Original subtitles

Maria.

Luis, no!

No!

Cesar!

Me and my little brother are going to New York to make an orchestra.

Biggest songwriter in Cuba, sitting right there, Nestor Castillo.

We're going to call it "Kings of the Mambo"...

you know, something like that.

We could use a pretty girl like you to pose for the album cover.

If you'd be interested.

We're gonna set New York on fire, baby.

- That's for you, lady. - Thanks.

- So, are you famous? - All over Cuba.

Hey, brother, listen to this.

"The D.D. Vanderbilt Practical Secret of Success..."

- Success. - Success.

The hell with it.

"...will work for you. Whether you're rich or poor...

"Chinaman, Indian, or from the planet Mars...

this book can change your life..."

Something tells me I'm going to be sorry I ever got him that book.

His English ain't so good, you know.

- I think Cuban accents are sexy. - You think so?

Let's go. Come on.

Forget Maria, kid.

'Cause the best-looking girls in New York are waiting for you right now!

Move over. Come on!

Get your paper here!

Schweitzer wins Nobel Peace Prize.

It's so good to see you.

Pablo?

Cesar! Give me a big hug.

Sure. New York is just waiting for you.

I've been waiting for you, baby.

Blanca, look at that. Mama embroidered that.

Come on. Get the hell out of here.

- Hombre, what happened? - Nothing. I cut myself shaving.

- You're lucky you were not killed. - Will you stop, please?

Hey, Cesar, what happened?

The man who owned the club where we played, wanted to own us, too.

They got into a fight. And that's why we came.

To make a new career.

Nobody owns Cesar and Nestor Castillo.

You write the music, and let me worry about the business.

We're all gonna get rich, happy, and famous, here in America, right?

Could you get him out of here with this stupid thing? Stupid kid.

- Where should we make our debut? - Now, wait a minute.

- What's the most classy joint in town? - Brother, we just got here.

The shrimp that sleeps gets carried away by a cocktail.

- Let's not be stupid. - You haven't changed.

Just off the boat, and you think you'll land a gig in a downtown club?

Ten thousand Latin guys in Jersey playing rent parties...

and he's gonna play the Palladium?

Is that a place where a gentleman like Desi Arnaz would play?

The one and only. Blanca and me we're there dancing on the weekend.

- That's it. - What?

- Let's go. - Now?

You think I came to New York to sit with my feet in hot water all night?

- Okay, let's go. - We're going to the Palladium. Get up.

- Come on, Nestor. - Nando, let's go.

How beautiful.

Hi, Russ. I love your...

- So who's the big millionaire over here? - Fernando Perez and his wife Ismelda.

Biggest manager in the business.

He can take you to the top of el mundo mambo.

But he'll own your soul.

That's Carlo Ricci next to him. He owns half the clubs in town.

I love it.

Who is that?

Miguel Montoya. Best arranger in the city.

With him is his mother, Evalina. She owns Club Babalu in Harlem.

- Babalu? - I heard they got shot at once.

But their Yoruba spirits turned their bullets back.

Santeros.

- Who's the kid next to her? - Their godson, Frankie Suarez.

Hello.

There's two of everything in this country.

My kind of place. There's one for you, and one for me.

What are you doing? Come on.

Creep!

Hey! Get away from her!

I got this.

I got this covered. Please. Thank you. I got it.

You know, you are a knockout, baby.

I'm just gonna sit here and buy everything you got to sell.

Thanks, honey.

But I think they'll wreck that nice baritone voice of yours.

Oh, my God.

If she cooks like she walks, brother, I'm gonna lick her plate.

Stay away from her.

Tito! Remember me?

In Havana!

Let me play!

Come on.

- Yeah. - Thank you.

Look at that.

- He's my brother. - My cousin.

His cousin. He's my brother.

Where did everybody go?

Come on, guys, inside. Let's go!

It was his fate.

- Son of a bitch had it coming. - Son of a bitch ruined my number.

Maybe our chances of a job here with Tito Puente. It's a shame.

T's going on tour tomorrow, anyway.

You should go down to the union and join up.

Everybody can join the union, man.

You need a tunesmith to play more than a rent party in this town.

I'm Frankie Suarez.

You play an instrument, Frankie?

- You play like you dance? - Much better.

Wanna get together?

Cesar, tomorrow's work. We got to be up with the birdies.

Come on. You didn't get much sleep on the bus.

There's enough time to sleep when I'm dead. Please. Go away.

Cesar Castillo. I'm so enchanted to have met you, I can't tell you.

Lanna Lake.

- You're the cat's meow on stage. - I know that. Thank you.

My brother and I, we're making our own orchestra here.

We could use a pretty girl like you to pose for the album cover if...

Modeling is my chosen profession, honey.

Anyway, all this modeling ever got me was a Miss Teenage America Pageant...

and a spread in Seventeen magazine.

A spread.

In Seventeen magazine. I was tickled pink.

Pink.

And then I left Sandusky and I moved right to New York.

But, honey, what the judges liked, the magazine didn't.

I was just a little too broad in the beam.

Lucky for us I'm not a magazine.

I played a few choruses, but I never made the Rockettes.

I couldn't take all the creeps making passes at me in the clubs.

So, when I landed this job with the bouncers to protect me...

I thanked my lucky stars.

In Cuba, a girl like you would need an army to protect you.

You shouldn't complain so much.

I bet you say that to all the girls.

- You are my first American beauty. - Really?

And I'm the Statue of Liberty.

You know, you're so beautiful, Lanna.

You're not so bad yourself.

Statue of Liberty, huh?

That's beautiful. Say that again.

Te quiero, baby.

And I take care of you, too, baby.

I love this country.

I thought you believed in me. In our love.

I was wrong.

Since you married Luis, there is nothing left for me in Cuba.

And so, I've gone to America with Cesar.

New country, a new life. Without you.

But some day you will hear my song. ;

Beautiful Maria of My Soul.

And then you will know that you are my destiny...

as I am yours.

Don't worry. It's going to happen for us here, kid.

I can feel it.

In the name of the mambo and the rumba and the Cha-cha-cha.

Would you get to work?

You crazy?

Aren't you that musico loco that got up at the Palladium?

Si, this is the guy.

Tell me something. How do you cross the sticks like that?

That was some show you put on last night, man.

You saw my solo?

Solo? You almost did that solo on your ass.

- But Tito liked you. - They were at the Palladium.

Anyway, I'm Pito. This is Willie.

- Are you fellows musicians? - Who isn't?

Let's show them how we warm up over here.

Watch, man.

I play timbales. He plays the bass.

- This is not the Palladium, guys. - Sorry, man.

- Did you have a band in Cuba? - Yeah. The Havana Melody Boys.

We used to slaughter more than a cow.

With a first-class arranger, someone who knows the ropes...

we'll set New York on fire.

Where are you gonna find an arranger like that?

I'm telling you.

How will you pay him? With steaks and hamburgers?

Just leave it to me.

You have very good taste.

Lecuona is the finest composer alive today.

Thank you, Cesar, Nestor, for your generosity.

So, Frankie tells me that you and your brother are very talented.

That you've written songs with a new sound.

We got so many now, they fill a suitcase.

You have just come from Havana where you have played in some clubs?

Yes, our last job was at the Tropicana, in Havana.

We played all the clubs in Cuba. All the clubs.

And you would like to know if I would be interested in arranging these songs?

Yeah.

One, the son of Shango.

The other...

the son of Yemaja, goddess of the sea?

Fire and water?

Yes. I must hear them play.

Let's go downstairs to my club.

- You play for us there, okay? - Of course.

Friday night. Empire Ballroom. Please.

"You'll find happiness the American way."

Come to the Empire.

"The deepest urge in human nature...

"is the desire to be important, to be great.

"The rare individual who satisfies this hunger...

"will hold people in the palm of his hand...

"so even the undertaker will regret his death."

I wanna tell you, for the undertaker to regret our death...

it would be nice if he came to see the show first.

You wanna give these pretty flyers to the people?

I'll show you my deepest urge. Please come Friday night, okay?

- Mambo Kings! - Mambo Kings.

You come see me, I'll come see you. Okay, please.

Come on, Nestor.

You are a musician?

Yeah. Yes. I am a musician.

- I can tell you're a good musician. - How?

I mean, thank you.

- My name is Nestor Castillo. - Delores.

Delores Fuentes.

- The song you were whistling before? - A bolero.

I have written 12 different versions of it.

It has a name?

Beautiful Maria of My Soul.

Something like that.

This Maria...

inspired 12 different versions of your song?

It's just a name.

Maybe I'll write it using your name instead.

I clean house for a rich man on 61st.

He's so rich, he's unhappy.

But he always says I can help myself to any of his books.

So for lunch, I make roast beef sandwiches, and read.

What will you do with all that reading?

I'm studying to be a school teacher.

I go to school twice a week. At night.

- You are very ambitious, huh? - Yes.

I want to make something of myself.

- Is your family here? - Yes, my sister.

- My father died last year. - I'm sorry.

I'm very sorry.

- And the song at the bus stop? - Beautiful Maria of My Soul.

We were going to be married, yeah.

What happened?

She married the man who owned the club where my brother and I played.

- I'm sorry. - It's okay.

You know, Delores...

I'm going to have my own little club someday.

- You see, you are ambitious, too. - A little bit.

Why don't you come dancing with me, Friday?

You can see us play.

I love you.

Which one is he?

- The one in the middle, dancing? - No, chica.

The one with the trumpet.

Mambo!

- That Castillo, he looks like trouble. - Yes, I know. But I think he's worth it.

Yeah!

Mambo Kings, ladies and gentlemen.

Come on, let's hear it for them. Mambo Kings.

And now, ladies and gentlemen...

let's get ready for Machito...

and his Afro-Cubans!

Mambo Kings! Don't forget that.

I'm so happy!

Thought we're a bunch of farm boys, huh?

Drinks for everyone on the Castillo brothers!

- Hey. How are you? - Fine.

This is the girl I told you about. Delores Fuentes.

- This is my brother, Cesar. - Pleased to meet you.

I'm Anna Maria, Delores' sister. You fellas were great.

Lanna Lake, honey. Nice to meet you.

I think I'll go powder my nose.

- I'll be back in a minute, okay? - Okay. I'll wait here.

He thinks he's the last Coca Cola in the desert.

He is, honey.

Johnny, signing with me was just the beginning.

From here, anything you want.

El Morocco, the Palladium.

- Your future is gold. - Thank you, Fernando. I'm very grateful.

It's my pleasure.

Ladies and gents, it's my pleasure to introduce...

direct from Puerto Rico...

El Suavecito!

Johnny Casanova!

- This is for you. - It's beautiful.

You like?

Let me do it.

I mean, I'm really happy you're here, Delorita.

Thank you for coming.

...they've been on top for about 40 weeks now.

We can play circles around them.

Montoya says if we top the Diamonds, we'll play any club.

A month from now, they'll be opening for you, you go on another diet.

Very impressive, senor Castillo.

I knew it when I saw you at the Palladium, that you were very talented.

You feel the music.

And that, nobody can teach you or take away.

Congratulations.

It's a lucky coincidence to run into each other.

But I always say...

God puts his children exactly where they should be.

That's funny. I always said that, too.

Have a Havana with me, Cesar.

And let's see how Fernando Perez can take the Mambo Kings to the top.

Who the hell are you, anyway, the Mambo pope?

Guy thinks I came to America to trade one thief for another, right?

I think you don't know who I am, senor.

Whoever you are, I know in La Havana, los mafiosos with balls of steel...

could not own Cesar Castillo. So don't you try.

You have much to learn, Mambo King.

Pray God you learn it. Before the banana boat sails back to Cuba.

What are you, the captain?

Cesar, are you crazy?

Yeah, I'm crazy. And your brain's so soft already you forget Luis?

It's a lucky thing I gotta walk around with that the rest of my life.

Let's get out before these pendejos here give me a stroke.

Here, pay the bill with that.

Leave the business to me and stick to your music, kid.

"It was a fabulous night at the Empire Ballroom recently...

"as a new band came on the scene. The Latin rhythms filled the air...

"as under the sterling, hip-swinging, pelvis-grinding...

"admiralship of their singer, Cesar Castillo.

"The fabulous Mambo Kings made a fabulous debut."

As Mr. Vanderbilt says:

"He who can, has the whole world with him.

"He who cannot, walks the world alone."

Miss Enchantment, you want to come with the Mambo King after the show?

- I'll show you a little piece of Havana. - Yeah, a very little piece.

Bigger than your piece, shooter jerk.

Mr. Ricci!

You haven't seen this "fabulous night at the Empire Ballroom" debut?

Yeah, I know. Everybody love you guys. But it's such a shame.

- What's a shame? - My girl, Louisa, she no call you?

I got no call. Who got a call?

Senor Castillo, look. My club, it is booked for months.

I think if there is one place for you, I put you in.

But I'm sorry, I make a mistake with the booking.

- You made a mistake? - I'm sorry. I got partners.

- I can't do anything about it. - Come here.

- We had a deal! - The club is booked.

Hey, don't touch my brother! Don't push him!

- That's it. It's finished! - I knew it. I told you so!

Come on, will you?

Show them in Havana what a couple of stars look like.

Smile, will you? We're in America.

No, I don't hear you. Talk American to me, please.

It's not my language, American. It's not my country.

It's all the country we got right now.

Now, come on, smile.

You want me to waste another 25 cents?

Come on, smile.

It's all right? It's okay?

Come on.

- We have to work, Cesar. - We're working our asses off.

- Talk to Perez. Please? - No.

- He's not like Luis. - Haven't you learned anything from me?

Talk to him. Come on. Apologize.

What? You wanna kiss his ass? No, we'll make a deal.

He'll slit both our throats, the way Luis cut mine.

- Come on, don't be stupid. - He cut more than your throat.

I should've stayed in Havana.

For what? Some whore who never even loved you?

- Is that what you're talking about now? - No, not Maria.

A whore sold herself to another man.

I'm talking about us. We don't belong here.

You don't get it through your head. She's not waiting for you. That's a dream.

Now, how long before you're gonna give that up?

How long?

And you, Cesar?

How long before you give up your dream?

There's no dream, man.

It's our life.

Come on. Smile, will you?

No, this is your life.

I feel like a ghost.

Cesar is wrong. We won't make it.

Even if we did, that's not what I want.

I'd be happy writing music...

playing love songs in my own little club.

That is my dream.

A nice place where people could get Cuban food...

and listen to good music.

- That's what I want. - Nestor, then do it.

Just open your little club. Do it.

Listen, why keep dreaming? Make it come true.

Do you believe in me?

Yes.

- You do? - Yes, I do.

Don't look...

I didn't want to come to America.

But my brother was right.

- Lf I hadn't come to America, I... - Wouldn't have met me.

Exactly.

Why are you laughing?

Happy birthday.

Thank you, darling. You're very beautiful.

You want to give me a rum there, straight up?

I need a Scotch.

Not bad for Montclair, New Jersey.

One hundred senor Washingtons.

Life could be worse. There you go.

Swear to God.

Listen, Cesar, we got to talk.

Mario's got this gig with Tito Puente.

Keys has got a shot with Machito.

We want to stick together, man, but we're falling apart.

Can't you see that?

I don't want to carry a bunch of losers, either.

I'm going to Babalu.

- That ain't a real gig, you know that. - You tell me what a gig is.

- Cesar? - Yeah?

Manny and I want to open a club.

Don't be a child, will you, please?

Mr. Vanderbilt said...

- What do you know about running a club? - He can learn.

Delores, it's men's business.

It's really not your worth getting involved in it.

Men's business has you playing the Sorento Lounge in New Jersey.

When I want your opinion, I'm going to ask for it.

You have to think of the future.

Who are you to tell me what to think?

- Don't talk to her that way. - You keep her quiet!

- She gonna fight your battles? - Like a child!

- Precisely. - Don't talk to her like that!

- Don't teach me how to talk! - No, because she's gonna be my wife!

- Go on. - I'm sorry.

Sorry, Delores.

I know this is not the way we were going to tell him, but...

Delores has consented to be my wife.

- My God. I feel like an idiot. - No, an animal. You're an animal.

You okay?

Yeah, you're okay.

- I have to talk to you. - What?

Delores...

She's going to have a baby.

Hell of a good reason to marry her, too, kid.

What are you saying?

- I love her. - Listen to me, will you?

Is Maria out of your heart now?

Let's just thank God for that.

Okay. You know, Cesar...

- I was thinking about that. - About what?

- About Maria. - What?

I have written her many letters.

But she never answered them.

Anyway...

I think Maria was right.

I wasn't her destiny.

Come on, what the hell are we talking about?

A woman like that for you?

That's poison, kid.

Poison.

- But do you really know now? - What?

How lucky you are?

To have a woman like Delores?

Yes, I know.

And what is this?

You save your pennies. You're like a little hormiguita.

- You're gonna open a club. - I wanna have something...

to show my wife and my baby.

But you don't come to me?

Yes, I do, but...

Well, come on. That is it.

A man without a family, who the hell is that?

He's nobody.

Yeah.

- Do you know how much I love you? - Yes. I love you, too.

You don't forget that.

No.

Good work, kid.

Maria.

Dump it right on the scale.

Delores is on the telephone. It's her time.

Delores! The baby! Come on!

Come on!

He's beautiful, huh?

- Isn't he? - Beautiful.

I got this for you.

I hope they're good.

Jane Eyre.

Crime and Punishment.

How did you know what to choose?

Fellow at the store, he knew.

I hope they're good.

It's the most wonderful present. Thank you.

I'm so happy for you.

Hey, let me see him, huh?

He's a Castillo.

Look at the expression on his face.

Like a headache.

Look at this little angel.

Good evening.

Good evening, gentlemen. It's good to see you.

- Miguel. Good to see you again, my friend. - Welcome.

You remember Mike, my business manager? Mike Wells.

- Good to see you again. - Always a pleasure.

Miguel, these fellows are fantastic. I'd like to invite them over to our table.

- Would you ask them to join us, please? - With pleasure.

Gracias, Miguel.

Thank you.

Desi Arnaz.

Oh, my God.

It's Desi Arnaz.

- This is my manager, Mike Wells. - Pleasure to meet you both.

- Hi, Mike. How are you? - Mike. Hello.

- I am so pleased to meet you. - Me, too.

- I'm Cesar Castillo. - I am his brother...

- Nestor. - Nestor.

What a surprise. What a nice surprise.

- Please, sit down. - Oh, God!

How about that?

Mike and I wanted to compliment you on your performance.

- That was a wonderful song. - Thank you.

Beautiful Maria of My Soul.

I have written many different songs of different...

Many different version of this song. Excuse me.

Have you written any other songs?

- Yes, a few songs. - He's got a suitcase full.

Suitcase. Suitcase.

- So, where are you fellows from in Cuba? - Las Pinas.

That's the sugar mill town there in Oriente, you know that.

So am I, from Oriente, too. Santiago.

If you put a couple of Cubanos together we're all related, right?

- This calls for a celebration, huh? - Yeah. Salud!

That's right.

You don't know how nice it is to just relax for a change.

You are probably tired of dining out with the Rockefellers all the time.

Rockefeller?

We get tired of eating with them, too, you know?

Do you fellows have un conjunto?

Yeah. We got Mambo Kings.

- Mambo Kings. - Mambo Kings.

- Where have you been playing? - Around.

We haven't played a gig in months, you know.

- We are butchers. - What a stupid thing to say.

But it's true, brother. It's true.

You know this kid, he worries himself to death.

I tell him everyone starts this way.

He don't listen to me. You don't listen, you know?

You know how I got started? I did all sorts of things.

- I know that. - Cleaned bird cages.

Mr. Arnaz, this is our boy, Eugenio.

Please, call me Desi.

How wonderful your family is, senora Castillo.

Tomorrow's work. Always work.

Sorry, I have to go.

You know, I want to tell you something before I do.

That cancion you fellows played at the club tonight Beautiful Maria...

- Of My Soul. - Yeah.

- That's a great song. I really like it. - Thank you.

I want you to come on my show. Do it for me there.

That's nice.

The nightclub show?

No, I mean the I Love Lucy show.

- In Hollywood? - I Love Lucy show?

- No. - Yes. Hollywood.

I mean, yes.

Oh, my God!

He's coming!

It was a beautiful evening.

I'm glad we had this chance to meet, my friends.

You'll be hearing from me soon, okay?

Take care of yourselves.

My God, this is something, huh?

Didn't I tell you this would happen?

It's a miracle, Cesar.

That's what you wanted.

We're just about ready to get started.

Tonight, we have a special show for you entitled "Cuban Pals."

- So, sit back, relax and enjoy the show. - You look terrific.

- My stomach is no good. - Your stomach is fine.

Come on, we never looked this good in our lives.

- Take it easy. - Yeah.

Just be yourself. Don't worry.

Even if you flub your dialogue, we'll take care of it.

We'll no flub.

- Let's go. - Okay. Let's go.

- What the hell is that? - Camera 3.

Oh, Jesus. I'm all right.

- Are you sure? - I'm sure.

- Lf you want... - I want. Don't worry about it.

I want. You got to be kidding me.

The light! Carmen, the light.

I'm so proud.

Lucy, Cesar and Nestor Castillo.

- Hello. - Cesar, Nestor, this is Lucy.

How do you do?

What kind of a girl did you think Ricky would marry?

No, don't tell me. I shouldn't have asked that.

Ricky told me all about your success in Cuba.

Where do you think you'll go from here?

Do you know where you'll go from here?

I think Lucy likes Nestor, Delores. Yes?

She's making ojitos at him.

"We do-nut."

Wee Do-nut?

Sounds like someplace in Arkansas.

"We do-nut speak English."

You don't speak English? Oh, well...

Well.

- Can you believe he was in the kitchen? - Yes, I know.

- I can't believe I missed that. - Did you have a nice talk?

- I'm really mad. - I had a nice talk.

Beg pardon?

He wants to know if the color of your hair is natural.

Well, certainly, tell them it's natural.

And my father and my mother both had red hair.

My parents had blonde hair, too.

- Sure. - They did!

Ricky, go ahead and tell them.

Henna rinse.

Henna rinse!

I have an idea my hair suffered in the translation.

I saw Lucy once...

standing outside the Lord & Taylor's during Christmastime.

- She seemed very nice. - She is.

- You can tell just by looking at her. - Come on. It's starting.

- Very nice. - Come on, let's go.

Well, folks, tonight I have a special treat for you.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you...

direct from Havana, Cuba, Cesar and Nestor Castillo...

singing a bolero of their own composition, Beautiful Maria of My Soul.

Telephone for Mr. Goodson.

You know, I was in a movie once with Ricardo Montalban.

Desperados from the Land of the Golden Sun.

Ricardo was a dreamboat.

You are a fleet of dreamboats, you know that?

- I'm going to put you on my next movie. - Do you have a part for me?

Come on. Let's not get stingy, huh?

- Come on! - Paging Mr. Castillo.

You know, I'm going to form an all-girls orchestra with you two.

I'll be right back. I'm going to tune you all up.

Don't go.

You wait for me, muchachas, huh?

Don't you go away.

Delores is on the phone. She wants to tell you that she loves you.

I'm sorry. Your phone has been busy there.

No.

See you later.

Shit.

What the hell are you looking at?

You follow your pinga wherever it goes. What's the matter with you, brother?

I don't have no wife, no son who loves me.

You worrying about me?

Thank you, brother.

You're turning into a cabron.

A cabron would've gone back to Cuba by now.

- Back to Cuba? - Yes.

You are the one that wanted to come to New York.

You're a big shot right now, on television with Mr. Desi Arnaz.

- Yeah? - Do you want to go back to Cuba?

I never wanted to be a big shot.

Why do I always have to do what you want?

- Why, brother? - I don't know.

Maybe without me you'll be singing your love songs...

in the shower somewhere, you know?

That could be good enough. You can't keep using me.

- What are you talking about? I use you? - Yes, to fulfill your dreams!

- No, I do it for you! - Come on.

I do it for you. And I did it for you.

Get the hell out. You don't even know how lucky you are.

Lucky in Cuba with Maria. No other way.

- You want to talk to me about Maria? - Why not?

Get the hell out of my life. You make me sick.

Your stupid, miserable life wasn't worth saving.

- Saving? - Get the hell out.

- You know nothing about Maria. - What do you mean?

If I hadn't brought you to America, you'd be playing trumpet with the angels!

- What do you mean? - Stay the hell out of my way.

You must tell me, brother!

You want to talk to me about Maria?

Maria begged me. She begged me to take you out of Cuba.

- Liar! - Luis would've slit your fucking throat...

- if he saw you again. - It's not true.

If she hadn't married him, he'd have killed you!

She saved you.

And I called her a whore. A whore?

She's too good for you. Delores is too good for you.

We are all too good for you!

Stop!

You knew this about Maria and didn't tell me?

Why, brother?

Why?

- To save your life. - My life?

What do you think, why?

You didn't save my life, Cesar. You ruined my life.

No!

Oh, man!

$5,000 from Desilu Productions!

And God bless this country.

Not bad for one little bolero, bro?

Now, let's see Perez try to keep us from playing the Palladium.

The salesman said he's going to send you a new encyclopedia every month.

- I want to show you something. Look. - It's so beautiful. Thank you.

- What? - It's got power steering.

It's got power brakes. Power everything. Wow, huh?

You're crazy.

I guess Mr. Vanderbilt was right, eh, bro?

"Chinaman, Indian, or from the planet Cuba."

Cuba!

A man can find happiness the American way.

Whether he likes it or not.

Come on, cut the cake and pour that champagne.

Yeah, but don't wet the check.

Don't wet that check, please.

You're on top of the world.

Don't be so modesto.

We are working.

Nothing that will make us rich, but...

we are bringing in a few dollars and...

Well, you seem in good shape. It's a good beginning.

It is okay for the time being. But we have a long way to go.

Then we shouldn't lose more time in our friendship.

So, Nestor, what is it I can do for you?

Do you need money? Please tell me.

- I want to open a club. - Good.

My brother doesn't think this is the time to settle down.

He thinks that we will be stars.

But you are the one who writes the songs, no?

And your brother, he doesn't want anyone to own him.

But he thinks he owns you.

No. Cesar does not own me.

Nobody does. Nobody.

Then you sign with me, mi amigo...

and your future is gold.

El Morocco, the Palladium...

and then, your own little club.

Palladium.

Yes.

Let's drink to my freedom.

I'm going to play the Palladium.

I'm going to open...

my own little club in Havana...

without Cesar.

Honey, you really are seeing pink elephants.

No.

Adios, Mambo Kings.

Adios, Cesar.

Nestor, what happened?

Let's drink to my freedom.

Bartender, no coffee.

Two Nestor Libres.

Cesar can't keep using me.

I told him that.

Nestor, he's your brother, your family.

What's a guy without a family?

Nothing.

Double nothing without love.

You know how that is, don't you?

To love someone so much.

- Nestor, can't you see how Cesar feels... - About Delores?

Stop being a big jerk, huh?

He'd do anything for you.

Please, don't break his heart.

I want to go back to school and be a teacher.

I want to go back to school and make something of myself.

Yeah, you should do that.

That's what you wanted before you...

met me.

I know it's been very hard for you.

I never meant it to be that way.

But you must know in my own way...

I have loved you.

I love this country.

Where is everybody?

I love this country. Come here.

You want to see something?

Compliments of Mr. Ricci. With an invitation to play the Palladium.

Did I tell you this was going to happen and we'd make it on our own?

Did I?

Come on, toma.

That's for real. From now on, we get what we want.

Maybe even our own television show.

I mean, what the hell?

What the hell did we come to this country for, if not for that?

Come on, let's call the fellows, huh? Come on.

Can you imagine, we call the fellows now...

and we tell them The Kings of the Mambo are going to play Palladium?

I think I'm having a heart attack today. I got to find us a doctor.

How many times?

How many... Did I keep my promise to you?

Now, ladies and gentlemen, the song I know you've been waiting for...

so patiently.

I predict that Nestor Castillo...

will be remembered among the greats...

with, Machito, Puente...

- Benny More, Tito Rodriguez... - I never told my brother about the deal.

Believe you me.

Your brother will thank you for it in his sunset years.

No, senor Perez.

A promoter I know, an Englishman...

wants to mount a show at the London Palladium.

Of course I told him about you.

It's all being planned right now. And who knows...

Stop, senor Perez.

I've made a mistake.

I can't do it. I can't.

- Nobody owns the Castillo brothers. - All right, Nestor.

Then tonight's your last night. Tell that to your brother.

Delores should be with us tonight.

- The baby has a fever. - Listen to him. Senor Sensible here.

Brother, I have something to tell you.

It's a long way from Havana, kid.

See that? Mambo Kings, baby.

- Mambo Kings, forever. - Give me the keys.

- Give him the keys. - No, I'm gonna drive.

- Give him the keys. - I'll drive.

All right. I'll get in the car before I turn into a Popsicle.

You'd probably love that.

You're going to turn me into a roast pork sandwich.

- I might. - Well, get going.

You know, we didn't get the job the way you think.

There's plenty of time to talk. We're on top, kid. Just enjoy it.

What the hell are you doing? You're choking me. Are you crazy?

Come on, honey.

- Come on. - God help me.

Where the hell are we?

What the hell did he do? He smashed up the goddamn car.

What do you people think I'm made of? Look at that.

What a waste.

The insurance company will buy another one.

What happened?

Oh, God.

Nestor.

Nestor!

Hey, mister, throw me the ball.

Come on, let's go.

- Come on, let's play. Let's start. - All right, ready?

- Ready? Here we go. - Get it.

- Stop. - No.

Come on, stop.

Stop. It's no use.

Stop acting like a little girl.

I'm about as far from a little girl as you can get.

It's over, Cesar.

It's over.

There's nothing I can do for you.

I'm drunk. Can't you see that?

I'm going to miss you.

What can I do?

Evalina. Oh, my God.

You know, I thought you were my mother.

Cesar, Miguel tells me...

- you left the band. - It's better this way.

Come, sit.

I thought you were my mother.

Cesar. When my mother died...

I wanted only to live in my sadness.

It was all I thought I had left of her.

But the music within me...

would not be silent.

And when I finally sang...

I found my mother, in the happiness of the people.

I killed him.

He was the music.

And so are you.

Fire and water...

both beautiful, Cesar.

But they have different life.

"In today's America...

"every obstacle is temporary.

"Every problem can be solved.

"Where there is a will, there is a way.

"For the man of tomorrow...

"in today's America."

We gotta take a vacation, you and me. We gotta get down to Miami.

And if we're too big in Miami, we'll go straight back to Hollywood.

We'll go see Desi. Remember what he told us?

We could always just... drop by.

What's the matter?

I know.

"Chinaman, Indian, or from the planet Mars.

"A man can find happiness the American way."

I guess you couldn't find happiness after all.

We want to make a toast...

to our friend whose dream it was to some day have a little club. ;

Nestor Castillo.

May he rest in peace.

But, as not to let this little gathering slip into sadness...

I make a toast...

to all the lovely ladies who have brought us warm smiles.

To the fabulous Mambo Kings.

- To Manuel and Tito Puente. - And to Cesar Castillo.

To America. Salud!

And now, ladies and gentlemen...

a little cancion that will live forever. ;

Beautiful Maria of my Soul.

Cesar, come on up here.

No, you play now.

- Cesar. - Go on.

Sing it for Nestor, huh?

He worshipped you, Cesar.

He was always happy to go with you to places, to play for the people.

Those were good times.

Nobody can take that away.

I hurt him in so many ways.

No, Cesar.

You didn't hurt him.

Nestor hurt himself.

Nobody could save him.

Do you know everything I was in my life...

was because of him?

I would change places with him right now...

if I could.

- It's his club. - Cesar, this is your club.

Now sing the bolero.

I don't have it in me anymore to sing.

Sing it for me.

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