This is J. T., Mr. Jay,
coming at you live from Malibu.
Next, one of the hottest new cuts
going through the airwaves.
(Singing)
(Singing)
(Ends)
All right. That was
contestant number eight,
Baby Doll and the Crystals.
Good show.
jackie, have you seen Eddie?
No, but I know he'll be here.
Let's continue with the show.
Contestant number nine
are from Columbus, Ohio,
and they're going places.
After the show, they're going across
the street for a fried gizzard sandwich.
Lots of hot sauce.
Contestant number nine...
Flash and the Ebony Sparks.
Let's hear it for them.
(Singing)
What's wrong?
What's wrong?
Nothing.
All right, y'all up next.
Good luck.
Right.
Choirboy, would you
sit down someplace?
Damn, you're starting
to make me nervous. Relax.
How can I relax when...
Who's going to sing lead?
Bobby's not here.
He hasn't called. He missed
all the rehearsals this week.
We're on next.
Eddie's not here.
I said I'm gonna talk to them
when they get here, all right?
I don't like singing
in these nasty bars.
You're just nervous because last time we was here,
you got hit in the head with that bottle.
Dresser.
They could've booed or something.
They didn't have to hit me
upside my head with no bottle.
Start calling me little
peanut-head church boy.
All them names and stuff.
Nobody's forcing you.
Where the hell is Bobby?
I fold.
I'll raise you 1 0.
Too rich for my blood.
Easy, Eddie.
I think you guys
have been cheating.
I'm sorry.
(Continues)
(Continues)
Eddie! I'm going
to kill you, Eddie!
Aah! My fuckin' leg!
Get up!
I'll get you!
Nobody's ever cheated me!
(Continues)
Stop it!
I don't understand you.
You say you love me,
but you never call.
Then you bring me up here
and try to screw me in a closet
like I'm a whore or something.
Stop it right there.
I brought you here because
I thought you were a woman,
not some little girl
afraid of life.
I'm not looking
for some cheap thrill
or some stolen moment.
I want to take you
to another level,
living out the chapter
from the most romantic novel.
I want you and I to walk
to the edge of erotica.
(Unzips Zipper)
(Continues)
Whoa!
Get out of the way,
you stupid son of a bitch!
Hold it, Bobby!
You're not going nowhere!
Oh, God!
Shit!
My other leg!
(Gunshots)
Hey.
(Singing)
Duck, listen to me, man.
Bobby ain't here.
You're gonna have to sing his part.
Eddie ain't here either,
but we don't need him.
Bobby's not here?
Why does he keep doing this shit?
He knows I wrote all the music
in fve-part harmony.
Yeah, I know.
Don't worry about it.
Go get your brother.
Oh... oh...
Oh! Oh! Oh!
(Continues)
(Ends)
All right!
All right!
Our fnal act tonight
have been singing together
since high school.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Five Heartbeats.
Let's hear it for them.
Hey, man!
(Singing)
Where's Bobby?
Let's go for it.
(Continues)
Take it,J.T. Take it.
(Continues)
Dresser, take the bass line.
Bass. Bass.
(Continues)
Choirboy, go to church.
Go to church!
Go to church!
(Continues)
(Ends)
That's... That's our cousins.
Our cousins.
Our cousins, our cousins.
One more time
for the Five Heartbeats.
Come on, give it up.
Whoo!
Let me get
all the contestants up.
Come on up.
We have a winner.
We have a winner.
We have a winner.
"Flash and the Ebony Sparks"!
Yeah!
My brother would like to meet you.
Why doesn't he come over?
Because he's shy.
Look at his face.
Don't he look shy?
Yeah, but who's that girl
he's sitting with?
That's our sister.
See? Look how shy he is.
So can I get your phone number
so he can call you sometime?
OK. 5 5 5...
Excuse me. I don't mean
to disturb anybody,
but my name is Jimmy Potter.
I just want to say
I really enjoyed the show tonight.
I especially liked that opening.
Shy brother works every time.
You looked like you
were running for your life.
I don't quite know
where to begin this,
but I was wondering
if you fellas could
use a good manager.
See, I've managed
a lot of groups.
I think you guys
have what it takes
to go all the way to the top.
Now, you don't have
to sign anything.
Your word and your handshake
are good enough for me.
If you give me just one month,
I guarantee
when you come back,
you'll win that talent contest.
Yeah? And if you don't win,
I'll give you the $1 00.
Man, I like them odds.
Well, then,
you just think about it.
And if you're ready,
I mean really ready,
you be at my house tomorrow night
at 7:00, all right?
Mr. Potter,
Eddie's supposed to be here.
I don't know where he at.
Stop apologizing for him,
Dresser.
Sit down. Call meJimmy.
Yes, sir.
Ladies, next week,
we will work on posture
and also each individual
makeup base, OK?
I promise you, next week
is going to be more fun.
Okeydoke.
Bye-bye.
Hi.
Hi.
Come on, Tanya.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
Bye-bye, Mr. Potter.
Bye, Tanya.
jimmy, may I see you
for a second, please?
jimmy, why are you doing this
to yourself again?
Eleanor,
I know what I'm doing, OK?
(Horn Honks)
Tanya.
(Singing)
(Ends)
What's wrong?
What's wrong?
You know what's wrong.
I thought we agreed that
you would not do this.
I have such a good feeling
about these kids.
Aw, Jimmy,
you had such a good feeling
about the Brownsville Boys.
You had a great feeling
about the Four Clovers.
Great feeling about the Esquires.
And when they made it big,
what happened?
What happened?
They left you.
They left us.
They almost destroyed you.
They almost destroyed
our marriage.
I'm not going to
let that happen again.
All that other stuff
is behind us.
All I'm asking is
for you to believe in me,
just one last time.
This group coming up now...
you've seen them before.
The Five Heartbeats!
Come on.
Let's hear it for them!
80...
and $1 00.
That ain't right,
taking Mr. Potter's money.
Give it back.
Nah. Nah.
A deal's a deal, Dresser.
This is business.
jimmy, I told you
this was going to happen.
Let's get out of here.
Good show, fellas.
Good show.
I got some good news.
The owner of the club wants
to sign you to a contract.
Contract?
The owner?
Yeah.
I don't know.
I think you might
have to take that up
with our new manager.
Yeah, that's right.
We'll be talking to you, man.
All right.
Oh, Jimmy.
Baby Doll.
Baby Doll!
Hi.
Hey.
It's happening, babe.
It's really happening.
Winning!
Hey, how you doing?
Where you been...
coming back here this late?
I told you
he had a show tonight.
How'd it go?
Good.
He ain't gonna be shit neither.
He didn't say nothin'.
He ain't gotta say nothin'.
You ain't gonna be shit,
'cause I ain't shit.
Hmm?
Why you talk like that?
You act like you don't
even care for the boy.
Stella...
I care about that boy.
I just want him to be
a better man than me.
All right. Let me have
everybody in here.
Come on, Heartbeats,
let's go.
Gentlemen,
I got somebody
I want you to meet.
Sergeant ErnestJohnson...
one of my oldest and fnest
buddies from the army.
He's here to help us
with the choreography.
What are you
talking about, Jim?
I do the choreography, man.
Dresser, he's not here
to take your place.
He's here to just help out.
What can he teach me?
(Belch)
If you didn't like
what I was doing,
you could've come
and talk to me
instead of going behind my back,
bringing in some old drunk.
Stop right there!
Don't let your mouth
get you into something
your ass can't get you out of.
Anyway, let me see
your best combination.
Huh?
Huh, my ass. Let me see
your best combination.
Show him, Dresser.
Show him your stuff.
Ha ha ha.
All right, all right.
Cat, Daddy.
Ha ha ha.
just as I thought.
That ain't shit.
Hold my cane.
Hold my cane.
Now pay attention,
and you might learn something.
Damn.
(Sarge) All right, Girl Scouts,
let me see you move.
Smooth hands.
That's what I want to see.
All right. Smooth. Yeah!
Damn.
We're not going to win
that talent contest
with lazy legs.
OK.
And turn!
All right. Let's move.
Pretty hands, now... everything!
Them chumps can't beat us, boss.
That's not the question.
Tonight could be our big break.
I don't want to chance it.
We don't have nothing
to worry about.
My cousin loves us,
and tonight he's the M.C.
Yeah, that's right.
So you talk to your cousin.
Cookie, I want you
to bring some of your
girlfriends tonight.
You know what to do.
Cool.
This is amateur night.
We now continue our show,
and the next group is
a very, very exciting group.
Bird and the Midnight Falcons.
Please.
(Singing)
- Bird!
- Bird!
Listen, we got nothing
to worry about.
The group that's
on now... they're good,
but they don't stand
a chance with us.
That's what I want to hear.
Fellas, you guys are on next,
and, uh, we have one
new house policy.
The house piano player plays
for all the groups.
We didn't rehearse
with anybody.
He doesn't know the song.
Duck, I'll take care of it.
Now, come here, buddy.
Our piano player is going to play.
Let me talk to the manager, because my
boys have worked long and hard for this.
They've come too far
to get hit by some house rule...
Get off my back!
I didn't make the house rules!
We can either deal with this
or walk.
Man, we couldn't
prove nothing by walking.
This ain't fair.
(Continues)
(Continues)
(Ends)
Bird and the Midnight Falcons.
Now, folks,
this next group coming on
told me they are better
than Bird and the Midnight Falcons
and the Temptations
all put together.
- Boo!
- Boo!
I know. I know. I know.
But we shall see.
Ladies and gentlemen,
a nice round of applause for...
the Five Heartbeats.
- Boo!
- Boo!
- Boo!
- Boo!
Boo!
Boo!
Boo!
(Singing)
Pick it up.
He ain't nobody!
(Pianist Plays Sour Notes)
Go home!
(Continues)
All right, step aside.
Nobody's allowed onstage
during a performance.
You get out of my way.
Are you deaf or just dumb?
You heard the man.
Hold my cane.
Step outside. I'll kick both of you's
ass like you stole somethin'.
Now, come on, Sarge.
It ain't worth it.
Come on, Duck.
Do the steps with me.
No,J.T.
It's my music.
It's my music.
- Boo!
- Boo!
(Pianist Plays Sour Notes)
(Continues)
Get down!
Come on, Eddie!
Sing the song, boy!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Duck, y'all, let's do it
like we did in the tunnel.
(Continues)
(Ends)
(Singing)
(Ends)
j.T., let's do shy brother.
Where?
4:00.
Yeah, all right. I can do it.
Congratulations, guys.
The show was on the money.
- Thanks, man.
- Oh, man, thanks.
Thanks.
Girl Scouts...
great show.
Dresser.
Thanks, Sarge.
I got to go now.
How do you fgure
an old man like that
gets that kind of action?
Excuse me.
I don't mean to interrupt,
but my boss wants to meet you guys.
This is Mr. Big Red Davis
of Big Red Records.
Whoa, jeez,
what do you guys don't do?
I loved the show.
I mean, I really enjoyed
your showmanship
and your style.
I want you on my label.
Let's make a deal right now.
I'm just an old country boy
with a small, little company,
but I do work hard
for my artists.
Here's my card.
Big Red.
jimmy!
It has been a long time.
Yeah, it sure has.
Eleanor, tu es plus
belle quejamais.
These are my boys.
Really?
Well, you call me when you start
looking for a record company.
Congratulations again, y'all.
Yeah!
Yeah!
Yeah!
Whoo!
jimmy has the most
wonderful surprise.
jimmy, Jimmy,
tell them about the surprise.
All right, all right.
This coming Saturday,
we're going to go
into the studio
and record our frst single.
What?
- Yay!
- Yeah!
Oh, I got nothing
but love for you guys.
Goodbye, Mrs. Potter.
Let's do shy brother...
now.
All right. Be shy.
OK.
Hi.
Hi.
That's my baby brother over there.
Yeah. He's kind of cute.
I'm kind of having
a bad time tonight
'cause I have to baby-sit him.
He can't dance,
don't know how to talk to women.
He's a virgin.
Look at that dumb little look
on his face.
Now that you mention it,
he does look stupid.
So why don't we get out of here?
Let's go do something.
Anything.
You reading my mind, baby.
Work it,J.T. Work it!
(Singing)
Thanks.
(Continues)
j.T.?
I tricked you.
(Ends)
I got to fght every night
to prove my love!
What you doing with my woman?
I'm not doing nothing!
(Yelling)
(Singing)
I'm starting to get it.
Duck, I'm trying to
clean up this room.
I'm trying to write a song.
All right,
but if this room isn't clean
by the time
Mama and Daddy get home,
somebody's going
to be in big trouble.
If this song isn't
written by Saturday,
I'm going to be in trouble.
You know, I don't see
what's so hard.
All you got to do
is combine this part
with this part.
(Singing)
Shh. Shh.
(Continues)
(Both Continue)
(Both Continue)
Chorus.
Dance break!
(Continues)
(Ends)
I want to sign you guys.
Huh? I mean,
I love this record.
I mean, it is hot.
l-l-It's the sound.
You know, the sound.
It... ohh, you guys
are geniuses.
You're brilliant.
But I got one little problem.
l... I don't think this song
is right for this group,
but I got a group
I think would be perfect
for this song.
Hold on a second.
Marsha, send in
the Five Horsemen.
You're going to love these guys.
They're great.
Let's show them who
the Horsemen are, guys.
Yeah, we got soul.
Hit it.
(Singing)
(Ends)
Contract looks OK.
Good. Good.
What about publishing?
Ha ha ha ha ha.
jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, yeah.
That's good.
Yeah, all right, publishing, yeah.
Well, we can talk about it.
And this number of options.
You know the business, Jimmy.
I'm sure your contract
with these boys
is for a long time.
I trust my boys.
What's a fair number
of options for you?
I'd say six one-year options.
Sounds good to me.
I'll have Sheila
change it right away.
Any other changes
your lawyer would make
would probably be minor,
so do we have a deal, Jimmy?
Come on.
We have a deal.
All right.
Yeah! Yeah!
(Singing)
Gentlemen!
(Continues)
Come on, guys, smile.
I love it. I love it.
(Ends)
Yes?
Can I help you?
Uh, yeah.
I'm Duck.
Duck?
Uh...
I'm the one that's been
writing you the poetry.
"We Haven't Finished Yet."
Um...
I think your poetry
is really, really nice,
but I don't think
it's a good idea
for you to come here anymore.
Why?
Oh, you're here.
I'll be right with you.
Excuse me?
Ah, here you go.
No.
It's 7 a.m. Get up.!
This is wild, wild, pretty Rudy
on your favorite radio station
playing thejam
to get you to yourJ-O-B,
brought to you
by Benny Mullin's Barber Shop.
Go get pretty like me. Whoo.!
My hair's fried, dyed,
and laid to the side.
This week's special,
theJohnny Mathis look.
8.85.
Also with the special,
two free fiish sandwiches
from Shanea.
She's sorry the fiish
was bad last week.
Some of you got sick,
but, still, nobody
knows fiish like Shanea.
Coming up, the Dells, the Four Tops,
but fiirst,
a group with a hot single.
The Five Heartbeats singing
I Got Nothing but Love.
(Singing)
Duck, shut up, man.
Stop trying to sing
everybody's part.
I'm not trying to sing
everybody's part.
That's on the radio.
(Continues)
Our song's on the radio.
Duck! Duck!
Our song's on the radio!
- Aaah!
- Aha aah!
Aaah!
What the hell
is going on in here?
Our song. Our song.
What's wrong? What's wrong?
Our song's on the radio, Mama.
Aah!
(Ends)
(Applause)
Make me proud of you, OK?
Yes, ma'am.
I'm going to say goodbye now
'cause I can't watch you leave.
Well, you know your mother,
how emotional she gets.
Now, listen,
there's going to be
a lot of young gals
on that road.
I want you to put a helmet
on that soldier.
What?
You know, put a tent
on that tree.
Put a hat on your willy.
- Oh. Oh. Use a rubber.
- Oh, a rubber.
OK, OK, I'll see you.
Take care.
Bye, Daddy.
How can I preach the Word of God
and expect them to listen
and my son disobeys me?
How does that look?
Dad, God gave me this voice
in the frst place.
Myra, you know this is wrong.
Anthony, you disappoint me.
You can't serve two masters.
Go on.
Anthony. Anthony.
It's your life.
You've got to experience
different things.
Now, take this.
And I want a gold record,
you hear that?
You better bring me
that gold record.
Thanks, Mom.
Come on.
We should make a left turn here.
No, Sarge, it's a right turn,
then we'll see the Harlem Duke.
The Harlem Duke.
Fellas, I like that name.
Man, we on our way.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Four... Five Heartbeats.
(Singing)
(Ends)
We pray together.
It's just like a family, Dad.
Why don't you believe me, Dad?
That's what you think I am?
That's what I'm going to be,
OK? OK?
j.T., you get lucky
with women, man.
That's what it is.
Not lucky. I'm successful.
The reason I'm successful is
I will do anything to get it.
I play like I'm showing them
my real feelings.
Women love men like that.
I break down and cry
at the drop of a hat.
They go for it every time.
And if she tells somebody
I cried for her,
I just deny it.
(Siren)
Look at me.
Think I have to cry to get some?
Shit.
Duck, what did you do?
I didn't do nothing.
Let me see your hands.
Let me see your hands.
Let me see your hands.
Hands, let me see them.
All right,
everybody get out of the car.
How do I know y'all
a singing group?
Why don't y'all...
sing something?
(Singing)
(Ends)
(Singing)
(Ends)
You see Phil?
See him anywhere?
Oh, here he come.
All right.
Hey, Phil, man!
Hey, look at you, boy.
You guys look great.
New suit?
Feels good
to be out of the city.
Nice bus ride's
just what I needed.
Record's doing real well
on the charts.
We're just about to
release the second cut.
Big Red sends his best.
Yeah, but did he
send the paychecks?
Got them right here.
Tell Red we need some more money.
I'm tired of staying in these sleazy
hotels. Toilets don't even work.
You got the reports
on the record sales?
Got them right here.
What about the album cover?
Yeah, the album cover.
Yeah, I got it.
Well, let's see it.
Now, frst of all,
Big Red really believes
in you guys,
and we decided to change
the cover a little bit
because we see the big picture...
Negroes and white folks
buying this album.
I like that idea.
Let me explain, OK?
Everybody's going to know
who this group is.
We just felt that the picture
wasn't as important
as it was
that we succeed
in crossing over.
I want my boys' picture
back on this album cover!
It's too late.
We'll see about that.
A lot of bull.
Why do we have to cross over?
Why are niggers always crossing
over something, huh?
What's the matter?
They can accept our music
as long as they can't see our faces?
Take it easy on the dude.
It's Big Red's idea.
It's a good one, too.
First we build a strong
crossover audience,
then we can come out strong.
That's bullshit,
and you know it.
Crossover's nothing
but a double-cross.
Once we lose our audience,
we'll never get them back.
Next thing you know,
they try to change our sound.
They'll have us sounding
like white boys.
White boys sound like niggers,
they're the ones
making all the money.
Tell me something, how come
they never cross over to us?
I never seen fve niggers
on Elvis Presley's
album cover.
Let's keep our tempers here.
Now, come on.
This isn't a racial issue.
We all have to look
at the big picture.
Man, fuck the big picture
if they can't accept us
for who we are and what we look like.
Come on.
What are you doing, man?
What are you doing? What...
What you doing in the hallway?
Hmm. Choirboy got a girl
in the room.
Choirboy's got a girl
in the room?
Mm-hmm. Choirboy.
Dresser, where you going?
Uh, I'm going out for a walk.
What's up, man?
You OK?
You been acting strange
ever since we left Cleveland.
I got some things on my mind,
you know.
What things?
She's pregnant.
I don't know what to do.
I love Brenda more than anything
in the world.
You know that, but...
how am I going to raise a kid
on what we make here?
I got to get a job,
so I talked toJim
about leaving the group.
"Don't worry.
Call Big Red."
He... He gave me the number
to this, um...
this doctor who's...
hmm...
Didn't you just get through saying
you love her more
than anything in the world?
Yeah.
Oh, fellas, come on, I can't.
(Applause)
(Singing)
I'm tired of you
wearing my clothes,J.T.,
tired of you using
my toothbrush.
And no more sleeping
in the hallway either.
And I'm tired of you
going in my suitcase.
You wear my clothes, too, Duck.
- I ask frst.
- Shh!
Shut up and sing
and stop acting like a bitch.
Oh, I'm acting like a bitch now?
Yes, you are.
(Continues)
What the hell you doing?
Hey!
Quit clowning around.
(Ends)
Yeah, I just got to
teach them how to...
use everything they do.
I wish you luck.
Yeah.
Everything, onstage and off.
It'll be all right.
Don't worry.
The Heartbeats.
Let's go check them out.
(Singing)
I'm sick of your shit, Duck!
You ripped my jacket.
What's wrong with you?
I'm sick of your shit,J.T.!
If you're not going to do it right,
don't do it at all!
Duck's right now, man.
If we ain't going to
do it right,
let's not do it at all.
Break down!
(Continues)
(Ends)
What color you want?
(Singing)
(Continues)
Open your eyes.
A new house!
(Ends)
Baby, I don't need no ashtray.
The whole world's an ashtray
if I had that kind.
Here we go again
with the number one hit
in the country
by the Five Heartbeats.
These boys are
pretty, pretty, pretty
because they've been
to Benny, Benny, Benny,
and they're
number one, one, one.
Have you gone to Benny Mullin's
to get into the beauty contest?
What do you think I am, Eddie...
stupid?
I know who Monroe is
and what he does.
Hey, you ain't got your woman
in check, man?
Uh...
baby, I think
you're overstepping your bounds
just a little bit,
you know?
I can't do this anymore.
I can't sit back
and watch you destroy yourself.
Come on, baby,
not in here, please.
I just wanted
to let you know that...
I packed my things, and...
I'll be gone.
It's showtime.!
Opening Big Red's Soul Revue...
Bird and the Midnight Falcons.!
(Singing)
(Ends)
You're doing a great job
with the Heartbeats.
You're late again, Eddie.
I know what you been trying to do,
but you ain't going to do it.
See, Big Red done pulled
my coattail to you
a long, long time ago.
That's bullshit, Eddie.
You're talking crazy, man.
Yeah, I'm crazy
like a motherfucking fox.
And you...
I can see through your jive ass
like glass, nigger.
Eddie, you got it all wrong.
Stealing my moves, my style.
You're even trying
to riff like me!
Why don't you get
your boy out of here
and detox him?
You want my spot, Flash? Hmm?
Slum-dwelling, scum-sucking,
slug-ass motherfucker!
You want my spot, Flash? Huh?
Well, you ain't going to get it,
'cause you ain't got it.
(Singing)
(Ends)
No word on Eddie?
I can sing his parts.
I know all his parts.
OK, go ahead.
Thank you.
Eddie.
Eddie, get up!
Eddie, get up, damn it!
Eddie, get up!
And what is this shit?
No, no.
I did what I did tonight, man,
on purpose.
jimmy, man, he's on some kind
of motherfucking power trip
and shit,
talking about replacing people.
I just wanted to show
that motherfucker
what time it was!
You left us hanging
because of shit
between you and Jimmy?
jimmy, man, he don't know, man.
He just think he know, but...
That ain't got nothing to do
with what we're
talking about, man!
We talked about this drinking
and drug shit before.
You said
you was going to quit,
so we left you alone,
thinking you would calm down.
just 'cause I have one...
two, maybe two drinks sometime...
What, I'm an alcoholic now?
What happened to Baby Doll?
You're worse than your old man.
I'll kick your motherfucking...
Get off him, Eddie!
What you doin', man?
Thank you,
but you didn't have to.
I could have chased him
to the other side of the room.
Oh, no.
You'd have never caught him.
You enjoying the party?
I'm here with
my girlfriend Janet.
Yeah. I'm, uh...
I'm the lead singer
in the Five Heartbeats.
I put the shit together,
and I write
most of the material.
I didn't know it was you.
Would you please excuse me?
What's your name?
Sandra Tillman.
Hi.
Anthony Stone.
They call me Rock.
Rock?
We changing our style.
We getting Afros.
We're going to be recording
on our own record label.
Now, you heard of
Berry Gordy and Motown.
Leon and Lester...
- 'Fro town!
- 'Fro town!
Excuse me. Mr. Duck?
Tanya Sawyer.
You remember me.
Yeah.
So, have you written
any poems lately?
Um...
No. I've, um...
Um...
You want to get out of here
and go somewhere and talk?
Yeah.
Let me tell my brother.
He's upstairs, and, uh...
just wait right here.
No. See, I got a better one.
How you keep an asshole
in suspense?
Oh, you can talk now.
Hey, how's it going?
You're not leaving the party,
are you?
No. I'm going toJ.T. 's room.
Listen to this one.
There was this king
and he had three daughters.
He told the princes of the land
that if you wanted my daughters...
I need to talk to you, Big Red.
Give me a minute.
Can't you see I'm talking?
No! I need to talk
to you right now
about my royalties
and how you keep your books.
My offce hours are
from 9:00 to 5:00.
Fuck your offce hours!
I need to talk to you
right now, motherfucker!
Look at that!
What are you doing, man?
Excuse me, ladies.
Excuse me.
You don't talk back!
Uhh! Aah!
Huh?
Aah!
Open up the goddamn window!
No!
Yeah!
Don't do this, Red!
Don't do this to me, Red!
No! Aah!
Hit him again!
Aah! No!
Help! No!
What about my books?
What you want to talk about?
Nothing! Please!
What you want to talk about?
Let me up!
Bring him up. Come on, boy.
Bring him in.
Come back here!
Let me up!
Now, if you have
any other problems
with your royalties
and my books...
my offce hours are from...
my offce hours are from...
9:00 to 5:00.
You know, something's wrong.
You're sitting by yourself,
there's a big party
going on upstairs for us.
All the ladies
are asking about you.
They don't care nothing
about me.
They just want to be seen
with J.T. of the Heartbeats.
j.T., that's always
been part of your rap.
"Hello. I'm J.T. of the
Five Heartbeats. How ya doin'?"
Yeah, I know, I know,
but I'm tired of that.
I'm getting older, Duck.
I don't want to be some old man
still chasing.
I'm tired of being with
different women every night.
It's like it's a drug,
and I don't get nothing
out of it.
Settle down,
have some little kids
running around the house...
No. I can't do that.
It's like I don't know
what it is.
I like being with different women
all the time.
It's like I can't control myself.
It's like I'm addicted.
I don't know what to say.
I mean, they got centers
for drug addicts and alcoholics,
but I don't know
if they have any
dick-control centers.
I'm serious, Duck.
I'm serious too. You should go
to a dick-control center.
"I'm J.T. Matthews,
and I can't control my dick."
Oh, man.
What they going to do
to it, though?
You just work
with some mannequins.
j.T., it's like this, man...
When the right woman
comes along,
it's going to be right.
You can't force it.
Yeah. I know. You're right.
This would make a great song.
Yeah, yeah.
When you have one
of those crumb snatchers,
just name one after me, OK?
Whoever gets married frst.
I'll see you upstairs.
jimmy!
Man, what's so important
it couldn't wait
until tomorrow?
Eleanor's mad as hell.
We had plans today.
This ain't going
to take that long.
Ha ha ha ha!
Well...
Hey, Eddie!
jimmy.
I wanted to talk to you,
because I think
it's time for some changes.
You've done a great job
with the boys,
but now I think it's time
for the boys to have
a more experienced manager.
What's the joke, man?
It's not a joke.
Then what the hell
are you talking about?
I'm talking about buying you out.
Are you out of your fucking mind?
No.
I have a contract on Eddie.
Eddie, what the hell
is this all about?
jimmy, you know goddamn well
what this is all about.
Hey, baby...
I don't need no manager
out there
trying to replace me.
You ain't out there
singing and dancing every night.
jimmy, you don't do nothing
but get paid.
Same old Big Red.
You're not taking
the Heartbeats from me.
Eddie is the Heartbeats.
The other guys can be replaced
with anybody. You know that.
Besides, the other guys
can't go anywhere
until they've paid me
for the cars and clothes.
I got an even longer list
of expenses...
studio time, promotions,
your expense account.
So, you see,
you really owe me, Jimmy.
You're trying to muscle me?
As a friend,
I am trying to put some money
into your pockets.
Look, I'm not Bird!
You can't dangle me out some window
and expect me to go away.
I'll take your ass
to court frst.
I'll talk about
all the warehouses
where you used to press
bootleg records of your own artists.
Your two sets of accounting books,
and a long list
of D.J. s taking payola.
What kind of plans
did Eleanor make today?
Eleanor...
Eleanor.
I really like Eleanor.
Now, Red, this is
between you and me.
Maybe.
(Click)
jimmy.
Who was that?
Nobody.
jimmy.
What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Look, I'm going to
go down to the club
and see if I can't sit in
for a few sets.
(Telephone Rings)
(Ring)
(Ring)
(Ring)
Hello.
TellJimmy he can't hide.
Ha ha ha ha!
Ha ha!
(Sings)
(Ends)
Good evening, Mr. Potter.
Get my car for me,
would you, Craig?
I'll make the call.
jimmy!
Oh, my God!
Oh, God! Oh!
jimmy! Jimmy!
Help me!
What is a man?
Someone who...
will not walk away
from life's responsibilities.
jimmy Potter
is a true example
of what a man should be.
Yes, sir.
He will be missed dearly.
Now...
we will have a few words
from someone who was
very close toJimmy...
Mr. ErnestJohnson.
I can't get up.
It's going to be OK.
Why?
We will have a selection
from our choir.
(Organ Plays)
(Singing)
Eleanor...
you have my deepest sympathy.
I'm here.
You shouldn't...
Oh, God, you shouldn't be alone.
Maybe sometime...
How dare you?
How dare you come here?
You disrespect my husband.
Get out! Now.
(Continues)
(Ends)
Eddie,
got any gum?
Dresser.
What's wrong?
Dresser.
Dresser, what's going on?
Dresser!
Get over here!
Come here, you fucking
son of a bitch! Get over here!
Calm down!
Dresser!
You son of a bitch!
Get off me, goddamn it!
What's wrong with you?
Goddamn you!
Let me go! Let me go!
Tell them. Tell them, Eddie.
Tell them
aboutJimmy's accident.
Tell them about your deal
with that Red son of a bitch!
Tell 'em!
Oh, God! I didn't know!
Come here!
I didn't know!
Come here!
(Sobbing)
What...
What did he...
What did he ever do to you?
(Singing)
(Ends)
(Doorbell Rings)
Thanks for coming back
to take care of Eddie.
Hey, Eddie.
How you doing, man?
You all right?
I guess so.
Uh, everybody's been, uh...
worried about you.
I...
decided I'm not going to...
I'm not going to sing no more.
Eddie, you can't stop singing.
Everybody knows.
It wasn't no accident.
That's why we came
to talk to you.
Eddie, we need to know
everything that happened
that last meeting
with Big Red and Jimmy.
(Doorbell Rings)
Big Red messed over
a lot of people.
Duck?
Yeah. Let him in.
More! More!
More! More!
More! More! More! More!
More! More! More! More!
More! More! More! More!
More! More! More! More!
(Music Starts)
(Singing)
(Continues)
(Ends)
Good show, brother.
Far out!
Hey, didn't Tanya look good?
Didn't she look good, man?
I think it's one of the best shows
we've ever done.
What's wrong?
The dance steps are too wild.
The clothes are too loud.
Turn us into a circus act.
We're a singing group!
We look like clowns.
What is the problem?
I just don't like him.
What's the real problem,J.T.?
Look whose name
they're calling out.
Listen to those women.
Whose name they calling out?
Flash.
He just sang lead.
I can't compete with him.
That pretty boy's taking
all the women away from me.
j.T.,
it's not about competing
with anybody.
How come they don't call my name?
Because you're doing
that same old, tired rap
you were doing in '65.
You haven't changed one word.
"Baby, can you hold me?
Can you touch me?"
Man, it's all you. It ain't
got nothing to do with Flash.
Thank you.
(Singing)
Excuse me, miss.
Is that your man?
Are you guys happy?
We're married.
Really?
Well, that's good.
Can I use your pen?
Here's my number.
Take it. Take it.
What you doing,J.T.?
(Continues)
What are you doing?
(Continues)
(Ends)
Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr.J.T. Matthews.
Shit.
Duck!
Duck!
j. -J.T.
j.T., that's Eddie.
jesus.
Let him in!
Let him in!
Get the fuck off of me!
Damn. Y'all was good tonight.
That's a new direction
you're going in.
Excuse me.
You look great,J.
l... I been working every day.
I been working real hard.
That's what I came
to talk to you about.
We're kind of late, Eddie.
Give me your number,
and we'll give you a call.
Give me your number,
and we'll give you a call.
I look like I got a number, man?
Come on,J.
Don't play me off like that.
I ain't coming for no handout.
Damn. Y'all...
Y'all wouldn't even be together
if it wasn't for me.
Eddie, what you
want to talk about?
Duck...
I just...
I just think we should
get back together again.
Du-Duck...
I'm singing every day, man.
I'm back, baby.
Check... Check it out.
(Sings)
Look. Remember?
Huh?
(Singing)
(Ends)
Ha ha ha.
Eddie. Eddie.
Eddie. Eddie. Eddie.
You're making a fool
out of yourself, man.
Go home.
Here's my card.
Give me a call.
OK?
OK.
Listen, man,
here's some money, all right?
Take care of yourself.
Why y'all want to insult me?
I...
I didn't come here
for your money...
or your fucking pity!
I still got the pipes.
Can't nobody sing
like Eddie King, Jr.
How does it feel to be me?
(Singing)
(Ends)
(Funk Music Plays)
All right, man!
Hear that?
It's super. It's wonderful.
Yeah! Mmm!
It's so good.
What do you think?
It's wonderful!
Every song is a hit!
The third cut
with the high vocal.
- I have to give it up, man.
- It wasn't all me.
Your brother wrote
some serious stuff.
Ta-da!
We got a hit!
- Shh.
- Shh.
We have something to tell you.
We got a surprise.
What sounds like carriage,
but starts with an "M"?
Oh! Marriage!
We're getting married!
Are you?
Oh! Congratulations!
Isn't it beautiful?
Look at that!
Give me a hug.
What the fuck you doing?
What's wrong with you?
You don't even know her!
She loves me and I love her.
So what?
This ain't got nothing
to do with you.
just be happy for me.
I mean, I told Mom
about it already.
I'm gonna have a big wedding.
Would you be my best man?
Yeah. Sure.
Cool.
Congratulations.
(Singing)
(Ends)
(Laughter)
- Yay!
- Yay!
And many, many more.
Oh, don't bring
that sweetie stuff here.
Same old Sarge, isn't he?
All these gifts for me?
We got even more in the car.
Tanya?
Oh, sure.
I'll go help her.
How you doing?
I need a cigarette.
Sarge, nobody here smokes.
Look in my jacket pocket.
Get him a cigarette.
Let you have this one
'cause it's your birthday.
Really?
Yeah, really.
I got news for you.
I've been smoking
ever since I've been here,
and I have resisted the nurses.
We can talk later.
Yeah.
I got to have a cigarette.
I can't stand this.
When did they say you
was going to get out?
You know when
you're getting out?
I don't care when I get out.
How come?
With all the pretty nurses?
(Laughter)
But I'm having a good time.
I'm having a good time.
You look like you're ready
to kill somebody.
What's the problem?
What's up?
I think Tanya's having an affair.
Tanya? Please.
With who?
Choirboy.
Are you crazy?
I'm serious.
You got proof?
No.
But I'm going to get some.
(Thunder Rumbling)
This is Lou Thompson
on WRON with Newsbreak.
An early-morning fiire
took the lives of nine people
in an apartment building
on Jefferson and 2nd Avenue.
Eddie King, Jr.,
ex-lead singer
of the Five Heartbeats,
was involved in
a shootout with police
while trying to rob
a neighborhood liquor store.
He was shot several times
and is listed in critical condition.
(Thunderclap)
I know you.
Donald "Duck" Matthews.
One of the Five Heartbeats.
I got all your albums,
been to all your shows.
Can I have your autograph?
This has been a good night.
Two Heartbeats in one night.
Yeah, your brother
just went upstairs.
Could you sign under his?
My wife won't believe this.
I love your music.
Thank... Thank you, thank you.
Oh, wow. Wow!
Oh.
No more messages
through Choirboy.
If you wanna get in touch with me,
you know how to reach me.
I'm chasing you and using Duck?
You tell me what's going on.
I've been after you
all these years...
Don't act like you don't know!
You know what's going on!
You tell me
what's going on right now!
First you were going out
with each other.
That's fne.
But now you're
taking this too far.
You're talking about
marrying my brother.
I can't let you hurt my brother.
You hear me? I can't.
I want you to call Duck,
and I want you to tell him
this thing's off.
You hear me?
Why?
Because you don't love him,
that's why.
I know.
I been with you.
You love me, baby.
I love you,J.T.
I love you.
But I'm in love with Duck.
I'm in love with him.
There's a difference.
If you really love him,
you got to tell him the truth.
I can't.
Thank you.
It's a very special moment
for all of us.
I would like to thank
A&B Records
for everything that they've done.
I hope we can get one of these
every time we come out.
It's really great.
I just want to say I love you,
Brenda and Monica.
Wow, huh? Heh heh.
I really don't know what to say.
I just know
that I couldn't
have done anything
without four of
the most talented, warm,
giving brothers
on this entire planet.
They're the ones
that deserve this applause.
These four gentlemen
opened their arms
and embraced me
like I was a brother.
That's why today is... special.
A very, very happy occasion
for me...
as well as a sad one.
Um... it hurts me to announce
that I'm leaving the group.
(Gasps)
I want to say thanks,
fellas, for everything.
Uh, and thank you
for this gold album, A&B,
and I hope
we have the same success
on my new solo album...
Flash... It's Lonely
at the Top,
which will be
in your record stores
in about two weeks.
Well, God bless all of you and...
thank you.
(Applause)
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
You know, I thought
when I got this,
I'd feel on top of the world,
you know?
Today I just feel...
uh...
I was... I was at a party once,
and a, uh...
music critic said,
"Donald Matthews is going to be
a great writer one day
when he suffers more."
And I said to myself,
"What does that mean?"
Now I know what it means.
I'm on my way to becoming
a great writer,
and I'd like to thank
two people in particular.
My fancee...
and my brother.
My brother...
who's always been the same
selfsh motherfucker
since we were kids.
Don't do this here.
What you talking about?
I hope I get a deal like Flash 'cause
today's my last day as a Heartbeat too.
Duck, don't do this. Duck!
Thank you very much.
(Singing)
Dear Duck,
I know it's been years,
and we haven't been in touch.
I miss your friendship
and laughter.
I've invested a good portion
of my earnings
from the group
into my father's church.
The fiirst service
will be this Sunday.
Will you please come?
It would mean the world to me
if we were blessed
with your presence.
I love you. I miss you.
Together forever, Choirboy.
P.S. I have a special surprise
for you.
How can any man say...
that he loves God...
whom he cannot see...
and not love his brothers
who he sees daily?
- Amen.
- Amen.
That's what I want to
talk about this morning.
All right.
- Love. True love.
- Yes, Lord.
Unconditional love.
For God so loved the world
that He gave
His only begotten son
so that we may have
life everlasting.
This morning,
I want to reaffrm our faith
that God is alive
and ready to heal and mend
confused hearts.
Yeah.
- Amen.
- Amen.
Before I come to you
with the Word this morning...
Praise the Lord.
I would like the choir
to bless us
with a song.
(Singing)
Take your time!
(Continues)
Yes, Lord.
(Continues)
(Ends)
Hey, hey, hey. Ha ha!
Choirboy!
Ooh! So how'd you
like my surprise?
Eddie looks great, man.
Oh, yeah. Praise God.
He's been with us four years now.
Aw, man.
Mmm! What's up, bubba?
Look at you, man.
How you doing, baby?
You look great, man.
You look great, too.
Hey, Baby Doll.
Duck, how you doing?
Good. Look at you.
Eddie King, Jr.!
You'd be surprised
what a 1 2-step program
over at Narcotics Anonymous
will do for you.
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, yeah.
Seven days a week,
one day at a time.
Living right.
No drugs, no alcohol.
Hardly getting any, uh...
Eddie.
That's another...
another discussion.
Let me rap to you a second.
Excuse me.
You know, uh,
I got this little group
I'm managing now, you know.
You managing a group?
Yeah. The boys are bad, too.
They can warble.
Whoa.
Yeah, just one little problem.
We're having the damnedest ti...
We're having
the toughest time, uh...
fnding some
decent material, man.
Enough said.
Whatever you need.
So we're in business, man?
This is Duck.
Duck? Duck, you think you
could churn me out an album?
Ah!
Hey, man, uh...
I heard what went down
with you and J.T.
I ain't got nothing
to say toJ.T.
No, no, no. Duck, man.
Hear me out. Please, man.
People make mistakes, you know.
I know.
I think maybe you should
give him a call.
You just, uh... think about it,
all right?
Yo, Pastor!
You ready to blasta?
Ha ha ha!
Wings out, wings out,
wings out, wings out.
(Drones Like An Airplane)
Now, how are you guys
supposed to fiy like that, huh?
Yeah.
Daddy, who's that?
Y'all go play with your mama.
Duck, you heard what Daddy said.
Would you get over here, Duck?
I feel stupid.
Whoever has kids frst.
I missed you, Duck.
Yo.
Choirboy, what you doing
with the ribs?
You put...
- Charbroiled?
- Charbroiled?
Charcoaled.
Maybe you could manage us,
'cause we gonna be hot.
Trust me.
Tell him, Lester.
All the other rappers
are in their 20s,
but we're in our 40s.
That's part of our hook.
And the other part of our hook
is we rap...
country and western.
Whoo!
Hi. I'm Donnie Simpson.
Welcome to a very special
Video Soul.
I'm going to kick this show off
with my favorite video.
I love these guys.
Here are Flash
and the Five Horsemen.
(Singing)
(Ends)
UncleJ.T.,
we wanted to see Flash.
j.T., the girls
are all so excited.
They won't be watching Flash
in my house.
Leave those kids alone.
If they want to watch that,
it's OK.
That's junk. That's not music. I can't
have them listening to that stuff.
Show them what real music is.
You ain't said nothing
but a word.
Heartbeats, front and center!
Eddie.
Sure y'all want to hang
with old Eddie King?
We're sure.
(Singing)
What you waiting on, Duck?
I ain't sang in years.
(Continues)
You sure?
Yeah, I'm sure.
Fall in line, Girl Scout.
You don't need me.
I know that. You were always
the worst dancer anyway.
The man had two left feet.
I wasn't the worst dancer.
Choirboy was.
Get out of here!
What was that?
The year was 1 965.
It was summertime.
It was fall.
It was summer.
It was fall.
- Bet.
- Bet.
Look, stand here, man.
5... 6...
Wait, wait.
This one, this one.
OK, OK.
5... 6... 7... 8.
(Continues)
Stay on it.
Keep it up.
(Continues)
(Continues)
(Continues)
(Continues)
(Ends)