Hello, Lamont. I thought I heard you, son.
Yeah, I heard you, too, Liberace.
- Huh? - Nothing, just grab that box
of bottles and don't touch what's on the front seat.
Don. Brooks Donald. Thanks for stopping by.
-Well, George speaks very highly of you. -Love George.
I just hope I can make you as much money as I did him.
That's why I wanted you to see this.
It's a new show called Sanford and Son.
It's got an all-Negro cast, and, Don, it's gonna be huge.
A show set in a junkyard? It's a joke, right?
Man, you colored guys have no idea the power you have.
Careful, Brooks.
Mulligan. Look, I ran the numbers.
Soul Train's got everything it needs to be a massive hit.
Everything except a white boy.
- A white boy? - Oh, yeah.
A caviar-eating, golf-playing,
Frank Sinatra-loving white boy.
When white guys want to sell to colored... Negroes...
They get a Negro face to make other Negroes feel at home.
So hire you to make white advertisers feel safe?
Every firm in there... TWA, A&P, Polaroid... I closed.
And I'll do the same for you.
If you don't get caught drinking
or sleeping with your boss's wife.
Yeah, I'm a drunk. Yes, I'm desperate.
And yes, I will get you the one company
Coca-Cola.
Now, it's gonna take some work, but I'll get them.
But today, you got a bigger problem, Don.
-Leland Mills. -How do I have a problem with Leland Mills?
'Cause he's your biggest Southern affiliate,
- and he's dropping the show. - Bullshit.
Look, Leland's gonna use boycott threats to pull out.
And when he goes, so goes the South.
Six out of your 14 cities will drop you in week one,
and you'll look like a damn failure.
Leland's a jerk, but he's a reasonable jerk.
Look, we play nice, kiss the ring,
he can be persuaded to stay.
Lucky for you, he's at a retreat in Tahoe, and, uh,
I know exactly where he's staying.
My old man is a coordinator in a junkyard.
Looks like I got myself a white boy.
Easy, easy. Charlie-6, we have visual.
Copy. Shifting east.
Hey, get down, get down. Get down.
Damn it.
I got you.
Sergeant Clarke! Joe!
Hey! Now, you stay with me, son.
I'll get you home, okay?
Hey, is this thing coming with us?
Stay with me.
Come on, spread him out.
One, two.
- Brianne. - Yes?
- Your daughter's here. - Thank you.
And I'm not paying overtime. You should be done already.
Of course, Mrs. Arimus.
I'll get the bed.
I brought your textbooks and your food for later.
Oh, thank you, sweetie. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Do me a favor, honey, hand me that bedpan over there, please.
Never be ashamed of hard work. This job keeps clothes
on your back and food in your mouth. Respect it.
Thank you.
You get the balloons for your dad's party?
And sent the invites and bought the charcoal
and ordered the food.
Everything's taken care of.
You know your dad's gonna have something to say
about Jeffrey, right?
Why don't you like him, Mama?
I like him fine,
but older boys expect certain things.
Well, JT isn't like that.
All boys are like that.
W-We haven't done anything, but he asked me to go steady.
Good Lord in Heaven.
-I invited him to the party to meet Daddy. -Mm-mm.
No more secrets, Ma.
- At the party? - Yes.
- Fine. No more secrets. - Yes.
- Thank you. Yes.
Girl, get out of here.
What time you getting home?
I don't know. It'll probably be late.
-You're sure you want to do this? -I don't want to work
for someone who doesn't respect me.
- I'll find something else. - All right.
But don't be coming home with all that negativity, okay?
It ain't sexy when you're mad.
Keep it up, and I'll put you on rations.
You won't get none for a month.
Girl, you might be able to quit Soul Train,
but you can never quit this.
- Dream on.
Finish it up, Jeffrey. Need you off my clock five minutes ago.
Oh, I told Susie I'd cover her shift.
Susie don't make my schedule.
Ma, come on. I need these hours.
Mm. And people in hell need ice water. Wrap this up, son.
JT Tucker.
Reggie?
Oh, man, what's up?
- What's up, brother? - Nothing much, nothing much.
JT and I went to school together.
Till he decided white man's history wasn't worth learning.
- Oh, that's him. - Yeah, it is.
Hey, you still do that music thing?
- Still trying, man. - JT is cold.
Any instrument, that boy can play it.
I'm a'ight.
How they got you legit bussing tables?
Hey, man, I'm just trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
- It ain't working, though.
Hey, dig it: my ride didn't show.
Giand I'll break you off, with some gas money.
Yeah. Cool. Meet me out back.
- May I help you? - You sure can, sweetie.
Brooks Donald, and I would die for a cup of joe.
Black, two cubes.
Are you...?
I'm getting the coffee.
Soul Train Productions, Brooks Donald speaking.
Hi, may I speak with Don, please?
Uh, yeah. Give me a second.
This is Delores, his wife.
Delores. Sure thing, sweetheart.
He'll get back to you.
Thanks.
Thank you, sweetie. You rock.
- You're welcome. - Mm.
...Special recipe.
I'm Tessa Lorraine. If you need anything else,
don't hesitate to ask.
Got it.
So I say, "Go ahead. Shoot."
- "You miss, I'm gonna kill you.
"You don't, I'm-a haunt your white ass
for the rest of your natural life."
You lying. Ain't no cop that crazy.
Well, I've never been afraid to die.
Not that I don't have fear, I just work like hell
- not to give into it. - Mm.
I mean, life's a game of chance anyway, so why be afraid?
Live today, die tomorrow. Flip a damn coin, girl.
- You actually believe that? - All of it.
Living in L.A., loving this game.
Every day we play Russian roulette with our souls
and most of us will lose.
Lose our fortune, lose our families.
Our dignity, our sanity, all of it.
We all know it, and none of us can stop, till we die.
Mm. You need a drink, Don.
...A double.
What he needs is this liquid gold. Come on.
-Put your lips on this. Best honey ever. -Ger... I don't want no honey.
Mm... this ain't just honey, Don.
It's a sure thing with huge upside. I'm talking about bees.
- Honeybees? - These bees is money, baby.
I'm on the ground floor, I want you with me.
In what, a honey processing company?
Hell no. I went straight to the top.
I bought the damn bees.
Gonna flip them, wholesale the honey, mega-bucks.
Your neck's bleeding.
Oh, this? It's a bee sting. I'm allergic.
"But the pain of success hurts
most often at the outset of one's journey."
Ming Loud.
Lao Tzu.
Yeah, him.
And if he was here, he'd tell the both of you
you need to get in on this, because these bees is money.
...Huh?
I'm-a pass on the bees, Gerald.
Gladys, easy money.
Tempting, but next time.
- Okay.
More honey for me.
You crazy, Gerald.
You need to see this.
What is it?
It's just a cease and desist.
Simply states that Ms. Knight and her Pips are not to sing
any song on Soul Train unless previously approved.
Approved songs included.
Don Cornelius, meet Ilsa DeJarnette,
my label's lead attorney and an all-around professional...
Flattery will get you everywhere, Gladys.
Is there some reason
- you're spying on us? - I'm not spying.
We're protecting our million dollar investment.
Yeah. This is cute, but I own Soul Train,
and no one tells me how to run it.
If our request isn't met to the letter,
no other act from our label will ever set foot on Soul Train.
- That's a bluff. - That's a fact.
And one that I wouldn't bet against.
Oh, and I'll be at the taping.
Just to make sure things Ogo as they should.
Sing whatever you want.
I'll back you all the way.
Careful, Don. They don't make idle threats.
Neither do I.
No fear.
- Hey, sweetheart. - Hey, baby.
- I know she thinking it. - She heard it.
Hey. What's going on, soldier?
Ha, how you doing?
Thanks for the ride.
All this for some gas?
You see all this? We're a family.
Everything we have, we share.
You know, the white man took that from us.
And it's our duty to take it back.
Continuous Revolution In Progress.
274 American soldiers were killed in action,
1,320 were wounded and 12 were missing.
You thinking about Dad?
Don't worry, he'll be home soon.
I was actually just thinking how we all should live every day
- like it's our last. - Good.
Then you and all four of your eyes need to come on.
We're gonna be late.
You need anything, get at me.
You hear me? Anything.
Okay.
- My people. - Reggie!
Found her in your pocket.
Thought you could use some love.
She fine.
Good taste.
I'm Sergeant Clarke.
My team, we pulled you from that fight.
You know, we were able to save your leg, but, uh,
you'll need a cane to walk from now on.
Steven?
Private Vance didn't make it.
Lieutenant Bowles?
You're the only survivor.
Um, S1 says you're from Flagstaff.
I'm from L.A.
We're neighbors. My tour's done tonight and I'm headed home.
Anybody back home you want me to reach out to for you?
Your girlfriend? Huh?
Your mama?
Okay.
I just didn't want you to wake up alone.
The worst part about this place.
Let me see his chart.
Do you ever get over it?
Killing people?
Seeing people die?
I don't know.
But I sure as hell aim to find out.
Take care, kid.
Okay. All right, all right.
I won't miss you.
Hey, now tell your sister I'm gone, okay?
- Give them hell, boy. - No doubt.
Hey, I won't miss you! Mwah!
All right, Joe!
- See ya, Sarge. - See you later, Sarge.
Mama, why is Aiya out of her pen?
Hey... Mama!
That's the second practice he missed this week. Get a phone.
-He's got a lot going on, Kendall. -We all do.
All right? The world doesn't just revolve around JT.
Very nice.
Mama! - Jeffrey.
I thought you had rehearsal.
Uh, faucet's working now, so I'll go.
-Thanks for stopping by, Mr. Willard. -Uh-huh.
- Hey! - Jeffrey. Jeffrey, don't go...
- Hey! - It's not what you think, JT.
-Man, you stay away from her. -Look, I'm sorry you had to see that,
but your mama's grown. She knows what she's doing.
I'll pay you every damn cent,
-but if I catch you in my house again... -You'll do what?
If I go in your house, take my rent out of your mama's ass,
what exactly are you gonna do, Jeffrey?
Hmm?
Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought.
You damn sure ain't your father's son.
Simone and Kendall Clarke.
- You two brother and sister? - Yes, ma'am.
Okay. Show me what you got.
All right, that's good.
- That was good. - Very nice.
Who choreographed your routine?
Just something my brother put together.
- Can I get a new one every show? - Yeah.
-Yes, we'll be ready. -Sometimes we film three, four shows in a weekend,
- sometimes just one. - There's no place I'd rather be.
Okay. We tape Saturdays from 10:00 until.
- Okay. - Welcome to Soul Train.
-Don, I wanted to give this to you. -I'll get to it tomorrow.
- You're leaving? - I'm headed out of town.
Boss, there's a Delores on line one.
- She called earlier, too. - I will call her back,
and I will meet you in Tahoe. I got to make a pit stop.
What about prep? We shoot in two days.
Handle it. That is what I pay you for.
Thank you.
What time is my flight?
25 minutes.
Boys, I don't where you're getting your info,
but somebody's tugging your pecker.
Oh, come on, Leland. Be straight with me.
Are you planning to bail on my show?
You a smart fella, Don.
If I was planning to do what you say,
how smart would it be to say so?
- Oh. - Come on.
Leland, look at the numbers.
You stay six weeks, you'll make a mint.
Numbers lie, son. My gut never does.
And it's saying that people ain't gonna watch this show.
Oh, you mean white people?
Shit, Don. I give a damn about black, white.
If it ain't green, I don't care much at all.
I don't want my daughter marrying one of you,
but either way, this just ain't a hill I'm looking to die on.
So there's nothing I can do Itto change your mind?
I'm afraid not, Don.
Hope we're not disturbing you.
You darlings must be in the wrong place.
Oh, Leland, allow me to introduce Ms. Diahann Carroll...
- ...Marilyn Monroe. - Mm.
These ladies aren't real, are-are they, Don?
They're as real as you need them to be.
Think we're gonna take a little step out.
Maybe come back in an hour or so and finish the meeting?
Marilyn, would you mind?
- Of course, sweetie. - Maybe make it two, Don.
Later, boys.
Kiss the ring my ass.
You stopped in Vegas to hire look-alikes?
Well, Leland loves mixing dark and white meat.
Hard to indulge in Georgia.
How the hell did you know that?
You know money and I know men.
And knowing their weaknesses and desires
is more valuable than gold.
Let's go grab a drink.
We got time to kill.
You think they're kissing his ring?
I doubt it.
The Soul Train!
All right, ready camera two, take two.
Soul Train, the hippest trip in America.
60 nonstop minutes over the tracks of your mind.
Gladys Knight & the Pips,
Honey Cone and special guest
Eddie Kendricks and the Soul Train Gang.
Now, here's your host, Don Cornelius.
You're just in time for the first trip on Soul Train.
If the sound of soul is your pleasure,
then what's your treasure?
You can bet your bottom we got them, baby.
After a message from Johnson Products,
three talented sisters are gonna look you dead in your eyes,
- where your beauty lies. - And, we're out.
We're back in ten.
All right, guys, back up, back up. Let the boss through.
Oh, no, no, no. Benny, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let it go.
I like it.
Tell Tessa to add this line dance thing
they're doing to the set.
Soul Train Line.
And tell Tessa that I want the best for the board.
Yes, Mr. Cornelius.
Unit A, stage left, B on the right.
It's real, guys. Don't hold back.
I'm so nervous, I don't know what to do.
Nerves are good. It means you're ready.
That shirt has seen better days, though.
- Oh, you don't like it? - The question is,
do you like it?
There's a stash in the back, come on.
- It's almost showtime, let's... - It'll take two minutes.
Come on.
Easy on the makeup, Pammy. Natural, not glam.
Gotcha.
Oh.
- Now this is cute.
You don't think it's a little skimpy?
No, makes you look like the star you are.
Try that on. I'm-a go find a belt.
Kendall, you all right?
I don't think I am, Miss Tessa.
Good as you dance, I wouldn't let a little nerves get to me.
Only a few million people will be watching.
Millions? For real?
Flo?
Somebody help me!
Some people live their entire lives
and never get a chance like this.
Enjoy it.
- I will. - Good.
And I need my best on the Scramble Board.
For serious?
Segment six, you and Simone.
But first, let me introduce you to the world.
Places, people. Make Mommy proud.
Hey, Flo.
Have you seen my sister?
Um, I think she went to go tinkle?
And we're back.
Quiet on set, quiet on set.
All right, here we go.
Five, four, three...
Look out, it's The Honey Cone.
Sho' nuff rack 'em back and that ain't fiction, baby.
It's a natural fact.
Benny, I don't want dancers in my shot during the intro.
Yes, sir. I'll reset the marks.
Don.
This is Frank Asher of TWA.
Tyler Hodge, Corning Kitchenware.
And Mr. Dave Bryant.
He's from Coke.
Girl, this is the craziest thing I've ever been part of.
Glad you guys could come by.
- Hope it won't be the last time. - Hey, I'll tell you what,
this is amazing.
I mean, just as Brooks promised.
Bandstand for coloreds.
First time ever.
And look at that.
It's just a sea of blackness.
Man, don't you just love it?
- Brooks. - Yes, sir?
Take care of these boys.
Uh-huh.
Anything they want.
Aye aye, captain. What do you say we
- get another drink, huh, boys? - Hey, I'll drink to that.
Sure could use another scotch.
Tessa. We need the dancers in place for the Scramble Board.
Anyone got eyes on Kendall and Simone?
Fresh and I can handle the board.
Okay.
Benny. Flo and Fresh got the board.
- All right. - Come on.
Somebody please get me out of here... hello?
Simone, what are you doing...
I'm gonna kill that scag.
What's wrong with you locking me in that room?
Girl, if you don't get out of my face
before I stomp a mudhole
- in your ass... - I'd like to see you try.
- Do it. - What's all this about?
...Cut.
No, no, no, Rob. We don't cut.
She took me in the back
and tried to lock me in the closet.
If she got stuck in there, that's on her.
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
What the hell is going on here?
I don't know where you think you are,
but this ain't the hood; you don't rumble on my set.
- Flo tried to lock me in... - I don't give a damn
Every time that camera stops, wit costs me $1,000.
Do either of you have $1,000?
You make a mistake, you keep dancing.
You break an ankle, you keep dancing.
I don't care if you have to piss your pants, you keep dancing.
We will cut around it, are we clear?
Are we clear?!
-Yes. -Yes, sir. -Yes, Mr. Cornelius.
Good.
Take it from the top.
And we're back. Cue the music.
And five, four, three, two...
All right, now, let's meet two members of our Soul Train Gang.
What's your name, pretty lady?
Hi, I'm Flo Davis.
I'm Curtis "Fresh" Edwards.
So I guess you guys Flow Fresh.
Now let's work that board
as McKinley Jackson and The Politicians
take to the Love Machine.
I'll call you on Monday.
Are you gonna end this soon?
I have a massage scheduled at 4:00.
I'd be delighted if you left and never returned.
Can I give you some advice, Don?
Can I stop you, Miss DeJarnette?
One, you're not gonna win this fight.
Convince Gladys to play nice,
I'll keep you off the naughty list.
And two, favor left.
Your right side's your best side.
Screw you, Miss DeJarnette.
My favorite pastime, Mr. Cornelius.
...Come in.
Hey.
Uh...
I don't mean to interrupt your whole preshow thing,
but I was wondering if you decided on the song yet.
What happened to full creative control?
Nothing's changed.
I just need to know.
The illusion of being in control is that you never really are.
From the songs I sing, the shows I do,
my image...
I really just want to do what you did.
Roll the dice and do it all on my own.
So why don't you?
"The pain of success hurts most often
at the outset of one's journey."
So what you're really saying
is bees is money.
You're a good man, Don.
I say we keep playing by the rules.
For now.
Thank you.
15 seconds to camera.
Don. Excuse me, excuse me.
Corning and TWA are in.
Now, we knew Coke would be tough, but we'll get him.
They weren't turned off by my management style?
Are you kidding me?
Those guys scream for a living.
They love a man who knows he's in charge.
And we're back.
Three, two...
Now let's put our hands together for four beautiful people
representing a mighty mountain of soul.
The gifted and talented Gladys Knight
and the dancing, singing, swinging Pips.
Keep it up; another day, another dollar.
What are you doing in my office?
Sorry, I was looking for the dance sheet.
And I left your messages. Delores called again.
The dancers.
They were good tonight.
Okay, all right, all right. Real quick, everybody.
I just want to thank you all for your love and support.
We absolutely could not be the family that we are without
- each and every one of you. - Aw...
And before we get back
to festivities, I want y'all to give it up for my babies
that just got hired dancing on this new TV show.
Make some noise!
...Yes.
Okay, and quick... Joe's gonna be here in about an hour,
so if your cars are right in front of the house,
I need you to move them, get them out of sight.
And other than that, I want everybody to drink up,
'cause it's all about the party tonight!
Whoo-hoo!
Thank you, L.A.
Thank you.
We'll be back in two shakes and a twist.
I don't know how long I'll be dancing on Soul Train.
Why, don't you like it?
I lied, Mama. I got kicked out of school.
And I got my draft notice.
Oh, my God in heaven.
- And I'm gonna do what Dad did. - No, no, no.
I'm going to Vietnam.
Come here.
Oh, your dad will handle this.
He'll know what to do.
Say it with me:
- bees is money. - How much you make?
After expenses, and kept ten cases of the honey.
Come on, say it.
Bees is money.
Gladys.
I'm a believer, Gerald. Bees is money.
Hey, what you say...
So, you survived your first round
of Russian roulette, character intact.
How does it feel?
Well, for the first time I remember, things feel right.
You know?
I keep waiting for it to go wrong,
but it hasn't, and I don't think that it will.
Pull over. Stop right here.
Keep the car running, lights off.
You see anything, you blink the high beams twice.
You cool?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm cool.
You know, a hundred years ago, a little boy found
a shiny rock in the wall of his hut.
It turns out to be the first diamond found in Africa.
21-carat. Flawless.
Those diamonds are a natural resource to the motherland.
And hundreds of billions of dollars later,
what we got to show for it?
Murder, rape, bloodshed and tears.
They pillaged our land and took our future.
We're just taking it back.
Continuous Revolution In Progress.
- You understand me? - Damn right.
CRIP for life, brother.
That's the way it be.
So now what?
Reload.
Spin the chamber, raise the gun
and do it all over again.
Life's a gamble, then you die.
- So, can I hear it? - Hear what?
The song you wanted to sing.
- Right here, now? - Right here, now.
- Come on.
Spin the chamber, girl.
Let's check this out.
Freeze!
Come on! Come on, let's go!
Stay on the ground. Come on, buddy.
Talk to me, man. Come on, buddy.
292, this is car 17.
Officer down. Officer down, I repeat.
Marty is down.
Come on, Marty. Hang in there, buddy.
It's gonna be all right. Come on.
Come on, Marty.
Damn it!
Yeah?
When?
Okay, I'll be there.
What's going on?
Officer down.
I caught the case.
Who is it?
Patrolman. John McMartin.
Jewelry store heist gone bad.
Be careful, baby.
Always.
My favorite writer sent me a new song.
And I'll retire before I let anybody
tell me how to do it.
The name of the song is "Midnight Plane to Houston."
And, uh, I don't fly much...
so I changed the words just a little.
Surprise!
Oh, God.
Mrs. Clarke, is there somewhere
- we can speak in private? - No. No!
No, he's coming home.
He's on his way home. My husband is coming home.
Ma'am, I'm so sorry.
He's coming home. He's on his way home.
-Coming this season on American Soul... -Ladies and gentlemen,
we're very proud to welcome aboard the Soul Train...
Revolution don't come easy, baby.
- Police! Get on the ground! - We look weak,
people try us. We look strong...
......they pay us.
You are a man with many gifts, Don.
Who the hell is Ilsa DeJarnette?
Don is a con! Don is a con!
You want us back?
- Mm-hmm. - Impress me.
You people never listen.
Oh, shit. Everyone down!
I want to buy Soul Train.
Right now you are standing in a dream.
My dream.
And in case you've never had a dream of your own,
let me tell you, it doesn't come fast,
cheap or easy.
You will protect it at all costs.
I will protect it at all costs.
'Cause we wish you love, peace
and soul.