Original subtitles

Oh. I'm sorry.

- Next time. Bye. - Don.

- You shitting me? - No, national syndication.

14 cities. All we need is a top ten act.

Now, they want us by fourth quarter.

Yeah, which means we're behind schedule.

Well, I could expedite production, uh,

buy a bigger piece of the show, if that helps.

- What, 50% isn't enough?

I'll have my share, George, don't you worry.

Hey, what about the act? I mean, Eddie's cool,

but Eddie Kendricks without The Temptations

is just Eddie Kendricks.

Yeah, well, Thursday I'm in L.A. to meet the dance coordinator.

Thursday night, I sit down with the godfather himself.

Oh, James Brown?

- Now who's shitting who? - Five, four, three...

All right, Chi-Town, it's that time we go from fast to slow.

Let's give a warm Soul Train welcome

to one of my favorite groups, Chicago's very own...

...the Chi-Lites.

What's that, Dad?

What's so important that you'd call in a favor

to attend our humble rehearsal?

I need dancers. Good ones.

Start with Franklin and Kasey.

Simone is a gift.

Almost as good as you were.

Careful. She might actually believe the dreams you sell.

Hey, baby.

Hey. You did great.

Thank you.

Eh, somebody might see.

And you jailbait.

Well, I won't tell if you won't.

You seem to forget your daddy carry a gun.

He a big old teddy bear.

- Yeah. With a gun.

Don't forget the audition tomorrow.

I'm-a try to get off work early.

Don't try, okay? Be there.

Heavy monsoon weather covered

much of South Vietnam today,

reducing U.S. air strikes

- over the south...

How many cities?

- 14. - 14!

- Baby! - 14 cities, national syndication.

- Yes! - We did it, baby.

All we need is a top ten act to make it official.

And George needs his share of the seed money by Monday.

But now, look, Don,

look, we both agreed that the emergency fund was off-limits.

-Baby, baby, look. This, this is the dream, right? -N-No...

This is it. We did it, baby. This is the dream.

But Don, we're barely making ends meet now.

Mmm.

This is the worst-kept secret of all time.

- Go away, Kendall. - I'd love to,

but Mom wants you home.

Your turn to cook.

- Call me later. - Yeah.

Aww, come here, nephew.

I will buy you a mansion.

All right? I'll buy you a mansion in every single state.

All right.

I won't touch the emergency fund.

...Now you talking.

Mwah.

-Mm. -All right, look now, w-where are the boys?

Well, you know, they at Mama's.

- Mm-hmm. Mm. - Mm-hmm.

Can you get me that Stevenson file, please?

Ah. I assume your visit is because you got your notice

from the draft?

My physical is Friday. I report in two months.

Kendall, I reached out to everybody I know,

and the best I could do was $15,000.

For a medical exemption? I don't have that kind of money.

Maybe it's time to tell your parents.

I can't do that.

I don't want to die, Ms. Jacobs.

Kendall, you're not gonna die.

Look, I have a friend who helps kids like you escape to Canada.

I could make the call.

- My dad is in Vietnam right now.

I won't ruin his name by running away.

There is another option.

If you were head of a household, you'd be exempt.

Kendall, you have a son.

If you and Victoria were married, all this goes away.

For the love of God, Don, light a candle.

Honey, you can walk out if you want.

Well, we only have one bathroom.

- So what time's your flight? - 12:30.

- Mm. - Still time to make it.

Uh, now there's a romantic offer.

No, come on, Red. We can make a weekend of it.

Well, you know, someone's got to hold down the fort

while you go out and take over the world.

- I'm really proud of you.

Okay, geez, Don, seriously. That's a problem.

Well, you walked into it.

And I'm walking out of it.

So, who you bringing to the cookout?

The missus or the mistress?

Heads it's Nancy, tails Laura.

Ha. Shit. It's the wife.

- Looks like we got one.

- All right, let's get him. - Yeah.

Afternoon, Officer.

Everything okay?

Ran a stop sign, son. Need your license.

Thought I stopped.

Still getting my bearings.

- Only been here a few hours. - Hands on the wheel.

So you're a cop, Don?

Was.

Two years, Chicago PD.

Real cop would know it's illegal to try

to influence an officer, Don.

- You a basketball player? - I produce a dance show, for TV.

Like Bandstand. So you sing, Don?

I'm just the host.

Tell you what.

Heads, I run your black ass in for trying to bribe an officer.

Tails, you sing for me.

It's tails.

Hey, Marty! He's gonna sing for us.

How about a little, um, Al Green?

You boys like Al Green, don't you, Don?

I'm not gonna ask you again, Don.

Sing for me.

2-11 in progress, multiple shots. We're on our way.

Looks like it's your lucky day,

Officer Cornelius.

12, seven, 22, come forward.

Keep going. Hey.

Yes. There we go.

Oh, I didn't know you were coming.

- Is this the first group? - Third.

Did we book the construction crew?

- Scheduled to start Monday. - Director interviews?

First thing in the morning. Mr. Cornelius, number...

Mr. Cornelius.

...All right, listen up.

Tessa and I appreciate your time,

but that'll be all for today. Thank you.

What they talking about? I...

- going over every... - I need you to do better.

- I don't know what that means. - It means I didn't hire you

to get dancers that I can get at a house party.

You hired me because I am good at what I do.

No, I hired you because you are cheap.

Mr. Cornelius, these kids are great.

They're nailing all the latest steps.

Maybe you don't understand.

I don't need dancers nailing the latest moves.

I need stars creating the next dance craze. Do better,

or I'll find someone who will.

Look, there he is, right there.

Come on, man. Come on.

It's gonna be a stone gas, honey.

Okay, okay, that's enough.

Next.

That's you, let's go.

Come on, come on, come on, who's next?

Uh, hi, I'm Kendall. My sister, Simone.

That's JT, and we are Encore.

One, two, three, four.

Gig's yours if you want it.

- Yeah. - Yes, yes, we want it.

Pays $150 a set, weekend's $200.

Break a thousand heads, you get a dollar a head.

-How many songs you got? -Uh, six originals, but we can cover any...

- How many you need? - More than you got.

Boss, you got to hear these cats, House Band.

How old are you?

18.

So if I check your ID, it'll tell me the same lie?

I'll be 17 in a few months.

You fly, but you ain't worth my liquor license.

Get rid of 'em.

Boss, I just hired 'em.

And I just fired 'em.

Look, I know we didn't get the gig, but he liked us.

That means something.

Ain't no small moral victories, Simone.

We're close. All we need is a break.

I'm running out of time.

Well, maybe we're doing this wrong.

Our dream is to sing and become famous.

Well, what if we were famous first?

- What's a Soul Train? - It's a dance show.

So Cindy has a cousin in Chicago

and she says the dancers there are stars around town.

And that's just the local show. This is national.

Now, I don't know if we can get on,

but maybe we can use it to build our name.

- But do they pay? - I don't think so.

Bussing tables by day, chasing dreams at night.

It's not enough.

Well, this ain't just about you.

All right, either we a group,

- or we not. - Kendall, stop.

Nah, 'cause see, he barely coming to practice now.

Something always more important.

Either Encore means something to you, or it don't.

Ain't no in-between.

Who died and made you Berry Gordy?

- Your junkie-ass mama, bitch. - Oh, my God, Kendall.

No, I say we cut our losses. All right, he ain't got

- what it take to make it anyway. - Would you shut up?

E-Everybody just shut up. Okay, we are in this together.

We started this group together, and we're really good.

That doesn't just happen.

Now, we all want the same thing. We all want this to work, right?

Right.

You want this too, right, baby?

Yeah, I do.

But I'm not about to be dancing on no teenybop TV show.

I don't have time. And some of us work for a living.

Why would you talk about his mama?

You better than this, Simone. He needs to go.

...Don Cornelius

to see James Brown.

I was told to ask for Charles Bobbitt.

So you're the dance show guy. Thought you'd be taller.

And you're the manager.

Thought you'd be blacker.

...I get no complaints.

Well, come to Chicago and that'll change.

James over here?

...James.

Quote is 25 grand. Two songs, half up front.

That's not how it works. Mr. Bobbitt, it's TV.

We pay a set fee in exchange for exposure.

It's the same deal as American Bandstand.

You ain't American Bandstand.

Come back when you learn the game.

Mr. Bobbitt.

I was promised a sit-down

with James Brown and that is exactly what I expect.

What? You boys supposed to scare me?

You look like you're new at this,

so let me give you a piece of advice. You walk away.

- Walk away now. - All right, okay, fellas.

Come on, not tonight. Not in my club.

Charlie, come on now, call off the dogs.

Brothers, next round's on the house, huh?

See? That's how you do business.

Come on, guys.

Uh-uh, uh-uh. So you just gonna

take on the whole damn crew? 15 brothers, guns and all?

- If I have to. - Look at you, man.

All right, look. No crew. No piece.

Brother, half the people in here can make you disappear

and the cops wouldn't blink.

And you don't give a damn?

Where'd you serve?

Korea. Army. 751st.

Korea. Navy. USS Missouri. Gerald Aims.

- Don Cornelius. - All right, Don.

Let me buy you a drink. Keep you from getting your ass killed.

You're late.

Sorry, Ma Mable. I'll close tonight.

You bet your sweet backside you will.

I can close up

Boy, you can't even handle the hours I'm giving you.

I can now. I need this.

What you need to do is bus them tables.

And we'll talk hours later.

So let me get this straight.

You losing the human perm over there

means you lose your Music Train?

- Soul Train. - Whatever.

- Soul Train. - All right, Soul Train.

He's my top ten act. I lose him, I lose syndication.

Whole lot of money.

Bullshit.

Look.

That glass...

is it half empty or half drunk?

You mean half full?

Ah!

How about this one? Half drunk or half full?

Half empty.

Ah! Oh, it's neither.

...Or it's both. Get it?

See, it don't matter

'cause it's all about perspective.

Now see, you think Soul Man is all you've got.

But if he's a top-ten act,

then I say, isn't there nine other top-ten acts?

Perspective.

Oh! It's like that white man's mantra,

when they... ...refused to let women vote,

they shoved Jim Crow law on us,

hell, they gave the Indians smallpox to take their land...

Put yourself first.

Man-Is-First Destiny, baby.

-White folks did it. We can do it, too. -Manifest.

- What? - The belief that the U.S.

was ordained by God to rule North America.

It's called Manifest Destiny,

- not Man-Is-First Destiny. - Oh, hell.

First, fest, whatever... look, I ain't that good with words,

but I know what I'm talking about.

And I'm gonna help you out.

Now, will Gladys Knight work for you?

You know Gladys Knight?

Just booked 'em in the club last year.

And... they got a show tomorrow in Gary.

And for a small finder's fee, I'll set ya up.

- No. - What?

No. If word gets out that I'm paying for acts...

-Oh... -Soul Train'll never be legit. Can't do it.

"Soul Train'll never be legit."

I'm gonna help you anyway.

- Why? - You know what, cat? I like you.

Yeah, we see the world the same.

Besides, if you gonna have top talent rolling in

on a weekly basis, I'll be able to book 'em here.

When I want, on discount.

Perspective.

Let's get drunk.

Come on, man.

Man, you sure like to party.

- And we just gettin' started. - Hey, what time is it?

Time for you to get your ass up if you gonna make that plane.

Oh, shit.

Yeah, can I use your phone?

- You miss me yet? - Of course. We all do.

But, uh, sounds like you're having a great time out there.

James Brown is out, but I'm meeting Gladys Knight

in Gary at 8:00, and I want the prettiest woman

in Brownsville by my side when I do.

Wait, Gladys Knight?!

- Gladys Knight, baby. - Baby, I would love to,

but Mama's gone and we don't have a sitter.

- And what about Millie? - Well, you know what,

she's working, but, um, let me try Joyce, okay?

Look, my plane lands at 6:00, and I'm gonna

head there straight from the airport.

I'll be the happiest brother Ifthis side of Africa.

Negro, you done lost your mind.

Well, it's at the Showcase Supper Club at 8:00.

Don't leave me hanging.

Gladys Knight!

-You're late. -Yeah, well, you don't seem lonely.

All right, first rule of business is,

know what your client wants and give it to him.

And what does she want?

You answer that...

...you'll be bigger than all of us.

Guys, this is Don Cornelius and George Johnson

of Johnson Hair Care fame.

Love that afro sheen shit, man.

Thanks a lot, man.

And who are these lovely ladies?

These are... some friends of ours.

Mm-hmm.

Ladies, would you like to join us for a drink?

Yes.

George, why don't you join us, too.

Of course.

I'm surprised the guys don't want to join.

Oh, well, we've already made our decision.

-The answer's no. -You haven't even heard me out yet.

You're a salesman, Mr. Cornelius.

I don't like salesmen, and I don't like

- being sloppy seconds. - Well,

better being sloppy seconds than funky fourths.

I told Gerald I'd take the meeting.

I took the meeting. This isn't gonna work.

Miss Knight, please.

Look around.

Tell me what you see.

I don't have time to play games, Mr. Cornelius. I'm tired.

I've had six jobs in five years.

I got a wife and two kids, and if I can't convince you

to work with me, then I lose...

everything.

So I assure you, this is no game.

Tell me what you see.

I see men and women.

Black and beautiful.

Dressed to the nines and...

eating, drinking, enjoying themselves.

- I see happiness. - Hmm.

I see freedom.

I see economic power.

Ownership, Miss Knight.

That is the way that we can truly overcome...

By keeping the power with us.

And we got some of the most talented singers and dancers

in the world, but any time we want to showcase our talents,

we either got to go to Podunk, Tennessee,

- or American Bandstand. - Oh, now, Flip Wilson

-ain't so bad. -Yeah, no, no, I love Flip, I love Flip.

But who owns his show?

And who owns him?

'Cause now I'm talking about a national television show

written, produced and owned by black folks.

I'm talking about bringing us, not whitewashed, not toned down,

but us into millions of homes, like it or not.

Black folks the way black folks was meant to be seen:

strong, powerful and beautiful.

There's never been another show like it.

And it won't just be mine,

it'll be all of ours.

But I can't do it alone.

If my daddy was here, he'd say...

that you could sell water to a whale.

But... I choose the songs,

-and nothing we've already recorded. -No, no, no, absolutely.

You won't... you won't regret it.

We'll see about that.

Well, damn, let's have a drink to celebrate.

Uh, I'll pass. I'm sure the boys will join you.

They're nonstop.

I can never thank you enough.

Just... do right by our people.

Make the show everything you promised,

and that'll be thanks enough.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Cornelius.

I hate him!

- Sweetheart, that you? - I hate his afro,

I hate his voice, I hate his smell,

that-that-that "I'm on the prowl for anything in a skirt,"

too-strong cologne smell.

I've only known him for two months,

and I can honestly say that I hate the man.

I set meetings... He doesn't even show up.

I'm not his secretary.

I am a classically trained dancer.

I danced at Stuttgart.

I... was a prodigy of Cranko.

This man, he is disrespectful,

he is angry...

I think I'm gonna quit.

- You should definitely quit. - You're supposed

to talk me out of it.

There's no way I'm letting you quit.

I hate you.

- Whew! - Whew!

Hey, I say we keep this party going.

I know a club off Gilchrest

where we can have a real good time.

- Let's go. - All right, all right.

I think I am gonna...

call it a night, Don.

But you should go.

Celebrate.

I am...

a glorified gofer.

It has nothing to do with real dancing.

What do you want to do?

I don't know.

Okay. Hey.

Just know... okay?...

Whatever it is that you want to do,

we'll do that.

All right? You want to work Soul Train,

- let's do Soul Train. - Mm.

Want to open up your own studio?

I'm down like four flat tires, okay?

If you want to go back to Frankfurt,

I'll start learning German again.

Sag mir nur was du willst.

You are so silly.

Yeah. That's what my mama said.

But listen...

I will do whatever...

as long as I can do it with you.

- I really hate you. - Mm-hmm.

Well, I'll go if you go.

As much as I'd like to...

I'm good.

Jeffrey.

Don't you dare waste

all that talent on bussing tables.

You can close tonight if you want to.

It ain't many hours, uh, but it's all I got.

Now get back to bussing them tables.

I know you're in there, Andrea.

I need my money, okay? All of it.

Don't make me call the cops, Andrea.

Mr-Mr. Willard, what you doing?

- I need the rent, JT. - We paid the rent.

No. Check bounced, again.

40 days behind this time, man, and she changed the locks.

Look, I been good to y'all.

But I can't afford to not get my money, son.

It's okay. I'm coming.

Got $48. Get you the rest by the end of the month.

It's the last time, you hear?

She won't keep making a fool out of me.

Get me a key.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

It's okay. It's okay.

All right, all right. Shh.

Damn.

Mama, I got you.

Thanks, baby.

Hell no. Uh-uh. No.

Almost got my ass busted last time.

Just 15 minutes. Enjoy that.

Fifteen.

Mama, you think you can make it to one of our shows?

I got too much work to do to be running around somewhere

trying to hear some music I know nothing about.

- Hello. - Thank you.

May I speak to the wife of the luckiest man in the world?

Joe. I didn't think you were gonna call.

It's so close to you coming home.

Yeah, I haven't missed a call in 14 months.

I'll never miss a call.

- How you doing, baby? - As always,

surviving, missing you guys.

Daddy, I finished the song.

Hey, now, that's the best news I've gotten

- since I've been here. - Yep, I kept the melody,

changed the lyrics. It's a duet now.

JT thinks the bridge still needs work,

-but I feel like if we just added... -Oh, wha...

who's JT and how would he know?

You remember JT. Kendall's friend.

Speaking of Kendall, where is he?

Uh, he's at the library with Andy.

They have a big calculus test tomorrow.

- You got two minutes. - Someone's in a mood.

If you got the money for day care, my mood will change.

- Okay, I don't have the money.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. But I got this.

Kendall.

When I wanted to be together, you ran like un pequeño chico.

-And now that I'm with Marcos, you want to get married. -You don't love Marcos.

But I trust him. And he loves me.

You're right.

I want to be a real dad.

To Daniel.

You are Daniel's father.

And you'll always be my first.

Forget that money for day care.

Daddy, can you make Mama come hear us sing?

Oh, Bri, you better go hear your daughter sing.

I went to every one of your shows.

Least you can do is go to one of hers.

Oh, so you went to all her shows?

Every single one.

Fell in love with your mother when I heard her sing

"Summertime" at Tiny's Juke Joint.

You were that good?

- Mama, why'd you stop singing? - Okay, so this call

has 12 minutes left, and this is not how I want to spend them.

Bye, Daddy. Love you.

I love you.

Hey, baby.

Ah, I miss you so much.

He's short. Two large.

You hear that, Mikey? You short.

-What am I supposed to do with this? -Please, Gerald.

For the love of everything, don't kill me.

Calm down, Mikey. I ain't gonna kill you.

- Not if you get my money. - On my mama grave,

- I swear I will. - Get him out.

Oh, for cryin' out loud, you shat yourself?

Oh, geez, Gerald.

- It was an accident. - Okay, stop.

I see you again, you ain't got my money,

-I'll get it, Gerald. I promise. I promise. e I see y-Mm.Mikey.

Clean that shit up.

I did it.

I did it, I did it, I did it.

I got Gladys Knight.

- Mm. - Mm.

Mm. Every single Pip.

Well, I never doubted you.

Yeah, our life is about to change, Red.

- And I'm gonna give you the world.

Yeah, but first...

...Amtrak tickets.

Look, I know you hate to fly, so I got you Amtrak tickets.

Yeah, I mean it, Red, this-this is our dream,

and it's coming true.

I want my family out there with me.

But Don, how we able to afford this? I mean, the L.A. trip,

-the seed money? Baby, where did you get it from? -I only took a couple thousand.

You promised that you wouldn't touch that, Don.

I bet on me, I bet on me and I won.

We.

We won, baby.

Do you remember when you gave me your class ring

right before you went for Korea?

- Uh-huh.

Ooh, I was the happiest girl at DuSable High.

And I knew that I would, uh, that I would wait for you

and that we would get married.

That I'll love you for the rest of my life.

I knew then like I know now, Don, that, uh,

if you move to Los Angeles, if you live there,

baby, we won't make it.

Baby...

I'm not moving to L.A., Don.

I won't put the kids through that.

So what you saying, um...

-...that you want me to give up on my dream? -No.

I want you here with us.

But listen, you know what? Go to L.A., all right?

Okay? And then do the show and then come home.

Don, every week, come home.

Look, baby. Baby, you're worried about me with other women,

but don't be. Don't be, because I'm not gonna cheat on you.

-Yeah, well, it ain't never stopped you before, Don. -Damn it, Delores.

That was a long time ago. Either you forgive me or you don't.

Baby, I forgave you.

Don, I believe in you.

And I believe that you mean everything that you're saying.

But Don, I know what I know.

Red, look at me.

I love you.

I love you, baby, and those boys,

they mean everything to me.

But if I don't do this,

if I don't do everything in my power to try and make this work,

I won't make it.

Now, I've failed at everything that I've ever done.

I don't even make enough money to provide

for my own damn family.

- I'm suffocating, baby. - I know you are, baby.

I'm suffocating, and I can't...