Edward Furlong: Reuben Shapira

Little Odessa

Reuben Shapira

Arkady Shapira: I'm sorry I hit you. But you're always running away. I don't want you to see Joshua anymore. Joshua is not your brother anymore. Understand? I've spent my life trying to make things better for you. I don't make apologies. If I make mistakes, I'm sorry. Do you think I like working at the stand? Do you think I enjoy selling gifts and magazines? It's only because of you, to make money for you. Your brother is a different story. He's a street rat. You may think you know all about him, but believe me, you don't. He has no ambition, no desire, no nothing. I know you don't respect me, but Lord knows I try my best. Reuben.
Reuben Shapira: Does your girlfriend respect you?

Reuben Shapira: I haven't been to school in like, months.
Joshua Shapira: Why not?
Reuben Shapira: It's boring. Rather be smoking bud in a museum. Let's go see the snakes.
Reuben Shapira: [after a pause] I'm fucked up.

[Joshua has returned home with Reuben. He faces his father for the first time in years]
Arkady Shapira: [to Reuben] Did you let him in?
Reuben Shapira: [shrugs. Arkady slaps him, and Joshua punches his father in retaliation]
Joshua Shapira: He gets what I got, is that it?
Reuben Shapira: Josh...
Joshua Shapira: Don't you fuckin' hit him!
Arkady Shapira: Get out of my house.
Reuben Shapira: Josh, come on...
Arkady Shapira: Get out of my house, or I swear to you, you get belt.
Arkady Shapira: [brandishing his belt] Get out of my house! Get OUT of my house!
[they start to fight]
Joshua Shapira: Fuck you!
Arkady Shapira: Get out of my house!
Joshua Shapira: I'll fucking kill you! You fucking lay a hand on me!
Arkady Shapira: Get out.
[Reuben pulls Joshua away]
Arkady Shapira: Get out, I said! Get out! Murderer! Out!

Reuben Shapira: Josh. Josh, hey. It's me.
Joshua Shapira: Get outta here.
Reuben Shapira: Can't we meet later?
Joshua Shapira: It's not safe.
Reuben Shapira: Then we'll meet later somewhere else.
Joshua Shapira: Can't do that. I'm sorry. You look good, though. You're growing.
Reuben Shapira: Mom's gonna die. She got a brain tumor.
Joshua Shapira: Pop still work at the stand?
Reuben Shapira: Yeah.
Joshua Shapira: Be under the boardwalk. Near Nathan's, tomorrow at four.
Reuben Shapira: Okay.
Joshua Shapira: C'mere. How'd you know I was here? I won't do anything, just tell me.
Reuben Shapira: Sacha Ronov told me.
Joshua Shapira: Nobody can know I'm here. Not your friends, not their relatives, nobody. Don't discuss it with Sacha or anybody else. Okay? See you tomorrow.