Lou Snr
Oh, man, what a party, eh? I love it. Er, you think they might have any more jobs open at the warehouse?
Raphael
I don’t know.
Lou Snr
Work is hard to come by, you know how it is. I was thinking, with you being a big-shot there and all. So if like anything comes up, you’d, you know, maybe put in a good word.
Raphael
Yeah, I’ll see what I can do.
Lou Snr
You mean that? I’m a hard worker, strong as a bull, I ain’t too proud to work.
Raphael
I know that. I know. I’ll see what I can do.
Lou Snr
…we gotta stick together, you know. Huh?
Maria
Get outta here.
Rita
You like it?
Raphael
Oh, my God. I love it.
Rita
Thank you.
Raphael
You look like an angel.
Rita
Yeah?
Raphael
You look like a living breathing doll, you do.
Rita
(Talks native language)
Marta
I’m having so much fun, Poppa.
Man
Come on, man, eat.
Raphael
Hold on, hold on tight.
Man in suit
(Mumbles incoherently)
Maria
Smile, everybody. I love that dress.
Rita
You think it looks all right?
Luis
Good enough to eat, baby. Good enough to eat.
Papa
Not here.
Raphael
Just one second. Come on.
Maria
Look at the picture, guys. (Talks native language)
Luis
Hey, Mommy, why don’t you wait right here for me. Poppy’ll be right back .
Raphael
What do you want? I don’t want any trouble today.
Luis
Come on, I just want to celebrate your fortune. Nice party, man. Must have cost you a bundle and a bag of chips, all this stuff. Hey, erm, I hear you got a job.
Raphael
Yeah, that’s right.
Luis
Wow, man, you must be blessed man. God must love you, you know. You must have been blessed or something. That’s what it is, right?
Raphael
What’d you mean just now?
Luis
You know, I would think, man, that a guy’d wanna share some of that luck with his buddies, you know. Come on, come on, cut me out to the source, what’s going on?
Raphael
Fuck you. I ain’t got nothing to give you. What do you want?
Luis
You sure about that?
Raphael
Yeah.
Luis
Well, man, it seems to me, man, that you owe me a favour, man, for when I hooked you up a few months ago, you know?
Raphael
Sounds to me like you needed and extra guy.
Luis
You know, I coulda asked Julio, coulda asked Papo…
Raphael
Yeah, but you didn’t, you asked me.
Luis
Come on, Raphie man, what’s the selfish attitude about? You make a big score, and you ain’t gonna turn it on your bro? Plus you making me look bad, man, you making me look bad in front of these people. And those are my people, you know? I mean, people gonna wonder has Luis got the juice? What’s going on?
Raphael
Hey, look. I don’t got nothing to give you. Get the fuck outta here.
Luis
That’s really too bad, man. You know, just a little something, man, woulda gone a long way keeping things sweet. Just in case the cops come around, you know? But…
Raphael
You gonna threaten me now? You fucking threaten me, I’ll put your fucking lights out, man.
Luis
Now, let me tell you something… when you fucking go away, your old lady, she gonna come, she gonna work for me, okay? All right? ‘Cos I love you, Raphie.
Raphael
You fucking disappear.
Luis
Mammy, come on, we gotta go. Raphie…
Raphael
Get the fuck outta here.
Luis
Raphie, keep a fucking tight ass, I’m gonna be there. Come on, come on, fucking party… I owe you. Come on, let’s go. Hurry up. You mine!
Rita
Hi.
Raphael
What?
Rita
What was all that about?
Raphael
Nothing.
Rita
What did he want?
Raphael
Nothing. Let’s take a walk. You like it?
Rita
Yes.
Raphael
Do you remember? Come on, what do you remember?
Rita
That it was like this. It was around this time. The air felt this way. The wind felt like this.
Raphael
What else?
Rita
My heart was pounding. I was scared of you. (Talks native language)
Raphael
Father Stratton?
Fr. Stratton
Raphael.
Raphael
Can I talk to you about something?
Fr. Stratton
Sure.
Raphael
But if I tell you something… does that mean you can’t tell anybody?
Fr. Stratton
Well, if you’re talking about a confession… then yes. That’s between you and God. Is that what you want? You wanna make a confession?
Raphael
Yeah, I think so.
Fr. Stratton
Come on.
Raphael
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.
Fr. Stratton
How long has it been since your last confession?
Raphael
Well now, I really haven’t thought about religion much over the years.
Fr. Stratton
Then why are you here?
Raphael
For Rita, and my kids.
Fr. Stratton
Go on.
Raphael
Tomorrow morning, Father… I’m gonna walk into a room… and some men are going to kill me. They’re gonna torture me… and then they’re gonna kill me. And, and for this service I’ll be paid… My family will be paid fifty-thousand dollars. Which isn’t enough, really, but… it might be just enough to get everybody out of here for ever.
Fr. Stratton
Do you wish to repent these thoughts?
Raphael
No.
Fr. Stratton
Then what is it you want from the church?
Raphael
Nothing. I need you to make sure… that my family gets the money after I’m gone. You’re the only person that can do that. You’re the only one. Please. I need your help.
Fr. Stratton
Do you understand what you’re asking of me? You’re asking a priest to help you commit suicide. You’re asking a priest… to commit a cardinal sin.
Raphael
In a couple of days, Father, they’re gonna destroy Morgan Town, the entire village. What happens then? Where do Rita and the kids go? Is God gonna let ’em live here? You and the church gonna buy my house? Maybe the government, maybe they’ll do something? What do you think? Please. Please help me.
Fr. Stratton
I can’t. Raphael! You’ve sold your soul.
Raphael
Oh, no, Father. I sold my body, like a whore. The church forgives whores every day.
Fr. Stratton
Don’t do this. Don’t do this.
Raphael
What’s wrong? Come on, what’s wrong? What’s wrong? Who did this? Who did this? Luis? What happened?
Rita
He looked so crazy. He was high on something, I don’t know. I tried to stop him. But he, he hit me. He hit me.
Raphael
Did he rape you?
Rita
Frankie jumped on him and started hitting him.
Raphael
Where’s Frankie?
Rita
He’s outside.
Raphael
Look here. Come here. Come here. Okay. Okay. Okay. You stay here. I’ll be back. I’ll be back. Frankie? Let me see.
Frankie
Sorry, Papa.
Raphael
What do you mean, you’re sorry?
Frankie
You were gone and I was the man of the house. And I couldn’t make him go away.
Raphael
You listen to me. You did a brave thing. A brave thing, and… I’m proud of you. Come here.
Frankie
I beat the hell out of him, Poppa.
Raphael
Good. Why don’t you go see about your mom, huh?
Frankie
But what if he comes back?
Raphael
He’s not going to come back. He’s too afraid of you. All right.
Frankie
Yeah.
Raphael
Believe me. Go on, go see about your momma. Hey. You’re a man now.
Frankie
I love you, Poppa.
Raphael
I love you too. Go on. Go see about momma.
Luis
Yeah, come on. Okay, that’s it, that’s it, that’s it. That’s it, that’s it, you get too fucked up, baby, then you good for nothing. Come on. I love that shit. That feels so good. Come here. Hey, Lida, hey, Lida. Get the fuck outta here, man, you’re in the way. Oh, man. What the fuck? Come on! Come on! Get off my ear! No! No!
Papa
I’ve always tried to live with the spirits. I’ve always tried to show you that world. It seemed like you didn’t care. Now… I think you do care. So I think you should sit along with the spirits. I’m gonna put you out there. Just like there are good and bad spirits, there are good and bad tour leaders. Just remember, son… whatever you do, think of the children first. (Chants native language)
Raphael
Sweet dreams, angel. I love you.
