Original subtitles

Mozart is not lively enough for you. It is a little boring, isn't it?

Most doors are closed for blacks.

I think we owe them.

Don't you ever come home.

I just want to know why I didn't get the lead dancer's role.

Debbie Reed out -danced you. I heard about it in rehearsals. Shut up,

Why do you keep defending him? Because he's my friend, okay?

Thank you so much.

Thanks.

It's a pleasure, sir. Yeah, here we have a lot in common.

Yeah, I've been meaning to get over here to try out your lane.

Oh, I wasn't talking about the Poland. You're into classical music, right?

You like classical music?

Oh, yeah.

I wish I knew Chris to do some stuff here, but, you know, teenagers.

If it ain't rock and roll, it ain't nothing.

I have the same problem in school.

See that young man over there with the guitar?

The English kid. He could be a great guitarist, but he'd only apply himself.

But he's more interested in Eddie Van Halen than Sokovia.

Yeah, look, they have a place of classical things here.

I see how many Patty Page.

Are they your friends?

Hello?

Leroy? Hey, baby, happy anniversary.

Thanks, Miss Grant.

Where you at, girl? You are missing one hell of a party.

audition is just gonna drag on all night long yeah how's it going it's going

great they keep asking me to stay so somebody must like me of course they do

what's not to like hey look i think i break it now listen i just wanted to

you and tell you to have a great time that i love you and that you are the

thank you babe i had the best teacher bye -bye baby bye -bye

All right, people, that was hot.

That was hot.

Tell you what, we're going to pick this up tomorrow where we left off today.

Nicole, I need to talk to you.

Mr. Johnson, I apologize for being so awful today.

Well, actually, you weren't that bad, but that's what you get for missing that

last class. Yeah, I got stuck on the subway, but I promise I'm going to have

whole routine down by next time.

Well, how do you plan on learning it?

I'm going to get one of the kids to teach me.

You got a minute? I'll show you the step. Nicole, I'll talk to you later.

Listen, no, it's no bother. I know that... No, no, no, it's no bother at

want to show it to you, but without the gum, please.

Thank you. We take it from the contraction into the hands. Uh -huh.

your right foot. Okay. Okay, on eight. Five, six, seven, eight.

Contract. And hands.

Step. Step, step, step. Step.

Ah, to the floor. Then strike up.

Now lean into the hip.

Lean. Then pull.

Pull. Step, step.

Fire.

Back and spiral, step down, develop A.

Can't hold forever.

That's good.

See how easy it is when you know what you're doing? Yeah.

Thanks. No, no, don't thank me.

You have the talent, just got to practice and work at it.

Mr. Ware, that's quite enough. Mr. Ware.

Would you like to tell me what that display was all about?

I was just improvising to loving things up.

Mozart is not lively enough for you.

Well, it is a little boring, isn't it? How about that noise of whatever it is

you just played?

That's not boring? Not to me, it isn't.

But to each his own, right?

Mr. Ware, now, I do not want you to misunderstand me. I'm all in favor of

artistic freedom. But as long as you are in my classroom, you will play the

music the way it was written. Understood?

Yes, sir.

Um, Al Pacino.

Yeah, much better. Well, then it's Richard Gere or Danny Amatulo.

Oh, I'll take a while, guys, and say it's a dance. You're right. You are

You love it. I know.

So did you marry me?

Nope. We only had two dates.

We're from the same neighborhood. People from the same neighborhood can get

married after two days. Oh, get out of here.

Crazy. So how'd you do on the audition last night?

I bet you were the best dancer there, huh? Yeah, well, maybe for the first few

minutes, but then I messed up. I don't know what it is.

Danny, there's just something about Mr. Johnson that makes me nervous.

I don't think he likes me. Come on, Levi likes everybody.

Well, okay, maybe I'm just imagining things, but today after class... No,

what happened?

Well, I asked him to help me with some steps. I just wanted him to show me what

I was doing wrong.

And what, he wouldn't?

Well, he did, sort of, but, you know, I could tell his heart wasn't in it.

He must have been busy or something. Come on, don't take it so personal.

I can't help it. I really, really, really want this part.

Would you just really, really relax?

He won't know his talent when he sees it.

Hey, you better be right. Hey, I'm always right.

Mr. Johnson, I need a favor.

What? Well, I wouldn't even bother you if Ms. Grant said you were the only

person who could help me with this.

Dusty, what is it?

I have to write a paper about the Apollo Theater.

The Apollo?

You know I practically grew up in that place?

but Miss Grant was telling me.

I mean, my Aunt Eleanor worked there for about 30 years. She knew all the stars.

I mean, Brooke Benton used to even send her flowers on her birthday.

Brooke Benton?

You don't know who Brooke Benton is?

Well, actually, up until this morning, I never even heard about the Apollo

Theater. What?

Girl, from where have you been?

I've been in Colorado.

Now, are you going to help me or not?

All right, we're going to have to make a field trip. You meet me Friday after

school. I'll help you out.

Okay. All right.

Waiting is murder.

All right. I have the audition results.

Now, back off.

I'm not posting anything until you get out of my way. Come on. Come on. Clear

up. Give her room.

Give the woman some room. All right.

I'm warning you. You let me escape first.

Calm down, okay?

Am I there?

What? Do you see my name?

What? What?

What?

Wait.

Debbie Reed got it.

Debbie?

I should have known he'd pick her.

Hey, if you really think like that, then you should go talk to Leo. No, Danny,

don't you see it's a waste of time? You want me to talk to him? I'd be more than

happy. It wouldn't do any good.

He doesn't like me.

Look, I'm sorry.

I shouldn't be picking all this out on you.

It's not your problem.

I just need to be alone.

Hey, if you need somebody to talk to, I'm right there. I know.

You sure? Yeah.

Get out of here.

Go on.

Thank

you.

Congratulations. I'm really happy for you. Thank you.

Right.

I know you must be disappointed.

No, no, listen.

The best dancer got the part. Thank you.

Hi, Susan.

Hi. Congratulations, Dave.

I'm so excited.

Hey,

Mr. Dermot. How are you doing?

Mr. Johnson, can I talk to you for a moment?

Sure. What's up?

Well, I've received this letter this morning.

For me?

No, it's about you.

It makes some rather damaging accusations about your fairness as a

Who wrote this?

Well, it's unsigned.

But whoever it is, they're claiming that you've discriminated against the white

students in favor of the blacks.

This is a lie.

This is a damn lie.

Ordinarily, I'd pass this off as a crank.

But this is the second letter I've received.

Mr. Durenforth, I don't know what you want me to say.

Yes.

Tell me that it isn't true.

And that'll be the end of it.

Oh, but it won't really be the end of it. Oh, you have my word for it.

Well, what happens if someone writes another letter?

Hi, Lou.

Shrovsky said you had a gig for me.

Uh, yeah, I'd like you to back up Chris on a special number.

You play classical, right?

Of course, but I'm really more of a rocker.

I was sort of hoping I'd get a shot at doing my own stuff.

You do that justice and that stage is yours.

What's the matter? Too hard for you?

No. I think I can handle it.

You ready, man?

Serious about this, then?

How could you not be serious about Perry Coleman?

And one, two, three, okay?

Oh, hot diggity dog, ziggity boom, what you do to me?

It's so new to me, what you do to me?

Okay, you ready?

Yeah, sure.

Oh, yeah, sorry about that.

Right.

All right, you take it from the top.

Okay. And one.

That's great, huh?

Yeah. A real co -capper on the loop.

You looked like a Nat King Cole. Oh, man.

Ray Charles.

God, he looks so young.

You know, first it was the Cotton Club, then it was the Apollo.

And if you were black and talented, those were two places you dreamed about

playing. Leroy, look at all these stars.

I'm telling you, all the greats played here. All the greats.

For a long time, this was it for us, though.

I mean, most doors were closed for blacks.

But these people right here.

These are the guys that pay those dudes to open those doors.

I think we owe them.

I guess the way we do that is to carry on, right?

Yeah. Sometimes it's not so easy.

Well, I don't care, because I'm going to be up there, Leroy.

I'm going to be one of them.

You will. I know you will.

See, I always dreamed about playing Broadway.

Now I wouldn't really feel like I made it until I played the Apollo.

Thanks, everybody.

That was great.

That was fine.

Basically, you have all the moves. Just remember one thing.

This is your number.

So I want you to take control of it.

Okay, I'll work on it.

Thank you, Debbie.

Excuse me, Mr. Johnson, could I talk to you for a moment?

Sure, Susan.

What is it?

Well, I know you don't normally discuss auditions with students, but I just want

to know why I didn't get the lead dancer's role.

Well, that's simple.

Debbie outdanced you.

Well, no offense, but I just saw her.

I'm a better dancer than she is.

Maybe.

But you did give a sloppy performance. Wait a minute. The pianist threw me off.

He messed up my music. You must have seen that. You weren't prepared.

But I was. I spent days practicing for that audition.

Look, you are very talented, but you're lazy.

I've also got the wrong color skin, don't I?

You wrote those letters, didn't you?

Well, someone had to tell Mr. Darren Ford the truth.

The truth?

Those letters was full of lies. I knew that's what you'd say.

I understand it's hard to face certain things about oneself.

What the hell are you talking about, girl?

For your information, I spent most of my life dealing with bigots, okay?

So I bend over backwards to give everybody a fair shake. No, that's why I

you bend over backwards to help your own people.

You are so wrong.

Look, think about it.

And you realize it's the truth.

And the truth, Mr. Johnson, won't go away.

I know how you feel.

Nobody told me about student evaluations.

Not a lot of fun, huh?

Pain is a good word to describe it.

I hate handing out grades. I mean, who the hell am I?

Oh, I know what you mean.

Now, how can you be objective?

Don't you let your personal feelings get in the way.

Well, I try not to.

Well, I'm going to tell Derenforth I won't do it.

Good luck.

I have one right here I don't even want to see.

Here, let me have it. I'll give it to Bob with the rest of mine.

No, no, no.

This is one evaluation I have to do myself.

Is that okay?

That was very good, Debbie. Thank you.

Susan Perino.

You're really, really wonderful. Thanks. All right.

How's that, Mr. Johnson?

You

still

don't believe me, do you?

No, I don't.

Because I know Leroy. Yeah, well, maybe you just don't know him as well as you

think you do.

Susan, what do you want from the guy, huh?

I mean, he gave you an A on your evaluation. Yeah, right, but don't you

had no choice? He knew he couldn't get away with it this time.

Don't you think you're blowing this out of proportion?

I mean, it's just one audition. Yeah, right, Danny, but what about the last

three shows?

He picked all black leads. You call that fair?

Maybe it's just a coincidence.

Why do you keep defending him? Because he's my friend, okay? That's why.

What about me?

Aren't I your friend?

It could be better. It could be worse. Yeah.

Look, um... I thought of those lanes last night. I just... Yeah, I was a bit

strange, wasn't it?

Sort of felt like we were in a town, you know? Trapped back in 1954.

It was not my kind of music.

Well, uh, I noticed you're having trouble, aren't you? I don't have

sir. Not for me. I'll see you later, man.

Hey,

Mr. Swarovski, how you doing?

of things in the real world.

I ain't a major star yet. It's just a matter of time. Soon, soon.

I'd like to talk to you about a tune here.

New English kid, Ian?

Ah, the mysterious Mr. Where.

All right, everybody, hold it.

Debbie Reed, come here.

What do you think you were doing?

Just dancing.

No, you might call that dancing. I call it going through the motions.

But I'm doing everything you showed me, Mr. Johnson.

Well, just doing it isn't enough, Debbie Reed. Where's the flair? Where's the

excitement? I mean, I know you do have it in you.

Just push yourself more.

I'll try.

Thank you.

But do it again, from the bison jumps.

Without the fellas, without y 'all, I wanted to do it by myself.

Five, six, five, six, seven, and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

again. That was tired.

Five, six, five, six, seven, and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,

again.

That was sloppy.

Five, six, five, six.

7 and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 2, 2, 3, 4. Hold it.

Hold it.

What do you think you're doing?

You're all over the place. No form, no control.

Just do the steps.

But I was.

From the top.

Hello, Nicole.

Hey, Danny. I haven't seen much of you lately.

I've been spending a lot of time with Susan Perino.

She's a really great girl.

Terrific dancer, too.

But you don't seem to think she's very good, do you? Look, I don't want to get

into this now. Yeah, well, I do.

Tell me what the hell's going on here.

Why don't you ask Susan? She seems to know everything else. She knows that you

keep passing her over for black dancers.

You think I would do a thing like that? It doesn't matter what I think. What

matters... is that for the past three shows, you've given the lead to black

dancers, okay?

Well, they happen to be the best, okay?

Who, like Debbie?

I heard about her in rehearsals. Real together, real talented. Great choice,

Johnson. Shut up, Amatulo. No, but she's a sister, right? So sisters and

brothers all... Amatulo, shut up, man.

Get out of my face with that.

A plus for your evaluation.

I'll do me best, sir.

Just one question.

Why didn't you play what's on the paper?

I don't understand. I did.

It says right here at the top of the page, Passacaglia by Weiss.

But the music under it is a piece by Giuliani.

How lovely.

I knew you wouldn't tell me.

Well, what's to tell?

You can't read one note of music, but you managed to play that piece better

any other student.

How?

Records.

I'll listen to recording for the music and then memorize it by ear.

You know, you're amazing.

It's not that hard.

Well, now that your secret is out, you won't have to memorize any more records.

I've already arranged for another student to tutor you.

I don't need a tutor.

You can't learn without one.

Fine, then I won't learn.

It's no crime, is it?

Considering your talent, I think it is.

Mr. Ware, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

Embarrassed? Come on.

I could care less. I got an A -plus without knowing any of that rubbish.

Knowing how to read can only improve your music.

Do you really believe that?

How is it, then, that all the musicians I admire, not one of them can read or

write a bleeding note?

Mr. Ware, the bottom line is all my students know how to read music, and if

want to remain in my class, you'll have to learn, too.

I've got to say.

I missed my research in the Apollo Theater.

And I've already started writing my paper.

But there's a little something missing.

I was hoping you could help me with it.

Dusty, I can't help you.

But the way you talk about the Apollo tradition... Look, if you want to hear

about black pride, I'm not the one to talk to, okay?

This don't make any kind of sense at all.

Can I give you any reason?

You just said that it wasn't working out.

You wanted to try something new.

Debbie?

Thank you.

ever come home?

I was just wandering around the neighborhood.

Thinking about Susan Farina?

I knew that's why you were here.

Leroy, did anyone pressure you into replacing Debbie with Susan?

No. It was totally my decision.

Be straight with me. You can tell me.

It's simple. I made a mistake.

Susan served the part all along.

So you gave in.

I ain't giving to anybody. She's a better dancer. Is that what your

tell you?

Everybody has to compromise.

Not if it means compromising yourself, you don't.

Look, you don't even understand.

What if everything Susan said about me was right all along? Leroy, that is the

most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

That girl is really working her number on your head, baby. Can't you see that?

Leroy, do you trust my judgment?

Of course I do. Well, my judgment tells me that you have excellent judgment.

And you better trust your instinct the way I do.

If you're feeling low down, cause the sky's gray, just wrap your cares in

and dance.

Dance your cares away.

Give old Gloom the showdown.

He'll be on his way.

Just wrap your cares in rhythm and dance.

Dance your cares away.

Now I'm here to teach you all how to make your life a song.

Just you keep tapping on wood with your feet and you can't go wrong. Next time

you're in trouble, you'll come out okay.

Just wrap your cares in rhythm and dance.

I'm gonna give you one more chance.

Just wrap your cares in rhythm and...

You're feeling no doubt of God's grace.

Just wrap your cares in rhythm and dance.

Dance as well.

Next time you're in trouble, you'll come out okay.

Just wrap your cares in rhythm and dance.

I'm going to give you one more chance.

Just wrap your cares in...

You really enjoyed it, or are you just being kind?

A bit of both, I guess.

So, what are you doing here?

I don't know, really.

Sitting, I guess.

Well, I was just about to leave, but you'd possibly sit someplace else so I

look up.

So, what's all this then?

That's music, but it's not the kind you like. You see, it's all written down on

paper.

Look, if you don't want to move, you look up.

What is it that you want, Mr. Webb?

Well, I've been thinking it.

Maybe I ought to reconsider.

And... You know... You want to learn how to read music. You know, I thought I'd

give it a shot.

Good. But I've got to tell you, it's a student -tutor thing.

I mean, it's not going to work.

Just give it a chance.

No.

Now, look.

Emma. Some other way to do this, eh?

I'm afraid it's going to be the tutor or nothing.

I guess that's the end of that, then.

Suppose I tutor you.

You take time out of your busy schedule for me?

That's what you came here for, isn't it?

You're quick, Mr. Shrofsky.

Very quick.

Look, that's my offer. Take it or leave it.

You're wrong.

Good.

You're lucky.

I'm sorry, I don't know what it is.

It's too crowded. I don't have room to just break out, you know?

I think it would work better if you were to stay behind me just a little bit. I

thought it worked fine the way it was.

I know, maybe for you, but not for me.

I'm the lead dancer. Everybody's supposed to be watching me, okay?

Sweetheart, that's not the way Mr. Johnson choreographed it.

Yeah, well, I think you'll like it a lot better this way, okay?

Wrong, Susan, wrong.

I don't like it at all.

Well, I'm just trying to make this work here.

I know what you're trying to do.

Debbie, you can come in front and send a sweetheart.

Well, where do you want me?

Oh, you can stay right there.

In the back, but I'm the lead dancer here.

No, you're not.

You've been replaced.

You can't do this.

Well, yes, I can. It's not fair.

For the first time, it is fair. Now, if you don't like it, why don't you go

somewhere and write yourself another letter?

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Did you see that?

Yeah. Well, what are we going to do?

Nothing.

What do you mean nothing?

Don't you see what's going on here?

Susan, for the first time, I think I do, okay?

All

right,

everybody, we have a show to put on.

This time, let's do it right.

Take it from the Thunderclash.

Thank you.

I'll leave her where I am.

Looks like it's gonna be great.