Hey, Chico,
how's it going?
Hey, Rosa!
You're listening
to "Yesterday's Melodies"
And now for a song that won
the "RHC Cadena Azul" contest
sixty years ago.
"A Little Taste of Me"
by Chico and Rita.
HAVANA 1948
Bourbon!
- Make it two!
- No.
Not whiskey.
Four mojitos, you gotta see
what drinking really is!
Ramon...
Kiss me,
kiss me,
as if tonight
was the last time
Ok, ladies, a toast.
To us!
To us!
Time to switch partners!
Who's your hick friend?
Who him?
That's Chico. Unknown, but he's
the hottest piano player in Cuba!
Oh, really?
Time to switch partners!
Who do you think you are?
Me? I'm Chico.
You?
- Leave me alone!
- Oh, Miss Leave-Me-Alone!
Is that the Leave-Me-Alones
from Santiago or Matanzas?
Try the Leave-Me-Alones
from Buzzoff-ville!
Some girls come from far away
just to get a little buzz.
Be my guest!
Don't let me stop you!
Nah, I like you better than that!
Right! That explains
why you're all over me.
Man, she's just what I need!
Yeah, tell me about it!
No, man, don't you get it? She's
the singer we've been looking for.
With her, we'll be shoo-ins
to win the contest.
Damn it, you're right!
- We've got to talk to her!
- I know where she hangs out!
- You know her?
- No, but I know where she goes.
Those Yank chicks wanna
head over to the Tropicana.
Woody Herman's band
is playing there.
How can I say this?
Hey guys, it's time to go!
Relax.
Wow, Chico.
- Come in, the coast is clear!
- Thanks, buddy, I owe you one.
This is the performers' entrance.
- Performers...
- Thanks.
Get lost!
Good evening,
ladies and gentlemen,
dearest music-lovers.
Please excuse the delay
in tonight's main attraction
due to technical difficulties.
We hope to be with you shortly.
Meanwhile, we hope you will continue
to enjoy the tantalizing sounds of the
Tropicana Orchestra!
This is the best nightclub in Havana!
I'm sorry... sorry.
Are you following me?
Me following you?
What are you,
the Queen of Sheba?
Then why don't you leave me alone?
Because if I leave you alone,
I know I'll never be able
to live with myself.
I don't know you either
and yet I feel like I've been
waiting for you all my life!
- I hear you're a piano player!
- The best!
I hope you're right.
Follow me!
What's up man?
The band's piano player had
an accident and he's in hospital.
Hey, wait for me!
I'm his agent.
And now,
what we've all been waiting for!
Straight from New York:
Woody Herman
and the Four Brothers Band!
Who are you?
Rita, at your service.
Coming.
Take it easy, man.
Ok, we get out here.
Hey.
- What do I do with these two?
- Want me to paint you a picture?
Bye!
Bebop.
Be-what?
That's the sound in New York now!
You can play with the best bands.
All the top Cubans are there.
Mario Bauza, Miguelito Valds,
Machito. Even Chano Pozo!
Chano Pozo is now playing
with the Dizzy Gillespie Band!
What's that lovely tune
you are playing?
Take it down a key.
- Let me in!
- Not now. Come back later.
Who's in there?
Another one of your Yankees?
I told you to come back later!
No way!
You're planning on taking off
to New York with one of them and
I want to see what the big deal is!
I see, this time
your little friend's not a Yankee.
Get out of here! There's plenty of
men around here! This one's mine!
Was yours!
Now he's my man!
You don't know what this guy's like.
And you don't know
who you're messing with. Beat it!
Go on!
I'll show you what it means
to steal a man from a woman like me!
Hey, watch those hands!
Don't touch me!
- Get your dirty hands off me!
- Bitch!
- Let me go!
- You let go first!
If I get hold of that face!
Let me go!
Don't scratch me, you bitch!
I'll kill you!
You're crazy!
Tell her to go.
Tell her to get dressed and get lost!
Juana, Juana...
Get outta here!
Ow!
Sure you don't have more girls
hiding under the stairs?
Don't worry,
I'm gonna leave the door open
so you can service them all!
Get off! Rita!
Let her go, Chico! Let her go!
Rita!
Hey, you, don't run so fast!
You want him?
You can have him!
He's all yours!
I'm leaving too.
Wasn't that what you wanted?
Shit!
Shit!
What gives, Chico?
You've been chosen for
the competition and you don't care!
- I need a singer.
- I know a hundred.
That can sing my arrangements?
I get it.
You've fallen in love!
That's it, right?
Hey, buddy, only whites allowed.
Look, man, I just want to give
a message to my sister.
If I had a sister, I'd be damned
if I let her work here!
Whatever you say,
you're the boss!
Ok, see you.
- Ciao!
- Ciao!
See you around, Angel.
I'll come by soon!
Good evening, Rita!
Did you lose something?
I think I just found it.
Well, that's good news.
- Got ten pesos you can spare?
- Ten?
Stick with me
and you'll make much more.
Oh, really?
What's your cut?
Twenty percent.
Hey, I don't need
anybody hustling me!
So, beat it!
It's been a nightmare of a night.
Rita!
Rita! Hey, wait up!
- What if she doesn't show up?
- Relax, she'll show.
- How can you be so sure?
- Because...
Look, there she is!
Coming up,
Contest Couple Number 21.
Chico and Rita!
For so long we have enjoyed
This love
Our souls got so close
That I keep your taste
But you also carry
a taste of me
You got what you wanted.
Satisfied?
Of course,
you guys are the perfect couple!
They announce the winners at
the Fausto theater at 10 PM tonight.
- Don't let me down!
- But don't forget,
I'm only doing it for the money!
Hey, come here!
What did you tell him?
Me? Nothing. You know me,
I wouldn't breathe a word!
Wait... wait up!
- Where you headed?
- Let me give it a shot!
What are you doing, man?
You don't know
the first thing about riding bikes.
I'll bring it back tonight.
Goddammit!
What are you doing here?
Is your neighborhood off-limits?
- I don't like people being nosey.
- Who does that house belong to?
Do I ask you about the floozies
crawling around your place?
You telling me you live
with another man?
Is that him?
I told you he'd make you suffer.
- Rita, let's just forget it.
- Ok.
I'll forget about you
and you forget about me.
Come on, baby!
You mean nothing to me!
I don't know you from Adam!
Don't even think
about following me!
You know what?
I'd kiss the ground you walk on if
you lived in a cleaner neighborhood.
And now, the moment
we've all been waiting for.
Especially our contestants.
The grand prize,
as you all know, is 500 pesos
plus a one-month contract
at the Hotel Nacional.
And the winners
of the Fourth Annual RHC
Cadena Azul Amateur Contest are...
Couple Number 21!
Chico and Rita!
A song that was a hit
more than fifty years ago.
By Chico and Rita.
You're listening
to "Yesterday's Melodies"
on Radio Progreso.
I never meant to own you,
I was a nobody,
lacking vanity
I gave you
The best of my life
You have a marvelous voice.
One of those voices that you have to
listen to with your eyes closed.
Of course, in your case
it would be a shame.
You see those girls over there?
I could take any one of them
and make a star out of her.
They're dying for somebody
to discover them.
Like I've done with you.
What's your price?
The price of success is success.
I mean real success.
And I'm not talking Havana.
I'm talking New York!
New York?
My dream!
Is that a "yes"?
It's an "of course"
as in "when do we leave?".
Now you're talking!
But where's Chico's name?
Chico?
Hey, honey,
how can I leave without him?
New York is full of piano players.
Chico's not just a piano player.
Chico is...
well, Chico.
Wait.
Leave me alone!
Is that what you like?
Having these guys
at your beck and call?
I'm sure you didn't tell him
to get lost.
You were straight in there.
And where are you going with him?
Oh, let me guess.
Why settle for
a shit-hole of a room
when you can have
a suite at the Nacional?
All settled.
I still don't see Chico's name.
Two names or none!
Chico!
Chico!
What's up?
- I'm looking for Chico.
- I didn't hear him arrive.
She hears what she wants to hear.
She says she's deaf,
but she doesn't miss a thing.
- Well, you two sure keep her busy.
- They keep me up every night.
If you want to come up here,
we can wait for him together.
- Pour me another!
- Ok, but this one's your last.
C'mon, man, why don't you
go home and sleep it off?
Hey, Juana.
Do me a favor
and take him home with you.
No problem.
Hey, baby.
Don't worry.
Mommy's gonna take good care of you.
She'll put you to bed,
tuck you in...
Juana, I can walk on my own, ok?
Who loves you, baby?
Who loves you, Chico?
Exactly, who loves me, huh?
Your Juanita...
Chico.
Ramon!
So you were leaving
without saying goodbye?
Do you want me
to say anything to him?
Yeah.
Tell him I don't ever want
to see him again!
You know something?
I never would have let you go.
It's a pity
I didn't fall in love with you.
A pity.
Ok, so we're all square!
Chico!
I know how to find Chano Pozo.
His sister gave me a letter for him.
He can make it happen
for us over there in New York.
My name is Chico!
It used to be.
Chico!
Chico, get up!
Chico!
Chico, get up!
- Get up, brother!
- What's going on?
Guess what?
We're arriving!
New York!
New York!
Dammit!
Careful, bro.
Let's go. Rita should be
getting ready for the first show.
- Rita Labelle?
- La-belle.
I like it. Sounds classy.
Follow me!
Come on.
For Rita Labelle?
I'll take them, thanks.
Here!
Wait.
I'll do the honors!
Scram!
"I needed to kiss you again"
What are you doing here?
Didn't Ramon tell you that
I never wanted to see you again?
- I need to talk to you.
- Where's your girlfriend?
- Why didn't you bring her?
- She means nothing to me!
That's what you said,
and then I found you two making out!
Enough already!
One day you drop me,
the next you come looking for me!
You think you can do
what you want with me?
Rita, I know I've been a jerk,
but I'm here now and I love you.
We're not... in Cuba and
I'm not the girl you used to know!
You're still the same girl to me!
Don't you realize
that everything's changed?
Look at me!
That girl you reduced to tears
stayed back in Havana!
Go away!
Get outta here!
Go and don't come back!
Whatever you say.
Come on,
it's not the end of the world.
Hey, we're in New York!
Look... I think this is the place.
It's Charlie Parker!
Look, that one over there
is Chano Pozo!
Chano Pozo!
Hey, who's the guy with the hat?
Where did you two escape from?
Did Cuba sink or something?
I was supposed to be down South
right now with Dizzy Gillespie.
But you know why I'm here?
Because we're not allowed
in a lot of places down there either.
We have to use
the service entrance at hotels,
sit in the back of buses.
There are even different bathrooms.
There are more sons of bitches
there than in Cuba, man.
Shit, be careful!
Gotta keep movin'.
You did right in coming.
Machito, Mario Bauza,
Miguelito Valdes, Arsenio...
They're all here.
People are crazy about Cuban music.
All they wanna dance
is mambo, conga...
Our time has come!
Let's get high!
- What the hell is this?
- Let me see.
Shit!
I think they sold you oregano!
- Oregano?
- Oregano!
Gimme that!
That son of a bitch!
- C'mon, man, let's go!
- Where?
If you think you can cheat me,
you better think again!
Listen up, Cabito!
Nobody cheats Chano Pozo!
Tell your friends.
Nobody screws with Chano Pozo!
Here, rule number one is: respect!
Your beers are gonna get warm!
It's party time! Cuba!
New York!
What's that Bebop shit?
Cu-bop!
That's what it is!
Mantecaaa!
Chano!
Chano...
Chano!
Chano Pozo,
To your memory I sing
this rumba as a tribute
to your work
May God take you in His bosom
and offer you His goodness
May the Holy Spirit
help you rest in peace
Chano Pozo, Chano Pozo,
Cuba and the rumba mourn for you
Those juicy contracts
will be coming soon. Trust me.
This is just
to keep you finely tuned.
What now?
Another birthday for white kids?
It's a private party on Park Avenue
for some big fish.
I think a Hollywood producer
is gonna be there.
At least, you'll eat well!
- Where did you leave the car?
- We'll go in yours!
We'll do what?
Kidney beans!
Eat, baby, eat!
- That's delicious!
- Sit down, sit down!
It's an honor to have you
right here in my kitchen!
You look like a Yankee!
But I still like kidney beans.
I've seen you in magazines.
You're headed for Hollywood, right?
Aren't you tired
of playing Miss Charming?
Don't you like me
sitting by your side
eating kidney beans?
I like it so much it frightens me.
- What are you frightened of?
- Same thing as you.
Why should I be frightened?
Of listening to your heart for once.
Of leaving your cage
and not finding your way back.
You really believe that?
Come with me!
Don't tell me you're gonna
leave without finishing.
Yes!
Are you coming or not?
Oh, Mary, Mother of God,
what is this?
Easy does it!
Careful!
- Shit! Damn American cars!
- Careful!
- What are you looking at?
- Nothing, nothing!
- So wipe that smirk off your face!
- Ok.
Rita Martinez.
What are you mumbling about?
Rita...
"I needed to kiss you again"
Yeah, same ol' shit!
Yes, yes, yes.
Don't tell me that horse finally won?
What's its name?
Do you remember
that investor I told you about?
No.
Well, our hard times are over, Chico.
From now on,
- straight to the top!
- Maybe you are.
So are you.
Look.
- What is this?
- It's a contract.
Dizzy Gillespie needs
a piano player for his band.
Tomorrow you fly to Europe.
A month in Paris and then a tour!
The opportunity of a lifetime, Chico!
Sorry, dear, for being late.
- I had no-one to take care of Lily.
- Lily?
My puppy. She's like a baby.
She can't be left alone.
Are you sure
you don't want to go for a stroll?
No! I've been told
this film is really good!
Oh, c'mon.
The music is so lovely,
and she's such a good performer!
Hi, Lily!
Like it?
Another blackout!
What do you need light for
at this ungodly hour?
Go to sleep! Tomorrow
we've gotta work for our country.
He was reading Granma
and the lights went out
just when it was getting
interesting.
I dream
I love you
as I did yesterday.
Sweet scents are reborn
and come into play
My soul takes flight
and recalls moments divine
Echoes of kisses,
two destinies, yours and mine
Rita!
- What a surprise!
- Where is he?
I need to talk to him!
Please Rita,
don't go looking for problems,
just when things are going so well.
- For who?
- For all of us!
And above all, for you!
You can't be fighting with Ron
every night.
Don't you get it?
I can't stand him!
But, you mean everything to him!
Yeah, I'm his biggest investment!
- True, but he made you what you are.
- Yeah.
A miserable wretch!
And who could make you happy, Rita?
Who?
You mind telling me
who the hell Lily is?
Lily?
Yeah, Lily!
What's wrong with you?
Are you deaf?
I met her in Paris.
She used to sit by my side
whenever I played the piano.
You must have been
very fond of her
to write a beautiful song like that.
Well... who hasn't been in love
at least once in their life?
What happened to her?
She passed away.
I'm sorry.
She also used to like
to lick my hand.
Bitch!
She was a tiny dog, silly.
It'd be better ifwe didn't
see each other for a few days.
New Years Eve, I debut
at the Hotel Pelican in Vegas.
Come the day before...
Have you thought about your career?
About your future?
Future, what future?
The future never gave me anything!
All my hopes are set on the past.
I haven't seen
that expression for years!
I'm tying the knot!
Congratulations!
When?
New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.
Are you sure no-one by that name
was on the plane to Vegas?
Ok.
Thanks.
What were you expecting?
He did it before!
And good ol' Ron
is always there for me, right?
Stop drinking!
Don't spoil it all now!
Your passport will be
withheld until further notice.
What?
Chico?
They've cancelled tonight's show!
What?
They don't like
this kind of music any more.
Jazz is considered imperialist.
It's the enemy's music!
If you wanna keep on working,
you'll have to join the Party.
- That's it!
- But, that's crazy!
Viva Fidel!
And then there was light, brothers.
Now they're screwing with us
in the middle of the night.
So the whole point is to protest.
The light goes out, complain,
it comes back on...
Comrade, it's just
that I was dreaming about...
Well, you know about who.
Who?
About you, baby, who else?
I gotta tell the world about it.
Chico!
Chico!
Chico!
Piss off!
There are some gringos
asking about you!
What are you saying?
That singer and her producers.
You know that young singer, man,
the pretty one, that big star!
Let them find somebody else.
I'm not a musician any more.
They know that but when they heard
you were still alive, they went nuts!
Who said I'm alive?
It's been years since
I've been this close to one.
Maestro...
Don't call me Maestro.
Call me Chico.
I've got all your records.
How's it possible that a girl
as young and pretty as you
can own all those old records?
That's my favorite song.
I've always dreamed of recording it.
"Lily"!
Lily...
I thought...
What?
That I'd never see you again.
I've been waiting
Waiting for you
everyday
to knock on this door.
And, just like that,
you're here.
No call, no nothing.
You haven't changed.
You look as beautiful
as ever.
Oh, Chico!
All this time...
you were...
you were here?
They were nice to me.
They let me have this room
in exchange for my doing
the house-keeping.
May I come in?
to Bebo