Previously on Sun Records.
Lookey here. Wow-wee.
Ike, you're a hell of a piano man.
But I ain't gonna jive you. You can't sing for crap.
I dream of making music like that someday.
Leonard Chess?
Yeah. I'm Leonard Chess. Who are you?
It doesn't matter who I am, it matters what I got.
This is a cash business.
Based on trust and our mutual desire to make you a star.
Can I trust you, Hank?
Damn straight. Okay.
Well, that's not good.
Call immediately if you hear from him.
What did he say?
Sam never showed.
Dewey figured he went on home.
Let's try the hospital again.
How much is that doggy in the window
Lucas, you best roll up that hose
before your bus gets here.
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggy in the window
I do hope that doggy is for sale
I read in the papers there are robbers
With flashlights that shine in the dark
My love needs a doggy to protect him
And scare them away with one bark
I don't want a bunny or a kitty
Morning.
Mom, there's a man in my swing set!
I don't want a bowl of little fishies
Morning, Nadine.
Are you all right, Sam?
Never better.
Here you go.
What kind of life is this, Marion?
I mean...
Me and Sam, we're broke.
I don't have much of a husband,
Knox doesn't have much of a father.
I know why I'm doing this.
I just can't really understand why you are.
Sam?
Oh, dear Lord.
Are you all right?
What in the world happened?
Well, uh, I tried taking a shortcut on the way home.
It didn't go so well.
I've got to get Knox up for school, so...
I sure could use a cup of joe myself.
Oh, Jimmy.
I surely don't believe
life will ever be the same again, cuz.
Oh, we need to avert our eyes from this, Jerry Lee.
So you've been saying for the past couple of hours now.
Only your eyes seem to have a mind of their own now,
don't they?
Whoo! Oh.
I wonder if Peggy looks like that.
Don't you dare talk about my girl like that.
Huh? Your girl?
Pretty sure it was me she was eyeing
after I dazzled her with my exquisite ivory tickling.
Only look that angel was giving you
was one of pity for your unsalvaged soul.
Well, why don't we let Peggy decide
who's right in this little difference of opinion?
Huh?
Jerry Lee, Jimmy, I need a lil' help!
Okay, Momma.
Fine. May the best man win.
Well, suits me, cuz, 'cause you know what?
I always do.
Ow.
Hey, sugar, got some more for you.
Oh, you are a godsend.
We sure can use the work.
Is everything okay?
Uh, fine, fine. How're you?
How's Sam?
This morning, he looked like something the cat dragged in
and the goat wouldn't eat.
Just a little mishap.
Now, Becky...
I'm not one to gossip.
But, I'm just saying
the paperboy told Gladys Twain from down the street that...
he saw Sam take his trousers off outside
for God and country to see.
And she told the widower Mr. Petty down at the garage
who told Betsy who can't keep her mouth shut...
Sam!
Sorry.
Always a pleasure to see you, Nadine.
Bless your heart, dear.
Where are you off to?
Got a session.
What?
Well, it's just 5:00 in the afternoon,
and my husband, who's now the talk of the town,
just woke up having been out all night
without letting me know where he was.
And after smashing the family car,
he just walks around like it's all la-di-da,
and then asks, "What?"
You know what, Becks,
I'm jammed up all day long with sessions.
Night time's the only time I got to find new acts.
I gotta go.
Sam...
I thought we came here
to build a stable recording business.
Commercials, testimonials, recitals...
And if you haven't noticed,
you've taken in half the neighborhood's sewing,
'cause the recording part ain't cutting it.
I... I thought Rocket 88 was the big hit we needed?
Huh. Yeah.
Turns out that drunk Brenston
ain't nothing but a damned one-hit wonder.
Look, I can't pay today's bills on yesterday's hits.
Sam.
I'm worried about you.
I made an appointment with a new doctor,
and I think that we...
Thanks for consulting me.
You're my wife, Becky.
Stop acting like my damn mother!
Well, you stop acting like a damn child!
Well, I don't need this.
I've got work to do!
Two Japs, out of ammo, rushed me with bayonets.
Time I was done,
you couldn't have matched up the pieces
to tell "chop" from "suey" if they paid you.
Uh, Mr. Dean, sir, may I please have a word?
Get out of here, boy.
You don't have a thing to say I wanna hear.
Sir? I'll be back.
You just cost me a sale. What do you want?
To apologize.
Look, I'm sorry if I did anything
to disrespect you or your family.
That wasn't my intention. What was your intention?
I just like the music is all.
You don't drink from colored water fountains, do you, boy?
Well, no, sir.
Well, you see my point?
You may be kissing my daughter
with those lips of yours someday.
It won't happen again, sir.
I care deeply about Trixie.
I'd never do anything to harm her.
I believe you.
And hell, boy,
can't have you climbing up my house every night.
You'll ruin the siding.
Get!
Hey, Trixie from Dixie.
Hey, you know, I talked to your daddy.
That so?
Oh, honey, everything is hunky dory.
And?
Well, he forgave me. Did he?
Well, maybe you two should go steady. Hmm.
Stop pestering her.
I tell you, Beau, this better be one hell of a bar.
Johnny boy, this ain't just any old bar. Come on.
Uh...
Why you here?
This Russian sector!
What the hell is he saying?
Well, I think he's saying we're in the Russian sector.
Well, we know that. We do?
Soon, all Russia.
All world Russian sector!
Hey, y'all would be goose-steppin' to Sieg Heil
if America hadn't come to save your sorry asses.
Well, lookie what we have here.
Can't you read a map? Italy's that way.
We got the commies, and we got the hillbillies.
They're telling us they gonna rule the world.
Is that so?
Da.
Hell of a choice.
On one hand, we have sorry excuses for American Gls.
And on the other...
Guys, let's get the hell out of here!
Hey, you left this vodka!
No wonder these Russkies are miserable bastards.
Their damn booze is made out of potatoes.
Oh, man, who cares if it's made out of dirty socks,
sure does the job.
What do you expect from a hick who drinks whiskey
made from corn?
Well, that ain't whiskey,
that'd be, uh, corn liquor.
Fraeulein.
Paesanos!
What do you mean, paesanos? It means stand-up guys.
Oh. But we're all stand-up guys tonight.
Party time, boys.
I... I got me a girl waiting back home.
She got Sam Spade keeping tabs on you?
Who? Maltese Falcon?
Bogie? Man, even I know Bogie and Bacall.
Guess you are just a rube after all.
You sneak into East Germany just so you can window watch?
Hello...
How you doing?
I don't know what you're saying, but I like it.
Uh... Uh, no, thank...
Um...
"No, thank you"?
Uh, I spent all my money on my guitars, so I...
Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll pay for it.
Besides, I don't... Danke schoen.
I don't really feel like it, that's all.
Ah, you never did it.
He never did it.
Guys, he never did it.
I done it plenty of times.
You never did it. He never did...
No...
Man, you didn't tell me that.
Jungfrau? Jungfrau?
Jungfrau!
Jungfrau! Jungfrau!
Jungfrau! Jungfrau! Jungfrau! Jungfrau!
That's all that's left.
Yeah!
Make us proud.
And I still wouldn't let her go
A train kept a-rollin' all night long
Hey, Trix.
A train kept a-rollin' all night long
And I still wouldn't let her go
I had me
a similar situation with Betty Caldwell last year.
Every time I tried to talk to her,
damn girlfriends pulled her away.
What'd you do?
Disguised myself with a big old Stetson
and followed her one night after Billy Bean's party.
How'd that turn out?
Guess I kind of startled her.
She kicked me so hard in the knee.
Blew up big as a honeydew melon.
Well, I wouldn't be writing no advice columns
if I were you.
Don't get yourself caught with a pig in a poke.
I'm Froggy, and here at Froggy's Hoggies,
I guarantee you the most top quality hogs
for all your smoking, roasting, broiling,
and barbequing needs.
We do the killin', you do the grillin'.
Come to Froggy's off of Tadpole Street.
Tell them Froggy sent you.
What do you think, Miss Keister?
It's Keisker, and it's certainly sincere.
Uh, maybe a little fast. Wrote it myself.
Would never have guessed.
Uh, take a break.
Practice reading it three times in a row,
and we'll try it again.
Man, oh, man,
Becky just does not get the music.
And she doesn't get me.
I don't blame her.
Sometimes, I don't get me.
I mean, I spend all my time here,
trying to keep this place going, single-handed.
And all for what?
Oh, so I can record oink-oink here?
What?
It's all yours.
I don't follow.
Go ahead. Record Mr. Froggy.
Oh.
It's Mr. Hutchins, Sam. Who?
The WHBQ station manager? My other boss?
Hi. Hi.
Uh, Mr. Hutchins. Welcome to the Memphis Recording Service.
What can we do for you?
Well, actually, I'm here to see Marion.
But if I've come at an inopportune time,
I could just come back... Not at all.
Well, then...
Oh. I...
I was, uh,
wondering if you were free for dinner this evening?
Well, I am actually.
Uh, Marion,
we have a recording session tonight.
Do we?
Oh, well, I'm sure you can handle it, Sam.
Single-handedly.
Let me walk you out. I would love that.
Sam.
Was a pleasure. So long.
Do you think I should mention my finger-licking baby backs?
They are something!
Sure.
Don't get yourself caught with a pig in a poke.
I'm Froggy, and here at Froggy's Hoggies,
I guarantee you the most top quality hogs
for all your smoking, roasting, broiling, boiling,
and barbequing...
Anytime you're feeling lonely
Anytime you're feeling blue
Anytime you feel down-hearted
That will prove your love for me is true
Anytime you're thinking 'bout me
That's the time I'll think of you
Anytime you say you want me back again
That's the time I'll come back home to you
There you go. Thank you very much.
Well, I'm sorry, sold out.
Thank you. Thank you, ma'am.
Hey.
Tickets? Tickets? Thanks. Excuse me.
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.
Yes? Have you seen my mom?
No, I have not seen your mother.
Well, she said she was going in and I could go right in.
Hey, kid, come back here!
Mom! Hey, wait!
My mom said she was in there.
Mom!
When you're done selling, you come straight back to me.
You don't talk to anybody but me, you understand?
Aye, aye, Captain. You can count on me.
It's Colonel.
Go on.
Youth.
Get your tickets! What you got?
Standing room only. Here you go, boy.
Can't see Snow without a ticket to the show!
Hello. Yes, tickets, please, I want to go.
Thank you.
Tickets! Get your tickets!
Seven fifty-one, and that makes 752.
It's a pleasure doing business with the Colonel.
You sure that wouldn't be 772?
Pleasure doing business with you, sir.
Major. Scram, kid, we're busy.
Here you go, Major, I sold all 200 tickets you gave me.
Uh, what's wrong with you, son?
Now, I've told you to see me right after the show.
Now, I thought you had skedaddled
on Mr. Hendrick here. I was...
I was going to set the sheriff on you.
Now, go on, get. Go on!
The Colonel is always working extra hard to sell
as many seats as possible.
There is your cut.
Okay, good day to you!
Thank you. You're welcome.
Would you like to order?
I'll have... The lady will have
a Waldorf salad to begin,
and for the main course,
the, uh, coq au vin with creamed spinach.
And I'll have the calf's liver with Brussels sprouts.
Uh...
Uh, would...
You care for a cocktail, Marion,
or a sherry?
Wild Turkey. Neat.
Sidecar. Right away, sir.
Thank you, ma'am.
So...
Did you, uh, grow up here in Memphis?
Born and raised.
Graduated Southwestern College.
Went to Nashville for a time, but now I'm back here.
So, what did you study in school?
Medieval French.
You don't say.
Absolument.
It's some of the most romantic literature ever written.
You don't say.
There's a beautiful story of Tristan and Isolde.
He was a handsome knight sent to Ireland
to retrieve her to become King Mark's wife,
but the two drank a love potion,
and alone in the woods...
You can imagine.
I certainly can.
Did you have a nice time?
I did, actually.
Earle's educated, respectful, and stable.
It's just what I need.
Is that right?
You know what I need, Marion?
You really don't want me to answer that.
I need someone
who does the administrating of this studio,
to be here when I'm doing sessions!
Do you know where I could find me
someone like that, Marion?
Only if you can find someone to produce the sessions
when I'm doing the administrating.
Which seems to be more my problem than yours lately.
Aw, come on,
just how hard can all that administrating be?
Who answers the phones?
Who makes sure we got enough acetates,
tape stock, office supplies,
while making sure there's fresh coffee,
not to mention cleaning the filthy toilets?
Are you finished?
The Rocket 88 deal.
How much money does Chess Records owe us?
Hmm. Who checks the BMI statements?
Who writes the checks?
Not just signs them,
but makes sure we got enough in the bank,
and deals with the bill collectors when we don't?
Who's working a second job which I'm doing to help you?
Screwing your second job's boss part of helping me?
Well, I suppose it's my fault
for setting a precedent.
Let go of me.
Never, Marion.
Never.
It was on a moonlight night
You mark my words, by this time next year,
Bob Hope's people gonna be asking you
for an appearance on your Christmas special.
I know you can sell snow to an Eskimo,
but I ain't no Eskimo.
Blue moon of Kentucky
Keep on shining
Damn.
Shine on the one that's gone
And said goodbye
Oh, Cole, I was just coming to see you.
Is this about that paltry balance due
I have with your employer?
Double. Every week
till you come up with the whole kit and kaboodle.
Understood? What's not to understand?
I'm in the business of making money.
Good.
Truly a dolt.
Peggy...
I believe it to be nothing less than providence
that we found one another.
You're so sweet.
I know.
Being here with you,
I almost could forget about Jerry Lee
buying me that ice cream in town.
Jerry Lee.
Peggy, you are the daughter of a respected preacher.
I am on the road to becoming a respected preacher.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy... Mmm-mmm.
It does not boast... Mmm.
It is not proud. No.
It's not rude. It surely is not.
Now who do we know who's arrogant, boastful,
and rude, Peggy?
I don't know.
Well, now, we just mentioned him a few seconds ago.
Jerry Lee!
Now, this is a happy day.
A happy day indeed, Reverend.
We were just discussing love and the Lord,
weren't we, Peggy? That we were, Daddy.
Well, Peggy May,
you can discuss it with Jimmy's cousin now, too.
'Cause brother Jerry Lee here just enrolled
in the Waxahachie Texas Bible Institute
on the righteous path to becoming an associate
of my humble ministry.
Praise Jesus. Praise Jesus!
Praise Jesus.
Praise Jesus!
Amen. Amen.
Amen.
Sam had some incidents of anxiety,
and deep depression back in Nashville.
The pills seemed to help but then,
with the move to Memphis,
and the stress of the new business,
he's been drinking, staying out late,
he crashed his car the other night, and...
The pills stop me from thinking, Doc.
There is another option.
It's a new procedure called electroconvulsive therapy.
Zapping my noggin?
I don't know about that, Sam. It sounds worse than it is.
The brain has electrical impulses,
and ECT short-circuits those brain waves
that cause this anxiety.
Huh.
I gotta get my head straight.
Look, uh, I drink
to relax, but then I do ungodly things.
Now, one night, me and a buddy agreed to press up 300 records
and damn it if I ain't got 289 left.
A souvenir.
Oh, hell, Doc...
Cure me or kill me.
You're not having your brain zapped.
That's final, Sam Phillips.
Well, then,
you heard Mrs. Phillips, Doc.
Might as well give me some more of them pills.
I don't know what to do, Mama.
I talked to her daddy, he said it's all right,
thinks I'm a good kid.
You should keep your mind on your studies,
but I can see you're keen on this girl.
It ain't her daddy whose heart
you're trying to win.
I just don't know what to do, Mama.
Now, pumpkin, don't you fret none.
I'm gonna give you some guidance
from the female perspective.
Now your daddy,
he's had his setbacks over the years,
out of work, that little time away from us.
But back when he was your age...
He was quite the ladies' man.
He took a shine to me
and did the three things he needed to win my heart.
Like what?
First, get a after school job.
Girl likes a man to wine and dine her some.
Oh, that sounds awful fancy.
Pumpkin, that's what's called a figure of speech.
Earn some pocket money, you take her to the A&W.
In fact, I saw an advert...
Crown Electric was hiring. Vern, you bring me the want ads?
I'm busy here.
Second, what's she like?
Well, the last time I checked,
it was the captain of the basketball team...
And, well, I ain't no good at dribbling a ball.
All right, well, find something she likes
that you do real good.
What's number three, Mama?
One of the oldest, most fiercest parts
of human nature.
Well, I met a pretty gal She was tall and thin
I asked her what she had She said, "A fox four-ten"
Said, hey, good lookin'
What you got cookin'?
How's about cooking somethin' up with me?
Hey, sweet baby
Don't you think maybe
We can find us a brand new recipe
I don't understand.
Shut up, Archie, and kiss me.
I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill
And I know a spot right over the hill
There's soda pop and the dancing's free
So if you wanna have fun, come along with me
Say, hey, good lookin'
What you got cookin'?
Operator, operator, get my baby on the telephone
Operator, operator
Get my baby on the telephone
Could you please help me find my baby?
Ask her to come on home
Hey, Mr. Conductor
Hey. Hey, cuz.
Better bring another glass. Hmm.
What's shakin'?
Well, Becky's all over my ass about not being home enough,
Marion's on my ass for not being at the studio enough
and well, they're both all over my ass
for not making enough dough.
Yeah, well, all that ass stompin',
it's a darn miracle that you're sitting down.
Mmm-hmm.
Yeah, I been gobbling these things like M&M's
trying to keep my sanity. Hmm. Mmm-mmm.
What?
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, man.
Here you are.
These pills are definitely a problem.
Well, doctor prescribed them.
Look. Okay.
I wouldn't quarrel with anyone who'd claim
I'm not the brightest bulb on a Christmas tree,
but I'm a bonafide Albert Einstein
when it comes to two things, boy.
Music and...
Self-prescribed medication.
Here, try these.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Come on, come on, come on.
All right. Here's to, uh...
Amnesia.
Mmm, what did you go and do that for?
Man, my head feels like
a gravy train with biscuit wheels.
Oh, don't I know it.
Well, it's time to pull your brain out of the ruts.
We got a session, jingle singers are here.
Excuse me.
You stink. Get yourself together.
You like Ike, I like Ike
Everybody likes Ike
Ike for President Ike for President
You like Ike, I like Ike
Everybody likes Ike
For President
Hello?
Come in. Crown Electric delivery.
Just get in Step with the guy that's hep
Get in step with Ike
You like Ike, I like Ike
Everybody likes Ike for President
Hang up the banner Beat the drum
We'll take Ike to Washington
Again. Can I help you with something else?
Uh, y'all make recordings in here?
Ike for President Ike for President
Uh, we do. Ike for President
You like Ike, I like Ike... Thank you.
Everybody likes Ike for President
Hang up the banner Beat the drum...
No, no, no!
I like Ike! I like Ike!
It's nothing but a damn rhyme.
I like Ike!
I need to feel it. Again!
Ike for President Ike for President
You like Ike, I like Ike
Everybody likes Ike for President
Hang out the banner Beat the drum
We'll take Ike to Washington
Six inches!
I said, six inches from the mic.
Not four, not nine. Six!
Can you do that?
Mr. Phillips, take it easy on her, okay?
Take it easy?
You want me to take it easy?
Oh, well, here's the deal, ace.
I take it easy and you know what we wind up with?
You soundin' like three alley cats in a tin shed!
Is that what you want?
No, sir. I spend a lot of time
trying to make people sound good, boy.
Placed a Shure 55 right there
to capture the piano,
and an RCA 77 right there for your voices,
which I have determined, after careful consideration,
to be most effective
if you sang into it from a distance of exactly...
Exactly...
Six inches? Yes! Damn it!
Six inches.
What in the hell is your problem?
Oh, nothing, Marion, I am peachy.
These people are customers, Sam.
We need them to pay the bills.
Oh, don't I know it.
We record "Anything, anywhere, anytime."
Nothing too low or corny or humiliating
for old Sam Phillips.
Sam, you need to take a break for a second
and go outside...
Doc says I need electro-shock.
No!
You just need to stop taking those pills.
Hey, I got an idea.
Instead of just funerals,
why don't we set up in the TB ward,
so people can actually hear their loved ones
gurgling to death?
Yeah. Yeah.
Dad.
Hey, tiger.
Dad, you said that we'd go see the Chicks play
at Russwood tonight.
I'll get us tickets real soon.
Wanna play catch?
Hmm.
Hmm. Nice catch, buddy.
Daddy's not feeling himself right now, baby.
Why don't you go play outside
and I'll let you know when supper's ready?
Okay. Okay.
I know...
I'm no good to anyone like this.
Becks, I'm going down that rabbit hole again.
You should call Dr. Walden.
Sam... It's okay.
I'm going to be all right.
If I told a lie
If I made you cry
When I said goodbye
I'm sorry
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I apologize
Wait! Sam...
Becky! Marion.
Sam, wait!
No, no, no. No.
I have to stay. I would like to stay...
Can I please just stay?
Believe me
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I apologize
I realize I've been unfair to you.
Please let me make amends
Don't say you forgot the love we knew
After all we were more than friends
If I made you blue
I've had heartaches, too
Now, I beg of you
Forgive me
From the bottom of my heart, dear
I apologize