Original Gangstas (1996)

Ron O'Neal: Bubba

Photos 

Quotes 

• Bubba : [opening narration]  You're looking at Gary, Indiana, USA. A city with the highest murder rate in America, maybe the world. A factory town that somehow became a gang town. Back in the '50s, the community was supported by the US Steel Mill. It was damn hard work, but people raised their families well. Then just 20 years later, without warning, US Steel shut down 70% of the mill. At first the workers thought it was temporary. But it wasn't. Their savings went, unemployment ran out and slowly the former steel workers lost the last two things they had left, their pride and their hope. And that has been the inheritance of the children of Gary. This was the Palace movie theater. The last movie that played here was Star Wars. Thats the bakery. It used to make the best damn glazed and chocolate donuts in town. Thats where Hanes Restaurant once stood. They had the best barbecue ribs. This is the Memorial Auditorium, home of two state basketball championships. More than 350,000 back then. Now there's only 150,000 left that still call Gary their home. This abandoned steel mill is now headquarters to a gang called the Diablos. And the old train depot is a hangout for their rivals the Rebels.

• Bubba : Hey. Hey, Johnny. Hey man I don't want your damn autograph. It's me, man. You come back here looking for a fresh mark to hustle or what?

  John Bookman : Hey, Bubba. Is that you man? All right.

  Bubba : Yeah, it's me. Still here. I've aged a little bit, but so have you. You better suck that gut in.

  John Bookman : [laughing]  No, no. Tell me somethin' man. How is Uncle Benny?

  Bubba : Oh, well, Uncle Benny, he closed his candy store down a while back and then died a few weeks later. I guess of nothing to do.

  John Bookman : Whoa, I'm sorry.

  Bubba : Didn't your folks write you about it?

  John Bookman : I don't know, man, they could have. I just don't remember, that's all.

  Bubba : Oh, I see. I haven't seen you back here at all, man.

  John Bookman : No, no, I've been back.

  Bubba : Well, quickly to see your parents, you know, fly in the morning and then leave right back out at night? That way you don't have to run into us, right?

  John Bookman : Come on. Come on man, what's the big deal? I mean I'm here, all right?

  Bubba : Yeah, you're here. Well, look, did you think it was going to be like it was? I mean you and us Rebels running around drinking, screwing all around the place. You thought it was going to be like that, huh? Well it ain't gonna be like it was, Johnny, 'cause you all left. We ain't got enough people left here to take care of this place. Not even. You should've come back once in a while, Johnny.

  John Bookman : Come on, man. I don't get it. Huh? What's here for you? I mean if you had any sense, you'd get out too.

  Bubba : Oh, man! You goin' back again tomorrow and frankly, I don't give a fuck what you think. Fuck you, motherfucker.

  [He walks off]