Lackawanna Blues (2005 TV Movie)

Marcus Carl Franklin: Ruben Santiago Jr.

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ruben Santiago Jr. : How long you been taking care of people, Nanny?

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : Phew. Since I was a child. There's always been a part of me that wanted to try to fix things, and people, try to make them feel whole again.

  Ruben Santiago Jr. : That's why you got this rooming house?

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : Not exactly. That just kinda come to me. I was working out at Woodlawn for this white couple; had two beautiful boys. On Saturday before my day off, I'd bake cakes and pies so they'd have some sweets after they Sunday dinner. Hmm. The lady of the house was so impressed, she said "Rachel, you don't have to do this. You could be home. This is so nice." I'd say "Well, I'm just looking out for my boys." Then she told me if I was gonna make cakes, I had to make one to take home to my family. Well, one Saturday, I'll never forget it. She lit into me. "Where you goin' with that cake? I can't afford to feed you and your whole family every week!" Then she stormed off one way, and I dropped that cake on the table and stormed off the other. On my drive home, there was so much turmoil inside of me. I could... I could still feel the warmth from the goodbye hug them boys give me, and I held onto it, 'cause I knew that'd be the last they was ever gonna give me, 'cause from that day forward, I was gonna be my own boss. And that I was. Bought me a little place on Simon Avenue. The place had five bedrooms. I rented four of those out, took my car, started a little shuttle. That led to a cab stand. Then I got this place here. That made two roomin' houses, a cab stand, and a restaurant. God has truly blessed this little ol' gal from a tobacco farm in Virginia.

• Ruben Santiago Jr. : Why didn't you ever have any kids, Nanny?

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : Oh, I had 'em. I had a little girl.

  Ruben Santiago Jr. : You did?

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : Mm-hmm. With my first husband, Dick Johnson. Mmm. She was my heart. Named her Lillian. But God took her early on. She wasn't no more than three years old. Had a bout with that pneumonia.

  Ruben Santiago Jr. : You never talked about her, Nanny.

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : No. That was the hardest thing I ever had to face in my life. You know, they say God don't make no mistakes. I know one thing: took me a long time to get on speaking terms with God after that. But, you know, then I came to realize that even though God took that one that was so special for me... he filled my life up with so many others. But most of all...

  [taking and kissing his hand] 

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : ...most of all, He give me you.

• Ruben Santiago Jr. : I'm not gonna be Uncle Bill's friend no more.

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : Uncle Bill love you. He just... he just act the fool sometime. Bill know he did something silly and hurt you.

  Ruben Santiago Jr. : Nanny, I'm mad, so you should be mad, too.

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : Child, I done had my share of kicking ass, kicking down doors, breaking out windows, and acting the fool. But that didn't suit me. And I'm a lady, and I'm gonna conduct myself as such.

  Ruben Santiago Jr. : But I ain't no lady, and when Uncle Bill hurts you, I want to hurt him back. Sometimes I hate him.

  Rachel "Nanny" Crosby : I don't ever wanna hear that word out of you. You hear me? I done had to deal with that poison my whole life. It's all right to be upset, but not hate. Now, I know you just trying to help Nanny, and I thank you. But I been taking care of myself for 50-some odd years just fine, and ain't had to hate, nor hurt, nobody to do it.