Black Girl (1972)

Leslie Uggams: Netta

Quotes 

• Mama Rose : [Netta is at the top of the church stairs with a big bouquet of flowers behind her. Rose turns around and sees her and walks towards the stairs to her and gives her a hug]  Something told me to look up here.

  Netta : You better hurry up and get your mother's day surprise.

  [Rose hurries her into the upstairs room] 

  Netta : A lot of jealous eyes been looking at them.

  [She presents her bouquet to Rose] 

  Mama Rose : OH, look what my sweet daughter went and gave me!

  [she smells them] 

  Mama Rose : You got them laced just right!

  [she hugs Netta] 

  Mama Rose : Thank you, darling! Thank you.

  Netta : I thought it would be better if I brought my mother up here.

  Mama Rose : That's nice. Tell me, how long have you been in town?

  Netta : Oh, I haven't been here too long.

  Mama Rose : You mean to tell me that if I have decided not to come to church this morning, I wouldn't even known you was here?

  Netta : [to woman passing by leaving the room]  Thank you, Sister Jenkins.

  [She closes the door] 

  Netta : Sure. Sure, you would have known. If I hadn't seen you here today, I was going to get your present to you some kind of way.

  Mama Rose : But why didn't you call me, Netta?

  Netta : I was busy trying to get things together. And I was walking all over town trying to find you some flowers that weren't picked all over.

  Mama Rose : I appreciate all the trouble you went through to get them, but you made me think you were gonna stay with me.

  Netta : Mama Rosie, you don't understand what I'm trying to do. You've got plenty of people to lean on. My mother only has me. I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I... can't deal with all of this.

  Mama Rose : Deal with what? What is it? I understand about your mother! You should have called me!

  Netta : Mama Rosie, I am my mother's daughter, not yours! I ran away from my mother years ago because I wasn't strong enough then, but I'm going to her now! It's as simple as that!

  Mama Rose : [heartbroken and near tears]  Don't you raise your voice with me. Don't you DARE raise your voice with me!

  [She leaves the room]