("Nearness of You" by George Shearing Quintet playing)
♪ It’s not ♪
♪ The pale moon ♪
♪ That excites me ♪
-(car horn honks in distance) -(traffic passing)
♪ That thrills ♪
♪ Or delights me ♪
♪ Oh, no ♪
♪ It’s just the nearness of you ♪
♪ It isn’t your sweet ♪
(quiet chatter)
♪ Conversation ♪
♪ That brings ♪
♪ This sensation... ♪
All right, gentlemen.
Why don’t we take one from the head.
Keep it nice and smooth.
♪ It’s just the nearness of you ♪
♪ When you’re in my arms ♪
♪ And I feel you so close to me ♪
♪ All my wildest ♪
-(hands clap, fingers snap) -See ya.
(elevator bell dings)
♪ Dreams ♪
♪ Come true ♪
♪ Mmm ♪
♪ I need no soft lights ♪
♪ To enchant me... ♪
Y’all aren’t about to begin, are you?
-You have a few more moments. -Thank you.
Oh, Mona.
-♪ Oh, no... ♪ -(song fades)
Robert.
Robert Halloway.
("Fools Fall in Love" by The Drifters playing)
Hey, boys!
Breakfast is served!
-All right. -(Buzzy chuckles)
CARMEN: If you’re hungry,
there’s some butter right there.
-BUZZY: Thanks, Carmen. -ROBERT: Thank you, Carmen.
-You’re welcome, baby. -Pass the salt.
Oh. Gentlemen, gentlemen.
-Morning. -Morning. -Morning. -Morning.
-Hey, what time’s the gig tonight? -DICKIE: 9:00.
I need to find a record store to pick up Monk’s new side.
Newk’s on it.
Well, ain’t no record stores around here.
You’re gonna have to go to Harlem.
CHICO: Hey, you mind if I tag along?
Got to cop me some new kicks.
Soles on these are so thin,
if I stepped on a sandwich, I could feel the mayonnaise.
-(others chuckling) -CARMEN: You’re a nut, Chico.
♪ Playing it cool ♪
-♪ I used to laugh... ♪ -MR. JAY: See? See?
There’s nothing wrong with this fan.
(fan clatters)
Come on, good fan.
-Talk to me. -(TV playing quietly)
Daddy, that fan is broken.
That’s why it was out on the street.
See, now, now, that’s what you said
when I found that TV set you’re watching, too.
-And it had a perfect picture. -Yeah, with no sound.
And what’d I do?
BOTH: Found another TV that only has sound.
Right. That’s right.
Know what you call that? Call that ingenuity.
That’s called cheap is what it’s called.
(laughter, chatter over TV)
-(knob clicks) -(TV sound mutes)
Daddy.
Sylvie, it is a beautiful summer day out there.
(stammers)
Wouldn’t you rather be outside with Mona or something?
Mm-mm.
I want to be here spending time with you.
Well...
I’ll be in my office.
-I’m gonna get this fan to work. -Please.
(knobs clicking)
(laughter over TV)
(door opens, closes)
ROBERT (voice-over): Carmen said it’s up here, right?
Uh-huh.
(drumsticks clicking, banging rhythmically)
Great googa mooga, look at all that sugar.
Hey, how you doing?
You know the lighter the roast, the stronger the coffee, right?
-(woman chuckles) -Chicago Sweetney.
Where you going? Want to go this way?
♪ ♪
(TV playing quietly)
♪ ♪
-(door opens) -(bell jingles)
(door closes)
LUCY (over TV): Yes, ma’am.
WOMAN (over TV): Let her roll!
-ROBERT: Excuse me, miss? -(audience laughter over TV)
You got Thelonious Monk’s "Brilliant Corners"?
It’s in the bebop section
between Charlie Mingus and James Moody.
Thanks.
Mm-hmm.
LUCY: What are you doing up here?
I thought you were downstairs boxing chocolates.
-ETHEL: Oh, they kicked me out of there fast. -LUCY: Why?
ETHEL: I kept pinching them to see what kind they were.
-(audience laughter) -(Sylvie laughing)
This is the fourth department I’ve been in.
LUCY: Oh? I didn’t do so well either.
WOMAN: All right, girls.
Now, this is your last chance.
If one piece of candy gets past you
and into the packing room unwrapped, you’re fired.
-(Sylvie chuckling) -(Robert clears throat softly)
-WOMAN: Let her roll! -(audience laughter)
-(bell dings) -ROBERT: All set. -Oh.
That will be three dollars.
Um, how much is the discount if you work here?
We’re not hiring.
-Well, this sign says you are. -(chuckles)
You see... (sighs)
my fiancé is over in Korea,
and my mother won’t allow television inside the house,
so I have to come here to Daddy’s store every day
to watch my shows until Lacy comes home and we get married
and I can finally have a TV of my own.
-Oh. (chuckles) -(stammers)
But my mother, Eunice Johnson
of the Eunice Johnson School of...
School of Etiquette and Manners.
-SYLVIE: Uh-huh. -Mm-hmm.
She has some of the finest young ladies
from the best families in Harlem attend her schools,
so she has a certain image to uphold
and therefore doesn’t want people to think that I’m here
because Daddy can’t afford to hire help.
So that’s why we put the sign in the window,
-even though we don’t need anyone. -Mm-hmm.
MR. JAY: Sylvie?
-Yes, Daddy? -What’s going on out there?
SYLVIE: It’s just somebody about the sign again.
Happens a lot. (chuckles)
Uh, hello, sir.
What’s your name, boy?
Robert.
Robert Halloway, sir.
(softly): Hmm.
MR. JAY: Well, Mr. Robert Halloway, sir...
-Oh. -...you’re hired.
Come back tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.
Yes, sir.
Baby, you need to find something else to do
this summer besides watching these TVs all day.
Uh-huh.
-♪ Fools give their hearts ♪ -(clears throat)
♪ Much too soon... ♪
(door closes)
So...
how much is this with my discount?
It’s on the house.
See you tomorrow.
-Thanks. -Mm-hmm.
-♪ Fool. ♪ -(door opens)
(Sylvie chuckles)
-(bell jingles) -(door closes)
(muffled jazz music playing inside)
-(car horns honking) -(traffic passing)
(swinging jazz music continues)
♪ ♪
(song ends)
(crowd cheering)
DICKIE (voice-over): Hey, Sonny. Two J.W. Dants.
-These are on The Countess. -Who? Miss Ann over there?
SONNY: Yeah.
DICKIE: Come on, Bobby.
("A Kiss to Build a Dream On" by Louis Armstrong playing)
Good evening.
And thank you for the drinks.
I’m Dickie Brewster and this is Bobby Halloway.
Genevieve.
My friends call me Genie.
-Genie, huh? -(chuckles)
You grant wishes, too?
Oh, of course.
But only if you rub my lamp just right.
Mm. Thank you.
Do sit down.
So, B-flat.
You’re the genuine article, aren’t you?
I noticed you were playing quintuples in 5/4 time.
That’s quite an innovative way
to experiment with a non-common time signature.
Thanks.
I’m having, uh, some friends over
on Friday night, my place.
Sort of an impromptu jam session.
I would love it if you could drop by.
The Dickie Brewster Quartet will be there.
Actually, we have a late set on Friday.
Oh, we’re a nocturnal bunch.
I’m sure we’ll just be getting started.
Until then.
Till then.
♪ Babe, give me... ♪
♪ Darling, you send me... ♪
Favorite...
...song from a movie.
"The Man That Got Away" from "A Star Is Born."
-Oh. -(chuckles)
Okay.
Favorite song from senior year of high school.
"C’est Si Bon," Eartha Kitt.
-Mm. -(chuckles)
Favorite song to...
mess around to.
I am not answering that.
(Mona laughs)
Well, if old Eunice hadn’t caught you
messing around with Lacy,
you wouldn’t be getting married in the first place.
Tell me about this new boy at the store.
Is he cute?
I didn’t really notice.
That much.
(squeals)
(laughing)
(volume increases): ♪ Wanting to marry you ♪
♪ And take you home... ♪
Just set that down on that table over there.
Yes, sir.
This basement door is tricky,
so be careful not to shut it all the way
or else you’ll be locked down here.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, that’s good.
So what else you do, Robert?
Well, I play the saxophone.
-You don’t say. -Yeah.
I used to be a saxophonist myself.
-Is that right? -Yeah.
Hey, you ever hear "The Scooty-Scooty Blues"?
No, I don’t think I know that one.
♪ Long-legged beauty ♪
♪ Gave me the scooty-scooty blues. ♪
(laughs)
Yeah, yeah.
I wrote that back in, uh...
Orangeburg, South Cackalacky.
Geechie Jay-- that’s what they call me.
-(chuckles softly) -Tenor or alto?
Tenor.
Oh. What kind of ax you swing?
A Selmer, Super Action.
Nice.
Had me a Conn New Wonder with a snakeskin case.
-You still play? -Nah, nah.
Once I started a family, I gave all that up.
Nah, this record store is my only tie to music now.
Yeah, I tried to teach Sylvie, but, you know, she...
she got in her head she gonna make TV shows one day.
(laughs)
I mean, can you imagine?
Colored girl making TV shows?
Yeah.
Listen, fellas, I can’t stay too late, all right?
Why? What you got going on?
Well, Bobby took a day job at the record store
so he can put the make on this babe, and she’s engaged.
-Hey. -(laughter)
I took it ’cause we ain’t
making no dough at the Blue Morocco.
-That’s why I took it. -Well, that is all about to change.
(grunts)
-Gentlemen, we have arrived. -(lively jazz music playing)
-(whistles) -(laughter and applause)
(lively jazz music continues)
(singing in French)
(music slows)
(song ends)
COUNTESS (voice-over): Who’s your manager?
Well, we don’t have one.
Not yet.
And how much dosh is
the Blue Morocco paying you for the summer?
-200. -$200?
For the entire summer?
You see, a good manager would never
let them pay you pennies for a Picasso,
and that sax player of yours is the "Demoiselles d’Avignon."
And if you want to be New York musicians,
you’ve got to look the part.
500 should cover suits for the four of you.
Ah.
When someone asks you who your manager is, what do you say?
You are?
Attaboy. Oh.
Hey, what’s the big idea?
I get 20%.
(scoffs softly)
MR. JAY (voice-over): Let’s try this.
-(electricity crackling) -(Sylvie gasps)
(muttering)
Daddy, you almost got electrocuted.
You leave that thing alone.
It’s just beyond repair.
(from upstairs): Once Robert finishes downstairs,
you go ahead and close up early.
I’m gonna go find us an air conditioner.
-(door opens) -(bell jingles)
(door closes)
♪ Well, I saw my baby walking ♪
♪ With another man today ♪
(singing along): ♪ Well, I saw my baby walking ♪
♪ With another man today ♪
(music continues faintly upstairs)
♪ When I asked her, "What’s the matter?" ♪
♪ This is what I heard her say ♪
♪ See you later, alligator ♪
♪ After awhile, crocodile ♪
♪ See you later, alligator ♪
♪ After awhile, crocodile ♪
♪ Can’t you see you’re in my way now? ♪
♪ Don’t you know you cramp my style? ♪
♪ ♪
(floorboards thumping and creaking upstairs)
♪ After awhile, crocodile ♪
♪ See you later, alligator ♪
♪ After awhile, crocodile ♪
♪ Can’t you see you’re in my way now? ♪
♪ Don’t you know you cramp my style? ♪
♪ See you later, alligator ♪
♪ After awhile, crocodile ♪
♪ See you later, alligator ♪
♪ So long, that’s all ♪
♪ Goodbye. ♪
-(song ends) -(Robert clapping, laughing)
-Okay, I was just... -Uh-huh. (chuckles softly)
...cleaning up, ’cause my father said that we could
close early, so...
I’m just gonna...
-(chuckles) -Well, I can...
I can help you if you want.
-ROBERT: Careful, don’t close... -Oh!
-(doorknob rattles) -Funny that it does that.
Suppose we’re...
stuck down here till Daddy gets back, huh?
-ROBERT: Yep. -(lighter clicks)
Say, can I have one?
Thank you.
How do you use this thing?
(chuckles)
Yeah, here.
Hey, you’ve got a French light.
What’s that?
A French light.
It’s when you light a cigarette and it only lights up halfway.
Supposed to mean you’re gonna fall in love.
Mm.
Well, you have one, too.
What’s that supposed to mean?
So Daddy tells me you’re a saxophone player.
Yep.
I’m actually in town
with my band from Detroit for the summer.
We’re playing over at the Blue Morocco.
-Are you any good? -(chuckles softly)
Depends on what you like.
It’s not Bill Haley and the Comets.
(chuckles) Well, I like all sorts of music.
You have to, working in a record store and all, you know.
So you can suggest music to the customers.
For instance, you got Monk’s "Brilliant Corners,"
and you’re a saxophone player,
so I’m guessing you like Sonny Rollins.
-Uh-huh. -Am I right?
Yeah.
Well, then I would recommend
his latest album, "Way Out West,"
where he leads a trio with him on sax
and a bassist and a drummer.
Unless of course you already have it.
I don’t.
See?
Yeah.
Mm.
(train horn blowing in distance)
So what about your fiancé?
What type of music’s he like?
Little Richard.
(both laughing)
(church bells chiming in distance)
-(lock clicks) -(door opens)
(keys jingling)
(lock clicks)
Here you go.
-ROBERT: Thanks. -Mm-hmm.
My band’s playing tomorrow night
at 9:00 if you want to come.
I could put you on the guest list.
Can my cousin come?
Sure.
All right, then.
See you tomorrow.
Hey.
See you later, alligator.
(Robert chuckles softly)
(applause, cheering)
MAN (voice-over): And now, ladies and gentlemen,
put your hands together
and give a warm Blue Morocco welcome
to the Dickie Brewster Quartet.
(swinging jazz music playing)
♪ ♪
(men shouting, whistling)
♪ ♪
-(music slows) -(applause, cheering)
(song ends)
Thank you, thank you.
This next number is something we call "B-Loved."
(slow, romantic jazz music playing)
Is that him?
♪ ♪
(music slows)
(song ends with light flourish)
(applause, whistling)
Guys?
I’d like you to meet Monsieur Antoine Fournier.
Hello, gentlemen.
Pleasure to meet you.
Antoine books several clubs in Paris.
He’s known as the sort of
patron saint of American jazz expatriates.
-Wouldn’t you say? -I’m hardly a saint,
but I do think you guys would be a hit in Paris.
Not many American Negroes there.
I have a spot I need to book in one month’s time at Le Sousol,
one of the top jazz clubs in Paris.
Well, we still got two months left on this gig,
-so that doesn’t work. -Oh, leave that to me, B-flat.
That’s what managers are for.
Shall we have another drink?
See you out there.
You guys are dynamite.
DICKIE: Did he say "Paris"? As in Paris?
-Mm-hmm. -Ooh.
As in French bread, French fries.
-Ooh, French thighs. (laughs) Oui, oui. -Yeah.
ROBERT (voice-over): How we gonna go to Paris, man?
Dickie’s still on parole.
And when she become our manager?
Man, I don’t know, but I do know
I wouldn’t mind meeting me some of those mademoiselles.
Speaking of which.
("Why Must I Love You" by The Esquires playing)
(patting back)
♪ Why must I need you... ♪
ROBERT: Hey.
You came.
-I did. -(Mona clears throat)
Oh, this is my cousin Mona.
Mona Lisa. (chuckles)
Like the painting.
Nice to meet you, Mona.
-Oh, this here is... -Chicago Sweetney.
At your service.
Charmed, I’m sure.
Do you want to sit down?
Uh, sure.
("My Little Suede Shoes" by Charlie Parker playing)
Oh!
Mambo?
(Mona chuckles)
♪ ♪
(Robert laughs quietly)
(Sylvie laughs)
So what’s the verdict?
Am I any good?
Well, you’re right, you’re no Bill Haley.
But I do think you’re about as good
as any tenor player I’ve ever heard.
With the exception of John William Coltrane, but...
I’d say you’re gaining on him. (chuckles)
I don’t think I’ll ever catch the Trane, but thank you.
Well, thank you for being good.
I’d be awful embarrassed if you weren’t.
-(both chuckle) -CONNIE: Hey, Bobby.
We’re all going around the corner to Freddie’s
if you want to stop by.
When you’re done babysitting.
Is that your girlfriend?
Uh, who, Connie? No.
We just work together.
Kind of like we do, only she’s not engaged.
("Tears on My Pillow" by Little Anthony & The Imperials plays)
Well, I do think I ought to be going home.
Uh, before you do...
...may I have the pleasure of this dance, Miss Johnson?
♪ You don’t remember me, but I... ♪
-I really shouldn’t. -Come on.
You mean to tell me you’re gonna turn down a dance
with the next John Coltrane?
♪ You broke my heart in two ♪
♪ Tears on my pillow ♪
♪ Pain in my heart ♪
♪ Caused by you, ooh ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ If we could start anew ♪
♪ I wouldn’t hesitate ♪
♪ I’d gladly take you back... ♪
-(song stops) -You don’t have to go home,
but you can’t stay here.
(Sylvie sighs softly)
Hey, Bobby, uh, me and, uh, uh...
Mona.
Yeah, we’re gonna split.
Make sure she gets home okay.
I’ll call you tomorrow, Sylvie.
(Mona chuckles)
(door opens)
-So... -(door closes)
(laughs): I do have to go home.
Can I walk you?
Did you listen to "Brilliant Corners" yet?
(chuckles softly) Only about a hundred times.
(Sylvie chuckles)
I never met a girl who knew as much about music as you do.
I bet the only thing you know about
-more than music is television. -Oh, don’t get me started.
I’ve seen just about every episode of everything.
Well...
I never met anyone who could play music the way you do.
What’s the one thing you love about it the most?
Mm, the way it makes me feel.
Oh, that’s me.
Yeah.
Never found anything to make me feel like that.
So how’d you meet your fiancé?
Oh.
At a cotillion at the Renaissance Ball.
At a what?
You don’t know what a cotillion is?
-No. -(chuckles)
Uh, it’s a formal ball
where debutantes are presented to society
and then introduced to young men from prominent families.
-Oh. -Mm.
So Lacy’s from a prominent family?
Oh, sure. His father’s a doctor,
and he has one of the most successful medical practices
in the country, Negro or otherwise.
So not just prominent but rich.
I’m afraid, terribly.
Well, thank you for...
walking me home.
And for the invitation.
You were terrific.
Night.
You know, where I’m from,
when a fellow walks a gal home from a date,
there’s usually a good night kiss involved.
But I guess this wasn’t really a date, huh?
No.
Well, not officially.
But...
you asked me and I came, so I suppose it is...
...rather date-like.
(chuckles)
Been practicing that?
(chuckles)
Good night.
Just...
♪ ♪
EUNICE: Sylvie, is that you?
(whispers): I’ll see you tomorrow.
♪ ♪
Hey, what’s your favorite song on this?
Uh, "You Don’t Know What Love Is."
(bell jingles)
Hey, what are you doing tonight?
Depends.
Oh, hi, Mama.
Robert, this is my mother, Eunice Johnson.
This is Robert Halloway.
Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.
My husband tells me that you’re a musician.
Yes, ma’am.
Did you attend conservatory?
Uh, no, ma’am. I’m self-taught.
But he’s really very talented.
-Is that so? -Mm-hmm.
-Mm. -Mm.
Well, I do hope that Mr. Johnson isn’t boring you
with too many of his own music tales.
-(Eunice and Sylvie laugh) -Oh, no.
I love Mr. Jay’s--
I mean, Mr. Johnson’s stories.
(Sylvie chuckling)
Well, I’m sure you have things to do.
Yeah, I should get back to work.
-Excuse me. -Oh.
You know, my dear, a young lady should never
lavish gushing praise on a young man,
especially one who’s beneath her station.
It might give off the wrong impression.
You wouldn’t want that, now, would you?
No, ma’am.
(whispers): Good.
(chuckles)
-Okay. -Need a receipt?
No.
Three dollars change.
(TV playing quietly)
-(door opens) -(bell jingles)
(door closes)
So I was gonna ask you earlier if you’re busy tonight,
’cause I want to invite you to a birthday party...
I wanted to tell you that what happened between us
last night was a mistake.
It was a momentary lapse in judgment on my part,
and it can’t happen again.
Okay?
Okay.
(church bell tolling in distance)
(man and woman chattering over TV)
(TV chatter continues)
(sighs)
(muffled doo-wop music playing in distance)
Whose party is this anyway?
Oh, didn’t I tell you?
David Rockefeller and Brooke Astor.
(sighs)
(knocking on door)
Hey! Mmm. Mm-hmm. Mm. Mm-hmm.
(laughing)
("The ABC’s of Love" by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers plays)
♪ Find a place there in your heart ♪
♪ And I’ll tell you of the ABCs ♪
♪ Gosh knows I love you ♪
♪ Heaven knows it’s true ♪
Excuse me.
♪ I want to be near you ♪
♪ J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q ♪
♪ Run, honey, and don’t be blind ♪
♪ Sugar, you stay on my mind ♪
♪ True love is hard to find ♪
♪ I’ll tell you of the ABCs... ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
(Carmen laughs)
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
Oh.
♪ Happy birthday, dear Carmen ♪
(laughs)
♪ Happy birthday to you. ♪
(cheering, applause)
("She Is My Dream" by The Tads playing)
♪ An angel in my eyes ♪
♪ There she goes ♪
♪ I love her passing by ♪
♪ I love her ♪
You plan on ignoring me all night?
♪ For she is my dream ♪
♪ She is my dream... ♪
Look, Robert, I came here with Mona.
I didn’t even know that you’d be here.
Oh, so if you knew I’d be here, you wouldn’t have come?
No, that’s not what I meant.
(Robert scoffs softly)
The bottom line is
you shouldn’t have kissed me last night.
I’m... I’m engaged.
You don’t have to keep reminding me
that you’re engaged.
It’s all you ever talk about.
Which is a shame ’cause it’s actually
the least interesting thing about you.
And for the record,
it wasn’t just me doing the kissing last night.
♪ Now she has gone ♪
♪ I think I’ll go home... ♪
Somebody paying you to hold up this wall?
♪ There she goes ♪
♪ An angel in my eyes ♪
♪ There she goes ♪
♪ I love her passing by ♪
♪ I love her ♪
♪ For she is my dream ♪
♪ She is my dream ♪
♪ My only dream ♪
(door opens, closes)
♪ To me it seems ♪
♪ Is to try and make... ♪
(music continues faintly inside)
(door opens)
-ROBERT: Sylvie. -(door closes)
-What are you doing? -Walking home.
-It’s late. Let me take you. -No, thank you. I’m fine.
Can I ask you a question?
If last night was such a mistake,
why you so bent out of shape
about me dancing with somebody else?
Because...
...mistake or not,
when a girl is kissed by a guy, she’d like to think that
she’s the only girl that guy’s been kissing.
So you carrying on with what’s-her-face
doesn’t make me feel very special.
Well, the only reason I was carrying on with her
in the first place is ’cause of you,
telling me this was all a big mistake.
That doesn’t make me feel very special either.
Matter of fact, it made me feel pretty ordinary.
Well, you’re not.
Ordinary, to me.
In fact, I think you’re one of the most...
extraordinary people I’ve ever met.
("To Be Loved" by Jackie Wilson playing inside)
♪ Someone to care... ♪
You know, we never got to finish our dance last night.
♪ Lonely hours ♪
♪ And moments of despair ♪
♪ To be loved, to be loved ♪
♪ Oh, what a feeling ♪
♪ To be loved ♪
♪ Someone to kiss ♪
♪ Someone to miss ♪
♪ When you’re away ♪
♪ To hear from each day ♪
-♪ To be loved, to be loved ♪ -♪ To be loved, to be loved ♪
♪ Oh, oh, what a feeling ♪
♪ To be ♪
♪ Be loved. ♪
EUNICE: Ears should be back and over the shoulders,
while the chin remains parallel to the floor.
(quietly): You have two new letters from Lacy.
Shoulders are down and relaxed, while the rib cage is elevated.
Weight rests in the center of the feet.
Now, these are the key foundations to perfect posture.
-Let me. -♪ Summertime ♪
♪ And the living is easy ♪
♪ Fish are jumping and... ♪
How come you don’t just go to a real beach?
Because she’s afraid of the ocean.
-Mona. -(laughs)
But, you know, even though there’s no water,
you can still go skinny-dipping.
(laughs)
♪ And your ma is good-looking... ♪
CHICO: How can anybody be afraid of the ocean?
MONA: She doesn’t want to get her hair wet. (chuckles)
(door opens, closes)
♪ Don’t you cry... ♪
ROBERT: "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny
but in ourselves."
SYLVIE: Hey, that’s Shakespeare, isn’t it?
I don’t know.
It’s just something my mother used to say.
Now, is she back in Detroit?
No. She passed away, couple years back.
Sorry to hear that.
(softly): Yeah.
She’s the reason I’m here, really.
Always wanted to be a musician, you know?
But after high school, reality set in
and I took a job on an assembly line.
And then when my mother passed,
it made me realize that life’s too short to waste time
on things you don’t absolutely love.
So, quit the auto plant,
joined the band, and the rest, as they say, is history.
But how do you know?
If you love something absolutely, I mean.
I don’t know.
I guess when it’s the only thing that matters.
Here.
Thank you.
("Sincerely" by The McGuire Sisters playing)
♪ Sincerely... ♪
You didn’t.
-I did. -(laughing)
(shushing)
Oh.
Tell me everything. How was it?
It was...
...extraordinary.
(softly): Oh.
Oh. Damn.
I’ve done it plenty of times,
and it ain’t never been extraordinary.
(both chuckle)
Extraordinary?
♪ Please say you’ll be mine ♪
Extraordinary.
♪ Oh, Lord ♪
♪ Won’t you tell me why ♪
-♪ I love that fella so ♪ -(Sylvie chuckles)
(Mona gasps)
♪ He doesn’t want me... ♪
You know what it was?
(softly): What?
-(squeals) -(both laughing)
("Fools Fall in Love" by The Drifters playing)
♪ Well, fools fall in love in a hurry ♪
♪ Fools give their hearts much too soon ♪
(singers vocalizing)
♪ Just play them two bars of "Stardust" ♪
(bicycle bell dings)
♪ Just hang out one silly moon ♪
♪ Oh, oh ♪
♪ And they’re making plans for the future ♪
(singers vocalizing)
♪ When they should be right back in school ♪
(singers vocalizing)
-♪ I used to laugh ♪ -(car horn honks)
♪ But now I understand ♪
♪ Shake the hand ♪
♪ Of a brand-new fool. ♪
(Sylvie gasps)
Hey. Ain’t you supposed to be slaving at the wax museum?
I was, but that was just Mr. Jay.
-He said he had to let me go. -(door opens)
DICKIE: Gentlemen. Gentlemen. Ah.
That’s it.
The Countess got us out of our contract.
We’re heading to Paris at the end of the month!
(laughing)
(Chico grunts excitedly)
(saxophone playing sad version of "B-Loved" in distance)
♪ ♪
(quietly): Robert.
What if my mother had heard you?
What was I supposed to do?
I’ve been trying to call you since I got fired,
and she keeps hanging up on me.
I have something important to tell you.
-Okay. -I’m leaving.
What? Where to and when?
The band got offered a gig in Paris,
and I’m leaving in two weeks.
-Goodness. -That’s why I had to see you.
Come with me.
-To Paris? (chuckles) -Yes, to Paris.
What if we don’t work out?
-That won’t happen. -How do you know that?
’Cause the only thing that matters is us.
Just promise me you’ll think about it.
-Robert... -Promise me.
Okay.
I promise.
(chuckles): I’ve got to go.
See you later, alligator.
(knock on door)
Hey.
(sighs)
How long have you been sick?
Well, I fainted last month.
Dr. Parker said it was probably just heatstroke,
but I haven’t been feeling so good since.
Last month?
When’s the last time you got your period?
I don’t remember.
Oh, Sylvie.
You think you might be...?
Yeah.
You got to tell Robert.
(exhales slowly)
Come on now, Bobby.
Plane leave in an hour. We better get a move on.
♪ ♪
All right.
-(car approaching) -(horn honking)
Man, I almost thought you weren’t coming.
-I’ll get your suitcase. -Robert.
(sighs)
There isn’t any suitcase, is there?
No.
But I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.
And I wanted to tell you that...
...I think you very well could be the next John Coltrane.
And what are you gonna be?
-CHICO: Bobby? -(chuckles)
Your biggest fan.
CHICO: We got to go. We’re gonna miss our plane.
(whispers): See you later, alligator.
(quietly): After awhile, crocodile.
(engine starts)
-(busy chatter) -♪ One, two, three, hey ♪
♪ Look at Mr. Lee ♪
♪ Three, four, five... ♪
SYLVIE: WNAT Television.
MAN (over phone): Mr. Schuller, please.
SYLVIE: Oh. Hey, Mr. Adams.
Mr. Schuller? Sure thing.
-WNAT Television. -WOMAN: Kate Spencer, please.
Kate Spencer? Who may I say is calling?
Beverley Marshall.
I’m calling about the assistant to the producer position,
for "Bon Appétit" with Lucy Wolper.
One moment please.
♪ Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee ♪
-♪ His name is Mr. Lee ♪ -♪ Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee ♪
-♪ He’s the handsomest sweetie ♪ -♪ Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee ♪
-♪ That you ever did see ♪ -♪ Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee ♪
-♪ My heart is aching ♪ -♪ Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee... ♪
-Thank you. -(phones ringing in distance)
Kate Spencer.
Sylvia Parker.
Nice to meet you. Please.
(Kate clears throat)
So...
Have you ever worked in production?
No, ma’am.
I haven’t.
Are you married? Do you have any kids?
Yes, both.
Producer’s assistants work long hours,
and generally speaking, it’s not...
the best job for a housewife.
Long hours, huh?
I suppose that’s code for "the producer would rather hire
"a gal that doesn’t mind
being chased around his office all night long."
Well, if that’s the case, thank you very much.
Are you quite finished?
I... am the producer of the Lucy Wolper cooking show,
so I can assure you I have no desire
to chase you around my office all night.
So... why don’t you sit back down and tell me:
Why should I hire someone with no experience
to be my assistant?
Because until about five seconds ago, I didn’t know
that a Negro woman television producer even existed.
And all my life, that is all I’ve ever wanted to be.
("Your Little Toy" by The Hearts playing)
♪ Are you tired of your toy? ♪
-Hi, Lacy. -LACY: Hey.
♪ It used to give you lots of happiness and joy ♪
♪ I was... ♪
-You won’t believe... -Dan Evans called.
I got the account.
(chuckles)
(both grunt)
So he wants to get together and discuss the details.
Tomorrow night, he and his wife are coming over for dinner.
-Here, tomorrow night? -Yeah.
Okay.
Well, I was gonna tell you that I’m starting a new position
at the station tomorrow, as a producer’s assistant.
Okay.
Okay. (chuckles)
I don’t know that I’ll have time to cook.
Is there any chance we can do it another night?
They’ve already confirmed,
and your mother’s watching Michelle.
I thought we agreed.
You can work as long as it doesn’t interfere
with your responsibilities at home.
Be a dear, pull something together.
Dan Evans.
(chuckles)
(whoops)
♪ ♪
(sighs)
(Kate talking quietly)
-Right. -Do not forget the eggs this time.
I need carrots in this bowl,
and I need mushrooms in this bowl.
-You got it? -Yeah.
Okay, great. Thank you so--
Good. You are early.
You need to go to Melman’s on 14th for the meat.
We need a blade-cut rib roast, and don’t, don’t,
don’t let them give you anything frozen.
We don’t have time to defrost.
Here’s a ten.
Get receipts for everything.
Blade-cut rib roast, okay.
Try to say that five times fast. (chuckles)
Well, what are you waiting for?
-Right. -Go.
Can somebody get me potatoes?!
And here we have our finished beef bourguignon.
Join us tomorrow, when we’ll be making duck à l’orange,
and remember to clean your tough kitchen jobs with BAB-O,
the world’s sudsiest cleanser.
I’m Lucy Wolper.
Bon appétit.
(jaunty theme music playing)
KATE: And that’s our show!
-Thank you! Thank you! -(bells ringing, chatter)
Oh. Give her the shoes, please.
(Lucy groans)
Mm.
You must be the new girl.
Lucy Wolper.
Sylvie Parker.
Welcome to the set.
Pleasure. Thank you.
Have a good night.
Sure.
Say... what do you do
with the guest of honor when the show’s over?
You know, I’ve never really thought about it.
-You want it? -Would you mind?
My husband has a client coming over for dinner in an hour,
and they expect a home-cooked meal.
Course.
Take it.
-Really? -Enjoy. (chuckles)
You are a lifesaver.
-Thank you very much. -Don’t mention it.
Heat it up with the oven at 350.
-(chuckles) Sure thing. -(chuckles softly)
SARAH: Wherever did you learn
to make beef bourguignon like that?
-Fantastic. -Thank you.
From the Lucy Wolper show.
Oh. Well, I simply must have our girl Viola
-call you for the recipe. -Please do.
Cigar, Parker?
Snagged a couple dozen Petit Upmanns
-before the trade embargo. -Mmm.
Absolutely. Let’s go out to the front porch.
I got a bottle of Haig and Haig Pinch
that will go perfect with those Cubans.
SARAH: So your husband’s a shoo-in for the account.
Oh, good thing.
It’s all he can talk about.
It should make him happy.
Oh, well, hopefully everyone will be happy.
-Dan, your husband, the NAACP. -(door closes)
Oh, goodness, what’s the NAACP got to do with it?
Dan’s company was targeted by the NAACP
for having discriminatory hiring practices.
Can you imagine?
Then it’s a good thing they’re giving such a big account
to a Negro in business.
Oh, of course I didn’t mean to imply
that that was your husband’s only qualification.
Why, just today, I remarked to my Danny
that I couldn’t even tell your husband was a Negro
on the telephone.
He has such good diction.
You really do have a lovely home.
Thank you.
-Oh, here, let me help you. -Oh, no.
I’ll go and fix us some coffee.
Sounds delightful.
-LACY: Now, that was a success. -(dishes clinking)
Good.
Nice folks, huh?
You think so?
Yeah. What was wrong with them?
They were perfectly gracious.
They’re bigots.
You do realize that man is in trouble
-with the NAACP, don’t you? -So what?
This account’s worth half a million dollars.
♪ ♪
(horns honking)
SID (voice-over): Good work today, fellas.
-I think we got it. -All right.
All right. Thanks, Sid.
See ya.
Y’all aren’t about to begin, are you?
You have a few more moments.
Thank you.
Oh, Mona.
Robert?
Sylvie?
(Robert chuckles)
What are you doing in New York?
We’re recording an album.
That is terrific.
-Wow. Congratulations. -Thank you.
And what about you? What are you up to?
Well, I’m supposed to see a concert with my cousin Mona.
-You remember Mona, don’t you? -Mona Lisa. Yes.
-(chuckles) -Of course. How is she?
Oh, she’s fine, except I’m afraid she stood me up.
The show’s about to start, folks.
So good to see you.
You, too.
Robert?
Do you like Nancy Wilson?
("All My Tomorrows" by Nancy Wilson playing)
♪ Today I may not have a thing at all ♪
♪ Except for just a dream or two ♪
♪ But I’ve got lots of plans for tomorrow ♪
♪ And all my tomorrows ♪
♪ Belong to you ♪
♪ Right now it may not seem like spring at all... ♪
(song fades)
I’m going uptown.
Is there somewhere I can drop you?
I’m just around the corner at The Plaza.
Okay.
You know, it just dawned on me.
This might possibly be the last time
I get to see you without buying a ticket.
Imagine that.
♪ ♪
Yes.
Can I have the Monte Cristo sandwich?
-Wonderful. -(hangs up phone)
(knock on door)
You know, when a gal asks a fella out on a date,
there’s usually a good night kiss involved.
♪ ♪
ROBERT (voice-over): Come with us on tour.
I’m afraid I can’t.
ROBERT: Hmm.
Because of him?
No.
No, because of her.
Oh.
The sauce thickens.
What’s her name?
-Michelle. -Hmm.
She’s beautiful.
Isn’t she just?
Bartender, I’ll have another.
(phone ringing)
-(vacuum stops) -(TV playing quietly)
Hello.
MONA (over phone): Hey, kiddo.
Mo. Hey.
Oh, just put that over there.
SYLVIE: What happened to you the other night?
I was worried sick.
Where are you?
Atlanta.
(chuckles) That’s why I couldn’t make it on Friday.
We’ve expanded the Voter Education Project
into Southwest Georgia,
and yours truly was tapped as the representative from CORE,
so I had to leave right after work on Friday.
Say, when do you think you’re gonna be back?
Looks like I’m gonna be here at least through the summer.
Anyways, I’m sorry you had to go alone.
Oh, no, that’s okay.
I, um...
I didn’t go alone.
I went with Robert.
-Robert Robert? -Mm-hmm. Robert Robert.
I couldn’t believe it.
I was waiting for you outside of the theater,
and then there he... there he walks by me,
just out of the blue.
And?
Well, I’d been waiting so long,
I figured you weren’t gonna come,
so I invited him to join me.
Which he did, and afterwards he asked me
if I wanted to have a drink,
which I said would not be a good idea,
so I got into a cab and I left.
And that was it?
Well, no, not exactly. (chuckles) I...
Before he left, he told me where he was staying.
I don’t know what I was thinking, Mona.
I thought maybe I’d...
I don’t know.
You didn’t.
I did.
But...
the two of you didn’t...
No, we did.
(gasps) What?
I know. I know.
But it’s not as if it’s gonna happen again.
I mean, he goes back on the road, so I won’t see him.
Just a...
a one-time thing which I’ll forget.
Oh. Wow.
(sighs)
-Really nice. -(door closes)
COUNTESS: Hi, boys.
-Look out. -Hello.
So, Miles Davis-- hi, Sid--
is in Studio A,
and he told me to tell you that he saw you in Paris.
-Oh. -Wow. What?
He’s only got a minute,
but he wants to meet the genius behind the band.
(laughs)
Hey, fellas, you hear that?
Miles is a fan.
(laughter)
Come on, B-flat.
(Sid chuckles)
Oh, hey, Sid.
You got any extra comps for the show this Friday?
Sure. How many you need?
Just one.
Send it to this address please. Thanks.
Now, of course, when you make French onion soup,
you’re going to need an awful lot of onions.
And if you’re prone to tearing up,
one trick is to keep a bowl of salted water nearby.
And speaking of salt, let’s pause to welcome
one of our newest sponsors, Lighthouse Salt.
-Now with more iodine. -(jaunty theme music ends)
(bell rings twice)
(crew chattering)
-Sylvie? -I’m awake.
A courier delivered this for you earlier today.
Oh. Thank you.
-(door opens) -(TV playing quietly)
LACY (singsongy): Hello.
-MICHELLE: Daddy! -(door closes)
How’s my girls?
Daddy’s got a little surprise for you.
(chuckles, gasps playfully)
-Disneyland? -That’s right.
-We leave in two weeks. -(both giggle)
The check cleared for the Evans account.
-I gathered. -(Lacy grunting playfully)
Okay. You go in and you put your pajamas on,
and I’ll be in there in just a minute to tuck you in.
LACY (mumbling): Go to bed. Just go to bed.
(grunting, sputtering playfully)
Congratulations.
Thank you.
I can’t take a vacation right now.
I’ve just started this job two weeks ago.
MAN (over TV): Masters is dead.
Quit.
With money like this,
there’s no reason for you to keep working at all.
Lacy, I don’t want to quit my job; I happen to like it.
What do you say we go out to a fancy dinner Friday night,
celebrate?
We’ll discuss it then.
Well, I can’t Friday night.
I have to work late.
So this couple gets a flat during a snowstorm, okay?
And the guy goes out to fix the flat,
but he’s got no gloves, see, and he starts to get cold.
He goes back to the car to warm up.
Gal says, "Hey, why don’t you put your hands between my legs?
That’ll warm them up, right?" (chuckles)
So he does it.
After a while, his hands get warm.
He goes out to continue.
He’s fixing the flat. His hands get cold again.
He goes back to the car, says,
"Can I put my hands between your legs and warm them up?"
She says, "When are your ears gonna get cold?"
(laughter)
"When are your ears gonna get cold?"
He doesn’t get it. You’re cute.
Do you ever think about just letting her be herself?
LUCY: Oh, I love that one. You get it, don’t you?
-Lucy? -(Lucy laughing)
-Yeah. -(chuckles): Oh.
Oh, no-- God, no.
-Could you imagine? -(Lucy laughing)
LUCY: "When are your ears gonna get cold?"
(mocking): "When are your ears gonna get cold?"
Girl, we’d never make it past the censors.
SYLVIE: Daddy!
(radio static crackles over headphones)
-Daddy. -Oh.
(both chuckle)
-Hey, girl. -Hey.
-Keys. -Yeah, about that.
Look, she’s been acting a little finicky lately.
Oh, no. What’s she been doing?
Well, the radiator had a little trouble,
but I think I finally fixed it.
(chuckles): Okay. You better have.
I’m gonna be late.
-I got to go. -Sylvie, honey.
You gonna tell him?
I don’t know.
Thank you.
Sending you love!
(sighs)
(blows note)
MAN (over speakers): Ladies and gentlemen,
the Dickie Brewster Quartet!
(crowd cheering)
(intercom beeps)
Evelyn, do you know if Mrs. Parker has left for the day?
EVELYN: I’m sorry, Ms. Spencer, she has.
(sighs): Okay.
Um, actually, would you ring her at home for me please?
(groans softly)
♪ ♪
Hey, can I get your autograph?
Oh.
Thank you for coming out.
-Hope you enjoyed it. -Thank you. Yeah.
Bobby, got a little surprise for you.
-Oh, yeah? -Yeah, yeah.
You remember Connie, don’t you?
Hi, Bobby.
I’ll let you two get reacquainted.
(whispers): I’ve got a surprise for you underneath my coat.
L-Let’s get you back in the car
before you catch a cold, all right?
♪ ♪
Hi.
Absolutely.
There you go.
Thank you.
(engine starts)
(keys jingling)
LACY: Your boss called.
I know his band was playing tonight.
It was all over the damn radio.
I could’ve had any girl in Harlem, you know that?
-But I chose... -I know.
CROWD: Five, four, three, two,
one!
Happy New Year!
-("Auld Lang Syne" playing) -(cheering)
(noisemakers blowing)
Happy New Year!
(whoops)
(band playing "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás")
(Carmen singing in Spanish)
♪ Quizás, quizás, quizás ♪
(singing in Spanish)
♪ Quizás, quizás, quizás. ♪
♪ ♪
-(song ends) -(crowd cheering)
Bravo. Bravo.
♪ ♪
-Oh, hello! -Hello. Sorry that we’re late.
Every year, my father has a New Year’s Eve party
at his little record shop, and we went by there,
and of course we got stuck in traffic at Times Square.
What did we miss?
Oh, you missed absolutely nothing, nothing.
In fact, I think we should’ve gone to your father’s party.
(laughter)
("One Mint Julep" by Sarah Vaughan playing)
Place is something, huh?
I’ll say.
Bobby, when are you gonna get a place like this?
♪ Went in a tavern to get a few nips... ♪
(Carmen and Connie laugh)
Hey! Fellas, have you seen
Don de Michael’s review of the album in "Down Beat" yet?
Not yet.
-Good? -What?
Good? It’s fantastic.
"’B-Sides,’ the auspicious debut
"from the Dickie Brewster Quartet,
is nothing short of genius."
(chuckles) I got to go show Dickie this.
Hey, Sid.
The record’s a big hit, right?
Yeah.
So how’s it that Dickie can afford a swell place like this
while the rest of us still live on the north end?
Dickie’s tunes.
He got an advance on the publishing.
I’ve been working on those tunes with Dickie for years.
You know that, Sid.
He owns the copyrights.
Look, if you want to make the big bucks,
you got to own the tunes.
Listen, you’re a talented kid.
When you’re ready to record as a leader, you let me know.
Okay?
-I cannot find my husband. -(Sid chuckles)
I think he went to get more booze.
(sighs): Oh.
All right.
Oh, Bobby, I almost forgot.
There was a message for you on the answering service.
Seemed urgent.
Sylvie. What are you doing in here?
You-- I was looking everywhere for you.
Hiding.
-Oh. -(chuckles)
Oh. I almost forgot.
You’re looking at
the future Mrs. Melvin Carmichael, Esquire.
(gasps)
My goodness.
(laughs): Well, congratulations.
-Well, thank you. -(laughs)
-Oh. -Okay.
-Aw, thank you. -Hmm.
So, I told the network brass
that I won’t be renewing my contract for the New Year.
You didn’t.
I did.
Well, this place is sure gonna be colorless without us, huh?
(laughs)
What-what do you mean "without us"?
It’s only natural the new producer
will want to bring her own assistant, right?
Oh. Oh. Oh, right.
Um, well...
you know, you could always ask her.
-They found someone new already? -Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Yes. And she comes highly recommended.
-Hello, Operator? -(music playing nearby)
OPERATOR: How may I direct your call?
Uh, person to person in New York City.
May I have the name please?
-Mr. Herbert Johnson. -(door opens)
OPERATOR: May I put you on a brief hold?
-ROBERT: Yes, I’ll hold. -Ah, ah, ah.
We wouldn’t want the missus to see that, now, would we?
DICKIE (slurring): I don’t care. (chuckles)
B-flat!
(chuckles)
Happy New Year, mon frère.
Your fly is open.
Oops.
(chuckles)
(pants zip)
(singing quietly)
-MR. JAY: Robert? -ROBERT: Hey, Mr. Jay.
Is everything all right?
MR. JAY: There’s something you need to know.
-Calling it a night? -Yeah.
I don’t blame you.
Hey, I seem to have lost my husband.
-Have you seen him? -Oh.
You might try Kate’s office.
Or should I say "your office"?
Congratulations.
Thanks very much.
Say, Evelyn.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, Sylvie.
(sighs)
MR. JAY: She’s a wonderful little girl.
You’d be proud.
ROBERT: Thanks.
(hangs up phone)
("Fly Me to the Moon" by Doris Day playing)
♪ Fly me to the moon ♪
♪ And let me play among the stars ♪
♪ Let me see what spring is like ♪
♪ On Jupiter and Mars ♪
♪ In other words ♪
♪ Hold my hand ♪
♪ In other words ♪
♪ Darling, kiss me ♪
♪ Fill my heart with song ♪
♪ And let me sing forevermore ♪
♪ You are all I long for ♪
♪ All I worship and adore ♪
♪ In other words ♪
♪ I love you. ♪
Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?
What’s going on?
MRS. PARKER: Let me get you some coffee.
DR. PARKER: Sylvie...
it’s your father.
What happened?
He had a heart attack at the party after you left.
(coffee pouring)
I truly am sorry.
♪ ♪
-Thank you so much for coming. -(quiet chatter)
-Thank you. -(woman speaks softly)
Thank you.
Eunice, this was lovely.
You’re working?
You’re ignoring our guests.
Come on. That can wait.
It can’t, actually.
The show must go on.
And my show isn’t gonna produce itself.
I have to be at work tomorrow morning, so...
let me finish, please.
The TV station can wait.
They will understand if you take a few days off.
Now, come on. You’re not being a very good hostess,
-and what will people say? -You know what, Lacy?
I don’t care what people think.
And you’re perfectly capable of entertaining our...
-Sylvie, you’re being irrational. -No, I’m not.
You know what I realize?
Is that life is too short to waste time
doing things you don’t absolutely love.
And what is that supposed to mean?
Sit down.
Please.
It means that I’m tired of trying to be
someone that I’m not.
You married me even though I was pregnant.
It was such a noble thing to do.
So I’ve tried to be the woman that you want me to be,
but it is exhausting.
I can’t be the woman of your dreams
while also trying to be the woman of my own.
Okay, okay. Let’s talk about this later, okay?
Lacy, I want to start living my life for myself.
(Lacy sighs heavily)
I’ve never done that.
And where do I fit in?
I don’t know.
Okay, okay. I’ll-I’ll...
let you get back to your work, then.
But for the record, I didn’t marry you
because it was the noble thing to do.
I did it because I love you.
And I never wanted you to try to be the woman of my dreams.
I just wanted to be the man of yours.
But we both know
that position’s already been filled.
(door closes)
(horns honking)
DICKIE: All right, fellas, well, that’s it for the day.
No, it’s still a little loose. Let’s run it one more time.
Man, we gonna run it into the ground.
Look, I said let’s cool it.
And I said let’s run it again.
DICKIE: Well, to the best of my knowledge,
this is the Dickie Brewster Quartet,
so if I say that’s it, that’s it.
♪ Here’s your old friendship ring ♪
♪ I can’t... ♪
Four ball, corner pocket.
Hey, man, you’ll never guess who I saw back home.
Mona Lisa.
You know, Sylvie’s cousin.
-Oh, yeah? -Mm-hmm.
She was in town for that, uh,
Walk to Freedom they had over there on Woodward.
Oh, yeah, I heard about that.
-How’s she doing? -Well, she good.
She real good.
12 ball, corner pocket.
She did make mention though that, uh, Sylvie--
her and her old man split up.
Is that right?
Mm-hmm.
Side pocket.
-One more? -No, man, I’m gonna split.
-Mm! Come on. -Yeah.
I’m gonna hit the can.
Hey, Buzz, you see where Connie went?
Yeah, man, I think she left with Carmen and Dickie.
Hey, Bobby, you remember Big Tank?
He’s in town from Detroit.
TANK: Bobby.
Hey, Big Tank.
-Hey. -How’s it going, man?
Bobby. Everything’s peaches, man.
-Good to see you. -I’m over at Motown now.
I heard your stuff on the radio. It was nice.
Real nice.
Well, the whole world’s listening
to the sound of young America.
Hey, not bad for a couple of cats
from the Brewster-Douglass Projects, am I right?
Not bad at all. (chuckles)
And, hey, you know, seeing how you and I go way back,
if you ever want to join the hit parade,
you just got to let me know.
I’ll put a good word in for you with Berry himself.
I’m his right-hand man, so to speak.
All right.
-Big Tank. -Bobby.
-Good to see you. -Good to see you.
-Bobby. -(fingers snapping)
(engine idling)
♪ ♪
(engine stops)
♪ ♪
Hey.
So I heard you and Lacy split up?
Yes, we did.
My father passed.
I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to say goodbye.
I did.
He called me from the hospital that night.
(Robert sighs)
And he told me that...
He told me about Michelle.
Is she really mine?
-(whispers): Yes. -(sighs)
Why wouldn’t you tell me that, Sylvie?
Huh?
Why didn’t you tell me?
Why wouldn’t you tell me that?
Did you think I wasn’t good enough for you?
Is that what it was? Were you embarrassed?
-No. -Did you think I couldn’t provide for you
-the way Lacy could? -No. Robert, no.
Then why? Why wouldn’t you tell--
Why wouldn’t you tell me?
Why wouldn’t you tell me that I had a child?
For five years, and I had to find out from your father?
I don’t know. I...
I wanted to. I just didn’t...
(Robert sighs)
I didn’t want to have to make you choose.
And then I saw how much you had accomplished with your band,
and I couldn’t. I...
I have a child.
I want to meet her.
(Sylvie chuckles softly)
I want you to.
Yeah.
I’m sorry.
♪ ♪
I’m sorry.
(whispers): Yeah.
Whee.
SYLVIE: Michelle, I have someone very special
that I’d like for you to meet.
This is Mr. Halloway.
Now, that’s not the proper way to introduce yourself.
It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance.
Much better.
(chuckles) Well, the pleasure is all mine.
Mommy, can you push me?
Why don’t we let Mr. Halloway try?
May I?
All right.
♪ ♪
All right.
How’s that?
(quiet chatter)
ROBERT (voice-over): You know, I thought about coming back
a thousand times.
SYLVIE (voice-over): Why didn’t you?
ROBERT: I don’t know.
I guess I just wanted you to be happy,
even if I couldn’t be a part of your life.
SYLVIE: You know, she reminds me of you.
Yesterday she picked flowers from the garden
and made a bouquet.
They were mostly weeds, but it was adorable.
-She’s so sweet. -(both chuckle)
What?
-(chuckles) -I don’t know. You just...
I really, really want to take care of you and Michelle.
(chuckles softly)
Looks like something’s going on with my hands.
They’re shaking.
You nervous?
(chuckles): No.
You don’t have to be embarrassed if you are.
-I think it’s sweet. -I’m not embarrassed.
-No? -No.
(laughs)
I should get a fork.
(laughs)
"Pleasant experiences ahead.
Don’t pass it by."
(giggles)
♪ The shadow of your smile ♪
♪ When you have gone ♪
May I have the pleasure of this dance, Ms. Johnson?
♪ Will color all my dreams ♪
♪ And light the dawn ♪
♪ Look into my eyes, my love ♪
♪ And see ♪
♪ All the lovely things you are ♪
♪ To me. ♪
SID (voice-over): It was really great today.
How you feel? Good?
All right, I’ll see you tomorrow.
-B-flat. -Hey, Sid.
Step into my office.
-Take a seat. -(clears throat)
(door opens, closes)
-How you been? -I’m great. I’m great.
Good to see you.
No, thanks.
What can I do for you?
Well, you said, when I was ready to record as a leader,
to come see you, so...
I’m ready, Sid.
Yeah, I’ve got a bunch of new tunes
that I’ve been working on
that I really think you’re gonna love...
Let me stop you right there.
Do you know what the number one song in America is right now?
"Fingertips" by Little Stevie Wonder.
A blind kid.
He’s from your hometown, plays the harmonica.
(chuckles softly) I don’t follow.
You see, it’s not just that jazz ain’t cool anymore.
It’s ice-cold, man.
It’s like Pluto.
The-the kids-- they’re not listening to Monk;
they’re doing The Monkey.
Well, I got a kid of my own to support now, Sid.
-Bobby. -There’s got to be something.
I’m sorry.
Sid, wait. (chuckles softly)
(paper slides)
Just listen to the tunes...
Sorry, Bobby.
But the times, they are a-changin’.
(phone ringing)
Chicago Sweetney.
ROBERT: Hey, Chic.
If it isn’t Bob Halloway.
-How the hell are you? -Oh, I’m okay, man.
-I can’t complain. -(TV playing quietly)
Uh, I know it’s been a while.
I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch.
Yeah.
You back in New York?
I am, yeah.
Hey, I’ve been thinking about putting together my own outfit.
I want to see if you and Buzz might be interested.
You know, get the fellas back together.
I tell you, Bobby, your timing couldn’t be worse.
With you running off the way you did,
Buzzy and I had to take a gig with Sarah Vaughan.
We’re headed back to Europe tomorrow for three months.
Hey, Bobby, you still there?
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Congratulations, man.
That’s-that’s wonderful.
-Thanks, man. -Hey, look,
I know you got a lot to do before you go,
so I’m not gonna keep you.
Well, it’s good to hear from you.
Everything okay?
Oh, everything’s peaches, man.
Travel safely.
Hey.
What are you doing out here, all by your lonesome?
Thinking.
What about, Mr. Halloway?
Went down to my old record company today,
play some new tunes for the guy that signed our band.
And?
He said jazz is dead.
Didn’t even want to hear anything.
Well, what do they know anyways?
Hmm?
♪ ♪
I can take care of things until something pans out for you.
Then what kind of man would that make me?
One who is trying his best.
-Yeah? -Yeah.
ROBERT (voice-over): Uh, Detroit eight, Tremont one,
three-three-six-oh.
OPERATOR: Please hold for your party.
(line ringing)
-TANK: Hello? -Hey, Big Tank.
-It’s Bobby Halloway. -Bobby, is that you?
Yeah, man.
Hey, you still think you can put in a word for me at Motown?
Think I’m ready to join the hit parade.
So I say to my husband,
"You want to invite your boss over for dinner? Go ahead.
The TV dinners are in the Frigidaire."
-(laughing) -(jaunty theme music playing)
-(snorts, chuckles) -Speaking of...
I never knew she was so funny.
(laughs)
I just let her be herself.
Trust Swanson for the best in frozen dinners.
(jaunty music theme music ends)
♪ Hey, work, work ♪
♪ Ah, work it out, baby ♪
♪ Work, work ♪
♪ Well, you’re driving me crazy ♪
♪ Work, work ♪
♪ With just a little bit of soul now ♪
♪ Work ♪
Hey.
♪ I can Mashed Potato... ♪
Hey.
-How was your day? -(music stops)
-Long. -(both chuckle)
How was yours?
I got ahold of a buddy of mine in Detroit, and guess what.
Hmm?
He’s gonna get me a job with a Motown band.
(sighs) Motown?
I know, I know.
It’s not quite the music that I play,
but a job is a job, right?
Yes.
So I’m gonna go down and get things set up,
and when I come back, I’d like very much
if we could move to Detroit as a family.
What do you think?
I...
I think, uh...
Look, I know your job is important to you,
so just think about it.
Yes.
-Yes, you’ll think about it? -Yes, I’ve thought about it.
Yes.
-Yes, we’ll go. -Yes?
Yes.
♪ I want to be your boyfriend ♪
♪ So open up your heart right now ♪
Can you bring me a present?
♪ And let me come on in, ’cause I’ve got... ♪
Can I bring you a present? Of course.
(chuckles)
What type of present?
A puppy.
A puppy, huh?
I’ll see what I can do.
SYLVIE: (chuckles) Don’t you dare.
Hey, if you run into Smokey Robinson, you tell him
that there’s no need to shop around ’cause you’re his guy.
♪ Well, come on, baby ♪
♪ And let me tell you why ♪
♪ Tell you why ♪
-(giggles) -A puppy?
♪ I’m gonna win your good loving ♪
♪ By and by ♪
♪ ’Cause I’ve got determination ♪
Tell him, "See you later, alligator."
See you later, alligator.
♪ Plus a whole lot of conversation ♪
♪ I’ve got determination ♪
(engine starts)
♪ And I’m determined to win your heart ♪
♪ Your heart, your heart ♪
-(horn honks) -♪ Don’t you know that ♪
♪ I live by the motto ♪
♪ Of "never say die" ♪
♪ And nothing beats a trial but a failure ♪
♪ I ain’t gonna fail if I try ♪
♪ You look so good to me ♪
♪ I want your love right now... ♪
(song fades)
(humming softly)
-ROBERT: Hey. -Bobby.
-Big Tank. -Hey.
What are you doing here, man?
What you mean what I’m doing here?
-Stop joking around, man. -DEWITT: Sherman!
I told you to take those suits to the cleaners an hour ago!
Oh, yes, sir. Right away, sir.
No problem.
Bobby, look, man, I don’t have time to talk right now.
You got to understand.
What you mean you don’t got time to talk?
We spoke on the phone.
I came back to Detroit.
You said you’d get me a job with the band.
Man, I didn’t think you’d actually show up, you know?
Everybody in Detroit knows I’m full of shit, you know?
I-I was just jivin’ you.
Trying to make myself feel like a big shot.
I just run errands for them, man.
I got to get these jackets to the cleaners, man.
Hey.
You said you’d get me a job with the band.
-Tank. -(door closes)
♪ ♪
(quiet chatter)
LUCY: The key to a good soufflé is whipping the whites...
MR. JAY (voice-over): She got in her head
she gonna make TV shows one day.
Can you imagine?
Colored girl making TV shows? (chuckles)
♪ ♪
ROBERT (voice-over): I never met a girl who knows
as much about music as you do.
Bet the only thing you know about
more than music is television.
(laughing)
♪ ♪
I guess I just wanted you to be happy,
even if I couldn’t be a part of your life.
♪ ♪
Hey.
You’re early.
Oh, I wasn’t expecting you for a few days.
Hi.
So, you will not guess who I spoke to today.
Kate.
Well, as it turns out, she knows the head honcho
at our Detroit affiliate personally,
and, well, she called him and told him
what a crackerjack producer I am,
and he said that all I have to do is simply walk in the door
and I’m as good as hired.
Of course, I’d have to work my way up again,
but, as you said, a job is a job.
Which reminds me, Robert, we have got to start
looking into schools for Michelle.
Oh, God, I’m rambling.
(laughs): I’m sorry.
Why don’t you sit down.
Aye, aye, Captain.
Come join me.
Gosh.
You know, I have not sat down all day.
Okay.
You have my full attention.
Oh, God, I didn’t ask you.
How’d it go?
What is it?
I need to go back to Detroit, alone.
Do they need you to start right away or something?
No.
Then I’m not quite sure I understand.
I don’t want you to come.
What do you mean you don’t want me to come?
Robert, please don’t do this.
I’m not a family man, Sylvie.
Help me understand, Robert.
What happened in Detroit that made you...
realize suddenly that you aren’t a family man?
Huh?
Did you run into Connie?
-No, Sylvie. You know me. -No, I don’t know, Robert!
(picks up cup)
-(Sylvie sniffles) -(sets down cup)
You want to go, Robert?
(sniffling)
All right, you go.
♪ ♪
Can I at least say goodbye to Michelle?
I said, get out.
Go, Robert!
(knock on door)
Sorry to interrupt.
Lucy’s ready to do her pickups.
-(door closes) -(Sylvie sniffling)
When you decide you want to come back, you do me a favor.
Don’t.
♪ ♪
(mechanical buzzing)
(mechanical buzzing continues)
(bell rings)
(buzzing fades)
♪ If I go ♪
♪ A million miles away ♪
♪ I’d write a letter ♪
♪ Each and every day ♪
♪ ’Cause, honey, nothing... ♪
-Hey, Ed. -Hey, Bobby.
You ever run into Charlie Parker back in New York?
Nah, I wish I had.
Passed away in ’55 right before I got there.
-(phone rings) -Is that so? -Mm-hmm.
-Sylvia Johnson. -MONA: Sylvia Johnson.
(gasps) Mona.
-Hey, kiddo. -Where are you?
Washington for the March for Jobs and Freedom.
Oh, of course you are.
Gosh, I miss you.
Oh, I miss you, too, kiddo.
Why don’t you drive down and come to the march on Wednesday?
Mm, gosh, I wish I could,
but, you know, the show shoots on Wednesdays.
Oh, then at least come for the weekend.
We can drive down to the beach at Sandy Point.
You know, I could use the break.
Maybe I’ll see if Mama can watch Michelle.
(elevator bell dings)
♪ Oh ♪
♪ You’re the apple of my eye... ♪
Carmen?
Sylvie? (laughs)
Look at you!
(laughs) You, too. My goodness.
-Fancy seeing you here. -I know.
Oh, God, Buzzy and Chico
are playing a gig with Sarah Vaughan
Wednesday after the march.
-My goodness. -(chuckles)
And Robert was supposed to join them,
but he couldn’t get time off from the plant.
The plant? Is that what they’re calling Motown now?
(laughs) No, honey, the auto plant where he works.
Right.
Anyway, I’ve got to run, but I hope to see you Wednesday.
Give the guys my love, would you?
Right.
♪ I’d just say, "Welcome home..." ♪
MONA: Hey, favorite song from summer?
"Don’t Say Goodnight" by The Valentines.
Oh. (chuckles)
1957-- now, that was a great summer.
Yeah.
♪ Oh ♪
(both laughing)
♪ You’re the apple of my eye... ♪
Hey.
See you later, alligator. (chuckles softly)
♪ And, oh, you’re, you’re cake and ice cream ♪
♪ Oh, you’re sugar... ♪
Been practicing that?
(chuckles)
♪ Everything nice ♪
Good night.
♪ You’re the girl of my, my, my ♪
-Just... -♪ My dreams ♪
♪ But if you wanted to leave me... ♪
What I don’t understand is why he wouldn’t just tell me
that he didn’t have the job.
I would’ve gone with him.
I think that’s exactly why he didn’t tell you.
Kind of like you not telling him about being pregnant.
Maybe...
he didn’t want you to throw away
everything you worked so hard for.
You know...
most people never find that kind of love.
Not even for a summer.
It’s, well...
It’s extraordinary.
To extraordinary love.
♪ Change the love I have for you. ♪
Hey, now.
Favorite song for this moment?
"The Best Is Yet to Come."
-Sure is. -(elevator bell dings)
MONA: See ya, kiddo.
ED (voice-over): Catch that Tigers game last night?
-No. Who’d they play? -Kansas City.
Oh, yeah? Who won?
Hey, uh, Ed, I’ll see you tomorrow.
All right.
So I suppose you never did get to meet Smokey, huh?
No, not exactly.
Do you remember that thing you told me about
wanting me to be happy?
Even if it meant you couldn’t be a part of my life?
Well, what if I can’t be happy unless you’re a part of it?
♪ ♪
(Robert chuckles softly)
Well, then I guess that means we’re stuck with each other.
♪ ♪
("B-Loved (French Version)" by Cécile McLorin Salvant playing)
(singing in French)
♪ ♪
You could put it to some good use.
-Is that Mr. Jay’s sax? -Mm-hmm.
♪ ♪
(song fades)
♪ ♪
(music fades)