(PROJECTOR WHIRRING)
MISS CARMEN: Why should
we care that you make it?
I don't care if y'all
don't care if I do make it.
It's my journey.
It's not nobody else journey.
Nobody's gonna watch me
walk with these shoes
I got on my feet.
Only one that can walk
with these shoes is me.
Simple.
MISS CARMEN: You don't want
nobody to walk with you?
Of course.
You can hold my hand.
You can look back
from a distance.
You still won't feel
what I feel.
You still won't look at it
from my point of view.
When everybody got an opinion,
judging me...
Like they God...
Okay.
Okay.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BABY COOING)
(GIA SHUSHING)
(GIA CLICKING TONGUE)
It's okay, baby. Okay, okay.
Ready?
(BABY COOING)
(GIA SOFTLY CHUCKLES)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(SIGHS)
-(BABY CRIES)
-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
(THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE
PLAYING)
Kiss me each morning
For a million years
Hold me each evening
By your side
Tell me you love me
For a million...
A million years
-Then if it don't work out
-If it don't work out...
MAN 1: Man, shut the f*ck up
with that.
MAN 2: I'm serious, I swear.
It was more like meth or G
or some sh*t.
MAN 1: What? What is that?
MAN 2: Bro, I'm telling you.
Like, the mom gives birth
and then she feeds herself
off to the baby
till there's nothing left.
n*gga, it was crazy.
There ain't no crab spiders
in the Bay.
On my mama,
it is in my backyard.
Nah, cuz. I'm not...
I'm telling you,
it was the most sacrifices
-I've ever seen.
-Hell.
GIA: This was opened
when I found it.
It's missin' some pieces.
I can only give you 15% off.
MAN 1: Yes.
That'll be $29.75.
(MEN CHATTERING)
(KEYPAD BEEPING)
Your card is declined.
GIA: Just put $28 on it.
-(CASH REGISTER WHIRS)
-(COINS JINGLE)
Thank you.
(COINS CLATTERING)
(HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING
ON CAR STEREO)
(CAR HORN BLARING)
(CAR HORN CONTINUES BLARING)
(MUSIC STOPS)
(EXHALES)
(PHONE KEYPAD BEEPING)
-(SIGHS)
-(LINE RINGING)
-Hello?
-JASMINE: Gia,
they're already waiting.
How long will it take
to get here?
Traffic's bad.
Can you tell 'em
-I'll be a little late?
-How late?
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Your balance is $2.49.
Make a payment.
TREY: Make another one,
curve it again.
(SNIFFS)
And then you use the yellow.
(CHALK WRITING ON BOARD)
Swirl it around
and use the green.
(TREY SNIFFS)
(GIA EXHALES)
(KISSES)
-GIA: (WHISPERS) You okay?
-Yeah.
TREY: Let's sit. Let's sit.
All right, cool.
Hey, you want to feel?
-(WHISPERS) Do you feel that?
-Yeah.
(IN NORMAL VOICE)
I got something for you.
You can wear 'em
all together, see?
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
When you look on the back,
you can see what your mood is.
Okay?
Are they nice to you guys
in the new place?
-Yeah.
-Yeah?
Okay. Mama got you guys
sticking together.
You taking care of each other?
Yeah.
Shaynah?
Shaynah, you at least
gonna look at me?
-(CRAYON SCRIBBLING)
-(SNIFFS)
(SIGHS) What's going on, baby?
Is it 'cause I was late?
(WHISPERS) Play, okay?
(GIA SIGHS)
(IN NORMAL VOICE) Hmm?
(GIA SIGHS HEAVILY)
Shaynah.
Shaynah.
Listen.
I'm trying my best.
This is not so easy.
But I'm right here.
I'm here now.
Shaynah.
Don't be like that with Mama.
Look at me.
JASMINE: How's it going,
Shaynah, Trey?
Shaynah?
Shaynah?
Shaynah? Shaynah?
Shh.
JASMINE: Everything okay,
sweetie?
What are you saying to her?
Shaynah.
At least say, "Bye, Mama."
Shaynah.
JASMINE: Come on, Trey.
-(TREY SOBS)
-She'll be back soon.
He doesn't want to go.
JASMINE: Come on, now.
-Come on, now.
-He doesn't want to go, see?
JASMINE: Come on, now.
Come on, Trey.
-(GIA SIGHS)
-Okay.
(BREATH TREMBLING)
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(SIGHS)
(SNIFFS)
JASMINE: Your DSR hearing
is next week
on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
I'm curious.
What are your plans?
For what?
We're still completing your
reunification requirement.
-So...
-So what?
(PAPERS RUSTLING)
You started this case plan
a year ago.
Now there's four months left,
six if I ask
for some more time.
(GIA SIGHS)
Ms. Jasmine,
I'm here for every visit.
I've passed every test.
I've gone to every class
you put me in.
Gia, you've been late
on several occasions.
You've yet to complete
a successful home assessment.
And you've missed
child support payments.
Ms. Jasmine,
I can't get any more hours
with all of the courses
y'all are making me take.
So how am I supposed
to pay for all of that?
I'll try to ensure this child
remains in the home,
at least while
you're breastfeeding.
But unless you complete
the program,
I can't guarantee the child
will remain in the home.
Your children need stability
and at the moment,
we haven't seen enough.
What more do you need to see?
Have you finished
the housing application?
Not yet.
Look, we're here to ensure
the best interests
for your children.
All you need
are three more signatures...
I don't need
no f*ck' gold star
to tell me I'm a good mom.
If the courts require us
to intervene,
are there any other family
members
that can look after
this child?
-Someone we could recommend?
-So I got no choice,
but to be a single parent.
I'm getting punished
for that too?
Gia, I don't need your
disrespect in my office.
Now, if you don't mind?
(GIA SIGHS)
Oh.
(EXHALES HEAVILY)
I swear his little a*s
gonna come early.
(TRINA CHUCKLES)
Okay. How was it?
Talk to me.
It's draining.
You'll get 'em back, G.
That's not what
my caseworker saying.
Don't listen to what
your caseworker said.
Missy got her kids back
after how long?
Twenty-four months?
Wouldn't you rather that
than nothing at all?
Sometimes that's just
how this sh*t work.
You got to play their game.
And do what you got to do.
-(CAR STARTING)
-I got some tacos.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
Hey, boo.
WOMAN 1: Man,
it's like 30 condoms in here.
WOMAN 2: Well, well, well.
TRINA: You real slick, Missy.
Yeah. Thank you, Jesus.
Miss Carmen, what you trying
to say today?
WOMAN 3: I mean, damn,
how much f*cking you think
we about to be doing,
Miss Carmen?
-(LAUGHTER)
-That part.
No, maintain family size,
remember that.
I mean, I can try to help you
get your kids back home,
but I can't if you keep
multiplying the household.
WOMAN 4: Oh, okay, because...
MISS CARMEN: All right,
doll face,
let's get going here.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
MISS CARMEN: How do you think
she feels,
when you call her "Mom"?
Can't tell
if she's disappointed
or embarrassed by me.
She has that blank look
on her face.
Just ices me.
It's as if me being there
makes her feel worse
about herself.
TRINA: At the end of the day,
that's my mama.
And that's gonna always
be my mama.
But as you can't choose
your parents... You know?
So...
it is what it is.
MISS CARMEN: Do you think
speaking to her
about how you feel would help?
No, I don't.
She's busy.
Her addiction created
an anxiety inside me.
And, um...
That anxiety has been passed
down to my child.
And I don't know how
to save her from it.
I'm scared to lose her to it.
Instead of healing,
I ignored it.
Covered it up.
Used substances,
so I wouldn't feel.
I used so much that when
I stopped, I had to learn
how to feel again.
It's not easy.
Gia.
What about you?
MISS CARMEN: No?
Okay.
When you're ready.
Well, we have someone
new here today.
Why don't you come up
and introduce yourself?
Hi, I'm... I'm Alexis.
Um, I'm from Fresno,
California, originally.
And...
(GIA SCOFFS)
There's nothing like
a rambling-a*s
white b*tch to piss me off.
TRINA: Gia, I don't get
why you act like that.
Act like what?
You got to start
speaking up in class.
And pretend, like,
you paying attention
or these people
gonna write you up.
And you know
that's the only way
your court report
is gonna change.
I'm just trying
to help you out.
GIA: And you're not.
(R&B MUSIC
PLAYING ON CAR STEREO)
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
GIA: What are you smiling at?
(SUCKS TEETH) Nothing.
He's dumb.
Nobody?
No. Nobody.
I don't know
why you're being all shy.
(SCOFFS) I'm not.
-How long?
-(CLICKS TONGUE)
Uh, probably about 12 inches.
I ain't even gonna hold you.
(CHUCKLES)
For real, though. How long
you been talking to him?
It's been, like,
a couple of months.
A couple of months
and you ain't told me sh*t?
Yes, a couple of months, two,
I don't need you judging me.
Whatever.
Whoever it is, just make sure
they don't leave you hanging
like the last one.
Damn!
This is exactly why I don't
tell you nothing, Gia.
Because you don't
trust nobody.
You're right. I don't.
Eventually, you're gonna meet
a real one
and realize
not every man is a n*gga.
Right.
I just think right now,
you're just too tense.
You just need
to be gripped up,
flipped over, clapped.
-(BOTH LAUGH)
-And thrashed. Like, relax.
-No thanks.
-(LAUGHS)
I'd rather be single
for the rest of my life.
At least I know
what to expect, then.
(TRINA SCOFFS)
Now, you and I both know
that's some
depressing-a*s sh*t.
Stop, please.
-(LAUGHS)
-GIA: I'm serious.
It's the last mistake
that I wanna make.
Look, friend,
it's not even a mistake.
God was just looking down
and wanted to bless your a*s.
But he need to be blessing you
with a new car.
-This sh*t raggedy as hell.
-(LAUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
TRINA: You ready?
-(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
-TRINA: Three...
MAN 1: Hey, man, check it out.
MAN 2: Yeah.
Yeah, I know you went
shopping for me, though.
MAN 1: Mm-hm! No, no. That's
a new, little top you wearing?
-Why you always...
-MAN 3: Hey, y'all need help?
-GIA: No, I'm cool.
-You sure, Mama?
GIA: Yeah, I'm good.
MAN 2: At least smile
on nobody.
MAN 3: You know damn well
she don't never smile
-with her mean a*s.
-MAN 1: I love booze.
MAN 3:
Always trippin' and sh*t.
All right, just...
Just chill, man.
Chill.
Like the hell I do.
MAN 1: Hey, check it out.
MAN 4: Sorry, something
just came up.
MAN 1: Got a janky attitude.
MAN 3: She took a long walk
off a short bridge...
(MEN CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY)
MAN 1: Like that.
MAN 2: Yeah, man.
MAN 3: You speaking
but you ain't speaking to her.
(LAUGHTER)
Stop playin' with them, bro.
MAN 3: I just wanted to see
if you're going
to bounce tonight.
Why you actin' like
you don't know nobody?
-MAN 1: Kick rocks.
-You know what?
You're always
talking a lot of sh*t
for a bunch
of little-assed n*gg*s
-who ain't getting no p*ssy.
-Uh-uh.
With them dusty-assed dicks.
(ALL TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
-MAN 3: She was talking to you.
-MAN 2: She ain't talking to me.
She talkin' to y'all. I don't
know what you talkin' about.
ARI: Always talking sh*t.
(ARI CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
TRINA: You see they got
new partners now, right?
ARI: Cute?
-TRINA: Not your type.
-And what's my type?
-n*gg*s with money.
-(LAUGHS)
-I missed you, babe.
-I miss you.
Let me see, G.
sh*t, already this much
for me?
I love you, but you're on your
own with this, sweet girl.
I'm out.
-Hey, sis.
-(DOOR CLOSES)
I'm gonna need
the car tomorrow.
Keys in the stereo
on the front.
You're probably
gonna need this.
Thank you.
(MUFFLED HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS)
TRINA: You good?
Yeah.
sh*t.
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
TRINA: (ON PHONE)
Hey, what you need?
I got you for now at least.
Where you at?
WOMAN: (ON TV)
The mother sacrifices herself
by laying into her children
and pressing against the web,
encouraging their instinct
to hunt.
The baby spiders then swarm
over their mother...
MAN: (ON TV)
...up to 3,500 years.
From this fallen redwood,
new sprouts grow.
These twisted knots of wood
nourish a vast root system
that has spanned generations
and generations of human life.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING
IN DISTANCE)
-(GIRL EXCLAIMS)
-Okay, good.
How about the dress?
All right.
-MEL: I'mma get you.
-(BOY SQUEALS)
(BOY EXCLAIMS)
(WOMAN GROANS)
-(BOY EXCLAIMS)
-(GIRL SQUEALS)
GIRL: She's dead.
GIA: Just been tryna
figure it out.
They took 'em last year.
-Oh, man.
-So...
-You know.
-Yeah.
GIA: What about you, though?
Where you been?
-Staying home.
-Feel like it's been forever.
Yeah.
Well, I was supposed
to come back but, uh,
you know, Mom's got sick.
Damn, she all right?
Mm...
About a month ago...
I went out a little later
than usual.
And, yeah, the next day,
I woke up,
lined up her meds,
and walked in the room
and she was completely still,
face down on the pillow.
(EXHALES)
So I came back.
Are you all right?
-Yeah.
-Are you sure?
Short and his girl let me in,
so...
MEL: What you doing
Saturday, Mama?
GIA: I don't know. What's up?
I think there's gonna be
a function.
Do you wanna come?
Maybe. We'll see.
Well, I'll be around.
Let me know.
GIA: All right.
-Thanks.
-MEL: Mm-hm.
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS)
GIA: I like your dress.
Thank you.
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
What do you think about this?
MAN 1: Yeah, I like that.
Okay, red one, then.
-MAN 1: Yeah, I like that one.
-Okay.
(WHISPERS)
Okay, come on in, sis.
(IN NORMAL VOICE)
We're just gonna have you
right in the center.
You can come forward.
Okay. Good.
Gonna have you
place your hands like this.
Okay? No pressure, but just...
Nice.
Come on in. I'm gonna
have you on this side.
Maybe a hand here.
Hmm, never mind. Come.
So in here.
Do whatever makes you
feel comfortable, okay?
Why don't you just ask him?
I hate begging.
I don't think it's begging.
I mean, you work here
15 hours a week.
You should be honest.
He's not gonna deny you
when you're this pregnant.
-We'll see.
-We'll see.
Okay.
Hi.
-Uh, we prefer cash.
-I got you.
So my friend over there?
She think you're kind of cute,
so what's up?
Mm, okay.
-What's her name?
-Her name Naia.
Beautiful. (CHUCKLES)
Hey. Hi.
Um, I was just wondering
is there any way I could get
a $100 advance?
I just don't want my baby
coming out
with no clothes or nothing.
Please?
(TRAIN HORN BLARING)
(CHILDREN LAUGHING
AND PLAYING IN DISTANCE)
(TRAIN HORN CONTINUES BLARING)
WOMAN 1: I can't believe it.
Is that your stroller?
WOMAN 2: Yeah. Why?
WOMAN 1: That woman just took
something off of it.
WOMAN 2: Really?
WOMAN 1: Yeah.
WOMAN 2: Excuse me?
Excuse me.
WOMAN 1: Hello, ma'am.
WOMAN 2: Excuse me.
Stop.
Are you f*cking kidding me?
Hey!
(ENGINE STARTS)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
GIA: (GASPS) Oh, f*ck.
(RAP MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR CONTINUES)
(TRINA GROANS SOFTLY)
You saw I snuck you
some extra taquitos.
You're welcome, b*tch.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
MISS CARMEN: In this program,
we focus on your anxiety
and why it results
in uncontrollable
impulse reactions.
Because addicts must
recognize their triggers
if they want to take back
control of their lives.
I've seen most
of you here before.
And some of you are new.
And I've seen you
make the same mistakes.
But the truth is you won't
be able to graduate
from this program unless you
start to practice self-control.
Talia.
Forty-six.
-What's your name?
-Gia Wilson.
(URINATING, STOPS)
(SIGHS)
(TOILET FLUSHES)
(DOOR CLOSES)
TREY: Make another line,
curve it again.
-(SNIFFLES)
-TREY: And then
you use the yellow.
Swirl it around.
And use the green.
MISS CARMEN: Imagine lowering
yourself into the earth.
(EXHALES)
The people around you
supporting you.
That thought running
in your head?
It's okay.
It's not driving. You are.
You're driving.
And then,
this b*tch had the nerve
to tell me
to take the placenta
and digest it as pills.
WOMAN 1: The f*ck?
WOMAN 2: Oh.
ALEXIS: Isn't it supposed
to be good for your system?
That's some white people sh*t.
WOMAN 3: Well, I bet you
all our ancestors did it.
My nana told me
to bury it outside the house.
It's like getting rid
of an evil twin or some sh*t.
WOMAN 4:
Do you hear this sh*t?
TRINA: No. That is disgusting.
(BREATH TREMBLING)
Have you ever helped anybody
with an open adoption?
I have.
And for some people,
it's the best of both worlds.
Finding a safe place
for your kids
and also being able
to see them.
But obviously,
that's not a easy decision.
No sh*t.
And it can be difficult
for some parents.
You know,
it's very hard to find
parents willing to do them.
-Why?
-Hm.
Um, okay.
Nowadays, a lot of people
go overseas.
Over there, bam,
it's guaranteed.
They come back over here.
Birth mothers, you know,
they often back out
last minute.
But you don't need to make
a decision straight away.
You can see some of the
family, see if you like 'em.
(BREATHING DEEPLY)
It's not that I don't want
this baby, Miss Carmen.
I know.
I don't think you do.
I do.
-(SIGHS)
-You do not have to
tell me that, Gia.
I love them.
Of course, you do.
I don't even know them yet.
I love them.
I really love them.
(SIGHS) Hey.
Why don't you meet
some of the families,
take a look at 'em?
(FOLDER CLATTERING)
(GIA SNIFFLES, SIGHS)
(GIA SNIFFLING)
They all white?
(CHUCKLES)
No, they not all white.
Keep going.
You know, we could
choose a few and then
maybe we could
meet 'em in person.
GIA: I don't know.
It's kind of weird.
(SIGHS) I'll let you know.
-See you later.
-MISS CARMEN: Mm-hm.
(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
What's up?
I see you
warmin' up to Miss C?
Gia, listen to me.
There's a lot of people
expecting us to fail.
My whole life, I had sh*t
taken away from me.
They tried
to take our culture.
They tried to take our homes.
Tried to take our freedom.
And you know they'll try
to take our babies, too.
Same sh*t that's happening
to us right now
happened to your mama,
happened to my mama
and it happened to they mamas.
That's exactly why we can't
stop fighting for our kids, G.
It's our God-given right
to have our kids.
And I don't want you to allow
anybody to convince you
otherwise.
I'm going to show you
something.
"For I know the plans I have
for you,' declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you
and not to harm you,
"plans to give you hope
and a future."
How do you know?
How I know what?
How do you know
God plans for all of this?
'Cause God gives
his toughest battles
to his toughest children.
(CAR LOCK BEEPS)
(GIA SIGHS)
(BASEBALL ANNOUNCER
SPEAKING ON TV)
We used to be a team.
Yeah, but you wanted to be
the next Sprewell.
(CHUCKLES)
I just never liked the idea
of being on
the women's league.
-Like, what the f*ck is that?
-(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
Right.
Could body up any of them
'lil n*gg*s in our class.
-(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
-Any day.
Hold up, okay?
TRINA: Okay.
-(GRUNTS SOFTLY) Thank you.
-Mm-hm.
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Your balance is 96 cents.
Make a payment.
Hello?
(STATIC CRACKLES)
Hello?
Trey?
Is that you?
TREY: I want you
to pick me up.
What's going on?
Is everything okay?
-What they do?
-I don't know.
When can we come home?
I don't know, Trey.
Soon.
I promise.
How's school?
Well...
Did you do your homework?
I did my English essay.
So what'd you write about?
The beach.
(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Okay.
Maybe when you get back,
we can go back there, okay?
Okay.
Where's your sister?
In bed.
Did you give her the ring?
Mm.
What color is it?
I think it's dark blue
or black.
I'm not sure.
It's okay.
Why don't you get in bed,
okay?
Just pretend that I'm there.
Okay...
You want to hear that song?
Help you get to sleep, too?
Hmm. Yes.
Okay.
(CASSETTE CLATTERS)
(PLAY BUTTON CLICKS)
(THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE
PLAYING)
(EXHALES)
Kiss me each morning
For a million years
Hold me each evening
By your side
(WIND BLOWING)
Tell me you'll love me
For a million,
a million years
(MUSIC STOPS)
GIA: You sleep?
Love you.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC CONTINUES)
PHOTOGRAPHER:
Do you have a name yet?
MAN: We have some ideas.
WOMAN: We kind of want to
wait till we see him
to decide his name.
PHOTOGRAPHER:
That makes sense, yeah.
-(WOMAN CHUCKLES)
-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
MILES: You two have
a beautiful family.
-MAN: Thank you.
-Yeah.
What you have is rare.
Right on, man.
Well, trust me,
we see a lot in here.
-Appreciate y'all.
-All right.
I think it'd be okay if you
wanted to eat something now.
I'll wait.
What you hungry for?
Uh, probably the white sauce
pasta and potato salad.
MONICA: I think I know her.
(WOMEN CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY)
MONICA: I think
that's the lady right there.
MISS CARMEN: Hey.
Lovely to meet you.
MONICA: You, too. (CHUCKLES)
MISS CARMEN: And this is Gia.
-Hey.
-Hi.
-Hey.
-Hey.
(MONICA CHUCKLES)
MISS CARMEN: Must be Amber.
Oh, hey.
(PAUL CLICKS TONGUE)
We're so grateful to be here.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
This weather
is something else.
-Would you like a water?
-Yes, please.
You want me to get you
some of that...
-What about you, Amber?
-...Alfredo from the buffet?
-You want a bit of everything?
-Thanks.
-Yeah? Okay.
-MISS CARMEN: All right.
-After you.
-MONICA: Thank you.
MISS CARMEN: I'm so sorry...
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
(SLURPING)
Must be really hard
for you.
Yeah. (SIGHS)
It won't stop kicking, either.
I think I got an athlete
in there. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
-You play ball?
-Yeah, but just JV.
-What position?
-Guard, but sometimes my coach
switches me
to forward, though.
You play?
I did. I just kept
getting banged up.
-(CHUCKLES)
-So skinny at your age.
I just ended up quitting.
You don't mind it?
I don't like it much either,
but I'm just trying
to do whatever
to get me to SF State.
-That's good.
-Yeah.
You always wanted to go there?
Well, my parents
went there, so...
I used to want
to go there, too.
Why didn't you?
I had my son.
You could still go.
Just got different dreams now.
MISS CARMEN: So where
are y'all from again?
MONICA: We live in Novato now.
Not far from the high school
on Rowland Drive but, uh...
I grew up in Emeryville
with my grandma.
And I lived not far from the
North Berkeley BART station.
We met in college.
Were both
dating other people,
but soon realized they weren't
right for us, didn't we?
She didn't leave me
much choice.
(PAUL AND MONICA CHUCKLE)
I got pregnant
soon after that.
We were young, but (SIGHS)
we had our friends,
people who took care of her
when we couldn't.
We always wanted Amber
to have a sibling, though.
So we waited.
Wanted to be
in a good position
for when we had another.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Then,
when we were finally ready,
I couldn't.
(CLICKS TONGUE) I, uh,
didn't realize how lucky I was
to have Amber
at the time that I did.
MISS CARMEN: Mm.
For the last four years,
we've been trying to adopt.
-It's a process.
-MISS CARMEN: Hm.
Always is.
Did you want
to show her the, uh...
Oh, yeah.
I don't know if
Trey and Shaynah
are too old for this, but...
Well, we thought
it might be nice
for the next time
you see them.
Um...
Thank you.
I'm sure they'll love it.
(MISS CARMEN AND PAUL CHUCKLE)
PAUL: It was
Amber's idea, really.
MISS CARMEN: Mm.
I would've loved to have
an older sister like Amber.
MONICA: So,
you live nearby here?
MISS CARMEN:
No, not really, but...
(MONICA AND MISS CARMEN LAUGH)
You're kind of out here.
MONICA: She's being private
on that one.
MISS CARMEN: Amber,
how's school going?
AMBER: It's going good. Yeah.
MISS CARMEN: Really?
You're just saying that
'cause they're here now?
(MONICA AND MISS CARMEN LAUGH)
Is she telling the truth?
PAUL: She's great, I mean,
she's a lot brighter than
I was when I was her age.
She must get it
from her mama.
MONICA: I don't know
about that.
-(SOUND FADES)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
MISS CARMEN: So...
What'd you think?
(SIGHS) I think they're great.
Yeah?
Amber, she's sweet. (CHUCKLES)
So you wanna meet
other families, or you...
-No? Right.
-I don't think so.
Because, you know,
we don't have to do this
if it doesn't feel right.
Nah, it's not that.
(SIGHS) Maybe we can
invite Monica
to one of your
doctor's appointments?
Is that what's supposed
to happen next?
Yeah, sometimes.
You know, we can play this
however you want.
There's no normal way
to do this.
When was your last checkup?
I'm not sure.
Maybe a couple months ago.
Yeah. And they did
the ultrasound?
No, not yet.
Don't you wanna
hear the heartbeat?
I do, I...
I do, I just don't
have insurance, so...
No, no,
I'll take care of that.
We get you some
Presumptive Eligibility.
Yeah. We can go to our
local clinic, you know.
They take care
of all my mamas. (CHUCKLES)
I know, I know
it's not easy.
But I promise you, it's a lot
better than not going.
Gotta make sure this baby
has everything it needs
to be healthy.
You, too.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
What if I can get you
in this week?
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
-(LAUGHTER)
-MEL: Are you good, ma?
Yo, Mama,
those were people around.
GIA: What?
The ones poking
through the windows.
CPS?
I guess so.
GIA: What'd they do?
Just kept knocking.
No one was home.
GIA: Good. I don't need them
coming in before my hearing.
Can't your sister help
or something?
If they found out
how she make a living,
I might never
see my kids again.
-Want to go?
-All right.
(MEN CHATTERING)
(CAR LOCK BEEPS)
(WATER SPLASHING)
I never knew this was here.
Yeah.
We got the beach on one side
and the forest on the other.
And don't nobody even come.
Except people
trying to disappear.
-(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
-(CALL DISCONNECTS)
Why you don't answer?
Ain't she your best friend?
I'm thinkin' of givin' my baby
up for adoption.
And Trina, she'll be on some,
"You siding
with the devil" sh*t.
Why she so obsessed with God?
I don't know. Make her believe
in herself more.
I guess.
Like, the way I'm feeling,
at least this way,
I know where she's going.
And I can choose
where she's going.
I don't have to see my baby
in a agency office.
If the village ain't right,
you can find a new one.
I just want my kids
to remember me
as they grow older.
Of course, they will.
I'm not so sure.
You'll always be their mama.
And, you know,
y'all got a way of doing that,
just being there,
even when you're not around.
They just say sh*t like that
to make it hurt less.
(SIGHS) Well, sometimes, uh,
when I'm by myself,
I feel a hand on my back.
And I think I'm just tripping,
you know?
And then I realize
it's just Mom's, you know,
letting me know that
everything gonna be all good.
Sound like some
God sh*t to me.
Nah, just spiritual.
-Same sh*t.
-(CHUCKLES)
Not at all.
It's feelings, you know.
Not some man-made law
to live by.
Does that comfort you?
Yeah, somewhere.
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
GIA: Hey, I wanna hear
the story you wrote.
TREY: For school?
GIA: Mm-hm, that's the one you
was tellin' me about, right?
TREY: "When I lived
with my mom,
"we would go by the water.
"Shaynah and me pretended
we were kings and queens.
"On our island,
we found lots of silver.,
"I counted every piece.
"We were rich.
"Shaynah would dance
in the leaves.
"She loves the trees
and how long the roots growed.
"And when we were done,
we'd lay on our throne,
"and wait for Mama
to come back for us."
It's a great story.
-Thank you.
-Love it. Thank you.
(GIA SIGHS)
Do you want to read to us?
-Get going.
-"The...
"The mother bird stood
"still unt...
"until her son
came to her side."
Good job.
You want to keep going?
"At...
"At da..."
Da-da-awn.
"...dawn that day,
she had been feeding with him.
"In the sil..."
-Silent.
-"...silent and fre...
-"Fre..." Mmm.
-Freshness.
"...freshness of the morning."
GIA: Mm.
Good job.
Do you want to keep going?
"Then... Then fain...
GIA: Faintly.
SHAYNAH: "...faintly..."
GIA: Let's see if we can
have a power.
Okay, one, two, three. (GASPS)
(GIA MIMICS
WHIRRING, WHOOSHING)
(MIMICS expl*si*n)
See?
(CHUCKLES)
That's good.
It's the same color.
It's crazy.
Little purple and green.
I won't let you guys down.
I promise, okay?
(GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING)
(WIND BLOWING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING ECHOES)
MAN: Probably, like,
you know,
five years old
when they came in here,
raided my mama house
and took us.
Yeah.
I'll never forget that sh*t.
I ain't understand it.
From then on, it was just
from house to house,
group home to group home.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
You know,
not having no stability.
Really got to me.
I might look tough,
but you know...
(MAN SNIFFLES)
MAN 2: I remember it
like it was yesterday.
My mom was holding me
and this car just pulled up.
They had suits on.
They just grabbed me
out of my mom's arms.
Didn't say what's going on.
Just, like, snatched me up
like I'm being, like,
abducted or something.
From that day forward,
my life ain't been the same.
In and out of foster care,
different ones, you know,
and just wondering what's
going on, what's happening.
How'd it go from me being with
my mom to total strangers?
I just feel like...
It just basically, like,
broke me into pieces,
you know, like...
And, like, the sh*t
I went through
in those foster homes
really put me on a bad path.
And to this day, that's a path
I still can't run from.
But even through all that,
I never once blamed my mom,
you know.
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)
-(TV PLAYING)
-(BABY CRYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING ON TV)
(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)
WOMAN: (ON TV)
After the child is born
the umbilical cord is
snipped and clamped.
Over the course of the baby's
first five days of life,
the cord dries out
to a hard texture
and shifts to a dark brown
or black color.
It's extremely important
not to interfere with this
natural process.
Do not touch,
cut or pull at the cord...
(BABY COOING)
...as it could potentially
harm the child.
(CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
-MISS CARMEN: Oh, hi.
-Hey.
-Hi.
-MONICA: Hi.
Thank you.
(GIA SIGHS)
Where's everybody else?
Oh, Amber and Paul
wanted to come but...
MISS CARMEN: We just
thought it would be best
with Monica today.
WOMAN: Maria Garcia.
I see.
How are you doing?
I guess I'm just
a little nervous.
MONICA: Hm.
Well, what about you?
Me, too.
But excited.
Thank you for inviting me.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
-Excuse me.
-It's okay.
(GIA CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
Hey, Trina.
TRINA: What's up, G?
Where you at?
-The mall.
-You want to tell me
-why you been dodging me?
-I'm not, I swear.
Gia, come on.
You know God's watching you.
I'mma hit you after this.
(DISCONNECTS CALL)
NURSE: Gia? Gia Wilson?
(BABY COOING)
(MISS CARMEN CHUCKLES)
-Bye. (CHUCKLES)
-(BABY COOING)
NURSE: The bathroom is
down the hall to the left.
There's cups inside.
Leave your sample
on the counter.
Then put this label on it.
Then meet us in Room 3.
-(BABY'S HEART POUNDING)
-DOCTOR: And that...
That's the heart.
(POUNDING CONTINUES)
(POUNDING INTENSIFIES)
(GIA BREATHING SHAKILY)
So your baby's head is down,
and in good position
for delivery.
You're measuring 37 weeks now,
which means your baby
can come at any time.
But it is healthy.
Thank you.
And here are your pics.
One for you.
-MONICA: Thank you.
-You're welcome.
-Congratulations, ladies.
-MISS CARMEN: Mm-hm.
Thank you.
DOCTOR: Have a good day.
MISS CARMEN: Have a good one.
How you doing?
I don't think I can do this.
-It's just...
-(HESITATES)
Well... it's okay.
It's okay.
I just don't want
to let anybody down.
Oh, no, no,
you don't have to...
You don't have
to worry about that.
I can't do this.
Now, look,
it's not a decision
that you have to make today.
I can't do this.
Gia.
(MISS CARMEN SIGHS)
Uh...
One second.
(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY)
Gia.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Um...
-If she doesn't want to...
-Oh, well...
-(SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE)
-(WIND BLOWING)
(HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING
FAINTLY OVER SPEAKERS)
-(DOOR SHUTS)
-(SIRENS WAILING DISTANTLY)
(BABY CRYING)
-What?
-Can I get the keys?
-Man, nah, I'm busy.
-(CLICKS TONGUE)
Ari, please?
-Please?
-I said I'm busy.
Ari, let me get
the f*cking keys to the car.
Man, get off my door, Gia.
GIA: Where you going?
MEL: Wanna come?
-(SIRENS WAILING)
-(MEN CHATTERING)
You ain't doing sh*t?
Let's go.
Hey, bro, you driving later?
MAN: Nah, brother.
You know, I don't drive.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
MAN 1: g*dd*mn.
Where's your car at?
MAN 2: You acting ancient
right now.
MAN 1: What you talking about?
You acting ancient.
Walk your ancient a*s on, then.
Got something on my gas?
-Yep.
-How much you got?
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
GIA: I heard her
heartbeat today.
MEL: That's what's up.
How's it sounding?
Good, strong.
But?
GIA: I don't want
to give her up.
We'll figure it out, Mama.
-Don't worry.
-(ENGINE REVVING)
Come on, let's go.
(TIRES SCREECH)
(TIRES CONTINUE SCREECHING
IN DISTANCE)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
MAN: Bro, turn that sh*t off!
Turn that sh*t off.
MAN 2: Y'all can't drive.
Right, now you got no cars.
MAN 3: Aw, sh*t!
(TIRES SCREECHING)
-G.
-Let's go.
G.
-Why are you running?
-I'm not.
Okay, then what you hiding?
Nothing.
Okay, Gia.
This your partner now?
At least she ain't a liar.
I didn't lie.
G, we 'posed
to be in this together.
And we are.
So then why are you planning
on giving your baby up?
I haven't even decided to.
I just think the devil got you
so f*cked up right now,
you're not even
thinking clear.
MEL: Damn.
Why the f*ck you care about
what I'm doing, anyways?
Gia, you 'bout to make the
biggest mistake of your life.
Turning your back
on your f*cking kids?
Your dumb a*s don't even
deserve no baby.
-The f*ck you say?
-I said, your dumb a*s don't
-deserve no baby.
-Get the f*ck out my face.
Or what?
-Don't test me, Trina.
-Or what, n*gga?
Get the f*ck out my face.
-WOMAN 2: No, Trina! Trina!
-(TIRES SCREECHING)
TRINA: Step up and be
a f*cking mother!
-She can't save you, G!
-MEL: Come on now.
MEL: Don't pay her
no mind, Mama. She don't know
-what she saying.
-Stop callin' me that.
-Ma, chill. We got this, Ma.
-I'm not your f*cking moms.
Okay?
TRINA: You know what?
f*ck you, G!
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(SIGHS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(CONTINUES BREATHING HEAVILY)
(ZIPPER UNFASTENS)
(BUCKLES CLICKING)
(CHAIR CREAKING)
(EXHALES)
-(INHALES)
-(LIGHTER CLICKS)
(INHALES)
-(INHALES)
-(LIGHTER CLICKS)
(INHALES)
(EXHALES)
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC
PLAYING)
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC
CONTINUES)
(MUSIC FADES)
(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)
(EXHALES SHARPLY)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Okay.
Okay, okay.
(HEAVY BREATHING CONTINUES)
-(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
-Okay.
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Your balance is 4 cents.
-Make a payment.
-(PHONE KEYPAD BEEPING)
(LINE RINGING)
-Hello?
-AUTOMATED VOICE: Your balance
-is zero cents.
-My water broke.
-(BEEPING)
-Make a payment.
My phone's cutting out.
Can you...
-Can you just...
-(LINE DISCONNECTS)
(PHONE KEYPAD BEEPING)
Okay, f*ck.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(HEAVY BREATHING CONTINUES)
f*ck.
(CAR HORNS HONKING)
-(HANDBRAKE CLICKS)
-(CAR DOOR OPENS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(EKG MACHINE BEEPING)
DOCTOR: Abruption. Two liters
estimated loss of blood.
-How long?
-NURSE: Three weeks out.
DOCTOR: Is the father here?
NURSE: No, just a friend.
DOCTOR: Any word
from her friend?
NURSE: Uh, water just broke.
DOCTOR: (MUFFLED)
Are you doing okay?
(SOUNDS SLOWLY FADE)
(MONITOR BEEPING)
(BABY CRYING)
NURSE: Here's your mama.
(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)
(VELCRO RIPPING)
GIA: Can you give us
a minute?
Of course.
Let me know if you
need anything, all right?
I got you.
MISS CARMEN: The doctor
told me the test results.
What am I supposed to do?
You've pushed yourself
right into a corner.
I didn't know what to do.
I gave you options.
How could I trust you?
You get paid to sell kids.
No.
I get paid to do my job.
Helping young mothers
get out of a system
that was created
to hurt people like us.
Do not put this on me.
You told me you wanted
to do right by this baby.
I do.
Then what is this?
What are you doing?
I mean, why didn't you tell me
you still had a problem?
I could've helped you.
Not a problem. It was
just the first time since...
And it's always
the first time.
Miss Carmen, I swear.
I know you're 24,
but you have got to grow up.
It's not just
about you anymore.
-I didn't mean to.
-(SIGHS)
There's just so much going on.
Yeah, well,
we all have a lot going on.
Doesn't mean that
you can abuse your child.
I didn't abuse her.
-You did.
-(SOFTLY) No.
-You did.
-No, I didn't.
(SOFTLY) What you did
to your body affected her.
You're both linked.
(SOBS, SNIFFLES)
They, uh, already
called your caseworker.
(SNIFFLES)
So what do you wanna do?
Because you've got a few hours
before they'll decide for you.
(SNIFFLES)
(COOING)
GIA: I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
(GIA SNIFFLES)
I'm sorry.
(BABY CONTINUES COOING)
(WHISPERS SOFTLY)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
She's beautiful.
GIA: Mm.
(MONICA CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
I can't believe
she's really here.
(MONICA SIGHS DEEPLY)
Do you wanna hold her?
MONICA: Hey, hey, hey.
(BABY COOING)
Oh, my God.
Look at your nose.
(MONICA CHUCKLING)
And your long eyelashes.
Just like your mama.
Can I?
-(BABY CRYING)
-(MONICA SHUSHING)
(MONICA SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
What position you think
she'll play?
I don't know, maybe point.
Don't let her get
pushed around, though.
Gotta make sure she's a lot
stronger than I was.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BREATH TREMBLING)
-(BABY COOING)
-(MONICA CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC
CONTINUES PLAYING)
(BREATH TREMBLING)
WOMAN: I'd much rather
be in Las Vegas.
We got the strip right here.
What? That's the strip?
This is it. Little bit larger.
How can...
You can't even tell.
Look how dark it is.
-It is a bit, yeah.
-For Las Vegas?
For Las Vegas, yeah.
How about this one?
-This is Vegas. Right?
-Yeah, it looks a little...
-It looks better.
-The desert?
But it just doesn't
really look like Vegas.
-You don't think so?
-Mm.
How about the hibiscus?
Bahamas again.
Oh, yes.
Well, I like hibiscus juice.
-Do you? (LAUGHS)
-(SNORTS, LAUGHS)
Me too. (CHUCKLES)
-Yes.
-Beautiful.
The Bahamas
is the spot to be at.
Beautiful. Okay.
Let's talk about pricing.
You have a napkin?
(MEL CHUCKLES)
MISS CARMEN: And since
she's been coming up
negative every time.
But we'll continue to monitor
her progress.
JUDGE: I see.
Thank you. You may step down.
Sure.
Thank you.
JUDGE: Yes?
I don't want my kids
going through
what I've been through.
And what I'm going
through right now.
They deserve to see me.
More than once a week,
more than for an hour.
Look, I'm committed
to my kids.
I've shown you that.
And although
you might not believe
that I'm fit to parent
them right now,
no matter what,
I'll always be their mama.
So what I'm asking...
What I really, really want
is for you to consider
more frequent, longer
and unsupervised visitations
with my kids.
That's it.
(SNIFFLES) Thank you.
(MELANCHOLIC MUSIC PLAYING)
TALIA: Sometimes I feel like
I'm not enough.
I... I just can't do enough.
I don't know if
I'm more angry at my mother
for doing what she could
with what she had.
Or if I'm angrier that I'm
doing the same to my children.
It's so hard
to explain to a child
that you don't know
better yourself.
That you're learning.
That each day that goes by,
you're just winging it.
I want to protect them like
they need to be protected,
but nobody was there
to protect me.
(WATER SPLASHING)
(MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING)
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Earth Mama (2023)
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