Original subtitles

Subtitled by Tchitchikof tchitchikof@yahoo.com

Fairy tales can come true

Sometime it might happen to you

Specially when you're young in New York

But once upon a time this place was the wild frontier

and every youngster who was fast on the draw

showed up on these streets to try his hand

Anyway, the story you are about to see isn't true

But it isn't false either

Any resemblance between the characters and events evicted here and reality is...

... purely magical

I awoke

Had I been dreaming?!

I think so

I tried to remember, but it slipped away

I remembered this place

Here I was again

Back where I started

How long had it been this time?!

Days, weeks, months... years?

Hard to say

Time is different on the inside

It gets light, it gets dark But how many times?

But somehow I knew this day would be different

It was the doctor

He examined me

He looked to me like I was a slide under a microscope

Like I was a germ

Dangerous

But he said that I was cured

You're cured!

He said that I was free to go

You're free to leave now.

He said I was free He was right

He had no idea

Excuse me!

Got my stuff?

I was glad to say good-bye to that place -You (unintelligible)?

- That is (unintelligible). - Yes.

I won't see you!

I was free, but the city wasn't

The subway fare had gone up

But that was ok

I knew my way downtown, and walking was deluxe

It meant, time was on my side The streets looked really good to me

They looked like art

Marble and tar, Oil and steel,

Chrome and glass, Money like fly paper,

Solid gold tiles

Neon literature

Nature pushing through the concrete

I wanted to paint the town red... paint the town black

"And the earth was formless void, darkness upon the face of the deep,

and the spirit moved across the water and there was light,

it was good, it was good..."

New York is my kind of town

If you can make it there...

...you can sell people your unwanted hair

There was a dawning brick road and I could see it

I was off to be the Wizard

I felt like I didn't have a care in the world

'Cos I didn't I had interests

Anatomy, plutonium, Lazarus,

Sherlock Holmes, hieroglyphics, Popeye

"Are not princes and kings ancient and honorable...

the sword and the spear are dispersed on the four points of the earth...

for the sickles, for the mattocks, for the forks, for the axes."

You gotta blow your own horn in this town

New York, New York; Gotham City, The Big Apple

- May I help you? - Apple, please!

- That's a quarter.

- Heads or tails? - Ah, heads.

- Thanks.

The city looked big and I felt big 'cos I was part of the landscape.

I'm an artist

When you tell people that, they usually say:

- What's your medium?

I usually say: - Extra large!

ORIGIN OF COTTON

Then I met her

I had never seen her before There was something I liked 'bout her

I felt like I already knew her

- Hi.

- Can I offer you a lift downtown?

She knew I was on my way downtown

- Get in.

- That's so impolite.

Her name is Beatrice She's a model

She makes more money in one day than I made in the last year

Her job is standing still or walking

She'd just arrived from Milan

I couldn't take my eyes off her

The feeling was mutual

I told her that she seemed really familiar

She said maybe I had seen her pictures in the magazines

I don't think so Maybe a billboard, but...

Maybe I had seen her picture She had enough of them

There were hundreds of magazine pictures on her portfolio

Each one had been reproduced a million times

There were millions of Beatrice all over the world

So maybe that was how I knew her

But then she said she had the same feeling about me

- You know, Jean? I've the same feeling about you.

- I feel that you're someone I already know

She hadn't seen me in the magazines

She figured maybe it was in another life

She told me that she knew I was a great artist

She said it was written all over my face

She said that I shouldn't have to struggle anymore

- Why don't you let me take care of you for the rest of your life?

I didn't knew I'd been struggling

But I guess that's what artists were supposed to do

And I didn't want to disappoint her She was beautiful, She was rich,

She wanted me!

- Hope to see you! - See you later!

Hey, I caught you little sneak!

- Come back here, man! - Come back here!

- Where do you think you're going? - I'm going up to my apartment!

- It's not your apartment; It's never been; It is not now...

...and it will never be your apartment. It's my apartment!

- You can't evict me. - I was in the hospital.

- You owe me $422.60; including legal.

- Right.

- Oh, kid!

- Hey, you locked me out. - C'mon man!

- You can't do that. - It's illegal... let me in!!

- You don't pay me, you don't live here.

- Pay me and I let you in.

- How can I pay you if I can't get into my apartment.

- You mean you have $422, there?

- Then we can work it out.

- It's all you've got to say.

- Got cash?

- Cash, money order, certified check... cash is better!!

- You got cash? - Ok, if you don't have the money...

...you'll be out on the street tomorrow. - It's over there.

- Wait a second! - What is this?

- This thing is worth $420? - This is it!

- I have a buyer. - That's it. Get out!

- What do you think I am? David Rockefeller...

...Leo Castelli or something? - I want cash!!

Back on the street again

The lowery side

Looked like a war zone

Like we dropped the bomb on ourselves

But it was ok I'd met a beautiful woman

And she'd pick me up for a night or two

I found enough money in my apartment to buy a joint

All I'd to do was to sell this painting for $500... why not?

You can get anything you want here, if you try

And you can get plenty of what you don't want too

If you're not careful - Hey, brother!

- I got Dr. Nova, I got BT-82. - Come back, it'll fuck you up, bro!

- I am sure! - I've what you want?

- I got the green, I got coke, I got gimmicks

- Tell me what you need! A good question!

But none of his business

If you wannao see something ugly you've never too far to go

But if you wanna find something beautiful Well, that's not too hard either

In this town anything is possible

Around here you have to think big just to survive

It can be a jungle and it can be a paradise too

And sometimes you can't tell the difference

- Hum! - Hey, my man!

- How are you doing?! - I got the smoke.

- Weed is guaranteed. - Joints on bags.

- Check it out.

- See you around. - You know where I'm at.

- Need a match? - Ok, see you around.

- Hey yo, wanna go out? - No, thanks. I'm already out.

I'm known around here People know my name

- Hey, Jean. You know we're at the "Mudd" club tonight!

I'm loved

And I'm respected

But not everybody loves and respects me

- Hey you!! - You wrote on my fan, man!

- I'm gonna get you punk!

- Hey sexy, you like it? - It's art!

- Hey man, that's private property!

- Hey, my man! I'm a tax payer I can paint anywhere I wanna paint.

- Besides it's legal. - Another comission?

- Sort of a comission. We're doing it for some friends of ours.

- It's half comission, half donation. - Who's inside?

- Yeah, this DJ from the bronx, man.

- Any good? - He's serious man.

- You wanna check him out. - You missed the spot.

- Who are you? - Henry Godzilla?

- See you tomorrow! - Eh?

- See you tomorrow! - You gotta get tomorrow.

- Yo buddy, can you put me on the guests list?

- Yeah, alright!

If you wanna see the world you just have to walk a couple of blocks

If you wanna see somebody, just think hard

You'll run into them

- Hey, Hardest! - Making a delivery?

- Hey. I just got evicted.

- Me and my painting.

- Let me see you painting. - No!

- C'mon, let me see your painting. - Don't be bashful about it.

- This is really nice! - Thanks!

- You wanna sell it? - You wanna buy it?

- I'd like to buy one, but I can't even afford your paintings.

- I'll give it to you for free. - If you take me with it.

- No... but I know someone who would wanna buy it.

- And she'd probably wanna take you with it.

- You know Mrs. Cavalcanti? - I don't know. Do I?

- I'll give you her number. - Just write it on the back.

The world's stable now People are happy

They get what they want, but they never want what they can get

You're the buyer or the seller, makes you want what you can't have

I'm glad I made you cry

Makes you go where you can't go Makes you want what you can't have

Desire

Don't think, don't think don't buy, don't buy

Buying the moment, sometimes I want to die in my bed

There's guilt and there is action

It's the third night and the walls are shaking

Hero with the thousand faces Boys buying boys

Pleasure bringing pain, it's all the same

I put my hand near my mouth so I know I'm still breathing

So we joke about the TV set, calling it the "eye of Hell"

I would love to have people see what I see,

I would like to be a pillar of strength in my community

All I can think about is "When are we leaving?"

Man chooses himself

And when you leave you dance out the door

THE WHOLE LIVERY LINE BOWS LIKE THIS WITH THE BIG MONEY

CRUSHED INTO THESE FEET

- Excuse me, please. - Does the #1 bus stop here?

- I don't know. Does it? - Yes, it does!

- You're really quite sharp. - Indubitably!

- Look at that!

- Can you believe that people are permitted...

to walk down the street looking like that?

- Unbelievable! - Just ignore it, man!

- You don't understand. - It's not just an isolated case.

- It's a pattern. - They are multiplying.

- Cloning... Why they don't even have different faces?

- And I say: If that's the face of the future, I don't want to have anything to do with it.

- Sounds like you have been into the future already.

- Well... we artists have managed to keep...

... the last bit of intelligence and beauty going.

- And before they know what hit them,

ugliness and stupidity will stamp themselves out.

- Don't you think they just might stamp out everything back straight?

- We certainly have our workcut out for us.

- You don't know how refreshing it is...

...to find someone that understands the basics.

- While do turn this world around yet.

- He is so beautiful, so intelligent, so humorous, he is divine!!

- Oh, yeah baby!

- Give it to me! Give it to me! - Oh, I have one of those!

- I have two of those! - Come to daddy, that's it!

- Come to daddy, come on baby!

- So, what can I do for you?

- You're hot! - So, so hot!

- You're so hot... you're on fire!!

- Stupid asshole!

- My drink, my suit!

- God, I can't believe this thing. - It's ok.

- Look, you're not going anywhere. - Yes I am.

- I say you dance until the other chick shows!!

- My time is out! - What are you going to do about it?

- I didn't have anything to do with that. - Just hold on, I'll be right away.

- Hi honey! - I can't believe this animal!

- Sorry I'm late Mac. - Hi.

- Cathlin, you can't do this to the client. - Sir, I'm sorry about the suit.

- Let's get out of here. - Creep!

- I should have been a waitress.

- I hate it when they undress you with their eyes.

- That's it... never again!

Dirty Men!

- Never again! - This time is for sure.

- I'm done with it. - It's all behind me now.

- I've broken my back carrying heavy amplifiers.

- People see me up on stage and think I'm trying to strike a sexy pose.

- Little do they know just getting there is a workout.

- I get to the club hours early so to my fans...

won't see me carrying my own equipment.

- And then I have to stay until the place closes just to get paid.

- Ok. So that's half the door up to eleven. - That's $300, and so then we take $50...

... for the PA, $170 for the ads in the papers.

- $48 in for the drinks band had at the bar.

- By the way son, that "Bee" is on you. - In the beginning it was fun,

- But then the club owner sees you up on the stage having fun and says:

- Well, you're having fun up there! Why should I pay you?

- They'll do it every time.

- You'll take out social security in what holding?

- That's up to you.

- So you work two jobs just so you can have a little bit of time for rehearsal.

- You do a great concert and the people come,

the press comes and they write about you.

- They say: "The band was on rehearsal, personality was totally affected"

- Then, finally the record people come.

- You know what? - I think your act is really great;

and I like it very much but I can't sign you!

- Nor for now!

- Today I can only sign up backs that are proven formulas.

- I can see you have tremendous potential but it's just like a gold mine.

- You take the raw orb, then you have to refine it.

- And then, after that, you know what you've got?

- A gold coke spoon?

- That's it, kid. - You got the right attitude.

- Someday you and me are gonna go places together.

- So you keep playing and practicing.

- And a few smart people notice and make you an offer.

- Not a great offer...

... but it's an offer. - It's the standard contract.

- Nothing complicated about it. - And all the usual clauses.

- I'll take it home and read it. - There's really no need to read it.

- It's the same contract the Bee Gees signed.

- Maybe I should get a lawyer to look at it.

- He'll say you the same thing I'm telling you.

- And I already have the check thrown up.

- Ok... well...

- Let me just give it a quick read. - Ok, but hurry up!

- The bank closes in eight minutes and monday is a holiday.

- I'll be on the coast all next week.

- It was great in the beginning.

- Then it was fun.

- But now it takes up all my time.

- I could've been a great surgeon.

- Well, that's that. - What a relief.

- Now maybe I'll have time to finish my painting.

- Never again!

- Hi. - What's going on?

- Why are you just sitting here? - I was going to do some painting.

- You can't do that! - We have rehearsal time at the studio.

- Ten minutes to get there.

- Ten minutes?! - Oh, alright!

- Darling!!

- Darling. - Hello!

- Seat.

- It's good to see you again Mrs. Cavalconti.

- Call me Vanda, darling!

- Ok Vanda, darling! - You're so funny, Jean!

- The night we met you were absolutely hilarious.

- I was? - I can't believe you'd be such a stranger.

- Anything else, M'am? - Yeah, give me a double.

- What have you been doing? - I want to hear everything about you.

- Well, I was at the hospital for a while. - But I'm ok now.

- No, In the hospital? - What happened to you?

- It was kind of weird, I mean...

... these doctors were coming with med students.

- I felt like a slide in a microscope.

- Oh, poor Jean! - I can imagine.

- Well, It's good to be back to work again. I mean, painting and stuff.

- Even better than before.

- Oh, I can see. - It's absolutely marvelous!

- It's absolutely marvelous! - So strong, so savage!

- So strong, so savage!

- Yeah, pretty raw, ah?

- I love these alums. - You're so funny!

- Is everything ok? - Great.

- So I ran on Claudia on the street.

- She said you wanted to buy on of my paintings.

- Oh, yes. I do.

- I need one of yours to hang in the dinning room.

- It's a marvelous spot.

- Do you think you have a pink one? - I have to take a look.

- You know what I should do?

- I should come to your studio and see everything.

- My place is kind of messed up right now. They're fixing up a little bit.

- Oh, I know how artists are. - I made that paint specially for you.

- It's one of my favorites. - So, how much?

- $500

- You know rich people, they never have cash on them.

- Take this and I'll write you a check for the rest.

- Then when I come back you will make me a pink one, perhaps?

- Yeah, ok. - Sei bello!

- Jean I know you have to run but I'll see you soon.

- Ciao, genio!

I could see the handwriting on the wall

It was mine

I'd made my mark in the world And it's made its mark on me

I'm a writer

But sometimes I feel like I was written

-You see that guy? - They say - He's a real character! -

But maybe I wrote myself

That's life Write, write... rewrite

You start writing Maybe you only have one word

You don't know what's next You don't know where it will end

But one thing leads to another

- Hey... where are you going with our equipment?

- Where are you going?

- Hey, wait!

- Hey man, let's go! - I hope you're not going uptown.

- I don't think so. Let's go! - Where to?

- Follow that van! - I need a destination.

- I don't know where. - Just follow the van.

- Look, I don't follow vans. - You yellow!

- Sonny. You have to be on your toes in this town.

- But the plaque was New York

- It was a '79 Dodge van.

- Michael, Michael! - What happened?

- We were robbed! - They took everything.

- I only saw one guy. - You saw! Will you untie me?

- Man, he took everything! - I can't believe it, one guy.

- You didn't see him? - No man. I was waiting for you.

- He jumped me from behind dragged me inside, tied me up.

- He took everything! - But who would do something like this?

- A thief would do something like this! - Of course a thief, but why us?!

- C'mon Jean, he wanted our stuff. - Why not someone who has it?

- Like Kiss or The Ramones or something?

- Cause they have security, man! - What do we have?

- Would you untie me?

- Mh. I think it was another band. - Yeah?!

- Somebody playing tomorrow night. - No, common... would you untie me?

- Or you let another band practice here or it was an inside job.

- Man, don't say that about us. - You think I tied myself up?

- Look... I'm sorry man. - It just happened so fast and...

- Jean.. Jean?!

- Hey, man! - Hey!

- Hey Ikue, I think you should spend more time trying to be...

...a good american girl and learn how to speak english.

- You'd have more fun!

- Yeah, the fifteenth is great. - Ok. Sounds good.

- Hey Bradley. - Hey Jean, what's happening?

- You did not book today. - Eh, yeah... I've got a problem.

- Mi cabeza es igual que una piedra. (My head is just like a stone)

- Nani iuttendaka zenzen wakannaino. (I don't get what he's saying)

- Nihongo de iuttekurenaikana? (Couldn't he say it in japanese?)

- Mi corazon es igual que un rio. (My heart is just like a river)

- Shut up!

- And this guy jumps in and ties him up; one guy, ties him up and take everything.

- Just one guy? - Just one!

- Who do you think did it? - I don't know.

- I think it may've been an inside job. - Not your own band!

- No. Like a rival band just maybe playing tomorrow night.

- Tomorrow night?! - There's this punk band, "The Fellons".

- They're rehearsing right now down in the basement.

- You know the basement!

- The budget basement.

- Ok. - You should check it out.

- Maybe it's one of them.

- Thanks for the coffee. - Don't worry, it's safe.

- Don't mind me I'm just looking for something.

- What is it? - Hey man, what are you doing here?

- Somebody stole our equipment - Is it in that concept?

- You know anything about it?

- We all are looking for something. - I can't believe it. That's a tragedy.

- My God. Oh, God. That's terrible. - What's this world coming to?

- My God, my god! - Yeah, whatever.

- The end of civilization. is it!?

- Hey!

- What are you doing here? - I auditioned for The Fellons.

- Yeah, sure! - What are you really here for?

- Our equipment got ripped off. - You got your equipment...

...your band got your equipment ripped off.

- Yeah. - Yes, that is the pattern.

- What pattern? - Somebody's ripped off...

...every small time band in town. - What do you mean "small time"?!

- Yeah, you know what I mean: "Lousy equipment".

- Who'd wanna steal your stuff?

- Who?

- At first I thought it was a maniac but now I think it's a mayor rock company.

- How come?

- They used to just not sign guys like you now they wanna destroy you

- A piece of chicken? - Yeah.

- Wanna come down and see "The Plastics"?

- That's ok. - I'll see you later.

- Bye.

- Konichi wa! - Hello!

- I'm Lou Barlow a music critic from "The Christian Science Monitor".

- Can I ask you a few questions? - Please!

- Did you find it hard when you were children to learn japanese?

- Sukoshi. (A little) - Ima nante ittano? (What did he say?)

- Yeah, most of the time.

- For you?

- How do you say "New Wave" in japanese?

- Ah, Onaji (the same)!

- Do you have cockroaches in Tokyo? - He, he... just one.

- Do you dream in english?

- Ah, bokuno yumewa furansugodayo. (Ah, my dream is in french)

- Show time!

- (Unintelligible)

People throw you up of your home

Ripp you off What are you gonna do?

You gotta be positive

You could do some good

Make some public art

It was one of those days that makes people walk around saying:

Who am I? Where am I?

Before I started asking strangers I thought I'd go see some friends

So I got thrown of my apartment

I'd always got friends

That's all you really need

- Ok. It's time.

- Slowly.

- Hey, Jean. - I'm so happy

- I'm glad you came. - It's great to see you.

- That's your music.

- Look at that.

- The rhythm is perfect for the movements. Isn't it?

There's something about talking with a woman...

... who likes you that makes you feel better

You don't have to tell your problems You can talk about anything

You can talk about the weather

But I told her my problems

Someone who knows, know the right things to say

I told her everything that had happened

She listened to every word and she believed me

She wasn't even surprised with the things that surprised me

She was interested A man would've kept saying:

- You know, the same thing happened to me!

But not her She said all the right things

- It will be fine. - You'll see.

- Direct from Hatey, New York's own Kid Creole and the Coconuts

- Back off!! - I'm telling you to back off

- That's an ugly scene.

- Let's try to break through.

- There's no way to do it.

- Yeah, it's a mob! - It's an enruling mob!

- Man, we can do it!

- I'd walk through this. - Definitively!

- Common, let's do it!

- How are you doing? - Thanks.

- Thanks a lot!

- Hey man, do you want to smoke a joint? - What? You must've reading my mind.

- Sure! Of course!

- It's kind of cold out here! - It's freezing, man! It's nuts!

- What about if we sit inside and smoke? - Sure... please, get inside!

- Yeah? - Let's do it!

- Good weed!

- No, it's alright!

- Man... you saved me!

- You want a drink?

- No, but... - You could do us a favor?

- Would you drive us around the block?

- That's easy!

- This thing's loaded. Let's see if we can get "The 3 stooges"

- Ok... Come on in.

- Back off. Let them in.

- There guys! Have fun!

- She will show up. - (unintelligible) sure

- She'll be here.

- There she is. - There.

- Right, guy.

- Let's go.

- C'mon, let's go!

I had lost her again

Big deal

I didn't need anyone to take care of me

Specially forever

She knew me from another lifetime

She probably said that to all guys

- Hi!

- Hey, she's with me! - What do you want?

- That girl. - Go away. This is the stage entrance.

- Why you let her? - I can't.

- The girl, she's not back there. - I told you.

- Dumb punk!

Maybe they let me out of the hospital too soon

I actually though about bounding back

But... I've been out on the streets before

I could always stay with friends

I hadn't realized that I didn't have a place to stay that night

Well... that wasn't in such a tall order

I knew what to do I went to the Mudd club

- It's a club, man. - Do what you have to do.

- What else could you do? - You know what I mean?

- You have to do it. - Just do what you have to do

- Came up to me. One of them... or two... three of them, or more.

- So I see the door, it's opened, I take the knife...

- That's a big a problem. Why don't you think about making it into a movie?

- Yeah, I want to.

- Maybe I could direct it.

- It's ok to be difficult. - Of course you are. It's loveable.

- Hey, listen man. You can stay on my car. It's a coupe "Devreaux".

- Yeah... no. It's not gonna work out.

- Everyone was a child back in the past.

- I mean, what's wrong with now?! With today?!

- When you do something once, does that mean you have to do it twice?

- I don't know what you say, what you're talking about?!

- (unintelligible) in the past or in the future.

- And that's the only way to be.

- It isn't in present. That's what daddy always said to me.

- Hi, Jean!

- Where have you been all night, uh?

- Around. - You just didn't see me.

- It was crowded.

- Yeah, your life looks pretty crowded.

- I think... I'm gonna take care of myself.

- Well. I gotta go!

Sometimes you feel like life is killing you

That's life

I thought I'd take a walk down a dark alley

Maybe I'd run into myself

- Hey sonny!

- Sonny!

- Sonny!!! - Could you come a little bit closer?

- I wanna ask you a favor. - Yeah.

- What do you want? - A kiss!

- You are a nice man.

- Could you kiss me good night?

- What? - Just one.

- Are you crazy? - A little kiss.

- Please! - I don't know if I am really your type.

- There???s something I want to tell you.

- What? - Come a little closer, please!

- Im a fary princess and I'm under a spell.

- If you kiss me good night then I'll grant you every wish.

- Just one, please!

- Hey, it was such a great kiss. - I really thought you were a princess

- Now watch this baby!

- Oh! Thanks! - I thought I'd never get out.

- You have no idea what a drag it is being a bag lady

- You know baby, it's really tough getting a decent kiss these days.

- I really can't thank you enough for getting me out of that mess.

- So i???ll grant you your every wish.

- That's the least I could do.

Boon. Boon for real!

Was i dreaming?

No. Maybe i was just waking up

Waking up to my own luck

Luck is really findable

Most people don't know how to make a wish

Nor what to wish for I wish they did

- Just to feel ok!

- Nice "El Dorado"! - Thanks, guy!

- You wanna sell it? - Nah. It's not for sale.

- I wanna buy it!

- Hey, I've got cash! - Yeah, that's ok.

- I'll give you fifteen grand. - I got to go.

- Yo. Check it out.

- My Lord. Let me see that.

- Man, keep the change.

- That's a deal. - Bye!

- Bye!

I drove through the night

And into the day

I got this driving to the end of the dream

And when I saw the light

I knew I was awake

And it was good

Subtitled by Tchitchikof tchitchikof.blogspot.com