
We're gonna go out together and have some fun, yeah?
We just have to not tell Mami and Abuela, right?
Like. not everybody has to be up, all up in our business?
Exactly like that.
Come on, let's go.
-[children chattering] - ♪ 'Ey, 'ey, 'ey, 'ey ♪
- ♪ Keep it goin' ♪ -[beatboxer beatboxing]
♪ Keep it goin' ♪
♪ Keep it goin', keep it goin' ♪
♪ Keep it goin', 'ey ♪
♪ Keep it goin', 'ey, 'ey, 'ey, 'ey, 'ey ♪
♪ I'm just feelin' the vibe as I'm killin' all these beats ♪
♪ Feeling like I run the streets ♪
♪ But I get th--the treat Like I'm abusing my power ♪
-♪ Similar to the police ♪ -Hey, what's up.
♪ Not just like Monopoly, you won't stand in defeat ♪
♪ People's trying to master sound but I'm just trying ♪
♪ To make it right For all the problems ♪
♪ That I'm causing Try like it's a exercise ♪
♪ Those are times I memorize Till the day that I die ♪
♪ For the dreams And gold and strife ♪
♪ I can't wait, today, I rise ♪ Spit somethin'.
♪ I feel it from up above And I'm from the building ♪
♪ My Titi by my side And she's acting chill ♪
-Okay. - ♪ Wheeling in a chair ♪
♪ With no need for speed ♪
♪ Pushin' from the back I take the lead ♪
♪ When it's from my window I show up to win ♪
♪ You're spittin' raps, statin' Facts I'm not playin' Bingo ♪
-'Ey, that's what's up, girl. -Fire.
-'Ey. -Oh, my God.
-That was hot. -[gunshots]
-Oh, oh. -[children screaming]
[Elizabeth gasping]
You're gonna be okay, Titi. Just breathe.
You need to breathe, okay? Okay?
-Don't leave me. -[children continue screaming]
I'm not gonna leave you. I promise I'll never leave you.
I'm just gonna get your wheelchair and your inhaler, okay?
[Elizabeth gasping]
[Elaine panting]
[siren chirps]
[children continue screaming]
[residents chattering]
Hey, Elaine.
-Elaine, Elaine. -[Elizabeth gasping]
Hey, Elaine, right?
[suspenseful music]
Manny's daughter?
[residents chattering]
[suspenseful music continues]
No, um, he moved to Puerto Rico
right after he got out of the jail.
Yeah, I heard.
I been keeping my eye on you.
Make sure nobody messin' with you.
And you'd be doing a solid if you hold on to this for me.
-Ready? -[siren wailing]
I'll come get it later.
Go. Go home now!
Come on.
-[Elizabeth whimpering] -[siren chirping]
-[Elizabeth whimpering] -[radio chirping]
-Get in. -[Elizabeth gasping]
You're okay, you're okay.
[Dispatcher 5] Suspect is a male Latino
traveling southeast on Belmont Avenue
in the vicinity of Sutter Avenue and Rockaway Avenue.
Approximately 5'9".
Last seen wearing a beige hoodie
and holding a burgundy laundry bag.
-Hey, kid! - 10-85, 10-85 all units.
-[officer panting] -[radio chirping]
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
[Elizabeth] Can't fight it.
-[panting] Hey! -[siren wailing]
[Dispatcher 6] All units, standby, units.
Hey, kid!
[dispatcher faintly speaking]
[Elaine and Elizabeth panting]
Press for-- Press for the elevator, Titi.
[Elaine and Elizabeth panting]
[Elizabeth] Elevator.
-[elevator beeps] -[doors rumbling]
[Elizabeth and Elaine panting]
Go, go, go. I'll meet you upstairs, okay?
-[Elizabeth] No, Elaine. -[Officer Chandler] Kid!
-[Elaine panting] -You didn't hear me calling you?
You were calling me?
[panting] What was in that bag?
What, what bag? I was just helping
-that crippled lady into the building. -What's your name?
-[Elaine] I--I was just-- -I said, what's your name?
I didn't do nothin'.
I was just with my friends. You can ask them.
We were cyphering by the basketball courts.
Think about what you're saying, kid,
-'cause if you're lying to me, I could lock you up. -Hey!
What are you doing questioning a kid?
You wanna question a kid, you need to make sure they have a parent around,
and I don't see hers nowhere.
-Who are you? -Get your butt upstairs, Elaine.
-[Elaine panting] -[footsteps thudding]
Hi, they call me Miss Martin.
Who are you?
Meaning I'm gonna need your name
and your badge number, [sucks teeth] Chandler.
[door clicking]
-[Elaine sighs] -[knocks thudding]
Ti, it's okay, open up. [panting]
-[train rumbling] -[keys jangling]
-[Elaine panting] -[keys jangling]
Titi?
Titi Elizabeth?
[Elaine panting]
[shoes squeaking]
[Elaine panting]
Titi? [panting]
Titi Elizabeth? [panting]
[Elaine panting]
I just--I don't know.
Miss Clarke.
-Hey. -You see my Titi Elizabeth?
Mm, no.
-Mm-mm, mm, no, -[elevator dings]
-I haven't seen Titi Elizabeth. -[doors rumbling]
Joe, okay.
Thank you.
Of course.
Hi.
Hi, mm, mm, mm, ah, hi.
-Hi. -Hi.
How are you doing?
I'm good, thank you, Miss Clarke.
-Hi. -[doors sliding]
It's your floor, Miss Clarke.
Hi, okay, hi.
Hi.
Hi, how you doing?
Hi.
[Elaine panting]
Hi.
Ah.
Hi.
[Elaine panting]
Yo, Leelo, you see my Titi Elizabeth?
Nah. You want a hit?
[suspenseful music]
[Elaine shudders]
[shoes thudding]
[Elaine whimpering]
[Elaine sniffing]
[Elizabeth] Why are you crying?
[Elaine] Oh, my God, Ti, you had me worried sick.
Where were you?
You left me.
I didn't mean to leave you.
I meant for you to come up here and...
You know what?
[sniffles] Tia, what'd you do with the bag that I gave you?
I put it where it belongs.
-[door clicking] -[light humming]
[bag thuds]
[bag rustling]
You gotta use Tide.
[gun clicks]
[gun thudding]
[bag rustling]
[door thuds]
-[audience laughing] -[buzzer buzzing]
[Host on TV] Name something a woman expects on a first date.
To get married.
A new car.
[cheery music]
A baby.
Hey, up here.
[Elizabeth] Flowers?
-[timer chiming] -[train rumbling]
Hey, Mami.
Peace.
Afternoon, ladies.
This the one that have all our shit?
Come on, man.
-Soon. [sucks teeth] -[buzzer buzzing]
[timer chiming]
[door clicks]
-[door clicking] -[keys jangling]
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
N--nothing.
-Mm. -[speaking Spanish], Abuela.
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
[door thuds]
[suspenseful music]
I'm sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.
[Elaine] Here.
[suspenseful music continues]
-Psst, -[train rumbling]
let me take care of this one.
I got this.
Let me talk to her.
[Bass chuckles]
[Bass scoffs]
Hey, I like the way you handled yourself today.
Can't teach that, you know?
It's an instinct.
Your old man had.
[sucks teeth] I got something for you.
[suspenseful music continues]
Take it.
I don't bite.
Come on, you earned it.
You been growing up nice.
I noticed.
I know what it's like out here growing up without a father,
so I get it.
[Goji sighs]
Hey, anybody ever tell you you could be a model, huh?
Hmm?
No?
You come find me if anything, all right?
Anybody messes with you, you want another job, anything.
I stay down by the Tilden Houses, all right?
-[elevator dings] -[doors sliding]
The elevator's here.
Let me get it for you.
[suspenseful music continues]
You goin' down?
Up.
[suspenseful music continues]
[Elaine panting]
["We Wish You a Merry Christmas" playing]
[cover clattering]
[Carmen] Elaine, come to eat!
[Elaine] Coming.
["We Wish You a Merry Christmas" playing]
We got the new Cabbage Patch dolls in our work.
Elaine, you want one?
[Elaine] I don't play with dolls no more.
Ain't no one say you gotta trade in your Barbies
for a Kotex, shorty.
Mami, why you tellin' everybody?
Yo, chill out, scrub.
-Mami ain't tell me nothin'. -[Carmen] See?
I overheard her on the phone telling Titi Magi, though.
-Heard what? -And after, she told Camila and Andrea.
-Okay, stop it. -[Benjamin laughs]
Sons, stop trying to start drama.
I have something serious I need to talk to yous all about.
'Ey, 'ey, 'ey.
Benjamin.
[sighs] Heavenly Father,
we thank you for the food we about to eat
and for the countless blessings you've bestowed upon us.
-Amen. -[children] Amen.
I did something very important for us today.
You got us a Nintendo?
Yeah, sure.
It's in the trunk of a Cadillac
parked outside of our mansion, Danny.
Oh, Mama doo-wop just burnt your--
Ay, would you cut it out?
-[Benjamin laughs] -Real talk.
Abuela took me to enroll in summer school
so I could get the last two credits
of my high school diploma.
-That's great, Mami. -Mm.
So what that means, while you three are at, at your summer jobs,
um, I just need you guys to all be on top of your chores, okay?
And Elaine, you're gonna stay at Abuela's until I get home.
What? Why?
Ah, 'cause you're the baby of the family.
-Ah, Benjamin. -[Benjamin laughs]
Why do I always feel like I have to referee,
like you're lucha libre?
-[sighs] Elaine, no, -[Benjamin chuckles]
you're not a baby.
But you're also not old enough
to be left unsupervised alone for the whole summer.
Unsupervised? You leave me with Titi Elizabeth.
I'm the one taking care of her.
I know, I don't wanna hear an argument.
You either stay at Abuela's,
or you could visit your father in Puerto Rico.
-You know? He's been asking you to visit. -[Elaine sighs]
Yo, can I get Elaine's pork chops? [chuckles]
I brought your food.
I wasn't gonna let Benjamin eat your pork chop.
She shouldn't have brought up Papi.
You gotta talk to him sometime.
He sounds okay every time I talk to him.
Don't.
Okay.
I'm just saying,
one of us actually has a father
that wants to know about them.
And you used to love hanging with Titi Elizabeth.
When I was eight.
Now it's like babysitting.
It's not babysitting if it's family.
And we don't get to choose our family.
If we did,
then we'll definitely be choosing a different abuela.
[both laughing]
[children chattering]
Lalita, fine as hell, baby.
-You already know. [laughs] -[Lalita chuckles]
[residents chattering]
[camera whirring]
-Goji. -Yeah.
Don't be playing me with no little girls.
[sucks teeth] Come on, baby.
Man, I'm not doin' you like that.
For real?
Hey, you want me take some pictures of you?
I thought that's what you bought it for.
Come on, let's go.
[View-Master clicking]
[Elizabeth chuckles]
[View-Master clicking]
I'm hungry.
[View-Master clicking]
Wanna go for some pizza?
My treat.
[upbeat music]
[Sportscaster] Excited to see the movement,
to see the energy and feel, it's just unbelievable.
Hey, Vito.
Hey, kid.
Can I have two slices and a Coca-Cola
and some [indistinct], please?
-[Vito] Phew. -With extra sugar, Vito.
Okay.
I have to go to the bathroom.
[Sportscaster] It's not bad at the end of the playoffs season.
You know what? It's great, well, it's great
and grand to be back in the stadium after so many years.
If you could just see the crowd, how energetic they are.
We got the, the children out there wavin' their baseball gloves,
and, and we have such an exciting game up here
in the bottom of the fourth inning.
And it is heating up 'cause you know,
the end of this ballgame-
-[Monyetta] Yo, Vito. -What?
You told us the bathroom was out of order.
What the fuck?
[sighs] Come on, what do you want from me, kid?
You know she's a cripple.
Hold on, hold on. She ain't even a cripple.
She just got up off her wheelchair. What's up?
[Monyetta] Why you treating them better than us, huh?
-Nobody's treat-- -What's that about?
Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa. You come in here all the time.
You do whatever you want.
You even drink here, and I don't even sell beer.
Come on now, stop.
-Come on. -[Monyetta scoffs]
[Vito scoffs] Come on.
[Elizabeth] I'm not a cripple.
No, you're not.
Vito knows you only have asthma.
-Could have walked here. -[urine trickling]
I know.
It just would've taken a little longer.
[toilet flushing]
[Sportscaster] Probably why we're in a tied score.
[Vito sighs] What do you want from me, kid, huh?
I let you guys use the bathroom and all sorts of hell breaks out here.
[Sportscaster] Feelin' tired, but nobody's givin' up 'cause they want
- that playoffs spot. -[customers laughing]
Go sit down, Titi. I'll be right back.
No good deed goes unpunished.
-Have me one of these. -Ooh.
-Ooh, ooh, yeah. -Ah, ah.
-Hey, don't tip-- -Ah,
-Don't tip, don't tip it. -Oh, shit, oh.
Yo, Crystal. You know my auntie need that wheelchair back.
Why you askin' her?
She ain't the one that got it.
[chuckles] It's a miracle.
Hallelujah, she could walk.
Yeah, nah, nah.
She could walk,
just not far, on account of her breathin'.
And that's why we got the asthma pump.
Oh, you mean this?
Give it back!
-Thought this was a-- -That's medicine!
-Is it, really? -Medicaid don't pay
for more than one of those a month!
-You mean this right here? -Give it back!
-Let me see that. -This one?
-Oh, oh, oh! -[Monyetta laughs]
-Give it back! -Here you go.
I'm so sorry. Don't give a shit.
-[bullies laughing] -Give it back!
-[Shanequa] Take it.
-Please. -Now snatch it back.
Yo, Crystal, what the hell?
Yo, what do you mean?
You shouldn't be messing with 'em like that, okay?
-Thank you. -[wheelchair rattling]
Yeah, don't mention it, frickin' retards.
We're not retards. You are.
And you're a bully, too.
-Ah, shit. -[Monyetta laughs]
Monyetta, you gonna let her dis you like that?
She doesn't know what she's talkin' about.
Yo, what she say?
She didn't mean it.
-What she say? -She didn't mean it.
Bitch, I should just slap you.
[Elaine] She doesn't know what she's talkin' about.
-[punch thuds] -Ah!
-Oh, snap. [laughs] -[train rumbling]
[beer splashing]
-Yeah. -Look at you.
Bitch, you lookin' stupid.
[Monyetta] Yeah, that's what you get for tryin' to act up.
Help, need this back up.
[Monyetta] All right. How much you think we can get for this,
this wheelchair right now? How much y'all think?
Guys, can I hit you at the center and play some pool later?
[Detective Ray] Could you pick any of them out in a lineup?
[rain pattering]
Answer him.
We just wanted pizza, Mami.
With beer.
You smell like a brewery.
They poured beer on me.
She's telling the truth.
My daughter doesn't have to go out for no beer.
There's--There's plenty beer in the house.
Leave a minor alone in the house with alcohol?
Who doesn't keep beer in the refrigerator?
Look, my sister, she-- She's not a minor.
She's an adult.
She's an adult with a mental capacity of a minor.
And as of the law, they're both minors. We could charge you.
What are you talking about?
[Patrol Car Officer] Don't play innocent, Miss Medina.
We pulled your history.
Heroin possession, child endangerment.
That was five years ago, okay? And those were my ex's drugs.
Look, I'm back in school right now, all right?
I'm trying to get my high school diploma so I could get a good job.
And my kids, they're older now, so they don't need me as much anymore.
So you expect to leave them home alone again?
No, I didn't leave them alone.
I left her with my mother.
[speaking Spanish].
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
Mami, por favor.
No.
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
-No, she no stay with me. -[crying] Mami, no.
[Abuela speaking Spanish]
[Elizabeth crying] I want Elaine.
[Abuela speaking Spanish] Shh, shh.
[Elizabeth crying]
-[door thuds] -Can you blame her?
How the hell is Elizabeth gonna get around without her wheelchair?
-I'll get it back. -[door thuds]
Oh, so you do know the girls who beat you up and stole it?
No, I'll buy her a new one.
-Damn, what happened to you? -You can't even be trusted
to keep your Titi Elizabeth safe!
I did keep her safe!
She's the reason I got punched in the face
in the first place!
You're the one who brought her outside to begin with.
Do you know what the hell could happen to yous out there?
I'm not the reason we live here! I didn't ask to be born here!
[Carmen scoffs]
Well, you don't have to worry about being here no more
'cause I'm sending you to Puerto Rico with your father for the rest of the summer.
-I'm not goin' there. -Oh, you don't have a choice!
It's just a bunch of hicks in Puerto Rico. I can hardly understand them!
Ay, your father will translate.
I hate you! I hate both of you!
[chuckles] Well, you're stuck with us.
No! I'm not talking to him ever again!
I told you already!
Oh, you don't wanna talk? Don't talk.
I don't give a shit if you ever say another word,
but you're goin' to Puerto Rico.
You're going and that's final!
[speaking Spanish]
[Elaine groans]
[gentle music]
[plane whooshing]
You ever been to Puerto Rico?
-[announcer faintly speaking] -[airport guardian chuckles]
You must be 13.
I got one of yous at home.
[travelers chattering]
[Manny] Elaine.
Elaine.
That your father?
Elaine.
[Airport Guardian] I can see the resemblance.
I'm nothing like him.
Hi. Uh, can you sign right here?
[announcer faintly speaking]
[chuckles] Gracias.
Gracias.
[announcer faintly speaking]
[Manny chuckles]
[announcer speaking Spanish]
[Announcer] Passengers or...
It's just this way.
Come on.
[Announcer] Times, 5:00, 3:30.
Oh, okay.
[Manny groans]
[bags thudding]
[door thuds]
[Manny chuckles]
-[Manny sighs] -[seat clicking]
Okay.
[Manny sighs]
[keys jangling]
Okay.
[ignition clicking]
[engine revving]
[engine rumbling]
It's the company car.
They let me use it.
It's cool, yeah?
[engine rumbling]
[brakes screeching]
Be right back.
[mementos clattering]
Fourth grade was my favorite.
You still like coquito?
Well, I know I could use one.
[engine rumbling]
-[Chouqui speaking Spanish] -[Manny speaking Spanish]
Hey!
Hey, man.
[Manny laughs]
[speaking Spanish]?
[Manny chuckles]
[Manny speaking Spanish]
[Chouqui speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish], Elaine.
Elaine, your daughter from New York?
-[Manny] Yeah. [laughs] -But you're so ugly.
How can you have such a pretty daughter?
[Manny laughs]
Hm, tough cookie, huh?
[Manny] Yeah.
Two coquitos on me.
Hey.
[Manny sighs]
-[Manny laughs] -[Chouqui speaking Spanish]
[Manny speaking Spanish]
-[Chouqui speaking Spanish] -[Manny sighs]
[Chouqui and Manny laughing]
-[Chouqui speaking Spanish] -[Manny] Mm, ah.
[Chouqui speaking Spanish]
Perfect, thank you. Thank you.
[seagulls squawking]
[Chouqui speaking Spanish]
[Manny sighs]
[vendor speaking Spanish]
[Chouqui speaking Spanish]
[vendor speaking Spanish]
[Chouqui speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
[vendor chuckles]
[engine revving]
[coquis chirping]
Mami!
Your grandmother is half-deaf.
Mami!
-[foot thuds] -Ay.
-[coquis chirping] -[insects chirping]
[Abuelita gasping]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[lips smacking]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[Elaine speaking Spanish]
[gasps] Oh. [chuckles]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[lips smacking]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[coquis chirping]
[pan clanging]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[visitors speaking Spanish]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[sucks teeth] Abuela.
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
-[Lucy speaking Spanish] -[Maria Isabel chuckles]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Manny chuckles]
[Junior speaking Spanish]
-[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish] -[Junior chuckles]
Hola. [chuckles]
[visitors laughing]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[visitors speaking Spanish]
[Elaine speaking Spanish]
[visitors chuckling]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
Church.
It's Tuesday.
Pentecostal church is every night.
Do you have a dress?
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[Lucy speaking Spanish]
-[Manny chuckles] -[Junior speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel and Lucy speaking Spanish]
-[coquis chirping] -[churchgoers chattering]
[Manny and Abuelita faintly speaking]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[churchgoers chattering]
[Churchgoer 3] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
[Maria Isabel gasps, speaking Spanish]
Uh-huh.
[speaking Spanish]
[both speaking Spanish]
He no speak Spanish.
[Edwin speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel gasps]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel chuckles]
[Maria Isabel] 'Ey. [chuckles]
[Pastor speaking Spanish]
[Parishioner speaking Spanish]
[Pastor speaking Spanish]
[Churchgoers] No!
-[churchgoer speaking Spanish] -[Pastor speaking Spanish]
[churchgoers speaking Spanish]
[Churchgoer 4] Whoo!
[churchgoers continue speaking Spanish]
[Churchgoer 4] Whoo!
[pastor speaking Spanish]
Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.
-[Pastor speaking Spanish] -[churchgoers speaking Spanish]
-[Pastor speaking Spanish] -[parishioner speaking Spanish]
-[churchgoers clapping] -[Elaine chuckles]
[Manny speaking Spanish]
-[churchgoers speaking Spanish] -Hallelujah.
[Manny speaking Spanish]
[gentle guitar music]
Elaine, I wrote this song for you,
knowing you were coming.
Excited that maybe we might start over,
get to know each other again.
These people, this place, this island helped heal me.
And I hope it can help heal us, too.
-[gentle guitar music] -[insects chirping]
[Manny singing in Spanish]
-[coquis chirping] -[insects chirping]
[Manny] You'll be comfortable here. It's a good bed.
Ah, you can play music if the sounds of the coqui are killing you.
I set the presets to English stations.
And uh, if you get hot, you can turn the fan on.
I'll let you get some sleep then.
Elaine,
I'm really glad you're here.
[coquis chirping loudly]
[Elaine sighs]
[Elaine groans]
[Elaine sighing]
[pebbles tapping]
-[rock thuds] -[rock rattling]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
-[coquis chirping] -[insects chirping]
[chuckles] Where are we going?
Shh.
[Elaine chuckles]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
I do this all the time, always.
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel continues speaking Spanish]
[upbeat music]
Oh, yeah. [chuckles]
[Radio DJ speaking Spanish].
Yoo-hoo, whoo-hoo.
Ay, Madonna!
[speaking Spanish, chuckles]
You know English songs?
Uh-huh.
Madonna, "Like a Virgin." [chuckles]
Michael Jackson, "Bad."
"It's Tricky," Run-D.M.C. [chuckles]
Run-D.M.C.?
Oh, yeah.
Run, Run-D.M.C.!
[both laughing]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
Yeah?
[upbeat music continues]
[Elaine coughing]
[Maria Isabel laughs]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
-[Elaine chuckles] -[engine revving]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
You drive?
Uh, I don't know.
I...
[Elaine speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
-No! -[Maria Isabel laughs]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
Ay.
[upbeat music continues]
Whoo! [chuckles]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Both] Whoo!
-[Elaine laughs] -[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Both] Whoo! [laughs]
[Elaine] Run-D.M.C.!
[both laughing]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[upbeat music continues]
So, what part of New York you from?
Upper West Side.
Ah, rich girl.
So, what you doin' slummin' out here?
Where'd you get that shiner from?
No, no, no, no, I ain't mean it like that, shorty.
It ain't blocking your beauty.
[Maria Isabel] Ah.
I'm from Staten Island.
My mom and I moved out here like a year ago.
You?
Just visiting.
Staying with your cousin?
No, my father.
You got one of those?
Not really.
[chuckles] You got jokes, too.
I like that.
[Jamora speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
-Jamora, Jamora. -[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Edwin] Shh, shh.
-Jamora, por favor. -[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
Jamora, por favor.
-[Edwin speaking Spanish] -[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[all speaking Spanish]
Nah, I'm out of here, J.
[Chaco speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish]
Maria Isabel, get in the car!
-[Edwin speaking Spanish] -Get in, please!
[Edwin speaking Spanish]
Come on!
-[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish] -[door thuds]
Si?
[Maria Isabel sighs]
[Edwin speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
-The window. -[Maria Isabel chuckles]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel scoffs]
Papi needs the car to work.
[speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel scoffs]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel scoffs]
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[door clicking]
[door thuds]
[speaking Spanish]?
Have you two been drinking?
[Maria Isabel speaking Spanish]
[Maria Isabel scoffs]
[door clicking]
It's one thing she steals my boss' car,
but she shouldn't be dragging you into her shit, Elaine.
Like you did?
You still have a choice, Elaine.
You can learn from my mistakes or repeat them.
Elaine!
[Manny] Elaine.
Elaine!
[speaking Spanish] Now.
You are coming to work with me.
[Elaine sighs]
[engine revving]
Come on.
You're going to earn that window
and apologize to my boss.
[Manny speaking Spanish]
[Manny sighs]
[parent speaking Spanish]
[parent continues speaking Spanish]
[gentle music]
[engine rumbling]
This is where I learned to drive.
[Manny sighs]
You won't be able to see a thing with this on.
[speaking Spanish]
-You're driving. -What?
Oh, she speaks.
Look, the way I see it,
it's the only thing I can teach you that Mami can't.
Ay, come on, what teenager doesn't wanna learn to drive?
Don't worry, you won't have to look at me, huh?
You'll have to keep your eyes on the road.
[lively salsa music]
[Manny] Okay, okay, okay. Whoa, whoa.
-Watch, watch, watch. -[brakes screech]
Okay, it's here now, yes.
[brakes screech]
Okay, okay.
Okay, we're going to go straight here.
[Elaine] Okay.
[Manny] Right back to where we started, okay?
Okay.
You are a natural.
-Very good, very good. -Told you.
Okay, uh-huh.
[lively salsa music continues]
Okay.
That's good, yup.
Very good.
I'm very relaxed.
[Elaine chuckles]
[lively salsa music continues]
[lively salsa music concludes]
This is how I celebrate.
[vocalists singing in Spanish]
[laughs] This is a good one.
[mellow music]
Listen to it.
-♪ Puerto Rico ♪ -♪ Puerto Rico ♪
-♪ Ah, le lo lai ♪ -♪ Ah, le lo lai ♪
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
♪ Ah, le lo le, lo lai ♪
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
♪ Ah, le lo la lo lai ♪
-♪ Puerto Rico ♪ -♪ Puerto Rico ♪
Now listen, I'll tell you here.
-♪ Puerto Rico ♪ -♪ Puerto Rico ♪
-♪ May our soil live on ♪ -[vocalist singing in Spanish]
-♪ Puerto Rico ♪ -♪ Puerto Rico ♪
-♪ The land of the valiant ♪ -[vocalist singing in Spanish]
-♪ Puerto Rico ♪ -♪ Puerto Rico ♪
-Come on. -[vocalist singing in Spanish]
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
Dance with your old man here, yeah.
-[Elaine laughs] - ♪ Puerto Rico ♪
[Manny chuckles]
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
[vocalist singing in Spanish]
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
[vocalist singing in Spanish]
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
[vocalist singing in Spanish]
There you are.
♪ Puerto Rico ♪
Don't ever let anything steal your light, okay?
[gentle music]
Carmen, she's as beautiful as you and smart as a whip.
She gets that from me.
[Manny laughs]
I can't believe this trip is almost over.
I will miss her every day,
just like I miss you every day.
I'll always love you, Carmen.
You'll always be the love of my life.
Thank you for this time with her,
for everything.
Really.
I do?
[Manny laughs]
Si.
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[Elaine giggles]
[Elaine speaking Spanish]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[Elaine laughs]
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
-Gracias, Abuelita. -[Manny chuckles]
-We're gonna miss you so much.
You'll have to come back soon.
Actually, I was thinking,
maybe I could stay here?
[laughs] Ay, Elaine, no.
Your mom is expecting you, hmm?
I bet Mami would wanna come, too.
Who wouldn't rather stay here than New York?
Benjamin, and Danny, and Ana would love it.
Elaine, you're talking crazy.
We can't expect them to uproot their lives like that.
Okay, maybe not Ana.
Maybe Ana's gonna graduate from high school in New York.
But me, nobody likes me in my school.
-I can transfer schools. -Elaine, no.
-I'm not really-- -Elaine, no.
[Abuelita speaking Spanish]
[speaking Spanish], Mami.
Elaine, you can't stay.
You have to go back.
Why wouldn't you want me to stay with you?
Maybe you, you can all come visit soon, okay?
I'll go put my stuff in the car.
[pensive music]
[Elizabeth] Elaine!
[footsteps thudding]
She'll get over it once Medicaid approves the new wheelchair.
You mean she hasn't been able to go out since?
Hey. No, no, no, no, don't worry.
It's gonna be one of those new electric ones, too.
Yeah?
[Carmen speaking Spanish]
Just put anything dirty in the hamper.
I'll wash it tomorrow.
Ah.
I remember this.
-[gentle music] -Mom, put that down.
[cover clattering]
Elaine, where'd you get this money?
Answer me.
From Papi.
-Give it back. -Mm-mmm.
I know your father ain't got money to spare like that.
Where'd you get this?
I told you.
Don't make me have to call your father.
You'd believe him over me?
You know how good of a liar he is.
I heard him tell you he loves you.
If he really loved you, then why isn't he here with you?
Or why doesn't he let us live in Puerto Rico with him?
'Cause not everything is black or white.
-Give it back! -No.
Not until you tell me where you got this money.
Fine, be stupid.
He's still probably a junkie for all we know.
Keep it.
I can get more.
And you can tell Papi I found all his pills.
[door thuds]
Yo.
You lookin' for a little somethin' somethin'?
No.
I'm--I'm looking for a dude named Goji.
You know where he at?
What you know about Goji?
He told me I could come here
if I was ever looking for work.
Oh, damn.
How you like that?
-What? -Goji dead.
Shot two weeks ago.
Right there in front of that building.
All right, thanks.
Work's still here if you lookin'.
[door thuds]
Wanda, why the hell you not outside?
Goji said she could come here for work.
[Bass chuckles]
Ah, yeah, I remember you.
Goji's people, right?
[chuckles] You heard that, nigga?
She Goji's people.
So what's up, shorty, you trying to work?
Hmm?
Got a uniform for you.
Make sure nothing goes missing, you know?
Down the hall, first door on your right.
Bitch, get your ass outside!
Lalita!
Show her the ropes.
[Bass chuckles]
Goji. [chuckles]
Get changed and you could start.
Y'all know each other?
Uh, just from school.
[Lalita] Mm.
Show her what to do.
Put your uniform on.
Yo, Crystal.
You know what they did with my auntie's wheelchair?
Uh, Shanequa sold it to the scrap metal yard.
This that beam me up, Scotty, shit right here.
We giving out clean needles now. [chuckles]
Government-provided. [laughs]
[suspenseful music]
[Goji, echoing] I be seein' you around the block.
[Lalita laughs]
'Ey, 'ey, 'ey, 'ey, where you goin'?
I changed my mind.
-Yo, Bass! -Hey!
Don't nobody open that freakin' door but me.
The freak you thought, bitch?
You was gonna creep up in here, leave without my say-so?
How I know you're not snitching to the cops?
I wouldn't do that.
You look at me when I'm talking to you,
you hear me?
[Elaine crying]
She said she wouldn't do that.
Ain't that what Goji said?
[Elaine shuddering]
That's why I killed that nigga.
He was snitchin'.
Gettin' his clients busted when they couldn't pay up.
And Goji sent you.
He sent your stupid ass, so I know you a rat just like him.
I'm not.
[Bass] You got any last words, bitch?
Hmm?
Go-Go-Goji got my father arrested
because he couldn't pay. [crying]
[Bass] Your father? Who the hell is your father?
I said, who the hell is your father, bitch?
[crying] Manny Del Valle.
Manny Del Valle is my, my father.
He was a j--junkie
and he got arrested because he couldn't pay.
[Elaine crying]
Get the freak out of here before I kill your stupid ass.
[door thuds]
The fuck are y'all lookin' at?
Did I say stop workin'?
[Elaine whimpering]
[pensive music]
[Elaine] Mami?
Oh.
Mm, mm, I'm sorry, Mami.
It's okay, baby. You're here now.
Oh, girl, it's a mad world out there.
You can't just leave like that, all right?
You, we were worried sick.
Your brother's out there looking for you.
I didn't steal that money.
I swear.
But I can explain.
Elaine, there's a lot that we need to explain to you.
You can't make good decisions if you don't have all the facts.
Honey, the pills you found,
they're your father's medication.
Medication?
Yeah.
[Carmen sniffles]
Hey, Papi.
Yeah.
Mami told me.
AIDS, Papi?
[Manny] Yes.
I...
Mami is right, I have AIDS.
I didn't want this to happen. I'm sorry.
I said all those horrible things to you.
I really didn't mean them.
Sorry.
Oh, Elaine, stop.
Everything in life happens for a reason.
It's up to us to find a good reason.
Getting arrested was the first step to getting my life back,
to-- to getting clean.
But you're gonna die now.
I don't want that to happen.
I don't want you to go.
Hey, we're all gonna die someday.
In the meantime, I get to live
in gratitude for every moment I've ever had
and every moment I have left.
Please, I'll take care of you.
I'll go back to Puerto Rico.
No, no.
I don't want you to have to take care of me.
That's why I-- I couldn't let you stay.
[Elaine crying]
Elaine, I,
I don't want you to watch me die.
I want you only to remember my life.
I don't want you to go. Please, just stay.
Elaine, please, do something for me.
[Elaine] What?
Be happy, and be smart.
[Elaine sighs]
Some choices, Elaine,
you can't come back from.
[Elaine crying]
Some choices you cannot undo.
Learn from my mistakes.
Let them mean something.
But I can't be happy without you.
I will always be with you, I promise.
[Elaine crying]
I want you to remember me, to-- to remember us
with happiness.
Will you do that for me?
I promise I'll be happy for you.
I love you, Elaine, and I will always be with you.
[Elaine crying]
Don't ever forget how much I love you.
[pensive music]
I've been looking out my window all my life
and feeling the wonder of all the other places I could be,
like the birds.
Not the fancy birds with special colors,
just the plain old pigeon kind.
Black, brown, and gray, like the ones we got in Brownsville.
They could fly anywhere.
But here they are,
reminding us that we can all soar,
no matter where we come from.
They say when birds fly in flocks,
it means somebody just died.
I'm not sure if everybody believes that,
but it's what we believe in my family.
I think of Papi in every conga beat
and in the parts of songs
that make the hair on the back of my neck rise.
I think about what he taught me.
I accept all the parts that make me who I am,
see the silver lining,
and be the silver lining.
I am Brownsville bred, and I will not be defined.
[pensive music]
[male vocalist singing in Spanish]
[female vocalist singing in Spanish]
[both singing in Spanish]
[pensive music]
[mellow hip-hop music]
-[coquis chirping] -[insects chirping]