Ragtime (1981)

Howard E. Rollins Jr.: Coalhouse Walker Jr.

Photos 

Quotes 

• Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I read music so good, white folks think I'm fakin' it.

• Younger Brother : What kind of music do you play?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Anything they ask me to, and then I play ragtime.

• Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [praying]  Lord, I'd hoped I'd have the courage to know what I should do now. You must see how sick at heart I've been... and how I've performed this thing with little appetite.

  [sobbing] 

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I'd hoped... you'd reveal to me along the way why you put such a rage in my heart.

  [a brief pause] 

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Tell me what to do now!

  [another beat] 

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Please.

  [sighs] 

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : God, tell me what to do.

• Black Lawyer : [Coalhouse tries to sue for his car being damaged]  Well, what's your financial situation like?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [sighs]  I have a little laid by. I planned to use it on my wedding, but I guess it'll have to wait.

  Black Lawyer : Hmm. Mr. Walker, let me give you some advice. You spend the money on your wedding. Build yourself a home and a family where you can find some comfort. And just forget that some damn white man caused you offense.

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : And that's your advice?

  Black Lawyer : That's my advice, and I pray you take it to heart.

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Just forget it? Is that it?

  Black Lawyer : I've spent my whole life forgetting. You're a young man. You better start learning now.

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Learning what? How to be a nigger?

  Black Lawyer : [after a pause]  Mr. Walker, I'll thank you to leave. I have some charity cases you know nothing of. I got clients with real problems - starvation, illness, dispossession. Yes, I want justice for our people. Yes, I do. I want it so bad, I can taste it. If you think I'll go to Westchester County pleading on the behalf of a colored man that somebody dirtied his fancy car, you are very much mistaken. Now, please, you take this and leave my office.

  [Gives Coalhouse papers] 

• [Coalhouse has just learned that his friends have safely escaped] 

  Father : [trepidatiously]  Well, shouldn't we... uh... tell them... that we're... we're coming?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [calmly]  Yeah. You go on ahead. Tell 'em I'll be right out.

  Father : [hesitates]  Well...

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Just go on. I'll be with you.

  Father : [still hesitates]  Don't...?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [firmly]  Go.

  Father : [stammering]  Don't you think it would be... a better idea if we...?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [exploding]  GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! Don't you understand ANYTHING, white man?

  Father : [terrified, rushes out of the library] 

• Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [Speaking to Booker T. Washington]  You speak like an angel, Mr. Washington. It's too bad we're living on the earth.

• P.C. O'Donnell : Nobody's intimidating me, Mister. You just don't know what you're getting yourself into, and I'm trying to keep your nose clean. Now, would you be a good boy and just get along.?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I want my car cleaned!

  P.C. O'Donnell : Clean it then, damn you! Clean it and go!

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I want the man who did it to clean it!

  P.C. O'Donnell : All right, all right, let me pit it this way. I can arrest you for blocking a public service exit, for creating a public nuisance, and about ten other things I ain't gonna mention. Now, am I making myself clear?

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Yes.

  P.C. O'Donnell : Good.

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : Officer, I still want my car cleaned.

  P.C. O'Donnell : Oh, for Christ's sake! Ain't you got any sense in your head? I'm trying to help you! You leave me no choice.

  Coalhouse Walker Jr. : I'm sorry.

  P.C. O'Donnell : You're under arrest!

• Coalhouse Walker Jr. : [while praying]  Lord, why did you fill me with such rage?