Original subtitles

[high-pitched tone]

- There's an adventure in every bowl of Alpha-Bits.

- Once when I was eating my Alpha Bits,

Dracula tried to get me.

- Oh, no!

[gunshot]

- Men. - Cadillac.

[funky soul music]

[The Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can"]

- ♪ Now's the time for all good men ♪

♪ To get together with one another ♪

♪ We got to iron out our problems ♪

♪ And iron out our quarrels and try to live as brothers ♪

♪ And try to find the peace within ♪

♪ Without stepping on one another ♪

♪ And do respect the women of the world ♪

♪ Remember you all have mothers ♪

♪ We got to ♪

- ♪ Make this land a better land ♪

♪ Than the world in which we live ♪

- ♪ And we got to help each man be the better man ♪

♪ With the kindness that we give ♪

- ♪ I know we can make it ♪ - ♪ I know that we can ♪

- ♪ I know darn well we can work it out ♪

♪ Oh, yes we can, I know we can can ♪

♪ Yes we can can, why can't we? ♪

♪ If we wanna, yes we can can ♪

- ♪ I know we can make it work ♪

♪ I know we can make it if we try ♪

- ♪ Yes we can, I know we can can ♪

♪ Yes we can ♪ - ♪ Great gosh Almighty ♪

- June? You're not even here.

Focus. - Can't you see I'm trying?

- What I see is a zombie who didn't get any sleep

because she was runnin' after that no-good man.

- What'd you say? - Here we go.

- Cut! Cut, cut, cut!

- Come on, girl, can we just finish the song?

- Maybe if Ruth shut up, I will.

- Well, she ain't wrong. You were out all night.

- What I say? - Ladies.

- Oh, so--

- We can take five if you need to regroup.

- No, no, no, so you both the saints.

- No one's pointing I'm the onany fingers.

- You better not.

You can't keep your mouth off Aretha's man.

- You know what? - Just stop it.

[crowd gasps]

- Okay, why don't we take ten?

- I don't need this shit today.

- June-- - Don't do me.

- Take 15, everyone. - June, come on.

- Now look what you did. - Come on.

- Okay.

- I am sick and tired of this.

- Teddy, distribute these to the dancers when we wrap,

not a moment sooner.

One jar per dancer, all right? - Sounds good.

- Any more thought to Elton John?

- "Soul Train" spotlights black musicianship.

Still not sure how Elton John factors into that.

Thanks a lot. - Advertisers see it as a plus.

in the General Motors meeting And it'd giwith Murchison

Don.

Don, come on, Tessa's on talent.

We gotta talk strategy for the meeting.

- Hey, look, you need to calm down

and finish the rehearsal.

Over here, come on.

If I have to stop what I'm doing

every time talent has an issue--

- Fight's about some guy June's seeing.

I'll take care of it.

- Please.

- Don, June's gone.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- So is my gun.

[smooth funky music]

♪ ♪

[soft dramatic music]

[indistinct chatter]

- Yeah, well, we can't treat her like a baby.

That's the problem. - She's still--

- Where's June?

- Check the dressing room. - Probably had to pee.

- She'll be here in time for the show, don't worry.

- Look, quit playing around.

She was in my office five minutes ago,

and now she's not. Tell me where she is right now.

- Ooh, Don, saying it with such voice gets me hot.

- Ooh.

- I got it. Walk away.

- Ooh! - [growls]

[laughter]

- Please.

- Buh-bye. - [snickers]

- Girl. - [giggling]

- Must be nice having sisters that have your back.

I mean, who hasn't had man trouble once or twice.

- Mm, or 20?

[laughter]

- Men do stuff, and then like to act like we're irrational

or menstruating.

- Mm. - Ooh, ain't that the truth.

- I just hope that June isn't in over her head.

- She can handle herself.

- Oh, I don't doubt it.

But how far would she go with a gun?

Don's gun.

- Liar said he was getting a divorce,

then went right back again. That's what he does.

Told her to leave him alone, but June is hardheaded.

She's gotta have him no matter what.

- Where's he live?

[funky ambient music]

- Go ahead. It's fine.

♪ ♪

- Hancock Park.

- Hm.

- Thanks for coming.

Sorry about the other night.

My self-defense teacher says you were trying to help,

says I gotta do a better job of listening

no matter who's doing the talking.

- Well, just because we're not together

doesn't mean I don't still care.

- Yeah, I care about you too.

I want us to try to--

- Oh, hi, JT.

I was wondering who was at the front door.

How are you? - I'm good.

- How's it going?

- I made chicken pot pie. You staying for lunch?

- No, ma'am, but thank you.

- Okay.

- I gotta thank you for getting my job back.

I didn't think I'd be singing background anymore

after that creep blackballed me.

Thanks, JT.

- Is that it?

- Actually, um, this is for you.

It was my dad's.

I want you to have it.

- Can't take it, Simone.

Stopped playing a while back.

I'm not really that guy anymore.

- Stop kidding yourself, JT. You'll always be that guy.

Please.

[soft dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[melancholic piano music]

♪ ♪

- Hey, sweetie.

I know you think I never been young or disappointed by love.

But you can't have it all, Simone.

Whatever you want the most squeezes out the rest.

[loud dissonant chord]

- Why are you so negative?

Nothing I do is every good enough.

- What do you think's gonna happen if that boy loves you,

and you turn around and hurt him again.

- That boy, that boy, is that the only person you

care about these days, Mama? JT?

- What kind of fool question is--

This isn't fair to you or him.

Music's your whole life, Simone.

How can he compete?

Let him go.

[lively piano music]

[playing "Don't Rain on My Parade"]

- ♪ Don't tell me not to live just sit and putter ♪

♪ Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter ♪

♪ Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade ♪

♪ Don't tell me not to fly I've simply got to ♪

♪ If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you ♪

♪ Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade? ♪

- ♪ I'll march my band out I'll beat my drum ♪

♪ And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir ♪

- ♪ At least I didn't fake it ♪

- ♪ Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it ♪

- ♪ But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection ♪

♪ A freckle on the nose of life's complexion ♪

- ♪ The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye ♪

- ♪ I gotta fly once I gotta try once ♪

♪ Only can die once, right, sir? ♪

♪ Ooh, life is juicy, juicy, and you see ♪

♪ I'm gonna have ♪ - ♪ My bite, sir ♪

- ♪ Get ready for me, love, 'cause I'm a comer ♪

♪ I simply gonna march ♪ both: ♪ My heart's a drummer ♪

- ♪ Don't bring around a cloud ♪

both: ♪ To rain on my parade ♪

- ♪ I'm gonna live and live now ♪

- ♪ Get what you want you know how ♪

- ♪ One roll for the whole shebang ♪

- ♪ One throw, that bell will go clang ♪

- ♪ Eye on the target and wham ♪

- ♪ One shot, one gunshot, and bam ♪

- ♪ Hey, Mr. Tucker ♪

♪ Here I am ♪

[solemn music]

♪ ♪

[doorbell ringing frantically]

- Open this door, Shane!

[pounding on door] Open this door!

- Hey. Hey!

- Open this door, you lying sack of shit!

- Baby, baby, what are you doing here?

You can't be here.

- Ooh, don't "baby, baby" me.

You know damn well why I'm here.

- Come on, June, my wife will be home any minute.

- Good! She can put what's left of you

in a pine box when I'm done with you.

Open this door!

- June.

Been looking for you.

- Go away, Don, this is none of your business.

This is between me and Shane!

- You made it my business

when you took something from my desk.

Now give it up.

- No.

- Man, help a brother out.

Get her off my lawn before my wife come home.

- Shut up, Shane.

- Sir, please go back inside while I talk to the lady, okay?

- You got me, right?

[funky instrumental music]

♪ ♪

- Where's my gun, June?

- In my purse.

- I'ma need it back.

I'm gonna need the gun back, June.

- I know how to handle a gun.

I was gonna give it back, a--after.

- You pull that shit again, and I will shoot you myself.

You understand? Let's go.

[siren whooping]

[soft dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[police radio chatters]

- Afternoon, officers.

We were just leaving.

- Ferrari, nice.

- Thank you.

- So what's a fine car like that go for these days?

- Registration's in the glove box,

license is in my wallet.

Back pocket.

- Let's see it.

[soft dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Cornelius.

Where do I know your face from?

- Hey.

Aren't you the host of "Soul Train"?

- Oh, my God, it is you.

- Big fans. - Please.

It's an honor. - Sorry for the inconvenience.

- You folks have a wonderful day.

- Wow. - Wow.

- Good thing you're famous, Don.

We'd have been SOL.

[funky instrumental music]

- Next she'll be trying to run the whole UK.

Wouldn't that be something, huh?

Margaret Thatcher, prime minister.

- Any woman that drinks scotch is okay in my book.

- I'm more of a bourbon man.

What brand of scotch?

- Oh, I find all the "glens" usually treat me oh so right.

[muffled funk music]

- I'll have to get a bottle of each.

- Mr. Murchison, "Soul Train" is viewed in 107 markets,

and our advertisers have seen their profits quadruple

in the last year alone.

- I'd like to help you out, but I sell Detroit steel,

not hair grease.

I'd have a hard time justifying ads on "Soul Train"

when black people will buy our cars anyway.

I mean, those Cadillacs,

they fly off the showroom floor.

[chuckles]

- Maybe you'd increase your sales index

if you appealed to the black community directly

instead of looking past them, and seeing themselves

in your vehicle says they matter.

Then GM can snag all the other auto dealers' business

instead of just selling Cadillacs.

- Of course, you'd also get brand loyalty

They watch "Soul Train" for the cool factor.

- [giggles]

White kids don't watch that show.

- They most certainly do.

- Boys and girls ages 12 to 15--

- Roy, get in here!

- Yeah, Dad, you called me?

- Look me in the eye and tell the truth.

You and your friends don't watch "Soul Train," do you?

- Uh, no, sir.

I--I've never seen the show.

- There you have it, proof positive.

[door clicks]

[distant funk music]

[door thuds]

- Thanks for your time.

[whispering] Asshole.

- I'm telling you, Don, put Elton John on the show,

and sponsors like him will be tripping over themselves

to book the entire year. - Excuse me.

- It's not just Elton John, it's--

- Mr. Cornelius, can I have your autograph?

[soft dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Thank you so much, Mr. Cornelius.

- Then maybe it's me.

Maybe I need to change my approach.

- Meaning?

- "Soul Train's" breaking records,

but no one knows.

We need more press.

- Well, that's easy, hire a publicist--

and I know a great one.

- I'm not sure a publicist is the answer.

And I'm not willing to spend money on something

that I know that I can do myself.

- Don Cornelius, and you must be--

- Kester Malloy, "Billboard."

- Oh, well, I didn't think that they would

send someone out on such short notice.

- Ah, it's no biggie.

I was headed to the lot for another meeting.

It shouldn't take long.

- Meeting on the lot?

- Yeah, Dick Clark wants me to meet some hot new talent.

Donna...

Summer. - Mm.

- Cool name. - Hm.

- Anyways, Dick thinks she's the next big thing,

so I'll run over there once I'm done here.

Piece of cake.

- Okay, how 'bout a personal tour

of the "Soul Train" set?

- Nice. - Great.

Follow me.

We do three shows a day every weekend

on an 850-foot soundstage with state-of-the-art equipment,

a 60 men-- - And women.

- And women crew,

and shattered viewership records across the country.

- You supply wardrobe for the dancers too?

jewelry, accessories, - Smake sure they stay

in the latest threads.

And this is where the magic happens.

[The Miracles' "Love Machine" plays]

- Whoa. This is unbelievable.

- ♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, ♪

♪ I'm just a love machine ♪

- Great job, guys, keep up the good work.

Camera two, get this.

- ♪ La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, ♪

♪ I'm just a love machine ♪

♪ A hugging, kissing fiend ♪

♪ I'm gentle as a lamb ♪

♪ I'm not that hard to program ♪

- You've got something really special

going on here, Don.

I mean, from the outside, no one could guess

how much work goes into putting this show together.

- ♪ That you have got to use ♪

- I'd love to do a write-up featuring it in our magazine.

- Mr. Malloy, you have no idea

how happy I am to hear you say that.

- Call me Kester. It'd be an honor.

- ♪ Just set my dial ♪

♪ And let me love you ♪

- Have your publicist send over

a press packet as soon as possible.

- ♪ I, I, I'm just a love machine ♪

♪ And I won't work for nobody but you ♪

- Hey, boss, you need me?

- Run this package by this address.

Let me know if you have questions.

Everything good?

- Is this what I think it is?

- There were variables beyond my control.

Willie's gone, and I need you to step up.

Can you handle that?

[foreboding music]

- [grunting]

Come on.

[grunting]

[metallic clanging and grunting]

- Hey, man.

♪ ♪

Is that your car?

- Sure thing.

- You ain't got no keys?

- How 'bout you mind your business?

- It's not your car, so it kind of is my business.

- A'ight, Superman, since you wanna be a hero,

let's see what you got.

- There a problem here?

- Yeah, I was just trying to get in my car,

and this cat's in my soup.

- Your car?

- Yeah, my car.

- Hm, that's funny.

How's it your car when I paid for it?

- [chuckling]

Guess it wasn't his car after all.

- Integrity's rare, kid.

I appreciate you looking out for me today.

- Yeah, I've seen you a few times at the barber shop.

Those wheels are custom, so...

hey, I don't mean to sound ungrateful,

I mean, money's great, but I'd rather have a job.

- Works for me.

[chuckles]

[soft dramatic music]

- Yeah.

♪ ♪

[knocks]

Name? - Gazazyan, Albert.

You got something for me?

- Uh-uh, wouldn't do that.

- Who are you? Huh?

You Gerald's errand boy?

How 'bout I call your boss,

tell him you're wasting my time, errand boy?

We gonna stand here all day or get down to business?

- Listen to me carefully.

This loan's a favor.

Until it's paid in full, no one's safe.

Not you...

and certainly not your family. You understand?

Gonna need that collateral.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

Oh, but hold on, hold on, hold on.

[glass scraping]

Diamonds cut glass.

This is paste, but you already knew that.

Make it right now, or see Gerald later.

- Sorry.

Sorry, come in, I'll get the real one.

Sorry.

♪ ♪

on Cornelius is not only the creator

"and executive producer of 'Soul Train,'

"a groundbreaking program

"that showcases Afro-Americans in a new light.

"He is a visionary and entrepreneur

"at the helm of the most unique

music and dance show in television history."

- Why'd you stop?

- It's just--it's not accurate.

What's unique about "Soul Train" isn't unique.

It's been done before. "Bandstand" stole the idea--

- Hang on, Tessa, are you really

comparing us to "Bandstand" right now?

- Let me finish, Don.

- [sighs]

- "Bandstand" stole the idea from another dance show

that had a dance line just like "Soul Train."

If this "Billboard" reporter does his research,

he's bound to find out,

and then where does that leave you?

And most importantly,

where does that leave "Soul Train"?

- Give it here.

I wouldn't have asked you if I thought

that you were gonna trash it.

- So you don't want me to be honest?

- Whose side are you on, Tessa?

- Ours.

You need a professional to do your bio.

Someone who crafts public images for a living.

I can't imagine Dick Clark writes his own press releases.

- It's my image that they're talking about.

What happens if they screw it up?

- You fire them, and you hire someone else.

I've seen you do it plenty of times.

- Look, nobody knows how to do what I do better than I do.

[knock at door]

Come in.

- Hmm.

- Joanna Brewer, publicist.

- Ms. Brewer.

- Joanna, honey.

So, Joanna, how did you get - on the calendar today?

- Brooks, I believe he's your ad guy,

he's a friend of a friend from NYU.

- So Brooks set this up?

- As a favor, you know. This business runs on favors.

And my firm's the best there is.

May I?

- Please.

- Rate's 10,000 a month.

I'm willing to take you on as a client for 7,500,

you know, since you're just starting out.

- Mm.

7,500?

- Guaranteed results.

I have a whole team who does nothing

but flood the networks with positive press

just to get my clients in the door.

Access to industry parties,

networking events, VIP, red carpets,

a rolodex of the biggest publishing editors

at my disposal.

- [chuckles]

Ms. Brewer, Joanna, I hate to think

that you traveled all this way for nothing.

Network meetings, industry parties,

I can do all of that myself, so why the hell

would I pay you 10 grand a month?

- That's my client on the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine.

That's no mistake.

That's what I do, and I highly doubt

you can match that even on your best day.

You have my card.

[door thuds]

- God, I wish this headache would just go away.

I can't take it anymore.

- You should save what's left of your voice, Ms. Pointer,

or you won't make it through the taping.

- [chuckles]

I have to sing at the club tonight too.

That's the life, and it never lets up.

- Drink this.

- What is it?

- Tea.

Ginger, honey, lemon, garlic.

- Mmm. That's good.

How'd you know what to bring me?

- Well, I sang off Broadway for a year.

Didn't know how hard it would be on my voice.

Lost it a lot.

But I'm better now and stronger.

One step closer to being a recording artist.

- Well, with a gig on "Soul Train"

as Don's talent assistant,

you're probably closer than you think.

He hasn't exactly seen me in my best light.

Are you ready for that?

- Well, what do you mean?

- For everything you say and do to be put on display,

scrutinized, ridiculed, for your love life

to be torn to shreds if you can even call it that.

- Well, I sacrificed love when I left for New York.

- Well, then you're well on your way.

Now all you have to do is sacrifice everything else.

[solemn music]

♪ ♪

- I'm really talented.

I have a three octave range--

- Girl, that don't matter none.

Your pipes are probably every bit as good as you think.

Just like me and my sisters when we first started out.

Believing fame was the best thing

that could ever happen to us

was just green and wrong as two left feet.

- No, fame is the bitch that sucks the life out of you

when you're on your very last breath.

It's everything you ever wanted,

every bit as good as you thought it would be,

but I would give it all back in a heartbeat

to have someone love me the way I wanna be loved.

♪ ♪

- This area's off limits to the dancers.

But you already know that 'cause you've danced

on the show a million times before.

- Just got turned around - Yeah,looking for the bathroom?

Didn't know you were going the wrong way?

I've heard it all before, and I don't give a damn.

I'm sick and tired of people trying to get ahead on my show.

- Mr. Cornelius.

Everybody wants to be on "Soul Train."

You've got the biggest stars.

Anybody who's somebody plays right here.

I'm a singer, Mr. Cornelius, a good one,

and I'd be pretty stupid not to use the opportunity wisely.

- Not here for you to use,

and I'm not your stepping stone.

You don't like it? There's the door.

- Oh, it's gorgeous, I was there last week.

Yeah--

- Joanna Brewer, friend of a friend?

Is that why you thought it was okay to go behind my back?

- Lunch sounds great, I'll tee it up with your secretary.

Mm-hmm, bye now.

- Been telling you for months you need a publicist.

- You don't decide how we get press on my show.

- You're the one who's always complaining

about being passed over for creating

the most unique music and dance show

in television history.

That meeting was to help you get the credit.

- I'm not paying 10 grand a month

for what I already earn.

- You can't possibly be that cheap.

- My whole life, people have been telling me

how to succeed, what could or couldn't be done.

You know what always worked for me?

Rolling up my sleeves,

putting my nose to the grindstone,

and getting it done by not taking "no" for an answer.

And that is exactly what I plan to do.

♪ ♪

Don't forget whose name's on the door.

[door clicks shut]

- It's hard not to.

♪ ♪

[indistinct chatter]

- Look, everybody's got an opinion,

but yours I trust.

Thanks, Jim.

Look, now he's got a number one hit on the R&B charts,

gets tons of radio play, and black folks love his music.

- So what the hell is wrong with you, Don?

It's Elton John.

- Man, now you know it ain't that simple.

How's it gonna look when I always say

that "Soul Train" is for us by us.

- Book that Brit and get that money.

- [laughs] - Huh?

[laughs]

Won't get Elton John.

- Mm, this brother may have a death wish.

Shane.

- [laughs]

- What's up, baby? Let me rap with you real quick.

- Maybe later, Don. I don't wanna miss the show.

- Mmm. - [laughs]

- [quietly] I already saved your ass

once today, negro. Won't happen again.

Enjoy.

- [chuckles]

- [laughs]

Man, I don't even wanna know.

- Sometimes it's better to watch an ass-whupping

from the sidelines, don't you think?

- It depends on who's in the ring.

- Ladies and gentlemen...

- [chuckles]

- Put your hands together

for the Pointer Sisters.

[cheers and applause]

- Good evening.

Everybody having a good time tonight?

[cheers and applause]

- I know that's right.

- I am going to pull his bottom lip over his head.

- Now is not the time to act like a commando.

- If he messes with one of us,

he's gonna have to get the whole bunch,

Think we about to get a reputation, ladies.

- [scoffs] - [laughs]

- Well, let's keep it going.

My sisters and I

have a special treat for you tonight.

A brand-new song.

[funk music]

["How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side)"]

♪ ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I know you want us both and I know the reason why ♪

♪ I can give you so much lovin' ♪

♪ But presents she can buy you ♪

♪ Last night you're in my arms ♪

♪ Tonight I'm all alone ♪

♪ How long ♪ - ♪ Will this game go on? ♪

♪ How long? ♪ - ♪ How long? ♪

♪ Oh, oh, how long? ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ And it's plain, plain enough to see ♪

♪ That you're not the man for me ♪

♪ I can't keep playing games it keeps my heart insane ♪

♪ I want to turn and walk away but it's harder to do ♪

♪ Than it is to say ♪

- ♪ How long? ♪ - ♪ How long? ♪

- ♪ Will this game go on? How long? ♪

- ♪ How long? ♪

- ♪ Oh, how long? ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I bet you got another ♪ - ♪ Sure you got a chick ♪

♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ You got another lover ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I caught you, I caught you ♪

- ♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I bet you treat her nice ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ Can she love you? ♪

♪ Can she love you like me? ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ Can she love you? ♪

♪ Can she love you like me? ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ Oh, can she love you? ♪

- ♪ Can she set you free? ♪g.

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I know you got another ♪

♪ You got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I know you got a, know you got a ♪

♪ Chick on the side ♪

- ♪ Bet you got a chick on the side ♪

- ♪ I know you got a, know you got a ♪

♪ Chick on the side ♪

♪ ♪

[audience gasps]

♪ ♪

[both laughing]

♪ ♪

- ♪ I know you got a chick on the side ♪

[cheers and applause]

- So I told the brother after six years in the navy,

I don't wanna see another damn ship.

I don't care if it's cruising the Caribbean with Lola Falana

dancing butt-naked on the lido deck.

[laughter]

Don't come for me with that.

[laughs]

- The hell's going on over there?

[distant chatter]

- Oh, probably somebody going to get it on or something.

- In the alleyway?

- Hey, ain't no telling what turn people on, Don.

Hey, come on, let's go and get a nightcap,

leave them people alone.

Huh? Let 'em do they thing.

- Mm. - [squeals]

- June, June, June.

[indistinct chatter]

- Believe this?

- [laughs]

- [chuckles]

Later, brother.

- Be good now.

♪ ♪

- ♪ Maybe it's not meant for us to know ♪

♪ The way our love should truly go ♪

♪ If it's truly meant to be ♪

♪ Wouldn't our love last for an eternity? ♪

[tender music]

♪ ♪

[lights click]

[bright guitar music]

♪ ♪

- Hey, girls. See you, you're good to go.

Hey, Mr. Cornelius.

Hey, listen, I saw the article about "Soul Train"

in the "Billboard" magazine.

Hey, hold on a sec. Hey.

Let me see. It's here somewhere.

Here--oh, there it is back in the back.

It is congratulations.

Oh, I was telling the wife--

- Weatie, open the gate.

Open the gate.

[lively music]

♪ ♪

- ♪ I got soul up in here ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I got soul up in here ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You can't stand me ♪

- Tessa!

I don't pay you to sit around.

- ♪ Got to use what I got ♪k.

♪ To get just what I want ♪

♪ You can't stand-- ♪

[soft dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[phone ringing]

- Joanna Brewer.

- Joanna, it's Don.

Don Cornelius.

- Don, honey, how's it hangin'?

- Joanna, I-- - Had a change of heart?

Happens all the time.

Wish I could help.

Fact is, you gotta get it while the getting's good,

and right now I'm too busy.

But I could set you up with someone else.

Not gonna be as good, but--

Have Brooks let me know

if you're interested in second best.

Oh. Love your show.

[phone clicks]

- Next time on "American Soul"...

[funky upbeat music]

- You wanna be a producer? This is what producing is.

No job is too small or too dirty, Tessa.

- [moaning]

- [clears throat]

- Need you to run an errand.

I got a bag in my trunk.

- Guy's name is Rouse.

He's a problem we can't get rid of the usual way.

- And you go back to being the bitch you've been

ever since the first day we met.

- You better get up off that high horse

before I knock you off of it.

- You remember that song we were working on

before I left for New York?