Hard Times

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Celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

♪♪ [ Dialing ] [ Line ringing ] Alejandra: [ Breathes deeply ] Okay.

[ Latin music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Latin music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Mrs. Morrison: Alex?

Oh, thank God you're here.

The house is a mess.

Start on the boys' bathroom this morning, okay?

It looks like a crime scene in there.

Alejandra: Okay.

Mrs. Morrison: Oh, and don't forget to wash their uniforms.

Alejandra: Sounds good.

Mrs. Morrison: Oh, yeah, and this Friday, I need you to take the boys to their game.

The babysitter just called in with the flu, and John's on a flight that morning, and that just leaves you because, you know, I have that conference all day, and I really am not sure when I'll be back.

Alejandra: But, Mrs. Morrison, I -- Mrs. Morrison: Oh, sweetie, just take my van.

You do know how to drive, right?

Alejandra: No, I do.

Um, I just -- I can't because -- Mrs. Morrison: Because what?

Alex, no one else can do it.

Alejandra: [ Exhales deeply ] Nathan: Mom, Ian took my PSP!

Mrs. Morrison: Oh, God.

Go see what they're up to.

[ Insects chirping ] [ Latin country music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Chuy: You haven't said a word since I picked you up.

Alejandra: Nothing, just tired.

A single mother shouldn't be working so much.

At least maybe you could get your driver's license that way.

Eh?

♪♪ [ Siren chirps ] Chuy: [ Clicks tongue, sighs ] ♪♪ [ Radio stops ] [ Door opens, shuts ] [ Indistinct radio chatter ] Officer: Do you know why I stopped you?

You were going over the speed limit.

I'm gonna have to see some license and registration.

Chuy: Can you pass me the registration?

[ Indistinct radio chatter ] Officer: Well, I'm gonna let you go with a warning.

You just got to be more careful next time, understand?

Chuy: Yes, sir.

Officer: I'll be right back.

[ Indistinct radio chatter ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Ximena: Mom, you're here early.

Alejandra: Mm-hmm.

How was school?

Ximena: It was good.

Nothing -- [ Telephone rings ] ♪♪ Bueno.

Nancy: Alejandra, it's Nancy.

Alejandra: Nancy, why are you calling so late?

Nancy: This is the only time I can get ahold of you, besides I wouldn't be calling you if it wasn't important.

Alejandra: Fine.

What is it?

Nancy: You've been scheduled to report to the immigration office on Friday to go over your case.

Alejandra: Oh, God!

This Friday?

Nancy: Yes.

Both you and Ximena need to be there to answer some questions.

Alejandra: Oh, I don't know, Nancy, I have to work, and that's really -- Nancy: Dios, Alex, what are you talking about?

We've been waiting ages to hear back from I.C.E.

You can't reschedule these sort of things.

Alejandra: I mean, I guess I can ask for the time off work, but I just -- Nancy: Look, I know you're paranoid because of everything that's been going on.

You can't avoid it.

Anyway, they know where you live.

This is your only chance to make things right, Alex.

Look, I have to go, but we'll talk soon, okay?

Be safe.

Alejandra: Okay.

Bye.

Ximena: Who was that?

[ Knock at door ] [ Shouting and thumping ] Alejandra: Stay here.

Woman: [ Grunting ] I know my rights!

[ Birds chirping ] Alejandra: Okay.

Uh-huh.

Okay.

Bien.

Mrs. Morrison: Thanks for doing this, Alex.

I really appreciate it.

Alejandra: No problem.

I hope you enjoy the conference.

Mrs. Morrison: I can trust you, right?

Alejandra: Of course.

Mrs. Morrison: Okay.

All right, I'm going.

Text me if you need anything.

Boys!

Your mother's leaving!

♪♪ ♪♪ Alejandra: Ian, Nathan, we're leaving!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Alejandra: Okay, boys, here you are.

Good luck.

I'll be back here for you later.

-Thanks.

-Thanks, Alex.

♪♪ [ Siren chirps ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Alejandra: [ Sighs deeply ] Officer: Do you know why I pulled you over, ma'am?

You have a busted taillight.

I'm gonna have to see some license and registration.

♪♪ I'm gonna have to ask you to step out of the vehicle.

♪♪ Now, ma'am!

♪♪ Whose car is this?

Alejandra: My boss's.

I'm a housekeeper.

Officer: Are you living here illegally?

Alejandra: No, I have a green card.

Officer: I'm gonna have to verify that.

Turn around.

[ Door opens ] Ximena: No!

Alejandra: No, Ximena!

No!

No!

That's my daughter.

That's my daughter.

We have a code 252, and you're gonna have to call CPS.

Ximena: No!

No!

Mama!

Officer: Watch your head.

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Clicking ] [ Exhales deeply, sniffles ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Darren: So, what?

What are you just gonna leave me here?

You're just gonna...

Autumn: I don't know.

I can't take you home.

Darren: Do you even care what happens to me?

Autumn: Of course I care what happens to you.

[ Sighs ] I want you to be okay.

But you got to figure it out yourself.

Autumn: You are being such a selfish...bitch right now.

Hope you have a good...life!

[ Train horn blowing ] Autumn: Hey, can I use your phone?

Man: Sorry, workers only.

Autumn: It'll just be really qui-- Man: It's management.

I'm sorry.

Autumn: Okay.

[ Sighs ] Hi.

Could I use your phone?

I lost my keys.

I just need to talk to my mom.

I'll only be a second.

Thanks.

Zane: [ Chuckles ] Yay!

[ Line ringing ] [ Line clicks ] Simone?

Simone: Yeah, it's me.

Zane: Simone, I'm, um -- I'm sorry.

I know it's late.

I closed my eyes, and... Simone: Mm-hmm.

Zane: ...my day got away from me.

Simone: [ Chuckles ] Yeah.

Zane: Yeah, I was -- I had to deal with, like, a blowout today.

Simone: It's okay.

I get it.

I understand.

Zane: Is she up?

Simone: Zane, I just put her to bed.

Zane: Oh, can I please talk to her?

Simone: [ Sighs ] I don't know.

Let me see if she's awake.

Zane: So, what, um -- What color are your nails, baby?

June: Green.

Zane: Green?

Oh, you didn't always like green.

June: Yeah, that's my new favorite color.

Zane: Oh, okay, well, uh, honey, if you don't like what Daddy got you, I can take it back and I can get you something green instead.

June: What are you talking about?

Zane: You didn't get a gift from Daddy in the mail?

June: No, what is it?

Zane: You think that maybe somebody must have got it on accident?

Has, um -- Has anybody been coming around the house?

June: Umm... Mommy's got a friend that comes over and help me with my homework.

Simone: Hey!

That's enough.

Give me the phone.

[ Sighs ] Listen -- I'm exhausted.

She's exhausted.

We, um -- We'll talk about this in the morning, okay?

Night.

♪♪ ♪♪ Zane: So, what took you so long to get here?

Man: Not a lot of us working tonight.

What'd you do?

Zane: I was going down 40 West, and this deer jumped out in front of me, and -- Man: And you swerved to miss it?

Zane: I -- I didn't want to kill it.

Man: Well... Darren: Sir, excuse me.

Excuse me.

Hi, I was wondering if maybe you had a light on you, by chance.

Oh, no.

No, I'm sorry, I don't.

Oh, that's all right.

That's all right.

Hey, listen.

Listen.

Hey, so here's -- Here's the thing, man.

I just got out of the hospital, and I -- I don't got a place to go.

And I'm just looking for a little something to put in my stomach.

Man: Hey, you're gonna need a wheel.

Maybe you can take this off me, you know?

Zane: Hey, what'd you say?

Man: I said you're gonna need a wheel.

I don't have one with me.

Darren: There's no scratches on it... Zane: Well, I don't -- If you don't get out of here... Darren: I'll take anything.

Zane: I need a new tire?

Man: No, I've got the tire, but -- Zane: I'm dealing with my own...right now.

You say I need a wheel?

Man: Yeah, there's a hole in it.

Zane: Man, if you don't get out of here!

So, what's the problem?

Man: There's a hole in the wheel.

It won't hold the pressure.

I've got a tire.

Zane: If I'm not moving, I'm not making money.

I cannot afford to just sit here.

Man: I understand.

Zane: Okay, well... Man: Give me an hour.

I'll be back in an hour.

Darren: Look, I know you got something, please.

Zane: Will you get out of my face?!

Listen, I cannot wait anymore.

I've been here for two hours.

Autumn: What's wrong with you?

Get up.

Oh, my God.

Man: It's not something you can see from the outside.

I'm sorry.

Zane: [ Sighs ] Autumn: Are you okay?

Zane: All right.

Fine.

Autumn: All right.

All right.

Come on.

Get up.

Get up.

Get up.

Zane: Yo, get up!

Autumn: Hey, look.

Look.

Look.

I'm really sorry.

Look, I didn't start this...

He came up on me.

Autumn: I know.

Darren: [ Spits ] Zane: You're lucky I don't beat -- Darren: [ Chuckles ] Autumn: I'm sorry.

Look, he's really sick.

He's in recovery.

I know he started this.

I know you didn't mean to do anything wrong, okay?

So, let's -- Everything's okay.

Let's just walk away.

Christ.

What's wrong with you?

Get up.

Come on.

Get up.

Thanks.

Zane: You want -- You want to sit down?

Why don't you have some water.

Autumn: [ Sniffles ] Zane: I'm sorry.

It's not your fault.

[ Sighs ] Zane: Is your...mom gonna come and get you?

Autumn: She didn't pick up.

[ Police siren wailing ] Zane: Wait.

Whoa.

Where are you going?

Autumn: I -- I -- Zane: What are you doing?

Autumn: [ Sniffles ] It's my fault.

Zane: What's your fault?

Autumn: [ Sighs ] Zane: That -- That has nothing to do with you.

That isn't you.

That cannot be helped.

Just, um, have a seat, and we'll try your mom again in a few minutes, okay?

Autumn: [ Sniffles, sighs ] Zane: It doesn't mean anything.

Autumn: Yeah.

Yeah, you, uh -- you hungry?

Autumn: Yeah.

Zane: I wonder if this -- I know they serve dessert here, but I'm wondering if they -- if they have birthday cake.

Autumn: Is it your birthday?

Zane: Oh, no, um, it's, uh, my daughter's birthday.

Autumn: Oh.

Zane: Well, yesterday.

[ Chuckles ] Autumn: How old is she?

Zane: She turned 6.

Autumn: Aww.

Zane: [ Chuckles ] And, uh, I was just -- you know, since I kind of, uh -- Well, I wasn't there, and I didn't get a chance to really celebrate, um, maybe you can have some cake with me.

Autumn: Yeah.

Zane: Sound good?

Autumn: Yeah.

That sounds good.

Zane: All right.

Autumn: Can I see a picture of her?

Zane: Yeah, sure.

Here she is.

[ Chuckles ] Simone: Got to make a wish.

Yeah, that's Junebug.

Oh.

That's my bug.

Simone: Yay!

Autumn: Look at her.

Zane: [ Chuckles ] Autumn: She's beautiful.

[ Game beeping and coins jingling ] [ Beeping and jingling stop ] ♪♪ Announcer: You can watch more films by subscribing to our YouTube and Vimeo channels or visiting pbs.org/filmschoolshorts.

♪♪ Film School Shorts is made possible by a grant from Maurice Kanbar.

Celebrating the vitality and power of the moving image.

♪♪ ♪♪