Original subtitles

WHITNEY:\N♪ Free ♪

♪ Free ♪

[WHITNEY CLEARS THROAT,\NTRILLS LIPS]

♪ Tell me, will you stay ♪

♪ Hm ♪

♪ Just all that you are ♪

♪ And everything that you do ♪

♪ Away ♪

♪ Away ♪

WOMAN 1:\NComing back in five.

WOMAN 2:\NDoes anyone have eyes\Non Whitney?

MAN:\NI've got eyes on Ms. Houston.

WOMAN 1:\NTighten up on four.

WOMAN 2:\NThree, two, switching\Nto channel four.

MAN:\NLights 25, stand by.

WOMAN 1:\NWe are live in five,\Nfour, three, two...

MAN:\NLights 25, go.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING, CLAPPING]

Whitney!

WHITNEY:\NWe're gonna do a medley\Nfor you.

It's about love.

The things we do to get it,

and the things we do\Nto keep it.

♪ Guide me ♪

♪ O Thou great Jehovah ♪

♪ Pilgrim through\NThis barren land ♪

♪ I am weak ♪

♪ But Thou are mighty ♪

♪ Hold me\NWith thy powerful hand ♪

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

♪ Feed me till I want ♪

♪ No more ♪

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

♪ Feed me till I want no... ♪

[CONGREGATION SHOUTING\NINDISTINCTLY]

♪ ...more ♪

[CONGREGATION CLAPPING]

[GIGGLES][CONGREGATION EXCLAIMING]

♪ Guide me, O Thou... ♪

Stop.

Mommy.Again.

Mom!Again.

God gives you a gift,\Nyou gotta use it right.

♪ Guide me\NO Thou great Jehovah ♪

You have to learn the melody.

Once you learn it,\Nthen you can play around,

do your little\Nflourishes.

Now, do it again.

♪ Guide me\NO Thou great Jehovah ♪

Know the melody\Nbackward and forward.

♪ Pilgrim through... ♪

And enunciate.

♪ ...this barren land ♪

Pay attention to the words.

Complete every word.

♪ I am weak\NBut Thou are mighty ♪

Every song is a story.

If it's not a story,\Nit's not a song.

♪ Hold me\NWith thy powerful hand ♪

Great singing comes from\Nthree places.

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

The head, the heart...

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

...and the gut.

And get your eyes off\Nthat damn door, girl.

You know what, I quit.No, you don't quit.

You gave that up when you told\Nme that you wanted to do this.

Mommy, I just wanna sing.Again.

♪ Guide me, O Thou... ♪

You will honor\Nyour commitment to this, Nippy.

♪ ...great Jehovah ♪

Your idea, you see it through.

♪ Pilgrim through this... ♪

Pride.

♪ ...barren land ♪

You're a Houston.

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

♪ Bread of heaven ♪

Love you, Mommy.

[SCOFFS]

All right.

METEOROLOGIST:\NVariably cloudy skies at 5,

10 to 15% chance of a...

REPORTER 1:\NPresident Reagan will also \Nconsider curbing some benefits.

REPORTER 2: \NA note of optimism this morning \Nin East Orange, New Jersey.

ROBYN:\NI'll see y'all Saturday, okay?

Hey. See you Saturday? At 10.

See you Saturday. Okay.Thank you.

♪ Baby, just suppose ♪

♪ I should happen\NTo cross your mind ♪

Hey.\N♪ And by some chance\NA boy like me ♪

♪ You've really\NBeen trying... ♪

What?I just said "hey."

Hey.

[CHUCKLES]

And you are?

Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

You always say\Nyour middle name?

All right.

Well, I'm Robyn Crawford.

You from 'round here?Mm-hm.

East Orange.Word?

Yeah.Where you go to school?

Mount Saint Dominic Academy.

Oh. Catholic schoolgirl.

White Catholic schoolgirl.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

You?College.

Yep.

Wait a minute.\NSo, Cissy Houston is your mom?

Uh-huh.The singer?

Yep.Heh.

You know, Dionne Warwick\Nis my first cousin.

Dionne Warwick?\NNah, you shitting me.

No damn way.Yeah.

Girl, Aretha Franklin's\Nlike my godmother.

Okay, now, Whitney Elizabeth\NHouston...

...you dreaming.

No. No, my dream...

No, it's crazy-- Is to be\Na professional singer like them.

But the bar is way,\Nway too high, so...

...I'm happy to just sing\Nmy little

"shoop-shoop, diddy-dum,\Ndiddy-doos,"

backing my mom.

Mm.

Let me hear you.

Sing.Uh-uh.

Aw...

No.

Nah, I showed you\Nmy three-point shot.

Come on, sing.

You know what?

You know, you should come\Nto Sweetwater's.

Yeah, you can see me sing\Nchorus for my ma.

Mm-hm.Mm-hm.

All right,\NWhitney Elizabeth Houston.

I'mma come see you.Mm-hm.

But you better\Nknow how to sing.

[AUDIENCE CLAPPING]

♪ I'll be there ♪

♪ When all your dreams\NAre broken ♪

♪ To answer ♪

♪ Your unspoken prayer ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Deep down in my heart\NI'm gonna miss you ♪

♪ And in my dreams\NI'll kiss you ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ And I'll even wish you luck ♪

♪ On your new affair\NOh, yes, I will ♪

♪ But remember, baby ♪

♪ If you need me ♪

♪ All you got to do is call me ♪

♪ And don't worry ♪♪ Don't worry, baby ♪

♪ Don't you worry ♪

♪ I'll be there ♪

♪ I'll be there ♪

♪ Oh, yes, I will ♪

CISSY:\NAll these years,\Nall these years...

JOHN:\NThat's it.

CISSY:\N...I had to look\Nthe other way...

JOHN:\NJust change the subject.

CISSY:\N...pretend I don't know\Nwhat's going on.

That's what you do\Nevery time.

You're out there doing\Neverything you big enough to do.

And I'm out there, on the road,\Nbusting my ass!

On the road busting your ass,\Nhuh?

So what are you,\Nthe savior?

Sole breadwinner! That's right.\NSole breadwinner. For years.

I swear to God,\NI'll walk out that goddamn door!

Do it! Finally be doing\Nsomething!

I've been looking\Nafter these kids.

Out on the road\Nbusting my ass.

Yeah, "busting your ass"!\NDoing what?

Yeah, you work now!\NYou work now!

JOHN:\NSo you've been working\Nall this time?

How do you think I'm\Nwalking out these...

Sup, Nippy?

Yeah, I said I'll sit here--Singing my ass off.

[JOHN & CISSY CONTINUE\NINDISTINCTLY]

Hey. Don't even worry about it.

[GLASS SHATTERING]

CISSY:\NDo it!

[♪♪♪]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Look at that.

Hey!

[CHAKA KHAN'S\N"PAPILLON" PLAYING]

Okay.

♪ You took my breath away ♪

This is so great.

This will be forever.

Nippy. I need you\Nto listen now.

Mommy.

I love you.

That's great.

♪ Chanson papillon ♪

[SIGHS]\NMm.

Check us out.

♪ Just begun to fly ♪

Clive!

Hey.

Clive, thanks for coming.Thank you.

So, she sings backup\Nfor her mother.\NUh-huh.

But wait till you see\Nthis girl.

I'm telling you,\Ntotal knockout.

Model looks, right?\NBut the voice--

Oh, my God, the voice.\NShe's just-- It's really--

All right, calm down.\NI'm here, aren't I?

Come on.Yeah.

How're you doing?Good evening.

Evening, sir.

CISSY:\NI don't know who the hell

you think you talking to!

Think you're so damn grown!

Well, I know what I want!

You think you know\Nwhat you want!

GARY:\NClive Davis!

CLIVE:\NHi, Gary, how are you?\NA pleasure.

Hey, Gerry.

[COUGHING, CLEARING THROAT]

My voice.What?

My voice.

It's gone.

[WHISPERING]\NI need you to do\Nthe opening solo.

What?

Mama, you were shouting\Nat me a second ago.

Well, maybe that's\Nwhat done it!

And I need some time\Nto get it back,

so you start the show\Ntonight.

I'm your mother,\Nno talking back.

Yeah, Mommy, I just--Look...

I need you to help me now.

Start the show.

Sing "The Greatest Love of All."\NNot another word.

[NORMALLY]\NDon't make me whup your ass.

[COUGHS]

"Greatest Love of All."\NAll right?

Gerry.

Cissy.Clive.

How are you?Good to see you.

Nice to see you too.

[AUDIENCE CLAPPING]

♪ I believe the children\NAre our future ♪

♪ Teach them well\NAnd let them lead the way ♪

♪ Show them all the beauty\NThey possess inside ♪

♪ Give them a sense of pride ♪

♪ To make it easier ♪

♪ Let the children's laughter ♪

♪ Remind us\NHow we used to be ♪

♪ Everybody\NSearching for a hero ♪

♪ People need someone\NTo look up to ♪

♪ I never found anyone\NWho fulfilled my needs ♪

♪ A lonely place to be ♪

♪ And so I learned\NTo depend on me ♪

♪ I decided long ago ♪

♪ Never to walk\NIn anyone's shadows ♪

♪ If I fail, if I succeed ♪

♪ At least I lived\NAs I believe ♪

♪ No matter\NWhat they take from me ♪

♪ They can't take away\NMy dignity ♪

[AUDIENCE CHEERING, CLAPPING]♪ Because the greatest ♪

♪ Love of all ♪

♪ Is happening to me ♪

♪ I found the greatest ♪

♪ Love of all inside of me ♪

♪ The greatest love of all ♪[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

♪ Is easy to achieve ♪

♪ Learning to love yourself ♪

♪ Is the greatest love of all ♪

♪ And if, by chance\NThat special place ♪

♪ That you've been dreaming of ♪

♪ Leads you to a lonely place ♪

♪ Find your strength ♪

♪ In love ♪

[AUDIENCE CLAPPING, CHEERING]

She's incredible.

CLIVE:\NOkay.

Just okay?

I think I might have just heard

the greatest voice\Nof her generation.

Yeah. Yeah.\NThat kind of "okay."

Gerry, my "okay" is different\Nthan your "okay."

Mom.CLIVE: My "okay"

comes with investment\Nand legal obligations.

Yours comes\Nwith a side of fries.

[CHUCKLES]

That's my baby girl.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston.

WHITNEY:\N"And distribution rights\Nfor all albums

created by Whitney\NHouston... Heh.

...or Arista during the term\Nof this agreement...

...in perpetuity throughout\Nthe universe"?

It means a damn long time.

Everywhere.

Wait.

Daddy, what?She's coming here for you.

CLIVE:\NMm-hm.

If you move on, you take her\Nwith you when you go.

Mr. Davis, you are not\Nmy first record exec.

I'm just trying\Nto protect my family.

No, no, no. I understand.

Well, we have never given\Nthat right to any artist.

Um...

But I believe in you.

So...

Best efforts.

Okay.CLIVE: Okay?

JOHN:Mm-hm.

Here, let's take a picture.Okay.

All right.\NReady for the shot?

[♪♪♪]

Congratulations.\NWelcome to Arista.

[LAUGHS]

Thank you.CLIVE: Thank you.

Cissy. Thank you.Thank you, Clive.

John.Thank you. Thank you very much.

Congratulations.

Now, if you don't mind,

I want to get acquainted\Nwith my new artist

and learn about\Nher musical tastes.

Okay.

Alone would be great.

It's what I was trying to--

Okay.Yeah.

CLIVE:\NSo, do you write songs?

No.

Have you ever tried?Mm-mm.

Is that okay?Yeah.

We'll just get people\Nto write them for you.

Now, what kind of songs\Ndo you like?

[BREATHING DEEPLY]\NHm.

Great big songs.

"Great big songs"?

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Yeah.All right, great big songs.

Yeah, that you almost\Ncan't wrap your arms around.

Songs that are like\Nclimbing a mountain,

that'll stretch me\Nvocally, that--

I really gotta sing\Nmy raggedy ass off to sell.

Gospel? Country? Black? White?

All the above.

All the above?Mm-hm.

All of them.

A great song is a great song.

And you are 100% correct\Non that.

Okay. So, then,\Nwhat we're gonna do

is we're gonna hire the finest\Nsongwriters in America--

In the world,

to write a great big\Nvocally-ambitious song

for a great new\Nvocally-ambitious star.

What do you think?

Believe they'd do that for me?No.

But they'll do it for us.

[CHUCKLES]

Okay, so--Can I--

Can I ask you something?Yeah, you can ask me anything.

I'm an open book, Whitney,\Njust so you know.

Even though people say

that the text size is so small

that you need\Nvery strong glasses.

[LAUGHS]What do you wanna know?

You went to Harvard?

Law, yeah.

What was that like?

Well, stressful.

Actually, anxiety attacks.\NI had--

Right here, darling.Sure.

Thank you so much. Thank you.You're welcome.

But, you know, you work through\Nit. I worked through it.

How?Uh, how?

Exercises. Breathing exercises.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

[LAUGHS]\NI do that too.

Yeah, but I did it, of course,

you know, away from\Neveryone because--

You know, you have to remember\Nthat in those days,

and this was a long time ago--

In those days,\Nyou couldn't admit

that there was ever\Nanything wrong with you.

And can you now?

I want to tell you one thing,\Ndear Whitney, before we begin.

I never get involved in the\Npersonal lives of my artists.

I am not a babysitter,

I'm not a camp counselor,\NI'm not a rabbi.

I know music.

I have an ear,\Nand I have an instinct.

And in this respect,\NI can serve you.

And I will be there for you\Nat any hour.

Okay?Okay.

To you. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Mm.

Okay. Let's test that ear.

He said he can get me on TV,

and we drank champagne.

And, Mommy, he called me\N"vocally ambitious."

You let her come out\Nlooking like this?

She ain't got a dress?

She needs to start\Nwearing a dress.

I told her to dress up.Why?

These are my nice jeans.

[IN UNISON]\NNice jeans?

Yeah, well, it's just me.

Yeah, well,\Nthey don't wanna see "just you,"

and being Nippy\Nain't gonna get it.

And you need to take her\Nwig shopping.

If she's gonna go all the way,

hair short as mine\Nis not going to get it done.

You're a princess.

With that voice\Nand the looks,

you could be\NAmerica's princess.

Start looking like one.

Tough business, baby, I know.

I'm just gonna sing.

My next guest\Nhas nurtured such superstars

as Barry Manilow,\NMelissa Manchester,

Chicago,\NSimon and Garfunkel,

Janis Joplin--\NAnd the list is endless.

Today, he's brought \Nhis latest discovery with him,

and she is, in two words,\Nsimply breathtaking.

Oh, God, I think\NI'm gonna throw up.

No, no, no, no.

You got this in the bag,\Nprincess.

Come on now. Come on.\NStand up.

Baby, get her something\Nto drink.

Some ginger ale,\Nsome soda pop--

Something like that.All right.

Hey. Hey.Mommy.

You're gonna be fine.

Just pretend you're singing\Nin the shower.

[EXHALES SHARPLY]\NYou want me to imagine\NI'm singing butt naked

in front of Merv Griffin?[LAUGHS]

Come on. It's not helping.

Remember...

Head, heart, gut. Right?

Yeah.

You're my princess.

All right? All right. Come on.CLIVE: You know.

You just know \Nthat you're in the presence...

You know what to do. ...of somebody special.

MERV: She's got it.CLIVE: She's got it.

MERV:\NWait till you hear her.\NHere's Whitney Houston.

[AUDIENCE CLAPPING]

[BAND PLAYING "HOME"]

♪ When I think of home ♪

♪ I think of a place ♪

♪ Where there's love\NOverflowing ♪

♪ I wish I was home ♪

♪ I wish I was back there ♪

♪ With the things ♪

♪ I've been knowing ♪

♪ Wind that makes\NThe tall grass ♪

It's too slow.No, he's fine.

♪ Bend into leaning ♪

♪ And suddenly\NThe raindrops that fall ♪

Her skin tone is off.

♪ They have a meaning ♪

They're not lighting her right.It's fine, Cissy.

♪ Sprinkling... ♪

It's too slow.\NIt's too slow. It's too slow.

Cissy.

Cissy. Cissy.

Let's pick it up. Pick it up.

♪ Clean ♪

♪ And suddenly my world ♪

♪ Is gonna change its face ♪

♪ But I know ♪

♪ I know where I'm going ♪

Whoo! ♪ And I have had my mind ♪

♪ Spun around\NAnd around in space ♪

♪ Yet I've watched it growing ♪

♪ I know you're listening\NLord ♪

♪ So won't you please\NTry not to make it hard ♪

♪ To know I shouldn't believe\NEverything ♪

♪ Everything that I see ♪

♪ Tell me ♪

♪ Should I try and stay ♪

♪ Or maybe I should run away ♪

♪ Would it be better ♪

♪ Better, better, better ♪

♪ Just to let things be? ♪

♪ Living here\NIn my brand-new world ♪

♪ It might be a fantasy, yes ♪

♪ Yeah, it could be ♪

♪ But it taught me to love ♪

♪ So I know that it's real ♪

♪ It's real ♪

♪ It's real to me ♪

♪ And I've learned\NThat we must ♪

♪ Look inside our hearts ♪

♪ To find ♪

♪ Yeah, we gotta find ♪

♪ A world full of love ♪

♪ Like yours, like ♪

♪ Like mine ♪

♪ Like home ♪

♪ Home ♪

[AUDIENCE CHEERING, CLAPPING]

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, baby.

MERV:\NYou won't forget that name.\NWhitney Houston.

[♪♪♪]

[UPBEAT SONG PLAYING]

CLIVE:\NWhat do you think?

No.

No.I agree.

MAN:\NOkay, this is Whitney Houston.\NTake one.

♪ A few stolen moments ♪

♪ Is all that we shared ♪

No.MAN: This is Whitney Houston.

♪ Oh, where do\NBroken hearts go? ♪

♪ Can they find\NTheir way home? ♪

Let's try this one.

MAN: And cut it there.Is that better?

Yeah, that's one word for it.

[CHUCKLES]

MAN:\NGo again.

♪ So I'm saving ♪

♪ All my love for you ♪

[LAUGHING]

What? What? What happened?

It's the lyrics. They're just--

It was beautiful.All right. Let's do it again.

Okay.Okay, I'm serious.

["HOW WILL I KNOW" PLAYING]

♪ How will I know\NIf he's thinking of me? ♪

Maybe.Maybe? Why?

♪ How will I know\NIf he really loves me? ♪

♪ I say a prayer\NWith every heartbeat ♪

You know?

I could do something\Nwith the chorus.

Go up a key,\Nget more out of it.

Yeah, but that's not a reason\Nto do a song.

It's got to have a hook.

A hook?Yeah.

[SCOFFS]\NI'll give it a hook.

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S\N"HOW WILL I KNOW" PLAYING]

♪ There's a boy ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ He's the one I dream of ♪

♪ Looks into ♪

♪ My eyes ♪

♪ Takes me to the clouds above ♪

♪ Mm-hm ♪

♪ Ooh, I lose control ♪

♪ Can't seem to get enough ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ When I wake from dreaming ♪

♪ Tell me, is it really love? ♪

WHITNEY:\NSo? How do I look?

Ridiculous.I do not. Do I?

This is the look they want.

America's sweetheart.

And you're gonna\Ngive it to 'em.

Just watch me.

♪ How will I know? ♪

♪ How will I know\NIf he really loves me? ♪

♪ I say a prayer\NWith every heartbeat ♪

♪ I fall in love\NWhenever we meet ♪

♪ I'm asking you 'cause you\NKnow about these things ♪

♪ How will I know\NIf he's thinking of me? ♪

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S "YOU GIVE\NGOOD LOVE" PLAYING ON RADIO]

[GASPS]

Holy shit! Holy shit.

Nip! Nip! Wake up!

Nip, wake the hell up!\NWake up, Nip!

What?Nip, it's on! Listen!

[BOTH SCREAMING]

Oh, my God!Wait, wait, wait!

This is big, right?

Big? What? This is huge.

Try huge! Oh, my God.Hey. Hey, come work for me.

Huh?Full-time.

Handle bookings,\Nwardrobe, travel.

I don't know?\NFind me a box of Fruity Pebbles

or a Cap'n Crunch\Nat 1 a.m. in the morning.

If you say "1 a.m.," you don't\Nneed to say "in the morning."

That's why I need you.

I want someone\NI can trust completely.

You're the only one.

Yeah, well, you could trust me,\Nbut you can't afford me.

Well, okay, yeah.You can't afford me.

Well, I'm getting you cheap,\Nbitch.\NYeah?

Yeah.Okay. Okay.

Do your parents know?\NHave you talked to them?

Your mom won't be happy.\NShe hates me.

We'll go see Daddy.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Hey.Hi.

Hi.Hello.

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

It's gonna be okay.

JOHN:\NJust booked us a couple's table.

Just me and you\Nand a nice bottle of--

Let's pick this up later on.

Nippy. You know better than\Nto come charging into a room

without knocking.

How do you do?

Barbara, this is my daughter,\NWhitney.

Congratulations.

Your dad's told me\Na great deal about you.

So pretty.

Bye.

Bye, Nippy.Uh--

[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

JOHN:\NWhat's this about?

[CLEARS THROAT]

Well, Rob's gonna\Ncome work for me full-time,

as my creative assistant.

Creative assistant?Mm-hm.

Nice title.

You two have been spending\Na lot of time together.

Sharing an apartment,\Nthick as thieves,

out everywhere, arm in arm.

And now you want\Nto officially work together.

Side by side,\Nin the public eye.

You always wear your hair\Nso short?

Uh...

Easier to manage.

"Easier to manage."

Miss Crawford,\Nlet me tell you something.

Whitney is Daddy's girl.

Always was, always will be.

Nothing comes between us,\Nyou understand?

Yeah. Yes, sir.

She's my princess,

and we're building\Nsomething here.

Something that you\Nwill have no part in.

Now, here's what I want.\NYou want my blessing?

Hmm?

Go out on dates.

With young men.

Daddy, with boys?

Be seen in public\Nand photographed with young men.

Wait, Mr. Houston,\Nare you serious?

You don't ever have to ask me\Nthat question again.

Well...\NI'm not gonna do that, so...

Well...

...that tells me\Njust about everything

I need to know now then,\Ndoesn't it?

Daddy...

You want me to approve\Nof you hiring this girl,

who has no experience\Nin management whatsoever? Hmm?

Do you have any experience\Nin personal management?

No.

Well then, you get out there,\Nbaby girl.

You get out there,\Nand be seen with young men.

You hear? Go on.

JERMAINE:\N♪ If you say ♪

♪ My eyes are beautiful ♪

♪ If you say ♪

♪ My eyes are beautiful ♪

♪ If you say my eyes ♪

♪ My eyes are beautiful ♪

♪ It's because ♪

♪ It's because ♪

♪ They're looking ♪

Chemistry with Jermaine.

♪ At you ♪

Watch your needles.

ROBYN:\NYou slept with\NJermaine Jackson.

You're just gonna sit here\Nand tell me

you slept\Nwith Jermaine Jackson?

Rob!Huh?

Rob, it's just a guy.What, it's just a--

It's just a guy?

You know what, I don't know what\Nyou're so upset about.

Just a guy!We agreed we had to see guys.

We didn't agree to screw them!Rob!

[SHATTERING]

Do you love him?

Do you?

He loves me, but I'm not sure.

Rob.That's what it is?

I'm sorry.It took you no damn time!

Rob, I'm not cleaning\Nthis shit up. Robyn!

You know what? Fine.\NSmash everything.

It's all crap anyway.

I hate you so much right now!

Yeah? Speak up,\NRob, I can't hear you.

And you know what?\NYou know what?

Hey, not the vacuum cleaner!\NAre you crazy?

Yo, think about it. How are we\Ngonna clean this place up?

Shit, you crazy, Robyn.

You crazy.Yeah?

So that's it?

Just like that?

I want a family.

A husband. Kids.

Faith and family.

I love you.

We love each other. Right?

Huh?And the Bible says--

Oh, my God. The Bible!No, no, no.

Leviticus-- You know, we can go\Nto hell for this kind of shit.

I don't want to go to hell.

Yeah, I'm not\Nin such a hurry myself.

Yeah, well, look it up.

Look that up.

[ROBYN BREATHING SHAKILY]

Hey.

I love you.

In perpetuity,\Nthroughout the universe.

[♪♪♪]

I need my best friend.

Rob, please.

Please.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

[OVER SPEAKERS]\N♪ It's the light of day\NThat shows me how ♪

♪ 'Cause when the night falls\NLoneliness calls ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Somebody ♪

♪ I wanna feel the heat\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Somebody ♪

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Somebody ♪

Yeah. Yeah, I want it.

You want it?Yes. It's about--

It's about wanting to dance\Nwith somebody really bad.

Yeah.I mean, really...

...really, really, really,\Nreally bad.

And for whatever reason...

...for whatever reason,\Nyou can't.

Okay. Good.Mm-hm.

CLIVE:\NWell, I can't wait\Nto see what you do with it.

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S "I WANNA\NDANCE WITH SOMEBODY" PLAYING]

[CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING]

♪ Oh, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ I wanna feel the heat\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah ♪

♪ Ooh, yeah ♪

♪ Uh-huh ♪

♪ Yeah, come on ♪

♪ Don't you wanna dance? ♪

♪ The clock strikes\NUpon the hour ♪

♪ And the sun begins to fade ♪

♪ There's still enough time\NTo figure out ♪

♪ How to chase my blues away ♪

♪ I've done all right\NUp till now ♪

♪ It's the light of day\NThat shows me how ♪

♪ And when the night falls ♪

♪ My loneliness calls ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ I wanna feel the heat\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance... ♪

You also get a bottle\Nof Dom Pérignon from me

every time one of your\Nsingles...Clive?

...reaches number one\Non the charts.

Number one?Congratulations.

[SQUEALING]\NNumber one!

♪ I've been in love, y'all\NAnd lost my senses ♪

♪ Spinning through the town ♪

♪ Well ♪

REPORTER::\NHer debut album

was the most successful

debut solo album in history,

sweeping the American Music\NAwards, winning a Grammy.

Her eagerly awaited second \Nalbum is about to be released.

Will she be able to live up\Nto the world's expectations?

♪ ...hot enough to last ♪

♪ So when the night falls ♪

♪ My lonely heart calls ♪

WHITNEY:\NI wanna make a toast

to my brothers\NGary and Michael,

Gary's new girlfriend Pat,

and my best friend Robyn.

Mwah. Love you, girl.Girl, I love you.

To Italy!ALL: To Italy!

Gary, take a picture of us!

Okay. Come on.Cheese!

Oh, my God!

Wow! That is crazy!

♪ Oh, somebody ♪ ♪ Who ♪

♪ Lord, somebody ♪♪ Who ♪

♪ To hold me in his arms, oh ♪

REPORTER 1:\NIt's incredible, Susan.\NThe name on everyone's lips

is Whitney Houston.ROBYN: Go, Nip, go!

Whitney Houston transcends \Nage, race, lifestyle.

REPORTER 2:\NThat show sold out,\Nso this one had to be added.

At 23, she is \Nthe true heartbeat of America.

♪ Oh, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪\N♪ Come on ♪

♪ Don't you wanna\NDance with me? ♪

♪ I wanna feel the heat ♪♪ Heat! ♪

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Yeah. Somebody, somebody ♪ ♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna dance \NWith somebody ♪

♪ I know you wanna\NDance with me ♪

♪ I wanna feel the heat\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Yeah, I wanna dance\NWith somebody ♪

♪ Said don't you ♪

♪ Whoa ♪♪ With somebody who loves me ♪

Are you pinching yourself yet?

One more, and you'll\Nhave beat the Beatles

for the most consecutive\Nnumber ones in history.

♪ I wanna dance with somebody ♪♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ With somebody who loves me ♪♪ Come on, come on ♪

♪ I wanna dance ♪

[CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING]

Thank you much!

And good night!

DJ:\NWell, it's a criticism I\Nincreasingly hear from callers.

WHITNEY:\NThat I'm not Black enough?

No, your music.\NYour music isn't Black enough.

What would you like me to say?

The truth.\NAren't you selling out?

Whew.

WHITNEY:\NYou've got a lot of nerve\Nasking me that.

That's what my mother tells me.

It's a valid question.

A common criticism of you\Nand your music.

That you're a sellout.

That you're not\Na real Black artist.

You're about to walk out,\Naren't you?\NNo.

You'll be walking out\Nbefore I will.

How do you respond?

If I'm not a Black artist,\Nwhat am I?

You tell me.

Look, I don't know\Nhow to sing Black,

and I don't know how\Nto sing white either.

I know how to sing.

Music is not a color to me.\NIt has no boundaries.

Why somebody gotta say\Nsomething dumbass like that?

I mean, who said that?\NThat's just bull.

And it makes me angry, actually.\NIt's hateful and uninformed.

Why I gotta be what someone\Nwants me to be anyway?

Sing what I want to sing.\NBe how I want to be.

Reach as big an audience\Nas I can.

Isn't that what art's\Nmeant to do?

My whole life,\N"She ain't Black enough.

She ain't white enough."\NWell, how about,

"She's not obedient enough"?

How about,\N"She ain't fearful enough"?

Hm.

Hm.

Well, you heard it from Whitney\Nherself, ladies and gentlemen.

Was that too much?Hell no.

All right.

[♪♪♪]

[MOVERS CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

Morning, Max.

Mr. Houston.

[CHUCKLES]

Look at this.

Here you are. Good morning.

Thank you.

Use it wisely.

Anna.

INTERVIEWER:\NAre you a businesswoman?

Yes, I think so.

What does\Na businesswoman do?

Well, what does\Na businesswoman do?

She says what she doesn't want.

Good morning.WHITNEY: And she knows,

primarily, what she wants.

That's a pretty tough thing

to have to determine sometimes, \Nyou know?

Most of the people\Nthat work with me,

the people I have known\Nfor many years,

you know, they're people,\Ncompetent people

I can trust to look out for me\Nand to do their job well.

But it's hard sometimes\Nto make the transition

from being the friend\Nto the boss

or from the boss\Nto the friend.

Or from the daughter to the boss\Nor the boss to the daughter.

You know, you have to wear\Ndifferent hats at times.

So, you are a tough cookie?

Sometimes.

Always?Not always, no. Sometimes.

That means sometimes.

Daddy, what is it?

I want you to fire her.

Robyn is a nobody.

The Bible tells us,\N"Do not be misled.

Bad company corrupts\Ngood character.

Walk with God, not the devil."

Daddy...I need her gone.

Daddy, there is nothing\Ngoing on.

She is a bad influence.

And the press\Nis talking too much trash.

It's damaging the brand.\NDo you understand?

Since when--

[DOOR CLOSES]Since when did your little girl

become "the brand"?\NI missed that.

Your mama would have killed\Nto become a brand.

We just couldn't get her there.

I'm not firing Robyn.

I need her. I need somebody\NI can trust 100%.

You can trust me 100%.

Or you better damn do.

Now you go do as I tell you.

I'm the manager here.

I know you are. You work for me.

You don't say.

Daddy...

...I do.

How is that, to become the boss\Nof your own family?

Of your brothers\Nand their wives?

Of your own father and mother?

Or are you still\Nthe "little girl" sometimes?

Sometimes.

MARTIN:\NNow, look here,\Nyou stupid, little broad.

Don't you talk\Nto me like that.

I'll talk to you\Nany way I like.

You know who I am?

You think I let dames\Nget away with anything?

CLIVE [OVER PHONE]: Yes?Clive, I wanna do a movie.

What?

A movie.

Why?

We'll find you a movie. Sure.

Okay. Night.

MARTIN:\NYou didn't ask but you wanted. \NI did my share. What about you?

Who do you think you are,\Nyou can be so particular?

You're nothing.\NYou get funny with me,

and I'll throw you right back\Nto that crummy dance joint

where I found you.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING]

How are you feeling?Here she comes.

Whitney!

There she is.

Whitney "Whitey" Houston!\NWhitney "Whitey" Houston!

Pay no attention.Come on.

Shame on you!\NShame on you!

Whitney "Whitey" Houston!\NWhitney "Whitey" Houston!

Who was that?I don't know. Come on.

No, I don't wanna talk\Nto nobody.

Mrs. Houston!Just stay focused.

Keep it together.What's going on?

ANNOUNCER:\NGive it up

for Bobby Brown, everybody!

BOBBY:\N♪ Yeah, do it like this ♪

Is this an awards show?

♪ Yeah, get busy ♪

My God.

[CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING]

The amazing Bobby Brown,\Nladies and gentlemen.

BOBBY:\NThank you. Thank you.

WOMAN [OVER PA]:\NLadies and gentlemen,\Nplease take your seats.

The show will be back on\Nin five minutes.

WHITNEY:\NGirl, I swear to God.

Right there. Yeah!Right there?

And I'mma do it again.

Oh.

Hey!

Girl, I swear to God.

What the--?

What are you doing?

Yo, I'm not even\Nplaying around, man.

You better chill.I'm not.

Hey, hey, hey. What's up?[LAUGHS]

Oh, no. I'm so sorry.\NI'm really sorry.

You're Bobby Brown, right?

Yeah. Yeah. What about it?

I got a question for you.

And what's that?

How old are you?

Old enough.

He's old enough.

He's old enough, you know.\NHe's old enough.

ANNOUNCER:\NLadies and gentlemen,

our host, Anita Baker.

She looks so good.So good.

The nominees\Nfor the best music video are...

Janet Jackson, "Control,"

Michael Jackson,\N"The Way You Make Me Feel,"

Whitney Houston,\N"I Wanna Dance With Somebody,"

Whoo![AUDIENCE BOOING]

Jody Watley,\N"Looking For A New Love."

Are they booing me?And the winner is...

The winner is Janet Jackson,\N"Control."

Keep it together.

Hey, hey. Don't even worry\Nabout it.

You're Whitney Houston.\NAll right?

They dogs.

Give me a pen\Nand a business card.

[♪♪♪]

[JANET SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

JOHN:\NYou got to be prepared.

You know, the kind of success\Nthat you're enjoying,

that the Black stations\Nain't got no control over

and they don't own,\Nit drives 'em crazy.

Oreo. They calling me an Oreo.

If they wanna see Black,\NI'll show 'em Black.

No, you don't.\NDon't you go changing nothing.

You keep on doing\Nwhat you doing,

'cause what you doing\Nain't nobody ever done before.

The first one over the hill\Nalways gets whupped.

And you are the first,\Nprincess.

No one is like you.

Look at me.That's right.

No one is like you.

You got class. You can sing.

Mommy, I never wanna\Nshow my face again.

What? Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

You will show it again.\NYou gonna show it even more now.

JOHN: To Nippy.To Nippy.

To Nippy.To Nippy.

Nelson Mandela\Nto be released tomorrow.

And as you might expect,\Nthat is a moment

that this country\Nwill not soon forget.

WHITNEY:\NI've been thinking\Nwe should get new writers.

A new sound.

R & B.

Yeah.

You know,

L.A. Reid and Babyface

are doing some really\Ninteresting stuff right now.

And they might be right\Nto produce your next album.

We can look into that.\NYou want to?

Okay.

Don't be sad. Come on.

That's better.

Now get out of my chair.

REPORTER:\NAnd here they are,

Whitney Houston\Nand Bobby Brown.

They're just arriving here

at the Billboard Music Awards.

She's nominated\Nfor four awards tonight,

including top R & B album\Nand top R & B artist.

Do you want a hug?

It's okay, baby. It's okay.\NThank you so much.

Hi, Whitney. You and Bobby are\Nthe king and queen of R & B.

How does that feel?

It feels very good.\NIt feels very good.

Y'all wanna see a kiss?

Baby, you look so good.

Beautiful. Beautiful, Whitney.

Just one more.Beautiful.

Look this way.Here, Whitney.

One more. One more time.Whitney, here.

Whitney, turn around.I love it.

All right. All right.

Everybody, back up.\NEverybody back up, all right?

Yeah, back up.Back up. Back up. Back up.

All right?Back up!

Back up!

Come on. All right.That's it, all right?

We done. Thank you.Thank you.

♪ ...hurts so bad\NYes, it does, yes, it does ♪

Oh, God, no.

"Why does it hurt so bad"?It's a great song.

"Why do I feel so sad?

Thought I was over you,\Nbut I keep crying,

'cause when I don't love you,"\Nblah, blah, blah.

Why?\NI have to believe in\Nwhat the song is saying

if I'm gonna sing it right.

Right?Yeah. No, I understand that.

Right, so no man could have\Nthat effect on me.

I would drop him first.

What?

These are completely\Nuniversal human emotions.

[CHUCKLES]\NI just think you're very young.

No?No.

All right.Next.

Then let's find a song\Nthat isn't about love.

Oh, there aren't any.[LAUGHS]

Hear me out.\NThat's all I'm trying to--

All right, I'm listening.

What do you want?Do you trust me?

Yes, I trust you.All right,

so hear me out\Nwhen I say...

...Bobby ain't the one.\NBobby a ho.

He a ho. He got a baby\Nby some chick.

You call my man a ho?

I'm just saying.Uh-uh, no. Relax. Relax.

Bobby's got a reputation.

I know.

You like that bad boy shit?

Yeah. I do.You ill.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

No, man. He gets me.\NHe makes me laugh.

And, you know, I'm tired\Nof being the good girl.

My career\Ncasts a lot of shadow.

He's famous enough to get\Nwith that, so I'm good.

All right. Well,\Nif you like him then...

...I'll tolerate him.[PHONE RINGING]

Thank you.

Hold on one second.

Hello?

Like I tolerate what's-her-name?What's up? Shh.

My bad. Look, I'm at work.What's her name?

Can I call you back?Girl, tell me her name.

Her name is Natalie.

Natalie, I'mma call\Nyou back, okay?\NHi, Natalie!

I'll talk to you.\NHave a good day.\NYeah, bye.

Really? Why would you do that?Have a good day! Goodbye!

Because. You're rude.

At least she ain't\Nno Jermaine Jackson. Yeah.

Why you gotta be like that?You went from Jermaine to Bobby.

Why you gotta be like that?I'm just saying.

You sure know how to pick 'em.What? Relax. Relax, man.

It ain't like we getting\Nmarried or something like that.

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S "FAR ENOUGH"\NPLAYING ON RADIO]

What is it?

Hold up, girl.

Hold up. Hey. Hey.

Hold up, hold up, hold on.What?

What? What are you doing?

Marry me.

Well?

Oh, my God, Bobby.

Yeah.Yeah?

Yeah. Yeah.Yeah?

Take a look.Oh, my God. Oh, my God!

Baby, it's so beautiful.\NThank you, baby.

Let me see.

Hey? Hey?

What?

Can I trust you?

Can you trust me?

Yeah.Yeah, of course you can.

Yeah?Yeah.

Will you tell me everything?

Everything.

You want that?Yeah.

You got it. Absolutely.

It's just, uh...

It's just one thing.

Kim is pregnant.

Besides that, we cool.

Just wanted to let you know\Nthat so we-- We're good. Right?

Honesty all the way.

Man, I love you so much, baby.\NI knew you'd understand.

Yeah. Hoo.

[SIGHS]\NThat's a fucking load off.

I've been holding on to that\Nfor months now.

The hell you just say?

I just had to be honest\Nwith you.

You messing with me.

I had to tell you\Nthat one thing.

You messing with me. Bobby,\Nyou better be messing with me.

Besides that, we're cool.Kim?

Yes, Kim.

Kim is pregnant?Yes.

Look, it was alcohol.\NLots of it.

It kind of just happened,\Nbaby.

No. Stop the car.

Stop the car!

Hey, driver, don't stop the car.That's bullshit.

Hey. Stay right here.Bullshit.

That's bullshit.Whitney!

Whitney!

Hey! Stop!Whitney!

Will you stop?Goddamn it.

And this happened after we\Nstarted seeing each other?

No, it was in\Nthe transition phase, baby.

Look, I was over her.

Not so finished you weren't\Nstill banging her, you mean.

Hey, look.[HONKING]

We're walking here! We're walk--Idiot!

Baby! Baby!

So let me get this straight,\NBobby Brown.

You ask me to marry you,\Nwait till I say yes,

and tell me\Nyour goddamn ex-girlfriend

is goddamn pregnant?

Hey, look, I love you.

All right?

I wanna spend\Nthe rest of my life with you.

No one else.

I didn't know that then,\Nbut I do now.

See, me and you,\Nwe from the same place.

We from the 'hood.

Yeah, I know you.

You don't, for one second,

gotta be Whitney Houston\Naround me.

Not for a second.

[SCOFFS]

Hey, look, look.

It's us...FAN: Whitney!

...against the world, baby.

[♪♪♪]

So, are we doing this, or what?

Yeah.

Hey, good.

You had me worried there\Nfor a sec, Nip.\NHm.

I had you worried?Yeah.

Hey! Bring the car around!

Hey, yo, yeah!\NBring that car around, homey.

Shut up, Bobby!

What?

[LIQUID POURING]

[DOOR OPENS]

ROBYN:\NHey, Nip.

I got some news.

BOBBY:\NSo do we.\NYou're right on time.

Word? What's going on?

BOBBY:\NCheck it out.

Congratulations.

BOBBY:\NYeah.

WHITNEY:\NThank you, girl.

Bobby.Hey, thanks, Robyn.

Appreciate that.Mm-hm.

BOBBY:\NSo, what brings you\Nall the way over here?

You said you had some news,\Nright?

What is it?

Oh.

You ready?WHITNEY: Uh-huh.

They want you to sing\Nthe national anthem...

...at the Super Bowl.

Wait. Hold up.

BOBBY: Like, the--WHITNEY: What, like--

Super Bowl, Super Bowl?Super Bowl, Super Bowl?

PILOT:\NCaptain, we are airborne.

Twenty-six thousand to push\Npoint. How are we looking?

...coordinates 3016\Nfor uncorrected

Super Bowl elevation\Nof 35 meters.

COMMENTATOR:\NAlmost ready then\Nfor Super Bowl XXV,

where the Giants get ready\Nto take on the Buffalo Bills

for the ultimate prize\Nin football.

No.

Slower, Rickey. Please.

What?It's the national anthem.

I think the NFL's\Ngonna want it fast.

I want it slow.

Just do it.

I have a range of different\Nlooks here to choose from.

Nuh-uh. No dresses.

[CHUCKLES] Okay.Girl, this is the Super Bowl.

Can't I just be me for once?

[EXHALES SHARPLY]

[PRESS CLAMORING]

Two and three should widen out.\NLet's pull back.

Oh, yeah!

Where she from?Yeah, yeah. New Jersey.

So, Whitney was number one\Non the Billboards.

♪ O'er the ramparts\NWe watch'd ♪

♪ Were so gallantly streaming? ♪

♪ And the rocket's red glare ♪

♪ The bombs bursting... ♪

Yeah. Yeah, hit that.\NYeah, hit that.

♪ ...in air ♪

♪ Gave proof through the night ♪

♪ That our flag\NWas still there ♪

♪ O say ♪

♪ Does that star-spangled ♪

♪ Banner ♪

♪ Yet wave ♪

♪ O'er the land of the free ♪

♪ And the home of the brave? ♪

WHITNEY:\NMommy. How'd I do?

Are you kidding me, Nippy?

You were fantastic.

If you never do anything else\Nin your life,

you did that\Nhow it was supposed to be done.

Hello.Hey.

Okay.

Do you think that you can\Npostpone your wedding...

...for this movie?Why would I do that?

From Nicole. She thinks\Nit's a wonderful role for you.

I have my concerns.

The Bodyguard?

It's about a world-famous\Nsinging star

and her difficult relationship\Nwith her bodyguard.

Nope.

Who's the bodyguard?

Kevin Costner.

Did I say no?

'Cause I meant yes.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Well, he wants you.

He wants me?Yes, he wants you.

Do you wanna think about it?

Shit, Clive,\Nit's only a wedding.

Get your priorities in order.\NThank you.

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S "RUN TO YOU\N[FILM VERSION]" PLAYING]

You done back there?

Yeah.

[GASPS]

Cut.

Whitney.

BOBBY:\NHey.

We're gonna have\Na lot more babies.

All right?

I love you.

I love you.

I don't know if I can do this\Nanymore.

What you mean by that?

Be everything.

To everyone.

Well, you can't stop now.

Right?

Hey, I've got you.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

I want you to listen\Nto something.

We have a minute here, right?Yes.

Okay.

So, I don't feel\Nthat they're allowing you

to sing strongly enough\Nin this picture

so that we understand why your\Ncharacter is such a huge star.

Right.Okay?

Do you understand\Nwhat I'm saying?\NI do. I do.

The songs have to be great

in order for the character\Nto be great.

So Kevin...

...your new best friend,\Nfound this.

Here.Okay.

This is Dolly Parton.

[OVER HEADPHONES]\N♪ And I will always ♪

♪ Love you ♪

What?

♪ I will always love you ♪

I like it.

I like it.

♪ If I should stay ♪

♪ I would only be in ♪

♪ Your way ♪

♪ So I'll go, but I know ♪

♪ I'll think of you\NEvery step of ♪

♪ The way ♪

[VOCALIZES]

[AUDIENCE CHEERING WILDLY]

Whitney! We love you!We love you!

We love you!We love you, Whitney!

[CHEERING GROWS LOUDER]

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

♪ And I ♪

♪ Ooh, I... ♪

♪ Will always love you ♪

♪ Will always love you ♪

♪ You, my darling, you ♪

♪ Bittersweet memories ♪

What?

You think I'm making a mistake.

This is happening, Robyn.

It's what I want.

Okay?Okay.

All right.

♪ And I ♪

♪ Will always love you ♪

♪ I will always love you ♪

♪ And you and you\NAnd you and you ♪

♪ And you and you and you ♪

♪ Oh, yes, I will ♪

You look beautiful.

♪ I hope life treats you kind ♪

♪ And I hope you have\NAll you've ♪

♪ Dreamed of ♪

♪ And I wish you so much joy\NAnd happiness ♪

♪ But above all this ♪

♪ I wish you love ♪

♪ And I ♪

♪ Will always love you ♪

♪ I will always love ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ I will always love you ♪

Hey, baby girl. Hey. Hey.

She's gorgeous, baby.She's beautiful.

I love you.I love you too.

♪ I will always love... ♪

[CROWD CHEERING]

♪ Know I'll always ♪

♪ I'll always love ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ You ♪

You're so silly, girl.

Oh, my gosh.

[KNOCKING]

No, no.\NI don't wanna see nobody.

I got you, baby.Okay.

You ain't gotta see nobody,\Nall right?

Nip.BOBBY: You so silly, girl.

What's going on? Great show.Hi.

Okay, you did that.\NYou did that.

Thank you, girl. Thank you.

So listen--\NJust give me\Na second, all right?

Sure.\NLet me talk to you\Nfor a sec, Rob.

Yeah, yeah. What's up?

Hey, so, I don't think\NNip wanna see nobody tonight.

Yeah, but I'm not nobody.\NAll right?

Listen, Oprah needs an answer

about you doing\Nan interview with her.

Word?Word. So we gotta get back.

Yeah. No, I'm good.Hey, hey, hey.

I got this.\NOkay, here you go, baby.

No, Bobby.I got this.

No. I got this.So, what you saying?

What I'm saying is\NI'm creative director.

This is my job.\NI got this. It's simple.

I'm the husband.

I win.Bobby.

All right?

[LAUGHS]

Whit, what's up?

What's going--

I mean, you gotta listen\Nto my husband, Rob.

What? That's it?That's it.

Yeah, but, Bobby--Me?

I gotta listen\Nto your husband?

Bobby, be nice, all right?

Robyn's my best friend. Okay?

Your best friend?

Yeah, you heard her.\NHer best friend.

I thought I was that, baby?

No, I need you both.

Okay?

Yeah, all right.

You funny.I married her.

Whatever. I'm going to my hotel.I'm her husband, Robyn.

[PLAYING PIANO]

Hey, Whit.

[SOFTLY]\NGet ready.

[NORMALLY] How's the voice?Fine, Rickey. How's yours?

I've been working on something\Nnew to finish your show.

But it's big.

I got a show\Nfull of big already.

Mm-mm. Not big like this.What is it?

It's a three-song medley\Nsung straight through.

Starting with\N"I Loves You, Porgy."

Moving on to\N"And I Am Telling You."

No, don't do that.\NDon't do that.

And finishing with\N"I Have Nothing."

[SIGHS] Rickey...Yeah?

What goes through\Nyour thick head

when you're bringing me\Nthis shit?

What?

Those three songs together,

they're almost unsingable\Non their own.

Together that's like\Nclimbing Mount Everest.

Without oxygen.

And you're the only singer\Non the planet

that could pull this off.

That's why I'm suggesting it.

This could be very special.

But, you know,\Nif it's too hard, I mean--

Let me see.

Come on. You know this stuff.

It's about heartbreak\Nand the people we need.

Fighting to hold onto them.

What's that?The key change?

It's just a key change.It's just a key change?

For your big finish.

♪ Nothing... ♪

Count of 12.

♪ ...don't... ♪Six more.

♪ ...make... ♪Another count of six.

♪ ...me... ♪That's only four.

That's a count of 28.

And then you want me to go up?Half a step.

You can take a quick breath\Nafter the "me."

I can take a quick breath?

Try it.

Take me to measure 124.

[PIANO PLAYING]

♪ Don't... ♪

♪ Make... ♪

♪ Me ♪

♪ Close one more door ♪It's not even hard.

♪ I don't wanna hurt anymore\NStay in ♪

Mm-mm. Ha!

I'm not doing that shit.\NNo, you crazy.

You were right there.No.

You're gonna do it\Nand you're gonna like it.

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

[♪♪♪]

[FANS CLAMORING]

Whitney. Whitney, please.

Whitney.

Can I have your autograph?

I'm your biggest fan.\NPlease, Whitney.

Whitney, please.

Can I have your autograph,\Nplease?

Thank you so much, Whitney.

Thank you.

BODYGUARD:\NHey, keep back, please.\NKeep back.

Ma'am.Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, Miss Houston.\NWe'll see you tomorrow.

Change of plans. Please be\Nready to leave tonight.

We don't have approvals.

We'd have to bring in\Nanother crew.

You have my approval, honey.\NWhose else do you need?

Your father's, ma'am.

Bring in another crew.\NI don't care what it costs.

I'm sleeping in my own\Ndamn bed tonight.

Next to my husband.

Yes, ma'am.

Since when did Daddy get\Napproval over everything?

Girl, try day one.\NYou just now noticed?

That's my damn jet.Company's jet.

Everything's in\Nthe company's name now.

I wanna see the company\Nreports, Pat.

You got it.

[♪♪♪]

Ma'am.

Good night.

[SIGHS]

Damn.

Hey, baby? Is that you?

Shit.

Wasn't expecting you home\Nso soon, baby.

Don't touch me.

What? What is all that?

What?

Yeah, you got something\Nyou wanna say?

About what?

Damn, Whit.

What, I was out?

Yeah. Yeah, I went out.

You bringing dirt into my home.

[SUCKS TEETH]

I checked.

I don't know\Nwhat you talking about.

I checked.

You out here with other women\Nwith my credit card?

I got a problem with that.

So get out of my house.

Nah.

I ain't going nowhere.

I ain't going nowhere.Bobby...

It's my house.

We man and wife, all right?

I'm not going nowhere.\NNeither are you, all right?

Get out of my house.\NYou know what?

Maybe I get the police over\Nhere. You want that again?

Oh, yeah?Yeah.

Or maybe I should get a gun.Yeah?

Yeah, I'm gonna get a gun.You gonna get a gun?

Yeah, smoke your ass.

You would do that?

Yes, I would do that.

You'll get a gun.\NWe gonna see about that.

You wanna mess with me?

Huh?

You wanna mess with Bobby Brown?Yes, I do.

Yeah? Mrs. Brown?Yeah.

Don't you ever talk to me\Nlike that again, Whit.

All right?Get your finger out of my face.

Mrs. Brown, right?Don't touch my face.

You wanna mess with me,\NMrs. Brown?

Don't touch me like that.\NGet off me.

Hey. Don't you ever,\Never disrespect me.

I ain't to be messed with,\Nbaby.

[CHUCKLES]\NBaby, neither am I.

Get out.

Don't you dare.\NDon't you dare.

Get out of my house, Bobby.

Oh, man.

Hey, all right.\NAll right, baby.

But check this.

You crazy!

You wanna see crazy?Yeah, yeah, you crazy.

You wanna see crazy?

There's something wrong\Nup there.

Get out of my house,\NBobby!

Get out of my house![BABY CRYING]

We don't want you here!I ain't going nowhere!

Get out of my house!

Give me my baby.This is my house too!

Give me my baby.Yes, ma'am.

I'm not going nowhere.

Tripping.

Hi. I'm sorry.

♪ Jesus loves me, this I know ♪

♪ For the Bible tells me so ♪

♪ Little ones to him belong ♪

♪ They are weak\NBut he is strong ♪

I love you, baby.

I'm ready.

♪ Why does it hurt so bad ♪

♪ Why do I feel so sad ♪

♪ Thought I was over you ♪

♪ But I keep crying\NWhen I don't love you ♪

♪ So, why does it hurt so bad ♪

It's been eight years,\Nduring which we've--

I've.

You have only released\Nseven pop songs...

...but not a single album.

I've been acting.

I know.\NThree wonderful pictures.

And performing. And tours.But I'm just pointing out--

Yes. See, you smoking,\Nthat's like--

For me, that's like leaving\Na Stradivarius out in the rain.

Well, you have everything,\NClive.\NWhat?

Children, wife.Ex-wife.

Servants, houses.

Oh, it's so hard.I know.

I'm carrying everyone, Clive.\NThe press is always on me.

It's exhausting.Are you exhausted?

Yes, I'm exhausted.\NAll Black women are exhausted.

It's just most of the time,

all this princess\Nbe dreaming about

is being at home with my baby\Non the couch.

I need my daughter\Nto have the home she deserves.

How can she when her father\Nis Bobby Brown

and her mother is me?

Well, family is the most\Nimportant thing.

But that's why it's good,\Nyou know,

when you travel, you take\NBobbi Kristina with you.

I'm not so sure.

What do you mean?

She sees everything.

Everything.

The road is no place\Nfor a child.

Oh, God.

Here.Thank you.

Do you remember that song?

The one I turned down.

[HUMMING TUNE]

Yes, yes.

Yeah, I think I get it now.

♪ Bad ♪

How about that?

JOHN:\NAnd the other one says,\N"Well, yeah, well,

that's what my sister does,\Nand she owns all of those cars."

[MEN LAUGHING]

Whitney.

Can I speak to you, please?

Sure, have a seat.\NI would like you to--

Daddy, alone.

Do you mind? Thank you.

MAN:\NCertainly, Miss Houston.

My daughter loved\NCinderella.

JOHN:\NWhat is it, princess?

Sit down.

Daddy...

My money.

I trusted you.

Look, there's more coming,

and I'm taking care of it.

Oh, you taking care of it?

You taking care of it\Npretty good.

I earned millions.

Tens of millions!\NDo you even know what's left?

Now, you just watch your tone.

And sit your ass down.

Sit down!

The mink coats...

...the cars...

...the private jets\Nfor everybody,

the credit cards, condos.

Everyone is using me\Nlike an ATM.

Daddy, you were meant\Nto look out for me.

That's exactly what I'm doing.

No. No, Daddy.

You put me\Nin a really bad situation.

I don't know\Nhow I'm gonna fix this.

I'm fixing it.

No. No, you're not.

I don't trust you.

You see those men over there?\NHmm?

That's Arista Records.

Now, I'm working on a real big\Ndeal, so you just keep singing,

and I'll take care\Nof the money.

I'm gonna have to go\Non a world tour.

A huge-ass world tour.

Your voice can handle it.

I'll cut this deal,\Nand we'll be fine.

So you just keep singing,\Nall right?

When I land this thing,\Nyou'll see.

I'm still the boss.

I don't have a boss.

But I do have a vacancy\Nfor a father.

Maybe you wanna apply for that.

Whitney, can we get a picture?No.

[KNOCKING]

WHITNEY: Clive?Uh...

Who is it?WHITNEY: Come on.

You know it's me.\NCome on.

What--?

Hi.Hi.

Hello.What are you--?

I couldn't sleep.

Yeah, obviously.

And I knew you would be up.

So I was wondering\Nif you had any.

Any...?

Songs. You know?

Oh, songs.

Empowering songs.\NSomething I can--

Yes, all right.

Well, yeah, a few came through.

Yeah?

You know, if you can't sleep...Yeah, yeah.

...you might as well be\Nworking, right?True.

So, you have any?

Do you need anything?

I was just, you know--

I was just wondering\Nif you had any, you know?

Something I could--

All right. Yeah, well,\NI did hear a few today.

That I thought were good.

All right. Well, great.

Okay, well, play me\Nthe best one.

The best one?Yes, the best one.

Okay.Is it empowering?

Well, I thought it was.

But you be the judge.

Okay. Here we go.

♪ Friday night ♪

♪ You and your boys\NWent out to eat ♪

Do you wanna hear it again?

Okay.

♪ Friday night ♪

♪ You and your boys\NWent out to eat ♪

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

Okay, let's play it\Na few more times.

No, I don't need that.

I got it.

What do you mean, you got it?I got it, Clive.

Unbelievable.\NYou're unbelievable.

♪ Friday night ♪

♪ You and your boys\NWent out to eat ♪

♪ Then they hung out ♪

♪ But you came home around 3\NYes, you did ♪

♪ If six of y'all went out... ♪

♪ Then four of you\NWere really cheap, yeah ♪

♪ 'Cause only two of you\NHad dinner ♪

♪ I found your\NCredit card receipt ♪

♪ It's not right\NBut it's okay ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it anyway ♪

♪ Pack your bags up\NAnd leave ♪

♪ Don't you dare\NCome running back to me ♪

♪ It's not right\NBut it's okay ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it anyway ♪

♪ Close the door behind you\NLeave your key ♪

♪ I'd rather be alone\NThan unhappy, yeah ♪

There you go. Good!Oh, my God! Beautiful!

Okay, then, new album?Beautiful!

I don't see why not.

Okay.I don't see why not.

Oh, um, and Daddy wants me\Nto do a world tour.

What?Yeah. Seventy dates.

Seventy? No. Whitney, no.

Your voice. No.

Clive, I miss it.\NAnd Daddy said I can do it.

Well, I'm gonna talk to Daddy.

"Let your light shine\Nbefore others

that they may see\Nyour good deeds

and glorify your Father\Nin heaven."

Gospel of Matthew,\Nchapter five.

"Don't push your luck,

or you might fall\Nand break your tuchus."

That's the gospel of Clive,\Nchapter one.

Clive, you're Jewish.

So was Jesus.

At least on his mother's side.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S\N"I'M EVERY WOMAN" PLAYING]

[WHITNEY VOCALIZING]

♪ I ain't bragging ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm the one ♪

♪ Just ask me ♪

♪ Ooh, and it shall be done ♪

♪ And don't bother ♪

♪ To compare ♪

♪ I've got it ♪

♪ Oh, yes ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ I've got it, got it\NGot it, yeah ♪

[VOCALIZING]

♪ I'm every woman ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪

♪ Every need, baby ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪

♪ Oh, I want you to know now\NBaby ♪

♪ I'm every woman ♪

♪ I'm not in no hurry ♪

♪ We can fly all night, baby ♪

♪ It's your move, so baby ♪

♪ Baby, let's fly ♪

♪ Whatever you want from me ♪

♪ I'm giving you everything ♪♪ Everything ♪

♪ I'm your baby tonight ♪

♪ You've given me ecstasy ♪

Who is it?

Baby. Baby. I missed you.

I missed you too.Oh, my God.

♪ I'm your baby ♪

REPORTER 1: \NBobby Brown arrested yesterday.

REPORTER 2:\NOn the heels of winning\Nher sixth Grammy,

Whitney Houston stood by her\Nhusband in court today,

who was arrested\Nfor violating probation.

Despite all the problems

Houston and Brown\Nhave encountered,

his stint at a rehab clinic

and rumors of his\Nentertaining other women,

the couple insists they are\Nstill very much in love.

Well, this is Cissy Houston.\NTell Nippy, Whitney,

Ms. Houston to call her mother.

Behind her closely\Nguarded facade,

the wholesome singer's life\Nis in turmoil.

ASSISTANT: \NHey, Robyn. Whitney's a little \Ntied up right now,

but she says she'll see you

when she comes back\Nfrom the tour.

♪ I get so emotional ♪

♪ Every time, every time ♪

♪ Think of you, babe ♪

[MUSIC MUFFLED]

♪ Love can do ♪

♪ Ain't it shocking\NWhat love can do ♪

♪ Tell me, ain't it shocking\NWhat love can do ♪

FANS:\NWhitney!

Everybody get back.

Why'd you cancel the show,\NWhitney?

Are you high right now?Have you lost your voice?

What happened to your voice?Hey, Whitney. Are you high?

Hello.

Come on.

Hey.Hello.

Hi.Hi.

Hi.Hello. How you doing?

I'm okay.

I'm okay.Nice to see you.

Hello, sweetheart.

How are you? Come on in.Good.

Come on in.

How was the trip?It was good.

Was it? Good.Yeah.

Where's the dog?

What dog?The dog.

She's been talking about\Nyour dog for the longest time.

I don't have a dog.

You don't?[LAUGHS]

Hey, Marble.Look what he's got.

Come on, Marble.\NGo get the dog, Marble.

Go get it. There you go.\NThere you go.

BOBBI:\NMarble, come back! Come back!

Cute guy.

Who is he?

I'm an open book, Whitney.

Yeah. Mm-hm.

Yeah, that you need\Ndamn strong glasses to read.

Boy. I did not see that coming.

Well, that makes two of us.

Come here and sit with me.

And I want you to be happy too,\Nmy dear friend.

Okay?Yes.

So the real reason that\NI asked you to come up here.

Dear Whitney, the time has come\Nfor me to tell you...Mm-hm.

...that you need rehab.

Okay?

The number of problems\Nthat are arising

indicate that you're not\Ngonna win this battle.

And that you're underestimating\Nthe lethal power of drugs.

[SNIFFLES]

Do you hear me?

I thought you didn't meddle

in the personal lives\Nof your artists.

Before you, in entertainment,

whether you're a Judy Garland\Nor you're a Janis...

...they end up losing.

You can't do it yourself.

You can't.

And how sad, I mean...

For you to affect your voice...

...to affect everything.

It's criminal.I'm fine.

Really, I am. You know,\NI got it under control.\NMm-hm.

I just need to let my hair down\Nsometimes. Can't I do that?

You see these?

You're on the cover\Nof every one of them.

And no longer for your music.I beat the Beatles.

I beat Elvis.

I was the first Black,\Nall-American,

white-friendly girl.

But that ain't me.

Clive, I gave up a lot.

I know. I know.

But... I can't leave it\Nthis way.

This is a matter\Nof life and death.

You need to let me help you.

Meddling.

Deal with it. Now.

You know...

...some of your favorite\Nperformances of mine...

...I needed help.

To sing with the gods,\Nsometimes you need a ladder.

No, Whitney.

From the first time\Nthat I saw you...

...I knew you didn't need\Na ladder.

The gods were already there.

Mommy.\NI want a dog, Mommy.

Hey. You want a dog?

You want a dog? You can have\Nanything you want, baby.

Anything you want.

Whitney.

Clive.

♪ When all of my dreams ♪

♪ Are a heartbeat away ♪

♪ And the answers\NAre all up to me ♪

♪ Just give me ♪

♪ Give me one ♪

♪ One moment in time ♪

♪ When I'm racing with destiny ♪

♪ Then ♪

♪ In that one moment of time ♪

♪ I will feel ♪

♪ I will feel ♪

♪ I will be free ♪

[VOCALIZES]

♪ I will be ♪

♪ Free ♪

ROBYN:\NYour show's over.

BOBBY:\NIt's finished. You hear me?

You see what you did?No. This is what you did.

She's not doing well, Bobby,\Nand needs to go home.

No, she don't.\NI'm running shit here.

Oh, yeah?That's it.

I'm tired of your shit, Robyn.

Bobby, it's clear to everybody

she's not well\Nand needs to go home.

Come on. Let's get her home.

Yeah?Yeah.

That's what's best.All right. All right. Okay.

We should--\NWe should ask her, right?

Let's ask her.Talk to her.

Baby. Baby.

Yeah?

You wanna go home?

'Cause we can. You know\Nwe can do that if we want.

We can always do that.

Do you want to go home, baby?

No.

No.No, I don't wanna go.

Yeah. See?\NI'm taking care of her.

That's it?That's it. Yeah.

Is that what you're doing?

Is this what you're doing?

Taking care of her with this?

Is this how\Nyou taking care of her?

You better watch that tone,\NRobyn.

I'mma keep my tone.All right.

Listen, Nip. I will not\Nsit around and watch this...

...anymore.

I'm tired of this, man.Yeah.

Yeah.No, I'm not doing this now.

I'll deal with this later.

Why do I gotta deal\Nwith everyone else's shit?

You right, baby.

You gotta get to that\Nvenue anyway.

Yo. I'm sick of you, Robyn.

And I'm sick of you.

Yo, Nip. He doesn't deserve\Nyou, okay? He never has.

This man never deserved you.

Hey, look. Look. Look.\NThis is through.

It's through, Robyn. Done.

And your dad's\Nin the hospital.

What?

Daddy?

BOBBY: Yeah.Yeah. He in the hospital.

Yeah, baby.\NI was gonna tell you.

I was gonna tell you\Nafter the show.

After the show.

Yeah. Whatever.\NI'm done with this shit.

No.Nip, I'm done.

BOBBY: Yeah.Rob? Robyn.

[DOOR SLAMS]

NURSE [OVER PA]:\NLawrence, regarding\Na patient on line two.

Lawrence to line two.

Whitney.

Hey.

Hey.Hey, Daddy.

You can just leave us.

I'll be out of here\Nin a day or two. You'll see.

No.

No.

No. Not until the doctors\Nsay you can.

Daddy, you're gonna get\Nthe best care in the world.

I got to get out of here.

Take care of business.

No, you don't.

Not anymore.

Pat's handling everything now.

So you can just relax\Nand get better.

What are you talking about?\NPat?

It's okay.

Pat's managing me now.

You've lost your mind,\Nlittle girl.

I've been taking care of\Neverything. Your whole life.

Who do you think\Nwas looking after you

when your mama was\Ngoing off on them tours?

Changing your diapers?

Me.

So, you ain't taking over shit.

It's done.

It's over.

Yeah? What about\Nthe millions you spent?

You blew on Bobby.

Court cases, lawyers,\Nyour private jets.

My private jets,\Nmy money, Daddy.

My mind's made up.

Let's go forward.

Then you better get yourself\Na good lawyer.

You hear me?Daddy.

And you better pay me\Nall the money you owe me.

Daddy, what money?

My piece\Nfrom that new record deal

that I negotiated for you\Nwith Arista.

I negotiated that.

I took care of it.

Okay, like you're taking care\Nof your new wife

by coming after me?

One hundred million dollars.

There's no one hundred million.

They pay by the album, and I\Nhaven't done any new albums yet.

As of right now,\Nit's almost all gone.

You let me down, Daddy.

And now you're breaking\Nmy heart.

I know you and Bobby\Nare hiding it.

You get me my money, princess.

No. No. I'm not your princess.

I'm not your princess no more.

Yeah?\NNo more.

Yeah.

[COUGHING]

[♪♪♪]

PASTOR:\NWe return to the earth...

...the body of our brother\NJohn Houston.

How long has it been like this?

Mommy.

[SIREN WAILS]

Hey, baby. Hey, gorgeous.

Everything's fine.\NEverything's gonna be fine.

OFFICER:\NWatch your head.

Hey. Hey, baby?

I love you.

I love you.

JAMES:\NWe're all slowly dying...

...but you don't have to\Nparticipate so enthusiastically

in the process.

You've hurt yourself\Nalong the way.

Physical damage.

One slipup, Whitney.

Never get a vacation,\Nyou find ways to take one.

Four months.

A private, secure residence.

You'll be closely monitored.

[♪♪♪]

[VEHICLE APPROACHING]

Baby!

Hi, Mommy!Oh, baby.

Oh, my God!

Come on. We gotta kick.

Come on.

Come on. One more time!

Hang on, Mom!

Come on! We gotta get\Nto the wall.

Right. Come on.

Whoo!

We made it!

We made it!

Whoo!

BOBBI:\N♪ When I think of home ♪

♪ I think of a place ♪♪ A place ♪

♪ Where there's love\NOverflowing ♪

♪ I wish I was home ♪

♪ I wish I was back there ♪

♪ With the things\NI've been knowing ♪

I'm proud of you,\NMommy.

I love you, baby.

Lord...

...give me the strength.

Grant me the strength.

Give me the strength.

Oh, my God,\Nthat's Whitney Houston.

WHITNEY:\NI don't blame you, Bobby.

I don't.

The drugs were there\Nbefore you came along.

We didn't help each other,\Nbut I don't blame you for that.

Yeah, shit. I mean,

I wish somebody\Nwould tell the media that.

See...

What I looked for in you\Nwasn't there.

A home.

Outside of my music,\Nthat's all I ever wanted.

But you broke that.

And I watched my parents\Ndo that to each other

and I promised myself...

Uh-uh.

...that's not gonna be me.

All right.

All right.

Look, I-- I hear you.

But I still got you, Nip.

I still got you. Look, hey...

We can talk this out. Right?

Yeah.Yeah?

That's what we're doing.

We're talking it out.

I, uh--

Goodbye, Bobby. Be well.

Wait.Your daughter needs you.

Wait, Nip? Nip?

Hey, Whitney? Baby?

[♪♪♪]

How's your mama look?

Awesome.Yeah.

Go get 'em.

I hope I remember how to sing.

Me too.\NIt's Oprah.

I talked\Nto the musical director.

I told him\Nto follow your lead.

It's your first time back.\NYou set the pace.

Thank you, Mommy.

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

All right.CISSY: You got this.

You got this, Nippy.

Remember.

You're my princess.

Mommy...

You know, I think\NI'm just gonna be me.

Ladies and gentlemen, \Nplease welcome Whitney Houston!

[CROWD CHEERING, CLAPPING]

♪ Lost touch with my soul ♪

♪ I had nowhere to run ♪

♪ I had nowhere to go ♪

♪ Lost sight of my dream ♪

♪ Thought it would be\NThe end of me ♪

♪ I... ♪

♪ I thought I'd never\NMake it through ♪

♪ I had no one to hold on to ♪

♪ I... ♪

♪ I thought I might break ♪

♪ I didn't know\NMy own strength ♪

♪ And I crashed down ♪

♪ I crumbled ♪

♪ But I did not ♪

♪ Crumble ♪

♪ I was not built to break ♪

♪ I didn't know\NMy own strength ♪

♪ Found hope in my heart ♪

♪ I found the light to light ♪

♪ My way out of the dark ♪

♪ Found all that I needed\NLord ♪

♪ Here inside of me ♪

♪ Here inside of me, yes ♪

♪ I thought I'd never\NFind my way ♪

♪ I thought I'd never\NLift that weight ♪

♪ I... ♪

♪ I thought I might break ♪

♪ Didn't know my own strength ♪

♪ There were so many times I ♪

♪ Wondered how I'd get through\NThe night ♪

♪ I thought I took\NAll that I could take ♪

Hold on! Hold!

♪ I didn't know\NMy own strength ♪

♪ Survived the darkest hour ♪♪ Yes, I did ♪

♪ Kept me alive ♪♪ Yes, I did ♪

♪ Get myself back up ♪

♪ I hold my head up high ♪

♪ I got through all the pain ♪

♪ Let me tell you ♪

♪ I didn't know ♪

♪ I didn't know ♪

♪ My mama said\NI was not built to break ♪

[CROWD CHEERING, CLAPPING]

♪ Dionne said\NI was not built to break ♪

♪ Clive said\N"Come on back and sing ♪

♪ You're not built to break" ♪

♪ Your love said-- ♪

♪ Your love said ♪

♪ I was not built to break ♪

♪ Oprah said... ♪

♪ "Girl, do you know\NYou're loved?" ♪

♪ Now I know my ♪

♪ Own ♪

♪ Strength ♪

Yeah.

Darling.

How was I?

Great.\NYou're always great.

Always.\NWe'll talk on Monday.

They still love me.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Clive, it's my first\Nof the day.

Okay.So...

...I wanna do another tour.

I'm a singer. I need to sing.

Well?

Get some rest.

[♪♪♪]

REPORTER: \NWhitney Houston's comeback tour

is not faring well\Nfor the iconic singer.

Her latest show in Denmark left \Nhundreds of fans walking out

and asking\Nfor their money back.

WOMAN:\NIt was obvious.

It was quickly obvious that\Nthere was a major problem.

Her vocal range\Nwas seriously diminished.

She was fine\Nwithin a certain limit.

But when she ventured\Nfrom that safety zone,

she was in trouble.

And Whitney has always been

distinguished\Nby her range of notes.

REPORTER:\NHouston is one of\Nthe top-selling artists

of all time, with six Grammys

and a mezzo-soprano that earned \Nher the nickname "The Voice."

Whitney now needs\Nmore than her...

Go for a shot.

Okay.

REPORTER:\NAnd Whitney Houston just\Narrived at the Beverly Hilton.

Lots of speculation\Nthat she will also perform

at Clive Davis's Grammy party\Nlater this evening.

PAPARAZZO:\NMs. Houston, this way!

Are you going back to rehab?

WHITNEY:\NHey, get them ready\Nto do "Home."

RICKEY:\NDoes Clive know?

WHITNEY:\NYeah, I'm singing tonight.

I don't think\Nthat's a good idea.

It's not what Clive wants,

and it's not\Nwhat I want for you.

Did you see me sing on Oprah?

Yeah, I saw you on Oprah.Okay.

I saw you in Copenhagen too.

People wanna see\NWhitney Houston.

You set that standard.

I know.

I know I'm not\Nwhere I used to be.

But I know how to get there.

I'm not going away.\NI can't lose this.

This? This one night?

Yes, yes. This one night.

Me singing for them.

I can't live without it.

I'm gonna be ready.

You need to be.

If you're ready,\NI'm there for you, Whit.

I always am, but--\NIf you're not ready though--

Rickey?

Just get ready to do "Home."

I'm gonna sing it...

...and you're gonna like it.

[HUMMING]

Do you think this carpet\Nneeds a vacuum?

[PHONE BUZZING]

Mom, are you nervous?No.

No. No, I'm excited.\NI'm so excited.

You know what?

I gotta go downstairs\Nand get some more honey.

Why don't you go to your room?

I'm gonna get ready\Nfor tonight, okay?

I'm gonna make you so proud.

I love you in perpetuity.

BOTH:\NThroughout the universe.

Yeah, that's it.\NYou got it, baby.

Okay.

Whitney, can we get\Na picture, please?

Miss Houston!

Can we take a picture with you?Sure.

All right.

Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much!Okay. Sure.

Whitney.

Do you think I could have\Nyour autograph?

Yeah.

Thank you, Whitney.

Thank you.

[♪♪♪]

WHITNEY:\NCan I get a tea, please?

Thank you.

With pleasure.

Would you?

Super, massive fan.

Sure. Ahem.

Oh. Don't worry, I got one.

Spencer.Spencer.

So it's true?

You're performing tonight\Nat that pre-Grammy party?

You heard that?

It's out there.\NEverybody knows.

There's gonna be\Na whole lineup of huge stars,

but you're gonna outshine them\Nall. You always do.

Thank you.Thank you.

Girl, can I tell you something?

Yeah.

I saw you live once, in '94.

The American Music Awards.Yeah.

I was a seat filler.

Girl, you did\Nthat medley of songs.

Yeah.Goddamn.

[LAUGHS]

You liked it?

That's the greatest performance\NI've ever seen.

Thank you.As far as I'm concerned,

you're the greatest\Nof all time.

I really appreciate that.\NI do. Thank you.

[INAUDIBLE]

But it was...

It was 18 years ago.

So...

You are just as beautiful\Nas you've ever been.

And I'm sure you're singing\Njust as good too.

It's on the house.

[PRESS CLAMORING]

[♪♪♪]

♪ When I think of home ♪

♪ I think of a place ♪

♪ Where there's ♪

♪ Love overflowing ♪

♪ I wish I was home ♪

♪ I wish I was back there ♪

♪ With the things ♪

♪ I've been knowing ♪

♪ Maybe there's a chance ♪

♪ For me to go back ♪

♪ And it sure would be nice ♪

♪ To be back home ♪

♪ Where there's... ♪

[CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING]

♪ And just maybe ♪

♪ I can convince time ♪

♪ To slow up ♪

♪ Giving me ♪

♪ Enough time in my life ♪

♪ To grow up ♪

♪ Time ♪

♪ Please stay, my friend ♪

♪ And let me start ♪

♪ Again ♪

[CROWD CLAPPING]

WHITNEY:\NWe're gonna do a medley\Nfor you.

We've never done that before.

It's about love.

The things we do to get it,\Nand the things we do to keep it.

So I'm gonna sing for you.

With thanks for all the love\Nyou've given me.

And the great,\Ngreat joy I've had

in trying to repay that love.

[BAND PLAYING\N"I LOVES YOU PORGY"]

♪ I loves you ♪

♪ Porgy ♪

♪ Don't let him take me ♪

♪ Don't let him handle me ♪

♪ And drive me mad ♪

♪ If you can ♪

♪ Keep me ♪

♪ I wants to stay here ♪

♪ With you forever ♪

♪ And I'll be glad ♪

♪ Someday I know ♪

♪ He's coming back ♪

♪ To call on me ♪

♪ He's gonna handle me\NAnd hold me ♪

♪ So... ♪

♪ It's gonna be like dying\NPorgy ♪

♪ Deep inside me ♪

♪ But when he calls ♪

♪ I know I have to go ♪

♪ Porgy, I is your woman now ♪

♪ I is ♪

♪ I is ♪

♪ And I ain't never going\NNowhere ♪

♪ Unless you shares the fun ♪

♪ And I am telling you ♪

♪ I am not going ♪

♪ See, you're the best man\NI'll ever know ♪

♪ There's no way\NI can ever go ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way ♪

♪ I'm living without you ♪

♪ I'm not living without you ♪

♪ I don't wanna be free ♪

♪ See, I'm staying\NI am staying ♪

♪ And you, and you, and you ♪

♪ You're gonna love me ♪

♪ You're gonna love me\NOh, yes ♪

♪ And I am telling you ♪

♪ I am not going ♪

♪ Even though the rough times\NAre showing ♪

♪ See, there is just no way ♪

♪ There's no way ♪

♪ Tear down the mountains ♪

♪ Yell, scream and shout ♪

♪ Well, you can say\NWhat you want ♪

♪ I'm not walking out ♪

♪ Hold back the river ♪

♪ Push, strike and kill ♪

♪ I'm not gonna leave you ♪

♪ There's no way I will ♪

♪ And ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ Am ♪

♪ Telling you ♪

♪ I am not going ♪

♪ See, you're the best man\NI'll ever know ♪

♪ See, there's no way\NI can ever, ever go ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way ♪

♪ I'm living without you ♪

♪ I, I'm not living\NWithout you ♪

♪ Not living without you ♪

♪ I, I don't wanna be free ♪

♪ That's right, I'm staying\NI'm staying ♪

♪ I'm staying, I'm staying ♪

♪ And you, and you, and you ♪

♪ You're gonna love me ♪

♪ Oh, yes\NOh, yes, you are ♪

♪ Oh, yes, you are ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

♪ You're gonna love me ♪

♪ Love me ♪

♪ Love me ♪

♪ Love me, love me ♪

[CROWD CHEERING]

♪ Share my life ♪

♪ Take me for what I am ♪

♪ I'll never change ♪

♪ All my colors for you ♪

♪ I said take my love ♪

♪ I'll never ask for too much ♪

♪ Just all that you are ♪

♪ Everything that you do ♪

♪ I don't really need to look ♪

♪ Very much further ♪Come on, Nippy.

♪ I don't wanna have to go ♪

♪ Where you don't follow ♪

♪ I won't hold it back again ♪

♪ This passion inside ♪

♪ Can't run from myself ♪

♪ There's nowhere to hide ♪

♪ But your love, I remember ♪

♪ Forever ♪

♪ Don't make me close ♪

♪ One more door ♪

♪ I don't wanna hurt anymore ♪

♪ Stay in my arms ♪

♪ If you dare ♪

♪ Must I imagine you there? ♪

♪ Don't walk away from me ♪

♪ I have nothing ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ Don't ♪

♪ Make ♪

♪ Me ♪

♪ Close one more door ♪

♪ I don't wanna hurt anymore ♪

♪ Stay in my arms ♪

♪ If you dare ♪

♪ Must I imagine you there ♪

♪ Don't walk away from me ♪

♪ No ♪

♪ Don't walk away from me ♪

♪ Don't you dare ♪

♪ Walk away from me ♪

♪ I... ♪

♪ I have nothing ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ Nothing ♪

♪ If ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ Don't have ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ If I don't have you ♪

♪ Yeah, hey, hey ♪

♪ If I don't have you ♪

Thank you.

[♪♪♪]

[INAUDIBLE]

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S\N"HIGHER LOVE" PLAYING]

♪ Think about it ♪

♪ There must be a higher love ♪

♪ Down in the heart ♪

♪ Or hidden\NIn the stars above ♪

♪ Without it\NLife is wasted time ♪

♪ Look inside your heart ♪

♪ And I'll look inside mine ♪

♪ Things look so bad\NEverywhere ♪

♪ In this whole world ♪

♪ What is fair? ♪

♪ We walk the line\NAnd try to see ♪

♪ Falling behind\NIn what could be, oh ♪

♪ Bring me a higher love ♪

♪ Bring me a higher love, oh ♪

♪ Bring me a higher love ♪

♪ Where's that higher love ♪

♪ I keep thinking of? ♪

♪ Bring me higher love, love ♪

♪ Bring me higher love, oh ♪

♪ Bring me higher love, love ♪

♪ A higher love ♪

♪ I keep thinking of ♪

♪ Bring me a higher love ♪

♪ Bring me a higher love, oh ♪

[WHITNEY HOUSTON'S\N"DON'T CRY" PLAYING]

♪ Here we are again ♪

♪ That old familiar place ♪

♪ Where the winds will blow ♪

♪ No one ever knows ♪

♪ The time or space ♪

♪ Don't cry for me ♪

♪ Don't shed a tear ♪

♪ The time I shared with you ♪

♪ Will always be ♪

♪ And when I'm gone ♪

♪ Please carry on ♪

♪ Don't cry for me ♪

♪ See, no one is to blame\NNo, no ♪

♪ My death was meant to be ♪

♪ Don't carry guilt nor shame ♪

♪ The reason why I came\NSoon you're gonna see ♪

♪ So don't cry about me ♪

♪ Don't shed a tear ♪

♪ The time I shared with you\NWill always be ♪

♪ And when I'm gone ♪

♪ Please carry on ♪

♪ Don't cry for me ♪

♪ Oh, no ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ When life\NIs not the joy it should be ♪

♪ With life comes pain ♪

♪ Soon time ♪

♪ Will end\NThis course appointed ♪

♪ And you will be rewarded ♪

♪ And all this world will see ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ For ♪

♪ Me ♪

♪ So don't\NDon't shed a tear ♪

♪ The time I shared with you\NWill always be ♪

♪ And when I am gone ♪

♪ Life still\NLife still carries on ♪

♪ Oh, yes ♪

♪ Don't cry for me ♪

♪ We'll always be ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ Don't cry ♪

♪ For ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Me ♪

[♪♪♪]