Just the mere fact that you can understand so much already puts you ahead of individuals that start from zero. MERAJI: So here we are at takeaway number one. You're ahead of the game, and you probably know a lot more than you give yourself credit for.
consejo
You can dream lucky and wake up cold in hand. That's what my daddy used to say. (FIELDING drinks from the bottle.) I ain't supposed to do this. I can't let Becker catch me. That's against Becker's rules. I guess you know something about that, huh? BOOSTER Something about what? FIELDING I say you must know something about Becker's rules. BOOSTER Yeah, I guess I do. Becker's rules is what got me in the penitentiary.
Fielding asks Booster, of all people, if he know's Becker's rules, and says that its the reason he was locked up in the first place.
Hey
Booster finds the rest, asking if his dad is around. Turnbo and Youngblood say they haven't seen him, saying he'll be back soon.
BECKER
Becker say's that he didn't turn his back on anyone.
BOOSTER
Booster said he tried to pick up his mom when she fainted, but was held back by deputies, and asks who held him back.
And the way your mama loved you. You killed her! You know that? You a double murderer! BOOSTER I ain't killed her, Pop. You know that. BECKER What you call it? That woman took sick the day that judge sentenced you and she ain't never walked or said another word or ate another thing for twenty-three days. She just laid up in that room until she died. Now you tell me that ain't killing her. Tell me that ain't killing her! BOOSTER Every day Mama came to that courtroom by herself. Where was you? Anybody could see how it was wearing her down. Where was you when she needed somebody to hold her hand . . . when she needed a shoulder to cry on . . . somebody to talk to? Where was you . . . not for me . . . but for her . . . the woman you loved? When she fainted in that courtroom I tried to get to her . . . but I had six deputies holding me back. What was holding you? Where was you them twenty-three days when she was dying?
Booster argues that Becker wasn't there for his mom, even if not for him.
Because I had a family. I had responsibility. If I had knocked him on his ass you would have went hungry. You wouldn't have had clothes on your back or a roof over your head. I done what I had to do. I swallowed my pride and let them mess over me, all the time saying, "You bastards got it coming
Becker did not want his son to live a life in the streets, or to be starving or without clothes or money.
No, I don't want to know. That's your business
Foreshadowing, from previously where Youngblood and Turnbo fought because of peoples business. Telling Becker that he basically doesn't care for his fathers reason for not seeing him.
BECKER
Becker tells Booster that he didn't argue with people if it meant that they could lose opportunities they had.
BOOSTER
Tells his dad that everyone treated him with respect, and says he aspired to be the same way, but always doubted himself. Similarily to the situation with Turnbo, he did not like that he let people step over him, like when he was going to be evicted. Now a former shell of himself. He wanted everyone to remember him as Clarence Becker, and to make his family "proud" or show that he could stand up against his enemies, by shooting that girl.
precious
Becker tells him that he taught Booster how life is precious.
Becker's
Now Becker is known as a troublesome individual to some, and Booster says that he's paid his debt.
BOOSTER
Booster asks if Becker is the boss of a Jitney station, as an insult, but Becker tells him all the respect he has in other areas of his community.
BECKER
Becker argues that Booster gave him a bad reputation, to see if he was the reason Booster ended up in prison. Booster reassures him that he appreciated him. Becker doesn't seem to care and argues with Booster that he has nothing now.
How
Becker and his song greet each other, awkwardly. Tells him what he's gonna do now after he threw it away. Booster tells him that he only wanted to say hi.
Becker
Becker gives fielding a chance to come to work sober the following day.
You
Becker was angry with Fielding for drinking (and driving), and gives Fielding his money and tells him to leave.
Becker
Fielding asks Becker what's going on with Turnbo and leaves since youngblood doesn't want to help him with a ride. Turnbo argues to Becker that Youngblood is mistreating his family, and say's that Turnbo was in his business and thats that. Becker see's Fielding drinking in his station and tells him to leave, quit.
Just
Becker warns that Younbloods ruthelessness or recklessness can get him kiled.
BECKER
Becker tries to break the tension, but Turnbo is aggitated, though is able to stop trying to shoot Youngblood.
BECKER
Becker holds onto Young Blood, and tells him not to speak with Turnbo. Then Turnbo enters and puts a pistol against Youngblood.
BECKER
Youngblood punches Turnbo, and leaves as Becker enters. Becker asks what happened, Becker notices Turnbo's bloody mouth.
Now you wanna beat me up for telling the truth. Well, go ahead, I'm an old man. Go ahead, it'll make you proud to hit an old man. (YOUNGBLOOD tries to restrain himself.)
Turnbo compares Youngblood's relationship with Becker's son and notices that he wants to beat him up for it, and tells him, go ahead and notes that he's an old man.
See, Becker's boy . . . Clarence is his name but everybody call him Booster . . . See now, Booster he liked that science. You know the science fair that they have over at the Buhel Planetarium every year where they have all them science experiments where they make the water run uphill and things like that? Booster won first place three years in a row. He the only one who ever did that. I can't even count how many times he had his picture in the paper. They let him in to the University of Pittsburgh. You know back then they didn't have too many colored out there, but they was trying to catch up to the Russians and they didn't care if he was colored or not. Gave him a scholarship and everything. Becker was just as proud as he could be. Him and Booster was always close. Becker used to take him hunting down around Wheeling West Virginia. They go hunting and fishing. Becker didn't have but the one boy. After he was born the doctor told his wife that if she had another one it was liable to kill her. Say she was lucky to have the one. Anyway, Booster goes out to Pitt there and he meets this old white gal. Young gal . . . about eighteen she was. Of course Booster wasn't about nineteen himself. Now her old man was some kind of big shot down there at Gulf Oil. Had a lot of money and had done bought the gal a car for her birthday. Booster and that gal . . . they just go everywhere together. She ride him around like she was his chauffeur. Of course, she let him drive it too. I believe he drove it more than she did. That gal was crazy about Booster, and they was just sneaking around and sneaking around, you know. She didn't want her daddy to know she was fooling around with no colored boy. Well, one day see he r father was up here in the neighborhood looking for one of them whores. He find one and she tell him to drive up the dead-end street there by the school, so she can turn the trick in the car. Don't you know they pulled right up in back of this gal's car wher e her and Booster done went to fool around! Her father recognizes the car and he goes over and looks inside and there's Booster just banging the hell out of his daughter! Well, that cracker went crazy. He just couldn't stand the sight of Booster screwing that gal and went to yanking open the car door. Booster didn't know who he was. All he knew was some crazy white man done opened the door and was screaming his head off. He proceeded to beat the man half to death. To get to the short of it . . . the police come and the gal said that she was driving downtown on her way home from a movie, and when she stopped for a red light, Booster jumped into her car and made her drive up there on the dead-end street . . . where he raped her. They arrested Booster and Becker got him out on bail cause he knew the gal was lying. The first day he was out . . . the first day! . . . he went over to that gal's house and shot her dead right on the front porch.
Becker's son, Clarence, or Booster, liked science. Booster was winning at science fairs, and made it to the University of Pittsburg, even if he was of color. Becker was proud and they were close, always going hunting and fishing in West Virginia. Booster meets a while girl, and her dad was a big shot. They went out together, despite discrimination at the time. She didn't want her dad to know they were a couple. Booster beat her dad almost to death when they met, but didn't know it her her dad. Booster went and killed her after she framed him.
Becker
Becker has not entered the station yet, and Turnbo tells youngblood that Becker's son is getting out after 28 years, and had never been there once.
My boy's getting out tomorrow. (The lights go down on the scene.)
Becker tells everyone that everyone's out tomorrow, and the stage closes.
Becker! (He hands BECKER the phone.) They won't be satisfied until they tear the whole goddamn neighborhood down! BECKER (into phone)
Becker answers the phone, its Lucille. Learns that tomorrow is when the station closes, and not a month later.
ain't said I was quitting
Becker instills that he ain't quitting working, but was thinking about it.
What's to be done? I try to keep cars running out of here and keep everybody happy. I post the rates up on the board. If some body charge extra and people complain, I give them the difference and tell the driver about it. I ain't gonna put nobody out unless they totally irresponsible. As for Fielding, I don't let him drink in here, but I can't tell the man about his personal business unless people start to complain.
Doub argues that Becker doesn't try to do anything about his business shutting down, and Becker tells Doub that he isn't going to complain since people will just call someone else.
BECKER
Becker tells them they're going to board up Clifford's home and saying that the city is going to board it up. Doub is frustrated that Becker did not tell him that the station would close, after working with him for 12 years.
BECKER
Becker enters after Rena and Youngblood argued. Picks up the phone, and slams the phone as someone asked if Shealy works there.
Becker? Oh, hello Lucille. He's not here right now. He said to tell you he was going to pick up some groceries. Okay, I'll tell him.
Turnbo receives a call from Lucille, and tells her that Becker isn't available at the moment, lying that he went to pick up groceries. sayinf that he will tell him (something unknown).
BECKER
Becker drops newspaper, gets up and goes to his door. Telling Turnbo that him acting like a kid is like making people drive around a dirty car.
BECKER
Becker roasts Turnbo, saying that he makes no sense as much as those troublesome boys.
He
Becker tells everyone that the person had to go downtown for business and is surprised they weren't aware of that.
BECKER You know that's his trip, Turnbo.
Becker instills that Turnbo answers the phone, not Youngblood, after picking up the money he threw on the floor.
Give the man his money, Turnbo
Becker tells Turnbo to give Youngblood his money. He gets louder, and Turnbo angrily gives Youngblood his money.
BECKER
Becker reading a newspaper and Turnbo showing Becker that he's reading a playboy magazine, but is uniterested.
Yeah
Doub calls Becker and noticed that he got a new car, and Becker says he's gonna get two more the following week (on the phone).
I don't know if they hiring. But I'll check into it. I know some people down there will be able to take care of him if they h iring. I can't promise nothing but I'll talk to them for you.
Shealy asks Becker if he can help her nephew, Robert Shealy, get a job. Turnbo then tells him that Rober is a thug that broke into Taylor's Bar, but Becker does not seem to care.
BECKER
Becker saying he doesn't want to hear about a kid with a "funny shaped head". He's preoccupied with something else.
Yeah? (pause) Who? (pause) Naw, Mr. Becker ain't here. Who? (pause) Let me see if I got this. Mr. Pease. Pittsburgh Renewal Council. Yeah, I'll tell him
Someone calls Shealy asking about Mr. Becker, and is asked to let him know about a Pittsburgh Renewal Council.
You ain't seen Becker have you?
Shealy is asking about Becker's whereabouts, and she references that his son is getting out of prison.
Becker's the one you ought to be telling what you is and ain't gonna do.
Becker is being used as almost an analogy for telling your plans to.
ACT ONE SCENE 1 (The time is early fall, 1977. The setting is a gypsy cab station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The paint is peeling off the walls, and the floor is covered with linoleum that is worn through in several areas. In the middle of the wall stage left sits an old-fashioned pot-bellied stove that dominates the room. Upstage of it is a blackboard on which is written the rates to different parts of the city, and the daily, marginally illegal policy numbers. Next to the blackboard a sign reads "Beckers's Rules: 1. No overcharging; 2. Keep car clean; 3. No drinking; 4. Be courteous; 5. Replace and clean tools." Downstage on the wall is a pay telephone. The entire rig ht wall is made up of the entrance down right and a huge picture window. Along the upstage wall is a sofa, with several chairs of various styles and ages scattered about to complete the setting. As the scene opens, it is mid-morning. YOUNGBLOOD and TURNBO sit facing each other on folding chairs in front of the sofa. They are playing checkers, with the checkerboard on their knees in front of them. FIELDING sits in a chair down left.)
gypse cab 1970s, Pittsburg, PA, vehicle is old, sign (Becker's rules) it on stage. Morning with characters Youngblood and Turnbo playing checkers.
So too with electronic technologies. PowerPoint, we’re told, is reducing discourse to bullet points. Search engines lower our intelligence, encouraging us to skim on the surface of knowledge rather than dive to its depths. Twitter is shrinking our attention spans. But such panics often fail basic reality checks. When comic books were accused of turning juveniles into delinquents in the 1950’s, crime was falling to record lows, just as denunciations of video games in the 19190’s coincided with the great American crime decline. The decades of television, transistor radios and rock videos were also decades in which I.Q. scores rose continuously.
This paragraph consists of examples where rumors were spread about new types of media, which were meant to aid the demands of modern individuals.
But the existence of neural plasticity does not mean the brain is a blob of clay pounded into shape by experience.
This sentence is referring to the beneficial nature of technology in our lives, where as being without it isn't necessarily a better way of creating experience.
These days scientists are never far from their email, rarely touch paper and cannot lecture without PowerPoint. If electronic media were hazardous to intelligence, the quality would be plummeting. Yet discoveries are multiplying like fruit flies, and progress is dizzying.
This supports the notion that new technological media is reliable, and ensures efficiency in different areas of work.