Original subtitles

Back

then, there were mainly two choices for a

young man like me, the assembly line or

music. I know now that I was destined for

the latter. What I didn't know is that I

was living in the city, soon to be known

to the world. As the birthplace of Motown

Records, I remember it like it was

yesterday, the exact moment that singing

became the most important thing in my

life.

Otis, up here. Hurry

up, man.

Man, you're late. You already missed the

Chantels. Detroit, welcome to

the

somebody call me Moe, somebody call me

Joe Just remember speedo, how you'll

never take a song And now they offered by

the speedo, but I realize Mr.

And now they're gonna find the speedo

Till they call up

I want this one here. The Tony

Curtis. Uh, no, no, noOh, DA, that's the

one. I think with your head shape, you'd

want the New Yorker.

The Tony Curtis it is.

Man, it's the first. Now, the

longer you keep that in your hair, the

straighter it'll get.

And I thought y'all were singers.

Mama?

Mama, where are you?Wherever there's work

to be done. Ooh

You did it!

You like it?I'll let you know.

Here.

Look at your head.

I'm home. Look at this

place. Alan. I'll tell you about eating

your toys all around this house.

Boy, what the hell did you do?Looks like

you lost a bet. It's called the process,

Edgar. I know what it's called. I'm just

wondering. what he was thinking when he

got it. Well,

I like it.

Just decide it. Come on, sit down.

Help me. This better not be about that

singing mess. I kissed Butt to give

him an interview for the assembly line,

and this is the thanks I get. I'm

thankful. If you were, you'd go and wash

that out right now. Mama, tell him it

don't wash out. Then shave it off.

Honey, all the kids are wearing these

styles these days. Not any kids of mine.

And as long as he's living under my roof

and eating my food, he'll be living by my

rules. Now that can be changed. Where you

going?I'll tell you where I ain't going.

Otis. I ain't going to work on some damn

assembly line. That's for damn sure.

Otis! Show

respect.

I'm sorry, y'all. Especially you, Ega.

You always done me right. But

I'm a singer now.

And that's just the way it is. Let's

say Grace. Boom, bada

boom, bada boom I

know what

not to love you, dearOh, what a night.

Oh, what a night. Oh, what a night.

To kiss you

did. That's

why. I love you

so. I won't

forget all those things you have

told me.

I won't forget it, baby. Oh,

no, no, no, no

Chapter

two, you tell her. You never, never,

never, never, ever go to Biden. Chapter

three, remember the meaning of

romance. In chapter four, you break up.

But you give it just one last chance. I

wonder, wonder who

wrote the book of We need to learn some

more uptempo tunes. Now

we need to practice harder.

Most of all, we need him.

Right from the start, I was the

organizer. It seemed Al, Richard and

Pee-wee were always running off

someplace. I got the red socks. Yeah.

Hey, here y'all going. We're supposed to

be working on lyrics. Yeah, I got to work

the dairy with my dad, oh. We can't keep

singing the same old songs. We got to get

something new. There's a lot of

competition out here, you know. Hey, man,

check out Lamont. You think he's so cool

ever since he got signed. Who got signed?

Amant Dozier, man. Fox Records.

Man, why does everybody get signed with

us?How many times I got to tell y'all?

Because we ain't working hard enough.

Don't you go talking to me about work.

I'm the one who gets up for every morning

to go drive a milk truck. I'm not talking

about that kind of work.

All right. And you.

Hey, you.

Wait a minute.

Wait, wait, waitWhy don't you stop?I just

need to talk to you for a second. What's

the matter with you?Oh, come on, man. I'm

not going to hurt you.

Wait. Come on, man. Oh,

hold on for a second. Wait, wait, wait

Hey, man, you have got to calm down. I'm

Otis Williams, the Otis Williams and the

Siberians. Oh, man.

Shoot, I thought you was treble. You sing

with the voice masters, right?Yeah, well,

not no more, man. Well, it's your lucky

day. See, 'cause we happen to be looking

for a bass singer, and your voice knocks

me out. Yeah.

Hell yeah. what?You don't get told that

all the time?

So what'd he say?About what?About singing

wives. Oh, yeah, yeahBut it sure enough

ain't up to me.

Hello, Miss Franklin?And who might you be?

Uh-- Time's up. Wait, wait, ma'am, ma'am,

I'm Otis Williams. See,

and, well, I got this singing group. And

you want my Melvin. Well, I guess

that's what it comes down to. Now, you

know Melvin's already recording. Oh, oh,

yes, ma'am, got both of his records.

Let's name this group yours. Otis

Williams and the Siberians.

Listen, Otis, now,

my Melvin has always been just a little

too trusting with all these groups. Now,

how I know you different.

Ma'am, I'll tell you what.

If you'll promise to look after him, do

right by him,

then I'll think about it.

I promise to do my best, Miss Franklin.

Everybody calls me Mama Rose. You might

as well, too. Melvin, come

on out from behind that tree and zip up

that jacket. Yes, Mama.

Y'all come on in here and get something

to eat. Come on. Come on

Hey, girl, you know I'm talking to you.

Who are they?They

sound good.

I'll see you guys later, OK?

Bye. Bye.

Thanks, gentlemen. But we ain't done.

We've done enough.

All right. Come on, man, let's go to the

library. And I just have to finish up on

Saturday night. A date?

That's right. I can't.

Why?Josephine?

Yes, Mama?Think it's time for you to

bid your friend good night.

Good night, Mr. Williams.

Williams. nice of you to stop by.

Good night, Mr. Williams.

And a good night to you too, ma'am.

Mm-hmmSaturday.

Saturday. There's a

You're out there in Radio Land. If anyone

knows the whereabouts of Otis Williams

and the Siberians, tell them they got 10

minutes to come down. He said my name.

Yeah, yeah, right. He said your name. Once

again, send out an APV for one howling

Otis Williams. Come on down. He said my

name. He said your name.

Bones. He said our name. I mean, he wants

us to come down to the radio station and

that's. Somebody write down an address.

Oh, whoa, whoa. Write down the address.

1953 Cranebrook Ave. He said my name.

Joe. Hang up your name. Get us to the

station. Hey, man. Forget it. I got the

address. Just drop the girls, man. Joe's

house is on the way. We can drop them off

there.

go, man! Oh, come

on. Hey, hurry up, man. Hurry up. I can't

believe it. Come on, get us to the

station, Al. Al,

don't park in front. Shh, why never. Man,

we in a milk truck, that's why.

Shh, you happy?Beside myself, let's go.

Coming to you live from WCHB, it's most

definitely the Joltin J-O-E getting down

to the nitty in this Detroit city. And

now this one for Mr. Excitement, Jackie

Wilson. He's reap petite light on his

feet, and he wants y'all to be loved.

This cat's pillows never dry because he's

got lonely teardrops.

Don't tell me, Otis, right?Yeah, yeah,

hold on, Slip. Look, we got to get your

ass to the recording studio in 2 minutes,

35 seconds, and my ass back before

Jackie's last teardrop falls. Come on.

You want to go?Come on. That's

the window. Let's go, let's go. This is

the window. Come on.

Keep real quiet. Management doesn't like

it when I leave the show unattended,

especially if it ain't exactly station

business. I ain't trying to jolt myself

out of a job, know what I mean?Look at

here, look at here, look at here. Guess I

need to cop some chalk and milk on the

way back, huhAll that appearance will

fool you. A lot of records been cut down

here. Besides,Johnny May

always gets the job done.

Gotta go. Who's Johnny May?

I'm Johnny May. Johnny May Matthews, your

manager, producer, and promoter.

Now get on in here.

Hey, hey, hey, guys, let's get started.

All right, we ready. My group is here.

Miss Matthews?With all due respect, I'm

Onis Williams, and this is my group. Oh.

Excuse me. I thought y'all wanted to make

it in the music business. Well, yeah, but

you know, I-- Let me break it down for

you. You see, I've been watching you all

for some time now, and I think I can help

you make it. Starting May 8th, you could

be appearing at the Belle Isle Silver

Jubilee. May 12th, grand opening Milky

Chevrolet. May 19th,

opening act. For the Miracle

St. Stephen's Community Center. That's

what I'm talking about. Shall I go on?

Man, what you waiting for?Oh, shake her

hand. Shake her hand.

Come on. All

right. All rightWell, let's get

moving. Time is money. My money.

Oh, by the way,

I'm changing your name.

HmmOtis Williams and The Distance, take

one.

You know you make me want to

help you

Hey! Trying to make a record

down here.

From the top. Take

two.

You know you make me want to love you. In

the moon, in the evening, in the

nighttime, the right time, the right

time. I want to love you. Come on, come

on, come on now. Come on,

yeah, yeah, yeah

All right, oh, where's Al?I mean, 'cause

I'm starting to think he's gonna blow

this for us. He knows he's supposed to

meet y'all here, right?You bet. I only

told him about 50 times, and we go on

next. Y'all better hope they play it long

certain. Who's that?

Oh, hey, man. That's the Prime and the

Prime Mets. They're on right after us.

Man, I hope they don't sing as good as

they walk.

The dollar says he's been drinking, ho.

Hey, how y'all doing?I mean, you late.

That's a 50-cent fine. Bring it on.

Yeah, I'm here. Not singing these skinny

behind grouping to the ground.

Yeah, I'm talking about you. Cool it,

bones. I'm just telling it like it is.

What y'all call yourselves?Otis Williams

in the distance. And who's Otis?

That's me. Well, hello, Otis.

And I'm Josephine. Hi,

Joe. I'm Fleck.

This is Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson,

I'm Diane Ross. We're the Prime Mask.

And this is Carl Williams and Eddie

Kendricks. prime. Yeah, back to you,

Diane Hunt. You get to be so fine. Why

don't you mind your damn business?She's

spoken for it. So back off. Aren't you

a maker?You know, what I'll do if we just

cool out, all right?

We're cool. It's not the way it looks.

The Rumblers! In our

continuing tradition of showcases and

finances, folks see. Please help me

welcome to the stageOtis Williams

in the distance! Yeah! I

love you. Come

on! Come on Otis Williams in the

distance, and this is our newest single.

Come on. One, two, a one,

two, three, four.

You know you make

me

want to love you

It's all good. Yeah, but... You got

it. They're just standing there. What's

this?

When you think about me I wanna love you

with all my mind That sweet and

wonderful day I wanna make love to you

Smokey, he's got Barry Gordy with him.

Otis Williams

at the distance!

Top that.

Hey, hey, heyThat was great. Thanks, man.

All right.

The privates. Oh,

Mom, Mom. Oh, you all were wonderful.

You did it. Oh, honey, you

were so good. Oh,

just a little bit

Please, please, please, please Tell

me you're going to Just a little bit

Now your daddy don't mind

And your mommy don't mind If

we have another dance Yeah, just

go on one more

time

They're good. What?Shut up.

be all right.

Won't you place your sweet lips

to mine Won't you

say you love me

all the timeI am

just a little bit away Stay down Just

a bit Please, please, please, please Tell

me you're going to Just a little bit

Stay Hey, hey, there goes Barry Gordon.

Let's go. Stay, just a

little Come on, come on, come on

How you doing?Oh, couldn't be better,

Sir. I'm Mr. Mary Lordy,

right?Yeah, that's right.

The Otis Williams. Oh,

Otis. Hey, man, you guys are really good

out there tonight. Smokey better watch

out. Well, you know, it just isn't fair

how good we are. Do you know we've got

other songs?Pecos Kid. Bang.

Pecos Kid. Bang. Yeah, Pecos

Kid. Bang, bang.

Thanks. Excuse me, sir.

I just wanted to... Ohh This is Blue.

Hi, Blue. I mean, our base, Melvin

Franklin. I just wanted to say this is

such a great pleasure to finally meet you

because the things you're doing with

Motown are great. Thanks very much.

That's nice to hear, guys. Thank you. I

appreciate it, really.

Do you guys have a manager?No. Yes.

Well, you know, we haven't signed

anything yet. Yeah, it's complicated. You

know, kind of a friend of a friend and

family. If you guys ever figure it out,

here's my card.

Nice meeting you. It's our

pleasure, Mr. Gordy.

Card. Card.

Miss Matthew, you

like it?like it. Shoot, I love it. Otis

Williams and the disc, where'd you get it?

New York City, baby. Cut that deal when

RCA walked half a block down to Broadway,

paid for it. Cool cash. Go on, check out

the upholstery. Genuine leatherette. Hey,

hey, I said check it out. Not messing up.

So our record must be doing good, huhYou

tell me. Does this look good

to you?

So when's payday?Well, as soon as those

royalties start pouring in, baby. But

that's like our money right there, right?

I mean, can't we just, like, divvy that

up now?Fellas, I'd love to, but

we got bills to pay. What bills are those?

Well, promotion, for one thing. Airtime

don't come cheap, you know. Pom's got to

be greased. That's it.

What's with the third degree?Don't

y'all trust me?Oh,

oh, no, no, noSure we do.

Just trying to learn the business.

Well, learn it on your own damn time.

And don't be confusing my money with

money you ain't even earned yet. Y'all

ain't my only group. You know, as a

matter of fact, just just get out. Just

get out of my damn car. I don't know what

I was thinking about when there's a break

storm. I ain't just put a driving

headache. Just get on out. Yeah, but what

about the car?Ain't your car, I paid for

it. It says our name right there. Ain't

your name either, not no more, the car,

the name, it all belongs to me, the songs

too. Get on my damn nerves.

Can she do that, O?Can she take our name

like that?I don't know.

No money?I'm sick of this crap.

I quit. What?Quit?Oh,

just like that, Bones, you gonna up and

quit on me?Wait up,

Al. I'm with you.

Richard. The hell with it. Oh,

no, come on, Richard.

Damn! I mean, just like that, they're

just gonna up and quit on us, just

because they ain't getting paid. Yeah,

maybe they're right-o. I can't believe

you just said that, Blue.

We are not quitting.

We got a car.

Just don't have a group.

You hungry?I'm always hungry.

On the road

What's up, Oat?Better be good news,

'cause I can't take no more back. Well,

you best believe this is good news, man.

Who'd you get?Singer and Daniels. Yeah,

yeah, lay it on me. Paul Williams and

Eddie Kendricks, man. The Primes.

Well, once upon a time... What happened?

What you mean, what happened, Oat?These

cats are now available. I don't

know, Blue. I just don't like their

attitudes. Aw, now come on, Oat. Now, you

know they sing good, they move good, they

hungry. Just like us.

And they want to join our group. Now, I'm

telling you, O, I'm telling you, these

cats called me up begging to join our

group. You know what I'm saying?

Hey, y'all.

Hey. Hey, babe. Yeah?Well, you know,

practically. Now the point is, what harm

can one rehearsal do, right?

Hey, when you get done here, you can come

do my yard. It

was a joke, man. Hey, how y'all

be?Hey, how y'all doing?Hey.

Hey, so we heard y'all want to join our

group. Your group?Yeah. YeahI

thought you said they want to join our

group. Wow.

My man. Well,

what do you know?

Oh, come on, we can do better than that.

A one, a two, a one, two, three.

Oh,

mother Oh,

mother oh my Oh,

my

Wait, wait, wait, waitHold, hold, hold

it. Look, fellas, we we sound good. But

you know, just standing there and

snapping fingers is fine. You know, it be

some old cats. But see, we're young and

I'm kind of frisky. So we got to

move. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, yeah, yeahI mean, that's what I

thought. All right. So why don't you show

us what you got?All right. OK. All you're

doing is stepping back like this. 123 and

snap, snap. You got it like 123,

snap. Oh, Mama. Yeah,

that's it. Come on.

Go to your left. Go to your left. Lean

away. No, to your left. You got to do

your other left. Come on, man. We some

singers. I don't see why we have to

dance. Cosmo, look, we're just trying to

sell some sex here, man. So you gotta

move, all right?Besides, we gotta give

the folks something to watch why I'm

singing so sweet. Right. Oh,

man, it'll be piling up in here today.

Come on, Al, come on, let's get it

together now. Now back from the top. Pick

it up. Here we go, all right. Oh, mother,

oh, mother Oh,

mama, oh, mother

Hey!90 rehearsing in my house.

Dinner's

ready. How you

doing?How you doing?Lord, have

mercy. If y'all ain't five of the

handsomest men in Detroit,

y'all don't even need to sing. Just

parade back and forth.

Now we had a group. Eddie and Paul

turned out to be just what we needed. And

Al, who quit almost every week, was

excited too. And here it was,

the Hitsville building, home of Motown

Records. Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, the

Miracles, the Marvelettes. It was too

much. Well, they're here.

Melvin, y'all hook up with the Primes.

Yeah, it looks that way, don't it?Man,

y'all gonna kick some assWhat you calling

yourselves?The Elgins. The Elgins.

Like the wristwatch?Yeah.

Cool. Well, good luck. All right,

thanks.

Who were they?Oh, that's, uh, Jimmy

Ruffin and his little brother, David.

They both cut solo records. Motown?No,

no, man. But they're hoping.

I'm going.

Mr. Gordy's in recording session. He'll

have to get back to you.

Excuse me, Mortis Williams.

Hi, Martha Reeves. Mr.

Gordy's expecting my group for an

audition. Group name?

Well, he knows it says the distance, but

now we go by the Elgins. Like the

watch?Wait here.

Hey, so, what'd they say?They said to

wait outside and come up with a new name.

New name?Oh, damn.

Yes. Thank God. No, look, look, Blue,

don't worry about it, all right?What

we'll do, put our heads together, just

come up with a new name out here.

The Edsels. The Pontiacs. The

Colvains. Uh, no, no, no

The Radicals. Nah. The

Spectacles. Testicles?Uh,

probably not. Yeah, sorry.

The hearses. The undertakers?

The stiffs. No, no, no, guys, guys,

look. It's gotta be something forbid,

you know?Something that everyone wants,

but no one can have.

It's gotta be something sexy.

Yeah, yeah, snap those shoulders up.

That's okay. Hey, y'all.

They're ready for you. All

right, guys, let's do it. Hey, hey, we

can't leave nothing to chance.

Lord, we call on you to give us the faith

and the courage to make the most of this

great opportunity that you've given us.

Amen. Yeah, amen, man. Now let's

do it.

So, you guys come up with a name for

yourselves yet?

The Temptations.

Temptations.

Not bad. Not

bad at all.

Okay, gentlemen, let's hear it.

Oh,

mother, oh, mother of

mine.

I've been blind. So

blind. The things that you tell

me, yeah. I paid, I really paid it,

no mind. Oh, please, oh,

please forgive me, yeah. I

know I was wrong.

But now, now I know

my place, my place is at home. Can't you

see I've been crying.

Almost dying. Almost, almost dying.

Oh, Mother. Please,

Mother. Please,

Mother. Come on and tell

me now. You

don't understand.

You said

that you

weren't

wrong.

Well, did you like it?

No. I

loved it.

I loved it. Huh

Yeah.

Congratulations, guys. Welcome to Motown.

Thank you. My pleasure. Thank

you, son. Yeah.

Yeah! Hey, hey, hey Got, got, got! Hold

up, hold up, hold up, hold up, hold up.

Yeah, invitations. Forever.

Yeah. Forever, baby.

Joe.

We got it. Motown signed us. Berry Gordy

said he loves us. What's the

matter?Otis, I'm

pregnant.

Don't worry about anything.

Everything's gonna be fine.

So I became an instant family man. My son

Lamont arrived right on schedule. If

only our careers had happened as fast.

Oh ohh yeah, I like that. To my paradise

Baby, to my paradise I got it. Come

back

To my paradise

Baby, to my paradise

The Temptations became part of the Motown

machine. Berry Gordy's Assembly Line

approached to artist development. We had

vocal coaching from Maurice King and

countless sessions in Motown's Studio A

with an in-house band known as the Funk

Brothers. Berry Gordy himself

wrote and produced most of our first

records. Now we

go wrapping my arms

again And there was choreography by

legendary dancer, Charlie

Atkins.

Paul and Charlie didn't always

agree.

Probably the most unique part of the

whole operation was the quality control

meetings. Barry borrowed this from his

days working at the Ford plant. He would

gather key executives, songwriters and

producers together. and every record

would get voted on for its hit potential.

For the longest time, it

seemed we couldn't even get a record that

they thought was good enough. Who thinks

it's a hit?Okay. If

you were down to your last dollar, would

you buy this record or a sandwich?

Sandwich.

What's next?

I want a love I can see

That's the only kind that means a thing

to me Don't want a love

you have to tell me about

That kind of loving I can sure do

without I can sure do without

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Smokey Robinson was the next to take up

the challenge. And we knew we had a hit.

All right, who thinks it's a hit?

As good as it was, it wasn't good enough.

You didn't even make the charts.

Two years had passed, and we were

starting to beknown as the Hitless

Temptations. Don't worry, y'all. Next

record'll make it. I hope so, 'cause I'm

starting to wonder. Lane, I know this was

a doggone with a ton from the get-go. Why

we rehearsing on Christmas?If any of

y'all had this sense, you're gonna find

yourselves a real job, too. Merry

Christmas. Once again, there he goes,

being a jerk.

Once again, man, you know, he's right. I

mean, I can't afford one baby, man. Here

I am about to have my fourth. Come on,

Paul. I know it's gonna get better. I

don't see how. And if Smokey and Barry

can't write us a hit, then maybe it's not

the songs. You

know what I'm

saying?Oh, hey, look at it this way. I

mean, we ain't got nowhere to go but

up. See, now that's what I'm talking

about, y'all. See, I feel it. We're all

gonna be big stars.

Happy New Year!

Man, you guys hear that?Let's go back out

there. Oh, they're loving this. They're

loving this. I say we go right there. OK,

let's sing. Let's sing. Cha. Man, we

ain't going back out there. And

why not, Bones?We just got done singing

on Lane Zion. Hell, I'm tired. No, look,

man, it is not often that we get asked

out for an encore. So we got family out

there. We got friends out there. Hell,

man, our boss is out there, man, and he

wants an encore. So I feel like singing.

All right?We all feel like singing. I

said I'm tired. Boy, then I'm so sick

of your crap. I'm not nearly as sick as I

am of yours. As a matter of fact, man,

don't say nothing else to me. But why is

it that you always have to be so

negative, huhHow?Why is that?Let

me, let me see if I can explain it to

you. What's

wrong with you, man?Come on. Come

onCome onThat's it. You're out.

He's gone. He's gone. You told me I'm

fine, Eddie. I'm all right. I'm all

right. You out the group. Or you ain't

gonna just find me 50 Cent?That's it.

You're on your own.

Fuck

Well

You know you make me wanna shout Kick my

heels up and outThrow my head back and

now Throw my head back and now Come on

now, don't forget to say you will Don't

forget to say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah Say you will Say

it right now, baby Say you will

Come on now, say that you love me

Come on now, say that you want me

Ladies and gentlemen, Shimmy Ruffin!

still remember

I want you to know

I want you to know

You've

been

good

My baby brother David Ruffin!

Come on!

I got my woman. I feel old.

Every time I think about you, you feel so

good to me. You know you make me want to.

Shouts up my head bumpers out. Go my

head, bumpers out. Click my head, bumpers

out. take it easy, take it easy

Shop, take it

easy Shop Come on

now A little bit soft enough A little bit

soft enough A little bit soft enough A

little bit soft enough A little bit soft

enough A little bit louder now A little

bit louder now A little bit louder now

A little bit louder now A little bitlouder

now

David, this is your third, right?I ain't

really ate nothing since last year.

That's a good one. Last year. You got a

point. Smoke cornbread for me, Mama. Now,

how come that don't surprise me?And you

know what his nickname is, don't you?

No, that's not why they call you

cornbread, is it?You ain't never seen a

skinny guy eat that much stuff. Oh, man,

talk about hungry. I used to know these

families down in Birmingham. They used to

eat this clay for dinner. No, I'm

serious, man. No, they used to eat Red

River clay, man. They used to have

some of that down in Mississippi, too.

Wasn't too bad with some hot sauce.

Where in Mississippi?Down by Meridian.

Oh, yeahYou know, we are from down south.

Really?Yeah. I

just really want to sing with y'all.

Well, there's gonna be a whole lot of

singing. And we have some rules.

Hope not too many, 'cause I ain't too

good with rules. Why not?

Well, my mama was some pimp, some money.

Instead of paying up, she gave me the

hymn. He had a whole lot of rules,

too. Break any one of them, the strap

came out.

Seems like most times strap just came out

in his own new. Well,

we don't have no straps, and what rules

we do have are meant to help keep us

chugging straight ahead. Can you dig it?

Sounds cool to me. Real cool.

Give me a shot. Hey,

how you

doing?Damn. Good show tonight, David.

That was bad. You want to know bad?

David's in the group now. He's at

Temptations. Temptations.

Congratulations. Come on, Smokey, baby.

Sit down, eat. Oh, no time. Mama got

Claudette waiting in the car. I just

stopped by to say, have I got a song for

you. So I want to get what you catch as

soon as possible. You dig?Yeah, we can

dig it. We can dig it. Well, Happy New

Year. All right, baby. Give all that a

kid. Y'all be

careful out there.

Temptations.

Temptations.

Yeah. It was the new year, and for the

first time, we had the right combination

of singers. We had been rehearsing that

song Smokey had written for us for almost

two weeks, and we all liked it a lot.

It was a cold, crisp night. And I

remember looking up at the four of them

and thinking, This is it.

This is the night that's gonna change

everything.

You got a smile so bright

You know you could have been a candle

I'm holding you so tight

You know you could have been a handgun

The way you swept me off with me

You know you could have been a broom

The way you smelled so sweet

You know you could have been some perfume

Well, you could have been

anything that you wanted to And I

can tell The way

you do the things you do

As pretty as you are.

You know you could

have been

a flower. You know

Daddy's on the radio, baby. How you

doing, baby girl?Hey, you heard it, huh

Yeah. Check it out. Number

76 with the bullet.

The way you do the things you do, hit the

charts just in time for the next

Motortown Review tour. One of many we

would be on. You gonna

call me now?I'm gonna call you every

night. Promise.

Let's go, let's go. Come on, I gotta get

on the bus. All right, you know I love

you, right?Give this to the kids. One,

two, three, and four. We love you.

Love you, too. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.

Love you, Lamont. Bye-bye. Aside from the

fact that we had to leave our families

behind for a whole month or more, these

tours were fun. Sometimes a whole lot of

fun.

All the Motown acts would go out in these

stores, maybe 567 at a time.

Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes,

Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, The Miracles,

everyone.

Mr. Gordy made sure we were properly

chaperoned, and I'm sure they did their

best and all, but, well, let's just say

they couldn't be everywhere.

We open up the birthday and put it on.

It's too complicated. No, it's not. It's

not, man. I like that. What do you mean

complicated?You're not doing it?

No, look. You know, you could have been

some birthday. You could

have been anything that you wanted to And

I could tell The

way you do the things you do

As pretty as you thought

You know you're gooder than a flower And

good looks was a minute We traveled

all over the South. Many of us had left

as kids and had forgotten what it was

like family. Seeing that rope was a

harsh reminder that things hadn't changed

much. Baby, you're

so smart You

know you're gooder than a schoolboy

Oh, what you

trying to do?Can

you hold

it real steady?

Okay.

Get your free to ride her asses back out

and armed.

I got something for your assesI got

something for you. Easy, easy. Hey,

David, get back here. What's going with

you, David?You don't got no gun. Come on,

everybody, everybody, get back here. Come

on, man. Get on the bus, just get on the

bus. Hey, they might come back, come on.

When we went on tour again, my marriage

was in a lot of trouble. Life on the road

was having this effect on all of us,

especially Paul.

She has a way By

the time we went back down south,

hallelujah, the rope was gone. I like to

think our music had something to do with

bringing the folks together, but

all I know, it was a wonderful sight. The

girl's all right with me You

know the girl's all right The girl's all

right with me You know

the girl's all right

She's so good to me

I guess that's why I feel fancy to be

Just to see the flow in her eyes

Makes me once again realize I

love her with all of my heart And I

know I'll never, never bomb I've

never heard about the food plane

I guess that's why I'll always hear these

sameYou know the girl's all

right The girl's all right

with me You know the girl's

all right

We're ready to go. I'll

be there in a second.

Something wrong?No.

Nothing's wrong. First time,

everything's ready.

First time in my life, I belong to

something that's ready.

Well, it's just the beginning.

It's just the

beginning.

Let's go. We got a few minutes before the

show. I want to go over this song I got

laid out for you. OK. I wrote this one

for David, Eddie. We're

going to start this off with AC. We're

gonna jump. There's no music. I've

got it's gonna open up

on.

When it's cold outside, I've

got the mandolin. Yeah,

keep it nice. Now here's a change up

during the chorus. I guess you

say what

can make me feel

this way. All

right, so we'll

start it off. I've gotten and

I'll take us back to church.

Ohh

Yeah, I'm going to have whatever you--

let me get out there.

All right, man. Let me have one

with-- give me something

back on it, huh

Yeah, I don't need

no money. What to pop in. I've

got all the bitches

baby.

One man can play.

Well, I guess

you say, what

can make me feel this way?

Maggie, Maggie, Maggie.

I've

got sunshine on a crowded day with

my girl. I've

even got the maccafe with my girl.

Success brought much more than any of us

bargained for. We were working non-stop,

rehearsing, recording, touring, not to

mention radio promotions, press

interviews and photo sessions. That's why

we were happy to finally relax at the

annual Motown picnic.

Whoever said success makes you the person

you really are must have had David in

mind, because he started to become

someone none of us recognized.

Yeah, it's mighty funny how he could show

up here but miss all them rehearsals, huh

Who's that guy with?I don't know. Must be

his driver. I don't know, man. You mean

his valet. Well, well,

wellWelcome to the festivities. Hey,

David. Hello, y'all. Hey, Mr.

Terrell. Look at his spine as well. You

too, baby. Oh, man. Mr. Terrell. Hey,

Tammy. How you doing, little man?Hey,

Tammy. How you doing?How you doing?I'm

all right. Yeah, I'm gonna go get

something to eat. You want something?Nah,

I'm okay. Don't take too long, baby.

Yeah. Thanks. So you gonna take Lamont

over to the sack races like you promised?

Sack races, like I promised. Sack races!

Come on, you promised! Take it on away.

All right. Don't do family thing now.

Win something.

How you doing, man?It's a pleasure to

finally meet you. I'm Flynn.

Flynn, all right. Nice to meet you.

I'm Flynn. Flynn who?

It's just Flynn. Yeah. Flynn's my man.

Hey. How are you?

Enjoying this picnic.

Go get that bitchAll right.

How y'all doing?Flynn, nice to meet you.

Listen, David wants to talk.

Excuse me. David. Hey, hey, heyDavid, can

we talk to you for a second?Yeah, about

what?Well, about rehearsal.

What about Tammy?Tammy?Yeah.

What about Tammy?Why don't you go easy

with Tammy?You know what I'm supposed to

do?Let her flirt with every man in the

park?Baby, you know how women are. She

just needs some attention, that's all.

Yo, I don't trust no one. Baby, the

problem is you need to show her some

respect. Y'alls is Mama's

boys, and you don't know nothing about me

and women. Excuse me.

Oh, ohWhat's

up, David?All right, definitely,

definitelyWe out of here, OK?Where are we

now?Yeah, we got here.

Where are we now?We

just got here, David.

Trying to embarrass me out here in front

of those people.

If I have to beg and plead for your

sympathy, I don't mind, 'cause it

means that much to me. Ain't too proud to

beg. And you know who it is. Whoo!

It love when I do that movie, don't they?

Yeah, man.

Hey, fellas, how you doing?

Treats, baby.

Flynn, whatever your name is,

you need to go.

OK, Dave,

leave your boys a little sunshine. Why

don't you take that little sunshine along

with you?We're

gonna be friends. Good friends.

I'm too proud.

Boy, Norman just kept whipping us and

whipping us the other day, huhI don't

think I can get any better, though. That

ain't the way I see it.

Oh, yeah?Well, hit me up.

Well, for one, you missed a very

important meeting. Not to mention our

last few sessions, and I'm not even gonna

count the rehearsals. And it's probably

because of all this crap you keep shoving

up your damn nose. Well, maybe I don't

need as much rehearsal as some other

folks. David, you just can't go on.

What you got to say, Blue?

That's right, Otis. Whatever you say,

Otis. Now, David, it's like this. Either

you gonna straighten up,

or we letting you go.

Blue.

Are you all right with that?I'll miss

you, but not if you're hurting the group.

Hurting the group?I'm the best that ever

happened to this damn group. Nobody's

bigger than the group. Y'all ain't

stupid. I'm the

one selling the records. They coming to

see me. They coming to see the

Temptations. Ain't nobody coming to see

you, Otis. You wish you could work it the

way I do, but you can't,

'cause there is only one David Ruffin.

And without him, the temps ain't

nothing but a group in search of a David

Ruffin. Matter of fact,

I've been thinking we should call the

group David Ruffin and the

Temptations. Yeah, that

sound good to me. You're begging

me not to leave you, and I

refuse to let you go.

Yeah. Steve Ruffin

and the Temptations. Hmm

What do you say?

That ain't never gonna happen.

Then I'm going.

Fellas. Fellas, you know I was just

kidding, right?Come on, you know me, you

know I'll always be kidding. Yo, fellas,

we successful now. Lighten up, you're too

uptight. Enjoy the fruits. I'm

gonna see you in rehearsal. I'm gonna be

there all the time. I'm gonna be there

before y'all.

Bye. Thanks for coming over. They

tickle me, they believe me.

I'm talking crossover, gentlemen.

Crossover. And I'm talking about

broadening our scope, getting you out in

front of the mainstream white

audience. Now, I

brought somebody in from LA. They're

gonna manage both you and the Supremes.

Rebecca, send Shelly in, please. Thank

you. So, what's he gonna do?I'm

gonna let him tell you himself.

Gentlemen, say hello to your new manager,

Shelly Burger.

Otis. Shelley. It's a pleasure.

Melvin. How you doing?It's a pleasure.

Paul. All right. Eddie. I'm a

huge fan, fellas. David's feeling a

bit under the weather. Couldn't be here

today.

Shelley, why don't you explain the plan

to the guys?The plan, gentlemen, is to

get you on all the major television

shows, your own specials. Theater in the

Round, Las Vegas and the

Copacabana. How are you going to do that?

Mr. Gordy's approved a four-week tour

with The Supremes, and then we cut a new

album. An album with standards.

Standards. Talk the middle of the road,

white bread America stuff. Burt Bachrach,

Man of La Mancha, Henry Mancini. What's

this album supposed to do besides piss

off our fans?It gets us to the

Copa, Paul. And that

opens the door to all the rest. Well,

sounds like great money to me. Listen,

guys, this is a major step for you

and for Motown. Look, look, what's what's

so wrong with what we're doing now?I

mean, hell, we're the biggest-- Biggest

black group in the business. Yeah,

what's wrong with that?Nothing.

We're talking about being the biggest

group, period. The

biggest group in the world.

So what do you think?

Right now, I really don't think it

matters much what I think. Gordy says

he's gonna put a lot of money in this

project. Come on, Cornett, it ain't about

the money. I mean, look, our music,

that's who we are. Hell, man,

radio made us. Look, do you really think

that the Jocks are gonna actually get

behind a bunch of sellouts?Come on, man,

come on. Why don't you give it a chance?

The Mellow Mood album did what it was

supposed to do. We made it to the Copa.

At least, most of us did.

Where the hell's Ruffin?You tell me,

because I don't know. Blue, how much time

we got?Like two minutes. This is getting

old.

Otis! Mel.

Fellas. Where's David Flynn?Ah,

we gotta talk. No, we don't need to talk

to you. Maybe before. Before what?

Before I became David's manager. Manager?

What the hell are you talking about?Where

is he?Y'all going on as David Ruffin in

The Temptations?He's right here. You

know, you tell David. Are we going on

with or without him?

So that's a no?That would be a get-out.

I'll be thrown out.

Okay. It is

it. I have had it, but it's great. I

know, I know, I know, I knowWe got too

much coming up. We need David.

What?

Never met a girl who makes me feel

the way that you do. You're all right.

Whenever a master makes my dreams

real, I said that you do. You're out of

something. Sophie, five,

fold down. Look out,

baby, 'cause here I come.

Offering you a love is true, so get

ready, so get ready.

I'm gonna try to make you love me too So

get ready 'cause here I come Get ready

'cause here I come

I'm on my way

And I'm praying your love is too So get

ready, so get ready I'm

gonna try to make you love me too So get

ready, so get ready 'cause here I come

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very

much. I'm David Ruffin, and

these are The Temptations.

Your love is fading I can feel your

love fading God is

fading away from me

'Cause your touch, your touch has gone

coldAs if someone else

controls your very soul

I've fooled myself long

as I can I can feel the presence

of another man If there should be my

name It's just not the same

Woo, baby, I'm losing you

It's in the air It's

everywhere Ooh, baby,

yeah, I'm losing you

When I look into your eyes

A reflection of my face and

eyes I'm happy, I'm hoarded And what

a girl All that she doesn't belong to

me Oh, it's all on your

face Someone's taking my place Oh, little

girl, I'm losing you You're trying hard

to hide

In a day you'll be gone Oh, oh,

yeah I'm losing you Oh, my dear What

happened to the mother

shed?Losing you Oh, I'm losing you

Did you see Barry Gordy stand up and go,

Yes, David, yes, David! Oh, my goodness,

you should've seen their faces when I

laid it on them. I am Mr. Ruffin's

manager, and he ain't going on. They

almost wet they pants. Oh, is his face

pitiful?Pitiful.

And you ain't even being unreasonable,

baby. Martha Reese and the Vandellas.

Uh-huhSmokey Robinson and the Miracles.

Of course not. Junior Walker and the All

Stars. Hey, David Ruffin and the...

What's their name?

David's history. Now, wait a second. Now,

you think about this. Think about it?Get

your stuff together, Mel.

But you're flying on a big hate. Look,

man, David is a big pain in the butt okay?

So he is out. This ain't the way we do

things. We have to vote. All

right. Don't vote, he's gone.

I say he stays. Paul.

Look, I say... Look, hell, I say he goes,

okay?So he's out. Mel

ain't said.

We're going. Tell him, Mel.

I ain't so sure. I mean, it's a big step,

you know?We made the goal. We can't let

him break us apart. Look, I'm not saying

that he didn't mess up, right?But

David has always been David. I mean, you

know that. Yeah, and you know he don't

give a damn about nobody but David.

Finish the damn vote, Mel.

In or out?

David. I

need your ass please. Are

you crazy?I'm sorry. Y'all are

stupid. David, please. Get off me. Y'all

ain't nothing without me. I've made your

assesYou can't fire me.

Do you hear me?Do you hear me?

Y'all can't do me like this.

You are faithful, son of a bitches

So now