The People Under the Stairs (1991)

Kelly Jo Minter: Ruby Williams

Photos 

Quotes 

• Ruby Williams : My name is Ruby Williams and I represent the association of people who have been unjustly evicted, exploited and generally fucked over.

  Woman : What?

  Ruby Williams : You and your brother are landlords of over 50 buildings in this city, ALL of which you've allowed to deteriorate into rat infested hellholes while you guys get rich charging ridiculous rents. THEN, you evict anyone the minute they can't pay rent so you can tear down their homes and build some more office buildings, isn't that about right?

• Ruby Williams : What're you gonna do, shoot us all?

  Woman : You'll do!

  Alice : No!

  [drops out of the ceiling and knocks the Woman's head against the floor] 

  Ruby Williams : Damn, she knocked that bitch cold!

  Second man : Look at her, what they doing to her in there?

• Ruby Williams : Now here's your card, Fool. See? That's where l got your nickname.

  Fool : Don't remind me!

  Ruby Williams : Here you go. Today. The golden-haired birthday boy is settin' off on life's big adventure.

  Fool : I ain't no golden-haired nobody! All l'm goin' on to is seventh grade.

  Ruby Williams : Well, you're the Fool, and you can't escape that. That ain't bad.

  Fool : No?

  Ruby Williams : No. Ain't the stupid kind of fool. The ignorant kind, cos you're just startin' out.

  Fool : That's better, l guess.

  Ruby Williams : Ah, but look here. Already he's got a problem, see? One step in front Fool: the drop-off.

  Fool : What about the dog?

  Ruby Williams : That's Fool's companion. See his spirit barking? "Fool! Don't go marching over that cliff, now! Do the smart thing. The high thing."

  Fool : So what Fool gonna do if he ain't gonna go off the cliff? Fly?

  Ruby Williams : He gonna do what he have to, Fool. Turn around and walk the other way, right through the fire of the sun.

  Fool : He'll get burned up if he do that.

  Ruby Williams : Just the boy part get burned up. The rest come out the other side a man. And no one calls him "Fool" again.

• Woman : Get off my property!

  Grandpa Booker : Just want to finish saying our piece, ma'am.

  Ruby Williams : Not only are you bad landlords but 10 times worse. You've stolen all the children from our community for your own sick needs!

  Woman : There's no community here, all I see are a couple of ni...

  [the entire neighborhood comes up behind Ruby and Booker] 

  First man : Ruby, right here!

  First woman : Got that right!

  Second woman : We busted your ass, bitch!

  Ruby Williams : What're you gonna do, shoot us all?