Original subtitles

WHITNEY:

WOMAN 1: Coming back in five.

WOMAN 2: Does anyone have eyes on Whitney?

MAN: I've got eyes on Ms. Houston.

WOMAN 1: Tighten up on four.

WOMAN 2: Three, two, switching to channel four.

MAN: Lights 25, stand by.

WOMAN 1: We are live in five, four, three, two...

MAN: Lights 25, go.

Whitney!

WHITNEY: We're gonna do a medley for you.

It's about love.

The things we do to get it,

and the things we do to keep it.

Stop.

Mommy.Again.

Mom!Again.

God gives you a gift, you gotta use it right.

You have to learn the melody.

Once you learn it, then you can play around,

do your little flourishes.

Now, do it again.

Know the melody backward and forward.

And enunciate.

Pay attention to the words.

Complete every word.

Every song is a story.

If it's not a story, it's not a song.

Great singing comes from three places.

The head, the heart...

...and the gut.

And get your eyes off that damn door, girl.

You know what, I quit.No, you don't quit.

You gave that up when you told me that you wanted to do this.

Mommy, I just wanna sing.Again.

You will honor your commitment to this, Nippy.

Your idea, you see it through.

Pride.

You're a Houston.

Love you, Mommy.

All right.

METEOROLOGIST: Variably cloudy skies at 5,

10 to 15% chance of a...

REPORTER 1: President Reagan will also consider curbing some benefits.

REPORTER 2: A note of optimism this morning in East Orange, New Jersey.

ROBYN: I'll see y'all Saturday, okay?

Hey. See you Saturday? At 10.

See you Saturday. Okay.Thank you.

Hey.

What?I just said "hey."

Hey.

And you are?

Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

You always say your middle name?

All right.

Well, I'm Robyn Crawford.

You from 'round here?Mm-hm.

East Orange.Word?

Yeah.Where you go to school?

Mount Saint Dominic Academy.

Oh. Catholic schoolgirl.

White Catholic schoolgirl.

You?College.

Yep.

Wait a minute. So, Cissy Houston is your mom?

Uh-huh.The singer?

Yep.Heh.

You know, Dionne Warwick is my first cousin.

Dionne Warwick? Nah, you shitting me.

No damn way.Yeah.

Girl, Aretha Franklin's like my godmother.

Okay, now, Whitney Elizabeth Houston...

...you dreaming.

No. No, my dream...

No, it's crazy-- Is to be a professional singer like them.

But the bar is way, way too high, so...

...I'm happy to just sing my little

"shoop-shoop, diddy-dum, diddy-doos,"

backing my mom.

Mm.

Let me hear you.

Sing.Uh-uh.

Aw...

No.

Nah, I showed you my three-point shot.

Come on, sing.

You know what?

You know, you should come to Sweetwater's.

Yeah, you can see me sing chorus for my ma.

Mm-hm.Mm-hm.

All right, Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

I'mma come see you.Mm-hm.

But you better know how to sing.

CISSY: All these years, all these years...

JOHN: That's it.

CISSY: ...I had to look the other way...

JOHN: Just change the subject.

CISSY: ...pretend I don't know what's going on.

That's what you do every time.

You're out there doing everything you big enough to do.

And I'm out there, on the road, busting my ass!

On the road busting your ass, huh?

So what are you, the savior?

Sole breadwinner! That's right. Sole breadwinner. For years.

I swear to God, I'll walk out that goddamn door!

Do it! Finally be doing something!

I've been looking after these kids.

Out on the road busting my ass.

Yeah, "busting your ass"! Doing what?

Yeah, you work now! You work now!

JOHN: So you've been working all this time?

How do you think I'm walking out these...

Sup, Nippy?

Yeah, I said I'll sit here--Singing my ass off.

Hey. Don't even worry about it.

CISSY: Do it!

Look at that.

Hey!

Okay.

This is so great.

This will be forever.

Nippy. I need you to listen now.

Mommy.

I love you.

That's great.

Mm.

Check us out.

Clive!

Hey.

Clive, thanks for coming.Thank you.

So, she sings backup for her mother. Uh-huh.

But wait till you see this girl.

I'm telling you, total knockout.

Model looks, right? But the voice--

Oh, my God, the voice. She's just-- It's really--

All right, calm down. I'm here, aren't I?

Come on.Yeah.

How're you doing?Good evening.

Evening, sir.

CISSY: I don't know who the hell

you think you talking to!

Think you're so damn grown!

Well, I know what I want!

You think you know what you want!

GARY: Clive Davis!

CLIVE: Hi, Gary, how are you? A pleasure.

Hey, Gerry.

My voice.What?

My voice.

It's gone.

I need you to do the opening solo.

What?

Mama, you were shouting at me a second ago.

Well, maybe that's what done it!

And I need some time to get it back,

so you start the show tonight.

I'm your mother, no talking back.

Yeah, Mommy, I just--Look...

I need you to help me now.

Start the show.

Sing "The Greatest Love of All." Not another word.

Don't make me whup your ass.

"Greatest Love of All." All right?

Gerry.

Cissy.Clive.

How are you?Good to see you.

Nice to see you too.

She's incredible.

CLIVE: Okay.

Just okay?

I think I might have just heard

the greatest voice of her generation.

Yeah. Yeah. That kind of "okay."

Gerry, my "okay" is different than your "okay."

Mom.CLIVE: My "okay"

comes with investment and legal obligations.

Yours comes with a side of fries.

That's my baby girl.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

WHITNEY: "And distribution rights for all albums

created by Whitney Houston... Heh.

...or Arista during the term of this agreement...

...in perpetuity throughout the universe"?

It means a damn long time.

Everywhere.

Wait.

Daddy, what?She's coming here for you.

CLIVE: Mm-hm.

If you move on, you take her with you when you go.

Mr. Davis, you are not my first record exec.

I'm just trying to protect my family.

No, no, no. I understand.

Well, we have never given that right to any artist.

Um...

But I believe in you.

So...

Best efforts.

Okay.CLIVE: Okay?

JOHN:Mm-hm.

Here, let's take a picture.Okay.

All right. Ready for the shot?

Congratulations. Welcome to Arista.

Thank you.CLIVE: Thank you.

Cissy. Thank you.Thank you, Clive.

John.Thank you. Thank you very much.

Congratulations.

Now, if you don't mind,

I want to get acquainted with my new artist

and learn about her musical tastes.

Okay.

Alone would be great.

It's what I was trying to--

Okay.Yeah.

CLIVE: So, do you write songs?

No.

Have you ever tried?Mm-mm.

Is that okay?Yeah.

We'll just get people to write them for you.

Now, what kind of songs do you like?

Hm.

Great big songs.

"Great big songs"?

Yeah.All right, great big songs.

Yeah, that you almost can't wrap your arms around.

Songs that are like climbing a mountain,

that'll stretch me vocally, that--

I really gotta sing my raggedy ass off to sell.

Gospel? Country? Black? White?

All the above.

All the above?Mm-hm.

All of them.

A great song is a great song.

And you are 100% correct on that.

Okay. So, then, what we're gonna do

is we're gonna hire the finest songwriters in America--

In the world,

to write a great big vocally-ambitious song

for a great new vocally-ambitious star.

What do you think?

Believe they'd do that for me?No.

But they'll do it for us.

Okay, so--Can I--

Can I ask you something?Yeah, you can ask me anything.

I'm an open book, Whitney, just so you know.

Even though people say

that the text size is so small

that you need very strong glasses.

What do you wanna know?

You went to Harvard?

Law, yeah.

What was that like?

Well, stressful.

Actually, anxiety attacks. I had--

Right here, darling.Sure.

Thank you so much. Thank you.You're welcome.

But, you know, you work through it. I worked through it.

How?Uh, how?

Exercises. Breathing exercises.

I do that too.

Yeah, but I did it, of course,

you know, away from everyone because--

You know, you have to remember that in those days,

and this was a long time ago--

In those days, you couldn't admit

that there was ever anything wrong with you.

And can you now?

I want to tell you one thing, dear Whitney, before we begin.

I never get involved in the personal lives of my artists.

I am not a babysitter,

I'm not a camp counselor, I'm not a rabbi.

I know music.

I have an ear, and I have an instinct.

And in this respect, I can serve you.

And I will be there for you at any hour.

Okay?Okay.

To you. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Mm.

Okay. Let's test that ear.

He said he can get me on TV,

and we drank champagne.

And, Mommy, he called me "vocally ambitious."

You let her come out looking like this?

She ain't got a dress?

She needs to start wearing a dress.

I told her to dress up.Why?

These are my nice jeans.

Nice jeans?

Yeah, well, it's just me.

Yeah, well, they don't wanna see "just you,"

and being Nippy ain't gonna get it.

And you need to take her wig shopping.

If she's gonna go all the way,

hair short as mine is not going to get it done.

You're a princess.

With that voice and the looks,

you could be America's princess.

Start looking like one.

Tough business, baby, I know.

I'm just gonna sing.

My next guest has nurtured such superstars

as Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester,

Chicago, Simon and Garfunkel,

Janis Joplin-- And the list is endless.

Today, he's brought his latest discovery with him,

and she is, in two words, simply breathtaking.

Oh, God, I think I'm gonna throw up.

No, no, no, no.

You got this in the bag, princess.

Come on now. Come on. Stand up.

Baby, get her something to drink.

Some ginger ale, some soda pop--

Something like that.All right.

Hey. Hey.Mommy.

You're gonna be fine.

Just pretend you're singing in the shower.

You want me to imagine I'm singing butt naked

in front of Merv Griffin?

Come on. It's not helping.

Remember...

Head, heart, gut. Right?

Yeah.

You're my princess.

All right? All right. Come on.CLIVE: You know.

You just know that you're in the presence...

You know what to do. ...of somebody special.

She's got it.CLIVE: She's got it.

MERV: Wait till you hear her. Here's Whitney Houston.

It's too slow.No, he's fine.

Her skin tone is off.

They're not lighting her right.It's fine, Cissy.

It's too slow. It's too slow. It's too slow.

Cissy.

Cissy. Cissy.

Let's pick it up. Pick it up.

Whoo!

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, baby.

MERV: You won't forget that name. Whitney Houston.

CLIVE: What do you think?

No.

No.I agree.

MAN: Okay, this is Whitney Houston. Take one.

No.MAN: This is Whitney Houston.

Let's try this one.

And cut it there.Is that better?

Yeah, that's one word for it.

MAN: Go again.

What? What? What happened?

It's the lyrics. They're just--

It was beautiful.All right. Let's do it again.

Okay.Okay, I'm serious.

Maybe.Maybe? Why?

You know?

I could do something with the chorus.

Go up a key, get more out of it.

Yeah, but that's not a reason to do a song.

It's got to have a hook.

A hook?Yeah.

I'll give it a hook.

WHITNEY: So? How do I look?

Ridiculous.I do not. Do I?

This is the look they want.

America's sweetheart.

And you're gonna give it to 'em.

Just watch me.

Holy shit! Holy shit.

Nip! Nip! Wake up!

Nip, wake the hell up! Wake up, Nip!

What?Nip, it's on! Listen!

Oh, my God!Wait, wait, wait!

This is big, right?

Big? What? This is huge.

Try huge! Oh, my God.Hey. Hey, come work for me.

Huh?Full-time.

Handle bookings, wardrobe, travel.

I don't know? Find me a box of Fruity Pebbles

or a Cap'n Crunch at 1 a.m. in the morning.

If you say "1 a.m.," you don't need to say "in the morning."

That's why I need you.

I want someone I can trust completely.

You're the only one.

Yeah, well, you could trust me, but you can't afford me.

Well, okay, yeah.You can't afford me.

Well, I'm getting you cheap, bitch. Yeah?

Yeah.Okay. Okay.

Do your parents know? Have you talked to them?

Your mom won't be happy. She hates me.

We'll go see Daddy.

Hey.Hi.

Hi.Hello.

It's gonna be okay.

JOHN: Just booked us a couple's table.

Just me and you and a nice bottle of--

Let's pick this up later on.

Nippy. You know better than to come charging into a room

without knocking.

How do you do?

Barbara, this is my daughter, Whitney.

Congratulations.

Your dad's told me a great deal about you.

So pretty.

Bye.

Bye, Nippy.Uh--

JOHN: What's this about?

Well, Rob's gonna come work for me full-time,

as my creative assistant.

Creative assistant?Mm-hm.

Nice title.

You two have been spending a lot of time together.

Sharing an apartment, thick as thieves,

out everywhere, arm in arm.

And now you want to officially work together.

Side by side, in the public eye.

You always wear your hair so short?

Uh...

Easier to manage.

"Easier to manage."

Miss Crawford, let me tell you something.

Whitney is Daddy's girl.

Always was, always will be.

Nothing comes between us, you understand?

Yeah. Yes, sir.

She's my princess,

and we're building something here.

Something that you will have no part in.

Now, here's what I want. You want my blessing?

Hmm?

Go out on dates.

With young men.

Daddy, with boys?

Be seen in public and photographed with young men.

Wait, Mr. Houston, are you serious?

You don't ever have to ask me that question again.

Well... I'm not gonna do that, so...

Well...

...that tells me just about everything

I need to know now then, doesn't it?

Daddy...

You want me to approve of you hiring this girl,

who has no experience in management whatsoever? Hmm?

Do you have any experience in personal management?

No.

Well then, you get out there, baby girl.

You get out there, and be seen with young men.

You hear? Go on.

JERMAINE:

Chemistry with Jermaine.

Watch your needles.

ROBYN: You slept with Jermaine Jackson.

You're just gonna sit here and tell me

you slept with Jermaine Jackson?

Rob!Huh?

Rob, it's just a guy.What, it's just a--

It's just a guy?

You know what, I don't know what you're so upset about.

Just a guy!We agreed we had to see guys.

We didn't agree to screw them!Rob!

Do you love him?

Do you?

He loves me, but I'm not sure.

Rob.That's what it is?

I'm sorry.It took you no damn time!

Rob, I'm not cleaning this shit up. Robyn!

You know what? Fine. Smash everything.

It's all crap anyway.

I hate you so much right now!

Yeah? Speak up, Rob, I can't hear you.

And you know what? You know what?

Hey, not the vacuum cleaner! Are you crazy?

Yo, think about it. How are we gonna clean this place up?

Shit, you crazy, Robyn.

You crazy.Yeah?

So that's it?

Just like that?

I want a family.

A husband. Kids.

Faith and family.

I love you.

We love each other. Right?

Huh?And the Bible says--

Oh, my God. The Bible!No, no, no.

Leviticus-- You know, we can go to hell for this kind of shit.

I don't want to go to hell.

Yeah, I'm not in such a hurry myself.

Yeah, well, look it up.

Look that up.

Hey.

I love you.

In perpetuity, throughout the universe.

I need my best friend.

Rob, please.

Please.

Yeah. Yeah, I want it.

You want it?Yes. It's about--

It's about wanting to dance with somebody really bad.

Yeah.I mean, really...

...really, really, really, really bad.

And for whatever reason...

...for whatever reason, you can't.

Okay. Good.Mm-hm.

CLIVE: Well, I can't wait to see what you do with it.

You also get a bottle of Dom Pérignon from me

every time one of your singles...Clive?

...reaches number one on the charts.

Number one?Congratulations.

Number one!

REPORTER:: Her debut album

was the most successful

debut solo album in history,

sweeping the American Music Awards, winning a Grammy.

Her eagerly awaited second album is about to be released.

Will she be able to live up to the world's expectations?

WHITNEY: I wanna make a toast

to my brothers Gary and Michael,

Gary's new girlfriend Pat,

and my best friend Robyn.

Mwah. Love you, girl.Girl, I love you.

To Italy!ALL: To Italy!

Gary, take a picture of us!

Okay. Come on.Cheese!

Oh, my God!

Wow! That is crazy!

REPORTER 1: It's incredible, Susan. The name on everyone's lips

is Whitney Houston.ROBYN: Go, Nip, go!

Whitney Houston transcends age, race, lifestyle.

REPORTER 2: That show sold out, so this one had to be added.

At 23, she is the true heartbeat of America.

Are you pinching yourself yet?

One more, and you'll have beat the Beatles

for the most consecutive number ones in history.

Thank you much!

And good night!

DJ: Well, it's a criticism I increasingly hear from callers.

WHITNEY: That I'm not Black enough?

No, your music. Your music isn't Black enough.

What would you like me to say?

The truth. Aren't you selling out?

Whew.

WHITNEY: You've got a lot of nerve asking me that.

That's what my mother tells me.

It's a valid question.

A common criticism of you and your music.

That you're a sellout.

That you're not a real Black artist.

You're about to walk out, aren't you? No.

You'll be walking out before I will.

How do you respond?

If I'm not a Black artist, what am I?

You tell me.

Look, I don't know how to sing Black,

and I don't know how to sing white either.

I know how to sing.

Music is not a color to me. It has no boundaries.

Why somebody gotta say something dumbass like that?

I mean, who said that? That's just bull.

And it makes me angry, actually. It's hateful and uninformed.

Why I gotta be what someone wants me to be anyway?

Sing what I want to sing. Be how I want to be.

Reach as big an audience as I can.

Isn't that what art's meant to do?

My whole life, "She ain't Black enough.

She ain't white enough." Well, how about,

"She's not obedient enough"?

How about, "She ain't fearful enough"?

Hm.

Hm.

Well, you heard it from Whitney herself, ladies and gentlemen.

Was that too much?Hell no.

All right.

Morning, Max.

Mr. Houston.

Look at this.

Here you are. Good morning.

Thank you.

Use it wisely.

Anna.

INTERVIEWER: Are you a businesswoman?

Yes, I think so.

What does a businesswoman do?

Well, what does a businesswoman do?

She says what she doesn't want.

Good morning.WHITNEY: And she knows,

primarily, what she wants.

That's a pretty tough thing

to have to determine sometimes, you know?

Most of the people that work with me,

the people I have known for many years,

you know, they're people, competent people

I can trust to look out for me and to do their job well.

But it's hard sometimes to make the transition

from being the friend to the boss

or from the boss to the friend.

Or from the daughter to the boss or the boss to the daughter.

You know, you have to wear different hats at times.

So, you are a tough cookie?

Sometimes.

Always?Not always, no. Sometimes.

That means sometimes.

Daddy, what is it?

I want you to fire her.

Robyn is a nobody.

The Bible tells us, "Do not be misled.

Bad company corrupts good character.

Walk with God, not the devil."

Daddy...I need her gone.

Daddy, there is nothing going on.

She is a bad influence.

And the press is talking too much trash.

It's damaging the brand. Do you understand?

Since when--

Since when did your little girl

become "the brand"? I missed that.

Your mama would have killed to become a brand.

We just couldn't get her there.

I'm not firing Robyn.

I need her. I need somebody I can trust 100%.

You can trust me 100%.

Or you better damn do.

Now you go do as I tell you.

I'm the manager here.

I know you are. You work for me.

You don't say.

Daddy...

...I do.

How is that, to become the boss of your own family?

Of your brothers and their wives?

Of your own father and mother?

Or are you still the "little girl" sometimes?

Sometimes.

MARTIN: Now, look here, you stupid, little broad.

Don't you talk to me like that.

I'll talk to you any way I like.

You know who I am?

You think I let dames get away with anything?

Yes?Clive, I wanna do a movie.

What?

A movie.

Why?

We'll find you a movie. Sure.

Okay. Night.

MARTIN: You didn't ask but you wanted. I did my share. What about you?

Who do you think you are, you can be so particular?

You're nothing. You get funny with me,

and I'll throw you right back to that crummy dance joint

where I found you.

How are you feeling?Here she comes.

Whitney!

There she is.

Whitney "Whitey" Houston! Whitney "Whitey" Houston!

Pay no attention.Come on.

Shame on you! Shame on you!

Whitney "Whitey" Houston! Whitney "Whitey" Houston!

Who was that?I don't know. Come on.

No, I don't wanna talk to nobody.

Mrs. Houston!Just stay focused.

Keep it together.What's going on?

ANNOUNCER: Give it up

for Bobby Brown, everybody!

BOBBY:

Is this an awards show?

My God.

The amazing Bobby Brown, ladies and gentlemen.

BOBBY: Thank you. Thank you.

WOMAN : Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats.

The show will be back on in five minutes.

WHITNEY: Girl, I swear to God.

Right there. Yeah!Right there?

And I'mma do it again.

Oh.

Hey!

Girl, I swear to God.

What the--?

What are you doing?

Yo, I'm not even playing around, man.

You better chill.I'm not.

Hey, hey, hey. What's up?

Oh, no. I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry.

You're Bobby Brown, right?

Yeah. Yeah. What about it?

I got a question for you.

And what's that?

How old are you?

Old enough.

He's old enough.

He's old enough, you know. He's old enough.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

our host, Anita Baker.

She looks so good.So good.

The nominees for the best music video are...

Janet Jackson, "Control,"

Michael Jackson, "The Way You Make Me Feel,"

Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody,"

Whoo!

Jody Watley, "Looking For A New Love."

Are they booing me?And the winner is...

The winner is Janet Jackson, "Control."

Keep it together.

Hey, hey. Don't even worry about it.

You're Whitney Houston. All right?

They dogs.

Give me a pen and a business card.

JOHN: You got to be prepared.

You know, the kind of success that you're enjoying,

that the Black stations ain't got no control over

and they don't own, it drives 'em crazy.

Oreo. They calling me an Oreo.

If they wanna see Black, I'll show 'em Black.

No, you don't. Don't you go changing nothing.

You keep on doing what you doing,

'cause what you doing ain't nobody ever done before.

The first one over the hill always gets whupped.

And you are the first, princess.

No one is like you.

Look at me.That's right.

No one is like you.

You got class. You can sing.

Mommy, I never wanna show my face again.

What? Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

You will show it again. You gonna show it even more now.

To Nippy.To Nippy.

To Nippy.To Nippy.

Nelson Mandela to be released tomorrow.

And as you might expect, that is a moment

that this country will not soon forget.

WHITNEY: I've been thinking we should get new writers.

A new sound.

R & B.

Yeah.

You know,

L.A. Reid and Babyface

are doing some really interesting stuff right now.

And they might be right to produce your next album.

We can look into that. You want to?

Okay.

Don't be sad. Come on.

That's better.

Now get out of my chair.

REPORTER: And here they are,

Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown.

They're just arriving here

at the Billboard Music Awards.

She's nominated for four awards tonight,

including top R & B album and top R & B artist.

Do you want a hug?

It's okay, baby. It's okay. Thank you so much.

Hi, Whitney. You and Bobby are the king and queen of R & B.

How does that feel?

It feels very good. It feels very good.

Y'all wanna see a kiss?

Baby, you look so good.

Beautiful. Beautiful, Whitney.

Just one more.Beautiful.

Look this way.Here, Whitney.

One more. One more time.Whitney, here.

Whitney, turn around.I love it.

All right. All right.

Everybody, back up. Everybody back up, all right?

Yeah, back up.Back up. Back up. Back up.

All right?Back up!

Back up!

Come on. All right.That's it, all right?

We done. Thank you.Thank you.

Oh, God, no.

"Why does it hurt so bad"?It's a great song.

"Why do I feel so sad?

Thought I was over you, but I keep crying,

'cause when I don't love you," blah, blah, blah.

Why? I have to believe in what the song is saying

if I'm gonna sing it right.

Right?Yeah. No, I understand that.

Right, so no man could have that effect on me.

I would drop him first.

What?

These are completely universal human emotions.

I just think you're very young.

No?No.

All right.Next.

Then let's find a song that isn't about love.

Oh, there aren't any.

Hear me out. That's all I'm trying to--

All right, I'm listening.

What do you want?Do you trust me?

Yes, I trust you.All right,

so hear me out when I say...

...Bobby ain't the one. Bobby a ho.

He a ho. He got a baby by some chick.

You call my man a ho?

I'm just saying.Uh-uh, no. Relax. Relax.

Bobby's got a reputation.

I know.

You like that bad boy shit?

Yeah. I do.You ill.

No, man. He gets me. He makes me laugh.

And, you know, I'm tired of being the good girl.

My career casts a lot of shadow.

He's famous enough to get with that, so I'm good.

All right. Well, if you like him then...

...I'll tolerate him.

Thank you.

Hold on one second.

Hello?

Like I tolerate what's-her-name?What's up? Shh.

My bad. Look, I'm at work.What's her name?

Can I call you back?Girl, tell me her name.

Her name is Natalie.

Natalie, I'mma call you back, okay? Hi, Natalie!

I'll talk to you. Have a good day. Yeah, bye.

Really? Why would you do that?Have a good day! Goodbye!

Because. You're rude.

At least she ain't no Jermaine Jackson. Yeah.

Why you gotta be like that?You went from Jermaine to Bobby.

Why you gotta be like that?I'm just saying.

You sure know how to pick 'em.What? Relax. Relax, man.

It ain't like we getting married or something like that.

What is it?

Hold up, girl.

Hold up. Hey. Hey.

Hold up, hold up, hold on.What?

What? What are you doing?

Marry me.

Well?

Oh, my God, Bobby.

Yeah.Yeah?

Yeah. Yeah.Yeah?

Take a look.Oh, my God. Oh, my God!

Baby, it's so beautiful. Thank you, baby.

Let me see.

Hey? Hey?

What?

Can I trust you?

Can you trust me?

Yeah.Yeah, of course you can.

Yeah?Yeah.

Will you tell me everything?

Everything.

You want that?Yeah.

You got it. Absolutely.

It's just, uh...

It's just one thing.

Kim is pregnant.

Besides that, we cool.

Just wanted to let you know that so we-- We're good. Right?

Honesty all the way.

Man, I love you so much, baby. I knew you'd understand.

Yeah. Hoo.

That's a fucking load off.

I've been holding on to that for months now.

The hell you just say?

I just had to be honest with you.

You messing with me.

I had to tell you that one thing.

You messing with me. Bobby, you better be messing with me.

Besides that, we're cool.Kim?

Yes, Kim.

Kim is pregnant?Yes.

Look, it was alcohol. Lots of it.

It kind of just happened, baby.

No. Stop the car.

Stop the car!

Hey, driver, don't stop the car.That's bullshit.

Hey. Stay right here.Bullshit.

That's bullshit.Whitney!

Whitney!

Hey! Stop!Whitney!

Will you stop?Goddamn it.

And this happened after we started seeing each other?

No, it was in the transition phase, baby.

Look, I was over her.

Not so finished you weren't still banging her, you mean.

Hey, look.

We're walking here! We're walk--Idiot!

Baby! Baby!

So let me get this straight, Bobby Brown.

You ask me to marry you, wait till I say yes,

and tell me your goddamn ex-girlfriend

is goddamn pregnant?

Hey, look, I love you.

All right?

I wanna spend the rest of my life with you.

No one else.

I didn't know that then, but I do now.

See, me and you, we from the same place.

We from the 'hood.

Yeah, I know you.

You don't, for one second,

gotta be Whitney Houston around me.

Not for a second.

Hey, look, look.

It's us...FAN: Whitney!

...against the world, baby.

So, are we doing this, or what?

Yeah.

Hey, good.

You had me worried there for a sec, Nip. Hm.

I had you worried?Yeah.

Hey! Bring the car around!

Hey, yo, yeah! Bring that car around, homey.

Shut up, Bobby!

What?

ROBYN: Hey, Nip.

I got some news.

BOBBY: So do we. You're right on time.

Word? What's going on?

BOBBY: Check it out.

Congratulations.

BOBBY: Yeah.

WHITNEY: Thank you, girl.

Bobby.Hey, thanks, Robyn.

Appreciate that.Mm-hm.

BOBBY: So, what brings you all the way over here?

You said you had some news, right?

What is it?

Oh.

You ready?WHITNEY: Uh-huh.

They want you to sing the national anthem...

...at the Super Bowl.

Wait. Hold up.

Like, the--WHITNEY: What, like--

Super Bowl, Super Bowl?Super Bowl, Super Bowl?

PILOT: Captain, we are airborne.

Twenty-six thousand to push point. How are we looking?

...coordinates 3016 for uncorrected

Super Bowl elevation of 35 meters.

COMMENTATOR: Almost ready then for Super Bowl XXV,

where the Giants get ready to take on the Buffalo Bills

for the ultimate prize in football.

No.

Slower, Rickey. Please.

What?It's the national anthem.

I think the NFL's gonna want it fast.

I want it slow.

Just do it.

I have a range of different looks here to choose from.

Nuh-uh. No dresses.

Okay.Girl, this is the Super Bowl.

Can't I just be me for once?

Two and three should widen out. Let's pull back.

Oh, yeah!

Where she from?Yeah, yeah. New Jersey.

So, Whitney was number one on the Billboards.

Yeah. Yeah, hit that. Yeah, hit that.

WHITNEY: Mommy. How'd I do?

Are you kidding me, Nippy?

You were fantastic.

If you never do anything else in your life,

you did that how it was supposed to be done.

Hello.Hey.

Okay.

Do you think that you can postpone your wedding...

...for this movie?Why would I do that?

From Nicole. She thinks it's a wonderful role for you.

I have my concerns.

The Bodyguard?

It's about a world-famous singing star

and her difficult relationship with her bodyguard.

Nope.

Who's the bodyguard?

Kevin Costner.

Did I say no?

'Cause I meant yes.

Well, he wants you.

He wants me?Yes, he wants you.

Do you wanna think about it?

Shit, Clive, it's only a wedding.

Get your priorities in order. Thank you.

You done back there?

Yeah.

Cut.

Whitney.

BOBBY: Hey.

We're gonna have a lot more babies.

All right?

I love you.

I love you.

I don't know if I can do this anymore.

What you mean by that?

Be everything.

To everyone.

Well, you can't stop now.

Right?

Hey, I've got you.

I want you to listen to something.

We have a minute here, right?Yes.

Okay.

So, I don't feel that they're allowing you

to sing strongly enough in this picture

so that we understand why your character is such a huge star.

Right.Okay?

Do you understand what I'm saying? I do. I do.

The songs have to be great

in order for the character to be great.

So Kevin...

...your new best friend, found this.

Here.Okay.

This is Dolly Parton.

What?

I like it.

I like it.

Whitney! We love you!We love you!

We love you!We love you, Whitney!

What?

You think I'm making a mistake.

This is happening, Robyn.

It's what I want.

Okay?Okay.

All right.

You look beautiful.

Hey, baby girl. Hey. Hey.

She's gorgeous, baby.She's beautiful.

I love you.I love you too.

You're so silly, girl.

Oh, my gosh.

No, no. I don't wanna see nobody.

I got you, baby.Okay.

You ain't gotta see nobody, all right?

Nip.BOBBY: You so silly, girl.

What's going on? Great show.Hi.

Okay, you did that. You did that.

Thank you, girl. Thank you.

So listen-- Just give me a second, all right?

Sure. Let me talk to you for a sec, Rob.

Yeah, yeah. What's up?

Hey, so, I don't think Nip wanna see nobody tonight.

Yeah, but I'm not nobody. All right?

Listen, Oprah needs an answer

about you doing an interview with her.

Word?Word. So we gotta get back.

Yeah. No, I'm good.Hey, hey, hey.

I got this. Okay, here you go, baby.

No, Bobby.I got this.

No. I got this.So, what you saying?

What I'm saying is I'm creative director.

This is my job. I got this. It's simple.

I'm the husband.

I win.Bobby.

All right?

Whit, what's up?

What's going--

I mean, you gotta listen to my husband, Rob.

What? That's it?That's it.

Yeah, but, Bobby--Me?

I gotta listen to your husband?

Bobby, be nice, all right?

Robyn's my best friend. Okay?

Your best friend?

Yeah, you heard her. Her best friend.

I thought I was that, baby?

No, I need you both.

Okay?

Yeah, all right.

You funny.I married her.

Whatever. I'm going to my hotel.I'm her husband, Robyn.

Hey, Whit.

Get ready.

How's the voice?Fine, Rickey. How's yours?

I've been working on something new to finish your show.

But it's big.

I got a show full of big already.

Mm-mm. Not big like this.What is it?

It's a three-song medley sung straight through.

Starting with "I Loves You, Porgy."

Moving on to "And I Am Telling You."

No, don't do that. Don't do that.

And finishing with "I Have Nothing."

Rickey...Yeah?

What goes through your thick head

when you're bringing me this shit?

What?

Those three songs together,

they're almost unsingable on their own.

Together that's like climbing Mount Everest.

Without oxygen.

And you're the only singer on the planet

that could pull this off.

That's why I'm suggesting it.

This could be very special.

But, you know, if it's too hard, I mean--

Let me see.

Come on. You know this stuff.

It's about heartbreak and the people we need.

Fighting to hold onto them.

What's that?The key change?

It's just a key change.It's just a key change?

For your big finish.

Count of 12.

Six more.

Another count of six.

That's only four.

That's a count of 28.

And then you want me to go up?Half a step.

You can take a quick breath after the "me."

I can take a quick breath?

Try it.

Take me to measure 124.

It's not even hard.

Mm-mm. Ha!

I'm not doing that shit. No, you crazy.

You were right there.No.

You're gonna do it and you're gonna like it.

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

Whitney. Whitney, please.

Whitney.

Can I have your autograph?

I'm your biggest fan. Please, Whitney.

Whitney, please.

Can I have your autograph, please?

Thank you so much, Whitney.

Thank you.

BODYGUARD: Hey, keep back, please. Keep back.

Ma'am.Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, Miss Houston. We'll see you tomorrow.

Change of plans. Please be ready to leave tonight.

We don't have approvals.

We'd have to bring in another crew.

You have my approval, honey. Whose else do you need?

Your father's, ma'am.

Bring in another crew. I don't care what it costs.

I'm sleeping in my own damn bed tonight.

Next to my husband.

Yes, ma'am.

Since when did Daddy get approval over everything?

Girl, try day one. You just now noticed?

That's my damn jet.Company's jet.

Everything's in the company's name now.

I wanna see the company reports, Pat.

You got it.

Ma'am.

Good night.

Damn.

Hey, baby? Is that you?

Shit.

Wasn't expecting you home so soon, baby.

Don't touch me.

What? What is all that?

What?

Yeah, you got something you wanna say?

About what?

Damn, Whit.

What, I was out?

Yeah. Yeah, I went out.

You bringing dirt into my home.

I checked.

I don't know what you talking about.

I checked.

You out here with other women with my credit card?

I got a problem with that.

So get out of my house.

Nah.

I ain't going nowhere.

I ain't going nowhere.Bobby...

It's my house.

We man and wife, all right?

I'm not going nowhere. Neither are you, all right?

Get out of my house. You know what?

Maybe I get the police over here. You want that again?

Oh, yeah?Yeah.

Or maybe I should get a gun.Yeah?

Yeah, I'm gonna get a gun.You gonna get a gun?

Yeah, smoke your ass.

You would do that?

Yes, I would do that.

You'll get a gun. We gonna see about that.

You wanna mess with me?

Huh?

You wanna mess with Bobby Brown?Yes, I do.

Yeah? Mrs. Brown?Yeah.

Don't you ever talk to me like that again, Whit.

All right?Get your finger out of my face.

Mrs. Brown, right?Don't touch my face.

You wanna mess with me, Mrs. Brown?

Don't touch me like that. Get off me.

Hey. Don't you ever, ever disrespect me.

I ain't to be messed with, baby.

Baby, neither am I.

Get out.

Don't you dare. Don't you dare.

Get out of my house, Bobby.

Oh, man.

Hey, all right. All right, baby.

But check this.

You crazy!

You wanna see crazy?Yeah, yeah, you crazy.

You wanna see crazy?

There's something wrong up there.

Get out of my house, Bobby!

Get out of my house!

We don't want you here!I ain't going nowhere!

Get out of my house!

Give me my baby.This is my house too!

Give me my baby.Yes, ma'am.

I'm not going nowhere.

Tripping.

Hi. I'm sorry.

I love you, baby.

I'm ready.

It's been eight years, during which we've--

I've.

You have only released seven pop songs...

...but not a single album.

I've been acting.

I know. Three wonderful pictures.

And performing. And tours.But I'm just pointing out--

Yes. See, you smoking, that's like--

For me, that's like leaving a Stradivarius out in the rain.

Well, you have everything, Clive. What?

Children, wife.Ex-wife.

Servants, houses.

Oh, it's so hard.I know.

I'm carrying everyone, Clive. The press is always on me.

It's exhausting.Are you exhausted?

Yes, I'm exhausted. All Black women are exhausted.

It's just most of the time,

all this princess be dreaming about

is being at home with my baby on the couch.

I need my daughter to have the home she deserves.

How can she when her father is Bobby Brown

and her mother is me?

Well, family is the most important thing.

But that's why it's good, you know,

when you travel, you take Bobbi Kristina with you.

I'm not so sure.

What do you mean?

She sees everything.

Everything.

The road is no place for a child.

Oh, God.

Here.Thank you.

Do you remember that song?

The one I turned down.

Yes, yes.

Yeah, I think I get it now.

How about that?

JOHN: And the other one says, "Well, yeah, well,

that's what my sister does, and she owns all of those cars."

Whitney.

Can I speak to you, please?

Sure, have a seat. I would like you to--

Daddy, alone.

Do you mind? Thank you.

MAN: Certainly, Miss Houston.

My daughter loved Cinderella.

JOHN: What is it, princess?

Sit down.

Daddy...

My money.

I trusted you.

Look, there's more coming,

and I'm taking care of it.

Oh, you taking care of it?

You taking care of it pretty good.

I earned millions.

Tens of millions! Do you even know what's left?

Now, you just watch your tone.

And sit your ass down.

Sit down!

The mink coats...

...the cars...

...the private jets for everybody,

the credit cards, condos.

Everyone is using me like an ATM.

Daddy, you were meant to look out for me.

That's exactly what I'm doing.

No. No, Daddy.

You put me in a really bad situation.

I don't know how I'm gonna fix this.

I'm fixing it.

No. No, you're not.

I don't trust you.

You see those men over there? Hmm?

That's Arista Records.

Now, I'm working on a real big deal, so you just keep singing,

and I'll take care of the money.

I'm gonna have to go on a world tour.

A huge-ass world tour.

Your voice can handle it.

I'll cut this deal, and we'll be fine.

So you just keep singing, all right?

When I land this thing, you'll see.

I'm still the boss.

I don't have a boss.

But I do have a vacancy for a father.

Maybe you wanna apply for that.

Whitney, can we get a picture?No.

Clive?Uh...

Who is it?WHITNEY: Come on.

You know it's me. Come on.

What--?

Hi.Hi.

Hello.What are you--?

I couldn't sleep.

Yeah, obviously.

And I knew you would be up.

So I was wondering if you had any.

Any...?

Songs. You know?

Oh, songs.

Empowering songs. Something I can--

Yes, all right.

Well, yeah, a few came through.

Yeah?

You know, if you can't sleep...Yeah, yeah.

...you might as well be working, right?True.

So, you have any?

Do you need anything?

I was just, you know--

I was just wondering if you had any, you know?

Something I could--

All right. Yeah, well, I did hear a few today.

That I thought were good.

All right. Well, great.

Okay, well, play me the best one.

The best one?Yes, the best one.

Okay.Is it empowering?

Well, I thought it was.

But you be the judge.

Okay. Here we go.

Do you wanna hear it again?

Okay.

Okay, let's play it a few more times.

No, I don't need that.

I got it.

What do you mean, you got it?I got it, Clive.

Unbelievable. You're unbelievable.

There you go. Good!Oh, my God! Beautiful!

Okay, then, new album?Beautiful!

I don't see why not.

Okay.I don't see why not.

Oh, um, and Daddy wants me to do a world tour.

What?Yeah. Seventy dates.

Seventy? No. Whitney, no.

Your voice. No.

Clive, I miss it. And Daddy said I can do it.

Well, I'm gonna talk to Daddy.

"Let your light shine before others

that they may see your good deeds

and glorify your Father in heaven."

Gospel of Matthew, chapter five.

"Don't push your luck,

or you might fall and break your tuchus."

That's the gospel of Clive, chapter one.

Clive, you're Jewish.

So was Jesus.

At least on his mother's side.

Who is it?

Baby. Baby. I missed you.

I missed you too.Oh, my God.

REPORTER 1: Bobby Brown arrested yesterday.

REPORTER 2: On the heels of winning her sixth Grammy,

Whitney Houston stood by her husband in court today,

who was arrested for violating probation.

Despite all the problems

Houston and Brown have encountered,

his stint at a rehab clinic

and rumors of his entertaining other women,

the couple insists they are still very much in love.

Well, this is Cissy Houston. Tell Nippy, Whitney,

Ms. Houston to call her mother.

Behind her closely guarded facade,

the wholesome singer's life is in turmoil.

ASSISTANT: Hey, Robyn. Whitney's a little tied up right now,

but she says she'll see you

when she comes back from the tour.

FANS: Whitney!

Everybody get back.

Why'd you cancel the show, Whitney?

Are you high right now?Have you lost your voice?

What happened to your voice?Hey, Whitney. Are you high?

Hello.

Come on.

Hey.Hello.

Hi.Hi.

Hi.Hello. How you doing?

I'm okay.

I'm okay.Nice to see you.

Hello, sweetheart.

How are you? Come on in.Good.

Come on in.

How was the trip?It was good.

Was it? Good.Yeah.

Where's the dog?

What dog?The dog.

She's been talking about your dog for the longest time.

I don't have a dog.

You don't?

Hey, Marble.Look what he's got.

Come on, Marble. Go get the dog, Marble.

Go get it. There you go. There you go.

BOBBI: Marble, come back! Come back!

Cute guy.

Who is he?

I'm an open book, Whitney.

Yeah. Mm-hm.

Yeah, that you need damn strong glasses to read.

Boy. I did not see that coming.

Well, that makes two of us.

Come here and sit with me.

And I want you to be happy too, my dear friend.

Okay?Yes.

So the real reason that I asked you to come up here.

Dear Whitney, the time has come for me to tell you...Mm-hm.

...that you need rehab.

Okay?

The number of problems that are arising

indicate that you're not gonna win this battle.

And that you're underestimating the lethal power of drugs.

Do you hear me?

I thought you didn't meddle

in the personal lives of your artists.

Before you, in entertainment,

whether you're a Judy Garland or you're a Janis...

...they end up losing.

You can't do it yourself.

You can't.

And how sad, I mean...

For you to affect your voice...

...to affect everything.

It's criminal.I'm fine.

Really, I am. You know, I got it under control. Mm-hm.

I just need to let my hair down sometimes. Can't I do that?

You see these?

You're on the cover of every one of them.

And no longer for your music.I beat the Beatles.

I beat Elvis.

I was the first Black, all-American,

white-friendly girl.

But that ain't me.

Clive, I gave up a lot.

I know. I know.

But... I can't leave it this way.

This is a matter of life and death.

You need to let me help you.

Meddling.

Deal with it. Now.

You know...

...some of your favorite performances of mine...

...I needed help.

To sing with the gods, sometimes you need a ladder.

No, Whitney.

From the first time that I saw you...

...I knew you didn't need a ladder.

The gods were already there.

Mommy. I want a dog, Mommy.

Hey. You want a dog?

You want a dog? You can have anything you want, baby.

Anything you want.

Whitney.

Clive.

ROBYN: Your show's over.

BOBBY: It's finished. You hear me?

You see what you did?No. This is what you did.

She's not doing well, Bobby, and needs to go home.

No, she don't. I'm running shit here.

Oh, yeah?That's it.

I'm tired of your shit, Robyn.

Bobby, it's clear to everybody

she's not well and needs to go home.

Come on. Let's get her home.

Yeah?Yeah.

That's what's best.All right. All right. Okay.

We should-- We should ask her, right?

Let's ask her.Talk to her.

Baby. Baby.

Yeah?

You wanna go home?

'Cause we can. You know we can do that if we want.

We can always do that.

Do you want to go home, baby?

No.

No.No, I don't wanna go.

Yeah. See? I'm taking care of her.

That's it?That's it. Yeah.

Is that what you're doing?

Is this what you're doing?

Taking care of her with this?

Is this how you taking care of her?

You better watch that tone, Robyn.

I'mma keep my tone.All right.

Listen, Nip. I will not sit around and watch this...

...anymore.

I'm tired of this, man.Yeah.

Yeah.No, I'm not doing this now.

I'll deal with this later.

Why do I gotta deal with everyone else's shit?

You right, baby.

You gotta get to that venue anyway.

Yo. I'm sick of you, Robyn.

And I'm sick of you.

Yo, Nip. He doesn't deserve you, okay? He never has.

This man never deserved you.

Hey, look. Look. Look. This is through.

It's through, Robyn. Done.

And your dad's in the hospital.

What?

Daddy?

Yeah.Yeah. He in the hospital.

Yeah, baby. I was gonna tell you.

I was gonna tell you after the show.

After the show.

Yeah. Whatever. I'm done with this shit.

No.Nip, I'm done.

Yeah.Rob? Robyn.

NURSE : Lawrence, regarding a patient on line two.

Lawrence to line two.

Whitney.

Hey.

Hey.Hey, Daddy.

You can just leave us.

I'll be out of here in a day or two. You'll see.

No.

No.

No. Not until the doctors say you can.

Daddy, you're gonna get the best care in the world.

I got to get out of here.

Take care of business.

No, you don't.

Not anymore.

Pat's handling everything now.

So you can just relax and get better.

What are you talking about? Pat?

It's okay.

Pat's managing me now.

You've lost your mind, little girl.

I've been taking care of everything. Your whole life.

Who do you think was looking after you

when your mama was going off on them tours?

Changing your diapers?

Me.

So, you ain't taking over shit.

It's done.

It's over.

Yeah? What about the millions you spent?

You blew on Bobby.

Court cases, lawyers, your private jets.

My private jets, my money, Daddy.

My mind's made up.

Let's go forward.

Then you better get yourself a good lawyer.

You hear me?Daddy.

And you better pay me all the money you owe me.

Daddy, what money?

My piece from that new record deal

that I negotiated for you with Arista.

I negotiated that.

I took care of it.

Okay, like you're taking care of your new wife

by coming after me?

One hundred million dollars.

There's no one hundred million.

They pay by the album, and I haven't done any new albums yet.

As of right now, it's almost all gone.

You let me down, Daddy.

And now you're breaking my heart.

I know you and Bobby are hiding it.

You get me my money, princess.

No. No. I'm not your princess.

I'm not your princess no more.

Yeah? No more.

Yeah.

PASTOR: We return to the earth...

...the body of our brother John Houston.

How long has it been like this?

Mommy.

Hey, baby. Hey, gorgeous.

Everything's fine. Everything's gonna be fine.

OFFICER: Watch your head.

Hey. Hey, baby?

I love you.

I love you.

JAMES: We're all slowly dying...

...but you don't have to participate so enthusiastically

in the process.

You've hurt yourself along the way.

Physical damage.

One slipup, Whitney.

Never get a vacation, you find ways to take one.

Four months.

A private, secure residence.

You'll be closely monitored.

Baby!

Hi, Mommy!Oh, baby.

Oh, my God!

Come on. We gotta kick.

Come on.

Come on. One more time!

Hang on, Mom!

Come on! We gotta get to the wall.

Right. Come on.

Whoo!

We made it!

We made it!

Whoo!

BOBBI:

I'm proud of you, Mommy.

I love you, baby.

Lord...

...give me the strength.

Grant me the strength.

Give me the strength.

Oh, my God, that's Whitney Houston.

WHITNEY: I don't blame you, Bobby.

I don't.

The drugs were there before you came along.

We didn't help each other, but I don't blame you for that.

Yeah, shit. I mean,

I wish somebody would tell the media that.

See...

What I looked for in you wasn't there.

A home.

Outside of my music, that's all I ever wanted.

But you broke that.

And I watched my parents do that to each other

and I promised myself...

Uh-uh.

...that's not gonna be me.

All right.

All right.

Look, I-- I hear you.

But I still got you, Nip.

I still got you. Look, hey...

We can talk this out. Right?

Yeah.Yeah?

That's what we're doing.

We're talking it out.

I, uh--

Goodbye, Bobby. Be well.

Wait.Your daughter needs you.

Wait, Nip? Nip?

Hey, Whitney? Baby?

How's your mama look?

Awesome.Yeah.

Go get 'em.

I hope I remember how to sing.

Me too. It's Oprah.

I talked to the musical director.

I told him to follow your lead.

It's your first time back. You set the pace.

Thank you, Mommy.

All right.CISSY: You got this.

You got this, Nippy.

Remember.

You're my princess.

Mommy...

You know, I think I'm just gonna be me.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Whitney Houston!

Hold on! Hold!

Yeah.

Darling.

How was I?

Great. You're always great.

Always. We'll talk on Monday.

They still love me.

Clive, it's my first of the day.

Okay.So...

...I wanna do another tour.

I'm a singer. I need to sing.

Well?

Get some rest.

REPORTER: Whitney Houston's comeback tour

is not faring well for the iconic singer.

Her latest show in Denmark left hundreds of fans walking out

and asking for their money back.

WOMAN: It was obvious.

It was quickly obvious that there was a major problem.

Her vocal range was seriously diminished.

She was fine within a certain limit.

But when she ventured from that safety zone,

she was in trouble.

And Whitney has always been

distinguished by her range of notes.

REPORTER: Houston is one of the top-selling artists

of all time, with six Grammys

and a mezzo-soprano that earned her the nickname "The Voice."

Whitney now needs more than her...

Go for a shot.

Okay.

REPORTER: And Whitney Houston just arrived at the Beverly Hilton.

Lots of speculation that she will also perform

at Clive Davis's Grammy party later this evening.

PAPARAZZO: Ms. Houston, this way!

Are you going back to rehab?

WHITNEY: Hey, get them ready to do "Home."

RICKEY: Does Clive know?

WHITNEY: Yeah, I'm singing tonight.

I don't think that's a good idea.

It's not what Clive wants,

and it's not what I want for you.

Did you see me sing on Oprah?

Yeah, I saw you on Oprah.Okay.

I saw you in Copenhagen too.

People wanna see Whitney Houston.

You set that standard.

I know.

I know I'm not where I used to be.

But I know how to get there.

I'm not going away. I can't lose this.

This? This one night?

Yes, yes. This one night.

Me singing for them.

I can't live without it.

I'm gonna be ready.

You need to be.

If you're ready, I'm there for you, Whit.

I always am, but-- If you're not ready though--

Rickey?

Just get ready to do "Home."

I'm gonna sing it...

...and you're gonna like it.

Do you think this carpet needs a vacuum?

Mom, are you nervous?No.

No. No, I'm excited. I'm so excited.

You know what?

I gotta go downstairs and get some more honey.

Why don't you go to your room?

I'm gonna get ready for tonight, okay?

I'm gonna make you so proud.

I love you in perpetuity.

BOTH: Throughout the universe.

Yeah, that's it. You got it, baby.

Okay.

Whitney, can we get a picture, please?

Miss Houston!

Can we take a picture with you?Sure.

All right.

Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much!Okay. Sure.

Whitney.

Do you think I could have your autograph?

Yeah.

Thank you, Whitney.

Thank you.

WHITNEY: Can I get a tea, please?

Thank you.

With pleasure.

Would you?

Super, massive fan.

Sure. Ahem.

Oh. Don't worry, I got one.

Spencer.Spencer.

So it's true?

You're performing tonight at that pre-Grammy party?

You heard that?

It's out there. Everybody knows.

There's gonna be a whole lineup of huge stars,

but you're gonna outshine them all. You always do.

Thank you.Thank you.

Girl, can I tell you something?

Yeah.

I saw you live once, in '94.

The American Music Awards.Yeah.

I was a seat filler.

Girl, you did that medley of songs.

Yeah.Goddamn.

You liked it?

That's the greatest performance I've ever seen.

Thank you.As far as I'm concerned,

you're the greatest of all time.

I really appreciate that. I do. Thank you.

But it was...

It was 18 years ago.

So...

You are just as beautiful as you've ever been.

And I'm sure you're singing just as good too.

It's on the house.

WHITNEY: We're gonna do a medley for you.

We've never done that before.

It's about love.

The things we do to get it, and the things we do to keep it.

So I'm gonna sing for you.

With thanks for all the love you've given me.

And the great, great joy I've had

in trying to repay that love.

Come on, Nippy.

Thank you.