--Protest U. S. involvement
in the Vietnam War.
Muhammad means "worthy of all praises"
and Ali means "most high."
With Marvin Gaye on WD...
- You guessed it, The Beatles...
- The astronauts of Apollo 11...
. - . began their ritual-like
preparations for this blastoff.
Something is happening in our world.
Detroit's number one radio station
sponsoring--
Open Mike Night
at the Discovery Club.
If you have a voice,
we want to hear it.
Come on down and see if you can
knock Big Black off his block.
Come on.
I wrote this one just for you.
I don't know why I let you
talk me into coming.
I think I'm the oldest sardine
in this can.
- Well, you don't look it.
- Well, that's true.
But it's your song.
You go up and sing it.
- You're the singer in our family.
- Honey, you sing.
Yeah, but you know
how to hold people's attention.
People love to just hear you talk.
Imagine how you're gonna knock it out
when you get up there.
All right, now.
Fellas. Fellas.
Nice.
Keep that applause going.
Give it up one more time for Black.
If you guys are having a good time,
say "oh, yeah."
Oh, yeah!
Please.
I went over everything with the band.
Please. I just want
to hear my song. Please.
Are you sure you want to do this?
- You, are you sure?
- That man is Black!
You hear that?
That's the sound of success, baby.
What you doing?
Wait a minute.
Let's get a room.
Wait a minute. Bro, you see her?
Good God, woman.
What's wrong with you?
Coming up to the stage right now
is a beautiful young lady.
She's just as fine as she wants to be.
Now, this lady is a Detroit native...
...and she's never been
to the Discovery Club...
...so I want everybody
to show her some extra love.
Strutting up on-stage right now...
...is Sister Anderson!
Thank you.
So, what's up, Mr. Manager?
We gonna do some business or what?
Black, you got to lose
some weight, baby.
Man, you must be crazy.
Man, all the ladies love me.
And besides, this old belly
is what helps me sing.
TV's getting bigger-
- Clothes getting smaller.
- Yeah.
- You know, you'd be good on radio.
- Man, that's cold, man. That's cold.
Lord have mercy!
All right.
I see you looking. Sure, you're right.
You were so great.
But we have to hurry.
We have five minutes
to catch the bus.
Give it up one more time
for Sister Anderson.
My goodness gracious.
Excuse me. Excuse me.
It's Sister, right?
You gotta forgive me for earlier.
I was all wrong about you.
You were foxy up there.
Promise me you'll come back next week.
Maybe. Maybe not.
- But, baby, I gotta...
- Excuse me. Excuse me.
I really don't date younger men.
- No, no, please, you were so--
- I'm sorry, but we have to go.
Where can I find you?
Next time it's your turn.
Hi.
Hi. Thank you.
You were so good.
That was so fun!
Yeah, it was.
Next time, can you get through
the chorus before you do your solo?
Miss Thing, next time?
Yeah. I have a lot more songs.
Then you better get a lot more confident
and learn to sing them yourself.
Slavery is over.
Really? You're not gonna
sing anymore?
No.
Assume the position. What?
Y'all are late, and she's up.
- Sparkle. Hush.
- Sorry.
Hurry.
What y'all doing in there?
My babies.
But I know y'all don't
love each other that much.
Sister and Sparkle, curl your hair.
Church in the morning.
You hear me?
Dolores, why is my window open?
I'm not trying to heat the outside.
Close it.
- Good night.
- Good night.
Is she gone?
Y'all heifers sneak out,
and I get fussed at?
Laugh at-- Laugh at that.
Is that funny?
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
- Good morning.
- Good morning.
You know, the Lord loves a church
full of happy, good-looking black folk.
Amen!
I know y'all happy
this morning, right?
Yes!
Ain't no frowns in this
church today, is there?
No frowns, no clowns,
not in church.
And look at the choir.
- How y'all doing this morning?
- Good!
- Levi, there she go.
- What? What?
Seven Sundays, seven churches,
and $7 later, and I find her.
- That light-skinned girl?
- There.
Oh, man.
Well, that's Tammy Anderson.
Yeah, man, she is smoking hot.
- Tammy.
- Two sisters. They all fine.
- They can all sing too.
- Is that right?
Sure, you're right.
But they mama crazy, though.
Y'all know better.
I know I can't sing,
but I can love to hear singing.
'Yes!
'Right?
I'll see you next week, right?
Okay. See you later.
Excuse me. You was at the Discovery
a few weeks ago.
- Bible study's at your house this week?
- Yeah, it is.
You know, you bad at this.
Just act natural.
Hi. My name's Stix.
Sparkle.
Sara.
- Who is my baby talking to?
- Nineteen ain't no baby no more, Emma.
What? No need in eyeballing me.
I tells the truth.
It's in my contract as your friend.
I'm telling you,
you hold on too tight to that one...
...she'll be unmarried
and back on your doorstep like Sister.
That's just temporary, okay?
Well, New York just spit her
right on back out, huh?
- No.
- You know what?
You worry about your daughter,
I'll worry about mine.
- I'm just saying.
- Yeah, what?
- Mom, I need some money.
- What?
They selling dinners in the basement,
and they going fast.
- Mom?
- Don't do it.
- Mama, please.
- Come with me.
- Now you stop.
- See y'all later.
Sparkle.
Let's go.
So I will see you
at Bible study, Sparkle?
Maybe.
Another one of my white friends
came to me the other day and said:
"Where's the best place
to hide something from a Negro...
...and he'll never find it?"
I told him, "A work boot. "
Y'all know he talking about us, right?
People are always asking me...
- Where is she?
- I don't know.
- Ms. Anderson, where's the bathroom?
- Down the hall, second door to the right.
Second door.
- Thank you.
- Yeah, second door.
Ladies and gentlemen, Satin Struthers.
Let's give him a hand.
Great job. Thanks for coming.
Isn't he funny?
There you are.
Why you not in Bible study?
Haven't you heard?
I'm a heathen. Don't want to sit in there
and be a hypocrite.
Well, we already
got something in common...
...because I only came
just so I could ask you out.
The other door. To the right.
Other door. Sorry.
Oh, y'all like that, huh?
Funky dance, huh? You like that.
You like that music? Funky, huh?
It make you want to dance.
Come on.
Get it, Mama.
Yeah, Mama gonna get it.
Mama gonna get it.
And you will too.
You keep dancing like that,
you'll bring home a baby you can't feed.
Let's open our Bibles.
The deal was color television
for an hour of Bible study.
I lived up to my end,
now you live up to yours.
So let's go to Psalms 10--
Reverend Bryce called.
Says he need you to check the books.
The numbers are not adding up.
All right.
What are you watching?
Oh, I love this song.
No, no. Too many hormones
unattended in here.
Let's go. Get out. Come on.
Sister, turn that TV off.
Thank you. Come on, let's go.
- Bye, Sparkle.
- See you.
- Good night, Mama.
- Good night, baby.
It was just getting good.
See you tonight, Sparkle.
- Call you later.
- All right.
See you next time.
- Bye, Tammy.
- Bye, Tune.
Well, good night.
Good night.
Why are all the cute ones
always so stupid?
Hey, can I talk to you for a second?
All right, I'm going.
Please, don't stop.
- What are you still doing here?
- That was beautiful.
Wait, that's your song?
You wrote that?
Only if you thought it was good.
I thought it was phenomenal.
Then I wrote it.
So did you write that song
your sister sang...
...at the Discovery a few weeks back?
- Yes, but she kind of made it her own.
- Wait a minute.
You wrote that song?
You wrote the song you were singing?
You wrote the songs in here too?
Yes.
What you gonna do with the music?
- Nothing.
- Why not?
Because my mother
would never let me.
Plus, I'm not the singer in the family.
Sister is, then Dee.
I sing in the choir
so I don't sit by myself in church.
No offense,
but I'm just hearing excuses.
- Excuse me?
- I don't mean to be rude.
I'm just passionate,
especially when it comes down to music.
That's why I'm here.
I'm staying with my cousin, Levi.
I'm from Kansas City.
We got a cool jazz scene down there.
I managed a few acts,
but the money's here in Motown.
And I want to be--
I am the next Berry Gordy.
I figure, his stomach ain't
growling like mine anymore.
Maybe he's leaving a lot
of steak and potatoes out there.
You mind if I hear that song again?
Still needs a lot of work.
Why won't you unpack?
I really don't plan on
being here that long.
You said that two months ago.
Sorry
Hey, don't ever be sorry
for telling the truth, Spark.
What was that?
Your Romeo is out there.
What?
You can't be throwing rocks
at my window.
My mother has a gun.
A gun. A big one.
There's an underground club tonight.
The kind that songwriters
don't want to miss.
You got to hear the music.
It's the stuff they ain't playing
on the radio.
- Come with me.
- He wants me to go hear music with him.
You've snuck out
of the house for less.
And I know just the dress.
You coming?
I ain't gonna bite you.
And how do I know that?
You're gonna have to trust me.
Can I tell you something?
I think your lyrics are too safe.
I mean, you got Dr. King, the war.
I don't think the metaphorical lyrics
gonna fly anymore.
What?
You impressed by my big word?
I was.
In the spirit of telling the truth,
can I tell you another?
- I wouldn't want you to lie.
- Then why do you lie to yourself?
About not wanting to sing?
I mean, Sparkle,
you writing these songs.
And you can sing.
- So why aren't you singing them?
- I'm no Diana or Aretha.
You know, you right.
You Sparkle.
Look, my mom
used to sing professionally.
She tried to break out
and it almost killed her.
So thank you, but I know
the realities of this business.
- I'm just doing it for fun.
- You know the realities?
- Oh, stop.
- I'm...
Listen.
What are you afraid of?
Your mom or your own voice?
Maybe you'd be like your mom
and never reach your goals.
But don't fall short of it
because you can't admit that you want it.
Okay.
I want to be better than Diana.
I want to be a star.
Thank you.
I had a great time tonight.
And just in case
I never get out of that house...
...thank you for making me
tell the truth.
Sparkle...
...do you want to be a star?
What?
- Do you want to be a star?
- Yes, I want to be a star.
No, I don't believe you.
Say it like you mean it.
Yes, I want to be a star.
Okay.
First you have to
write a song for your sister...
...something where she
can work the crowd.
Sparkle, you gonna have to get
over your fear of singing...
...because you and Dee
gonna back her up.
I mean, everybody loves
a good girl group.
Now, you tweak your lyrics,
make them more raw, more relatable.
But Fillmore, here we come.
Of course, you gonna
have to win Cliff Bells.
- You have to be invited to compete.
- Yeah, I know. I'm gonna work on that.
Now, I want you to work on your sisters,
and I'll work on Cliff Bells.
- And you'll be our manager?
- Of course.
Then you manage to get my sisters.
Do I have you?
Backup, remember?
Good night.
Cliff Bells?
Come on. I'm not embarrassing myself.
- Didn't Marvin Gaye get booed there?
- Yeah, but it made him better.
Now he's traveling, making millions.
Mr. Gordy is making millions.
However it may be, it was enough
to get him out of his mama's house.
You don't have to be rude about it.
Well, I don't really know
if you were asking me.
You never really looked my way,
so our eyes never got to dance, but I'm in.
And just to be clear,
I'm in it for the money.
Medical school is expensive, so, no,
you won't get 20 percent. Fifteen max.
And once I get accepted into medical
school you will have to replace me.
And if you pretend
like I don't exist going forward...
...I will turn my sisters against you.
Other than that, sounds like fun.
I'll wait for you guys outside.
I'll let you know.
My first day at Freeman's is tomorrow.
Working at a department store?
You ain't gonna make no money.
Sparkle!
Come on, Sparkle.
- Everything I said the other night, I believe.
- You used me to get to Sister.
You said it yourself,
Sister is the better performer.
Sparkle.
Have you lost faith
in Mr. Johnson?
Well, I guess the president
would have to answer that question.
Oh, who doesn't like Sidney Poitier?
- But the movie, you liked the movie?
- Yeah, I loved the movie.
More importantly, the next time
you take me out, you need to have a car.
Oh, I'm just--
I'm just waiting
on the right one to buy, baby.
Take me on a date on a bus
in the rain?
You're lucky I like you.
Look, I don't know any other way to be
than myself. I'm a straight shooter.
So here we go.
I like you too.
I do, and I want to be your man.
I'm serious. I ain't like all the other
jive guys that just want to do you.
I heard about your reputation.
I just think it's what guys say...
...when they see something beautiful
and know they can't have it.
So they'd rather tear it down
than make it something they want.
But I see your beauty.
Outside and inside.
I want to earn it.
Kind of like a job.
Yeah, so just tell me what you need
to fall in love with me.
Because whatever it is, I'll do it, girl.
Whether you believe it or not,
I'm already in love with you.
I already heard it so much,
it all sounds like BS to me.
Maybe I better roll up
my sleeves then, huh?
- Hopefully not as high as your pants.
- What's wrong with my pants, girl?
- This is the style. You can see my socks.
- Change it.
Put some sugar in them shoes.
So I can sweet-talk
my pants down, huh?
What's this?
Open it up.
Oh, Levi.
I swear,
one day that's gonna be yours.
I promise you.
That's Satin Struthers.
Now that's some of the coolest trolling
I done seen in a long time.
- Did you see this cat, Ham?
- Yeah, I see him.
What's your name, brother?
Levison, but they call me Levi.
Levi, here I am buying the real deal
for these women...
...and you tell me
you cut a picture out of a magazine...
...and just put it in a box?
I'm about to go get me
some scissors...
...and cut some pictures out of magazines
like your boy Levi right here.
Clip-clip, hussies.
Clip-clip, hussies.
Can I see it? Let me see that.
This is nice.
You got a good man here.
Yep.
Yeah, I used to eat in here
back in the day...
...when I was struggling.
This is some real cheap,
good food.
But I'm not gonna hold you guys.
Have a good night.
Levi.
Satin.
- Did you see her?
- You were so wrong.
Tammy, I should get you home.
Sure.
Mama was so pretty.
Oh, here's Dee's daddy.
Here's a good one of
yours and Sister's daddy.
Cute, but no good.
You got to watch out
for those cute ones, baby.
They make a lot of promises.
My goodness. Lookit here.
Gonna be the first store
in Detroit to have one of these.
- She's pretty, Mama.
- Oh, a chocolate mannequin.
Ain't it something?
Dr. King said
we would have integration.
- That's right.
- Look what I found.
- What's that?
- The other, nicer you.
Sparkle, you go to lunch.
You come with me and let me try
to fit your behind in this dress.
- See how she do me?
- Come on.
She used to be real nice, girl.
She's in there somewhere.
Come on out, nice girl.
See you later.
I got Cliff Bells.
Got my first check.
Well, let me see.
Ninety-six dollars?
For two weeks of standing on your feet
and kissing rich white women's butts?
I am never gonna get out of here.
Stix said we can make
anywhere from 500 to $1000...
...if we win Cliff Bells' talent contest.
Don't say it all dry like that. Sell it.
So y'all talking to Stix now?
No. She was talking to Stix, I was
talking to her, now we're talking to you.
- You sure you want to do this?
- Yes.
You know, they say
you shouldn't eat where you--
- It's the other way around.
- She gets the point.
You guys, I thought about it...
...and I want to do this for me,
not for him.
So how much
we gonna make a week?
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Okay. Okay.
- Hello, Mr. Manager.
- Hey.
- Got them here, cousin.
- Surprised?
Yeah-- Not at all. Thank God.
Well, we come a dime a dozen,
don't we?
Coz, let me get the girls signed in.
Okay, okay, you do that.
Give them hell, baby.
- Levi.
- What's shaking, man?
Hey, can I get a picture?
- Here you go, man.
- Okay.
Satin.
Oh, picture-in-a-box brother.
Might not forget a face,
but I'll forget a name in a minute.
Levi, Satin. Levi.
Ladies, this is... See, I forgot already.
I got the girls signed in.
Righteous. Righteous.
Cousin, this is Satin Struthers.
- I know who it is. You're a funny man.
- Thank you.
This is his right hand, Hamster.
- Ham, man. Ham.
- Ham.
This is my cousin, Stix.
He's the manager of my girlfriend
and her sisters.
- They performing later tonight.
- I hope they're good.
I'm looking for a new act
to open up for my show.
Satin.
- Hey, Mr. Bell.
- Hey, how are you tonight?
- You know, hanging.
- Got a table for you in front.
Okay, cool. Come sit with us.
I'd rather have the manager
than the boyfriend.
Boyfriend can't do nothing for me.
Come on over here.
Have a good evening.
Nice socks.
They were amazing.
Give them another round of applause.
Hey, I see we got Mr. Satin Struthers
in the audience tonight.
Show him some love, y'all. Yeah.
Looking good too.
Boy cleaner than a Sunday chitlin.
Yeah.
- Coming up next is another girl group.
- Okay, go out and look pretty.
- This isn't what we rehearsed.
- You want to win, don't you?
Go.
Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome...
...Sister and her Sisters.
Where in the world did you get
those church dresses?
What happened?
You forget the words?
Where is she?
Hey, get this man a drink.
He's gonna need one.
They good.
I'll have you booked
all over the city.
Diana ain't got nothing on you.
Hey, Sister, you were amazing.
You were amazing.
Sparkle, I need more of the songs.
You know, the kind we talked about.
- I can do that.
- All right.
- We need--
- We need new dresses, Mr. Manager.
We need to get home before
Mama wakes up and finds out we took--
- No, stole, the car. I'm not trying to die.
- No.
- Levi, drive careful.
- Yeah?
You got my future in this car.
Yes!
Daddy need three new, pretty dresses.
Eight ball, side pocket.
Damn!
You got this.
Thank you for your involuntary contribution
to Stix Incorporated Wardrobe Fund.
You was impressed by my big words,
weren't you?
Man, just shoot the damn ball.
They loved us!
- You finally hit that note, Sister.
- They didn't come to hear me sing, honey.
We need more money,
or you need to book us at a better club.
I know what you need
before you know.
Mr. Manager, that was out of sight.
Sparkle, I didn't know you had it like that.
And, Dee, you were good.
- Okay.
- But you... You.
Sister, you were on fire.
You'll mess up my lipstick.
Yeah, well, as much as I want
to mess up your lipstick...
...I gotta go to work.
Since when you working
the graveyard shift?
Since I got a woman
that's got needs, cousin. Look at her.
Satin.
- Didn't know you was still in the house.
- Yeah.
Let me introduce you to my family.
This is Sparkle. This is Dee.
- This is Satin Struthers.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Hi.
- And over here, in this corner, this is--
- We know each other.
Well, first, I'd like to congratulate you
on your performance.
- Thank you.
- And secondly...
...I'd like to give you something.
You know, dreams do come true.
Oh, my God.
- Levi!
- Trying to take my girl?
Get off me.
Let me have him!
- Come on, Levi.
- What's wrong with you, Negro?
Take me at least 30 minutes
to get my hair like this.
It's gonna get messed up
tonight anyway.
I'm sorry, sisters. I'm gonna go outside
and be waiting on you.
Oh, my God.
How could you do that to Levi?
Oh, Levi's a grown man.
He can handle himself.
Don't listen to her.
She's damn near 30 and not married.
- Shut up.
- You shut up.
But Levi loves you.
Spark, when you see a train that's gonna
get you to where you're trying to go...
...you can't wait to live.
You gotta jump on it.
He ain't got nothing else on me.
What he got?
More money? Better clothes?
What else he got?
He got nothing on me.
But she ain't worth it.
He ain't worth it.
- You my family. I'm your blood.
- Then act like it!
- Act like you're my blood!
- Hey.
If not for more than the drool that you
deposit on my couch every single night...
-...you should have had my back.
- I did have your back.
No, you didn't.
- You didn't have my back.
- Oh, coz.
It's business.
It's just business.
Levi, where you going?
Levi, it ain't personal.
Just business, right?
Mercy, mercy, mercy!
Let's get this food out here,
Miss Emma.
The Lord loves good-smelling food.
Smells so good, Mama.
- Thank you, baby.
- Delicious.
Okay. Reverend,
will you bless the food, please?
Sister's not here yet.
She said she was coming.
Sparkle, those who do, do, baby.
Pastor, thank you.
Please, bow our heads.
Our Father in heaven...
...for this meal you have given,
we want to say thank you.
And...bless the ones who prepared it.
And, Lord, as we share it,
will you stay with us...
...and be our guest of honor?
But not just at this meal,
but God in our waking...
...God in our speaking,
God in our playing...
...God in our digesting...
...God in our working,
God in our resting.
In a world where so many are lonely...
...may we share this friendship
with joyful hearts.
- Amen.
- May this food, so fresh and fragrant...
...call forth reverence for you
in our souls.
As you give this strength
to our perishable limbs...
...so give us grace
for our immortal lives.
And let's not forget the blessings
on this family, Father God.
Lord, we thank you. Amen.
Amen!
Now, that's why black folks
can't get ahead, right there.
Not because we lazy.
It's because we're too busy praying
over 40 acres and a mule.
Now, by the time
black folks get to "amen"...
...the mule is dog food...
...and the 40 acres is sold
from underneath us.
Because we too busy praying.
Mom, this is Satin.
- Pleasure.
- Pleasure is mine, all mine.
Two dollars say
he doesn't make it to dessert.
Five says he doesn't get food on his plate.
Look at Mama's face.
- This is Mrs. Waters.
- Pleasure.
- And Tune Ann.
- Hey, Tune Ann.
- My sisters.
- Hey.
And this is the Reverend Bryce.
What do you say, Rev?
Satin Struthers.
Yeah, yeah, I seen you on TV.
You were pretty hard
on the folk in Detroit after the riots.
Well, I was telling the truth, you know.
It shows a lack of intelligence...
...for someone to loot
their own neighborhood.
Well, people were angry.
At white people.
- Hell, go tear up they shit.
- What--?
Definitely not making it to dessert.
Excuse me. I'm sorry. Hail Mary.
That's Catholic.
It's still Christian, right?
I mean, come on.
I understand, I understand.
I was trying to get black people
to see it from a different perspective.
Burning and looting your own
neighborhood may be misguided...
...but at least those people out there
were trying to fight to change the system.
Now, with all due respect...
...you just trying to
make a dollar off their pain.
I bet you know a little bit more about
making dollars off of people's pain.
You packing them
into church every Sunday.
Giving them a show,
got them hooting and hollering. Yeah.
You know what, Rev?
The only difference
between me and you...
...is you collect your fee at the pew...
...I collect mine at the door.
Well, Ms. Anderson...
...I guess now is a good time
for me to let you know...
...that I asked your daughter
to marry me.
Surprise.
He asked me last night.
Got down on one knee and told me
that he couldn't live without me.
Sister, you're going to marry this man?
He disrespects our home,
the reverend.
Oh, he's a comedian.
He was just trying to make us laugh.
He's a really good man.
Even goes to church sometimes.
Granted, it is for material,
but I am there...
-...and God knows my heart.
- Stop.
- I got a good heart.
- Stop.
He tithes.
Child, I think enough of you
to introduce you...
...to dentists and doctors
and accountants.
But, no, not you.
You want to whore with this coon.
- Mom!
- Sparkle.
Ms. Anderson,
I'm probably more of a Sambo.
I coon from time to time,
but Sambo's my go-to.
Baby, think more of yourself.
I know you're worried about getting older
and who's gonna marry you.
But get older, not desperate!
Desperate?
I'm doing a whole lot better
than you ever did.
Just keeping a man
is a whole lot better than you ever did.
- Ladies, please. I think--
- No, no, no, Reverend.
Let her get her attention.
She doesn't have much else.
- Maybe this is a conversation--
- Me getting a husband is not about me.
It's about her. It's not my fault
that she got knocked up at 16...
...and is trying to convince folks
she's the perfect mother...
...raised some good girls.
Sparkle's gonna follow up behind you...
...and be a little church mouse
and make dresses.
And if she's lucky,
she'll be a preacher's wife.
Dee's gonna be a doctor,
and I'm just supposed to marry one?
Funny thing is,
maybe I could have snagged one...
...if you'd sent me to school
like these two.
But instead, I was at home,
raising your kids...
...while you were laid up
in your own vomit.
Sister...
...if you gonna tell my tragic story...
...give me the honor
of getting it correct.
Yeah, I passed out a few times.
Sure, I've had my moments.
But you've never, ever, ever
seen me laying in my own vomit.
Whatever you say, Mama.
The fact is, I was desperate back then.
Right now,
I'm trying to get myself out of here...
...and get myself more than
a color TV and half a room.
It's okay.
Well, we better go.
Ms. Anderson, thanks for what looked like
could have been a great dinner.
We better go.
Sister!
You leave my house,
there's no coming back.
Not this time.
Sparkle. Sparkle!
Are you still gonna be
part of the group?
That's not exactly
what was on my mind, Spark.
Yeah, sure.
Dee, say something.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Come here.
I love you, Spark.
It's okay.
Where you want to go?
Anywhere.
Close your eyes.
Okay, you can open them.
Your cup of coffee, sir.
I appreciate it, baby.
You know, Daddy got to wake up
a little faster and a little stronger.
You'll be surprised with
what this gonna do when we make love.
Can't be any better than it already is.
- Are you catching a cold?
- No, I'm fine.
Okay, from "You bring out
the woman in me."
Five, six, seven, eight.
Can you not hit my hand every time?
Okay, come on, come on.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Y'all ain't got to go home...
...but you know the rest.
Oh, they were just leaving.
Baby, you got some
cab fare for them?
Cab fare?
You the one opening for
Aretha Franklin.
I mean, hell, if I had any sense,
I'd be living off your ass.
- I'm funny, Sparkle? I'm funny?
- Yeah.
So you laughing at me
like them white folks that I coon for?
- No.
- Satin.
Well, you should.
That's how I'm paying
for all this heat you sucking up.
- Satin, I'm just--
- Let's just go. Come on, just go.
Grab your book.
Ready for TV, Ms. Sparkle?
Oh, my God, Ms. Franklin!
Hello.
Today ain't the day
to be fashionably late.
You're fine.
Stix says Ms. Franklin's not here.
Running late.
I'm worried because that's gonna
cut it close to us getting home.
Sure is.
Do you have any more pins?
I'm running out of mine over here
and I need some more.
I can't get this thing on.
What happened to your face?
Oh, it ain't nothing.
He did that to you, didn't he?
I had an accident.
Oh, so, what,
you tripped and hit his fist?
Get out.
Excuse me?
I told you to get out of my face.
He's beating you,
and you're taking it out on me?
- Just go. Go! Get out!
- No!
I don't need to hear this.
- Jeez, she's always in my business!
- Somebody ought to be!
- Shut up.
- You guys, stop. Don't do this!
Not tonight.
Please tell me
that's not what I think it is.
We have to open up for
Aretha Franklin tonight, right?
- Right?
- Right.
Well, Sister can't fly on one wing.
Well, I'll be damned.
- Just amazing.
- I know. They're special.
Ladies, we have a special guest.
This is Mr. Larry Robinson
of Columbia Records.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Oh, listen to that.
They even say "hi" in harmony.
Mr. Robinson is senior A&R
at Columbia in Los Angeles.
He set up an office here
because he's looking for talent.
- He wants to talk to us about a--
- Excuse me, may I share?
- Sure.
- Could this be my news?
- By all means.
- Great.
First off, you were fantastic.
Fantastic!
- Thanks.
- I want to sign you.
I'm going to sign you.
I just need to, you know,
see what you're gonna look like...
-...waking up next to me in the morning.
- Stix, what is this?
You know, that was an expression.
- Okay.
- And it's more like...
...I want to see you in the light of day.
- That's a better expression.
- Way better.
I'm gonna gather
a bunch of my colleagues together...
...and you will wow us.
And, you know, this is your fault.
It is your fault.
I don't even know
if you guys can actually sing.
I couldn't take my eyes off of you.
Look at that, she's playing coy.
This is the coy one.
Well, that's all right.
Coy plays on any number of levels.
So great.
Well, see you next week.
- Bye.
- Thank you.
- Y'all wowed him!
- Look. You got a line coming in here, girls.
- Satin.
- Stix.
You been fighting?
No, I got a new cat.
- Yeah, yeah, cat.
- That's a big-ass cat.
Sure is.
Ladies, you better get out of here.
Called the cab, it's waiting out front.
I saw you singing to me, teasing me.
Y'all wowed them. And I got to run.
See if I can talk to Mr. Gordy,
get us a bidding war.
That's right.
- Satin.
- Stix.
Let's go, baby. You ready to go?
Y'all her new bodyguards?
We're big-ass cats.
Come on, let's go.
Mama would let you back into the house.
- You guys, really, I fell.
- You said Mom used to fall a lot too.
- You even picked her up a few times.
- It was only one time.
Too many.
Sister, come home with us.
Let's go.
Come on.
Bravo!
- Mama, I'm sorry.
- I'm sorry too.
Was my life not enough
of a cautionary tale for you?
Just a mean mama,
won't let you follow your dreams?
Well, I guess I'll be mean.
I will not encourage you
to drive your lives straight into hell.
To be honest,
I can take it or leave it...
...but we are close
to getting a deal.
They say Sister could be
like Diana Ross...
...and Sparkle could be
the next Smokey Robinson...
...as far as songwriting is concerned.
Dolores, I've made it
very simple in this house.
Respect, getting an education,
and having a relationship with the Lord.
If you can't do that, then go.
Why would the Lord give me this gift
if I wasn't supposed to use it?
What'd you say?
All I think about is music.
Everything I see, hear or feel
turns into a song.
And I try to turn it off, but I can't.
And I know the Lord loves me
and he wouldn't torture me...
...with something I want to do,
can't help but do.
- So I figured I--
- You figured I was wrong.
That I had a gift.
Sparkle, you can have a gift.
It's how you use it.
You want to promote good...
...or you want more fast-tailed girls
out there having children?
"Giving him something he can feel
to let him know his love is real"?
Mama, that's private.
Sparkle, it's trash.
- No, it's not.
- Oh, yes, it is.
We're sorry for disrespecting you
and the rules of your house.
If you want me to go, I'll go.
But I can't stop now, Mama,
I'm too close.
Another little girl with a dream,
thinks she's so different...
...than all the others
waiting to be discovered.
You go to your meeting.
In fact, I want you to,
so you can see what I already know.
You ain't getting no deal!
You step back in this house,
and you want to stay in this house...
...then this dream of yours is over.
Do you understand?
Do you understand?
I am so proud of you.
So proud.
You better keep writing those songs.
Hey, baby.
What are you doing?
Listen, I got something
I need you to read for me.
What's this, new material?
Now, I wants to keep my white money,
but I think this is a way...
...to cross over
so I can get my black audience.
You know, Ham got me a gig
down over at Baker's.
Tell me what you think.
I'm honored.
And I'm thrilled, and I'm happy.
Come here.
And I'm horny.
Come on, baby. Right now, baby.
Come on, come on, baby,
we got to stay focused.
Okay.
Baby?
Tell me the truth.
Why'd the chicken cross the road?
Because two black guys
were chasing him with a biscuit.
No, because the chicken was trying
to get away from your turkey ass.
Two black guys
walking down the street.
Boy, they were just walking.
- They were walking, they were walking...
- Finally they said, "You know what?
We need a punch line right here,
because this joke ain't got none."
My joke ain't got no punch line,
but you brought your girl to see me.
Well, I had to, you know, bring her
to see how funny you were not.
You see, ladies and gentlemen?
You give a monkey some money,
and he just don't know how to act.
What's the matter?
You don't dig my sense of humor?
Man, you ain't shit.
And I'm gonna show you why.
I ought to kick your ass!
You want to play?
You're a wannabe!
- Snip-snip, hussy.
- You are nothing!
Nothing!
Y'all give it up for Satin Struthers. Clap.
Hey, Tammy, nice to see you.
You ain't never looked better.
- Columbia Records. May I help you?
- These girls, man.
- What the hell is that on top of your head?
- The man said he wanted us dolled up.
Plus, low maintenance
for medical school.
I haven't gotten off the wait list,
but I think in the affirmative.
No, not today, Dee.
Y'all supposed to look the same.
- How I'm supposed to sell that?
- Better figure it out.
Sparkle, thank God you're here.
- What? What's wrong?
- Look at her.
Okay, I'll be right back.
Stay here, look out for Sister.
So, what do you think?
We were taught that if we don't have
anything nice to say to not say anything.
- I want to hear it.
- I have to go to the bathroom.
- I'll be back.
- I'll come.
I'm going to the bathroom.
I'll watch you pee.
You're not gonna disown me.
- Man, I told you not to bring her.
- I tried.
- Not hard enough.
- Look, I'm sorry.
- Just lock the door.
- What is going on in here?
What else is he pushing into you
besides his fists?
Just mind your business. I'm fine.
I'm fine.
- So you just gonna let him kill you?
- It's not that bad.
It's nothing makeup can't cover up.
- You get me that face powder I needed?
- Are you crazy?
Give that to her and you're gonna
wind up looking like her.
Look, if you want me to sing for this man,
I need my makeup.
I didn't know what to do.
She's sick with or without it.
Oh, please, Sparkle!
All you're worried about
is getting that record deal.
You're not thinking about her.
You're busy using her like everybody else.
- That's crazy. That's my sister, I love her.
- Then flush it.
- Come on. Come on! Just give it to me.
- No, I'm not gonna let you kill yourself.
What's going on?
You tell me.
My receptionist says
your lead singer is beat up...
...and drugged up
in my damn utility closet.
No, Sister, she ain't here yet.
We'll be out in a second.
Use your key.
It's like I said.
I need to see them in the light of day.
- Stix, baby, what's going on?
- I'm leaving.
Baby, I want you to come with me.
We can go down to the courthouse...
...get married,
then leave if it makes it easier.
I hope that wasn't your proposal,
I imagined something different.
Baby, we got to get out of here.
People are trying to destroy what we built.
You and me, we started this.
We'll put the group back together
when Sister gets well.
Sparkle, it's over.
Baby, we got to start over,
and not here.
I mean, Detroit...
Detroit is dying.
All these riots.
I even heard Motown
is moving to California.
You're talking about California?
I'm talking about going anywhere where
we can live our dreams. Why not?
I can't leave, Stix.
Then you stay, then.
Don't make me choose
between my family and you, Stix.
Baby, I'm not making you do anything.
- Stix, don't leave me.
- Sparkle, I'm asking you to come with me.
I'm asking you
to come with me as my wife.
Baby, I need you to come with me.
You coming?
You know, your mama really
did a number on you, baby.
Come on, Sparkle. She doesn't need
those dresses, she needs clothes.
- I'm coming.
- Well, hurry up.
You two are funny.
You can pack the bed if you want.
I'm not going anywhere.
Oh, yes, you are. You awake?
You awake now?
- Get off me!
- Get up.
- Get off me.
- Get up. Let's go.
- Want to be manhandled? Come on.
- Get off me.
Don't hurt her.
You didn't say anything
when she hit me.
- No.
- What is wrong with you?
Stop it. Stop, come on. Stop, guys.
What's going on, baby?
They call themselves saving me...
...but I told them
I wasn't going anywhere.
Y'all need to get the hell
out of my house.
We're sorry we brought
chaos into your home...
...but our sister is sick.
We just want her to get well.
She's not listening to us,
but if you told her, she would go.
Or for her to go, she--
You talk too damn much!
Learn to shut your mouth.
That's my sister!
Oh, y'all want some of this?
Y'all want some of this?
Y'all want some of me?
Shit! Get off me! Get off me!
The hell's wrong with you?
Come on, you want it too?
Little Miss Sparkle.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Is he dead?
Give this to me.
- You need to get out of here.
- Oh, my God.
No. No. No.
Come on, wake up. Please.
Come on. One, two, three.
One, two, three.
Please, wake, wake, wake.
Wake up.
Please, wake, wake, wake.
Wake up.
- Please wake up.
- He's dead.
- Sister, he's not dead.
- Look at me. He's dead.
- He's dead.
- No!
- You have to go.
- No.
Mama was right. If I hadn't been scared
to sing, we would've never had a group.
- He would've never went after you--
- I would love to hug you right now...
...and tell you why this isn't your fault,
but I can't.
You just have to go.
Dee, you get out of here!
You take her with you! Go!
Don't say anything to anyone.
You were never here.
- Go!
- Come on, come on.
We can't leave her here.
Goddamn you! Goddamn you!
Damn it!
On, baby.
Baby.
Baby, what did we do?
On, baby.
Hallelujah!
- I love you.
- I love you.
With all that's been going on...
...I couldn't find the right
time to tell you, Mama.
I got accepted into
Meharry Medical School.
Most of it is covered by scholarships...
...but I have to go in early
to do some research.
Well, I guess the haircut worked, huh?
I guess it did.
Maybe I'll get one of them Afros
and bring some luck to myself.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Don't cry.
We've done enough of that.
These are happy tears. It makes me feel
like I've done something right.
I used to complain
that you never let us do anything.
And I thank you for that kind of love.
And I'm sorry
for calling it something else.
You'll never understand
how much your belief in me means.
I love you, Mama.
Oh, Mommy loves you.
So proud of you.
My baby, the doctor.
Take care.
Hey, Spark, it's gonna be okay.
You know, two or three years
and I'll be out of here.
- Dee left for school, right?
- Yeah.
That's good.
It's funny. We always said we'd have to
replace one singer in the group.
Now we have to replace two.
I bet Stix is fit to be tied.
You two broke up?
Yeah.
When did that happen?
The day we lost the record deal.
I'm so sorry, Spark.
It's okay.
Wasn't meant to be, I guess.
Don't come back here.
I'm the only one that comes to visit.
I'm not gonna leave you by yourself.
I got in here by myself.
- You didn't.
- Yes, I did.
You think now's the time for me
to be lying to myself?
Don't you think
I did enough of that already?
I'm not gonna let you
crawl up in here and die with me.
I hope you see
that I am trying to save your life.
Sister-- Tammy!
- Mom--
- Sparkle, curl your hair. Get to bed.
Church in the morning.
Hi. How may I help you?
I'm here to see Larry Robinson.
- Do you have an appointment?
- No.
I'm sorry. You need an appointment.
Okay. I'll wait.
Mr. Robinson will see you now.
Okay, we're just going to have to admit
we're wasting a lot of money.
We'll salvage what we can salvage,
make jambalaya out of the rest.
Okay. I'll talk to you soon.
I have two minutes. Go.
Well, let me not waste them
on why I need you.
That's obvious.
Let me tell you why you need me.
That's a big setup.
I hope you can deliver.
I'm beautiful, I can sing, and I write hits,
sometimes two and three a day.
I've been kissed, 20 about that alone.
I've been in love, 22.
My heart's been broken, 30.
I'm a virgin, so I have 80
on what making love will be like.
I have a complicated relationship
with my mother.
I don't know my daddy,
tack on another 50.
War sucks, flowers are pretty in the rain,
and it's hard to follow your dreams...
...but you have to, because you might
write a song that saves someone's life.
I have a great song about that
because I'm trying to save my own.
So can we do business?
Hi.
I saw Larry Robinson today.
He said he'd love to come and see
my show, but I don't have a show.
Figured I ought to get one.
We only have one shot at this.
Better make it count.
I'm glad I didn't leave.
- Hi, Mama.
- Hi.
May I come in?
Hey, Sparkle.
How you doing, baby?
You look good.
Little skinny, but good.
So how's the new job?
It's great. How are you doing?
Oh, I'm good. Always good, baby.
I have a flyer for my show.
It's my own concert.
I'm not opening up for anybody,
just me.
I would really love it if you'd come.
- Bye.
- Bye, baby.
How many times you gonna keep
making the same mistake, Emma?
You know the bit, right?
Let's hear it one more time.
You like it?
- Okay.
- Okay, ladies.
Go home and get some rest.
Seven p.m. sharp.
- Yes, boss.
- Thank you.
- Bye, Sparkle.
- See you.
- Happy birthday. Love you.
- Yeah. Happy birthday.
Thank you.
Yes, okay, guys. Tomorrow, 6:00.
How you feeling? Good?
We can't do this, Stix.
You know, we gonna be fine.
- You gonna be fine.
- What if I'm not?
Well, close your eyes.
Stix, I'm not trying to be dramatic.
I'm trying to be serious.
Sparkle, close your eyes.
Now sing.
Make a wish, baby.
Ask me what I wished for.
What'd you wish for?
That you would ask me
to marry you again...
...but better, and with a ring.
- Did you peek?
- What?
That's your gift.
And tomorrow, our lives are going
to change, for better or for worse.
Whatever it is...
...I just want to be with you.
Now, of course, if it's better,
you get a better ring.
And if it's worse, then that ring is going
to be dinner for the next few nights.
See, even you're not so sure.
I'm sure.
And I love you.
And I'm going to be standing
right over there in them wings.
I love you too.
You got five minutes.
You look tired.
I am.
Yeah.
Me too.
Well, what do you think?
Oh, my gosh!
Oh, you're bleeding.
- What?
- Oh, no.
- My dress!
- No, no, no.
- Look at it, it's ruined.
- Okay, just hold.
- Look at my dress. It's ruined.
- I know.
Okay, just breathe, please.
We'll stop the bleeding.
I know, I know, I know.
Well, maybe you can wear this one.
Let's see.
Mama?
Hey, baby.
- Emma.
- Hey, sweetheart.
You guys, come on.
It's okay.
I don't want to get all mushy, okay?
Okay.
I just came to help
my baby get dressed.
Well, like Dolores said,
lean back and pinch, okay?
Just try it. Let's see. Okay.
Let's just count.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
Fantastic turnout.
- I hope you are proud.
- I love this.
And you mean to say...
...that just you and your friends
and neighbors sold tickets?
Yes, sir, and I told you too.
- Yeah, you told me.
- I told you.
Oh, yeah.
You look beautiful.
You don't think it's too much,
or not enough?
If you're gonna go out there, you gotta
give them something they can feel.
Or at least imagine feeling.
Plus, Sister said make it sexy
so you can't run or hide.
You went to see her.
What's wrong?
Oh, nothing.
I always knew you had the gift.
Not just in singing,
but you believe in yourself...
...even when I tried to stop you
at every turn.
Takes a lot of faith to do that, Sparkle.
Thank you.
Don't lose it.
Some of us are still trying to find it.
Promise.
You're staying, right?
But of course.
I didn't get dressed for my health.
And I'll sit far enough in the back
so I don't upstage you.
You look great.
- I love you.
- I love you too.
Have a great show.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,
and welcome to an evening with Sparkle.
We love you, girl!
Yeah, Sparkle!
You can do it, girl!
This one is for Sister.
It's called "One Wing."
Let's meet tomorrow.
I'm gonna sign her.
Sure. We'll come by after our meeting
at Motown in the morning.
Motown?
Well, why put off tomorrow
what we can do over dinner tonight?
Always liked you.
We love you!
Encore!
Sparkle! Sparkle! Sparkle!
We love you, Sparkle!
XI.AD.MMXII