Original subtitles

(theme music playing)

Oh, yeah.

(clattering)

(upbeat music playing)

Hey, hey.

What you doing roaming around the house

this time of night?

Nothing. I was just going to bed.

What was you doing down there?

Um, I had the light on earlier,

and I had to turn it off.

Oh. Oh.

Night, Uncle Bernie.

Good night.

What was she doing, America?

Sneaking out of the basement in the middle of the night.

Uh-uh. It wasn't like she was down there doing laundry.

I ain't that lucky.

That girl had to be up to something.

America...

(sniffing)

did you smell anything?

(upbeat music playing)

What's that noise?

(music stops) Jordan's showing me how to make music.

That's not what I heard.

It's my new music program.

It can make any instrument you want.

I want you to turn it off.

Aw, take five.

Thank you. He can't kill the music in me.

BERNIE: What?

(rattling door)

Nessa?

NESSA: One minute.

(clattering)

Whatcha got the door locked for?

Was it locked? I didn't realize.

You lock me out one more time,

I'll lock you in, okay?

Here.

Basement in the middle of the night;

locking her door.

So I already don't trust her, America,

but now she's really got me worried.

Oh, I went to this party, and Teri was there,

and I saw her, so I was, like, "Hey, what's up?"

And she was, like, "Oh, I'm getting ready to do a cartwheel."

And she had on this real long skirt,

and it was kind of tight.

So, um, anyways, she did a cartwheel,

and, um, what happened was,

when she went over, it split...

BERNIE: Look at her over there,

just laughing like a hyena.

Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee!

She's probably spaced out of her doggone mind.

Scarfin' down that pie.

Girl normally takes two bites,

and is looking for an excuse to get away from the table.

She hungrier than a hostage.

Her eyes are kind of glazy.

I'm keeping my eye on her.

Why-why-why are you eating like that?

You got the munchies?

I skipped lunch today. Why?

I mean, why--what made you skip lunch today?

They served chipped beef.

Um, can we be excused?

Yeah, of course.

WANDA: Pie is good, huh?

Did you see the way she was eating?

Yeah, she ate like she enjoyed the pie.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

She ate like she was high.

She ate like a junkie.

Come on. Now, see you're an enabler.

Nah, come on, Bernie. No, you're an enabler.

No, no, no. She's not even like that, and you know it.

You don't know what she like.

What? The people who you don't think is like that

be the people who be the one like that.

If you so concerned, go talk to her.

Cover me, America.

I'm going in.

(guitar strumming)

(guitar continues strumming)

Hey...

what the hell is that?

VANESSA: ♪ Me and my skateboard ♪

♪ Rolling down the boulevard ♪

♪ Smiling at people ♪

♪ Who all smile back at me ♪

America, she don't need to be hiding this.

Listen to her. She's great. Listen.

VANESSA: ♪ Life is never hard ♪

♪ I just love to be ♪

BOTH: ♪ On Ventura Boulevard ♪

What are you doing?

I'm just singing along with you.

What're you doing hiding down here by yourself like that?

I didn't know you could play like that.

It's private. Just leave me alone.

Hey, you know "Chain of Fools"?

I'm going to bed.

No, no, you don't have to go to bed.

I'm just teasing you, okay?

I'll go to bed, you stay down here.

But don't stay too long.

Hey...

you know, a lot of famous people

started in the basement like this.

(groans) James Brown did.

(imitates James Brown yell)

Ain't nobody started off on top

but me, Michael Jordan,

Bo Jackson, just a few of us.

Yeah, you know, ain't that-- ain't that many people

blessed like us.

'Kay?

Stage fright.

Now, that's cute.

Now, I can help her with that.

But the most important thing is,

she's taking after someone in her family.

Not just her mama, not just her uncle.

See, talent runs in our family, too.

Yes, sir.

If she gonna follow some footsteps after all,

it might as well be ours.

Her mother-- let me tell you, America,

before she got on that dope,

she could blow the silverware off the table

without moving the cloth.

Yes, sir.

She sang background. She sung in front.

She was powerful.

(upbeat music playing)

Why did you do this?

This Attack-Bernie- Mac Day or something?

Look, I spoke to the lady, and she said

that was the best guitar they had for beginners,

so I got it for you.

(scoffs) It wasn't bad enough that you were spying on me?

Now my guitar isn't good enough for you?

I didn't say that.

Just stay out of my business.

Why do you get angry about every doggone thing?

I'm the good guy this time, trying to encourage you.

So will you please open the door?

Thank you!

Nessa... I bought you this

because I really think you're talented.

Really?

Really.

Thanks.

So will you take this?

(sighs)

So, you really liked my song?

Girl... when I'm on Ventura Boulevard,

I'm just happy to be me.

I can't get the song out of my head.

That was cold.

This is just how I started, America.

I had so much I wanted to say, you know?

But my way was by telling jokes.

Now, Nessa, she found her way,

and I'm gonna make sure I do everything that I can

to encourage her.

You know, Isaac... Hmm?

you're an Academy Award-winning composer.

What would you do for a budding composer?

I'd have her quit school and pursue her craft.

Come on, now, I'm serious. Just kidding, Bernie.

You have to practice, practice, practice.

See? And expose her to all kinds of music.

Right. Everything from Isaac Hayes to Mozart

to the Oak Ridge Brothers. That's what...

Th-The Oak Ridge Boys.

I don't know. I don't listen to none of that stuff.

You a bad mother.

Shut your mouth. I'm talki'' about you.

Damn right. (laughs)

History in the making.

This is my buddy, Isaac Hayes,

and he came here to spend some time

and break it down like a fraction.

♪ Happy to be me ♪

♪ On Ventura Boulevard ♪

(clapping)

Nessa, that was good.

I'm serious.

You know what you should do?

You should perform in front of your classmates.

A talent show or something like that.

I-I'll throw it.

Are you crazy? No.

No way. My friends don't even know I play.

Well, why don't you do it in front of a...

audience you don't know, like a coffee shop

or something like that?

Why are you pushing me?

I said I don't want to.

Nessa, I guess I'm pushing you

because I never had anybody to push me.

Well nobody was interested in my comedy.

I said I wanted to be a comedian.

"You're not gonna be no comedian.

"Now, Richard Pryor's a comedian.

Now, he's funny." (goofy chuckling)

That's all I ever heard.

Nessa, I don't want you to go through that.

I want you to know I support you

and I believe in you.

But you wanted to be a comedian.

Yeah.

I don't know that I want to be a musician.

I'm just playing my guitar in the basement.

Yeah...

but you're good.

But you're my uncle, you have to like it.

Other people don't.

I'm just saying, if Nessa hear herself, Isaac,

if she just listen,

then she'll know how good she is.

I'm telling you, man, mind your own business, B.

Let the girl do her thing.

♪ Me and my skateboard ♪

♪ Rolling down the boulevard ♪

♪ Smiling at people ♪

♪ Who all smile back at me... ♪

♪ On Ventura Boulevard... ♪

That's Vanessa?

Yep.

Wow, she's good.

I told you, man.

Hey, could you clean it up a little bit?

Well, I can do better than that.

(adding bass and echo) ♪ On Ventura Boulevard... ♪

Hey...

I feel you, man.

I like that, Jordan.

I knew you would.

Can you put a little, like, some rhythm, some horns?

I feel you, but what about this?

(adding percussion) ♪ On Ventura Boulevard... ♪

Oh, man, I feel you, man.

That's gigantic, man.

That's funky. Mm-hmm.

Stank.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, man, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

Hey, you got Teddy Pendergrass on there?

Teddy Pendergrass? Yeah.

I feel you. Okay.

(upbeat music playing)

VANESSA: ♪ When I'm on Ventura Boulevard ♪

♪ Life is never hard ♪

Wow, she is starting to sound more and more amazing.

Shoot, sound like a Mac.

W.B.: Yo, hey, you think I can get a dub of that?

'Cause I know this girl in Inglewood, man,

who is a real chump for that folksy stuff.

What's going on?

Oh, hey, we're listening to your music.

Hey, you've got the sweet stylings, girl.

(scoffs) I can't believe this.

I know. It needs a kazoo. (chuckles)

How dare you change my music.

JORDAN: Me and Uncle Bernie, we made it old school.

Just think of us as your own personal wall of sound.

Bernie, Vanessa didn't know about this?

Not exactly.

I can't believe you recorded me behind my back.

I really didn't record behind your back, Nessa.

I just wanted to give you a chance

so you could hear yourself and see how good you are

so you won't be afraid to perform in front of people.

I'm not afraid. I just don't want to.

I used to be the same way.

You get over it, I'm telling you.

Don't you get it?

I'm not you.

JORDAN: I don't see what you're so upset about.

I mean, we made it better.

Ow! Nessa!

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

Oh.

I'm the one that made him do that.

Oh. Come on, Nessa, plea...

This is so humiliating. JORDAN: Ow!

You always have to bigfoot your way

into everything I do.

JORDAN: Ow! You know what, congratulations.

I'm never playing the stupid guitar again.

(Jordan groans)

Stupid.

Man, she slapped the taste out of your mouth, man.

You all right? (chuckling)

Down go Frazier. Down go Frazier.

JORDAN: Okay, Sanjay, I'm sending you over two files--

the original and the J-Man remix.

I need an expert musical opinion on which one's better,

and since you're first tuba in the band...

I'm talking funny?

Really?

Ow.

I got attacked by one of my artists.

Creative differences.

It's all part of the life, though.

Okay, I'm sending you over both

so you can tell which one's better, okay?

Okay.

VANESSA: ♪ On Ventura Boulevard ♪

Sending.

(funk music playing)

VANESSA: ♪ When I'm on Ventura Boulevard ♪

♪ Life is never hard ♪

♪ I just love to be... ♪

(song continues) This is quite the conundrum.

I find them both so appealing.

What's that crap you're listening to?

Jordan's sister.

That's Vanessa?

Oh, man.

(song continues)

Get lost.

But it's my room.

Okay. Ow!

Just let me know when you're done.

VANESSA: ♪ Springtime flowers growin' ♪

♪ Sunlight kissing everything ♪

♪ From mountain to sea ♪

♪ When I'm on Ventura Boulevard ♪

♪ Life is never hard ♪

♪ I just love to be, love to be ♪

♪ On Ventura Boulevard, on Ventura Boulevard ♪

♪ Happy, happy, to be me, to be me...♪

Hey, Vanessa, we heard your song.

Who do you think you are, India.Arie?

She is, like, so three years ago.

Hey! Don't you have some bitch convention to go to?

Whatever.

You okay?

I am gonna kill Jordan.

Did you get that e-mail, too?

Everybody got it.

I mean, it went around the school

faster than Maggie Henderson.

Great. I'm screwed.

No, I'm sure everybody'll forget about it by tomorrow.

♪ Your song really sucks on Ventura Boulevard ♪

(laughing)

No.

Uncle Bernie, Uncle Bernie. Uncle Bernie.

Hey, what happened to you, man?

(speaking incoherently)

BERNIE: Stop, stop, stop, stop. Slow down.

(inhales)

Good. Swallow, yeah.

(inhales)

"Vanessa hit..."

Nessa!

She did that? Uh-huh.

How many times she hit you?

One time.

She's strong.

Nessa...

Nessa, what I tell you about hitting your brother?

Jordan sent my song

out all over the Internet.

And now the whole school's making fun of me.

Wow, I'm surprised he's got any lips left.

Can you please just shut the door?

BERNIE: It's my fault. I apologize.

You do have a right to be angry at me,

but now the music is out there, and the people heard it,

so what's the difference?

One thing you got to understand is,

people are gonna like it,

some people are not gonna like it.

It doesn't matter.

But what does matter is as long as you like it.

And you can't be popping

your brother the way I showed you.

You can't put your hip into it like that.

That's for outside people.

You put your hip in it?

(chuckles)

Did he holler?

(chuckling)

(upbeat music playing)

Listen to that.

That's the sound of good parenting.

America, don't stop being nosy.

Keep your eye on your kid.

Be the bad guy.

Push 'em.

It'll pay off at the end.

Listen to that.

"On Ventura Boulevard."

Hey, Nessa.

Hey, come here.

I heard you down in the basement earlier.

Was you working on a new song?

Yeah, kind of.

Hey, you feel like playing it for us?

Oh, I don't know.

Come on. We're family.

We promise we won't put you on the Internet.

Come on, honey. She doesn't want to sing.

It's okay, Aunt Wanda.

Oh. No, we want to hear it, right?

(Jordan laughs)

Speak for yourself.

Watch it, boy.

You sure you want to hear this?

Of course we do.

Come on, we family, come on.

All right.

(upbeat music playing)

♪ You can lock your door ♪

♪ But it won't help ♪

♪ Boss man's comin' ♪

♪ And he don't respect you ♪

♪ Not your space ♪

♪ Not to mention your mind ♪

♪ And if you talk back ♪

♪ Lord help your black behind ♪

Sing the blues, baby.

♪ I got the bigfoot ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ I got the bigfoot blues ♪

♪ Mm-hmm ♪

(Bryana accompanies with kazoo) VANESSA: ♪ I say ♪

♪ B-I-G-F-double-O-T ♪

Bull! Some bull, I'm telling you.

She was singing about me.

Hey, that's a hit.

You know, I could record that myself.

Isaac, if you record that,

I declare 'fore the Lord,

there's gonna be a misunderstanding.

♪ I got the B-I-G F-O-O-T blues ♪

♪ The blues, the bigfoot-- ♪

♪ Not the pig foot-- but the bigfoot blues ♪

Yeah! This could make the charts.

(chuckles)

♪ Giving me ♪

♪ The bigfoot blues ♪

(applause)

(mumbling)

(laughs) And you were great, too, little mama.

That was a dig.

I like the last song better.

Well, it's like you said, Uncle Bernie,

not everybody's gonna like what I do.

What's important is that I like it.

Doggone, America, she's right.

It's not important that I like it, and I don't.

Talk about bigfoot this, bigfoot that.

It's plain disrespectful.

Disrespectful, I tell you.

♪ I got the bigfoot blues ♪

♪ I got the bigfoot blues ♪

I can't get that damn song out of my head.

SINGER: ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, Lord, have mercy ♪

♪ I can't get ahead, no way I try ♪

♪ Everything is out of pocket ♪

♪ Somebody do something ♪

♪ The brother's situation is abstract ♪

♪ Ain't that a bitch ♪

♪ Boy, 'cause somebody doin'... ♪

You still gonna stay for--for dinner?

Why you got to look that way

and all over that thing?

Bernie, I'm respecting the lady of the house.

She ain't here.

She's back there somewhere.

You sure want to look, too.

(laughter)

You want to roam like it ain't nothing.

MAN: And cut!

Captioned by Visual Data