A Million Little Things
Wednesdays 10:00 PM on ABCA Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 13: "Listen" Quotes
Tyrell: Well, I think the people in charge need to see that our lives matter from as many people as possible. I read an article about George Floyd's daughter. Her mom is trying to figure out how to tell her how he died. I mean, how do you explain that to a seven-year-old?
Rome: Six. His daughter is six.
Rome: You understand that this isn't my protest right?
Gary: Uh, yeah. Yeah, that's why we're going.
Rome: Well, please tell me you get that this is work that we all need to do, so you need to do more than hitting up your Black friend so you can be their plus one, Gary.
Gary: Uh, yeah. I'm just trying to help.
Rome: And the last time you tried to help, I ended up in the back of a police car.
Gina: You OK?
Rome: No. I can't go to this protest.
Rome: There are police out there looking for a reason to take your life. Young man, do not give them a reason. Your job is not to be a hero today. Your job is to come home.
Tyrell: OK. I'll be careful.
Rome: Good. Now go change the world.
Alan: Hey, um, Tyrell invited me to join him and Gina at the protest. I didn't realize so many people would be here.
Eddie: Well, um, today is about as many people coming together as possible, right?
I felt like my whole life I was straddling two worlds. After my parents got divorced, I went to mostly all-white schools, was raised by mainly my mom and her side of the family. I didn't know howto fit in half the time let alone be political. I'd experience racism in school and go home to my mom who looked just like the people who hurt me. I didn't know how to articulate what it was like for me. You know, I didn't want to hurt her or worry her, but in not saying something it felt like I wasn't staying true to my other half.
Gina
Rome: As I've been dealing with my depression, I realize it's not just something I'm predisposed to. It's this country, this world, and all the things, all the things every day making me feel like an unwanted guest in my own home.
Walter: Believe me, I understand. I was 11 years old when your grandfather showed me Emmett Till's photo in Jet magazine. It's still there. Burned into my mind. I've been looking at this a whole lot longer than you. I Saw it here. I saw it in Vietnam, and I came back home and saw it over and over and over again. That's what its meant to be us, to live feeling like death is breathing on your back, and they're still out there thinking posters can fix that.
Claudia: I have Dr. Stacy calling for you.
Maggie: Um, tell her I don't have the time.
Darcy: Hey, can I ask you something? Your dad calls you junior, and during that talent show they called you Javi. I call you Gary. What's up with that?
Gary: Yeah, that's fair. I was born Javier Mendez Jr. I am my father's son, and I am proud of it. As you've recently experienced, there is a lot of my dad in me. But unlike him, people don't assume I'm Mexican ever, until they meet my dad.
Gary: I think my dad just wanted to give his half- Mexican son the best shot at making it in a pretty white world.
Darcy: Hm. Maybe that's why Rome was so upset.
Gary: How, I never told him that story, he doesn't know about my name.
Darcy: No, but, um, he knows you get to choose.
Gary: Right.
Sometimes I wonder if we had started protesting earlier and louder if he would still be here.
Florence
Katherine: What is it?
Eddie: I should've known about the mask. When that kid in Theo's class said he needed to wear one, I should've known what that meant. I think my embarrassment over not knowing was part of the reason why I lost on the front end of our neighbor's car. I've let you two down a lot lately.
Katherine: Eddie...
Eddie: No. No, uh, I'm not saying that because I want you to make me feel better, I'm saying that because I should've said it before.
