Original subtitles

So before we meet our special guest, I'm curious to know, what do you think a

gang member looks like?

Marcus.

Probably has tattoos.

Tattoos, okay.

Anyone else?

Leticia.

He's probably ripped.

Ripped. Lots of gold jewelry.

Gold jewelry.

Baggy pants.

How old?

19, 20.

Meet Charlie, a former gang member.

Hi, kids.

Hey.

Thank you.

What gang were you in? The old geezer gang?

No.

That's the gang I'm in now.

But the one I want to talk to you about is the one I joined when I was 15.

Right here in Harlem.

Only instead of dope, we sold hooch.

What's hooch?

Moonshine. Back there in the early 30s, it was illegal because of the

prohibition laws.

Clubs that sold alcohol secretly were called... Speakeasies.

Right.

And I ran one. My club was the spot.

Tiger Club.

I had this dream. So I used the first few bucks the

gang gave me to buy myself a beat -up old trumpet.

Taught myself to play.

Folks said I was pretty good.

But my dream died.

So what happened?

I got busted.

Did 20 years instead.

Never saw my trumpet again.

My dream was over.

You really made them think, Charlie.

That's my job.

Make them think while I've still got a thought in my head.

I don't.

How are the kids doing down at the youth center?

The one constant in their lives is the hardest one to fight.

Prejudice.

Poverty. Eats us alive.

That and... Marcus, take this down to the park and give it to Longboy.

Drugs. Not today, man. I really gotta get... Yo, you dissing me, fool?

Take your hat off.

All right.

All right. I'll do it. Give it to me.

This ain't none of your business, old man.

What are you gonna do?

Kill me?

I'm too old to scare. Give it to me, Marcus.

Doesn't have to be this way, son.

I hate your sons.

Now give me that before I blow you away.

Marcus, go get help now.

What are you doing, man? Are you crazy? What was that?

Was that a gunshot? Charlie!

Charlie! Are you okay?

Okay. Okay. Just hold tight, Charlie.

Charlie!

Charlie! Someone call...

Rose.

Who's Rose? Who's Rose, Charlie?

No greater love

hath a man than he who would lay down his life for his brother.

Change. We could change the world.

Change. Real.

Change!

Change!

Change!

Charlie. Charlie,

talk to me.

No. No.

No.

No. No.

What's going on?

How shall I put this?

Mr. Freeman, you've crossed over.

You've passed on.

I'm dead.

And I'm Smith.

And this is the Honorable Judge Othniel.

Mr. Freeman, can you think of a better place for judgment?

than the neighborhood of your youth, what do you remember?

My mama died when I was 12.

Daddy, a month after, I was on my own.

Delivery okay?

I'd give a milk to a baby.

So, Charlie, you're a sharp kid. That's me.

I like you.

I got my eyes on you for bigger and better things.

I knew the day of wrecking would come.

Who were those guys?

A gang.

We ran shine.

It's not a proud part of my life. And you have been atoning for your mistakes

most of your life. But that is not what this case is about. It's not good

because it was the depression, Judge.

And since prison...

He has been working with kids his entire life.

Why haven't you asked Mr.

Freeman about his last words?

Rose? Precisely.

Why were your dying words, Rose?

I don't know.

Mr. Freeman, when was the last time that you were truly happy?

So happy that the ordinary became the extraordinary.

That every color looked brighter.

And every fragrance smelled sweeter.

But, sir, what you're describing sounds a lot like... Love.

Well, that's it, isn't it?

You were in love with a woman named Rose.

Mr. Freeman, you denied yourself love.

under the mistaken notion that you were no longer worthy of it.

And without love, your life became a mere shadow of itself.

No, that's not true.

I loved helping my children.

Loving your work and sharing your love with another human being are two very

different things.

And you know that, Mr. Freeman.

Now, sir, you have paid your debt to humanity.

Pay your debt to yourself.

I'm past my time for loving Rose.

You will have three days, and three days only, to return to your past and

reclaim the love that you lost.

You will go back with all your memories intact.

No one will recognize you.

You are a free agent in the universe with the blessing of God Almighty and

court. No, but...

and do do do

Magic. I got magic in my hands. And that horn player, he's dynamite. He's me.

You mean that's you?

Then that must be... Rose.

You were great.

Looks like not everyone was happy about you and Rose.

I don't have anyone.

We didn't care.

Till later.

Rose, this is my new piano player, Michael.

This cat can really jive. Yeah.

Nice to meet you, man. I'm Michael Smith.

Well, ain't this a dog?

You must be Jack.

Dog gone.

Welcome to the Tire Club.

This is Jack.

Told you all about him.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Jack.

Pleasure's all mine.

Give me a few ticks, would you, doll?

You know, my uncle Hanks has told me some crazy stories about you and him

in Johnson's County.

Son of a... I've known your Uncle Hank since he was a knee -high to a cricket.

When's your Uncle Hiney back from Great Aunt Maddie's funeral?

A few more days, I think.

Came on ahead with the shipment, right?

Yes, sir.

Bring him by the warehouse tomorrow.

You were late, Charlie.

And you missed my new song.

Sorry, Miss Mika.

Don't go getting yourself in the lather.

You know I'm here for the next set.

Business over, Charlie?

Sure, Rose.

Only pleasure now.

Until tomorrow.

Enjoy the club.

I can't believe Othniel sent me here.

This is totally awesome.

Hey, don't worry about it.

All we need to do is keep you out of prison and you and Rose are home free.

There are all kinds of prison, Smith.

And I'm stuck in one of the worst of the worst.

The prison of doubt.

What are you doubting?

Your love?

Not my love.

Hers.

A message got to me in prison that Rose was the one who turned me in.

You don't believe that?

Not in my heart.

But the truth is, I didn't ever know who she was.

Turned out the agent in charge of the bust, the one who took me down,

he was also Rose's father.

Still hurts, those few nights in jail.

I thought I might as well die because living without Rose was that hard.

My whole world fell apart.

I don't think I could survive that again.

You're not going to have to.

I got a sixth sense about these things. I know what's coming.

Sorry, mister.

Did you see that coming?

Why would Othniel...

Send you back here for Rose if she betrays you.

She lied about who she was.

To protect me? To betray me?

Last night you seemed to be hiding the bootlegging action from Rose. How'd she

even find out?

I told her.

I trusted her with my life.

Happy birthday, Rosie.

Oh, no, now. They're marvelous.

Thank you.

What are you waiting for? Put them on.

I knew it.

I knew when I saw them in the store window they were just made for you.

Look at you.

Rosie, is something the matter?

I mean, if you don't like them, I could take them back.

Oh, no.

They're swell.

It's just... I wish I could tell my parents about you.

Stop, Rosie.

They'll never accept me.

Because they're living in the past.

For crying out loud, it's the 30s.

Things would be so different if we were in Paris.

Come away with me, Charlie.

We'll go to Paris like Josephine Baker.

There'll be no one there to tell us how to live our lives. What am I going to do

in Paris?

I don't even speak French.

You'll play your horn at night. We'll hit all the jazz joints, and you'll

from the best.

Believe me, Charlie, it's different there.

Take me to Paris, Charlie.

We'll drink wine and nibble baguettes.

I meant for money, Rose.

We can't live on the dail baguette.

We can sell these.

They must have cost you a pretty penny.

The dough will at least pay for our passage.

I love you, Charlie.

Let's go somewhere our love won't offend anyone.

I love you too.

But I'm not selling your birthday present.

Look, I got a deal that's going down in the next couple days, and with my cut

from that...

I'm sure we'll be able to get to Paris.

Oh, Charlie, you're the bee's knees.

So what kind of deal is this you got?

Don't worry your pretty little head about it, all right?

Charlie, we're about to go to Paris together, and you're going to keep

from me now?

Spill it.

Smith.

Uh, Smith.

Smith.

Where are you?

The game?

That's where you've been? At the game?

Not just any game.

It's a 1932 World Series.

No babe hasn't hit a homer yet.

Well, if I'm gonna hit a homer, I don't need your help.

With what?

Unloading this.

Ooh, that looks heavy.

I look 87.

Which is why you gotta move your goods.

Well, that's the last of it.

Oui.

This is a lot of hoots. Delivery going okay?

Everything's jig.

Glad to hear. Glad to hear.

Everything copacetic?

I give a milk to a baby.

Listen, Charlie, I stopped by to give you a piece of advice.

It's about that white girl you've been seeing.

Yeah, don't look good.

Last night when you two came strutting through here, Jimmy and I heard some

folks jawing.

What?

Who'd you complain it?

Don't matter.

Yes, it does. Give me your name.

Veronica Banks.

Oh, man.

Veronica's just mad because I don't pay no never mind.

I think half our customers are little ladies with eyes for you.

Which is why I didn't say anything earlier.

I figured in a few weeks you'd be cutting around with the next skirt.

Rose has no skirt.

She's a nice gal.

My gal.

Charlie, you're a sharp kid.

I like you.

I got my eyes on you for bigger and better things.

So hear me like I'm your mama.

Daddy's little girl is just getting her kicks with a bad boy from Harlem before

she settles down with some nice white lawyer with a gold -plated name.

No.

It's more than that.

Trust me.

It ain't.

You'll see.

It's not too late for you.

Too late for what?

For you to make a fresh start.

Look, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

Why don't you tell Uncle Hank? I don't get to say goodbye.

You going somewhere?

Yeah. Me and Rose are catching some air soon as I get my cut.

Don't wait for your cut.

Hold it now.

I'm not going until I can take care of Rose and style.

Well, I'm thinking Rose is used to living pretty high on the hard.

You see that man?

That's federal agent Hathaway.

Yeah, so? He's got no business with me.

He has now.

He's Rose's father.

Okay, it goes right about you.

You're off your nuts.

Rose's father, he's not a fed.

He works on Wall Street.

And besides, her real name is not Hathaway, it's Callahan. That's what she

you. Expect me to believe that after a year, I don't even know my gal's real

name? What are you getting this bunk?

Oh, it doesn't matter.

What matters is it's true. No.

Rose wouldn't lie to me.

Hey, fellas.

There she is.

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, wait a minute. You know, maybe you don't have

freak. Freak? What do you mean freak?

Freak's from the circus.

He means that just because Hathaway's Rose's father doesn't mean she's putting

one over on you.

Listen to yourself.

Even you have doubts.

Oh, and I even told her about the shipment.

If anything happens, they'll kill me.

If Rose turned me in, I hope they do kill me. Put me out of my misery.

Isn't that why you're here?

I finally learned the truth once and for all. But what is the truth? Charlie,

for better or for worse, there's only one person who can answer that.

Why, yes, it is.

Oh?

Well, that's very nice of you.

Mother, may I have dinner at Irene's?

Oh, I don't know, dear. I think your father was planning on a nice family

dinner. Yes, I was.

But you may go.

Thank you, Father.

I'll be over shortly.

I'll go get ready.

How was the moving picture?

Irene.

She's the one you went to the movies with last night, right?

The new Gable picture?

Yes.

He was dreamy, and there were enough fireworks between him and Lombard to

up New York.

Rose!

Gable and Lombard create enough fireworks to light up New York.

You know, she's not going where she says she's going, don't you?

I trust Rose, dear.

I don't.

He must hate me.

Why did you lie to him?

I had no choice.

Oh, there's always a choice.

Do you think he would have let me into his club, let alone his life, if he knew

my true name?

In my heart, I wasn't lying when I said I'm Rose Callahan.

As soon as I get to Paris, that's who I'll be.

Rose, your past will always be part of you, whether you ignore it or not.

My friend Irene just got engaged and everyone thinks it's the cat's pajamas.

But I can't share my love with the world.

I have to hide it like it's some dirty little secret.

Look at the sky.

God makes us up a whole bunch of colors.

And everyone thinks it's beautiful.

Well... God put different colored people here, too.

Why should it be any different?

I don't know.

But it is.

To some people.

Not to me.

Not to me, Mr. Jack.

See, all my life, I've thought of marriage as an institution that...

Draws the life out of you.

Like my mother.

But with Charlie, it's different.

He makes the ordinary extraordinary.

When I tell him a story, he listens to me as if I'm the most interesting person

in the world.

He wants to know my feeling.

It's silly, but

When we dance, I feel like I'm floating.

You really love him.

More than anything.

I've made such a mess of things.

I don't want to lose him.

I think Charlie needs to hear that.

I know what you must be thinking, but you have to believe me.

I'm not working for my father.

Believe you?

Why should I believe you?

Because I love you.

Look at me, Charlie.

Look at me.

I didn't tell you because I was afraid of losing you.

So you'd rather lose me to the slammer?

Because you can bet that's where your pops will send me once he finds out his

daughter's been out with some darky.

Don't say that.

He called me worse.

That's why I want to go to Paris.

He can't bother us. No one can.

But you'll still be you.

And I'll still be me.

And not even Paris can change that.

Bye, Rose.

Wouldn't you know it, I finally get the answer to the question that's haunted me

all these years.

Get the answer I long for.

But instead of me and Rose sailing off into the sunset, we've broken up.

And it's all because of me.

You can't give up now.

There's still a day left.

I think I'd rather go to prison than know I hurt her this way.

Look what I found.

Morning.

How long have you been sneaking around with this Negro hoodlum?

I don't know. Are you going to deny it?

Where did you get that?

Were you snooping through my private things? And a good thing, too, Rose.

This man is a gangster. He is dangerous.

You could have been hurt. No.

You're wrong. Charlie wouldn't hurt a soul. He's a musician.

He only works at that club to be near the jazz.

And he's good, too.

Father, I wish you would hear him play.

If you did, you'd know that he's kind and decent. And he is going.

To jail.

Father, you can't do that.

If this is about me and Charlie, you don't have to worry.

It's over.

We broke up.

I promise I'll never lay eyes on him again if you just leave him alone.

You'll never lay eyes on him, all right.

Not after tomorrow night.

Father, please, don't. He's an artist. You'll kill him.

Father, please, I don't...

Yes, operator.

Get me Evergreen 59477.

You know, Lillian, if you hadn't been so soft on her, maybe our little girl

wouldn't be gallivanting around town with some colored criminal.

Listen up. A change of plans.

Change of plans, sir?

You know that bus they've got planned for tomorrow night? The bus? The bus

leaves tomorrow night. Agent Smith, have you been into that shine? No.

No, sir.

Then pay attention.

I'm moving the bus up to tonight.

Club's closed tonight, sir. Just do as I say, Agent Smith.

Yes, sir.

You ready?

Ready for what?

The bus.

It's moved up to tonight.

You're going down, and... I'm the inside man who's supposed to set you up.

What? I...

Charlie, where have you been?

What are you doing with this woman?

What do you mean?

It means, uh, Veronica, Charlie here is in love with Rose.

Well, you've got it wrong, honey.

Rose ain't his dish no more.

Right, sugar?

You're gonna lose it all, Charlie.

And after you've lost it, all you'll be doing is surviving.

I'm too old to get slapped.

But I'd turn the other cheek for you.

You'll be sorry, Charlie.

What's the scoop, old man?

The feds are coming.

You don't know that. How could you know that?

Because...

I'm an undercover G -man.

What's the origin?

I think Charlie Boy's new piano player's a fed.

How come?

Came from a good source.

Mm -hmm. All good.

Very.

Very Veronica.

Can you trust a woman scorned?

Think about it.

Why would Hank suddenly beat it?

Because Charlie sent him away for his own protection.

My take is, the feds got to Charlie.

They're putting the pressure on him.

Now he's setting us up like some stool pigeons.

All right.

Let's go have a word with our boy Charlie.

And if it's true, then we take him for a ride.

Rose?

You didn't tell me you had a date tonight.

Better get dressed.

Thank

you, Michael.

Thanks for waiting. Sorry it took me so long.

I'd say you're just in the nick of time.

Little mad money.

I remember what it's like to be in love.

Oh, mother.

I wish you'd gotten to marry the man you loved.

But my darling.

Charlie, you've got to get out of here.

My father, he must have been following me. Now he's found out about us and he

plans to bust this place tonight.

I would have come sooner, but he locked me in my room.

I'm so sorry. I just had to warn you.

Charlie, the only woman you'll ever love is about to walk out of your life

forever. And you're just going to stand there mute and let it happen?

No.

Rose, I love you.

But the truth is, you're white. I'm colored.

Listen to me.

There are always going to be ignorant people who will try and make your life

difficult. Charlie, you've got to be strong.

Things are going to get better. You take my word for that.

But nothing is going to change unless someone takes the first step and starts

paving that road. And you pave that road with blind love.

And I'll be right there next to you.

You'll never be alone, I promise.

Rose.

Will you marry me?

I just wanted to speak with you, Charlie.

Oh, you too, Piano Man.

Jack, take care of my fiancée for me, will you?

And some jelly beans, one or more.

All right, Charlie.

Nobody move! Put him up!

Stand where you are! Stop!

Hold your fire.

Daddy, no!

Daddy!

Hold your fire!

Go! They're not going anywhere!

Put the locks on him.

Agent Smith, where's the key? Key. Key.

Y 'all want some jelly beans?

What happened? Welcome back.

You and Rose snuck out through the secret tunnel behind the jelly beans.

Two months later, you were married in Paris on the banks of the Seine.

At night, you hung out in jazz clubs, soaking up the music and playing every

chance you got. One time with Josephine Baker.

And Rose was jealous.

Where's Rose?

Don't worry.

You'll remember it all very soon.

Rose?

You loved each other for 60 years.

When she quietly passed away, you vowed to keep her love alive.

And it is alive.

In our children and grandchildren and

in our great -grandchildren.

Oh, really?

Hard thing has changed.

Not everything's changed, Charlie.

Do you do me the honor,

Mona Moore?

Change! You could change the world.

Change!

Rearrange your world.

Change!

Take one, divide by two.

Change! If it was only up to you to change.

To a world of wonder, from a world of pain.

I will let...