I'm somebody, somebody
And nobody's gonna hold me down
No, nobody, nobody, nobody's gonna hold me down
I'm somebody
It all started on the streets of Detroit,
where three girls named Deena, Lorrell and Michelle
dreamed about one day becoming singing stars.
Since their triumphant Las Vegas debut,
they've had No. 1 albums for each of the last six years.
And they're showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
But for Deena Jones, none of these exciting events compare
to the day she became Mrs. Curtis Taylor, Jr.
With his wife at his side, Mr. Taylor has built his music empire
into the most successful Afro-American business in the United States,
producing such sensations as The Family Funk,
Jimmy Early,
and the phenomenal Campbell Connection.
Deena Jones has conquered the worlds of music and television.
And soon, she hopes to take on her biggest challenge yet,
the epic, untold story of Cleopatra's early years
all set to the music of today.
No, nobody, nobody, nobody's gonna hold me down
I'm somebody
Thank you.
-How's my beautiful wife? -Curtis.
-I'm not sure how to tell you this. -T ell me what? Just say it.
I know how much time you've invested in this movie.
But I can't play that part.
I promised you I was gonna make you a movie star, right?
Cleopatra is gonna get us there.
I mean, this is the queen of a nation, not some hooker, junkie, maid.
I know. I know. It's a very important story.
And it's more than you.
Think about all the beautiful black women that ain't even born yet.
When they grow up they're gonna say, "l can play any part I want to.
"Look at Deena Jones. She did it."
But it's ridiculous. Come on.
She's 16 years old for most of the movie.
Well, baby, you'll always be 16 to me.
Maybe that's the problem.
Maybe you just don't see me for who I am.
When I first saw you
I said, "Oh, my"
I said, "Oh, my, that's a dream
"That's my dream"
I needed a dream
When it all seemed to go bad
Then I found you
And I have had the most beautiful dreams
Any man's ever had
When I first saw you
I said, "Oh, my
"Oh, my, that's my dream
"That's my dream"
I needed a dream to make me strong
You were the only reason I had to go on
You are my dream
All the things I never knew
You are my dream
Who could believe they could ever come true?
And who would believe
the world would believe in my dreams, too?
When I first saw you
I said, "Oh, my
"Oh, my
"That's my dream"
-What would make you happy, Deena? -You know.
We got plenty of time for that.
Please, Curtis. Let me have your child.
-Magic, read your book. -I'm done.
Then read it again!
Did you look for work this week, Miss White?
Mister, you can keep asking me that question.
But the answer's always gonna be the same.
The only thing I know how to do is sing.
And since there ain't nobody letting me do that no more,
no, I did not look for a job.
Have you considered asking the girl's father for help?
Magic don't have a father.
Listen.
I know you have questions
Same ones as me
How long has it been? How long will it be?
When will come the morning to drive the night away?
Tell me, when will come the morning of a brighter day?
Yeah
Patience, little sister
Patience, little brother
Patience, patience, yeah
Take each other by the hand
Yeah, yeah
Patience, little sisters
Patience...
-It's from your brother. -Send it back.
-There's cash in here. -You spend it.
Effie White, you are a mule.
Come on, baby, it's time to go to bed.
Just as stubborn as your mother.
Go home, old man.
Magic, come on, baby.
And a mountain to climb
Patience, patience
It's gonna take some time
Yeah, yeah
We must walk in peace
We got to walk in peace
It's the only
Only way, yes
If we want to see that morning, yeah
Of a brighter day
Patience
Come on!
Little sister
Patience
Little brother
Patience, patience, yeah
I'm gonna find a way
Nice to see you, Effie.
Patience
Little sister
Patience
Little brother
-T eddy, get yourself back to the party. -I'm waiting for Deena.
It's good. It's real good.
We wanted to surprise you, Curtis.
That's why we went ahead and recorded it first.
This is exactly what I need right now, Curtis.
It's what you've been always talking about to me, a new sound!
Still, it's a message song.
It tells the truth. People are angry out there.
I'm angry.
My brother's over in Vietnam fighting in a pointless war,
and I'm angry about it.
That's right, Curtis.
Isn't music supposed to express what people are feeling?
Music is supposed to sell.
Look, don't worry about it, Jimmy. We'll find you some new material.
Deena, I want you to meet this guy out here.
And about the shirt, you should lose it. It's messing up your image.
I'm so sorry, Jimmy.
Deena.
Honey, you don't need to be doing that stuff right now.
Come on, brother. It's Christmas.
Jimmy? Baby?
I'm not staying around for this.
Brother...
Yeah, but what about Holiday?
I had Billie here every winter from '42 to '58.
Great voice. Bad tipper.
Well, I tell you, Effie White is the best singer this town has seen since then.
Yeah, but the last time she performed, the girl fell apart.
That was years ago.
She just lost her confidence for a while. She's different now.
Max, please. For the old days?
They're gone, Marty.
Sorry, Marty, but the babysitter was late.
Effie White, this is Max Washington.
Hi, Max. Marty said you needed a singer.
I was just telling Max that you're serious about working.
He knows all about you.
You do, huh? Daddy, you don't know the half.
One night after you hire me, we'll sit down and I'll tell you
all about how I blew through half a million dollars in two years!
-Hey, come on. -Drinking.
You don't want to take up too much of the man's time.
-Now, Carl knows all the songs. -Carl? Where's Bernard?
He has a job in Evanston.
But I can't sing with someone I don't know.
Effie. You got to.
Marty, I don't have the time.
Max, please. Just give me a minute.
Now, you listen, Effie White. For four months, I've been your money.
I've taken you to every club in this freezing town,
and I'm telling you that this is it.
It's time that you stop making excuses so that you don't have to prove anything.
You're gonna have to start proving it, just like the rest of us.
I don't know. Maybe Curtis was right about you.
You want all of the privileges but none of the responsibilities.
Hey, Max. Thanks anyway, man. Sorry for wasting your time.
Do you know the song?
I told you I didn't want to see her.
Well, you are, mister. You are.
Look at me
I am changing
Trying every way I can
I am changing
I'll be better than I am
I'm hoping
To work it out
And I know that I can
But I need you
I need a hand
All of my life, I've been a fool
who said I could do it all alone
How many good friends have I already lost?
And how many dark nights have I known?
Walking down that wrong road
There was nothing I could find
All those years of darkness
Could make a person blind
But now I can see I am changing
Trying every way I can
I am changing
And I'll be better than I am
But I need a friend
To help me start all over again
That would be just fine
I know it's gonna work out this time
'Cause this time I am
This time I am
I am changing
I'll get my life together now
I am changing
Yes!
I know how I'm gonna start again
I'm gonna leave my past behind
Right, baby! Sing it loud!
I'll change my life
I'll make a vow
Nothing's gonna stop me
now
Tonight, live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California,
it's The Sound of T omorrow,
celebrating 1 0 years of hits from Rainbow Records.
Every day at school, girl
I see your smiling face
The teacher tries to call on me
But I can't concentrate
Come on, Jimmy, drink this.
-Five minutes, Mr. Early. -Yeah, all right.
I thought you were going to stay clean tonight, baby.
You know how important this is.
Yeah, I was doing fine, too, till Melba came out and messed with me.
All that, "You never take me nowhere,"
and, "I'm tired of staying in the house night after night," shit.
Next thing I know, she's coming down the stairs in her party dress.
Wait a minute.
Are you telling me that your wife is out there right now?
What was I supposed to do, baby? That's why I needed to relax.
-Here, sugar, have a drink. -Yeah, help me out here. I'm frazzled.
You know, it's our anniversary, too, baby.
Don't you remember?
-Yeah, I remember that. -Let me give you a kiss for each year.
That's sweet.
One, two, three,
four, five, six,
seven, eight.
Eight years of unmarried life.
Hey, come on, now. Don't tell me we're going to start this shit again.
We'll deal with this after the show, all right?
Don't you walk out on me, Jimmy Early!
Girl meets boy, boy meets girl
Fall in love, perfect world
But if boy and girl never meet
Then a perfect world can never be
Come on, girl, I love you!
-I'm going to tell her, baby, I promise! -But when, Jimmy? When?
Please, I just need a little more time, all right?
Time's run out, Jimmy. I get it now.
-What you talking about? -You never really loved me.
Lorrell. Baby, you know I love you.
I do. But right now, I got a show to do.
...three, two...
And now, the mellow sounds of Jimmy Early.
I meant you no harm
I never meant to make you cry
You were the only one I've ever loved in my life
And though it's hard for me to show it
I've got to let you know it
'Cause, darling I love you more each day
But the words got in my way
Oh, I meant you no harm
And I would die
If you ever said goodbye
I love you I love you
Hey, hold it.
I can't do it no more. I can't sing no more sad songs.
Hey, Curtis, this is supposed to be your night, right?
Let's have some happy times. Right, I'm gonna give you a count-off.
The rest of you all come in when I tell you, all right?
What the hell's he doing?
One! Two! Three! Hit me!
Bass man, come on up! One! Two! Three! Hit me!
Sound good! Yeah! Saxophone! On the four!
One! Two! Three! Hit it!
Come on! Horns! Hit it!
Hey, Curly, let's rap with Jimmy Early
Got a home in the hills Mercedes-Benz, hot swimming pool
Got lots of friends
Got clothes by the acre Credit to spare
I could wake up tomorrow and find nobody there
But Jimmy want more Jimmy want more
Jimmy want, Jimmy want Jimmy want more!
Listen!
Jimmy want a rib Jimmy want a steak
Jimmy want a piece of your chocolate cake
But more than all that Jimmy wants a break
'Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul
Jimmy got, Jimmy got, Jimmy got soul!
Sooner or later, the time comes around
For a man to be a man Take back his sound
I gotta do somethin' to shake things up
I like Johnny Mathis But I can't do that stuff
'Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul
Jimmy got S-O-U-L soul!
I can't do rock, I can't do roll
What I can do, baby, is show my soul
'Cause Jimmy got soul, Jimmy got soul
Jimmy got, Jimmy got, Jimmy got soul!
T ake it out.
Ladies and gentlemen, please stay in your seats.
We're back live in two minutes.
-What'd you think of my show, baby? -You made a fool out of yourself.
What are you talking about, man? I was just being Jimmy.
Lorrell, will you please tell him, if you can?
Jimmy keeps begging you for something new, but all you do is ignore him.
Of course he's confused.
It don't take a whiz to know that only a desperate man would drop his pants
in living color on network television.
Thanks, Lorrell. You told it like it is.
Yeah, well, that ain't all I got to say to you, sugar.
My brother, we're through.
What you talking about? What do you mean, we're through?
Come on, Jimmy, your time has passed.
Hey, man, I got soul! You can't kill a man with soul!
Come on, man. Let's at least end as friends, man.
If you ever need some help, just give me a call.
Whatever.
Hey, Curtis, I don't beg! I don't crawl! I'm an original!
Hey, where are you going? You can't leave me, girl. I love you.
And Lorrell loves Jimmy
Lorrell loves Jimmy
It's true
But Lorrell and Jimmy
are through
I got a show to do. Don't you remember, baby?
And now, please welcome the brightest star in the Rainbow constellation,
Deena Jones with the incredible Dreams!
Hello, America.
What a wonderful evening.
-I love you all. -I love you, Deena!
I love you, too. Curtis, baby, this is for you.
We are a family, like a giant tree
Branching out toward the sky
We are a family
We are so much more More than just you and I
Time to go, Mr. Early.
We are growing free
Yeah!
You're an incredibly beautiful woman.
-Thank you, Jerry. -No, you're too beautiful.
This movie is about three grifters heading to Vegas for one final score.
When Dawn goes down on that truck driver,
you've got to smell the desperation.
I know that. That's what I love about her.
There's no pretense. No fucking bullshit.
America's sweetheart here has got a potty mouth.
Of course, if I were to become involved, we have to do a little work on the part.
What do you mean? I spent a year on the script, so...
I know, and it's good. But she's not real yet.
To start with, what kind of name is Dawn?
I'm from the projects in Detroit and I ain't ever met a sister named Dawn.
Well, the script's just a blueprint. It's not written in stone.
I hear Curtis is still trying to get that crazy black Cleopatra made.
Is it true he's got some mob money tied up in this?
My husband has his hands full with the music side right now.
That's why I didn't want to bother him with our meeting today.
So, say we do decide to get in bed with you on this,
will Curtis even let you do it?
I hear he's got you on a pretty tight leash.
That won't be a problem, Jerry.
Step, step, step on over
Wanting you, wanting you
Needing you, needing you
Shit.
-Hey. -I didn't think it was possible, Curtis.
I didn't think you could squeeze even more of the soul out of my music.
-We just made it danceable, that's all. -What about the lyrics?
That rhythm takes all the feeling out of the music!
This is what you've been asking for. A totally new sound.
It's gonna be bigger than R&B and rock and roll put together!
People are getting ready to boogie,
and when they do they're gonna do it to our music.
Your music, Curtis. It has nothing to do with me.
Come on, brother, you know you're my main man.
Kiss my ass,
brother.
What the hell is going on now?
No, no!
The body was found at the Tropicana Hotel in Hollywood.
Police say Mr. Early had been dead for over a day,
the apparent victim of a heroin overdose.
The 43-year-old R&B singer was recently released from his contract
at Rainbow Records.
She won't let me see him, Deena.
She won't let me see my Jimmy.
Plans are being made to fly the body back to Detroit
where there will be a private burial.
What a thing.
Bad, bad scene.
Well, thanks for the drink.
T ell Lorrell I'll stop by tomorrow.
C.C., man, no matter what troubles we had, you know, we're still a family.
That's the most important thing.
It's over, Curtis.
Oh, come on, man. Jimmy did this to himself. You know that.
Michelle?
C.C. can quit. You can't.
What's a wake?
It's when friends get together and share their love for someone.
-Mama, why are you so slow? -'Cause I'm old, baby. I'm old.
Who are you?
Effie!
-Who's that man? -That's your uncle, little girl.
Effie! Shit.
Jimmy had so much life.
First time I met him was right here in this club.
He wasn't "Thunder" Early then, just little Jimmy.
-How old was that boy, Marty? -I don't know. Probably 12.
Well, he had hands the size of a fellow twice his age,
and he wasn't shy about using them either.
Yeah, Jimmy was a real little shit.
-A real little shit. -Shit.
I miss you, old friend
Can I hold you?
And though it's been a long time Old friend
Do you mind?
There were so many things
I wish I had said
I meant to love you
But I hurt you instead
I've come here now
To make amends
Can I sit down beside you?
Can we be close again?
Effie?
Effie, I'm your brother. At least you can say hello.
What gives you the nerve, C.C., coming here after all of these years?
All I can say is I was young and I made a mistake.
I won't be used. Not by you, not by anybody. Never again.
I promised you I would write you a hit song. Let me do it for you now.
I don't need you.
No, Effie, I need you.
Effie, I have a song and it's good. It's really good.
But only if you sing it.
You want all my love and my devotion
You want my loving soul
Right on the line
I have no doubt
That I could love you forever
The only trouble is
You really don't have the time
You've got one night only
One night only
That's all you have to spare
One night only
Let's not pretend to care
One night only One night only
Come on, big baby, come on
One night only
We only have till dawn
One night only
-T rying to make a fool of me. -Well, Nicky said that
the song's only got local distribution. Detroit stations mostly.
C.C. wrote it, so that means we own it, right?
Well, technically, yeah.
Look, I'll get the lawyers to draw up an agreement,
we'll demand half the royalties.
No, no. This is the perfect song to launch my new sound.
I want Deena to re-record it with the girls.
Come on, Curtis, the song's already moving.
If I can buy a hit, I can buy a flop.
Hey, man. This is Effie's big break.
-There's other songs. -It's business. Get on it.
Come on, baby
One night only
You want all my love and my devotion
You want my loving soul right on the line
I have no doubt
That I could love you forever
The only trouble is
I really don't have the time
I've got one night only One night only
That's all I have to spare
One night only
Let's not pretend to care
I've got one night only One night only
Come on, big baby, come on
One night only
We only have till dawn
One night only One night only
One night only, yeah
Come on, come on
One night only
Oh, Cecil Osborne. Cecil Osborne finally committed.
And he's soaking me for a million bucks, but I don't care,
because he's great with actors, Cleopatra is your first movie,
and I don't want anything but the best for you, sweetheart.
What's wrong?
Nothing, Curtis. I guess I never thought it would really happen.
You made it happen!
I mean, you are the queen of disco.
Maybe I'm just tired.
Yeah, you got your interviews and your photo shoot with Vogue,
private meetings by the pool.
You think I'm stupid?
When was you gonna tell me?
I'm sorry, Curtis. I know I should have talked to you.
It's just that this part is perfect.
It's exactly the kind of movie I should be making.
Curtis, baby, nobody knows music the way you do.
It's in your blood.
But movies are different.
Deena, you know why I chose you to sing lead?
Because your voice
has no personality, no depth.
Except for what I put in it.
See, nobody knows you like I do.
Well, they offered me the part and I'm taking it.
Do you read contracts, or are you just pretty?
You can't even take a shit and wipe your own ass unless I say it's okay.
-Well, I'll get myself a lawyer. -What do you think they're gonna do?
You think them honkies are gonna wait around
while you try to drag me into court?
Forget about it! It's over!
Listen, I don't want those men handling you,
because they don't know how.
And, Deena,
I forgive you.
Curtis will always be here for you.
Listen to the song here in my heart
A melody I start but can't complete
Listen to the sound from deep within
It's only beginning to find release
Oh, the time has come for my dreams to be heard
They will not be pushed aside
and turned into your own
All 'cause you won't listen
Listen
I am alone at a crossroads
I'm not at home in my own home
And I've tried and tried to say what's on my mind
You should have known
Now I'm done believing you
You don't know what I'm feeling
I'm more than what you made of me
I followed the voice you gave to me
But now I've got to find my own
You should have listened
There is someone here inside
Someone I thought had died
So long ago
Oh, I'm screaming out And my dreams will be heard
They will not be pushed aside or worse into your own
All 'cause you won't listen
Listen
I am alone at a crossroads
I'm not at home in my own home
And I've tried and tried to say what's on my mind
You should have known
Now I'm done believing you
You don't know what I'm feeling
I'm more than what you made of me
I followed the voice you gave to me
But now I've got to find my own
I don't know where I belong
But I'll be moving on
If you don't
If you won't listen
To the song here in my heart
A melody I start
But I will complete
Now I'm done believing you
You don't know what I'm feeling
I'm more than what you made of me
I followed the voice you think you gave to me
But now I've got to find my own
My own
Marty. Long time.
Yeah, Curtis. And you're still a second-class snake.
First-class to you. Gentlemen, give me a break.
Why, Curtis? Did you give Effie one?
-I could kill you for what you did to her. -You couldn't kill shit.
I assume you guys have a reason for barging in here
other than to insult me.
Mr. Taylor, we're planning to go to the federal authorities.
Yeah, we'll tell the feds how you killed Effie's record. Payola, man.
You remember, Curtis, I witnessed it all.
The whole dirty operation going back to Steppin' to the Bad Side.
That's right you did, but who's going to believe you?
All you are is a guy that's pissed off 'cause you got fired.
We have documented evidence, Mr. Taylor.
Falsified sales records to cheat investors out of their profits,
goods-quality merchandise listed as cutouts to disguise the fraud,
mob-backed loans,
and a payola operation stretching back 1 1 years.
Who gave you this?
Believe me, I had no idea what Curtis was trying to do to you.
Effie, are you all right?
I'm happy now, Deena. I have a child who loves me.
-You have a baby? -Magic's not exactly a baby anymore.
She's almost nine now.
I wanted to tell you. At the time, I really wanted to tell you.
Deena, he doesn't know.
Effie, Effie, Effie.
Well, I see you're just as much trouble as you ever were.
Hello, Curtis.
You haven't changed much, either.
Actually, I take that back. You are looking a little heavy, baby.
You could lose some weight.
I'll deal with you later.
Mr. Taylor agrees it's in everyone's interest to resolve the situation
without resorting to draconian legal measures.
Say that in English.
Nationwide distribution of our version of One Night Only, Effie.
-On our own label. -That sounds good to me.
And remember, Curtis, if these negotiations fall apart
you're going straight to jail.
That's right, Curtis.
You stopped me once, but you'll never stop me again.
'Cause this time
Effie White's gonna
win
Deena! Get your ass out here!
Hello, Curtis.
Hey, May. What are you doing here? I mean, I thought you said you hate LA.
Oh, I do. But my daughter said she needed me, so I'm here.
Go wait in the car, Mama.
That was a dirty trick you pulled on me.
I had to do something to stop you, Curtis.
-How could you do that to Effie? -I had to do what I had to.
Where do you think you're going?
Out looking for a new sound, baby, just like you.
-You can't leave. -Why? Because you own me?
You can sue me. You can take everything I have!
It don't matter, 'cause I'll start over. Effie did it and so can l.
Listen, I'm not living without you. I love you.
I'm sorry, Curtis. I can't do this anymore.
Goodbye.
Good to see you, Curtis.
Mr. Taylor?
Mr. Taylor, this must be a bittersweet night.
How does it feel to say goodbye to The Dreams?
I don't believe in goodbyes, just hellos.
And I want you all to say hello to Tania Williams.
Ladies and gentlemen, back in Detroit for their farewell performance,
the incredible Dreams.
We didn't make forever
We've each got to go our separate way
And now we're standing here helpless
Looking for something to say
We've been together a long time
We never thought it would end
We were always so close to each other
You were always my friend
And it's hard to say goodbye, my love
It's hard to see you cry, my love
Hard to open up that door
When you're not sure what you're going for
We didn't want this to happen
But we shouldn't feel sad
We had a good life together
Just remember all the times we had
You know I'll always love you
You know I'll always care
And no matter how far I may go
In my heart you'll always be there
And it's hard to say goodbye, my love
It's hard to see you cry, my love
It's hard to open up that door
When you're not sure what you're going for
But we've got to grow We've got to try
Though it's hard, so hard
We have to say goodbye
We didn't make forever
But I will always love you
We didn't make forever
But I will always love you
It's so hard
Baby, it's so hard
It's so hard
Baby, it's so hard
I'll always love you
It's so hard
Baby, it's so hard
Y eah!
Well, I guess it's about that time.
The last song.
You know, we've been together a very long time.
And I promised Lorrell I wouldn't cry.
And I'm not.
I'm very happy.
All of our family is here tonight.
You know, there really aren't three Dreams.
There are four.
And we're all here to sing that song for you.
Effie.
Every man has his own special dream
And that dream's just about to come true
Life's not as bad as it may seem
If you open your eyes to what's in front of you
We're your dream girls
Boys, we'll make you happy
We're your dream girls
Boys, we'll always care
We'll always care
We're your dream girls
Dream girls will never leave you
Never, never, never, never, never leave you
And all you've got to do is dream
All you've got to do is dream
Just dream and, baby
we'll be
there
We'll be there