Original subtitles

Alone

So alone that I could cry

I want to be wanted right now

Not tomorrow

But right now

I want to be wanted

Hey, Adam, the party's dyin'.

Let's make with some happy songs.

Look, I paid good money to get in here.

- Hey, come on. - So did we all!

Pick up the tempo, boys.

It's a birthday party, for crying out loud.

- Hey. - Oh, the hell with you, buddy.

Hey!

You want... you want some happy sounds, man?

Happy, happy.

Well, here, why don't you go play the jukebox,

you mother...

Come on, buddy, come on, buddy.

Get off of me!

Adam.

Hey, man, don't say nothing to me, okay?

Don't say nothing.

But what am I supposed to tell Manny?

Dear, sweet Manny.

He's an agent, he's looking for his 10 percent,

well, give him 10 percent of that.

What's happening?

What am I gonna do with him?

Hey, hey, hey, wait a minute, wait a minute,

you don't talk to me as if I'm some sort

of a strange animal, Bobby.

You're my friend but you're still an agent.

You don't know what it's like to sit up on a stand

and blow your guts out night after night.

There's some idiot sitting there saying,

"Why don't you play Melancholy Baby, man?"

Well, I'm finished with it, I don't have to take it anymore.

Any musician that's worth anything

will tell you I'm right, ain't that right, Ron?

No, you are wrong, Adam. You can't do that.

Adam, when are you gonna realize this is a gig?

You can't treat people like that.

And once the people stop coming,

it's all over, baby.

These people out there, they pay our salary, man.

This is a nice place we working in.

I mean, what do you want? What's bugging you?

-Yeah, man, you can't just... -Hey, wait a minute,

hold it, hold it, hold it, cool it, fellas.

Adam, you know, I'm sick of you busting your own rules.

You know something, you came late, you're stoned.

I can smell it all over the bandstand.

You're evil with all the cats.

Look, why don't you go out there

and play real pretty for the people, huh?

Or that's it, you got it, I'm gonna split.

Hey, wait a minute, man.

Let me tell you something.

You don't leave, I leave.

You know what that sign says out there?

It says Adam Johnson, not Blindy.

I've had you with me for 10 years,

you understand that?

10 long years I've had you with me.

You should go on a corner some place

and have a tin cup and sell pencils,

that's what you should be doing.

Oh, man.

Oh, Adam, you are scary.

Get your hands off me, man.

What a drag.

Come on, where the hell is your bag?

We're supposed to be going to New York, Cleo.

Let's get out of here, come on.

Adam!

Musicians.

You're children.

You're all children.

Yeah, Adam.

Who's that?

Who the hell is that?

Willie Ferguson.

Oh, Mr. Johnson.

Yeah.

Thought you was in Cincinnati.

I didn't have no thoughts about you

'cause I don't even know you.

So you gonna get the hell out of my apartment.

Now wait a minute, boy!

No, that's it, come on!

Davis said that I...

Let go of my arm.

I'm in my pajamas, boy.

And you gon' be in your pajamas.

Don't put me out, man.

What's the matter with you, are you crazy?

No, no!

Get out of here!

Don't do that!

Hey, Johnson, you acting like a crazy fool.

Now, you open up this door.

Mr. Davis put us in there.

Oh, Mr. Davis, huh?

Oh, that make all the difference in the world.

You can tell him to get your clothes pressed.

That's it.

Move to another hotel.

Hey, baby!

He who hesitates is lost.

Don't I know it.

Grandpa!

Are you out of your mind?

That man, he's back.

-What? But... -Johnson.

He's crazy.

That man is crazy.

He put you out here?

Put me out there.

That cat is really crazy.

Are you gonna get...

That's my cousin.

Every cat should have a cousin like that.

Willie, you'd better get back in bed.

Claudia, fix him something hot to drink.

Oh, no, no, don't worry, just get him back in bed.

Come on, Grandpa.

Take these things off and go to bed.

That's it, nothing to drink?

He's likely to come in there and kill me in my sleep.

Oh, don't talk foolish.

All you need is a cold or something.

How do you do?

How do you do?

What the hell's the matter with you?

Man, look, I told you you could use my apartment

if you had a chick or something, you know?

And you want to swing a ring-a-dingy?

Shh, shh!

Hey, shushing me, man, this is my apartment.

You're losing your mind.

What'd you do, blow the gig?

No, I didn't blow the gig.

I didn't like the dress

the boss's wife was wearing,

so I just told her,

"Lady, take that dress off or I'm leaving."

She wouldn't take the dress off so I left.

- That's it. - Look,

you were supposed to be out of town.

You gave me the key, I brought the man in here,

and I'd like him to stay tonight and tomorrow.

I'll give you some loot for a hotel room.

Ms. Claudia Ferguson, Adam Johnson.

Hello.

Mr. Johnson.

To think I'm actually meeting you in person.

You know, I have all your albums, Mr. Johnson,

because I dig you the most, really I do.

You are something else.

I'm his cousin, and my name is Theo.

Claudia, you can stay at my apartment.

I'll fall in with a friend.

No, no, no, not... I wouldn't think of that.

It'll be all right.

Go on to bed, honey, I know you're tired.

Please, I insist.

Goodnight, gentlemen.

Goodnight.

How 'bout that, huh?

The way she just stood there and put me on like that.

Cool it, man.

Don't make a bigger mess of things

than you already have, you know what I mean?

Good night.

Good night, Nelson.

Good night, miss.

Adam, you're gonna let that girl stay here for real?

Don't let her stay here.

I got an idea, look.

Why don't you take some money SO you can go to the hotel,

the Hotel Tompkins, it's downtown on 47th Street,

see, and you let the cat give you a room,

and I'll be down there in about an hour and a half.

Get your bag, come on.

But Adam!

Come on, you'll be okay, Cleo.

My name is Theo.

Well, I call you Cleo because you remind me

of the Queen of the Nile.

Come on, get your bag, there we go, baby.

That the chick that let herself be bit by a snake?

Yeah, but don't worry about it, baby.

But, Adam, you told me I could stay here.

I'll be down there in an hour and a half.

Now, Adam, you made me leave my family,

my home, job, everything.

I'll be there in an hour and a half, baby.

Where is your cousin?

She split.

Listen, I'm... I'm awfully sorry about all this.

No, no, no, don't worry about it.

Might not turn out too bad anyway.

I'll take the couch.

No, I want you to sleep in my bed.

So you're Claudia, huh?

Hey, you know, Nelson has talked about

nothing else but you for the last month.

He says you're a fresh wind.

He makes a big thing about you being in jail.

He said Martin Luther won't make a move without you.

How long were you in jail?

A few weeks.

You cold?

No.

Why are you shaking?

Slap my face.

Come on, slap my face.

That's the resistance, huh?

The new Negro.

Love your enemy.

Hm.

Thanks to you I can buy a hot dog

at any dime store in the country now.

I'd like to wash my face and go to bed.

Wait a minute, chick.

Algiers, Louisiana.

I'm goofin' this up,

that isn't what I wanted to say.

Why don't you get a good night's sleep?

I made a very bad impression, haven't I?

Really, Mr. Johnson, I'm very tired.

Are you a virgin?

What's wrong with them Southern boys, huh?

Haven't they ever put down them picket signs?

You are acting just like they say we act.

And you don't wanna act that way

'cause that's what they say, huh?

Well, hell, baby, I won't tell nobody.

Come on, open up my door.

Get the hell away from that door, big city man.

I'll open your head.

All right, Sweet Daddy.

To be or not to be, that is the question.

Whether 'tis nobler...

Whether 'tis is nobler...

Hell with it.

Later.

Adam here?

Uh, no, I don't think so.

Are you a friend of his?

Not exactly.

Not exactly?

Well, what's your name, honey?

Claudia.

What's yours, honey?

Well, Vincent.

Adam and me, we're thick, you know?

Claudia, that's a pretty name.

And you're a pretty girl.

What you doin', boy?

Oh, I'm a... I'm a friend of Adam's.

He's teaching me, he lets me come up here sometimes.

Gee, I'm... I'm... I'm sorry,

I didn't know there was anyone up here.

Well, we're guests of Mr. Johnson's.

Well, I'm... I'm awful sorry.

I didn't know.

He's teaching you, huh?

Honey?

Yes.

Is Adam in town?

Yes.

Done it again.

Stupid.

Well, where is he?

I don't know.

Damn, man.

- Hello, baby. - Hi, Adam.

You're just going to bed or just getting up?

Adam Johnson.

First man of the trumpet.

Hear they're gonna book him into the zoo.

He's gonna play for the giraffes.

They can't talk back.

- They got no vocal cords. - Yeah.

Why don't you go get a job, man?

You know, he's right.

I mean, we could be out selling insurance

or workin' in banks.

Or a hundred other worthwhile pursuits.

I mean, but here we are in this funky dive

shuckin' and jivin'.

It's a shame.

I hear they need engineers in California.

Why don't somebody tell me these things?

Some guys just love themselves.

Take him, he could have been white

but he turned it down.

How's about that?

Yeah, man, how's about that?

Man, let me hip you to something.

When a guy's little,

and he knows he's little,

and he thinks that you're thinking he's little,

you look out.

You watch out, baby.

Hi, Adam.

Now what the hell are you doing here?

Well, I came to talk to you about a job.

Will you get out of here?

Yeah, it wouldn't do any good now.

I'd just get there in time for the last bell anyway.

You ain't gonna be happy till they throw you out on your a...

Till they throw you out on your head, are ya?

Look, I'll talk to you later, man.

Mr. Ferguson.

My name is Mr. Get the Hell Out of Here.

I'm sorry about that.

I was kind of wiped out last night.

I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.

I wasn't my normally charming self,

you know, sort of forget it,

sort of musician to musician, you know.

That's a very sweet apology, Grandpa.

You are not only pretty, you're sensitive,

'cause that was a very sweet apology.

And I brought this for you.

The man that I bought it from said they were...

They're flowers, that's what it is,

- some kind of flowers. - Thank you.

And I want you to accept them and like them

'cause they'll get me off the hook.

I don't like keeping anybody on the hook.

It sounds like I got a friend.

Shake?

Oh, and incidentally...

um, the place is yours.

Stay here as long as you want, enjoy everything.

I've got a good tape machine, So, you know,

play all the things you want.

It's all yours.

I suppose you didn't know who I was.

Why, as a matter of fact, sir, I did not.

Because had I known that Sweet Daddy Ferguson

was in my place,

you know I'd have to be more courteous than that,

wouldn't I?

Okay, I take a drink once in a while myself.

Hey, did you ever hear of Tree Top Jones?

Tree... oh, of course.

Play his 78s every morning before breakfast.

Oh, yeah, he's killer.

Find out who that is.

Well, if it isn't the boy agent.

Hello.

- Psst, psst. - Now I ain't gonna

never forget that golden glow

and all the cats out front.

Now, don't I get introduced?

I thought I was your friend.

You're my friend, Bobby.

Manny wants me to get a release from you.

A release?

Ah, come on, now look.

There are only six decent jazz joints

in the whole country, only six,

and you won't play discotheques.

Then what do you do?

You walk.

I'm sick, Bobby.

Look, why didn't you tell me you were sick?

You know you could have had the keys

to my house in the country, get some rest.

I'm trying to convince Manny that you can stick.

And you can.

So will you come in and talk to him?

Because, Adam, if he puts you down,

you'll be poison.

I've been poison for 14 years.

Look, I'll tell him you were sick,

and you'll come in and talk to him, okay?

Look, he's a businessman,

and he's not worrying about anything

except if you can cut out all the crap

and play with no trouble.

So will you come in and see him?

Please?

Sure.

When?

Monday.

Good.

Do you need anything?

No.

Okay, I gotta run along.

Oh, Adam, take it easy, baby.

Easy don't make it no more, baby.

What's happenin'?

Oh, not too much, man.

Then let's, uh,

let's make something happen.

Adam Johnson!

Hey, Adam!

Hey, what do you feel like doin', baby?

Let's do a little, uh, Ain't I, huh?

Where do you want it?

About here.

Look, Claudia, I have been an Adam watcher

since before I care to remember.

There's a lot more not to forgive.

Then why do you?

I didn't say I did.

But after all these years,

I'm still hung up on the guy.

Call it genius.

You know what it is that really makes

an actor or a performer a star?

That excitement,

that quality of personal danger,

where like any minute he might explode.

Well, he might and then he might not.

And some of us who love him,

well, all we can do is sit around and wait.

That's all we can do.

He's always been arrogant, ever since he was a kid.

But 10 years ago,

when his wife and kid were killed in that accident,

that's when he really flipped.

Ever married again?

No.

Lots of women though.

I bet.

Yeah, yeah!

Yeah, baby, yeah!

You're next, man.

Not behind that, baby.

That was cool, baby.

You gotta get that oiled.

Mr. Johnson, may I have your autograph?

I broke it.

Conceited little bastard.

Hi, Nelson.

Hi.

Um, Miss Harris, Miss Ferguson.

- How do you do? - How do you do?

You're Sweet Daddy's granddaughter.

- Yes. - How nice.

I read about him today in Winchell's column.

He said the only thing old about him was his clothes.

That is a fact.

- Now sit down. - Thank you.

You don't have to say hello.

That's right.

I don't have to say hello.

Hey, uh, why don't you let me

buy a fresh one for everybody?

Nope, it's too late.

I gotta take Claudia home.

Are you tired, Miss Ferguson?

Not a bit, in fact, I...

Oh, I guess it really is time to go.

Look, why don't you go on home, sleepy,

and I'll see the lady gets back.

It's 3:30.

Of course, well, if you want to stay...

No, Nelson, I guess we better go,

you know?

Give me three minutes.

I'll go with you, honey.

Okay.

Hey.

You blowed good.

You're mad at me, right?

Who, me?

Adam sure puts people on, you know?

Claudia...

I need to check who understands him.

Don't want to change him.

Gotta make it his way.

It's hard to love a man like that, isn't it?

No.

We fit.

He's got rocks in his head, I got holes in mine.

Is he gonna marry you?

That's what I mean.

You gotta make it his way.

I think you're a very nice person.

Basically.

What is it...

Mr. Johnson, please.

You're gonna wake Grandpa.

Please.

My agent has a place upstate.

What do you want with me?

I'm not the wildest looking chick you ever saw.

You've certainly seen better bodies.

Why me?

I don't know, I saw you in that...

Don't lie to me, Claudia.

I feel your body now and you want me too.

I'm not Martha, I can make myself do without you.

I want an answer.

Why me?

Maybe I want to spoil you

for any other man you might meet.

Spoil me?

Won't you be surprised if I spoiled you?

Listen, Mr. Johnson, you start up with me

and you're in for some big trouble,

'cause I'm more woman than you've ever handled.

You know something, you just might be.

I know what I am.

I know what I've got to give.

You don't.

I'm not interested in kissing your tears away.

And I don't want a seat at your funeral.

And I won't let you be any less than what you are.

Ever.

For a chick that ain't done nothing yet,

you sure lay down some strong dues, baby.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

He's dry, baby.

He's caked.

And he doesn't love you either.

He can't love anybody.

He just wants to rack you up like a pool ball.

Yes, I know.

Only there's something in that man,

something in his soul that keeps screaming to me,

"Help me, help me.

I don't want to die."

Nelson, please try to understand.

Yeah, I guess we've all heard that scream, all of us.

And every time we hear it,

we come running to try and save him,

because he's got SO much to save.

But you know something?

He won't let you save him.

All you can do is stand there and take it.

Whatever he hands out, take it and cry.

And that's what you're going to do, Claudia.

Believe me.

Take it and cry.

Oh, it's marvelous!

Don't you just love it?

Look, you even have a little color in your cheek.

Well, I... oh, of course.

It's all right, I guess.

But you gotta give me time to get used to it.

Oh, I'll give you time, all right.

I'll give you plenty of time.

Well, here we are.

I Know where I'm going, honey,

but I guess I don't know how to get there.

Don't be shook up about me, Mr. Johnson.

You didn't get me up here.

I got you up here.

What's so funny?

You know something, Mr. Johnson.

What?

Sometimes them Southern boys

do put down them picket signs.

Oh yeah?

Let me tell you something about playing horn.

You know all that jazz about colored cats

play so much better jazz than ofay cats?

I got a theory about that.

I say the reason why colored cats have more soul

is that they never took time out, see,

to take lessons.

They either stole a horn, found a horn,

or someone gave them a horn,

and they had to start from scratch.

So they had no other story to tell

but what was inside 'em, which was their soul.

Man, whether you're white or black,

everybody's got a soul, right?

So, blow your soul.

Don't tell me no other jazz,

just blow what's in you

and you'll come out straight.

Now play something to me,

talk to me nice like you talk to me.

Are you sure you ain't colored?

Maybe a little.

No, that was something else.

You blew you.

Come on, we'll play a little something together.

She's something else, Adam.

You gonna marry her?

Come on.

Um, excuse me, but are you folks

caretakers here or something like that?

No, Mr. Gales gave us the key

and said we should stay here for a few days.

Oh, well, do you have a note or something to that effect?

No, Mr. Gales is Mr. Johnson's agent.

Mr. Johnson is a musician.

Hey, what's going on?

What's the trouble?

Just want to know who you folks are

- and what you're doing here. - What, you wanna...

Well, I'll tell you what we are.

We're from the Mau Mau,

we're setting up an observation tower.

No, he's just joking, I tell you, we're vacation...

Now, wait a minute, honey, you don't have to explain.

He has no right to come knockin' on that door...

-Adam, please... -Hey now, wait a minute,

you don't impress me being a musician.

We put more of you people in jail than anybody else.

- Oh, you do, huh? - Yeah, we do.

Hey, Red, come on, they're just shacking up.

Hey, I don't like that man.

No, I don't... come, Adam.

Hey, hey, hey, roll your sleeve up,

I wanna see your arm.

- You what? - I said roll up your sleeve.

I want to see your arm.

Roll it up, you have nothing to hide, Adam.

Hey, Red, come on, let's go.

Why don't you go to hell, huh?

- Well, wait! - Hey, man!

No!

Well, come on, you wouldn't leave us alone, would ya?

All right, musician.

You get away.

Put this musician in the car.

I talked to Mr. Gales, everything checks out all right.

Tell you what, we'll just say $50.

Oh, yes, sir.

$50.

See if I can sort of work that out here

somewhere along the line.

There's one 20.

There's another 20.

I gotta find a 10 now, there gotta be a 10 in here some place.

Ah, there we are.

You can go now.

Thank you very much.

There you are, sir.

What's that for?

Well, haven't you heard?

We have 50 states now.

You can buy yourself a new flag.

Roll up your sleeve, Adam.

You got nothin' to hide.

That's right.

Two jerks come up here to do their job.

They find you, me, and a white boy,

which they weren't too thrilled about anyway,

and you have to give them some lip.

Save your heroism for something important.

It was important.

Don't you know that, Claudia?

Take a piece of you here, a piece of you there.

Suddenly there ain't nothing left except,

- "Yessir, boss." - Put that bottle down

- and let me take care of that? - You know something,

you talk a lot.

It's all you do is talk and talk and talk

and more talk.

Look, if you're so smart, how come you ain't rich?

I don't want you dead.

Don't you understand that?

Keep working on the Paris call.

Yeah, hold London.

Adam, the best thing I can do

is to tell you just what I think.

I know about discrimination.

I said hold it.

And I sympathize.

But you've gotta learn to behave.

Discipline.

All you have to do is blow your music,

grab the money, and run.

Oh, I know you've had a lot of tough breaks.

They had the accident, we all cried.

But that's 10 years now.

You've gotta snap out of it.

You became a louse with talent.

So you're an unusual louse.

But take that horn away, buddy, and what have you got?

Nothing.

I'd rather work with guys who have less talent

but get the job done.

Manny, look, Adam came here...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

He's an artist.

We are dealing with purity.

Nightclubs, hates.

Too hot and noisy.

Concerts, all big names.

Discotheque, he won't even talk to you.

I don't know if I can get the guy a job.

If he wants to blow his soul,

why didn't you put him in some crib joint

and let him work for short money?

Hey, he's here, he's sitting right here.

I know he's here, I can see him.

Look, Adam.

You've gotta convince me.

"Cause if you screw me up one more time, it's over.

You're going on the road, six weeks.

Be a hell of a show, Adam.

No, I mean it.

Hell of a show.

Who do you got, Bobby, you got Stan Getz?

Well, no.

Dave Brubeck or Les McCann?

No.

Look, I know you don't like to travel,

but we're gonna make it as comfortable

as possible for you.

All right, where?

Six weeks, one nighters.

The South.

Oh, boy.

Manny.

I know you say I have to have discipline.

Why do I have to have it in the South?

I didn't mean to make it easy.

You know, there are guys down there

who know what I think

and would like to kill me.

Look, you're a musician.

You go down there and you blow.

Then you get on the bus,

in the back if necessary.

Now sign these contracts or get out of my life.

You're a nice man, Manny.

You're really a real nice man.

It's too bad you hate musicians

just because you never made it.

Tell me, Manny, what about discipline, huh?

I'm not a social worker, I'm an agent.

Yeah, I know.

Tell me, what does it mean, you know?

Suppose you're me, Manny.

You're me and you walk out of one of those places

at night after the gig and...

there are 10 haters standing there.

And they don't want autographs, Manny.

Where does your discipline come then, huh?

Where does it come, Manny?

Manny...

Answer me, Manny.

Dammit, answer me!

I want you to tell me.

Let me see your discipline, Manny.

- Adam, are you crazy? - Stay out of this, Bobby.

Adam, put that down or I swear I'm through.

I said stay out of it.

Come on, big man, on your knees.

I said on your knees.

Come on, crawl, big man.

Come on, crawl!

On your belly, Manny, on your belly.

Come on, crawl for me, baby.

Crawl!

See?

There's your discipline.

Hey, man, you coming to the thing?

What thing?

Well, after this, um,

at the Mill Green studio,

courtesy of DownBeat Magazine.

Food, liquor, door prizes.

Fun and games.

Of course.

All right, we'll be there.

! had a woman

So what? I had five

Braggin'

Livin' way back of town

Yes

Whoa, she treated me right

Never let me down

But I wasn't satisfied

What did you do?

! had to run around

Just like your daddy

Now she's gone and left me

I'm worried as could be

Yes, I've searched this world all over

Wondering where she could be

You just haven't looked far enough, Daddy

I must ask her to forgive me

Maybe she'll come back to me

But I doubt it

Now I'm lonesome and blue

And I've learned a thing or two

Yes, fellas, here's a tip

I'm gonna pass on down to you

Tell 'em everything, Sweet Daddy

Don't leave out nothin'

Never mistreat your woman

Because it's gonna bounce right back on you

And that ain't no stage joke either

- That's Sweet Daddy's group. - Who's on the drums?

Yeah, who's on the drums there? Joe Jones, man.

Joe Jones on drums?

How's Pops look?

He looks good. He looks great, baby.

Hey, honey, uh...

I see a guy...

I gotta talk to him a minute.

Keep an eye on my girl, will ya, Vinny?

Les.

I want to talk to you, man.

I come here to get my jollies off, baby.

Shove off.

Look, I...

All right, man, I was wrong, all right?

I was wrong.

Let me talk to you, huh?

You know something?

For the first time in my life

I'm glad I'm blind.

I can't see you.

Get me outta here, baby.

Hello, Miss Harris.

I understand you were involved in those sit-in demonstrations

and all of that down there.

- Yes. - Fantastic.

You mean you sit on a stool,

cat comes along and knocks you off,

you just get back up on?

Well, it...

That's a gas.

I hear they have special classes

where they teach you how to take abuse.

Why don't you teach me some of that scam?

You dirty, black bitch.

Oh! Adam, no!

No! Adam!

Please!

Stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen,

ladies and gentlemen, please, please take your seat.

Please, please.

Ladies and gentlemen, please, please take your seats.

Please, please, take your seats.

It's all right.

Take your seats, please.

As a matter of fact, the whole thing was arranged.

That's just what happened in the good old bad old days

back in Tintype Hall

whenever Sweet Sugar Daddy played!

Look.

All right, I was wrong, okay?

I shoulda waited.

To find out what it was all about,

maybe let her break your head with a bottle.

Honey, all I saw was that old chick's hands

on that cute, little doll.

Adam.

Clowning is not it.

All right.

Come on, who's kidding who, huh?

You've had it, right? I mean, that's it, isn't it?

When you found out you ain't no miracle worker, didn't you?

Why you always pushing me to put you down?

Can't you stand love?

Look, I am what I am, baby. That's it.

What do you think I expect of you?

I don't know.

I don't know what you ex...

But whatever the hell you expect of me,

I can't make it, baby. I just can't.

Adam, I don't want you to be any less than what you are.

Come on, Claudia, let's face it, huh?

It won't work, baby.

I mean...

why don't you go back to school

and write your plays

and write about the dignity of man

and save humanity?

I just drag you down, baby.

I'm in love with you

And all that jazz

You're my dream come true

And all that jazz

Baby, you're too much

You got the skin I love to touch

The skin I love to touch too much

And all that jazz

You have got the lips

That suit my taste

And your fingertips

Can't be replaced

Oh, baby, what you've got

Nobody has

And I got you and all that jazz

And all that jazz

Watch yourself at all times.

And all that jazz

Big Joe!

Baby, you're too much

You've got the skin that I love to touch

The skin I love to touch too much

And all that jazz, yeah

You have got the lips

I know you can do this. Let me hear it!

And all that jazz!

She's not really too hip

And all that jazz

Hey, Ella!

Oh baby, what you got

Nobody has

I got you and all that jazz

Here we go

I'm in love with you, pretty baby

And all that jazz

You are my dream come true

And all that jazz

Baby, you are really too much

You've got the skin that I love to touch

The skin I love to touch too much

And all that jazz

You have got the lips that suit my taste

You all right, lady?

Nobody has

And I got you

Yes, I got you

I got you

And all that jazz

And all that jazz

Hey, Sweet Daddy.

Yes?

Sounds like a pretty swinging, groovy party.

Oh, people's nice, Adam.

But don't stay long.

I reckon an old man

makes these kids uneasy.

Seem like the people don't know what to say to me.

Maybe it's just that they don't know what to say

to a genius.

Excuse me.

Adam?

Could I see you a minute?

Yeah, sure.

Aren't you dead yet, baby?

No, but you are.

- Mr. Johnson! - Cool it, man.

- Adam. - Nice party, Milt.

Adam.

- Man, I wanna talk to you. - Look, I came over here

to apologize, okay?

For what particular thing this time, huh?

Look, don't get salty, Nelson.

I'm not salty, Adam, I'm just tired,

you know what I mean?

You mess up and you apologize.

You goof off and you apologize.

I'm always the guy who understands.

But after what you did to Claudia.

After what I did to her?

What are you doing to that old man over there, huh?

You know what you're gonna do?

You're gonna break his heart.

You and your true jazz.

You know what's gonna happen, Nelson?

You're gonna play a while, he's gonna be in,

then the novelty's gonna wear off,

the oddity's gonna be gone.

And he won't be able to go back home again in the rice fields

and that sweet, nice, old man's

gonna be bumming drinks at bars up in Harlem.

Hey, Adam, Adam, Adam. Hey, this trio is cooking, man.

Come on, get your horn and wail a little bit, will ya?

I got no horn with me.

Well, listen, everybody expects you to play, baby.

- Come on. - I don't care

what they expect from me, Mel.

You're a musician, you're supposed to know,

I don't feel like playing, I don't play, that's all.

Gee, I'm sorry, dad, I just thought

you'd like to play a little bit.

- See ya later. - No, wait a minute.

Maybe later on, I...

I'm hung out, Mel. Later on I'll play.

Hey, listen, pal, are you okay?

Yeah, I'm okay.

Yeah, well, I'll, uh...

I'll see ya a little later on, huh?

Adam.

Adam?

Adam.

You slept 16 hours, you know that?

Ready for breakfast?

Look, as soon as I find you a place,

I want you to get outta here.

Uh-uh.

I'm starting something new.

A live-in.

What's a live-in?

All right then, a love-in.

- Want to call the cops? - No.

- See that? - Yeah.

That is food.

- Yeah. - Food!

Fork, knife, spoon.

Are they all coming back to you?

Claudia, maybe you can, uh...

maybe you can stand what I'm doing to you

but I can't.

My dear man.

Little things escape you.

Such as I adore you.

And I'm mad about you.

Stop blaming yourself for the accident.

It wasn't your fault.

I killed my wife.

My baby.

Blinded Les.

And Claudia, it was my fault.

They slashed your tires, Adam.

No.

No.

We were playing a little Southern town,

it was right after the concert.

Been a good concert that night,

everybody was swinging.

There was a bunch of kids, jazz fans.

White kids, colored kids.

Just jazz fans.

They were getting autographs

and some of the girls were kissing me on the cheek.

There was this big cop there,

big ofay cop, man.

He didn't like that at all.

Then one of the girls brought me over

a big bucket, champagne bottle in it,

all wrapped up like a present.

Cop stopped her.

Said, um, "Who's that for?"

She said, "It's for Mr. Johnson."

Took his club...

Pop.

Knocked it out of her hand.

And looked back at me and... said to her,

"I don't see no Mr. Johnson.

All I see is a bunch of niggers.”

So...

I went out and I got drunk.

I got stone drunk.

I couldn't see nothin'.

I got in my car...

and started to drive.

I was drunk, Claudia.

I was evil,

and I was drunk.

Adam.

You know somethin'?

- I'm starving. - You're starving.

Look, I sold my car and I got Quincy

to make us some arrangements.

Could be a swinging group if you guys want to make it.

Hey, bro, the man don't know.

Adam, word's out.

The man up there, the big man,

ain't nobody's supposed to mess with you, no way.

But that was the octopus you made crawl, baby,

with them long things.

Say, man, Les is going into the Tiger Cub,

why don't you try him?

He's supposed to be your boy, ain't he?

Well, it's a thought anyways.

Thanks, guys. Babs.

Come on, Vinny.

Give $30 to see Manny on his belly,

crawling in that fine suit like a commando!

That's what I told him!

Look, Miss Ferguson,

you may be in love with the guy, but I'm not.

I'm not talking against him,

but I've had it.

I just don't want him in the group.

You know, last time he walked out,

Les put him down hard and I said amen.

His past is catching up with him.

And, well, everybody knows he's stone instant grief.

You didn't hear me.

I said he's dying.

He needs a job, fellas. He's dying!

Damn!

Hiya, fellas.

Hey, man. How you doin'?

- Hey, Nelson. - Les, baby, how are you?

Hi, Leroy.

Hey, man, it's good to see you, Les.

Say, I understand you're gonna open at the Tiger Cub.

- Yeah, yeah. - Oh, that is good news.

Come on in, fellas.

Say, would you like some booze?

I think we got enough to go around one more time.

No, wait a minute, no, no, Nel.

Uh... Claudia Ferguson. Les Roberts.

Ron Baker, Leroy Patterson, Kai Winding.

- You guys know Vince back there. - Oh sure.

Oh yeah.

Well, um, come on in, fellas.

Find a seat for yourselves.

And for you, Les,

the boss's chair.

Hey.

Hey, this is one of them low ones, huh?

Man, you don't know how good it is to see you.

Hey, dad, when you gonna open?

Friday.

Hey, you ever worked for Luther?

- No. - Nice man.

He says to me, "Hey, Les.

You know I can't pay you much

but you can blow what you like, you know,

this is your home."

You know, one of them lifetime gigs.

Oh, Les, man, that's great.

That's wonderful.

Yeah, nice place, nice people.

A real listening joint, they tell me.

Well, we"re real satisfied.

'Course, it's not like swinging with the old group, you know?

I, uh...

Well, we came over tonight,

we were wondering if... if Adam would come back

with the group.

Yeah, we sure miss him, Nels.

Is he here?

Yeah, I'm here.

I still ain't ready to work for scale, yet.

Hey man, it's all over the street,

what you did to the man from Amalgamated.

Baby, that's a hard man.

You figured you'd be able to pick me up cheap, huh?

Baby, we pick you up and we don't get booked either

by Amalgamated.

All right, tell me, why you breakin' your neck for me, huh?

I mean, I blinded you, man.

Yeah, I know.

But you paid my hospital bill.

Baby, you kept me on the payroll.

You paid me three bills a week

for ten years.

Maybe I wasn't payin' you.

Maybe I was just payin' myself, huh?

I knew your guts turned over every time you looked at me.

I coulda worked other places,

I didn't have to work with you.

But I stayed around.

'Cause I wanted you to look at me every day

for ten years.

Maybe I could make up for what I'd done to you, Adam.

What you done to me?

Hey, baby...

I think you just got yourself a trumpet player.

Adam.

Whisper to one

How much you love her

Whisper to one

How much you care

Whisper to one

You place no one above her

Tell her your life

Is hers to share

Whisper to two

And troubles will hound you

Whisper to two

And you may wind up with none

For love is a thing

You shout to the world all around you

But you whisper

You whisper to one

Man, Luther, business looks good.

Too bad.

No soap in the men's room.

You kiddin', Sarge?

Luther, I said no soap in the men's room.

Well, I'll take care of it right away.

Let me put it to you this way.

The captain thinks maybe he'll pull

your trumpet man's police card.

Who's behind this?

I didn't ask.

Goodnight, Luther.

Oh, the other four are okay.

Yay!

Yay!

Hey baby, we ain't finished yet.

Keep your sign up.

One, two, three, four.

And we're gonna take five

Adam, can I see you a minute?

Hey!

All right, so what does that mean?

There was $1,000 worth of soap in the men's room.

They'll close me up, Adam.

Right now, they could walk in and find 40 violations.

You know these rats. What am I gonna do?

The little man has a long arm,

friends in the party.

Liquor licenses are under the police.

Adam, if they walk in and close me up,

where will we all be?

Yeah, Luther, where will we all be?

Hey!

What's wrong?

Get your hand off me!

Hey man.

Adam.

Adam!

Wait, no.

Adam, you walk away from me now

and you can keep going forever.

Get away from me.

No, Nelson, please.

Don't let me see you no more, man, huh?

It'll be my pleasure!

What the hell is wrong with you?

Vinny, get away from me.

And get out of the business, you're no good!

You stink!

You understand that?

And you're white!

And what do you need it for?

I don't understand it.

I don't understand it.

I can deal with a character, something real.

But...

Hello.

Uh, yeah, Les.

No, I haven't.

Look... I don't give a...

Les, I don't care why he walked out.

Yeah.

She's here.

Les.

Les? Yes, I'm listening.

Hey, uh, hey mister...

could you give me 15 cents for the subway?

Well...

Here's $50.

But you... wait a minute.

You gotta promise me you'll buy wine with it.

Oh, yes, sir.

That's exactly what I'm gonna do,

you can bet on that!

- Yessirree. - Swing, baby.

Thank you. Hey, mister, why don't you come with me, huh?

Come on, we can have a ball, huh!

What do ya say?

No, man, I'm going to England.

I'ma go to England.

Yeah. Fine, thanks.

- Hey. - Just a minute please.

Hello, Adam, how are you?

All right.

Is Manny here?

Yeah, he's inside.

That's good.

That's very good.

That's very good.

Manny!

Manny, what?

What do you want me to do, Manny?

Manny...

Look at me, Manny, I'm crawling for you, Manny.

Adam... keep away.

I'm crawling to you, see?

I will, Manny.

I'll do anything you want me to.

Manny, I...

I'll shine your shoes for you, see?

You want me to go south, Manny?

I'll do it, Manny.

Anything you tell me to do, I'll do.

What are you doing, Adam?

For God's sake, what are you doing?

Get up!

Anything you say, Manny.

All right, what do you want, Adam?

I would like...

Manny, I...

I would like to...

to go on a tour, see?

Anything you want me to do, Manny, I'll do.

There's this kid.

This kid I know, see.

His name is Vincent.

You know him, Bobby.

He...

He's a good kid, man.

I'd like to take him along.

You're the star.

Well, if...

if that's the case, I'd like to...

you know, I'm gonna have to have some money on the road, man.

I'd like very much to have my...

I like... I figure I should get about $1250 a week, huh?

I repeat, you're the star.

You're the star.

Yeah, that...

that calls for a drink, huh?

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, yeah

Yeah

Yeah, talk to me, Vinny.

Let's take him home, huh?

Yeah!

- Hey! - Hey, lovers, hey!

Hey.

Get 'em out!

Keep on playin', man!

Hey!

I'm all right, Vinny, get back out there.

He's right, get out there and play.

You tell Manny, see,

you tell him [...

I had discipline, I did my job,

I had discipline.

Only the audience didn't.

I realize this isn't much but we call it home.

Wait a minute, here you go.

Sit yourself down, make yourself comfortable.

- My suitcases. - Oh, your suitcases.

I was just lookin' at you 'cause you look good.

Get them suitcases for that lady.

Yes, sir, here's your suitcase!

Now, I gotta talk to you.

Gotta tell you what happened.

We started out, see, on the tour

and I was scared.

No sense in lying, I was really scared.

And suddenly, it started to happen.

We played one date,

I'd get in the bus afterwards

and the cats, you know, they were always Kibitzing,

cats are turning on and, you know, drinking.

And I suddenly found myself looking at them

and laughing a little bit.

I think I was laughing at myself too.

But I was making it, Claudia. I started to make it.

We finished one date and then another one.

The audiences were wild.

Everything started to happen good.

And I finished it. Finished the whole tour.

Now we're up north, there's no problems.

You know what pulled me through?

I kept thinking about what you said to me,

how you never wanted me to be less than what I am.

And... I made it.

I love you.

I love you very much.

And I...

I would like to marry you.

I want you to be my wife,

spend the rest of your life with me.

I love you.

Well, come on!

Now wait a minute, I've seen all those movies now.

The guy says to a girl, "I'd like your hand in marriage,"

and she goes, "Ooh, I never thought that you would ask me!"

Having waited already for ten years

for him to say it, right?

Well, say something, honey, I want to marry you.

Let's not talk about marriage yet, huh?

You're still testing me, aren't you?

No, and I'm not going anywhere.

It's just that I don't think you should talk about marriage

when you're at such a high emotional peak, okay?

You should wait until you level off.

Be sure.

I tell you what, you...

you marry me and I'll never level off.

All right?

- Know something? - Uh-huh.

- I'm starving. - You're starving!

I want a piece too, baby, I'm starving!

- You were great tonight. - Thank you.

- It was great. - Thank you.

I wish I had the time, guys,

but I gotta go get the bus.

- There you are. - Thank you.

- Here's a pencil. - Here you go.

You wailed your butt off tonight.

May I have your autograph?

Hey there, Vinny.

How does it feel to be a star, huh, Vinny?

Adam!

Adam, do something!

Adam, help him, please!

Adam! Adam!

- Adam! - Stop it, Claudia, stop it.

Now how long you intend to go on punishing yourself like this?

You are not responsible!

How can you say that, Nelson?

I fell in love with a beautiful, sensitive man.

A hurt man, a man who hit back,

who never let anybody step on him.

He was proud and what did I do?

I lectured him.

"Adam, you can't do this.

Adam, you mustn't do that.”

I would rather he fought on that street corner and died.

- Claudia. - Yes, died!

But instead he stood there and did nothing,

because of me.

He loved me.

And he gave up his manhood for me!

Oh!

He was always talking about what he was doing to me.

Dear God, what did I do to him?

What did I do to him?

Where ya been, boy?

You look chewed up and spit out.

We all been goin' out of our mind.

Is Vincent dead?

No. He's comin' along.

He'll be fine.

Hey.

How come you ain't up there blowin'?

Well, I'm restin' my chops.

Hey, boy.

Let's get on down to the band room, huh?

Yeah.

I think you're gonna have to help me.

With pleasure.

Fourteen. See if you can beat that.

What have I got, Ron?

Twelve. Gotcha again.

Lose all of my money to a blind man.

Yeah, I'm going.

Boy, really get him.

Sure did.

Adam?

Why don't you come and blow one, baby?

I can't, baby.

I ain't got no trumpet.

I ain't even got a mouthpiece.

We got a horn for ya.

Ron? Get that case over there.

Here, we got that, Adam.

We got it outta pawn for you, baby.

See you on the stand, then.

Keep the change.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

This is sort of a special night.

We're honored to have with us

the first man of the trumpet,

Mr. Adam Johnson.

Thank...

Thank you very... very much.

I guess I should explain to you...

Well, uh, I apologize for the way I look.

See, I've been moonlighting a little bit.

I've been helpin' 'em build a mothergrabbin' subway.

It's nice.

It's nice to...

to be back...

with the guys.

Yeah, we like...

Let's do a number that, uh...

has a feeling of jazz and all that.

Now, you know about jazz,

all you jazz buffs, huh?

There's an old saying that jazz came up the river on a boat.

I found out the reason why it came up on the boat is...

they wouldn't let them mothers on the train.

Help me!

What happened?

He was born to blow a horn

And all that jazz

For that horn we mourn

And all that jazz

Played his way to fame

But for the way he played the game

He only had himself to blame

And all that jazz

He was cool and proud

And on his own

Even in a crowd

He walked alone

The genius that was his

Nobody has

Peace to his soul

And all that jazz