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Ladies and gentlemen, the Detroit Theater

continues our legendary talent contest with the indefatigable Stepp Sisters!

I’m lookin’ for something, baby

Something that’l/ give me a rise

l’m lookin’ for something, baby

Like a real nice surprise

l’m lookin’ for something, baby

Something that you have got

l’m lookin’ for something, baby

And it’s gonna be real hot

Ladies, you can't go.

What about Jimmy? What about the show?

Marty, you know I can talk. Now watch me walk.

Sugar, Jimmy was just being Jimmy.

You know he's crazy about you. Just crazy.

Oh, really?

Well, give the crazy man a message from me.

Tell him I got his number. His phone number.

Now, baby...

At home, where he lives, with his wife.

Come on, Joann. Our limousine is waiting.

We don't have to put up with this shit.

Shit.

l’m lookin’, lookin’, lookin’ for something

l’m lookin’ for something now

Hey, mister.

Thanks, man.

Can I interest you in the sound of tomorrow?

Oh, my God. We're too late.

Excuse me?

Hey. You go on yet?

About an hour ago.

l’m lookin’ for something, baby

l’m lookin’ for something now

l’m lookin’ for something, baby

l’m lookin’ for something now

The unstoppable Stepp Sisters! Let's hear it!

All right now. Won't be long now, y'all.

Coming your way is the wildest man in show business, Detroit’s own

James "Thunder” Early will be kicking off

his national tour right here on stage tonight.

Mercy. Mercy, mercy. Ladies? Ladies? I've got the break of your lives.

The great Jimmy Early is looking for some backup help tonight...

Now / want you to turn it on for Little Albert and the Tru-Tones!

Me and my baby goin’ downtown

Me and my baby gettin’ down tonight

-Me and my baby goin’ downtown -Downtown

Me and my baby gonna check, check, check out the sights

We ’re looking around

On the town with my sweet lady

Looking around

Oh, we’re gonna have us a time tonight

Checking it over

Checking it out

Checking it over

Checking it out

-l'm so sorry, Mr... -Taylor. Curtis Taylor, Jr.

Look, I know we're late, but my mama don't like me going out on weeknights.

So I had to wait for her to go to bed. She's a grade-school teacher.

Who are you?

Deena Jones! I'm one of The Dreamettes.

You were supposed to go on second.

I know, but my mama wouldn't go to bed, so I couldn't go out.

Hey, tough luck, kid. The show's over.

Let me lay something on you right quick, brother.

Check it out, man.

Look, I know you're a great man and you're the boss with all the ladies,

so I don't want you coming up weak in here,

but low-rating people, that's not why you're in this business, right?

No!

That's good, so why don't we give these girls a break tonight?

Okay, I'll put you on last.

-Right after Tiny Joe Dixon. -Thank you.

Excuse me, which one is Tiny?

We ’re going downtown

Check out the sights

Okay, we’re going to get down and dirty with my man, Mr. Tiny Joe Dixon!

Baby, I’m takin’ the long way home

’Cause my baby don ’t live there no more

I got the music to the drummer.

C.C., we're on next.

-Where is Effie? -l'm right here.

God, I need to rest. Where's our dressing room?

Effie, there's no time for that. We go on in two minutes.

-What? -Come on, let's warm up.

Move, move...

We're ruined unless we can find new wigs.

Why do we need wigs in the first place?

Because we need a look.

-I got it! Turn the wigs around. -What?

No, really. Come on, turn the wigs around.

Oh, Deena, it's so different.

It's sophisticated looking. Come on!

Frontways or backways, store-bought hair ain't natural.

And what about these dresses?

I mean, this dress does nothing for my body.

-You got the same wig I got? -Yeah.

-You got the same dress I got? -Yeah.

Then shut up.

Say, Miss?

I think you look just great.

She left with all her clothes

Her bedroom in a mess

/ don ’t know why she went away ’cause I gave her all my best

Baby, I’m takin’ the long way home

’Cause my baby don ’t live there no more

-What's the name of your group again? -The Dreamettes.

Nice, baby.

Yeah.

Let’s hear it for Mr. Tiny Joe Dixon!

And now for our final act of the evening, the courageous, the curvaceous,

Creamettes!

It's The Dreamettesl The Dreamettesl

Move, move

Move right out of my life

Move, move

Move right out of my life

You better move

You’re steppin’ on my heart

I said, move

You’re tearin’ it apart

Please move

Oh, what am I gonna do?

My heart

ls breakin’, breakin’ up over you

You’ve got such magnetic power

That just keeps holding me down

/ feel just like a flower

That you’re keeping stuck

in the ground, ground, ground

Move, move Move right out of my life

Move it, move it

Out of my life

Move right out of my life

Move it, move it

Out of my life

Move, move

Move right out of my life

You are so horribly satanic

The way you lead me around

/ feel just like the Titanic

I’m always going down

Move, move

You’re steppin’ on my style

You’re steppin’ on my style Yes, you are

I said, move, move

I want to breathe for a while

Hey, baby

Get out of my life

There ’s too much pain and strife

So why don ’t you pack it up and move it?

Take the cat, kit and caboodle

Take your broken-down car

Your smelly cigar

And just move right out of my

Move right out of my life

Come on! Come on! You can do better!

Let’s hear it for the delectable, defiant Dreamettes!

Hey, Mister. Five dimes say The Dreamettes don't win.

You got it. They weren't going to win anyway.

Now remember, the winner of this year’s contest gets

a week’s paid engagement right here at the famous Detroit Theater.

All right now.

And that very lucky, very talented star of tomorrow is

Mr. Tiny Joe Dixon!

Does this mean we're not going to be famous now?

Well, not tonight.

Come on, let's go home.

VVhy?

Because I'm tired and I got to get up early for work.

I mean, what's the point?

Lorrell, how old were we when we first started singing together?

Twelve.

And C.C., how many dances you got dreamed up for us?

How many songs written there in your notebook?

I don't know. Maybe a hundred.

And, Effie, have you ever met anyone who could sing as crazy as you?

No.

And still we get nowhere?

So I'm asking you, what's the point?

The point is you don't need an amateur contest,

because there's nothing amateur about you.

What you need is a break, and I'm here to give it to you.

Thirty bucks each to sing behind Mr. Jimmy Early tonight.

Jimmy Early?

And a guaranteed 10-week engagement on the road

starting tomorrow morning at $400 a week.

-$400? -Yes.

-You swear? -If I'm lying, I'm dying.

By the way, Mr. Early said he'd hire my Aunt Ethel

to watch after you gals while you're away from home.

Mama's going to love that!

Effie, do you hear this?

We're singing behind Jimmy Early tonight!

-I don't do backup. -Come on, girl.

All we got to do is just sing a few "oohs" and "aahs."

I don't do "oohs" and "aahs."

Now, you look, Effie.

-This could be our big break. -Singing backup is a trap.

Now, I'm sorry, Mister, but we cannot accept your offer.

All right, all right, all right.

Look, I know you're good.

And you know you're good, too. And very talented.

And not only that, you are a stone cold fox.

But that ain't enough.

A girl like you can get hurt out there if you ain't got somebody protecting you.

Now, I'm here to do that for you, baby. But you got to believe me.

You got to trust in me.

I ain't gonna disappoint you.

-Come on, Effie? What do you say? -Come on, Effie.

-Well, Mr... -Curtis Taylor, Jr.

Curtis Taylor, Jr., our manager,

says we're singing behind Mr. Jimmy Early tonight!

Oh, baby, I love you!

This business sure has got a lot of ups and downs!

Are you ready for the Thunder Man?

and he ain't coming up unless he can hear you!

Let's hit it, boys. Showtime.

Hey, Marty, I said no mayonnaise, man. How many times I got to tell you?

No mayonnaise on the chicken sandwich!

We got bigger problems, baby.

I warned you to lay off the women that you work with.

There's plenty other ladies out there.

Well, who got time to go out and find them, Marty?

I'm always working, baby.

Yeah, 'cause Marty always keeps you working.

Hell, yeah. That's why I keep letting you give me the wrong sandwich.

Let's go get this money now.

-ls everything set? -Yeah, Jimmy's down with the two girls.

This is a group. It's either three or nothing.

Hey, man, who is this guy?

My clients always work together.

I know you. Didn't you sell me my Cadillac?

Yeah, yeah. In addition to my management company,

l have a Cadillac dealership on Woodward Avenue.

Yeah, well, my kitty needs a tune-up. And Jimmy only works with two, baby.

Sorry, brother, it's two or nothing.

Those the girls right there?

I think three is gonna work outjust fine.

Ladies!

Ladies. Ladies, thank you so much. You're saving Jimmy's life.

Thank you so much, ladies. I'm at your feet.

You see that? I'm at your feet, baby. Thank you so much.

And I'd do anything for y'all. Anything. You hear what I'm saying? Anything.

Exactly what would you like Jimmy to do for you, baby?

Well, Mr. Early,

you could teach us the song.

Thirteen years

of solid gold platters

Rising costs

And cocktail chatter

Fat deejays

Stereophonic sound

on, baby

The game of hits

Goes round and around

But you can fake your way to the top

Round and around

Try that part right there, baby.

Round and around

Fake your way to the top

Round and around

Yeah, you fell right in there, didn't you, sweetheart?

You can fake your way to the top

Round and around

Shit, I knew you'd have it.

But it’s always real, so real

Always so real

When you’re coming down

Yeah, yeah, been around

Oh, / know what’s happening

I’ve been around

Faking my way

Through every town

I’ve made my living

Off of my sound

And the game of hits

It goes around and around and around and around

Around and around and around and around

A man gets lonely

Workin’ hard on the road

He’s away from his woman

It’s a heavy load

That back there is Harlem. This is Hollywood.

And you ain't welcome in Hollywood.

A man needs help

Tryin’ to make it all alone

He has a part-time baby

So he won ’t be alone

So he won ’t be alone

Time to bring up the lights!

Yeah, let’s see which one of these girls is going home with Jimmy tonight?

I got a nice, warm bed waiting on you.

Jimmy, my bed.

All right now. Come on now. Who wants to sit on Daddy’s lap?

Yeah!

Is your man here?

What? He’s in the bathroom?

Hey, somebody go up there and lock that bathroom up.

Well, / don ’t wanna get in no trouble up in here tonight.

My bed, with my bad self.

Come on! Break it down.

Make me feel so real

Feel so real

Feel so real

Feel so real

Don ’t it feel so real?

Yeah, it feels real

Yeah

I don't believe all this all can be happening to me.

Miracles happen all the time in the world of R&B, baby.

-What's R&B mean? -Rough and black.

Mr. Early, you're so crazy.

Call me Jimmy, baby. Jimmy.

Oh, Mr. Jimmy. You're so crazy.

That does feel nice. I mean, it feels funny.

You're married, aren't you?

Everybody say yeah

Yeah

Say yeah

Yeah

Everybody knows Jimmy's married, baby.

Then...

Then you get your married hands off!

So it's gonna take two weeks.

/ faked my way to the top

Round and around

Oh, yeah

Round and around

/ faked my way to the top

Round and around

Round and around

You know / faked my way to the top

Round and around

It’s always real, so real

When you’re coming down

/ faked my way, yes, I did

Help me, Jesus

Help, help, help me, Jesus

/ faked my way to the top

Did you notice the seats are periwinkle blue

to go along with your pretty blue dress? And...

-Would you excuse me? -Certainly.

Wayne? Help me out.

Hi.

How can I help you today?

Here. This is our periwinkle blue. Matches your dress.

I'm just saying, you might do better if you were just a little more, you know...

-Shy? Sugar-sweet, like you? -Boys seem to like it.

Well, I am not interested in boys, Deena.

What are you ladies jawing about?

Well, Curtis, we were just wondering...

Do you cheat on your wife, like Mr. Jimmy Early?

Hey, Effie! I don't know her.

Deena's right. It's really none of our business.

We don't even know if you're married.

l was married. It didn't work out.

Well, was she one of those teeny little tweety-birds like little Miss Deena here?

Or do you prefer a real woman?

Well, actually, lwas raised by my older sisters,

and they were just as real as you are.

Well, why don't you sit down and tell me about them?

You know, lwould love to, but give me a minute.

It ain't working, Marty. That faint used to kill 'em.

-It used to slay 'em in the aisles. -Slay 'em in the aisles, baby.

But now you got everybody doing it.

You got Otis, J.B. Everybody doing my shit.

You're right, Jimmy. Everybody's doing it.

Well, who's the original?

Who was the first one to fall down and start screaming?

-That was you. -l'm the first!

And you killed 'em tonight, baby. It was beautiful, Jimmy. Beautiful.

Marty, you're full of shit, man. I need something.

Man, I need something...

That's what I need. Sweet Mother Jesus.

I need that right there!

What you need is a new sound.

What I need is a new Caddy. That one you sold me is dripping oil.

Hey, Jimmy, you remember C.C., Effie's brother?

He's a very talented composer.

Yeah, I remember you. You wrote that song, Move On.

Move. The girls be, "Move, move, move."

Yeah, that was me, man.

-All right. -Yeah.

What did you think of that song, Marty?

Well, I think it was kind of...

You know...

-Kind of boring, I thought. -Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

It's boring, kid.

I'm no kid, mister.

I'm sorry, baby, but when Jimmy's involved,

the song got to have some soul!

Damn! Lord have mercy!

Got to have soul!

Soul, gospel, R&B, jazz, blues,

everything else the man has grabbed from us.

Listen, there's got to be a better way for us to get our music

to a broader audience,

only this time with our artists and our money.

Marty, this man is handing me a line of crap.

Yeah, I know, baby.

Got me a Cadillac Cadillac, Cadillac

Got me a Cadillac car

Got me a Cadillac Cadillac, Cadillac

Look at me, mister, I’m a star

I know what you cats are trying to do, and you can forget it.

James Early ain't no street-corner punk looking for his first date.

He's an established artist with a recording contract.

On a shitty local label that can't get him to the pop charts.

We can't do nothing about that.

All I'm asking is one record, man. One song with a simple hook.

"Look at me in my pretty car, makes me feel like a movie star."

You know where all the hits happen these days? In cars, man.

Songs that make you feel good while you're driving your automobile.

Yeah?

Jimmy's fans like taking the bus.

Let's hit it, Jimmy.

Hey, what do you think about using that bridge there, baby?

Movin’ out

Mo vin’ up

Mo vin’ on

Sounds a little tick-tock, boys.

Let's stay in the pocket.

Going to work! Shut it down!

Recording, Cadillac Car. Take nine.

I got me a Cadillac

Cadillac, Cadillac

I got me a Cadillac car

Got me a Cadillac

Cadillac, Cadillac

Look at me, mister, I’m a star

I’m on the move

I’m gettin’ on

l’m breakin’ out

And it won ’t take long

Behind the wheel

Got a song

Pedal’s down

And I’m gone

We ’ve got that coming up in the next hour,

but for now, let me get a hold of your ear.

It's a different sound for the Thunder Man.

And I think you're gonna enjoy it.

Got me a Cadillac

Cadillac, Cadillac

Oh, my God, Lorrell! Do you hear that? That's us!

We're on the radio, Curtis!

-What's happening? -Black station, the signal's too weak.

Turn this boat around! Hurry up!

C.C., fix it! What are you waiting for?

Antenna's up

Top is down

Peelin’ out

Don ’t care where I’m bound

Got these four wheels

Spinnin’ round

Me and my two-tone Caddy

Gonna blow this town

Movin’ out

Cadillac Caris No. 8 on the R&B charts, and No. 98 on the pop charts.

Movin’ out

Mo vin’ up

Mo vin’ on

Right to the top

Got me a Cadillac

Cadillac, Cadillac

Got me a Cadillac car

Oh, I’ve got me a Cadillac

Cadillac, Cadillac

Look at me, mister, I’m a star

Look at me, mister, I’m a star

Look at me, mister

I’m a star

That’s Dave & the Sweethearts with their marvelous

new recording, Cadillac Car.

You hear this shit?

You hear this shit?

They act like we don't even exist!

Is that how it works, Curtis?

The man decides he wants something, he just takes it?

I mean, how can they do that? That's my song.

Our song.

Marty says this happens all the time. Once something...

That's bullshit, man! He should have protected us!

They stole our hit.

I never thought...

You got me to think for you now

I’ve tried to make good

Without much success

You’ve got me to think for you now

Every time / try for more

/ wind up with less

You gotta put your soul on a moral break

Get to the point

You just gotta

take

Who was the first artist to sing Hound Dog?

Elvis Presley.

Big Mama Thornton. She had the No. 1 single on the R&B charts,

but white stations wouldn't play it

because to them it was just another race record.

We are gonna make friends with the most important deejays in this country.

It's strictly pay-for-play with those boys.

That takes money. Real money.

What is that? Chicken scratch?

Let's get to work.

Steppin' to the bad side

Gonna take a mean ride

The smile / had is gone away

Those that steal are gonna pay

Steppin' to the bad side today

I’m telling you now, it’s got to end

No more trusting them, my friend

Change our style

Change our tone

Make the songs we sing our own

Steppin' to the bad side

Gonna take a mean ride

I’ll get you all the breaks you need

In just two years, we’ll be in the lead

Can’t sit back, it’s plain to see

Open your eyes and trust in me

Steppin' to the bad side

Gonna take a mean ride

l was a man who tried to be good

l was always misunderstood

You can’t play fair or be too meek

You gotta get way down

and show your danger streak

Steppin' to the bad side

Here's a great new song from Jimmy Early and The Dreamettes.

Gonna take a mean ride

...a new hit from Jimmy Early and The Dreamettes.

It's called Steppin' to the Bad Side.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the Apollo Theater’s legendary stage

Jimmy Early and The Dreamettes,

singing their No. 1 hit, Steppin' to the Bad Side.

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

I had to step into the bad side

I had to take myself a mean ride

You know that smile I had is gone away

Those that steal are gonna pay

Steppin' to the bad side today

A man just stole my woman from me

He took her down to Tennessee

She was the best girl / ever knew

If it wasn’t for him, she’d still be true

Always been a good man, it’s been said

When / catch the man He’ll wish he was dead

Men like him make good men mad

Starting today I’m gonna be bad

l’m steppin’ to the bad side

l have to take myself a mean ride

You know that smile I had is gone away

Those that steal are gonna pay

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side today

-Step on -Step on to the bad side

Step on to the bad side

-Step on -Step on to the bad side

Steppin' to the bad side

-Step on -Step on to the bad side

Step, step

Steppin' to the bad side

-Step on -Step on to the bad side

-Step on -Step on to the bad side

Step on to the bad side

Step on up to the bad side

Got to step to the bad side

The motor is now cranked up

and we are moving up the highway of freedom

toward the city of equality.

And we can’t afford to stop now,

because our nation has a date with destiny.

We must keep moving.

l have a dream this afternoon

that one day right here in Detroit,

Negroes will be able to buy a house

anywhere that their money will carry them,

and they will be able to get a job.

Made my peach cobbler!

Curtis!

-Hey, baby, you know my sisters. -Tell me something.

Do you think it's right to promote an amateur performer

over a professional?

I don't know what this is about.

It's about fairness, Curtis. It's about people paying their dues.

Ain't that what you keep telling me? "Get in line, Effie. Wait your turn."

So why am I sitting here without so much as a B-side on the 45

when an amateur like Martin Luther King, Jr.

gets his own freakin' album?

I mean, can he even sing?

All right, that was a good one.

You're a great man, Curtis.

Isn't your brother a great man?

Never met a man

Quite like you

Doin’ all he can

Makin’ my dreams come true

You’re strong and you’re smart

You’ve taken my heart

And I’ll give you the rest of me, too

You’re the perfect man for me

llove you, I do

llove you

Hold it, hold it. I promise I'll get to all of you in a minute,

but right now I need someone that can type.

Anybody got some secretarial experience?

-I can do it. -You? Come on.

What's all this?

All right, come in.

/ never felt

Quite like this

Good about myself

From my very first kiss

I’m here when you call

You’ve got it all

And confidence like / never knew

You’re the perfect man for me

llove you, I do

You’ve got the charm

You simply disarm me every time

As long as you drive

l’m along for the ride your way

You said it before

There won ’t be a door

That’s closed to us

l’m puttin’ all my trust in you

’Cause you, you’ll always be true

/ never could have known

This would be

You and you alone

All for me

/ know you’re the best

You’ve passed every test

It’s almost too good to be true

You’re the perfect man for me

llove you, I do

You’re the perfect man for me

llove you, I do

C.C. wrote it for me.

What do you think, Curtis?

It's too light. We want light, but not that light.

Not that light?

Okay, but when we fix it, you're gonna put it in the show, right?

First things first.

I got to get Jimmy booked down in Miami,

even if I got to buy my own hotel.

But you promised I wouldn't spend my life singing backup, Curtis.

And I still promise that.

I'm not gonna let this beautiful voice go to waste.

You just got to trust me.

-Can we talk about it more tonight? -All night.

-All right. -Bye, man.

All right.

Boy, you're a real snake.

A cheap, second-rate hustler. Street-corner con artist.

Look, you want to buy a car, Marty? Why don't we talk about it in my office?

I'm away a week, and you cancel dates behind my back.

I spent six months setting up this tour for Jimmy.

Jimmy's too big for that Chitlin Circuit shit.

I'm trying to get him booked at the Paradise in Miami.

-Miami? -Miami.

You're really drifting out there, chump.

You couldn't get Sammy Davis, Jr. in there.

That place is so white, they don't even let our boys park the cars.

I got him an audition.

-Luck, man. Hustler's luck. -That's just the beginning.

Then we're gonna do the Copa, the Americana.

He could even do American Bandstand.

I've been in this business too many years

-to listen to some hotshot talk bullshit. -Not bullshit, Marty. Change.

I'm talking change. Can't you see? The time is now.

Jimmy needs a new act, something classier, with a catchier sound.

That'll go down better with white folks.

That'll put him where he should be,

making the type of money he should be making.

He's at the top of the pop charts. He's hot.

-We can do this for him. -We?

-Yeah, we. -We do nothing.

Jimmy's mine, so back off, Curtis. Jimmy's mine.

Jimmy don't belong to no one.

Are you defending this car salesman, Jimmy?

Can't you see he's using you?

Ain't nobody using Jimmy, all right? Nobody.

Who do you think you're talking to, baby? It's Marty.

The man who found you singing for pennies when you were 10 years old.

It's a whole new day, Marty, and a brand new Jimmy.

You want him, brother? You got him.

I'm through.

-Hey, what you doing? -You can't have it all, baby.

Hey, come on, Marty, don't go. I want you to stay.

I love you, Jimmy.

But you can't have it all.

Lady, you got to be Jewish. Of course, yeah, of course.

It’s 105 degrees in here, and you’re the only one wearing a mink stole.

Hey, my friend, what’s your nationality?

"Nationality. " / know it’s a big word. What are you, Cuban?

Of course. You’re Cuban. You’re Cuban, I’m a Jew.

You know, lsay this from the bottom of my heart.

A Negro, if he had enough money, could move into my neighborhood.

You, not a chance.

Tonight, though, we ’re here to make history.

The first Negro headliners to ever play Miami Beach.

What do you think of that?

Come on. It’s a very convenient arrangement.

These are good people. / mean, they can sing, they can dance,

they can even mop up aften/vards. You can’t find help like that.

Anyway, please give a warm round of applause to the very talented

Jimmy Early and The Dreamettes! Come on!

/ want you, baby

/ want you

And / need you, baby

/ need you

on, baby

Baby

You got me on my knees

Got me on my knees

You got me begging

Baby, baby

Baby, baby

Baby, please

/ know you don ’t trust

the way / feel

You know, we can always create a younger look for American Bandstand.

Yeah.

You got me on my knees

You got me beggin’

Baby, baby

Baby, baby

Oh, yeah

Oh, / want you, baby

And / need you, baby

Yes, I do

/ want you

Baby, you got me, baby

Now I’m yours, baby

Yes!

I love me some Jimmy, but he's gonna have to stop calling me "baby."

I'm a woman now.

Did you see the man Curtis was sitting with?

Did you hear what I said, Deena? I am a woman now.

-Lorrell, I know. -What do you mean, you know?

-Has Jimmy talked? -He didn't have to.

How could you? Come on, you're just a baby, Lorrell.

I am not, Deena. I'm a woman now. I'm 18, so I'm a woman.

Yeah, she's a mature woman, like me,

and she loves Jimmy just as much as I love Curtis.

-lt's not wrong when you love someone. -ls that all you two can think about?

-Yeah. -Yeah.

Well, there's no doubt my mama brought me up fit.

-Deena, you're just jealous. -Let yourself go just once.

It's so wonderful to have somebody to love.

-You ladies decent? -Well, I am.

-I can't speak for these two. -Hey, babe.

Curtis, how did it go with American Bandstand?

Timing's not right.

Well, maybe they'll be more interested after we play the Copa.

-Y'all ain't playing the Copa. -What?

I'm breaking you and Jimmy up.

I know what you're doing, Curtis!

You're breaking us up 'cause you don't want me with Jimmy.

None of you do! Because you're all jealous!

Well, nothing's breaking me and Jimmy up! Nothing!

I'm breaking you up because Jimmy is going back out on the road,

while you stay here and open your own act.

Did you say our own act?

Finally, Curtis! This is what I've been waiting for. I love you.

Oh, well, honey, I'm fine with that. I mean, I love me some Jimmy,

but I don't want to be singing behind him the rest of my life.

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting The Dreams.

The Dreamettes were little girls. You're women now.

-You see, Deena, I told you! -We open in a week,

so we got a lot of work to do. We're gonna have a lot of changes.

I'm bringing on Jolly Jenkins to stage a whole new show.

He's done movies, Broadway, clubs acts, you name it.

New wigs, the expensive kind.

Brand-new costumes to appeal to a younger crowd.

And...

Effie?

-Deena's going to sing lead. -Deena's doing what?

-Lead. -What do you mean?

-I always sing lead. Tell him, C.C. -We're trying something new, Effie.

-You knew about this? -Curtis and I talked it over.

He said it's only temporary.

We finally get the chance to have our own act

and Deena's doing lead?

She can't sing like I can.

She's right, Curtis. I can't.

I don't want to.

Now, y'all gonna do what I tell you to do. This is a new sound with a new look.

New look? Nobody can see her on a record!

The only way we'll be able to change things is by appealing to kids,

and kids today watch television.

So Deena's going to sing in the lead 'cause you like the way she looks?

Am I ugly to you, Curtis?

Baby, come on. You know how I feel about you. Come on.

-Don't make it personal. -Well, what am I supposed to do?

Deena's beautiful and she's always been beautiful!

But I've got the voice, Curtis! I've got the voice!

You can't put me in back! You just can't!

Well, you'll be singing backup with me. What's so wrong with that?

Let Deena do all the work for a change.

Your voice alone is too special.

We need a lighter sound to cross over to the pop charts.

It's what we need.

What about what I need?

Curtis says it's the best thing for the group.

What about what’s best for me?

He feels The Dreams can cross over.

What about how / feel?

Effie, do it for me.

What about me?

What about me?

It’s more than you

It is more than me

No matter what we are

We are a family

This dream is for all of us

This one can be real

And you can’t stop us now

Because of how you feel

It’s more than you

It is more than me

Whatever dreams we have

They’re for the family

We’re not alone anymore

Now there are others there

And that dream is big enough

For all of us to share

So don ’t think you’re going

You’re not going anywhere

You’re staying and taking your share

And if you get afraid again

I’ll be there

We are a family

Like a giant tree

Branching out toward the sky

We are a family

We are so much more

Than just you and l

We are a family

Like a giant tree

Growing stronger, growing wiser

We are growing

free

We need you

We are a family

Ladies and gentlemen,

the Crystal Room is proud to present

the club debut of America ’s newest recording stars, The Dreams!

Every man has his own special dream

And your dream’s just about to come true

Life’s not as bad as it may seem

If you open your eyes

To what’s in front of you

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll make you happy

Yeah

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll always care

We ’re your dream girls

Dream girls will never leave you

No, no

And all you’ve got to do is dream, baby

We 7/ be there

Dream

Dream girls will help you through the night

Dream

Dream girls will make you feel all right

Dream girls keep you dreamin’ your whole life through

Your dream girls can make your dreams come true

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll make you happy

Yeah, yeah, yeah

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we 7/ always...

I'm amazed, Mr. Taylor. Much as I love my daughter,

I never thought she had much of a voice.

Deena has something better. She has a quality.

-You make her sound like a product. -Product. I like that.

We’ll be there.

Dream

Dream girls will help you to survive

Dream

Dream girls will keep your fantasies alive

Dream girls always love you and they’ll be true

Your dream girl can only make love to you

I’m not the dream that you had before

I’m the dream that will give you more and more

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll make you happy

Yeah, yeah, yeah

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll always care

We ’re your dream girls

Dream girls

Dream girls will never leave you

And all you’ve got to do is dream

All you’ve got to do is dream

All you’ve got to do is dream

Baby, we 7/ be there

We ’re your dream girls

Oh, yeah

Dream girls

All you’ve got to do is dream

All you’ve got to do is dream

Just dream, baby

We 7/ be there

We 7/ be there

We will be there

We 7/ be there

Who was the first one to wear shiny clothes?

-Little Richard. -That was me, baby! I started that.

You remember that burgundyjacket I had with the bolt lightning on the back?

Lightning was in glitter. Glitter's shiny, baby.

-Hey, Jimmy. -...Deena Jones and The Dreams.

Rumors at Abbey Road say

George Martin is keen to work with the talented trio.

Could they be ready to record with the Fab Four?

Well, the boys will just have to wait.

These girls are busy blazing a trail across the globe.

People ask me how I came up with the sound.

I tell them it's like making a great sundae.

You start outwith two scoops of ice cream, some sauce,

-and then you put a cherry on top. -And is Deena the cherry?

Why, Miss Jones is the cherry, the nuts, the sauce, the cream

-and the banana, too. -Miss Jones, right here.

We look on with shock and dismay at the images we ’re bringing you tonight.

Detroit under siege and in flames as rioters and looters storm the city.

President Johnson has declared a state of emergency.

You used to be so light and free

You used to smile just looking at me

Now all you give is jealous hate

Come on, baby

Better lose some weight

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy, baby

Stop!

Effie, what's going on? You are still too loud.

-I'm trying, Curtis. -If you don't ease up, I'll do it for you.

Maybe we should just come back in the morning.

You know we can't. The album's already a month late.

Look, I know you're tired. You're tired, right?

-Can Ijust get one more? -Okay.

All right? Okay.

Let's get it right.

Record Heavy, Heavy. Take 30.

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy, baby

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy on me

-Where do you think you're going? -You're a liar, Curtis.

You'd better watch your mouth.

You're sleeping with her and everyone knows!

Hey, hey, hey, don't go out there!

Burn it up!

-We're black-owned! -Yeah!

-You all right? -I don't feel well, Curtis.

CBS’s Star Cavalcade presents the incredible Dreams

singing their latest hit, Heavy, Heavy.

You got so heavy, baby

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy on me

You used to want nothing from me

You used to say, "Let’s both be free"

You used to dance instead of walk

-Tighten up on camera two. Tighten up. -Move in, camera two.

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy, baby

Talk, talk, talk

Heavy, heavy

Talk, talk, talk

Heavy, heavy, heavy, heavy

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy, baby

Yeah, yeah

Heavy, heavy

You got so heavy on me

Effie, you're going crazy! Tell me, what have I done?

You stole my dream, Deena, and you stole my man!

I don't want to hear that kind of talk out of you...

Don't act like you don't know what this is about!

Effie, stop screaming. Everybody can hear you.

I don't care! Let them all hear!

I'm warning you, Effie, you stop bringing us down! And get back there!

Why, Curtis? You don't need me. All you care about is her bony ass!

You better back off.

Or what?

I didn't think so.

Love, love me, baby

Love, love me, chi/d

’Cause, baby, baby, baby You’re driving me wild

Listen, listen, listen. The mirrors got to turn together, guys.

They got to dance.

Mr. Taylor? We have a bigger problem on our hands.

Do I have to remind you that it's New Year's Eve?

Burt, don't worry about it. I've got it taken care of.

These people are paying 50 bucks. They expect to see three girls.

Trust me.

-Curtis, I just don't feel right about this. -It's done.

Wardrobe needs you first.

We are a family

Like a giant tree

Branching out toward the sky

We are a family

-I'm sorry I'm late. -Effie.

C.C., sorry I missed rehearsals.

But I went to the doctor, and I am feeling much better now.

Look, don't try to make it tonight.

What are you talking about, baby? It's New Year's Eve.

Yeah. Curtis just stepped out to make a call.

Why don't you go up to your room and later he'll come up and talk to you?

I said, I'm fine.

Excuse me. I have to get dressed now.

Oh, God, I'm so nervous.

I got all the steps down, but those harmonies...

C.C., what's going on?

Lorrell, what's going on?

-Effie, Curtis was supposed to... -Love me.

Curtis was supposed to love me.

There you are, Effie. I've been looking all over.

/ turn my back and find myself out on the line

You could have warned me

But that would have been too kind

I've been warning you for months to clean up your act.

You've been late, you've been mean,

giving all kinds of bullshit flack.

That’s a lie, that’s a lie

It’s just I haven ’t been feeling that well

Effie, please!

Stop excusing yourself.

You've been late, you've been mean,

and getting fatter all the time.

Now, you’re lyin’, lyin’

I’ve never been so thin!

You’re lyin’, you’re lyin’

Who thinks she’s better than everybody

She ain't better than anybody!

She’s nothing but common!

Now, who you calling common

You self-indulgent, self-absorbed, non-professional?

You! I’m calling you

I’m calling you the common piece he’s knocking off

Now, you listen to me Miss Blame It On The World

See, I’ve put up with you for much too long

l have put up with your bitching

I’ve put up with your nagging

And all your screaming, too

Now, when are you two gonna stop all this fighting?

Stay out of this, Lorrell.

This is between Deena and me.

Yeah? Well, it’s between me, too!

I’m as much a part of this group as anybody else

And I’m tired, Effie, I’m tired

of all the problems you’re making us

/ always knew you two were together

What?

/ always knew you two were ganging up on me!

She had nothing to do with this change

It was you, it was you

Always thinking of you!

Always thinking of you!

/ knew you were trouble from the start

Trouble?

You were real bad trouble from the start

Curtis, I'm your woman.

But you’re getting out now

I’m not building this group to have you tear it apart

Go ahead and rant and scream and shout!

Don’t worry, baby, I’ll buy you out

There's no money dirty enough to buy me out.

You remember that, Curtis.

Lay off, Effie

Just take the money and run

You're in this with him, C.C.?

Cool it, Effie

This time you know what you done

So they bought your black ass, too, huh?

I said, cool it, Effie

This time you’ve gone too far

Oh, I can go further! I can go further!

I don ’t want to stay around this

I’m just breakin’ into this business

This is between all of you

-This is none of my affair -Yeah?

Well, it’s between you, too Now, little sister

This snow job is as much your sin

Look at me! Look at me!

How much did you put out to get in?

Now, you watch your mouth Watch your mouth, Miss Effie White

’Cause I don ’t take that talk from no second-rate diva

who can’t sustain

I’m not feeling well, I’ve got pain

Effie, we all got pain!

For seven years, I’ve sung with you / was your sister

You were our trouble

And now you’re telling me it’s all over

And now we’re telling you it’s all over

And now I’m telling you / ain’t going

It’s all over

/ ain’t going

It’s all over

And / am telling you

I’m not going

You’re the best man I’ll ever know

There’s no way I can ever go

No, no, there’s no way

No, no, no way I’m living without you

I’m not living without you

I don ’t want to be free

I’m staying, I’m staying

And you, and you

You’re gonna love me

You’re gonna love me

And / am telling you

I’m not going

Even though the rough times are showing

There’s just no way, there’s no way

We’re part of the same place

We’re part of the same time

We both share the same blood

We both have the same mind

And time and time We’ve had so much to share

No, no, no, no, no, no way

I’m not waking up tomorrow morning

And finding that there’s nobody there

Darling, there’s no way

No, no, no, no way I’m living without you

I’m not living without you

You see, there’s just no way

There’s no way

Please don ’t go away from me

Stay with me, stay with me

Stay, stay and hold me

Stay, stay and hold me

Please stay and hold me, Mister Man

Try it, mister, try it, mister

/ know you can

Tear down the mountain

Yell, scream and shout You can say what you want

I’m not walking out

Stop all the rivers Push, strike and kill

I’m not gonna leave you

There’s no way / will

And / am telling you

I’m not going

You’re the best man I’ll ever know

There’s no way I could ever, ever go

No, no, no, no way

No, no, no, no way

I’m living without you

I’m not living without you

Not living without you

I don ’t want to be free

I’m staying, I’m staying

And you, and you, and you

You’re gonna love me

You’re gonna love me

Yes, you are Yes, you are

Love me!

Love me!

Love me!

Love

You’re gonna love

me

Ladies and gentlemen, the showroom at Caesar’s Palace is proud to present

Deena Jones and The Dreams.

Love, love me, baby

Love, love me, chi/d

’Cause baby, baby, baby You’re driving me wild

l’m somebody, somebody

And nobody’s gonna hold me down

No, nobody, nobody, nobody’s gonna hold me down

l’m somebody

It all started on the streets of Detroit,

where three girls named Deena, Lorre/l and Michelle

dreamed about one day becoming singing stars.

Since their triumphant Las Vegas debut,

they’ve had No. 1 albums for each of the last six years.

And they’re showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

But for Deena Jones, none of these exciting events compare

to the day she became Mrs. Curtis Taylor, Jr.

With his wife at his side, Mr. Taylor has built his music empire

into the most successful Afro-American business in the United States,

producing such sensations as The Family Funk,

Jimmy Ear/y,

and the phenomenal Campbell Connection.

Deena Jones has conquered the worlds of music and television.

And soon, she hopes to take on her biggest challenge yet,

the epic, untold story of Cleopatra ’s early years

all set to the music of today.

No, nobody, nobody, nobody’s gonna hold me down

l’m somebody

Thank you.

Now, I saved the bad news for last, Curtis.

Paramount passed on Cleopatra.

VVhy?

Too period.

And they're not convinced Deena's got the chops.

Fuck it.

We'll finance the movie ourselves.

I just don't know how you're going to swing it.

You're spreading yourself too thin as it is.

The music side is starting to suffer.

-Music runs itself. -Those days are over, Curtis.

Just putting Deena's name on a record don't make it a hit anymore.

And our acts are dying on the road. Especially Jimmy.

-He needs new material. -No, Jimmy needs to sober up.

Wayne, start pitching the networks on the anniversary special.

We'll do a greatest hits tie-in.

We'll rake in enough green to make 10 movies,

and pay for all of you useless motherfuckers.

Have a good day.

-How's my beautiful wife? -Curtis.

-I'm not sure how to tell you this. -Tell me what? Just say it.

I know how much time you've invested in this movie.

But I can't play that part.

I promised you I was gonna make you a movie star, right?

Cleopatra is gonna get us there.

I mean, this is the queen of a nation, not some hooker, junkie, maid.

I know. I know. It's a very important story.

And it's more than you.

Think about all the beautiful black women that ain't even born yet.

When they grow up they're gonna say, "I can play any part I want to.

"Look at Deena Jones. She did it."

But it's ridiculous. Come on.

She's 16 years old for most of the movie.

Well, baby, you'll always be 16 to me.

Maybe that's the problem.

Maybe you just don't see me for who I am.

When / first saw you

I said, "Oh, my"

lsaid, "Oh, my, that’s a dream

"That’s my dream"

I needed a dream

When it all seemed to go bad

Then / found you

And / have had the most beautiful dreams

Any man’s ever had

When / first saw you

I said, "Oh, my

"Oh, my, that’s my dream

"That’s my dream"

I needed a dream to make me strong

You were the only reason I had to go on

You are my dream

All the things / never knew

You are my dream

Who could believe they could ever come true?

And who would believe

the world would believe in my dreams, too?

When / first saw you

I said, "Oh, my

"Oh, my

"That’s my dream"

-What would make you happy, Deena? -You know.

We got plenty of time for that.

Please, Curtis. Let me have your child.

-Magic, read your book. -I'm done.

Then read it again!

Did you look for work this week, Miss White?

Mister, you can keep asking me that question.

But the answer's always gonna be the same.

The only thing I know how to do is sing.

And since there ain't nobody letting me do that no more,

no, I did not look for ajob.

Have you considered asking the girl's father for help?

Magic don't have a father.

Listen.

/ know you have questions

Same ones as me

How long has it been? How long will it be?

When will come the morning to drive the night away?

Tell me, when will come the morning of a brighter day?

Yeah

Patience, little sister

Patience, little brother

Patience, patience, yeah

Take each other by the hand

Yeah, yeah

Patience, little sisters

Patience...

-It's from your brother. -Send it back.

-There's cash in here. -You spend it.

Effie White, you are a mule.

Come on, baby, it's time to go to bed.

Just as stubborn as your mother.

Go home, old man.

Magic, come on, baby.

And a mountain to climb

Patience, patience

It’s gonna take some time

Yeah, yeah

We must walk in peace

We got to walk in peace

It’s the only

Only way, yes

If we want to see that morning, yeah

Of a brighter day

Patience

Come on!

Little sister

Patience

Little brother

Patience, patience, yeah

I’m gonna find a way

Patience

Little sister

Patience

Little brother

Nice to see you, Effie.

Of a brighter day

Patience

-Teddy, get yourself back to the party. -I'm waiting for Deena.

It's good. It's real good.

We wanted to surprise you, Curtis.

That's why we went ahead and recorded it first.

This is exactly what I need right now, Curtis.

It's what you've been always talking about to me, a new sound!

Still, it's a message song.

It tells the truth. People are angry out there.

I'm angry.

My brother's over in Vietnam fighting in a pointless war,

and I'm angry about it.

That's right, Curtis.

Isn't music supposed to express what people are feeling?

Music is supposed to sell.

Look, don't worry about it, Jimmy. We'll find you some new material.

Deena, I want you to meet this guy out here.

And about the shirt, you should lose it. It's messing up your image.

I'm so sorry, Jimmy.

Deena.

Honey, you don't need to be doing that stuff right now.

Come on, brother. It's Christmas.

Jimmy? Baby?

I'm not staying around for this.

Brother...

Yeah, but what about Holiday?

I had Billie here every winter from '42 to '58.

Great voice. Bad tipper.

Well, I tell you, Effie White is the best singer this town has seen since then.

Yeah, but the last time she performed, the girl fell apart.

That was years ago.

She just lost her confidence for a while. She's different now.

Max, please. For the old days?

They're gone, Marty.

Sorry, Marty, but the babysitter was late.

Effie White, this is Max Washington.

Hi, Max. Marty said you needed a singer.

I was just telling Max that you're serious about working.

He knows all about you.

You do, huh? Daddy, you don't know the half.

One night after you hire me, we'll sit down and I'll tell you

all about how I blew through half a million dollars in two years!

-Hey, come on. -Drinking.

You don't want to take up too much of the man's time.

-Now, Carl knows all the songs. -Carl? Where's Bernard?

He has a job in Evanston.

But I can't sing with someone I don't know.

Effie. You got to.

Marty, I don't have the time.

Max, please. Just give me a minute.

Now, you listen, Effie White. For four months, I've been your money.

I've taken you to every club in this freezing town,

and I'm telling you that this is it.

It's time that you stop making excuses so that you don't have to prove anything.

You're gonna have to start proving it, just like the rest of us.

I don't know. Maybe Curtis was right about you.

You want all of the privileges but none of the responsibilities.

Hey, Max. Thanks anyway, man. Sorry for wasting your time.

Do you know the song?

I told you I didn't want to see her.

Well, you are, mister. You are.

Look at me

Look at me

/ am changing

Trying every way / can

/ am changing

I’ll be better than I am

I’m trying to find a way

to understand

But I need you / need you

/ need a hand

/ am changing

Seeing everything so clear

/ am changing

I’m gonna start right now, right here

I’m hoping

To work it out

And / know that I can

But I need you

/ need a hand

All of my life, I’ve been a fool

who said I could do it all alone

How many good friends have / already lost?

And how many dark nights have / known?

Walking down that wrong road

There was nothing / could find

All those years of darkness

Could make a person blind

But now I can see / am changing

Trying every way / can

/ am changing

And I’ll be better than I am

But I need a friend

To help me start all over again

That would be just fine

/ know it’s gonna work out this time

’Cause this time / am

This time / am

/ am changing

I’ll get my life together now

/ am changing

Yes!

/ know how I’m gonna start again

I’m gonna leave my past behind

Right, baby! Sing it loud!

I’ll change my life

I’ll make a vow

Nothing’s gonna stop me

HOW

Tonight, live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Ange/es, California,

it’s The Sound of Tomorrow,

celebrating 10 years of hits from Rainbow Records.

Every day at school, girl

I see your smiling face

The teacher tries to call on me

But I can’t concentrate

I’m too busy thinkin’

All about your face

lknow I’m in love with you But you don ’t even know my name

Girl meets boy, boy meets girl

They could fall in love in a perfect world

But if boy and girl never meet

Then a perfect world can never be

Come on, girl!

Come on

llove you!

Come on, Jimmy, drink this.

-Five minutes, Mr. Early. -Yeah, all right.

I thought you were going to stay clean tonight, baby.

You know how important this is.

Yeah, lwas doing fine, too, till Melba came out and messed with me.

All that, "You never take me nowhere,"

and, "I'm tired of staying in the house night after night," shit.

Next thing I know, she's coming down the stairs in her party dress.

Wait a minute.

Are you telling me that your wife is out there right now?

What was I supposed to do, baby? That's why I needed to relax.

-Here, sugar, have a drink. -Yeah, help me out here. I'm frazzled.

You know, it's our anniversary, too, baby.

Don't you remember?

-Yeah, I remember that. -Let me give you a kiss for each year.

That's sweet.

One, two, three,

four, five, six,

seven, eight.

Eight years of unmarried life.

Hey, come on, now. Don't tell me we're going to start this shit again.

We'll deal with this after the show, all right?

Don't you walk out on me, Jimmy Early!

Girl meets boy, boy meets girl

Fall in love, perfect world

But if boy and girl never meet

Then a perfect world can never be

Come on, girl!

-I'm going to tell her, baby, I promise! -But when, Jimmy? When?

Please, Ijust need a little more time, all right?

Time's run out, Jimmy. I get it now.

-What you talking about? -You never really loved me.

Lorrell. Baby, you know I love you.

I do. But right now, I got a show to do.

...three, two...

And now, the mellow sounds of Jimmy Ear/y.

I meant you no harm

/ never meant to make you cry

You were the only one I’ve ever loved in my life

And though it’s hard for me to show it

I’ve got to let you know it

’Cause, darling / love you more each day

But the words got in my way

Oh, I meant you no harm

And / would die

If you ever said goodbye

llove you llove you

I meant you no harm

/ never, never meant to make you cry

You were the only one I’ve ever loved in my life

Hey, hold it.

I can’t do it no more. / can’t sing no more sad songs.

Hey, Curtis, this is supposed to be your night, right?

Let’s have some happy times. Right, I’m gonna give you a count-off.

The rest of you all come in when / tell you, all right?

What the hell's he doing?

One! Two! Three! Hit me!

Bass man, come on up! One! Two! Three! Hit me!

Sound good! Yeah! Saxophone! On the four!

One! Two! Three! Hit it!

Come on! Horns! Hit it!

Hey, Cur/y, let’s rap with Jimmy Ear/y

Got a home in the hills Mercedes-Benz, hot swimming pool

Got lots of friends

Got clothes by the acre Credit to spare

I could wake up tomorrow and find nobody there

But Jimmy want more Jimmy want more

Jimmy want, Jimmy want Jimmy want more!

Listen!

Jimmy want a rib Jimmy want a steak

Jimmy want a piece of your chocolate cake

But more than all that Jimmy wants a break

’Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul

Jimmy got, Jimmy got, Jimmy got soul!

Sooner or later, the time comes around

For a man to be a man Take back his sound

I gotta do somethin’ to shake things up

/ like Johnny Mathis But I can’t do that stuff

’Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul

Jimmy got S-O-U-L soul!

I can’t do rock, I can’t do roll

What I can do, baby, is show my soul

’Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul

Jimmy got, Jimmy got, Jimmy got soul!

Take it out.

Ladies and gentlemen, please stay in your seats.

We ’re back live in two minutes.

-What'd you think of my show, baby? -You made a fool out of yourself.

What are you talking about, man? I was just being Jimmy.

Lorrell, will you please tell him, if you can?

Jimmy keeps begging you for something new, but all you do is ignore him.

Of course he's confused.

It don't take a whiz to know that only a desperate man would drop his pants

in living color on network television.

Thanks, Lorrell. You told it like it is.

Yeah, well, that ain't all I got to say to you, sugar.

My brother, we're through.

What you talking about? What do you mean, we're through?

Come on, Jimmy, your time has passed.

Hey, man, I got soul! You can't kill a man with soul!

Come on, man. Let's at least end as friends, man.

If you ever need some help, just give me a call.

Whatever.

Hey, Curtis, Idon't beg! Idon't crawl! I'm an original!

Hey, where are you going? You can't leave me, girl. I love you.

And Lorre/l loves Jimmy

Lorre/l loves Jimmy

Lorre/l loves Jimmy

It’s true

But Lorre/l and Jimmy

are through

I got a show to do. Don't you remember, baby?

on, baby

I got a show to do

And now, please welcome the brightest star in the Rainbow constellation,

Deena Jones with the incredible Dreams!

Hello, America.

What a wonderful evening.

-/ love you all. -I love you, Deena!

llove you, too. Curtis, baby, this is for you.

We are a family, like a giant tree

Branching out toward the sky

We are a family

We are so much more More than just you and l

Time to go, Mr. Early.

We are growing free

Yeah!

I don ’t beg, Curtis!

I don ’t crawl!

’Cause I was here long before you

And I’ll be here long after

You all

You're an incredibly beautiful woman.

-Thank you, Jerry. -No, you're too beautiful.

This movie is about three grifters heading to Vegas for one final score.

When Dawn goes down on that truck driver,

you've got to smell the desperation.

I know that. That's what I love about her.

There's no pretense. No fucking bullshit.

America's sweetheart here has got a potty mouth.

Of course, if I were to become involved, we have to do a little work on the part.

What do you mean? I spent a year on the script, so...

I know, and it's good. But she's not real yet.

To start with, what kind of name is Dawn?

I'm from the projects in Detroit and I ain't ever met a sister named Dawn.

Well, the script's just a blueprint. It's not written in stone.

I hear Curtis is still trying to get that crazy black Cleopatra made.

Is it true he's got some mob money tied up in this?

My husband has his hands full with the music side right now.

That's why I didn't want to bother him with our meeting today.

So, say we do decide to get in bed with you on this,

will Curtis even let you do it?

I hear he's got you on a pretty tight leash.

That won't be a problem, Jerry.

Step, step, step on over

Step, step, step on over

Wanting you, wanting you

Needing you, needing you

Shit.

-Hey. -I didn't think it was possible, Curtis.

But I think you can squeeze even more of the soul out of my music.

-We just made it danceable, that's all. -What about the lyrics?

That rhythm takes all the feeling out of the music!

This is what you've been asking for. A totally new sound.

It's gonna be bigger than R&B and rock and roll put together!

People are getting ready to boogie,

and when they do they're gonna do it to our music.

Your music, Curtis. It has nothing to do with me.

Come on, brother, you know you're my main man.

Kiss my ass,

brother.

What the hell is going on now?

No, no!

The body was found at the Tropicana Hotel in Hollywood.

Police say Mr. Early had been dead for over a day,

the apparent victim of a heroin overdose.

The 43-year-old R&B singer was recently released from his contract

at Rainbow Records.

She won't let me see him, Deena.

She won't let me see my Jimmy.

Plans are being made to fly the body back to Detroit

where there will be a private burial.

What a thing.

Bad, bad scene.

Well, thanks for the drink.

Tell Lorrell I'll stop by tomorrow.

C.C., man, no matter what troubles we had, you know, we're still a family.

That's the most important thing.

It's over, Curtis.

Oh, come on, man. Jimmy did this to himself. You know that.

Michelle?

0.0. can quit. You can't.

What's a wake?

It's when friends get together and share their love for someone.

-Mama, why are you so slow? -'Cause I'm old, baby. I'm old.

Who are you?

Effie!

Effie!

-Who's that man? -That's your uncle, little girl.

Effie! Shit.

Jimmy had so much life.

First time / met him was right here in this club.

He wasn’t "Thunder” Ear/y then, just little Jimmy.

-How old was that boy, Marty? -I don't know. Probably 12.

Well, he had hands the size of a fellow twice his age,

and he wasn’t shy about using them either.

Yeah, Jimmy was a real little shit.

-A real little shit. -Shit.

lmiss you, old friend

Can I hold you?

And though it’s been a long time Old friend

Do you mind?

There were so many things

/ wish / had said

lmeant to love you

But I hurt you instead

I’ve come here now

To make amends

Can I sit down beside you?

Can we be close again?

’Cause I, lmiss you, old friend

Can I hold you?

And though it’s been a long time Old friend

Effie?

What gives you the nerve, C.C., coming here after all of these years?

Effie, all I can say is I was young and I made a mistake.

I'm telling you. I won't be used. Not by you, not by anybody.

I promised you I would write you a hit song. Let me do it for you now.

I don't need you.

No, Effie, I need you.

Effie, it’s been all these years

You haven ’t even said hello

I’m your brother, Effie

Say hello

Come on, Effie, you know I’m sorry

/ should have come before today

Hold me, is all I have to say

You’ve always been the baby

But I’m trying to change

And so am /

It’s taken all these years to be free

from loving that man

Finding myself

And getting a hold of the anger in me

Effie, lhave a song

And only you can sing it the way it should be

I’ve waited so long

To hear you say that to me

Say it again, say it again

Effie, sing my song the way it should be

You want all my love and my devotion

You want my loving soul

Right on the line

l have no doubt

That I could love you forever

The only trouble is

You really don ’t have the time

You’ve got one night only

One night only

That’s all you have to spare

One night only

Let’s not pretend to care

One night only One night only

Come on, big baby, come on

One night only

We only have till dawn

In the morning this feeling will be gone

It has no chance going on

Something so right has got no chance to live

So let’s forget about chances

It’s one night / will give

One night only

One night only

You’ll be the only one

One night only

Then you have to run

One night only

One night only

There’s nothing more to say

One night only

Words get in the way

One night only

One night only

One night only

-Trying to make a fool of me. -Well, Nicky said that

the song's only got local distribution. Detroit stations mostly.

C.C. wrote it, so that means we own it, right?

Well, technically, yeah.

Look, I'll get the lawyers to draw up an agreement,

we'll demand half the royalties.

No, no. This is the perfect song to launch my new sound.

I want Deena to re-record it with the girls.

Come on, Curtis, the song's already moving.

If I can buy a hit, I can buy a flop.

Hey, man. This is Effie's big break.

-There's other songs. -It's business. Get on it.

Come on, baby

Come on, baby

One night only

You want all my love and my devotion

You want my loving soul right on the line

l have no doubt

That I could love you forever

The only trouble is

/ real/y don ’t have the time

I’ve got one night only One night only

That’s all I have to spare

One night only

Let’s to not pretend to care

I’ve got one night only One night only

Come on, big baby, come on

One night only

We only have till dawn

We only have till dawn

One night only One night only

One night only, yeah

Come on, come on

One night only

Oh, Cecil Osborne. Cecil Osborne finally committed.

And he's soaking me for a million bucks, but I don't care,

because he's great with actors, Cleopatra is your first movie,

and I don't want anything but the best for you, sweetheart.

What's wrong?

Nothing, Curtis. I guess I never thought it would really happen.

You made it happen!

I mean, you are the queen of disco.

Maybe I'm just tired.

Yeah, you got your interviews and your photo shoot with Vogue,

private meetings by the pool.

You think I'm stupid?

When was you gonna tell me?

I'm sorry, Curtis. I know I should have talked to you.

It's just that this part is perfect.

It's exactly the kind of movie I should be making.

Curtis, baby, nobody knows music the way you do.

It's in your blood.

But movies are different.

Deena, you know why I chose you to sing lead?

Because your voice

has no personality, no depth.

Except for what I put in it.

See, nobody knows you like I do.

Well, they offered me the part and I'm taking it.

Do you read contracts, or are you just pretty?

You can't even take a shit and wipe your own ass unless I say it's okay.

-Well, I'll get myself a lawyer. -What do you think they're gonna do?

You think them honkies are gonna wait around

while you try to drag me into court?

Forget about it! It's over!

Listen, I don't want those men handling you,

because they don't know how.

And, Deena,

I forgive you.

Curtis will always be here for you.

Listen to the song here in my heart

A melody I start but can’t complete

Listen to the sound from deep within

It’s only beginning to find release

Oh, the time has come for my dreams to be heard

They will not be pushed aside

and turned into your own

All ’cause you won ’t listen

Listen

/ am alone at a crossroads

I’m not at home in my own home

And I’ve tried and tried to say what’s on my mind

You should have known

Now I’m done believing you

You don ’t know what I’m feeling

I’m more than what you made of me

/ followed the voice you gave to me

But now I’ve got to find my own

You should have listened

There is someone here inside

Someone I thought had died

So long ago

Oh, I’m screaming out And my dreams will be heard

They will not be pushed aside or worse into your own

All ’cause you won ’t listen

Listen

/ am alone at a crossroads

I’m not at home in my own home

And I’ve tried and tried to say what’s on my mind

You should have known

Now I’m done believing you

You don ’t know what I’m feeling

I’m more than what you made of me

/ followed the voice you gave to me

But now I’ve got to find my own

/ don ’t know where / belong

But I’ll be moving on

If you don ’t

If you won ’t listen

To the song here in my heart

A melody I start

But / will complete

Now I’m done believing you

You don ’t know what I’m feeling

I’m more than what you made of me

/ followed the voice you think you gave to me

But now I’ve got to find my own

My own

Marty. Long time.

Yeah, Curtis. And you're still a second-class snake.

First-class to you. Gentlemen, give me a break.

Why, Curtis? Did you give Effie one?

-I could kill you for what you did to her. -You couldn't kill shit.

I assume you guys have a reason for barging in here

other than to insult me.

Mr. Taylor, we're planning to go to the federal authorities.

Yeah, we'll tell the feds how you killed Effie's record. Payola, man.

You remember, Curtis, Iwitnessed it all.

The whole dirty operation going back to Steppin' to the Bad Side.

That's right you did, but who's going to believe you?

All you are is a guy that's pissed off 'cause you got fired.

We have documented evidence, Mr. Taylor.

Falsified sales records to cheat investors out of their profits,

goods-quality merchandise listed as cutouts to disguise the fraud,

mob-backed loans,

and a payola operation stretching back 11 years.

Who gave you this?

Believe me, I had no idea what Curtis was trying to do to you.

Effie, are you all right?

I'm happy now, Deena. I have a child who loves me.

-You have a baby? -Magic's not exactly a baby anymore.

She's almost nine now.

I wanted to tell you. At the time, I really wanted to tell you.

Deena, he doesn't know.

Effie, Effie, Effie.

Well, I see you're just as much trouble as you ever were.

Hello, Curtis.

You haven't changed much, either.

Actually, I take that back. You are looking a little heavy, baby.

You could lose some weight.

I'll deal with you later.

Mr. Taylor agrees it's in everyone's interest to resolve the situation

without resorting to draconian legal measures.

Say that in English.

Nationwide distribution of our version of One Night Only, Effie.

-On our own label. -That sounds good to me.

And remember, Curtis, if these negotiations fall apart

you're going straight to jail.

That's right, Curtis.

You stopped me once, but you'll never stop me again.

’Cause this time

Effie White’s gonna

win

Deena! Get your ass out here!

Hello, Curtis.

Hey, May. What are you doing here? I mean, I thought you said you hate LA.

Oh, I do. But my daughter said she needed me, so I'm here.

Go wait in the car, Mama.

That was a dirty trick you pulled on me.

I had to do something to stop you, Curtis.

-How could you do that to Effie? -I had to do what I had to.

Where do you think you're going?

Out looking for a new sound, baby, just like you.

-You can't leave. -Why? Because you own me?

You can sue me. You can take everything I have!

It don't matter, 'cause I'll start over.

It don't matter, 'cause I'll start over. Effie did it and so can I.

Listen, I'm not living without you. I love you.

I'm sorry, Curtis. I can't do this anymore.

Good bye.

Good to see you, Curtis.

Mr. Taylor?

Mr. Taylor, this must be a bittersweet night.

How does it feel to say goodbye to The Dreams?

I don't believe in goodbyes, just hellos.

And I want you all to say hello to Tania Williams.

We're releasing Tania's first album next month

and let me tell you, it is dynamite.

Ladies and gentlemen, back in Detroit for their farewell performance,

the incredible Dreams.

We didn’t make forever

We’ve each got to go our separate way

And now we’re standing here helpless

Looking for something to say

We’ve been together a long time

We never thought it would end

We were always so close to each other

You were always my friend

And it’s hard to say goodbye, my love

It’s hard to see you cry, my love

Hard to open up that door

When you’re not sure what you’re going for

We didn’t want this to happen

But we shouldn’t feel sad

We had a good life together

Just remember all the times we had

You know I’ll always love you

You know I’ll always care

And no matter how far! may go

In my heart you’ll always be there

And it’s hard to say goodbye, my love

It’s hard to see you cry, my love

It’s hard to open up that door

When you’re not sure what you’re going for

But we’ve got to grow We ’ve got to try

Though it’s hard, so hard

We have to say goodbye

We didn’t make forever

But / will always love you

We didn’t make forever

But / will always love you

It’s so hard

Baby, it’s so hard

It’s so hard

Baby, it’s so hard

I’ll always love you

It’s so hard

Baby, it’s so hard

Yeah!

Well, I guess it’s about that time.

The last song.

You know, we’ve been together a very long time.

And / promised Lorre/l / wouldn’t cry.

And I’m not.

I’m very happy.

All of our family is here tonight.

You know, there really aren’t three Dreams.

There are four.

And we’re all here to sing that song for you.

Effie.

Every man has his own special dream

And that dream’s just about to come true

Life’s not as bad as it may seem

If you open your eyes to what’s in front of you

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll make you happy

We ’re your dream girls

Boys, we’ll always care

We 7/ always care

We ’re your dream girls

Dream girls will never leave you

Never, never, never, never, never leave you

And all you’ve got to do is dream

All you’ve got to do is dream

Just dream and, baby

we 7/ be

there

We 7/ be there

We 7/ be there

We 7/ be there