Black Caesar (1973)

D'Urville Martin: Rev. Rufus

Quotes 

• Reverend Rufus : Mama! Does Tommy know you're here?

  Mama Gibbs : Pray for him, Rufus... you were always a good boy, pray for him.

  Reverend Rufus : Okay Mama, we'll pray for him.

• Tommy Gibbs : [at Mama's tombstone]  I gave her the best. I never really made her happy, Rufus.

  Reverend Rufus : I'd like to pray for her. I really would. I kind of feel - I could pray for her.

  Tommy Gibbs : Go ahead. She always said you were a good kid, Rufus. If it means that much to you.

  Reverend Rufus : Oh, Lord, have mercy on this poor black woman's soul. All she ever wanted to do was to bring her baby into this world. To work for him. To love him. To raise him like every other black woman in this earth. Please, Lord, let her rest in peace. No more waitin' tables. No more cleanin' other people's houses. Let this strong, black woman rest in heaven, in peace.

• Reverend Rufus : Never fear, brother, I'm always here to save the souls and heal the ills - and cash the checks. You see, religious organizations is tax exempt privilege, you know. When we shake folks down, they're not gonna pay Tommy, they're gonna support my religious organization. And it all goes into a fund. And we don't even have to hide the monies that we make from hookers and the numbers. And we report it and use it - *tax free* - to buy filling stations, supermarkets, apartment houses, everything, *anything*.

• Tommy Gibbs : That used to be home, sweet home, Pa. Top window. Rear

  Mr. Gibbs : Always seemed to me like a much bigger building.

  Tommy Gibbs : You must know what I do for a living.

  Mr. Gibbs : I'm not gonna lecture you. I don't have the right.

  Tommy Gibbs : Did it ever occur to you... That I've been waiting 25 years just to kill you?

  Mr. Gibbs : No. No. Wait, listen please. I mean, it was the depression. I mean, you don't know what it was like to... Then the war and my chance to get away. You never had those responsibilities. I mean, you never been trapped. Oh, no. Not knowing where to run or who to-- or who to hate. I was 20 years old, 20 years old when I enlisted. And I was a cook all through the war. I was a cook!

  Tommy Gibbs : You never sent home one allotment check. My ma had to scrub floors on her hands and knees for pennies!

  [pins his father against a wall pointing his gun at him] 

  Tommy Gibbs : I'm gonna kill you!

  Mr. Gibbs : She-- she couldn't get no allotment! We wasn't married legal! Folks didn't bother much in those days.

  Tommy Gibbs : [lowers his gun and turns away]  She never told me.

  Mr. Gibbs : I--I could have sent you something.

  Tommy Gibbs : Go on. Start walkin.'

  Mr. Gibbs : I didn't mean to break it to you that way. I mean, I wouldn't have said anything...

  Tommy Gibbs : Don't matter. Move on, before I change my mind. Pa! I don't ever want to see you again.

  Mr. Gibbs : I understand, son.

  Reverend Rufus : What are you going to do now? Kill your momma?

• Mr. Gibbs : Excuse me Reverend. Is that Mr Gibbs car over there?

  Reverend Rufus : Yes it is.

  Mr. Gibbs : Well I'd like to speak to him.

  Reverend Rufus : Oh, call his office.

  Mr. Gibbs : Well, my name is Gibbs, too, sir.

  Reverend Rufus : Fine, you should've been a relative.

  Mr. Gibbs : Well I am, I'm his father

  [inside the car speaking to his son] 

  Mr. Gibbs : I was just across --just coming into the bar for a drink. I sell you know. Cosmetics. Mainly for colored folks in the south. Well, uh, only been in town for a few days, and it was a coincidence, me seeing you across the street. It'd have been wrong if I didn't take advantage of that coincidence.

  Tommy Gibbs : You want to go up and see mom?

  Mr. Gibbs : Your mom and I didn't get along. You do recollect me, son? Look at me.

  Tommy Gibbs : Yeah. Hey, you, uh, remember Rufus? He used to live next door to us. He's a preacher now.

  Mr. Gibbs : Young Rufus. He was always a bad boy. Never thought he'd take up religion.

  Tommy Gibbs : Hey, pop, uh... Like to take a ride, look at the old neighborhood?

  [Papa Gibbs nods his head yes as Tommy gets out of the car to greet his fans] 

  Reverend Rufus : Take my advice. Get out. Go home.

  Mr. Gibbs : Well, now. I.. I can understand my son saying that, but why should you feel that way towards me?

  Reverend Rufus : Please, listen to me.