All language subtitles for The Tic Code (1999) EN

( Applause )

{ plays jazzy
"Don't Blame Me" )

Woman:
Amazing player, huh?

Boy:
Plays flat.

Flat?

Flat fingers.

Ms. Gimpole says
"Curved fingers.”

Does Dad play
with flat fingers?

I never noticed.

I bet he plays
with flat fingers.

Like this
Thelonious Monk did.

When he calls
on my birthday,

I'm gonna ask him.

Okay.

Mom?

Which would you rather,

rich or famous?

Rich, definitely.

No. Famous,
definitely, for me.

Which would you rather,

electric chair
or life in prison?

Life in prison. You?

Electric chair.

'Cause I'd die from being
cooped up anyway.

Which would you rather,

no hands or no feet?

I'd keep the hands.

Me too.

Don't you think they
could make me something

to press the pedal with?

Yeah. I think then they
could make you wooden feet

or something to press
the pedal with.

And to walk with.

Tomorrow
when I go practice

at the Vanguard,
can I use fiat fingers?

Sure.

Mom?

Thanks for not
naming me Thelonious.

{ playing "“Fur Elise" badly )

( to the beat )
Mex-ic-0, Mex-ic-0,

Mex-ic-0, Mex-ic-0,

Mex-ic-0, Mex-ic-0...

{ continues chanting )

Tem-po...

Mex-ic-0, Mex-ic-0,

Mex-ic-0, Mex-ic-0,

Faster.

{ bell rings )

{ playing jazz )

Hey, Miles,
I'll meet you there, okay?

Okay.

{ jazz playing on stereo )

Is he coming tomorrow?

Yup.

- Oh, is this his new one?
-Yup.

Man, he's so cool.

"Cool"?

Cool don't say it.

He is a higher level of cat.

He is the cat
who is the cat.

Man with accent:
Excuse me.

Uh, could I use
your telephone

And your WC?

"WC"? What the hell
kinda English is that?

Why can't he say crapper
like everyone else?

{ coin drops in pay phone )

{ man speaking
foreign language )

What, are we starting
a halfway house

for these little
motherfuckers?

And what do we say
when the cops come in

and see peewee here
having a drink at the bar,

"We wish to welcome you

to munchkin fucking land"?

Chill out, man.

They can stay
till we open up, all right.

Chill out, chill out.

Easy for him to say.
I'll probably end up

sharing a cell with
a guy named Bubba.

{ playing along with stereo )

Man on phone:
But at least please try and understand,

I cannot make the call!

I lose my goddamn coin!

Look, I apologize
for the "goddamn,*

but goddamn!
I cannot make the phone call!

{ mimicking accent )
I apologize for the goddamn,

But goddamn!

I apologize for the goddamn,
but goddamn.

I apologize for the goddamn,
but goddamn!

We're gonna have to start
paying him soon, I guess.

He's getting to be
good as his dad.

Fuck his old man.

Motherfucker's probably
got a big old mansion

on Sunset Boulevard,

Panasonic view,
all the babes you can eat--

won't even give his poor
kid a fucking piano.

Little fuck's gotta
come here and play.

Hey, Miles,

you want I should
take up a collection,

get you your own piano?

I'm gonna get that kid
a fucking piano

whether he likes it or not!

Hey, Miles!

I'm gonna get you
a fucking piano!

He's happy.

These fucking kids nowadays--

ungrateful little motherfuckers.

You offer them
a goddamn piano,

they throw it back
in your face.

Hi, Miss Perlman.

Hey, Miles, does your mom
have a lot of boyfriends?

No. Nobody wants to
go out with her at all.

{ door opens )

Hi, honey.
How was practice?

Guess what?
Kingston gave us

Tyrone Park's new CD.

Wow.

Hi, Laura.

Hi, Todd.

Wow!
The whale dress fits!

{ whispering )
Miles!

What's that, sweetheart?

Nothing, just "wow."

It fits real good.
It's even tight.

Uh-oh.
ll don't know if that's--

I mean, is that good?

(tic)

Uh-oh,

looks to me like somebody's
got the hiccups. Boo!

Ha ha ha!

Oh, I think that dress looks
really lovely on you, Lily.

You're gonna be
the belle of the ball.

I just love it.
You did a fantastic job.

Know what? I think
I'm gonna wear it home

and give my husband
a little surprise.

That's a good idea.
Well, good-bye, Lily.

(tic)

Oh, sweetheart,

try drinking out of the wrong side
of the glass.

Sometimes that works.

Good-bye, Lily.

Todd, honey,
I think it's time

that you went
back downstairs.

I think your grandfather's
probably expecting you.

Looking good, Laura.

Thank you, Todd.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

Good-bye, Todd.

He's a sweetie.

He's a retard.

Stop it, Miles.

Yeah, and that lady--

stuff a few more hams in there,

why don't you, fatty?

That's enough.
Go to your room.

I didn't say it
in front of her.

I don't want to
hear it at all, ever.

And anyway, you did.
"Whale dress"?

"Whale dress"
just slipped out!

Unh!

Yeah, why'd she say
the hiccups?

She thought
that's what it was.

Ye-- yeah, well,

she shouldn't have opened
her big, fat mouth,

if she doesn't know
what she's talking about!

If I hear one more
"fat” or "fatty" out of you,

you are in big trouble!

( Softly )
Fat, fat-fat-fat.

Fat-fat-fat, fat...

Fat! Fat fatty...

Fat!

Fat!

(tic)

Fat! Fat!

(hie)

Fat fatty, fatty...

{ running footsteps )

Fat-—-

Okay.

Okay, honey.

Okay, calm down.

Fat.

It's okay.

Can't you just make
one phone call

to help out your own son?

Well, he's-- you know--
I just thought

since you knew him,
it would be good,

except for he'll probably
meet him anyway

playing at the club, so...

Yeah.

1 did try.
He wasn't very nice.

And I was really scared
to ask him about it.

I'm so bad at talking
to people anyway.

I'm just-- I--
no, I'm not a recluse.

I'm just, you know--

It's hard sometimes,

everything with Miles.
It's just...

hard to do alone.

{ Hindu accent )
Hello, my name is Gandhi,

for hungry guru dinners.

So whether you're
fasting for peace,

or just had a light lunch,

try my hungry guru dinners.

- And I can do Thelonious, too.
-You can?

Mm-hmm. From watching
the movie last night.

Let's see.

You didn't record that...
You didn't record that...

Oh, I hate
when you do that, Miles.

It looks like you're
holding your breath.

I'm not holding my breath, Ma,

just holding my feelings.

Mom,

all my habits

are they gonna get worse
like Thelonious Monk?

No. No, honey.

I don't know what was
wrong with that guy,

but you can't compare
yourself to him in that way.

E-Except everybody thinks

both of us are weirdos.

Who's everybody,
Denny Harley?

Mostly him, yeah.

Yeah, well, you go up
to Denny Harley and say

Listen, Denny,
want to imitate something about me?

Why don't you imitate
my piano playing?

You can be rich and famous
someday like I'm gonna be

instead of the loser
you are now, asshole.

Say that to him, okay?

Okay.

Call him asshole
like 1 did, too.

Okay.

Or... Bonehead.

Whatever you think
is stronger.

No, asshole probably is.

{ imitating tic )

Girl:
"I'd be nice to everyone,

Even those who aren't
as famous as me.

I admire Itzhak Perlman
because I play the violin too.

I would like to be
just like him when I grow up,

Only not crippled.”

Ms. Gimpole:
Dennis Harley!

Continue, continue.

"Like once, I was
in line for a movie,

And Itzhak Periman
was there in crutches,

and the manager recognized him
because he was famous.

He said Mr. Periman,
You don't have to stand in line.

Here, ticky, ticky, ticky.

How come you're always
doing this?

Uhh...

Because! Same
as you're always doing this.

That's it.

No, you don't!

Did you just
laugh at me?

Yeah, did you?

Laugh at me?

Huh?

Did you? Uh... Uh...

Laura:
Listen, Denny,

you want to imitate
something about me?

Why don't you imitate
my piano playing?

Then you can be rich
and famous someday

like I'm gonna be

instead of the loser
you are now...

Asshole!

{ improvising solo )

{ microphone feeding back )

Ew, sounds like shit.

"Sounds like shit.”
Did you hear him, Kingston?

"Sounds like shit.”
Sounds like the shit

is what it sounds like, Tyrone.

Sounds like the shit.
The shit, the real shit.

Thank you, man,
but I was talking about the monitors.

Oh, shit--

1 got it.
1 got it.

Can I ask you
a personal question?

Why aren't you
making millions?

This I wanna know.

Kiss my ass, Kenny G.

Now, what is up
with that shit, huh?

I tell you, I was at a gig the other night
with Joe Zawinul.

So Joe is going on and on
about Kenny G,

about how he never swung
a day in his life,

and he can't play,
and how come--

how come he sells
so many CDs.

So there's a chick
sitting there,

and the chick
finally has had enough,

and she stands up,
she says,

"If he can't play,
how come it sounds so good?"

And he turns to me
and he says,

"The bitches know."

"The bitches know."
Ha ha!

Whoo-hoo.

Which one of you cats
is Miles?

Hey, you're Miles.

Yeah. I'm Miles.

Yeah, I asked you that because I hear
you're a decent player.

I need somebody to play
some changes for me,

and, uh...

ll just don't want to get
in the middle of some hassle

between you and your loan shark
or anything.

He's not a shark.
It's just Denny Harley.

Who are you, his bodyguard?

No, I'm his friend Todd.

What happened
to Denny Harley in all of this?

Oh, he went home crying.

His mom had to
come pick him up.

Oh, well, see now,
now you're frightening me.

I mean, you know,
if I blow a wrong note,

are you gonna
send me home crying?

Hey, Tyrone, baby,
you all set, man.

Check it out.

So, what you gonna do, Miles?

You gonna play or not?

Todd:
Go play. Go play.

Yeah, all right.

Come on.

All right, my man, give me some
rhythm changes in b-flat.

Eight-bar intro.

(tic)

{ tic continues )

Hey, man, that's--
that's cool.

That's cool, uh...

let's forget about it
for today, all right?

I gotta go some place
for a while anyway.

{ playing jazz )

Ms. Gimpole:
Mrs. Garrity,

several members of the board
have asked me to relay to you

that they would like Miles

to go back
on his medicated patch

if he intends to keep
his scholarship.

Is this because of
the fight yesterday?

The fight yesterday was
of great concern to them,

and I was
forced to consider

that the medicine
might help Miles

to deal with
his terrible anxiety problems.

When he performs
at recitals.

Oh, you can't do that
to him, Ms. Gimpole.

I mean, you've seen
for yourself what he's like,

when he wears that thing.

He says he doesn't
even feel alive

when he wears it,

and he can't play
the piano at all.

I understand...

but, frankly, I cannot be
a convincing advocate

before the board

without addressing...

the critical

flat-fingered problem.

Mrs. Garrity...

the great musicians--

Rubinstein,

Horowitz,

they did not squander
their talents.

If he will allow me
to teach him,

my recommendation

Is simply this.

If he hold his hands

like this,

he will always have control.

Like this...

chaos.

Chaos.

Ahem!

Ill-- I'll tell Miles.

Hey, Miles, you know why
I took up the saxophone?

Because of Tyrone Park.

Yeah, but mainly
because of your mom.

Because of my mom?

Yeah.
You know how her voice

sounds like that song
Tyrone was playing?

You know,
all hoarse and stuff,

all high and low
at the same time.

Todd, just shut up.

Just shut up
a-about her, okay?

Miles,

why did your dad leave your mom
when she's so nice and beautiful?

1 don't know.

Maybe 'cause of me.

What'd you do?

1 got weird.

{ piano playing slow jazz )

{ saxophone playing )

{ playing quick tempo )

Dad, yeah,

it was like we were
talking to each other.

Yeah, like laughing,

or having
our own private joke.

Uh-huh. Yeah.

Well, you know what he said?

He said that, like,
I got your thing, man.

Like, I'm gonna be one of
those smooth cats one day,

just like you.

Uh-huh.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

Yeah.

Well, I have a question.

Dad, do you play with--
with curved fingers

or flat fingers?

Yeah, me too!

Miles--

Uh-huh.

All right, I'll get her.

Ma, phone.

All right.
Love you too.

Bye.

Hey, what's up?

Miles, honey, could--

could you go down to the store

and get us some bread?

Sure.

Thanks.

Bye, sweetie.

( Softly )
Michael, I will not talk to you

about this when he's here.
If you want to talk about it,

call me back when he's
at school or something.

Bye, honey.

And by the way, did you
also hear how happy he sounded?

No, he just
met him at the club.

Isn't that great?

I had nothing to do with it.

And Tyrone Park didn't know
anything about it.

I think that's best.

What?

Peggy's shrink in Los Angeles

is diagnosing a boy
in New York he's never met?

Oh, that's... Ha!

That is so beautiful!

Yeah. Well,

you can tell Peggy
to tell Peggy's shrink

that it's not psychological.

It does not just happen
when he's nervous, Michael.

It happens when he's bored,
it happens when he's calm,

it happens when he's excited
about what's for dinner.

The only time
it doesn't happen

is when he's sleeping
or playing the piano.

Oh--

Oh, come on, I don't want to go
through this with you again.

You don't have to do
the swearing thing

to have it, Michael.

Just face it!
He's got Tourette Syndrome.

Big deal!

He's got a few less inhibitors
in his brain

so everything comes out
a little freer. So what?

He's also
an incredible kid!

What?

You said you were
coming here to visit him.

Oh, no.
I'm sure he'll be thrilled

to spend an hour with you
while you change planes.

Okay, good-bye, Michael.

Good-bye, Michael.

Good-bye, Michael!

Asshole!

(tic)

I-- I forgot what
you wanted me to get.

(tic)

Mom, which
would you rather:

Normal...

a-and can't play the piano,

or weird and can?

Oh, Miles...

Mom, really.
You have to pick one.

Okay,
I pick weird and can.

Satisfied?

Dad wouldn't.

Wouldn't what?

Y-you know,
p-pick that.

Your dad just gets worried
about you, is all.

He wants you to be happy.

Why'd he leave?

Oh, Miles...

Why did he?

So many reasons.

Couldn't stand
to watch me any--

Anymore, could he?

No.

No, baby.
Is that what you think?

I don't do it on purpose.

I know, sweetie.

Well, he thinks--

He thinks so.

No, he doesn't.

You know what, Miles?

1 think you got to go out
and visit him again

and get reacquainted
with each other,

don't you think?

Come on.
Remember how much fun you had

last year when you went out
to LA to see him?

1 didn't.

Yes, Miles. Remember?

You went to the opening of that
big movie he scored?

L1 didn't go.

Yes, you did, Miles.
You told me all about it.

You got to see all
those movie stars and stuff.

I made it up.

What?

Dad wouldn't let me go.

He said--

He said it was too important
a night for him

and that my noises would bother
the people in the audience

trying to watch the movie.

I would have concentrated
really hard, Ma.

I would have
focused and everything.

Everything.

I wouldn't
have made a sound.

I know, baby.
I know you wouldn't.

I know, sweetheart.

{ Jazz music playing )

Isn't he fierce?

Yes.

Hey, you stay back here,
you're cool, all right?

Nah, it's dark.
He could be a midget.

Thank you so much.

Sparky Williams on the bass.

And Tiny Niner on the drums.

Thank you.

You know, a kid
told me today that, uh...

that he was inspired
to take up the saxophone

when he heard me
practicing this song.

He said that hearing the sax

reminded him of
his girlfriend's voice,

and when he heard me
play the song,

he felt closer to her.

So, uh, I want
to dedicate this song

to Todd's girlfriend.

Todd?

Uh, I also want
to dedicate this song

to all the rest of us
romantics out there who,

like Todd, were inspired
to take up the sax

to get laid.

First sight.

When he comes out,
I want you--

I want you to meet him.

I don't want to meet him,
Miles.

You go...
You go meet him.

Mom, you never want
to meet anybody.

I do to, Miles.
I've met all of your friends.

I mean adults.

They're coming out.

Hey, man.

- You were on fire!
- That was you up there, baby.

Wiles, do I have
ice cream on my face?

He sees you, Miles.
Go over there now.

Jeez, Ma,

you're more immature
than the girls in my class.

Hey, Little Chops!

-Yo, man.
- What's up?

Hey, listen, man,

You kicked my ass
the other day.

So where you learn
to play like that?

When I was your age,
I couldn't even find my dick.

Shh!

She's my mom.

Hi.

Hi.

Miles' mom.

- Laura.
- Tyrone.

I know.

-You--
- Uh, do-- oh.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

No, I just--

You look very familiar to me.
ll don't know...

Oh,

maybe from around.

Um, do you--

Can't remember
what I was gonna say.

That's all right.
Happens to me all the time.

Oh, I know.

Do you like to play the saxophone?

Duh, Mom.

Yeah.
Yeah, I like it a lot.

Huh.

No wonder you're so good.

I was thinking,
when you were playing

that solo and...

it was so beautiful,

it sounded like
the horn was crying

or something.
So beautiful.

I've never--

I've never heard that sound.

Thank you.

"The bitches know"?

- Aw, man,
- Miles.

You'll get me in trouble
with your mother.

Why, did you
teach him that?

Well, ahem! Ahem!

Ahem!

Uh, in a way, yeah.

Ahem! Ahem!

A-ahem! Ahem!

Man:
Hey, Tyrone!

10 minutes.

I'm there.

1 got to get back in.

Nice meeting you,
Laura.

All right.

See you.

Uh, hey, Tyrone!

You know, my mom does
all the instruments, too.

What was the song
about, mom?

Miles!

Uh, um...

"Halston Blues' Flat. "
No, wait...

"Blues in Hoss's Flat."
Yeah.

She can play
all those instruments?

No, she can do
them, like...

{ imitating horn)

Oh, you know, she's
also a very good sewer.

Could you make me a tux?

Yeah!

How many you need?

One.

-Mom?
-Hmm?

I never thought that

there was anybody
in the world like me.

There isn't,
Gandhi man.

{ Hindu accent )
Why, yes,

in my foreign land,
I'm the only one

who can speak to the cows.

Good night,
sweetie pie.

- Good night.
- I love you.

Love you too.

Hey, Miles.

I'm gonna kill you,
Miles.

{ horn blaring )

Come on, Ticky boy!

If you don't tic yourself death,
Ill kill you with this.

Come on. Come on!

Hey, hey, gimme that!

Please don't hurt me!

It's just a water gun!

Please! I swear!

ow!

Miles!

Come on, come on.

Hang here.

What's your name?

Denny Harley.

I thought so.

What'd you say
to Miles in there?

Nothing.

Good.

When I ask Miles
tomorrow after school,

what did Denny Harley
have to say today?

What's his answer gonna be?

Nothing?

Now you got it-- uh!

Hey, that's
what Miles does.

Listen,

Denny, why do you suppose
both Miles and I do this?

Are you related?

Well, yeah, in a way,

but...

it's because we
both know the code.

- What code?
- "What code"?

The Tic Code.

"The Tic Code"?

Yup.

You see Miles
over there?

Yeah?

He knows everything
we're saying.

Everything?

So, uh,
you and Miles,

you made
this whole thing up?

No.

The CIA did.

A lot of people
know it now.

They do?

Oh, yeah.

So, Denny, this is a...

Sorry, Denny.

You okay?

Yeah.

What--
What'd you say to him?

I just brought him
up to speed.

You know, my Dad
gave my Mom a real gun.

I know where it's hidden.

I-- 1 could
shoot Denny one day.

Oh, save your ammunition.

If you wanna go to jail
do it over a worthier dude.

Which would you rather,

shooting yourself
or drowning yourself?

Miles.

I'd pick shooting.
Shooting myself.

Like this kid at my school.

Shot himself at
the 79th Street Boat Basin

'cause he was caught cheating
on a social studies test.

Ah, shit
That's deep, man.

I'd do that too.
Shoot myself at the Boat Basin

and wash out to sea so my mom
wouldn't have to view the body.

Well, that's very thoughtful
of you, I think.

Kids didn't use
to tease me like this.

I mean, I wasn't
always the way I am now.

I know it's hard,
Miles.

So, look, is your mom gonna
make me one of those tuxes

like I wore at
my cousin's wedding?

Yeah.
My grandfather taught her.

But not too many men
go to her,

'cause they're embarrassed
about the measuring part.

I'm cool with that.

You think it's all right,

me showing up without
an appointment?

Yeah. I mean.
She's not doing anything.

{ singing loudly )

Mom!

Aah!

I swallowed my gum.

I knew I should have made
an appointment.

Yeah...

You should have made
an appointment.

Give us a story, man.

- 1 got a good one.
- Oh, I'm so happy.

This is one of my best.
No, really.

I'm in San Francisco,
doin' this gig...

I'm working the Harvey.

1 just get back
from the 'niner game.

1 pick up this chick,
taking her to my hotel...

1 said, "No matter
what goes down,

you gotta pretend
to be the maid.”

- Pretend to be the maid?
- Pretend to be the maid.

3:00 AM, my wife
busts in the door,

the chick jumps up nude...

starts dusting.

True story.

"True story,"”
my ass.

The last time this guy got laid,
Truman was president.

Yeah, Truman Capote.

Hey, ease up, man.

But you can't talk.

What?

Any chick coming near you

is gonna smell like a ride
through Gary, Indiana.

You better quit wearing
that smelly shit.

And give up
the voodoo powers?

Never, never.

Yeah-- but do
the powers work?

Do they work?
I'll tell you something,

chicks love the power.

Check it out.

Here's a guy that has
respect for the voodoo.

My guess is that Todd here,

is the only man at this table
who has his shit together

where women are concerned.

Right, Todd?
What's your girlfriend's name?

Laura.

Laura
That's like Miles' mom.

Yeah, just exactly
like my mom.

Todd,
Laura's your girlfriend?

- He's boning Miles' mom?
- No!

No...!

Come on!

What's wrong with you?
He's in love with her, that's all.

He's got good taste
in women.

Yeah. I love her so much,
I wrote a song for her.

Todd wrote a song
for his woman.

Let's hear it.

{ humming "Habanera"
from Bizet's "Carmen" )

{ all start humming )

That's "Carmen"!

He's got good taste in women,
and music.

{ all singing )
J La-daa... s

JLadaa...?

Hey, Miles, do I have
to plagiarize an opera

to get your mom
to go out with me?

No. She really wants
to go out with you.

How do you know?

Because ever since
she met you,

she keeps asking
if her butt is too big.

Todd:
"After slicing the chicken's throat,

Place it on top
of the Denny Harley Doll."

Did you ask Sparky
if fried chicken works

as good as killing
a live one?

Uh-oh.

We can't do anything
without knowing that stuff.

Man, we were so close.

L1 guess we'll have to try
again tomorrow.

Tyrone: "Doo-do-da, do-do, do-day--"
I know you've heard that.

Laura:
1 didn't notice.

It's jazz, you know,
that sounds like a mistake.

You know,

I really enjoyed
playing with your boy.

He loved playing
with you so much.

That guy's
like a junior genius.

He usually gets
too nervous to play

in front of people
he admires.

He can't play in front
of his father at all.

He can't even sit down
at the bench

and his...

Yeah, yeah...

I think it meant a lot to him

to see someone with a similar

neurological problem.

“Neurological problem"?

I've heard it called
many things,

But never a
"neurological problem."

What do you call it?

I call it something
1 don't like to talk about.

So,

when am I gonna
hear you do the parts

of "Blues in Hoss's Flat"?

- Never.
- Never?

Come on, Miles says
you're the greatest.

Oh, Miles is a little salesman

- haven't you noticed?
- There's no salesmanship necessary.

I like the way
you do “That's all.”

I haven't done it.

Not last night,
I mean, before.

- You heard me play?
-Yeah.

When did you
hear me play?

How many times
have you heard me play?

- All, I guess.
-All?

I haven't been
to all of my gigs.

Well, just--
just in New York,

in the past year or so,

just the early shows,
so, not really "all," at all.

You know...

we should have picked "Death,"”
instead of "Worship."

Uh-uh. Sparky said
we couldn't pick "Death,"”

or else he wouldn't
let us borrow the book.

Anyway, I can make Denny Harley
call me "The Czar."

No, not death...
Catatonia.

Cater-what?

Like in
"The Tomb of Ligeia,"

When they think
she's dead.

She scratches
into her coffin,

her hands get all bloody,
she's screaming and stuff?

We should have picked
that one.

Oh man, you really
shouldn't have said that.

Now I'm gonna be too scared
to go down to your apartment.

Hey, do you hear scratching?

Todd, wait 2 minute.

What?

It's just Stevie scratching.

No, he's a black cat.
He'll jinx us.

- He's a blind cat.
- Miles!

No.

It's my mom.

She's back
from her date already.

- She's on a date?
- I'm not even supposed to be here!

She's on a date?

{ mimicking trumpet )

Take a nice big breath.

{ mimicking drums )

Wanna give me some bass?

{ mimics jazz bass )

Hi.

Good night.

You're not leaving.

I don't want to.

Then don't.

She was kissing him.

He dissed me.
You dissed me.

C-can I still stay
at your place?

Hey, Ma,

isn't this the song you do
all the instruments to?

Yeah.

I'm gonna go
outside for a few minutes.

We're looking for a sexy
black sax player.

To play backup for us,
and we think that you're it.

I don't want to open up
a can of worms,

but you know how I feel
about the vocalist thing.

Not with them,
of course,

but I think a couple of cuts
on the new disc with vocals,

could be big.
Don't look at me like that.

Did it hurt Kenny G.
to have Michael Bolton?

- I know they're a little--
- Morris, I gotta go.

All right, that was
a bad example,

but Coltrane had
Johnny Hartman, right?

Gilberto and Getz?

Morris...

You were great tonight.

Morris,

why does he keep making
those weird noises?

He's getting over
a bit of a drug problem.

Yeah.
Very realistic.

I thought one of you cats
was my agent.

You dissed me, man.
I saw you kissing Laura.

Miles, give me a moment.

Come here, Todd.

I'm sorry you had
to see that, man.

-You dissed me.
- You're right.

You're right,
ll dissed you, I'm sorry.

I should have talked
with you first,

since I knew how
you felt about her.

Yeah.
I found her first.

I know.
I know you did,

but the thing is, Todd,

I'm a lot older
than you, man,

ll don't have as many years left
to fall in love as you do.

Yeah.

My grandfather said,
Miles needs a father figure.

You're probably better
at that stuff than I am.

Probably.

But you are a smooth cat.
By the time you're 16,

you're gonna have chicks
coming out of your ears.

You think so?
I'm a smooth cat?

Yeah. The smoothest.

The cats in my band

have been writing down
your operations for future reference.

Like what?
Like how I dress real sharp,

write all those love songs,

know all the right things
to say to chicks?

All of that.
All of that, man.

We cool?

Yeah.

Yeah, my brother.
Thank you.

- Where's your mom?
- She's outside...

waiting for me and Todd.

She didn't want to bother you,
because she thought--

I guess, that one of those blondes
was one of your girlfriends.

She thought she was
wearing the wrong dress, too.

Hey, Snow White!

1 think you left a couple
of your dwarves inside.

- Are they bothering you?
- Nah, nah. They're cool.

Don't you want to be back
inside with your fans?

No.
You want to be alone?

I just thought
you'd wanna be...

ll don't have a girlfriend.

- What?
- A girlfriend, a lady...

ll don't have one.
Miles was telling me--

Oh...

Anyway,
ll don't have one.

Oh.

But things could change.

You are so pretty.

You're so pretty, too.

What?

Nothing.
I was just laughing.

When I first met you,
you were different.

Two weeks ago?

That's not when
I first met you.

I first met you
six months ago.

Outside the Blue Note.

The Blue Note?

Yeah. I asked you
if you'd talk to my son

about, you know,
and you said,

you don't do “charity gigs,"”
and got mad at me.

That was you?

Yeah.

I was gonna tell you before, but--

What happened
is that Michael,

when he played with you,
he noticed that

you...

He didn't really notice,

but when Miles started
to do it, he thought

that maybe
it would be nice

if you two
could get together,

because you had a similar--

“Neurological problem"?

So, all of those
gigs of mine you came to,

you were just trying
to build up the nerve

to hook me up with Miles,

Maybe give him a "pep talk,"
or something?

No, I-

- I gotta go back inside.
- Tyrone...?

{ coughing )

Hey, Ma. Wanna hear
something really funny?

Sure.

Chester and Sparky

said that I'm a white cat

who plays
like a brother, right?

So the next time
I'm hanging around them,

I'm gonna say...

"Yo, man, I'm not gonna
sit on my black ass

listening to you white mu'fuckers
bullshit no mo"."

That is not funny.

I do not want to hear you
say those swear words again.

I was just imitating.

Well,

don't do it anymore.
It's not nice to imitate.

You laugh
when I do Gandhi man.

That is so different.

For one thing,
you don't use swear words

when you do Gandhi man,
and for another, it's--

Maybe I shouldn't laugh...

Miles, just finish up
and get ready for school.

About time,
Mr. Tyrone.

There is a very lovely lady
who's been waiting for you

about three hours in here.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I fixed your jacket.

When you left...

Thanks--
thank you.

You could have left it with Marvin.
You didn't have to wait.

That's what I kept
telling her, Mr. Tyrone.

And the tux?

I meant to tell you,

you can come over
any time now,

because I'm ready.
I mean, the tux is--

for a fitting, I mean.

Yeah, I'm...

I'm real busy now,
Laura.

I don't know if I can
get over there.

I just thought
you'd want your tux.

Tyrone, I feel so--
The whole thing last night...

Hey, Mr. Tyrone?
Ever have a chance

to play with Englebert Humperdinck
while you were in Vegas?

No, Marvin.

That's a shame.

I feel so bad about
what happened last night.

1 wanted to talk
to you about it,

last night it just
came out all wrong.

It's cool.
It's cool, Laura.

Just trying to help your kid.
I understand.

It happens.

But I want you to know that

all those times
ll came to see you,

I wasn't only coming
just for Miles.

You would have to be
some crazy groupie

to come to all my gigs
as a fan, anyway.

You paid the cover.
That's all I care about.

In fact, I'm thinking
of charging people double, you know?

Get to hear some music,
see some tics?

Marvin, what's up
with the elevator?

Marvin:
I wish I had $100

for every time somebody
said that to me.

Look,
Laura, let's just

take this thing a little slower.

Maybe keep it on
a friendship tip.

Oh...

All right.

You didn't do
anything wrong.

I just don't want to be thought of
as the Touretie's guy.

I'm sorry
that I gave you the impression

that I thought of you
as anything but a musician...

and a man.

Boys:
Blood of a chicken, eye of a cow,

Dennis Harley
will worship us now.

Blood of a chicken,
eye of a cow,

Dennis Harley
will worship us--

Ouch!

Aw, man.

{ class bell rings )

- Let's go.
- Wait. Look.

- What's that?
- A piece of Tyrone's tux.

Me and Tyrone
talked about it. We're cool.

I wasn't gonna
burn it.

What does the book say

about getting people
to hang heavy?

{ door closing )

Miles? Psst!

Hey, Miles?

Will you teach me?

Please?

Teach me.

Teach you what?

Well...
You know...

Hey...

What was that?

You know it, too?

How come everyone
knows it but me?

Knows what?

( Softly )
The Tic Code.

( Softly )
Maybe it worked.

Yeah...

maybe it worked.

I'm glad
that we're taking this slow.

You're right.

It really takes
the pressure off things.

Yeah.

So...

it's good...

we're taking it slow.

Yeah.

( Faintly )
Yeah.

Satin buttons
okay?

Yeah.

I'll make this round.

Could you...?

Sorry.

Miles...

{ chuckling )

Tyrone?

How does Herbie
hold his fingers?

Why? Teacher still trying
to get you to play

with your hands
with pennies on them?

Yeah.

She says I'm
picking up bad habits.

Has she ever seen
Horowitz play?

Horowitz is her idol.

She loves classical music.

Yeah, well,

I happen to love
classical music, too,

and Horowitz
was an idol of mine,

so she's got good taste.

Yeah.

But, obviously, she has
never seen Horowitz play.

Because if she had,
she would know

that he played
with flat fingers.

He did?

Flat, flat, flat.

Flatter than the state
of Kansas, man.

What? I went to Julliard,
I know my shit.

Miles, I forgot
to tell you...

your dad called.

Is Saturday at 4:00 okay?

Why do I have to go
to the airport?

That's where your dad's
gonna be.

I don't want to miss any of
Tyrone's recording session.

We'll be going
all night, man.

We'll be going
for a while.

Can't you tell him
I couldn't make it

because I was watching
Tyrone play?

Honey, he's your dad.
He wants to see you.

Can't ll see him
on his way back?

Miles...

Okay.

Hey, Tyrone?

Did my Dad ever
make fun of you?

Make fun of me?
Why would he do that?

Okay, honey,
you know,

you're overtired.
Everything will be fine in the morning.

- Go to sleep.
- Okay. Good night.

- See ya.
- All right.

Tyrone: It's just a trip
to the airport, baby.

For Miles,
it's everything.

For him, it's just
a way of killing time

in his layover from Budapest,

or wherever he's going.

"Gee, what should I do,
buy myself a paperback?

I think I'll drag my kid
out here to entertain me.”

Cashier:
$27.50. Please.

Laura:
Miles, honey?

Tyrone:
Come on, man.

Is my shit
bothering you, babe?

No, no.
I was just thinking...

Wiles and I saw
this documentary on Thelonious Monk,

and he did some stuff
that made me think-- have you seen it?

A while ago.
I don't remember.

They kept talking about that
he had mental problems,

and they kept talking about
maybe he had drug problems,

but he did all this
compulsive stuff,

like compulsive touching,
and turning around,

- and I kept thinking, maybe--
- Aw, Jesus!

Maybe this guy
had Tourette's,

and nobody knew how
to diagnose it--

Okay, maybe
I'm wrong about it.

Miles got me thinking about it,
because of his--

Miles! Hey, Miles,
come on!

- Hey, Todd.
- Come on, Miles!

Okay, honey.
You can go.

Watch the cars.

What do you think?
You think Thelonious Monk had it?

What?

I'm still not allowed
to talk about this?

You do whatever
you want, babe.

I'm going upstairs.

It's just hard for me

not to talk to you
about it, Tyrone.

- I mean, it's so--
- Obvious?

Minor.
It's so minor.

Minor to who, Laura?
Not to you,

you're obsessed
with this shit.

Obsessed, I haven't talked about it
since our first date.

That's bullshit. You're like
a motherfucking dam breaking

with your
Thelonious Monk shit.

I told you,
Miles noticed a similarity.

I thought it was interesting.

“Interesting?"
Like a fuckin' freak show!

No, but I don't think it's odd

that I want to talk to you about it
once in a while.

My god,
I've watched my son

be humiliated
by it for years,

and tomorrow's a big day
for him,

his father's done half
the humiliating,

So, yes,
it's on my mind.

What are you gonna do?
Find more people with tics

for him to meet?
There's a baseball player who's got it.

Why don't you take him
to a ball game?

- Cut it out.
-Jazz clubs,

baseball games, you'll sit through
anything, won't you?

So long as you can eventually
discuss your favorite topic.

- My favorite topic?
- If it wasn't for Miles,

and his tics, you'd never leave
this fucking apartment!

God damn it!

Fuck!

1 got it.

1 got it,
I said!

Stop yelling at me!
Stop insulting me!

I'm sorry
I brought it up.

I'm sorry you don't
like to talk about it,

but I have a little boy
who goes to school every day,

and comes home
calling himself a weirdo.

I can't help but be sorriest
about that.

Let me pull your coat
to something.

He is right!

People like me and Miles--
are weirdos!

And the sooner he realizes it,
the better!

You know what,
Tyrone?

You can call yourself
anything you like,

but while you're
in my house

don't you ever talk
about my son that way again.

Fine!

1 think I've been in your house
a little too long as it is.

In fact, why don't you
find yourself

another blind cat
to rescue?

I'm a little tired of being
your latest charity case.

{ door slams )

Miles,
what are you doing?

Oh, no...

For--
for Dad.

Oh, baby.

You don't need this.

-Yes. ll do.
- No, you don't, Miles.

No, you don't.

Mom?

When I make myself stop,

do I look like 2 zombie?

Why?
Did someone tell you that?

I was just wondering.

Mom?

What's the longest time--

that I stopped?

When you try to stop it,

doesn't it always
come back worse afterwards?

So what?

Even if I do
look bad afterwards,

Dad won't see it.

Man: A limo, a limousine,
Because it's a long flight.

Just...

Oh-- gotta go.
My son just arrived,

looking like
a goddamned teenager.

Yeah.
Do Svedaniya.

See you in a day.
Good.

Hey, champ.
How are you doing, man?

Look at you, man.
Look at the size of you.

You're-- gigantic!

You almost pass the height
requirements for a 12-year-old,

and you still got a couple
of weeks to go, right?

Yep.

How's everything?
How's school?

Fine.

Great.

You didn't happen to see Peggy

on the way up
in the elevator, did ya?

No.

I don't know
where she went off to, but...

oh, well.

If she doesn't make it
in time for take off,

it's you and me, buddy,
off to Budapest.

Hey, champ, looks to me
like you got your...

problem under control.
That's great, man.

That's really great.
Good for you.

You must be
outgrowing it.

I mean...

you looked like a regular
Mexican jumping bean

the last time you came out
to visit, am I right?

Listen...

you got a pretty big
birthday coming up.

In a couple of weeks?

I wanted to be here in person
to tell you about

this very special birthday present
I'm giving you.

A piano?

No...

even better--
much better.

I promise.

L1 don't have to tell you
about it, I'll show you.

I want you to say
hello to your new stepmother.

And, soon to be,
new baby brother.

Pretty cool, huh?

Oh...

she's been puking
through the whole pregnancy.

She'll be out in a minute.

What do you think?
That's cool, right?

A baby brother?

Will you
leave him, too?

What?

If he turns out like me

will you leave him, too?

Michael: Does he think we'll be
one happy family again?

Peg's a little creeped out
by the Tourette's thing.

Maybe you could...

get a genetic test,
or something,

Whatever they do?

Just to show--
just to see...

if it was you
who gave it to him,

just to set her mind at ease,
you know?

There is
no genetic test for it, Michael.

I'm not entirely convinced
it's Tourette's anyway.

We were upstairs
for a while,

there wasn't a chirp
out of him.

{ whimpering )

Are you sure
you still want to go to the session?

Okay.

{ saxophone riffing )

Solly, give me a little more
in the cans, all right?

- Let me hear it.
- Okay.

Hey--
how you doin', man?

How'd everything go
with your dad?

T-Tyrone,

I was thinking...

if you and my mom
got married

it would be
really cool, because...

first of all,
you already have the tux,

and...

she could wear one
of the white bride dresses

because she's never
been married before.

Miles, that's not
gonna happen, man.

- LI-It's not?

Your mother and I are--

We're too different.
We're very different.

-Y-You are?
-Yeah.

W-Why are you?

Miles,

it probably boils down to
the fact that we're--

It's a cultural thing.
She's white, I'm black.

That means right from
the beginning,

we just speak
a different language.

-You do?
-Yes.

Yes, we do.

It makes it that much
harder to communicate,

- When things--
- Tyrone?

- Break's over, all right?
- All right.

We gotta get
something down now,

or we won't have anything
before the gig.

- Okay. All right.
- Enough chat-chat.

Look, Miles,

let's forget about it
for today, all right?

Let's just get
into the music.

Just the music, man.

- Miles, what's happening?
- Hey, hey, what's going on?

Fine.

Sit on down here with the cats.
Hang out here with us.

Okay, we're ready.

- Take one.
- Good.

Let's lay it down.

This is a slate.
We are rolling...

Miles,
put these on.

Let's go.

We are recording.

One, two...

{ music plays )

{ Miles' voice )
What's that?

I hear something.

{ vocal tics, chuckling )

Cut!

Sorry guys.

We're getting
some strange sounds.

I'm sorry. That's me.

That's me. I was...

I was laughing
at my own lousy playing.

Let's try it again.

{ sounds continue )

Is it that kid?
Is that kid laughing?

Huh? Is that
fucking kid laughing?

Yeah, we're still
getting that sound.

See what it is.

Make sure it's not
that fucking kid.

Tyrone:
I need you to lead me in there.

Pull me right in.
I feel like I'm...

Dragging it, Tiny.
You know what I mean?

Trying to...

Solly, can I get

a little bit less--
Solly?

Can you give me
a bit less...

in the cans next time?

Yeah, okay.

Thanks, Solly.

Good man.

- What? What is it?
- Look...

It's the kid, but...

I don't think he can--

ll don't want
to hurt his feelings.

You don't want
to hurt his feelings?

He's laughing during
a recording session,

And you don't want
to hurt his feelings?

1 think there's something wrong
with him.

You're damn straight
something's wrong with him.

This kid thinks this whole thing
is a fucking joke.

The talkback mike is on.
They can hear us.

Oh, I'm sorry.
Excuse-- hey, kid!

Let me ask you something.
You think $1000 an hour is funny? No?

Then stop laughing.
Remember the talk we had?

- Tyrone?!
- Miles!

What is this shit?
Tyrone, what did we say?

- Get him out of there.
- Miles!

Get him the fuck
out of here, now!

- Motherfucker!
- What? Hey, hey--

You know
what's fucking funny?!

You know what's
motherfucking funny?!

Your face!

Your fucking face, right now,
is hilarious to me!

Tyrone,
take it easy!

Take it easy? He wasn't laughing,
you stupid son of a bitch!

Who did this to me?

- Sweetie, why are you back so soon?
- ( phone ringing)

- Did you give me my tics?
- Miles, what happened?

- ( Answering machine beeps )
- Answer the question!

- 1 don't know.
- Get off-- get off.

{ answering machine )
Hello, Laura, it's Tyrone.

- If you're home...
- I hate him!

I hate him so much!
I hate him!

I hate you!

You're the reason
he broke up with us.

Honey,

sometimes things between people
just don't work out.

You were hanging out with Tyrone
before he met me.

You two can still
be friends.

I don't want him
to be my friend.

{ sobbing )

I want him to be
my father.

- You already have a father.
- He dumped me, too.

No, he didn't, sweetie.

Yes, he did!
I hate him!

I hate Tyrone.
I hate my whole stupid life!

Miles, Miles!

Stop it give me--

Get away from me!

Please--!

I hate you,
I hate you!

I wish I had
a real family,

with a mother
someone wanted to marry!

Did you ever think

plenty of people
would want to marry me,

if I weren't stuck
with a brat like you?

Why didn't you have
an abortion, then,

if you wished
I was never born?!

Because you're my baby!

You're my baby.

Can I have some change?

You called the police already?

They're coming over?
Go home.

I know it's hard
to sit and wait,

but he's probably
on his way home right now.

You gotta be there
when he gets there, all right?

- Some change?
- Change?

Change, change,
change...

{ voices echoing )

{ tugboat horn blows )

Your mom's freaked out
worrying about you.

Does she know
about that?

No.

You get caught cheating
on some social studies test?

No.

Mind if I get rid
of that?

That's how you knew
I was here, right?

About the story
I told you...

of Runt Stubblefield,
who shot himself?

Runt Stubble...?

That's the kid's name?

No wonder he shot himself.

- I chickened out.
- No...

you smartened up.

No...

it would have been
the right thing to do.

My Dad's having
this other kid, so...

he won't miss me.

And my mom,

she could get married

if I wasn't around.

No, man.

You're wrong
about that, Miles.

I know not to you,
because she's white.

Miles,

I said it was about
the racial thing with your mom--

it wasn't, man.

It was never about
the racial thing.

I was just embarrassed
to be with her

because of my...

Tourette's.

Because I dug her
so much.

-You were?
-Yeah.

Pretty dumb, huh?

Yeah, but,
she doesn't mind.

She's used to it with me.

I'm not saying
it makes any sense,

It's just the way it is.

But, don't you just hate it?

D-don't...

you wish you could
rip it out of your body?

Yeah. Yeah.

But I tell you,
Wiles,

it's all relative, man.

I was on the road
in '72 with these cats.

One cat stuttered real bad,

another cat was blind,

the other cat used to shoot up

in the back
of the tour bus every hour.

Compared to these guys,
1 was, like...

a pillar
of the community.

But, Miles,

when we would get up
on the stand to play,

I mean, we were--

we were like angels
for all anybody cared,

because our shit
was so tight.

The music
was so smokin', man.

That's why I love
music so much.

- Hey, Tyrone?
-Yeah?

You ever had that thing,
where you're looking at something

and it just screams out at you
to touch it?

Sometimes,
but my thing is

I gotta have everything
facing in the right direction.

- The same direction.
- Oh, yeah,

like all the pennies
have to be "heads up"?

{ laughing )

- No, man, "tails."
- "Tails"?

My stuff has got to be "tails,”
or I'll have a heart attack.

What about when you can
hear music backwards

and forwards in your head
at the same time?

That happens to you, too?

-Yeah. Think it's Tourette's?
- I don't know, man,

I always thought
it was because I was a genius.

- Really.
- What about when you can

see yourself doing
something dangerous,

like breaking glass,
or jumping in front of a car?

- That happens to you?
-Yeah.

Wiles, before I threw
that gun in the river,

I pictured myself
blowing my brains out.

- Click-- boom!
- Me, too.

-You?
- Yeah, really.

( Applause )

Hey, mom?
Which would you rather?

Flat fingers
like Thelonious,

or fiat fingers
like Horowitz?

Laura:
Flat fingers like Miles.

Tyrone:
Flat, fiat, flat, flat.

Mom? Which
would you rather?

Pennies facing "heads,"

Or pennies facing "tails"?

Is this a trick
question?