Black Girl (1972)
Leslie Uggams: Netta
Quotes
-
Mama Rose : [Netta is at the top of the church stairs with a big bouquet of flowers behind her. Rose turns around and sees her and walks towards the stairs to her and gives her a hug] Something told me to look up here.
Netta : You better hurry up and get your mother's day surprise.
[Rose hurries her into the upstairs room]
Netta : A lot of jealous eyes been looking at them.
[She presents her bouquet to Rose]
Mama Rose : OH, look what my sweet daughter went and gave me!
[she smells them]
Mama Rose : You got them laced just right!
[she hugs Netta]
Mama Rose : Thank you, darling! Thank you.
Netta : I thought it would be better if I brought my mother up here.
Mama Rose : That's nice. Tell me, how long have you been in town?
Netta : Oh, I haven't been here too long.
Mama Rose : You mean to tell me that if I have decided not to come to church this morning, I wouldn't even known you was here?
Netta : [to woman passing by leaving the room] Thank you, Sister Jenkins.
[She closes the door]
Netta : Sure. Sure, you would have known. If I hadn't seen you here today, I was going to get your present to you some kind of way.
Mama Rose : But why didn't you call me, Netta?
Netta : I was busy trying to get things together. And I was walking all over town trying to find you some flowers that weren't picked all over.
Mama Rose : I appreciate all the trouble you went through to get them, but you made me think you were gonna stay with me.
Netta : Mama Rosie, you don't understand what I'm trying to do. You've got plenty of people to lean on. My mother only has me. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I... can't deal with all of this.
Mama Rose : Deal with what? What is it? I understand about your mother! You should have called me!
Netta : Mama Rosie, I am my mother's daughter, not yours! I ran away from my mother years ago because I wasn't strong enough then, but I'm going to her now! It's as simple as that!
Mama Rose : [heartbroken and near tears] Don't you raise your voice with me. Don't you DARE raise your voice with me!
[She leaves the room]