Original subtitles

Unemployment is expected to rise.

It was the late '70s,

and everybody was in the middle of it,

of the recession, the mile-long lines at the station,

the hostage crisis in Iran.

When I look back at it now,

it's amazing I can remember any of it.

It feels like snapshots from someone else's life

all connected by one man.

A guy named Steve Rubell had a dream:

to throw the best damn party the world had ever seen

and to make it last forever.

He built a world where fantasy was offered up as reality,

where an eighty-year-old Disco Queen could play until dawn,

where models mingled with mechanics,

plumbers danced with princes.

It was a place where all labels were left behind,

a place where there were no rules.

Ahh, baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you.

Now come on down and do what you've got to do.

You started this fire down in my soul.

In 1979, I was nineteen years old,

and I had nothing.

Now, my dad would say I had more than he did at my age,

but you know what?

To me, filling gas tanks at a Jersey City station,

going to the same dingy bar with the same guys,

trying to pick-up on the same chicks,

was not tons of fun.

I knew the real escape was right across the river,

but I didn't even have a car.

Even though New York was three miles away,

it seemed like another world

I'd been there before with my mom.

She did makeup for this television show

and took me to work with her a few times.

It was incredible.

Everyone wanted to be around the stars.

My mother always told me

I could be anything I wanted to be,

and I believed her.

Mom died when I was twelve.

This was dad.

His idea of the good life was a can of Schlitz

and a Jack Benny Special on the tube.

I had to break out.

I knew I had to make a change.

All right, all right, all right!

Move over!

What?!

What you laughing at?

What's with the hair?

What's that, the new look?

Look at this guy!

-Where is my hair? -Look at this guy!

What are you talking about?

You look like Vidal Sassoon.

"If you don't look good,

-"we don't look good." -We don't look good.

Shit.

I should have borrowed my brother's platforms.

Do I look short?

No, you look all right.

Just fix your collar.

-I don't know, man. -You better have put on

new underwear.

-Get the fuck outta here. -Hey, you guys.

Hey, you guys, you guys, you guys.

Before we go in, check it out.

- Oh, take me home ba… - Who are they?

That was Julie Black from "All of My Children."

She's my fuckin' dream girl.

Julie Black, she's from Alpine.

My aunt does her ma's hair.

Saw her once, too, hangin' out at the Alpine Inn.

-Alpine Inn? -Yeah.

We should stake her out.

Where was this taken anyway?

54.

Yunno, Studio 54.

Ain't you never heard of it?

That place is full of freaks.

-And girls. -And fags, man.

Come on, you guys.

Listen, you know who was there last night?

Jacqueline Bisset.

You know who she is?

Yeah, I fucked her.

All right, you turkeys can stay here and rot,

for all I care, but I'm gonna go see

if I can get a look at Olivia.

Olivia Newton-John?

-Ow! -Ooh!

We ain't there yet?

Fuck you, Jersey!

Here's somethin' that you're never gonna forget.

♪ B-b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-n-nothing yet ♪

Nothing yet, you ain't been around.

-Hey, wait. -Save you a place in line.

- Sorry. - You mu…

-Sorry! -You gonna leave me

here with these freaks?

Come on.

♪ B-b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-n-nothing yet ♪

Here's something, here's something.

You're never gonna f-forget, baby.

That fox!

-Hey! -Hey!

-Come on. -Come on.

A lot of people thought the door

was a better show than inside.

People would try anything to get in.

Marc was the doorman, but it was Steve Rubell's club.

And his door.

I can't let you in here.

You're wearing an ascot.

You look like an asshole.

He was out in front every night,

making sure only the right people got in.

No. Go home, sorry.

No.

-Hey, come on, right here. -Over there.

Excuse me.

He just pointed at us!

Okay, just you.

-What? -Say what?

Just you, not him.

Hey man, he's my friend, you can't…

Girls, please.

Stand back, please.

Step back, please.

Step back.

Oh my God.

Don't be a spaz man, go for it.

All right, but don't wait for me.

I'll find my own way home.

Okay, you guys, come on.

-Please. -Don't push.

-Hey. -Get your fuckin'

hands off me, you jive-ass turkey!

Fuckin' gorilla.

Fuck you!

Sorry, guy.

Steve.

-Hey, Steve. -What?

Not with that shirt.

Pfft.

Hey!

I said, not with that shirt.

Yeah, that's your ticket in, man.

Yeah!

-You're hot! -You're hot.

-Yeah. -That's how you get in.

Welcome to my party, handsome.

Go for it, Shane!

He choose me.

I'd never been chosen for anything before.

You wanna check that bod, sugar?

Mirror mirror, on the wall,

who's the fairest of them all?

Truman?

Truman Capote, where are you?

Here, sugar.

There you are.

In honor of your fantastic new facelift,

I thought I'd get you a couple of things.

And-and to make sure that the lift sticks,

I thought we should all "Knock on Wood."

Ahh.

Ooh.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

♪ I-I don't wanna lose this good thing ♪

That I've got.

'Cause if I do

I'd surely.

Surely lose a lot.

'Cause your love is better.

♪ Than anything I know ♪

It's like thunder.

Lightning.

The way you love me is frightening

I better knock.

On wood.

I said I better knock, knock, knock on.

Oh, baby

I believe I will

I believe I will!

It's like thunder.

Lightning.

♪ The way you love me is frightening ♪

You better knock, knock, knock, knock.

On wood, yeah, baby.

Ohh, ohh, ohh, ooh, ooh, ooh yeah

I'm gonna knock on wood babe

I believe I will

I believe I will.

Well, the thing about stars is they're short.

You talk to any of 'em?

-Kind of. -Like who?

Like, I don't know, but you should have seen

all the photographers.

I betcha I even got in one of their pictures.

Think Farrah ever goes there?

Maybe.

And Lee Majors?

Probably.

What about Princess Grace?

Sure, I bet she goes all the time.

Really?

Maybe we can touch her when she goes by.

And we'll tell her that mom named us after her.

-Hey, Tax. -Hey, dad.

-Squirt! -Hey, dad.

Dad, can I borrow the keys tonight?

What for?

Shane was in the city last night

and he wants to go back.

-Ow! -The city?

Yeah, Shane was just telling us

how he went to Studio 54 last night.

Studio 54?

That's that big disco everybody's talking about.

Where all the stars go.

Yeah dad, you shoulda seen it.

Hey, I saw a star once, Bob Hope.

Did you see him there?

Thanks for the memories, dad,

but it wasn't a Korean War show.

What else, Shane?

Well, I went up into the balcony.

It was pretty,

it was pretty dark.

The girl who cut my hair had this boyfriend

whose sister did the books for Steve Rubell

and got me an interview.

Steve Rubell, a regular Brooklyn kid

who got his start by running a few steakhouses,

was now on top of the world.

-He's gorgeous? -He's gorgeous.

-Gorgeous? -Look for yourself.

Okay.

I was warned that Steve didn't hire any dummies,

and I should be on my toes because he could ask

some really tricky questions.

What's two plus two?

-Huh? -You'll be fine.

You're right, he's gorgeous.

Come on in!

Where do bad little bartenders go

if they don't go to hell first?

Xenon.

Right, a fate worse than death.

So, as of tonight,

the new bartender will be:

Rhett.

-Choice. -Oh and, uh,

we got a new busboy.

His name is Shane.

Shane!

Shane, c'mere, c'mere.

I couldn't find the right size.

And remember, it's you boys who are truly.

New York's finest.

One Chablis.

Hey, kid!

Chablis!

So, uh, what'll it be?

What'll it be?

Where did they get you, Rocky?

Philadelphia?

No talkin' to the animals, busboy.

Hang in there, baby.

Greg, man, can you help me, please?

This is how it works.

Keep the bottles and the glasses off the dance floor.

Now, remember, keep the champagne cold and keep it flowing.

You gotta pay attention to the VIP area.

Steve doesn't want 'em ever

to have to pour champagne themselves.

Now, listen up.

After everybody's all gone, you check the banquettes.

We usually find some pretty good stuff.

Is that Julie Black?

Think so.

-Ready? -Yeah.

There she was.

Julie Black.

Man, she looked even better in person than on TV.

She was from Jersey too and she'd made it.

You know what?

I-I really gotta get out of here and get some sleep.

Stevie knew that we had no royalty

in this country. We have celebrity.

And if he could provide the opportunity

for regular people to dance the bump with the famous,

Studio would be one of a kind.

And I was such a dumb kid.

I mean, all these famous people

and I didn't know who any of them were.

And they'd all go, "Truman, oh Truman!"

And I'd be thinking, "Who the fuck is Truman?"

Hey, Fiorucci!

How are you?

You know, I'm such a big fan of yours.

Your windows are great.

-Grazie, thank you. -Great.

Grazie molto.

You're so Italian and adorable.

I wanna eat you with a spoon. Come.

Come with me.

It's your body, go inside and out, yeah.

Just dance.

Out with the music, yeah.

Ohh.

Music well.

You know, I'd say it was this big.

-Oh, stop. -No, at least.

Did you get his number?

It ain't the size of the ship, it's the motion of the ocean.

Your mother teach you that?

His father.

He sounds kinda defensive to me.

Hey, I think we're freaking the new kid out.

Hey, how'd you do tonight?

Good.

I made quite a bit, I think.

Uh, he doesn't mean the tips.

You went up to the balcony with Patti, hmm?

Word gets around fast, I guess.

So did she do the accent?

Um, so how was she?

Really great, you know.

She's a model.

Really?

Have we seen her in anything?

Yeah, Vogue.

French Vogue.

Yeah, she told me Cosmo.

She told me Women's Wear Daily.

Hey, listen, I don't care if it was Sears and Roebuck.

It was hot.

She told you Women's Wear Daily?

Stop!

Ooh, I feel a fight comin' on.

No, no way, sister.

And the extra plate.

-Yeah. -Yeah.

All right, cough it up.

There we go.

Hey, don't take anything

until everybody puts their stuff down.

Didn't you get anything?

Oh, wait.

-Oh. -Ooh.

Hello, friend.

Sometimes you meet people, and right away,

they feel like family.

-You kidding me. -No.

That's how it was with Greg and Anita.

She wanted to be the next Donna Summer.

Greg wanted to get ahead but wasn't sure how.

Ooh.

Looks like your wedding was dynamite.

I'll put these away.

It's Anita's studio.

Far out.

What's this?

Oh, these are just for motivation,

like when you put a picture of a fat person on the fridge.

All right, so play me something.

Yeah, she's so unbelievable.

Honey, play something for him.

Oh, no, no, I'm really tired.

I'm really, really tired.

I mean, I've been screaming all night.

Okay, I'll play something simple.

I can't do this.

That was excellent.

No, it wasn't.

Shane, follow me.

This place is bad, man.

You can just stay as long as you want.

Really?

Mi casa es tu casa.

And in mi casa, there are three basic food groups:

solids, liquids, and hot smoke.

Ooh, yeah.

I'm just a love machine.

And I won't work for nobody but you.

What will it be?

What will it be?

Can I help you?

Yeah, can I help you?

I am looking for American foxes

with their big American breasts.

I couldn't believe all the shit.

Greg told me what was going on at the club.

Bartenders, they had it made.

Drugs, sex, connections, money.

There was an endless supply coming across the bar.

Greg told me that half way through the night,

Steve had the bartenders dump the cash,

send it downstairs and change the tape in the registers.

It was a skim job straight out of a Vegas casino, and.

Steve Rubell was making a fortune off of it.

Greg was on garbage detail.

-Anthony! -He'd take it out

the back door and give it to this guy Anthony

he called the garbage man.

Hey, paisano!

How you doing?

I really scored tonight, didn't I?

Greg told me everything.

All right, cowgirl.

Put that on there.

Easy, easy.

Whoa!

-Is it all there? -Yeah, count it.

How much they pay you to wait around for me, huh, kid?

-Enough. -Yeah?

-Yeah. -You're Italian, right?

-Right on. -Yeah.

You ever need to increase your paycheck, you come to me.

I got the best party favors in the place.

-Alright? -Yeah.

Good.

Yeah!

You, uh, Greg.

Take it.

- Uh, but I have to… - Eh, give it to him.

Come on!

You've you've never seen my

palace.

Empty it.

Go ahead, go ahead.

Rhett, the brand new bartender, quit.

He thinks he's gonna model.

-Really? -Yeah.

He, uh, met Scavullo.

And thinks he's got it made.

You-you're a handsome guy.

I bet you could model

if you were a little taller.

No.

It's-it's a new world out there.

Old labels and prejudices don't apply anymore.

-Right. -Right.

You-you do a special job for us.

Important.

Before you, I only let bartenders deal with Anthony.

But Viv trusts you.

It's a good job.

I-I take it seriously.

Yeah.

She-she also says that you're married to Anita.

Yeah.

And-and that y-you never go with the other boys.

Yeah.

Uh, I mean, no, I don't, uh,

I-m not… I'm not gay.

Labels.

I'm sorry, I forgot, Mr. Rubell.

Mister, huh?

Oh, I'm mister, I'm mister.

Mister!

Oh, that's good.

Well, you know what?

I-I'm not gay either.

I wanna suck your cock.

I'm married.

No one gets married at your age,

unless they're trying to prove something.

I have to go, sorry.

Okay?

Bartenders make a lot of this.

I know.

C'mere.

I-I can't.

I'm married, and she's waiting.

You really are that straight.

I'm sorry.

No, no, no, no.

I-I respect that.

Let me apologize to you.

Bye, dad.

Bye.

Listen, Gracie, yunno I'm sorry about

leavin' you and Kelly like this,

but I should've been out of the house two years ago.

No shit, Shane.

Just move on up.

Move on up.

Towards your destination.

Move on up.

Though you may find from time to time complications.

Yes, we want variety.

Yes, you gotta toss the salad.

But no, that doesn't mean letting in whores

and yids in like last night!

They were your cousins, Stevie.

I don't care if it was my mother and my father.

They looked like shit!

-Okay, Stevie. -No, no, no, no.

No, no, no "okay, Stevie."

No "cool its," come on.

Family, my ass. Let's go.

These fuckers are hot.

What do you think?

Fabulous, love.

Now, get outta here.

Get outta here!

Let's go!

Hey, uh, can I talk to you

about maybe puttin' somebody on the list?

No, man, you have to talk to Steve,

and he's been working seventy-two hours straight,

so you tread lightly.

The IRS?

Oh, please.

Even though you pay me like a cashier,

I'm the accountant in this place,

and it's me who's gonna go down with you

if you get it by blabbing your big mouth

all over the place.

Do me a favor.

Throw out that nasty weed of yours, okay?

'Cause paranoia's setting in.

-Hi. -Hi.

How's the new kid?

You need a little something for the night?

Ah, Buck tells me, uh,

you've been doing a good job.

What sign are you?

-Uh, Cancer. -Cancer.

Good people, Cancers.

What do you think, Viv?

Crabs.

Steve, um,

I wanted to talk to you about, uh,

I got some friends, and, um,

I wanted to find out about maybe putting them on the list.

Do they look like you?

One's my cousin.

Okay, let me explain something, kid, okay?

Okay, once a month, the nephew of the King of Saudi Arabia,

right, flies seven thousand miles to dance here

for one night, all night,

then gets back on his plane at sunrise.

He tells me it's the only place on Earth

that he feels totally free.

So naturally, you know,

I, we, have a responsibility.

So I repeat.

Do they look like you?

They're my friends.

Fine, I'll put them on the list.

But they better look like you.

Thanks.

Fly, Robin, fly.

Fly, Robin, fly.

Julie.

Fly, Robin, fly.

You're a mess.

Come here.

I'm gonna fix you up.

Hey, did you sleep with somebody to get your job?

My job?

Please.

Here we go.

Listen, Shane, you better watch how much you party,

or you could get fired.

Here.

Ah, I don't do that crud.

Nothin' up the nose.

Come on, you need a little equalizer.

Come on, you look like Stevie.

There you go.

Steve could be a rat bastard,

no question about it.

He took my friends off the list

as soon as I left his office.

Look again, man.

Shane invited us.

Shane O'Shea, he works here.

I told them later that Steve was always

playing little games like that.

Just cruel.

I never figured out why.

I mean, with the kind of power he had, why play games?

Excuse me.

Fuck off my way, please.

He was weird that way.

Like some nights, he'd keep the club almost empty.

There could be a thousand people out on the street, and

only a hundred inside dancing.

Shane, look.

It's Billie Austin.

Billie?

What's her deal?

She knows everybody.

Especially everybody in the music industry.

Help me out, she's into coke.

You wanna meet her?

You gotta push into me, baby.

Push into me, baby.

Oh, thanks.

Diana helped herself to the last of my snow.

Ugh! Recording artists.

Uh, you know, Anita's a recording artist too.

Oh, wonderful.

What label?

Well, I-I don't really have one yet.

Oh, oh.

Well, send me a tape.

I'd love to hear it.

Oh, thank you!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As a matter of fact, I think I have a tape here with me.

Yeah, yeah, here.

The recording isn't that great, you know.

This doobie's tan excellent.

I just made it with, like, home equipment, and so,

bye.

Ah!

♪ Love machine ⪯

I won't work for nobody but you.

They're cute.

I just love discovering

new talent.

You have the body of David

and the face of a Botticelli.

Bottle of what?

Just say thanks, darling.

Thanks.

It's really funky, but I don't know if it's me.

Darling, I don't think you realize what is you.

I just wanna look cool when I'm out,

like I'm a New Yorker.

What you are is part of Billie's Big Bang Theory.

Billie taught me how the world worked,

that I had the power to get whatever it was I wanted.

Yes, oh, yes!

Rhett.

When did he quit?

Tonight.

Ugh, I'm crushed.

He was incredible.

I bet I could do that job.

Mm.

Should I talk to Stevie for you?

I don't know.

My friend's been waiting for that job.

Do you want it?

Yeah, I want it.

If you want something from somebody,

you're gonna have to take it.

But first, find out what they want

and then let hem have it.

Who is it?

That oughta be illegal.

May I help you?

Uh, Rhett quit.

The job, and I…

You know.

Let me get this straight.

You want a job.

Shouldn't I be takin' my pants off?

Of course, everyone knows that, uh, Rhett is history,

and Shane will take his place.

Later on I learned that Billie

had spoken to Stevie about my promotion.

I have to admit, I felt bad for Greg.

I name you Shane 54!

-Woo-hoo! -Woo!

We were both right.

Too short, and I don't suck cock.

Well, there's nothing you can do about being short.

Right.

I'm gonna make us some real money.

I got other ideas.

Don't think you really need me.

How about the best fuck of your lifetime?

I've got to say I only dream of you.

But like a thief in the night.

You took away the love.

So I made it.

Bartending was the best job in the world.

But for me, the big thing was, when

you were a bartender at 54,

everybody knew your name.

You were famous.

Come on, come on, I wanna introduce you to him, come on.

He doesn't wanna be photographed tonight.

He doesn't wanna be photographed, okay?

Okay, thank you.

Steve didn't draw a line

between customers and employees.

Before 54, most clubs would hide their help.

Not Steve.

He flaunted his.

People made such a big deal about getting into 54,

but they didn't know,

because once you got into the door,

you wanted to get into the DJ's booth,

or the office where the best coke was.

-Come on. -Or the balcony

where the people were getting laid,

or the basement where the biggest names hung out.

Steve was so fucking smart.

I mean, you'd have to be some kind of genius

to take a dirty wet basement and turn it into a VIP room

celebrities would kill to get into.

There was always another door.

Shane, darling, I guess you've finally arrived.

-Hi, Andy. -Steve.

Shane, Shane.

-This is Andy. -Oh, hi.

Andy loves it down here, don't you?

Don't ya, Andy?

Oh, yeah, it's great.

It's really brown.

Spank.

Let's get to it, do it.

Let's make love from my heart.

♪ When we do, it's really hard to part ♪

Combine our minds this time.

Quite sure our love won't go blind.

Spank.

Doo-doo-doo-doo.

Spank.

Do it, do it, do it, do it.

Spank.

Even outside the club, I was always working it.

Getting an article placed in "Interview",

mingling with the right people.

I got it.

Raising my profile.

It was all coming together.

Billie got me and Anita an invitation to Liz Vangelder's

because she knew there'd be some great contacts for us.

Her dinner parties were a really big deal.

Hi, I'm Shane.

This is Anita, we're Billie's friends.

Yes, of course.

I'm Liz Vangelder.

Well, the nightlife here is amusing enough, I suppose.

But believe me, nothing compared with London

in the swinging '60s.

Come on.

Where'd you find them?

54.

The bartender at 54.

Oh, you sly puss.

Bringing the bartender to table.

Steve is holding auditions for a New Year's act.

A new New Year's act.

He says he wants something fresh.

Ain't nobody as fresh as me.

I might even have a tape with me, you know, in my purse.

-Really? -Yeah.

Good.

-I have a tape deck in my limo. -So here I was,

putting my Jersey moves on Park Avenue.

I really believed I'd come out of there that night

with some good connections.

You have the essence of Errol Flynn, hmm?

Instead, I saw how far I had to go.

Who?

Darling, you know who Errol Flynn is.

Oh, yeah.

Arrow Flint, right.

Oh, you know, you are the most gorgeous

troglodyte I have ever seen.

Thanks.

Oh!

I don't know who the fuck Arrow Flint is either,

but don't you know what a troglodyte is?

Yeah, it's like a diamond.

No, Shane.

A troglodyte is like a caveman.

He called you a caveman.

And that makes me a cave woman.

Anita, are you ready?

Yeah, in a minute.

What are you doing?

He's giving me a break.

And Shane, lay off.

Where's the article?

See?

If you had let me be involved in the photo shoot,

this wouldn't have happened.

You should have known with a magazine like this.

Anita, lay off, please.

Come on, I know how to cheer you up.

So we're gonna start with the hips.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

For extra dough, Anita taught

suburbanites how to disco dance.

Well, she tried anyway.

One, two, three, hip.

One, two, three, hip.

One, two, three, hip.

Second thing we're gonna do

is attitude.

If you wanna make it to Studio 54,

the most important thing

is that you have to have the right attitude.

And the attitude is in face.

So we're gonna go.. Watch me now,

'cause this is a very special step for attitude.

One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, attitude.

One, two, three, attitude.

One, two, three.

Give me some attitude!

What kind of attitude is that?

Come over here.

Give me some attitude! Show me!

Show me your stuff.

One, two, three, woo!

One, two, three, woo, clap.

Two, three, woo!

- One, two, three… - Woo!

-Woo! -Woo!

-Woo! -Think Travolta, come on.

Woo!

Keep going, keep going.

I'm gonna go for some inspiration.

Oh please, Shane.

Just give me some inspiration.

You been lookin' at me.

You been lookin' at me.

Hey.

-Hey. -Keep your hands off my wife.

No smothering, Greg-o.

-Para usted. -Oh, thank you.

Papi, I was so hungry.

Are you gonna stay for the bus stop?

Ah, sounds great but, uh,

I got some business of my own.

Gotta go.

Hey, Shane, why don't you show us how you do your splits?

I'm not gonna do that, Mario.

-You do it. -All right.

-Ow! -Shane!

I leave you alone for one second, and look what happens.

Are you all right, does it hurt?

-Just a little. -Don't move.

I'm gonna go get some ice.

I'm sorry.

Ludes, angel dust,

and this, this is MDA.

This is why the Studio's such a great party.

This month, anyhow.

Thanks.

Hangin' out at the discotheque.

But I believe in the boogie.

You should do it too, man.

Hey, midget,

I hear you've got some choice MDA.

Yeah, twenty each.

For you, twenty-five.

Oh, eat me raw, Tom Thumb.

I never pay for my drugs.

And I don't take Medicare.

Ooh!

So tell me, how much money does the club pull in?

Um.

I'd say, I, we make, uh.

$750,000

Every night.

And that would be before Uncle Sam gets his teeth into it?

Well, let me put it this way.

What the IRS doesn't know won't hurt them.

Let me put it this way.

What the IRS doesn't know won't hurt them.

The secret is that I'm-I'm kind of a philosopher.

Can you believe the nerve of this man?

He did Merv last week, Dick Cavett,

and now this.

I understand that the path of excess

leads to the palace of wisdom.

Do you ever read Blake?

-I have. -Yeah, I love Blake.

You know, that's my favorite poet.

You gotta get to somebody in that place.

That's right, I love that.

May I kiss your hand?

Hi.

Hi.

Do I… Shane.

Nice to meet you, Shane.

Let's go, Julie.

No ticket, no coat.

Just look for it.

Do you know how many black leather jackets

with poppers and a cock ring

in the left pocket we got back here?

-You're killing me! -Later.

Hey.

What's wrong?

I started to take a leak and it felt like razor blades.

Uh-oh.

What?

Hey, don't tell me that's your first.

My first what?

You got the clap, man.

Shit.

Wake up.

Penicillin, huh?

We must be neighbors.

I live just…

Don't worry.

Your secret is safe with me.

Shane O'Shea.

Thanks.

Shit.

Thanks, Dottie.

It's Mona.

But that's just between you and me too, okay?

Okay.

Grandma, look it.

Oh, that's beautiful.

Oh!

Now, can you say hi to Shane?

-Hi. -Hi.

Sweet meat, sweet meat.

Give Disco Dottie her funky little treat.

Hey Atlanta, we need more champagne on the banquette.

Anthony's having a cow.

He said we were short a thousand the other night.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

I got a friend at Xenon

who'll put you to work and not bitch about it.

Hey, why don't you go dance, okay?

It's slowing down out there.

Yeah, there you go.

What?

I'm letting you go, you're fired.

You can't fire me.

Why would you want to?

Well, your sticky little fingers.

Didn't you think Anthony would notice?

Notice what?

Oh, you're embarrassing yourself.

Here, your severance.

Stevie.

I've worked for you for ten years.

I helped you get your first steakhouse.

You've been here too long.

Your-your-your paranoia is getting to me.

If there's money missing, look someplace else.

Anthony's having a cow, okay?

And somebody's head has to roll.

Fuck!

Through the years, we all will be together.

If the fates allow.

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself.

A merry little Christmas now.

Ladies and gentlemen,

a Christmas present from me

to you.

Every night, I think about staying home.

But then I come to my senses

and give myself a good kick in the ass.

Runnin' pretty, New York City girl.

New York City girl.

You grew up ridin' the subways.

Running with people.

Up in Harlem.

Man, look at this pit.

-Nicotine break. -Right on.

Thank you.

I thought this night would never end.

Thank God, it's Christmas.

Can't wait to get outta here.

You going home tomorrow?

I don't think so.

I haven't talked to my dad in like four months.

You know, why don't you come with me

and Anita to her mother's?

Be fun.

Thanks.

Yeah.

Let's clean this place up.

Let's get out of this hole.

Hey, I hear Romeo's quitting New Year's Eve.

If you think I'm ever gonna get that job,

you're dreaming.

He's never gonna promote me.

He might.

Listen, I'll talk to him.

-Alright. -Anyway, when we have

our own place, we'll get to do all the hiring, right?

Yeah, right.

Alright, I'll meet you downstairs

when you're finished with this stuff.

Say what?

Steve doesn't want me to do anymore

of the busing or anything.

Are you for real?

What?

You're getting so conceited.

It's like I don't even know who I'm talking to anymore.

What's your problem, man?

You pour drinks, right?

You hang out with some high-class stuck-up assholes,

and suddenly, you're some big star

you can't get your hands dirty?

Ah, look at you.

Dealing more drugs than Johnson & Johnson.

Hey, that money is for Anita's studio, you know that.

-Oh, I see. -Yunno what, Shane?

Your head's filling up with so much shit

you don't even know what you're talking about.

Hey, Greg, cool it, man.

I'm your friend, alright?

Yeah.

Friend who's trying to scope my wife.

What the hell are you talking about?

Hey, she's the only girl this side of Fifth Avenue

-you haven't balled. -You don't know

-what you're talking about. -Fuck you.

Shane 54.

We'll hear the thunder roar.

Feel the lightning strike.

At a point we've both decided to meet.

The same time tonight.

Hang on in there, baby.

Hang on in there, darling

I'm gonna give you more.

Than you ever dreamed possible.

Don't be afraid, baby, oh no.

-Come on. -Lay off!

Let's get out of here.

Sit on it.

We can't help but make it.

Fuck off, I'm not your slave!

'Cause there's true love between us, girl.

Oh, so let us touch that cloud.

That everyone dreams of.

Oh, we're almost there darling.

♪ We're truly making love ♪

Hang on in there, baby.

Don't you let me down.

Please don't destroy.

This new joy that we've found.

You know, I told him before we got married,

I told him what the deal was.

I said, "I love you, but I need to be free."

I need to have fun.

Maybe not forever, but for now.

And he said, "Oh, it's okay, it's okay.

Whatever you need.

I want you to be free."

My ass!

I could fuckin' kill him when gets like that.

Hey.

Hey, what's wrong?

I feel-I feel so fucked up.

But I'm-I'm not even doing anything.

You guys are like my family, you know?

But you're fighting with Greg, I'm fighting with Greg.

He-he even thinks I wanna sleep with you.

Some fuckin' Christmas.

The Dow Jones continued its slide today,

bringing the two-day drop to ninety points.

The news from Washington wasn't…

-Hey! -Oh, God.

Where have you been?

It's great to see you, Gracie.

Those for us?

Whoa!

Tinsel teeth.

Thanks to you.

I shouldn't have took your money.

Let's go in, I'm freezing.

Whoa, nice car!

Is it yours?

I'm famous, yunno.

Yeah, I know.

We saw you in the paper, dancin' with some old lady.

And I read that Princess Grace showed up there too.

Did you tell her about us?

I was off that night.

Oh.

Come on, I'm starved.

Why don't we go for a ride?

I mean, no one's home, anyway.

What?

They-they went to Aunt Mary's.

Ricko's aunt got into the Studio one night

and she told dad she saw you putting somethin' up your nose.

She's such a liar.

Right?

Hey, maybe you can come in after I talk 'em into it.

No, thanks!

But, but Shane!

Don't make him right about you, Shane.

There's nothin' wrong with this stuff, Gracie.

He drinks, it's the same thing.

Good.

I'm gonna try one of these.

In the morning, I went to breakfast

at the Alpine Inn, like we used to

the day after Christmas when mom was alive.

Could I get a cappuccino, please?

Excuse me?

Wrong side of the river.

Hey.

Hi.

- I'm Shane, we met at the… - Yeah.

I know who you are.

Uh, would you mind?

Could I?

Sure.

Uh,

what are you doin' out here?

Spending the week with my parents.

Ugh!

-Yeah. -You look like

you crawled out from under a rock.

Well.

It hasn't been the greatest homecoming.

I see.

Hey, waitress, two cups of coffee, please.

When in Rome.

It's a whole 'nother world, huh?

You'll learn.

Two languages, two sets of clothes,

two sets of friends.

You kept your friends out here?

Well, no.

Actually, the clothes were a lot easier.

It's insane, isn't it?

I mean, Manhattan is a whole 'nother problem.

It's up one minute, down the next.

The story of my life, 1000%.

2000%.

Yunno, I've had so much coffee,

I'm ready to take flight.

Bird of paradise.

Hey, hold on.

So you remember today.

Thank you.

Whoa.

Who'd have thought?

Huh?

You were so sweet.

You gotta tell us what we wanna hear about him,

or we're gonna nail you.

We're talking an audit that goes all the way back.

And my friend, if we find something we don't like,

and believe me, we will, guess what?

Your house is gone.

Your car is gone.

You are seriously gone.

I'm talking ten to twenty years.

Ya's wanna investigate, go ahead.

My car, not in my name.

My house, not in my name.

My back account, ain't got one.

Yunno what I got?

U'cazz!

What about the drugs?

Were they in your name?

They were in your glove compartment.

Yes!

Wow.

You're good.

Four brothers, and I never lost a game.

-Oh, really? -Mm-hm.

I've been meaning to tell you something.

Mm-hm?

It's kinda embarrassing.

You can tell me. What are you talking about?

After I saw that picture of you in that gossip column,

it was,

yunno, i-inspiring.

What?

I mean it.

Just-just to see someone else from Jersey who made it.

Made it?

You're kidding, right?

I'm on a soap.

-Right. -Wrong.

Soap work is the pits.

Why do you think I'm at 54 every night?

I don't know.

Maybe to meet somebody interesting?

Exactly.

In this business, it's all about who you know.

And since I'm gonna get a movie or die trying,

there's no place better than 54.

One big bender with business cards.

See, the thing is, if you meet the right producer,

like Ron Sax, for instance, you've got it made.

I mean, he's got his hands in everything:

music, movies, clubs, everything.

Right.

But you don't need that.

Shane, come on.

You're a 54 bartender.

You know how things work.

I mean, you know what this is all about.

I mean, you've had to maneuver.

Sometimes use your charms, sometimes other things.

Hmm?

Okay, you got me.

You know, this place is really great.

You can actually see people here.

Ain't you cute.

Starting the decade with the perfect kiss.

What could be better than that?

Picking up that seven-ten split.

Oh yeah, I'm gonna do it first.

No, you're not, it's mine, forget it.

Come on.

Hey, gimme that ball.

Mayor Koch expects the biggest throng of New.

Year's revelers in Big Apple history to ring in the '80s.

On the other side of big blue marble,

the American hostage crisis in Iran.

Oops.

Yeah, of course, you're on the list.

Okay. Okay.

What's this?

It's the missing money.

I took it.

What money?

You know, Anthony's money.

Ooh-ho, that's adorable.

You know, Greg's very lucky

to have a friend like you to cover for him.

You knew?

Yeah.

Yunno, I see everything that goes on here, yunno?

You don't think that I'm watching, but I am.

He never would a touched that money

if he'd been made a bartender in the first place.

He's really a great guy, Steve.

He thought he'd be a busboy for the rest of his life.

Yeah, I'm-I'm sure.

Yeah.

Can't you give him a break?

So.

You want me to make him a bartender now?

You know, I-I am too nice for my own good,

because, you know, people take advantage.

Thanks, Steve.

But don't you say anything to him about it, okay?

Okay.

I'll tell him myself.

Why is everyone so sentimental this time of year?

I hate the holidays.

Found a cure.

♪ Ooh, for your heartache ♪

Before you wake.

Greg.

Hey, man.

It's great to see you.

I wasn't sure if you were coming back.

No way, I couldn't miss Anita tonight.

Plus, I should meet up with my very-possibly girlfriend.

Girlfriend?

Is that where you've been?

Yeah.

Julie Black, man.

-Bullshit! -I'm not jivin' you, I swear.

That's great, man.

Hey, look, I gotta go find Anthony.

Uh, you need any party materials?

No thanks, not tonight.

Steve!

Come on.

Come on, I've been here every holiday.

It's New Year's Eve.

Please, I'm so lonely.

Go home, honey.

-This is my home. -Please.

-Please, please let me in. -Please.

♪ It'll take away the pain ♪

And here's the big surprise.

Whenever it rains, you'll have blue skies.

Found a cure, I'm tellin' you.

Found a cure, right away now.

Remember what happens tomorrow?

It's a new decade, turkey.

The new bartender gets announced.

Oh right, yeah.

It's looking good for you for sure, man.

-Really? -Hey, hey.

Your fairytale wish just came true.

I've got a very special job for you tonight.

Grace Kelly's coming,

and I want you to take care of her.

No shit!

Yes, but try not to say "shit" around her, okay?

I mean, she is from Philly, but I don't think

she does that anymore, all right?

Boss.

No, not tonight.

Not tonight!

Never.

Never, never, never come to me like that.

Found a cure.

Are ya sleepin'?

Is Gracie there?

Well, tell her I'm gonna meet Princess Grace tonight.

Yeah, woo!

I just wanted to wish you good luck tonight.

You're gonna be great.

Ahh!

Happy new year.

Heh-heh-hey!

It's Errol Flynn!

How you do in?

It's great to see you, man.

I've been trying to reach you but I…

Yeah, h-h-hold on.

My date's getting crushed.

Oh, hi.

Hi.

I got a great idea.

Let's go back to my place for…

No, he doesn't.

Oh, come on.

It'll be wild.

Listen, some of us are going back to Roland's house later.

He wants to know, you wanna come?

Actually, it will, uh, just be the three of us.

There goes Donna. Excuse me.

I don't understand. I thought we,

you know, connected.

Shane, I already explained this to you.

My career is really important to me right now.

Listen Shane, I like you, I really do.

But drop the fantasy, okay?

I-I'm building something here,

and I thought you wanted to get ahead too.

Now, Roland's the kinda guy

who can make that happen for you, don't you want that?

Not that way.

Ten, nine, eight, seven,

six, five, four, three, two, one!

Happy New Year!

Okay.

First, I wanna tell you all something

that most of you already know.

I love you.

-Yeah! -Love you too, Steve!

Steve, we love you man!

Secondly, there have been a few little rumors

floating around about me and a certain government agency.

But rest assured, that's all taken care of.

Just try and tangle with me!

And now, I wanna introduce to you a brand new talent,

a talent for the '80s that I discovered in the coatroom,

believe it or not.

Please welcome:

Anita!

Tonight is the night I fly.

With my wings and touch the sky.

Tonight is the night I see.

Everything that's waiting for me.

I love this new world that I'm in.

I know it fits me like a second skin.

Then they say it comes and goes so fast.

But we've got something built to last.

Oh, baby, it's your love that sets me free.

Tonight is the night I fly.

Spread my wings and touch the sky.

And tonight is the night I see.

Everything that's waiting for me.

Oh, oh, yeah.

Oh, all right.

Tonight night I fly.

Oh, oh, yeah.

Oh, all right.

Tonight is the night

I've gotta be free.

Get down.

Everybody get down.

Get down.

Everybody get down.

Tonight's the night.

Tonight's the night I fly.

Tonight's the night.

Tonight's the night I fly.

Tonight's the night.

Tonight's the night, sing it with me.

Tonight's the night.

Tonight's the night I fly.

Ooh, ooh.

Ooh, ooh.

Ooh, ooh.

Ooh, ooh.

Oh, you better get someone.

There's a lady down.

Turn on the lights!

Dottie?

Dottie.

Mona?

-Get an ambulance. -Get her up.

-You got her? -Yeah.

-Careful! -Everyone, let them through.

Let's clear a path here, people, please.

Go, go, go, go.

Go, go, go, go.

Hey, hey, hey.

Princess Grace is here, and she's thirsty.

What?

This way, you're on.

-Come on. -No.

Shaney.

Shaney.

It has been a mean night, okay?

And I'll cry about it tomorrow.

I will.

But tonight, the show must go on.

Let's go.

I-I can't, I can't talk to anybody.

-We did it to her. -Hey, come on.

-This place did. -Come on, come on, come on.

Come on, on.

You can't, hey, you can't blame yourself

if she couldn't handle her drugs.

Come on, let's go.

Come on, come on!

It'll calm you down.

Come on, take it.

This isn't right.

Princess Grace is here, okay?

Princess Grace.

-We lost a friend tonight. -No, no, no.

I lost a friend tonight, okay?

No offense, but you were just another pretty face to her.

She was my friend.

Oh, she was completely nearsighted.

She couldn't tell one of you from the next.

Now get it together and get downstairs.

Hey!

Don't forget how replaceable you are,

Little Lord Fauntleroy.

Try tellin' them that, Stevie.

Remember, I'm one of New York's finest.

I'm Shane 54.

Ohh!

Like there wasn't a Gabriel 54

-and a Rhett 54. -Bullshit.

Oh, no.

Don't tell me that's the first time

you ever read an Interview magazine.

Oh, no!

Fuck you!

Troglodyte.

Hey, where you goin', huh?

The door's that way!

He's out!

Que sera.

Que sera.

I love you.

♪ When I'm feelin' lonely ♪

Someone telephone me.

It's gettin' hard to pass my time.

Take me out'a dining.

Watch me while I'm smiling.

Baby, it's a waste of time.

They're here.

Shane.

I-I-I knew you'd come to your senses, meine kleine Shane.

I went downstairs to get my keys,

and they're raiding the office.

Even from here, those suits look cheap.

Steve.

Aren't you gonna get out of here?

Where would I go?

I need a man to make my dreams.

And I need a man.

-Let's go, Shane. -Hey, what's're you guys doin'?

-Steve wants you out. -Hey!

Get of fa me!

-Joe, Billy, come on! -Pissin' me off, Shane.

C'mon guys!

Get outta here.

I gotta get my wallet!

Get outta here.

Keep moving.

These handcuffs are too tight.

Gonna leave marks.

Wha-what am I?

Public enemy number one?

For Christ's sake, huh?

Put your head down, get in the car.

This is so

tacky!

What happened?

Shane.

You want a ride?

Look Shane, I'm sorry.

I know I acted like a fool,

but you know how it gets in there.

Where's Roland?

I lost him in the balcony.

I'm sorry.

Come on.

What about your career?

I thought that was your big priority?

Yeah, well, I'm not so sure anymore.

Me neither.

So now what?

I like you, Shane.

Lets face it, we're Jersey.

Yeah, we are.

So, friends?

Friends.

Agents of the IRS and the FBI

raided the highly popular Studio 54.

So that's how my decade ended.

In the year and a half that Steve was in jail,

things changed a lot.

Big corporations had taken over the New York Club World,

doing what corporations do,

making everything safe and boring.

The freedom was gone.

I kept in touch with Julie.

She was doing all right.

She moved to Hollywood and got a small part in a good film.

I hadn't seen Greg and Anita in a while.

Brought back too many memories.

But they were still together, doing fine.

Anita recorded a great album with Casablanca,

but some people thought it was too disco.

I had been taking business classes at NYU during the day

and managing a restaurant in the Village at night.

As far as my dad went, things were better there too.

I got to Jersey to see him and my sisters about once a week.

When I heard about Stevie's welcome back party,

I couldn't resist.

After getting off with just six months probation,

Greg gave up dealing.

He got a good job in construction.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Take your time.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Take your time.

Let's do it.

♪ You know you are to slow down ♪

It's so good to see you again.

It's great to be back.

I was in the Bahamas, you know.

On a year and a half forced vacation.

Don't you love my club fed tan?

I want you to know,

only my friends are here tonight.

But I did put my parole officer on the list.

Yunno, prison can be so fucking dull at night.

I guess I just wanted to welcome you all back to say,

this time, I hope it does last forever.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back.

Ooh.

Oh, babe.

If you could read my mind, love.

What a tale my thoughts could tell.

Just like an old time movie.

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well.

In a castle dark or a fortress strong.

With chains upon my feet.

You know that ghost is me

I don't know where we went wrong.

♪ But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back ♪

If you could read my mind, yeah.

If you could read my mind - Shane!

How you doin'?

How the hell are you?

Just like a paperback novel.

The kind the drugstores sell.

When you reach the part where the heartache comes.

The hero would be you.

But heroes often fail

I never thought I could feel this way.

♪ And I've got to say that I just don't get it ♪

You see, Steve Rubell had a dream.

But like with all dreams, you wake up to reality.

Even though Steve was just a consultant now,

the new owners gave him this night, this one night,

to bring all his friends back,

to do it his way.

We pretended nothing had changed,

but in reality,

the party was over.

If you could.

♪ If you could ♪

If you could read my mind.

If you could read my mind, love.

What a tale my thoughts would tell.

Just like an old time movie.

'Bout a ghost from a wishin' well.

If you could read my mind, love.

What a tale my thoughts would tell.

Just like a paperback novel.

The kind the drugstores sell.

And when you reach the part.

Where the heartaches come.

The hero would be you.

Heroes often fail.

Never thought I'd feel this way.

♪ And I've got to say that I just don't get it ♪

I don't know where we went wrong.

♪ But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back ♪

If you could.

If you could.

If you could read my mind.

If you could.

♪ If you could ♪

If you could read my mind.

If you could.

If you could.

Ooh.

Mm.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh

I don't wanna lose this good thing.

That I got, 'cause if I do

I will surely.

Surely lose a lot.

'Cause your love is better.

♪ Than anything I know ♪

It's like thunder.

Lightning.

The way you love me is frightening

I better knock.

On wood, yeah, baby.

Ooh, oh, yeah

I'll knock on wood, babe

I believe I will

I believe I will, oh yeah.

Oh yeah.

Oh yeah.

Baby, I'm gonna knock on wood

I mean, I better, baby,

Right here, right now

I want you to let me.

Come on and touch me, yeah.

Yeah.

It's like thunder, lightning.

The way you love me is frightening.

You better knock, knock, knock, knock.

♪ On wood, yeah, baby ♪

🎧 Oooh, yeah 🎧

I'm gonna knock on wood, babe

I believe I will

I believe I will.

Oh yeah.

Oh yeah.

♪ You better knock, knock, knock on wood ♪

You better knock, knock on wood.

♪ I mean, better baby

Right here, right now.

Knock, knock, knock on wood

I want you to let me.

Come on and touch me.

Yeah

I'm feeling, I better

I'm feeling, I better.

Come on, come on, come on, I wanna.

Come on, come on, come on, I wanna.

Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

one, one, one, one, one

Better knock on wood, babe.

Yeah, knock on wood, babe.

Right here, right now tonight.

Don't wanna lose you.

No, no, no, don't wanna lose you, babe

one, one, one, one

Come to me.

When there's nobody else around.

Come to me

I'm still waiting, open-armed for you.

Come to me.

'Cause I will comfort you.

When you've no one to turn to

I will be here just for you.

Come to me.

When your world is empty and cold.

Come to me.

When you need someone you want to hold.

Come to me.

♪ In my arms, I will keep you safe and warm

Come to me

I will shelter you from the storm

I'm not one to pretend.

But why can't you understand.

That I love you.

And I love you.

And I need you.

And I want you.

And I love you.

And I love you.

And I need you.

And I want you.

Come to me.

Oh baby, hey.

Come to me.

When your world is empty and cold.

Come to me.

When you need someone you want to hold.

Come to me.

♪ In my arms, I will keep you safe and warm

Come to me

I will shelter you from the storm

I'm not one to pretend.

But why can't you understand.

That I love you.

And I love you.

And I need you

I need you.

Come to me.

Oh, baby.

And I need you