Rich (1983) | S. Torriano Berry

Dad: I have to go away Richie. Richie: Where? Dad: Far away. Now you got to  be the man of the house and I want you to take real good care of your mama for me. Richie: Will you be back, Daddy? Dad: I don't know. But I want you to promise Dad of something.  While I'm gone, I want you to get good grades, learn something. Your education is very important. It's  something that once you have it, they can't take it away. Be good. Make your [pauses] make your mama and me proud. Good son. Richie: Love you, daddy. Don't leave. Don't leave [Melancholic music] us. ["Don't leave" echoes 4 times] [Music stops] [Richie sighs and sniffles. Outside commotion starts, with people talking, babies crying, and sirens.] [2 knocks on the door] Shirley: Richard! Richie: Yeah, Mom! Shirley: Rise and shine!  Today your big day! Richie: Yeah, I'm up! [Morning acoustic music] [Music stops] Radio: Good morning. This is "Today in the News." I'm Lee  Bailey. Despite record unemployment, the Jobs Bill up before the House Appropriations Committee  was vetoed yesterday. The inner cities will be hardest hit by the rejection of that bill,  and it will greatly affect job opportunities of minorities and teenagers. A major crackdown  is in progress to increase draft registration quotas by the end of the year. Turnout has been  low since the mandatory draft was reinstated last April. Those failing to register face fines  and possible jail sentences. Officials refused to comment on the reasons behind the cancellation  of the summit talks on a nuclear arms freeze. Though the split is said to be amicable,  more information is not available at this time. Also in the news, several hundred protesters  picketed local grocery markets to oppose higher prices and lower quality of meats and produce.  A spokeswoman for the coalition said they— [Music starts playing] [Music stops] Radio: This just in from the United Nations  building in New York. All ties and communications have been severed with  United States delegates after the refusal of a settlement between  two diplomats ended in a heated dispute. Shirley: Here's your breakfast. [Morning acoustic music starts] My my don't my baby look nice this morning! Richie: Oh bacon, eggs, and pancakes! I knew something good was cooking in here. Where'd  all this come from? Did you get paid early? Shirley: Mrs. Lee brought the eggs over and Mr. Jackson gave me the bacon yesterday just for this occasion. Richie: That was nice of them Shirley: I made the pancakes myself because  I know they're your favorite Richie: Thank you. Shirley: We wanted today to start out special. I am so proud of you,  son. Your father would be too. I'm really sorry I won't be able to make it to your graduation  tonight. Richie: Yeah sure, Mom. I understand. Shirley: I'm already late from cooking your special breakfast, but  I don't care. [Music stops] You know if I had any sense I'd call those people and I'd say, "Mrs. Vanderquist, I won't  be coming today to clean your house and serve your guest tonight. My son is graduating and I'm  going to be there with him." Richie: Why don't you, Mama? Why don't you do that? Shirley: Ah, that's dreaming, baby. They  need me tonight and I need this job so we can live. Richie: You're always working. Can't they let you off just  this once? Shirley: We'd have never made it if it hadn't been for Mr. and Mrs. Vanderquist. They've really been good  to us since your father left. Mr. Vanderquist has even promised you a job in his plant when you finish  school. Not as a janitor either! A real good office position. I told him I'd give him your answer  today. Richie: Mom we've been through all this. I don't want to work with Mr. Vanderquist. I want to go to  college, Mama. I want to be somebody. Shirley: But Richard, you are somebody. You don't need no college degree, baby. What you're doing today is everything I've hoped for and more. Richie: What about my hopes, Mama? My dreams.  I mean don't they count? Shirley: Can't you see, boy?! Mr. Vanderquist is offering you a wonderful opportunity.  Richie: I just want to make more out of my life than being Mr. Vanderquist's office boy. Why can't you  see that? Shirley: Think about it, Richard. Richie: No, Mama. Shirley: You've got so much of your father in you. Richie: You leave Dad out of this. Shirley: Always reaching. Always hoping. Never satisfied with what we had. Always wanting more! Richie: But why do you always do that? I mean, look, I only want to do what I feel is best. That's all dad was  doing. Shirley: Your father's not the issue. here! I'm talking about a decent job! Richie: Mama, I don't want them to use me  like they do you. [Slap sound] Shirley: Don't you ever talk to me like that. Shirley: I— I guess I better be  going before I miss my next bus. Richie: Mom. [Richie sniffles] I love you. [Melancholic song starts with lyrics] "She's just a woman alone. With her head in a swirl. She does the  best she can to survive in this world. she leave her home to clean a mansion In the  hills. And even though she says the pay is good, she can hardly pay the bills. But it's alright, Mama, it's going to be all right." [song continues with more lyrics] "I am her boy but she's got to see I'm becoming a man. I'm proud and strong like  my father was. Ready to take a stand. I want to do what seems impossible. I want to go away to school. And though we don't have the money it takes, she should want that for me too but it's  alright. It's going to be alright but it's alright. It's—" [Music stops] [glass breaks] Hey, Rich, long time no see where you been? Yeah, Rich, I thought we was buddies. This any way to treat your partners high now like you been doing? Well, check out the things y'all. He's always sharper than me. Hey bookworm, are you become a  genius yeah. Ain't you heard? Bitch, becomes a big time high school graduate today. You always was. Punk, what you doing in my alley? Richie: Hey y'all know this is neutral territory. Come on now. Oh no, not  today not to the in high school graduate. [Upbeat music] [Sounds of hitting and kicking] [Music continues] [Sounds of shoes running on the gravel] [Sounds of people around Richie, talking] Smokey: So Richie's graduating. That's something. Prince: He sure gave us a running this morning. Blade: I still got a damn headache from when he kicked me. Smokey: Well damn, Blade, you shouldn't have pulled your knife on him. Blade: I just wanted to scare him a little. Prince: You did. That's why you got a headache now. Smokey: Right on, Prince! Prince: But you know something. Rich was always  getting in a fight. Like the time the three Ivy jump Blade. Smokey: Yeah. Rich was kicking ass that day.  Blade: I know man I could have handled him. Smokey: They would have killed you. You know, I've been thinking. Rich ain't such a bad dude. Hey remember the time we broke into Mr. Jackson's store and Rich got caught. Prince: Yeah! He didn't even squeal man I was already on probation. Smokey: We all been. Blade: Rich knew that. That's why he took the wrap himself. He knew he'd get off on first defense. I guess reading all them books did give him some smarts Prince: And now he graduating. Yeah. Mrs. Vanderquist: And we'll have punch served in the  patio and we'll have hors d'oeuvres around 9. Don't forget to chill the shrimp and I want  the silver polished. Ronnie is so happy to be getting out of school. He can't wait  to travel to Europe with his father on business. I want everything to be just perfect for my Ronnie's coming out party. That's why I appreciate you working. I can always count on you Shirley. This is what life is all about. You have a son graduating don't  you, Shirley? You must be especially proud coming from an inner city school  district with such a high dropout rate. I think graduations are so important. Oh, look at those lovely birds. Get me another drink, will you, Shirley? Shirley? Shirley. [simple music playing] Donna: Rich! So you just going to run off without  saying goodbye? Richie: I was going to call you later. Besides, I'll see you tonight at the  ceremony. How you doing Donna? Donna: You acted like you didn't know me at lunch. Richie: I'm sorry, this just ain't been my day. Donna: We graduate today what could be wrong with it? Richie: Just got a lot on my mind, that's all. Donna: You like talking about it? Richie: Sure, why not. Richie: Ran into the Warlords on the way to school. Donna: I thought they giving up on you Richie: Yeah me too, but Since I stopped running with them, Blade's been acting weird. Donna: He's just jealous because you're doing something with your life and he isn't. Richie: Yeah. We used to be pretty tight, but he's changed. Donna: He's changed? Richie: Jackie and Oliver got their draft  notices yesterday. Graduation presents from Uncle Sam. Donna: My brother got his last week. Have you heard anything? Richie: No, not yet. I've been staying away from  the mailbox and Mom still hasn't said anything about it so hell I don't know.  Donna: Does your mom still have to work tonight? Richie: Yep. We got into it again this morning. Donna: Still want you to work at the plant? Richie: Yeah. I just want more than that. I don't want to get trapped  in no damn dead end job. Donna: People I know who work there say it's not so bad. Richie: Yeah sure. The pay is good but where they going? Donna: Nowhere. Donna: Penny for your thoughts. Richie: One to work. The other to war.  And I graduate alone. What odds. Donna: To war? You never tell me your father was in  the service. I bet he's proud of you graduating. Richie: He was killed in Vietnam Donna: I'm sorry. Richie: You know the sad part about it is that mom never appreciated what Dad tried to do for us. You know, he never graduated  from high school. Couldn't get a good job so he enlisted, but she never accepted his leaving. She  kept me motivated in school because that's what she and dad wanted for me. Education that they  were never able to get but now that I want to go to college she doesn't seem to  want me to go and I just can't understand that. Donna: Well maybe she's afraid of losing you too Richie: What do you mean? Donna: Seems like she had a hard time adjusting to losing your father  and now you're all she's got left and she's afraid to let go Richie: But I wouldn't be leaving her. I'll always be there for her. Donna: Have you told her that? Richie: Come on. [Upbeat music] Richie: I like it up here. Sometimes I just  come up here and just think. You know I could have always talk to you. Things you  say just for some reason always make sense Donna: Thanks. [Donna laughs] Richie: So what do you think? Donna: Looks pretty good, Rich. Mine fits like a dream Richie: Yeah, some dreams come true. I tell you  what, after the ceremony, let's go celebrate. Donna: I'd like that. How come it took you so long to ask me out? Richie: I don't know. It doesn't matter. [Romantic music starts playing] [footsteps] [Unsettling music] Blade: Graduation present. Shirley: Yes Mrs. Vanderquist. That's a very good catering  service. I'll be in to clear up in the morning. But I'm taking the rest of the week off.  Yes. I need to spend some time with my son. That's fine. Thank you for calling. And  please tell Mr. Vanderquist that Rich won't be able to work in his plant. He's going to  college. Thank you for calling. Goodbye. [Happy music playing]