Ragtime (1981)
Howard E. Rollins Jr.: Coalhouse Walker Jr.
Photos
Quotes
-
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I read music so good, white folks think I'm fakin' it.
-
Younger Brother : What kind of music do you play?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Anything they ask me to, and then I play ragtime.
-
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [praying] Lord, I'd hoped I'd have the courage to know what I should do now. You must see how sick at heart I've been... and how I've performed this thing with little appetite.
[sobbing]
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I'd hoped... you'd reveal to me along the way why you put such a rage in my heart.
[a brief pause]
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Tell me what to do now!
[another beat]
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Please.
[sighs]
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : God, tell me what to do.
-
Black Lawyer : [Coalhouse tries to sue for his car being damaged] Well, what's your financial situation like?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [sighs] I have a little laid by. I planned to use it on my wedding, but I guess it'll have to wait.
Black Lawyer : Hmm. Mr. Walker, let me give you some advice. You spend the money on your wedding. Build yourself a home and a family where you can find some comfort. And just forget that some damn white man caused you offense.
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : And that's your advice?
Black Lawyer : That's my advice, and I pray you take it to heart.
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Just forget it? Is that it?
Black Lawyer : I've spent my whole life forgetting. You're a young man. You better start learning now.
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Learning what? How to be a nigger?
Black Lawyer : [after a pause] Mr. Walker, I'll thank you to leave. I have some charity cases you know nothing of. I got clients with real problems - starvation, illness, dispossession. Yes, I want justice for our people. Yes, I do. I want it so bad, I can taste it. If you think I'll go to Westchester County pleading on the behalf of a colored man that somebody dirtied his fancy car, you are very much mistaken. Now, please, you take this and leave my office.
[Gives Coalhouse papers]
-
[Coalhouse has just learned that his friends have safely escaped]
Father : [trepidatiously] Well, shouldn't we... uh... tell them... that we're... we're coming?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [calmly] Yeah. You go on ahead. Tell 'em I'll be right out.
Father : [hesitates] Well...
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Just go on. I'll be with you.
Father : [still hesitates] Don't...?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [firmly] Go.
Father : [stammering] Don't you think it would be... a better idea if we...?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [exploding] GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! Don't you understand ANYTHING, white man?
Father : [terrified, rushes out of the library]
-
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [Speaking to Booker T. Washington] You speak like an angel, Mr. Washington. It's too bad we're living on the earth.
-
P.C. O'Donnell : Nobody's intimidating me, Mister. You just don't know what you're getting yourself into, and I'm trying to keep your nose clean. Now, would you be a good boy and just get along.?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I want my car cleaned!
P.C. O'Donnell : Clean it then, damn you! Clean it and go!
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I want the man who did it to clean it!
P.C. O'Donnell : All right, all right, let me pit it this way. I can arrest you for blocking a public service exit, for creating a public nuisance, and about ten other things I ain't gonna mention. Now, am I making myself clear?
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Yes.
P.C. O'Donnell : Good.
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Officer, I still want my car cleaned.
P.C. O'Donnell : Oh, for Christ's sake! Ain't you got any sense in your head? I'm trying to help you! You leave me no choice.
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I'm sorry.
P.C. O'Donnell : You're under arrest!
-
Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [while praying] Lord, why did you fill me with such rage?